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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 25, 2010

Registration Statement No. 333-

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form S-3

REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)


Tennessee (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		54-1684963 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

501 Fifth Street
Bristol, Tennessee 37620
(423) 989-8000
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

Brian A. Markison
Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer
King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
501 Fifth Street
Bristol, Tennessee 37620
(423) 989-8000
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)

With copies to:


J. Allen Overby Bass, Berry & Sims PLC 150 Third Avenue, Suite 2800 Nashville, TN 37201 (615) 742-6200		James W. Elrod Chief Legal Officer and Secretary King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 501 Fifth Street Bristol, Tennessee 37620 (423) 989-8000

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

If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. o

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. þ

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. o

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. o

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. þ

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. o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer þ	Accelerated filer o	Non-accelerated filer o	Smaller Reporting Company o
		(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

Proposed

Maximum

Amount of

Title of Each Class of

Amount to be

Offering Price Per

Aggregate Offering

Registration

Securities to be Registered

Registered(1)

Unit(2)

Price(2)

Fee(3)

Debt Securities

Common Stock, no par value per share

Preferred Stock, no par value per share

Warrants

Subscription Rights(4)

Total



(1)		An indeterminate amount of debt securities, common stock, preferred stock, warrants and subscription rights are being registered hereunder at indeterminate prices. Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement also covers any additional securities that may become issuable pursuant to stock splits, stock dividends or similar transactions, without the need for any post-effective amendment. This Registration Statement includes such indeterminate principal amount, liquidation amount or number of senior or subordinated debt securities or preferred stock and common stock as may be issued upon conversion or exchange of any senior or subordinated debt securities or preferred stock that provide for conversion or exchange into other securities. Separate consideration may or may not be received by the Registrant for securities that are issuable on exercise, conversion or exchange of other securities.

(2)		The proposed maximum per unit and aggregate offering prices per class of security will be determined from time to time by the Registrant in connection with the issuance by the Registrant of the securities registered hereunder.

(3)		The Registrant is deferring payment of the registration fee pursuant to Rule 456(b) and is omitting this information in reliance on Rule 456(b) and Rule 457(r).

(4)		The subscription rights to purchase debt securities or common or preferred stock of the Registrant will be issued without consideration.

PROSPECTUS

Debt Securities
Common Stock
Preferred Stock

Warrants
Subscription Rights

From time to time, we may offer to sell debt securities, common stock and preferred stock, either separately or evidenced by warrants or subscription rights to purchase such securities. This prospectus describes some of the general terms that may apply to these securities. The specific terms of any securities to be offered will be described in supplements to this prospectus that contain specific information about the offering and the terms of the securities. The debt securities, preferred stock, warrants and subscription rights may be convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for common or preferred stock or other securities of ours.

We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers. An accompanying prospectus supplement will set forth the names of any underwriters or agents involved in the sale of securities in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, the principal amounts, if any, to be purchased by underwriters and the compensation, if any, of such underwriters or agents.

Our common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “KG.”

Our principal executive offices are located at 501 Fifth Street, Bristol, Tennessee 37620. Our telephone number is (423) 989-8000.

This prospectus may not be used to offer or consummate sales of these securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. You should consider carefully the information under the caption “Risk Factors” on page 8 of this prospectus and included in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as supplemented or revised by our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and under the caption “Risk Factors” in any applicable prospectus supplement, before you invest in any of our securities.

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.

The date of this prospectus is February 25, 2010.

TABLE OF CONTENTS


ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		5
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		5
THE COMPANY		7
RISK FACTORS		8
CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES		8
USE OF PROCEEDS		9
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES		9
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK		19
DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS		21
DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS		23
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		25
LEGAL MATTERS		26
EXPERTS		26
INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE		26
WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION		27
PART II	II-1
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS	II-1
EX-4.3
EX-5.1
EX-12.1
EX-23.1

YOU SHOULD ONLY RELY ON THE INFORMATION CONTAINED OR INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND IN A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. WE HAVE NOT AUTHORIZED ANYONE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH DIFFERENT INFORMATION. IF ANYONE PROVIDES YOU WITH DIFFERENT OR INCONSISTENT INFORMATION, YOU SHOULD NOT RELY ON IT. WE WILL NOT MAKE AN OFFER TO SELL THESE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE THE OFFER AND SALE IS NOT PERMITTED. YOU SHOULD ASSUME THAT THE INFORMATION APPEARING IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AS WELL AS INFORMATION WE PREVIOUSLY FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE, IS ACCURATE ONLY AS OF ITS DATE. OUR BUSINESS, FINANCIAL CONDITION, RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND PROSPECTS MAY HAVE CHANGED SINCE THOSE DATES.

ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS

This prospectus is a part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, utilizing a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, we may sell any combination of the securities registered in one or more offerings from time to time. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement and may provide other offering materials that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement or other offering materials may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. Before purchasing any securities, you should read both this prospectus and any prospectus supplement or other offering materials, together with the additional information described under the headings “Where You Can Find Additional Information” and “Incorporation of Information by Reference” in this prospectus.

This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement do not contain all of the information included in the registration statement. We have omitted parts of the registration statement in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement on Form S-3 of which this prospectus is a part, including its exhibits. Statements contained in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement about the provisions or contents of any agreement or other document are not necessarily complete. If the SEC’s rules and regulations require that an agreement or document be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see that agreement or document for a complete description of these matters.

Unless expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, the terms “we,” “our,” “us,” “the company,” “Registrant” and “King” refer to King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Tennessee corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus, including any accompanying prospectus supplement and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein, contains statements that are forward-looking statements as defined within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. All statements other than statements of current or historical fact contained in this prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement, including statements regarding our future financial position, business strategy, budgets, projected costs, and plans and objectives of management for future operations, are forward-looking statements. The words “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “projects,” “will,” and similar expressions, as they relate to us, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are based on our current plans and actual future activities, and our results of operations may be materially different from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including, among other things:

	•		the potential of, including anticipated net sales and prescription trends for, our branded prescription pharmaceutical products, particularly Skelaxin^®, Avinza^®, Thrombin-JMI^®, Flector^® Patch, Embeda^®, Levoxyl^®, Altace^® and Cytomel^®;

	•		expectations regarding the enforceability and effectiveness of product-related patents, including, in particular, patents related to Skelaxin^®, Avinza^®, and Adenoscan^®;

	•		expected trends and projections with respect to particular products, reportable segment and income and expense line items;

	•		the adequacy of our liquidity and capital resources;

	•		anticipated capital expenditures;

	•		the development, approval and successful commercialization of Remoxy^®, Acurox^® Tablets, CorVue^TM and other products;

	•		the cost of and the successful execution of our growth and restructuring strategies;

	•		anticipated developments and expansions of our business;

	•		our plans for the manufacture of some of our products, including products manufactured by third parties;

	•		the potential costs, outcomes and timing of research, clinical trials and other development activities involving pharmaceutical products, including, but not limited to, the timing or outcomes of regulatory processes or the magnitude and timing of potential payments to third parties in connection with development activities;

	•		the development of product line extensions;

	•		the expected timing of the initial marketing of certain products;

	•		products developed, acquired or in-licensed that may be commercialized;

	•		our intent, beliefs or current expectations, primarily with respect to our future operating performance;

	•		expectations regarding sales growth, gross margins, manufacturing productivity, capital expenditures and effective tax rates;

	•		expectations regarding the outcome of various pending legal proceedings including the Skelaxin^®, Avinza^® and EpiPen^® patent challenges, litigation, and other legal proceedings described in our periodic reports;

	•		expectations regarding our financial condition and liquidity as well as future cash flows and earnings; and

	•		expectations regarding our ability to liquidate our holdings of auction rate securities and the temporary nature of unrealized losses recorded in connection with some of those securities.

Many of these risks, uncertainties and other factors are beyond our control and are difficult to predict. New factors may also emerge from time to time that could adversely affect our business. It is not possible for us to predict all of the factors that may from time to time affect our business or to assess the potential impact of each such factor. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made, and, except to fulfill our obligations under the United States securities laws, we undertake no obligation to update any such statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which it is made. We qualify all of the information presented in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement (and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein), and particularly our forward-looking statements, by the cautionary statements described above and in the section of this prospectus entitled “Risk Factors.”

THE COMPANY

We are a vertically integrated pharmaceutical company that performs basic research and develops, manufactures, markets and sells branded prescription pharmaceutical products and animal health products. By “vertically integrated,” we mean that we have the following capabilities:


		• research and development		• distribution

		• manufacturing		• sales and marketing

		• packaging		• business development

		• quality control and assurance		• regulatory management

Branded prescription pharmaceutical products are innovative products sold under a brand name that have, or previously had, some degree of market exclusivity. Our branded prescription pharmaceuticals include neuroscience products (primarily pain medicines), hospital products, and legacy brands, all of which are for use in humans. Our auto-injector business manufactures acute care medicines for use in humans that are delivered using an auto-injector. Our animal health business is focused on medicated feed additives and water-soluble therapeutics primarily for poultry, cattle, and swine.

Our corporate strategy is focused on specialty markets, particularly specialty-driven branded prescription pharmaceutical markets. We believe our target markets have significant potential and our organization is aligned to focus on these markets. Our growth in specialty markets is achieved through both acquisitions and organic growth. Our strategy focuses on growth through the acquisition of novel branded prescription pharmaceutical products and technologies that we believe complement the commercial footprint we have established in the neuroscience and hospital markets. We strive to be a leader in developing and commercializing innovative, clinically-differentiated therapies and technologies in these target, specialty-driven markets. We may also seek company acquisitions that add commercialized products or products in development, technologies or sales and marketing capabilities to our existing platforms or that otherwise complement our operations. We also have a commitment to research and development and advancing the products and technologies in our development pipeline.

We work to achieve organic growth by maximizing the potential of our currently marketed products through sales and marketing and product life-cycle management. By “product life-cycle management,” we mean the extension of the economic life of products, including seeking and obtaining necessary governmental approvals, by securing from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration additional approved uses (“indications”) for our products, developing and producing different strengths, producing different package sizes, developing new dosage forms, and developing new product formulations. We market our branded prescription pharmaceutical products, primarily through a dedicated sales force, to general/family practitioners, internal medicine physicians, neurologists, pain specialists, surgeons and hospitals across the United States and in Puerto Rico.

Through a team of internal sales professionals, our auto-injector business markets a portfolio of acute care auto-injector products to the pre-hospital emergency services market, which includes U.S. federal, state and local governments, public health services, emergency medical personnel and first responders and approved foreign governments.

Our animal health products of our wholly-owned subsidiary Alpharma Inc. are marketed through a staff of trained sales and technical service and marketing employees, many of whom are veterinarians and nutritionists. Sales offices are located in the U.S., Europe, Canada, Mexico, South America and Asia. Elsewhere, our animal health products are sold primarily through the use of distributors and other third-party sales companies.

King was incorporated under the laws of the State of Tennessee in 1993. Our shares of common stock are traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “KG.” Our principal executive offices are located at 501 Fifth Street, Bristol, Tennessee 37620, and our telephone number is (423) 989-8000. Our web site address is www.kingpharm.com. Please note that our web site address is provided as an inactive textual reference only. The information provided on our web site is not part of this prospectus and is therefore not incorporated by reference unless such information is otherwise specifically referenced elsewhere in this prospectus.

RISK FACTORS

Investing in our securities involves risks. You are advised to read carefully the information under the caption “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our most recent annual report filed on Form 10-K and other documents we incorporate by reference into this prospectus and any additional risk factors and information set forth under “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, and in documents we file with the SEC after this prospectus and which are incorporated by reference into this prospectus, as described below under the heading “Incorporation of Information by Reference.” Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider these risks as well as other information we incorporate by reference in this prospectus. The risks and uncertainties that we have described are not the only ones facing us. The prospectus supplement applicable to each offering of securities will contain additional information about risks applicable to an investment in us and our securities.

CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratios of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated. We have not presented the Ratio of Combined Fixed Charges and Preference Dividends to Earnings because we currently have no preference securities outstanding.

Fiscal Year Ended December 31,

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)

2.5x

)

9.6x

17.0x

11.0x


(1)		For purposes of computing this consolidated ratio earnings consist of income (loss) from continuing operations before:

•		income taxes and discontinued operations plus

•		Fixed Charges and capitalized interest.

		Fixed Charges consist of:

•		all interest expense;

•		the portion of net rental expense which is deemed representative of the interest factor;

•		the amorization expense of debt issuance costs; and

•		capitalized interest.

(2)		For the year ended December 31, 2008, earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges by approximately $219,175,000.

USE OF PROCEEDS

Unless otherwise specified in an applicable prospectus supplement, we currently intend to use the proceeds we receive from the offered securities for general corporate purposes, which include potential acquisitions of, or investments in, companies and products that complement our business, research and development, capital expenditures, additions to working capital, the repayment or refinancing of all or a portion of any indebtedness outstanding at a particular time, repurchases of any notes outstanding at a particular time and any other purpose specified in any prospectus supplement. The amount of securities offered from time to time pursuant to this prospectus or any prospectus supplement, and the precise amounts and timing of the application of net proceeds from the sale of these securities, will depend on our funding requirements, whether related to acquisitions or general corporate purposes. If at the time of an issuance of securities we elect to make different or more specific use of proceeds than described in this prospectus, such use will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities.

DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES

We summarize below some of the provisions that will apply to the debt securities unless the applicable prospectus supplement provides otherwise. This summary may not contain all information that is important to you. The complete terms of the debt securities will be contained in the applicable notes. The debt securities will be included or incorporated by reference as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the provisions of the debt securities. You should also read the prospectus supplement, which will contain additional information and which may update or change some of the information below.

General

This prospectus describes certain general terms and provisions of the debt securities. The debt securities will be issued under an indenture between us and a trustee to be designated prior to the issuance of the debt securities. When we offer to sell a particular series of debt securities, we will describe the specific terms for the securities in a supplement to this prospectus. The prospectus supplement will also indicate whether the general terms and provisions described in this prospectus apply to a particular series of debt securities.

We may issue, from time to time, debt securities, in one or more series, that will consist of either our senior debt (“senior debt securities”), our senior subordinated debt (“senior subordinated debt securities”), our subordinated debt (“subordinated debt securities”) or our junior subordinated debt (“junior subordinated debt securities” and, together with the senior subordinated debt securities and the subordinated debt securities, the “subordinated securities”). Debt securities, whether senior, senior subordinated, subordinated or junior subordinated, may be issued as convertible debt securities or exchangeable debt securities.

We have summarized herein certain terms and provisions of the form of indenture (the “indenture”). The summary is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual text of the indenture. The indenture is incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. You should read the indenture for the provisions which may be important to you. The indenture is subject to and governed by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities which we may issue. We may issue debt securities up to an aggregate principal amount as we may authorize from time to time which securities may be in any currency or currency unit designated by us. The terms of each series of debt securities will be established by or pursuant to (a) a supplemental indenture, (b) a resolution of our board of directors, or (c) an officers’ certificate pursuant to authority granted under a resolution of our board of directors. The prospectus supplement will describe the terms of any debt securities being offered, including:

	•		the title of the debt securities;

	•		the limit, if any, upon the aggregate principal amount or issue price of the securities of a series;

	•		ranking of the specific series of debt securities relative to other outstanding indebtedness, including subsidiaries’ debt;

	•		the price or prices at which the debt securities will be issued;

	•		the designation, aggregate principal amount and authorized denominations;

	•		the issue date or dates of the series and the maturity date of the series;

	•		whether the securities will be issued at par or at a premium over or a discount from their face amount;

	•		the interest rate, if any, and the method for calculating the interest rate and basis upon which interest shall be calculated;

	•		the right, if any, to extend interest payment periods and the duration of the extension;

	•		the interest payment dates and the record dates for the interest payments;

	•		any mandatory or optional redemption terms or prepayment, conversion, sinking fund or exchangeability or convertibility provisions;

	•		the currency of denomination of the securities;

	•		the place where we will pay principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, and the place where the debt securities may be presented for transfer;

	•		if payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the debt securities will be made in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in which the debt securities are denominated, the manner in which the exchange rate with respect to these payments will be determined;

	•		if other than denominations of $1,000 or multiples of $1,000, the denominations the debt securities will be issued in;

	•		whether the debt securities will be issued in the form of global securities or certificates;

	•		the applicability of and additional provisions, if any, relating to the defeasance of the debt securities;

	•		the portion of principal amount of the debt securities payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity date, if other than the principal amount;

	•		the currency or currencies, if other than the currency of the United States, in which principal and interest will be paid;

	•		the dates on which premium, if any, will be paid;

	•		any addition to or change in the “Events of Default” described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities and any change in the acceleration provisions described in this prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

	•		any addition to or change in the covenants described in the prospectus or in the indenture with respect to the debt securities;

	•		our right, if any, to defer payment of interest and the maximum length of this deferral period; and

	•		other specific terms, including any additional events of default or covenants.

We may issue debt securities at a discount below their stated principal amount. Even if we do not issue the debt securities below their stated principal amount, for United States federal income tax purposes the debt securities may be deemed to have been issued with a discount because of certain interest payment characteristics. We will describe in any applicable prospectus supplement the United States federal income tax considerations applicable to debt securities issued at a discount or deemed to be issued at a discount, and will describe any special United States federal income tax considerations that may be applicable to the particular debt securities.

Senior Debt

Senior debt securities will rank equally and pari passu with all of our other unsecured and unsubordinated debt from time to time outstanding.

Subordinated Debt

The indenture does not limit our ability to issue subordinated debt securities. Any subordination provisions of a particular series of debt securities will be set forth in the supplemental indenture, board resolution or officers’ certificate related to that series of debt securities and will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement.

If this prospectus is being delivered in connection with a series of subordinated debt securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement or the information incorporated by reference in this prospectus will set forth the approximate amount of senior indebtedness outstanding as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter.

Conversion or Exchange Rights

Debt securities may be convertible into or exchangeable for our other securities or property. The terms and conditions of conversion or exchange will be set forth in the supplemental indenture, board resolution or officers’ certificate related to that series of debt securities and will be described in the relevant prospectus supplement. The terms will include, among others, the following:

	•		the conversion or exchange price;

	•		the conversion or exchange period;

	•		provisions regarding the ability of us or the holder to convert or exchange the debt securities;

	•		events requiring adjustment to the conversion or exchange price; and

	•		provisions affecting conversion or exchange in the event of our redemption of the debt securities.

Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets

The indenture prohibits us from merging into or consolidating with any other person or selling, leasing or conveying substantially all of our assets and the assets of our subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to any person, unless:

•

either we are the continuing corporation or the successor corporation or the person which acquires by sale, lease or conveyance substantially all our or our subsidiaries’ assets is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States, any state thereof, or the District of Columbia, and expressly assumes the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all the debt securities and the due performance of every covenant of the indenture to be performed or

			observed by us, by supplemental indenture satisfactory to the trustee, executed and delivered to the trustee by such corporation;

	•		immediately after giving effect to such transactions, no Event of Default described under the caption “Events of Default and Remedies” below or event which, after notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default, has happened and is continuing; and

	•		we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel each stating that such transaction and such supplemental indenture comply with the indenture provisions relating to merger, consolidation and sale of assets.

Upon any consolidation or merger with or into any other person or any sale, conveyance, lease, or other transfer of all or substantially all of our or our subsidiaries’ assets to any person, the successor person shall succeed, and be substituted for, us under the indenture and each series of outstanding debt securities, and we shall be relieved of all obligations under the indenture and each series of outstanding debt securities to the extent we were the predecessor person.

Events of Default and Remedies

When we use the term “Event of Default” in the indenture with respect to the debt securities of any series, we mean:

	(1)		default in paying interest on the debt securities when it becomes due and the default continues for a period of 30 days or more;

	(2)		default in paying principal, or premium, if any, on the debt securities when due;

	(3)		default in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund or analogous obligation when the same becomes due, and such default continues for 30 days or more;

	(4)		default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty in the indenture (other than defaults specified in clause (1), (2) or (3) above) and the default or breach continues for a period of 60 days or more after we receive written notice of such default from the trustee or we and the trustee receive notice from the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series;

	(5)		certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, administration or similar proceedings with respect to us have occurred; and

	(6)		any other Events of Default provided with respect to debt securities of that series that is set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement accompanying this prospectus.

No Event of Default with respect to a particular series of debt securities (except as to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization) necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of debt securities. The occurrence of certain Events of Default or an acceleration under the indenture may constitute an event of default under certain of our other indebtedness outstanding from time to time. Unless otherwise provided by the terms of an applicable series of debt securities, if an Event of Default under the indenture occurs with respect to the debt securities of any series and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 51% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may by written notice require us to repay immediately the entire principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series (or such lesser amount as may be provided in the terms of the securities), together with all accrued and unpaid interest and premium, if any. In the case of an Event of Default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, the principal (or such specified amount) of and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on all outstanding debt securities will become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of outstanding debt securities. We refer you to the prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt

securities that are discount securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of a portion of the principal amount of such discount securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default.

After a declaration of acceleration, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of any series may rescind this accelerated payment requirement if all existing Events of Default, except for nonpayment of the principal on the debt securities of that series that has become due solely as a result of the accelerated payment requirement, have been cured or waived and if the rescission of acceleration would not conflict with any judgment or decree. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series also have the right to waive past defaults, except a default in paying principal or interest on any outstanding debt security, or in respect of a covenant or a provision that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of all holders of the debt securities of that series.

No holder of any debt security may seek to institute a proceeding with respect to the indenture unless such holder has previously given written notice to the trustee of a continuing Event of Default, the holders of not less than 51% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of the series have made a written request to the trustee to institute proceedings in respect of the Event of Default, the holder or holders have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee and the trustee has failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days after it received this notice. In addition, within this 60-day period the trustee must not have received directions inconsistent with this written request by holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series. These limitations do not apply, however, to a suit instituted by a holder of a debt security for the enforcement of the payment of principal, interest or any premium on or after the due dates for such payment.

During the existence of an Event of Default actually known to a responsible officer of the trustee, the trustee is required to exercise the rights and powers vested in it under the indenture and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise as a prudent person would under the circumstances in the conduct of that person’s own affairs. If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the trustee is not under any obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers at the request or direction of any of the holders unless the holders have offered to the trustee security or indemnity reasonably satisfactory to the trustee. Subject to certain provisions, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee, or exercising any trust, or power conferred on the trustee.

The trustee will, within 90 days after receiving notice of any default, give notice of the default to the holders of the debt securities of that series, unless the default was already cured or waived. Unless there is a default in paying principal, interest or any premium when due, the trustee can withhold giving notice to the holders if it determines in good faith that the withholding of notice is in the interest of the holders. In the case of a default specified in clause (4) above describing Events of Default, no notice of default to the holders of the debt securities of that series will be given until 60 days after the occurrence of the event of default.

The indenture requires us, within 120 days after the end of our fiscal year, to furnish to the trustee a statement as to compliance with the indenture. The indenture provides that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of debt securities of any series of any Event of Default (except in payment on any debt securities of that series) with respect to debt securities of that series if it in good faith determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the holders of those debt securities.

Modification and Waiver

The indenture may be amended or modified without the consent of any holder of debt securities in order to:

	•		evidence a successor to the trustee;

	•		cure ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies;

	•		provide for the assumption of our obligations in the case of a merger or consolidation or transfer of all or substantially all of our assets that complies with the covenant described under “—Merger, Consolidation or Sale of Assets”;

	•		make any change that would provide any additional rights or benefits to the holders of the debt securities of a series;

	•		add guarantors or co-obligors with respect to the debt securities of any series;

	•		secure the debt securities of a series;

	•		establish the form or forms of debt securities of any series;

	•		add additional Events of Default with respect to the debt securities of any series;

	•		add additional provisions as may be expressly permitted by the Trust Indenture Act;

	•		maintain the qualification of the indenture under the Trust Indenture Act; or

	•		make any change that does not adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any holder.

Other amendments and modifications of the indenture or the debt securities issued may be made with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the amendment or modification. However, no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected:

	•		change the maturity date or the stated payment date of any payment of premium or interest payable on the debt securities;

	•		reduce the principal amount, or extend the fixed maturity, of the debt securities;

	•		change the method of computing the amount of principal or any interest of any debt security;

	•		change or waive the redemption or repayment provisions of the debt securities;

	•		change the currency in which principal, any premium or interest is paid or the place of payment;

	•		reduce the percentage in principal amount outstanding of debt securities of any series which must consent to an amendment, supplement or waiver or consent to take any action;

	•		impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on the debt securities;

	•		waive a payment default with respect to the debt securities;

	•		reduce the interest rate or extend the time for payment of interest on the debt securities;

	•		adversely affect the ranking or priority of the debt securities of any series; or

	•		release any guarantor or co-obligor from any of its obligations under its guarantee or the indenture, except in compliance with the terms of the indenture.

Satisfaction, Discharge and Covenant Defeasance

We may terminate our obligations under the indenture with respect to the outstanding debt securities of any series, when:

•

either:

–

all debt securities of any series issued that have been authenticated and delivered have been delivered to the trustee for cancellation; or

–

all the debt securities of any series issued that have not been delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable, will become due and payable within one year, or are to be called for redemption within one year and we have made arrangements satisfactory to the trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by such trustee in our name and at our expense, and in each case, we have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee sufficient funds to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the series of debt securities; and

	•		we have paid or caused to be paid all other sums then due and payable under the indenture; and

	•		we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent under the indenture relating to the satisfaction and discharge of the indenture have been complied with.

We may elect to have our obligations under the indenture discharged with respect to the outstanding debt securities of any series (“legal defeasance”). Legal defeasance means that we will be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by the outstanding debt securities of such series under the indenture, except for:

	•		the rights of holders of the debt securities to receive principal, interest and any premium when due;

	•		our obligations with respect to the debt securities concerning issuing temporary debt securities, registration of transfer of debt securities, mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen debt securities and the maintenance of an office or agency for payment for security payments held in trust;

	•		the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the trustee; and

	•		the defeasance provisions of the indenture.

In addition, we may elect to have our obligations released with respect to certain covenants in the indenture (“covenant defeasance”). If we so elect, any failure to comply with these obligations will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities of any series. In the event covenant defeasance occurs, certain events, not including non-payment, bankruptcy and insolvency events, described under “Events of Default and Remedies” will no longer constitute an event of default for that series.

In order to exercise either legal defeasance or covenant defeasance with respect to outstanding debt securities of any series:

•

we must irrevocably have deposited or caused to be deposited with the trustee as trust funds for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to the benefits of the holders of the debt securities of a series:

–

money in an amount; or

	–		U.S. government obligations (or equivalent government obligations in the case of debt securities denominated in other than U.S. dollars or a specified currency) that will provide, not later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount; or

	–		a combination of money and U.S. government obligations (or equivalent government obligations, as applicable),

			in each case sufficient, in the written opinion (with respect to U.S. or equivalent government obligations or a combination of money and U.S. or equivalent government obligations, as applicable) of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants to pay and discharge, and which shall be applied by the trustee to pay and discharge, all of the principal (including mandatory sinking fund payments), interest and any premium at due date or maturity;

	•		in the case of legal defeasance, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel stating that, under then applicable Federal income tax law, the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, defeasance and discharge to be effected and will be subject to the same Federal income tax as would be the case if the deposit, defeasance and discharge did not occur;

	•		in the case of covenant defeasance, we have delivered to the trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the holders of the debt securities of that series will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and covenant defeasance to be effected and will be subject to the same Federal income tax as would be the case if the deposit and covenant defeasance did not occur;

	•		no event of default or default with respect to the outstanding debt securities of that series has occurred and is continuing at the time of such deposit after giving effect to the deposit or, in the case of legal defeasance, no default relating to bankruptcy or insolvency has occurred and is continuing at any time on or before the 91st day after the date of such deposit, it being understood that this condition is not deemed satisfied until after the 91st day;

	•		the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance will not cause the trustee to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, assuming all debt securities of a series were in default within the meaning of such Act;

	•		the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance will not result in a breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or instrument to which we are a party;

	•		if prior to the stated maturity date, notice shall have been given in accordance with the provisions of the indenture.

	•		the legal defeasance or covenant defeasance will not result in the trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, unless the trust is registered under such Act or exempt from registration; and

	•		we have delivered to the trustee an officers’ certificate and an opinion of counsel stating that all conditions precedent with respect to the defeasance or covenant defeasance have been complied with.

Covenants

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement any restrictive covenants applicable to any issue of debt securities.

Paying Agent and Registrar

The trustee will initially act as paying agent and registrar for all debt securities. We may change the paying agent or registrar for any series of debt securities without prior notice, and we or any of our subsidiaries may act as paying agent or registrar.

Forms of Securities

Each debt security will be represented either by a certificate issued in definitive form to a particular investor or by one or more global securities representing the entire issuance of the series of debt securities. Certificated securities will be issued in definitive form and global securities will be issued in registered form. Definitive securities name you or your nominee as the owner of the security, and in order to transfer or exchange these securities or to receive payments other than interest or other interim payments, you or your nominee must physically deliver the securities to the trustee, registrar, paying agent or other agent, as applicable. Global securities name a depositary or its nominee as the owner of the debt securities represented by these global securities. The depositary maintains a computerized system that will reflect each investor’s beneficial ownership of the securities through an account maintained by the investor with its broker/dealer, bank, trust company or other representative, as we explain more fully below.

Global Securities

We may issue the registered debt securities in the form of one or more fully registered global securities that will be deposited with a depositary or its custodian identified in the applicable prospectus supplement and registered in the name of that depositary or its nominee. In those cases, one or more registered global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal or face amount of the securities to be represented by registered global securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole for securities in definitive registered form, a registered global security may not be transferred except as a whole by and among the depositary for the registered global security, the nominees of the depositary or any successors of the depositary or those nominees.

If not described below, any specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any securities to be represented by a registered global security will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to those securities. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.

Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be limited to persons, called participants, that have accounts with the depositary or persons that may hold interests through participants. Upon the issuance of a registered global security, the depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the participants’ accounts with the respective principal or face amounts of the securities beneficially owned by the participants. Any dealers, underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the securities will designate the accounts to be credited. Ownership of beneficial interests in a registered global security will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership interests will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary, with respect to interests of participants, and on the records of participants, with respect to interests of persons holding through participants. The laws of some states may require that some purchasers of securities take physical delivery of these securities in definitive form. These laws may impair your ability to own, transfer or pledge beneficial interests in registered global securities.

So long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a registered global security, that depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the securities represented by the registered global security for all purposes under the indenture. Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security will not be entitled to have the securities represented by

the registered global security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of the securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders of the securities under the indenture. Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in a registered global security must rely on the procedures of the depositary for that registered global security and, if that person is not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which the person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under the indenture. We understand that under existing industry practices, if we request any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a registered global security desires to give or take any action that a holder is entitled to give or take under the indenture, the depositary for the registered global security would authorize the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take that action, and the participants would authorize beneficial owners owning through them to give or take that action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through them.

Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities represented by a registered global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the registered global security. Neither we nor the trustee or any other agent of ours or the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the registered global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to those beneficial ownership interests.

We expect that the depositary for any of the securities represented by a registered global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, interest or other distribution of underlying securities or other property to holders on that registered global security, will immediately credit participants’ accounts in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in that registered global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants to owners of beneficial interests in a registered global security held through participants will be governed by standing customer instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name,” and will be the responsibility of those participants.

If the depositary for any of these securities represented by a registered global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary or ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor depositary registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act is not appointed by us within 90 days, we will issue securities in definitive form in exchange for the registered global security that had been held by the depositary. Any securities issued in definitive form in exchange for a registered global security will be registered in the name or names that the depositary gives to the trustee or other relevant agent of ours or theirs. It is expected that the depositary’s instructions will be based upon directions received by the depositary from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in the registered global security that had been held by the depositary.

Unless we state otherwise in a prospectus supplement, the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) will act as depositary for each series of debt securities issued as global securities. DTC has advised us that DTC is a limited-purpose trust company created to hold securities for its participating organizations (collectively, the “Participants”) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions in those securities between Participants through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access to DTC’s system is also available to other entities such as banks, brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively, the “Indirect Participants”). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the Indirect Participants. The ownership interests in, and transfers of ownership interests in, each security held by or on behalf of DTC are recorded on the records of the Participants and the Indirect Participants.

Governing Law

The indenture and each series of debt securities are governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

We may from time to time offer shares of our common stock or preferred stock pursuant to this prospectus. This section describes the general terms of our capital stock. A prospectus supplement may provide information that is different from this prospectus. If the information in the prospectus supplement with respect to our capital stock being offered differs from this prospectus, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement. A copy of our third amended and restated charter has been incorporated by reference from our filings with the SEC as an exhibit to this registration statement. Our capital stock and the rights of the holders of our capital stock are subject to the provisions of applicable law, our third amended and restated charter, or charter, and our second amended and restated bylaws, or bylaws, the rights of the holders of our preferred stock, if any, with respect to common stock, as well as the terms of our senior indebtedness and subordinated indebtedness, if any.

The following description of our capital stock and any description of our capital stock in a prospectus supplement may not be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, Tennessee law and the actual terms and provisions contained in our charter and bylaws, each as amended or restated from time to time.

General

Our authorized capital stock consists of 600,000,000 shares of common stock, no par value, and 15,000,000 shares of preferred stock, no par value. There were 248,472,497 shares of common stock outstanding and no shares of preferred stock outstanding as of February 23, 2010.

The issued and outstanding shares of common stock are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Subject to the prior rights of any preferred stock, the holders of outstanding shares of common stock are entitled to receive dividends out of assets legally available therefor at such times and in such amounts as the board of directors may from time to time determine. The shares of common stock are not redeemable or convertible, and the holders thereof have no preemptive or subscription rights to purchase any of our securities. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of common stock are entitled to receive pro rata our assets that are legally available for distribution after payment of all debts and other liabilities and subject to the prior rights of any holders of preferred stock then outstanding. Each outstanding share of common stock is entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. The common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “KG.”

Preferred Stock

While there are currently no shares of preferred stock outstanding, the board of directors has the authority to authorize the issuance of shares of preferred stock in series, and may, at the time of issuance, determine the rights, preferences and limitations of each series without any further action by the shareholders (subject to certain provisions of the charter). Satisfaction of any dividend preferences of outstanding shares of preferred stock would reduce the amount of funds available for the payment of dividends on shares of common stock. Additionally, holders of shares of preferred stock would also be entitled to receive a preference payment in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up before any payment is made to the holders of shares of common stock. Under certain circumstances, the issuance of shares of preferred stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company, or could delay or prevent a transaction that might otherwise give our shareholders an opportunity to realize a premium over the then prevailing market price of the common stock. The board of directors, without shareholder approval, may issue shares of preferred stock with voting and conversion rights which could adversely affect the holders of shares of common stock. These terms will be described in a prospectus supplement related to any future offering of preferred stock.

Certain Provisions of the Charter and Bylaws and Statutory Provisions

At the 2007 annual meeting, our shareholders approved an amendment to the company’s charter to provide for the annual election of directors beginning, for each class of directors, at the expiration of the class’s current term. Prior to such amendment, the board of directors was divided into three classes, with each class serving for three years, and one class being elected each year. Because the amendment provides that the annual election of directors begins at the expiration of each class of directors, King’s board of directors will continue to remain partially classified until the 2010 annual meeting. Until such time, the partial classification of the board of directors may

discourage a third party from making a tender offer or otherwise attempting to gain control of our company and may have the effect of maintaining the incumbency of the board of directors.

The bylaws provide that special meetings of our shareholders can be called only by a majority of the entire board of directors or by certain officers. In addition, the bylaws provide that shareholders seeking to bring business before or to nominate directors at any annual meeting of shareholders must provide timely notice thereof in writing. To be timely, the shareholders’ notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, our principal executive offices not less than 120 days and not later the close of business of the 90th day prior to the one-year anniversary of the date of the prior year’s annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that in the event that the annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after such anniversary date, in order to be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public announcement of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs. The bylaws also specify the requirements for a shareholders’ notice to be in proper written form, which includes certain disclosures that are required to be made by shareholders proposing nominations or other business. These provisions restrict the ability of shareholders to bring matters before the shareholders or to make nominations for directors at meetings of shareholders.

Our bylaws also provide that a majority of the remaining directors then in office, though less than a quorum, will be empowered to fill any vacancy on the board of directors that arises during the term of a director. Additionally, the charter contains a provision that requires the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the outstanding shares of our common stock to amend the following provisions:

	•		such supermajority vote provision of the charter;

	•		the provision of the charter regarding declassification of the board of directors;

	•		the provision of the bylaws regarding special meetings;

	•		the provision of the bylaws regarding business that can be brought before a shareholder meeting; and

	•		the provision of the bylaws regarding nominations of directors.

We are also subject to some anti-takeover provisions provided under Tennessee law, which are described below.

Business Combination Statute. Tennessee’s Business Combination Act provides that a party owning 10.0% or more of the outstanding voting shares of a “resident domestic corporation” (this party is called an “interested shareholder”) cannot engage in a business combination with the resident domestic corporation unless the combination (i) takes place at least five years after the interested shareholder first acquired 10.0% or more of the resident domestic corporation, and (ii) either (A) is approved by at least two-thirds of the non-interested voting shares of the resident domestic corporation or (B) satisfies certain fairness conditions specified in the Business Combination Act.

A business combination with an entity can proceed without delay when approved by the target corporation’s board of directors before that entity becomes an interested shareholder, or the resident corporation may enact a charter amendment or bylaw to remove itself entirely from the Business Combination Act. This charter amendment or bylaw must be approved by a majority of the shareholders who have held shares for more than one year prior to the vote and may not take effect for at least two years after the vote. We have not adopted a charter or bylaw amendment removing the company from coverage under the Business Combination Act.

The Business Combination Act further provides an exemption from liability for officers and directors of resident domestic corporations who do not approve proposed business combinations or charter amendments and bylaws removing their corporations from the Business Combination Act’s coverage. This exemption from liability is available as long as the officers and directors act in “good faith belief” that the proposed business combination

would adversely affect their corporation’s employees, customers, suppliers, or the communities in which their corporation operates and when these factors are permitted to be considered by the board of directors under the charter.

Control Share Acquisition Act. If opted into, the Tennessee Control Share Acquisition Act strips a purchaser’s shares of voting rights any time an acquisition of shares in a covered Tennessee corporation brings the purchaser’s voting power to one-fifth, one-third or a majority of all voting power. The purchaser’s voting rights can be re-established only by a majority vote of the other shareholders. The purchaser may demand a meeting of shareholders to conduct such a vote. The purchaser can demand a meeting for this purpose before acquiring a control share only if it holds at least 10.0% of outstanding shares and announces a good faith intention to make the control share acquisition. To date, we have not opted into the Tennessee Control Share Acquisition Act.

Tennessee Investor Protection Act. The Tennessee Investor Protection Act, or TIPA, provides that no offeror beneficially owning 5% or more of any class of equity securities of the offeree company, any of which was purchased within the preceding year, may make a takeover offer (as defined in TIPA) for any class of equity security of the offeree company if after completion the offeror would be a beneficial owner of more than 10% of any class of outstanding equity securities of the company unless the offeror, before making such purchase: (1) makes a public announcement of his or her intention with respect to changing or influencing the management or control of the offeree company; (2) makes a full, fair and effective disclosure of such intention to the person from whom he or she intends to acquire such securities; and (3) files with the Tennessee Commissioner of Commerce and Insurance (the “Commissioner”) and the offeree company a statement signifying such intentions and containing such additional information as may be prescribed by the Commissioner.

The offeror must provide that any equity securities of an offeree company deposited or tendered pursuant to a takeover offer may be withdrawn by an offeree at any time within seven days from the date the offer has become effective following filing with the Commissioner and the offeree company and public announcement of the terms or after 60 days from the date the offer has become effective. If the takeover offer is for less than all the outstanding equity securities of any class, such an offer must also provide for acceptance of securities pro rata if the number of securities tendered is greater than the number the offeror has offered to accept and pay for. If such an offeror varies the terms of the takeover offer before its expiration date by increasing the consideration offered to offerees, the offeror must pay the increased consideration for all equity securities accepted, whether accepted before or after the variation in the terms of the offer.

Tennessee Greenmail Act. The Tennessee Greenmail Act prohibits us from purchasing or agreeing to purchase any of our securities, at a price higher than fair market value, from a holder of 3% or more of any class of our securities who has beneficially owned the securities for less than two years. We can make this purchase if the majority of the outstanding shares of each class of voting stock issued by us approves the purchase or we make an offer of at least equal value per share to all holders of shares of that class.

The effect of the foregoing Tennessee acts may make a change of control of us harder by delaying, deferring or preventing a tender offer or takeover attempt that you might consider to be in your best interest, including those attempts that might result in the payment of a premium over the market price for your shares. They may also promote the continuity of our management by making it harder for you to remove or change the incumbent members of the board of directors.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is American Stock Transfer & Trust Company.

DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS

We may issue warrants from time to time in one or more series for the purchase of our common stock, debt securities or preferred stock or any combination of those securities. Warrants may be issued independently or together with any shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or debt securities offered by any prospectus supplement and may be attached to or separate from common stock, preferred stock or debt securities. We will issue

each series of warrants under a separate warrant agreement between us and a bank or trust company as warrant agent, as specified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The warrant agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the warrants and will not act for or on behalf of warrant holders. The following sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the warrants that may be offered under this registration statement. Further terms of the warrants and the applicable warrant agreement will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

The applicable prospectus supplement will describe the terms of the warrants in respect of which this prospectus is being delivered, including, where applicable, the following:

	•		the title of the warrants;

	•		the total number of warrants;

	•		the currency, currencies, including composite currencies or currency units, in which the price of the warrants may be payable;

	•		the type and number of securities purchasable upon exercise of such warrants;

	•		the designation and terms of the other securities, if any, with which such warrants are issued and the number of such warrants issued with each such offered security;

	•		the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and the related securities will be separately transferable;

	•		if applicable, the date on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and the date on which this right shall expire;

	•		the price at which each security purchasable upon exercise of such warrants may be purchased;

	•		if applicable, the minimum or maximum amount of the warrants which may be exercised at any one time;

	•		information with respect to book-entry procedures, if any;

	•		any anti-dilution protection;

	•		a discussion of U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to the warrants; and

	•		any other terms of the warrants including terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the warrants.

Warrants may be exchanged for new warrants of different denominations, may be presented for registration of transfer, and may be exercised at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement. Before the exercise of their warrants, holders of warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of shares of common stock, shares of preferred stock or debt securities purchasable upon exercise, including the right to receive payments of principal of, any premium on, or any interest on, the debt securities purchasable upon such exercise or to enforce the covenants in the indenture or to receive payments of dividends, if any, on the shares common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise or to exercise any applicable right to vote.

Exercise of Warrants

Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase a principal amount of debt securities or a number of shares of common stock or preferred stock at an exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or calculable from, the prospectus supplement relating to those warrants. Warrants may be exercised at the times set forth in the prospectus

supplement relating to such warrants. After the close of business on the expiration date (or any later date to which the expiration date may be extended by us), unexercised warrants will become void. Subject to any restrictions and additional requirements that may be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto, warrants may be exercised by delivery to the warrant agent of the certificate evidencing the warrants properly completed and duly executed and of payment as provided in the prospectus supplement of the amount required to purchase the debt securities or shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise. The exercise price will be the price applicable on the date of payment in full, as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the warrants. Upon receipt of the payment and the certificate representing the warrants to be exercised properly completed and duly executed at the corporate trust office of the warrant agent or any other office indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will, as soon as practicable, issue and deliver the debt securities, shares of common stock or shares of preferred stock purchasable upon such exercise. If fewer than all of the warrants represented by that certificate are exercised, a new certificate will be issued for the remaining amount of warrants.

DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS

The following description of subscription rights provides certain general terms and provisions of subscription rights that we may offer. Each series of subscription rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of subscription rights. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the subscription rights of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of subscription rights certificates or beneficial owners of subscription rights. These subscription rights may be issued independently or together with any other security offered hereby and may be attached to or separate from such security. These subscription rights may or may not be transferable by the person receiving the subscription rights in such offering. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby underwriting, backstop, or other arrangement with one or more underwriters or other persons pursuant to which the underwriters or other persons may be required to purchase all or a portion of any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.

Certain other terms of any subscription rights will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement. To the extent that any particular terms of any subscription rights described in a prospectus supplement differ from any of the terms described in this prospectus, then those particular terms described in this prospectus shall be deemed to have been superseded by that prospectus supplement. The description in the applicable prospectus supplement of any subscription rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable subscription rights certificate, which will be filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part or to a document that is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this prospectus. For more information on how you may obtain copies of any subscription rights certificate if we offer subscription rights, see “Where You Can Find Additional Information.” We urge you to read the applicable subscription rights certificate and any applicable prospectus supplement in their entirety.

General

Reference is made to the applicable prospectus supplement for the terms of the subscription rights to be offered, including (where applicable):

	•		the date for determining the stockholders entitled to the subscription rights distribution;

	•		the price, if any, for the subscription rights;

	•		the exercise price, or a formula for the determination of the exercise price, payable for each share of common stock, share of preferred stock or debt security upon the exercise of the subscription rights;

	•		the title and number of subscription rights issued;

	•		the number and terms of the shares of common stock or preferred stock or the amount and terms of the debt securities which may be purchased per subscription right;

	•		the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable;

	•		the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire (subject to any extension);

	•		the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities;

	•		if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting, backstop or other purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights;

	•		if applicable, the procedures for adjusting the exercise price and number of shares of common stock or preferred stock purchasable upon the exercise of each subscription right upon the occurrence of certain events, including stock splits, reverse stock splits, combinations, subdivisions or reclassifications of common stock or preferred stock;

	•		the effect of any merger, consolidation, sale or other disposition of our business on the subscription rights;

	•		the terms of any rights to redeem or call the subscription rights;

	•		if applicable, a discussion of certain U.S. federal income tax consequences; and

	•		any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exercise of the subscription rights.

Exercise of Subscription Rights

Each subscription right will entitle the holder to purchase such number of shares of common stock or preferred stock or such amount of debt securities, as the case may be, at such exercise price as shall be set forth in, or shall be determinable as set forth in, the applicable prospectus supplement. Subscription rights may be exercised at the times and in the manner set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. After the close of business on the expiration date set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the subscription rights will become void. The applicable prospectus supplement will specify how the exercise price of any subscription right is to be paid. Upon receipt of payment of the exercise price and, if required, the certificate representing the subscription rights being exercised properly completed and duly executed at the office or agency designated for that purpose, we will promptly deliver the securities to be delivered upon such exercise. If less than all of the subscription rights represented by such subscription certificate are exercised, a new subscription certificate will be issued for the remaining subscription rights. If we so indicate in the applicable prospectus supplement, holders of the subscription rights may surrender securities as all or part of the exercise price for subscription rights. We may determine to offer any unsubscribed offered securities directly to stockholders, persons other than stockholders, to or through agents, underwriters or dealers or through a combination of such methods, including pursuant to standby underwriting, backstop or other arrangements, as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.

No Rights as Holders of Shares or Debt Securities

Holders of subscription rights to purchase shares of common stock or preferred stock will not be entitled, by virtue of being such holders, to vote, consent or receive notice as holders of our outstanding shares in respect of any meeting of holders of our shares for the election of our directors or any other matter, or to exercise any other rights whatsoever as holders of our shares, or to receive any distributions, if any, on our shares. Holders of subscription rights to purchase debt securities will not be entitled, by virtue of being such holders, to receive principal, premium, if any, or interest payments, on the debt securities purchasable upon exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable indenture.

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

We may sell the securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including block transactions and transactions on the New York Stock Exchange or on a delayed or continuous basis, in each case, through agents, underwriters or dealers, directly to one or more purchasers, through a combination of any of these methods of sale, or in any other manner, as provided in the applicable prospectus supplement. The securities may be sold at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices relating to the prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. The consideration may be cash or another form negotiated by the parties. Agents, underwriters or broker-dealers may be paid compensation for offering and selling the securities. That compensation may be in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions to be received from us or from the purchasers of the securities. We will identify the specific plan, including any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers and their compensation, in the applicable prospectus supplement. Underwriters, dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them from us or from purchasers of the securities and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. If such dealers or agents were deemed to be underwriters, they may be subject to statutory liabilities under the Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

Offers to purchase the securities may be solicited by agents designated by us from time to time. Any such agent involved in the offer or sale of the securities will be named, and any commissions payable by the company to such agent will be set forth in the prospectus supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment. Any such agent may be deemed to be an underwriter, as that term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold.

If an underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale of securities, we will execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriter or underwriters at the time an agreement for such sale is reached, and the names of the specific managing underwriter or underwriters, as well as any other underwriters, and the terms of the transactions, including compensation of the underwriters and dealers, if any, will be set forth in the prospectus supplement, which will be used by the underwriters to resell the securities.

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the securities, we will sell such securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. The name of the dealer and the terms of the transactions will be set forth in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

Offers to purchase the securities may be solicited directly by us and sales thereof may be made by us directly to institutional investors or others. The terms of any such sales, including the terms of any bidding or auction prices, if utilized, will be described in the prospectus supplement relating thereto.

Agents, underwriters and dealers may be entitled under agreements that may be entered into with us to indemnification by us against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and any such agents, underwriters or dealers, or their affiliates may be customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

If so indicated in the prospectus supplement, we will authorize agents and underwriters to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase debt securities from us at the public offering price set forth in the prospectus supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts (“Contracts”) providing for payment and delivery on the date stated in the prospectus supplement. Such Contracts will be subject to only those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement. Each Contract will be for an amount not less than, and the principal amount of securities sold pursuant to Contracts shall not be less nor more than, the respective amounts stated in such prospectus supplement. Institutions with which Contracts, when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and other institutions, but will in all cases be subject to our approval. Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except (i) the purchase by an institution of the securities covered by its Contract shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited

under the laws of any jurisdiction in the United States to which such institution is subject and (ii) we shall have sold to such underwriters the total principal amount of the securities less the principal amount thereof covered by Contracts. A commission indicated in the prospectus supplement will be paid to underwriters and agents soliciting purchases of debt securities pursuant to Contracts accepted by us.

The securities may also be resold by security holders in the manner provided in the applicable prospectus supplement.

LEGAL MATTERS

Certain legal matters will be passed upon for King by Bass, Berry & Sims PLC, Nashville, Tennessee. Any underwriters or agents will be represented by their own legal counsel, who will be passing upon certain legal matters for the underwriters and will be identified in the applicable prospectus supplement.

EXPERTS

The audited consolidated financial statements of King and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting incorporated in this prospectus by reference to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, have been so incorporated in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

INCORPORATION OF INFORMATION BY REFERENCE

The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below (except the information contained in such documents to the extent that it is “furnished” and not “filed”):

	1.		Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 filed on February 25, 2010.

	2.		Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 12, 2010.

	3.		The description of our capital stock contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on May 12, 2000, including any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.

	4.		All documents filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, we are not incorporating by reference any information furnished under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K (including financial statements or exhibits relating thereto furnished pursuant to Item 9.01).

Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein or in any prospectus supplement modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus.

You may request, and we will provide, a copy of our filings incorporated by reference at no cost, by writing or telephoning us at the following address:

King Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
501 Fifth Street
Bristol, Tennessee 37620

Attn: Assistant Secretary
Telephone: (423) 989-8000

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC relating to the securities to be offered. This prospectus does not contain all of the information we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and we refer you to the omitted information. You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus or any document to which we have referred you. We have not authorized anyone else to provide you with information that is different. This prospectus and any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may be used only where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus is current only as of the date on the front of these documents.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. Our SEC filings are also available over the Internet at the SEC’s web site at http://www.sec.gov. You may also read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 to obtain information on the operation of the public reference room. Our web site address is www.kingpharm.com. Please note that our web site address is provided as an inactive textual reference only. The information provided on our web site is not part of this prospectus or the prospectus supplement, and is therefore not incorporated by reference unless such information is otherwise specifically referenced elsewhere in this prospectus or the prospectus supplement. We make available free of charge through our web site our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A and all amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC.

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 14. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution.

The following table sets forth an estimate of costs and expenses to be paid by us in connection with the distribution of the securities being registered by this registration statement. In addition to the costs and expenses estimated below, we may pay any selling commissions and brokerage fees and any applicable fees and disbursements with respect to the securities registered by this registration statement that we may sell, but these fees cannot be predicted with any certainty at this time. All of the amounts shown are estimates:


Securities and Exchange Commission Fee	$	*
New York Stock Exchange Listing Fee		**
Printing and Engraving Expenses		**
Legal Fees and Expenses		**
Accounting Fees and Expenses		**
Miscellaneous		**

Total		**


*		Omitted because the registration fee is being deferred pursuant to Rule 456(b).

**		Estimated expenses are not presently known.

Item 15. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

The Tennessee Business Corporation Act, or TBCA, provides that a corporation may indemnify any of its directors and officers against liability incurred in connection with a proceeding if: (a) such person acted in good faith; (b) in the case of conduct in an official capacity with the corporation, he reasonably believed such conduct was in the corporation’s best interests; (c) in all other cases, he reasonably believed that his conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and (d) in connection with any criminal proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. In actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, however, the TBCA provides that no indemnification may be made if the director or officer was adjudged to be liable to the corporation. The TBCA also provides that in connection with any proceeding charging improper personal benefit to an officer or director, no indemnification may be made if such officer or director is adjudged liable on the basis that such personal benefit was improperly received. In cases where the director or officer is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding instigated because of his or her status as a director or officer of a corporation, the TBCA mandates that the corporation indemnify the director or officer against reasonable expenses incurred in the proceeding. The TBCA provides that a court of competent jurisdiction, unless the corporation’s charter provides otherwise, upon application, may order that an officer or director be indemnified for reasonable expenses incurred if, in consideration of all relevant circumstances, the court determines that such individual is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, notwithstanding the fact that (a) such officer or director was adjudged liable to the corporation in a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation; (b) such officer or director was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him; or (c) such officer or director breached his duty of care to the corporation.

Our charter provides that our directors, officers and employees will be entitled to all indemnification rights and protections available under Tennessee law. Our bylaws provide that our directors and officers will be indemnified and advanced expenses with respect to claims of liabilities arising out of service as a director or officer to the fullest extent allowed by Tennessee law. In addition, the bylaws provide that in the event we indemnify or make any advancement of expenses, our Secretary will, in writing, report such action to the shareholders with or before the notice of the next shareholder’s meeting.

The TBCA also permits the inclusion of a provision in the charter of a Tennessee corporation that, with certain exceptions, eliminates the personal monetary liability of directors to the corporation or its shareholders for a

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Item 16. Exhibits.


Exhibit
Number		Exhibit Description
1.1*		Form of Underwriting Agreement

1.2*		Form of Underwriting Agreement for Debt Securities

2.1		Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement among Alpharma Inc., Alpharma (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., Alpharma Bermuda G.P., and Alpharma International (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., Alfanor 7152 AS (under change of name to Otnorbidco AS), Otdenholdco ApS and Otdelholdco Inc., dated February 6, 2008 (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 7, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein)

2.2		Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 23, 2008, among King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Albert Acquisition Corp. and Alpharma Inc. (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 24, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein)

3.1		Third Amended and Restated Charter of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2007, and incorporated by reference herein)

3.2		Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed September 17, 2009, and incorporated by reference herein)

4.1		Specimen certificate representing the Registrant’s common stock (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-38753), filed October 24, 1997, as amended, and incorporated by reference herein)

4.2*		Form of Preferred Stock Certificate and Form of Designation of Preferred Stock

4.3		Form of Indenture

4.4*		Form of Debt Security

4.5*		Form of Warrant Agreement (including Form of Warrant Certificate)

4.6*		Form of Subscription Rights Agreement (Including Form of Subscription Rights Certificate)

5.1		Opinion of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

12.1		Statement of computation of consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges

23.1		Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

23.2		Consent of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC (included in Exhibit 5.1)

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Exhibit
Number		Exhibit Description
24.1		Power of Attorney (included in Part II of this Registration Statement)


*		To be filed, if necessary, as an exhibit to a post-effective amendment to this registration statement or as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

Item 17. Undertakings.

(a)

The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

(1)

To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

	(i)		To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”);

	(ii)		To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this 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 this registration statement; and

	(iii)		To include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement;

			provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i), (a)(1)(ii) and (a)(1)(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 SEC by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) 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, 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 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 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

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date shall be deemed to be a new effective date of the registration statement relating to the securities in the registration statement to which that 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 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:

	(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)		The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act and (and, where applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan’s annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act) 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 supplement the prospectus, after the expiration of the subscription period, to set forth the results of the subscription offer, the transactions by the underwriters during the subscription period, the amount of unsubscribed securities to be purchased by the underwriters, and the terms of any subsequent reoffering thereof. If any public offering by the underwriters is to be made on terms differing from those set forth on the cover page of the prospectus, a post-effective amendment will be filed to set forth the terms of such offering.

	(d)		Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities 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

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SIGNATURE PAGE AND POWER OF ATTORNEY

Know all men by these presents, that each person whose signature appears below hereby constitutes and appoints Brian A. Markison and John Squicciarino (with full power to each of them to act alone) as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments or post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to sign any and all applications, registration statements, notices or other document necessary or advisable to comply with the applicable state securities laws, and to file the same, together with all other documents in connection therewith, with the appropriate state securities authorities, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, thereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

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


Signature	Capacity	Date

/s/ BRIAN A. MARKISON Brian A. Markison	Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)	February 25, 2010

/s/ JOSEPH SQUICCIARINO Joseph Squicciarino	Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)	February 25, 2010

/s/ TED G. WOOD Ted G. Wood	Director	February 25, 2010

/s/ KEVIN S. CRUTCHFIELD Kevin S. Crutchfield	Director	February 25, 2010

	Director
Earnest W. Deavenport, Jr.

/s/ ELIZABETH M. GREETHAM Elizabeth M. Greetham	Director	February 25, 2010

/s/ PHILIP A. INCARNATI Philip A. Incarnati	Director	February 25, 2010

/s/ GREGORY D. JORDAN Gregory D. Jordan	Director	February 25, 2010

/s/ R. CHARLES MOYER R. Charles Moyer	Director	February 25, 2010

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EXHIBIT INDEX


Exhibit
Number		Exhibit Description
1.1*		Form of Underwriting Agreement

1.2*		Form of Underwriting Agreement for Debt Securities

2.1		Stock and Asset Purchase Agreement among Alpharma Inc., Alpharma (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., Alpharma Bermuda G.P., and Alpharma International (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., Alfanor 7152 AS (under change of name to Otnorbidco AS), Otdenholdco ApS and Otdelholdco Inc., dated February 6, 2008 (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on February 7, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein)

2.2		Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 23, 2008, among King Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Albert Acquisition Corp. and Alpharma Inc. (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 24, 2008 and incorporated by reference herein)

3.1		Third Amended and Restated Charter of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on August 7, 2007, and incorporated by reference herein)

3.2		Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of King Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed September 17, 2009, and incorporated by reference herein)

4.1		Specimen certificate representing the Registrant’s common stock (Previously filed as an Exhibit to the Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-38753), filed October 24, 1997, as amended, and incorporated by reference herein)

4.2*		Form of Preferred Stock Certificate and Form of Designation of Preferred Stock

4.3		Form of Indenture

4.4*		Form of Debt Security

4.5*		Form of Warrant Agreement (including Form of Warrant Certificate)

4.6*		Form of Subscription Rights Agreement (Including Form of Subscription Rights Certificate)

5.1		Opinion of Bass, Berry & Sims PLC

12.1		Statement of computation of consolidated ratio of earnings to fixed charges

23.1		Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP

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	KING PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
	By:	/s/ Brian A. Markison
		Brian A. Markison
		Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer

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•		a breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or our shareholders;

•		an act or omission not in good faith or which involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; or

•		an unlawful distribution.

			the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

	(e)		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 (“Act”) in accordance with the rules and regulations prescribed by the SEC under section 305(b)(2) of the Act.