Finance & Capital Management

BOUCHERVILLE, Quebec — Canadian hardware retailer, Rona, has named Robert Sawyer president and CEO, effective in April 2013.

Sawyer has more than 30 years of experience in a major Canadian food company and specializes in retail operations and distribution to dealers operating under different banners. Under his prior employer he held various executive positions and helped improve the profitability in several different areas. 

Washington, D.C. -- The Rappaport Cos. and Principal Real Estate Investors announced a joint venture to acquire retail assets throughout the Mid-Atlantic region.  

The program launched with the recapitalization of approximately 1 million sq. ft. of retail space in four retail centers located in Northern Virginia.  

SAN FRANCISCO — Williams-Sonoma reported that fourth-quarter EPS grew 15% to $1.34 and that quarterly revenue grew to $1.406 billion versus $1.268 billion in 2011 with comparable brand revenue growth of 4%.

Fiscal 2012 EPS grew 14% to $2.54. Net revenues for the year grew to $4.043 billion versus $3.721 billion in FY 11 with comparable brand revenue growth of 6.1%.

New York -- CVS Caremark has donated $250,000 to the Chicago State University’s College of Pharmacy for the development of the CVS Caremark Student Center and Technology Laboratory.

“This donation will help to improve the College’s physical space and technological resources, which greatly enhances student success within the College of Pharmacy. To say thank you is an understatement,” stated Dean Miriam Mobley Smith with the College of Pharmacy.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Hostess Brands announced that it has selected United States Bakery's approximately $30.9 million offer as the winning bid for the company's Sweetheart, Eddy's, Standish Farms, and Grandma Emilie's bread brands, four bakeries, and 14 depots, plus certain equipment. 

The United States Bakery offer was selected as the highest and best bid at a March 15 auction. The company will ask the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York to approve the transaction at a hearing on April 9.

Columbus, Ohio -- DSW Inc. reported Tuesday that net income for the quarter ended Feb. 2 rose to $31.4 million from $23.1 million in the year-ago period. Sales for the fourth quarter increased 15.7% to $594.3 million, and same-store sales rose 3.6%.

For the full year, profit increased to $152.2 million, from $136.1 million in the prior fiscal year. Sales rose 11.5% to $2.26 billion from $2.02 billion.

Walgreens reported a better-than-expected profit on flat sales for its second quarter Tuesday morning and unveiled an expanded partnership with AmerisourceBergen that could give the pharmacy operator an equity position and seat on the drug wholesaler’s board.

New York -- Walgreens reported a better-than-expected profit on flat sales for its second quarter Tuesday morning and unveiled an expanded partnership with AmerisourceBergen that could give the pharmacy operator an equity position and seat on the drug wholesaler’s board.