Preliminary Prospectus Supplement

The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying base prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities, and are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer and sale are not permitted.

The % notes will mature on , (the “ notes”), the % notes will mature on , (the “ notes”), the % notes will mature on , (the “ notes”), the % notes will mature on , (the “ notes”) and the % notes will mature on , (the “ notes” and, collectively with the notes, the notes, the notes and the notes, the “notes”). Interest on the notes will accrue from , 2017. Interest on the notes will be payable semi-annually in arrears on and of each year, commencing , 2017.

We may redeem the notes of a series, in whole at any time, or in part from time to time, prior to their maturity, at our option. If we elect to redeem the notes, the notes before ( months prior to their maturity), the notes before ( months prior to their maturity), the notes before ( months prior to their maturity) or the notes before ( months prior to their maturity), we will pay a redemption price equal to the greater of the principal amount of such notes and the make whole price described under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption” in this prospectus supplement, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption. If we elect to redeem the notes, the notes, the notes or the notes on or after the applicable date set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, we will pay an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption. See “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.” If a change of control repurchase event occurs, we will be required to offer to purchase the notes from holders at a purchase price of 101% of the principal amount of the notes. See “Description of the Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon a Change of Control.”

We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes offered hereby to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Acquisition and the redemption of all of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of our 1.700% Notes due 2018 and, the remainder for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”

Upon the first to occur of either (i) April 18, 2018, if the Acquisition is not consummated on or prior to such date, or (ii) the date on which the Purchase Agreement is terminated (each, a “Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger”), we will be required to redeem all outstanding notes, notes, notes and notes in whole at a redemption price (the “Special Mandatory Redemption Price”) equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes being redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the aggregate principal amount of the notes being redeemed, to, but excluding, the date of the special mandatory redemption (the “Special Mandatory Redemption”). See “Description of the Notes—Special Mandatory Redemption.” The notes are not subject to the Special Mandatory Redemption.

The notes will be our senior unsecured obligations and will rank equally with our other senior unsecured indebtedness outstanding from time to time.

Investing in the notes involves risk. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 and the section entitled “Risk Factors” in each of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2017 as they may be amended, updated or modified periodically in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, for a discussion of certain risks that you should consider in connection with an investment in the notes.

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 supplement or the accompanying prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

Currently, there are no public markets for the notes. We do not intend to apply for listing of any series of notes on a securities exchange or for inclusion of any series of notes on an automated dealer quotation system.

We expect that delivery of the notes will be made to investors in book-entry form only through The Depository Trust Company for the accounts of its participants, including Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, and Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, on or about June , 2017.

Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references in this prospectus supplement to “we,” “us,” “our” or the “Company” mean Cardinal Health, Inc., an Ohio corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries, and references to “Cardinal Health” refer to Cardinal Health, Inc., excluding its consolidated subsidiaries.

This document is in two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of the notes we are offering and other matters relating to us. The second part is the accompanying prospectus, which gives more general information about securities we may offer from time to time, some of which does not apply to the notes we are offering. If information in the prospectus supplement differs from information in the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information in this prospectus supplement. Before investing in the notes, you should read carefully both this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” below.

We do not, and the underwriters and their affiliates do not, take any responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information that others may provide to you. You should not assume that the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or in the accompanying prospectus is accurate as of any date other than the date of this prospectus supplement or the date of the document in which the incorporated information appears, unless otherwise noted in such documents. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

The distribution of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and the offering of the notes in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. We are not making an offer of the notes in any jurisdiction where the offer is not permitted. Persons who come into possession of this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus should inform themselves about and observe any such restrictions. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute, and may not be used in connection with, an offer or solicitation by anyone in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.

You should not consider any information in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus to be investment, legal or tax advice. You should consult your own counsel, accountant and other advisors for legal, tax, business, financial and related advice regarding the purchase of the notes. We are not making any representation to you regarding the legality of an investment in the notes by you under applicable investment or similar laws.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AND INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The SEC allows us to incorporate by reference the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important business and financial information to you that is not included in or delivered with this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus by referring you to publicly filed documents that contain the omitted information. Our SEC filings are available on the Internet at the SEC’s website 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., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information on the public reference room and its copy charges. You may also inspect our SEC reports and other information at the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Documents may also be available on our website at http://www.ir.cardinalhealth.com. All references to “http://www.cardinalhealth.com” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are inactive textual references only and the information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. You may also request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing or telephoning us as follows: Cardinal Health, Inc., 7000 Cardinal Place, Dublin, Ohio 43017, (614) 757-5035 Attention: Investor Relations. Exhibits to the filings will not be sent unless those exhibits have been specifically incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus.

We have filed with the SEC an “automatic shelf” registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), as a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) covering the securities described in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not contain all of the information included in the registration statement, some of which is contained in exhibits included with or incorporated by reference into the registration statement. The registration statement, including the exhibits contained or incorporated by reference therein, can be read at the SEC’s website or at the SEC offices referred to above. Any statement made in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document is only a summary of the actual contract, agreement or other document. If we have filed or incorporated by reference any contract, agreement or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement regarding a contract, agreement or other document is qualified in its entirety by reference to the actual document.

We incorporate by reference the following documents filed with the SEC by us and any future filings we make with the SEC after the date of this prospectus supplement under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), until we complete our offering of the securities offered by this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. We are not incorporating by reference any documents or portions thereof, whether specifically listed below or filed in the future, that are not deemed “filed” with the SEC (including the Current Reports on Form 8-K listed below), unless otherwise specified.

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

This prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, our filings with the SEC, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 (the “2016 Form 10-K”), our Annual Report to Shareholders, any of our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and any of our Current Reports on Form 8-K (together with any exhibits to such reports as well as any amendments to such reports), our news releases, or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of us, may include, directly or by incorporation by reference, forward-looking statements that reflect our current view (as of the date such forward-looking statement is first made) about future events, prospects, projections or financial performance. The matters discussed in these forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied in or by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to:

The words “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “will,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “project,” “continue,” “likely,” and similar expressions generally identify “forward-looking statements,” which speak only as of the date the statements were made, and also include statements reflecting future results or guidance, statements of outlook and expense accruals. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law.

SUMMARY

The following summary highlights selected information contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and does not contain all the information you will need in making your investment decision. You should read carefully this entire prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement. See “Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in this prospectus supplement.

The Company

Cardinal Health, Inc. is an Ohio corporation formed in 1979 and is a globally integrated healthcare services and products company providing customized solutions for hospital systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories and physicians’ offices. We provide clinically proven medical products and pharmaceuticals and cost-effective solutions that enhance supply chain efficiency. We connect patients, providers, payers, pharmacists and manufacturers for integrated care coordination and better patient management.

The mailing address of our executive offices is 7000 Cardinal Place, Dublin, Ohio 43017, and our telephone number is (614) 757-5000.

For additional information concerning our business and affairs and descriptions of certain laws and regulations to which we may be subject, please refer to the information in the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus.

The Acquisition

On April 18, 2017, we entered into a definitive stock and asset purchase agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Medtronic plc, an Irish public limited company (“Medtronic”), pursuant to which, among other things, we will purchase certain equity interests and assets collectively constituting the Patient Care, Deep Vein Thrombosis and Nutritional Insufficiency businesses of Medtronic (collectively, the “Patient Recovery Businesses”), for a purchase price of $6.1 billion in cash, subject to certain adjustments (the “Acquisition”). The Patient Recovery Businesses manufacture 23 medical product categories sold into multiple healthcare channels, and include numerous industry-leading brands, such as Curity, Kendall, Dover, Argyle and Kangaroo. The Acquisition will further expand our portfolio of self-manufactured products. Net sales for the year ended April 29, 2016 for the Patient Recovery Businesses were $2.42 billion.

On April 18, 2017, in connection with the Purchase Agreement and the funding of the Acquisition, we obtained a commitment for a new $4.5 billion unsecured bridge term loan facility. The aggregate commitments under the commitment letter will be permanently reduced dollar-for-dollar by the net proceeds from the sale of the notes offered hereby. We plan to fund the Acquisition with the net proceeds from the sale of the notes offered hereby and cash on hand and, as needed, short term borrowings under our commercial paper program and credit facilities. See “Use of Proceeds.”

The closing of the Acquisition remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver of customary closing conditions, including antitrust clearances in the U.S., Germany and Canada. In May, the Acquisition received antitrust clearances in the U.S. and Germany.

Neither the closing of the bridge facility nor the receipt of any other financing, including the proceeds from the notes offered hereby, is a condition to the closing of the Acquisition.

The Offering

The following summary is provided solely for your convenience. The summary is not intended to be complete. You should read the full text and more specific details contained elsewhere in this prospectus supplement. For a more detailed description of the notes, see “Description of the Notes.”

Issuer

Cardinal Health, Inc.

Notes Offered

$ aggregate principal amount of notes consisting of:

$ aggregate principal amount of % notes due .

Interest

% per year for the notes.

Maturity

, for the notes.

Interest Payment Dates

and of each year, commencing , .

Record Dates

and .

Special Mandatory Redemption

The offering is not conditioned upon the consummation of the Acquisition. Upon the occurrence of a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger, we will be required to conduct a Special Mandatory Redemption with respect to all outstanding notes, notes, notes and notes in whole at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price. See “Description of the Notes—Special Mandatory Redemption.”

The notes are not subject to the Special Mandatory Redemption.

Optional Redemption

We may redeem the notes of a series, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, prior to their maturity, at our option. If we elect to redeem the notes, the notes before ( months prior to their maturity), the notes before ( months prior to their maturity), the notes before ( months prior to their maturity) or the notes before ( months

prior to their maturity), we will pay a redemption price equal to the greater of the principal amount of such notes and the make whole price described under “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption” in this prospectus supplement, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption. If we elect to redeem the notes, the notes, the notes or the notes on or after the applicable date set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, we will pay an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption. See “Description of the Notes—Optional Redemption.”

Change of Control Repurchase Event

Upon the occurrence of a change of control repurchase event, we will be required to make an offer to purchase the notes at a price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of repurchase. See “Description of the Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon a Change of Control.”

Ranking

The notes will be senior unsecured debt obligations of Cardinal Health. The notes will rank equally with all of Cardinal Health’s existing and future senior unsecured debt and senior to all of Cardinal Health’s existing and future subordinated debt. As of March 31, 2017, Cardinal Health had outstanding approximately $5,641 million of unsecured indebtedness and guarantees of subsidiary indebtedness for borrowed money with which the notes would rank equally.

The notes will be effectively subordinated to the liabilities of Cardinal Health’s subsidiaries, including trade payables. As of March 31, 2017, Cardinal Health’s subsidiaries had approximately $488 million of indebtedness for borrowed money ($134 million of which is guaranteed by Cardinal Health) and Cardinal Health’s subsidiaries had an aggregate of approximately $18 billion of trade payables, to which the notes would be effectively subordinated.

Form of Notes

The notes of each series will initially be represented by one or more global notes, registered in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). The notes of each series will be issued in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

Use of Proceeds

We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the notes, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated unreimbursed offering expenses, will be approximately $ billion. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes offered hereby to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Acquisition and the Notes Redemption and the remainder for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.”

Further Issuances

We may from time to time, without the notice to or consent of the holders of the notes, create and issue additional notes of any series offered by this prospectus supplement which will rank equally and ratably in all respects with the notes of the applicable series so offered, have the same terms and conditions (other than the issue date, the price to public, and if applicable, the first interest payment date) as such series, so that such additional notes will be consolidated and form a single series with the outstanding notes, notes, notes, notes or notes, as applicable. See “Description of the Notes.”

Risk Factors

See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-7 and the section under the heading “Risk Factors” in each of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2017 for discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in the notes.

Trustee

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A.

Governing Law

The notes will be, and the indenture pursuant to which we will issue the notes is, governed by the laws of the State of New York.

Summary Financial Information

In the table below, we provide you with our summary financial information, which is derived from our consolidated financial statements. The information is only a summary and should be read together with the financial information incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in this prospectus supplement.


	At or for the Nine Months Ended March 31,						At or for the Fiscal Year Ended June 30,
	2017			2016			2016			2015		2014
	(unaudited)
	(in millions, except per share amounts)
Earnings Data:
Revenue	$	97,010		$	90,162		$	121,546		$	102,531	$	91,084
Earnings from continuing operations	$	1,016		$	1,096		$	1,431		$	1,212	$	1,163
Earnings from discontinued operations		—			—			—			3		3
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest		(2	)		(1	)		(4	)		—		—

Net earnings attributable to Cardinal Health, Inc.	$	1,014		$	1,095		$	1,427		$	1,215	$	1,166
Basic earnings per common share attributable to Cardinal Health, Inc.:
Continuing operations	$	3.19		$	3.33		$	4.36		$	3.65	$	3.41
Discontinued operations		—			—			—			0.01		0.01

Net basic earnings per common share attributable to Cardinal Health, Inc.	$	3.19		$	3.33		$	4.36		$	3.66	$	3.42
Diluted earnings per common share attributable to Cardinal Health, Inc.:
Continuing operations	$	3.17		$	3.30		$	4.32		$	3.61	$	3.37
Discontinued operations		—			—			—			0.01		0.01

Net diluted earnings per common share attributable to Cardinal Health, Inc.	$	3.17		$	3.30		$	4.32		$	3.62	$	3.38
Cash dividends declared per common share	$	1.3467		$	1.1610		$	1.6099		$	1.4145	$	1.2500
Balance Sheet Data:
Total assets	$	34,174		$	34,055		$	34,122		$	30,142	$	26,033
Long-term obligations, including current portion, and other short-term borrowings	$	5,461		$	5,546		$	5,539		$	5,492	$	3,972
Total Cardinal Health, Inc. Shareholders’ equity	$	6,646		$	6,713		$	6,554		$	6,256	$	6,401

Investing in our notes involves various risks. There are a number of factors, including those described below and in each of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2017, as they may be amended, updated or modified periodically in our reports filed with the SEC, that could materially and adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below and the other information in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and in the documents incorporated by reference before deciding whether to purchase Cardinal Health’s notes. These risks are not the only risks that we face. Our business operations could also be affected by additional factors that are not presently known to us or that we currently consider to be immaterial to our operations.

You should carefully review all the information under the heading “Risk Factors” in each of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 and our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended December 31, 2016 and March 31, 2017.

The notes will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of Cardinal Health’s subsidiaries.

Cardinal Health conducts nearly all of its operations through subsidiaries and it expects that it will continue to do so. As a result, the right of Cardinal Health to participate as a shareholder in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon such subsidiary’s liquidation or reorganization or otherwise and the ability of holders of the notes to benefit as creditors of Cardinal Health from any such distribution are subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary. As of March 31, 2017, Cardinal Health had outstanding approximately $5,461 million of unsecured indebtedness and guarantees of subsidiary indebtedness for borrowed money with which the notes would rank equally. As of such date, Cardinal Health’s subsidiaries had outstanding approximately $488 million of indebtedness for borrowed money ($134 million of which is guaranteed by Cardinal Health) and Cardinal Health’s subsidiaries had an aggregate of approximately $18 billion of trade payables to which the notes would be effectively subordinated.

Cardinal Health currently has no secured debt. To the extent Cardinal Health were to incur any secured debt, the notes would effectively rank junior in right of payment to such secured debt of Cardinal Health to the extent of the value of the assets securing such debt.

The notes are new issues of securities with no established trading market. We do not intend to apply for listing of any series of notes on any securities exchange or for inclusion of any series of notes on any automated dealer quotation system. If no active trading markets develop, you may not be able to resell your notes at their fair market value or at all. Future trading prices of the notes will depend on many factors, including, among other things, prevailing interest rates, our financial condition and the markets for similar securities. The condition of the financial markets and prevailing market rates have fluctuated in the past and are likely to fluctuate in the future, which could have an adverse effect on the market price of the notes. We have been informed by the underwriters that they currently intend to make a market in the notes of each series after this offering is completed. However, the underwriters may cease their market-making at any time at their discretion without notice.

Upon the occurrence of a change of control repurchase event, we will be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding notes at 101% of the aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. However, it is possible that we will not have sufficient funds at the time of the change of control (as defined herein) to make the required repurchase of notes or that restrictions in our then-existing debt instruments will not allow such repurchases. See “Description of the Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon a Change of Control.”

We may not consummate the Acquisition within the timeframe specified under “Description of the Notes—Special Mandatory Redemption,” or the Purchase Agreement may be terminated. Our ability to consummate the Acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals and other matters over which we have limited or no control. Upon the occurrence of a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger, we will be required to redeem all outstanding notes, notes, notes and notes at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price, which is equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes being redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the aggregate principal amount of the notes being redeemed, to, but excluding, the date of the Special Mandatory Redemption. If we redeem the notes pursuant to the Special Mandatory Redemption, you may not obtain your expected return on the notes. Your decision to invest in the notes is made at the time of the offering of the notes. You will have no rights under the Special Mandatory Redemption provision if neither Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger occurs, nor will you have any right to require us to redeem your notes if, between the closing of the notes offering and the consummation of the Acquisition, we experience any changes in our business or financial condition or if the terms of the Acquisition change. See “Description of the Notes—Special Mandatory Redemption.”

The notes are not subject to the Special Mandatory Redemption. Whether or not the Special Mandatory Redemption is ultimately triggered, it may adversely affect trading prices for the notes prior to the Special Mandatory Redemption.

We are not obligated to place the proceeds from the sale of the notes subject to the Special Mandatory Redemption in escrow prior to the consummation of the Acquisition.

Upon the occurrence of a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger, we will be required to redeem all outstanding notes, notes, notes and notes at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price, which is equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of the notes being redeemed, plus any accrued and unpaid interest on the aggregate principal amount of the notes being redeemed, to, but excluding, the date of the Special Mandatory Redemption. See “Description of the Notes—Special Mandatory Redemption.” We are not obligated to place the proceeds from the sale of the notes, the notes, the notes or the notes in escrow prior to the consummation of the Acquisition or to provide a security interest in those proceeds, and there are no restrictions on our use of those proceeds during such time. Accordingly, we will need to fund the Special Mandatory Redemption using cash on hand, proceeds of this offering that we have voluntarily retained or from other sources of liquidity.

The following table sets forth our short-term obligations and capitalization at March 31, 2017 (1) on an actual basis, and (2) as adjusted to reflect the issuance and sale of the notes offered hereby. You should read this table together with our audited financial statements incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See “Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in this prospectus supplement.

We estimate that the net proceeds from the sale of the notes, after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated unreimbursed expenses, will be approximately $ billion. We intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of the notes offered hereby to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Acquisition and the redemption of all of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of our 1.700% Notes due 2018 and the remainder for general corporate purposes, as set forth in the chart below.

Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, we will purchase the Patient Recovery Businesses for a purchase price of $6.1 billion in cash, subject to certain adjustments.

The offering is not conditioned upon the consummation of the Acquisition. Upon the occurrence of a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger, we will be required to redeem all outstanding notes, notes, notes and notes at the Special Mandatory Redemption Price and as otherwise described under the caption “Description of the Notes—Special Mandatory Redemption.”

The notes are not subject to the Special Mandatory Redemption. In the event that the Acquisition does not occur, the proceeds from the sale of the notes will be used for the Notes Redemption and general corporate purposes.

We expect, but are not required, to temporarily invest the net proceeds from the sale of the notes in short-term, liquid investments until they are used for their stated purpose.

Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 through 2016 and the nine months ended March 31, 2017 was as follows:

The following description of the particular terms of the notes offered hereby (referred to in the accompanying prospectus as the “Debt Securities”) supplements, and to the extent inconsistent therewith replaces, the description of the general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities set forth in the accompanying prospectus under the heading “Description of Debt Securities” to which description reference is hereby made. The following summaries of certain provisions of the indenture do not purport to be complete, and are subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the provisions of the indenture, including the definitions in the indenture of certain terms and other terms made part of the indenture. As used in this description, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, all references to “Cardinal Health,” “we,” “us,” or “our” mean Cardinal Health excluding its subsidiaries.

The notes, the notes, the notes, the notes and the notes will be issued as separate series of senior unsecured debt securities under an indenture dated as of June 2, 2008 (the “indenture”) between Cardinal Health and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee (the “trustee”). The indenture provides that the debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series with different terms. The indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of debt securities that may be issued or any other debt that may be incurred by Cardinal Health. A default in our obligations with respect to any other indebtedness will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities. The indenture does not contain any covenants or provisions that afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction. Reference is made to the accompanying prospectus for a description of other terms of the debt securities. The indenture and the notes are governed by New York law.

Cardinal Health may from time to time issue other series of debt securities under the indenture consisting of notes or other unsecured evidences of indebtedness, but, unless otherwise indicated, such other series will be separate from and independent of the notes.

The notes of each series will initially be represented by one or more global notes (each, a “global note”), in registered form, without coupons, in denominations of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof as described under “— Book-Entry System.”

There are no public trading markets for the notes, and we do not intend to apply for listing of any series of notes on a securities exchange or for inclusion of any series of notes on an automated quotation system.

The notes will be limited initially to $ aggregate principal amount, the notes will be limited initially to $ aggregate principal amount, the notes will be limited initially to $ aggregate principal amount, the notes will be limited initially to $ aggregate principal amount and the notes will be limited initially to $ aggregate principal amount.

Cardinal Health may, at any time, without notice to or the consent of the holders of the notes, create and issue additional notes having the same ranking and the same interest rate, maturity and other terms as the notes of each series (other than the date of issuance, price to public, and, under certain circumstances, the first interest payment date following the issue date of such additional notes). Any such additional notes, together with the notes of the applicable series offered by this prospectus supplement, will each form a single series of the notes under the indenture. If the additional notes are not fungible for U.S. federal income tax purposes with the notes offered hereby, the additional notes will have a separate CUSIP number.

The notes will mature on , , the notes will mature on , , the notes will mature on , , the notes will mature on , and the notes will mature on , .

Interest on the notes will accrue from , , and will be payable semi-annually on and , commencing , , to the persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business on or prior to the payment date at the annual rate for each series set forth on the cover page of this prospectus supplement.

Interest payable on any interest payment date or the maturity date will be the amount of interest accrued from, and including, the next preceding interest payment date in respect of which interest has been paid or duly provided for (or from and including the issue date, if no interest has been paid or duly provided for with respect to the notes) to, but not including, such interest payment date or maturity date, as the case may be. If an interest payment date or the maturity date falls on a day that is not a business day, the related payment of principal or interest will be made on the next succeeding business day as if made on the date the payment was due. No interest will accrue on such payment for the period from and after such interest payment date or the maturity date, as the case may be, to the date of such payment on the next succeeding business day. The term “business day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or any other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or the city where the corporate trust business of the trustee with respect to the indenture is principally administered at any particular time are required or authorized to close or be closed.

The notes will be senior unsecured obligations of Cardinal Health and will rank equally in right of payment with all of Cardinal Health’s existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The notes will also effectively rank junior in right of payment to any secured debt of Cardinal Health to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness.

Cardinal Health conducts nearly all of its operations through subsidiaries and it expects that it will continue to do so. As a result, the right of Cardinal Health to participate as a shareholder in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise and the ability of holders of the notes to benefit as creditors of Cardinal Health from any distribution are subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary. As of March 31, 2017, Cardinal Health had outstanding approximately $5,461 million of unsecured indebtedness and guarantees of subsidiary indebtedness for borrowed money with which the notes would rank equally. As of such date, Cardinal Health’s subsidiaries had outstanding approximately $488 million of indebtedness for borrowed money ($134 million of which is guaranteed by Cardinal Health) and Cardinal Health’s subsidiaries had an aggregate of approximately $18 billion of trade payables to which the notes would be effectively subordinated.

prior to their maturity), the notes before ( months prior to their maturity) or the notes before ( months prior to their maturity), we will pay a redemption price equal to the greater of:

plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the amount being redeemed to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

If we elect to redeem the notes, the notes, the notes or the notes on or after the applicable date set forth in the immediately preceding sentence, we will pay an amount equal to 100% of the principal amount of the notes redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the date of redemption.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, installments of interest on a series of notes being redeemed that are due and payable on interest payment dates falling on or prior to a redemption date will be payable on the interest payment date to the registered holders as of the close of business on the relevant record date according to such series of notes and the Indenture.

“Adjusted treasury rate” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per year equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the comparable treasury issue, assuming a price for the comparable treasury issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the comparable treasury price for such redemption date.

“Comparable treasury issue” means the United States Treasury security selected by a quotation agent as having a maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes (assuming for this purpose that the notes, the notes, the notes and the notes matured on the applicable Par Call Date) to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining terms of such notes.

“Par Call Date” means, with respect to the notes, , ( months prior to their maturity), with respect to the notes, , ( months prior to their maturity), with respect to the notes, , ( months prior to their maturity) and, with respect to the notes, , ( months prior to their maturity).

“Quotation agent” means the reference treasury dealer appointed by Cardinal Health.

“Reference treasury dealer quotation” means, with respect to each reference treasury dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by Cardinal Health, of the bid and asked prices for the comparable treasury issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing by such reference treasury dealer at 5:00 p.m., New York City time on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

Notice to holders of notes to be redeemed will be delivered electronically or by first-class mail at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption. Unless Cardinal Health defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions thereof called for redemption.

Within five business days after the occurrence of a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger, we will cause notice of the Special Mandatory Redemption to be delivered electronically or mailed, with a copy to the trustee to each holder of outstanding notes, notes, notes and notes at such holder’s registered address, stating, among other matters prescribed in the indenture, that a Special Mandatory Redemption Trigger has occurred and that all outstanding notes, notes, notes and notes are to be redeemed and that such notes will be redeemed on the redemption date set forth in such notice (which will be no earlier than three business days and no later than 30 days from the date such notice is given). If funds sufficient to pay the Special Mandatory Redemption Price of the notes, notes, notes and notes to be redeemed on the special mandatory redemption date are deposited with the trustee or a paying agent on or before such special mandatory redemption date, and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such special mandatory redemption date, the notes will cease to bear interest.

The aggregate net proceeds from the sale of the notes subject to the Special Mandatory Redemption will not be held in escrow, and holders of such notes will not have any special access or rights to or a security interest or encumbrance of any kind on the net proceeds from the offering of such notes.

Upon the occurrence of the consummation of the Acquisition, the foregoing provisions regarding the Special Mandatory Redemption will cease to apply.

If a “change of control repurchase event” occurs, unless we have exercised our right to redeem the notes in full as described under “— Optional Redemption” above or, in the case of the notes, notes, notes and notes, we have been required to redeem such notes as described under the heading “— Special Mandatory Redemption” above, we will make an offer to each holder of notes to repurchase all or any part (equal to $2,000 or in integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof) of that holder’s notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount of notes repurchased plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the notes repurchased to, but excluding, the date of purchase. Within 30 days following any change of control repurchase event or, at our option, prior to any change of control, but after the public announcement of the change of control, we will deliver a notice to each holder, with a copy to the trustee, describing the transaction or transactions that constitute or may constitute the change of control repurchase event and offering to repurchase notes on the payment date specified in the notice, which date will be no earlier than 30 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is delivered. The notice shall, if delivered prior to the date of consummation of the change of control, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the change of control repurchase event occurring on or prior to the payment date specified in the notice. We will comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations under the Exchange Act to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of the notes as a result of a change of control repurchase event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the change of control repurchase event provisions of the notes, we will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under the change of control repurchase event provisions of the notes by virtue of such conflict.

On the change of control repurchase event payment date, we will, to the extent lawful:

The paying agent will promptly deliver to each holder of notes properly tendered the purchase price for the notes, and the trustee will promptly authenticate and mail (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) to each holder a new note equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any notes surrendered; provided that each new note will be in a principal amount of $2,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.

We will not be required to make an offer to repurchase the notes upon a change of control repurchase event if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for an offer made by us and such third party purchases all notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

The term “below investment grade rating event” means the notes are rated below investment grade (defined below) by each of the rating agencies (defined below) on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a change of control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a change of control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the notes is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the rating agencies).

The term “change of control” means the occurrence of any one of the following: (1) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in

one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of our assets taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than to Cardinal Health or one of its subsidiaries; (2) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) becomes the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of Cardinal Health’s voting stock (defined below), measured by voting power rather than number of shares; or (3) the first day on which a majority of the members of Cardinal Health’s board of directors cease to be continuing directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a change of control if (i) Cardinal Health becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of a holding company and (ii) the holders of the voting stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the holders of Cardinal Health’s voting stock immediately prior to that transaction.

The definition of change of control includes a phrase relating to the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of “all or substantially all” of the properties or assets of Cardinal Health and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Although there is a limited body of case law interpreting the phrase “substantially all,” there is no precise established definition of the phrase under applicable law. Accordingly, the applicability of the requirement that we offer to repurchase the notes as a result of a sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of less than all of the assets of Cardinal Health and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to another person or group may be uncertain.

The term “change of control repurchase event” means the occurrence of both a change of control and a below investment grade rating event.

The term “continuing director” means, as of any date of determination, members of our board of directors who (1) were members of such board of directors on the date of the issuance of the notes; or (2) were nominated for election, elected or appointed to such board of directors with the approval of a majority of the continuing directors who were members of such board of directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment.

Under clause (3) of the definition of change of control, a change of control will occur when a majority of the members of Cardinal Health’s board of directors cease to be continuing directors. In 2009, the Delaware Court of Chancery held that the occurrence of a change of control under a similar indenture provision may nevertheless be avoided if the existing directors were to approve the slate of new director nominees, provided the incumbent directors gave their approval in the good faith exercise of their fiduciary duties owed to the corporation and its stockholders. It has not been determined under Ohio law whether Cardinal Health’s board of directors could similarly approve a slate of dissident director nominees while recommending and endorsing its own slate. If so, in certain circumstances involving a significant change in the composition of Cardinal Health’s board of directors, including in connection with a proxy contest where Cardinal Health’s board of directors does not endorse a dissident slate of directors but approves the dissident slate as continuing directors, holders of the notes may not be entitled to require Cardinal Health to repurchase the notes.

The term “Fitch,” “Moody’s” and “S&P” mean Fitch Ratings, Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. and S&P Global Ratings, respectively.

The term “investment grade” means a rating of BBB—or better by Fitch (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Fitch); a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of Moody’s); a rating of BBB—or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating categories of S&P); or the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any additional rating agency (defined below) or rating agencies selected by us.

The term “rating agency” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the notes or fails to make a rating of the notes publicly available for reasons outside of our

control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by Cardinal Health as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, or all of them, as the case may be.

The term “voting stock” of any specified “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) as of any date means the capital stock of such person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the board of directors of such person.

Unless we default in the change of control payment, on and after the change of control payment date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or portions of the notes tendered for repurchase pursuant to the change of control offer.

The indenture contains certain covenants for the benefit of the holders of notes which limit our ability to incur liens, to incur certain subsidiary debt and to enter into certain sale and lease-back, merger, and sale of assets transactions. See “Description of Debt Securities—Certain Covenants” in the accompanying prospectus.

The indenture contains certain events of default. See “Description of Debt Securities—Events of Default” in the accompanying prospectus.

The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee under the indenture, has been appointed by us as paying agent, registrar and DTC custodian with regard to the notes. The trustee or its affiliates may from time to time in the future provide banking and other services to us in the ordinary course of their business.

The notes of each series will be issued initially in the form of one or more global notes, in the aggregate principal amount of the issue, that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC, which will act as securities depository for the notes. The notes will be issued as fully registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC’s partnership nominee) or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC and any other depository which may replace DTC as depository for the notes are sometimes referred to herein as the “depository.” Except under the limited circumstances described below, notes represented by global notes will not be exchangeable for certificated notes.

So long as the depository, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a global note, such depository or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole registered holder of the individual notes represented by such global note for all purposes under the indenture. Payments of principal of and premium, if any, and any interest on individual notes represented by a global note will be made to the depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered holder of such global note. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a global note will not be entitled to have any of the individual notes represented by such global note registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any such note and will not be considered the registered holder thereof under the indenture, including, without limitation, for purposes of consenting to any amendment thereof or supplement thereto as described in the accompanying prospectus.

Beneficial interests in the global notes will be represented through book-entry accounts of financial institutions acting on behalf of beneficial owners as direct and indirect participants in DTC. Investors may hold

interests in the global notes through either DTC (in the United States), Clearstream Banking, société anonyme, Luxembourg (“Clearstream”), or Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System (“Euroclear”), in Europe, either directly if they are participants in such systems or indirectly through organizations that are participants in such systems. Clearstream and Euroclear will hold interests on behalf of their participants through customers’ securities accounts in Clearstream’s and Euroclear’s names on the books of their United States depositaries, which in turn will hold such interests in customers’ securities accounts in the United States depositaries’ names on the books of DTC.

DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC was created to hold securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions among its participants in such securities through electronic book-entry changes in accounts of the participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the underwriters), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations (“Direct Participants”). DTC is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (“DTCC”). DTCC is the holding company for DTC, National Securities Clearing Corporation and Fixed Income Clearing Corporation, all of which are registered clearing agencies. DTCC is owned by the users of its regulated subsidiaries. Access to DTC’s book-entry system is also available to others such as both U.S. and non-U.S. securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies and clearing corporations that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly (“Indirect Participants”). The rules applicable to DTC and its Direct and Indirect Participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of notes under the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the notes on DTC’s records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each note (“Beneficial Owner”) is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants’ records. Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their purchase, but Beneficial Owners are, however, expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participant through which the Beneficial Owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the notes are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Direct and Indirect Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive certificates representing their ownership interests in notes, except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the notes is discontinued.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global notes deposited by Direct Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC’s partnership nominee, Cede & Co., or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. The deposit of global notes with DTC and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. or such other DTC nominee do not effect any change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the notes; DTC’s records reflect only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such notes are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The Direct and Indirect Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

The laws of some jurisdictions may require that purchasers of securities take physical delivery of those securities in definitive form. Accordingly, the ability to transfer interests in the notes represented by a global note to those persons may be limited. In addition, because DTC can act only on behalf of its participants, who in turn act on behalf of persons who hold interests through participants, the ability of a person having an interest in notes represented by a global note to pledge or transfer those interests to persons or entities that do not participate in DTC’s system, or otherwise to take actions in respect of such interest, may be affected by the lack of a physical definitive security in respect of such interest.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Neither DTC nor Cede & Co. (nor any other DTC nominee) will consent or vote with respect to the notes unless authorized by a Direct Participant in accordance with DTC’s procedures. Under its usual procedures, DTC mails an Omnibus Proxy to Cardinal Health as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to whose accounts the notes are credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus Proxy).

Principal, interest payments and redemption proceeds on the notes will be made to Cede & Co., or such other nominee, as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC. DTC’s practice is to credit Direct Participants’ accounts upon DTC’s receipt of funds and corresponding detail information from us or the trustee, on the payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC’s records. Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name” and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC or its nominee, any Agents, the trustee or Cardinal Health, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal, interest and redemption proceeds to Cede & Co. (or such other nominee as may be requested by an authorized representative of DTC) is the responsibility of Cardinal Health or the trustee, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants will be the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement of such payments to the Beneficial Owners will be the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.

None of Cardinal Health, the underwriters or the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of notes by DTC, Clearstream or Euroclear, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records of those organizations relating to the notes.

DTC may discontinue providing its services as depository with respect to the notes at any time by giving reasonable notice to Cardinal Health or the trustee. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor depository is not obtained, certificated notes are required to be printed and delivered in exchange for the notes represented by the global notes held by DTC.

In addition, Cardinal Health may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry-only transfers through DTC (or a successor securities depositary). In that event, certificated notes will be printed and delivered in exchange for the notes represented by the global notes held by DTC.

Distributions on the notes held beneficially through Clearstream will be credited to cash accounts of its customers in accordance with its rules and procedures, to the extent received by the United States depositary for Clearstream.

Securities clearance accounts and cash accounts with Euroclear Bank S.A./N.V., as operator of the Euroclear System, are governed by the Terms and Conditions Governing Use of Euroclear and the related Operating Procedures of the Euroclear System, and applicable Belgian law (collectively, the “Terms and Conditions”). The Terms and Conditions govern transfers of securities and cash within Euroclear, withdrawals of securities and cash from Euroclear, and receipts of payments with respect to securities in Euroclear. All securities in Euroclear are held on a fungible basis without attribution of specific certificates to specific securities clearance accounts. The Euroclear Operator acts under the Terms and Conditions only on behalf of Euroclear participants and has no record of or relationship with persons holding through Euroclear participants.

Distributions on the notes held beneficially through Euroclear will be credited to the cash accounts of its participants in accordance with the Terms and Conditions, to the extent received by the United States depositary for Euroclear.

Settlement for the notes will be made by the underwriters in immediately available funds. All payments of principal and interest will be made by us in immediately available funds.

Secondary trading in long-term notes of corporate issuers is generally settled in clearing-house or next-day funds. In contrast, the notes will trade in the Same-Day Funds Settlement System maintained by DTC until maturity, and secondary market trading activity in the notes will therefore be required by DTC to settle in immediately available funds. No assurance can be given as to the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the notes.

Cross-market transfers between persons holding directly or indirectly through DTC, on the one hand, and directly or indirectly through Clearstream customers or Euroclear participants, on the other, will be effected through DTC in accordance with DTC rules on behalf of the relevant European international clearing system by the United States depositary. Such cross-market transactions, however, will require delivery of instructions to the relevant European international clearing system by the counterparty in such system in accordance with its rules and procedures and within its established deadlines (European time). The relevant European international clearing system will, if the transaction meets its settlement requirements, deliver instructions to the United States depositary to take action to effect final settlement on its behalf by delivering or receiving the notes in DTC, and making or receiving payment in accordance with normal procedures for same-day funds settlement applicable to DTC. Clearstream customers and Euroclear participants may not deliver instructions directly to their United States depositaries.

Because of time-zone differences, credits of notes received in Clearstream or Euroclear, as a result of a transaction with a DTC participant will be made during subsequent securities settlement processing and dated the business day following the DTC settlement date. Such credits or any transactions in such notes settled during such processing will be reported to the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear participants on such business day. Cash received in Clearstream or Euroclear as a result of sales of notes by or through a Clearstream participant or a Euroclear participant to a DTC participant will be received with value on the DTC settlement date but will be available in the relevant Clearstream or Euroclear cash account only as of the business day following settlement in DTC.

Although DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear have agreed to the foregoing procedures in order to facilitate transfers of notes among participants of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform such procedures, and such procedures may be discontinued at any time.

The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC’s book-entry system has been obtained from sources that Cardinal Health believes to be reliable, but Cardinal Health takes no responsibility for the accuracy thereof.

Cardinal Health has provided the descriptions of the operations and procedures of DTC, Clearstream and Euroclear in this prospectus supplement solely as a matter of convenience, and Cardinal Health makes no representation or warranty of any kind with respect to these operations and procedures. These operations and procedures are solely within the control of those organizations and are subject to change by them from time to time. None of Cardinal Health, the underwriters, the trustee, any paying agent or the registrar for the notes will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a global note or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.

The following discussion summarizes certain U.S. federal income tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes by holders that acquired the notes at issuance at the initial “issue price” (i.e. the initial offering price to the public, excluding bond houses and brokers, at which price a substantial amount of such notes were sold) and hold the notes as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), (generally, property held for investment purposes). This discussion is based upon the provisions of the Code, applicable Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, judicial authority and administrative interpretations, in each case as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change or differing interpretations, possibly with retroactive effect.

This discussion does not address all U.S. federal income tax considerations that may be relevant to a holder in light of the holder’s particular circumstances, or to certain categories of investors that may be subject to special rules, such as banks or other financial institutions, insurance companies, regulated investment companies, tax-exempt organizations, dealers in securities or currencies, U.S. Holders (as defined below) whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar, partnerships or other pass-through entities for U.S. federal income tax purposes, former U.S. citizens or residents of the United States, or persons who hold the notes as part of a hedge, conversion transaction, straddle or other risk-reduction transaction. This summary does not consider any tax consequences arising under U.S. federal gift, estate or alternative minimum tax law or under the laws of any non-U.S., state, local or other jurisdiction.

If a partnership (or an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) acquires the notes, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of an investment in the notes will depend on the status of the partners and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships that invest in the notes (and partners of such partnerships) are urged to consult their independent tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of investing in the notes.

This summary is intended for general information purposes only. Potential investors are urged to consult their independent tax advisors regarding the U.S. federal, state, local and non-U.S. tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the notes and the possible effect of changes in tax laws.

In certain circumstances (see, for instance, “Description of the Notes—Special Mandatory Redemption” and “Description of the Notes—Repurchase at the Option of Holders Upon a Change of Control”), we may be obligated to pay amounts in excess of stated interest or principal on the notes. These contingencies could subject the notes to the provisions of the Treasury regulations relating to “contingent payment debt instruments.” Under these regulations, however, one or more contingencies will not cause a debt instrument to be treated as a contingent payment debt instrument if, as of the issue date, each such contingency is “remote” or is considered to be “incidental.” We believe and intend to take the position that the foregoing contingencies should be treated as remote and/or incidental. Our position is binding on a holder, unless the holder discloses in the proper manner to the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) that it is taking a different position. However, this determination is inherently factual and we can give no assurance that our position would be sustained if challenged by the IRS. A successful challenge of this position by the IRS could affect the timing and amount of a holder’s income and could cause the gain from the sale or other disposition of a note to be treated as ordinary income, rather than capital gain. The remainder of this discussion assumes that the notes will not be considered contingent payment debt instruments for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Holders are urged to consult their own tax advisors regarding the potential application to the notes of the contingent payment debt instrument rules and the consequences thereof.

A “U.S. Holder” for purposes of this discussion is a beneficial owner of a note that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is:

Payments of stated interest on the notes will be included in a U.S. Holder’s gross income as ordinary interest income at the time such payments are received or accrued, in accordance with the U.S. Holder’s regular method of accounting for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

A U.S. Holder generally will recognize gain or loss on the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note. This gain or loss will equal the difference between the amount realized by the U.S. Holder in such sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the note. The amount realized by a U.S. Holder for such purposes will equal the proceeds (including cash and the fair market value of any property) received for the note, less any portion of such proceeds attributable to accrued interest on the note, which will be taxable as ordinary interest income to the extent not previously included in gross income. A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in a note generally will equal the cost of the note. Any gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time of disposition, the U.S. Holder’s holding period in the note exceeds one year. Long-term capital gains of non-corporate U.S. Holders (including individuals) currently are eligible for taxation at preferential rates. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to limitations.

Certain U.S. Holders that are individuals, estates or trusts are generally subject to an additional 3.8% U.S. federal income tax on the lesser of (1) the U.S. Holder’s “net investment income” for the taxable year, and (2) the excess of the U.S. Holder’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year over a certain threshold. A U.S. Holder’s net investment income will generally include any income or gain recognized by such holder with respect to the notes, unless such income or gain is derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of such holder’s trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities).

Information reporting will apply to payments of interest on or the proceeds of the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of notes held by a U.S. Holder, unless the U.S. Holder is an exempt recipient and appropriately establishes that exemption. Backup withholding will apply to such payments unless a U.S. Holder provides its correct taxpayer identification number, certified under penalties of perjury, as well as certain other information, or otherwise establishes an exemption from backup withholding. Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a credit against a U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS on a timely basis.

A “non-U.S. Holder” is a beneficial owner of notes that is neither a U.S. Holder nor a partnership or other pass-through entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

Subject to the discussions below under “— Income or gain effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business,” “— Information reporting and backup withholding” and “— Additional withholding requirements under FATCA,” payments of interest on the notes to a non-U.S. Holder generally will be exempt from U.S. federal income tax (and generally no tax will be withheld) under the “portfolio interest” exemption if such non-U.S. Holder properly certifies as to its foreign status as described below or certain other certification requirements are satisfied, and:

The portfolio interest exemption and several of the special rules for non-U.S. Holders described below generally apply only if a non-U.S. Holder appropriately certifies as to its foreign status. Generally a non-U.S. Holder can meet this certification requirement by providing a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, or appropriate substitute form to us or our paying agent certifying under penalty of perjury that such non-U.S. Holder is not a U.S. person as defined in the Code. If a non-U.S. Holder holds the notes through a financial institution or other agent acting on its behalf, such holder may be required to provide appropriate certifications to the agent. Such agent will then generally be required to provide appropriate certifications to us or our paying agent, either directly or through other intermediaries.

If a non-U.S. Holder does not qualify for the portfolio interest exemption and the interest is not effectively connected with the non-U.S. Holder’s conduct of a trade or business within the United States (see “—Income or gain effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business”), payments of interest made to such non-U.S. Holder will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% (or lower applicable treaty rate).

Subject to the discussions below under “— Information reporting and backup withholding” and “—Additional withholding requirements under FATCA,” and except with respect to accrued but unpaid interest, which will be treated as described above under “Interest on the notes,” a non-U.S. Holder generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax (and generally no tax will be withheld) on any gain realized on the sale, redemption, exchange, retirement or other taxable disposition of a note unless:

If any interest on the notes is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by a non-U.S. Holder or gain from the sale, exchange, redemption, retirement or other taxable disposition of the notes is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business conducted by a non-U.S. Holder (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base of such non-U.S. Holder), then such interest or gain will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net income basis at the graduated income tax rates applicable to U.S. persons generally, but will not be subject to withholding tax if certain certification requirements are satisfied. A non-U.S. Holder generally can meet the certification requirements by providing a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI or appropriate substitute form to us or our paying agent. If a non-U.S. Holder is a corporation, the portion of its earnings and profits that is effectively connected with its U.S. trade or business (and, if required by an applicable income tax treaty, is attributable to a U.S. permanent establishment or fixed base of the non-U.S. Holder) also may be subject to an additional “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate (or reduced rate under an applicable income tax treaty).

Payments to a non-U.S. Holder of interest on a note and amounts withheld from such payments, if any, generally will be required to be reported to the IRS and to such non-U.S. Holder. Backup withholding generally will not apply to payments of interest and principal on a note to a non-U.S. Holder if certification, such as an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E described above in “— Consequences to non-U.S. Holders—Interest on the notes,” is duly provided by the holder or the holder otherwise establishes an exemption, provided that we do not have actual knowledge or reason to know that the holder is a U.S. person as defined in the Code. Payment of the proceeds from a sale of a note effected by the U.S. office of a U.S. or foreign broker will be subject to information reporting requirements and backup withholding unless a non-U.S. Holder properly certifies under penalties of perjury as to its foreign status and certain other conditions are met or a non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption. Information reporting requirements and backup withholding generally will not apply to any payment of the proceeds from the sale of a note effected outside the United States by a foreign office of a foreign broker. The payment of the proceeds from a sale of a note to or through a foreign office of either a U.S. broker or a foreign broker that is a “United States-related person” will be subject to information reporting, but not backup withholding, unless such broker has documentary evidence in its files that the non-U.S. Holder is not a U.S. person and the broker has no knowledge to the contrary, or the non-U.S. Holder otherwise establishes an exemption.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules may be allowed as a credit against a non-U.S. Holder’s U.S. federal income tax liability and may entitle such holder to a refund, provided the proper information is furnished to the IRS on a timely basis.

Under Sections 1471 through 1474 of the Code (such sections commonly referred to as “FATCA”), a 30% U.S. federal withholding tax may apply to payments to certain non-U.S. entities of interest on the notes and, beginning on January 1, 2019, gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of notes. FATCA imposes a 30% withholding tax on such payments to a “foreign financial institution,” as specially defined under such rules, unless the foreign financial institution enters into an agreement with the U.S. Treasury or, in the case of a foreign financial institution in a jurisdiction that has entered into an intergovernmental agreement with the United States, complies with the requirements of such agreement. In addition, FATCA imposes a 30% withholding tax on the same types of payments to a foreign non-financial entity unless the entity certifies that it does not have any substantial U.S. owners or furnishes identifying information regarding each substantial U.S. owner. Prospective investors should consult their tax advisors regarding FATCA.

Subject to the terms and conditions contained in an underwriting agreement among us and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, MUFG Securities Americas Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as representatives of the several underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and the underwriters have severally and not jointly agreed to purchase from us, the principal amount of the notes listed opposite their respective names below. The underwriters have agreed to purchase all of the notes sold pursuant to the underwriting agreement if any of these notes are purchased.

The underwriters are offering the notes, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the notes, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.

The underwriters have advised us that they propose initially to offer the notes of each series at the applicable public offering price on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, and may offer the notes to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of % of the principal amount of the notes, % of the principal amount of the notes, % of the principal amount of the notes, % of the principal amount of the notes and % of the principal amount of the notes. The underwriters may allow, and the dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of % of the principal amount of the notes, % of the principal amount of the notes, % of the principal amount of the notes, % of the principal amount of the notes and % of the principal amount of the notes to other dealers. After the initial public offering, the applicable public offering price, concession and discount may be changed.

The following table shows the underwriting discounts we will pay to the underwriters in respect to this offering:

The notes are new issues of securities with no established trading markets. We have been advised by the underwriters that the underwriters presently intend to make a market in the notes of each series after completion of the offering. However, the underwriters are under no obligation to do so and may discontinue any market-making activities at any time without notice. We cannot assure the liquidity of the trading markets for the notes or that active public markets for the notes will develop. If active public trading markets for the notes do not develop, the market prices and liquidity of the notes may be adversely affected.

In connection with the offering, the underwriters are permitted to engage in transactions that stabilize the market prices of the notes. Such transactions consist of bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain the prices of the notes. If the underwriters create a short position in the notes in connection with the offering, i.e., if they sell more notes than are on the cover page of this prospectus supplement, the underwriters may reduce that short position by purchasing notes in the open market. Purchases of a security to stabilize the price or to reduce a short position could cause the price of the security to be higher than it might be in the absence of such purchases.

Neither we nor the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the prices of the notes. In addition, neither we nor the underwriters make any representation that the underwriters will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.

The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discount, are estimated to be approximately $ million. The underwriters have agreed to reimburse us up to $ million for certain of our expenses incurred with this offering.

We have agreed to indemnify the several underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, as amended, or, if such indemnification is not available, to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of these liabilities.

The underwriters and their affiliates are full service financial institutions and have provided, and expect to provide in the future, certain activities which may include sales and trading, investment banking, commercial banking and other financial and non-financial activities and services to us and our affiliates, for which they have received, and may continue to receive, customary fees and commissions. For example, in connection with the Acquisition, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC served as one of the Company’s financial advisors and we obtained a commitment to provide a 364-day senior unsecured bridge term loan facility in an aggregate principal amount of up to $4.5 billion from affiliates of certain of the underwriters. In addition, affiliates of certain of the underwriters are members of the lending syndicate under the Company’s $1.75 billion revolving credit facility and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC serves as a dealer under the Company’s commercial paper program.

In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities), currencies, commodities, credit default swaps, and other financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. If any of the underwriters or their affiliates have a lending relationship with us, certain of those underwriters or their affiliates routinely hedge, and certain other of those underwriters may hedge, their credit exposure to us consistent with their customary risk management policies. Typically, these underwriters and their affiliates would hedge such exposure by entering into transactions which consist of either the purchase of credit default swaps or the creation of short positions, including potentially the notes offered hereby. Any such credit default swaps or short positions could adversely affect future trading prices of the notes offered hereby. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.

We expect that delivery of the notes will be made to investors on or about June , 2017 which will be the business day following the date of this prospectus supplement (such settlement being referred to as “T+ ”). Under Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, trades in the secondary market are required to settle in three business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes on the date of this prospectus supplement or the next succeeding three business days will be

required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially settle in T+ , to specify an alternate settlement arrangement at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes on the date of this prospectus supplement or the next succeeding three business days should consult their advisors.

The notes may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the notes must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

The notes may not be offered or sold in Hong Kong by means of any document other than (i) in circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance”) or which do not constitute an invitation to the public within the meaning of the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (“Securities and Futures Ordinance”), or (ii) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder, or (iii) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance, and no advertisement, invitation or document relating to the notes may be issued or may be in the possession of any person for the purpose of issue (in each case whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere), which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public in Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to notes which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” in Hong Kong as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made thereunder.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus have not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of the notes may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the notes be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act, Chapter 289 of Singapore (the “SFA”)) under Section 274 of the SFA, (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA ) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA, in each case subject to conditions set forth in the SFA.

Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor, the securities (as defined in Section 239(1) of the SFA) of that corporation shall not be transferable for 6 months after that corporation has acquired the notes under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer in that corporation’s securities pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32 of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Shares and Debentures) Regulations 2005 of Singapore (“Regulation 32”).

Where the notes are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an accredited investor, the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferable for 6 months after that trust has acquired the notes under Section 275 of the SFA except: (1) to an institutional investor under Section 274 of the SFA or to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA), (2) where such transfer arises from an offer that is made on terms that such rights or interest are acquired at a consideration of not less than S$200,000 (or its equivalent in a foreign currency) for each transaction (whether such amount is to be paid for in cash or by exchange of securities or other assets), (3) where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer, (4) where the transfer is by operation of law, (5) as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA, or (6) as specified in Regulation 32.

The notes have not been and will not be registered under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act of Japan (Act No. 25 of 1948, as amended), or the FIEA. The notes may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan (including any person resident in Japan or any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan) or to others for reoffering or resale, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of any resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the FIEA and otherwise in compliance with any relevant laws and regulations of Japan.

The notes have not been and will not be registered with the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan pursuant to relevant securities laws and regulations and may not be sold, issued or offered within Taiwan through a public offering or in circumstances which constitutes an offer within the meaning of the Securities and Exchange Act of Taiwan that requires a registration or approval of the Financial Supervisory Commission of Taiwan. No person or entity in Taiwan has been authorized to offer, sell, give advice regarding or otherwise intermediate the offering and sale of the notes in Taiwan.

This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not intended to constitute an offer or solicitation to purchase or invest in the notes described herein. The notes may not be publicly offered, sold or advertised, directly or indirectly, in, into or from Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange or on any other exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes constitutes a prospectus as such term is understood pursuant to article 652a or article 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations, and neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the notes may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither this prospectus supplement nor the accompanying prospectus nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the notes or us have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus will not be filed with, and the offer of the notes will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority (“FINMA”), and the offer of the notes has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (“CISA”). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of the notes.

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area which has implemented the Prospectus Directive, as defined below (each, a “Relevant Member State”), each underwriter has represented and agreed that, with effect from and including the date on which the Prospectus Directive is implemented in that Relevant Member State (the “Relevant Implementation Date”), it has not made and will not make an offer of notes which are the subject of the offering contemplated by this prospectus supplement to the public in that Relevant Member State other than:

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer of notes to the public” in relation to any notes in any Relevant Member State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and the notes to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe the notes, as the same may be varied in that Member State by any measure implementing the Prospectus Directive in that Member State, the expression “Prospectus Directive” means Directive 2003/71/EC (as amended, including by Directive 2010/73/EU), and includes any relevant implementing measure in the Relevant Member State.

The underwriters have informed us that (a)(i) they are each a person whose ordinary activities involve it in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of its business and (ii) they have not offered or sold and will not offer or sell the notes other than to persons whose ordinary activities involve them in acquiring, holding, managing or disposing of investments (as principal or as agent) for the purposes of their businesses or who it is reasonable to expect will acquire, hold, manage or dispose of investments (as principal or agent) for the purposes of their businesses where the issue of the notes would otherwise constitute a contravention of Section 19 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”) by them; (b) they have only communicated or caused to be communicated and will only communicate or cause to be communicated an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) received by them in connection with the issue or sale of the notes in circumstances in which Section 21(1) of the FSMA does not apply; and (c) they have complied and will comply with all applicable provisions of the FSMA with respect to anything done by them in relation to the notes in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom.

The validity of the notes will be passed upon for us by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, New York and John M. Adams, Jr., Esq., Senior Vice President and Associate General Counsel of Cardinal Health. Mr. Adams is paid a salary by Cardinal Health and participates in various employee benefit plans offered to Cardinal Health’s employees generally. Mr. Adams holds equity incentive awards with respect to Cardinal Health’s common shares valued at greater than $50,000. Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, New York, New York is counsel for the underwriters in connection with this offering.

The consolidated financial statements of Cardinal Health, Inc. and Subsidiaries appearing in Cardinal Health, Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended June 30, 2016 (including the schedule appearing therein) and the effectiveness of Cardinal Health, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2016, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are, and audited consolidated financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the respective dates (to the extent covered by consents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

Cardinal Health may offer and sell from time to time, together or separately, the following securities:

We will provide the terms of any offering and the specific terms of the securities offered in supplements to this prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement carefully before you invest. This prospectus may not be used to sell any of these securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement or term sheet.

See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 3 for a discussion of certain risks that you should consider in connection with an investment in Cardinal Health’s securities.

Cardinal Health’s common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CAH.”

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) using a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process, Cardinal Health may sell in one or more offerings any combination of Cardinal Health’s common shares, preferred shares, unsecured debt securities in one or more series, which may be senior or subordinated debt securities, or any combination of these securities. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities Cardinal Health may offer. Each time Cardinal Health sells securities, we will provide a prospectus supplement, which may be in the form of a term sheet, that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering and the specific terms of the securities. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus, and accordingly, to the extent inconsistent, information in this prospectus is superseded by the information in the prospectus supplement. You should read both this prospectus and the applicable prospectus supplement together with additional information described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.”

Because Cardinal Health is a “well-known seasoned issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), Cardinal Health may add to and offer additional securities, including securities to be offered and sold by selling security holders, by filing a prospectus supplement with the SEC at the time of the offer.

We have not authorized any person to provide you with any information or to make any representation other than as contained in this prospectus or in any prospectus supplement and the information incorporated by reference herein and therein. We do not take any responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any information that others may give you. Cardinal Health is not making an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer, sale or solicitation is not permitted. The information appearing or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any supplement to this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus or any supplement to this prospectus or the date of the document in which incorporated information appears. Our business, financial condition, results of operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.

Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to “we,” “us” or “our” mean Cardinal Health, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, and references to “Cardinal Health” or “the Company” refer to Cardinal Health, Inc., excluding its consolidated subsidiaries.

We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. The SEC maintains an Internet site at http://www.sec.gov that contains reports, proxy and information statements and other information regarding issuers that file electronically with the SEC. You may also read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information on the operation of the public reference room. Documents may also be available on our web site at http://www.cardinal.com under the heading “Investors.” The information contained on our website is neither incorporated by reference into this registration statement or prospectus or any accompanying prospectus supplement nor intended to be used in connection with any offering hereunder.

This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the SEC, which includes exhibits and other information not included in this prospectus or a prospectus supplement. The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” in this prospectus the information we file with it. This means that we are disclosing important business and financial information to you by referring to other documents filed separately with the SEC that contain the omitted information. The information incorporated by reference is an important 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 following documents filed with the SEC by us and any future filings we make with the SEC after the date of this prospectus under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), until we complete our offering of the securities offered by this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement. We are not incorporating by reference any information “furnished” rather than “filed” under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of any Current Report on Form 8-K, unless otherwise specified.

Any statement contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein, or in any subsequently filed document which also is incorporated herein by reference, modifies or supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this prospectus. Any statement made in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract, agreement or other document is only a summary of the actual contract, agreement or other document. If we have filed or incorporated by reference any contract, agreement or other document as an exhibit to the registration statement, you should read the exhibit for a more complete understanding of the document or matter involved. Each statement regarding a contract, agreement or other document is qualified by reference to the actual document.

We will furnish without charge to each person (including any beneficial owner) to whom a prospectus is delivered, upon written or oral request, a copy of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated herein by reference (other than certain exhibits). Requests for such documents should be made to:

Investing in Cardinal Health’s securities involves significant risks. Before you invest in Cardinal Health’s securities, in addition to the other information contained in this prospectus and in the accompanying prospectus supplement, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties identified in Cardinal Health’s reports filed with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus and the accompanying prospectus supplement.

Cardinal Health’s filings with the SEC, including Cardinal Health’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2016 (the “2016 Form 10-K”), any Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or any Current Report on Form 8-K of Cardinal Health (along with any exhibits and amendments to such reports), as well as Cardinal Health’s news releases or any other written or oral statements made by or on behalf of Cardinal Health, may include, directly or by incorporation by reference, forward-looking statements that reflect Cardinal Health’s current view (as of the date the forward-looking statement is first made) about future events, prospects, projections or financial performance. The matters discussed in these forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated or implied in or by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include:

Cardinal Health, Inc. is an Ohio corporation formed in 1979. We are a globally integrated healthcare services and products company providing customized solutions for hospital systems, pharmacies, ambulatory surgery centers, clinical laboratories and physicians’ offices. We provide clinically proven medical products and pharmaceuticals and cost-effective solutions that enhance supply chain efficiency. We connect patients, providers, payers, pharmacists and manufacturers for integrated care coordination and better patient management.

For additional information concerning our business and our financial results and condition, please refer to the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus.

The mailing address of our executive offices is 7000 Cardinal Place, Dublin, Ohio 43017, and our telephone number is (614) 757-5000.

Except as we may describe otherwise in a prospectus supplement, we will use the net proceeds from the sale of any offered securities for general corporate purposes, which may include working capital, capital expenditures, repayment or refinancing of indebtedness, acquisitions, repurchases of Cardinal Health’s common shares, dividends or investments.

Our ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the fiscal years ended June 30, 2012 through 2016 and for the six months ended December 31, 2016 was as follows:

The ratio of earnings to fixed charges is computed by dividing fixed charges into earnings from continuing operations before income taxes plus fixed charges and capitalized interest. Fixed charges include interest expense, amortization of debt offering costs and the portion of rent expense that is deemed to be representative of the interest factor. Interest expense recorded on tax exposures has been recorded in income tax expense and has therefore been excluded from the calculation.

The following is a summary of Cardinal Health’s capital stock. The following summary of the terms of Cardinal Health’s capital stock is not meant to be complete and is qualified by reference to Cardinal Health’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended (the “Articles”), and Cardinal Health’s Restated Code of Regulations (the “Regulations”), which are the documents that establish these rights. Copies of the Articles and Regulations are incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information and Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” on page 2 of this prospectus for information on how to obtain copies of documents incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

The Articles authorize Cardinal Health to issue up to 750 million common shares. On January 31, 2017, approximately 315 million common shares were issued and outstanding and approximately 11 million were held in treasury. The Articles also authorize Cardinal Health to issue up to 5 million Class B common shares, none of which are outstanding or reserved for issuance, and 500,000 non-voting preferred shares, none of which are outstanding or reserved for issuance.

From time to time, Cardinal Health may issue additional authorized but unissued common shares for share dividends, stock splits, employee benefit and compensation programs, financing and acquisition transactions, and other general purposes. Those common shares will be available for issuance without action by Cardinal Health’s shareholders, unless action by the Cardinal Health shareholders is required by applicable law or the rules of the New York Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange on which common shares may be listed in the future.

All of the outstanding common shares are fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of common shares do not have preemptive rights and have no right to convert their common shares into any other security. All common shares are entitled to participate equally and ratably in dividends, when and as declared by Cardinal Health’s board of directors. In the event of the liquidation of Cardinal Health, holders of common shares are entitled to share ratably in assets remaining after payment of all liabilities, subject to prior distribution rights of any preferred shares then outstanding. Holders of common shares are entitled to one vote per share upon all matters on which shareholders are entitled to vote. Holders of Class B common shares (if any are issued in the future) are entitled to one-fifth of one vote per share upon all matters on which shareholders are entitled to vote. Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the Articles or the Regulations, all matters on which shareholders are entitled to vote will be decided by the majority of votes cast without regard to abstentions. Under certain circumstances, holders of Class B common shares have a right to a separate class vote. Holders of common shares do not have any rights to cumulate votes in the election of directors.

No shares of non-voting preferred shares are currently outstanding. Under the Articles, Cardinal Health’s board of directors, without further action by its shareholders, is authorized to issue up to 500,000 non-voting preferred shares, without par value, in one or more series and to fix the designations, preferences, limitations and relative or other rights thereof, including the designation and authorized number of shares constituting each series, dividend rights, liquidation price, redemption rights, sinking fund requirements, conversion rights and restrictions on the issuance of such shares. The issuance of preferred shares could adversely affect the holders of common shares. The issuance of preferred shares could also have the effect, under certain circumstances, of delaying, deferring or preventing a change of control of Cardinal Health.

Cardinal Health’s board of directors currently consists of eleven members. The Regulations provide that the number of directors is fixed from time to time by the board of directors, but in no case may the number of

directors be decreased to fewer than nine nor increased to more than sixteen. The board of directors may fill any vacancy, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of directors. Each director serves until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation, removal from office or death. In uncontested elections of directors, as defined in the Articles, directors are elected by a majority of the votes cast; director elections other than uncontested elections are governed by a plurality voting standard.

The following summarizes Chapter 1704 of the Ohio Revised Code which may have the effect of prohibiting, raising the costs of, or otherwise impeding, a change of control of Cardinal Health, whether by merger, consolidation or sale of assets or stock (by tender offer or otherwise), or by other methods. Chapter 1704 provides generally that any person who has beneficial ownership of 10% or more of a corporation’s voting stock (thereby being an “interested shareholder”) may not engage in a wide range of “business combinations” with the corporation for a period of three years following the date the person became an interested shareholder, unless the directors of the corporation have approved the transaction or the interested shareholder’s acquisition of shares of the corporation, in either case, prior to the date the interested shareholder became an interested shareholder of the corporation. After the three-year period, business combinations between the corporation and the interested shareholder are prohibited unless certain fair price provisions are complied with or the shareholders of the corporation approve the transaction by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the voting power of the corporation, including at least a majority of the disinterested shareholders. These restrictions on interested shareholders do not apply under certain circumstances, including when a person becomes an “interested shareholder” only because a corporation has repurchased some of its voting stock.

The Regulations provide that, unless Cardinal Health consents in writing to the selection of an alternate forum, a state court located in Franklin County, Ohio (or if no state court in Franklin County, Ohio has jurisdiction, then the federal court for Franklin County, Ohio) will be the exclusive forum for derivative suits and certain other actions, including any action asserting a claim against Cardinal Health or any director, officer or other employee arising under Ohio corporation law, the Articles or the Regulations.

The transfer agent and registrar for the common shares is Computershare Trust Company, N.A., Canton, Massachusetts.

The following description summarizes the general terms and provisions of the debt securities that Cardinal Health may offer pursuant to this prospectus that are common to all series. The specific terms relating to any series of the debt securities that Cardinal Health may offer will be described in a prospectus supplement, which you should read. Because the terms of specific series of debt securities offered may differ from the general information that Cardinal Health has provided below, you should rely on information in the applicable prospectus supplement that contradicts any information below.

As required by federal law for all bonds and notes of companies that are publicly offered, the debt securities will be governed by a document called an “indenture.” An indenture is a contract between a financial institution, acting on your behalf as trustee of the debt securities offered, and Cardinal Health. The debt securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of June 2, 2008, between Cardinal Health and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly The Bank of New York Trust Company, N.A.), as trustee, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. When Cardinal Health refers to the “indenture” in this prospectus, Cardinal Health is referring to the indenture under which your debt securities are issued, as may be supplemented by any supplemental indenture applicable to your debt securities. The trustee has two main roles. First, subject to some limitations on the extent to which the trustee can act on your behalf, the trustee can enforce your rights against Cardinal Health if Cardinal Health defaults on its obligations under the indenture. Second, the trustee performs certain administrative duties for Cardinal Health with respect to the debt securities.

Unless otherwise provided in any applicable prospectus supplement, the following section is a summary of the principal terms and provisions that will be included in the indenture. This summary is not complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the terms and provisions of the indenture, which will be in the form filed as an exhibit to or incorporated by reference in the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. If this summary refers to particular provisions in the indenture, such provisions, including the definition of terms, are incorporated by reference in this prospectus as part of this summary. Cardinal Health urges you to read the applicable indenture and any supplement thereto because these documents, and not this section, define your rights as a holder of debt securities.

In this section, “Cardinal Health” refers to Cardinal Health, Inc., excluding its subsidiaries, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires.

The indenture does not limit the amount of debt securities or any other debt Cardinal Health may incur. The indenture provides that the debt securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The debt securities may have the same or various maturities. The debt securities may be issued at par, at a premium or with original issue discount. Cardinal Health may also reopen a previous issue of securities and issue additional securities of the series. The debt securities will be unsecured obligations of Cardinal Health. Senior debt securities will rank equally in right of payment with all of Cardinal Health’s existing and future unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. Subordinated debt securities will be unsecured and subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all of Cardinal Health’s unsecured and senior indebtedness. Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, a default in Cardinal Health’s obligations with respect to any other indebtedness will not constitute a default or an event of default with respect to the debt securities. The indenture does not contain any covenants or provisions that afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction.

The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities will, among other things, describe the following terms, where applicable:

Unless otherwise specified in a prospectus supplement, principal and premium, if any, will be payable, and the debt securities will be transferable and exchangeable without service charge, at the office of the trustee under the indenture. Interest on any series of the debt securities will be payable on the interest payment dates to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered at the close of business on the related record dates, and, unless other arrangements are made, will be paid by checks mailed to such persons.

The debt securities may be issued as discounted debt securities (bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates) and sold at a discount which may be substantially below their stated principal amount (“Original Issue Discount Securities”). The applicable prospectus supplement may describe the federal income tax consequences and other special considerations applicable to any Original Issue Discount Securities.

The definitions set forth below are a description of the terms that are defined in the indenture and used in this prospectus. The complete definitions are set forth in the indenture.

“Attributable Debt” means, in connection with a sale and lease-back transaction, the lesser of:

“Consolidated Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary substantially all the property of which is located, and substantially all the operations of which are conducted, in the United States of America whose financial statements are consolidated with those of Cardinal Health in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

“Exempted Debt” means the sum of the following as of the date of determination:

“Financing Subsidiary” means any Subsidiary, including its Subsidiaries, engaged in one or more of the following activities:

“Funded Indebtedness” means all Indebtedness having a maturity of more than 12 months from the date as of which the amount of Indebtedness is to be determined or having a maturity of less than 12 months but by its terms being renewable or extendible beyond 12 months from such date at the option of the borrower.

“Indebtedness” means all items classified as indebtedness on our most recently available balance sheet in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

“Net Worth” means, as of any date of determination, the total shareholder’s equity of Cardinal Health and its Subsidiaries calculated on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

“Original Issue Discount Security” means any debt security that provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof following an event of default.

“Rate Hedging Obligations” means any and all obligations of anyone arising under:

“Restricted Subsidiary” means a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Article 1, Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X, promulgated under the Securities Act.

“Senior Funded Indebtedness” means any of Cardinal Health’s Funded Indebtedness that is not subordinated in right of payment to any of Cardinal Health’s other Indebtedness.

“Subsidiary” means any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, trust or other legal entity of which at least a majority of the outstanding stock or other ownership interests having voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors, managers or trustees of that corporation, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, trust or other legal entity (irrespective of whether or not at the time stock or other ownership interests of any other class or classes of such corporation, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, trust or other legal entity shall have or might have voting power by reason of the happening of any contingency) is at the time owned by Cardinal Health or by Cardinal Health and one or more Subsidiaries or by one or more Subsidiaries.

“Yield to Maturity” means the yield to maturity on a series of debt securities, calculated at the time of issuance of such series, or, if applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.

The following is a summary of the material covenants contained in the indenture.

So long as any of the debt securities remain outstanding, Cardinal Health will not, and it will not permit any Consolidated Subsidiary to, create or assume any Indebtedness for borrowed money that is secured by a

mortgage, pledge, security interest or lien (the “liens”) of or upon any assets of Cardinal Health or any Consolidated Subsidiary, whether now owned or hereafter acquired, without equally and ratably securing the debt securities by a lien ranking ratably with and equal to such secured Indebtedness. The foregoing restriction does not apply to:

(b) liens on assets of any corporation existing at the time it becomes a Consolidated Subsidiary;

(c) liens on assets existing at the time Cardinal Health or a Consolidated Subsidiary acquires them, or to secure the payment of the purchase price for them, or to secure Indebtedness incurred or guaranteed by Cardinal Health or a Consolidated Subsidiary for the purpose of financing the purchase price of assets, or, in the case of real property, construction or improvements thereon, which Indebtedness is incurred or guaranteed prior to, at the time of, or within 360 days after the acquisition (or in the case of real property, completion of construction or improvements or commencement of full operation of such asset, whichever is later) provided that the lien shall not apply to any assets theretofore owned by Cardinal Health or a Consolidated Subsidiary other than, in the case of any such construction or improvements, any real property on which the construction or improvement is located;

(d) liens securing Indebtedness owing by any Consolidated Subsidiary to Cardinal Health or another wholly owned domestic Subsidiary;

(e) liens on any assets of a corporation existing at the time the corporation is merged into or consolidated with Cardinal Health or a Subsidiary or at the time of a purchase, lease or other acquisition of the assets of a corporation or firm as an entirety or substantially as an entirety by Cardinal Health or a Subsidiary;

(f) liens on any assets of Cardinal Health or a Consolidated Subsidiary in favor of the United States of America or any State or political subdivision thereof, or in favor of any other country, or political subdivision thereof, to secure certain payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any Indebtedness incurred or guaranteed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price (or, in the case of real property, the cost of construction) of the assets subject to such liens (including, but not limited to, liens incurred in connection with pollution control, industrial revenue or similar financings);

(g) any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, renewals or replacements) in whole or in part, of any lien referred to in the foregoing clauses (a) to (f), inclusive;

(h) certain statutory liens or other similar liens arising in the ordinary course of business or certain liens arising out of governmental contracts;

(i) certain pledges, deposits or liens made or arising under workers’ compensation or similar legislation or in certain other circumstances;

(j) liens created by or resulting from certain legal proceedings, including certain liens arising out of judgments or awards;

(k) liens for certain taxes or assessments, landlord’s liens and liens and charges incidental to the conduct of our business, or our ownership of our assets which were not incurred in connection with the borrowing of money and which do not, in Cardinal Health’s opinion, materially impair our use of such assets in our operations or the value of the assets for its purposes; or

Notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions, we may create or assume any Indebtedness which is secured by a lien without securing the debt securities, provided that at the time of such creation or assumption, and immediately after giving effect thereto, the Exempted Debt then outstanding at such time does not exceed 20% of Net Worth.

Cardinal Health will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary directly or indirectly to incur any Indebtedness for borrowed money, except that the foregoing limitations will not apply to the incurrence of:

(b) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary that represents its assumption of Indebtedness of another Subsidiary, and Indebtedness owed by any Restricted Subsidiary to Cardinal Health or to another Subsidiary; provided that such Indebtedness will be held at all times by either Cardinal Health or a Subsidiary; and provided further that upon the transfer or disposition of such Indebtedness to someone other than Cardinal Health or another Subsidiary, the incurrence of such Indebtedness will be deemed to be an incurrence that is not permitted;

(c) Indebtedness arising from (i) the endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business or (ii) the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business; provided that such overdraft is extinguished within five business days of incurrence;

(d) Indebtedness arising from guarantees of loans and advances by third parties to employees and officers of a Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business for bona fide business purposes; provided that the aggregate amount of such guarantees by all Restricted Subsidiaries does not exceed $1,000,000;

(e) Indebtedness incurred by a foreign Restricted Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(f) Indebtedness of any corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a Restricted Subsidiary or is merged into a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time of a purchase, lease or other acquisition by a Restricted Subsidiary of all or substantially all of the assets of such corporation;

(g) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary arising from agreements or guarantees providing for or creating any obligations of Cardinal Health or any of its Subsidiaries incurred in connection with the disposition of any business, property or Subsidiary, excluding guarantees or similar credit support by a Restricted Subsidiary of indebtedness incurred by the acquirer of such business, property or Subsidiary for the purpose of financing such acquisition;

(h) Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary with respect to bonds, bankers’ acceptances or letters of credit provided by such Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(i) Indebtedness secured by a lien permitted by the provisions regarding limitations on liens or arising in respect of a sale and lease-back transaction permitted by the provisions regarding such transactions, or any Indebtedness incurred to finance the purchase price or cost of construction of improvements with respect to certain property or assets acquired after the date of the indenture;

(j) Indebtedness that is issued, assumed or guaranteed in connection with compliance by a Restricted Subsidiary with the requirements of any program, applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary, adopted by any governmental authority that provides for financial or tax benefits which are not available directly to Cardinal Health;

(k) Indebtedness arising from Rate Hedging Obligations incurred to limit risks of currency or interest rate fluctuations to which a Subsidiary is otherwise subject by virtue of the operations of its business, and not for speculative purposes;

(m) Indebtedness incurred in connection with refinancing of any Indebtedness described in clauses (a), (b), (f), (g), and (i) above (the “Refinancing Indebtedness”), provided that:

(i) the principal amount of the Refinancing Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness refinanced (plus the premiums paid and expenses incurred in connection therewith),

(ii) the Refinancing Indebtedness has a weighted average life to maturity equal to or greater than the weighted average life to maturity of the Indebtedness being refinanced, and

(iii) the Refinancing Indebtedness ranks no more senior, and is at least as subordinated in right of payment, as the Indebtedness being refinanced.

Notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions, Restricted Subsidiaries may incur any Indebtedness for borrowed money that would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions in an aggregate principal amount which, together with the aggregate principal amount of other Indebtedness (not including the Indebtedness permitted above), does not, at the time such Indebtedness is incurred, exceed 20% of Net Worth.

Sale and lease-back transactions (except those transactions involving leases for less than three years) by Cardinal Health or any Consolidated Subsidiary of any assets are prohibited unless:

The foregoing limitation will not apply if at the time Cardinal Health or any Consolidated Subsidiary enters into such sale and lease-back transaction, immediately after giving effect thereto, Exempted Debt does not exceed 20% of Net Worth.

Cardinal Health will not merge or consolidate with any other corporation and will not sell, lease or convey all or substantially all its assets to any person, unless:

Cardinal Health and the trustee cannot modify the indenture or any supplemental indenture or the rights of the holders of the debt securities without the consent of holders of at least a majority of the principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modification. Cardinal Health and the trustee cannot modify the indenture without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security of such series affected by such modification to:

(5) reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity;

(6) reduce the amount of an Original Issue Discount Security provable in bankruptcy; or

(7) impair or affect the right of any holder of the debt securities to institute suit for payment.

In addition, the consent of all holders of the debt securities is required to reduce the percentage of consent required to effect any modification.

Cardinal Health and the trustee may modify the indenture or enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the holders of the debt securities, in certain cases, including:

(1) to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the trustee as security for the debt securities any property or assets;

(2) to evidence the succession of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, trust or other legal entity to Cardinal Health and the assumption by the successor corporation, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, trust or other legal entity of the covenants, agreements and obligations of Cardinal Health;

(3) to add to Cardinal Health’s covenants any further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions considered to be for the protection of the holders;

(4) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision contained in the indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained in the indenture or to make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the indenture that will not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the debt securities in any material respect;

(6) to evidence or provide for the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee and to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture that may be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts created thereunder by more than one trustee;

(7) to add to or change any of the provisions of the indenture to such extent as may be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons, or to permit or facilitate the issuance of debt securities in uncertificated form;

(8) to supplement any of the provisions of the indenture to such extent as is necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and discharge of any series of debt securities, provided that any such action will not adversely affect the interests of any holder of an outstanding debt security of such series or any other outstanding debt security in any material respect; or

(9) to amend or supplement any provision contained in the indenture or in any supplemental indenture, provided that no such amendment or supplement will materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of any debt securities then outstanding.

The following constitute events of default under the indenture with respect to each series of debt securities:

(1) failure to pay principal of and premium, if any, on any debt securities of such series when due;

(2) failure to pay interest on any debt securities of such series when due for 30 days;

(3) failure to perform any other covenant or agreement of Cardinal Health in respect of the debt securities of such series for 90 days after written notice to Cardinal Health specifying that such notice is a “notice of default” under the indenture;

(4) failure to pay any sinking fund installment when due on any debt securities of such series;

(6) any other event of default provided in the supplemental indenture or resolutions of Cardinal Health’s board of directors under which such debt securities are issued or in the form of debt security for such series.

If an event of default occurs and is continuing due to the default in the performance or breach of clauses (1), (2), (3), (4) or (6) above with respect to any series of debt securities but not with respect to all outstanding debt securities issued, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each affected series (each series voting as a separate class) may declare the principal amount and interest accrued of all such affected series of the debt securities to be due and payable immediately.

If an event of default occurs and is continuing due to a default in the performance of any of the covenants or agreements in the indenture applicable to all outstanding debt securities issued and then outstanding or due to certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency of Cardinal Health, either the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of all debt securities issued (treated as one class) may declare the principal amount and interest accrued of all such debt securities to be due and payable immediately. However, such declarations may be annulled and any defaults may be waived upon the occurrence of certain conditions, including deposit by Cardinal Health with the trustee of a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal and certain expenses of the trustee.

A default by Cardinal Health with respect to any Indebtedness other than the debt securities will not constitute an event of default with respect to the debt securities.

The trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any series of debt securities of any default (except in payment of principal of, or interest on, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund installment) if the trustee considers it in the interest of such holders to do so.

Subject to the provisions for indemnity and certain other limitations contained in the indenture, the holders of a majority in principal amount of each series of the debt securities then outstanding will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the trustee.

No holder of the debt securities of a series may institute any action against Cardinal Health under the indenture unless:

(1) that holder gives to the trustee advance written notice of default and its continuance;

(2) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of such series then outstanding affected by that event of default request the trustee to institute such action;

(3) that holder or holders has offered the trustee reasonable indemnity as it may require;

(4) the trustee has not instituted such action within 60 days of such notice, request and offer of indemnity; and

(5) the trustee has not, during such 60-day period, received direction inconsistent with such written request by the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of each affected series then outstanding.

At any time prior to the evidencing to the trustee of the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of any or all series specified in the indenture in connection with such action, any holder of a debt security may, by filing written notice with the trustee, revoke such action concerning such security.

Cardinal Health is required to deliver to the trustee each year a certificate as to whether or not, to the knowledge of the officers signing such certificate, Cardinal Health is in compliance with the conditions and covenants under the indenture.

The indenture provides that Cardinal Health will be discharged from all obligations under the indenture and the indenture will cease to be of further effect when:

(2) Cardinal Health has delivered to the trustee for cancellation all authenticated debt securities; or

(3) all the debt securities not delivered to the trustee for cancellation have become due and payable or are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the trustee, and Cardinal Health has irrevocably deposited with the trustee as trust funds an amount in cash sufficient to pay the principal and interest at maturity or upon redemption of such debt securities not previously delivered to the trustee for cancellation and paid all other sums payable with respect to such debt securities; and

the trustee, on demand of and at the expense of Cardinal Health and upon compliance by Cardinal Health with certain conditions, will execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of the indenture.

The term “defeasance,” as used in the indenture, means discharge from some or all of our obligations under the indenture. If we deposit with the trustee sufficient cash or government securities to pay the principal, any premium, interest and any other sums due at maturity or on a redemption date of the securities of a particular series, then at our option:

(1) we will be discharged from our obligations with respect to the securities of such series; or

(2) we will no longer be under any obligation to comply with certain restrictive covenants under the indenture, and certain events of default will no longer apply to us.

If this happens, the holders of the securities of the affected series will not be entitled to the benefits of the indenture except for registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities and replacement of lost, stolen or mutilated securities. Such holders may look only to such deposited funds or obligations for payment.

To exercise such option, we are required to deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the deposit and related defeasance would not cause the holders of the securities to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be denominated in U.S. dollars, in minimum denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

Cardinal Health may issue the debt securities in registered form, in which case Cardinal Health may issue them either in book-entry form only or in “certificated” form. Cardinal Health will issue registered debt securities in book-entry form only, unless it specifies otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. Debt securities issued in book-entry form will be represented by global securities.

Cardinal Health will issue registered debt securities in book-entry form only, unless Cardinal Health specifies otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement. Debt securities held in book-entry form will be represented by one or more global securities registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee. The depositary or its nominee will hold such global securities on behalf of financial institutions that participate in such depositary’s book-entry system. These participating financial institutions, in turn, hold beneficial interests in the global securities either on their own behalf or on behalf of their customers.

Under the indenture, only the person in whose name a debt security is registered is recognized as the holder of that debt security. Consequently, for debt securities issued in global form, Cardinal Health will recognize only the depositary or its nominee as the holder of the debt securities, and Cardinal Health will make all payments on the debt securities to the depositary or its nominee. The depositary will then pass along the payments that it receives to its participants, which in turn will pass the payments along to their customers who are the beneficial owners of the debt securities. The depositary and its participants do so under agreements they have made with one another or with their customers or by law; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the debt securities or the terms of the indenture.

As a result, investors will not own debt securities directly. Instead, they will own beneficial interests in a global security, through a bank, broker or other financial institution that participates in the depositary’s book-entry system, or that holds an interest through a participant in the depositary’s book-entry system. As long as the debt securities are issued in global form, investors will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the debt securities.

In the event that Cardinal Health issues debt securities in certificated form, or in the event that a global security is terminated, investors may choose to hold their debt securities either in their own names or in “street name.” Debt securities held in street name are registered in the name of a bank, broker or other financial institution chosen by the investor, and the investor would hold a beneficial interest in those debt securities through the account that he or she maintains at such bank, broker or other financial institution.

For debt securities held in street name, Cardinal Health will recognize only the intermediary banks, brokers and other financial institutions in whose names the debt securities are registered as the holders of those debt securities, and Cardinal Health will make all payments on those debt securities to them. These institutions will pass along the payments that they receive from Cardinal Health to their customers who are the beneficial owners pursuant to agreements that they have entered into with such customers or by law; they are not obligated to do so under the terms of the debt securities or the terms of the indenture. Investors who hold debt securities in street name will be indirect holders, and not holders, of the debt securities.

Cardinal Health’s obligations, as well as the obligations of the trustee and those of any third parties employed by the trustee or Cardinal Health, run only to the registered holders of the debt securities. Cardinal Health does not have obligations to investors who hold beneficial interests in global securities, in street name or by any other indirect means and who are, therefore, not the registered holders of the debt securities. This will be the case whether an investor chooses to be an indirect holder of a debt security, or has no choice in the matter because Cardinal Health is issuing the debt securities only in global form.

For example, once Cardinal Health makes a payment or gives a notice to the registered holder of the debt securities, Cardinal Health has no further responsibility with respect to such payment or notice even if that registered holder is required, under agreements with depositary participants or customers or by law, to pass it along to the indirect holders but does not do so. Similarly, if Cardinal Health wants to obtain the approval

of the holders for any purpose (for example, to amend an indenture or to relieve Cardinal Health of the consequences of a default or of our obligation to comply with a particular provision of an indenture), Cardinal Health would seek the approval only from the registered holders, and not the indirect holders, of the debt securities. Whether and how the registered holders contact the indirect holders is up to the registered holders.

Notwithstanding the above, when Cardinal Health refers to “you” or “your” in this prospectus, Cardinal Health is referring to investors who invest in the debt securities being offered by this prospectus, whether they are the registered holders or only indirect holders of the debt securities offered. When Cardinal Health refers to “your debt securities” in this prospectus, Cardinal Health means the series of debt securities in which you hold a direct or indirect interest.

If you hold debt securities through a bank, broker or other financial institution, either in book-entry form or in street name, Cardinal Health urges you to check with that institution to find out:

A global security represents one or any other number of individual debt securities. Generally, all debt securities represented by the same global securities will have the same terms. Each debt security issued in book-entry form will be represented by a global security that Cardinal Health deposits with and registers in the name of a financial institution or its nominee that Cardinal Health selects. The financial institution that Cardinal Health selects for this purpose is called the depositary. Unless Cardinal Health specifies otherwise in the applicable prospectus supplement, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, known as DTC, will be the depositary for all debt securities that Cardinal Health issues in book-entry form.

A global security may not be transferred to or registered in the name of anyone other than the depositary or its nominee, unless special termination situations arise. Cardinal Health describes those situations below under “—Special Situations When a Global Security Will Be Terminated.” As a result of these arrangements, the depositary, or its nominee, will be the sole registered holder of all debt securities represented by a global security, and investors will be permitted to own only beneficial interests in a global security. Beneficial interests must be held by means of an account with a broker, bank or other financial institution that in turn has an account either with the depositary or with another institution that has an account with the depositary. Thus, an investor whose security is represented by a global security will not be a registered holder of the debt security, but an indirect holder of a beneficial interest in the global security.

As an indirect holder, an investor’s rights relating to a global security will be governed by the account rules of the investor’s financial institution and of the depositary, as well as general laws relating to securities

transfers. The depositary that holds the global security will be considered the registered holder of the debt securities represented by such global security.

If debt securities are issued only in the form of a global security, an investor should be aware of the following:

In a few special situations described below, a global security will be terminated and interests in the global security will be exchanged for certificates in non-global form, referred to as “certificated” debt securities. After such an exchange, it will be up to the investor as to whether to hold the certificated debt securities directly or in street name. Cardinal Health has described the rights of direct holders and street name holders under “— Holders of Registered Debt Securities” above. Investors must consult their own banks or brokers to find out how to have their interests in a global security exchanged on termination of a global security for certificated debt securities to be held directly in their own names.

The applicable prospectus supplement may list situations for terminating a global security that would apply only to the particular series of debt securities covered by such prospectus supplement. If a global security

were terminated, only the depositary, and not Cardinal Health or the trustee, would be responsible for deciding the names of the institutions in whose names the debt securities represented by the global security would be registered and, therefore, who would be the registered holders of those debt securities.

If we cease to issue registered debt securities in global form, we will issue them:

Holders may exchange their certificated securities for debt securities of smaller denominations or combined into fewer debt securities of larger denominations, as long as the total principal amount is not changed.

Holders may exchange or transfer their certificated securities at the trustee’s office. Cardinal Health has appointed the trustee to act as its agent for registering debt securities in the names of holders transferring debt securities. Cardinal Health may appoint another entity to perform these functions or perform them itself.

Holders will not be required to pay a service charge to transfer or exchange their certificated securities, but they may be required to pay any tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer or exchange. The transfer or exchange will be made only if Cardinal Health’s transfer agent is satisfied with the holders proof of legal ownership.

If Cardinal Health has designated additional transfer agents for your debt security, they will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. Cardinal Health may appoint additional transfer agents or cancel the appointment of any particular transfer agent. Cardinal Health may also approve a change in the location of the office through which any transfer agent acts.

If any certificated securities of a particular series are redeemable and Cardinal Health redeems less than all the debt securities of that series, Cardinal Health may block the transfer or exchange of those debt securities during the period beginning 15 days before the day Cardinal Health mails the notice of redemption and ending on the day of that mailing, in order to freeze the list of holders to prepare the mailing. Cardinal Health may also refuse to register transfers or exchanges of any certificated securities selected for redemption, except that Cardinal Health will continue to permit transfers and exchanges of the unredeemed portion of any debt security that will be partially redeemed.

If a registered debt security is issued in global form, only the depositary will be entitled to transfer and exchange the debt security as described in this subsection because it will be the sole holder of the debt security.

On each due date for interest payments on the debt securities, Cardinal Health will pay interest to each person shown on the trustee’s records as owner of the debt securities at the close of business on a designated day that is in advance of the due date for interest. Cardinal Health will pay interest to each such person even if such person no longer owns the debt security on the interest due date. The designated day on which Cardinal Health will determine the owner of the debt security, as shown on the trustee’s records, is also known as the “record date.” The record date will usually be about two weeks in advance of the interest due date.

Because Cardinal Health will pay interest on the debt securities to the holders of the debt securities based on ownership as of the applicable record date with respect to any given interest period, and not to the holders of the debt securities on the interest due date (that is, the day that the interest is to be paid), it is up to the holders who

are buying and selling the debt securities to work out between themselves the appropriate purchase price for the debt securities. It is common for purchase prices of debt securities to be adjusted so as to prorate the interest on the debt securities fairly between the buyer and the seller based on their respective ownership periods within the applicable interest period.

Cardinal Health will make payments on a global security by wire transfer of immediately available funds directly to the depositary, or its nominee, and not to any indirect holders who own beneficial interests in the global security. An indirect holder’s right to those payments will be governed by the rules and practices of the depositary and its participants, as described under “— Global Securities” above.

Cardinal Health will make interest payments on debt securities held in certificated form by mailing a check on each due date for interest payments to the holder of the certificated securities, as shown on the trustee’s records, as of the close of business on the record date. Cardinal Health will make all payments of principal and premium, if any, on the certificated securities by check at the office of the trustee in New York City, New York, and/or at other offices that may be specified in the applicable prospectus supplement or in a notice to holders, against surrender of the certificated security. All payments by check will be made in next-day funds (that is, funds that become available on the day after the check is cashed).

Alternatively, if a certificated security has a face amount of at least $10,000,000, and the holder of such certificated security so requests, Cardinal Health will pay any amount that becomes due on such certificated security by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified by the holder at a bank in New York City, New York, on the applicable due date for payment. To request payment by wire transfer, the holder must give appropriate transfer instructions to the trustee or other paying agent at least 15 business days before the requested wire payment is due. In the case of any interest payments, the instructions must be given by the person who is shown on the trustee’s records as the holder of the certificated security on the applicable record date. Wire instructions, once properly given, will remain in effect unless and until new instructions are given in the manner described above.

If payment on a debt security is due on a day that is not a business day, Cardinal Health will make such payment on the next succeeding business day. The indenture will provide that such payments will be treated as if they were made on the original due date for payment. A postponement of this kind will not result in a default under any debt security or indenture, and no interest will accrue on the amount of any payment that is postponed in this manner.

Book-entry and other indirect holders should consult their banks or brokers for information on how they will receive payments on their debt securities.

The trustee under the indenture is The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. The trustee serves as trustee for Cardinal Health’s 1.700% Notes due 2018, 1.900% Notes due 2017, 1.95% Notes due 2018, 2.4% Notes due 2019, 3.200% Notes due 2022, 3.200% Notes due 2023, 3.5% Notes due 2024, 3.75% Notes due 2025, 4.5% Notes due 2044, 4.600% Notes due 2043, 4.625% Notes due 2020 and 4.9% Notes due 2045. The trustee also serves as trustee for Allegiance Corporation’s 7.000% Debentures due 2026, which are guaranteed by Cardinal Health.

The validity of the offered securities will be passed upon for us by Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP, New York, New York and John M. Adams, Jr. of Cardinal Health. Mr. Adams is paid a salary by Cardinal Health and participates in various employee benefit plans offered to Cardinal Health’s employees generally. Mr. Adams holds equity incentive awards with respect to Cardinal Health’s common shares valued at greater than $50,000. Certain legal matters with respect to the offered securities may be passed upon by counsel for any underwriters, dealers or agents, each of whom will be named in the related prospectus supplement.

The consolidated financial statements of Cardinal Health, Inc. and subsidiaries appearing in Cardinal Health, Inc.’s Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended June 30, 2016 (including the schedule appearing therein) and the effectiveness of Cardinal Health Inc. and subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of June 30, 2016, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, as set forth in their reports thereon, included therein, and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are, and audited consolidated financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be, incorporated herein in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young LLP pertaining to such consolidated financial statements and the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of the respective dates (to the extent covered by consents filed with the SEC) given on the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The prospectus supplement with respect to any offered securities will set forth the terms of the offering, including the name or names of any underwriters, dealers or agents, the purchase price of the offered securities and the proceeds to Cardinal Health from such sale, any underwriting discounts and commissions and other items constituting underwriters’ compensation, any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers, and any securities exchange on which such offered securities may be listed. Any initial public offering price, discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

The securities may be offered and sold through agents that we may designate from time to time. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable 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 any securities so offered and sold.

If an underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale of any offered securities, Cardinal Health will execute an underwriting agreement with such underwriter or underwriters, and the names of the underwriter or underwriters and the terms of the transactions, including commissions, discounts, and any other compensation of the underwriters and dealers, if any, will be set forth in the prospectus supplement that will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the offered securities. Such underwriter or underwriters will acquire the offered securities for their own account and may resell such offered securities from time to time in one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at fixed public offering prices or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or by underwriters without a syndicate. If any underwriter or underwriters are utilized in the sale of any offered securities, unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the underwriting agreement will provide that the obligations of the underwriters will be subject to certain conditions precedent and that the underwriters with respect to a sale of such offered securities will be obligated to purchase all such offered securities if any are purchased.

If so indicated in the prospectus supplement or term sheet relating to a particular series or issue of offered securities, we will authorize underwriters, dealers or agents to solicit offers by certain institutions to purchase the offered securities from us under delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery at a future date. These contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the prospectus supplement or term sheet, and the prospectus supplement or term sheet will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of these contracts.

If a dealer is utilized in the sale of any offered securities, Cardinal Health will sell such offered securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such offered securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale. Any such dealer may be deemed to be an underwriter, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, of the securities so offered and sold. The name of any such dealer and the terms of the transaction will be set forth in a prospectus supplement relating thereto.

Offers to purchase securities may be solicited directly by Cardinal Health and sales thereof may be made by Cardinal Health directly to institutional investors or others, who may be deemed to be underwriters, as such term is defined in the Securities Act, with respect to any resale of the offered securities. The terms of any such sales will be described in a prospectus supplement relating thereto.

Cardinal Health may indemnify its agents, dealers and underwriters against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments which such agents, dealers or underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, all securities offered by this prospectus, other than Cardinal Health’s common shares, which are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, will be new issues with no established trading market. Cardinal Health may elect to list any series of securities on an exchange, and in the case of Cardinal Health’s common shares, on any additional exchange, but, unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Cardinal Health shall not be obligated to do so. In addition, underwriters will not be obligated to make a market in any securities. No assurance can be given regarding the activity of trading in, or liquidity of, any securities.

Any underwriter may engage in over-allotment, stabilizing transactions, short covering transactions and penalty bids in accordance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act. Over-allotment involves sales in excess of the offering size, which creates a short position. Stabilizing transactions permit bids to purchase the underlying security so long as the stabilizing bids do not exceed a specified maximum. Short covering transactions involve purchases of the securities in the open market after the distribution is completed to cover short positions. Penalty bids permit the underwriters to reclaim a selling concession from a dealer when the securities originally sold by the dealer are purchased in a covering transaction to cover short positions. Those activities may cause the price of the securities to be higher than it would otherwise be. If commenced, the underwriters may discontinue any of those activities at any time.


Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC		BofA Merrill Lynch		MUFG		Wells Fargo Securities


	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT		S-ii
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AND INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE		S-iii
INFORMATION CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		S-v
SUMMARY		S-1
RISK FACTORS		S-7
CAPITALIZATION		S-9
USE OF PROCEEDS		S-10
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES		S-11
DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES		S-12
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES		S-22
UNDERWRITING		S-26
LEGAL MATTERS		S-31
EXPERTS		S-31

PROSPECTUS
	Page
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS		1
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION AND INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE		2
RISK FACTORS		3
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS		4
THE COMPANY		7
USE OF PROCEEDS		8
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES		9
DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK		10
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES		12
VALIDITY OF THE SECURITIES		27
EXPERTS		28
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION		29


SEC Filings		Period/Date
Annual Report on Form 10-K		Fiscal Year ended June 30, 2016, filed with the SEC on August 12, 2016.

Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q		Quarters ended September 30, 2016 and filed with the SEC on November 2, 2016; December 31, 2016 and filed with the SEC on February 7, 2017; and March 31, 2017 and filed with the SEC on May 2, 2017.

Current Reports on Form 8-K		Dated November 3, 2016 and filed with the SEC on November 7, 2016; and dated April 18, 2017 and filed with the SEC on April 18, 2017.


SEC Filings		Period/Date

Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A		Filed with the SEC on September 16, 2016 for the 2016 Annual Meeting of Shareholders (other than the information set forth under the headings “Human Resources and Compensation Committee Report” and “Shareholder Performance Graph”).


	As of March 31, 2017
	Actual			As Adjusted
	(Unaudited, in millions)
Short-term borrowings, excluding current portion of long-term obligations	$	357			357

Long-term obligations, including current portion:
% Notes due offered hereby		—
% Notes due offered hereby		—
% Notes due offered hereby		—
% Notes due offered hereby		—
% Notes due offered hereby		—
1.9% Notes due 2017		250			250
1.7% Notes due 2018		399			399
1.950% Notes due 2018		546			546
2.4% Notes due 2019		453			453
3.200% Notes due 2022		248			248
3.200% Notes due 2023		547			547
3.5% Notes due 2024		396			396
3.750% Notes due 2025		479			479
4.5% Notes due 2044		341			341
4.600% Notes due 2043		346			346
4.625% Notes due 2020		521			521
4.900% Notes due 2045		445			445
7.00% Debentures due 2026		124			124
Other long-term obligations, including capital leases		9			9

Total long-term obligations, including current portion	$	5,104		$

Shareholders’ equity:
Preferred shares, without par value:
Authorized—500 thousand shares, Issued—none	$	—		$	—
Common shares, without par value:
Authorized—755 million shares, Issued—327 million shares and 364 million shares at March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2016, respectively		2,684			2,684
Retained earnings		4,842			4,842
Common shares in treasury, at cost—11 million shares and 42 million shares at March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2016, respectively		(744	)		(744	)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(136	)		(136	)

Total Cardinal Health, Inc. shareholders’ equity	$	6,646		$	6,646

Total capitalization	$	12,107		$


Sources	Amount	Uses	Amount
(Amounts in millions)
Notes offered hereby	$	Acquisition of the Patient Recovery Businesses ⁽²⁾	$	6,100
Other ⁽¹⁾	$	Notes Redemption ⁽³⁾		402
		General corporate purposes
		Estimated transaction fees and expenses ⁽⁴⁾

Total Sources	$	Total Uses	$


	Fiscal Year Ended June 30,										Nine Months Ended March 31, 2017
	2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		Nine Months Ended March 31, 2017
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges ⁽¹⁾		16.6		7.7		13.5		13.6		12.3		11.0


	Fiscal Year Ended June 30,										Six Months Ended December 31, 2016
	2012		2013		2014		2015		2016		Six Months Ended December 31, 2016
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges		16.6		7.7		13.5		13.6		12.3		10.7