Walgreens Boots Alliance and Rite Aid Receive Second Request from FTC under HSR Act

DEERFIELD, Ill. & CAMP HILL, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA) and Rite Aid Corporation
(NYSE: RAD) today announced that, as expected, the two companies have
each received a request for additional information (“second request”)
from the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) in connection with Walgreens
Boots Alliance’s proposed acquisition of Rite Aid. The second request
was issued under notification requirements of the Hart-Scott-Rodino
Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”). This
second request is a standard part of the regulatory process in
connection with the FTC’s review.


The transaction, which was announced 27 October 2015, is subject to
approval of Rite Aid’s stockholders and satisfaction of other customary
closing conditions, including expiration or termination of the waiting
period under the HSR Act. The effect of the second request is to extend
the waiting period imposed by the HSR Act until 30 days after Walgreens
Boots Alliance and Rite Aid have substantially complied with the
request, unless that period is extended voluntarily by the parties or
terminated sooner by the FTC. Walgreens Boots Alliance and Rite Aid have
been cooperating with the FTC staff since shortly after the announcement
of the proposed acquisition. Both companies expect the transaction to
close in the second half of calendar 2016.

Notes to Editors:

About Walgreens Boots Alliance

Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is the first global pharmacy-led,
health and wellbeing enterprise.

The company was created through the combination of Walgreens and
Alliance Boots in December 2014, bringing together two leading companies
with iconic brands, complementary geographic footprints, shared values
and a heritage of trusted health care services through pharmaceutical
wholesaling and community pharmacy care, dating back more than 100 years.

The company employs over 370,000* people and has a presence in more than
25* countries; it is the largest retail pharmacy, health and daily
living destination in the USA and Europe. Including its equity method
investments, Walgreens Boots Alliance is a global leader in
pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail with over 13,100* stores in
11* countries. The company includes one of the largest global
pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution networks with over 350*
distribution centers delivering to more than 200,000** pharmacies,
doctors, health centers and hospitals each year in 19* countries. In
addition, Walgreens Boots Alliance is one of the world’s largest
purchasers of prescription drugs and many other health and wellbeing
products.

Its portfolio of retail and business brands includes Walgreens, Duane
Reade, Boots and Alliance Healthcare, as well as increasingly global
health and beauty product brands, such as No7, Botanics, Liz Earle and
Soap & Glory. More company information is available at www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.

* As at 31 August 2015 including equity method investments

** For 12 months ended 31 August 2015 including equity method
investments

About Rite Aid

Rite Aid Corporation (NYSE: RAD) is one of the nation’s leading
drugstore chains with nearly 4,600 stores in 31 states and the District
of Columbia and fiscal 2015 annual revenues of $26.5 billion.
Information about Rite Aid, including corporate background and press
releases, is available through the company’s website at www.riteaid.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements

This document includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning
of the securities laws. The words “will,” “may,” “should,” “expect,”
“anticipate,” “believe,” “future,” “target,” “plan” and similar
expressions are intended to identify information that is not historical
in nature.

All statements, other than historical facts, including statements
regarding the expected timing of the closing of the transaction; the
ability of the parties to complete the transaction considering the
various closing conditions; the expected benefits of the transaction
such as improved operations, enhanced revenues and cash flow, growth
potential, market profile and financial strength; the competitive
ability and position of WBA following completion of the proposed
transaction; and any assumptions underlying any of the foregoing, are
forward-looking statements. Such statements are based upon current
plans, estimates and expectations that are subject to risks,
uncertainties and assumptions. Should one or more of 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. The inclusion of such
statements should not be regarded as a representation that such plans,
estimates or expectations will be achieved. You should not place undue
reliance on such statements. Important factors that could cause actual
results to differ materially from such plans, estimates or expectations
include, among others, that (1) one or more closing conditions to the
transaction, including certain regulatory approvals, may not be
satisfied or waived, on a timely basis or otherwise, including that a
governmental entity may prohibit, delay or refuse to grant approval for
the consummation of the transaction, may require conditions, limitations
or restrictions in connection with such approvals or that the required
approval by the stockholders of Rite Aid may not be obtained; (2) there
may be a material adverse change of Rite Aid or the business of Rite Aid
may suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the transaction; (3)
the transaction may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; (4)
legal proceedings may be initiated related to the transaction; (5)
changes in economic conditions, political conditions, changes in federal
or state laws or regulations, including the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act and the Health Care Education Affordability
Reconciliation Act and any regulations enacted thereunder may occur; (6)
provider and state contract changes may occur; (7) reduction in provider
payments by governmental payors may occur; (8) the expiration of Rite
Aid’s Medicare or Medicaid managed care contracts by federal or state
governments; (9) tax matters; (10) there may be difficulties and delays
in achieving synergies and cost savings; and (11) other risk factors as
detailed from time to time in Rite Aid’s and WBA’s reports filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Rite Aid’s
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2015
and WBA’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August
31, 2015, each of which is available on the SEC’s Web site (www.sec.gov).
These risks, as well as other risks associated with the merger, are more
fully discussed in the preliminary proxy statement, as it may be
amended, that was filed by Rite Aid with the SEC on November 24, 2015 in
connection with the merger. There can be no assurance that the merger
will be completed, or if it is completed, that it will close within the
anticipated time period or that the expected benefits of the merger will
be realized.

Neither WBA nor Rite Aid undertakes any obligation to update any
forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the
date on which the statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance
on any of these forward-looking statements.

Additional Information and Where to Find It

In connection with the proposed strategic combination, Rite Aid prepared
a preliminary proxy statement on Schedule 14A that has been filed with
the SEC on November 24, 2015. The preliminary proxy statement is not yet
final and will be amended. Following the filing of the definitive proxy
statement with the SEC, Rite Aid will mail the definitive proxy
statement and a proxy card to each stockholder entitled to vote at the
special meeting relating to the proposed merger. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO
READ THE DEFINITIVE PROXY STATEMENT WHEN IT BECOMES AVAILABLE BECAUSE IT
WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Investors may obtain the proxy
statement, as well as other filings containing information about Rite
Aid, free of charge, from the SEC’s Web site (www.sec.gov).
Investors may also obtain Rite Aid’s SEC filings in connection with the
transaction, free of charge, from Rite Aid’s Web site (www.RiteAid.com)
under the link “Investor Relations” and then under the tab “SEC
Filings,” or by directing a request to Rite Aid, Byron Purcell,
Attention: Senior Director, Treasury Services & Investor Relations.

Participants in the Merger Solicitation

The directors, executive officers and employees of Rite Aid and other
persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies
in respect of the transaction. Information regarding Rite Aid’s
directors and executive officers is available in its definitive proxy
statement for its 2015 annual meeting of stockholders filed with the SEC
on May 15, 2015. This document can be obtained free of charge from the
sources indicated above. Other information regarding the interests of
the participants in the proxy solicitation is set forth in the
preliminary proxy statement, as it may be amended, that has been filed
with the SEC on November 24, 2015. This communication shall not
constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to sell or
the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be
any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer,
solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or
qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No
offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus
meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

Contacts

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Media Relations
USA
/ Michael Polzin, +1 847 315 2935
International / Laura Vergani,
+44 (0)207 980 8585
or
Investor Relations
Gerald
Gradwell and Ashish Kohli, +1 847 315 2922
or
Rite Aid
Corporation

Media Relations
Ashley Flower, +1 717
975 5718
or
Investor Relations
Matt Schroeder, +1
717 214 8867

Recibe gratis las noticias más importantes y más leídas diariamente en tu email

Este sitio está protegido por reCAPTCHA y Google Política de privacidad y Se aplican las Condiciones de servicio.

¡Muchas gracias!

Más sobre este tema
Contenido Patrocinado
Enlaces patrocinados por Outbrain