OREANDA-NEWS. Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA) today announced financial results for the first quarter 2016 that ended 30 November 2015.

Executive Vice Chairman and CEO Stefano Pessina said, “The year has started with a comparatively strong first quarter, as we expected. Our ongoing work to control costs across Walgreens Boots Alliance and improve adjusted operating income margins is growing earnings overall. Although it is early in the year, we are on track to deliver against our expectations.

“The work to renew and update our businesses, in order to meet the opportunities and challenges of our ever-changing markets, is a core strength that we must embrace as routine across our enterprise. Our ability to deploy tools and strategies that address these dynamics, generating continued growth across Walgreens Boots Alliance, and the commitment I see from our team give me confidence that we will deliver what we have signaled for 2016 and beyond.”

Overview of First Quarter Results

Fiscal 2016 first quarter net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance determined in accordance with GAAP increased 30.6 percent to $1.1 billion compared with the same quarter a year ago, while GAAP net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance per diluted share increased 13.5 percent to $1.01 compared with the same quarter a year ago.

Adjusted fiscal 2016 first quarter net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance1 increased 51.1 percent to $1.1 billion compared with the same quarter a year ago. Adjusted net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance per diluted share for the quarter increased 32.1 percent to $1.03 compared with the same quarter a year ago. Fiscal 2016 first quarter earnings adjustments were a net increase to GAAP net earnings attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance of $22 million or 2 cents per diluted share.

Net sales in the first quarter increased 48.5 percent to $29.0 billion compared with the same quarter a year ago, largely due to the inclusion of Alliance Boots consolidated results.

Combined net synergies in the fiscal 2016 first quarter were $288 million. The company continues to expect to reach at least $1.0 billion in combined net synergies in fiscal 2016 relating to the strategic combination with Alliance Boots. This excludes the synergy benefits related to the company’s strategic, long-term relationship with AmerisourceBergen, the benefits of refinancing the legacy Alliance Boots indebtedness at a lower cost and the proposed Rite Aid acquisition.

Walgreens Boots Alliance GAAP operating cash flow totaled $732 million in the first quarter, while the company generated free cash flow of $392 million in the quarter.

Rite Aid Acquisition

Walgreens Boots Alliance’s proposed acquisition of Rite Aid Corporation is progressing as planned. The transaction, which was announced 27 October 2015, is subject to the approval of Rite Aid’s stockholders, the expiration or termination of applicable waiting periods under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended, and other customary closing conditions.

Rite Aid has scheduled a special meeting of its stockholders for 4 February 2016 to, among other things, consider and vote on a proposal to approve the Agreement and Plan of Merger related to the proposed acquisition.

As a standard part of the regulatory process in connection with the Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) review, Walgreens Boots Alliance and Rite Aid last month each received, as expected, a request for additional information from the FTC in connection with the proposed acquisition.

Walgreens Boots Alliance continues to expect the transaction to close in the second half of calendar 2016.

The company’s integration planning continues. In addition, in connection with the acquisition, the company last month completed the placement of $5 billion term loan facilities and the syndication of a new $7.8 billion bridge facility. These new facilities replaced the company’s previously reported $12.8 billion bridge facility commitment. Drawing under the facilities is subject to the closing of the acquisition.

Company Outlook

The company is raising by 5 cents per share its low end of guidance for fiscal year 2016 anticipated adjusted net earnings per diluted share attributable to Walgreens Boots Alliance to $4.30 to $4.55.

This guidance continues to assume no material accretion from the proposed acquisition of Rite Aid.