Trading Partners

By Will Ruiz,  [email protected]

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney has been named the No. 1 retailer on Diversity's annual ranking of "Top 50 Companies for Diversity," which recognizes leading organizations for best practices in diversity management.

It is the second consecutive year that the company has earned its place on the list, moving up 11 spots to No. 35 overall.

SEATTLE, Wash.  -- MOGO Design, a Seattle-based company that has developed a new and patented magnetic accessory line for tween girls, announced that it has signed a national distribution deal with Nordstrom. The deal will bring the MOGO charm line with more than 200 charms to all Nordstrom full-line store locations throughout the United States and is MOGO Design's large-scale debut into the fashion specialty retailer channel. MOGO is available in select locations now with the full roll-out to be complete by April 2011. 

CINCINNATI -- Macy's Inc. announced that it will make a corporate contribution of $100,000 in cash to the American Red Cross for earthquake and tsunami relief on behalf of Macy's and Bloomingdale's associates across America. In addition, the company said it will match, on a dollar-for-dollar basis, all employee contributions of $25 or more to the American Red Cross and other U.S.-based organizations providing rescue and relief assistance in Japan. 

Johannesburg, South Africa -- A Tuesday report by Bloomberg said that hearings on a Wal-Mart Stores bid to acquire control of Massmart Holdings Ltd. will be adjourned to May 9, following an earlier announcement on Tuesday that the hearings would proceed this week.

After announcing that it will hear evidence from labor unions and Wal-Mart and Massmart this week and from the government on May 9 and May 10, South Africa’s Competition Tribunal now say the hearing has been adjourned to May 9.

Chicago -- Retailers and consumer product manufacturers who create and maintain a diverse workforce are more likely to increase innovation and meet consumer needs than those who don’t, according to a new report by the Network of Executive Women.

Former Walmart president and CEO Lee Scott will step down from the board of Goldman Sachs after serving just one year, according to a report late Thursday by the Financial Times. The publication indicated that a person familiar with the situation said service on the Goldman board demanded significantly more time than Scott had anticipated.

HUDSON, Ohio -- Jo-Ann Stores announced that its shareholders approved the adoption of the merger agreement between an affiliate of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P. and the company. Of the shares that were voted, over 99% were in favor of the adoption of the merger agreement. Approximately 82% of the total outstanding shares, as of the record date, voted in favor of the merger agreement. The company anticipates the closing of the transactions contemplated by the merger agreement, including the merger, will occur later today.

Fairfield, N.J. -- Amerlux Global Lighting Solutions recently celebrated the grand opening of Guangzhou Amerlux Lighting Solutions Co. Ltd., its new facility in China, as well as a Hong Kong sales office. The Guangzhou location was officially launched on Feb. 15 with an elaborate traditional Chinese ceremony.

Cambridge, Md. -- Tarrytown, N.Y.-based  DLC Management Corp. announced that Advance Auto will open an 8,125-sq.-ft. store at Shoal Creek Mall in Cambridge, Md.

The retailer, which signed a 10-year with DLC, will join a newly opened Walgreens anchor at the 67,248-sq.-ft. shopping center.

Advance Auto is slated to open this fall.