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United States
Securities And Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q/A

(Amendment No. 2)
       
x   Quarterly Report Pursuant To Section 13 Or 15(D) Of The  
  Securities Exchange Act Of 1934 For The  
  Quarterly Period Ended October 2, 2004  
       
  Or  
       
o   Transition Report Pursuant To Section 13 Or 15(D) Of The  
  Securities Exchange Act Of 1934  

Commission file number 1-416

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
New York   36-1750680
(State of Incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
3333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, Illinois   60179
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (847) 286-2500

Indicate by check mark whether the 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 o

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

     
Yes x   No o

As of October 30, 2004, the Registrant had 206,814,704 common shares, $.75 par value, outstanding.



 


Table of Contents

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.

 

Explanatory Note

This Form 10-Q/A is being filed to correct an error in the consolidated statements of cash flows related to the classification of cash flows generated in connection with the Company’s domestic credit card portfolio which was divested in November 2003. The domestic credit card receivable portfolio consisted primarily of the proprietary Sears Card and Sears Gold MasterCard (“MasterCard”). Historically, the Company presented the aggregate cash flows generated from both the Sears Card and MasterCard as cash flows from operating activities in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The Company has changed its classification of cash flows from the MasterCard portfolio from operating to investing activities within the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, as the loans generated were predominately related to activities external to Sears merchandise and services. As such, the Company has restated its condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the 39-weeks ended September 27, 2003. See Note 14 to the condensed consolidated financial statements. The change does not affect the results of operations, net income, financial condition, or net changes in cash and cash equivalents for any of the periods presented. In addition, the Company has revised its discussion within the Analysis of Financial Condition included in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

On December 1, 2004, the Company filed Amendment No. 1 to its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 2, 2004, to correct a computational error in the pro forma disclosure of stock-based compensation contained in Note 10 of the Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

For ease of reference, this Form 10-Q/A restates the Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended October 2, 2004 in its entirety, except for the exhibits. The exhibits required to be filed with this Form 10-Q/A are included herewith. In order to preserve the nature and character of the disclosures set forth in such items as originally filed, no attempt has been made in this amendment to modify or update the disclosures in the original Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q except to give effect to the restatements discussed in Note 10 and Note 14 and the discussion within the Analysis of Consolidated Financial Condition section included in Item 2, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. As a result, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A contains forward-looking information which has not been updated for events subsequent to the date of the original filing, and the Company directs you to its SEC filings made subsequent to the original filing date for additional information.


SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
13 weeks and 39 Weeks Ended October 2, 2004

             
        Page  
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION        
 
           
  Financial Statements        
 
           
 
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)
       
 
  13 and 39 Weeks Ended October 2, 2004 and September 27, 2003     1  
 
           
 
  Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets October 2, 2004 (Unaudited),
       
 
  September 27, 2003 (Unaudited) and January 3, 2004     2  
 
           
 
  Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)
       
 
  39 Weeks Ended October 2, 2004 and September 27, 2003     3  
 
           
 
  Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)     4  
 
           
 
  Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm     18  
 
           
  Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition     19  
 
  and Results of Operations        
 
           
  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk     30  
 
           
  Controls and Procedures     31  
 
           
PART II – OTHER INFORMATION        
 
           
  Legal Proceedings     32  
 
           
  Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities     33  
 
           
  Other Information     33  
 
           
  Exhibits     33  
 Acknowledgement of Awareness from Deloitte & Touche LLP
 302 Certification of Chief Executive Officer
 302 Certification of Chief Financial Officer
 906 Certification of CEO and CFO

 


Table of Contents

SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

                                 
millions, except per common share data   13 Weeks Ended   39 Weeks Ended
    October 2,     September 27,     October 2,     September 27,  
    2004   2003   2004   2003
                                 
Merchandise sales and services
    $ 8,210       $ 8,409       $ 24,613       $ 24,734  
Credit and financial products revenues
    85       1,385       257       4,136  
 
               
Total revenues
    8,295       9,794       24,870       28,870  
 
               
 
COSTS AND EXPENSES

                               
Cost of sales, buying and occupancy
    6,062       6,137       17,965       18,013  
Selling and administrative
    2,009       2,229       5,967       6,638  
Provision for uncollectible accounts
    16       567       43       1,511  
Depreciation and amortization
    227       226       717       681  
Interest, net
    66       281       210       847  
Special charges and impairments
    --       112       41       140  
 
               
Total costs and expenses
    8,380       9,552       24,943       27,830  
 
               
Operating (loss)/income
    (85 )     242       (73 )     1,040  
Other income, net
    6       2       58       16  
 
               
(Loss)/income before income taxes, minority interest and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    (79 )     244       (15 )     1,056  
Income tax benefit/(expense)
    25       (91 )     2       (392 )
Minority interest
    (7 )     (6 )     (15 )     (16 )
 
               
(Loss)/income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    (61 )     147       (28 )     648  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    --       --       (839 )     --  
 
               
NET (LOSS)/INCOME
    $ (61 )     $ 147       $ (867 )     $ 648  
 
               
 
(LOSS)/EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE
                               
BASIC
                               
(Loss)/earnings per share before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    $ (0.29 )     $ 0.53       $ (0.13 )     $ 2.18  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    --       --       (3.90 )     --  
 
               
(Loss)/earnings per share
    $ (0.29 )     $ 0.53       $ (4.03 )     $ 2.18  
 
               
 
DILUTED
                               
(Loss)/earnings per share before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    $ (0.29 )     $ 0.52       $ (0.13 )     $ 2.17  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    --       --       (3.90 )     --  
 
               
(Loss)/earnings per share
    $ (0.29 )     $ 0.52       $ (4.03 )     $ 2.17  
 
               
 
Cash dividends declared per common share
  $ 0.23     $ 0.23     $ 0.69     $ 0.69  
 
               
 
Average common equivalent shares outstanding
    210.7       281.0       215.0       298.7  

See accompanying notes.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                         
    (Unaudited)      
millions   October 2,     September 27,     January 3,  
    2004   2003   2004
                         
ASSETS
                       
Current assets
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 2,734     $ 1,546     $ 9,057  
Credit card receivables (net of allowance for uncollectible accounts of
$33, $54, and $42, respectively)
    1,896       1,920       1,956  
Other receivables
    567       600       733  
Merchandise inventories, net
    6,400       6,243       5,335  
Prepaid expenses, deferred charges and other current assets
    645       517       407  
Deferred income taxes
    674       818       708  
Assets held for sale
    --       27,818       --  
 
           
Total current assets
    12,916       39,462       18,196  
Property and equipment, net
    6,632       6,660       6,788  
Deferred income taxes
    295       443       378  
Goodwill
    956       945       943  
Tradenames and other intangible assets
    709       710       710  
Other assets
    1,144       870       708  
 
           
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 22,652     $ 49,090     $ 27,723  
 
           
 
LIABILITIES
                       
Current liabilities
                       
Short-term borrowings, primarily 90 days or less
  $ 823     $ 6,179     $ 1,033  
Current portion of long-term debt and capitalized lease obligations
    786       2,595       2,950  
Merchandise payables
    3,123       3,305       3,106  
Income taxes payable
    558       607       1,867  
Other liabilities
    3,075       3,146       2,950  
Unearned revenues
    1,262       1,245       1,244  
Other taxes
    487       472       609  
Liabilities held for sale
    --       10,602       --  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    10,114       28,151       13,759  
Long-term debt and capitalized lease obligations
    4,070       12,121       4,218  
Pension and postretirement benefits
    1,619       2,010       1,956  
Minority interest and other liabilities
    1,431       1,319       1,389  
 
           
Total Liabilities
    17,234       43,601       21,322  
 
           
 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
                       
 
SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                       
Common shares
    323       323       323  
Capital in excess of par value
    3,502       3,503       3,519  
Retained earnings
    10,623       8,945       11,636  
Treasury stock – at cost
    (8,942 )     (6,306 )     (7,945 )
Deferred ESOP expense
    (6 )     (27 )     (26 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    (82 )     (949 )     (1,106 )
 
           
Total Shareholders’ Equity
    5,418       5,489       6,401  
 
           
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  $ 22,652     $ 49,090     $ 27,723  
 
           
 
Total common shares outstanding
    207.6       263.3       230.4  

See accompanying notes.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

                 
    39 Weeks Ended
millions         September 27,  
        2003
    October 2,
2004
  (As restated -
See Note 14)
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
               
Net (loss)/income
    $ (867 )     $ 648  
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss)/income to net cash (used in) provided
by operating activities
               
Depreciation and amortization
    717       681  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
    839       --  
Provision for uncollectible accounts
    43       1,511  
Gain on sales of property and investments
    (37 )     (4 )
Income tax benefit on nonqualified stock options
    5       5  
Change in:
               
Deferred income taxes
    (454 )     254  
Sears Credit card receivables
    65       1,794  
Merchandise inventories
    (1,031 )     (1,088 )
Other operating assets
    208       (52 )
Other operating liabilities(1)
    (1,292 )     (793 )
 
       
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities
    (1,804 )     2,956  
 
       
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
    (17 )     --  
Acquisition of leasehold interest
    (172 )     --  
Change in Sears MasterCard credit card receivables
    --       (1,267 )
Purchases of property and equipment
    (570 )     (567 )
Proceeds from sales of property and investments
    1,246       24  
Purchases of investments
    (1,303 )     (25 )
 
       
Net cash used in investing activities
    (816 )     (1,835 )
 
       
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Proceeds from long-term debt
    297       2,932  
Repayments of long-term debt
    (2,617 )     (4,073 )
(Decrease)/increase in short term borrowings, primarily 90 days or less
    (219 )     1,633  
Repayments from ESOP notes receivable
    --       2  
Common shares repurchased
    (1,077 )     (1,911 )
Common shares issued for employee stock plans
    58       72  
Dividends paid to shareholders
    (147 )     (210 )
 
       
Net cash used in financing activities
    (3,705 )     (1,555 )
 
       
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    2       18  
 
       
 
NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    (6,323 )     (416 )
 
       
 
BALANCE AT BEGINNING OF YEAR
    9,057       1,962  
 
       
 
BALANCE AT END OF PERIOD
    $ 2,734       $ 1,546  
 
       
     

(1)
  For the 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004 and September 27, 2003, the Company paid income taxes of $1.3 billion and $0.4 billion, respectively.

See accompanying notes.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 1 — CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 2, 2004 and September 27, 2003, the related Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004 and September 27, 2003, and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004 and September 27, 2003, are unaudited. The interim financial statements reflect all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring accruals) which are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Sears, Roebuck and Co. (“Sears”, and together with its consolidated subsidiaries, the “Company”) 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The results of operations for the interim periods should not be considered indicative of results to be expected for the full year. The Company typically earns a disproportionate share of its operating income in the fourth quarter due to seasonal customer buying patterns.

Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2003 financial statements to conform with the current year presentation.

NOTE 2 — ACQUISITIONS/DISPOSITIONS

On September 29, 2004, the Company closed the acquisition of ownership or leasehold interest in 50 off-mall stores from Kmart Holding Corporation for $575.9 million plus the assumption of existing real estate leases. As of October 2, 2004, the Company has paid 30 percent ($171.8 million) of the purchase price and will pay the remaining 70 percent ($404.1 million) upon taking possession of the stores in 2005. A liability for the remaining 70 percent is reported within other liabilities on the balance sheet. The acquisitions include real estate and Kmart store fixtures, but exclude inventory and liabilities not related to leases. The Company will take possession of the stores in the spring of 2005 and expects to convert the stores to Sears nameplates by the fourth quarter of 2005. ESL Partners, L.P., and certain affiliated entities combined own greater than ten percent of both the Company and Kmart Holding Corporation.

During the third quarter of 2004, the Company agreed to sublease six stores from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Sears has taken possession of two stores and is targeting to take possession of two stores in 2005 and two stores in 2006.

On July 10, 2004, the Company acquired Standards of Excellence, a San Diego-based supplier of premium appliances, designer fixtures and decorative hardware. The Company paid $17 million in cash. The acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141, “Business Combinations”. Accordingly, the total purchase price has been allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at acquisition.

On November 3, 2003, the Company completed the sale of its domestic Credit and Financial Products business, including its clubs and services business (“Credit”), to Citigroup. On November 29, 2003, the Company sold National Tire & Battery (“NTB”) to TBC Corporation. The following table illustrates the impact the estimated results of the divested businesses had on the reported results for the 13- and 39-week periods ended September 27, 2003:

                                                 
    13 Weeks Ended September 27, 2003   39 Weeks Ended September 27, 2003
millions, except per share data   As   Divested           As   Divested      
    Reported   Businesses   Pro forma   Reported   Businesses   Pro forma
                                                 
Revenues
    $ 9,794       $ 1,430       $ 8,364       $ 28,870       $ 4,249       $ 24,621  
Net income
    147       171       (24 )     648       539       109  
Diluted earnings per share
    0.52       0.61       (0.09 )     2.17       1.80       0.37  

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 3 — SECURITIZED ASSETS

A summary of the Company’s securitized assets at October 2, 2004, September 27, 2003 and January 3, 2004 is as follows:

                         
    October 2,   September 27,   January 3,
millions   2004   2003   2004
                         
Credit card receivables
                       
Domestic(1)
    $ --       $ 22,815       $ --  
Sears Canada
    1,015       1,053       1,093  
 
           
Total credit card receivables
    1,015       23,868       1,093  
Property and equipment, net
    489       --       500  
 
           
Total securitized assets
    $ 1,504       $ 23,868       $ 1,593  
 
           


(1) The domestic credit card receivables at September 27, 2003 were reflected within assets held for sale on the balance sheet.

The Company securitizes certain of its credit card receivables through master trusts (“trusts”). Under the Sears Canada securitization program, trusts purchase undivided interests in the receivable balances, funded by issuing short-term and long-term debt, primarily commercial paper and senior and subordinated receivables-backed notes. The trusts related to the domestic receivables securitized the receivable balances by issuing certificates representing undivided interests in the trusts’ receivables both to outside investors and to the Company. These certificates entitled the holder to a series of scheduled cash flows under preset terms and conditions, the receipt of which was dependent upon cash flows generated by the related trusts’ assets. The Company accounts for credit card securitizations as secured borrowings.

Certain real estate assets were transferred to a wholly-owned consolidated subsidiary of Sears and segregated into a trust owned by the consolidated subsidiary. These assets are related to an inter-company loan agreement.

NOTE 4 — INVESTMENTS

                 
millions   October 2, 2004
    Cost   Fair Value
                 
Available-for-sale securities:
               
State and political subdivisions obligations
    $ 118       $ 118  
U.S. treasury and federal agencies obligations
    20       20  
 
       
Total available-for-sale securities
    $ 138       $ 138  
 
       

The available-for-sale securities of $138 million are due within one year and are reported within prepaid expenses, deferred charges and other current assets on the balance sheet.

The Company did not have available-for-sale securities with maturities greater than 90 days during any period in 2003.

NOTE 5 — BORROWINGS

Total borrowings outstanding at October 2, 2004, September 27, 2003 and January 3, 2004 were $5.6 billion, $30.8 billion and $8.1 billion, respectively. Total borrowings are presented on the balance sheet as follows:

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

                         
    October 2,   September 27,   January 3,
  millions   2004   2003   2004
                         
Short-term borrowings:
                       
Unsecured commercial paper
    $ 754       $ 3,249       $ 719  
Asset-backed commercial paper
    69       1,475       314  
Asset-backed facility
    --       1,400       --  
Bank loans
    --       55       --  
 
           
Total short-term borrowings
    823       6,179       1,033  
Long-term debt(1):
                       
Notes and debentures outstanding
    3,373       12,856       5,825  
Securitizations(2)
    923       11,240       756  
Capital lease obligations
    480       511       497  
 
           
Total borrowings
    $ 5,599       $ 30,786       $ 8,111  
SFAS No. 133 Hedge Accounting Adjustment
    80       510       90  
 
           
Total debt
    $ 5,679       $ 31,296       $ 8,201  
 
           
Memo: Sears Canada debt
    $ 1,634       $ 1,632       $ 1,701  


(1) Includes current portion of long-term debt.
(2) The September 27, 2003 securitizations include $10.4 million reported within liabilities held for sale on the balance sheet.

The Company maintains committed credit facilities to support its commercial paper borrowings. The Company’s domestic wholly-owned financing subsidiary, Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. (“SRAC”), has an unsecured, three-year revolving credit facility in the amount of $2.0 billion. This facility and other debt agreements require SRAC to maintain specified fixed charge coverage ratios, and the credit facility requires the Company’s domestic segment to maintain a minimum level of tangible net worth and a minimum interest coverage ratio. SRAC and the Company were in compliance with these covenants at October 2, 2004. In addition, Sears Canada has a $0.5 billion committed credit facility.

During the 13- and 39-week periods ended October 2, 2004, the Company retired approximately $23 million and $2.5 billion of domestic term debt, respectively.

NOTE 6 — SPECIAL CHARGES AND IMPAIRMENTS

During the second quarter of 2004, the Company recorded a pretax charge of $41 million for the estimated costs of severance associated with the termination of approximately 3,300 associates related to the streamlining of the Company’s headquarters organization as well as other productivity initiatives identified in its field operations. The identified associates will be terminated by the end of 2004 and the related severance paid out by the end of 2005.

Following is a summary of the activity in the 2004 reserve established for employee termination costs:

                                 
    Balance,                   Balance,
    Beginning   2004   Cash   October 2,
millions
  of Year   Charge   Payments   2004
                                 
2004 employee termination costs
    $ --       $ 41       $ (12 )     $ 29  
                 

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 7 — SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Dividend Payments

Under an agreement pursuant to which the Company has provided a credit facility in support of certain tax increment revenue bonds issued by the Village of Hoffman Estates, Illinois, in connection with the construction of its headquarters facility, the Company cannot take specified actions, including the declaration of cash dividends, that would cause its unencumbered assets, as defined, to fall below 150% of its liabilities, as defined. At October 2, 2004, approximately $4.1 billion could be paid in dividends to shareholders under this covenant.

Share Repurchase Program

The Company repurchased 6 million common shares at a cost of $225 million and 25 million common shares at a cost of $1.1 billion, during the 13- and 39-week periods ended October 2, 2004 under a common share repurchase program approved by the Board of Directors. As of October 2, 2004, the Company had remaining authorization under the existing share repurchase program to repurchase up to $501 million of shares by December 31, 2006.

Comprehensive (Loss)/Income and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss

The following table shows the computation of comprehensive (loss)/income:

                                 
    13 Weeks Ended   39 Weeks Ended
    October 2,   September 27,   October 2,   September 27,
millions   2004   2003   2004   2003
                                 
Net (loss)/income
    $ (61 )     $ 147       $ (867 )     $ 648  
Other comprehensive (loss)/income:
                               
Minimum pension liability (1)
    --       --       999       --  
Amounts amortized into interest expense from OCI
    (2 )     4       4       12  
Change in fair value of cash flow hedges
    --       (2 )     --       (1 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    37       5       21       96  
 
               
Total other comprehensive income
    35       7       1,024       107  
 
               
Total comprehensive (loss)/income
    $ (26 )     $ 154       $ 157       $ 755  
 
               

The following table displays the components of accumulated other comprehensive loss:

                         
    October 2,   September 27,   January 3,
millions   2004   2003   2004
                         
Accumulated derivative loss
    $ (5 )     $ (190 )     $ (9 )
Currency translation adjustments
    2       (48 )     (19 )
Minimum pension liability, net of tax (1)
    (79 )     (711 )     (1,078 )
 
           
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
    $ (82 )     $ (949 )     $ (1,106 )
 
           


(1) Minimum pension liability at October 2, 2004 reflects the effect of the change in accounting for domestic retirement benefits discussed in Note 9.

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 8 — (LOSS)/EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computations of basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share:

                                 
    13 Weeks Ended   39 Weeks Ended
    October 2,   September 27,   October 2,   September 27,
millions, except per share data   2004   2003   2004   2003
                                 
Net (loss)/income (1)
    $ (61 )     $ 147       $ (867 )     $ 648  
 
Average common shares outstanding
    210.7       277.1       215.0       297.1  
Dilutive effect of stock options
    --       3.9       --       1.6  
 
               
Average common equivalent shares outstanding
    210.7       281.0       215.0       298.7  
 
               
 
(Loss)/earnings per share
                               
Basic
    $ (0.29 )     $ 0.53       $ (4.03 )     $ 2.18  
Diluted
    $ (0.29 )     $ 0.52       $ (4.03 )     $ 2.17  


(1) Net (loss)/income is the same for purposes of calculating basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share.

In each period, certain options were excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share because they would have been anti-dilutive. Due to the net loss recognized for the 13- and 39-week periods ended October 2, 2004, all options to purchase 32.4 and 31.5 million common shares were excluded from the 13- and 39-week 2004 calculations, respectively. At September 27, 2003, options to purchase 5.2 million common shares at prices ranging from $41 to $64 per share, and 19.1 million common shares at prices ranging from $32 to $64 per share, were excluded from the 13- and 39-week 2003 calculations, respectively.

The following table sets forth the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share before the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle:

                 
    39 Weeks Ended
millions, except per share data   October 2,   September 27,
    2004   2003
                 
(Loss)/income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle (1)
    $ (28 )     $ 648  
 
Average common shares outstanding
    215.0       297.1  
Dilutive effect of stock options
    --       1.6  
 
       
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding
    215.0       298.7  
 
       
Earnings per share
               
Basic
    $ (0.13 )     $ 2.18  
Diluted
    $ (0.13 )     $ 2.17  


(1) (Loss)/income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle is the same for purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per share.

NOTE 9 — RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS

Certain domestic full-time and part-time employees are eligible to participate in noncontributory defined benefit plans after meeting age and service requirements. Substantially all full-time Canadian employees as well as some part-time employees are eligible to participate in contributory defined benefit plans. Pension benefits are based on length of service, compensation and, in certain plans, social security or other benefits. Funding for the various plans is determined using various actuarial cost methods.

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

In addition to providing pension benefits, the Company provides domestic and Canadian employees certain medical and life insurance benefits for retired employees. Employees may become eligible for medical benefits if they retire in accordance with the Company’s established retirement policy and are continuously insured under the Company’s group medical plans or other approved plans for 10 or more years immediately prior to retirement. The Company shares the cost of the retiree medical benefits with retirees based on years of service. Generally, the Company’s share of these benefit costs will be capped at the Company contribution calculated during the year of retirement. The Company’s postretirement benefit plans are not funded. The Company has the right to modify or terminate these plans. The Company does not expect to contribute to the domestic pension plan in 2004.

The components of net periodic benefit cost/(benefit) are as follows:

                                                                 
    13 Weeks Ended   39 Weeks Ended
    Pension   Postretirement   Pension   Postretirement
millions   Benefits   Benefits   Benefits   Benefits
                                 
    Oct. 2,   Sept. 27,   Oct. 2,   Sept. 27,   Oct. 2,   Sept. 27,   Oct. 2,   Sept. 27,
    2004   2003   2004   2003   2004   2003   2004   2003
                                                                 
Components of net periodic benefit
cost/(benefit):
                                                               
Benefits earned during the period
  $ 26     $ 23     $ 1     $ 2     $ 78     $ 69     $ 3     $ 4  
Interest cost
    59       49       13       12       177       147       39       35  
Expected return on plan assets
    (63 )     (53 )     (1 )     --       (189 )     (159 )     (3 )     --  
Amortization of unrecognized net prior service benefit
    (2 )     (1 )     (19 )     (24 )     (6 )     (3 )     (57 )     (72 )
Recognized net (gain)/loss
    (1 )     21       1       (5 )     (3 )     63       3       (15 )
Other
    1       (2 )     --       --       --       (6 )     (30 )(1)     --  
 
                               
Net periodic benefit cost/(benefit)
  $ 20     $ 37     $ (5 )   $ (15 )   $ 57     $ 111     $ (45 )   $ (48 )
 
                               


(1) Represents $30 million curtailment gain related to a change in retiree medical benefits.

Accounting Change

Subsequent to the sale of Credit, the Company initiated a project to review its domestic employee retirement benefits cost structure and programs. The Company assessed its retirement benefits programs in the context of comparable programs in the retail industry. As a result of this review, in January 2004, the Company announced a series of benefit plan changes which included the enhancement of the Company’s 401(k) defined contribution plan and the phasing out of participation in its domestic pension plan. Associates hired in 2004 and those under the age of 40 as of December 31, 2004, will receive an increased Company-matching contribution to the 401(k) plan of 110%, but will no longer earn additional pension benefits effective January 1, 2005. Pension benefits continue to accrue for associates age 40 and older as of December 31, 2004, unless they elect to participate in the enhanced 401(k) defined contribution plan.

In addition, the Company eliminated its domestic retiree medical insurance contribution for associates hired in 2004 and those under the age of 40 as of December 31, 2004, and capped the contribution at the 2004 level for associates age 40 and older. A curtailment gain of $30 million is included within selling and administrative costs for the 39-week period ended October 2, 2004 as a result of the change in the domestic retiree medical benefit.

In connection with the domestic pension and postretirement plan changes discussed above, the Company believed it was preferable to change its accounting methods, which under SFAS Nos. 87 and 106 delay recognition of past events. Therefore, in the first quarter of 2004, the Company changed its method for determining the market-related value of plan assets used in determining the expected return-on-assets component of annual net pension costs and its method for recognizing gains and losses for both its domestic pension and postretirement benefit

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

plans. Under the previous accounting method, the market-related value of the domestic pension plan assets was determined by averaging the value of equity assets over a five-year period. The new method recognizes equity assets at fair value. Further, under its previous accounting method, all unrecognized gains and losses in excess of the 10% corridor were amortized over the expected working lifetime of active employees (approximately 10 years). Under the new methodology, the portion of the total gain or loss outside the 10% corridor will be immediately recognized. As a result of this accounting change, the Company recorded an after-tax charge of $839 million in the first quarter of 2004 for the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle. The charge represents the recognition of unamortized experience losses at the beginning of 2004 in accordance with the new methods.

The new method of determining market-related value of plan assets and recognizing gains and losses is preferable because it produces results that more closely match the current economic position of the Company’s domestic retirement benefit plans by not delaying the recognition of past events.

The cumulative effect of the accounting changes related to fiscal 2004 is presented in the following table:

                 
    2004
millions, except per share data   Pretax   After-tax
                 
Domestic Pension
    $ 1,574       $ 999  
Domestic Postretirement
    (253 )     (160 )
 
       
Total
    $ 1,321       $ 839  
 
       
Loss per share
            $ (3.90 )

Presented below is pro forma net income and earnings per share for the quarters ended March 29, 2003, June 28, 2003, September 27, 2003 and January 3, 2004 and for the full-year ended January 3, 2004 showing the estimated effects as if the accounting change were applied retroactively:

                                         
    2003
    First   Second   Third   Fourth    
millions, except per share data   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Year
                                         
Net income – as reported
    $ 192       $ 309       $ 147       $ 2,749       $ 3,397  
Impact of change in accounting for domestic retirement plans
    10       11       11       (373 )     (341 )
 
                   
Net income – pro forma
    $ 202       $ 320       $ 158       $ 2,376       $ 3,056  
 
                   
Earnings per share – basic:
                                       
As reported
    $ 0.60       $ 1.04       $ 0.53       $ 11.06       $ 11.95  
Pro forma
    $ 0.63       $ 1.08       $ 0.57       $ 9.56       $ 10.75  
Earnings per share – diluted:
                                       
As reported
    $ 0.60       $ 1.04       $ 0.52       $ 10.84       $ 11.86  
Pro forma
    $ 0.63       $ 1.08       $ 0.56       $ 9.37       $ 10.67  

The Company uses October 31 as the measurement date for determining retirement plan assets, obligations and experience gains or losses. Under the new accounting method for domestic plans, the Company will recognize the portion of experience gain or loss in excess of the 10% corridor at the measurement date, which falls in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year. Had the Company used this accounting method in 2003, an experience loss would have been recognized in the fourth quarter of 2003 which would have reduced net income by $373 million.

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 10 — STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company has various stock-based employee compensation plans which are described more fully in Note 10 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in the Company’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Company accounts for those plans in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting For Stock Issued to Employees”, and related Interpretations. No stock-based employee compensation cost is reflected in net income/(loss), as no options granted under those plans had an exercise price less than the market value of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.

Subsequent to the issuance of its condensed consolidated financial statements for the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004, the Company determined it had used an incorrect vesting period for certain stock options granted in 2004 in the calculation of its pro forma stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value based method. As a result, the following pro forma information has been restated to increase the pro forma stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value method and pro forma net loss by $20 million ($0.09 per share – basic and diluted) and $54 million ($0.25 per share – basic and diluted) for the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004, respectively, from the amounts previously reported.

                                 
    13 Weeks Ended   39 Weeks Ended
    October 2,     September 27,     October 2,     September 27,  
millions, except per share data   2004   2003   2004   2003
                                 
Net (loss)/income — as reported
    $ (61 )     $ 147       $ (867 )     $ 648  
Less: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related taxes
    34       10       97       33  
 
               
Net (loss)/income — pro forma
    $ (95 )     $ 137       $ (964 )     $ 615  
 
               
(Loss)/earnings per share — basic
                               
As reported
    $ (0.29 )     $ 0.53       $ (4.03 )     $ 2.18  
Pro forma
    (0.45 )     0.49       (4.48 )     2.07  
(Loss)/earnings per share — diluted
                               
As reported
    $ (0.29 )     $ 0.52       $ (4.03 )     $ 2.17  
Pro forma
    (0.45 )     0.49       (4.48 )     2.06  

NOTE 11 — LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

Pending against the Company and certain of its officers and directors are a number of lawsuits that relate to the credit card business and public statements about it. The Company believes that all of these claims lack merit and is defending against them vigorously.

  On and after October 18, 2002, several actions were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the Company and certain current and former officers alleging that certain public announcements by the Company concerning its credit card business violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. The Court has consolidated the actions and certified the consolidated action as a class action. Discovery is underway. Trial is scheduled to begin on August 8, 2005.
 
  On and after November 15, 2002, several actions were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the Company, certain officers and directors, and alleged fiduciaries of Sears’ 401(k) Savings Plan (the “Plan”), seeking damages and equitable relief under the Employee Retirement

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

  Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). The plaintiffs purport to represent participants in the Plan, and allege breaches of fiduciary duties under ERISA in connection with the Plan’s investment in the Company’s common shares and alleged communications made to Plan participants regarding the Company’s financial condition. These actions have been consolidated into a single action. Discovery is underway. No trial date has been set.

  On October 23, 2002, a purported derivative action was filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York against the Company (as a nominal defendant) and certain current and former directors seeking damages on behalf of the Company. The complaint purports to allege a breach of fiduciary duty by the directors with respect to the Company’s management of the credit card business. On June 21, 2004, the Court dismissed the complaint because the plaintiff had filed the suit without having demanded that the Board of Directors bring the suit. The plaintiff has filed a notice of appeal from that ruling. Two similar actions (the “Cook County actions”) were filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois (the “Illinois state court”), and a third (the “federal derivative action”) was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. All three actions were stayed pending the disposition of the action in New York. In light of the New York court’s decision, the Illinois state court lifted the stay of the Cook County actions and reinstated a motion to dismiss which the defendants had filed prior to the stay. On September 30, 2004, the Illinois state court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss on the ground that the plaintiff had filed the suit without having demanded that the Board of Directors bring the suit. The plaintiffs in the federal derivative action appealed the stay order in that case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. On July 19, 2004, the Court of Appeals affirmed the stay of the federal derivative action, and that stay remains in effect.
 
  On June 17, 2003, an action was filed in the Northern District of Illinois against the Company and certain officers, purportedly on behalf of a class of all persons who, between June 21, 2002 and October 17, 2002, purchased the 7% notes that SRAC issued on June 21, 2002. An amended complaint has been filed, naming as additional defendants certain former officers, SRAC and several investment banking firms who acted as underwriters for SRAC’s March 18, May 21 and June 21, 2002 notes offerings. The amended complaint alleges that the defendants made misrepresentations or omissions concerning its credit business during the class period and in the registration statements and prospectuses relating to the offerings. The amended complaint alleges that these misrepresentations and omissions violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, and Sections 11, 12 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and purports to be brought on behalf of a class of all persons who purchased any security of SRAC between October 24, 2001 and October 17, 2002, inclusive. The defendants filed motions to dismiss the action. On September 24, 2004, the court granted these motions in part, and denied them in part. The court dismissed the claims related to the March 18 and May 21, 2002 note offerings because the plaintiff did not purchase notes in those offerings. The court dismissed the Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 claims against several of the individual defendants because the plaintiff failed to adequately plead such claims. The court sustained the remaining claims. By invitation of the court, on October 1, 2004, defendants moved to dismiss the Section 10(b), Rule 10b-5 and Section 20(a) claims not dismissed in the court’s ruling. On October 5, 2004, the court granted the plaintiff leave to file a second amended complaint.

The Company is subject to various other legal and governmental proceedings, many involving litigation incidental to the businesses. Some matters contain class action allegations, environmental and asbestos exposure allegations and other consumer-based claims that involve compensatory, punitive or treble damage claims in very large amounts as well as other types of relief. The consequences of these matters are not presently determinable but, in the opinion of management of the Company after consulting with legal counsel, and taking into account insurance and reserves, the ultimate liability is not expected to have a material adverse effect on annual results of operations, financial position, liquidity or capital resources of the Company.

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 12 — FINANCIAL GUARANTEES

The Company issues various types of guarantees in the normal course of business. The Company had the following guarantees outstanding:

         
millions      
    October 2,
    2004
         
Parent guarantee of SRAC debt
    $ 3,604  
Import letters of credit
    298  
Standby letters of credit
    141  
Secondary lease obligations
    104  
Performance guarantee
    59  

The debt obligations of SRAC are reflected in the Company’s balance sheets. As a result of the Company’s sale of Credit, Sears was required to issue a guarantee of SRAC’s outstanding public debt in order to maintain SRAC’s exemption from being deemed an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Sears also guarantees any outstanding borrowings under SRAC’s three-year, unsecured credit facility. As of October 2, 2004, no borrowings were outstanding under this facility. These guarantees would require Sears to repay such debt should SRAC default in payment.

The secondary lease obligations relate to certain store leases of previously divested businesses. The Company remains secondarily liable if the primary obligor defaults. As of October 2, 2004, the Company had an $8 million liability recorded in other liabilities which represents the Company’s current estimate of potential obligation related to these leases.

The performance guarantee relates to certain municipal bonds issued in connection with the Company’s headquarters building. This guarantee expires in 2007.

NOTE 13 — SEGMENT DISCLOSURES

With the sale of Credit, the Company’s financial reporting segments for fiscal 2004 have been changed to reflect two operating segments — a Domestic segment and a Sears Canada segment.

The Domestic segment consists of merchandise sales and related services, including product protection agreements, delivery and product installation and repair services. It includes all Sears selling channels, Specialty and Full-line Stores as well as Direct to Customer operations encompassing online, catalogs, and the Lands’ End online and catalog business. The results of operations for the divested businesses, Credit and Financial Products and NTB, are included within the Domestic segment for the 13- and 39-week periods ended September 27, 2003.

The Sears Canada segment includes retail, credit and corporate operations conducted by Sears Canada, a 54.3% owned subsidiary.

Prior to the sale of Credit, the Company organized its business into three domestic segments: Retail and Related Services, Credit and Financial Products and Corporate and Other; and one international segment: Sears Canada.

  The Retail and Related Services segment consisted of merchandise sales and related services, including product protection agreements, delivery and product installation and repair services. It included all Sears selling channels, including Specialty and Full-line Stores as well as Direct to Customer operations which includes online, catalogs, and Lands’ End online and catalog business. Beginning November 3, 2003, this

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

    segment also included the revenues earned under the long-term marketing and servicing alliance with Citigroup.
 
  The Credit and Financial Products segment managed the Company’s domestic portfolio of Sears Card and MasterCard receivables. This segment also included related financial products, such as credit protection and insurance products. The domestic Credit and Financial Products business was sold on November 3, 2003, and thus the segment results include its results of operations through November 2, 2003.
 
  The Corporate and Other segment included activities that are of an overall holding company nature primarily consisting of administrative activities supporting the Domestic operations. This segment also included Home Improvement Services which installs siding and windows.
 
  External revenues and expenses were allocated between the applicable segments. For zero-percent financing promotions in which customers received free financing, Retail and Related Services reimbursed Credit and Financial Products over the life of the financing period at a 10% annual rate. The cost was reported as selling expense by Retail and Related Services and an offsetting benefit was recognized by Credit and Financial Products. With the sale of the domestic Credit and Financial Products business, the allocation of these costs is included in the results of operations through November 2, 2003. Under the terms of the long-term marketing and servicing alliance with Citigroup, Citigroup will support the Company’s historical level zero-percent receivable balances at no cost to the Company.
 
  The domestic segments participated in a centralized funding program. Interest expense was allocated to the Credit and Financial Products segment based on its funding requirements. Funding included unsecured debt reflected on the balance sheet and investor certificates related to credit card receivables transferred to trusts through securitizations. The remainder of net domestic interest expense was reported in the Retail and Related Services segment through November 3, 2003. Subsequent to the sale of Credit, the allocation of interest expense was changed such that net interest expense associated with approximately $3.8 billion of outstanding domestic term debt remaining from the Credit and Financial Products segment, also referred to as Credit legacy debt, was allocated to the Corporate and Other Segment. As of October 2, 2004, approximately $1.4 billion of Credit legacy debt remained outstanding.

The 2003 segment information has been presented on the 2004 basis — Domestic and Sears Canada. In addition, the Company has provided, for 2003, information on the operating segments comprising the Domestic segment in 2003.

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

For the 13 weeks ended October 2, 2004

                         
            Sears      
millions   Domestic   Canada   Consolidated
                         
Merchandise sales and services
    $ 7,141       $ 1,069       $ 8,210  
Credit and financial products revenues
    --       85       85  
 
           
Total revenues
    7,141       1,154       8,295  
Costs and expenses
                       
Cost of sales, buying and occupancy
    5,289       773       6,062  
Selling and administrative
    1,720       289       2,009  
Provision for uncollectible accounts
    --       16       16  
Depreciation and amortization
    199       28       227  
Interest, net
    39       27       66  
Special charges
    --       --       --  
 
           
Total costs and expenses
    7,247       1,133       8,380  
 
           
Operating (loss)/income
    $ (106 )     $ 21       $ (85 )
 
           
Total assets
    $ 18,442       $ 4,210       $ 22,652  
 
           

For the 13 weeks ended September 27, 2003

                                                 
    Domestic                  
    Retail and   Credit and                        
    Related   Financial   Corporate     Total     Sears      
millions   Services   Products   and Other   Domestic   Canada   Consolidated
                                                 
Merchandise sales and services
    $ 7,342       $ --       $ 107       $ 7,449       $ 960       $ 8,409  
Credit and financial products revenues
    --       1,307       --       1,307       78       1,385  
 
                       
Total revenues
    7,342       1,307       107       8,756       1,038       9,794  
Costs and expenses
                                               
Cost of sales, buying and occupancy
    5,415       --       42       5,457       680       6,137  
Selling and administrative
    1,694       157       111       1,962       267       2,229  
Provision for uncollectible accounts
    --       550       --       550       17       567  
Depreciation and amortization
    182       4       13       199       27       226  
Interest, net
    24       230       --       254       27       281  
Special charges
    112       --       --       112       --       112  
 
                       
Total costs and expenses
    7,427       941       166       8,534       1,018       9,552  
 
                       
Operating (loss)/income
    $ (85 )     $ 366       $ (59 )     $ 222       $ 20       $ 242  
 
                       
Total assets
    $ 13,456       $ 29,693       $ 1,931       $ 45,080       $ 4,010       $ 49,090  
 
                       

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For the 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004

                         
            Sears      
millions   Domestic   Canada   Consolidated
                         
Merchandise sales and services
    $ 21,603       $ 3,010       $ 24,613  
Credit and financial products revenues
    --       257       257  
 
           
Total revenues
    21,603       3,267       24,870  
Costs and expenses Cost of sales, buying and occupancy
    15,795       2,170       17,965  
Selling and administrative
    5,107       860       5,967  
Provision for uncollectible accounts
    --       43       43  
Depreciation and amortization
    634       83       717  
Interest, net
    129       81       210  
Special charges
    41       --       41  
 
           
Total costs and expenses
    21,706       3,237       24,943  
 
           
Operating (loss)/income
    $ (103 )     $ 30       $ (73 )
 
           
Total assets
    $ 18,442       $ 4,210       $ 22,652  
 
           

For the 39 weeks ended September 27, 2003

                                                 
    Domestic                  
    Retail and   Credit and                        
    Related     Financial     Corporate     Total     Sears      
millions   Services   Products   and Other   Domestic   Canada   Consolidated
                                                 
Merchandise sales and services
  $ 21,757     $ --     $ 270     $ 22,027     $ 2,707     $ 24,734  
Credit and financial products revenues
    --       3,903       --       3,903       233       4,136  
 
                       
Total revenues
    21,757       3,903       270       25,930       2,940       28,870  
Costs and expenses Cost of sales, buying and occupancy
    15,991       --       107       16,098       1,915       18,013  
Selling and administrative
    4,962       590       321       5,873       765       6,638  
Provision for uncollectible accounts
    --       1,467       --       1,467       44       1,511  
Depreciation and amortization
    552       13       34       599       82       681  
Interest, net
    49       717       --       766       81       847  
Special charges
    128       --       12       140       --       140  
 
                       
Total costs and expenses
    21,682       2,787       474       24,943       2,887       27,830  
 
                       
Operating income/(loss)
  $ 75     $ 1,116     $ (204 )   $ 987     $ 53     $ 1,040  
 
                       
Total assets
  $ 13,456     $ 29,693     $ 1,931     $ 45,080     $ 4,010     $ 49,090  
 
                       

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

NOTE 14 — RESTATEMENT OF STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

The domestic credit card receivable portfolio consisted primarily of the proprietary Sears Card and Sears Gold MasterCard (“MasterCard”). Sears Card receivables were generated primarily from purchases of merchandise and services from the Company’s domestic operations. The MasterCard receivables were generated from purchases from the Company, as well as other merchants, balance transfers and the use of convenience checks and cash advances.

Historically, the Company presented the aggregate cash flows generated from both the Sears Card and MasterCard as cash flows from operating activities in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The Company has changed its presentation of cash flows from the MasterCard portfolio from operating to investing activities within the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, as the loans generated were predominately related to activities external to Sears merchandise and services. As such, the Company has restated its condensed consolidated statement of cash flows for the 39-weeks ended September 27, 2003. The impact on the respective cash flow statement line items is as follows:

                 
    39 weeks ended  
millions   September 27, 2003  
    As previously        
    reported     As restated  
Change in credit card receivables/Sears
credit card receivables
  $ 527     $ 1,794  
Net cash provided by operating activities
    1,689       2,956  
Change in Sears MasterCard receivables
          (1,267 )
Net cash used in investing activities
  $ (568 )   $ (1,835 )

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Shareholders of
Sears, Roebuck and Co.

We have reviewed the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets of Sears, Roebuck and Co. as of October 2, 2004 and September 27, 2003, and the related Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the thirteen-week and thirty-nine-week periods ended October 2, 2004 and September 27, 2003 and the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the thirty-nine week periods ended October 2, 2004 and September 27, 2003. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management.

We conducted our reviews in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). A review of interim financial information consists principally of applying analytical procedures and making inquiries of persons responsible for financial and accounting matters. It is substantially less in scope than an audit conducted in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the objective of which is the expression of an opinion regarding the financial statements taken as a whole. Accordingly, we do not express such an opinion.

Based on our reviews, we are not aware of any material modifications that should be made to such condensed consolidated financial statements for them to be in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

As discussed in Note 10, the pro forma disclosure of stock-based compensation required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 has been restated. As discussed in Note 14, the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the thirty-nine week period ended September 27, 2003 has been restated.

We have previously audited, in accordance with standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Consolidated Balance Sheet of Sears, Roebuck and Co. as of January 3, 2004, and the related Consolidated Statements of Income, Shareholders’ Equity, and Cash Flows for the year then ended (not presented herein); and in our report dated March 9, 2004 (February 11, 2005 as to the effects of the restatement discussed in Note 18), we expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, the information set forth in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 3, 2004, is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the Consolidated Balance Sheet from which it has been derived.

 
 /s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP                                        
DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
Chicago, Illinois
November 8, 2004 (December 1, 2004 as to the effects of the restatement discussed in Note 10 and February 11, 2005 as to the effects of the restatement discussed in Note 14)

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Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

With the sale of the domestic Credit and Financial Products business in the fourth quarter of 2003, the Company’s financial reporting segments for fiscal 2004 were changed to reflect two operating segments — a Domestic segment and a Sears Canada segment.

Domestic consisting of:

  -   Full-line Stores: includes merchandise sales as well as the operations of Sears Auto Centers and Sears Grands, and online revenues of sears.com
 
  -   Specialty Stores: includes the operations of Dealer Stores, Hardware Stores, The Great Indoors (“TGI”), Commercial Sales and Outlet stores. National Tire & Battery (“NTB”) operations are reflected in the 2003 results through November 29, 2003
 
  -   Direct to Customer: includes Lands’ End online, catalog and retail store operations as well as direct marketing of goods and services through specialty catalogs and other direct channels
 
  -   Home Services: includes product repair services, product protection agreements and installation services for all major brands of home products; also includes home improvement services, primarily siding, windows and cabinet refacing, carpet cleaning and the installation and servicing of residential heating and cooling systems

  -   Sears Financial Services: includes revenues earned under the long-term marketing and servicing alliance with Citigroup
 
  -   Corporate: includes activities that are of an overall holding company nature of its Domestic operations, primarily consisting of administrative activities
 
  -   Credit and Financial Products: includes the 2003 results of operations of the domestic Credit and Financial Products business (sold on November 3, 2003)

 

Sears Canada conducts retail, credit and corporate operations through Sears Canada Inc. (“Sears Canada”), a consolidated, 54.3% owned subsidiary of Sears



OVERVIEW AND CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS

Sears, Roebuck and Co., together with its consolidated subsidiaries (the “Company”), is one of the largest retailers in the United States and Canada with a 118-year history of providing high quality merchandise and related services to a broad array of customers. The Company’s vision is to be the preferred and most trusted resource for products and services that enhance its customers’ homes and family life. The Company’s mission is to grow the business by providing quality products and services at a great value. We aspire to make these products and services available to customers through a wide network of multiple channels, including 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the United States and Canada, a home services network with over 10,000 technicians, leading internet sites including sears.com, sears.ca and landsend.com and direct to customer catalog programs.

Fiscal 2003 was an important transition year for the Company. On November 3, 2003, the Company completed the sale of its domestic Credit and Financial Products business, including its clubs and services business (“Credit”), to Citigroup and entered into a long-term marketing and servicing alliance with Citigroup. Additionally, on November 29, 2003, the Company sold NTB to TBC Corporation.

These divestitures, along with the beginning of a new strategic relationship with Citigroup, have created a Company with a pure retail focus who can offer strong proprietary and national brands and unparalleled services.

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While the Company’s focus in 2004 was to achieve more consistent revenue growth with improved margins, results through the third quarter have been disappointing.

Third quarter results and comparisons to the prior year were negatively impacted by a number of factors, including:

    a challenging macroeconomic environment, particularly the current year impact of fuel prices on consumer spending and the prior year benefit to consumers from tax rebates;
    less than favorable weather conditions for much of the quarter;
    disruption caused by business resets and product transitions completed in the current year quarter, followed by a slower than expected ramp up of sales following the resets; and
    deeper than expected markdowns in order to clear seasonal and slower moving inventory as a result of the lower than expected sales trends.

The Company is taking actions to address the below expectations profit level and Company-specific issues experienced during the quarter. These actions, some of which will contribute to near-term improvements, but more importantly aimed at improving the long-term performance of the business, include:

    strengthening product assortments by:
  -   introducing a number of innovative products within home appliances and home improvement that offer both high-performance and high-efficiency, and
  -   increasing the fashion content within its apparel offering, including the introduction of two new proprietary brands — Structure and A|Line;
    focusing on improved gross margin performance by:
  -   better leveraging its preferred vendor relationships,
  -   increasing the amount of product that is sourced directly,
  -   introducing Profit Logic, a system that provides innovative inventory analytics, to certain parts of the apparel business, and
  -   over time, transitioning to an allocation process allowing us to better assort product to store-specific demographics as well as more effectively replenish product during the selling season based upon rate of sale; and
    identifying ways to reduce the level of capital invested in store remodels to improve overall efficiency of the Company’s capital expenditures.

Another important component of improving the Company’s long-term performance is to provide better access to its products. The Company has aggressively focused on increasing its presence outside of the traditional mall-based formats. During the third quarter, the Company expanded its off-mall presence by:

    acquiring ownership or leasehold interest in 50 off-mall stores in key Sears markets from Kmart Holding Corporation for approximately $576 million. Sears expects to take possession of the stores in the Spring of 2005 and is targeting to open the stores under Sears nameplates by the end of 2005;
    subleasing six stores from Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. Sears has taken possession of two stores and is targeting to take possession of two stores in 2005 and two stores in 2006; and
    accelerating the development of its new Sears Grand format from three locations to up to 10 locations by the end of 2005 with further growth in 2006.

The acquired stores are a unique opportunity to rapidly enter attractive markets for the Company. The newly acquired stores will offer a relevant subset of traditional categories, including apparel, home appliances, home electronics, home improvement and home fashions, plus consumables and transactional items. Where possible, the floor design of the new stores will be on one level, utilizing a common layout similar to the open-racetrack design of existing Sears Grand stores, with exit cashiering near the front entrance/exit.

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SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.

The initial results of the Company’s three Sears Grand stores have been encouraging as the customer response to the new format has been favorable and revenue levels have been above expectations. Including the four Sears Grand stores opened as of October 31, 2004, the Company expects to be operating up to 10 Sears Grand stores by the end of 2005.

While management believes it is taking the necessary actions to address the Company’s near-term issues, the Company undertook a review of its business plans, specifically focusing on Full-line Stores, for the remainder of the year. Based upon that review, the Company concluded it was appropriate to lower the fourth quarter sales and gross margin assumptions and to adjust the business plans for the upcoming holiday season. This revision, coupled with the sales and gross margin performance over the past two quarters, resulted in the Company lowering its full-year guidance.

Overall, the Company’s operating results for the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004 reflect the challenges faced this year. A summary of the consolidated results of operations is as follows:

                                 
    13 Weeks Ended   39 Weeks Ended
millions, except per share data   October 2,   September 27,   October 2,   September 27,
    2004   2003   2004   2003
Merchandise sales and services revenues
  $ 8,210     $ 8,409     $ 24,613     $ 24,734  
Domestic comparable store sales
    -4.0 %     +1.2 %     -1.9 %     -2.9 %
Credit and financial products revenues
    85       1,385       257       4,136  
 
               
 
Total revenues
  $ 8,295     $ 9,794     $ 24,870     $ 28,870  
 
               
 
Gross margin rate
    26.2 %     27.0 %     27.0 %     27.2 %
Selling and administrative expense as a percentage
of total revenues
    24.2 %     22.8 %     24.0 %     23.0 %
 
Operating (loss)/income
  $ (85 )   $ 242     $ (73 )   $ 1,040  
 
Other income, net
  $ 6     $ 2     $ 58     $ 16  
(Loss)/income before income taxes, minority interest and
cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ (79 )   $ 244     $ (15 )   $ 1,056  
 
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle
  $ --     $ --     $ (839 )   $ --  
 
Net (loss)/income
  $ (61 )   $ 147     $ (867 )   $ 648  
 
(Loss)/earnings per share — diluted
  $ (0.29 )   $ 0.52     $ (4.03 )   $ 2.17  
(Loss)/earnings per share before cumulative effect of change
in accounting principle
  $ (0.29 )   $ 0.52     $ (0.13 )   $ 2.17  

Effective January 4, 2004, the Company changed its method for recognizing gains and losses for both its domestic pension and postretirement benefit plans. The Company began recognizing experience gains and losses on a more current basis, while under its previous methods, the Company amortized experience gains and losses over future service periods. As a result of this accounting change, the Company recorded an after-tax charge of $839 million, or $3.81 per share, in the first quarter of 2004 for the cumulative effect of change in accounting principle. The charge represents the recognition of unamortized experience losses at the beginning of 2004 in accordance with the new accounting methods.

The results of operations for the 13- and 39-week periods ended September 27, 2003 include the results of operations for the divested businesses, Credit and NTB.

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The Company believes that an understanding of its reported results and its ongoing financial performance is not complete without considering the impact the following items had on the results of operations for the 13- and 39-week periods ended October 2, 2004 and September 27, 2003. These items relate to (i) significant divestitures, (ii) changes in accounting method, and (iii) significant restructuring activities. Items like these affect the Company’s results from time to time. However, the amounts of these types of items may vary significantly from period to period and have a disproportionate effect on the periods presented, which affects the comparability of the Company’s financial performance. Management considers the total impact of these items, along with reported results, when they review and evaluate the Company’s financial performance.

                                 
    13 Weeks Ended   39 Weeks Ended
millions   October 2,     September 27,     October 2,     September 27,  
    2004   2003   2004   2003
Negative carry related to Credit legacy debt and related
debt retirement costs
  $ 14     $ --     $ 71     $ --  
 
Curtailment gain on post-retirement medical plans
    --       --       (30 )     --  
 
Employment termination costs
    --       --       41       28  
 
Charges associated with the refinement of TGI business
strategy
    --       141       --       141  
 
Accelerated depreciation resulting from CSC purchased
services transaction
    --       --       39       --  
 
Pro forma effects on the prior year:
                               
Divested businesses:
                               
Operating income
    --       (375 )     --       (1,144 )
Zero-percent financing costs
    --       67       --       184  
Pro forma revenues earned under Citigroup alliance
    --       39       --       112  
 
               
Total divested businesses
    --       (269 )     --       (848 )
 
Domestic retirement plan accounting change
    --       18       --       51  
 
               
 
Total
  $ 14     $ (110 )   $ 121     $ (628 )
 
               

  The decrease in merchandise sales and services revenues for the 13- and 39-week periods ended October 2, 2004 was primarily due to domestic comparable store sales declines, as well as the prior year’s results including $115 and $320 million, respectively, of revenues attributable to the divested NTB business. Third quarter domestic revenues were unfavorably impacted by several significant factors, including challenging weather conditions for much of the quarter, disruption caused by business resets and product transitions and prior year comparisons to strong consumer spending following tax rebates.
 
  Credit and Financial Products revenues were lower than the prior year for the 13- and 39-week periods ended October 2, 2004, as a result of the sale of Credit in the fourth quarter of 2003. Domestic revenues generated in the 13- and 39-week periods ended September 27, 2003 were $1.3 billion and $3.9 billion, respectively. The current year revenues reflect solely the credit business of Sears Canada.
 
  The decline in the gross margin rates for the 13- and 39-week periods ended October 2, 2004 is reflective of higher levels of clearance activity coupled with the need to take deeper markdowns in order to clear seasonal and slower moving inventory as a result of the weak sales trends.

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  Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues increased for the 13- and 39-week periods ended October 2, 2004 primarily due to the divestiture of Credit and NTB, as well as lower overall sales in its domestic retail channels.

SEGMENT OPERATIONS

The Company is organized into two principal business segments — Domestic and Sears Canada. Following is a discussion of results of operations by business segment.

Domestic

Domestic results and key statistics were as follows:

                                 
    13 Weeks Ended   39 Weeks Ended
    October 2,   September 27,   October 2,   September 27,
millions   2004   2003 (2)   2004   2003 (2)
                                 
Full-line Stores
    $ 4,984       $ 5,178       $ 15,122       $ 15,291  
Specialty Stores
    1,168       1,268       3,527       3,757  
Direct to Customer
    314       337       997       1,078  
Home Services
    675       666       1,957       1,901  
 
               
Merchandise sales and services revenues
    7,141       7,449       21,603       22,027  
Credit and financial products revenues
    --       1,307       --       3,903  
 
               
Total Domestic revenues
    7,141       8,756       21,603       25,930  
 
               
Cost of sales, buying and occupancy
    5,289       5,457       15,795       16,098  
Gross margin rate
    25.9 %     26.7 %     26.9 %     26.9 %
Selling and administrative
    1,720       1,962       5,107       5,873  
Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of total revenues
    24.1 %     22.4 %     23.6 %     22.6 %
Provision for uncollectible accounts
    --       550       --       1,467  
Depreciation and amortization
    199       199       634       599  
Interest, net
    39       254       129       766  
Special charges
    --       112       41       140  
 
               
Total costs and expenses
    7,247       8,534       21,706       24,943  
 
               
Operating (loss)/income
    $ (106 )     $ 222       $ (103 )     $ 987  
 
               
Number of:
                               
Full-line Stores
                    871       869  
Specialty Stores
                    1,115       1,314  
Lands’ End Retail Stores
                    17       16  
 
               
Total Retail Stores
                    2,003       2,199  
 
               
Comparable store sales percentage increase/(decrease) (1)
Home Group
    -2.9 %     +2.7 %     -0.5 %     -2.3 %
Apparel/accessories
    -8.1 %     +1.7 %     -6.4 %     -3.5 %
Full-line Stores
    -4.7 %     +1.4 %     -2.5 %     -3.0 %
Specialty Stores
    +0.3 %     +0.3 %     +1.2 %     -2.6 %
Total
    -4.0 %     +1.2 %     -1.9 %     -2.9 %


(1) For purposes of determining comparable store sales, a store is considered to be comparable at the beginning of the 13th month after the store     is opened.

(2) Includes the results of operations for the divested businesses of Credit and NTB.


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Domestic merchandise sales and services revenues decreased 4.1% and 1.9%, respectively, in the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004 due to domestic comparable store sales declines and a reduction in revenues of $115 and $320 million, respectively, due to the divestiture of NTB in the fourth quarter of 2003.

Full-line Stores revenues decreased 3.7% in the 13-week period ended October 2, 2004, due to declines in both the Home and Apparel businesses. Within Apparel, sales decreases were observed in all major categories, with more significant declines occurring in seasonal, weather-related product lines. A lower than expected back-to-school season coupled with unseasonably warm weather in September negatively impacted apparel sales. Within the Home Group, sales declines were due to a number of factors, including the favorable impact to last year’s revenues following tax rebates, greater than anticipated sales disruption associated with the reset of the consumer electronics business and cooler weather in July and August, which negatively impacted home appliance sales.

The decrease in Specialty Stores revenues for the 13- and 39-week periods ended October 2, 2004 is due to the divestiture of NTB, which contributed $115 and $320 million of sales, respectively, during the same periods last year. On July 10, 2004, the Company acquired Standards of Excellence, a San Diego-based supplier of premium appliances, designer fixtures and decorative hardware. Standards of Excellence reported $18 million of sales during the 13 weeks ended October 2, 2004. Comparable store sales for the 13-week period ended October 2, 2004 were flat as increases at The Great Indoors were offset by declines in hardware and dealer stores.

Direct to Customer revenues for the 13- and 39-week periods ended October 2, 2004 declined primarily due to the Lands’ End direct to customer business experiencing softer customer response, versus prior year, to its Spring/Summer catalog offerings, the continued channel shift of business to the Full-line Stores and lower comparable levels of clearance inventory.

Home Services revenues increased for the 13- and 39-week periods ended October 2, 2004 resulting from increases in product repair services, specifically product protection agreements and parts sales, as well as increases in the windows and kitchen remodeling categories within the Sears Home Improvement business.

The decrease in the gross margin rate for the 13-week period ended October 2, 2004 was due to increased markdowns taken in consumer electronics, home appliances and apparel more than offsetting the $39 million of revenues earned under the long-term alliance with Citigroup. Within consumer electronics, the Company aggressively marked down discontinued inventory in anticipation of its business reset. Within home appliances, clearance markdowns were taken in advance of new product arrivals and to eliminate excess outlet store inventory. Within apparel, the Company accelerated markdowns of in-season products to clear slow-moving and seasonal items. The gross margin rate for the 39-week period ended October 2, 2004 was flat as the $109 million of revenues earned under the long-term alliance with Citigroup were offset by declines in gross margin experienced in the third quarter.

The increase in selling and administrative expense as a percentage of total revenues for the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004 was primarily due to the divestitures of Credit and NTB coupled with lower overall sales.

The decline in interest expense was primarily due to the prior year results including $231 million and $717 million of interest expense associated with the divested Credit business for the 13 and 39 weeks ended September 27, 2003, respectively. Interest expense for the 13- and 39-week periods ended October 2, 2004 included $14 million and $71 million, respectively, related to the negative carrying costs associated with the Credit legacy debt.

Special charges and impairments for the 39-week period ended October 2, 2004 included a severance charge of $41 million associated with the termination of 3,300 associates resulting from the Company’s extensive review of its headquarters and field operations following the sale of Credit. Special charges and impairments for the 13-week period ended September 27, 2003 included costs related to asset impairment, contractual obligations and

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employee terminations incurred in connection with the Company’s refinement of its TGI business. The total pretax charge associated with the refinement was $141 million. $29 million of this charge was related to inventory clearance costs and was recorded in cost of sales, buying and occupancy. During the second quarter of 2003, the Company recorded a $28 million pretax charge for severance costs associated with the Company’s productivity improvement initiatives.

Sears Canada

Sears Canada results were as follows:

                                 
millions   13 Weeks Ended   39 Weeks Ended
                 
    October 2,   September 27,   October 2,   September 27,
    2004   2003   2004   2003
                                 
Merchandise sales and services
    $ 1,069       $ 960       $ 3,010       $ 2,707  
Credit revenues
    85       78       257       233  
 
               
Total revenues
    1,154       1,038       3,267       2,940  
 
               
 
Cost of sales, buying and occupancy
    773       680       2,170       1,915  
Gross margin rate
    27.7 %     29.2 %     27.9 %     29.3 %
Selling and administrative
    289       267       860       765  
Selling and administrative expense as a percentage
of total revenues
    25.0 %     25.7 %     26.3 %     26.0 %
Provision for uncollectible accounts
    16       17       43       44  
Depreciation and amortization
    28       27       83       82  
Interest
    27       27       81       81  
 
               
Total costs and expenses
    1,133       1,018       3,237       2,887  
 
               
 
Operating income
    $ 21       $ 20       $ 30       $ 53  
 
               
 
Foreign exchange rate (quarterly average) (US$/C$)
    0.7650       0.7234       0.7532       0.6974  

Merchandise sales and services increased by 11.4% and 11.2%, respectively, for the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004 as compared to the prior year due to the strengthening of the Canadian dollar as well as an overall increase in local currency sales over the prior year periods. Foreign currency accounted for approximately 6.1% and 8.2%, respectively, of the increase in merchandise sales and services, resulting in an underlying Canadian dollar increase of 5.3% and 3.0%, respectively. For the 13 weeks ended October 2, 2004, sales improved in home and hardlines categories such as appliances and seasonal goods, while sales of apparel and accessories were mixed primarily due to unseasonable weather conditions. For the 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004, sales improved in the home and hardlines categories, particularly, appliances and furniture, with sales in apparel and accessories posting an overall decrease as compared to the prior year.

Credit revenues increased 9.0% and 10.3%, respectively, for the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004 primarily due to the strengthening of the Canadian dollar. Within the Sears Canada credit operations, the net charge-off rate decreased to 4.7% in the third quarter of 2004 from 6.3% in the third quarter of 2003. For the 39-week periods ended October 2, 2004 and September 27, 2003, the net charge-off rates were 4.9% and 5.6%, respectively.

The decrease in gross margin rate for the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004 reflects a shift in sales mix from higher margin categories, such as apparel and catalog sales, to sales of lower margin products, such as home appliances, in its stores. In addition, Sears Canada took additional promotional and clearance markdowns to reduce seasonal inventories.

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The decrease in selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues for the 13 weeks ended October 2, 2004 is primarily due to a decrease in advertising expense in the quarter, lower headcount and stronger expense management. These factors were partially offset by expenses related to additional restructuring activities that occurred during the third quarter of 2004. The increase in selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues for the 39 weeks ended October 2, 2004 was primarily due to a $12 million pretax charge recorded in the first quarter of 2004 related to Sears Canada’s decision to license Sears Canada Auto Centers to three auto service providers and other restructuring activities.

ANALYSIS OF CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL CONDITION

The Company ended the third quarter of 2004 with approximately $2.9 billion of cash and available-for-sale securities, a decrease of $6.2 billion from year-end 2003. During the 39-week period ended October 2, 2004, the Company utilized cash proceeds from the sale of Credit for working capital needs as well as to retire $2.5 billion of domestic term debt and repurchase $1.1 billion of common shares. The Company also used proceeds to pay approximately $1.3 billion of taxes associated with the sale of Credit. The Company expects to continue its share repurchase activities and to retire an additional $150 million of domestic term debt in the fourth quarter of 2004. The Company is currently targeting, exclusive of seasonal working capital requirements, domestic funded term debt, less cash and investments, of approximately $1.5 billion. The Company may from time to time consider selective strategic transactions to create value and improve performance, which may include acquisitions, dispositions, restructurings, joint ventures and partnerships.

Financing Activities

The Company’s financing activities include net borrowings, dividend payments and share issuances and repurchases. The Company’s total debt balances as of October 2, 2004, September 27, 2003 and January 3, 2004 were as follows:

                                                 
    October 2, 2004   September 27, 2003   January 3, 2004
            Sears           Sears           Sears
millions   Domestic   Canada   Domestic   Canada   Domestic   Canada
                                                 
Short-term borrowings
  $ 754     $ 69     $ 6,004     $ 175     $ 719     $ 314  
Long-term debt (including current portion):
                                               
Long-term borrowings
    2,870       1,426       22,779       1,317       5,336       1,245  
Capitalized lease obligations
    341       139       371       140       355       142  
SFAS No. 133 hedge accounting adjustment
    80       --       510       --       90       --  
 
                       
Total debt
  $ 4,045     $ 1,634     $ 29,664     $ 1,632     $ 6,500     $ 1,701  
 
                       

The decrease in total debt from January 3, 2004 is primarily due to the retirement of $2.5 billion of domestic term debt.

The Company continues to use interest rate derivatives to synthetically convert fixed rate debt to variable rate debt. The interest rate derivatives qualify as fair value hedges in accordance with SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, and as such are recorded on the balance sheet at market value with an offsetting entry to the underlying hedged item, which is debt.

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Liquidity

Historically, the Company has been an active borrower in various capital markets due to the funding needs of its domestic credit card receivables portfolio. As a result of the sale of Credit, the Company’s need to access the capital markets has been greatly reduced. The Company’s primary need for liquidity will be to fund the seasonal working capital requirements of its retail businesses and capital expenditures. These needs will be funded primarily with the Company’s cash and investment portfolio as well as operating cash flows.

The Company’s total cash and available-for-sale investment portfolio as of October 2, 2004, September 27, 2003 and January 3, 2004 were as follows:

                                                 
    October 2, 2004   September 27, 2003   January 3, 2004
            Sears           Sears           Sears
millions   Domestic   Canada   Domestic   Canada   Domestic   Canada
                                                 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 2,628     $ 106     $ 1,469     $ 77     $ 8,959     $ 98  
Available-for-sale securities
    138       --       --       --       --       --  
 
                       
Total cash and available-for-sale investments
  $ 2,766     $ 106     $ 1,469     $ 77     $ 8,959     $ 98  
 
                       

In order to ensure liquidity and provide additional capacity, the Company intends to maintain access to capital markets. The Company’s domestic wholly-owned financing subsidiary, Sears Roebuck Acceptance Corp. (“SRAC”), has an unsecured, three-year revolving credit facility in the amount of $2.0 billion. This committed credit facility provides support for SRAC’s domestic direct-issue commercial paper program and is available for other general corporate purposes. No borrowings were outstanding under this credit facility at the end of the third quarter of 2004. This facility and other debt agreements require SRAC to maintain specified fixed charge coverage ratios, and the credit facility requires the Company’s domestic segment to maintain a minimum level of tangible net worth and a minimum interest coverage ratio. SRAC and the Company were in compliance with these covenants at October 2, 2004. This credit facility does not contain provisions that would restrict borrowings based on material adverse changes or credit ratings. In addition, Sears Canada has a $0.5 billion committed credit facility.

The ratings of the Company’s domestic debt securities are as follows:

             
    Moody's       Standard &
    Investors   Fitch   Poor's Ratings
    Service   Ratings   Services
Unsecured long-term debt
  Baa1   BBB-   BBB
Unsecured commercial paper
  P-2   F3   A-2

On October 25, 2004, Fitch Ratings lowered the Company’s long-term debt from BBB and its short-term debt rating from F2, with a negative rating outlook. On October 21, 2004, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services (“Standards & Poor’s”) placed both the Company’s short- and long-term debt ratings on CreditWatch with negative implications, and Moody’s Investors Services (“Moody’s”) placed the Company’s unsecured long-term debt rating on review for possible downgrade and affirmed its short-term rating at P-2. The Company expects the Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s ratings reviews to be completed following the fourth quarter.

A downgrade of the Company’s short-term rating by Standard & Poor’s would reduce its flexibility to issue commercial paper, affecting the cost, placement term and, potentially, the amount of short-term debt available. However, the Company has cash and investments to refund all commercial paper outstanding as well as to meet near term working capital needs. Although Moody’s affirmed the Company’s short-term debt rating, a downgrade of that rating by Moody’s would have a similar effect on the Company’s short-term borrowing flexibility.

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The Company does not expect that a one notch downgrade of its long-term debt by either Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s would substantially affect its ability to access the term debt capital markets. However, depending upon market conditions, the amount, timing, and pricing of new borrowings could be adversely affected. If two or more of the Company’s domestic long-term debt ratings are downgraded to below BBB-/Baa3, the Company’s flexibility to access the term debt capital markets would be reduced. In the event of a downgrade of the Company’s long-term debt, the cost of borrowing and fees payable under SRAC’s credit facility could increase.

None of the Company’s borrowing arrangements have provisions that would require repayment of principal prior to maturity due to a ratings downgrade.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND CRITICAL ESTIMATES

The Company’s significant accounting policies are discussed in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements that are included in the Company’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K that is filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In most cases, the accounting policies utilized by the Company are the only ones permissible under U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles for businesses in its industry. However, the application of certain of these policies requires significant judgment or a complex estimation process that can affect the results of operations and financial position of the Company, as well as additional information provided in its related footnote disclosures. The Company bases its estimates on historical experience and other assumptions that it believes are reasonable. If actual amounts are ultimately different from previous estimates, the revisions are included in the Company’s results of operations for the period in which the actual amounts become known. The accounting policies and estimates that can have a significant impact on the operating results, financial position and footnote disclosures of the Company are described in the Management Discussion and Analysis in the Company’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Defined benefit retirement plans

The fundamental components of accounting for defined benefit retirement plans consist of the compensation cost of the benefits earned, the interest cost from deferring payment of those benefits into the future and the results of investing any assets set aside to fund the obligation. Such retirement benefits are earned by associates ratably over their service careers; therefore the amounts reported in the income statement for these retirement plans have historically followed the same pattern. Accordingly, changes in the obligations or the value of assets to fund it have been recognized systematically and gradually over the associate’s estimated period of service. This systematic and gradual recognition of changes has been accomplished by amortizing experience gains/losses in excess of the 10% corridor into expense over the associate service period and by recognizing the difference between actual and expected asset returns over a five-year period.

As discussed in Note 9 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company changed its method of accounting for its domestic defined benefit plans to immediately recognize any experience gains or loss in excess of the 10% corridor and to value plan assets at fair value. The Company believes that the new method is preferable in light of changes made to its domestic benefit plans to discontinue providing pension and retiree medical benefits to associates under the age of 40 as the new policy accelerates recognition of events which have already occurred. As a result of this accounting method change, the Company recorded an after-tax charge of $839 million in the first quarter of 2004 for the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle.

Under its new accounting method, the Company’s pension expense in future periods may be more volatile as this method accelerates recognition of actual experience. Furthermore, because the domestic pension plan’s unrecognized loss will be at the 10% corridor limit at the beginning of 2004, additional pension expense will be

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recognized in 2004 for the full amount of any experience losses realized in 2004. The largest drivers of experience losses in recent years have been the discount rate used to determine the present value of the obligation and the actual return on pension assets.

CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND OFF-BALANCE SHEET ARRANGEMENTS

During the 13- and 39- week periods ended October 2, 2004, the Company retired $23 million and $2.5 billion, respectively, of domestic term debt. In addition, the Company issued a guarantee of SRAC’s borrowings outstanding under its three-year unsecured credit facility. As of October 2, 2004, there were no outstanding borrowings under this facility.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

As discussed in the Company’s 2003 Annual Report on Form 10-K, the Company follows Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB) No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, which does not require recognition of expense for stock options when the exercise price of an option equals, or exceeds, the fair market value of the common stock on the date of grant.

The Financial Accounting Standards Board has released an Exposure Draft, “Share-Based Payment — An Amendment to FASB Statements No. 123 and 95”, which revises the rules governing stock option accounting. The exposure draft requires expense recognition of stock options and certain employee stock purchase plans in the statements of operations. The comment period ended June 30, 2004. The effective date for this statement is expected to be third quarter fiscal 2005. The Company will adopt any new rules required by the FASB when they are effective. The pro forma impact on the 13- and 39- week periods ended October 2, 2004 of expensing unvested stock options is disclosed, as required under FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, in Note 10 of the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

OUTLOOK

For the full year, the Company now expects earnings per share, before the cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, but including $0.24 per share related to the second quarter severance related costs and additional depreciation, to be between $1.46 and $1.66. This outlook reflects the lower than expected year-to-date results, assumes fourth quarter domestic comparable store sales to be flat and lowers the projected fourth quarter gross margin rates. This outlook also includes the negative carrying cost of approximately $0.20 to $0.25 per share on the Company’s remaining legacy debt related to Credit.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

The above Outlook and certain other statements made in this quarterly report on Form 10-Q and in other public announcements by the Company are “forward-looking statements” that are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause the Company’s actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include information concerning the Company’s future financial performance, business strategy, plans, goals and objectives. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”, “forecasts”, “is likely to”, “projected” and

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similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will”, “should”, “would”, “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts.

Following are some of the risks and uncertainties that could affect its financial condition or results of operations, and could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements: competitive conditions in retail and related services industries; changes in consumer confidence, tastes, preferences and spending; the availability and level of consumer debt; the successful execution of, and customer response to, the Company’s strategic initiatives, including the Full-line Store strategy and the conversion and integration of the Kmart and Wal-Mart stores and other new store locations; the pace of growth in the Company’s store locations, which may be higher or lower than anticipated; the possibility that the Company will identify new business and strategic options for one or more of its business segments, potentially including selective acquisitions, dispositions, restructurings, joint ventures and partnerships; trade restrictions, tariffs, and other factors potentially affecting the Company’s ability to find qualified vendors and access products in an efficient manner; the Company’s ability to successfully implement its initiatives to improve its inventory management capabilities; the outcome of pending legal proceedings; anticipated cash flow; social and political conditions such as war, political unrest and terrorism or natural disasters; the possibility of negative investment returns in the Company’s pension plan; changes in interest rates; volatility in financial markets; changes in the Company’s debt ratings, credit spreads and cost of funds; the possibility of interruptions in systematically accessing the public debt markets; general economic conditions and normal business uncertainty. In addition, the Company typically earns a disproportionate share of its operating income in the fourth quarter due to seasonal buying patterns, which are difficult to forecast with certainty. Additional discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties is contained elsewhere in this Item 2 and in Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk”.

While the Company believes that its forecasts and assumptions are reasonable, it cautions that actual results may differ materially. The Company intends the forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time first made and does not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The nature of market risks faced by the Company at October 2, 2004 are the same as disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 2004. As of October 2, 2004 and September 27, 2003, 48% and 78%, respectively, of the Company’s funding portfolio was variable rate (including fixed rate debt synthetically converted to variable rate through the use of derivative financial instruments). Based on the size of the Company’s variable rate funding portfolio at October 2, 2004 and September 27, 2003, which totaled $2.7 billion and $24.1 billion, respectively, an immediate 100 basis point change in interest rates would have affected annual pretax funding costs by approximately $27 million and $241 million, respectively. These estimates do not take into account the effect on revenue resulting from invested cash or the returns on assets being funded. These estimates also assume that the variable rate funding portfolio remains constant for an annual period and that the interest rate change occurs at the beginning of the period. As a result of the sale of Credit, the Company’s domestic funding requirements have declined such that it is unlikely that current maturities of domestic term debt will be refinanced and, therefore, such current debt maturities are not considered variable rate in the calculation above. Prior to the sale, it was assumed that these current maturities of fixed rate term debt would be refinanced and were considered variable rate due to the interest rate risk upon refinancing. Under the methodology used prior to the sale, at September 27, 2003, approximately 79% of the Company’s funding portfolio was variable rate debt.

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Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

(Unaudited)

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

The Company’s management, including Alan J. Lacy, Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Glenn R. Richter, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer), have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s “disclosure controls and procedures,” as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the “Exchange Act”). Based upon their evaluation, the principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective for the purpose of ensuring that the information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Exchange Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) (1) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and (2) is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

As a result of the SEC’s review of the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended January 3, 2004, it was determined that the Company should separately reflect the cash flows related to the domestic MasterCard portfolio as investing activities instead of operating activities within the statement of cash flows, as the loans generated from the MasterCard were predominately related to activities external to Sears merchandise and services. After discussions with the SEC, the Company has agreed to restate its financial statements. The restatement is further discussed in “Explanatory Note” in the forepart of this Form 10-Q/A, and in Note 14, “Restatement of Statement of Cash Flows” in the Notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements. In management’s opinion, given the nature of the restatement, such restatement did not change its conclusion that the Company’s controls and procedures are effective.

In addition, based on that evaluation, no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting occurred during the quarter ended October 2, 2004 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

Pending against the Company and certain of its officers and directors are a number of lawsuits that relate to the credit card business and public statements about it. The Company believes that all of these claims lack merit and is defending against them vigorously.

  On and after October 18, 2002, several actions were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the Company and certain current and former officers alleging that certain public announcements by the Company concerning its credit card business violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder. The Court has consolidated the actions and certified the consolidated action as a class action. Discovery is underway. Trial is scheduled to begin on August 8, 2005.
 
  On and after November 15, 2002, several actions were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois against the Company, certain officers and directors, and alleged fiduciaries of Sears’ 401(k) Savings Plan (the “Plan”), seeking damages and equitable relief under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”). The plaintiffs purport to represent participants in the Plan, and allege breaches of fiduciary duties under ERISA in connection with the Plan’s investment in the Company’s common shares and alleged communications made to Plan participants regarding the Company’s financial condition. These actions have been consolidated into a single action. Discovery is underway. No trial date has been set.
 
  On October 23, 2002, a purported derivative action was filed in the Supreme Court of the State of New York against the Company (as a nominal defendant) and certain current and former directors seeking damages on behalf of the Company. The complaint purports to allege a breach of fiduciary duty by the directors with respect to the Company’s management of the credit card business. On June 21, 2004, the Court dismissed the complaint because the plaintiff had filed the suit without having demanded that the Board of Directors bring the suit. The plaintiff has filed a notice of appeal from that ruling. Two similar actions (the “Cook County actions”) were filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois (the “Illinois state court”), and a third (the “federal derivative action”) was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. All three actions were stayed pending the disposition of the action in New York. In light of the New York court’s decision, the Illinois state court lifted the stay of the Cook County actions and reinstated a motion to dismiss which the defendants had filed prior to the stay. On September 30, 2004, the Illinois state court granted the defendants’ motion to dismiss on the ground that the plaintiff had filed the suit without having demanded that the Board of Directors bring the suit. The plaintiffs in the federal derivative action appealed the stay order in that case to the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit. On July 19, 2004, the Court of Appeals affirmed the stay of the federal derivative action, and that stay remains in effect.
 
  On June 17, 2003, an action was filed in the Northern District of Illinois against the Company and certain officers, purportedly on behalf of a class of all persons who, between June 21, 2002 and October 17, 2002, purchased the 7% notes that SRAC issued on June 21, 2002. An amended complaint has been filed, naming as additional defendants certain former officers, SRAC and several investment banking firms who acted as underwriters for SRAC’s March 18, May 21 and June 21, 2002 notes offerings. The amended complaint alleges that the defendants made misrepresentations or omissions concerning its credit business during the class period and in the registration statements and prospectuses relating to the offerings. The amended complaint alleges that these misrepresentations and omissions violated Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder, and Sections 11, 12 and 15 of the Securities Act of 1933 and purports to be brought on behalf of a class of all persons who purchased

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    any security of SRAC between October 24, 2001 and October 17, 2002, inclusive. The defendants filed motions to dismiss the action. On September 24, 2004, the court granted these motions in part, and denied them in part. The court dismissed the claims related to the March 18 and May 21, 2002 note offerings because the plaintiff did not purchase notes in those offerings. The court dismissed the Section 10(b) and Rule 10b-5 claims against several of the individual defendants because the plaintiff failed to adequately plead such claims. The court sustained the remaining claims. By invitation of the court, on October 1, 2004, defendants moved to dismiss the Section 10(b), Rule 10b-5 and Section 20(a) claims not dismissed in the court’s ruling. On October 5, 2004, the court granted the plaintiff leave to file a second amended complaint.

The Company is subject to various other legal and governmental proceedings, many involving litigation incidental to the businesses. Some matters contain class action allegations, environmental and asbestos exposure allegations and other consumer-based claims that involve compensatory, punitive or treble damage claims in very large amounts as well as other types of relief. The consequences of these matters are not presently determinable but, in the opinion of management of the Company after consulting with legal counsel, and taking into account insurance and reserves, the ultimate liability is not expected to have a material adverse effect on annual results of operations, financial position, liquidity or capital resources of the Company.

Item 2. Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

                                 
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities (1)
millions (except average price paid per                   Total Number        
share)                   of Shares     Dollar Value of  
    Total             Purchased as     Shares that May  
    Number of     Average     Part of Publicly     Yet Be Purchased  
    Shares     Price Paid     Announced Plan     Under the Plan or  
    Purchased     per Share     or Programs     Programs  
July 4, 2004 to July 31, 2004
    1.3     $ 35.53       1.3     $ 681  
August 1, 2004 to August 28, 2004
    4.4          36.58       4.4          520  
August 29, 2004 to October 2, 2004
    0.4          40.23       0.4          501  
 
                       
As of October 2, 2004
    6.1     $ 36.64       6.1     $ 501  
 
                       


  (1)  On October 8, 2003, the Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program giving the Company authorization to acquire $3.0 billion of the Company’s common shares by December 31, 2006.

Item 5. Other Information

(a)   Reports on Form 8-K.
 
    A Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 22, 2004 was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on July 22, 2004 to report, under Item 12, the release of second quarter 2004 earnings of the Registrant.

Item 6. Exhibits

(a)   Exhibits.
 
    An Exhibit Index has been filed as part of this Report on Page E-1.

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SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

         
  SEARS, ROEBUCK AND CO.
(Registrant)
 
 
February 11, 2005  By      /s/ Michael J. Graham   
         Michael J. Graham   
         Vice President and Controller
     (Principal Accounting Officer and duly authorized
     officer of Registrant) 
 
 

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E-1
EXHIBIT INDEX

     
Exhibit No.  
 
 
 
   
*15.
  Acknowledgement of awareness from Deloitte & Touche LLP, dated February 11, 2005, concerning unaudited interim financial information.
 
   
*31(a).
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
*31(b).
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
*32.
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. 1350, as adopted by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

      

*   Filed herewith

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