UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

________________

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 3, 2003

 

 

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

New York
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

1-416
(Commission File Number)

 

36-1750680
(IRS Employer Identification No.)

     

3333 Beverly Road,
Hoffman Estates, Illinois

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

60179
(Zip Code)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (847) 286-2500

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report): Not Applicable

 


 

 

Item 2. Acquisition or Disposition of Assets.

As previously reported in the Sears, Roebuck and Co. (the "Company") Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed on November 5, 2003, the Company completed the sale of its domestic Credit and Financial Products business, including its clubs and services business, to Citicorp on November 3, 2003. This Current Report on Form 8-K is filed to provide the pro forma financial information required under Item 7.

A copy of the Purchase, Sale and Servicing Transfer Agreement dated July 15, 2003 was attached to the Current Report on Form 8-K filed July 17, 2003 as Exhibit 10.1. A copy of Amendment No. 1 to the Purchase, Sale and Servicing Transfer Agreement was attached to the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q filed November 5, 2003 as Exhibit 2(b).

Item 7. Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and Exhibits.

(b) Pro Forma Financial Information

The following Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements give effect to the sale of the Company's domestic Credit and Financial products business and the entering into of a strategic alliance (the "Transaction") with Citicorp. The Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet is derived from the unaudited consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of September 27, 2003 and assumes the Transaction was consummated on September 27, 2003 (as of the last day of the 39-week period ended September 27, 2003). The Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statements of Income give effect to the disposition of the Credit and Financial Products business for the 39-week periods ended September 27, 2003 and September 28, 2002, and for the fiscal year ended December 28, 2002 as if the disposition occurred on December 30, 2001 (as of the first day of the Company's 2002 fiscal year).

The Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements are presented for illustrative purposes only, and therefore are not necessarily indicative of the operating results and financial position that might have been achieved had the transaction occurred as of an earlier date, nor are they necessarily indicative of operating results and financial position that may occur in the future.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements do not reflect the use of the net cash proceeds on the Company's ongoing results of operations and its future financial position. The Company anticipates that the net cash proceeds will be used to retire debt that supported the domestic credit card receivables, return cash to the Company's shareholders, and for general corporate purposes, including an incremental contribution to the Company's domestic pension plan.

Under the long-term marketing and servicing alliance (the "Program Agreement"), Citibank (USA) N.A. will provide credit and customer services benefits to the Company's proprietary and Gold MasterCard holders. In addition, Citibank (USA) N.A. will continue to support the Company's current zero-percent financing program. As part of the alliance, the Company will receive annual performance payments from Citibank (USA) N.A. based upon the level of new account and credit sales generation activities as well as other activities.

The Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in (1) the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2002 and (2) the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 29, 2003, June 28, 2003 and September 27, 2003.


 

This report contains "forward-looking statements" concerning the use of cash proceeds of the sale of the Company's Credit and Financial Products business and the future impact of the Program Agreement on the Company. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements.

Following are some of these risks and uncertainties: Citicorp's ability to successfully integrate and operate the Credit and Financial Products business and the ability of the Company to successfully integrate its retail businesses with a third-party credit card program, which involves training and the integration of complex systems and processes; competitive conditions in retail and credit; changes in consumer confidence and spending; the success of the Full-line Store strategy and other strategies; the possibility that the Company will identify new business and strategic options for one or more of its business segments, potentially including selective acquisitions, dispositions, restructurings, joint ventures and partnerships; the outcome of pending legal proceedings; anticipated cash flow; social and political conditions such as war, political unrest and terrorism or natural disasters; the possibility of negative investment returns in the Company's pension plan; changes in interest rates; the volatility in financial markets; changes in the Company's debt ratings, credit spreads and cost of funds; the possibility of interruptions in systematically accessing the public debt markets; general economic conditions and normal business uncertainty. While the Company believes that its forecasts and assumptions are reasonable, it cautions that actual results may differ materially. The Company intends the forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time first made and does not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available.


 

Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet

 

millions

Sept. 27, 2003
Balance Sheet

Pro Forma
Adjustments


Pro Forma
Sept. 27, 2003
Balance Sheet


ASSETS

Current assets

Cash and cash equivalents

$

1,546

$

21,270

1

$

22,816

Sears Canada credit card receivables

1,939

1,939

Less allowance for uncollectible accounts

51

51




Net credit card receivables

1,888

1,888

Other receivables

632

632

Merchandise inventories

6,243

6,243

Prepaid expenses and deferred charges

517

517

Deferred income taxes

818

(300

)2

518

Assets held for sale

27,818

(27,622

)3

196





Total current assets

39,462

(6,652

)

32,810

 

Property and equipment, net

6,660

6,660

Deferred income taxes

443

443

Goodwill

945

945

Tradenames and other intangible assets

710

710

Other assets

870

870




TOTAL ASSETS

$

49,090

$

(6,652

)

$

42,438




LIABILITIES

Current liabilities

Short-term borrowings

$

6,179

$

$

6,179

Current portion of long-term debt and capitalized lease

obligations

2,595

2,595

Accounts payable and other liabilities

7,058

1,325

4

8,383

Unearned revenues

1,245

1,245

Other taxes

472

472

Liabilities held for sale

10,602

(10,573

)5

29




Total current liabilities

28,151

(9,248

)

18,903

Long-term debt and capitalized lease obligations

12,121

12,121

Pension and postretirement benefits

2,010

2,010

Minority interest and other liabilities

1,319

1,319




Total Liabilities

43,601

(9,248

)

34,353

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

Common shares

323

323

Capital in excess of par

3,503

3,503

Retained earnings

8,945

2,596

6

11,541

Treasury stock - at cost

(6,306

)

(6,306

)

Deferred ESOP expense

(27

)

(27

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

(949

)

(949

)




Total Shareholders' Equity

5,489

2,596

8,085




TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

$

49,090

$

(6,652

)

$

42,438

 




 

 

 

 

Notes to Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet

1 To reflect the net cash proceeds resulting from the transaction assuming the transaction closed on
   September 27, 2003.

2 To reflect the estimated impact of the transaction on deferred taxes.

3 To reflect the assets of the Credit and Financial Products business, including clubs and services classified as held
   for sale per the reported balance sheet.

4 To reflect estimated current income taxes payable and other costs directly related to the transaction.

5 To reflect the liabilities of the Credit and Financial Products business, including clubs and services as
   held for sale per the reported balance sheet.

6 To reflect the estimated after-tax net gain on the transaction.

 


 

Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income

millions, except per share data

39 Weeks
Ended
Sept. 27, 2003


Remove
Historical
Amounts 1


Pro Forma
Adjustments


Pro Forma
39 Weeks
Ended
Sept. 27, 2003


Merchandise sales and services

$

24,734

$

(26

)

$

111

2

$

24,819

Credit and financial products revenues

4,136

(3,903

)

--

233





Total revenues

28,870

(3,929

)

111

25,052

Cost of sales, buying and occupancy

18,013

(12

)

--

18,001

Depreciation and amortization

681

(13

)

--

668

Selling and administrative

6,666

(785

)

12

3

5,893

Provision for uncollectible accounts

1,511

(1,467

)

--

44

Special charges and impairments

112

--

--

112

 

Interest expense

 

847

 

 

 

(717

)

 

 

259

5

389

 





Total costs and expenses

27,830

(2,994

)

271

25,107

Operating income (loss)

$

1,040

$

(935

)

$

(160

)

$

(55

)

Other income

16

--

--

16





Income before income taxes and minority
interest

1,056

(935

)

(160)

(39

)

Income (taxes) benefit

(392

)

337

58

4

3

Minority interest

(16

)

--

--

(16

)





Net income (loss)

$

648

$

(598

)

$

(102

)

$

(52

)

 





Earnings per common share:

Basic

2.18

(0.17

)

Diluted

2.17

(0.17

)

Weighted average common shares:

Basic

297.1

297.1

Diluted

298.7

298.7

Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income

1 To reflect the removal of the historical operating results of the Company's Credit and Financial Products business, including
   clubs and services.

2 To reflect the estimated ongoing revenue earned under the Program Agreement entered into with Citigroup.

3 To reflect the estimated operating expenses related to the Company's administration of the Program Agreement.

4 To reflect the tax effect of the above items at the Company's annual effective income tax rate of 36.5%. 

5 To reflect an estimate of the interest expense which would remain; excluding the results of the Company's debt tender. As previously filed
   in   the Form 8-K dated November 17, 2003, the Company repaid $6.4 billion of term debt. An additional $3.6 billion of asset-backed  
   borrowings were repaid as a result of the Company's sale of its Credit and Financial Products business. The Company estimates the loss on  
   these debt extinguishment activities to be approximately $300 million after-tax.  Also, as a result of the retirement of debt which supported
   domestic credit card receivables, the Company expects to write-off the accumulated derivative loss of approximately $180 million after-tax  
   recorded within accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 27, 2003. The impact of  
   these activities has not been included above.


 

Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income

millions, except per share data

52 Weeks 
Ended
Dec. 28, 2002


Remove 
Historical
Amounts 1


Pro Forma 
Adjustments


Pro Forma
52 Weeks Ended
Dec. 28, 2002


Merchandise sales and services

$

35,698

$

(41

)

$

167 

2

$

35,824

 

Credit and financial products revenues

   

5,668

   

(5,392

)          

276





Total revenues

41,366

(5,433

)

167

36,100

Cost of sales, buying and occupancy

25,646

(13

)

--

25,633

 

Depreciation and amortization

   

875

   

(19

)    

--

   

856

 

Selling and administrative

   

9,249

   

(1,190

)    

18

3    

8,077

 

Provision for uncollectible accounts

   

2,261

   

(2,203

)    

--

   

58

 

Special charges and impairments

   

111

   

--

   

--

   

111

 

Interest expense

   

1,143

   

(1,014

)    

436 5

   

565





Total costs and expenses

39,285

(4,439

)

454

35,300

Operating income (loss)

$

2,081

$

(994

)

$

(287

)

$

800

Other income

372

--

--

372





Income before income taxes and minority
interest and cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle

2,453

(994

)

(287

)

1,172

Income (taxes) benefit

(858

)

353

104 4

(401

)

Minority interest

(11

)

--

--

(11

)





Income (loss) before cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle

$

1,584

$

(641

)

$

(182

)

$

760

 





Earnings per common share:

Basic before cumulative effect of
accounting change

4.99

2.39

Diluted before cumulative effect of
accounting change

4.94

2.37

Weighted average common shares:

Basic

317.4

317.4

Diluted

320.7

320.7

Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income

1 To reflect the removal of the historical operating results of the Company's Credit and Financial Products business, including
   clubs and services.

2 To reflect the estimated ongoing revenue earned under the Program Agreement entered into with Citigroup.

3 To reflect the estimated operating expenses related to the Company's administration of the Program Agreement.

4 To reflect the tax effect of the above items at the Company's annual effective income tax rate of 36.5%.

5 To reflect an estimate of the interest expense which would remain excluding the results of the Company's debt tender. As previously
   filed in the
Form 8-K dated November 17, 2003, the Company repaid $6.4 billion of term debt. An additional $3.6 billion of
   asset-backed   borrowings were repaid
as a result of the Company's sale of its Credit and Financial Products business. The Company
   estimates the loss   on these debt extinguishment
activities to be approximately $300 million after-tax. Also, as a result of the
   retirement of debt which supported domestic credit card receivables, the Company expects to  write-off the accumulated derivative loss
   of approximately $180   million after-tax recorded within accumulated other
comprehensive loss in the Condensed Consolidated
   Balance Sheet at September 27,   2003. The impact of these items has not been included above.


Unaudited Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income

millions, except per share data

39 Weeks 
Ended
Sept. 28, 2002


Remove 
Historical 
Amounts 1


Pro Forma 
Adjustments


Pro Forma
39 Weeks 
Ended
Sept. 28, 2002


Merchandise sales and services

$

24,639

$

(31

)

$

115 

2

$

24,723

 

Credit and financial products revenues

   

4,209

   

(4,002

)          

207





Total revenues

28,848

(4,033

)

115

24,930

Cost of sales, buying and occupancy

17,902

(13

)

--

17,889

 

Depreciation and amortization

   

650

   

(14

)    

--

   

636

 

Selling and administrative

   

6,637

   

(899

)    

12

 3  

5,750

 

Provision for uncollectible accounts

   

1,685

   

(1,652

)    

--

   

33

 

Special charges and impairments

   

111

   

--

   

--

   

111

 

Interest expense

   

866

   

(772

)

   

343

 5  

437





Total costs and expenses

27,851

(3,350

)

355

24,856

Operating income (loss)

$

997

$

(683

)

$

(240

)

$

74

Other income

98

--

--

98





Income before income taxes and minority
interest and cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle

1,095

(683

)

(240

)

172

Income (taxes) benefit

(382

)

243

87 

4

(52

)

Minority interest

23

--

--

23





Income (loss) before cumulative effect of
change in accounting principle

$

736

$

(440

)

$

(153

)

$

143

 





Earnings per common share:

Basic before cumulative effect of
accounting change

2.32

0.45

Diluted before cumulative effect of
accounting change

2.29

0.44

Weighted average common shares:

Basic

317.4

317.4

Diluted

321.7

321.7

Notes to Pro Forma Consolidated Statement of Income

1 To reflect the removal of the historical operating results of the Company's Credit and Financial Products business, including
clubs and services.

2 To reflect the estimated ongoing revenue earned under the Program Agreement entered into with Citigroup.

3 To reflect the estimated ongoing operating expenses related to the Company's administration of the Program Agreement.

4 To reflect the tax effect of the above items at the Company's annual effective income tax rate of 36.5%.

5 To reflect an estimate of the interest expense which would remain excluding the results of the Company's debt tender. As previously
   filed in the Form 8-K dated November 17, 2003, the Company repaid $6.4 billion of term debt. An additional $3.6 billion of
   asset-backed borrowings were repaid
as a result of the Company's sale of its Credit and Financial Products business. The Company
   estimates the loss on these debt extinguishment
activities to be approximately $300 million after-tax. Also, as a result of the
   retirement of debt which supported domestic credit card receivables, the Company expects to write-off the accumulated derivative loss
   of approximately $180 million after-tax recorded within accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Condensed Consolidated
   Balance Sheet at September 27, 2003. The impact of these items has not been included above.

 


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.

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
 
Date: December 18, 2003 By: /s/ Glenn R. Richter
Glenn R. Richter
Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer