Legislative, Regulatory & Legal

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Sears Holding Corp. is protecting the assets of its pension fund following the creation of its Seritage Growth Properties real estate investment trust (REIT).

The company has entered into a five-year agreement with Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. (PBGC) to guarantee that it will continue to make required contributions to the fund.

Canton, Mass. - Dunkin' Brands Group Inc., the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, has named Michael R. Shutley as VP, federal & state government affairs.

Reporting directly to Karen Raskopf, chief communications officer, Shutley will work closely with senior management to develop and implement the company's legislative initiatives.

He will also advocate for Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins franchisees at all levels of government, both domestically and internationally.

New York -- A new report suggest that the Federal Trade Commission is unlikely to approve the merger between Staples and Office Depot.

The report, by 24/7 Wall St., cites on a market-share argument that the proposed combination imperils competition.

To read the story, click here.
 

Washington, D.C. -- The National Retail Federation continues to turn up the heat on the Labor Department’s proposal to expand overtime pay.   

Woonsocket, R.I. – When consumers have less access to cigarettes, they smoke fewer of them.

This is the basic conclusion of a new report from CVS Health showing that overall cigarette sales fell in 13 states where CVS has more than a 15% market share.

Kmart has paid the U.S.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. – Kmart has paid the U.S. government $1.4 million to resolve allegations that it improperly used drug manufacturer coupons and gasoline discounts to reduce pharmacy costs for Medicare patients at Kmart pharmacies.

Minneapolis – Target Corp. reportedly wants to become a place where consumers can go and everybody knows your name.

According to USA Today, Target plans to serve liquor in a store slated to open in Chicago in October 2015.

While a number of Target stores sell packaged alcohol products, this marks the first time Target would also serve liquor for customers to consume inside the store. Target has applied for permits to both sell alcohol for take-home purchase and for in-store consumption for the Chicago store.