Also. . .

* Troubled loan firm Finova Group Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of the planned takeover by Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. and Leucadia National Corp. The bankruptcy is one of the largest in U.S. history, with Finova and eight of its operating units listing $11.4 billion in liabilities and $12.5 billion in assets.

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* McDonald’s Corp. said that Chief Financial Officer Michael Conley will retire and that it has begun to seek his successor. “It was his personal decision to retire,” a spokesman said. He didn’t elaborate. Conley, 52, will stay on the job until McDonald’s names a replacement.

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* Natural foods grocer Wild Oats Markets Inc. named Perry Odak, former chief executive of Ben & Jerry’s Homemade Inc., president and CEO. Odak, 55, will replace Wild Oats co-founder Mike Gilliland on March 19.

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