Catalyst Brands combines SPARC Group's Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, and Nautica with JCPenney and its exclusive in-house labels such as Stafford, Arizona, and Liz Claiborne.

JCPenney and SPARC Group today announced that they have combined to form a new organization, Catalyst Brands, creating an unmatched portfolio of six iconic retail banners that celebrate the essence of American style.

Catalyst Brands has its headquarters within JCPenney’s corporate headquarters in Plano, TX. It also has offices in New York, Los Angeles, and Seattle. JCPenney has 50,000 employees, with over 650 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico. In 2022, the retailer celebrated its 120th Anniversary.

The combination of JCPenney with entities including the parent of brands Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, and Eddie Bauer will be based in Plano and have $9 billion in revenue, 1,800 stores, and 60,000 employees.

JCPenney is merging with a company that owns several other retailers that have also struggled as malls have declined in popularity across the U.S. The 123-year-old department store chain and SPARC Group have combined to form Catalyst Brands,

JCPenney and SPARC Group announced their merger to form Catalyst Brands, combining six major retail brands under one portfolio.

The department store chain said that the all-equity merger brings its banner and various exclusive private brands under the same umbrella as Sparc’s portfolio, which includes Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand and Nautica.

JCPenney and retail store operator Sparc are merging to form a U.S. retailing behemoth called Catalyst Brands. Why it matters: The new company's owners comprise a consortium of so