Financial/Banking

Arlington, Va. – The Food Marketing Institute (FMI) is reportedly asking major credit card companies to delay the October 2015 mandate for U.S. retailers to comply with the Europay, Mastercard Visa (EMV) chip-based payment card standard. According to the Wall Street Journal, the FMI sent a letter to Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover Financial Services asking for the deadline to be moved into 2016.

New York -- A former executive of Dell Inc. has been tapped as the new CEO of RadioShack. Standard General, the hedge fund that bought 1,743 of the chain’s stores in bankruptcy court proceedings, has appointed Ron Garriques as the new head of RadioShack.

Garriques headed Dell's consumer and communications divisions and previously worked at Motorola Inc. He replaces Joseph Magnacco, who resigned Wednesday after two years as CEO.

New York -- Joe Magnacca has stepped down as CEO of RadioShack. Magnacca made the announcement on Wednesday in an internal memo to employees, according to the Dallas Business Journal. It came a day after Standard General was given the green light by a bankruptcy court judge to acquire RadioShack’s assets.

Hingham, Mass. – Talbots Inc. has signed an extension to a long-term agreement to continue receiving private label credit card services from Alliance Data Systems Corp. Talbots operates nearly 500 stores throughout the U.S. and Canada.

New York -- Belk Inc., the largest family owned and operated department store chain in the United States, is exploring strategic alternatives. The news was first reported by Reuters on Thursday, and was confirmed later in the day by the retailer in a statement issued to media outlets.
 

Belk Inc. has hired Goldman Sachs to explore its strategic options, including the possibility of a sale that could value the family owned department store chain at as much as $4 billion, Reuters reports.

In response to the Reuters report, Belk issued a response saying that it had hired Goldman Sachs to help it explore all options for its future. Belk added that it expects to conclude its analysis in the next several months.

Belk operates about 300 stores in 16 Southern states.

Springfield, Mo. – Los Angeles-based private equity group Leonard Green & Partners is reportedly in talks to acquire a stake in specialty outdoor retailer Bass Pro Shops. According to the Wall Street Journal, Leonard Green may make an offer that would value the privately-held Bass Pro at between $4 billion and $5 billion, including debt.

Boston - Gordon Brothers Group’s Valuation & Advisory Services Division and AccuVal-LiquiTec have entered into a merger to form Gordon Brothers-AccuVal.  The new group will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Gordon Brothers Group.