Loblaw Companies Limited Files Preliminary Base Shelf Prospectus

BRAMPTON, ON, Dec. 14, 2012 /CNW/ - Loblaw Companies Limited (TSX: L) announced today that it has filed a preliminary base shelf prospectus with the securities regulatory authorities in each of the provinces of Canada. This filing enables Loblaw Companies Limited to offer up to $1 billion of debentures and preferred shares from time to time over a 25-month period after the shelf prospectus becomes final. Any issue of securities under the shelf prospectus will require the filing of a prospectus supplement that will include the specific terms of the securities being offered. The shelf prospectus was filed to provide Loblaw Companies Limited with financial flexibility and efficient access to Canadian capital markets.

This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of any offer to buy any securities in any jurisdiction.

About Loblaw Companies Limited
Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is Canada's largest food retailer and a leading provider of drugstore, general merchandise and financial products and services. Loblaw is one of the largest private sector employers in Canada. With more than 1,000 corporate and franchised stores from coast to coast, Loblaw and its franchisees employ more than 135,000 full-time and part-time employees. Through its portfolio of store formats, Loblaw is committed to providing Canadians with a wide, growing and successful range of products and services to meet the everyday household demands of Canadian consumers. Loblaw is known for the quality, innovation and value of its food offering. It offers Canada's strongest control (private) label program, including the unique President's Choice^® no name^®, and Joe Fresh ^® brands. In addition, Loblaw makes available to consumers President's Choice^® financial services and offers the PC^® points loyalty program.

SOURCE Loblaw Companies Limited