Liberty Tax, which owns tax-return preparation business Liberty Tax Services and branched into capital investing in July, agrees to pay $6.50 per Vitamin Shoppe share, a 43% premium on its closing price a day earlier. Vitamin Shoppe's earnings struggles continued in Q2 as total sales fell 7.6% to $270.9m and it reported a $3.6m net loss after generating $5.3m net income a year ago.

GNC is launching numerous products including an energy drink for millennials and a patented ingredient to improve upper and lower body strength. It also is giving its stores a face lift to implement a "service-driven” concept.

Perrigo appoints Ray Silcock, whose experience includes working with the firm's CEO, Murray Kessler, in the tobacco industry, as CFO. Vitamin Shoppe's Bill Wafford will leave May 5.