Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. 2017 Annual Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
PART I Item 1. Business Overview 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 1 As of August 31, 2017, using publicly available information for AmerisourceBergen. 2 For 12 months ending August 31, 2017, using publicly available information for AmerisourceBergen. -1-.