UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K FOR ANNUAL AND TRANSITION REPORTS PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (MARK ONE) [ X ] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXHCANGE ACT OF 1934 FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JANUARY 1, 2005 OR [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (NO FEE REQUIRED) COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-10345 CACHE, INC. ------------------------------------------------------ (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) FLORIDA 59-1588181 -------------------------------- --------------------------------- (State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer Identification No.) incorporation or organization) 1440 BROADWAY, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10018 ---------------------------------------- ---------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code) REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE: (212) 575-3200 SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OF THE ACT: NONE SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(g) OF THE ACT: COMMON STOCK $.01 PAR VALUE (Title of Class) 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 filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes [X] No [ ] Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ] Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2) Yes [X] No [ ] As of June 26, 2004, the aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant (based on the closing price of $14.53 in the NASDAQ National Market) was approximately $184 million. As of February 28, 2005, 15,684,000 common shares were outstanding. DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE Certain information included in the Registrant's Proxy Statement to be filed in connection with its 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders has been incorporated by reference into Part III (Items 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15) of this report on Form 10-K. CACHE, INC. FORM 10-K ANNUAL REPORT JANUARY 1, 2005 TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE PART I Item 1. Business 1 Item 2. Properties 12 Item 3. Legal Proceedings 12 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders 13 PART II Item 5. Market for the Registrant's Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters 14 Item 6. Selected Financial Data 15 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 17 Item 7A Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 24 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 25 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure 25 Item 9A Controls and Procedures 26 Item 9B Other Information 29 PART III Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant 29 Item 11. Executive Compensation 29 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management 29 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions 29 Item 14 Principal Accountant Fees and Services 29 Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules and Reports on Form 8-K 30 PART I ITEM 1. BUSINESS STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Except for the historical information and current statements contained in this Annual Report, certain matters discussed herein, including, without limitation, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and timing of certain events could differ materially from those projected in or contemplated by forward-looking statements due to a number of factors including, without limitation, industry trends, merchandise and fashion trends, competition, changes in general economic conditions and consumer spending patterns, vendor procurement issues and the ability to obtain financing, any of which could cause actual results to differ materially. GENERAL We are a specialty retailer of social occasion sportswear and dresses targeting style-conscious women. We own and operate two separate store concepts, Cache and Lillie Rubin, each of which carries its own distinctive branded merchandise. Cache targets women between the ages of 25 and 45 while Lillie Rubin stores offer a more sophisticated line of social occasion apparel targeting women between the ages of 35 and 55. Both store concepts focus on social occasion dressing designed for contemporary women. Our Cache and Lillie Rubin lines extend from elegant eveningwear to our distinctive day-into-evening sportswear, which encompasses a variety of tops, bottoms and dresses versatile enough to be worn during the day or evening. We operate 254 Cache and 37 Lillie Rubin stores (as of January 1, 2005) primarily situated in central locations in high traffic, upscale malls throughout the United States. MERCHANDISING Our merchandising focuses on providing a selection of sportswear and dresses extending from elegant eveningwear to day-into-evening sportswear. As a result of our short lead time of four weeks to 12 weeks, we are able to employ a constant process of test-and-ordering that allows us to restock popular items during the same season. We also maintain a key item strategy, providing some popular and core items for longer periods to meet ongoing customer demand. New merchandise typically arrives on a weekly basis at each of our stores, giving our customers a reason to visit our stores frequently. We introduce new floor sets into each of our stores approximately every six weeks. These new floor sets allow exciting changes in visual merchandising within both our stores and our window presentations. 1 MERCHANDISE We design and market three general categories of merchandise: SPORTSWEAR. Sportswear consists of related tops and bottoms, versatile enough to be worn during the day or out for evening affairs. DRESSES. Dresses range from special occasion long dresses to shorter lengths for cocktail and day-into-evening wear. ACCESSORIES. Accessories consist primarily of jewelry, belts and handbags intended to complement our sportswear and dress selections. These categories of merchandise differ in style depending on whether they are offered in our Cache or Lillie Rubin stores. CACHE. Cache's average price points for sportswear range from $60 to $300, dresses range from $125 to $450 and accessories range from $30 to $150. The following table indicates the percentage of Cache's net sales by merchandise category for each of the last three fiscal years: 52 WEEKS ENDED 53 WEEKS ENDED ----------------------------- -------------- DECEMBER 28, DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2002 2003 2005 ------------ ------------ ---------- Sportswear 64.3% 67.3% 69.1% Dresses 27.5% 24.3% 22.3% Accessories 8.2% 8.4% 8.6% ------------ ------------ ---------- Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% ============ ============ ========== LILLIE RUBIN. Price points at Lillie Rubin are approximately 25% to 30% higher than at Cache. The following table indicates the percentage of Lillie Rubin's net sales by merchandise category for each of the last three fiscal years: 52 WEEKS ENDED 53 WEEKS ENDED ----------------------------- -------------- DECEMBER 28, DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2002 2003 2005 ------------ ------------ ---------- Sportswear 44.9% 49.7% 58.1% Dresses 47.1% 44.9% 36.6% Accessories 8.0% 5.4% 5.3% ------------ ------------ ---------- Total 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% ============ ============ ========== 2 The percentage of sales represented by dresses is typically higher in the first half of the year for both Cache and Lillie Rubin due to buying for the Easter, wedding and prom seasons. The percentage of Lillie Rubin sales represented by sportswear is expected to increase again in fiscal 2005 as a result of the introduction in fall 2003 of an updated day-into-evening sportswear collection in all of our Lillie Rubin stores. DESIGN Our apparel design and merchandising are organized around the spring and fall seasons. Our internal design and merchandising team is comprised of a designer, buyers who specialize in particular fashion classifications and executive management personnel. Following the end of a season, our design team reviews data from that season's results as well as market research, retail trends, trade shows and other resources. Based on this information, our team develops seasonal themes, which will influence our exclusive designs for the following year. Approximately nine to 12 weeks prior to a season, we begin to coordinate with external designers at our vendors to select specific styles that reflect our themes for the upcoming season. We have established close relationships with many of our vendors, enabling us to frequently create and test new merchandise in our stores prior to the upcoming season and stay abreast of changing fashion trends and market demands. On an ongoing basis, we revise our styles or buying levels accordingly. We believe that our ability to offer an attractive but comfortable missy fit is crucial for our customers. Once we have identified specific designs and materials, our technical department works closely with our in-house fit model and our manufacturers through a collaborative process that tests specific measurements to ensure that the merchandise meets our high standards for fit and comfort. Our accessories are designed and manufactured for us by third-party vendors. In addition, in January 2004, we hired a new designer for the Lillie Rubin brand. This new resource, we believe, has enhanced the Lillie Rubin merchandise assortment and complements the Cache designer already in place. PLANNING We conduct our planning process based on our historical point-of-sale data, economic trends, seasonality and anticipated demand based on market tests. We determine at a corporate level the total number of stock keeping units and the composition by product, print, color, style and size. Our vendors are then able to negotiate bulk material purchase with their suppliers, which we believe enables us to obtain better pricing. Our merchandising and planning teams determine the appropriate level and type of merchandise per store and communicate that information to our vendors who drop ship the merchandise to each store. Following receipt at our stores the merchandising staff obtains daily sales information and store-level inventory generated by our point-of-sale computer system. Based upon this data management teams make decisions with respect to re-orders, store transfers and markdowns. In addition to introducing new merchandise, we employ a key item strategy whereby we maintain an inventory of core items in every store. This provides customers with a level of certainty that these items 3 will be in stock when they visit, rather than rotating out of the store with merchandise changes. In certain situations, a store that is experiencing particularly strong sell-throughs relays the information to our management team and buyers, who in turn may add or adjust new merchandise in response to this feedback. SOURCING AND DISTRIBUTION We employ a sourcing and distribution strategy that enhances our speed to market, allows us to respond quickly to fashion preferences and demand, and reduces inventory risk. We purchase the vast majority of our merchandise from domestic vendors. Sourcing from domestic vendors provides us with short lead times ranging from four to 12 weeks from order to shipment, compared with typically much longer periods for sourcing from foreign vendors. Our five largest vendors accounted for approximately 38% of our purchases in fiscal 2004, and our largest vendor accounted for 19% of our purchases during this period. Nearly all of our merchandise is drop shipped directly by our vendors to our individual stores rather than sent to a warehouse or distribution center. Drop shipping significantly decreases our distribution expenses and reduces the time required to deliver merchandise to our stores. If a customer requests an item out of stock at a specific store, we can ship the merchandise from another store to the customer by overnight or common carrier, the cost of which typically is borne by the customer. STORE OPERATIONS STORE DESIGN AND ENVIRONMENT Most of our stores range in size from approximately 1,500 to 2,500 square feet, with our typical store averaging approximately 2,000 square feet. We believe that our relatively smaller store size enables us to create a boutique-like atmosphere by providing a more intimate shopping environment and a higher level of customer service than department stores. Most of our stores are open during the same hours as the malls in which they are located, typically seven days and six nights a week. We have recently adopted new store designs and layouts for both our Cache and Lillie Rubin stores to enhance their appeal to the customer, increase access to merchandise, facilitate movement throughout the store and improve our displays. Our new store design emphasizes a modern, sophisticated and well-lit atmosphere with streamlined exteriors and sleek interiors. In addition, at Cache we have moved the dressing rooms from the middle of the store to the rear, and check-out locations from the front of the store to the side. This eliminates barriers to movement throughout the store and permits greater flexibility in merchandise displays, allowing us to more effectively market our clothing. We began to remodel existing stores using this new design during late fiscal 2001. We remodeled 19 Cache and two Lillie Rubin stores in fiscal 2004 and expect to remodel approximately 30 stores in fiscal 2005 and 30 stores in fiscal 2006, as leases come up for renewal. Most store remodels take from four to six weeks. During this period, we typically utilize temporary locations in the mall near the existing location so that customers can continue to shop for our merchandise. 4 STORE MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING We organize our stores into regions and districts, which are overseen by four regional vice presidents and 32 district managers, with each of our district managers typically responsible for eight to 12 stores. We typically staff our stores with two opening employees, three mid-day employees and two closing employees. We seek to provide our customers with superior customer service. To promote this part of our strategy, store managers and co-managers receive both salaries and performance-based bonuses. We pay sales associates and assistant managers on an hourly basis as well as performance incentives. From time to time, we offer additional incentives, such as sales contests, to both management and sales associates. Additionally, we place special emphasis on the recruitment of fashion-conscious and career-oriented sales personnel. We train most new store managers in designated training stores and train most other new store sales personnel on the job. EXISTING STORE LOCATIONS As of January 1, 2005 we operated 291 stores located in 43 states and Puerto Rico. Of these 254 were Cache stores and 37 were Lillie Rubin stores. The following tables indicate our stores by location: CACHE STORES: Alabama 5 Louisiana 5 Ohio 9 Arizona 4 Maryland 6 Oklahoma 2 Arkansas 1 Massachusetts 8 Oregon 2 California 27 Michigan 6 Pennsylvania 7 Colorado 3 Minnesota 2 Rhode Island 2 Connecticut 4 Mississippi 1 South Carolina 5 Delaware 1 Missouri 3 Tennessee 5 Florida 33 Nebraska 1 Texas 19 Georgia 9 Nevada 6 Utah 1 Hawaii 2 New Hampshire 3 Vermont 1 Illinois 8 New Jersey 13 Virginia 8 Indiana 2 New Mexico 2 Washington 5 Iowa 2 New York 14 West Virginia 1 Kansas 2 North Carolina 7 Wisconsin 3 Kentucky 3 Puerto Rico 1 LILLIE RUBIN STORES: Alabama 1 Louisiana 1 North Carolina 1 Arizona 1 Maryland 1 Ohio 1 Colorado 1 Michigan 2 Pennsylvania 2 Florida 10 Minnesota 1 Tennessee 1 Georgia 2 Nevada 1 Texas 4 Illinois 1 New Jersey 1 Virginia 2 Indiana 1 New York 1 Washington 1 5 The following table indicates the number of stores opened and closed over the past five fiscal years: STORES OPEN STORES OPENED DURING STORES CLOSED STORES OPEN AT END BEGINNING FISCAL YEAR DURING FISCAL YEAR OF FISCAL YEAR TOTAL FISCAL OF -------------------- ------------------ ------------------ SQUARE YEAR FISCAL YEAR CACHE L.R. CACHE L.R. CACHE L.R. TOTALS FOOTAGE ------ ----------- -------- -------- ------- ------- ------ ------- ------ --------- 2000 201 8 8 1 1 190 25 215 448,000 2001 215 9 1 2 1 197 25 222 460,000 2002 222 10 3 0 1 207 27 234 478,000 2003 234 22 2 2 1 227 28 255 514,000 2004 255 31 9 4 0 254 37 291 596,000 NEW STORE DEVELOPMENT We continually review potential new locations for Cache and Lillie Rubin stores. We locate our new stores primarily in upscale shopping malls. When selecting a new site, we target high traffic locations with suitable demographics and favorable lease economics. When evaluating a new site, we also look at the principal and anchor stores in the mall, location of our store within the mall and other specialty stores located in the mall. During fiscal 2004, we opened 31 Cache stores and 9 Lillie Rubin stores and closed 4 Cache stores. In fiscal 2005, we intend to open approximately 40 stores consisting of 30 Cache and 10 Lillie Rubin stores. In fiscal 2006, we intend to open approximately 50 stores, consisting of 30 Cache and 20 Lillie Rubin stores. Currently 34 of our Lillie Rubin stores are located in malls that also contain Cache stores, and we intend to locate the substantial majority of our new Lillie Rubin stores in malls containing Cache stores. MARKETING AND PROMOTION Historically, we conducted limited marketing and advertising, relying on our individual store displays, mall locations and word-of-mouth to attract customers. In early fiscal 2002 and all during fiscal 2003 and 2004, we used a variety of media to promote our Cache brand and increase sales, consisting primarily of advertisements in magazines such as Harper's Bazaar, Latina, Lucky, People and Vogue. We also introduced outdoor advertising in selected markets on billboards and buses, including a large campaign in Grand Central Station in New York. We expect to continue to increase our Cache advertising and marketing expenditures. In fiscal 2003, we launched a first-time advertising and marketing campaign for the Lillie Rubin brand. These increased marketing efforts for both Cache and Lillie Rubin continued in fiscal 2004 and are intended to attract new customers and increase sales to existing customers. We use direct mail campaigns to both potential and existing Cache customers. Over the past several years, we have built a database of over 2.8 million preferred Cache customers from our point-of-sale information system and mail 10 to 12 promotions per year to our targeted customers. We have already rapidly expanded the Lillie Rubin Preferred Customer database over the past year. Our preferred customer tracking system enables us to identify and target specific merchandise promotions targeted at individual customers. We also send e-mail notices to customers and intend to increase our use of e-mail promotions in the future. 6 Our Cache and Lillie Rubin brands are supported by visual merchandising, which consists of window displays, front table layouts and various promotions. This type of marketing is an important component of our marketing and promotion strategies since our mall locations provide significant foot traffic. We make decisions regarding store displays and advertising at the corporate level, ensuring a consistent appearance and message throughout all our stores. In addition, we encourage store management to become involved in community affairs, such as participating in local charity fashion shows, to enhance brand recognition and meet potential customers. Some stores host trunk shows several times each year to present selected merchandise to customers. We have operated a Cache website, www.cache.com, since August 1999. We continue to enhance features on this website, which allows customers to purchase merchandise online, view currently available styles and schedule private fittings of merchandise at any Cache store. We have seen a strong increase in sales at the website over the past two years, as website sales have increased from $537,000 in fiscal 2002 to $1.3 million in fiscal 2003 and $1.9 million in fiscal 2004. COMPETITION The market for women's social occasion sportswear, dresses and accessories is highly competitive. We compete primarily with specialty retailers of women's apparel and department stores. Our stores typically compete directly with other women's apparel stores located in the same mall or a nearby location. We believe our target customers choose to purchase apparel based on the following factors: o Style and fashion, o Fit and comfort, o Customer service, o Shopping convenience and environment and o Value. We believe that our Cache and Lillie Rubin stores and merchandise have advantages over our competitors in meeting these needs. INFORMATION SYSTEMS We utilize a combination of off-the-shelf and custom software applications in our point-of-sale computer system to track our sales and inventory levels on a daily basis. Each store communicates this data directly to the host system at our corporate headquarters in New York. Our systems enable us to quickly identify issues and make decisions such as redirecting merchandise shipments, adjusting prices, re-ordering based on results of test marketing and monitoring the success of promotional campaigns. In addition, our systems facilitate various administrative functions such as payroll, inventory control, merchandise transfers, special orders and price checking. TRADEMARKS AND SERVICE MARKS We are the owner in the United States of the Cache and Lillie Rubin trademarks and service marks. These marks are registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Each federal registration is renewable indefinitely if the mark is still in use at the time of renewal. Our rights to the "Cache" mark and "Lillie Rubin" mark are a significant part of our business. Accordingly, we intend to maintain these marks and the related registrations. We are unaware of any material claims of infringement or other 7 challenges to our right to use our marks in the United States, although we have successfully brought infringement claims against third parties in the past. EMPLOYEES As of January 1, 2005, we had approximately 2,500 employees, of whom approximately 1,200 were full-time employees and 1,300 were part time employees. None of these employees is represented by a labor union. We consider our employee relations to be satisfactory. AVAILABLE INFORMATION We make available on our website, www.cache.com, under "Investor Relations," free of charge, our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, currents reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file or furnish such materials to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"). Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, and Board of Directors' Committee Charters are also available on our website, under "Corporate Governance". 8 EXECUTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS AND KEY EMPLOYEES The following table sets forth information concerning our executive officers, directors and key employees: NAME AGE POSITION --------------------------------- --- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS Brian Woolf 56 Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board Thomas E. Reinckens 51 President, Chief Operating Officer Arthur S. Mintz 59 Director Andrew M. Saul 58 Director Morton J. Schrader 73 Director Gene G. Gage 57 Director Catherine McNeal 45 Executive Vice President, General Merchandise Manager, Cache Maria Comfort 48 Executive Vice President, General Merchandise Manager, Lillie Rubin OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES Victor Coster 47 Treasurer and Secretary Lisa Decker 43 Vice President, Marketing Margaret Feeney 47 Vice President, Finance Clifford Gray 49 Vice President, Construction Joanne Marselle 44 Vice President, Planning and Distribution Caryl Paez 44 Director, Information Technologies EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS BRIAN WOOLF has served as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board since October 2000. From March 1999 to October 2000, Mr. Woolf served as Vice President and General Merchandise Manager for The Limited. From 1995 to March 1999, Mr. Woolf served as Senior Vice President and General Merchandise Manager for Caldor. Mr. Woolf has held various management positions within the retail industry over the last 30 years. THOMAS E. REINCKENS has served as President and Chief Operating Officer since October 2000. Mr. Reinckens also is our current principal financial and accounting officer. Mr. Reinckens joined our company in February 1987 and has held various positions throughout his tenure, most recently serving as Chief Financial Officer from November 1989 to October 2000 and Executive Vice President from September 1995 to October 2000. Mr. Reinckens has over 20 years of retail experience. ARTHUR S. MINTZ has served as one of our directors since September 2002. Mr. Mintz has served as the President of Bees & Jam, Inc., an apparel manufacturer, since 1971. ANDREW M. SAUL has served as one of our directors since 1986. Mr. Saul also served as our Chairman of the Board from February 1993 to October 2000. Mr. Saul is a partner in Saul Partners, an investment partnership, a position he has held since 1986. 9 MORTON J. SCHRADER has served as one of our directors since 1989. Mr. Schrader was the President of Abe Schrader Corp., a manufacturer of women's apparel, from 1968 through March 1989. Since 1989, he has been active as a real estate broker. GENE G. GAGE has served as one of our directors since September 2004. Mr. Gage is currently a Financial Advisor for New England Financial. He is a certified public accountant, as well as a certified financial planner. He has over 30 years of financial experience. CATHERINE MCNEAL has served as Executive Vice President, Merchandise Manager for our Cache stores since June 2003. From 1997 until joining Cache, Ms. McNeal served in various managerial capacities for the Limited, most recently as Vice President, Merchandising Manager for Limited stores. Ms. McNeal has over 20 years of retail experience. MARIA COMFORT has served as Executive Vice President of Lillie Rubin since April 2004. Ms. Comfort has served as Vice President and General Merchandise Manager for our Lillie Rubin stores since May 2002. From 1999 until she joined us, Ms. Comfort served as Executive Vice President for Giorgio Armani. From June 1997 to 1999, Ms. Comfort served as President of 9 & Co., a division of Nine West Group, Inc., a women's apparel company. Ms. Comfort's background encompasses a variety of merchandising functions, including design, manufacturing and buying. Ms. Comfort has over 25 years of retail experience. 10 OTHER KEY EMPLOYEES VICTOR COSTER has served as Secretary since July 1991 and as our Treasurer since July 2001. Mr. Coster is responsible for all treasury and tax matters. Mr. Coster joined us in February 1991, and has held various positions, most recently as Controller from February 1997 to July 2001. Mr. Coster has over 25 years of experience in finance and accounting and has been a Certified Public Accountant since 1981. LISA DECKER has served as Vice President of Marketing and Advertising since 1998 and was our Director of Marketing from 1991 until 1998. She has over 20 years of experience in marketing, advertising, sales promotion and visual merchandising within the retail industry. MARGARET FEENEY has served as Vice President of Finance since 2001. Ms. Feeney has served in a variety of financial and operational capacities with us since 1992. Prior to joining us, Ms. Feeney served as Manager of Financial Analysis and Budgeting for Toys "R" Us and in various financial positions at Brooks Fashion Stores, a junior specialty chain. Ms. Feeney has 20 years of retail experience. CLIFFORD GRAY has served as Vice President of Construction since 1999 and was our Operations Manager from 1991 to 1999. Prior to joining us, Mr. Gray served as Operations Manager with Kids "R" Us. JOANNE MARSELLE has served as Vice President of Planning and Distribution since 2000 and was our Director of Planning from 1990 to 2000. Prior to joining us, Ms. Marselle served at various times as a Planning and Distribution Analyst and a Merchandise Coordinator for both Country Road Australia and Ann Taylor. Ms. Marselle has over 20 years experience in the areas of planning and distribution. CARYL PAEZ has served as Director of Information Technologies since he rejoined our company in 1999. From 1996 to 1999, he was Director of Information Technologies for Louis Vuitton Americas. From 1992 to 1996, he served as our Director of Management Systems and from 1989 to 1992, as our Manager of Point of Sales Systems. 11 ITEM 2. PROPERTIES All but a few of our 291 stores are located in shopping malls. The substantial majority of our stores contain between 1,500 and 2,500 square feet of space, with the typical store averaging 2,000 square feet. All of our stores are in leased facilities, and we typically negotiate our rental agreements based on our portfolio of store locations with a particular landlord rather than on an individual basis. Rental terms usually include a fixed minimum rent plus a percentage rent based on sales in excess of a specified amount. In addition, we generally are required to pay a charge for common area maintenance, utility consumption, promotional activities and/or advertising, insurance and real estate taxes. Many leases contain fixed escalation clauses. Most leases contain leasehold improvement reimbursements from landlords and/or rent holidays. In recognizing landlord incentives and minimum rent expenses, the Company amortizes the charges on a straight line basis over the lease term. Our leases expire at various dates through 2019. The following table indicates the periods during which our leases expire. FISCAL YEARS CACHE LILLIE RUBIN TOTALS ------------ ------- ------------ ------ Present-2007 76 5 81 2008-2010 40 6 46 2011-2013 59 15 74 2014-2016 77 10 87 2017-2019 2 1 3 ------- ------ ------ Totals 254 37 291 Our corporate office is a 20,000 square foot facility located at 1440 Broadway in New York City. We lease this space under a 10-year lease through 2013 at a rate of approximately $543,000 per year. We contract for space in a warehouse in New York on an as-needed basis to serve as a staging area for new store inventories and fixtures. ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS We are party to various lawsuits arising in the ordinary course of our business. Management does not believe it is reasonably possible that resolution of these matters will result in a material loss. 12 ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS Cache, Inc. held its annual meeting of shareholders at its headquarters in New York, New York on October 14, 2004. Of the 15,634,000 shares outstanding as of the record date, 14,360,822 shares were represented by proxy at the meeting. Proxies were solicited by Cache pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. At the meeting, Cache's shareholders voted on the following matters: (1) Proposal to elect five directors to hold office for a one-year term and until their successors are elected and qualified. FOR WITHHELD -------------- ------------ Andrew M. Saul 14,054,948 305,874 Brian Woolf 14,191,272 169,550 Gene G. Gage 14,289,949 70,873 Arthur S. Mintz 14,135,084 225,738 Morton J. Schrader 14,034,998 325,824 (2) Proposal to ratify the appointment of KPMG LLP as our independent auditors for the fiscal year ending January 1, 2005. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN -------------- ----------- ---------- 14,258,097 97,541 5,184 13 PART II ITEM 5. MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON STOCK AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS a. The principal market in which the Company's Common Stock is being traded is the NASDAQ National Market System. The stock symbol is CACH. The price range of the high and low bid information (restated for the June 18, 2004, 3 for 2 stock split) for the Company's Common Stock during 2003 and 2004, by fiscal quarters, are as follows: FISCAL PERIOD FISCAL 2003 FISCAL 2004 ------------- -------------------- -------------------- HIGH LOW HIGH LOW -------- -------- -------- -------- First Fiscal Quarter $9.71 $6.70 $21.59 $12.50 Second Fiscal Quarter $10.21 $5.08 $23.63 $13.39 Third Fiscal Quarter $14.93 $9.81 $15.85 $11.31 Fourth Fiscal Quarter $18.22 $12.74 $18.53 $13.69 Such over-the-counter market quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, markdown or commission and may not necessarily represent actual transactions. b. As of February 28, 2005, there were approximately 325 holders of record of the Company's Common Stock. c. The Company has never paid cash dividends on its common stock. Payment of dividends is within the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors. On June 18, 2004, the company paid a 3 for 2 stock dividend to holders of record. d. The following table summarizes our equity compensation plans as of January 1, 2005: NUMBER OF SECURITIES REMAINING AVAILABLE FOR WEIGHTED AVERAGE THE FUTURE ISSUANCE UNDER EXERCISE EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS NUMBER OF SECURITIES TO PRICE OF (EXCLUDING SECURITIES BE ISSUED UPON EXERCISE OUTSTANDING REFLECTED IN PLAN CATEGORY OF OUTSTANDING OPTIONS OPTIONS COLUMN (a)) (a) (b) (c) ------------- ---------------------- ------- ----------- Equity compensation plans approved by security holders 1,651,750 $10.43 145,782 Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders 0 0 0 ----------- -------- -------- Total 1,651,750 $10.43 145,782 ========== ======== ======== 14 ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA The following Selected Consolidated Financial Data should be read in conjunction with the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes thereto. CACHE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES STORE DATA AND OPERATING RESULTS 53 WEEKS 52 WEEKS ENDED (1) ENDED ----------------------------------------------------------------- --------- DEC. 30, DEC. 29, DEC. 28, DEC. 27, JAN. 1, 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- (in thousands, except per share and operating data) OPERATING RESULTS: NET SALES $177,313 $180,750 $200,315 $216,256 $247,300 COST OF SALES 119,091 117,201 116,490 120,731 135,745 ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- GROSS PROFIT 58,222 63,549 83,825 95,525 111,555 STORE OPERATING EXPENSES 47,028 51,285 57,322 63,546 76,466 GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES 9,481 8,929 12,190 14,074 14,221 ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- OPERATING INCOME 1,713 3,335 14,313 17,905 20,868 OTHER INCOME, (net) (2) 24 1,858 260 273 459 ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 1,737 5,193 14,573 18,178 21,327 INCOME TAX PROVISION 634 1,895 5,632 7,089 8,030 ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- NET INCOME $1,103 $3,298 $8,941 $11,089 13,297 ============= =========== =========== =========== =========== EARNINGS PER SHARE: BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE $0.08 $0.24 $0.66 $0.78 $0.85 DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE $0.08 $0.24 $0.62 $0.75 $0.83 WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING: BASIC 13,637 13,637 13,650 14,256 15,589 DILUTED (3) 13,836 13,844 14,448 14,721 16,004 STORE DATA: NUMBER OF STORES OPEN AT END OF PERIOD 215 222 234 255 291 AVERAGE SALES PER SQUARE FOOT (4) $409 $408 $438 $450 $461 COMPARABLE STORE SALES INCREASE (5) 3% 0% 7% 3% 5% 15 CACHE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES BALANCE SHEET DATA --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- DEC. 30, DEC. 29, DEC. 28, DEC. 27, JAN. 1, 2000 2001 2002 2003 2005 ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- (in thousands, except ratios and per share data) WORKING CAPITAL $16,165 $20,197 $26,654 $41,034 $53,469 TOTAL ASSETS (6) $57,585 $61,182 $76,480 $104,067 $132,028 TOTAL LONG-TERM DEBT --- --- --- --- --- STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $33,008 $36,306 $45,292 $65,142 $84,840 RATIO OF CURRENT ASSETS TO CURRENT LIABILITIES 1.78 : 1 2.03 : 1 2.07 : 1 2.41 : 1 2.75 : 1 INVENTORY TURNOVER RATIO 4.84 : 1 5.07 : 1 5.28 : 1 4.94 : 1 4.60 : 1 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES (6) $6,196 $6,220 $9,033 $15,628 $21,753 DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION $5,106 $5,247 $5,519 $6,395 $8,232 BOOK VALUE PER SHARE $2.42 $2.66 $3.32 $4.35 $5.42 FOOTNOTES (1) Results for all periods presented include 52 weeks, except for fiscal 2004 which includes 53 weeks. (2) Other income in fiscal 2001 included $1,518,000 from the settlement of a trademark litigation claim undertaken against a third party, net of professional fees related to the lawsuit. Other income generally consists of interest income. (3) Diluted weighted average shares for the fiscal years ended, December 30, 2000, December 29, 2001, December 28, 2002, December 27, 2003 and January 1, 2005 include 200,000, 207,000, 798,000, 465,000 and 415,000, shares respectively, due to the potential exercise of stock options that were outstanding and exercisable during those years. (4) Average sales per square foot are calculated by dividing net sales by the weighted average store square footage available. (5) Comparable store sales data is calculated based on the net sales of stores open at least 12 full months at the beginning of the period for which the data are presented. (6) Restated. See Item 7, Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations. 16 ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS GENERAL NET SALES. Net sales consist of sales from comparable stores and non-comparable stores. A store is not included in comparable store sales until the first day of the fiscal month following the twelfth full month of sales. Non-comparable store sales include sales generated at new stores prior to the period when they are considered comparable stores and sales generated from stores that we have since closed. SHIPPING AND HANDLING. Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling fees are included in net sales at the time of shipment. Costs incurred for shipping and handling are included in cost of sales. COST OF SALES. Cost of sales includes the cost of merchandise, cost of freight from vendors, costs incurred for shipping and handling, payroll for our design, buying and merchandising personnel and store occupancy costs. Store occupancy costs include rent, contingent rents, common area maintenance and real estate taxes. STORE OPERATING EXPENSES. Store operating expenses include payroll, payroll taxes, health benefits, insurance, credit card processing fees, depreciation, licenses and taxes as well as marketing and advertising expenses. GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. General and administrative expenses include district and regional manager payroll, other corporate personnel payroll and employee benefits, employment taxes, insurance, legal and other professional fees and other corporate level expenses. Corporate level expenses are primarily attributable to our corporate headquarters in New York. RESTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS On February 7, 2005, the Office of the Chief Accountant of the SEC issued a letter to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants expressing its views regarding certain operating lease accounting issues and their application under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the United States of America. After reviewing this letter, Cache's management began a review of its lease related accounting policies and determined that its then-current method of accounting for leasehold improvements reimbursed by landlord incentives or allowances under operating leases (landlord construction allowances) was not in accordance with GAAP. The Company had historically accounted for landlord construction allowance reimbursements as reductions to leasehold improvements on the consolidated balance sheets and capital expenditures in investing activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows. Cache's management has determined that the appropriate interpretation of FASB Technical Bulletin No. 88-1, "Issues Relating to Accounting for Leases," requires these allowances to be recorded as deferred rent liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and as a component of operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows. As of January 1, 2005, the Company reclassified landlord construction allowance reimbursements from net leasehold improvements to deferred rent to conform with the requirements of SFAS No. 13, "Accounting for Leases". There was no effect on the Company's income statements. Leasehold 17 improvements and total assets increased for each year presented as a result of the reclassification and was offset by an increase in deferred rent and total liabilities. As a result of the above, the Company has restated its consolidated balance sheet as of December 27, 2003 and its consolidated statements of cash flows for each of the 52 week periods ended December 28, 2002 and December 27, 2003. See Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements of the Report for a summary of the effects of these changes on the Company's consolidated balance sheet as of December 27, 2003, as well as on the Company's consolidated statements of cash flows for the 52 week periods ended December 28, 2002 and December 27, 2003. The accompanying Management's Discussion and Analysis describes these corrections. ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the appropriate application of certain accounting policies, many of which requires us to make estimates and assumptions about future events and their impact on amounts reported in our financial statements and related notes. Since future events and their impact cannot be determined with certainty, the actual results will inevitably differ from our estimates. Such differences could be material to the financial statements. Our accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the financial statements, located elsewhere in this document. We have identified certain critical accounting policies which are described below. INVENTORIES. Merchandise inventory is carried at the lower of cost or market using the retail method of accounting. We make assumptions to adjust the value of inventory based on historical experience and current information. This procedure inherently reduces the carrying value of inventories as permanent markdowns are initiated. These assumptions can have a significant impact on current and future operating results and financial position. SELF INSURANCE. We are self-insured for losses and liabilities related primarily to employee health and welfare claims. Losses are accrued based upon our estimates of the aggregate liability for claims incurred using certain actuarial assumptions followed in the insurance industry and based on Company experience. REVENUE RECOGNITION. Sales are recognized at the "point of sale," which occurs when merchandise is sold in an "over-the-counter" transaction or upon receipt by a customer. Sales of merchandise via our website are recognized at the time of shipment to the customer. Our customers have the right to return merchandise. Sales are reported net of actual and estimated returns. We maintain a reserve for potential product returns and record, as a reduction to sales, a provision for estimated product returns, which is determined based on historical experience. 18 OPERATING LEASES. The Company leases retail stores and office space under operating leases. Most leases contain construction allowance reimbursements by landlords, rent holidays, rent escalation clauses and/or contingent rent provisions. The Company recognizes the related rental expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term and records the difference between the amounts charged to expense and the rent paid as a deferred rent liability. To account for construction allowance reimbursements from landlords and rent holidays, the Company records a deferred rent liability included in accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and amortizes the deferred rent over the lease term, as a reduction to rent expense on the consolidated income statements. For leases containing rent escalation clauses, the Company records minimum rent expense on a straight- line basis over the lease term on the consolidated income statement. The lease term used for lease evaluation includes option periods only in instances in which the exercise of the option period can be reasonably assured and failure to exercise such options would result in an economic penalty. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS The following table sets forth our operating results, expressed as a percentage of net sales. 52 WEEKS ENDED 53 WEEKS ENDED ---------------------------- -------------- DECEMBER 28, DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2002 2003 2005 ------------ ------------ -------------- OPERATING RESULTS Net sales 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Cost of sales 58.2 55.8 54.9 ------------ ------------ -------------- Gross profit 41.8 44.2 45.1 Store operating expenses 28.6 29.4 30.9 General and administrative expenses 6.1 6.5 5.8 ------------ ------------ -------------- Operating income 7.1 8.3 8.4 Other income (net) 0.1 0.1 0.2 Income before income taxes 7.3 8.4 8.6 Income taxes 2.8 3.3 3.2 ------------ ------------ -------------- Net income 4.5% 5.1% 5.4% ============ ============ ============== 19 53 WEEKS ENDED JANUARY 1, 2005 (FISCAL 2004) COMPARED TO 52 WEEKS ENDED DECEMBER 27, 2003 (FISCAL 2003) NET SALES. The results of the Company for fiscal 2004 were favorably impacted by the extra reporting week. Net sales increased to $247.3 million from $216.3 million, an increase of $31.0 million, or 14.3%, over the prior fiscal year, for the 53 week period ended January 1, 2005 as compared to the 52 week period in Fiscal 2003. The one week of additional sales in Fiscal 2004 was approximately 2.7% of the total sales increase. The sales increase reflects $10.1 million of additional net sales as a result of a 5% increase in comparable store sales. The remainder of the increase was the result of additional net sales from non-comparable stores. GROSS PROFIT. Gross profit increased to $111.6 million from $95.5 million, an increase of $16.1 million, or 16.9%, over the prior fiscal year. This increase was the combined result of higher net sales, partially due to the additional one week of sales in the Fiscal 2004 period and increased gross profit margins. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit increased to 45.1% from 44.2%. This increase as a percentage of net sales was primarily due to higher initial margins resulting from sourcing improvements. STORE OPERATING EXPENSES. Store operating expenses increased to $76.5 million from $63.5 million, an increase of $13.0 million, or 20.5%, over the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of net sales, store operating expenses increased to 30.9% from 29.4%, primarily due to the increase in stores opened over the past two years and an increase in marketing and advertising expenses of $1.8 million. Store operating expenses in Fiscal 2004 were also higher than Fiscal 2003, due to the additional one week period included in Fiscal 2004 results. GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. General and administrative expenses increased to $14.2 million from $14.1 million, an increase of $147,000 or 1.0%, above the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses decreased to 5.8% from 6.5%, primarily due to lower incentive compensation expense in Fiscal 2004 costs. General and administrative expenses in Fiscal 2004 were also slightly higher than Fiscal 2003, due the additional one week period included in Fiscal 2004 results. OTHER INCOME. Other income increased to $459,000 from $273,000, in the prior fiscal year, primarily attributable to higher average cash balances and higher interest rates during fiscal 2004, as compared to fiscal 2003. Other income generally consists of interest income. We expect interest income to grow in the future as cash flow from operations is greater than expenditures on new stores and remodeling. INCOME TAXES. Income taxes increased to $8.0 million from $7.1 million, an increase of $941,000, over the prior fiscal year. This increase was attributable to higher taxable income, and was partially offset by a decrease in the effective tax rate from 39.0% in fiscal 2003 to 37.7% in fiscal 2004. The decrease in the overall effective income tax rate is primarily attributable to a reversal of state income tax over accrued in prior fiscal years. NET INCOME. As a result of the foregoing, net income increased to $13.3 million from $11.1 million, an increase of $2.2 million or 19.8%, over the same period last year. 20 52 WEEKS ENDED DECEMBER 27, 2003 (FISCAL 2003) COMPARED TO 52 WEEKS ENDED DECEMBER 28, 2002 (FISCAL 2002) NET SALES. Net sales increased to $216.3 million from $200.3 million, an increase of $15.9 million, or 8.0%, over the prior fiscal year. This increase reflects $6.2 million of additional net sales as a result of a 3% increase in comparable store sales. The remainder of the increase was the result of additional net sales from non-comparable stores. We believe our new store expansion and remodeling program will help to materially increase sales during the next few years. GROSS PROFIT. Gross profit increased to $95.5 million from $83.8 million, an increase of $11.7 million, or 14.0%, over the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit increased to 44.2% from 41.8%. This increase in gross profit was the combined result of higher net sales and an increase in gross profit margins, due to a more focused approach to inventory management. We plan to increase inventory turns in future years, as we reduce dress inventory levels, turns of which are historically slower than sportswear inventory turns. STORE OPERATING EXPENSES. Store operating expenses increased to $63.5 million from $57.3 million, an increase of $6.2 million, or 10.9%, over the prior fiscal year. This was due primarily to an increase in the total number of new stores open. As a percentage of net sales, store operating expenses increased to 29.4% from 28.6%, primarily due to an increase in payroll expense of $3.0 million and an increase in advertising expense of $1.2 million. We anticipate store operating expenses will run slightly higher than historical levels, as a percent of sales in the short term, as we increase our rate of store expansion. GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES. General and administrative expenses increased to $14.1 million from $12.2 million, an increase of $1.9 million or 15.5% from the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of net sales, general and administrative expenses increased to 6.5% from 6.1%. This increase was primarily attributable to increase in corporate level payroll of $1.4 million and professional fees of $289,000. We anticipate general and administrative expenses will return to lower historical levels in the next few years, as we have completed most of the headquarters staffing necessary to fuel the current store expansion. OTHER INCOME. Other income increased to $273,000 from $260,000, primarily attributable to higher average cash balances during fiscal 2003, partially offset by lower interest rates in fiscal 2003. We expect interest income to grow in the future due to stronger cash flows from operations and higher interest rates, as the U.S. economy recovers. INCOME TAXES. Income taxes increased to $7.1 million from $5.6 million, an increase of $1.5 million, over the same period last year. This increase was attributable to higher taxable income, as well as an increase in the effective tax rate from 38.6% in fiscal 2002 to 39.0% in fiscal 2003. The increase in the overall effective income tax rate is attributable to increased levels of federal taxable income subject to tax in a higher tax bracket, as well as a change in the mix of income subject to tax in the various states in which we conduct business. NET INCOME. As a result of the foregoing, net income increased to $11.1 million from $8.9 million, an increase of $2.2 million, over the same period last year. 21 QUARTERLY RESULTS AND SEASONALITY We experience seasonal and quarterly fluctuations in our net sales and operating income. Our quarterly results of operations may fluctuate significantly as a result of a variety of factors, including the timing of new store openings, fashion trends and shifts in timing of certain holidays. Our business is subject to seasonal influences, characterized by highest sales during our fourth fiscal quarter (October, November and December) and lowest sales during our third fiscal quarter (July, August and September). The following table includes our unaudited quarterly results of operations data for each of the eight quarters during the two-year period ended January 1, 2005. We derived this data from our unaudited quarterly consolidated financial statements. We believe that we have prepared this information on the same basis as our audited consolidated financial statements and that we have included all necessary adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, to present fairly the selected quarterly information when read in conjunction with our audited annual consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this document. The operating results for any particular quarter are not necessarily indicative of the operating results for any future period. 13 WEEKS ENDED 14 WEEKS ENDED ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ----------- MAR. 29, JUNE 28, SEPT. 27, DEC. 27, MAR. 27, JUNE 26, SEPT. 25, JAN. 1, 2003 2003 2003 2003 2004 2004 2004 2005 ---------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------- (Unaudited) (Dollars in thousands) OPERATING RESULTS Net sales $48,098 $56,193 $47,343 $64,622 $57,194 $62,087 $49,430 $78,589 Gross profit 20,037 24,913 20,223 30,352 25,688 29,149 19,596 37,122 Operating income (loss) 2,583 5,665 936 8,721 5,151 7,102 (961) 9,576 Net income (loss) $1,641 $3,541 $614 $5,293 $3,249 $4,361 ($521) $6,208 AS A PERCENTAGE OF NET SALES Net sales 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Gross profit 41.7% 44.3% 42.7% 47.0% 44.9% 46.9% 39.6% 47.2% Operating income 5.4% 10.1% 2.0% 13.5% 9.0% 11.4% (1.9%) 12.2% Net income 3.4% 6.3% 1.3% 8.2% 5.7% 7.0% (1.1%) 7.9% SELECTED OPERATING DATA Number of stores open at end of period 237 240 244 255 258 269 276 291 Comparable store sales increase (3%) 4% 3% 4% 13% 3% (1%) 4% LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES Our cash requirements are primarily for the construction of new stores and inventory for new stores as well as the remodeling of existing stores. We have historically satisfied our cash requirements principally through cash flow from operations. Cash flows have increased significantly in fiscal 2003 and 2004, due to the dramatic increase in gross margin contribution. We expect this trend to continue over the next several years. As a result of the restatement of our financial statements to reflect the reclassification of landlord construction allowance reimbursements from net leasehold improvements to deferred rent, cash flow from operations increased in fiscal 2002 and 2003 from the amounts previously reported. Cash used in investing activities also increased in fiscal 2002 and 2003 reflecting the offsetting increase in leasehold improvements. As of January 1, 2005, we had working capital of $53.5 million, which included cash and marketable securities of $42.7 million. 22 During fiscal 2004, we generated $23.0 million in cash from operating activities due primarily to net income, depreciation of $8.2 million, an increase in deferred taxes of $2.7 million, an increase in accounts payable of $2.7 million, an increase in accrued liabilities of $3.9 million and a tax benefit of $1.6 million from stock option exercises, which were partially offset by an increase in inventories of $5.6 million (primarily due to the net increase of 36 stores), reversal of deferred rent of $1.2 million, and an increase in receivables of $1.9 million. During fiscal 2003, we generated $21.8 million in cash from operating activities due primarily to net income, depreciation of $6.4 million, an increase in accrued liabilities and compensation of $5.4 million, an increase in accounts payable of $2.4 million, tax benefit from stock option exercises of $2.9 million, partially offset by an increase in accounts receivable of $1.9 million, and an increase in inventories of $4.7 million, primarily due to the net increase of 21 stores. During fiscal 2002, we generated $21.6 million in cash from operating activities due primarily to net income, depreciation of $5.5 million, a decrease in receivables of $1.6 million, an increase in accounts payable of $899,000 and an increase in accrued liabilities and compensation of $5.8 million. Cash used in investing activities was approximately $27.9 million in fiscal 2004, $21.0 million in fiscal 2003, and $23.4 million in fiscal 2002. These amounts were used for the purchase of marketable securities as well as the payment for equipment and leasehold improvements in new and remodeled stores. Our capital requirements depend primarily on the number of new stores we open, the number of existing stores we remodel and the timing of these expenditures. Projected capital expenditures for fiscal 2005 to fund new store openings and remodelings are approximately $18.0 to $20.0 million. Based on our experience with new store openings, we estimate that the average net investment to open new stores is approximately $225,000 to $375,000, which includes new store opening expenses and initial inventory, net of landlord contributions. We estimate that the average net investment to remodel an existing store is approximately $200,000 to $300,000, net of landlord contributions. Cash provided by financing activities was approximately $4.9 million in fiscal 2004, primarily due to stock option exercises and stock issuances. During fiscal 2003, we received net proceeds of $5.8 million from stock issuances and stock option exercises. Cash provided by financing activities was negligible in fiscal 2002. We have a line of credit with Fleet Bank, N.A., permitting us to borrow up to $17.5 million on a revolving basis. At January 1, 2005, there was no outstanding balance under this credit facility. Amounts outstanding under the credit facility bear interest at a maximum annual rate equal to the bank's prime rate, currently 5.50%. The agreement relating to this facility contains selected financial and other covenants. In addition, the credit facility contains restrictions on our ability to make capital expenditures, incur indebtedness or create or incur liens on our assets. While this facility is unsecured, if a default occurs under the facility, we are required to grant the lender a security interest in our inventory and accounts receivable. We have at all times been in compliance with all loan covenants. This facility currently expires in November 2005. We believe that cash flow from operations, our current available cash and funds available under our revolving credit facility will be sufficient to meet our working capital needs and contemplated new store opening expenses for at least the next 12 months. If our cash flow from operations should decline significantly or if we should accelerate our store expansion or remodeling program, it may be necessary for us to seek additional sources of capital. 23 CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS AND COMMERCIAL COMMITMENTS The following tables summarize our minimum contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of January 1, 2005: PAYMENTS DUE IN PERIOD ----------------------------------------------------------------- WITHIN AFTER TOTAL 1 YEAR 2-3 YEARS 4-5 YEARS 5 YEARS ------- -------- --------- --------- -------- (In thousands) Contractual Obligations Employment contracts $ 1,042 $ 500 $ 542 $ - $ - Purchase Obligations 31,662 31,662 - - - Operating leases 166,578 23,745 41,794 37,745 63,294 --------- -------- --------- --------- -------- Total $ 199,282 $ 55,907 $ 42,336 $ 37,745 $ 63,294 --------- -------- --------- --------- -------- PAYMENTS DUE IN PERIOD ----------------------------------------------------------------- WITHIN AFTER TOTAL 1 YEAR 2-3 YEARS 4-5 YEARS 5 YEARS ------- -------- --------- --------- -------- (In thousands) Commercial Commitments Credit facility $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - Standby Letters of credit 3,054 3,054 - - - -------- -------- --------- --------- --------- Total $ 3,054 $ 3,054 $ - $ - $ - ======== ======== ========= ========= ========= We issue standby letters of credit primarily for the importation of merchandise inventories. The Company does not have any off balance sheet financing arrangements. ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK Our market risk relates primarily to changes in interest rates. We bear the risk in two specific ways. First, the revolving credit facility carries a variable interest rate that is tied to market indices and, therefore, the statement of income and cash flows will be exposed to changes in interest rates. As of January 1, 2005, we had no borrowing under our credit facility. However, we may borrow funds under the revolving credit facility, as needed. The second component of interest rate risk involves the short-term investment of excess cash in short-term, investment-grade interest-bearing securities. These investments are included in cash and equivalents as well as marketable securities on our balance sheet, If there are changes in interest rates, those changes would affect the investment income we earn on these investments and, therefore, impact our cash flows and results of operations. 24 RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, "SHARE-BASED PAYMENT," which revises SFAS No. 123, "ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION," and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, "ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK ISSUED TO EMPLOYEES." This Statement focuses primarily on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. This Statement requires an entity to recognize the cost of employee services received in share-based payment transactions and measure the cost on a grant-date fair value of the award. That cost will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. The provisions of SFAS No. 123R will be effective for the Company's financial statements issued for periods beginning after June 15, 2005. In December 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46R, "CONSOLIDATION OF VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES" ("FIN 46R"), which addresses how a business enterprise should evaluate whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity through means other than voting rights and accordingly should consolidate the entity. The adoption of FIN46R did not have any impact on our financial position and results of operations. In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") reached a consensus on Issue No. 03-1, "THE MEANING OF OTHER-THAN-TEMPORARY IMPAIRMENTS AND ITS APPLICATION TO CERTAIN INVESTMENTS" ("EITF 03-1"). EITF 03-1 provides a three-step impairment model for determining whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired and requires the Company to recognize such impairments as an impairment loss equal to the difference between the investment's cost and fair value at the reporting date. The guidance is effective for the Company during the first quarter of fiscal 2005. The Company does not believe that the adoption of EITF 03-1 will have a significant effect on its financial statements. ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA The Company's unaudited selected quarterly financial data is incorporated herein by reference to Note 11 to the Company's consolidated financial statements on page F-20. The Company's consolidated financial statements and the report of independent public accountants are listed at Item 16 of this Report and are included in this Form 10-K on pages F-1 through F-22. ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND/OR DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE During the two most recent fiscal years and the interim period through the date of this disclosure, (i) there have been no disagreements with KPMG on any matter of accounting principles or practices, financial statement disclosure or auditing scope or procedure, which disagreements, if not resolved to the satisfaction of KPMG, would have caused it to make reference to the subject matter of the disagreements in connection with its report, and (ii) there were no "reportable events" (as defined in Item 304(a)(1)(v) of Regulation S-K). Please see our Current Report on Form 8-K filed February 15, 2005 for additional disclosure regarding our change in accountants. 25 ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES (1) DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES--The Company maintains a system of disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the Company's reports under the Securities 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 management, including the Company's Chief Executive Officer ("CEO") and the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer ("PFAC"), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, as the Company's are designed to do, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. In connection with the preparation of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, as of January 1, 2005, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company's management, including the CEO and PFAC, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act). In performing this evaluation, management reviewed the Company's lease accounting and leasehold depreciation practices in light of the February 7, 2005 letter issued by the Office of the Chief Accountant of the SEC to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. As a result of this review, the Company concluded that its previously established lease accounting and leasehold improvement depreciation practices were not appropriate and determined that the Company's cash flows from operations and cash used in investing activities over the last several years had been understated. There was no impact on net income, as a result of the changes. Accordingly, as described below, the Company determined to restate certain of its previously issued financial statements to reflect the correction in the Company's lease accounting and leasehold improvement depreciation practices. Based on that evaluation, the Company's CEO and PFAC concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of January 1, 2005. (2) MANAGEMENT'S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING--Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f). A system of internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation and fair presentation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation. Management has assessed the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2005. In making its assessment of internal control over financial reporting, management used the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations ("COSO") of the Treadway Commission in INTERNAL CONTROL--INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK. In performing this assessment, management reviewed the Company's lease accounting practices in light of the SEC letter of February 7, 2005. As a result of this review, management concluded that the Company's controls over the selection and monitoring of accounting policies for construction allowances received from landlords were insufficient, and, as a result, management has determined that the 26 Company's cash flows from operations and cash used in investing activities over the last several years had been understated. On March 11, 2005, the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors (the "Committee") and management determined to restate certain of the Company's previously issued financial statements to reflect the correction in its accounting and for construction allowances received from landlords. Management evaluated the impact of this restatement on the Company's assessment of its system of internal control and has concluded that the control deficiency that resulted in the incorrect accounting for construction allowances received from landlords represented a material weakness as of January 1, 2005. As a result of this material weakness in the Company's internal control over financial reporting, management has concluded that, as of January 1, 2005, the Company's internal control over financial reporting was not effective based on the criteria set forth by the COSO of the Treadway Commission in INTERNAL CONTROL--INTEGRATED FRAMEWORK. A material weakness in internal control over financial reporting is a control deficiency (within the meaning of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board's ("PCAOB") Auditing Standard No. 2), or combination of control deficiencies, that results in there being more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. PCAOB Auditing Standard No. 2 identifies a number of circumstances that, because of their likely significant negative effect on internal control over financial reporting, are to be regarded as at least significant deficiencies as well as strong indicators that a material weakness exists, including the restatement of previously issued financial statements to reflect the correction of a misstatement. The Company's independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, has issued an attestation report on management's assessment of the Company's internal control over financial reporting. This report appears below. (3) REMEDIATION STEPS TO ADDRESS MATERIAL WEAKNESS--To remediate the aforementioned material weakness in the Company's internal control over financial reporting, the Company implemented, subsequent to year end, additional review procedures over the selection and monitoring of accounting policies for construction allowances received from landlords. (4) CHANGE IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING -- No changes in the Company's internal control over financial reporting has occurred during the Company's last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company's internal control over financial reporting. /s/ BRIAN WOOLF March 16, 2005 ------------------------------------- Brian Woolf CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER /s/ THOMAS E. REINCKENS March 16, 2005 ------------------------------------- Thomas E. Reinckens PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER) 27 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM We have audited management's assessment, included in the accompanying Management's Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting (Item 9(A)(2)), that Cache, Inc. did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2005, because of the effect of deficiencies in the Company's selection and monitoring of accounting policies for construction allowances received from landlords, based on criteria established in Internal Control--Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO criteria). Cache, Inc.'s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management's assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management's assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion. A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements. Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate. A material weakness is a control deficiency, or combination of control deficiencies, that results in more than a remote likelihood that a material misstatement of the annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected. The following material weakness has been identified and included in management's assessment: In its assessment as of January 1, 2005, management identified as a material weakness the Company's lack of sufficient controls over the selection and monitoring of accounting policies for construction allowances received from landlords. As a result of this material weakness in internal control, Cache, Inc. concluded the Company's previously reported annual cash flows from operations and cash used in investing activities had been understated and that previously issued financial statements should be restated. 28 We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Cache, Inc. as of January 1, 2005 and December 27, 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 1, 2005. The aforementioned material weakness was considered in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2004 consolidated financial statements, and this report does not affect our report dated March 15, 2005, which expressed an unqualified opinion on those consolidated financial statements. In our opinion, management's assessment that Cache, Inc. did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2005 is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Also, in our opinion, because of the effect of the material weakness described above on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, Cache Inc. has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). /s/ KPMG LLP ---------------------------------------- KPMG LLP New York, New York March 15, 2005 ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION None. PART III The information called for by Items 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 is incorporated herein by reference from the definitive proxy statement to be filed by the Company in connection with its 2005 Annual Meeting of Shareholders. 29 ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a) 1. The financial statements listed in the "Index To The Consolidated Financial Statements" on page F-2 are filed as a part of this report. 2. Financial statement schedules are included on page F-22 or are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto. 3. Exhibits (9) 3.1 Articles of Incorporation of the Company and all amendments thereto (2) 3.2 Bylaws of the Company (1) 10.1 Lease, dated July 28, 2003, between the Company, as Tenant, and New 1440 Broadway Partners, LLC, as Landlord, for the Company's offices at 1440 Broadway, New York, New York (11) 10.2 1994 Stock Option Plan of the Company (3) (12) 10.3 Form of Option Agreement relating to Options issued under the 1994 Stock Option Plan (4) (12) 10.4 2000 Stock Option Plan of the Company (7) (12) 10.5 Form of Option Agreement relating to Options issued under the 2000 Stock Option Plan (8) (12) 10.6 2003 Stock Option Plan of the Company (9) (12) 10.7 Form of Option Agreement relating to Options issued under the 2003 Stock Option Plan (11) (12) 10.8 Second Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement (the "Credit Agreement") dated as of August 26, 1996, between Fleet Bank, N.A. (Successor in interest to National Westminster Bank, New Jersey) and the Company (4) 10.9 Security Agreement, dated as of August 26, 1996 (the "Security Agreement"), between the Company and Fleet Bank, N.A. (4) 10.10 Amended and Restated Asset Purchase Agreement dated August 10, 1998 between Lillie Rubin Fashions, Inc. and the Company (5) 30 10.11 Master Amendment, dated July 19, 1999, to Revolving Credit Agreement and Security Agreement (6) 10.12 Employment Agreement, dated September 30, 2003, between the Company and Brian P. Woolf (10) (12) 10.13 Second Master Amendment, dated November 21, 2002, to Revolving Credit Agreement (11) 10.14 Third Master Amendment, dated May 20, 2004, to Revolving Credit Agreement (11) 11.1 Calculation of Basic and Fully Diluted Earnings per Common Share 12.1 Statements re: Computation of Ratios 23.1 Consent of KPMG LLP 31.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 31.2 Certification of the Principal Financial and Accounting Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. 32.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. (1) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-18, dated December 29, 1980. (2) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, dated September 15, 1993. (3) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994. (4) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 28, 1996. (5) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 2, 1999. (6) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2000. (7) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement filed on September 18, 2001. 31 (8) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 29, 2001. (9) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Definitive Proxy Statement filed on October 6, 2003. (10) Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3, dated November 17, 2003. (11) Incorporated by references to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 27, 2003. (12) Exhibits 10.2 through 10.7 and 10.12 are management contracts or compensatory plans or arrangements, which are required to be filed as an exhibit pursuant to Item 16(c) of this Annual Report on Form 10-K. (13) A Stockholder may obtain a copy of any of the exhibits included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K upon payment of a fee to cover the reasonable expenses of furnishing such exhibits, by written request to CACHE, Inc., at 1440 Broadway, 5th Floor, New York, New York 10018 Attention: Chief Operating Officer. (b) Reports on Form 8-K None. 32 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirement of Section 13 or 15(d) 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. Date: March 16, 2005 CACHE, INC. (Registrant) By: /s/ BRIAN WOOLF ------------------------------- Brian Woolf Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. SIGNATURE TITLE DATE ---------------------------- -------------------------- ---------------- /s/ BRIAN WOOLF Chairman of the Board March 16, 2005 ---------------------- BRIAN WOOLF /s/ THOMAS E. REINCKENS President March 16, 2005 ---------------------- (Principal Financial THOMAS E. REINCKENS and Accounting Officer) /s/ GENE GAGE Director March 16, 2005 ---------------------- GENE GAGE /s/ ARTHUR S. MINTZ Director March 16, 2005 ---------------------- ARTHUR S. MINTZ /s/ ANDREW M. SAUL Director March 16, 2005 ---------------------- ANDREW M. SAUL /s/ MORTON J. SCHRADER Director March 16, 2005 ---------------------- MORTON J. SCHRADER 33 EXHIBIT 11.1 CALCULATION OF BASIC AND DILUTED EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE 52 WEEKS ENDED 53 WEEKS ENDED ---------------------------------- --------------- DECEMBER 28, DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, EARNINGS PER SHARE 2002 2003 2005 -------------- ------------- --------------- Net income applicable to common stockholders $8,941,000 $11,089,000 $13,297,000 -------------- ------------- --------------- BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 13,650,000 14,256,000 15,589,000 ============== ============= =============== Basic earnings per share $0.66 $0.78 $0.85 ============== ============= =============== DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE Weighted average number of common shares outstanding 13,650,000 14,256,000 15,589,000 Assuming conversion of outstanding stock options 1,710,000 2,015,000 1,651,000 Less: assumed repurchase of common stock pursuant to the treasury stock method (912,000) (1,550,000) (1,236,000) -------------- ------------- --------------- Weighted average number of common shares outstanding as adjusted 14,448,000 14,721,000 16,004,000 ============== ============= =============== Diluted earnings per share $0.62 $0.75 $0.83 ============== ============= =============== EXHIBIT 12.1 COMPUTATION OF RATIOS RATIO OF CURRENT ASSETS TO CURRENT LIABILITIES = current assets (at balance sheet date) divided by current liabilities (at balance sheet date). INVENTORY TURNOVER RATIO = total cost of sales divided by average inventory (beginning and ending inventory, divided by two, at the balance sheet date). BOOK VALUE PER SHARE = stockholders' equity divided by common shares outstanding (at balance sheet date). CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM The Board of Directors Cache, Inc.: We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statements (Nos. 333-65113, 333-84848, 333-96717 and 333-110553) on Forms S-8 of Cache, Inc. of our reports dated March 15, 2005, with respect to the consolidated balance sheets of Cache, Inc. as of January 1, 2005 and December 27, 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 1, 2005, and the related financial statement schedule, management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2005 and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2005, which reports appear in the January 1, 2005 annual report on Form 10-K of Cache, Inc. Our report dated March 15, 2005 on the consolidated balance sheets of Cache, Inc. as of January 1, 2005 and December 27, 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows, for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 1, 2005 contains an explanatory paragraph that states that the consolidated balance sheet as of December 27, 2003 and the related consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 27, 2003 and December 28, 2002, have been restated. Our report dated March 15, 2005 on management's assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting and the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2005, expresses our opinion that Cache, Inc. did not maintain effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2005 because of the effect of a material weakness on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria and contains an explanatory paragraph that states that as of January 1, 2005, Cache, Inc. had insufficient controls over the selection and monitoring of accounting policies for construction allowances received from landlords which could have prevented the Company from concluding that its previously reported annual and quarterly cash flows from operating activities, cash used in investing activities, equipment and leasehold improvements and other long term liabilities relating to construction allowances received from landlords had been understated and that previously issued financial statements should be restated. /s/ KPMG LLP New York, New York March 16, 2005 EXHIBIT 31.1 CERTIFICATION I, Brian Woolf, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Cache Inc. (Cache); 2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements are made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Cache as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report; 4. Cache's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) for the registrant and have: a. designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to Cache, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared; b. designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; c. evaluated the effectiveness of Cache's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; and d. disclosed in this report any change in Cache's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during Cache's fourth quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; 5. Cache's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to Cache's auditors and the audit committee of Cache's Board of Directors; a. all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect Cache's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information ; and b. any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Cache's internal control over financial reporting. March 16, 2005 By: /s/ BRIAN WOOLF --------------------------- Brian Woolf CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER EXHIBIT 31.2 CERTIFICATION I, Thomas E. Reinckens, certify that: 1. I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Cache Inc. (Cache); 2. Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements are made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report; 3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of Cache as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report; 4. Cache's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) for the registrant and have: a. designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to Cache, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared; b. designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles; c. evaluated the effectiveness of Cache's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this annual report based on such evaluation; and d. disclosed in this report any change in Cache's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during Cache's fourth quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; 5. Cache's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to Cache's auditors and the audit committee of Cache's Board of Directors; a. all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect Cache's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information ; and b. any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in Cache's internal control over financial reporting. March 16, 2005 By: /s/ THOMAS E. REINCKENS -------------------------------------------- Thomas E. Reinckens PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER) EXHIBIT 32.1 CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002 Pursuant to, and solely for purposes of, 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 (Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002), each of the undersigned hereby certifies in the capacity and on the date indicated below that: 1. The Annual Report of Cache, Inc. on Form 10-K for the period ending January 1, 2005 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13 (a) or 15 (d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934; and 2. The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Cache, Inc. /s/ BRIAN WOOLF March 16, 2005 ----------------------------------- Brian Woolf CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER /s/ THOMAS E. REINCKENS March 16, 2005 ------------------------------------ Thomas E. Reinckens PRESIDENT AND CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL AND ACCOUNTING OFFICER) CACHE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 1, 2005, DECEMBER 27, 2003, AND DECEMBER 28, 2002 F-1 CACHE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INDEX PAGE Independent Auditors' Report F-3 Consolidated Balance Sheets F-4 Consolidated Statements of Income F-5 Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity F-6 Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows F-7 Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements F-8 Valuation and Qualifying Accounts F-22 F-2 REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM The Board of Directors and Stockholders Cache, Inc.: We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Cache, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 1, 2005 and December 27, 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 1, 2005. In connection with our audits of the consolidated financial statements, we also have audited the financial statement schedule. These consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Cache, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 1, 2005 and December 27, 2003, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended January 1, 2005, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Also in our opinion, the related financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein. As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company has restated its consolidated balance sheet as of December 27, 2003 and its consolidated statements of cash flows for the years ended December 27, 2003 and December 28, 2002. We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of Cache, Inc.'s internal control over financial reporting as of January 1, 2005, based on criteria established in Internal Control--Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated March 15, 2005 expressed an unqualified opinion on management's assessment of, and an adverse opinion on the effective operation of, internal control over financial reporting. /s/ KPMG LLP New York, New York March 15, 2005 F-3 CACHE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS ASSETS DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2003 2005 (RESTATED - NOTE 1) ------------------ ------------------ CURRENT ASSETS Cash and equivalents (Note 1) $16,887,000 $16,848,000 Marketable securities 19,746,000 25,874,000 Receivables, net (Note 2) 4,614,000 6,545,000 Inventories 26,724,000 32,296,000 Deferred income taxes (Note 9) 936,000 567,000 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 1,239,000 1,948,000 -------------- -------------- Total Current Assets 70,146,000 84,078,000 EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS, NET (Note 3) 33,048,000 47,118,000 OTHER ASSETS 873,000 832,000 -------------- -------------- TOTAL ASSETS $104,067,0000 $132,028,000 ============== ============== LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY CURRENT LIABILITIES Accounts payable $14,362,000 $17,055,000 Accrued compensation 4,675,000 1,927,000 Accrued liabilities (Note 4) 10,075,000 11,627,000 -------------- -------------- Total Current Liabilities 29,112,000 30,609,000 OTHER LIABILITIES (Note 7) 9,126,000 13,556,000 DEFERRED INCOME TAXES, NET (Note 9) 687,000 3,023,000 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 8) STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY Common stock, par value $.01; authorized, 20,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 15,665,053 shares (Note 10) 100,000 157,000 Additional paid-in capital 28,361,000 34,705,000 -------------- -------------- Retained earnings 36,681,000 49,978,000 -------------- -------------- Total Stockholders' Equity 65,142,000 84,840,000 ------------- -------------- TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $104,067,000 $132,028,000 ============== ============== The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements. F-4 CACHE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME 52 WEEKS ENDED 53 WEEKS ENDED ---------------------------------------- ----------------- DECEMBER 28, DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2002 2003 2005 ------------------ ---------------- ----------------- NET SALES $ 200,315,000 $ 216,256,000 $ 247,300,000 COST OF SALES, INCLUDING BUYING AND OCCUPANCY (Note 8) 116,490,000 120,731,000 135,745,000 --------------- -------------- ------------- GROSS PROFIT 83,825,000 95,525,000 111,555,000 EXPENSES Store operating expenses 57,322,000 63,546,000 76,466,000 General and administrative expenses 12,190,000 14,074,000 14,221,000 --------------- -------------- ------------- TOTAL EXPENSES 69,512,000 77,620,000 90,687,000 --------------- -------------- ------------- OPERATING INCOME 14,313,000 17,905,000 20,868,000 --------------- -------------- ------------- OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) Interest income 260,000 259,000 439,000 Miscellaneous income (net) -- 14,000 20,000 --------------- ------------- ------------ TOTAL OTHER INCOME 260,000 273,000 459,000 --------------- -------------- ------------- INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 14,573,000 18,178,000 21,327,000 INCOME TAX PROVISION (Note 9) 5,632,000 7,089,000 8,030,000 --------------- -------------- ------------- NET INCOME $ 8,941,000 $ 11,089,000 $ 13,297,000 =============== ============== ============= BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE $0.66 $0.78 $0.85 =============== ============== ============= DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE $0.62 $0.75 $0.83 =============== ============== ============= BASIC WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING 13,650,000 14,256,000 15,589,000 =============== ============== ============= DILUTED WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING 14,448,000 14,721,000 16,004,000 =============== ============== ============= The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements. F-5 CACHE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY ADDITIONAL COMMON PAID-IN RETAINED STOCK CAPITAL EARNINGS TOTAL ------------- ----------- ----------- ----------- BALANCE DECEMBER 29, 2001 $91,000 $19,564,000 $16,651,000 $36,306,000 --------------------------------------- Net Income ---- ---- 8,941,000 8,941,000 Issuance of common stock ---- 45,000 ---- 45,000 -------- ----------- ----------- ----------- BALANCE DECEMBER 28, 2002 91,000 19,609,000 25,592,000 45,292,000 --------------------------------------- -------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net Income ---- ---- 11,089,000 11,089,000 Tax benefit from stock option exercises ---- 2,933,000 ---- 2,933,000 Issuance of common stock 9,000 5,819,000 ---- 5,828,000 -------- ----------- ----------- ----------- BALANCE DECEMBER 27, 2003 100,000 28,361,000 36,681,000 65,142,000 --------------------------------------- -------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net Income ---- ---- 13,297,000 13,297,000 Tax benefit from stock option exercises ---- 1,583,000 ---- 1,583,000 Issuance of common stock 5,000 4,813,000 ---- 4,818,000 Stock Split 52,000 (52,000) ---- ---- -------- ----------- ----------- ----------- BALANCE JANUARY 1, 2005 $157,000 $34,705,000 $49,978,000 $84,840,000 ======== =========== =========== =========== The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements. F-6 CACHE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS 52 WEEKS ENDED 53 WEEKS ENDED ---------------------------------- -------------- DECEMBER 28, DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2002 2003 2005 (RESTATED - (RESTATED - NOTE 1) NOTE 1) ---------------- -------------- -------------- CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Net income $8,941,000 $11,089,000 $13,297,000 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 5,519,000 6,395,000 8,232,000 Income tax benefit from stock option exercises ---- 2,933,000 1,583,000 Decrease (increase) in deferred tax assets (24,000) 916,000 2,705,000 Reversal of deferred rent (672,000) (835,000) (1,221,000) Change in assets and liabilities: Decrease (increase) in receivables 1,641,000 (1,937,000) (1,931,000) Decrease in notes receivable from related parties 50,000 321,000 ---- Increase in inventories (304,000) (4,659,000) (5,572,000) Increase in prepaid expenses (308,000) (219,000) (709,000) Increase in accounts payable 899,000 2,374,000 2,693,000 Increase in accrued liabilities and accrued compensation 5,816,000 5,432,000 3,906,000 -------------- ------------- ----------------- Net cash provided by operating activities 21,558,000 21,810,000 22,983,000 -------------- ------------- ----------------- CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Purchase of marketable securities (21,184,000) (19,746,000) (25,874,000) Maturities of marketable securities 6,792,000 14,392,000 19,746,000 Payments for equipment and leasehold improvements (9,033,000) (15,628,000) (21,753,000) -------------- ------------- ----------------- Net cash used in investing activities (23,425,000) (20,982,000) (27,881,000) -------------- ------------- ----------------- CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Proceeds from issuance of common stock 45,000 5,828,000 4,818,000 Other, net 8,000 (56,000) 41,000 -------------- ------------- ----------------- Net cash provided by financing activities 53,000 5,772,000 4,859,000 -------------- ------------- ----------------- Net increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents (1,814,000) 6,600,000 (39,000) Cash and equivalents, at beginning of period 12,101,000 10,287,000 16,887,000 -------------- ------------- ----------------- Cash and equivalents, at end of period $10,287,000 $16,887,000 $16,848,000 ============== ============= ================= The accompanying Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements are an integral part of these statements. F-7 CACHE, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS NOTE 1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES BUSINESS Cache, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the "Company") owns and operates two chains of women's apparel specialty stores, of which 254 stores (as of January 1, 2005) are operated under the trade name "Cache" and 37 stores are operated under the trade name "Lillie Rubin". The Company specializes in the sale of high fashion women's apparel and accessories in the better to expensive price range. BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly owned. All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated. USE OF ESTIMATES IN THE PREPARATION OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the appropriate application of certain accounting policies, many of which requires us to make estimates and assumptions about future events and their impact on amounts reported in our financial statements and related notes. Since future events and their impact cannot be determined with certainty, the actual results will inevitably differ from our estimates. Such differences could be material to the financial statements. FISCAL REPORTING PERIOD The Company reports its annual results of operations based on fiscal periods comprised of 52 or 53 weeks, which is in accordance with industry practice. Results for fiscal 2004 includes 53 weeks. Results for fiscal 2002 and 2003 include 52 weeks. RESTATEMENT OF FINANCIAL STATEMENTS On February 7, 2005, the Office of the Chief Accountant of the SEC issued a letter to the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants expressing its views regarding certain operating lease accounting issues and their application under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") in the United States of America. After reviewing this letter, Cache's management began a review of its lease related accounting policies and determined that its then-current method of accounting for leasehold improvements reimbursed by landlord incentives or allowances under operating leases (landlord construction allowances) was not in accordance with GAAP. The Company had historically accounted for landlord construction allowance reimbursements as reductions to leasehold improvements on the consolidated balance sheets and capital expenditures in investing activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows. Cache's management has determined that the appropriate interpretation of FASB Technical Bulletin No. 88-1, "Issues Relating to Accounting for Leases," requires these allowances to be recorded as deferred rent liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and as a component of operating activities on the consolidated statements of cash flows. F-8 As a result of the above, the Company has restated its consolidated balance sheet as of December 27, 2003 and its consolidated statements of cash flows for each of the 52 week periods ended December 28, 2002 and December 27, 2003. As of January 1, 2005, the Company reclassified landlord construction allowance reimbursements from net leasehold improvements to deferred rent to conform with the requirements of SFAS No. 13, "ACCOUNTING FOR LEASES". There was no effect on the Company's income statements. Leasehold improvements and total assets increased for each year presented as a result of the reclassification and was offset by an increase in deferred rent and total liabilities. The table presented below summarizes the effect of the reclassification for the years presented; AS ORIGINALLY AS REPORTED ADJUSTMENT RESTATED -------------- --------------- ---------------- BALANCE SHEET AT DECEMBER 27, 2003 ------------------------------------------------------------ Equipment and leasehold improvements, (net) $25,010,000 $8,038,000 $33,048,000 Total assets 96,029,000 8,038,000 104,067,000 Other liabilities 1,088,000 8,038,000 9,126,000 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $96,029,000 $8,038,000 $104,067,000 =============== ============ ============ STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS AT DECEMBER 28, 2002 ------------------------------------------------------------ CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: Depreciation and amortization $4,963,000 $556,000 $5,519,000 Reversal of deferred rent (116,000) (556,000) (672,000) Increase in accrued liabilities and accrued compensation 4,125,000 1,691,000 5,816,000 Net cash provided by operating activities $19,867,000 $1,691,000 $21,558,000 =============== ============= ============ CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Payments for equipment and leasehold improvements ($7,342,000) ($1,691,000) ($9,033,000) Net cash used in investing activities ($21,734,000) ($1,691,000) ($23,425,000) =============== ============= ============ STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS AT DECEMBER 27, 2003 CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATIONS ACTIVITIES: Depreciation and amortization $5,570,000 $825,000 $6,395,000 Reversal of deferred rent (10,000) (825,000) (835,000) Increase in accrued liabilities and accrued compensation 1,751,000 3,681,000 5,432,000 Net cash provided by operating activities $18,129,000 $3,681,000 $21,810,000 ============== ============ ============ CASH FLOW FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Payments for equipment and leasehold improvements ($11,947,000) ($3,681,000) ($15,628,000) Net cash used in investing activities ($17,301,000) ($3,681,000) ($20,982,000) ============== ============= ============= F-9 FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS The carrying amounts of accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of such items. CASH EQUIVALENTS The Company considers all highly liquid investments that mature within three months of the date of purchase to be cash equivalents. MARKETABLE SECURITIES: Marketable securities at January 1, 2005 and December 27, 2003 primarily consist of short-term United States Treasury bills. The Company classifies its short-term investments as held-to-maturity. Held-to-maturity securities are those securities in which the Company has the ability and intent to hold the securities until maturity. Because the Company's held-to-maturity securities mature within one year of the purchase date, the securities are classified as short-term marketable securities. Held-to-maturity debt securities are recorded at amortized cost, adjusted for the amortization or accretion of premiums or discounts and such carrying values approximate fair value. A decline in the market value of any held-to-maturity security below cost that is deemed to be other than temporary results in a reduction in carrying amount to fair value. The impairment is charged to earnings and a new cost basis for the security is established. Premiums and discounts are amortized or accreted over the life of the related held-to-maturity as an adjustment to yield using the effective interest method. Interest income is recognized when earned. INVENTORIES Merchandise inventory is carried at the lower of cost or market using the retail method of accounting. We make assumptions to adjust the value of inventory based on historical experience and current information. This procedure inherently reduces the carrying value of inventories as permanent markdowns are initiated. These assumptions can have a significant impact on current and future operating results and financial position. EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS Equipment and leasehold improvements are stated at cost. Depreciation and amortization are computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets which generally range from three to 10 years. For income tax purposes, accelerated methods are generally used. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their useful life or lease term. The Company adopted SFAS No. 144, "ACCOUNTING FOR THE IMPAIRMENT OR DISPOSAL OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS", on December 30, 2001. The adoption of SFAS No. 144 did not affect the Company's financial statements. In accordance with SFAS No. 144, long-lived assets, such as property, and equipment, and purchased intangibles subject to amortization, are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. Assets are grouped and evaluated at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets. The Company has identified this lowest level to be principally individual stores. Recoverability of assets to be held and used is measured by a comparison of the carrying amount of an asset to estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to F-10 be generated by the asset. If the carrying amount of an asset exceeds its estimated future cash flows, an impairment charge is recognized by the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds the fair value of an asset. Assets to be disposed of would be separately presented in the balance sheet and reported at the lower of the carrying amount or fair value less costs to sell, and are no longer depreciated. The assets and liabilities of a disposed group classified as held for sale would be presented separately in the appropriate asset and liability sections of the balance sheet. SELF INSURANCE We are self-insured for losses and liabilities related primarily to employee health and welfare claims. Losses are accrued based upon our estimates of the aggregate liability for claims incurred using certain actuarial assumptions followed in the insurance industry and based on Company experience. GOODWILL Goodwill represents the excess of costs over fair value of assets of businesses acquired. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 142, "GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS", as of January 1, 2002. Pursuant to Statement 142, goodwill and intangible assets acquired in a purchase business combination and determined to have an indefinite useful life are not amortized, but instead are tested for impairment at least annually in accordance with the provisions of Statement 142. Statement 142 also requires that intangible assets with estimable useful lives be amortized over their respective estimated useful lives to their estimated residual values, and reviewed for impairment in accordance with SFAS No. 144. Goodwill is tested annually for impairment, and is tested for impairment more frequently if events and circumstances indicate that the asset might be impaired. An impairment loss is recognized to the extent that the carrying amount exceeds the asset's fair value. This determination is made at the reporting unit level and consists of two steps. First, the Company determines the fair value of a reporting unit and compares it to its carrying amount. Second, if the carrying amount of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized for any excess of the carrying amount of the reporting unit's goodwill over the implied fair value of that goodwill. The implied fair value of goodwill is determined by allocating the fair value of the reporting unit in a manner similar to a purchase price allocation, in accordance with SFAS No. 141, "BUSINESS COMBINATIONS". The residual fair value after this allocation is the implied fair value of the reporting unit goodwill. REVENUE RECOGNITION Sales are recognized at the "point of sale," which occurs when merchandise is sold in an "over-the-counter" transaction or upon receipt by a customer. Sales of merchandise via our website are recognized at the time of shipment to the customer. Our customers have the right to return merchandise. Sales are reported net of actual and estimated returns. We maintain a reserve for potential product returns and record, as a reduction to sales, a provision for estimated product returns, which is determined based on historical experience. Amounts billed to customers for shipping and handling fees are included in net sales at the time of shipment. Costs incurred for shipping and handling are included in cost of sales. F-11 OPERATING LEASES The Company leases retail stores and office space under operating leases. Most leases contain construction allowance reimbursements by landlords, rent holidays, rent escalation clauses and/or contingent rent provisions. The Company recognizes the related rental expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term and records the difference between the amounts charged to expense and the rent paid as a deferred rent liability. To account for construction allowance reimbursements from landlords and rent holidays, the Company records a deferred rent liability included in accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets and amortizes the deferred rent over the lease term, as a reduction to rent expense on the consolidated income statements. For leases containing rent escalation clauses, the Company records minimum rent expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term on the consolidated income statement. The lease term used for lease evaluation includes option periods only in instances in which the exercise of the option period can be reasonably assured and failure to exercise such options would result in an economic penalty. ADVERTISING COSTS Costs associated with advertising are charged to store operating expense when the advertising first takes place. We spent $4,375,000, $5,610,000 and $7,373,000 on advertising in fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. PRE-OPENING STORE EXPENSES Expenses associated with the opening of new stores are expensed as incurred. EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN Employees are eligible to participate in the Company's 401(k) plan if they have been employed by the Company for one year, have reached age 21, and work at least 1,000 hours annually. Generally, employees can defer up to 18% of their gross wages up to the maximum limit allowable under the Internal Revenue Code. We can make a discretionary matching contribution for the employee. Employer contributions to the plan for fiscal 2002, fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2004 were $190,000, $195,000, and $205,000, respectively. INCOME TAXES The Company accounts for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No. 109, "ACCOUNTING FOR INCOME TAXES." This statement requires the Company to recognize deferred tax liabilities and assets for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been recognized in the Company's financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial statement carrying amounts and tax bases of assets and liabilities, using applicable tax rates for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. STOCK OPTION PLANS As permitted by SFAS No. 123, "ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION", the Company has elected to continue to apply the intrinsic-value-based method of accounting and has adopted the disclosure requirements of Statement 123, as amended. Under this method, compensation expense is F-12 recorded on the date of grant only if the current market price of the underlying stock exceeded the exercise price. SFAS No. 123, and SFAS No. 148, "ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION - TRANSITION AND DISCLOSURE, AN AMENDMENT OF FASB STATEMENT NO. 123", established accounting and disclosure requirements using a fair-value-based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation plans. EARNINGS PER SHARE Basic earnings per share (EPS) is computed as net earnings divided by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS reflects the potential dilution that could occur from common shares issued through the exercise of outstanding dilutive stock options. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, "SHARE-BASED PAYMENT," which revises SFAS No. 123, "ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION," and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, "ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK ISSUED TO EMPLOYEES." This Statement focuses primarily on accounting for transactions in which an entity obtains employee services in share-based payment transactions. This Statement requires an entity to recognize the cost of employee services received in share-based payment transactions and measure the cost on a grant-date fair value of the award. That cost will be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. The provisions of SFAS No. 123R will be effective for the Company's financial statements issued for periods beginning after June 15, 2005. In December 2003, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 46R, "CONSOLIDATION OF VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES" ("FIN 46R"), which addresses how a business enterprise should evaluate whether it has a controlling financial interest in an entity through means other than voting rights and accordingly should consolidate the entity. The adoption of FIN46R did not have any impact on our financial position and results of operations. In March 2004, the Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") reached a consensus on Issue No. 03-1, "THE MEANING OF OTHER-THAN-TEMPORARY IMPAIRMENTS AND ITS APPLICATION TO CERTAIN INVESTMENTS" ("EITF 03-1"). EITF 03-1 provides a three-step impairment model for determining whether an investment is other-than-temporarily impaired and requires the Company to recognize such impairments as an impairment loss equal to the difference between the investment's cost and fair value at the reporting date. The guidance is effective for the Company during the first quarter of fiscal 2005. The Company does not believe that the adoption of EITF 03-1 will have a significant effect on its financial statements. SUPPLEMENTAL STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION The Company paid no interest charges in fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004. During fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004 the Company paid $5,160,000, $4,071,000 and $4,143,000 in income taxes, respectively. The Company also generated income tax benefits of $2,933,000 and $1,583,000 from stock option exercises in fiscal 2003 and 2004. F-13 NOTE 2. RECEIVABLES DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2003 2005 -------------- ---------------- Construction allowances $ 1,850,000 $ 3,270,000 Third party credit card 2,368,000 2,885,000 Other 396,000 390,000 -------------- ---------------- $ 4,614,000 $ 6,545,000 ============== ================ NOTE 3. EQUIPMENT AND LEASEHOLD IMPROVEMENTS DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2003 2005 (RESTATED-NOTE 1) ----------------- ------------ Leasehold improvements $ 34,105,000 $ 45,349,000 Furniture, fixtures, and equipment 36,644,000 45,049,000 ------------- ------------ 70,749,000 90,398,000 Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization (37,701,000) (43,280,000) ------------- ------------ $ 33,048,000 $ 47,118,000 ============= ============ Store operating and general and administrative expenses include depreciation and amortization of $5,519,000, $6,395,000 and $8,232,000 in fiscal years 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. NOTE 4. ACCRUED LIABILITIES DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2003 2005 ---------------- ------------ Operating expenses $ 2,631,000 $ 3,315,000 Taxes, including income taxes 2,426,000 2,185,000 Group insurance 696,000 509,000 Sales return reserve 812,000 832,000 Leasehold additions 379,000 928,000 Other customer deposits and credits 3,131,000 3,858,000 ----------- ----------- $10,075,000 $11,627,000 =========== =========== Leasehold additions generally represent a liability to general contractors for a final 10% payable on construction contracts for store construction or renovations. F-14 NOTE 5. BANK DEBT During May 2004, the Company reached an agreement with its bank to amend the amount available under the Amended Revolving Credit Facility. Pursuant to the newly Amended Revolving Credit Facility, $17,500,000 is available until expiration at November 30, 2005. The amounts outstanding thereunder bear interest at a maximum per annum rate equal to the bank's prime rate. The agreement contains selected financial and other covenants. Effective upon the occurrence of an Event of Default under the Revolving Credit Facility, the Company grants to the bank a security interest in the Company's inventory and certain receivables. The Company has at all times been in compliance with all loan covenants. There have been no borrowings against the line of credit during fiscal 2003 and 2004. There were outstanding letters of credit of $2.1 million and $3.1 million pursuant to the Revolving Credit Facility at December 27, 2003 and January 1, 2005, respectively. NOTE 6. INDEBTEDNESS TO/FROM RELATED PARTIES As of December 28, 2002, the Company had notes receivable totaling $321,000 from one current executive officer and one former executive officer of the Company. The receivables, which were due on demand, were evidenced by secured promissory notes, which bore interest at rates of 6% and 9% per annum. These notes were repaid in July 2003. NOTE 7. OTHER LIABILITIES Other liabilities primarily consist of accruals of future rent escalations and unamortized landlord construction allowances. NOTE 8. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES LEASES At January 1, 2005, the Company was obligated under operating leases for various store locations expiring at various times through 2019. The terms of the leases generally provide for the payment of minimum annual rentals, contingent rentals based on a percentage of sales in excess of a stipulated amount, and a portion of real estate taxes, insurance and common area maintenance. Most leases contain leasehold improvement reimbursements from landlords and/or rent holidays. In recognizing landlord incentives and minimum rent expenses, the Company amortizes the charges on a straight line basis over the lease term. Store rental expense related to these leases, included in cost of sales, consisted of the following: 52 WEEKS ENDED 53 WEEKS ENDED ------------------------------ -------------- DECEMBER 28, DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2002 2003 2005 ------------ ------------ ------------ Minimal rentals $ 17,611,000 $ 19,058,000 $ 21,410,000 Contingent rentals 7,555,000 8,258,000 9,176,000 ------------ ------------ ------------ $ 25,166,000 $ 27,316,000 $ 30,586,000 ============ ============ ============ F-15 Future minimum payments under non-cancelable operating leases consisted of the following at January 1, 2005: Fiscal Year 2005 $ 23,745,000 2006 21,642,000 2007 20,152,000 2008 19,145,000 2009 18,600,000 Thereafter 63,294,000 ------------ Total future minimum lease payments $166,578,000 ============ CONTINGENCIES The Company is exposed to a number of asserted and unasserted potential claims. Management does not believe it is reasonably possible that resolution of these matters will result in a material loss. NOTE 9. INCOME TAXES The provision for income taxes includes: 52 WEEKS ENDED 53 WEEKS ENDED ---------------------------- -------------- DECEMBER 28, DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2002 2003 2005 ------------ ------------ -------------- Current: Federal $4,841,000 $5,105,000 $4,628,000 State 1,023,000 1,067,000 736,000 ---------- ------------ ---------- 5,864,000 6,172,000 5,364,000 ---------- ------------ ---------- Deferred: Federal (205,000) 1,110,000 2,189,000 State (27,000) (193,000) 477,000 ---------- ------------ ---------- (232,000) 917,000 2,666,000 ---------- ------------ ---------- Provision for income taxes $5,632,000 $7,089,000 $8,030,000 ========== ============ ========== F-16 The Company's effective tax rate, as a percent of income before income taxes differs from the statutory federal tax rates as follows: 52 WEEKS ENDED 53 WEEKS ENDED ----------------------------------- -------------- DECEMBER 28, DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2002 2003 2005 ------------- ------------ -------------- Effective federal tax rate 34.3% 34.5% 34.5% State and local income taxes, net of federal tax benefit 4.5% 4.7% 4.6% Reversal of state and local income tax overaccural --- --- (1.3%) Other net, primarily tax free (0.2%) (0.2%) (0.1%) -------------- ------------- --------------- Provision for income taxes 38.6% 39.0% 37.7% ============== ============= =============== The major components of the Company's net deferred tax assets (liabilities) at December 27, 2003 and January 1, 2005 are as follows: DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2003 2005 --------------- -------------- State tax net operating loss carryforwards $ 89,000 $ 76,000 Deferred rent 543,000 590,000 Group insurance 275,000 199,000 Sales return reserve 321,000 325,000 Inventory 356,000 407,000 Prepaid expenses ---- (364,000) Other (principally depreciation expense) (1,335,000) (3,690,000) ----------- ------------- $ 249,000 $ (2,457,000) =========== ============= NOTE 10. INCENTIVE STOCK OPTION PLAN On July 22, 2003, the Company adopted the 2003 Stock Option Plan. The plan is administered by the Compensation and Plan Administration Committee of the Company's Board of Directors. Under the option plan the Company reserved 900,000 shares of the Company's authorized common stock for issuance to officers and key employees of the Company. On October 4, 2000, the Company adopted the 2000 Stock Option Plan. The plan is administered by the Compensation and Plan Administration Committee of the Company's Board of Directors. Under the option plan the Company reserved 550,000 shares of the Company's authorized common stock for issuance to officers and key employees of the Company. On December 16, 1994, the Company adopted the 1994 Stock Option Plan. Under the option plan the Company reserved 600,000 shares of the Company's authorized common stock for issuance to officers and key employees of the Company. Options granted under the plans have a ten-year term and may be either incentive stock options or non-qualified stock options. The options are granted at an exercise price equal to the fair market value on the date of grant and generally vest over a four year period. The granted options generally become F-17 exercisable at the maximum rate of 25% per annum, to the extent the Company's earning plan, as approved by the Compensation and Plan Administration Committee, is achieved. The price is payable in cash at the time of the exercise or, at the discretion of the Administrators, through the delivery of shares of Common Stock or the Company's withholding of shares otherwise deliverable to the employee, or a combination thereof. The following table summarizes all stock option transactions for the three fiscal years ended January 1, 2005: WEIGHTED AVERAGE EXERCISE SHARES PRICES ---------------- ---------- Shares under option as of December 29, 2001 1,558,641 $1.96 Options granted in 2002 279,000 4.54 Options exercised in 2002 (13,218) 1.73 Options canceled in 2002 (114,048) 1.73 ---------------- Shares under option as of December 28, 2002 1,710,375 2.40 Options granted in 2003 1,222,500 12.44 Options exercised in 2003 (871,500) 2.09 Options canceled in 2003 (39,375) 3.30 ---------------- Shares under option as of December 27, 2003 2,022,000 8.46 Options granted in 2004 105,000 15.17 Options exercised in 2004 (392,750) 2.36 Options canceled in 2004 (82,500) 9.67 ---------------- Shares under options as of January 1, 2005 1,651,750 $10.43 ================ Significant option groups outstanding at January 1, 2005 and related weighted average price and life information follows: OPTIONS OPTIONS EXERCISE REMAINING GRANT DATE OUTSTANDING EXERCISABLE PRICE LIFE (YEARS) ----------------- ------------- -------------- ----------- ------------- 1/22/04 105,000 26,250 $15.17 9 7/22/03 1,127,250 294,750 12.65 8 5/23/03 28,125 9,375 5.83 8 5/13/02 18,750 9,375 7.47 7 4/16/02 121,500 121,500 4.69 7 3/11/02 8,125 8,125 3.30 7 10/2/01 130,500 130,500 2.13 7 10/4/00 112,500 112,500 1.73 6 F-18 The Company accounts for stock options in accordance with the intrinsic value method described in APB Opinion No. 25, "ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK ISSUED TO EMPLOYEES" and allowed by SFAS No. 123, "ACCOUNTING FOR STOCK BASED COMPENSATION" under which no compensation cost has been recognized for stock option awards granted at fair market value. Had compensation expense been determined based on the fair value at the grant dates for awards under the plans, the Company's net earnings, basic EPS and diluted EPS would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts listed below: 52 WEEKS ENDED 53 WEEKS ENDED ------------------------------ ----------------- DECEMBER 28, DECEMBER 27, JANUARY 1, 2002 2003 2005 ------------ ----------- ---------------- --as reported $ 8,941,000 $11,089,000 $ 13,297,000 --pro-forma $ 7,857,000 $10,377,000 $ 12,211,000 --as reported $ 0.65 $ 0.78 $ .85 --pro-forma $ 0.57 $ 0.73 $ .78 --as reported $ 0.62 $ 0.75 $ .83 --pro-forma $ 0.55 $ 0.71 $ .76 The weighted average fair value of options granted during fiscal years ended December 28, 2002, December 27, 2003 and January 1, 2005 were $4.54, $12.44 and $15.17, respectively. The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing method with the following weighted average assumptions: 2002 2003 2004 GRANTS GRANTS GRANTS ---------------------------------------------- Expected dividend rate $ 0.00 $ 0.00 $ 0.00 Expected volatility 70.3% 98.9% 97.8% Risk free interest rate 3.0% 3.0% 3.8% Expected lives (years) 5.0 5.0 5.0 F-19 NOTE 11. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (In thousands, except per share data) FIRST SECOND THIRD FOURTH QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER QUARTER ----------- ----------- ---------- ----------- 52 WEEKS ENDED DECEMBER 27, 2003 Net sales $48,098 $56,193 $47,343 $64,622 Gross profit 20,037 24,914 20,222 30,352 Income before income tax provision 2,657 5,735 998 8,788 Income tax provision 1,016 2,194 384 3,495 --------- --------- -------- -------- Net income $1,641 $3,541 $614 $5,293 ========= ========= ======== ======== Basic and diluted earnings per share: Basic earnings per share: $0.12 $0.26 $0.04 $0.35 ========= ========= ======== ======== Diluted earnings per share: $0.11 $0.25 $0.04 $0.34 ========= ========= ======== ======== 53 WEEKS ENDED JANUARY 1, 2005 Net sales $57,194 $62,087 $49,430 $78,589 Gross profit 25,688 29,149 19,596 37,122 Income loss before income tax provision 5,246 7,229 (854) 9,706 Income tax provision benefit 1,997 2,868 (333) 3,498 --------- --------- -------- -------- Net income loss $3,249 $4,361 ($521) $6,208 ========= ========= ======== ======== Basic and diluted earnings loss per share: Basic earnings loss per share: $0.21 $0.28 ($0.03) $0.40 ========= ========= ======== ======== Diluted earnings loss per share: $0.20 $0.27 ($0.03) $0.39 ========= ========= ======== ======== F-20 The effect of the restatement on the first three quarters of the year ended January 1, 2005 is summarized as follows: First Second Third Quarter Quarter Quarter BALANCE SHEET -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Equipment and leasehold improvements, (net) - as reported $26,984,000 $29,310,000 $32,466,000 Equipment and leasehold improvements, (net) - as restated $35,307,000 $39,589,000 $43,378,000 Other liabilities - as reported $1,129,000 $1,163,000 $1,230,000 Other liabilities - as restated $9,452,000 $11,442,000 $12,142,000 STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS Cash flows from operating activities - as reported $2,037,000 $5,876,000 $6,935,000 Cash flows from operating activities - as restated $2,578,000 $8,642,000 $10,707,000 Cash provided by (used in) investing activities - as reported $2,962,000 ($6,087,000) ($15,692,000) Cash provided by (used in) investing activities - as restated $2,421,000 ($8,853,000) ($19,464,000) F-21 CACHE, INC AND SUBSIDIARIES VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS ADDITIONS ---------------------------- BALANCE AT CHARGE TO BALANCE AT BEG. OF COSTS AND OTHER DEDUCTIONS END OF SALES RETURN RESERVE PERIOD EXPENSES ACCOUNTS $ PERIOD -------------------------------- ------------ ----------- ----------- ----------- ------------ 52 Weeks Ended December 28, 2002 $555,000 $191,000 -- -- $746,000 52 Weeks Ended December 27, 2003 $746,000 $66,000 -- -- $812,000 53 Weeks Ended January 1, 2005 $812,000 $20,000 -- -- $832,000 F-22