Mass Merchant

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores announced Wednesday that it has promoted Jeff Davis to the position of senior VP and treasurer, effective Dec. 1.

In his new role, Davis will assume responsibility for treasury operations, capital markets, investor relations and risk management. Davis succeeds Charles Holley, who has been named to the position of executive VP and CFO, also effective Dec. 1.

Chicago -- A report released Wednesday by ShopperTrak found that total GAFO (general merchandise, apparel, furniture, sporting goods, electronics, hobby, books and other related store sales) retail sales for the month of October increased 1.6% while total U.S. foot traffic rose 1.0% for the same period as compared to last year.

ShopperTrak’s National Retail Sales Estimate reported that both Columbus Day and the Halloween holidays helped push retail levels into the black in October.

New York City -- A report circulated Wednesday said that BJ's Wholesale Club may be close to hiring an adviser to explore strategic alternatives.

According to the New York Post, which cited an unnamed source, one alternative could be a sale to a private equity firm.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- A Detroit court on Wednesday said that Charles Conaway, the former head of Kmart Corp., has agreed to pay $5.5 million to end long-running litigation with government regulators over the retailer's finances nearly 10 years ago.

The deal would stop Conaway's appeal of a court-ordered financial penalty for misleading investors before Kmart's bankruptcy filing in 2002.

The appeals court has agreed to send the case back to federal court in Detroit to handle the settlement.

Chicago -- Exiting what was labeled the biggest real estate bankruptcy in U.S. history, General Growth Properties has emerged from Chapter 11 protection as two separate companies.

The country’s second-largest U.S. mall owner said Wednesday that it has spun off Howard Hughes Corp., an owner of master-planned communities and other properties.

The shares of the newly separate General Growth, as well as the shares of Howard Hughes, will begin trading Thursday on the New York Stock Exchange.