RITE AID

DEERFIELD, Ill.  — The day some analysts thought would never come has arrived. On Friday, Jan. 27, the deadline expires for the pending acquisition of Rite Aid by Walgreens Boots Alliance for $9 per share in cash (representing a $17.2 billion deal including the acquired net debt).

What now?

NEW YORK  — With the deadline for the deal set to expire Friday, Jan. 27, Walgreens Boots Alliance CEO Stefano Pessina told shareholders attending the Walgreens Boots Alliance annual meeting Thursday morning that the board of directors for both Walgreens and Rite Aid were in "active" discussions toward getting the deal approved even as the Federal Trade Commission continues to deliberate over the proposed retail pharmacy merger.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid on Monday announced that Ken Black, Rite Aid’s current group VP compensation, benefits and shared services, has been named SVP and chief human resources officer, effective immediately. He is succeeding Dedra Castle, who is leaving the company for personal health reasons.

NEW YORK — Challenging "vague" reports suggesting the Walgreens deal to acquire Rite Aid may be in jeopardy, Deutsche Bank on Friday issued a research note outlining the number of options Walgreens still has at its disposal leading up to the Jan. 27 deadline.

NEW YORK  — Is today the day? The much anticipated approval for the Walgreens/Rite Aid merger, through which Walgreens has proposed to pay $9.4 billion for the acquisition of Rite Aid's 4,547 stores in an effort to bolster its national footprint, did not happen by Friday morning as many had speculated.

Now there is a new countdown clock — the deal is set to expire Jan. 27 if not approved before that time.

NEW YORK  — Almost half (48%) of the more-than 200 DSN readers who weighed in on when the Walgreens Boots Alliance/Rite Aid deal would be approved are laying odds that it will happen before the inauguration of President-Elect Donald Trump.

That's in three days.