<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001104659-13-059345.txt : 20130802
<SEC-HEADER>0001104659-13-059345.hdr.sgml : 20130802
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20130802140933
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001104659-13-059345
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20130802
ITEM INFORMATION:		Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
ITEM INFORMATION:		Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant
FILED AS OF DATE:		20130802
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20130802

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KROGER CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000056873
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-GROCERY STORES [5411]
		IRS NUMBER:				310345740
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0203

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-00303
		FILM NUMBER:		131005907

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		1014 VINE ST
		CITY:			CINCINNATI
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			45201
		BUSINESS PHONE:		5137624000
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a13-17672_18k.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>


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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES<br> SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">WASHINGTON, DC 20549</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM&nbsp;8-K</font></b></p>
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<p align="center" style="font-size:12.0pt;margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="3" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:12.0pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT</font></b><b><font style="font-weight:bold;"><br>  </font>TO SECTION&nbsp;13 OR 15(d)&nbsp;OF THE<br> SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date of report (Date of earliest event reported)&#160; <b>August&nbsp;2, 2013</b></font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="5" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:18.0pt;font-weight:bold;">THE KROGER CO.</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) </font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">An Ohio Corporation </font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) </font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">31-0345740</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Commission File Number)</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">1014 Vine Street, Cincinnati, Ohio</font></b></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">45202</font></b></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</font></p>    </td>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">(513) 762-4000</font></b></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Registrant&#146;s Telephone Number,&nbsp;Including Area Code) </font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report) </font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:22.5pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:22.5pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Check the appropriate box below if the Form&nbsp;8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (<i>see </i>General Instruction A.2. below):</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:22.5pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 22.3pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> Written communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 22.3pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> Soliciting material pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 22.3pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;14d-2(b)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 22.3pt;"><font size="2" face="Wingdings" style="font-size:10.0pt;">o</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;"> Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule&nbsp;13e-4(c)&nbsp;under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 1.01&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">On August&nbsp;2, 2013, The Kroger Co. (the &#147;Company&#148;) entered into an unsecured bridge loan agreement with&nbsp;Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner&nbsp;&amp; Smith Incorporated&nbsp;as Sole Lead Arranger and Sole Bookrunning Manager, and&nbsp;other lenders (the &#147;Bridge Loan Agreement&#148;).&nbsp; The Company entered into the Bridge Loan Agreement to provide an additional source of financing, if necessary, to fund a portion of the previously announced acquisition of Harris Teeter Supermarkets,&nbsp;Inc., as described more fully in the Form&nbsp;8-K filed by the Company on July&nbsp;9, 2013 (the &#147;Harris Teeter Acquisition&#148;).</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Bridge Loan Agreement is based on, and contains substantially similar terms to, the Company&#146;s existing credit agreement, amended and restated as of January&nbsp;25, 2012, among the Company, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, Citibank, N.A. as syndication agent, and certain lenders (the &#147;Existing Credit Agreement&#148;). The Bridge Loan Agreement provides the Company the ability to borrow, based on certain conditions, including consummation of the Harris Teeter Acquisition, up to $850 million, and matures 364 days after closing.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Borrowings under the Bridge Loan Agreement would bear interest at the three-month LIBOR rate plus an applicable margin determined by the Company&#146;s credit ratings, as determined by S&amp;P and Moody&#146;s.&#160; The applicable margin will also increase by 25 basis points every 90 days after funding. The Company will also pay a funding fee to each lender equal to 0.5% of such lender&#146;s loan advance on the closing date of the financing, and duration fees on any loan amounts still outstanding of 0.5%, 0.75% and 1.0% on each of the 90</font><font size="1" style="font-size:6.5pt;position:relative;top:-3.0pt;">th</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">, 180</font><font size="1" style="font-size:6.5pt;position:relative;top:-3.0pt;">th</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;and 270</font><font size="1" style="font-size:6.5pt;position:relative;top:-3.0pt;">th</font><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&#160;day, respectively, following the closing of the Harris Teeter Acquisition, and an annual ticking fee of 0.15% of the amount the lenders have committed. The Bridge Loan Agreement contains covenants, which, among other things, require the maintenance of a leverage ratio of not greater than 3.50:1.00 and a fixed charge coverage ratio of not less than 1.70:1.00.&#160; The covenants and representations and warranties in the Bridge Loan Agreement are substantially the same as those contained in the Existing Credit Agreement.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The Company may repay the Bridge Loan Agreement in whole or in part at any time without premium or penalty.&#160; The Bridge Loan Agreement is not guaranteed by the Company&#146;s subsidiaries.</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 1.0in;text-indent:-1.0in;"><b><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 2.03</font></b><font size="1" style="font-size:3.0pt;">&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160;&#160; </font><b><font size="2" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance SheetArrangement of a Registrant</font></b></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">The information set forth under Item 1.01 above is incorporated into this Item 2.03 by reference.</font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">2<a name="PB_2_185644_7056"></a></font></p>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><b><u><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURE</font></u></b></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-indent:22.5pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">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.</font></p>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Date:</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 10.0pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">August&nbsp;2, 2013</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">THE   KROGER CO.</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">(Registrant)   </font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">By:</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">/s/   Paul Heldman</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 122.5pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.66%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Paul   Heldman</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 122.5pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="6%" colspan="2" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:6.66%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">Executive   Vice President, Secretary</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt 122.5pt;text-indent:-10.0pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
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<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:1.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>    </td>
<td width="43%" valign="top" style="padding:0in 0in 0in 0in;width:43.34%;">
<p style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">and   General Counsel</font></p>    </td>   </tr>
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<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">&nbsp;</font></p>
<p align="center" style="margin:0in 0in .0001pt;text-align:center;"><font size="2" face="Times New Roman" style="font-size:10.0pt;">3<a name="PB_3_185911_5335"></a></font></p>
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