EXECUTION VERSION
Pricing Agreement
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto.
January 7, 2019
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The Kroger Co., an Ohio corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting Agreement, dated January 7, 2019 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) the Securities (the “Designated Securities”) specified in Schedule II hereto. Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Pricing Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each representation and warranty which refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein defined), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Designated Securities. Each reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representatives designated to act on behalf of each of the Underwriters of the Designated Securities pursuant to Section 13 of the Underwriting Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in such Section 13 are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto.
An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the Commission.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to issue
and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters, and under other terms and conditions set forth in Schedule II hereto, the principal amount of Designated Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.
The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Securities as soon after the effectiveness of this Pricing Agreement as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable, and initially to offer the Securities on the terms set forth in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus. Schedule III hereto sets forth the Time of Sale Information made available at the Time of Sale.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us three counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof, including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on the part of the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.
| Very Truly Yours, | |
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| THE KROGER CO. | |
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| By: | /s/Christine Wheatley |
| Name: | Christine Wheatley |
| Title: | Group Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel |
[Signature Page to Pricing Agreement]
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC |
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Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
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Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
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Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith |
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U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. |
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| and the additional Underwriters named on Schedule I to this Pricing Agreement | |||
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By: | Wells Fargo Securities, LLC |
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| By: | /s/ Carolyn Hurley |
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| Name: | Carolyn Hurley |
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| Title: | Director |
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By: | Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
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| By: | /s/ Adam D. Bordner |
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| Name: | Adam D. Bordner |
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| Title: | Director |
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By: | Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
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| By: | /s/ Adam Greene |
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| Name: | Adam Greene |
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| Title: | Managing Director |
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By: | Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated |
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| By: | /s/ Happy Hazelton |
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| Name: | Happy Hazelton |
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| Title: | Managing Director |
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By: | U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. |
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| By: | /s/ Douglas J. Fink |
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| Name: | Douglas J. Fink |
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| Title: | Managing Director |
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On behalf of each of the Underwriters |
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[Signature Page to Pricing Agreement]
SCHEDULE I
Underwriter |
| Principal Amount of |
| Principal Amount of |
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Wells Fargo Securities, LLC |
| $ | 90,000,000 |
| $ | 90,000,000 |
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Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
| 90,000,000 |
| 27,000,000 |
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Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
| 27,000,000 |
| 90,000,000 |
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Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith |
| 27,000,000 |
| 90,000,000 |
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U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. |
| 90,000,000 |
| 27,000,000 |
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BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC |
| 42,000,000 |
| 27,000,000 |
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BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC |
| 42,000,000 |
| 27,000,000 |
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Fifth Third Securities, Inc. |
| 27,000,000 |
| 42,000,000 |
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MUFG Securities Americas Inc. |
| 42,000,000 |
| 27,000,000 |
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RBC Capital Markets, LLC |
| 27,000,000 |
| 42,000,000 |
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Santander Investment Securities Inc. |
| 27,000,000 |
| 42,000,000 |
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Mizuho Securities USA LLC |
| 27,000,000 |
| 27,000,000 |
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PNC Capital Markets LLC |
| 27,000,000 |
| 27,000,000 |
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Drexel Hamilton, LLC |
| 15,000,000 |
| — |
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The Williams Capital Group, L.P. |
| — |
| 15,000,000 |
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Total |
| $ | 600,000,000 |
| $ | 600,000,000 |
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SCHEDULE II
Title of Designated Securities:
4.500% Senior Notes due 2029
5.400% Senior Notes due 2049
Aggregate Principal Amount:
$600,000,000 of 4.500% Senior Notes due 2029
$600,000,000 of 5.400% Senior Notes due 2049
Price to Public:
99.403% of the principal amount of the 4.500% Senior Notes due 2029, plus accrued interest from January 14, 2019
99.646% of the principal amount of the 5.400% Senior Notes due 2049, plus accrued interest from January 14, 2019
Purchase Price by Underwriters:
98.753% of the principal amount of the 4.500% Senior Notes due 2029, plus accrued interest from January 14, 2019
98.771% of the principal amount of the 5.400% Senior Notes due 2049, plus accrued interest from January 14, 2019
Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
Immediately available funds
Indenture:
Indenture dated as of June 25, 1999, between the Company and Firstar Bank, National Association (currently known as U.S. Bank National Association), as Trustee, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated June 25, 1999, the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated June 25, 1999, the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated June 25, 1999, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated September 22, 1999, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated September 22, 1999, the Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated September 22, 1999, the Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated February 11, 2000, the Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated February 11, 2000, the Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated August 21, 2000, the Tenth Supplemental Indenture, dated May 11, 2001, the Eleventh Supplemental Indenture, dated May 11, 2001, the Twelfth Supplemental
Indenture, dated August 16, 2001, the Thirteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated April 3, 2002, the Fourteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated June 17, 2002, the Fifteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated January 28, 2003, the Sixteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated December 20, 2004, the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture, dated August 15, 2007, the Eighteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated January 16, 2008, the Nineteenth Supplemental Indenture, dated March 27, 2008, the Twentieth Supplemental Indenture, dated March 27, 2008, the Twenty-First Supplemental Indenture, dated November 25, 2008, the Twenty-Second Supplemental Indenture, dated October 1, 2009, the Twenty-Third Supplemental Indenture, dated July 13, 2010, the Twenty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated January 19, 2012, the Twenty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated April 16, 2012, the Twenty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated April 16, 2012, the Twenty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated July 25, 2013, the Twenty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated July 25, 2013, the Twenty-Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated December 23, 2013, the Thirtieth Supplemental Indenture, dated December 23, 2013, the Thirty-First Supplemental Indenture, dated December 23, 2013, the Thirty-Second Supplemental Indenture, dated December 23, 2013, the Thirty-Third Supplemental Indenture, dated January 30, 2014, the Thirty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated October 28, 2014, the Thirty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated January 15, 2016, the Thirty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated January 15, 2016, the Thirty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated January 15, 2016, the Thirty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated October 3, 2016, the Thirty-Ninth Supplemental Indenture, dated October 3, 2016, the Fortieth Supplemental Indenture, dated October 3, 2016, the Forty-First Supplemental Indenture, dated January 24, 2017, the Forty-Second Supplemental Indenture, dated July 24, 2017, the Forty-Third Supplemental Indenture, dated July 24, 2017, the Forty-Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated July 24, 2017, the Forty-Fifth Supplemental Indenture, to be dated January 14, 2019, and the Forty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, to be dated January 14, 2019.
Maturity:
The 4.500% Senior Notes due 2029 will mature on January 15, 2029
The 5.400% Senior Notes due 2049 will mature on January 15, 2049
Interest Rates:
The 4.500% Senior Notes due 2029 will bear interest from January 14, 2019 at 4.500%
The 5.400% Senior Notes due 2049 will bear interest from January 14, 2019 at 5.400%
Interest Payment Dates:
Interest on the 4.500% Senior Notes due 2029 is payable semiannually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing on July 15, 2019
Interest on the 5.400% Senior Notes due 2049 is payable semiannually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing on July 15, 2019
Redemption Provisions:
As described in the term sheet dated January 7, 2019 included on Schedule IV
Change of Control Put:
As described in the preliminary prospectus supplement dated January 7, 2019
Sinking Fund Provision:
No sinking fund provisions
Defeasance Provisions:
As described in the preliminary prospectus supplement dated January 7, 2019
Guarantees:
None
Time of Delivery:
January 14, 2019
Closing Location:
Offices of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
31st Floor
New York, New York 10022
Name and Address of Representatives:
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
550 South Tryon Street
Charlotte, NC 28202
Attention: Transaction Management
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, NY 10013
Attention: General Counsel
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
200 West Street
New York, NY 10282
Attention: Registration Department
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
50 Rockefeller Plaza
NY1-050-12-01
New York, NY 10020
Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
214 N. Tryon Street, 26th Floor
Charlotte, NC 28202
Attention: High Grade Fixed Income Syndicate
Schedule III
Time of Sale Information
1. Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, dated January 7, 2019, including the base prospectus included therein, dated December 14, 2016
2. Term sheet, dated January 7, 2019, included on Schedule IV
Schedule IV
The Kroger Co.
Pricing Term Sheet
Dated January 7, 2019
Issuer: | The Kroger Co. |
Security Type: | Senior Notes |
Trade Date: | January 7, 2019 |
Settlement Date: | January 14, 2019 (T+5) |
Denominations: | $2,000 x $1,000 |
4.500% Senior Notes Due 2029
Principal Amount: | $600,000,000 |
Maturity Date: | January 15, 2029 |
Coupon: | 4.500% |
Benchmark Treasury: | UST 3.125% due November 15, 2028 |
Benchmark Treasury Price / Yield: | 103-28 / 2.675% |
Spread to Benchmark Treasury: | T + 190 basis points |
Yield to Maturity: | 4.575% |
Price to Public: | 99.403% of the principal amount |
Interest Payment Dates: | January 15 and July 15, commencing on July 15, 2019 |
Optional Redemption Provisions: |
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Make-whole Call: | Treasury Rate plus 30 basis points (prior to October 15, 2028) |
Par Call: | On or after October 15, 2028 (three months prior to maturity) |
CUSIP/ISIN: | 501044 DL2 / US501044DL23 |
5.400% Senior Notes Due 2049
Principal Amount: | $600,000,000 |
Maturity Date: | January 15, 2049 |
Coupon: | 5.400% |
Benchmark Treasury: | UST 3.000% due August 15, 2048 |
Benchmark Treasury Price / Yield: | 100-16 / 2.974% |
Spread to Benchmark Treasury: | T + 245 basis points |
Yield to Maturity: | 5.424% |
Price to Public: | 99.646% of the principal amount |
Interest Payment Dates: | January 15 and July 15, commencing on July 15, 2019 |
Optional Redemption Provisions: |
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Make-whole Call: | Treasury Rate plus 40 basis points (prior to July 15, 2048) |
Par Call: | On or after July 15, 2048 (six months prior to maturity) |
CUSIP/ISIN: | 501044 DM0 / US501044DM06 |
Joint Book-Running Managers: |
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4.500% Senior Notes Due 2029 | |
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| Wells Fargo Securities, LLC |
| Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
| U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. |
| BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC |
| BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC |
| MUFG Securities Americas Inc. |
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5.400% Senior Notes Due 2049 | |
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| Wells Fargo Securities, LLC |
| Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith |
| Fifth Third Securities, Inc. |
| RBC Capital Markets, LLC |
| Santander Investment Securities Inc. |
Co-Managers: |
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4.500% Senior Notes Due 2029 | |
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| Fifth Third Securities, Inc. |
| Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC |
| Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith |
| Mizuho Securities USA LLC |
| PNC Capital Markets LLC |
| RBC Capital Markets, LLC |
| Santander Investment Securities Inc. |
| Drexel Hamilton, LLC |
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5.400% Senior Notes Due 2049 | |
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| BB&T Capital Markets, a division of BB&T Securities, LLC |
| BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC |
| Citigroup Global Markets Inc. |
| Mizuho Securities USA LLC |
| MUFG Securities Americas Inc. |
| PNC Capital Markets LLC |
| U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. |
| The Williams Capital Group, L.P. |
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Wells Fargo Securities, LLC toll-free at 1-800-645-3751, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. toll-free at 1-800-831-9146, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC toll-free at 1-866-471-2526, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated toll-free at 1-800-294-1322, or U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. toll-free at 1-877-558-2607.
Any disclaimer or other notice that may appear below is not applicable to this communication and should be disregarded. Such disclaimer or notice was automatically generated as a result of this communication being sent by Bloomberg or another email system.