Retail

Lowe’s has elected former WellPoint executive Angela Braly to the company's board of directors. Braly’s term will expire at Lowe's 2014 annual meeting of shareholders. Her addition brings the total of members to 12, of whom 11 are independent.

Ottawa, Canada – Amazon.com has the best price on products in its assortment about 80% of the time. However, the new “Amazon Holiday Pricing Insights” analysis from pricing technology provider 360pi shows that Amazon does have weak spots, and that retailers can compete with the online giant, especially if they can beat Amazon on other non-price purchase factors.

New York -- Transportation logistics services provider XPO Logistics has acquired Optima Service Solutions, a non-asset provider of last-mile logistics services for major retailers and manufacturers in the United States.

The cash purchase price was $26.6 million, excluding any working capital adjustments, with no assumption of debt.

Following a heated back-and-forth between Jos. A. Bank and the Men’s Wearhouse, which culminated in an ultimatum, Jos. A. Bank Clothiers has terminated its acquisition proposal.

As previously reported, Jos. A. Bank had advised the Men's Wearhouse board that it would terminate its all-cash proposal to purchase the company for $48 per share if the board failed to “engage in good faith negotiations” by Nov. 14. The day came and went and the companies continued in a deadlock.

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By Stephen Springham, senior retail analyst at Planet Retail

Three quarters of results and a hat-trick of disappointments — Walmart U.S. again failed to achieve its guidance of flat comps in Q3, reporting a decline of 0.3%. This was not entirely unexpected as an already fragile consumer environment has not been helped by the government shutdown.

Chapel Hill, N.C. — Silverspot has signed a lease for a 52,500-sq.-ft. movie theater at University Mall in Orange County, N.C. Four new boutiques, a high end sporting goods store and a new fine dining option have also signed leases recently.

The new tenants are part of a redevelopment plan being carried out by owner Madison Marquette.

Silverspot at University Mall, a theater and casual dining concept, will be the fifth U.S. location for the company, a division of Cines Unidos, one of the largest theater companies in South America.

Chicago — Barnett Capital has sold The Shoppes at Prime Village in Schaumburg, Ill., to Integris Ventures for approximately $7.25 million, according to CBRE, which represented Barnett in the transaction.

The acquisition is the first for Integris Ventures in the Chicago area.

Built in 2008, the 38,313-sq.-ft. center is anchored by Aldi. Other tenants include Chicago Prime Steakhouse and Culvers.