Executives at Fred’s Pharmacy and Walgreens Boots Alliance this week expressed confidence that the Federal Trade Commission will ultimately bless the proposed merger between Walgreens and rival drugstore retailer Rite Aid — a deal contingent on Fred’s acquiring hundreds of Rite Aid locations.
“Fred’s Pharmacy remains committed to purchasing additional assets, including up to 1,200 Rite Aid stores, to the extent necessary to obtain the FTC’s approval of the transaction,” Fred’s CEO Mike Bloom told analysts on Thursday, according to a transcript from Seeking Alpha.
