8-K
0001618921 false 0001618921 2024-08-08 2024-08-08 0001618921 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2024-08-08 2024-08-08 0001618921 wba:M3.600WalgreensBootsAllianceInc.NotesDue2025Member 2024-08-08 2024-08-08 0001618921 wba:M2.125WalgreensBootsAllianceInc.NotesDue2026Member 2024-08-08 2024-08-08

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 8, 2024

 

 

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-36759   47-1758322

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification Number)

108 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, Illinois   60015
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (847) 315-2500

Not Applicable

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:

 

Title of each class

 

Trading
Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value   WBA   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
3.600% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. notes due 2025   WBA25   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC
2.125% Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. notes due 2026   WBA26   The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 


Item 8.01.

Other Events.

On August 12, 2024, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (the “Company”) completed the public offering and issuance of $750,000,000 of 8.125% notes due 2029 (the “notes”).

The notes were sold pursuant to an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), dated as of August 8, 2024 among the Company and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. for themselves and as representatives of the several other underwriters named therein. The notes were offered and sold pursuant to the Company’s automatic shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-261730) (the “Registration Statement”) and the prospectus included therein, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 17, 2021 and supplemented by the prospectus supplement dated August 8, 2024. The notes were issued under the Indenture (the “Indenture”), dated as of December 17, 2015, between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association), as trustee.

Please refer to the prospectus supplement dated August 8, 2024 for additional information regarding the terms and conditions of the notes and the offering. The Indenture was previously incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement and is incorporated by reference herein. The description of the notes and the Underwriting Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 hereto and the form of the notes filed as Exhibit 4.1 hereto, each of which is incorporated herein by reference.

The exhibits filed herewith are incorporated by reference into our Registration Statement.

 

Item9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

  

Description

 1.1    Underwriting Agreement, dated as of August 8, 2024, among Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. and J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Securities, LLC and BofA Securities, Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters listed in Schedule 1 thereto
 4.1    Form of 8.125% Notes due 2029
 5.1    Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP
23.1    Consent of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1 of this Current Report on Form 8-K)
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

    WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.
Date: August 12, 2024     By:  

/s/ Joseph B. Amsbary, Jr.

    Name:   Joseph B. Amsbary, Jr.
    Title:   Senior Vice President, Corporate Secretary
EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

EXECUTION VERSION

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.

$750,000,000 8.125% Notes due 2029

Underwriting Agreement

August 8, 2024

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

BofA Securities, Inc.

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

listed in Schedule 1 hereto

c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

383 Madison Avenue

New York, New York 10179

c/o BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Underwriters”), acting severally and not jointly, for whom J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, BofA Securities, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), the respective principal amounts of its 8.125% Notes due 2029 (the “Securities”) identified in Schedule 1 hereto.

The Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of December 17, 2015 (the “Base Indenture”) among the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”). Certain terms of the Securities will be established pursuant to a resolution of the board of directors of the Company or a committee thereof and set forth in an officers’ certificate of the Company dated as of the Closing Date (as defined below) (such officers’ certificate together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”).

The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Securities, as follows:

1. Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-261730), including a prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), relating to the public offering and sale of the Company’s debt securities, including


the Securities. Such registration statement, in the form in which it became effective under the Securities Act, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“Rule 430 Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Securities, together with the Base Prospectus, filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act, and the term “Prospectus” means the final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities, together with the Base Prospectus, in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Securities. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

At or prior to 3:45 P.M. New York City Time on August 8, 2024 (the “Time of Sale”), the Company had prepared the following information: a Preliminary Prospectus dated August 8, 2024, relating to the Securities, and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex B-1 hereto as constituting part of the Time of Sale Information (collectively, the “Time of Sale Information”).

2. Purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters. (a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Securities to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule 1 hereto at the price set forth in Schedule 2 hereto of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any, from August 12, 2024 to the Closing Date (as defined below). The Company will not be obligated to deliver any of the Securities except upon payment for all the Securities to be purchased as provided herein.

(b) The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Securities and initially to offer the Securities on the terms set forth in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Securities to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter and that any such affiliate may offer and sell Securities purchased by it to or through any Underwriter.

(c) Payment for, and delivery of, the Securities will be made at the offices of Sidley Austin LLP, 787 Seventh Avenue, New York, New York 10019 at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on August 12, 2024 or such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the second business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing (the time and date of such payment and delivery is referred to herein as the “Closing Date”).

 

2


(d) Payment for the Securities shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account(s) specified by the Company to the Representatives against delivery to the nominee of The Depository Trust Company, for the account of the Underwriters, of one or more global notes representing the Securities (collectively, the “Global Notes”), with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of the Securities to the Underwriters duly paid by the Company. The Global Notes will be made available for inspection by the Representatives not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date.

(e) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

 

  (a)

Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus.

 

  (b)

Time of Sale Information. The Time of Sale Information, at the Time of Sale did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Time of Sale Information. No statement of material fact included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Time of Sale Information and no statement of material fact included in the Time of Sale Information that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.

 

  (c)

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. The Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (each such

 

3


  communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act, (ii) any Preliminary Prospectus, (iii) the Prospectus, (iv) the documents listed on Annex B-1 hereto as constituting part of the Time of Sale Information and (v) any electronic road show or other written communications listed on Annex B-2 hereto, in each case approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus filed prior to the first use of such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, at the Time of Sale, did not, and at the Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

 

  (d)

Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Securities has been initiated or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Trust Indenture Act”), and, as of such date(s), did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to (i) that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes a Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act or (ii) any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.

 

4


  (e)

Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information, when they were filed with the Commission, or as amended through the date hereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information, when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

  (f)

Financial Statements. The financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise stated therein, and the supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus fairly presents in all material respects the information called for and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto in all material respects.

 

  (g)

No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development that would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse change, in or affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Securities, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

 

  (h)

Organization and Good Standing. The Company and each of its subsidiaries listed in Schedule 3 hereto (each, a “Material Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Material Subsidiaries”) have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing (to the extent such concept is recognized or applicable under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction) under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing (to the extent such concept is recognized or applicable under the laws of the applicable jurisdiction) in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective

 

5


  businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified, in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Securities (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

  (i)

Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each Material Subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, to the extent such concepts exist under applicable law, and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

 

  (j)

Due Authorization. The Company has full corporate power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder. The Company had full right, power and authority to execute and deliver the Indenture and has full right, power and authority to perform its obligations thereunder. The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver the Global Notes and to perform its obligations thereunder. This Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture are collectively referred to herein as the “Transaction Documents,” and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby has been duly and validly taken.

 

  (k)

The Indenture. The Base Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. The officers’ certificate that will establish the terms of the Securities has been duly authorized and when duly executed and delivered by the Company, the Indenture will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability, regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”), and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

 

  (l)

The Securities. The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered as provided in the Indenture and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and outstanding and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, and will conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

 

  (m)

Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

6


  (n)

No Violation or Default. (i) Neither the Company nor any of its Material Subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any law or statute applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, respectively, or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, respectively, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (o)

No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents, the issuance and sale of the Securities and compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its Material Subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (p)

No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents, the issuance and sale of the Securities and compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act, the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters.

 

  (q)

Legal Proceedings. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be the subject that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are, to the best knowledge of the Company, contemplated or threatened by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others.

 

7


  (r)

Independent Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP, which has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.

 

  (s)

Title to Real and Personal Property. The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries or are otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus or (ii) would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

  (t)

Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, will not be an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, “Investment Company Act”).

 

  (u)

Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course.

 

  (v)

Disclosure Controls. The Company maintains an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company has carried out an evaluation of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

 

8


  (w)

Accounting Controls. The Company maintains systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including, but not limited to internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and the Company is not aware of any material weakness in the Company’s internal controls.

 

  (x)

No Registration Rights. No person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Securities.

 

  (y)

No Stabilization. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

 

  (z)

Status under the Securities Act. The Company is not an ineligible issuer and is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case as defined under the Securities Act, in each case at the times specified in the Securities Act in connection with the offering of the Securities.

 

  (aa)

No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”) or the UK Bribery Act 2010, as amended (the “UK Bribery Act”), including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA or the UK Bribery Act, and the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and the UK Bribery Act and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.

 

  (bb)

No Conflict with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and

 

9


  any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened.

 

  (cc)

No Conflict with OFAC Laws. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is (A) an individual or entity (“Person”) currently the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union or the United Kingdom (collectively, “Sanctions”) or (B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation the Crimea, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions of Ukraine, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the sale of the Securities, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person, for the purpose of funding activities or business of or with any Person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of Sanctions.

 

  (dd)

Cybersecurity. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted. Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus Supplement, the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards intended to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data, including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”) used in connection with their business reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices, or as required by applicable regulatory standards, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there have been no breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to the same, except for those that (i) would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, or (iii) are under internal review or investigations relating to the same. Except as would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.

 

10


4. Further Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:

(a) Required Filings. The Company will file the Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including the Term Sheet in the form of Annex C hereto) to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 5:30 P.M., New York City time, on the second business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the registration fees for the offering of the Securities within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1)(i) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.

(b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, upon request (i) to the Representatives, copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith and documents incorporated by reference therein (unless publicly available on the Company’s website or the website of the Commission), to the extent reasonably requested by the Representatives; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith (unless publicly available on the Company’s website or the website of the Commission), to the extent reasonably requested by the Representatives and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein) and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Securities by any Underwriter or dealer.

(c) Amendments or Supplements; Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Before using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object, unless in the reasonable judgment of the Company and its counsel, such proposed amendment or supplement is necessary to comply with law or to make the statements contained in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Information, Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, not misleading.

(d) Notice to the Representatives. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (ii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been filed; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information with respect thereto; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or the initiation

 

11


or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (v) of the occurrence of any event or the existence of a condition within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act or if the Company otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration form; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Securities and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(e) Time of Sale Information. If at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Information as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Information to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Information as may be necessary so that the statements in the Time of Sale Information as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Information will comply with law.

(f) Ongoing Compliance. If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law.

(g) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Securities; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.

 

12


(h) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.

(i) Clear Market. During the period from the date hereof through and including the business day following the Closing Date, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company and having a tenor of more than one year other than the Securities.

(j) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds.”

(k) No Stabilization by the Company. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

(l) Record Retention. The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

(m) Registration Statement Renewal Deadline. To the extent the Representatives notify the Company at least 30 days prior to the Renewal Deadline (as defined below), that there is a reasonable possibility, that as of immediately prior to the third anniversary (the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, any of the Securities will remain unsold by the Underwriters, if immediately prior to the Renewal Deadline, any of the Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will prior to the Renewal Deadline file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives. If the Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will prior to the Renewal Deadline, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 90 days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Securities. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may be.

(n) Notice of Inability to Use Automatic Shelf Registration Statement Form. If at any time during the Prospectus Delivery Period the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form (as specified in Section 3(d) hereof), the Company will (i) promptly notify the Representatives, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective and (iv) promptly notify the Representatives of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Securities to continue as contemplated in the registration statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which the Company has otherwise become ineligible. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.

 

13


5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and agrees that:

(a) It has not and will not use, authorize use of, refer to, or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that, solely as a result of use by such Underwriter, would not trigger an obligation to file such free writing prospectus with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex B-1 and Annex B-2 or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such Underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Underwriters may use any term sheet substantially in the form of Annex C hereto without the consent of the Company.

(b) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering of the Securities (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).

(c) It agrees that it has complied and will comply with the selling restrictions in connection with the offering of Securities as set forth in Annex D hereto.

6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase Securities on the Closing Date as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.

(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.

(c) No Downgrade. Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Time of Sale and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Securities or any other debt securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as such term is defined by the Commission in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of the Securities or of any other debt securities or preferred stock of or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).

 

14


(d) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(g) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Time of Sale Information (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

(e) Company Officer’s Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a certificate of an executive officer of the Company who has specific knowledge of the Company’s financial matters and is reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officer has reviewed the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus and, to the best knowledge of such officer, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied in all material respects with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above.

(f) Comfort Letters for the Company. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the Company’s financial statements and certain Company financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.

(g) Opinion and Negative Assurance Letter of Counsel for the Company. (i) Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and negative assurance letter, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex A-1 hereto; and (ii) the Chief Legal Officer of the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, a written opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex A-2 hereto.

(h) Opinion and Negative Assurance Letter of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Sidley Austin LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(i) No Legal Impediment to Issuance. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities.

 

15


(j) Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date satisfactory evidence as of the Closing Date or a date prior to the Closing Date that is reasonably acceptable to the Representatives of the good standing of the Company and its Material Subsidiaries incorporated in the United States, in each case, in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing in such other jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably request (in each case, to the extent such concept is recognized or applicable under the laws of the applicable jurisdictions), in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

(k) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

7. Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein.

(b) Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each of its directors and officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of a material fact made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information, it being understood and agreed that the only such information consists

 

16


of the following: the sentence regarding delivery of the Securities on the cover page, the third paragraph under the caption “Underwriting,” the third sentence of the fourth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” and the paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting—Stabilization and Short Positions.”

(c) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under this Section 7 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the material impairment or forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) above. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person and any others entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 7 that the Indemnifying Party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of counsel related to such proceeding, as reasonably incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interest between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are reasonably incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for the Company and each of its directors and officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability in accordance with this Section 7 by reason of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

 

17


(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or paragraph (b) above, as the case may be, is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Securities and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(e) Limitation on Liability. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

8. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

9. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date: (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on the New York Stock Exchange or the over-the-counter market; (ii) trading of any

 

18


securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by United States federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.

10. Defaulting Underwriter. (a) If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Securities that it has agreed to purchase hereunder, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Securities by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons reasonably satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Securities on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Securities that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above and paragraph (c) below, the aggregate principal amount of the Securities that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraphs (a) and (b) above, the aggregate principal amount of the Securities that remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

 

19


11. Payment of Expenses. (a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation: (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Securities and any transfer taxes imposed on the Company in connection therewith; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing each of the Transaction Documents; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Securities under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related reasonable and documented fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters, not to exceed $10,000 in the aggregate); (vi) any fees charged by rating agencies for rating the Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and any paying agent (including related fees and expenses of any counsel to such parties); (viii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, including the related reasonable and documented expenses of counsel for the Underwriters, not to exceed $25,000 in the aggregate); (ix) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors, if any; and (x) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of any Securities on any securities exchange. Except as provided in this Section 11 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses, including, without limitation, the costs and expenses of their counsel and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9(ii), (ii) the Company for any reason (other than a breach by any Underwriter hereunder) fails to tender the Securities for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Securities for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby; provided, that the Company shall then be under no further obligation to the Underwriters in respect of this Agreement except as provided in Section 7 hereof.

12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein, and the other Indemnified Persons referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

13. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters.

14. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

 

20


15. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

 

  (a)

In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

  (b)

In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

As used in this Section 15:

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

16. Miscellaneous. (a) Authority of the Representatives. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by the Representatives shall be binding upon the Underwriters.

 

21


(b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives c/o J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, 383 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10179, Attention: High Yield Syndicate Desk, Fax: 212-270-1063; c/o BofA Securities, Inc., 114 W. 47th Street, 7th Floor, NY8-114-07-01, New York, New York 10036, Attention: High Yield Legal Department, Fax: 917-267-7085; c/o Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 550 South Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202, Attention: Transaction Management, Email: tmgcapitalmarkets@wellsfargo.com; and c/o Computershare Trust Company, N.A., 550 South Tryon Street, 5th Floor, Charlotte, North Carolina 28202 Attention: Transaction Management, Email: tmgcapitalmarkets@wellsfargo.com. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at 108 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, Illinois 60015, Attention: Treasury Operations, Email: treasury.operations@wba.com (fax: 847-315-3652), with a copy to 108 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, Illinois 60015, Attention: Corporate Secretary (fax: 847-315-3652). In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.

(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this Agreement shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including, without limitation, “pdf,” “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.

(e) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(f) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

22


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

 

Very truly yours,

 

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.

By:  

/s/ Omorlie Harris

 

Name: Omorlie Harris

Title:  Senior Vice President, Global Treasurer

By:  

/s/ John Devlin

 

Name: John Devlin

Title:  Vice President, Global Treasury

[Underwriting Agreement Signature Page]


Accepted as of the date first written above

 

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES LLC

By:  

/s/ Clifford P. Wagner III

  Name: Clifford P. Wagner III
  Title:  Executive Director
BOFA SECURITIES, INC.
By:  

/s/ Jonathan Miscimarra

  Name: Jonathan Miscimarra
  Title:  Managing Director
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
By:  

/s/ Dan Morris

  Name: Dan Morris
  Title:  Managing Director

For themselves and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto.

[Underwriting Agreement Signature Page]


SCHEDULE 1

 

     Aggregate
Principal
Amount of Securities
 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

   $ 170,625,000  

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

     93,000,000  

BofA Securities, Inc.

     78,525,000  

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

     76,350,000  

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

     62,775,000  

Truist Securities, Inc.

     51,600,000  

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

     45,900,000  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

     37,500,000  

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

     30,600,000  

PNC Capital Markets LLC

     26,700,000  

Loop Capital Markets LLC

     21,375,000  

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

     14,700,000  

NatWest Markets Securities Inc.

     12,300,000  

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

     10,875,000  

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

     10,875,000  

Drexel Hamilton, LLC

     2,100,000  

Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC

     2,100,000  

Independence Point Securities LLC

     2,100,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 750,000,000  
  

 

 

 


SCHEDULE 21

 

Note

   Price to the
Underwriters
 

$750,000,000 8.125% Notes due 2029

     99.000

 

1 

This is expressed as a percentage of the principal amount.


SCHEDULE 3

Material Subsidiaries


ANNEX A-1

[Form of Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP]

[Provided Separately.]


[Form of Negative Assurance Letter of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP]

[Provided Separately.]


ANNEX A-2

[Form of Company In-House Legal Opinion]

[Provided Separately.]


ANNEX B-1

Final Term Sheet for the Securities dated August 8, 2024 filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act.


ANNEX B-2

Investor Presentation, dated August 2024.


ANNEX C

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

Pricing Term Sheet

$750,000,000 8.125% Notes due 2029

 

Issuer:    Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.
Trade Date:    August 8, 2024
Settlement Date:    T+2, August 12, 2024. Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, trades in the secondary market are required to settle in one business day, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes more than one business day prior to the scheduled closing date for this offering will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially settle in T+2, to specify an alternate settlement arrangement at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes during such period should consult their advisors.
Security:    8.125% Notes due 2029 (the “Notes”)
Principal Amount:    $750,000,000
Maturity:    August 15, 2029
Coupon:    8.125%
Benchmark Treasury:    4.00% due July 31, 2029
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:    +430 bps
Yield to Maturity:    8.125%
Price to Public:    100.000% of the principal amount
Day Count Convention:    30 / 360
Interest Payment Dates:    August 15 and February 15, commencing on February 15, 2025
Optional Redemption:   

Prior to August 15, 2026, make-whole call at the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis points, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes being redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date (subject to the rights of holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).

 

On or after August 15, 2026, the Issuer may redeem all or part of the notes at the redemption prices set forth below (expressed as percentages of the principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date (subject to the rights of holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on August 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Period

   Redemption Price  

2026

     104.063

2027

     102.031

2028

     100.000


Optional Redemption after Equity Offerings:    Notwithstanding any other optional redemption provisions, at any time and from time to time on or prior to August 15, 2026, the Issuer may redeem at its option up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes with the net cash proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price equal to 108.125% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the redemption date (subject to the rights of holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).
Change of Control Repurchase Obligation:    Obligation of the Issuer to offer to repurchase the Notes in whole at 101% of the principal amount there of plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to be repurchased to, but excluding, the repurchase date (subject to the rights of holders on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date).
CUSIP/ISIN:    931427AW8 / US931427AW86
Joint Book-Running Managers:   

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

BofA Securities, Inc.

Mizuho Securities USA LLC

SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc.

Truist Securities, Inc.

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

PNC Capital Markets LLC

Co-Managers:   

Loop Capital Markets LLC

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

NatWest Markets Securities Inc.

BNP Paribas Securities Corp.

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

Drexel Hamilton, LLC

Siebert Williams Shank & Co., LLC

Independence Point Securities LLC

Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Issuer’s preliminary prospectus supplement, dated August 8, 2024, to the Issuer’s prospectus, dated December 17, 2021 (collectively, the “prospectus”).

The Issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the Issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the Issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling J.P. Morgan Securities LLC at 1-212-834-4533, Wells Fargo Securities, Inc. at 1-800-645-3751 or BofA Securities, Inc. at 1-800-294-1322.


Any disclaimer or other notice that may appear below is not applicable to this communication and should be disregarded. Such disclaimer or notice was automatically generated as a result of this communication being sent by Bloomberg or another email system.


ANNEX D

Canada

The Securities may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the Securities must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement or accompanying prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (“NI 33-105”), the Underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with the offering of the Securities.

Prohibition of Sales to European Economic Area Retail Investors

The Securities shall not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the European Economic Area (the “EEA”). For the purposes of this provision:

 

  (a)

the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

 

  (i)

a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU, as amended (“MiFID II”); or

 

  (ii)

a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, as amended, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II; or

 

  (iii)

not a qualified investor as defined in Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended; and


  (b)

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Securities.

United Kingdom

Prohibition of Sales to United Kingdom Retail Investors

The Securities shall not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the United Kingdom. For the purposes of this provision:

 

  (a)

the expression “retail investor” means a person who is one (or more) of the following:

 

  (i)

a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom; or

 

  (ii)

a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000, as amended (the “FSMA”) and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom; or

 

  (iii)

not a qualified investor as defined in Article 2 of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law in the United Kingdom; and

 

  (b)

the expression “offer” includes the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the Securities to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for the Securities.

Other Regulatory Restrictions in the United Kingdom

Any invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of the Securities may only be communicated or caused to be communicated in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply to the Company; and

All applicable provisions of the FSMA must be complied with in respect to anything done by any person in relation to the Securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

Switzerland

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the Securities. The Securities may not be publicly offered, sold or advertised, directly or indirectly, in, into or from Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange or on any other exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Securities constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations, and neither this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the Securities may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.


Hong Kong

The Securities have not been and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) to “professional investors” within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571, Laws of Hong Kong) (the “SFO”) and any rules made thereunder, or (ii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32, Laws of Hong Kong) (the “C(WUMP)O”) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the C(WUMP)O; and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the Securities has been or will be issued or has been or will be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to Securities which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” within the meaning of the SFO and any rules made thereunder.

Japan

The Securities have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (the “FIEA”) and accordingly the Securities may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to, or for the account or benefit of, others for re-offering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the account or benefit of, any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the FIEA and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan.

Singapore

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been and will not be registered as a prospectus under the Securities and Futures Act 2001 (the “SFA”) by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, and the offer of the Securities in Singapore is made primarily pursuant to the exemptions under Sections 274 and 275 of the SFA. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the Securities may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the Securities be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to any person in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor as defined in Section 4A of the SFA (an “Institutional Investor”) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to an accredited investor as defined in Section 4A of the SFA (an “Accredited Investor”) or other relevant person as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA (a “Relevant Person”) and pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or to any person pursuant to an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions, specified in Section 275 of the SFA and (where applicable) Regulation 3 of the Securities and Futures (Classes of Investors) Regulations 2018, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with, the conditions of, any other applicable exemption or provision of the SFA.


It is a condition of the offer that where the Securities are subscribed for or acquired pursuant to an offer made in reliance on Section 275 of the SFA by a Relevant Person which is:

(a) a corporation (which is not an Accredited Investor), the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an Accredited Investor; or

(b) a trust (where the trustee is not an Accredited Investor), the sole purpose of which is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an Accredited Investor,

the securities or securities-based derivatives contracts (each as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation and the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within 6 months after that corporation or that trust has subscribed for or acquired the Securities except:

(1) to an Institutional Investor, an Accredited Investor, a Relevant Person, or which arises from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) of the SFA (in the case of that corporation) or Section 276(4)(c)(ii) of the SFA (in the case of that trust);

(2) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

(3) where the transfer is by operation of law;

(4) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

(5) as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities-based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018.

Notification under Section 309B(1)(c) of the SFA Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to Sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA and unless otherwise stated in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus in respect of the Securities, the Company has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the Securities shall be “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and “Excluded Investment Products” (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

EX-4.1

Exhibit 4.1

THIS NOTE (THIS “NOTE”) IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY (AS DEFINED IN THE INDENTURE) OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE AND, UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE FORM, THIS GLOBAL SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY, OR BY THE DEPOSITARY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY. UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC”), TO THE COMPANY (AS DEFINED BELOW) OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY SECURITY ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.

8.125% Note due 2029

 

No. [•]   
CUSIP No. 931427 AW8    [Initial]1 Principal Amount: $[•]
ISIN No. US 931427AW86   

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter called the “Company,” which term includes any Person that succeeds thereto, and is substituted therefor, under the terms of the Indenture referred to below), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co., or registered assigns, the principal sum [of [•] ($[•])]2 [set forth on the Schedule of Increases or Decreases in Global Security attached hereto (as the same may be revised from time to time)]3 on August 15, 2029 and to pay interest thereon from August 12, 2024 or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year (each an “Interest Payment Date”), beginning on February 15, 2025 until the principal hereof is paid or duly made available for payment.

 

1 

Insert in the case of a Global Security.

2 

Insert in the case of a definitive Security.

3 

Insert in the case of a Global Security.


Any interest which shall be payable, and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the February 1 or August 1 (whether or not a Business Day (as defined below)), as the case may be, preceding such Interest Payment Date. The Company will calculate the amount of interest payable on the Notes on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. If an Interest Payment Date or any date of Maturity is not a Business Day, then the interest, premium, if any, or principal on the Notes due on such date will be paid on the next succeeding Business Day and no further interest will be paid in respect of the delay in such payment.

Any such interest which shall be payable, but shall not be punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder hereof on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and may be paid by the Company to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more Predecessor Securities) shall be registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed by the Company in the manner provided in said Indenture, or may be paid in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in said Indenture.

“Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York City or in the city where the Corporate Trust Office (as defined below) is located are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

“Corporate Trust Office” means the principal office of the Trustee from which at any particular time, the Trustee administers the Indenture, which office is presently located at 1505 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, Attention: CCT Administrator for Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., except that, with respect to the presentation of Notes for payment or for registration of transfer or exchange and the location of the Security Registrar for the Notes, such term means the office or agency of the Trustee at which at any particular time its corporate agency business shall be conducted.

The Notes will cease to bear interest upon Maturity unless, upon due presentation, payment of the amount due is improperly withheld or refused, in which case the Notes will continue to bear interest (before as well as after judgment) until the day on which all sums due in respect of such Notes up to that day are received by or on behalf of the relevant Holder of such Notes.

The principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes shall be payable and the Notes may be surrendered or presented for payment and the Notes may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange at the Office or Agency of the Company maintained for such purposes in Minneapolis, Minnesota from time to time, and the Company hereby initially appoints the office of the Trustee at Computershare Trust Company, N.A., 1505 Energy Park Drive, St. Paul, MN 55108, Attn: CCT Administrator for Walgreens Boots Alliance, as its Office or Agency in Minneapolis, Minnesota for the foregoing purposes; provided, however, that, at the option of the Company, interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in the Security Register or by transfer to an account maintained by the payee with a bank located in the United States, provided such transfer is in excess of $1,000,000; and provided, further, that (subject to Section 10.2 of the Indenture) the Company may at any time remove the Trustee as its Office or Agency in Minneapolis, Minnesota designated for the foregoing purposes and may from time to time designate one or more other offices or agencies for the foregoing purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations. Notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and the Indenture may be served at the Corporate Trust Office.

 

- 2 -


This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company (herein called the “Notes”), issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of December 17, 2015 (as it may from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental thereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions thereof and, with respect to any Security, including the Notes, by the terms and provisions of such Security established pursuant to Section 3.1 thereof (as such terms and provisions may be amended pursuant to the applicable provisions thereof), the “Indenture”) between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association), as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), to which Indenture, all indentures supplemental thereto and the Officers’ Certificate dated August 12, 2024 establishing the terms of the Notes (the “Officers’ Certificate”) reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is one of the series designated on the face hereof, limited (subject to exceptions provided in the Indenture) to the aggregate principal amount specified in the Officers’ Certificate.

The Notes will be redeemable on or after August 15, 2026 at the Company’s option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, in cash at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date), if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on August 15 of the years set forth below:

 

Period

   Redemption Price  

2026

     104.063

2027

     102.031

2028 and thereafter

     100.000

In addition, the Notes will be redeemable prior to August 15, 2026 at the Company’s option, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, in cash at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes to, but excluding, the applicable Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record of the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date).

 

- 3 -


Notwithstanding the foregoing, at any time and from time to time on or prior to August 15, 2026, the Company may redeem at its option in the aggregate up to 40% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings (1) by the Company or (2) by any direct or indirect parent of the Company to the extent the net cash proceeds thereof are contributed to the common equity capital of the Company or used to purchase capital stock (other than disqualified stock) of the Company, in cash at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount thereof) of 108.125% plus accrued and unpaid interest on the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed to, but excluding, the Redemption Date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date); provided, however, that at least 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of the Notes must remain outstanding after each such redemption; provided, further, that such redemption shall occur within 180 days after the date on which any such equity offering is consummated.

“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Notes, on any applicable Redemption Date, as determined by the Company, the greater of

(1) 1% of the then outstanding principal amount of such Notes; and

(2) the excess of:

(a) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the Redemption Price of such Notes at August 15, 2026 (such Redemption Price being set forth in the applicable table appearing above in Section 3(h)), plus (ii) all required interest payments due on such Notes through August 15, 2026 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest), discounted to the Redemption Date and computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date, plus 50 basis points; over

(b) the then outstanding principal amount of the Notes.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to the Notes, as of the applicable Redemption Date, as determined by the Company, the yield to maturity as of such Redemption Date of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H. 15 that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to such Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from such Redemption Date to August 15, 2026; provided, however, that if the period from such Redemption Date to August 15, 2026, as applicable, is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actively traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed by first class mail, or delivered electronically if the Notes are held by DTC in accordance with DTC’s customary procedures, at least 10 days but not more than 60 days before the Redemption Date to the Trustee, the Paying Agent and each registered Holder of the Notes to be redeemed.

Unless the Company defaults in payment of the Redemption Price and accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on and after any Redemption Date interest will cease to accrue on the Notes or portions thereof called for redemption. If less than all of the Notes are to be redeemed, the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee by a method the Trustee deems to be fair and appropriate, in accordance with applicable DTC procedures.

 

- 4 -


To the extent the foregoing optional redemption provisions conflict with Article 11 of the Indenture, the terms set forth herein shall control.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may at any time repurchase Notes in the open market and may hold or surrender such Notes to the Trustee for cancellation.

If a Change of Control Triggering Event (as defined below) occurs, unless the Company has defeased the Notes as described in the Indenture or has exercised its option to redeem the Notes as described above, the Company will be required to make an offer (a “Change of Control Offer”) to each Holder of the Notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that Holder’s Notes on the terms set forth in such Notes. In a Change of Control Offer, the Company will be required to offer payment in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes to be repurchased to, but excluding, the repurchase date (a “Change of Control Payment”). Within 30 days following any Change of Control Triggering Event or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control (as defined below), but after public announcement of the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control, a notice will be mailed to the Trustee and the Paying Agent and mailed, or delivered electronically if the Notes are held by DTC in accordance with DTC’s customary procedures, to Holders of the Notes, describing the transaction that constitutes or may constitute the Change of Control Triggering Event and offering to repurchase the Notes on the date specified in the applicable notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed (or delivered electronically) (a “Change of Control Payment Date”). The notice will, if mailed (or delivered electronically) prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control Triggering Event occurring on or prior to the applicable Change of Control Payment Date. In addition, if such Change of Control Offer is subject to satisfaction of such condition that the Change of Control Triggering Event occur on or prior to the applicable Change of Control Payment Date, such notice shall state that, in the Company’s discretion, the Change of Control Payment Date may be delayed until such time (including more than 60 days after the date the notice of the Change of Control Offer was delivered) as such condition shall be satisfied or waived, or such Change of Control Offer may not occur and such notice may be rescinded in the event that such condition shall not have been satisfied by the Change of Control Payment Date, or by the Change of Control Payment Date so delayed, or such notice may be rescinded at any time in the Company’s discretion if in the Company’s good faith judgment such condition will not be satisfied.

On each Change of Control Payment Date, the Company will, to the extent lawful: (i) accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the applicable Change of Control Offer; (ii) deposit by 11:00 a.m., New York City time, with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted, together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being repurchased.

 

- 5 -


The Company will not be required to make a Change of Control Offer with respect to the Notes upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event with respect to the Notes if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

The Company will be required to comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder, to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes, the Company will be required to comply with such securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes by virtue of any such conflict and compliance.

Neither the Trustee (in any of its capacities) nor any Paying Agent shall be responsible for monitoring, or confirming, the Company’s rating status, making any request upon any Rating Agency, or monitoring, confirming or determining whether any Rating Event, Change of Control or Change of Control Triggering Event has occurred and whether any payment with respect to the Notes is required.

For purposes of the Change of Control Offer provisions of this Note, the following terms will be applicable:

“Board of Directors” means the board of directors of the Company or any authorized committee thereof.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or more series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets and the assets of the Company’s subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, other than the Company or one of its subsidiaries or (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any person becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock (as defined below) or other Voting Stock into which the Company’s Voting Stock is reclassified, consolidated, exchanged or changed, measured by voting power rather than number of shares. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control under clause (2) above if (1) the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of another corporate entity and (2)(A) the direct or indirect holders of the Voting Stock of such entity immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction or (B) immediately following that transaction no person (other than a corporate entity satisfying the requirements of this sentence) is the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of such corporate entity. The term “person,” as used in this definition, has the meaning given thereto in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.

 

- 6 -


“Change of Control Triggering Event” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Event.

“Investment Grade Rating” means a rating equal to or higher than Baa3 (or the equivalent) by Moody’s (as defined below) and BBB-(or the equivalent) by S&P (as defined below), and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement Rating Agency or Rating Agencies (as defined below) selected by the Company.

“Moody’s” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and its successors.

“Rating Agencies” means (1) each of Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if either of Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the Notes or fails to make a rating of the Notes publicly available for reasons outside of the Company’s control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined under Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act selected by the Company (as certified by a resolution of the Company’s Board of Directors) as a replacement agency for Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

“Rating Event” means the rating on the Notes is lowered by each of the two Rating Agencies and the Notes are rated below an Investment Grade Rating by each of the two Rating Agencies, in any case on any day during the period (which period will be extended so long as the rating of the Notes is under publicly announced consideration for a possible downgrade by either of the Rating Agencies) commencing upon the first public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control or the Company’s intention to effect a Change of Control and ending 60 days following the consummation of the Change of Control; provided, however, that a Rating Event otherwise arising by virtue of a particular reduction in rating will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control (and thus will not be deemed a Rating Event for purposes of the definition of Change of Control Triggering Event) if such Rating Agency making the reduction in rating to which this definition would otherwise apply does not announce or publicly confirm that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the applicable Change of Control (whether or not the applicable Change of Control has occurred at the time of the rating event).

“S&P” means S&P Global Ratings, a division of S&P Global, Inc., and its successors.

“Voting Stock” means, with respect to any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date, the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

The Notes will not have the benefit of any sinking fund. The Notes will not be convertible or exchangeable.

Sections 4.2(2) and 4.2(3), of the Indenture shall apply to the Notes; provided, that (i) upon the Company’s exercise of the option to have Section 4.2(3) apply with respect to the Notes, the Company shall also be released from its obligations under the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes on and after the date the conditions set forth in clause (4) of Section 4.2 of the Indenture are satisfied and (ii) upon any redemption that requires the payment of the Applicable Premium, the amount deposited shall be sufficient for purposes of the Indenture to the extent that an amount is deposited with the Trustee equal to the Applicable Premium calculated as of the date of the notice of redemption (and calculated as though the Redemption Date were the date of such notice of redemption), with any deficit as of the Redemption Date only required to be deposited with the Trustee on or prior to the Redemption Date.

 

- 7 -


If an Event of Default with respect to Notes of this series at the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing, the principal amount of all the Notes of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture may be amended with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected thereby and (ii) any past default under the Indenture with respect to Outstanding Securities of any series and its consequences may be waived by the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any series on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series. Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act by the Holder of this Note shall bind every future Holder of this Note and of any Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange hereof or in lieu hereof in respect of anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any Paying Agent or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such Act is made upon this Note.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of this Note, impair the right of such Holder, which is absolute and unconditional, to receive payment of the principal of, any premium and, subject to certain qualifications in the Indenture, interest on this Note at the times herein and in the Indenture prescribed and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment unless the Holder of this Note shall have consented to the impairment of such right.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the registration of the Notes and of transfers of the Notes in the Security Register for the Notes. This Note when presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or for exchange or redemption shall (if so required by the Company or the Security Registrar for this Note) be duly endorsed, or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar for this Note duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

The Notes are issuable only in registered form without Coupons in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof. Subject to certain limitations set forth in the Indenture and in this Note, the Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of this series containing identical terms and provisions, in any authorized denominations, and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged.

No service charge by the Company shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, or redemption of the Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge and any other expenses (including fees and expenses of the Trustee and Security Registrar) that may be imposed in connection therewith, other than in certain cases provided in the Indenture.

 

- 8 -


Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered in the Security Register as the owner hereof for all purposes whatsoever, whether or not any payment with respect to this Note shall be overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

This Note shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

All terms used in this Note which are not defined herein shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by or on behalf of the Trustee or by the Authenticating Agent by the manual signature of one of its authorized signatories, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefits under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

- 9 -


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated: [•]

 

WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  
Attest:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

[Signature Page to the Note]


TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

Dated: [•]

 

COMPUTERSHARE TRUST COMPANY, N.A., as Trustee
By:  

 

  Authorized Signatory


ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription on the face of this instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full according to applicable laws or regulations.

 

TEN COM –    as tenants in common      

UNIF GIFT MIN ACT

  

. . .Custodian

(Cust) (Minor)

Under Uniform

Gifts to Minor Act

TEN ENT –    as tenants by the entireties      
JT TEN –    as joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common         

 

        

(State)

Additional abbreviations may also be used though not in the above list.

______________________

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto

 

 

(Please insert Assignee’s legal name)

 

 

(Please insert Social Security or other identifying number of Assignee)

 

 

 

 

(Please print or typewrite name and address including postal zip code of Assignee)

the within Note of WALGREENS BOOTS ALLIANCE, INC. and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint _____________________________________________ attorney to transfer the said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Dated:__________________________

 

Your Signature:  

 

  (Sign exactly as your name appears
on the face of this Note)

 

[NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatever.]


SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The initial principal amount of this global Security is $[•]

The following increases or decreases in this global Security have been made:

 

Date

 

Amount of decrease in
Principal Amount of this
global Security

 

Amount of increase in
Principal Amount of this
global Security

 

Principal Amount of this
global Security following
such decrease or increase

 

Signature of authorized
signatory of Trustee

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO  

Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

450 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10017

davispolk.com

August 12, 2024

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

108 Wilmot Road

Deerfield, Illinois 60015

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-261730) (the “Registration Statement”) and a prospectus supplement dated August 8, 2024 for the purpose of registering under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), certain securities, including $750,000,000 of its 8.125% Notes due 2029 (the “Securities”). The Securities are to be issued pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture dated as of December 17, 2015 (the “Indenture”) between the Company and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. (as successor to Wells Fargo Bank, National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), and are to be sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated August 8, 2024 (the “Underwriting Agreement”) among the Company and the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”).

We, as your counsel, have examined originals or copies of such documents, corporate records, certificates of public officials and other instruments as we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purpose of rendering this opinion.

In rendering the opinion expressed herein, we have, without independent inquiry or investigation, assumed that (i) all documents submitted to us as originals are authentic and complete, (ii) all documents submitted to us as copies conform to authentic, complete originals, (iii) all signatures on all documents that we reviewed are genuine, (iv) all natural persons executing documents had and have the legal capacity to do so, (v) all statements in certificates of public officials and officers of the Company that we reviewed were and are accurate and (vi) all representations made by the Company as to matters of fact in the documents that we reviewed were and are accurate.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the additional assumptions and qualifications set forth below, we advise you that, in our opinion, when the Securities have been duly executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Securities will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, concepts of reasonableness and equitable principles of general applicability, provided that we express no opinion as to (x) the enforceability of any waiver of rights under any usury or stay law, or (y) the validity, legally binding effect or enforceability of any provision that permits holders to collect any portion of stated principal amount upon acceleration of the Securities to the extent determined to constitute unearned interest.


LOGO   Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc.

 

In connection with the opinion expressed above, we have assumed that the Indenture and the Securities (collectively, the “Documents”) are valid, binding and enforceable agreements of each party thereto (other than as expressly covered above in respect of the Company). We have also assumed that the execution, delivery and performance by each party to each Document to which it is a party (a) are within its corporate powers, (b) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, the certificate of incorporation or bylaws or other constitutive documents of such party, (c) require no action by or in respect of, or filing with, any governmental body, agency or official and (d) do not contravene, or constitute a default under, any provision of applicable law or regulation or any judgment, injunction, order or decree or any agreement or other instrument binding upon such party, provided that we make no such assumption to the extent that we have specifically opined as to such matters with respect to the Company.

We are members of the Bar of the State of New York and the foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, except that we express no opinion as to any law, rule or regulation that is applicable to the Company, the Documents or such transactions solely because such law, rule or regulation is part of a regulatory regime applicable to any party to any of the Documents or any of its affiliates due to the specific assets or business of such party or such affiliate.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to a report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company on the date hereof and its incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement and further consent to the reference to our name under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus supplement which is a part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP

 

August 12, 2024    2