Related Party Transactions

3 Months Ended

May 04, 2013

Related Party Transactions

Related Party Transactions

Note 9.  Related Party Transactions

We pay annual management fees to Bain Capital Partners, LLC (“Bain Capital”) and The Blackstone Group L.P. (“The Blackstone Group” and, together with Bain Capital, the “Sponsors”) and Highfields Capital Management LP in the amount of $12 million and $1 million, respectively. We recognized $4 million and $3 million of expense related to annual management fees during the first quarter of fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012, respectively. These expenses are included in related party expenses on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

Bain Capital owns a majority equity position in LogicSource, an external vendor we utilize for print procurement services.  Payments associated with this vendor during each of the first quarters of fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 were $1 million and $2 million, respectively.  These expenses are included in Selling, general and administrative expense on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

The Blackstone Group owns a majority equity position in Brixmor Properties Group, a vendor we utilize to lease certain properties. Payments associated with this vendor during each of the first quarters of fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 were $1 million.  These expenses are included in Cost of sales and occupancy expense in the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

The Blackstone Group owns a majority equity position in RGIS, an external vendor we utilize to count our store inventory. Payments associated with this vendor during the first quarters of fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 were $1 million and $2 million, respectively. These expenses are included in Selling, general and administrative expense on the Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income.

The Blackstone Group owns a majority equity position in Vistar, an external vendor we utilize for all of the candy-type items in our stores.  Payments associated with this vendor during the first quarter of fiscal 2013 and fiscal 2012 were $6 million and $5 million, respectively. These expenses are recognized in cost of sales as the sales are recorded.

Our current directors (other than Jill A. Greenthal) are affiliates of Bain Capital or The Blackstone Group.  As such, some or all of such directors may have an indirect material interest in payments with respect to debt securities of the Company that have been purchased by affiliates of Bain Capital and The Blackstone Group.  As of May 4, 2013, affiliates of The Blackstone Group held $34 million of our senior secured term loan.