Atlanta — Atlanta-based Home Depot reported a drop of 5.8 percent in customer transactions in its fiscal second quarter that ended in August 2021, but the average ticket of customer sales was 11.3 percent larger than last year. As people go back to working in an office after working from home since the beginning of the pandemic, fewer shoppers visited Home Depot during the fiscal second quarter due to less interest in do-it-yourself projects, according to CNBC. The home improvement retailer reported $41.1 billion in sales during its fiscal second …
Seattle — Amazon, the Seattle-based e-commerce giant, is planning to open a chain of department stores to boost its sales in clothing, household items, electronics and other areas. The news comes from a Wall Street Journal report citing “people familiar with the matter.” The first stores are expected to open in Ohio and California and, at around 30,000 square feet, will be smaller than a typical department store. “It is unclear what brands Amazon will offer in the stores, although the company’s private-label goods are expected to feature prominently,” the …
Dublin, Ohio and Miami — The Wendy’s Co. and REEF have formed a new development commitment to open and operate 700 delivery kitchens over the next five years across the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom. Through this commitment, REEF will become the first Wendy’s franchisee in the United Kingdom. Wendy’s and REEF expect to open approximately 50 delivery kitchens in 2021, with the remainder launched by 2025.
New York City and Las Vegas — VICI Properties Inc. (NYSE: VICI), MGM Growth Properties LLC (NYSE: MGP) and MGM Resorts International (NYSE: MGM) have entered into a definitive agreement under which VICI will acquire MGP for a total consideration of $17.2 billion, including the assumption of approximately $5.7 billion of debt. MGM Resorts is the controlling shareholder of MGP. Upon completion of the merger, VICI will have an estimated enterprise value of $45 billion representing 43 properties in 15 states. The deal will add 15 Class A entertainment resort properties across …
Indianapolis — Total retail sales for the month of June at Simon Property Group (NYSE: SPG) assets were equal to pre-pandemic levels, according to the Indianapolis-based company. Sales were up 80 percent compared with June 2020. Simon’s net operating income (NOI) increased 16.6 percent in the second quarter of 2021 compared with the same period one year ago. As of June 30, occupancy at Simon’s U.S. malls and premium outlets was 91.8 percent. “I am pleased with the profitability and substantial improvement in cash flow that were generated in the second …
Aurora and Lombard, Ill. — Old Second Bancorp Inc. and West Suburban Bancorp Inc. have signed a definitive merger agreement under which Aurora-based Old Second will acquire Lombard-based West Suburban in a cash and stock transaction valued at $297 million. Under the terms of the merger agreement, which was unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both companies, Old Second will pay 65 percent of the purchase price in stock and the remainder in cash. According to a news release, the merged company will have approximately $6.2 billion in …
Atlanta — Mark Toro, who formerly led North American Properties’ (NAP) Atlanta division, is launching Toro Development Co. This company will be aimed at acquiring outdated sites such as dead malls and transforming them into better mixed-use properties. The firm is not just focused on enclosed malls, but also suburban office parks, shopping centers and industrial sites. John Kelley, Richard Munger and Vicky Boyce are joining Toro’s development team as partners. The trio all played a role in ground-up and redevelopment projects at NAP, including Avalon, Atlantic Station, Colony Square …
Indianapolis and Chicago — Kite Realty Group Trust (NYSE: KRG) and Retail Properties of America (NYSE: RPAI) have entered into a merger agreement valued at $7.5 billion that will create a new shopping center REIT with a portfolio of 185 assets totaling approximately 32 million gross leasable square feet. Under the terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter, a subsidiary of Indianapolis-based KRG will acquire Chicago-based RPAI in an all-stock transaction. The $7.5 billion valuation puts the newly formed company in the top five …
Cincinnati — Phillips Edison & Co. Inc. (PECO), an internally managed REIT, has filed a registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission to offer 17 million shares of its common stock to the public. The Cincinnati-based shopping center owner also intends to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 2.5 million shares of its common stock. The initial public offering (IPO) price is expected to be between $28 and $31 per share. Adjusting for the one-for-three reverse stock split that was executed on July …
Deerfield, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. (NASDAQ: WBA), the company behind pharmacy retailers Walgreens and Duane Reade, predicts a 10 percent increase in adjusted earnings per share this fiscal year. The Deerfield, Illinois-based firm’s new CEO, Roz Brewer, says she plans to make investments in the coming months, including digital automation and technology efforts. Additionally, Walgreens and VillageMD have agreed to open hundreds of doctor offices in drugstores, which will span around 3,300 square feet each. VillageMD says it will find staff members and operate these clinics, and over …