Finance & Capital Management

Minneapolis -- A Thursday report in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune said that Best Buy’s investigations into former CEO Brian Dunn’s personal conduct includes allegations of an inappropriate relationship with a female employee.

According to the newspaper, Dunn is said to have used company resources in the course of the relationship. It quoted an unnamed source as saying “the company is investigating multiple complaints that Dunn behaved inappropriately with a female subordinate.”

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart executives, at its Thursday webcast of its 2012 International Conference for the investment community, said its emphasis in international markets will be on improving results in existing markets as opposed to focusing on entering new territories.

"Our focus this year in particular has been on improving returns with our existing businesses," said Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart International. He said the company is working on the key markets of China and Brazil.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Walmart announced six SolarCity projects on stores in Colorado, marking the company's 100th solar power installation in the United States and moving it closer to its long-term goal of using 100% renewable energy for all its retail and distribution facilities.

Washington, D.C. -- Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 3.2% in April compared with the same month last year, and year-over-year gains should continue through the end of summer, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates.

“Retailers are continuing to watch rising gas prices, but job gains and other indicators show the economy is strengthening,” NRF VP for supply chain and customs policy Jonathan Gold said.

PLANO, Texas — Personnel changes are quite common these days at JCPenney, the latest involving CFO Michael Dastugue,  who is leaving the company effective April 13. The company has named COO Michael Kramer as interim CFO while a search for a new CFO is conducted.

DALLAS — Tuesday Morning reported net sales for the third quarter ended March 31 were $172.7 million compared with $174.3 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2011, a decrease of 0.9%. Comparable-store sales for the quarter ended March 31 decreased by 3.2% comprised of a 1.8% decrease in traffic and a 1.4% decrease in ticket.

New York -- Private equity firm Oak Hill Capital Partners has acquired an 80% ownership stake in the 25-store natural food chain Earth Fare. The deal values the company at $300 million.

New York -- J.C. Penney Co. on Wednesday said that CFO Michael Dastugue will depart the company, effective April 13. Dastugue, 47, has been at J.C. Penney since 1991. He was named CFO in January 2011. His departure is the latest shake-up in management as new CEO Ron Johnson works to transform the chain.

Mike Kramer, COO, will assume the CFO duties on an interim basis while a search for a replacement is conducted. Kramer joined J.C. Penney in December, shortly after his former boss at Apple Inc., Ron Johnson, became J.C. Penney's CEO.