MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS. — Kohl’s Corp. (NYSE: KSS) has rejected the attempt by an investor group to seize control of its board of directors, saying the effort would disrupt the company’s momentum and growth strategy. The investor group consists of Macellum Advisors GP LLC, Legion Partners Holdings LLC, Ancora Advisors LLC and 4010 Capital LLC. The Kohl’s board and management team had been engaged in discussions with the group since early December, but this week was the first time the group shared its plans to create value. Kohl’s says its strategic plan already includes several initiatives they propose and that some ideas would not be accretive to shareholder value. The investors wanted to add directors with deep retail experience, cut executive compensation, slash inventory levels and consider selling noncore real estate, according to CNBC. The Kohl’s board will continue to engage with the investor group with the goal of identifying new ideas that could enhance shareholder value. Based in Menomonee Falls, Kohl’s operates more than 1,100 stores in 49 states. The retailer’s shares soared more than 8 percent in trading Monday, according to CNBC. The stock price closed at $55.97 per share Monday, up from $43.13 per share one year …
RHINELANDER, WIS. — Evergreen Trading has acquired a 179,000-square-foot distribution center in Rhinelander in northern Wisconsin. The purchase price was undisclosed. Formerly occupied by Petco, the facility features 150,000 square feet of warehouse space, 20,000 square feet of office space and 9,000 square feet of cold storage space. Justin Felix and Andy Lubinski of CBRE represented Petco in the sale. David Opper of CBRE represented Evergreen, which is a financial solutions and media investment company. The property was purchased as part of a larger business deal between Petco and Evergreen, which has since relisted the facility for sale or lease with Felix and Lubinski.
MILWAUKEE — The Wisconsin investment services team of Colliers International has arranged the sale of a Whole Foods Market-occupied property in Milwaukee for $23.5 million. The sales price represents a cap rate of 5.5 percent. Located at 2305 N. Prospect Ave., the 53,875-square-foot store is part of the commercial space at Prospect Medical Commons. Adam Connor of Colliers represented the seller, a Seattle-based private investor. California-based ExchangeRight Real Estate LLC purchased the asset as part of a 1031 exchange. This is the second time in the last five years that the asset has traded hands.
MINNESOTA AND WISCONSIN — Colliers International has brokered the sale of a six-building industrial portfolio spanning 1.2 million square feet in Minnesota and Wisconsin. The sales price was undisclosed. One of the buildings is in Lino Lakes, Minn.; two are in Pewaukee, Wis.; two are in Milwaukee; and one is in Menomonie, Wis. Tom Shepherd and Mark Kolsrud of Colliers brokered the transaction. All six properties are fully leased. Minneapolis-based Biynah Industrial Partners and Maryland-based Alex Brown Realty Inc. sold the portfolio to Kansas-based Platform Ventures.
MENOMONEE FALLS, WIS. — Kohl’s Corp. (NYSE: KSS) has reported that its comparable sales decreased 11 percent and total revenue declined 10 percent in the fourth quarter compared with the year prior. The fourth quarter for Kohl’s ended Jan. 30. However, this is the third consecutive quarter of sequential improvement, according to the Menomonee Falls-based retailer. The fourth-quarter performance exceeded expectations across all key metrics, according to CEO Michelle Gass. Additionally, digital sales grew by more than 20 percent, accounting for over 40 percent of net sales. This fall, Kohl’s will launch a strategic initiative with beauty retailer Sephora. The partnership will launch in 200 stores and online as part of a multi-year buildout that Kohl’s expects will drive significant growth. Kohl’s will share more on this initiative in its quarterly earnings conference call scheduled for March 2. The stock price for Kohl’s opened at $50.00 per share Friday, Feb. 5, up from $46.07 per share one year ago.
FITCHBURG, WIS. — KeyBank has structured $29.3 million in financing for the construction of Limestone Ridge Apartments in Fitchburg, a suburb of Madison. The four-story project will be home to 116 units that are designated for households earning between 50 and 80 percent of the area median income. Madison-based JT Klein Co. is the developer. KeyBank Community Development Lending and Investment provided a $16 million construction loan, while KeyBank’s Commercial Mortgage Group originated a $13.3 million Freddie Mac forward tax-exempt loan. Additionally, Cinnaire is providing a 4 percent low-income housing tax credit investment of $6 million and HUD and Dane County are providing $4.3 million of soft funding. Steve Sparks of KeyBank’s CDLI team and Robbie Lynn of KeyBank’s Commercial Mortgage Group structured the financing. Completion of the project is slated for October 2022.
ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, NEBRASKA AND WISCONSIN — Newmark has negotiated the sale of the Midwest MHC Portfolio for $100 million. The portfolio spans 21 manufactured housing communities comprising 2,789 sites throughout Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The portfolio was 83 percent occupied at the time of sale. Andrew Shih and Todd Fletcher of Newmark’s Manufactured Housing Group represented the undisclosed seller. Salt Lake City-based private investment group OZ Impact Funds was the buyer.
STURTEVANT, WIS. — Ashley Capital has completed the development of the third speculative industrial building at Enterprise Business Park in Sturtevant, about 30 miles south of Milwaukee. Located at 11101 Enterprise Way, the building spans 397,000 square feet and is known as Enterprise III. The Class A facility offers LED lighting, an ESFR sprinkler system, a clear height of 36 feet, cross-dock loading and build-to-suit office space. John Sharpe and Tom Boyle of Lee & Associates, along with Terry McMahon and Cody Ziegler of Cushman & Wakefield | Boerke, will market the property for lease. Existing tenants at Enterprise Business Park include Amazon, Fresenius USA Manufacturing, Andis Co. and Brown West Logistics.
MADISON, WIS. — Berkadia has brokered the sale of Lake Point Terrace in Madison for $13.1 million. Located at 1674 Lake Point Drive, the 125-unit apartment property features studio, one- and two-bedroom floor plans. Ralph DePasquale of Berkadia represented the seller, Chicago-based Ansonia Properties LLC, as well as the buyer, Milwaukee-based Metropolitan Associates. The value-add opportunity will enable the new buyer to continue to upgrade units, according to DePasquale.
BROOKFIELD, WIS. — Marcus & Millichap has arranged the $6.5 million sale of a Pick ’n Save-anchored retail center in Brookfield, a suburb of Milwaukee. The 70,235-square-foot property, located at 17295 W. Capitol Drive, was fully leased at the time of sale. Other tenants include Club Pilates, Domino’s, CBD Store, Choice Dry Cleaning and Sola Salons. Jeff Rowlett of Marcus & Millichap marketed the property on behalf of the seller, a developer. The Rowlett Group procured the buyer, a California-based limited liability company.