Delhaize America shareholders agreed this morning to a proposal in which Delhaize Group will acquire all remaining outstanding stock that the Belgium-based company doesn’t already own.
The vote took place this morning at a special meeting of Delhaize America stockholders in New York City.
Salisbury-based Delhaize America said that 95 percent of Class A shareholders and 93 percent of Class B shareholders voted in favor of the exchange.
Delhaize Group already owned 45 percent of all outstanding stock in Delhaize America, and it offered .4 shares of its stock for each outstanding share of Delhaize America.
Delhaize America is the fifth-largest supermarket retailer in the United States, operating 1,400 stores under the Food Lion, Hannaford and Kash ’n’ Karry chains.
Delhaize America shareholders will now have the option of receiving either Delhaize Group ordinary shares, which are traded on the Belgian stock exchange, or American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), which would be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “DEG.”
Delhaize America will mail a “letter of transmittal and election forms” with instructions for exchange Delhaize America stock certificates for either Group stock or ADRs.
Regular Delhaize Group shares trade on Euronext Brussels as “DELB.”
Acting on the recommendation of a special committee of independent directors, the Delhaize America board of directors endorsed the share exchange.
By issuing 40.6 million new shares, the Delhaize family effectively gives up its control of Delhaize Group, seeing its share of the company drop from 37 to 20 percent.
Company officials add that Delhaize America’s minority stockholders, rather than owning a minority interest in an American subsidiary largely controlled by a foreign corporation, will instead own 45 percent in a global company.
European stockholders will own 35 percent of Delhaize Group.
Health fair in Cannon Village includes screenings, family fun
by scott jenkins
KANNAPOLIS — If an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure, then local residents can stock up Saturday on enough prevention to fill their cabinets full of cure.
Pillowtex and Cannon Village invite folks from Kannapolis, Salisbury and surrounding areas to the first-ever Health & Fitness Extravaganza in the city’s downtown shopping district.
The health fair runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. If rain pushes events inside, they’ll be held at the Gem Theater on First Street and the former Waccamaw store on West Avenue.
Organizers have signed up dozens of health care providers, community service agencies, fitness promoters, food vendors and entertainers. They want the health fair to be fun, educational and, for the most part, free.
“We hope people will make it a day of good family fun that will also benefit the entire family,” said Phyllis Beaver, marketing manager for Cannon Village. “... I like to think of this as a gift to our community.”
The health fair kicks off at 9 a.m. with a one-mile family fitness walk starting at the Cannon Village Visitors Center on West Avenue. Walkers will get a Cannon Village shopping bag filled with items from Pillowtex and other shops.
Health care booths, exhibits and mobile units will sit in Veterans Park — formerly Town Park — and along the streets of Cannon Village, doing blood pressure checks and screenings for diabetes, cholesterol, hearing, vision and bone density.
Informational exhibits include prostate, cardiac and cancer care; women and children’s health; breast cancer in black women; physical fitness and weight training; and juvenile diabetes.
Senior citizens and others who take a variety of drugs can bring them and learn from a pharmacist how the drugs might interact and potential problems that could create.
One-hour seminars include the warning signs of a heart attack — Cabarrus County has a higher than average rate of heart disease — and even the most nutritious choices at fast food restaurants.
Many of the health fair’s exhibits and events will be aimed at children. They include a booth making identification cards for kids, cancer awareness in children, storytelling and face painting.
The Kannapolis Police Department canine unit, a Cabarrus County Bomb Squad exhibit, Intimidators mascots and Kannapolis Fire Department’s Blaze the Dog will be on hand.
Organizers have produced flyers on the event in English and Spanish. A bilingual translator will roam the fair to help answer questions for Latinos who speak little or no English, and some health care providers speak Spanish.
The joint venture between Pillowtex and Cannon Village arose when the company began calling around to set up a similar fair for its employees, only to find out that Cannon Village had already planned one for the same day.
Lisa Jolly, Pillowtex benefits supervisor, said previous company health fairs have helped educate and uncover potential health problems for employees, and the company happily partnered with Cannon Village to extend that benefit to the community.
“If it turns out really well, we hope it will be something we can promote every year,” she said.
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