RITE AID CORP - Annual Report: 2015 (Form 10-K)

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PART IV

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

Commission File Number 1-5742

RITE AID CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (717) 761-2633

         Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

         Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ý    No o

         Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to section 13 or section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. Yes o    No ý

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý    No    o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Website, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ý    No o

         Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of "Accelerated Filer" and "Large Accelerated Filer" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

         Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o    No ý

         The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common stock of the registrant held by non-affiliates of the registrant based on the closing price at which such stock was sold on the New York Stock Exchange on August 30, 2014 was approximately $6,056,257,418. For purposes of this calculation, executive officers, directors and 5% shareholders are deemed to be affiliates of the registrant.

         As of April 9, 2015 the registrant had outstanding 989,140,531 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share.

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

         Portions of the proxy statement for the registrant's annual meeting of stockholders to be held on June 25, 2015 are incorporated by reference into Part III.

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        This report, as well as our other public filings or public statements, include forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are often identified by terms and phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "continue," "should," "could," "may," "plan," "project," "predict," "will" and similar expressions and include references to assumptions and relate to our future prospects, developments and business strategies.

        Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:

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our high level of indebtedness;



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our ability to make interest and principal payments on our debt and satisfy the other covenants contained in our credit facilities and other debt agreements;



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general economic conditions (including the impact of continued high unemployment and changing consumer behavior), inflation and interest rate movements;



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the continued impact of private and public third party payors reduction in prescription drug reimbursement and their efforts to limit access to payor networks, including mail order;



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our ability to achieve the benefits of our efforts to reduce the costs of our generic and other drugs;



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our ability to continue to improve the operating performance of our stores in accordance with our long term strategy;



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our ability to maintain or grow prescription count and realize front-end sales growth;



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our ability to hire and retain qualified personnel;



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competitive pricing pressures, including aggressive promotional activity from our competitors;



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decisions to close additional stores and distribution centers or undertake additional refinancing activities, which could result in further charges to our operating statement;



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our ability to manage expenses and working capital;



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continued consolidation of the drugstore and the pharmacy benefit management industries;



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changes in state or federal legislation or regulations, and the continued impact from the ongoing implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act as well as other healthcare reform;



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the outcome of lawsuits and governmental investigations;



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risks related to compromises of our information or payment systems or unauthorized access to confidential or personal information of our associates or customers;



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our ability to complete the pending acquisition of EnvisionRx and realize the benefits of this transaction; and



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other risks and uncertainties described from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

        We undertake no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements included in this report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, after the date of this report. Our actual results, performance or achievements could differ materially from the results expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such

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differences are discussed in the sections entitled "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Overview and Factors Affecting Our Future Prospects" included in this annual report on Form 10-K.

PART I

Item 1.    Business

Overview

        Rite Aid is the third largest retail drugstore chain in the United States based on both revenues and number of stores. As of February 28, 2015, we operated 4,570 stores in 31 states across the country and in the District of Columbia.

        In our stores, we sell prescription drugs and a wide assortment of other merchandise, which we call "front-end" products. In fiscal 2015, prescription drug sales accounted for 68.8% of our total sales. We believe that pharmacy operations will continue to represent a significant part of our business due to favorable industry trends, including an aging population, increased life expectancy, anticipated growth in the federally funded Medicare Part D prescription program as "baby boomers" start to enroll, expanded coverage for uninsured Americans as the result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and the discovery of new and better drug therapies. We carry a full assortment of front-end products, which accounted for the remaining 31.2% of our total sales in fiscal 2015. Front-end products include over-the-counter medications, health and beauty aids, personal care items, cosmetics, household items, food and beverages, greeting cards, seasonal merchandise and numerous other everyday and convenience products.

        We differentiate our stores from other national chain drugstores, in part, through our wellness+ loyalty program, our Wellness format stores, innovative merchandising, private brands and our expanded strategic partnership with GNC, a leading retailer of vitamin and mineral supplements. We offer a wide variety of products through our portfolio of private brands, which continue to be well received by our customers. Private brand items contributed approximately 18.5% of our front-end sales in fiscal 2015.

        The average size of each store in our chain is approximately 12,600 square feet, and average store size is larger for our locations in the western United States. As of February 28, 2015, 62% of our stores were freestanding; 53% of our stores included a drive-thru pharmacy; and 50% included a GNC store within Rite Aid store.

        Our headquarters are located at 30 Hunter Lane, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011, and our telephone number is (717) 761-2633. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol of "RAD." We were incorporated in 1968 and are a Delaware corporation.

Industry Trends

        The rate of pharmacy sales growth in the United States has slowed in recent years, driven by a decline in new blockbuster drugs, a longer FDA approval process, drug safety concerns, higher copays, and an increase in the use of generic (non-brand name) drugs, which are less expensive but generate higher gross margins. However, we expect prescription usage to grow in the coming years due to the aging U.S. population, increased life expectancy, "baby boomers" becoming eligible for the federally funded Medicare prescription program and new drug therapies. Furthermore, we expect that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act will continue to have a positive impact on our business as more Americans gain health insurance and prescription drug coverage. Additionally, rising U.S. healthcare costs and the shortage of primary care physicians are creating opportunities for pharmacists and drugstores to play a more active role in driving positive health outcomes for patients. Services such as immunizations, medication therapy management, chronic condition management, clinics, health

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coaching and medication compliance counseling extend our efforts well beyond filling prescriptions. We believe that offerings such as these will gain additional momentum in a rapidly changing healthcare environment.

        In terms of our traditional drug dispensing business, generic prescription drugs continue to help lower overall costs for customers and third party payors. We believe the utilization of existing generic pharmaceuticals will continue to increase. The gross profit from a generic drug prescription in the retail drugstore industry is generally greater than the gross profit from a brand drug prescription. However, the sale amount can be substantially less and can impact our overall revenues and same store sales.

        The retail drugstore industry is highly competitive and has been experiencing consolidation. We believe that the continued consolidation of the drugstore industry, the competitive advantages from the increasing trend towards vertical integration resulting from the combination of retail pharmacy companies with pharmacy benefit managers, such as CVS Health, and aggressive generic pricing programs at competitors such as Wal-Mart and various supermarket chains will further increase competitive pressures in the industry. The pharmacy business has continued to be highly promotional, which contributes to additional competitive pressures.

        The retail drugstore industry relies significantly on third party payors. Third party payors, including the Medicare Part D plans and the state-sponsored Medicaid and related managed care Medicaid agencies, at times change the eligibility requirements of participants or reduce certain reimbursement rates. These changes and reductions are expected to continue. When third party payors, including the Medicare Part D program and state-sponsored Medicaid agencies, reduce the number of participants and/or reduce their reimbursement rates, sales and margins in the industry could be reduced, and profitability of the industry adversely affected. These possible adverse effects can be partially or entirely offset by lowering our product cost, controlling expenses, dispensing more higher margin generics, finding new revenue streams through pharmacy services and dispensing more prescriptions overall.

Strategy

        Our strategy for fiscal 2016 is to further position Rite Aid for growth while accelerating our transformation into a retail healthcare company that provides a higher level of care to the communities we serve. This strategic objective will not only allow us to better meet the needs of our customers and patients in a rapidly changing healthcare environment, but will also help us to continue the positive financial momentum we have generated over the past several years.

        Financially, our primary goal for fiscal 2016, consistent with fiscal 2015, is to continue growing same stores sales. By growing same store sales, we can take full advantage of our recent cost control improvements, including the refinancing transactions we completed in fiscal 2015.

        In order to drive our financial performance and sustainable sales growth, we will continue to invest capital into our store base through initiatives such as prescription file buys and our Wellness store remodel program as we also build up our real estate pipeline for additional store relocations and net new stores in the coming years. In addition, we will continue strengthening our unique brand of health and wellness by teaming with partner companies to further enhance our highly successful wellness+ customer loyalty program through various initiatives, including the recently announced wellness+ with Plenti. As we enter a period of rapid change in the U.S. healthcare industry, we will also continue expanding our healthcare offering to meet the growing demand for high quality, convenient and affordable health services, including immunizations, medication compliance consultations, retail clinics and health coaching. And, after the recent announcement of our agreement to acquire the EnvisionRx pharmacy benefit management company, we hope to create a stronger, more integrated healthcare offering that delivers a greater level of choice and access to care for customers while positioning Rite Aid to better compete in the evolving healthcare marketplace. We expect that these continued investments and our focus on key initiatives will generate long-term value for our shareholders.

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        Below are descriptions of our key initiatives:

        Expanded Healthcare Services—In fiscal 2015, we continued to expand the role of our Rite Aid pharmacists in delivering wellness services that go beyond simply filling prescriptions. A key area of focus has been our immunizations program, which has grown significantly in recent years. In fiscal 2015, our pharmacists administered more than 3.8 million immunizations, including over 3.2 million flu shots and more than 560,000 other immunizations that protect against conditions like shingles, pneumonia and whooping cough. In fiscal 2015, we also launched Vaccine Central, an online and in-store program that promotes the importance of all vaccinations and allows customers to identify and track their specific immunization needs. Immunizations will continue to be a key area of focus in fiscal 2016.

        We are also piloting an innovative program named Rite Aid Health Alliance that positions Rite Aid to partner with local physicians and support patients with chronic conditions in achieving positive health outcomes. Through Rite Aid Health Alliance, doctors recommend our program to patients with one or more chronic conditions such as congestive heart failure, COPD, high cholesterol and diabetes. Once a patient enrolls, Rite Aid pharmacists and specially trained in-store care coaches work with the physician to create a personalized health care action plan and engage with the patient between physician visits to support the patient in implementing the plan and improving overall health.

        As of February 28, 2015, the Rite Aid Health Alliance program includes partnerships with seven medical practices and we intend to expand the program to additional markets and stores throughout fiscal 2016. We are committed to continue growing and developing our pharmacy and healthcare related service offerings to better meet the needs of customers through our recent acquisitions of Health Dialog and RediClinic, and the recent announcement of our agreement to acquire EnvisionRx, a pharmacy benefit management company.

        On April 1, 2014 we acquired Boston-based Health Dialog, a provider of health coaching, shared decision making tools and healthcare analytics. Health Dialog helps health plans, employers and physician groups improve healthcare quality while reducing overall costs. Health Dialog offerings include health coaching for medical decisions, chronic conditions, and wellness; population analytic solutions; and consulting services. Our acquisition of Health Dialog will play a key role in advancing our Rite Aid Health Alliance program. We will benefit from Health Dialog's industry-leading analytics and shared decision making tools as we continue to strengthen our healthcare offering.

        On April 10, 2014 we acquired Houston-based RediClinic, a leading operator of retail clinics. Retail clinics play a critical role in today's healthcare delivery system and will play an important role in our overall health and wellness strategy. RediClinics are staffed by board certified nurse practitioners and physician assistants, who are trained and licensed to treat common conditions and provide preventative services, in collaboration with local physicians who are affiliated with a leading health care system in each market. Patients can be treated for more than 30 common medical conditions and RediClinic's clinicians are able to write prescriptions for these conditions when appropriate. Additionally, RediClinics provide a broad range of preventive services, including screenings, medical tests, immunizations and basic physical exams. At the time of the acquisition, RediClinic operated 30 clinics in the greater Austin, San Antonio and Houston areas. We are committed to expanding RediClinic's footprint in Texas and have begun leveraging their expertise to deliver convenient health care and wellness programs to our customers in selected markets. As of February 28, 2015, we have opened 24 RediClinics in Rite Aid stores in the greater Baltimore/Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia markets. By spring 2015, we plan to expand that number to 35, including the addition of RediClinics to select Rite Aid stores in Seattle.

        On February 11, 2015, we announced an agreement to acquire EnvisionRx, a national, full-service pharmacy benefit management (PBM) company that also offers a broad range of pharmacy-related services. EnvisionRx is based in Twinsburg, Ohio. EnvisionRx is projecting to generate 2015 calendar

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year revenues of approximately $5 billion. This acquisition represents a key part of our strategy to become a retail healthcare company, allowing Rite Aid to create a compelling pharmacy offering across retail, specialty and mail-order channels; deliver cost-effective solutions to employers and health plans; and drive growth while creating long-term value for our shareholders.

        In addition to its transparent and traditional PBM offerings through the EnvisionRx and MedTrak PBMs, EnvisionRx also offers fully integrated mail-order and specialty pharmacy services through Orchard Pharmaceutical Services. And through its Envision Insurance Company, EnvisionRx also serves one of the fastest-growing segments in healthcare: seniors enrolled in Medicare Part D. When combined with Rite Aid's retail platform, this comprehensive suite of services will allow Rite Aid to provide additional value and broader choice to customers, patients and payors and will better position Rite Aid to succeed in today's evolving healthcare marketplace. The transaction is expected to close on or before September, 2015, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Upon closing, EnvisionRx will operate as a 100 percent owned subsidiary.

        wellness+—Since its launch in April of 2010, our free wellness+ program has provided customers and patients with the opportunity to earn significant discounts and wellness rewards in return for being loyal Rite Aid shoppers. Enrolled members earn rewards based on the accumulation of points for certain front-end and prescription purchases. The program has been well received by Rite Aid customers and continues to provide significant value to members earning enough points to reach the Gold, Silver or Bronze tier levels. Gold members, for example, receive a tiered discount of 20-percent off most items in the store for an entire year. In addition, all wellness+ members receive exclusive sale pricing and wellness rewards.

        Participation in the wellness+ program and wellness+ card usage continues to be strong. As of February 28, 2015, the wellness+ program had nearly 25 million active members, which we define as members who have used their wellness+ card at least twice over the previous 26 weeks. In fiscal 2015, wellness+ members accounted for 78% of front-end sales and 67% of prescriptions filled.

        We have expanded wellness+ in recent years by launching both wellness+ for diabetes and wellness65+ for seniors. In fiscal 2016, we will significantly enhance our program by partnering with other highly respected brands such as AT&T, ExxonMobil, Macy's, Nationwide, Direct Energy, Hulu and American Express to launch Plenti, the first coalition loyalty program in the U.S.

        Plenti, which at Rite Aid will be incorporated into wellness+ to create wellness+ with Plenti, will let consumers earn and use points across a range of well-known brands in different industries.

        Through wellness+ with Plenti, our customers can use one card and earn two kinds of points. Members will continue to earn wellness+ points toward various benefits at Rite Aid including discounts of up to 20% off storewide, exclusive sale prices and ²⁴/7 access to a pharmacist.

        When the program launches in May, +UP Rewards will become Plenti points. Members will be able to earn Plenti points whenever they make qualifying purchases at Rite Aid and all other Plenti partners. Plenti points will offer the same savings as +UP Rewards and provide even more value to customers since they can be used for savings at Rite Aid as well as certain other Plenti partners including Exxon and Mobil and Macy's. Customers have at least two years to use their Plenti points.

        We believe that this compelling enhancement will significantly increase the appeal of our already successful loyalty program, creating more reasons for new and existing customers to shop at Rite Aid more often.

        Heading forward, we will continue to look for new and innovative ways to further enhance our highly popular customer loyalty program.

        Wellness Store Remodels—In fiscal 2015, we continued to strengthen Rite Aid as a wellness destination by completing additional Wellness store remodels. As a result, our total number of Wellness

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stores reached 1,634 by the end of the fiscal year, which means that more than a third of all Rite Aid stores are now Wellness stores.

        In addition to improved interior design, expanded clinical pharmacy services, innovative merchandising and new wellness product offerings, these stores are staffed with our unique Wellness Ambassadors, who serve as a bridge from the front-end of our stores to the pharmacy and provide an added level of customer service. Our customers have responded favorably to this unique store format. Our Wellness stores are outperforming the rest of our chain in terms of both front-end same store sales and same store prescription count growth.

        We plan to complete 400 additional Wellness remodels in fiscal 2016. We believe these remodels are a cost-effective way to strengthen our store base, grow sales and offer our customers an engaging wellness experience. As we continue our store remodeling efforts, we will also begin setting the stage to complete store relocations and build net new stores over the next few years, allowing us to further expand the reach of our Wellness store format.

        Prescription File Purchases—In fiscal 2015, we increased the amount of capital spent on the purchase of prescription files to $112.6 million, up from $87.4 million in fiscal 2014.We have allocated $100 million of our fiscal 2016 capital expenditures budget for prescription file buys as they typically deliver a strong return on investment.

        Drug Purchasing and Distribution Efficiencies—In February 2014, we announced an expanded agreement with our long-time partner McKesson for pharmaceutical purchasing and distribution. As part of this five-year agreement, McKesson has assumed responsibility for purchasing all brand and generic medications we dispense in our stores as well as delivering those medications to our nearly 4,600 store locations. We expect that this partnership will leverage the scale of both companies to deliver greater purchasing and distribution efficiencies, ensure the highest levels of service for our customers and generate additional cash flow to further fuel our long-term growth. In fiscal 2015, we completed the conversion of our stores and distribution centers to the new delivery process. By the end of our third fiscal quarter, the new arrangement was generating working capital benefits and improved in-stock positions that were in line with our expectations.

        Private Brands—In fiscal 2011, we began to roll out our new private brand architecture, which included the consolidation of our private brands into three separate tiers. The initiative included enhanced package designs for our private brand items and the introduction of our price-fighter brand, Simplify. We now have approximately 3,500 private brand items and our private brand penetration has increased from 16% in fiscal 2011 to 18.5% as of the end of fiscal 2015. In fiscal 2016, we will continue to aggressively promote our private brands, which offer great value to our customers and strong margins for Rite Aid, through specific promotional programs and the introduction of new private brand items. We also plan to explore ways to further enhance our offering in order to create a world-class private brand.

        Enhanced Digital Offerings—As we continue working hard to improve the customer experience in our nearly 4,600 stores, we're also focused on providing enhanced digital resources that better reflect our brand of health and wellness. In addition to our new and improved www.riteaid.com website, we continue to enhance our mobile app with quarterly updates while engaging with customers on social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. In fiscal 2015, we also rolled out an enhanced e-commerce site that provides online shoppers with easier navigation and full integration with our wellness+ customer loyalty program.

        Customer Service—We have put several store programs in place to improve the customer service experience, including the addition of Wellness Ambassadors to more stores and our chain-wide emphasis on greeting our customers more frequently and assisting them with purchases. We have also made investments in technology to make it easier for our store associates to perform necessary tasks

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such as price changes and backroom inventory management. By providing our associates with the ability to execute these tasks more efficiently, we give our store teams more time to focus on providing excellent service to our customers.

        Cost Control—After years of reducing our SG&A expense, we have effectively managed our costs as a percent to sales as we continue positioning Rite Aid for growth. At the same time, we have completed several refinancing transactions that have significantly reduced our annual interest expense over the past few years and will continue to benefit our business heading forward. We will continue to focus on controlling costs in fiscal 2016 so that we can maximize the benefits of our sales and customer service initiatives and capital investments.

Products and Services

        Sales of prescription drugs represented approximately 68.8%, 67.9%, and 67.6% of our total sales in fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. In fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013, prescription drug sales were $18.1 billion, $17.2 billion, and $17.1 billion, respectively. See "Item 7 Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and our consolidated financial statements.

        We carry a full assortment of non-prescription, or front end products. The types and number of front end products in each store vary, and selections are based on customer needs and preferences and available space. No single front end product category contributed significantly to our sales during fiscal 2015. Our principal classes of products in fiscal 2015 were the following:

        We offer a wide variety of products under our private brands in virtually every department. We intend to increase the private brand sales percentage in fiscal 2016 by introducing new brands, entering new categories and enhancing our seasonal programs. We believe that our assortment is differentiated and a compelling value to our customers based on our quality standards and everyday value pricing.

        We have a strategic alliance with GNC under which we have opened over 2,200 GNC stores within Rite Aid stores as of February 28, 2015 and have a contractual commitment to open at least 230 additional GNC stores within Rite Aid stores by December 2019. We incorporate the GNC stores within Rite Aid stores concept into many of our new and relocated stores and into many of our Wellness remodels. GNC is a leading nationwide retailer of vitamin and mineral supplements, personal care, fitness and other health-related products.

Technology

        All of our stores are integrated into a common information system, which enables our customers to fill or refill prescriptions in any of our stores throughout the country, reduces chances of adverse drug interactions, and enables our pharmacists to fill prescriptions more accurately and efficiently. This system can be expanded to accommodate new stores. Our customers may also order prescription refills over the Internet through our recently enhanced website, www.riteaid.com, or over the phone through our telephonic automated refill systems for pick up at a Rite Aid store. We have automated pharmacy dispensing units in high volume stores, which are linked to our pharmacists' computers that fill and label prescription drug orders. The efficiency of these units allows our pharmacists to spend more time consulting with our customers. Additionally, each of our stores employs point-of-sale technology that

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supports sales analysis and recognition of customer trends. This same point- of-sale technology facilitates the maintenance of perpetual inventory records which, together with our sales analysis, drives our automated inventory replenishment process.

        We continue to embrace technology as a way to enhance the customer experience. We completed the development and implementation of our improved mobile app, which is now available for download for both the Android and iPhone platforms. This free app allows our customers to use their smartphones to manage their wellness + account, access the weekly circular to view sale items, order photo prints and locate a nearby Rite Aid store. We have continued to strengthen our presence on social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest through unique promotions and contests.

Sources and Availability of Raw Materials

        During fiscal 2014, we purchased brand pharmaceuticals and some generic pharmaceuticals from McKesson Corporation ("McKesson"). Beginning in fiscal 2015, with limited exceptions, we purchased all of our branded pharmaceutical products and almost all of our generic (non-brand name) pharmaceutical products from McKesson. If our relationship with McKesson were disrupted, we could temporarily have difficulty filling prescriptions for branded and generic drugs until we executed a replacement wholesaler agreement or developed and implemented self-distribution processes.

        We purchase our non-pharmaceutical merchandise from numerous manufacturers and wholesalers. We believe that competitive sources are readily available for substantially all of the non-pharmaceutical merchandise we carry and that the loss of any one supplier would not have a material effect on our business.

        We sell private brand and co-branded products that generally are supplied by numerous competitive sources. The Rite Aid and GNC co-branded PharmAssure vitamin and mineral supplement products and the GNC branded vitamin and mineral supplement products that we sell in our stores are developed by GNC, and along with our Rite Aid brand vitamin and mineral supplements, are manufactured by GNC.

Customers and Third Party Payors

        During fiscal 2015, our stores filled approximately 304 million prescriptions and served an average of 1.9 million customers per day. The loss of any one customer would not have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

        In fiscal 2015, 97.5% of our pharmacy sales were to customers covered by third party payors (such as insurance companies, prescription benefit management companies, government agencies, private employers or other managed care providers) that agree to pay for all or a portion of a customer's eligible prescription purchases based on negotiated and contracted reimbursement rates. During fiscal 2015, the top five third party payors accounted for approximately 69.7% of our pharmacy sales. The largest third party payor, Express Scripts, represented 27.8% of our pharmacy sales.

        During fiscal 2015, Medicaid and related managed care Medicaid payors sales were approximately 18.6% of our pharmacy sales, of which the largest single Medicaid payor was approximately 1.3% of our pharmacy sales. During fiscal 2015, approximately 32.1% of our pharmacy sales were to customers covered by Medicare Part D.

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Competition

        The retail drugstore industry is highly competitive. We compete with, among others, retail drugstore chains, independently owned drugstores, supermarkets, mass merchandisers, discount stores, wellness offerings, dollar stores and mail order pharmacies. We compete on the basis of store location and convenient access, customer service, product selection and price. We believe continued consolidation of the drugstore industry, the aggressive discounting of generic drugs by supermarkets and mass merchandisers and the increase of promotional incentives to drive prescription sales will further increase competitive pressures in the industry.

Marketing and Advertising

        In fiscal 2015, marketing and advertising expense was approximately $318.2 million, which was spent primarily on weekly circular, broadcast, and digital advertising. Our marketing and advertising activities centered primarily on the following:

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Product price promotions to draw customers to our stores;



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Our wellness + loyalty program, which benefits members based on accumulating points for certain front end and prescription purchases, and offers + UP rewards to provide members additional savings;



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Emphasis on the value of our private brand products;



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Support of specific initiatives and stores, including competitor market intrusion and prescription file buys; and



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Our vision to be the customer's first choice for health and wellness products, services and information.

        Under the umbrella of our "With Us It's Personal" brand positioning, we promote educational programs focusing on specific health conditions and incentives for patients to transfer their prescriptions to Rite Aid. We are also emphasizing our automated courtesy refill service and immunization services. We believe all of these programs will help us improve customer satisfaction and grow profitable sales.

Associates

        We believe that our relationships with our associates are good. As of February 28, 2015, we had approximately 89,000 associates: 11% were pharmacists, 43% were part-time and 26% were represented by unions. Associate satisfaction is critical to our success. Annually we survey our associates to obtain feedback on various employment-related topics, including job satisfaction and their understanding of our core values and mission.

        The pharmacist shortage has eased significantly. The increase in the number of graduates from U.S. Schools of Pharmacy is meeting our workforce demand. However, pharmacist employment opportunities still exist in certain areas.

Research and Development

        We do not make significant expenditures for research and development.

Licenses, Trademarks and Patents

        The Rite Aid name is our most significant trademark and the most important factor in marketing our stores and private brand products. We hold licenses to sell beer, wine and liquor, cigarettes and lottery tickets. As part of our strategic alliance with GNC, we have a license to operate GNC

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"stores- within-Rite Aid-stores." We also hold licenses to operate our pharmacies and our distribution facilities. Collectively, these licenses are material to our operations.

Seasonality

        We experience moderate seasonal fluctuations in our results of operations concentrated in the first and fourth fiscal quarters as the result of the concentration of the cough, cold and flu season and the holidays. We tailor certain front end merchandise to capitalize on holidays and seasons. We increase our inventory levels during our third fiscal quarter in anticipation of the seasonal fluctuations described above. Our results of operations in the fourth and first fiscal quarters may fluctuate based upon the timing and severity of the cough, cold and flu season, both of which are unpredictable.

Regulation

        Our business is subject to federal, state and local laws, regulations, and administrative practices concerning the provision of and payment for health care services, including, without limitation: federal, state and local licensure and registration requirements concerning the operation of pharmacies and the practice of pharmacy; Medicare, Medicaid and other publicly financed health benefit plan regulations prohibiting kickbacks, beneficiary inducement and the submission of false claims; the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA); regulations of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, including regulations governing the purchase, sale, storing and dispensing of controlled substances and other products, as well as regulations promulgated by state and other federal agencies concerning automated outbound contacts such as phone calls, text messages and emails and the sale, advertisement and promotion of the products we sell, including tobacco and alcoholic beverages.

        Our business is also subject to patient privacy and other obligations, including corporate, pharmacy and associate responsibility imposed by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. As a covered entity, we are required to implement privacy standards, train our associates on the permitted uses and disclosures of protected health information, provide a notice of privacy practice to our pharmacy customers and permit pharmacy customers to access and amend their records and receive an accounting of disclosures of protected health information. We are also subject to federal and state privacy and data security laws with respect to our receipt, use and disclosure by us of personally identifiable information, which laws require us to provide appropriate privacy and security safeguards for such information. In addition, we are also subject to the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard promulgated by the payment card industry in connection with handling credit card data. This standard contains requirements devised to aid entities that process, store or transmit credit card information to maintain a secure environment.

        We are also subject to laws governing our relationship with our associates, including health and safety, minimum wage requirements, overtime, working conditions, equal employment opportunity and unionizing efforts.

        In addition, in connection with the ownership and operations of our stores, distribution centers and other sites, we are subject to laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment and health and safety matters, including those governing the management and disposal of hazardous substances and the cleanup of contaminated sites.

Corporate Governance and Internet Address

        We recognize that good corporate governance is an important means of protecting the interests of our stockholders, associates, customers and the community. We have closely monitored and implemented relevant legislative and regulatory corporate governance reforms, including provisions of

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the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 ("Sarbanes-Oxley"), the rules of the SEC interpreting and implementing Sarbanes-Oxley and the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE.

        Our corporate governance information and materials, including our Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, Corporate Governance Guidelines, the charters of our Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Governance Committee, our Code of Ethics for the Chief Executive Officer and Senior Financial Officers, our Code of Ethics and Business Conduct and our Related Person Transaction Policy are posted on the corporate governance section of our website at www.riteaid.com and are available in print upon request to Rite Aid Corporation, 30 Hunter Lane, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011, Attention: Corporate Secretary. Our Board will regularly review corporate governance developments and modify these materials and practices as warranted.

        Our website also provides information on how to contact us and other items of interest to investors. We make available on our website, free of charge, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) data files of our annual report and quarterly reports beginning with our fiscal 2013 first quarter 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to these reports, as soon as reasonably practicable after we file these reports with, or furnish them to, the SEC. We do not intend for the information contained on our website to be part of this annual report on Form 10-K.

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

Factors Affecting our Future Prospects

        Set forth below is a description of certain risk factors which we believe may be relevant to an understanding of us and our business. Security holders are cautioned that these and other factors may affect future performance and cause actual results to differ from those which may be anticipated. See "Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements."

Risks Related to our Financial Condition

Current economic conditions may adversely affect our industry, business and results of operations.

        The United States economy is continuing to feel the impact of the economic downturn that began in late 2007, and the future economic environment may not fully recover to levels prior to the downturn. This economic uncertainty has and could further lead to reduced consumer spending. If consumer spending decreases or does not grow, we may not be able to sustain the improvement in our same store sales. In addition, reduced or flat consumer spending may drive us and our competitors to offer additional products at promotional prices, which would have a negative impact on our gross profit. We operate a number of stores in areas that are experiencing a lower or slower recovery than the economy on a national level. A continued softening or slow recovery in consumer spending may adversely affect our industry, business and results of operations. Reduced revenues as a result of decreased consumer spending may also reduce our liquidity and otherwise hinder our ability to implement our long term strategy.

We are highly leveraged. Our substantial indebtedness could limit cash flow available for our operations and could adversely affect our ability to service debt or obtain additional financing if necessary.

        We had, as of February 28, 2015, $5.6 billion of outstanding indebtedness and stockholders' equity of $57.1 million. We also had additional borrowing capacity under our $3.0 billion senior secured revolving credit facility of $1,203.9 million, net of outstanding letters of credit of $71.1 million. Additionally, on April 2, 2015, we issued $1.8 billion aggregate principal amount of our 6.125% senior notes due 2023 to finance the cash portion of our pending acquisition of EnvisionRx. Our earnings were sufficient to cover fixed charges for fiscal 2015 and 2014 by $426.7 million and $233.4 million,

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respectively. However, our earnings were insufficient to cover fixed charges and preferred stock dividends for fiscal 2013, 2012, and 2011 by $14.0 million, $412.4 million and $564.8 million, respectively.

        Our high level of indebtedness will continue to restrict our operations. Among other things, our indebtedness will:

•

limit our flexibility in planning for, or reacting to, changes in the markets in which we compete;



•

place us at a competitive disadvantage relative to our competitors with less indebtedness;



•

render us more vulnerable to general adverse economic, regulatory and industry conditions; and



•

require us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow to service our debt.

        Our ability to meet our cash requirements, including our debt service obligations, both now and after the completion of the pending acquisition of EnvisionRx, is dependent upon our ability to substantially improve our operating performance, which will be subject to general economic and competitive conditions and to financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. We cannot provide any assurance that our business will generate sufficient cash flow from operations to fund our cash requirements and debt service obligations.

        We believe we have adequate sources of liquidity to meet our anticipated requirements for working capital, debt service and capital expenditures through fiscal 2016 (including following the acquisition of EnvisionRx) and have no significant debt maturities prior to January 2020. However, if our operating results, cash flow or capital resources prove inadequate, or if interest rates rise significantly, we could face liquidity constraints. If we are unable to service our debt or experience a significant reduction in our liquidity, we could be forced to reduce or delay planned capital expenditures and other initiatives, sell assets, restructure or refinance our debt or seek additional equity capital, and we may be unable to take any of these actions on satisfactory terms or in a timely manner. Further, any of these actions may not be sufficient to allow us to service our debt obligations or may have an adverse impact on our business. Our existing debt agreements limit our ability to take certain of these actions. Our failure to generate sufficient operating cash flow to pay our debts or refinance our indebtedness could have a material adverse effect on us.

Borrowings under our senior secured credit facility are based upon variable rates of interest, which could result in higher expense in the event of increases in interest rates.

        As of February 28, 2015, $2.7 billion of our outstanding indebtedness bore interest at a rate that varies depending upon the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"). Borrowings under our Second Lien facilities Tranche 1 Term Loan due August 2020 and Tranche 2 Term Loan due June 2021 are subject to a minimum LIBOR floor of 100 basis points. Borrowings under our senior secured revolving credit facility are most sensitive to LIBOR fluctuations because there is no floor. If LIBOR rises, the interest rates on outstanding debt will increase. Therefore an increase in LIBOR would increase our interest payment obligations under those loans and have a negative effect on our cash flow and financial condition. We recently increased our borrowing capacity under our senior secured credit facility from $1.795 billion to $3.0 billion (or $3.7 billion upon the repayment of the $650 million aggregate principal amount outstanding under our 8.00% senior secured notes due August 2020 (our "8.00% Notes")), which could increase our exposure to this risk. We currently do not maintain hedging contracts that would limit our exposure to variable rates of interest.

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The covenants in the instruments that govern our current indebtedness may limit our operating and financial flexibility.

        The covenants in the instruments that govern our current indebtedness limit our ability to:

•

incur debt and liens;



•

pay dividends;



•

make redemptions and repurchases of capital stock;



•

make loans and investments;



•

prepay, redeem or repurchase debt;



•

engage in acquisitions, consolidations, asset dispositions, sale- leaseback transactions and affiliate transactions (not including the pending acquisition of EnvisionRx or the transactions contemplated thereby);



•

change our business;



•

amend some of our debt and other material agreements;



•

issue and sell capital stock of subsidiaries;



•

restrict distributions from subsidiaries; and



•

grant negative pledges to other creditors.

        The senior secured credit facility contains covenants which place restrictions on the incurrence of debt beyond the restrictions described above, the payment of dividends, sale of assets, mergers and acquisitions and the granting of liens. Our senior secured credit facility has a financial covenant which requires us to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio. The covenant requires that, if availability under the revolving credit facility (a) on any date is less than (i) in the case of dates prior to the repayment of our 8.00% Notes, $175.0 million and (ii) in the case of dates on and after the repayment of our 8.00% Notes, $200.0 million, or (b) for three consecutive business days is less than (i) in the case of dates prior to the repayment of our 8.00% Notes, $225.0 million and (ii) in the case of dates on or after the repayment of our 8.00% Notes, $250.0 million, we maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.00 to 1.00. As of February 28, 2015, we had availability under our revolving credit facility of $1,203.9 million, our fixed charge coverage ratio was greater than 1.00 to 1.00, and we were in compliance with the senior secured credit facility's financial covenant.

Our stockholders will experience dilution if we issue additional common stock.

        We are generally not restricted from issuing additional shares of our common stock or preferred stock, including, subject to the terms of our outstanding debt instruments, any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, common stock or preferred stock or any substantially similar securities, whether for cash, as part of incentive compensation or in refinancing transactions. Any additional future issuances of common stock, including the issuance of 27.9 million shares of common stock in connection with the EnvisionRx acquisition, will reduce the percentage of our common stock owned by investors who do not participate in such issuances. In most circumstances, stockholders will not be entitled to vote on whether or not we issue additional shares of common stock. The market price of our common stock could decline as a result of issuances of a large number of shares of our common stock or the perception that such issuances could occur.

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Risks Related to our Operations

We need to improve our operations in order to improve our financial condition, but our operations will not improve if we cannot effectively implement our business strategy or if our strategy is negatively affected by worsening economic conditions.

        We have not yet achieved the sales productivity level of our major competitors. We believe that improving the sales of existing stores is important to improving profitability and operating cash flow. If we are not successful in implementing our strategies, including our efforts to increase sales and further reduce costs, or if our strategies are not effective, we may not be able to improve our operations. In addition, any further adverse change or continued weakness in general economic conditions or major industries can adversely affect drug benefit plans and reduce our pharmacy sales. Adverse changes in general economic conditions could affect consumer buying practices and consequently reduce our sales of front end products, and cause a decrease in our profitability. Failure to improve operations or a continued weakness in major industries or general economic conditions would adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows and our ability to make principal or interest payments on our debt.

We purchase all of our brand and generic drugs from a single wholesaler. A disruption in this relationship may have a negative effect on us.

        We purchase all of our brand prescription and, with limited exceptions, all of our generic drugs from a single wholesaler, McKesson. Pharmacy sales represented approximately 68.8% of our total sales during fiscal 2015. While we believe that alternative sources of supply for most generic and brand name pharmaceuticals are readily available, a significant disruption in our relationship with McKesson could make it difficult for us to continue to operate our business on a regular basis until we executed a replacement wholesaler agreement or developed and implemented self-distribution processes. We believe we could obtain and qualify alternative sources, including through self-distribution, for substantially all of the prescription drugs we sell on an acceptable basis, and accordingly that the impact of any disruption would be temporary. In addition, because McKesson acts as a wholesaler for drugs purchased from ultimate manufacturers worldwide, any disruption in the supply of a given drug could adversely impact McKesson's ability to fulfill our demands, which could adversely affect us.

A significant disruption in our computer systems or a cyber security breach could adversely affect our operations.

        We rely extensively on our computer systems, including those used by RediClinic and Health Dialog, to manage our ordering, pricing, point-of-sale, inventory replenishment and other processes. Our systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, cyber security breaches, vandalism, severe weather conditions, catastrophic events and human error, and our disaster recovery planning cannot account for all eventualities. Although we deploy a layered approach to address information security threats and vulnerabilities, including ones from a cyber security standpoint, designed to protect confidential information against data security breaches, a compromise of our information security controls or of those businesses with whom we interact, which results in confidential information being accessed, obtained, damaged or used by unauthorized or improper persons, could harm our reputation and expose us to regulatory actions and claims from customers and clients, financial institutions, payment card associations and other persons, any of which could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations. Moreover, a data security breach could require that we expend significant resources related to our information systems and infrastructure, and could distract management and other key personnel from performing their primary operational duties. If our systems are damaged, fail to function properly or otherwise become unavailable, we may incur substantial costs to repair or replace them, and may experience loss of critical data and interruptions or delays in our ability to

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perform critical functions, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations. Any compromise or breach of our data security, whether external or internal, or misuse of customer, associate, supplier or our data could also result in a violation of applicable privacy and other laws, significant legal and financial exposure, fines or lawsuits, damage to our reputation, loss or misuse of the information and a loss of confidence in our security measures, which could harm our business. Although we maintain cyber security insurance, we cannot assure you that the coverage limits under our insurance program will be adequate to protect us against future claims. In addition, as the regulatory environment related to information security, data collection and use, and privacy becomes increasingly rigorous, with new and constantly changing requirements applicable to our business, compliance with those requirements could also result in additional costs.

We are subject to payment-related risks that could increase our operating costs, expose us to fraud or theft, subject us to potential liability and potentially disrupt our business.

        We accept payments using a variety of methods, including cash, checks, credit and debit cards, and gift cards, and we may offer new payment options over time. Acceptance of these payment options subjects us to rules, regulations, contractual obligations and compliance requirements, including payment network rules and operating guidelines, data security standards and certification requirements, and rules governing electronic funds transfers. These requirements may change over time or be reinterpreted, making compliance more difficult or costly. For certain payment methods, including credit and debit cards, we pay interchange and other fees, which may increase over time and raise our operating costs. We rely on third parties to provide payment processing services, including the processing of credit cards, debit cards, and other forms of electronic payment. If these companies become unable to provide these services to us, or if their systems are compromised, it could potentially disrupt our business. The payment methods that we offer also subject us to potential fraud and theft by criminals, who are becoming increasingly more sophisticated, seeking to obtain unauthorized access to or exploit weaknesses that may exist in the payment systems. If we fail to comply with applicable rules or requirements for the payment methods we accept, or if payment-related data is compromised due to a breach or misuse of data, we may be liable for costs incurred by payment card issuing banks and other third parties or subject to fines and higher transaction fees, or our ability to accept or facilitate certain types of payments may be impaired. In addition, our customers could lose confidence in certain payment types, which may result in a shift to other payment types or potential changes to our payment systems that may result in higher costs. As a result, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.

If we fail to protect the security of personal information about our customers and associates, we could be subject to costly government enforcement actions or private litigation.

        Through our sales and marketing activities, we collect and store certain personal information that our customers provide to purchase products or services, enroll in promotional programs, register on our web site, or otherwise communicate and interact with us. We also gather and retain information about our associates in the normal course of business. We may share information about such persons with vendors that assist with certain aspects of our business. Despite instituted safeguards for the protection of such information, security could be compromised and confidential customer or business information misappropriated, for which we have paid related penalties in the past. Loss of customer or business information could disrupt our operations, damage our reputation, and expose us to claims from customers, financial institutions, payment card associations and other persons, any of which could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, compliance with more rigorous privacy and information security laws and standards may result in significant expense due to increased investment in technology and the development of new operational processes.

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Risks Related to our Industry

The markets in which we operate are very competitive and further increases in competition could adversely affect us.

        We face intense competition with local, regional and national companies, including other drugstore chains, independently owned drugstores, supermarkets, mass merchandisers, dollar stores and internet pharmacies. Competition from discount stores has significantly increased during the past few years. Some of our competitors have or may merge with or acquire pharmaceutical services companies, pharmacy benefit managers, mail order facilities or enter into strategic partnership alliances with wholesalers, which may further increase competition. We may not be able to effectively compete against them because our existing or potential competitors may have financial and other resources that are superior to ours. In addition, certain of our competitors entered into the pharmacy benefit management industry before us, and there is no assurance that we will successfully compete with entities with more established pharmacy benefit management businesses. Further, we may be at a competitive disadvantage because we are more highly leveraged than our competitors. The ability of our stores to achieve profitability depends on their ability to achieve a critical mass of loyal, repeat customers. We cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to effectively compete in our markets or increase our sales volume in response to further increased competition.

Consolidation in the healthcare industry could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

        Many organizations in the healthcare industry, including pharmacy benefit managers, have consolidated to create larger healthcare enterprises with greater market power, which has resulted in greater pricing pressures. If this consolidation trend continues, it could give the resulting enterprises even greater bargaining power, which may lead to further pressure on the prices for our products and services. If these pressures result in reductions in our prices, our business will become less profitable unless we are able to achieve corresponding reductions in costs or develop profitable new revenue streams. We expect that market demand, government regulation, third-party reimbursement policies, government contracting requirements, and societal pressures will continue to cause the healthcare industry to evolve, potentially resulting in further business consolidations and alliances among the industry participants we engage with, which may adversely impact our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The availability of pharmacy drugs is subject to governmental regulations.

        The continued conversion of various prescription drugs, including potential conversions of a number of popular medications, to over-the-counter medications may reduce our pharmacy sales and customers may seek to purchase such medications at non-pharmacy stores. Also, if the rate at which new prescription drugs become available slows or if new prescription drugs that are introduced into the market fail to achieve popularity, our pharmacy sales may be adversely affected. The withdrawal of certain drugs from the market or concerns about the safety or effectiveness of certain drugs or negative publicity surrounding certain categories of drugs may also have a negative effect on our pharmacy sales or may cause shifts in our pharmacy or front end product mix.

Changes in third party reimbursement levels for prescription drugs and changes in industry pricing benchmarks could reduce our margins and have a material adverse effect on our business.

        Sales of prescription drugs reimbursed by third party payors, including the Medicare Part D plans and state sponsored Medicaid and related managed care Medicaid agencies, represented 97.5% of our business in fiscal 2015.

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        The continued efforts of the Federal government, health maintenance organizations, managed care organizations, pharmacy benefit management companies, other State and local government entities, and other third-party payors to reduce prescription drug costs and pharmacy reimbursement rates, as well as litigation relating to how drugs are priced, may impact our profitability. In addition, some of these entities may offer pricing terms that we may not be willing to accept or otherwise restrict our participation in their networks of pharmacy providers. Any significant loss of third-party business could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

        Certain provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 ("DRA") sought to reduce federal spending by altering the Medicaid reimbursement formula for multi-source (i.e., generic) drugs ("AMP"). Although those reductions did not go into effect, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, signed into law on March 23, 2010 (the "Patient Care Act") enacted a modified AMP reimbursement formula for multi-source drugs. The modified formula, when implemented, may reduce Medicaid reimbursements which could affect our revenues and profits. There have also been a number of other recent proposals and enactments by the Federal government and various states to reduce Medicare Part D and Medicaid reimbursement levels in response to budget problems. We expect other similar proposals in the future.

We are subject to governmental regulations, procedures and requirements; our noncompliance or a significant regulatory change could adversely affect our business, the results of our operations or our financial condition.

        Our business is subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations. Changes in these regulations may require extensive system and operating changes that may be difficult to implement. Untimely compliance or noncompliance with applicable regulations could result in the imposition of civil and criminal penalties that could adversely affect the continued operation of our business, including: (i) suspension of payments from government programs; (ii) loss of required government certifications; (iii) loss of authorizations to participate in or exclusion from government reimbursement programs, such as the Medicare and Medicaid programs; (iv) loss of licenses; or (v) significant fines or monetary penalties. The regulations to which we are subject include, but are not limited to, federal, state and local registration and regulation of pharmacies; dispensing and sale of controlled substances and products containing pseudoephedrine; applicable Medicare and Medicaid Regulations; the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act or ("HIPAA"); regulations relating to the protection of the environment and health and safety matters, including those governing exposure to and the management and disposal of hazardous substances; regulations enforced by the U. S. Federal Trade Commission, the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Drug Enforcement Administration as well as state regulatory authorities, governing the sale, advertisement and promotion of products we sell; anti-kickback laws; false claims laws and federal and state laws governing the practice of the profession of pharmacy. We are also governed by federal and state laws of general applicability, including laws regulating matters of wage and hour laws, working conditions, health and safety and equal employment opportunity.

        Additionally, congressional efforts to reform the United States health care system finally came to fruition in 2010 with the passage of the Patient Care Act, which is resulting in significant structural changes to the health insurance system. Although many of the structural changes enacted by Patient Care Act were implemented in 2014, some of the applicable regulations and sub-regulatory guidance have not yet been issued and/or finalized. Therefore, there remains considerable uncertainty as to the full impact of Patient Care Act on our business. We cannot predict what effect, if any, all of the Patient Care Act changes may have on our retail pharmacy and pharmacy services businesses, and it is possible that other legislative or market-driven changes in the health care system that we cannot anticipate could also occur.

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Certain risks are inherent in providing pharmacy services; our insurance may not be adequate to cover any claims against us.

        Pharmacies are exposed to risks inherent in the packaging and distribution of pharmaceuticals and other healthcare products, such as with respect to improper filling of prescriptions, labeling of prescriptions, adequacy of warnings, unintentional distribution of counterfeit drugs and expiration of drugs. In addition, federal and state laws that require our pharmacists to offer counseling, without additional charge, to their customers about medication, dosage, delivery systems, common side effects and other information the pharmacists deem significant can impact our business. Our pharmacists may also have a duty to warn customers regarding any potential negative effects of a prescription drug if the warning could reduce or negate these effects. Although we maintain professional liability and errors and omissions liability insurance, from time to time, claims result in the payment of significant amounts, some portions of which are not funded by insurance. We cannot assure you that the coverage limits under our insurance programs will be adequate to protect us against future claims, or that we will be able to maintain this insurance on acceptable terms in the future. Our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows may be adversely affected if in the future our insurance coverage proves to be inadequate or unavailable or there is an increase in liability for which we self-insure or we suffer reputational harm as a result of an error or omission.

We may be subject to significant liability should the consumption of any of our products cause injury, illness or death.

        Products that we sell could become subject to contamination, product tampering, mislabeling or other damage requiring us to recall our private brand products. In addition, errors in the dispensing and packaging of pharmaceuticals could lead to serious injury or death. Product liability claims may be asserted against us with respect to any of the products or pharmaceuticals we sell and we may be obligated to recall our private brand products. A product liability judgment against us or a product recall could have a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

Risks Related to the Pending Acquisition of EnvisionRx

We are subject to integration risks as a result of the acquisition, and we may not realize the anticipated benefits of the acquisition in the time frame anticipated, or at all.

        We believe we will benefit from the integration of our product and service offerings with those of EnvisionRx, and realize other synergies as a result of the acquisition. However, we are subject to integration risks related to the acquisition, including difficulties in achieving anticipated cost savings, synergies, business opportunities and revenue opportunities from combining the businesses; difficulties in assimilation of employees; and challenges in keeping existing customers and obtaining new customers. Integration efforts between the two companies may also divert management attention and resources. Additionally, we may not be able to successfully capture all anticipated synergies in the time frame anticipated, or at all. Any inability to realize the potential benefits of the acquisition, as well as any delays in integration, could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

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The announcement and pendency of the acquisition may cause disruptions in the business of EnvisionRx, which could have an adverse effect on their business, financial condition or results of operations and, post-closing, our business, financial condition or results of operations.

        The announcement and pendency of the acquisition could cause disruptions of the business of EnvisionRx. Specifically:

•

current and prospective customers of EnvisionRx may experience uncertainty about the ability of EnvisionRx to meet their needs, which might cause customers to obtain PBM and other services elsewhere; and



•

while we have entered into employment contracts with a number of key executives from EnvisionRx, current and prospective associates of EnvisionRx may experience uncertainty about their future roles with Rite Aid, which might adversely affect the ability of EnvisionRx to attract and retain key personnel.

        These disruptions could be exacerbated by a delay in the completion of the acquisition and could have an adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of EnvisionRx prior to the completion of the acquisition and on Rite Aid following the completion of the acquisition.

The pending acquisition is subject to approvals from government entities. Failure to complete the pending acquisition could have a material adverse effect on us.

        We cannot complete the acquisition of EnvisionRx unless we receive various consents, approvals and clearances from various authorities in the United States. While we believe that we will receive the requisite approvals from these authorities, there can be no assurance of this.

        If the acquisition is not completed for any reason, we will have incurred substantial expenses and may incur additional expenses, which may be material, without realizing the anticipated benefits of the acquisition.

Subject to certain limitations, certain holders of equity interests in EnvisionRx may sell Rite Aid common stock following the completion of the acquisition of EnvisionRx, which could cause our stock price to decrease.

        The shares of Rite Aid common stock that certain holders of equity interests in EnvisionRx will receive following the completion of the acquisition of EnvisionRx are restricted, but these holders may sell these shares following the acquisition under certain circumstances, including pursuant to a registered underwritten public offering under the Securities Act or in accordance with Rule 144 under the Securities Act. We have entered into a registration rights agreement with these holders, which will give these holders the right to require us to register all or a portion of their shares at certain times, subject to certain conditions and restrictions. The sale of a substantial number of our shares by these or other stockholders within a short period of time could cause our stock price to decrease, make it more difficult for us to raise funds through future offerings of Rite Aid common stock or acquire other businesses using Rite Aid common stock as consideration.

Item 1B.    Unresolved SEC Staff Comments

        None

Item 2.    Properties

        As of February 28, 2015, we operated 4,570 retail drugstores. The average selling square feet of each store in our chain is approximately 10,000 square feet. The average total square feet of each store in our chain is approximately 12,600. The stores in the eastern part of the U.S. average 8,900 selling square feet per store (11,200 average total square feet per store). The stores in the western part of the U.S. average 14,800 selling square feet per store (19,400 average total square feet per store).

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        The table below identifies the number of stores by state as of February 28, 2015:

        Our stores have the following attributes at February 28, 2015:

        We lease 4,310 of our operating drugstore facilities under non-cancelable leases, many of which have original terms of 10 to 22 years. In addition to minimum rental payments, which are set at competitive market rates, certain leases require additional payments based on sales volume, as well as reimbursement for taxes, maintenance and insurance. Most of our leases contain renewal options, some of which involve rent increases. The remaining 260 drugstore facilities are owned.

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        We own our corporate headquarters, which is located in a 205,000 square foot building at 30 Hunter Lane, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011. We lease 451,500 square feet of space in various buildings near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania for document warehousing use and additional administrative personnel. We own additional buildings near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania which total 105,800 square feet and house our model store and additional administrative personnel.

        We operate the following distribution centers and satellite distribution locations, which we own or lease as indicated:

        The original terms of the leases for our distribution centers and satellite distribution locations range from 5 to 20 years. In addition to minimum rental payments, certain distribution centers require tax reimbursement, maintenance and insurance. Most leases contain renewal options, some of which involve rent increases. Although from time to time, we may be near capacity at some of our distribution facilities, particularly at our older facilities, we believe that the capacity of our facilities is adequate.

        On January 28, 2015, we announced our plans to build a 900,000 square foot distribution center in Spartanburg South Carolina (the "Spartanburg distribution center"). We will lease the Spartanburg distribution center under a lease agreement with an initial term of 15 years with subsequent renewal options. In addition to minimum rental payments, we are also required to reimburse the landlord for taxes, maintenance and insurance. Once operational, we plan on consolidating our Charlotte, North Carolina, Tuscaloosa, Alabama and Poca, West Virginia distribution centers into the Spartanburg distribution center, which will service approximately 1,000 stores in the southeastern United States.

        We also own a 55,600 square foot ice cream manufacturing facility and lease a 32,000 square foot storage facility located in El Monte, California.

        As a result of our April 2014 acquisition of RediClinic, we lease approximately 18,071 square feet in 32 HEB grocery stores in Texas under a master lease agreement that contains various renewal options through 2024.

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        On a regular basis and as part of our normal business, we evaluate store performance and may reduce in size, close or relocate a store if the store is redundant, underperforming or otherwise deemed unsuitable. We also evaluate strategic dispositions and acquisitions of facilities and prescription files. When we reduce in size, close or relocate a store or close distribution center facilities, we often continue to have leasing obligations or own the property. We attempt to sublease this space. As of February 28, 2015, we had 6,294,112 square feet of excess space, 4,363,571 square feet of which was subleased.

Item 3.    Legal Proceedings

        We have been named in a collective and class action lawsuit, Indergit v. Rite Aid Corporation et al pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, filed purportedly on behalf of current and former store managers working in our stores at various locations around the country. The lawsuit alleges that we failed to pay overtime to store managers as required under the FLSA and under certain New York state statutes. The lawsuit also seeks other relief, including liquidated damages, punitive damages, attorneys' fees, costs and injunctive relief arising out of state and federal claims for overtime pay. On April 2, 2010, the Court conditionally certified a nationwide collective group of individuals who worked for us as store managers since March 31, 2007. The Court ordered that Notice of the Indergit action be sent to the purported members of the collective group (approximately 7,000 current and former store managers) and approximately 1,550 joined the Indergit action. Discovery as to certification issues has been completed. On September 26, 2013, the Court granted Rule 23 class certification of the New York store manager claims as to liability only, but denied it as to damages, and denied our motion for decertification of the nationwide collective action claims. We filed a motion seeking reconsideration of the Court's September 26, 2013 decision which motion was denied in June 2014. We subsequently filed a petition for an interlocutory appeal of the Court's September 26, 2013 ruling with the U. S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit which petition was denied in September 2014. Once approved by the Court, notice of the Rule 23 class certification as to liability only will be sent to approximately 1,750 current and former store managers in the state of New York. At this time, we are not able to either predict the outcome of this lawsuit or estimate a potential range of loss with respect to the lawsuit. Our management believes, however, that this lawsuit is without merit and is vigorously defending this lawsuit.

        We are currently a defendant in several putative class action lawsuits filed in state Courts in California alleging violations of California wage and hour laws, rules and regulations pertaining primarily to failure to pay overtime, pay for missed meals and rest periods, failure to reimburse business expenses and failure to provide employee seating (the "California Cases"). These suits purport to be class actions and seek substantial damages. We have aggressively challenged both the merits of the lawsuits and the allegations that the cases should be certified as class or representative actions.

        With respect to cases involving pharmacist meal and rest periods (Chase and Scherwin v. Rite Aid Corporation pending in Los Angeles County Superior Court and Kyle v. Rite Aid Corporation pending in Sacramento County Superior Court), during the period ended March 1, 2014, we recorded a legal accrual with respect to these matters. We and the attorneys representing the putative class of pharmacists have agreed to a class wide settlement of the case of $9.0 million subject to final Court approval. The parties are in the process of obtaining Court approval.

        In the employee seating case (Hall v. Rite Aid Corporation, San Diego County Superior Court), the Court, in October 2011, granted the plaintiff's motion for class certification. We filed our motion for decertification, which motion was granted in November 2012. Plaintiff subsequently appealed the Court's order which appeal was granted in May 2014. We filed a petition for review of the appellate court's decision with the California Supreme Court, which petition was denied in August 2014. Proceedings in the Hall case are stayed pending a decision by the California Supreme Court in two similar cases. With respect to the California Cases (other than Chase and Scherwin and Kyle), we, at

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this time, are not able to predict either the outcome of these lawsuits or estimate a potential range of loss with respect to said lawsuits.

        We were served with a Civil Investigative Demand Subpoena Duces Tecum dated August 26, 2011 by the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Michigan. The subpoena requests records regarding Rite Aid's Rx Savings Program and the reporting of usual and customary charges to publicly funded health programs. In connection with the same investigation, we were served with a Civil Subpoena Duces Tecum dated February 22, 2013 by the State of Indiana Office of the Attorney General. We have substantially completed our response to both of the subpoenas and are unable to predict the timing or outcome of any review by the government of such information.

        In April 2012, we received an administrative subpoena from the Drug Enforcement Administration ("DEA"), Albany, New York District Office, requesting information regarding our sale of products containing pseudoephedrine ("PSE"). In April 2012, we also received a communication from the United States Attorneys Office ("USAO") for the Northern District of New York concerning an investigation of possible civil violations of the Combat Methamphetamine Epidemic Act of 2005 ("CMEA"). In April 2013, we received additional administrative subpoenas from DEA concerning certain retail PSE transactions at New York stores and the USAO commenced discussions with us regarding whether, from 2009 (upon implementation of an electronic PSE transaction logbook system) through the present, we sold products containing PSE in violation of the CMEA. We received additional administrative subpoenas from the DEA beginning in December 2013 requesting information in connection with an investigation of violations of the CMEA in West Virginia. Violations of the CMEA could result in the imposition of administrative, civil and/or criminal penalties against us. We are cooperating with the government and continue to provide information responsive to the subpoenas. We have entered into a tolling agreement with the USAO. Discussions are underway to resolve these matters, but whether an agreement can be reached and on what terms are uncertain. While our management cannot predict the outcome of these matters, it is possible that our results of operations or cash flows could be materially affected by an unfavorable resolution.

        In January 2013, the DEA, Los Angeles District Office, served an administrative subpoena on us seeking documents related to prescriptions by a certain prescriber. The USAO, Central District of California, also contacted us about a related investigation into allegations that Rite Aid pharmacies filled certain controlled substance prescriptions for a number of practitioners after their DEA registrations had expired or otherwise become invalid in violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act and DEA regulations. We responded to the administrative subpoena and subsequent informal requests for information from the USAO. We met with the USAO and DEA in January 2014 and are involved in ongoing discussions with the government regarding this matter. We recorded a legal accrual during the period ended March 1, 2014.

        We were served with a Civil Investigative Demand ("CID") dated June 21, 2013 by the USAO for the Eastern District of California and the Attorney General's Office of the State of California (the "AG"). The CID requests records and responses to interrogatories regarding Rite Aid's Drug Utilization Review and prescription dispensing protocol and the dispensing of drugs designated "Code 1" by the State of California. We are in the process of producing responsive documents and interrogatory responses to the USAO and AG and are unable to predict the timing or outcome of any review by the government of such information.

        In addition to the above described matters, we are subject from time to time to various claims and lawsuits and governmental investigations arising in the ordinary course of business. While our management cannot predict the outcome of any of the claims, our management does not believe that the outcome of any of these legal matters will be material to our consolidated financial position. It is possible, however, that our results of operations or cash flows could be materially affected by an unfavorable resolution of pending litigation or contingencies.

Item 4.    Mine Safety Disclosures

        Not applicable

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PART II

Item 5.    Market for Registrant's Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

        Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol "RAD." On April 9, 2015, we had approximately 20,940 stockholders of record. Quarterly high and low closing stock prices, based on the composite transactions, are shown below.

        We have not declared or paid any cash dividends on our common stock since the third quarter of fiscal 2000 and we do not anticipate paying cash dividends on our common stock in the foreseeable future. Our senior secured credit facility, second priority secured term loan facilities and some of the indentures that govern our other outstanding indebtedness restrict our ability to pay dividends.

        We have not sold any unregistered equity securities during the period covered by this report, nor have we repurchased any of our common stock, during the period covered by this report.

        We expect to issue approximately 27.9 million shares of common stock in connection with closing of the EnvisionRx acquisition, which is expected to occur no earlier than in the second quarter of fiscal 2016.

STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH

        The graph below compares the yearly percentage change in the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock for the last five fiscal years with the cumulative total return on (i) the Russell 1000 Consumer Staples Index, (ii) the Russell 2000 Consumer Staples Index, (iii) the Russell 1000 Index, and (iv) the Russell 2000 Index, over the same period (assuming the investment of $100.00 in our common stock and such indexes on February 27, 2010 and reinvestment of dividends).

        For comparison of cumulative total return, we have elected to use the Russell 1000 Consumer Staples Index, consisting of 48 companies including the three largest drugstore chains, the Russell 2000 Consumer Staples Index, consisting of 58 companies, the Russell 1000 Index, and the Russell 2000 Index. This allows comparison of the company to a peer group of similar sized companies. We are one of the companies included in the Russell 1000 Consumer Staples Index and the Russell 1000 Index. The Russell 1000 Consumer Staples Index is a capitalization-weighted index of companies that provide products directly to consumers that are typically considered nondiscretionary items based on consumer purchasing habits. The Russell 1000 Index consists of the largest 1000 companies in the Russell 3000 Index and represents the universe of large capitalization stocks from which many active money managers typically select. The Russell 2000 Consumer Staples Index is a capitalization-weighted index of companies that provide products directly to consumers that are typically considered nondiscretionary items based on consumer purchasing habits. The Russell 2000 Index consists of the smallest 2000 companies in the Russell 3000 Index and represents the universe of small capitalization stocks from which many active money managers typically select.

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STOCK PERFORMANCE GRAPH
Comparison of 5 Year Cumulative Total Return
Assumes Initial Investment of $100 on February 27, 2010
February 28, 2015

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Item 6.    Selected Financial Data

        The following selected financial data should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes.

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Item 7.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

        Net income for fiscal 2015 was $2,109.2 million or $2.17 per basic and $2.08 per diluted share compared to net income for fiscal 2014 of $249.4 million or $0.23 per basic and diluted share. Net income for fiscal 2015 was impacted by a reduction of the deferred tax asset valuation allowance and a full year provision of income tax expense at a statutory rate, the net effect of which resulted in an income tax benefit of $ 1,682.4 million, or $1.65 per diluted share, which is further described in the "Income Taxes" section below. Also contributing to the increase in net income was a LIFO credit of $18.9 million versus a LIFO charge of $104.1 million in fiscal 2014, lower loss on debt retirements, and lower interest expense.

        Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2015 was $1,322.8 million or 5.0 percent of revenues, compared to $1,325.0 million or 5.2 percent of revenues for fiscal year 2014. Adjusted EBITDA was positively impacted by an increase in pharmacy and front end gross profit, offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses related to our higher level of sales.

        On February 17, 2014, we executed an expanded five-year agreement with McKesson Corporation ("McKesson") for pharmaceutical purchasing and distribution (our "Purchasing and Delivery Arrangement"). As part of our Purchasing and Delivery Arrangement, McKesson assumed responsibility for purchasing substantially all of the brand and generic medications we dispense as well as providing a new direct store delivery model to all of our stores. This arrangement, which has been fully implemented during fiscal 2015, has allowed us to leverage the scale of both companies to deliver greater purchasing and distribution efficiencies, ensure the highest levels of service for our customers, and improve working capital through the reduction of pharmacy inventory.

        Our operating results are described in more detail in the "Results of Operations" section below. Some of the key factors that impacted our results are summarized as follows:

        Sales Trends:    Our revenue growth for fiscal 2015 was 3.9% compared to revenue growth of 0.5% for fiscal 2014. Fiscal 2015 revenues were positively impacted by an increase in same store sales and same store prescription count, partially offset by a negative impact from generic introductions, lower reimbursement rates, and store closings.

        Gross Profit:    Our gross profit was positively impacted by the increase in both pharmacy and front end revenues, the continued impact of generic drugs, which have a higher gross profit than their brand counterparts, purchasing efficiencies realized through our Purchasing and Delivery Arrangement, and a LIFO credit of $18.9 million versus a LIFO charge of $104.1 million in fiscal 2014. The positive impacts were somewhat offset by continued pharmacy reimbursement rate pressures. The current year LIFO credit was due to higher generic deflation and pharmacy inventory reductions in connection with our Purchasing and Delivery Arrangement.

        Selling, General and Administrative Expenses:    Our selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") decreased as a percentage of revenues in fiscal 2015 as a result of leveraging the increase in revenues and through various cost control initiatives. The increase on a dollar basis in fiscal 2015 is due primarily to higher salary and payroll related expenses to support our increased sales volume and operating costs of Health Dialog and RediClinic.

        Lease Termination and Impairment Charges:    We recorded lease terminations and impairment charges of $41.9 million in fiscal 2015 compared to $41.3 million in fiscal 2014. Our charges have remained consistent with the prior year due to similar financial results and store closure activity.

        Debt Refinancing and Other Capital Transactions:    During fiscal 2015, we continued to take steps to extend the terms of our debt, reduce interest expense and to obtain more flexibility. We expect to

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engage in similar efforts in the future. During fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, we completed several refinancing transactions which caused interest expense to decrease by $26.9 million in fiscal 2015. In January 2015, we amended and restated our senior secured credit facility ("Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility" or "revolver"), which, among other things, increased our borrowing capacity to $3.0 billion (increasing to $3.7 billion upon the repayment of our 8.00% senior secured notes (second lien) due August 2020) and extended the maturity to January 2020. We used borrowings under the revolver to repay and retire all of the $1.144 billion outstanding under our Tranche 7 Senior Secured Term Loan due 2020. We expect, at current rates, to save approximately $20.0 million in annual interest expense, based on a $3.0 billion revolver, and approximately $50.0 million in annual interest expense based on a $3.7 billion revolver and the redemption of our 8.00% senior secured notes (second lien) due August 2020. In addition, in October 2014, we redeemed our outstanding $270.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.25% senior notes due October 2019. These transactions are described in more detail in the "Liquidity and Capital Resources" section below.

        Income Tax Valuation Allowance Adjustment:    Net income for fiscal 2015 included income tax benefit of $1,682.4 million, compared to income tax expense of $0.8 million for fiscal 2014. Income tax benefit for fiscal 2015 was primarily the result of the reduction of the valuation allowance against substantially all of the net deferred tax assets as described in detail below. We have assessed and considered all of the available evidence and determined that we had returned to profitability for a sustained period and our future projections indicate that substantially all of our federal deferred tax assets and a portion of our state deferred tax assets are more likely than not realizable in the future. Accordingly, we recorded a reduction in our valuation allowance and an income tax benefit of $1,841.3 million. We evaluated the following evidence (1) achievement of three years of cumulative profitability during the current fiscal year, (2) a consistent pattern of earnings in the past three years, (3) utilization of federal and state net operating losses to significantly eliminate cash taxes for the last 3 years as well as (4) business plans showing continued profitability. The reduction of the valuation allowance in the fourth quarter was based on a pattern of sustained earnings exhibited by us over the most recent 10 quarters through February 28, 2015, projected future taxable income and our historical ability of predicting earnings and presents sufficient objective and verifiable evidence that forecasts can be used to estimate the future utilization of our loss carryforwards. Based on these factors we have determined that it is more likely than not that a substantial portion of our deferred tax assets are realizable and adjusted the valuation allowance accordingly.

        Income tax expense for fiscal 2014 resulted in an increase in the deferred tax valuation allowance to offset the windfall tax benefits recorded in additional paid-in capital ("APIC") pursuant to the tax law ordering approach, offset by adjustments to unrecognized tax benefits due to the lapse of statute of limitations. Additionally, the income tax expense for 2014 was recorded net of adjustments to maintain a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets.

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Results of Operations

Revenue and Other Operating Data

Revenues

        Fiscal 2015 compared to Fiscal 2014:    The 3.9% increase in revenue was due primarily to an increase in pharmacy and front end same store sales and incremental revenues from Health Dialog and RediClinic, which were acquired during April 2014. Same store sales trends for fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 are described in the following paragraphs. We include in same store sales all stores that have been open at least one year. Stores in liquidation are considered closed. Relocation stores are not included in same store sales until one year has lapsed.

        Pharmacy same store sales increased 5.8%. Pharmacy same store sales were positively impacted by an increase of 3.5% in same store prescription count, which reflects higher utilization in Medicaid expansion states and an increase in immunizations and flu incidents, and brand drug inflation. The increases were partially offset by the continued impact of increases in generic drugs, which have a substantially lower selling price than their brand counterparts but higher gross profit. Pharmacy same store sales were also negatively impacted by continued reimbursement rate pressures. We expect lower reimbursement rates to continue to have a negative impact on our revenues.

        Front end same store sales increased 1.2%. The increase in same store front end sales was impacted by the positive impact of our wellness + loyalty program, incremental sales from our 1,634 Wellness format stores, and other management initiatives to increase front end sales. Active wellness + members, defined as those who have used their cards at least twice during the last twenty-six weeks, was nearly 25 million as of February 28, 2015.

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        Fiscal 2014 compared to Fiscal 2013:    The 0.5% increase in revenue was due primarily to an increase in pharmacy same store sales, partially offset by a decrease in front end sales. The increase in pharmacy same stores sales was driven primarily by brand drug inflation, partially offset by a decrease in same store prescription count, negative impact from generic introductions and continued reimbursement rate pressures.

        Pharmacy same store sales increased 1.2%. Pharmacy same store sales were positively impacted by brand drug inflation. The increases were partially offset by a decrease of 0.3% in same store prescription count and the continued impact of generic drug introductions, which have a substantially lower selling price than their brand counterparts but higher gross profit. Pharmacy same store sales were also negatively impacted by continued reimbursement rate pressures.

        Front end same store sales decreased 0.2%. The decrease in same store front end sales was impacted by consumer spending habits and the heavy promotional environment, partially offset by the positive impact of our wellness + loyalty program, incremental sales from our Wellness format stores, and other management initiatives to increase front end sales.

Costs and Expenses

Gross Profit and Cost of Goods Sold

        Gross profit increased by $253.0 million in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014. Pharmacy gross profit was higher due to the increase in pharmacy revenues resulting primarily from increased prescription count, and purchasing efficiencies realized through our Purchasing and Delivery Arrangement, partially offset by reimbursement rate pressures and a prior year favorable reimbursement rate adjustment relating to the decision by California to exclude certain drugs from the retroactive California Department of Healthcare Services (MediCal) reimbursement rate adjustments. Front end gross profit was higher mainly due to higher sales. Gross profit was also positively impacted by a LIFO credit of $18.9 million versus a LIFO charge of $104.1 million in fiscal 2014, and additional revenues from Health Dialog and RediClinic.

        Overall gross margin was 28.6% for fiscal 2015 compared to 28.7% in fiscal 2014. Gross margin was lower due primarily to continued pharmacy reimbursement rate pressures and the prior year MediCal decision, partially offset by a LIFO credit of $18.9 million versus a LIFO charge of

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$104.1 million in fiscal 2014, and savings associated with our Purchasing and Delivery Arrangement. We expect lower reimbursement rates to continue to have a negative impact on our gross margin.

        Gross profit increased by $5.5 million in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013. Pharmacy gross profit was higher due to the continued benefit of generic drug introductions, purchasing efficiencies on generic drugs, favorable reimbursement rate adjustments from a decision by California to exclude certain drugs from the retroactive MediCal reimbursement rate adjustments as well as from certain commercial third party payors and brand drug inflation, partially offset by a decrease in same store prescription count and continued reimbursement pressures. Front-end gross profit was slightly higher due to higher vendor promotional funding, partially offset by lower sales and higher promotional markdowns. Gross profit was negatively impacted by a LIFO charge in fiscal 2014 compared to a LIFO credit in fiscal 2013. Overall gross margin was 28.7% for fiscal 2014 compared to 28.8% in fiscal 2013.

        We use the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method of inventory valuation, which is determined annually when inflation rates and inventory levels are finalized. Therefore, LIFO costs for interim period financial statements are estimated. The LIFO credit for fiscal 2015 was $18.9 million compared to a LIFO charge of $104.1 million in fiscal 2014 and a LIFO credit of $147.9 million in fiscal 2013. The LIFO credit for fiscal 2015 as compared to the LIFO charge in the prior year is due primarily to higher generic deflation and lower pharmacy inventory in our distribution centers resulting from our Purchasing and Delivery Arrangement.

        During fiscal 2014, we experienced higher inflation on brand pharmacy products than during fiscal 2013, partially offset by deflation on generic pharmacy products, which contributed to overall inflation in fiscal 2014 and a LIFO charge of $104.1 million.

        During fiscal 2013, we experienced significant price decreases on high volume generic introductions. During the first few months after new generic drugs are introduced, supplier prices tend to decrease as multiple suppliers enter the market place. This resulted in significant deflation on generic pharmacy products which more than offset brand pharmacy product inflation, causing overall deflation in fiscal 2013, and consequently, resulted in a LIFO credit of $147.9 million.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

        SG&A as a percentage of revenue was 25.2% in fiscal 2015 compared to 25.7% in fiscal 2014. The decrease in SG&A as a percentage of revenues for fiscal 2015 was a result of leveraging the increase in revenues and through various cost control initiatives. The increase in SG&A on a dollar basis of $134.5 million in fiscal 2015 compared to fiscal 2014 is due primarily to higher salary and payroll related expenses, other store operating expenses and operating costs of Health Dialog and RediClinic. These amounts are partially offset by the $30.5 million fiscal 2014 tax indemnification asset reversal, which did not recur in fiscal 2015. The prior year reversal of $30.5 million of tax indemnification assets resulted from our settlement with the IRS associated with a pre-acquisition Brooks Eckerd tax audit, and was offset by an income tax benefit.

        SG&A as a percentage of revenues was 25.7% in fiscal 2014 compared to 26.0% in fiscal 2013. The decrease in SG&A as a percentage of revenues for fiscal 2014 was a result of leveraging the increase in revenues and through various cost control initiatives. SG&A expenses decreased by $39.6 million in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013 due primarily to a lower reversal of certain tax indemnification assets, lower litigation costs and legal and professional fees, advertising, and depreciation and amortization. These amounts are partially offset by increased salary and benefit costs in fiscal 2014 as well as the $18.1 million favorable payment card interchange fee litigation settlement in fiscal 2013. Both the fiscal 2014 and 2013 reversals of $30.5 million and $91.3 million, respectively, of tax indemnification assets resulting from our settlement with the IRS associated with a pre-acquisition Brooks Eckerd tax audit, are offset by an income tax benefit.

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Lease Termination and Impairment Charges

Impairment Charges:

        We evaluate long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset group has a carrying value that may not be recoverable. The individual operating store is the lowest level for which cash flows are identifiable. As such, we evaluate individual stores for recoverability of assets. To determine if a store needs to be tested for recoverability, we consider items such as decreases in market prices, changes in the manner in which the store is being used or physical condition, changes in legal factors or business climate, an accumulation of losses significantly in excess of budget, a current period operating or cash flow loss combined with a history of operating or cash flow losses or a projection of continuing losses, or an expectation that the store will be closed or sold.

        We monitor new and recently relocated stores against operational projections and other strategic factors such as regional economics, new competitive entries and other local market considerations to determine if an impairment evaluation is required. For other stores, we perform a recoverability analysis if they have experienced current-period and historical cash flow losses.

        In performing the recoverability test, we compare the expected future cash flows of a store to the carrying amount of its assets. Significant judgment is used to estimate future cash flows. Major assumptions that contribute to our future cash flow projections include expected sales, gross profit, and distribution expenses; expected costs such as payroll, occupancy costs and advertising expenses; and estimates for other significant selling, and general and administrative expenses. Additionally, we take into consideration that certain operating stores are executing specific improvement plans which are monitored quarterly to recoup recent capital investments, such as an acquisition of an independent pharmacy, which we have made to respond to specific competitive or local market conditions, or have specific programs tailored towards a specific geography or market.

        We recorded impairment charges of $14.4 million in fiscal 2015, $13.1 million in fiscal 2014 and $24.9 million in fiscal 2013. Our methodology for recording impairment charges has been consistently applied in the periods presented.

        At February 28, 2015, approximately $2.0 billion of our long-lived assets, including intangible assets, were associated with 4,570 active operating stores.

        If an operating store's estimated future undiscounted cash flows are not sufficient to cover its carrying value, its carrying value is reduced to fair value which is its estimated future discounted cash flows. The discount rate is commensurate with the risks associated with the recovery of a similar asset.

        An impairment charge is recorded in the period that the store does not meet its original return on investment and/or has an operating loss for the last two years and its projected cash flows do not exceed its current asset carrying value. The amount of the impairment charge is the entire difference between the current carrying asset value and the estimated fair value of the assets using discounted future cash flows. Most stores are fully impaired in the period that the impairment charge is originally recorded.

        We recorded impairment charges for active stores of $12.1 million in fiscal 2015, $11.7 million in fiscal 2014 and $24.0 million in fiscal 2013.

        We review key performance results for active stores on a quarterly basis and approve certain stores for closure. Impairment for closed stores, if any (many stores are closed on lease expiration), are recorded in the quarter the closure decision is approved. Closure decisions are made on an individual store or regional basis considering all of the macro-economic, industry and other factors, in addition to, the operating store's individual operating results. We currently have no plans to close a significant number of active stores in future periods. In the next fiscal year, we currently expect to close

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approximately 40 stores, primarily as a result of lease expirations. We recorded impairment charges for closed facilities of $2.3 million in fiscal 2015, $1.3 million in fiscal 2014 and $0.9 million in fiscal 2013.

        The following table summarizes the impairment charges and number of locations, segregated by closed facilities and active stores that have been recorded in fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013:

        The primary drivers of our impairment charges are each store's current and historical operating performance and the assumptions that we make about each store's operating performance in future periods. Projected cash flows are updated based on the next year's operating budget which includes the qualitative factors noted above. We are unable to predict with any degree of certainty which individual stores will fall short or exceed future operating plans. Accordingly, we are unable to describe future trends that would affect our impairment charges, including the likely stores and their related asset values that may fail their recoverability test in future periods.

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        To the extent that actual future cash flows may differ from our projections materially certain stores that are either not impaired or partially impaired in the current period may be further impaired in future periods. A 50 basis point decrease in our future sales assumptions as of February 28, 2015 would have resulted in an additional fiscal 2015 impairment charge of $1.4 million. A 50 basis point increase in our future sales assumptions as of February 28, 2015 would have reduced the fiscal 2015 impairment charge by $0.6 million. A 100 basis point decrease in our future sales assumptions as of February 28, 2015 would have resulted in an additional fiscal 2015 impairment charge of $3.1 million. A 100 basis point increase in our future sales assumptions as of February 28, 2015 would have reduced the fiscal 2015 impairment charge by $0.9 million.

        Lease Termination Charges:    Charges to close a store, which principally consist of continuing lease obligations, are recorded at the time the store is closed and all inventory is liquidated, pursuant to the guidance set forth in ASC 420, "Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations." We calculate our liability for closed stores on a store-by-store basis. The calculation includes the discounted effect of future minimum lease payments and related ancillary costs, from the date of closure to the end of the remaining lease term, net of estimated cost recoveries that may be achieved through subletting properties or through favorable lease terminations. We evaluate these assumptions each quarter and adjust the liability accordingly. As part of our ongoing business activities, we assess stores and distribution centers for potential closure and relocation. Decisions to close or relocate stores or distribution centers in future periods would result in lease termination charges for lease exit costs and liquidation of inventory, as well as impairment of assets at these locations.

        In fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013, we recorded lease termination charges of $27.5 million, $28.2 million and $46.0 million, respectively. These charges related to changes in future assumptions, interest accretion and provisions for 10 stores in fiscal 2015, 15 stores in fiscal 2014 and 14 stores in fiscal 2013. Of the approximate 40 store closures for fiscal 2016, we anticipate 10 will require a store lease closing provision.

Interest Expense

        In fiscal 2015, 2014, and 2013, interest expense was $397.6 million, $424.6 million and $515.4 million, respectively. The decrease in interest expense was a result of the redemption of our outstanding $270.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.25% senior notes due October 2019 in the third quarter of fiscal 2015 and refinancing activities during the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and the first and second quarters of fiscal 2014. The reduction in interest expense in fiscal 2014 compared to fiscal 2013 is primarily the result of refinancing during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 and the first and second quarters of fiscal 2014.

        The annual weighted average interest rates on our indebtedness in fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013 were 5.7%, 6.4% and 7.1%, respectively.

Income Taxes

        Income tax benefit of $1,682.4 million, income tax expense of $0.8 million and income tax benefit of $110.6 million, has been recorded for fiscal 2015, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Net income for fiscal 2015 included income tax benefit of $1,841.3 million attributable to the reduction of the deferred tax valuation allowance.

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        ASC 740, "Income Taxes" requires a company to evaluate its deferred tax assets on a regular basis to determine if a valuation allowance against the net deferred tax assets is required. We take into account all available positive and negative evidence with regard to the recognition of a deferred tax asset including our past earnings history, expected future earnings, the character and jurisdiction of such earnings, unsettled circumstances that, if unfavorably resolved, would adversely affect recognition of a deferred tax asset, carryback and carryforward periods and tax planning strategies that could potentially enhance the likelihood of realization of a deferred tax asset. The ultimate realization of deferred tax assets is dependent upon the existence of sufficient taxable income generated in the carryforward periods. Accordingly, changes in the valuation allowance from period to period are included in the tax provision in the period of change.

        The reduction of the valuation allowance is the result of an accumulation of objective and verifiable positive evidence out weighing the negative evidence. Through fiscal 2014, we had a cumulative loss over a three year window. Our positive evidence of sustained profitability includes the following: the achievement of cumulative profitability in fiscal 2015, reported earnings for ten consecutive quarters, established a pattern of utilization of federal and state net operating losses against taxable income over the last three years and demonstrated the Company's historical ability of predicting earnings such that management concluded that forecasts can be used to estimate the future utilization of our loss carryforwards. Based upon the Company's projections of future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are recoverable, management believes that it is more likely than not that the Company will realize the benefits of substantially all the net deferred tax assets existing at February 28, 2015.

        Net income for fiscal 2014 included income tax expense of $0.8 million primarily attributable to an increase in the deferred tax valuation allowance to offset the windfall tax benefits recorded in APIC pursuant to the tax law ordering approach offset by adjustments to unrecognized tax benefits due to the lapse of statute of limitations. Net Income for fiscal 2013 included income tax benefit of $110.6 million primarily comprised of adjustments to unrecognized tax benefits for the appellate settlements of the Brooks Eckerd IRS Audit for the fiscal years 2004 - 2007 and the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Audit for fiscal years 2005 - 2007 as well as for the lapse of statute of limitations. The appellate settlements as well as the majority of the lapse of statute of limitations is offset by a reversal of the related tax indemnification asset which was recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses as these audits were related to pre-acquisition periods. Additionally, the income tax expense for 2014 and benefit for 2013 was recorded net of adjustments to maintain a full valuation allowance against our net deferred tax assets.

        We maintained a valuation allowance of $231.7 million and $2,060.8 million against remaining net deferred tax assets at fiscal year-end 2015 and 2014, respectively.

Dilutive Equity Issuances

        On February 28, 2015, 988.6 million shares of common stock, which includes unvested restricted shares, were outstanding and an additional 66.5 million shares of common stock were issuable related to outstanding stock options and convertible notes.

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        On February 28, 2015, our 66.5 million shares of potentially issuable common stock consisted of the following (shares in thousands):

        The above table does not reflect approximately 27.9 million shares of our common stock to be issued in connection with our pending acquisition of EnvisionRx.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

General

        We have two primary sources of liquidity: (i) cash provided by operating activities and (ii) borrowings under our senior secured revolving credit facility. Our principal uses of cash are to provide working capital for operations, to service our obligations to pay interest and principal on debt and to fund capital expenditures. Total liquidity as of February 28, 2015 was $1,204.1 million, which consisted of revolver borrowing capacity of $1,203.9 million and invested cash of $0.2 million.

Credit Facility

        On January 13, 2015, we amended and restated our senior secured credit facility ("Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility" or "revolver"), which, among other things, increased borrowing capacity from $1.795 billion to $3.0 billion (increasing to $3.7 billion upon the repayment of our 8.00% senior secured notes due August 2020 ("8.00% Notes")), and extended the maturity to January 2020 from February 2018. We used borrowings under the revolver to repay and retire all of the $1.144 billion outstanding under our Tranche 7 Senior Secured Term Loan due 2020, along with associated fees and expenses. Borrowings under the revolver bear interest at a rate per annum between LIBOR plus 1.50% and LIBOR plus 2.00% based upon the average revolver availability (as defined in the Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility). We are required to pay fees between 0.250% and 0.375% per annum on the daily unused amount of the revolver, depending on the Average Revolver Availability (as defined in the Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility). Amounts drawn under the revolver become due and payable on January 13, 2020.

        On February 10, 2015, we amended the Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility to, among other things, increase the flexibility of Rite Aid to incur and/or issue unsecured indebtedness, including in connection with the arrangements contemplated by the merger agreement executed in connection with the Pending Acquisition, and made certain other modifications to the covenants applicable to Rite Aid and its subsidiaries.

        Our ability to borrow under the revolver is based upon a specified borrowing base consisting of accounts receivable, inventory and prescription files. At February 28, 2015, we had $1,725.0 million of

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borrowings outstanding under the revolver and had letters of credit outstanding against the revolver of $71.1 million, which resulted in additional borrowing capacity of $1,203.9 million. If at any time the total credit exposure outstanding under our Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility and the principal amount of our other senior obligations exceeds the borrowing base, we will be required to make certain other mandatory prepayments to eliminate such shortfall.

        The Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility restricts us and the subsidiary guarantors from accumulating cash on hand in excess of $200.0 million at any time when revolving loans are outstanding (not including cash located in our store deposit accounts, cash necessary to cover our current liabilities, cash proceeds of escrow notes issued in connection with a proposed business acquisition, including the proceeds from our April 2, 2015 issuance of $1.8 billion of our 6.125% senior notes due 2023, issued to finance the cash portion of our pending acquisition of EnvisionRx, and certain other exceptions) and from accumulating cash on hand with revolver borrowings in excess of $100.0 million over three consecutive business days. The Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility also states that if at any time (other than following the exercise of remedies or acceleration of any senior obligations or second priority debt and receipt of a triggering notice by the senior collateral agent from a representative of the senior obligations or the second priority debt) either (a) an event of default exists under our Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility or (b) the sum of revolver availability under our Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility and certain amounts held on deposit with the senior collateral agent in a concentration account is less than $100.0 million for three consecutive business days (a "cash sweep period"), the funds in our deposit accounts will be swept to a concentration account with the senior collateral agent and will be applied first to repay outstanding revolving loans under the Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility, and then held as collateral for the senior obligations until such cash sweep period is rescinded pursuant to the terms of our Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility.

        The Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility allows us to have outstanding, at any time, up to $1.5 billion (or $1.8 billion solely to the extent incurred in anticipation of the funding of the Pending Acquisition) in secured second priority debt, split-priority term loan debt, unsecured debt and disqualified preferred stock in addition to borrowings under the Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility and existing indebtedness, provided that not in excess of $750.0 million of such secured second priority debt, split-priority term loan debt, unsecured debt and disqualified preferred stock shall mature or require scheduled payments of principal prior to 90 days after the latest of (a) the fifth anniversary of the effectiveness of the Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility and (b) the latest maturity date of any Term Loan or Other Revolving Loan (each as defined in the Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility) (excluding bridge facilities allowing extensions on customary terms to at least the date that is 90 days after such date and, with respect to any escrow notes issued by Rite Aid, excluding any special mandatory redemption of the type described in clause (iii) of the definition of "Escrow Notes" in the Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility). Subject to the limitations described in clauses (a) and (b) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility additionally allows us to issue or incur an unlimited amount of unsecured debt and disqualified preferred stock so long as a Financial Covenant Effectiveness Period (as defined in the Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility) is not in effect; provided, however, that certain of our other outstanding indebtedness limits the amount of unsecured debt that can be incurred if certain interest coverage levels are not met at the time of incurrence or other exemptions are not available. The Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility also contains certain restrictions on the amount of secured first priority debt we are able to incur. The Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility also allows for the voluntary repurchase of any debt or the mandatory repurchase of our 8.5% convertible notes due 2015 or other convertible debt, so long as the Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility is not in default and we maintain availability under our revolving credit facility of more than (i) prior to the repayment

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of our 8.00% Notes, $300.0 million and (ii) on and after the repayment of our 8.00% Notes, $365.0 million.

        As of January 13, 2015, the Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility has a financial covenant that requires us to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.00 to 1.00 (a) on any date on which availability under the revolving credit facility is less than (i) in the case of dates prior to the repayment of our 8.00% Notes, $175.0 million and (ii) in the case of dates on and after the repayment of our 8.00% Notes, $200.0 million or (b) on the third consecutive business day on which availability under the revolving credit facility is less than (i) in the case of dates prior to the repayment of our 8.00% Notes, $225.0 million and (ii) in the case of dates on or after the repayment of our 8.00% Notes, $250.0 million and, in each case, ending on and excluding the first day thereafter, if any, which is the 30th consecutive calendar day on which availability under the revolving credit facility is equal to or greater than (i) in the case of dates prior to the repayment of our 8.00% Notes, $225.0 million and (ii) in the case of dates on or after the repayment of our 8.00% Notes, $250.0 million. As of February 28, 2015, the availability was at a level that did not did not trigger this covenant. The Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility also contains covenants which place restrictions on the incurrence of debt, the payments of dividends, sale of assets, mergers and acquisitions and the granting of liens.

        The Amended and Restated Senior Secured Credit Facility provides for customary events of default including nonpayment, misrepresentation, breach of covenants and bankruptcy. It is also an event of default if we fail to make any required payment on debt having a principal amount in excess of $50.0 million or any event occurs that enables, or which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would enable, the holder of such debt to accelerate the maturity or require the repayment repurchase, redemption or defeasance of such debt. The mandatory repurchase of the 8.5% convertible notes due 2015, any escrow notes issued in connection with the Pending Acquisition or any other convertible debt are excluded from this event of default.

        We also have two second priority secured term loan facilities. The first includes a $470.0 million second priority secured term loan (the "Tranche 1 Term Loan"). The Tranche 1 Term Loan matures on August 21, 2020 and currently bears interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 4.75% with a LIBOR floor of 1.00%, if we choose to make LIBOR borrowings, or at Citibank's base rate plus 3.75%. The second includes a $500.0 million second priority secured term loan (the "Tranche 2 Term Loan"). The Tranche 2 Term Loan matures on June 21, 2021 and currently bears interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR plus 3.875% with a LIBOR floor of 1.00%, if we choose to make LIBOR borrowings, or at Citibank's base rate plus 2.875%.

        The second priority secured term loan facilities and the indentures that govern our secured and guaranteed unsecured notes contain restrictions on the amount of additional secured and unsecured debt that can be incurred by us. As of February 28, 2015, the amount of additional secured debt that could be incurred under the most restrictive covenant of the second priority secured term loan facilities and these indentures was approximately $1.5 billion (which amount does not include the ability to enter into certain sale and leaseback transactions). However, we currently cannot incur any additional secured debt assuming a fully drawn revolver and the outstanding letters of credit. The ability to issue additional unsecured debt under these indentures is generally governed by an interest coverage ratio test. As of February 28, 2015, we had the ability to issue additional unsecured debt under the second lien credit facilities and other indentures.

Other 2015 Transactions

        On October 15, 2014, we completed the redemption of all of the outstanding $270.0 million aggregate principal amount of 10.25% senior notes due October 2019 at their contractually determined early redemption price of 105.125% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest. We funded this

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redemption with borrowings under our revolving credit facility. We recorded a loss on debt retirement of $18.5 million related to this transaction.

Financing for the Pending Acquisition

        On April 2, 2015, we issued $1.8 billion aggregate principal amount of our 6.125% senior notes due 2023 to finance the cash portion of our pending acquisition of EnvisionRx. Our obligations under the notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsubordinated basis, by all of our subsidiaries that guarantee our obligations under our senior secured credit facility (the "Senior Credit Facility"), the Tranche 1 Term Loan, the Tranche 2 Term Loan, and the 8.00% Notes, the 9.25% Notes and our 6.75% senior notes due 2021 (the "6.75% Notes") (the "Rite Aid Subsidiary Guarantors"), and, upon completion of the acquisition, by EnvisionRx and certain of its domestic subsidiaries other than Envision Insurance Company (the "EnvisionRx Subsidiary Guarantors" and, together with the Rite Aid Subsidiary Guarantors, the "Subsidiary Guarantors"). The guarantees will be unsecured. The 6.125% senior notes are unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of Rite Aid Corporation and will rank equally in right of payment with all of our other unsecured, unsubordinated indebtedness. In the unlikely event that we do not complete the acquisition, we can redeem these notes at a price of 101 or can use the proceeds to refinance other indebtedness.

2014 Transactions

        In June 2013, $419.2 million aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 7.5% senior secured notes due 2017 were tendered and repurchased by us. In July 2013, we redeemed the remaining 7.5% notes for $85.2 million which included the call premium and interest to the redemption date. The tender offer for, and redemption of, the 7.5% notes were funded using the proceeds from the Tranche 2 Term Loan, borrowings under our revolving credit facility and available cash.

        On July 2, 2013, we issued $810.0 million of our 6.75% senior notes due 2021. Our obligations under the notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsubordinated basis, by all of our subsidiaries that guarantee our obligations under our senior secured credit facility, our second priority secured term loan facilities and our outstanding 8.00% senior secured notes due 2020, 10.25% senior secured notes due 2019 and 9.25% senior notes due 2020. We used the net proceeds of the 6.75% notes, borrowings under our revolving credit facility and available cash to repurchase and repay all of our outstanding $810.0 million aggregate principal of 9.5% senior notes due 2017.

        In July 2013, $739.6 million aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 9.5% notes were tendered and repurchased by us. In August 2013, we redeemed the remaining 9.5% notes for $73.4 million, which included call premium and interest to the redemption date.

        In connection with these refinancing transactions, we recorded a loss on debt retirement, including tender and call premium and interest, unamortized debt issue costs and unamortized discount of $62.2 million during the second quarter of fiscal 2014.

        On September 26, 2013, we agreed to exchange eight shares of 7% Series G Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series G preferred stock") and 1,876,013 shares of 6% Series H Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series H preferred stock", collectively the "Preferred Stock") of the Company (the "Exchange"), held by Green Equity Investors III, L.P. ("LGP") for 40,000,000 shares of our common stock, par value $1.00 per share with a market value of $190.4 million at the $4.76 per share closing price on the Settlement Date (as hereinafter defined), pursuant to an individually negotiated exchange transaction. The Exchange settled on September 30, 2013 (the "Settlement Date"). The Preferred Stock, including additional shares representing earned but unpaid dividends as of the Settlement Date, was redeemable by us for cash at 105% of the Preferred Stock's $100 per share liquidation preference or $199.9 million. We agreed to the Exchange as we were prohibited under several of our debt instruments from using cash to effect the redemption of the Preferred Stock. Following the Settlement

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Date, no shares of the Series G preferred stock or Series H preferred stock remained outstanding and the restated certificate of incorporation was amended to eliminate all references to the Series G preferred stock and Series H preferred stock. In accordance with the then terms of the Exchange, John M. Baumer, a member of our board of directors and a limited partner of Leonard Green & Partners, L.P., an affiliate of the LGP, resigned from our board of directors.

        The Series G preferred stock had a liquidation preference of $100 per share and paid quarterly dividends in additional shares at 7% of liquidation preference and could be redeemed at our election. The Series H preferred stock paid quarterly dividends in additional shares at 6% of liquidation preference and could be redeemed at our election. The Series G preferred stock and Series H preferred stock were convertible into common stock, at the holder's option, at a conversion rate of $5.50 per share.

        As of the Settlement Date, LGP held 1,904,161 shares of Series G preferred stock and Series H preferred stock, which included 28,140 shares of earned and unpaid dividends. The Series G preferred stock and Series H preferred stock would have converted into 34,621,117 shares of common stock at the contracted conversion rate of $5.50 per share. Accordingly, income attributable to common stockholders was reduced by $25.6 million, or $0.03 per diluted share, the value of the additional 5,378,883 shares of common stock issued upon conversion at the $4.76 per share closing price on the Settlement Date.

        As of March 2, 2013, Rite Aid Lease Management Company, a 100 percent owned subsidiary, had 213,000 shares of its Cumulative Preferred Stock, Class A, par value $100 per share ("RALMCO Cumulative Preferred Stock"), outstanding. The carrying amount of the RALMCO Cumulative Preferred Stock as of November 29, 2013 was $20.8 million and was recorded in Other Noncurrent Liabilities. On November 29, 2013, we repurchased all of the outstanding RALMCO Cumulative Preferred Stock for $21.0 million. In connection with this transaction, we recorded a loss on debt retirement of $0.3 million.

2013 Transactions

        In February 2013, we used a portion of the proceeds from the Tranche 6 Term Loan, the proceeds from our Tranche 1 Second Lien Term Loan, borrowings under our revolving credit facility and available cash to repurchase and repay all of our outstanding $410.0 million aggregate principal of 9.750% senior secured notes, $470.0 million aggregate principal of 10.375% senior secured notes and $180.3 million aggregate principal amount of 6.875% senior debentures. In February 2013, $257.3 million aggregate principal amount of the 9.750% notes, $402.0 million aggregate principal amount of the 10.375% notes and $119.1 million aggregate principal amount of the 6.875% debentures, respectively, were tendered and repurchased by us. We redeemed the remaining 9.750% notes and 10.375% notes for $171.4 million and $72.9 million, respectively, which included the call premium and interest through the redemption date. Additionally, we discharged the remaining 6.875% debentures for $63.4 million, which included interest through maturity. These 9.750% notes, 10.375% notes and 6.875% debentures were satisfied and discharged as of February 21, 2013.

        In February 2013, we also used available cash to redeem our $6.0 million aggregate principal amount of 9.25% senior notes at par for $6.1 million, which included interest through the redemption date.

        In connection with the above transactions, we recorded a loss on debt retirement of $122.7 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013 due to the incurrence of tender and call premiums and interest to maturity of $62.9 million, unamortized original issuance discount of $24.3 million and unamortized debt issue costs of $35.5 million.

        In February 2012, we issued $481.0 million of our 9.25% senior notes due March 2020 and in May 2012, we issued an additional $421.0 million of our 9.25% senior notes due 2020. The proceeds of the

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notes, together with available cash, were used to repurchase and repay the 8.625% senior notes and the 9.375% senior notes, respectively. These notes are unsecured, unsubordinated obligations of Rite Aid Corporation and rank equally in right of payment with all other unsubordinated indebtedness. Our obligations under the notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on an unsecured unsubordinated basis, by all of our subsidiaries that guarantee our obligations under our senior secured credit facility, our second priority secured term loan facility and our outstanding 8.00% senior secured notes due 2020, 7.5% senior secured notes due 2017, 10.25% senior secured notes due 2019 and 9.5% senior notes due 2017.

        In May 2012, $296.3 million aggregate principal amount of the outstanding 9.375% notes were tendered and repurchased by us. We redeemed the remaining 9.375% notes in June 2012 for $108.7 million, which included the call premium and interest through the redemption date. The refinancing resulted in an aggregate loss on debt retirement of $17.8 million.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

        As of February 28, 2015, we had no material off balance sheet arrangements, other than operating leases as included in the table below.

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

        The following table details the maturities of our indebtedness and lease financing obligations as of February 28, 2015, as well as other contractual cash obligations and commitments.