News

New York -- Toms, the footwear company best known for donating a pair of shoes to a child in need for every pair it sells, has sold a 50% stake in its company to private equity giant Bain Capital LLC. The investment will help Toms expand its distribution in Europe, Asia and in the United States, including increasing its store count from its current two locations.

The investment reportedly values Toms at about $625 million, including debt. Blake Mycoskie, who founded Toms in 2006, will retain a 50% stake and remain at the helm.

Hibbett Sports president and CEO Jeff Rosenthal said that comparable store sales for the second quarter ended Aug. 2 were softer than expected. However, he is encouraged by improvement in traffic in early August.

Net sales for the quarter increased 4.1% to $193.9 million compared with $186.2 million for the 13-week period ended August 3, 2013. Comparable store sales increased 0.1%.

Foot Locker chairman and CEO Ken C. Hicks credited his entire team for once again achieving record levels of sales and profits in the second quarter.

Net income for the quarter increased to $92 million, from $66 million in the year-ago period.

Total sales increased 12.9%, to $1.64 billion, compared with $1.45 billion for the corresponding prior-year period. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, total sales for the second quarter increased 11.7%. Same-store sales rose 7%, beating analysts’ expectations.

Leading packaging solutions provider RockTenn acquired the AGI In-Store point-of-purchase display and fixture business from American Greetings.

AGI In-Store is a non-core division of American Greetings that manufactures point-of-purchase displays and fixtures for the consumer products and retail industries and employs roughly 300 people at its Forest City, N.C., facility. As a result of the acquisition, AGI In-Store will now go to market as RockTenn In-Store Solutions.

Birmingham, Ala. -- Hibbett Sports profit in the second quarter declined 21% amid higher store operating, selling and administrative expenses. Net income for the 13-week period ended August 2, 2014, was $8.4 million compared with $10.5 million for the 13-week period ended August 3, 2013
  
Net sales for the quarter increased 4.1% to $193.9 million compared with $186.2 million for the 13-week period ended August 3, 2013. Same-store sales edged up 0.1%.
  

New York -- Christopher Finazzo, former executive VP and chief merchandising officer for Aeropostale, has been sentenced to eight years in prison after being convicted of defrauding the company and taking more than $25 million in kickbacks from a key vendor.

Finazzo, who was found guilty in April 2013 of 14 counts of mail fraud, wire fraud and conspiracy, was also ordered to forfeit more than $25 million and pay the company $13.7 million in restitution.

Jacksonville, Fla. -- Stein Mart Inc. reported net income of $1.7 million for the second quarter, reduced from $3.4 million last year on higher healthcare costs.

Total sales increased 2.5% to $298.2 million, while same-store sales increased 1.3%, the retailer’s ninth consecutive quarter of comparable store sales gains.

ATM company Payment Alliance International announced Thursday that it would be partnering with Los Angeles-based SchoolsFirst Federal Credit union to brand ATMs at Rite Aid locations in the city.

Some 109 ATMs will be emblazoned with the credit union’s color and logo, and members will be able to use them without incurring an ATM fee. PAI, which owns, the ATMs, will operate and maintain them.