UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

_______________

FORM 11-K

x
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008

OR

o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from _____ to _____

Commission file number 1-5742

A.  Full title of the plan and the address of the plan, if different from that of the issuer named below:

The Rite Aid 401(k) Plan

B.  Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the plan and the address of its principal executive office:

Rite Aid Corporation
30 Hunter Lane
Camp Hill, Pennsylvania 17011
 

 
THE RITE AID 401(K) PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS



   
Page
     
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
1
     
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
 
     
 
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits as of December 31, 2008 and 2007
2
     
 
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the Year Ended December 31, 2008
3
   
 
 
Notes to Financial Statements as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and for the Year Ended December 31, 2008
4–11
     
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE —
 
     
 
Form 5500 — Schedule H, Line 4i — Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2008
13

NOTE:
All other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 have been omitted because they are not applicable.



REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Plan Administrator and Participants of
The Rite Aid 401(k) Plan
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of The Rite Aid 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2008. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. The Plan is not required to have, nor were we engaged to perform, an audit of its internal control over financial reporting. Our audits included consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Plan’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2008 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedule of assets (held at end of year) as of December 31, 2008 is presented for the purpose of additional analysis and is not a required part of the basic financial statements, but is supplementary information required by the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Such schedule has been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in our audit of the basic 2008 financial statements and, in our opinion, is fairly stated in all material respects when considered in relation to the basic 2008 financial statements taken as a whole.


/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
June 26, 2009
 

 
THE RITE AID 401(k) PLAN
 
STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2008 AND 2007

 

   
2008
   
2007
 
             
ASSETS:
           
Participant-directed investments — at fair value
  $ 1,527,308,557     $ 2,048,706,981  
                 
Contributions receivable:
               
Employer
    4,498,792       25,869,231  
Employee
            1,509,502  
                 
Total contributions receivable
    4,498,792       27,378,733  
                 
Total assets
    1,531,807,349       2,076,085,714  
                 
LIABILITIES — Accrued Brooks Eckerd Plan administrative expenses
            (634,052 )
                 
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS AT FAIR VALUE
    1,531,807,349       2,075,451,662  
                 
ADJUSTMENTS FROM FAIR VALUE TO CONTRACT
               
VALUE FOR FULLY BENEFIT - RESPONSIVE
               
INVESTMENT CONTRACTS
    3,046,085       (373,197 )
                 
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
  $ 1,534,853,434     $ 2,075,078,465  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.
 
- 2 -

 
THE RITE AID 401(k) PLAN
 
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008

 
 
ADDITIONS:
     
Employee contributions
  $ 141,311,257  
Employer contributions
    64,242,753  
Rollover contributions
    3,174,813  
Plan transfers
    583,027  
Investment income
    48,199,493  
         
Total additions
    257,511,343  
         
DEDUCTIONS:
       
Net depreciation in fair value of investments
    607,813,900  
Benefit payments
    189,845,848  
Administrative expenses
    76,626  
         
Total deductions
    797,736,374  
         
DECREASE IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS
    (540,225,031 )
         
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS — Beginning of year
    2,075,078,465  
         
NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR BENEFITS — End of year
  $ 1,534,853,434  
 
 
See notes to financial statements.
 
- 3 -


THE RITE AID 401(K) PLAN

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and for the Year Ended December 31, 2008

 

1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN

The following brief description of The Rite Aid 401(k) Plan (the “Plan”) is provided for general informational purposes only. Participants should refer to the Plan document for a more complete description of the Plan’s provisions.

General — The Plan is a defined contribution plan. An individual account is established for each participant and provides benefits that are based on (a) amounts the participant and Rite Aid Corporation (the “Company” or “Plan Sponsor”) contributed to a participant’s account, (b) investment earnings (losses), and (c) any forfeitures allocated to the account, less any administrative expenses charged to the Plan and allocated to participant accounts, if any.

T. Rowe Price Trust Company serves as Plan trustee with respect to all assets other than Company stock and JC Penney common stock. GreatBanc Trust Company serves as Plan trustee with respect to Company stock and JC Penney common stock. The Employee Benefits Administration Committee is the plan administrator (“Plan Administrator”) and is responsible for the preparation of the Plan’s financial statements.

The Plan Administrator merged The Brooks and Eckerd Pharmacy 401(k) Savings Plan (the “Brooks Eckerd Plan”) into the Plan. The merger was completed on December 28, 2007. The increased contribution receivable as of December 31, 2007 reflects the 2007 annual matching contribution under the Brooks Eckerd Plan. The liabilities as of December 31, 2007 reflect accrued expenses and participant distributions in transit under the Brooks Eckerd Plan. Two funds, Penney Common Stock Fund and T. Rowe Price Stable Value Common Trust Fund, were transferred into the Plan from the Brooks Eckerd Plan. These funds were closed to new investments and were eliminated from the Plan during 2008.

Participation — Substantially all non-union Plan Sponsor employees become eligible to participate in the Plan after attaining age 21 and completing three months of service. Participants of the Plan are eligible for matching contributions upon attaining age 21 and completing one year of service (a twelve-month period when at least 1,000 hours are credited).

Contributions — Effective January 1, 2008, participants may contribute up to 70% of pretax annual compensation up to the maximum dollar limit, as defined in the Plan. Participants age 50 and over may make additional pretax contributions, as defined in the Plan. The Plan Sponsor matches 100% of a participant’s pretax payroll contributions, up to a maximum of 3% of such participant’s pretax annual compensation. Thereafter, the Plan Sponsor will match 50% of the participant’s additional pretax payroll contributions, up to a maximum of 2% of such participant’s additional pretax annual compensation. Compensation is limited to eligible compensation as defined by the Plan and limited by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). A participant may also contribute, or rollover, amounts representing distributions from another qualified defined benefit or defined contribution plan.
 
Investment Options — The Plan provides participants with the option of investing the participant’s account balances into various investment options offered by the Plan. The Plan currently offers 18 mutual funds, 5 custom funds, 1 common/collective trust, a stable value fund and Rite Aid Corporation Common Stock.
 
- 4 -

 
The Plan’s custom funds are custom investment options created specifically for the Plan by Northern Trust Global Advisors, Inc. The custom fund is an unregistered custom account maintained by the trustee. The performance of the custom fund is based on the performance of the underlying mutual funds which are registered in the market.

Payment of Benefits — Upon termination of service, a participant may elect to receive benefit distributions in one of several forms, including installment payments or lump-sum payments. In certain cases, spousal consent may be required in order to elect a form of distribution other than a joint and survivor annuity. Benefits are payable upon retirement, termination of employment, or the death or disability of the participant. In certain circumstances, benefits may be paid to a participant prior to the participant’s termination of employment.

Loans — A participant may elect to borrow against the participant’s vested balance at a reasonable rate of interest as defined in the Plan document. A participant may borrow up to 50% of the participant’s vested balance, with a maximum loan of $50,000. A participant may only have one loan outstanding at any one time, with the exception that participants may have up to three outstanding loans which were grandfathered at the time the Plan was amended to no longer allow more than one loan.

Vesting — Participants are immediately vested in all employee contributions credited to the participant’s accounts plus actual earnings (losses) thereon. Effective January 1, 2002, participants became immediately vested in all Plan Sponsor’s contributions credited to the participant’s accounts plus actual earnings (losses) thereon made after that date. Prior to January 1, 2002, vesting in the Plan Sponsor’s contributions was based on years of service, as defined in the Plan document. A participant becomes fully vested in the Plan Sponsor’s contributions upon the participant’s death, disability, attainment of normal retirement age while employed, or the occurrence of a Plan termination. When a participant withdraws from the Plan prior to becoming fully vested, the non-vested portion of the participant’s account is forfeited and credited to a suspense account. The suspense account may be reallocated to participants in the same manner as matching contributions.

Forfeited Accounts — At December 31, 2008 and 2007, forfeited nonvested accounts totaled $931,251 and $1,872,109, respectively. These forfeited amounts may, among other uses, be used to reduce future employer contributions and pay certain administrative expenses. During the year ended December 31, 2008, administrative expenses were paid by forfeited nonvested accounts.

2.
SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Accounting — The accompanying financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting.

Adoption of new Accounting Guidance — The financial statements reflect the adoption of Financial Accounting Standards Board Staff Position, FSP AAG INV-1 and SOP 94-4-1, Reporting of Fully Benefit-Responsive Contracts Held by Certain Investment Companies Subject to the AICPA Investment Company Guide and Defined-Contribution Health and Welfare and Pension Plans (FSP). As required by the FSP, the statements of net assets available for benefits present investment contracts at fair value as well as an additional line item showing an adjustment of fully benefit responsive contracts from fair value to contract value. The statement of changes in net assets available for benefits is presented on a contract value basis and was not affected by the adoption of the FSP.

Investment Valuation and Income Recognition — The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value. Shares of mutual funds are valued at quoted market prices, which represent the net asset value of shares held by the Plan at year end. Custom funds are stated at fair value which is based on the net asset value of participation units held by the Plan at year-end and is calculated based on the shares held in underlying mutual fund investments and the net asset value of those investments. Common stock is valued at quoted market prices.
 
- 5 -

 
Common collective trust funds are stated at fair value as determined by the issuer of the common collective trust funds based on the fair market value of the underlying investments.

The stable value fund (SVF) includes two fully benefit-responsive synthetic guaranteed investment contracts (GIC) whose underlying investments are stated at fair value and then adjusted by the issuer to contract value. Fair value of the underlying investments is determined by the issuer of the synthetic GIC based on market prices and a fair value estimate of the wrapper contract. Fair market value of the wrapper is estimated by converting the basis points assigned to the wrap fees into dollars.

Participant loans are valued at the outstanding loan balances, which approximates fair value.

The common collective trust funds and the stable value fund may invest in fixed interest insurance investment contracts, money market funds, corporate and government bonds, mortgage-backed securities, bond funds, and other fixed income securities. Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment at contract value. Contract value represents contributions made to the fund, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals.

Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis. Realized gain or loss on investment transactions is determined using the first-in, first-out method; investment transactions are recorded at the trade date. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.

Management fees and operating expenses charged to the Plan for investments in the mutual funds are deducted from income earned on a daily basis and are not separately reflected. Consequently, management fees and operating expenses are reflected as a reduction of investment return for such investments.

The Plan had 3,252,175 and 2,380,006 shares of Company common stock at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.

Valuation of Investment(s) Contracts — The Plan offers the SVF as an investment option. On October 1, 2006, the Plan began to offer the T. Rowe Price SVF with the Prudential SVF blended together as a single investment split fifty percent into each of these underlying investments. These are trust products and are comprised of a group annuity insurance product issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America (“Prudential”), T. Rowe Price Retirement Plan Services (“T. Rowe Price”) and a portfolio of assets owned by the plan or designee. Interest on the SVF is credited daily. T. Rowe Price calculated a blended rate which was credited and compounded on a daily basis. The blended rate is based upon the Prudential and T. Rowe Price rates and the 50%–50% asset split. The SVF is deemed to be fully benefit responsive; therefore, it is presented at contract value, which approximates fair value.

Administrative Expenses — Plan fees and expenses related to account maintenance, transaction and investment fund management are allocated to participant accounts. Under the terms of the Plan document, costs relating to Plan administration may be paid by the Plan Sponsor or paid from Plan forfeitures. For the year ended December 31, 2008, the Plan Sponsor has paid substantially all administrative expenses.
 
- 6 -

 
Use of Estimates — The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the Plan Administrator to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of net assets available for benefits at the date of the financial statements and the reported changes to the Plan’s net assets available for benefits during the reporting period. Actual results may differ from those estimates and assumptions.

The Plan invests in mutual funds, common/collective trusts, corporate stocks and the SVF. Investment securities, in general, are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, credit, and overall market volatility. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is reasonably possible that changes in the values of investment securities will occur in the near term and that such changes could materially affect the amounts reported in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits.

3.
FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Value Measurements, the plan classifies its investments into level 1, which refers to securities valued using quoted prices from active markets for identical assets; level 2, which refers to securities not traded on an active market but for which observable market inputs are readily available; and level 3, which refers to securities valued based on significant unobservable inputs. Assets and liabilities are classified in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The following table sets forth by level within the fair value hierarchy a summary of the plan’s investments measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 31, 2008.
 
   
Quoted Prices in
   
Significant
             
   
Active Markets
   
Other
   
Significant
       
   
for Identical
   
Observable
   
Unobservable
       
   
Assets (Level 1)
   
Inputs (Level 2)
   
Inputs (Level 3)
   
Total
 
Rite Aid Common Stock
  $ 1,008,174                 $ 1,008,174  
Mutual Funds
    781,708,566                   781,708,566  
Custom Funds
    287,058,388                   287,058,388  
Common and Collective Trusts
            14,997,242             14,997,242  
Stable Value Fund
            400,555,390             400,555,390  
Participant Loans
                    41,980,797       41,980,797  
                                 
Total
  $ 1,069,775,128     $ 415,552,632       41,980,797     $ 1,527,308,557  
 
The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for instruments measured at fair value, as well as the general classification of such instruments pursuant to the valuation hierarchy.
 
Common Stock
 
The Plan measures its Rite Aid common stock using the stock’s quoted price, which is available in an active market.  Therefore, this investment is classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.

- 7 -

 
Mutual funds
 
The Plan measures its mutual funds that are exchange-traded using the fund’s quoted price, which is in an active market.  Therefore, these investments are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.
 
Custom  funds
 
Custom funds are made up of two mutual funds.  The plan measures its mutual funds that are exchange-traded using the fund’s quoted price.  They are traded daily based on observable fair value at a net asset value (NAV) that is recalculated daily.  Therefore, these investments are classified within Level 1 of the valuation hierarchy.
 
Common and Collective Trusts
 
The T. Rowe Price Bond Index Trust is priced at trust NAV per unit, adjusted for trustee fees accrued daily (as applicable).  Investments held by the T. Rowe Price Bond Index Trust are stated at fair value in accordance with FAS 157.  Therefore, the Plan classifies common and collective trusts as Level 2 securities in the fair value hierarchy.
 
Stable value fund
 
Stable value funds have underlying investments that consist of cash equivalents, collective trust funds, GICs, and alternative investment contracts.  Cash equivalents are short term investment funds that have a maturity of 90 days or less and are valued at cost.  The collective trust funds value is derived by their respective NAV.  The collective trust funds consist of bonds and asset-backed securities whose value is derived from observable inputs based on the pricing of similar instruments that are publicly traded.  GICs are valued based on their underlying securities, which consist of bonds whose value is derived from observable inputs including London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR) forward interest rate curves.  The bonds are valued based on the pricing of similar bonds that are publicly traded.  In determining fair value, factors such as the benefit-responsiveness of the investment contracts and the ability of the parties to the investment contracts to perform in accordance with the terms of the contracts; such inputs were not significant to the valuation.  Alternative investment contracts are valued based on their underlying securities, which consists of common funds consisting of bonds and asset-backed securities whose value is derived from observable inputs based on the pricing of similar instruments that are publicly traded.  Therefore, the Plan classifies stable value funds as Level 2 securities in the fair value hierarchy.
 
Participant loans
 
Participant loans are stated at cost, which approximates fair value.

The following table is a reconciliation of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3):
 
For the year ended December 31, 2008
 
Participant Notes Receivable
   
Total Fair Value
 
             
Beginning Balance
  $ 44,299,121     $ 44,299,121  
Total gains or losses (realized/unrealized)
               
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements, net
    (2,318,324 )     (2,318,324 )
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3
               
Ending Balance
    41,980,797       41,980,797  
 
- 8 -


4.
SYNTHETIC GUARANTEED INVESTMENT CONTRACT

The plan provides a self managed stable value investment option to participants that includes a synthetic guaranteed investment contract which simulates the performance of a guaranteed investment contract through an issuer’s guarantee of a specific interest rate (the wrapper contract) and a portfolio of financial instruments that are owned by the plan. The synthetic GIC contract includes underlying assets which are held in trust owned by the plan and utilizes a benefit-responsive wrapper contract. A portion of the master trust’s Stable Value Fund is issued by The Prudential Insurance Company of America and a portion is managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. (TRPA). The TRPA portion of the Fund consists of synthetic investment contracts which are selected by TRPA and issued by banks and other financial institutions. TRPA also manages the fixed income instruments underlying the investment contracts in its portion of the Fund. The contract provides that participants execute plan transactions at contract value. Contract value represents contributions made to the fund, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals. The interest rates are reset quarterly based on market rates of other similar investments, the current yield of the underlying investments and the spread between the market value and contract value. Certain events such as plan termination or a plan merger initiated by the plan sponsor, may limit the ability of the plan to transact at contract value or may allow for the termination of the wrapper contract at less than contract value. The plan sponsor does not believe that any events that may limit the ability of the plan to transact at contract value are probable.
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
             
Average yields:
           
Based on annualized earnings (1)
   
4.80
%    
5.05
%
Based on interest rate credited to participants (2)
   
4.25
     
4.47
 
 

 
(1)
Computed by dividing the annualized one-day actual earnings of the contract on the last day of the plan year by the fair value of the investments on the same date.

 
(2)
Computed by dividing the annualized one-day earnings credited to participants on the last day of the plan year by the fair value of the investments on the same date.

5.
INVESTMENTS

The investments that represent 5% or more of the Plan’s assets at December 31, 2008 and 2007, are as follows:
 
   
2008
   
2007
 
             
Stable Value Fund
  $ 400,555,390     $ 335,140,366  
Vanguard Institutional Index Fund
    107,524,315       176,492,110  
Dodge & Cox Balanced Fund
    97,692,192       156,999,786  
Northern Trust Global Advisors Large-Cap Growth Fund
    85,793,699       148,343,429  
T. Rowe Price Retirement 2020
    78,669,140       100,713,831  
Northern Trust Global Advisors International Equity Fund
    67,975,108       106,921,497  
 
- 9 -

 
The Plan’s investments (including gains and losses on investments bought and sold, as well as held during the year) appreciated/(depreciated) in value for the year ended December 31, 2008, is as follows:
 
Investments:
     
Rite Aid Corporate Stock
  $ (6,586,111 )
Penney (J.C.) Common Stock
    (32,237,329 )
Mutual funds
    (408,819,914 )
Custom Funds
    (177,733,590 )
Common and Collective Trusts
    497,396  
Guaranteed Investment Contracts
    17,065,648  
         
Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments
  $ (607,813,900 )

6.
TAX STATUS

The Plan has received a determination letter dated June 27, 2003, in which the IRS stated that the Plan, as then designed, was in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). The Plan has been amended since receiving the determination letter. The Plan Administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC, including the processes identified for remediation. Therefore, no provision for income taxes has been included in the Plan’s financial statements.

7.
PLAN TERMINATION

Although it has not expressed any intent to do so, the Plan Sponsor has the right under the Plan to discontinue its contributions at any time and to terminate the Plan subject to the provisions of ERISA. In the event the Plan terminates, participants would become fully vested in the Plan Sponsor contributions.

8.
PARTY-IN-INTEREST TRANSACTIONS

Certain Plan investments are shares of mutual funds managed by T. Rowe Price Trust Company, the trustee and custodian of the Plan. The transactions related to such investments qualify as party-in-interest transactions. The Plan has also permitted investment in the common stock of the Plan Sponsor, and therefore these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. The Plan Administrator does not consider Plan Sponsor contributions or benefits paid by the Plan to be party-in-interest transactions.

9.
CONTINGENCY

In late 1999, the Plan Sponsor’s Board of Directors hired a new executive management team to address and resolve various business, operational and financial challenges confronting the Plan Sponsor. New management reviewed the administration of the Plan for purposes of determining compliance with provisions of the Plan and regulatory requirements. The Plan Administrator identified certain processes not in compliance with the provisions of the Plan or regulatory requirements. As a result of this review the following actions were taken:

In September 2003, the Plan Administrator submitted a Voluntary Correction of Operational Failures program filing with the IRS, requesting a compliance statement and approval of the correction method for the operational failures identified. On January 15, 2007, the Plan Administrator received a fully executed compliance statement containing IRS approval of the correction methods submitted. The Plan Sponsor completed all corrections in accordance with the compliance statement thereby eliminating exposure to penalties, taxes or disqualification by the IRS. The correction process was completed on August 20, 2007.
 
- 10 -

 
On June 4, 2007, the Plan Sponsor acquired the Brooks Eckerd drugstore chain, including the Brooks Eckerd Plan. The Plan Administrator reviewed the administration of the Brooks Eckerd Plan and identified certain processes not in compliance with the provisions of the Brooks Eckerd Plan or regulatory requirements. As a result, the following actions were taken:

On December 31, 2007, the Plan Administrator submitted a Voluntary Correction of Operations Failures program filing (VCP) with the IRS, requesting a compliance statement and approval of the correction methods for the operations failures identified. On June 30, 2008, the Plan Administrator received a fully executed compliance statement containing IRS approval of the correction methods submitted. The Plan Sponsor completed all corrections in accordance with the compliance statement thereby eliminating exposure to penalties, taxes or disqualification by the IRS. The correction process was completed on November 27, 2008.

10.
RECONCILIATION OF FINANCIALS TO FORM 5500

The reconciliation of net assets available for benefits per the financial statements to the Form 5500 as of December 31, 2008, is as follows.
 
Net assets available for benefits per the financial
     
statements at contract value
  $ 1,534,853,434  
Adjustment from contract value to fair value for fully
       
benefit-responsive investment contracts
    (3,046,085 )
         
Net assets available for benefits per Form 5500, Schedule H, Part I (line L)
  $ 1,531,807,349  
 
For the year ended December 31, 2008, the following is a reconciliation of net investment loss per the financial statements to the Form 5500:
 
Total contributions
  $ 208,728,823  
Total investment income
    48,199,493  
Net depreciation in fair value of investments
    (607,813,900 )
Prior year adjustment from fair value to contract value for
    (373,197 )
fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
       
         
Current year adjustment from fair value to contract value
    (3,046,085 )
for fully benefit-responsive investment contracts
       
         
Total loss per Form 5500, Schedule H, Part II (line 2d)
    (354,304,866 )
 

******
 
- 11 -

 
 
 
 
 
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE
 
 
 
 
 
- 12 -

 
THE RITE AID 401(k) PLAN
 
FORM 5500, SCHEDULE H, LINE 4i—SCHEDULE OF ASSETS (HELD AT END OF YEAR)
 
AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2008

 
 
           
At
 
Identity of Issuer, Borrower,
   
Number
   
Fair Market
 
Lessor or Similar Party and Description
   
of Shares
   
Value
 
               
Common and collective trusts:
             
  *T. Rowe Price
Bond Index Trust
    575,268     $ 14,997,242  
                   
Mutual Funds:
                 
*T. Rowe Price
Retirement 2020
    7,080,931       78,669,140  
*T. Rowe Price
Retirement 2025
    8,438,455       67,001,336  
*T. Rowe Price
Retirement 2015
    8,045,143       66,774,688  
*T. Rowe Price
Retirement 2030
    5,745,724       64,122,281  
*T. Rowe Price
Retirement 2035
    6,071,799       47,299,318  
*T. Rowe Price
Retirement 2040
    4,183,334       46,351,346  
*T. Rowe Price
Retirement 2010
    3,470,328       38,902,379  
*T. Rowe Price
International Equity Index Fund
    2,625,455       22,946,480  
*T. Rowe Price
Retirement 2045
    2,465,794       18,197,562  
*T. Rowe Price
Retirement Income Fund
    1,488,552       15,361,858  
*T. Rowe Price
Retirement 2005
    1,645,495       14,217,078  
*T. Rowe Price
Extended Equity Market Index Fund
    917,303       8,686,860  
*T. Rowe Price
Retirement 2050
    406,778       2,522,022  
*T. Rowe Price
Retirement 2055
    275,283       1,687,487  
*T. Rowe Price
Insurance Fund
    1,006       1,006  
Vanguard
Instl Index Fund
    1,302,690       107,524,315  
Dodge & Cox
Balanced Fund
    1,905,817       97,692,192  
Pimco
Total Return Instl
    7,239,066       73,404,130  
Vanguard
Small-Cap Index Instl
    507,210       10,347,088  
                   
Total mutual funds
              781,708,566  
                   
Custom Funds:
                 
Northern Trust Global Advisors
Large-Cap Growth Fund
    10,971,061       85,793,699  
Northern Trust Global Advisors
International Equity Fund
    5,726,631       67,975,108  
Northern Trust Global Advisors
Large-Cap Value Fund
    5,657,907       51,373,793  
Northern Trust Global Advisors
Small-Cap Fund
    4,777,715       47,872,705  
Northern Trust Global Advisors
Mid-Cap Fund
    3,617,756       34,043,083  
                   
Total custom funds
              287,058,388  
                   
Stable Value Fund Synthetic Guaranteed Investment
                 
Contract — Prudential and *T. Rowe Price
Stable Value Fund
    32,759,860       400,555,390  
                   
Company Stock Fund — *Rite Aid Corporation
Company Stock Fund
    3,252,175       1,008,174  
                   
*Participant notes
Loan Fund**
            41,980,797  
                   
Total Assets Held at End
            $ 1,527,308,557  
 
*
Party-in-interest
**
The loans range in interest rates from 4.0% to 10.5% and expire through 2021.
 
- 13 -

 
SIGNATURES

The Plan.  Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the trustees (or other persons who administer the employee benefit plan) have duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
 
 
THE RITE AID 401(k) PLAN
 
       
       
 
By:
 /s/ Chuck Carlsen
 
   
Chuck Carlsen, not in his individual capacity, but solely as an authorized signatory for the Employee Benefits Administration Committee
 
 
Date:  June 29, 2009
 

 
EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
 
Description
23.1
Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm