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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 21, 2007

Registration No. 333-    •    



SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549


FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


CVS CAREMARK CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  050494040
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

One CVS Drive
Woonsocket, RI 02895
(401) 765-1500
(Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Registrant's Principal Executive Offices)


David B. Rickard
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial
Officer and Chief Administrative Officer
CVS Caremark Corporation
One CVS Drive
Woonsocket, RI 02895
(401) 765-1500
(Name, Address, Including Zip Code, and Telephone Number, Including Area Code, of Agent For Service)


Copy to:

Deanna L. Kirkpatrick
Davis Polk & Wardwell
450 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10017
(212) 450-4000
  Douglas A. Sgarro
Executive Vice President
and Chief Legal Officer
CVS Caremark Corporation
One CVS Drive
Woonsocket, RI 02895
(401) 765-1500

        Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

        If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o

        If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. ý

        If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

        If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering. o

        If this Form is a registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ý

        If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. o


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Shares to be Registered

  Amount to be Registered

  Amount of Registration Fee


Debt Securities        

(1)
Not applicable pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction II (E).
(2)
Such indeterminate amount of Debt Securities as may from time to time be issued at indeterminate prices.
(3)
Deferred in reliance upon Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r).




PROSPECTUS

CVS CAREMARK CORPORATION

DEBT SECURITIES


        We may offer from time to time debt securities. Specific terms of these securities will be provided in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before you invest.


        Investing in these securities involves certain risks. See the information included and incorporated by reference in this prospectus for a discussion of the factors you should carefully consider before deciding to purchase these securities.


        Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is May 21, 2007


        You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in any accompanying prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission and any information about the terms of securities offered conveyed to you by the issuer, its underwriters or agents. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or in any such free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than their respective dates. Except as otherwise specified, the terms "CVS Caremark," the "Company," "we," "us," and "our" refer to CVS Caremark Corporation and its subsidiaries. The term "CVS" refers to CVS Corporation and the term "Caremark" refers to Caremark Rx, Inc. prior to the merger of CVS and Caremark to form CVS Caremark Corporation.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 
  Page
The Company   1
About this Prospectus   3
Where You Can Find More Information   4
Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements   5
Use of Proceeds   7
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information   7
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges   13
Description of Debt Securities   13
Forms of Securities   25
Validity of Securities   26
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm   26

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THE COMPANY

Introduction

        Our Company owns and operates the largest retail pharmacy in the United States based on store count. We sell prescription drugs and a wide assortment of general merchandise, including over-the-counter drugs, beauty products and cosmetics, film and photo finishing services, seasonal merchandise, greeting cards and convenience foods through our CVS/pharmacy® retail stores and online through CVS.com®. We also provide healthcare services through our 164 MinuteClinic® healthcare clinics, located in 19 states, of which 147 are located within CVS retail drugstores as of March 31, 2007. In addition, we provide pharmacy benefits management, mail order services and specialty pharmacy services through Caremark Pharmacy Services, PharmaCare Management Services ("PharmaCare") and PharmaCare Pharmacy® stores. As of March 31, 2007, we operated 6,208 retail and specialty pharmacy stores and 22 specialty pharmacies in 44 states and the District of Columbia.

        Through our merger with Caremark on March 22, 2007, as described below, we acquired a leading pharmacy benefits manager in the United States. Our pharmacy benefits management business involves the design and administration of programs aimed at reducing the costs and improving the safety, effectiveness and convenience of prescription drug use. Our pharmacy benefits management customers are primarily employers, insurance companies, unions, government employee groups, managed care organizations and other sponsors of health benefit plans and individuals throughout the United States. In addition, through our insurance subsidiaries, we are a national provider of drug benefits to eligible beneficiaries under the federal government's Medicare Part D program.

        Our pharmacy benefits management business operates through a national retail pharmacy network with over 60,000 participating pharmacies (including CVS' pharmacy stores), 11 mail service pharmacies, 52 specialty pharmacy stores, 22 specialty pharmacies and the industry's only repackaging plant regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Through our Accordant® disease management offering, which we acquired through Caremark, we also provide disease management programs for 27 conditions. Twenty-one of these programs are accredited by the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

        On June 2, 2006 we acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities from Albertson's, Inc. ("Albertson's") for $4.0 billion. The assets acquired and the liabilities assumed included approximately 700 standalone drugstores and a distribution center located in La Habra, California (collectively the "Standalone Drug Business"). Approximately one-half of the drugstores are located in southern California. The remaining drugstores are primarily located in our existing markets in the Midwest and Southwest. We believe that the acquisition of the Standalone Drug Business is consistent with our long-term strategy of expanding our retail drugstores business in high-growth markets.

        The retail drugstore and pharmacy benefits management businesses are highly competitive. We believe that we compete principally on the basis of: (i) store location and convenience; (ii) customer/client service and satisfaction; (iii) product selection and variety; and (iv) price. In each of the markets we serve, we compete with independent and other retail drugstore chains, supermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacy benefits managers and other mail order prescription providers, discount merchandisers, membership clubs and Internet pharmacies.

Caremark Merger

        Effective March 22, 2007, pursuant to the Agreement and Plan of Merger dated as of November 1, 2006, as amended (the "Merger Agreement") Caremark was merged with and into a newly formed subsidiary of CVS Corporation, with the CVS subsidiary, Caremark Rx, L.L.C., continuing as the surviving entity (the "Caremark Merger"). Following the Caremark Merger, we changed our name to "CVS Caremark Corporation."

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        By virtue of the Caremark Merger, each issued and outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of Caremark was converted into the right to receive 1.67 shares of our common stock, par value $0.01 per share. Cash was paid in lieu of fractional shares.

        In connection with the Caremark Merger, a special one-time cash dividend of $7.50 per share was paid to Caremark shareholders of record as of the close of business on the day immediately preceding the closing date of the Caremark Merger (the "Caremark Special Dividend"). This dividend was funded through a combination of proceeds from the issuance of commercial paper, available cash of Caremark and borrowings under a Bridge Credit Agreement dated as of March 15, 2007 among the Company, the lenders listed on the signature pages thereof, Lehman Brothers Inc. and Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as Joint Lead Arrangers and Joint Bookrunners, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc., as Syndication Agent, The Bank of New York, Bank of America, N.A. and Wachovia Bank, National Association as Co-Documentation Agents, and Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as Administrative Agent (the "Bridge Credit Facility").

        Following the Caremark Merger, we launched a tender offer for 150 million (approximately 10%) of our outstanding shares of common stock at a fixed price of $35.00 per share. The tender offer expired on April 24, 2007, resulting in approximately 10.3 million shares being tendered and placed into the Company's treasury account.

        As a result of the Caremark Merger, we believe we can operate the combined companies more efficiently than either company could have operated on its own. As such, we expect to achieve significant benefits from purchasing scale and operating synergies. Operating synergies include decreases in overhead expense, increases in productivity and efficiencies, decreases in prescription dispensing costs, and other benefits made possible by combining complementary operations. In addition, we expect that the combination of our retail pharmacy and pharmacy benefits management businesses may create incremental revenue opportunities. Information regarding the uncertainties associated with realizing efficiencies and opportunities is described in our 2006 Form 10-K, incorporated by reference herein, under the headings "Risk Factors Related to the Proposed Merger."


        CVS Caremark Corporation is a Delaware corporation. Our Store Support Center (corporate office) is located at One CVS Drive, Woonsocket, Rhode Island 02895, telephone (401) 765-1500. Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "CVS." General information about CVS Caremark is available through our website at http://www.cvs.com. Our financial press releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission are available free of charge on the investor relations portion of our website at http://investor.cvs.com.

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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

        This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC utilizing a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

        We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities Exchange Commission ("SEC"). You may read and copy any document that we file at the Public Reference Room of the SEC at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the SEC maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov, from which interested persons can electronically access the registration statement including the exhibits and schedules thereto.

        The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and any future filings made with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (other than, in each case, documents or information deemed to have been furnished and not filed in accordance with SEC rules), on or after the date of this prospectus until we sell all of the securities covered by this registration statement:

        You may request a copy of these filings at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

Nancy R. Christal
Vice President, Investor Relations
CVS Caremark Corporation
670 White Plains Road, Suite 210
Scarsdale, New York, 10583
(800) 201-0938

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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

        The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act") provides a safe harbor for forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of CVS Caremark Corporation. The Company and its representatives may, from time to time, make written or verbal forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the SEC and in its reports to stockholders. Generally, the inclusion of the words "believe," "expect," "intend," "estimate," "project," "anticipate," "will," "should" and similar expressions identify statements that constitute forward-looking statements. All statements addressing operating performance of CVS Caremark Corporation or any subsidiary, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including statements relating to sales growth, earnings or earnings per common share growth, free cash flow, debt ratings, inventory levels, inventory turn and loss rates, store development, relocations and new market entries, as well as statements expressing optimism or pessimism about future operating results or events, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Reform Act.

        The forward-looking statements are and will be based upon management's then-current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and are applicable only as of the dates of such statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

        By their nature, all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements for a number of reasons, including but not limited to:

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        The foregoing list is not exhaustive. There can be no assurance that the Company has correctly identified and appropriately assessed all factors affecting its business. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that it currently believes to be immaterial also may adversely impact the Company. Should any risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have material adverse effects on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. For these reasons, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements.

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USE OF PROCEEDS

        Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus, the net proceeds from the sale of the securities to which this prospectus relates will be used for general corporate purposes.


UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

        The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information, which is referred to as the pro forma financial information, has been prepared to give effect to the merger of CVS Corporation ("CVS") and Caremark Rx, Inc. ("Caremark") to form CVS Caremark. The pro forma financial information was prepared using the historical consolidated financial statements of CVS and Caremark as well as the financial information for the acquisition CVS completed on June 2, 2006.

        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006 combines the audited consolidated statement of operations of CVS for the 52 week fiscal year ended December 30, 2006 with the audited statement of income of Caremark for the calendar year ended December 31, 2006 and gives effect to the merger as if it occurred on the first day of the period presented. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2007, combines the unaudited consolidated condensed statement of operations of CVS Caremark for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2007, with the unaudited statement of income of Caremark from January 1, 2007 through March 21, 2007, and gives effect to the Caremark Merger as if it occurred on the first day of the period presented.

        The pro forma adjustments are preliminary and have been made solely for purposes of developing the pro forma financial information for illustrative purposes necessary to comply with the requirements of the SEC. The merger's impact on the actual results reported by the combined company in periods following the merger may differ significantly from that reflected in these pro forma financial statements for a number of reasons, including but not limited to, the impact of the incremental costs incurred in integrating the two companies. As a result, the pro forma information is not necessarily indicative of what the combined company's financial condition or results of operations would have been had the merger been completed on the applicable dates of this pro forma financial information. In addition, the pro forma financial information does not purport to project the future financial condition and results of operations of the combined company.

        You should read the pro forma financial information in conjunction with CVS' audited historical consolidated financial statements, accompanying footnotes and the section entitled "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in CVS' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006 and in addition, CVS Caremark's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2007, incorporated by reference herein.

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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2006

 
  CVS
Dec. 30, 2006

  Completed
Acquisition
(Note 2)
Dec. 30, 2006

  Caremark
Dec. 31, 2006

  Pro Forma
Adjustments

  Pro Forma
Combined

 
 
  ($ in millions, except per share amounts)

 
Net revenue   $ 43,813.8   $ 2,373.9   $ 36,750.2   $ (4,542.1 )(a) $ 78,395.8  
Cost of revenues (excluding depreciation and amortization)     31,874.8     1,795.4     34,344.1     (4,542.1 )(a)   63,472.2  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Gross profit     11,939.0     578.5     2,406.1         14,923.6  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     9,497.4     494.5     675.1     57.4   (b)   10,724.4  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Operating profit     2,441.6     84.0     1,731.0     (57.4 )   4,199.2  
Interest expense (income), net     215.8     88.6     (38.4 )   167.7   (c)   433.7  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Earnings/(loss) before income tax provision/ (benefit)     2,225.8     (4.6 )   1,769.4     (225.1 )   3,765.5  
Income tax provision/(benefit)     856.9     (1.7 )   695.4     (88.2 )(d)   1,462.4  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings/(loss)     1,368.9     (2.9 )   1,074.0     (136.9 )   2,303.1  
Preference dividends, net of income tax benefit     13.9                 13.9  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Net earnings/(loss) available to common stockholders   $ 1,355.0   $ (2.9 ) $ 1,074.0   $ (136.9 ) $ 2,289.2  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Basic earnings per common share:                                
Net earnings   $ 1.65         $ 2.50       $ 1.49  
   
       
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding     820.6           429.3     287.6     1,537.5  
   
       
 
 
 
Diluted earnings per common share:                                
Net earnings   $ 1.60         $ 2.46       $ 1.45  
   
       
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding     853.2           436.5     292.5     1,582.2  
   
       
 
 
 
Dividends declared per common share   $ 0.1550         $ 0.3000       $ 0.1550   (e)
   
       
 
 
 

        See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements, including Note 3 for an explanation of the preliminary unaudited pro forma adjustments.

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Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations
For the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 31, 2007

 
  Pro Forma Combined
 
 
  ($ in millions except per share amounts)

 
Net revenue   $ 20,638.1 (f)
Cost of revenues (excluding depreciation and amortization)     16,724.3 (f)
   
 
Gross profit     3,913.8  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     2,754.0 (g)(h)
   
 
Operating profit     1,159.8  
Interest expense, net     74.0 (i)
   
 
Earnings before income tax provision     1,085.8  
Income tax provision     425.6 (j)
   
 
Net earnings     660.2  
Preference dividends, net of income tax benefit     3.5  
   
 
Net earnings available to common stockholders   $ 656.7  
   
 
Basic earnings per common share:        
Net earnings   $ 0.43  
   
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding     1,531.4  
   
 
Diluted earnings per common share:        
Net earnings   $ 0.42  
   
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding     1,565.2  
   
 
Dividends declared per common share   $ 0.04875  
   
 

        See accompanying notes to unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operation, including Note 3 for an explanation of the preliminary unaudited pro forma adjustments.

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Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements

(Dollars in millions)

Note 1—Basis of Presentation

        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006 and thirteen weeks ended March 31, 2007 gives effect to the merger as if it occurred on the first day of each period presented.

        The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations, which are referred to as pro forma statements of operations, are based on the historical financial statements of CVS and Caremark, as well as financial information for the acquisition CVS completed on June 2, 2006, and give effect to the merger of CVS and Caremark under the purchase method of accounting. As a result, the pro forma statements of operations are based on assumptions and adjustments, including assumptions relating to the consideration paid and the allocation thereof to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed from Caremark based on preliminary estimates of fair value. The final purchase price and the allocation thereof will differ from that reflected in the pro forma statements of operations after valuation procedures are performed and amounts are finalized following the completion of the merger.

        The pro forma adjustments are preliminary and have been made solely for purposes of developing the pro forma statements of operations for illustrative purposes. The merger's impact on the actual results reported by the combined company in periods following the merger may differ significantly from that reflected in these pro forma statements of operations. The pro forma statements of operations do not give effect to the post-closing issuer self-tender offer, which expired on April 24, 2007, resulting in approximately 10.3 million shares being tendered and placed in our treasury account or borrowings under our Bridge Credit Facility in connection with our Accelerated Share Repurchase. In addition, the pro forma statements of operations do not give effect to any potential cost savings or operating synergies that CVS and Caremark expect to result from the merger, nor do they give effect to any potential costs to be incurred in integrating the two companies.

Note 2—Completed Acquisition

        On June 2, 2006, CVS acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities from Albertson's, Inc., which is referred to as Albertson's, for $4.0 billion. The assets acquired and the liabilities assumed included approximately 700 stand-alone drugstores and a distribution center, which are referred to collectively as the Standalone Drug Business. CVS financed the acquisition of the Standalone Drug Business by issuing commercial paper and borrowing $1.0 billion from a bridge loan facility. During the third quarter of 2006, CVS repaid a portion of the commercial paper used to finance the acquisition with the proceeds received from the issuance of $800 million of 5.75% unsecured senior notes due August 15, 2011 and $700 million of 6.125% unsecured senior notes due August 15, 2016.

        The financial information included in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended December 30, 2006 is based on the historical results of the Standalone Drug Business and includes the incremental interest expense for the indebtedness incurred to finance the purchase and the impact of the preliminary purchase price allocation. The incremental interest expense for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006 was $218.0 million. The impact of the preliminary purchase price allocation included adjustments to convert the Standalone Drug Business from the LIFO method to the FIFO method of accounting for inventories, resulting in a reduction to gross profit for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006 of $4.0 million. In addition, the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006 reflects adjustments required to record incremental estimated depreciation and amortization on property, equipment and intangible assets over their useful lives of $15.0 million and $52.0 million, respectively. For further information on the purchase price allocation used by CVS see the "Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements" included in CVS' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006.

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Note 3—Unaudited Pro Forma Adjustments

        The purchase price allocation used to prepare the pro forma statements of operations is preliminary and is based on information that was available to management of CVS and Caremark at the time the pro forma statements of operations were prepared. Accordingly, the purchase price and the allocation thereof will change and the impact of such changes could be material.

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RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

        The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the periods indicated. "Fixed charges" consist of interest expense, capitalized interest, amortization of debt discount, and a portion of net rental expense deemed to be representative of the interest factor. The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is calculated as income from continuing operations, before provision for income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting changes, where applicable, plus fixed charges (excluding capitalized interest), plus amortization of capitalized interest, with the sum divided by fixed charges.

CVS Caremark Corporation
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

 
  Three Months
Ended

  Fiscal Year
 
  March 31,
2007

  (52 weeks)
2006

  (52 weeks)
2005

  (52 weeks)
2004

  (53 weeks)
2003

  (52 weeks)
2002

Ratio of earnings to fixed charges   4.50x   4.02x   4.45x   4.22x   4.78x   4.35x


DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

        This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The debt securities will be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The debt securities will be issued under two or more separate indentures between us and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee. Each of the senior indenture and the subordinated indenture is referred to as an indenture. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms for the securities in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also indicate whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.

        We have summarized certain terms and provisions of the indentures. The summary is not complete and the terms and provisions of the indentures summarized herein may be modified by adding or removing covenants, events of default or other provisions as reflected in the relevant prospectus supplement for each particular series of debt securities. The indentures have been filed as exhibits to the registration statement for these securities that we have filed with the SEC. You should read the indentures for the provisions which may be important to you. The indentures are subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

        The indentures will not limit the amount of debt securities which we may issue. We may issue debt securities up to an aggregate principal amount as we may authorize from time to time. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any debt securities being offered, including:

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Senior Debt

        Senior debt securities will rank equally and pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of CVS Caremark.

Subordinated Debt

        Subordinated debt securities will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the subordinated indenture, to all "senior indebtedness" (as defined in the subordinated indenture) of CVS Caremark. See the subordinated indenture, section 1.01.

        In general, the holders of all senior indebtedness are first entitled to receive payment of the full amount unpaid on senior indebtedness before the holders of any of the subordinated debt securities or coupons are entitled to receive a payment on account of the principal or interest on the subordinated debt securities in certain events. These events include:

        If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with a series of subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the information incorporated in this prospectus by reference will set forth the approximate amount of senior indebtedness outstanding as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter.

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Certain Covenants

        Restrictions on Secured Funded Debt.    The senior indenture provides that we will not, nor will we permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, incur, issue, assume, guarantee or create any Secured Debt, without effectively providing concurrently with the incurrence, issuance, assumption, guaranty or creation of any such Secured Debt that the debt securities (together with, if we shall so determine, any other of our Indebtedness or such Restricted Subsidiary then existing or thereafter created which is not subordinated to the debt securities) will be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Secured Debt, unless, after giving effect thereto, the sum of the aggregate amount of all of our outstanding Secured Debt and the outstanding Secured Debt of our Restricted Subsidiaries together with all Attributable Debt in respect of sale and leaseback transactions relating to a Principal Property (with the exception of Attributable Debt which is excluded pursuant to clauses (1) to (8) under "Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions" below), would not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

        This restriction will not apply to, and there will be excluded from Secured Debt in any computation under this restriction and under "Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions" below, Indebtedness, secured by:

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        "Attributable Debt" means, in connection with any sale and leaseback transaction under which either we or any Restricted Subsidiary are at the time liable as lessee for a term of more than 12 months and at any date as of which the amount thereof is to be determined, the lesser of (A) total net obligations of the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease discounted from the respective due dates thereof to such determination date at a rate per annum equivalent to the greater of (i) the weighted average Yield to Maturity (as defined in the indenture) of the debt securities, such average being weighted by the principal amount of each series of the debt securities and (ii) the interest rate inherent in such lease (as determined in good faith by us), both to be compounded semi-annually or (B) the sale price for the assets so sold and leased multiplied by a fraction the numerator of which is the remaining portion of the base term of the lease included in such transaction and the denominator of which is the base term of the lease.

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        "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means, at any date, the total assets appearing on our and our Restricted Subsidiaries' most recent consolidated balance sheet as at the end of our fiscal quarter ending not more than 135 days prior to such date, prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, less (i) all current liabilities (due within one year) as shown on such balance sheet, (ii) investments in and advances to Unrestricted Subsidiaries and (iii) Intangible Assets and liabilities relating thereto.

        "Funded Debt" means (i) any of our Indebtedness or Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary maturing more than 12 months after the time of computation thereof, (ii) guarantees of Funded Debt or of dividends of others (except guarantees in connection with the sale or discount of accounts receivable, trade acceptances and other paper arising in the ordinary course of business), (iii) in the case of any Restricted Subsidiary, all preferred stock having mandatory redemption provisions of such Restricted Subsidiary as reflected on such Restricted Subsidiary's balance sheet prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, and (iv) all Capital Lease Obligations (as defined in the indenture).

        "Indebtedness" means, at any date, without duplication, all of our obligations for borrowed money or obligations for borrowed money of a Restricted Subsidiary.

        "Intangible Assets" means, at any date, the value, as shown on or reflected in our and our Restricted Subsidiaries' most recent consolidated balance sheet as at the end of our fiscal quarter ending not more than 135 days prior to such date, prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, of: (i) all trade names, trademarks, licenses, patents, copyrights, service marks, goodwill and other like intangibles; (ii) organizational and development costs; (iii) deferred charges (other than prepaid items, such as insurance, taxes, interest, commissions, rents, pensions, compensation and similar items and tangible assets being amortized); and (iv) unamortized debt discount and expense, less unamortized premium.

        "Liens" means such pledges, mortgages, security interests and other liens on any Principal Property of ours or of a Restricted Subsidiary which secure Secured Debt.

        "Nonrecourse Obligation" means indebtedness or lease payment obligations substantially related to (i) the acquisition of assets not previously owned by us or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) the financing of a project involving the development or expansion of our or any Restricted Subsidiary's properties, as to which the obligee with respect to such indebtedness or obligation has no recourse to us or any Restricted Subsidiary or any of our or any of our Subsidiaries' assets other than the assets which were acquired with the proceeds of such transaction or the project financed with the proceeds of such transaction (and the proceeds thereof).

        "Principal Property" means real and tangible property owned and operated now or hereafter by us or any Restricted Subsidiary constituting a part of any store, warehouse or, distribution center located within the United States of America or its territories or possessions (excluding current assets, motor vehicles, mobile materials handling equipment and other rolling stock, cash registers and other point-of-sale recording devices and related equipment and data processing and other office equipment), the net book value of which (including leasehold improvements and store fixtures constituting a part of such store, warehouse or distribution center) as of the date on which the determination is being made is more than 1.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. As of the date of this Offering Circular, none of our stores constitutes a Principal Property.

        "Restricted Subsidiary" means each Subsidiary other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

        "Secured Debt" means Funded Debt which is secured by any pledge of, or mortgage, security interest or other lien on any (i) Principal Property (whether owned on the date of the indenture or thereafter acquired or created), (ii) shares of stock owned by us or a Subsidiary in a Restricted Subsidiary or (iii) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary.

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        "Subsidiary" means any corporation of which at least a majority of the outstanding stock, which under ordinary circumstances (not dependent upon the happening of a contingency) has voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such corporation (or similar management body), is owned directly or indirectly by us or by one or more of our Subsidiaries, or by us and one or more Subsidiaries.

        "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means Subsidiaries designated as Unrestricted Subsidiaries from time to time by the our Board of Directors; provided, however, that our Board of Directors (i) will not designate as an Unrestricted Subsidiary any of our Subsidiaries that owns any Principal Property or any stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) will not continue the designation of any of our Subsidiaries as an Unrestricted Subsidiary at any time that such Subsidiary owns any Principal Property, and (iii) will not, nor will it cause or permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, transfer or otherwise dispose of any Principal Property to any Unrestricted Subsidiary (unless such Unrestricted Subsidiary will in connection therewith be redesignated as a Restricted Subsidiary and any pledge, mortgage, security interest or other lien arising in connection with any Indebtedness of such Unrestricted Subsidiary so redesignated does not extend to such Principal Property (unless the existence of such pledge, mortgage, security interest or other lien would otherwise be permitted under the indenture)).

        Limitation on Sale/Leaseback Transactions.    The senior indenture provides that we will not, nor will we permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any arrangement with any person providing for the leasing by us or any Restricted Subsidiary of any of our or any Restricted Subsidiary's Principal Property (which lease is required by GAAP to be capitalized on the balance sheet of such lessee), which Principal Property has been or is to be sold or transferred by us or such Restricted Subsidiary to such person (a "sale and leaseback transaction") unless, after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of all Attributable Debt with respect to all such sale and leaseback transactions plus all Secured Debt (with the exception of Funded Debt secured by Liens which is excluded pursuant to clauses (1) to (18) under "Restrictions on Secured Funded Debt" above) would not exceed 15% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

        This covenant will not apply to, and there will be excluded from Attributable Debt in any computation under this restriction or under "Restrictions on Secured Funded Debt" above, Attributable Debt with respect to any sale and leaseback transaction if:

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Merger, Consolidation and Disposition of Assets

        Each indenture provides that we shall not consolidate with, merge with or into, or sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of our property and assets (as an entirety or substantially as an entirety in one transaction or a series of related transactions) to, any Person (other than a consolidation with or merger with or into a Restricted Subsidiary or a sale, conveyance, transfer, lease or other disposition to a Restricted Subsidiary) or permit any Person to merge with or into us unless: (a) either (i) we shall be the continuing Person or (ii) the Person (if other than us) formed by such consolidation or into which we are merged or that acquired or leased such of our property and assets shall be a corporation organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States of America or any jurisdiction thereof and shall expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the trustee, all of our obligations under each series of the debt securities and the indenture, and we shall have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture complies with this provision and that all conditions precedent provided for in the indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with and that such supplemental indenture constitutes an obligation that is legal, valid and binding for us or such successor enforceable against such entity in accordance with its terms, subject to customary exceptions; and (b) we shall have delivered to the trustee an officers' certificate to the effect that immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Default (as defined in the indenture) shall have occurred and be continuing and an opinion of counsel as to the matters set forth in paragraph (a) above.

        The indentures do not restrict, or require us to redeem or permit Holders of any series of the debt securities to cause a redemption of the debt securities of that series in the event of, (i) a consolidation, merger, sale of assets or other similar transaction that may adversely affect our creditworthiness or the creditworthiness of our successor or combined entity, (ii) a change in control of the Company or (iii) a highly leveraged transaction involving us, whether or not involving a change in control. Accordingly, the Holders of the debt securities would not have protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction involving us that may adversely affect the Holders of debt securities. The existing protective covenants applicable to the debt securities would continue to apply to us, or our successor, in the event of such a transaction initiated or supported by us, our management, or any of our affiliates or their management, but may not prevent such a transaction from taking place.

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Events of Default, Waiver and Notice

        "Event of Default" with respect to a series of senior debt securities is defined in the senior indenture to be if:

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        "Event of Default" with respect to a series of subordinated debt securities is defined in the subordinated indenture to include the events described in clauses (1), (2), (4) and (5) above.

        If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing with respect to a series of the debt securities, then, and in each and every such case, either the trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series by notice in writing to us (and to the trustee if given by Holders), may declare the entire outstanding principal amount of the debt securities of such series, and the interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default described in clauses (4) or (5) occurs and is continuing with respect to a series of the debt securities, then the principal amount of all the debt securities of such series then outstanding and interest accrued thereon, if any, shall be and become immediately due and payable, without any notice or other action by any Holder of debt securities of such series or the trustee to the full extent permitted by applicable law.

        Subject to provisions in the indenture for the indemnification of the trustee and certain other limitations, the Holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee or exercising any trust or power conferred on the trustee by the indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series; provided that the trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or the indenture, that may involve the trustee in personal liability, or that the trustee determines in good faith may be unduly prejudicial to the rights of Holders of the debt securities of such series not joining in the giving of such direction; and provided further that the trustee may take any other action it deems proper that is not inconsistent with any directions received from Holders of debt securities of such series pursuant to this paragraph.

        Subject to various provisions in the indenture, the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series, by notice to the trustee, may waive an existing Default or Event of Default with respect to such series and its consequences, except a Default in the payment of principal of or interest on any debt security of such series as specified in clauses (a) or (b) of the first paragraph of this section or in respect of a covenant or provision of the indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding debt security of such series affected. Upon any such waiver, such Default shall cease to exist with respect to such series, and any Event of Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of the indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

        Each indenture provides that no Holder of debt securities of any series may institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or the debt securities of such series, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy under the indenture, unless: (i) such Holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a continuing Event of Default; (ii) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of such series shall have made written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as trustee under the indenture; (iii) such Holder or Holders have offered to the trustee indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee against any costs, liabilities or expenses to be incurred in compliance with such request; (iv) the trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and (v) during such 60-day period, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series have not given the trustee a direction that is inconsistent with such written request. A Holder of debt securities of any series may not use the indenture to prejudice the rights of another Holder of such series or to obtain a preference or priority over such other Holder.

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Information

        Each indenture provides that we shall file with the trustee and transmit to holders of the debt securities such information, documents and other reports, and such summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the time and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act.

        The Company will be required to file with the trustee annually, within four months of the end of each fiscal year of the Company, a certificate as to the compliance with all conditions and covenants of the indenture.

Discharge and Defeasance of Debt Securities and Covenants

        Each indenture provides that we may terminate our obligations under any series of debt securities if: (i) all debt securities of such series previously authenticated and delivered, with certain exceptions, have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and we have paid all sums payable by us with respect to that series of debt securities under the indenture; or (ii) (a) the debt securities of such series mature within one year or all of them are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for giving the notice of redemption, (b) we irrevocably deposit in trust with the trustee, as trust funds solely for the benefit of the Holders of the debt securities of such series for that purpose, money or U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient (unless such funds consist solely of money, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the trustee), without consideration of any reinvestment, to pay the principal of and interest on the debt securities of such series to maturity or redemption, as the case may be, and to pay all other sums payable by us under the indenture, and (c) we deliver to the trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of our obligations under the indenture with respect to the debt securities of such series have been complied with. With respect to the foregoing clause (i), only our obligations to compensate and indemnify the trustee under the indenture shall survive. With respect to the foregoing clause (ii), only our obligations to execute and deliver the debt securities of such series for authentication, to set the terms of the debt securities of such series, to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities of such series, to have moneys held for payment in trust, to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities of such series, to deliver the debt securities of such series for replacement or to be canceled, to compensate and indemnify the trustee and to appoint a successor trustee, and its right to recover excess money held by the trustee shall survive until the debt securities of such series are no longer outstanding. Thereafter, only our obligations to compensate and indemnify the trustee, and our right to recover excess money held by the trustee shall survive.

        Each indenture provides that we (i) will be deemed to have paid and will be discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the debt securities of such series, and the provisions of the indenture will, except as noted below, no longer be in effect with respect to the debt securities of such series ("legal defeasance") and (ii) may omit to comply with any other specific covenant relating to the debt securities of such series provided for in a Board Resolution or supplemental indenture which may by its terms be defeased pursuant to the indenture, and such omission shall be deemed not to be an Event of Default under clause (c) of the first paragraph of "—Events of Default, Waiver and Notice" ("covenant defeasance"); provided that the following conditions shall have been satisfied: (a) we have irrevocably deposited in trust with the trustee as trust funds solely for the benefit of the Holders of the debt securities of such series, for payment of the principal of and interest on the debt securities of such series, money or U.S. Government Obligations or a combination thereof sufficient (unless such funds consist solely of money, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the trustee) without consideration of any reinvestment and after payment of all federal, state and local taxes or other charges and

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assessments in respect thereof payable by the trustee, to pay and discharge the principal of and accrued interest on the outstanding debt securities of such series to maturity or earlier redemption (irrevocably provided for under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee), as the case may be; (b) such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, the indenture or any other material agreement or instrument to which we are a party or by which we are bound; (c) no Default with respect to the debt securities of such series shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such deposit; (d) we shall have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel that (1) the Holders of the debt securities of such series will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of our exercise of our option under this provision of the indenture and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred and (2) the Holders of the debt securities of such series have a valid security interest in the trust funds, and (e) we have delivered to the trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion of counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent provided for in the indenture relating to the defeasance contemplated have been complied with. In the case of legal defeasance under clause (i) above, the opinion of counsel referred to in clause (d) (1) above may be replaced by a ruling directed to the trustee received from the Internal Revenue Service to the same effect. Subsequent to legal defeasance under clause (i) above, our obligations to execute and deliver the debt securities of such series for authentication, to maintain an office or agency in respect of the debt securities of such series, to have moneys held for payment in trust, to register the transfer or exchange of the debt securities of such series, to deliver the debt securities of such series for replacement or to be canceled, to compensate and indemnify the trustee and to appoint a successor trustee, and our right to recover excess money held by the trustee shall survive until the debt securities of such series are no longer outstanding. After the debt securities of such series are no longer outstanding, in the case of legal defeasance under clause (i) above, only our obligations to compensate and indemnify the trustee and its right to recover excess money held by the trustee shall survive.

Modification and Waiver

        Each indenture provides that we and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or any series of the debt securities without notice to or the consent of any Holder of such series:

        Each indenture also contains provisions whereby we and the trustee, subject to certain conditions, without prior notice to any Holders of any series of the debt securities, may amend the indenture and the outstanding debt securities of such series with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in

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principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding, and the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series by written notice to the trustee may waive future compliance by us with any provision of the indenture or the debt securities of such series.

        Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, without the consent of each Holder of a series of the debt securities affected thereby, an amendment or waiver may not:

        It shall not be necessary for the consent of any Holder under this provision of the indenture to approve the particular form of any proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, but it shall be sufficient if such consent approves the substance thereof. After an amendment, supplement or waiver under this section of the indenture becomes effective, we shall give to the Holders of the series of the debt securities affected thereby a notice briefly describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. We will mail supplemental indentures to Holders of all affected series of the debt securities upon request. Any failure by us to mail such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture or waiver.

Governing Law

        Each indenture and the debt securities will be governed by the laws of the State of New York.

The Trustee

        We and our subsidiaries maintain ordinary banking and trust relationships with The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association and its affiliates. The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association is our transfer agent and the registrar of our common stock.

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FORMS OF SECURITIES

        We will issue the debt securities in the form of one or more fully global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its custodian identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or its nominee. One or more global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.

        If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

        Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants' accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in global securities.

        So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the applicable indenture. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by the global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the applicable indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the applicable indenture. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the applicable indenture, the depositary for the global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

        Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities, represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security. None of CVS Caremark, the trustee, or any other agent of CVS Caremark or agent of the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

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        We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium or interest or to holders on that global security, will immediately credit participants' accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name," and will be the responsibility of those participants.

        If the depositary for any of these securities represented by a global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the relevant trustee, or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary's instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the global security that had been held by the depositary.


VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

        The validity of the securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered will be passed on for us by Davis Polk & Wardwell.


INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

        The consolidated financial statements and related financial statement schedule of CVS Corporation and its subsidiaries as of December 30, 2006, and December 31, 2005 and for the fifty-two week periods ended December 30, 2006, December 31, 2005 and January 1, 2005, and management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 30, 2006 have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

        With respect to the unaudited interim financial information for the thirteen week periods ended March 31, 2007 and April 1, 2006 incorporated by reference herein, the independent registered public accounting firm has reported that they applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report included in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007, and incorporated by reference herein, states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that interim financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. The accountants are not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") for their report on the unaudited interim financial information because such report is not a "report" or a "part" of the registration statement prepared or certified by the accountants within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the 1933 Act.

        The consolidated financial statements of Caremark and its subsidiaries appearing in Caremark's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 2006 (including schedules appearing therein), and Caremark management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2006 included therein, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and management's

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assessment are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon such reports given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

        The consolidated financial statements and related financial statement schedule of Caremark and its subsidiaries as of December 31, 2005 and for each of the years in the two-year period ended December 31, 2005, have been incorporated by reference herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

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PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution

        The following table sets forth the costs and expenses payable by the Registrant in connection with the sale of the securities being registered hereby.

 
  Amount to
be Paid

 
Registration fee   $ (1 )
Legal fees and expenses (including Blue Sky fees)     250,000  
Trustee fees     50,000  
Accounting fees and expenses     115,000  
Miscellaneous     60,000  
   
 
  TOTAL   $ 475,000  
   
 

(1)
Deferred in reliance upon Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r).


Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers

        Exculpation.    Section 102(b)(7) of the Delaware General Corporations Law ("Delaware Law") permits a corporation to include in its certificate of incorporation a provision eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that such provision may not eliminate or limit the liability of a director for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its stockholders, for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, for the payment of unlawful dividends, or for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

        The CVS Caremark certificate of incorporation (the "CVS Caremark Charter") limits the personal liability of a director to CVS Caremark and its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director to the fullest extent permitted by law.

        Indemnification.    Section 145 of the Delaware Law permits a corporation to indemnify any of its directors or officers who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party to any third party proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the corporation, against expenses (including attorney's fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe that such person's conduct was unlawful. In a derivative action, i.e., one by or in the right of a corporation, the corporation is permitted to indemnify directors and officers against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by them in connection with the defense or settlement of an action or suit if they acted in good faith and in a manner that they reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made if such person shall have been adjudged liable to the corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that the defendant directors or officers are fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses despite such adjudication of liability.

        Expenses, including attorneys' fees, incurred by any such person in defending any such action, suit or proceeding shall be paid or reimbursed by CVS Caremark in advance of the final disposition of such

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action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by it of an undertaking of such person to repay such expenses if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by CVS Caremark.

        The CVS Caremark Charter provides for indemnification of directors and officers of CVS Caremark against liability they may incur in their capacities as such to the fullest extent permitted under the Delaware Law.

        Insurance.    CVS Caremark has in effect Directors and Officers Liability, and Pension Trust Liability insurance with a combined limit of $125,000,000 and Employment Practices Liability insurance with a limit of $100,000,000. The Pension Trust Liability and Employment Practices Liability insurance covers actions of directors and officers as well as other employees of CVS Caremark.


Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules


Item 17. Undertakings

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        The undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, CVS Caremark Corporation certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Woonsocket, state of Rhode Island, on May 21, 2007.

    CVS CAREMARK CORPORATION

 

 

By:

 

/s/ David B. Rickard

        Name:   David B. Rickard
        Title:   Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and
Chief Administrative Officer


POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature to this registration statement appears below hereby constitutes and appoints David B. Rickard as such person's true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent with full power of substitution for such person and in such person's name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign and to file with the Securities and Exchange Commission any and all amendments and post-effective amendments to this registration statement, with exhibits thereto and any and all other documents filed in connection with such filings, granting unto each said attorney-in-fact and agent full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as such person might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each said attorney-in-fact and agent, or any substitute therefor, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on May 21, 2007.

Signature
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/ Edwin M. Banks
Edwin M. Banks
  Director   May 21, 2007

/s/ C. David Brown II

C. David Brown II

 

Director

 

May 21, 2007

/s/ E. Mac Crawford

E. Mac Crawford

 

Chairman of the Board

 

May 21, 2007

/s/ David W. Dorman

David W. Dorman

 

Director

 

May 21, 2007
         

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/s/ Kristen E. Gibney Williams

Kristen E. Gibney Williams

 

Director

 

May 21, 2007

/s/ Roger L. Headrick

Roger L. Headrick

 

Director

 

May 21, 2007

/s/ Marian L. Heard

Marian L. Heard

 

Director

 

May 21, 2007

/s/ William H. Joyce

William H. Joyce

 

Director

 

May 21, 2007

/s/ Jean-Pierre Millon

Jean-Pierre Millon

 

Director

 

May 21, 2007

/s/ Terrence Murray

Terrence Murray

 

Director

 

May 21, 2007

/s/ C.A. Lance Piccolo

C.A. Lance Piccolo

 

Director

 

May 21, 2007

/s/ Paula A. Price

Paula A. Price

 

Senior Vice President—Controller and Principal Accounting Officer

 

May 21, 2007

/s/ David B. Rickard

David B. Rickard

 

Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer and
Chief Administrative Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

 

May 21, 2007

/s/ Sheli Z. Rosenberg

Sheli Z. Rosenberg

 

Director

 

May 21, 2007

/s/ Thomas M. Ryan

Thomas M. Ryan

 

President and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

 

May 21, 2007

/s/ Richard J. Swift

Richard J. Swift

 

Director

 

May 21, 2007

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.

  Document
  1.1   Form of Underwriting Agreement relating to the debt securities*

  4.1

 

Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of CVS Caremark Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996)

  4.2

 

Certificate of Amendment to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, effective May 22, 2007 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to CVS Caremark Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 23, 2007)

  4.3

 

By-laws of the Registrant, as amended and restated (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to CVS Caremark Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 23, 2007)

  4.4

 

Indenture for Senior Debt Securities between CVS Corporation and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to CVS Corporation's Current Report on Form 8-K filed August 15, 2006)

  4.5

 

Form of Senior Debt Securities (included in Exhibit 4.4)

  4.6

 

Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities between CVS Caremark Corporation and The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association

  4.7

 

Form of Subordinated Debt Securities (included in Exhibit 4.6)

  5.1

 

Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell

12.1

 

Statement regarding computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

23.1

 

Consent of KPMG LLP

23.2

 

Consent of KPMG LLP

23.3

 

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

23.4

 

Awareness Letter of KPMG LLP

23.7

 

Consent of Davis Polk & Wardwell (included in Exhibit 5.1)

24.1

 

Power of Attorney (included on the signature page of the Registration Statement)

25.1

 

Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association on Form T-1 for Senior Debt Indenture (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 of the Registrant's Registration Statement No. 333-134174 on Form S-3 filed on May 16, 2006)

25.2

 

Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A., a national banking association on Form T-1 for Subordinated Debt Indenture

*
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of the offered securities.

II-7




QuickLinks

TABLE OF CONTENTS
THE COMPANY
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
USE OF PROCEEDS
UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations For the Fiscal Year Ended December 30, 2006
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statement of Operations For the Thirteen Weeks Ended March 31, 2007
Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements (Dollars in millions)
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
FORMS OF SECURITIES
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
PART II INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
SIGNATURES
POWER OF ATTORNEY
EXHIBIT INDEX