Also. . .

* Dillard’s Inc., the No. 5 U.S. department store operator, said its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose a more-than-expected 7.3% to $119.5 million, or $1.12 a share, excluding one-time items, beating analysts’ estimates of $1.08 a share. Dillard’s said sales growth offset rising costs. Total revenue rose 25% to $2.65 billion, but sales at stores open at least a year were flat.

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* Textron Inc., a multi-industry conglomerate, named John A. Janitz president and chief operating officer, succeeding Herbert Henkel, who took the president’s job less than a month ago. Henkel was tapped by industrial manufacturer Ingersoll-Rand Co. to become president, COO and chief executive-designate.

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* United Technologies Corp. is nearing an agreement to sell its auto-parts business to closely held investment firm Blackstone Group for about $2.25 billion, according to people familiar with the situation. United Technologies is selling UT Automotive, maker of instrument panels and electric motors, to concentrate on making jet engines, elevators, air conditioners and aerospace products.