Corporate Governance

J.C. Penney is in the final phase of its turnaround and the company’s stores are customers’ preferred destination for great style, quality and value, according to company CEO Mike Ullman.

Those comments came after J.C. Penney said its third quarter same store sales were flat and it forecast a fourth quarter comp increase of 2% to 4%. Total sales in the quarter ended Nov. 1 declined slightly to $2.76 billion from $2.78 billion.

Minneapolis -- Promising an “Amazon-like experience” in its stores, Target Corp. has acquired a Pittsburgh technology firm that says its software platform brings "an Amazon-like shopping experience" to in-store customers.   Target and Powered Analytics co-founder Collin Otis have confirmed the deal but have not disclosed the terms. The firm will reported remain headquartered in Pittsburgh.  

Walmart’s same store sales turned positive during the third quarter, ending a two year drought, prompting the company to forecast a U.S. comp increase of as much as 1% during the fourth quarter.

Los Angeles -- CBRE Group, Inc. has been appointed by Standard Chartered Bank to provide asset management and lease administration services across the bank’s commercial property portfolio.   

Houston -- Marcus & Millichap announced the sale of The Villagio at Cinco Ranch, an 111,963-sq.-ft. lifestyle shopping center in Katy, Texas. The asset had a list price of $31,290,000; however, the terms of the sale of were not released.   Derek Hargrove, senior associate, and Justin Miller, vice president investments, had the exclusive listing to market the property on behalf of the seller, The Marcel Group.    

A third quarter same store sales decline of 1% at Dillard’s wasn’t enough to dissuade CEO William Dillard, II, from declaring the company is very well positioned for the holidays.

Total merchandise sales also declined 1% to $1.42 billion while net incomes increased to $55.2 million, or $1.30 a share, compared to $50.9 million, or $1.13 a share. The third quarter earnings per share benefited from a one time gain of $3.8 million, or nine cents a share, related to the sale of a store location.

Kansas City -- Eddie Bauer has opened an Eddie Bauer Outlet story at Kansas City’s signature designer outlet shopping center, Legends Outlet Kansas City. The new store opened on Nov. 13.   The only area Eddie Bauer Outlet opened between J. Crew | crewcuts and OshKosh B’Gosh at 1813 Village West Parkway, occupying 3,964 sq. ft.  

Hangzhou, China -- Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. plans to hold its first bond sale of senior unsecured notes. The principal amount, interest rates, maturity dates and other terms of the notes have not been finalized and will be determined at the time of pricing of the offering.    Alibaba plans to use the net proceeds from the offering primarily to refinance its existing credit facilities.