Finance & Capital Management

MINNEAPOLIS - Target announced its plans to donate more than $500 million by the end of 2015 to support education, doubling its support to-date, for a total of more than $1 billion. The financial commitment is part of Target's new reading initiative, Target Read With Me, aimed at helping more U.S. children read proficiently by the end of third grade, the company reported.

Walmart and Africa’s leading retailer Massmart Holdings Limited are in talks that could lead to a $4.4 billion deal, the companies announced early Monday. The nonbinding proposal outlined by the companies envisions an all cash deal in which Walmart would pay 148 South African Rand, or roughly $21 per share, to acquire Massmart’s outstanding shares.