Financial News

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix on Tuesday announced its board of directors declared a semi-annual cash dividend of 35 cents per share on its common stock.

The dividend will be payable Dec. 2, 2013, either through direct deposit or mailed as a check to stockholders of record as of the close of business Oct. 31, 2013, the grocer stated.

SAN FRANCISCO — McKesson on Monday announced James Beer will join the company as EVP and CFO on Oct. 9. Beer will be responsible for overseeing all financial functions for McKesson and replaces Jeff Campbell, who left the company in June 2013 to become CFO of American Express Co. Beer will also join McKesson’s executive committee. 

BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Amneal Pharmaceuticals has bought rights to four generic drugs from Actavis, Amneal said Monday.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — H. D. Smith on Monday announced full ownership acquisition of Triplefin, a reimbursement, patient assistance and pharmaceutical brand-support services company headquartered in Cincinnati. H. D. Smith secured majority representation on Triplefin's board of directors in January 2013 and majority stock ownership interest in May 2013. 

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Southeastern Grocers, parent company of Bi-Lo and Winn-Dixie supermarkets, on Thursday announced that it has filed a registration statement on a proposed initial public offering.  

The shares are expected to be offered by Southeastern Grocers, and the number of shares to be offered and the price range for the offering have not yet been determined.

NEW YORK — A forecast of holiday sales announced on Monday by Deloitte shows retailers can expect moderate sales gains this season.

GHENT, Belgium — Belgian drug maker Ablynx is licensing an experimental treatment for rheumatoid arthritis and lupus to U.S. drug maker AbbVie in a deal worth up to $840 million, the companies said.

The two drug makers announced that AbbVie would license the drug ALX-0061 for an upfront payment of $175 million plus milestone payments worth up to $665 million, as well as royalties. The drug belongs to a class known as anti-interleukin-6R nanobodies, which work by targeting an immune-system protein pathway that plays a key role in the inflammation associated with RA.

NEW YORK — The Jean Coutu Group sold 72.5 million of its 178.4 million shares of Rite Aid stock, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Monday and company announcement Tuesday.

The Canadian retail pharmacy group said it sold the shares for $158.5 million and would record a gain of $49.7 million in its net profit during first quarter 2014. The sale brings Jean Coutu's stake in Rite Aid down to 11.7%, the company said.