Kroger Co. announced that the company issued the debt largely to finance its $800 million purchase of supermarket operator Roundy's Inc. Kroger filed information with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Jan. 15, 2016 detailing the debt issuance.

It raised $300 million by issuing debt at 2% that's due in 2019. It issued another $300 million at 2.6% due in 2021. And it issued $500 million in debt at 3.5% due in 2026.

Kroger reported that it will use the money to pay back commercial paper it issued to pay for the Roundy's deal, other commercial paper it issued to pay back long-term debt and for other purposes.