Finance & Capital Management

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores is buying a minority stake in online company Yihaodian, which sells groceries, consumer electronics, clothing and other items. Terms of the deal and the size of the stake were not disclosed.

The deal will help expand the Wal-Mart’s reach into China, where it has 328 stores (as of Dec. 31, 2010).

Las Vegas -- The Forum Shops at Caesars, in Las Vegas, announced that six new stores will be opening soon, joining the 11 new stores and restaurants that have come to The Forum Shops in the past year.

The new stores include Christian Louboutin, Rimowa, Panerai, Hublot and Coach Mens – a first in Las Vegas.

Irvine, Calif. -- Passco Cos. LLC said it has purchased four CVS stores in sale-leaseback deals.
 
All four stores are newly constructed and recently opened by CVS, typical of the prototype for newer CVS retail/pharmacy stores. These features include drive-thru pharmacies, pick up stations, integration of CVS merchandise plans with interior design, and exterior signage modified to meet local ordinances.

Fort Worth, Texas -- Trademark Property Co. said it is relaunching its WestBend mixed-use development in Fort Worth, Texas.

The move comes after strategically halting construction in fall of 2008 to wait for a recovery in the retail market. The first order of business will be the completion of the seven-level garage providing 798 parking spaces to serve the existing office buildings and restaurants. Additional new retail construction is slated to begin in mid-2012 with a grand opening projected for late 2013.

Encino, Calif. -- Marcus & Millichap Real Estate Investment Services said it has promoted Bill Rose to director of the National Retail Group.

Rose joined Marcus & Millichap’s San Diego office in September 2003 as a retail and multifamily investment specialist. He was promoted to senior associate in September 2006. He rejoined the firm in November 2009 as sales manager of the San Diego office and in November 2010 was named western regional director of the NRG.
 

MENOMONEE FALLS, Wis. — Kohl’s reported that its first quarter diluted earnings per share increased 14% to 73 cents, in line with Citi and Stifel analysts expectations and with the company's updated guidance that EPS would be toward the high-end of 68 cents to 73 cents (provided on May 5). Net income for the quarter was $211 million, compared with $199 million (64 cents per diluted share) a year ago. Net sales were $4.2 billion, an increase of 3.1% for the quarter. Comparable-store sales for the quarter increased 1.3%.

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — HanesBrands announced that CFO E. Lee Wyatt has resigned effective June 30 and current controller and chief accounting officer Dale Boyles will serve as interim CFO while the company conducts a search to fill the position.

Wyatt, 58, who joined HanesBrands before its 2006 spinoff to oversee the development of the company’s financial, accounting, and external reporting capabilities, is leaving the company to seek similar opportunities, according to HanesBrands.

WASHINGTON — U.S. retail sales rose for the 10th consecutive month in April, increasing 0.5% to $389.4 billion, the U.S. Census Bureau reported Thursday.

The government agency also disclosed retail sales experienced a 7.6% jump above the year-ago period. Across retail sectors, grocery stores during April rose 1.5% to nearly $45.9 million, up from $45.3 million in March, while health and personal care stores, which have experienced positive numbers over the past several months, saw a surprise drop of 0.3% to nearly $22.7 million for the month.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — Supervalu banner Save-A-Lot has appointed a new leader, replacing company veteran Bill Shaner, who has lead the division since 2006.

New York City -- Nordstrom is taking its vaunted customer service to the next level: The company will roll out mobile checkout devices to its stores nationwide by the start of its anniversary sale in July, Nordstrom president Blake Nordstrom told shareholders Wednesday at the company's annual meeting in Seattle. The retailer, which has tried a variety of different devices, is currently testing the iPod Touch in its downtown Seattle and Bellevue Square stores.