<PAGE>
AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 12, 1996.
REGISTRATION NO. 333-06763
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
----------------
AMENDMENT NO. 1
TO
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
----------------
THE KROGER CO.
(EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
----------------
OHIO 31-0345740
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION) IDENTIFICATION NO.)
1014 VINE STREET
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202
(513) 762-4000
(ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
----------------
PAUL W. HELDMAN, ESQ.
VICE PRESIDENT, SECRETARY AND GENERAL COUNSEL
THE KROGER CO.
1014 VINE STREET
CINCINNATI, OHIO 45202
(513) 762-4000
(NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
----------------
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time
to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the
following box. [_]
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. [_]
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [_]
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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<CAPTION>
PROPOSED
MAXIMUM AMOUNT OF
TITLE OF SECURITIES AGGREGATE REGISTRATION
TO BE REGISTERED OFFERING PRICE(1) FEE
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<S> <C> <C>
Debt Securities........................... $744,226,000(2) $256,629.65(3)
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(1) Estimated solely for purposes of determining the amount of the
registration fee.
(2) In U.S. dollars or equivalent thereof.
(3) This Amendment includes $244,226,000 of Securities registered pursuant to
Registration No. 33-64192 carried forward pursuant to Rule 429. The
registration fee attributable to those Securities is $84,215.86. Also
includes $172,413.79 previously paid.
----------------
THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
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<PAGE>
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A +
+REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE +
+SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY +
+OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT +
+BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR +
+THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE +
+SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE +
+UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF +
+ANY SUCH STATE. +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JUNE 25, 1996
THE KROGER CO.
DEBT SECURITIES
-----------
The Kroger Co. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the "Company")
may offer for sale from time to time, in one or more series up to $744,226,000
aggregate principal amount of its debt securities (the "Debt Securities") on
terms determined at the time of sale. The specific designation, aggregate
principal amount, authorized denominations, purchase price, initial public
offering price, maturity, rate (which may be fixed or variable) and time of
payment of any interest, any redemption terms or other specific terms and any
listing on a securities exchange of any Debt Securities offered, in respect of
which this Prospectus is being delivered, will be set forth in the accompanying
Prospectus Supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement"), together with the terms
for the offering of the Debt Securities. At the option of the Company, Debt
Securities may be issued as Senior Debt Securities or as Subordinated Debt
Securities. This Prospectus may not be used to consummate the sale of Debt
Securities unless accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement.
The Debt Securities may be sold in one or more transactions directly, through
agents designated from time to time, or through underwriters or dealers, which
may be a group of underwriters represented by underwriters' representatives. If
any agents of the Company or any underwriters are involved in the sale of the
Debt Securities, the names of such agents or underwriters, the principal
amount, if any, to be purchased by the underwriters and any applicable
commissions or discounts will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. The
net proceeds to the Company from each sale will also be set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement. As used herein, Debt Securities shall include securities
denominated in United States dollars or, at the option of the Company if so
specified in the Prospectus Supplement, in any other currency or in composite
currencies or in amounts determined by reference to an index.
SEE "RISK FACTORS" AT PAGE 3 HEREIN FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION RELEVANT TO AN
INVESTMENT IN THE DEBT SECURITIES.
-----------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HASTHE 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.
-----------
THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS , 1996
<PAGE>
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NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRE-
SENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS 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 TO
WHICH IT RELATES OR 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
SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO ITS DATE.
-----------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
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PAGE
----
<S> <C>
Available Information...................................................... 2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................ 2
Risk Factors............................................................... 3
The Company................................................................ 4
Consolidated Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges............................ 4
Use of Proceeds............................................................ 4
Description of the Credit Agreement........................................ 5
Description of Debt Securities............................................. 11
Plan of Distribution....................................................... 15
Validity of Debt Securities................................................ 16
Experts.................................................................... 16
</TABLE>
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$744,226,000
THE KROGER CO.
DEBT SECURITIES
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LOGO
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<PAGE>
SIGNATURES
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT
CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-3 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
REGISTRATION STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO
DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF CINCINNATI, STATE OF OHIO, ON JULY 12, 1996.
The Kroger Co.
/s/ Bruce M. Gack
By____________________________________
BRUCE M. GACK ASSISTANT SECRETARY
PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE
DATE INDICATED.
SIGNATURES TITLE
*/s/ Reuben V. Anderson Director
- -------------------------------------
REUBEN V. ANDERSON
*/s/ Raymond B. Carey, Jr. Director
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RAYMOND B. CAREY, JR.
*/s/ John L. Clendenin Director
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JOHN L. CLENDENIN
*/s/ David B. Dillon Director, President
- ------------------------------------- and
DAVID B. DILLON Chief Operating
Officer
*/s/ Richard W. Dillon Director
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RICHARD W. DILLON
*/s/ John T. LaMacchia Director
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JOHN T. LAMACCHIA
*/s/ Edward M. Liddy Director
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EDWARD M. LIDDY
*/s/ Patricia Shontz Longe Director
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PATRICIA SHONTZ LONGE
II-3
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SIGNATURES TITLE
*/s/ W. Rodney McMullen Group Vice President
- ------------------------------------- and Chief Financial
W. RODNEY MCMULLEN Officer
*/s/ T. Ballard Morton, Jr. Director
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T. BALLARD MORTON, JR.
*/s/ Thomas H. O'Leary Director
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THOMAS H. O'LEARY
*/s/ John D. Ong Director
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JOHN D. ONG
*/s/ Katherine D. Ortega Director
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KATHERINE D. ORTEGA
*/s/ Joseph A. Pichler Chairman of the
- ------------------------------------- Board of Directors,
JOSEPH A. PICHLER Chief Executive
Officer, and
Director
*/s/ J. Michael Schlotman Vice President and
- ------------------------------------- Corporate
J. MICHAEL SCHLOTMAN Controller--
Principal
Accounting Officer
Director
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MARTHA ROMAYNE SEGER
Director
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JAMES D. WOODS
/s/ Bruce M. Gack
*By _________________________________ July 12, 1996
BRUCE M. GACK AS ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
II-4
