Pricing Agreement, dated as of January 5, 2021, among the Company, U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc., BofA Securities, Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Mizuho Securities USA LLC, Santander Investment Securities Inc., Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC, Fifth Third Securities, Inc., Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, MUFG Securities Americas Inc., PNC Capital Markets LLC, RBC Capital Markets, LLC, Truist Securities, Inc., and Academy Securities, Inc

Contract Categories: Business Finance - Investment Agreements
EX-1.1.1 3 tm2039191d5_ex1d1-1.htm EXHIBIT 1.1.1

Exhibit 1.1.1

 

Pricing Agreement

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

BofA Securities, Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto.

 

January 5, 2021

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 5, 2021 (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,
     
  THE KROGER CO.
   
  By: /s/ Christine Wheatley
Name:Christine Wheatley
Title:Group Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel

 

[Signature Page to Pricing Agreement]

 

 

 

 

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

BofA Securities, Inc.

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

and the additional Underwriters named on Schedule I to this Pricing Agreement

 

By: U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.  
       
By: /s/ Kyle Carse  
  Name: Kyle Carse  
  Title: Vice President  
       
By: BofA Securities, Inc.  
       
By: /s/ Happy Hazelton  
  Name: Happy Hazelton  
  Title: Managing Director  
       
By: Citigroup Global Markets Inc.  
       
By: /s/ Brian D. Bednarski  
  Name: Brian D. Bednarski  
  Title: Managing Director  

 

On behalf of each of the Underwriters

 

[Signature Page to Pricing Agreement]

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

Underwriter  Principal Amount of
Senior Notes To Be
Purchased
 
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.  $75,000,000 
BofA Securities, Inc.   75,000,000 
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.   75,000,000 
Mizuho Securities USA LLC   35,000,000 
Santander Investment Securities Inc.   35,000,000 
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC   35,000,000 
BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC   22,500,000 
Fifth Third Securities, Inc.   22,500,000 
Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC   22,500,000 
MUFG Securities Americas Inc.   22,500,000 
PNC Capital Markets LLC   22,500,000 
RBC Capital Markets, LLC   22,500,000 
Truist Securities, Inc.   22,500,000 
Academy Securities, Inc.   12,500,000 
Total  $500,000,000 

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE II

 

Title of Designated Securities:

 

1.700% Senior Notes due 2031

 

Aggregate Principal Amount:

 

$500,000,000 of 1.700% Senior Notes due 2031

 

Price to Public:

 

99.771% of the principal amount of the 1.700% Senior Notes due 2031, plus accrued interest from January 12, 2021

 

Purchase Price by Underwriters:

 

99.121% of the principal amount of the 1.700% Senior Notes due 2031, plus accrued interest from January 12, 2021

 

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, dated January 14, 2019, the Forty-Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated January 14, 2019, the Forty-Seventh Supplemental Indenture dated January 13, 2020, the Forty-Eighth Supplemental Indenture dated April 28, 2020 and the Forty-Ninth Supplemental Indenture to be dated January 12, 2021.

 

 

 

 

Maturity:

 

The 1.700% Senior Notes due 2031 will mature on January 15, 2031

 

Interest Rates:

 

The 1.700% Senior Notes due 2031 will bear interest from January 15, 2021 at 1.700%

 

Interest Payment Dates:

 

Interest on the 1.700% Senior Notes due 2031 is payable semiannually on January 15 and July 15 of each year, commencing on January 15, 2021

 

Redemption Provisions:

 

As described in the term sheet dated January 5, 2021 included on Schedule IV

 

Change of Control Put:

 

As described in the preliminary prospectus supplement dated January 5, 2021

 

 

 

 

Sinking Fund Provision:

 

No sinking fund provisions

 

Defeasance Provisions:

 

As described in the preliminary prospectus supplement dated January 5, 2021

 

Guarantees:

 

None

 

Time of Delivery:

 

January 12, 2021

 

Closing Location:

 

Offices of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer US LLP
601 Lexington Avenue
31st Floor
New York, New York 10022

 

 

 

 

Name and Address of Representatives:

 

U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.

214 North Tryon Street, 26th Floor

Charlotte, North Carolina 28202

Attention: High Grade Syndicate

Facsimile: (704) 335-2393

 

BofA Securities, Inc.

1540 Broadway

NY8-540-26-02

New York, NY 10036

Attention: High Grade Transaction Management/Legal

Facsimile: (212) 901-7881

Email: ***@***

 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Attention: General Counsel

 

 

 

 

Schedule III

 

Time of Sale Information

 

1.Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, dated January 5, 2021, including the base prospectus included therein, dated May 24, 2019

 

2.Term sheet, dated January 5, 2021, included on Schedule IV

 

 

 

 

Schedule IV

 

The Kroger Co.

 

 

Pricing Term Sheet

Dated January 5, 2021

 

Issuer: The Kroger Co.
   
Security Type: Senior Notes
   
Trade Date: January 5, 2021
   
Settlement Date: January 12, 2021 (T+5)
   
Denominations: $2,000 x $1,000
   
Principal Amount: $500,000,000
   
Maturity Date: January 15, 2031
   
Coupon: 1.700%
   
Benchmark Treasury: UST 0.875% due November 15, 2030
   
Benchmark Treasury Price / Yield: 99-08 / 0.955%
   
Spread to Benchmark Treasury: T + 77 basis points
   
Yield to Maturity: 1.725%
   
Price to Public: 99.771% of the principal amount
   
Interest Payment Dates: January 15 and July 15, commencing on July 15, 2021  
   
Optional Redemption Provisions:  
   
Make-whole Call: Treasury Rate plus 15 basis points (prior to October 15, 2030)
   
Par Call: On or after October 15, 2030 (3 months prior to maturity)
   
CUSIP/ISIN: 501044DQ10 / US501044DQ10
   
Joint Book-Running Managers: U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc.
  BofA Securities, Inc.
  Citigroup Global Markets Inc. 
  Mizuho Securities USA LLC
  Santander Investment Securities Inc. 
  Wells Fargo Securities, LLC 
   

 

 

 

 

Co-Managers: BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC
  Fifth Third Securities, Inc.
  Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC
  MUFG Securities Americas Inc.
  PNC Capital Markets LLC
  RBC Capital Markets, LLC
  Truist Securities, Inc.
  Academy Securities, Inc.

 

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 U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. toll-free at ###-###-####, BofA Securities, Inc. toll-free at ###-###-####, Citigroup Global Markets Inc. toll-free at ###-###-####, Mizuho Securities USA LLC toll-free at ###-###-####, Santander Investment Securities Inc. toll-free at ###-###-#### and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC toll-free at ###-###-####.

 

We expect that delivery of the notes will be made against payment therefor on or about the settlement date specified above, which will be the fifth business day following the date of this term sheet. Under Rule 15c6-1 of the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, trades in the secondary market generally are required to settle in two business days, unless the parties to any such trade expressly agree otherwise. Accordingly, purchasers who wish to trade the notes on the date of this term sheet or the next two succeeding business days will be required, by virtue of the fact that the notes initially will settle in T+5, to specify an alternate settlement cycle at the time of any such trade to prevent a failed settlement. Purchasers of the notes who wish to trade the notes on the date hereof or the next two succeeding business days should consult their own advisor.

 

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.