Financial News

MATTHEWS, N.C. — Family Dollar said its board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend on the company's common stock of 21 cents per share.

The dividend is made payable July 13 to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 15.

NEW YORK — In an effort to move forward with its acquisition of Avon, Coty has reached out to Avon's board members in a letter, stating that Coty is willing to augment its original buyout offer.

PARSIPPANY, N.J. — Generic drug maker Watson Pharmaceuticals has formed a special office to handle its pending acquisition of Actavis, the company said.

Watson announced the formation of the global integration management office, which will report directly to president and CEO Paul Bisaro and focus on integrating the Zug, Switzerland-based generic drug maker, which Watson announced it would acquire last month.

ELMSFORD, N.Y. — BioScrip experienced a boost in revenue and gross profit during first quarter 2012 ended March 31.

SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. — Stater Bros. reported its second-quarter results for the period ended March 25.

The retailer's consolidated sales for the quarter rose nearly 2.7% to $937.7 million, compared with the year-ago period, while same-store sales also rose nearly 2.7%. Second-quarter net income totaled $16.4 million, compared with $9.3 million for second quarter of the prior year.

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Beauty retailer Ulta Beauty announced on Monday preliminary first-quarter fiscal 2012 results, which included an expected same-store sales increase of 10.1%.

Ulta Beauty expects to report that total net sales for the quarter were $474 million, compared with its previous guidance of $452 million to $460 million. The expected results are a 22.8% increase from total net sales of $386 million for first quarter fiscal 2011.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday announced it has completed its acquisition of certain assets of BioScrip’s community specialty pharmacies and centralized specialty and mail-service pharmacy businesses. The transaction represents a total deal value of approximately $225 million.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Supermarket retailer Harris Teeter experienced a boost in second-quarter sales, as well as sales for the first half of fiscal year 2012, the company said.

Sales for the second quarter ended April 1, sales rose 6.7% to $1.12 billion, compared with the year-ago period, while the 26-week period experienced a sales boost of 7.6% to $2.24 billion, compared with the same period last year.