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Purchase, N.Y. — MasterCard Advisors, a division of MasterCard, and analytics firm Mu Sigma announced a new partnership to develop analytic products toward solving business challenges such as acquiring customers and increasing customer loyalty.

As part of the partnership, MasterCard has acquired an equity stake in Mu Sigma. Additional terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Purchase, N.Y. -- Total retail sales (excluding automotive) for December 2012 grew by 2.4% year-over-year, according to a SpendingPulse report released Wednesday by MasterCard Advisors, the professional services arm of MasterCard. (SpendingPulse reports on national retail sales and is based on aggregate sales activity in the MasterCard payments network, coupled with estimates for all other payment forms, including cash and check.)

New York City -- Holiday-related sales rose 0.7% from October 28 through December 24, compared with a 2% rise last year, according to a preliminary report from MasterCard Advisors Spending Pulse.

"It has been a very uneven industry performance, probably at least for the last year, and that certainly continued into the holiday season," said Michael Niemira, chief economist at the International Council of Shopping Centers, in a Reuters report.

Purchase, N.Y. -- A SpendingPulse report released Wednesday by MasterCard Advisors in partnership with Wells Fargo found that spending at small retailers in November picked up a percentage point since October, showing a 5.2% year over year improvement.

This was enough to put its growth rate from October to November at 0.7%, more than the growth rate of total U.S. retail sales.

Panama City Beach, Fla. -- The St. Joe Co., together with Casto and Strategic Retail Advisors, announced a joint venture to develop Pier Park North, a 390,000-sq.-ft. shopping center located across from Pier Park Lifestyle Center in Panama City Beach, Fla.

Confirmed retailers include Dick’s Sporting Goods, Michaels, Pier 1 Imports and Kirkland’s. Pier Park North anticipates opening in spring 2014.

New York -- A Tuesday report by the Wall Street Journal said that activist hedge fund Starboard Value has added former Home Depot and Chrysler executive Robert Nardelli and ex-Staples vice chairman Joseph Vassalluzzo as advisors – part of Starboard’s plan to make sweeping changes at Office Depot Inc.

According to a Monday filing, Nardelli and Vassalluzzo will provide counsel toward improving Office Depot’s operations and strategies.

New York -- RCS Real Estate Advisors said it has been retained by Bella Terra Cosmetics to help facilitate the rollout of Forever Flawless mall locations throughout the U.S.

As part of an initiative to expand the Forever Flawless luxury skin care brand, RCS will be selectively identifying and pursuing 1,500- to 2,000-sq.-ft. real estate opportunities within the best malls primarily in California, Florida and Texas.

Forever Flawless products are currently sold in seven locations throughout Las Vegas, Miami Beach and Nantucket.

Miami Beach, Fla.-based Savitar Realty Advisors has nearly completed its transformation of the legendary Lincoln Theatre in the heart of South Beach from a historic movie theater and symphony hall into a 35,000-sq.-ft. mixed-use building located on the pedestrian promenade known as the Lincoln Road Mall.

The modern retail establishment scheduled to open in November will house H&M’s 30,000-sq.-ft. flagship store as well as a number of other smaller tenants including Swatch, Sabon, 4D Gelato and 100 Montaditos, a Spanish tapas and sandwich style restaurant.

Brentwood, Calif. -- RED Legacy and a fund managed by DRA Advisors have acquired The Streets of Brentwood, a 350,000-sq.-ft. lifestyle center on 60 acres in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area.

Tenants include a 14-screen Rave Imax Brentwood 14+ImaxTheater, DSW, REI, Loft, Banana Republic, Victoria’s Secret, BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, Ulta and more. In addition, Charming Charlie will open a 7,500-sq.-ft. store in November.

Foothill Ranch, Calif. -- The Wet Seal said that two independent proxy advisors, Institutional Shareholder Services and Egan-Jones Proxy Services, recommended that the chain’s shareholders reject efforts by Clinton Group to replace six members of the company’s board of directors.  

New York -- Advisors to Supervalu Inc. are asking potential buyers to bid for the entire operation, even as several suitors have inquired about individual parts of the U.S. grocery company, according to a report by Bloomberg News.

In July, Supervalu said it was looking at options for overhauling the company, including a sale. The chain hired Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Greenhill & Co as advisors.