Corporate Governance

Bentonville, Ark. – Wal-Mart Stores on Thursday posted a 2.8% increase in its third-quarter profit. But the chain cut its annual outlook for the second time in three months as its core shoppers continue to feel economic pressures.

"The retail environment, both in stores and online, remains competitive," In a pre-recorded conference call, Mike Duke, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Stores, said the retail environment, both online and in stores, remains competitive.

Menomonee Falls, Wis. – Kohl’s Corp. missed Wall Street forecasts with a generally poor showing in the third quarter of fiscal 2013 that saw the retailer’s net income fell 18% to $177 million from $215 million a year ago. The chain lowered its full-year earnings forecast.

In addition, net sales dropped 1% to $4.44 billion, from $4.49 billion. Same-store sales fell 1.6%.

Cincinnati — Saks Fifth Avenue has signed a letter of intent to relocate its downtown Cincinnati store to The Kenwood Collection, which Phillips Edison & Co. is transforming from a regional destination to a super-regional destination that will draw shoppers from three states.

According to the letter of intent, Saks will lease 80,000 sq. ft. of retail space over two levels of a building that fronts I-71. Plans call for the store to open in the spring of 2016.

Chicago — Barnett Capital has sold The Shoppes at Prime Village in Schaumburg, Ill., to Integris Ventures for approximately $7.25 million, according to CBRE, which represented Barnett in the transaction.

The acquisition is the first for Integris Ventures in the Chicago area.

Built in 2008, the 38,313-sq.-ft. center is anchored by Aldi. Other tenants include Chicago Prime Steakhouse and Culvers.

New York — Prada has renewed the lease for its New York City flagship store at 724 Fifth Avenue, according to SL Green Realty Corp. and Jeff Sutton, a partnership that owns the building.

The early lease renewal — the existing lease will not expire until 2017 — will keep one of the world’s iconic fashion and accessory houses at the prime Manhattan location through 2028. Prada occupies 15,540 sq. ft. on four levels, plus another 5,200 sq. ft. of office space on the fifth floor of the building.

Walmart managed to achieve its third quarter profit target despite reporting weaker than expected U.S. sales which prompted the company to issue a tepid outlook for fourth quarter sales at Walmart U.S. stores and Sam’s Club units.

Kohl’s issued a grim fourth quarter sales forecast after third quarter same store sales fell 1.6% and profits fell short of expectations.

Dollar General has announced that Raj Agrawal and Adrian Jones have resigned their spots in the company’s board of directors, effective Dec. 5. Agrawal, a member of KKR & Co., and Jones, a managing director at Goldman, Sachs & Co., have served as directors of Dollar General since 2007.

Gordon Brothers Group, a global advisory, restructuring and investment firm specializing in the retail, consumer products, industrial and real estate sectors, has named Robert E. Grosskopf and Richard P. Edwards as co-presidents of the retail division.

They will jointly assume responsibility for the division's growth strategy while overseeing all client engagements and daily operations.

Dillard’s reported moderate growth in net income and sales during the third quarter of fiscal 2013. Compared to the same period a year earlier, net income increased 5% to $50.9 million from $48.5 million, while net sales climbed about 1% to $1.51 billion from $1.49 billion.