Finance & Capital Management

Data security, systems upgrades and healthcare reform rank among the top concerns for corporate financial decision makers.

That’s among the key findings of a survey by TD Bank, which also reveals that CFOs plan to significantly increase their company's capital spending in 2016. Respondents cited three main keys areas of capital spending for 2016: technology (58%), existing facilities (44%) and data security (41%.

Their merger isn’t expect to close until-mid 2016, but Ahold and Delhaize Group have named more senior executives to interesting new roles to lead the combined company.

Ahold and Delhaize Group announced more members of the proposed executive committee of the combined company to be known as Ahold Delhaize. As previously announced in June, the proposed Ahold Delhaize management board consists of CEO Dick Boer, Deputy CEO and Chief Integration Officer Frans Muller, CFO Jeff Carr, COO Europe Pierre Bouchut, COO USA Kevin Holt, and COO USA James McCann.

Gelson's Markets has won final approval to buy six Haggen properties in Southern California.

On Oct. 23, America lost one of its greatest retailing entrepreneurs, Tom Stemberg, who invented the office superstore industry close to 30 years ago. Tom, a Boston resident was a grocery executive early in his career. He came up with the idea of a supermarket for office products after driving around looking for a typewriter ribbon. He then founded Staples, now a $22 billion worldwide company.

In a new expansion of food and retail, Urban Outfitters Inc. is acquiring a Philadelphia-based restaurant chain. The move comes as many retailers are working to make their stores more experiential by adding various services, including food and beverages, to the mix.

Dillard’s joined Macy's and Nordstrom Monday in struggling against weaker than expected traffic and sales in the third quarter.

Tanger Outlets announced it has acquired land in Daytona Beach, Florida and plans in to immediately commence construction of its new outlet center development. When complete, the new center will beapproximately350,000 sq. ft. of retail space and feature over 80 upscale brand name and designer outlet retailers.

In a new expansion of food and retail, Urban Outfitters Inc. is acquiring a Philadelphia-based restaruant chain.

The CEO of Popeyes, Cheryl Bachelder, believes it’s time to move past the debate involving minimum wage increases, Fortune reported. “We will adjust to increased costs just like we have before. Life will go on,” Bachelder said. [Fortune]

Lowe's has appointed an executive of the health insurance industry to its board of directors.

The retailer said that its board of directors has appointed Bertram L. Scott, 65, to the board, effective immediately. The announcement brings Lowe's board of directors to 12 members, 11 of whom are independent.