Athletic Stores sales decreased by 0.7 percent to $1,217 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008, as compared with the corresponding prior year period of $1,226 million. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, primarily related to the euro, sales from athletic store formats decreased 4.1 percent for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008, as compared with the corresponding prior year period. Comparable-store sales decreased by 3.2 percent for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008. The decline in sales for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 was related to the Company’s domestic and European operations. Sales in the U.S. increased slightly in footwear but declined significantly in apparel. Sales in Europe declined in both footwear and apparel. The trend away from low-profile styles in Europe continued during the first quarter of 2008 while sales of higher-priced technical footwear improved modestly.
Athletic Stores division profit increased 17.6 percent for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008, as compared with the corresponding prior period. Athletic Stores division profit, as a percentage of sales, increased to 3.3 percent for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008, from 2.8 percent in the corresponding prior year period. Included in division profit for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 are $4 million in costs associated with the closure of underproductive stores, primarily lease termination costs. The increase in division profit is mainly attributable to increases in the U.S. divisions, offset, in part, by a decrease in Foot Locker Europe’s division profit. The increase in the U.S. divisions’ profit was related to reduced depreciation and amortization expense as well as the result of lower markdowns taken.
Direct-to-Customers sales increased by 2.2 percent to $92 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008, as compared with the corresponding prior-year period of $90 million. Internet sales increased by 7.1 percent to $75 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008, as compared with the corresponding prior-year period. Increases in Internet sales were offset by a decline in catalog sales, reflecting the continuing trend of the Company’s customers to browse and select products through its catalogs, then make their purchases via the Internet.
Direct-to-Customers division profit for thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 decreased by $1 million to $10 million as compared with the corresponding prior-year period. Division profit, as a percentage of sales, was 10.9 percent for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 as compared with 12.2 percent for the corresponding prior-year period. The decline in division profit was primarily the result of lower product margins on apparel and increased publicity costs related primarily to catalog expenses.
Corporate expense consists of unallocated general and administrative expenses, as well as depreciation and amortization 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. Corporate expense for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 increased by $18 million to $34 million from the same period in the prior year. Included in the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 is the impairment charge of $15 million associated with a note receivable due from the purchaser of the Company’s former Northern Group operation in Canada. The remaining increase represents primarily increased incentive compensation.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) of $299 million increased by $9 million, or 3.1 percent, in the first quarter of 2008 as compared with the corresponding prior-year period. SG&A, as a percentage of sales, increased to 22.8 percent for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008, as compared with 22.0 percent in the corresponding prior-year period. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, SG&A decreased by $1 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008, as compared with the corresponding prior-year period.
Depreciation and amortization decreased by $11 million in the first quarter of 2008 to $32 million as compared with $43 million for the first quarter of 2007. The decrease primarily reflects reduced depreciation and amortization associated with the impairment charges recorded during the third and fourth quarters of 2007.
Interest expense was $5 million for both the thirteen-week periods ended May 3, 2008 and May 5, 2007. Interest income decreased to $4 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008, from $5 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 5, 2007. Interest expense decreased as a result of lower debt balances offset by additional expense related to the net investment hedges. The decrease in interest income was primarily the result of lower interest rates on cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments.
Income Taxes
The Company’s effective tax rate for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 was 77.2 percent as compared with 36.0 percent for the corresponding prior-year period. The increase in rate is primarily attributable to the establishment of a valuation allowance related to the tax benefit associated with the impairment of the Northern Group note receivable. This tax benefit is a capital loss that can only be used to offset capital gains. The Company does not anticipate recognizing sufficient capital gains to utilize these losses. Therefore, the Company determined that a full valuation allowance was required. Additionally, the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 includes $1 million of expense representing adjustments of estimates to actual amounts of income taxes due in Europe. The Company expects its effective rate to approximate 35.5 percent for the full year of 2008, excluding the effect of the Northern note valuation allowance. The actual rate will depend in significant part on the proportion of the Company’s worldwide income that is earned in the U.S.
Net Income
Net income of $3 million, or $0.02 per diluted share, for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 decreased by $0.09 per diluted share from $17 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, for the thirteen weeks ended May 5, 2007. Included in the thirteen weeks ending May 3, 2008 are charges totaling $19 million (pre-tax), or $0.12 per share, representing an impairment charge of $15 million related to the Northern Group note receivable and expenses of $4 million related to the store closing program.
LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
Generally, the Company’s primary source of cash has been from operations. The Company generally finances real estate with operating leases. The principal uses of cash have been to finance inventory requirements, capital expenditures related to store openings, store remodeling, and management information systems, and to fund general working capital requirements.
Management believes operating cash flows and the Company’s current credit facility will be adequate to fund its working capital requirements, anticipated quarterly dividend payments, scheduled debt repayments, potential share repurchases, and to support the development of its short-term and long-term operating strategies.
On May 16, 2008, the Company entered into an amended credit agreement with its banks, providing for a $175 million revolving credit facility and extending the maturity date to May 16, 2011 (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement also provides an incremental facility of up to $100 million. Simultaneously with entering the Credit Agreement, the Company repaid the $88 million that was outstanding on its term loan with the banks, which was scheduled to mature in May 2009. The Credit Agreement provides that the Company comply with certain financial covenants, including (i) a fixed charge coverage ratio of 1.25:1 for the 2008 fiscal year, 1.50:1 for the 2009 fiscal year, and 1.75:1 for each year thereafter and (ii) a minimum liquidity/excess cash flow covenant, which provides that if at the end of any fiscal quarter minimum liquidity is less than $350 million, the excess cash flow for the four consecutive fiscal quarters ended on such date must be at least $25 million. The amount permitted to be paid by the Company as dividends in any fiscal year has been increased to $105 million under the terms of the Credit Agreement. With regard to stock purchases, the Credit Agreement continues to provide that not more than $50 million in the aggregate may be expended unless the fixed charge coverage ratio is at least 2.0:1 for the period of four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to any stock repurchase. Additionally, the Credit Agreement continues to provide for a security interest in certain of the Company’s intellectual property and certain other non-inventory assets.
Any materially adverse change in customer demand, fashion trends, competitive market forces, or customer acceptance of the Company’s merchandise mix and retail locations, uncertainties related to the effect of competitive products and pricing, the Company’s reliance on a few key vendors for a significant portion of its merchandise purchases and risks associated with foreign global sourcing or economic conditions worldwide, as well as other factors listed under the heading “Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” could affect the ability of the Company to continue to fund its needs from business operations.
Net cash provided by operating activities was $73 million and $27 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 and May 5, 2007, respectively. These amounts reflect net income adjusted for non-cash items and working capital changes. During the first quarter of 2008, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $15 million related to the Northern Group note receivable. The increase in operating cash flows relates to the reduction in inventory purchases, net of accounts payable. The reduction in inventory purchases reflects a strategic priority designed to increase inventory turnover. Additionally, in the first quarter of 2008 the Company contributed $6 million to its Canadian qualified pension plan. No contributions to the U.S. or Canadian pension plans were made during the thirteen weeks ended May 5, 2007.
Net cash used in investing activities was $40 million and $15 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 and May 5, 2007, respectively. During the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008, the Company did not purchase or sell short-term investments. This compares with net sales of $28 million in the corresponding prior year period. Capital expenditures were $40 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 as compared with $43 million in the corresponding prior year period. Capital expenditures forecasted for the full-year of 2008 are approximately $158 million, of which $133 million relates to modernizations of existing stores and new store openings, and $25 million reflects the development of information systems and other support facilities. Additionally, the Company intends to spend an additional $2 million on key money related to Europe. The Company has the ability to revise and reschedule the anticipated capital expenditure program should the Company’s financial position require it.
Net cash used in financing was $23 million and $39 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2008 and May 5, 2007, respectively. During the thirteen weeks ended May 5, 2007, the Company purchased 1,173,711 shares of common stock for $26 million and in connection with employee stock programs the Company received $5 million of proceeds from the issuance of common stock. The Company declared and paid a $0.15 per share dividend during the first quarter of 2008 totaling $23 million, as compared with a $0.125 per share dividend during the first quarter of 2007 which totaled $19 million.
Page 17 of 26
CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES
There have been no significant changes to the Company’s critical accounting policies and estimates from the information provided in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 2, 2008.
DISCLOSURE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This report 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 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, 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, the ability of the Company to execute its business plans effectively with regard to each of its business units, risks associated with foreign global sourcing, including political instability, changes in import regulations, and disruptions to transportation services and distribution. 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.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
The Company’s management performed an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), and completed an evaluation as of May 3, 2008 of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)). Based on that evaluation, the Company’s CEO and CFO concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that information relating to the Company that is required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC rules and form, and is accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
During the quarter ended May 3, 2008, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that materially affected or are reasonably likely to affect the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Legal proceedings pending against the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries consist of ordinary, routine litigation, including administrative proceedings, incidental to the business of the Company, as well as litigation incidental to the sale and disposition of businesses that have occurred in past years. These legal proceedings include commercial, intellectual property, customer, and labor-and-employment-related claims. Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries are defendants in a number of lawsuits filed in state and federal courts containing various class action allegations under state wage and hour laws, including allegations concerning classification of employees as exempt or nonexempt, unpaid overtime, meal and rest breaks, and uniforms. Management does not believe that the outcome of such proceedings would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position, liquidity, or results of operations, taken as a whole.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There were no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in the 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
There were no purchases made by the Company of shares of its Common Stock during the first quarter of 2008.
Item 6. Exhibits
| (a) | | Exhibits |
| | | The exhibits that are in this report immediately follow the index. |
Page 18 of 26
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. |
Date: June 11, 2008 | (Company) |
|
| /s/ Robert W. McHugh |
| ROBERT W. MCHUGH |
| Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
Page 19 of 26
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 | | Description |
12 | | Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges. |
|
15 | | Accountants’ Acknowledgment. |
|
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. |
|
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. |
|
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. |
Page 20 of 26