Department Store

New York -- The Boston-based private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners has agreed to acquire a majority stake in Party City Holdings Inc., Rockaway, N.J., in a deal valued at $2.69 billion.

WASHINGTON — Organized retail crime is a growing concern for all retailers, with a staggering 96% reporting that their company has been the victim of a crime in the past year, according to NRF's Organized Retail Crime Survey. This number is up from 94.5% in the past year.  In addition, 87.7% say ORC activity in the United States has grown over the past three years.

Canadian specialty apparel retailer Reitmans broadens its appeal with a new store environment designed to appeal to a younger and more fashion-focused shopper while also engaging the existing customer base. Bright, crisp, clean and confident, the new design (by Dalzel and Pow, London) brings a fresh, modern feel to the brand.

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation released Tuesday the Top 10 cities for organized retail crime activity.

Topping the list is Atlanta. The other nine are:

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings said that Scott Huckins will join the company as VP and corporate treasurer.

Huckins comes to Sears Holdings from RSC Holdings where he served as VP and treasurer, responsible for global treasury, credit and investor relations activities. 
 

Indianapolis -- Simon Property Group announced that it has acquired 50% of Silver Sands Factory Stores, an outlet shopping destination located in Destin, Florida. Howard Group, developer of the center, will remain 50% owner of the center. Simon will assume primary responsibility of leasing and management duties.

The 465,000-sq.-ft. Silver Sands center is home to over 100 stores including Ann Taylor Factory Store, Coach, Cole Haan, J.Crew, Kenneth Cole, Michael Kors, Nike and Saks Fifth Avenue Off 5th.
 

PLANO, Texas -- Ron Johnson, CEO of J.C. Penney, will answer questions from investors at the Piper Jaffray 32nd Annual Consumer Conference in New York City on June 5, 2012.
   
The question and answer session will begin at 8:30 a.m. ET and will be available via live webcast on jcpenney's Investor Relations page at http://ir.jcpenney.com.  Replays of the webcast will be available for up to 90 days after the event.
 

Bensalem, Pa. -- Charming Shoppes reported Friday that net income for the first quarter plummeted 31.7% to $17.8 million, from $26 million in the year-ago period.

Sales dropped 4.6% to $481.3 million, largely due to the shuttering of 157 stores. E-commerce was a strength in the quarter, up 18% over the prior-year period. Same-store sales were flat in the first quarter, including a 1% comparable-store sales increase for Lane Bryant, a 5% comparable-store sales increase for Catherines, and a 3% comparable-store sales decrease for Fashion Bug.