Financial News

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Canadian drug maker Valeant Pharmaceuticals International will acquire rights to topical drugs for eczema and cold sores from Swedish drug maker Meda.

Valeant said it would buy rights for the eczema drug Elidel (pimecrolimus) and the cold sore drug Xerese (acyclovir and hydrocortisone) for the United States, Canada and Mexico. Valeant said, however, that Xerese has not yet received regulatory approval in Canada.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Same-store sales at Rite Aid increased by 1.8% in June, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

During the four-week period ended June 25, front-end sales were up 1.5% over the same period last year, while pharmacy sales increased by 1.9%, including a reduction of about 163 basis points due to new introductions of generic drugs.

Total drug store sales for the month increased 1% to $1.93 billion, compared with $1.91 billion in June 2010.

MATTHEWS, N.C. — A 25% increase in the health and beauty care product assortments at Family Dollar contributed to overall inventory growth during the company’s third quarter, the retailer announced Wednesday morning with the release of its financial results.

In addition to the major expansion of the health and beauty category at 5,000 of the company’s 6,900 stores, Family Dollar said it also expanded assortments of food by 20%, which, combined with the health and beauty care initiative, resulted in an overall increase in inventory levels of 15%.

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — After months of speculation, BJ's Wholesale Club has entered a definitive agreement to be acquired by Leonard Green & Partners and CVC Capital Partners for an all-cash transaction valued at about $2.8 billion.

BJ’s board of directors unanimously approved the merger agreement — which is subject to approval of BJ’s shareholders, customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals — and recommended that all BJ’s shareholders vote in favor of the transaction.

WASHINGTON — Eli Lilly will invest funds into its existing biotechnology capabilities to further research and development of multispecific therapeutics.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Walmart Canada has agreed to assume leasehold interests from Target Canada in up to 39 sites that currently are operated by Zellers.

Specific locations will be identified later this fall. Terms of this transaction were not disclosed.

The sites are among up to 220 possible sites whose leasehold interests Target is acquiring as part of a real-estate transaction announced in January. In May, Target selected its initial group of 105 sites, the vast majority of which will become Target stores.

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Ingles Markets' board of directors declared a cash dividend of 16.5 cents per share on all of its Class A common stock and 15 cents per share on all of its Class B common stock.

This is an annual rate of 66 cents and 60 cents per share, respectively.

Dividends on both the Class A and Class B common stock are payable July 21 to all shareholders of record on July 7.

CINCINNATI — Kroger CEO David Dillon said the company will continue to focus on customer loyalty, after reporting last week that it saw identical-store sales increase for 30 consecutive quarters.

During its shareholders meeting on Thursday, Dillon said the company will build its future growth around its Customer 1st strategy, which emphasizes "[our] people, products, prices and the shopping experience."