Finance & Capital Management

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation has announced its support of a tentative bipartisan agreement that would temporarily extend Bush-era tax cuts for all taxpayers regardless of income in return for extending unemployment benefits.

Dublin, Ohio -- Pharmaceuticals distributor Cardinal Health said Tuesday it renewed a deal to provide drugs to Walgreens’ pharmacies through 2013.

Cardinal Health did not disclose terms of its agreement with the chain. The companies renewed their deal early, as their last contract was signed in early 2008 and was set to last for three years.

Dallas -- Alliance Data Systems Corporation, provider of loyalty and marketing solutions derived from transaction-rich data, announced it has signed a multi-year renewal agreement with Arhaus Furniture -- a high-end retailer of quality, customizable home furnishings and accessories -- to continue providing turnkey private label credit-card services for Arhaus' retail locations.

New York City -- Build-A-Bear is looking for a buyer and has approached private-equity firms, according to three people with knowledge of the matter, Bloomberg reported.

Barclays Capital is advising the company, the report said. The St. Louis-based chain, founded by Maxine Clark, opened its first store in 1997.

Washington, D.C. -- The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday agreed to decide whether to certify the largest class-action employment discrimination lawsuit in U.S. history, a long-standing dispute involving Wal-Mart Stores and alleged gender bias in pay and promotions.

New York City -- Activist investor Bill Ackman’s Pershing Square Capital Management raised its stake in Borders Group from 31.5% to 37.3% and is prepared to finance an offer by Borders to buy larger rival Barnes & Noble, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission Monday.

According to the statement, Ackman is prepared to finance an offer by Borders to buy all of Barnes & Noble’s stock in an all-cash transaction valued at $16 per share, which would amount to about $960 million, based on the shares outstanding.