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Target sells pharmacies, clinics to CVS for $1.19 billion

CVS will acquire more than 1,660 Target pharmacies in 47 states and operate them through a store-within-a-store format, while Target's nearly 80 clinics will be rebranded as MinuteClinic.

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Matt Rourke/AP/File
A CVS store in Philadelphia. Target announced Monday, June 15, 2015, that it is selling its pharmacy and clinic businesses to drugstore chain CVS Health for about $1.9 billion in a deal that combines the resources of two retailers seeking to polish their reputations as health care providers.
  • By Sruthi Ramakrishnan Reuters

Drugstore operator CVS Health Corp said it will acquire Target Corp's U.S. pharmacy and clinics businesses for about $1.9 billion to boost sales and prescription volumes.

The second-largest U.S. drugstore operator said it will acquire more than 1,660 Target pharmacies in 47 states and operate them through a store-within-a-store format, while Target's nearly 80 clinics will be rebranded as MinuteClinic.

Every new Target store that offers pharmacy services will include a CVS pharmacy and CVS will open up to 20 new clinics in Target stores within three years of the deal closing, the companies said in a statement.

CVS, already present in 40 states, said the deal will help it expand in markets such as Denver, Colorado; Seattle,Washington; Portland, Oregon and Salt Lake City, Utah.

CVS shares rose 0.8 percent to $103 and Target rose 0.9 percent to $80.16 in premarket trading on Monday.

This is CVS's second deal this year, after a $10.1 billion purchase of prescription services provider Omnicare Inc in May. The deal gave CVS access to the older, sicker U.S. population and built on its specialty pharmacy.

CVS and Target said they plan to develop five to 10 small-format stores - branded as TargetExpress and including a CVS pharmacy - over two years after the deal closes, expected near the end of 2015.

CVS has committed to provide Target's cash-paying guests low-cost generic drug options and about 14,000 Targethealth care professionals comparable positions at CVS.

CVS said it will finance the deal through debt. To lower its leverage ratio CVS reduced its 2015 share repurchasetarget to $5 billion from $6 billion.

The company also cut its 2015 adjusted earnings forecast by about 1 cent per share and 2016 forecast by about 4 cents per share due to the reduced stock buyback target.

The deal will reduce CVS's 2016 adjusted earnings by about 6 cents per share, but add to Target's profit once the deal closes.

Target said it plans to use the expected $1.2 billion after-tax proceeds from the deal for initiatives such as to shares repurchases.

Target last week doubled its share buyback program to $10 billion and also raised its dividend.

Barclays is CVS's financial adviser, while Target's is Goldman Sachs.

CVS's legal adviser is Fried Frank and regulatory adviser is Dechert LLP. Target's legal advisers are Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, and Dorsey & Whitney. (Reporting by Sruthi Ramakrishnan in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj Kalluvila and Savio D'Souza)

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