Corporate Governance

Corte Madera, Calif. – Restoration Hardware grew its net income an impressive 389% to $13 million from $2.7 million in the same period a year earlier. Net revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 increased 39% to $395.8 million from $284.2 million, while same-store sales increased 29%.

Gary Friedman, chairman and co-CEO of Restoration Hardware, credited net revenue growth and advertising savings as factors driving the company’s net income increase. The strong quarterly financial performance exceeded Wall Street expectations.

Fort Worth, Texas -- RadioShack will open its newest Fairfax, Va. location as a concept store on Dec. 14. The new store is the first concept store in this area.

All concept stores in the company's portfolio feature an upgraded shopping experience, which showcases the company's new look, and incorporates interactive areas designed to help shoppers improve their technology profile. Some features include:

Seattle – Nordstrom has closed a previously announced offering of $400 million aggregate principal amount of 5.00% Senior Notes due 2044. The proceeds from the sale of the notes will be used for general corporate purposes, including repayment or retirement of outstanding indebtedness due in 2014, financing of capital expenditures and working capital needs.

The notes were offered in a private placement, solely to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933.

York, Pa. – Bon-Ton Stores has entered into an amendment to the company’s existing $675 million asset-based revolving credit facility that was scheduled to mature in March 2016. Bank of America, N.A. continues to serve as Agent on the credit facility.

The second amendment extends the maturity date of the commitments under the credit facility to Dec. 12, 2018. The amendment provides interest rate reductions and generally favorable revisions regarding the facility requirements.

Indianapolis — Simon Property Group has announced a plan to spin off all of its strip center business along with its smaller enclosed malls into an independent publicly traded REIT called SpinCo.

New York -- Due to the holiday rush and related closings, Chain Store Age has extended the deadline for its 32nd annual Retail Store of the Year Design Competition until Wednesday, January 8, 2014.

More than 20 competition categories are featured, including department stores, supermarkets, discounters, restaurants, convenience stores, specialty stores, service, sustainability and pop-up stores. This year, for the first time, the competition also includes the category of in-store digital innovation.

Walmart’s ad match policy states that if its customers find an item at another store at a lower price, it will honor the lower price. In fact, the retailer is currently touting its Christmas ad match policy, which covers electronics, toys and grocery produce.

Shopko plans to open two new Shopko Hometown stores. The stores, which will average 36,000 sq. ft., are located in Mayville, Wis., and Valentine, Neb.

The Shopko Hometown retail format, developed to augment Shopko’s larger store model and focused on serving the needs of smaller rural communities, combines retail health services with a broad offering of national brands and high-value private label brands of apparel, home furnishings, toys, consumer electronics, seasonal items, every day consumable items and lawn and garden products.

Walmart has appointed Krish Iyer president and CEO of Walmart India, effective Jan. 20, 2014. He will report to Scott Price, president of Walmart Asia.

ABC Supply has named Tony Vaden as chief information officer. He replaces Kathy Hendricks, who moved to a newly created post as executive director of customer connectivity for ABC Supply.

Vaden is an award-winning veteran of the information technology industry, and he will oversee all aspects of the information technology systems that support the company’s computing needs.