Trading Partners

PHOENIX — PetSmart shareholders should be pretty pleased with their investment now that the company's board of directors has raised the quarterly dividend. The board has approved an 18% increase to PetSmart's quarterly dividend, from 14 cents to 16.5 cents per share beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2012.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Dollar Tree shareholders have re-elected a number of board members among other initiatives passed at the company's annual meeting.

Shareholders re-elected Arnold S. Barron, Macon F. Brock, Jr., Mary Anne Citrino, J. Douglas Perry, Thomas A. Saunders III, Thomas E. Whiddon, and Carl P. Zeithaml to serve on the board of directors. Each of these Directors received a majority of the votes cast at the meeting.

ISSAQUAH, WA and MEXICO CITY — Costco Wholesale has agreed to buy out Controladora Comercial Mexicana's 50% share interest in Costco de Mexico, a joint venture, for $10,650 million MXN (the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars is $760.4 million based on an exchange rate of 14.006 pesos to the dollar). In addition, Costco Mexico has declared a cash dividend of approximately $4,774 million MXN (the equivalent amount in U.S. dollars is $340.85 million based on an exchange rate of 14.006 pesos to the dollar), 50% payable to a subsidiary of Costco Wholesale and 50% to CCM.

“A government agency run amok,” is how National Retail Federal president and CEO Matt Shay this week described the actions of the National Labor Relations Board regarding the issue of micro-unions.

CINCINNATI — Fuel sales at Kroger helped drive the company's total sales up 5.8% to $29.1 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 from $27.5 billion for the same period last year. Total sales, excluding fuel, increased 4.3% over the same period last year.

Identical supermarket sales, without fuel, increased 4.2% in the first quarter over the same period last year, marking the 34 consecutive quarters of positive identical supermarket sales for Kroger.

Issaquah, Wash. -- Costco Wholesale Corp. said Thursday it has acquired partner Controladora Comercial Mexicana’s 50% share interest in Costco Mexico for approximately $760 million, funded by dividend proceeds, cash and investment balances.

The Costco México joint venture has been 50% owned by each of Costco Wholesale and CCM and operated by Costco Wholesale. :

Jaime Gonzalez Solana will continue as CEO of Costco México.
 

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. said Wednesday its board approved the increase of its quarterly dividend by six cents, or 20%, to 36 cents. The chain will pay the dividend on Sept. 10 to shareholders of record as of Aug. 15.

Target Corp. has paid a dividend every quarter since going public in 1967.


 

Suffern, N.Y. -- Ascena Retail Group Inc. announced it has successfully completed its tender offer for Charming Shoppes Inc.'s outstanding shares.

Ascena announced in May it that was buying Charming Shoppes, whose banners include Lane Bryant, Fashion Bug,  and Catherines Plus Sizes, for about $890 million.

Charming Shoppes will become an Ascena subsidiary and will stop trading on the Nasdaq and Chicago Stock Exchange once the transaction is complete. Ascena’s retail subsidiaries include Dressbarn, Maurices and Justice.

New York -- A Monday report by Reuters said that New York City's pension funds have filed a derivative lawsuit against Wal-Mart Stores Inc. based on reported allegations of bribery in Mexico and a possible cover-up by Wal-Mart officials.
 
The suit, filed in Delaware Chancery Court, alleges that Wal-Mart's officers and board of directors breached their fiduciary duty to both the company and shareholders by failing to properly handle claims of alleged bribery and apparently attempting to cover up details of the issue.

FORT WORTH, Texas — A Thursday report by Reuters said that RadioShack will take a 49% stake in a joint venture with Cybermart to open small-format, RadioShack-branded stores in greater China.

Cybermart, an affiliate of Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., and RadioShack will open their first location in Shanghai in July. Additional locations are planned for mainland China, as well as Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau.