Staples Inc.

The recent announcement that Staples, of Framingham, will buy its chief rival, Office Depot underscores the increasing power of electronic commerce, the changing habits of American consumers and the challenge some specialty retailers face in competing against the likes of Wal-Mart and Target.

Framingham-based Staples Inc. is buying its chief rival, Office Depot, in a deal valued at about $6.3 billion, the companies announced Wednesday morning.

Framingham-based Staples Inc. has issued a statement welcoming “constructive” dialogue with shareholders after activist investor Starboard Value on Tuesday urged a merger with office supplies competitor Office Depot. “Staples values constructive shareholder input and dialogue and regularly meets with its shareholders. The company has met and spoken with Starboard Value on several occasions to discuss their ideas,” the statement read, adding that the Staples board “carefully considers all actions that would create shareholder value and is committed taking actions that are in the best interest of all of the company's shareholders.“

Ronald L. Sargent, chairman and CEO of Staples Inc., has chosen not to accept his 2.5 percent base salary raise for 2014, Staples said in a statement Wednesday. The raise had previously been cleared by the company's board.

Office products retailer Staples of Framingham has reached agreement on a multi-year contract extension with CommerceHub of Albany, N.Y., which helps companies deliver their orders, according to a statement from Staples.

In an update on a data security breach that occurred late this summer, Framingham-based office supply retailer Staples Inc. announced Friday that up to 1.16 million payment cards may have been impacted, with some of the transactions occurring at the Shrewsbury store at 571 Boston Turnpike.

Framingham-based Staples Inc. reported third-quarter earnings Wednesday that met analysts' expectations. Still, it's back to the drawing board for the office-supply company after sales declined during the important back-to-school period (the quarter ended Nov.1). The company said it will close 170 stores in North America this year, up from the 140 it said in August it had planned, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Several major companies with operations in Central Massachusetts received the highest scores on equality from a national advocacy group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Americans.

The board of directors for Framingham-based office supply retailer Staples Inc. on Tuesday announced a quarterly dividend of 12 cents per share.

In a continued bid to boost online shopping as it scales back its retail store footprint, Framingham-based office supply retailer Staples Inc. said it is now offering maximum in-store pickup wait times of two hours for online orders.