UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended January 26, 2013
or
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File Number: 0-11736
ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Delaware | 30-0641353 | |
| (State or other jurisdiction of | (I.R.S. Employer | |
| incorporation or organization) | Identification No.) | |
| 30 Dunnigan Drive, Suffern, New York | 10901 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(845) 369-4500
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
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 (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes x No ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
| Large accelerated filer x | Accelerated filer ¨ | Non-accelerated filer ¨ | Smaller reporting company ¨ |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ¨ No x
The Registrant had 158,659,720 shares of common stock outstanding as of February 25, 2013.
INDEX
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION (Unaudited)
| Page | ||
| Item 1. | Financial Statements: | |
| Consolidated Balance Sheets | 3 | |
| Consolidated Statements of Operations | 4 | |
| Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income | 5 | |
| Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows | 6 | |
| Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements | 7 | |
| Item 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 23 |
| Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 44 |
| Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | 44 |
| PART II. OTHER INFORMATION | ||
| Item 1. | Legal Proceedings | 44 |
| Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 45 |
| Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 45 |
| Item 6. | Exhibits | 46 |
| Signatures | 47 | |
ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
| January 26, 2013 | July 28, 2012 | |||||||
| (millions, except per share data) | ||||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||
| ASSETS | ||||||||
| Current assets: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 322.0 | $ | 164.3 | ||||
| Short-term investments | 3.7 | 1.4 | ||||||
| Inventories | 498.6 | 533.4 | ||||||
| Assets related to discontinued operations | 93.4 | 133.6 | ||||||
| Deferred tax assets | 49.5 | 48.7 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 146.8 | 158.8 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 1,114.0 | 1,040.2 | ||||||
| Non-current investments | -- | 3.2 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 691.0 | 674.2 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 583.6 | 593.2 | ||||||
| Other intangible assets, net | 452.3 | 453.7 | ||||||
| Other assets | 42.1 | 42.6 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 2,883.0 | $ | 2,807.1 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND EQUITY | ||||||||
| Current liabilities: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 245.5 | $ | 252.8 | ||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 253.2 | 261.2 | ||||||
| Deferred income | 72.2 | 42.7 | ||||||
| Liabilities related to discontinued operations | 57.2 | 118.6 | ||||||
| Income taxes payable | 5.4 | 6.1 | ||||||
| Current portion of long-term debt | -- | 4.2 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 633.5 | 685.6 | ||||||
| Long-term debt | 277.4 | 322.4 | ||||||
| Lease-related liabilities | 237.2 | 240.5 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 103.4 | 60.6 | ||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | 157.9 | 157.1 | ||||||
| Commitments and contingencies (Note 12) | ||||||||
| Total liabilities | 1,409.4 | 1,466.2 | ||||||
| Equity: | ||||||||
| Common stock, par value $0.01 per share; 158.5 million and 154.8 million shares issued and outstanding | 1.6 | 1.5 | ||||||
| Additional paid-in capital | 570.3 | 528.8 | ||||||
| Retained earnings | 902.2 | 811.9 | ||||||
| Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (0.5 | ) | (1.3 | ) | ||||
| Total equity | 1,473.6 | 1,340.9 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 2,883.0 | $ | 2,807.1 | ||||
See accompanying notes.
| 3 |
ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| January
26, 2013 | January
28, 2012 | January
26, 2013 | January
28, 2012 | |||||||||||||
| (millions, except per share data) | ||||||||||||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 1,237.5 | $ | 862.0 | $ | 2,375.0 | $ | 1,630.3 | ||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | (575.4 | ) | (384.7 | ) | (1,056.3 | ) | (713.2 | ) | ||||||||
| Gross margin | 662.1 | 477.3 | 1,318.7 | 917.1 | ||||||||||||
| Other costs and expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Buying, distribution and occupancy costs | (198.1 | ) | (129.4 | ) | (404.9 | ) | (255.7 | ) | ||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | (348.6 | ) | (222.4 | ) | (681.5 | ) | (435.3 | ) | ||||||||
| Acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs | (6.8 | ) | -- | (13.2 | ) | -- | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | (40.3 | ) | (25.5 | ) | (77.9 | ) | (49.6 | ) | ||||||||
| Total other costs and expenses | (593.8 | ) | (377.3 | ) | (1,177.5 | ) | (740.6 | ) | ||||||||
| Operating income | 68.3 | 100.0 | 141.2 | 176.5 | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (4.8 | ) | (0.3 | ) | (9.6 | ) | (0.5 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest and other income, net | 0.2 | 1.0 | 0.5 | 1.9 | ||||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt (Note 9) | (1.4 | ) | -- | (1.4 | ) | -- | ||||||||||
| Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes | 62.3 | 100.7 | 130.7 | 177.9 | ||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes from continuing operations | (24.5 | ) | (37.0 | ) | (46.7 | ) | (66.7 | ) | ||||||||
| Income from continuing operations | 37.8 | 63.7 | 84.0 | 111.2 | ||||||||||||
| Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes (1) | 9.4 | -- | 6.3 | -- | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 47.2 | $ | 63.7 | $ | 90.3 | $ | 111.2 | ||||||||
| Net income per common share - basic: | ||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.42 | $ | 0.54 | $ | 0.73 | ||||||||
| Discontinued operations | 0.06 | -- | 0.04 | -- | ||||||||||||
| Total net income per basic common share | $ | 0.30 | $ | 0.42 | $ | 0.58 | $ | 0.73 | ||||||||
| Net income per common share – diluted: | ||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.52 | $ | 0.70 | ||||||||
| Discontinued operations | 0.06 | -- | 0.04 | -- | ||||||||||||
| Total net income per diluted common share | $ | 0.29 | $ | 0.40 | $ | 0.56 | $ | 0.70 | ||||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 157.2 | 152.6 | 156.2 | 153.3 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted | 162.9 | 157.6 | 162.2 | 158.2 | ||||||||||||
(1) Income from discontinued operations is presented net of a $6.1 million income tax expense for the three months ended January 26, 2013 and a $3.0 million income tax expense for the six months ended January 26, 2013.
See accompanying notes.
| 4 |
ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| January 26,
2013 | January 28, 2012 | January 26, 2013 | January 28, 2012 | |||||||||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||||||||||
| (unaudited) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 47.2 | $ | 63.7 | $ | 90.3 | $ | 111.2 | ||||||||
| Other comprehensive income, net of tax: | ||||||||||||||||
| Net change in unrealized gains on available-for-sale investments (1) | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 0.4 | ||||||||||||
| Foreign currency translation adjustment | (0.6 | ) | -- | (0.4 | ) | (0.2 | ) | |||||||||
| Total other comprehensive income | 0.4 | 0.6 | 0.8 | 0.2 | ||||||||||||
| Total comprehensive income | $ | 47.6 | $ | 64.3 | $ | 91.1 | $ | 111.4 | ||||||||
(1) No tax benefits have been provided in any period primarily due to the uncertainty of realization of cumulative capital loss tax benefits.
See accompanying notes.
| 5 |
ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
| Six Months Ended | ||||||||
| January 26, 2013 | January 28, 2012 | |||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||
| Cash flows from operating activities: | (unaudited) | |||||||
| Net income | $ | 90.3 | $ | 111.2 | ||||
| Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | 77.9 | 49.6 | ||||||
| Deferred income tax expense | -- | 0.5 | ||||||
| Deferred rent and other occupancy costs | (17.7 | ) | (13.6 | ) | ||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | 1.4 | -- | ||||||
| Non-cash stock-based compensation expense | 16.3 | 15.1 | ||||||
| Non-cash impairments of assets | 1.7 | 1.1 | ||||||
| Non-cash interest expense | 1.0 | 0.5 | ||||||
| Other non-cash income | (6.0 | ) | (6.6 | ) | ||||
| Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation | (11.9 | ) | (1.8 | ) | ||||
| Changes in operating assets and liabilities: | ||||||||
| Inventories | 32.2 | 52.3 | ||||||
| Accounts payable and accrued liabilities | 20.2 | (22.1 | ) | |||||
| Deferred income liabilities | 33.7 | 18.7 | ||||||
| Lease-related liabilities | 14.9 | 11.6 | ||||||
| Other balance sheet changes | 24.9 | 5.5 | ||||||
| Changes in net assets related to discontinued operations | (5.5 | ) | -- | |||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 273.4 | 222.0 | ||||||
| Cash flows from investing activities: | ||||||||
| Purchases of investments | (2.3 | ) | (36.4 | ) | ||||
| Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments | 4.4 | 29.1 | ||||||
| Investment in life insurance policies | -- | (0.1 | ) | |||||
| Capital expenditures | (97.4 | ) | (52.1 | ) | ||||
| Net cash used in investing activities . | (95.3 | ) | (59.5 | ) | ||||
| Cash flows from financing activities: | ||||||||
| Repayments of debt | (50.4 | ) | -- | |||||
| Payment of deferred financing costs | (1.7 | ) | -- | |||||
| Repurchases of common stock | -- | (37.2 | ) | |||||
| Proceeds from stock options exercised and employee stock purchases | 19.8 | 8.3 | ||||||
| Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation | 11.9 | 1.8 | ||||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (20.4 | ) | (27.1 | ) | ||||
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents | 157.7 | 135.4 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 164.3 | 243.5 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents at end of period .. | $ | 322.0 | $ | 378.9 | ||||
See accompanying notes.
| 6 |
ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Description of Business
Ascena Retail Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Ascena” or the “Company”), is a leading national specialty retailer of apparel for women and tween girls. On June 14, 2012, the Company acquired Charming Shoppes, Inc. (“Charming Shoppes”) and its related family of retail brands. Accordingly, the Company now operates, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, the following principal retail brands: Justice, Lane Bryant, maurices, dressbarn and Catherines. The Company now operates (through its subsidiaries) approximately 3,800 stores throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, with annual revenues on a pro forma basis of over $4.5 billion for the fiscal year ended July 28, 2012, giving effect to the acquisition of Charming Shoppes as of the beginning of such year. Ascena and its subsidiaries are collectively referred to herein as the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and “ourselves,” unless the context indicates otherwise.
The Company classifies its businesses into five segments following a brand-oriented approach: Justice, Lane Bryant, maurices, dressbarn, and Catherines. The Justice segment includes approximately 958 specialty retail and outlet stores, e-commerce operations, and certain licensed franchises in international territories. The Justice segment offers fashionable apparel under the Justice brand to girls who are ages 7 to 14 in an environment designed to match the energetic lifestyle of tween girls, and fashionable apparel to boys who are ages 7 to 14 under the Brothers brand. The Lane Bryant segment includes approximately 789 specialty retail and outlet stores, and e-commerce operations. The Lane Bryant segment offers fashionable and sophisticated plus-size apparel under multiple private labels to female customers in the 25 to 45 age range, including intimate apparel under the Cacique label. The maurices segment includes approximately 850 specialty retail and outlet stores, and e-commerce operations. The maurices brand offers up-to-date fashion designed to appeal to the 17 to 34 year-old female, with stores concentrated in small markets (approximately 25,000 to 100,000 people). The dressbarn segment includes approximately 829 specialty retail and outlet stores, and e-commerce operations. The dressbarn brand primarily attracts female consumers in the mid-30’s to mid-50’s age range and offers moderate-to-better quality career, special occasion and casual fashion to the working woman. The Catherines segment includes approximately 409 specialty retail and outlet stores, and e-commerce operations. The Catherines brand offers classic apparel and accessories for wear-to-work and casual lifestyles in a full range of plus sizes, generally catering to the female customer 45 years and older.
2. Basis of Presentation
Interim Financial Statements
The interim consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The interim consolidated financial statements are unaudited. In the opinion of management, however, such consolidated financial statements contain all normal and recurring adjustments necessary to present fairly the consolidated financial condition, results of operations, comprehensive income and changes in cash flows of the Company for the interim periods presented. In addition, certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with the accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“US GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted from this report as is permitted by the SEC’s rules and regulations. However, the Company believes that the disclosures herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading.
The consolidated balance sheet data as of July 28, 2012 is derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC for the fiscal year ended July 28, 2012 (the “Fiscal 2012 10-K”), which should be read in conjunction with these interim financial statements. Reference is made to the Fiscal 2012 10-K for a complete set of financial statements.
Basis of Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with US GAAP, and present the financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows of the Company and all entities in which the Company has a controlling voting interest. The consolidated financial statements also include the accounts of any variable interest entities in which the Company is considered to be the primary beneficiary and such entities are required to be consolidated in accordance with US GAAP. There were no variable interest entities as of January 26, 2013.
All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
| 7 |
ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS – (Continued)
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and footnotes thereto. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.
Significant estimates inherent in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements include: the realizability of inventory; reserves for litigation and other contingencies; useful lives and impairments of long-lived tangible and intangible assets; accounting for income taxes and related uncertain tax positions; the valuation of stock-based compensation and related expected forfeiture rates; insurance reserves; and accounting for business combinations.
Fiscal Year
The Company utilizes a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the last Saturday in July. As such, fiscal year 2013 will end on July 27, 2013 and will be a 52-week period (“Fiscal 2013”). Fiscal 2012 ended on July 28, 2012 and reflected a 52-week period (“Fiscal 2012”). The second quarter of Fiscal 2013 ended on January 26, 2013 and was a 13-week period. The second quarter of Fiscal 2012 ended on January 28, 2012 and was also a 13-week period.
The financial position and operating results of the Company’s newly acquired sourcing operations of Charming Shoppes located in Hong Kong (“Charming Sourcing”) are reported on a one-month lag. Accordingly, the Company’s operating results for the three and six months ended January 26, 2013 include the operating results of Charming Sourcing for the three-month period from September 30, 2012 through December 29, 2012 and six-month period from July 1, 2012 through December 29, 2012. The net effect of this reporting lag is not material to the consolidated financial statements.
Discontinued Operations
In connection with the acquisition of Charming Shoppes in June 2012, certain acquired businesses have been classified as a component of discontinued operations within the consolidated financial statements.
In particular, the Company announced, contemporaneously with the closing of the acquisition of Charming Shoppes, its intent to cease operating the acquired Fashion Bug business. The Fashion Bug business, consisting of approximately 600 retail stores, ceased operations at the end of the second quarter of Fiscal 2013. The orderly liquidation of the related net assets is expected to be concluded during the second half of Fiscal 2013 and result in an immaterial adjustment to goodwill.
In addition, the Company also announced, contemporaneously with the closing of the acquisition of Charming Shoppes, its intent to sell the acquired Figi’s business. The Figi’s business, which markets food and specialty gift products, is expected to be sold by the one-year anniversary date of the closing of the acquisition of Charming Shoppes.
As those businesses are available for disposal in their present conditions and active disposition efforts have already been implemented at prices that are reasonable in relation to current fair value, such businesses have been classified as discontinued operations within the consolidated financial statements. As such, assets and liabilities relating to discontinued operations have been segregated and separately disclosed in the balance sheets as of January 26, 2013 and July 28, 2012. In turn, operating results for those businesses, including $238.5 million and $386.9 million of revenues for the post-acquisition three-month and six-month periods ended January 26, 2013, respectively, have also been segregated and reported separately in the consolidated financial statements.
| 8 |
| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
The major components of assets and liabilities related to discontinued operations are summarized below:
| January 26, 2013 | July 28, 2012 | |||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||
| Accounts receivable | $ | 38.3 | $ | 6.8 | ||||
| Inventories | 8.3 | 77.2 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 31.0 | 31.9 | ||||||
| Other intangible assets, net | 8.0 | 5.0 | ||||||
| Other assets | 7.8 | 12.7 | ||||||
| Total assets related to discontinued operations | $ | 93.4 | $ | 133.6 | ||||
| Accounts payable and other current liabilities | $ | 45.4 | $ | 93.6 | ||||
| Lease-related liabilities | 11.0 | 18.0 | ||||||
| Other liabilities | 0.8 | 7.0 | ||||||
| Total liabilities related to discontinued operations | $ | 57.2 | $ | 118.6 | ||||
On January 29, 2013, Fashion Bug sold its distribution center for net proceeds of approximately $16 million. The net proceeds of the sale were used to partially prepay the outstanding principal balance of the Company’s six-year, variable-rate term loan (“Term Loan”) during the third quarter of Fiscal 2013.
Seasonality of Business
The Company’s business is typically affected by seasonal sales trends primarily resulting from the timing of holiday and back-to-school shopping periods. In particular, Justice sales and operating profits tend to be significantly higher during the fall season which occurs during the first and second quarters of the fiscal year, as this includes the back-to-school period and the holiday selling period which is focused on gift-giving merchandise. The dressbarn and maurices brands have historically experienced lower earnings in the second fiscal quarter ending in January than during the three other fiscal quarters, reflecting the intense promotional environment that generally has characterized the holiday shopping season in recent years. The newly acquired Lane Bryant and Catherines brands typically experience peak sales during the Easter, Memorial Day and December holiday seasons. In addition, the Company’s operating results and cash flows may fluctuate materially in any quarterly period depending on, among other things, increases or decreases in comparable store sales, adverse weather conditions, shifts in the timing of certain holidays and changes in merchandise mix. Accordingly, the Company’s operating results and cash flows for the three-month and six-month periods ended January 26, 2013 are not necessarily indicative of the operating results and cash flows that may be expected for the full year of Fiscal 2013.
Reclassifications
Buying, Distribution and Occupancy Costs
Historically, the Company included buying, distribution and occupancy costs within cost of goods sold on the face of its statement of operations. However, in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2012, in connection with conforming the financial presentation of Charming Shoppes, the Company decided to present each of the aggregate of buying, distribution and occupancy costs and gross margin separately on the face of its statement of operations. In addition, certain costs, such as store utility costs, were reclassified from selling, general and administrative expenses to buying, distribution and occupancy costs. Financial information for all prior periods has been reclassified in order to conform to the current period’s presentation. There have been no changes in historical operating income or historical net income for any period as a result of these changes.
Other Reclassifications
Certain other immaterial reclassifications have been made to the prior period’s financial information in order to conform to the current period’s presentation.
| 9 |
| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Revenue Recognition
Revenue is recognized across all segments of the business when there is persuasive evidence of an arrangement, delivery has occurred, price has been fixed or is determinable, and collectability is reasonably assured.
Retail store revenue is recognized net of estimated returns at the time of sale to consumers. E-commerce revenue from sales of products ordered through the Company’s retail internet sites and revenue from direct-mail orders through Justice’s catazine are recognized upon delivery and receipt of the shipment by our customers. Such revenue also is reduced by an estimate of returns.
Reserves for estimated product returns are recorded based on historical return trends and are adjusted for known events, as applicable.
Gift cards, gift certificates and merchandise credits (collectively, “gift cards”) issued by the Company are recorded as a deferred income liability until they are redeemed, at which point revenue is recognized. Gift cards do not have expiration dates. The Company recognizes income for unredeemed gift cards when the likelihood of a gift card being redeemed by a customer is remote and the Company determines that it does not have a legal obligation to remit the value of the unredeemed gift card to the relevant jurisdiction as unclaimed or abandoned property. Gift card breakage is included in net sales in the consolidated statements of operations, and historically has not been material.
In addition to retail-store and e-commerce sales, the Justice segment recognizes revenue from licensing arrangements with franchised stores, advertising and other “tween-right” marketing arrangements with partner companies, as well as merchandise shipments to other third-party retailers. Revenue associated with merchandise shipments is recognized at the time title passes and risk of loss is transferred to customers, which generally occurs at the date of shipment. Royalty payments received under license agreements for the use of the Justice trade name and amounts received in connection with advertising and marketing arrangements with partner companies are recognized when earned in accordance with the terms of the underlying agreements.
The Company accounts for sales and other related taxes on a net basis, thereby excluding such taxes from revenue.
Cost of Goods Sold
Cost of goods sold (“COGS”) consists of all costs of merchandise (net of purchase discounts and vendor allowances), merchandise acquisition costs (primarily commissions and import fees), in-bound freight to our distribution centers, and changes in reserve levels for inventory realizability and shrinkage.
Our cost of goods sold may not be comparable to those of other entities. Some entities, like us, exclude costs related to their distribution network, buying function and store occupancy costs from cost of goods sold and include them in other costs and expenses, whereas other entities include costs related to their distribution network, buying function and all store occupancy costs in their cost of goods sold.
Buying, Distribution and Occupancy Costs
Buying, distribution and occupancy costs consist of store occupancy and utility costs (excluding depreciation), out-bound freight (including costs to ship merchandise between our distribution centers and our retail stores), and all costs associated with the buying and distribution functions.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A expenses”) consist of compensation and benefit-related costs for sales and store operations personnel, administrative personnel and other employees not associated with the functions described above under buying, distribution and occupancy costs. SG&A expenses also include advertising and marketing costs, information technology and communication costs, supplies for our stores and administrative facilities, insurance costs, legal costs and costs related to other administrative services.
| 10 |
| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
Income Taxes
Income taxes are provided using the asset and liability method. Under this method, income taxes (i.e., deferred tax assets and liabilities, current taxes payable/refunds receivable and tax expense) are recorded based on amounts refundable or payable in the current year, and include the results of any differences between US GAAP and tax reporting. Deferred income taxes reflect the tax effect of certain net operating loss, capital loss and general business credit carry forwards and the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amount of assets and liabilities for financial statement and income tax purposes, as determined under enacted tax laws and rates. The Company accounts for the financial effect of changes in tax laws or rates in the period of enactment.
In addition, valuation allowances are established when management determines that it is more-likely-than-not that some portion or all of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Tax valuation allowances are analyzed periodically and adjusted as events occur, or circumstances change, that warrant adjustments to those balances.
In determining the income tax provision for financial reporting purposes, the Company establishes a reserve for uncertain tax positions. If the Company considers that a tax position is “more-likely-than-not” of being sustained upon audit, based solely on the technical merits of the position, it recognizes the tax benefit. The Company measures the tax benefit by determining the largest amount that is greater than 50% likely of being realized upon settlement, presuming that the tax position is examined by the appropriate taxing authority that has full knowledge of all relevant information. These assessments can be complex and the Company often obtains assistance from external advisors. To the extent that the Company’s estimates change or the final tax outcome of these matters is different than the amounts recorded, such differences will impact the income tax provision in the period in which such determinations are made. If the initial assessment fails to result in the recognition of a tax benefit, the Company regularly monitors its position and subsequently recognizes the tax benefit if (i) there are changes in tax law or analogous case law that sufficiently raise the likelihood of prevailing on the technical merits of the position to “more-likely-than-not,” (ii) the statute of limitation expires, or (iii) there is a completion of an audit resulting in a settlement of that tax year with the appropriate agency. Uncertain tax positions are classified as current only when the Company expects to pay cash within the next twelve months. Interest and penalties, if any, are recorded within the provision for income taxes in the Company’s consolidated statements of operations and are classified on the consolidated balance sheets with the related liability for unrecognized tax benefits.
The Company’s liability for unrecognized tax benefits (including accrued interest and penalties), which is included in other non-current liabilities in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets, was $49.8 million as of January 26, 2013 and $61.7 million as of July 28, 2012. The Company’s liability for uncertain tax positions decreased by $11.9 million in the six months ended January 26, 2013 primarily as a result of the reversal of certain liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions due largely to the expiration of applicable federal and state income tax statutes of limitations for certain years in the first quarter of Fiscal 2013 and the filing of certain accounting method changes for federal income tax purposes. The amount of this liability is subject to change based on future events including, but not limited to, the settlements of ongoing audits and/or the expiration of applicable statues of limitations. Although the outcomes and timing of such events are highly uncertain, the Company anticipates that the balance of the liability for unrecognized tax benefits will decrease by approximately $6.1 million, excluding interest and penalties, during the next twelve months. However, changes in the occurrence, expected outcomes and timing of those events could cause the Company’s current estimate to change materially in the future.
Net Income Per Common Share
Basic net income per common share is computed by dividing the net income applicable to common shares after preferred dividend requirements, if any, by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share adjusts basic net income per common share for the effects of outstanding stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units, convertible debt securities and any other potentially dilutive financial instruments, only in the periods in which such effect is dilutive under the treasury stock method.
| 11 |
| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
The weighted-average number of common shares outstanding used to calculate basic net income per common share is reconciled to those shares used in calculating diluted net income per common share as follows:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| January 26, | January 28, | January 26, | January 28, | |||||||||||||
| 2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 157.2 | 152.6 | 156.2 | 153.3 | ||||||||||||
| Dilutive effect of stock options, restricted stock and restricted stock units | 5.7 | 5.0 | 6.0 | 4.9 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted shares | 162.9 | 157.6 | 162.2 | 158.2 | ||||||||||||
Options to purchase shares of common stock at an exercise price greater than the average market price of the common stock during the reporting period are anti-dilutive, and therefore not included in the computation of diluted net income per common share. In addition, the Company has outstanding restricted stock units that are issuable only upon the achievement of certain service and/or performance or market-based goals. Such performance or market-based restricted stock units are included in the computation of diluted shares only to the extent the underlying performance or market conditions (a) are satisfied prior to the end of the reporting period or (b) would be satisfied if the end of the reporting period were the end of the related contingency period and the result would be dilutive under the treasury stock method. As of January 26, 2013 and January 28, 2012, there was an aggregate of approximately 2.9 million and 4.3 million, respectively, of additional shares issuable upon the exercise of anti-dilutive options and/or the contingent vesting of performance-based and market-based restricted stock units that were excluded from the diluted share calculations.
4. Acquisitions and Dispositions
The Charming Shoppes Acquisition
In June 2012, the Company acquired Charming Shoppes, which owns and operates multiple retail brands through over 1,800 retail stores and e-commerce operations including: Lane Bryant; Catherines; Fashion Bug; and Figi’s, in an all cash transaction at $7.35 per share, for an aggregate purchase price of $882.1 million (excluding the assumption of debt and transaction costs) (collectively, the “Charming Shoppes Acquisition”). The acquisition was funded with $325 million from new borrowings including (a) a $300 million six-year, variable-rate term loan and (b) $25 million of borrowings under the Company’s existing revolving credit facility, which was amended in connection with the transaction. The remainder was funded through available cash and cash equivalents and the liquidation of substantially all of the Company’s investment portfolio.
The Company accounted for the Charming Shoppes Acquisition under the purchase method of accounting for business combinations. Accordingly, the cost to acquire such assets was allocated to the underlying net assets in proportion to estimates of their respective fair values. Any excess of the purchase price over the estimated fair value of the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill. Given the orderly liquidation of Fashion Bug’s net assets will not be concluded until the second half of Fiscal 2013 and the ongoing sales process of Figi’s, as discussed in Note 2, the allocation of the purchase price to the underlying net assets remains preliminary at this time. The Company does not expect to finalize its valuation of the net assets acquired until the second half of Fiscal 2013, particularly as it relates to those businesses. During the first half of Fiscal 2013, the Company made certain adjustments to goodwill to more fairly reflect the fair value of the underlying net assets acquired. Such adjustments resulted in a $9.6 million increase in miscellaneous net assets with a corresponding reduction to goodwill.
As adjusted during the first half of Fiscal 2013, the acquisition cost of $882.1 million was allocated to the acquired net assets on a preliminary basis based on their respective estimated fair values, as follows: cash and cash equivalents of $203.5 million; inventories of $192.0 million; net assets related to discontinued operations of $68.6 million; other current and non-current assets of $97.6 million; deferred tax assets (net of deferred tax liabilities) of $17.4 million; property and equipment of $170.6 million; non-tax deductible goodwill of $349.2 million; intangible assets (consisting primarily of brands and trademarks) of $270.7 million; current liabilities of $198.3 million; long-term debt of $146.2 million; and other net liabilities of $143.0 million.
| 12 |
| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
The results of operations of Charming Shoppes have been consolidated in the Company’s results of operations commencing on June 14, 2012, the effective date of the Charming Shoppes Acquisition. Such post-acquisition results included in the Company’s consolidated statement of operations for the three and six months ended January 26, 2013 consist of the following:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||
| January 26, 2013 | January 26, 2013 | |||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 333.5 | $ | 636.1 | ||||
| Loss from continuing operations | (15.6 | ) | (21.1 | ) | ||||
| Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes | 9.4 | 6.3 | ||||||
| Net loss | (6.2 | ) | (14.8 | ) | ||||
The following unaudited pro forma financial information is presented to supplement the historical financial information presented herein relating to the Charming Shoppes Acquisition and the related redemption of substantially all of the Charming Shoppes convertible notes, as more fully described in Note 14 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Fiscal 2012 10-K. This pro forma information has been prepared as if the Charming Shoppes Acquisition and related redemption of its convertible notes had occurred as of the beginning of Fiscal 2012. The pro forma financial information is not indicative of the operating results that would have been obtained had the transactions actually occurred as of that date, nor is it necessarily indicative of the Company’s future operating results.
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||
| January 28, 2012 | January 28, 2012 | |||||||
| (millions, except per share data) | ||||||||
| Pro forma net sales | $ | 1,197.0 | $ | 2,263.2 | ||||
| Pro forma income from continuing operations | 47.2 | 89.2 | ||||||
| Pro forma net income from continuing operations per common share: | ||||||||
| Basic | 0.31 | 0.58 | ||||||
| Diluted | 0.30 | 0.56 | ||||||
5. Inventories
Inventories substantially consist of finished goods merchandise. Inventory by brand is set forth below:
| January 26, 2013 | July 28, 2012 | January 28, 2012 | ||||||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||||||
| Justice | $ | 146.9 | $ | 154.1 | $ | 122.7 | ||||||
| Lane Bryant (a) | 138.4 | 139.3 | -- | |||||||||
| maurices | 95.6 | 94.1 | 85.0 | |||||||||
| dressbarn | 86.7 | 111.1 | 105.3 | |||||||||
| Catherines (a) | 31.0 | 34.8 | -- | |||||||||
| Total inventories | $ | 498.6 | $ | 533.4 | $ | 313.0 | ||||||
(a) The Charming Shoppes Acquisition was consummated on June 14, 2012 and, therefore, inventory amounts for Lane Bryant and Catherines are not included as of January 28, 2012.
| 13 |
| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
6. Investments
The Company classifies its investments in securities at the time of purchase as held-to-maturity, available-for-sale or trading, and re-evaluates such classifications on a quarterly basis. No material unrealized gains or losses on available-for-sale investments were recognized during any of the periods presented. As of the end of each period, the Company had no securities classified as held-to-maturity or trading.
During the second quarter of Fiscal 2013, the one remaining auction rate security with a book value of $2.7 million and a par value of $3.9 million at July 28, 2012 was redeemed at a par. As a result of the transaction, the accumulated unrealized loss was reversed and included in the net change in unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income during the three and six months ended January 26, 2013. The redemption had no impact on net income. As of January 26, 2013, the Company’s only investment was restricted cash, which is classified within short-term investments in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets.
7. Fair Value Measurements
Fair Value Measurements of Financial Instruments
Certain financial assets and liabilities are required to be carried at fair value. Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset, or paid to transfer a liability, in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. In determining fair value, the Company utilizes market data or assumptions that it believes market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability, which would maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs to the extent possible, including assumptions about risk and the risks inherent in the inputs to the valuation technique.
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash are recorded at carrying value, which approximates fair value. As the Company’s primary debt obligations are variable rate, there are no significant differences between the fair value and carrying value of the Company’s debt obligations.
The Company’s non-financial instruments, which primarily consist of goodwill, intangible assets, and property and equipment, are not required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis and are reported at carrying value. However, on a periodic basis whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their carrying value may not be recoverable (and at least annually for goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets), non-financial instruments are assessed for impairment and, if applicable, written-down to (and recorded at) fair value.
8. Impairments
Long-Lived Assets Impairment
Property and equipment, along with other long-lived assets, are evaluated for impairment periodically whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that their related carrying amounts may not be recoverable. In evaluating long-lived assets for recoverability, the Company uses its best estimate of future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset and its eventual disposition. To the extent that estimated future undiscounted net cash flows attributable to the asset are less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized equal to the difference between the carrying value of such asset and its fair value.
Fiscal 2013 Impairment
During the six months ended January 26, 2013, the Company recorded an aggregate of $1.7 million in non-cash impairment charges, including $0.4 million in its Lane Bryant segment, $0.6 million in its maurices segment and $0.7 million in its dressbarn segment. These charges reduced the net carrying value of certain long-lived assets to their estimated fair value, which was determined based on discounted expected cash flows. These impairment charges were primarily related to the lower-than-expected operating performance of certain retail stores. Of the above amount, $1.2 million was recorded during the three months ended January 26, 2013. There were no impairment charges recorded at Justice or Catherines during the three or six months ended January 26, 2013.
| 14 |
| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
Fiscal 2012 Impairment
During the six months ended January 28, 2012, the Company recorded an aggregate $1.1 million in non-cash impairment charges, including $0.2 million in its Justice segment, $0.4 million in its maurices segment, and $0.5 million in its dressbarn segment. These charges reduced the net carrying value of certain long-lived assets to their estimated fair value, which was determined based on discounted expected cash flows. These impairment charges were primarily related to the lower-than-expected operating performance of certain retail stores. Of the above amount, $0.2 million was recorded during the three months ended January 28, 2012.
Such impairment charges are included as a component of SG&A expenses in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations for all periods.
9. Debt
| Debt consists of the following: | January 26, 2013 | July 28, 2012 | ||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||
| Term loan (a) | $ | 276.8 | $ | 297.2 | ||||
| Revolving credit agreement | -- | 20.0 | ||||||
| Charming Shoppes convertible notes | 0.6 | 1.2 | ||||||
| Mortgage notes | -- | 8.2 | ||||||
| 277.4 | 326.6 | |||||||
| Less: current portion | -- | (4.2 | ) | |||||
| Total long-term debt | $ | 277.4 | $ | 322.4 | ||||
________
(a) The Term Loan is presented net of a $2.5 million original issue discount as of January 26, 2013 and $2.8 million as of July 28, 2012.
Term Loan
In connection with the funding of the Charming Shoppes Acquisition, the Company incurred a $300 million Term Loan which matures on June 14, 2018. The Term Loan has mandatory quarterly repayments of 0.25%, or approximately $0.75 million, with a remaining balloon payment required at maturity. The Term Loan has been recorded net of an original issue discount of $3 million, which is being amortized to interest expense over the contractual life of the Term Loan. The Company has the right to prepay the Term Loan in any amount and at any time. Interest rates under the Term Loan are variable and are calculated using a base rate equal to the greatest of (i) prime rate, (ii) federal funds rate, or (iii) LIBO rate (subject to a 1% floor); plus an applicable margin ranging from 225 basis points to 375 basis points based on a combination of the type of borrowing (prime or LIBOR) and the Company’s total leverage ratio existing at the end of the previous fiscal quarter.
During the second quarter of Fiscal 2013, the Company prepaid approximately $20 million of the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan. The transaction resulted in a $0.6 million pretax loss on the extinguishment of debt, relating to a proportional reduction in the balance of the original issue discount and deferred financing fees, which has been disclosed as a component of the loss on extinguishment of debt on the face of the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. As a result of the aforementioned prepayment, the Company is no longer subject to mandatory quarterly repayments of the Term Loan.
In addition, on January 29, 2013, Fashion Bug sold its distribution center for net proceeds of approximately $16 million. The net proceeds of the sale were used to partially prepay the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan during the third quarter of Fiscal 2013. Accordingly, after taking into account this prepayment, the outstanding carrying amount of the Company’s obligation under the Term Loan was $260.9 million.
Revolving Credit Agreement
The Company’s revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”) provides a senior secured revolving credit facility for up to $250 million of availability, with an optional additional increase of up to $50 million. The Revolving Credit Agreement expires in June 2017. There are no mandatory reductions in borrowing availability throughout the term of the Revolving Credit Agreement. The Revolving Credit Agreement may be used for the issuance of letters of credit, to finance the acquisition of working capital assets in the ordinary course of business and capital expenditures, and for general corporate purposes. The Revolving Credit Agreement includes a $175 million letter of credit sublimit, of which $40 million can be used for standby letters of credit, and a $25 million swing loan sublimit.
| 15 |
| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable rate determined using a base rate equal to the greatest of (i) prime rate, (ii) federal funds rate, or (iii) LIBO rate; plus an applicable margin ranging from 50 basis points to 200 basis points based a combination of the type of borrowing (prime or LIBOR) and the Company’s average borrowing availability during the previous fiscal quarter.
In addition to paying interest on any outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Company is required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders under the Revolving Credit Agreement in respect of the unutilized commitments in the amount of 37.5 basis points per annum.
As of January 26, 2013, after taking into account the $21.2 million in outstanding letters of credit, the Company had $228.8 million available under the Revolving Credit Agreement.
Restrictions under the Term Loan and Revolving Credit Agreement
The Term Loan and Revolving Credit Agreement are subject to similar restrictions, as summarized below.
The Term Loan has financial covenants with respect to a senior secured leverage ratio, which is defined as a ratio of senior secured indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA. For such purposes, consolidated EBITDA is defined generally as net income plus (i) income tax expense, (ii) interest expense, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) non-recurring, acquisition-related expenses, and (v) restructuring charges not exceeding predetermined limits. Consolidated fixed charges are defined generally as the sum of (a) cash interest expense, (b) rent expense, (c) cash tax expense, (d) mandatory principal repayment, (e) capital lease payments, (f) mandatory cash contributions to any employee benefit plan and (g) any restricted payments paid in cash. The Company is required to maintain a maximum senior secured leverage ratio for any period of four consecutive quarters of no greater than 1.75 to 1.00. As of January 26, 2013, the actual senior secured leverage ratio was 0.52 to 1.00. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants contained in the Term Loan as of January 26, 2013.
The Revolving Credit Agreement has financial covenants with respect to a fixed charge coverage ratio, which is defined as a ratio of consolidated EBITDAR, less capital expenditures to consolidated fixed charges. For such purposes, consolidated EBITDAR is defined generally as net income plus (i) income tax expense, (ii) interest expense, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) rent expense, (v) non-recurring acquisition-related expenses, and (vi) restructuring charges not exceeding predetermined limits. Consolidated fixed charges are defined generally as the sum of (a) cash interest expense, (b) rent expense, (c) cash tax expense, (d) mandatory principal repayment, (e) capital lease payments, (f) mandatory cash contributions to any employee benefit plan and (g) any restricted payments paid in cash. The Company is required to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of at least 1.00 to 1.00. As of January 26, 2013, the actual fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.48 to 1.00. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants contained in the Revolving Credit Agreement as of January 26, 2013.
In addition to the above, the borrowing agreements contain customary negative covenants, subject to negotiated exceptions, on (i) liens and guarantees, (ii) investments, (iii) indebtedness, (iv) significant corporate changes including mergers and acquisitions, (v) dispositions, (vi) restricted payments, cash dividends and certain other restrictive agreements. The borrowing agreements also contain customary events of default, such as payment defaults, cross-defaults to other material indebtedness, bankruptcy and insolvency, the occurrence of a defined change in control, or the failure to observe the negative covenants and other covenants related to the operation of the Company’s business.
The Company’s obligations under the borrowing agreements are guaranteed by certain of its domestic subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”). As collateral security under the borrowing agreements and the guarantees thereof, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have granted to the administrative agent for the benefit of the lenders, a first priority lien on substantially all of their tangible and intangible assets, including, without limitation, certain domestic inventory and certain material real estate.
| 16 |
| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
Greencastle Mortgage
In connection with the Charming Shoppes Acquisition, the Company assumed a $7.8 million mortgage obligation (the “Greencastle Mortgage”) on Charming Shoppes’s owned distribution center in Greencastle, Indiana. The Greencastle Mortgage bore interest at a fixed rate of 6.07%. During the second quarter of Fiscal 2013, the Company prepaid the outstanding principal balance of the Greencastle Mortgage in full. The payment of $8.4 million resulted in a $0.8 million pretax loss on the extinguishment of debt, relating to a make-whole premium to holders of the mortgage note, which has been disclosed as a component of the loss on extinguishment of debt on the face of the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.
Other Letters of Credit
As of January 26, 2013, the Company had also issued $37.1 million of private label letters of credit relating to the importation of merchandise.
10. Equity
| Summary of Changes in Equity: | Six Months Ended | |||||||
| January 26, 2013 | January 28, 2012 | |||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||
| Balance at beginning of period | $ | 1,340.9 | $ | 1,158.0 | ||||
| Total comprehensive income | 91.1 | 111.4 | ||||||
| Other | (6.8 | ) | -- | |||||
| Purchases of common stock | -- | (37.2 | ) | |||||
| Shares issued and equity grants made pursuant to stock-based compensation plans | 48.4 | 25.3 | ||||||
| Balance at end of period | $ | 1,473.6 | $ | 1,257.5 | ||||
Common Stock Repurchase Program
In Fiscal 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $100 million share repurchase program (the “2010 Stock Repurchase Program”). The program was then expanded in Fiscal 2011 to cover an additional $100 million of authorized purchases. Under the 2010 Stock Repurchase Program, purchases of shares of common stock may be made at the Company’s discretion from time to time, subject to overall business and market conditions.
There were no purchases of common stock by Company during the six months ended January 26, 2013. Repurchased shares normally are retired and treated as authorized but unissued shares.
The remaining availability under the Stock Repurchase Program was approximately $89.9 million at January 26, 2013.
Dividends
The Company has never declared or paid cash dividends on its common stock. However, payment of dividends is within the discretion and are payable when declared by the Company’s Board of Directors. Additionally, payments of dividends are limited by the Company’s Term Loan and Revolving Credit Agreement as described in Note 9, “Restrictions under the Term Loan and Revolving Credit Agreement.”
11. Stock-based Compensation
Long-term Stock Incentive Plan
The Company issues stock-based compensation awards under its 2010 Stock Incentive Plan (as amended, the “2010 Stock Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s shareholders on December 17, 2010. The 2010 Stock Plan provides for the granting of either incentive stock options or non-qualified options to purchase shares of common stock, as well as the award of shares of restricted stock and other stock-based awards (including restricted stock units), to eligible employees and directors of the Company. The 2010 Stock Plan was scheduled to expire on September 30, 2021.
| 17 |
| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
On September 20, 2012 the Board of Directors approved amendments to the 2010 Stock Plan (the “2010 Amended Stock Plan”), which was approved by the Company’s shareholders and became effective on December 10, 2012. The 2010 Amended Stock Plan generally incorporates the provisions of the 2010 Stock plan and includes certain modifications to, among other things: increase the aggregate number of shares that may be issued under the plan by an additional 15 million to 51 million shares; shorten the term of any stock option award granted prospectively from ten years to seven years; and extend the term of the 2010 Amended Stock Plan to September 19, 2022.
As of January 26, 2013, there were approximately 14.6 million shares under the 2010 Amended Stock Plan available for future grants. All of the Company’s prior stock option plans have expired as to the ability to grant new options. The Company issues new shares of common stock when stock option awards are exercised.
Impact on Results
A summary of the total compensation expense and associated income tax benefit recognized related to stock-based compensation arrangements is as follows:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| January 26, | January 28, | January 26, | January 28, | |||||||||||||
| 2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||||||||||
| Compensation expense | $ | 8.8 | $ | 7.6 | $ | 16.3 | $ | 15.1 | ||||||||
| Income tax benefit | $ | (3.3 | ) | $ | (2.9 | ) | $ | (6.1 | ) | $ | (5.7 | ) | ||||
Stock Options
Stock option awards outstanding under the Company’s current plans have been granted at exercise prices that are equal to or exceed the market value of its common stock on the date of grant. Such options generally vest over a period of four or five years and expire at either seven or ten years after the grant date. The Company recognizes compensation expense ratably over the vesting period, net of estimated forfeitures. The Company uses the Black-Scholes option-pricing model to estimate the fair value of stock options granted, which requires the input of both subjective and objective assumptions as follows:
Expected Term — The estimate of expected term is based on the historical exercise behavior of grantees, as well as the contractual life of the option grants.
Expected Volatility — The expected volatility factor is based on the historical volatility of the Company's common stock for a period equal to the stock options expected term.
Expected Dividend Yield — The expected dividend yield is based on the Company's historical practice of not paying dividends on its common stock.
Risk-free Interest Rate — The risk-free interest rate is determined using the implied yield for a traded zero-coupon U.S. Treasury bond with a term equal to the option's expected term.
| 18 |
| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
The Company’s weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the fair value of stock options granted during the six months ended January 26, 2013 and January 28, 2012 are presented as follows:
| Six Months Ended | ||||||||
| January 26, 2013 | January 28, 2012 | |||||||
| Expected term (years) | 3.9 | 3.9 | ||||||
| Expected volatility | 41.7 | % | 41.7 | % | ||||
| Risk-free interest rate | 0.7 | % | 0.9 | % | ||||
| Expected dividend yield | 0 | % | 0 | % | ||||
| Weighted-average grant date fair value | $ | 7.36 | $ | 4.72 | ||||
A summary of the stock option activity under all plans during the six months ended January 26, 2013 is as follows:
| January 26, 2013 | ||||||||||||||||
| Number
of Shares | Weighted- Average Exercise Price | Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Terms | Aggregate Intrinsic Value (a) | |||||||||||||
| (thousands) | (years) | (millions) | ||||||||||||||
| Options outstanding - July 28, 2012 | 14,103.0 | $ | 9.69 | 6.4 | $ | 130.1 | ||||||||||
| Granted | 2,197.2 | 20.71 | ||||||||||||||
| Exercised | (2,853.0 | ) | 7.11 | |||||||||||||
| Cancelled/Forfeited | (386.2 | ) | 11.84 | |||||||||||||
| Options outstanding - January 26, 2013 | 13,061.0 | $ | 12.04 | 7.0 | $ | 71.7 | ||||||||||
| Options vested and expected to vest at January 26, 2013 (b) | 12,586.9 | $ | 12.50 | 7.0 | $ | 70.3 | ||||||||||
| Options exercisable at January 26, 2013 | 6,341.9 | $ | 9.16 | 5.6 | $ | 49.0 | ||||||||||
| (a) | The intrinsic value is the amount by which the market price at the end of the period of the underlying share of stock exceeds the exercise price of the stock option. |
| (b) | The number of options expected to vest takes into consideration estimated expected forfeitures. |
As of January 26, 2013, there was $31.4 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested options, which is expected to be recognized over a remaining weighted-average vesting period of 2.8 years. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the six months ended January 26, 2013 was approximately $36.7 million and during the six months ended January 28, 2012 was approximately $8.5 million. Of these amounts, $14.7 million was recorded during the three months ended January 26, 2013 and $6.8 million was recorded during the three months ended January 28, 2012. The total fair value of options that vested during the six months ended January 26, 2013 was approximately $11.2 million and during the six months ended January 28, 2012 was approximately $9.1 million. Of these amounts, $1.2 million was recorded during the three months ended January 26, 2013 and $1.9 million was recorded during the three months ended January 28, 2012.
Restricted Equity Awards
The 2010 Amended Stock Plan also allows for the issuance of shares of restricted stock and restricted stock units (“RSUs”). Any shares of restricted stock or RSUs are counted against the shares available for future grant limit as 2.3 shares for every one restricted share or RSU granted. In general, if options are cancelled for any reason or expire, the shares covered by such options again become available for grant. If a share of restricted stock or a RSU is forfeited for any reason, 2.3 shares become available for grant.
Shares of restricted stock and RSUs are issued with either service-based or performance-based conditions, and some even have market-based conditions (collectively, “Restricted Equity Awards”). Service-based Restricted Equity Awards entitle the holder to receive unrestricted shares of common stock of the Company at the end of a vesting period, subject to the grantee’s continuing employment. Service-based Restricted Equity Awards generally vest over a 4 year period of time.
Performance-based or market-based Restricted Equity Awards also entitle the holder to receive shares of common stock of the Company at the end of a vesting period. However, such awards are subject to (a) the grantee’s continuing employment, (b) the Company’s achievement of certain performance goals over a pre-defined performance period and (c) in the case of market-based conditions, the Company’s achievement of certain market-based goals over the pre-defined performance period. Both performance-based and market-based Restricted Equity Awards generally vest over a 3 year period of time.
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| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
The fair values of both service-based and performance-based Restricted Equity Awards are based on the fair value of the Company’s unrestricted common stock at the date of grant. However, for market-based Restricted Equity Awards, the effect of the market conditions is reflected in the fair value of the awards on the date of grant using a Monte-Carlo simulation model. A Monte-Carlo simulation model estimates the fair value of the market-based award based on the expected term, risk-free interest rate, expected dividend yield and expected volatility measure for the Company and its peer group.
Compensation expense for both service-based and performance-based Restricted Equity Awards is recognized over the vesting period based on the grant-date fair values of the awards that are expected to vest based upon the service and performance-based conditions. However, compensation expense for market-based Restricted Equity Awards is recognized over the vesting period regardless of whether the market conditions are expected to be achieved.
A summary of Restricted Equity Awards activity during the six months ended January 26, 2013 is as follows:
| Service-based Restricted Equity Awards | Performance-based
Restricted Equity Awards | Market-based
Restricted Equity Awards | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number
of Shares | Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share | Number
of Shares | Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share | Number
of Shares | Weighted- Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Share | |||||||||||||||||||
| (thousands) | (thousands) | (thousands) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nonvested at July 28, 2012 | 1,206.1 | $ | 14.27 | 1,475.0 | $ | 12.69 | 326.6 | $ | 12.90 | |||||||||||||||
| Granted | 1,198.4 | 20.56 | 261.8 | 18.69 | 82.5 | 18.13 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Vested | (467.0 | ) | 16.36 | -- | -- | -- | -- | |||||||||||||||||
| Cancelled/Forfeited | (37.5 | ) | 13.29 | (1,060.0 | ) | 12.72 | (213.0 | ) | 13.70 | |||||||||||||||
| Nonvested at January 26, 2013 | 1,900.0 | $ | 17.74 | 676.8 | $ | 14.96 | 196.1 | $ | 14.23 | |||||||||||||||
| Service-based Restricted Equity Awards | Performance-based Restricted Equity Awards | Market-based Restricted Equity Awards | ||||||||||
| Total unrecognized compensation at January 26, 2013 (millions) | $ | 28.5 | $ | 7.5 | $ | 2.2 | ||||||
| Weighted-average years expected to be recognized over (years) | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.0 | |||||||||
Cash-Settled Long-Term Incentive Plan Awards
In October 2012, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors approved certain modifications to a portion of the Company’s outstanding, performance-based stock-settled awards. In particular, an aggregate of approximately 554 thousand performance-based, stock-settled awards held by 44 employees were canceled in exchange for grants of a corresponding amount of new awards that will be settled in cash (collectively, the “Cash-Settled LTIP Awards”). Other than the terms of settlement, the Cash-Settled LTIP Awards have identical restrictions and rights as the prior awards. The Cash-Settled LTIP Awards entitle the holder to a cash payment equal to the value of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock earned at the end of an original three-year performance period. Consistent with the terms of the original awards, such awards are subject to (a) the grantee’s continuing employment and (b) the Company’s achievement of certain performance goals over a pre-defined three year performance period for, separately, the Fiscal 2011-2013 period and the Fiscal 2012-2014 period.
Compensation expense for the Cash-Settled LTIP Awards will be recognized over the original vesting period based on the performance of the plan and changes in the Company’s stock price over time. As a result of this modification to the outstanding, original awards, the Company recognized a $1.7 million, one-time charge during the first quarter of Fiscal 2013. The total amount of compensation expense recognized for the Cash-Settled LTIP Awards during the six months ended January 26, 2013 was $1.4 million. Such amounts have been included as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses in the accompanying statements of operations.
In addition, in December 2012, the Company granted 307 thousand Cash-Settled LTIP Awards to certain employees. Similar to above, such awards entitle the holder to a cash payment equal to the value of the number of shares of the Company’s common stock earned at the end of a three-year performance period. Such awards are subject to (a) the grantee’s continuing employment and (b) the Company’s achievement of certain performance goals over a pre-defined three year performance period for the Fiscal 2013-2015 period.
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| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
12. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is a defendant in lawsuits and other adversarial proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Legal costs incurred in connection with the resolution of claims and lawsuits are generally expensed as incurred, and the Company establishes reserves for the outcome of litigation where it deems appropriate to do so under applicable accounting rules. Moreover, the Company's assessment of the current exposure could change in the event of the discovery of additional facts with respect to legal matters pending against the Company or determinations by judges, juries, administrative agencies or other finders of fact that are not in accordance with the Company's evaluation of a particular claim. The results of these lawsuits, claims and proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. However, the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company's identified contingencies include the matters set out below.
Six lawsuits were filed in Fiscal 2012 challenging the proposed acquisition of Charming Shoppes by Ascena. Five of these lawsuits have been consolidated in state court in Pennsylvania, and one case remains in Federal court in Pennsylvania. In general, plaintiffs sued the Charming Shoppes’ board of directors for breach of their fiduciary duties under Pennsylvania state law in connection with the sale process, negotiations and public disclosures about the transaction. Ascena was sued for allegedly aiding and abetting the Charming Shoppes’ board of directors’ breach of their fiduciary duties. The parties have signed a stipulation of settlement to settle the state and federal litigations. The fully executed stipulation of settlement has been filed with the court, which has established a schedule to move forward with the class notice and objection procedure. Pursuant to the settlement and subject to court approval, both the state and federal cases are expected to be dismissed and court ordered attorneys’ fees will be paid by Ascena, as Charming Shoppes’ parent company. The amount of attorneys’ fees expected to be paid in connection with the lawsuit were $0.5 million, and such amount was accrued during the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 with a corresponding adjustment to goodwill.
13. Segment Information
The Company’s segment reporting structure reflects a brand-focused approach, designed to optimize the operational coordination and resource allocation of its businesses across multiple functional areas including specialty retail, e-commerce and licensing. The five reportable segments described below represent the Company’s brand-based activities for which separate financial information is available and which is utilized on a regular basis by the Company’s executive team to evaluate performance and allocate resources. In identifying reportable segments, the Company considers economic characteristics, as well as products, customers, sales growth potential and long-term profitability. As such, the Company’s reports its operations in five reportable segments as follows:
| • | Justice segment – consists of the specialty retail, outlet, e-commerce and licensing operations of the Justice brand as well as the speciality retail and e-commerce operations of the Brothers brand. |
| • | Lane Bryant segment – consists of the specialty retail, outlet and e-commerce operations of the Lane Bryant and Cacique brands. |
| • | maurices segment – consists of the specialty retail, outlet and e-commerce operations of the maurices brand. |
| • | dressbarn segment – consists of the specialty retail, outlet and e-commerce operations of the dressbarn brand. |
| • | Catherines segment - consists of the specialty retail, outlet and e-commerce operations of the Catherines brand. |
The accounting policies of the Company’s reporting segments are consistent with those described in Notes 2 and 3 to the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Fiscal 2012 10-K. All intercompany revenues are eliminated in consolidation. Corporate overhead expenses are allocated to the segments based upon specific usage or other reasonable allocation methods.
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| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued) |
Net sales, operating income (loss), and depreciation and amortization expense for each segment are as follows:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| January 26, 2013 | January 28, 2012 | January 26, 2013 | January 28, 2012 | |||||||||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||||||||||
| Net sales: | ||||||||||||||||
| Justice | $ | 441.9 | $ | 407.2 | $ | 800.2 | $ | 727.2 | ||||||||
| Lane Bryant (a) | 259.4 | -- | 489.2 | -- | ||||||||||||
| maurices | 240.7 | 224.6 | 465.3 | 427.5 | ||||||||||||
| dressbarn | 221.4 | 230.2 | 473.4 | 475.6 | ||||||||||||
| Catherines (a) | 74.1 | -- | 146.9 | -- | ||||||||||||
| Total net sales | $ | 1,237.5 | $ | 862.0 | $ | 2,375.0 | $ | 1,630.3 | ||||||||
| Operating income (loss): | ||||||||||||||||
| Justice | $ | 91.0 | $ | 77.0 | $ | 147.3 | $ | 124.8 | ||||||||
| Lane Bryant (a) | (15.5 | ) | -- | (32.5 | ) | -- | ||||||||||
| maurices | 27.7 | 26.4 | 57.3 | 50.1 | ||||||||||||
| dressbarn | (25.2 | ) | (3.4 | ) | (16.2 | ) | 1.6 | |||||||||
| Catherines (a) | (2.9 | ) | -- | (1.5 | ) | -- | ||||||||||
| Subtotal | 75.1 | 100.0 | 154.4 | 176.5 | ||||||||||||
| Less unallocated acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs | (6.8 | ) | -- | (13.2 | ) | -- | ||||||||||
| Total operating income | $ | 68.3 | $ | 100.0 | $ | 141.2 | $ | 176.5 | ||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense: | ||||||||||||||||
| Justice | $ | 13.0 | $ | 11.1 | $ | 25.0 | $ | 21.0 | ||||||||
| Lane Bryant (a) | 10.8 | -- | 20.6 | -- | ||||||||||||
| maurices | 7.1 | 6.2 | 13.9 | 12.7 | ||||||||||||
| dressbarn | 8.1 | 8.2 | 15.8 | 15.9 | ||||||||||||
| Catherines (a) | 1.3 | -- | 2.6 | -- | ||||||||||||
| Total depreciation and amortization expense | $ | 40.3 | $ | 25.5 | $ | 77.9 | $ | 49.6 | ||||||||
| (a) | The Charming Shoppes Acquisition was consummated on June 14, 2012; therefore the data related to the Lane Bryant and Catherines segments for prior reporting periods are not presented. |
14. Additional Financial Information
| Six Months Ended | ||||||||
| January 26, | January 28, | |||||||
| Cash Interest and Taxes: | 2013 | 2012 | ||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||
| Cash paid for interest | $ | 9.8 | $ | -- | ||||
| Cash paid for income taxes | $ | 12.4 | $ | 56.6 | ||||
Non-cash Transactions
Significant non-cash investing activities included the capitalization of fixed assets and recognition of related obligations in the net amount of $10.0 million for the six months ended January 26, 2013 and $6.3 million for the six months ended January 28, 2012.
There were no other significant non-cash investing or financing activities for the six months ended January 26, 2013 or January 28, 2012.
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Item 2 – MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Forward-Looking Statements
Various statements in this Form 10-Q, in future filings by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in our press releases and in oral statements made from time to time by us or on our behalf constitutes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and are indicated by words or phrases such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "we believe," "is or remains optimistic," "currently envisions" and similar words or phrases and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the future results, performance or achievements expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements.
These forward-looking statements are based largely on our expectations and judgments and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are unforeseeable and beyond our control. A detailed discussion of significant risk factors that have the potential to cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended July 28, 2012 (the "Fiscal 2012 10-K"). There are no material changes to such risk factors, nor are there any identifiable previously undisclosed risks as set forth in Part II, Item 1A — "Risk Factors" of this Form 10-Q. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
INTRODUCTION
Management discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations (“MD&A”) is provided as a supplement to the accompanying unaudited interim consolidated financial statements and footnotes to help provide an understanding of our financial condition and liquidity, changes in financial condition and results of our operations. MD&A is organized as follows:
| · | Overview. This section provides a general description of our business and a summary of financial performance for the three-month and six-month periods ended January 26, 2013. In addition, this section includes a discussion of recent developments and transactions affecting comparability that we believe are important in understanding our results of operations and financial condition, and in anticipating future trends. |
| · | Results of operations. This section provides an analysis of our results of operations for the three-month and six-month periods ended January 26, 2013 and January 28, 2012. |
| · | Financial condition and liquidity. This section provides an analysis of our cash flows for the six-month periods ended January 26, 2013 and January 28, 2012, as well as a discussion of our financial condition and liquidity as of January 26, 2013. The discussion of our financial condition and liquidity includes (i) our available financial capacity under our credit facility, (ii) a summary of our key debt compliance measures, (iii) anticipated capital expenditures, and (iv) any material changes in financial condition and commitments since the end of Fiscal 2012. |
| · | Market risk management. This section discusses any significant changes in our risk exposures related to interest rates, foreign currency exchange rates and our investments, as well as the underlying market conditions since the end of Fiscal 2012. |
| · | Critical accounting policies. This section discusses any significant changes in our accounting policies since the end of Fiscal 2012. Significant changes include those considered to be important to our financial condition and results of operations, which require significant judgment and estimation on the part of management in their application. In addition, all of our significant accounting policies, including our critical accounting policies, are summarized in Notes 3 and 4 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Fiscal 2012 10-K. |
| · | Recently issued accounting pronouncements. This section notes that we have assessed the potential impact to our reported financial condition and results of operations of accounting standards that have been recently issued. |
In this Form 10-Q, references to "Ascena," "ourselves," "we," "our," "us" and the "Company" refer to Ascena Retail Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise. We utilize a 52-53 week fiscal year ending on the last Saturday in July. As such, fiscal year 2013 will end on July 27, 2013 and will be a 52-week period (“Fiscal 2013”). Fiscal 2012 ended on July 28, 2012 and reflected a 52-week period (“Fiscal 2012”). The second quarter of Fiscal 2013 ended on January 26, 2013 and was a 13-week period. The second quarter of Fiscal 2012 ended on January 28, 2012 and was also a 13-week period.
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OVERVIEW
Our Business
On June 14, 2012, the Company acquired Charming Shoppes, Inc. (“Charming Shoppes”) and its related family of retail brands. Accordingly, the Company now operates, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, the following principal retail brands: Justice; Lane Bryant; maurices; dressbarn and Catherines. The Company now operates (through its subsidiaries) approximately 3,800 stores throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, with annual revenues on a pro forma basis of over $4.5 billion for Fiscal 2012, giving effect to the acquisition of Charming Shoppes as of the beginning of such year.
We classify our businesses into five segments following a brand-oriented approach: Justice; Lane Bryant; maurices; dressbarn and Catherines. The Justice segment includes approximately 958 specialty retail and outlet stores, e-commerce operations, and certain licensed franchises in international territories. The Justice segment offers fashionable apparel under the Justice brand to girls who are ages 7 to 14 in an environment designed to match the energetic lifestyle of tween girls, and fashionable apparel to boys who are ages 7 to 14 under the Brothers brand. The Lane Bryant segment includes approximately 789 specialty retail and outlet stores, and e-commerce operations. The Lane Bryant segment offers fashionable and sophisticated plus-size apparel under multiple private labels to female customers in the 25 to 45 age range, including intimate apparel under the Cacique label. The maurices segment includes approximately 850 specialty retail and outlet stores, and e-commerce operations. The maurices brand offers up-to-date fashion designed to appeal to the 17 to 34 year-old female, with stores concentrated in small markets (approximately 25,000 to 100,000 people). The dressbarn segment includes approximately 829 specialty retail and outlet stores, and e-commerce operations. The dressbarn brand primarily attracts female consumers in the mid-30’s to mid-50’s age range and offers moderate-to-better quality career, special occasion and casual fashion to the working woman. The Catherines segment includes approximately 409 specialty retail and outlet stores, and e-commerce operations. The Catherines brand offers classic apparel and accessories for wear-to-work and casual lifestyles in a full range of plus sizes, generally catering to the female customer 45 years and older.
Seasonality of Business
Our business is typically affected by seasonal sales trends primarily resulting from the timing of holiday and back-to-school shopping periods. In particular, Justice sales and operating profits tend to be significantly higher during the fall season which occurs during the first and second quarters of our fiscal year, as this includes the back-to-school period and the holiday selling period which is focused on gift-giving merchandise. The dressbarn and maurices brands have historically experienced lower earnings in the second fiscal quarter ending in January than during the three other fiscal quarters, reflecting the intense promotional environment that generally has characterized the holiday shopping season in recent years. The newly acquired Lane Bryant and Catherines brands typically experience peak sales during the Easter, Memorial Day and December holiday seasons. In addition, our operating results and cash flows may fluctuate materially in any quarterly period depending on, among other things, increases or decreases in comparable store sales, adverse weather conditions, shifts in the timing of certain holidays and changes in merchandise mix.
Basis of Presentation
Discontinued Operations
In June 2012, the Company announced, contemporaneously with the closing of the Charming Shoppes Acquisition, its intent to cease operating the acquired Fashion Bug business. The Fashion Bug business, consisting of approximately 600 retail stores, ceased operations at the end of the second quarter of Fiscal 2013. The orderly liquidation of the related net assets is expected to be concluded during the second half of Fiscal 2013 and result in an immaterial adjustment to goodwill.
In addition, the Company also announced, contemporaneously with the closing of the Charming Shoppes Acquisition, its intent to sell the acquired Figi’s business. The Figi’s business, which markets food and specialty gift products, is expected to be sold by the one-year anniversary date of the closing of the Charming Shoppes Acquisition.
Given the Company’s intent to exit both of those businesses, their financial position and operating results have been classified as discontinued operations within the accompanying consolidated financial statements of the Company.
Reclassifications
Buying, Distribution and Occupancy Costs
Historically, the Company included buying, distribution and occupancy costs within cost of goods sold on the face of its statement of operations. However, in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2012, in connection with conforming the financial presentation of Charming Shoppes, the Company decided to present each of the aggregate of buying, distribution and occupancy costs and gross margin separately on the face of its statement of operations. In addition, certain costs, such as store utility costs, were reclassified from selling, general and administrative expenses to buying, distribution and occupancy costs. Financial information for all prior periods has been reclassified in order to conform to the current period’s presentation. There have been no changes in historical operating income or historical net income for any period as a result of these changes.
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Other Reclassifications
Certain other immaterial reclassifications have been made to the prior period’s financial information in order to conform to the current period’s presentation.
Summary of Financial Performance
General Economic Conditions
Our performance is subject to macroeconomic conditions and their impact on levels of consumer spending. Some of the factors negatively impacting discretionary consumer spending include general economic conditions, wages and high unemployment, increased taxation, high consumer debt, reductions in net worth based on severe market declines (such as in residential real estate markets), higher fuel, energy and other prices, increasing interest rates, severe weather conditions and low consumer confidence. In addition, any significant volatility in our financial markets, as has been experienced in the past, could also negatively impact the levels of future discretionary consumer spending.
During our peak holiday-selling period in the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 and generally continuing through February 2013, we experienced lower and inconsistent customer traffic and spending patterns. We believe that the lower level of consumer spending during this timeframe is largely related to some of the macroeconomic and other conditions mentioned above, particularly increased taxation, continuing high unemployment and the adverse effects of Hurricane Sandy on our concentration of stores in the Northeast. Consequently, this contributed to a decline in comparable store sales and lower merchandise margins in our brick-and-mortar sales channel during this period, which were offset, in part, by continued growth in our e-commerce sales channel.
Such macroeconomic and other factors could continue to have a negative effect on the lower level of consumer spending in the U.S., which in turn, could have a material effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Operating Results
Three Months Ended January 26, 2013 compared to Three Months Ended January 28, 2012
For the three months ended January 26, 2013, we reported net sales of $1,237.5 million, income from continuing operations of $37.8 million and net income from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.23. This compares to net sales of $862.0 million, income from continuing operations of $63.7 million and net income from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.40 for the three months ended January 28, 2012. Including $9.4 million of income from discontinued operations, net income was $47.2 million and net income per diluted share was $0.29 for the three months ended January 26, 2013. The decrease in net income and net income per diluted share during the three months ended January 26, 2013 resulted mainly from the Charming Shoppes Acquisition, which included certain acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs, higher interest costs and the impact of a duplicative corporate overhead structure, as well as the lower operating performance at our dressbarn brand, all of which is discussed more fully hereinafter.
As discussed above under the section entitled General Economic Conditions, the operating environment during the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 was a challenging one. Nevertheless, our operating performance for the three months ended January was positively affected by a 43.6% increase in net sales, consisting of 4.9% organic growth from our legacy family of brands and 38.7% growth from the Charming Shoppes Acquisition. The increase in net sales from our legacy family of brands was driven by both our new store growth and strong growth in e-commerce sales, particularly at our Justice and maurices brands, as well as comparable store sales growth at our Justice brand. Partially offsetting those increases was a decrease in comparable store sales from our dressbarn brand. On a combined basis, including e-commerce net sales growth, comparable sales increased 2%. Our gross margin rate decreased by 190 basis points to 53.5%, primarily due to lower margins at dressbarn and maurices. This was primarily due to increased promotional activity that was required to sell through fall merchandise at those brands and significantly higher requirements for inventory markdown reserves at dressbarn. Those decreases were partially offset by margin improvement at Justice, Lane Bryant and Catherines.
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Operating income decreased $31.7 million, consisting of a $6.5 million decrease, or 6.5%, from our legacy family of brands and a $25.2 million decrease relating to the Charming Shoppes Acquisition. The operating loss from Charming Shoppes reflected $6.8 million of certain acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs and a duplicate corporate overhead structure. In turn, the decrease in operating income from our legacy family of brands primarily reflected a decrease in gross margin rate, particularly at our dressbarn brand, offset in part by the flow-through of margin on the higher sales volume at Justice and maurices.
The provision for income taxes from continuing operations decreased by $12.5 million to $24.5 million. The effective tax rate increased 260 basis points to 39.3% for three months ended January 26, 2013, compared to 36.7% for the three months ended January 28, 2012. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily the result of the absence of higher tax benefits relating to the accounting for discrete items in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012.
Income from continuing operations decreased $25.9 million to $37.8 million as the decrease in operating income and $4.5 million of higher interest expense relating to debt incurred to fund the Charming Shoppes Acquisition more than offset the lower tax provision described above. Net income from continuing operations per diluted share decreased by $0.17, or 42.5%, to $0.23 per share for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from $0.40 per share for the three months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease in diluted earnings per share results was primarily due to the lower level of net income and an increase in the weighted average diluted common shares outstanding.
Six Months Ended January 26, 2013 compared to Six Months Ended January 28, 2012
For the six months ended January 26, 2013, we reported net sales of $2,375.0 million, income from continuing operations of $84.0 million and net income from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.52. This compares to net sales of $1,630.3 million, income from continuing operations of $111.2 million and net income from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.70 for the six months ended January 28, 2012. Including $6.3 million of income from discontinued operations, net income was $90.3 million and net income per diluted share was $0.56 for the six months ended January 26, 2013. The decrease in net income and net income per diluted share during the six months ended January 26, 2013 was mainly due to the Charming Shoppes Acquisition which included the incurrence of an aggregate of $33.1 million of non-recurring purchase accounting costs and certain acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs, as well as higher interest costs and the impact of a duplicative corporate overhead structure. In addition, we experienced a lower operating performance at our dressbarn brand. All of this is discussed more fully hereinafter.
As discussed earlier under the section entitled General Economic Conditions, the operating environment during the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 was a challenging one. This, in turn, had a significant impact on our year-to-date operating results. Nevertheless, our operating performance for the six months ended January 26, 2013 was positively affected by a 45.7% increase in net sales, consisting of 6.7% organic growth from our legacy family of brands and 39.0% growth from the Charming Shoppes Acquisition. The increase in net sales from our legacy family of brands was driven by both our comparable store sales and new store growth, particularly at our Justice and maurices brands, as well as strong growth in e-commerce sales at all of our legacy brands. Partially offsetting those increases was a decrease in comparable store sales from our dressbarn brand. On a combined basis, including e-commerce net sales growth, comparable sales increased 3%. Our gross margin rate decreased 80 basis points to 55.5%, primarily due to lower margins at dressbarn. This was primarily due to increased promotional activity that was required to sell through fall merchandise and significantly higher requirements for inventory markdown reserves at dressbarn. Those decreases were partially offset by margin improvement at Justice, Lane Bryant, maurices and Catherines. In addition, the gross margin performance in the first half of Fiscal 2013 was negatively affected by the incurrence of $19.9 million of one-time, non-cash inventory expense associated with the write-up of Charming Shoppes’s inventory to fair market value as of the acquisition date.
Operating income decreased $35.3 million, consisting of an $11.9 million, or 6.7% increase from our legacy family of brands and a $47.2 million decrease relating to the Charming Shoppes Acquisition. The operating loss from Charming Shoppes reflected the approximate $19.9 million of one-time, non-cash inventory expense and $13.2 million of certain acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs, as well as a duplicative overhead structure. In turn, the increased operating income from our legacy family of brands primarily reflected the flow-through of margin on the higher sales volume at Justice and maurices, offset in part by a decrease in gross margin rate at Justice and a significant decline in operating income at dressbarn.
The provision for income taxes from continuing operations decreased by $20.0 million to $46.7 million. The effective tax rate decreased 180 basis points, to 35.7% for six months ended January 26, 2013 from 37.5% for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily the result of the reversal of certain liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions due largely to the expiration of applicable federal and state income tax statutes of limitations for certain years in the first quarter of Fiscal 2013, offset in part by the absence of higher tax benefits relating to the accounting for discrete items recognized in the prior year.
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Income from continuing operations decreased $27.2 million to $84.0 million as the decrease in operating income and $9.1 million of higher interest expense relating to debt incurred to fund the Charming Shoppes Acquisition more than offset the lower tax provision described above. Net income from continuing operations per diluted share decreased by $0.18, or 25.7%, to $0.52 per share for six months ended January 26, 2013 from $0.70 per share for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease in diluted earnings per share results was primarily due to the lower level of net income and an increase in the weighted average diluted common shares outstanding.
Financial Condition and Liquidity
We ended the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 in a net cash and investments position (total cash and cash equivalents, plus short-term and non-current investment less total debt) of $48.3 million, compared a net debt position of to $157.7 million as of the end of Fiscal 2012.
The increase in our financial position was primarily due to our operating cash flows, which were partially offset by our use of cash to support our capital expenditures and the repayment of debt under both our Term Loan and Revolving Credit Agreement (each as defined below). Our equity increased to $1.474 billion as of January 26, 2013, compared to $1.341 billion as of July 28, 2012, primarily due to our net income during the first half of Fiscal 2013.
We generated $273.4 million of cash from operations during the six months ended January 26, 2013, compared to $222.0 million during the six months ended January 28, 2012. During the first half of Fiscal 2013, we used $50.4 million for the repayment of debt and $97.4 million for capital expenditures primarily associated with our retail store expansion and investments in our facilities and technological infrastructure.
Transactions Affecting Comparability of Results of Operations and Financial Condition
The comparability of the Company's operating results for three-month and six-month periods ended January 26, 2013 and January 28, 2012 presented herein has been affected by certain transactions, including:
| · | The Charming Shoppes Acquisition that closed on June 14, 2012, as described in Note 4 to the accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements; |
| · | Certain acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs; |
| · | Certain non-recurring purchase accounting costs; |
| · | Certain losses on the extinguishment of debt; and |
| · | Pretax charges related to certain one-time, executive contractual obligation costs incurred in the first quarter of Fiscal 2012. |
A summary of the effect of certain of these items on pretax income for each applicable period presented is noted below:
| Three Months Ended | Six Months Ended | |||||||||||||||
| January 26, | January 28, | January 26, | January 28, | |||||||||||||
| 2013 | 2012 | 2013 | 2012 | |||||||||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||||||||||
| Acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs | $ | (6.8 | ) | $ | -- | $ | (13.2 | ) | $ | -- | ||||||
| One-time, non-cash inventory expense associated with the write-up of inventory to fair market value | -- | -- | (19.9 | ) | -- | |||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt (see Note 9) | (1.4 | ) | -- | (1.4 | ) | -- | ||||||||||
| Executive contractual obligation costs | -- | -- | -- | (5.4 | ) | |||||||||||
| Total | $ | (8.2 | ) | $ | -- | $ | (34.5 | ) | $ | (5.4 | ) | |||||
The following discussion of results of operations highlights, as necessary, the significant changes in operating results arising from these items and transactions. However, unusual items or transactions may occur in any period. Accordingly, investors and other financial statement users individually should consider the types of events and transactions that have affected operating trends.
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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Our segment reporting structure reflects a brand-focused approach, designed to optimize the operational coordination and resource allocation of our businesses across multiple functional areas, including specialty retail, e-commerce and licensing. The five reportable segments described below represent our brand-based activities for which separate financial information is available, and which is utilized on a regular basis by our executive team to evaluate performance and allocate resources. In identifying our reportable segments, we consider economic characteristics, as well as products, customers, sales growth potential and long-term profitability. As such, we report our operations in five reportable segments as follows:
| • | Justice segment – consists of the specialty retail, outlet, e-commerce and licensing operations of the Justice brand as well as the speciality retail and e-commerce operations of the Brothers brand. |
| • | Lane Bryant segment – consists of the specialty retail, outlet and e-commerce operations of the Lane Bryant and Cacique brands. |
| • | maurices segment – consists of the specialty retail, outlet and e-commerce operations of the maurices brand. |
| • | dressbarn segment – consists of the specialty retail, outlet and e-commerce operations of the dressbarn brand. |
| • | Catherines segment - consists of the specialty retail, outlet and e-commerce operations of the Catherines brand. |
| 28 |
Three Months Ended January 26, 2013 compared to Three Months Ended January 28, 2012
The following table summarizes our results of operations and expresses the percentage relationship to net sales of certain financial statement captions:
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| January
26, 2013 | January
28, 2012 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||
| (millions, except per share data) | (millions) | |||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 1,237.5 | $ | 862.0 | $ | 375.5 | 43.6 | % | ||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | (575.4 | ) | (384.7 | ) | (190.7 | ) | 49.6 | % | ||||||||
| Cost of goods sold as % of net sales | 46.5 | % | 44.6 | % | ||||||||||||
| Gross margin | 662.1 | 477.3 | 184.8 | 38.7 | % | |||||||||||
| Gross margin as a % of net sales | 53.5 | % | 55.4 | % | ||||||||||||
| Other costs and expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Buying, distribution and occupancy costs | (198.1 | ) | (129.4 | ) | (68.7 | ) | 53.1 | % | ||||||||
| Buying,
distribution and occupancy costs as % of net sales | 16.0 | % | 15.0 | % | ||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | (348.6 | ) | (222.4 | ) | (126.2 | ) | 56.7 | % | ||||||||
| SG&A as % of net sales | 28.2 | % | 25.8 | % | ||||||||||||
| Acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs | (6.8 | ) | -- | (6.8 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | (40.3 | ) | (25.5 | ) | (14.8 | ) | 58.0 | % | ||||||||
| Total other costs and expenses | (593.8 | ) | (377.3 | ) | (216.5 | ) | 57.4 | % | ||||||||
| Operating income | 68.3 | 100.0 | (31.7 | ) | (31.7 | %) | ||||||||||
| Operating income as % of net sales | 5.5 | % | 11.6 | % | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (4.8 | ) | (0.3 | ) | (4.5 | ) | 1,500.0 | % | ||||||||
| Interest and other income, net | 0.2 | 1.0 | (0.8 | ) | (80.0 | %) | ||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | (1.4 | ) | -- | (1.4 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
| Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes | 62.3 | 100.7 | (38.4 | ) | (38.1 | %) | ||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes from continuing operations | (24.5 | ) | (37.0 | ) | 12.5 | (33.8 | %) | |||||||||
| Effective tax rate (a) | 39.3 | % | 36.7 | % | ||||||||||||
| Income from continuing operations | 37.8 | 63.7 | (25.9 | ) | (40.7 | %) | ||||||||||
| Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes (b) | 9.4 | -- | 9.4 | NM | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 47.2 | $ | 63.7 | $ | (16.5 | ) | (25.9 | %) | |||||||
| Net income per common share - basic: | ||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | 0.24 | $ | 0.42 | $ | (0.18 | ) | (42.9 | %) | |||||||
| Discontinued operations | 0.06 | -- | 0.06 | NM | ||||||||||||
| Total net income per basic common share | $ | 0.30 | $ | 0.42 | $ | (0.12 | ) | (28.6 | %) | |||||||
| Net income per common share - diluted: | ||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | 0.23 | $ | 0.40 | $ | (0.17 | ) | (42.5 | %) | |||||||
| Discontinued operations | 0.06 | -- | 0.06 | NM | ||||||||||||
| Total net income per diluted common share | $ | 0.29 | $ | 0.40 | $ | (0.11 | ) | (27.5 | %) | |||||||
| (a) | Effective tax rate is calculated by dividing the provision for income taxes by income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes. |
| (b) | Income from discontinued operations is presented net of a $6.1 million tax expense for the three months ended January 26, 2013. |
| (NM) | Not Meaningful |
| 29 |
Net Sales. Net sales increased by $375.5 million, or 43.6%, to $1,237.5 million for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from $862.0 million for the three months ended January 28, 2012. The increase in net sales consisted of 4.9% organic growth from our legacy family of brands and 38.7% from the Charming Shoppes Acquisition. The increase in net sales from our legacy family of brands was driven by both our new store growth and strong growth in e-commerce sales, particularly at our Justice and maurices brands, as well as comparable store sales growth at our Justice brand. Partially offsetting those increases was a decrease in comparable store sales from our dressbarn brand. In addition, e-commerce sales increased by $24.7 million, or 27.2% to $115.4 million during the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 from $90.7 million from the second quarter of Fiscal 2012. On a consolidated basis, comparable store sales decreased 1% during the three months ended January 26, 2013. On a combined basis, comparable store and e-commerce sales increased 2%. Our brand sales increases and decreases were as follows: $34.7 million increase at Justice, $259.4 million increase at Lane Bryant, $16.1 million increase at maurices, $8.8 million decrease at dressbarn, and $74.1 million increase at Catherines.
Net sales and comparable store and e-commerce sales data for our five business segments is presented below.
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 26, 2013 | January 28, 2012 | $ Change | % Change | Comparable Store Sales (a) | ||||||||||||||||
| (millions) | (millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Justice | $ | 441.9 | $ | 407.2 | $ | 34.7 | 8.5 | % | 4 | % | ||||||||||
| Lane Bryant (b) | 259.4 | -- | 259.4 | NM | (5 | %) | ||||||||||||||
| maurices | 240.7 | 224.6 | 16.1 | 7.2 | % | (1 | %) | |||||||||||||
| dressbarn | 221.4 | 230.2 | (8.8 | ) | (3.8 | %) | (6 | %) | ||||||||||||
| Catherines (b) | 74.1 | -- | 74.1 | NM | 6 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Total net sales | $ | 1,237.5 | $ | 862.0 | $ | 375.5 | 43.6 | % | (1 | %) | ||||||||||
| E-commerce comparable sales | 27 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Combined store and e-commerce comparable sales | 2 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Comparable store sales generally refers to the growth of sales in only stores open in both the current period and comparative period in the prior year (including stores relocated within the same shopping center and stores with minor square footage additions). The determination of which stores are included in the comparable store sales calculation normally changes at the beginning of each fiscal year, except for stores that close during the fiscal year, which are excluded from comparable store sales beginning with the fiscal month the store actually closes. However, for acquired stores, such as in the case of Lane Bryant and Catherines, comparable store sales metrics for the initial first year of acquisition reflects sales from the acquisition date through the end of the fiscal period for all stores that were open in both that period and the comparable period in the prior year. |
| (b) | The Charming Shoppes Acquisition was consummated on June 14, 2012; therefore the data related to the Lane Bryant and Catherines segments for the prior reporting period is not presented. |
| (NM) | Not Meaningful |
Justice net sales. The net increase primarily reflects:
| · | an increase of $14.3 million, or 4%, in comparable store sales during the three months ended January 26, 2013; |
| · | a $15.2 million increase in non-comparable stores sales, primarily driven by an increase related to 41 net new store openings during the last twelve months; |
| · | an increase of $8.4 million, or 24.4%, in revenues from its e-commerce operations; |
| · | a $2.3 million increase in wholesale, licensing operations, and other revenues; and |
| · | a $5.5 million decrease in revenue from gift card breakage. |
Lane Bryant net sales. Net sales reflect the operation of approximately 789 stores in the current quarter, as the acquisition was consummated on June 14, 2012, which resulted in $259.4 million of net sales during the three months ended January 26, 2013. Such results reflected:
| · | a 5% decrease in comparable store sales; and |
| · | a 17.4% increase in comparable e-commerce sales. |
| 30 |
maurices net sales. The net increase primarily reflects:
| · | an decrease of $1.4 million, or 1%, in comparable store sales during the three months ended January 26, 2013; |
| · | an $11.4 million increase in non-comparable stores sales, primarily driven by an increase related to 47 net new store openings during the last twelve months; and |
| · | an increase of $6.1 million, or 51.0%, in revenues from e-commerce operations. |
dressbarn net sales. The net decrease primarily reflects:
| · | a decrease of $12.3 million, or 6%, in comparable store sales during the three months ended January 26, 2013. This performance reflected softness in certain merchandise categories, like sweaters, and the adverse effect on consumer spending from Hurricane Sandy experienced by dressbarn’s heavy concentration of stores in the Northeast, both of which lead to increased promotional activity and related lower margins to sell through fall merchandise; |
| · | a $0.2 million increase in non-comparable stores sales, primarily driven by an increase related to 4 net new store openings during the last twelve months; and |
| · | an increase of $3.3 million, or 59.8%, in revenues from e-commerce operations. |
Catherines net sales. Net sales reflect the operation of approximately 407 stores in the current quarter, as the acquisition was consummated on June 14, 2012, which resulted in $74.1 million of net sales during the three months ended January 26, 2013. Such results reflected:
| · | a 6% increase in comparable store sales; and |
| · | a 19.2% increase in comparable e-commerce sales. |
Gross Margin. Gross margin, which represents the difference between net sales and cost of goods sold, expressed as a percentage of net sales, decreased by 190 basis points to 53.5% for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from 55.4% for the three months ended January 28, 2012. Our gross margin rate decreased, primarily due to lower margins at dressbarn, and maurices. This was primarily due to increased promotional activity that was required to sell through fall merchandise at those brands and significantly higher requirements for inventory markdown reserves at dressbarn. Those decreases were partially offset by margin improvement at Justice, Lane Bryant and Catherines.
Gross margin as a percentage of net sales is dependent upon a variety of factors, including changes in the relative sales mix among brands, changes in the mix of products sold, the timing and level of promotional activities, and fluctuations in material costs. These factors, among others, may cause cost of goods sold as a percentage of net revenues to fluctuate from period to period.
Buying, Distribution and Occupancy Costs. Buying, distribution and occupancy costs consist of store occupancy and utility costs (excluding depreciation), out-bound freight (including costs to ship merchandise between our distribution centers and our retail stores), and all costs associated with the buying and distribution functions.
Buying, distribution and occupancy costs increased by $68.7 million, or 53.1%, to $198.1 million for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from $129.4 million for the three months ended January 28, 2012. Buying, distribution and occupancy costs as a percentage of net sales increased by 100 basis points to 16.0% for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from 15.0% for the three months ended January 28, 2012. The increase in buying, distribution and occupancy costs both in dollars and as a percentage of net sales was primarily due to a change in store location mix, as Lane Bryant’s higher mall-based mix of stores has higher store occupancy costs as a percentage of sales. From our legacy family of brands, increases in store occupancy and distribution center expenses, which resulted largely from new store growth and the increased sales volume, also contributed to the increases in buying, distribution and occupancy costs, but experienced slight leveraging as a percentage of sales on the increased sales volume.
Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) Expenses. SG&A expenses consist of compensation and benefit-related costs for sales and store operations personnel, administrative personnel and other employees not associated with the functions described above under buying, distribution and occupancy costs. SG&A expenses also include advertising and marketing costs, information technology and communication costs, supplies for our stores and administrative facilities, insurance costs, legal costs and costs related to other administrative services.
SG&A expenses increased by $126.2 million, or 56.7%, to $348.6 million for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from $222.4 million for the three months ended January 28, 2012. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales increased by 240 basis points to 28.2% in the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 from 25.8% in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012. SG&A expenses, expressed both in dollars and as a percentage of sales, increased largely due to the current, duplicative corporate overhead structure resulting from the Charming Shoppes Acquisition, which is expected to be significantly scaled back over the next couple of years.
| 31 |
Depreciation and Amortization Expense. Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $14.8 million, or 58.0%, to $40.3 million for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from $25.5 million for the three months ended January 28, 2012. The increase was primarily due to the inclusion of Charming Shoppes, which contributed $12.1 million of incremental depreciation and amortization expense during the second quarter of Fiscal 2013. Also contributing to the increase was higher capital expenditures, which resulted, in part, from the net opening of 92 stores from our legacy family of brands during the last twelve months.
Operating Income. Operating income decreased $31.7 million, or 31.7%, to $68.3 million for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from $100.0 million for the three months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease consisted of a $6.5 million, or 6.5% decrease from our legacy family of brands and a $25.2 million decrease relating to the Charming Shoppes Acquisition. The operating loss from Charming Shoppes reflected $6.8 million of certain acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs and a duplicative corporate overhead structure. In turn, the decrease in operating income from our legacy family of brands primarily reflected a decrease in gross margin rate, particularly at our dressbarn brand, offset in part by the flow-through of margin on the higher sales volume at Justice and maurices.
Operating income data for our five business segments is presented below.
| Three Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| January
26, 2013 | January
28, 2012 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||
| (millions) | (millions) | |||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss): | ||||||||||||||||
| Justice | $ | 91.0 | $ | 77.0 | $ | 14.0 | 18.2 | % | ||||||||
| Lane Bryant (a) | (15.5 | ) | -- | (15.5 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
| maurices | 27.7 | 26.4 | 1.3 | 4.9 | % | |||||||||||
| dressbarn | (25.2 | ) | (3.4 | ) | (21.8 | ) | (641.2 | %) | ||||||||
| Catherines (a) | (2.9 | ) | -- | (2.9 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
| Subtotal | 75.1 | 100.0 | (24.9 | ) | (24.9 | %) | ||||||||||
| Less unallocated acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs | (6.8 | ) | -- | (6.8 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
| Total operating income | $ | 68.3 | $ | 100.0 | $ | (31.7 | ) | (31.7 | %) | |||||||
| (a) | The Charming Shoppes Acquisition was consummated on June 14, 2012; therefore the data related to the Lane Bryant and Catherines segments for the prior reporting period is not presented. |
| (NM) | Not Meaningful |
Justice operating income increased by approximately $14.0 million primarily as a result of an increase in sales and higher gross margin rates, offset in part by increases in buying, distribution and occupancy costs. The higher gross margin rate benefited from selected price increases and merchandise mix, offset in part by higher, promotional markdowns. Buying, distribution and occupancy costs increased largely due to store growth and sales volume, but experienced leveraging due to the higher sales volume. SG&A expenses remained relatively flat, but experienced leveraging on the higher sales volume, during the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 compared to the second quarter of 2012. SG&A expenses reflected a decrease in incentive compensation costs, offset by an increase in store-related payroll associated with the new store growth.
Lane Bryant operating loss of $15.5 million primarily reflects the operation of 789 stores in the second quarter of Fiscal 2013, as the acquisition was consummated on June 14, 2012, and includes the impact of a duplicative corporate overhead structure, which is expected to be significantly scaled back over the next couple of years.
maurices operating income increased by approximately $1.3 million primarily as a result of an increase in sales, offset in part by lower gross margin rates and increases in buying, distribution and occupancy costs. The lower gross margin rate benefited from selected merchandise price increases, but was more than offset by higher, promotional markdowns. The increase in buying, distribution and occupancy costs was mainly a result of increases in store occupancy and distribution center expenses, which resulted largely from new store growth and the increased sales volume. SG&A expenses increased slightly in dollars, but experienced leveraging on the higher sales volume, during the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 compared to the second quarter of 2012. SG&A expenses reflected increases in store-payroll related costs related to the overall net sales increases and third-party administrative expenses related to the e-commerce growth, offset in part by decreases in stores supplies and marketing costs.
dressbarn operating loss increased by approximately $21.8 million primarily as a result of a decrease in sales and gross margin rates, increases in buying, distribution and occupancy costs and higher SG&A expenses. The lower gross margin rate was mainly attributable to higher promotional markdowns, which resulted from increased promotional activity required to sell through fall merchandise, and significantly higher requirements for inventory markdown reserves. Buying, distribution and occupancy costs increased during the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 compared to the second quarter of 2012 mainly due to an increase in store occupancy costs, which resulted from a combination of store unit growth and other factors, including rent increases tied to inflation and taxes, and higher freight into stores. The increase in SG&A expenses was primarily due to an increase in store payroll-related costs, relating to the overall store unit growth, increased professional fees and increased in-store marketing costs, offset in part by a decrease in incentive compensation costs related to less than planned earnings results.
| 32 |
Catherines operating loss of $2.9 million primarily reflects the operation of 409 stores in the second quarter of Fiscal 2013, as the acquisition was consummated on June 14, 2012, and includes the impact of a duplicative corporate overhead structure, which is expected to be significantly scaled back over the next couple of years.
Unallocated operating loss. The unallocated expenses of $6.8 million represent acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs incurred during the period resulting from the Charming Shoppes Acquisition.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased by $4.5 million to $4.8 million for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from $0.3 million for the three months ended January 28, 2012. The increase was primarily the result of new borrowings used to partially fund the Charming Shoppes Acquisition in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2012.
Interest and Other Income, Net. Interest and other income, net decreased by $0.8 million, to $0.2 million for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from $1.0 million for the three months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease was mainly due to lower interest income in the second half of Fiscal 2013, as average balances of cash and investments decreased during the period as a result of the Charming Shoppes Acquisition.
Provision for Income Taxes. The provision for income taxes represents federal, foreign, state and local income taxes. The provision for income taxes from continuing operations decreased by $12.5 million, or 33.8%, to $24.5 million for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from $37.0 million for the three months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease in provision for income taxes was primarily a result of lower pretax income in the second quarter of Fiscal 2013, which was partially offset by a higher effective income tax rate. The effective tax rate increased 260 basis points, to 39.3% for three months ended January 26, 2013 from 36.7% for the three months ended January 28, 2012. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily the result of the absence of higher tax benefits relating to the accounting for discrete items in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012.
Net Income. Net income includes income from both continuing operations and discontinued operations. Net income decreased by $16.5 million, or 25.9%, to $47.2 million for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from $63.7 million for the three months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease was primarily due to an overall decline in operating income, which included $6.8 million of acquisition-related integration and restructuring costs, and an increase in interest expense to service the debt incurred to fund the Charming Shoppes Acquisition. These net decreases were offset in part by income from discontinued operations of $9.4 million and a decrease in the provision of income taxes of $12.5 million. The income from discontinued operations primarily reflected the positive seasonal holiday gift-giving business of Figi’s.
Net Income from Continuing Operations Per Diluted Common Share. Net income from continuing operations per diluted share decreased by $0.17, or 42.5%, to $0.23 per share for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from $0.40 per share for the three months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease in diluted per share results was due to the lower level of income from continuing operations, as previously discussed. Weighted-average diluted common shares outstanding increased to 162.9 million shares in the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 from 157.6 million shares in the second quarter of Fiscal 2012, which also reduced net income from continuing operations per diluted common share.
Net Income Per Diluted Common Share. Net income per diluted common share decreased by $0.11, or 27.5%, to $0.29 per share for the three months ended January 26, 2013 from $0.40 per share for the three months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease in diluted per share results was mainly due to lower level of net income from continuing operations, partially offset by the inclusion of a $0.06 per diluted share impact from discontinued operations.
| 33 |
Six Months Ended January 26, 2013 compared to Six Months Ended January 28, 2012
The following table summarizes our results of operations and expresses the percentage relationship to net sales of certain financial statement captions:
| Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| January
26, 2013 | January
28, 2012 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||
| (millions, except per share data) | (millions) | |||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 2,375.0 | $ | 1,630.3 | $ | 744.7 | 45.7 | % | ||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | (1,056.3 | ) | (713.2 | ) | (343.1 | ) | 48.1 | % | ||||||||
| Cost of goods sold as % of net sales | 44.5 | % | 43.7 | % | ||||||||||||
| Gross margin | 1,318.7 | 917.1 | 401.6 | 43.8 | % | |||||||||||
| Gross margin as a % of net sales | 55.5 | % | 56.3 | % | ||||||||||||
| Other costs and expenses: | ||||||||||||||||
| Buying, distribution and occupancy costs | (404.9 | ) | (255.7 | ) | (149.2 | ) | 58.3 | % | ||||||||
| Buying,
distribution and occupancy costs as % of net sales | 17.0 | % | 15.7 | % | ||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | (681.5 | ) | (435.3 | ) | (246.2 | ) | 56.6 | % | ||||||||
| SG&A as % of net sales | 28.7 | % | 26.7 | % | ||||||||||||
| Acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs | (13.2 | ) | -- | (13.2 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization expense | (77.9 | ) | (49.6 | ) | (28.3 | ) | 57.1 | % | ||||||||
| Total other costs and expenses | (1,177.5 | ) | (740.6 | ) | (436.9 | ) | 59.0 | % | ||||||||
| Operating income | 141.2 | 176.5 | (35.3 | ) | (20.0 | %) | ||||||||||
| Operating income as % of net sales | 5.9 | % | 10.8 | % | ||||||||||||
| Interest expense | (9.6 | ) | (0.5 | ) | (9.1 | ) | 1,820.0 | % | ||||||||
| Interest and other income, net | 0.5 | 1.9 | (1.4 | ) | (73.7 | %) | ||||||||||
| Loss on extinguishment of debt | (1.4 | ) | -- | (1.4 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
| Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes | 130.7 | 177.9 | (47.2 | ) | (26.5 | %) | ||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes from continuing operations | (46.7 | ) | (66.7 | ) | 20.0 | (30.0 | %) | |||||||||
| Effective tax rate (a) | 35.7 | % | 37.5 | % | ||||||||||||
| Income from continuing operations | 84.0 | 111.2 | (27.2 | ) | (24.5 | %) | ||||||||||
| Income from discontinued operations, net of taxes (b) | 6.3 | -- | (6.3 | ) | NM | |||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 90.3 | $ | 111.2 | $ | (20.9 | ) | (18.8 | %) | |||||||
| Net income per common share - basic: | ||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | 0.54 | $ | 0.73 | $ | (0.19 | ) | (26.0 | %) | |||||||
| Discontinued operations | 0.04 | -- | 0.04 | NM | ||||||||||||
| Total net income per basic common share | $ | 0.58 | $ | 0.73 | $ | (0.15 | ) | (20.5 | %) | |||||||
| Net income per common share - diluted: | ||||||||||||||||
| Continuing operations | $ | 0.52 | $ | 0.70 | $ | (0.18 | ) | (25.7 | %) | |||||||
| Discontinued operations | 0.04 | -- | 0.04 | NM | ||||||||||||
| Total net income per diluted common share | $ | 0.56 | $ | 0.70 | $ | (0.14 | ) | (20.0 | %) | |||||||
| (a) | Effective tax rate is calculated by dividing the provision for income taxes by income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes. |
| (b) | Income from discontinued operations is presented net of a $3.0 million tax expense for the six months ended January 26, 2013. |
| (NM) | Not Meaningful |
| 34 |
Net Sales. Net sales increased by $744.7 million, or 45.7%, to $2,375.0 million for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from $1,630.3 million for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The increase in net sales consisted of 6.7% organic growth from our legacy family of brands and 39.0% from the Charming Shoppes Acquisition. The increase in net sales from our legacy family of brands was driven by both our comparable store sales and new store growth, particularly at our Justice and maurices brands, as well as strong growth in e-commerce sales at all of our legacy brands. Partially offsetting those increases was a decrease in comparable store sales from our dressbarn brand. In addition, e-commerce sales increased by $49.2 million, or 32.9% to $198.8 million during the first half of Fiscal 2013 from $149.6 million from the first half of Fiscal 2012. On a consolidated basis, comparable store sales were flat during the six months ended January 26, 2013. On a combined basis, comparable store and e-commerce sales increased 3%. Our brand sales increases and decreases were as follows: $73.0 million increase at Justice, $489.2 million increase at Lane Bryant, $37.8 million increase at maurices, $2.2 million decrease at dressbarn, and $146.9 million increase at Catherines.
Net sales and comparable store and e-commerce sales data for our five business segments is presented below.
| Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||||
| January 26, 2013 | January 28, 2012 | $ Change | % Change | Comparable Store Sales (a) | ||||||||||||||||
| (millions) | (millions) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Net sales: | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Justice | $ | 800.2 | $ | 727.2 | $ | 73.0 | 10.0 | % | 4 | % | ||||||||||
| Lane Bryant (b) | 489.2 | -- | 489.2 | NM | (5 | %) | ||||||||||||||
| maurices | 465.3 | 427.5 | 37.8 | 8.8 | % | 1 | % | |||||||||||||
| dressbarn | 473.4 | 475.6 | (2.2 | ) | (0.5 | %) | (2 | %) | ||||||||||||
| Catherines (b) | 146.9 | -- | 146.9 | NM | 5 | % | ||||||||||||||
| Total net sales | $ | 2,375.0 | $ | 1,630.3 | $ | 744.7 | 45.7 | % | flat | |||||||||||
| E-commerce comparable sales | 33 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| Combined store and e-commerce comparable sales | 3 | % | ||||||||||||||||||
| (a) | Comparable store sales generally refers to the growth of sales in only stores open in both the current period and comparative period in the prior year (including stores relocated within the same shopping center and stores with minor square footage additions). The determination of which stores are included in the comparable store sales calculation normally changes at the beginning of each fiscal year, except for stores that close during the fiscal year, which are excluded from comparable store sales beginning with the fiscal month the store actually closes. However, for acquired stores, such as in the case of Lane Bryant and Catherines, comparable store sales metrics for the initial first year of acquisition reflects sales from the acquisition date through the end of the fiscal period for all stores that were open in both that period and the comparable period in the prior year. |
| (b) | The Charming Shoppes Acquisition was consummated on June 14, 2012; therefore the data related to the Lane Bryant and Catherines segments for the prior reporting period is not presented. |
| (NM) | Not Meaningful |
Justice net sales. The net increase primarily reflects:
| · | an increase of $25.5 million, or 4%, in comparable store sales during the six months ended January 26, 2013; |
| · | a $30.0 million increase in non-comparable stores sales, primarily driven by an increase related to 41 net new store openings during the last twelve months; |
| · | an increase of $14.3 million, or 26.3%, in revenues from its e-commerce operations; |
| · | a $8.3 million increase in wholesale, licensing operations, and other revenues; and |
| · | a $5.1 million decrease in revenue from gift card breakage. |
Lane Bryant net sales. Net sales reflect the operation of approximately 789 stores in the current year, as the acquisition was consummated on June 14, 2012, which resulted in $489.2 million of net sales during the six months ended January 26, 2013. Such results reflected:
| · | a 5% decrease in comparable store sales; and |
| · | a 26.9% increase in comparable e-commerce sales. |
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maurices net sales. The net increase primarily reflects:
| · | an increase of $3.6 million, or 1%, in comparable store sales during the six months ended January 26, 2013; |
| · | an $22.9 million increase in non-comparable stores sales, primarily driven by an increase related to 47 net new store openings during the last twelve months; and |
| · | an increase of $11.3 million, or 55.0%, in revenues from e-commerce operations. |
dressbarn net sales. The net decrease primarily reflects:
| · | a decrease of $10.3 million, or 2%, in comparable store sales during the six months ended January 26, 2013. This performance reflected softness during the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 in certain merchandise categories, like sweaters, and the adverse effect on consumer spending from Hurricane Sandy experienced by dressbarn’s heavy concentration of stores in the Northeast, both of which led to increased promotional activity and related lower margins to sell through merchandise; |
| · | a $1.4 million increase in non-comparable stores sales, primarily driven by an increase related to 4 net new store openings during the last twelve months; and |
| · | an increase of $6.7 million, or 71.8%, in revenues from e-commerce operations. |
Catherines net sales. Net sales reflect the operation of approximately 407 stores in the current year, as the acquisition was consummated on June 14, 2012, which resulted in $146.9 million of net sales during the six months ended January 26, 2013. Such results reflected:
| · | a 5% increase in comparable store sales; and |
| · | a 21.3% increase in comparable e-commerce sales. |
Gross Margin. Gross margin, which represents the difference between net sales and cost of goods sold, expressed as a percentage of net sales, decreased by 80 basis points to 55.5% for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from 56.3% for the six months ended January 28, 2012. Our gross margin rate decreased, primarily due to lower margins at dressbarn. This was primarily due to increased promotional activity that was required to sell through fall merchandise and significantly higher requirements for inventory markdown reserves at dressbarn. Those decreases were partially offset by margin improvement at Justice, Lane Bryant, maurices and Catherines.
Gross margin as a percentage of net sales is dependent upon a variety of factors, including changes in the relative sales mix among brands, changes in the mix of products sold, the timing and level of promotional activities, and fluctuations in material costs. These factors, among others, may cause cost of goods sold as a percentage of net revenues to fluctuate from period to period.
Buying, Distribution and Occupancy Costs. Buying, distribution and occupancy costs increased by $149.2 million, or 58.3%, to $404.9 million for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from $255.7 million for the six months ended January 28, 2012. Buying, distribution and occupancy costs as a percentage of net sales increased by 130 basis points to 17.0% for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from 15.7% for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The increase in buying, distribution and occupancy costs both in dollars and as a percentage of net sales was primarily due to a change in store location mix, as Lane Bryant’s higher mall-based mix of stores has higher store occupancy costs as a percentage of sales. From our legacy family of brands, increases in store occupancy and distribution center expenses, which resulted largely from new store growth and the increased sales volume, also contributed to the increases in buying, distribution and occupancy costs, but experienced slight leveraging as a percentage of sales on the increased sales volume.
Selling, General and Administrative (“SG&A”) Expenses. SG&A expenses increased by $246.2 million, or 56.6%, to $681.5 million for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from $435.3 million for the six months ended January 28, 2012. SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales increased by 200 basis points to 28.7% for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from 26.7% for the six months ended January 28, 2012. SG&A expenses, expressed both in dollars and as a percentage of sales, increased largely due to the current, duplicative corporate overhead structure resulting from the Charming Shoppes Acquisition, which is expected to be significantly scaled back over the next couple of years.
Depreciation and Amortization Expense. Depreciation and amortization expense increased by $28.3 million, or 57.1%, to $77.9 million for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from $49.6 million for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The increase was primarily due to the inclusion of Charming Shoppes, which contributed $23.2 million of incremental depreciation and amortization expense during the six months ended January 26, 2013. Also contributing to the increase were higher capital expenditures, which resulted, in part, from the net opening of 92 stores from our legacy family of brands during the last twelve months.
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Operating Income. Operating income decreased $35.3 million, or 20.0%, to $141.2 million for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from $176.5 million for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The change consisted of a $11.9 million, or 6.7% increase from our legacy family of brands and a $47.2 million decrease relating to the Charming Shoppes Acquisition. The operating loss from Charming Shoppes reflected the approximate $19.9 million non-cash inventory expense and $13.2 million of certain acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs and a duplicative corporate overhead structure. In turn, the increased operating income from our legacy family of brands primarily reflected the flow-through of margin on the higher sales volume at Justice and maurices, offset in part by a decrease in gross margin rate, particularly at our dressbarn brand.
Operating income data for our five business segments is presented below.
| Six Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||
| January 26, 2013 | January 28, 2012 | $ Change | % Change | |||||||||||||
| (millions) | (millions) | |||||||||||||||
| Operating income (loss): | ||||||||||||||||
| Justice | $ | 147.3 | $ | 124.8 | $ | 22.5 | 18.0 | % | ||||||||
| Lane Bryant (a) | (32.5 | ) | -- | (32.5 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
| maurices | 57.3 | 50.1 | 7.2 | 14.4 | % | |||||||||||
| dressbarn | (16.2 | ) | 1.6 | (17.8 | ) | (1,112.5 | %) | |||||||||
| Catherines (a) | (1.5 | ) | -- | (1.5 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
| Subtotal | 154.4 | 176.5 | (22.1 | ) | (12.5 | %) | ||||||||||
| Less unallocated acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs | (13.2 | ) | -- | (13.2 | ) | NM | ||||||||||
| Total operating income | $ | 141.2 | $ | 176.5 | $ | (35.3 | ) | (20.0 | %) | |||||||
| (a) | The Charming Shoppes Acquisition was consummated on June 14, 2012; therefore the data related to the Lane Bryant and Catherines segments for the prior reporting period is not presented. |
| (NM) | Not Meaningful |
Justice operating income increased by approximately $22.5 million primarily as a result flow-through of margin on the higher sales volume, offset in part by increases in buying, distribution and occupancy costs. The higher gross margin rate benefited from selected price increases and merchandise mix, offset in part by higher, promotional markdowns. The increase in buying, distribution and occupancy costs was mainly a result of increases in store occupancy and distribution center expenses, which resulted largely from new store growth and the increased sales volume, but experienced leveraging during the period due to the higher sales volume. SG&A expenses remained relatively flat, but experienced leveraging on the higher sales volumes. SG&A expenses reflected a decrease in incentive compensation costs, offset by increases in store-related payroll associated with the new store growth and higher marketing costs.
Lane Bryant operating loss of $32.5 million primarily reflects the impact of the approximate $15.3 million of one-time, non-cash inventory expense associated with the write-up of inventory to fair market value and also includes the impact of a duplicative corporate overhead structure, which is expected to be significantly scaled back over the next couple of years. The operating results reflect the operation of 815 stores during the six-month period ended January 26, 2013.
maurices operating income increased by approximately $7.2 million primarily as a result of an increase in sales and gross margin rates, offset in part by increases in buying, distribution and occupancy costs and SG&A expenses. The higher gross margin rate benefited from selected merchandise price increases and merchandise mix. The increase in buying, distribution and occupancy costs was mainly a result of increases in store occupancy and distribution center expenses, which resulted largely from new store growth and the increased sales volume. The increase in SG&A expenses during the six months ended January 26, 2013 was primarily due to store payroll-related costs and other store expenses, relating to the overall net sales increases, and increased third-party administrative expenses related to e-commerce growth.
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dressbarn operating income (loss) decreased by approximately $17.8 million to an operating loss of $16.2 million for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from operating income of $1.6 million for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease was primarily as a result of a decrease in sales and gross margin rates, increases in buying, distribution and occupancy costs and higher SG&A expenses. The lower gross margin rate was mainly attributable to higher markdowns, which resulted from increased promotional activity required to sell through fall merchandise, and significantly higher requirements for inventory markdown reserves. Buying, distribution and occupancy costs increased during the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 period mainly due to an increase in store occupancy costs, which resulted from a combination of store unit growth and other factors, including rent increases tied to inflation and taxes. The increase in SG&A expenses was primarily due to an increase in store payroll-related costs, relating to the overall store unit growth, increased professional fees and increased in-store marketing costs, offset in part by a decrease in incentive compensation costs related to less than planned earnings results.
Catherines operating loss of $1.5 million primarily reflects the impact of the approximate $4.6 million of one-time, non-cash inventory expense associated with the write-up of inventory to fair market value and also includes the impact of a duplicative corporate overhead structure, which is expected to be significantly scaled back over the next couple of years. The operating results reflect the operation of 409 stores during the six months ended January 26, 2013.
Unallocated operating loss. The unallocated expenses of $13.2 million represent acquisition-related, integration and restructuring costs incurred during the period resulting from the Charming Shoppes Acquisition.
Interest Expense. Interest expense increased by $9.1 million to $9.6 million for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from $0.5 million for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The increase was primarily the result of new borrowings used to partially fund the Charming Shoppes Acquisition in the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2012.
Interest and Other Income, Net. Interest and other income, net decreased by $1.4 million to $0.5 million for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from $1.9 million for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease was mainly due to lower interest income in the first half of Fiscal 2013, as average balances of cash and investments decreased during the period as a result of the Charming Shoppes Acquisition.
Provision for Income Taxes. The provision for income taxes represents federal, foreign, state and local income taxes. The provision for income taxes from continuing operations decreased by $20.0 million, or 30.0%, to $46.7 million for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from $66.7 million for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease in provision for income taxes was primarily a result of lower pretax income in the first half of Fiscal 2013 and a lower effective income tax rate. The effective tax rate decreased 180 basis points, to 35.7% for six months ended January 26, 2013 from 37.5% for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease in the effective tax rate was primarily the result of the reversal of certain liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions due largely to the expiration of applicable federal and state income tax statutes of limitations for certain years in the first quarter of Fiscal 2013, offset partially by the absence of higher tax benefits relating to the accounting for discrete items recognized in the prior year.
Net Income. Net income includes income from continuing and discontinued operations. Net income decreased by $20.9 million, or 18.8%, to $90.3 million for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from $111.2 million for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease was primarily due to an overall decline in operating income, which included $13.2 million of acquisition-related integration and restructuring costs, and an increase in interest expense to service the debt incurred to fund the Charming Shoppes Acquisition. These net decreases were offset in part by income from discontinued operations of $6.3 million and a decrease in the provision of income taxes of $20.0 million. The income from discontinued operations primarily reflected the positive seasonal holiday gift-giving business of Figi’s.
Net Income from Continuing Operations Per Diluted Common Share. Net income from continuing operations per diluted share decreased by $0.18, or 25.7%, to $0.52 per share for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from $0.70 per share for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease in diluted per share results was due to the lower level of income from continuing operations, as previously discussed. Weighted-average diluted common shares outstanding increased to 162.2 million shares in the first half of Fiscal 2013 from 158.2 million shares in the first half of Fiscal 2012, which also reduced net income from continuing operations per diluted common share.
Net Income Diluted Common Share. Net income per diluted common share decreased by $0.14, or 20.0%, to $0.56 per share for the six months ended January 26, 2013 from $0.70 per share for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The decrease in diluted per share results was mainly due to lower level of net income from continuing operations, partially offset by the inclusion of a $0.04 per diluted share impact from discontinued operations.
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FINANCIAL CONDITION AND LIQUIDITY
Financial Condition
| January 26, 2013 | July 28, 2012 | $ Change | ||||||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 322.0 | $ | 164.3 | $ | 157.7 | ||||||
| Short-term investments | 3.7 | 1.4 | 2.3 | |||||||||
| Non-current investments | -- | 3.2 | (3.2 | ) | ||||||||
| Total debt | (277.4 | ) | (326.6 | ) | 49.2 | |||||||
| Net cash and investments (debt) (a) | $ | 48.3 | $ | (157.7 | ) | $ | 206.0 | |||||
| Equity | $ | 1,473.6 | $ | 1,340.9 | $ | 132.7 | ||||||
| (a) | “Net cash and investments” is defined as total cash and cash equivalents, plus short-term and non-current investments, less total debt. |
As of January 26, 2013 we were in a net cash position of $48.3 million compared to net debt position of $157.7 million as of the end of Fiscal 2012. The increase in our net cash position as of January 26, 2013 as compared to July 28, 2012 was primarily due our operating cash flows, which were partially offset by our use of cash to support our capital expenditures and the repayment of debt under both our Term Loan and Revolving Credit Agreement (each as defined below).
The increase in equity was mainly due to the Company’s net income in the first half of Fiscal 2013.
Cash Flows
The table below summarizes our cash flows for the six months ended presented as follows:
| Six Months Ended | ||||||||
| January 26, 2013 | January 28, 2012 | |||||||
| (millions) | ||||||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | $ | 273.4 | $ | 222.0 | ||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (95.3 | ) | (59.5 | ) | ||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (20.4 | ) | (27.1 | ) | ||||
| Net increase in cash and cash equivalents (a) | $ | 157.7 | $ | 135.4 | ||||
| (a) | Excludes changes in short-term and non-current investments, which decreased in the aggregate by $0.9 million during the six months ended January 26, 2013. |
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities. Net cash provided by operations was $273.4 million for the six months ended January 26, 2013, compared with $222.0 million for the six months ended January 28, 2012. The increase was primarily driven by increases in net income before net, non-cash expenses, such as depreciation and amortization expense and stock-based compensation costs, as set forth more fully in the consolidated statements of cash flows. Net cash provided by operations also benefited from lower working capital requirements and other balance sheet changes.
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities. Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended January 26, 2013 was $95.3 million, consisting almost entirely of cash used for capital expenditures. Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended January 28, 2012 was $59.5 million, consisting primarily of net cash used for capital expenditures.
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities. Net cash used in financing activities was $20.4 million for the six months ended January 26, 2013, consisting primarily of $50.4 million for the repayment of debt, offset in part by proceeds relating to our stock-based compensation plans. Net cash used in financing activities for the six months ended January 28, 2012 was $27.1 million, consisting primarily of cash used for the repurchase of common stock, offset in part by proceeds relating to our stock-based compensation plans.
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Capital Spending
We routinely make capital investments primarily in connection with ongoing expansion of our retail store network, construction and renovation of our existing portfolio of retail stores, investments in our technological and supply chain infrastructure, and investments in administrative office space to support our growing operations. At the end of Fiscal 2012, the Company announced significant capital spending plans relating to the rationalization of its distribution network. For a detailed discussion of those plans, see Part II, Item 7 as specified in the capital spending section of the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of the Fiscal 2012 10-K.
In addition, in connection with the integration of the technological infrastructure of Charming Shoppes, the Company recently finalized plans to migrate to common information technology platforms for its Company-wide, point-of-sales systems, merchandise systems, warehouse management systems and financial systems. The execution of those transformational information technology plans is expected to take place over the next two years. Accordingly, when taken together with the previously announced capital plans to transform its distribution network and to expand certain of its administrative facilities, the Company expects incremental capital requirements to approximate $300 - $325 million over the next two years. Such requirements are expected to continue to be funded primarily with operating cash flows and, to the extent necessary, borrowings under the Company’s Revolving Credit Agreement.
For the six months ended January 26, 2013, we had $97.4 million of capital expenditures, compared to $52.1 million of capital expenditures for the six months ended January 28, 2012.
Liquidity
Our primary sources of liquidity are the cash flows generated from our operations, availability under our Revolving Credit Agreement (as defined below), available cash and cash equivalents, investments and other available financing options. These sources of liquidity are used to fund our ongoing cash requirements, including working capital requirements, retail store expansion, construction and renovation of stores, any future dividend requirements, investment in technological and supply chain infrastructure, acquisitions, debt servicing requirements, corporate offices, stock repurchases, contingent liabilities (including uncertain tax positions) and other corporate activities. Management believes that our existing sources of cash will be sufficient to support our operating needs, capital requirements and any debt service requirements for the foreseeable future.
As of January 26, 2013, approximately 40% of our available cash and cash equivalents were held overseas by our foreign subsidiaries. As such, for the Company to have access to those cash and cash equivalents in the U.S, we would incur a current U.S. tax liability of between 15% to 20% of the cash repatriated; this current U.S. tax liability has been previously provided for in the provision for income taxes and is currently classified within deferred income taxes on the accompanying unaudited consolidated balance sheets. We currently do not have any plans to repatriate these funds from our overseas subsidiaries to the U.S.
As discussed in the “Debt” section below, as of January 26, 2013, we had no borrowings under our Revolving Credit Agreement and $279.3 million of borrowings under our Term Loan (as defined below), which were used to partially fund the Charming Shoppes Acquisition. We believe that our Revolving Credit Agreement is adequately diversified with no undue concentrations in any one financial institution. In particular, as of January 26, 2013, there were five financial institutions participating in the credit facility, with no one participant maintaining a maximum commitment percentage in excess of approximately 30%. Management has no reason at this time to believe that the participating institutions will be unable to fulfill their obligations to provide financing in accordance with the terms of the Revolving Credit Agreement in the event of our election to draw funds in the foreseeable future.
Debt
As of January 26, 2013, the Company had $279.9 million of debt outstanding consisting primarily of (i) $279.3 million which was incurred to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Charming Shoppes Acquisition, and (ii) $0.6 million of convertible notes assumed in the Charming Shoppes Acquisition, which remain outstanding after substantially all were redeemed in July 2012. For a complete description of the Company’s borrowing arrangements see Note 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Fiscal 2012 10-K.
Term Loan
Our $300 million term loan (the “Term Loan”) matures on June 14, 2018, and has mandatory quarterly repayments of 0.25%, or approximately $0.75 million, with a remaining balloon payment required at maturity. The Term Loan has been recorded net of an original issue discount of $3 million, which is being amortized to interest expense over the contractual life of the Term Loan. The Company has the right to prepay the Term Loan in any amount and at any time. Interest rates under the Term Loan are variable and are calculated using a base rate equal to the greatest of (i) prime rate, (ii) federal funds rate, or (iii) LIBO rate (subject to a 1% floor); plus an applicable margin ranging from 225 basis points to 375 basis points based on a combination of the type of borrowing (prime or LIBOR) and the Company’s total leverage ratio existing at the end of the previous fiscal quarter.
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During the second quarter of Fiscal 2013, the Company prepaid approximately $20 million of the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan. The transaction resulted in a $0.6 million pretax loss on the extinguishment of debt, relating to a proportional reduction in the balance of the original issue discount and deferred financing fees, which has been disclosed as a component of the loss on extinguishment of debt on the face of the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. As a result of the aforementioned prepayment, the Company is no longer subject to mandatory quarterly repayments of the Term Loan.
In addition, on January 29, 2013, Fashion Bug sold its distribution center for net proceeds of approximately $16 million. The net proceeds of the sale were used to partially prepay the outstanding principal balance of the Term Loan during the third quarter of Fiscal 2013. Accordingly, after taking into account this prepayment, the outstanding carrying amount of the Company’s obligation under the Term Loan was $260.9 million.
Revolving Credit Agreement
The revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Agreement”) provides a senior secured revolving credit facility for up to $250 million of availability, with an optional additional increase of up to $50 million. The Revolving Credit Agreement expires in June 2017. There are no mandatory reductions in borrowing availability throughout the term of the Revolving Credit Agreement. The Revolving Credit Agreement may be used for the issuance of letters of credit, to finance the acquisition of working capital assets in the ordinary course of business and capital expenditures, and for general corporate purposes. The Revolving Credit Agreement includes a $175 million letter of credit sublimit, of which $40 million can be used for standby letters of credit, and a $25 million swing loan sublimit.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement bear interest at a variable rate determined using a base rate equal to the greatest of (i) prime rate, (ii) federal funds rate, or (iii) LIBO rate; plus an applicable margin ranging from 50 basis points to 200 basis points based a combination of the type of borrowing (prime or LIBOR) and the Company’s average borrowing availability during the previous fiscal quarter.
In addition to paying interest on any outstanding borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Company is required to pay a commitment fee to the lenders under the Revolving Credit Agreement in respect of the unutilized commitments in the amount of 37.5 basis points per annum.
As of January 26, 2013, after taking into account the $21.2 million in outstanding letters of credit, the Company had $228.8 million available under the Revolving Credit Agreement.
Restrictions under the Term Loan and Revolving Credit Agreement
The Term Loan and Revolving Credit Agreement are subject to similar restrictions, as summarized below.
The Term Loan has financial covenants with respect to a senior secured leverage ratio, which is defined as a ratio of senior secured indebtedness to consolidated EBITDA. For such purposes, consolidated EBITDA is defined generally as net income plus (i) income tax expense, (ii) interest expense, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) non-recurring, acquisition-related expenses, and (v) restructuring charges not exceeding predetermined limits. Consolidated fixed charges are defined generally as the sum of (a) cash interest expense, (b) rent expense, (c) cash tax expense, (d) mandatory principal repayment, (e) capital lease payments, (f) mandatory cash contributions to any employee benefit plan and (g) any restricted payments paid in cash. The Company is required to maintain a maximum senior secured leverage ratio for any period of four consecutive quarters of no greater than 1.75 to 1.00. As of January 26, 2013, the actual senior secured leverage ratio was 0.52 to 1.00. We were in compliance with all financial covenants contained in the Term Loan as of January 26, 2013, and expect to be in compliance in all periods during the next twelve months.
The Revolving Credit Agreement has financial covenants with respect to a fixed charge coverage ratio, which is defined as a ratio of consolidated EBITDAR, less capital expenditures to consolidated fixed charges. For such purposes, consolidated EBITDAR is defined generally as net income plus (i) income tax expense, (ii) interest expense, (iii) depreciation and amortization expense, (iv) rent expense, (v) non-recurring acquisition-related expenses, and (vi) restructuring charges not exceeding predetermined limits. Consolidated fixed charges are defined generally as the sum of (a) cash interest expense, (b) rent expense, (c) cash tax expense, (d) mandatory principal repayment, (e) capital lease payments, (f) mandatory cash contributions to any employee benefit plan and (g) any restricted payments paid in cash. The Company is required to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio for any period of four consecutive fiscal quarters of at least 1.00 to 1.00. As of January 26, 2013, the actual fixed charge coverage ratio was 1.48 to 1.00. We were in compliance with all financial covenants contained in the Revolving Credit Agreement as of January 26, 2013, and expect to be in compliance in all periods during the next twelve months.
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In addition to the above, the borrowing agreements contain customary negative covenants, subject to negotiated exceptions, on (i) liens and guarantees, (ii) investments, (iii) indebtedness, (iv) significant corporate changes including mergers and acquisitions, (v) dispositions, (vi) restricted payments, cash dividends and certain other restrictive agreements. The borrowing agreements also contain customary events of default, such as payment defaults, cross-defaults to other material indebtedness, bankruptcy and insolvency, the occurrence of a defined change in control, or the failure to observe the negative covenants and other covenants related to the operation of the Company’s business.
The Company’s obligations under the borrowing agreements are guaranteed by certain of its domestic subsidiaries (the “Subsidiary Guarantors”). As collateral security under the borrowing agreements and the guarantees thereof, the Company and the Subsidiary Guarantors have granted to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as the administrative agent for the benefit of the lenders, a first priority lien on substantially all of their tangible and intangible assets, including, without limitation, certain domestic inventory and certain material real estate.
Greencastle Mortgage
In connection with the Charming Shoppes Acquisition, the Company assumed a $7.8 million mortgage obligation (the “Greencastle Mortgage”) on Charming Shoppes’s owned distribution center in Greencastle, Indiana. The Greencastle Mortgage bore interest at a fixed rate of 6.07%. During the second quarter of Fiscal 2013, the Company prepaid the outstanding principal balance of the Greencastle Mortgage in full. The payment of $8.4 million resulted in a $0.8 million pretax loss on the extinguishment of debt, relating to a make-whole premium to holders of the mortgage note, which has been disclosed as a component of the loss on extinguishment of debt on the face of the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of operations.
Potential Refinancing
In February 2013, the Company launched an initiative with certain of the financial institutions participating in its existing Revolving Credit Agreement to amend such agreement. Among other things, the amendment is expected to increase the maximum size of the credit facility to $500 million, with an option to increase the availability further by up to $100 million. It is also expected that the maturity of the facility will be extended by one year to June 14, 2018.
Immediately prior to the amendment of the Revolving Credit Agreement, the Company plans to borrow approximately $250 million under its existing Revolving Credit Agreement and, together with cash on hand, prepay its $263 million of obligations under the Term Loan. Because such prepayment will be made with the proceeds of “Permitted Refinancing Indebtedness”, as defined under the Term Loan agreement, no prepayment premium will be applicable. After giving effect to the amendment, the expanded size of the Revolving Credit Agreement is expected to provide sufficient liquidity to continue to support the Company’s operating needs and capital requirements for the foreseeable future. The refinancing of the Term Loan is expected to reduce the Company’s borrowing costs. In addition, the Company expects to incur an approximate $8 million pretax loss upon the extinguishment of the Term Loan relating principally to the write-off of deferred financing costs.
The amendment to the current Revolving Credit Agreement remains subject to lender approval. Accordingly, there can be no assurance at this time that the amendment will be approved or that the refinancing of the Term Loan will be completed.
Payment of Dividends
Our Revolving Credit Agreement does not permit cash dividends, but allows us to pay stock dividends, provided that at the time of and immediately after giving effect to the stock dividend, (i) there is no default or event of default, (ii) the fixed charge coverage ratio (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) is not less than 1.15 to 1.00, and (iii) borrowings under the Revolving Credit Agreement do not exceed 82.5% of the total available borrowings (such that availability (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement) is not less than 17.5% of the aggregate revolving commitments (as defined in the Revolving Credit Agreement)). Dividends are payable when declared by our Board of Directors. Currently, the Board of Directors does not plan to pay any dividends.
Common Stock Repurchase Program
In Fiscal 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $100 million share repurchase program (the “2010 Stock Repurchase Program”). This program was then expanded in Fiscal 2011 to cover an additional $100 million of authorized purchases. Under the 2010 Stock Repurchase Program, purchases of shares of common stock may be made at the Company’s discretion from time to time, subject to overall business and market conditions.
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No shares of common stock were repurchased by the Company under its repurchase program during the six months ended January 26, 2013. Repurchased shares normally are retired and treated as authorized but unissued shares.
The remaining availability under the 2010 Stock Repurchase Program was approximately $89.9 million at January 26, 2013.
Contractual and Other Obligations
Firm Commitments
There have been no material changes during the period covered by this report to the firm commitments specified in the contractual and other obligations section of the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in the Fiscal 2012 10-K.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
There have been no material changes during the period covered by this report to the off-balance sheet arrangements specified in the contractual and other obligations section of the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in the Fiscal 2012 10-K.
MARKET RISK MANAGEMENT
The Company is exposed to a variety of market-based risks, representing our potential exposure to losses arising from adverse changes in market rates and prices. These market risks include, but are not limited to, changes in foreign currency exchange rates relating to our expanding Canadian and other international operations, changes in interest rates, and changes in both the value and liquidity of our cash, cash equivalents and investment portfolio. Consequently, in the normal course of business, we employ a number of established policies and procedures to manage such risks, including considering, at times, the use of derivative financial instruments to hedge such risks. However, as a matter of policy, we do not enter into derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes. As of the January 26, 2013, the Company did not have any outstanding derivative financial instruments.
Foreign Currency Risk Management
We currently do not have any significant risks to the fluctuation of foreign currency exchange rates. Purchases of inventory for resale in our retail stores normally are transacted in U.S. dollars. In addition, our wholly owned international retail operations represented approximately 1% of our consolidated revenues during the first half of Fiscal 2013. In the future, as our international operations continue to expand, we would consider the use of forward foreign currency exchange contracts to manage any significant risks to changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Interest Rate Risk Management
Our Company currently has $279.3 million in variable-rate debt outstanding under our Term Loan and, from time to time, borrowings under our Revolving Credit Agreement. Accordingly, we remain subject to changes in interest rates. For each 0.125% increase or decrease in interest rates, the Company’s annual interest expense would increase or decrease by approximately $0.3 million, and net income would decrease or increase, respectively, by approximately $0.2 million. See Note 14 to our audited consolidated financial statements included in our Fiscal 2012 10-K for a summary of the terms and conditions of our Term Loan and Revolving Credit Agreement.
Investment Risk Management
As of January 26, 2013, our Company had cash and cash equivalents on-hand of $322.0 million, primarily invested in money market funds and commercial paper with original maturities of 90 days or less. The Company's other short-term investments of $3.7 million consisted primarily of restricted cash.
We maintain cash deposits and cash equivalents with well-known and stable financial institutions; however, there were significant amounts of cash and cash equivalents at these financial institutions in excess of federally insured limits at January 26, 2013. This represents a concentration of credit risk. With the current financial environment and the instability of some financial institutions, we cannot be assured we will not experience losses on our deposits in the future. However, there have been no losses recorded on deposits of cash and cash equivalents to date.
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CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The Company’s significant accounting policies are described in Notes 3 and 4 to the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Fiscal 2012 10-K. The SEC's Financial Reporting Release No. 60, "Cautionary Advice Regarding Disclosure About Critical Accounting Policies" ("FRR 60"), suggests companies provide additional disclosure and commentary on those accounting policies considered most critical. FRR 60 considers an accounting policy to be critical if it is important to the Company's financial condition and results of operations and requires significant judgment and estimates on the part of management in its application. The Company's estimates are often based on complex judgments, probabilities and assumptions that management believes to be reasonable, but that are inherently uncertain and unpredictable. It is also possible that other professionals, applying reasonable judgment to the same facts and circumstances, could develop and support a range of alternative estimated amounts. For a detailed discussion of the Company's critical accounting policies, see the “Critical Accounting Policies” section of the MD&A in the Company’s Fiscal 2012 10-K. There have been no material changes in the application of the Company’s critical accounting policies since July 28, 2012.
RECENTLY ISSUED ACCOUNTING PROUNCEMENTS
During the six months ended January 26, 2013, there have been no recently issued or proposed accounting standards which may have a material impact our financial statements in future periods.
Item 3 - QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
For a discussion of our exposure to, and management of our market risks, see “Market Risk Management” in Item 2 included elsewhere in this report on Form 10-Q.
Item 4 - CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that the Company files or submits under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures.
The Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of its management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rules 13(a)-15(e) and 15(d)-15(e) of the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level as January 26, 2013. Except as noted below, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended January 26, 2013 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
During the second quarter of Fiscal 2013, the Company completed the consolidation of certain of its financial systems and processes across its legacy family of brands, including implementing a common general ledger and consolidations system and centralizing certain financial processing functions within a new shared services environment. These initiatives resulted in certain significant changes in internal controls which, at the end of the second quarter of Fiscal 2012, were still considered to be effective.
Part II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1 – LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
The Company is a defendant in lawsuits and other adversarial proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. Legal costs incurred in connection with the resolution of claims and lawsuits are generally expensed as incurred, and the Company establishes reserves for the outcome of litigation where it deems appropriate to do so under applicable accounting rules. Moreover, the Company's assessment of the current exposure could change in the event of the discovery of additional facts with respect to legal matters pending against the Company or determinations by judges, juries, administrative agencies or other finders of fact that are not in accordance with the Company's evaluation of a particular claim. The results of these lawsuits, claims and proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty. However, the Company believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The Company's identified contingencies include the matters set out below.
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Six lawsuits were filed in Fiscal 2012 challenging the proposed acquisition of Charming Shoppes by Ascena. Five of these lawsuits have been consolidated in state court in Pennsylvania, and one case remains in Federal court in Pennsylvania. In general, plaintiffs sued the Charming Shoppes’ board of directors for breach of their fiduciary duties under Pennsylvania state law in connection with the sale process, negotiations and public disclosures about the transaction. Ascena was sued for allegedly aiding and abetting the Charming Shoppes’ board of directors’ breach of their fiduciary duties. The parties have signed a stipulation of settlement to settle the state and federal litigations. The fully executed stipulation of settlement has been filed with the court, which has established a schedule to move forward with the class notice and objection procedure. Pursuant to the settlement and subject to court approval, both the state and federal cases are expected to be dismissed and court ordered attorneys’ fees will be paid by Ascena, as Charming Shoppes’ parent company. The amount of attorneys’ fees expected to be paid in connection with the lawsuit were $0.5 million, and such amount was accrued during the second quarter of Fiscal 2013 with a corresponding adjustment to goodwill.
Item 1A – Risk Factors
There are many risks and uncertainties that can affect our future business, financial performance or share price. In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should review and consider the information regarding certain factors which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results set forth under Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in our Fiscal 2012 10-K. There have been no material changes during the quarter ended January 26, 2013 to the Risk Factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A of the Fiscal 2012 10-K.
Item 2 –UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY Securities and Use of Proceeds
Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities(1)
The following table provides information about the Company’s repurchases of common stock during the fiscal quarter ended January 26, 2013.
| Period | Total Number of Shares Purchased | Average Price Paid per Share | Total
Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(1) | Approximate
Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (1) | ||||||||||||
| Month # 1 (October 28, 2012 – November 24, 2012) | -- | $ | -- | -- | $ | 90 million | ||||||||||
| Month # 2 (November 25, 2012 – December 29, 2012) | -- | -- | -- | 90 million | ||||||||||||
| Month # 3 (December 30, 2012 – January 26, 2013) | -- | -- | -- | 90 million | ||||||||||||
| (1) | In Fiscal 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $100 million share repurchase program (the “2010 Stock Repurchase Program”). The program was then expanded in Fiscal 2011 to cover an additional $100 million of authorized purchases. Under the 2010 Stock Repurchase Program, purchases of shares of common stock may be made at the Company’s discretion from time to time, subject to overall business and market conditions. Purchases will be made at prevailing market prices, through open market purchases or in privately negotiated transactions and will be subject to applicable SEC rules. |
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Item 6 - EXHIBITS
| Exhibit | Description |
| 31.1 | Certification by the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
| 31.2 | Certification by the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. |
| 32.1 | Certification of David Jaffe pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 32.2 | Certification of Dirk Montgomery pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| 101.INS | XBRL Instance Document* |
| 101.SCH | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document* |
| 101.CAL | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document* |
| 101.DEF | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document* |
| 101.LAB | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document* |
| 101.PRE | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document* |
* Pursuant to Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, the Interactive Data Files on Exhibit 101 hereto are deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, are deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise are not subject to liability under those sections.
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SIGNATURES
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.
| ASCENA RETAIL GROUP, INC. | ||
| Date: March 4, 2013 | BY: /s/ David Jaffe | |
| David Jaffe | ||
| President, Chief Executive Officer and Director | ||
| (Principal Executive Officer) | ||
| Date: March 4, 2013 | BY: /s/ Dirk Montgomery | |
| Dirk Montgomery | ||
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | ||
| (Principal Financial Officer) |
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