SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
------------------------
FORM 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
May 13, 2004
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)
THE GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC
TEA COMPANY, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland 1-4141 13-1890974
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission file number) (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
Two Paragon Drive
Montvale, New Jersey 07645
(Address of principal executive offices)
(201) 573-9700
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
=============================================================================
Item 5. Other Events.
On May 13, 2004, The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company issued the press
release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1.
Item 7. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(C) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed herewith:
Exhibit No. Description
99.1 Press Release, dated May 13, 2004.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: May 13, 2004
THE GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC TEA
COMPANY, INC.
By: /s/ William P. Costantini
-------------------------
William P. Costantini, Senior Vice President,
General Counsel & Secretary
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description
99.1 Press release dated May 13, 2004
News
The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.
2 Paragon Drive
Montvale, NJ 07645
Investor contact: William J. Moss
Vice President, Treasurer
(201) 571-4019
Press contact: Richard P. De Santa
Vice President, Corporate Affairs
(201) 571-4495
THE GREAT ATLANTIC & PACIFIC TEA COMPANY, INC.
MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT
MONTVALE, NJ - May 13, 2004 - The Great Atlantic & Pacific Tea Company, Inc.
(A&P) (NYSE:GAP) today announced that it will file a Form 12b-25 with the
Securities and Exchange Commission to obtain an automatic 15 day extension of
the period in which to file its Form 10-K for the 53 weeks ended February 28,
2004. The Company said it expects to file its Form 10-K on or before May 28,
2004.
During fiscal 2003, the Company disposed of certain assets that, in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles, were reported and classified as
discontinued operations in its fiscal 2003 financial statements. SEC rules
require that three years of financial results be included in the Form 10-K,
presented on a consistent basis. As such, the fiscal 2002 and 2001 financial
statements are also required to reflect the reclassification of discontinued
operations. The Company changed its independent auditors in September 2002, and
recently determined that its current auditor, and not its predecessor auditor,
would have to perform an audit of its 2001 results to incorporate the
reclassification for that year. As a result, additional time is required to file
the Form 10-K.
A&P stated that the audit is not expected to result in any material change of
previously reported financial results. The Company's unaudited fiscal 2003 and
fiscal 2002 results, announced on April 30, 2004, already reflect the
reclassification of the discontinued operations.
Founded in 1859, A&P, one of the nation's first supermarket chains, is today
among North America's largest. The Company operates 633 stores in 10 states, the
District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada under the following trade names: A&P,
Waldbaum's, The Food Emporium, Super Foodmart, Super Fresh, Farmer Jack,
Sav-A-Center, Dominion, The Barn Markets, Food Basics and Ultra Food & Drug.
This release contains forward-looking statements about the future performance of
the Company, which are based on Management's assumptions and beliefs in light of
the information currently available to it. The Company assumes no obligation to
update the information contained herein. These forward-looking statements are
subject to uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from such statements including, but not limited to:
competitive practices and pricing in the food industry generally and
particularly in the Company's principal markets; the Company's relationships
with its employees and the terms of future collective bargaining agreements; the
costs and other effects of legal and administrative cases and proceedings; the
nature and extent of continued consolidation in the food industry; changes in
the financial markets which may affect the Company's cost of capital and the
ability of the Company to access capital; supply or quality control problems
with the Company's vendors; and changes in economic conditions which affect the
buying patterns of the Company's customers.
###