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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
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UNITED
STATES SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington,
D.C. 20549 FORM
10-K FOR
ANNUAL AND TRANSITION REPORTS PURSUANT
TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 X ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 29, 2001 OR TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE Commission
file number 0-17955 SEARS
DC CORP. (Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter) Delaware 36-3533346 3711
Kennett Pike, Greenville, Delaware 19807 Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: (302)434-3100 Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: Common Stock par value
$1.00 per share Registrant
(1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and
(2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No Disclosure
of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not
contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's
knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by
reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form
10-K. [ X ] As of
February 28, 2002, the Registrant had 1,000 shares of common stock
outstanding, all of which were held by Sears, Roebuck and Co. Registrant
meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction (I)(1)(a) and (b)
of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this report with a reduced
disclosure format. Documents
Incorporated By Reference None PART I Item 1. Business Sears DC Corp.
("SDC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck and Co.
("Sears") organized under the laws of Delaware in January 1987, was
formed to borrow in domestic and foreign debt markets and lend the proceeds of
such borrowings to Sears and certain direct and indirect subsidiaries of Sears
in exchange for their unsecured notes. SDC raised funds through the sale of its
medium-term notes and direct placement of commercial paper with corporate and
institutional investors. The only outstanding debt of SDC is two series of
medium-term notes. SDC does not plan to issue additional debt. Under an agreement
between SDC and Sears, the interest rate paid by Sears on its unsecured notes is
designed to produce earnings sufficient to cover SDC's fixed charges at least
1.005 times. Required payments of principal and interest to SDC under the Sears
borrowing agreement are intended to be sufficient to allow SDC to make timely
payments of principal and interest to the holders of its securities. A Net Worth
Maintenance Agreement exists between Sears and SDC which requires Sears to
maintain ownership of and positive stockholder's equity in SDC. At February 28,
2002, SDC had no employees on its payroll and its officers and directors
consisted of employees of affiliated companies. Its offices are located at 3711
Kennett Pike, Greenville, Delaware 19807. Item 2. Properties. None. Item 3. Legal
Proceedings. None. Item 4. Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. Not applicable. Item 5. Market for
Registrant's Common Equity and Related Stockholder Matters. There is no
established public trading market for SDC's common stock. As of February 28,
2002, Sears owned all outstanding shares of SDC's common stock. During 2001 and
2000 there were no dividends declared or paid to Sears by SDC. Item 6. Selected
Financial Data. Not applicable. 2 PART II. Item 7.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations (thousands) FINANCIAL
CONDITION SDC has invested
funds in the unsecured notes of Sears, which pay interest sufficient to cover
SDC's fixed charges at least 1.005 times. The $77,525 in
outstanding medium-term notes as of December 29, 2001 are not redeemable by SDC
prior to their stated maturity except in the event of a significant decline in
Discover Card receivables of Sears former subsidiary, Dean Witter, which is now
a part of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. The financial
information appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K is presented in
historical dollars which do not reflect the decline in purchasing power that
results from inflation. As is the case for most financial companies,
substantially all of SDC's assets and liabilities are monetary in nature.
Interest rates on SDC's investment in Sears notes are set to provide for a ratio
of earnings to fixed charges of at least 1.005 times. This maintenance mechanism
insulates SDC from bearing the effects of inflation-based interest rate
increases. The ratings of
Sears debt securities as of December 29, 2001 appear in the table below: Moody's Investors Inc. Standard & Poor's Fitch Ratings Unsecured
long-term debt A3 A- A- RESULTS OF
OPERATIONS Medium-term notes
outstanding were $77,525 and $213,025 as of December 29, 2001 and December 30,
2000, respectively. Average medium-term notes outstanding were $183,602,
$213,025 and $266,276 in 2001, 2000 and 1999, respectively. Revenues decreased
14.7% to $16,421in 2001 from $19,252 in 2000. Revenues decreased 12.8% to
$19,252 in 2000 from $22,076 in 1999. The revenue decreases are due to lower
levels of interest earning assets in each period. The decrease in the average
amount of medium-term notes outstanding led to interest and related expenses
decreasing 14.7% to $16,316 in 2001 from $19,122 in 2000. In 2000 interest and
related expenses decreased 12.8% to $19,122 from $21,916 in 1999 due to a
decrease in the average amount of medium-term notes outstanding. Earnings
covered fixed charges 1.005 times in 2001, 2000 and 1999. CAUTIONARY
STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements
made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are forward-looking statements that
involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ
materially. Such statements are based on a number of assumptions about a variety
of factors, including the ability of Sears to perform under the agreements
described herein and general economic conditions (such as interest rates). While
SDC believes that these assumptions are reasonable, SDC cautions that it is
impossible to predict the impact of certain facts that could cause actual
results to differ from expected results. 3 Item 7a.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk (thousands)
SDC's outstanding
debt securities are subject to interest rate risk. All debt securities are
considered non-trading. At year-end 2001 and 2000, 100% of SDC's portfolio was
fixed rate. At year-end 2001 and 2000, the carrying value of SDC's debt was
$77,525 and $213,025, respectively. The fair value of SDC's debt was $85,756 and
$224,863 at year-end 2001 and 2000, respectively. As of year-end
2001, average interest rates by year of maturity were: 2002 8.69% 2003 8.58% 2004 -- 2005 -- 2006 -- Thereafter 9.15% 4 SEARS
DC CORP. Statements
of Income thousands,
except ratios 2001 2000 1999 Revenues Earnings
on notes of Sears $ 16,421 $ 19,252 $ 22,076 Expenses Interest
and related expenses 16,316 19,122 21,916 Operating
expenses 23 35 51 Total
expenses 16,339 19,157 21,967 Income
before income taxes 82 95 109 Income
taxes 28 33 38 Net income $ 54 $ 62 $ 71 Ratio of
earnings to fixed charges 1.005 1.005 1.005 See notes to
financial statements. 5 SEARS
DC CORP. Statements
of Financial Position thousands,
except share data 2001 2000 Assets Cash and
cash equivalents $ -- $ -- Notes of
Sears 84,632 223,069 Interest
receivable and other assets 189 299 Total
assets $ 84,821 $ 223,368 Liabilities Medium-term
notes $ 77,525 $ 213,025 Interest
payable and other liabilities 1,854 4,955 Total
liabilities 79,379 217,980 Stockholder's
Equity Common
stock, par value $1.00 per share, 1,000
shares authorized and outstanding 1 1 Capital in
excess of par value 7 7 Retained
income 5,434 5,380 Total
stockholder's equity 5,442 5,388 Total
liabilities and stockholder's equity $ 84,821 $ 223,368 See notes to
financial statements 6 SEARS
DC CORP. Statements
of Stockholder's Equity thousands 2001 2000 1999 Capital
stock $ 1 $ 1 $ 1 Capital in
excess of par value 7 7 7 Retained
income Beginning
of year 5,380 5,318 5,247 Net income 54 62 71 End of
year 5,434 5,380 5,318 Total
stockholder's equity $ 5,442 $ 5,388 $ 5,326 See notes to
financial statements 7 SEARS
DC CORP. Statements
of Cash Flows thousands 2001 2000 1999 CASH FLOWS
FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES Net income $ 54 $ 62 $ 71 Adjustment
to reconcile net income to net cash Provided
by (used in) operating activities: Net change
in interest receivable and other assets and interest payable
and other liabilities (2,991) 42 (2,580) Net cash
provided by (used in) operating activities (2,937) 104 (2,509) CASH FLOWS
FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES (Increase)
decrease in notes of Sears 138,437 (104) 121,931 Net cash
provided by (used in) investing activities 138,437 (104) 121,931 CASH FLOWS
FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES Repayments
of medium-term notes (135,500) -- (119,480) Net cash
used in financing activities (135,500) -- (119,480) Net
decrease in cash and equivalents -- -- (58) Balance at
beginning of year -- -- 58 Balance at
end of year $ -- $ -- $ -- Supplemental
Disclosure of Cash Flow Information Cash paid
during the year Interest $ 19,263 $ 19,078 $ 24,561 Income
taxes 33 38 56 See notes to
financial statements 8 SEARS
DC CORP. (thousands) NOTE 1 -
ORGANIZATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Sears DC Corp.
("SDC"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck and Co.
("Sears"), was principally engaged in borrowing in domestic and
foreign debt markets and lending the proceeds of such borrowings to Sears and
certain direct and indirect subsidiaries of Sears in exchange for Sears
unsecured notes. Under an agreement
between SDC and Sears, the interest rate Sears pays on the unsecured notes to
SDC is designed to produce earnings sufficient to cover SDC's fixed charges at
least 1.005 times. Required payments of principal and interest to SDC under the
Sears borrowing agreement are intended to be sufficient to allow SDC to make
timely payments of principal and interest to the holders of its securities. The preparation of
financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates. SDC's fiscal year
ends on the Saturday nearest December 31. Unless otherwise stated, references to
years in this report relate to fiscal years rather than to calendar years.
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE TRANSITION PERIOD FROM
__________ TO __________
(State of Incorporation)
( I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
(Zip Code)
Services,
Notes
to Financial Statements
|
|
Fiscal year |
|
Ended |
Weeks |
|
|
2001 |
December 29, 2001 |
52 |
|||
|
2000 |
December 30, 2000 |
52 |
|||
|
1999 |
January 1, 2000 |
52 |
Cash and cash equivalents includes all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less at the date of purchase.
The results of operations of SDC are included in the consolidated federal income tax return of Sears. Tax liabilities and benefits are allocated as generated by SDC, whether or not such benefits would be currently available on a separate return basis. Taxes are provided based on the statutory federal income tax rate.
Reclassifications
Certain reclassifications have been made to prior year financial statements and the notes to conform with the 2001presentation.
9
SEARS
DC CORP.
Notes
to Financial Statements
(thousands)
NOTE 2 - BORROWINGS
The medium-term notes are not redeemable by SDC except in the event of a significant decline in Discover Card receivables of Sears former subsidiary, Dean Witter, which is now part of Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co. The fair market value of medium-term notes approximated $85,756 and $224,863 at December 29, 2001, and December 30, 2000, respectively, based on discounted cash flows using interest rates currently available to Sears. SDC's borrowings include the following:
|
2001 |
2000 |
||||||||||
|
8.52% to 9.26% medium-term notes due through 2012 |
$ 77,525 |
$ 213,025 |
|||||||||
At December 29, 2001 medium-term note maturities for the next five years and thereafter were as follows:
|
2002 |
$ |
24,725 |
||
|
2003 |
9,000 |
|||
|
2004 |
-- |
|||
|
2005 |
-- |
|||
|
2006 |
-- |
|||
|
Thereafter |
43,800 |
|||
|
$ |
77,525 |
10
PART III
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
None.
Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant.
Not applicable.
Item 11. Executive Compensation.
Not applicable.
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management.
Not applicable.
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.
Not applicable.
11
PART IV
Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K.
(a) The following documents are filed as a part of this report:
An "Index to Financial Statements" has been filed as a part of this report on page S-1 hereof.
No financial statement schedules are included herein because they are not required or because the information is contained in the financial statements and notes thereto, as noted in the "Index to Financial Statements" filed as part of this report.
An "Exhibit Index" has been filed as part of this report beginning on page E-1 hereof.
(b) Reports on Form 8-K:
None.
12
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
SEARS DC CORP.
(Registrant)
/s/ William K. Phelan
By: William K. Phelan
Vice President and Controller
March 27, 2002
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
|
Signature
|
Title |
Date |
||
|
/s/ Larry R. Raymond Larry R. Raymond |
Director, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer) |
) |
||
|
/s/ Keith E. Trost Keith E. Trost |
Director, Vice President and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer) |
) |
March 27, 2002 |
|
|
/s/ William K. Phelan William K. Phelan |
Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer) |
) |
||
|
/s/ Paul J. Liska Paul J. Liska |
Director |
) |
13
SEARS DC CORP.
Index to Financial Statements
Years Ended December 29, 2001 and December 30, 2000
|
Page |
|||
|
|
|||
|
Statements of Income |
5 |
||
|
|
|
||
|
Statements of Financial Position |
6 |
||
|
|
|
||
|
Statements of Stockholder's Equity |
7 |
||
|
|
|
||
|
Statements of Cash Flows |
8 |
||
|
|
|
||
|
Notes to Financial Statements |
9-10 |
||
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|
|
||
|
Independent Auditors' Report |
S-2 |
||
|
|
|||
S-1
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
To the Board of Directors and Stockholder of
Sears DC Corp.
Greenville, Delaware
We have audited the accompanying statements of financial position of Sears DC Corp. (a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sears, Roebuck and Co.) as of December 29, 2001 and December 30, 2000, and the related statements of income, stockholder's equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 29, 2001. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, such financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Sears DC Corp. as of December 29, 2001 and December 30, 2000, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 29, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Chicago, Illinois
March 22, 2002
-- page break --
EXHIBIT INDEX
Sears DC Corp. Form 10-K
For the Year Ended December 29, 2001
|
3(a) |
Net Worth Maintenance Agreement between Discover Credit Corp. and Sears, Roebuck and Co., dated as of November 13, 1987 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to Form 10*). |
|
|
|
|
3(b) |
Amendment to Certificate of Incorporation of Discover Credit Corp. dated April 9, 1987 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(b) to Form 10*). |
|
|
|
|
3(c) |
Certificate of Amendment of Certificate of Incorporation dated May 21, 1993 to change the name of Discover Credit Corp. to Sears DC Corp. (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3(c) on Form 10-K of the Registrant for the year ended December 30, 1995*). |
|
|
|
|
3(d) |
By-laws of Sears DC Corp., as amended to February 6, 1996 (Incorporated by reference to exhibit 3(c) on Form 10-K of the Registrant for the year ended December 30, 1995*). |
|
|
|
|
4(a) |
Certificate of Incorporation of Discover Credit Corp. dated January 9, 1987 (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) to Form 10 of the Registrant (Form 10)*). |
|
|
|
|
4(b) |
Indenture, dated as of June 1, 1991 between Discover Credit Corp. and Bank of Delaware as Trustee (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4 to Registration Statement No. 33-40056*). |
|
|
|
|
4(c) |
Forms of fixed rate Medium-Term Note Series II and floating rate Medium-Term Note Series II (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 4.2 and 4.3 to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant dated June 20, 1991*). |
|
|
|
|
4(d) |
Indenture, dated as of February 15, 1992, between Discover Credit Corp. and Harris Trust Company of New York (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant dated February 28, 1992*). |
|
|
|
|
4(e) |
Forms of fixed rate Medium-Term Note Series III and floating rate Medium-Term Note Series III (Incorporated by reference to Exhibits 4.2 and 4.3 to Current Report on Form 8-K of the Registrant dated February 28, 1992*). |
|
|
|
|
4(f) |
The Registrant hereby agrees to furnish the Commission, upon request, with each instrument defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of the Registrant with respect to which the total amount of securities authorized does not exceed 10% of the total assets of the Registrant. |
|
|
|
|
10(a) |
Letter Agreement dated March 9, 1993 between Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Discover Credit Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(g) to Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Registrant for the year ended December 31, 1992*). |
|
|
|
|
10(b) |
Amendment dated March 22, 1994 to Letter Agreement dated March 9, 1993 between Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Discover Credit Corp. (Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(b) to Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Registrant for the year ended December 31, 1994*). |
|
|
|
|
12 |
Calculation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges** |
|
|
|
|
23 |
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP** |
______________________________
* SEC File No. 0-17955
** Filed herewith
E-1
EXHIBIT 12
SEARS DC CORP.
Calculation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
|
thousands |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
|||||
|
Income before income taxes |
$ |
82 |
$ |
95 |
$ |
109 |
||
|
Fixed Charges |
16,316 |
19,122 |
21,916 |
|||||
|
(i) Earnings available for Fixed Charges |
16,398 |
19,217 |
22,025 |
|||||
|
(ii) Fixed Charges |
16,316 |
19,122 |
21,916 |
|||||
|
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (i/ii) |
1.005 |
1.005 |
1.005 |
|||||
EXHIBIT 23
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT
We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No. 33-44671 of Sears DC Corp. on Form S-3 of our report dated March 22, 2002 appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Sears DC Corp. for the year ended December 29, 2001.
/s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP
Deloitte & Touche LLP
Chicago, Illinois
March 22, 2002