Strategy

Ahold and Delhaize Group on Monday announced that they have called Extraordinary General Meetings for March 14, 2016, during which their respective shareholders will consider and vote on the proposal to approve the companies' intended merger.

Ahold has also made publicly available the prospectus included in its F-4 registration statement, which has now been declared effective by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and its approved EU prospectus. These are required steps in the process of completing their merger.

American Apparel founder and ousted CEO is nothing if not determined.

Days after a bankruptcy court judge rejected a takeover proposal by Hagan Capital and Silver Creek Capital Partners that would have also returned Dov Charney to a leadership position at American Apparel, the controversial founder is reportedly already at work on his return to the retail scene.

Woodstock, Ga. -- Transwestern’s Southeast Investment Services Group announced it brokered the disposition of East Cherokee Village Shoppes for $13 million. New Orleans-based PMAT Cos. acquired the 128,667-sq. ft., Publix-anchored shopping center is located in Woodstock, Georgia. Transwestern VP Fred Victor and managing director Kevin Markwordt represented the private seller.

Houston -- SRS Real Estate Partners welcomes Jonathan Hicks as SVP and co-market leader in the Houston office. Hicks will lead the Houston office alongside team member, Cody Persyn.

"The addition of Jonathan to our Houston office complements our existing business immensely," said Woody McMinn, president of North American brokerage. "Cody's depth and tenure at SRS, and around the country, joined with Jonathan's market contacts and local industry involvement, are going to make a great market leader team."

H&M isn’t letting a challenging retail environment stand in the way of its physical expansion.

The Swedish retail powerhouse plans to open 425 stores in 2016, with a focus on expansion in the United States and China. The company will also enter several new markets this year, including New Zealand, Puerto Rico and Cyprus.

In addition, the chain will expand its e-commerce site to several markets, including Ireland, Japan, and Greece.

At the close of its fiscal year, H&M operated 3,924 stores in 61 markets.

Macy’s named longtime executive Peter Sachse to a new position with added responsibility for merchandising and said Justin S. MacFarlane joined the company as chief strategy, analytics and innovation officer.

The company said the changes were part of the company’s plan to, “aggressively to grow its omnichannel business based on intensive insight into evolving consumer preferences and changing shopping patterns.”

So far this year, four Sears Hometown Stores have opened around the country. Of particular interest is the opening in Selma, California -- inside a hardware store.

On Jan. 28, California Sears Hometown Store opened inside the Nelson Ace Hardware store in Selma.

Lowe's has added a retail veteran to its board of directors who serves on the boards of Dollar General and Books-A-Million.

Lowe's announced that Sandra B. Cochran, 57, has been appointed to its board of directors, effective immediately. The announcement brings Lowe's board of directors to 13 members, 12 of whom are independent.