1 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-Q/A |X| Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the quarterly period ended October 3, 1998 or |_| Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 for the transition period from _____ to ______ COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 1-303 THE KROGER CO. An Ohio Corporation I.R.S. Employer Identification No. 31-0345740 1014 VINE STREET, CINCINNATI, OH 45202 - ------------------------------------------- ---------------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) Registrant's telephone number, including area code (513) 762-4000 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No . ---------- ----------- There were 256,220,362 shares of Common Stock ($1 par value) outstanding as of October 31, 1998. 2 PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION Item 1. Financial Statements The unaudited information for the quarters ended October 3, 1998 and October 4, 1997 includes the results of operations of The Kroger Co. for the 16 and 40 week periods ended October 3, 1998 and October 4, 1997, and of Dillon Companies, Inc. for the 13 and 39 week periods ended September 26, 1998 and September 27, 1997. In the opinion of management, the information reflects all adjustments which are necessary for a fair presentation of results of operations for such periods but should not be considered as indicative of results for a full year. See footnotes five and six regarding one-time expenses and an accounting change. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) 3rd Quarter Ended 3 Quarters Ended ----------------------------------------------- October 3, October 4, October 3, October 4, 1998 1997 1998 1997 ---------- ---------- ----------- -------- Sales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,023,906 $7,686,640 $20,854,281 $20,057,847 ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------- Costs and expenses: Merchandise costs, including warehousing and transportation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6,091,003 5,863,919 15,958,653 15,292,020 Operating, general and administrative. . . . . . . . . 1,426,686 1,365,987 3,669,521 3,520,788 Rent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104,301 101,238 269,895 252,072 Depreciation and amortization. . . . . . . . . . . . . 124,436 112,009 315,903 285,584 Interest expense, net. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76,856 85,213 204,116 223,313 ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------- Total. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,823,282 7,528,366 20,418,088 19,573,777 ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------- Earnings before income tax expense and extraordinary loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200,624 158,274 436,193 484,070 Income tax expense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76,239 61,744 165,757 187,143 ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Earnings before extraordinary loss. . . . . . . . . . . 124,385 96,530 270,436 296,927 Extraordinary loss (net of income tax credit) . . . . . (6,490) (802) (10,783) (9,045) ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------- Net earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 117,895 $ 95,728 $ 259,653 $ 287,882 ========== ========== ========== =========== Basic earnings per common share: Earnings from operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 0.49 $ 0.38 $ 1.06 $ 1.17 Extraordinary loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0.03) 0.00 (0.04) (0.04) ------ ------ ------ ------ Net earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 0.46 $ 0.38 $ 1.02 $ 1.13 ====== ====== ====== ====== Average number of common shares used in basic per share calculation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256,039 254,423 255,701 254,184 Diluted earnings per common share: Earnings from operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.47 $0.37 $ 1.02 $ 1.13 Extraordinary loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (0.02) 0.00 (0.04) (0.03) ----- ----- ------ ------ Net earnings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $0.45 $0.37 $ 0.98 $ 1.10 ===== ===== ====== ====== Average number of common shares used in diluted per share calculation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265,415 263,078 265,237 262,575 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. 3 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (in thousands of dollars) (unaudited) October 3, December 27, 1998 1997 ---------- ---------- ASSETS Current assets Cash. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 74,845 $ 65,484 Receivables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 381,756 400,529 Inventories: FIFO cost . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,186,980 2,273,896 Less LIFO reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (480,931) (467,931) ---------- ---------- 1,706,049 1,805,965 Property held for sale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12,919 39,672 Prepaid and other current assets. . . . . . . . . . . . 173,748 328,901 ---------- ---------- Total current assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2,349,317 2,640,551 Property, plant and equipment, net. . . . . . . . . . . . 3,644,044 3,296,599 Investments and other assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 474,836 364,191 ---------- ---------- Total Assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $6,468,197 $6,301,341 ========== ========== LIABILITIES Current liabilities Current portion of long-term debt . . . . . . . . . . . $ 154,062 $ 14,304 Current portion of obligations under capital leases. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,897 10,031 Accounts payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,684,968 1,781,527 Other current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,287,972 1,137,654 ---------- ---------- Total current liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,137,899 2,943,516 Long-term debt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3,121,234 3,306,451 Obligations under capital leases. . . . . . . . . . . . . 192,938 186,624 Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146,642 166,013 Other long-term liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472,705 483,585 ---------- ---------- Total Liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7,071,418 7,086,189 ---------- ---------- SHAREOWNERS' DEFICIT Common capital stock, par $1, at stated value Authorized: 1,000,000,000 shares Issued: 1998 - 280,560,937 shares 1997 - 277,153,260 shares. . . . . . . . . . . 772,322 728,644 Accumulated deficit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (924,741) (1,184,394) Common stock in treasury, at cost 1998 - 24,826,941 shares 1997 - 22,182,650 shares . . . . . . . . . . . (450,802) (329,098) ---------- ---------- Total Shareowners' Deficit (603,221) (784,848) ---------- ---------- Total Liabilities and Shareowners' Deficit. . . . . . $6,468,197 $6,301,341 ========== ========== - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. 4 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (in thousands of dollars) (unaudited) 3 Quarters Ended ------------------------------ October 3, October 4, 1998 1997 ----------- -------- CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net earnings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 259,653 $ 287,882 Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities: Extraordinary loss . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10,783 9,045 Depreciation and amortization. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 315,903 285,584 Amortization of deferred financing costs . . . . . . . . . . 9,250 11,142 LIFO charge. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13,000 11,000 Net increase in cash from changes in operating assets and liabilities, detail below . . . . . . . . . . . 407,720 295,552 Other changes, net . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (9,263) (2,557) ---------- ---------- Net cash provided by operating activities . . . . . . . . 1,007,046 897,648 ---------- ---------- CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Capital expenditures. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (665,980) (421,262) Proceeds from sale of assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40,797 20,148 Decrease in property held for sale. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20,983 728 Increase in other investments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (94,479) (168,893) ---------- ---------- Net cash used by investing activities . . . . . . . . . . (698,679) (569,279) ---------- ---------- CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Debt prepayment costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (14,803) (7,696) Financing charges incurred. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (29,307) (24,988) Principal payments under capital lease obligations. . . . . . . (7,780) (7,154) Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt. . . . . . . . . . . . 626,011 645,956 Reductions in long-term debt. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (671,470) (736,246) Outstanding checks. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (122,839) (164,108) Proceeds from issuance of capital stock . . . . . . . . . . . . 42,886 33,893 Capital stock reacquired. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (121,704) (69,286) ---------- ---------- Net cash used by financing activities . . . . . . . . . . (299,006) (329,629) ---------- ---------- Net increase(decrease) in cash and temporary cash investments . . 9,361 (1,260) Cash and temporary cash investments: Beginning of year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65,484 67,052 ---------- ---------- End of quarter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 74,845 $ 65,792 ========== ========== INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH FROM CHANGES IN OPERATING ASSETS AND LIABILITIES: Inventories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $ 86,916 $ (2,814) Receivables . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18,773 (21,188) Prepaid and other current assets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154,920 103,434 Accounts payable. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26,280 32,128 Deferred income taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (31,622) 6,340 Other liabilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152,453 177,652 ---------- ---------- $ 407,720 $ 295,552 ========== ========== - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. 5 Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information: 3 Quarters Ended -------------------------- October 3, October 4, 1998 1997 ---------- ------- Cash paid during the period for: Interest (net of amount capitalized) $214,432 $220,663 Income taxes 169,471 126,673 - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements. 6 NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION The year-end condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements and, due to its summary nature, does not contain all information required by generally accepted accounting principles. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year presentation. 2. INCOME TAXES The effective income tax rate differs from the expected statutory rate primarily due to the effect of certain state taxes. 3. EXTRAORDINARY LOSS The extraordinary loss for the three quarters ended October 3, 1998 and October 4, 1997 of $10.8 million and $9.0 million, respectively, net of income taxes of $6.5 million and $5.7 million, respectively, is related to the early retirement of long-term debt. The extraordinary loss for the quarters ended October 3, 1998 and October 4, 1997, of $6.5 million and $.8 million, respectively, net of income taxes of $3.9 million and $.5 million, respectively, is related to the early retirement of long-term debt. 4. EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE Basic earnings per common share equals net earnings divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted earnings per common share equals net earnings divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding after giving effect to dilutive stock options. The following table provides a reconciliation of earnings before extraordinary loss and shares used in calculating basic earnings per share to those used in calculating diluted earnings per share. For the quarter ended For the quarter ended OCTOBER 3, 1998 OCTOBER 4, 1997 ---------------------------- --------------------- Income Shares Per Income Shares Per (Numer- (Denomi- Share (Numer- (Denomi- Share ator nator amount ator nator amount -------- ------- ----- -------- ------- ----- BASIC EPS Earnings before extraordinary loss . . . . . . . . . . . $124,385 256,039 $0.49 $ 96,530 254,423 $0.38 EFFECT OF DILUTIVE SECURITIES Stock option awards. . . . 9,376 8,655 -------- ------- ----- -------- ------- ----- DILUTED EPS Income available to share- holders plus assumed conversions. . . . . . . $124,385 265,415 $0.47 $ 96,530 263,078 $0.37 ======== ======= ===== ======== ======= ===== For 3 quarters ended For 3 quarters ended OCTOBER 3, 1998 OCTOBER 4, 1997 --------------------------- --------------------- Income Shares Per Income Shares Per (Numer- (Denomi- Share (Numer- (Denomi- Share ator nator amount ator nator amount -------- ------- ----- -------- ------- ----- BASIC EPS Earnings before extraordinary loss . . . . . . . . . . . $270,436 255,701 $1.06 $296,927 254,184 $1.17 EFFECT OF DILUTIVE SECURITIES Stock option awards. . . . 9,536 8,391 -------- ------- ----- -------- ------- ----- DILUTED EPS Income available to share- holders plus assumed conversions. . . . . . . $270,436 265,237 $1.02 $296,927 262,575 $1.13 ======== ======= ===== ======== ======= ===== 7 5. ONE-TIME EXPENSES In the second quarter of 1998, the Company incurred approximately $40.8 million pre-tax, $25.3 million after-tax or $.09 per diluted share, in one-time expenses associated with its logistics initiatives. These expenses include the costs associated with exiting a joint venture that formerly operated as a wholesale distributor for the Company's Michigan stores. This warehouse is now operated by a third party, with the Company procuring and owning the inventory. These expenses also include the transition costs related to one new Company operated warehouse facility and one new warehouse facility operated by an unaffiliated entity, including the carrying costs of the facilities idled as a result of these new warehouses and the associated employee severance costs. The expenses described above include non-cash asset writedowns of $15.5 million and were included in merchandise costs, including warehouse and transportation. The remaining $25.3 million includes $11.0 million related to severance, $9.5 million related to the carrying cost for idle facilities, and $4.8 million related to the exit of the joint venture. Cash costs paid to date are $12.1 million and the remaining accrual of $13.2 million at October 3, 1998 relates to severance costs, $6.4 million, that will be paid through the second quarter of 1999, and carrying costs for idle warehouse facilities, $6.8 million, through 2001. Additionally, in the second quarter of 1998, the Company incurred one-time expenses of $11.6 million pre-tax, $7.2 million after-tax or $.03 per diluted share, associated with accounting, data and operations consolidations in Texas, including the costs associated with closing eight stores and relocating the remaining Dallas office employees to a smaller facility. These expenses, which include non-cash asset writedowns of $2.2 million, were included in Operating, General and Administrative expenses. Cash costs paid to date are $0.6 million and the remaining accrual of $8.8 million at October 3, 1999 represents estimated rent or lease termination costs that will be paid on closed stores through 2013. 6. ACCOUNTING CHANGE In the second quarter of 1998, the Company changed its application of the LIFO method of accounting for store inventories from the retail method to the item cost method. The change was made to more accurately reflect inventory value by eliminating the averaging and estimation inherent in the retail method. The cumulative effect of this change on periods prior to December 28, 1997 cannot be determined. The effect of the change on the December 28, 1997 inventory valuation, which includes other immaterial modifications in inventory valuation methods, was included in restated results for the quarter ended March 21, 1998, and increased merchandise costs by $89.7 million and reduced earnings before extraordinary loss and net earnings by $55.6 million, or $0.21 per diluted share. Pro forma effects of the change for prior periods have not been presented as cost information is not determinable. The item cost method did not have a material impact on earnings subsequent to its initial adoption. 7. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS On October 19, 1998 the Company announced its intended merger with Fred Meyer, Inc. Under the terms of the merger, Fred Meyer, Inc. shareholders will receive one newly issued share of Kroger common stock for each Fred Meyer, Inc. common share. The transaction will be accounted for as a pooling of interests. It is expected to close in early 1999 subject to approval of Kroger and Fred Meyer shareholders, antitrust clearance and customary closing conditions. Additional information regarding the merger can be found in the Company's current report on Form 8-K dated October 20, 1998. 8. RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING STANDARDS The Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of Financial Standards No. 131 "Disclosure about Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information", No. 132 "Employers' Disclosures about Pensions and Other Postretirement Benefits", No. 133 "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities", and No. 134 "Accounting for Mortgage Backed Securities Retained after the Securitization of Mortgage Loans Held for Sale by a Mortgage Banking Enterprise". The Company has not yet determined what effect, if any, these statements will have. 9. COMPREHENSIVE INCOME The Company has no items of other comprehensive income in any period presented. Therefore net earnings as presented in the Consolidated Statement of Operations equals comprehensive income. 8 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 thereunto duly authorized. THE KROGER CO. Dated: March 3, 1999 By: (W. Rodney McMullen) W. Rodney McMullen Senior Vice President Dated: March 3, 1999 By: (J. Michael Schlotman) J. Michael Schlotman Vice President and Corporate Controller - Principal Accounting Officer