UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 11, 2013
COLDWATER CREEK INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
 
000-21915
 
82-0419266
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
 Incorporation)
 
(Commission File Number)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
 Identification No.)
One Coldwater Creek Drive, Sandpoint, Idaho
 
83864
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
(208) 263-2266
(Registrant's telephone number,
including area code)

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
 
o           Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 
o           Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 
o           Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 
o           Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240-13e-4(c))








Item 2.02     Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On December 11, 2013, Coldwater Creek Inc. (the "Company") issued a press release announcing financial results for its
fiscal third quarter ended November 2, 2013. A copy of the press release is set forth as Exhibit 99.1.

The information being furnished in this Item 2.02 and in Exhibit 99.1 shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended or the Exchange Act, whether made before or after the date of this report, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Item 9.01     Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed with this report.

Exhibit Number
 
Description
 
 
 
99.1
 
Press release announcing fiscal 2013 third quarter results








SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.

COLDWATER CREEK INC.

Dated: December 11, 2013

 
/s/ James A. Bell
 
James A. Bell
 
Executive Vice President, Chief Operating Officer
 
and Chief Financial Officer






EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit Number
 
Description
 
 
 
99.1
 
Press release announcing fiscal 2013 third quarter results







Exhibit 99.1
Coldwater Creek Announces Results for Third Quarter of Fiscal 2013

Sandpoint, Idaho, December 11, 2013 -- Coldwater Creek Inc. (Nasdaq: CWTR) today reported financial results for the three-month period ended November 2, 2013.
Third Quarter of Fiscal 2013 Operating Results
Consolidated net sales were $154.5 million, compared with $188.1 million in third quarter 2012. Net sales from the retail segment were $120.7 million, compared with $147.2 million in the same period last year. Comparable premium retail sales declined 16.8 percent for the quarter. Net sales from the direct segment were $33.7 million, compared with $40.9 million in the same period last year.
Consolidated gross profit was $48.2 million, or 31.2 percent of net sales, compared with $66.1 million, or 35.1 percent of net sales, for the third quarter of 2012. The 390 basis point decline in gross profit margin was due to deleveraging of buying and occupancy expense and lower merchandise margins reflecting increased promotional activity.
Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) were $70.8 million, or 45.9 percent of net sales, compared with $76.1 million, or 40.5 percent of net sales, for third quarter 2012. The decrease in SG&A was across all categories with the most significant reductions coming from marketing and employee-related expenses.
Net loss was $23.8 million, or $0.78 per share, and included (i) other gain, net, of $8.0 million, or $0.26 per share, due to the change in the fair value of the derivative liability related to the Series A Preferred Stock issued in July 2012; (ii) a pre-tax charge of $2.3 million, or $0.07 per share, for severance and other expenses associated with the Company's cost restructuring program; (iii) a non-cash asset impairment charge of $2.7 million, or $0.09 per share, related primarily to 27 under-performing stores; and (iv) a non-cash income tax charge of $2.6 million, or $0.09 per share, related to a valuation allowance against previously recorded net deferred tax assets. This compares to third quarter 2012 net loss of $20.5 million, or $0.67 per share, which included other loss, net, of $6.8 million, or $0.22 per share, due to the change in the fair value of the derivative liability.
Adjusted net loss for the third quarter of fiscal 2013, excluding the gain on the derivative liability, severance expense, non-cash impairment charge and non-cash income tax charge, was $24.2 million, or $0.79 per share. This compares to an adjusted net loss of $13.7 million, or $0.45 per share, for third quarter 2012, excluding the loss on the derivative liability. (Please see the table of GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Selected Measures attached to this press release.)
"In response to the disappointing performance of our fall merchandise, we took swift action early in the third quarter to adjust our holiday assortment, and we experienced a meaningful improvement in full-priced selling as holiday product flowed into stores starting in mid-October. During the quarter we also implemented a cost reduction program, which is expected to generate $20-$25 million in expense savings next year," said Jill Dean, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coldwater Creek. "While we are encouraged by the favorable customer response to recent deliveries, the holiday selling season is still underway and the environment remains highly competitive. Moving ahead, we believe the essential steps to accelerate our turnaround and to deliver stability to our top-line involve successful execution of our strategic merchandising and marketing initiatives, aggressive cost cutting measures and disciplined inventory management."
Balance Sheet
At November 2, 2013, cash totaled $6.8 million, as compared with $31.3 million at October 27, 2012. There were $15.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the Company's revolving line of credit as of November 2, 2013. Total inventory decreased 5.6 percent to $152.7 million from $161.7 million at the end of the third quarter last year. Inventory per square foot, which includes inventory in our retail stores and retail inventory in the distribution center, decreased approximately 1.6 percent as compared to the end of the third quarter last year.
Store Optimization Program
The Company closed one premium retail store, one factory store, and one spa during the third quarter of 2013, ending the fiscal quarter with 343 premium retail stores, 36 factory stores, and 7 spas. The Company's ongoing store optimization plan calls for the closure of up to 10 additional retail stores in fiscal 2013 for a total of approximately 50 stores since fiscal 2011.
Conference Call Information
Coldwater Creek will host a conference call on Wednesday, December 11, 2013, at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern) to discuss fiscal 2013 third quarter results. The dial in number for the call is 877-705-6003. The call will be simultaneously broadcast on the Investor Relations section of the Company's Web site at www.coldwatercreek.com. A recording of the call can be accessed for one week following the reporting date by calling 877-870-5176 and providing conference ID 13572958. A transcript of the call will also be available in the Investor Relations section of the Company's Web site.

1




Coldwater Creek is a leading specialty retailer of women's apparel, jewelry, and accessories. The Company was founded in 1984 in Sandpoint, Idaho, and sells its merchandise through premium retail stores across the country, online, and through its mobile applications.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION:
This news release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the securities laws, including statements about the expected effect of our cost reduction program on future expense levels and the Company's expectations about future store closures. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to a number of uncertainties, risks and assumptions that may not fully materialize or may prove incorrect. As a result, our actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to:
our inability to improve our brand perception and increase traffic;
we may encounter unexpected costs or delays with our restructuring and cost reduction program or these initiatives may adversely affect our other initiatives and our business, which may impact our ability to achieve anticipated expense savings;
the risks and uncertainties of any potential strategic alternative, including whether any strategic alternative will be identified and, if identified, whether it will be pursued and consummated;
the inherent difficulty in forecasting consumer buying and retail traffic patterns and trends, which continue to be erratic and are affected by factors beyond our control, such as significant weather events, current macroeconomic conditions, high unemployment, continuing heavy promotional activity in the specialty retail marketplace, and competitive conditions and the possibility that because of lower than expected customer response, or because of competitive pricing pressures, we may be required to sell merchandise at lower than expected margins, or at a loss;
the benefits expected from aligning merchandise assortment to our brand strategy may not lead to improvements in our financial performance, may take longer to achieve than we expect, or may not resonate with our customers;
our potential inability to continue to fund our operations without additional sources of financing and maintain compliance with debt covenants if we do not generate sufficient net sales and improve our results of operations;
potential inability to attract and retain key personnel;
with reductions in headcount and tightly controlled expenses, we may experience an increase in demands on our managerial, operational and administrative resources, which may adversely affect our results of operations;
our partnership with Alliance Data Systems may not drive additional sales and create customer loyalty;
difficulties in forecasting consumer demand for our merchandise as a result of changing fashion trends and consumer preferences;
changing business and economic conditions resulting in our inability to realize our sales and earnings expectations;
our potential inability to recover the substantial fixed costs of our retail store base due to sluggish sales, which may result in additional impairment charges;
our revolving line of credit may not be fully available due to borrowing base and other limitations;
delays we may encounter in sourcing merchandise from our foreign and domestic vendors, including the possibility our vendors may not extend us credit on acceptable terms, and the potential inability of our vendors to finance production of the goods we order or meet our production needs due to raw material or labor shortages;
our initiatives to optimize our supply chain capabilities may not lead to reduction of our sourcing costs or improvement in our margins;
marketing initiatives may not be successful in improving the breadth of our customer base, or increasing traffic in the near term, or at all;
the actual number and timing of planned store closures depends on a number of factors that cannot be predicted, including among other things the future performance of our individual stores and negotiations with our landlords;
and such other factors as are discussed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations and speak only as of the date of this release. We do not assume any obligation to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events or changes in our expectations after the date of this release.
Investor Relations Contact:
 
Media Contact:
Stephanie Allen
 
Sharon Stern / Annabelle Rinehart / Joe Berg
Phone: 208-263-2266
 
Joele Frank, Wilkinson BrimmerKatcher
E-mail: stephanie.allen@thecreek.com
 
Phone: 212-355-4449

2



COLDWATER CREEK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except for per share data and store counts)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 2,
2013
 
October 27,
2012
 
November 2,
2013
 
October 27,
2012
Net sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retail
$
120,739

 
$
147,245

 
$
357,137

 
$
408,386

Direct
33,746

 
40,879

 
102,779

 
113,312

Net sales
154,485

 
188,124

 
459,916

 
521,698

Cost of sales
106,330

 
122,059

 
316,757

 
352,722

Gross profit
48,155

 
66,065

 
143,159

 
168,976

Selling, general and administrative expenses
70,832

 
76,106

 
201,756

 
219,299

Loss on asset impairments
2,669

 

 
2,669

 

Loss from operations
(25,346
)
 
(10,041
)
 
(61,266
)
 
(50,323
)
Other loss (gain), net
(7,975
)

6,797

 
(14,533
)
 
5,519

Interest expense, net
3,766

 
3,573

 
10,972

 
5,859

Loss before income taxes
(21,137
)
 
(20,411
)
 
(57,705
)
 
(61,701
)
Income tax provision
2,650

 
115

 
1,880

 
143

Net loss
$
(23,787
)
 
$
(20,526
)
 
$
(59,585
)
 
$
(61,844
)
Net loss per share — Basic and Diluted
$
(0.78
)

$
(0.67
)

$
(1.95
)

$
(2.03
)
Weighted average shares outstanding — Basic and Diluted
30,619

 
30,504

 
30,580

 
30,460

Supplemental Data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Catalogs mailed
14,355

 
15,330

 
28,486

 
39,178

Premium retail stores:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Opened

 
1

 

 
1

Closed
1

 
2

 
6

 
10

Count at end of the fiscal period
343

 
354

 
343

 
354

Square footage
1,952

 
2,026

 
1,952

 
2,026

Factory stores:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Opened
1

 

 
1

 

Closed
1

 

 
3

 

Count at end of the fiscal period
36

 
38

 
36

 
38

Square footage
227

 
255

 
227

 
255

Spas:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Count at end of the fiscal period
7

 
9

 
7

 
9

Square footage
36

 
49

 
36

 
49



3



COLDWATER CREEK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except for per share data)
 
November 2,
2013
 
February 2,
2013
 
October 27,
2012
ASSETS
 

 
 

 
 

Current assets:
 

 
 

 
 

Cash and cash equivalents
$
6,786

 
$
21,734

 
$
31,294

Receivables
7,372

 
5,150

 
8,554

Inventories
152,737

 
125,207

 
161,715

Prepaid and other current assets
18,374

 
17,072

 
13,909

Deferred income taxes
1,021

 
1,252

 
2,819

Total current assets
186,290

 
170,415

 
218,291

Property and equipment, net
141,949

 
169,007

 
180,640

Deferred income taxes

 
2,112

 
2,207

Other assets
3,726

 
4,374

 
4,568

Total assets
$
331,965

 
$
345,908

 
$
405,706

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)


 


 


Current liabilities:


 


 


Accounts payable
$
90,297

 
$
57,891

 
$
91,430

Accrued liabilities
73,788

 
87,915

 
90,060

Current maturities of debt and capital lease obligations
15,624

 
577

 
560

Total current liabilities
179,709

 
146,383

 
182,050

Deferred rents
67,437

 
82,726

 
86,900

Long-term debt and capital lease obligations
69,510

 
63,784

 
61,797

Supplemental executive retirement plan
10,770

 
10,994

 
12,431

Deferred income taxes
1,021

 
699

 
2,512

Other liabilities
24,651

 
4,186

 
4,275

Total liabilities
353,098

 
308,772

 
349,965

Commitments and contingencies


 


 

Stockholders' equity (deficit):


 


 

Preferred stock, $0.01 par value, 1,000 shares authorized; 1, 1 and 1 shares issued, respectively

 

 

Common stock, $0.01 par value, 75,000 shares authorized; 30,630, 30,531 and 30,520 shares issued, respectively
306

 
305

 
305

Additional paid-in capital
154,461

 
153,146

 
152,397

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1,532
)
 
(1,532
)
 
(2,176
)
Accumulated deficit
(174,368
)
 
(114,783
)
 
(94,785
)
Total stockholders' equity (deficit)
(21,133
)
 
37,136

 
55,741

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity (deficit)
$
331,965

 
$
345,908

 
$
405,706



4



COLDWATER CREEK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 2,
2013
 
October 27,
2012
Operating activities:
 

 
 

Net loss
$
(59,585
)
 
$
(61,844
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:


 


Depreciation and amortization
31,506

 
39,037

Non-cash interest expense
6,964

 
3,001

Stock-based compensation expense
1,379

 
1,335

Supplemental executive retirement plan expense
340

 
441

Deferred income taxes and valuation allowance adjustments
2,542

 
(369
)
Deferred credit card program revenue
24,679

 
(702
)
Deferred rents
(16,228
)
 
(15,569
)
Loss (gain) on derivative liability
(14,533
)

4,434

Series A Preferred Stock issuance costs

 
1,086

Net loss on asset dispositions and other termination charges
1,340

 
2,249

Loss on asset impairments
2,669

 

Other
(398
)
 
207

Net change in operating assets and liabilities:


 


Receivables
(1,847
)
 
(1,064
)
Inventories
(27,530
)
 
(29,740
)
Prepaid and other current assets
(1,509
)
 
(4,781
)
Accounts payable
30,202

 
34,965

Accrued liabilities
(3,057
)
 
(7,612
)
Net cash used in operating activities
(23,066
)
 
(34,926
)
Investing activities:


 


Purchase of property and equipment
(7,414
)
 
(14,234
)
Proceeds from asset dispositions
891

 
141

Net cash used in investing activities
(6,523
)
 
(14,093
)
Financing activities:


 


Borrowings on revolving line of credit
28,000

 
10,000

Payments on revolving line of credit
(13,000
)
 
(25,000
)
Proceeds from the issuance of long-term debt

 
65,000

Payments of long-term debt and capital lease obligations
(419
)
 
(15,309
)
Payment of debt and Series A Preferred Stock issuance costs

 
(5,895
)
Other
60

 
152

Net cash provided by financing activities
14,641

 
28,948

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(14,948
)
 
(20,071
)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning
21,734

 
51,365

Cash and cash equivalents, ending
$
6,786

 
$
31,294

Supplemental Cash Flow Data:


 


Interest paid, net of amount capitalized
$
4,024

 
$
2,863

Income taxes paid (refunded), net
$
(354
)
 
$
3,396


5



COLDWATER CREEK INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION OF SELECTED MEASURES
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except for per share data)
 
Three Months Ended
 
Nine Months Ended
 
November 2,
2013
 
October 27,
2012
 
November 2,
2013
 
October 27,
2012
Net loss:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss, as reported
$
(23,787
)
 
$
(20,526
)
 
$
(59,585
)
 
$
(61,844
)
Excluding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss (gain) on derivative liability
(7,975
)
 
6,797

 
(14,533
)
 
4,434

Severance charges
2,305

 

 
2,305

 

Loss on asset impairments
2,669

 

 
2,669

 

Non-cash income tax charge
2,615

 

 
2,615

 

Adjusted net loss
$
(24,173
)
 
$
(13,729
)
 
$
(66,529
)
 
$
(57,410
)
Net loss per share — Basic and Diluted:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss per share — Basic and Diluted, as reported
$
(0.78
)
 
$
(0.67
)
 
$
(1.95
)
 
$
(2.03
)
Excluding:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Loss (gain) on derivative liability
(0.26
)
 
0.22

 
(0.48
)
 
0.15

Severance charges
0.07

 

 
0.07

 

Loss on asset impairments
0.09

 

 
0.09

 

Non-cash income tax charge
0.09

 

 
0.09

 

Adjusted net loss per share — Basic and Diluted
$
(0.79
)
 
$
(0.45
)
 
$
(2.18
)

$
(1.88
)

About Non-GAAP Selected Measures
The Company reports its consolidated financial results in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (GAAP). The accompanying press release dated December 11, 2013, contains non-GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures include adjusted net loss and adjusted net loss per share, which excludes the loss or gain on the derivative liability, severance charges associated with the cost reduction program, loss on asset impairments, and non-cash income tax charge related to a valuation allowance against previously recorded net deferred tax assets. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in conformity with GAAP. Management believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide meaningful supplemental information because they exclude activity that is not included by management when assessing the performance of the Company. The Company may consider whether other significant items that arise in the future should be adjusted from GAAP measures.

6