CVS CORP
S-4/A, 1999-07-27
DRUG STORES AND PROPRIETARY STORES
Previous: MATTEL INC /DE/, S-8 POS, 1999-07-27
Next: MERRILL LYNCH & CO INC, 424B3, 1999-07-27





      As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 27, 1999
                                                      Registration No. 333-78253
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                              --------------------

                               Amendment No. 2 to
                                    Form S-4

                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                      UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                              --------------------

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

            Delaware                       5912                   05-0494040
(State or other jurisdiction of (Primary Standard Industrial   (I.R.S. Employer
 incorporation or organization)  Classification Code Number) Identification No.)

                                       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)

                               Charles C. Conaway
                      President and Chief Operating Officer
                                  One CVS Drive
                              Woonsocket, RI 02895
                                 (401) 765-1500

            (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)

                              --------------------

                                   Copies to:
                              Deanna L. Kirkpatrick
                              Davis Polk & Wardwell
                              450 Lexington Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                                 (212) 450-4000

                            ------------------------


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

      If the securities being registered on this Form are being offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box: [ ]


<TABLE>
                                               CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
=========================================================================================================================
                                                                                 Proposed Maximum
           Title of Each Class              Amount to be    Proposed Maximum    Aggregate Offering         Amount of
     of Securities to be Registered          Registered     Offering Price(1)        Price(1)         Registration Fee(2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>             <C>                 <C>                   <C>
5 1/2% Exchange Notes due February
   15, 2004.............................    $300,000,000          100%             $300,000,000             $83,400
=========================================================================================================================
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the amount of the
    registration fee.

(2) Previously paid on May 11, 1999.
</TABLE>

                            ------------------------

      The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall
file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration
Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or until the Registration Statement shall
become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section
8(a), may

================================================================================


<PAGE>


The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. We may
not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer
to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these
securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.


                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 27, 1999

PROSPECTUS

                                 CVS Corporation


Offer to Exchange
5 1/2% Notes Due February 15, 2004
for
5 1/2% Exchange Notes Due February 15, 2004

     We are offering to exchange up to $300,000,000 of our new 5 1/2% Exchange
Notes due February 15, 2004 for up to $300,000,000 of our existing 5 1/2% Notes
due February 15, 2004. The terms of the new notes are identical in all material
respects to the terms of the old notes, except that the new notes have been
registered under the Securities Act, and the transfer restrictions and
registration rights relating to the old notes do not apply to the new notes.

     To exchange your old notes for new notes:

     o   you are required to make the representations described on page 31 to us

     o   you must complete and send the letter of transmittal that accompanies
         this prospectus to the exchange agent, The Bank of New York, by 5:00
         p.m., New York time, on , 1999

     o   you should read the section called "The Exchange Offer" for further
         information on how to exchange your old notes for new notes

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of the notes to be issued in the exchange
offer or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any
representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is            , 1999.


<PAGE>



                       WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

      We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other
information with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Our SEC filings
are available to the public over the Internet at the SEC's web site at
http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC's
public reference rooms in Washington, D.C., New York, New York and Chicago,
Illinois. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the
public reference rooms. In addition, because our common stock is listed on the
New York Stock Exchange, reports and other information concerning CVS can also
be inspected at the office of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad
Street, New York, New York 10005.

      This prospectus is a part of a registration statement filed by us with the
SEC under the Securities Act. As allowed by SEC rules, this prospectus does not
contain all of the information that you can find in the registration statement
or the exhibits to the registration statement.

      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
includes important business and financial information that is not included in
this document and is an important part of this prospectus, and information that
we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede the
information in this prospectus. 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 Exchange Act until the termination of the offering under this
prospectus.

   (1)  CVS' Annual Report on Form 10-K..........  Year ended December 31, 1998;
   (2)  CVS' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.......  Filed on May 11, 1999; and
   (3)  CVS' Current Reports on Form 8-K.........  Filed on February 11, 1999,
                                                   February 9, 1999.


     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 Corporation
                        670 White Plains Road, Suite 210
                           Scarsdale, New York, 10583
                                 (800) 201-0938

To obtain timely delivery of copies of these filings, you must make your request
no later than.


                                        2


<PAGE>



                                 CVS CORPORATION

      CVS Corporation is a leader in the chain drugstore industry in the United
States with approximately $15.3 billion in revenue in 1998. As of March 27,
1999, we operated 4,096 stores in 24 states in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic,
Midwest and Southeast regions and in the District of Columbia, making us one of
the largest drugstore chains in the nation in terms of store count. We have the
number one market share position in six of the top ten drugstore markets. We are
also among the industry leaders in terms of store productivity and operating
profit margin.

      Our principal executive offices are located at One CVS Drive, Woonsocket,
Rhode Island 02895, telephone (401) 765-1500.

           CAUTIONARY STATEMENT CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

      In the documents we have incorporated by reference into this prospectus,
we make forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and
uncertainties. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning:

      o   our future operating performance, including sales and earnings per
          common share growth and cost savings and synergies following the Revco
          and Arbor mergers;

      o   our ability to elevate the performance level of Revco stores following
          the Revco merger;

      o   our belief that we have sufficient cash flows to support working
          capital needs, capital expenditures and debt service requirements;

      o   our belief that we can continue to improve operating performance by
          relocating existing stores to freestanding locations;

      o   our belief that we can continue to reduce selling, general and
          administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales;

      o   our belief that we can continue to reduce inventory levels; and

      o   our belief that we will incur only minimal business disruption and
          financial impact as a result of the Year 2000 issue.

      In addition, statements that include the words "believes," "expects,"
"anticipates," "intends," "estimates" or other similar expressions are
forward-looking statements. For those statements, we claim the protection of the
safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities
Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

What Factors Could Affect the Outcome of Our Forward-Looking Statements?

      You should understand that the following important factors, in addition to
those discussed elsewhere in the documents which are incorporated by reference
could affect the future results of CVS and could cause those results or other
outcomes to differ materially from those expressed in our forward-looking
statements.


                                        3


<PAGE>



      Industry and Market Factors

      o   changes in economic conditions generally
          in the markets served by CVS;

      o   future federal or state regulatory and legislative actions, including
          accounting standards and taxation requirements, affecting CVS or the
          chain-drug industry;

      o   consumer preferences and spending patterns;

      o   competition from other drugstore chains, from alternative distribution
          channels, including supermarkets, membership clubs, mail order
          companies and internet companies, and from third party plans; and

      o   the continued efforts of health maintenance organizations, managed
          care organizations, pharmacy benefit management companies and other
          third party payors to reduce prescription drug costs.

      Operating Factors

      o   our ability to combine the businesses of CVS, Revco and Arbor while
          maintaining current operating performance levels during the
          integration period(s) and the challenges inherent in diverting CVS
          management's focus and resources from other strategic opportunities
          and from operational matters for an extended period of time;

      o   our ability to implement new computer systems and technologies;

      o   our ability to continue to secure suitable new store locations on
          favorable lease terms as we seek to open new stores and relocate a
          portion of our existing store base to freestanding locations;

      o   the creditworthiness of the purchasers of former businesses whose
          store leases are guaranteed by CVS;

      o   fluctuations in the cost and availability of inventory and our ability
          to maintain favorable supplier arrangements and relationships;

      o   our ability to attract, hire and retain suitable pharmacists and
          management personnel;


      o   our ability and the ability of our key business partners to replace,
          modify or upgrade computer systems in ways that adequately address the
          Year 2000 issue. Given the numerous and significant uncertainties
          involved, there can be no assurances that Year 2000 related estimates
          and anticipated results will be achieved as actual results could
          differ materially; and

      o   our ability to establish effective advertising, marketing and
          promotional programs, including pricing strategies, in the different
          geographic markets in which we operate.


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

      We will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the new notes.
The new notes will be exchanged for old notes as described in this prospectus
upon our receipt of old notes. We will cancel all of the old notes surrendered
in exchange for the new notes.

      Our net proceeds from the sale of the old notes were approximately $297
million, after deduction of the initial purchasers' discounts and commissions
and other expenses of the offering. We used those net proceeds to repay
outstanding commercial paper.


                                        4


<PAGE>



               SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

      Our selected consolidated financial and operating data as of and for the
years ended December 31, 1996, 1997 and 1998 has been derived from our
consolidated financial statements, which have been audited by KPMG LLP,
independent accountants. You should not take historical results as necessarily
indicative of the results that may be expected for any future period. You should
read this selected consolidated financial and operating data in conjunction with
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998 and
our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 27, 1999.

      The selected consolidated financial and operating data as of and for the
three months ended March 27, 1998 and March 28, 1999 and for the years ended
December 31, 1994 and 1995 has been derived from our unaudited consolidated
financial statements. In the opinion of management, the consolidated financial
statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the
results of operations, financial position, and cash flows for those periods. The
results for the three months ended March 27, 1999 are not necessarily indicative
of results that may be expected for the entire fiscal year.


<TABLE>
                                                                Years Ended December 31,                    Three Months Ended
                                                -----------------------------------------------------     ----------------------
                                                                                                          March 28,     March 27,
Dollars in millions, except per share amounts   1994         1995        1996        1997        1998       1998          1999
- ---------------------------------------------   ----         ----        ----        ----        ----       ----          ----
<S>                                            <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>           <C>
Statement of Operations:(5)
 Net sales...................................  $9,469.1   $10,513.1   $11,831.6   $13,749.6   $15,273.6    $3,601.5      $4,240.5
 Gross margin(1).............................   2,707.3     2,960.0     3,300.9     3,718.3     4,129.2     1,006.9       1,169.4
 Selling, general & administrative...........   2,290.5     2,522.8     2,696.2     3,014.2     3,198.7       768.0         876.2
 Merger, restructuring and other
   nonrecurring charges......................      --         165.5        12.8       442.7       158.3        --            --
 Operating profit(2).........................     416.8       271.7       591.9       261.4       772.2       238.9         293.2
 Interest expenses, net......................      86.6       114.0        69.9        44.1        60.9        11.2          14.3
 Income tax provision........................     144.3        74.3       271.0       140.8       314.9        95.7         114.3
 Earnings from continuing operations
   before extraordinary item(3)..............    $185.9       $83.4      $372.4       $76.5      $396.4      $132.0        $164.6
Per Common Share Data:
 Earnings from continuing operations
   before extraordinary item:(3)
   Basic.....................................      $0.47       $0.18       $0.98       $0.17       $0.99       $0.34         $0.41
   Diluted...................................       0.47        0.18        0.95        0.16        0.98        0.33          0.40
 Cash dividends per common share.............     0.7600      0.7600      0.2200      0.2200      0.2250      0.0550        0.0575
Other Operating Data:
 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(4).......      2.68x       1.67x       3.96x       2.02x       3.98x       5.13x         5.39x
 Pharmacy sales as a percentage of
   total sales(6)............................      --          --          51.6%       54.7%       57.6%       56.4%         58.7%
 Total same store sales(6)...................      --          --           8.9%        9.7%       10.8%        7.4%         13.4%
 Pharmacy same store sales(6)................      --          --          13.5%       16.5%       16.5%       14.5%         20.4%
 Third party sales as percentage of
   pharmacy sales(6).........................      --          --          79.8%       80.8%       83.7%       82.8%         85.3%
 Number of stores (at end of period).........      3,617       3,715       4,204       4,094       4,122       4,064         4,096
Balance Sheet Data: (At End of Period)
 Working capital.............................   $1,552.7    $1,429.6    $1,540.3      $981.5    $1,165.9    $1,086.5      $1,508.6
 Total assets................................    7,202.9     6,614.4     6,014.9     5,978.9     6,736.2     6,176.2       6,907.0
 Total long-term debt........................    1,012.3     1,056.3     1,204.8       290.4       275.7       290.1         575.5
 Total shareholders equity...................    3,341.4     2,567.4     2,413.8     2,614.6     3,110.6     2,743.0       3,264.2


                                       5
<PAGE>

- --------------------
(1)  Gross margin includes the pre-tax effect of the following non-recurring
     charges: (a) in 1998, $10.0 million, or $5.9 million after-tax, related to
     the markdown of non-compatible Arbor merchandise and (b) in 1997, $75.0
     million, or $49.9 million after-tax, related to the markdown of
     non-compatible Revco merchandise.

(2)  Operating profit includes the pre-tax effect of the charges discussed in
     Note (1) above and the following merger, restructuring and other
     non-recurring charges: (a) in 1998, $158.3 million, or $107.8 million
     after-tax, related to the merger of CVS and Arbor, (b) in 1997, $411.7
     million, or $273.7 million after-tax, related to the merger of CVS and
     Revco and $31.0 million ($19.1 million after-tax) related to the
     restructuring of Big B, Inc., (c) in 1996, $12.8 million, or $6.5 million
     after-tax, related to the write-off of costs incurred in connection with
     the failed merger of Rite Aid Corporation and Revco and (d) in 1995, $165.5
     million, or $97.7 million after-tax, related to CVS's strategic
     restructuring program and the early adoption of SFAS No. 121, and $49.5
     million, or $29.1 million after-tax, related to CVS changing its policy
     from capitalizing internally developed software costs to expensing the
     costs as incurred, outsourcing information technology functions and
     retaining former employees until their respective job functions were
     transitioned.

(3)  Earnings from continuing operations before extraordinary item and earnings
     per common share from continuing operations before extraordinary item
     includes the after-tax effect of the charges discussed in Notes (1) and (2)
     above and a $121.4 million, or $72.1 million after-tax, gain realized
     during 1996 upon the sale of equity securities received from the sale of
     Marshalls.

(4)  For purposes of computing our ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings
     consist of earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and
     extraordinary item and fixed charges, excluding capitalized interest. Fixed
     charges consist of interest, capitalized interest and one-third of rental
     expense, which is considered representative of the interest factor.

(5)  Prior to the mergers, Arbor's fiscal year ended on July 31 and Revco's
     fiscal year ended on the Saturday closest to May 31. In recording the
     business combinations, Arbor's and Revco's historical stand-alone
     consolidated financial statements have been restated to a December 31
     year-end, to conform to CVS' fiscal year-end. As permitted by the rules and
     regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Arbor's fiscal year
     ended July 31, 1995 and Revco's fiscal year ended June 3, 1995 have been
     combined with CVS' fiscal year ended December 31, 1994.

(6)  Comparable data is unavailable for periods prior to 1996 due to CVS's
     mergers and acquisitions subsequent to such periods.

</TABLE>
                                        6


<PAGE>



                              DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

      The notes were issued under an indenture dated as of February 11, 1999
between CVS and The Bank of New York as trustee. The following summary
highlights material terms of the indenture. Because this is a summary, it does
not contain all of the information that is included in the indenture. You should
read the entire indenture, including the definitions of the terms used below. We
define some of the terms used below in the section called "Defined terms." We
indicate those terms by placing them in bold the first time that they are used.
The indenture is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended. We have filed a copy of the indenture as an exhibit to the registration
statement to which this prospectus relates. See "Where You Can Find More
Information."


      The terms of the new notes are identical in all material respects to the
terms of the old notes, except that the transfer restrictions and registration
rights relating to the old notes do not apply to the new notes. If we do not
complete the exchange offer by September 19, 1999, which requires that we begin
the exchange offer by August 17, 1999, holders of old notes that have complied
with their obligations under the registration rights agreement will be entitled
to liquidated damages in an amount equal to a rate of 0.5% per year on the notes
until the consummation of the exchange offer.

General

      The notes:

      o   are our unsecured senior obligations

      o   mature on February 15, 2004

      o   bear interest at the rate of 5 1/2% per year from February 11, 1999,
          or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has
          been paid or provided for

      o   will not be listed on a national securities exchange

      Because the notes are not secured, your claim against the assets of our
company will be junior to the extent we have granted liens on our assets to the
holders of other indebtedness. In addition, the notes are not guaranteed by any
of our subsidiaries, so you will not have any claim as a creditor against our
subsidiaries, and the claims of creditors, including trade creditors, of our
subsidiaries against our subsidiaries will be senior to your claims against
them. At March 27, 1999:

      o   we had $18.5 million of secured debt, including capitalized leases

      o   our subsidiaries had $3.6 billion of liabilities, including trade
          payables

      We may, without the consent of the holders of the notes, issue an
unlimited amount of additional notes under the indenture having the same terms
in all respects as the notes, except for possible differences as to payment of
interest on the notes:

      (1) scheduled and paid prior to the date of issuance of those additional
          notes or

      (2) payable on the first interest payment date following the date of
          issuance of those additional notes.

The notes and any additional notes would be treated as a single class for all
purposes under the indenture and will vote together as one class on all matters
with respect to the notes.


                                        7


<PAGE>



Payment of principal and interest

      We will pay interest on February 15 and August 15 every year, beginning
August 15, 1999, to the person in whose name each note, or any predecessor note,
is registered at the close of business on the February 1 or August 1 preceding
the relevant interest payment date.

      Interest on the notes will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
consisting of twelve 30-day months.

      We will pay principal, any premium, and interest on the notes at the
office we maintain in New York City for those purposes, which is currently the
corporate trust office of the trustee. The corporate trust office of the trustee
is located at 101 Barclay Street in The City of New York. You may exchange your
notes or register any transfer of notes at that office as well.

Optional Redemption

      We may at any time, at our option, redeem all or any portion of the notes,
at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

      (1) 100% of their principal amount or


      (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of
principal and interest thereon discounted to the date of redemption on a
semiannual basis, assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months, at
the applicable treasury yield plus 0.125%

plus any accrued interest.

   How the optional redemption calculation will apply to the notes

      The present value of the remaining payments, as determined by clause (2),
will increase as interest rates on U.S. Treasury securities decline, since the
interest that we pay to you will be comparatively valuable compared to the lower
interest rates then being paid on comparable securities. The present value will
decline as interest rates increase. We will always pay you at least 100% of the
principal amount of your notes, even if interest rates have dramatically
increased and the present value of the remaining payments is less than that.
However, clause (2) seeks to ensure that you will capture the benefit of the
increased value of your note as interest rates decline by requiring us to pay
you an amount equal to the present value of remaining payments, as determined in
clause (2).

   How the optional redemption payment in clause (2) is calculated

      In connection with any redemption date, the "treasury yield" will be an
annual rate equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the
comparable U.S. Treasury security. In calculating the yield to maturity of the
comparable U.S. Treasury security, we will assume a price for the comparable
U.S. Treasury security, expressed as a percentage of its principal amount, equal
to the applicable comparable Treasury price for that redemption date.


      An independent investment banker will select as the comparable U.S.
Treasury security a United States Treasury security that has a maturity
comparable to the remaining term of the notes that would be utilized, at the
time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in
pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the
remaining term of the notes. Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation will act as
the independent investment banker. If that firm is unwilling or unable to select
a comparable U.S. Treasury security, the trustee will appoint another
independent investment banking institution of national standing to act as the
independent investment banker.


                                        8


<PAGE>



Notices of Redemption

      Holders of the notes to be redeemed will receive notice of the redemption
by first-class mail at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date
fixed for redemption.

No Redemption at Holder's Option

      The notes are not redeemable at the holder's option.

Restrictive Covenants

   Summary of the principal restrictive covenants

      The indenture governing the notes limits the ability of CVS and its
restricted subsidiaries to

      o   secure debt with security interests on our principal property or
          securities of our restricted subsidiaries unless the notes are equally
          and ratably secured or

      o   engage in sale and leaseback transactions with respect to our
          principal property, as we describe below.

      You should read the sections called "--Detailed explanation of
restrictions on secured debt" and "--Detailed explanation of limitation on
sale/leaseback transactions" for a more detailed explanation of these covenants
and the exceptions to them.

      Our "principal property" includes:

      o   any real and tangible property owned and operated, currently or in the
          future, by CVS or any of our restricted subsidiaries that constitute a
          part of any store, warehouse or distribution center located within the
          United States of America or its territories or possessions

      o   but excluding

          o    current assets

          o    motor vehicles

          o    mobile materials-handling equipment and other rolling stock

          o    cash registers and other point-of-sale recording devices and

          o    related equipment and data processing and other office equipment,

      o   if the net book value of that store, warehouse or distribution center,
          including leasehold improvements and store fixtures constituting a
          part of that store, warehouse or distribution center, as of the date
          on which the determination is being made is more than 1.0% of our
          consolidated net tangible assets.

As of the date of this prospectus, none of our stores falls within this
definition of principal property.

      All of our subsidiaries are currently restricted subsidiaries. However,
our board of directors may designate any of our subsidiaries as an "unrestricted
subsidiary" and therefore not subject to the covenants. However, our board may
not



                                        9


<PAGE>



      o   designate as an unrestricted subsidiary any subsidiary that owns any
          principal property or any stock of a restricted subsidiary

      o   continue the designation of any subsidiary as an unrestricted
          subsidiary at any time that it owns any principal property or

      o   cause or permit any restricted subsidiary to transfer or otherwise
          dispose of any principal property to any unrestricted subsidiary,
          unless

               (1)  that unrestricted subsidiary will be redesignated as a
                    restricted subsidiary and


               (2)  any pledge, mortgage, security interest or other lien
                    arising in connection with any indebtedness of that
                    unrestricted subsidiary does not extend to any principal
                    property, except if the existence of that pledge, mortgage,
                    security interest or other lien would otherwise be permitted
                    under the indenture.

   There are many transactions not restricted by the Indenture

      The indenture does not contain any provisions that would

      o   limit our ability to incur indebtedness

      o   require the maintenance of financial ratios or specified levels of net
          worth or liquidity

      o   afford holders of the notes protection in the event of a highly
          leveraged transaction, change in credit rating or other similar
          occurrence

      o   require us to repurchase or redeem or otherwise modify the terms of
          any of the notes upon a change in control or other event involving us
          which may adversely affect the creditworthiness of the notes

      o   limit our ability to pay dividends to our shareholders

   Detailed explanation of the restrictions on secured debt

      We will not, and we will not permit any of our restricted subsidiaries to,
incur, issue, assume, guarantee or create any secured debt, unless we provide
that the notes, together with, if we so choose, any other indebtedness of CVS or
the applicable restricted subsidiary which is not subordinated to the notes,
whether then existing or thereafter created, will be secured equally and ratably
with, or prior to, that secured debt,

      unless

      taking account of the proposed secured debt, the sum of

      o   the aggregate amount of all outstanding secured debt of CVS and our
          restricted subsidiaries plus

      o   all attributable debt in respect of sale and leaseback transactions
          relating to a principal property, with the exception of attributable
          debt which is excluded as provided by clauses (1) to (8) described
          under "Detailed explanation of limitations on sale/leaseback
          transactions" below

would not exceed 15% of consolidated net tangible assets.


                                       10


<PAGE>



      This restriction will not apply to, and there will be excluded from
secured debt in any computation under this restriction and under "Detailed
explanation of limitation on sale/leaseback transactions" below, indebtedness,
secured by:

               (1) liens on property, shares of capital stock or indebtedness of
          any corporation existing at the time that corporation becomes a
          subsidiary;

               (2) liens on property, shares of capital stock or indebtedness if
          those liens

               o   existed at the time of acquisition, including, without
                   limitation, by way of merger or consolidation, of that
                   property, shares of capital stock or indebtedness or

               o   were incurred within 360 days of the time of that acquisition
                   by CVS or any restricted subsidiary;

               (3) liens on property, shares of capital stock or indebtedness
          acquired or constructed by CVS or any restricted subsidiary and
          created

               (a)  prior to, at the time of, or within 360 days after,

                    o   that acquisition, including, without limitation,
                        acquisition through merger or consolidation, or

                    o   the completion of construction or commencement of
                        commercial operation of that property,

                    whichever is later or

               (b)  thereafter, if the Lien is provided for by a binding
                    commitment entered into prior to, at the time of or within
                    360 days after the acquisition, completion of construction
                    or commencement of commercial operation referred to in
                    clause (a),

          to secure or provide for the payment of all or any part of the
          purchase price or the construction price of that property, capital
          stock or indebtedness;

               (4) liens in favor of CVS or any restricted subsidiary;

               (5) liens in favor of the United States of America, any State or
          the District of Columbia or any foreign government, or any agency,
          department or other instrumentality of the United States of America,
          any State or the District of Columbia, to secure partial, progress,
          advance or other payments as provided by any contract or provisions of
          any statute;

               (6) liens incurred or assumed in connection with the issuance of
          revenue bonds the interest on which is exempt from Federal income
          taxation as provided by Section 103(b) of the Internal Revenue Code;

               (7) liens securing the performance of any contract or undertaking
          not directly or indirectly in connection with the borrowing of money,
          the obtaining of advances or credit or the securing of indebtedness,
          if made and continuing in the ordinary course of business;

               (8) liens incurred, no matter when created, in connection with
          CVS's or a restricted subsidiary's engaging in leveraged or
          single-investor lease transactions; provided, however, that the
          instrument creating or evidencing any borrowings secured by that Lien
          will provide that those borrowings are


                                       11


<PAGE>



          payable solely out of the income and proceeds of the property subject
          to that Lien and are not a general obligation of CVS or that
          restricted subsidiary;

               (9) liens in favor of a governmental agency to qualify CVS or any
          restricted subsidiary to do business, maintain self insurance or
          obtain other benefits, or liens under workers' compensation laws,
          unemployment insurance laws or similar legislation,

               (10) good faith deposits in connection with bids, tenders,
          contracts or deposits to secure public or statutory obligations of CVS
          or any restricted subsidiary, or deposits of cash or obligations of
          the United States of America to secure surety and appeal bonds to
          which CVS or any restricted subsidiary is a party or in lieu of those
          bonds, or pledges or deposits for similar purposes in the ordinary
          course of business,

               (11) liens imposed by law, including laborers' or other
          employees', carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics', materialmen's and
          vendors' liens,

               (12) liens arising out of judgments or awards against CVS or any
          restricted subsidiary with respect to which CVS or that restricted
          subsidiary at the time shall be prosecuting an appeal or proceedings
          for review or liens arising out of individual final judgments or
          awards in amounts of less than $100,000; provided that the aggregate
          amount of all those individual final judgments or awards shall not at
          any one time exceed $1,000,000,

               (13) liens for taxes, assessments, governmental charges or levies
          not yet subject to penalties for nonpayment or the amount or validity
          of which is being in good faith contested by appropriate proceedings
          by CVS or any restricted subsidiary, as the case may be,

               (14) minor survey exceptions, minor encumbrances, easements or
          reservations of, or rights of others for, rights of way, sewers,
          electric lines, telegraph and telephone lines and other similar
          purposes, or zoning or other restrictions or liens as to the use of
          real properties, which liens, exceptions, encumbrances, easements,
          reservations, rights and restrictions do not, in the opinion of CVS,
          in the aggregate materially detract from the value of said properties
          or materially impair their use in the operation of the business of CVS
          and its restricted subsidiaries;

               (15) liens incurred to finance all or any portion of the cost of
          construction, alteration or repair of any principal property or
          improvements thereto created

               (a) prior to or within 360 days after completion of that
                   construction, alteration or repair; or

               (b)  thereafter, if that lien is created as provided by a binding
                    commitment to lend entered into prior to, at the time of, or
                    within 360 days after completion of that construction,
                    alteration or repair;

               (16) liens existing on the date of the indenture;

               (17) liens created in connection with a project financed with,
                    and created to secure, a nonrecourse obligation; or

               (18) any extension, renewal, refunding or replacement of the
                    foregoing, provided that

               (a)  the extension, renewal, refunding or replacement lien shall
                    be limited to all or a part of the same property that
                    secured the lien extended, renewed, refunded or replaced,
                    plus improvements on that property, and

               (b) the funded debt secured by that Lien is not increased.



                                       12


<PAGE>



   Detailed explanation of limitation on sale/leaseback transactions


      We will not, and we will not permit any restricted subsidiary to, enter
into any arrangement with any person providing for the leasing by CVS or any
restricted subsidiary of any principal property of CVS or any restricted
subsidiary:

      o   if the lease is required by GAAP to be capitalized on the balance
          sheet of the lessee, and

      o   if the principal property has been or is to be sold or transferred by
          CVS or that restricted subsidiary to that person

unless, taking account of the proposed sale and leaseback, the aggregate amount
of

      (1) all attributable debt with respect to all sale and leaseback
          transactions as described above plus

      (2) all secured debt, other than secured debt which is excluded as
          provided by clauses (1) to (18) described under "Detailed explanation
          of restrictions on secured 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 "Detailed
explanation of restrictions on secured debt" above, attributable debt with
respect to any sale and leaseback transaction if:

               (1) CVS or a restricted subsidiary is permitted to create funded
          debt secured by a Lien as provided by clauses (1) to (18) inclusive
          described under "Detailed explanation of restrictions on secured debt"
          above on the principal property to be leased, in an amount equal to
          the attributable debt with respect to that sale and leaseback
          transaction, without equally and ratably securing the notes;

               (2) the property leased as provided by that arrangement

               (a)  is sold for a price at least equal to that property's fair
                    market value, as determined by the chief executive officer,
                    the president, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or
                    the controller of CVS, and

               (b)  within 360 days after the sale, CVS or a restricted
                    subsidiary, shall apply the proceeds to the retirement of
                    indebtedness or funded debt of CVS or any restricted
                    subsidiary, other than indebtedness or funded debt owned by
                    CVS or any restricted subsidiary.

          However, no retirement referred to in this clause (2) may be effected
          by payment at maturity or by any mandatory sinking fund payment
          provision of indebtedness;


               (3) CVS or a restricted subsidiary applies the net proceeds of
          the sale or transfer of the leased principal property to the purchase
          of assets and the cost of construction of assets within 360 days prior
          or subsequent to that sale or transfer;

               (4) the effective date of the arrangement or the purchaser's
          commitment therefor is within 36 months prior or subsequent to

               o   the acquisition of the principal property, including, without
                   limitation, acquisition by merger or consolidation, or


                                       13


<PAGE>



               o   the completion of construction and commencement of operation
                   of the principal property, which, in the case of a retail
                   store, is the date of opening to the public,

          whichever is later;

               (5) the lease in the sale and leaseback transaction is for a
          term, including renewals, of not more than three years;

               (6) the sale and leaseback transaction is entered into between
          CVS and a restricted subsidiary or between restricted subsidiaries;


               (7) the lease secures or relates to industrial revenue or
          pollution control bonds; or

               (8) the lease payment is created in connection with a project
          financed with, and the obligation constitutes, a nonrecourse
          obligation.


Merger, Consolidation and Disposition of Assets

      CVS will not:

      o   consolidate with any person, or merge with or into any person, other
          than a restricted subsidiary, or

      o   sell, convey, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or
          substantially all of its 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 to a subsidiary,

      o   or permit any person to merge with or into CVS

unless:


     (a)  either    (1)  CVS shall be the continuing person or

                    (2)  the person, if other than CVS, formed by that
                         consolidation or into which CVS is merged or that
                         acquired or leased the property and assets of CVS shall


                         o   be a corporation organized and validly existing
                             under the laws of the United States of America or
                             any jurisdiction inside the United States of
                             America and


                         o   expressly assume, by a supplemental indenture,
                             executed and delivered to the trustee, all of the
                             obligations of CVS under the notes and the
                             indenture, and


                         CVS shall have delivered to the trustee an opinion of
counsel stating that:

                         o   the consolidation, merger or transfer and the
                             supplemental indenture complies with this provision

                         o   all conditions precedent provided for in the
                             indenture relating to that transaction have been
                             complied with

                         o   the supplemental indenture constitutes the legal
                             valid and binding obligation of CVS or the
                             successor, enforceable against that entity in
                             accordance with its terms, subject to customary
                             exceptions; and


                                       14


<PAGE>



     (b)  CVS shall have delivered to the trustee an officers' certificate to
          the effect that immediately after, and taking into account, that
          transaction, no default shall have occurred and be continuing.

      The indenture does not restrict, or require us to redeem or permit holders
to cause a redemption of notes in the event of,

      (1) a consolidation, merger, sale of assets or other similar transaction
          that may adversely affect the creditworthiness of CVS or its successor
          or combined entity,

      (2) a change in control of CVS or

      (3) a highly leveraged transaction involving CVS, whether or not involving
          a change in control.

Accordingly, you will not have protection in the event of a highly leveraged
transaction, reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction
involving CVS that may adversely affect the holders of notes. The existing
protective covenants applicable to the notes would continue to apply to CVS, or
its successor, in the event of such a transaction but may not prevent that
transaction from taking place.

Events of Default, Waiver and Notice

      The following events are considered events of defaults:

          (a)  CVS defaults in the payment of all or any part of the principal
               of the notes when the same becomes due and payable;

          (b)  CVS defaults in the payment of any interest on the notes when the
               same becomes due and payable, and that default continues for a
               period of 30 days;

          (c)  CVS defaults in the performance of or breaches any other covenant
               or agreement of CVS in the indenture and that default or breach
               continues for a period of 60 consecutive days after written
               notice of that default or breach has been given

               o   to CVS by the trustee or

               o   to CVS and the trustee by the holders of 25% or more in
                   aggregate principal amount of the notes;

          (d) events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to CVS;

          (e)  (1)  an event of default as defined in any one or more
                    indentures or instruments evidencing or under which CVS has
                    outstanding an aggregate of at least $25,000,000 aggregate
                    principal amount of indebtedness for borrowed money, shall
                    happen and be continuing and

               (2)  that indebtedness shall have been accelerated so that it
                    shall be or become due and payable prior to the date on
                    which the same would otherwise have become due and payable,
                    and

               (3)  that acceleration shall not be rescinded or annulled within
                    ten days after notice of that acceleration shall have been
                    given

                    o   to CVS by the trustee, or

                    o   to CVS and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in
                        aggregate principal amount of the notes at the time
                        outstanding; or


                                       15


<PAGE>



          (f)  (1)  failure by CVS to make any payment at maturity,
                    including any applicable grace period, in respect of at
                    least $25,000,000 aggregate principal amount of indebtedness
                    for borrowed money and

               (2)  that failure shall have continued for a period of ten days
                    after notice of that failure shall have been given

                    o   to CVS by the trustee, or

                    o   to CVS and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in
                        aggregate principal amount of the notes at the time
                        outstanding

      o   If an event of default occurs and is continuing, then, either the
          trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal
          amount of the notes then outstanding by notice in writing to CVS, and
          to the trustee if given by holders, may declare the entire principal
          amount of all notes, and accrued and unpaid interest, to be due and
          payable immediately. Upon this declaration, the principal of and
          interest on the notes shall become immediately due and payable.

      o   If an event of default described in clause (d) occurs and is
          continuing, then the principal amount of all the notes then
          outstanding and accrued and unpaid interest shall be and become
          immediately due and payable, without any notice or other action by any
          holder or the trustee to the full extent permitted by applicable law.

      o   If an event of default described in clause (e) or (f) occurs and is
          continuing, if the acceleration of other indebtedness or failure to
          pay other indebtedness shall be

               (1)  remedied or cured by CVS or

               (2)  waived by the holders of that indebtedness,

          then the event of default under that clause shall automatically be
          remedied, cured or waived without further action upon the part of
          either the trustee or any of the holders.

Holders of a majority in principal amount of the notes may control remedies upon
an event of default and waivers of an event of default

      Subject to provisions in the indenture for the indemnification of the
trustee and other limitations described in the indenture, the holders of at
least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding notes 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. However, the trustee may refuse to follow any
direction that:

      o   conflicts with law or the indenture

      o   may involve the trustee in personal liability, or

      o   the trustee determines in good faith may be unduly prejudicial to the
          rights of holders not joining in the giving of that direction.

In addition, the trustee may take any other action it believes is proper that is
not inconsistent with any directions received from holders of notes as provided
by this paragraph.


                                       16


<PAGE>



      Subject to various provisions in the indenture, the holders of at least a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes, by notice to the trustee,
may waive an existing default or event of default and its consequences, except

      o   a default in the payment of principal of or interest on any note as
          specified in clauses (a) or (b) of "--Events of Default" or

      o   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 note affected.

Upon any waiver, the default shall cease to exist, and any event of default
arising therefrom shall automatically be cured, for every purpose of the
indenture; but no waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or
event of default or impair any right consequent thereto.

      No holder of any notes may institute any proceeding, judicial or
otherwise, with respect to the indenture or the notes, or for the appointment of
a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy under the indenture, unless:

          (1)  that holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of
               a continuing event of default;

          (2)  the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of
               outstanding notes shall have made written request to the trustee
               to institute proceedings in respect of that event of default in
               its own name as trustee under the indenture;

          (3)  that 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 that
               request;

          (4)  the trustee for 60 days after its receipt of the notice, request
               and offer of indemnity has failed to institute that proceeding;
               and

          (5)  during that 60-day period, the holders of a majority in aggregate
               principal amount of the outstanding notes have not given the
               trustee a direction that is inconsistent with that written
               request.

A holder may not use the indenture to prejudice the rights of another holder or
to obtain a preference or priority over any other holder.


      However, notwithstanding any of the provisions described above, the right
of any holder of a note to receive payment of principal, premium, if any, and
interest on or after their respective due dates or to bring suit for the
enforcement of any of those payments on or after those dates, may not be
impaired or affected without the consent of that holder.


Information

      Whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the SEC, we have
agreed that, so long as any notes are outstanding, we will furnish to the
trustee, within 15 days after we are or would have been required to file with
the SEC, and to furnish to the holders of the notes thereafter:

           (1) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be
               required to be contained in a filing with the SEC on Forms 10-Q
               and 10-K if we were required to file those Forms, including a
               "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and
               Results of Operations" and, with respect to the annual
               information only, a report thereon by our certified independent
               accountants, and


                                       17


<PAGE>



           (2) all current reports that would be required to be filed with the
               SEC on Form 8-K if we were required to file those reports.

       In addition, whether or not required by the rules and regulations of the
SEC, at any time after we file a registration statement with respect to an
exchange offer or a registration statement permitting resales of the notes, we
will file a copy of all that information and reports with the SEC for public
availability and make that information available to securities analysts and
prospective investors upon request.

      In addition, we have agreed that, for so long as any notes remain
outstanding, we will furnish to the holders and to securities analysts and
prospective investors, upon their request, the information required to be
delivered by Rule 144A(d)(4) under the Securities Act. Requests should be
directed to the address referred to under "Where You Can Find More Information."
Under Rule 144A(d)(4), we are not required to deliver any information so long as
we continue to be a reporting company under the Exchange Act.

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

Discharge of the Notes

      We may terminate our obligations under the notes and the indenture if:

      (1) all notes previously authenticated and delivered, other than notes
          that were mutilated or lost, have been delivered to the trustee for
          cancellation and we have paid all sums payable by us under the
          indenture; or

      (2) (a)  the notes

               o   mature within one year or

               o   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 notes for that
               purpose, money or U.S. government obligations or a combination
               sufficient, without consideration of any reinvestment, to pay the
               principal of and interest on the notes to maturity or redemption,
               as relevant, 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 the indenture have been complied with.

      If all notes previously authenticated and delivered have been cancelled as
provide in clause (1), the only obligations we will continue to have under the
indenture will be to compensate and indemnify the trustee.

      If we have complied with the requirements of clause (2), the only
obligations we will continue to have under the indenture until the notes are no
longer outstanding, will be to:

      o   maintain an office or agency in respect of the notes

      o   have moneys held for payment in trust, although the indenture permits
          us to recover from the trustee moneys held in trust if those moneys
          have been unclaimed for two years

      o   register the transfer or exchange of the notes


                                       18


<PAGE>



      o   deliver notes for replacement or to be canceled

      o   compensate and indemnify the trustee

      o   appoint a successor trustee

Defeasance

      We:

           (1) will be considered to have paid and will be discharged from all
               obligations in respect of the notes, and the provisions of the
               indenture will, except as noted below, no longer be in effect
               with respect to the notes or


          (2)  need not comply with any specific covenant which may be defeased
               under the indenture, and our non-compliance will not be an event
               of default under clause (c) of "--Events of Default"

     if we satisfy the following conditions:

           (a) we irrevocably deposit in trust with the trustee as trust funds
               solely for the benefit of the holders of the notes, for payment
               of the principal of and interest on the notes, money or U.S.
               government obligations or a combination sufficient, without
               consideration of any reinvestment, to pay and discharge the
               principal of and accrued interest on the outstanding notes


               o   to maturity or

               o   to a specific redemption date, if we make irrevocable
                   arrangements satisfactory to the trustee to ensure that the
                   redemption will occur on that date;

          (b)  the 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 notes has occurred and is
               continuing on the date of that deposit;

          (d)  we deliver to the trustee an opinion of counsel that

               (1)  the holders of the notes

                    o   will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal
                        income tax purposes as a result of our election to
                        defease the notes and

                    o   will be subject to Federal income tax on the same
                        amount, in the same manner and at the same times as
                        would have been the case if that deposit and defeasance
                        had not occurred and

               (2)  the holders of the notes have a valid security interest in
                    the trust funds, and

           (e) we deliver to the trustee an officers' certificate and an opinion
               of counsel, in each case stating that all conditions precedent
               have been complied with.

o   In the case of legal defeasance under clause (1) 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.


                                       19


<PAGE>



o   If we select the covenant defeasance option under clause (2) above, we will
    continue to be bound by all of the other terms of the indenture other than
    the specified covenant(s) that is defeased.


o   After the notes are no longer outstanding, the only obligations we will have
    under the indenture will be to compensate and indemnify the trustee, and we
    will have the right to recover excess money held by the trustee.

Modification and Waiver

   Amendments without the consent of any holder

      CVS and the trustee may amend or supplement the indenture or the notes
without notice to or the consent of any holder:

          (1) to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency in the indenture;
     provided that those amendments or supplements do not materially and
     adversely affect the interests of the holders;

          (2) to comply with the provisions of the indenture in connection with
     a consolidation or merger of CVS or the sale, conveyance, transfer, lease
     or other disposal of all or substantially all of the property and assets of
     CVS;


          (3) to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with the
     qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act;


          (4) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment under
     the indenture by a successor trustee; or

          (5) to make any change that does not materially and adversely affect
     the rights of any holder.

   Amendments with the consent of the holders

      Majority consent is usually sufficient

      CVS and the trustee may amend the indenture and the outstanding notes with
the written consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
notes then outstanding, and the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding notes by written notice to the trustee may waive future compliance
by CVS with any provision of the indenture or the notes.

      The following provisions require the consent of all holders affected
thereby

      Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs, without the consent of each
holder affected thereby, an amendment or waiver may not:

          (a)  extend the stated maturity of the principal of, or any
               installment of interest on, that holder's notes, or reduce the
               principal of or the rate of interest on the notes, or any premium
               payable with respect to the notes,

          (b)  change any place or currency of payment where any note or any
               premium or interest is payable,

          (c)  impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
               payment on or after the due date therefor,

          (d)  reduce the percentage in principal amount of outstanding notes
               the consent of whose holders is required for any supplemental
               indenture, for any waiver of


                                       20


<PAGE>



               o   compliance with the provisions of the indenture or

               o   defaults and the consequences of those defaults established
                   in the indenture,

          (e)  waive a default in the payment of principal of or interest on any
               note of a holder; or

          (f)  modify this provision of the indenture, except to increase any
               percentage or to provide that other provisions of the indenture
               cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of
               each outstanding note thereunder affected thereby.

      The consent of any holder need not approve the particular form of any
proposed amendment, supplement or waiver, so long as the consent approves the
substance of the amendment. After an amendment, supplement or waiver becomes
effective, we will give to the holders affected thereby a notice briefly
describing the amendment, supplement or waiver. We will mail supplemental
indentures to holders upon request. Any failure of CVS to mail that notice, or
any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or affect the validity
of any supplemental indenture or waiver.

Governing Law

      The indenture and the notes 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, which is the trustee for the notes, and its
affiliates. The Bank of New York also acts as the registrar and transfer agent
for our common stock, and BONY Capital Markets, Inc., an affiliate of the
trustee, acted as an initial purchaser of the old notes.

Book-Entry; Delivery and Form

      The certificates representing the new notes will be issued in fully
registered form, without coupons. Except as described below, the new notes will
be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New
York, and registered in the name of Cede & Co. as DTC's nominee, in the form of
a global note.

      The Global Note.  CVS expects that in accordance with procedures
established by DTC

      (a) upon deposit of the global note, DTC or its custodian will credit on
          its internal system interests in the global notes to the accounts of
          persons, or "participants", who have accounts with DTC

      (b) holders of the notes that are not participants in DTC will have their
          ownership interests reflected on the records of their participant.

      Any transfer of ownership interests held by a participant will be made
through records maintained by DTC or its nominee, and transfers of interests
held indirectly through participants will be made through the records of
participants. You will not be able to own an interest in the global note unless
you are a participant or hold an interest through a participant.

      So long as DTC or its nominee is the registered owner or holder of the new
notes, DTC or its nominee will be considered the sole owner or holder of the new
notes represented by the global note for all purposes under the indenture. You
will not be able to transfer your interest in the global note except in
accordance with DTC's procedures, in addition to those provided for under the
indenture with respect to the new notes.


                                       21

<PAGE>



      We will make payments on the global note to DTC or its nominee, as the
registered owner of the note. None of CVS, the trustee or any paying agent under
the indenture will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the
records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests in the global note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records relating to beneficial ownership interests.


      We expect that DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of the
principal of or premium and interest on the global note, will credit
participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their
respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global note as
shown on the records of DTC or its nominee. We also expect that payments by
participants to owners of beneficial interests in the global note held through
them will be governed by standing instructions and customary practice as is now
the case with securities held for the account of customers registered in the
names of nominees for those customers. Such payments will be the responsibility
of the participants.


      Transfers between participants in DTC will be effected in accordance with
DTC rules and will be settled in immediately available funds. If a holder
requires physical delivery of a certificated note for any reason, including to
sell new notes to persons in states which require physical delivery of the new
notes or to pledge them, the holder must transfer its interest in the global
note in accordance with the normal procedures of DTC and with the procedures set
forth in the indenture.

      DTC has advised us that DTC will take any action permitted to be taken by
a holder of new notes only at the direction of one or more participants to whose
account at DTC interests in the global note are credited and only in respect of
that portion of the aggregate principal amount of new notes as to which the
participant or participants has or have given such direction. However, if there
is an event of default under the indenture, DTC will exchange the global note
for certificated notes, which it will distribute to its participants.

      DTC has advised us that it is

      o   a limited purpose trust company organized under the laws of the State
          of New York,

      o   a member of the Federal Reserve System,

      o   a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial
          Code

      o   a "clearing agency" registered in accordance with the provisions of
          Section 17A of the Exchange Act.

DTC was created to hold securities for its participants and facilitate the
clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through
electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants, thereby
eliminating the need for physical movement of certificates. Participants include
securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations
and other organizations. Indirect access to the DTC system is available to
others, including banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through
or maintain a custodial relationship with a participant, either directly or
indirectly.

      Although DTC has agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate
transfers of interests in the global notes among participants, it is under no
obligation to perform these procedures, and these procedures may be discontinued
at any time. Neither CVS nor the trustee will have any responsibility for the
performance by DTC or its participants or indirect participants of their
respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their
operations.

      Certificated Notes.  Interests in the global notes will be exchangeable or
transferable, as the case may be, for certificated notes if


                                       22


<PAGE>



          (1) DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as
              depositary for the global notes, or DTC ceases to be a "clearing
              agency" registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor
              depositary is not appointed by CVS within 90 days, or

          (2) CVS in its discretion at any time determines not to have all the
              notes represented by the global notes, or

          (3) an event of default has occurred and is continuing with respect to
              the new notes.

       Upon the occurrence of any of the events described in the preceding
sentence, CVS will cause the appropriate certificated notes to be delivered.

Defined terms

      The following terms referred to in this "Description of Notes" are defined
in the indenture as follows:


      "attributable debt" means, in connection with any sale and leaseback
transaction under which either CVS or any restricted subsidiary is 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
          of the payments to the determination date at a yearly rate equivalent
          to the greater of


          (1)  the weighted average yield to maturity of the notes, the average
               being weighted by the principal amount of the notes and


          (2)  the interest rate inherent in the lease, as determined in good
               faith by CVS,

          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 the transaction and the denominator of
          which is the base term of the lease.


      "capital lease obligations" means with respect to any person any
obligation which is required to be classified and accounted for as a capital
lease on the face of a balance sheet of such person prepared in accordance with
GAAP.

      "comparable treasury price" means, in connection with any redemption date
applicable to the notes,

          (1) the average of the applicable reference dealer quotations for that
              redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest applicable
              reference dealer quotations, or

          (2) if the trustee obtains fewer than four reference dealer
              quotations, the average of all quotations.

      "consolidated net tangible assets" means, at any date,


      o   the total assets appearing on the most recent consolidated balance
          sheet of CVS and its restricted subsidiaries as at the end of the
          fiscal quarter of CVS ending not more than 135 days prior to the date,
          prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
          principles, less

      o   all current liabilities due within one year as shown on that balance
          sheet,


                                       23


<PAGE>



      o   investments in and advances to unrestricted subsidiaries and


      o   intangible assets and liabilities relating thereto.

      "funded debt" means

      o   any indebtedness of CVS or a restricted subsidiary maturing more than
          12 months after the time of computation

      o   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,


      o   in the case of any restricted subsidiary, all of its preferred stock
          having mandatory redemption provisions as reflected on its balance
          sheet prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting
          principles, and


      o   all capital lease obligations.

      "indebtedness" means, at any date, without duplication, all obligations
for borrowed money of CVS or a restricted subsidiary.

      "intangible assets" means, at any date, the value, as shown on or
reflected in the most recent consolidated balance sheet of CVS and its
restricted subsidiaries as at the end of the fiscal quarter of CVS ending not
more than 135 days prior to the date, prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles, of:


      (1) all trade names, trademarks, licenses, patents, copyrights, service
          marks, goodwill and other like intangibles;

      (2) organizational and development costs;


      (3) deferred charges, other than prepaid items, including insurance,
          taxes, interest, commissions, rents, pensions, compensation and
          similar items and tangible assets being amortized; and

      (4) unamortized debt discount and expense, less unamortized premium.

      "liens" means pledges, mortgages, security interests and other liens on
any principal property of CVS or a restricted subsidiary which secure secured
debt.

      "nonrecourse obligation" means indebtedness or lease payment obligations
substantially related to


      (1) the acquisition of assets not previously owned by CVS or any
          restricted subsidiary or

      (2) the financing of a project involving the development or expansion of
          properties of CVS or any restricted subsidiary,

as to which the obligee with respect to the indebtedness or obligation has no
recourse to CVS or any restricted subsidiary or any assets of CVS or any
subsidiary other than the assets which were acquired with the proceeds of the
transaction or the project financed with the proceeds of the transaction and the
proceeds of that asset or project.


      "principal property" is defined in the section called "Restrictive
Covenants--Summary of the principal covenants."


                                       24


<PAGE>



      "reference dealer quotations" means, with respect to each reference dealer
and any redemption date for the notes, the average, as determined by the
trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the comparable U.S. Treasury security
for the notes, expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount,
quoted in writing to the trustee by that reference dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York
City time, on the third business day preceding the redemption date. Credit
Suisse First Boston Corporation will be a reference dealer but, if it ceases
to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City, CVS will
substitute another primary U.S. Government securities dealer to act as a
reference dealer.


      "restricted subsidiary" is any subsidiary other than an unrestricted
subsidiary.

      "secured debt" means funded debt which is secured by any pledge of, or
mortgage, security interest or other on any


      (1) principal property, whether owned on the date of the indenture or
thereafter acquired or created,

      (2) shares of stock owned by CVS or a subsidiary in a restricted
subsidiary or


      (3) indebtedness of a restricted subsidiary.

      "stated maturity" of a security means the date specified in that security
as the fixed date on which the principal of that security is due and payable,
including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision but excluding any
provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the
holder upon the happening of any contingency, unless that contingency has
occurred.

      "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 that corporation or similar management body, is owned directly or
indirectly by CVS and/or by one or more subsidiaries of CVS.

      "treasury yield" is defined in the section called "Optional
Redemption--How the optional redemption payment in clause (2) is calculated."

      "unrestricted subsidiary" is defined in the section called "Restrictive
Covenants--Summary of the principal restrictive covenants."


                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER

      In a registration rights agreement between CVS and the initial purchasers
of the old notes, we agreed

         (1) to file a registration statement on or prior to 90 days after the
      closing of the offering of the old notes with respect to an offer to
      exchange the old notes for a new issue of notes, with terms substantially
      the same as of the old notes but registered under the Securities Act,

         (2) to use our best efforts to cause the registration statement to be
      declared effective by the SEC on or prior to 180 days after the closing of
      the old notes offering and

         (3) use our best efforts to consummate the exchange offer and issue the
      new notes within 30 business days after the registration statement is
      declared effective.

      The registration rights agreement provides that, in the event we fail to
file the registration statement within 90 days after the closing date or
consummate the exchange offer within 220 days, we will be required to pay
additional interest on the old notes over and above the regular interest on the
notes. Once we complete this exchange offer, we will no longer be required to
pay additional interest on the old notes.


                                       25


<PAGE>



      The exchange offer is not being made to, nor will we accept tenders for
exchange from, holders of old notes in any jurisdiction in which the exchange
offer or acceptance of the exchange offer would violate the securities or blue
sky laws of that jurisdiction.

Terms of the Exchange Offer; Period for Tendering Old Notes

      This prospectus and the accompanying letter of transmittal contain the
terms and conditions of the exchange offer. Upon the terms and subject to the
conditions included in this prospectus and in the accompanying letter of
transmittal, which together are the exchange offer, we will accept for exchange
old notes which are properly tendered on or prior to the expiration date, unless
you have previously withdrawn them.

      o   When you tender to us old notes as provided below, our acceptance of
          the old notes will constitute a binding agreement between you and us
          upon the terms and subject to the conditions in this prospectus and in
          the accompanying letter of transmittal.

      o   For each $1,000 principal amount of old notes surrendered to us in the
          exchange offer, we will give you $1,000 principal amount of new notes.

      o   We will keep the exchange offer open for not less than 30 days, or
          longer if required by applicable law, after the date that we first
          mail notice of the exchange offer to the holders of the old notes. We
          are sending this prospectus, together with the letter of transmittal,
          on or about the date of this prospectus to all of the registered
          holders of old notes at their addresses listed in the trustee's
          security register with respect to old notes.

      o   The exchange offer expires at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on ,
          1999; provided, however, that we, in our sole discretion, may extend
          the period of time for which the exchange offer is open. The term
          "expiration date" means , 1999 or, if extended by us, the latest time
          and date to which the exchange offer is extended.

      o   As of the date of this prospectus, $300,000,000 in aggregate principal
          amount of the old notes were outstanding. The exchange offer is not
          conditioned upon any minimum principal amount of old notes being
          tendered.

      o   Our obligation to accept old notes for exchange in the exchange offer
          is subject to the conditions that we describe in the section called
          "Conditions to the Exchange Offer" below.

      o   We expressly reserve the right, at any time, to extend the period of
          time during which the exchange offer is open, and thereby delay
          acceptance of any old notes, by giving oral or written notice of an
          extension to the exchange agent and notice of that extension to the
          holders as described below. During any extension, all old notes
          previously tendered will remain subject to the exchange offer unless
          withdrawal rights are exercised. Any old notes not accepted for
          exchange for any reason will be returned without expense to the
          tendering holder as promptly as practicable after the expiration or
          termination of the exchange offer.

      o   We expressly reserve the right to amend or terminate the exchange
          offer, and not to accept for exchange any old notes that we have not
          yet accepted for exchange, if any of the conditions of the exchange
          offer specified below under "Conditions to the Exchange Offer" are not
          satisfied.

      o   We will give oral or written notice of any extension, amendment,
          termination or non-acceptance described above to holders of the old
          notes as promptly as practicable. If we extend the expiration date, we
          will give notice by means of a press release or other public
          announcement no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the
          business day after the previously scheduled expiration date. Without
          limiting the manner in which we may choose to make any public
          announcement and subject to applicable law, we


                                       26


<PAGE>



          will have no obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate
          any public announcement other than by issuing a release to the Dow
          Jones News Service.

      o   Holders of old notes do not have any appraisal or dissenters' rights
          in connection with the exchange offer.

      o   Old notes which are not tendered for exchange or are tendered but not
          accepted in connection with the exchange offer will remain outstanding
          and be entitled to the benefits of the indenture, but will not be
          entitled to any further registration rights under the registration
          rights agreement.

      o   We intend to conduct the exchange offer in accordance with the
          applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
          regulations of the SEC thereunder.

      o   By executing, or otherwise becoming bound by, the letter of
          transmittal, you will be making the representations described below to
          us. See "--Resales of the New Notes."

      Important rules concerning the exchange offer

      You should note that:

      o   All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility, time of receipt
          and acceptance of old notes tendered for exchange will be determined
          by CVS in its sole discretion, which determination shall be final and
          binding.

      o   We reserve the absolute right to reject any and all tenders of any
          particular old notes not properly tendered or to not accept any
          particular old notes which acceptance might, in our judgment or the
          judgment of our counsel, be unlawful.

      o   We also reserve the absolute right to waive any defects or
          irregularities or conditions of the exchange offer as to any
          particular old notes either before or after the expiration date,
          including the right to waive the ineligibility of any holder who seeks
          to tender old notes in the exchange offer. Unless we agree to waive
          any defect or irregularity in connection with the tender of old notes
          for exchange, you must cure any defect or irregularity within any
          reasonable period of time as we shall determine.

      o   Our interpretation of the terms and conditions of the exchange offer
          as to any particular old notes either before or after the expiration
          date shall be final and binding on all parties.

      o   Neither CVS, the exchange agent nor any other person shall be under
          any duty to give notification of any defect or irregularity with
          respect to any tender of old notes for exchange, nor shall any of them
          incur any liability for failure to give any notification.

Procedures for Tendering Old Notes

      What to submit and how

      If you, as the registered holder of an old note, wish to tender your old
notes for exchange in the exchange offer, you must transmit a properly completed
and duly executed letter of transmittal to The Bank of New York at the address
set forth below under "Exchange Agent" on or prior to the expiration date.

      In addition,

         (1) certificates for old notes must be received by the exchange agent
      along with the letter of transmittal, or


                                       27


<PAGE>



         (2) a timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of old notes, if
      such procedure is available, into the exchange agent's account at DTC
      using the procedure for book-entry transfer described below, must be
      received by the exchange agent prior to the expiration date or

         (3) you must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described
      below.

      The method of delivery of old notes, letters of transmittal and notices of
guaranteed delivery is at your election and risk. If delivery is by mail, we
recommend that registered mail, properly insured, with return receipt requested,
be used. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to assure timely
delivery. No letters of transmittal or old notes should be sent to CVS.

      How to sign your letter of transmittal and other documents

      Signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the
case may be, must be guaranteed unless the old notes being surrendered for
exchange are tendered

         (1) by a registered holder of the old notes who has not completed the
      box entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" or "Special Delivery
      Instructions" on the letter of transmittal or

         (2) for the account of an eligible institution.

If signatures on a letter of transmittal or a notice of withdrawal, as the case
may be, are required to be guaranteed, the guarantees must be by any of the
following eligible institutions:

      o   a firm which is a member of a registered national securities exchange
          or a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or

      o   a commercial bank or trust company having an office or correspondent
          in the United States

      If the letter of transmittal is signed by a person or persons other than
the registered holder or holders of old notes, the old notes must be endorsed or
accompanied by appropriate powers of attorney, in either case signed exactly as
the name or names of the registered holder or holders that appear on the old
notes and with the signature guaranteed.

      If the letter of transmittal or any old notes or powers of attorney are
signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact,
officers or corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative
capacity, the person should so indicate when signing and, unless waived by CVS,
proper evidence satisfactory to CVS of its authority to so act must be
submitted.

Acceptance of Old Notes for Exchange; Delivery of New Notes

      Once all of the conditions to the exchange offer are satisfied or waived,
we will accept, promptly after the expiration date, all old notes properly
tendered and will issue the new notes promptly after acceptance of the old
notes. See "Conditions to the Exchange Offer" below. For purposes of the
exchange offer, our giving of oral or written notice of our acceptance to the
exchange agent will be considered our acceptance of the exchange offer.

      In all cases, we will issue new notes in exchange for old notes that are
accepted for exchange only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of:

      o   certificates for old notes, or

      o   a timely book-entry confirmation of transfer of old notes into the
          exchange agent's account at DTC using the book-entry transfer
          procedures described below, and


                                       28


<PAGE>



      o   a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal.

      If we do not accept any tendered old notes for any reason included in the
terms and conditions of the exchange offer or if you submit certificates
representing old notes in a greater principal amount than you wish to exchange,
we will return any unaccepted or non-exchanged old notes without expense to the
tendering holder or, in the case of old notes tendered by book-entry transfer
into the exchange agent's account at DTC using the book-entry transfer
procedures described below, non-exchanged old notes will be credited to an
account maintained with DTC as promptly as practicable after the expiration or
termination of the exchange offer.

Book-Entry Transfer

      The exchange agent will make a request to establish an account with
respect to the old notes at DTC for purposes of the exchange offer promptly
after the date of this prospectus. Any financial institution that is a
participant in DTC's systems may make book-entry delivery of old notes by
causing DTC to transfer old notes into the exchange agent's account in
accordance with DTC's Automated Tender Offer Program procedures for transfer.
However, the exchange for the old notes so tendered will only be made after
timely confirmation of book-entry transfer of old notes into the exchange
agent's account, and timely receipt by the exchange agent of an agent's message,
transmitted by DTC and received by the exchange agent and forming a part of a
book-entry confirmation. The agent's message must state that DTC has received an
express acknowledgment from the participant tendering old notes that are the
subject of that book-entry confirmation that the participant has received and
agrees to be bound by the terms of the letter of transmittal, and that we may
enforce the agreement against that participant.

      Although delivery of old notes may be effected through book-entry transfer
into the exchange agent's account at DTC, the letter of transmittal, or a
facsimile copy, properly completed and duly executed, with any required
signature guarantees, must in any case be delivered to and received by the
exchange agent at its address listed under "--Exchange Agent" on or prior to the
expiration date.

      If your old notes are held through DTC, you must complete a form called
"instructions to registered holder and/or book-entry participant," which will
instruct the DTC participant through whom you hold your notes of your intention
to tender your old notes or not tender your old notes. Please note that delivery
of documents to DTC in accordance with its procedures does not constitute
delivery to the exchange agent and we will not be able to accept your tender of
notes until the exchange agent receives a letter of transmittal and a book-entry
confirmation from DTC with respect to your notes. A copy of that form is
available from the exchange agent.

Guaranteed Delivery Procedures

      If you are a registered holder of old notes and you want to tender your
old notes but your old notes are not immediately available, or time will not
permit your old notes to reach the exchange agent before the expiration date, or
the procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis, a
tender may be effected if

         (1) the tender is made through an eligible institution,

         (2) prior to the expiration date, the exchange agent receives, by
      facsimile transmission, mail or hand delivery, from that eligible
      institution a properly completed and duly executed letter of transmittal,
      or a facsimile copy, and notice of guaranteed delivery, substantially in
      the form provided by us, stating:

      o   the name and address of the holder of old notes

      o   the amount of old notes tendered

      o   the tender is being made by delivering that notice and guaranteeing
          that within three New York Stock Exchange trading days after the date
          of execution of the notice of guaranteed delivery, the certificates of


                                       29


<PAGE>



          all physically tendered old notes, in proper form for transfer, or a
          book-entry confirmation, as the case may be, will be deposited by that
          eligible institution with the exchange agent, and

          (3) the certificates for all physically tendered old notes, in proper
      form for transfer, or a book-entry confirmation, as the case may be, are
      received by the exchange agent within three New York Stock Exchange
      trading days after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed
      Delivery.

Withdrawal Rights

      You can withdraw your tender of old notes at any time on or prior to the
expiration date.

      For a withdrawal to be effective, a written notice of withdrawal must be
received by the exchange agent at one of the addresses listed below under
"Exchange Agent." Any notice of withdrawal must specify:

      o   the name of the person having tendered the old notes to be withdrawn,

      o   the old notes to be withdrawn

      o   the principal amount of the old notes to be withdrawn

      o   if certificates for old notes have been delivered to the exchange
          agent, the name in which the old notes are registered, if different
          from that of the withdrawing holder

      o   if certificates for old notes have been delivered or otherwise
          identified to the exchange agent, then, prior to the release of those
          certificates, you must also submit the serial numbers of the
          particular certificates to be withdrawn and a signed notice of
          withdrawal with signatures guaranteed by an eligible institution
          unless you are an eligible institution.

      o   if old notes have been tendered using the procedure for book-entry
          transfer described above, any notice of withdrawal must specify the
          name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the
          withdrawn old notes and otherwise comply with the procedures of that
          facility.

      Please note that all questions as to the validity, form, eligibility and
time of receipt of notices of withdrawal will be determined by us, and our
determination shall be final and binding on all parties. Any old notes so
withdrawn will be considered not to have been validly tendered for exchange for
purposes of the exchange offer.

      If you have properly withdrawn old notes and wish to re-tender them, you
may do so by following one of the procedures described under "Procedures for
Tendering Old Notes" above at any time on or prior to the expiration date.

Conditions to the Exchange Offer

      Notwithstanding any other provisions of the exchange offer, we will not be
required to accept for exchange, or to issue new notes in exchange for, any old
notes and may terminate or amend the exchange offer, if at any time before the
acceptance of old notes for exchange or the exchange of the new notes for old
notes, that acceptance or issuance would violate applicable law or any
interpretation of the staff of the SEC.

      That condition is for our sole benefit and may be asserted by us
regardless of the circumstances giving rise to that condition. Our failure at
any time to exercise the foregoing rights shall not be considered a waiver by us
of that right. Our rights described in the prior paragraph are ongoing rights
which we may assert at any time and from time to time.


                                       30


<PAGE>



      In addition, we will not accept for exchange any old notes tendered, and
no new notes will be issued in exchange for any old notes, if at that time any
stop order shall be threatened or in effect with respect to the exchange offer
to which this prospectus relates or the qualification of the indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act.

Exchange Agent

      The Bank of New York has been appointed as the exchange agent for the
exchange offer. All executed letters of transmittal should be directed to the
exchange agent at one of the addresses set forth below. Questions and requests
for assistance, requests for additional copies of this prospectus or of the
letter of transmittal and requests for notices of guaranteed delivery should be
directed to the exchange agent, addressed as follows:

                                   Deliver To:

                      The Bank of New York, Exchange Agent
                               101 Barclay Street
                                  Floor 7 East
                             New York New York 10286
                               Attn: Jennifer Pedi

                            Facsimile Transmissions:
                                 (212) 815-6339

                             To Confirm by Telephone
                               or for Information:
                                 (212) 815-6331

      Delivery to an address other than as listed above or transmission of
instructions via facsimile other than as listed above does not constitute a
valid delivery.

Fees and Expenses

      The principal solicitation is being made by mail; however, additional
solicitation may be made by telegraph, telephone or in person by our officers,
regular employees and affiliates. We will not pay any additional compensation to
any of our officers and employees who engage in soliciting tenders. We will not
make any payment to brokers, dealers, or others soliciting acceptances of the
exchange offer. However, we will pay the exchange agent reasonable and customary
fees for its services and will reimburse it for its reasonable out-of-pocket
expenses in connection with the exchange offer.

      The estimated cash expenses to be incurred in connection with the exchange
offer, including legal, accounting, SEC filing, printing and exchange agent
expenses, will be paid by us and are estimated in the aggregate to be $200,000.

Transfer Taxes

      Holders who tender their old notes for exchange will not be obligated to
pay any transfer taxes in connection therewith, except that holders who instruct
us to register new notes in the name of, or request that old notes not tendered
or not accepted in the exchange offer be returned to, a person other than the
registered tendering holder will be responsible for the payment of any
applicable transfer tax thereon.

Resale of the New Notes


      Under existing interpretations of the staff of the SEC contained in
several no-action letters to third parties, the new notes would in general be
freely transferable after the exchange offer without further registration under
the Securities Act. The relevant no-action letters include the Exxon Capital
Holdings Corporation letter, which was

                                       31

<PAGE>

made available by the SEC on May 13, 1988, and the Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated letter, made available on June 5, 1991.


      However, any purchaser of old notes who is an "affiliate" of CVS or who
intends to participate in the exchange offer for the purpose of distributing the
new notes

          (1) will not be able to rely on the interpretation of the staff of the
              SEC,

          (2) will not be able to tender its old notes in the exchange offer and

          (3) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
              requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any sale or
              transfer of the notes unless that sale or transfer is made using
              an exemption from those requirements.

      By executing, or otherwise becoming bound by, the Letter of Transmittal
each holder of the old notes will represent that:

          (1) it is not our "affiliate";

          (2) any new notes to be received by it were acquired in the ordinary
              course of its business; and

          (3) it has no arrangement with any person to participate in the
              "distribution," within the meaning of the Securities Act, of the
              new notes.


In addition, in connection with any resales of new notes, any broker-dealer
participating in the exchange offer who acquired notes for its own account as a
result of market-making or other trading activities must deliver a prospectus
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act. The SEC has taken the position
in the Shearman & Sterling no- action letter, which it made available on July 2,
1993, that participating broker-dealers may fulfill their prospectus delivery
requirements with respect to the new notes, other than a resale of an unsold
allotment from the original sale of the old notes, with the prospectus contained
in the exchange offer registration statement. Under the registration rights
agreement, we are required to allow participating broker-dealers and other
persons, if any, subject to similar prospectus delivery requirements to use this
prospectus as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, in connection
with the resale of new notes.


         MATERIAL UNITED STATES TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

      In the opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, the exchange of old notes for new
notes in the exchange offer will not result in any United States federal income
tax consequences to holders. When a holder exchanges an old note for a new note
in the exchange offer, the holder will have the same adjusted basis and holding
period in the new note as in the old note immediately before the exchange.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

      Each broker-dealer that receives new notes for its own account in the
exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of new notes. This prospectus, as it may be amended or
supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection
with resales of new notes received in exchange for old notes where old notes
were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities. We have agreed that, for a period of 135 days after the expiration
date, we will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any
broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of new notes received by it
in exchange for old notes.

      We will not receive any proceeds from any sale of new notes by
broker-dealers.


                                       32


<PAGE>



      New notes received by broker-dealers for their own account in the exchange
offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions

      o   in the over-the-counter market

      o   in negotiated transactions

      o   through the writing of options on the new notes or

      o   a combination of those methods of resale

at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to
prevailing market prices or negotiated prices.

      Any resale may be made

      o   directly to purchasers or

      o   to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the
          form of commissions or concessions from any broker-dealer or the
          purchasers of any new notes.

      Any broker-dealer that resells new notes that were received by it for its
own account in the exchange offer and any broker or dealer that participates in
a distribution of those new notes may be considered to be an "underwriter"
within the meaning of the Securities Act. Any profit on any resale of those new
notes and any commission or concessions received by any of those persons may be
considered to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The letter
of transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by
delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be considered to admit that it
is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

      For a period of 135 days after the expiration date, we will promptly send
additional copies of this prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this
prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests those documents in the letter of
transmittal. We have agreed to pay all expenses incident to the exchange offer,
including the expenses of one counsel for the holders of the notes, other than
commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the
holders of the notes, including any broker-dealers, against some liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act.

                                  LEGAL MATTERS

      Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York, New York will opine for us on whether the
new notes are valid and binding obligations of CVS.

                                     EXPERTS

      The historical consolidated financial statements of CVS Corporation and
its subsidiaries as of December 31, 1997 and 1998 and for the three years ended
December 31, 1998 and the related consolidated financial statement schedule have
been incorporated by reference in this prospectus in reliance upon the reports
of KPMG LLP, independent certified public accountants, incorporated by reference
herein, and given upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and
auditing.


                                       33


<PAGE>



================================================================================

     You should rely only on the information contained in this document or that
we have referred you to. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with
information that is different. We are not making an offer of these securities in
any state

where the offer is not permitted. You should not $300,000,000 assume that the
information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of
any CVS date other than the date on the front of those Corporation documents.



                                  -------------

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



                                                               Page
                                                               ----

             Where You Can Find More Information..................2
             CVS Corporation......................................3
             Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-
                Looking Statements................................3
             Use of Proceeds......................................4
             Selected Consolidated Financial Data.................5
             Description of Notes.................................7
             The Exchange Offer..................................25
             Certain United States Tax Consequences of the
                Exchange Offer...................................32
             Plan of Distribution................................32
             Legal Matters.......................................33
             Experts.............................................33


================================================================================


                                  $300,000,000


                                      CVS
                                  Corporation


                                      CVS


                             5 1/2% Exchange Notes d

                                February 15, 2004


                                  -------------
                                   Prospectus
                                  -------------







                                     , 1999



================================================================================

<PAGE>



                                     PART II
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 20.  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 certificate of incorporation (the "CVS Charter") limits the
personal liability of a director to CVS 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
in advance of the final disposition of such 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.

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

      Insurance. CVS has in effect Directors and Officers Liability Insurance
with a limit of $100,000,000 and pension trust liability insurance with a limit
of $50,000,000. The pension trust liability insurance covers actions of
directors and officers as well as other employees with fiduciary
responsibilities under ERISA.

      Revco Directors and Officers. The Revco merger agreement provides that CVS
will cause Revco and its Subsidiaries to indemnify (including the payment of
reasonable fees and expenses of legal counsel) the current or former directors
or officers of Revco to the fullest extent permitted by law for damages and
liabilities arising out of facts and circumstances occurring at or prior to the
merger. The Revco merger agreement also provides that for a period of six years
after the merger CVS will cause to be maintained in effect Revco's existing
policies of directors' and officers' liability insurance as in effect on
February 6, 1997 (provided that CVS may substitute policies with reputable and
financially sound carriers having at least the same coverage and amounts and
containing terms and conditions that are no less advantageous) with respect to
facts or circumstances occurring at or prior to the merger; provided that if the
annual premium for such insurance during such six-year period exceeds 200% of
the annual


                                      II-1


<PAGE>



premiums paid by Revco as of February 6, 1997 for such insurance (such 200%
amount, the "Maximum Premium") then CVS will cause Revco to provide the most
advantageous directors' and officers' insurance coverage then available for an
annual premium equal to the Maximum Premium.

      Arbor Directors and Officers. The Arbor merger agreement provides that
after the Effective Time (as defined in the Arbor merger agreement), CVS will
cause Arbor to indemnify (including the payment of reasonable fees and expenses
of legal counsel) each person who was a director or officer of Arbor or its
subsidiaries at or prior to the date of the Arbor merger agreement to the
fullest extent permitted by law for damages and liabilities arising out of facts
and circumstances occurring at or prior to the Effective Time. The Arbor merger
agreement also provides that, for a period of six years after the Effective
Time, CVS will maintain in effect Arbor's existing policies of directors' and
officers' liability insurance as in effect on February 8, 1998 (provided that
CVS may substitute policies with reputable and financially sound carriers having
at least the same coverage and amounts and containing terms and conditions that
are no less advantageous to the covered persons) with respect to facts or
circumstances occurring at or prior to the Effective Time; provided that if the
aggregate annual premium for such insurance during such six-year period exceeds
200% of the aggregate annual premium paid by Arbor as of February 8, 1998 for
such insurance, then CVS will cause Arbor to provide the most advantageous
directors' and officers' insurance coverage then available for an annual premium
equal to such 200% of the February 8, 1998 premiums.

Item 21.  Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules

     (a)  Exhibits (see index to exhibits at E-1).

Item 22.  Undertakings

     (a)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1) To file during any period in which offers or sales are being made,
a post-effective amendment to this registration statement: (i) to include any
prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) to
reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date
of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment
thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change
in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, any increase or decrease in the volume of securities offered (if the
total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume
and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate
offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
effective registration statement; and (iii) to include any material information
with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
registration statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement;

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be
a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of
the offering.

provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
registration statement is on Form S-3, Form S-8 or Form F-3, and the information
required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is
contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the Commission by the
registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement.


                                      II-2


<PAGE>



     (b) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     (c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

     (d) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to respond to requests
for information that is incorporated by reference into the prospectus pursuant
to Item 4, 10(b) or 11 of this form, within one business day of receipt of such
request, and to send the incorporated documents by first class mail or other
equally prompt means. This includes information contained in documents filed
subsequent to the effective date of the registration statement through the date
of responding to the request.

     (e) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to supply by means of a
post-effective amendment all information concerning a transaction, and CVS being
acquired involved therein, that was not the subject of and included in the
registration statement when it became effective.


                                      II-3


<PAGE>



                                   SIGNATURES


      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, CVS
Corporation certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this
amendment to the registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the city of Woonsocket, state of
Rhode Island, on July 27, 1999.

                                      CVS CORPORATION

                                      By: /s/ Thomas M. Ryan
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          Thomas M. Ryan
                                          Chairman of the Board and
                                          Chief Executive Officer

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this amendment
to the registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
               Signature                                Title                              Date
               ---------                                -----                              ----
<S>                                        <C>                                          <C>
          /s/  Thomas M. Ryan              Chairman of the Board and Chief              July 27, 1999
- --------------------------------------     Executive Officer (Principal Executive
            Thomas M. Ryan                 Officer)


                   *                       Vice President and Controller                July 27, 1999
- --------------------------------------     (Principal Financial and Accounting
           Larry D. Solberg                Officer)


                   *                       Director                                     July 27, 1999
- --------------------------------------
           Eugene Applebaum


                   *                       Director                                     July 27, 1999
- --------------------------------------
          Allan J. Bloostein


                   *                       Director                                     July 27, 1999
- --------------------------------------
            W. Don Cornwell


                   *                       Director                                     July 27, 1999
- --------------------------------------
           Thomas P. Gerrity


                   *                       Director                                     July 27, 1999
- --------------------------------------
         Stanley P. Goldstein


                                      II-4

<PAGE>

               Signature                                Title                              Date
               ---------                                -----                              ----


                   *                       Director                                     July 27, 1999
- --------------------------------------
           William H. Joyce


                   *                       Director                                     July 27, 1999
- --------------------------------------
          Terry R. Lautenbach


                   *                       Director                                     July 27, 1999
- --------------------------------------
            Terrence Murray


                   *                       Director                                     July 27, 1999
- --------------------------------------
          Sheli Z. Rosenberg


                   *                       Director                                     July 27, 1999
- --------------------------------------
          Ivan G. Seidenberg


        * By: /s/ Thomas Ryan              Director                                     July 27, 1999
- --------------------------------------
              Thomas Ryan
           Attorney-in-fact


</TABLE>



                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



   Exhibit No.                          Document
   ----------                           --------


      1.1*     Registration Rights Agreement dated as of February 8,1999 between
               CVS and Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Bear, Stearns &
               Co. Inc. and BNY Capital Markets, Inc., as Initial Purchasers
      4.1*     Indenture, dated as of February 11, 1999 between CVS and the
               Trustee
      5.1*     Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell with respect to the new notes
      8.1*     Tax opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell (included in the prospectus)
     12.1*     Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
     23.1*     Consent of Davis Polk & Wardwell (contained in their opinion
               filed as Exhibit 5.1).
     23.2      Consent of KPMG LLP.
     24.1*     Power of Attorney
     25.1*     Statement of Eligibility of The Bank of New York on Form T-1.
     99.1*     Form of Letter of Transmittal
     99.2*     Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
     99.3*     Form of Letter to Clients
     99.4*     Form of Letter to Nominees
     99.5*     Form of Instructions to Registered Holder and/or Book-Entry
               Transfer Participant from Owner


- ------------
*  Previously filed.


                                      E-1




                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.2


                      CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

Board of Directors
CVS Corporation

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on
Form S-4 of our reports dated January 27, 1999, incorporated by reference in
the Annual Report of Form 10-K of CVS Corporation for the year ended December
31, 1998.


KPMG LLP

/s/ KPMG LLP
Providence, Rhode Island
July 23, 1999




© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission