Mergers & Acquisitions

NEW YORK — Aeropostale reported that net sales for the fourth quarter decreased 1% to $797.7 million, from $808.4 million in the year ago period. Fourth quarter comparable sales, including the e-commerce channel, decreased 8% compared with a 7% decrease for the corresponding 14-week period of the prior year.  Fourth quarter comparable store sales, excluding the e-commerce channel, decreased 9%, compared to a decrease of 9% for the corresponding 14-week period of the prior year. 

Minneapolis -- Scott Kennedy was named president of Target financial and retail service to replace long time finance executive Terry Scully.

Scully spent nearly 35 years with Target and is moving into a strategic advisory role to ensure the smooth transition of the recently sold credit card portfolio to TD Bank Group. Scully, 60, will officially retire in March 2014. Filling his shoes as head of financial and retail services is Scott Kennedy, 44. He joined Target in 2005 and currently serves as VP of pay and benefits.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Home decor retailer Kirkland's announced that Robert Alderson, the company’s long-time president and CEO, has advised the board of directors of his intention to retire from the company at the end of fiscal 2013, or approximately Feb. 1, 2014.

Senior executives from Yahoo! and Ecolab are the newest members of the board of directors at Target.

The retailer late Wednesday announced the addition of Douglas M. Baker, Jr., chairman and CEO of Ecolab Inc., and Henrique De Castro, COO of Yahoo! Inc., to its board, effective immediately.

Baker, 54, is a 24-year veteran at St. Paul, Minn.-based Ecolab. Prior to being named president and CEO in July 2004, Baker held key roles in marketing, sales and general management in both the U.S. and Europe. He became chairman in May 2006.

Atlanta -- Aaron's, a lease-to-own, announced the recent opening of a combined 32 new company-operated and franchised stores in 17 different states and two Canadian provinces.

The announcement follows a strong growth year for the company in 2012, which included the opening of its 2,000th store in the Bronx in September.

Nokomis, Fla. -- The Sembler Co. announced that it is redeveloping the Nokomis Village Shopping Center, anchored by Publix and located in Nokomis, Sarasota County, Fla.
 
Publix will close on March 30, while other tenants including Anthony’s ladies apparel, Village Pharmacy, Ophelia’s Pasta restaurant, and Saltwater Café remain open during the construction of a new Publix store.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. said it has completed the sale of its entire consumer credit card portfolio to TD Bank Group for $5.7 billion, the gross value of the outstanding receivables at the time of closing.
 

Dick’s Sporting Goods first Field & Stream outdoor specialty store is scheduled to open this fall in the Pittsburgh suburb of Cranberry Township.