Content about Financial economics

MINNEAPOLIS — Target has accepted for purchase $760.7 million worth of debt as part of a $1.1 billion debt-refinancing plan announced last month, the mass merchandiser said.

The company announced plans in mid-March to purchase up to more than $1.1 billion worth of debt securities and will pay close to the full amount for those accepted for purchase.

The offer to purchase the debt from the people holding it expired Wednesday night at 11:59, the company said.

NEW YORK — Driven by the need for consumers to have access to convenient, cost-effective and quality healthcare services, the number of walk-in health clinics has been on the rise across the country in recent years, and according to a Reuters report, private equity firms are helping to fuel the expansion.

In recent years, at least a dozen private equity firms have invested millions of dollars into urgent care clinics and several private equity executives reportedly told Reuters that they are eager for more acquisitions.

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Bausch + Lomb on Friday announced that it has filed a registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to take the company public. The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined, the company stated. 

The proposed IPO could raise as much as $1.5 billion and is expected to value Bausch & Lomb at about $9 billion to $10 billion, Reuters reported earlier in March.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Friday announced that its board of directors met Thursday and declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.175 per share. 

The cash dividend will be payable on April 11 to stockholders of record at the close of business on March 25.

Safeway shares were down 7 cents to $24.31 in early-morning trading Friday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Health insurer Aetna is offering individual health insurance plans to Costco members in Florida, the insurer said.

The Costco Personal Health Insurance program includes five plans and offers medical benefits, dental options, a network of doctors and hospitals and other services, as well as lower copays on prescriptions at the club retailer's pharmacies.

NEW YORK — The investment groups of billionaires Warren Buffett and Jorge Paulo Lemann will buy H.J. Heinz for about $23 billion, according to published reports.

Bloomberg reported that Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway and Lemann's 3G Capital would buy the condiment maker for $72.50 per share, and the deal includes $12 billion to $13 billion from Buffett's group. Heinz also owns the Ore-Ida potato chip brand.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Monday announced the appointment of Peter Bocian as its new executive vice president and CFO. Bocian, 58, will oversee the company's financial functions including accounting, tax, audit, treasury, investor relations, planning and business development. He will report directly to Robert Edwards, Safeway's president, and will assume his new responsibilities on Feb. 19.

WALNUT CREEK, Calif. — Aetna is offering individual health insurance plans to Costco members in California, the health insurer said.

The Costco Personal Health Insurance program includes five plans and offers broad medical benefits, dental options and a large network of doctors and hospitals. The program also is available to members of the club retailer in Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. Aetna plans to expand the program to other markets in the coming months.

As many as 26% of consumers increased their usage of over-the-counter products in the past year, according to an online survey of more than 900 AccentHealth viewers conducted in September. Anticipated increases in OTC use for the upcoming year are driven by those who have already reported a rise in usage in the past year.


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The lower cost of OTCs was cited as the primary reason viewers have increased and plan to increase their OTC usage. 


SAN ANTONIO — Consumers plan to buy more gifts this year, according to a recent survey commissioned by USAA and released Monday. The fourth annual USAA holiday spending survey indicated that consumer sentiment toward holiday budgeting has become more positive in 2012 when compared to 2011 (53% vs. 45%).

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Ingles Markets announced that its board of directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of 16.5 cents per share on all its class A common stock and 15 cents per share on all its class B common stock. This is an annual rate of 66 cents and 60 cents, respectively.

Both dividends are payable Oct. 25 to shareholders of record on Oct. 11.

NEW YORK — Revlon’s board has declared a regular dividend of approximately 16.5 cents per share on the Series A Preferred Stock for the period from July 9 through Oct. 8.

This regular dividend is payable on Oct. 8 to holders of record of the Series A Preferred Stock at the close of business on Sept. 28.