UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 10-K

 

x		ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2017
OR

o		TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from             to            

Commission file number: 001-33767

 

Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

Delaware		27-1310817
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
3000 John Deere Road, Toano, Virginia		23168
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip Code)

(757) 259-4280

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class		Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share		New York Stock Exchange

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.Yes o No x

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.Yes o No x

Indicate by check mark whether the 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 o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).Yes x No o

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large Accelerated Filer o		Accelerated Filer x		Non-accelerated Filer o (do not check if a smaller reporting company)		Smaller Reporting Company o

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).Yes o No x

As of June 30, 2017, the last business day of the registrant’s most recent second quarter, the aggregate market value of the registrant’s common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant was $688.3 million based on the closing sale price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange.

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock as of February 15, 2018:

Title of Class		Number of Shares
Common Stock, $0.001 par value		28,490,229

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

Part III incorporates certain information by reference from the registrant’s proxy statement for the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders, which will be filed no later than 120 days after the close of the registrant’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2017.

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LUMBER LIQUIDATORS HOLDINGS, INC.
ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K
 
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		Page
Cautionary note regarding forward-looking statements			1
PART I
Item 1. Business			3
Item 1A. Risk Factors			8
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments			17
Item 2. Properties			17
Item 3. Legal Proceedings			18
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures			24
PART II
Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities			25
Item 6. Selected Financial Data			27
Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations			29
Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk			43
Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data			44
Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure			74
Item 9A. Controls and Procedures			74
Item 9B. Other Information			75
PART III
Item 10. Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance			76
Item 11. Executive Compensation			76
Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters			76
Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence			76
Item 14. Principal Accountant Fees and Services			76
PART IV
Item 15. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedules			77
Item 16. Form 10-K Summary			77
Signatures			79

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT

This report includes statements of the Company’s expectations, intentions, plans and beliefs that constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meanings of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which may be identified by words such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “thinks,” “estimates,” “seeks,” “predicts,” “could,” “projects,” “potential” and other similar terms and phrases, are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management, as well as assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company’s management as of the date of such statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. These risks include, without limitation, the impact on us of any of the following:

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The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these statements, which speak only as of the dates on which such statements are made, except as may be required under the federal securities laws. These risks and other factors include those listed in this Item 1A. “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report.

References to “we,” “our,” “us,” “the Company” and “Lumber Liquidators” generally refers to Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries collectively and, where applicable, individually.

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PART I

Item 1. Business.

Overview

Lumber Liquidators is the largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring in North America, offering a complete purchasing solution across an extensive assortment of domestic and exotic hardwood species, engineered hardwood, laminate, resilient vinyl, engineered vinyl plank, bamboo, engineered bamboo, cork and wood-look ceramic tile. We operate as a single business segment, with our call center, website and customer service network supporting our retail store operations.

We believe we have achieved a reputation for offering great value, superior service and a broad selection of high-quality hard-surface flooring products. With a balance of selection, quality, availability, service and price, we believe our value proposition is the most complete within a highly fragmented hard-surface flooring market. The foundation for our value proposition is strengthened by our unique store model, the industry expertise of our people, and our singular focus on hard-surface flooring.

Lumber Liquidators is a Delaware corporation with its headquarters in Toano, Virginia. We were founded in 1994 and our initial public offering was in November 2007. Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “LL.” We operate in a holding company structure with Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. serving as our parent company and certain direct and indirect subsidiaries, including Lumber Liquidators, Inc., Lumber Liquidators Services, LLC, Lumber Liquidators Production, LLC, and Lumber Liquidators Canada ULC, conducting our operations.

Our Business

Market

According to the July 2017 Issue of Floor Covering Weekly, U.S. installed floor covering product sales in 2016 were $38.5 billion, not including labor. Within this market, U.S. hardwood, laminate and vinyl flooring sales accounted for 37.7% of the total. Flooring sales are driven by a number of factors including discretionary income and the housing market. Including installation, the overall flooring industry has grown at a compound annual growth rate of 5.6% from 2011 through 2016. Over the same period, hardwood, laminate and vinyl flooring sales, including the cost of installation grew at a compound annual growth rate of 8.5%. We believe improvements in the quality and construction of certain products, ease of installation, a broad range of retail price points, and movement away from soft surfaces will drive continued hard surface flooring share gain versus soft surface flooring in the future.

Competition

We compete for customers in a highly fragmented marketplace, where we believe no one retailer has captured more than a 16% share of the consumer market for hardwood flooring. Although the market includes the national home improvement warehouse chains, warehouse clubs and online retailers, we believe the majority of the industry consists of local one-store flooring retailers, small chains of stores that may specialize in one or two flooring categories and a limited number of regional chains.

Customers

We target several distinct customer groups who each have varied needs with respect to their flooring purchases, including do-it-yourself (“DIY”) customers, do-it-for-me (“DIFM”) customers, and commercial customers. We believe that each of the customer groups we serve is passionate about their flooring purchase and value our wide assortment of flooring products, availability, and the quality of those products. While our offering to each of these groups begins with the same broad assortment, convenient stores, and knowledgeable store associates, each of these customer groups require unique service components based on the ability of our associates to share detailed product knowledge and preferred installation methods. We offer DIFM customers installation services, while our DIY and commercial customers receive more personal attention when completing their purchase, including dedicated call center resources. All customer groups are offered delivery services.

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Products and Services

Product Selection

We offer an extensive assortment of hard surface flooring under more than 20 proprietary brand names, led by our flagship, Bellawood®. We have invested significant resources developing these national brand names, as well as the Lumber Liquidators name. Our hard surface flooring products are available in various widths and lengths and are generally differentiated in terms of quality and price based on wood versus manufactured materials, the species, wood grade and durability of finish. Prefinished floors are the dominant choice for residential customers over unfinished wood planks that have a finish applied after installation. We also offer an assortment of flooring enhancements, installation services and accessories, including moldings, underlays and tools.

Direct Sourcing

We source directly from mills and other vendors which enables us to offer a broad assortment of high-quality, proprietary products to our customers at a consistently low cost. We seek to establish strong, long-term relationships with our vendor partners around the world. In doing so, we look for vendors that have demonstrated an ability to meet our demanding specifications, our rigorous compliance standards and the capability to provide sustainable and growing supplies of high-quality innovative, trend-right products. We source from both domestic and international vendors, with approximately half of our merchandise being sourced from overseas.

Supply Chain

Our supply chain is wholly focused on delivering a complete assortment of products to our customers in an efficient manner. In the first quarter of 2014, we began operating a 500,000 square foot leased distribution center in Pomona, California as the primary distribution center for our western stores. In 2014, we completed construction of a million square foot distribution center on approximately 100 acres of land we own in Henrico County, Virginia to consolidate the distribution facilities. This facility was fully operational in 2015. A number of our vendors maintain certain inventory levels for shipment directly to our stores or our customers. Our product is generally transported boxed and palletized, and the weight of our product is a key driver of our supply chain costs.

Compliance and Quality Control

Our compliance programs are designed to ensure the products we sell are safe and responsibly sourced, and meet all regulatory and statutory requirements, including without limitation requirements associated with the Lacey Act, EPA and the California Air Resources Board (“CARB”). We utilize a variety of due diligence processes and controls, including supplier audits, periodic on-site visits, and product testing. We utilize a risk-based approach to implement and operate the various aspects of our compliance program. Our compliance program considers, among other things, product risk, the level of vertical integration at our suppliers’ mills, legality concerns noted by both private and government parties, and the results of on-site audits performed by us. Our evaluation of sourcing risk is a key component in our allocation of resources to ensure we meet our standards for product compliance and safety. Compliance and Quality Control teams located in the United States and in China are supplemented with external resources that provide independent analyses which are incorporated into our review processes and monitor our sourcing efforts across all areas from which we source product. Compliance programs are continually under review, updated and enhanced as appropriate to stay current with statutory and regulatory requirements. Our compliance and regulatory affairs committee of the board of directors provides oversight of our compliance programs.

Additionally, we maintain and operate a 1,500 square foot lab within our East Coast distribution facility. The lab features two temperature and humidity controlled conditioning rooms and two emission chambers correlated to a CARB-approved Third Party Certifier standard. We believe this equipment mirrors the capabilities of CARB and other state-of-the-art emission testing facilities. This lab, along with our third-party providers, supports our process to ensure compliance with CARB and EPA requirements.

Installation

Approximately one in 10 of our customers opt to utilize the professional installation services which we make available at virtually all of our stores to measure and install flooring at competitive prices. As of

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December 31, 2017, we utilized a network of associates to perform certain customer-facing, consultative services and coordinated the installation of our flooring products by third-party independent contractors in 391 of our stores. Service revenue for installation transactions we control is included in net sales, with the corresponding costs in cost of sales. We believe our greater interaction with the customer and better relationships with the third-party independent contractors on services provided will ultimately result in a better customer experience and higher utilization by the customer.

Store Model

As of December 31, 2017, we operated 393 retail stores, with 385 located in 46 states in the United States and eight in Ontario, Canada. We historically have sought locations with lower rent than retailers requiring high traffic or impulse purchases and are able to adapt a range of existing buildings to our format, from free-standing buildings to strip centers to small shopping centers. Generally, our stores are approximately 6,500 to 7,500 square feet, which includes a showroom format designed to emphasize our products, and a small warehouse. We enter into short leases, generally for a base term of five to seven years with renewal options, to maximize our real estate flexibility.

We routinely evaluate our store site selection criteria and are currently targeting retail corridors within a market over the more industrial locations we historically sought. We consistently monitor performance of current stores as well as the market opportunity for new locations, adjusting as needed to optimize the profitability and growth potential of our network.

Sales Approach

We strive to have an integrated multi-channel sales model that enables our stores, call center, website and catalogs to work together in a coordinated manner. We believe that due to the average size of the sale and the general infrequency of a flooring purchase, many of our customers conduct extensive research using multiple channels before making a purchase decision. Though our customers utilize a range of these channels in the decision-making process, the final sale is most often completed in the store, working with our flooring experts. Our customers typically plan well in advance for the inconvenience of removing old flooring and installing new flooring. In larger, more complex projects, greater lead time and preparation is often required. Our research indicates that the length of a hardwood flooring purchase can vary significantly from initial interest to final sale.

Our objective is to help the customer through the entire purchase cycle from inspiration to installation, whether in our store or in their home. Our goal is to provide our customers with everything needed to complete their flooring project — to remove the existing floor, install the new floor with complementary moldings and accessories, and finally, maintain the floor for its lifetime.

Our sales strategy emphasizes customer service by providing superior, convenient, educational tools for our customers to learn about our products and the installation process. We invest heavily in training our store associates on all of our products and install techniques. Flooring samples of most of the products we offer are available in our stores, or can be ordered through our call center and website. Once an order is placed, customers may choose to either have their purchases delivered or pick them up at a nearby store location.

We are committed to responding to our potential and existing customers in a timely manner. Our call center is staffed by flooring experts cross-trained in sales, customer service and product support. In addition to receiving telephone calls, our call center associates chat online with visitors to our website, respond to emails from our customers and engage in telemarketing activities. Customers can contact our call center to place an order, to make an inquiry or to order a catalog.

Knowledgeable Salespeople

We believe a large segment of residential homeowners are in need of a trusted expert, whether as a guide through a range of flooring alternatives and services or as a resource to both DIY and DIFM customers. We train and position our store management and associates to establish these individual customer relationships, which often last beyond the current purchase to subsequent purchases of additional flooring.

We place an emphasis on identifying, hiring and empowering employees who share a passion for our business philosophy. Many of our store managers have previous experience with the home improvement, retail

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flooring or flooring installation industries. We provide continuous training focused on selling techniques and in-depth product knowledge for our store associates, who, we believe, are a key driver in a customer’s purchasing decision.

Digital/Omni-Channel

Our website contains a broad range of information on our products and services, including a comprehensive knowledge base of tools on wood flooring, product reviews, before and after photos from previous customers, product information and how-to installation videos. A customer also has the ability to chat live with a flooring expert, either online or over the phone, regarding questions about a flooring purchase or installation. We continue to develop several new and responsive mobile, tablet and website functionality to assist customers with their flooring choice, and to ensure these tools are effective as the customer moves across channels. We also have an active presence on Facebook, Pinterest, YouTube and Twitter.

Advertising and Financing

Advertising: We utilize a mix of traditional and online media, ecommerce, direct mail, social media, and financing offers to emphasize product credibility, value, brand awareness, customer education and direct selling. We increase brand awareness in a variety of ways, including through sports, celebrity endorsements and product placement opportunities. Overall, we actively manage the mix of our media to efficiently drive sales while building brand awareness of our value proposition.

Financing: We offer our residential customers a financing alternative through a proprietary credit card, the Lumber Liquidators credit card, underwritten by a third-party financial institution, generally with no recourse to us. This program serves the dual function of providing financial flexibility to our customers and offering us promotional opportunities featuring deferred interest, which we often combine with product promotions. Our customers may also use their Lumber Liquidators credit card for installation services. We also offer our commercial customers a financing alternative, which is also underwritten by a third-party financial institution, generally at no recourse to us. The commercial credit program provides our professional customers a range of additional services that we believe add efficiency to their businesses.

Employees

As of December 31, 2017, we had approximately 2,100 employees, 96% of whom were full-time and none of whom were represented by a union. Of these employees, 71% work in our stores, 18% work in corporate store support infrastructure or similar functions (including our call center employees) and 11% work either on our finishing line or in one of our distribution centers. We believe that we have good relations with our employees.

Seasonality and Quarterly Results

Our quarterly results of operations can fluctuate depending on the timing of our advertising expenses and the timing of, and income contributed by, our new stores. Our net sales fluctuate slightly as a result of seasonal factors, and we adjust merchandise inventories in anticipation of those factors, causing variations in our build of merchandise inventories. Generally, we experience higher than average net sales in the spring and fall, when more home remodeling activities typically are taking place, and lower than average net sales in the colder winter months and during the hottest summer months.

Intellectual Property and Trademarks

We have a number of marks registered in the United States, including Lumber Liquidators®, Hardwood Floors For Less!®, Bellawood®, 1-800-HARDWOOD®, Quickclic®, Virginia Mill Works Co. Hand Scraped and Distressed Floors®, Morning Star Bamboo Flooring®, Dream Home Laminate Floors®, Builder’s Pride®, Schön Engineered Floors®, Casa de Colour Collection®, Avella®, Coreluxe® and other product line names. We have also registered certain marks in jurisdictions outside the United States, including the European Union, Canada, China, Australia and Japan. We regard our intellectual property as having significant value and these names are an important factor in the marketing of our brands. Accordingly, we take steps intended to protect our intellectual property including, where necessary, the filing of lawsuits and administrative actions to enforce our rights.

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Government Regulation

We are subject to extensive and varied federal, provincial, state and local government regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate, including laws and regulations relating to our relationships with our employees and customers, public health and safety, zoning, accommodations for persons with disabilities, and fire codes. We are also subject to a number of compliance obligations pursuant to various settlement agreements we have entered into over the past few years. We operate each of our stores, offices, finishing facility and distribution centers in accordance with standards and procedures designed to comply with applicable laws, codes, licensing requirements and regulations. Certain of our operations and properties are also subject to federal, provincial, state and local laws and regulations relating to the use, storage, handling, generation, transportation, treatment, emission, release, discharge and disposal of hazardous materials, substances and wastes and relating to the investigation and cleanup of contaminated properties, including off-site disposal locations. We do not currently incur significant costs complying with the laws and regulations related to hazardous materials. However, we could be subject to material costs, liabilities or claims relating to compliance in the future, especially in the event of changes in existing laws and regulations or in their interpretation, as well as the passage of new laws and regulations.

Our suppliers are subject to the laws and regulations of their home countries, as well as those relative to the import of their products into the United States, including, in particular, laws regulating labor, forestry and the environment. Our suppliers are subject to periodic compliance audits, onsite visits and other reviews, as appropriate, in efforts to ensure that they are in compliance with all laws and regulations. We also support social and environmental responsibility among our supplier community and our suppliers agree to comply with our expectations concerning environmental, labor and health and safety matters. Those expectations include representations and warranties that our suppliers comply with the laws, rules and regulations of the countries in which they operate.

Products that we import into the United States and Canada are subject to laws and regulations imposed in conjunction with such importation, including those issued and/or enforced by U.S. Customs and Border Protection and the Canadian Border Services Agency. In addition, certain of our products are subject to laws and regulations relating to the importation, acquisition or sale of illegally harvested plants and plant products and the emissions of hazardous materials. We work closely with our suppliers to address the applicable laws and regulations in these areas.

Available Information

We maintain a website at www.lumberliquidators.com. The information on or available through our website is not, and should not be considered, a part of this annual report on Form 10-K. You may access our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports, as well as other reports relating to us that are filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) free of charge on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or furnished to, the SEC. In addition, you may read and copy any materials we file with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, DC 20549. Information on the operation of the Public Reference Room may be obtained by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet site, www.sec.gov, which contains reports, proxy and information statements, and other information that we file electronically with the SEC.

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Item 1A. Risk Factors.

The risks described below could materially and adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows. These risks are not the only risks that we face. Our business operations could also be affected by additional factors that apply generally to companies operating in the U.S. and globally, as well as other risks that are not presently known to us or that we currently consider to be immaterial.

Risks Related to Our Operations

Unfavorable allegations, government investigations and legal actions surrounding our products or us could harm our reputation and impair our ability to grow or sustain our business.

We rely on our reputation for offering great value, superior service and a broad selection of high-quality, safe flooring products. We are currently involved in a number of government investigations and legal actions, many of which have resulted from unfavorable allegations regarding our products and us. Negative publicity surrounding these government investigations and legal actions could continue to harm our reputation and the demand for our products. Additional unfavorable allegations, government investigations and legal actions involving our products and us could also affect our perception in the market and our brands and negatively impact our business and financial condition. For instance, unfavorable allegations surrounding the product quality of our laminates sourced from China has negatively affected and could continue to negatively affect our operations. If this negative impact is significant, our ability to maintain our liquidity and grow or sustain our business could be jeopardized.

We are involved in a number of legal proceedings and, while we cannot predict the outcomes of these proceedings and other contingencies with certainty, some of the outcomes of these proceedings could adversely affect our business and financial condition.

We are, or may become, involved in legal proceedings, government and agency investigations, and consumer, employment, tort and other litigation (see discussion of Legal Proceedings in Item 3 of this Annual Report). We cannot predict with certainty the outcomes of these legal proceedings. The outcome of some of these legal proceedings could require us to take actions which could be costly to implement or otherwise negatively affect our operations or could require us to pay substantial amounts of money that could have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, financial condition and results of operations and could affect our ability to obtain capital or access our revolving line of credit and continue as a going concern. Additionally, defending against lawsuits and legal proceedings may involve significant expense and diversion of management’s attention and resources.

Our overall compliance program, including the Lacey Compliance Plan, is complex and costly to maintain. A failure to manage these programs could adversely affect our ability to conduct business, result in significant fines and other penalties, damage our brand and reputation, and, consequently, negatively impact our financial position and results of operations.

As disclosed on October 7, 2015, we reached a settlement with the United States Department of Justice (“DOJ”) regarding our compliance with the Lacey Act. In connection with that settlement, we agreed to implement the Lacey Compliance Plan and we are subject to a probation period of five years. Our implementation of the Lacey Compliance Plan, together with requirements resulting from other settlement agreements we have entered into over the past few years, is costly and, if the implementation costs are more than we anticipate, could adversely affect our operating results. In the event we fail to fully implement the Lacey Compliance Plan as required and in accordance with set deadlines, the government may require us to cease the importation of hardwood flooring from China until the DOJ determines that the Lacey Compliance Plan has been satisfactorily implemented. If we have to cease the importation of hardwood flooring, our ability to operate would be substantially harmed and our business, including our results of operations, would be adversely affected. Further, the failure to properly manage our overall compliance program and fully comply with the obligations imposed upon us by these various settlement agreements or implement any of the compliance requirements arising from these obligations could adversely affect our ability to conduct business, result in significant fines and other penalties, damage our brand and reputation and negatively impact our financial position and results of operations.

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Federal, provincial, state or local laws and regulations, or our failure to comply with such laws and regulations, and our obligations under certain settlement agreements related to our products could increase our expenses, restrict our ability to conduct our business and expose us to legal risks.

We are subject to a wide range of general and industry-specific laws and regulations imposed by federal, provincial, state and local authorities in the countries in which we operate, including those related to customs, foreign operations (such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act), truth-in-advertising, consumer protection, privacy, zoning and occupancy matters as well as the operation of retail stores and warehouse, production and distribution facilities and provision of installation services. In addition, various federal, provincial and state laws govern our relationship with and other matters pertaining to our employees, including wage and hour-related laws. If we fail to comply with these laws and regulations, we could be subject to legal risk, our operations could be impacted negatively and our reputation could be damaged. Likewise, if such laws and regulations should change, our costs of compliance may increase, thereby impacting our results and hurting our profitability.

Certain portions of our operations are subject to laws and regulations governing hazardous materials and wastes, the remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater and the health and safety of employees. If we are unable to comply with, extend or renew a material approval, license or permit required by such laws, or if there is a delay in renewing any material approval, license or permit, our net sales and operating results could deteriorate or otherwise cause harm to our business.

With regard to our products, we spend significant resources in order to comply with applicable advertising, importation, exportation, environmental and health and safety laws and regulations. If we should violate these laws and regulations, we could experience delays in shipments of our goods, be subject to fines, penalties, criminal charges, or other legal risks, be liable for costs and damages, or suffer reputational harm, which could reduce demand for our merchandise and hurt our business and results of operations. Further, if such laws and regulations should change we may experience increased costs in order to adhere to the new standards. We are also subject to a number of settlement agreements that impose certain obligations on us with respect to the operation of our business. If we fail to comply with these obligations, we may experience additional costs and expenses and could be subject to additional legal risks.

The effect of comprehensive U.S. tax reform legislation on us, whether adverse or favorable, is uncertain.

In December of 2017, President Trump signed into law the Tax Act. Among a number of significant changes to the U.S. federal income tax rules, the Tax Act reduces the marginal U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21%, limits the deduction for net interest expense, shifts the United States toward a more territorial tax system, and imposes new rules to combat erosion of the U.S. federal income tax base. We are still evaluating the effects of the Tax Act on us and there are a number of uncertainties and ambiguities as to the interpretation and application of many of the provisions in the Tax Act. In the absence of guidance on these issues, we will use what we believe are reasonable interpretations and assumptions in interpreting and applying the Tax Act for purposes of determining our cash tax liabilities and results of operations, which may change as we receive additional clarification and implementation guidance and as the interpretation of the Tax Act evolves over time. It is possible that the Internal Revenue Service could issue subsequent guidance or take positions on audit that differ from the interpretations and assumptions that we previously made, which could have an adverse effect on our cash tax liabilities, results of operations and financial condition. As we collect and prepare necessary data, and interpret the Tax Act and any additional guidance issued by the IRS or other standard-setting bodies, we may make adjustments to the provisional amounts that could materially affect our financial position and results of operations as well as our effective tax rate in the period in which the adjustments are made.

Our growth strategy depends in part on our ability to open new stores and is subject to many unpredictable factors.

As of December 31, 2017, we had 393 stores throughout the United States and Canada. Assuming the continued success of our store model and satisfaction of our internal criteria, we plan to continue our selective approach to future openings over the next several years. This growth strategy and the investment associated

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with the development of each new store may cause our operating results to fluctuate and be unpredictable or decrease our profits. Our future results and ability to implement our growth strategy will depend on various factors, including the following:

Failure to manage our growth effectively could harm our business and operating results.

Our plans call for our selective approach in the addition of new stores over the next several years, and increased orders from our website, call center and catalogs. Our existing management information systems, including our store management systems, compliance procedures and financial and reporting controls, may be unable to support our expansion. Managing our growth effectively will require us to continue to enhance these systems, procedures and controls and to hire, train and retain regional and store managers and personnel for our compliance and financial and reporting departments. We may not respond quickly enough to the changing demands that our expansion will impose on us. Any failure to manage our growth effectively could harm our business and operating results.

Increased transportation costs could harm our results of operations.

The efficient transportation of our products through our supply chain is a critical component of our operations. If the cost of fuel or other costs, such as import tariffs, duties and international container rates, rise, it could result in increases in our cost of sales due to additional transportation charges and fees. Additionally, there are a limited number of delivery companies capable of efficiently transporting our products from our suppliers. Consolidation within this industry could result in increased transportation costs. The number of qualified drivers may also be an issue. We may be unable to increase the price of our products to offset increased transportation charges, which could cause our operating results to deteriorate.

Damage, destruction or disruption of our Toano, Virginia facility or distribution centers could significantly impact our operations and impede our ability to finish and distribute certain of our products.

Our Toano, Virginia facility serves as our corporate headquarters and, among other things, houses our primary computer systems, which control our management information and inventory management systems. In addition, in 2017, we finished approximately 85% of all Bellawood products, as well as small quantities of certain other products, there. In 2017, Bellawood flooring accounted for approximately 10% of our net sales. If the Toano, Virginia facility or equipment were damaged or destroyed, it could harm our operations, cause significant lost production and impact our ability to fulfill customer demand.

Further, if either of our distribution centers or our inventory held in those locations were damaged or destroyed by fire, wood infestation or other causes, our distribution processes would be disrupted, which could cause significant delays in delivery. This could impede our ability to stock our stores and deliver products to our customers, and cause our net sales and operating results to deteriorate.

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The operation of stores in Canada and our representative office in China may present increased legal and operational risks.

We currently operate eight store locations in Canada. As a result of our limited penetration in the Canadian market, these stores may continue to be less successful than we expect. Additionally, investments in advertising and promotional activity may be required to continue to build brand awareness in that market.

We also have established a representative office in Shanghai, China to facilitate our product sourcing in Asia. We have limited experience with the legal and regulatory environments and market practices outside of the United States and cannot guarantee that we will be able to operate profitably in these markets or in a manner and with results similar to those in the United States. We may also incur increased costs in complying with applicable Canadian and Chinese laws and regulations as they pertain to both our products and our operations. Further, if we fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, we could be subject to, among other things, litigation and government and agency investigations.

Failure to effectively manage our third-party installers may present increased legal and operational risks.

We manage third-party installers who provide installation services to some of our customers. In some of these jurisdictions, we are subject to regulatory requirements and risks applicable to general contractors, which include management of licensing, permitting and quality of our third-party installers. We have established procedures designed to manage these requirements and ensure customer satisfaction with the services provided by our third-party installers. If we fail to manage these procedures effectively or provide proper oversight of these services, we may be subject to regulatory enforcement and litigation and our net sales and our profitability and reputation could be harmed.

Our founder is the lessor on a significant number of our leases and the satisfactory renewal of these as each comes due is a risk to our occupancy costs and store count.

As of December 31, 2017, we lease our Toano facility, which includes a store location, a warehouse and 29 of our other store locations from entities owned, in whole or in part, by Tom Sullivan, our founder. Although our percentage of total stores leased from such entities has decreased, this concentration of leases subjects us to the risk of increased costs or reduction of store count in the event of an adverse action or inaction by Mr. Sullivan or such entities. Mr. Sullivan no longer serves as an employee or as a director of the Company.

Risks Related to Our Suppliers, Products and Product Sourcing

Failure to identify and develop relationships with a sufficient number of qualified suppliers could affect our ability to obtain products that meet our high quality standards.

We purchase flooring directly from mills located around the world. We believe that these direct supplier relationships are important to our business. In order to retain the competitive advantage that we believe results from these relationships, we need to continue to identify, develop and maintain relationships with qualified suppliers that can satisfy our high standards for quality and our requirements for the delivery of hardwood in a timely and efficient manner. We expect the need to develop new relationships to be particularly important as we seek to expand our operations, enhance our product offerings, and expand our product assortment and geographic source of origin in the future. Any inability to do so could reduce our competitiveness, slow our plans for further expansion and cause our net sales and operating results to deteriorate.

We rely on a concentrated number of suppliers for a significant portion of our supply needs. We generally do not have long-term contracts with our suppliers. In the future, our suppliers may be unable to supply us, or supply us on acceptable terms, due to various factors, which could include political instability in the supplier’s country, insufficient production capacity, product line failures, collusion, a supplier’s financial instability, inability or refusal to comply with applicable laws, trade restrictions, tariffs or our standards, duties, insufficient transport capacity and other factors beyond our control. In these circumstances, we could experience deterioration in our net sales and operating results.

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The failure of our suppliers to comply with applicable laws, use ethical practices, and meet our quality standards could result in our suspending purchasing from them, negatively impacting net sales, and could expose us to reputational and legal risks.

While our suppliers agree to operate in compliance with applicable laws and regulations, we do not control our suppliers. Accordingly, despite our continued investment in quality control, we cannot guarantee that they comply with such laws and regulations or operate in a legal, ethical and responsible manner. While we monitor our suppliers’ adherence to our quality standards, there is no guarantee that we will be able to identify non-compliance. Moreover, the failure of our suppliers to adhere to applicable legal requirements and the quality standards that we set for our products could lead to government investigations, litigation, write-offs and recalls, which could damage our reputation and our brands, increase our costs, and otherwise hurt our business.

Product liability claims could adversely affect our reputation which could adversely affect our net sales and profitability.

We face the risk of exposure to product liability claims in the event that the use of our products is alleged to have resulted in economic loss, personal injury or property damage or violated environmental or other laws. In the event that any of our products proves to be defective or otherwise in violation of applicable law, we may be required to recall or redesign such products. Further, in such instances, we may be subject to legal action. We maintain insurance against some forms of product liability claims, but such coverage may not be available or adequate for the liabilities actually incurred. A successful claim brought against us in excess of available insurance coverage, or any claim or product recall that results in significant adverse publicity against us, may have a material adverse effect on our net sales and operating results.

Our ability and cost to obtain products from abroad and the operations of many of our international suppliers are subject to risks that are beyond our control and that could harm our operations and profitability.

We rely on a select group of international suppliers to provide us with imported flooring products that meet our specifications. In 2017, our imported product was sourced from Asia, Europe, Australia and South America. As a result, we are subject to risks associated with obtaining products from abroad, including:

These and other factors beyond our control could disrupt the ability of our suppliers to ship certain products to us cost-effectively or at all, which could harm our operations.

Our ability to offer hardwood flooring, particularly products made of more exotic species of hardwood, depends on the continued availability of sufficient suitable hardwood at reasonable cost.

Our business strategy depends on offering a wide assortment of hardwood flooring to our customers. We sell flooring made from species ranging from domestic maple, oak and pine to imported cherry, koa, mahogany and teak. Some of these species are scarce, and we cannot be assured of their continued availability. Our ability to obtain an adequate volume and quality of hard-to-find species depends on our

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suppliers’ ability to furnish those species, which, in turn, could be affected by many things including events such as forest fires, insect infestation, tree diseases, prolonged drought and other adverse weather and climate conditions. Government regulations relating to forest management practices also affect our suppliers’ ability to harvest or export timber, and changes to regulations and forest management policies, or the implementation of new laws or regulations, could impede their ability to do so. If our suppliers cannot deliver sufficient hardwood and we cannot find replacement suppliers, our net sales and operating results may be negatively impacted.

The cost of the various species of hardwood that are used in our products is important to our profitability. Hardwood lumber costs fluctuate as a result of a number of factors including changes in domestic and international supply and demand, labor costs, competition, market speculation, product availability, environmental restrictions, government regulation and trade policies, duties, weather conditions, processing and freight costs, and delivery delays and disruptions. We generally do not have long-term supply contracts or guaranteed purchase amounts. As a result, we may not be able to anticipate or react to changing hardwood costs by adjusting our purchasing practices, and we may not always be able to increase the selling prices of our products in response to increases in supply costs. If we cannot address changing hardwood costs appropriately, it could cause our operating results to deteriorate.

Risks Related to Economic Factors and Our Access to Capital

Cyclicality in the home flooring industry, coupled with our lack of diversity in our lines of business, could cause volatility and risk to our business.

The hardwood flooring industry is highly dependent on the remodeling of existing homes and new home construction. Remodeling and new home construction are cyclical and depend on a number of factors which are beyond our control, including interest rates, tax policy, employment levels, consumer confidence, credit availability, real estate prices, demographic trends, weather conditions, natural disasters and general economic conditions. For example, discretionary consumer spending could be limited, spending on remodeling of existing homes could be reduced and purchases of new homes could decline if:

In the event of a decrease in discretionary spending, home remodeling activity or new home construction, demand for our products, including hardwood flooring, could be impacted negatively and our business and operating results could be harmed.

Our insurance coverage and self-insurance reserves may not cover existing or future claims.

We maintain various insurance policies, including directors and officers insurance:

With the large number of pending cases and government investigations, we may be required to defend ourself, our officers, directors and former employees and we may be subject to financial harm in the event such cases or investigations are adversely determined and insurance coverage will not, or is not sufficient to, cover any related losses.

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For policies under which we are responsible for losses, we record a liability that represents our estimated cost of claims incurred and unpaid as of the balance sheet date. Unanticipated changes may produce materially different amounts of expense than those recorded, which could adversely impact our operating results. Additionally, our recent experience could limit our ability to obtain satisfactory insurance coverage, subjecting us to further loss, or could require significantly increased premiums.

The inability to access our credit facility or other sources of capital, could cause our financial position, liquidity, and results of operations to suffer.

We have relied on a bank credit facility to fund seasonal needs for working capital. Our access to this facility depends on our ability to meet the conditions for borrowing, including that all representations are true and correct at the time of the borrowing. Our failure to meet these requirements or obtain alternative sources of capital could impact:

Risks Related to Our Information Technology

We may incur costs and losses resulting from security risks we face in connection with our electronic processing, transmission and storage of confidential customer information.

We accept electronic payment cards for payment in our stores and through our call center. In addition, our online operations depend upon the secure transmission of confidential information over public networks, including information permitting cashless payments. As a result, we may become subject to claims for purportedly fraudulent transactions arising out of the actual or alleged theft of credit or debit card information, and we may also be subject to lawsuits or other proceedings relating to these types of incidents. Further, a compromise of our security systems that results in our customers’ personal information being obtained by unauthorized persons could adversely affect our reputation with our customers and others, as well as our operations, results of operations and financial condition, and could result in litigation against us or the imposition of penalties. A security breach could also require that we expend significant additional resources related to the security of information systems and could result in a disruption of our operations, particularly our online sales operations.

Additionally, privacy and information security laws and regulations change, and compliance with them may result in cost increases due to necessary systems changes and the development of new administrative processes. If we fail to comply with these laws and regulations or experience a data security breach, our reputation could be damaged, possibly resulting in lost future business, and we could be subjected to additional legal risk as a result of non-compliance.

If our management information systems, including our website or our call center, experience disruptions, it could disrupt our business and reduce our net sales.

We depend on our management information systems to integrate the activities of our stores, website and call center, to process orders, to respond to customer inquiries, to manage inventory, to purchase merchandise and to sell and ship goods on a timely basis. We may experience operational problems with our information systems as a result of system failures, viruses, computer “hackers” or other causes. We may incur significant expenses in order to repair any such operational problems. Any significant disruption or slowdown of our systems could cause information, including data related to customer orders, to be lost or delayed, which could result in delays in the delivery of products to our stores and customers or lost sales. Moreover, our entire corporate network, including our telephone lines, is on an Internet-based network, which is vulnerable to certain risks and uncertainties, including changes in required technology interfaces, website downtime and other technical failures, security breaches and customer privacy concerns. Accordingly, if our network is disrupted or if we cannot successfully maintain our website and call center in good working order, we may experience delayed communications within our operations and between our customers and ourselves, and may not be able to communicate at all via our network, including via telephones connected to our network.

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Alternative e-commerce and online shopping offerings may erode our customer base and adversely affect our business.

Our long-term future depends heavily upon the general public’s willingness to use our stores as a means to purchase goods. In recent years, e-commerce has become more widely accepted as a means of purchasing consumer goods and services, which could adversely impact customer traffic in our stores. Additionally, certain of our competitors offer alternative e-commerce and online shopping. If consumers use alternative e-commerce and online shopping offerings to conduct business as opposed to our store locations, it could materially adversely impact our net sales and operating results.

Risks Relating to Our Competitive Positioning

A tarnished brand or ineffectiveness of our advertising strategy could result in reduced customer traffic, thereby impacting net sales and profitability.

We believe that our growth thus far was achieved in part through our successful investment in local and national advertising. Historically, we have used extensive advertising to encourage customers to drive to our stores, which were generally located some distance from population centers in areas that have lower rents than traditional retail locations. Further, a significant portion of our advertising was directed at the DIY and DIFM customers. While our marketing strategy continues to support these strategies, we have broadened the reach and frequency of our advertising to increase the awareness of our value proposition and the number of customers served. If there is are negative perceptions about our brand to our customers, our advertisements fail to draw customers in the future, or if the cost of advertising or other marketing materials increases significantly, we could experience declines in our net sales and operating results.

We may not be able to successfully anticipate consumer trends and our failure to do so may adversely impact our net sales and profitability.

As part of our business proposition, it is important for us to anticipate and respond to changing preferences and consumer demands in a timely manner. If we fail to identify and respond to emerging trends, consumer acceptance of the merchandise in our stores and our image with our customers may be harmed, which could reduce customer traffic in our stores and adversely affect our net sales. Moreover, consumer demand within our mix of products may shift and such change may negatively impact our inventory, net sales and operating results.

Competition could cause price declines, decrease demand for our products and decrease our market share.

We operate in the wood flooring industry, which is highly fragmented and competitive. We face significant competition from national and regional home improvement chains, national and regional specialty flooring chains, Internet-based companies and privately owned single-site enterprises. We compete on the basis of price, customer service, store location and the range, quality and availability of the hardwood flooring that we offer our customers. If our positioning with regard to one or more of these factors should erode, deteriorate, fail to resonate with consumers or misalign with demand or expectations, our business and results may be impacted negatively.

Our competitive position is also influenced by the availability, quality and cost of merchandise, labor costs, finishing, distribution and sales efficiencies and our productivity compared to that of our competitors. Further, as we expand into new and unfamiliar markets, we may face different competitive environments than in the past. Likewise, as we continue to enhance and develop our product offerings, we may experience new competitive conditions.

Some of our competitors are larger organizations, have existed longer, are more diversified in the products they offer and have a more established market presence with substantially greater financial, marketing, personnel and other resources than we have. In addition, our competitors may forecast market developments more accurately than we do, develop products that are superior to ours or produce similar products at a lower cost, or adapt more quickly to new technologies or evolving customer requirements than we do. Intense competitive pressures from one or more of our competitors could cause price declines, decrease demand for our products and decrease our market share.

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Hardwood flooring may become less popular as compared to other types of floor coverings in the future. For example, our products are made using various hardwood species, including rare exotic hardwood species, and concern over the environmental impact of tree harvesting could shift consumer preference towards synthetic or inorganic flooring. In addition, hardwood flooring competes against carpet, vinyl sheet, vinyl tile, ceramic tile, natural stone and other types of floor coverings. If consumer preferences shift toward types of floor coverings that we do not sell, we may experience decreased demand for our products.

All of these competitive factors may harm us and reduce our net sales and operating results.

Risks Related to Internal Controls

Failure to maintain effective systems of internal and disclosure control could have a material adverse effect on our results of operation and financial condition.

Effective internal and disclosure controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports and effectively prevent fraud, and to operate successfully as a public company. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports or prevent fraud, our reputation and operating results would be harmed. As part of our ongoing monitoring of internal control, we may discover material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in internal control that require remediation.

We have in the past discovered, and may in the future discover, areas of internal controls that need improvement. Regardless, we continue to work to improve our internal controls. We cannot be certain that these measures will ensure that we implement and maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future. Any failure to maintain effective controls or to timely implement any necessary improvement of our internal and disclosure controls could, among other things, result in losses from fraud or error, harm our reputation, or cause investors to lose confidence in the reported financial information, all of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operation and financial condition.

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

Our common stock price may be volatile and all or part of any investment in our common stock may be lost.

The market price of our common stock could fluctuate significantly based on various factors, including, but not limited to:

In addition, the stock market may experience significant price and volume fluctuations. These fluctuations may be unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies but may cause declines in the market price of our common stock. The price of our common stock could fluctuate based upon factors that have little or nothing to do with us or our performance.

Our quarterly operating results may fluctuate significantly and could fall below the expectations of research analysts and investors due to various factors.

Research analysts and investors develop expectations on how we may perform using a variety of metrics, including sales, comparable store sales, gross profit, etc. However, in any given quarter, actual performance may vary from these expectations, causing significant fluctuations in our stock price.

Our anti-takeover defense provisions may cause our common stock to trade at market prices lower than it might absent such provisions.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws contain provisions that may make it more difficult or expensive for a third party to acquire control of us without the approval of our board of directors. These

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provisions include a staggered board, the availability of “blank check” preferred stock, provisions restricting stockholders from calling a special meeting of stockholders or from taking action by written consent and provisions that set forth advance notice procedures for stockholders’ nominations of directors and proposals of topics for consideration at meetings of stockholders. Our certificate of incorporation also provides that Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, which relates to business combinations with interested stockholders, applies to us. These provisions may delay, prevent or deter a merger, or other transaction that might otherwise result in our stockholders receiving a premium over the market price for their common stock. In addition, these provisions may cause our common stock to trade at a market price lower than it might absent such provisions.

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.

None.

Item 2. Properties.

As of February 15, 2018, we operated 395 stores located in 46 states and Canada, with two additional openings since December 31, 2017. In addition to our eight stores in Ontario, Canada, the table below sets forth the locations (alphabetically by state) of our 387 U.S. stores in operation as of February 15, 2018.

State		Stores		State		Stores		State		Stores		State		Stores
Alabama		5		Iowa		3		Nevada		3		Rhode Island		1
Arizona		6		Kansas		3		New Hampshire		5		South Carolina		9
Arkansas		2		Kentucky		5		New Jersey		13		South Dakota		1
California		44		Louisiana		5		New Mexico		1		Tennessee		6
Colorado		8		Maine		3		New York		20		Texas		29
Connecticut		8		Maryland		10		North Carolina		13		Utah		3
Delaware		4		Massachusetts		10		North Dakota		1		Vermont		1
Florida		29		Michigan		10		Ohio		13		Virginia		13
Georgia		11		Minnesota		6		Oklahoma		3		Washington		9
Idaho		2		Mississippi		3		Oregon		7		West Virginia		3
Illinois		16		Missouri		5		Pennsylvania		20		Wisconsin		5
Indiana		8		Nebraska		2

We lease all of our stores and our corporate headquarters located in Toano, Virginia, which includes our call center, corporate offices, and distribution and finishing facility. Our corporate headquarters has 307,784 square feet, of which approximately 32,000 square feet are office space, and is located on a 74-acre plot. We own approximately 100 acres of land in Henrico County, Virginia where we constructed a one million square foot distribution center that became fully operational in January 2015. We lease a 504,016 square foot facility in Pomona, California, which, along with our facility in Virginia, serve as our primary distribution facilities.

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Item 3. Legal Proceedings.

Governmental Investigations

In March 2015, the Company received a grand jury subpoena issued in connection with a criminal investigation being conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia (the “U.S. Attorney”). In addition, on May 19, 2015, July 13, 2015 and March 11, 2016, the Company received subpoenas from the New York Regional Office of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) in connection with an inquiry by the SEC staff. Based on the subpoenas and the Company’s discussions to date, the Company believes the focus of both investigations primarily relates to compliance with disclosure, financial reporting and trading requirements under the federal securities laws since 2011. The Company is fully cooperating with the investigations and continues to produce documents and other information responsive to the subpoenas and other requests received from the parties. Given that the investigations are still ongoing and that no civil or criminal claims have been brought to date, the Company cannot predict the outcome of the investigations, the timing of the ultimate resolution of these matters, or reasonably estimate the possible range of loss, if any, that may result from these matters. Accordingly, no accruals have been made with respect to these matters. Any action by the U.S. Attorney or the SEC with respect to these matters could include civil or criminal proceedings and could involve fines, damage awards, regulatory consequences or other sanctions which could have a material adverse effect, individually or collectively, on the Company’s liquidity, financial condition or results of operations.

Litigation Relating to Chinese Laminates

Formaldehyde-Related Cases

Beginning on or about March 3, 2015, numerous purported class action cases were filed in various U.S. federal district courts and state courts involving claims of excessive formaldehyde emissions from the Company’s flooring products (collectively, the “Products Liability Cases”). The plaintiffs in these various actions sought recovery under a variety of theories, which although not identical are generally similar, including negligence, breach of warranty, state consumer protection act violations, state unfair competition act violations, state deceptive trade practices act violations, false advertising, fraudulent concealment, negligent misrepresentation, failure to warn, unjust enrichment and similar claims. The purported classes consisted either or both of all U.S. consumers or state consumers that purchased the subject products in certain time periods. The plaintiffs also sought various forms of declaratory and injunctive relief and various damages, including restitution, actual, compensatory, consequential, and, in certain cases, punitive damages, and interest, costs, and attorneys’ fees incurred by the plaintiffs and other purported class members in connection with the alleged claims, and orders certifying the actions as class actions. Plaintiffs did not quantify damages sought from the Company in these class actions.

On June 12, 2015, the United States Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (the “MDL Panel”) issued an order transferring and consolidating ten of the related federal class actions to the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia (the “Virginia Court”). In a series of subsequent conditional transfer orders, the MDL Panel has transferred the other cases to the Virginia Court. The Company continues to seek to have any newly filed cases transferred and consolidated in the Virginia Court and, ultimately, it expects all federal class actions involving formaldehyde allegations, including any newly filed cases, to be transferred and consolidated in the Virginia Court. The consolidated case in the Virginia Court is captioned In re: Lumber Liquidators Chinese-Manufactured Flooring Products Marketing, Sales, Practices and Products Liability Litigation (the “MDL”).

Pursuant to a court order, plaintiffs filed a Representative Class Action Complaint in the Virginia Court on September 11, 2015. The complaint challenged the Company’s labeling of its flooring products and asserted claims under California, New York, Illinois, Florida and Texas law for fraudulent concealment, violation of consumer protection statutes, negligent misrepresentation and declaratory relief, as well as a claim for breach of implied warranty under California law. Thereafter, on September 18, 2015, plaintiffs filed the First Amended Representative Class Action Complaint (“FARC”) in which they added implied warranty claims under New York, Illinois, Florida and Texas law, as well as a federal warranty claim. The Company filed a motion to dismiss and answered the FARC. The Virginia Court granted the motion as to claims for negligent misrepresentation filed on behalf of certain plaintiffs, deferred as to class action allegations, and

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otherwise denied the motion. The Company also filed a motion to strike nationwide class allegations, on which the Virginia Court has not yet ruled. The Company also filed a motion to strike all personal injury claims made in class action complaints. Plaintiffs subsequently agreed and the Virginia Court has ordered that no Chinese formaldehyde class action pending in this lawsuit will seek damages for personal injury on a class-wide basis. The order does not affect any claims for personal injury brought solely on an individual basis. The Company’s motion for summary judgment on plaintiffs’ First Amended Representative Complaint in the MDL was granted in part and denied in part, and its motion to exclude expert reports and testimony by plaintiffs’ experts related to deconstructive testing was denied.

Abrasion-Related Cases

On May 20, 2015, a purported class action titled Abad v. Lumber Liquidators, Inc. was filed in the United States District Court for the Central District of California and two amended complaints were subsequently filed. In the Second Amended Complaint (“SAC”), the plaintiffs (collectively, the “Abad Abrasion Plaintiffs”) sought to certify a national class composed of “All Persons in the United States who purchased Defendant’s Dream Home brand laminate flooring products (the “Dream Home Product”) from Defendant for personal use in their homes,” or, in the alternative, 32 statewide classes from California, North Carolina, Texas, New Jersey, Florida, Nevada, Connecticut, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Georgia, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, West Virginia, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Washington, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Indiana, Illinois and Louisiana. The products that are the subject of these complaints are part of the same products at issue in the MDL. The SAC alleges violations of each of these states’ consumer protections statutes and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, as well as breach of implied warranty and fraudulent concealment. The Abad Abrasion Plaintiffs did not quantify any alleged damages in the SAC but, in addition to attorneys’ fees and costs, sought an order certifying the action as a class action, an order adopting the Abad Abrasion Plaintiffs’ class definitions and finding that the Abad Abrasion Plaintiffs are their proper representatives, an order appointing their counsel as class counsel, injunctive relief prohibiting the Company from continuing to advertise and/or sell laminate flooring products with false abrasion class ratings, restitution of all monies it received from the Abad Abrasion Plaintiffs and class members, damages (actual, compensatory, and consequential) and punitive damages.

The Abad Abrasion Plaintiffs filed a Third Amended Complaint and the Company moved to dismiss the Third Amended Complaint. The court decided that it would decide the motion only as to the California plaintiffs (hereinafter referred to as the Abad Abrasion Plaintiffs) and ordered that all the non-California plaintiffs (collectively, the “Non-California Abrasion Plaintiffs”) be dropped from the action with leave to re-file. Many of the Non-California Abrasion Plaintiffs re-filed separate complaints in the Central District of California within the required 60-day period, which were then transferred to the district court located in the place of residence of each Non-California Abrasion Plaintiff. These complaints included similar causes of action and sought similar relief as those of the Abad Abrasion Plaintiffs.

On October 3, 2016, the MDL Panel issued an order transferring and consolidating sixteen of the federal abrasion class actions to the Virginia Court. In subsequent conditional transfer orders, the MDL Panel transferred other cases to the Virginia Court. The Company will seek to have any additional related cases transferred and consolidated in the Virginia Court. The consolidated case in the Virginia Court is captioned In re: Lumber Liquidators Chinese-Manufactured Laminate Flooring Durability Marketing and Sales Practices Litigation (the “Abrasion MDL”).

The Virginia Court issued an initial pretrial order instructing all parties to undertake certain discovery and planning tasks and scheduled certain preliminary conferences. Pursuant to a court order, on February 27, 2017, the plaintiffs filed a Representative Class Action Complaint in the Virginia Court. The complaint challenged the durability of the Dream Home Product and asserted claims under Alabama, California, Nevada, New York and Virginia law for breach of warranty, fraudulent concealment, violation of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and violation of consumer protection statutes. The Company filed a motion to dismiss the representative complaint, which the Virginia Court granted in part. The Company also filed a motion to strike irrelevant and prejudicial allegations from the representative complaint, which is currently pending.

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Steele Matter

In addition, on or about April 1, 2015, Sarah Steele (“Steele”) filed a purported class action lawsuit in the Ontario, Canada Superior Court of Justice against the Company. In the complaint, Steele’s allegations include (i) strict liability, (ii) breach of implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose, (iii) breach of implied warranty of merchantability, (iv) fraud by concealment, (v) civil negligence, (vi) negligent misrepresentation, and (vii) breach of implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing. Steele did not quantify any alleged damages in her complaint but, in addition to attorneys’ fees and costs, Steele seeks (a) compensatory damages, (b) punitive, exemplary and aggravated damages, and (c) statutory remedies related to the Company’s breach of various laws including the Sales of Goods Act, the Consumer Protection Act, the Competition Act, the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act.

Estimated Liability Associated with Formaldehyde and Abrasion MDLs and the Steele Matter

In April 2017, the Company initiated settlement discussions to jointly settle the MDL and the Abrasion MDL. In July 2017, the Virginia Court appointed lead settlement counsel for the plaintiffs in each of the MDL and Abrasion MDL, and directed the parties to mediate before another federal judge of the Eastern District of Virginia for purposes of settlement discussions, with such mediation being held in September 2017. Subsequent to the mediation, on October 23, 2017, the Company entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) with the lead plaintiffs in the MDL and the Abrasion MDL. Under the terms of the MOU, the Company will contribute $22 million in cash and provide $14 million in store-credit vouchers for an aggregate settlement of $36 million to settle all claims brought on behalf of purchasers of Chinese-made laminate flooring sold by the Company between January 1, 2009 and May 31, 2015. The Company may fund the $22 million through a combination of cash and/or common stock. The MOU is subject to certain contingencies, including the execution of a definitive settlement agreement, board approval of the definitive settlement agreement, and court approvals of the definitive settlement agreement. There can be no assurance that a settlement will be finalized and approved or as to the ultimate outcome of the litigation. If a final, court-approved settlement is not reached, the Company will defend the matter vigorously and believes there are meritorious defenses and legal standards that must be met for, among other things, class certification and success on the merits. The Company does not believe it has insurance coverage with respect to the MDL, the Abrasion MDL and Steele matters.

In addition to those purchasers who opt out of the above settlement (the “Opt Outs”) and the Steele matter, there are a number of individual claims and lawsuits alleging (i) damages due to excessive formaldehyde emissions, including personal injury claims, and (ii) damages similar to those in the Abrasion MDL (collectively, the “Other Matters”). Certain of these Other Matters are in advanced stages of settlement negotiations, and the Company recognized a further $1 million charge during the fourth quarter of 2017. For the remaining Other Matters, while the Company believes that a further loss associated with the Opt Outs, Other Matters and the Steele matter is reasonably possible, the Company is unable to reasonably estimate the amount or range of possible loss. Any such losses could, potentially, have a material adverse effect, individually or collectively, on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.

As a result of these developments, the Company has determined that a probable loss has been incurred and has recognized cumulative charges to earnings cumulatively of $37 million within selling general and administrative expense during 2017. If the Company does not execute a definitive settlement agreement consistent with the MOU or incurs losses with the respect to the Opt Outs, Steele and Other Matters, the ultimate resolution of these actions could still have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.

Gold Matter

On or about December 8, 2014, Dana Gold (“Gold”) filed a purported class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California alleging that the Morning Star bamboo flooring that the Company sells is defective. On February 13, 2015, Gold filed an amended complaint that added three additional plaintiffs (collectively with Gold, “Gold Plaintiffs”). The Company moved to dismiss the amended complaint. The court dismissed most of Gold Plaintiffs’ claims but allowed certain omission-based claims to proceed. Gold Plaintiffs filed a Second Amended Complaint on December 16, 2015,

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then a Third Amended Complaint on January 20, 2016, and then a Fourth Amended Complaint on June 26, 2017. In the Fourth Amended Complaint, Gold Plaintiffs limited the complaint to the Company’s Morning Star Strand Bamboo flooring that the Company sells (the “Strand Bamboo Product”) and allege that the Company has engaged in unfair business practices and unfair competition by falsely representing the quality and characteristics of the Strand Bamboo Product and by concealing the Strand Bamboo Product’s defective nature. In the Fourth Amended Complaint, Gold Plaintiffs limited the purported class of individuals to those who are residents of California, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia, respectively, and purchased the Strand Bamboo Product for personal, family, or household use. On February 2, 2018, Plaintiffs filed their Fifth Amended Complaint substituting a new proposed Illinois class representative for the class representative previously dismissed by the Court. Gold Plaintiffs did not quantify any alleged damages in their complaint but, in addition to attorneys’ fees and costs, Gold Plaintiffs seek (i) a declaration that the Company’s actions violate the law and that it is financially responsible for notifying all purported class members, (ii) injunctive relief requiring the Company to replace and/or repair all of the Strand Bamboo Product installed in structures owned by the purported class members, and (iii) a declaration that the Company must disgorge, for the benefit of the purported classes, all or part of the profits received from the sale of the allegedly defective Strand Bamboo Product and/or to make full restitution to Gold Plaintiffs and the purported class members.

Fact discovery in the matter is now complete. The Gold Plaintiffs filed a motion for class certification seeking to certify state-wide classes for purchases of the Strand Bamboo Product in California, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. The Company filed an opposition to class certification and a motion to exclude the opinions of the Gold Plaintiffs’ experts. In November 2017, the court granted Gold Plaintiffs’ motion for class certification with respect to the six states, and granted in part and denied in part the Company’s motion to exclude Gold Plaintiffs’ expert witnesses. The Company has appealed the class certification decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. The Company’s previously filed motion to dismiss the non-California plaintiffs on jurisdictional grounds was denied.

In addition, there are a number of other claims and lawsuits alleging damages similar to those in the Gold matter. The Company disputes these and the Gold Plaintiffs’ claims and intends to defend such matters vigorously. Given the uncertainty of litigation, the preliminary stage of the case, and the legal standards that must be met for, among other things, class certification and success on the merits, the Company is unable to estimate the amount of loss, or range of possible loss, at this time that may result from this action. Any such losses could, potentially, have a material adverse effect, individually or collectively, on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition, and liquidity.

Employment Cases

Mason Lawsuit

On or about August 15, 2017, Ashleigh Mason, Dan Morse, Ryan Carroll and Osagie Ehigie (collectively, the “SM Plaintiffs”) filed a purported class action lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York on behalf of all current and former store managers, store managers in training and similarly situated current and former employees holding comparable positions but different titles (collectively, the “SM Employees”) alleging that the Company violated the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and New York Labor Law (“NYLL”) by classifying the SM Employees as exempt. The alleged violations include failure to pay for overtime work. The SM Plaintiffs seek certification of the SM Employees for (i) a collective action covering the period beginning three years and 115 days prior to the filing of the complaint through the disposition of this action for the SM Employees nationwide (the “Nationwide Collective Class”) in connection with FLSA and (ii) a class action covering the period beginning six years and 115 days prior to the filing of the complaint through the disposition of this action for members of the SM Employees who currently are or were employed in New York (the “NY SM Class”) in connection with NYLL. The SM Plaintiffs did not quantify any alleged damages but, in addition to attorneys’ fees and costs, the SM Plaintiffs seek class certification, unspecified amount for unpaid wages and overtime wages, liquidated and/or punitive damages, declaratory relief, restitution, statutory penalties, injunctive relief and other damages. The Company disputes the SM Plaintiffs’ claims and intends to defend the matter vigorously. Given the uncertainty of litigation, the preliminary stage of the case and the legal standards that must be met for, among other things,

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class certification and success on the merits, the Company cannot estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of loss, if any, that may result from this action and therefore no accrual has been made related to this.

Kramer Lawsuit

On or about November 17, 2017, Robert J. Kramer, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated (collectively, the “Kramer Plaintiffs”) filed a purported class action lawsuit in the Superior Court of California, County of Sacramento on behalf of all current and former store managers, all others with similar job functions and/or titles and all current and former employees classified as non-exempt or incorrectly classified as exempt and who worked for the Company in the State of California (collectively, the “CSM Employees”) alleging violation of the California Labor Code (“CLC”) including, among other items, failure to pay wages and overtime and engaging in unfair business practices. The Kramer Plaintiffs seek certification of the CSM Employees for (i) a class action covering the prior four-year period prior to the filing of the complaint through the disposition of this action for the CSM Employees who currently are or were employed in California (the “California SM Class”) in connection with the CLC. The Kramer Plaintiffs did not quantify any alleged damages but, in addition to attorneys’ fees and costs, the Kramer Plaintiffs seek class certification for the California SM Class, unspecified amount for unpaid wages and overtime wages, liquidated and/or punitive damages, declaratory relief, restitution, statutory penalties, injunctive relief and other damages. The Company disputes the Kramer Plaintiffs’ claims and intends to defend the matter vigorously. Given the uncertainty of litigation, the preliminary stage of the case and the legal standards that must be met for, among other things, class certification and success on the merits, the Company cannot estimate the reasonably possible loss or range of loss, if any, that may result from this action and therefore no accrual has been made related to this.

Antidumping and Countervailing Duties Investigation

In October 2010, a conglomeration of domestic manufacturers of multilayered wood flooring filed a petition seeking the imposition of antidumping (“AD”) and countervailing duties (“CVD”) with the United States Department of Commerce (“DOC”) and the United States International Trade Commission (“ITC”) against imports of multilayered wood flooring from China. This ruling applies to companies importing multilayered wood flooring from Chinese suppliers subject to the AD and CVD orders. The Company’s multilayered wood flooring imports from China accounted for approximately 8%, 7% and 6% of its flooring purchases in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company’s consistent view through the course of this matter has been, and remains, that its imports are neither dumped nor subsidized.

As part of its processes in these proceedings, following the original investigation, the DOC conducts annual administrative reviews of the CVD and AD rates. In such cases, the DOC will issue preliminary rates that are not binding and are subject to comment by interested parties. After consideration of the comments received, the DOC will issue final rates for the applicable period, which may lag by a year or more. As rates are adjusted through the administrative reviews, the Company adjusts its payments prospectively based on the final rate. The Company will begin to pay the finalized rates on each applicable future purchase when recognized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

The DOC made its initial determinations in the original investigation regarding CVD and AD rates on April 6, 2011 and May 26, 2011, respectively. On December 8, 2011, orders were issued setting final AD and CVD rates at a maximum of 3.3% and 1.5%, respectively. These rates became effective in the form of additional duty deposits, which the Company has paid, and applied retroactively to the DOC initial determinations.

Following the issuance of the orders on December 8, 2011, a number of appeals were filed by several parties, including the Company, with the Court of International Trade (“CIT”) challenging, among other things, certain facts and methodologies that may impact the validity of the AD and CVD orders and the applicable rates. The Company participated in appeals of both the AD order and CVD order. The appeal of the CVD order was dismissed in June 2015. On January 23, 2015, the CIT issued a decision rejecting the challenge of the AD rate for all but one Chinese exporter. This decision was finalized on July 6, 2015, and appealed to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (“CAFC”) on July 31, 2015. On February 15, 2017, the CAFC vacated the CIT’s prior decision and remanded with instructions to the DOC to recalculate its AD rate. The DOC’s recalculation of rates was submitted to the CIT in July 2017 for a subsequent ruling by the

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court. The CIT is currently evaluating the DOC’s recalculated rates and is expected to issue a decision in early 2018. The Company is unable to determine the impact of the CAFC’s decision to vacate the initial determination of AD rates; however, the DOC’s recalculation could materially impact the Company’s previously recorded expense related to the AD rates in the original investigation and subsequent annual reviews discussed below. Because of the length of time for finalization of rates as well as appeals, any subsequent adjustment of CVD and AD rates typically flows through a period different from those in which the inventory was originally purchased and/or sold.

In the first DOC annual review in this matter, AD rates for the period from May 26, 2011 through November 30, 2012, and CVD rates from April 6, 2011 through December 31, 2011, were modified to a maximum of 5.92% and a maximum of 0.83%, respectively, which resulted in an additional payment obligation for the Company, based on best estimates and shipments during the applicable window, of $833 thousand. The Company recorded this as a long-term liability on its accompanying consolidated balance sheet and in cost of sales in its second quarter 2015 financial statements. These AD rates have been appealed to the CIT by several parties, including the Company. On remand from the CIT, the DOC has reduced the AD rate to 0.73%. A final ruling from the CIT is still pending and is expected in early 2018. If the CIT accepts the reduced final AD rate, while such decision would be subject to appeal, the Company intends to reverse the $833 thousand accrual and record a receivable of approximately $1.3 million.

The second annual review of the AD and CVD rates was initiated in February 2014. Pursuant to the second annual review, in early July 2015, the DOC finalized the AD rate for the period from December 1, 2012 through November 30, 2013 at a maximum of 13.74% and the CVD rate for the period from January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012 at a maximum of 0.99%. The Company believes the best estimate of the probable additional amounts owed was $4.1 million for shipments during the applicable time periods, which was recorded as a long-term liability on its accompanying consolidated balance sheet and included in cost of sales in its second quarter 2015 financial statements. Beginning in July 2015, the Company began paying these rates on each applicable purchase. The Company and other parties appealed the AD rates relating to this second annual review to the CIT and the court is expected to issue a decision in 2018.

The third annual review of the AD and CVD rates was initiated in February 2015. The third AD review covered shipments from December 1, 2013 through November 30, 2014. The third CVD review covered shipments from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2013. In May 2016, the DOC issued the final CVD rate in the third review, which was a maximum of 1.38%. On July 13, 2016, the DOC set the final AD rate at a maximum of 17.37%. The Company has appealed the AD rates to the CIT, and the appeal is currently pending with oral arguments held in January 2018. The Company’s best estimate of the probable additional amounts owed associated with AD and CVD is approximately $5.5 million for shipments during the applicable time periods. During the quarter ended June 30, 2016, the Company recorded this amount in other long-term liabilities in its balance sheet and as a charge to earnings in cost of sales on its statement of operations.

In February 2016, the DOC initiated the fourth annual review of AD and CVD rates, which followed a similar schedule as the preceding review. The AD review covered shipments from December 1, 2014 through November 30, 2015. The CVD review covered shipments from January 1, 2014 through December 31, 2014. In May 2017, the DOC issued the final CVD rate in the fourth review, which was a maximum of 1.45%, and, in June 2017, the final AD rate in the fourth review, which was a maximum of 0.00%. In October 2017, petitioners withdrew their CIT appeal of the AD rates. As a result, the CIT dismissed the case and the Company believes these rates are now final. The Company paid AD rates in excess of the final rates during the periods impacted by the fourth annual review in the amount of $2.5 million and recorded a benefit in cost of sales with a corresponding receivable. After collecting part of that receivable, as of December 31, 2017, the Company has a receivable in the amount of $2.1 million in Other Short-Term assets in its balance sheet.

The DOC initiated the fifth annual review of AD and CVD rates in February 2017, which is expected to follow the same schedule as preceding reviews. The AD review covers shipments from December 1, 2015 through November 30, 2016. The CVD review covers shipments from January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2015. In December 2017 and January 2018, the DOC issued non-binding preliminary results in the fifth annual review for CVD rates and AD rates, respectively. The preliminary AD rate was a maximum of 0.00%

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and the preliminary CVD rate was a maximum of 0.89%. The final CVD and AD rates in the fifth annual review are currently expected to be issued in April 2018 and May 2018, respectively.

The first 5-year Sunset Review of the antidumping and countervailing duty orders on multilayered wood flooring (the “Sunset Review”) began in November 2016 at the ITC to determine whether to terminate the orders. The Company participated fully in this Sunset Review. In December 2017, the ITC determined that the AD and CVD orders will remain in place. This determination has been appealed by certain importers, and the Company currently anticipates participating in this appeal.

The DOC initiated the sixth annual review of AD and CVD rates in February 2018, which is expected to follow the same schedule as preceding reviews. The AD review covers shipments from December 1, 2016 through November 30, 2017. The CVD review covers shipments from January 1, 2016 through December 31, 2016.

Other Matters

The Company is also, from time to time, subject to claims and disputes arising in the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, while the outcome of any such claims and disputes cannot be predicted with certainty, its ultimate liability in connection with these matters is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial position or liquidity.

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures.

None.

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PART II

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.

Market Information

Our common stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the trading symbol “LL.” We are authorized to issue up to 35,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.001. Total shares of common stock outstanding at February 15, 2018 were 28,490,229, and we had six stockholders of record.

The following table sets forth the range of high and low sales prices per share as reported by the NYSE for each quarter during the last two fiscal years.

		Price Range
		High				Low
2017:
Fourth Quarter		$	39.25			$	27.27
Third Quarter			41.33				24.16
Second Quarter			30.65				19.46
First Quarter			21.06				14.99
2016:
Fourth Quarter		$	20.10			$	14.02
Third Quarter			20.09				14.26
Second Quarter			16.49				11.07
First Quarter			17.42				10.01

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The following table presents our share repurchase activity for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 (dollars in thousands, except per share amounts):

Period

Total Number of Shares Purchased(1)

Average Price Paid per Share(1)

Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Programs(2)

Maximum Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Programs(2)

October 1, 2017 to October 31, 2017

—

—

—

—

November 1, 2017 to November 30, 2017

—

—

—

—

December 1, 2017 to December 31, 2017

—

—

—

—

Total

—

—

—

—

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Dividend Policy

We have never paid any dividends on our common stock. Any future decision to pay cash dividends will be at the discretion of our board of directors and will be dependent on our results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors that the board of directors considers relevant.

Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans

See Item 12. “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters” for information regarding securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans.

Performance Graph

The following graph compares the performance of our common stock during the period beginning December 31, 2012 through December 31, 2017, to that of the total return index for the NYSE Composite, the Dow Jones US Furnishings Index and a Custom Peer Group whose members are listed below assuming an investment of $100 on December 31, 2012. In calculating total annual stockholder return, reinvestment of dividends, if any, is assumed. The indices are included for comparative purpose only. They do not necessarily reflect management’s opinion that such indices are an appropriate measure of the relative performance of our common stock.

		12/31/2012				12/31/2013				12/31/2014				12/31/2015				12/31/2016				12/31/2017
Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.		$	100.00			$	194.76			$	125.52			$	32.86			$	29.79			$	59.42
Dow Jones US Furnishings Index		$	100.00			$	147.42			$	168.54			$	187.07			$	209.06			$	241.76
NYSE Composite		$	100.00			$	126.40			$	135.09			$	129.70			$	145.33			$	172.78
Peer Group(1)		$	100.00			$	135.27			$	179.10			$	213.45			$	217.35			$	307.50

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Item 6. Selected Financial Data.

The selected statements of income data for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015 and the balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 and 2016 have been derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included in Item 8. “Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this report. This information should be read in conjunction with those audited financial statements, the notes thereto, and Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this report.

The selected balance sheet data set forth below as of December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013, and income data for the years ended December 31, 2014 and 2013 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements contained in reports previously filed with the SEC, which are not included herein. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of our results for any future period.

		Year Ended December 31,
		2017(1)				2016(2)				2015(3)				2014				2013
		(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
Statement of Income Data
Net Sales		$	1,028,933			$	960,588			$	978,776			$	1,047,419			$	1,000,240
Comparable Store Net Sales increase (decrease)(4)			5.4	%			(4.6	)%			(11.1	)%			(4.3	)%			15.8	%
Cost of Sales			659,872				656,719				699,918				629,252				589,257
Gross Profit			369,061				303,869				278,858				418,167				410,983
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses			406,027				397,504				362,051				314,094				284,960
Operating (Loss) Income			(36,966	)			(93,635	)			(83,193	)			104,073				126,023
Other Expense (Income)			1,591				638				234				490				(442	)
(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes			(38,557	)			(94,273	)			(83,427	)			103,583				126,465
Income Tax (Benefit) Expense			(734	)			(25,710	)			(26,994	)			40,212				49,070
Net (Loss) Income		$	(37,823	)		$	(68,563	)		$	(56,433	)		$	63,371			$	77,395
Net (Loss) Income per Common Share:
Basic		$	(1.33	)		$	(2.51	)		$	(2.08	)		$	2.32			$	2.82
Diluted		$	(1.33	)		$	(2.51	)		$	(2.08	)		$	2.31			$	2.77
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic			28,407				27,284				27,082				27,265				27,485
Diluted			28,407				27,284				27,082				27,486				27,914

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		Year Ended December 31,
		2017				2016				2015				2014				2013
		(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
Balance Sheet Data
Cash and Cash Equivalents		$	19,938			$	10,271			$	26,703			$	20,287			$	80,634
Merchandise Inventories			262,280				301,892				244,402				314,371				252,428
Total Assets			410,795				482,544				445,564				482,904				420,498
Customer Deposits and Store Credits			38,546				32,639				33,771				34,943				22,377
Total Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, including current maturities			15,000				40,351				20,000				—				—
Total Stockholders’ Equity			197,847				230,892				277,568				332,054				309,329
Working Capital(1)			119,835				173,683				195,044				213,030				245,207
Other Data
Total Stores in Operation			393				383				374				352				318
Average Sale(2)		$	1,700			$	1,640			$	1,625			$	1,675			$	1,705

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Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.

Overview

Lumber Liquidators is the largest specialty retailer of hardwood flooring in North America, offering a complete purchasing solution across an extensive assortment of domestic and exotic hardwood species, engineered hardwood, laminate, vinyl, bamboo, cork and wood-look ceramic tile. At December 31, 2017, we sold our products through 393 Lumber Liquidators stores in 46 states in the United States (“U.S.”) and in Canada, a call center, websites and catalogs.

We believe we have achieved a reputation for offering great value, superior service and a broad selection of high-quality flooring products. With a balance of selection, quality, availability, service and price, we believe our value proposition is the most complete within a highly fragmented hard-surface flooring market. The foundation for our value proposition is strengthened by our unique store model, the industry expertise of our people, and our singular focus on hard-surface flooring.

To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), we use the following non-GAAP financial measures: (i) Adjusted Gross Profit; (ii) Adjusted SG&A; (iii) Adjusted Gross Margin as a percentage of sales; (iv) Adjusted SG&A as a percentage of sales; and (v) Adjusted Operating Income (Loss). The non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP. These supplemental measures may vary from, and may not be comparable to, similarly titled measures by other companies.

The non-GAAP financial measures are presented because management uses these non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our operating performance and to determine incentive compensation. Therefore, we believe that the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures provides useful supplementary information to, and facilitates additional analysis by, investors. The presented non-GAAP financial measures exclude items that management does not believe reflect our core operating performance, which include regulatory and legal settlements and associated legal and operating costs, and changes in antidumping and countervailing duties, as such items are outside of our control or due to their inherent unusual, non-operating, unpredictable, non-recurring, or non-cash nature.

Executive Summary

We continue to focus on several key initiatives related to our core business that we believe will strengthen our sales and operating margin and provide an improved shopping experience to our customers. The progress that was made on these initiatives during 2017 includes:

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Our results for the year ended December 31, 2017 were impacted by the following key items:

Net sales for fiscal year ended December 31, 2017 increased $68 million, or 7.1%, to $1,029 million from $961 million in the fiscal year ended December 31, 2016. Net sales in comparable stores increased $52 million, or 5.4%, and net sales in non-comparable stores increased $16 million. We opened 11 new stores and closed one during 2017, leaving us at 393 stores as of December 31, 2017.

Gross profit increased $65.2 million, or 21.5%, in 2017 to $369.1 million from $303.9 million in 2016. Gross margin increased to 35.9% in 2017 from 31.6% in 2016, or 430 basis points. The reversal of expense related to our indoor air quality testing program and the adjustment of antidumping duties from a prior period based on new information in the current period contributed to 160 basis points of this 430 basis point improvement to gross profit in 2017, as discussed in the Results of Operations below. When excluding those unusual items from both years, our Adjusted Gross Margin (a non-GAAP measure) improved 270 basis points, driven by a shift in mix toward vinyl products and lower transportation costs.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses increased $8.5 million, or 2.1%, in 2017 to $406.0 million from $397.5 million in 2016. SG&A included $51.4 million in 2017 and $50.5 million in 2016 related to legal and regulatory matters as discussed in the Results of Operations below and in Part II, Item 1 (“Legal Proceedings”) of this Form 10-K. Excluding those items, Adjusted SG&A (a non-GAAP measure) increased $7.6 million, driven by $7.5 million in higher payroll related costs due to greater store level staffing, commissions, and investments in corporate capabilities and $3.0 million in higher occupancy costs, both of which were offset by $2.9 million in other decreases, primarily lower advertising and promotion costs.

Operating loss at December 31, 2017 was $37 million compared to an operating loss of $93.6 million in 2016. Operating loss as a percent of net sales was (3.6)% and (9.8)% for years ended December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Operating loss was negatively impacted by our reserve for the MOU in connection with the MDL and Abrasion MDL and incremental legal and professional fees in the current year. In the prior year, it was negatively impacted by incremental legal and professional fees and costs related to the settlement of the Securities Class Action. These items, along with other smaller non-recurring items, are described in a supplemental table in the operating loss section below. Excluding the items from both periods, Adjusted Operating Income (a non-GAAP measure) was $10.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to an Adjusted Operating Loss (a non-GAAP measure) of $31.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, with the improvement driven by revenue growth, improved gross margin and lower SG&A (as a percentage of net sales) as discussed above.

We incurred a net loss of $37.8 million, or $(1.33) per diluted share in 2017, compared to a net loss of $68.6 million, or $(2.51) per diluted share in 2016.

Working capital and liquidity

At December 31, 2017, we had $145.9 million in liquidity, comprised of $19.9 million of cash and $126 million in availability under our revolving credit facility. We also had $262.3 million in inventory and $67.7 million in accounts payable, while borrowings against our ABL were $15.0 million. At December 31, 2016, we had $101.0 million in liquidity, comprised of $10.3 million of cash and $90.7 million in availability under our revolving credit facility. We also had $301.9 million in inventory and $120.6 million in accounts payable, while borrowings under our ABL were $40.0 million.

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Results of Operations

We believe the selected sales data, the percentage relationship between Net Sales and major categories in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and the percentage change in the dollar amounts of each of the items presented below are important in evaluating the performance of our business operations.

		% of Net Sales												% Increase (Decrease) in Dollar Amounts
		Year Ended December 31,
		2017				2016				2015				2017 vs. 2016				2016 vs. 2015
Net Sales			100.0	%			100.0	%			100.0	%			7.1	%			-1.9	%
Gross Profit			35.9	%			31.6	%			28.5	%			21.5	%			9.0	%
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses			39.5	%			41.4	%			37.0	%			2.1	%			9.8	%
Operating Loss			(3.6	)%			(9.8	)%			(8.5	)%			-60.5	%			12.6	%
Other Expense			(0.1	)%			0.0	%			0.0	%			149.5	%			171.9	%
Loss Before Income Taxes			(3.7	)%			(9.8	)%			(8.5	)%			-59.1	%			13.1	%
Income Tax Benefit			(0.1	)%			(2.7	)%			(2.8	)%			-97.1	%			-4.7	%
Net Loss			(3.7	)%			(7.1	)%			(5.8	)%			-44.8	%			21.6	%
SELECTED SALES DATA
Average Sale(1)		$	1,700			$	1,640			$	1,625				3.6	%			1.1	%
Average Retail Price per Unit Sold(2)			0.4	%			(4.0	)%			(6.0	)%
Comparable Store Sales Increase (Decrease) (%)			5.4	%			(4.6	)%			(11.1	)%
Number of Stores Open, end of period			393				383				374
Number of Stores Opened in Period, net			10				9				22
Number of Stores Relocated in Period(3)			—				3				11
Comparable Stores(4) (% change to prior year):
Customers Invoiced(5)			1.8	%			(5.7	)%			(8.0	)%
Net Sales of Stores Operating for 13 to 36 months			14.2	%			0.4	%			(6.2	)%
Net Sales of Stores Operating for more than 36 months			5.0	%			(5.2	)%			(11.8	)%
Net Sales in Markets with all Stores Comparable (no cannibalization)			6.1	%			(2.8	)%			(9.5	)%

For an understanding of the significant factors that influenced our performance during the past three fiscal years, the following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements presented in this report.

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Fiscal 2017 Compared to Fiscal 2016

Net Sales

Net sales for 2017 increased $68 million, or 7.1%, from 2016 as net sales in comparable stores increased $52 million, or 5.4%, and the net sales in non-comparable stores increased $16 million. The growth in comparable store sales consisted of a 3.2% growth in merchandise sales, and 43% growth in installation sales within our comparable stores. During 2017 we continued to expand the installation program and by year end offered this service in 391 of our 393 stores. Installation sales grew 46% from the year ended December 31, 2016 to the year ended December 31, 2017 and accounted for roughly 8% of total sales for 2017 compared to approximately 6% of total sales in 2016.

Comparable store net sales growth reflected a combination of an increase of 1.8% in the number of customers invoiced and an increase of 3.6% in the average sale. The 1.8% increase in the number of customers invoiced was a significant improvement from the 5.7% decline in 2016, and we believe reflects improving customer experience in our stores, our improved assortment, and waning negative impact of unfavorable media and assortment limitations during the first half of 2016. The 3.6% increase in overall average sale was driven by the increased attachment of installation services, the growth in our Pro business that carries higher average ticket size, and improvements in the average selling price of our products. Pro customers accounted for approximately 23% of our merchandise sales in 2017. Within categories, growth in sales of vinyl products, engineered wood products, wood-look tile, and moldings and accessories more than offset declines in solid and bamboo flooring products.

Gross Profit

Gross profit increased 21.5% to $369 million from $304 million in 2016. Gross margin increased to 35.9% from 31.6% in 2016. This comparison was favorably impacted by the infrequent items highlighted in the table below, and when excluding these items, gross margin improved by 270 basis points. This was driven by a shift in mix toward vinyl and engineered products with improved margins, lower transportation costs, as well as improved margins within engineered, vinyl, laminate, and tile categories due to sourcing and pricing initiatives. These advances were slightly offset by a higher mix of installation sales that carry lower margins, and higher warranty costs.

We believe that each of these items can distort the visibility of our ongoing performance and that the evaluation of our financial performance can be enhanced by use of supplemental presentation of our results that exclude the impact of these items.

		Year Ended December 31,
		2017								2016
		(dollars in thousands)
Gross Profit/Margin, as reported (GAAP)		$	369,061				35.9	%		$	303,869				31.6	%
Antidumping Adjustments(1)			(2,797	)			-0.3	%			5,450				0.6	%
Indoor Air Quality Testing Program(2)			(993	)			-0.1	%			6,187				0.6	%
Sub-Total Items above			(3,790	)			-0.4	%			11,637				1.2	%
Adjusted Gross Profit/Margin (non-GAAP measures)		$	365,271				35.5	%		$	315,506				32.8	%

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expenses increased 2.1% to $406 million from $398 million in 2016. Excluding the items shown in the table below, SG&A increased $7.6 million, driven by $7.5 million in higher payroll-related costs due to greater store level staffing, commissions, and investments in corporate capabilities and $3.0 million in higher occupancy costs, both of which were offset by $2.9 million in other decreases, primarily lower advertising and promotion costs. Excluding retention-related costs, payroll related costs as a percentage of sales were 14.5% in 2017 and 2016, respectively.

We believe that each of these items can distort the visibility of our ongoing performance and that the evaluation of our financial performance can be enhanced by use of supplemental presentation of our results that exclude the impact of these items.

		Year Ended December 31,
		2017								2016
		$				% of Sales				$				% of Sales
		(dollars in thousands)
SG&A, as reported (GAAP)		$	406,027				39.5	%		$	397,504				41.4	%
Accrual for MDL and Other Matters(1)			36,960				3.6	%			—				—
Legal and Professional Fees(2)			11,314				1.1	%			28,414				3.0	%
Securities Class Action(3)			—				—				19,260				2.0	%
All Other(4)			3,146				0.3	%			2,800				0.3	%
Sub-Total Items above			51,420				5.0	%			50,474				5.3	%
Adjusted SG&A (a non-GAAP measure)		$	354,607				34.5	%		$	347,030				36.1	%

Operating Loss and Operating Margin

Operating loss for 2017 was $37 million compared to an operating loss of $94 million in 2016. Operating loss for both periods was impacted by the unusual items in both gross profit and SG&A discussed above and summarized below. These items either relate to revised estimates of legacy issues, or are significant and infrequent in nature. We believe evaluating our operating profit in both periods excluding these items gives a better understanding of current period performance. As shown in the table below, excluding these items, 2017 reflects an Adjusted Operating Income (a non-GAAP measure) of $10.7 million, compared to an Adjusted Operating Loss (a non-GAAP measure) in 2016 of $31.5 million. The improvement primarily reflects the growth in sales and higher gross margin.

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We believe that each of these items can distort the visibility of our ongoing performance and that the evaluation of our financial performance can be enhanced by use of supplemental presentation of our results that exclude the impact of these items.

		Year Ended December 31,
		2017				2016
		(in thousands)
Operating Loss, as reported (GAAP)		$	(36,966	)		$	(93,635	)
Gross Margin Items:
Antidumping Adjustments(1)			(2,797	)			5,450
Indoor Air Quality Testing Program (Income) Charges(2)			(993	)			6,187
Gross Margin Subtotal			(3,790	)			11,637
SG&A Items:
Multidistrict Litigation(3)			36,960				—
Legal and Professional Fees(4)			11,314				28,414
Securities Class Action(5)			—				19,260
All Other(6)			3,146				2,800
SG&A Subtotal			51,420				50,474
Adjusted Operating Income (Loss) (a non-GAAP measure)		$	10,664			$	(31,524	)

Income Tax (Benefit) Expense

The effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2017 was 1.9% compared to 27.3% for the year ended December 31, 2016. As of December 31, 2017, we recorded a valuation allowance against substantially all of our net deferred tax assets because there is insufficient support to assure the realization of our deferred tax assets, and as a result we are not able to tax benefit our losses. During the year we completed IRS audits for the years 2013 – 2016, resulting in an expense of $1.2 million that is included in the provision for income taxes. This was more than offset by the net benefit from the Tax Act that eliminated the expiration of loss carryforwards, allowing the Company to benefit more of its indefinite-lived assets.

The Tax Act was enacted on December 22, 2017. The Tax Act reduced the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% and eliminated the 20-year limit on the carryforward of losses, and resulted in the Company remeasuring its existing deferred tax balances. In addition, generally beginning in 2018, the Tax Act alters the deductibility of certain items (e.g., certain compensation, interest, entertainment expenses), and allows qualifying capital expenditures to be deducted fully in the year of purchase. As of December 31, 2017, we have not fully completed our analysis of the tax effects of the Tax Act; however, we have made a reasonable estimate of the effects on our deferred tax balances. We remeasured deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the rates at which they are expected to reverse in the future, which is generally 21%. Our valuation allowance was remeasured based on the new provisions in the Tax Act including the elimination of the 20-year net operating loss carryforward, the 80% limitation on the usage of certain net operating losses going forward and the impact of these provisions on our indefinite-lived deferred tax assets and liabilities. We will continue to analyze certain aspects of the Tax Act and refine the calculations, which could potentially affect the measurement of these balances or potentially give rise to new deferred tax amounts. The provisional amount recorded related to the remeasurement of the deferred tax balance and valuation allowance was $8.1 million. The net effect of the Tax Act was a $3.1 million tax benefit.

We intend to maintain a valuation allowance on our deferred tax assets until there is sufficient evidence to support the reversal of all or some portion of these allowances. A reduction in the valuation allowance could result in a significant decrease in income tax expense in the period that the release is recorded. However, the exact timing and amount of the reduction in our valuation allowance are unknown at this time and will be subject to the earnings level we achieve in future periods. Within the provision for income taxes

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for the year ended December 31, 2016, the expense related to the valuation allowance discussed above was partially offset by a benefit from foreign operations.

At December 31, 2017, we had refundable income taxes of $1.3 million and a deferred tax liability of $0.6 million. At December 31, 2016, refundable income taxes and the deferred tax liability were $31.4 million and $3.8 million, respectively. In July 2017 and 2016, we received federal refunds of $29.2 million and $22.1 million, respectively, from the IRS related to the carry back of net operating losses to prior periods where we generated taxable income.

We file income tax returns with the U.S. federal government and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, we are subject to examination by taxing authorities. As discussed above, during 2017 the Internal Revenue Service completed audits of our income tax returns for the years 2013 through 2016.

Diluted Earnings per Share

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $38 million, resulting in a loss of $1.33 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $69 million, or $2.51 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2016.

Fiscal 2016 Compared to Fiscal 2015

Net Sales

Net sales for 2016 decreased $18 million, or 1.9%, from 2015 as net sales in comparable stores decreased $45 million, or 4.6%, and the net sales in non-comparable stores increased $27 million. Comparable store net sales were impacted by a decrease of 5.7% attributable to the number of customers invoiced and an increase of 1.1% in the average sale.

The number of customers invoiced decreased 5.7%, which we believe reflects the negative impact of unfavorable media and assortment limitations during the first half of 2016 as evidenced by an 11% decline in the number of customers invoiced during this same time period. The number of customers invoiced began to recover during the second half of 2016, improving sales performance compared to the first half of the year. We believe these second-half improvements are a result of our updated assortment, a better in-store inventory position and our focus on execution in the stores, which drives increased conversion. The increased attachment of installation services and improvements in the average selling price of our products drove a higher average sale. Sales growth in vinyl products more than offset sales reductions in solid flooring products. Our expansion of our installation program further supported comparable store net sales with annual revenues of $54 million, a 79.1% increase from fiscal 2015. Excluding installation sales, comparable store net sales decreased 7.3% from 2015.

Gross Profit

Gross profit increased 9.0% to $304 million from $279 million in 2015. Gross margin increased to 31.6% from 28.5% in 2015. This comparison was favorably impacted by the items highlighted in the table below as well as changes in the mix and level of net sales generated during the periods. Our mix of net sales was more heavily weighted to products such as vinyl and certain engineered constructions, which had a positive impact on gross margins.

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We believe that each of these items can distort the visibility of our ongoing performance and that the evaluation of our financial performance can be enhanced by use of supplemental presentation of our results that exclude the impact of these items.

		Year Ended December 31,
		2016								2015
		(dollars in thousands)
Gross Profit/Margin, as reported (GAAP)		$	303,869				31.6	%		$	278,858				28.5	%
Inventory Impairments(1)			—				—				29,051				3.0	%
Antidumping Adjustments(2)			5,450				0.6	%			4,921				0.4	%
Indoor Air Quality Testing Program(3)			6,187				0.6	%			9,445				1.0	%
Sub-Total Items above			11,637				1.2	%			43,417				4.4	%
Adjusted Gross Profit/Margin (non-GAAP measures)		$	315,506				32.8	%		$	322,275				32.9	%

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expenses increased 9.8% to $398 million from $362 million in 2015. The change in SG&A was primarily attributable to an approximate $12 million increase in personnel costs in our store staffing, professional and installation sales teams, and corporate capabilities, approximately $5.7 million in increases related to professional services, an approximate $5.2 million increase in settlement and legal/regulatory activity highlighted in the table below, an increase of $2.6 million in advertising costs and an increase of approximately $9.7 million in other costs. Excluding retention-related costs, payroll related costs as a percentage of sales were 14.5% and 13.0% in 2016 and 2015, respectively.

We believe that each of these items can distort the visibility of our ongoing performance and that the evaluation of our financial performance can be enhanced by use of supplemental presentation of our results that exclude the impact of these items.

		Year Ended December 31,
		2016								2015
		$				% of Sales				$				% of Sales
		(dollars in thousands)
SG&A, as reported (GAAP)		$	397,504				41.4	%		$	362,051				37.0	%
Securities and Derivatives Class Action(1)			19,260				2.0	%			—				—
Legal and Professional Fees			28,414				3.0	%			21,059				2.2	%
Lacey/DOJ Settlement			—				—				13,155				1.3	%
All Other(4)			2,800				0.3	%			11,089				1.1	%
Sub-Total Items above			50,474				5.3	%			45,303				4.6	%
Adjusted SG&A (a non-GAAP measure)		$	347,030				36.1	%		$	316,748				32.4	%

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Operating Loss and Operating Margin

Operating loss for 2016 was $94 million compared to an operating loss of $83 million in 2015. Operating loss as a percent of net sales was (9.8)% for fiscal 2016 compared to (8.5)% in 2015. Operating loss for both periods was impacted by the unusual items in both gross profit and SG&A discussed above and summarized below. These items either relate to revised estimates of legacy reserves, or are significant and infrequent in nature. We believe evaluating our operating profit in both periods excluding these items gives a better understanding of current period performance. As shown in the table below, excluding these items, 2016 reflects an Adjusted Operating Loss (a non-GAAP measure) of $31.5 million, compared to an Adjusted Operating Income (a non-GAAP measure) in 2015 of $5.5 million. The decline reflects a reduction in sales and higher SG&A costs.

We believe that each of these items can distort the visibility of our ongoing performance and that the evaluation of our financial performance can be enhanced by use of supplemental presentation of our results that exclude the impact of these items.

		Year Ended December 31,
		2016				2015
		(in thousands)
Operating Loss, as reported (GAAP)		$	(93,635	)		$	(83,193	)
Gross Margin Items:
Inventory Impairments(1)			—				29,051
Antidumping Adjustments(2)			5,450				4,921
Indoor Air Quality Testing Program (Income) Charges(3)			6,187				9,445
Gross Margin Subtotal			11,637				43,417
SG&A Items:
Securities and Derivatives Class Action(4)			19,260				—
Legal and Professional Fees(5)			28,414				21,059
Lacey/DOJ Settlement(6)			—				13,155
All Other(7)			2,800				11,089
SG&A Subtotal			50,474				45,303
Adjusted Operating (Loss) Income (a non-GAAP measure)		$	(31,524	)		$	5,527

Income Tax (Benefit) Expense

The effective income tax rate for the year ended December 31, 2016 was 27.3% compared to 32.4% for the year ended December 31, 2015. As of December 31, 2016, we recorded a valuation allowance against substantially all of our net deferred tax assets because there is insufficient support to assure the realization of our deferred tax assets. Within the provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2016, the expense related to the valuation allowance discussed above was partially offset by a benefit from foreign operations. The provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2015, was negatively impacted by certain non-deductible penalties impacting 2015 earnings.

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At December 31, 2016, refundable income taxes and the deferred tax liability were $31.4 million and $3.8 million, respectively. At December 31, 2015, refundable income taxes and the deferred tax asset were $20 million and $21 million, respectively. These amounts are reflected within current assets on the consolidated balance sheets. In July 2016, we received a refund of $22 million from the IRS related to the carry back of our 2015 net operating losses to prior periods where we generated taxable income.

We file income tax returns with the U.S. federal government and various state and foreign jurisdictions. In the normal course of business, we are subject to examination by taxing authorities. The Internal Revenue Service has completed audits of our income tax returns for the years 2013 through 2016 and the results of which are included in tax expense in the consolidated income statement.

Diluted Earnings per Share

Net loss for the year ended December 31, 2016 was $69 million, resulting in a loss of $2.51 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $56 million, or $2.08 per diluted share, for the year ended December 31, 2015.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal liquidity and capital requirements are for working capital (primarily inventory and accounts payable seasonal needs), capital expenditures to maintain and grow our business, and general corporate purposes. Our principal sources of liquidity at December 31, 2017 were $20 million of cash and cash equivalents, and $126 million of availability under our revolving credit facility. The outstanding balance of the revolving credit facility was $15 million at December 31, 2017.

We expect inventory to build slightly through the first quarter of 2018 in advance of Chinese New Year but to return to more recent historic levels by the third quarter of 2018. Additionally, as part of the anticipated MDL settlement, we expect to make a $22 million payment to the settlement fund in mid-2018 (though we have preserved the option to use stock for a portion of this). There are significant uncertainties associated with unresolved government investigations and legal matters that could represent potential liquidity requirements in 2018. We currently expect capital expenditures for 2018 to total between $15 million and $20 million, but we will continue to assess and adjust our level of capital expenditures based on changing circumstances. Included in our capital requirement, is the funding to open 20 to 25 stores in 2018 and to remodel and/or relocate some existing stores.

While there remains significant uncertainty associated with legal and regulatory matters previously discussed, we believe that cash flow from operations, together with existing liquidity sources, will be sufficient to fund our operations and anticipated capital expenditures for the next 12 months. We have based our estimates on assumptions that may prove wrong, and we may use our available capital resources sooner than we currently expect. For example, if the outcome of legal matters is unfavorable, we may need to seek additional sources of liquidity.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

In 2017, cash and cash equivalents increased $10 million to $20 million. The increase of cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to $39 million of net cash provided by operating activities, mainly through working capital reductions and a tax refund from the 2016 return partially offset by $25 million of net payments on the revolving credit facility and $7 million of net capital expenditures.

In 2016, cash and cash equivalents decreased $16 million to $10 million. The decrease of cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to $28 million of net cash used in operating activities and $8 million of net capital expenditures, which were partially offset by $20 million borrowed under the revolving credit facility.

In 2015, cash and cash equivalents increased $6 million to $27 million. The increase of cash and cash equivalents was primarily due to $9.2 million of net cash provided by operating activities and $20 million borrowed under the revolving credit facility, which were partially offset by $22.5 million for capital expenditures.

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Merchandise Inventories

Merchandise inventory is our most significant asset, and is considered either “available for sale” or “inbound in-transit,” based on whether we have physically received and inspected the products at an individual store location, in our distribution centers or in another facility where we control and monitor inspection.

Merchandise inventories and available inventory per store in operation on December 31 were as follows:

		2017				2016				2015
		(in thousands)
Inventory – Available for Sale		$	226,750			$	257,537			$	215,903
Inventory – Inbound In-Transit			35,530				44,355				28,499
Total Merchandise Inventories		$	262,280			$	301,892			$	244,402
Available Inventory Per Store		$	577			$	672			$	577

Available inventory per store at December 31, 2017 was lower than available inventory per store at December 31, 2016, and in line with December 31, 2015 levels. The elevated level at December 31, 2016 reflected a higher level of inventory build related to new product expansion than in other years.

Inbound in-transit inventory generally varies due to the timing of certain international shipments and certain seasonal factors, including international holidays, rainy seasons and specific merchandise category planning.

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flow activities for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015:

		Year Ended December 31,
(In thousands)		2017				2016				2015
Net Cash provided by (used in):
Operating Activities			39,392				(27,547	)			9,204
Investing Activities			(4,338	)			(8,333	)			(22,478	)
Financing Activities			(26,193	)			18,704				19,705
Effect of Exchange Rates			806				744				(15	)
Total			9,667				(16,432	)			6,416

Operating Activities.  The overall improvement in operating cash flows for 2017 was due to higher sales, improved gross margin and lower SG&A expenses as a percentage of net sales. Cash for certain working capital items also affected operating cash flows. During 2017, operating cash flows benefited by a $29.2 million tax refund related to our 2016 carry-back, and a $32.5 million reduction in merchandise inventories, offset by a $52.5 million reduction in accounts payable.

During 2016, net cash used in operating activities was $28 million and included a net loss of $69 million, which included non-cash amounts for depreciation and amortization of $17.5 million, changes in deferred taxes of $14.2 million, stock-based compensation of $5.6 million, a charge related to the settlement of the Securities Class Action of $16.8 million and lower of cost or market inventory adjustments of $3.7 million. After these adjustments, the cash flow from earnings was a use of cash of $10.8 million. Inclusive in this, is a cash refund of $22.1 million in taxes received in the third quarter related to our carryback of 2015 net operating losses, and a noncash tax benefit recorded that reflects a similar carryback of the 2016 net losses. This use of cash was negatively impacted by the elevated legal and professional fees discussed in the SG&A section above. In 2016, we also generated cash of $2.0 million through increased trade payables, net of increases in inventory, by extending terms with vendors, used cash of $6.2 million related to the settlement of the Lacey Act investigation that was finalized in October 2015 and used $2.5 million in cash related to the settlement of the Derivatives Class Action.

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Net cash provided by operating activities was $9.2 million for 2015 and included a net loss of $56 million. After certain adjustments, the cash flow was a use of cash of $15.2 million. This use of cash was negatively impacted by elevated legal and professional fees previously disclosed. In 2015, we generated cash through a reduction in inventory (net of the reduction in accounts payable) of $21 million, used cash of $3.2 million related to the settlement of the Lacey Act specifically as it related to engineered hardwood, and cash provided by changes in assets and liabilities of $6.2 million.

In 2018, we will not benefit from a significant income tax refund carryback as we did in 2017 and 2016.

Investing Activities.  Net cash used in investing activities was $4.4 million for 2017, $8.3 million for 2016 and $22.5 million for 2015. Net cash used in investing activities in each year included capital purchases for store base expansion and our integrated information technology initiatives. Capital spend in 2015 was elevated as it included the completion of our East Coast distribution facility and higher levels of store related capital expenditures.

Financing Activities.  Net cash used in financing activities was $26 million in 2017. Net cash provided by financing activities was $19 million and $20 million in 2016 and 2015, respectively. Net cash used in financing activities in 2017 was primarily due to $25 million in net payments on the revolving credit facility and net cash used in financing activities in 2016 and 2015 was primarily attributable to borrowings of $20 million in each year on the revolving credit facility.

Revolving Credit Agreement

On August 17, 2016, we entered into a Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America, N.A. (the “Bank”) and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. (“Wells Fargo” and, collectively with the Bank, the “Lenders”) with the Bank as administrative agent and collateral agent and Wells Fargo as syndication agent. Under the Credit Agreement, which matures on August 17, 2021, the Lenders agreed to provide us with an asset-based revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) under which we may obtain loans and letters of credit from the Bank up to a maximum aggregate outstanding principal amount of the lesser of $150 million or a calculated borrowing base. We have the option to increase the Revolving Credit Facility up to a maximum of $200 million subject to the satisfaction of the conditions to such increase specified in the Credit Agreement. We expect to continue to use the Revolving Credit Facility to fund our operations and anticipated capital expenditures.

The Credit Agreement contains customary covenants, including a financial covenant to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.0 to 1.0, calculated quarterly on a trailing four quarters basis that becomes effective only when specified availability under the Revolving Credit Facility falls below the greater of $15 million or 10% of the maximum revolver amount. At December 31, 2017, we had $126 million available to borrow under this facility, which was net of $3.7 million in outstanding letters of credit, $15 million in outstanding borrowings and certain limitations based on the borrowing based and the fixed charge coverage ratio covenant.

Contractual Commitments and Contingencies

Our significant contractual obligations and commitments as of December 31, 2017 are summarized in the following table:

		Payments Due by Period
		Total				Less Than 1 Year				1 to 3 Years				3 to 5 Years				5+ Years
		(in thousands)
Contractual Obligations
Operating Lease Obligations(1)		$	125,353			$	32,930			$	51,309			$	28,117			$	12,997
Purchase Obligations(2)			182				182				—				—				—
Total Debt Obligations, including current maturities			15,000				—				—				15,000				—
Total Contractual Obligations		$	140,535			$	33,112			$	51,309			$	43,117			$	12,997

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Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We do not have any off-balance sheet arrangements or other financing activities with special-purpose entities.

New Accounting Pronouncements

See Summary of Significant Accounting Policies in Note 1 that is included in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for further information about new accounting pronouncements adopted during 2017 and accounting pronouncements issued but not yet effective.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Critical accounting policies are those that we believe are both significant and that require us to make difficult, subjective or complex judgments, often because we need to estimate the effect of inherently uncertain matters. We base our estimates and judgments on historical experiences and various other factors that we believe to be appropriate under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates, and we might obtain different estimates if we used different assumptions or conditions. We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of our financial statements:

Loss Contingencies

We are involved in various lawsuits, claims, investigations, and proceedings. Certain of these matters include speculative claims for substantial or indeterminate amounts of damages. We record a liability when we believe that it is both probable that a loss has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. If we determine that a loss is reasonably possible and a loss or range of the loss can be estimated, we disclose such amounts. Significant judgment is required to determine both probability and the estimated amount of any loss or range of loss. We assess each legal matter and any related provisions at least quarterly and adjust them accordingly to reflect the impact of negotiations, settlements, rulings, advice of legal counsel, and updated information.

Until a final resolution related to loss contingencies for legal and other contingencies is reached, there may be an exposure to loss in excess of the amount we have recorded, and such amounts could be material, either individually or in the aggregate, to our business, consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows. Therefore, if one or more of these matters were resolved against us for amounts in excess of management’s expectations, our results of operations and financial condition, including in a particular reporting period, could be materially adversely affected.

Valuation of Deferred Tax Assets

We account for income taxes and the related accounts in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 740, “Income Taxes.” Deferred tax liabilities and assets are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted rates expected to be in effect during the year in which the differences reverse. We periodically assess the likelihood that we will be able to recover our deferred tax assets and reflect any changes in estimates in the valuation allowance. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in the opinion of management, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. The current year analysis was impacted by the new tax law in December. At December 31, 2017, we had a valuation allowance of $22 million primarily attributable to the uncertainty related to the realizability of our deferred tax assets. We considered all available evidence, both positive and negative, in determining the need for a valuation allowance. Based upon this analysis, including a consideration of our cumulative loss history in the three-year period ended December 31, 2017, we determined that it is not more likely than not that our deferred tax assets will be realized.

Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities and the valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets, if any.

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Management considers estimates of the amount and character of future taxable income in assessing the likelihood of realization of deferred tax assets. Our actual effective tax rate and income tax expense could vary from estimated amounts due to the future impacts of various items, including changes in income tax laws, tax planning and the Company’s forecasted financial condition and results of operations in future periods. Although management believes current estimates are reasonable, actual results could differ from these estimates.

Stock-Based Compensation

We currently utilize a single equity incentive plan under which we may grant non-qualified stock options, restricted shares, stock appreciation rights and other equity awards to employees, non-employee directors and other service providers. We recognize expense for our stock-based compensation based on the fair value of the awards that are granted. Compensation expense is recognized only for those awards expected to vest, with forfeitures estimated at the date of grant based on our historical experience and future expectations. Measured compensation cost is recognized ratably over the service period of the entire related stock-based compensation award.

The fair value of stock options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation model. In order to determine the related stock-based compensation expense, we used the following assumptions for stock options granted during 2017:

The expected stock price volatility is based on the historical volatility of our stock price. The volatility is estimated for a period of time equal to the expected term of the related option. The risk-free interest rate is based on the implied yield of U.S. Treasury zero-coupon issues with an equivalent remaining term. The expected term of the options represents the estimated period of time until exercise and is determined by considering the contractual terms, vesting schedule and expectations of future employee behavior. We have never paid a dividend. Had we arrived at different assumptions of stock price volatility or expected terms of our options, our stock-based compensation expense and results of operations could have been different.

Recognition of Net Sales

We recognize net sales for products purchased at the time the customer takes possession of the merchandise. We recognize service revenue, which consists primarily of installation revenue and freight charges for in-home delivery, when the service has been rendered. We report sales exclusive of sales taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental taxing authorities. Net sales are reduced by an allowance for anticipated sales returns that we estimate based on historical and current sales trends and experience. We believe that our estimate for sales returns is an accurate reflection of future returns. Any reasonably likely changes that may occur in the assumptions underlying our allowance estimates would not be expected to have a material impact on our financial condition or operating performance. Actual sales returns did not vary materially from estimated amounts for 2017, 2016 or 2015.

In addition, customers who do not take immediate delivery of their purchases are generally required to pay a deposit, equal to approximately half of the retail sales value, with the balance payable when the customer takes possession of the merchandise. These customer deposits benefit our cash flow and return on investment capital, because we receive partial payment for our customers’ purchases immediately. We record these deposits as a liability on our balance sheet in Customer Deposits and Store Credits until the customer takes possession of the merchandise.

Merchandise Inventories

We value our merchandise inventories at the lower of merchandise cost or net realizable value. We determine merchandise cost using the average cost method. All of the hardwood flooring we purchase from suppliers is either prefinished or unfinished, and in immediate saleable form. To the extent that we finish and

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box unfinished products, we include those costs in the average unit cost of related merchandise inventory. In determining market value, we make judgments and estimates as to the market value of our products, based on factors such as historical results and current sales trends. Any reasonably likely changes that may occur in those assumptions in the future may require us to record charges for losses or obsolescence against these assets, but would not be expected to have a material impact on our financial condition or operating performance. Actual losses and obsolescence charges did not vary materially from estimated amounts for 2017, 2016 or 2015.

Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.

Interest Rate Risk

We are exposed to interest rate risk through the investment of our cash and cash equivalents. We may invest our cash in short-term investments with maturities of three months or less. Changes in interest rates affect the interest income we earn, and therefore impact our cash flows and results of operations. In addition, borrowings under our Revolving Credit Facility are exposed to interest rate risk due to the variable rate of the facility. As of December 31, 2017, we had $15 million outstanding under our Revolving Credit Facility. If the interest rate on December 31, 2017 had varied by 1% in either direction, interest expense would have fluctuated by $150,000.

We currently do not engage in any interest rate hedging activity and have no intention to do so in the foreseeable future. However, in the future, in an effort to mitigate losses associated with these risks, we may at times enter into derivative financial instruments, although we have not historically done so. We do not, and do not intend to, engage in the practice of trading derivative securities for profit.

Exchange Rate Risk

Less than two percent of our revenue, expense and capital purchasing activities are transacted in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, including the Euro, Canadian dollar, Chinese yuan and Brazilian real.

We currently do not engage in any exchange rate hedging activity as the vast majority of our foreign purchases are denominated in U.S. dollars. However, in the future, in an effort to mitigate losses associated with these risks, we may at times engage in transactions involving various derivative instruments to hedge revenues, inventory purchases, assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies. If the exchange rate on December 31, 2017 had varied by 10% in either direction, net income from Canadian operations would have fluctuated by $10,000.

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Item 8. Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

		Page
Index to Consolidated Financial Statements
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm			45
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2017 and 2016			47
Consolidated Statements of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015			48
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015			49
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015			50
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2017, 2016 and 2015			51
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements			52

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.

Opinion on the Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. (the Company) as of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the related consolidated statements of operations, comprehensive loss, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, and the related notes and Financial Statement Schedule II — Analysis of Valuation and Qualifying Accounts (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company at December 31, 2017 and 2016, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2017, in conformity with the U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework), and our report dated February 26, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2003.
 
Richmond, Virginia
February 26, 2018

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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.

Opinion on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

We have audited Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (2013 framework) (the COSO criteria). In our opinion, Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. (the Company) maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2017, based on the COSO criteria.

We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the 2017 consolidated financial statements of the Company and our report dated February 26, 2018 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

Basis for Opinion

The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Richmond, Virginia
February 26, 2018

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Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)

		December 31, 2017				December 31, 2016
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents		$	19,938			$	10,271
Merchandise Inventories			262,280				301,892
Prepaid Expenses			9,108				5,367
Refundable Income Taxes			1,298				31,429
Other Current Assets			5,372				5,346
Total Current Assets			297,996				354,305
Property and Equipment, net			100,491				115,004
Goodwill			9,693				9,693
Other Assets			2,615				3,542
Total Assets		$	410,795			$	482,544
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity
Current Liabilities:
Accounts Payable		$	67,676			$	120,647
Customer Deposits and Store Credits			38,546				32,639
Accrued Compensation			12,101				9,193
Sales and Income Tax Liabilities			4,273				4,249
Accrual for MDL and Related Other Matters			36,960				—
Other Current Liabilities			18,605				19,984
Total Current Liabilities			178,161				186,712
Other Long-Term Liabilities			19,235				21,142
Deferred Tax Liability			552				3,798
Revolving Credit Facility			15,000				40,000
Total Liabilities			212,948				251,652
Stockholders’ Equity:
Common Stock ($0.001 par value; 35,000 shares authorized; 31,397 and 31,102 shares issued and 28,490 and 28,249 shares outstanding at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively)			31				31
Treasury Stock, at cost (2,907 and 2,853 shares, respectively)			(140,875	)			(139,420	)
Additional Capital			208,629				202,700
Retained Earnings			131,214				169,037
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss			(1,152	)			(1,456	)
Total Stockholders’ Equity			197,847				230,892
Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity		$	410,795			$	482,544

 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

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Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
 
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands except per share amounts)

		Year Ended December 31,
		2017				2016				2015
Net Sales		$	1,028,933			$	960,588			$	978,776
Cost of Sales			659,872				656,719				699,918
Gross Profit			369,061				303,869				278,858
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses			406,027				397,504				362,051
Operating Loss			(36,966	)			(93,635	)			(83,193	)
Other Expense			1,591				638				234
Loss Before Income Taxes			(38,557	)			(94,273	)			(83,427	)
Income Tax Benefit			(734	)			(25,710	)			(26,994	)
Net Loss		$	(37,823	)		$	(68,563	)		$	(56,433	)
Net Loss per Common Share – Basic		$	(1.33	)		$	(2.51	)		$	(2.08	)
Net Loss per Common Share – Diluted		$	(1.33	)		$	(2.51	)		$	(2.08	)
Weighted Average Common Shares Outstanding:
Basic			28,407				27,284				27,082
Diluted			28,407				27,284				27,082

 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

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Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
 
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Loss
(in thousands)

		Year Ended December 31,
		2017				2016				2015
Net Loss		$	(37,823	)		$	(68,563	)		$	(56,433	)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments			304				209				(869	)
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)			304				209				(869	)
Comprehensive Loss		$	(37,519	)		$	(68,354	)		$	(57,302	)

 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

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Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
 
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
(in thousands)

		Common Stock								Treasury Stock								Additional Capital				Retained Earnings				Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)				Total Stockholders’ Equity
		Shares				Par Value				Shares				Value
December 31, 2014			27,069			$	30				2,817			$	(138,692	)		$	177,479			$	294,033			$	(796	)		$	332,054
Stock-Based Compensation Expense			—				—				—				—				4,080				—				—				4,080
Exercise of Stock Options			—				—				—				—				—				—				—				—
Excess Tax Benefits on Stock Option Exercises			—				—				—				—				(969	)			—				—				(969	)
Release of Restricted Shares			19				—				—				—				—				—				—				—
Common Stock Repurchased			—				—				8				(295	)			—				—				—				(295	)
Translation Adjustment			—				—				—				—				—				—				(869	)			(869	)
Net Income			—				—				—				—				—				(56,433	)			—				(56,433	)
December 31, 2015			27,088			$	30				2,825			$	(138,987	)		$	180,590			$	237,600			$	(1,665	)		$	277,568
Stock-Based Compensation Expense			—				—				—				—				5,487				—				—				5,487
Exercise of Stock Options			59				—				—				—				539				—				—				539
Tax Effect of Stock-Based Compensation			—				—				—				—				(675	)			—				—				(675	)
Stock Issued upon Legal Settlement			1,000				1												16,759												16,760
Release of Restricted Shares			101				—				—				—				—				—				—				—
Common Stock Repurchased			—				—				29				(433	)			—				—				—				(433	)
Translation Adjustment			—				—				—				—				—				—				209				209
Net Loss			—				—				—				—				—				(68,563	)			—				(68,563	)
December 31, 2016			28,248			$	31				2,854			$	(139,420	)		$	202,700			$	169,037			$	(1,456	)		$	230,892
Stock-Based Compensation Expense			—				—				—				—				4,582				—				—				4,582
Exercise of Stock Options			88				—				—				—				1,347				—				—				1,347
Release of Restricted Shares			154				—				—				—				—				—				—				—
Common Stock Repurchased			—				—				53				(1,455	)							—				—				(1,455	)
Translation Adjustment			—				—				—				—				—				—				304				304
Net Loss			—				—				—				—				—				(37,823	)			—				(37,823	)
December 31, 2017			28,490			$	31				2,907			$	(140,875	)		$	208,629			$	131,214			$	(1,152	)		$	197,847

 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

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Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)

		Year Ended December 31,
		2017				2016				2015
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net Loss		$	(37,823	)		$	(68,563	)		$	(56,433	)
Adjustments to Reconcile Net Loss to Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities:
Depreciation and Amortization			17,739				17,505				17,392
Deferred Income Taxes (Benefit) Provision			(3,246	)			14,205				(12,064	)
Stock-Based Compensation Expense			4,735				5,568				3,941
Provision for Inventory Obsolescence Reserves			6,349				3,723				26,162
Impairment and Loss on Disposal of Fixed Assets			1,498				—				4,392
Stock-Based Portion of Provision for Securities Class Action			—				16,760				—
Deconsolidation of Variable Interest Entity			—				—				1,457
Changes in Operating Assets and Liabilities:
Merchandise Inventories			32,614				(62,054	)			42,773
Accounts Payable			(52,475	)			64,025				(21,450	)
Customer Deposits and Store Credits			6,001				(988	)			(1,075	)
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets			28,962				(11,411	)			(18,385	)
Accrual for MDL and Related Other Matters			36,960				—				—
Other Assets and Liabilities			(1,922	)			(6,317	)			22,494
Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities			39,392				(27,547	)			9,204
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Purchases of Property and Equipment			(7,411	)			(8,908	)			(22,478	)
Proceeds from Disposal of Fixed Assets			2,273				—				—
Other Investing Activities			800				575				—
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities			(4,338	)			(8,333	)			(22,478	)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Payments on Revolving Credit Facility			(65,000	)			(17,000	)			(19,000	)
Borrowings on Revolving Credit Facility			40,000				37,000				39,000
Proceeds from the Exercise of Stock Options			1,347				539				—
Payments for Stock Repurchases			(1,455	)			(433	)			(295	)
Payments on Financed Insurance Obligations			(734	)			—				—
Payments on Capital Lease Obligations			(351	)			(469	)			—
Payments for Debt Issuance Costs			—				(933	)			—
Net Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities			(26,193	)			18,704				19,705
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents			806				744				(15	)
Net Increase (Decrease) Increase in Cash and Cash Equivalents			9,667				(16,432	)			6,416
Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of Year			10,271				26,703				20,287
Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of Year		$	19,938			$	10,271			$	26,703
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash operating and financing activities:
Financed Insurance Premiums		$	1,346			$	—				—
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities:
Borrowing on Capital Lease Obligation to Acquire Equipment		$	—			$	351			$	—

 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements

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Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Nature of Business

Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries (collectively and, where applicable, individually, the “Company”) engage in business as a multi-channel specialty retailer of hardwood flooring, and hardwood flooring enhancements and accessories, operating as a single operating segment. The Company offers an extensive assortment of exotic and domestic hardwood species, engineered hardwood, laminate, resilient vinyl and wood-look ceramic tile flooring direct to the consumer. The Company also features the renewable flooring products, bamboo and cork, and provides a wide selection of flooring enhancements and accessories, including moldings, noise-reducing underlay, adhesives and flooring tools. The Company also provides in-home delivery and installation services to certain of its customers. The Company sells primarily to homeowners or to contractors on behalf of homeowners through a network of 393 store locations in primary or secondary metropolitan areas. The Company’s stores spanned 46 states in the United States (“U.S.”) and included eight stores in Canada at December 31, 2017. In addition to the store locations, the Company’s products may be ordered, and customer questions/concerns addressed, through both its call center in Toano, Virginia, and its website, www.lumberliquidators.com. The Company finishes the majority of the Bellawood products on its finishing lines in Toano, Virginia, which along with the call center, corporate offices, and a distribution center, represent the “Corporate Headquarters.”

Organization and Basis of Financial Statement Presentation

The consolidated financial statements of Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation, include the accounts of its wholly owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

In 2014, the Company entered into an arrangement to begin to vertically integrate its domestic hardwood supply to feed its finishing lines. During 2015, the Company decided to discontinue certain of these vertical integration initiatives, which were previously consolidated as a variable interest entity, and terminated its prior arrangement. As a result, the Company recorded a charge of $1,457 in cost of sales in its consolidated statements of operations upon deconsolidation of the variable interest entity. The charge was measured as the difference between the fair value of the assets received upon termination and the carrying value of the related net assets.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

The Company had cash and cash equivalents of $19,938 and $10,271 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company considers all highly liquid investments with a maturity date of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents, of which there was zero at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company accepts a range of debit and credit cards, and these transactions are generally transmitted to a bank for reimbursement within 24 hours. The payments due from the banks for these debit and credit card transactions are generally received, or settled, within 24 to 48 hours of the transmission date. The Company considers all debit and credit card transactions that settle in less than seven days to be cash and cash equivalents. Amounts due from the banks for these transactions classified as cash equivalents totaled $13,332 and $9,609 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Credit Programs

Credit is offered to the Company’s customers through a proprietary credit card, underwritten by a third-party financial institution and generally at no recourse to the Company. A credit line is offered to the

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Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  – (continued)

Company’s professional customers through the Lumber Liquidators Commercial Credit Program. This commercial credit program is underwritten by a third-party financial institution, generally with no recourse to the Company.

As part of the credit program, the Company’s customers may tender their Lumber Liquidators credit card to receive installation services. As of December 31, 2017, we utilized a network of associates to perform certain customer-facing, consultative services and coordinate the installation of our flooring products by third-party independent contractors in 391 of our stores. In our remaining stores, installation services are provided through a national arrangement with a third-party.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The carrying amounts of financial instruments such as cash and cash equivalents, accounts payable and other liabilities approximates fair value because of the short-term nature of these items. The carrying amount of obligations under our revolving credit facility approximates fair value due to the variable rate of interest. The fair value of the revolving credit facility is classified as Level 1 as defined in the Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification (“FASB ASC”) fair value hierarchy.

During 2017, certain non-financial assets, including property and equipment, have been written down and measured in the consolidated financial statements at fair value. Fair value was based on expected future cash flows using Level 2 inputs under the fair value hierarchy. During 2015, certain non-financial assets, including property and equipment, were written down and measured in the consolidated financial statements at fair value. Fair value was based on expected future cash flows using Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy.

Merchandise Inventories

The Company values merchandise inventories at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The method by which amounts are removed from inventory is weighted average cost. All of the hardwood flooring purchased from vendors is either prefinished or unfinished, and in immediate saleable form. The Company adds the finish to, and boxes, various species of unfinished product, to produce certain proprietary products, primarily Bellawood, at its finishing facility. These finishing and boxing costs are included in the average unit cost of related merchandise inventory. The Company maintains an inventory reserve for loss or obsolescence based on historical results and current sales trends. This reserve was $5.6 million and $7.1 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company recorded inventory impairment charges related to its laminate flooring sourced from China, in connection with changes in the executive management team and based on the evaluation of the alternatives for disposal, and it was determined that it would not sell the inventory of laminate flooring sourced from China in its stores. As a result of that decision, the Company recorded a charge to reduce the remaining carrying value of this laminate flooring and related moldings to its net realizable value of zero. The Company recorded total charges related to laminate flooring sourced from China of $22.5 million in cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2015 in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. The Company disposed of most of this flooring in the fourth quarter of 2017 at a cost of $1.7 million.

During the year ended December 31, 2015, the Company determined that it would refocus on its core business and it would not pursue an expansion into the tile flooring business in the near term. As a result, the Company recorded a lower of cost or market adjustment of $3.7 million for certain tile flooring and related accessories, which is recorded in cost of sales for the year ended December 31, 2015 in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations.

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Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  – (continued)

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

The Company evaluates potential impairment losses on long-lived assets used in operations when events and circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired, and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amounts of those assets. If impairment exists and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amount of those assets, an impairment loss is recorded based on the difference between the carrying value and fair value of the assets.

In the third quarter of 2017, the Company determined that the carrying value of certain assets that had once been part of a discontinued vertical integration strategy was above their fair value, and recorded an impairment charge of $1.5 million in SG&A expenses in the consolidated statements of operations. The charge was measured as the difference between the fair value (Level 2 inputs under the fair value hierarchy) of the assets and the carrying value of the related net assets based on a contract to sell to a third party.

No impairment charges were recognized in 2016.

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company finalized the termination of its agreement relating to certain vertical integration initiatives which changed the Company’s expectations of future cash flows from related long-lived assets. As a result, the Company tested certain long-lived assets for impairment. The Company recorded a $3 million impairment charge within selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses. The impairment charge was measured under an income approach utilizing forecasted discounted cash flows. Fair value was based on expected future cash flows using Level 3 inputs under the fair value hierarchy. The most significant unobservable input used in the fair value analysis relates to the estimated sales price of the long-lived assets.

In the second quarter of 2015, the Company concluded that its decision not to pursue an expansion into the tile flooring business in the near term was a triggering event requiring assessment of recoverability for certain of its long-lived assets. As a result, the Company tested the long-lived assets for impairment related to its store locations selling a significant assortment of tile flooring. The Company recorded a $1.4 million impairment charge, which is recorded within SG&A expenses for the year ended December 31, 3015 in the accompanying consolidated statements of income. The impairment charge was measured under an income approach utilizing forecasted discounted cash flows. Fair value was based on expected future cash flows using Level 3 inputs under fair value hierarchy. The most significant unobservable input used in the fair value analysis relates to the estimated sales price of the long-lived assets.

Goodwill and Other Indefinite-Lived Intangibles

Goodwill represents the costs in excess of the fair value of net assets acquired associated with acquisitions by the Company. Other assets include $0.8 million for an indefinite-lived intangible asset for the phone number 1-800-HARDWOOD and related internet domain names. The Company evaluates these assets for impairment on an annual basis, or whenever events or changes in circumstance indicate that the asset carrying value exceeds its fair value. Based on the analysis performed, the Company has concluded that no impairment in the value of these assets has occurred.

Self-Insurance

The Company is self-insured for certain employee health benefit claims and for certain workers’ compensation claims. The Company estimates a liability for aggregate losses below stop-loss coverage limits based on estimates of the ultimate costs to be incurred to settle known claims and claims incurred but not reported as of the balance sheet date. The estimated liability is not discounted and is based on a number of assumptions and factors including historical and industry trends and economic conditions. This liability could

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Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  – (continued)

be affected if future occurrences and claims differ from these assumptions and historical trends. As of December 31, 2017 and 2016, the Company had accruals of $2.1 million related to estimated claims was included in other current liabilities.

Recognition of Net Sales

The Company recognizes net sales for products purchased at the time the customer takes possession of the merchandise. Service revenue, primarily installation revenue and freight charges for in-home delivery, is included in net sales and recognized when the service has been rendered. The Company reports sales exclusive of sales taxes collected from customers and remitted to governmental taxing authorities, and net of an allowance for anticipated sales returns based on historical and current sales trends and experience. The sales returns allowance and related changes were not significant for 2017, 2016 or 2015.

In total, we offer more than 400 different flooring product stock-keeping units; however, no single flooring product represented more than 2% of our sales mix. By major product category, our sales mix was as follows:

		2017								2016								2015
Solid and Engineered Hardwood		$	358,379				35	%		$	318,397				33	%		$	378,501				38	%
Bamboo and Cork			138,827				13	%			137,801				14	%			153,512				16	%
Vinyl Plank			94,838				9	%			85,614				9	%			48,506				5	%
Laminate			132,654				13	%			149,745				16	%			153,722				16	%
Moldings and Accessories and Other			213,311				21	%			204,173				21	%			203,902				21	%
Installation and Delivery Services			90,924				9	%			64,858				7	%			40,633				4	%
Total		$	1,028,933				100	%		$	960,588				100	%		$	978,776				100	%

The Company generally requires customers to pay a deposit, equal to approximately half of the retail sales value, when purchasing merchandise inventories not regularly carried in a given store location, or not currently in stock. These deposits are included in customer deposits and store credits until the customer takes possession of the merchandise. Installation and freight services are required to be paid in advance (unless prohibited by law).

Cost of Sales

Cost of sales includes the cost of the product sold, cost of installation services, transportation costs from vendor to the Company’s distribution centers or store locations, any applicable finishing costs related to production of the Company’s proprietary brands, transportation costs from distribution centers to store locations, transportation costs for the delivery of products from store locations to customers, certain costs of quality control procedures, inventory adjustments including shrinkage, and costs to produce samples, reduced by vendor allowances.

The Company offers a range of limited warranties for the durability of the finish on its prefinished products to its services provided. These limited warranties range from one to 100 years, with lifetime warranties for certain of the Company’s products. Warranty reserves are based primarily on claims experience, sales history and other considerations, including payments made to satisfy customers for claims not directly related to the warranty on the Company’s products. Warranty costs are recorded in cost of sales. This reserve was $1.6 million and $1.8 million at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The Company is able to seek recovery from its vendors and third-party independent contractors of installation services for certain amounts paid.

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Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  – (continued)

Vendor allowances primarily consist of volume rebates that are earned as a result of attaining certain purchase levels and reimbursement for the cost of producing samples. Vendor allowances are accrued as earned, with those allowances received as a result of attaining certain purchase levels accrued over the incentive period based on estimates of purchases. Volume rebates earned are initially recorded as a reduction in merchandise inventories and a subsequent reduction in cost of sales when the related product is sold. Reimbursement received for the cost of producing samples is recorded as an offset against cost of sales.

Accrual for Air Quality Emissions Screening Test Costs

The Company offers a free indoor air quality testing program for customers who purchased laminate flooring sourced from China during the period from February 22, 2012 to February 27, 2015. The Company established a reserve to provide for the estimated future expenses required to support the program. Reserve estimates are based on management’s judgment, considering such factors as cost per air quality testing request, recent historical experience, and the anticipated number of future requests for the duration of the program. Management reviews and adjusts these estimates, if necessary, on a quarterly basis based on any differences in actual and expected program cost experience.

During the second quarter of 2017, the Company reduced its estimate of the number of test kit requests based on its experience, and reduced its estimate of the administrative costs of the Air Quality Testing Program. The revised estimates were in part prompted by the CPSC’s July 2017 decision to close this case with the Company and terminate its monitoring activity of the Air Quality Testing Program. The Company will continue to offer tests kits to qualifying customers, but the lower total estimated future costs of the Air Quality Testing Program resulted in a reduction in the reserve and the corresponding offset to cost of sales of $1 million. At December 31, 2017, the Company’s estimate of its future costs for the Air Quality Testing Program through June 30, 2018 is approximately $0.1 million. Beyond that time the Company expects the costs of the Air Quality Testing Program, if any, to be negligible.

Advertising Costs

Advertising costs charged to selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses, net of vendor allowances, were $76,586, $80,079 and $77,455 in 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. The Company uses various types of media to brand its name and advertise its products. Media production costs are generally expensed as incurred, except for direct mail, which is expensed when the finished piece enters the postal system. Media placement costs are generally expensed in the month the advertising occurs, except for contracted endorsements and sports agreements, which are generally expensed ratably over the contract period. Amounts paid in advance are included in prepaid expenses and totaled $1,077 and $747 at December 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

Store Opening Costs

Costs to open new store locations are charged to SG&A expenses as incurred, net of any vendor support.

Other Vendor Consideration

Consideration from non-merchandise vendors, including royalties and rebates, are generally recorded as an offset to SG&A expenses when earned.

Depreciation and Amortization

Property and equipment is carried at cost and depreciated on the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives. The estimated useful lives for leasehold improvements are the shorter of the estimated useful lives or the remainder of the lease terms. For leases with optional renewal periods for which renewal is not reasonably assured, the Company uses the original lease term, excluding optional renewal periods, to

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Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc.
 
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(amounts in thousands, except share data and per share amounts)

Note 1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies  – (continued)

determine the appropriate estimated useful lives. Capitalized software costs are capitalized from the time that technological feasibility is established until the software is ready for use. The estimated useful lives are generally as follows:

		Years
Buildings and Building Improvements			7 to 40
Property and Equipment			3 to 15
Computer Software and Hardware			3 to 10
Leasehold Improvements			1 to 15