Walgreens 2012 Annual Report Download - page 27

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This report and other documents that we file or furnish with the Securities and
Exchange Commission contain forward-looking statements that are based on current
expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our future performance,
our business, our beliefs and our management’s assumptions. In addition, we,
or others on our behalf, may make forward-looking statements in press releases
or written statements, on the Company’s website or in our communications and
discussions with investors and analysts in the normal course of business through
meetings, webcasts, phone calls, conference calls and other communications.
Statements that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements, including
forward-looking information concerning our investment in Alliance Boots GmbH and
the other transactions contemplated by the Purchase and Option Agreement with
Alliance Boots and their possible effects, levels of business with Express Scripts
customers, estimates of the impact of developments on our earnings and earnings
per share, network participation, cough/cold and flu season, prescription volume,
pharmacy sales trends, prescription margins, number and location of new store
openings, vendor, payer and customer relationships and terms, possible new
contracts or contract extensions, competition, economic and business conditions,
outcomes of litigation and regulatory matters, the level of capital expenditures,
industry trends, demographic trends, growth strategies, financial results, cost
reduction initiatives, acquisition and joint venture synergies, competitive strengths
and changes in legislation or regulations. Words such as “expect,” “likely,”
“outlook,” “forecast,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “can,” “will,” “project,” “intend,”
“plan,” “goal,” “continue,” “sustain,” “synergy,” “on track,” “believe,” “seek,”
“estimate,” “anticipate,” “may,” “possible,” “assume,” variations of such words
and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements,
which are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees
of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions that
could cause actual results to vary materially from those indicated, including: risks
that the proposed transactions disrupt plans and operations of either us or Alliance
Boots GmbH, the ability to realize anticipated synergies and achieve anticipated
financial results, the amount of costs, fees, expenses and charges incurred by
Walgreens or Alliance Boots related to the transactions, the risks associated with
international business operations, the risks associated with governance and control
matters with respect to Alliance Boots GmbH, whether the option to acquire the
remainder of the Alliance Boots equity interest will be exercised, changes in vendor,
payer and customer relationships and terms, changes in network participation,
competition, changes in economic and business conditions generally or in the
markets we or Alliance Boots participate, risks associated with new business
initiatives and activities, the failure to obtain new contracts or extensions of existing
contracts, the availability and cost of real estate and construction, risks associated
with acquisitions, joint ventures, strategic investments and divestitures, the ability
to realize anticipated results from capital expenditures and cost reduction initiatives,
outcomes of legal and regulatory matters, changes in legislation or regulations or
interpretations thereof, and those described in Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2012, and in other reports that we file
or furnish with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Should one or more of
these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove
incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those indicated or anticipated
by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, you are cautioned not to place
undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of
the date they are initially made. Except to the extent required by law, we do not
undertake, and expressly disclaim, any duty or obligation to update publicly any
forward-looking statement after the date the statement is made, whether as a
result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.
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