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Wal-Mart Stores Inc reduced its reported second-quarter profit by $153 million due to expenses from selling its German retail operations.

In a regulatory filing, Wal-Mart said the added cost reduced its earnings per share for the quarter that ended July 31 to 72 cents from the 76 cents it originally reported August 14. That compares with 50 cents per share in the year-ago quarter.

Wal-Mart said the late charge came after "recent nonbinding discussions with Metro at the end of August 2007." Germany's Metro AG agreed last year to buy Wal-Mart's German operations.

Wal-Mart, in its filing, called the new charge a "post-closing adjustment."

Wal-Mart spokesman John Simley said the retailer was not aware of the added charge when it reported second-quarter earnings in mid-August.