Financial/Banking

New York -- Private equity firm Apax Partners said Friday that it will acquire Cole Haan from Nike for $570 million in cash.  

Cole Haan sells through 108 domestic stores, 68 international stores, online and through department stores. It has been a part of Nike since 1988.

To effect the acquisition, Apax is partnering with Jack Boys, who led the revitalization of Converse.

The transaction is expected to close in early 2013.

Some of the biggest names in the retail and consumer packaged goods industry were recognized by the American Cancer Society with 2012 Excellence in Philanthropy Awards.

New York -- Foot Locker Inc. reported Friday that net income for the quarter ended Oct. 27 surged 61% to $106 million, compared with $66 million in the year-ago period. The recent quarter's results, which surpassed Wall Street expectations, included a $9 million tax benefit stemming from the settlement of a foreign tax audit.
 
Revenue rose 9.3% to $1.52 billion from $1.39 billion, beating analysts’ expected $1.47 billion in revenue. Same-store sales climbed 10.2%.

New York -- Wal-Mart Stores reported in a regulatory filing that its investigation into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, a federal antibribery law, has extended beyond Mexico to China, India and Brazil.  

Birmingham, Ala. -- Hibbett Sports reported Friday that net income for the quarter ended Oct. 27 climbed 18.8% to $19 million, compared with $16 million in the year-ago period.

Sales rose 9.6% to $202.9 million, and same-store sales increased 6.4%.

The sporting goods retailer said it is on track to open 57 to 60 new stores in fiscal 2013, expand approximately 17 high-performing stores, and close up to 18 stores.

For a split second after the presidential election the victor and the vanquished struck a conciliatory tone on finding the balance between raising taxes and cutting spending. Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. president and CEO Mike Duke wants the issue resolved as soon as possible.

Duke was among a group of business leaders in Washington earlier this week meeting with President Barack Obama and following the meeting Walmart released a statement expressing his views on the issue.

Minneapolis -- Target Corp. reported Thursday net income of $637 million for the third quarter, compared with $555 million in the prior-year period and beating Wall Street expectations.
 
The retailer previously reported that sales rose 3.4% to $16.60 billion in the quarter, and same-store sales climbed 2.9%.

Target is forecasting a fourth-quarter earnings range that at the high-end tops estimates.

City of Industry, Calif. -- Hot Topic Inc. reported Wednesday that profit for the third quarter jumped 38% to $4.3 million, from $3.1 million in the year-ago quarter.

Revenue edged up 2% to $179.4 million from $175.8 million, missing Wall Street’s expected $182.9 million in revenue.

Same-store sales rose a slight 0.2%.