RITE AID

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance on Thursday generated fiscal 2017 third quarter net earnings of $1.2 billion, up 5.3%, for the period ended May 31. Sales in the third quarter were $30.1 billion, an increase of 2.1% from the year-ago quarter, and an increase of 5% on a constant currency basis.

The industry awoke Thursday morning to arguably the biggest story of the year — the news that Walgreens and Rite Aid had agreed to scrap their original merger agreement one more time, this time in favor of a much smaller, seemingly more manageable deal to purchase 2,186 Rite Aid stores for $5.18 billion in cash.

In the first several hours following the announcement of the deal, DSN identified five important takeaways from the blockbuster agreement.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance Thursday morning announced a new Rite Aid deal, effectively scuttling its proposal to acquire the Camp Hill, Pa.-based chain and surrendering the $325 million termination fee with respect to the old merger agreement. The divestiture agreement with Fred's Pharmacy is terminated.

The news that Walgreens is to scrap its $9.4 billion merger with Rite Aid is unsurprising. The glacial pace of the Federal Trade Commission investigation and increasing signals that the federal government would disallow the merger have forced a rethink.

In some ways, the process so far has been a colossal waste of resources and effort. Walgreens has to pay out a $325 million termination fee to Rite Aid, and all parties — including Fred's, which was due to acquire some Rite Aid stores — have invested time and money with very little to show for it.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid on Thursday reported revenues of $7.8 billion, a decrease of 4.9%. Net loss totaled $75.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, and adjusted net loss was $52.4 million, or $0.05 per diluted share.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Trade Commission’s is set to hold a closed-door meeting on Thursday. The meeting comes in the lead-up to the Jul. 7 deadline by which the regulatory agency has to approve or file suit to block the Walgreens-Rite Aid merger.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid celebrated the grand reopening of its Harrisburg Market Street store on Tuesday, where Harrisburg Mayor Eric Papenfuse joined Bryan Everett, EVP store operations Rite Aid along with other company and community officials for a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

HOUSTON — RediClinic last week unveiled a redesigned website that makes it even easier for people to access high-quality, cost-effective convenient care. Using the new site, patients can make an appointment with one click, personalize their entire RediClinic experience, access customer reviews and browse actionable health content.