Financial/Banking

▲ Investing in energy conservation makes business sense: According to ASHRAE, energy is the second highest retailer operating expense. A new white paper by the Retail Leaders Industry Association (RILA) and Schneider Electric notes that recent weather extremes have increased energy costs for retailers, and the trend is expected to continue. Factor in potential electricity price increases in the near future, and increases in energy costs could be significant.

Merrimack, N.H. – A bankruptcy court in Wilmington, Delaware, has approved the June 4 sale of Brookstone Inc. to Hong Kong-based Sailing Innovation (US) Inc., a consortium led by Sailing Capital Overseas Investment Fund LP with a financing commitment from GE Capital. Backers of the $174 million acquisition include Chinese conglomerate Sanpower Group and Chinese government-supported Shanghai Investment Group.

Naples, Fla. – One-in-four global consumers has been victimized by card fraud in the past five years. According to a new study conducted by ACI Worldwide and Aite Group, the United Arab Emirates has the highest rate of credit, debit and prepaid card fraud overall at 44%, followed by China at 42% and India and the United States at 41% each.

Other findings include:

• 63% of global consumers (respondents) who have experienced fraud are more likely to use their cards less.

Walgreens reported a 16% year-over-year jump in third quarter profit, but was forced to withdraw its previously issued fiscal 2016 guidance because it missed Wall Street estimates.

The company’s net earnings for the quarter were $722 million compared to $624 million in the prior-year period. Net sales increased 6% to $19.4 billion from $18.3 billion, while same-store sales increased 4.8%.

Plano, Texas -- J. C. Penney Company announced today that it has closed its new $2.35 billion asset-based senior secured credit facility, comprised of a $1.850 billion revolving line of credit and a $500 million term loan.

Kodak Alaris Holdings Limited has named Brian Larcombe, Patrick De Smedt and Steve Webster as non-executive directors of the board.

Since the company’s separation from Eastman Kodak Company in Sept. 2013 it has focused on furthering its growth by adding key executive team members. The company appointed James Soames, most recently with Motorola Mobility, chief marketing officer. It also appointed John O’Reilly general counsel and company secretary.

Green Dot Corporation has hired Thien Truong as SVP of business development and sales. Truong comes to Green Dot from American Express, where he most recently served as VP of retail and mall channels for the U.S. Payment Options group.

While at American Express, Truong led the expansion of the brand's prepaid solutions, including the nationwide launch of its prepaid card, Serve.

The Woodlands, Texas – Subject to market conditions, Conn’s Inc. intends to offer in aggregate principal amount $250 million of senior notes due 2022 for sale to eligible purchasers in a private offering.

Conn’s intends to use the net proceeds from the notes offering to repay a portion of the current borrowings under its asset-based revolving credit facility.