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 HAWTHORNE, N.Y. - Israeli drug maker Taro Pharmaceutical Industries and Indian drug maker Sun Pharmaceutical Industries have terminated their merger agreement, the companies said in a joint statement Friday.

Little explanation for the decision to halt the deal was given, except that terminating the agreement was "in the best interest of the respective companies and shareholders." Taro shareholders would have received $39.50 per share upon the closing of the deal.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp.'s sales increased 7% in January compared with January 2012, the club retailer said Thursday.

Costco reported sales for the five weeks that ended Sunday of $9.35 billion, compared with $8.74 billion a year ago. The month was one day shorter than last year due to the timing of the New Year holiday, which reduced total and same-store sales by about 2%, the company said. Comps in U.S. stores were up by 6%.

TARRYTOWN, N.Y. — Reporting on the third quarter ended Dec. 31, Prestige Brands' CEO Matthew Mannelly told analysts Thursday morning he is "cautiously optimistic" regarding cough-cold reorders given the high consumption levels at retail in late December through January. 

NEW YORK — Revlon today announced results for the year and the fourth quarter ended Dec. 31, 2012, with a 3.2% increase in overall net sales. Excluding unfavorable foreign currency fluctuations of $21.2 million, 2012 net sales increased by 4.8%.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Tuesday morning reported January sales of $6.2 billion, an increase of 6.3% as compared to the same month in fiscal 2012.

MISSISSAUGA, Ontario — The company that operates Canada's Rexall and Rexall Pharma Plus retail pharmacy chains has hired on a former Sears Canada executive.

Katz Group Canada announced Monday the appointment of Sharon Driscoll as EVP and CFO.

SAN FRANCISCO — McKesson Corporation on Thursday reported $31.2 billion in revenue for its third quarter ended Dec. 31, up 1%. 

“Our full year view of the operating performance in our Distribution Solutions segment is now better than our original expectations, and our full year view of the operating performance in the primary businesses in Technology Solution remains unchanged,” stated John Hammergren, chairman and CEO. 

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. — Unilever has mostly completed its sale of the Skippy peanut butter brand to Hormel Foods, the company said Friday.

The conglomerate said it had completed the $700 million sale of the global business, except for China, where it remains subject to regulatory approval and is expected to close later this year.

The two companies announced the deal on Jan. 3, including the brand's trademarks and two factories, in the United States and China.

INDIANAPOLIS — Eli Lilly and Company on Tuesday reported that its fourth quarter revenue for the period ended Dec. 31 declined 1% to $6 billion because of its Zyprexa patent expiration. Full-year 2012 revenue declined 7% to $22.6 billion.

NEW YORK — Johnson & Johnson is shopping its women's health unit, according to a report Friday in The Wall Street Journal, which suggested that the business no longer coincided with J&J's "growth priorities." 

The brands managed by the unit include intimacy health KY and women's personal care brands, o.b. tampons and Stayfree and Carefree pads. 

CINCINNATI — Kroger on Friday declared a quarterly dividend of 15¢ per share to be paid on March 1, 2013, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on Feb. 15, 2013.

In September, the company's board of directors raised the quarterly dividend by approximately 30%, to 15¢ per share. Since re-instating dividends in 2006, Kroger has increased the dividend each year and expects to continue to do so, the company stated.

Shares of Kroger were up slightly by 39 cents to $27.08 in early afternoon trading, Monday.