Walgreens Boots Alliance Early-Settles Certain Prepaid Variable Share Forward Transactions and Sells Related Shares of Cencora For Approximately $300 Million of Proceeds
07 Février 2025 - 2:30AM
Business Wire
Transaction Highlights
- Walgreens Boots Alliance announces early settlement of certain
prepaid variable share forward transactions with respect to shares
of Cencora for delivery of an aggregate 6.1 million shares
- Concurrent with the early settlement, the Company executed a
sale of the remaining 1.3 million shares of Cencora pledged under
the early settled contracts. The Company receives approximately
$300 million from the early settlement and the concurrent sale of
shares
- Following today’s early settlement, the Company owns
approximately 12.6 million shares of Cencora pledged under the
remaining prepaid variable share forward contracts, which have the
potential to provide additional cash proceeds at maturity. These
remaining prepaid variable share forward contracts are mainly
scheduled to mature during March, June and September of calendar
year 2025.
- Use of proceeds will primarily be for debt paydown, as the
Company proactively seeks to address its debt maturities in fiscal
year 2026, and for general corporate purposes
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA) has agreed to the
early settlement of certain prepaid variable share forward
transactions it had previously entered into with various financial
institutions, with respect to shares of Cencora, Inc. (NYSE: COR).
Under these transactions, the Company had previously received cash
payments in an aggregate amount of approximately $1.1 billion on or
about the dates of first entering into them. The transactions were
scheduled to mature during March and June of calendar year
2026.
As part of the early settlement of the transactions prior to
their scheduled maturities, WBA will deliver to the financial
institutions an aggregate of approximately 6.1 million shares of
Cencora, while paying a net aggregate cash payment of approximately
$20 million. The transaction fulfills the Company’s obligations to
deliver shares at a future date to each financial institution
participating in the early settlement. These contracts have
accreted cash value to the Company as a result of participation in
the appreciation of Cencora’s stock since entering the transactions
in 2023. The early settlement together with the concurrent share
sale realizes the embedded cash value that exists in the prepaid
variable share forwards.
Concurrent with these early settlements, WBA today announced
that it has sold shares of Cencora common stock in an unregistered
block trade pursuant to Rule 144 for proceeds of approximately $265
million, and has sold additional shares in a share repurchase by
Cencora for additional proceeds of approximately $50 million.
Proceeds to WBA will be used primarily for debt paydown and
general corporate purposes. The proceeds from these transactions as
well as other actions, including the recent suspension of the
dividend, further help position the Company to address its upcoming
debt maturities in fiscal 2026.
Walgreens Boots Alliance’s ownership of Cencora’s common stock
has decreased from approximately 10 percent to approximately six
percent.
The sale has no impact to the long-term partnership between the
two companies. Walgreens Boots Alliance remains fully committed to
the strategic, mutually beneficial relationship with Cencora, which
has been a strong and trusted partner since 2013. Chief Operating
Officer, International of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Ornella Barra,
will continue to serve on Cencora’s Board of Directors.
About Walgreens Boots Alliance
Walgreens Boots Alliance (Nasdaq: WBA) is an integrated
healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader serving millions of
customers and patients every day, with a 175-year heritage of
caring for communities.
A trusted, global innovator in retail pharmacy with
approximately 12,500 locations across the U.S., Europe and Latin
America, WBA plays a critical role in the healthcare ecosystem.
Through dispensing medicines, improving access to pharmacy and
health services, providing high quality health and beauty products
and offering anytime, anywhere convenience across its digital
platforms, WBA is shaping the future of healthcare in the thousands
of communities it serves and beyond.
WBA employs approximately 311,000 people, with a presence in
eight countries and consumer brands including: Walgreens, Boots,
Duane Reade, No7 Beauty Company and Benavides. The Company is proud
of its contributions to healthy communities, a healthy planet, an
inclusive workplace and a sustainable marketplace. In fiscal 2024,
WBA scored 100% on the Disability Equality Index for disability
inclusion.
More Company information is available at
www.walgreensbootsalliance.com.
(WBA-GEN)
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250206482504/en/
WBA Media Relations USA / Jim Cohn, Jim.cohn@wba.com
WBA Investor Relations Eric Wasserstrom,
Investor.relations@wba.com
Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Jan 2025 à Fév 2025
Walgreens Boots Alliance (NASDAQ:WBA)
Graphique Historique de l'Action
De Fév 2024 à Fév 2025