NEW YORK and CHARLOTTE, N.C., 2015-12-14 — /EPR Retail News/ — Sycamore Partners today announced that it has completed its acquisition of Belk, Inc. (“Belk” or the “Company”).
Stefan Kaluzny, Managing Director of Sycamore Partners, said, “We are excited to have completed this acquisition and to begin our partnership with Belk. The Company has developed a loyal base of customers over its 127-year history, and we believe Belk is positioned for continued growth and success. We look forward to working with Belk’s management team and associates as they build on the Company’s legacy and continue to serve its customers and deliver Modern. Southern. Style.”
Tim Belk, chief executive officer of Belk, Inc., said, “We are very pleased to complete this transaction with Sycamore Partners, which delivers meaningful value to all our stakeholders. Our partnership with Sycamore will contribute to Belk’s continued success, and we look forward to leveraging Sycamore’s deep knowledge of the retail market to best serve our dedicated customers and provide even greater opportunities for our valued team members.”
As previously announced, under the terms of the transaction, Tim Belk is continuing to serve as CEO of Belk, and the Company continues to be headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Goldman, Sachs & Co. acted as financial advisor and King & Spalding LLP acted as legal advisor to Belk. BofA Merrill Lynch acted as financial advisor and Kirkland & Ellis LLP acted as legal advisor to Sycamore Partners.
About Belk, Inc.
Charlotte, NC-based Belk, Inc. (www.belk.com) is the nation’s largest family owned and operated department store company with 296 Belk stores located in 16 Southern states and a growing digital presence. Its belk.com website offers a wide assortment of national brands and private label fashion apparel, shoes and accessories for the entire family along with top name cosmetics, a wedding registry and a large selection of quality merchandise for the home. Founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk in Monroe, NC, the company is in the third generation of Belk family leadership and has been committed to community involvement since its inception. In the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015, the Company and its associates, customers and vendors donated more than $21.5 million to communities within Belk market areas.
Belk offers many ways to connect via digital and social media, including Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and Google Plus, and provides exclusive offers, fashion updates, sales notifications and coupons via email or mobile phone text messages. Customers can also download the latest Belk mobile apps for the iPad, iPhone or Android.
About Sycamore Partners
Sycamore Partners is a private equity firm based in New York specializing in consumer and retail investments. The firm has more than $3.5 billion in capital under management. The firm’s strategy is to partner with management teams to improve the operating profitability and strategic value of their businesses. The firm’s investment portfolio currently includes Aeropostale, Coldwater Creek, Dollar Express, EMP Merchandising, Hot Topic, the Kasper Group, Kurt Geiger, MGF Sourcing, Nine West Holdings, Talbots and Torrid.
SOURCE Belk, Inc.
For further information: For Belk: Ralph Pitts, Belk, Inc., 704-426-8402; For Sycamore Partners: Michael Freitag or Arielle Rothstein, Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher, 212-355-4449