Finance & Capital Management

A search is underway for a new CEO at Walgreens following the resignation of president and CEO Greg Wasson as the retailer moves toward creation of a new holding company ownership structure and complete its largest ever acquisition.

Walgreens said stronger sales from established stores helped it trump analyst expectations for the first quarter, even as the company's acquisition of European retailer Alliance Boots remains on track to close this month.

Walgreens reported a 16.4% lift in quarterly profit to $809 million that was credited to the 222 million prescriptions filled for the first quarter ended Nov. 30. 

Family Dollar delayed a shareholder vote on a potential acquisition by Dollar Tree until Jan. 22 in a move that allows more time to contemplate a rival bid from Dollar General.

Family Dollar convened as planned on Tuesday and, based on insufficient votes, subsequently adjourned its Special Meeting of Stockholders on the proposed transaction with Dollar Tree.

Teen and pre-teen retailer Five Below landed two senior executives from Walmart.com and Ascena Retail Group for key roles as it looks to accelerate an already rapid pace of growth.

Walmart.com president and CEO Joel Anderson will join Five Below as president in July to oversee all aspects of merchandising, stores and marketing. Eric Specter, most recently EVP and chief integration officer for Ascena, will serve as Five Below’s chief administrative officer and oversee supply chain, information technology and real estate.

Michael Huseby was named CEO at Barnes and Noble after previously serving briefly as the retailer’s CFO and then president.

Huseby will also serve on the company’s board and oversee the 673 store retail group led by CEO Mitchell Klipper and the 695 store college group led by CEO Max Roberts. Huseby joined Barnes & Noble in March 2012 as CFO and was named president in July 2013.

PLEASANTON, Calif. - For the second year in a row, Safeway Inc. has received a perfect score of 100% on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices pertinent to LGBT equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.  

New York - A Delaware judge has denied a request  to block Tuesday's vote by Family Dollar Stores on a  $8.5 billion take-over bid by Dollar Tree,  saying dissident shareholders "failed to demonstrate a reasonable probability of success on any of their claims."   A shareholder lawsuit had requested a preliminary injunction against the vote until Family Dollar “properly engaged” in talks  with rival Dollar General to “achieve a value-maximizing transaction.”  

Normanton, U.K. – U.K.-based discount retailer Poundworld is embarking on an IT overhaul with global retail IT services provider PCMS to support its long-term growth plans. The 10-month project will see Poundworld implement a range of new IT systems to improve customer experience, efficiency and store management.   

Minneapolis – Appliance Recycling Centers of America Inc. (ARCA) has named Jeffery Ostapeic as the company's CFO. Ostapeic is a certified public accountant and served most recently as an audit partner with Grant Thornton LLP, an international accounting firm.   

Deerfield, Ill. - Walgreen Co. intends to apply to list the shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. common stock on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol “WBA” following the closing of its merger with UK-based pharmacy retailer Alliance Boots. The company will voluntarily withdraw its common stock from listing on both the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Chicago Stock Exchange (CHX).