Walgreens Boots Alliance Value Stock - Dividend - Research Selection

Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Walgreens Boots Alliance”) is the first global, pharmacy-led health and wellbeing enterprise with sales of $118.2 billion in the fiscal year ended August 31, 2017. Our purpose is to help people across the world lead healthier and happier lives.

Walgreens Boots Alliance is the largest retail pharmacy, health and daily living destination across the U.S. and Europe. Walgreens Boots Alliance and the companies in which it has equity method investments together have a presence in more than 251 countries and employ more than 385,0001 people. The company is a global leader in pharmacy-led, health and wellbeing retail and, together with the companies in which it has equity method investments, has over 13,2001 stores in 111 countries as well as one of the largest global pharmaceutical wholesale and distribution networks, with over 3901 distribution centers delivering to more than 230,0002 pharmacies, doctors, health centers and hospitals each year in more than 201 countries. In addition, Walgreens Boots Alliance is one of the world’s largest purchasers of prescription drugs and many other health and wellbeing products.

Our portfolio of retail and business brands includes Walgreens, Duane Reade, Boots and Alliance Healthcare, as well as increasingly global health and beauty product brands, such as No7, Soap & Glory, Liz Earle, Sleek MakeUP and Botanics. Our global brands portfolio is enhanced by our in-house product research and development capabilities. We seek to further drive innovative ways to address global health and wellness challenges. We believe we are well positioned to expand customer offerings in existing markets and become a health and wellbeing partner of choice in emerging markets.

Walgreens Boots Alliance was incorporated in Delaware in 2014 and, as described below, is the successor of Walgreen Co., an Illinois corporation, which was formed in 1909 as a successor to a business founded in 1901. Our principal executive offices are located at 108 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, Illinois 60015. Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ Stock Market under the symbol “WBA”.

Recent transactions

On March 31, 2017, Walgreens Boots Alliance and pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics LLC closed a transaction to form a combined central specialty pharmacy and mail services company, AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, as part of a strategic alliance. AllianceRx Walgreens Prime is consolidated by Walgreens Boots Alliance and reported within the Retail Pharmacy USA division in its financial statements. See note 6, acquisitions to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

On March 18, 2016, we exercised warrants to purchase 22,696,912 shares of AmerisourceBergen Corporation (“AmerisourceBergen”) common stock at an exercise price of $51.50 per share for an aggregate exercise price payment of $1.17 billion. On August 25, 2016, we exercised additional warrants to purchase 22,696,912 shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock at an exercise price of $52.50 per share for an aggregate exercise price payment of $1.19 billion. Following the August 25, 2016 warrant exercise, we do not hold any further warrants to purchase shares of AmerisourceBergen common stock. As of August 31, 2017 and 2016, we owned 56,854,867 AmerisourceBergen common shares, representing approximately 26% and 24% of the outstanding AmerisourceBergen common stock, respectively, and had designated one member of AmerisourceBergen’s board of directors. As of August 31, 2017, we can acquire up to an additional 8,398,752 AmerisourceBergen shares in the open market and thereafter designate a second member of AmerisourceBergen’s board of directors, subject in each case to applicable legal and contractual requirements. The amount of permitted open market purchases is subject to increase or decrease in certain circumstances. The warrants were issued in March 2013 pursuant to a Framework Agreement between Walgreens, Alliance Boots GmbH (“Alliance Boots”) and AmerisourceBergen. Concurrently, Walgreens, Alliance Boots and AmerisourceBergen announced various other agreements and arrangements, including a ten-year pharmaceutical distribution agreement between Walgreens and AmerisourceBergen pursuant to which we source branded and generic pharmaceutical products from AmerisourceBergen in the U.S. and an agreement which provides AmerisourceBergen the ability to access generics pharmaceutical products through our global sourcing enterprise. In May 2016, certain agreements were extended for three years to now expire in 2026.

Effective March 18, 2016, we began accounting for our investment in AmerisourceBergen using the equity method of accounting, subject to a two-month reporting lag, with the net earnings attributable to our investment being classified within the operating income of our Pharmaceutical Wholesale segment. See note 5, equity method investments to the Consolidated Financial Statements included herein for further information. Due to the March 18, 2016 effective date and the two-month reporting lag, our results for the 12 month period ended August 31, 2016 include approximately three and a half months of equity method income relating to our investment in AmerisourceBergen. Similarly, our results for the 12 month period ended August 31, 2017 include approximately ten and a half months of equity income reflecting our increased ownership following the exercise on August 25, 2016 of the second tranche of warrants.

On December 31, 2014, Walgreens Boots Alliance became the successor of Walgreens pursuant to a merger to effect a reorganization of Walgreens into a holding company structure, with Walgreens Boots Alliance becoming the parent holding company. Pursuant to the Reorganization, Walgreens became a wholly owned subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance, which was formed for the purposes of the Reorganization, and each issued and outstanding share of Walgreens common stock converted on a one-to-one basis into Walgreens Boots Alliance common stock. Also on December 31, 2014, following the completion of the Reorganization, Walgreens Boots Alliance completed the acquisition of the remaining 55% of Alliance Boots that Walgreens did not previously own (the “Second Step Transaction”) in exchange for £3.133 billion in cash and 144.3 million shares of Walgreens Boots Alliance common stock. Alliance Boots became a consolidated subsidiary and ceased being accounted for under the equity method immediately upon completion of the Second Step Transaction. For financial reporting and accounting purposes, Walgreens Boots Alliance was the acquirer of Alliance Boots. The Consolidated Financial Statements (and other data, such as prescriptions filled) reflect the results of operations and financial position of Walgreens and its subsidiaries for periods prior to December 31, 2014 and of Walgreens Boots Alliance and its subsidiaries for periods from and after the effective time of the Reorganization on December 31, 2014.

In addition, we have completed a number of additional acquisitions, divestitures and strategic initiatives in recent years designed to grow our businesses and enhance our competitive position. Please refer to management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations in part II, item 7 below and note 3, exit and disposal activities, note 5, equity method investments and note 6, acquisitions to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in part II, item 8 below for additional information.

Rite Aid transaction

Terminated acquisition of Rite Aid Corporation (“Rite Aid”) and related matters

On October 27, 2015, Walgreens Boots Alliance entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger with Rite Aid and Victoria Merger Sub, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance (as amended as described below, the “Merger Agreement”), pursuant to which the Company agreed, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, to acquire Rite Aid, a drugstore chain in the United States. The Merger Agreement was amended by Amendment No. 1 thereto on January 29, 2017.

In connection with regulatory review of the merger contemplated by the Merger Agreement, on December 20, 2016, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Rite Aid announced that they had entered into an agreement (the “Fred’s Asset Purchase Agreement”), subject to the terms and conditions thereof, to sell certain Rite Aid stores and certain assets related to store operations to Fred’s, Inc. (“Fred’s”) for $950 million in an all-cash transaction. The transaction was subject to the approval and completion of the acquisition of Rite Aid by Walgreens Boots Alliance pursuant to the Merger Agreement.

On June 28, 2017, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Rite Aid entered into a mutual termination agreement (the “Termination Agreement”) pursuant to which the parties agreed to terminate the Merger Agreement, including all schedules and exhibits thereto, and all ancillary agreements contemplated thereby, or entered pursuant thereto (other than as expressly specified) (collectively with the Merger Agreement, the “Transaction Documents”), effective as of June 28, 2017. Pursuant to the Termination Agreement, the Company paid Rite Aid the termination fee of $325 million, in full satisfaction of any amounts required to be paid by the Company under the Merger Agreement and other Transaction Documents. The parties also agreed to release each other from, among other things, any and all liability, claims, rights, actions, causes of action, damages, expenses and fees, however arising, in connection with, arising out of or related to the Transaction Documents, the transactions contemplated therein or thereby or certain related matters.

On June 28, 2017, following the termination of the Merger Agreement, the Fred’s Asset Purchase Agreement was terminated. In connection with the termination of the Fred’s Asset Purchase Agreement, the Company reimbursed $25 million of Fred’s transaction costs in full satisfaction of any amounts required to be paid by the Company under the Fred’s Asset Purchase Agreement.

See note 8, borrowings to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information relating to the termination of the Merger Agreement and related matters.

Acquisition of certain Rite Aid assets

On June 28, 2017, the Company entered into an Asset Purchase Agreement (the “Asset Purchase Agreement”) with Rite Aid, pursuant to which the Company agreed, subject to the terms and conditions thereof, to acquire 2,186 stores, three distribution centers and related inventory from Rite Aid.

On September 19, 2017, the Company announced it had secured regulatory clearance for an amended and restated asset purchase agreement (the “Amended and Restated Asset Purchase Agreement”) to purchase 1,932 stores, three distribution centers and related inventory from Rite Aid for $4.375 billion in cash and other consideration. As of the date of this report, the first few Rite Aid stores have been acquired. Ownership of stores is expected to be transferred in phases, with the goal being to complete the store transfers in spring 2018. These transfers remain subject to closing conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Asset Purchase Agreement.

The Company will account for this transaction as a business combination.