1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, DC 20549 FORM 8-K CURRENT REPORT Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Date of Report: December 8, 1998 THE KROGER CO. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) An Ohio Corporation No. 1-303 31-0345740 (State or other jurisdiction (Commission File (IRS Employer of incorporation) Number) Number) 1014 Vine Street Cincinnati, OH 45201 (Address of principal executive offices) Registrant's telephone number: (513) 762-4000 2 Item 5. Other Events - ------- ------------ On April 16, 1998, The Kroger Co. filed Registration Statement No. 333-50269 on Form S-3 with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 415 (hereinafter referred to as the "Registration Statement"). The Registration Statement provides for the issuance of Securities in an aggregate amount of $800,000,000, and was declared effective on April 29, 1998. On October 18, 1998, The Kroger Co., a wholly-owned subsidiary thereof, and Fred Meyer, Inc., executed an Agreement and Plan of Merger. The combination is to be accounted for as a pooling of interests. Pursuant to Rule 3-05 of Regulation S-X, the Company is filing herewith the required financial statements of Fred Meyer, Inc., along with pro forma financial statements. Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and - ------- --------------------------------------------------------- Exhibits -------- (c) Exhibits: 23.3 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. 99.1 Financial Statements of Fred Meyer, Inc. Incorporated by reference to (i) Exhibit 99.5 of Fred Meyer, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated March 9, 1998 and filed November 5, 1998 and (ii) Item 1 of Fred Meyer, Inc.'s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 15, 1998. 99.2 Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Data of The Kroger Co. and Fred Meyer, Inc., incorporated by reference to pages 67 through 77 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-66961) filed with the Commission on November 6, 1998. 3 SIGNATURE --------- 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 hereto duly authorized. THE KROGER CO. December 8, 1998 By: /s/ Paul Heldman Paul Heldman Senior Vice President, Secretary, and General Counsel 4 EXHIBIT INDEX Exhibit No. Exhibit - ----------- ------- 23.3 Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP. 99.1 Financial Statements of Fred Meyer, Inc. Incorporated by reference to (i) Exhibit 99.5 of Fred Meyer, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K/A dated March 9, 1998 and filed November 5, 1998 and (ii) Item 1 of Fred Meyer, Inc.'s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended August 15, 1998. 99.2 Unaudited Pro Forma Combined Financial Data of The Kroger Co. and Fred Meyer, Inc., incorporated by reference to pages 67 through 77 of the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-66961) filed with the Commission on November 6, 1998.