Content about Buybacks

November 30, 2011

The board of directors at Safeway announced that it has increased the authorized level of the company's stock repurchase program by $1 billion.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — The board of directors at Safeway announced that it has increased the authorized level of the company's stock repurchase program by $1 billion.

With this boost, the program now totals $8 billion.

Through the end of the third quarter 2011, Safeway had repurchased about $6.1 billion of its stock and had approximately $900 million remaining under its stock repurchase program, the retailer noted.

November 2, 2011

AmerisourceBergen on Tuesday recorded revenues of $20.4 billion for fourth quarter 2011 ended Sept. 30, up 3.5%. Diluted earnings per share increased 8% to 54 cents. For the year, AmerisourceBergen posted $80.2 billion in revenue, up 2.9%.

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — AmerisourceBergen on Tuesday recorded revenues of $20.4 billion for fourth quarter 2011 ended Sept. 30, up 3.5%. Diluted earnings per share increased 8% to 54 cents. For the year, AmerisourceBergen posted $80.2 billion in revenue, up 2.9%.

October 11, 2011

Over the years, CVS Caremark has grown from a go-getting New England-based regional player to a nearly $100 billion pharmacy healthcare giant known for its vertically integrated pharmacy-PBM model via the 2007 acquisition of Caremark, its highly successful loyalty card program and its innovative beauty concepts.


Over the years, CVS Caremark has grown from a go-getting New England-based regional player to a nearly $100 billion pharmacy healthcare giant known for its vertically integrated pharmacy-PBM model via the 2007 acquisition of Caremark, its highly successful loyalty card program and its innovative beauty concepts.


September 27, 2011

Walgreens mitigated projected repercussions out of the chain's withdrawal from the Express Scripts pharmacy network come January, as the Walgreens/Express Scripts failed negotiations again dominated the pharmacy's quarterly analyst call Tuesday morning.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens mitigated projected repercussions out of the chain's withdrawal from the Express Scripts pharmacy network come January, as the Walgreens/Express Scripts failed negotiations again dominated the pharmacy's quarterly analyst call Tuesday morning. All told, Express Scripts represents $5.3 billion in revenue to Walgreens, but the Chicago-based pharmacy is working toward retaining the prescription business from several employers and payers, "consistent with their contractual obligations," executives emphasized.

August 24, 2011

Brynwood Partners VI L.P. has announced that High Ridge Brands, its portfolio company and owner of the North American Zest personal cleansing franchise, has signed a purchase agreement with Unilever to acquire the Alberto VO5 brand and marketing rights in the United States and Puerto Rico; as well as the rights to the Rave brand and marketing rights worldwide.

GREENWICH, Conn. — Brynwood Partners VI L.P. has announced that High Ridge Brands, its portfolio company and owner of the North American Zest personal cleansing franchise, has signed a purchase agreement with Unilever to acquire the Alberto VO5 brand and marketing rights in the United States and Puerto Rico; as well as the rights to the Rave brand and marketing rights worldwide.

Unilever has retained the rights to the Alberto VO5 brand outside the United States and Puerto Rico.

August 24, 2011

CVS Caremark’s board of directors has approved a new share repurchase program for up to $4 billion of the company's outstanding common stock.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark’s board of directors has approved a new share repurchase program for up to $4 billion of the company's outstanding common stock.

The share repurchase authorization, which is effective immediately, enables the pharmacy retailer to affect the repurchases from time to time through a combination of open market repurchases, privately negotiated transactions, accelerated share repurchase transactions, and/or other derivative transactions. 


August 23, 2011

CVS Caremark has announced the results of its previously announced solicitation of consents from the registered holders as of 5 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 8 of its 6.125% senior notes due Aug. 15, 2016, to terminate the replacement capital covenant.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark has announced the results of its previously announced solicitation of consents from the registered holders as of 5 p.m. Eastern time on Aug. 8 of its 6.125% senior notes due Aug. 15, 2016, to terminate the replacement capital covenant — which was entered into on May 25, 2007 — for the benefit of the holders of the notes in connection with the issuance of its 6.302% enhanced capital advantaged preferred securities due 2062.

July 15, 2011

Valeant Pharmaceuticals has purchased a dermatology subsidiary from Johnson & Johnson, the Canadian drug maker said Friday.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — Valeant Pharmaceuticals has purchased a dermatology subsidiary from Johnson & Johnson, the Canadian drug maker said Friday.

The $345 million acquisition of the Ortho Dermatologics division of J&J subsidiary Janssen Pharmaceuticals follows Valeant’s $425 million purchase of Dermik, the skin care business of French drug maker Sanofi. Ortho Dermatologics’ portfolio includes the drugs Retin-A Micro, Ertaczo and Renova, which collectively had sales of about $150 million in 2010.

July 13, 2011

The board of directors of Walgreens on Wednesday increased the quarterly dividend 28.6% — the largest quarterly dividend increase in the company's 110-year history — to 22.5 cents per share from the previous rate of 17.5 cents per share.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — The board of directors of Walgreens on Wednesday increased the quarterly dividend 28.6% — the largest quarterly dividend increase in the company's 110-year history — to 22.5 cents per share from the previous rate of 17.5 cents per share.

June 7, 2011

Through a partnership with Incentive Targeting and HaloEffect, Big Y Foods will become the first grocery retailer to offer Groupon deals digitally loaded to shoppers’ loyalty cards, the companies announced.

CHICAGO — Through a partnership with Incentive Targeting and HaloEffect, Big Y Foods will become the first grocery retailer to offer Groupon deals digitally loaded to shoppers’ loyalty cards, the companies announced.

Big Y’s first Groupon offer, distributed among Springfield, Mass., subscribers on June 7, was for a newly introduced Shellfish Grill Pack, including lobster tails, mussels, clams and other seafood suitable for grilling, which retails at $39.99 and is being offered at a 40% discount for $24.

June 3, 2011

Walmart's board of directors has approved a new program authorizing the company to repurchase $15 billion of its shares, the company announced at its 41st annual meeting of shareholders Friday.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart's board of directors has approved a new program authorizing the company to repurchase $15 billion of its shares, the company announced at its 41st annual meeting of shareholders Friday.

This program replaces the previous $15 billion program, announced on June 4, 2010, that had approximately $2 billion of remaining authorization. Under the program, repurchased shares are retired constructively and returned to unissued status.

May 18, 2011

First-quarter sales at Target increased 2.8% to $15.6 billion, and same-store sales increased 2%, the company reported.

MINNEAPOLIS — First-quarter sales at Target increased 2.8% to $15.6 billion, and same-store sales increased 2%, the company reported.

The modest sales growth translated into earnings per share that advance 9.8% to 99 cents, 4 cents better than analysts’ consensus estimate of 95 cents, and net income that increased 2.7% to $689 million. Share repurchase activity contributed to the earnings-per-share growth as Target spent $819 million during the first quarter to buy back 15.4 million shares at an average price of $53.32.

April 29, 2011

AmerisourceBergen on Thursday posted revenue of $19.8 billion, up 2.4%, for its second quarter ended March 31.

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — AmerisourceBergen on Thursday posted revenue of $19.8 billion, up 2.4%, for its second quarter ended March 31.

"In the March quarter, we delivered outstanding performance on top of very strong performance last year," stated David Yost, AmerisourceBergen CEO.

April 28, 2011

CVS Caremark is expected to complete its acquisition of the Medicare Part D business of Universal American on April 29, the company has announced.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark is expected to complete its acquisition of the Medicare Part D business of Universal American on April 29, the company has announced.

As previously reported, CVS Caremark will pay Universal American shareholders cash consideration of $1.25 billion plus the excess capital in the entities that operate Universal American's Medicare Part D business, less Universal American's outstanding trust preferred securities, which are being assumed by CVS Caremark.

April 25, 2011

With a new leader at the helm, a robust management team in place and an unwavering focus on driving medication adherence and reducing healthcare costs, CVS Caremark remains squarely on the growth path and continues to play an increasingly important role in U.S. health care with its far-reaching store network and arsenal of products and services.


March 8, 2011

Safeway on Tuesday said that it expects to earn $1.60 to $1.80 per diluted share during the quarter, after the company's board approved a $1.1 billion dividend from Canada to the United States.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Tuesday said that it expects to earn $1.60 to $1.80 per diluted share during the quarter, after the company's board approved a $1.1 billion dividend from Canada to the United States.

The dividend, Safeway said during its 2011 investor conference, will be used to pay off $600 million of U.S. debt, and the company will use the remainder of the dividend for share repurchases.

February 3, 2011

What will define success for CVS Caremark in the years ahead? If you ask incoming CEO Larry Merlo, it all comes down to three things: flawless execution, cross-functional thinking and management, and enhancing value. Not coincidentally, those are three key reasons Merlo inherited the top spot at the company.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — What will define success for CVS Caremark in the years ahead? If you ask incoming CEO Larry Merlo, it all comes down to three things: flawless execution, cross-functional thinking and management, and enhancing value. Not coincidentally, those are three key reasons Merlo inherited the top spot at the company.

January 28, 2011

Though Schering-Plough’s — now Merck’s — Claritin and Johnson & Johnson’s Zyrtec product lines have dominated the over-the-counter antihistamine market, the big share of the prescription antihistamine market held by Sanofi-Aventis’ Allegra (fexofenadine hydrochloride) could give it a battering ram to bust in as well, thanks to the big break Sanofi got in the form of a Food and Drug Administration approval of an OTC switch for the drug.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — Though Schering-Plough’s — now Merck’s — Claritin and Johnson & Johnson’s Zyrtec product lines have dominated the over-the-counter antihistamine market, the big share of the prescription antihistamine market held by Sanofi-Aventis’ Allegra (fexofenadine hydrochloride) could give it a battering ram to bust in as well, thanks to the big break Sanofi got in the form of a Food and Drug Administration approval of an OTC switch for the drug.

January 19, 2011

German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim will purchase a manufacturing plant from U.S. biotech company Amgen, the two said.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — German drug maker Boehringer Ingelheim will purchase a manufacturing plant from U.S. biotech company Amgen, the two said.

The plant, located in Fremont, Calif., is 100,000 sq. ft. and employs around 360 people. BI has been a contract manufacturer for Amgen for more than 10 years. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, though BI said it would purchase “substantially all” of the assets at the plant.

January 3, 2011

CVS Caremark is more than doubling the size of its Medicare Part D program by acquiring the Medicare Part D business of Universal American for roughly $1.25 billion.

WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS Caremark is more than doubling the size of its Medicare Part D program by acquiring the Medicare Part D business of Universal American for roughly $1.25 billion.

Universal American’s Part D business currently serves about 1.9 million Medicare PDP members, while CVS Caremark serves roughly 1.2 million Medicare PDP members. This reflects current levels of membership and does not include 2011 auto assignment or the results of the annual enrollment period, which ended Dec. 31, 2010.

December 23, 2010

Everyone likes to be proven right. And Walgreens' leaders are justifiably proud of the company’s record performance in first quarter fiscal 2011.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT’S IMPORTANT — Everyone likes to be proven right. And Walgreens' leaders are justifiably proud of the company’s record performance in first quarter fiscal 2011.

(THE NEWS: Walgreens drives accelerating renewal program. For the full story, click here)

December 8, 2010

Safeway's board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 12 cents per share. The cash dividend will be payable on Jan. 13, 2011, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 23.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway's board of directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of 12 cents per share. The cash dividend will be payable on Jan. 13, 2011, to stockholders of record at the close of business on Dec. 23.

In related news, the retail chain's board also increased the authorized level of the company’s stock repurchase program by $1 billion to $7 billion. Through the end of third quarter 2010, Safeway repurchased approximately $5.2 billion of its stock and had approximately $800 million remaining under its stock repurchase program, Safeway said.

November 16, 2010

The European Commission has approved the sale of Sara Lee's global body care and European...

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill. — The European Commission has approved the sale of Sara Lee's global body care and European detergent businesses to Unilever, provided that Unilever divest the Sanex brand of bath and body products in the European market after it acquires the business from Sara Lee.

The global body care and European detergent businesses encompass such brands as Sanex, Radox and Duschdas. The transaction was originally announced in September.

October 12, 2010

Walgreens' board of directors on Wednesday announced the authorization of a new $1 billion share...

September 27, 2010

Walgreens stock was up nearly 9% in early trading Tuesday morning after the company posted...