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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 


 

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended April 30, 2005

 

Commission file number 1-10738

 


 

ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   13-3499319

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

7 Times Square, 15th Floor, New York, NY   10036
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

(212) 541-3300

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

142 West 57th Street, New York, NY 10019

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 


 

Indicate by check mark whether registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  x    No  ¨.

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class


 

Outstanding as of

May 25, 2005


Common Stock, $.0068 par value   72,973,781

 



INDEX TO FORM 10-Q

 

         Page No.

PART I.   FINANCIAL INFORMATION     

Item 1.

  Financial Statements     
   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income for the Quarters Ended April 30, 2005 and May 1, 2004 (unaudited)

   3
   

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at April 30, 2005 and January 29, 2005 (unaudited)

   4
   

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Quarters Ended April 30, 2005 and May 1, 2004 (unaudited)

   5
   

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

   6

Item 2.

  Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    10

Item 3.

  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    15

Item 4.

  Controls and Procedures    15
PART II.   OTHER INFORMATION     

Item 1.

  Legal Proceedings    16

Item 2.

  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    16

Item 4.

  Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    17

Item 5.

  Other Information    17

Item 6.

  Exhibits    17
SIGNATURES    18
EXHIBIT INDEX    19


PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

For the Quarters Ended April 30, 2005 and May 1, 2004

(unaudited)

 

     Quarters Ended

     April 30, 2005

   May 1, 2004

     (in thousands, except per share amounts)

Net sales

   $ 476,446    $ 433,246

Cost of sales

     233,303      180,343
    

  

Gross margin

     243,143      252,903

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     215,733      199,325
    

  

Operating income

     27,410      53,578

Interest income

     1,767      1,001

Interest expense

     415      1,670
    

  

Income before income taxes

     28,762      52,909

Income tax provision

     11,791      21,163
    

  

Net income

   $ 16,971    $ 31,746
    

  

Basic earnings per share of common stock

   $ 0.24    $ 0.47
    

  

Diluted earnings per share of common stock

   $ 0.24    $ 0.43
    

  

 

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

- 3 -


ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

April 30, 2005 and January 29, 2005

(unaudited)

 

     April 30, 2005

    January 29, 2005

 
     (in thousands, except per share data)  
ASSETS                 

Current assets

                

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 228,024     $ 62,412  

Short-term investments

     —         192,400  

Accounts receivable

     23,460       12,573  

Merchandise inventories

     265,869       229,218  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     84,750       90,711  
    


 


Total current assets

     602,103       587,314  

Property and equipment, net

     469,465       434,328  

Goodwill

     286,579       286,579  

Deferred financing costs, net

     1,291       1,382  

Other assets

     15,459       17,735  
    


 


Total assets

   $ 1,374,897     $ 1,327,338  
    


 


LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                 

Current liabilities

                

Accounts payable

   $ 75,495     $ 88,340  

Accrued salaries and bonus

     9,489       21,617  

Accrued tenancy

     34,857       32,264  

Gift certificates and merchandise credits redeemable

     31,120       38,892  

Accrued expenses

     77,370       62,633  
    


 


Total current liabilities

     228,331       243,746  

Deferred lease costs and other liabilities

     163,941       156,848  

Stockholders’ equity

                

Common stock, $.0068 par value; 120,000,000 shares authorized; 81,559,031 and 80,085,690 shares issued, respectively

     555       545  

Additional paid-in capital

     707,597       669,128  

Retained earnings

     462,424       445,410  

Deferred compensation on restricted stock

     (16,542 )     (11,746 )
    


 


       1,154,034       1,103,337  

Treasury stock, 8,582,056 and 9,453,242 shares respectively, at cost

     (171,409 )     (176,593 )
    


 


Total stockholders’ equity

     982,625       926,744  
    


 


Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 1,374,897     $ 1,327,338  
    


 


 

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

- 4 -


ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

For the Quarters Ended April 30, 2005 and May 1, 2004

(unaudited)

 

     Quarters Ended

 
     April 30, 2005

    May 1, 2004

 
     (in thousands)  

Operating activities:

                

Net income

   $ 16,971     $ 31,746  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                

Amortization of deferred compensation

     2,334       1,716  

Deferred income taxes

     (1,963 )     1,304  

Depreciation and amortization

     22,772       18,423  

Loss on disposal and write-down of property and equipment

     374       5  

Non-cash interest

     91       1,038  

Tax benefit from exercise of stock options

     8,078       5,286  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

                

Accounts receivable

     (10,887 )     (10,884 )

Merchandise inventories

     (36,651 )     (41,999 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     7,394       (6,426 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     (15,415 )     32,022  

Other assets and deferred lease costs and other liabilities, net

     9,897       3,257  
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     2,995       35,488  
    


 


Investing activities:

                

Purchases of available-for-sale securities

     (20,600 )     (77,050 )

Sales of available-for-sale securities

     213,000       92,325  

Purchases of property and equipment

     (58,282 )     (27,142 )
    


 


Net cash provided (used) by investing activities

     134,118       (11,867 )
    


 


Financing activities:

                

Issuance of common stock pursuant to associate discount stock purchase plan

     880       875  

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     36,624       16,595  

Payment of financing costs

     —         (14 )

Repurchases of common and restricted stock

     (9,005 )     (14,102 )
    


 


Net cash provided by financing activities

     28,499       3,354  
    


 


Net increase in cash

     165,612       26,975  

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     62,412       26,559  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 228,024     $ 53,534  
    


 


Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

                

Cash paid during the period for interest

   $ 304     $ 270  
    


 


Cash paid during the period for income taxes

   $ 581     $ 5,579  
    


 


 

See accompanying Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

- 5 -


ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(unaudited)

 

1. Basis of Presentation

 

The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments (which are of a normal recurring nature) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

 

The results of operations for the 2005 interim period shown in this Report are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the fiscal year.

 

The January 29, 2005 Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet amounts have been derived from the audited Consolidated Balance Sheet of AnnTaylor Stores Corporation (the “Company”).

 

Detailed footnote information is not included in this Report. The financial information set forth herein should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2005. Certain Fiscal 2004 amounts have been reclassified to conform to the Fiscal 2005 presentation.

 

2. Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share assumes the issuance of additional shares of common stock by the Company upon exercise of all outstanding stock options, conversion of all outstanding convertible securities and vesting of unvested restricted stock, if the effect is dilutive.

 

     Quarters Ended

     April 30, 2005

   May 1, 2004

     (in thousands, except per share amounts)

     Net
Income


   Shares

   Per
Share


   Net
Income


   Shares

   Per
Share


Basic Earnings per Share

                                     

Income available to common stockholders

   $ 16,971    71,001    $ 0.24    $ 31,746    67,979    $ 0.47
                

              

Effect of Dilutive Securities

                                     

Stock options and restricted stock

     —      579             —      1,710       

Convertible Debentures

     —      —               732    5,409       
    

  
         

  
      

Diluted Earnings per Share

                                     

Income available to common stockholders

   $ 16,971    71,580    $ 0.24    $ 32,478    75,098    $ 0.43
    

  
  

  

  
  

 

Options to purchase 2,801,437 and 1,315,200 shares of common stock were excluded from the above computations of weighted average shares for diluted earnings per share for the quarters ended April 30, 2005 and May 1, 2004, respectively. This was due to the antidilutive effect of the options’ exercise prices as compared to the average market price of the common shares during those periods.

 

- 6 -


ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(unaudited)

 

3. Share-based Payments

 

The Company accounts for stock-based awards and employees’ purchase rights under the Associate Discount Stock Purchase Plan using the intrinsic value-based method of accounting in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, under which no compensation cost is recognized for stock option awards granted at fair market value and employees’ purchase rights under the Associate Discount Stock Purchase Plan. Had compensation costs of option awards and employees’ purchase rights been determined under a fair value alternative method as stated in SFAS No. 148 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure, an amendment of FASB Statement No. 123”, the Company would have been required to prepare a fair value model for such options and employees’ purchase rights, and record such amount in the consolidated financial statements as compensation expense. Pro forma stock based employee compensation costs, net income and earnings per share, as they would have been recognized if the fair value method had been applied to all awards, are presented in the table below. The Company is currently evaluating the provisions of SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment”, and plans to adopt its provisions on January 29, 2006.

 

     Quarters Ended

 
     April 30, 2005

    May 1, 2004

 
     (dollars in thousands, except
per share data)
 

Net income:

                

As reported

   $ 16,971     $ 31,746  

Add: Stock-based employee compensation expense included in net income, net of related tax effects

     1,377       1,030  

Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects

     (3,533 )     (2,433 )
    


 


Pro forma

   $ 14,815     $ 30,343  
    


 


Basic earnings per share:

                

As reported

   $ 0.24     $ 0.47  
    


 


Pro forma

   $ 0.21     $ 0.45  
    


 


Diluted earnings per share:

                

As reported

   $ 0.24     $ 0.43  
    


 


Pro forma

   $ 0.21     $ 0.41  
    


 


 

The estimated fair value of each option grant is calculated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model, with the following weighted average assumptions:

 

     Quarters Ended

 
     April 30, 2005

    May 1, 2004

 
     (dollars in thousands, except
per share data)
 

Expected volatility

   28.9 %   34.9 %

Risk-free interest rate

   2.6 %   1.0 %

Expected life (years)

   4.0     4.0  

Dividend yield

   —       —    

 

- 7 -


ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(unaudited)

 

4. Long-Term Debt

 

During Fiscal 1999, the Company issued an aggregate of $199.1 million principal amount at maturity Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2019 (the “Convertible Debentures”). In May 2004, the Company notified the holders that it would redeem these Convertible Debentures in June 2004 at $635.42 per $1,000.00 of the principal amount. The holders had the option to convert their Convertible Debentures into common stock of the Company prior to redemption, and, on June 18, 2004, all the Convertible Debentures were converted for an aggregate total of 5.4 million shares of common stock. The conversion of Convertible Debentures had no effect on diluted earnings per share.

 

In November 2003, Ann Taylor and certain of its subsidiaries entered into a Second Amended and Restated $175.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “Credit Facility”) with Bank of America N.A. and a syndicate of lenders. The Credit Facility, which, at the Company’s option, provides for an increase in the total facility and the aggregate commitments thereunder up to $250.0 million, matures on November 14, 2008 and is used by Ann Taylor and certain of its subsidiaries for letters of credit and other general corporate purposes. There were no borrowings under the Credit Facility at any point during the first quarter of Fiscal 2005 or as of the date of this filing.

 

The Credit Facility permits the payment of cash dividends by the Company (and dividends by certain of its subsidiaries to fund such cash dividends) if, after the payment of such dividends, liquidity (as defined in the Credit Facility) is greater than $35 million. Certain subsidiaries of the Company are also permitted to: pay dividends to the Company to fund certain taxes owed by the Company; fund ordinary operating expenses of the Company not in excess of $500,000 in any fiscal year; repurchase common stock held by employees not in excess of $100,000 in any fiscal year; and for certain other stated purposes.

 

5. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123R (revised 2004), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”) which revised SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”. This statement supercedes Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” (“APB No. 25”). SFAS No. 123R addresses the accounting for share-based payment transactions with employees and other third parties, eliminates the ability to account for share-based compensation transactions using APB No. 25 and requires that the compensation costs relating to such transactions be recognized in the consolidated statement of operations. In April 2005, the SEC amended the compliance dates for SFAS No. 123R from fiscal periods beginning after June 15, 2005 to fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The Company will continue to account for share-based compensation using the intrinsic value method set forth in APB No. 25 until adoption of SFAS No. 123R on January 29, 2006. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting SFAS No. 123R.

 

- 8 -


ANNTAYLOR STORES CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

(unaudited)

 

6. Employee Benefits

 

The following table summarizes the components of net periodic pension cost for the Company:

 

     Quarters Ended

 
     April 30, 2005

    May 1, 2004

 
     (in thousands)  

Service cost

   $ 1,193     $ 1,052  

Interest cost

     421       297  

Prior service and interest cost

     56       —    

Expected return on plan assets

     (478 )     (375 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     19       2  

Amortization of net loss

     376       164  
    


 


Net periodic pension cost

   $ 1,587     $ 1,140  
    


 


 

While no contributions to the Company’s pension plan are required in Fiscal 2005, as the fair value of plan assets has been greater than the benefit obligation, the Company may make a contribution during the year.

 

7. Securities Repurchase Program

 

In the first quarter of Fiscal 2005, the Company repurchased 300,000 shares of its common stock at a cost of approximately $7.4 million under the $100.0 million securities repurchase program announced in August 2004. The Company has repurchased a total of 2,400,000 shares of its common stock at a cost of approximately $57.3 million under the August 2004 plan through the date of this filing.

 

- 9 -


Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Management Overview

 

The Company reported an increase in total net sales of 10.0% from the first quarter of Fiscal 2004, with Ann Taylor down 3.6% and Ann Taylor Loft up 20.5%. Comparable store sales for the first quarter of fiscal 2005 were down 3.1%. By division, comparable store sales for the first quarter were down 4.9% at Ann Taylor and down 1.5% at Ann Taylor Loft.

 

The retail environment remains very competitive. The Company plans to continue its store opening schedule using cash flow from operations. Management’s plan for future growth is based on offering clients updated classic merchandise at convenient, accessible, brand-appropriate locations. The Company’s ability to achieve this objective will be dependent on factors such as those outlined in the “Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Disclosures”.

 

The Company will continue to focus on inventory management and selling, general and administrative costs. Total inventory levels at the end of the first quarter of Fiscal 2005 increased approximately 8% on a per square foot basis compared to last year. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first quarter decreased 0.8% over last year as a percentage of net sales.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth consolidated income statement data expressed as a percentage of net sales:

 

     Quarters Ended

 
     April 30, 2005

    May 1, 2004

 

Net sales

   100.0 %   100.0 %

Cost of sales

   49.0     41.6  
    

 

Gross margin

   51.0     58.4  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   45.2     46.0  
    

 

Operating income

   5.8     12.4  

Interest income

   0.4     0.2  

Interest expense

   0.1     0.4  
    

 

Income before income taxes

   6.1     12.2  

Income tax provision

   2.5     4.9  
    

 

Net income

   3.6 %   7.3 %
    

 

 

The following table sets forth selected consolidated income statement data expressed as a percentage change from the prior period:

 

     Quarters Ended

 
     April 30, 2005

    May 1, 2004

 
     increase (decrease)  

Net sales

   10.0  %   23.1 %

Operating income

   (48.8 )%   75.8 %

Net income

   (46.5 )%   76.6 %

 

- 10 -


Sales

 

The following table sets forth certain sales and store data:

 

     Quarters Ended

 
     April 30, 2005

    May 1, 2004

 

Net sales (in thousands)

                

Total Company

   $ 476,446     $ 433,246  

Ann Taylor

     205,738       213,424  

Ann Taylor Loft

     223,404       185,387  

Other

     47,304       34,435  

Comparable stores sales percentage (decrease) increase (a)

                

Total Company

     (3.1 )%     11.9 %

Ann Taylor

     (4.9 )%     4.2 %

Ann Taylor Loft

     (1.5 )%     24.8 %

Net sales per average gross square foot (b)

   $ 112     $ 117  

Total square footage at end of period (in thousands) (b)

     4,317       3,768  

Number of:

                

Total stores open at beginning of period

     738       648  

New stores

     20       19  

Expanded stores

     1       —    

Closed stores

     (2 )     —    

Total stores open at end of period

     756       667  

(a) Comparable store sales are calculated by excluding the net sales of a store for any month of one period if the store was not also open during the same month of the prior period. A store that is expanded by more than 15% is treated as a new store for the first year following the opening of the expanded store.
(b) Net sales per gross square foot is determined by dividing net sales for the period by the average of the gross square feet at the beginning and end of each period. Unless otherwise indicated, references herein to square feet are to gross square feet, rather than net selling space.

 

Net sales increased $43.2 million or 10.0% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2005 over the comparable 2004 period due to the opening of 12 Ann Taylor stores, 76 Ann Taylor Loft stores and 8 Ann Taylor Factory stores, since the first quarter of Fiscal 2004.

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales is comprised of direct inventory costs for merchandise sold, including all costs to transport merchandise from third party suppliers to the Company’s distribution center. Buying and occupancy costs are excluded from cost of sales. Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales increased to 49.0% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2005 from 41.6% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2004. The increase in cost of sales as a percentage of net sales is primarily due to increased promotional activity at both divisions.

 

- 11 -


Gross Margin

 

Gross margin as a percentage of net sales decreased to 51.0% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2005 from 58.4% in the first quarter of Fiscal 2004. The decrease in gross margin as a percentage of net sales is primarily due to lower full-price sales and lower margins achieved on non full-price sales, largely due to increased promotional activity at both divisions.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased in the first quarter of Fiscal 2005 to 45.2% of net sales from 46.0% of net sales in the comparable 2004 period. The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales primarily resulted from a decrease in the provision for management performance bonus and lower marketing costs, partially offset by an overall deleveraging of expenses due to the decrease in comparable store sales.

 

Interest Income

 

Interest income increased to approximately $1.8 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2005 from approximately $1.0 million in the comparable 2004 period. The increase was primarily attributable to higher interest rates during the first quarter of Fiscal 2005 as compared to the first quarter of Fiscal 2004.

 

Interest Expense

 

Interest expense decreased to approximately $0.4 million in the first quarter of Fiscal 2005 from approximately $1.7 million in the comparable 2004 period. The decrease was primarily due to the conversion of the outstanding Convertible Debentures in the second quarter of Fiscal 2004, as discussed more fully below in “Liquidity and Capital Resources”.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company’s primary source of working capital is cash flow from operations. The following table sets forth material measures of the Company’s liquidity:

 

     April 30, 2005

   January 29, 2005

     (dollars in thousands)

Working capital

   $ 373,772    $ 343,568

Current ratio

     2.64:1      2.41:1

 

For the first quarter of Fiscal 2005, net cash provided by operating activities totaled approximately $3.0 million, as compared to approximately $35.5 million for the first quarter of Fiscal 2004. Net cash provided by operating activities during the first quarter of Fiscal 2005 primarily resulted from an increase in working capital, partially offset by net income before depreciation and amortization. Cash provided by investing activities during the first quarter of Fiscal 2005 amounted to approximately $134.1 million related to the sale of available-for-sale securities, offset by capital expenditures for the opening of new stores. Cash provided by financing activities amounted to approximately $28.5 million, and related primarily to the proceeds from the exercise of stock options, offset by the repurchase of shares of the Company’s common stock during the first quarter of Fiscal 2005, which amounted to $7.4 million.

 

- 12 -


The Company’s investment policy permits investments in auction rate securities which have stated maturities beyond three months but are priced and traded as short-term instruments due to the liquidity provided through the interest rate reset mechanism of 28 or 35 days. Investments in auction rate securities are classified as short-term investments on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

 

In the first quarter of Fiscal 2005, the Company repurchased 300,000 shares of its common stock at a cost of approximately $7.4 million under the $100.0 million securities repurchase program announced in August 2004. The Company has repurchased a total of 2,400,000 shares of its common stock at a cost of approximately $57.3 million under the August 2004 plan through the date of this filing.

 

The Company expects its total capital expenditure requirements in Fiscal 2005 will be approximately $175.0 to $185.0 million. The actual amount of the Company’s capital expenditures will depend in part on the number of stores opened, expanded and refurbished. The Company expects to use cash flow from operations to fund its capital expenditure requirements.

 

A portion of the Fiscal 2005 capital expenditures relates to costs associated with the relocation of the Company’s new headquarters in Times Square Tower in New York City, which is expected to be completed this June. As a result of this relocation, the Company adjusted the remaining lives of certain fixed assets to correlate to the expected move, the impact of which is not significant to the results of operations. In addition, the Company expects to record a one-time write-off of approximately $10.1 million for lease costs related to the existing offices at 142 West 57th Street in New York City upon cessation of their use. The related lease is scheduled to expire in September 2006.

 

During Fiscal 1999, the Company issued an aggregate of $199.1 million principal amount at maturity Convertible Subordinated Debentures due 2019 (the “Convertible Debentures”). In May 2004, the Company notified the holders that it would redeem these Convertible Debentures in June 2004 at $635.42 per $1,000.00 of the principal amount. The holders had the option to convert their Convertible Debentures into common stock of the Company prior to redemption, and, on June 18, 2004, all the Convertible Debentures were converted for an aggregate total of 5.4 million shares of common stock. The conversion of Convertible Debentures had no effect on diluted earnings per share.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

Management has determined that the Company’s most critical accounting policies are those related to merchandise inventory valuation, asset impairment, and income taxes. The Company continually monitors its accounting policies to ensure proper application. There have been no changes to these policies as discussed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2005.

 

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Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Disclosures

 

Sections of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q, including the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, contain various forward-looking statements, made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The forward-looking statements may use the words “expect”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “intend”, “project”, “may”, “believe” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current expectations concerning future events, and actual results may differ materially from current expectations or historical results. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including the failure by the Company to predict accurately client fashion preferences; decline in the demand for merchandise offered by the Company; competitive influences; changes in levels of store traffic or consumer spending habits; effectiveness of the Company’s brand awareness and marketing programs; the inability of the Company to secure and protect trademarks and other intellectual property rights in the United States and/or foreign countries; general economic conditions or a downturn in the retail industry; the inability of the Company to locate new store sites or negotiate favorable lease terms for additional stores or for the expansion of existing stores; lack of sufficient consumer interest in the Company’s Online Stores; a significant change in the regulatory environment applicable to the Company’s business; risks associated with the possible inability of the Company, particularly through its sourcing and logistics functions, to operate within production and delivery constraints; the impact of quotas, and the elimination thereof; an increase in the rate of import duties or export quotas with respect to the Company’s merchandise; financial or political instability in any of the countries in which the Company’s goods are manufactured; the potential impact of natural disasters and health concerns relating to severe infectious diseases, particularly on manufacturing operations of the Company’s vendors; acts of war or terrorism in the United States or worldwide; work stoppages, slowdowns or strikes; the inability of the Company to hire, retain and train key personnel, and other factors set forth in the Company’s filings with the SEC. The Company does not assume any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements at any time for any reason.

 

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Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

The market risk of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents as of April 30, 2005 has not significantly changed since January 29, 2005. Information regarding the Company’s financial instruments and market risk as of January 29, 2005 is disclosed in the Company’s 2004 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

 

Under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, the Company has conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) as of the end of the period covered by this report (the “Evaluation Date”). There are inherent limitations to the effectiveness of any system of disclosure controls and procedures, including the possibility of human error and the circumvention or overriding of the controls and procedures. Accordingly, even effective disclosure controls and procedures can only provide reasonable assurance of achieving their control objectives. Based on such evaluation, which included consideration of the facts and circumstances surrounding the lease accounting practices described below, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective in alerting them on a timely basis to material information relating to the Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) required to be included in the Company’s reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act.

 

In the first quarter of Fiscal 2005, the Company remediated a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting by correcting its method of accounting for construction allowances and free rent periods. The Company has implemented controls to ensure all future leases will be reviewed and accounted for in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

There were no other changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the quarterly period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1. Legal Proceedings

 

On February 15, 2005, two former managers of the Company’s California stores filed a purported class action against AnnTaylor Retail, Inc. in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that the Company misclassified its store managers and assistant store managers as exempt from California overtime wage and hour laws, thereby depriving them of overtime pay. On May 5, 2005, a second purported class action was filed, although not yet served, against the Company in San Francisco County Superior Court by a former manager of one of the Company’s stores in California alleging violations of California labor laws with respect to overtime pay as well as adequate meal and rest periods. These actions are similar to numerous suits filed against retailers and others with operations in California.

 

The class members in both actions seek recovery in an unstated dollar amount of unpaid wages, statutory penalties, attorneys’ fees and costs and injunctive relief. These actions are at a very preliminary stage and, accordingly, it is too early to evaluate the likelihood of an unfavorable outcome. The Company intends to vigorously defend these actions.

 

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

The following table sets forth information concerning purchases made by the Company of its common stock for the periods indicated:

 

     Total Number
of Shares
Purchased (a)


   Average
Price Paid
Per Share


  

Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased
as Part

of Publicly
Announced
Plan (b)


  

Approximate
Dollar Value

of Shares

that May Yet
Be Purchased
Under Publicly
Announced Plan


                    (In thousands)

January 30, 2005 to February 26, 2005

   613    $ 22.22    —      $ 50,144

February 27, 2005 to April 2, 2005

   62,360      25.52    —        50,144

April 3, 2005 to April 30, 2005

   300,000      24.67    300,000      42,744
    
         
      
     362,973    $ 24.81    300,000       

(a) Includes 62,973 shares of restricted stock repurchased in connection with employee tax withholding obligations under employee compensation plans, which are not purchases under the Company’s publicly announced Plan.
(b) These shares were part of a $100.0 million securities repurchase plan, announced by the Company in August 2004. This plan replaced the March 2004 plan, and will expire when the Company has repurchased all securities authorized for repurchase thereunder, unless terminated earlier by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

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Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

AnnTaylor Stores Corporation’s 2005 Annual Meeting of Stockholders was held on April 28, 2005. The following matters were voted upon and approved by the Company’s stockholders at the meeting:

 

1.      Election of Class II Directors for terms expiring in 2008, or until their respective successors are elected and qualified:

     For

   Withheld

    

James J. Burke, Jr.

   65,524,789    663,034     

Dale W. Hilpert

   65,098,888    1,088,935     

Ronald W. Hovsepian

   65,936,016    251,807     

Linda A. Huett

   65,933,005    254,818     
     For

   Against

   Abstaining

2.      Ratification of the engagement of Deloitte & Touche LLP as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for fiscal year 2005

   65,193,122    987,770    6,931

 

Item 5. Other Information

 

The Company entered into a letter agreement (“Letter Agreement”), dated May 12, 2005, with James M. Smith, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company. Under the terms of the Letter Agreement, Mr. Smith received an increase in his annual base salary to $381,000 and a bonus of $100,000, repayable under certain conditions. He is also entitled to severance equal to his annual base salary and continuation of certain medical benefits for one year if he is terminated by the Company other than for “cause”. A copy of the Letter Agreement is filed as an exhibit to this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and incorporated herein by reference.

 

In addition, effective as of May 11, 2005, Anthony Romano’s (Executive Vice President, Corporate Operations) 2005 annual base salary was increased to $525,000.

 

Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit

Number


 

Description


10.1*   Letter Agreement dated May 12, 2005, between the Company and James M. Smith.
10.2   Summary of Compensation Payable to Non-Employee Directors. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on May 5, 2005.
31.1*   Certification of chief executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*   Certification of chief financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*   Certification of chief executive officer and chief financial officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

* Filed electronically herewith.

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

        AnnTaylor Stores Corporation
Date:  

May 27, 2005


  By:  

/s/ J. Patrick Spainhour


            J. Patrick Spainhour
           

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer

(Principal Executive Officer)

Date:  

May 27, 2005


  By:  

/s/ James M. Smith


            James M. Smith
           

Executive Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

(Principal Financial Officer)

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number


 

Description


10.1*   Letter Agreement dated May 12, 2005, between the Company and James M. Smith.
10.2   Summary of Compensation Payable to Non-Employee Directors. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed on May 5, 2005.
31.1*   Certification of chief executive officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31.2*   Certification of chief financial officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1*   Certification of chief executive officer and chief financial officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

* Filed electronically herewith.

 

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