Corporate Governance

Following third quarter results, Whirlpool is increasing its full-year diluted earnings per share guidance to $10.45 to $10.65 from the previous range of $10.05 to $10.55, and its full-year adjusted earnings per share to $9.90 to $10.10 from the previous range of $9.50 to $10.

The company reported net earnings of $196 million for the quarter, or $2.42 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $74 million, or $0.94 per diluted share, reported during the same period last year.

Baltimore -- Under Armour announced that COO Kip Fulks has added president of product to his current responsibilities, while Henry Stafford is now serving as president of North America.
   
In the new positions, Fulks will further leverage his leadership experience in product, innovation, supply chain and IT, and Stafford will oversee North America wholesale, retail marketing, global retail and global E-Commerce.
 

Richmond, Va. — Divaris Real Estate has announced the renewal of a 26,537-sq.-ft. Big Lots lease in the Midlothian Crossing Shopping Center in Richmond, Va.

DRE manages and leases the center for landlord Midlothian Associates. Other tenants include Goodwill, Family Dollar and Red Wing Shoes.

New York -- Coach reported a decline in first-quarter profit amid declining North America sales. The company had net income of $217.88 million, down from $221.38 million in the previous year.
 
Net sales for the quarter fell 1% to $1.15 billion from $1.16 billion a year ago, below analysts' estimate of $1.19 billion.

By Crosby Renwick, [email protected]

Sure, the Internet plays an aggressive game. It’s looking like the Internet business is trouncing the retail business. However vast an assortment or low the prices a retailer offers, the Internet does it better and cheaper. The prognosticators all say the same thing: What little growth there will be in consumer spending over the next five years is mostly going to happen online.

Framingham, Mass. – IDC Retail Insights research director Leslie Hand has been named to the 2013 Top 50 Retail Influencers list developed by point-of-sale, inventory and customer loyalty software provider Vend. Hand has spent the last 25-plus years in the retail technology industry, and prior to joining IDC Retail Insights was the director of global RIFD strategy for Ahold.

Mooresville, N.C. - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded Lowe's Companies, Inc. the highest honors for industry leadership in its SmartWay and WaterSense programs. On Oct. 22, Lowe's received the 2013 SmartWay Excellence Award for its environmental performance in the freight transportation industry. This month, the EPA also recognized Lowe's with a 2013 WaterSense Sustained Excellence award for its long-standing efforts to educate consumers about water-efficient products and practices.

Acton, Pa. – Action Services Group has signed a service agreement with Dollar General Corporation to provide its lighting, sign and electrical maintenance services to an additional 534 Dollar General store locations across Connecticut, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, West Virginia and Vermont.