-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, MjqFF47hsJAzeqpXCvLxO+pmkytGZ4aJ40GdHM5COpKifB3ALQICal1vWK3CbCYt Ix6KsUNGQcKPiscvyaMZ+g== 0000950135-09-004017.txt : 20090515 0000950135-09-004017.hdr.sgml : 20090515 20090515125811 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000950135-09-004017 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-Q PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 5 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20090331 FILED AS OF DATE: 20090515 DATE AS OF CHANGE: 20090515 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: DOVER SADDLERY INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001071625 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RETAIL-MISCELLANEOUS SHOPPING GOODS STORES [5940] IRS NUMBER: 000000000 FISCAL YEAR END: 1231 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-Q SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 000-51624 FILM NUMBER: 09830934 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 525 GREAT ROAD CITY: LITTLETON STATE: MA ZIP: 01460 BUSINESS PHONE: 978-952-8062 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 525 GREAT ROAD STREET 2: P.O.BOX 1100 CITY: LITTLETON STATE: MA ZIP: 01460 10-Q 1 b75220dse10vq.htm DOVER SADDLERY, INC. e10vq
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Quarter Ended March 31, 2009
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Commission File Number 000-51624
Dover Saddlery, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
DELAWARE   04-3438294
(State of other jurisdiction of   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)    
525 Great Road, Littleton, MA 01460
(Address of principal executive offices)
(978) 952-8062 (Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
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 þ       NO o
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
YES o      NO o
      Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
             
Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer o   Non-accelerated filer o   Smaller reporting company þ
    (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
          Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o   No þ
          Shares outstanding of the registrant’s common stock (par value $0.0001) on May 5, 2009: 5,187,038
 
 

 


 

DOVER SADDLERY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q
FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2009
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 EX-17.1 Director departure correspondence
 EX-31.1 Certification of Principal Executive Officer of Periodic Report Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
 EX-31.2 Certification of Principal Financial Officer of Periodic Report Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
 EX-32.1 Certification by Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Periodic Report Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

 


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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1. Financial Statements.
DOVER SADDLERY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
                 
    March 31,     December 31,  
    2009     2008  
    (unaudited)          
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 211     $ 448  
Accounts receivable
    602       833  
Inventory
    18,440       17,330  
Prepaid catalog costs
    1,928       1,673  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    2,000       997  
 
           
Total current assets
    23,181       21,281  
Net property and equipment
    3,628       3,599  
Other assets:
               
Deferred income taxes
    366       583  
Intangibles and other assets, net
    978       989  
 
           
Total other assets
    1,344       1,572  
 
           
Total assets
  $ 28,153     $ 26,452  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Current portion of capital lease obligation and outstanding checks
  $ 560     $ 481  
Accounts payable
    2,389       2,168  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
    3,145       3,640  
Deferred income taxes
    336       212  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    6,430       6,501  
 
               
Long-term liabilities:
               
Revolving line of credit
    10,600       8,300  
Subordinated notes payable, net
    4,945       4,906  
Capital lease obligation, net of current portion
    102       125  
 
           
Total long-term liabilities
    15,647       13,331  
Stockholders’ equity:
               
Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share; 15,000,000 shares authorized; issued 5,187,038 as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008
    1       1  
Additional paid in capital
    44,847       44,801  
Treasury stock, 795,865 shares at cost
    (6,082 )     (6,082 )
Accumulated deficit
    (32,690 )     (32,100 )
 
           
Total stockholders’ equity
    6,076       6,620  
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
  $ 28,153     $ 26,452  
 
           
See accompanying notes.

 


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DOVER SADDLERY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In thousands, except share and per share data)
(unaudited)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,     March 31,  
    2009     2008  
Revenues, net
  $ 16,401     $ 17,655  
Cost of revenues
    10,715       11,299  
 
           
Gross profit
    5,686       6,356  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    6,566       6,587  
 
           
Loss from operations
    (880 )     (231 )
Interest expense, financing and other related costs, net
    312       333  
Other investment loss, net
    7        
 
           
Loss before income tax benefit
    (1,199 )     (564 )
Benefit for income taxes
    (609 )     (205 )
 
           
Net loss
  $ (590 )   $ (359 )
 
           
 
               
Net loss per share
               
Basic
  $ (0.11 )   $ (0.07 )
 
           
Diluted
  $ (0.11 )   $ (0.07 )
 
           
Number of shares used in per share calculation
               
Basic
    5,187,000       5,105,000  
Diluted
    5,187,000       5,105,000  
See accompanying notes.

 


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DOVER SADDLERY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(In thousands)
(unaudited)
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,     March 31,  
    2009     2008  
Operating activities:
               
Net loss
  $ (590 )   $ (359 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities
               
Depreciation and amortization
    213       212  
Deferred income taxes
    341       59  
Loss from investment in affiliate, net
    7        
Stock-based compensation
    46       38  
Non-cash interest expense
    85       69  
Changes in current assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable
    231       536  
Inventory
    (1,110 )     (822 )
Prepaid catalog costs and other current assets
    (1,258 )     (1,195 )
Accounts payable
    221       719  
Accrued expenses, other current liabilities and income taxes payable
    (494 )     (1,515 )
 
           
Net cash used in operating activities
    (2,308 )     (2,258 )
Investing activities:
               
Purchases of property and equipment
    (241 )     (230 )
Change in other assets
    (4 )     (26 )
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (245 )     (256 )
Financing activities:
               
Borrowings under revolving line of credit, net
    2,300       1,700  
Change in outstanding checks
    93       876  
Payment of financing costs
    (40 )      
Payments on capital leases
    (37 )     (48 )
 
           
Net cash provided by financing activities
    2,316       2,528  
 
           
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
    (237 )     14  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    448       309  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 211     $ 323  
 
           
 
               
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
               
Cash paid during the period for:
               
Interest
  $ 226     $ 265  
 
           
Income taxes
  $ 203     $ 721  
 
           
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash financing activities
               
Equipment acquired under capital leases
  $     $ 19  
 
           
See accompanying notes.

 


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DOVER SADDLERY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
A. Nature of Business and Basis of Preparation
          Dover Saddlery, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), is a leading specialty retailer and the largest direct marketer of equestrian products in the United States. The Company sells its products through a multi-market channel strategy, including direct and retail, with stores located in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Delaware, Texas, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, Georgia and Rhode Island. The Company provides a complete line of products, as well as specially developed private label offerings from its direct marketing headquarters, warehouse, and call center facility in Littleton, Massachusetts.
          Revenues are recognized when payment is reasonably assured, the product is shipped and title and risk of loss have transferred to the customer. For direct merchandise sales, this occurs when product is delivered to the common carrier at the Company’s warehouse. For retail sales, this occurs at the point of sale.
          Our quarterly product sales have ranged from a low of approximately 20% to a high of approximately 32% of any calendar year’s results. The beginning of the spring outdoor riding season in the northern half of the country has typically generated a slightly stronger second quarter of the year, and the holiday buying season has generated additional demand for our equestrian product line in the fourth quarter of the year. Revenues for the first and third quarters of the calendar year have tended to be somewhat lower than the second and fourth quarters. We anticipate that our revenues will continue to vary somewhat by season.
          We offer a comprehensive selection of products required to own, train and compete with a horse, selling from under $1.00 to over $6,000. Our equestrian product line includes a broad variety of separate items, such as saddles, tack, specialized apparel, footwear, horse clothing, horse health and stable products. Separate reporting of the revenues of these numerous items is not practical.
          The Company views its operations and manages its business as one operating segment utilizing a multi-channel distribution strategy. Market channel revenues are as follows (dollars in thousands):
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31, 2009     March 31, 2008  
Revenues, net — direct
  $ 11,722     $ 13,497  
Revenues, net — retail stores
    4,679       4,158  
 
           
Revenues, net — total
  $ 16,401     $ 17,655  
 
           
          The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements comprise those of the Company, its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and its investment in affiliates. All inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation. The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2009 and for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 are unaudited. In management’s opinion, these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the same basis as the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2008 and include all adjustments, consisting of only usual recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation of the results for such interim periods. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2009 are not necessarily indicative of the results expected for the full year ended December 31, 2009.
          Certain footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to pertinent rules and regulations, although the Company believes that the disclosures in these financial statements are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited December 31, 2008 financial statements, which are included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 31, 2009.
B. Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
          On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Accounting Standards SFAS No. 123(R). Accordingly, the Company recognizes the fair value of compensation cost of stock-based awards on a straight-line basis over the vesting period of the award. Stock-based compensation for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 was $46,000 and $38,000, respectively.

 


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          There was no activity related to stock option grants, exercises or forfeitures for the three months ended March 31, 2009.
          The amount of stock-based compensation expense that may be recognized for outstanding, unvested options as of March 31, 2009 was approximately $564,000, to be recognized on a straight-line basis over the employee’s remaining weighted average vesting term. As of March 31, 2009, the intrinsic value of all “in the money” outstanding options was approximately $232,000.
C. Inventory
          Inventory consists of finished goods in the Company’s mail-order warehouse and retail stores. The Company’s inventories are stated at the lower of cost, with cost determined by the first-in, first-out method, or net realizable value. The Company maintains a reserve for excess and obsolete inventory. This reserve was $95,000 as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008. The Company continuously monitors the salability of its inventories to ensure adequate valuation of the related merchandise.
D. Advertising
          The costs of direct-response advertising materials, primarily catalog production and distribution costs are deferred in accordance with Statement of Position (SOP) 93-7, Reporting on Advertising Costs. These costs are recognized over the period of expected future revenue, which is less than one year. Deferred costs as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008 were $1,928,000 and $1,673,000, respectively. The combined marketing and advertising costs charged to selling, general, and administrative expenses for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 were $2,261,000 and $2,247,000, respectively.
E. Comprehensive Income (Loss)
          SFAS No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income, establishes standards for reporting and displaying comprehensive income (loss) and its components in the consolidated financial statements. Comprehensive income (loss) is defined as the change in equity of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources. The comprehensive loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 was comprised entirely of the current period net loss of $(590,000) and $(359,000), respectively.
F. Net Loss Per Share
          A reconciliation of the number of shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted net loss per share is as follows (in thousands):
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,     March 31,  
    2009     2008  
Basic weighted average common shares outstanding
    5,187       5,105  
Add: Dilutive effect of assumed stock option and warrant exercises less potential incremental shares purchased under the treasury method
           
 
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding
    5,187       5,105  
          As of March 31, 2009 and 2008, approximately 955,000 and 803,000 options and warrants to acquire common stock were excluded from the diluted weighted average shares calculation as the effect of such options and warrants is anti-dilutive.
G. Financing Agreements
Revolving Credit Facility
          The $14,000,000 senior revolving credit facility, of which up to $2,000,000 can be in the form of letters of credit, bears interest at the base rate, announced from time to time by the bank, plus an applicable margin determined by the Company’s funded debt ratio. At March 31, 2009, the LIBOR rate was 0.47%, plus the applicable margin of 3.2%. Interest is payable monthly. At its option, the Company may have all or a portion of the unpaid principal under the credit facility bear interest at various LIBOR or prime rate options.

 


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          The Company is obligated to pay commitment fees of 0.25% per annum on the average daily, unused amount of the line of credit during the preceding quarter. All assets of the Company collateralize the senior revolving credit facility. Under the terms of the credit facility, the Company is subject to certain covenants including, among others, maximum funded debt ratios, operating cash flows, current asset ratios, and capital expenditures. At March 31, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants under the credit facility. The revolving line of credit is due in full in January 2011.
          On March 27, 2009, the Company amended the senior revolving credit facility to adjust various covenant levels for the fiscal year 2009, due to the on-going impact of the economic recession. The maximum amount to be borrowed was reduced from $18,000,000 to $14,000,000.
          At March 31, 2009, the Company had the ability to borrow $14,000,000 on the revolving line of credit, subject to certain covenants, of which $10,600,000 was outstanding, bearing interest at the net revolver rate of 3.67%. At December 31, 2008, the Company had the ability to borrow $18,000,000, of which $8,300,000 was outstanding, bearing interest at the net revolver rate of 2.5%.
Senior Subordinated Notes Payable and Warrants
          In December 2007, the Company issued $5,000,000 in senior subordinated notes payable. The notes are subordinated in right of payment to existing and future senior debt, rank equal in right of payment with any future senior subordinated debt and are senior in right of payment to any future subordinated debt. Interest accrues at an annual rate of 14%, of which 12% is payable quarterly in arrears. The remaining 2% per annum is deferrable, and if deferred, shall be compounded and due in full on December 11, 2012. As of March 31, 2009, the Company had deferred $144,833 of interest since inception. Prepayment on the principal amount due under the notes may voluntarily be made at any time, plus accrued and unpaid interest and a prepayment fee of 5% of the prepaid amount if paid prior to the first anniversary, 4% if paid prior to the second anniversary, 3% if paid prior to the third anniversary, and 0% if paid after December 11, 2010.
          In connection with the issuance of the subordinated notes, the Company issued warrants to the note holders, exercisable at any time after December 11, 2007 for an initial 118,170 shares of its common stock at an exercise price of $3.96 per share. The number of shares to be received for the warrants, upon exercise, is subject to change in the event of additional equity issuances and/or stock splits. The warrants were estimated to have a fair value of $272,000, which was reflected as a discount of the proceeds. The discount is amortized through interest expense over the life of the notes. The warrants were valued using a Black-Scholes calculation with a risk free interest rate of 4.3%, an expected life of 9 years (which reflects the contractual term), a volatility of 43.4% and a dividend yield of 0%.
          As of March 31, 2009, the net $4,945,000 subordinated notes, on the consolidated balance sheet, reflect the $5,000,000 face value, plus the $144,833 in deferred interest less the remaining unamortized net discount of $199,663. As of December 31, 2008, the net $4,907,000 subordinated notes, on the consolidated balance sheet, reflect the $5,000,000 face value, plus the $119,833 in deferred interest less the remaining unamortized net discount of $213,000.
          Under the terms of the subordinated note agreements, the Company is subject to certain covenants, including, among others, maximum funded debt ratios, operating cash flows, current asset ratios and capital expenditures. At March 31, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants. On March 27, 2009, the Company amended the senior subordinated loan agreement to adjust various covenant levels for the fiscal year 2009, due to the on-going impact of the economic recession.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
          The Company considers all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents. Outstanding checks, net of cash balances in a single bank account, are classified as outstanding checks in current liabilities.
H. Investment in Affiliate
          On April 11, 2008, the Company acquired a significant non-controlling interest in Hobby Horse Clothing Company, Inc. (HH), in exchange for 81,720 shares of unregistered Dover common stock. The Company accounts for this investment using the equity method.

 


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          The Company acquired 40% of the common stock of HH, a privately owned company. The total acquisition costs included $380,000 in common stock, as well as $33,300 in professional fees. The valuation of the Company’s stock was set using an average closing price of the Company’s common stock over the days immediately proceeding and including the acquisition date. Based on the purchase allocation, the total acquisition cost of $413,300 was allocated to the fair value of the Company’s share of net assets acquired, including approximately $138,000 of intangible assets, which represents the difference between the cost and underlying equity in HH’s net assets at the date of acquisition.
          Dover recorded a net loss for the three months ended March 31, 2009 of $6,623 including Dover’s share of HH’s net income and the intangible asset customer list amortization (resulting from the purchase price allocation) included in Other Investment Loss, Net in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations. The carrying value at March 31, 2009, was $311,159 and was included in Intangibles and Other Assets, Net in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.
          Under certain circumstances, the Company may have the right, or obligation, to acquire the remaining 60% of the common stock of HH.
I. Income Taxes
          Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted FIN 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109. The application of the Interpretation’s provisions did not change our liability for unrecognized tax benefits. At March 31, 2009, the Company had no liability recorded for unrecognized tax benefits.
          The Company records interest and penalties related to income taxes as a component of income tax. The Company recognized $389 in interest and penalty expense for the three months ended March 31, 2009. At December 31, 2008, the Company recognized $8,883 in interest and penalty expense.
          Tax years 2005 through 2008 remain subject to examination by the IRS, and 2004 through 2008 tax years remain subject to examination by Massachusetts and various other jurisdictions. There currently is one examination in progress, by Massachusetts for the years ended 2004 to 2006.
J. Related Party Transactions
          On October 26, 2007, the disinterested members of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors approved a $5,000,000 subordinated debt financing facility as part of a plan to refinance the Company’s former subordinated debt with Patriot Capital. The new sub-debt facility was led by BCA Mezzanine Fund, L.P., which participated at $2,000,000 (in which Company Board member Gregory Mulligan holds a management position and indirect economic interest). The current subordinated loans were consummated as of December 11, 2007. Except as noted above with respect to Mr. Mulligan, there is no relationship, arrangement or understanding between the Company and any of the Subordinated Holders or any of their affiliates, other than in respect of the loan agreement establishing and setting forth the terms and conditions of this mezzanine loan agreement. For the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company recognized $175,000 in interest expense for the subordinated notes payable, of which $25,000 was accrued in each period as deferred interest, payable on maturity.
          In October of 2004, the Company entered into a lease agreement with a minority stockholder. The agreement, which relates to the Plaistow, NH retail store, is a five year lease with options to extend for an additional fifteen years. During the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, the Company expensed in connection with this lease $48,000 and $50,000, respectively. In addition, a related deposit of $18,750 is recorded as prepaid expenses and other current assets, as of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008.
          In order to expedite the efficient build-out of leasehold improvements in its new retail stores, the Company utilizes the services of a real estate development company owned by a non-executive Company employee and minority stockholder to source construction services and retail fixtures. Total payments made to the real estate development company for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008, consisting primarily of reimbursements for materials and outside labor for the fit-up of stores, were $53,000 and $94,000, respectively.

 


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K. Commitments and Contingencies
Lease Commitments
          The Company leases its facilities and certain fixed assets that may be purchased for a nominal amount on the expiration of the leases under non-cancelable operating and capital leases that extend through 2019. These leases, which may be renewed for periods ranging from one to five years, include fixed rental agreements as well as agreements with rent escalation clauses.
          In connection with retail locations, the Company enters into various operating lease agreements, with escalating rental payments. The effects of variable rent disbursements have been expensed on a straight-line basis over the life of the lease in accordance with SFAS No. 13, Accounting for Leases. As of March 31, 2009 and December 31, 2008, there was approximately $269,000 and $233,000, respectively, of deferred rent recorded in accrued expenses and other current liabilities.
Contingencies
          From time to time, the Company is exposed to litigation relating to our products and operations. As of March 31, 2009, we were not currently engaged in any legal proceedings that are expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material, adverse affect on our financial condition or results of operations.
          The Company has been named as a defendant in litigation brought by one of its customers against the manufacturer of a riding helmet for injuries sustained in an equestrian accident. To the best of our knowledge, the product was designed and manufactured by our vendor to industry standards. The claim against Dover is covered by our insurance, and we vigorously deny liability.
          On March 24, 2006, Goldsmith, Agio, Helms and Linner, LLC, (GAH) filed a demand for arbitration with the American Arbitration Association for $2,100,000, plus interest, seeking a success fee purportedly due in connection with the Company’s Initial Public Offering. In May 2007, we finalized the settlement with GAH and agreed to pay $700,000 in order to avoid the burden on management, the costs of preparation and trial, and risks of a potential adverse outcome. This charge was recorded in the first quarter of 2007. As of March 31, 2009, the entire $700,000 for the settlement had been paid under the agreement.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
          In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141 (revised 2007), Business Combinations (“Statement 141R”) and SFAS No. 160, Non-controlling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51 (“Statement 160”). Statement 141R will change how business acquisitions are accounted for and will impact financial statements both on the acquisition date and in subsequent periods. Statement 160 will change the accounting and reporting for minority interests, which will be re-characterized as non-controlling interests and classified as a component of equity. Statements 141R and 160 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. Early adoption is not permitted. The Company’s financial statements will be impacted by Statement 141R in the event any acquisitions are completed.
          In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements-an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS No. 160”). SFAS 160 requires that noncontrolling (or minority) interests in subsidiaries be reported in the equity section of the company’s balance sheet, rather than in a mezzanine section of the balance sheet between liabilities and equity. SFAS No. 160 also changes the manner in which the net income of the subsidiary is reported and disclosed in the controlling company’s income statement. SFAS No. 160 also establishes guidelines for accounting changes in ownership percentages and for deconsolidation. SFAS No. 160 is effective for financial statements for fiscal years beginning or on of after December 1, 2008 and interim periods within those years. The Company adopted this statement as of January 1, 2009. As SFAS No. 160 relates specifically to disclosures, this standard did not have material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
          In March 2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” (“SFAS No. 161”). SFAS No. 161 enhances disclosures for derivative instruments and hedging activities, including: (i) the manner in which a company uses derivative instruments; (ii) the manner in which derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted for under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities” and (iii) the effect of derivative instruments and related hedged items on a company’s financial position. SFAS No. 161 is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years

 


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beginning after November 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company adopted this statement as of January 1, 2009. As SFAS No. 161 relates specifically to disclosures, this standard will have no impact on our financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
          In June 2008, the FASB ratified the consensus reached on Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 07-05, Determining Whether an Instrument (or Embedded Feature) Is Indexed to an Entity’s Own Stock. EITF Issue No. 07-05 clarifies the determination of whether an instrument (or an embedded feature) is indexed to an entity’s own stock, which would qualify as a scope exception under SFAS No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities. The Company adopted EITF Issue No. 07-05 as of January 1, 2009. Adoption did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
          This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, including the following discussion, contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the words “projected”, “anticipated”, “planned”, “expected”, and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. In particular, statements regarding future financial targets or trends are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of our future financial performance, and undue reliance should not be placed on them. Our actual results, performance or achievements may differ significantly from the results, performance or achievements discussed in or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause such a difference detailed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008 (“fiscal 2008”) and in our subsequent periodic reports on Form 10-Q. We disclaim any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
Overview
          We are a leading specialty retailer and the largest direct marketer of equestrian products in the U.S. For over 30 years, Dover Saddlery has been a premier upscale marketing brand in the English-style riding industry. We sell our products through a multi-market channel strategy, including direct and retail. This multi-market channel strategy has allowed us to use catalogs and our proprietary database of nearly two million names of equestrian enthusiasts as a primary marketing tool to increase catalog sales and to drive additional business to our e-commerce websites and retail stores.
          The first quarter of 2009 was a difficult operating environment for our industry as a result of numerous external factors that have led to all time historical lows in consumer confidence, which resulted in a contraction in specialty retail consumer spending. As a result, the Company developed several short-term strategies to maintain or expand market share, reduce operating costs and reduce capital expenditures. In order to manage our way through these uncertain times, our retail expansion has been slowed, and we will be extremely opportunistic in negotiating leases for the balance of 2009 and 2010.
Consolidated Performance and Trends
          The Company reported a net loss in the first quarter of 2009 of $(590,000) or $(0.11) per share, compared to a loss of $(359,000) or $(0.07) per share for the corresponding period in 2008.
          The first quarter of 2009 results reflect our continuing efforts to execute our growth strategy in the retail market channel where revenues increased 12.5% to $4.7 million in the quarter. This trend of increased revenue in the retail market channel may be slowed or eroded by delays in the execution of our new store expansion strategy, constraints in available capital, and interim declines in consumer demand at our retail stores impacted by the current global financial and credit crisis. We respond to fluctuations in revenues primarily by delaying the opening of new stores, adjusting marketing efforts and operations to support our retail stores and manage costs, as well as continuing to focus on our proprietary store optimization modeling to determine the rate and location of new store openings. Our direct market channel revenues decreased 13.1%, to $11.7 million in the first quarter of 2009, due to a combination of factors, including lower unit volumes attributable to the significant consumer spending slowdown in the overall economy. We respond to fluctuations in our direct customers’ response by adjusting the quantities of catalogs mailed and other marketing and customer-related strategies and tactics in order to maximize revenues and manage costs. The reversal of these trends of decreased direct revenue and delays in our new store growth plan is dependent upon the response of our customers to these and evolving market conditions.

 


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          In this time of economic uncertainty, it is very difficult to accurately predict economic trends; however, as changing market conditions become clear, we will adapt our strategies to address these new conditions.
Single Reporting Segment
          The Company operates and manages its business as one operating segment utilizing a multi-channel distribution strategy.
Results of Operations
          The following table sets forth our unaudited results of operations as a percentage of revenues for the periods shown (1):
                 
    Three Months Ended
    March 31, 2009   March 31, 2008
Revenues, net
    100.0 %     100.0 %
Cost of revenues
    65.3       64.0  
Gross profit
    34.7       36.0  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    40.0       37.3  
Loss from operations
    (5.4 )     (1.3 )
Interest expense, financing and other related costs, net
    1.9       1.9  
Other investment loss, net
           
Loss before income tax benefit
    (7.3 )     (3.2 )
Benefit for income taxes
    (3.7 )     (1.2 )
Net loss
    (3.6 )     (2.0 )
 
(1)   Certain of these amounts may not properly sum due to rounding
     The following table presents certain selected unaudited operating data (dollars in thousands):
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31, 2009     March 31, 2008  
Revenues, net — direct
  $ 11,722     $ 13,497  
Revenues, net — retail stores
    4,679       4,158  
 
           
Revenues, net — total
  $ 16,401     $ 17,655  
 
           
 
               
Other operating data:
               
Number of retail stores (1)
    13       10  
Capital expenditures
    241       230  
Gross profit margin
    34.7 %     36.0 %
Adjusted EBITDA(2)
    (621 )     19  
Adjusted EBITDA margin(2)
    (3.8 )%     0.1 %
 
(1)   Includes twelve Dover-branded stores and one Smith Brothers store; the March 31, 2009 store count includes the Branchburg, NJ Dover-branded store opened in Q2 2008, the Alpharetta, GA Dover-branded store opened in Q4 2008, and the North Kingstown, RI Dover-branded store opened in Q1 2009.
 
(2)   When we use the term “Adjusted EBITDA”, we are referring to net income minus interest income and other income plus interest expense, income taxes, non-cash stock-based compensation, non-cash goodwill impairment charge, depreciation,

 


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    amortization and other investment loss, net. We present Adjusted EBITDA because we consider it an important supplemental measure of our performance and believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry.
Adjusted EBITDA has some limitations as an analytical tool and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for net income, operating income, cash flows from operating, investing or financing activities or any other measure calculated in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Some of the limitations are:
    Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or capital commitments;
 
    Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
 
    Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the impact of an impairment charge that might be taken, when future results are not achieved as planned, in respect of goodwill resulting from any premium the Company might pay in the future in connection with potential acquisitions;
 
    Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect the interest expense or cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;
 
    although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements;
 
    although stock-based compensation is a non-cash charge, additional stock options might be granted in the future, which might have a future dilutive effect on earnings and EPS; and
 
    other companies in our industry may calculate Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.
The following table reconciles Adjusted EBITDA to net loss (in thousands):
                 
    Three Months Ended  
    March 31,     March 31,  
    2009     2008  
Net loss
  $ (590 )   $ (359 )
Depreciation
    211       196  
Amortization of intangible assets
    2       16  
Stock-based compensation
    46       38  
Interest expense, financing and other related costs, net
    312       333  
Other investment loss, net
    7        
Benefit for income taxes
    (609 )     (205 )
 
           
Adjusted EBITDA
  $ (621 )   $ 19  
 
           
Three Months Ended March 31, 2009 Compared to the Three Months Ended March 31, 2008
Revenues
          Our total revenues were $16.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, down from $17.7 million for the corresponding period in 2008, a decrease of $1.3 million or 7.1%. Revenues in our direct market channel were $11.7 million, a decrease of $1.8 million, or 13.1 % from the corresponding period in 2008. Revenues in our retail market channel increased $0.5 million, or 12.5%, to $4.7 million. The decrease in our direct market channel was due to lower unit volumes attributable to the continuing consumer slowdown in the overall economy. The increase in revenues from our retail market channel was due primarily to the opening of new stores in 2008 and 2009 and resulting increases in retail revenues. Same store sales decreased 10.6% over prior year, attributable to the continuing economic recession.

 


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Gross Profit
          Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2009 decreased 10.6% to $5.7 million, from $6.4 million for the corresponding period in 2008. Gross profit, as a percentage of revenues, for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was 34.7% compared to 36.0% for the corresponding period in 2008. The decrease in gross profit of $0.7 million was attributable to lower revenues in our direct market channel and variations in overall product mix. The decrease in gross profit as a percentage of revenues was attributable to variations in our overall product mix, a higher proportion of consumer spending on sale merchandise, and product cost increases.
Selling, General and Administrative
          Selling, general and administrative expenses were held flat for the three months ended March 31, 2009 at $6.6 million. As a percentage of revenues, SG&A expenses increased to 40.0% of revenues, from 37.3% of revenues for the corresponding period in 2008. Cost reductions in marketing catalog costs, labor and professional fees offset planned increases in facility costs and store opening costs in support of retail market channel revenue growth.
Interest Expense
          Interest expense, including amortization of deferred financing costs attributed to our subordinated debt and revolving credit facility, remained constant for the three months ended March 31, 2009 and 2008 at $0.3 million.
Income Tax Benefit
          The benefit for income taxes was $0.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, reflecting an estimated tax benefit of 51%, compared to $0.2 million for the corresponding period in 2008, reflecting an estimated tax benefit of 36%. The effective tax benefit for the year to date periods were recorded based upon management’s best estimates of the estimated effective rates for the entire respective years, and are adjusted each quarter. The increased estimated rate is attributable to increased state tax rates and liabilities.
Net Loss
          The net loss for the first quarter of 2009 increased to $(590,000), compared to $(359,000) in the first quarter of 2008. This increase in the net loss was due primarily to reduced revenues attributable to soft consumer demand. The resulting quarterly loss per share increased to $(0.11) in the first quarter of 2009 compared to $(0.07) per share for the corresponding period in 2008.
Seasonality and Quarterly Fluctuations
          Since 2001, our quarterly product sales have ranged from a low of approximately 20% to a high of approximately 32% of any calendar year’s results. The beginning of the spring outdoor riding season in the northern half of the country has typically generated a slightly stronger second quarter of the year, and the holiday buying season has generated additional demand for our normal equestrian product lines in the fourth quarter of the year. Revenues for the first and third quarters of the calendar year have tended to be somewhat lower than the second and fourth quarters. We anticipate that our revenues will continue to vary somewhat by season. The timing of our new retail store openings has had, and is expected to continue to have, a significant impact on our quarterly results. We will incur one-time expenses related to the opening of each new store. As we open new stores, (i) revenues may spike and then settle, and (ii) pre-opening expenses, including occupancy and management overhead, are incurred, which may not be offset by correlating revenues during the same financial reporting period. As a result of these factors, new retail store openings may result in temporary declines in operating profit, both in dollars and as a percentage of sales.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
          For the three months ended March 31, 2009, we decreased our cash by $237,000. While pursuing our growth strategy, with one new store opening, cash was utilized for new store inventory and capital expenditures, as well as seasonal working capital requirements and third-party debt service requirements. The source for the additional cash consumed related to increased borrowings under our revolving credit facility. The Company is in compliance with all covenants under both credit facilities. When necessary, we plan in the future to seek additional financing from banks, or through public offerings or private placements of debt or equity securities, strategic relationships, or other arrangements. In the event we fail to meet our financial covenants with our banks, we may

 


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not have access through our line of credit to sufficient working capital to pursue our growth strategy, or if our covenant non-compliance triggers a default, our loans may be called requiring the repayment of all amounts on our loans.
Operating Activities
          Cash utilized in our operating activities for the three months ended March 31, 2009 was $2.3 million compared to $2.3 million for the corresponding period in 2008. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, cash outflows consisted primarily of seasonal increases in prepaid catalogs and other current assets of $1.3 million, inventory increases of $1.1 million due to seasonal expansion and the opening of one new store, as well as reductions in accrued expenses, other current liabilities and income taxes payable of $0.5 million. The results of operations consisted of the net loss, non-cash expenses of depreciation, amortization, non-cash interest and other expenses, generating $0.1 million of cash. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, cash utilized by our operating activities was $2.3 million. Cash outflows consisted primarily of inventory increases of $0.8 million and increases in prepaid catalogs and other current assets of $1.2 million attributable to retail growth and increased seasonal buying as well as reductions in accrued expenses of $1.5 million, and the net loss of $0.4 million. Cash inflows for this period consisted of increases in accounts payable of $0.7 million, decreases in receivables of $0.5 million, and non-cash expenses of $0.4 million.
Investing Activities
          Cash utilized in our investing activities was $245,000 for the three months ended March 31, 2009 compared to $256,000 for the corresponding period in 2008. For both periods, investing activities consisted primarily of retail store build-out and equipment costs. Increases in investment activities, pending improvement in the current economic uncertainty, can be expected in future periods to outfit our new retail stores.
Financing Activities
          Net cash provided by our financing activities was $2.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2009, compared to $2.5 million provided in the corresponding period in 2008. For the three months ended March 31, 2009, we funded our seasonal operating activities and investing activities with net borrowings of $2.3 million under our revolving credit facility. For the three months ended March 31, 2008, we funded our seasonal operating and investing activities with net borrowings of $1.7 million under our revolving credit facility, and increases in outstanding checks of $0.9 million.
Revolving Credit Facility
          On March 27, 2009, the Company amended its senior revolving credit facility with RBS Citizens Bank N.A. to adjust various covenant levels for fiscal year 2009, due to the on-going impact of the economic recession. In addition, the maximum amount to be borrowed was reduced from $18,000,000 to $14,000,000 in 2009, through June 2010, and will then reduce to $13,000,000 on June 30, 2010. As of March 31, 2009, the revolving credit facility borrowing limit was $14,000,000, subject to certain covenants, and the amount outstanding under the credit facility was $10,600,000 at the net revolver rate of 3.67%, and the unused amount available was $3,400,000. Borrowings are secured by substantially all of the Company’s assets. Under the terms of this credit facility, the Company is subject to various covenants. At March 31, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants under the credit facility.
Senior Subordinated Notes Payable and Warrants
          In December 2007, the Company entered into a subordinated loan agreement with BCA Mezzanine Fund, LP, Cephas Capital Partners, LP, and SEED Ventures, LP (jointly, the “Subordinated Holders”), which provided for the issuance of a senior subordinated note payable, which is due in full on December 11, 2012, for aggregate proceeds of $5,000,000. The note is subordinated in right of payment to existing and future senior debt ranks equal in right of payment with any future senior subordinated debt and is senior in right of payment to any future subordinated debt. Interest accrues at an annual rate of 14%, of which 12% is payable quarterly in arrears on the fifth business day of the following month. The remaining 2% per annum is deferrable, and if deferred, shall be compounded annually and due in full on December 11, 2012. As of March 31, 2009, the Company had deferred $144,833 of interest since inception. Prepayment on the principal amount due under the note may voluntarily be made at any time, plus accrued and unpaid interest and a prepayment fee of 5% of the prepaid amount if paid prior to the first anniversary, 4% if paid prior to the second anniversary, 3% if paid prior to the third anniversary, and 0% if paid after December 11, 2010. Under the terms of this senior subordinated credit facility, the Company is subject to various covenants. As of March 31, 2009, the balance of the subordinated notes was $5,000,000. On March 27, 2009, the Company amended the subordinated loan agreement to adjust various covenant levels for

 


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fiscal year 2009, due to the on-going impact of the economic recession. At March 31, 2009, the Company was in compliance with all of its covenants under the credit facility.
          Simultaneously with the issuance of this note, we issued warrants to the Subordinated Holders, exercisable at any time after December 11, 2007, for an initial 118,170 shares of our common stock at an initial exercise price of $3.96 per share. The number of shares to be received for the warrants, upon exercise, is subject to change in the event of additional equity issuances and/or stock splits.
Working Capital and Capital Expenditure Needs
          We believe our existing cash, cash equivalents, expected cash to be provided by our operating activities, and funds available through our revolving credit facility will be sufficient to meet our currently planned working capital and capital expenditure needs over at least the next twelve months. Our future capital requirements will depend on many factors, including our rate of revenue growth, the expansion of our marketing and sales activities, the expansion of our retail stores, the acquisition of new capabilities or technologies and the continuing market acceptance of our products. To the extent that existing cash, cash equivalents, cash from operations and cash from our revolving credit facility under the conditions and covenants of our credit facilities are insufficient to fund our future activities, we may need to raise additional funds through public or private equity or debt financing. Although we are currently not a party to any agreement or letter of intent with respect to potential investments in, or acquisitions of, businesses, services or technologies which we anticipate would require us to seek additional equity or debt financing, we may enter into these types of arrangements in the future. There is no assurance that additional funds would be available on terms favorable to us or at all.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
          Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. The preparation of these consolidated financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, costs and expenses, and related disclosures. We evaluate our estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis. Our actual results may differ from these estimates. A summary of significant accounting policies and a description of accounting policies that are considered critical may be found in our 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on March 31, 2009, in Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements and the “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations; as supplemented by the disclosures in the Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, we define our same store sales to include sales from all stores open for a full fifteen months following a grand opening, or a conversion to a Dover-branded store.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
          At March 31, 2009, there had not been a material change in any of the market risk information disclosed by us in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008. More detailed information concerning market risk can be found in Item 7A under the sub-caption “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” of the caption “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” on page 47 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.
          Our objective in managing our long-term exposure to interest rate and foreign currency rate changes is to limit the material impact of the changes on cash flows and earnings and to lower our overall borrowing costs. We have calculated the effect of a 10% change in interest rates over a month-long period for both our debt obligations and our marketable securities investments and determined the effect to be immaterial. We do not foresee or expect any significant changes in the management of foreign currency or interest rate exposures or in the strategies we employ to manage such exposures in the near future.
Foreign Currency Risk
          Nearly all of our revenues are derived from transactions denominated in U.S. dollars. We purchase products in the normal course of business from foreign manufacturers. As such, we have exposure to adverse changes in exchange rates associated with those product purchases, but this exposure has not been significant.

 


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Interest Rate Sensitivity
          We had cash and cash equivalents totaling $211,000 at March 31, 2009. The unrestricted cash and cash equivalents are held for working capital purposes. We do not enter into investments for trading or speculative purposes. We intend to maintain our portfolio of cash equivalents, including money market funds and certificates of deposit. Due to the short-term nature of these investments, we believe that we do not have any material exposure to changes in the fair value as a result of changes in interest rates. As of March 31, 2009, all of our investments were held in money market funds and certificates of deposits.
          Our exposure to market risk also relates to the increase or decrease in the amount of interest expense we must pay on our outstanding debt instruments, primarily certain borrowings under our revolving credit facility. The advances under this revolving credit facility bear a variable rate of interest determined as a function of the prime rate and the published LIBOR rate at the time of the borrowing. If interest rates were to increase by two percent, the additional interest expense as of March 31, 2009 would be approximately $212,000 annually. At March 31, 2009, $10,600,000 was outstanding under our revolving credit facility.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
          Not Applicable.
Item 4T. Controls and Procedures.
          Our management, with the participation of our chief executive officer and chief financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2009. The term “disclosure controls and procedures”, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, means controls and other procedures of a company that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
          Management recognizes that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving their objectives, and management necessarily applies its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures. Based on the evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2009, our chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that, as of such date, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.
          We maintain certain internal controls over financial reporting that are appropriate, in management’s judgment with similar cost-benefit considerations, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. No change in our internal control over financial reporting occurred during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2009 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings.
          From time to time, we are exposed to litigation relating to our products and operations. Except as described below, we are not currently engaged in any legal proceedings that are expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a material, adverse affect on our financial condition or results of operations.
          The Company has been named as a defendant in litigation brought by one of its customers against the manufacturer of a riding helmet for injuries sustained in an equestrian accident. To the best of our knowledge, the product was designed and manufactured by our vendor to industry standards. The claim against Dover is covered by our insurance, and we vigorously deny liability.

 


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Item 1A. Risk Factors.
          An investment in our common stock involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the specific risk factors listed under Part I, Item 1A of our Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 2008 on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on March 31, 2009, together with all other information included or incorporated in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Any such risks may materialize, and additional risks not known to us, or that we now deem immaterial, may arise. In such event, our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects could be materially adversely affected. If that occurs, the market price of our common stock could fall, and you could lose all or part of your investment.
          This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes or incorporates forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of the words “believes”, “anticipates”, “plans”, “expects”, “may”, “will”, “would”, “intends”, “estimates”, and other similar expressions, whether in the negative or affirmative. We cannot guarantee that we actually will achieve the plans, intentions or expectations disclosed in the forward-looking statements made. We have included important factors in the cautionary statements below that we believe could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained herein. The forward-looking statements do not reflect the potential impact of any future acquisitions, mergers or dispositions. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements contained herein. In addition to the list of significant risk factors set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008, we continue to call your attention to the following information that might be considered material in evaluating the risks of our business and an investment in our common stock:
Current economic conditions and the global financial crisis may have an impact on our business and financial condition in ways that we currently cannot predict.
          The global economy is currently experiencing a significant contraction, with an almost unprecedented lack of availability of business and consumer credit. This current decrease and any future decrease in economic activity in the United States or in other regions of the world in which we do business could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. Continued and potentially increased volatility, instability and economic weakness and a resulting decrease in discretionary consumer and business spending may result in a reduction in our revenues. We currently cannot predict the extent to which our revenues may be impacted. In addition, financial difficulties experienced by our suppliers or distributors could result in product delays and discontinuances, a lack of new products, inventory challenges, and less favorable trade credit terms.
A decline in discretionary consumer spending and related externalities could reduce our revenues.
          Our revenues depend to a degree on discretionary consumer spending, which may decrease due to a variety of factors beyond our control. These include unfavorable general business, financial and economic conditions, increases in interest rates, increases in inflation, stock market uncertainty, war, terrorism, fears of war or terrorism, increases in consumer debt levels and decreases in the availability of consumer credit, adverse or unseasonable weather conditions, adverse changes in applicable laws and regulations, increases in taxation, adverse unemployment trends and other factors that adversely influence consumer confidence and spending. Any one of these factors could result in adverse fluctuations in our revenues generally. Our revenues also depend on the extent to which discretionary consumer spending is directed towards recreational activities generally and equestrian activities and products in particular. Reductions in the amounts of discretionary spending directed to such activities would reduce our revenues. Our customers’ purchases of discretionary items, including our products, may decline during periods when disposable income is lower, or periods of actual or perceived unfavorable economic conditions. If this occurs, our revenues would decline, which may have a material adverse effect on our business.
Material changes in cash flow and debt levels may adversely affect our growth and credit facilities, require the immediate repayment of all our loans, and limit the ability to open new stores.
          During seasonal and cyclical changes in our revenue levels, to fund our retail growth strategy, and to fund increases in our direct business, we make use of our credit facilities, which are subject to EBITDA, total debt and related covenants. In the last fiscal quarter of fiscal year 2008, prior to loan amendment, we failed to comply with one of these covenants. If we are out of compliance with our covenants at the end of a fiscal period, it may adversely affect our growth prospects, require the consent of our lenders to open new stores, or in the worst case, trigger default and require the repayments of all amounts then outstanding on our loans. In the event of our insolvency, liquidation, dissolution or reorganization, the lenders under our revolving credit facility would be entitled to

 


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payment in full from our assets before distributions, if any, were made to our stockholders. In order to execute our retail store expansion strategy, we may need to borrow additional funds, raise additional equity financing or finance our planned expansion from profits. We may also need to raise additional capital in the future to respond to competitive pressures or unanticipated financial requirements. We may not be able to obtain additional financing, including the extension or refinancing of our revolving credit facility, on commercially reasonable terms or at all. A failure to obtain additional financing or an inability to obtain financing on acceptable terms could require us to incur indebtedness at high rates of interest or with substantial restrictive covenants, including prohibitions on payment of dividends. We may obtain additional financing by issuing equity securities that will dilute the ownership interests of existing shareholders. If we are unable to obtain additional financing, we may be forced to scale back operations or be unable to address opportunities for expansion or enhancement of our operations.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds.
          The Company did not issue or sell any equity securities in the three months ended March 31, 2009.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.
          There were no defaults on the Company’s senior securities in the three months ended March 31, 2009.
Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
          There were no matters submitted to a vote of security holders in the three months ended March 31, 2009.
Item 5. Other Information.
          Effective May 11, 2009, Mr. William F. Meagher, Jr. resigned from the Company’s Board of Directors. His resignation created vacancies on the Audit Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors.
          Based on communications with Mr. Meagher, the Company believes that Mr. Meagher resigned as the result of time commitments arising from continuing disagreements with management over governance and management styles. A copy of Mr. Meagher’s resignation letter is attached hereto as Exhibit 17.1.
          The Company has made the contents of this disclosure on Form 10-Q available to Mr. Meagher and requested that he review the disclosures herein and afforded Mr. Meagher the opportunity to furnish us a letter addressed to the Company stating whether he agrees with the above statements. Mr. Meagher has informed the Company that he has reviewed the disclosures herein, and authorized us to report to the Commission that he does not have any new information or clarification of, and that he does not disagree with, the Company’s disclosures herein.
          As previously reported in our Annual Report in Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and in other filings, the Company received comments from the Securities and Exchange Commission Staff regarding its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007 (the “2007 Annual Report”) and regarding its Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on April 15, 2008. The Company believes it has resolved all such comments.

 


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Item 6. Exhibits.
     
Number   Description
 
   
*17.1
  Director departure correspondence
 
   
*31.1
  Certification of Principal Executive Officer of Periodic Report Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
 
   
*31.2
  Certification of Principal Financial Officer of Periodic Report Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
 
   
‡32.1
  Certification by Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Periodic Report Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
 
*   Filed herewith.
 
  Furnished herewith.

 


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SIGNATURES
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
         
  DOVER SADDLERY, INC.
 
 
Dated: May 15, 2009  By:   /s/ Michael W. Bruns    
    Michael W. Bruns, Chief Financial Officer   
    (Principal Financial Officer)   

 


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EXHIBIT INDEX
     
Number   Description
 
   
*17.1
  Director departure correspondence
 
   
*31.1
  Certification of Principal Executive Officer of Periodic Report Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
 
   
*31.2
  Certification of Principal Financial Officer of Periodic Report Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a)
 
   
‡32.1
  Certification by Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of Periodic Report Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350
 
*   Filed herewith.
 
  Furnished herewith.

 

EX-17.1 2 b75220dsexv17w1.htm EX-17.1 DIRECTOR DEPARTURE CORRESPONDENCE exv17w1
Exhibit 17.1
William F. Meagher
170 Richardson Drive
Needham, MA 02492

May 9, 2009
Mr. Stephen L. Day
CEO
Dover Saddlery, Inc.
P.O. Box 1100
525 Great Road
Littleton, MA 01460
Dear Steve,
For the reasons we discussed in our telephone conversation today, I hereby resign as a Director of Dover Saddlery, Inc.
I do expect, at the time the other Board members are paid, to be paid the remaining Director fees due to me as a Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee through May 8, 2009.
I wish the Company, you and the Board the very best.
         
Sincerely,
 
   
/s/ Bill Meagher      
Bill Meagher     
     
 

EX-31.1 3 b75220dsexv31w1.htm EX-31.1 CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF PERIODIC REPORT PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) OR RULE 15D-14(A) exv31w1
Exhibit 31.1
CERTIFICATION
I, Stephen L. Day, certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of DOVER SADDLERY, INC.;
 
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 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 in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-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 fiancial reporting and the preparation of fiancial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. gennerally 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 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 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: May 15, 2009  /s/ Stephen L. Day    
  Stephen L. Day   
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Director (Principal Executive Officer)   

 

EX-31.2 4 b75220dsexv31w2.htm EX-31.2 CERTIFICATION OF PRINCIPAL FINANCIAL OFFICER OF PERIODIC REPORT PURSUANT TO RULE 13A-14(A) OR RULE 15D-14(A) exv31w2
         
Exhibit 31.2
CERTIFICATION
I, Michael W. Bruns, certify that:
1.   I have reviewed this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of DOVER SADDLERY, INC.;
 
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 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 in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-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 fiancial reporting and the preparation of fiancial statements for external purposes in accordance with U.S. gennerally 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 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 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: May 15, 2009  /s/ Michael W. Bruns    
  Michael W. Bruns   
  Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer) 
 

 

EX-32.1 5 b75220dsexv32w1.htm EX-32.1 CERTIFICATION BY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER OF PERIODIC REPORT PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350 exv32w1
         
Exhibit 32.1
CERTIFICATION
     In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of DOVER SADDLERY, INC. (the “Company”) for the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2009, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned officers certifies, to the best knowledge and belief of the signatory, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:
  (1)   The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and
 
  (2)   The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
     
/s/ Stephen L. Day
  /s/ Michael W. Bruns
 
Stephen L. Day
 
 
 Michael W. Bruns
President, Chief Executive Officer and Director
  Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
  (Principal Financial Officer)
 
   
Date: May 15, 2009
  Date: May 15, 2009

 

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