International Business

Chicago -- General Growth Properties said Thursday it was informed by Brookfield Asset Management that affiliates of Brookfield acquired the GGP warrants held by affiliates of Pershing Square Capital Management.

The warrants represent the right to acquire 18.43 million shares of GGP stock at a value of $0.01 per share.

General Growth also said it has been offered by Brookfield the right to acquire the warrants, for the same price of $271.88 million paid by Brookfield, within the next 30 days.

Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced that senior executive VP and CFO David J. Oakes has been named president of the company, effective Jan. 1.
 
Oakes will remain CFO, and will continue to report to CEO Daniel B. Hurwitz.
 
Oakes joined DDR as executive VP of finance and chief investment officer in April 2007. He was promoted to senior EVP finance and chief investment officer in December 2008, and CFO in February 2010.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said Friday it has created a new executive position to oversee new store formats in international markets.
 
Lev Khasis, who joined the company in 2011 after working in Russian retail, was named president and CEO of new formats for Wal-Mart International. He built up Russia’s largest food retailer X5 through acquisitions into a market leader before resigning to join Wal-Mart Stores.
 

Global freight management firm Geodis Wilson named Eric Martin-Neuville as chief operating officer and a board member.

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. — Former Disney executive Andy Mooney has been appointed as president and CEO of Quiksilver. He succeeds Quiksilver’s co-founder Bob McKnight, who has been named executive chairman. Mooney will also join the board of directors.

The changes in leadership will become effective January 11.

AUSTIN, Minn. — Hormel Foods will acquire the iconic peanut butter brand Skippy from Unilever for approximately $700 million.

Hormel, known for its chili, ham and pork products, looks to balance its portfolio with the non-meat protein product. With peanut butter in a $2 billion category with a 74% household penetration, as well as the second most popular sandwich behind ham in the United States, Hormel will be in a good spot to grow its domestic and global brand presence.

CHICAGO — The Hillshire Brands has appointed former Kraft executive Brian Davison as SVP of corporate strategy and development.

Davison will be responsible for acquisition, merger and divestiture activities, strategic planning and implementing high impact projects. He joined the company on January 2, and will report to Sean Connolly, CEO.

BRISBANE, Calif. — Steve Birkhold was named CEO at Bebe on the same day that the company reported a worse than expected second quarter loss and a 10.5% comp decline.

Birkhold, who previously served as president and CEO at Lacoste, will be tasked with leading a turnaround at the struggling specialty retailer.

San Francisco -- In a development that will take it into the growing global luxury market, Gap Inc. announced Thursday it has acquired women’s apparel retailer Intermix Holdco for approximately $130 million in cash. The transaction was completed Dec. 31.

CHESAPEAKE, Va. — Dollar Tree intends to expand its 603,000-sq.-ft. distribution center in Marietta, Oklahoma by an additional 400,000 sq. ft.

The leading operator of discount variety stores in North America which sells everything for no more than $1 will create more than 100 new full-time positions as a result of the expansion.