UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
_____________
FORM 8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): September 6, 2017
(September 6, 2017)
FRED'S,
INC.
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Commission
File Number 001-14565
|
Tennessee |
62-0634010 |
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(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
|
4300 New Getwell Road, Memphis, Tennessee 38118 |
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(Address of principal executive offices) |
(901) 365-8880
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code
Not
Applicable
(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
⃞ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
⃞ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
|
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter). ⃞ |
|
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 financing accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ⃞ |
ITEM 2.02. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL CONDITION.
On September 6, 2017, Fred’s, Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing the Company’s financial results for the quarter ended July 29, 2017. The full text of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
The information in this Current Report on Form 8-K (including Exhibit 99.1) is being furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for any purpose, including for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any previous or future filings by the Company under the Exchange Act or the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
ITEM 9.01. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(d) Exhibits.
99.1 Press Release of Fred’s, Inc., dated September 6, 2017.
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 hereunto duly authorized.
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FRED'S, INC. |
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(Registrant) |
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Date: |
September 6, 2017 |
By: |
/s/ Jason Jenne |
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Name: |
Jason Jenne |
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Title: |
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
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Exhibit |
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Number |
Description of Exhibit(s) |
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Exhibit 99.1
Fred’s Pharmacy Reports Second Quarter 2017 Results
Continuing to build momentum; improvements in comparable store sales trends and gross margin demonstrate the plan is beginning to work
Strategic turnaround underway; focused on reducing SG&A and driving free cash flow
MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--September 6, 2017--Fred’s Inc. (NASDAQ:FRED) today reported financial results for the second quarter and six months ended July 29, 2017.
For the second quarter ended July 29, 2017, Fred’s recorded a net loss of approximately $29.5 million or $0.78 per share, which included the following charges totaling $30.1 million, or $0.63 per share after tax:
Fred’s second quarter loss compares to a net loss of $6.9 million or $0.18 per share for the second quarter of 2016.
Commenting on today’s results, Michael K. Bloom, Chief Executive Officer, said, “Our overall comparable store sales represent the best quarterly performance in the past year. In addition, EPS and EBITDA, excluding non-operating charges, improved over the prior year period. We are starting to gain momentum and are seeing progress across the business.”
Mr. Bloom continued, “Our Retail Pharmacy business continues to improve, delivering flat comp scripts year-to-date adjusted for 90 days, and increases in our Generic Dispensing Rate and our overall gross profit dollars per script. In Specialty Pharmacy, we continue to drive sales growth through geographic expansion into new markets and diversification within our existing therapies. Despite ongoing headwinds in Consumables in the Front Store, we experienced a 60 basis point improvement in comparable sales in our General Merchandise division over the same quarter last year.”
Mr. Bloom concluded, “While we are encouraged by our progress and performance trends, we recognize there is more work to be done. Our work over the past few quarters, including investing in technology, people and processes, was integral to stabilizing our infrastructure and creating a foundation to build upon. Our turnaround strategy is now expanded to focus on reducing SG&A and driving free cash flow. By lowering our SG&A to be more in line with our peers and embracing our roots of succeeding in small to mid-sized rural markets where we have a track-record of generating free cash flow, we are well-positioned to grow our bottom line and enhance shareholder value.”
Second Quarter 2017
Net sales for the second quarter were $507.8 million, down 4.1% from $529.5 million in the same period last year. Comparable store sales for the second quarter declined 0.3% versus a decrease of 2.0% in the second quarter last year. Comparable store sales in the second quarter of 2017 included a negative 0.8% impact as a result of the sale of low productive discontinued inventory versus the second quarter of 2016.
Gross profit for the second quarter of 2017 decreased to $126.0 million from $128.1 million in the prior-year period, primarily explained by a decrease in sales resulting from the closure of 39 underperforming stores. Gross profit margin for the quarter increased 60 basis points to 24.8% from 24.2% in the same quarter last year, reflecting the benefit of key turnaround initiatives intended to drive profitability and cash flow.
Fred’s recorded a LIFO reserve reduction of $0.3 million in the second quarter of 2017 compared with an increase of $0.2 million in the same quarter last year.
Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses for the quarter, including depreciation and amortization, increased to 30.3% of sales from 26.3% of sales in the prior-year quarter. The increase in expenses was primarily related to the bank fees, financing termination fees, professional and legal advisory fees incurred in connection with the proposed acquisition of Rite Aid stores as well as advertising expense increases.
For the second quarter of 2017, operating loss, which is equivalent to earnings before interest and taxes, or EBIT, a non-GAAP financial measure, increased to a loss of $28.1 million or 5.5% of sales compared with operating loss of $10.9 million in the same quarter last year.
In the second quarter of 2017, EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure that further excludes depreciation and amortization from EBIT, declined to a loss of $16.8 million. Second quarter EBITDA included charges totaling $18.6 million, including:
First Six Months Ended July 29, 2017
For the first six months ended July 29, 2017, Fred’s recorded a net loss of approximately $66.0 million or $1.76 per share, which included the following charges totaling $75.0 million, or $1.55 per share after tax:
Fred’s loss for the first six months ended July 29, 2017 compares to a net loss of $5.7 million or $0.15 per share for the first six months of 2016.
Net sales for the first six months of 2017 were $1.04 billion, down 3.6% from $1.08 billion in the same period last year. Comparable store sales for the first six months of 2017 declined 0.8% versus a decrease of 0.6% in the same period a year ago. Comparable store sales for the first six months of 2017 included a negative 1.1% impact as a result of the sale of low productive discontinued inventory versus the same period a year ago.
Gross profit for the first six months decreased to $258.9 million from $269.5 million in the same period a year ago, primarily explained by a decrease in sales resulting from the closure of 39 underperforming stores. Gross profit margin for the first six months decreased 10 basis points to 24.9% from 25.0% in the same period last year, reflecting the growth in low margin specialty pharmacy sales.
Fred’s recorded a LIFO reserve reduction of $1.3 million in the first six months of 2017 compared with an increase of $1.1 million in the same period last year.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the first six months of 2017, including depreciation and amortization, increased to 30.9% of sales from 25.8% of sales in the same period last year. The increase in expenses was primarily related to the bank fees, financing termination fees, professional and legal advisory fees incurred in connection with the proposed acquisition of Rite Aid stores and expenses associated with lease liability impairment, asset impairments and other expenses pertaining to the closure of underperforming stores.
For the first six months of 2017, operating loss, which is equivalent to earnings before interest and taxes, or EBIT, a non-GAAP financial measure, increased to a loss of $62.3 million or 6.0% of sales compared with operating loss of $8.5 million in the same period last year.
In the first six months of 2017, EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure that further excludes depreciation and amortization from EBIT, declined to a loss of $39.4 million. EBITDA for the first six months of 2017 included charges totaling $49.0 million, including:
Additionally, in a separate press release, Fred’s announced that it has appointed Heath Freeman as Chairman of the Board of Directors, succeeding Tom Tashjian, who will be retiring from the Board. These changes are effective immediately.
Webcast Information
A public, listen-only simulcast and replay of Fred’s second quarter 2017 conference call may be accessed at the Company’s web site. The simulcast will begin at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time today; a replay of the call will be available beginning two hours after the conclusion of the live call and will remain available through October 5, 2017.
Non-GAAP Financial Measures
The Company's management believes that the disclosure of operating income (EBIT) and EBITDA provides useful information to investors because the measures present an alternative and more relevant method for measuring the Company's results of operations and financial condition, and, when viewed together with the Company's GAAP results and the accompanying reconciliations, provides a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the Company than the GAAP results alone. Additionally, EBITDA is a common alternative measure of financial performance used by investors, financial analysts, and rating agencies. These groups use EBITDA, along with other measures, to estimate the value of a company and to compare the operating performance of a company to others in its industry. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measure appears in the financial tables attached to this news release.
About Fred’s Pharmacy
Tracing its history back to an original store in Coldwater, Mississippi, opened in 1947, today Fred’s Pharmacy is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, and operates 600 pharmacy and general merchandise stores, which includes 14 franchised Fred’s Pharmacy locations and an additional three specialty pharmacy-only locations. With a unique store format and strategy that combines the best elements of a healthcare-focused drug store with a value-focused retailer, Fred’s Pharmacy stores offer more than 12,000 frequently purchased items that address the healthcare and everyday needs of its customers and patients. This includes nationally recognized brands, proprietary Fred’s Pharmacy label products, and a full range of value-priced selections. The Company has two distribution centers, one in Memphis, Tennessee, and Dublin, Georgia.
For more information about the Company, visit Fred’s website at www.fredsinc.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Comments in this news release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. A reader can identify forward-looking statements because they are not limited to historical facts or they use such words as "outlook," "guidance," "may," "should," "could," "believe," "anticipate," "plan," "expect," "estimate," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "committed," "continue," or "will likely result" and similar expressions that concern the Company's strategy, plans, intentions or beliefs about future occurrences or results. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, those associated with the Company's announced strategic plan, the success of announced acquisition activities and future growth trends in businesses acquired; general economic trends; changes in consumer demand or purchase patterns; delays or interruptions in the flow of merchandise between the Company's distribution centers and its stores or between the Company's suppliers and same; a disruption in the Company's data processing services; cyber-security threats; costs and delays in acquiring or developing new store sites; and the factors listed under "Risk Factors" in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly filings on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. The Company undertakes no obligation to release revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unforeseen events, except as required to be reported under the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission.
| FRED'S, INC. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reconciliation of Unaudited Net Loss to EBITDA | ||||||||||||||||||
| A Non-GAAP Financial Measure | ||||||||||||||||||
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(In thousands) |
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13 Weeks |
13 Weeks |
26 Weeks |
26 Weeks |
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| Net loss | $ | (29.5 | ) | $ | (6.9 | ) | $ | (66.0 | ) | $ | (5.7 | ) | ||||||
| Interest expense | 1.4 | 0.6 | 2.7 | 1.1 | ||||||||||||||
| Income tax provision / (benefit) | - | (4.6 | ) | 1.0 | (3.9 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Operating loss / EBIT | (28.1 | ) | (10.9 | ) | (62.3 | ) | (8.5 | ) | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 11.3 | 11.8 | 22.9 | 23.3 | ||||||||||||||
| EBITDA | $ | (16.8 | ) | $ | 0.9 | $ | (39.4 | ) | $ | 14.8 | ||||||||
| FRED'S, INC. | ||||||||||
| Unaudited Financial Highlights | ||||||||||
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(In thousands, except per share amounts) |
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13 Weeks |
13 Weeks |
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| Net sales | $ | 507,837 | $ | 529,503 | ||||||
| Operating loss | (28,103 | ) | (10,908 | ) | ||||||
| Net loss | (29,517 | ) | (6,928 | ) | ||||||
| Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (0.78 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | ||||
| Average shares outstanding: | ||||||||||
| Basic | 37,461 | 36,760 | ||||||||
| Diluted | 37,461 | 36,760 | ||||||||
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26 Weeks |
26 Weeks |
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| Net sales | $ | 1,040,157 | $ | 1,079,051 | ||||||
| Operating loss | (62,275 | ) | (8,480 | ) | ||||||
| Net loss | (65,978 | ) | (5,672 | ) | ||||||
| Net loss per share, basic and diluted | $ | (1.76 | ) | $ | (0.15 | ) | ||||
| Average shares outstanding: | ||||||||||
| Basic | 37,408 | 36,747 | ||||||||
| Diluted | 37,408 | 36,747 | ||||||||
| FRED'S, INC. | ||||||||||||||||
| Unaudited Fiscal 2017 Second Quarter Results | ||||||||||||||||
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(In thousands, except per share amounts) |
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13 Weeks |
% of |
13 Weeks |
% of |
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| Net sales | $ | 507,837 | 100.0 | % | $ | 529,503 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 381,838 | 75.2 | % | 401,365 | 75.8 | % | ||||||||||
| Gross profit | 125,999 | 24.8 | % | 128,138 | 24.2 | % | ||||||||||
| Depreciation & amortization | 11,296 | 2.2 | % | 11,761 | 2.2 | % | ||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 142,806 | 28.1 | % | 127,285 | 24.1 | % | ||||||||||
| Operating loss | (28,103 | ) | (5.5 | )% | (10,908 | ) | (2.1 | )% | ||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 1,437 | 0.3 | % | 610 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||
| Loss before income taxes | (29,540 | ) | (5.8 | )% | (11,518 | ) | (2.2 | )% | ||||||||
| Income tax benefit | (23 | ) | - | (4,590 | ) | (0.9 | )% | |||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (29,517 | ) | (5.8 | )% | $ | (6,928 | ) | (1.3 | )% | ||||||
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Net loss per share,
basic and diluted |
$ | (0.78 | ) | $ | (0.18 | ) | ||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 37,461 | 36,760 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 37,461 | 36,760 | ||||||||||||||
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26 Weeks |
% of |
26 Weeks |
% of |
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| Net sales | $ | 1,040,157 | 100.0 | % | $ | 1,079,051 | 100.0 | % | ||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 781,246 | 75.1 | % | 809,591 | 75.0 | % | ||||||||||
| Gross profit | 258,911 | 24.9 | % | 269,460 | 25.0 | % | ||||||||||
| Depreciation & amortization | 22,922 | 2.2 | % | 23,324 | 2.2 | % | ||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 298,264 | 28.7 | % | 254,616 | 23.6 | % | ||||||||||
| Operating loss | (62,275 | ) | (6.0 | )% | (8,480 | ) | (0.8 | )% | ||||||||
| Interest expense, net | 2,724 | 0.2 | % | 1,125 | 0.1 | % | ||||||||||
| Loss before income taxes | (64,999 | ) | (6.2 | )% | (9,605 | ) | (0.9 | )% | ||||||||
| Income tax provision (benefit) | 979 | 0.1 | % | (3,933 | ) | (0.4 | )% | |||||||||
| Net loss | $ | (65,978 | ) | (6.3 | )% | $ | (5,672 | ) | (0.5 | )% | ||||||
|
Net loss per share,
basic and diluted |
$ | (1.76 | ) | $ | (0.15 | ) | ||||||||||
| Weighted average shares outstanding: | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 37,408 | 36,747 | ||||||||||||||
| Diluted | 37,408 | 36,747 | ||||||||||||||
| FRED'S, INC. | ||||||||
| Unaudited Balance Sheet | ||||||||
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(In thousands) |
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July 29, |
July 30, |
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| ASSETS: | ||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 5,732 | $ | 6,181 | ||||
| Inventories | 321,975 | 346,354 | ||||||
| Receivables | 50,560 | 50,096 | ||||||
| Other non-trade receivables | 31,686 | 40,035 | ||||||
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | 10,624 | 10,428 | ||||||
| Total current assets | 420,577 | 453,094 | ||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 124,682 | 138,649 | ||||||
| Goodwill | 41,490 | 41,490 | ||||||
| Other intangible assets, net | 74,922 | 95,518 | ||||||
| Other non-current assets | 1,115 | 1,630 | ||||||
| Total assets | $ | 662,786 | $ | 730,381 | ||||
| LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY: | ||||||||
| Accounts payable | $ | 125,738 | $ | 145,390 | ||||
| Current portion of indebtedness | 62 | 58 | ||||||
| Accrued expenses and other | 95,753 | 58,839 | ||||||
| Total current liabilities | 221,553 | 204,287 | ||||||
| Long-term portion of indebtedness | 138,660 | 105,223 | ||||||
| Deferred income taxes | 2,960 | 5,381 | ||||||
| Other non-current liabilities | 28,944 | 19,694 | ||||||
| Total liabilities | 392,117 | 334,585 | ||||||
| Shareholders' equity | 270,669 | 395,796 | ||||||
| Total liabilities and shareholders' equity | $ | 662,786 | $ | 730,381 | ||||
CONTACT:
Fred’s Pharmacy
Jason Jenne, 901-238-2787
Executive
Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
or
Joele
Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Ed Trissel / Dan Moore
212-355-4449