UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

 

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

 

For the Quarterly Period Ended August 4, 2018

 

OR

 

¨ 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: 001-35239

 

 

 

FRANCESCA’S HOLDINGS CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware 20-8874704

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

   
8760 Clay Road Houston, TX 77080
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

(713) 864-1358

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

None

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

 

 

 

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   ¨

 

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    ¨

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer ¨ Accelerated filer x
       
Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨
       
    Emerging growth company ¨

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

 

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

 

The registrant had 36,223,071 shares (excluding 11,079,448 shares of treasury stock) of its common stock outstanding as of August 15, 2018.  

 

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION 3
     
Item 1. Financial Statements 3
     
  Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 4, 2018, February 3, 2018 and July 29, 2017 3
     
  Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Thirteen and Twenty-Six Weeks Ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017 4
     
  Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Twenty-Six Weeks Ended August 4, 2018 5
     
  Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Twenty-Six Weeks Ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017 6
     
  Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements 7
     
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 13
     
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk 20
     
Item 4. Controls and Procedures 20
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION 21
     
Item 1. Legal Proceedings 21
     
Item 1A. Risk Factors 21
     
Item 6. Exhibits 21

 

  2  

 

 

PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

Francesca’s Holdings Corporation

Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share amounts)

 

    August 4, 2018     February 3, 2018     July 29, 2017  
ASSETS                        
Current assets:                        
Cash and cash equivalents   $ 23,354     $ 31,331     $ 33,298  
Accounts receivable     19,764       16,642       18,416  
Inventories     31,902       26,816       34,036  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     10,549       9,714       9,433  
Total current assets     85,569       84,503       95,183  
Property and equipment, net     89,858       87,702       83,956  
Deferred income taxes     7,233       9,413       16,009  
Other assets, net     4,912       3,622       3,138  
                         
TOTAL ASSETS   $ 187,572     $ 185,240     $ 198,286  
                         
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY                        
Current liabilities:                        
Accounts payable   $ 29,406     $ 17,801     $ 26,971  
Accrued liabilities     11,926       14,654       17,748  
Total current liabilities     41,332       32,455       44,719  
Landlord incentives and deferred rent     35,904       38,337       38,125  
Total liabilities     77,236       70,792       82,844  
                         
Commitments and contingencies                        
                         
Stockholders’ equity:                        
Common stock - $0.01 par value, 80.0 million shares authorized; 47.3 million, 46.3 million and 46.4 million shares issued at August 4, 2018, February 3, 2018 and July 29, 2017, respectively.     473       463       464  
Additional paid-in capital     112,136       111,439       111,405  
Retained earnings     157,748       159,045       155,080  
Treasury stock, at cost – 11.1 million, 10.3 million and 9.7 million shares at August 4, 2018, February 3, 2018 and July 29, 2017, respectively.     (160,021 )     (156,499 )     (151,507 )
Total stockholders’ equity     110,336       114,448       115,442  
                         
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY   $ 187,572     $ 185,240     $ 198,286  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  3  

 

 

Francesca’s Holdings Corporation

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

    Thirteen Weeks Ended     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
    August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017     August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017  
Net sales   $ 113,025     $ 119,707     $ 213,430     $ 227,396  
Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs     68,918       64,312       130,960       123,317  
Gross profit     44,107       55,395       82,470       104,079  
Selling, general and administrative expenses     43,277       43,556       86,160       84,934  
Income (loss) from operations     830       11,839       (3,690 )     19,145  
Interest expense     (112 )     (110 )     (229 )     (223 )
Other income     102       119       252       190  
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)     820       11,848       (3,667 )     19,112  
Income tax expense (benefit)     366       4,585       (236 )     7,516  
Net income (loss)   $ 454     $ 7,263     $ (3,431 )   $ 11,596  
                                 
Basic earnings (loss) per common share   $ 0.01     $ 0.20     $ (0.10 )   $ 0.32  
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share   $ 0.01     $ 0.20     $ (0.10 )   $ 0.32  
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding:                                
Basic shares     34,759       36,336       34,807       36,639  
Diluted shares     35,020       36,472       34,807       36,811  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  4  

 

 

Francesca’s Holdings Corporation

Unaudited Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity

(In thousands)

 

    Common Stock       Additional             Treasury     Total  
   

Shares

Outstanding

   

Par

Value

   

Paid-in

Capital

   

Retained

Earnings

   

Stock, at

cost

   

Stockholders'

Equity

 
Balance, February 3, 2018     35,875       463       111,439       159,045       (156,499 )     114,448  
Net loss     -       -       -       (3,431 )     -       (3,431 )
Stock-based compensation     -       -       733       -       -       733  
Restricted stocks issued, net of forfeitures     1,012       10       (10 )     -       -       -  
Shares withheld related to net settlement of equity awards     (5 )     -       (26 )     -       -       (26 )
Cumulative effect adjustment on adoption of new accounting standards, net of tax     -       -       -       2,134       -       2,134  
Repurchases of common stock     (659 )     -       -       -       (3,522 )     (3,522 )
Balance, August 4, 2018     36,223       473       112,136       157,748       (160,021 )     110,336  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

  5  

 

 

Francesca’s Holdings Corporation

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(In thousands)

 

    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
    August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017  
Cash Flows Provided by Operating Activities:                
Net (loss) income   $ (3,431 )   $ 11,596  
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by operating activities:                
Depreciation and amortization     12,105       10,310  
Stock-based compensation expense     733       2,422  
Loss on disposal of assets     350       233  
Deferred income taxes     1,473       (497 )
Impairment charges     148       100  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                
Accounts receivable     (3,122 )     (12,538 )
Inventories     (5,086 )     (10,078 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets     (2,411 )     (1,978 )
Accounts payable     12,590       16,864  
Accrued liabilities     20       (8,013 )
Landlord incentives and deferred rent     (2,433 )     33  
Net cash provided by operating activities     10,936       8,454  
                 
Cash Flows Used in Investing Activities:                
Purchases of property and equipment     (14,436 )     (12,890 )
Net cash used in investing activities     (14,436 )     (12,890 )
                 
Cash Flows Used in Financing Activities:                
Repurchases of common stock     (3,980 )     (15,326 )
Taxes paid related to net settlement of equity awards     (26 )     (142 )
Payment of debt issuance costs     (471 )     -  
Net cash used in financing activities     (4,477 )     (15,468 )
                 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents     (7,977 )     (19,904 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year     31,331       53,202  
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period   $ 23,354     $ 33,298  
                 
Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information:                
Cash paid for income taxes   $ 226     $ 23,742  
Interest paid   $ 77     $ 97  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements .

 

  6  

 

 

Francesca’s Holdings Corporation

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

1. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

 

Nature of Business

 

Francesca’s Holdings Corporation is a holding company incorporated in 2007 under the laws of the State of Delaware whose business operations are conducted through its subsidiaries.  Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company,” refers to Francesca’s Holdings Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. The Company operates a nationwide-chain of boutiques providing its customers with a unique, fun and personalized shopping experience. The Company offers a diverse and balanced mix of apparel, jewelry, accessories and gifts at attractive values. At August 4, 2018, the Company operated 742 boutiques, which are located in 47 states throughout the United States and the District of Columbia, and its ecommerce website. 

 

Basis of Presentation

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for interim financial statements and are in the form prescribed by the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, these unaudited financial statements include all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring adjustments, considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial position, results of operations, changes in equity, and cash flows at the dates and for the periods presented. The financial information as of February 3, 2018 was derived from the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as of and for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 28, 2018.

 

These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements and related notes as of and for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

 

Due to seasonal variations in the Company’s business, interim results are not necessarily indicative of results that may be expected for any other interim period or for a full year.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and all its subsidiaries. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

 

Fiscal Year

 

The Company maintains its accounts on a 52- or 53-week year ending on the Saturday closest to January 31st. Fiscal year 2018 includes 52 weeks of operations while fiscal year 2017 includes 53 weeks of operations. The fiscal quarters ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017 refer to the thirteen week periods ended as of those dates. The year-to-date periods ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017 refer to the twenty-six week periods ended as of those dates.

 

Management Estimates and Assumptions

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues, net of estimated sales returns, and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

 

Reclassifications

 

Certain prior year amounts were reclassified between selling, general expenses and other income in order to provide consistency with the current period presentation. These reclassifications did not materially impact the financial statement for the periods presented.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company adopted Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers” on February 4, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. Prior period amounts were not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with ASC 605, “Revenue Recognition.” As a result of adoption of ASC 606, the Company recorded an adjustment of $2.0 million, net of $0.7 million tax effect, to the beginning balance of retained earnings related to the change in timing of recognizing gift card breakage income. In addition, the cost of estimated returns is now included in current assets rather than netted with the allowance for sales returns, and ecommerce sales are now recognized upon shipment rather than delivery to the customer, with the cumulative effect related to this change determined to be immaterial.

 

  7  

 

 

Francesca’s Holdings Corporation

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Company recognizes revenue when control of the merchandise is transferred to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration received in exchange for such merchandise. For boutique sales, control is transferred at the point at which the customer receives and pays for the merchandise at the register. For ecommerce sales, control is transferred when merchandise is tendered to a third party carrier for delivery to the customer. The consideration received is the stated price of the merchandise, net of any discount, sales tax collected and estimated sales returns, and, in the case of ecommerce sales, includes shipping revenue. Cash is typically received on the day of or, in the case of credit or debit card transactions, within several days of the related sales. Management estimates future returns on previously sold merchandise based on return history and current sales levels. Estimated returns are periodically compared to actual sales returns and adjusted, if appropriate. The provision for estimated returns is included in accrued liabilities while the associated cost of merchandise is included as part of prepaid and other current assets in the consolidated balance sheets.

 

Disaggregated revenue

 

The Company disaggregates net sales into the following major merchandise departments.

 

      Thirteen Weeks Ended     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
      August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017     August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017  
      (in thousands)  
Apparel     $ 56,807     $ 65,396     $ 106,341     $ 125,408  
Jewelry       26,984       25,560       50,842       49,331  
Accessories       17,181       14,735       32,665       28,716  
Gifts       11,337       12,836       22,442       23,951  
Others (1)       716       1,180       1,140       (10 )
      $ 113,025     $ 119,707     $ 213,430     $ 227,396  

 

 

(1) Includes gift card breakage income, shipping revenue and change in return reserve.

 

Contract liability

 

Contract liability consists of gift card liability. The Company accounts for the sale of gift cards as a liability at the time a gift card is sold. The liability is relieved and revenue is recognized upon redemption of the gift card. The Company’s gift cards do not have an expiration date. Income from gift card breakage is estimated based on historical redemption patterns and recognized over the historical redemption period. Unredeemed gift cards at the end of the prior fiscal year recognized in revenues for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 totaled $1.1 million and $3.0 million, respectively, and for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2017 totaled $1.2 million and $3.3 million, respectively.

 

New Accounting Pronouncements

 

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

 

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-04 “Liabilities - Extinguishments of Liabilities (Subtopic 405-20), Recognition of Breakage for Certain Prepaid Stored-Value Products.” The new guidance allows a company to derecognize amounts related to expected breakage to the extent that it is probable that a significant reversal of the recognized breakage amount will not subsequently occur. ASU 2016-04 is effective for annual periods, and interim periods within those annual periods, beginning after December 15, 2017, with early adoption permitted. This standard may be adopted on either a modified retrospective or a retrospective basis.

 

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” This pronouncement requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration which the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods and services. This standard is effective for reporting periods beginning on or after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that fiscal year, with early adoption permitted for interim and annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2016. Since the original issuance of ASU 2014-09, the FASB has issued several amendments and updates to this guidance. This guidance may be adopted on a full retrospective basis to each prior reporting period presented or on a modified retrospective basis with the cumulative effect of initially applying the guidance recognized at the date of initial application. 

 

  8  

 

 

Francesca’s Holdings Corporation

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Company adopted ASU 2016-04 and ASU 2014-09 on February 4, 2018 using the modified retrospective approach. Please refer to the Revenue Recognition policy section of this Note 1 to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements for further information.

 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

 

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, "Intangibles-Goodwill and Other-Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract." ASU 2018-15 aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. This new guidance will be effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019 and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the effect that the new guidance will have on its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842).” The new guidance, among other things, requires lessees to recognize the following for all leases (with the exception of short-term leases) at the commencement date: (i) a lease liability, which is a lessee’s obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, measured on a discounted basis and (ii) a right-of-use asset, which is an asset that represents the lessee’s right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Under the new guidance, lessor accounting is largely unchanged. Certain targeted improvements were made to align, where necessary, lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and ASC Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, “Leases (Topic 842): Targeted Improvements,” to provide an additional, optional transition method for adopting ASU 2016-02 which allow entities to apply the new lease standard at the adoption date and recognize a cumulative effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption while comparative periods presented will continue to be in presented in accordance with current ASC Topic 840. This new guidance will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The guidance is required to be adopted using the modified retrospective approach or the additional, optional transition method set forth in ASU 2018-11. The Company is in the process of compiling all agreements that are considered as a lease under this new guidance as well as implementing its leasing software solution, including identifying changes to its business processes, systems and controls to support its adoption in fiscal year 2019. While the Company is still evaluating the impact of this new guidance on its consolidated financial statements, it expects that the adoption of this guidance will not have a material impact on its results of operations; however, it will result in a significant increase in total assets and total liabilities on the Company’s balance sheet given that the Company has a significant number of leases.

 

2. Earnings (Loss) per Share

 

Basic earnings (loss) per common share amounts are calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings (loss) per common share amounts are calculated using the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period and include the dilutive impact of restricted stock and stock option grants using the treasury stock method. The following table summarizes the potential dilution that could occur if stock options to acquire common stock were exercised or if the restricted stock grants were fully vested and reconciles the weighted-average common shares outstanding used in the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share.

 

    Thirteen Weeks Ended     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
    August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017     August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017  
    (in thousands, except per share data)  
Numerator:                        
Net income (loss)   $ 454     $ 7,263     $ (3,431 )   $ 11,596  
                                 
Denominator:                                
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - basic     34,759       36,336       34,807       36,639  
Restricted stocks and stock options     261       136       - (1)     172  
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - diluted     35,020       36,472       34,807       36,811  
                                 
Per common share:                                
Basic earnings (loss) per common share   $ 0.01     $ 0.20     $ (0.10 )   $ 0.32  
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share   $ 0.01     $ 0.20     $ (0.10 )   $ 0.32  

 

 

(1) Due to the Company being in a net loss position in the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018, no restricted stocks and stock options were included in the computation of diluted loss per share as their effect would have been anti-dilutive.

 

Potentially issuable shares under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans amounting to approximately 0.3 million shares and 0.9 million in the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018, respectively, and 0.4 million shares in each of the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2017 were excluded in the computation of diluted weighted-average common shares outstanding due to their anti-dilutive effect. The Company also excluded contingently issuable performance-based awards totaling 0.7 million shares in each of the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 and 0.4 million shares in each of the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2017 from the computation of diluted earnings per share because the pre-established goals had not been satisfied as of the end of each period.

 

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Francesca’s Holdings Corporation

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

3. Fair Value Measurements

 

Fair value is defined as the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. The carrying amount reflected in the consolidated balance sheets of financial assets and liabilities, which includes cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued liabilities, approximated their fair values due to the short term nature of these financial assets and liabilities.

 

4. Income Taxes

 

The provision for income taxes is based on the Company’s current estimate of the annual effective tax rate. The effective income tax rates for the thirteen weeks ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017 were 44.6% and 38.7%, respectively, and for the twenty six-weeks ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017 were 6.4% and 39.3%, respectively. The change in the effective tax rates for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 versus the comparable prior year period and the statutory federal corporate tax rate under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act enacted in December 2017 was primarily due to the additional tax expense recognized related to certain stock-based awards.  

 

As of August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017, income tax receivable totaled $11.7 million and $9.6 million, respectively.

 

The Company has not recorded any adjustment to its estimates at the end of fiscal year 2017 as a result of the enactment of the Tax Act. As the Company continues to refine and update its analysis of the Tax Act and interprets any additional guidance, it may make adjustments to the amounts that have been previously recorded. Any such adjustment will be reflected in income tax expense or benefit in fiscal year 2018.

 

5. Revolving Credit Facility

 

Prior Revolving Credit Facility

 

On August 30, 2013, Francesca’s Collections, Inc., as borrower, and its parent company, Francesca’s LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (“Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement”) with Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, and the lenders party thereto. The credit facility provided capacity of $75.0 million (including up to $10.0 million for letters of credit) and was scheduled to mature on August 30, 2018.  On May 25, 2018, concurrent with entering into the Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility described below, the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement was terminated.

 

Asset Based Revolving Credit Agreement

 

On May 25, 2018, Francesca’s Holdings Corporation (the “Holdings”), as a guarantor, certain of its subsidiaries, as borrowers (the “Borrowers”), and certain of its subsidiaries as guarantors (together with Holdings and the Borrowers, the “Loan Parties”), entered into an asset based revolving Credit Agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and the lenders party thereto. The Credit Agreement provides for revolving commitments of $50.0 million (including up to $10.0 million for letters of credit) and matures on May 25, 2023. Availability under the Credit Agreement is subject to a customary borrowing base comprised of: (a) a specified percentage of the Borrower’s credit card accounts (as defined in the Credit Agreement); and (b) a specified percentage of the Borrower’s eligible inventory (as defined in the Credit Agreement), and reduced by (c) certain customary reserves and adjustments (as defined in the Credit Agreement).  The Credit Agreement also contains an increase option permitting the Borrowers, subject to certain requirements, to arrange with lenders for additional revolving commitments for up to an aggregate of $25.0 million. At August 4, 2018, there were no borrowings outstanding and $28.4 million of borrowing base availability under the Credit Agreement.

 

All obligations of each Loan Party under the Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed by Holdings and each of Holdings’ existing and future direct and indirect wholly owned domestic subsidiaries, including the Borrowers. All obligations under the Credit Agreement, and the guarantees of those obligations (as well as banking services obligations and any interest rate hedging or other swap agreements), are secured by substantially all of the assets of Holdings and each of Holdings’ existing and future direct and indirect wholly owned domestic subsidiaries. In addition, the Credit Agreement requires the Loan Parties to maintain a minimum ratio of (i) EBITDAR (as defined in the Credit Agreement) minus unfinanced capital expenditures (as defined in the Credit Agreement), to (ii) fixed charges of 1.00 to 1.00 during periods when availability (as defined in the Credit Agreement) is less than $6.0 million (or has recently been less than $6.0 million as further specified in the Credit Agreement) (such ratio, the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”). As of August 4, 2018, the borrowing availability under the Credit Agreement was more than $6.0 million resulting in the elimination of the fixed charge coverage ratio requirement.

 

  10  

 

 

Francesca’s Holdings Corporation

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to an applicable margin plus, at the option of the Borrowers, either (a) in the case of base rate borrowings, a rate equal to the highest of (1) the prime rate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., (2) the federal funds rate plus 1/2 of 1.00%, and (3) LIBOR for an interest period of one month plus 1.00% (subject to a 0.0% LIBOR floor), provided that that the interest rate for base rate borrowings (including the addition of the applicable margin) shall be no less than 1.50% per annum, or (b) in the case of LIBOR borrowings, a rate equal to the LIBOR for the interest period relevant to such borrowing subject to a 0.00% floor. The applicable margin for borrowings under the Credit Agreement ranges from -0.50% to 0.00% per annum with respect to base rate borrowings and from 1.25% to 1.75% per annum with respect to LIBOR borrowings, in each case based upon the achievement of specified levels of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Credit Agreement also requires the Borrowers to pay a commitment fee for the unused portion of the revolving facility of 0.20% per annum.

 

In connection with the Credit Agreement, the Company incurred $0.5 million of debt issuance costs during the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018, which is being amortized over the term of the facility.

 

6. Stock-based Compensation

 

Stock-based compensation cost is measured at the grant date fair value and is recognized as an expense on a straight-line basis over the employee’s requisite service period. The Company recognized $0.3 million and $0.7 million of stock-based compensation expense in the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018, respectively, and $1.2 million and $2.4 million of stock-based compensation expense in the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2017, respectively.

 

Management Awards

 

During the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017, the Company granted 0.9 million and 0.3 million shares of restricted stock, respectively, to certain executives and key employees.  For the fiscal 2018 award, 50% of the total shares awarded were in the form of performance-based restricted shares (“PSA”) while the remaining 50% were in the form of time-based restricted shares (“RSA”). For the fiscal 2017 award, 65% of the total shares awarded were in the form of PSAs while the remaining 35% were in the form of RSAs. The number of PSAs that may ultimately vest will equal 0% to 150% of the target shares awarded subject to the achievement of pre-established performance goals and the employee’s continued employment through the third anniversary of the grant date. The RSAs vest in one installment on the third anniversary of the award date.  At the end of each reporting period, the Company assessed the probability of achieving the pre-established performance conditions related to the PSAs. As a result of such assessment, the Company recorded a reversal of previously accrued expense totaling $0.5 million and $0.9 million in the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018, respectively, and $0.2 million in each of the thirteen and twenty six weeks ended July 29, 2017.

 

7. Share Repurchases

 

On March 15, 2016, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $100.0 million share repurchase program (“Repurchase Plan”) which commenced in April 2016. The Repurchase Plan has no expiration date. Under the Repurchase Plan, purchases can be made from time to time in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, under Rule 10b5-1 plans or through other available means. The specific timing and amount of the repurchases is dependent on market conditions, securities law limitations and other factors.

 

The following table summarizes the Company’s repurchase activity for the periods presented. The cost of repurchased shares is presented as treasury stock in the unaudited consolidated balance sheets.

 

    Thirteen Weeks Ended     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
    August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017     August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017  
    (in thousands, except per share data)  
Number of shares repurchased     -       513       659       1,122  
Total cost of shares repurchased   $ -     $ 5,731     $ 3,522     $ 15,016  
Average price per share (including brokers’ commission)   $ -     $ 11.16     $ 5.34     $ 13.38  

 

At August 4, 2018, there was $40.2 million remaining balance available for future purchases under the Repurchase Plan.

 

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Francesca’s Holdings Corporation

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

 

8. Commitments and Contingencies

 

Operating Leases

 

The Company leases boutique space, office space and its distribution center under operating leases expiring in various years through the fiscal year ending 2029. Certain of the leases provide that the Company may cancel the lease, with penalties as defined in the lease, if the Company’s boutique sales at that location fall below an established level. Certain leases provide for additional rent payments to be made when sales exceed a base amount. Certain operating leases provide for renewal options for periods from three to five years at their fair rental value at the time of renewal.

 

Minimum future rental payments under non-cancellable operating leases as of August 4, 2018, are as follows:

 

Fiscal year   Amount  
    (in thousands)  
Remainder of 2018   $ 25,272  
2019     48,848  
2020     43,426  
2021     36,580  
2022     30,747  
Thereafter     82,851  
    $ 267,724  

 

Legal Proceedings

 

On January 27, 2017, a purported collective action lawsuit entitled Meghan Magee, et al. v. Francesca’s Holdings Corp., et al. was filed in New Jersey Federal District Court against the Company for alleged violations of federal and state wage and hour laws. The Company believes that the allegations contained in the lawsuit are without merit and intends to vigorously defend itself against all claims asserted therein. A reasonable estimate of the amount of any possible loss or range of loss cannot be made at this time and, as such, the Company has not recorded an accrual for any possible loss.

 

The Company, from time to time, is subject to various claims and legal proceedings, including employment claims, wage and hour claims, intellectual property claims, contractual and commercial disputes and other matters that arise in the ordinary course of business.  While the outcome of any such claim cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company does not believe that the outcome of these matters will have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, results of operations or financial condition. 

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

This report contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements concern our business, operations and financial performance and condition as well as our plans, objectives and expectations for our business operations and financial performance and condition, which are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this report are forward-looking statements. These statements may include words such as “aim”, “anticipate”, “assume”, “believe”, “can have”, “could”, “due”, “estimate”, “expect”, “goal”, “intend”, “likely”, “may”, “objective”, “plan”, “potential”, “positioned”, “predict”, “should”, “target”, “will”, “would” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of the timing or nature of future operating or financial performance or other events or trends. For example, all statements we make relating to our estimated and projected earnings, sales, costs, expenditures, cash flows, growth rates, market share and financial results, our plans and objectives for future operations, growth or initiatives, strategies or the expected outcome or impact of pending or threatened litigation are forward-looking statements.

 

These forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about our business and the industry in which we operate and our management’s beliefs and assumptions. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or development and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are in many cases beyond our control. All of our forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the following: the risk that we cannot anticipate, identify and respond quickly to changing fashion trends and customer preferences or changes in consumer environment, including changing expectations of service and experience in boutiques and online, and evolve our business model; our ability to attract a sufficient number of customers to our boutiques or sell sufficient quantities of our merchandise through our ecommerce business; our ability to successfully open, refresh and operate new boutiques each year; our ability to efficiently source and distribute additional merchandise quantities necessary to support our growth; and impact of potential tariff increases and new tariffs. For additional information regarding these and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in our forward looking statements, please refer to “Item 1A. Risk Factors,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018 and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on March 28, 2018 (“Fiscal Year 2017 10-K”) and any risk factors contained in subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or other filings we file with the SEC, as well as our disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and elsewhere in this report and in our Fiscal Year 2017 10-K.

 

We derive many of our forward-looking statements from our own operating budgets and forecasts, which are based upon many detailed assumptions. While we believe that our assumptions are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. All written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to us, or persons acting on our behalf, are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements contained in this report as well as other cautionary statements that are made from time to time in our other SEC filings and public communications. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this report in the context of these risks and uncertainties.

 

Potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements publicly after the date of this report whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

 

Overview

 

Unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company,” “we,” “our,” “ours,” “us” and “francesca’s®” refer to Francesca’s Holdings Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

francesca’s ®  is a growing specialty retailer which operates a nationwide-chain of boutiques providing customers a unique, fun and personalized shopping experience. The merchandise assortment is a diverse and balanced mix of apparel, jewelry, accessories and gifts. As of August 4, 2018, francesca’s  ®  operated 742 boutiques in 47 states and the District of Columbia and also served its customers through www.francescas.com, our ecommerce website. The information contained on our ecommerce website is not incorporated by reference into this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and you should not consider information contained on our ecommerce website to be part of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

  

During the thirteen weeks ended August 4, 2018, our net sales decreased 6% to $113.0 million from $119.7 million, income from operations decreased by $11.0 million from $11.8 million to $0.8 million, and net income decreased $6.8 million from $7.3 million to $0.5 million, over the comparable prior year quarter. Diluted earnings per share for the thirteen weeks ended August 4, 2018 was $0.01, based on 35.0 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.20, based on 36.5 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding, in the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2017.

 

  13  

 

  

During the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018, our net sales decreased 6% to $213.4 million from $227.4 million, income from operations decreased $22.8 million from income from operations of $19.1 million to a loss from operations of $3.7 million, and net income decreased $15.0 million from net income of $11.6 million to a net loss of $3.4 million. Diluted loss per share for the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 was $0.10, based on 34.8 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding, compared to diluted earnings per share of $0.32, based on 36.8 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding.

 

We increased our boutique count to 742 boutiques as of August 4, 2018 from 692 boutiques as of July 29, 2017. Additionally, we remodeled 45 and 14 boutiques in the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017, respectively. We plan to open three boutiques, close 14 boutiques and refresh 35 to 40 boutiques during the remainder of fiscal year 2018.

 

We are in the process of deploying new technologies to enhance our omni-channel and customer engagement capabilities as part of our long-term strategic plan. In fiscal year 2017, we completed our legacy point-of-sale system replacement and the implementation of a new customer relationship management system. We started the implementation of a new warehouse management system for ecommerce and expect that such implementation will be completed in fiscal year 2018. This new system will enhance our visibility into our products and supply chain which we expect will result in improved customer service, improved operational efficiency, enhanced management analytics and increased inventory synergies between our ecommerce and our boutique channels.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following represents operating data for the thirteen and twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017.

 

    Thirteen Weeks Ended     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
    August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017     August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017  
Net sales change for period     (6 )%     4 %     (6 )%     3 %
Comparable sales results for the period (1)     (13 )%     (3 )%     (15 )%     (4 )%
Number of boutiques open at end of period     742       692       742       692  
Net sales per average square foot for period (2)   $ 105     $ 125     $ 202     $ 239  
Average square feet per boutique (3)     1,448       1,404       1,448       1,404  
Total gross square feet at end of period     1,074,000       972,000       1,074,000       972,000  

 

 

 

(1) A boutique is included in comparable sales on the first day of the fifteenth full month following the boutique’s opening. If a boutique is closed for four or more days within a given fiscal week for any reason, we exclude sales from that boutique from comparable sales for that full fiscal week. If a boutique is permanently closed, we exclude sales from that boutique from comparable sales on the first day of the fiscal month that it did not register full month of sales. Comparable sales include our ecommerce sales and exclude gift card breakage income.
(2) Net sales per average square foot is calculated by dividing net sales for the period by the average square feet during the period. For purposes of providing net sales per square foot measure, we use average square feet during the period as opposed to total gross square feet at the end of the period. For individual quarterly periods, average square feet is calculated as (a) the sum of total gross square feet at the beginning and end of the period divided by (b) two. For periods consisting of more than one fiscal quarter, average square feet is calculated as (a) the sum of total gross square feet at the beginning of the period and total gross square feet at the end of each fiscal quarter within the period, divided by (b) the number of fiscal quarters within the period plus one (which, for a fiscal year, is five). There may be variations in the way in which some of our competitors and other retailers calculate sales per square foot or similarly titled measures. As a result, average square feet and net sales per average square foot for the period may not be comparable to similar data made available by other retailers.  
(3) Average square feet per boutique is calculated by dividing total gross square feet at the end of the period by the number of boutiques open at the end of the period.

 

Boutique Count

 

The following table summarizes the number of boutiques open at the beginning and end of the periods and the number of boutiques remodeled for the periods indicated.

 

    Thirteen Weeks Ended     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
    August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017     August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017  
Number of boutiques open at beginning of period     744       679       721       671  
Boutiques added     4       16       31       28  
Boutiques closed     (6 )     (3 )     (10 )     (7 )
Number of boutiques open at the end of period     742       692       742       692  
Number of boutiques remodeled for the period     30       10       45       14  

   

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Thirteen Weeks Ended August 4, 2018 Compared to Thirteen Weeks Ended July 29, 2017

 

    Thirteen Weeks Ended        
    August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017     Variance  
    In USD    

As a %

of Net

Sales (1)

    In USD    

As a %

of Net

Sales (1)

    In USD     %    

Basis

Points

 
    (In thousands, except percentages and basis points)  
Net sales   $ 113,025       100.0 %   $ 119,707       100.0 %   $ (6,682 )     (6 )%     -  
Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs     68,918       61.0 %     64,312       53.7 %     4,606       7 %     730  
Gross profit     44,107       39.0 %     55,395       46.3 %     (11,288 )     (20 )%     (730 )
Selling, general and administrative expenses     43,277       38.3 %     43,556       36.4 %     (279 )     (1 )%     190  
Income from operations     830       0.7 %     11,839       9.9 %     (11,009 )     (93 )%     (920 )
Interest expense     (112 )     (0.1 )%     (110 )     (0.1 )%     (2 )     (2 )%     -  
Other income     102       0.1 %     119       0.1 %     (17 )     (14 )%     -  
Income before income tax expense     820       0.7 %     11,848       9.9 %     (11,028 )     (93 )%     (920 )
Income tax expense     366       0.3 %     4,585       3.8 %     (4,219 )     (92 )%     (350 )
Net income   $ 454       0.4 %   $ 7,263       6.1 %   $ (6,809 )     (94 )%     (570 )

 

 

 

(1) Percentage totals or differences in the above table may not equal the sum or difference of the components due to rounding.

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales decreased 6% to $113.0 million in the thirteen weeks ended August 4, 2018 from $119.7 million in the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2017 due to a 13% decrease in comparable sales. This follows a 3% decrease in comparable sales for the same prior year quarter. The decrease in comparable sales was primarily due to the decline in boutique traffic and conversion rate, although conversion has sequentially improved from month-to-month during the quarter. These decreases were partially offset by 50 net new boutiques added since the prior year quarter. There were 663 comparable boutiques and 79 non-comparable boutiques open at August 4, 2018 compared to 622 and 70, respectively, at July 29, 2017.

 

Cost of Goods Sold and Occupancy Costs

 

Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs increased 7% to $68.9 million in the thirteen weeks ended August 4, 2018 from $64.3 million in the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2017. Cost of merchandise and freight expenses increased by $1.3 million compared to the same period of the prior year primarily due to increased markdowns and marked-out-of-stock charges as a result of our in-season clearance strategy and in order to transition the boutiques to the new merchandising direction. Occupancy costs increased by $3.3 million due to the increase in the number of boutiques in operation, higher rent and related expenses driven by increased penetration of boutiques in high traffic centers and higher depreciation as a result of increased costs of opening new boutiques and remodeling existing boutiques.

 

As a percentage of net sales, cost of goods sold and occupancy costs increased to 61.0% in the thirteen weeks ended August 4, 2018 from 53.7% in the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2017, an unfavorable variance of 730 basis points. This change was driven by lower merchandise margin and higher occupancy costs. Merchandise margins decreased due to higher markdowns and marked-out-of-stock charges while the higher occupancy costs was due to higher rent and related expenses as well as depreciation. Additionally, occupancy costs deleveraged significantly versus last year as a result of lower sales.

 

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 1% to $43.3 million in the thirteen weeks ended August 4, 2018 from $43.6 million in the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2017. This decrease was primarily due to $1.6 million of lower short- and long-term performance-based incentive expenses as a result of lower expected payouts partially offset by increases of $0.9 million in corporate payroll and $0.3 million in marketing expenses to support the larger boutique base and ecommerce operations as well as infrastructure and strategic investments.

 

As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expense increased to 38.3% in the thirteen weeks ended August 4, 2018 as compared to 36.4% in the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2017 primarily due to deleveraging of expenses as a result of lower sales.

 

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Income Tax Expense

 

The decrease in provision for income taxes of $4.2 million in the thirteen weeks ended August 4, 2018 compared to the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2017 was primarily due to the decrease in pre-tax income. The effective tax rate in the thirteen weeks ended August 4, 2018 increased to 44.6% from 38.7% in the thirteen weeks ended July 29, 2017. The change in the effective tax rate versus the comparable prior year period and the statutory federal corporate tax rate under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”) enacted in December 2017 was primarily due to additional tax expense recognized related to the vesting of certain stock-based awards.

 

We did not record any adjustment to our estimates at the end of fiscal year 2017 as a result of the enactment of the Tax Act. As we continue to refine and update our analysis of the Tax Act and interpret any additional guidance, we may make adjustments to the amounts previously recorded. Any such adjustment will be reflected in income tax expense or benefit in fiscal year 2018.

 

Twenty-Six Weeks Ended August 4, 2018 Compared to Twenty-Six Weeks Ended July 29, 2017

 

    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended        
    August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017     Variance  
    In USD    

As a %

of Net

Sales (1)

    In USD    

As a %

of Net

Sales (1)

    In USD     %    

Basis

Points

 
    (In thousands, except percentages and basis points)  
Net sales   $ 213,430       100.0 %   $ 227,396       100.0 %   $ (13,966 )     (6 )%     -  
Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs     130,960       61.4 %     123,317       54.2 %     7,643       6 %     710  
Gross profit     82,470       38.6 %     104,079       45.8 %     (21,609 )     (21 )%     (710 )
Selling, general and administrative expenses     86,160       40.4 %     84,934       37.4 %     1,226       1 %     300  
(Loss) income from operations     (3,690 )     (1.7 )%     19,145       8.4 %     (22,835 )     (119 )%     (1,010 )
Interest expense     (229 )     (0.1 )%     (223 )     (0.1 )%     (6 )     (3 )%     -  
Other income     252       0.1 %     190       0.1 %     62       33 %     -  
(Loss) income before income tax benefit expense     (3,667 )     (1.7 )%     19,112       8.4 %     (22,779 )     (119 )%     (1,010 )
Income tax (benefit) expense     (236 )     (0.1 )%     7,516       3.3 %     (7,752 )     (103 )%     (340 )
Net (loss) income   $ (3,431 )     (1.6 )%   $ 11,596       5.1 %   $ (15.027 )     (130 )%     (670 )

 

 

 

(1) Percentage totals or differences in the above table may not equal the sum or difference of the components due to rounding.

 

Net Sales

 

Net sales decreased 6% to $213.4 million in the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 from $227.4 million in the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2017 due to a 15% decrease in comparable sales. This follows a 4% decrease in comparable sales for the same prior year period. The decrease in comparable sales was primarily due to a decline in boutique traffic and conversion rate. These decreases were partially offset by 50 net new boutiques added since the comparable prior year period. There were 663 comparable boutiques and 79 non-comparable boutiques open at August 4, 2018 compared to 622 and 70, respectively, at July 29, 2017.

 

Cost of Goods Sold and Occupancy Costs

 

Cost of goods sold and occupancy costs increased 6% to $131.0 million in the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 from $123.3 million in the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2017. Cost of merchandise and freight expenses increased by $0.9 million compared to the same period of the prior year primarily due to increased markdowns and marked-out-of-stock charges as a result of our in-season clearance strategy and in order to transition the boutiques in to the new merchandising direction. Occupancy costs increased by $6.7 million due to the increase in the number of boutiques in operation, higher rent and related expenses driven by increased penetration of boutiques in high traffic centers and higher depreciation as a result of increased costs of opening new boutiques and remodeling existing boutiques.

 

As a percentage of net sales, cost of goods sold and occupancy costs increased to 61.4% in the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 from 54.2% in the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2017, an unfavorable variance of 710 basis points. This change was driven by lower merchandise margin and higher occupancy costs. Merchandise margins decreased due to higher markdowns and marked-out-of-stock charges while the higher occupancy costs was due to higher rent and related expenses as well as depreciation. Additionally, occupancy costs deleveraged significantly versus last year as a result of lower sales.

 

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses increased 1% to $86.2 million in the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 from $84.9 million in the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2017. This variance was due to increases of $2.1 million in boutique and corporate payroll and related expenses, $0.5 million in boutique supplies, $0.3 million in marketing, and $0.3 million in corporate depreciation, all of which were to support the larger boutique base and ecommerce operations as well as infrastructure and strategic investments. These increases were partially offset by a $2.5 million decrease in short- and long-term performance-based incentive expenses as a result of the lower expected payouts.

 

As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expense increased to 40.4% in the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 as compared to 37.4% in the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2017 primarily due to deleveraging of expenses as a result of lower sales.

 

Income Tax (Benefit) Expense

 

The decrease in provision for income taxes of $7.8 million in the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 compared to the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2017 was primarily due to the decrease in pre-tax income. The effective tax rate in the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 decreased to 6.4% from 39.3% in the twenty-six weeks ended July 29, 2017. The change in the effective tax rate versus the comparable prior year period and the statutory federal corporate tax rate under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (“Tax Act”) enacted in December 2017 was primarily due to additional tax expense recognized related to the vesting of certain stock-based awards.

 

We did not record any adjustment to our estimates at the end of fiscal year 2017 as a result of the enactment of the Tax Act. As we continue to refine and update our analysis of the Tax Act and interpret any additional guidance, we may make adjustments to the amounts previously recorded. Any such adjustment will be reflected in income tax expense or benefit in fiscal year 2018.

 

Sales by Merchandise Department

 

    Thirteen Weeks Ended     Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
    August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017     August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017  
    In Dollars    

As a % of 

Net Sales (1)

    In Dollars    

As a % of 

Net Sales (1)

    In Dollars    

As a % of 

Net Sales (1)

    In Dollars    

As a % of 

Net Sales (1)

 
    (in thousands, except percentages)  
Apparel   $ 56,807       50.3 %   $ 65,396       54.6 %   $ 106,341       49.8 %   $ 125,408       55.2 %
Jewelry     26,984       23.9 %     25,560       21.4 %     50,842       23.8 %     49,331       21.7 %
Accessories     17,181       15.2 %     14,735       12.3 %     32,664       15.3 %     28,716       12.6 %
Gifts     11,337       10.0 %     12,836       10.7 %     22,442       10.5 %     23,951       10.5 %
Other (2)     716       0.6 %     1,180       1.0 %     1,140       0.5 %     (10 )     0.0 %
    $ 113,025       100.0 %   $ 119,707       100.0 %   $ 213,430       100.0 %   $ 227,396       100.0 %

 

 

 

(1) Percentage totals in the above table may not equal the sum of the components due to rounding.
(2) Includes gift card breakage income, shipping and change in return reserve.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash flows from operations and borrowings under our revolving credit facility. Our primary cash needs are for capital expenditures in connection with opening new boutiques and remodeling existing boutiques, investing in improved technology and distribution facility enhancements, funding normal working capital requirements and payments of interest and principal, if any, under our revolving credit facility. We may use cash or our revolving credit facility to issue letters of credit to support merchandise imports or for other corporate purposes. The most significant components of our working capital are cash and cash equivalents, merchandise inventories, accounts payable and other current liabilities. Our working capital position benefits from the fact that we generally collect cash from sales to customers the day of or, in the case of credit or debit card transactions, within several days of the related sales and we typically have up to 30 days to pay our vendors.

 

On August 4, 2018, we had $23.4 million of cash and cash equivalents as well as no borrowings outstanding and $28.4 million of borrowing base availability under our Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility. See “Revolving Credit Facility” below for more information.

 

We expect that our cash flow from operations along with borrowings under our Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility and tenant allowances for new boutiques will be sufficient to fund capital expenditures and our working capital requirements for at least the next twelve months.

 

  17  

 

  

Cash Flow

 

A summary of our operating, investing and financing activities are shown in the following table:

 

    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
    August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017  
    (in thousands)  
Provided by operating activities   $ 10,936     $ 8,454  
Used in investing activities     (14,436 )     (12,890 )
Used in financing activities     (4,477 )     (15,468 )
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   $ (7,977 )   $ (19,904 )

 

Operating Activities

 

Operating activities consist of net (loss) income adjusted for non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization, deferred taxes, the effect of working capital changes and tenant allowances received from landlords. Net cash provided by operating activities were $10.9 million and $8.5 million in each of the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017, respectively. The increase in cash provided by operating activities in the current period as compared to the same period of the prior year was primarily due to lower income tax payments partially offset by lower net income.

 

Investing Activities

 

Investing activities consist primarily of capital expenditures for new boutiques, improvements to existing boutiques, as well as investments in information technology and our distribution facility.

 

    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
    August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017  
    (in thousands)  
Capital expenditures for:                
New boutiques   $ 7,807     $ 8,467  
Remodels     4,186       1,826  
Existing boutiques     980       1,612  
Technology     891       955  
Corporate and distribution     572       30  
    $ 14,436     $ 12,890  

 

Our total capital expenditures for the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017 were $14.4 million and $12.9 million, respectively, with new boutiques accounting for most of our spending at $7.8 million and $8.5 million, respectively. Spending for new boutiques included amounts associated with boutiques that will open subsequent to the end of each fiscal quarter.

 

    Twenty-Six Weeks Ended  
    August 4, 2018     July 29, 2017  
New boutiques:                
Number of new boutiques opened     31       28  
Average cost per new boutique   $ 315,000     $ 290,000  
Average tenant allowance per new boutique   $ 43,000     $ 57,000  
                 
Remodels:                
Number of boutiques remodeled     45       14  
Average cost per remodeled boutique   $ 140,000     $ 130,000  

 

The increase in the average cost of new boutiques during the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 compared to the same prior year period was due to higher costs of leasehold improvements as well as furniture and fixtures as a result of implementing our new boutique design piloted in our existing boutiques last year. Average tenant allowance per boutique decreased principally due to our continued focus in lowering rental rates. Tenant allowances are amortized as a reduction in rent expense over the term of the lease. The average collection period for these allowances is approximately six months after boutique opening. As a result, we fund the cost of new boutiques with cash flow from operations, tenant allowances from our landlords, or borrowings under our revolving credit facility. As previously disclosed, we are embarking on a remodel program in fiscal year 2018. For the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018, the average cost of a remodel increased compared to the same period last year primarily as a result of more extensive updates to our boutiques.

 

  18  

 

  

Management anticipates that capital expenditures for the remainder of fiscal year 2018 will be approximately $16 million. The majority of this amount will be spent on remodeling existing boutiques as well as investments in our technology systems.

 

Financing Activities

 

Financing activities consist of borrowings and payments under our revolving credit facility, repurchases of our common stock, and proceeds from the exercise of stock options and the related tax consequence.

 

Net cash used in financing activities totaled $4.5 million and $15.5 million during the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017, respectively. Cash used in financing activities in each period primarily consists of repurchases of common stock.

 

Revolving Credit Facility

 

Prior Revolving Credit Facility

 

On August 30, 2013, Francesca’s Collections, Inc., as borrower, and its parent company, Francesca's LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, entered into a Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement with Royal Bank of Canada, as Administrative Agent and Collateral Agent, and the lenders party thereto. The credit facility provided capacity of $75.0 million (including up to $10.0 million for letters of credit) and was scheduled to mature on August 30, 2018. On May 25, 2018, concurrent with entering into the Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility described below, the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement was terminated.

 

Asset Based Revolving Credit Facility

 

On May 25, 2018, Francesca’s Holdings Corporation (the “Holdings”), as a guarantor, certain of its subsidiaries, as borrowers (the “Borrowers”), and certain of its subsidiaries as guarantors (together with the Company and the Borrowers, the “Loan Parties”), entered into an asset based revolving Credit Agreement (“Credit Agreement”) with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent and the lenders party thereto. The Credit Agreement provides for revolving commitments of $50.0 million (including up to $10.0 million for letters of credit) and matures on May 25, 2023. Availability under the Credit Agreement is subject to a customary borrowing base comprised of: (a) a specified percentage of the Borrower’s credit card accounts (as defined in the Credit Agreement); and (b) a specified percentage of the Borrower’s eligible inventory (as defined in the Credit Agreement), and reduced by (c) certain customary reserves and adjustments (as defined in the Credit Agreement).  The Credit Agreement also contains an increase option permitting the Borrowers, subject to certain requirements, to arrange with lenders for additional revolving commitments for up to an aggregate of $25.0 million. At August 4, 2018, there were no borrowings outstanding and $28.4 million of borrowing base availability under the Credit Agreement.

 

All obligations of each Loan Party under the Credit Agreement are unconditionally guaranteed by the Company and each of the Company’s existing and future direct and indirect wholly owned domestic subsidiaries, including the Borrowers. All obligations under the Credit Agreement, and the guarantees of those obligations (as well as banking services obligations and any interest rate hedging or other swap agreements), are secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company and each of the Company’s existing and future direct and indirect wholly owned domestic subsidiaries. In addition, the Credit Agreement requires the Loan Parties to maintain a minimum ratio of (i) EBITDAR (as defined in the Credit Agreement) minus unfinanced capital expenditures (as defined in the Credit Agreement), to (ii) fixed charges of 1.00 to 1.00 during periods when availability (as defined in the Credit Agreement) is less than $6.0 million (or has recently been less than $6.0 million as further specified in the Credit Agreement) (such ratio, the “Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio”). As of August 4, 2018, our borrowing availability was more than $6.0 million, resulting in the elimination of the fixed charge coverage ratio requirement.

 

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a rate equal to an applicable margin plus, at the option of the Borrowers, either (a) in the case of base rate borrowings, a rate equal to the highest of (1) the prime rate of JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., (2) the federal funds rate plus 1/2 of 1.00%, and (3) LIBOR for an interest period of one month plus 1.00% (subject to a 0.0% LIBOR floor), provided that that the interest rate for base rate borrowings (including the addition of the applicable margin) shall be no less than 1.50% per annum, or (b) in the case of LIBOR borrowings, a rate equal to the LIBOR for the interest period relevant to such borrowing subject to a 0.00% floor. The applicable margin for borrowings under the Credit Agreement ranges from -0.50% to 0.00% per annum with respect to base rate borrowings and from 1.25% to 1.75% per annum with respect to LIBOR borrowings, in each case based upon the achievement of specified levels of the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio. The Credit Agreement also requires the Borrowers to pay a commitment fee for the unused portion of the revolving credit facility of 0.20% per annum.

 

The Credit Agreement contains customary affirmative and negative covenants, including limitations, subject to customary exceptions, on the ability of the Company and its subsidiaries to (i) incur additional debt; (ii) create liens; (iii) make certain investments, acquisitions, loans and advances; (iv) sell assets; (v) pay dividends or make distributions or make other restricted payments; (vi) prepay other indebtedness; (vii) engage in mergers or consolidations; (viii) change the business conducted by the Company and its subsidiaries; (ix) engage in certain transactions with affiliates; (x) enter into agreements that restrict dividends from subsidiaries or the ability of subsidiaries to grant liens upon their assets; and (xi) amend certain charter documents and material agreements governing subordinated and junior indebtedness.

 

  19  

 

  

The Credit Agreement also contains customary events of default, including: (i) failure to pay principal, interest, fees or other amounts under the Credit Agreement when due taking into account any applicable grace period; (ii) any representation or warranty proving to have been materially incorrect when made or deemed made; (iii) a cross default with respect to other material indebtedness; (iv) bankruptcy and insolvency events; (v) unsatisfied material final judgments; (vi) a “change of control”; (vii) certain defaults under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974; (viii) the invalidity or impairment of any loan document or any security interest; and (ix) breach of covenants in the Credit Agreement and other loan documents.

 

In connection with the Credit Agreement, the Company incurred $0.5 million of debt issuance costs during the twenty-six weeks ended August 4, 2018, which is being amortized over the term of the facility.

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

For information regarding our share repurchase program, please refer to Note 7 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included in Part I of this report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Critical Accounting Policies

 

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, and expenses, as well as the related disclosures of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements. A summary of the Company’s significant accounting policies is included in Note 1 to the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018.

 

Certain of the Company’s accounting policies and estimates are considered critical, as these policies and estimates are the most important to the depiction of the Company’s consolidated financial statements and require significant, difficult, or complex judgments, often about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Such policies are summarized in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018. As of August 4, 2018, there were no significant changes to any of our critical accounting policies and estimates as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018.

  

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

 

For information regarding recent accounting pronouncements, please refer to Note 1 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included in Part I of this Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Contractual Obligations

 

There were no significant changes to our contractual obligations and commercial commitments as disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018, other than those which occur in the normal course of business.

 

Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

We are not party to any off balance sheet arrangements.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

Our principal exposure to market risk relates to changes in interest rates. Our revolving credit facility carries floating interest rates that are tied to LIBOR, the federal funds rate and the prime rate, and therefore, our statements of operations and our cash flows could be exposed to changes in interest rates to the extent that we do not have effective hedging arrangements in place. We historically have not used derivative financial instruments for speculative or trading purposes; however, this does not preclude our adoption of specific hedging strategies in the future. At August 4, 2018, no borrowings were outstanding under the Credit Agreement.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act is processed, recorded, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and regulations and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management is required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

 

  20  

 

  

At the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our Disclosure Committee and management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures pursuant to Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level as of August 4, 2018.

 

There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended August 4, 2018 that materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

For information regarding legal proceedings involving us, please refer to Note 8 to our unaudited consolidated financial statements included in Part I of this Report, which is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

 

There have been no material changes to our risk factors as previously disclosed in Item 1A contained in Part I of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018 and filed with the SEC on March 28, 2018.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit No.   Description  
     
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Francesca’s Holdings Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 of Amendment No. 5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-173581) filed by Francesca’s Holdings Corporation on July 14, 2011)
     
3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Francesca’s Holdings Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Francesca’s Holdings Corporation on September 20, 2016)
     
10.1   Credit Agreement, dated as of May 25, 2018, among Francesca’s Holdings Corporation, its Subsidiaries party thereto as loan parties, the lenders party thereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Francesca’s Holdings Corporation on May 30, 2018)
     
10.2+   Francesca’s Holdings Corporation Executive Bonus Plan
     
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) (filed herewith)
     
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 13a-14(a) (filed herewith)
     
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)
     
101   Interactive data files pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T: (i) the Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets as of August 4, 2018, February 3, 2018 and July 29, 2017, (ii) the Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Thirteen and Twenty-Six Weeks Ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017, (iii) Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the Twenty-Six Weeks Ended August 4, 2018, (iv) Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Twenty-Six Weeks ended August 4, 2018 and July 29, 2017 and (v) the Notes to the Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements (filed herewith)

 

 

 

  + Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.  

 

  21  

 

 

SIGNATURE

 

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

 

  Francesca’s Holdings Corporation
  (Registrant)
   
Date:  September 12, 2018 /s/ Kelly M. Dilts
  Kelly M. Dilts
  Chief Financial Officer (duly authorized officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

   

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

Francesca’s Holdings Corporation
EXECUTIVE BONUS PLAN

 

1. Purpose.

 

The purpose of this Francesca’s Holdings Corporation Executive Bonus Plan (this “ Bonus Plan ”) is to promote the success of Francesca’s Holdings Corporation, a Delaware corporation, (the “ Corporation ”) by (i) compensating and rewarding participating executives (each, a “ Participant ”) with bonuses for the achievement of pre-established performance goals and (ii) motivating such executives by giving them opportunities to receive bonuses directly related to such performance.

 

2. Administration of the Plan .

 

2.1 Authority of the Committee . This Bonus Plan shall be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Corporation’s Board of Directors (the “ Committee ”). Action of the Committee with respect to the administration of this Bonus Plan shall be taken pursuant to a majority vote or by the unanimous written consent of its members. The Committee shall have the authority to construe and interpret this Bonus Plan and any agreements or other document relating to awards under this Bonus Plan (each, an “ Award ”), and may adopt such rules and regulations as the Committee deems appropriate for the administration of this Bonus Plan.

 

2.2 Effect of Determination . Any determinations made by the Committee, including, without limitation, determinations with respect to attainment of Performance Goals and Bonus amount, shall be binding, final and conclusive on each Participant.

 

3. Awards .

 

3.1 Award Grants . Each Participant will be granted an Award under this Bonus Plan. Each Award granted to a Participant represents the opportunity to receive a payment for the Corporation’s relevant fiscal year (the “ Performance Period ”) determined under the terms and conditions of this Bonus Plan (a “ Bonus ”). The Committee shall establish (i) the target amount of each Participant’s Bonus and (ii) the applicable performance goals for such Performance Period (the “ Performance Goals ”) during the first ninety (90) days of the Performance Period, although the target Bonus amount for Participants selected to participate in this Bonus Plan after this period may be established at a later date.

 

3.2 Performance Goals . The actual amount of the Bonus paid to each Participant for the Performance Period will be calculated based on the Participant’s achievement of the Performance Goals established by the Committee pursuant to Section 3.1 above for the applicable Performance Period.

 

3.3 Determination of Performance . The determination as to whether the Corporation has attained the Performance Goals with respect to the Performance Period shall be made by the Committee acting in good faith.

 

3.4 Negative Discretion . Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, the Committee retains discretion to reduce (but not increase) the Bonus otherwise payable to any one or more Participants pursuant to Section 3.1.  The Committee may exercise such discretion on any basis it deems appropriate (including, but not limited to, its assessment of the Corporation’s performance relative to its operating or strategic goals for the Performance Period and/or the Participant’s individual performance for such period).  For purposes of clarity, if the Committee exercises its discretion to reduce the amount of any Bonus payable hereunder, it shall not be required to allocate the amount of such reduction to Bonuses payable to other Participants.

 

 

4. Newly Hired Participants. If any Participant is selected to participate in this Bonus Plan after the first quarter of the Performance Period has elapsed, the Committee shall have the discretion to make appropriate pro-rata adjustments to the target amount of the Participant’s Bonus and to any of the other terms and conditions of this Bonus Plan as they relate to such newly hired Participant.

 

5. Committee Determination and Certification. As soon as practicable after the end of the Performance Period, the Committee shall determine whether the Corporation has attained the Performance Goals with respect to the Performance Period. At this time, the Committee shall also determine the amount of each Participant’s Bonus payable pursuant to this Bonus Plan.

 

6. Payment of Bonuses . Any Bonuses shall be paid (subject to tax withholding pursuant to Section 10.6) as soon as practicable following the Committee’s determination of the final Bonus amount (after giving effect to any exercise of its discretion to reduce Bonuses pursuant to Section 3.4) but in no event later than 74 calendar days following the end of the Performance Period.

 

7. Termination of Employment . In the event that a Participant’s employment with the Corporation and its majority-owned subsidiaries (“Subsidiaries”) terminates (regardless of the reason for such termination of employment, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, with or without cause, or due to the Participant’s death or disability) at any time during the Performance Period applicable to an Award, such Award shall immediately terminate upon such termination of employment, and the Participant shall not be entitled to any Bonus payment in respect of such Award, unless otherwise expressly provided under a written contract with the Corporation.

 

8. Adjustments . The Committee shall adjust the performance measures, performance goals, relative weights of the measures, and other provisions of then-outstanding Awards under this Bonus Plan to the extent (if any) it determines that the adjustment is necessary or advisable to preserve the intended incentives and benefits to reflect (1) any material change in corporate capitalization, any material corporate transaction (such as a reorganization, combination, separation, merger, acquisition, or any combination of the foregoing), or any complete or partial liquidation of the Corporation, (2) any change in accounting policies or practices, (3) the effects of any special charges to the Corporation’s earnings, or (4) any other similar special circumstances. Notwithstanding any other provision herein, each Award shall be subject to termination in connection with a corporate transaction that the Corporation does not survive (or does not survive as a public company in respect of its common stock) on such terms as the Committee may determine.

 

9. Recoupment of Bonus Payments . Any Bonuses becoming payable pursuant to this Bonus Plan shall be subject to the terms of the Corporation’s recoupment, clawback or similar policy as it may be in effect from time to time, as well as any similar provisions of applicable law, any of which could in certain circumstances require repayment or forfeiture of the Bonuses.

 

 

10. General Provisions.

 

10.1 Rights of Participants .

 

(A) No Right to Awards or Continued Employment . Nothing contained in this Bonus Plan (or in any other documents under this Bonus Plan or in any Award) shall confer upon any Participant any right to continue in the employ or other service of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries, constitute any contract or agreement of employment or other service or affect an employee’s status as an employee at will, nor shall interfere in any way with the right of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries to change a person’s compensation or other benefits, or to terminate his or her employment or other service, with or without cause. Nothing in this Section 10.1(a), however, is intended to adversely affect any express independent right of such person under a separate employment or service contract other than an award agreement.

 

(B) Plan Not Funded . Awards payable under this Bonus Plan shall be payable from the general assets of the Corporation, and no special or separate reserve, fund or deposit shall be made to assure payment of such awards. No Participant, beneficiary or other person shall have any right, title or interest in any fund or in any specific asset of the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries by reason of any award hereunder. Neither the provisions of this Bonus Plan (or of any related documents), nor the creation or adoption of this Bonus Plan, nor any action taken pursuant to the provisions of this Bonus Plan shall create, or be construed to create, a trust of any kind or a fiduciary relationship between the Corporation or one of its Subsidiaries and any Participant, beneficiary or other person. To the extent that a Participant, beneficiary or other person acquires a right to receive payment pursuant to any Award, such right shall be no greater than the right of any unsecured general creditor of the Corporation.

 

10.2 Non-Transferability of Benefits and Interests . All Awards are non-transferable, and no benefit payable under this Bonus Plan shall be subject in any manner to sale, transfer, anticipation, alienation, assignment, pledge, encumbrance or charge. This Section 10.2 shall not apply to an assignment of a contingency or payment due (a) after the death of a Participant to the deceased Participant’s legal representative or beneficiary or (b) after the disability of a Participant to the disabled Participant’s personal representative.

 

10.3 Force and Effect . The various provisions herein are severable in their entirety. Any determination of invalidity or unenforceability of any one provision will have no effect on the continuing force and effect of the remaining provisions.

 

10.4 Governing Law . This Bonus Plan will be construed under the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

10.5 Construction . It is intended that Awards granted and Bonuses paid under this Bonus Plan qualify as “short-term deferrals” within the meaning of the guidance provided by the Internal Revenue Service under Section 409A of the United Stated Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and this Bonus Plan shall be interpreted consistent with that intent.

 

10.6 Tax Withholding . Upon the payment of any Bonus, the Corporation shall have the right to deduct the amount of any federal, state or local taxes that the Corporation or any Subsidiary may be required to withhold with respect to such payment.

 

 

10.7 Amendments, Suspension or Termination of Plan . The Board or the Committee may at any time terminate, amend, modify or suspend this Bonus Plan, in whole or in part, in each case, without the consent of Participants.

 

10.8 Effective Date . This version of the Bonus Plan is effective as of May 31, 2018 and applies to Awards granted for the Corporation’s 2018 fiscal year. For the terms applicable to Awards granted under the Bonus Plan prior to the Corporation’s 2018 fiscal year, see the version of the Bonus Plan in effect for such fiscal year.

 

10.9 Captions . Captions and headings are given to the sections and subsections of this Bonus Plan solely as a convenience to facilitate reference. Such headings shall not be deemed in any way material or relevant to the construction or interpretation of this Bonus Plan or any provision thereof.

 

10.10 Non-Exclusivity of Plan . Nothing in this Bonus Plan shall limit or be deemed to limit the authority of the Board or the Committee to grant awards or authorize any other compensation under any other plan or authority.

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.1

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Steven P. Lawrence, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Francesca’s Holdings Corporation;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined by Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15-d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;

 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 Date:  September 12, 2018 /s/ Steven P. Lawrence
  Steven P. Lawrence
 

Chief Executive Officer

(duly authorized officer and Principal Executive Officer)

 

   

 

 

 

Exhibit 31.2

 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Kelly M. Dilts, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Francesca’s Holdings Corporation;

 

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

 

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

 

4. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined by Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15-d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

 

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

 

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, 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;

 

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

 

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

 

5. The registrant’s other certifying officer(s) and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

 

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

  

 Date:  September 12, 2018 /s/ Kelly M. Dilts
  Kelly M. Dilts
 

Chief Financial Officer

(duly authorized officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

   

 

 

Exhibit 32.1

 

CERTIFICATIONS PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,

AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906

OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

 

I, Steven P. Lawrence, the Chief Executive Officer of Francesca’s Holdings Corporation, certify that (i) the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 4, 2018 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Francesca’s Holdings Corporation as of the dates and for the periods set forth therein.

 

  /s/ Steven P. Lawrence
  Steven P. Lawrence
 

Chief Executive Officer

(duly authorized officer and Principal Executive Officer)

   
  September 12, 2018
  Date

 

I, Kelly M. Dilts, the Chief Financial Officer of Francesca’s Holdings Corporation, certify that (i) the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended August 4, 2018 (the “Report”) fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and (ii) the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of Francesca’s Holdings Corporation as of the dates and for the periods set forth therein.

 

  /s/ Kelly M. Dilts
  Kelly M. Dilts
  Chief Financial Officer (duly authorized officer and Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
   
  September 12, 2018
  Date

 

The foregoing certifications are being furnished solely to accompany the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 and Rule 13a-14(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These certifications shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, except to the extent that the Company specifically incorporates it by reference.