JCPenney is combining with the owner of fellow shopping mall staples Aéropostale and Lucky Brand after a merger of two brand portfolios in an all-equity transaction Wednesday.

JCPenney, a department store chain owned by Simon Property Group (NYSE:SPG) and Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM), has merged with SPARC Group to form a new company called Catalyst Brands. The joint venture will house SPARC's brands Aéropostale,

JCPenney has merged with the owner of several retail brands to create a brand new company. On Jan. 8, JCPenney merged with SPARC Group, the owner of the following companies: Through the merger, JCPenney and SPARC Group created Catalyst Brands.

Sparc was formed in 2016 by Simon, Brookfield and Authentic Brands Group, and fast fashion retailer Shein was brought in as a minority owner in 2023.

Sparc Group, the parent company of Forever 21 and Aéropostale, announced it merged with JCPenney to create a new company called Catalyst Brands.

Department store chain JCPenney has merged with Sparc Group LLC to create a new firm that includes Seattle-based Eddie Bauer and other well-known retail brands.

Retailers are banding together for a massive operation based out of Texas that will see JCPenney merge with the parent company of Forever 21. Known as Catalyst Brands, the new company includes Aéropostale,

JCPenney announced Thursday the company merged with SPARC Group, to form a larger retail organization called Catalyst Brands.

The joint venture brings together Sparc Group’s Aeropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand and Nautica with JCPenney.