Item 1A. Risk Factors
Set forth below are material risks and uncertainties that could adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows and cause our actual results to differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements made by us. Although we believe that we have identified and discussed below the key risks and uncertainties affecting our business, there may be additional risks and uncertainties that are not presently known or that are not currently believed to be material that may adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below together with all of the other information included or incorporated by reference in this Annual Report.
Macroeconomic, Industry and Business Risks
A downturn in general economic conditions or consumer spending or inflationary conditions could adversely affect our business.
Consumer spending habits are affected by, among other things, prevailing global economic conditions, inflation (including the costs of basic necessities and other goods), levels of employment, salaries and wage rates, prevailing interest rates, housing costs, energy costs, commodities pricing, income tax rates and policies, consumer confidence and consumer perception of economic conditions. In addition, consumer purchasing patterns may be influenced by consumers’ disposable income, credit availability and debt levels. Slowdown in the U.S. economy, an uncertain global economic outlook, interest rate volatility, or a credit crisis could adversely affect consumer spending habits, resulting in lower net sales and profits than expected on a quarterly or annual basis. Consumer confidence is also affected by the domestic and international political situation and periods of social unrest. The occurrence of terrorist acts or other hostilities in or affecting the U.S. could lead to a decrease in spending by consumers. In addition, natural disasters, industrial accidents, acts of war, and public health issues such as pandemics or epidemics could have the effect of disrupting supplies and raising prices globally which, in turn, may have adverse effects on the world and U.S. economies and lead to a downturn in consumer confidence and spending.
We have also experienced inflationary pressure in our supply chain and with respect to raw materials and finished goods to a greater extent than we have in recent years due to current economic conditions. There can be no assurance that we will be able to offset inflationary pressure and other fluctuations in costs in the future, or that consumer behavior or our business, operations, liquidity, and/or financial results, will not be negatively affected by continued inflation in the future. We may not be able to adequately increase our prices over time to offset increased costs, whether due to inflation or otherwise. Any decreases in consumer discretionary spending could result in a decrease in store traffic and same store sales, all of which could negatively affect the Company’s business, operations, liquidity, financial results and/or stock price, particularly if consumer spending levels are depressed for a prolonged period of time.
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly adversely impacted, and future outbreaks of COVID-19, new COVID-19 variants or other public health-related concerns could adversely impact, our business.
The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our business and had a significant adverse impact on our financial performance and condition, operating results, liquidity and cash flows. In particular, in Fiscal 2020, the Company temporarily closed all of its stores, distribution centers (other than processing of received inventory) and corporate offices for a period of months to combat the rapid spread of COVID-19. In addition, as a result of the uncertainty regarding the COVID-19 pandemic, the Company took a number of measures in Fiscal 2020 to manage its liquidity, including careful management of operating expenses, working capital and capital expenditures, as well as temporarily suspending the Company’s share repurchase program. The COVID-19 pandemic had a sustained adverse impact on global economic activity and caused significant volatility and negative pressure in financial markets, labor markets and the global supply chain.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, governmental authorities nationally and locally took, and may in the future take, numerous actions in an effort to slow the spread of COVID-19, including travel restrictions, restrictions on public gatherings, “shelter at home” orders and advisories, temporary closure of non-essential businesses and quarantining of people who may have been exposed to the virus. While the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business has largely abated at this time, and the U.S. has announced that the COVID-19 health emergency will expire in May 2023, the impact of COVID-19, including the impact of restrictions imposed to combat its spread, could adversely impact our business, in particular in the event that infection rates in the U.S. rise or new COVID-19 variants emerge.
Future outbreaks of the COVID-19 pandemic, new COVID-19 variants or other public health-related concerns could adversely impact and cause disruption to our business, financial performance and condition, operating results, liquidity and cash flows. Factors
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that could negatively impact our ability to successfully operate during future outbreaks of the COVID-19 pandemic, new COVID-19 variants or other public health-related concerns, either more broadly or within our stores, include:
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our ability to continue to operate and preserve liquidity;
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our ability to retain and incentivize associates;
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our ability to manage supply chain disruptions due to closed factories or distribution centers or other events, reduced workforces or labor shortages, increased labor and materials costs, scarcity of raw materials and scrutiny or embargoing of goods produced in affected areas;
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reduced demand for the merchandise we sell or our ability to move existing inventory, including potentially having to sell existing inventory at a discount or write-down the value of inventory, and the costs, challenges and expenses of updating, procuring and replacing inventory;
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delays in, or our ability to complete, planned store openings on the expected terms or timing, or at all;
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fluctuations in regional and local economies, including inflation, and related impacts on consumer confidence and spending;
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our ability to attract customers to our stores, and the willingness of our associates to staff our stores and distribution centers, given the risks, or perceived risks, of gathering in public places;
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our ability to negotiate payment terms with vendors and landlords;
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the impact of pandemic-related litigation or claims from customers, associates, suppliers, regulators or other third parties;
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incremental costs to operate during a pandemic, including costs of implementing additional safety measures; and
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difficulty accessing debt and equity capital on attractive terms, or at all, to fund business operations or address maturing liabilities.
The extent of future outbreaks of the COVID-19 pandemic, new COVID-19 variants or other public health-related concerns on our business, financial performance and condition, operating results, liquidity and cash flows will depend largely on future developments, including the production and administration of effective medical treatments and vaccines, the timing and extent of the recovery in traffic and consumer spending at our stores, additional costs and delays related to our supply chain, reduced workforces or labor shortages and scarcity of raw materials, and any future required store closures, all of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted. To the extent that future outbreaks of the COVID-19 pandemic, new COVID-19 variants or other viruses adversely affect our business and financial results, they may also have the effect of heightening many of the other risks described throughout this Annual Report.
We face increased competition from other retailers that could adversely affect our business.
The retail sector is highly competitive, and retailers are constantly adjusting their business models, promotional activities and pricing strategies in response to changing conditions. We compete on the basis of a combination of factors, including, among others, price, breadth, quality and style of merchandise offered, in-store experience, level of customer service, ability to identify and respond to new and emerging fashion trends, brand image and scalability. We compete with a wide variety of retailers for customers, vendors, suitable store locations and personnel. In order to increase traffic and drive consumer spending, competitors, including department stores, mass merchants and specialty apparel stores, have been offering brand-name merchandise at substantial markdowns. Continuation of this trend, or the possible effect on consumer buying patterns that improving economic conditions could have, may cause consumer demand to shift from off-price retailers to other retailers, which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
Certain traditional, full-price retail chains have developed off-price concepts, which may directly compete with our business. Our competitors, including such retail chains, may seek to emulate facets of our business strategy, which could result in a reduction of any competitive advantage or special appeal that we might possess. In addition, most of our products are sold to us on a non-exclusive basis. As a result, our current and future competitors may be able to duplicate or improve on some or all of our product offerings that we believe are important in differentiating our stores. If our competitors were to duplicate or improve on some or all of our in-store experience or product offerings, obtaining the products we sell may become increasingly difficult, competition for customers may increase, and our competitive position and our business could suffer.
Our net sales, operating income and inventory levels fluctuate on a seasonal basis.
Our net sales and operating income fluctuate seasonally, with a higher level of our operating income typically realized during the second half of the year. Any decrease in sales or margins during this period could have a disproportionate effect on our financial condition and results of operations. Seasonal fluctuations also affect our inventory levels. We must carry a significant amount of
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inventory, especially before the holiday season selling period. If we are not successful in selling our inventory, we may have to write down our inventory or sell it at significantly reduced prices or we may not be able to sell such inventory at all, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.
A reduction in traffic to, or the closing of, the other destination retailers in the shopping areas where our stores are located could significantly reduce our sales.
Many of our stores are strategically located in off-mall shopping areas known as “power centers.” Power centers typically contain three to five big-box anchor stores along with a variety of smaller specialty tenants. Due to many of our stores being located in such shopping areas, our sales are derived, in part, from the volume of traffic generated by the other destination retailers and the anchor stores in power centers where our stores are located. Customer traffic to these shopping areas may be adversely affected by the closing of such destination retailers or anchor stores, or by a reduction in traffic to such stores resulting from a regional or global economic downturn, a general downturn in the local area where our store is located, or a decline in the desirability of the shopping environment of a particular power center. Such a reduction in customer traffic would reduce our sales and leave us with excess inventory, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, profitability and cash flows. We may respond by increasing markdowns or transferring product to other stores to reduce excess inventory, which would further decrease our gross profits and net income.
Failure to identify customer trends and preferences to meet customer demand could negatively impact our performance and reputation.
Because our success depends on our ability to meet customer demand, we work to follow customer trends and preferences on an ongoing basis and to buy inventory in response to those trends and preferences. However, identifying consumer trends and preferences in the diverse product lines and many markets in which we do business and successfully meeting customer demand across those lines and for those markets on a timely basis is challenging. Although our flexible business model allows us to buy close to need and in response to consumer preferences and trends, and to expand and contract merchandise categories in response to consumers’ changing tastes, we may not do so successfully, which could adversely affect our sales and the markdowns required to move the resulting excess inventory will adversely affect our operating margins.
Customers may also have expectations about how they shop in stores, or more generally engage with businesses across different channels or media (through internet-based and other digital or mobile channels or particular forms of social media), which may vary across demographics and may evolve rapidly. Customers are increasingly using technology and mobile devices to rapidly compare products and prices and to purchase products. Failure to effectively meet these changing expectations and demands may adversely impact our reputation and our financial results.
We may be unable to meet our environmental, social or governance (“ESG”) goals or otherwise meet the expectations of our stakeholders with respect to ESG matters.
Many stakeholders, including investors, customers, employees, consumers and others, have increasingly focused on ESG topics, including environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility matters such as climate change, packaging and waste reduction, energy consumption, and diversity, equity and inclusion. We face pressures from these constituencies to meet our goals related to, and to make significant advancements toward achievements in, these areas. Achievement of our goals is subject to risks and uncertainties, many of which are outside of our control, and it is possible that we may fail to achieve these goals or that these constituencies may not be satisfied with the goals we set or our efforts to achieve them. Our disclosure on these matters and our failure, or perceived failure, to meet our goals and otherwise effectively address these matters, could harm our reputation, which could negatively impact our business, our relationship with our various stakeholders, and our results of operations.
In addition, developing and acting on ESG initiatives, including collecting, measuring and reporting related data, can be costly, difficult and time consuming. Significant expenditures and commitment of time by management, employees and outside advisors may be involved in developing, implementing and overseeing policies, practices and internal controls related to ESG risk and performance, and we may undertake additional costs to control, assess and report on ESG metrics as the nature, scope and complexity of ESG reporting, diligence and disclosure requirements expand. Such costs may have an adverse impact our business and results of operations.
We also may face potential governmental enforcement actions or private litigation challenging our ESG and sustainability goals, or our disclosure of those goals and our metrics for measuring achievement of them, which may increase our costs of compliance.
Extreme and/or unseasonable weather conditions caused by climate change or otherwise, or natural disasters, could have a significant adverse effect on our business.
Our business is susceptible to risks associated with climate change, which may cause more frequent and extreme weather events. Extreme weather conditions in the areas in which our stores or distribution centers are located - especially in areas with a high
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concentration of our stores - could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, heavy snowfall or other extreme weather conditions over a prolonged period, caused by climate change or otherwise, might make it difficult for our customers or employees to travel to our stores. In addition, natural disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, floods, earthquakes, and other extreme weather or climate conditions, or a combination of these or other factors, could severely damage or destroy one or more of our stores or distribution facilities located in the affected areas, or disrupt our computer systems, thereby disrupting our business operations. Any of these events or circumstances also could disrupt the operations of one or more of our vendors. Day-to-day operations, particularly our ability to receive products from our vendors or transport products to our stores, could be adversely affected, or we could be required to close stores.
Our business is also susceptible to unseasonable weather conditions. For example, extended periods of unseasonably warm temperatures during the Fall or Winter seasons or cool weather during the Spring or Summer seasons could render a portion of our inventory incompatible with those unseasonable conditions, particularly in light of our historical product mix. These prolonged unseasonable weather conditions could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, because higher net sales historically have occurred during the second half of the year, unseasonably warm weather during these months could have a disproportionately large effect on our business and materially adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Strategic Risks
We may not be able to sustain our growth plans or successfully implement our long-range strategic goals.
Our growth largely depends on our ability to successfully open and operate new stores, as well as to expand our distribution capabilities in order to support that growth. While we have identified numerous market opportunities that we believe will allow us to operate 2,000 stores over the long term, the success of these strategies is dependent upon, among other things, the current retail environment, the identification of suitable markets and the availability of real estate that meets our criteria for traffic, square footage, co-tenancies, lease economics, demographics and other factors, the negotiation of acceptable lease terms, construction costs, the availability of financing, the hiring, training and retention of competent sales personnel, and the effective management of inventory to meet the needs of new and existing stores on a timely basis.
Notably, as we continue to evolve our off-price model, we plan on more effectively chasing the sales trend, making greater investments in our merchandising capabilities, operating with leaner inventories, improving operational flexibility, and challenging expenses, among other strategic initiatives. Executing these initiatives while also maintaining the current pace of our expansion may place increased demands on our operational, managerial and administrative resources. These initiatives may require us to increase the number of merchants and other associates we employ, modify how we manage our liquidity and inventory, as well as to monitor and upgrade our management information and other systems and our distribution infrastructure.
We may not be able to successfully execute our growth and other strategies on a timely basis or at all. If we fail to implement these strategies successfully, if we cannot keep up with the pace required for execution, or if these strategies do not yield the desired outcomes, our financial condition and results of operations would be adversely affected.
Failure to execute our opportunistic buying and inventory management process could adversely affect our business.
We purchase the majority of our inventory opportunistically, with our buyers purchasing close to need. Establishing the “treasure hunt” nature of the off-price buying experience to drive traffic to our stores requires us to offer changing assortments of merchandise in our stores. While opportunistic purchasing provides our buyers the ability to buy at desirable times and prices, in the quantities we need and into market trends, it places considerable discretion with our buyers, which subjects us to risks related to the pricing, quantity, nature and timing of inventory flowing to our stores. If we are unable to provide frequent replenishment of fresh, high quality, attractively priced merchandise in our stores, it could adversely affect traffic to our stores as well as our sales and margins. We base our purchases of inventory, in part, on our sales forecasts. If our sales forecasts do not match customer demand, we may experience higher inventory levels and need to mark down excess or slow-moving inventory, leading to decreased profit margins, or we may have insufficient inventory to meet customer demand, leading to lost sales, either of which could adversely affect our financial performance. We need to purchase inventory sufficiently below conventional retail to maintain our pricing differential to regular department and specialty store prices, and to attract customers and sustain our margins, which we may not achieve at various times and which could adversely affect our results.
In order to better serve our customers and maximize sales, we must properly execute our inventory management strategies by appropriately allocating merchandise among our stores, timely and efficiently distributing inventory to such locations, maintaining an appropriate mix and level of inventory in such locations, appropriately changing the allocation of floor space of stores among product categories to respond to customer demand, and effectively managing pricing and markdowns, and there is no assurance we will be able to do so. In addition, as we execute inventory localization initiatives, there could be disruptions in inventory flow and placement. Failure to effectively execute our opportunistic inventory buying and inventory management strategies could adversely affect our performance and our reputation.
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In addition to our own execution, we may need to react to factors affecting inventory flow that are outside our control, such as adverse weather, natural disasters, epidemics or pandemics (including COVID-19) or other changes in conditions affecting our vendors and others in our supply chain, such as political instability, labor issues (including strikes or threats of strikes and scarcity of labor) and increased labor costs, reduced freight capacity and other transportation issues, or increasing cost of regulations. If we are not able to adjust appropriately to such factors, our inventory management may be affected, which could impact our performance and our reputation.
Operational Risks
If we cannot optimize our existing stores or maintain favorable lease terms, our growth strategy and profitability could be negatively impacted.
We lease substantially all of our store locations. Most of our current leases expire at various dates after ten-year terms, the majority of which are subject to our option to renew such leases for several additional five-year periods. While we have the right to terminate some of our leases under specified conditions, including by making specified payments, we may not be able to terminate a particular lease if or when we would like to close a particular store. If we decide to close stores, we are generally required to continue to perform obligations under the applicable leases, which generally include, among other things, paying rent and operating expenses for the balance of the lease term, or paying to exercise rights to terminate, and performing any of these obligations may be expensive. When we assign leases or sublease space to third parties, we may remain liable on the lease obligations, which could lead to significant expense if the assignee or sublessee does not perform. In addition, when the lease terms for the stores in our ongoing operations expire, our ability to renew such expiring leases on commercially acceptable terms or, if such leases cannot be renewed, our ability to lease a suitable alternative location, and our ability to enter into leases for new stores on favorable terms will each depend on many factors, some of which may not be within our control, such as conditions in the local real estate market, competition for desirable properties and our relationships with current and prospective lessors. As we renew and replace our store leases, we also strive to optimize the size of our existing stores to ensure maximum space utilization, which frequently means adjusting operations to accommodate smaller space through alternative floor plans and inventory turn optimization.
In addition, to the extent that our new store openings are in existing markets, we may experience reduced net sales volumes in existing stores in those markets. If we experience a decline in performance or lease payment allowances from our lessors become unavailable, we may slow or discontinue store openings, relocations, refreshes and/or remodels.
If any of the foregoing occurs, our growth and profitability may be negatively impacted.
If we are unable to purchase attractive brand name merchandise in sufficient quantities at competitive prices, we may be unable to offer an appealing merchandise mix and our sales may be harmed.
Our ability to purchase merchandise opportunistically from third party vendors depends upon the continuous, sufficient availability of high quality merchandise that we can acquire at prices sufficiently below those paid by conventional retailers in order to achieve the value proposition we strive to provide to our customers. Some of our key vendors may limit the number of retail channels they use to sell their merchandise, which may result in intense competition among retailers to obtain and sell these goods. Moreover, we typically buy products from our vendors on a purchase order basis. We have no long-term purchase contracts with any of our vendors and, therefore, have no contractual assurances of continued supply, pricing or access to products, and any vendor could change the terms upon which they sell to us or discontinue selling to us at any time. Finally, if our vendors are better able to manage their inventory levels and reduce the amount of their excess inventory, the amount of high quality merchandise available to us could be materially reduced.
If our relationships with our vendors are disrupted, we may not be able to acquire the merchandise we require in sufficient quantities or on terms acceptable to us. Any inability to acquire high quality merchandise would have a negative effect on our business and operating results because we would be missing products from our merchandise mix unless and until alternative supply arrangements were made, resulting in deferred or lost sales. In addition, events that adversely affect our vendors could impair our ability to obtain desired merchandise in sufficient quantities. Such events include difficulties or problems associated with our vendors’ businesses, finances, labor, importation of products, costs, production, insurance and reputation.
Our failure to attract, train and retain quality employees and temporary personnel in sufficient numbers could adversely affect our business.
Our performance depends on recruiting, developing, training and retaining quality store, distribution center and other employees in large numbers as well as experienced buying and management personnel, and we invest significant resources in training and motivating them to maintain a high level of job satisfaction. Many of our store and distribution center employees are in entry level or part-time positions with historically high rates of turnover, which can lead to increased training and retention costs, particularly if employment opportunities increase. Availability and skill of employees may differ across markets in which we do business and in new markets we enter, and we need to manage our labor needs effectively.
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In addition, because of the distinctive nature of our off-price model, we must provide significant internal training and development for key employees across the company, including within our buying organization. Similar to other retailers, we face challenges in securing and retaining sufficient talent in management and other key areas for many reasons, including competition in the retail industry generally and for talent in various geographic markets. If we do not continue to attract qualified individuals, train them in our business model, support their development and retain them, our performance could be adversely affected or our growth could be limited.
We are also dependent upon temporary personnel to adequately staff our distribution facilities, with heightened dependence during busy periods such as the holiday season. Although we strive to secure long-term contracts on favorable terms with our service providers and other vendors, we may not be able to avoid unexpected operating cost increases in the future, such as those associated with minimum wage increases or enhanced health care requirements. In addition, there can be no assurance that we will receive adequate assistance from our temporary personnel, or that there will be sufficient sources of suitable temporary personnel to meet our demand. Any such failure to meet our staffing needs or any material increases in associate turnover rates could have a material adverse effect on our business or results of operations. Further, any negative publicity regarding the agencies from which we source temporary personnel, such as in connection with immigration issues or employment practices, could damage our reputation, disrupt our ability to obtain needed labor or result in financial harm to our business.
Labor costs, including healthcare costs, and other challenges from our large workforce may adversely affect our results and profitability.
We have a large workforce, and our ability to meet our labor needs while controlling costs, including costs of providing health, retirement and other associate benefits, is subject to various factors such as unemployment levels; prevailing wage rates and minimum wage requirements; participant benefit levels; economic conditions; interest rate changes; health and other insurance costs; and the regulatory environment, including health care legislation, and with respect to governmental labor and employment and associate benefits programs and requirements. When wage rates or benefit levels increase in the market or the unemployment rate is otherwise low, increasing our wages or benefits to compete for employees may cause our earnings to decrease, while failing to increase our wages or benefits competitively or reducing our wages or benefits could result in a decline in our ability to attract or retain employees or in the quality of our workforce, causing our customer service or performance to suffer, which could negatively impact our results.
Parties with whom we do business may be subject to insolvency risks or may otherwise become unable or unwilling to perform their obligations to us.
We are party to contracts, transactions and business relationships with various third parties, including vendors, suppliers, service providers and lenders, pursuant to which such third parties have performance, payment and other obligations to us. In some cases, we depend upon such third parties to provide essential leaseholds, products, services or other benefits, including with respect to store and distribution center locations, merchandise, advertising, software development and support, logistics, other agreements for goods and services in order to operate our business in the ordinary course, extensions of credit, hedging instruments and other vital matters. Economic, industry and market conditions could result in increased risks to us associated with the potential financial distress of such third parties.
If any of the third parties with which we do business become subject to bankruptcy, receivership or similar insolvency proceedings, our rights and benefits in relation to our contracts, transactions and business relationships with such third parties could be terminated, modified in a manner adverse to us, or otherwise impaired. We cannot make any assurances that we would be able to arrange for alternate or replacement contracts, transactions or business relationships on terms as favorable as our existing contracts, transactions or business relationships, if at all. Any inability on our part to do so could negatively affect our cash flows, financial condition and results of operations.
Many of our vendors produce merchandise overseas, and our business is exposed to the risk of foreign and domestic operations and international tax policies and trade relations.
We do not own or operate any manufacturing facilities. As a result, we are dependent upon the timely receipt of quality merchandise from vendors, many of which produce merchandise overseas. Factors which affect overseas production could affect our vendors and, in turn, our ability to obtain inventory and the price levels at which they may be obtained. Factors that cause an increase in merchandise costs or a decrease in supply could lead to generally lower sales and gross margins in the retail industry.
Such factors include:
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political or labor instability in countries where vendors are located or at foreign ports which could result in lengthy shipment delays, which, particularly if timed ahead of the Fall and Winter peak selling periods, could materially and adversely affect our ability to stock inventory on a timely basis;
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disruptions in the operations of domestic ports through which we import our merchandise, including labor disputes involving work slowdowns, lockouts or strikes, which could require us and/or our vendors to ship merchandise to alternative ports in
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the United States or through the use of more expensive means, and shipping to alternative ports in the United States could result in increased lead times and transportation costs; disruptions at ports through which we import our goods could also result in unanticipated inventory shortages;
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political or military conflict, which could cause a delay in the transportation of our products to us and an increase in transportation costs;
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heightened terrorism security concerns, which could subject imported goods to additional, more frequent or more thorough inspections, leading to delays in deliveries or impoundment of goods for extended periods;
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disease epidemics, pandemics (including COVID-19), outbreaks and other health-related concerns, which could result in closed factories, reduced workforces, scarcity of raw materials and scrutiny or embargoing of goods produced in affected areas;
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natural disasters and industrial accidents, which could have the effect of curtailing production and disrupting supplies;
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increases in labor and production costs in goods-producing countries, which would result in an increase in our inventory costs;
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the migration and development of manufacturers, which can affect where our products are or will be produced;
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fluctuation in our vendors’ local currency against the dollar, which may increase our cost of goods sold; and
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changes in import duties, taxes, charges, quotas, loss of “most favored nation” trading status with the United States for a particular foreign country and trade restrictions (including the United States imposing antidumping or countervailing duty orders, safeguards, remedies or compensation and retaliation due to illegal foreign trade practices).
Any of the foregoing factors, or a combination thereof, could have a material adverse effect on our business.
Over the past few years, uncertainty has increased with respect to tax and trade policies, tariffs and government regulations affecting trade between the U.S. and other countries. Although we source the majority of our merchandise from third party vendors located in the U.S., the production of that merchandise occurs primarily overseas. As a result, we continue to evaluate the impact of currently effective tariffs, as well as any additional proposed tariffs, on our supply chain, costs, sales and profitability. We can provide no assurance that any strategies we implement to mitigate the impact of such tariffs or other trade actions will be successful.
In addition, other major developments in tax policy or trade relations, such as the disallowance of tax deductions for imported merchandise or the imposition of additional unilateral tariffs on imported products, could increase the cost of products purchased from suppliers in such countries or restrict the importation of products from such countries, which in turn could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and liquidity.
Any disruption to our distribution network could cause disruptions in our business, a loss of sales and profits, increases in our expenses, and other material adverse effects.
Most of the merchandise we purchase is shipped directly to our distribution centers, where it is prepared for shipment to the appropriate stores. The success of our stores depends on their timely receipt of merchandise, and a strong, efficient and flexible distribution network is critical to our ability to grow and to maintain a low-cost operating structure. A disruption within our distribution network, including the shutdown of or loss of significant capacity by one or more of our current primary distribution centers, such as we experienced in Spring 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, could adversely affect our ability to deliver inventory in a timely manner and significantly disrupt our business. In addition, any failure to continue to add capacity to our existing distribution centers and build out planned additional distribution centers timely and cost effectively could adversely affect our business.
In addition to the distribution centers that we operate, we have arrangements with third parties for the use of pool point facilities, which we believe streamline and optimize our distribution network. If complications arise with a pool point facility or its operator, or if any such facility is severely damaged or destroyed, it may cause delays in the delivery of our merchandise to our stores. We also may be affected by disruptions in the global transportation network such as port strikes, weather conditions, work stoppages or other labor unrest, which may also adversely affect our ability to deliver inventory on a timely basis. We also depend upon third-party carriers for shipment of merchandise; any interruption in service by these carriers for any reason could cause disruptions in our business, a loss of sales and profits, and other material adverse effects.
Finally, outbreaks of the COVID-19 pandemic, new COVID-19 variants or other public-health related concerns could lead us to experience supply disruptions, reduced workforces or labor shortages, transportation delays, scarcity of raw materials and scrutiny or embargoing of goods produced in infected areas, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
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If we are unable to protect our information systems against service interruption, misappropriation of data, breaches of security, or other cyber-related attacks, our operations could be disrupted, we may suffer financial losses and our reputation may be damaged.
We rely extensively on various information systems, including data centers, hardware, software and applications to manage many aspects of our business, including to process and record transactions in our stores, to enable effective communication systems, to plan and track inventory flow, to manage logistics and to generate performance and financial reports. In addition, some aspects of our business, like that of most retailers, involve the receipt, storage and transmission of customers’ personal information and consumer preferences, as well as confidential information about our employees, our vendors and our Company, some of which is entrusted to third-party service providers and vendors. We are dependent on the integrity, security and consistent operations of these systems and related back-up systems, software, tools (including encryption technology) and monitoring to provide security and oversight for processing, transmission, storage and the protection of such confidential information.
Like most major corporations, however, we, our customers and our third-party services providers face an evolving, increasing threat landscape in which cybercriminals, among others, employ a complex array of techniques designed to access personal and other information, including, for example, the use of fraudulent or stolen access credentials, malware, ransomware, phishing, denial of service and other types of attacks. Hardware, software or applications we develop or obtain from third parties may contain defects in design or manufacture or other problems that are not presently known and could unexpectedly compromise information security. In addition, our employees, contractors or third parties with which we do business or to which we outsource business operations may attempt to circumvent our security measures in order to misappropriate such information, and may purposefully or inadvertently cause a breach involving such information or become subject to various other cyber-crimes. Further, our computer systems and the third-party systems of our vendors are also subject to damage or interruption from a number of non-criminal causes, including power outages; computer and telecommunications failures; computer viruses; and design or usage errors by our employees or contractors.
If we or third parties with which we do business were to fall victim to successful cyber-attacks or experience other material cybersecurity incidents, including the loss of individually identifiable customer or other sensitive data, we may incur substantial costs and suffer other negative consequences, which may include:
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remediation costs, such as liability for stolen assets or information, repairs of system damage or replacement of systems, and incentives to customers or business partners in an effort to maintain relationships after an attack;
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increased cybersecurity protection costs, which may include the cost of continuing to make organizational changes, deploy additional personnel and protection technologies, train employees, and engage third party consultants;
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lost revenues resulting from the unauthorized use of proprietary information or the failure to retain or attract customers following an attack;
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litigation and legal risks, including regulatory actions by state and federal governmental authorities;
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increased cybersecurity and other insurance premiums;
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reputational damage that adversely affects customer or investor confidence; and
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damage to our competitiveness, stock price, and long-term stockholder value.
We employ various security measures and technologies to actively monitor, prevent and mitigate cyber-attacks. Despite advances in security hardware, software, and encryption technologies, the methods and tools used to obtain unauthorized access, disable or degrade service, or sabotage systems are constantly changing and evolving, and may be difficult to anticipate or detect, and there is no guarantee that the proactive measures we put in place will be adequate to safeguard against all data security breaches or misuses of data. As many of our non-store associates continue to work remotely, we face an increased risk due to the potential interruptions to internal or external information technology infrastructure as well as ongoing threats and attempts to breach our security networks.
Although we endeavor to protect consumer identity and payment information through the implementation and modification of security technologies, processes and procedures, including training programs for employees to raise awareness about phishing, malware and other cyber risks and certification of our major technology suppliers and any outsourced services through accepted security certification measures, we could experience increased costs associated with maintaining these protections as threats of cyber-attacks increase in sophistication and complexity. In addition, there are inherent risks associated with modifying or replacing systems, and with new or changed relationships, including accurately capturing and maintaining data, realizing the expected benefit of the change and managing the potential disruption of the operation of the systems as the changes are implemented. Potential issues associated with implementing technology initiatives and the time and resources required to optimize the benefits of new elements of our systems and infrastructure could reduce the efficiency of our operations in the short term.
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We are subject to payment-related risks that could increase our operating costs, expose us to fraud or theft, subject us to potential liability and potentially disrupt our business.
We accept payments using a variety of methods, including cash, checks, credit and debit cards, and gift cards, and we may offer new payment options over time. Acceptance of these payment methods subjects us to rules, regulations, contractual obligations and compliance requirements, including payment network rules and operating guidelines, data security standards and certification requirements, and rules governing electronic funds transfers. These requirements may change over time or be reinterpreted, making compliance more difficult or costly.
For certain payment methods, including credit and debit cards, we pay interchange and other fees, which may increase over time and raise our operating costs. We rely on third parties to provide payment processing services, including the processing of credit cards, debit cards, and other forms of electronic payment. If these companies become unable to provide these services to us, or if their systems are compromised, it could potentially disrupt our business. The payment methods that we offer also subject us to potential fraud and theft by criminals, who are becoming increasingly sophisticated, seeking to obtain unauthorized access to or exploit weaknesses that may exist in the payment systems. If we fail to comply with applicable rules or requirements for the payment methods we accept, or if payment-related data is compromised due to a breach or misuse of data, we may be liable for costs incurred by payment card issuing banks and other third parties or subject to fines and higher transaction fees, or our ability to accept or facilitate certain types of payments may be impaired. In addition, our customers could lose confidence in certain payment types, which may result in a shift to other payment types or potential changes to our payment systems that may result in higher costs. As a result, our business and operating results could be adversely affected.
Our future growth and profitability could be adversely affected if our advertising and marketing programs are not effective in generating sufficient levels of customer awareness and traffic.
We rely on advertising to increase consumer awareness of our product offerings and pricing to drive traffic to our stores. In addition, we rely and will increasingly rely on other forms of media advertising, including digital, social media and e-marketing. Our future growth and profitability will depend in part upon the effectiveness and efficiency of our advertising and marketing programs. Our advertising and marketing programs may not be successful if we do not:
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manage advertising and marketing costs effectively in order to maintain acceptable operating margins and return on our marketing investment; and
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convert customer awareness into actual store visits and product purchases.
Our planned advertising and marketing expenditures may not result in increased total or comparable store sales or generate sufficient levels of product awareness. Further, we may not be able to manage our advertising and marketing expenditures on a cost-effective basis. Additionally, some of our competitors may have substantially larger marketing budgets, which may provide them with a competitive advantage over us.
Damage to our corporate reputation or brand could adversely affect our sales and operating results.
Building brand reputation is important to our continuing success. Our reputation is partially based on perceptions of various subjective qualities and overall integrity. Any incident that erodes the trust or confidence of our customers or the general public could adversely affect our reputation and business, particularly if the incident results in significant adverse publicity or governmental inquiry. Such an incident could also include alleged acts or omissions by or situations involving our vendors (or their contractors or subcontractors), the landlords for our stores, or our associates outside of work, and may pertain to social or political issues or protests largely unrelated to our business. In addition, information concerning us, whether or not true, may be instantly and easily posted on social media platforms and similar devices at any time, which information may be adverse to our reputation or business.
The harm may be immediate without affording us an opportunity for redress or correction. Damage to our reputation in any form could result in declines in customer loyalty and sales, affect our vendor relationships, development opportunities and associate retention, and otherwise adversely affect our business.
Legal, Regulatory, Compliance and Tax Risks
Difficulty complying with existing and changing laws, rules, regulations and local codes could negatively affect our business operations and financial performance.
We are subject to federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations in the operation of our business. In addition to complying with current laws, rules and regulations, we must also comply with new and changing laws and regulations, new regulatory initiatives, evolving interpretation of existing laws by judicial and regulatory authorities, and reforms in jurisdictions where we do business. Complying with local zoning codes, real estate land use restrictions, employment-related laws, and other local laws across numerous jurisdictions is particularly challenging as we grow the number of our stores in new municipalities and need to stay abreast of changes
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in such local laws. The increasing proliferation of local laws, some of which may be conflicting, further complicates our efforts to comply with all of the various laws, rules and regulations that apply to our business. We could also be negatively impacted by changes in government regulations in areas including taxes, healthcare and environmental protection.
All of the above legal, regulatory and administrative requirements may, individually or collectively, affect multiple aspects of our business, including those involving labor and employment benefits; health, welfare and finance; real estate management; consumer protection and product safety; climate change, supply chain, energy and waste; electronic communications, data protection and privacy; protection of third party intellectual property rights; and income taxes. Changes to these laws and regulations could increase our costs of compliance or of doing business, and could adversely affect our operating results. In addition, we require our vendors to adhere to various conduct, compliance and other requirements, including those relating to employment and labor (including wages and working conditions), health and safety, and anti-bribery standards. Although we have implemented policies and procedures to facilitate compliance with laws and regulations, this does not guarantee that vendors and other third parties with whom we do business will not violate such laws and regulations or our policies. If we or other third parties with whom we do business fail to comply with these laws, rules and regulations, we may be subject to judgments, fines or other costs or penalties, which could materially adversely affect our business operations and financial performance.
The insurance we carry may not always pay, or be sufficient to pay or reimburse us, for our losses.
We are primarily self-insured and we purchase insurance only for catastrophic types of events for such risks as workers’ compensation, employment practices liability, employee health benefits, product and other general liability claims, among others. If we suffer a substantial loss that is not covered by commercial insurance or our self-insurance reserves, the loss and related expenses could harm our business and operating results.
Issues with merchandise safety and shrinkage could damage our sales and financial results.
Various governmental authorities in the jurisdictions where we do business regulate the safety of the merchandise we sell to consumers. Regulations and standards in this area, including those related to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008, state regulations like California’s Proposition 65, and similar legislation, impose restrictions and requirements on the merchandise we sell in our stores. These regulations change from time to time as new federal, state or local regulations are enacted. If we or our merchandise vendors are unable to comply with regulatory requirements on a timely basis or at all, or to adequately monitor new regulations that may apply to existing or new merchandise categories, significant fines or penalties could be incurred or we could have to curtail some aspects of our sales or operations, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
We rely on our vendors to provide quality merchandise that complies with applicable product safety laws and other applicable laws, but they may not comply with their obligations to do so. Although our arrangements with our vendors frequently provide for indemnification for product liabilities, the vendors may fail to honor those obligations to an extent we consider sufficient or at all. Issues with the safety of merchandise, and issues with the authenticity of merchandise, or customer concerns about such issues, regardless of our fault, could cause damage to our reputation and could result in lost sales, uninsured product liability claims or losses, merchandise recalls and increased costs, and regulatory, civil or criminal fines or penalties, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our financial results.
An unfavorable, uncertain or volatile economic environment, as we have experienced recently as a result of inflation, rising interest rates, supply chain disruptions and COVID-19, among other things, has and may continue to cause an increase in inventory shrinkage. Risk of loss or theft of assets, including inventory shrinkage, is inherent in the retail business, and we experienced increased shrinkage, as well as increased loss prevention costs, in Fiscal 2022. Loss or theft may be caused by error or misconduct of associates, customers, vendors, organized retail theft, or other third parties. Our inability to effectively prevent and/or minimize the loss or theft of assets, or to effectively reduce the impact of those losses, could adversely affect our financial performance.
Compliance with increasingly rigorous privacy and data security regulations could be costly, affect or limit our business opportunities and how we collect and/or use data, and potentially subject us to fines and lawsuits.
As described above, the protection of customer, employee, vendor and Company data is critical to our business. As the regulatory environment relating to retailers’ and other companies’ obligation to protect such sensitive data becomes increasingly rigorous, with new and evolving requirements applicable to our business, compliance with those requirements could result in additional costs and could have a significant impact on our current and planned privacy, data protection and information security-related practices, our collection, use, sharing, retention and safeguarding of customer and/or employee information, and some of our current or future business plans. A material failure on our part to comply could subject us to fines or other regulatory sanctions and potentially to lawsuits.
In recent years, there has been increasing regulatory enforcement and litigation activity in the areas of privacy, data protection and information security in various states in which we operate. Compliance with the evolving privacy regulatory landscape will likely increase the costs of doing business, especially if we face differing regulatory requirements across multiple jurisdictions and/or a lack
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of adequate regulatory guidance. New legislation or regulations, including any potential comprehensive federal privacy legislation, as well as any associated inquiries or investigations or any other government actions, could also result in negative publicity, require significant management time and attention, and subject us to remedies that may harm our business, including fines or demands or orders that we modify or cease existing business practices.
Legal and regulatory proceedings could have an adverse impact on our results of operations.
We are subject to various legal and regulatory proceedings relating to our business, certain of which may involve jurisdictions with reputations for aggressive application of laws and procedures against corporate defendants. We are impacted by trends in litigation, such as representative claims under the California Private Attorneys’ General Act and class action litigation brought under various consumer protection, employment, and privacy and information security laws. Accruals are established based on our best estimates of our potential liability. However, we cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of any such proceedings due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation. Regardless of the outcome or whether the claims are meritorious, legal and regulatory proceedings may require that we devote substantial time and expense to defend our Company. Unfavorable rulings could result in a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition or results of operations.
Use of social media by the Company or third parties at our direction in violation of applicable laws and regulations may adversely impact our reputation or subject us to fines or other penalties.
There has been a substantial increase in the use of social media platforms and other forms of internet-based communications, which allow individuals access to a broad audience of consumers and other interested persons. We have increasingly utilized social media in our marketing and employment recruiting efforts in order to reach as many current and potential new customers and potential employment candidates as efficiently and cost effectively as possible, and have also retained third parties, such as influencers, with expertise and distinction in the social media realm to bolster our social media efforts. As laws and regulations rapidly evolve to govern the use of these platforms, the failure by us, our employees or third parties acting at our direction to abide by applicable laws and regulations in the use of these platforms could adversely impact our reputation or subject us to fines or other penalties.
Risk Related to Our Substantial Indebtedness and Corporate Structure
Our ability to generate sufficient cash depends on numerous factors beyond our control, and we may be unable to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt obligations.
As of January 28, 2023, our obligations include (i) $942.0 million, inclusive of original issue discount, under our $1,200.0 million senior secured term loan facility (Term Loan Facility) and (ii) $507.7 million under the Convertible Notes. We had no outstanding balance on our $900.0 million asset-based lending facility (ABL Line of Credit) as of January 28, 2023. Our debt obligations also include $33.4 million of finance lease obligations as of January 28, 2023. Estimated cash required to make interest payments for these debt obligations, net of the impact of our interest rate swap, amounts to approximately $63.5 million in the aggregate for the fiscal year ending February 3, 2024.
Our ability to make payments on and to refinance our debt, and to fund planned capital expenditures, will depend on our ability to generate cash in the future, which is to some extent subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors that are beyond our control. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow to service our debt and meet our other commitments, we will be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as refinancing all or a portion of our debt, selling material assets or operations or raising additional debt or equity capital. We may not be able to successfully carry out any of these actions on a timely basis, on commercially reasonable terms or at all, or be assured that these actions would be sufficient to meet our capital requirements. In addition, the terms of our existing or future debt agreements may restrict us from affecting any of these alternatives.
Our failure to comply with the agreements relating to our outstanding indebtedness, including as a result of events beyond our control, could result in an event of default that could materially and adversely affect our results of operations and our financial condition.
If an event of default under any of the agreements relating to our outstanding indebtedness occurred, the holders of the defaulted debt could cause all amounts outstanding with respect to that debt to be due and payable immediately. Our assets or cash flow may not be sufficient to fully repay borrowings under our outstanding debt instruments if accelerated upon an event of default, resulting in a need for an alternate source of funding. We cannot make any assurances that we would be able to obtain such an alternate source of funding on satisfactory terms, if at all, and our inability to do so could cause the holders of our securities to experience a partial or total loss of their investments in the Company. Further, if we are unable to repay, refinance or restructure our secured indebtedness, the holders of such debt could proceed against the collateral securing that indebtedness through foreclosure proceedings and/or by forcing us into bankruptcy or liquidation. In addition, any event of default or acceleration under one debt instrument could also result in an event of default under one or more of our other debt instruments.
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The conditional conversion feature of the Convertible Notes, if triggered, may adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
In the event the conditional conversion feature of our Convertible Notes is triggered, holders of the Convertible Notes will be entitled to convert their notes at any time during specified periods at their option. If one or more holders elect to convert their Convertible Notes, we would be required to settle the principal portion of our conversion obligation in cash, which could adversely affect our liquidity. In addition, even if holders of Convertible Notes do not elect to convert their notes, we could be required under applicable accounting rules to reclassify all or a portion of the outstanding principal of the Convertible Notes as a current rather than long-term liability, which would result in a material reduction of our net working capital.
Conversion of the Convertible Notes will dilute the ownership interest of existing stockholders, including holders who had previously converted their Convertible Notes, or may otherwise depress the price of our common stock.
The conversion of some or all of the Convertible Notes will dilute the ownership interests of existing stockholders, as we will deliver shares of our common stock with respect to any excess over principal upon conversion of any of the Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes may from time to time in the future be convertible at the option of their holders prior to their scheduled terms under certain circumstances. Any sales in the public market of the common stock issuable upon such conversion could adversely affect prevailing market prices of our common stock. In addition, the existence of the Convertible Notes may encourage short selling by market participants because the conversion of the Convertible Notes could be used to satisfy short positions, or anticipated conversion of the Convertible Notes into shares of our common stock could depress the price of our common stock.
The discontinuance of LIBOR and the replacement of LIBOR with an alternative reference rate may adversely affect our borrowing costs and could impact our business and results of operations.
Our Term Loan Facility currently uses LIBOR as a reference rate to calculate interest rates. The United Kingdom's Financial Conduct Authority, which regulates LIBOR, announced that it intends to phase out LIBOR, and most LIBOR tenors are not expected to be published after June 30, 2023. The U.S. Federal Reserve, in conjunction with the Alternative Reference Rates Committee, a steering committee comprised of large U.S. financial institutions, announced an alternative to U.S. dollar LIBOR with a new index calculated by short term repurchase agreements, backed by Treasury securities, called the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (SOFR).
To address a potential transition away from LIBOR, the Term Loan Facility was amended in 2021 to provide for an agreed upon methodology to replace LIBOR with a SOFR-based rate (or, if a SOFR-based rate is unavailable, amend such agreements to substitute LIBOR with an agreed replacement rate, subject to our consent and the applicable administrative agent, and in each case subject to a short lender negative consent period). However, to the extent that any such replacement rate would require the consent of the administrative agent or lenders under the Term Loan Facility, there is no guarantee that any such amendment to adopt a replacement rate would be agreed by such administrative agent and the lenders under the Term Loan Facility or that such consents would be obtained, and in such event we would be required to pay a rate of interest higher than expected on the amount owed under such agreements where the interest rate is subject to LIBOR. We have also entered into LIBOR based interest rate swap agreements to manage our exposure to interest rate movements resulting from changes in the benchmark interest rate of LIBOR. Any replacement of LIBOR as the basis on which interest on our floating-rate debt and/or under our interest rate swaps is calculated may result in interest rates and/or payments that do not correlate over time with the interest rates and/or payments that would have been made on our obligations if LIBOR was available in its current form. As a result of the transition to SOFR, our interest expense could increase and our available cash flow for general corporate requirements may be adversely affected. In addition, there remains uncertainty as to the longer-term impact of the discontinuation of LIBOR and the adoption of SOFR and other alternative reference rates, which could affect our overall financial condition or results of operations.
In addition, any further changes or reforms to the determination or supervision of LIBOR, SOFR and other alternative reference rates may result in a sudden or prolonged increase or decrease in reported LIBOR, SOFR or other alternative reference rates. Additionally, any potential successor rate to SOFR under our Term Loan Facility and ABL Line of Credit agreements may not have the same characteristics as SOFR or LIBOR. Each of the foregoing risks could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.
We are a holding company and rely on dividends, distributions and other payments, advances and transfers of funds from our subsidiaries to meet our obligations.
We are a holding company that does not conduct any business operations of our own. As a result, we are largely dependent upon cash dividends and distributions and other transfers from our subsidiaries to meet our obligations. The deterioration of income from, or other available assets of, our subsidiaries for any reason could limit or impair their ability to pay dividends or other distributions to us.
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Risks Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
Our stock price has been and may continue to be volatile.
The market price of our common stock has fluctuated substantially in the past and may continue to fluctuate significantly. For example, in Fiscal 2022, our stock price fluctuated from a high of $243.94 to a low of $106.47. Future announcements or disclosures concerning us or any of our competitors, our strategic initiatives, our sales and profitability, our financial condition, any quarterly variations in actual or anticipated operating results or comparable sales, any failure to meet analysts’ expectations and sales of large blocks of our common stock, among other factors, could cause the market price of our common stock to fluctuate substantially. In addition, the stock market has experienced price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market price of many retail and other stocks that have often been unrelated or disproportionate to the operating performance of these companies.
Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law might discourage or delay acquisition attempts for us that stockholders might consider favorable.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated bylaws contain provisions that may make the acquisition of the Company more difficult without the approval of our Board of Directors. These provisions:
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authorize the issuance of undesignated preferred stock, the terms of which may be established and the shares of which may be issued without stockholder approval, and which may include super voting, special approval, dividend, or other rights or preferences superior to the rights of the holders of common stock;
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prohibit stockholder action by written consent, requiring all stockholder actions be taken at a meeting of our stockholders;
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establish advance notice requirements for nominations for elections to our Board of Directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings;
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establish a classified Board of Directors, as a result of which our Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with each class serving for staggered three-year terms, which prevents stockholders from electing an entirely new Board of Directors at an annual meeting;
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limit the ability of stockholders to remove directors only for cause and only upon the affirmative vote of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of our common stock;
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prohibit stockholders from calling special meetings of stockholders;
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provide that the Board of Directors is expressly authorized to alter or repeal our amended and restated bylaws; and
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require the approval of holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of our voting common stock to amend the amended and restated bylaws and certain provisions of the amended and restated certificate of incorporation
These anti-takeover provisions and other provisions under Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent a transaction involving a change in control of the Company, even if doing so would benefit our stockholders. These provisions could also discourage proxy contests and make it more difficult for stockholders to elect directors they choose or to cause us to take other corporate actions they desire.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and exclusive forum for certain types of actions and proceedings that may be initiated by our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to limited exceptions, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) any other action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock shall be deemed to have notice of and to have consented to the provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation described above. This choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other employees, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
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Because we do not intend to pay cash dividends in the near term, stockholders may not receive any return on investment unless they are able to sell their common stock for a price greater than their purchase price, and we cannot guarantee that we will continue to repurchase our common stock pursuant to our stock repurchase program.
The continued operation and expansion of our business will require substantial funding. Accordingly, we do not anticipate that we will pay any cash dividends on shares of our common stock in the near term. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions, including those under agreements governing our existing indebtedness, any potential future indebtedness we may incur, restrictions imposed by applicable law and other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant. Accordingly, if stockholders purchase shares of our common stock, a gain on investment will depend on an increase in the price of our stock, which may never occur.
Furthermore, although our Board of Directors has authorized a share repurchase program, we are not obligated to make any purchases under the program and we may discontinue it at any time. For example, during Fiscal 2020 we temporarily suspended our share repurchase program in response to uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
General Risk Factors
The loss of executives or other key personnel may disrupt our business and adversely affect our financial results.
We depend on the contributions of key personnel in various functions for our continued success. These executives and other key personnel may be hired by our competitors, some of which have considerably more financial resources than we do. The loss of key personnel, or the inability to hire, train, motivate and retain qualified employees, or changes to our organizational structure, operating results, or business model that adversely affect morale or retention, could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.
Effective succession planning is also a key factor for our success. Our failure to enable the effective transfer of knowledge and facilitate smooth transitions with regard to key personnel could adversely affect our strategic planning and execution and negatively affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. If we fail to enable the effective transfer of knowledge and facilitate smooth transitions for key personnel, the operating results and future growth for our business could be adversely affected, and the morale and productivity of the workforce could be disrupted.
Changes in accounting standards and subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by management related to complex accounting matters could significantly affect our financial results or financial condition.
Generally accepted accounting principles and related accounting pronouncements, implementation guidelines and interpretations with regard to a wide range of matters that are relevant to our business, such as inventories, leases, and self-insurance reserves, are highly complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments. Changes in these rules or their interpretation, or changes in underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments, could significantly change our reported or expected financial performance or financial condition.
Our business could be impacted as a result of actions by activist stockholders or others.
From time to time, we may be subject to legal and business challenges in the operation of our Company due to stockholder proposals, media campaigns, proxy contests, and other such actions instituted by activist stockholders or others. Responding to such actions could be costly and time-consuming, disrupt our operations, may not align with our business strategies and could divert the attention of our Board of Directors and senior management from the pursuit of current business strategies. Perceived uncertainties as to our future direction as a result of stockholder activism or potential changes to the composition of the Board of Directors may lead to the perception of a change in the direction of the business or other instability, and may affect our stock price or may make it more difficult to attract and retain qualified personnel and business partners.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments
Not Applicable.
Item 2. Properties
We own the land and/or buildings for 27 of our stores and have leases for 900 of our stores. Our new stores are generally leased for an initial term of ten years, the majority of which are subject to our option to renew such leases for several additional five-year periods. Store leases generally provide for fixed monthly rental payments, plus the payment, in most cases, of real estate taxes and
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other charges with escalation clauses. In many locations, our store leases contain formulas providing for the payment of additional rent based on sales. Most of our stores are freestanding or located in regional power centers, strip shopping centers or in malls.
We own approximately 235 acres of land in Burlington and Florence, New Jersey on which we have constructed our corporate campus, which includes our corporate headquarters and a warehouse facility. We own approximately 43 acres of land in Edgewater Park, New Jersey on which we have constructed our Edgewater Park, New Jersey distribution center and an office facility. We lease approximately 68,000 square feet of office space in New York City (east coast buying office), and 50,000 square feet of office space in Los Angeles, California (west coast buying office).
As described in Item 1, Business, we currently operate multiple distribution centers and warehousing facilities.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
In the course of business, the Company is party to class or collective actions alleging violations of federal and state wage and hour and other labor statutes, representative claims under the California Private Attorneys’ General Act and various other lawsuits and regulatory proceedings from time to time including, among others, commercial, product, employee, customer, intellectual property, privacy and other claims. Actions against us are in various procedural stages. Many of these proceedings raise factual and legal issues and are subject to uncertainties. Refer to Note 16, "Commitments and Contingencies," to our Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
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PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
Market Information
Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BURL.”
Holders
As of February 25, 2023, we had six holders of record of our common stock. This figure does not include the significantly greater number of beneficial holders of our common stock.
Dividends
We have not declared, and do not anticipate declaring in the near term, dividends on shares of our common stock. We currently do, and intend to continue to, retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund all of the Company's capital expenditures, business initiatives, and to support any potential opportunistic capital structure initiatives. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions, including those under agreements governing our existing indebtedness, or any potential future indebtedness we may incur, restrictions imposed by applicable law, capital requirements and other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant.
In addition, since we are a holding company, substantially all of the assets shown on our consolidated balance sheets are held by our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our earnings, cash flow and ability to pay dividends are largely dependent upon the earnings and cash flows of our subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment of such earnings to us in the form of dividends.
Stock Performance Graph
The performance graph below and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filing.
The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock from the closing prices as of the end of each fiscal year from February 3, 2018 through January 28, 2023, with the return on the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index, the Dow Jones United States Apparel Retailers Index, and the S&P Retailing Index over the same period. Beginning with Fiscal 2022, we added the Dow Jones United States Apparel Retailers Index due to the similarities of the companies in that index with our line of business, and we will no longer provide a comparison to the S&P Retailing Index in future years. This graph assumes an initial
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investment of $100 and assumes the reinvestment of dividends, if any. Such returns are based on historical results and are not intended to suggest future performance.
Base Period Indexed Returns for Fiscal Years Ended
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Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers
The following table provides information regarding our purchases of common stock during the three fiscal months ended January 28, 2023:
(1)
The number of shares purchased between October 30, 2022 and November 26, 2022, and between November 27, 2022 and December 31, 2022 include 16 shares and 207 shares, respectively, which were withheld for tax payments due upon the vesting of employee restricted stock awards, and do not reduce the dollar value that may yet be purchased under our share repurchase program. There were no shares withheld for tax payments between January 1, 2023 and January 28, 2023.
(2)
Includes commissions for the shares repurchased under our publicly announced share repurchase programs.
(3)
On February 16, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $500.0 million of common stock, which is authorized to be executed through February 2024. As of January 28, 2023, we had $347.3 million remaining under our share repurchase authorization. For a further discussion of our share repurchase program, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Share Repurchase Program.”
Item 6. Reserved
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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting our consolidated operating results, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows as of and for the periods presented below. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements, including the notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report.
In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions as further described under the caption above entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Our actual results or other events and the timing of events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth in Item 1A, Risk Factors and elsewhere in this Annual Report.
General
We are a nationally recognized off-price retailer of high-quality, branded merchandise at everyday low prices. We opened our first store in Burlington, New Jersey in 1972, selling primarily coats and outerwear. Since then, we have expanded our store base to 927 stores as of January 28, 2023 in 46 states and Puerto Rico. We have diversified our product categories by offering an extensive selection of in-season, fashion-focused merchandise at up to 60% off other retailers’ prices, including: women’s ready-to-wear apparel, menswear, youth apparel, baby, beauty, footwear, accessories, home, toys, gifts and coats. We sell a broad selection of desirable, first-quality, current-brand, labeled merchandise acquired directly from nationally-recognized manufacturers and other suppliers.
Executive Summary
Store Openings, Closings and Relocations
During Fiscal 2022, we opened 113 new stores, inclusive of 22 relocations, and closed four stores, exclusive of the aforementioned relocations, bringing our store count as of January 28, 2023 to 927 stores. We continue to pursue our growth plans and invest in capital projects that meet our financial requirements. During the fiscal year ending February 3, 2024 (Fiscal 2023), we plan to open approximately 70-80 net new stores, which includes approximately 90-100 gross new stores.
COVID-19
Results for Fiscal 2020 were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. All our stores were temporarily closed for a portion of Fiscal 2020, resulting in a sales decline and higher inventory markdowns. These store closures did not repeat in Fiscal 2021 or Fiscal 2022. However, certain lingering economic effects of the pandemic did continue to impact results, including supply chain disruptions.
Ongoing Initiatives for Fiscal 2023
We continue to focus on a number of ongoing initiatives aimed at increasing our overall profitability. These initiatives include, but are not limited to:
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Driving Comparable Store Sales Growth.
We strive to increase comparable store sales through the following initiatives:
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More Effectively Chasing the Sales Trend. We plan sales using conservative comparable store sales growth, holding and controlling liquidity, closely analyzing the sales trend by business, and remaining ready to chase that trend. We believe that these actions will also allow us to take more advantage of great opportunistic buys.
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Operating with Leaner Inventories. We are planning to carry less inventory in our stores going forward compared to historical levels, which we believe should result in the customer finding a higher mix of fresh receipts and great merchandise values. We believe that this should drive faster turns and lower markdowns, while simultaneously improving our customers’ shopping experience.
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Investment in Merchandising Capabilities. We plan to continue investing in training and coaching, improved tools and reporting, incremental headcount, especially in growing or under-developed businesses, and other forms of
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merchant support. We believe that these investments should improve our ability to strengthen vendor relationships, source great merchandise buys, more accurately assess value, and better forecast and chase the sales trend.
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Enhancing Existing Categories and Introducing New Categories. We have opportunities to expand our offerings in certain existing categories, such as ladies’ apparel, bath and cosmetic merchandise, housewares, and décor for the home, and maintain the flexibility to introduce new categories as we expand our merchandising capabilities.
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Expanding and Enhancing Our Retail Store Base.
We intend to expand and enhance our retail store base through the following initiatives:
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Adhering to a Market Focused and Financially Disciplined Real Estate Strategy. We have grown our store base consistently since our founding in 1972, developing more than 99% of our stores organically. We believe there is significant opportunity to expand our retail store base in the United States. As a result of our smaller store prototype, we have identified numerous market opportunities that we believe will allow us to operate 2,000 stores over the long term.
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Maintaining Focus on Unit Economics and Returns. We have adopted a market focused approach to new store openings in more productive retail locations, with a specific focus on maximizing sales while achieving attractive unit economics and returns. Additionally, as we continue to execute our smaller store prototype, we believe we can reduce occupancy and operating expenses.
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Enhancing the Store Experience. We continue to invest in select store relocations and downsizes to improve the customer experience, taking into consideration the age, size, sales, and location of a store. Relocations provide an opportunity, upon lease expirations, to right-size our stores, improve our competitive positioning, incorporate our new prototype store designs and reduce occupancy costs. Downsizes provide an opportunity to right-size our stores, within our existing space, improve co-tenancy, incorporate our new store designs and reduce occupancy costs.
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Enhancing Operating Margins.
We intend to increase our operating margins through the following initiatives:
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Improving Operational Flexibility. Our store and supply chain teams must continue to respond to the challenge of becoming more responsive to the sales chase, enhancing their ability at flexing up and down based on trends. Their ability to appropriately flex based on the ongoing trends allows us to maximize leverage on sales.
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Optimizing Markdowns. We believe that our markdown system allows us to maximize sales and gross margin dollars based on forward-looking sales forecasts, sell-through targets and exit dates. Additionally, as we plan to carry less inventory in our stores compared to historical levels, we expect to drive faster turns, which in turn should reduce the amount of markdowns taken.
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Enhancing Purchasing Power. We believe that increasing our store footprint and expanding our east and west coast buying offices provides us with the opportunity to capture incremental buying opportunities and realize economies of scale in our merchandising and non-merchandising purchasing activities.
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Challenging Expenses to Drive Operating Leverage. We believe that we will be able to leverage our growing sales over the fixed costs of our business. In addition, by more conservatively planning our comparable store sales growth, we are forcing even tighter expense control throughout all areas of our business. We believe that this should put us in a strong position to drive operating leverage on any sales ahead of the plan. Additionally, we plan to continue challenging the processes and operating norms throughout the organization with the belief that this will lead to incremental efficiency improvements and savings.
Uncertainties and Challenges
As we strive to increase profitability, there are uncertainties and challenges that we face that could have a material impact on our revenues or income.
General Economic Conditions. Consumer spending habits, including spending for the merchandise that we sell, are affected by, among other things, prevailing global economic conditions, inflation, including the costs of basic necessities and other goods, levels of employment, salaries and wage rates, prevailing interest rates, housing costs, energy costs, commodities pricing, income tax rates and policies, consumer confidence and consumer perception of economic conditions. In addition, consumer purchasing patterns may be influenced by consumers’ disposable income, credit availability and debt levels.
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A broad, protracted slowdown in the U.S. economy, an extended period of high unemployment rates, inflation rates, an uncertain global economic outlook or a credit crisis could adversely affect consumer spending habits resulting in lower net sales and profits than expected on a quarterly or annual basis. Consumer confidence is also affected by the domestic and international political situation. Our financial condition and operations could be impacted by changes in government regulations in areas including, but not limited to, taxes and healthcare. Ongoing international trade and tariff negotiations could have a direct impact on our income and an indirect impact on consumer prices. The outbreak or escalation of war, or the occurrence of terrorist acts or other hostilities in or affecting the U.S., or public health issues such as pandemics or epidemics, including the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, could lead to a decrease in spending by consumers. In addition, natural disasters, public health issues, industrial accidents and acts of war in various parts of the world, such as the current war in Ukraine, could have the effect of disrupting supplies and raising prices globally which, in turn, may have adverse effects on the world and U.S. economies and lead to a downturn in consumer confidence and spending.
We closely monitor our net sales, gross margin and expenses. We have performed scenario planning such that if our net sales decline for an extended period of time, we have identified variable costs that could be reduced to partially mitigate the impact of these declines. If we were to experience adverse economic trends and/or if our efforts to counteract the impacts of these trends are not sufficiently effective, there could be a negative impact on our financial performance and position in future fiscal periods.
Seasonality of Sales and Weather Conditions. Our business, like that of most retailers, is subject to seasonal influences. In the second half of the year, which includes the back-to-school and holiday seasons, we generally realize a higher level of sales and net income.
Weather continues to be a contributing factor to the sale of our merchandise. Generally, our sales are higher if the weather is cold during the Fall and warm during the early Spring. Sales of cold weather clothing are increased by early cold weather during the Fall, while sales of warm weather clothing are improved by early warm weather conditions in the Spring. Although we have diversified our product offerings, we believe traffic to our stores is still driven, in part, by weather patterns.
Competition and Margin Pressure. We believe that in order to remain competitive with retailers, including off-price retailers and discount stores, we must continue to offer brand-name merchandise at a discount to prices offered by other retailers as well as an assortment of merchandise that is appealing to our customers.
The U.S. retail apparel and home furnishings markets are highly fragmented and competitive. We compete for business with department stores, off-price retailers, internet retailers, specialty stores, discount stores, wholesale clubs, and outlet stores as well as with certain traditional, full-price retail chains that have developed off-price concepts. At various times throughout the year, traditional full-price department store chains and specialty shops offer brand-name merchandise at substantial markdowns, which can result in prices approximating those offered by us at our Burlington Stores. Recently, an overhang of inventory across the retail industry has driven a surge in promotional activity at other retailers. We anticipate that competition will increase in the future. Therefore, we will continue to look for ways to differentiate our stores from those of our competitors.
The U.S. retail industry continues to face increased pressure on margins as overall challenging retail conditions have led consumers to be more value conscious. Additionally, lower-to-moderate income shoppers continue to face economic pressure due to higher cost of living. Our strategy to chase the sales trend allows us the flexibility to purchase less pre-season merchandise with the balance purchased in-season and opportunistically. It also provides us with the flexibility to shift purchases between suppliers and categories. This enables us to obtain better terms with our suppliers, which we expect to help offset any rising costs of goods.
Industry-wide supply chain issues led to increased freight and labor costs during Fiscal 2021 and continued to add pressure on margins in Fiscal 2022. These costs significantly impacted results in Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2022, and there remains significant uncertainty around when and if freight costs will return to pre-pandemic levels.
We have also experienced inflationary pressure in our supply chain and with respect to raw materials and finished goods, as well as in occupancy and other operating costs. There can be no assurance that we will be able to offset inflationary pressure in the future by increasing prices or through other means, or that our business will not be negatively affected by continued inflation in the future.
Key Performance and Non-GAAP Measures
We consider numerous factors in assessing our performance. Key performance and non-GAAP measures used by management include net income (loss), Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBIT, comparable store sales, gross margin, inventory, store payroll and liquidity.
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Net income (loss). We earned net income of $230.1 million during Fiscal 2022 compared with of $408.8 million during Fiscal 2021. This decrease was primarily driven by lower sales, as well as decreased gross margin rate, partially offset by decreased loss on debt extinguishment charges. Refer to the section below entitled “Results of Operations” for further explanation.
Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBIT: Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBIT are non-GAAP financial measures of our performance.
We define Adjusted Net Income (Loss) as net income (loss), exclusive of the following items, if applicable: (i) net favorable lease costs; (ii) costs related to debt issuances and amendments; (iii) loss on extinguishment of debt; (iv) impairment charges; (v) amounts related to certain litigation matters; (vi) non-cash interest on the 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 (Convertible Notes); (vii) costs related to closing the e-commerce store; and (viii) other unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses, charges or gains, all of which are tax effected to arrive at Adjusted Net Income (Loss).
We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), exclusive of the following items, if applicable: (i) interest expense; (ii) interest income; (iii) loss on extinguishment of debt; (iv) income tax expense (benefit); (v) depreciation and amortization; (vi) impairment charges; (vii) costs related to debt issuances and amendments; (viii) amounts related to certain litigation matters; (ix) costs related to closing the e-commerce store; and (x) other unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses, charges or gains
We define Adjusted EBIT as net income (loss), exclusive of the following items, if applicable: (i) interest expense; (ii) interest income; (iii) loss on extinguishment of debt; (iv) income tax expense(benefit); (v) impairment charges; (vi) net favorable lease costs; (vii) costs related to debt issuances and amendments; (viii) amounts related to certain litigation matters; (ix) costs related to closing the e-commerce store; and (x) other unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses, charges or gains.
We present Adjusted Net Income (loss), Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBIT, because we believe they are useful supplemental measures in evaluating the performance of our business and provide greater transparency into our results of operations. In particular, we believe that excluding certain items that may vary substantially in frequency and magnitude from what we consider to be our core operating results are useful supplemental measures that assist investors and management in evaluating our ability to generate earnings and leverage sales, and to more readily compare core operating results between past and future periods.
Adjusted Net Income (Loss) has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered either in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss) or other data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Among other limitations, Adjusted Net Income (Loss) does not reflect the following items, net of their tax effect:
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net favorable lease costs;
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costs related to debt issuances and amendments;
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losses on extinguishment of debt;
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amounts charged for certain litigation matters;
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non-cash interest expense related to original issue discount on the Convertible Notes;
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impairment charges on long-lived assets;
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costs related to closing the e-commerce store; and
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other unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses, charges or gains.
During Fiscal 2022, Adjusted Net Income (Loss) decreased $292.4 million to $280.8 million. This decrease was primarily driven by lower sales, as well as decreased gross margin rate. Refer to the section below entitled “Results of Operations” for further explanation.
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The following table shows our reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted Net Income (Loss) for Fiscal 2022, Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020:
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
Fiscal Year Ended
January 28, January 29, January 30,
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted Net Income (Loss):
Non-cash interest expense on convertible notes (b) — — 23,988
Costs related to debt issuances and amendments (c) — 3,419 3,633
E-commerce closure (f) — — 1,549
(a) Net favorable lease costs represent the non-cash expense associated with favorable and unfavorable leases that were recorded as a result of purchase accounting related to the April 13, 2006 Bain Capital acquisition of Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation (the Merger Transaction). These expenses are recorded in the line item “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss)
(b) Represents non-cash accretion of original issue discount on the Convertible Notes. The original issue discount was eliminated as of the beginning of Fiscal 2021, as a result of adopting Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2020-06, “Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity” (ASU 2020-06).
(c) Represents costs incurred in connection with the review and execution of refinancing opportunities, as well as the issuance of the $300.0 million 6.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (Secured Notes) and the Convertible Notes.
(d) Relates to the partial repurchases of the Convertible Notes, the redemption of the Secured Notes, as well as the refinancing of the Term Loan Facility.
(e) Represents amounts charged for certain litigation matters.
(f) Represents costs related to the closure of our e-commerce store.
(g) Tax effect is calculated based on the effective tax rates (before discrete items) for the respective periods, adjusted for the tax effect for the impact of items (a) through (f). The effective tax rate during Fiscal 2020 includes the benefit of loss carrybacks to prior years with higher statutory tax rates.
Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered either in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss) or other data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Among other limitations, Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect:
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net interest expense;
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losses on the extinguishment of debt;
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costs related to debt issuances and amendments;
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cash requirements for replacement of assets. Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will likely have to be replaced in the future;
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amounts charged for certain litigation matters;
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impairment charges on long-lived assets;
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costs related to closing the e-commerce store;
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income tax expense (benefit); and
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other unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses, charges or gains.
During Fiscal 2022, Adjusted EBITDA decreased $350.2 million to $700.7 million. This decrease was primarily driven by lower sales, as well as decreased gross margin rate. Refer to the section below entitled “Results of Operations” for further explanation.
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The following table shows our reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for Fiscal 2022, Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020:
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
Fiscal Year Ended
January 28, January 29, January 30,
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA:
Costs related to debt issuances and amendments (b) — 3,419 3,633
E-commerce closure (d) — — 1,549
(a) Relates to the partial repurchases of the Convertible Notes, the redemption of the Secured Notes, as well as the refinancing of the Term Loan Facility.
(b) Represents costs incurred in connection with the review and execution of refinancing opportunities, as well as the issuance of the Secured Notes and the Convertible Notes.
(c) Represents amounts charged for certain litigation matters.
(d) Represents costs related to the closure of our e-commerce store.
(e) Includes $18.6 million, $21.9 million, and $23.9 million of favorable lease costs included in the line item “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for Fiscal 2022, Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020, respectively. Net favorable lease cost represents the non-cash expense associated with favorable and unfavorable leases that were recorded as a result of the Merger Transaction.
Adjusted EBIT has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered either in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss) or other data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Among other limitations, Adjusted EBIT does not reflect:
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net interest expense;
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losses on the extinguishment of debt;
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costs related to debt issuances and amendments;
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net favorable lease cost;
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amounts charged for certain litigation matters;
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impairment charges on long-lived assets;
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costs related to closing the e-commerce store;
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income tax expense (benefit); and
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other unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses, charges or gains.
During Fiscal 2022, Adjusted EBIT decreased $371.4 million to $430.3 million. This decrease was primarily driven by lower sales, as well as decreased gross margin rate. Refer to the section below entitled “Results of Operations” for further explanation.
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The following table shows our reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBIT for Fiscal 2022, Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020:
(unaudited)
(in thousands)
Fiscal Year Ended
January 28, January 29, January 30,
Reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBIT:
Costs related to debt issuances and amendments (b) — 3,419 3,633
E-commerce closure (e) — — 1,549
(a) Relates to the partial repurchases of the Convertible Notes, the redemption of the Secured Notes, as well as the refinancing of the Term Loan Facility.
(b) Represents costs incurred in connection with the review and execution of refinancing opportunities, as well as the issuance of the Secured Notes and the Convertible Notes.
(c) Net favorable lease costs represent the non-cash expense associated with favorable and unfavorable leases that were recorded as a result of the Merger Transaction. These expenses are recorded in the line item “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
(d) Represents amounts charged for certain litigation matters.
(e) Represents costs related to the closure of our e-commerce store.
Comparable Store Sales. Comparable store sales measure performance of a store during the current reporting period against the performance of the same store in the corresponding period of a prior year. Comparable store sales were not meaningful for Fiscal 2020 due to the extended store closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Fiscal 2020, we are using Fiscal 2019 as the comparable previous year period when calculating comparable store sales for Fiscal 2021. The method of calculating comparable store sales varies across the retail industry. As a result, our definition of comparable store sales may differ from other retailers.
For Fiscal 2022, we define comparable store sales as merchandise sales of those stores commencing on the first day of the fiscal month one year after the end of their grand opening activities, which normally conclude within the first two months of operations. If a store is closed for seven or more days during a month, our policy is to remove that store from our calculation of comparable store sales for any such month, as well as during the month(s) of their grand re-opening activities. The change in our comparable store sales was as follows:
Fiscal Year Ended
Various factors affect comparable store sales, including, but not limited to, weather conditions, current economic conditions, the timing of our releases of new merchandise and promotional events, the general retail sales environment, consumer preferences and buying trends, changes in sales mix among distribution channels, competition, and the success of marketing programs
Gross Margin. Gross margin is the difference between net sales and the cost of sales. Our cost of sales and gross margin may not be comparable to those of other entities, since some entities may include all of the costs related to their buying and distribution functions, certain store-related costs and other costs, in cost of sales. We include certain of these costs in the line items “Selling, general and administrative expenses” and “Depreciation and amortization” in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). We include in our “Cost of sales” line item all costs of merchandise (net of purchase discounts and certain vendor allowances), inbound freight, distribution center outbound freight and certain merchandise acquisition costs, primarily commissions and import fees. Gross margin as a percentage of net sales decreased to 40.4% during Fiscal 2022, compared with 41.6% during Fiscal 2021, driven primarily by decreased merchandise margins, primarily due to higher markdowns and increased shortage, as well as increased freight costs.
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Product sourcing costs, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, decreased approximately 120 basis points as a percentage of net sales.
Inventory. Inventory at January 28, 2023 increased to $1,182.0 million from $1,021.0 million at January 29, 2022. This increase primarily relates to a 32% increase in comparable store inventory, a 30% increase in reserve inventory, and 87 net new stores since the end of Fiscal 2021. In Fiscal 2021, as we came into the spring season, our comparable store inventories were too lean, and this hurt our sales trend in the first quarter of Fiscal 2022. Therefore, the significant increase in our comparable store inventories was by design. Our comparable store inventory is still below pre-pandemic levels.
The difference between inventory and comparable store inventory is primarily the result of the latter not including distribution center and warehouse inventory or inventory at new and non-comparable stores. Inventory held at our warehouses and distribution centers includes merchandise being readied for shipment to our stores and reserve inventory acquired opportunistically for future store release. The magnitude of reserve inventory, at any one point in time, is dependent on the buying opportunities identified in the marketplace.
Reserve inventory includes all inventory that is being stored for release either later in the season, or in a subsequent season. We intend to use our reserve merchandise to effectively chase sales trends.
In order to better serve our customers and maximize sales, we continue to refine our merchandising mix and inventory levels within our stores. By appropriately managing our inventories, we believe we will be better able to deliver a continual flow of fresh merchandise to our customers.
Store Payroll as a Percentage of Net Sales. Store payroll as a percentage of net sales measures our ability to manage our payroll in accordance with increases or decreases in net sales. The method of calculating store payroll varies across the retail industry. As a result, our store payroll as a percentage of net sales may differ from other retailers. We define store payroll as regular and overtime payroll for all store personnel as well as regional and territory personnel, exclusive of payroll charges related to corporate and warehouse employees. Store payroll as a percentage of net sales was 8.0% and 8.1% during Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, respectively.
Liquidity. Liquidity measures our ability to generate cash. Management measures liquidity through cash flow, which is the measure of cash generated from or used in operating, financing, and investing activities. Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash and cash equivalents, decreased $218.5 million during Fiscal 2022, compared with a decrease of $289.2 million during Fiscal 2021. Refer to the section below entitled “Liquidity and Capital Resources” for further explanation.
Results of Operations
The following table sets forth certain items in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated.
Percentage of Net Sales
Fiscal Year Ended
January 28, January 29, January 30,
Selling, general and administrative expenses 33.1 30.8 40.5
Costs related to debt issuances and amendments — 0.0 0.1
Depreciation and amortization 3.1 2.7 3.8
Impairment charges - long-lived assets 0.2 0.1 0.1
Other income - net (0.3 ) (0.1 ) (0.1 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt 0.2 1.7 0.0
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) 3.5 5.9 (7.7 )
Income tax expense (benefit) 0.9 1.5 (3.8 )
Net income (loss) 2.6 % 4.4 % (3.9 )%
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Performance for Fiscal Year Ended January 28, 2023 (Fiscal 2022) Compared with Fiscal Year Ended January 29, 2022 (Fiscal 2021)
Net sales
Net sales decreased $622.0 million, or 6.7%, to $8,684.5 million, primarily driven by a decrease of 13% in comparable store sales during Fiscal 2022. We believe this decrease in comparable store sales was driven by economic pressure on our core customers and promotional activity throughout the retail environment, as well as strong comparable store sales of 15% in the prior period. The decrease in net sales was partially offset by 87 net new stores since the end of Fiscal 2021.
Other revenue
Other revenue improved $2.4 million to $18.1 million, primarily driven by increased revenue from our private label credit card and increased layaway service fees.
Cost of sales
Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales increased to 59.6% during Fiscal 2022, primarily driven by decreased merchandise margins, as a result of higher markdowns and increased shortage, as well as increased freight costs. On a dollar basis, cost of sales decreased $264.4 million, or 4.9%, primarily driven by our overall decrease in sales. Product sourcing costs, which are included in the line item “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss), were $677.6 million during Fiscal 2022, compared to $618.3 million during Fiscal 2021, primarily driven by increased supply chain costs.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
The following table details selling, general and administrative expenses for Fiscal 2022 compared with Fiscal 2021.
(in millions)
Fiscal Year Ended
The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales was primarily driven by deleverage in occupancy and increased product sourcing costs, partially offset by decreased incentive compensation, store payroll costs, and advertising costs. The dollar basis increase was primarily due to the same drivers listed above.
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense amounted to $270.4 million during Fiscal 2022, compared with $249.2 million during Fiscal 2021. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense was primarily driven by capital expenditures related to our supply chain, as well as new and non-comparable stores.
Impairment charges—long-lived assets
Impairment charges related to long-lived assets were $21.4 million and $7.7 million during Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, respectively, related to four stores sold below carrying value as well as impairment of store-level assets and lease assets at twelve stores during Fiscal 2022, compared to impairment of store-level assets and lease assets at nine stores during Fiscal 2021.
The recoverability assessment related to these store-level assets requires various judgments and estimates, including estimates related to future revenues, gross margin rates, store expenses and other assumptions. We base these estimates upon our past and expected future performance. We believe our estimates are appropriate in light of current market conditions. However, future
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impairment charges could be required if we do not achieve our current revenue or cash flow projections for each store. Refer to Note 6, “Impairment Charges,” for further discussion.
Other income, net
Other income, net improved $15.3 million to $26.9 million during Fiscal 2022. The improvement in other income was primarily driven by the gain on sale of real estate related assets, increased interest rates as a result of shifting cash to a higher yielding vehicle, interest income on a tax refund, and insurances recoveries, partially offset by the sale of the NJ Grow tax credit in Fiscal 2021.
Loss on Extinguishment of Debt
During Fiscal 2022, we entered into separate, privately negotiated exchange agreements with certain holders of the Convertible Notes. Under the terms of the exchange agreements, the holders exchanged $64.6 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes held by them for $78.2 million in cash. These exchanges resulted in aggregate pre-tax debt extinguishment charges of $14.7 million. During Fiscal 2021, we incurred debt extinguishment charges of $124.6 million related to the partial repurchases of the Convertible Notes, $30.2 million related to the premium paid on redemption of the Secured Notes, as well as $1.2 million related to the refinancing of our Term Loan Facility. Refer to Note 7, “Long Term Debt,” for further discussion regarding our debt transactions.
Interest expense
Interest expense improved $1.0 million to $66.5 million. The decrease was driven by the redemption in full of the $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of Secured Notes and repurchase of $297.3 million of Convertible Notes, partially offset by the increase in LIBOR rates on the unhedged portion of our Term Loan Facility.
Our average interest rates and average balances related to our variable rate debt for Fiscal 2022 compared with Fiscal 2021 are summarized in the table below:
Fiscal Year Ended
January 28, January 29,
Average balance – ABL Line of Credit (in millions) $ — $ —
Average interest rate – ABL Line of Credit — —
Average balance – Term Loan Facility (in millions) (a) $ 952.2 $ 960.4
Average interest rate – Term Loan Facility 4.0% 2.0%
(a)
Excludes original issue discount
Income tax expense
Income tax expense was $77.4 million for Fiscal 2022 compared with $136.5 million for Fiscal 2021. The effective tax rate was 25.2% related to pretax income of $307.5 million for Fiscal 2022, and 25.0% related to pretax income of $545.3 million for Fiscal 2021. The decrease in tax expense is primarily driven by the decrease in pretax income.
Net income
We earned net income of $230.1 million during Fiscal 2022 compared with net income of $408.8 million for Fiscal 2021. This decrease was primarily driven by lower sales, as well as decreased gross margin rate, partially offset by a smaller debt extinguishment charge.
Performance for Fiscal Year Ended January 29, 2022 (Fiscal 2021) Compared with Fiscal Year Ended January 30, 2021 (Fiscal 2020)
For a discussion related to Fiscal 2021 performance compared to Fiscal 2020 performance, refer to Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2022 (Fiscal 2021 10-K).
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Our ability to satisfy interest and principal payment obligations on our outstanding debt will depend largely on our future performance which, in turn, is subject to prevailing economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors beyond our
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control. If we do not have sufficient cash flow to service interest and principal payment obligations on our outstanding indebtedness, and if we cannot borrow or obtain equity financing to satisfy those obligations, our business and results of operations will be materially adversely affected. We cannot be assured that any replacement borrowing or equity financing could be successfully completed on terms similar to our current financing agreements, or at all. Refer to "Debt and Hedging" below for recent debt transactions completed.
We believe that cash generated from operations, along with our existing cash and our ABL Line of Credit, will be sufficient to fund our expected cash flow requirements and planned capital expenditures for at least the next twelve months as well as the foreseeable future. However, there can be no assurance that we would be able to offset declines in our comparable store sales with savings initiatives in the event that the economy declines.
As market conditions warrant, we may, from time to time, repurchase our outstanding debt securities in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, by tender offer, by exchange transaction or otherwise. Such repurchases, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity and other factors and may be commenced or suspended at any time. The amounts involved and total consideration paid may be material.
Cash Flows
Cash Flows for Fiscal 2022 Compared with Fiscal 2021
We used $218.5 million of cash flows during Fiscal 2022 compared with $289.2 million during Fiscal 2021.
Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $596.4 million and $833.2 million during Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, respectively. The decrease in our operating cash flows was primarily driven by lower sales and margin in Fiscal 2022, as well as changes in working capital (primarily due to an accounts payable policy change resulting in earlier payments to vendors, partially offset by receipt of a tax refund).
Net cash used in investing activities was $423.1 million and $344.4 million during Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, respectively. This change was primarily the result of an increase in capital expenditures related to our stores (new stores, remodels and other store expenditures) and supply chain growth initiatives.
Net cash used in financing activities was $391.7 million during Fiscal 2022 compared to $778.0 million during Fiscal 2021. This change was primarily driven by higher debt redemptions in Fiscal 2021 compared to Fiscal 2022, partially offset by more share repurchases in Fiscal 2022.
Changes in working capital also impact our cash flows. Working capital equals current assets (exclusive of restricted cash) minus current liabilities. We had working capital at January 28, 2023 of $365.3 million compared with $593.4 million at January 29, 2022. The decrease in working capital was primarily due to a decrease in cash and cash equivalents, primarily driven by payments on the Convertible Notes and share repurchases, partially offset by decreased accounts payable and increased inventory.
Cash Flows for Fiscal 2021 Compared with Fiscal 2020
For a discussion of our cash flows for Fiscal 2021 compared to Fiscal 2020, refer to Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included in our Fiscal 2021 10-K.
Capital Expenditures
For Fiscal 2022, cash spend for capital expenditures, net of $23.1 million of landlord allowances, amounted to $428.0 million. These capital expenditures include approximately $190.5 million, net of the previously mentioned landlord allowances, for store expenditures (new stores, remodels and other store expenditures). In addition, we made capital expenditures of $145.1 million to support our supply chain initiatives, with the remaining capital to support information technology and other business initiatives. We incurred cash spend on capital expenditures of $319.0 million, net of approximately $34.1 million of landlord allowances, during Fiscal 2021.
We estimate that we will spend approximately $560 million, net of approximately $10 million of landlord allowances, in capital expenditures during Fiscal 2023, including approximately $300 million, net of the previously mentioned landlord allowances, for store expenditures (new stores, remodels and other store expenditures). In addition, we estimate that we will spend approximately $115 million to support our supply chain initiatives, with the remaining capital used to support our information technology and other business initiatives.
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Share Repurchase Program
On August 18, 2021, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $400.0 million of common stock, which was authorized to be executed through August 2023. This authorization was completed during the second quarter of Fiscal 2022.
On February 16, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $500.0 million of common stock, which is authorized to be executed through February 2024.
During Fiscal 2022, we repurchased 1,756,811 shares of common stock for $302.7 million under our share repurchase program. As of January 28, 2023, we had $347.3 million remaining under our share repurchase authorization.
We are authorized to repurchase shares of our outstanding common stock from time to time on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions under our repurchase program. The timing and amount of stock repurchases will depend on a variety of factors, including the market conditions as well as corporate and regulatory considerations. Our share repurchase program may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time, and we have no obligation to repurchase any amount of our common stock under the program.
Dividends
We currently do, and intend to continue to, retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund all of the Company's capital expenditures, business initiatives, and to support any potential opportunistic capital structure initiatives. Therefore, at this time, we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the near term. Our ability to pay dividends on our common stock will be limited by restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions under the terms of current and any future agreements governing our indebtedness. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors, subject to compliance with covenants in our current and future agreements governing our indebtedness, and will depend upon our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant.
In addition, since we are a holding company, substantially all of the assets shown on our Consolidated Balance Sheets are held by our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our earnings, cash flow and ability to pay dividends are largely dependent upon the earnings and cash flows of our subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment of such earnings to us in the form of dividends.
Debt and Hedging
As of January 28, 2023, our obligations, inclusive of original issue discount, include $942.0 million under our Term Loan Facility, $507.7 million of Convertible Notes and no outstanding borrowings on our ABL Line of Credit. Our debt obligations also include $33.4 million of finance lease obligations as of January 28, 2023. Refer to Note 7 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, “Long Term Debt,” for an overview of the terms and conditions of these instruments.
Term Loan Facility
On June 24, 2021, Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation, an indirect subsidiary of the Company (BCFWC), entered into Amendment No. 9 (the Ninth Amendment) to the Term Loan Credit Agreement governing the Term Loan Facility. The Ninth Amendment, among other things, extended the maturity date from November 17, 2024 to June 24, 2028, and changed the interest rate margins applicable to the Term Loan Facility from 0.75% to 1.00%, in the case of prime rate loans, and from 1.75% to 2.00%, in the case of LIBOR loans, with a 0.00% LIBOR floor. Refer to Note 7, “Long Term Debt,” for further discussion regarding our debt transactions.
At January 28, 2023, our borrowing rate related to the Term Loan Facility was 6.4%.
ABL Line of Credit
On July 20, 2022, we entered into a Fourth Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”), by and among BCFWC, as lead borrower and the other borrowers party thereto, the facility guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, which Amendment amends that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 2, 2011, by and among the BCFWC, the other borrowers party thereto, the facility guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent. The Amendment increased the aggregate principal amount of the commitments of the ABL Line of Credit
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from $650.0 million to $900.0 million and replaced the LIBOR-based interest rate benchmark provisions with interest rate benchmark provisions based on a term secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) or a daily SOFR rate (in the case of daily SOFR, available for borrowings up to $100 million, or up to the full amount of the commitments if the term SOFR rate is not available).
At January 28, 2023, we had $795.7 million available under the ABL Line of Credit. We did not have any borrowings during Fiscal 2022.
Convertible Notes
On April 16, 2020, we issued $805.0 million of Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes have an initial conversion rate of 4.5418 shares per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $220.18 per share of our common stock), subject to adjustment if certain events occur.
The Convertible Notes are our general unsecured obligations. The Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 2.25% per year, payable semi-annually in cash, in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on October 15, 2020. The Convertible Notes will mature on April 15, 2025, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased.
During the second half of Fiscal 2021, we entered into separate, privately negotiated exchange agreements with certain holders of the Convertible Notes. Under the terms of the exchange agreements, the holders exchanged $232.7 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes held by them for a combination of an aggregate of $199.8 million in cash and 513,991 shares of common stock.
During the first quarter of Fiscal 2022, we entered into separate, privately negotiated exchange agreements with certain holders of the Convertible Notes. Under the terms of the exchange agreements, the holders exchanged $64.6 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes held by them for $78.2 million in cash. See Note 7, “Long Term Debt,” for additional information.
Secured Notes
On April 16, 2020, BCFWC, issued $300.0 million of Secured Notes. The Secured Notes were senior, secured obligations of BCFWC, and interest was payable semiannually in cash at a rate of 6.25% per annum on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on October 15, 2020. The Secured Notes were guaranteed on a senior secured basis by Burlington Coat Factory Holdings, LLC, Burlington Coat Factory Investments Holdings, Inc. and BCFWC’s subsidiaries that guarantee the loans under the Term Loan Facility and ABL Line of Credit.
On June 11, 2021, BCFWC redeemed the full $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Secured Notes. The redemption price of the Secured Notes was $323.7 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption. Refer to Note 7, “Long Term Debt,” for further discussion regarding our debt transactions.
Hedging
On June 24, 2021, the Company terminated its previous interest rate swap and entered into a new interest rate swap. The new interest rate swap, which hedges $450 million of variable rate exposure under our Term Loan Facility, is designated as a cash flow hedge and expires on June 24, 2028. Refer to Note 8, “Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” for further discussion regarding our derivative transactions.
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Certain Information Concerning Material Cash Requirements
The following table sets forth certain information regarding our obligations to make future payments under current contracts as of January 28, 2023:
Payments Due By Period
Total Less Than1 Year 2-3 Years 4-5 Years Thereafter
(in thousands)
(1) Represents future principal payments on outstanding borrowings as of January 28, 2023.
(2) Represents interest payments on (i) the outstanding balance of the Term Loan Facility, with an interest rate of 6.4% as of January 28, 2023; (ii) $450.0 million interest rate swap with a fixed LIBOR of 2.2%; and (iii) the outstanding balance of the Convertible Notes, with an interest rate of 2.25%.
(3) Finance lease obligations include future interest payments.
(4) Represents minimum rent payments for operating leases under the current terms.
(5) Represents commitments to purchase goods that have not been received as of January 28, 2023. The table above excludes estimated commitments for services to be used in our business of up to approximately $185 million over the next five years.
(6) Represents severance payments in the normal course of business that are included in the line item “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss).
Our agreements with three former employees to pay their respective beneficiaries $1.0 million upon their deaths for a total of $3.0 million is not reflected in the table above because the timing of the payments is unpredictable.
The table above excludes ASC Topic No. 740 “Income Taxes” (Topic No. 740) liabilities which represent uncertain tax positions related to temporary differences. The total Topic No. 740 liability was $11.9 million, inclusive of $8.0 million of interest and penalties included in our total Topic No. 740 liability neither of which is presented in the table above as we are not certain if and when these payments would be required.
The table above excludes our irrevocable letters of credit guaranteeing payment and performance under certain leases, insurance contracts, debt agreements, merchandising agreements and utility agreements in the amount of $51.1 million as of January 28, 2023.
As of January 28, 2023, insurance reserves amounted to $86.2 million. These amounts are excluded from the table above as we are not certain if and when these payments would be required.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. We believe there are several accounting policies that are critical to understanding our historical and future performance as these policies affect the reported amounts of revenues and other significant areas that involve management’s judgments and estimates. The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (i) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities; (ii) the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements; and (iii) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, inventories, long-lived assets, intangible assets, goodwill, insurance reserves and income taxes. Historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances form the basis for making estimates and judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. As events continue to evolve and additional information becomes available, our estimates may change materially in future periods. A critical accounting estimate meets two criteria: (1) it requires assumptions about highly uncertain matters and (2) there would be a material effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements from either using a different, although reasonable, amount within the range of the estimate in the current period or from reasonably likely period-to-period changes in the estimate.
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While there are a number of accounting policies, methods and estimates affecting our Consolidated Financial Statements as addressed in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” areas that are particularly critical and significant include:
Revenue Recognition. While our revenue recognition does not involve significant judgment, it represents an important accounting policy. We record revenue at the time control of goods are transferred to the customer, which we determine to be at point of sale and delivery of merchandise, net of allowances for estimated future returns, which is estimated based on historical return rates. We present sales, net of sales taxes, in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). We account for layaway sales in compliance with ASC Topic No. 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” Layaway sales are recognized upon delivery of merchandise to the customer. The amount of cash received upon initiation of the layaway is recorded as a deposit liability within the line item “Other current liabilities” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Stored value cards (gift cards and store credits issued for merchandise returns) are recorded as a liability at the time of issuance, and the related sale is recorded upon redemption.
We estimate and recognize stored value card breakage income in proportion to actual stored value card redemptions. We determine an estimated stored value card breakage rate by continuously evaluating historical redemption data. Breakage income is recognized on a monthly basis in proportion to the historical redemption patterns for those stored value cards for which the likelihood of redemption is remote.
Inventory. Our inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market using the retail inventory method. Under the retail inventory method, the valuation of inventory and the resulting gross margin are determined by applying a calculated cost to retail ratio to the retail value of inventory. The retail inventory method is an averaging method that results in valuing inventory at the lower of cost or market provided markdowns are taken timely to reduce the retail value of inventory. Inherent in the retail inventory method calculation are certain significant management judgments and estimates including merchandise markups, markdowns and shortage, which significantly impact the ending inventory valuation as well as the resulting gross margin. Management believes that our retail inventory method provides an inventory valuation which approximates cost using a first-in, first-out assumption and results in carrying value at the lower of cost or market. We reserve for aged inventory based on historical trends and specific identification. Our aged inventory reserve contains uncertainties as the calculations require management to make assumptions and to apply judgment regarding a number of factors, including market conditions, the selling environment, historical results and current inventory trends. A 1% change in the dollar amount of retail markdowns would have resulted in an increase in markdown dollars, at cost, of approximately $3.0 million for Fiscal 2022.
Estimates are used to record inventory shortage at retail stores between physical inventories. Actual physical inventories are conducted at least annually to calculate actual shortage. While we make estimates on the basis of the best information available to us at the time the estimates are made, over accruals or under accruals of shortage may be identified as a result of the physical inventory counts, requiring adjustments.
Insurance Reserves. We have risk participation agreements with insurance carriers with respect to workers’ compensation, general liability insurance and health insurance. Pursuant to these arrangements, we are responsible for paying individual claims up to designated dollar limits. The amounts included in our costs related to these claims are estimated and can vary based on changes in assumptions or claims experience included in the associated insurance programs. For example, changes in legal trends and interpretations, as well as changes in the nature and method of how claims are settled, can impact ultimate costs. An increase in workers’ compensation claims by employees, health insurance claims by employees or general liability claims may result in a corresponding increase in our costs related to these claims. Insurance reserves amounted to $86.2 million and $81.6 million at January 28, 2023 and January 29, 2022, respectively.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
There were no new accounting standards that had a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements during Fiscal 2022, and there were no new accounting standards or pronouncements that were issued but not yet effective as of January 28, 2023 that the Company expects to have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations upon becoming effective.
Fluctuations in Operating Results
We expect that our revenues and operating results may fluctuate from fiscal quarter to fiscal quarter or over the longer term. Certain of the general factors that may cause such fluctuations are discussed in Item 1A, Risk Factors and elsewhere in this Annual Report.
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Inflation
During Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, we have experienced inflationary pressure in our supply chain and with respect to raw materials and finished goods. There can be no assurance that we will be able to offset inflationary pressure in the future, or that our business will not be negatively affected by continued inflation in the future. We may not be able to adequately increase our prices over time to offset increased costs, whether due to inflation or otherwise. Any decreases in consumer discretionary spending could result in a decrease in store traffic and same store sales, all of which could negatively affect our business, operations, liquidity, financial results and/or stock price, particularly if consumer spending levels are depressed for a prolonged period of time.
We do not believe that our operating results were materially affected by inflation during Fiscal 2020. Historically, as the costs of merchandising and related operating expenses have increased, we have been able to mitigate the effect of such impact on our operations.
The U.S. retail industry continues to face increased pressure on margins as commodity prices increase and the overall challenging retail conditions have led consumers to be more value conscious. Additionally, lower-to-moderate income shoppers continue to face economic pressure due to higher cost of living. Our strategy of chasing sales, in which we purchase both pre-season and in-season merchandise, allows us the flexibility to purchase less pre-season with the balance purchased in-season and opportunistically. It also provides us the flexibility to shift purchases between suppliers and categories. This enables us to obtain better terms with our suppliers, which we expect to help offset the expected rising costs of goods.
Market Risk
We are exposed to market risks relating to fluctuations in interest rates. Our borrowings contain floating rate obligations and are subject to interest rate fluctuations. The objective of our financial risk management is to minimize the negative impact of interest rate fluctuations on our earnings and cash flows. We manage interest rate risk through the use of our interest rate swap contracts.
As more fully described in Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, “Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” we enter into interest rate derivative contracts to manage interest rate risks associated with our long term debt obligations. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in the line item “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. We continue to have exposure to interest rate risks to the extent they are not hedged.
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We are exposed to certain market risks as part of our ongoing business operations. Primary exposures include changes in interest rates, as borrowings under our ABL Line of Credit bear interest based on SOFR and borrowings under our Term Loan Facility bear interest at floating rates based on LIBOR or the base rate, in each case plus an applicable borrowing margin. The interest rate of our Term Loan Facility is also dependent on the prime rate, and the federal funds rate as further discussed in Note 7 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, “Long Term Debt.” During Fiscal 2022, an amendment to the ABL Line of Credit replaced the LIBOR-based interest rate benchmark provisions with interest rate benchmark provisions based on a term secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) or a daily SOFR rate (in the case of daily SOFR, available for borrowings up to $100 million, or up to the full amount of the commitments if the term SOFR rate is not available).
We manage our interest rate risk through the use of interest rate derivative contracts. For our floating-rate debt, interest rate changes generally impact our earnings and cash flows, assuming other factors are held constant.
On June 24, 2021, we terminated our previous interest rate swap and entered into a new interest rate swap. The new interest rate swap, which hedges $450.0 million of variable rate exposure under our Term Loan Facility, is designated as a cash flow hedge and expires on June 24, 2028. Refer to Note 8, “Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” for further discussion regarding our derivative transactions.
We have unlimited interest rate risk related to borrowings on our variable rate debt in excess of the notional principal amount of our interest rate swap contract.
At January 28, 2023, we had $947.0 million of floating-rate debt, exclusive of original issue discount. Based on $947.0 million outstanding as floating-rate debt, a one percentage point interest rate increase or decrease as of January 28, 2023 (after considering our interest rate swap contract and assuming current borrowing level remains constant), would cause an increase or decrease, respectively, to cash interest expense of $4.8 million per year. This sensitivity analysis assumes our mix of financial instruments and all other
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variables will remain constant in future periods. These assumptions are made in order to facilitate the analysis and are not necessarily indicative of our future intentions.