S-3ASR
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 16, 2014

Registration No. 333-            

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

WALGREEN CO.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Illinois   36-1924025

(State or Other Jurisdiction of

Incorporation or Organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

108 Wilmot Road

Deerfield, Illinois 60015

Telephone: (847) 315-2500

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Thomas J. Sabatino, Jr.

Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary

Walgreen Co.

108 Wilmot Road

Deerfield, Illinois 60015

Telephone: (847) 315-2500

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Andrew R. Brownstein

Benjamin M. Roth

Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz

51 West 52nd Street

New York, New York 10019

 

Joseph H. Greenberg

Mark L. Dosier

Walgreen Co.

104 Wilmot Road

Deerfield, Illinois 60015

 

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

If the only securities being registered on this form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  ¨

If any of the securities being registered on this form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box.  x

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  x

If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box.  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer:   x    Accelerated filer:   ¨
Non-accelerated filer:   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    Smaller reporting company:   ¨

 

 

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of each class of

securities to be registered

 

Amount

to be

registered

 

Proposed

maximum

offering price

per share

 

Proposed

maximum

aggregate

offering price

 

Amount of

registration fee

Debt Securities

  (1)   (1)   (1)   (1)(2)

 

 

(1) Omitted pursuant to General Instruction II.E of Form S-3. An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price and amount of Debt Securities are being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices.
(2) In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee. In connection with the securities offered hereby, the Registrant will pay “pay-as-you-go registration fees” in accordance with Rule 456(b).

 

 

 


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PROSPECTUS

 

LOGO

Walgreen Co.

Debt Securities

 

 

We may offer from time to time debt securities. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain the specific terms of the securities offered. The prospectus supplements will also describe the specific manner in which we will offer the securities. The prospectus supplements may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, as well as the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement, carefully before you invest.

The debt securities may be offered and sold to or through underwriters, dealers or agents as designated from time to time, or directly to one or more other purchasers or through a combination of such methods. See “Plan of Distribution.” If any underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangements between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in the applicable prospectus supplement.

 

 

This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

 

 

You should carefully consider the risk factors included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement before you invest in our securities.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

 

The date of this prospectus is September 16, 2014.


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     Page  

About This Prospectus

     1   

Where You Can Find More Information

     1   

The Company

     3   

Forward-Looking Statements

     3   

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

     4   

Use of Proceeds

     4   

Description of Debt Securities

     4   

Plan of Distribution

     14   

Legal Matters

     16   

Experts

     16   

 

 

You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in any accompanying prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus filed by us with the SEC. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or inconsistent information. If anyone provides you with different or inconsistent information, you should not rely on it. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date after their respective dates, even though this prospectus or a prospectus supplement is delivered or securities are sold on a later date. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

This prospectus, the accompanying prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus filed by us do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor do they constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction.


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, under a shelf registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may sell debt securities under this prospectus in one or more offerings from time to time. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the debt securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement containing specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus, and accordingly, to the extent inconsistent, information in this prospectus is superseded by the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information”.

The prospectus supplement will describe: the terms of the debt securities offered, any initial public offering price, the price paid to us for the debt securities, the net proceeds to us, the manner of distribution and any underwriting compensation and the other specific material terms related to the offering of these securities. For more detail on the terms of the debt securities, you should read the exhibits filed with or incorporated by reference in our registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part.

In this prospectus we use the terms “Walgreens”, the “Company”, “we”, “us”, and “our” to refer to Walgreen Co. and our consolidated subsidiaries. Unless the context otherwise requires, references in this prospectus to Walgreen Co. do not give effect to our proposed acquisition of the remaining 55% interest in Alliance Boots GmbH, or Alliance Boots, disclosed in our public filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus. References to “securities” include any security that we might sell under this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. References to “$” and “dollars” are to United States dollars.

This prospectus contains summaries of certain provisions contained in key documents described in this prospectus. All of the summaries are qualified in their entirety by the actual documents, which you should review before making your investment decision. Copies of the documents referred to herein have been filed, or will be filed or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part, and you may obtain copies of those documents as described below under “Where You Can Find More Information”.

Because we are a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, we may add to and offer additional securities by filing a prospectus supplement with the SEC at the time of the offer.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room. Our filings also are available to the public on the Internet, through a database maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, reports, proxy statements and other information concerning us may be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005 or of the NASDAQ Stock Market, One Liberty Plaza, 165 Broadway, New York, New York, 10006.

We filed a registration statement on Form S-3 to register with the SEC the securities described in this prospectus. This prospectus is part of that registration statement. As permitted by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all the information contained in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. You may refer to the registration statement and accompanying exhibits for more information about us and our securities.

 

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The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference into this document the information we file with the SEC. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to other documents that we identify as part of this prospectus. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus.

We incorporate by reference the documents listed below:

 

  1. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013;

 

  2. Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended November 30, 2013, February 28, 2014 and May 31, 2014; and

 

  3. Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 14, 2014, March 25, 2014, May 15, 2014, July 24, 2014, August 4, 2014, August 6, 2014, August 8, 2014, September 8, 2014 and September 16, 2014.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, information furnished under Items 2.02 and 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, including the related exhibits under Item 9.01, is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

We also incorporate by reference any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (other than documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules), on or after the date of this prospectus until we have terminated the offering. Those documents will become a part of this prospectus from the date that the documents are filed with the SEC. Information that becomes a part of this prospectus after the date of this prospectus will automatically update and may replace information in this prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC.

You may request a copy of any of these documents from us without charge, excluding certain exhibits to the documents, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Walgreen Co.

108 Wilmot Road

Deerfield, Illinois 60015

Telephone: (847) 315-2500

Attention: Investor Relations

Documents may also be available on our website at investor.walgreens.com. We have included our website address for the information of prospective investors and do not intend it to be an active link to our website. Information contained on our website does not constitute a part of this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement (or any document incorporated by reference herein or therein), and you should not rely on that information in making your investment decision unless that information is also in this prospectus or has been expressly incorporated by reference into this prospectus.

 

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THE COMPANY

Walgreen Co., together with its subsidiaries, operates the largest drugstore chain in the United States with net sales of $72.2 billion in the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013. We provide our customers with convenient, omni-channel access to consumer goods and services, pharmacy, and health and wellness services in communities across America. We offer our products and services through drugstores, as well as through mail, by telephone and online including through our mobile application. As of August 31, 2014, the company operated 8,207 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

We sell prescription and non-prescription drugs as well as general merchandise, including household items, convenience and fresh foods, personal care, beauty care, photofinishing and candy. Our pharmacy, health and wellness services include retail, specialty, infusion and respiratory services, mail service, convenient care clinics and worksite health and wellness centers. These services help improve health outcomes for patients and manage costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. Our Take Care Health Systems subsidiary is a manager of in-store convenient care clinics (Healthcare Clinic), with more than 400 locations throughout the United States.

Since August 2, 2012, and pursuant to a Purchase and Option Agreement, dated June 18, 2012 and amended on August 5, 2014, or the Purchase and Option Agreement, we have held a 45% investment interest in Alliance Boots, a leading international pharmacy-led health and beauty group, which we account for using the equity method of accounting on a three-month lag. Alliance Boots delivers a range of products and services to customers including pharmacy-led health and beauty retailing and pharmaceutical wholesaling and distribution. As part of our initial 45% investment in Alliance Boots, the Purchase and Option Agreement also provided us the right, but not the obligation, to elect to acquire the remaining 55% interest in Alliance Boots, or the Step 2 acquisition, at any time during the period beginning February 2, 2015 and ending on August 2, 2015, in exchange for £3.133 billion in cash, payable in British pounds sterling, and 144,333,468 shares of Walgreens common stock, subject to certain specified adjustments set forth in the Purchase and Option Agreement, or the call option. On August 5, 2014, we amended to Purchase and Option Agreement to permit the exercise of the call option beginning on that date, and we, through an indirectly wholly owned subsidiary to which we previously assigned our rights to the call option, exercised the call option on August 5, 2014. Additional information regarding the Step 2 acquisition is disclosed in our public filings incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

Our principal executive offices are located at 108 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, Illinois, 60015. Our telephone number is (847) 315-2500.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus, includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). These forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this prospectus, including statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy and the plans and objectives of management for future operations. Words such as “expect,” “likely,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “can,” “will,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “goal,” “target,” “continue,” “sustain,” “synergy,” “on track,” “believe,” “seek,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “may,” “possible,” “assume,” variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks, assumptions and uncertainties, known or unknown to us, including, but not limited to, those described in Item 1A “Risk Factors” of our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, and in other documents that we file or furnish with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of

 

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these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Except to the extent required by law, we do not undertake, and expressly disclaim, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the date the statement is made, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

We use or incorporate by reference in this prospectus data and industry forecasts which we have obtained from internal surveys, market research, publicly available information and industry publications. Industry publications generally state that the information they provide has been obtained from sources believed to be reliable but that the accuracy and completeness of such information is not guaranteed. Similarly, we believe that the surveys and market research we or others have performed are reliable, but we have not independently verified this information.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

Our consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the last five fiscal years and for the nine months ended May 31, 2014 is set forth below. For the purpose of computing these ratios, “earnings” consist of earnings before income tax provision and before adjustment for income or loss from equity investees, interest, distributed income of equity-method investees, and the portions of rentals representative of the interest factor. “Fixed charges” consist of interest expense (which includes amortization of capitalized debt issuance costs), capitalized interest and the portions of rentals representative of the interest factor.

 

     Nine months ended
May 31, 2014
     Fiscal Years Ended August 31,  
        2013      2012      2011      2010      2009  

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges

     3.87         3.57         3.68         4.54         4.06         4.16   

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities to which this prospectus relates will be used for general corporate purposes. Until we apply the proceeds from the sale of the securities, we may temporarily invest any proceeds that are not immediately applied to the above purposes in United States government or agency obligations, commercial paper, money market accounts, short-term marketable securities, bank deposits or certificates of deposit, repurchase agreements collateralized by United States government or agency obligations or other short-term investments.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

The following summarizes the material provisions of the debt securities to which a prospectus supplement may relate. We may issue debt securities from time to time in one or more series. Each time we offer debt securities, the prospectus supplement related to that offering will describe the applicable terms.

As required by United States federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, the debt securities will be governed by a document called an “indenture.” An indenture is a contract to be entered into by us and a financial institution, acting as trustee on your behalf. The indenture is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended. The trustee has two main roles:

 

    First, subject to some limitations, the trustee can enforce your rights against us if we default.

 

    Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties for us, which include sending you notices and, if the trustee also performs the service of paying agent, interest payments.

 

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Because this section is a summary of the material terms, it does not describe every aspect of the debt securities. We urge you to read the indenture governing the debt securities because it, and not this description, defines your rights as a holder of debt securities. The indenture is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. This description is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture covering the debt securities, as described below, including definitions of some terms used in the indenture. The indenture is subject to any amendments or supplements that we may enter into from time to time, as permitted under the indenture.

References to “Walgreens”, “we”, “us” and “our” in this section are only to Walgreen Co. and not to its subsidiaries.

General

Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be unsecured senior obligations of our company. As senior debt securities, they will rank equally with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness.

Our debt securities are effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, including trade payables and capital lease obligations, of any of our subsidiaries. This may affect your ability to receive payments on our debt securities.

The indenture provides for the issuance by us from time to time of debt securities in one or more series. The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of debt securities we may issue under the indenture. In addition, the indenture does not limit the amount of other indebtedness or debt securities, other than certain secured indebtedness to the extent described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of debt securities that may be issued by Walgreens or its subsidiaries.

The indenture sets forth the specific terms of any series of debt securities or provides that such terms will be set forth in, or determined pursuant to, an authorizing resolution and officers’ certificate or a supplemental indenture, if any, relating to that series.

You should read the prospectus supplement relating to a particular series of debt securities for the following terms of the series of debt securities offered by that prospectus supplement and this prospectus:

 

    the title of the debt securities and the series in which the debt securities will be included, which may include medium-term notes;

 

    any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities;

 

    the date or dates, or the method or methods, if any, by which the date or dates on which the principal of the debt securities will be payable shall be determined;

 

    the rate or rates at which the debt securities will bear interest, if any, which rate may be zero in the case of some debt securities issued at an issue price representing a discount from the principal amount payable at maturity, or the method by which the rate or rates will be determined (including, if applicable, any remarketing option or similar method), and the date or dates from which the interest, if any, will accrue or the method by which the date or dates will be determined;

 

    the date or dates on which the interest, if any, on the debt securities will be payable and any regular record dates applicable to the date or dates on which interest will be so payable;

 

    whether and under what circumstances additional amounts, if any, on the debt securities or any of them will be payable and, if so, whether and on what terms we will have the option to redeem the debt securities in lieu of paying the additional amounts (and the terms of the option);

 

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    the place or places where the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the debt securities will be payable, any of the debt securities that are registered securities may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange, and any debt securities may be surrendered for conversion or exchange;

 

    whether any of the debt securities may be redeemed at our option and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the other terms and conditions upon which the debt securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part;

 

    whether we will be obligated to redeem or purchase any of the debt securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of any holder of the debt securities and, if so, the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the other terms and conditions upon which the debt securities will be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, and any provisions for the remarketing of the debt securities so redeemed or purchased;

 

    if other than denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which any registered securities will be issuable and, if other than a denomination of $5,000, the denominations in which any bearer securities will be issuable;

 

    if other than the principal amount, the portion of the principal amount (or the method by which such portion will be determined) of the debt securities that will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of maturity;

 

    if other than United States dollars, the currency of payment, including composite currencies, of the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to any of the debt securities;

 

    whether the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to the debt securities will be payable, at the election of Walgreens or a holder, in a currency other than that in which the debt securities are stated to be payable and the date or dates on which, the period or periods within which, and the other terms and conditions upon which, the election may be made;

 

    any index, formula or other method used to determine the amount of payments of principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to debt securities;

 

    whether the debt securities are to be issued in the form of one or more global securities and, if so, the identity of the depositary for the global security or securities;

 

    any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or covenants of Walgreens with respect to the debt securities;

 

    whether some of the provisions relating to the discharge, defeasance and covenant defeasance described below under “—Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” will be applicable to the debt securities; and

 

    any other terms of the debt securities and any other deletions from or modifications or additions to the indenture in respect of the debt securities.

Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities, the principal, premium, interest and additional amounts, if any, will be payable at the office or agency maintained by us (initially a corporate trust office designated by the Trustee (as defined below)); provided that payment of interest on registered securities may be made by check mailed to the payee at the addresses of the persons appearing on the security register or by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States. In the case of registered securities, interest on the debt securities will be payable on any interest payment date to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered at the close of business on the record date. All paying agents initially designated by us for the debt securities of a particular series will be named in the prospectus supplement relating to those debt securities. We may at any time designate additional paying

 

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agents or rescind the designation of any paying agent or approve a change in the office through which any paying agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for the affected debt securities.

Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities, the debt securities may be presented for transfer (duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer, if so required by us or the security registrar) or exchanged for other debt securities of the same series (containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount) at the office or agency maintained by us (initially a corporate trust office designated by the Trustee). The transfer or exchange will be made without service charge, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and any other expenses payable in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities. We will not be required to (1) issue, register the transfer of, or exchange, debt securities during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before the mailing of a notice of redemption of any of the debt securities of that series and ending at the close of business on the day of the mailing of the notice of redemption or (2) register the transfer of or exchange any debt security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any debt security being redeemed in part.

We have appointed the Trustee as security registrar. Any transfer agent (in addition to the security registrar) initially designated by us for any series of debt securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may at any time designate additional transfer agents or rescind the designation of any transfer agent or approve a change in the office through which any transfer agent acts, except that we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place of payment for the affected debt securities.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued only in fully registered form without coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. The debt securities may be represented in whole or in part by one or more global debt securities registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee and, if so represented, interests in the global debt security will be shown on, and transfers will be effected only through, records maintained by the designated depositary and its participants as described below. Where debt securities of any series are issued in bearer form, the special restrictions and considerations, including special offering restrictions and United States federal income tax considerations, applicable to the those debt securities and to payment on and transfer and exchange of those debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

We may issue debt securities with terms different from those of debt securities that may already have been issued. Without the consent of the holders thereof, we may reopen a previous issue of a series of debt securities and issue additional debt securities of that series without limit unless the reopening was restricted when that series was created.

There is no requirement that we issue debt securities in the future under the same indenture, and we may use other indentures or documentation, containing materially different provisions in connection with future issues of other debt securities.

We may issue the debt securities as original issue discount securities, which are debt securities, including any zero-coupon debt securities, that are issued and sold at a discount from their stated principal amount. Original issue discount securities provide that, upon acceleration of their maturity, an amount less than their principal amount will become due and payable. We will describe the United States federal income tax consequences and other considerations applicable to original issue discount securities in any prospectus supplement relating to them.

In addition, special United States federal income tax considerations or other restrictions or other terms applicable to any debt securities offered exclusively to foreigners or denominated in a currency other than United States dollars may also be set forth in the prospectus supplement, if applicable.

 

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We will comply with Section 14(c) of the Exchange Act, and any other tender offer rules within the Exchange Act, which may then be applicable, if we are obligated to purchase debt securities at the option of the holders of the securities. Any obligation applicable to a series of debt securities will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Unless otherwise described in a prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities, the indenture does not contain any provisions that would limit our ability to incur indebtedness (other than certain secured indebtedness to the extent described in the prospectus supplement relating to that series of debt securities that may be issued by Walgreens or its subsidiaries) or that would afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of a sudden and significant decline in our credit quality or a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar transaction involving our company. Accordingly, we could in the future enter into transactions that could increase the amount of indebtedness outstanding at that time or otherwise affect our capital structure or credit rating. Reference is made to the prospectus supplement relating to the particular series of debt securities being offered for information about any deletions from, modifications or additions to the events of default described below or covenants of Walgreens in the indenture, including any addition of a covenant or other provisions providing event risk or similar protection.

Conversion and Exchange

If any debt securities are convertible, they may be convertible into or exchangeable for securities, property or cash, or a combination of the foregoing, and the prospectus supplement will explain the terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange, including:

 

    the securities, property or cash into which the debt securities are convertible or for which they are exchangeable;

 

    the conversion price or exchange ratio, or the calculation method for such price or ratio;

 

    the conversion or exchange period, or how such period will be determined;

 

    if conversion or exchange will be mandatory or at the option of the holder or our company;

 

    provisions for adjustment of the conversion price or the exchange ratio;

 

    provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of the redemption of the debt securities; and

 

    any other terms of the debt securities that are consistent with the provisions of the indenture.

Such terms may also include provisions under which the number or amount of other securities or property to be received by the holders of such debt securities upon conversion or exchange would be calculated according to the market price of such other securities or property as of a time stated in the prospectus supplement.

Global Securities

The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global debt securities (each a “Global Security”) that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary identified in the prospectus supplement relating to that particular series.

The specific terms of a depositary arrangement with respect to a series of debt securities will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to that particular series. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the depositary for the Global Security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the Global Security. These accounts will be designated by the underwriters or agents with respect to such debt

 

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securities or by us if the debt securities are offered and sold directly by us. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such a Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary or its nominee (with respect to interests of participants) for such Global Security and on the records of participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). The laws of some states require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. These limits and laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.

So long as the depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the Global Security, such depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the Global Security for all purposes under the indenture governing these debt securities. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have debt securities of the series represented by the Global Security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of debt securities of a series in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the debt securities under the indenture.

Principal of, any premium and interest on, and any additional amounts with respect to debt securities registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Security representing the debt securities. None of Walgreens, the Trustee, the paying agent or the security registrar will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security for the debt securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for a series of debt securities or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, or additional amounts with respect to debt securities, will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interest in the principal amount of the Global Security for the debt securities as shown on the records of the depositary or its nominee. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in the Global Security held through the participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street name”, and will be the sole responsibility of the participants.

The indenture provides that if (1) the depositary for a series of debt securities notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or if the depositary ceases to be eligible under the indenture and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within 90 days of written notice, (2) we determine that the debt securities of a particular series will no longer be represented by Global Securities and execute and deliver to the Trustee a company order to that effect or (3) an event of default with respect to a series of debt securities has occurred and is continuing and the depositary requests the issuance of certificated notes, the Global Securities will be exchanged for debt securities of a series in definitive form of like tenor and of an equal aggregate principal amount, in authorized denominations. The definitive debt securities will be registered in such name or names as the depositary instructs the Trustee. We expect that these instructions may be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in Global Securities.

Events of Default

Each of the following events will constitute an event of default under the indenture with respect to any series of debt securities issued:

 

    default in the payment of any interest on any debt security of the series, or any additional amounts payable with respect thereto, when interest or additional amounts become due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;

 

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    default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any debt security of the series, or any additional amounts payable with respect thereto, when principal, premium or additional amounts become due and payable at maturity, upon any redemption, upon declaration of acceleration or otherwise;

 

    default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due by the terms of any debt security of the series;

 

    default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of Walgreens contained in the indenture for the benefit of the series or in the debt securities of the series (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance or the breach of which is dealt with elsewhere in the indenture or which is expressly included in the indenture solely for the benefit of a series of debt securities other than such series), and the continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after written notice as provided in the indenture;

 

    if any event of default as defined in any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which any of our debt is issued, secured or evidenced (including any event of default under any other series of debt securities), whether the debt now exists or is created or incurred in the future, happens and consists of the default in the payment of more than $100 million in principal amount of the debt at its maturity (after giving effect to any applicable grace period) or results in more than $100 million of the debt becoming or being declared due and payable before it is otherwise due and payable; provided, however, that, if the default under the mortgage, indenture or instrument is cured by us, or waived by the holders of the debt, in each case as may be permitted by the mortgage, indenture or instrument, then the event of default under the indenture governing the debt securities caused by such default will be deemed likewise to be cured or waived;

 

    particular events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Walgreens; and

 

    any other event of default under the indenture with respect to debt securities of the series.

No event of default with respect to a particular series of debt securities issued under the indenture necessarily constitutes an event of default with respect to any other series of debt securities issued thereunder. Any modifications to the foregoing events of default will be described in any prospectus supplement.

The indenture provides that if an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any series (other than an event of default described in the sixth bullet above) occurs and is continuing, either the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series by written notice as provided in the indenture may declare the principal amount (or a lesser amount as may be provided for in the debt securities of the series) of all outstanding debt securities of the series to be due and payable immediately. At any time after a declaration of acceleration is made, but before a judgment or decree for payment of money is obtained by the Trustee, and subject to applicable law and particular other provisions of the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities may, under some circumstances, rescind and annul acceleration.

An event of default described in the sixth bullet above (relating to events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of Walgreens) will cause the principal amount and accrued interest (or a lesser amount as provided for in the debt securities of the series) to become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act by the Trustee or any holder.

The indenture provides that, within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to the debt securities of any series, the Trustee will deliver, in the manner set forth in the indenture, a notice of default to the holders of the debt securities of the series unless the default has been cured or waived. Except in the case of a default in the payment of principal of, or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, or additional amounts or any sinking fund or purchase fund installment with respect to, any debt security of the series, the Trustee may

 

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withhold notice if it in good faith determines that the withholding of the notice is in the best interest of the holders of debt securities of the series. Further, in the case of any default specified in the fourth bullet of the first paragraph above, no notice of default will be given to holders of the debt securities of the affected series until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof.

If an event of default occurs and is continuing with respect to the debt securities of any series, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the holders of debt securities of the series by all appropriate judicial proceedings.

The indenture provides that, subject to the duty of the Trustee to act with the required standard of care, the Trustee will be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the indenture at the request or direction of the holders of the debt securities, unless the holders offer to the Trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it.

Subject to the provisions for the indemnification of the Trustee, and subject to applicable law and particular other provisions of the indenture, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the debt securities of the series.

Under the indenture, we are required annually to furnish to the Trustee a statement as to performance by us of some of our obligations under the indenture and as to any default in such performance. We are also required to deliver to the Trustee a written notice within five business days after becoming aware of any event of default or any event which after notice or lapse of time or both would constitute an event of default under the fourth bullet point above.

Modification and Waiver

The indenture may be modified or amended by us and the Trustee with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modification or amendment; provided, however, that no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected by the modification or amendment:

 

    change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any premium or installment of interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, any debt security;

 

    reduce the principal amount of, or the rate (or modify the calculation of the rate in a manner that may reduce the rate) of interest on, or any additional amounts with respect to, or any premium payable upon the redemption of any debt security or otherwise;

 

    change our obligation to pay additional amounts with respect to any debt security or reduce the amount of the principal of an original issue discount security that would be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity or the amount provable in bankruptcy;

 

    change the redemption provisions of any debt security or adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of any holder of any debt security;

 

    change the place of payment or the currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on or any additional amounts with respect to any debt security is payable;

 

    impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity of any debt security (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date or, in the case of repayment at the option of any holder, on or after the date for repayment);

 

    reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series, the consent of whose holders is required in order to take certain actions;

 

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    reduce the requirements for quorum or voting by holders of debt securities in the indenture;

 

    modify any of the provisions in the indenture regarding the waiver of past defaults and the waiver of some covenants by the holders of debt securities except to increase any percentage vote required or to provide that some other provisions of the indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each debt security affected;

 

    make any change that adversely affects the right to convert or exchange any debt security into or for shares of common stock of Walgreens or other debt securities in accordance with its terms; or

 

    modify any of the provisions described in the immediately preceding bullets.

The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of the series, waive our compliance with a number of restrictive provisions of the indenture. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities of the series, waive any past default and its consequences under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of the series, except a default (a) in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any), any interest on or any additional amounts with respect to debt securities of the series or (b) in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each debt security of any series.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

We may discharge some obligations to holders of any series of debt securities not yet delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and that either became due and payable or will become due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by depositing with the Trustee, in trust, funds in United States dollars or in the Foreign Currency in which the debt securities are payable in an amount sufficient to pay the entire indebtedness on the debt securities with respect to principal (and premium, if any), any additional amounts and interest to the date of deposit (if the debt securities have become due and payable) or to the maturity or redemption of the debt securities, as the case may be.

The indenture provides that, unless the provisions of the indenture relating to defeasance and discharge are made inapplicable to the debt securities of or within any series pursuant to the indenture, we may elect either:

 

    to defease and be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to the debt securities (except for, among other things, the obligation to pay additional amounts, if any, upon the occurrence of particular events of taxation, assessment or governmental charge with respect to payments on the debt securities and other obligations to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities, to replace temporary or mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities, to maintain an office or agency with respect to the debt securities and to hold moneys for payment in trust) (“defeasance”) or

 

    to be released from our obligations with respect to the debt securities under certain covenants as described in the applicable prospectus supplement, and any omission to comply with these obligations will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities (“covenant defeasance”).

Defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, will be conditioned upon the irrevocable deposit by us with the Trustee, in trust, of an amount in United States dollars or in the Foreign Currency in which the debt securities are payable, or Government Obligations (as defined below), or both, which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities on the scheduled due dates (including any redemption date that we irrevocably specify at the time of defeasance or covenant defeasance) and any mandatory sinking fund payments or analogous payments, if applicable.

 

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Such a trust may be established only if, among other things, (1) the applicable defeasance or covenant defeasance does not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which we are a party or by which we are bound, (2) no event of default or event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become an event of default with respect to the debt securities to be defeased occurred and is continuing on the date of establishment of the trust and, with respect to defeasance only, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after such date and (3) we have delivered to the Trustee an opinion of counsel (as specified in the indenture) to the effect that the holders of the debt securities will not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance or covenant defeasance had not occurred, and such opinion of counsel, in the case of defeasance, must refer to and be based upon a letter ruling of the Internal Revenue Service received by us, a Revenue Ruling published by the Internal Revenue Service or a change in applicable United States federal income tax law occurring after the date of the indenture.

Foreign Currency” means any currency, currency unit or composite currency, including, without limitation, the Euro and the British pound, issued by the government of one or more countries other than the United States of America or by any recognized confederation or association of such governments.

Government Obligations” means securities that are (1) direct obligations of the United States of America or the government or governments that issued the Foreign Currency in which the debt securities of a particular series are payable, for the payment of which its full faith and credit is pledged, or (2) obligations of a person controlled or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America or the government or governments that issued the Foreign Currency in which the debt securities of such series are payable, the timely payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation by the United States of America or other government or governments, which, in the case of clauses (1) and (2), are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers, and also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of or any other amount with respect to any Government Obligation held by the custodian for the account of the holder of the depositary receipt, provided that (except as required by law) the custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of the depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian with respect to the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or any other amount with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by the depositary receipt.

If after we have deposited funds or Government Obligations to effect defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to debt securities of any series, (a) the holder of a debt security of the series is entitled to, and does, elect pursuant to the indenture or the terms of the debt security to receive payment in a currency other than that in which the deposit has been made in respect of the debt security, or (b) a Conversion Event (as defined below) occurs in respect of the Foreign Currency in which the deposit has been made, the indebtedness represented by the debt security will be deemed to have been, and will be, fully discharged and satisfied through the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on, and additional amounts, if any, with respect to such debt security as the debt security becomes due out of the proceeds yielded by converting the amount or other properties so deposited in respect of the debt security into the currency in which the debt security becomes payable as a result of such election or Conversion Event based on (x) in the case of payments made pursuant to clause (a) above, the applicable market exchange rate for the currency in effect on the second business day prior to the payment date, or (y) with respect to a Conversion Event, the applicable market exchange rate for the Foreign Currency in effect (as nearly as feasible) at the time of the Conversion Event.

Conversion Event” means the cessation of use of (1) a Foreign Currency both by the government of the country or the confederation that issued the Foreign Currency and for the settlement of transactions by a central bank or other public institutions of or within the international banking community or (2) any currency unit or composite currency for the purposes for which it was established.

 

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In the event that we effect covenant defeasance with respect to any debt securities and the debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default (other than an event of default with respect to any covenant as to which there has been covenant defeasance), if the amount in United States dollars or the Foreign Currency in which the debt securities are payable, and Government Obligations on deposit with the Trustee, will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities at the time of the stated maturity or earlier redemption but is not sufficient to pay amounts due on the debt securities at the time of the acceleration resulting from the event of default, Walgreens will remain liable to make payment of the amounts due at the time of acceleration.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made or instruments entered into and, in each case, performed in said state.

Relationship with the Trustee

The Trustee under the indenture, Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (the “Trustee”), is also the syndication agent, a joint lead arranger, a joint book manager and a lender under our bank credit facilities.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell our securities in any one or more of the following ways from time to time: (i) through agents; (ii) to or through underwriters; (iii) through brokers or dealers; (iv) directly by us to purchasers, including through a specific bidding, auction or other process; or (v) through a combination of any of these methods of sale. The applicable prospectus supplement will contain the terms of the transaction, name or names of any underwriters, dealers, agents and the respective amounts of securities underwritten or purchased by them, the initial public offering price of the securities, and the applicable agent’s commission, dealer’s purchase price or underwriter’s discount. Any dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and compensation received by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts.

Any initial offering price, dealer purchase price, discount or commission may be changed from time to time.

The securities may be distributed from time to time in one or more transactions, at negotiated prices, at a fixed or fixed prices (that may be subject to change), at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at various prices determined at the time of sale or at prices related to prevailing market prices.

Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us or by agents designated by us from time to time. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.

If underwriters are utilized in the sale of any securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, such securities will be acquired by the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at fixed public offering prices or at varying prices determined by the underwriters at the time of sale. Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by one or more underwriters. If any underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale of securities, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters are subject to certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all such securities if any are purchased.

 

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If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is delivered, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. Transactions through brokers or dealers may include block trades in which brokers or dealers will attempt to sell securities as agent but may position and resell as principal to facilitate the transaction or in crosses, in which the same broker or dealer acts as agent on both sides of the trade. Any such dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.

Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by us and the sale thereof may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act with respect to any resale thereof.

If so indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we may authorize agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase securities from us or at the public offering price set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Such delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under relevant agreements with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments that such agents, underwriters and dealers may be required to make in respect thereof. The terms and conditions of any indemnification or contribution will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement.

Underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of commissions, discounts or concessions from us. Underwriters, broker-dealers or agents may also receive compensation from the purchasers of securities for whom they act as agents or to whom they sell as principals, or both. Compensation as to a particular underwriter, broker-dealer or agent might be in excess of customary commissions and will be in amounts to be negotiated in connection with transactions. In effecting sales, broker-dealers engaged by us may arrange for other broker-dealers to participate in the resales.

Each series of securities will be a new issue and will have no established trading market. We may elect to list any series of securities on an exchange, but, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we shall not be obligated to do so. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any of the securities.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us and our respective subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business.

Any underwriter may engage in overallotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Overallotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which create a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of the activities at any time. An underwriter may carry out these transactions on a stock exchange, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

The place and time of delivery for securities will be set forth in the accompanying prospectus supplement for such securities.

 

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LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, the validity of the debt securities to be issued by us will be passed upon for us by Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, New York, New York, and certain legal matters relating to the law of the State of Illinois will be passed upon for us by Thomas J. Sabatino, Jr., our Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Mr. Sabatino beneficially owns, or has rights to acquire under our employee benefit plans, less than one percent of our common stock. Any underwriters, dealers or agents will be advised about the validity of the securities and other legal matters by their own counsel, which will be named in the prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Walgreen Co. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013 and the effectiveness of Walgreens’ internal control over financial reporting have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports which are incorporated herein by reference (which reports (1) expresses an unqualified opinion on the consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013 and includes an explanatory paragraph indicating that their report is based in part on the report of KPMG Audit Plc, an independent registered public accounting firm, which is also incorporated herein by reference with respect to the consolidated financial statements of Alliance Boots GmbH (which Walgreens accounts for using the equity method of accounting on a three month lag) insofar as it relates to the amounts included for the Walgreens’ equity investment and equity earnings in Alliance Boots GmbH, on the basis of International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board, as of and for the ten months ended May 31, 2013 and (2) expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting). Such consolidated financial statements have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firms given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

KPMG Audit Plc’s qualified report on the interim consolidated financial statements of Alliance Boots GmbH contains an explanatory paragraph that states that these interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared solely for the purpose of accounting for Alliance Boots GmbH as an equity method investee in the consolidated financial statements of Walgreen Co. as of and for the year ended August 31, 2013 and that no comparative financial information is presented.

The consolidated financial statements of Alliance Boots GmbH as of March 31, 2014 and 2013, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended March 31, 2014, have been incorporated in this prospectus by reference from the Walgreen Co. Current Report on Form 8-K filed May 15, 2014, in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent auditors, which is incorporated herein by reference, and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

 

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

 

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

The following table sets forth all fees and expenses payable by the registrant expected to be incurred in connection with the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered hereby.

 

Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee

   $             (1)   

Legal fees and expenses

         (2)   

Trustee’s fees and expenses

         (2)   

Rating agency fees

         (2)   

Accounting fees and expenses

         (2)   

Printing expenses

         (2)   

Miscellaneous

         (2)   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $     (2)   

 

(1) Applicable SEC registration fees have been deferred in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Securities Act of 1933 and are not estimable at this time.
(2) These fees are calculated based on the number of issuances and the amount of securities offered and accordingly cannot be estimated at this time. The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the estimated aggregate amount of expenses payable in respect of any offering of securities.

 

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

Limitation on Liability of Directors

Section 8.75 of the Illinois Business Corporation Act (the “IBCA”) provides that a corporation may indemnify any person who, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such corporation, or who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, is made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than one brought on behalf of the corporation, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and settlement payments actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the action, suit or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of such corporation and, in criminal actions or proceedings, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. In the case of actions on behalf of the corporation, indemnification may extend only to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit and only if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation, provided that no such indemnification is permitted in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person is adjudged to be liable to the corporation except to the extent that the adjudicating court otherwise provides. To the extent that a present or former director, officer or employee of the corporation has been successful in defending any such action, suit or proceeding (even one on behalf of the corporation) or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person is entitled to indemnification for expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith if the person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the corporation. Expenses (including attorney’s fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending an action, suit, or proceeding may be paid by the corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit, or proceeding, provided that the director or officer undertakes to repay such advances should it ultimately be determined that the officer or director is not entitled to be indemnified pursuant to Section 8.75 of the IBCA.

 

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The By-Laws of the registrant provide that the registrant shall, in the case of persons who are or were directors or officers of the registrant, and may, as to other persons, indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law any person who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and any appeal thereof, by reason of the fact that he or she is, was or agreed to become a director or officer of the registrant or is or was serving at the request of the registrant as a director, officer, employee, trustee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. This provision is applicable to all expenses (including attorneys’ fees and other expenses of litigation), judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action, suit or proceeding. Expenses incurred by an officer or director in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the registrant in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to indemnification.

Article VIII of the registrant’s Articles of Incorporation, as amended and restated, provides that the directors of the registrant shall not be liable to the registrant or to the shareholders of the registrant for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duties as a director, other than liability (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the registrant or the shareholders of the registrant, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, (iii) under Section 8.65 of the IBCA or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

The indemnification provided for by Section 8.75 of the IBCA is not exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, and a corporation may maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent against liabilities for which indemnification is not expressly provided by the IBCA. The directors and officers of the registrant are insured under a directors and officers liability insurance policy maintained by the registrant.

The foregoing summaries are subject to the complete text of the IBCA and the registrant’s amended and restated articles of incorporation and by-laws and are qualified in their entirety by reference thereto.

Any underwriting agreements that the registrant may enter into will likely provide for the indemnification of the registrant, its controlling persons, its directors and certain of its officers by the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.

 

Item 16. Exhibits

The exhibits to this registration statement are listed in the Exhibit Index to this registration statement, which Exhibit Index is hereby incorporated by reference.

 

Item 17. Undertakings

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

 

(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

 

  (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;

 

  (ii)

to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the total

 

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  dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the “Calculation of Registration Fee” table in the effective registration statement;

 

  (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i), (1)(ii) and (1)(iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in this registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.

 

(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.

 

(4) That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:

 

  (i) each prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and

 

  (ii) each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after the effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.

 

(5) That, for the purpose of determining liability of the registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

 

  (i) any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;

 

  (ii) any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned registrant;

 

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  (iii) the portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned registrant; and

 

  (iv) any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned registrant to the purchaser.

 

(6) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the registrant’s annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

 

(7) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers or persons controlling the registrant, the registrant has been informed that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and is therefore unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer, or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

(8) To file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under Subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Act.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Village of Deerfield, State of Illinois, on this 16th day of September, 2014.

 

WALGREEN CO.
By:  

  /s/ Timothy R. McLevish

Timothy R. McLevish
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Gregory D. Wasson, Timothy R. McLevish and Thomas J. Sabatino, Jr., and each of them, as such person’s true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution for such person and in such person’s name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign, execute and file any amendments (including, without limitation, post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and all documents required to be filed in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any regulatory authority, granting unto such attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith and about the premises in order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all that such attorneys-in-fact and agents or any substitute or substitutes therefor, may lawfully do or cause to be done. This Power of Attorney may be signed in several counterparts.

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on this 16th day of September, 2014.

 

/s/ Gregory D. Wasson                                

  

/s/ Timothy R. McLevish                        

Gregory D. Wasson    Timothy R. McLevish

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ Theodore J. Heidloff                              

  

/s/ James A. Skinner                                

Theodore J. Heidloff    James A. Skinner

Divisional Vice President, Accounting and Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)

   Chairman of the Board and Director

/s/ Janice M. Babiak                                    

  

/s/ David J. Brailer                                

Janice M. Babiak, Director    David J. Brailer, Director

/s/ Steven A. Davis                                      

  

/s/ William C. Foote                              

Steven A. Davis, Director    William C. Foote, Director

/s/ Mark P. Frissora                                      

  

/s/ Ginger L. Graham                              

Mark P. Frissora, Director    Ginger L. Graham, Director

 

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/s/ Alan G. McNally                                    

  

/s/ Dominic P. Murphy                            

Alan G. McNally, Director    Dominic P. Murphy, Director

/s/ Stefano Pessina                                      

  

/s/ Barry Rosenstein                                

Stefano Pessina, Director    Barry Rosenstein, Director

/s/ Nancy M. Schlichting                              

  

/s/ Alejandro Silva                                  

Nancy M. Schlichting, Director    Alejandro Silva, Director

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description of Exhibit

  1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to the debt securities
  2.1    Purchase and Option Agreement, dated June 18, 2012, by and among Walgreen Co., Alliance Boots GmbH and AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited, filed with the SEC on June 19, 2012 as Exhibit 2.1 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604), and incorporated by reference herein.
  2.2    Amendment No. 1, dated August 5, 2014, to the Purchase and Option Agreement and Walgreen Co. Shareholders Agreement, by and among Walgreen Co., Alliance Boots GmbH, AB Acquisitions Holdings Limited, Walgreen Scotland Investments LP, KKR Sprint (European II) Limited, KKR Sprint (2006) Limited and KKR Sprint (KPE) Limited, Alliance Santé Participations S.A., Stefano Pessina and Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P., filed with the SEC on August 6, 2014 as Exhibit 2.1 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604), and incorporated by reference herein.
  4.1    Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, filed with the SEC on January 19, 2011 as Exhibit 3.1 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604), and incorporated by reference herein.
  4.2    Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, as amended effective August 2, 2012, filed with the SEC on August 6, 2012 as Exhibit 3.1 to the company’s Current Report on Form 8-K (File No. 1-00604), and incorporated by reference herein.
  4.3    Indenture, dated as of July 17, 2008, between the Registrant and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee.
  4.4*    Form of Debt Securities
  5.1    Opinion of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
  5.2    Opinion of Thomas J. Sabatino, Jr.
12.1    Statement regarding computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
23.1    Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
23.2    Consent of KPMG Audit plc
23.3    Consent of KPMG LLP
23.4    Consent of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.5    Consent of Thomas J. Sabatino, Jr. (included in Exhibit 5.2)
24.1    Power of Attorney of certain officers and directors of the registrant (included on the signature page of this registration statement)
25.1    Form of T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee

 

* To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of debt securities.

 

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