Finance & Capital Management

Jos. A. Bank is in the process of acquiring Everest Topco, a portfolio company of Golden Gate and parent company of the Eddie Bauer brand.

The purchase price for Eddie Bauer consists of a combination of $564 million in cash and approximately 4.7 million new shares of common stock of Jos. A. Bank, issued to Everest Topco at $56 per share, a premium to the pre-announcement share price.

St. Louis — Build-A-Bear Workshop swing to a profit in the fourth quarter as net income rose to $5.4 million, compared to a loss of $36.5 million a year earlier.

Consolidated net retail sales for the quarter totaled $106.3 million, while operating 28 fewer stores at quarter’s end compared to $116.1 million in the year ago period.

Same-store sales decreased 2.2%, including a 2.8% decline in North America and a 0.1% decline in Europe.

All eyes will be on Walmart’s new CEO Doug McMillon next week when the company reports worse-than-expected fourth quarter results on Thursday, and McMillon makes his first public comments since becoming CEO.

McMillon is no stranger to providing financial updates during the company’s pre-recorded earnings calls, investor conferences and analysts’ meetings. He performed those duties on numerous occasions during the past decade while serving as president and CEO of Walmart International and president and CEO of Sam’s Club before that.

Whole Foods Market said total sales for the first quarter ended Jan. 19 climbed 10% to a record $4.2 billion. But those results reportedly missed analysts’ expectations, and the company has lowered its earnings outlook for 2014 as a result.

Momentum at Whole Foods — as well as shares — slipped. Comparable store sales for the quarter increased 5.4%, compared to a 7.2% increase in the prior year.

Oak Brook, Ill. — Retail Properties of America has appointed Matthew Beverly VP, director of investments — east region. In his new post, Beverly will lead investment activity through the evaluation and execution of acquisition and dispositions for all markets east of the Mississippi River.

Plano, Texas — J. C. Penney Company, Inc. has named Ed Record executive VP and CFO, effective March 24. He will succeed Ken Hannah, who will remain CFO through that date to ensure a smooth transition.

As CFO, Record will be responsible for the financial operations of the company. He will report to Myron E. (Mike) Ullman III, CEO of J.C. Penney, and join the company`s executive board.

Miami — Burger King Worldwide Inc. reported impressive net income growth during the fourth quarter and full fiscal year 2013. Consolidated net income rose 37% year-over-year to $66.8 million from $48.6 million in the quarter, and almost doubled from $117.7 million to $223.7 million for the year.

From loading trucks at the age of 17, to meeting his wife on the Bentonville square to becoming an assistant buyer and interacting with founder Sam Walton, Walmart’s new CEO Doug McMillon is sharing details about his journey to becoming the company’s youngest CEO.