Mergers & Acquisitions

Indianapolis -- Electronics and appliances retailer Hhgregg said Friday it will open 14 new stores in the Chicago area on Sept. 15.

Chicago is a new market for Hhgregg, and with the opening of 14 new stores, it will become the company’s largest market.
 

Walmart International sales increased 7.1% to $27.8 billion in the second quarter and all countries produced sales growth, except Japan, when measured on a constant currency basis. Profitability didn’t improve as quickly. Operating profit was up 0.5% to nearly $1.3 billion, but if some one time charges are excluded the growth rate picks up to 5.6%.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Winn-Dixie Stores announced Thursday that it would convert all of its SaveRite-branded grocery stores to Winn-Dixie brands, discontinuing the SaveRite banner permanently.

“By aligning all 484 stores under one Winn-Dixie banner, we will be able to ensure a more consistent shopping experience for all of our guests – regardless of the type of neighborhood in which we operate,” said Peter Lynch, Winn-Dixie’s chairman, CEO, and president.

VERNON, Calif. — True Religion Apparel has announced that Lynne Koplin has been named president of the company effective immediately.

Koplin joined the company in January 2010 as COO. Prior to joining the company, and since July 2005, she was the president women’s division, of Tommy Bahama, a subsidiary of Oxford Industries, and before that worked for a number of apparel and retail companies.

New York City -- Barnes & Noble revealed late Thursday that media conglomerate Liberty Media has acquired a stake in the bookseller for $204 million.

The move, while celebrated by Barnes & Noble, is thought to be a disappointment for investors, who wanted the John C. Malone-controlled Liberty Media to buy Barnes & Noble outright. Liberty’s current investments include Starz Entertainment, home shopping channel QVC and the Atlanta Braves baseball team.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Winn-Dixie Stores has announced that it will convert all SaveRite-branded grocery stores to conventional Winn-Dixie-branded stores and discontinue the SaveRite banner.

Look for a big number out of Walmart come early October when it discloses 2012 expansion plans for smaller formats in conjunction with the company’s fall analysts’ meeting. Here’s how you can tell. Reading between the lines on the company’s second quarter earnings call transcript Walmart U.S. president and CEO Bill Simon touted the fact that the return on investment for Neighborhood Market stores is now the same as Walmart supercenters. Recall, in the past the rationale for the slow expansion pace of the 40,000-sq.-ft.

Fort Myers, Fla. -- Chico’s FAS reported Wednesday that its profit for the second quarter surged 42% to $43.4 million, up from $30.5 million a year earlier. Revenue rose 18% to $551.4 million, topping Wall Street’s expected $536.3 million, and same-store sales increased 12.8%. By brand, same-store sales were up 11.9% at Chico and Sonoma Intimates, and comps were up 14.9% at White House | Black Market.