Document


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
 
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
 
BEST BUY CO., INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Minnesota
 
41-0907483
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
 
 
 
7601 Penn Avenue South
Richfield, Minnesota
 
55423
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)

Keith J. Nelsen
General Counsel & Secretary
 Best Buy Co., Inc.
7601 Penn Avenue South
Richfield, MN  55423
(Name and address of agent for service)
Copy to:
Jonathan B. Abram
Dorsey & Whitney, LLP
50 South Sixth Street, Suite 1500
Minneapolis, MN 55402-1498
(612) 340-2600

(612) 291-1000
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

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

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, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest reinvestment plans, 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, 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, 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 registration statement pursuant to General Instruction I.D. or a post-effective amendment thereto that shall become effective upon filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act, check the following box. x
If this Form is a post-effective amendment to a registration statement filed pursuant to General Instruction I.D. filed to register additional securities or additional classes of securities pursuant to Rule 413(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box. ☐

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Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x
 
Accelerated filer ☐
Non-accelerated filer ☐
Smaller reporting company ☐
Emerging growth company ☐
 
 

Calculation of Registration Fee
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED
 
AMOUNT TO BE
REGISTERED
 
PROPOSED MAXIMUM OFFERING PRICE PER SHARE
 
PROPOSED MAXIMUM AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE
 
AMOUNT OF REGISTRATION FEE
Debt Securities
 
(1)
 
(1)
 
(1)
 
(2)

(1)
Omitted pursuant to General Instruction II.E. of Form S-3. An indeterminate aggregate initial offering price or number of debt securities is being registered as may from time to time be offered at indeterminate prices.
(2)
In accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.

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PROSPECTUS

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Best Buy Co., Inc.
 
Debt Securities


We may, from time to time, offer to sell debt securities in one or more offerings. This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities. We will provide the specific terms of these securities in prospectus supplements to this prospectus.

We may offer and sell these debt securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis.
This prospectus may not be used to sell securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.
Investing in our debt securities involves risks. You should consider the risk factors described in any accompanying prospectus supplement or any documents we incorporate by reference.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
___________________________________
This prospectus is dated September 18, 2018






We have not authorized anyone to provide you with any information other than that contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, in any accompanying prospectus supplement or in any free writing prospectus filed by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). We have not authorized any other person to provide you with different information. We take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or in any such free writing prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the respective dates thereof. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
We are not making an offer to sell these debt securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
OUR COMPANY
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
USE OF PROCEEDS
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES
EXPERTS


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ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the SEC under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf registration process, we may, from time to time, sell in one or more offerings any of our debt securities described in this prospectus.
This prospectus provides you with a general description of the debt securities that we may offer. Each time we sell debt securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus.
You should carefully read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information.”
References in this prospectus to “we,” “us” and “our” and all similar references are to Best Buy Co., Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise stated or the context otherwise requires. However, in the “Description of the Debt Securities” section of this prospectus, references to “we,” “us” and “our” are to Best Buy Co., Inc. (parent company only) and not to any of its subsidiaries.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The public may read and copy any materials filed with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. Also, the SEC maintains an Internet web site that contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information regarding issuers, including us, that file electronically with the SEC. The public can obtain any documents that we file electronically with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov.
We also make available, free of charge, on or through our Internet web site (http://www.investors.bestbuy.com) our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statements on Schedule 14A and, if applicable amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Please note, however, that we have not incorporated any other information by reference from our Internet web site, other than the documents listed under the heading “Incorporation by Reference.” In addition, you may request copies of these filings at no cost through our Investor Relations Department at: Best Buy Co., Inc., 7601 Penn Avenue South, Richfield, Minnesota 55423, telephone: (612) 291-1000.
We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the debt securities covered by this prospectus. This prospectus is a part of the registration statement and does not contain all the information in the registration statement. Whenever a reference is made in this prospectus to a contract or other document of ours, the reference is only a summary and you should refer to the exhibits that are a part of the registration statement for a copy of the contract or other document. You may review a copy of the registration statement and the documents incorporated by reference herein at the SEC’s Public Reference Room in Washington, D.C., as well as through the SEC’s Internet web site referenced above.
INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference information into this prospectus. This means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document. Any information referred to in this way is considered part of this prospectus from the date we file that document. Any reports filed by us with the SEC after the date of this prospectus and before the date that the offering of the debt securities by means of this prospectus is terminated will automatically update and, where applicable, supersede any information contained in this prospectus or incorporated by reference in this prospectus.
We incorporate by reference into this prospectus the documents set forth below that have been previously filed with the SEC; provided, however, that we are not incorporating any documents or information deemed to have been furnished rather than filed in accordance with SEC rules:
our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018;
our Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on May 2, 2018 (solely to the extent incorporated by reference into Part III of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018);
our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarters ended May 5, 2018 and August 4, 2018;
our Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on March 1, 2018, March 6, 2018, March 22, 2018, April 20, 2018, June 14, 2018, July 25, 2018, August 15, 2018 (item 8.01 only) and on Form 8-K/A filed on June 14, 2018; and
any filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act on or after the date of this prospectus and before the termination of the offering of debt securities by means of this prospectus.

To obtain copies of these filings, see “Where You Can Find More Information.”
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein, other than purely historical information, including estimates, projections, statements relating to our business plans, objectives and expected operating results, and the assumptions upon which those statements are based, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “foresee,” “plan,” “project,” “outlook,” “will,” and other words and terms of similar meaning. Forward-looking statements reflect our current view with respect to future events and trends and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions, which may cause actual results and trends to differ materially from the forward-looking statements. Actual results and trends could differ materially from historical or expected results depending on, among others, the following factors:
competition from multi-channel retailers, e-commerce businesses, technology service producers, traditional store-based retailers and vendors and mobile network carriers that offer products and services directly to customers;
our ability to maintain or increase our revenues and profit margins;

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our products’ susceptibility to technological advancement, product lifecycle fluctuations, and changes in customers’ preferences and spending;
risks associated with our vendors and mobile network carriers;
changes in U.S. or international economic or political conditions;
product safety and quality concerns;
risks associated with our focus on services as a strategic priority;
macroeconomic pressures in the markets in which we operate affecting consumer spending;
interruptions and other factors affecting our supply chain;
our ability to attract, develop, and retain appropriately qualified employees, including employees in key positions;
our success in navigating the business, financial, and regulatory risks associated with our strategy to expand into new products, services, and technologies;
our ability to maintain positive brand perception and recognition;
failure to effectively manage our real estate portfolio;
failure to effectively manage our costs;
constraints in the capital markets or our vendor credit terms;
changes in our credit ratings affecting our access to capital and our costs to borrow;
the cash flows and net earnings we generate during our fourth fiscal quarter, which includes the majority of the holiday shopping season;
promotional activity of our competitors;
failure to effectively manage strategic ventures, alliances or acquisitions;
failure to prevent or effectively respond to a breach of the privacy or security of our customer, employee, vendor or company information;
a failure of or interruption to our information technology systems;
weather or natural disasters or other unexpected events or developments affecting us;
acts of war or terrorism;
additional product, supply chain and legal risks associated with our exclusive brands products;
changes in our statutory, regulatory and legal environments;
changes to labor or employment laws or regulations;
our ability, in light of economic, regulatory and other developments, to offer attractive promotional financing to our customers;
risks associated with our utilization of third-party vendors for certain aspects of our business operations;
risks associated with our international activities, which include many of the risks associated with our domestic activities, as well as risks associated with the legislative, judicial, regulatory, political, economic and cultural factors specific to the countries or regions in which we operate;
our inability to meet the financial performance guidance or other forward-looking statements we have provided to the public; and
other matters referred to in our SEC filings.

A detailed discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and trends to differ materially from such forward-looking statements is included in Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018 under the heading “Risk Factors” and as may be included from time to time in our other reports filed with the SEC.

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We undertake no obligation to update to revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.
OUR COMPANY
We are a leading provider of technology products, services and solutions. We offer these products and services to customers who visit our stores, engage with Geek Squad agents or use our websites or mobile applications. We have retail operations in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
We operate two reportable segments: Domestic and International. The Domestic segment is comprised of the operations in all states, districts and territories of the United States, operating under various brand names including Best Buy, bestbuy.com, Best Buy Mobile, Best Buy Direct, Best Buy Express, Geek Squad, Magnolia Home Theater and Pacific Kitchen and Home. On February 28, 2018, we announced our intention to close all of our remaining Best Buy Mobile stand-alone stores by May 31, 2018, which we achieved in the second fiscal quarter. The International segment is comprised of all operations in Canada and Mexico under the brand names Best Buy, Best Buy Express, Best Buy Mobile, Geek Squad and the domain names bestbuy.ca and bestbuy.com.mx.
Our purpose is: to enrich our customers' lives through technology. We aim to fulfill our purpose by addressing key human needs in areas like entertainment, productivity, communication, food, security, and health and wellness. We believe we are in an opportunity rich environment, and that Best Buy is well-positioned to capitalize on these opportunities because our combination of assets and capabilities gives us the ability to serve customers online, in stores or in their homes. Our business strategy is based on offering high levels of customer service and a full range of services to complement the products we offer.
Best Buy Co., Inc. is a Minnesota corporation whose principal executive offices are located at 7601 Penn Avenue South, Richfield, Minnesota 55423. Our main telephone number is (612) 291-1000.
References to our website addresses do not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on the websites.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES


The following table sets forth the historical ratio of our earnings to our fixed charges for the periods indicated.
 
 
Six Months Ended
 
Fiscal Years Ended
 
 
August 4, 2018
 
July 29, 2017
 
February 3, 2018
 
January 28, 2017
 
January 30, 2016
 
January 31, 2015
 
February 1, 2014
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1)
 
 
4.83
 
 
4.96
 
 
6.86
 
 
6.97
 
 
5.16
 
 
5.08
 
 
4.06

(1)
For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings represents earnings before income tax expense, noncontrolling interests and equity in income (loss) of affiliates plus fixed charges; and fixed charges include: (a) interest expense; (b) amortization of capitalized expenses related to debt; and (c) the portion of rental expense which management believes is representative of the interest component of rent expense.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Except as otherwise set forth in a prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from sales of the debt securities for general corporate purposes, which may include the following: refunding, repurchasing, retiring upon maturity or redeeming existing debt; funding for working capital; capital expenditures; repurchases of our capital stock; and strategic investments and acquisitions.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
We have summarized below general terms and conditions of the debt securities that we will offer and sell pursuant to this prospectus. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms and conditions of the series in a prospectus supplement to this prospectus. We will also indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement whether

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the general terms and conditions described in this prospectus apply to the series of debt securities. In addition, the terms and conditions of the debt securities of a series may be different in one or more respects from the terms and conditions described below. If so, those differences will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. We may, but need not, describe any additional or different terms and conditions of such debt securities in an Annual Report on Form 10-K, a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or a Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC, the information in which would be incorporated by reference in this prospectus and such report will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.
We will issue the debt securities in one or more series under an indenture between us and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee. The following summary of provisions of the indenture does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the indenture, including definitions therein of certain terms. This summary may not contain all of the information that you may find useful. The terms and conditions of the debt securities of each series will be set forth in those debt securities and in the indenture. For a comprehensive description of any series of debt securities being offered to you pursuant to this prospectus, you should read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement.
We have incorporated the indenture as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. A form of each debt security, reflecting the specific terms and provisions of that series of debt securities, will be filed with the SEC in connection with each offering and is or will be incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. You may obtain a copy of the indenture and any form of debt security that has been filed in the manner described under “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Capitalized terms used and not defined in this summary have the meanings specified in the indenture. For purposes of this section of this prospectus, references to “we,” “us” and “our” are to Best Buy Co., Inc. (parent company only) and not to any of its subsidiaries. References to the “applicable prospectus supplement” are to the prospectus supplement to this prospectus that describes the specific terms and conditions of a series of debt securities.
General
We may offer the debt securities from time to time in as many distinct series as we may determine. All debt securities will be our senior obligations. The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities that we may issue under that indenture. We may, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of any series, issue additional debt securities ranking equally with, and otherwise similar in all respects to, the debt securities of that series (except for the public offering price, issue date and first interest payment date) so that those additional debt securities will be consolidated and form a single series with the debt securities of the series previously offered and sold.
The debt securities of each series will be issued in fully registered form without interest coupons. We currently anticipate that the debt securities of each series offered and sold pursuant to this prospectus will be issued as global debt securities as described under “-Book-Entry; Delivery and Form; Global Securities” and will trade in book-entry form only.
Debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars will be issued in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement. If the debt securities of a series are denominated in a foreign or composite currency, the applicable prospectus supplement will specify the denomination or denominations in which those debt securities will be issued.
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will repay the debt securities of each series at 100% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest thereon at maturity, unless those debt securities are previously redeemed or purchased and cancelled.
Unless specified otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of each series will not be listed on any securities exchange.
Provisions of Indenture
The indenture provides that debt securities may be issued under it from time to time in one or more series. For each series of debt securities, this prospectus and/or the applicable prospectus supplement will describe the following terms and conditions of that series of debt securities:
the title of the series;
the maximum aggregate principal amount, if any, established for debt securities of the series;

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the person to whom any interest on a debt security of the series will be payable, if other than the person in whose name that debt security (or one or more predecessor debt securities) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest;
the date or dates on which the principal of any debt securities of the series will be payable or the method used to determine or extend those dates;
the rate or rates at which any debt securities of the series will bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which any such interest will be payable and the regular record date for any such interest payable on any interest payment date;
the place or places where the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on any debt securities of the series will be payable and the manner in which any payment may be made;
the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any debt securities of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at our option and, if other than by a board resolution, the manner in which any election by us to redeem the debt securities will be evidenced;
our obligation or right, if any, to redeem or purchase any debt securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or at the option of the holders thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which any debt securities of the series will be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
if other than denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof, the denominations in which any debt securities of the series will be issuable;
if the amount of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any debt securities of the series may be determined with reference to a financial or economic measure or index or pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts will be determined;
if other than U.S. dollars, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any debt securities of the series will be payable and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in U.S. dollars for any purpose;
if the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any debt securities of the series is to be payable, at our election or the election of the holders thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which such debt securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on such debt securities as to which such election is made will be payable, the periods within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount will be determined);
if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of any debt securities of the series which will be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to the indenture;
if the principal amount payable at the stated maturity of any debt securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates prior to the stated maturity, the amount which will be deemed to be the principal amount of such debt securities as of any such date for any purpose thereunder, including the principal amount thereof which will be due and payable upon any maturity other than the stated maturity or which will be deemed to be outstanding as of any date prior to the stated maturity (or, in any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount will be determined);
if other than by a board resolution, the manner in which any election by us to defease any debt securities of the series pursuant to the indenture will be evidenced; whether any debt securities of the series other than debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate are to be subject to the defeasance provisions of the indenture; or, in the case of debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars and bearing interest at a fixed rate, if applicable, that the debt securities of the series, in whole or any specified part, will not be defeasible pursuant to the indenture;
if applicable, that any debt securities of the series will be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more global securities and, in such case, the respective depositaries for such global securities and the form of any legend or legends which will be borne by any such global securities, and any circumstances in which any such global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities registered, and any transfer of such global security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name or names of persons other than the depositary for such global security or a nominee thereof;

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the events of default applicable to any debt securities of the series and the rights of the trustee or the requisite holders of such debt securities to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable;
the covenants applicable to debt securities of the series;
if the debt securities of the series are to be convertible into or exchangeable for cash and/or any securities or other property of any person (including us), the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be so convertible or exchangeable;
whether the debt securities of the series will be guaranteed and, if so, the identity of the guarantors, the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be guaranteed and, if applicable, the terms and conditions upon which such guarantees may be subordinated to other indebtedness of the guarantors;
whether the debt securities of the series will be secured by any collateral and, if so, the terms and conditions upon which such debt securities will be secured and, if applicable, upon which such liens may be subordinated to other liens securing other indebtedness of us or of any guarantor; and
any other terms of the debt securities of the series (which terms will not be inconsistent with the provisions of the indenture, except as permitted thereunder).

Payment and Transfer or Exchange
Principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the debt securities of each series will be payable, and the debt securities may be exchanged or transferred, at the office or agency maintained by us for such purpose (which initially will be the corporate trust office of the trustee located at U.S. Bank Global Corporate Trust, Attn: Bondholder Services - EP-MN-WS2N, 111 Fillmore Avenue East, St. Paul, Minnesota 55107-1402). Payment of principal of and premium, if any, and interest on a global security registered in the name of or held by The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) or its nominee will be made in immediately available funds to DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of such global security. If any of the debt securities is no longer represented by a global security, payment of interest on certificated debt securities in definitive form may, at our option, be made by check mailed directly to holders at their registered addresses. See “-Book-Entry; Delivery and Form; Global Securities.”
A holder may transfer or exchange any certificated debt securities in definitive form at the same location given in the preceding paragraph. No service charge will be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but we may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or other similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
We are not required to transfer or exchange any debt security selected for redemption for a period of 15 days before mailing of a notice of redemption of the debt security to be redeemed.
The registered holder of a debt security will be treated as the owner of it for all purposes.
Subject to applicable unclaimed property laws, all amounts of principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the debt securities paid by us that remain unclaimed two years after such payment was due and payable will be repaid to us, and the holders of such debt securities will thereafter look solely to us for payment.
Same-Day Settlement and Payment
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will trade in the same-day funds settlement system of DTC until maturity or until we issue the debt securities in certificated form. DTC will therefore require secondary market trading activity in the debt securities to settle in immediately available funds. We can give no assurance as to the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the debt securities.
Book-Entry; Delivery and Form; Global Securities
Unless otherwise provided in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities of each series will be issued in the form of one or more global debt securities, in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons, each of which we refer to as a "global security." Each such global security will be deposited with the trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of a nominee of DTC in New York, New York for the accounts of participants in DTC.
Investors may hold their interests in a global security directly through DTC if they are DTC participants, or indirectly through organizations that are DTC participants. Except in the limited circumstances described below, holders of debt securities represented by interests in a global security will not be entitled to receive their debt securities in fully registered certificated form.

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The indenture provides that the global securities will be exchanged for debt securities in certificated form of like tenor and of an equal principal amount, in authorized denominations in the following limited circumstances:
(1) DTC notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depository or if DTC ceases to be eligible under the indenture and we do not appoint a successor depository within 90 days;
(2) we determine that the debt securities will no longer be represented by global securities and execute and deliver to the trustee an order to such effect; or
(3) an event of default with respect to the debt securities will have occurred and be continuing and DTC requests the issuance of certificated securities.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the law of the State of New York.
Regarding The Trustee
U.S. Bank National Association is the trustee under the indenture.
The trustee is permitted to engage in transactions with us and our subsidiaries from time to time, provided that if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate such conflict upon the occurrence of an event of default, or else resign.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We may sell the debt securities described in this prospectus from time to time in one or more transactions:
to purchasers directly;
to underwriters for public offering and sale by them;
through agents;
through dealers; or
through a combination of any of the foregoing methods of sale.

We may sell the debt securities directly to institutional investors or others who may be deemed to be underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act, with respect to any resale of the debt securities. A prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any sale of debt securities we are offering hereunder. Direct sales may be arranged by a securities broker-dealer or other financial intermediary.
The applicable prospectus supplement will name any underwriter involved in a sale of debt securities. Underwriters may offer and sell debt securities at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or from time to time at market prices or at negotiated prices. Underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation from us from sales of debt securities in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of debt securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may be involved in any “at the market” offering of debt securities by or on our behalf.
Underwriters may sell debt securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or commissions (which may be changed from time to time) from the purchasers for whom they may act as agent.
Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of any underwriters to purchase debt securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all the debt securities if any are purchased.
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth whether or not underwriters may over-allot or effect transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the debt securities at levels above those that might otherwise prevail in the open market, including, for example, by entering stabilizing bids, effecting syndicate covering transactions or imposing penalty bids.
We will name any agent involved in a sale of debt securities, as well as any commissions payable by us to such agent, in a prospectus supplement. Unless we state otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a reasonable efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
If we utilize a dealer in the sale of the debt securities being offered pursuant to this prospectus, we will sell the debt securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell the debt securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by the dealer at the time of resale.

10



Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in a sale of the debt securities may be deemed to be underwriters as defined in the Securities Act, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the debt securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act. We may have agreements with underwriters, dealers and agents to indemnify them against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to reimburse them for certain expenses.
Underwriters or agents and their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us or our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
Unless we indicate differently in a prospectus supplement, we will not list the debt securities on any securities exchange. The debt securities will be a new issue of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters that purchase the debt securities for public offering and sale may make a market in such debt securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. We can provide no assurance as to the liquidity of or the trading markets for any debt securities.


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VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES
The validity of the securities will be passed upon for us by Dorsey & Whitney LLP, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and for any underwriters or agents by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements and the related financial statement schedule, incorporated in this prospectus by reference from Best Buy Co., Inc.’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018 and the effectiveness of Best Buy Co., Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements and the financial statement schedule have been so incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

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PART II
Information Not Required in Prospectus
Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
The following is a statement of the expenses (all of which are estimated) to be incurred by the Registrant in connection with a distribution of securities registered under this registration statement:
 
 
Amount to be paid
 
SEC registration fee
 
$
*
 
Legal fees and expenses
 
 
**
 
Accounting fees and expenses
 
 
**
 
Printing fees
 
 
**
 
Rating agency fees
 
 
**
 
Trustee’s fees and expenses
 
 
**
 
Miscellaneous
 
 
**
 
Total
 
 
*
 
*
The Registrant is registering an indeterminate amount of securities under this Registration Statement and in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r), the Registrant is deferring payment of all of the registration fee.
**
The applicable prospectus supplement will set forth the estimated aggregate amount of expenses payable in respect of any offering of securities.
Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
The registrant is subject to the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 302A. Minnesota Statutes, Section 302A.521, subd. 2, provides that a corporation shall indemnify a person made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the former or present official capacity of the person with respect to the corporation against judgments, penalties, fines, including, without limitation, excise taxes assessed against the person with respect to an employee benefit plan, settlements, and reasonable expenses, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements, incurred by the person in connection with the proceeding, if, with respect to the acts or omissions of the person complained of in the proceeding, the person: (1) has not been indemnified therefor by another organization or employee benefit plan; (2) acted in good faith; (3) received no improper personal benefit and Section 302A.255 (with respect to director conflicts of interest), if applicable, has been satisfied; (4) in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful; and (5) in the case of acts or omissions occurring in the person’s official capacity for the corporation, reasonably believed that the conduct was in the best interests of the corporation, or, in the case of acts or omissions occurring in the person’s official capacity for another affiliated organization, reasonably believed that the conduct was not opposed to the best interests of the corporation. If the person’s acts or omissions complained of in the proceeding relate to conduct as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of an employee benefit plan, the conduct is not considered to be opposed to the best interests of the corporation if the person reasonably believed that the conduct was in the best interests of the participants or beneficiaries of the employee benefit plan.
In addition, the registrant’s articles of incorporation provide that a director of the registrant shall not be personally liable to the registrant or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director except for liability (1) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the registrant or its shareholders; (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (3) under Minnesota Statutes, Section 302A.559, for making an improper distribution; (4) under Minnesota Statutes, Section 80A.76, for violating the securities registration or anti-fraud provisions; (5) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit; or (6) for acts or omissions occurring prior to the date when the relevant provision of the articles of incorporation became effective. The registrant’s articles of incorporation do not limit directors’ liability for violations of the federal securities laws. The registrant’s articles of incorporation are consistent with the Minnesota Business Corporation Act and if such act is amended to authorize corporate action further

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eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the registrant would be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by Minnesota law.
The registrant has directors’ and officers’ liability insurance which is subject to various deductibles and exclusions from coverage.
Item 16. Exhibits
Exhibit No.
Description
1.1**
Form of Underwriting Agreement
4.1
Indenture, dated as of March 11, 2011, between Best Buy Co., Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee (incorporated by reference to the form of indenture filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR filed March 8, 2011)
4.2
First Supplemental Indenture, to be dated as of March 11, 2011, between Best Buy Co., Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 11, 2011)
4.3
Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 16, 2013, to the Indenture dated as of March 11, 2011, between Best Buy Co., Inc. and U.S. Bank National Association, as successor trustee (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 16, 2013)
5.1*
Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, as to the legality of the securities being registered
12.1*
Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
23.1*
Consent of Dorsey & Whitney LLP (included in the opinion filed as Exhibit 5.1)
23.2*
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP
24.1*
Powers of Attorney (included on signature page)
25.1*
Statement of Eligibility under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 on Form T-1 of the Trustee under the Indenture
*
Filed herewith.
**
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of debt securities.
Item 17. Undertakings
The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(a)(1)    To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i)    To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933;
(ii)    To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the Calculation of Registration Fee table in the effective registration statement; and
(iii)    To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such information in the registration statement; provided, however, that paragraphs (i), (ii) and (iii) do not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those paragraphs is contained in reports filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration statement, or is contained in a form of prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) that is part of the registration statement.
(2)    That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3)    To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(4)    That, for the purpose of determining liability under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser:
(i)    Each prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) shall be deemed to be part of the registration statement as of the date the filed prospectus was deemed part of and included in the registration statement; and
(ii)    Each prospectus required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2), (b)(5) or (b)(7) as part of a registration statement in reliance on Rule 430B relating to an offering made pursuant to Rule 415(a)(1)(i), (vii) or (x) for the purpose of providing the information required by Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of and included in the registration statement as of the earlier of the date such form of prospectus is first used after effectiveness or the date of the first contract of sale of securities in the offering described in the prospectus. As provided in Rule 430B, for liability purposes of the issuer and any person that is at that date an underwriter, such date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which the prospectus relates, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof. Provided, however, that no statement made in a registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement or made in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference into the registration statement or prospectus that is part of the registration statement will, as to a purchaser with a time of contract of sale prior to such effective date, supersede or modify any statement that was made in the registration statement or prospectus that was part of the registration statement or made in any such document immediately prior to such effective date.
(5)    That, for the purpose of determining liability of the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 to any purchaser in the initial distribution of the securities, the undersigned Registrant undertakes that in a primary offering of securities of the undersigned Registrant pursuant to this registration statement, regardless of the underwriting method used to sell the securities to the purchaser, if the securities are offered or sold to such purchaser by means of any of the following communications, the undersigned Registrant will be a seller to the purchaser and will be considered to offer or sell such securities to such purchaser:

14



(i)    Any preliminary prospectus or prospectus of the undersigned Registrant relating to the offering required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424;
(ii)    Any free writing prospectus relating to the offering prepared by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant or used or referred to by the undersigned Registrant;
(iii)    The portion of any other free writing prospectus relating to the offering containing material information about the undersigned Registrant or its securities provided by or on behalf of the undersigned Registrant; and
(iv)    Any other communication that is an offer in the offering made by the undersigned Registrant to the purchaser.
(b)    That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c)    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes to file an application for the purpose of determining the eligibility of the trustee to act under subsection (a) of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the Commission under Section 305(b)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act.
Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

15



SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, 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 Richfield, State of Minnesota, on the 18th day of September 2018.
 
 
BEST BUY CO., INC.
 
 
 
 
By:
/s/ HUBERT JOLY
 
 
Name: Hubert Joly
 
 
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Hubert Joly, Corie S. Barry, and Mathew R. Watson, and each of them, his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, both with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments, including post- effective amendments, to this Registration Statement, and any registration statement relating to the offering covered by this Registration Statement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and to file the same, with 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 or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that each of said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities indicated on the 18th day of September 2018.




Signature
Title
 
 
/s/ HUBERT JOLY
Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director
Hubert Joly
(Principal executive officer)
 
 
/s/ CORIE S. BARRY
Chief Financial Officer
Corie S. Barry
(Principal financial officer)
 
 
/s/ MATHEW R. WATSON
Senior Vice President, Controller and Chief
Mathew R. Watson
Accounting Officer (Principal accounting officer)
 
 
/s/ LISA M. CAPUTO
Director
Lisa M. Caputo
 
 
/s/ J. PATRICK DOYLE
Director
J. Patrick Doyle
 
 
/s/ RUSSELL P. FRADIN
Director
Russell P. Fradin
 
 
/s/ KATHY J. HIGGINS VICTOR
Director
Kathy J. Higgins Victor
 
 
/s/ DAVID W. KENNY
Director
David W. Kenny
 
 
/s/ KAREN A. MCLOUGHLIN
Director
Karen A. McLoughlin
 
 
/s/ THOMAS L. MILLNER
Director
Thomas L. Millner
 
 
/s/ CLAUDIA F. MUNCE
Director
Claudia F. Munce
 
 
/s/ RICHELLE P. PARHAM
Director
Richelle P. Parham


17



EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No.
 
Description
1.1**
 
Form of Underwriting Agreement
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
*
Filed herewith.
**
To be filed by amendment or as an exhibit to a document to be incorporated by reference herein in connection with an offering of debt securities.