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CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid has closed a bond offering that it issued earlier this month to refinance its debt, the company said Monday.

Rite Aid said the proceeds of its offering of $481 million in 9.25% senior notes due 2020 would be used to buy back its 8.625% senior notes due 2015.

The retail pharmacy chain announced the offering on Feb. 14. The offering marked the first time that the company was able to tap the unsecured debt market in five years. Rite Aid has carried a heavy debt burden since its 2007 acquisition of the Brooks and Eckerd pharmacy chains.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — After stepping into the role on an interim basis, Safeway has named Brian Baer president of its Dominick's Finer Foods banner.

Baer, who has served as acting president of Dominick's since July 2011 after the exit of Don Keprta, has been part of Dominick's parent Safeway since 2001. Prior to his role as president, Baer served as Dominick's CFO and VP finance.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Two Feeding America food banks and a Macomb County, Mich., resident were named winners of Meijer's "Get Gifted" online holiday contest.

The retailer said it donated $10,000 to Gleaners Community Food Bank and Forgotten Harvest last week and named Vickie Spokes its grand prize winner of $10,000 in Meijer gift cards.

WHAT IT MEANS AND WHY IT'S IMPORTANT — "I appreciate the fact that [Walgreens is] trying to do some very good things with respect to clinical offerings and other avenues to try to impact the overall healthcare spectrum. But quite frankly, that hasn't been proven to reduce cost." That was what George Paz, Express Scripts chairman, president and CEO, said Thursday morning about the go-to-market strategy currently being employed by Walgreens. Later that day, Walgreens released these data — contrary to Paz's take on the value of Walgreens.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy on Thursday released data showing that both patients and their health plans can realize savings of up to 60% on the cost of infused specialty medications by choosing alternate treatment sites. The cost savings was the key finding from new data being presented at the 2012 Pharmacy Benefit Management Institute Annual Drug Benefit Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz.


WOONSOCKET, R.I. and NASHVILLE, Tenn. — MinuteClinic has entered a clinical affiliation with HCA's TriStar Health, the largest health system in middle Tennessee, to enhance access to high-quality, affordable healthcare services in the Nashville metro area.

MinuteClinic has 14 walk-in medical clinics inside select CVS/pharmacy stores in Middle Tennessee. The agreement includes any current or future locations in Nashville and 10 surrounding counties.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — One year after launching a national awareness campaign focused on the benefits of 90-day prescription refills at retail pharmacies, Walgreens on Friday released new data supporting the success of the 90-day refill program and its overarching benefits to patients and payers. Walgreens also released a white paper outlining in greater detail the ways in which 90-day retail refills can help improve adherence and reduce costs.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — Christie Clinic last week announced it had entered into a purchase agreement with Walgreens for the sale of two of the former's pharmacy operations.

Walgreens will lease the space currently occupied by Christie Clinic for its new operations. The transfer is expected to be completed by the end of March. Walgreens plans to keep both pharmacy locations open and is renovating the facilities, including new signage.