BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements of Stage Stores, Inc. and its subsidiary (“we,” “us” or “our”) have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) for interim financial information and do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. Those adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair presentation of the results of the interim periods have been made. Results of operations for such interim periods are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year due to seasonality and other factors. The condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto filed with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 3, 2018 (“Form 10-K”).

We are a retailer of trend-right, moderately priced, name-brand apparel, accessories, cosmetics, footwear and home goods. As of May 5, 2018, we operated in 42 states through 773 BEALLS, GOODY’S, PALAIS ROYAL, PEEBLES and STAGE specialty department stores and 59 GORDMANS off-price stores, as well as an e-commerce website. Our department stores are predominantly located in small towns and rural communities. Our off-price stores are predominantly located in mid-sized, non-rural Midwest markets.

References to a particular year are to our fiscal year, which is the 52- or 53-week period ending on the Saturday closest to January 31st of the following calendar year. For example, a reference to “2018” is a reference to the fiscal year ending February 2, 2019, and “2017” is a reference to the fiscal year ended February 3, 2018. Fiscal years 2018 and 2017 are comprised of 52 weeks and 53 weeks, respectively. References to the “three months ended May 5, 2018” and “three months ended April 29, 2017” are for the respective 13-week fiscal quarters. References to quarters relate to our fiscal quarters.

On April 7, 2017, we acquired select assets of Gordmans Stores, Inc. and its subsidiaries through a bankruptcy auction (“Gordmans Acquisition”). The results of the Gordmans branded stores that we operated since the Gordmans Acquisition are included in our condensed consolidated statements of operations (see Note 9).

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements. In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), and subsequently issued related ASUs, which were incorporated into Topic 606. Under Topic 606, revenue is recognized when a customer obtains control of promised goods or services in an amount that reflects the consideration the entity expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. The standard establishes a five-step revenue recognition model, which includes (i) identifying the contract with the customer, (ii) identifying the separate performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determining the transaction price, (iv) allocating the transaction price to the separate performance obligations, and (v) recognizing revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied. The standard also requires disclosure of the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. To determine the impact of the new standard on our financial statements, we reviewed representative transactions across our revenue streams and compared our historical accounting practices to the new standard. On February 4, 2018, we adopted the new standard using the full retrospective method. As a result of the adoption of ASU 2014-09, the condensed consolidated statements of operations reflect the reclassification of credit income related to our private label credit card program from selling, general and administrative expenses to revenue. In addition, the condensed consolidated balance sheets and condensed consolidated statement of cash flows reflect the reclassification of the asset for the right to recover merchandise returned from merchandise inventories to prepaid expenses and other current assets. The tables that follow depict the impact of the reclassification adjustments on the prior period financial statement presentations.

The condensed consolidated balance sheets reflect the reclassification of the asset for the right to recover merchandise returned from merchandise inventories to prepaid expenses and other current assets.



Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands)
	February 3, 2018		ASU 2014-09			February 3, 2018
	As previously reported		Adjustments			As adjusted
Assets:
Merchandise inventories, net	$	439,735	$	(1,358	)	$	438,377
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	51,049		1,358			52,407

	April 29, 2017		ASU 2014-09			April 29, 2017
	As previously reported		Adjustments			As adjusted
Assets:
Merchandise inventories, net	$	477,189	$	(2,141	)	$	475,048
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	46,054		2,141			48,195

The condensed consolidated statement of operations reflects the reclassification of credit income from selling, general and administrative expenses to revenue.



Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss (in thousands)
	Three Months Ended				Three Months Ended
	April 29, 2017		ASU 2014-09		April 29, 2017
	As previously reported		Adjustments		As adjusted
Net sales	$	308,607	$	—	$	308,607
Credit income	—		12,928		12,928
Total revenues	308,607		12,928		321,535
Selling, general and administrative expenses	88,509		12,928		101,437

The condensed consolidated statement of cash flows reflects the reclassification of the asset for the right to recover merchandise returned from merchandise inventories to prepaid expenses and other current assets.



Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (in thousands)
	Three Months Ended						Three Months Ended
	April 29, 2017			ASU 2014-09			April 29, 2017
	As previously reported			Adjustments			As adjusted
Cash flows from operating activities:
Increase in merchandise inventories	$	(33,106	)	$	1,107		$	(31,999	)
Increase in other assets	(6,086		)	(1,107		)	(7,193		)

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, which requires the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost to be presented in the same income statement line item as other employee compensation costs arising from services rendered during the period. If a subtotal for operating income is shown on the income statement, then the other components of the net periodic benefit cost must be presented separately from the line item that includes the service cost and outside of any subtotal of operating income. The new standard also requires disclosure of the line item(s) in the income statement that include net periodic benefit costs. Additionally, only the service cost component of the net periodic benefit cost is eligible for capitalization. The change in presentation of service cost must be applied retrospectively, while the capitalization of service cost must be applied on a prospective basis. On February 4, 2018, we adopted ASU 2017-07. The pension plan that we sponsor is frozen, and therefore, service costs no longer accrue under the plan. The adoption of the new standard did not change the presentation of our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The guidance in this ASU supersedes the leasing guidance in Topic 840, Leases. The new standard requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. We plan to make a policy election that will keep leases with an initial term of 12 months or less off the balance sheet and will result in recognizing those lease payments in the consolidated statements of operations on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Consistent with current GAAP, the recognition, measurement and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification as a financing or operating lease. However, unlike current GAAP, which requires only capital leases to be recognized on the balance sheet, ASU 2016-02 will require both types of leases to be recognized on the balance sheet. As a result, lessees will be required to put most leases on their balance sheets while recognizing expense on their income statements in a manner similar to current accounting. In addition, this guidance requires disclosures about the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. The new standard will be effective for us in the first quarter of fiscal 2019, which begins on February 3, 2019. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements. We continue to evaluate the impact that the adoption of this ASU will have on our consolidated financial statements and disclosures, including the effect of certain optional practical expedients permitted under the transition guidance. Based on our assessment to date, we expect the adoption of ASU 2016-02 will result in a significant increase in lease-related assets and liabilities on our consolidated balance sheets. The ultimate impact of adopting the new standard will depend on our lease portfolio as of the adoption date.