Corporate Governance

New York – The Manhattan district attorney’s office has brought federal money laundering charges against two men involved in exchanging Bitcoin virtual currency. According to media reports, Bitcoin exchanger Robert M. Faiella, 52, and Charlie Shrem, 24, the CEO of the Bitcoin exchange company BitInstant, have been charged with conspiring to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business.

New York -- Chico's FAS will launch its namesake brand in Mexico, through an exclusive franchise with El Puerto de Liverpool, S.A.B. de C. V. ("Liverpool"), starting with a stand-alone boutique at Perisur Mall, Mexico City, in spring 2014.

Plans for the Chico's expansion in Mexico include the opening of stand-alone stores as well as branded shop-in-shops in Liverpool department stores. The second stand-alone boutique will open in Villahermosa, Tabasco.

Fort Worth, Texas -- McAlister's Deli has partnered with Buxton to identify the best market opportunities for continued growth. Buxton's restaurant expertise and Scout platform will allow McAlister's to quantify growth potential and optimize locations of new and existing restaurants.

Atlanta -- Atlanta based retail design agency, Miller Zell, has expanded its design team and appointed Tom Ertler as as senior VP/design director leading environmental design initiatives. He joins the company from his most recent role as a founding partner with Authentic Retail Group, Pasadena, Calif., an integrated brand development firm. Prior to that, he was creative director at Envision, the full-service environmental design studio of Palladeo.

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Irvine, Calif. — Hanley Investment Group Real Estate Advisors closed out 2013 with 10 retail property sales totaling nearly $61 million in December. For the year, Hanley logged sales of more than $315 million. Among the December sales were:

Miami -- Publix Super Markets will open a 49,000-sq.-ft. supermarket and pharmacy to anchor Terra Group’s latest retail center development, Doral Commons in Doral, Fla. The 140,000-sq.-ft. center is located in one of the fastest growing residential areas of Miami Dade County.

Courtelis Company represented Terra Group in the lease negotiation with Publix and will continue to represent the company in the leasing of the remaining available space in Doral Commons.

Portland, Ore. — Cypress Equities, the management company for Lloyd Center, has shared its initial plans for updating the historic shopping center in the Lloyd District adjacent to downtown Portland.

The proposal, which has been submitted to city officials, calls for two entirely new pedestrian entryways designed to provide greater access to the shopping center and to build synergy with the stir of activity along Multnomah Street.

Orlando, Fla. — Ruth’s Chris Steak House has opened a new location in Denver — in the historic Denver Dry Goods Building. The contemporary space spans nearly 10,000 sq. ft. and boasts a grand lounge, three private event rooms, a dining room and a state-of-the-art kitchen anchored by Ruth’s Chris’ signature and proprietary 1,800-degree broiler.

Ruth’s Chris is the largest upscale steak house company in the world, with nearly 140 restaurant locations around the globe.

Plano, Texas – J.C. Penney Co. is amending its stockholder rights plan as part of move to protect its ability to use certain funds that can be used for tax benefits.

Penney said its shareholder rights plan can now be put into effect if an individual or group acquires 4.9% or more of its outstanding stock, down from its previous 10%.