J.C. Penney plans to create a REIT with some of its properties, as part of bankruptcy. JCPenney operates 846 stores, 387 of which it owns, including 110 stores operating on ground leases, a court filing shows.
JC Penney owns over 300 of their retail properties along with 11 distribution centers.
Simon, Authentic Brands and other mall owners wouldn’t necessarily be interested in JCP for their properties, but because they anchor their shopping malls.