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International Business

  • DDR to acquire select power enters for $1.46 billion

    Beachwood, Ohio -- DDR Corp. announced an agreement to acquire a portfolio of prime power centers from its existing joint venture with Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII.  The acquisition is slated to close in fourth quarter 2013.
     
    The joint venture between Blackstone and DDR currently owns 44 shopping centers, and DDR will acquire Blackstone's 95% common equity ownership interest in 30 of the shopping centers for $1.46 billion.

  • Former Aeropostale exec named to Blue Nile board

    SEATTLE — Blue Nile, an online retailer of diamonds and fine jewelry, has appointed former Aeropostale co-CEO Mindy Meads to its board of directors. 

    Meads has 35 years of experience in the global apparel industry. She currently serves on two public boards — Wet Seal, a specialty teen brand, and Mela Sciences, a bio tech company. In these roles, she provides strategic counsel focused on growth and the use of multichannel business strategies.

  • NRF criticizes Bangladesh safety accord

    New York -- The National Retail Federation on Wednesday criticized a fire-and-building safety agreement for Bangladesh, led by labor groups such as Europe's IndustriALL.  

    "While the proposal put forth by the labor unions addresses a number of shared concerns, the accord veers away from commonsense solutions and seeks to advance a narrow agenda driven by special interests," NRF CEO Matthew Shay said in a statement.

  • Walmart escalates inspection efforts in Bangladesh

    BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart has announced plans to conduct in-depth safety inspections at every single factory in Bangladesh that produces goods for the retailer. The company says it aims to complete all reviews within six months and publicly release the names and inspection information on all 279 factories.  

  • Gordmans names planning, allocation exec

    Omaha, Neb. -- Apparel and home-décor retailer Gordmans said Tuesday it has appointed Geoffrey Ayoub as senior VP planning, allocation and analysis.

    Ayoub joins Gordmans from EDCON, a South African-based retailer operating over 1,000 stores in multiple retail formats throughout five countries. At EDCON, he served as chief planning officer responsible for all aspects of merchandise planning, allocation, replenishment and merchandise analysis.

  • New York City second to Hong Kong in world’s highest retail rents

    Los Angeles -- CBRE Group released research findings on Tuesday that showed Hong Kong’s continued top position as the world’s most expensive global retail market, recording prime rents nearly 150% higher than New York City.

    London ranked third, with prime rental rates 400% lower than Hong Kong’s.

  • Former Costco VP joins Abbyson board

    LOS ANGELES — Mike Pollard, retired VP of Costco Wholesale, has joined the board of directors of Abbyson Living, which manufactures and imports living room, dining and bedroom furniture.

    Pollard retired from Costco Wholesale in 2013 after a 27-year career. Abbyson Living will look to Pollard for his guidance regarding comprehensive business practices that will directly impact the company’s growth and further mature the value of the brand. 

  • Former Mars exec to sit on beauty brand board

    NEW YORK — Olivier Goudet, partner and CEO of the Joh. A. Benckiser Group and former CFO of Mars Inc., has been appointed global beauty brand Coty’s board of directors. Goudet replaces Bernd Beetz, who stepped down from Coty's board to pursue other interests.  

    JAB is a privately held group that owns and invests in premium brands; it is also Coty's majority shareholder.

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