Los Angeles — On January 19, Forever 21 named Winnie Park as chief executive officer (CEO) of the fashion brand. The appointment is effective immediately. Park joins Forever 21 from Paper Source, where she served as CEO for the past 6 years. Park’s tenure at Paper Source is marked by transforming the brand from a brick-and-mortar retailer to a lifestyle brand with a robust digital platform spanning social, digital content, online subscriptions and affiliate partnerships. She also led the successful sale of the brand to an affiliate of Barnes & …
Simon Property Group
Boston — Wayfair, a Boston-based e-commerce firm specializing in furniture, will open three brick-and-mortar stores in the Boston area in 2022. The first two stores will be located within open-air centers in Lynnfield and Dedham that are owned by WS Development and will carry the company’s AllModern brands. The third store will be located within Simon Property Group’s Burlington Mall and will carry the Joss & Main brand. Wayfair plans to open more stores to support other brands over the next 2 years. SOURCE: www.REBusinessOnline.com
New York City — Läderach – chocolatier suisse has signed lease agreements with Simon to open 15 new premium chocolate stores from coast-to-coast starting in the beginning of August through September. Each store will feature more than 85 varieties of fresh artisanal chocolate directly from Switzerland. Läderach currently has more than 100 stores worldwide. Each store will feature more than 85 varieties of fresh artisanal chocolate directly from Switzerland to be experienced with the five senses (sight, sound, touch, scent, and taste). The stores will also include a dedicated FrischSchoggi™ …
Columbus, Ohio — Washington Prime Group, an Ohio-based owner-operator of regional malls and shopping centers, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. WPG cited insurmountable operating challenges tied to the COVID-19 pandemic as the primary catalyst behind the move. Against that backdrop, both CNBC and Reuters reported that many of the company’s tenants were unable to pay rent at various points in time over the last 16 months as public health mandates and lockdowns decimated foot traffic throughout the brick-and-mortar …
Bloomfield Hills, Mich. — The Taubman Company LLC has promoted William S. Taubman to president of the company; he will also retain his role as chief operating officer. Taubman will continue to report to Robert S. Taubman, chairman and chief executive officer, while leading the company’s development, center operations, leasing and strategic communications functions. “Billy grew up in our business and is a creative, extremely well-respected thought leader within the retail real estate industry,” says Robert Taubman. “He has deep and productive relationships throughout retailing, and particularly with our luxury …
Indianapolis — Simon Property Group, Inc. has completed its acquisition of an 80% ownership interest in The Taubman Realty Group Limited Partnership (TRG) for approximately $3.4 billion. Under the terms of the transaction, Simon, through its operating partnership, Simon Property Group, L.P., acquired all of Taubman Centers, Inc. (TCO) common stock for $43.00 per share in cash, and the Taubman family sold approximately one-third of its ownership interest at the transaction price and remains a 20% partner in TRG. “We are very pleased to complete this transaction and to add …
Indianapolis and Bloomfield Hills, Mich. — Simon Property Group and Taubman Centers Inc. have modified their merger agreement to include a new purchase price of $43 per share, enabling Simon to proceed with its acquisition of an 80% interest in Taubman. CNBC reports that the decline in the agreed-upon share price from $52.50 per share effectively reduces the price tag of the deal by $800 million. This announcement comes just as the two regional mall REITs were set to square off in Circuit Court for the Sixth Judicial District of …
Plano, Texas — J.C. Penney has drafted and filed an asset purchase agreement (APA), effectively moving the Plano, Texas-based retailer one step closer to concluding negotiations for its acquisition by Brookfield Asset Management and Simon Property Group, a $1.75 billion deal that was announced in September. J.C. Penney CEO Jill Soltau described this filing as “another important milestone in our restructuring plan” that should help the company shed its Chapter 11 bankruptcy status in time for the holiday shopping season. A hearing to seek court approval for the transaction is …
Brookfield Property Group, Simon Property Group Agree to Acquire JCPenney for $1.75 Billion
Plano, Texas — Brookfield Property Group and Simon Property Group have agreed to acquire the retail and operating assets of J.C. Penney Co. for $1.75 billion at a bankruptcy auction. As part of the sale agreement, the three companies will form a property holding company (PropCos), which will include 161 of the J.C. Penney real estate assets and all of its owned distribution centers. The Plano, Texas-based retailer’s Ad Hoc Group of First Lien Lenders will own PropCos. J.C. Penney filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in mid-May and restructured 90% …
Indianapolis — Simon Property Group has terminated its Feb. 9 merger agreement with Taubman Centers Inc. Simon also filed an action on June 10 in Michigan’s Oakland County Circuit Court saying Taubman breached the covenants in the merger agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, Simon was to acquire an 80% interest in Taubman for approximately $3.6 billion. Indianapolis-based Simon says its termination of the merger agreement is based on two separate grounds. “First, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a uniquely material and disproportionate effect on Taubman compared with other …