Trading Partners

Deerfield, Ill. -- Walgreen Co. has signed a definitive agreement with Water Street Healthcare Partners, a strategic investor focused exclusively on the healthcare industry, in which Water Street will acquire a majority interest in Take Care Employer Solutions LLC.

Cardtronics has extended its ATM services agreement with Walgreens, the company announced Wednesday. Cardtronics is a preferred provider of ATM services for Walgreens.  

Since the relationship began in 2004, Cardtronics has grown its ATM presence in Walgreens locations significantly — from fewer than 400 initially to roughly 3,250 today. The company is also the exclusive ATM provider for Walgreens in many states across the U.S.

New York -- Liberty Media Corp. has entered into agreements to reduce its stake in Barnes & Noble. Liberty Media informed Barnes & Noble that while Liberty has sold the majority of its shares to qualified institutional buyers, it will retain approximately 10% of its initial $204 million investment, which could be converted to a 17% ownership stake.

Long time Target supplier J.L. Childress said six of its products were added to Target’s in store travel assortment.

The products are geared toward parents of babies and young children and include variety of bags to simplify life for on the go parents with infants and young children in tow. J.L. Childress has items available for sale on the Target website, however, the new products carried in the stores are unique and not available online, according to the company.

Robert M. Long, former president, CEO and chairman of Longs Drug Stores passed away March 27 due to complications, which occurred as a result of inclusion body myositis.  

Long was a well-known industry veteran having led Longs Drug Stores for more than 20 years. His retirement from the Walnut Creek, Calif.-based pharmacy retailer as CEO in 2000 marked the first time that a member of the founding family was not heading the company.

Seattle -- Starbucks on Wednesday released its 13th Global Responsibility Report, which highlights the company’s progress on long-term goals for community engagement, sustainability and ethical sourcing. The coffee giant also announced the launch of its fourth annual Global Month of Service, with Starbucks employees, customers and community members once again coming together to help contribute more than one million community service hours per year by 2015.

Brussels, Belgium -- Delhaize Group has signed an agreement with Tropic Group B.V. to divest all of its 39 Bosnian & Herzegovinian stores. Tropic Group B.V. is an entrepreneurial organization founded by retail executive Bojan Risović.

The transaction is expected to complete in third quarter 2014, subject to regulatory approval and working capital adjustments. Terms were not disclosed. Delhaize originally purchased the stores from Serbian retailer Delta Maxi in 2011.

Dallas — SRS Real Estate Partners, in partnership with Cresa Toronto, has opened an office in Toronto, Canada. It is the company’s first Canadian office and second international location. Jamie Grossman, managing principal for Cresa Toronto will oversee the new office, while SRS has brought in Lindsay Ryder as first VP for SRS.