Financial/Banking

New York -- Giving a much-needed boost to J.C. Penney Co., George Soros’ Soros Fund Management bought 17.4 million shares of the troubled retailer, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  

The stake, which was seen as a vote of confidence in returning CEO Mike Ullman, makes the billionaire investor the fourth-largest Penney shareholder, with a 7.9% stake.

Minneapolis — Supervalu has elected Rite Aid chairman, president and CEO John Standley and Cerberus COO and general counsel Mark A. Neporent to its board of directors.


Standley has spent the past 20 years in executive leadership roles in the grocery and pharmacy retail business. He became Rite Aid Corporation’s president and COO in September 2008, was appointed to the Rite Aid board of directors in 2009 and was named CEO in June 2010. He was elected chairman of Rite Aid’s board of directors in June 2012.

New York -- The U.S. Senate on Thursday voted to move forward with the Marketplace Fairness Act, legislation that would allow states to force retailers to collect online sales taxes, if the states choose to do so.  

New York -- A Friday report by CNBC said that Goldman Sachs has lined up a $1.75 billion financing package for J.C. Penney Co., backed by the retailer’s real estate and other assets.

The news, which has not yet been confirmed by Penney, comes a day after investor George Soros reported a 7.9% stake in the company.

Earlier this month, Penney borrowed $850 million from its $1.85 billion revolving credit facility to boost its cash position and buy inventory.

Miami -- Jones Lang LaSalle announced it has closed the sale of Kendall Corners on behalf of joint owners Weingarten Realty Investors and a subsidiary of TIAA-CREF.

Miami-based Orion Ventures purchased the 96,515-sq.-ft. shopping center.

Sidney, Neb. -- Cabela’s first quarter profit rose 72.9%, topping expectations, on strong sales of firearms and ammunition. Net income rose to $49.8 million, up from $28.8 million in the year-ago quarter.
 
Revenue increased 28.7% to $802.5 million from $623.5 million last year. Analysts expected revenue of $770.5 million.
   

ATLANTA — Coca-Cola’s board of directors has elected Robin Moore as one of the company’s VPs.

Moore, 47, was recently named chief of internal audit, effective May 1, replacing Connie McDaniel who is retiring after 24 years with the company. Moore is currently global director of finance operations in global business services. She began her career with the company in 1995 and has assumed roles of increasing responsibility including senior audit manager in corporate audit and director of financial reporting in the controller’s group.

New York -- The CEO of Best Buy, Hubert Joly, earned compensation worth $19.6 million in his five months on the job in 2012, the Associated Press reported.  

Joly, a turnaround expert, took the reins of the chain in September. Former CEO Brian Dunn left in April when a board investigation found that Dunn violated company policy by having a "close personal relationship" with a female staffer. Board member Mike Mikan, one of Best Buy’s board members, served as temporary CEO before Joly was hired.