Soros Stake in J.C. Penney Lifts Shares

Some observers view the move as a vote of confidence in new CEO Myron Ullman, who replaced Ron Johnson, who was fired earlier this month. Johnson had tried to eliminate the company’s long-time strategy of offering coupons and sales. J.C. Penney customers stayed away in droves and sales plunged more than 25%. Ullman already has begun a return to the old discount strategy.

Soros joins William Ackman and his Pershing Square Capital Management as a major holder of J.C. Penney stock. Ackman owns about 17.8% of the company’s shares.

J.C. Penney has borrowed $850 million on its revolving credit facility to implement the discount strategy and also has hired financial advisory firm Blackstone Group L.P. (NYSE: BX) to help it figure out how to turn the ailing retailer around. Finding more investors like Soros is not a bad place to start.

Shares of J.C. Penney are up nearly 7.5% in premarket trading this morning at $16.37 in a 52-week range of $13.55 to $36.89.