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DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) announced today that the company has reached an agreement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to fully resolve an investigation into forward-looking financial goals and related disclosures by Walgreen Co. (Walgreens). The disclosures at issue were made prior to the merger with Alliance Boots and the establishment of WBA on December 31, 2014.
The settlement does not involve any of WBA’s current officers or executives, nor does it allege that anyone acted intentionally or recklessly at any time.
In agreeing to the settlement, WBA neither admits nor denies the SEC’s allegations that Walgreens and its then chief executive officer (CEO) and then chief financial officer (CFO) acted negligently in connection with statements made in the June 2013, October 2013, December 2013 and March 2014 earnings calls, by failing to adequately disclose the increased risk to achieving certain of Walgreens previously stated fiscal 2016 financial goals. Following warnings in December 2013 and March 2014, Walgreens withdrew those fiscal 2016 goals in June 2014.
Pursuant to the agreement with the SEC, WBA consented to the SEC’s issuance of an administrative order, and the company will pay a $34.5 million penalty, which has been fully reserved for, while the Walgreens then CEO and then CFO separately resolved the matter with the SEC.
WBA cooperated fully with the SEC’s investigation and believes the agreement is in the best interest of the company.
