Mergers & Acquisitions

Chicago -- Walgreens on Wednesday told shareholders at the chain’s annual meeting in Chicago that it will continue to push the envelope of traditional drugstore retailing. Going forward, the company said it is focused on three areas of opportunity:

CHICAGO — "[The year] 2012 was definitely an important year for Walgreens," Greg Wasson, Walgreens president and CEO, told shareholders here, at the Navy Pier, Wednesday afternoon, at the chain's annual shareholder meeting. "We did make some tough choices to protect and solidify … our position for the long term," he said. "[But] our vision is crystal clear to become the first choice for health and daily living in America."

Bismarck, N.D. -- Chattanooga, Tenn.-based CBL & Associates Properties announced Thursday that it plans to acquire Kirkwood Mall, located in Bismarck, N.D., from Radiant Partners.

New York -- According to multiple reports on Thursday, congressmen Henry Waxman (D-Rep., Calif.) and Elijah Cummings (D-Rep. Md.) have said that Wal-Mart Stores CEO Mike Duke and other senior-level officials at the retailer were informed about allegations of bribery in the retailer’s operations in Mexico in 2005.

The two congressmen cited documentation obtained by their staffs, which discussed allegations of corruption regarding a store in Teotihuacan.

NEW YORK and ALISO VIEJO, Calif. — Leading global e-commerce marketplace Rakuten Inc. has rebranded Buy.com, which it acquired May 2010, to Rakuten.com Shopping.

Between now and January 30, merchants and consumers will still be able to go to Buy.com to access Rakuten’s U.S. subsidiary. Starting January 31, however, the site url will change to Rakuten.com. Anyone going to Buy.com will be redirected to the new url.

San Francisco -- Gymboree Corp. has hired a second senior-level Gap Inc. executive, naming Gap North America finance VP Evan Price as its new CFO.

Price, who also served as VP of Old Navy, will take over Gymboree’s top finance slot on Jan. 21, joining new CEO Mark Breitbard, former Gap North American division president.

PITTSBURGH, Pa. — Supply chain and reverse logistics provider Genco has appointed Herb Shear as executive chairman and Todd R. Peters as CEO.

Genco is a leading third-party logistics provider for manufacturers, retailers and U.S. government. It operates 130 value-added warehouse locations totaling 38 million sq. ft. and manages $1.5 billion in freight annually throughout North America.

Philadelphia and New York -- Law firm Duane Morris announced that it has named partners Chester Lee in New York and George Kroculick in Philadelphia as co-chairs of its firmwide Real Estate Practice Group.

Lee and Kroculick succeed partner Marc Brookman in heading the practice.

Lee and Kroculick will take over a national practice involving more than 90 lawyers with broad experience in real estate and development matters.