8-K
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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): May 5, 2022

 

 

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

Walgreen Co. (“Walgreens”), a subsidiary of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (together with Walgreens, the “Company”), issued a press release today announcing that it has entered into a settlement agreement with the State of Florida to resolve claims related to prescriptions for opioid medications that were filled at Walgreens pharmacy locations in Florida. Under the terms of the settlement agreement, the Company will settle all opioid claims against it by the State of Florida for $683 million, which includes $620 million to be paid to the State of Florida over 18 years as well as a one-time payment of $63 million for attorneys’ fees. The settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing or liability by the Company.

A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated by reference herein.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit

  

Description

99.1    Press Release of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. dated May 5, 2022
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

All statements in this report that are not historical including, without limitation, those regarding payments anticipated to be made pursuant to the settlement agreement, are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,” “will,” “likely,” “intend,” “plan,” “aim,” “continue,” “believe,” “seek,” “anticipate,” “upcoming,” “may,” “possible,” and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements.

These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, known or unknown, that could cause actual results to vary materially from those indicated or anticipated. These risks, assumptions and uncertainties include those described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2021 and in other documents that we file or furnish with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materializes, or if underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements we make or that are made on our behalf are qualified by these cautionary statements. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.

We do not undertake, and expressly disclaim, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the date of this release, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.


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: May 5, 2022     By:  

/s/ Joseph B. Amsbary, Jr.

    Title:   Vice President and Corporate Secretary
EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

Walgreens Reaches Opioid Settlement with State of Florida

DEERFIELD, Ill—May 5, 2022 – Walgreens today announced that it has entered into an agreement with the State of Florida to resolve all claims related to the distribution and dispensing of prescription opioid medications across the company’s pharmacies in the state.

The settlement amount of $683 million includes $620 million to be paid out to the State of Florida over 18 years, as well as a one-time payment of $63 million for attorneys’ fees.

The settlement includes no admission of wrongdoing or liability by Walgreens.

“As the largest pharmacy chain in the state, we remain focused on and committed to being part of the solution, and believe this resolution is in the best interest of all parties involved and the communities we serve across Florida,” said Danielle Gray, executive vice president and global chief legal officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. “Our pharmacists are dedicated healthcare professionals who live and work in the communities they serve, and play a critical role in providing education and resources to help combat opioid misuse and abuse.”

As one of Florida’s leading healthcare providers, Walgreens has taken a number of actions to prevent and respond to the opioid crisis, while continuing to serve patients, including:

 

   

Providing patient education on safe opioid use

 

   

Making life-saving Naloxone, the opioid overdose reversal medication, available in all Walgreens pharmacies nationwide

 

   

Providing safe and convenient medication disposal kiosks available at 1,400 Walgreens stores, along with other safe disposal options at all other Walgreens locations

 

   

Deploying technology to help pharmacists ensure they are dispensing prescriptions written for a legitimate medical purpose

 

   

Stopping self-distribution of opioids and all pharmaceuticals to Walgreens stores in 2014

The settlement funds will be used by the State of Florida to support its efforts to combat and treat opioid addiction. The settlement is a result of unique facts and circumstances concerning the state of Florida. It should not be used to forecast or predict the value of any other litigation claims or future settlements, and is unrelated to any other opioid-related litigation in which Walgreens is involved and which the company will continue to defend vigorously.

About Walgreens

Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is included in the United States segment of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader serving millions of customers and patients every day, with a 170-year heritage of caring for communities. As America’s most loved pharmacy, health and beauty company, Walgreens purpose is to champion the health and well-being of every community in America. Operating nearly 9,000 retail locations across America, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Walgreens is proud to be a neighborhood health destination serving approximately 9 million customers each day. Walgreens pharmacists play a critical role in the U.S.


healthcare system by providing a wide range of pharmacy and healthcare services. To best meet the needs of customers and patients, Walgreens offers a true omnichannel experience, with fully integrated physical and digital platforms supported by the latest technology to deliver high-quality products and services in local communities nationwide.

Contact

Fraser Engerman

fraser.engerman@walgreens.com