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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February   , 2001

Registration Statement No. 333-     



U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


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BEST BUY CO., INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Minnesota
(State or Other Jurisdiction
of Incorporation or Organization)
  41-0907483
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

7075 Flying Cloud Drive
Eden Prairie, Minnesota

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

55344
(Zip Code)

(Full Title of the Plan)

Richard M. Schulze
7075 Flying Cloud Drive
Eden Prairie, MN 55344

(Name and Address of Agent for Service)
  (952) 947-2000
(Telephone Number, Including
Area Code, of Agent for Service)

Copy of Communications to:

Anne M. Rosenberg
Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P.
2800 LaSalle Plaza
800 LaSalle Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55402-2015
(612) 349-8500


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Each Class of Securities To Be Registered   Amount To Be
Registered(1)
  Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Share(2)
  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate
Offering Price
  Amount Of
Registration Fee

Common Stock par value $.10 per share   307,039 shares   $46.60 - $78.72   $17,135,313.89   $4,283.83

(1)
An undetermined number of additional shares may be issued if the anti-dilution provisions of the Plan become operative.

(2)
Pursuant to Rule 457(h)(1), the aggregate offering price is calculated based on the actual exercise prices of the options assumed by the Registrant.





PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

    The following documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission are incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference:

    All documents hereafter filed by the Registrant pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the 1934 Act, prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all the securities offered hereby have been sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference and to be a part hereof from the date of filing such documents.

Item 4.  Description of Securities.

    Not applicable.

Item 5.  Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

    Elliot S. Kaplan, a director and Secretary of the Registrant, is also a member of the law firm of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P., which has rendered an opinion as to the legality of the securities being registered.

Item 6.  Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

    The Registrant is subject to the Minnesota Business Corporation Act, Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 302A. Minnesota Statutes, Section 302A.521, provides that a corporation shall indemnify any person made or threatened to be made a party to a proceeding by reason of the former or present official capacity of such person against judgments, penalties, fines, including, without limitation, excise taxes assessed against such person with respect to an employee benefit plan, settlements and reasonable expenses, including attorneys' fees and disbursements, incurred by such person in connection with the proceeding, if, with respect to the acts or omissions of such person complained of in the proceeding, such person (1) has not been indemnified therefor by another organization or employee benefit plan; (2) acted in good faith; (3) received no improper personal benefit and Section 302A.255 (with respect to director conflicts of interest), if applicable, has been satisfied; (4) in the case of a criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful; and (5) reasonably believed that the conduct was in the best interests of the corporation in the case of acts or omissions in such person's official capacity for the corporation, or reasonably believed that the conduct was not opposed to the best interests of the corporation in the case of acts or omissions in such person's official capacity for other affiliated organizations.

    In addition, the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation provide that a director of the Registrant shall not be personally liable to the Registrant or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director except for liability (1) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its shareholders; (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (3) for paying a dividend or approving a stock repurchase in

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violation of Minnesota Statutes, Section 302A.551; (4) for violating the securities registration or anti-fraud provisions of Minnesota Statutes, Section 80A.23; (5) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit; or (6) for acts or omissions occurring prior to the date when the relevant provision of the Articles of Incorporation became effective. The Articles of Incorporation do not limit directors' liability for violations of the federal securities laws. The Articles of Incorporation are consistent with the Minnesota Business Corporation Act and if such Act is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of directors, then the liability of a director of the Registrant would be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by Minnesota law.

    As of September 1, 2000, the Registrant obtained a Directors' and Officers' Liability Insurance Policy, with coverage of $100 million, subject to various deductibles and exclusions from coverage. There is no coverage for liabilities arising in connection with the filing of a registration statement by the Registrant under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act") or under any underwriting agreement entered into in connection with a public offering of securities.

Item 7.  Exemption from Registration Claimed.

    Not applicable.

Item 8.  Exhibits.

    The following are filed as exhibits to this Registration Statement:

Exhibits

   
4.1   Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended, defining the rights of holders of its Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed as part of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 26, 1994; and to Exhibit 3.1 filed as part of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 26, 2000).
4.2   Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, as amended, defining the rights of holders of its Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 filed as part of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-3 [Reg. No. 33-43065]; Exhibit 3.1 filed as part of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 1991; Exhibit 3.3 filed as part of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 25, 1995; and Exhibit 3.4 filed as part of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 1, 1997).
4.3   The Assumed Musicland 1988 Stock Option Plan of Best Buy Co., Inc.
4.4   The Assumed Musicland 1992 Stock Option Plan of Best Buy Co., Inc.
4.5   The Assumed Musicland 1994 Stock Option Plan of Best Buy Co., Inc.
4.6   The Assumed Musicland 1998 Stock Incentive Plan of Best Buy Co., Inc.
5   Opinion of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. as to the shares of Common Stock being registered.
23.1   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2   Consent of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. (contained in their opinion filed as Exhibit 5).
24   Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).

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Item 9.  Undertakings.

    The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

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SIGNATURES

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Eden Prairie, State of Minnesota, on this 23rd day of February, 2001.

    BEST BUY CO., INC.

 

 

By:

/s/ 
DARREN R. JACKSON   
Darren R. Jackson
Senior Vice President—Finance,
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer


POWER OF ATTORNEY

    Each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints RICHARD M. SCHULZE and DARREN R. JACKSON, and each of them, his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, each acting alone, or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue thereof.

    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on February 23, 2001.

Signature
  Title

 

 

 
/s/ RICHARD M. SCHULZE   
Richard M. Schulze
  Chairman, Chief Executive Officer
(principal executive officer) and Director

/s/ 
DARREN R. JACKSON   
Darren R. Jackson

 

Senior Vice President—Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
(principal financial and accounting officer)

/s/ 
ALLEN U. LENZMEIER   
Allen U. Lenzmeier

 

Director

/s/ 
BRADBURY H. ANDERSON   
Bradbury H. Anderson

 

Director


 

 

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/s/ 
MARK C. THOMPSON   
Mark C. Thompson

 

Director

/s/ 
ELLIOT S. KAPLAN   
Elliot S. Kaplan

 

Director

/s/ 
FRANK D. TRESTMAN   
Frank D. Trestman

 

Director


Hatim A. Tyabji

 

Director

/s/ 
JAMES C. WETHERBE   
James C. Wetherbe

 

Director

/s/ 
KATHY HIGGINS VICTOR   
Kathy Higgins Victor

 

Director

/s/ 
ROBERT T. BLANCHARD   
Robert T. Blanchard

 

Director

/s/ 
JACK W. EUGSTER   
Jack W. Eugster

 

Director

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibits

   
4.1   Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Registrant, as amended, defining the rights of holders of its Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 filed as part of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 26, 1994; and to Exhibit 3.1 filed as part of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 26, 2000).
4.2   Amended and Restated By-Laws of the Registrant, as amended, defining the rights of holders of its Common Stock (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 filed as part of the Registrant's Registration Statement on Form  S-3 [Reg. No. 33-43065]; Exhibit 3.1 filed as part of the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended November 30, 1991; Exhibit 3.3 filed as part of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 25, 1995; and Exhibit 3.4 filed as part of the Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 1, 1997).
4.3   The Assumed Musicland 1988 Stock Option Plan of Best Buy Co., Inc.
4.4   The Assumed Musicland 1992 Stock Option Plan of Best Buy Co., Inc.
4.5   The Assumed Musicland 1994 Stock Option Plan of Best Buy Co., Inc.
4.6   The Assumed Musicland 1998 Stock Incentive Plan of Best Buy Co., Inc.
5   Opinion of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. as to the shares of Common Stock being registered.
23.1   Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
23.2   Consent of Robins, Kaplan, Miller & Ciresi L.L.P. (contained in their opinion filed as Exhibit 5).
24   Power of Attorney (included on signature page hereto).



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PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SIGNATURES
POWER OF ATTORNEY
EXHIBIT INDEX