Direct-to-Customers sales remained relatively unchanged for the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2004, as compared with the corresponding prior-year period. Internet sales increased by 14.3 percent to $48 million, as compared with the corresponding period in the prior year. This increase in Internet sales was offset by a decline in catalog sales, reflecting the continuing trend of the Company’s customers to browse and select products through its catalogs and then make their purchases via the Internet.
Division profit reflects income from continuing operations before income taxes, corporate expense, non-operating income and net interest expense.
Athletic Stores division profit increased by 9.3 percent for the first quarter of 2004 as compared with the corresponding prior-year period. Division profit, as a percentage of sales, increased to 7.5 percent in the first quarter of 2004 from 7.2 percent in the corresponding prior-year period. The increase in the first quarter of 2004 was primarily a result of lower selling, general and administrative expenses, as a percentage of sales, offset in part by increased markdowns.
Direct-to-Customers division profit increased 22.2 percent for the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2004, as compared with the corresponding period ended May 3, 2003. The increase in division profit is a result of reducing certain catalog costs during the first quarter of 2004, as well as improvements in the gross margin. Division profit, as a percentage of sales, increased to 12.8 percent in the first quarter of 2004 from 10.3 percent in the corresponding prior-year period.
Corporate expense consists of unallocated general and administrative expenses related to the Company’s corporate headquarters, centrally managed departments, unallocated insurance and benefit programs, certain foreign exchange transaction gains and losses and other items. The decrease in corporate expense in the first quarter of 2004 was primarily related to reductions in compensation costs.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) of $248 million increased by $7 million or 2.9 percent in the first quarter of 2004 as compared with the corresponding prior-year period. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, SG&A remained essentially flat. SG&A, as a percentage of sales, decreased to 20.9 percent for the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2004 as compared to 21.4 percent in the corresponding prior-year period.
Depreciation and amortization decreased by $3 million in the first quarter of 2004 to $34 million compared with $37 million for the first quarter of 2003.
Net interest expense of $4 million decreased by $1 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2004 as compared with the corresponding prior-year period. Interest expense decreased to $6 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2004 from $7 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2003. The decrease was primarily attributable to the lower debt balance as the Company repurchased $19 million of the 8.50 percent debentures payable in 2022 during the second half of 2003. Interest income was $2 million for both the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2004 and May 3, 2003.
The Company’s effective tax rate for the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2004 was approximately 36.8 percent as compared with approximately 36.4 percent for the corresponding prior-year period. The effective tax rate during the first quarter of 2003 included the impact of state tax law changes and a higher proportion of earnings being attributed to lower tax jurisdictions. The Company expects its effective tax rate to approximate 37 percent for the remainder of 2004.
Income from continuing operations of $47 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, for the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2004, improved by $0.04 per diluted share from $39 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2003. For the quarter ended May 1, 2004, the Company reported net income of $48 million, or $0.31 per diluted share, compared with net income of $38 million, or $0.26 per diluted share for the corresponding prior-year period. During the first quarter of 2004, the Company recorded income from discontinued operations of $1 million, after tax, related to a refund of customs duties related to certain of the businesses that comprised the Specialty Footwear segment. The first quarter of 2003 included an after-tax charge of $1 million, or $0.01 per diluted share, related to the adoption of SFAS No. 143, which was reflected as a cumulative effect of an accounting change.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Generally, the Company’s primary sources of cash have been from operations. The Company has a $200 million revolving credit facility, which was amended on May 19, 2004. As a result of the amendment, the credit facility maturity date was extended to May 2009 from July 2006. Other than $25 million to meet letter of credit requirements, this revolving credit facility was not used during the first quarter of 2004. The Company generally finances real estate with operating leases. The principal use of cash has been to finance inventory requirements, capital expenditures related to store openings, store remodelings and management information systems, and to fund other general working capital requirements.
The Company closed its purchase of approximately 350 Footaction stores from Footstar, Inc. on May 7, 2004 for a purchase price of approximately $225 million. The Company elected to finance a portion of the Footaction stores’ purchase price through a 5-year, $175 million amortizing term loan with the bank group participating in its existing revolving credit facility. The loan was obtained on May 19, 2004 simultaneously with the amendment to the revolving credit agreement.
On April 20, 2004, the Company notified The Bank of New York, as Trustee under the indenture, that it intended to redeem all of its $150 million outstanding 5.5 percent convertible subordinated notes, effective June 4, 2004. By June 3, 2004, The Bank of New York had received notice from 100 percent of the holders of the notes of their election to convert their securities into shares of the Company’s common stock. As of June 3, 2004, all of the convertible subordinated notes were cancelled and approximately 9.5 million new shares of the Company’s common stock were issued.
Management believes operating cash flows and current credit facilities will be adequate to finance its working capital requirements, to fund the integration and operations of the Footaction stores, to make planned pension contributions for the Company’s retirement plans, to fund quarterly dividend payments and support the development of its short-term and long-term strategies.
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Any materially adverse reaction to customer demand, fashion trends, competitive market forces, uncertainties related to the effect of competitive products and pricing, customer acceptance of the Company’s merchandise mix and retail locations, the Company’s reliance on a few key vendors for a significant portion of its merchandise purchases, risks associated with foreign global sourcing or economic conditions worldwide and the integration of the Footaction stores could affect the ability of the Company to continue to fund its needs from business operations.
Net cash used in operating activities of continuing operations was $8 million and $11 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2004 and May 3, 2003, respectively. These amounts reflect the income from continuing operations adjusted for non-cash items and working capital changes. The Company contributed $44 million and $6 million to its U.S. and Canadian qualified pension plans, respectively, in February 2004. The U.S. contribution was made in advance of ERISA requirements.
Net cash used in investing activities of continuing operations of $54 million and $31 million for the first quarters of 2004 and 2003, respectively, reflected capital expenditures and lease acquisition costs. During the first quarter of 2004, the Company deposited into escrow $8 million for the purchase of approximately 350 Footaction stores. Total projected capital expenditures (inclusive of anticipated capital expenditures for the Footaction stores) of $180 million for 2004 comprise $106 million for new store openings and modernizations of existing stores, $42 million for the development of information systems and other support facilities, $21 million of lease acquisition costs, primarily related to the securing of leases for the Company’s European operations and $11 million of costs related to the Foot Locker Europe distribution center expansion. The Company has the ability to revise and reschedule its anticipated capital expenditure program in the event that any changes to the Company’s financial position require it.
Financing activities for the Company’s continuing operations provided net cash of $6 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2004 as compared to net cash used of $3 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2003. The Company declared and paid a $0.06 per share dividend during the first quarter of 2004 totaling $9 million as compared to a $0.03 per share dividend during the first quarter of 2003, which totaled $4 million. The Company received proceeds from the issuance of common stock in connection with employee stock programs of $15 million and $1 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2004 and May 3, 2003, respectively.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, which address activities, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, but not limited to, such things as future capital expenditures, expansion, strategic plans, dividend payments, stock repurchases, growth of the Company’s business and operations, including future cash flows, revenues and earnings, and other such matters are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on many assumptions and factors including, but not limited to, the effects of currency fluctuations, customer demand, fashion trends, competitive market forces, uncertainties related to the effect of competitive products and pricing, customer acceptance of the Company’s merchandise mix and retail locations, the Company’s reliance on a few key vendors for a majority of its merchandise purchases (including a significant portion from one key vendor), unseasonable weather, risks associated with foreign global sourcing, including political instability, changes in import regulations, disruptions to transportation services and distribution, the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome, economic conditions worldwide, any changes in business, political and economic conditions due to the threat of future terrorist activities in the United States or in other parts of the world and related U.S. military action overseas, and the ability of the Company to execute its business plans effectively with regard to each of its business units, including its plans for the marquee and launch footwear component of its business and its plans for the integration of the Footaction stores. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could produce significantly different results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.
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Item 4. Controls and Procedures
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined in Rules 13a-14(c) and 15d-14(c) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures are effective in ensuring that all material information required to be included in this quarterly report has been made known to them in a timely fashion.
The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer also conducted an evaluation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting to determine whether any changes occurred during the quarter covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Based on the evaluation, there have been no such changes during the quarter covered by this report.
There have been no material changes in the Company’s internal controls, or in the factors that could materially affect internal controls, subsequent to the date the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer completed their evaluation.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
The Company is involved in claims, proceedings and litigation, arising from the operation of its business and incident to the sale and disposition of businesses that have occurred in past years. Management does not believe that the outcome of such proceedings will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, liquidity, or results of operations.
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Item 2. Changes in Securities, Use of Proceeds and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
This table provides information with respect to purchases by the Company of shares of its Common Stock during the first quarter of 2004:
| | (a) | | (b) | | (c) | | (d) | |
| | Total Number of Shares Purchased(1) | | Average Price Paid per Share(1) | | Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Program (2) | | Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Program (2) | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
Feb. 1, 2004 through Feb. 28, 2004 | | | 136,407 | | $ | 24.28 | | | — | | $ | 50,000,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Feb. 29, 2004 through Apr. 3, 2004 | | | 15,540 | | | 25.65 | | | — | | | 50,000,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Apr. 4, 2004 through May 1, 2004 | | | — | | | — | | | — | | | 50,000,000 | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| | | | |
Total | | | 151,947 | | $ | 24.42 | | | — | | | | |
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| | | | |
(1) These columns reflect (i) shares purchased in connection with stock swaps and (ii) the surrender to the Company of 136,407 shares of Common Stock to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the vesting of restricted stock issued to employees.
(2) On November 20, 2002, the Company announced that the Board of Directors authorized the purchase of up to $50 million of the Company’s Common Stock, no purchases have been made under this program. This authorization will terminate on February 3, 2006.
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) | Exhibits |
| The exhibits that are in this report immediately follow the index. |
| |
(b) | Reports on Form 8-K |
| Form 8-K, dated February 5, 2004, under Items 7 and 12, reporting the Company’s sales results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2003. |
| |
| Form 8-K, dated March 2, 2004, under Items 7 and 12, reporting the Company’s operating results for the fourth quarter and full year of 2003. |
| |
| Form 8-K, dated April 20, 2004, under Items 5 and 7, announcing that the Company had notified the Bank of New York, as Trustee under the indenture, of the Company’s intention to redeem all of its outstanding convertible subordinated notes, effective June 4, 2004. |
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| FOOT LOCKER, INC. |
|
|
| (Company) |
| |
| |
Date: June 8, 2004 | /s/ BRUCE L. HARTMAN |
|
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| BRUCE L. HARTMAN |
| Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
| |
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FOOT LOCKER, INC.
INDEX OF EXHIBITS REQUIRED BY ITEM 6(a) OF FORM 10-Q
AND FURNISHED IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITEM 601 OF REGULATION S-K
Exhibit No. in Item 601 of Regulation S-K | | Description |
| |
|
10 | | Restricted Stock Agreement with Matthew D. Serra dated as of February 18, 2004. |
| | |
12 | | Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. |
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15 | | Letter re: Unaudited Interim Financial Statements. |
| | |
31.1 | | Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley act of 2002. |
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31.2 | | Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a), as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley act of 2002. |
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32.1 | | Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. |
| | |
99 | | Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. |
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