As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 14, 2001
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
____________
FORM S-3
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Under
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
____________
Sara Lee Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
____________
Maryland 36-2089049
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(State of incorporation) (I.R.S. Employee Identification No.)
Three First National Plaza, Suite 4400
Chicago, Illinois 60602-4260
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(Address, including zip code, and telephone number
of registrant's executive office)
Sara Lee Corporation Investment Plan
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(Full title of the plan)
Roderick A. Palmore
Senior Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary
Sara Lee Corporation
Three First National Plaza, Suite 4600
Chicago, Illinois 60602-4260
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(Name, Address and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent for Service)
____________
APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to
time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered pursuant
to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. / /
If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. /X/
If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list
the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. / /
If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under
the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering. / /
If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. / /
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Proposed Maximum Proposed Maximum Amount of
Title of Securities to be Amount to be Offering Price per Aggregate Registration Fee
Registered Registered Share Offering Price
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Common Stock, par value 5,000,000 shares $19.125 (2) $95,625,000 (2) $23,906.25
$.01 per share (including
Preferred Stock Purchase
Rights) (1)
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(1) Rights are initially carried and traded with the Common Stock of the
registrant. Value attributable to such rights, if any, is reflected in the
market price of the Common Stock.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
pursuant to Rules 457(c) and 457(h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, on the basis of the average high and low prices of the registrant's
common stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on August 7, 2001.
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or
dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall
file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration
Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of
the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become
effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting
pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
Subject To Completion, Dated August 14, 2001. We may not sell these securities
until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission is effective.
SARA LEE CORPORATION INVESTMENT PLAN
We are pleased to offer the Sara Lee Corporation Investment Plan, a
dividend reinvestment and direct stock purchase plan designed to provide
investors with a convenient method to purchase shares of Sara Lee common stock
and to reinvest cash dividends in the purchase of additional shares. If you
currently participate in our Automatic Dividend Reinvestment and Cash Stock
Purchase Plan, you automatically will be enrolled in this revised Plan, without
any further action on your part; however, the terms of the revised Plan
(including the minimum stock ownership requirements) will apply to you. Key
features of the Plan include the following:
. If you currently hold fewer than 10 shares of Sara Lee common stock
registered in your name, or you do not own any Sara Lee shares, you may
join the Plan by either (i) making an initial cash investment of at least
$500, or (ii) authorizing monthly deductions of at least $100 from your
bank account to purchase Sara Lee common stock for your account.
. If you currently own at least 10 shares of Sara Lee common stock,
registered in your name, you may participate in the Plan simply by
completing an enrollment form. If you own at least 10 shares but they are
currently held by a bank or broker in its name (that is, in "street name"),
you will need to instruct your bank or broker to convert the shares to
certificate form, and re-register the shares in your name, in order to
participate.
. If you are an active participant in our Employee Stock Purchase Plan or
International Employee Stock Purchase Plan, the requirement that you have a
minimum of 10 shares registered in your name in order to enroll and remain
in the Investment Plan will not apply to you, so long as your monthly
payroll deductions continue.
. You may elect to reinvest cash dividends paid on all (but not less than
all) of your Sara Lee shares. Unless you elect to have dividends paid in
cash, all dividends paid with respect to shares registered in your name
will be used to purchase additional shares of Sara Lee common stock.
. Once you have enrolled, you may make additional investments of at least
$100 or more by check or money order, or by authorizing automatic monthly
deductions. You may invest up to a maximum of $120,000 during any calendar
year. Purchases for the Plan will be made monthly.
. Participation in the Plan is subject to the payment of certain fees in
connection with enrollment and purchase and sale of shares.
Sara Lee Corporation's common stock is listed under the symbol "SLE" on the
New York, Chicago and Pacific Stock Exchanges. The stock also is traded on the
London, Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris stock exchanges and on the Swiss
Exchange.
This Prospectus is dated September , 2001 and covers 5,000,000 shares of
Common Stock
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this
prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a
criminal offense.
This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of
an offer to buy shares of Sara Lee common stock in any state or other
jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such an offer or
solicitation. To the extent required by applicable law in certain jurisdictions,
shares offered under the Plan to persons who are not record holders of Sara Lee
common stock are offered only through a registered broker/dealer in those
jurisdictions.
SARA LEE CORPORATION
We are a global manufacturer and marketer of brand-name products for
consumers throughout the world. We have operations in more than 40 countries and
market branded consumer products in more than 170 nations. Our businesses are
classified into three major global business segments- Sara Lee Food and
Beverage, Intimates and Underwear, and Household Products, and our products and
services include fresh and frozen baked goods, processed meats, coffee and tea,
beverage systems, food and non-food products distributed to the foodservice
industry, hosiery, underwear, activewear and other apparel and accessory items,
and personal, household and shoe care products. Our principal executive offices
are located at 70 W. Madison Street, Three First National Plaza, Chicago,
Illinois 60602-4260, and our telephone number is (312) 726-2600.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and special reports and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). You may read and copy any
document we file at the SEC's public reference room at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further
information on the operation of the public reference room. You may also read and
copy those documents at the offices of: The New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20
Broad Street, New York, New York 10005; The Chicago Stock Exchange,
Incorporated, 440 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60605; and The Pacific
Stock Exchange, Incorporated, 301 Pine Street, San Francisco, California 94104.
Our SEC filings are also available to the public over the Internet on the SEC's
web site at http://www.sec.gov.
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we file
with them, which means that we can disclose important information to you by
referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is
considered to be part of this prospectus, and information that we file later
with the SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We
incorporate by reference the following documents we filed with the SEC (file
number 1-3344) and any future filings that we make with the SEC under Section
13(a), 13(c), 14, or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended July 1, 2000;
. Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for our fiscal quarters ended
September 30, 2000, December 30, 2000 and March 31, 2001; and
. The description of our common stock contained in the proxy
statement/prospectus, dated September 9, 1999, filed with the SEC under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), as part
of our Registration Statement on Form S-4 (file number 333-86707), and
the description of the related preferred stock purchase rights contained
in our registration statement on Form 8-A dated March 26, 1998 (File No.
1-3344), filed with the SEC, including any amendment or report filed for
the purpose of updating such description.
You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or provided in
this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized anyone
else to provide you with different information.
We will provide you without charge, upon request, a copy of any of the
documents incorporated by reference. Requests should be directed to Shareholder
Services Department, 70 W. Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602-4260
(telephone: (312) 726-2600).
We have filed a registration statement with the SEC relating to the shares
offered hereby. This prospectus omits some information contained in the
registration statement, as permitted by SEC rules.
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For further information, you should refer to the registration statement, its
exhibits and the documents incorporated by reference in the registration
statement.
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SARA LEE CORPORATION INVESTMENT PLAN
Purpose Of The Plan
1. What is the purpose of the Plan?
The purpose of the Plan is to promote long-term stock ownership among
existing and new investors in Sara Lee by providing a convenient method to
purchase shares of Sara Lee common stock and, if desired, reinvest cash
dividends paid on such shares.
Administration
2. Who administers the Plan?
The Plan is administered by our Shareholder Services Department, which
serves as our stock transfer agent, registrar and dividend disbursing
agent. As Administrator, Sara Lee Shareholder Services acts as agent for
Plan participants and keeps records, sends statements and performs other
duties relating to the Plan. Sara Lee Shareholder Services reserves the
right to resign as Plan Administrator at any time, in which event Sara Lee
would designate a new administrator.
An independent broker-dealer acting as purchasing agent for Plan
participants makes purchases and sales of Sara Lee common stock under the
Plan. To the extent required by applicable law in certain jurisdictions,
shares offered under the Plan are offered through an independent broker-
dealer.
3. How do I contact the Plan Administrator?
Written inquiries and requests Sara Lee Shareholder Services
for enrollment packages for new 70 W. Madison Street
investors Chicago, Illinois 60602-4260
Telephone inquiries: (312) 726-2600
Facsimile inquiries: (312) 345-5782
E-mail: shareholders@saralee.com
When communicating with the Administrator, you should always have available
your account number and taxpayer identification number.
4. What kind of reports will be sent to participants in the Plan?
The Administrator will send you a cumulative account statement within 10
business days after each cash investment, dividend reinvestment, transfer
or termination. The Administrator also will send you a statement promptly
after each sale of shares under the Plan. You should retain these
statements in order to establish the cost basis of shares purchased under
the Plan for income tax and other purposes. The reports will be mailed to
you in paper format or, if you have enrolled in our electronic delivery
program, in electronic format over the Internet. In addition, each
participant will receive all communications sent to all other Sara Lee
stockholders, such as annual reports and proxy statements.
Please note that if you are enrolling just for dividend reinvestment, you
will not receive a confirmation notice of your enrollment.
Eligibility And Enrollment
5. I'm not currently a Sara Lee stockholder. Can I participate in the Plan?
4
If you do not currently own any shares of Sara Lee common stock, you may
enroll in the Plan by completing and returning an enrollment form for new
investors and either (i) making an initial cash investment of at least
$500, or (ii) authorizing monthly deductions of at least $100 from a
qualified bank account for the purchase of Sara Lee common stock.
6. I already am a Sara Lee stockholder - am I eligible to participate in the
Plan?
If you already hold at least 10 shares of Sara Lee common stock registered
directly in your name (that is, if you have one or more certificates for
the shares, or you hold shares in book-entry form in our Employee Stock
Purchase Plan), you may enroll in the Plan simply by completing and
returning the appropriate enrollment form.
If you currently own fewer than 10 shares of Sara Lee common stock,
registered in your name, or do not own any shares of Sara Lee, you may
enroll by completing and returning the appropriate enrollment form and
either (i) making an initial investment of at least $500, or (ii)
authorizing automatic monthly deductions of at least $100 from your bank
account to purchase Sara Lee common stock for your account.
7. I already own shares, but they are held by my bank or broker and registered
in "street name." How can I participate in the Plan?
If you currently own shares of Sara Lee common stock that are held on your
behalf by a bank or broker (that is, in "street name"), you will need to
have at least 10 shares registered directly in your name in order to be
eligible to participate. Contact your bank or broker directly to arrange
for your shares to be re-registered in your name. Once the shares are
registered in your name, you can request the Administrator to send you an
enrollment package.
Participants may, if they wish, send their share certificates to the
Administrator for safekeeping. This service is provided for your
convenience and is not mandatory. In order to sell certificated shares
through the Plan, however, it is necessary that the certificates be
deposited with the Administrator before the sale. See Questions 21 and 24
below.
8. I own fewer than 10 shares of Sara Lee common stock, but I participate in
Sara Lee's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Does the 10-share minimum for
participation in this Plan apply to me?
No. If you are an active participant in our Employee Stock Purchase Plan or
International Employee Stock Purchase Plan (i.e., an amount is deducted
from your paycheck each pay period to purchase shares of Sara Lee common
stock through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan), the requirement to hold a
minimum of 10 shares registered in your name in order to enroll and remain
in the Sara Lee Corporation Investment Plan will not apply to you, so long
as your monthly payroll deductions continue. If you cease to participate in
the Employee Stock Purchase Plan (or International Employee Stock Purchase
Plan) and you have fewer than 10 shares registered in your name, the
Administrator may terminate your participation in the Plan unless you
purchase additional shares and achieve the minimum balance within three (3)
months after written notice from the Administrator.
9. Do I have to pay a fee to enroll in the Plan?
Yes, but only if you are not currently a registered stockholder. If you do
not hold shares of Sara Lee common stock that are registered directly in
your name, you will be required to pay a one-time $10.00 enrollment fee to
enroll in the Plan. To pay the enrollment fee, you may either include with
your enrollment form a separate check or money order for $10.00 made
payable to "Sara Lee Corporation Investment Plan" or we will deduct the
$10.00 enrollment fee from your initial investment. For each optional cash
investment you make (including your initial investment), an investment fee
will be deducted from your funds before the funds are invested. The
investment fee is
5
$3.00, if you make additional investments by check or money order, or
$1.50, if the additional investments are automatically deducted from your
bank account. See Question 30 below.
10. Are there any restrictions on participation in the Plan by stockholders
residing outside the United States?
Regulations in certain countries may limit or prohibit participation in
services provided under this type of program. Therefore, persons residing
outside the United States should first determine whether they are subject
to any governmental regulations prohibiting or limiting their participation
before requesting any of the services provided through the Plan.
Optional Cash Investments
11. What are the minimum and maximum amounts for optional cash investments?
Additional investments may be made in amounts of at least $100, subject to
a maximum of $120,000 during any calendar year, including your initial
investment, if any. If you deliver optional cash payments in excess of the
$120,000 maximum plan for any calendar year, or for less than the $100
minimum optional investment amount, the funds will be returned to you.
12. How do I make an optional cash investment?
You may send a check or money order payable in U.S. dollars to "Sara Lee
Corporation Investment Plan." Cash and third-party checks will not be
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accepted. Checks or money orders must be accompanied by the appropriate
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section of your account statement and should be mailed to Shareholder
Services Department, 70 W. Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60602-4260. If
you do not have the appropriate section of your account statement, you can
mail your investment to the Administrator. See the address in Question 3.
Make sure you include the account number and/or the full registration on
the account. You may combine optional cash payments with automatic monthly
bank debits, as long as your total investment in any calendar year does not
exceed $120,000.
Optional cash payments received less than 48 hours prior to an investment
date will not be invested until the next subsequent investment date (i.e.,
in the month after the funds were received). No interest will be paid by
Sara Lee, the Administrator or the purchasing agent on any funds held for
the Plan participants.
13. Can I have optional cash investments automatically deducted from my bank
account?
Yes. You can authorize monthly automatic deductions from an account at a
bank or financial institution that is a member of the National Automated
Clearing House Association. The minimum amount for monthly deductions is
$100.
. To initiate this service, you must send a completed "Automatic Deduction
Service" form to the Administrator.
. To change any aspect of the instruction, you must send a revised
"Automatic Deduction Service" form to the Administrator.
. To terminate the deductions, you must notify the Administrator in
writing.
Initial set-up, changes and terminations to the automatic deduction
instructions will be made as soon as practicable. Once automatic deductions
begin (which may take 2-6 weeks), funds will be deducted
6
from your designated account on the 10th of each month, or the next
business day if the 10th is not a business day. The funds will be invested
within five (5) business days.
14. Will I be charged fees if I elect to make optional cash investments?
Yes. For each investment made by check or money order, you will be charged
a $3.00 fee. A fee of $1.50 per investment will be charged for each
investment made by automatic monthly deduction. These fees will be deducted
from funds you send to the Administrator, before the funds are invested in
Sara Lee stock. See Question 30 below.
15. What if I have "insufficient funds" in my bank account to cover my check
or monthly deduction?
If the Administrator does not receive credit for a cash payment because of
insufficient funds or because the bank draft information is incorrect, the
requested purchase will be deemed void. If shares have already been
purchased for your account, your Administrator promptly will remove from
your account any shares purchased based upon the prior credit of such
funds. The Administrator also may place a hold on your Plan account until
an "insufficient funds" fee of $20.00 is received from you, or the
Administrator may sell such number of shares necessary to satisfy any
uncollected amounts. If the net proceeds from the sale of such shares are
insufficient to satisfy the balance of the uncollected amounts, the
Administrator may sell additional shares from your account as necessary to
satisfy the uncollected balance.
Purchase Of Common Stock
16. What is the source of Sara Lee common stock purchased through the Plan?
The Plan's purchasing agent will purchase shares of Sara Lee common stock
in the open market. Share purchases in the open market may be made on the
New York Stock Exchange or any other stock exchange where Sara Lee common
stock is traded, or by negotiated transactions on such terms as the
purchasing agent may reasonably determine. The purchasing agent has
discretion over the purchase of Sara Lee shares for the Plan. None of Sara
Lee, the Administrator or any participant will have any authority or power
to direct the date, time or price at which, or the manner in which, shares
may be purchased by the purchasing agent.
17. When will shares be purchased?
Initial and optional investment purchases will be made once a month on the
15th of each month, or on the next business day if the 15th is not a
business day. No interest will be paid by Sara Lee, the Administrator or
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the purchasing agent with respect to amounts held pending investment. The
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Administrator may commingle each participant's funds with those of other
participants for the purpose of executing purchases.
18. What is the price of shares purchased under the Plan?
Shares purchased in the open market on any investment date will be credited
to a participant's account at the weighted average price incurred to
purchase all Sara Lee shares acquired on that date for the Plan, including
brokerage commissions of $.05 per share. Participants will bear any risk
associated with fluctuations in the market price of Sara Lee common stock
while investment funds are held pending investment. In addition, no
interest on initial or optional cash investments will be paid.
7
Dividends
19. Must my dividends automatically be reinvested in Sara Lee common stock?
No. You may elect to reinvest the cash dividends paid on all (but not less
than all) of your Sara Lee shares, including fractional shares held in your
Plan account. Unless you elect in writing to have dividends paid to you in
cash, all dividends paid on Sara Lee shares registered in your name
automatically will be used to purchase additional shares of Sara Lee common
stock for your account. No fees will be charged in connection with dividend
reinvestments; however, you will be charged the brokerage commission of
$.05 per share, which is applicable to all purchases of Sara Lee common
stock under the Plan.
You also may elect to have Sara Lee deposit your cash dividends directly
into your bank account. To elect this option, you should submit to the
Administrator a completed and signed Direct Deposit Form.
You may change your election from time to time by notifying the
Administrator in writing. To be effective, any written change in dividend
election must be received and (if complete) accepted by the Administrator
at least 24 hours prior to the record date for the next dividend.
20. When will my dividends be reinvested and at what price?
Dividends will be invested as soon as practicable after the payment date.
The reinvestment of your dividends generally will begin on the first
business day following the dividend payment date and normally will extend
over a two- to-five-day period. The price of shares purchased with the
dividend proceeds will be the weighted average price, including brokerage
commissions, of all shares purchased with reinvested dividends. Dividends
not invested within 30 days of the dividend payment date will be paid out,
in cash, to the participants.
Sale Of Shares
21. How do I sell my Plan shares?
You may sell any number of whole shares held in your account by completing
the appropriate section of your account statement, or by delivering a
written request to the Administrator. All registered stockholders of the
shares to be sold must sign the request. The Administrator will forward
your request to the Plan's purchasing agent, and the purchasing agent will
sell your shares, along with shares to be sold for other accounts, within
five (5) business days. Proceeds from the sale, less a sales fee of $10.00
and a brokerage commission of $.10 per share, will be sent to you by check
within five (5) business days following the sale. All requests to sell
--------------------
shares held in the Plan must be in writing and signed by the account
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holder.
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Please note that if you desire to sell shares that you hold in certificate
form, you must first deposit those shares into your Plan account (i.e.,
deliver the stock certificates to the Administrator) before they can be
sold. See Question 24 below. Additionally, the Administrator will not wire
transfer sale proceeds. All payments will be made by check and mailed to
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the participant.
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22. Is there a minimum number of shares that I must maintain in my account to
keep it active?
Yes. You must have at least 10 whole shares of Sara Lee common stock
registered in your name in order to participate in the Plan. If you cease
to have at least 10 shares registered in your name, the Administrator may
terminate your participation in the Plan unless you purchase additional
shares and
8
achieve the minimum balance within three (3) months after written notice
from the Administrator. If your participation in the Plan is terminated,
your Plan account will be converted into a registered account and the
Administrator will continue to hold your shares of Sara Lee common stock in
book-entry form in a safekeeping account. Of course, you may request a
certificate at any time for any or all of your shares. See Question 28
below.
If you are a new investor who has signed up for monthly deductions, you
will be exempt from this requirement during the first six (6) months. If
you are an active participant in our Employee Stock Purchase Plan (or
International Employee Stock Purchase Plan), the requirement to own a
minimum of 10 shares will not apply to you, so long as your monthly payroll
deductions continue.
Custodial Service
23. How does the custodial service (book-entry shares) work?
All shares of Sara Lee common stock that are purchased through the Plan
will be held by the Administrator in book-entry form (i.e., in electronic
format) in a safekeeping account. The Plan's book-entry custodial service
eliminates the risk and cost of certificate loss, theft or destruction. You
are the owner of these book-entry shares held in a safekeeping account and
enjoy the same benefits as you would with certificated shares. Certificates
will not be issued unless you send a written request to the Administrator.
A Plan participant who holds certificates for other shares of Sara Lee
common stock outside the plan also may, at any time, deposit those
certificates for safekeeping with the Administrator, and the shares
represented by the deposited certificates will be included in book-entry
form in the participant's safekeeping account.
24. How do I deposit my Sara Lee stock certificates with the Administrator?
To deposit certificates into the Plan, you should send your certificates,
by registered and insured mail, to the Administrator (see address in
Question 3), with written instructions to deposit the shares represented by
the certificates in your Plan account. The certificates should not be
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endorsed and the assignment section should not be completed.
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25. Are there any charges associated with this custodial service?
No. There is no cost to you either for having the Administrator hold the
shares purchased for you through the Plan, or for depositing with the
Administrator the stock certificates you hold for the purpose of adding the
shares to your book-entry share positioning your safekeeping account.
26. Can I pledge my shares that are held in the Plan?
No. Shares held in Plan accounts cannot be pledged. Any shares that you
wish to pledge must first be converted into certificated form and sent to
you.
Issuance Of Stock Certificates
27. Will stock certificates be issued for shares acquired through the Plan?
No. Stock certificates will not be issued for shares in a Plan account
unless you send a specific written request to the Administrator. See the
address in Question 3.
28. How do I request a stock certificate?
9
Certificates for full shares held in the Plan may be obtained, without
charge, by writing to the Administrator (see address in Question 3) and
requesting the issuance of shares in certificate form. Certificates will be
issued only in the name(s) in which the account is registered, unless you
(i) instruct the Administrator otherwise, in writing, and (ii) your
signature on the written instruction is "Medallion Guaranteed" by a bank or
broker participating in the Medallion Guarantee Program.
Gifts And Transfers Of Shares
29. Can I transfer shares that I hold in the Plan to someone else?
Yes. You may transfer ownership of some or all of your Plan shares by
sending the Administrator written, signed transfer instructions. Signatures
of all registered holders must be "Medallion Guaranteed" by a financial
institution participating in the Medallion Guarantee program. The Medallion
Guarantee program ensures that the individual signing is in fact the owner
as indicated on the participant's account. Medallion stamps can be obtained
at most major banks and brokerage firms.
You may transfer shares to new or existing stockholders; however, a new
Plan account will not be opened as a result of a transfer of fewer than 10
shares. If you wish to open a new Plan account for the transferee, you must
include a $10.00 enrollment fee for each new account with the gift/transfer
instructions.
Gifts To Minors
If you are transferring shares to a minor, you need to provide the name of
the adult custodian who will be listed on the account. Once the minor has
reached the age of majority the custodian's name can be removed.
Additionally, gifts to minors are irrevocable. Shares may not be
transferred from a custodial account to other custodial accounts or
individuals until the minor has reached the age of majority and provides us
with proper transfer instructions and proof of age.
Service Fees And Commissions
30. What are the fees associated with participation in the Plan?
Participation in the Plan is subject to the payment of certain fees as
outlined below:
One-Time Enrollment Fee* ............................. $10.00
Investment Fees**
via check or money order ........................ $ 3.00
via automatic investment ........................ $ 1.50
Sales Fee** .......................................... $10.00
Fee for bounced check or rejected automatic
deductions ........................................... $20.00
______________
* Enrollment Fee applies only if you do not hold shares of Sara Lee common
stock that are registered directly in your name.
** Plus a $.05 per share trading fee for purchases, and a $.10 per share
trading fee for sales. Trading fee for sales will not apply to sales of
shares in an account that contains less than one share.
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Your bank and/or broker also may charge you fees in connection with your
enrollment or participation in the Plan. Any charges imposed by your bank in
connection with automatic monthly debits, or by your broker for re-registering
your shares in your name, are your responsibility.
Termination From The Plan
31. How do I close my Plan account?
You may terminate your participation in the Plan either by giving written
notice to the Administrator or by completing the appropriate section of
your account statement and returning it to the Administrator. Upon
termination, the Administrator will issue to you a certificate for the
number of whole shares held in your Plan account (and a check for the value
of any fractional share); however, you may request in writing that the
Administrator sell all of the shares in your Plan account, as described
above in Question 21.
If you elect to have your shares sold, a sales fee of $10.00 and a
commission of $.10 per share will be charged. The per-share commission will
also apply to the sale of any fractional share. All requests to sell shares
---------------------------
held in the Plan must be in writing and signed by the account holder.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Any certificates issued upon termination will be issued in the name or
names in which the account is registered, unless otherwise instructed. If
the certificate is to be issued in a name other than the name or names on
your Plan account, you must include complete transfer instructions signed
by all registered stockholders. The signature(s) on the instruction letter
must be "Medallion Guaranteed" by a financial institution participating in
the Medallion Guarantee program. See Question 29 above. No certificates
will be issued for fractional shares.
The Administrator will process notices of termination and send proceeds to
you as soon as practicable, without interest. If a notice of termination is
received on or after an ex-dividend date but before the related dividend
payment date, the termination will be processed as described above and a
separate dividend check will be mailed as soon as practicable following the
payment date. Thereafter, cash dividends will be paid out to the
stockholder and will not be reinvested in Sara Lee common stock.
Additional Information
32. How would a stock split or stock dividend affect my account?
Any shares resulting from a stock split or stock dividend paid on shares
held in for you by the Administrator in a safekeeping account or held by
you in certificate form will be credited to your Plan account and held in
safekeeping. Of course, you may request a certificate at any time for any
or all of your shares. See Question 28 above.
33. Will I be entitled to vote Sara Lee shares held in my Plan account at Sara
Lee's annual stockholders' meetings?
Yes. As a Plan participant, you will be sent a proxy statement in
connection with each meeting of Sara Lee stockholders, together with a
proxy card representing the shares held by the Administrator in your Plan
account. This proxy card, when duly signed and returned, will be voted as
you indicate. Fractional shares will be aggregated and voted in accordance
with the participants' directions. If the proxy card is not returned or if
it is returned unsigned, the shares will not be voted.
34. Can the Plan be changed or discontinued?
11
Sara Lee reserves the right to suspend, modify or terminate the Plan, or
your interest in the plan, at any time. All participants will receive
notice of any such suspension, modification or termination. Sara Lee also
reserves the right to change any administrative procedures of the Plan.
Upon termination of the Plan or your interest in the Plan by Sara Lee, the
Administrator will continue to hold your shares of Sara Lee common stock in
book-entry form in a safekeeping account. You may request, however, in
writing, that either (i) the Administrator issue to you a certificate for
the number of whole shares held in your Plan account (and a check for the
value of any fractional share), or (ii) all of the shares in your Plan
account be sold for you, as described above in Question 21.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
If you choose to participate in the Plan, you should recognize that neither
Sara Lee nor the Administrator can assure you of a profit or protect you against
a loss on the shares that you purchase under the Plan.
Neither Sara Lee nor the Administrator, in administering the Plan, will be
liable for any act done in good faith, or as required by applicable laws, or for
any good faith omission to act. This includes, without limitation, any claims of
liability:
. For the prices at which stock purchases or sales are made as reflected
in your Plan account, or the dates of the purchases or sales of your
Plan shares; or
. For any fluctuation in the market value of your Sara Lee shares after
they are purchased or sold; or
. For failure to terminate your account upon your death prior to receiving
written notice of such death.
This limitation of liability will not constitute a waiver by any participant of
his or her rights under the federal securities laws.
Although the Plan provides for the reinvestment of dividends, the
declaration and payment of dividends will continue to be determined by the Board
of Directors of Sara Lee in its discretion, depending upon future earnings, the
financial condition of Sara Lee and other factors. The amount and timing of
dividends may be changed, or the payment of dividends terminated, at any time
without notice.
CERTAIN U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
Cash dividends reinvested under the Plan will be taxable for U.S. Federal
income tax purposes as having been received by a participant, even though the
participant has not actually received them in cash. Each participant will
receive an annual statement from the Administrator indicating the amount of
reinvested dividends reported to the U.S. Internal Revenue Service as dividend
income.
A participant will not realize gain or loss for U.S. Federal income tax
purposes upon a transfer of shares to the Plan or the withdrawal of whole shares
from the Plan. Participants will, however, generally realize gain or loss upon
the receipt of cash for fractional shares held in the Plan. The participant will
also realize gain or loss when whole shares are sold, either by the purchasing
agent pursuant to the participant's request or by the participant after
termination from the Plan. The amount of gain or loss will be the difference
between the amount that the participant receives for the shares or fraction of a
share sold and the participant's tax basis therefor. In order to determine the
tax basis for shares or any fraction of a share credited to a participant's
account, each participant should retain all account statements.
12
Plan participants who are non-resident aliens or non-U.S. corporations,
partnerships or other entities generally are subject to a withholding tax on
dividends paid on shares held in the Plan. The Administrator is required to
withhold from dividends paid the appropriate amount determined in accordance
with Internal Revenue Service regulations. Where applicable, this withholding
tax is determined by treaty between the United States and the country in which
the participant resides. In addition, dividends paid on shares in Plan accounts
are subject to the "backup withholding" provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.
Accordingly, the amount of any dividends, net of the applicable withholding tax,
will be credited to participant Plan accounts for investment in additional
shares of Sara Lee common stock.
The foregoing is not a comprehensive summary of all of the tax
considerations that may be relevant to a participant in the Plan and does not
constitute tax advice. The summary does not reflect every possible outcome that
could result from participation in the Plan, and does not consider any possible
tax consequences under various state, local, foreign or other tax laws. Each
participant is urged to consult his or her own tax advisor regarding the tax
consequences applicable to his or her particular situation before participating
in the Plan or disposing of shares purchased under the Plan.
USE OF PROCEEDS
Purchases of Sara Lee common stock under the Plan will be made in the open
market and the Company will not receive any proceeds under the Plan.
LEGAL MATTERS
The legality of the common stock covered hereby has been passed upon for us
by R. Henry Kleeman, Esq., Vice President, Deputy General Counsel and Assistant
Secretary of Sara Lee. Mr. Kleeman owns shares of Sara Lee common stock, both
directly and as a participant in various stock and employee benefit plans, and
he is eligible to participate in the Plan.
EXPERTS
Our consolidated financial statements and schedules appearing in our Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 1, 2000 have been audited by
Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as set forth in their
report included therein. We incorporate herein by reference such consolidated
financial statements and schedules in reliance upon the authority of said firm
as experts in accounting and auditing.
13
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
----
Sara Lee Corporation.................................................... 3
Where You Can Find More Information..................................... 3
Sara Lee Corporation Investment Plan.................................... 5
Purpose of the Plan................................................... 5
Administration........................................................ 5
Eligibility and Enrollment............................................ 6
Optional Cash Investments............................................. 7
Purchase of Common Stock.............................................. 8
Dividends............................................................. 9
Sale of Shares........................................................ 9
Custodial Service..................................................... 10
Issuance of Stock Certificates........................................ 11
Gifts and Transfers of Shares......................................... 11
Gifts to Minors....................................................... 12
Service Fees and Commissions.......................................... 12
Termination from the Plan............................................. 12
Additional Information................................................ 13
Limitation of Liability................................................. 13
Certain U.S. Federal Income Taxation Considerations..................... 14
Use of Proceeds......................................................... 14
Legal Matters........................................................... 15
Experts................................................................. 15
No person has been authorized to give any information or to make any
representations other than those contained in this prospectus. If any other
information or representations are given or made, you must not rely upon them as
having been authorized.
Neither the delivery of this prospectus nor any sale made hereunder should
be deemed to imply that there has been no change in the affairs of Sara Lee
Corporation since the date of this prospectus or that the information herein is
correct as of any time subsequent to its date.
This prospectus supersedes all prior prospectuses and related documents.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE PLAN SHOULD RETAIN THIS
PROSPECTUS FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
PART II
INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
The expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the
securities, other than underwriting discounts and agency fees or commissions,
are set forth in the following table. All amounts except the Securities and
Exchange Commission registration fee are estimated.
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.......... $23,906
Printing expenses............................................ 20,000
Accountants' fees and expenses............................... 10,000
Legal fees and expenses...................................... 15,000
Miscellaneous................................................ 5,000
-------
Total........................................................ $73,906
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Section 2-418 of the Maryland General Corporation Law permits a Maryland
corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its
directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages
except for liability resulting from (a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or
profit in money, property or services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty
established by a final judgment as material to the cause of action. The
Company's charter contains such a provision that eliminates directors' and
officers' liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
The Company's charter authorizes it and its bylaws obligate it, to the
maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify any present or former
director or officer of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company, or any
individual who, while a director or officer of the Company and at the request of
the Company, serves or has served another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a director,
officer, partner or trustee from and against any claim or liability to which
that person may become subject or which that person may incur by reason of his
or her service in such capacity and to pay or reimburse their reasonable
expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. The charter and
bylaws also permit the Company to indemnify and advance expenses to any person
who served a predecessor of the Company in any of the capacities described above
and any employee or agent of the Company or a predecessor of the Company.
Maryland law requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise,
which the Company's charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has
been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he is made a party by
reason of his service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a corporation to
indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against
judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually
incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made a
party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is
established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material
to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith
or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or
officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or
services or (c) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer
had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However,
under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse
judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of
liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in
either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. In
addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a
director or officer upon the corporation's receipt of (a) a
I-1
written affirmation by the director officer of his good faith belief that he has
met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and
(b) a written undertaking by him or on his behalf to repay the amount paid or
reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard
of conduct was not met.
In addition to the above, the Company also maintains indemnity insurance
pursuant to which officers and directors are indemnified or insured against
liability or loss under certain circumstances, which may include liability or
related loss under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
A list of exhibits included as part of this registration statement is set
forth in the Exhibit Index appearing elsewhere herein and is incorporated herein
by reference.
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS
(a) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
Securities Act of 1933;
(ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
the effective date of the registration statement (or the most
recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or
in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the
information set forth in the registration statement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or decrease in
volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered)
and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of
prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) if,
in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no
more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate offering
price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table
in the effective registration statement; and
(iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
distribution not previously disclosed in the registration
statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement;
provided, however, that paragraphs (a)(1)(i) and (a)(1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed with or furnished to the
Commission by the registrant pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that are incorporated by reference in the registration
statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
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(b) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration
statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(c) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the
Securities Act of 1933 and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
SIGNATURES
The Registrant. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of
--------------
1933, as amended, the registrant, Sara Lee Corporation, certifies that it has
reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration statement on Form S-3 to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City
of Chicago, State of Illinois, on August 13, 2001.
SARA LEE CORPORATION
By: /s/ Roderick A. Palmore
------------------------------------
Roderick A. Palmore
Senior Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints Roderick A. Palmore and R. Henry Kleeman, and
each of them, his/her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agents, with full
power of substitution and resubstitution, to sign, execute and file with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (or any other governmental or regulatory
authority), for us and in our names in the capacities indicated below, this
registration statement on Form S-3 and any and all amendments or supplements
thereto, together with all exhibits and any and all documents required to be
filed with respect thereto, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents and
each of them, full power and authority to do and to perform each and every act
and thing necessary and/or desirable to be done in and about the premises in
order to effectuate the same as fully to all intents and purposes as he himself
might or could do if personally present, hereby ratifying and confirming all
that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them, may lawfully do or cause
to be done by virtue hereof.
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
this registration statement on Form S-3 has been signed as of August 13, 2001 by
the following persons in the capacities indicated:
Signature Capacity
--------- --------
/s/ John H. Bryan Chairman of the Board and Director (Principal
------------------------------------ Executive Officer
John H. Bryan
/s/ C. Steven McMillan President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
------------------------------------
C. Steven McMillan
/s/ Frank L. Meysman Executive Vice President and Director
------------------------------------
Frank L. Meysman
/s/ Cary D. McMillan Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and
------------------------------------ Administrative Officer and Director (Principal
Cary D. McMillan Financial Officer)
/s/ Wayne R. Szypulski Senior Vice President and Controller (Principal
------------------------------------ Accounting Officer)
Wayne R. Szypulski
/s/ Paul A. Allaire Director
------------------------------------
Paul A. Allaire
/s/ Frans H. J. J. Andriessen Director
------------------------------------
Frans H. J. J. Andriessen
/s/ Duane L. Burnham Director
------------------------------------
Duane L. Burnham
/s/ Charles W. Coker Director
------------------------------------
Charles W. Coker
/s/ James S. Crown Director
------------------------------------
James S. Crown
/s/ Willie D. Davis Director
------------------------------------
Willie D. Davis
/s/ Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. Director
------------------------------------
Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.
/s/ James L. Ketelsen Director
------------------------------------
James L. Ketelsen
/s/ Hans B. van Liemt Director
------------------------------------
Hans B. van Liemt
/s/ Joan D. Manley Director
------------------------------------
Joan D. Manley
/s/ Rozanne L. Ridgway Director
------------------------------------
Rozanne L. Ridgway
/s/ Richard L. Thomas Director
------------------------------------
Richard L. Thomas
/s/ John D. Zeglis Director
------------------------------------
John D. Zeglis
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number Description
-------------- -----------
4.1 Articles of Restatement of Charter of the Company, dated April 9,
1990 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 33-35760) filed with the
Commission on July 6, 1990)
4.2 Articles Supplementary to the Charter of the Company, dated May
18, 1990 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8 (No. 33-37575) filed
with the Commission on November 1, 1990)
4.3 Articles Supplementary to the Charter of the Company, dated
October 30, 1992 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a) of
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended July 2, 1994 (File No. 1-3334))
4.4 Articles of Amendment of Charter of the Company, dated November
19, 1998 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a)2 of the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
July 3, 1999 (File No. 1-3334))
4.5 Articles Supplementary to the Charter of the registrant, dated
January 7, 1999 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(a)3 of
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended July 3, 1999 (File No. 1-3334))
4.6 Amended By-laws of the Company, dated April 27, 2000
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3(b) of the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 1, 2000
(File No. 1-3344))
4.7 Stockholder Rights Agreement, dated March 26, 1998, between the
Company and First Chicago Trust Company of New York, as Rights
Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 of the Company's
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission on
May 19, 1998 (File No. 1-3344))
*4.8 Sara Lee Corporation Investment Plan (included in full in Part I
to this Registration Statement)
*5 Opinion of R. Henry Kleeman, Esq., Vice President, Deputy
General Counsel and Assistant Secretary
*23.1 Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP
*23.2 Consent of R. Henry Kleeman, Esq. (included in Exhibit 5)
*24 Powers of Attorney (included on signature page to this
Registration Statement)
______________
*Filed herewith.
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