International Business

New Hyde Park, N.Y. -- Kimco Realty Corp. announced that Conor C. Flynn, president and CEO, has been appointed to the company’s board of directors effective January 1, 2016, simultaneous with his elevation to the CEO role. Flynn succeeds David B. Henry who retired as vice chairman of the board of directors and CEO on January 1, 2016.

Brookstone kicked off the new year by opening a store in one of the largest retail shopping centers in Nanjing, China. Additionally, the retailer opened three in-store shops in Funtalk Telecommunication's locations in Beijing and Shanghai.

After its initial entry into China, Brookstone will pursue a strategy to open up independent shops in airports and high-speed railway stations, according to Piau Phang Foo, global VP of the Sanpower Group and chairman of Brookstone. (The Sanpower Group, a multi-national conglomerate based in China, acquired Brookstone in 2014).

Circle K Stores Inc., a division of Alimentation Couche-Tard, has purchased 62 convenience stores in nine states from Dallas-based Greatstone Equities Inc., according to the Greater Baton Rouge Business Report.

The deal includes locations in Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Texas and Washington, the report said.

Cleveland -- Forest City Enterprises, Forest City Realty Trust announced the completion of the merger of FCE Merger Sub, Inc., an Ohio corporation, with and into Forest City Enterprises, Inc., with Forest City Enterprises, Inc. surviving as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Forest City Realty Trust, Inc.

The merger marks the final step in the company’s planned conversion to real estate investment trust (REIT) status for the taxable year ending December 31, 2016.

Los Angeles -- CBRE Group announced that it has acquired CBRE Memphis, a commercial real estate services firm that has served as CBRE’s affiliate in Memphis since 1996.

CBRE Memphis services include leasing, property sales, property management, project management and consulting. The firm has a staff of more than 100 and leases and/or manages approximately 14 million sq. ft. of property in the Memphis metro area, as well as in Jackson, Mississippi, and Arkansas.

Photo: Pete Van Helden has been named chief executive of Stater Bros. Markets

More than a fifth of the world’s retail sales occurred in the United States this year.

That’s according to the latest forecast of retail and e-commerce sales from eMarketer, which estimates that total U.S. retail sales hit $4.8 trillion in 2015 and will approach $5 trillion in value in 2016.

Sweaty Betty, the London-based athleisure brand, is gearing up for expansion in the United States.

The retailer named Erika Serow president and CEO of its U.S. business, effective Jan. 18, Women’s Wear Daily reported. Serow has served as retail practice leader for the Americas region for Bain & Co. since 2013, with a focus on the apparel sector. She started at Bain in 1995.

Abercrombie & Fitch elevated the head of its Hollister brand to the newly created role of president and chief merchandising officer after announcing the departure of another top executive.

Auto chain Pep Boys announced Monday that a $16.50 per share takeover bid by activist investor Carl Icahn is a "superior offer" to a rival proposal by Bridgestone Retail Operations in September.

It's just the latest chapter in the ongoing saga of who gets to acquire Pep Boys, which has 800 locations in 35 states.

Pep Boys says it now prefers to take the offer from Icahn Enterprises and that Tokyo's Bridgestone Corp. has until Wednesday to up its bid.