1 FORM 11-K SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997: A. Full title of Plan: The Gymboree Corporation Retirement Savings Plan B. Name of issuer of the securities held pursuant to the Plan and the address of its principal executive office: The Gymboree Corporation 700 Airport Blvd., Suite 200 Burlingame, CA 94010-1912 ITEM 1. CHANGES IN THE PLAN Effective January 1, 1997, the Company appointed Van Kampen American Capital successor trustee and record keeper of the Plan. ITEM 2. CHANGES IN INVESTMENT POLICY No material changes occurred during the 1997 fiscal year with respect to the nature of securities or other investments in which funds held under the Plan were invested. ITEM 3. CONTRIBUTIONS UNDER THE PLAN The Gymboree Corporation makes matching cash contributions to the Plan. The Company matches 50% of participant contributions, up to a maximum annual contribution of $500 in 1997 and 1996. ITEM 4. PARTICIPATING EMPLOYEES The Plan had approximately 450 participating employees at December 31, 1997. Page 1 of 17 2 ITEM 5. ADMINISTRATION OF THE PLAN The Plan is administered by a committee comprising employees of The Gymboree Corporation. No person receives compensation from the Plan in the role of administrative committee member. Name of committee member Position held with issuer Address - ------------------------ ------------------------- ------- Esther Koch Vice President, Finance 700 Airport Blvd, Ste. 200 Corporate Controller Burlingame, CA 94010-1912 Ken Meyers Senior Vice President 700 Airport Blvd, Ste. 200 Human Resources Burlingame, CA 94010-1912 Mindy C. Meads Senior Vice President 700 Airport Blvd, Ste. 200 General Merchandising Burlingame, CA 94010-1912 Manager ITEM 6. CUSTODIAN OF INVESTMENTS The custodian of Plan assets is Merrill Lynch Trust Company of California (Merrill Lynch) located at 101 California Street, San Francisco, California 94111. The Plan did not pay Merrill Lynch any compensation as trustee of investments as all administrative fees are paid by the Company. ITEM 7. REPORTS TO PARTICIPATING EMPLOYEES Participants receive quarterly reports from the Plan administrator summarizing the transactions and market value changes. ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS (a) Financial statements - Audited financial statements of The Gymboree Corporation Retirement Savings Plan as of and for the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996. (b) Exhibit 23.1 - Consent of Mohler, Nixon & Williams Independent Accountants Page 2 of 17 3 SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the administrator has duly caused this annual report to be signed by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized. THE GYMBOREE CORPORATION RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN Date: July 31, 1998 By: /s/ Esther Koch _____________ __________________________________ Esther Koch Vice President, Finance Corporate Controller Page 3 of 17 4 THE GYMBOREE CORPORATION RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN FINANCIAL STATEMENTS DECEMBER 31, 1997 AND 1996 Page 4 of 17 5 THE GYMBOREE CORPORATION RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN Financial Statements and Supplemental Schedules Years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996 TABLE OF CONTENTS Independent Accountants' Report ...................................................6 Consent of Independent Accountants.................................................7 Financial Statements: Statements of Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits...............................8 Statements of Changes in Net Assets Available for Plan Benefits, With Fund Information...........................................................9 Notes to Financial Statements.....................................................10 Supplemental Schedules as of and for the year ended December 31, 1997..............................................................14 Schedule of Assets Held for Investment Purposes Schedule of Reportable Transactions Page 5 of 17 6 To the Participants and Plan Administrator of The Gymboree Corporation Retirement Savings Plan INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS' REPORT We have audited the financial statements and supplemental schedules of the Gymboree Corporation Retirement Savings Plan (the Plan) as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and for the years then ended, as listed in the accompanying table of contents. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by the Plan's management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for plan benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 1997 and 1996, and the changes in net assets available for plan benefits for the years then ended, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles. Our audits were conducted for the purpose of forming an opinion on the basic financial statements taken as a whole. The supplemental schedules are presented for the purpose of additional analysis and are not a required part of the basic financial statements but are supplementary information required by the Department of Labor's Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. This supplemental information is the responsibility of the Plan's management. The fund information in the statement of changes in net assets available for plan benefits is presented for purposes of additional analysis rather than to present the changes in net assets available for plan benefits for each fund. The supplemental schedules and fund information have been subjected to the auditing procedures applied in the audits of the basic financial statements and, in our opinion, are fairly stated in all material respects in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole. /s/ MOHLER, NIXON & WILLIAMS ------------------------------ MOHLER, NIXON & WILLIAMS Accountancy Corporation Campbell, California June 20, 1998 Page 6 of 17 7 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to The Gymboree Corporation Retirement Savings Plan of our report dated June 20, 1998, with respect to the financial statements and schedules of The Gymboree Corporation Retirement Savings Plan included in this Annual Report (Form 11-K) for the year ended December 31, 1997. /s/ MOHLER, NIXON & WILLIAMS ------------------------------ MOHLER, NIXON & WILLIAMS Accountancy Corporation Campbell, California June 20, 1998 Page 7 of 17 8 THE GYMBOREE CORPORATION RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN STATEMENTS OF NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS December 31, ----------------------------- 1997 1996 ----------- ----------- Investments, at contract value $ 184,530 $ 166,070 Investments, at fair value 3,201,278 2,453,877 ----------- ----------- Assets held for investment purposes 3,385,808 2,619,947 Receivables 38,114 ----------- ----------- Total assets 3,385,808 2,658,061 Payables (49,119) ----------- ----------- Net assets available for plan benefits $ 3,385,808 $ 2,608,942 =========== =========== See independent accountants' report and accompanying notes to financial statements. Page 8 of 17 9 THE GYMBOREE CORPORATION RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS AVAILABLE FOR PLAN BENEFITS, WITH FUND INFORMATION For the years ended December 31, 1997 and 1996 Merrill Lynch --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Retirement The CMA Global Preservation Gymboree Money Capital Growth Allocation Trust Stock Market Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund Fund ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net assets available for plan benefits at December 31, 1995 $ 218,862 $ 725,326 $ 401,024 $ 146,990 $ 105,838 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Employer's contribution 20,124 53,726 28,054 12,296 11,014 Participants' contributions/rollovers 157,923 412,355 194,689 71,215 73,653 Withdrawals/distributions (56,468) (170,985) (114,078) (49,196) (30,625) Dividends and interest 26,653 72,719 52,770 3,136 Net appreciation in fair value of investments 4,381 159,091 16,825 6,750 8,817 -- Net loan activities (16,576) (27,377) (15,461) (5,849) (1,309) -- Transfers in (out) (17,041) (29,459) 34,717 (19,272) (17,640) $ 59,700 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Increase (decrease) in net assets 118,996 470,070 197,516 19,080 43,910 59,700 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net assets available for plan benefits at December 31, 1996 337,858 1,195,396 598,540 166,070 149,748 59,700 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Employer's contribution 20,629 75,793 34,129 9,746 10,451 Participants' contributions/rollovers 122,197 440,149 203,527 92,546 66,146 Withdrawals/distributions (56,955) (302,033) (175,159) (58,383) (61,254) Dividends and interest 35,527 125,237 88,166 10,256 94 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments 39,410 108,116 (22,705) 26,624 Net loan activities 4,702 (27,082) (367) (17,611) 245 Transfers in (out) (22,890) 5,276 (714) (18,094) 1,022 24,395 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Increase (decrease) in net assets 142,620 425,456 126,877 18,460 43,328 24,395 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net assets available for plan benefits at December 31, 1997 $ 480,478 $ 1,620,852 $ 725,417 $ 184,530 $ 193,076 $ 84,095 =========== =========== =========== =========== =========== =========== Participant Loans Receivables Payables Total ----------- ----------- --------- ----------- Net assets available for plan benefits at December 31, 1995 $ 44,851 $ 47,177 $ 1,690,068 ----------- ----------- ----------- Employer's contribution 125,214 Participants' contributions/rollovers (47,177) 862,658 Withdrawals/distributions (2,936) (424,288) Dividends and interest 4,148 159,426 Net appreciation in fair value of investments 195,864 Net loan activities 66,572 -- Transfers in (out) -- 38,114 $ (49,119) -- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Increase (decrease) in net assets 67,784 (9,063) (49,119) 918,874 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net assets available for plan benefits at December 31, 1996 112,635 38,114 (49,119) 2,608,942 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Employer's contribution 150,748 Participants' contributions/rollovers 924,565 Withdrawals/distributions (63,711) (717,495) Dividends and interest 8,323 267,603 Net appreciation (depreciation) in fair value of investments 151,445 Net loan activities 40,113 -- Transfers in (out) (38,114) 49,119 -- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Increase (decrease) in net assets (15,275) (38,114) 49,119 776,866 ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- Net assets available for plan benefits at December 31, 1997 $ 97,360 $ -- $ -- $ 3,385,808 =========== =========== =========== =========== See independent accountants' report and accompanying notes to financial statements. Page 9 of 17 10 THE GYMBOREE CORPORATION RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS December 31, 1997 and 1996 NOTE 1 - THE PLAN AND ITS SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES: The following description of The Gymboree Corporation (the Company) Retirement Savings Plan (the Plan) provides only general information. Participants should refer to the Plan agreement for a more complete description of the Plan's provisions. The Plan is a defined contribution plan that was established in 1992 by the Company to provide benefits to eligible employees. The Plan covers all full-time employees of the Company who have completed one year of service and are age 21 or older. The Plan administrator believes that the Plan is currently designed and being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and the provisions of ERISA. ADMINISTRATION - The Company has appointed an Administrative Committee (the Committee) to manage the operation and administration of the Plan. A third-party administrator processes and maintains the records of participant data. The Company has contracted with Merrill Lynch Trust Company of California (Merrill Lynch) as trustee of the Plan. Substantially all expenses incurred for administering the Plan are paid by the Company. INVESTMENTS - Investments of the Plan are held by Merrill Lynch and invested in mutual funds, Company stock or a collective trust fund based solely upon instructions received from participants. The Plan's investment in Merrill Lynch mutual funds as well as Gymboree Corporation common stock are valued at fair value as of the last day of the Plan year, as measured by quoted market prices. Page 10 of 17 11 The Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust (RPT) is a collective trust fund invested primarily in a diversified portfolio of GICs, money market securities, and U.S. government securities. RPT earned a gross annual effective yield of 6.52% and 6.40% for the year ended December 31, 1997 and 1996 and is valued at contract value (purchase price plus interest) as of the last day of the Plan year. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS - All highly liquid investments purchased with an original maturity of three months or less (generally money market funds) are considered to be cash equivalents. VESTING - Participants are immediately vested in their entire account balance. INCOME TAXES - The Plan has been amended since receiving its latest favorable determination letter dated June 5, 1995. However, the Company intends that the Plan continue to qualify under the applicable requirements of the Internal Revenue Code and related state statutes, and be exempt from federal income and state franchise taxes. ESTIMATES - The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES - The Plan provides for various investment options in any combination of four different Merrill Lynch mutual funds as well as The Gymboree Corporation common stock. Investment securities are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit. Due to the level of risk associated with certain investment securities, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in risks in the near term would materially affect participants' account balances and the amounts reported in the statement of net assets available for plan benefits and the statement of changes in net assets available for plan benefits. Page 11 of 17 12 NOTE 2 - PARTICIPATION AND BENEFITS: EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS - Participants may elect to have the Company contribute a percentage, from 1% to 20%, of their pre-tax compensation up to the amount allowable under current income tax regulations. Participants who elect to have the Company contribute a portion of their compensation to the Plan agree to accept an equivalent reduction in taxable compensation. Contributions withheld are invested in accordance with the participant's direction and are allocated to funds in 1% increments. Participants are also allowed to make rollover contributions of amounts received from other qualified employer-sponsored retirement plans. Such contributions are deposited in the appropriate investment funds in accordance with the participant's direction and the Plan's provisions. EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS - The Company is allowed to make discretionary matching contributions as defined in the Plan and as approved by the Board of Directors. In 1997 and 1996, the Company matched 50% of each eligible participant's contribution up to a maximum of $500. PARTICIPANT ACCOUNTS - Each participant's account is credited with the participant's contribution, Plan earnings and an allocation of the Company's contribution. Allocation of Company contributions is based on participant contributions. PAYMENT OF BENEFITS - Upon termination, the participant or beneficiary will receive the benefits in a lump-sum amount equal to the value of the participant's account. The Plan allows for automatic lump sum distribution of participant account balances that do not exceed $3,500. LOANS TO PARTICIPANTS - The Plan allows participants to borrow not less than $1,000 and up to the lesser of $50,000 or 50% of their account balance. The loans are secured by the participant's account balance. Such loans bear interest at rates established by the Committee and must be repaid to the Plan within a five-year period, unless the loan is used for the purchase of a residence in which case the maximum repayment period may be extended. The Committee establishes the specific terms and conditions of such loans. Page 12 of 17 13 NOTE 3 - PLAN TERMINATION AND/OR MODIFICATION: The Company intends to continue the Plan indefinitely for the benefit of its employees; however, it reserves the right to terminate and/or modify the Plan at any time by resolution of its Board of Directors and subject to the provisions of ERISA. NOTE 4 - INVESTMENTS: The following table presents the contract or fair values of investments and investment funds that represent 5% or more of the Plan's net assets at December 31: 1997 1996 ---------- ---------- Merrill Lynch: Capital Fund $ 480,478 $ 337,858 Growth Fund 1,620,852 1,195,396 Global Allocation Fund 725,417 598,540 Retirement Preservation Trust Fund 184,530 166,070 The Gymboree Stock Fund 193,076 149,748 CMA Money Market Fund 84,095 59,700 Participant Loans 97,360 112,635 ---------- ---------- Total investments at contract or fair value $3,385,808 $2,619,947 ========== ========== NOTE 5 - PARTY IN INTEREST TRANSACTIONS: As allowed by the Plan, participants may elect to invest a portion of their accounts in the common stock of the Company. The aggregate investment in Company common stock at December 31, 1997 and 1996 was as follows: 1997 1996 -------- -------- Number of shares 7,053 6,049 Cost $191,372 $179,595 Fair value $193,076 $149,748 NOTE 6 - SUBSEQUENT EVENT: The Company changed designated Van Kampen American Capital (Van Kampen) successor trustee and record keeper of the Plan effective January 1, 1998. In conjunction with the change, the Plan replaced Merrill Lynch mutual funds with mutual funds offered by Van Kampen. Page 13 of 17 14 THE GYMBOREE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES DECEMBER 31, 1997 Page 14 of 17 15 THE GYMBOREE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN E.I.N.: 94-2615258 Plan #: 001 ITEM 27a, PART I - SCHEDULE OF ASSETS HELD FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES December 31, 1997 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Description of investment including Identity of issue, borrower, lessor, maturity date, rate of interest, Current or similar party collateral, par or maturity value Cost Value - -------- ------------------------------------------ ---------------------------------- --------- --------- Merrill Lynch Capital Fund Mutual Fund $ 431,978 $ 480,478 Merrill Lynch Growth Fund Mutual Fund 1,407,475 1,620,852 Merrill Lynch Global Allocation Fund Mutual Fund 734,530 725,417 Merrill Lynch Retirement Preservation Trust Money Market Fund 184,530 184,530 * The Gymboree Stock Fund Employer Securities 191,372 193,076 Merrill Lynch CMA Money Market Fund Money Market Fund 84,095 84,095 * Participant Loans (3.81% - 9.5%) 97,360 ----------- Total assets held for investment purposes $ 3,385,808 =========== * Parties-in-interest Page 15 of 17 16 THE GYMBOREE CORPORATION EMPLOYEE RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN E.I.N.: 95-2550381 Plan #: 001 ITEM 27d - SCHEDULE OF REPORTABLE TRANSACTIONS For the year ended December 31, 1997 (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) Description of asset Expense (including interest rate incurred and maturity in case Purchase Selling Lease with Identity of party involved of a loan) price price rental transaction - ----------------------------------- ------------------------ --------- --------- ------ ----------- Merrill Lynch Trust Company: Capital Fund Mutual Fund $ 198,464 Capital Fund Mutual Fund $ 93,552 Growth Fund Mutual Fund 698,526 Growth Fund Mutual Fund 375,128 Global Allocation Fund Mutual Fund 359,340 Global Allocation Fund Mutual Fund 210,376 Retirement Preservation Trust Mutual Fund 121,539 Retirement Preservation Trust Mutual Fund 102,826 CMA Money Market Fund Money Market Fund 2,232,839 CMA Money Market Fund Money Market Fund 2,199,513 (a) (b) (g) (h) (i) Description of asset Current value (including interest rate of asset on and maturity in case Cost of transaction Net gain Identity of party involved of a loan) asset date or (loss) - ----------------------------------- ------------------------ ------- ------------- --------- Merrill Lynch Trust Company: Capital Fund Mutual Fund $ 198,464 $ 198,464 $ - Capital Fund Mutual Fund 85,157 93,552 8,395 Growth Fund Mutual Fund 698,526 698,526 - Growth Fund Mutual Fund 300,190 375,128 74,938 Global Allocation Fund Mutual Fund 359,340 359,340 - Global Allocation Fund Mutual Fund 191,654 210,376 18,722 Retirement Preservation Trust Mutual Fund 121,539 121,539 - Retirement Preservation Trust Mutual Fund 102,826 102,826 - CMA Money Market Fund Money Market Fund 2,232,839 2,232,839 - CMA Money Market Fund Money Market Fund 2,199,513 2,199,513 - Page 16 of 17