Trading Partners

Deerfield, Ill. - At a special meeting of shareholders held Monday, Walgreens shareholders voted to approve all proposals related to the company’s acquisition of the remaining 55% of Alliance Boots GmbH that it does not currently own and the reorganization of the company into a holding company structure.  

Walgreens is poised to start 2015 off with a bang, as the company has nearly finalized its mega-deal with Alliance Boots.

Walgreens shareholders voted to approve all proposals related to the company’s acquisition of the remaining 55% of Alliance Boots that it does not currently own and the reorganization of the company into a holding company structure.

New York City - In not-unexpected news, Family Dollar has delayed its shareholder vote on a potential acquisition by Dollar Tree; the vote is now slated for Jan. 22, and analysts say this could bode well for a potential deal with industry giant Dollar General.   Family Dollar convened as planned on Tuesday and, based on insufficient votes, subsequently adjourned its Special Meeting of Stockholders on the proposed transaction with Dollar Tree.  

Family Dollar delayed a shareholder vote on a potential acquisition by Dollar Tree until Jan. 22 in a move that allows more time to contemplate a rival bid from Dollar General.

Family Dollar convened as planned on Tuesday and, based on insufficient votes, subsequently adjourned its Special Meeting of Stockholders on the proposed transaction with Dollar Tree.

PLEASANTON, Calif. - For the second year in a row, Safeway Inc. has received a perfect score of 100% on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI), a national benchmarking survey and report on corporate policies and practices pertinent to LGBT equality, administered by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation.  

New York - A Delaware judge has denied a request  to block Tuesday's vote by Family Dollar Stores on a  $8.5 billion take-over bid by Dollar Tree,  saying dissident shareholders "failed to demonstrate a reasonable probability of success on any of their claims."   A shareholder lawsuit had requested a preliminary injunction against the vote until Family Dollar “properly engaged” in talks  with rival Dollar General to “achieve a value-maximizing transaction.”  

Office Depot has been awarded two contracts valued in excess of $400 million.

The retailer will be partnering with Region 4 Education Service Center and TCPN, which offers cooperative contract solutions to K-12 schools, local governments, colleges and universities. The new agreements with Office Depot include office and school supplies, furniture, technology products and copy and print services provided at significant discounts and savings to eligible public agency customers.

Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois - Mid-America Real Estate Corporation recently announced the promotions of two employees to Principals and two employees to Senior VPs.   Joe Girardi is a member of Mid-America’s Shopping Center Investment Sales team, and has been promoted to a Principal of Mid-America Real Estate Corporation. He has been with Mid-America since 2003, and has been directly involved in the completion of over $2 billion of retail investment sale transactions.   

Goodlettsville, Tenn. – Dollar General Corp. stated on Dec. 19 that it remains actively engaged in discussions with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding the extent of potential divestitures that would be required in connection with an acquisition of Family Dollar Stores Inc. Dollar General does not expect to provide any further update prior to the Family Dollar shareholders meeting currently scheduled for Dec. 23, 2014.   

Walmart is instituting new rules on poultry safety as the company looks to protect customers from foodborne illness.

Walmart’s enhanced poultry safety measures will require poultry suppliers to achieve prevention-based certification by one of the Global Food Safety Initiative's recognized standards. Walmart said poultry suppliers must implement "holistic controls" from farm to fork; the controls must significantly reduce potential contamination levels, including chicken parts.