Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

9 Months Ended

Oct. 27, 2012

Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

All references in this report to “we,” “us,” or “our” are to Big Lots, Inc. and its subsidiaries.  We are North America’s largest broadline closeout retailer.  At October 27, 2012, we operated 1,561 stores in two countries: the United States of America (“U.S.”) and Canada.  We make available, free of charge, through the “Investor Relations” section of our website (www.biglots.com) under the “SEC Filings” caption, our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (“Exchange Act”), as soon as reasonably practicable after we file such material with, or furnish it to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  The contents of our websites are not part of this report.

The accompanying consolidated financial statements and these notes have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC for interim financial information. The consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments which management believes are necessary to present fairly our financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows for all periods presented. These consolidated financial statements, however, do not include all information necessary for a complete presentation of financial condition, results of operations, and cash flows in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).  Interim results may not necessarily be indicative of results that may be expected for, or actually result during, any other interim period or for the year as a whole.  We have historically experienced, and expect to continue to experience, seasonal fluctuations, with a larger percentage of our net sales and operating profit realized in our fourth fiscal quarter.  The accompanying consolidated financial statements and these notes should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 (“2011 Form 10-K”).

Fiscal Periods

Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest to January 31, which results in fiscal years consisting of 52 or 53 weeks.  Unless otherwise stated, references to years in this report relate to fiscal years rather than calendar years.  Fiscal year 2012 (“2012”) is comprised of the 53 weeks that began on January 29, 2012 and will end on February 2, 2013.  Fiscal year 2011 (“2011”) was comprised of the 52 weeks that began on January 30, 2011 and ended on January 28, 2012.  The fiscal quarters ended October 27, 2012 (“third quarter of 2012”) and October 29, 2011 (“third quarter of 2011”) were both comprised of 13 weeks.  The year-to-date periods ended October 27, 2012 (“year-to-date 2012”) and October 29, 2011 (“year-to-date 2011”) were both comprised of 39 weeks. 

Merchandise Inventories

We assign cost to merchandise inventories using the average cost retail inventory method. Under our previous inventory management system which was used through the end of 2011, we calculated average cost at the department level which constituted approximately 50 inventory cost pools. As previously disclosed, on January 29, 2012, the first day of 2012, we completed the implementation of our new inventory management systems, which has allowed us to more precisely determine our inventory cost under the retail method. We now calculate average cost at the class level which constitutes approximately 350 inventory cost pools.

This change in accounting principle, to include approximately 350 class inventory cost pools in the retail method calculation instead of approximately 50 departments in the calculation’s inventory cost pools, is preferable as it provides us with a more precise estimate of the average cost of our merchandise inventories.

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 250, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections” requires that unless it is impracticable to do so, the voluntary adoption of a new accounting principle should be done retrospectively. Prior to January 29, 2012, the date we completed our implementation of SAP^® for Retail, our accounting systems did not capture merchandise inventory costs with class level detail needed for us to recognize, measure and disclose amounts for prior periods under the retrospective application. In particular, the previous inventory system did not track or reconcile stock ledger information by class, but rather by department. Specifically, key items such as freight and shrink costs were aggregated at the department level, with no data identifier to the class, which made it impractical to retrospectively account for the change. Therefore, we have adopted this change in accounting principle prospectively from the beginning of the current year, as we can determine the cumulative effect in inventory cost as of that date.

As the impact of the accounting change in the beginning of the current year inventory is immaterial, we have recognized the cumulative effect of the change in accounting principle as a current year expense by recording a reduction in inventory and a corresponding increase to cost of sales of approximately $5.6 million in the first quarter of 2012. This non-cash charge reduced the year-to-date 2012 income from continuing operations and net income by approximately $3.4 million and reduced the year-to-date 2012 basic and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations by $0.06.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Selling and administrative expenses include store expenses (such as payroll and occupancy costs) and costs related to warehousing, distribution, outbound transportation to our stores, advertising, purchasing, insurance, non-income taxes, and overhead.  Our selling and administrative expense rates may not be comparable to those of other retailers that include distribution and outbound transportation costs in cost of sales.  Distribution and outbound transportation costs included in selling and administrative expenses were $41.9 million and $42.3 million for the third quarter of 2012 and the third quarter of 2011, respectively, and $123.2 million and $119.4 million for the year-to-date 2012 and the year-to-date 2011, respectively.

Advertising Expense

Advertising costs, which are expensed as incurred, consist primarily of television and print advertising, internet marketing and advertising, and in-store point-of-purchase presentations.  Advertising expenses are included in selling and administrative expenses.  Advertising expenses were $16.2 million and $19.8 million for the third quarter of 2012 and the third quarter of 2011, respectively, and $62.3 million and $58.0 million for the year-to-date 2012 and the year-to-date 2011, respectively.

Foreign Currency Translation

The functional currency of our international subsidiary is the local currency of the country in which the subsidiary is located. We have one foreign subsidiary domiciled and operating in Canada. Foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities are translated into U.S. Dollars using the exchange rate in effect at the consolidated balance sheet date. Results of operations and cash flows are translated using the average exchange rates throughout the period. The effect of exchange rate fluctuations on translation of assets and liabilities is included as a component of shareholders’ equity in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions, which are included in other income (expense), were not material for all periods presented.

Supplemental Cash Flow Disclosures

The following table provides supplemental cash flow information for the year-to-date 2012 and 2011:

	Thirty-Nine Weeks Ended
(in thousands)	October 27, 2012		October 29, 2011
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including capital leases	$	2,005	$	1,949
Cash paid for income taxes, excluding impact of refunds	$	95,190	$	111,934
Non-cash activity:
Assets acquired under capital leases	$	392	$	2,925
Accrued property and equipment	$	17,004	$	15,275
Notes payable assumed in acquisition	$	—	$	16,664

During the year-to-date 2012, our gross proceeds from borrowings under the 2011 Credit Agreement (as defined in note 2) were $1,161.1 million and our gross repayments of borrowings under the 2011 Credit Agreement were $763.9 million.