Financial/Banking

New York – Law firm Morgan & Morgan is investigating potential legal claims against the board of directors of Saks Inc. relating to the proposed acquisition of Saks by Hudson's Bay Company. Morgan & Morgan's investigation concerns whether Saks' board of directors breached its fiduciary duties to act in the best interests of Saks' shareholders and to take all necessary steps to ensure that Saks' shareholders receive the maximum value readily available for their shares of Saks common stock.

By Ted Vaughan, [email protected]

The year 2012 was the best year for retail IPOs since 2002 — S&P Capital IQ reported seven offerings for the year — and when we released our 2013 IPO Outlook Study earlier this year, 30% of capital markets executives expected initial public offerings (IPOs) in the retail and consumer products space to continue to grow in 2013. Now that we’re well into the second half of the year, how have those expectations fared?

New York -- Jones Lang LaSalle has added another financing expert to its growing Capital Markets team in Dallas. Industry veteran Jeff Zickefoose joins has joined the firm as senior VP. He will work with Managing Director Randy Fleisher and the rest of the team to provide strategic services to clients throughout the region.

“Jeff brings nearly 20 years of financial experience and a long track record of originating debt on behalf of leading commercial mortgage debt providers,” said Fleisher.

New York – Despite a slowdown in U.S. retail and consumer merger & acquisition (M&A) activity in second quarter 2013, consumer sentiment and retail sales trends remain positive, along with strong corporate balance sheets and availability of private equity "dry powder," which should help trigger M&A activity during the second half of 2013, according to PwC's U.S. retail and consumer deals insights second quarter 2013 report.

Houston — Jones Lang LaSalle has announced the closing of the sale of The Shops at Bella Terra, a 308,828-sq.-ft. power center in Houston’s Grand Parkway corridor. The JLL Capital Markets Group also secured acquisition financing with Wells Fargo and additional equity from Heitman on behalf of the buyer, Dunhill Partners

Stephen L. Hittman has been developing supermarket-anchored shopping centers for three decades. In 2001, he founded Crossroads Companies. As president and CEO of Crossroads, he has built a regional portfolio of supermarket-anchored centers valued at more than $200 million.

New York -- Jamestown has closed on the $307.5 million acquisition of One Metro Center, a trophy office building located in the East End submarket of Washington, D.C.

Close to the White House, Treasury Department and Ronald Reagan Building, the property sits above Metro Center Station, the central hub of Washington’s subway system.