Facts about Macy's Inc., Tommy Hilfiger Group (AP)

Facts about Macy's Inc. and Tommy Hilfiger Group as they prepare to launch an exclusive alliance covering men's and women's sportswear.

Macy's Inc.

_Acquired May Department Stores Co. stores in 2005 while still operating under the name Federated Department Stores Inc.

_Created a national brand in 2006 after converting more than 400 former May stores, including the Marshall Field's brand, to Macy's.

_Operates 40 Bloomingdale's stores and more than 810 Macy's stores in 45 states, the District of Columbia, Guam and Puerto Rico and operates , and Bloomingdale's By Mail.

_Employs about 182,000 people.

Tommy Hilfiger Group

_Designer Tommy Hilfiger founds Tommy Hilfiger Corp. in 1985

_Acquired by Apax Partners in 2006 for $1.6 billion and taken private.

_Distributes its core brands — including Tommy Hilfiger, Hilfiger Denim and Karl Lagerfield — in over 65 countries with 8,000 international points of sale.

_Operates nearly 800 retail stores worldwide.

Source: Macy's Inc., Tommy Hilfiger Group