Finance & Capital Management

New York City -- A report circulated Wednesday said that BJ's Wholesale Club may be close to hiring an adviser to explore strategic alternatives.

According to the New York Post, which cited an unnamed source, one alternative could be a sale to a private equity firm.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- A Detroit court on Wednesday said that Charles Conaway, the former head of Kmart Corp., has agreed to pay $5.5 million to end long-running litigation with government regulators over the retailer's finances nearly 10 years ago.

The deal would stop Conaway's appeal of a court-ordered financial penalty for misleading investors before Kmart's bankruptcy filing in 2002.

The appeals court has agreed to send the case back to federal court in Detroit to handle the settlement.

Amsterdam -- Delhaize Group reported Wednesday that its third-quarter net profit rose 10% to $193 million, compared with a profit of $176 million in the year-ago period. Excluding currency effects, profit rose 2.7%.

The Belgian supermarket operator attributed the improvements to a stronger dollar against the euro, but also warned the retail environment in the United States remains challenging.

Revenue rose to $7.3 billion from $6.7 billion a year earlier.

New York City -- Women’s apparel retailer Cache reported Wednesday that it narrowed its loss for the quarter ended Oct.2 to $5 million, compared with a loss of $6.8 million in the year-ago quarter.

Revenue rose 1.3% to $45.5 million, from $44.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2009. Same-store sales were flat, as compared with a decrease of 21.7% in the prior year.

Los Angeles -- Supermarket retailer Arden Group reported Wednesday that the company earned $3.5 million in the quarter ended Oct. 2, compared with net income of $4.7 million in the year-ago period.

The parent of Southern California supermarket chain Gelson's Markets cited economic conditions and competition for the profit decline.

Revenue decreased 3% to $100.3 million. Same-store sales fell 3.3%.
 

Chicago -- Exiting what was labeled the biggest real estate bankruptcy in U.S. history, General Growth Properties has emerged from Chapter 11 protection as two separate companies.

The country’s second-largest U.S. mall owner said Wednesday that it has spun off Howard Hughes Corp., an owner of master-planned communities and other properties.

The shares of the newly separate General Growth, as well as the shares of Howard Hughes, will begin trading Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange.