ALSO

* Real estate developer Hartz Group said it hired J.P. Morgan & Co. to explore alternatives for its pet food and supplies unit, Hartz Mountain Corp., including a sale, merger or acquisition.

Jackpot Enterprises Inc., a Las Vegas-based operator of slot machines that’s transforming itself into an Internet investment company, agreed to sell its slot machine business to E-T-T Inc. for $45 million. E-T-T is a slot machine operator owned by Nevada’s Herbst family.

* Home improvement retailer Lowe’s Cos. promoted Robert Niblock to chief financial officer, replacing Thomas Whiddon. Whiddon was named to the newly created position of executive vice president of logistics and technology, overseeing Lowe’s distribution, information management and Internet operations. Niblock, 37, had been senior vice president of finance.

* Liz Claiborne Inc., the biggest U.S. maker of women’s career clothing, won Bankruptcy Court approval to buy closely held Monet Group Inc. for about $39.5 million and become the No. 1 seller of costume jewelry.

* Wendy’s International Inc., the third-largest U.S. hamburger chain, said it plans to open 100 restaurants in Mexico over the next decade under a partnership with Mexican and Venezuelan franchisees.

*

Guide to Our Staff: Need to reach Business section reporters or editors? A guide to the section’s staff can be found at: https://www.latimes.com/bizstaff.