<PAGE> 1
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2) and (c)
Registration No. 333-44537
THIS PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT RELATES TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION
STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, AND IS SUBJECT TO
COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT.
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED FEBRUARY 17, 1998
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED FEBRUARY 4, 1998)
$1,500,000,000 [FRED MEYER, INC. LOGO]
FRED MEYER, INC.
$ % NOTES DUE MARCH , 2005
$ % NOTES DUE MARCH , 2008
------------------------
The % Notes due March , 2005 (the "2005 Notes") and the % Notes due
March , 2008 (the "2008 Notes" and, together with the 2005 Notes, the "Notes")
are being offered by Fred Meyer, Inc. ("Fred Meyer" and, together with its
consolidated subsidiaries after giving effect to the Mergers (as defined below),
the "Company"). Interest on the Notes is payable semiannually in arrears on
March and September of each year, commencing September , 1998.
The Notes will be redeemable, as a whole or in part, at the option of the
Company, at any time or from time to time, at a redemption price equal to the
greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed or (ii)
the sum of the present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments (as defined
herein) discounted at the Treasury Rate (as defined herein) plus 50 basis
points, plus in the case of each of clause (i) and (ii) accrued interest to the
date of redemption. See "Description of Notes -- Optional Redemption."
The Company is acquiring by merger Quality Food Centers, Inc. (together with
its consolidated subsidiaries, "QFC") and Food 4 Less Holdings, Inc. (together
with its consolidated subsidiaries, "Ralphs/Food 4 Less") in two separate
transactions (the "QFC Merger" and the "Ralphs/Food 4 Less Merger",
respectively, and collectively, the "Mergers"). The consideration being paid in
each of the Mergers is principally common stock of Fred Meyer. In connection
with the Mergers, substantially all of the outstanding bank and public
indebtedness of Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less is being refinanced with
the proceeds from the offering of the Notes (the "Offering") and borrowings
under the New Senior Credit Facilities (as defined herein) and a portion of Fred
Meyer's operating leasing arrangements are being refinanced under the New Lease
Facility (as defined herein) (collectively, the "Refinancings"). The
consummation of the Offering is conditioned upon the consummation of the
Mergers. See "The Mergers and the Refinancings."
The Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed (the "Guarantees"), on a joint
and several basis, by all of the Company's direct and indirect subsidiaries
(except for certain inactive or immaterial subsidiaries)(the "Guarantors"). The
Guarantees will be automatically released upon the occurrence of certain events.
See "Description of Notes -- Guarantees."
The Notes will be represented by one or more global securities (the "Book
Entry Securities") registered in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust
Company ("DTC"). Beneficial interests in the Book Entry Securities will be shown
on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by
DTC and its participants. Except as described in the accompanying Prospectus and
herein, Notes in definitive form will not be issued. See "Description of
Notes -- Book Entry Delivery and Form" and "Description of Debt
Securities -- Book Entry Debt Securities" in the accompanying Prospectus. The
Notes will trade in DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System, and secondary market
trading activity in the Notes will therefore settle in immediately available
funds. See "Description of the Notes -- Book Entry Delivery and Form."
------------------------
SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE S-12 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN
CONSIDERATIONS RELATED TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE NOTES.
------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE ACCOMPANYING
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C>
==================================================================================================================
UNDERWRITING PROCEEDS TO THE
PRICE TO PUBLIC(1) DISCOUNT(2) COMPANY(3)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Note due 2005 % % %
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ $ $
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Per Note due 2008 % % %
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total $ $ $
==================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from date of original issuance to the date
of delivery.
(2) The Company and the Guarantors have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
(3) Before deducting estimated expenses of $ payable by the Company.
------------------------
The Notes are offered subject to receipt and acceptance by the Underwriters
(as defined), to prior sale and to the Underwriters' right to reject any order
in whole or in part and to withdraw, cancel or modify the offer without notice.
It is expected that delivery of the Notes will be made in book entry form to or
through the facilities of DTC, on or about March , 1998.
Joint Lead Book-Runners
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE BT ALEX. BROWN
SECURITIES CORPORATION
------------------------
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
SOCIETE GENERALE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
------------------------
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is March , 1998.
<PAGE> 2
[COMPANY LOGO, FIVE STORE BANNERS, AND
GEOGRAPHIC DEPICTION OF STORE LOCATION]
CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICES OF THE NOTES, INCLUDING
PURCHASES OF THE NOTES TO STABILIZE THEIR MARKET PRICES, PURCHASES OF THE NOTES
TO COVER SOME OR ALL OF A SHORT POSITION IN THE NOTES MAINTAINED BY THE
UNDERWRITERS AND THE IMPOSITION OF PENALTY BIDS. FOR A DESCRIPTION OF THESE
ACTIVITIES, SEE "UNDERWRITING".
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<PAGE> 3
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain information set forth in this Prospectus Supplement or included or
incorporated by reference in the accompanying Prospectus, contains
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). These
forward-looking statements include information regarding the Company's plans for
future operations, expectations relating to cost savings and the Company's
integration strategy with respect to the Mergers, store expansion and
remodeling, capital expenditures, expense reduction, debt/equity ratios,
improvements in sales and inventory turns, reduced markdowns, reduced working
capital needs and increases in sales, earnings per share and shareholder value.
The following factors, as well as those discussed herein under "Risk Factors,"
are among the principal factors that could cause actual results to differ
materially from the forward-looking statements: business and economic conditions
generally and in the regions in which the Company's stores are located,
including the rate of inflation; population, employment and job growth in the
Company's markets; demands placed on management by the substantial increase in
the combined Company's size; loss or retirement of senior management of the
Company or of its principal operating subsidiaries after giving effect to the
Mergers; changes in the availability of debt or equity capital and increases in
borrowing costs or interest rates, especially since a substantial portion of the
Company's borrowings, after the Mergers, will bear interest at floating rates;
competitive factors, such as increased penetration in the Company's markets by
large national food and nonfood chains, large category-dominant stores and large
national and regional discount retailers (whether existing competitors or new
entrants) and competitive pressures generally, which could include price-cutting
strategies, store openings and remodels; results of the Company's programs to
decrease costs as a percent of sales; increases in labor costs and deterioration
in relations with the union bargaining units representing the Company's
employees; unusual weather; unanticipated costs or unanticipated consequences
relating to the Mergers and integration strategy and any delays in the
realization thereof; adverse determinations by federal or state regulatory
authorities, including adverse determinations in connection with the Mergers or
other acquisitions; operational inefficiencies in distribution or other Company
systems, including any that may result from the Mergers; issues arising from
addressing year 2000 computer issues; legislative or regulatory changes
adversely affecting the business in which the companies are engaged; and other
opportunities or acquisitions which may be pursued by the Company.
Forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date hereof.
The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly release the result of any
revisions to these forward-looking statements which may be made to reflect
events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of
unanticipated events.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS
Certain documents filed, or filed after the date hereof, by each of Fred
Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated by reference in
the accompanying Prospectus. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference" on page 3 of the accompanying Prospectus.
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
Certain information with respect to the reports filed by Fred Meyer, QFC
and Ralphs/Food 4 Less with the Commission and the exhibits to the Registration
Statement to which this Prospectus Supplement relates are available from the
Commission. See "Available Information" on page 2 of the accompanying
Prospectus.
Each of the Notes, the New Senior Credit Facilities and the New Lease
Facility will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed by substantially all of
the direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company (including, after the
Mergers, QFC, Ralphs/Food 4 Less and their respective subsidiaries). Certain
inactive or otherwise immaterial direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company
will be excluded; provided, that the sum of all nonguarantor subsidiaries will
be inconsequential (that is, the assets and pre-tax income of, and the Company's
net investment in, the non-guarantor subsidiaries on an individual and combined
basis will not exceed three percent of the Company's consolidated pre-tax income
or assets, as applicable). The Company is
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<PAGE> 4
a holding company which has no operations or assets other than its investment in
it subsidiaries. The Company has not included in this Prospectus Supplement or
the accompanying Prospectus or the documents incorporated herein by reference
audited financial information with respect to the Guarantors other than QFC and
Ralphs/Food 4 Less because management does not believe such information is
material. The Company does not expect that the Guarantors will file reports
under the Exchange Act subsequent to the consummation of the Mergers.
CERTAIN ASSUMPTIONS
The information contained herein, including the pro forma financial
information, assumes that: (i) both the QFC Merger and the Ralphs/Food 4 Less
Merger are consummated substantially on the terms contemplated hereby; (ii)
substantially all of the outstanding bank and public indebtedness of Fred Meyer,
Ralphs/Food 4 Less and QFC is refinanced on the terms contemplated herein
(which, in turn, assumes that all of the Ralphs/Food 4 Less Notes and all of the
QFC Notes (as defined herein) are tendered and accepted for payment); and (iii)
no divestitures will be required by federal or state regulatory authorities in
connection with either the QFC Merger or the Ralphs/Food 4 Less Merger. However,
the Company has agreed to divest 19 stores to meet concerns of regulatory
authorities. Management does not believe that such divestitures will materially
adversely affect the Company's business strategy, financial condition or results
of operations. See "The Mergers and the Refinancings."
While consummation of the Offering is conditioned on each of the mergers
occurring, neither of the mergers is conditioned upon the occurrence of the
other merger or the Offering and Fred Meyer will be obligated to consummate the
QFC Merger or the Ralphs/Food 4 Less Merger, independently, if all the
conditions precedent to that particular merger have been satisfied.
MARKET AND INDUSTRY DATA
Unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, (i)
references herein to food retailers or the food retailing industry include
price-impact warehouse supermarkets, but exclude club stores, deep discount food
operators, convenience stores, supercenters and similar food retailers; (ii)
references to the "Pacific Northwest" region are references to the States of
Oregon and Washington; (iii) references to "Southern California" are references
to the Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Santa
Barbara, Kern, Ventura and San Diego in the State of California; (iv) references
to the "Seattle/Puget Sound Region" are references to King, Snohomish, Pierce
and Kitsap Counties in the State of Washington; (v) references to the
"Intermountain" region are references to the States of Idaho, Montana, Utah and
Wyoming and (vi) references to the "Southwest" region are references to the
States of Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, and Texas.
Except as otherwise specified, references to numbers of stores prior to
consummation of the Mergers are as of January 1, 1998 for each of Fred Meyer,
QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less. References to the number of stores to be operated by
the Company following the Mergers are based on the January 1, 1998 totals,
without giving effect to required divestitures. See "Certain Assumptions."
The information contained herein includes certain demographic and economic
information for the Pacific Northwest, Intermountain and Southwest regions of
the United States, for Southern California and for the Seattle/Puget Sound
Region, and also includes certain data regarding the U.S. food retailing
industry and certain food retailers. Although the Company has obtained such
information from sources management believes are reliable, it has not
independently verified any such information and there can be no assurance as to
its accuracy. In addition, historical increases in population or jobs or
decreases in unemployment in any area do not purport to be indicative of whether
population, jobs or unemployment will increase or decrease in the future.
Further, because competitors of Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less generally
do not make available information regarding their sales in these specific
regions, market share information is subject to a number of estimates and
assumptions and, while management believes such information to be reliable,
there can be no assurance as to its accuracy.
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PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY
The following is a summary of certain information contained elsewhere
herein or in the documents incorporated by reference herein. This summary is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such information. Unless otherwise
expressly stated or if the context otherwise requires: (i) the term the
"Company" refers to Fred Meyer, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries
(including QFC, Ralphs/Food 4 Less and their respective subsidiaries) as if the
Mergers had been consummated, (ii) the term "Fred Meyer" refers to Fred Meyer,
Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, (iii) the term "QFC" refers to Quality
Food Centers, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries, and (iv) the term
"Ralphs/Food 4 Less" refers to Food 4 Less Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated
subsidiaries.
THE COMPANY
Upon completion of the Mergers, the Company will be one of the largest
domestic food retailers, operating more than 800 supermarkets and
multi-department stores, many of which are located in the fastest growing
markets in the United States. The Company will have the largest market share in
the Los Angeles, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Albuquerque markets and
the second largest market share in the Phoenix and Portland markets as well as a
number one or two market share in twelve additional markets. The Company will be
a geographically diversified food retailer that operates multiple formats that
appeal to customers across a wide range of income brackets. In the Pacific
Northwest, Southwest and Intermountain states, the Company will operate
multi-department stores principally under the Fred Meyer banner and food and
drug combination stores principally under the Smith's Food & Drug Centers
banner; in Southern California, the Company will operate conventional
supermarkets under the Ralphs banner and price-impact warehouse supermarkets
under the Food 4 Less banner; and in the Seattle/Puget Sound Region, the Company
will also operate premium supermarkets principally under the QFC banner. On a
pro forma basis, after giving effect to the Mergers, the Company's net sales and
EBITDA (as defined) for the 52 weeks ended February 1, 1997 would have been
approximately $14.4 billion and $981 million, respectively.
Fred Meyer. Founded in 1922, Fred Meyer has developed into a leading
operator of multi-department stores throughout the Pacific Northwest and
Intermountain states. Fred Meyer operates 112 multi-department stores under the
Fred Meyer banner, which average 145,700 square feet and provide convenient
one-stop shopping for a broad selection of products including food, apparel,
home electronics, products for the home, general merchandise and fine jewelry.
The Fred Meyer stores are generally positioned as the lowest priced full-service
food retailer in each of Fred Meyer's major markets. Management believes that
Fred Meyer's everyday low price food strategy increases the shopping frequency
of customers, builds customer loyalty and increases customer traffic, thereby
generating higher levels of sales in nonfood departments. The Fred Meyer stores
distinguish themselves from other stores through their breadth of product
selection, national and private-label brands and emphasis on products for
everyday use.
In September 1997, Fred Meyer acquired Smith's Food & Drug Centers, Inc.
("Smith's") to expand its presence in the Intermountain states and enter the
Southwest region of the United States. This contiguous geographic expansion
further enhanced Fred Meyer's competitive position in the Western United States.
Under the Smith's Food & Drug Centers and Smitty's banners, Fred Meyer operates
155 food and drug combination and multi-department stores averaging 67,200
square feet. Substantially all of these stores offer shopping convenience and
specialty departments including delicatessens, hot prepared food sections,
in-store bakeries, video rental shops, floral shops, one-hour photo processing
labs, full-service banking and frozen yogurt shops. Recently, Smith's Food &
Drug Centers has introduced a frequent shopper card that has increased shopping
frequency and average transaction size. As a result of their well positioned
store locations and reputation for superior quality and customer service,
management believes that Smith's Food & Drug Centers and Smitty's have developed
strong name recognition and customer loyalty.
QFC. QFC is a leading operator of premium supermarkets in the Seattle/Puget
Sound Region of Washington state and, through its acquisition of Hughes Markets,
Inc. ("Hughes") in March 1997, operates conventional supermarkets in Southern
California. QFC operates 89 premium supermarkets, averaging 35,400 square feet,
principally under the QFC banner. Management believes that QFC's supermarkets
offer superior
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value by emphasizing an extensive selection of high-quality perishable items,
excellent customer service, convenient store locations, a variety of specialty
departments and competitive prices. The QFC stores are open 7 days a week, 24
hours a day, and feature full-service delicatessens and specialty departments
including fresh seafood, floral and baking with coffee/espresso bars. Many
stores also offer natural food sections, video rentals, fresh juice bars and
pharmacies. QFC has significantly expanded its selection of "home meal
replacement" items which management believes appeal to the increasing
convenience orientation of customers. Under the Hughes Family Markets banner,
QFC operates 56 conventional supermarkets, averaging 37,000 square feet, which
are well positioned in Southern California. These stores provide a broad
selection of high-quality meats, produce and other perishables and have
developed a reputation for providing excellent customer service. After the
Mergers, as a result of their similar store formats and customer bases, stores
operating under the Hughes Family Markets banner will be converted to the Ralphs
banner. The conversion is expected to result in significant operational and
merchandising efficiencies.
Ralphs/Food 4 Less. Founded in 1872, Ralphs/Food 4 Less is the largest
supermarket operator in Southern California, which is one of the largest food
retailing markets in the United States with a population of approximately 19
million. In Southern California Ralphs/Food 4 Less operates 264 conventional
supermarkets, averaging 37,000 square feet, under the Ralphs banner and 80
price-impact supermarkets in a warehouse format, averaging 52,900 square feet,
under the Food 4 Less banner. Operating two complementary formats allows
Ralphs/Food 4 Less to serve a broader customer base than its competitors. Ralphs
conventional supermarkets emphasize a broad selection of merchandise and
exceptional product mix, including fresh produce, high-quality meat, fresh
seafood and bakery and delicatessen departments. Ralphs also maintains a
successful private-label program with private-label sales representing
approximately 20% of net sales in the most recent fiscal year. Food 4 Less
price-impact warehouse supermarkets offer customers the lowest overall prices
while providing product selections comparable to that of a conventional
supermarket. These stores target the price-conscious segment of the market.
Ralphs/Food 4 Less also operates 65 stores in Northern California and the
Midwest.
COMPETITIVE STRENGTHS
Because of the contiguous and overlapping geographic areas of operations of
Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less and their complementary merchandising
strategies, the Company believes the Mergers will strengthen the Company's store
franchises and allow the Company to realize significant additional benefits.
Management believes that the combined company will benefit from the following
competitive strengths: (i) an outstanding franchise value; (ii) leading market
shares in fast-growing markets; (iii) a well-positioned and modern store base;
(iv) a modern infrastructure; and (v) an experienced management team.
Outstanding Franchise Value. As a result of the long operating histories of
the Company's banners and their reputation for delivering superior customer
value, the Company has developed strong brand name recognition and customer
loyalty for each of its operating formats. Management believes that the Company
has benefitted and should continue to benefit from this strong franchise value.
Based upon information available to the management of the Company, on a pro
forma basis after giving effect to the Mergers, the Company will have one of the
industry's highest EBITDA margins.
Leading Market Shares in Fast-Growing Markets. By offering superior
customer service and competitive pricing, the Company's banners have developed
leading market shares in each of their principal markets. The Company will have
the number one market share in the Los Angeles, Orange County, Seattle, Las
Vegas, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque markets and the number two market share in
the Phoenix, Portland and Riverside/San Bernardino markets which are among the
largest and fastest growing population centers in the United States.
Well-Positioned and Modern Store Base. Management believes that the
Company's store locations include many sites in developed urban and suburban
locations which would be difficult to replicate. The Company has invested
significant capital in its store base over the last seven years through the
addition of new stores and the remodeling of existing stores in order to improve
the overall quality of its customer's shopping
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experience. As a result, approximately 77% of the Company's stores have been
opened or remodeled within the past seven years.
Modern Infrastructure. Subsequent to the Mergers, the Company believes it
will have state-of-the-industry warehousing and distribution systems which are
conveniently located within the areas served by the Company. As a result of the
Mergers and the significant investment in its infrastructure over the last
several years, management believes the Company will be able to lower its
distribution costs as a percentage of net sales and maintain lower levels of
inventory.
Experienced Management Team. The senior operating management of Fred Meyer,
QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less will continue to operate their respective store bases
supported in large part by centralized purchasing, distribution, and
manufacturing. These senior operating managers have an average of over 24 years
of experience in the food retailing industry. Moreover, many of the senior
operating managers of the Company have spent much of their careers in their
respective local markets. Members of the senior management team have
successfully completed several acquisitions at their respective companies. The
Company considers its senior management to be industry leaders in operating its
principal store formats: one-stop shopping multi-department, food and drug
combination, premium, conventional and price-impact supermarket stores.
BENEFITS OF THE MERGERS
Management believes that the Mergers will provide the Company with the
following benefits: (i) realization of approximately $100 million in annual cost
savings over a four-year period; (ii) cross-fertilization of merchandising
expertise; and (iii) attractive in-market new store opportunities.
Realization of Cost Savings. Management believes that approximately $100
million of annual cost savings are achievable over a four-year period following
the Mergers. Cost-saving opportunities expected to result from the Merger
include: (i) the elimination of duplicative overhead and administrative
expenses; (ii) the consolidation of distribution centers and manufacturing
facilities; (iii) the combination of purchasing and merchandising operations;
and (iv) the reduction of advertising expenses. A significant portion of the
total cost savings are expected to result from two in-market consolidations. In
Southern California, the Hughes Family Markets will be converted to the Ralphs
format and will utilize the existing Ralphs/Food 4 Less administrative,
distribution and manufacturing infrastructure. In the Seattle/Puget Sound
Region, the Company will convert QFC stores from third party distribution to
utilize Fred Meyer's warehousing and distribution infrastructure and to reduce
QFC's general and administrative overhead. See "Forward-Looking Statements" and
"Risk Factors -- Ability to Achieve Intended Benefits of the Mergers."
Cross-Fertilization of Merchandising Expertise. Management has identified
several areas of opportunity to enhance revenues and improve profitability by
applying merchandising "best practices" across store formats. For example,
management intends to apply Fred Meyer's experience and expertise in general
merchandising to Ralphs' store base, utilize Ralphs/Food 4 Less' and Fred
Meyer's private-label expertise in QFC's store base and apply QFC's successful
home meal replacement and prepared food concepts in Fred Meyer's, Smith's Food
and Drug Centers' and Ralphs' store bases.
Attractive In-Market Store Opportunities. The Company will operate a number
of complementary operating formats which will provide enhanced opportunities for
in-market new store growth. Management believes that its experience in operating
these multiple formats will allow the Company to appeal to an expanded customer
base among a wider range of income brackets and increase its market share,
thereby leveraging the Company's infrastructure and reducing its operating
costs.
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THE MERGERS AND THE REFINANCINGS
Pursuant to separate merger agreements, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less will
become wholly owned subsidiaries of Fred Meyer. The QFC Merger and the
Ralphs/Food 4 Less Merger are independent transactions. The consummation of the
Offering is conditioned upon the consummation of the Mergers. The consideration
being paid in each of the Mergers is principally common stock of Fred Meyer. In
connection with the Mergers, based on current information and subject to
adjustment, Fred Meyer will issue an estimated 21.3 million shares of common
stock to existing Ralphs/Food 4 Less stockholders and warrant holders and
approximately 41.0 million shares of common stock to existing QFC shareholders
in exchange for all of the outstanding stock and warrants of Ralphs/Food 4 Less
and all of the outstanding stock of QFC. The common stock of Fred Meyer is
traded on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. ("NYSE") under the symbol "FMY". The
last reported sales price of Fred Meyer common stock on the NYSE (Composite
Tape) on February 13, 1998 was $40.69.
In connection with the Mergers, the Company intends to refinance
substantially all of the outstanding bank and public indebtedness of Fred Meyer,
QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less with the proceeds from the Offering and borrowings
under the New Senior Credit Facilities and refinance a portion of Fred Meyer's
operating leasing arrangements under the New Lease Facility (the "Refinancings"
and, together with the Mergers and the Offering, the "Transactions"). The
Refinancings are expected to be completed concurrently with the closing of the
Offering, but are not a condition to the obligations of Fred Meyer, QFC or
Ralphs/Food 4 Less to effect the Mergers. See "The Mergers and the Refinancings"
and "Description of New Senior Credit Facilities and New Lease Facility."
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THE OFFERING
Issuer..................... Fred Meyer, Inc.
Securities Offered......... $ of % Notes due March , 2005 (the
"2005 Notes"), and $ of % Notes due
March , 2008 (the "2008 Notes").
Maturity................... The 2005 Notes will mature on March , 2005, and
the 2008 Notes will mature on March , 2008.
Interest Payment Dates..... Interest on the Notes is payable semiannually on
each March and September , commencing September
, 1998.
Redemption................. The Notes will be redeemable, as a whole or in
part, at the option of the Company, at any time or
from time to time, at a redemption price equal to
the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of
the Notes to be redeemed or (ii) the sum of the
present values of the Remaining Scheduled Payments
discounted at the Treasury Rate plus 50 basis
points, plus in the case of each of clause (i) and
(ii) accrued interest to the date of redemption.
See "Description of Notes -- Optional Redemption."
Guarantees................. The Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed, on a
joint and several basis, by all of the Company's
direct and indirect subsidiaries (except for
certain inactive or immaterial subsidiaries). The
Guarantees will be automatically released upon the
occurrence of certain events, including upon the
release of the guarantees by the Guarantors of the
New Senior Credit Facilities and the New Lease
Facility (whether or not a default or event of
default has occurred and is continuing). See
"Description of Notes -- Guarantees."
Sinking Fund............... None.
Ranking.................... The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company,
ranking pari passu with other unsubordinated,
unsecured indebtedness of the Company, and ranking
senior in right of payment to any future
subordinated indebtedness of the Company. The New
Senior Credit Facilities and the New Lease Facility
will be secured by all the outstanding capital
stock of all of the Company's direct and indirect
material subsidiaries.
Certain Covenants.......... The Indenture governing the Notes (the "Indenture")
will contain covenants which impose, among other
things, limitations on the creation of liens and
limitations on sale and lease-back transactions.
See "Description of Notes -- Certain Covenants."
Use of Proceeds............ The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the
Offering to effect the Refinancings and to pay
certain fees and expenses incurred in the
Transactions. See "Use of Proceeds."
RISK FACTORS
See "Risk Factors" for a discussion of certain factors that should be
considered by prospective purchasers of the Notes.
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SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL DATA(1)
The following table sets forth summary unaudited pro forma condensed
combined financial data of Fred Meyer giving effect to the Mergers and the
Refinancings. The table gives effect to the Mergers and the Refinancings as if
such transactions occurred as of February 4, 1996 with respect to the summary
unaudited pro forma condensed combined operating and other data for the fiscal
year ended February 1, 1997 and the 40 weeks ended November 8, 1997, and as of
November 8, 1997 with respect to the summary unaudited pro forma condensed
combined balance sheet data. Such pro forma information are derived from
historical and pro forma financial data for each of Fred Meyer, QFC and
Ralphs/Food 4 Less. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
data set forth below is not necessarily indicative of either future results of
operations or results that might have been achieved if the Mergers and the
Refinancings had been consummated as of the indicated dates. Pursuant to the
Settlement Agreement, the Company has agreed to divest 19 stores in Southern
California, but such divestitures have not been considered and are not reflected
in the following summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data.
Management does not believe that such divestitures will materially adversely
affect the Company's business strategy, financial condition or results of
operations. See "The Mergers and the Refinancings." See "Summary Unaudited Pro
Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements" and the historical consolidated
financial statements and the selected historical financial and other data of
Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less, together with the related notes thereto,
which are included or incorporated by reference herein.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
52 WEEKS ENDED 40 WEEKS ENDED
FEBRUARY 1, 1997 NOVEMBER 8, 1997
---------------- ----------------
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
PRO FORMA OPERATING DATA:
Net sales................................................... $ 14,358,538 $ 10,717,899
Gross margin................................................ 3,680,684 2,797,992
Operating and administrative expenses....................... 2,705,231 2,014,085
Depreciation and amortization expense....................... 496,021 367,974
Income from operations...................................... 479,432 415,933
Interest expense............................................ 413,282 294,245
Income before income taxes and extraordinary charge......... 54,282 112,786
Income (loss) before extraordinary charge(2)................ (2,194) 42,320
OTHER PRO FORMA DATA:
EBITDA(3)................................................... $ 980,587 $ 791,789
EBITDA margin(3,4).......................................... 6.8% 7.4%
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(5)....................... 1.1x 1.3x
Ratio of EBITDA to interest expense(6)...................... 2.4x 2.7x
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRO FORMA BALANCE SHEET DATA: NOVEMBER 8, 1997
----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Total assets................................................ $ 10,067,514
Property and equipment, net................................. 3,654,123
Total debt(7)............................................... 5,323,715
Total stockholders' equity.................................. 2,077,302
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) The pro forma results of operations data of Fred Meyer for the 40 weeks
ended November 8, 1997 and the 52 weeks ended February 1, 1997 include
adjustments for Fred Meyer's September 9, 1997 acquisition of Smith's, as
well as Smith's May 23, 1996 acquisition of Smitty's Supermarkets, Inc., as
if such transactions occurred as of February 4, 1996. The pro forma results
of operations data of QFC for the 36 weeks ended September 6, 1997 and the
fiscal year ended December 28, 1996 include adjustments for QFC's March 19,
1997 acquisition of Hughes and February 14, 1997 acquisition of Keith
Uddenberg, Inc. ("KUI"), as if such transactions occurred as of December 31,
1995. The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data also
does not reflect approximately $100 million in projected annual cost savings
that management of Fred Meyer believes are achievable by the end of 2001.
S-10
<PAGE> 11
(2) The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial data does not
reflect an estimated extraordinary charge of approximately $220 million (net
of income taxes) on extinguishment of debt as a result of the Refinancings
that will be recorded in the Company's first quarter after closing of the
Mergers. In addition, the Company expects to record a charge for certain
merger related expenses in the first quarter following the closing of the
Mergers. The amount of the charge has not been quantified and is not
reflected in the summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
data.
(3) EBITDA represents income from operations before interest expense, income
taxes, depreciation and amortization and LIFO provision of $5,134 and $7,882
for the 52 weeks ended February 1, 1997 and the 40 weeks ended November 8,
1997, respectively. EBITDA is not intended to represent cash flow from
operations as defined by GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative
to cash flow as a measure of liquidity or as an alternative to net earnings
as an indicator of operating performance. EBITDA is included herein because
management believes that certain investors find it to be a useful tool for
measuring a company's ability to service its debt. EBITDA as calculated by
the Company may not be comparable to calculations as presented by other
companies, even in the same industry.
(4) EBITDA margin represents EBITDA as a percentage of net sales.
(5) For the purpose of computing such ratios, "earnings" represents the
aggregate of (a) income before income taxes and (b) fixed charges. "Fixed
charges" represents (a) consolidated interest charges, (b) the amortization
of debt discount and expense and premium on indebtedness and (c) the portion
of rental expense which the Company considers representative of an interest
factor.
(6) For purposes of this computation, interest expense does not include
amortization of deferred financing costs.
(7) Total debt consists of long-term debt, including borrowings under the New
Senior Credit Facilities, the Notes and capitalized leases. Total debt does
not reflect certain commitments and contingencies of the Company, including
operating leases under the New Lease Facility and other operating lease
obligations. Total debt should be read in conjunction with the historical
consolidated financial statements, including the respective notes thereto,
of each of Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less, incorporated by reference
herein.
S-11
<PAGE> 12
RISK FACTORS
Investors should carefully consider the following risk factors in addition
to the information set forth above under "Forward-Looking Statements," "Certain
Assumptions," "Market and Industry Data" and "Description of
Notes -- Guarantees" and the other information contained or incorporated by
reference herein or in the accompanying Prospectus before purchasing the Notes.
COMPETITION
The retail merchandising business in general, and the supermarket industry
in particular, is highly competitive and generally characterized by narrow
profit margins. The Company's competitors in each of its operating divisions
include national and regional supermarket chains, discount stores, independent
and specialty grocers, drug and convenience stores, large category-dominant
stores and the newer "alternative format" food stores, including warehouse club
stores, deep discount drug stores, "supercenters" and conventional department
stores. The national competitors of the Company include, among others, Safeway,
Albertson's, Lucky, Costco, and Wal-Mart. Retail businesses generally compete on
the basis of location, quality of products and service, price, product variety
and store condition. The Company's ability to compete depends in part on its
ability to successfully maintain and remodel existing stores and develop new
stores in advantageous locations. The Company regularly monitors its
competitors' prices and adjusts its prices and marketing strategy as management
deems appropriate in light of existing conditions.
LEVERAGE; ABILITY TO SERVICE DEBT; RANKING
Upon consummation of the Transactions, the Company will be highly
leveraged. As of November 8, 1997, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to
the Transactions, the Company would have had total indebtedness (including
current maturities and capital lease obligations) and stockholders' equity of
$5.3 billion and $2.1 billion, respectively. Total indebtedness consists of
long-term debt, including borrowings under the New Senior Credit Facilities, the
Notes and capitalized leases. Total indebtedness does not reflect certain
commitments and contingencies of the Company, including operating leases under
the New Lease Facility and other operating lease obligations. Total indebtedness
should be read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial
statements, including the respective notes thereto, of each of Fred Meyer, QFC
and Ralphs/Food 4 Less, incorporated by reference herein. The Company will have
significant interest and principal repayment obligations (including with respect
to the Notes) and significant rental payment obligations (including with respect
to the New Lease Facility) and the ability of the Company to satisfy such
obligations is subject to prevailing economic, financial and business conditions
and to other factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. A
significant amount of the Company's borrowings and rental obligations will bear
interest at floating rates (including borrowings under the New Senior Credit
Facilities and obligations under the New Lease Facility), which will expose the
Company to the risk of increased interest and rental rates. See "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations -- Liquidity and Capital Resources."
In addition to separate guarantees from the Guarantors, the New Senior
Credit Facilities and the New Lease Facility will be secured by a pledge of the
outstanding stock of all of the material direct and indirect subsidiaries of the
Company. The Company is a holding company which has no operations or assets
other than its investment in its subsidiaries. The lenders under the New Senior
Credit Facilities and the New Lease Facility will have a claim as to the stock
of such subsidiaries (which constitute substantially all of the assets of the
Company) which is prior to the claim of any holders of the Notes. Upon the
occurrence of certain events, the Guarantees will be automatically released,
including upon release of the guarantees by the Guarantors of the New Senior
Credit Facilities and the New Lease Facility (whether or not a default or event
of default has occurred and is continuing). See "Description of
Notes -- Guarantees." If the Guarantees are released, the prior claim of the
lenders under the New Senior Credit Facilities and the New Lease Facility as to
the stock of substantially all of the subsidiaries of the Company would
continue, and the Notes will also be structurally subordinated to the prior
claims of the other creditors of the Company's subsidiaries. See "Description of
Notes" and "Description of New Senior Credit Facilities and the New Lease
Facility." In addition, in the
S-12
<PAGE> 13
event of a default under any future secured indebtedness, the lenders thereof
would be entitled to a claim on the assets securing such indebtedness which is
prior to any claim of the holders of the Notes.
INTEGRATION
On a pro forma basis, after giving effect to the Mergers, the Company's net
sales would have been $14.4 billion for the 52 weeks ended February 1, 1997, as
compared to reported net sales of $3.7 billion for Fred Meyer for the same
period. The operating management of each of Fred Meyer, QFC, and Ralphs/Food 4
Less is expected to remain intact. However, the significant increase in size of
the Company's operations will substantially increase the demands placed upon the
Company's management, including demands resulting from the need to integrate the
accounting systems, management information systems, distribution systems,
manufacturing facilities and other operations of Fred Meyer, QFC, and
Ralphs/Food 4 Less. In addition, the Company could experience unexpected costs
from such integration and/or a loss of customers or sales as a result of the
Mergers, including as a result of the conversion of Hughes Family Markets
banners to Ralphs. There can also be no assurance that the Company will be able
to maintain the levels of operating efficiency which Fred Meyer, QFC and
Ralphs/Food 4 Less had achieved separately prior to the Mergers. The failure to
successfully integrate the operations of the acquired businesses, the loss of
key management personnel and the loss of customers or sales could each have a
material adverse effect on the Company's results of operations or financial
position.
ABILITY TO ACHIEVE INTENDED BENEFITS OF THE MERGERS
Management believes that significant business opportunities and cost
savings are achievable as a result of the Mergers. Management estimates that
approximately $100 million of annualized cost savings can be achieved over a
four year period as a result of integrating certain of the operations of Fred
Meyer, Ralphs/Food 4 Less and QFC. Such estimate is based upon many assumptions
including future sales levels and other operating results, the availability of
funds for capital expenditures, the timing of certain events as well as general
industry and business conditions and other matters, many of which are beyond the
control of the Company. Other estimates are based on a management consensus as
to what levels of purchasing and similar efficiencies should be achievable by an
entity the size of the Company. Estimates of potential cost savings are
forward-looking statements that are inherently uncertain. Actual cost savings,
if any, could differ from those projected and such differences could be
material; therefore, undue reliance should not be placed upon such estimates.
There can be no assurance that unforeseen costs and expenses or other factors
(whether arising in connection with the integration of the Company's operations
after the Mergers or otherwise) will not offset the estimated cost savings or
other components of the Company's plan or result in delays in the realization of
certain projected cost savings. See "Forward-Looking Statements."
LABOR AGREEMENTS
After giving effect to the Mergers, the Company is party to more than 166
collective bargaining agreements with local unions covering approximately 58,000
employees representing approximately 68% of the Company's total employees. Among
the contracts that have expired or will expire in 1998 are those covering 15,500
employees. Typical agreements are three years in duration, and as such
agreements expire, the Company expects to negotiate with the unions and to enter
into new collective bargaining agreements. There can be no assurance, however,
that such agreements will be reached without work stoppage. A prolonged work
stoppage affecting a substantial number of stores could have a material adverse
effect on the Company's results of operations or financial position.
S-13
<PAGE> 14
THE MERGERS AND THE REFINANCINGS
Fred Meyer and QFC have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated
as of November 6, 1997, as amended, which provides that QFC will become a wholly
owned subsidiary of Fred Meyer. In addition, Fred Meyer and Ralphs/Food 4 Less
have entered into an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of November 6, 1997,
as amended, which provides that Ralphs/Food 4 Less will become a wholly owned
subsidiary of Fred Meyer. The QFC Merger and the Ralphs/Food 4 Less Merger are
independent transactions. The consummation of the Offering is conditioned upon
the consummation of the Mergers. The consideration being paid in each of the
Mergers is principally common stock of Fred Meyer. In connection with the
Mergers, based on current information and subject to adjustment, Fred Meyer will
issue an estimated 21.3 million shares of common stock to existing Ralphs/Food 4
Less stockholders and warrant holders and approximately 41.0 million shares of
common stock to existing QFC shareholders in exchange for all of the outstanding
stock and warrants of Ralphs/Food 4 Less and all of the outstanding stock of
QFC.
In connection with the Mergers, the Company intends to refinance
substantially all of the outstanding bank and public indebtedness of Fred Meyer,
QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less with the proceeds from the Offering and borrowings
under the New Senior Credit Facilities and refinance a portion of Fred Meyer's
operating leasing arrangements under the New Lease Facility. The Refinancings
are expected to be consummated concurrently with the Offering, but are not a
condition to the obligations of Fred Meyer, QFC or Ralphs/Food 4 Less to effect
the Mergers. In connection with the Refinancings, separate offers to purchase
and consent solicitations have been made with respect to $150 million of
principal amount of outstanding senior subordinated notes of QFC (the "QFC
Notes") and approximately $1.6 billion of various series of outstanding notes of
Ralphs/Food 4 Less (the "Ralphs/Food 4 Less Notes"). Pursuant to such tender
offers, the notes which are tendered and accepted will be purchased and
substantially all of the restrictive covenants and certain other provisions
contained in the respective indentures are expected to be eliminated or
modified. The purchase price of the QFC Notes and the Ralphs/Food 4 Less Notes
will include a premium payment which will vary based upon the yield of U.S.
Treasury Notes at the expiration of the offer. The actual amount of the QFC
Notes and the Ralphs/Food 4 Less Notes purchased will depend upon the response
to the offer.
Simultaneously with the closing of the Offering, the Company will enter
into senior credit facilities (the "New Senior Credit Facilities") in an
aggregate principal amount not to exceed $3.75 billion, consisting of a $2.0
billion five-year revolving credit facility (the "Revolving Credit Facility")
and a $1.75 billion five-year term loan facility (the "Term Loan Facility"). In
addition, the Company will enter into a $500 million lease facility (the "New
Lease Facility"). See "Description of New Senior Credit Facilities and New Lease
Facility."
Under the provisions of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended (the "HSR Act"), the Mergers may not be consummated until such
time as notification filings have been made with the Antitrust Division of the
United States Department of Justice (the "DOJ") and the United States Federal
Trade Commission (the "FTC"), and the applicable waiting period requirements
have been satisfied. Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less filed notification
reports with the DOJ and the FTC under the HSR Act and all applicable waiting
periods have expired. On February 10, 1998, Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4
Less entered into a settlement agreement (the "Settlement Agreement") with the
State of California to settle potential antitrust and unfair competition claims
that the State of California asserted against Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4
Less relating to the effects of the Mergers on supermarket competition in
Southern California (the "State Claims"). Without admitting any liability in
connection with the State Claims, Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less agreed
in the Settlement Agreement to divest 19 specific stores in Southern California.
Under the Settlement Agreement, the Company must divest 13 stores within six
months of closing and the balance of six stores within nine months of closing.
The Company also agreed not to acquire new stores from third parties in the
Southern California areas specified in the Settlement Agreement (covering
substantially all of the Los Angeles metropolitan area) for five years following
the date of the Settlement Agreement without providing prior notice to the State
of California. If the Company fails to divest the required stores by the two
dates set forth in the Settlement Agreement, the Company has agreed not to
object to the appointment of a trustee to effect the required sales. The
Settlement Agreement also requires the Company to pay the reasonable fees and
costs of the attorneys and experts of the State of California associated with
its review. Management does not believe that such divestitures will materially
adversely affect the Company's business strategy, financial condition or results
of operations.
S-14
<PAGE> 15
USE OF PROCEEDS
The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Offering to effect the
Refinancings and to pay certain fees and expenses incurred in the Transactions.
The following table illustrates the estimated cash sources and uses of funds for
the Refinancings and certain fees and expenses incurred in the Transactions,
assuming the Refinancings were consummated as of March 11, 1998 and assuming
that all QFC Notes and Ralphs/Food 4 Less Notes subject to tender offers are
tendered and accepted. In addition to the following, a portion of Fred Meyer's
operating leasing arrangements will be refinanced under the New Lease Facility.
See "Description of New Senior Credit Facilities and New Lease Facility."
SOURCES AND USES
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SOURCES USES
- ------------------------------------ ------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
New Senior Credit Facilities........ $3,411(1) Repay Fred Meyer credit facility.... $1,770
Notes offered hereunder............. 1,500 Repay QFC credit facility........... 205
------
Repay Ralphs/Food 4 Less credit
facility............................ 710
Repay QFC Notes..................... 150
Repay Ralphs/Food 4 Less Notes...... 1,626
Estimated debt repayment premiums... 300(2)
Estimated fees and expenses......... 150
------
Total Sources.................. $4,911 Total Uses.......................... $4,911
====== ======
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) The New Senior Credit Facilities will consist of a $1.75 billion Term Loan
Facility and a $2.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility. The Company expects
that up to $200 million of the Revolving Credit Facility may be used to
support standby letters of credit. The Company expects that letters of
credit for approximately $137 million will be issued under the Revolving
Credit Facility at the time of the closing of the Mergers. The Company also
expects that as of March 11, 1998 approximately $202 million will be
available, after giving effect to amounts borrowed to consummate the
Refinancings, for future borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility. See
"Description of New Senior Credit Facilities and New Lease Facility."
(2) Debt repayment premiums are expected to be approximately $183 million (net
of income taxes).
S-15
<PAGE> 16
CAPITALIZATION
The following table sets forth the consolidated short-term debt and
consolidated capitalization of Fred Meyer as of November 8, 1997, and as
adjusted to give effect to the Mergers and the Refinancings. The table should be
read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the selected
historical financial and other data of Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less
and the Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements and
the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference herein.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NOVEMBER 8, 1997
-----------------------------
ACTUAL AS ADJUSTED(1)
---------- --------------
(IN THOUSANDS)
<S> <C> <C>
Current portion of long-term debt and capital
leases.......................................... $ 3,364 $ 46,697
Long-term debt, less current portion:
Long-term debt.................................. 1,900,504 3,561,623
Capital lease obligations....................... 53,238 215,395
Notes offered hereby............................ -- 1,500,000
---------- ----------
Total long-term debt(2)...................... 1,953,742 5,277,018
Total stockholders' equity................... 1,285,025 2,077,302
---------- ----------
Total capitalization....................... $3,242,131 $7,401,017
========== ==========
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) The New Senior Credit Facilities will consist of a $1.75 billion Term Loan
Facility and a $2.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility. The Company expects
that up to $200 million of the Revolving Credit Facility may be used to
support standby letters of credit. The Company expects that letters of
credit for approximately $137 million will be issued under the Revolving
Credit Facility at the time of the closing of the Mergers. The Company also
expects that as of March 11, 1998 approximately $202 million will be
available, after giving effect to amounts borrowed to consummate the
refinancings, for future borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility. See
"Description of New Senior Credit Facilities and New Lease Facility."
(2) Total long-term debt consists of long-term debt, including borrowings under
the New Senior Credit Facilities, the Notes and capitalized leases. Total
long-term debt does not reflect certain commitments and contingencies of the
Company, including operating leases under the New Lease Facility and other
operating lease obligations. Total long-term debt should be read in
conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements, including
the respective notes thereto, of each of Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4
Less, incorporated by reference herein.
S-16
<PAGE> 17
SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The following summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
statements of the Company give effect to the Mergers and the Refinancings as if
such transactions occurred as of February 4, 1996 with respect to the summary
unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations for the fiscal
year ended February 1, 1997 and the 40 weeks ended November 8, 1997, and as of
November 8, 1997 with respect to the summary unaudited pro forma condensed
combined balance sheet. Such pro forma information includes: (i) the historical
balance sheet of Fred Meyer as of November 8, 1997; (ii) the pro forma results
of operations of Fred Meyer for the fiscal year ended February 1, 1997 and the
40 weeks ended November 8, 1997; (iii) the historical balance sheet of QFC as of
September 6, 1997; (iv) the pro forma results of operations of QFC for the
fiscal year ended December 28, 1996 and the 36 weeks ended September 6, 1997;
(v) the historical results of operations of Ralphs/Food 4 Less for the fiscal
year ended February 2, 1997 and the 36 weeks ended October 12, 1997 and the
historical balance sheet of Ralphs/Food 4 Less as of October 12, 1997. The
summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements are not
necessarily indicative of either future results of operations or results that
might have been achieved if the Mergers had been consummated as of the indicated
dates. The following summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
statements should be read in conjunction with the historical financial
statements and the selected historical and other financial data of Fred Meyer,
QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less and the unaudited pro forma condensed combined
financial statements, together with the related notes thereto, included or
incorporated by reference herein.
The summary pro forma results of operations of Fred Meyer for the 40 weeks
ended November 8, 1997 and the 52 weeks ended February 1, 1997 include
adjustments for Fred Meyer's September 9, 1997 acquisition of Smith's, as well
as Smith's May 23, 1996 acquisition of Smitty's, as if such transactions
occurred as of February 4, 1996. The pro forma results of operations of QFC for
the 36 weeks ended September 6, 1997 and the fiscal year ended December 28, 1996
include adjustments for QFC's March 19, 1997 acquisition of Hughes and February
14, 1997 acquisition of KUI, as if such transactions occurred as of December 31,
1995.
The QFC Merger will be accounted for as a pooling-of-interests. Under the
pooling-of-interests method of accounting, the recorded assets and liabilities
of Fred Meyer and QFC will be carried forward to Fred Meyer's consolidated
financial statements at their historical amounts and the consolidated earnings
of Fred Meyer will include the earnings of Fred Meyer and QFC for the entire
fiscal year in which the QFC Merger occurs and for all prior years presented and
the reported retained earnings of Fred Meyer and QFC for prior periods will be
combined and restated as consolidated retained earnings of Fred Meyer.
The Ralphs/Food 4 Less Merger will be accounted for as a purchase. Under
purchase accounting, the purchase price will be allocated to assets acquired and
liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The adjustments
included in the summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial
statements represent a preliminary determination of these adjustments based upon
available information. The purchase price is expected to exceed the fair value
of the net assets acquired. This difference has been allocated to goodwill which
will be amortized over 40 years. Such allocations are subject to final
determination based on real estate, leasehold and equipment valuation studies
and a review of the books, records and accounting policies of Ralphs/Food 4
Less. These studies are expected to be completed before the end of the 1998
fiscal year. Accordingly, the final allocations will be different from the
amounts reflected herein.
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations
included herein do not reflect an estimated extraordinary charge of
approximately $220 million (net of income taxes) relating to the Refinancings.
The Company expects to record a charge for certain Merger related expenses in
the first quarter following the closing of the Mergers. The amount of the charge
has not been quantified and is not reflected in the summary unaudited pro forma
condensed combined financial statements. Pursuant to the Settlement Agreement,
the Company has agreed to divest 19 stores in Southern California, but such
divestitures have not been considered and are not reflected in the following
summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements. Management
does not believe that such divestitures will materially adversely affect the
Company's business strategy, financial condition or results of operations. See
"The Mergers and the Refinancings." The summary unaudited pro forma condensed
combined statements of operations also do not reflect approximately $100 million
in annualized operating cost savings that management of the Company believes are
achievable by the end of 2001.
S-17
<PAGE> 18
SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
NOVEMBER 8, 1997
(IN THOUSANDS)
ASSETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
RALPHS/FOOD 4
FRED MEYER QFC LESS
NOVEMBER 8, 1997 SEPTEMBER 6, 1997 OCTOBER 12, 1997 PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
HISTORICAL HISTORICAL HISTORICAL ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents... $ 117,375 $ 90,088 $ 63,524 $ -- (1) $ 270,987
Trade and other
receivables............... 100,191 25,324 46,130 171,645
Inventories................. 1,200,557 119,021 492,894 26,600 (2) 1,839,072
Prepaid expenses and
other..................... 52,207 17,203 23,713 93,123
Deferred tax assets......... 81,610 147,035 (3) 228,645
Assets held for sale........ 9,721 9,721
---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------- -----------
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS.... 1,561,661 251,636 626,261 173,635 2,613,193
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET... 1,941,983 501,779 1,080,688 129,673 (2) 3,654,123
OTHER ASSETS:
Goodwill, net............... 1,026,514 226,133 1,286,560 1,081,926 (2) 3,621,133
Deferred financing costs,
net....................... 9,313 6,145 50,764 (61,013) (3)
68,000 (1) 73,209
Other....................... 33,790 39,571 32,495 105,856
---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------- -----------
TOTAL ASSETS............ $4,573,261 $ 1,025,264 $3,076,768 $1,392,221 $10,067,514
================ ================ =============== =========== ============
</TABLE>
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable and
outstanding checks........ $ 830,429 $ 86,600 $ 302,081 $ 1,219,110
Current portion of long-term
debt and capital leases... 3,364 8,377 38,456 $ (3,500) (1) 46,697
Income taxes payable........ 8,878 1,929 10,807
Accrued compensation........ 140,305 42,044 110,476 292,825
Other accrued expenses...... 191,715 47,567 323,387 562,669
---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------- -----------
TOTAL CURRENT
LIABILITIES.......... 1,165,813 193,466 776,329 (3,500) 2,132,108
LONG-TERM DEBT, less current
maturities.................. 1,900,504 392,708 2,314,911 453,500 (1) 5,061,623
CAPITAL LEASE OBLIGATIONS,
less current portion........ 53,238 28,980 133,177 215,395
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES......... 23,150 57,154 20,874 59,165 (2) 160,343
OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES... 145,531 18,156 252,488 4,568 (2) 420,743
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
(DEFICIT)................. 1,285,025 334,800 (421,011) 878,488 (3) 2,077,302
---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------- -----------
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND
STOCKHOLDERS'
EQUITY............... $4,573,261 $ 1,025,264 $3,076,768 $1,392,221 $10,067,514
================ ================ =============== =========== ============
</TABLE>
See Notes to Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet.
S-18
<PAGE> 19
NOTES TO SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
COMBINED BALANCE SHEET
(IN THOUSANDS)
(1) The net effect on cash and cash equivalents of the Mergers and the
concurrent debt refinancing reflects the following:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
TOTAL SOURCES:
New Senior Credit Facilities..................................... $3,411,000
Notes............................................................ 1,500,000
----------
$4,911,000
==========
TOTAL USES:
Repay Fred Meyer credit facility................................. $1,770,000
Repay QFC credit facility........................................ 205,000
Repay Ralphs/Food 4 Less credit facility......................... 710,000
Repay QFC Notes.................................................. 150,000
Repay Ralphs/Food 4 Less Notes................................... 1,626,000
Estimated debt repayment premiums................................ 300,000
Estimated fees and expenses...................................... 150,000
----------
$4,911,000
==========
</TABLE>
(2) The purchase cost and preliminary allocation of the excess of cost over the
net book value of the assets acquired in the Ralphs/Food 4 Less Merger is as
follows. The market value of Fred Meyer common stock issued reflects 22.5
million shares multiplied by the average market price of Fred Meyer common stock
on the day Fred Meyer and Ralphs/Food 4 Less reached agreement on the purchase
price and the proposed Ralphs/Food 4 Less Merger was announced and the three
trading days preceding and following the announcement date.
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Market value of Fred Meyer common stock issued.................. $ 687,455
Transaction fees and expenses................................... 66,000
----------
Total purchase cost........................................... 753,455
Book value of net assets acquired............................... (421,011)
----------
Excess of purchase cost over net book value of assets
acquired................................................... $ 1,174,466
==========
Allocated to:
Increase in value of inventory................................ $ 26,600
Increase in value of property and equipment................... 129,673
Ralphs/Food 4 Less historical net goodwill.................... (1,286,560)
Adjust accrued pension and postretirement benefit
obligation................................................. (4,568)
Adjust deferred taxes for temporary differences (39% effective
rate)...................................................... (59,165)
Residual excess purchase cost................................. 2,368,486
----------
Total allocation................................................ $ 1,174,466
==========
</TABLE>
S-19
<PAGE> 20
NOTES TO SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED
COMBINED BALANCE SHEET (CONTINUED)
(IN THOUSANDS)
(3) Represents the net change in stockholders' equity as a result of the Mergers
and the Refinancings:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
Issuance of Fred Meyer common stock in Ralphs/Food 4 Less
Merger.......................................................... $687,455
Elimination of Ralphs/Food 4 Less historical stockholders'
deficit......................................................... 421,011
Write-off of Fred Meyer historical deferred financing costs, net
of tax of $1,755................................................ (2,745)
Write-off of Ralphs/Food 4 Less historical deferred financing
costs, net of tax of $19,798.................................... (30,966)
Write-off of QFC historical deferred financing costs, net of tax
of $2,242....................................................... (3,507)
Estimated premiums related to repayment of Ralphs/Food 4 Less and
QFC Notes, net of tax of $117,000............................... (183,000)
QFC Merger fees and expenses, net of tax of $6,240................ (9,760)
--------
Pro forma adjustment to stockholders' equity...................... $878,488
========
</TABLE>
S-20
<PAGE> 21
SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE 40 WEEKS ENDED NOVEMBER 8, 1997
(IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FRED MEYER QFC RALPHS/FOOD 4
40 WEEKS ENDED 36 WEEKS ENDED LESS
NOVEMBER 8, 1997 SEPTEMBER 6, 1997 36 WEEKS ENDED
PRO FORMA PRO FORMA OCTOBER 12, 1997 PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
COMBINED(1) COMBINED(2) HISTORICAL(3) ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
---------------- ----------------- ---------------- ----------- -----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales............... $5,471,428 $ 1,468,001 $3,778,470 $10,717,899
Cost of goods sold...... 3,934,892 1,022,806 2,962,209 7,919,907
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -----------
Gross margin.......... 1,536,536 445,195 816,261 2,797,992
Operating and
administrative
expenses.............. 1,115,345 344,136 557,604 $(3,000)(4) 2,014,085
Depreciation and
amortization
expense............... 185,886 33,934 121,047 27,107(5) 367,974
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -----------
Income from
operations......... 235,305 67,125 137,610 (24,107) 415,933
Interest expense........ 98,089 21,633 187,122 (12,599)(6) 294,245
Amortization of deferred
financing costs....... 1,092 430 4,406 2,974(7) 8,902
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -----------
Income (loss) before
income taxes and
extraordinary
charge............. 136,124 45,062 (53,918) (14,482) 112,786
Provision for income
taxes................. 60,862 18,747 (9,143)(8) 70,466
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -----------
Income (loss) before
extraordinary
charge................ $ 75,262 $ 26,315 $ (53,918) $(5,339) $ 42,320
========== ========== ========== ======== ===========
OTHER PRO FORMA DATA:
EBITDA(9).................................................................................... $ 791,789
EBITDA margin(10)............................................................................ 7.4%
Ratio of Earnings to fixed charges(11)....................................................... 1.3x
Ratio of EBITDA to interest expense(12)...................................................... 2.7x
</TABLE>
See Notes to Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of
Operations.
S-21
<PAGE> 22
SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
FOR THE 52 WEEKS ENDED FEBRUARY 1, 1997
(IN THOUSANDS)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FRED MEYER QFC RALPHS/FOOD 4
52 WEEKS ENDED FISCAL YEAR ENDED LESS
FEBRUARY 1, 1997 DECEMBER 28, 1996 53 WEEKS ENDED
PRO FORMA PRO FORMA FEBRUARY 2, 1997 PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
COMBINED(13) COMBINED(14) HISTORICAL(3) ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales............... $6,742,523 $ 2,099,756 $5,516,259 $14,358,538
Cost of goods sold...... 4,928,596 1,478,720 4,270,538 10,677,854
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -----------
Gross margin.......... 1,813,927 621,036 1,245,721 3,680,684
Operating and
administrative
expenses.............. 1,293,941 504,550 910,740 $ (4,000)(4) 2,705,231
Depreciation and
amortization
expense............... 232,345 47,189 180,344 36,143(5) 496,021
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -----------
Income from
operations......... 287,641 69,297 154,637 (32,143) 479,432
Interest expense........ 129,984 33,350 273,550 (23,602)(6) 413,282
Amortization of deferred
financing costs....... 1,664 185 10,667 (648)(7) 11,868
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -----------
Income (loss) before
income taxes and
extraordinary
charge............. 155,993 35,762 (129,580) (7,893) 54,282
Provision for income
taxes................. 74,512 16,217 (34,253)(8) 56,476
---------- ---------- ---------- -------- -----------
Income (loss) before
extraordinary
charge............. $ 81,481 $ 19,545 $ (129,580) $ 26,360 $ (2,194)
========== ========== ========== ======== ===========
OTHER PRO FORMA DATA:
EBITDA(9).................................................................................... $ 980,587
EBITDA margin(10)............................................................................ 6.8%
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(11)....................................................... 1.1x
Ratio of EBITDA to interest expense(12)...................................................... 2.4x
</TABLE>
See Notes to Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of
Operations.
S-22
<PAGE> 23
NOTES TO SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(IN THOUSANDS)
(1) The following Fred Meyer summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined
statement of operations for the 40 weeks ended November 8, 1997 is based on
historical financial statements of Fred Meyer and Smith's and has been prepared
to illustrate the effects of Fred Meyer's acquisition of Smith's (the "Smith's
Acquisition") and other related transactions described below and the assumed
financing therefor. Such summary unaudited pro forma condensed statement of
operations gives effect to the Smith's Acquisition as if such transaction had
been completed as of February 4, 1996. Such pro forma information includes the
historical results of operations of Fred Meyer for the 40 weeks ended November
8, 1997 and the historical results of operations for Smith's from February 2,
1997 to September 8, 1997.
The Smith's Acquisition was accounted for as a purchase by Fred Meyer.
Under purchase accounting, the purchase price is allocated to assets acquired
and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The pro forma
adjustments included in the summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined
statement of operations represent a preliminary determination of these
adjustments based upon available information.
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations
for the Smith's Acquisition included in the table below does not reflect an
extraordinary charge of approximately $91 million (net of income taxes) relating
to refinancing certain debt.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SMITH'S
FRED MEYER PERIOD FROM
40 WEEKS ENDED FEBRUARY 2, 1997
NOVEMBER 8, TO SEPTEMBER 8, FRED MEYER
1997 1997 PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
HISTORICAL HISTORICAL ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
-------------- ------------------- ----------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales.......................... $3,611,323 $ 1,860,105 $5,471,428
Cost of goods sold................. 2,500,908 1,433,984 3,934,892
---------- ------- ------- ----------
Gross margin..................... 1,110,415 426,121 1,536,536
Operating and administrative
expenses......................... 860,904 254,728 $ (287) 1,115,345
Depreciation and amortization
expense.......................... 118,225 57,472 10,189 185,886
---------- ------- ------- ----------
Income from operations........... 131,286 113,921 (9,902) 235,305
Interest expense................... 46,242 71,938 (20,091) 98,089
Amortization of deferred financing
costs............................ 198 2,953 (2,059) 1,092
---------- ------- ------- ----------
Income before income taxes and
extraordinary charge.......... 84,846 39,030 12,248 136,124
Provision for income taxes......... 34,190 16,490 10,182 60,862
---------- ------- ------- ----------
Income before extraordinary
charge........................ $ 50,656 $ 22,540 $ 2,066 $ 75,262
========== ======= ======= ==========
</TABLE>
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations
gives effect to the following significant pro forma adjustments: (i) the
adjustment for additional depreciation and amortization expense resulting from
the allocation of the purchase price for Smith's to the assets acquired,
including an increase in property, plant, and equipment, leasehold interest, and
identifiable intangible assets to their estimated fair market values and the
recording of goodwill associated with the acquisition; (ii) the adjustment to
interest expense associated with the transaction financing and the corresponding
adjustments to the amortization of related financing fees; and (iii) the
adjustment to the provision for income taxes based upon a tax rate of 39%
applied to the pro forma operating income before income taxes adjusted for
amortization of goodwill.
(2) The following QFC summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement
of operations for the 36 weeks ended September 6, 1997 is based on historical
financial statements of QFC, Hughes and KUI, and has been prepared to illustrate
the effects of the QFC's Acquisition of Hughes and KUI (the "Hughes/KUI
Acquisitions") and other related transactions described below and the assumed
financing therefor.
S-23
<PAGE> 24
NOTES TO SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
(IN THOUSANDS)
Such summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations
gives effect to each of the following transactions as if such transactions had
been completed as of December 29, 1996: (i) the Hughes acquisition and certain
related transactions; (ii) KUI's spin off of certain assets and liabilities,
primarily related to nongrocery operations, prior to the KUI acquisition; (iii)
the KUI acquisition and certain related transactions; (iv) the application of
the net proceeds from the sale of 5,175,000 shares of QFC Common Stock in a
public offering (the "QFC Common Stock Offering") and the sale of $150 million
aggregate principal amount of 8.70% Senior Subordinated Notes, due 2007 (the
"QFC Notes" and together with the QFC Common Stock Offering, the "QFC
Offerings") and borrowings under QFC's credit facility; and (v) QFC's proposed
divestiture of five recently acquired KUI stores.
Certain reclassifications have been made to QFC, Hughes and KUI historical
information to conform with the Fred Meyer presentation.
The Hughes/KUI Acquisitions were accounted for as purchases by QFC. Under
purchase accounting, the purchase price is allocated to assets acquired and
liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The pro forma
adjustments included in the summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined
statement of operations represent a preliminary determination of these
adjustments based upon available information.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
HUGHES KUI PRO FORMA
PERIOD FROM PERIOD FROM ADJUSTMENTS
QFC DECEMBER 29, DECEMBER 29, FOR
36 WEEKS 1996 1996 HUGHES/KUI
ENDED THROUGH THROUGH ACQUISITIONS
SEPTEMBER 6, MARCH 18, FEBRUARY 14, KUI AND QFC QFC
1997 1997 1997 PRO FORMA OFFERINGS PRO FORMA
HISTORICAL HISTORICAL HISTORICAL ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED COMBINED
------------ ------------ ------------ ----------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales............................ $1,225,261 $211,425 $ 46,793 $(1,492) $(13,986) $1,468,001
Cost of goods sold................... 854,100 146,955 33,480 (907) (10,822) 1,022,806
------------ ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ----------
Gross margin....................... 371,161 64,470 13,313 (585) (3,164) 445,195
Operating and administrative
expenses........................... 282,388 54,932 10,301 (648) (2,837) 344,136
Depreciation and amortization
expense............................ 28,039 3,847 337 (43) 1,754 33,934
------------ ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ----------
Income from operations............. 60,734 5,691 2,675 106 (2,081) 67,125
Interest expense..................... 16,755 538 204 4,136 21,633
Amortization of deferred financing
costs.............................. 430 430
------------ ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ----------
Income before income taxes and
extraordinary charge............. 43,549 5,153 2,471 106 (6,217) 45,062
Provision for income taxes........... 17,220 2,437 860 36 (1,806) 18,747
------------ ---------- -------- -------- ---------- ----------
Income before extraordinary
charge........................... $ 26,329 $ 2,716 $ 1,611 $ 70 $ (4,411) $ 26,315
============== ============= ============= ============ ============ ==========
</TABLE>
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations
gives effect to the following significant pro forma adjustments: (i) the
elimination of sales and certain expenses attributable to certain assets and
liabilities of KUI, primarily related to non-grocery operations which were spun
off by KUI prior to its acquisition by QFC; (ii) the adjustment for additional
depreciation and amortization expense resulting from the allocations of the
purchase prices for KUI and Hughes to the assets acquired, including an increase
in property, plant, and equipment, leasehold interest and identifiable
intangible assets to their estimated fair market values and the recording of
goodwill associated with the acquisitions; (iii) the adjustment to interest
expense associated with the transaction financing and the corresponding
adjustments to the amortization of related financing fees; and (iv) the
adjustment to the provision for income taxes based upon a tax rate of 38%
applied to the pro forma operating income before income taxes adjusted for
amortization of goodwill.
(3) Certain reclassifications were made to Ralphs/Food 4 Less historical
information to conform with the Fred Meyer presentation.
S-24
<PAGE> 25
NOTES TO SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
(IN THOUSANDS)
(4) To eliminate management fees paid by Ralphs/Food 4 Less which will no longer
be paid subsequent to the Mergers.
(5) To increase depreciation and amortization expense for revaluation of
property and equipment in the amount of $6.8 million and $9.1 million and
increase amortization of goodwill in the amount of $20.3 million and $27.0
million as a result of the Ralphs/Food 4 Less Merger for the 40 weeks ended
November 8, 1997 and the 52 weeks ended February 1, 1997, respectively. The
adjustment to depreciation and amortization expense assumes an average useful
life of acquired property and equipment of 11 years and the adjustment to
goodwill amortization assumes an amortization period for acquired goodwill of 40
years.
(6) In connection with the Mergers, Fred Meyer intends to refinance and
consolidate approximately $4.5 billion of existing indebtedness of Fred Meyer,
QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less in the Refinancings. See "Uses of Proceeds" above.
The following table reflects the pro forma adjustments to interest expense
related to the refinancing of certain debt:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
40 WEEKS 52 WEEKS
ENDED ENDED
NOVEMBER 8, 1997 FEBRUARY 1, 1997
---------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Historical interest expense
Fred Meyer -- historical pro forma............ $ 98,089 $ 129,984
QFC -- historical pro forma................... 21,633 33,350
Ralphs/Food 4 Less -- historical.............. 187,122 273,550
--------- ---------
306,844 436,884
Less: amount in historical pro forma statements
of operations for refinanced debt............. (266,818) (382,174)
Add: amounts for New Senior Credit Facilities
and Notes..................................... 254,219 358,572
--------- ---------
Pro forma interest expense...................... $ 294,245 $ 413,282
========= =========
</TABLE>
The pro forma adjustment to interest expense assumes a weighted average
interest rate of 7.1% per annum under the New Senior Credit Facilities and the
Notes. A 0.125% increase or decrease in the weighted average interest rate would
change pro forma interest expense by $4.7 million and $6.4 million for the 40
weeks ended November 8, 1997 and the 52 weeks ended February 1, 1997,
respectively.
(7) To adjust for the change in amortization of deferred financing costs as a
result of the Refinancings.
(8) The pro forma adjustment to the provision for income taxes is based upon a
tax rate of 39% applied to the pro forma income before income taxes adjusted for
amortization of goodwill.
(9) EBITDA represents income before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation
and amortization and LIFO provision of $7,882 and $5,134 for the 40 weeks ended
November 8, 1997 and the 52 weeks ended February 1, 1997, respectively. EBITDA
is not intended to represent cash flow from operations as defined by GAAP and
should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of
liquidity or as an alternative to net earnings as an indicator of operating
performance. EBITDA is included herein because management believes that certain
investors find it to be a useful tool for measuring a company's ability to
service its debt. EBITDA as calculated by the Company may not be comparable to
calculations as presented by other companies, even in the same industry.
(10) EBITDA margin represents EBITDA as a percentage of net sales.
(11) For the purpose of computing such ratios, "earnings" represents the
aggregate of (a) income before income taxes and (b) fixed charges. "Fixed
charges" represents (a) consolidated interest charges, (b) the
S-25
<PAGE> 26
NOTES TO SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
(IN THOUSANDS)
amortization of debt discount and expense and premium on indebtedness and (c)
the portion of rental expense which the Company considers representative of an
interest factor.
(12) For purposes of these computations, interest expense is exclusive of
amortization of deferred financing costs.
(13) The following Fred Meyer summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined
statement of operations for the 52 weeks ended February 1, 1997 is based on
historical financial statements of Fred Meyer, Smith's and Smitty's
Supermarkets, Inc., a subsidiary of Smith's, and have been prepared to
illustrate the effects of the Smith's Acquisition and the Smith's acquisition of
Smitty's (the "Smitty's Acquisition"), and other related transactions described
below and the assumed financing therefor. Such summary unaudited pro forma
condensed combined statement of operations gives effect to the Smith's
Acquisition and the Smitty's Acquisition as if such transactions occurred as of
February 3, 1996. Such pro forma information includes: (i) the historical
results of operations of Fred Meyer for the 52 weeks ended February 1, 1997 and
(ii) the historical results of operations of Smith's for the 52 weeks ended
December 28, 1996, as adjusted (x) to eliminate the effect of Smith's California
Disposition (as described below), (y) to reflect the results of operations of
Smitty's from January 15, 1996 through May 22, 1996 and (z) to eliminate certain
non-recurring expenses incurred in connection with the Smitty's Acquisition.
In December 1995, Smith's decided to sell, lease or close all 34 stores and
the distribution center comprising its California region. During 1996, Smith's
sold or leased 23 of its California stores and related equipment and six
non-operating properties to various supermarket companies and others and closed
the remaining eleven California stores, and also adopted a strategy to
accelerate the disposition of its remaining real estate in California (the
"California Disposition"), including non-operating stores and excess land.
Accordingly, Smith's recorded restructuring charges of $201.6 million relating
to the difference between the anticipated cash proceeds from the accelerated
dispositions and the existing book values and other charges resulting from its
decision to close the California region. The adjustments to Smith's historical
results of operations for the California Disposition differ from a complete
statement of operations because certain corporate allocations such as benefits
of corporate buying, distribution and manufacturing operations and corporate
overhead are included, but certain other corporate services and interest expense
are not included.
The Smith's Acquisition was accounted for as a purchase of Smith's by Fred
Meyer and the Smitty's Acquisition was accounted for as a purchase of Smitty's
by Smith's. Under purchase accounting, the purchase price is allocated to assets
acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The pro
forma adjustments for the Smith's Acquisition included in the summary unaudited
pro forma condensed combined statement of operations represent a preliminary
determination of these adjustments based upon available information.
S-26
<PAGE> 27
NOTES TO SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
(IN THOUSANDS)
The following summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of
operations does not reflect an extraordinary charge of approximately $91 million
(net of taxes) relating to refinancing certain debt.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
FRED MEYER SMITH'S SMITTY'S ADJUSTMENTS
52 WEEKS 52 WEEKS 18 WEEKS FOR
ENDED ENDED ENDED CALIFORNIA FRED
FEBRUARY 1, DECEMBER 28, MAY 22, DISPOSITION MEYER
1997 1996 1996 AND SMITTY'S PRO FORMA PRO FORMA
HISTORICAL HISTORICAL HISTORICAL ACQUISITION ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED
---------- ---------- -------- -------------- ----------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales.................. $3,724,839 $2,889,988 $200,770 $ (73,074) $6,742,523
Cost of goods sold......... 2,612,325 2,237,789 144,392 (65,910) 4,928,596
---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ----------
Gross margin............. 1,112,514 652,199 56,378 (7,164) 1,813,927
Operating and
administrative
expenses................. 861,800 449,247 45,684 (62,290) $ (500) 1,293,941
Depreciation and
amortization expense..... 116,854 93,951 5,309 (954) 17,185 232,345
Restructuring charges...... 201,622 (201,622)
---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ----------
Income (loss) from
operations............ 133,860 (92,621) 5,385 257,702 (16,685) 287,641
Interest expense........... 39,432 104,602 6,046 28,384 (48,480) 129,984
Amortization of deferred
financing costs.......... 5,406 344 3,466 (7,552) 1,664
---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ----------
Income (loss) before
income taxes and
extraordinary
charge................ 94,428 (202,629) (1,005) 225,852 39,347 155,993
Provision (benefit) for
income taxes............. 35,883 (80,245) 90,111 28,763 74,512
---------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ----------
Income (loss) before
extraordinary
charge................ $ 58,545 $ (122,384) $ (1,005) $ 135,741 $ 10,584 $ 81,481
========== ========== ======== ======== ======== ==========
</TABLE>
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations
gives effect to the following significant pro forma adjustments: (i) elimination
of the 1996 operating results and restructuring charges for Smith's closed
California region recorded in connection with the California Disposition; (ii)
the elimination of nonrecurring expenses totaling $28.1 million recorded in
operating and administrative expenses by Smith's as a result of the Smitty's
Acquisition; (iii) the adjustment for additional depreciation and amortization
expense resulting from the allocations of the purchase prices for Smith's and
Smitty's to the assets acquired, including an increase in property, plant, and
equipment, leasehold interest, and identifiable intangible assets to their
estimated fair market values and the recording of goodwill associated with the
Smith's Acquisition and the Smitty's Acquisition; (iv) the adjustment to
interest expense associated with the transaction financing and the corresponding
adjustments to the amortization of related financing fees; and (v) the pro forma
adjustment to the provision for income taxes based upon a tax rate of 39%
applied to the pro forma operating income before income taxes adjusted for
amortization of goodwill.
(14) The following QFC summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement
of operations for the fiscal year ended December 28, 1996 is based on historical
financial statements of QFC, Hughes and KUI and have been prepared to illustrate
the effects of the Hughes/KUI Acquisitions and other related transactions
described below and the assumed financing therefor.
Such summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations
gives effect to each of the following transactions as if such transactions had
been completed as of December 31, 1995: (i) the acquisition of Hughes and
certain related transactions; (ii) KUI's spin off of certain assets and
liabilities, primarily related to non-grocery operations, prior to its
acquisition by QFC; (iii) the acquisition of KUI and
S-27
<PAGE> 28
NOTES TO SUMMARY UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (CONTINUED)
(IN THOUSANDS)
certain related transactions; (iv) the application of the net proceeds from the
QFC Offerings and borrowings under the QFC credit facility to finance the
acquisition of Hughes and to refinance bank debt of QFC which was outstanding at
the time of the closing of the acquisition of Hughes (including indebtedness
which was incurred in connection with the acquisition of KUI); and (v) QFC's
proposed divestiture of five recently acquired KUI stores.
Certain reclassifications were made to QFC, Hughes and KUI historical
information to conform with the Fred Meyer presentation.
The Hughes/KUI Acquisitions were accounted for as purchases by QFC. Under
purchase accounting, the purchase price is allocated to assets acquired and
liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. The pro forma
adjustments included in the summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined
statement of operations represent a preliminary determination of these
adjustments based upon available information.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRO FORMA
ADJUSTMENTS
FOR
KUI HUGHES/KUI
QFC FISCAL HUGHES FISCAL FISCAL YEAR ACQUISITIONS
YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED ENDED AND THE
DECEMBER 28, MARCH 2, DECEMBER 28, KUI QFC QFC
1996 1997 1996 PRO FORMA OFFERINGS PRO FORMA
HISTORICAL HISTORICAL HISTORICAL ADJUSTMENTS COMBINED COMBINED
------------ ------------- ------------ ----------- ---------- ----------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales................ $805,281 $ 1,001,042 $348,915 $ (12,864) $(42,618) $2,099,756
Cost of goods sold....... 560,511 703,838 258,720 (11,236) (33,113) 1,478,720
-------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ----------
Gross margin........... 244,770 297,204 90,195 (1,628) (9,505) 621,036
Operating and
administrative
expenses............... 176,296 257,416 84,494 (2,288) (11,368) 504,550
Depreciation and
amortization expense... 19,477 17,748 2,739 (200) 7,425 47,189
-------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ----------
Income from
operations.......... 48,997 22,040 2,962 860 (5,562) 69,297
Interest expense......... 9,238 3,160 1,682 19,270 33,350
Amortization of deferred
financing costs........ 185 185
-------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ----------
Income before income
taxes and
extraordinary
charge.............. 39,574 18,880 1,280 860 (24,832) 35,762
Provision (benefit) for
income taxes........... 14,156 8,917 442 292 (7,590) 16,217
-------- ---------- -------- -------- -------- ----------
Income (loss) before
extraordinary
charge.............. $ 25,418 $ 9,963 $ 838 $ 568 $(17,242) $ 19,545
======== ========== ======== ======== ======== ==========
</TABLE>
The summary unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations
gives effect to the following significant pro forma adjustments: (i) the
elimination of certain assets and liabilities of KUI, primarily related to
non-grocery operations, and the elimination of sales and certain expenses
attributable to those assets and liabilities, which were spun off by KUI prior
to its acquisition by QFC; (ii) the adjustment for additional depreciation and
amortization expense resulting from the allocations of the purchase prices for
KUI and Hughes to the assets acquired, including an increase in property, plant,
and equipment, leasehold interest, and identifiable intangible assets to their
estimated fair market values and the recording of goodwill associated with the
acquisitions; (iii) the adjustment to interest expense associated with the
transaction financing and the corresponding adjustments to the amortization of
related financing fees; and (iv) the pro forma adjustment to the provision for
income taxes based upon a tax rate of 39% applied to the pro forma operating
income before income taxes adjusted for amortization of goodwill.
S-28
<PAGE> 29
SUMMARY SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL AND OTHER DATA
FRED MEYER
The following selected summary historical financial data of Fred Meyer for
each of the five fiscal years in the period ended February 1, 1997 have been
derived from Fred Meyer's historical consolidated financial statements, which
have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors. The selected
historical financial data of Fred Meyer for the 40 weeks ended November 9, 1996
and November 8, 1997 (except for data regarding retail store square footage and
number of stores at end of period) have been derived from the unaudited
financial statements of Fred Meyer and include all adjustments consisting of
normal recurring items considered necessary by Fred Meyer management for a fair
presentation of the results for the entire fiscal year. The results of the
interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal
year. The data should be read in conjunction with Fred Meyer's historical
consolidated financial statements, including the respective notes thereto, and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations," included or incorporated by reference herein. Fred Meyer acquired
Smith's on September 9, 1997 in a business combination accounted for as a
purchase. Additionally, Smith's acquired Smitty's on May 23, 1996 in a business
combination accounted for as a purchase. Accordingly, the following Fred Meyer
selected historical financial and other data do not include the results of
operations of Smith's or Smitty's prior to their acquisitions. See "Summary
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements", and related notes.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
52 WEEKS 52 WEEKS 52 WEEKS 53 WEEKS 52 WEEKS 40 WEEKS 40 WEEKS
ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED
JANUARY 30, JANUARY 29, JANUARY 28, FEBRUARY 3, FEBRUARY 1, NOVEMBER 9, NOVEMBER 8,
1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1996 1997(1)
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) (unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING DATA
Net sales(2).................. $2,849,521 $2,973,825 $3,122,635 $3,422,718 $3,724,839 $2,729,084 $3,611,323
Cost of goods sold............ 1,996,700 2,088,568 2,261,315 2,449,204 2,619,312 1,927,199 2,534,718
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Gross margin(3)............... 852,821 885,257 861,320 973,514 1,105,527 801,885 1,076,605
Operating, selling and
administrative
expenses(2)................. 738,581 747,151 807,924 885,087 971,667 721,426 945,319
Writedown of California
assets...................... 15,978
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Operating income(3)........... 114,240 138,106 37,418 88,427 133,860 80,459 131,286
Interest Expense.............. 18,070 17,604 25,857 39,578 39,432 30,606 46,440
Provision for income
taxes(4).................... 35,583 49,598 4,393 18,563 35,883 18,944 34,190
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Income before accounting
change and extraordinary
charge(3,4)................. 60,587 70,904 7,168 30,286 58,545 30,909 50,656
Accounting change(5).......... (2,588)
Extraordinary charge(6)....... (91,210)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net income (loss)(3,4,5)...... $ 60,587 $ 68,316 $ 7,168 $ 30,286 $ 58,545 $ 30,909 $ (40,554)
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
BALANCE SHEET DATA
(end of period)
Working capital............... $ 173,975 $ 192,737 $ 249,514 $ 283,082 $ 233,202 $ 249,674 $ 395,848
Total assets.................. 1,081,627 1,326,076 1,562,672 1,671,592 1,693,414 1,760,738 4,573,261
Stockholders' equity.......... 450,128 527,686 538,620 571,234 567,298 531,851 1,285,025
OTHER DATA
EBITDA (as defined)(7)........ $ 185,673 $ 205,673 $ 148,979 $ 194,876 $ 249,548 $ 174,360 $ 254,671
EBITDA margin(7,8)............ 6.52% 6.92% 4.77% 5.69% 6.70% 6.39% 7.05%
Capital expenditures.......... $ 144,628 $ 253,920 $ 284,193 $ 236,052 $ 146,917 $ 124,185 $ 208,185
Retail store square footage
(in thousands).............. 26,882
Number of stores at end of
period...................... 431
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Includes balance sheet data of Smith's as of November 8, 1997 and results of
operations of Smith's from September 9, 1997 to November 8, 1997. The
balance sheet data and results of operations of Smith's as of and for such
dates include the balance sheet data and results of operations of Smitty's
as of and for such dates.
(2) For fiscal years 1992 through 1996, the amounts shown reflect the
reclassification of employee discounts to make the reporting consistent with
the reporting for the 1996 and 1997 interim periods.
(3) For the 52 weeks ended January 29, 1994, includes a nonrecurring LIFO credit
of $6,178.
S-29
<PAGE> 30
(4) For the 52 weeks ended January 29, 1994, includes $3,588 from the resolution
of an Internal Revenue Service audit, ($2,286) related to the LIFO credit
and a 38% tax rate.
(5) For the 52 weeks ended January 29, 1994, effect of adopting Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 109 relating to income taxes.
(6) Represents a charge for early extinguishment of debt covering premiums paid
and write-off of financing costs related to debt refinanced in the Smith's
Acquisition.
(7) EBITDA, as presented by Fred Meyer, represents income (loss) before interest
expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization expense and LIFO
provision/(credit) of $5,160 and $4,220 for the 40 week periods ended
November 8, 1997 and November 9, 1996, respectively, and ($1,166), ($936),
$3,201, $2,890, and $4,167 for the fiscal years ended February 1, 1997,
February 3, 1996, January 28, 1995, January 29, 1994, and January 30, 1993,
respectively. EBITDA is not intended to represent cash flow from operations
as defined by GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash
flow as a measure of liquidity or as an alternative to net earnings as an
indicator of operating performance. EBITDA is included herein because
management believes that certain investors find it to be a useful tool for
measuring a company's ability to service its debt. EBITDA as calculated by
Fred Meyer may not be comparable to calculations as presented by other
companies, even in the same industry.
(8) EBITDA margin represents EBITDA as a percentage of net sales.
S-30
<PAGE> 31
QFC
The following selected historical financial data of QFC for each of the
five fiscal years in the period ended December 28, 1996 have been derived from
QFC's historical consolidated financial statements, which have been audited by
Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors. The selected historical financial
data of QFC for the 36 weeks ended September 7, 1996 and September 6, 1997
(except for data regarding retail store square footage and number of stores at
end of period) have been derived from the unaudited financial statements of QFC
and include all adjustments consisting of normal recurring items considered
necessary by QFC management for a fair presentation of the results for the
entire fiscal year. The results of the interim period are not necessarily
indicative of results for the entire fiscal year. The data should be read in
conjunction with QFC's historical consolidated financial statements, including
the respective notes thereto, and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included or incorporated by
reference herein. QFC acquired Hughes on March 19, 1997 and KUI on February 14,
1997 in business combinations accounted for as purchases. Accordingly, the
following QFC selected historical financial and other data do not include the
results of operations of Hughes or KUI prior to such acquisitions. See "Summary
Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Statements," and related notes
included and incorporated by reference herein.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
52 WEEKS 52 WEEKS 52 WEEKS 52 WEEKS 52 WEEKS 36 WEEKS 36 WEEKS
ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED
DECEMBER 26, DECEMBER 25, DECEMBER 31, DECEMBER 30, DECEMBER 28, SEPTEMBER 7, SEPTEMBER 6,
1992 1993 1994 1995(1) 1996 1996 1997(2)
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) (unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING DATA
Net sales.............. $460,107 $518,260 $575,879 $729,856 $805,281 $547,166 $1,225,261
Cost of goods
sold(3).............. 343,118 386,895 430,711 550,434 603,947 410,549 926,462
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ----------
Gross margin........... 116,989 131,365 145,168 179,422 201,334 136,617 298,799
Operating, selling and
administrative
expenses............. 80,144 92,468 105,956 136,645 152,337 103,850 238,065
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ----------
Operating income....... 36,845 38,897 39,212 42,777 48,997 32,767 60,734
Interest Expense....... (864) (880) (933) 9,138 9,423 6,600 17,185
Other charge........... 1,400(1)
Provision for income
taxes................ 12,633 13,783 13,768 12,023 14,156 9,372 17,220
-------- -------- -------- -------- -------- -------- ----------
Net income............. $ 25,076 $ 25,994 $ 26,377 $ 20,216 $ 25,418 $ 16,795 $ 26,329
======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ======== ==========
BALANCE SHEET DATA
(END OF PERIOD)
Working capital
(deficit)............ $ 18,722 $ 14,329 $ 23,776 $ 5,303 $ 3,457 $(16,903) $ 64,315
Total assets........... 151,671 181,912 208,611 284,000 304,017 293,610 1,025,264
Shareholders' equity... 108,345 133,620 158,178 45,368 76,798 64,407 334,800
OTHER DATA
EBITDA (as
defined)(4).......... $ 44,466 $ 48,205 $ 50,817 $ 59,567 $ 69,150 $ 46,566 $ 89,195
EBITDA margin(5)....... 9.7% 9.3% 8.8% 8.2% 8.6% 8.5% 7.3%
Capital expenditures... $ 26,800 $ 43,000 $ 28,200 $ 29,000 $ 32,600 $ 25,000 $ 35,600
Retail store square
footage (in
thousands)........... 5,156
Number of stores at end
of period............ 147
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Fiscal year ended December 30, 1995 data include a one-time charge of $1.4
million, or $.09 per share, resulting from a recapitalization completed in
March 1995.
(2) Includes balance sheet of KUI as of September 6, 1997 and results of
operations of KUI from February 15, 1997 to September 6, 1997. Includes
balance sheet data of Hughes as of September 6, 1997 and results of
operations of Hughes for the period from March 20, 1997 to September 6,
1997.
(3) Cost of goods sold includes related occupancy expenses.
(4) EBITDA, as presented by QFC, is defined as net earnings before interest,
income taxes, depreciation, amortization, LIFO inventory charges/(credit) of
$308 and $210 for the 36 week periods ended September 6, 1997 and September
7, 1996, respectively, and $676, $620, $0, $25 and ($161) for the 52 week
periods ended December 28, 1996, December 30, 1995, December 31, 1994,
December 25, 1993, and December 26, 1992, respectively, and nonrecurring
extraordinary items (charge of $1,400 for the 52 weeks ended December 30,
1995) and, if applicable, equity earnings (losses) from subsidiaries of
which there are none for the periods presented. EBITDA is not intended to
represent cash flow from operations as defined by GAAP and should not be
considered as an alternative to cash flow as a measure of liquidity or as an
alternative to net earnings as an indicator of operating performance. EBITDA
is included herein because management believes that certain investors find
it to be a useful tool for measuring a company's ability to service its
debt. EBITDA as calculated by QFC may not be comparable to calculations as
presented by other companies, even in the same industry.
(5) EBITDA margin represents EBITDA as a percentage of net sales.
S-31
<PAGE> 32
RALPHS/FOOD 4 LESS
The following selected historical financial data of Ralphs/Food 4 Less and
its predecessor Food 4 Less Supermarkets, Inc. ("Food 4 Less Supermarkets") for
each of the five fiscal years and the transition period in the period ended
February 2, 1997 have been derived from Ralphs/Food 4 Less' and Food 4 Less
Supermarkets' historical consolidated financial statements, which have been
audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants. Certain prior
period amounts in the financial data presented below have been reclassified to
conform to the fiscal 1997 presentation. The selected historical financial data
of Ralphs/Food 4 Less for the 36 weeks ended October 6, 1996 and October 12,
1997 (except for data regarding retail store square footage and number of stores
at end of period) have been derived from the unaudited financial statements of
Ralphs/Food 4 Less and include all adjustments consisting of normal recurring
items considered necessary by Ralphs/Food 4 Less management for a fair
presentation of the results for the entire fiscal year. The results of the
interim periods are not necessarily indicative of results for the entire fiscal
year. The data should be read in conjunction with Ralphs/Food 4 Less' historical
consolidated financial statements, including the respective notes thereto, and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of
Operations," included or incorporated by reference herein.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
52 WEEKS 52 WEEKS 52 WEEKS 31 WEEKS 52 WEEKS 53 WEEKS 36 WEEKS 36 WEEKS
ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED ENDED
JUNE 27, JUNE 26, JUNE 25, JANUARY 29, JANUARY 28, FEBRUARY 2, OCTOBER 6, OCTOBER 12,
1992 1993 1994(1) 1995(2) 1996(3) 1997 1996 1997
---------- ---------- ---------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ---------- -----------
(DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS) (unaudited)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
OPERATING
DATA
Sales..... $2,913,493 $2,742,027 $2,585,160 $1,556,522 $4,335,109 $5,516,259 $3,695,594 $3,778,470
Cost of
goods
sold(4)... 2,429,711 2,273,167 2,126,302 1,296,810 3,527,120 4,380,241 2,941,360 3,000,531
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Gross
margin(4)... 483,782 468,860 458,858 259,712 807,989 1,136,018 754,234 777,939
Operating,
selling
and
administrative
expenses.. 439,126 425,064 386,104 223,856 765,749 981,381 651,212 640,329
Restructuring
charge... 5,134 (12) 123,083 (13)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Operating
income
(loss)(4)... 44,656 43,796 72,754 30,722 (80,843) 154,637 103,022 137,610
Interest
Expense(5)... 70,211 73,614 77,017 48,361 202,651 284,217 192,700 191,528
Provision
for
earthquake
losses... 4,504(11)
Provision
for
income
taxes... 3,441 1,427 2,700 500
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Loss
before
extraordinary
charges... (28,996) (31,245) (11,467) (17,639) (283,994) (129,580) (89,678) (53,918)
Extraordinary
charge... (4,818)(10) (38,424)(14) (47,983)(15)
---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net
loss(6)... $ (33,814) $ (31,245) $ (11,467) $ (17,639) $ (322,418) $ (129,580) $ (89,678) $ (101,901)
========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ========== ==========
BALANCE
SHEET
DATA
(END OF
PERIOD)(7)
Working
capital
deficit... $ (66,254) $ (19,222) $ (54,882) $ (74,776) $ (150,475) $ (182,641) $ (240,294) $ (150,068)
Total
assets... 998,451 957,840 980,080 1,000,695 3,188,129 3,131,993 3,146,899 3,076,768
Stockholders'
equity
(deficit)... 50,771 22,633 10,024 (7,333) (188,798) (319,268) (278,466) (421,011)
OTHER DATA
EBITDA (as
defined)(8).. 101,723 103,794 130,573 76,853 245,146 354,646 233,516 257,738
EBITDA
margin(9)... 3.5% 3.8% 5.1% 4.9 % 5.7 % 6.4 % 6.3% 6.8 %
Capital
expenditures...$60,263 $ 53,467 $ 57,471 $ 49,023 $ 122,355 $ 123,622 $ 74,328 $ 111,154
Retail
store
square
footage
(in
thousands)... 15,697
Number of
stores
at end
of
period... 406
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Operating data for the 52 weeks ended June 25, 1994 include the results of
10 Food Barn stores, which were not material, from March 29, 1994, the date
of the Food Barn acquisition.
(2) Ralphs/Food 4 Less Supermarkets changed its fiscal year end from the 52 or
53-week period which ends on the last Saturday in June to the 52 or 53-week
period which ends on the Sunday closest to January 31, resulting in a
31-week transition period.
(3) Operating data for the 52 weeks ended January 28, 1996 reflects the
acquisition of Ralphs Supermarkets, Inc. on June 14, 1995.
(4) Cost of goods sold has been principally determined using the last-in,
first-out ("LIFO") method of valuing inventory. If cost of sales had been
determined using the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") method, gross profit and
operating income would have been greater by $3.6 million, $4.4 million,
$0.7 million, $2.7 million, $2.2 million, $5.6 million, $2.5 million
(unaudited) and $1.7 million (unaudited) for the 52 weeks ended June 27,
1992, June 26, 1993, and June 25, 1994, the 31 weeks ended January 29,
1995, the 52 weeks ended January 28, 1996, the 53 weeks ended February 2,
1997 and the 36 weeks ended October 6, 1996 and October 12, 1997,
respectively.
S-32
<PAGE> 33
(5) Interest expense includes non-cash charges related to the amortization of
deferred financing costs.
(6) Net loss includes a pre-tax provision for self-insurance, which is
classified in cost of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses,
and interest expense of $51.1 million, $43.9 million, $25.7 million, $9.8
million, $32.6 million, $29.2 million, $31.4 million and $24.9 million for
the 52 weeks ended June 27, 1992, June 26, 1993, and June 25, 1994, the 31
weeks ended January 29, 1995, the 52 weeks ended January 28, 1996, the 53
weeks ended February 2, 1997 and the 36 weeks ended October 6, 1996 and
October 12, 1997, respectively. Included in the 52 weeks ended June 25,
1994, the 31 weeks ended January 29, 1995 and the 52 weeks ended January
28, 1996 are reduced employer contributions of $8.1 million, $14.3 million
and $26.1 million, respectively, related to union pension and health and
welfare benefit plans. Included in the 53 weeks ended February 2, 1997, the
36 weeks ended October 6, 1996 and the 36 weeks ended October 12, 1997 are
reduced employer contributions of $17.8 million, $11.5 million and $11.8
million, respectively, related to union pension and health and welfare
benefit plans. The multi-employer union health and welfare plans to which
Ralphs/Food 4 Less contributes are overfunded, and those employers who
contributed to the plans received a pro rata share of excess reserves in
the plans through reduction of current contributions.
(7) Balance sheet data as of June 25, 1997 relate to Ralphs/Food 4 Less and
reflect the acquisition of 10 Food Barn stores. Balance sheet data as of
January 28, 1996 relate to Ralphs/Food 4 Less and reflect the acquisition
of Ralphs Supermarkets, Inc. and the financings associated therewith.
(8) EBITDA, as presented by Ralphs/Food 4 Less, represents income before
interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, the LIFO
provision, provision for income taxes, provision for earthquake losses,
provision for restructuring, a one-time charge in the 1995 transition
period for Teamsters Union sick pay benefits, $75.0 million of one-time
costs incurred in connection with the acquisition of Ralphs Supermarkets,
Inc. in fiscal year 1995 and $13.5 million of one-time costs incurred in
connection with the acquisition of a distribution center located in
Riverside, California and nine former Smith's stores in fiscal year 1996.
EBITDA is not intended to represent cash flow from operations as defined by
GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to cash flow as a
measure of liquidity or as an alternative to net earnings as an indicator
of operating performance. EBITDA is included herein because management
believes that certain investors find it to be a useful tool for measuring a
company's ability to service its debt. EBITDA as calculated by Ralphs/Food
4 Less may not be comparable to calculations as presented by other
companies, even in the same industry.
(9) EBITDA margin represents EBITDA as a percentage of net sales. Ralphs/Food 4
Less believes that EBITDA margin, which highlights changes in EBITDA
performance unrelated to fluctuations in sales, is useful to investors as
an indication of changes in operating efficiency.
(10) Represents an extraordinary net charge of $4.8 million reflecting the
write-off of $6.7 million (net of related income tax benefit of $2.5
million) of deferred debt issuance costs as a result of the early
redemption of a portion of Ralphs/Food 4 Less' bank term loan, partially
offset by a $1.9 million extraordinary gain (net of a related income tax
expense of $0.7 million) on the replacement of partially depreciated assets
following the civil unrest in Los Angeles.
(11) On January 17, 1994, Southern California was struck by a major earthquake
which resulted in the temporary closing of 31 of Ralphs/Food 4 Less'
stores. The closures were caused primarily by loss of electricity, water,
inventory or damage to the affected stores. All but one of the closed
stores reopened within a week of the earthquake. The final closed store
reopened on March 24, 1994. Ralphs/Food 4 Less is insured, subject to
deductibles, against earthquake losses (including business interruption).
The pre-tax charge to earnings, net of insurance recoveries, was
approximately $4.5 million.
(12) Ralphs/Food 4 Less converted 11 of its conventional supermarkets to
warehouse stores. During the 31 weeks ended January 29, 1995, Ralphs/Food 4
Less recorded a non-cash restructuring charge for the write-off of property
and equipment at the 11 stores of $5.1 million.
(13) Ralphs/Food 4 Less recorded a $75.2 million restructuring charge associated
with the closing of 58 stores and one warehouse facility in the 52 weeks
ended January 28, 1996. Pursuant to the settlement agreement with the State
of California, 27 Ralphs/Food 4 Less stores were required to be divested
and an additional 34 under-performing stores were closed. Ralphs/Food 4
Less also recorded a $47.9 million restructuring charge associated with the
closing of 9 stores and one warehouse facility in the 52 weeks ended
January 28, 1996, in conjunction with an agreement with Smith's to lease a
distribution center located in Riverside, California and nine former
Smith's stores.
(14) Represents an extraordinary charge of $38.4 million relating to the
refinancing of Ralphs/Food 4 Less' old credit facility, 10.45% Senior Notes
due 2000, 13.75% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2001 and 15.25% Senior
Discount Notes due 2004 in connection with the acquisition of Ralphs
Supermarkets, Inc. and the write off of their related debt issuance costs.
(15) Represents an extraordinary charge of $48.0 million relating to the write
off of debt issuance costs associated with the refinancing of the
Ralphs/Food 4 Less' credit facility and the write off of debt issuance
costs and premium paid relating to the redemption of certain of the
Ralphs/Food 4 Less' outstanding public debt.
S-33
<PAGE> 34
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
GENERAL
Upon completion of the Mergers, the Company will be one of the largest
domestic food retailers, operating more than 800 supermarkets and
multi-department stores, many of which are located in the fastest growing
markets in the United States. The Company will operate under multiple formats
which include multi-department stores and premium, food and drug combination,
conventional and price-impact supermarkets. In the Pacific Northwest, Southwest
and Intermountain states, the Company will operate multi-department stores
principally under the Fred Meyer banner and food and drug combination stores
principally under the Smith's Food & Drug Centers banner; in Southern
California, the Company will operate conventional supermarkets under the Ralphs
banner and price-impact warehouse supermarkets under the Food 4 Less banner; and
in the Seattle/Puget Sound Region, the Company will also operate premium
supermarkets principally under the QFC banner.
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Set forth below are selected portions from the Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the most recent
interim periods of Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/ Food 4 Less. The full version of
each discussion has been incorporated by reference into the accompanying
Prospectus and the excerpts set forth below are qualified in their entirety by
reference to the discussions set forth in such incorporated documents. See
"Available Information." Although the Company will continue to operate the QFC
and Ralphs/Food 4 Less stores under separate banners following the Mergers, the
Company will report its results of operations for all future periods only on a
consolidated basis (including the results of operations of QFC and Ralphs/Food 4
Less). Due to its increased size, new store formats and increased levels of
indebtedness, the Company believes that its future operating results will not be
directly comparable to the historical operating results of Fred Meyer, QFC or
Ralphs/Food 4 Less.
Fred Meyer
On September 9, 1997, Fred Meyer acquired Smith's. The following table sets
forth the selected operating results of Fred Meyer for the 40 weeks ended
November 9, 1996 and November 8, 1997, respectively. Accordingly, results from
Smith's are included only for the period September 9, 1997 through November 8,
1997. As a result, the periods are not directly comparable.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
40 WEEKS ENDED
-------------------------------------------------
NOVEMBER 9, 1996 NOVEMBER 8, 1997
---------------------- ----------------------
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS; % OF NET SALES)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net Sales.......................................... $ 2,729 100.0% $ 3,611 100.0%
Cost of Goods Sold................................. 1,927 70.6 2,534 70.2
Gross Profit....................................... 802 29.4 1,077 29.8
Operating, Selling and Administrative.............. 722 26.4 946 26.2
Operating Income................................... 80 3.0 131 3.6
</TABLE>
Net sales for the first 40 weeks of 1997 increased $882 million or 32.3
percent to $3.6 billion. This increase includes $513 million in sales for
Smith's. Without Smith's, sales increased 13.5 percent. This increase is due to
openings of new stores, strong food and nonfood sales, and the acquisition of
mall jewelry stores. Comparable store sales, without Smith's, increased 7.2
percent, with food comparable sales increasing 6.2 percent and nonfood
comparable store sales increasing 8.9 percent. The Company's food operations
accounted for 65.1 percent of the overall sales for the first 40 weeks of 1997,
compared with 60.2 percent for the first 40 weeks of 1996.
Gross margin as a percent of net sales was 29.8 percent for the first 40
weeks of 1997 compared with 29.4 percent for 1996. Gross margins increased in
the first 40 weeks of 1997 due to the impact on margins of the multi-store
jewelry acquisitions and lower markdowns.
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<PAGE> 35
Operating and administrative expenses as a percent of net sales were 26.2
percent for the first 40 weeks of 1997 compared with 26.4 percent for the 40
weeks of 1996. Expenses as a percent of net sales decreased in 1997's first 40
weeks primarily due to the impact of the acquisition of Smith's on expenses.
QFC
During the 36 weeks ended September 6, 1997, QFC acquired 56 stores
operating under the Hughes Family Markets banner and 25 stores from KUI. Because
of the magnitude of the acquisitions, QFC's operations are not comparable to
QFC's or Hughes' historical operations.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
36 WEEKS ENDED
-----------------------------------------------
SEPTEMBER 7, 1996 SEPTEMBER 6, 1997
-------------------- ----------------------
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS; % OF NET SALES)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sales............................................... $ 547 100.0% $ 1,225 100.0%
Cost of Sales and Related Occupancy Expenses........ 410 75.0 926 75.6
Gross Profit........................................ 137 25.0 299 24.4
Marketing, General and Administrative Expenses...... 104 19.0 238 19.4
Operating Income.................................... 33 6.0 61 5.0
</TABLE>
Sales for the 36 weeks ended September 6, 1997 increased approximately $678
million, or 123.9%, compared with the same period in 1996. The increase for the
36 weeks reflects the inclusion of the KUI stores for 29 weeks and the Hughes
stores for approximately 25 weeks.
Sales increases for the 36 weeks ended September 6, 1997 were offset in
part by lower sales in certain existing stores due to the opening and remodeling
of competitors' stores located near QFC stores. In addition, sales growth has
been impacted by new and acquired stores, which have lower sales volumes,
becoming a more significant part of QFC's sales, the maturing of older stores to
a level where substantial sales growth is more difficult, and QFC's strategy of
opening and acquiring stores in certain locations that enhance QFC's competitive
position and protect its market share but reduce sales in nearby existing
stores. Additionally, the supermarket industry continues to be highly
competitive. Comparable store sales for the period increased 2.4%.
Cost of sales and related occupancy expenses increased by 0.6% to 75.6% of
sales for the 36 weeks ended September 6, 1997, compared to 75.0% of sales for
the 36 weeks ended September 7, 1996. The increase was due to lower margins in
the stores acquired in the first quarter of 1997 offset, in part, by improved
buying and merchandising, a greater mix of sales in higher margin service
departments in the QFC stores and lower occupancy expenses as a percentage of
sales.
Marketing, general and administrative expenses increased to 19.4% of sales
from 19.0% of sales. This increase was attributable to contractual rate
increases from union contracts effective in May 1997 and August 1997 and a 10.0%
increase in the union benefit contributions rate effective in July 1996 as well
as additional expenses associated with the initial integration and a higher
operating expense ratio of the acquired stores, as well as an increase in
acquisition related amortization of $4.0 million.
As a result of increased cost of sales and related occupancy expenses and
marketing, general and administrative expenses, operating margins declined to
5.0% for the 36 weeks ended September 6, 1997, compared to 6.0% for the
comparable period in 1996.
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<PAGE> 36
Ralphs/Food 4 Less
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
36 WEEKS ENDED
-------------------------------------------------
OCTOBER 6, 1996 OCTOBER 12, 1997
---------------------- ----------------------
(DOLLARS IN MILLIONS; % OF NET SALES)
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Sales............................................. $ 3,696 100.0% $ 3,779 100.0%
Cost of Sales..................................... 2,941 79.6 3,001 79.4
Gross Profit...................................... 754 20.4 778 20.6
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses...... 627 17.0 616 16.3
Amortization of Goodwill.......................... 24 0.6 24 0.6
Operating Income.................................. 103 2.8 138 3.7
</TABLE>
Sales for the 36 weeks ended October 12, 1997 increased $83 million to $3.8
billion from $3.7 billion in the 36 weeks ended October 6, 1996. The increase in
sales was primarily attributable to a 2.2 percent increase in comparable store
sales for the 36-week period ended October 12, 1997 and the continued success of
new store openings, partially offset by store closings and the recent
deflationary environment. Since the beginning of fiscal 1996, 32 stores have
been opened and 35 stores have been closed and a total of 58 stores have been
remodeled. The third quarter of fiscal 1997 represents the sixth consecutive
quarter that Ralphs/Food 4 Less has achieved positive comparable store sales.
The increases in comparable store sales reflect consumers' favorable response to
Ralphs/Food 4 Less' "First in Southern California" marketing program, which
focuses on Ralphs/Food 4 Less' lower price program in conjunction with its
premier offering of quality, selection and customer service, as well as its
continuing remodeling program.
During the third quarter, Ralphs/Food 4 Less completed the development of
the first phase of its "Ralphs Club Card" program and launched the marketing
program shortly after the quarter ended. The "Ralphs Club Card" program is a
frequent shopper program designed to increase customer shopping frequency and
transaction size and to provide valuable information about consumer shopping
habits. Ralphs/Food 4 Less estimates that it will incur one-time costs of
approximately $10 million to develop and launch the program, $2 million of which
was incurred in the third quarter.
Gross profit increased as a percentage of sales from 20.4 percent in the 36
weeks ended October 6, 1996 to 20.6 percent in the 36 weeks ended October 12,
1997. The increase in gross profit margin in the 36 weeks ended October 12, 1997
reflects a reduction in warehousing and distribution costs as a result of the
consolidation of Ralphs/Food 4 Less' distribution operations, as well as a
reduction in the cost of goods sold as the benefits of product procurement
programs instituted by Ralphs/Food 4 Less are realized, partially offset by the
factors discussed above.
Selling, general and administrative expenses ("SG&A") were $627 million and
$616 million for the 36 weeks ended October 6, 1996 and October 12, 1997,
respectively. SG&A decreased as a percentage of sales from 17.0 percent to 16.3
percent for the 36 weeks ended October 6, 1996 and October 12, 1997,
respectively. The reduction in SG&A as a percentage of sales reflects the
continued results of tighter expense and labor controls at the store level and
continued administrative cost reductions, partially offset by start-up costs
associated with the launch of the "Ralphs Club Card" program in Southern
California. Additionally, the Company participates in multi-employer health and
welfare plans for its store employees who are members of the United Food and
Commercial Workers Union and recognized pension suspension credits of $12
million and $12 million in the 36 weeks ended October 6, 1996 and the 36 weeks
ended October 12, 1997, respectively.
Primarily as a result of the factors discussed above Ralphs/Food 4 Less'
operating income increased from $103 million in the 36 weeks ended October 6,
1996 to $138 million in the 36 weeks ended October 12, 1997.
RECENT OPERATING RESULTS
Set forth below is certain information with respect to recent financial
results of Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less. Fred Meyer's 1997 fiscal year
ended on January 31, 1998, but Fred Meyer has not yet completed the preparation
of its annual financial statements. Ralphs/Food 4 Less' 1997 fiscal year ended
on February 1, 1998, but Ralphs/Food 4 Less has not completed the preparation of
its annual financial
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<PAGE> 37
statements. QFC issued an earnings report on February 4, 1998 with respect to
its 1997 fiscal year ended December 27, 1997.
Fred Meyer. Fred Meyer's comparable store sales for the 40 weeks ended
November 8, 1997 increased 7.2% from the corresponding period in the prior
fiscal year. Fred Meyer believes that the factors that contributed to Fred
Meyer's strong comparable sales during the 40 weeks ended November 8, 1997
continued during Fred Meyer's fourth quarter of fiscal 1997.
QFC. On February 4, 1998, QFC announced net sales of approximately $1.9
billion for the 52 weeks ended December 27, 1997, as compared to approximately
$805 million for the 52 weeks ended December 28, 1996. QFC also announced that
comparable store sales for fiscal 1997 increased 2% from fiscal 1996 and that
net earnings for fiscal 1997 were approximately $40 million, as compared to
approximately $25 million for fiscal 1996.
Ralphs/Food 4 Less. Ralphs/Food 4 Less comparable store sales for the 36
weeks ended October 12, 1997 increased 2.2% from the corresponding period in the
prior fiscal year. Management of Ralphs/Food 4 Less anticipates that Ralphs/Food
4 Less' sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997 will decline slightly from
the level reported in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1996. This decline is
primarily attributable to an additional week in the prior year's period and a
slight decrease in comparable store sales in the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997.
Management of Ralphs/Food 4 Less expects that comparable store sales for all of
fiscal 1997 will remain positive.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Following the Mergers, the Company's principal source of liquidity will be
cash generated from operations and the New Senior Credit Facilities. In
connection with the Mergers, based on current information and subject to
adjustment, Fred Meyer will issue an estimated 21.3 million shares of common
stock to existing Ralphs/Food 4 Less stockholders and warrant holders and
approximately 41.0 million shares of common stock to existing QFC shareholders
in exchange for all of the outstanding stock and warrants of Ralphs/Food 4 Less
and all of the outstanding stock of QFC. In addition, the Company is offering
the Notes. See "Description of Notes." The net proceeds from the Offering will
be used, together with the New Senior Credit Facilities, to refinance
substantially all of the outstanding bank and public indebtedness of Fred Meyer,
QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less, and the New Lease Facility will be used to refinance
a portion of Fred Meyer's operating leasing arrangements. See "Use of Proceeds."
The New Senior Credit Facilities will consist of (i) a $1.75 billion term
loan facility (the "Term Loan Facility") and (ii) a $2.0 billion revolving
credit facility (the "Revolving Credit Facility"). The New Lease Facility will
consist of a $500 million facility. Principal repayments under the Term Loan
Facility will amortize in quarterly installments commencing after the first full
fiscal quarter following the closing of the Refinancings through the final
maturity of the Term Loan Facility in March 2003. The Revolving Credit Facility
will be available for working capital and other general corporate purposes, and
any outstanding amounts thereunder will become due in March 2003. The New Lease
Facility will mature in March 2003 and will be available to refinance certain
lease obligations and for the construction and/or acquisition of additional
leased facilities.
As of November 8, 1997, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the
Transactions, the Company would have had total indebtedness (including current
maturities and capital lease obligations) and stockholders' equity of $5.3
billion and $2.1 billion, respectively. Total indebtedness consists of long-term
debt, including borrowings under the New Senior Credit Facilities, the Notes and
capitalized leases. Total indebtedness does not reflect certain commitments and
contingencies of the Company, including operating leases under the New Lease
Facility and other operating lease obligations. Total indebtedness should be
read in conjunction with the historical consolidated financial statements,
including the respective notes thereto, of each of Fred Meyer, QFC and
Ralphs/Food 4 Less, incorporated by reference herein. The Company will have
significant interest and principal repayment obligations (including with respect
to the Notes) and significant rental payment obligations (including with respect
to the New Lease Facility) and the ability of the Company to satisfy such
obligations is subject to prevailing economic, financial and business conditions
and to other factors, many of
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<PAGE> 38
which are beyond the Company's control. A significant amount of the Company's
borrowings and rental obligations will bear interest at floating rates
(including borrowings under the New Senior Credit Facilities and obligations
under the New Lease Facility), which will expose the Company to the risk of
increased interest and rental rates.
The Company expects that after giving effect to the Transactions, as of
March 11, 1998, the Company would have $3.4 billion of borrowings and $137
million of letters of credit outstanding under the New Senior Credit Facilities.
The Company would also have $303 million outstanding under the New Lease
Facility. An additional $202 million is expected to be available for future
borrowing under the Revolving Credit Facility. In addition, the Company expects
to have available for the construction and/or acquisition of additional leased
facilities $197 million under the New Lease Facility. Annual scheduled long-term
debt maturities for the five fiscal years commencing fiscal 1998, on a pro forma
basis, would be $28 million, $130 million, $289 million, $353 million, and $602
million, respectively. The Company's future level of borrowings and amounts of
other obligations will be dependent upon cash flows from operations, the timing
of disbursements, seasonality requirements and capital expenditure and leasing
activity.
As a result of the Refinancings, the Company expects to record charges in
the first quarter of 1998 of approximately $220 million, net of income taxes,
consisting of the prepayment penalties and write off of deferred financing costs
associated with the Refinancings. In addition, the Company intends to write off
certain Merger related expenses. The amount of the charge has not been
quantified and is not reflected in the summary unaudited pro forma condensed
combined financial statements herein.
The Company's anticipated capital expenditures are scheduled to be
approximately $665 million in 1998. In addition to expenditures relating to the
integration of Fred Meyer, Ralphs/Food 4 Less and QFC, the Company's 1998
capital expenditure plan currently includes the construction of 40 new stores
and the remodeling of 60 of its existing stores. Capital expenditures do not
include construction or acquisition of additional leased facilities funded under
the New Lease Facility or other operating lease facilities.
After giving effect to the Mergers, the book value of land and buildings
owned by Company is expected to be approximately $1.4 billion; this does not
give effect to the required fair valuation of Ralphs/Food 4 Less land and
buildings in connection with purchase accounting for the Ralphs/Food 4 Less
Merger.
The Company anticipates that cash flow from operations and availability
under the New Senior Credit Facilities will be sufficient to provide financing
for anticipated capital expenditures, working capital and scheduled debt service
requirements through the remainder of fiscal 1998. The Company also has
available an additional $1 billion of debt securities through its shelf
registration statement.
YEAR 2000
The Company has performed an analysis and is modifying its computer
software to address the year 2000 issues. Management believes that all software
modifications necessary to operate and effectively manage the Company will be
performed by the year 2000 and that related costs will not have a material
impact on the results of operations, cash flow, or financial condition of future
periods.
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<PAGE> 39
BUSINESS
Unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, the
discussion set forth under "-- Fred Meyer", "-- QFC", "-- Ralphs/Food 4 Less",
relates to the stores owned and the business conducted by each of Fred Meyer,
QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less prior to the consummation of the Mergers.
THE COMPANY
Upon completion of the Mergers, the Company will be one of the largest
domestic food retailers, operating more than 800 supermarkets and
multi-department stores, many of which are located in the fastest growing
markets in the United States. The Company will have the largest market share in
the Los Angeles, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Albuquerque markets and
the second largest market share in the Phoenix and Portland markets as well as a
number one or two market share in twelve additional markets. The Company will be
a geographically diversified food retailer that operates multiple formats that
appeal to customers across a wide range of income brackets. In the Pacific
Northwest, Southwest and Intermountain states, the Company will operate
multi-department stores principally under the Fred Meyer banner and food and
drug combination stores principally under the Smith's Food & Drug Centers
banner; in Southern California, the Company will operate conventional
supermarkets under the Ralphs banner and price-impact warehouse supermarkets
under the Food 4 Less banner; and in the Seattle/Puget Sound Region, the Company
will also operate premium supermarkets principally under the QFC banner. On a
pro forma basis, after giving effect to the Mergers, the Company's net sales and
EBITDA (as defined) for the 52 weeks ended February 1, 1997 would have been
approximately $14.4 billion and $981 million, respectively.
COMPETITIVE STRENGTHS
Because of the contiguous and overlapping geographic areas of operations of
Fred Meyer, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less and their complementary merchandising
strategies, the Company believes the Mergers will strengthen the Company's store
franchises and allow the Company to realize significant additional benefits.
Management believes that the combined company will benefit from the following
competitive strengths: (i) an outstanding franchise value; (ii) leading market
shares in fast-growing markets; (iii) a well-positioned and modern store base;
(iv) a modern infrastructure; and (v) an experienced management team.
Outstanding Franchise Value. As a result of the long operating histories of
the Company's banners and their reputation for delivering superior customer
value, the Company has developed strong brand name recognition and customer
loyalty for each of its operating formats. Management believes that the Company
has benefitted and should continue to benefit from this strong franchise value.
Based upon information available to the management of the Company, on a pro
forma basis after giving effect to the Mergers, the Company will have one of the
industry's highest EBITDA margins.
Leading Market Shares in Fast-Growing Markets. By offering superior
customer service and competitive pricing, the Company's banners have developed
leading market shares in each of their principal markets. The Company will have
the number one market share in the Los Angeles, Orange County, Seattle, Las
Vegas, Salt Lake City and Albuquerque markets and the number two market share in
the Phoenix, Portland and Riverside/San Bernardino markets which are among the
largest and fastest growing population centers in the United States.
Well-Positioned and Modern Store Base. Management believes that the
Company's store locations include many sites in developed urban and suburban
locations which would be difficult to replicate. The Company has invested
significant capital in its store base over the last seven years through the
addition of new stores and the remodeling of existing stores in order to improve
the overall quality of its customer's shopping experience. As a result,
approximately 77% of the Company's stores have been opened or remodeled within
the past seven years.
Modern Infrastructure. Subsequent to the Mergers, the Company believes it
will have state-of-the-industry warehousing and distribution systems which are
conveniently located within the areas served by the Company. As a result of the
Mergers and the significant investment in its infrastructure over the last
several
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<PAGE> 40
years, management believes the Company will be able to lower its distribution
costs as a percentage of net sales and maintain lower levels of inventory.
Experienced Management Team. The senior operating management of Fred Meyer,
QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less will continue to operate their respective store bases
supported in large part by centralized purchasing, distribution, and
manufacturing. These senior operating managers have an average of over 24 years
of experience in the food retailing industry. Moreover, many of the senior
operating managers of the Company have spent much of their careers in their
respective local markets. Members of the senior management team have
successfully completed several acquisitions at their respective companies. The
Company considers its senior management to be industry leaders in operating its
principal store formats: one-stop shopping multi-department, food and drug
combination, premium, conventional and price-impact supermarket stores.
BENEFITS OF THE MERGERS
Management believes that the Mergers will provide the Company with the
following benefits: (i) realization of approximately $100 million in annual cost
savings over a four-year period; (ii) cross-fertilization of merchandising
expertise; and (iii) attractive in-market new store opportunities.
Realization of Cost Savings. Management believes that approximately $100
million of annual cost savings are achievable over a four-year period following
the Mergers. Cost-saving opportunities expected to result from the Merger
include: (i) the elimination of duplicative overhead and administrative
expenses; (ii) the consolidation of distribution centers and manufacturing
facilities; (iii) the combination of purchasing and merchandising operations;
and (iv) the reduction of advertising expenses. A significant portion of the
total cost savings are expected to result from two in-market consolidations. In
Southern California, the Hughes Family Markets will be converted to the Ralphs
format and will utilize the existing Ralphs/Food 4 Less administrative,
distribution and manufacturing infrastructure. In the Seattle/Puget Sound
Region, the Company will convert QFC stores from third party distribution to
utilize Fred Meyer's warehousing and distribution infrastructure and to reduce
QFC's general and administrative overhead. See "Forward-Looking Statements" and
"Risk Factors -- Ability to Achieve Intended Benefits of the Mergers."
Cross-Fertilization of Merchandising Expertise. Management has identified
several areas of opportunity to enhance revenues and improve profitability by
applying merchandising "best practices" across store formats. For example,
management intends to apply Fred Meyer's experience and expertise in general
merchandising to Ralphs' store base, utilize Ralphs/Food 4 Less' and Fred
Meyer's private-label expertise in QFC's store base and apply QFC's successful
home meal replacement and prepared food concepts in Fred Meyer's, Smith's Food
and Drug Centers' and Ralphs' store bases.
Attractive In-Market Store Opportunities. The Company will operate a number
of complementary operating formats which will provide enhanced opportunities for
in-market new store growth. Management believes that its experience in operating
these multiple formats will allow the Company to appeal to an expanded customer
base among a wider range of income brackets and increase its market share,
thereby leveraging the Company's infrastructure and reducing its operating
costs.
FRED MEYER
Fred Meyer has been in retail operations in the Pacific Northwest since
1922. Fred Meyer operates 112 multi-department stores in the Pacific Northwest
and Intermountain regions under the Fred Meyer banner, including 45 stores in
Oregon, 40 stores in Washington, 10 stores in Utah, 7 stores in Alaska, 9 stores
in Idaho, and 1 store in Montana. The average Fred Meyer multi-department store
is 145,700 square feet with a flexible store format offering a full-service food
department and a variety of nonfood departments. In addition, Fred Meyer
operates 164 specialty stores consisting primarily of 159 mall jewelry stores
under the names Fred Meyer Jewelers, Merksamer Jewelers, and Fox's Jewelers. In
September 1997, Fred Meyer acquired Smith's to expand its presence in the
Intermountain states and enter the Southwest region of the United States.
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<PAGE> 41
With its multi-department stores Fred Meyer emphasizes customer
satisfaction, large selections of highly popular products and competitive
pricing. In these stores, Fred Meyer typically sells over 225,000 items, with an
emphasis on necessities and items of everyday use. These stores are organized
into departments and sections within departments that specialize in the sale of
particular products such as food, apparel, home electronics, products for the
home, general merchandise and fine jewelry. Most of Fred Meyer's departments and
sections are self-service, except in areas where special sales assistance is
required, such as service delicatessens, service meat and/or fish, home
electronics, fine jewelry and pharmacy. Most of the multi-department store
locations have complementary third-party tenants (such as banks, optical
centers, gourmet coffee bars, restaurants and video rental stores) that attract
high customer traffic. The Fred Meyer stores are generally positioned as the
lowest priced full-service food retailer in each of the Fred Meyer's major
markets. Management believes that Fred Meyer's everyday low price food strategy
increases the shopping frequency of customers, builds customer loyalty and
increases customer traffic, thereby generating higher levels of sales in nonfood
departments. The nonfood departments carry a broad selection of national and
private label brands and employ a promotional pricing strategy. The nonfood
departments have recently focused on developing selected specialty boutique
departments which management believes have increased overall same store sales
and resulted in higher gross margins.
Together with a wide variety of well-known national brands, food
departments in Fred Meyer multi-department stores carry private-label brands of
grocery items under the names First Choice, Fred Meyer, and FMV (Fred Meyer
Value). Since 1992, Fred Meyer has focused on increasing sales of private-label
grocery items. As a result of this focus, the sale of private-label grocery
items has increased from approximately 12% to approximately 20% of total food
sales for the first nine months of 1997. Private-label items generally generate
higher margins for Fred Meyer at lower prices for the consumer than national
brand products. The strategy employed in nonfood departments is to use
private-label products for both entry-level price points and better offering at
value prices. In 1995 and 1996, Fred Meyer introduced additional private-label
items in the home and apparel departments to bring additional value to its
customers and to improve gross margins in these areas. Private-label sales in
the home and apparel departments represented approximately 16% of these
departments' sales in fiscal 1997, with a long-term goal of 20%.
Through Smith's Food & Drug Centers, Fred Meyer currently operates a total
of 155 stores, averaging 67,200 square feet, (including 132 food and drug
combination stores under the Smith's Food & Drug Centers banner; 18
multi-department stores under the Smitty's banner; and 5 price-impact warehouse
format stores under the PriceRite banner) in a seven-state area as follows:
Arizona (57), Utah (40), Nevada (25), New Mexico (19), Idaho (5), Wyoming (5)
and Texas (4). Smith's Food & Drug Centers' operating format offers customers
the ability to fulfill a significant portion of their daily and weekly shopping
needs at one convenient location and establishes and promotes a reputation as a
low price operator in the trade area of each of its stores.
Substantially all of the Smith's Food & Drug Centers offer shopping
convenience through a food and drug combination format which features a
full-line supermarket with drug and pharmacy departments as well as some or all
of the following specialty departments: delicatessens, hot prepared food
sections, in-store bakeries, video rental shops, floral shops, one-hour photo
processing labs, full-service banking, and frozen yogurt shops. In addition,
combination stores carry a wide variety of general merchandise, including
pharmaceutical products, toys, hardware, giftware, greeting cards and small
appliances. Within each category of merchandise, the stores offer multiple
selections of nationally advertised brand name items. In addition, the stores
carry an extensive selection of private-label merchandise, which provides
comparable quality products priced lower than national brands. Approximately 20%
of Smith's Food & Drug Centers grocery sales are derived from private-label
items. Smith's Food & Drug Centers also carry a variety of bulk merchandise and
generic brand products which enhance its low price image. The 18 Smitty's
multi-department stores offer an expanded selection of non-grocery merchandise
in a format similar to Fred Meyer's multi-department stores. The 5 PriceRite
Grocery Warehouse stores are targeted to price-conscious consumers rather than
conventional supermarket consumers. The PriceRite stores offer lower prices,
fewer SKUs and fewer service departments than conventional supermarket stores.
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<PAGE> 42
The "Fresh Values Frequent Shopper Card," which was introduced in 1997, is
at the core of Smith's Food & Drug Centers' marketing strategy. Management
believes that this strategy has provided Smith's Food & Drug Centers with
significant brand identity and operating leverage. The card provides
differentiation in most markets as the majority of Smith's Food & Drug Centers
competitors do not offer a similar discount card. Management believes that the
"Fresh Values Frequent Shopper Card": (i) increases shopping frequency; (ii)
increases average transaction size; (iii) cultivates loyalty in the most
profitable customers; (iv) reduces customer defections; and (v) builds customer
data for targeted marketing programs.
QFC
QFC operates 89 QFC stores in the Seattle/Puget Sound Region and 56 Hughes
Family Markets stores in Southern California. The QFC stores range in size from
14,000 to 68,000 square feet and average 35,400 square feet. During the past six
years, QFC has acquired and successfully integrated 59 stores from 12 operators
in the Seattle/Puget Sound Region, including 12 stores acquired from Olson's
Food Stores in 1995. The 25 store KUI acquisition represented a continuation of
this strategy of expanding QFC's presence in the Seattle/Puget Sound Region and
contiguous geographic markets.
Management believes that QFC has historically achieved strong margins which
it attributes primarily to QFC's merchandising and operating practices combined
with favorable customer demographics in its markets. Offering a wide variety of
high-quality meat, seafood and produce to its customers is a fundamental tenet
of QFC's merchandising strategy. Management believes that its reputation for
providing among the freshest and widest varieties of these major groups of
perishables, displayed in a clean and visually appealing presentation, is a
major attraction for its customers. QFC has recently developed a three-tier
proprietary brands program, which includes "signature", "endorsed" and "price
fighter" brands. QFC's proprietary brands sales for the third quarter of fiscal
1997 accounted for approximately 10.5% of grocery sales.
QFC's merchandising strategy emphasizes: (i) superior customer service;
(ii) a wide variety of high-quality meat, seafood, produce and other
perishables; (iii) high-quality convenience-oriented specialty departments and
services; and (iv) a broad assortment of higher-margin proprietary brands.
Management believes that QFC's strengths in merchandising have earned QFC stores
a reputation for providing superior value to their customers. QFC has
significantly expanded its selection of prepared foods and "home meal
replacements" which management believes appeals to the increasing convenience
orientation of its customers. Many QFC stores also offer natural food sections,
video rentals, fresh juice bars and pharmacies. In addition, QFC has leased
space within its stores to branded specialty food operators including Starbucks
Coffee, Cinnabon World Famous Cinnamon Rolls and Noah's New York Bagels, as well
as to full-service banks such as Seafirst National Bank.
In March 1997, QFC acquired Hughes, a Los Angeles-based supermarket chain.
After the Mergers, as a result of similar store formats and customer bases, the
stores operating under the Hughes Family Markets banner will be converted to the
Ralphs banner. Management believes that the consolidation of Hughes into Ralphs
is expected to result in significant operating and merchandising efficiencies.
Hughes currently operates a total of 56 stores in Southern California including
30 stores in Los Angeles County, 13 in Orange County, 6 in San Bernardino
County, 4 in Ventura County and 3 in Riverside County.
RALPHS/FOOD 4 LESS
With the first Ralphs store opening in 1872, Ralphs/Food 4 Less is the
largest supermarket operator in Southern California, which is one of the largest
food retailing markets in the United States with a population of 19 million. In
Southern California, Ralphs/Food 4 Less operates 264 conventional supermarkets,
averaging 37,000 square feet, under the Ralphs banner and 80 price-impact
supermarkets in a warehouse format, averaging 52,900 square feet, under the Food
4 Less banner. Operating two complementary formats allows Ralphs/Food 4 Less to
serve a broader customer base than its competitors.
Ralphs stocks between 35,000 and 45,000 merchandise items in its stores,
including approximately 2,800 private-label products. Ralphs stores offer
name-brand grocery products; quality and freshness in its produce, meat,
seafood, delicatessen and bakery products; and broad selection in all
departments. Most Ralphs stores
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<PAGE> 43
offer service delicatessen departments, on-premises bakery facilities and
seafood departments. Ralphs emphasizes store ambiance and cleanliness, fast and
friendly service, the convenience of debit and credit card payment (including
many in-store branch banks) and 24-hour operations in most stores.
Ralphs' private-label program provides quality comparable to that of
national brands at lower prices, while its gross margins on private-label
products are generally higher than on national brands. The Ralphs home meal
replacement program offers a wide range of high-quality, pre-packaged fresh,
refrigerated and frozen food items. Ralphs utilizes innovative and aggressive
marketing programs in an effort to increase sales, market share and
profitability. In September 1996, Ralphs launched its "First in Southern
California" marketing program, which emphasizes Ralphs' lower regular retail
prices in conjunction with its premier quality, wide selection and enhanced
customer service. Management believes that consumers' favorable response to the
"First in Southern California" marketing campaign resulted in increased customer
traffic at its stores. Also during the third fiscal quarter of 1997, Ralphs
completed the first phase of its "Ralphs Club Card" program and launched the
marketing program shortly after the quarter ended. The "Ralphs Club Card"
program is a frequent shopper program intended to increase customer shopping
frequency and transaction size and to provide valuable information about
consumer shopping habits.
Food 4 Less is a warehouse-style, price-impact store which is positioned to
offer the lowest overall prices in its marketing areas by passing on to the
consumer savings achieved through labor efficiencies and lower overhead and
advertising costs associated with the warehouse format, while providing the
product selection and variety associated with a conventional format. In-store
operations are designed to allow customers to perform certain labor-intensive
services usually offered in conventional supermarkets. For example, merchandise
is presented on warehouse style tracks in full cartons, reducing labor intensive
unpacking, and customers bag their own groceries. Management believes that there
is a significant segment of the market, encompassing a wide range of demographic
groups, which prefers to shop in a warehouse format supermarket because of its
lowest overall pricing.
Ralphs/Food 4 Less also operates stores in Northern California and the
Midwest. The Northern California division of Ralphs/Food 4 Less operates 21
conventional supermarkets in the greater San Francisco Bay area under the Cala
and Bell banners and six warehouse format stores under the FoodsCo banner. The
Midwestern division of Ralphs/Food 4 Less operates 38 stores, of which 33
operate under the Food 4 Less banner, and five of which are conventional
supermarkets operated under the Falley's banner. Of these 38 stores, 34 are
located in Kansas and four are located in Missouri.
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<PAGE> 44
PROPERTIES
The following table sets forth, pro forma for the Mergers, certain
information regarding the Company's store base:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NO. OF AVG. SQ.
PRINCIPAL BANNERS STORES OWNED LEASED FORMATS FOOTAGE GEOGRAPHIC REGION
- -------------------- ------- ----- ------- ---------------------- -------- --------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Fred Meyer(1) 112 23 89 Multi-department 145,700 Pacific Northwest
and Intermountain
Smith's Food & Drug 155 113 42 Food and drug 67,200 Southwest and
Centers combination, multi- Intermountain
Smitty's department,
PriceRite price-impact warehouse
QFC 89 9 80 Premium 35,400 Pacific Northwest
Ralphs(2) 320 61 259 Conventional 37,000 Southern California
Food 4 Less 80 5 75 Price-impact warehouse 52,900 Southern California
Other(3) 65 2 63 Conventional and 31,000 Midwest and Northern
price-impact warehouse California
--- ----- -----
TOTAL(4) 821 213 608
</TABLE>
- ---------------
(1) Does not include 5 specialty stores and 159 jewelry stores.
(2) Includes Hughes Family Markets which are being converted to Ralphs after the
Mergers. Fifteen of the owned stores are located on real property subject to
ground leases.
(3) Includes conventional and warehouse format stores operated by Ralphs under
the names Cala, Bell, Falley's and FoodsCo.
(4) Does not reflect the divestiture of 19 stores in Southern California
pursuant to the Settlement Agreement. Management does not believe that such
divestitures will materially adversely affect the Company's business
strategy, financial condition or results of operations. See "The Merger and
the Refinancings."
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<PAGE> 45
MANAGEMENT
After the Mergers, the management team of the Company will include
individuals who have significant managerial and operating experience, including
in the acquisition and the integration of similar businesses. Robert G. Miller
has been the President and Chief Executive Officer of Fred Meyer since 1991 and
has 37 years of experience in the supermarket/retailing industry. Mr. Miller has
successfully guided Fred Meyer through the integration of the Smith's
acquisition. Mary Sammons, the President of Fred Meyer Stores, has been with
Fred Meyer since 1973. Dan Kourkoumelis, the President and Chief Executive
Officer of QFC, has 30 years of experience in the supermarket/retailing
industry. George Golleher, a native of Los Angeles, is the Chief Executive
Officer of Ralphs/Food 4 Less, and has 28 years of supermarket/retailing
experience.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEARS OF RETAIL
NAME AGE POSITION EXPERIENCE
------------------------ --- ---------------------------------------- ---------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Ronald W. Burkle........ 45 Chairman of Fred Meyer 32
Robert G. Miller........ 52 President and Chief Executive Officer of 37
Fred Meyer
Mary F. Sammons......... 50 President of Fred Meyer Stores 24
George E. Golleher...... 49 President and Chief Executive Officer of 28
Ralphs/Food 4 Less
Dan Kourkoumelis........ 46 Chief Executive Officer of Quality Food 30
Centers
Abel T. Porter.......... 39 President of Smith's Food & Drug Centers 25
Kenneth Thrasher........ 47 Executive Vice President and Chief 15
Administrative Officer of Fred Meyer
Sammy K. Duncan......... 45 Executive Vice President Food Group of 28
Fred Meyer Stores
Kenneth A. Martindale... 38 Executive Vice President, Purchasing of 23
Fred Meyer
David R. Jessick........ 44 Senior Vice President and Chief 19
Financial Officer of Fred Meyer
Roger A. Cooke.......... 49 Senior Vice President and General 6
Counsel of Fred Meyer
</TABLE>
Mr. Burkle has been a director and Chairman of Fred Meyer since July 1997.
Mr. Burkle is the managing partner of The Yucaipa Companies, a private
investment group specializing in the acquisition and management of supermarket
chains, which he founded in 1986. Mr. Burkle also serves as Chairman of the
Board of Ralphs/Food 4 Less and Dominick's Supermarkets, Inc., a leading Chicago
area supermarket chain. Over the course of his career, Mr. Burkle has held
management positions in a wide variety of operational areas within the
supermarket industry. Mr. Burkle is also a director of Kaufman and Broad Home
Corporation.
Mr. Miller became President in April 1997 and has been Chief Executive
Officer of the Company since 1991. He was Chairman of the Board from August 1991
to July 1997. Prior to that time he was employed by Albertson's, where his most
recent positions were Executive Vice President of Retail Operations from 1989 to
1991 and Senior Vice President and Regional Manager from 1985 to 1989.
Ms. Sammons was recently promoted to the new position of President of Fred
Meyer Stores. Prior to her promotion she was Executive Vice President -- Nonfood
Group of Fred Meyer. Ms. Sammons joined the Company in 1973 and became a buyer
in 1975. She was promoted to Vice President and Merchandiser in 1980, Senior
Vice President of the Softgoods Division in 1989 and Senior Vice President of
Apparel and Home Electronics in 1995.
Mr. Golleher has been Chief Executive Officer of Ralphs/Food 4 Less since
January 1996 and a Director since June 1995. He was Vice Chairman from June 1995
to January 1996. He was a Director of Food 4 Less Supermarkets from its
inception in 1989 and was the President and Chief Operating Officer of Food 4
Less Supermarkets from January 1990 until June 1995. From 1986 through 1989, Mr.
Golleher served as Senior Vice President -- Finance and Administration of The
Boys Markets, Inc.
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<PAGE> 46
Mr. Kourkoumelis was appointed Executive Vice President of QFC in 1983,
Chief Operating Officer in 1987, President in 1989 and Chief Executive Officer
in September 1996. In late May 1997, Mr. Kourkoumelis was appointed President
and Chief Executive Officer of Hughes.
Mr. Porter has been recently promoted to the position of President of
Smith's. Prior to his promotion, he was Senior Vice President and Regional
Manager for Smith's, a position which he also held from 1990 to 1993. In the
years prior to this appointment, Mr. Porter worked in both the Intermountain and
Southwest regions in several positions.
Mr. Thrasher became Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative
Officer in January of 1997. Prior to that time, he was Senior Vice President,
Finance and Chief Financial Officer from March 1989 until January 1997, Vice
President Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary from 1987 until 1989
and Vice President, Corporate Treasurer from 1982 until 1987.
Mr. Duncan became Senior Vice President, Food Group in February 1996. Prior
to that time, he served as Food Group Division Vice President from 1994 to
February 1996 and Vice President Grocery Merchandiser from 1992 to 1994. During
1991 and prior to joining the Company in 1992, he was Director of Operations for
Albertson's.
Mr. Martindale was recently promoted to the new position of Executive Vice
President of Purchasing and Procurement for Fred Meyer. Prior to his promotion,
Mr. Martindale was Senior Vice President of Sales and Procurement. He served as
Vice President of Merchandising in the California region from 1991 to 1995. From
1984 to 1991, he served as a district manager for the Intermountain region.
Mr. Jessick became Senior Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial
Officer in January of 1997. Prior to that time, he was employed by Thrifty
PayLess Holdings Inc., where his most recent positions were Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer from 1994 to 1996 and Senior Vice
President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer from 1990 until 1994.
Mr. Cooke became Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary in
April 1993. Prior to that time he was Vice President, General Counsel and
Secretary of the Company from August 1992 until April 1993. From 1982 to 1992,
he was an officer of Pan American World Airways, Inc. serving as Senior Vice
President and General Counsel from 1990 to 1992. From 1973 to 1980, he was
associated with the law firm Simpson Thacher and Bartlett.
DESCRIPTION OF NEW SENIOR CREDIT FACILITIES AND NEW LEASE FACILITY
The Company has entered into commitment letters with The Chase Manhattan
Bank, Bankers Trust Company, NationsBank, N.A. and Salomon Brothers Holding
Company Inc to provide the New Senior Credit Facilities and the New Lease
Facility. The New Senior Credit Facilities will consist of (i) the $1.75 billion
Term Loan Facility and (ii) the $2.0 billion Revolving Credit Facility. The New
Lease Facility will consist of a $500 million facility. The Company will enter
into the New Senior Credit Facilities and the New Lease Facility concurrently
with the closing of the Offering.
The Term Loan Facility will be fully drawn in connection with the
Refinancings. The Term Loan Facility will amortize in quarterly installments in
aggregate annual amounts of $50 million, $200 million, $300 million, $400
million and $800 million, commencing after the first full fiscal quarter
following the closing of the Refinancings to the final maturity of the Term Loan
Facility in March 2003.
The Company anticipates that the Revolving Credit Facility will include a
$200 million letter of credit subfacility. The Revolving Credit Facility will be
available to finance the fees associated with the Mergers, to consummate the
Refinancings and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The
Revolving Credit Facility will mature in March 2003.
The New Lease Facility will be available to refinance certain operating
lease obligations of Fred Meyer and for the construction and/or acquisition of
additional leased facilities. The New Lease Facility will mature in March 2003.
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<PAGE> 47
Borrowings under the New Senior Credit Facilities and the New Lease
Facility are expected to initially bear interest at a rate per annum equal to
LIBOR (as defined therein) plus an additional margin of 1.0% or ABR (as defined
therein). Following the second full fiscal quarter after the closing of the
Refinancings, the additional margin to be added to ABR or LIBOR, as applicable,
will range from zero to 0.25% (in the case of ABR) and 0.625% to 1.25% (in the
case of LIBOR) based upon certain financial ratios of the Company or the
Company's senior unsecured long-term debt ratings. The Company will also be
required to pay a commitment fee on the undrawn portion of the Revolving Credit
Facility and the New Lease Facility and a fee on the undrawn face amount of
outstanding letters of credit.
The New Senior Credit Facilities and the obligations under the New Lease
Facility will be unconditionally guaranteed, on a joint and several basis by,
and will be secured by a pledge of the outstanding capital stock of, all of the
Company's direct and indirect subsidiaries (except for certain inactive or
immaterial subsidiaries). It is expected that New Senior Credit Facilities and
the New Lease Facility will provide that pledges of such subsidiary stock will
be released if and when the Company receives investment grade ratings for its
long-term senior unsecured debt from both Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and
Standard & Poor's Corporation. In addition, the Company will guarantee all of
the obligations of the lessor with respect to the financing relating to the New
Lease Facility (such guarantee of the Company to be guaranteed by the
subsidiaries of the Company as described in the first sentence of this
paragraph).
Loans under the New Senior Credit Facilities will be subject to mandatory
prepayment (and commitment reductions in the case of the Revolving Credit
Facilities) with the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales and debt
issuances, and with a certain percentage of excess cash flow on an annual basis.
The New Senior Credit Facilities and the New Lease Facility will contain
customary closing conditions, including, but not limited to, the closing of the
Mergers, the Refinancings and the Offering. Future borrowings under the
Revolving Credit Facility and the New Lease Facility will be subject to the
further condition that the representations and warranties therein shall be true
and correct.
The New Senior Credit Facilities and the New Lease Facility will contain
customary representations and warranties (including as to no materially adverse
change) and events of default (including upon a change of control (as defined
therein)), and will require compliance by the Company and its subsidiaries with
certain covenants including, among other things, (i) maintenance of certain
financial ratios; (ii) limitations on incurring subsidiary indebtedness, the
granting of liens, the making of investments and loans, the payment of
dividends, the repurchase of stock and the prepayment of subordinated
indebtedness; and (iii) restrictions on mergers, asset sales and dissolutions
and on engaging to any material extent in any business other than of the type
engaged in on the date hereof and businesses reasonably related thereto.
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<PAGE> 48
DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
The following description of the particular terms of the Notes offered
hereby (referred to in the accompanying Prospectus as the "Debt Securities")
supplements, and to the extent inconsistent therewith supersedes, the
description of the general terms and provisions of Notes set forth in the
accompanying Prospectus, to which description reference is hereby made.
GENERAL
The Notes are to be issued under an Indenture (as amended or supplemented
from time to time, the "Indenture") among the Company, the Guarantors and The
First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee (the "Trustee"). The following
summary of certain provisions of the Indenture does not purport to be complete
and is subject to and is qualified in its entirety by reference to all
provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions of certain terms therein
and those terms that are made a part thereof by reference to the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended. Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall
have the meanings given to them in the accompanying Prospectus or the Indenture.
References in this "Description of Notes" section (i) to the "Company," mean
only Fred Meyer, Inc. and not any of its Subsidiaries and (ii) to the
"Subsidiaries," mean the Subsidiaries of the Company after giving effect to the
Mergers.
Principal and interest on the Notes will be payable, the transfer of the
Notes will be registrable and the Notes may be presented for exchange, at the
office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose (which initially
will be at the corporate trust office of the Trustee located at c/o First
Chicago Trust Company of New York, 14 Wall Street, 8th Floor - Window 2, New
York, New York 10005). So long as the Notes are represented by Book Entry
Securities, the interest payable on the Notes will be paid to Cede & Co., the
nominee of DTC, or its registered assigns as the registered owner of such Book
Entry Securities, by wire transfer of immediately available funds on each
applicable interest payment date. If any of the Notes are no longer represented
by a Book Entry Security, payment of interest may, at the option of the Company,
be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto. No
service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of Notes, but the
Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other
governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
CERTAIN TERMS OF THE 2005 NOTES
The 2005 Notes will be limited to $ aggregate principal
amount and will mature on March , 2005. The 2005 Notes will be unsecured
obligations of the Company and will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000. The 2005 Notes will bear interest from March ,
1998, payable on March and September of each year, commencing September ,
1998, to the persons in whose name the 2005 Notes are registered on the
preceding February and August , respectively. The 2005 Notes will not be
entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
CERTAIN TERMS OF THE 2008 NOTES
The 2008 Notes will be limited to $ aggregate principal
amount and will mature on March , 2008. The 2008 Notes will be unsecured
obligations of the Company and will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples of $1,000. The 2008 Notes will bear interest from March ,
1998, payable on March and September of each year, commencing September ,
1998, to the persons in whose name the 2008 Notes are registered on the
preceding February and August , respectively. The 2008 Notes will not be
entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
The Notes will be redeemable, as a whole or in part, at the option of the
Company, at any time or from time to time, on at least 30 days but not more than
60 days prior notice mailed to the registered address of each holder of Notes,
at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount
of the Notes to be redeemed or (ii) the sum of the present values of the
Remaining Scheduled Payments (as defined below) discounted, on a semiannual
basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30 day months), at
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<PAGE> 49
the Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus 50 basis points, plus in the case of
each of clause (i) and (ii) above accrued interest to the date of redemption.
"Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per
annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the
second business day immediately preceding such redemption date) of the
Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable
Treasury Price for such redemption date.
"Comparable Treasury Issue" means the fixed rate United States Treasury
security selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity most
comparable to the remaining term of the 2005 Notes or the 2008 Notes, as the
case may be, (and which are not callable prior to maturity) to be redeemed that
would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary
financial practices, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of
comparable maturity to the remaining term of the 2005 Notes or the 2008 Notes,
as the case may be. "Independent Investment Banker" means one of the Reference
Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.
"Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption date, (i)
the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed in each case as percentage of its principal amount) on the third
business day preceding such redemption date, as set forth in the daily
statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York and designated "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S.
Government Securities" or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not
published or does not contain such prices on such business day, (A) the average
of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after
excluding the highest or lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or
(B) if the Trustee obtains fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations, the average of all such quotations. "Reference Treasury Dealer
Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any
redemption date, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked
prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage
of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference
Treasury Dealer at 3:30 p.m., New York City time on the third business day
preceding such redemption date.
"Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Salomon Brothers Inc, Donaldson,
Lufkin & Jennette Securities Corporation, BT Alex. Brown Incorporated, Chase
Securities Inc., Goldman, Sachs & Co. and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and
their respective successors; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing
shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City
(a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefor another
nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a Primary Treasury Dealer.
"Remaining Scheduled Payments" means, with respect to each Note to be
redeemed, the remaining scheduled payments of the principal thereof and interest
thereon that would be due after the related redemption date but for such
redemption; provided, however, that, if such redemption date is not an interest
payment date with respect to such Note, the amount of the next succeeding
scheduled interest payment thereon will be reduced by the amount of interest
accrued thereon to such redemption date.
On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the
Notes or any portion thereof called for redemption. On or before the redemption
date, the Company shall deposit with a paying agent (or the Trustee) money
sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on the Notes to
be redeemed on such date. If less than all of the 2005 Notes or the 2008 Notes
are to be redeemed, the Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee by
such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.
RANKING
The Notes are unsecured obligations of the Company, ranking pari passu with
other unsubordinated, unsecured indebtedness of the Company, and ranking senior
in right of payment to any future subordinated indebtedness of the Company. See
"Capitalization" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations."
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<PAGE> 50
The Company Bank Credit Facilities and the Company Bank Lease Facility will
be secured by all the outstanding capital stock of all the Company's direct and
indirect material subsidiaries. The Notes (and, in the case of secured
indebtedness of a Subsidiary, the Guarantee of such Subsidiary) will be
effectively subordinated to any future secured indebtedness to the extent of the
assets securing such indebtedness.
GUARANTEES
The Notes will be unconditionally guaranteed, on a joint and several basis,
by each of the Guarantors (the "Guarantees"). Upon (i) the release by the
lenders under the Company Bank Credit Facilities and the Company Bank Lease
Facility (as defined below) and related documents of all payment obligations
with respect thereto of a Guarantor (whether or not a Default or an Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing) (provided that, with respect to the
Company Bank Lease Facility, any Guarantor who has use of leased property
financed under the Company Bank Lease Facility may remain liable under the
Company Bank Lease Facility), or (ii) the sale or disposition (whether by
merger, stock purchase, asset sale or otherwise) of a Guarantor (or
substantially all of its assets) to a Person other than the Company or a
Guarantor, which is otherwise in compliance with the Indenture, such Guarantor
(in the event of such a release of such Guarantor or a sale or disposition of
such Guarantor) or the Person acquiring such assets (in the event of sale or
disposition of all or substantially all the assets of such Guarantor) shall be
deemed automatically and unconditionally released and discharged from all its
obligations under its Guarantee; provided, however, that any such termination
shall occur only to the extent that all obligations of such Guarantor under all
of its guarantees of, and under all of its pledges of assets or other security
interests which secure, Indebtedness of the Company (other than pledges pursuant
to the Company Bank Credit Facilities and the Company Bank Lease Facility
contemplated under clause (i) of the definition of "Permitted Liens") shall also
terminate upon such release, sale or transfer; provided, further, however, with
respect to any such termination pursuant to (i) above, in the event that the
Company Bank Credit Facilities or the Company Bank Lease Facility or any future
refinancings thereof are subsequently guaranteed by any Subsidiary of the
Company, the Company shall cause such Subsidiary to unconditionally guarantee
all of the Company's obligations under the Notes and the Indenture on the terms
set forth in the Indenture and execute and deliver such further documents as
described in the covenant under "-- Certain Covenants -- Additional Guarantors."
The obligations of each Guarantor under its Guarantee are limited to the
maximum amount as will, after giving effect to all other contingent and fixed
liabilities of such Guarantor and after giving effect to any collections or
rights with respect thereto from or payments made by or on behalf of any other
Guarantor in respect of the obligations of such other Guarantor under its
Guarantee or pursuant to its contribution obligations under the Indenture,
result in the obligations of such Guarantor under such Guarantee not
constituting a fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer under applicable
federal or state law. Each Guarantor that makes a payment or distribution under
the Guarantee shall be entitled to a contribution from each other Guarantor in a
pro rata amount based on the Adjusted Net Assets (as defined in the Indenture)
of each Guarantor.
CERTAIN COVENANTS
The covenants described under "Description of Debt
Securities -- Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets" in the accompanying
prospectus will be applicable to the Notes.
Limitation on Liens. The Indenture will provide that, with respect to the
Notes, the Company will not, nor will it permit any of the Subsidiaries to,
directly or indirectly, create, incur, or suffer to exist any Lien on any of
their respective properties or assets, whether now owned or hereafter acquired,
or any proceeds therefrom or upon any income or profits therefrom, in order to
secure any Indebtedness, without contemporaneously therewith effectively
providing that the Notes shall be equally and ratably secured with respect to
all such Indebtedness until such time as all such Indebtedness is no longer
secured by such Lien, except: (i) Liens existing as of the issue date of the
Notes (the "Issue Date"); (ii) Liens granted after the Issue Date on any assets
or properties of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries created in favor of the
holders of the Notes; (iii) Liens securing Indebtedness of the Company or any of
the Subsidiaries which is incurred to extend, renew or refinance Indebtedness
which is secured by Liens permitted to be incurred under this
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<PAGE> 51
covenant; provided, however, that such Liens do not extend to or cover any
property or assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries other than the
property or assets securing the Indebtedness being refinanced and that the
principal amount of such Indebtedness does not exceed the principal amount of
the Indebtedness being refinanced; (iv) Permitted Liens; and (v) Liens created
in substitution of or as replacements for any Liens permitted by the preceding
clauses (i) through (iv), provided that, based on a good faith determination of
an officer of the Company, the property or asset encumbered under any such
substitute or replacement Lien is substantially similar in nature to the
property or asset encumbered by the otherwise permitted Lien which is being
replaced.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company or any Subsidiary may, without
securing any of the Notes, create, incur or suffer to exist Liens which would
otherwise be subject to the restriction set forth in the preceding paragraph, if
after giving effect thereto and at the time of determination, Exempted Debt does
not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.
Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. The Indenture will provide
that, with respect to the Notes, the Company will not, nor will it permit any of
the Subsidiaries to, enter into any sale and lease-back transaction for the sale
and leasing back of any property or asset, whether now owned or hereafter
acquired, of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries (except such transactions
(i) entered into prior to the Issue Date or (ii) for the sale and leasing back
of any property or asset by a Subsidiary of the Company to the Company or (iii)
involving leases for less than three years or (iv) in which the lease for the
property or assets is entered into within 120 days after the later of the date
of acquisition, completion of construction or commencement of full operations of
such property or asset), unless (a) the Company or such Subsidiary would be
entitled under the covenant described above under "-- Certain
Covenants -- Limitation on Liens" to create, incur or suffer to exist a Lien on
the property or asset to be leased in an amount at least equal to the
Attributable Liens in respect of such transaction without equally and ratably
securing the Notes, or (b) the proceeds of the sale of the assets to be leased
are at least equal to their fair market value and the proceeds are applied
within 180 days of such sale to the purchase or acquisition (or in the case of
real property, the construction) of assets or to the repayment of Funded Debt of
the Company or a Subsidiary.
Additional Guarantors. The Indenture will provide that, with respect to the
Notes, if at a time when there are Guarantees outstanding the Company or any of
the Guarantors transfers or causes to be transferred, in one transaction or a
series of related transactions, any property to any Subsidiary of the Company
that is not a Guarantor, or if at a time when there are Guarantees outstanding
the Company or any of the Guarantors shall organize, acquire or otherwise invest
in another Person that becomes a Subsidiary of the Company and such Subsidiary
is a Significant Subsidiary or such Subsidiary becomes a guarantor of the New
Senior Credit Facilities, the New Lease Facility or any future refinancings
thereof, then the Company shall cause such transferee or acquired or other
Subsidiary to (i) execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture in
form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee pursuant to which such Subsidiary
shall unconditionally guarantee all of the Company's obligations under the Notes
and the Indenture on the terms set forth in the Indenture and (ii) deliver to
the Trustee an opinion of counsel that such supplemental indenture has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Subsidiary and constitutes a legal,
valid, binding and enforceable obligation of such Subsidiary. Thereafter, such
Subsidiary shall be a Guarantor for all purposes of the Indenture (as it relates
to all such series).
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
The defeasance provisions described in the accompanying Prospectus under
"Description of Debt Securities -- Defeasance and Discharge" shall apply to the
Notes. With respect to the provisions described therein under "-- Defeasance of
Certain Covenants," the Company and the Guarantors may be released from the
restrictive covenants described herein under "-- Certain Covenants -- Limitation
on Liens" and "-- Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions" upon the terms
and conditions set forth under "-- Defeasance of Certain Covenants" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
S-51
<PAGE> 52
BOOK ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM
The Notes will be represented by one or more Book Entry Securities that
will be deposited with, or on behalf of, DTC and registered in the name of Cede
& Co., the nominee of DTC.
DTC has advised the Company and the Underwriters as follows: DTC is a
limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a
"banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member
of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of
the New York Uniform Commercial Code and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant
to the provisions of Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. DTC was
created to hold securities of its participating organizations ("participants")
and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of securities transactions, such
as transfers and pledges among its participants in such securities through
electronic computerized book-entry changes in accounts of the participants,
thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates.
Participants include securities brokers and dealers (including the
Underwriters), banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other
organizations, some of whom (and/or their representatives) own DTC. Access to
DTC's book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers,
dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodian
relationship with a participant, either directly or indirectly. Persons who are
not participants may beneficially own securities held by DTC only through
participants.
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for a certificate
issued in definitive registered form, a Book Entry Security may not be
transferred except as a whole (i) by DTC to a nominee of DTC, (ii) by a nominee
of DTC or DTC or another nominee of DTC or (iii) by DTC or any such nominee to a
successor depository or a nominee of such successor depository.
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
"Attributable Liens" means in connection with a sale and lease-back
transaction, the lesser of (a) the fair market value of the assets subject to
such transaction and (b) the present value (discounted at a rate per annum equal
to the average interest borne by all outstanding securities issued under the
Indenture (which may include securities in addition to the Notes) determined on
a weighted average basis and compounded semiannually) of the obligations of the
lessee for rental payments normally characterized as basic rent during the term
of the related lease.
"Company Bank Credit Facilities" means the New Senior Credit Facilities, as
such agreement may be amended (including any amendment and restatement),
supplemented or modified from time to time, including any replacement or
refinancing thereof in the commercial bank market (including any such
replacement or refinancing that increases the amount thereof).
"Company Bank Lease Facility" means the New Lease Facility, as such
agreement may be amended (including any amendment and restatement), supplemented
or modified from time to time, including any replacement or refinancing thereof
in the commercial bank market (including any such replacement or refinancing
that increases the amount thereof).
"Capital Lease" means any Indebtedness represented by a lease obligation of
a Person incurred with respect to real property or equipment acquired or leased
by such person and used in its business that is required to be recorded as a
capital lease in accordance with GAAP.
"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means as of any particular time the
aggregate amount of assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries after deducting
therefrom (i) all current liabilities of the Company and the Subsidiaries,
except for (a) notes and loans payable, (b) current maturities of long-term debt
(including debt having a maturity of less than 12 months from the date of
determination but which by its terms is renewable or extendable beyond 12 months
from the date of determination at the option of the obligor) and (c) current
maturities of obligations under Capital Leases; and (ii) goodwill, trademarks,
patents and minority interests of others and other intangible assets, all as set
forth on the most recent balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated
Subsidiaries and computed in accordance with GAAP.
S-52
<PAGE> 53
"Exempted Debt" means the sum of the following as of the date of
determination: (i) Indebtedness of the Company and the Subsidiaries secured by
Liens not otherwise permitted by the first sentence under the covenant described
under "-- Certain Covenants -- Limitation on Liens" above, and (ii) Attributable
Liens of the Company and the Subsidiaries in respect of sale and lease-back
transactions entered into after the Issue Date, other than sale and lease-back
transactions permitted by the limitation on sale and lease-back transactions set
forth under the covenant described under "-- Certain Covenants -- Limitation on
Sale and Lease-Back Transactions" above. For purposes of determining whether or
not a sale and lease-back transaction is "permitted" by the covenant described
under "-- Certain Covenants -- Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions,"
the last paragraph under the covenant described in "Limitation of Liens" above
(creating an exception for Exempted Debt) will be disregarded.
"Funded Debt" means any Indebtedness maturing by its terms more than 12
months from the date of determination, including any Indebtedness maturing less
than 12 months from the date of determination which is renewable or extendable
at the option of the obligor to a date later than 12 months from the date of
determination.
"Guarantor" means (i) each of the Company's direct and indirect
Subsidiaries (after giving effect to the Mergers) (except for certain inactive
or immaterial Subsidiaries); and (ii) each of the Subsidiaries which becomes a
Guarantor in compliance with the covenant set forth under "-- Certain
Covenants -- Additional Guarantors."
"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person, without duplication, (i)
any Obligation of such Person relating to any indebtedness of such Person (A)
for borrowed money (whether or not the recourse of the lender is the whole of
the asset, of such Person or only to a portion thereof), (B) evidenced by notes,
debentures or similar instruments (including purchase money obligations) given
in connection with the acquisition of any property or assets (other than trade
accounts payable for inventory or similar property acquired in the ordinary
course of business), including securities, for the payment of which such Person
is liable, directly or indirectly, or the payment of which is secured by a lien,
charge or encumbrance on property or assets of such Person, (C) for goods,
materials or services purchased in the ordinary course of business (other than
trade account payable arising in the ordinary course of business), (D) with
respect to letters of credit or bankers' acceptances issued for the account or
such Person or performance, surety or similar bonds, (E) for the payment of
money relating to a Capital Lease obligation or (F) under interest rate caps or
similar agreements and foreign exchange contracts or agreements; (ii) any
liability of others of the kind described in the preceding clause (i), which
such Person has guaranteed or which is otherwise its legal liability; and (iii)
any and all deferrals, renewals, extensions and refunding of, or amendments,
modifications or supplement to, any liability of the kind described in any of
the preceding clauses (i) or (ii).
"Lien" means any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance of any kind
(including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement, any lease in
the nature thereof, and any agreement to give any security interest).
"Obligation" of any Person with respect to any specified Indebtedness means
any obligation of such Person to pay principal, premium, interest (including
interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in bankruptcy or for
reorganization relating to such Person, whether or not a claim for such
post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), penalties, reimbursement
or indemnification amounts, fees, expense or other amounts relating to such
Indebtedness.
"Permitted Liens" means (i) Liens securing Indebtedness arising under the
Company Bank Credit Facilities and the Company Bank Lease Facility; provided,
however, that such Liens do not extend to or cover any property or assets of the
Company or the Subsidiaries other than the capital stock of any Subsidiary and
any proceeds thereof; (ii) Liens on any asset of the Company or any Subsidiary,
or any joint venture to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party,
created solely to secure obligations incurred to finance the refurbishment,
improvement or construction of such asset, which obligations are incurred no
later than 12 months after completion of such refurbishment, improvement of
construction, and all renewals, extensions, refinancings, replacements or
refunding of such obligations; (iii)(a) Liens given to secure the payment of the
purchase price incurred in connection with the acquisition (including
acquisition through merger or
S-53
<PAGE> 54
consolidation) of property (including shares of stock), including Capital Lease
transactions in connection with any such acquisition, and (b) Liens existing on
property (including shares of stock) at the time of acquisition by the Company
or a Subsidiary whether or not such existing Liens were given to secure the
payment of the purchase price of the property to which they attach so long as
such Liens do not extend to any other asset or property of the Company or the
Subsidiaries; provided, however that, with respect to clause (a), the Liens
shall be given within 12 months after such acquisition and shall attach solely
to the property acquired or purchased and any improvements then or thereafter
placed thereon; (iv) Liens in favor of customs and revenues arising as a matter
of law to secure payment of custom duties in connection with the importation of
goods; (v) Liens upon specific items of inventory or other goods and proceeds of
any Person securing such Person's obligations in respect of bankers' acceptances
issued or created for the account of such Person to facilitate the purchase,
shipment or storage of such inventory or other goods; (vi) Liens securing
reimbursement obligations with respect to letters of credit that encumber
documents and other property relating to such letters of credit and the products
and proceeds thereof; (vii) Liens encumbering customary initial deposits and
margin deposits and other Liens in the ordinary course of business, in each case
securing Indebtedness of the Company under interest swap obligations and
currency agreements and forward contract, option, futures contracts, futures
options or similar agreements or arrangements designed to protect the Company
from fluctuations in interest rates, currencies or the price of commodities;
(viii) Liens arising out of conditional sale, title retention, consignment or
similar arrangements for the sale of goods entered into by the Company or any of
the Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of business; (ix) Liens in favor of the
Company or any Subsidiary; and (x) Liens to secure Indebtedness of joint
ventures in which the Company or any Subsidiary has an interest, to the extent
such Liens are solely on property or assets of, or equity interest in, such
joint ventures.
"Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, joint venture, trust, unincorporated organization or government or
any agency or political subdivision thereof.
"Significant Subsidiary" means, at any date of determination, (i) any
Subsidiary that, together with its Subsidiaries (a) for the most recent fiscal
year of the Company accounted for more than 10.0% of the consolidated revenues
of the Company and the Subsidiaries or (b) as of the end of such fiscal year,
owned more than 10.0% of the consolidated assets of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, and (ii) for purposes of the provisions described under "
- -- Description of Debt Securities -- Events of Default" in the accompanying
Prospectus, any other Subsidiary that when aggregated with all other
Subsidiaries that are not otherwise Significant Subsidiaries and as to which any
event described in (g) or (h) in the first paragraph under "-- Description of
Debt Securities -- Events of Default" in the accompanying Prospectus has
occurred, together with their respective Subsidiaries, would constitute a
Significant Subsidiary pursuant to clause (i) of this sentence, all as set forth
on the consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Subsidiaries for
such year prepared in conformity with GAAP. For purposes of the covenant
described herein under "-- Certain Covenants -- Additional Guarantors,"
"Significant Subsidiary" shall include (i) any Subsidiary that would constitute
a Significant Subsidiary pursuant to clause (i) of the previous sentence and
(ii) all other Subsidiaries that are not Significant Subsidiaries pursuant to
clause (i) of the previous sentence if all such Subsidiaries in the aggregate,
together with their respective Subsidiaries, would constitute a Significant
Subsidiary pursuant to clause (i) of the previous sentence, provided, however,
that, in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) of this sentence, the 10.0% threshold
in clause (i) of the previous sentence shall be 3.0%, all as set forth on the
consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Subsidiaries for such
year prepared in conformity with GAAP.
"Subsidiary" means, in respect of any Person, any corporation, association,
partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting
power of shares of capital stock or other interests (including partnership
interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to
vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time
owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such Person, (ii) such
Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (iii) one or more
Subsidiaries of such Person. Unless the context otherwise requires, reference to
"Subsidiary" is to a Subsidiary of the Company.
S-54
<PAGE> 55
UNDERWRITING
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement
(the "Underwriting Agreement") among the Company and the Underwriters named
below (the "Underwriters"), the Company has agreed to sell to each of the
Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters has severally agreed to purchase from
the Company, the principal amounts of the Notes set forth opposite its name
below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PRINCIPAL PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF THE AMOUNT OF THE
UNDERWRITER NOTES DUE 2005 NOTES DUE 2008
------------------------------------------------ -------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
Salomon Brothers Inc............................ $ $
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
Corporation...................................
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated.....................
Chase Securities Inc............................
Goldman, Sachs & Co.............................
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated...............
First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc..............
Societe Generale Securities Corporation.........
-------- --------
Total.................................... $ $
======== ========
</TABLE>
In the Underwriting Agreement, the several Underwriters have agreed,
subject to the terms and conditions set forth therein, to purchase all of the
Notes offered hereby if any Notes are purchased.
The Company has been advised by the Underwriters that the Underwriters
propose initially to offer the Notes to the public at the public offering prices
set forth on the cover page of this Prospectus Supplement, and to certain
dealers at such prices less a concession not in excess of % of the
principal amount of the 2005 Notes and % of the principal amount of the
2008 Notes. The Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a
concession to certain other dealers not in excess of % of the principal
amount of the 2005 Notes and % of the principal amount of the 2008 Notes.
After the initial public offering, the public offering prices and such
concessions may be changed from time to time.
The Underwriting Agreement provides that the Company and the Guarantors
will indemnify the Underwriters against certain civil liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act, or contribute to payments which the
Underwriters may be required to make in respect thereof.
In connection with this offering, certain Underwriters and selling group
members and their respective affiliates may engage in transactions that
stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market prices of the Notes. Such
transactions may include stabilization transactions effected in accordance with
Rule 104 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act, pursuant to which such persons
may bid for or purchase Notes for the purpose of stabilizing their market price.
The Underwriters also may create a short position for their respective accounts
by selling more Notes in connection with this offering than they are committed
to purchase from the Company, and in such case may purchase Notes in the open
market following completion of this offering to cover all or a portion of such
short position. In addition, Salomon Brothers Inc, on behalf of the
Underwriters, may impose "penalty bids" under contractual arrangements between
the Underwriters whereby it may reclaim from an Underwriter (or dealer
participating in this offering) for the account of the Underwriters, the selling
concessions with respect to Notes that are distributed in this offering but
subsequently purchased for the account of the Underwriters in the open market.
Any of the transactions described in this paragraph may result in the
maintenance of the prices of the Notes at a level above that which might
otherwise prevail in the open market. None of the transactions described in this
paragraph is required, and, if they are undertaken, they may be discontinued at
any time.
Certain Underwriters and their affiliates have from time to time provided
investment banking and commercial banking services to the Company, Ralphs/Food 4
Less and QFC and their affiliates, for which they received or will receive
customary fees. In addition, the Underwriters and their affiliates may provide,
in the future, such services to the Company and/or its shareholders. Salomon
Brothers Inc and Goldman, Sachs & Co. are acting as financial advisors to Fred
Meyer in connection with both the QFC Merger and the
S-55
<PAGE> 56
Ralphs/Food 4 Less Merger. Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation
and Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated are acting as financial advisors to
Ralphs/Food 4 Less in connection with the Ralphs/Food 4 Less Merger. BT Alex.
Brown, Incorporated, Salomon Brothers Inc and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation are acting as dealer managers in connection with the debt
tender offers. The Chase Manhattan Bank, Bankers Trust Company and Salomon
Brothers Holding Company Inc (an affiliate of Salomon Brothers Inc) are agents
and lenders under the New Senior Credit Facilities and the New Lease Facility.
Chase Securities Inc. and BT Alex. Brown Incorporated are affiliates of The
Chase Manhattan Bank and Bankers Trust Company, respectively, which are agent
banks and lenders under Fred Meyer's and Ralphs/ Food 4 Less' existing credit
facilities and which will receive their proportionate share of repayments
thereunder.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the Notes offered hereby will be
passed upon for the Company by Stoel Rives LLP, Portland, Oregon, and Latham &
Watkins, Los Angeles, California, and for the Underwriters by Cahill Gordon &
Reindel (a partnership including a professional corporation), New York, New
York.
S-56
<PAGE> 57
PROSPECTUS
$2,500,000,000
FRED MEYER, INC.
DEBT SECURITIES
Fred Meyer, Inc. (the "Company") may offer from time to time up to
$2,500,000,000 of its debt securities consisting of notes, debentures or other
evidences of indebtedness (the "Debt Securities"). The Debt Securities will be
unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company and will rank equally
and ratably, on a pari passu basis, with other unsecured and unsubordinated
obligations of the Company. The Debt Securities may be offered as separate
series in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined in light of market
conditions at the time of sale and set forth in a Prospectus Supplement or
Prospectus Supplements.
The terms of each series of Debt Securities, including, where applicable,
the specific designation, aggregate principal amount, authorized denominations,
maturity, rate or rates, and time or times of payment of any interest, any terms
for optional or mandatory redemption, required repurchases or payment of
additional amounts or any sinking fund provisions, additional or different
covenants or events of default, the initial public offering price, guarantees
thereof, the proceeds to the Company and any other specific terms in connection
with the offering and sale of such series (the "Offered Debt Securities") will
be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement or Prospectus Supplements. Any
guarantees of the Debt Securities by Quality Food Centers, Inc. ("QFC") and its
direct and indirect subsidiaries and by Food 4 Less Holdings, Inc. ("Ralphs/Food
4 Less") and its direct and indirect subsidiaries are conditioned upon QFC,
Ralphs/Food 4 Less, and their respective subsidiaries, as the case may be,
becoming direct or indirect subsidiaries of the Company.
The Debt Securities may be sold directly by the Company, through agents
designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers. See "Plan
of Distribution." If any agents of the Company or any underwriters are involved
in the sale of any Debt Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being
delivered, the names of such agents or underwriters and any applicable
commissions or discounts will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. The net
proceeds to the Company from such sale also will be set forth in a Prospectus
Supplement. See "Plan of Distribution" for possible indemnification arrangements
for underwriters, dealers and agents.
------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
------------------------
This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of Debt Securities
unless accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement.
The date of this Prospectus is February 4, 1998.
<PAGE> 58
NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THE PROSPECTUS, AND, IF GIVEN OR
MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES OFFERED
HEREBY, NOR DOES IT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER
TO BUY SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION
IS UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER
OR THEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE
HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE THE DATE HEREOF OR THAT
THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN OR THEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT
TO ITS DATE.
------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
----
<S> <C>
PROSPECTUS
Available Information................................................................. 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference....................................... 3
The Company........................................................................... 4
Use of Proceeds....................................................................... 4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.................................................... 4
Description of Debt Securities........................................................ 4
Plan of Distribution.................................................................. 12
Legal Matters......................................................................... 12
Experts............................................................................... 13
</TABLE>
AVAILABLE INFORMATION
The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy and information statements and other information
with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports,
proxy and information statements and other information can be inspected and
copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following regional
offices of the Commission: New York Regional Office, 7 World Trade Center, New
York, New York 10048; and Chicago Regional Office, 1400 Citicorp Center, 500
West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such material can be
obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission, 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. In addition, the
aforementioned material can also be inspected at the offices of the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Such material
may also be accessed through an Internet Web site maintained by the Commission
at http://www.sec.gov.
The Company has filed with the Commission a Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the "Registration
Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act").
This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth in the
Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with
the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information, reference
is made to the Registration Statement, copies of which are available from the
Public Reference Section of the Commission at prescribed rates as described
above. Statements contained herein concerning the provisions of documents filed
with, or incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement as exhibits
are necessarily summaries of such provisions and documents, and each such
statement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the copy of the
applicable document filed with the Commission.
2
<PAGE> 59
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The following documents filed by the Company and certain Guarantors (as
defined below) with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act are incorporated
into this Prospectus by reference:
(i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
February 1, 1997, as amended;
(ii) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters
ended May 24, 1997, August 16, 1997 and November 8, 1997, as amended;
(iii) the Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K, dated September 9,
1997 and November 6, 1997;
(iv) the Annual Report on Form 10-K for Quality Food Center, Inc.
("QFC") for the fiscal year ended December 28, 1996, as amended;
(v) QFC's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March
22, 1997, June 14, 1997 and September 6, 1997, as amended;
(vi) QFC's Current Reports on Form 8-K, dated November 12, 1996, March
19, 1997 and November 6, 1997, as amended;
(vii) the Annual Report on Form 10-K for Ralphs/Food 4 Less for the
fiscal year ended February 2, 1997, as amended;
(viii) Ralphs/Food 4 Less's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
quarters ended April 27, 1997, July 20, 1997 and October 12, 1997, as
amended;
(ix) Ralphs/Food 4 Less's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated November
6, 1997; and
(x) the definitive Joint Proxy and Consent Solicitation
Statement/Prospectus of the Company, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less dated
January 27, 1998;
All documents filed by the Company, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this
Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering made hereby shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part
hereof from the date of the filing of such documents. Any statement contained in
a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall
be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus.
The Company, QFC and Ralphs/Food 4 Less undertake to provide without charge
to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this
Prospectus has been delivered, on written or oral request, a copy of any and all
of the documents incorporated in this Prospectus by reference, other than
exhibits to such documents not specifically incorporated by reference therein.
Requests for such copies from the Company should be directed to Fred Meyer,
Inc., at its principal executive offices located at 3800 SE 22nd Avenue,
Portland, Oregon 97202, Attention: Roger A. Cooke, Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary (Telephone: (503) 232-8844). Requests for such
copies from QFC should be directed to Quality Food Center, Inc., at its
principal executive offices located at 10112 NE 10th Street, Suite 201,
Bellevue, Washington 98004, Attention: Susan Obuchowski, Secretary (Telephone:
(425) 462-2177). Requests for such copies from Ralphs/Food 4 Less should be
directed to Food 4 Less Holdings, Inc., at its principal executive offices
located at 1100 West Artesia Boulevard, Compton, California 90220, Attention:
Terrence J. Wallock, Secretary (Telephone: (310) 884-9900).
3
<PAGE> 60
THE COMPANY
The Company is a holding company which, through its subsidiaries, operates
as a regional retailer of a wide range of food and drug products and general
merchandise including: apparel, photo and electronics, products for the home and
fine jewelry.
The Company was incorporated in Delaware in July 1997. The Company's
principal executive offices are located at 3800 SE 22nd Avenue, Portland, Oregon
97202 and its telephone number is (503) 232-8844.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless otherwise indicated in a Prospectus Supplement, the net proceeds to
the Company from the issuance and sale of the Debt Securities will be used for
general corporate purposes, including the repayment of indebtedness that may be
incurred from time to time, working capital, future acquisitions and further
investments in subsidiaries.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
The ratios of earnings to fixed charges of the Company for each of the five
fiscal years ending the Saturday closest to January 31 and for the forty week
period ending November 9, 1996 and November 8, 1997 were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
40 WEEKS 40 WEEKS
ENDING ENDING
FISCAL YEARS ENDING ------------ ------------
--------------------------------------------- NOVEMBER 9, NOVEMBER 8,
1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1996 1997
----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ------------ ------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.......... 1.91x 2.27x 1.09x 1.42x 1.88x 1.53x 1.67x
</TABLE>
For the purpose of computing such ratios, "earnings" represents the
aggregate of (a) income before income taxes and (b) fixed charges. "Fixed
charges" represents (a) consolidated interest charges, (b) the amortization of
debt discount and expense and premium on indebtedness and (c) the portion of
rental expense which the Company considers representative of an interest factor.
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
The Debt Securities are to be issued under an Indenture (as amended or
supplemented from time to time, the "Indenture") among the Company, the
Guarantors and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), a
copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. The
statements herein relating to the Debt Securities and the following summaries of
certain provisions of the Indenture do not purport to be complete and are
subject to, and are qualified in their entirety by reference to, all the
provisions of the Indenture, including the definitions therein of certain terms,
and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act").
Wherever particular sections or defined terms of the Indenture are referred to
in this Prospectus or in a Prospectus Supplement, such sections or defined terms
are incorporated herein or therein by reference. The definitions of certain
terms used in the following summary are set forth below under "-- Certain
Definitions."
The following sets forth certain general terms and provisions of the Debt
Securities offered hereby. The particular terms of the Offered Debt Securities
and the extent, if any, to which such general terms and provisions may not apply
to the Offered Debt Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such Offered Debt Securities (the "Applicable Prospectus
Supplement").
GENERAL
The Indenture does not limit the amount of Debt Securities that may be
issued thereunder and Debt Securities may be issued thereunder from time to time
in one or more series. The Debt Securities will be unsecured and unsubordinated
obligations of the Company and will rank equally and ratably, on a pari passu
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basis, with other unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of the Company. The
Debt Securities will be effectively subordinated to any secured indebtedness of
the Company to the extent of the assets securing such indebtedness.
Unless otherwise indicated in the Applicable Prospectus Supplement,
principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Debt Securities will be
payable, and the transfer of Debt Securities will be registrable, at the office
or agency to be maintained by the Company in the borough of Manhattan in The
City of New York and at any other office or agency maintained by the Company for
such purpose. (Sections 301, 305 and 1002) Unless otherwise indicated in the
Applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Debt Securities will be issued only in
fully registered form without coupons and in denominations of $1,000 and any
integral multiples thereof. (Section 302) No service charge will be made for any
registration of transfer or exchange of the Debt Securities, but the Company may
require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge imposed in connection therewith. (Section 305)
The Applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of the Offered
Debt Securities, including: (1) the title of the Offered Debt Securities; (2)
any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Debt Securities; (3)
the person or entity to whom any interest on the Offered Debt Securities shall
be payable, if other than the person in whose name that Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date for such interest; (4) the date or dates on which the principal of
and premium, if any, on the Offered Debt Securities is payable or the method of
determination thereof; (5) the rate or rates at which the Offered Debt
Securities shall bear interest, if any, or the method of calculating such rate
or rates of interest, the date or dates from which any such interest shall
accrue or the method by which such date or dates shall be determined, the
Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the
Regular Record Date for interest payable on any Interest Payment Date; (6) the
place or places where the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the
Offered Debt Securities shall be payable; (7) the period or periods within
which, the price or prices at which, the currency or currencies (including
currency units) in which and the other terms and conditions upon which the
Offered Debt Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of
the Company; (8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase
the Offered Debt Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions
or at the option of a holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the
price or prices at which and the other terms and conditions upon which the
Offered Debt Securities shall be redeemed or purchased, in whole or in part,
pursuant to such obligation; (9) if other than denominations of $1,000 and any
integral multiple thereof, the denominations in which the Offered Debt
Securities shall be issuable; (10) the currency, currencies or currency units in
which payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on any Offered
Debt Securities shall be payable if other than the currency of the United States
of America and the manner of determining the equivalent thereof in the currency
of the United States of America; (11) if the amount of payments of principal of
or any premium or interest on any Offered Debt Securities may be determined with
reference to an index, formula or other method, the index, formula or other
method by which such amounts shall be determined; (12) if the principal of or
any premium or interest on any Offered Debt Securities is to be payable, at the
election of the Company or a holder thereof, in one or more currencies or
currency units other than that or those in which the Debt Securities are stated
to be payable, the currency, currencies or currency units in which payment of
the principal of and any premium and interest on the Offered Debt Securities as
to which such election is made shall be payable, and the periods within which
and the other terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made; (13)
if other than the principal amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount
of the Offered Debt Securities which shall be payable upon declaration of
acceleration of the maturity thereof or the method by which such portion may be
determined; (14) the applicability of the provisions described under
"-- Defeasance of Offered Debt Securities or Certain Covenants in Certain
Circumstances"; (15) if the Offered Debt Securities will be issuable only in the
form of a Book Entry Security as described under "-- Book Entry Debt
Securities", the Depositary or its nominee with respect to the Offered Debt
Securities and the circumstances under which the Book Entry Security may be
registered for transfer or exchange or authenticated and delivered in the name
of a person or entity other than the Depositary or its nominee; (16) any
additional, modified or different covenants applicable to one or more particular
series of Debt Securities; (17) any addition to or change in the Events of
Default of the Offered Debt Securities and any change in the right of the
Trustee or the requisite Holders to declare the
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<PAGE> 62
principal amount due and payable; (18) any additional terms with respect to the
Guarantees including, without limitation, terms relating to release of the
Guarantees and the addition of additional Guarantors; and (19) other terms of
the Offered Debt Securities. (Section 301)
Each Applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe, as to the Debt
Securities to which it relates, any guarantees (the "Guarantees") by the direct
and indirect subsidiaries of the Company (the "Guarantors"), and any terms
regarding the release of such Guarantees. Guarantees of the Debt Securities by
QFC, Ralphs/Food 4 Less and their respective subsidiaries, are conditioned upon
such entities, as the case may be, becoming direct or indirect subsidiaries of
the Company. (Sections 1401 and 1403)
Debt Securities may be issued under the Indenture as Original Issue
Discount Debt Securities to be offered and sold at a substantial discount below
their stated principal amount. Special federal income tax, accounting and other
considerations applicable thereto will be described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating thereto. "Original Issue Discount Debt Security" means any Debt
Security which provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to
be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof
upon the occurrence and continuance of an Event of Default. (Section 101)
If the purchase price of any of the Debt Securities is payable in one or
more foreign currencies or currency units, if any Debt Securities are
denominated in one or more foreign currencies or currency units or if the
principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Debt Securities is
payable in one or more foreign currencies or currency units, the restrictions,
elections, material U.S. federal income tax considerations and other information
with respect to such issue of Debt Securities and such foreign currency or
currency units will be set forth in the Applicable Prospectus Supplement.
If any index is used to determine the amount of payments of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any series of Debt Securities, material
U.S. federal income tax, accounting and other considerations applicable thereto
will be described in the Applicable Prospectus Supplement.
BOOK ENTRY DEBT SECURITIES
The following description of Book Entry Securities will apply to any series
of Debt Securities except as otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement
relating thereto.
The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in the form of one or more
Book Entry Securities that will be deposited with or on behalf of a Depositary,
which will be a clearing agent registered under the Exchange Act. Book Entry
Securities will be registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee of the
Depositary, will be deposited with such Depositary or nominee or a custodian
therefor and will bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and
registration of transfer thereof and any such other matters as may be provided
for pursuant to the Indenture. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in
part for Debt Securities in definitive certificated form, a Book Entry Security
may not be transferred or exchanged except as a whole to the Depositary, its
successors or their respective nominees. (Section 305)
Upon the issuance of any Book Entry Security, and the deposit of such Book
Entry Security with or on behalf of the Depositary for such Book Entry Security,
the Depositary will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer system
the respective principal amounts of the Debt Securities represented by such Book
Entry Security to the accounts of institutions ("participants") that have
accounts with the Depositary. The accounts to be credited will be designated by
the underwriters or agents engaging in the distribution of such Debt Securities
or by the Company, if such Debt Securities are offered and sold directly by the
Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Book Entry Security will be
limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants.
Ownership of beneficial interests in a Book Entry Security will be shown on, and
the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained
by the Depositary for such Book Entry Security or by its nominee. Ownership of
beneficial interests in such Book Entry Security by persons who hold through
participants will be shown on, and the transfer of such beneficial interests
within such participants will be effected only through, records maintained by
such participants. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain
purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive
form. Such laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in such
a Book Entry Security.
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<PAGE> 63
So long as the Depositary for a Book Entry Security, or its nominee, is the
owner of such Book Entry Security, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case
may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Debt Security
represented by such Book Entry Security for all purposes under the Indenture.
Accordingly, each person owning a beneficial interest in such Book Entry
Security must rely on the procedures of the Depositary and, if such person is
not a participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such
person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a holder under such
Indenture. The Company understands that under existing industry practices, if it
requests any action of holders or if an owner of a beneficial interest in a Book
Entry Security desires to give or take any instruction or action which a holder
is entitled to give or take under the Indenture, the Depositary would authorize
the participants holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or take such
instruction or action, and such participants would authorize beneficial owners
owning through such participants to give or take such instruction or action or
would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding through
them. The Holder of any Book Entry Security may grant proxies and otherwise
authorize any person to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under
the Indenture or the Securities.
Unless otherwise specified in the Applicable Prospectus Supplement,
payments with respect to principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on
the Debt Securities represented by a Book Entry Security registered in the name
of the Depositary or its nominee will be made to such Depositary or its nominee,
as the case may be, as the registered owner of such Book Entry Security. The
Company expects that the Depositary for any Debt Securities represented by a
Book Entry Security, upon receipt of any payment of principal or interest in
respect of such Book Entry Security, will credit immediately participants'
accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial
interests in the Book Entry Security as shown on the records of the Depositary.
The Company also expects that payments by participants to owners of beneficial
interests in such Book Entry Security held through such participants will be
governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case
with securities in bearer form held for the accounts of customers or registered
in "street name", and will be the responsibility of such participants. None of
the Company, the Trustee or any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall have
any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to, or
payments made on account of, beneficial interests in any Book Entry Security, or
for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such
beneficial interests.
Unless otherwise specified in the Applicable Prospectus Supplement,
transfers of any Book Entry Security will be limited to transfers in whole, but
not in part, to the Depositary, its successors or their respective nominees.
Interests of beneficial owners in the Book Entry Security may be transferred or
exchanged for definitive Securities in accordance with the rules and procedures
of the Depositary. In addition, definitive Securities will be exchangeable for a
Book Entry Security if the Depositary notifies the Company that it is unwilling
or unable to continue as Depositary for the Book Entry Security and a successor
depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice or if
an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Registrar has
received a request from the Depositary to issue definitive Securities.
CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
Unless otherwise indicated in the Applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Indenture does not limit the amount of Debt that may be incurred by the Company
or its Subsidiaries or contain covenants specifically designed to protect
holders of Debt Securities in the event of a highly leveraged transaction,
restructuring, change in control, merger or similar transaction involving the
Company that may adversely affect holders of Debt Securities.
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Any one of the following events will constitute an "Event of Default" under
the Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of any series: (a) failure to pay
any interest on any Debt Security of that series when due, continued for 30
days; (b) failure to pay principal of or any premium on any Debt Security of
that series when due; (c) failure to deposit any sinking fund payment, when due,
in respect of any Debt Security of that series; (d) failure to perform, or
breach of, any covenant or other agreement of the Company or any Guarantor in
the Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of that series continued for 60
days after written notice as provided
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<PAGE> 64
in the Indenture; (e) a default under any indebtedness for money borrowed by the
Company or any Subsidiary if (A) such default either (1) results from the
failure to pay the principal or interest of any such indebtedness at its stated
maturity or (2) relates to an obligation other than the obligation to pay the
principal or interest of such indebtedness at its stated maturity and results in
such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date
on which it would otherwise become due and payable, (B) the principal amount of
such indebtedness, together with the principal amount of any other such
indebtedness in default for failure to pay principal or interest at stated
maturity or the maturity of which has been so accelerated, aggregates $30.0
million or more at any one time outstanding and (C) such indebtedness is not
discharged, or such acceleration is not rescinded or annulled, within 10
business days after written notice as provided in the Indenture; (f) one or more
judgments, orders, or decrees of any court or regulatory or administrative
agency for the payment of money in excess of $30.0 million either individually
or in the aggregate shall have been rendered against the Company or any
Significant Subsidiary (whether or not a Guarantor) or any of their respective
properties and shall not have been discharged and either (A) any creditor shall
have commenced an enforcement proceeding upon such judgment, order, or decree or
(B) there shall have been a period of 60 consecutive days during which a stay of
enforcement of such judgment, order or decree, by reason of a pending appeal or
otherwise, shall not be in effect; (g) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency
or reorganization of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (whether or not a
Guarantor); (h) any Guarantee of a Guarantor which is a Significant Subsidiary
ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms
of such Guarantee and the Indenture) or is declared null and void and
unenforceable or found to be invalid or any Guarantor denies its liability under
its Guarantee (other than by reason of release of a Guarantor from its Guarantee
in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Guarantee); or (i) any
other Event of Default provided in the Applicable Prospectus Supplement with
respect to Debt Securities of that series. (Section 501)
If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default described in clause
(g) of the preceding paragraph with respect to the Company) with respect to the
Debt Securities of any series at the time Outstanding shall occur and be
continuing, either the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series may
accelerate the maturity of all Debt Securities of that series; provided,
however, that after such acceleration, but before a judgment or decree based on
acceleration, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Debt Securities of that series may, under certain circumstances,
rescind and annul such acceleration if all Events of Default, other than the
non-payment of accelerated principal, have been cured or waived as provided in
the Indenture. If an Event of Default described in clause (g) of the immediately
preceding paragraph occurs with respect to the Company, the Outstanding Debt
Securities will ipso facto become immediately due and payable without any
declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. (Section 502)
Reference is made to the Applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to any
series of Offered Debt Securities that are Original Issue Discount Debt
Securities for the particular provisions relating to acceleration of the Stated
Maturity of a portion of the principal amount of such series of Original Issue
Discount Debt Securities upon the occurrence of an Event of Default and the
continuation thereof.
The Indenture provides that, subject to the duty of the Trustee during
default to act with the required standard of care, the Trustee will be under no
obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under the Indenture at the
request or direction of any of the holders of Debt Securities, unless such
holders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. (Section 603)
Subject to such provisions for the indemnification of the Trustee and to certain
other conditions, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Debt Securities of any series will have the right to direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with
respect to the Debt Securities of that series. (Section 512)
No holder of Debt Securities of any series will have any right to institute
any proceeding with respect to the Indenture or for any remedy thereunder,
unless such holder shall have previously given to the Trustee written notice of
a continuing Event of Default and unless the holders of at least 25% in
aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series
shall have made written request, and offered reasonable indemnity, to the
Trustee to institute such proceeding as trustee, and the Trustee shall not have
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<PAGE> 65
received from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Outstanding Debt Securities of that series a direction inconsistent with such
request and shall have failed to institute such proceeding within 60 days.
(Section 507) However, such limitations do not apply to a suit instituted by a
holder of Debt Securities for enforcement of payment of the principal of and
premium, if any, or interest on such Debt Securities on or after the respective
due dates expressed in such Debt Securities. (Section 508)
The Company is required to furnish to the Trustee annually a statement as
to the performance by the Company of certain of its obligations under the
Indenture and as to any default in such performance. (Section 1004)
MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
Modifications and amendments of the Indenture may be made by the Company,
the Guarantors and the Trustee without the consent of the holders of any of the
Debt Securities in order (i) to evidence the succession of another entity to the
Company and the assumption of the covenants and obligations of the Company under
the Debt Securities and the Indenture by such successor to the Company; (ii) to
add to the covenants of the Company or any Guarantor for the benefit of the
holders of all or any series of Debt Securities or to surrender any right or
power conferred on the Company by the Indenture; (iii) to add additional Events
of Default with respect to any series of Debt Securities; (iv) to add to or
change any provisions to such extent as may be necessary to permit or facilitate
the issuance of Debt Securities in bearer form or to facilitate the issuance of
Book Entry Securities; (v) to add to, change or eliminate any provision
affecting only Debt Securities not yet issued; (vi) to secure the Debt
Securities; (vii) to establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any
series; (viii) to evidence and provide for successor Trustees or to add or
change any provisions to such extent as may be necessary to provide for or
facilitate the appointment of a separate Trustee or Trustees for specific series
of Debt Securities; (ix) to permit payment in respect of Debt Securities in
bearer form in the United States to the extent allowed by law; (x) to cure any
ambiguity, to correct or supplement any mistaken or inconsistent provisions or
to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under
the Indenture, the Debt Securities of any series or any Guarantee provided that
any such action described in this clause (x) (other than in respect of a
mistaken provision) does not adversely affect in any material respect the rights
of any holder of Debt Securities of any series then outstanding; (xi) to comply
with the requirements of the Commission in order to effect or maintain the
qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended; and (xii) to add or remove a Guarantor in accordance with the terms of
the Indenture. (Section 901)
Modifications and amendments of, and waivers with respect to, the Indenture
also may be made by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the holders
of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Debt Securities of each series issued under the Indenture and affected by the
modification or amendments; provided, however, that no such modification or
amendment may, without the consent of the holders of all Debt Securities
affected thereby, (i) change the Maturity or Stated Maturity of the principal
amount of, or any installment of principal of or interest on, any Debt Security;
(ii) reduce the principal amount of, or the premium, if any, or interest on any
Debt Security (including in the case of an Original Issue Discount Debt Security
the amount payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof); (iii) change the
place or currency of payment of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on
any Debt Security; (iv) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement
of any payment on any Debt Security on or after the Stated Maturity thereof (or
in the case of redemption or repurchase, on or after the Redemption Date or
repurchase date, as applicable); or (v) reduce the percentage in principal
amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of any series, the consent of whose
holders is required for modification or amendment of the Indenture or for waiver
of compliance with certain provisions of the Indenture or for waiver of certain
defaults; (vi) modify any of the provisions of the Indenture relating to the
time at which any Security may be redeemed or requiring the repurchase of such
Security by the Company; (vii) modify any of the provisions of the Indenture
relating to the modification and amendment provisions of the Indenture or the
waiver of past defaults, except to increase any percentage set forth in such
provisions or to provide that certain other provisions of the Indenture cannot
be modified or waived without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding
Security affected thereby; (viii) modify the ranking or priority of the Debt
Securities or any
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Guarantee thereof; and (ix) release any Guarantor from any of its obligations
under its Guarantee or the Indenture otherwise than in accordance with the
Indenture. (Section 902)
The holders of at least a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Debt Securities of any series may, on behalf of all holders of Debt
Securities of that series, waive compliance by the Company with certain
restrictive provisions of the Indenture. (Section 902) The holders of not less
than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities
of any series may, on behalf of all holders of Debt Securities of that series,
waive any past default under the Indenture, except a default in the payment of
principal, premium or interest or in respect of a covenant or provision of the
Indenture that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder
of each outstanding Debt Security of such series affected thereby. (Section 513)
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS
The Company may not consolidate with or merge with or into any other entity
or transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of related transactions,
all or substantially all of its properties and assets to any entity, unless (i)
either the Company is the continuing corporation, or any successor or purchaser
is a corporation organized under the laws of the United States of America, any
State thereof or the District of Columbia, and any such successor or purchaser
expressly assumes the Company's obligations under the Debt Securities and the
Indenture pursuant to a supplemental indenture, (ii) immediately after giving
effect to such transaction, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred
and be continuing, (iii) if a supplemental indenture is to be executed in
connection with such consolidation, merger, transfer or lease, the Company and
the Guarantors have delivered to the Trustee an officers' certificate and an
opinion of counsel stating compliance with these provisions, and (iv) such other
conditions, if any, are satisfied as provided in the Applicable Prospectus
Supplement with respect to Offered Debt Securities. (Section 801)
DEFEASANCE OF OFFERED DEBT SECURITIES OR CERTAIN COVENANTS IN CERTAIN
CIRCUMSTANCES
Defeasance and Discharge
The Indenture provides that the terms of any series of Debt Securities may
provide that the Company and the Guarantors, at the Company's option, will be
discharged from any and all obligations in respect of the Debt Securities of
such series (except for certain obligations to register the transfer or exchange
of Debt Securities of such series, to replace stolen, lost or mutilated Debt
Securities of such series, to maintain paying agencies and to hold monies for
payment in trust) upon the deposit with the Trustee, in trust, of money and/or
U.S. Government Obligations (as defined in the Indenture) which, through the
payment of interest and principal thereof in accordance with their terms, will
provide money in an amount sufficient to pay any installment of principal (and
premium, if any) and interest on, and any mandatory sinking fund payments in
respect of, the Debt Securities of such series on the Stated Maturity of such
payments in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and such Debt Securities.
Such discharge may only occur if, among other things, the Company has delivered
to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the Company has received
from, or there has been published by, the United States Internal Revenue Service
a ruling, or there has been a change in tax law, in either case to the effect
that such discharge will not be deemed, or result in, a taxable event with
respect to holders of the Debt Securities of such series. (Sections 1302 and
1304)
Defeasance of Certain Covenants
The Indenture provides that the terms of any series of Debt Securities may
provide the Company with the option for it and the Guarantors to be released
from certain restrictive covenants described in this Prospectus under
"-- Consolidation, Merger and Sale of Assets" and any other covenants made
applicable to any series of Debt Securities as described in the Applicable
Prospectus Supplement and the Event of Default described in (d) under "-- Events
of Default" as it relates to such covenant and any other Events of Default made
applicable to any series of Debt Securities that are determined to be applicable
to this provision as described in the Applicable Prospectus Supplement. The
Company, in order to exercise such option, will be required to deposit with the
Trustee money and/or U.S. Government Obligations which, through the payment of
interest
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<PAGE> 67
and principal thereof in accordance with their terms, will provide money in an
amount sufficient to pay principal (and premium, if any) and interest on, and
any mandatory sinking fund payments in respect of, the Debt Securities of such
series on the Stated Maturity of such payments in accordance with the terms of
the Indenture and such Debt Securities. The Company will also be required to
deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the deposit and
related covenant defeasance will not cause the holders of the Debt Securities of
such series to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax purposes.
(Sections 1303 and 1304)
In the event the Company exercises this option and the Debt Securities of
such series are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any Event
of Default, the amount of money and U.S. Government Obligations on deposit with
the Trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the Debt Securities of such
series at the time of their Stated Maturity but may not be sufficient to pay
amounts due on the Debt Securities of such series at the time of the
acceleration resulting from such Event of Default. However, the Company shall
remain liable for such payments.
The Applicable Prospectus Supplement will state if any defeasance
provisions will apply to the Offered Debt Securities.
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
The First National Bank of Chicago is the Trustee under the Indenture. The
Trustee may resign at any time or may be removed by the holders of at least a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities. If
the Trustee resigns, is removed or becomes incapable of acting as Trustee or if
a vacancy occurs in the office of the Trustee for any cause, a successor Trustee
shall be appointed in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture.
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
For all purposes of this Prospectus, except as otherwise expressly provided
or unless the context otherwise requires, the terms are defined as follows:
"Book Entry Security" means a Debt Security in the form prescribed by the
Indenture or any supplement to the Indenture, evidencing all or part of the
securities of any series, issued to the Depositary for such series or its
nominee, and registered in the name of such Depositary or such nominee.
"Depositary" means, with respect to the Debt Securities of any series
issuable or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Book Entry
Securities, the Person designated as Depositary for such series by the Company,
pursuant to the Indenture, which Person shall be a clearing agency registered
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and if at any time there is more than
one such Person "Depositary" as used with respect to the Debt Securities of any
series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Debt Securities of such
series.
"Interest Payment Date", when used with respect to any Debt Security, means
the Stated Maturity of an installment of interest on such security.
"Predecessor Security" of any particular Debt Security means every previous
Debt Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by
such particular Debt Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any
Debt Security authenticated and delivered pursuant to the Indenture in exchange
for or in lieu of a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security shall be
deemed to evidence the same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
Debt Security.
"Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date
on the Debt Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose
as contemplated by the Indenture.
"Stated Maturity", when used with respect to any Debt Security or any
installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified
in such Debt Security as the fixed date on which the principal of such Debt
Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.
11
<PAGE> 68
"Subsidiary" means, in respect of any person, any corporation, association,
partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting
power of shares of capital stock or other interests (including partnership
interests ) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to
vote in the election of directors, manager or trustees thereof is at the time
owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) such person, (ii) such
person and one or more Subsidiaries of such person or (iii) one or more
Subsidiaries of such person.
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
The Company may sell the Debt Securities to one or more underwriters for
public offering and sale by them or may sell the Offered Debt Securities to
investors directly or through agents, which agents may be affiliated with the
Company. Any such underwriter or agent involved in the offer and sale of the
Offered Debt Securities will be named in the Applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Sales of Offered Debt Securities offered pursuant to any Applicable
Prospectus Supplement may be effected from time to time in one or more
transactions at a fixed price or prices which may be changed, at prices related
to the prevailing market prices at the time of sale or at negotiated prices. The
Company also may, from time to time, authorize underwriters acting as the
Company's agents to offer and sell the Offered Debt Securities upon the terms
and conditions set forth in the Applicable Prospectus Supplement. In connection
with the sale of Offered Debt Securities, underwriters may be deemed to have
received compensation from the Company in the form of underwriting discounts or
commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of Offered Debt
Securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell Offered Debt
Securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in
the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters and/or
commissions from purchasers of Offered Debt Securities for whom they may act as
agent.
Any underwriting compensation paid by the Company to underwriters or agents
in connection with the offering of Offered Debt Securities, and any discounts,
concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers,
will be set forth in the Applicable Prospectus Supplement. Underwriters, dealers
and agents participating in the distribution of the Offered Debt Securities may
be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts, concessions or commissions
received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the Offered Debt
Securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the
Securities Act. Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under
agreements entered into with the Company, to indemnification against and
contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act. Any such indemnification arrangements will be described in the
Applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Unless otherwise specified in the Applicable Prospectus Supplement, each
series of Offered Debt Securities will be a new issue with no established
trading market. The Company may elect to list any series of Offered Debt
Securities on any exchange, but is not obligated to do so. It is possible that
one or more underwriters may make a market in a series of Offered Debt
Securities, but will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any market
making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity
of the trading market for the Offered Debt Securities.
Certain of the underwriters, agents and their affiliates may be customers
of, engage in transactions with and perform services for the Company in the
ordinary course of business.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain legal matters in connection with the Offered Debt Securities will
be passed upon for the Company by Stoel Rives LLP, Portland, Oregon, and for any
underwriters, dealers or agents by Cahill Gordon & Reindel (a partnership
including a professional corporation), New York, New York. Cahill Gordon &
Reindel may rely on the opinion of Stoel Rives LLP as to matters of Oregon law.
12
<PAGE> 69
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by
reference from the Annual Report on Form 10-K of Fred Meyer, Inc. for the year
ended February 1, 1997 have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP (Portland
office), independent auditors, as stated in their report, which is incorporated
herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements are incorporated
herein by reference in reliance upon such report of said firm given upon its
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The financial statements of Quality Food Centers, Inc. ("QFC"), as of
December 30, 1995 and December 28, 1996 and for each of the three years in the
period ended December 28, 1996 included in the QFC Form 10-K/A for the year
ended December 28, 1996, dated July 23, 1997, and incorporated in this
prospectus by reference, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP (Seattle
office), independent auditors, as stated in their report included therein and
incorporated herein by reference. Such financial statements are incorporated
herein by reference in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated balance sheets of Food 4 Less Holdings, Inc., as of
February 2, 1997, January 28, 1996 and January 29, 1995 and the related
consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and stockholders' equity for
the 53 weeks ended February 2, 1997, the 52 weeks ended January 28, 1996, the 31
weeks ended January 29, 1995 and the 52 weeks ended June 25, 1994 and the
related financial statement schedules incorporated by reference herein, have
been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as
indicated in their reports with respect thereto, and are incorporated herein by
reference in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in giving said
reports.
The financial statements of Keith Uddenberg, Inc. as of December 31, 1994
and December 30, 1995 and for each of the two years in the period ended December
30, 1995 included in the QFC Form 8-K/A dated November 12, 1996, and filed
February 20, 1997, and incorporated in this prospectus by reference, have been
audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors, as stated in their
report included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such financial
statements are incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon the report of
such firm given upon their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
The consolidated financial statements of Hughes Markets, Inc. incorporated
by reference herein from Quality Food Centers, Inc.'s Current Report on Form
8-K/A dated February 20, 1997 have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP,
independent public accountants, as indicated in their report with respect
thereto, and are incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the authority
of said firm as experts in giving said report.
13
<PAGE> 70
[EXTERNAL PHOTOGRAPHS OF STORE FORMATS
FOR FRED MEYER, SMITH'S QFC, RALPHS AND FOOD 4 LESS]
<PAGE> 71
======================================================
NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR ANY OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND IN THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE
OFFER CONTAINED HEREIN AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR
REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY
OR THE UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE
ANY IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE SINCE THE DATES AS OF WHICH
INFORMATION IS GIVEN IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND IN THE ACCOMPANYING
PROSPECTUS. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS DO NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH
OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER
OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM IT IS
UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
PAGE
-----
<S> <C>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Forward-Looking Statements.................. S-3
Incorporation of Certain Documents.......... S-3
Available Information....................... S-3
Certain Assumptions......................... S-4
Market and Industry Data.................... S-4
Prospectus Supplement Summary............... S-5
Risk Factors................................ S-12
The Mergers and the Refinancings............ S-14
Use of Proceeds............................. S-15
Capitalization.............................. S-16
Summary Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed
Combined Financial Statements............. S-17
Summary Selected Historical Financial and
Other Data................................ S-29
Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of
Operations................................ S-34
Business.................................... S-39
Management.................................. S-45
Description of New Senior Credit Facilities
and New Lease Facility.................... S-46
Description of Notes........................ S-48
Underwriting................................ S-55
Legal Matters............................... S-56
PROSPECTUS
Available Information....................... 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference................................. 3
The Company................................. 4
Use of Proceeds............................. 4
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.......... 4
Description of Debt Securities.............. 4
Plan of Distribution........................ 12
Legal Matters............................... 12
Experts..................................... 13
</TABLE>
======================================================
======================================================
$1,500,000,000
FRED MEYER, INC.
$ % NOTES DUE
MARCH , 2005
$ % NOTES DUE
MARCH , 2008
LOGO
Joint Lead Book-Runners
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
BT ALEX. BROWN
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
SOCIETE GENERALE
SECURITIES CORPORATION
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
DATED MARCH , 1998
======================================================
