Walgreen Co. (NYSE: WAG) (NASDAQ: WAG) and Kerr Drug, a privately held regional pharmacy chain in North Carolina, announced today that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Walgreens would acquire certain assets of Kerr Drug’s retail drugstores and specialty pharmacy business. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. In fiscal year 2012, Kerr Drug’s retail drugstores and specialty pharmacy business recorded total sales of $381 million.

The acquisition advances Walgreens strategy to deliver the Well Experience for customers by expanding Walgreens presence in North Carolina, a fast-growing market, including into many smaller communities. Kerr Drug’s standard of innovation and excellence in pharmacy service also aligns well with Walgreens strategy to transform the role community pharmacy plays in health care.

“The Kerr Drug retail drugstores and specialty pharmacy business are an exceptional addition to the Walgreens family of companies,” said Walgreens President and CEO Greg Wasson. “We are closely aligned on the important task of expanding the health care role that community pharmacists can have with their patients, and we share the common goal of stepping out of the traditional drugstore format to create a new experience for our customers.”

Kerr Drug Chairman, President and CEO Anthony Civello said, “Kerr Drug’s strategy and core principles have always been focused on its unique ability to provide patients access to the most comprehensive and convenient health and wellness offering in the industry. Walgreens is the perfect partner to continue this journey as a patient-oriented company dedicated to expanding the role of the pharmacist as an integral part of health care.”

The acquisition is structured as an asset transaction and includes Kerr Drug’s 76 retail drugstores and its specialty pharmacy business. The acquisition also includes a distribution center. Kerr Drug will retain ownership of its long-term care pharmacy business.

The transaction is subject to satisfaction of regulatory requirements and other conditions, and is expected to close sometime this year. Walgreens anticipates the transaction will not have a material impact on earnings per share in fiscal year 2014.

Until the acquisition closes, Kerr Drug and Walgreens will continue to operate separately. After closing, the acquired Kerr Drug retail drugstores will continue to operate under their current brand in the near term. Decisions will be made over time regarding the best, most effective way to integrate Kerr Drug’s retail drugstores and specialty pharmacy business with Walgreens operations.

About Walgreens

As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2012 sales of $72 billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) vision is to become America’s first choice for health and daily living. Each day, Walgreens provides more than 6 million customers the most convenient, multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted, cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice in communities across America. Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty, infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with respiratory services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company operates 8,117 drugstores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Take Care Health Systems is a Walgreens subsidiary that is the largest and most comprehensive manager of worksite health and wellness centers and in-store convenient care clinics, with more than 700 locations throughout the country.

About Kerr Drug

Kerr Drug was founded by pharmacist Banks Kerr in 1951 and for the past 62 years has served the customers of North Carolina. Kerr Drug is one of the most recognized and respected names in the chain drug industry. With its roots in the Carolinas and headquarters in Raleigh, N.C., Kerr Drug’s strategic direction is founded in its unique ability to provide patients, the medical community and health plans access to the most comprehensive and convenient health and wellness offering in the industry. With a mission to be the most comprehensive provider of pharmacy and related health care services, while continuing to be the most reliable provider of health-related and convenience items, Kerr Drug is currently providing services that far exceed the traditional drugstore mix.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking Statements: Statements in this press release that are not historical are forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as “expect,” “likely,” “outlook,” “forecast,” “would,” “could,” “should,” “can,” “will,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “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. These 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: the ability to satisfy the closing conditions and consummate the proposed transactions on a timely basis or at all, the ability to successfully integrate the acquired business, the ability to realize anticipated synergies, the ability to achieve anticipated financial results, changes in vendor, payer and customer relationships and terms, and other factors described in Item 1A (Risk Factors) of Walgreens most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, each of which is incorporated herein by reference and in other documents that Walgreens files or furnishes 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 made. Except to the extent required by law, Walgreens does not undertake, and expressly disclaims, any duty or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statement after the date of this report, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise.

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