RITE AID CORP
S-3, 1995-07-20
DRUG STORES AND PROPRIETARY STORES
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<PAGE>   1
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 33-
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------
 
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                             ---------------------
 
                              RITE AID CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
                             ---------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                   <C>                                   <C>
               DELAWARE                                                                   23-1614034
   (State or other jurisdiction of                                                     (I.R.S. Employer
    incorporation or organization)                                                   Identification No.)
</TABLE>
 
                                 30 HUNTER LANE
                         CAMP HILL, PENNSYLVANIA 17011
                                 (717) 761-2633
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                    registrant's principal executive office)
 
                               FRANKLIN C. BROWN
                  EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                                 30 HUNTER LANE
                         CAMP HILL, PENNSYLVANIA 17011
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agent for service)
 
                                   Copies to:
                               NANCY A. LIEBERMAN
                                STACY J. KANTER
                      SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM
                                919 THIRD AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
                             ---------------------
 
    APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
                             ---------------------
 
    If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box.  / /
 
    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, check the following box.  /X/
 
    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, please check the
following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the
earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  / /
 
    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering.  / /
 
    If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box.  /X/
                             ---------------------
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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                                                                       PROPOSED         PROPOSED
                                                      AMOUNT            MAXIMUM          MAXIMUM         AMOUNT OF
           TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                      TO BE        OFFERING PRICE      AGGREGATE      REGISTRATION
         SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED               REGISTERED(1)      PER UNIT(2)   OFFERING PRICE(2)        FEE
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                             <C>                <C>              <C>              <C>
Debt Securities..............................     $375,000,000(3)        100%         $300,000,000    $129,310.34(4)
Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities(5)......           --                --               --               --
Common Stock, $1.00 par value(6).............           --                (7)              (7)              (7)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
(1) In United States dollars or the equivalent thereof in any other currency,
    currency unit or units, or composite currency or currencies.
 
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee.
 
(3) Such amount represents the principal amount of any Debt Securities issued at
    their principal amount, the issue price rather than the principal amount of
    any Debt Securities issued at an original issue discount, the issue price of
    any Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities and the exercise price of any Debt
    Securities issuable upon the exercise of Warrants to Purchase Debt
    Securities.
 
(4) In addition to the securities registered hereby, pursuant to Rule 429 of the
    Securities Act of 1933, the Prospectus included herein also covers
    $25,000,000 of Debt Securities and Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities from
    a previous registration statement (No. 33-63794), as to which a registration
    fee of $7,812.50 was paid.
 
(5) Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities may be sold separately or with Debt
    Securities.
 
(6) Also includes such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock as may be
    issued upon conversion of or exchange for any Debt Securities that provide
    for conversion or exchange into Common Stock.
 
(7) No separate consideration will be received for the Common Stock issuable
    upon conversion of or in exchange for Debt Securities.
 
                             -------------------------
    PURSUANT TO RULE 429 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE PROSPECTUS
INCLUDED HEREIN ALSO RELATES TO $25,000,000 PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF DEBT SECURITIES
AND WARRANTS TO PURCHASE DEBT SECURITIES REGISTERED UNDER REGISTRATION STATEMENT
NO. 33-63794, WHICH WAS DECLARED EFFECTIVE ON JULY 30, 1993. IN THE EVENT ANY OF
SUCH PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED DEBT SECURITIES OR WARRANTS TO PURCHASE DEBT
SECURITIES ARE OFFERED PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT, THEY WILL NOT BE INCLUDED IN ANY PROSPECTUS HEREUNDER. THE AMOUNT OF
DEBT SECURITIES AND WARRANTS TO PURCHASE DEBT SECURITIES BEING REGISTERED,
TOGETHER WITH THE REMAINING DEBT SECURITIES AND WARRANTS TO PURCHASE DEBT
SECURITIES REGISTERED UNDER REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. 33-63794, REPRESENTS THE
MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF DEBT SECURITIES AND WARRANTS TO PURCHASE DEBT SECURITIES WHICH
ARE EXPECTED TO BE OFFERED FOR SALE.
                             ---------------------
    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 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2
 
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
     MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
     BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
     THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
     SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
     UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
     OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
       SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED JULY 20, 1995
 
PROSPECTUS
 
                              RITE AID CORPORATION
 
                                DEBT SECURITIES
                                      AND
                      WARRANTS TO PURCHASE DEBT SECURITIES
 
                          ----------------------------
 
     Rite Aid Corporation may offer from time to time, together or separately,
up to $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount, or its equivalent based on the
applicable exchange rate at the time of the offering, of its (i) debt securities
consisting of debentures, notes or other unsecured evidences of indebtedness
(the "Debt Securities"), which may be either senior debt securities (the "Senior
Debt Securities") or subordinated debt securities (the "Subordinated Debt
Securities"), and (ii) warrants to purchase Debt Securities (the "Warrants")
(such Debt Securities and Warrants are collectively called the "Securities")
which will be offered on terms determined by market conditions at the time of
sale. As used herein, Securities shall include Securities denominated in U.S.
dollars, or, if so specified in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement
("Prospectus Supplement"), in any other currency, including composite currencies
such as the European Currency Unit. The Securities may be offered as separate
series in amounts, at prices and on terms to be set forth in the accompanying
Prospectus Supplement. The terms of the Securities, including, where applicable,
the specific designation, aggregate principal amount, denomination, currency,
maturity, premium, if any, interest rate (which may be fixed, floating or
adjustable), if any, and method of calculating payment of any interest, any
redemption terms, any conversion terms, any terms for sinking fund payments, the
initial public offering price, the names of, and the principal amounts to be
purchased by or through, underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, the
compensation of such persons and any other specific terms in connection with the
offering and sale of the Securities will be set forth in an accompanying
Prospectus Supplement. Securities of a series may be issuable in registered form
without coupons, including in the form of one or more global securities. The net
proceeds to the Company from the sale of Securities also will be set forth in a
Prospectus Supplement, as well as information concerning certain U.S. federal
income tax considerations, if applicable to the Securities offered.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in a Prospectus Supplement, the Senior Debt
Securities, when issued, will be unsecured and will rank equally with all other
unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. The Subordinated Debt
Securities, when issued, will be subordinated in right of payment to all Senior
Debt of the Company.
 
                          ----------------------------
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
     EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
          COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
              PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS
                              A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                          ----------------------------
 
     The Securities will be sold directly, through agents, underwriters or
dealers as designated from time to time or through a combination of such
methods. If agents of the Company or any dealers or underwriters are involved in
the sale of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being
delivered, the names of such underwriters, dealers or agents and any applicable
commissions or discounts are set forth in or may be calculated from the
Prospectus Supplement with respect to such Securities.
 
                          ----------------------------
                          ----------------------------
               The date of this Prospectus is             , 1995.
<PAGE>   3
 
     No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus in connection with the offer contained in this Prospectus and, if
given or made, such information or representations must not be relied upon as
having been authorized by the Company or any underwriters, dealers or agents.
This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer
to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to
make such offer or solicitation. Neither the delivery of this Prospectus nor any
sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances, create an implication that
there has been no change in the affairs of the Company since the date hereof or
that the information contained herein is correct at any time subsequent to the
date hereof.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     Rite Aid Corporation (together with its subsidiaries, when appropriate, the
"Company" or "Rite Aid") is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth
Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549; 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York
10048; and Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago,
Illinois 60606. Copies of such materials can be obtained from the Public
Reference Section of the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. Such material can also be inspected
at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New
York 10005 and at the offices of the Pacific Stock Exchange, 301 Pine Street,
San Francisco, California 94109, on which the Company's Common Stock is listed.
 
     This Prospectus constitutes a part of a Registration Statement filed by the
Company with the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"). This Prospectus omits certain of the information contained in the
Registration Statement, and reference is hereby made to the Registration
Statement and to the exhibits relating thereto for further information with
respect to the Company and the Securities offered hereby. Any statements
contained herein concerning the provisions of any document are not necessarily
complete, and, in each instance, reference is made to such copy filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the Commission.
Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference. The
Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto may be inspected without charge
at the office of the Commission at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies thereof may be obtained from the Commission
at prescribed rates.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
     The following documents filed by the Company with the Commission are
incorporated in and made a part of this Prospectus by reference:
 
          1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended March
     4, 1995, which incorporates by reference certain portions of the Company's
     1995 Annual Report to Stockholders;
 
          2. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly
     period ended June 3, 1995;
 
          3. The Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 24, 1995 and
     the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 12, 1995; and
 
          4. The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the
     Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A dated July 18, 1991, including
     any amendments and reports filed for the purpose of updating such
     description.
 
     All reports and any definitive proxy or information statements filed by the
Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be incorporated
by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing
of such documents.
 
     The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom a copy of
this Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of any such person,
a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by reference (other
than exhibits). Requests for such copies should be directed to the Secretary,
Rite Aid Corporation, 30 Hunter Lane, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011 (telephone:
(717) 761-2633).
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   4
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     The Company is one of the largest drugstore chains in the United States. On
June 3, 1995, the Company operated 2,836 drugstores in 23 eastern states and the
District of Columbia. Pharmacy service forms the core of the Company's business,
with prescriptions accounting for 53.1% of drugstore sales in the year ended
March 4, 1995.
 
     The Company's drugstores cater to convenience, offering a full selection of
health and personal care products, seasonal merchandise and a large private
label product line. Express mail with complementary services and one-hour photo
departments have recently been added in select locations.
 
     The Company also operates Eagle Managed Care Corporation, a wholly owned
subsidiary, which markets prescription plans and sells other managed health care
services to large employers and government-sponsored employee benefit programs.
 
     Rite Aid was incorporated in Delaware in 1968. The Company's principal
executive offices are located at 30 Hunter Lane, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011
and its telephone number is (717) 761-2633.
 
ACQUISITION OF DRUGSTORES
 
     The Company acquired Perry Drug Stores, Inc. ("Perry") pursuant to a cash
tender offer, which expired on January 27, 1995, and a subsequent merger with a
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company on March 24, 1995. The aggregate
consideration paid in the acquisition was approximately $238,000,000, which
includes the repayment of outstanding Perry debt acquired in connection with the
merger. Perry operates 224 drugstores throughout Michigan. The Company continues
to utilize Perry's distribution center located near Pontiac, Michigan.
 
     On June 20, 1995, the Company agreed to purchase the entire chain of
conventional, freestanding drugstores owned and operated by Pathmark Stores,
Inc. The transaction is expected to close in late July, pending Federal Trade
Commission approval. The 30 Pathmark stores to be purchased are located in the
New York metropolitan region.
 
DISPOSITIONS
 
     In January 1994, the Company announced plans to concentrate corporate
resources entirely on its drugstore segment and sell its non-drugstore related
businesses. Consistent with this plan, the Company sold Sera-Tec Biologicals in
October 1994 in a cash transaction to a group of investors including Alex Grass,
formerly Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company. In addition, the
Company completed the sale of Encore Books in November 1994, the sale of Concord
Custom Cleaners in December 1994 and the sale of ADAP, Inc. in May 1995. The
operating results and net assets of these non-drugstore related businesses were
segregated in the Company's financial statements as discontinued operations.
 
     On June 28, 1995, the Company agreed to sell 37 drugstores and the assets
of 72 other units located in Florida to Eckerd Corporation for approximately
$75,000,000. In connection with the sale of these stores, the Company's Florida
distribution center will also close. Completion of this transaction is pending
Federal Trade Commission approval.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Except as may otherwise be set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities offered hereby will
be used for general corporate purposes.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   5
 
                           DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
 
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
     The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an Indenture (the "Senior
Indenture"), between the Company and First Trust of New York, National
Association, as Trustee (the "Trustee"). The Subordinated Debt Securities are to
be issued under an Indenture (the "Subordinated Indenture"), between the Company
and the Trustee. The Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture are
sometimes referred to together as the "Indenture." Copies of the Senior
Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture have been filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement. The following summary of certain general provisions of
the Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture and the Debt Securities does
not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to, the provisions of the Senior Indenture or the Subordinated
Indenture, as the case may be, including the definitions therein of certain
terms. The Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture are identical in all
respects except as otherwise indicated below.
 
     The particular terms of the Debt Securities offered by any Prospectus
Supplement (the "Offered Debt Securities") and the extent, if any, to which such
general provisions may apply to the Offered Debt Securities will be described in
the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Offered Debt Securities. The
Prospectus Supplement relating to the Offered Debt Securities will also set
forth whether the Offered Debt Securities are Senior Debt Securities or
Subordinated Debt Securities.
 
  General
 
     The Indenture does not limit the amount of Debt Securities which may be
issued thereunder and provides that Debt Securities may be issued thereunder up
to the aggregate principal amount which may be authorized from time to time. The
Debt Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Unless
otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement, the Senior Debt Securities
will be unsecured and will rank equally with all other unsecured and
unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company. The Subordinated Debt Securities
will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the
Senior Indebtedness (as defined) of the Company, as described below under
"Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities" and in a Prospectus Supplement
applicable to an offering of Subordinated Debt Securities.
 
     Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular
series of Offered Debt Securities offered thereby for the following terms of the
Offered Debt Securities: (i) the designation, aggregate principal amount (and
any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Debt Securities) and
authorized denominations of the Offered Debt Securities; (ii) the price
(expressed as a percentage of the aggregate principal amount thereof) at which
the Offered Debt Securities will be issued; (iii) the date or dates on which the
principal of the Offered Debt Securities will be payable; (iv) the rate or rates
per annum (which may be fixed, floating or adjustable) at which the Offered Debt
Securities will bear interest, if any, or the formula pursuant to which such
rate or rates shall be determined; (v) the date from which such interest, if
any, on the Offered Debt Securities will accrue, the dates on which such
interest, if any, will be payable, the date on which payment of such interest,
if any, will commence and the Regular Record Dates for such Interest Payment
Dates, if any, and the Person to whom any interest on the Offered Debt
Securities will be payable, if other than the Person in whose name such Offered
Debt Securities are registered on any Regular Record Date; (vi) any optional or
mandatory sinking fund provisions; (vii) the date, if any, after which and the
price or prices at which the Offered Debt Securities may, pursuant to any
optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed at the option of the
Company or the Holder and any other terms and provisions of such optional or
mandatory redemptions; (viii) if applicable, the terms of any right to convert
or exchange the Offered Debt Securities into Common Stock of the Company; (ix)
if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the
denominations in which Offered Debt Securities of the series will be issuable;
(x) if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal
amount of Offered Debt Securities which will be payable upon declaration of
acceleration of maturity thereof or provable in bankruptcy; (xi) the currency or
currencies, including composite currencies and currency units, in which payment
of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on the Offered
Debt Securities will be payable (if other than the currency of the United States
of America), which unless otherwise specified will be the currency of the United
States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of
public or private debts; (xii) if the principal of (and premium, if any), or
interest, if any, on the Offered Debt Securities are to be payable, at the
election of the Company or any Holder thereof, in a coin, currency or currency
unit other than that in which the
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   6
 
Offered Debt Securities of the series are stated to be payable, the period or
periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may
be made; (xiii) if such securities are to be denominated in a currency or
currencies, including composite currencies and currency units, other than the
currency of the United States of America, the equivalent price in the currency
of the United States of America for purposes of determining the voting rights of
Holders of such Debt Securities as Outstanding Securities under the Indenture;
(xiv) if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any), or
portions thereof, or interest, if any, on the Offered Debt Securities may be
determined with reference to an index, formula or other method, the manner in
which such amounts will be determined; (xv) whether the Offered Debt Securities
shall be issued in whole or in part in the form of a Global Security or
Securities; the terms and conditions, if any, upon which such Global Security or
Securities may be exchanged in whole or in part for other definitive Debt
Securities; and the depositary for such Global Security or Securities, which
depositary must be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; (xvi)
any authenticating or paying agents, registrars, conversion agents or any other
agents with respect to the Offered Debt Securities; or (xvii) any additional
terms relating to the Offered Debt Securities (which may not be inconsistent
with the Indenture).
 
     In addition to the ability to issue Debt Securities with terms different
from those of Debt Securities previously issued, the Indenture provides the
Company with the ability to "reopen" a previous issue of a series of Debt
Securities and issue additional Debt Securities of such series.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto,
principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, will be payable and the Debt
Securities will be transferable and convertible, if applicable, at the corporate
trust office of the Trustee. Unless other arrangements are made, interest will
be paid by checks mailed to the Holders at their registered addresses. (Sections
3.5, 10.2.)
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto,
the Debt Securities will be issued only in fully registered form, without
coupons, in denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. No service
charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the Debt Securities, but the
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection therewith. (Sections 3.2, 3.5.)
 
     Some or all of the Debt Securities may be issued as discounted Debt
Securities (bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of
issuance is below market rates) to be sold at a substantial discount below their
stated principal amount. Federal income tax consequences and other special
considerations applicable to any such discounted Debt Securities will be
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
 
     The rights of the Company, and hence the right of creditors of the Company
(including the Holders of Debt Securities), to participate in any distribution
of the assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or
otherwise is necessarily subject to the prior claims of creditors of the
subsidiary, except to the extent that claims of the Company itself as a creditor
of the subsidiary may be recognized.
 
     The Indenture does not contain any provisions that afford Holders of the
Debt Securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction,
reorganization, restructuring, merger or similar transaction involving the
Company that may adversely affect Holders of the Debt Securities (except to the
limited extent that the covenants described below under "Certain Restrictions"
might affect the Company's ability to consummate such transactions).
 
     Debt Securities denominated or payable in foreign currencies may entail
significant risks. These risks include, without limitation, the possibility of
significant fluctuations in the foreign currency markets. These risks will vary
depending upon the currency or currencies involved. These risks will be more
fully described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
 
  Certain Restrictions
 
     General.  The various restrictive provisions of the Indenture applicable to
the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries do not apply to Unrestricted
Subsidiaries. The assets and indebtedness of Unrestricted Subsidiaries are not
consolidated with those of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries in
calculating Consolidated Net Tangible Assets under the Senior Indenture and
Investments by the Company or by its Restricted Subsidiaries in Unrestricted
Subsidiaries are excluded in computing Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
"Unrestricted Subsidiaries" are those Subsidiaries which are designated as
Unrestricted Subsidiaries by the Board of Directors from time to time pursuant
to the Indenture (in each case, unless and until designated as Restricted
Subsidiaries by the Board of
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   7
 
Directors pursuant to the Indenture). "Restricted Subsidiaries" are all
Subsidiaries other than Unrestricted Subsidiaries. A "Wholly-owned Restricted
Subsidiary" is a Restricted Subsidiary all of the outstanding Funded Debt and
capital stock of which (except directors' qualifying shares) is owned by the
Company and its other Wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries. (Section 1.1 of the
Senior Indenture and, in relation to the designation of Restricted Subsidiaries
and Unrestricted Subsidiaries, Section 1.1 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
 
     An Unrestricted Subsidiary may not be designated a Restricted Subsidiary if
it has any Secured Debt, Funded Debt or Attributable Debt unless immediately
thereafter the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries would be permitted to
incur such debt under the terms of the Senior Indenture. (Section 10.11(a) of
the Senior Indenture.)
 
     Restrictions Upon Secured Debt.  Neither the Company nor a Restricted
Subsidiary is permitted to incur or guarantee certain indebtedness secured by
any lien, mortgage, pledge or other encumbrance on its property without equally
and ratably securing the Senior Debt Securities. This restriction does not apply
to certain permitted encumbrances described in the Senior Indenture, including
purchase money mortgages, encumbrances existing on property at the time it is
acquired by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or created within 24 months
of the date of such acquisition, conditional sales and similar agreements and
the extension, renewal or refunding of any of the foregoing. Subsection (d) of
Section 10.10 of the Senior Indenture also permits other indebtedness secured by
encumbrances not otherwise specifically permitted which, together with
Attributable Debt respecting existing Sale and Leaseback Transactions (excluding
Sale and Leaseback Transactions entered into in respect of property acquired by
the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary not more than 24 months prior to the date
such Transaction is entered into), and unsecured Funded Debt of Subsidiaries,
incurred or entered into, as the case may be, after the date of the Senior
Indenture, would not at the time exceed 20% of the Consolidated Net Tangible
Assets of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries. (Section 10.10 of the
Senior Indenture.)
 
     "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the total amount of assets on a
consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries (less
applicable reserves and other properly deductible items and after excluding any
investments made in Unrestricted Subsidiaries or in corporations while they were
Unrestricted Subsidiaries but which are not Subsidiaries at the time of
computation) after deducting (i) all liabilities and liability items, including
amounts in respect of obligations under leases (or guarantees thereof) which
under generally accepted accounting principles would be included on such balance
sheet, except Funded Debt, capital stock and surplus, surplus reserves and
provisions for deferred income taxes and (ii) goodwill, trade names, trademarks,
patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and other like intangibles.
(Section 1.1 of the Senior Indenture.)
 
     "Funded Debt" means any indebtedness for money borrowed, created, issued,
incurred, assumed or guaranteed, whether secured or unsecured, maturing more
than one year after the date of determination thereof and any indebtedness,
regardless of its term, renewable pursuant to the terms thereof or of a
revolving credit or similar agreement effective for more than one year after the
date of the creation of the indebtedness, which would, in accordance with
generally accepted accounting practice, be classified as funded debt, excluding
(i) indebtedness for which money in satisfaction thereof has been deposited in
trust, (ii) certain guarantees arising in the ordinary course of business and
(iii) liabilities resulting from capitalization of lease rentals. (Section 1.1
of the Senior Indenture.)
 
     "Secured Debt" means indebtedness for money borrowed which is secured by a
lien on property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, excluding certain
guarantees arising in the ordinary course of business. (Section 1.1 of the
Senior Indenture.)
 
     Restrictions Upon Sales with Leases Back.  The Company is not permitted,
and may not permit a Restricted Subsidiary, to sell (except to the Company or
one or more Wholly-owned Restricted Subsidiaries) any manufacturing plant,
warehouse, retail store or equipment owned and operated by the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary on or after the date of the Senior Indenture with the
intention that the Company or any Restricted Subsidiaries take back a lease
thereof, except a lease for a period, including renewals, of not more than 24
months by the end of which period it is intended that the use of such property
by the lessee will be discontinued, except (i) where the Company would be
entitled under subsection (d) of Section 10.10 of the Senior Indenture to incur
additional secured indebtedness not otherwise specifically permitted by the
Senior Indenture in an amount equal to the Attributable Debt respecting such
Sale and Leaseback Transaction, (ii) where the Sale and Leaseback Transaction is
entered into in respect of property acquired by the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary within 24 months of such acquisition, or (iii) where the Company
within 120 days of entering into the Sale and Leaseback Transaction applies to
the retirement of its Secured Debt an amount equal to the greater of (a) the net
proceeds of the sale of the
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   8
 
property leased pursuant to such Transaction or (b) the fair market value of the
property so leased. (Section 10.9 of the Senior Indenture.)
 
     Restrictions Upon Funded Debt of Restricted Subsidiaries.  Restricted
Subsidiaries are prohibited from becoming liable for any unsecured Funded Debt
except where the Company would be entitled under subsection (d) of Section 10.10
of the Senior Indenture to incur additional secured indebtedness not otherwise
specifically permitted by the Senior Indenture in an amount equal to such Funded
Debt and except for certain extensions, refunding and renewals of Funded Debt.
(Section 10.8 of the Senior Indenture.)
 
     Restrictions Upon Merger and Sale of Assets.  The Senior Indenture provides
that no merger of the Company with or sale of the Company's property
substantially as an entirety to any other corporation shall be made if, as a
result, properties or assets of the Company would become subject to a mortgage
or lien which would not be permitted by the Senior Indenture, unless the Senior
Debt Securities shall be equally and ratably secured with such obligations.
(Section 8.1 of the Senior Indenture.) Any successor entity must be a
corporation organized in the United States and, immediately after giving effect
to a merger or consolidation, no Event of Default, and no event which, after
notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have
happened and be continuing. (Section 8.1.)
 
     Although the amount of the Company's property that will constitute a sale
of such property "substantially as an entirety" is not readily quantifiable, a
determination as to whether such a sale has occurred will depend on the
percentage of operating and total assets transferred, among other measurements,
and other facts and circumstances of the transaction. In any particular
transaction, the determination of whether such a sale has occurred will be made
by the Company, and the Company will give notice of such occurrence to the
Holders of the Debt Securities. Because of the uncertainty regarding whether a
particular sale will constitute a sale of property "substantially as an
entirety," Holders will not be able to determine for themselves whether such a
transaction has occurred and will have to rely on the Company's determination.
If such a transaction occurs, the person to which such amount of the Company's
property is transferred shall enter into a supplemental Indenture satisfactory
in form to the Trustee.
 
  Modification of the Indenture
 
     The Indenture and the rights of the Holders may be modified by the Company
only with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected by
the modification; but no modification altering the terms of payment of principal
or interest, changing the place or medium of payment of principal or interest,
impairing the rights of Holders to institute suit for payment, adversely
changing the right to convert or exchange any Debt Security, including
decreasing the conversion rate or increasing the conversion price of such Debt
Security (if applicable), reducing the percentage required for modification or,
in the case of the Subordinated Indenture, modifying the subordination
provisions in a manner adverse to the Holders of the Subordinated Debt
Securities will be effective against any Holder without his consent. (Section
9.2.)
 
  Events of Default
 
     The Indenture defines an Event of Default with respect to the Debt
Securities of any series as being any one of the following events: (a) default
for 30 days in any payment of interest upon any Security of that series when due
(in the case of the Subordinated Indenture, whether or not payment is prohibited
by the provisions described under the heading "Subordination of Subordinated
Debt Securities" below), (b) default in any payment of principal of (or premium,
if any) upon any Security of that series when due (in the case of the
Subordinated Indenture, whether or not payment is prohibited by the provisions
described under the heading "Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities"
below), (c) default for 60 days after appropriate notice in the performance of
any other covenant in the Debt Securities of that series or the Indenture (other
than a covenant included in the Indenture solely for the benefit of any series
of Debt Securities other than that series), (d) certain events in bankruptcy,
insolvency or reorganization, or (e) certain events of default resulting in the
acceleration of the maturity of the related indebtedness aggregating in excess
of $10,000,000 under any mortgages, indentures (including the Indenture) or
instruments under which the Company may have issued, or by which there may have
been secured or evidenced, any other indebtedness (including Debt Securities of
any series) of the Company. In case an Event of Default shall occur and be
continuing with respect to the Debt Securities of any series, the Trustee or the
Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities then outstanding of that series may declare the principal of the Debt
Securities of such series (or, if the Debt Securities of that series were issued
as discounted Debt Securities, such portion of the principal as may be specified
in the terms of that series) and the accrued interest
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   9
 
thereon, if any, to be due and payable. Any Event of Default with respect to the
Debt Securities of any series which has been cured may be waived by the Holders
of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of that
series then outstanding. (Sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.13.)
 
     The Indenture requires the Company to file annually with the Trustee a
written statement signed by an officer of the Company as to the absence of
certain defaults under the terms of the Indenture. The Indenture provides that
the Trustee may withhold notice to the Holders of any default (except in payment
of principal or premium, if any, or interest) if it considers it in the interest
of the Holders to do so. (Sections 6.2 and 10.13 of the Senior Indenture and
Sections 6.2 and 10.10 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
 
     Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the
Trustee in case an Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Indenture
provides that the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its
rights or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of
Holders unless such Holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable
indemnity. Subject to such provisions for indemnification and certain other
rights of the Trustee, the Indenture provides that the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Debt Securities of any series then outstanding shall
have the right to 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. (Sections 5.12, 6.3.)
 
  Conversion Rights
 
     The terms on which Debt Securities of any series are convertible into or
exchangeable for Common Stock of the Company will be set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement relating thereto. Such terms shall include provisions as to whether
conversion or exchange is mandatory, at the option of the holder or at the
option of the Company, and may include provisions pursuant to which the number
of shares of Common Stock of the Company to be received by the holders of Debt
Securities would be calculated according to the market price of Common Stock of
the Company as of a time stated in the Prospectus Supplement. (Article
Thirteen.)
 
  Defeasance and Discharge
 
     The terms of the Indenture provide the Company with the option to be
discharged from any and all obligations with respect to a particular series of
Debt Securities, including, in the case of Subordinated Debt Securities, the
provisions described under the heading "Subordination of Subordinated Debt
Securities" herein (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or
exchange of Debt Securities, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated Debt
Securities, to maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust)
upon the deposit with the Trustee, in trust, of money or U.S. Government
Obligations (as defined) (or Foreign Government Obligations (as defined) in case
of Debt Securities denominated in foreign currencies), or both, which through
the payment of interest and principal thereof in accordance with their terms
will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay any installment of principal
(and premium, if any) and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in
respect of such Debt Securities on the Stated Maturity of such payments or on
the applicable Redemption Date in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and
such Debt Securities. Such option may only be exercised if the Company has
received from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal
Revenue Service a ruling to the effect that such a discharge will not be deemed,
or result in, a taxable event with respect to Holders of such series of Debt
Securities. (Section 4.3.)
 
  Defeasance of Certain Covenants
 
     The terms of the Indenture provide the Company with the option to have the
occurrence of events described in (c) or (e) under the heading "Events of
Default" above no longer be Events of Default and, in the case of Senior Debt
Securities, to omit to comply with certain of the covenants described under the
heading "Certain Restrictions" above, and, in the case of Subordinated Debt
Securities, the provisions described under the heading "Subordination of
Subordinated Debt Securities" below will no longer be applicable, in each case,
with respect to a particular series of Debt Securities. The Company, in order to
exercise such option, will be required to deposit with the Trustee money or U.S.
Government Obligations (or Foreign Government Obligations (as defined) in case
of Debt Securities denominated in foreign currencies), or both, which through
the payment of interest and principal thereof in accordance with their terms
will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay principal (and premium, if
any) and interest on and any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of such
Debt Securities on the Stated Maturity of such payments or on the applicable
Redemption Date in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such Debt
Securities. The Company will also be
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   10
 
required to deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the
deposit and related covenant defeasance will not cause the Holders of such
series of Debt Securities to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income
tax purposes. (Section 10.12 of the Senior Indenture and Section 10.9 of the
Subordinated Indenture.)
 
     The Company may exercise its defeasance option with respect to such Debt
Securities notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.
If the Company exercises its defeasance option, payment of such Debt Securities
may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default. If the Company exercises
its covenant defeasance option, payment of such Debt Securities may not be
accelerated by reference to the provisions described in the preceding paragraph.
In the event the Company omits to comply with its remaining obligations with
respect to such Debt Securities under the Indenture after exercising its
covenant defeasance option and such Debt Securities are declared due and payable
because of the occurrence of any Event of Default, the amount of money and U.S.
Government Obligations (or Foreign Government Obligations in case of Debt
Securities denominated in foreign currencies) on deposit with the Trustee may be
insufficient to pay amounts due on the Debt Securities of such series at the
time of the acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. However, the
Company will remain liable in respect of such payments. (Sections 4.3 and 10.12
of the Senior Indenture and Sections 4.3 and 10.9 of the Subordinated
Indenture.)
 
  Subordination of Subordinated Debt Securities
 
     The Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated in right of payment,
as set forth in the Subordinated Indenture, to the prior payment in full of all
existing and future Senior Indebtedness of the Company. (Section 14.1 of the
Subordinated Indenture.) "Senior Indebtedness" means the principal of (and
premium, if any) and interest on (including interest accruing after the filing
of a petition initiating any proceeding pursuant to any bankruptcy law, but only
to the extent allowed or permitted to the holder of such Debt against the
bankruptcy or any other insolvency estate of the Company in such proceeding) or
accrued original issue discount on and other amounts due on or in connection
with any Debt incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the Company, whether presently
outstanding or hereafter incurred, assumed or guaranteed, and all renewals,
extensions and refundings of any such Debt; provided however, that the following
will not constitute Senior Indebtedness: (a) any Debt which expressly provides
(i) that such Debt shall not be senior in right of payment to the Subordinated
Debt Securities, or (ii) that such Debt shall be subordinated to any other Debt
of the Company, unless such Debt expressly provides that such Debt shall be
senior in right of payment to the Subordinated Debt Securities; (b) any Debt of
the Company in respect of the Subordinated Debt Securities; (c) any Debt or
liability for compensation to employees, for goods or materials purchased in the
ordinary course of business or for services; (d) any Debt of the Company to any
subsidiary for money borrowed or advanced from such subsidiary; and (e) any
liability for federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by the Company.
"Debt" means (i) all indebtedness for borrowed money (whether or not the
recourse of the lender is to the whole of the assets of the borrower or only to
a portion thereof and including all indebtedness evidenced by notes, bonds,
debentures or other securities sold for money), (ii) all indebtedness incurred
or assumed in the acquisition (whether by way of purchase, merger, consolidation
or otherwise) of any business, real property or other assets (except assets
other than real property acquired in the ordinary course of the conduct of the
acquirer's usual business), (iii) all Capital Lease Obligations, (iv) Hedging
Obligations, (v) guarantees of indebtedness described in clauses (i), (ii),
(iii) or (iv) of any other person and (vi) renewals, extensions, refundings,
deferrals, restructurings, amendments and modifications of any such indebtedness
(including, without limitation, exchange offers), obligation or guarantee.
 
     By reason of the subordination described herein, in the event of
insolvency, upon any distribution of the assets of the Company, (i) the Holders
of Subordinated Debt Securities are required to pay over their share of such
distribution to the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver or other person distributing
the assets of the Company for application to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all holders of
Senior Indebtedness in full and (ii) unsecured creditors of the Company who are
not Holders of Subordinated Debt Securities or holders of Senior Indebtedness of
the Company may recover less, ratably, than holders of Senior Indebtedness of
the Company and may recover more, ratably, than the Holders of Subordinated Debt
Securities. (Section 14.2 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
 
     In the event that any Subordinated Debt Securities are declared due and
payable prior to their Stated Maturity by reason of the occurrence of an Event
of Default, then the Company is obligated to notify promptly holders of Senior
Indebtedness of such acceleration. The Company may not pay the Subordinated Debt
Securities until 120 days have passed after such acceleration occurs and may
thereafter pay the Subordinated Debt Securities if the terms of the Indenture
otherwise permit payment at that time. (Section 14.3 of the Subordinated
Indenture.)
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   11
 
     No payment of the principal, premium, if any, or interest with respect to
any Subordinated Debt Securities may be made, nor may the Company acquire any
Subordinated Debt Securities except as set forth in the Indenture, if any
default with respect to Senior Indebtedness occurs and is continuing that
permits the acceleration of the maturity thereof and the Company has actual
knowledge of the default, unless (a) 120 days pass after notice of the default
is given to the Trustee and such default is not then the subject of judicial
proceedings or the default with respect to the Senior Indebtedness is cured
(including, without limitation, by the payment of such Senior Indebtedness in
full) or waived and (b) the terms of the Indenture otherwise permit the payment
or acquisition of Subordinated Debt Securities at that time. The Company is
required to give the Trustee notice of a default with respect to Senior
Indebtedness within five Business Days after the Company has actual knowledge of
the default or potential default. (Section 14.4 of the Subordinated Indenture.)
 
     The Subordinated Indenture does not limit or prohibit the incurrence of
additional Senior Indebtedness, which may include indebtedness that is senior to
the Subordinated Debt Securities, but subordinate to other obligations of the
Company. The Senior Debt Securities, when issued, will constitute Senior
Indebtedness.
 
     The Prospectus Supplement may further describe the provisions, if any,
applicable to the subordination of the Subordinated Debt Securities of a
particular series.
 
  Global Securities
 
     Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form of one
or more Global Securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a
depositary identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series.
Global Securities will be issued in registered form and in either temporary or
permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged for Debt Securities in
definitive form, a temporary Global Security may not be transferred except as a
whole by the depositary for such Global Security to a nominee of such depositary
or any such nominee to a successor of such depositary or a nominee of such
successor.
 
     The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series
of Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
series. The Company anticipates that the following provisions will apply to any
depositary arrangements.
 
     Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the depositary for such Global
Security or its nominee will credit the accounts of persons held with it with
the respective principal amounts of the Securities represented by such Global
Security. Such accounts shall be designated by the underwriters or agents with
respect to such Securities or by the Company if such Securities are offered and
sold directly by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global
Security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the depositary for
such Global Security or its nominee ("participants") or persons that may hold
interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global
Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected
only through, records maintained by the depositary (with respect to
participants' interests) for such Global Security or by participants or persons
that hold through participants (with respect to beneficial owners' interests).
 
  Concerning the Trustee
 
     First Trust of New York, National Association is the Trustee under the
Senior Indenture, the Subordinated Indenture and the Company's Indenture dated
as of July 2, 1984 and has been appointed by the Company as initial Security
Registrar and Paying Agent with regard to the Debt Securities.
 
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
 
     The following statements with respect to the capital stock of the Company
are subject to the detailed provisions of the Company's certificate of
incorporation, as amended (the "Certificate of Incorporation"), and by-laws, as
amended (the "By-Laws"). These statements do not purport to be complete, or to
give full effect to the provisions of statutory or common law, and are subject
to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, the terms of the
Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws. The Certificate of Incorporation
and the By-Laws are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus is a part.
 
  General
 
     The authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 240,000,000 shares
of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, and 20,000,000 shares of preferred
stock, par value $1.00 per share. The Company's Certificate of
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   12
 
Incorporation authorizes the Company's Board of Directors to provide for the
issuance, from time to time, of series of preferred stock, to establish the
number of shares to be included in any such series and to fix the designations,
powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each such series and any
qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. No shares of preferred
stock of the Company are outstanding as of the date hereof. However 45,000
shares of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per
share, of the Company (the "Junior Preferred Stock") have been authorized and
reserved for issuance in connection with the preferred stock purchase rights
(the "Rights") described in "Description of Rights and Junior Preferred Stock."
 
  Voting Rights
 
     Each holder of Common Stock is entitled to one vote for each share
registered in his name on the books of the Company on all matters submitted to a
vote of stockholders. Except as otherwise provided by law, the holders of Common
Stock vote as one class. The shares of Common Stock do not have cumulative
voting rights. As a result, subject to the voting rights, if any, of the holders
of any shares of the Company's preferred stock which may at the time be
outstanding, the holders of Common Stock entitled to exercise more than 50% of
the voting rights in an election of directors can elect 100% of the directors to
be elected in a particular year if they choose to do so. In such event, the
holders of the remaining Common Stock voting for the election of directors will
not be able to elect any persons to the Board of Directors.
 
  Dividend Rights
 
     Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of the Company's
preferred stock which may at the time be outstanding, holders of Common Stock
are entitled to such dividends as the Board of Directors may declare out of
funds legally available therefor.
 
  Liquidation Rights and Other Provisions
 
     Subject to the prior rights of creditors and the holders of outstanding
preferred stock, if any, the holders of the Common Stock are entitled in the
event of liquidation, dissolution or winding up to share pro rata in the
distributions of all remaining assets.
 
     The Common Stock is fully paid and is not liable to any calls or
assessments and is not convertible into any other securities. There are no
redemption or sinking fund provisions applicable to the Common Stock, and the
Certificate of Incorporation provides that there shall be no preemptive rights.
 
     Harris Trust Company of New York acts as transfer agent and registrar for
the Common Stock.
 
CERTAIN ANTI-TAKEOVER PROVISIONS
 
     The provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation summarized in the
succeeding paragraphs may be deemed to have an anti-takeover effect and may
delay, deter or prevent a tender offer or takeover attempt that a stockholder
might consider to be in such stockholder's best interest, including those
attempts that might result in a premium over the market price for the shares
held by stockholders.
 
     The Board of Directors of the Company is divided into three classes that
are elected for staggered three-year terms.
 
     Pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors by
resolution may establish one or more series of Company preferred stock having
such number of shares, designation, relative voting rights, dividend rates,
liquidation and other rights, preferences and limitations as may be fixed by the
Board of Directors without any further stockholder approval. Such rights,
preferences, privileges and limitations as may be established could have the
effect of impeding or discouraging the acquisition of control of the Company.
 
     In addition, the Certificate of Incorporation provides that the affirmative
vote of no less than 75% of the outstanding voting stock of the Company, voting
as one class, shall be required for the adoption or authorization of certain
Business Combinations (as defined below) with a Related Person (as defined
below). Such vote will not be required if (i) the agreement to effectuate the
Business Combination with a Related Person is approved by a majority of the
Continuing Directors (as defined below), even if such majority does not
constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors then in office, or (ii) the
Business Combination satisfies certain minimum price criteria and procedural
requirements which are intended to assure an adequate and fair price under the
circumstances.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   13
 
     A "Business Combination" includes; (i) any merger or consolidation of the
Company with or into any Related Person; (ii) the sale, lease, exchange,
mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series
of transactions) to or with any Related Person of any assets of the Company or
any subsidiary thereof having an aggregate fair market value of $15,000,000 or
more; (iii) the issuance or transfer by the Company or any subsidiary thereof
(in one transaction or a series of transactions) of any securities of the
Company or any subsidiary thereof to any Related Person in exchange for cash,
securities or other property (or a combination thereof) having an aggregate fair
market value of $15,000,000 or more; (iv) the adoption of any plan or proposal
for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company proposed by or on behalf of
any Related Person; or (v) any reclassification or recapitalization of
securities of the Company if the effect, directly or indirectly, of such
transaction is to increase the relative voting power of any Related Person. A
"Related Person" includes any person, together with any affiliate or associate
of such person, which has beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, of
shares of stock of the Company entitling such person to exercise more than ten
percent (10%) of the total voting power of all classes of stock of the Company
entitled to vote in elections of directors, considered as one class, together
with the successors and assigns of any such person in any transaction or series
of transactions not involving a public offering of the Company stock within the
meaning of the Securities Act. A "Continuing Director" is a member of the Board
of Directors who was not affiliated with the Related Person and was a member of
the Board of Directors prior to the time that the Related Person acquired the
last shares of stock of the Company entitling such Related Person to exercise,
in the aggregate, in excess of ten percent (10%) of the total voting power of
all classes of stock of the Company entitled to vote in elections of directors,
or a person recommended to succeed a Continuing Director by a majority of
Continuing Directors.
 
DESCRIPTION OF RIGHTS AND JUNIOR PREFERRED STOCK
 
  Rights
 
     On April 5, 1989, the Board of Directors of the Company declared a
distribution of one Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock to
stockholders of record on April 19, 1989. Following the Distribution Date (as
defined below), each Right entitles the recordholder to purchase from the
Company a unit consisting of one one-thousandth of a share of Junior Preferred
Stock, at a price of $120 per unit, subject to adjustment (the "Purchase
Price"). The following summary of the Rights does not purport to be complete and
is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Rights Agreement between the
Company and Harris Trust Company of New York (the "Rights Agreement"), which is
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a
part. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the
meanings given to them in the Rights Agreement.
 
     The Rights attach to all certificates representing outstanding shares of
Common Stock and will attach to the shares of Common Stock issued prior to the
Distribution Date and the redemption or expiration of the Rights upon conversion
of the Debt Securities. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a
Distribution Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 business days following
a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons
(an "Acquiring Person") acquired beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (the "Stock Acquisition Date"), (ii) 10
business days (or such later date as may be determined by the Board of
Directors) following the commencement of a tender or exchange offer that, upon
its consummation, would result in a person or group beneficially owning 20% or
more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or (iii) 10 business days after
the Board of Directors determines that any person, alone or together with its
affiliates and associates, has become the beneficial owner of an amount of
Common Stock that the Board of Directors determines to be substantial (which
amount shall in no event be less than 15% of the shares of Common Stock
outstanding) and the independent directors shall, after reasonable inquiry and
investigation, including consultation with such persons as the directors deem
appropriate, determine that (a) such beneficial ownership by such person is
intended to cause the Company to repurchase the Common Stock beneficially owned
by such person or to cause pressure on the Company to take action or enter into
a transaction or series of transactions intended to provide such persons with
short-term financial gain under circumstances where the Board of Directors
determines that the best long-term interest of the Company and its stockholders
would not be served by taking such action or entering into such transactions or
series of transactions at that time or (b) such beneficial ownership is causing
or reasonably likely to cause a material adverse impact (including, but not
limited to, impairment of relationships with customers or impairment of the
Company's ability to deal with governmental agencies) on the business or
prospects of the
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   14
 
Company (any such person being referred to herein as an "Adverse Person"). The
Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date, if any, and will expire
on April 5, 1999.
 
     In the event (i) a person becomes the beneficial owner of 20% or more of
the outstanding shares of Common Stock, except pursuant to an offer of all
outstanding shares of Common Stock that at least a majority of the members of
the Board of Directors who are not officers of the Company and who are not
representatives, nominees, Affiliates or Associates of an Acquiring Person
determines to be fair and otherwise in the best interests of the Company and its
stockholders, or (ii) the Board of Directors determines that a person is an
Adverse Person, then each Right not owned by any Acquiring Person or Adverse
Person (or certain transferees of such persons) will enable the holder to
purchase at the Right's then current Purchase Price, Common Stock (or, in
certain circumstances, a combination of Common Stock, other securities, cash or
other property) having a calculated value of twice the Right's Purchase Price.
Rights, however, are not exercisable following the occurrence of either of the
events set forth in this paragraph until such time as the Rights are no longer
redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
 
     In the event that at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date (i) the
Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction in
which the Company is not the surviving corporation (other than a merger which
follows an offer described in the second preceding paragraph), or (ii) more than
50% of the Company's assets, cash flow or earning power is sold, each
outstanding Right will entitle its holder to receive, upon exercise, common
stock of the acquiring company having a calculated value of two times the
exercise price of the Right.
 
     Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no
rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right
to vote and to receive dividends.
 
     The Board of Directors may redeem the Rights at $.01 per Right at any time
prior to the tenth business day following the Stock Acquisition Date. The Board
of Directors may not redeem the Rights if it has previously declared any person
to be an Adverse Person.
 
     The terms of the Rights, other than the principal economic terms, may be
amended by the Board of Directors in any manner prior to the time Rights are
distributed. Thereafter, the Rights Agreement may be amended by the Board in
order to cure any ambiguity, to make changes that do not adversely affect the
interests of holders of Rights, or to shorten or lengthen any time period under
the Rights Agreement; provided, however, that no amendment to adjust the time
period governing redemption shall be made at such time as the Rights are not
redeemable.
 
  Junior Preferred Stock
 
     In connection with the Rights Agreement, 45,000 shares of Junior Preferred
Stock have been reserved and authorized for issuance by the Board of Directors.
No shares of Junior Preferred Stock are outstanding as of the date of this
Prospectus. The following statements with respect to the Junior Preferred Stock
do not purport to be complete and are subject to the detailed provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation and the certificate of designation relating to the
Junior Preferred Stock (the "Certificate of Designation"), which are filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings
given to them in the Certificate of Designation.
 
     Subject to the prior payment of dividends on any series of preferred stock
ranking prior and superior to the Junior Preferred Stock, the holders of shares
of the Junior Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the
purpose, quarterly dividends per share equal to the greater of (a) $.05 or (b)
(subject to adjustment upon certain dilutive events) 1,000 times the aggregate
per share amount of all cash dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share
amount (payable in kind) of all non-cash dividends or other distributions other
than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared
on the Common Stock since the last quarterly dividend payment date for the
Junior Preferred Stock (or since the date of issuance of the Junior Preferred
Stock if no such dividend date has occurred).
 
     A holder of Junior Preferred Stock will be entitled to one vote (subject to
adjustment upon certain dilutive events) per share of Junior Preferred Stock on
all mergers submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company. Except as
otherwise provided in the Certificate of Designation or By-laws, such holders
will vote together with the holders of shares of Common Stock as a single class.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   15
 
     If dividends on any Junior Preferred Stock are in arrears in an amount
equal to six quarterly dividends thereon, all holders of preferred stock
(including holders of the Junior Preferred Stock with dividends in arrears equal
to six quarterly dividends thereon), voting as a class, shall have the right to
elect two Directors.
 
     Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), dissolution or winding up of
the Company, no distribution will be made to holders of shares of stock ranking
junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
to the Junior Preferred Stock, unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of
Junior Preferred Stock shall have received $.10 per share, plus all accrued and
unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date
of such payment.
 
     In the event the Company shall enter into any consolidation, merger,
combination or other transaction in which the shares of Common Stock are
exchanged for or changed into other stock or securities, cash and/or any other
property, the shares of Junior Preferred Stock shall similarly be exchanged or
changed in an amount per share equal to 1,000 times (subject to adjustment upon
certain dilutive events) the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash and/or
any other property, as the case may be, into which or for which each share of
Common Stock is changed or exchanged.
 
     The Company has the option to redeem, in whole or in part, the Junior
Preferred Stock at any time at a price of 1,000 times (subject to adjustment
upon certain dilutive events) the "current per share market price" of the Common
Stock on the date of the mailing of the notice of redemption, together with
unpaid accumulated dividends to the date of such redemption. The "current per
share market price" on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the closing
price per share of such Common Stock for the 10 consecutive trading days
immediately prior to such date.
 
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
 
     The Company may issue, together with Debt Securities or separately,
Warrants for the purchase of Debt Securities. The Warrants are to be issued
under warrant agreements (each a "Warrant Agreement") to be entered into between
the Company and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent ("Warrant Agent"), all
as shall be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to Warrants being
offered thereby. The following summaries of certain provisions of the Warrant
Agreement and the certificates representing the Warrants ("Warrant
Certificates") do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and are
qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the Warrant
Agreement and the Warrant Certificates, respectively, including the definitions
therein of certain terms.
 
  General
 
     The Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of Warrants offered
thereby, the Warrant Agreement relating to such Warrants and the Warrant
Certificates representing such Warrants, including the following: (i) the title
of such Warrants; (ii) the aggregate number of such Warrants; (iii) the price or
prices at which such Warrants will be issued; (iv) the currency or currencies,
including foreign or composite currencies, in which the price of such Warrants
may be payable; (v) the designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of the
Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of such Warrants and the procedures
and conditions relating to the exercise of such Debt Warrants; (vi) the
designation and terms of any related Debt Securities with which such Warrants
are issued and the number of such Warrants issued with each such Debt Security;
(vii) the currency or currencies, including foreign or composite currencies, in
which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debt Securities
purchasable upon exercise of such Warrants is payable; (viii) the date, if any,
on and after which such Warrants and the related Debt Securities will be
separately transferable; (ix) the principal amount of Debt Securities
purchasable upon exercise of each Warrant and the price at which and the
Currency, including foreign or composite currencies, in which such principal
amount of Debt Securities may be purchased upon such exercise; (x) the date on
which the right to exercise such Warrants shall commence and the date on which
such right shall expire (the "Expiration Date"); (xi) if the Debt Securities
purchasable upon exercise of such Warrants are original issue discount Debt
Securities, a discussion of federal income tax considerations applicable
thereto; (xii) whether the Warrants represented by the Warrant Certificates will
be issued in registered or bearer form, and, if registered, where they may be
transferred and registered; (xiv) the maximum or minimum number of such Debt
Warrants which may be issued at any one time; and (xv) any other terms of the
Warrants.
 
     Warrant Certificates will be exchangeable for new Warrant Certificates of
different denominations and Warrants may be exercised at the corporate trust
office of the Warrant Agent or any other office indicated in the Prospectus
Supplement. Prior to the exercise of their Warrants, Holders of Warrants will
not be entitled to
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   16
 
payments of principal of (premium, if any), or interest, if any, on, the Debt
Securities purchasable upon such exercise.
 
  Exercise of Warrants
 
     Each Warrant will entitle the Holder of Warrants to purchase for cash such
principal amount of Debt Securities at such exercise price as shall in each case
be set forth in, or be determinable as set forth in, the Prospectus Supplement
relating to the Warrants offered thereby. Warrants may be exercised at any time
up to the close of business on the Expiration Date set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to the Warrants offered thereby. After the close of business
on the Expiration Date, unexercised Warrants will become void.
 
     Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to the Warrants offered thereby. Upon receipt of payment and the
Warrant Certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust
office of the Warrant Agent or any other office indicated in the Prospectus
Supplement, the Company will, as soon as practicable, forward the Debt
Securities purchasable upon such exercise. If less than all of the Warrants
represented by such Warrant Certificate are exercised, a new Warrant Certificate
will be issued for the remaining Warrants.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     The Company may sell Securities to or through underwriters, and also may
sell Securities directly to other purchasers or through agents, including on a
continuing basis. The Prospectus Supplement with respect to the Securities being
offered thereby sets forth the terms of the offering of such Securities,
including the name or names of any underwriters, the purchase price of such
Securities and the proceeds to the Company from such sale, any underwriting
discounts and other items constituting underwriters' compensation, any initial
public offering price, any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid
to dealers and any securities exchanges on which such Securities may be listed.
Only underwriters so named in the Prospectus Supplement are deemed to be
underwriters in connection with the Securities offered thereby.
 
     The distribution of the Securities may be effected from time to time in one
or more transactions at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at
market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to such
prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices.
 
     In connection with the sale of Securities, underwriters may receive
compensation from the Company or from purchasers of Securities for whom they may
act as agents in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions.
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of
Securities may be deemed to be underwriters and any discounts or commissions
received by them and any profit on the resale of Securities by them may be
deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Act. Any such
underwriter or agent will be identified, and any such compensation will be
described, in a Prospectus Supplement.
 
     Under agreements which may be entered into by the Company, underwriters,
dealers and agents who participate in the distribution of Securities may be
entitled to indemnification by the Company against certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the Act.
 
     If so indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company will authorize
the underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase
Securities from the Company at the public offering price set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts providing for
payment and delivery on the date stated in the Prospectus Supplement. Each such
contract will be for an amount not less than, and unless the Company otherwise
agrees, the aggregate principal amount of Securities sold pursuant to such
contracts shall not be more than, the respective amounts stated in the
Prospectus Supplement. Institutions with whom such contracts, when authorized,
may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension
funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions, and other
institutions, but shall in all cases be subject to the approval of the Company.
Delayed Delivery Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except that the
purchase by an institution of the Securities covered thereby shall not at the
time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United
States to which such institution is subject.
 
     The Underwriting Agreement entered into with respect to any Securities sold
through underwriters provides that the obligations of the underwriter or
underwriters will be subject to certain conditions precedent and that the
underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the Securities covered by the
applicable Prospectus Supplement if any are purchased.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   17
 
                                 LEGAL OPINIONS
 
     The validity of the Securities offered hereby has been passed upon for the
Company by Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New
York 10022. Certain legal matters in connection with the offering to which this
Prospectus relates will be passed upon for the Company by Franklin C. Brown,
Esq., General Counsel for the Company.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The financial statements and schedules of Rite Aid Corporation as of March
4, 1995 and February 26, 1994, and for each of the years in the three-year
period ended March 4, 1995, have been incorporated by reference herein and in
the registration statement in reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent certified public accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and
upon authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The report of
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP covering the March 4, 1995 financial statements and
schedules refers to a change in the Company's method of accounting for
investments to conform with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 115
in the fiscal year ended March 4, 1995 and a change in the Company's method of
accounting for income taxes to conform with Statement of Financial Accounting
Standards No. 109 in the fiscal year ended February 27, 1993.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   18
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCES AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
<TABLE>
    <S>                                                                           <C>
    SEC registration fee........................................................  $ 129,310.00
    Accountants' fees and expenses..............................................     35,000.00
    Attorneys' fees and expenses................................................     85,000.00
    Printing and engraving expenses.............................................     25,000.00
    Trustee's fees..............................................................     10,000.00
    Rating Agency fees..........................................................     40,000.00
    Blue Sky fees and expenses..................................................     25,000.00
    Miscellaneous...............................................................     10,000.00
                                                                                   -----------
              Total.............................................................  $ 359,310.00
                                                                                   ===========
</TABLE>
 
     Except for the SEC registration fee, all expenses are estimated.
 
ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
     Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law provides that a
corporation may indemnify directors and officers as well as other employees and
individuals against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement in connection with specified actions, suits or
proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other
than an action by or in the right of the corporation -- a "derivative action"),
if they acted in good faith and in a manner they 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 reasonable cause to believe their conduct
was unlawful. A similar standard is applicable in the case of derivative
actions, except that indemnification only extends to expenses (including
attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with defense or settlement of such
action, and the statute requires court approval before there can be any
indemnification where the person seeking indemnification has been found liable
to the corporation. The statute provides that it is not exclusive of other
indemnification that may be granted by a corporation's charter, by-laws,
disinterested director vote, stockholder vote, agreement, or otherwise. Article
Tenth of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and Article VII of the
Company's By-laws provide for the indemnification of its directors and officers
as authorized by Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
 
     Article Tenth of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation provides that
no director of the Company shall be personally liable to the Company or its
stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of his fiduciary duty as a
director except for liability (1) for any breach of the director's duty of
loyalty to the Company or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions that are
not in good faith or involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
the law, (3) under Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (4)
for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit.
 
     The directors and officers of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured
(subject to certain exceptions and deductions) against liabilities which they
may incur in their capacity as such including liabilities under the Securities
Act of 1933, under liability insurance policies carried by the Company.
 
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
(A) EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
  <S>     <C>   <C>
   1      --    Form of Underwriting Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1 to
                Registration Statement File No. 33-63794).
   4(a)   --    Form of Indenture for Senior Debt Securities, between the Company and First Trust
                of New York, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                4(a) to Registration Statement File No. 33-63794).
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   19
 
<TABLE>
  <S>     <C>   <C>
   4(b)   --    Form of Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities, between the Company and First
                Trust of New York, National Association, as Trustee (incorporated by reference to
                Exhibit 4(b) to Registration Statement File No. 33-63794).
   4(c)   --    Form of Certificate of Designation for Junior Preferred Stock (incorporated by
                reference to Exhibit 4(a) to Registration Statement File No. 33-39827).
   4(d)   --    Rights Agreement dated April 5, 1989 between the Company and Harris Trust Company
                of New York (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4(b) to Registration Statement
                File No. 33-39827).
   5      --    Opinion and consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
  12      --    Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
  15      --    Letter of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP regarding unaudited interim financial information.
  23(a)   --    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
  23(b)   --    Consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (included in Exhibit 5 hereto).
  24      --    Power of Attorney (included as part of the signature page).
  25(a)   --    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee of First Trust of New York, National
                Association with respect to the Indenture for Senior Debt Securities.
  25(b)   --    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee of First Trust of New York, National
                Association with respect to the Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities.
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.
 
     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
        Act;
 
             (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.
 
             (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;
 
     provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) do not apply if the
     information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
     paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Company pursuant
     to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are incorporated by
     reference in the Registration Statement.
 
          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Act,
     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.
 
          (4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Act,
     each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
     Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by reference in this
     Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
     relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such
     securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide
     offering thereof.
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   20
 
          (5) Insofar as indemnification (other than pursuant to the insurance
     described in Item 15 above) for liabilities arising under the Act 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 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.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   21
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, THE
REGISTRANT CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL
OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-3 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY
AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF CAMP HILL, STATE OF PENNSYLVANIA ON JULY 20, 1995.
 
                                                      RITE AID CORPORATION
 
                                                By   /s/  MARTIN L. GRASS
 
                                                  ------------------------------
                                                         Martin L. Grass
                                                    Chairman of the Board and
                                                     Chief Executive Officer
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below
constitutes and appoints Martin L. Grass and Franklin C. Brown, and each of
them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of
substitution and revocation, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any
and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to this Registration Statement and to file the same with all
exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, or their or his
substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
 
     PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED,
THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN
THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE DATES INDICATED.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                SIGNATURE                                  TITLE                       DATE
- ------------------------------------------  ------------------------------------  --------------
<S>                                         <C>                                   <C>
           /s/  MARTIN L. GRASS             Chairman of the Board and Chief       July 20, 1995
- ------------------------------------------  Executive Officer
             Martin L. Grass                (Principal Executive Officer)
          /s/  FRANK M. BERGONZI            Executive Vice President (Principal   July 20, 1995
- ------------------------------------------  Financial Officer and Principal
            Frank M. Bergonzi               Accounting Officer)
          /s/  FRANKLIN C. BROWN            Executive Vice President and          July 20, 1995
- ------------------------------------------  Director
            Franklin C. Brown
          /s/  TIMOTHY J. NOONAN            President, Chief Operating Officer    July 20, 1995
- ------------------------------------------  and Director
            Timothy J. Noonan
          /s/  LEONARD N. STERN             Director                              July 20, 1995
- ------------------------------------------
             Leonard N. Stern
        /s/  PRESTON ROBERT TISCH           Director                              July 20, 1995
- ------------------------------------------
           Preston Robert Tisch
                                            Director
- ------------------------------------------
              Philip Neivert
                                            Director
- ------------------------------------------
                Henry Taub
                                            Director
- ------------------------------------------
             Gerald Tsai, Jr.
                                            Honorary Chairman of the Board
- ------------------------------------------  and Chairman of the Executive
                Alex Grass                  Committee
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   22
 
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                      SEQUENTIALLY
  EXHIBIT                                                                               NUMBERED
   NO.                                      DESCRIPTION                                   PAGE
  ------        --------------------------------------------------------------------  ------------
  <S>     <C>   <C>                                                                   <C>
   5      --    Opinion and consent of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom.
  12      --    Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
  15      --    Letter of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP regarding unaudited interim
                financial information.
  23(a)   --    Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
  25(a)   --    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee of First Trust of New
                York, National Association with respect to the Indenture for Senior
                Debt Securities.
  25(b)   --    Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee of First Trust of New
                York, National Association with respect to the Indenture for
                Subordinated Debt Securities.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1

          [Letterhead of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom]



                                                            July 20, 1995



Rite Aid Corporation
30 Hunter Lane
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania  17011

Ladies and Gentlemen:

           We have acted as special counsel to Rite Aid Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the preparation of the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission").  The
Registration Statement relates to the issuance and sale from time to time,
pursuant to Rule 415 of the General Rules and Regulations promulgated under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of $375,000,000 aggregate
principal amount (or the equivalent thereof, based on the applicable exchange
rate at the time of sale, in one or more foreign currencies, currency units or
composite currencies as shall be designated by the Company) of (i) the Company's
senior or subordinated debt securities (the "Debt Securities"), which may be
issued under the Senior Debt Securities Indenture, between the Company and First
Trust of New York, National Association, as trustee (the "Senior Indenture"), or
the Subordinated Debt Securities Indenture, between the Company and First Trust
of New York, National Association, as trustee (the "Subordinated Indenture" and,
together with the Senior Indenture, the "Indentures"); (ii) warrants to purchase
Debt Securities (the "Warrants"); and (iii) such indeterminate number of shares
of Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share (the "Common Stock"), as may be
issuable upon conversion of some or all of the Debt Securities, including such
shares of Common Stock as may be issued pursuant to anti-dilution adjustments.
The Debt Securities, the Warrants and the


<PAGE>   2

Rite Aid Corporation
July 20, 1995
Page 2


Common Stock are collectively referred to herein as the "Securities."  We do not
express any opinion herein as to the issuance of the Securities under any
indenture other than the Indentures. Pursuant to Rule 429 under the Act, the
prospectus included in the Registration Statement also relates to $25,000,000
aggregate principal amount of debt securities registered under Registration
Statement No. 33-63794 (the "Prior Registration Statement").

           This opinion is furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item
601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Act.

           In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or
copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of (i) the
Registration Statement  filed with the Commission on July 20, 1995 under the
Act; (ii) the Prior Registration Statement; (iii) an executed copy of each of
the Indentures; (iv) the form of underwriting agreement (the "Underwriting
Agreement") proposed to be entered into by the Company and the representatives
of the several underwriters to be named therein; (v) the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company as in effect on the date hereof; (vi) the By-laws
of the Company as in effect on the date hereof; and (vii) resolutions adopted by
the Board of Directors of the Company or the Offering Committee thereof
authorizing each of the Indentures, the form of Underwriting Agreement, the
issuance and sale of the Securities and the proper officers of the Company to
determine the final form and terms of the Securities.  We have also examined
originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of
such records of the Company and such agreements, certificates of public
officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Company and
others, and such other documents, certificates and records as we have deemed
necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein.

           In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural
persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all
documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies and the
authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.  In making our
examination of

<PAGE>   3

Rite Aid Corporation
July 20, 1995
Page 3


documents executed or to be executed by parties other than the Company, we have
assumed that such parties had the power, corporate or other, to enter into and
perform all obligations thereunder and have also assumed the due authorization
by all requisite action, corporate or other, and execution and delivery by such
parties of such documents and the validity and binding effect thereof.  As to
any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that were not independently
established or verified, we have relied upon statements and representations of
officers and other representatives of the Company and others.

           Members of our firm are admitted to the bar in the States of Delaware
and New York, and we do not express any opinion as to the laws of any other
jurisdiction.   The Securities may be issued from time to time on a delayed or
continuous basis, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules
and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof.

           Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

           1.  Each of the Indentures has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that
enforcement thereof may be limited by (a) bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or other similar laws now or
hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights generally and (b) general
principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a
proceeding at law or in equity), and except that enforcement thereof may also be
limited by (x) requirements that a claim with respect to any Securities
denominated other than in United States dollars (or a foreign currency or
foreign currency unit judgment in respect of such claim) be converted into
United States dollars at a rate of exchange prevailing on a date determined
pursuant to applicable law or (y) governmental authority to limit, delay or
prohibit the making of payments in foreign currency or currency units or
payments outside the United States.

<PAGE>   4

Rite Aid Corporation
July 20, 1995
Page 4


           2.    When (i) the Registration Statement has become effective under
the Act; (ii) the terms of the Debt Securities and of their issuance and sale
have been duly established as contemplated by the Board Resolutions in
conformity with the Indentures relating to the Debt Securities so as not to
violate any applicable law or result in a default under or breach of any
agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to comply with any
requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental body having
jurisdiction over the Company; and (iii) the Debt Securities have been duly
executed, delivered and authenticated in accordance with the applicable
Indenture relating to the Debt Securities, and duly issued and sold as
contemplated by the Registration Statement and any prospectus supplement
relating thereto, (1) the Debt Securities (including any Debt Securities duly
issued upon exercise of any Warrants) will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with
their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or
other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforceability is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity) and except
that enforcement thereof may also be limited by (x) requirements that a claim
with respect to any Debt Securities denominated other than in United States
dollars (or a foreign currency or foreign currency unit judgment in respect of
such claim) be converted into United States dollars at a rate of exchange
prevailing on a date determined pursuant to applicable law or (y) governmental
authority to limit, delay or prohibit the making of payments in foreign currency
or currency units or payments outside the United States and (2) if Common Stock
is issuable upon conversion of any convertible Debt Securities, the Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of such convertible Debt Securities will be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable, assuming that the conversion of the
convertible Debt Securities is in accordance with the terms of the Indenture
relating thereto and that the Common Stock is issued for consideration at least
equal to the par value thereof and otherwise in accordance with the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

<PAGE>   5

Rite Aid Corporation
July 20, 1995
Page 5


           3.    When (i) the Registration Statement has become effective under
the Act; (ii) the warrant agreement relating to the Warrants (the "Warrant
Agreement") in the form to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement,
any amendment thereto or any document incorporated by reference therein has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered as contemplated by the Board
Resolutions; (iii) the terms of the Warrants and of their issuance and sale have
been duly established in conformity with the Warrant Agreement relating to such
Warrants so as not to violate any applicable law or result in a default under or
breach of any agreement or instrument binding upon the Company and so as to
comply with any requirement or restriction imposed by any court or governmental
body having jurisdiction over the Company; and (iv) the Warrants have been duly
executed, delivered and countersigned, in accordance with the Warrant Agreement
relating to such Warrants, and duly issued and sold in the applicable form to be
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto and
in the manner contemplated in the Registration Statement and any prospectus
supplement relating thereto, such Warrants will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with
their terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by (a)
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or
other similar laws now or hereafter in effect relating to creditors' rights
generally and (b) general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is considered in a proceeding at law or in equity).

           We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to
our firm under the caption "Legal Opinions" in the Registration Statement.  In
giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the
category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the
rules and regulations of the Commission.

                                                   Very truly yours,

                                                   /s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate,
                                                        Meagher & Flom


<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 12
 
               COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
                              RITE AID CORPORATION
                         (DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           13 WEEKS                              YEAR ENDED
                            ENDED       ------------------------------------------------------------
                           JUNE 3,      MARCH 4,     FEB 26,      FEB 27,      FEB 29,      MARCH 2,
                             1995         1995         1994         1993         1992         1991
                           --------     --------     --------     --------     --------     --------
<S>                        <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
Fixed Charges
  Interest Expense.......  $16,256      $ 42,300     $ 28,683     $ 29,387     $ 37,463     $ 49,484
  Interest Portion of Net
     Rental Expense(1)...   12,427        40,424       40,427       37,659       34,939       32,833
  Amortization of Debt
     Expense.............      150           479          441          460          366          222
                           -------      --------     --------     --------     --------     --------
  Fixed Charges Before
     Capitalized
     Interest............   28,833        83,203       69,551       67,506       72,768       82,539
  Capitalized Interest...      243           373          217          445          721          873
                           -------      --------     --------     --------     --------     --------
  Total Fixed Charges....  $29,076      $ 83,576     $ 69,768     $ 67,951     $ 73,489     $ 83,412
                           =======      ========     ========     ========     ========     ========
Earnings
  Income from Continuing
     Operations Before
     Income Taxes........  $62,923      $231,464     $ 45,670(2)  $200,569     $187,202     $163,008
  Fixed Charges Before
     Capitalized Interest
     (per above).........   28,833        83,203       69,551       67,506       72,768       82,539
                           -------      --------     --------     --------     --------     --------
  Total Adjusted
     Earnings............  $91,756      $314,667     $115,221     $268,075     $259,970     $245,547
                           =======      ========     ========     ========     ========     ========
Ratio of Earnings to
  Fixed Charges..........     3.16          3.77         1.65         3.95         3.54         2.94
                           -------      --------     --------     --------     --------     --------
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) The interest portion of the net rental expense is estimated to be equal to
    one-third of the minimum rental expense for the period.
 
(2) Income from continuing operations before income taxes for fiscal year 1994
    includes a $149,196,000 one-time, pre-tax provision for corporate
    restructuring and other charges.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 15


Rite Aid Corporation
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

Gentlemen:

Re: Registration Statement No. 33-

        With respect to the subject registration statement, we acknowledge our
awareness of the incorporation by reference therein of our report dated 
July 14, 1995 related to our review of interim financial information.

        Pursuant to Rule 436(c) under the Securities Act of 1933, such report
is not considered part of a registration statement prepared or certified by an
accountant or a report prepared or certified by an accountant within the
meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

Very truly yours,


/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
July 20, 1995











<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 23(a)



                             Accountants' Consent



The Board of Directors
Rite Aid Corporation
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania

        We consent to the use of our audit report dated April 21, 1995 on the
Consolidated Financial Statements of Rite Aid Corporation and subsidiaries as
of March 4, 1995 and February 26, 1994 and for each of the years in the three
year period then ended included herein by reference and to the reference to our
firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus. Our report refers to a
change in the method of accounting for investments to conform with Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 115 in fiscal year 1995 and for income taxes
to conform with Statement of Accounting Standards No. 109 in fiscal year 1993.


/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP


Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
July 20, 1995


<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 25(A)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                   FORM T - 1
 
                    STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST
                     INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION
                          DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
 
                            ------------------------
 
                CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
               OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)
 
                 FIRST TRUST OF NEW YORK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
 
                                   13-3781471
                               (I. R. S. Employer
                              Identification No.)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
        100 Wall Street, New York, NY                              10005
  (Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
                           FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
                         Terry L. McRoberts, President
                 First Trust of New York, National Association
                          100 Wall Street, 16th Floor
                               New York, NY 10005
                           Telephone: (212) 361-2500
 
                            ------------------------
 
                              RITE AID CORPORATION
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
                  Delaware                                      23-1614034
       (State or other jurisdiction of                      (I. R. S. Employer
       incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)
 
            Rite Aid Corporation
               30 Hunter Lane
           Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
                (717)761-2633                                      17011
  (Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                DEBT SECURITIES
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2
 
ITEM 1.  GENERAL INFORMATION.
 
     Furnish the following information as to the trustee --
 
     (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it
         is subject.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  NAME                                   ADDRESS
        --------------------------------------------------------    ------------------
        <S>                                                         <C>
        Comptroller of the Currency.............................    Washington, D. C.
</TABLE>
 
     (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
 
        Yes.
 
ITEM 2.  AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
 
     If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such
affiliation.
 
        None.
 
ITEM 16.  LIST OF EXHIBITS.
 
     Exhibit 1.  Articles of Association of First Trust of New York, National
                 Association, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of
                 Form T-1, Registration No. 33-83774.
 
     Exhibit 2.  Certificate of Authority to Commence Business for First Trust
                 of New York, National Association, incorporated herein by
                 reference to Exhibit 2 of Form T-1, Registration No. 33-83774.
 
     Exhibit 3.  Authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers
                 for First Trust of New York, National Association, incorporated
                 herein by reference to Exhibit 3 of Form T-1, Registration No.
                 33-83774.
 
     Exhibit 4.  By-Laws of First Trust of New York, National Association,
                 Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 of Form T-1,
                 Registration No. 33-55851.
 
     Exhibit 5.  Not applicable.
 
     Exhibit 6.  Consent of First Trust of New York, National Association,
                 required by Section 321(b) of the Act, incorporated herein by
                 reference to Exhibit 6 of Form T-1, Registration No. 33-83774.
 
     Exhibit 7.  Report of Condition of First Trust of New York, National
                 Association, as of the close of business on March 31, 1995,
                 published pursuant to law or the requirements of its
                 supervising or examining authority.
 
     Exhibit 8.  Not applicable.
 
     Exhibit 9.  Not applicable.
<PAGE>   3
 
                                   SIGNATURE
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, First Trust of New York, National Association, a national
banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States,
has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York, and State
of New York, on the 14th day of July, 1995.
 
                                                     FIRST TRUST OF NEW YORK,
                                                       NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 
                                                    By: /s/ DAVID K. LEVERICH
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                         David K. Leverich
                                                           Vice President
<PAGE>   4
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT 7
 
                         FIRST TRUST OF NEW YORK, N. A.
 
                        STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                                 AS OF 3/31/95
                                    ($000'S)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    3/31/95
                                                                                    --------
<S>                                                                                 <C>
ASSETS
  Cash and Due From Depository Institutions.......................................  $ 27,498
  Federal Reserve Stock...........................................................     3,150
  Fixed Assets....................................................................       890
  Intangible Assets...............................................................    70,954
  Other Assets....................................................................     3,911
                                                                                    --------
          TOTAL ASSETS............................................................  $106,403
                                                                                    ========
LIABILITIES
  Other Liabilities...............................................................  $  1,822
                                                                                    --------
          TOTAL LIABILITIES.......................................................     1,822
 
EQUITY
  Common and Preferred Stock......................................................     1,000
  Surplus.........................................................................   104,000
  Undivided Profits...............................................................      (419)
                                                                                    --------
          TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL....................................................   104,581
                                                                                    --------
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY CAPITAL..............................................  $106,403
                                                                                    ========
</TABLE>
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
To the best of the undersigned's determination, as of this date the above
financial information is true and correct.
 
First Trust of New York, N. A.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                <C>

BY: /s/         DAVID K. LEVERICH
- ---------------------------------------------------
                 David K. Leverich
                  Vice President
</TABLE>
 
Date: July 14, 1995

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 25(B)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                   FORM T - 1
 
                    STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY UNDER THE TRUST
                     INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A CORPORATION
                          DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE
 
                            ------------------------
 
                CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
               OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)
 
                 FIRST TRUST OF NEW YORK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)
 
                                   13-3781471
                               (I. R. S. Employer
                              Identification No.)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
        100 Wall Street, New York, NY                              10005
  (Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
                           FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
                         Terry L. McRoberts, President
                 First Trust of New York, National Association
                          100 Wall Street, 16th Floor
                               New York, NY 10005
                           Telephone: (212) 361-2500
 
                            ------------------------
 
                              RITE AID CORPORATION
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                            <C>
                  Delaware                                      23-1614034
       (State or other jurisdiction of                      (I. R. S. Employer
       incorporation or organization)                       Identification No.)
 
            Rite Aid Corporation
               30 Hunter Lane
           Camp Hill, Pennsylvania
                (717)761-2633                                      17011
  (Address of principal executive offices)                      (Zip Code)
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                DEBT SECURITIES
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2
 
ITEM 1.  GENERAL INFORMATION.
 
     Furnish the following information as to the trustee --
 
     (a) Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it
         is subject.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  NAME                                   ADDRESS
        --------------------------------------------------------    ------------------
        <S>                                                         <C>
        Comptroller of the Currency.............................    Washington, D. C.
</TABLE>
 
     (b) Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.
 
        Yes.
 
ITEM 2.  AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.
 
     If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such
affiliation.
 
        None.
 
ITEM 16.  LIST OF EXHIBITS.
 
     Exhibit 1.  Articles of Association of First Trust of New York, National
                 Association, incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 1 of
                 Form T-1, Registration No. 33-83774.
 
     Exhibit 2.  Certificate of Authority to Commence Business for First Trust
                 of New York, National Association, incorporated herein by
                 reference to Exhibit 2 of Form T-1, Registration No. 33-83774.
 
     Exhibit 3.  Authorization of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers
                 for First Trust of New York, National Association, incorporated
                 herein by reference to Exhibit 3 of Form T-1, Registration No.
                 33-83774.
 
     Exhibit 4.  By-Laws of First Trust of New York, National Association,
                 Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4 of Form T-1,
                 Registration No. 33-55851.
 
     Exhibit 5.  Not applicable.
 
     Exhibit 6.  Consent of First Trust of New York, National Association,
                 required by Section 321(b) of the Act, incorporated herein by
                 reference to Exhibit 6 of Form T-1, Registration No. 33-83774.
 
     Exhibit 7.  Report of Condition of First Trust of New York, National
                 Association, as of the close of business on March 31, 1995,
                 published pursuant to law or the requirements of its
                 supervising or examining authority.
 
     Exhibit 8.  Not applicable.
 
     Exhibit 9.  Not applicable.
<PAGE>   3
 
                                   SIGNATURE
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, First Trust of New York, National Association, a national
banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States,
has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of New York, and State
of New York, on the 14th day of July, 1995.
 
                                                     FIRST TRUST OF NEW YORK,
                                                       NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
 
                                                  By: /s/ DAVID K. LEVERICH
                                                  ----------------------------
                                                         David K. Leverich
                                                           Vice President
<PAGE>   4
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT 7
 
                         FIRST TRUST OF NEW YORK, N. A.
 
                        STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION
                                 AS OF 3/31/95
                                    ($000'S)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    3/31/95
                                                                                    --------
<S>                                                                                 <C>
ASSETS
  Cash and Due From Depository Institutions.......................................  $ 27,498
  Federal Reserve Stock...........................................................     3,150
  Fixed Assets....................................................................       890
  Intangible Assets...............................................................    70,954
  Other Assets....................................................................     3,911
                                                                                    --------
          TOTAL ASSETS............................................................  $106,403
                                                                                    ========
LIABILITIES
  Other Liabilities...............................................................  $  1,822
                                                                                    --------
          TOTAL LIABILITIES.......................................................     1,822
 
EQUITY
  Common and Preferred Stock......................................................     1,000
  Surplus.........................................................................   104,000
  Undivided Profits...............................................................      (419)
                                                                                    --------
          TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL....................................................   104,581
                                                                                    --------
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY CAPITAL..............................................  $106,403
                                                                                    ========
</TABLE>
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
To the best of the undersigned's determination, as of this date the above
financial information is true and correct.
 
First Trust of New York, N. A.
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                <C>
               
By: /s/         DAVID K. LEVERICH
- ---------------------------------------------------
                 David K. Leverich
                  Vice President
</TABLE>
 
Date: July 14, 1995


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