Legislative, Regulatory & Legal

BELLEVUE, Wash. — Drugstore.com on Tuesday announced the expiration of the waiting period under the U.S. Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, with respect to the proposed merger by which the company would be acquired by Walgreens in a cash transaction.

The deal previously was announced on March 24.

WASHINGTON — The National Retail Federation announced that it is endorsing legislation that would repeal the employer mandate provision of last year’s healthcare reform law.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings Corp. is researching a possible move of its headquarters and 6,200 jobs out of Illinois, a company spokesman said Monday.

The retailer has had preliminary discussions with the Chicago suburb of Hoffman Estates, where it is located, and has commissioned an economic impact study, according to spokesman Chris Brathwaite.

New York City -- Simon Property Group is set to sell its newly bought Prime Outlets retail shops in Jeffersonville, Ohio, as part of a deal with federal regulators that required it to sell one of two Ohio properties, the Dayton Business Journal reported.

Simon, which bought the 22-site outlet arm of Prime Outlets Acquisition Co. last year for $2.3 billion, was required to sell either the Jeffersonville site or Cincinnati Premium Outlets in Butler County amid concerns that it would gain an anti-competitive advantage in the market.

New York City -- Massmart Holdings Ltd. promised to add jobs if Wal-Mart Stores is allowed to buy a controlling stake in the South African wholesaler, CEO Grant Pattison. His remarks were made on Monday at a tribunal in Pretoria, South Africa, that will determine whether Wal-Mart will be able to go through with the deal.

New York City -- A trustee for bankrupt retailers Movie Gallery and Hollywood Video reached an agreement on Thursday with all 50 states over how the defunct company collects late fees and other charges from its former customers, the Associated Press reported.

The agreement bars debt collectors from filing negative credit reports or threatening to file such reports against former customers, the report said.

ARLINGTON, Va.  — The Retail Industry Leaders Association announced that Bill Hughes has joined the association as SVP government relations. Hughes, a 27-year veteran of Capitol Hill, will serve as RILA’s top federal lobbyist.

New York City -- CVS Caremark Corp. is disclosing another government inquiry into its business, as the company said the Securities and Exchange Commission has requested documents related to its Caremark pharmacy benefits management unit, the Associated Press reported.

The company said it received a subpoena from the SEC on Feb. 28.

The agency asked for corporate records on several issues, including public disclosures in 2009 related to pharmacy benefits management and its Medicare Part D prescription-drug benefit businesses.