Pricing Agreement

EX-1.1.1 3 l27601aexv1w1w1.htm EX-1.1.1 EX-1.1.1
 

Exhibit 1.1.1
Pricing Agreement
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Banc of America Securities LLC
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto.
August 8, 2007
Dear Sirs:
          The Kroger Co., an Ohio corporation (the “Company”), and the Guarantors on Schedule A and on the signature pages hereto propose, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting Agreement, dated August 8, 2007 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) the Securities (the “Designated Securities”) and related Guarantees 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 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 and related Guarantees. 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 and related Guarantees pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in such Section 12 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 and related Guarantees, 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 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 ten 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, the Company and each of the Guarantors. 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.
Each of the Guarantors Listed on Schedule A
hereto, as Guarantor of the Designated Securities
 
           
    By:   /s/ Paul W. Heldman
 
      Name:   Paul W. Heldman
 
      Title:   Executive Vice President/President/
 
          Vice President
 
           
    QUEEN CITY ASSURANCE, INC.
as Guarantor of the Designated Securities
RJD ASSURANCE, INC.
as Guarantor of the Designated Securities
VINE COURT ASSURANCE INCORPORATED
as Guarantor of the Designated Securities
 
           
    By:   /s/ Bruce M. Gack
 
      Name:   Bruce M. Gack
 
      Title:   Senior Vice President/Vice President
 
           
    ROCKET NEWCO, INC.
as Guarantor of the Designated Securities
HENPIL, INC.
as Guarantor of the Designated Securities
 
           
    By:   /s/ Kim Storch
 
      Name:   Kim Storch
 
      Title:   Vice President

 


 

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Banc of America Securities LLC
Barclays Capital Inc.
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
Lazard Capital Markets LLC
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
The Williams Capital Group, L.P.
By: J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
         
By:   /s/ Stephen L. Sheiner
 
  Name:   Stephen L. Sheiner
 
  Title:   Vice President
 
       
By:   Banc of America Securities LLC
 
       
By:   /s/ Joseph A. Crowley
 
  Name:   Joseph A. Crowley
 
  Title:   Vice President
 
       
 
      On behalf of each of the Underwriters

 


 

SCHEDULE A
     
Name of Guarantor   State of Organization
Alpha Beta Company
  California
Bay Area Warehouse Stores, Inc.
  California
Bell Markets, Inc.
  California
Cala Co.
  Delaware
Cala Foods, Inc.
  California
CB&S Advertising Agency, Inc.
  Oregon
Crawford Stores, Inc.
  California
Dillon Companies, Inc.
  Kansas
Dillon Real Estate Co., Inc.
  Kansas
Distribution Trucking Company
  Oregon
F4L L.P.
  Ohio
FM, Inc.
  Utah
FMJ, Inc.
  Delaware
Food 4 Less GM, Inc.
  California
Food 4 Less Holdings, Inc.
  Delaware
Food 4 Less Merchandising, Inc.
  California
Food 4 Less of California, Inc.
  California
Food 4 Less of Southern California, Inc.
  Delaware
Fred Meyer, Inc.
  Delaware
Fred Meyer Jewelers, Inc.
  California
Fred Meyer Stores, Inc.
  Ohio
Hughes Markets, Inc.
  California
Hughes Realty, Inc.
  California
Inter-American Foods, Inc.
  Ohio
Junior Food Stores of West Florida, Inc.
  Florida
J.V. Distributing, Inc.
  Michigan
KRGP Inc.
  Ohio
KRLP Inc.
  Ohio
The Kroger Co. of Michigan
  Michigan
Kroger Dedicated Logistics Co.
  Ohio
Kroger Group Cooperative, Inc.
  Ohio
Kroger Limited Partnership I
  Ohio
Kroger Limited Partnership II
  Ohio
Kroger Texas L.P.
  Ohio
Kwik Shop, Inc.
  Kansas
Mini Mart, Inc.
  Wyoming
Peyton’s-Southeastern, Inc.
  Tennessee

 


 

     
Name of Guarantor   State of Organization
Quik Stop Markets, Inc.
  California
Ralphs Grocery Company
  Ohio
Second Story, Inc.
  Washington
Smith’s Beverage of Wyoming, Inc.
  Wyoming
Smith’s Food & Drug Centers, Inc.
  Ohio
THGP Co., Inc.
  Pennsylvania
THLP Co., Inc.
  Pennsylvania
Topvalco, Inc.
  Ohio
Turkey Hill L.P.
  Pennsylvania

 


 

SCHEDULE I
         
    Principal Amount of 6.400%  
Underwriter   Senior Notes To Be Purchased  
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
  $ 84,000,000  
Banc of America Securities LLC
    75,000,000  
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
    34,500,000  
Lazard Capital Markets LLC
    34,500,000  
Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
    34,500,000  
Barclays Capital Inc.
    15,000,000  
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
    15,000,000  
The Williams Capital Group, L.P.
    7,500,000  
 
     
 
       
Total
  $ 300,000,000  
 
     

 


 

SCHEDULE II
Title of Designated Securities:
          6.400% Senior Notes due 2017           
Aggregate Principal Amount:
          $300,000,000 of 6.400% Senior Notes due 2017     
Price to Public:
99.440% of the principal amount of the 6.400% Senior Notes due 2017, plus accrued interest from August 15, 2007
Purchase Price by Underwriters:
98.790% of the principal amount of the 6.400% Senior Notes due 2017, plus accrued interest from August 15, 2007
Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:
Immediately available funds
Indenture:
Indenture dated as of June 25, 1999, between the Company, the Guarantors and Firstar 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 and the Seventeenth Supplemental Indenture dated August 15, 2007
Maturity:
The 6.400% Senior Notes due 2017 will mature on August 15, 2017
Interest Rates:
The 6.400% Senior Notes due 2017 will bear interest from August 15, 2007 at 6.400%.

 


 

Interest Payment Dates:
Interest on the 6.400% Senior Notes due 2017 is payable semiannually on February 15 and August 15 of each year commencing on February 15, 2008
Redemption Provisions:
As described in the preliminary prospectus supplement dated August 8, 2007.
Change of Control Put:
As described in the preliminary prospectus supplement dated August 8, 2007
Sinking Fund Provision:
No sinking fund provisions.
Defeasance Provisions:
As described in the preliminary prospectus supplement dated August 8, 2007.
Guarantees:
Guaranteed by the Guarantors set forth on the signature pages and Schedule A to the Pricing Agreement.
Time of Delivery:
August 15, 2007
Closing Location:
Offices of Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP
One New York Plaza,
New York, New York 10004
Name and Address of Representatives:
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
270 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Banc of America Securities LLC
9 West 57th St
New York, NY 10019

 


 

Schedule III
Time of Sale Information
1.   Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, dated August 8, 2007, including the base prospectus included therein, dated December 9, 2004
 
2.   Term sheet, dated August 8, 2007

 


 

Schedule IV
The Kroger Co.
Pricing Term Sheet
6.400% Notes due August 15, 2017
     
Issuer:
  The Kroger Co.
Principal Amount:
  $300,000,000
Security Type:
  Senior Note
Maturity:
  August 15, 2017
Coupon:
  6.400%
Price to Public:
  99.440%
Yield to Maturity:
  6.477%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:
  1.60%
Benchmark Treasury:
  4.500% due May 15, 2017
Benchmark Treasury Spot and Yield:
  97 – 3, 4.877%
Interest Payment Dates:
  February 15 and August 15, commencing
 
  February 15, 2008
Make-Whole Call:
  Treasury Rate plus 25 basis points
Trade Date:
  August 8, 2007
Settlement Date:
  August 15, 2007 (T+5)
Denominations:
  $2,000 x $1,000
Ratings:
  Baa2 (stable outlook, Moody’s) / BBB-
 
  (positive outlook, S&P) / BBB (stable outlook,
 
  Fitch)
Joint Bookrunners:
  J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
 
  Banc of America Securities LLC
Co-Managers:
  Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
 
  Greenwich Capital Markets, Inc.
 
  Lazard Capital Markets LLC
 
  Barclays Capital Inc.
 
  Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
 
  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 J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. collect at ###-###-#### or Banc of America Securities LLC toll free at ###-###-####.
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.