Content about Money

AUSTIN, Texas — SecureNet Payment Systems, an innovative payment technology company directly connected to the major card networks, announced the company has exceeded $19 billion in annual transaction volume and increased its number of merchant partners to over 16,000. Additionally, SecureNet announced four new merchant service provider partnerships that will greatly expand the company's rapidly growing network of partners.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General announced that Susan Lanigan, EVP and general counsel, has decided to retire from Dollar General later this year after nearly 11 years with the company.

PHOENIX — PetSmart reported that its fourth quarter earnings were up 36% to $1.24. Comparable-store sales, or sales in stores open at least a year, grew 4.6%, benefitting from comparable transactions growth of 1.2%. Total sales for the quarter were up 15% to $1.9 billion.

For the year, the company delivered earnings per share of $3.55, up 39% compared with $2.55 last year. Comparable-store sales grew 6.3%, benefitting from comparable transactions growth of 2.4%. Total sales for the year were $6.8 billion, up 11%.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation is hoping to dispel fears that merchants are expected to surcharge customers for using a credit card as theoretically allowed under a controversial proposed lawsuit settlement with Visa and MasterCard being debated in the courts.

Strength in the computing, mobile phone and appliance categories enabled Best Buy to report flat same store sales during the holidays and temporarily silence the voice of those who had prematurely written the company’s obituary.

Costco will pay a $7 a share special dividend before year end as it looks to return cash to shareholders in advance of what is expected to be a 2013 tax increase on dividend payments.

The total payout will amount to about $3 billion and is extraordinarily generous. Especially considering Costco’s net cash provided by operating activities for its fiscal year ended September 2, was only slightly more than $3 billion and cash, cash equivalents and short term investments totaled $4.854 billion.

WAYNE, N.J. — Toys"R"Us is now offering customers the ability to shop online and pay for them in store, giving them the freedom to use cash or check, as well as credit, to make the purchase.

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. — Dollar General has named Pat Fili-Krushel to its board of directors effective Oct. 15.

Family Dollar said it would open 500 new stores next year following the release of record sales and profits on Wednesday morning.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation estimates that U.S. retailers and their customers are benefiting from savings of up to $18 million every day since the implementation of the debit card swipe fee reform.

PURCHASE, N.Y. — MasterCard  has acquired Truaxis, Inc., a Silicon Valley, California-based provider of relevant credit and debit card-linked offers to consumers through merchants and financial institutions.

Same store sales increased 5.1% at Dollar General during the second quarter and the company remains on track to open more than 600 new stores this year.

Sales increased 10.4% to $3.95 billion during the second quarter ended August 3, thanks to the combination of same store sales growth and the addition of new stores. Net income increased 47% to $214 million in the second quarter compared to $146 million the prior year and earnings per share increased 52% 64 cents, inline with analysts’ consensus estimated, compared to 42 cents the prior year.