Financial News

MONTVALE, N.J. — Bankrupt grocer A&P has entered into an agreement to receive $490 million of debt and equity financing from investors that will enable it to complete the restructuring of its balance sheet and emerge from Chapter 11 as a private entity in early 2012.

NORTHFIELD, Ill. — Net revenues for Kraft Foods realized an 11.5% boost, the company reported in its third-quarter earnings release.

Third-quarter net revenues totaled $13.2 billion for the period ended Sept. 30. Additionally, diluted earnings per share also saw a strong gain, rising nearly 21% to 52 cents, compared with the year-ago period.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble on Thursday announced the creation of a new partnership and joint venture with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries to be named PGT Healthcare.

“This unique and transformational partnership creates one of the broadest and deepest [over-the-counter] product portfolios and geographic footprints in the industry,” Teva president and CEO Shlomo Yanai said. “Each company’s leading brands will experience tremendous growth by combining our strengths. We will be better together.”

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark on Thursday reported solid third-quarter results — 2 cents above the high end of its guidance range — driven in large part by better-than-expected performance in its pharmacy benefit management, which is in the midst of a profit-improvement plan.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Thursday reported that prescriptions filled at comparable stores for the month of October increased 2.5%.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target reported October sales growth that fell short of analysts' expectations, while uncertainty remains following the recent departure of the company's CFO.

Target reported that its net retail sales for the four weeks ended Oct. 29 were $4.8 billion, an increase of 4.3% from $4.6 billion for the four weeks ended Oct. 30, 2010. On this same basis, comparable-store sales increased 3.3% in October and 4.3% in the third quarter.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco reported net sales of $7.01 billion for the four weeks ended Oct. 30, an increase of 11% from $6.3 billion during the similar four-week period last year.

Total comparable-club sales for the month were up 9%. U.S. comparable-store sales also were up 9%, while international comps rose 8%. Excluding the impact of fuel and foreign currencies total comps rose 7%, U.S. comps rose 6% and international comps rose 9%.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Third-quarter sales for Publix rose 5.5% to $6.4 billion, the Florida-based supermarket retailer announced Tuesday.

Comparable-store sales also saw an increase, rising 4.3% for the period, while net earnings totaled $311.9 million, compared with $283.2 million the in year-ago period, reflecting a 10.1% increase. Earnings per share for the retailer were 40 cents, up from 36 cents in the same period last year.