Apple, Inc.

Brussels – Major multinational retailers such as Starbucks and Apple will have to start paying higher taxes in Europe, thanks to a move by the European Union (E.U.) to end certain tax breaks it has now defined as “state aid,” which is prohibited by E.U. bylaws. These breaks, which member nations including Ireland, Luxembourg, and Netherlands have used to allow some types of profit to be classified as tax-deductible debt, had come under fire from other E.U. nations and the U.S.

Chicago – Women represent $20 trillion in annual consumer spending, and that figure is expected to grow to $28 trillion in the next five years. According to a new report from email marketing solutions provider SimpleRelevance, women make or influence 85% of all purchase decisions.

New Albany, Ohio – Abercrombie & Fitch is reportedly rolling out charging stations for mobile phones and tablets in its stores. According to TheStreet, there are currently two Abercrombie & Fitch stores with mobile charging stations installed, and the retailer plans to roll out the stations at several more Abercrombie and Hollister stores by the end of the year.

Amazon’s Appstore selection has nearly tripled in the past year and developers continue to report strong monetization from the apps they offer in the store.

The Amazon Appstore now has more than 240,000 apps and games, and is available in nearly 200 countries and on a multitude of devices. Additionally, Amazon Coins have become widely popular, according to the online giant — customers have spent hundreds of millions of Amazon Coins on apps, games and in-app items, it said.

Brussels, Belgium — The European Union (E.U.) is investigating lucrative tax breaks individual member countries such as Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg have been giving major global companies including Starbucks and Apple. Media reports indicate the E.U. is focusing on whether certain tax loopholes these countries have provided some corporations qualify as “state aid,” which is prohibited under E.U. bylaws.

Fort Worth, Texas — Trademark Property Co. is managing the major expansion and renovation of Saddle Creek in the Memphis, Tenn., suburb of Germantown.

Demolition has commenced on 20,000 sq. ft. of existing space on the southwest side of Poplar Avenue and West Street, with work scheduled to begin soon on 40,000 sq. ft. of new retail space for that area.

Along with Apple’s release of iOS 8 on Monday, the company introduced an entirely new Health app that provides a clear overview of a user’s health and fitness data.

Austin, Texas - More people buy Mother's Day gifts than Father's Day gifts (86%, compared to 77%). According to the 2014 Father’s Day Shopper Trend report from RetailMeNot, survey respondents say they spend $61 on Father's Day gifts and $68 on Mother's Day gifts.

CUPERTINO, Calif. -- In its largest deal ever, Apple said on late Wednesday that it is buying Beats Electronics LLC for $3 billion. Beats is a key player in the premium headphone market and is also in the streamlining music business.  
 
Apple will pay $2.6 billion in cash and another $400 million in equity for Beats, whose founders rapper and producer Andre Young (aka Dr. Dre) music-industry  mogul Jimmy Iovine  will join the tech giant.

New York -- Apple is celebrating its 13th year as a brick-and-mortar retailer. The tech giant opened its first retail store on the morning of May 19, 2001, at Tysons Corner Center, McLean, Virginia. A second Apple store, at Glendale Galleria, Glendale, California, opened a few hours later.

To see an animated map (13 Years of Apple Stores in 60 Seconds) from Retale charting the expansion of Apple stores in the U.S., click here.