SC 13G 1 d00728sc13g.txt SCHEDULE 13G UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934* Sears Roebuck & Co. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock, par value $0.75 per share -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Title of Class of Securities) 812387-10-8 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (CUSIP Number) October 18, 2002 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed: [ ] Rule 13d-1(b) [X] Rule 13d-1(c) [ ] Rule 13d-1(d) * The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). Person Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications: Janice V. Sharry, Esq. Haynes and Boone, LLP 901 Main Street, Suite 3100 Dallas, Texas 75202 (214) 651-5562 SCHEDULE 13G CUSIP No. 812387-10-8 Page 2 of 9 Pages --------------------- ----------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY) ESL Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership 22-2875193 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [X] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OR ORGANIZATION Delaware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 SOLE VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES 13,912,738 BENEFICIALLY --------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH REPORTING 0 PERSON --------------------------------------------------------- WITH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 13,912,738 --------------------------------------------------------- 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 22,859,500 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 7.2% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCHEDULE 13G CUSIP No. 812387-10-8 Page 3 of 9 Pages --------------------- ----------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY) ESL Limited, a Bermuda corporation -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [X] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OR ORGANIZATION Bermuda -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 SOLE VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES 3,069,552 BENEFICIALLY --------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH REPORTING 0 PERSON --------------------------------------------------------- WITH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 3,069,552 --------------------------------------------------------- 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 22,859,500 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 7.2% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON CO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCHEDULE 13G CUSIP No. 812387-10-8 Page 4 of 9 Pages --------------------- ----------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY) ESL Institutional Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership 06-1456821 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [X] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OR ORGANIZATION Delaware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 SOLE VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES 490,748 BENEFICIALLY --------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH REPORTING 0 PERSON --------------------------------------------------------- WITH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 490,748 --------------------------------------------------------- 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 22,859,500 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 7.2% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON PN -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SCHEDULE 13G CUSIP No. 812387-10-8 Page 5 of 9 Pages --------------------- ----------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSON I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NO. OF ABOVE PERSON (ENTITIES ONLY) ESL Investors, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company 13-4095958 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [X] (b) [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 SEC USE ONLY -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OR ORGANIZATION Delaware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 5 SOLE VOTING POWER NUMBER OF SHARES 5,386,462 BENEFICIALLY ---------------------------------------------------------- OWNED BY 6 SHARED VOTING POWER EACH REPORTING 0 PERSON ---------------------------------------------------------- WITH 7 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER 5,386,462 ---------------------------------------------------------- 8 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER 0 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON 22,859,500 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES [ ] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9) 7.2% -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON OO -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CUSIP No. 812387-10-8 Page 6 of 9 Pages --------------------- ----------------- Item 1(a) Name of Issuer: Sears Roebuck & Co. Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 3333 Beverly Road Hoffman Estates, IL 60179 Item 2(a) Names of Persons Filing: ESL Partners, L.P. ESL Limited ESL Institutional Partners, L.P. ESL Investors, L.L.C. Item 2(b) Addresses of Principal Business Offices: ESL Partners, L.P., ESL Institutional Partners, L.P., and ESL Investors, L.L.C.: One Lafayette Place Greenwich, CT 06830 ESL Limited Hemisphere House 9 Church Street Hamilton, Bermuda Item 2(c) Citizenship: ESL Partners, L.P. -- Delaware ESL Limited -- Bermuda ESL Institutional Partners, L.P. -- Delaware ESL Investors, L.L.C. -- Delaware Item 2(d) Title of Class of Securities: Common Stock, par value $0.75 per share Item 2(e) CUSIP Number: 812387-10-8 CUSIP No. 812387-10-8 Page 7 of 9 Pages --------------------- ----------------- Item 3 Status of Persons Filing: (a) [ ] Broker or dealer registered under section 15 of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78o); (b) [ ] Bank as defined in section 3(a)(6) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); (c) [ ] Insurance company as defined in section 3(a)(19) of the Act (15 U.S.C. 78c); (d) [ ] Investment company registered under section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-8); (e) [ ] An investment adviser in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E); (f) [ ] An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F); (g) [ ] A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G); (h) [ ] A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (12 U.S.C. 1813); (i) [ ] A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (15 U.S.C. 80a-3); (j) [ ] Group, in accordance with Section 240.13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(J). Item 4 Ownership: (a) Amount Beneficially Owned: 22,859,500 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.75 per share. This statement is filed on behalf of a group consisting of ESL Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("ESL"), ESL Limited, a Bermuda corporation ("Limited"), ESL Institutional Partners, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership ("Institutional"), and ESL Investors, L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company ("Investors") sometimes referred to collectively as the "ESL Reporting Group." The general partner of ESL is RBS Partners, L.P. (the "General Partner"). The general partner of the General Partner of ESL is ESL Investments, Inc., a Delaware corporation. ESL Investment Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("ESLIM"), is the investment manager of Limited. RBS Investment Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("RBSIM") is the general partner of Institutional. RBS Partners, L.P. is the manager of Investors. In the aforementioned capacities, ESL, Limited, Institutional, and Investors each may be deemed to be the beneficial owner of the shares of Sears Roebuck & Co. common stock beneficially owned by the other members of the group. As of October 28, 2002: (i) ESL was the record owner of 13,912,738 shares of common stock of Sears Roebuck & Co.; (ii) Limited was the record owner of 3,069,552 shares of common stock of Sears Roebuck & Co.; (iii) Institutional was the record owner of 490,748 shares of common stock of Sears Roebuck & Co.; and (iv) Investors was the record owner of 5,386,462 shares of common stock of Sears Roebuck & Co. CUSIP No. 812387-10-8 Page 8 of 9 Pages --------------------- ----------------- (b) Percent of Class: 7.2%. (c) Number of shares as to which each person has: (i) sole power to vote or to direct the vote: See Item 5 of each cover page. (ii) shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0. (iii) sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: See Item 7 of each cover page. (iv) shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 0. Item 5 Ownership of 5% or Less of a Class: Not applicable. Item 6 Ownership of More than 5% on Behalf of Another Person: Not applicable. Item 7 Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired the Security Being Reported on By the Parent Holding Company: Not applicable Item 8 Identification and Classification of Members of the Group: See Item 4(a). Item 9 Notice of Dissolution of Group: Not applicable Item 10 Certification: By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of the securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. CUSIP No. 812387-10-8 Page 9 of 9 Pages --------------------- ----------------- SIGNATURE After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: October 28, 2002 ESL PARTNERS, L.P. By: RBS Partners, L.P., its general partner By: ESL Investments, Inc., its general partner By: /s/ WILLIAM C. CROWLEY --------------------------------------- William C. Crowley President and Chief Operating Officer ESL LIMITED By: ESL Investment Management, LLC, its investment manager By: /s/ WILLIAM C. CROWLEY --------------------------------------- William C. Crowley Member ESL INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS, L.P. By: RBS Investment Management, LLC, its general partner By: /s/ WILLIAM C. CROWLEY --------------------------------------- William C. Crowley Member ESL INVESTORS, L.L.C. By: RBS Partners, L.P., its manager By: ESL Investments, Inc., its general partner By: /s/ WILLIAM C. CROWLEY --------------------------------------- William C. Crowley President and Chief Operating Officer EXHIBITS Exhibit 1 Joint Filing Agreement, dated as of October 28, 2002, entered into by and among ESL Partners, L.P., ESL Limited, ESL Institutional Partners, L.P., and ESL Investors, L.L.C.