Conn’s, Inc., a specialty retailer of consumer electronics, home appliances, furniture, mattresses, computers and lawn and garden products today announced its operating results for the quarter ended October 31, 2010.
Significant items for the quarter include:
- Total revenues were $169.9 million, down 14.0% from the same period in the prior fiscal year;
- Retail gross margin increased to 25.2% for the quarter, as compared to 22.4% for the same period in the prior fiscal year;
- Retail segment loss before income taxes was $2.2 million for the quarter, as compared to a loss of $19.2 million for the same quarter in the prior fiscal year. The prior year loss included a goodwill impairment charge of $9.6 million and a $4.1 million litigation reserve adjustment;
- Credit portfolio annualized net charge-off rate increased to 5.5%, as compared to 4.3% for the same period in the prior fiscal year, and the percentage of accounts 60+ days delinquent increased to 9.6% at October 31, 2010, as compared to 9.3% at October 31, 2009, though the balance of accounts 60+ days delinquent has been reduced since the same time last year;
- Credit segment loss before income taxes was $5.6 million for the quarter, as compared to a loss of $0.1 million for the same quarter in the prior fiscal year, resulting primarily from reduced interest earnings, combined with higher collection expenses and borrowing costs, and a $2.9 million write-off of costs of financing transactions not completed, partially offset by a lower provision for bad debts;
- Diluted loss per share was $0.23 for the third quarter of fiscal 2011, as compared to $0.64 for the same period in the prior fiscal year. The adjusted diluted loss per share was $.14 for the third quarter of fiscal 2011, after excluding the write-off of costs of financing transactions not completed, as compared to an adjusted diluted loss per share of $.18 for the same period in the prior fiscal year, after excluding the goodwill impairment charge and the litigation reserve adjustment; and
- After the conclusion of the quarter the Company completed its previously announced refinancing plan raising $500 million of capital, including an expanded $375 million asset-based loan facility, a $100 million second lien term loan and a $25 million common stock rights offering. A portion of the net proceeds received was used to repay all of the Company’s outstanding obligations under its asset backed securitization program.
The change in total revenues was comprised of a total net sales decline of 15.2% to $136.8 million, and a decrease in finance charges and other of 8.6% to $33.0 million, as compared to the same quarter in the prior fiscal year. Same store sales (revenues earned in stores operated for the entirety of both periods) decreased 16.3% during the third quarter of fiscal 2011, as compared to a 9.3% decrease in the same quarter in the prior fiscal year. The sales results were impacted primarily by:
- Continued challenging economic conditions in the Company’s markets during the quarter;
- Limitations imposed by the Company’s capital structure, prior to the recently completed refinancing, and the resulting impact on its ability to extend credit;
- The Company’s decision to tighten credit underwriting requirements to protect the quality of the credit portfolio; and
- Management’s emphasis on improving retail gross margin while maintaining price competitiveness.
The key credit portfolio performance metrics reported for the quarter included:
- Net charge-offs for the third fiscal quarter of 2011 totaled $9.5 million, or 5.5% of the average balance outstanding. The net charge-off percentage was negatively impacted by the declining portfolio balance as the total portfolio balance outstanding has declined to approximately $677.0 million as of October 31, 2010, from $738.2 million as of October 31, 2009;
- A 60 basis point increase in the 60+ day delinquency rate since July 31, 2010, to 9.6% at October 31, 2010. The 60+ day delinquency rate was 9.3% at October 31, 2009, after increasing 170 basis points during the third quarter of the prior fiscal year. The delinquency rate was also negatively impacted by the declining portfolio balance as the total balance 60+ days delinquent improved to $64.9 million at October 31, 2010, as compared to $68.5 million at October 31, 2009;
- A 30 basis point increase in the percentage of the portfolio reaged to 18.7% at October 31, 2010, from 18.4% at July 31, 2010. The percentage of the portfolio reaged at October 31, 2009 was 18.8%. The percentage of the portfolio reaged was also negatively impacted by the declining portfolio balance as the total balance reaged has decreased to $126.3 million as of October 31, 2010, from $139.1 million as of October 31, 2009; and
- The payment rate (amount collected from customers as a percentage of the portfolio balance) increased for the third consecutive quarter, versus the same quarter in the prior year, increasing to 5.10% for the quarter ended October 31, 2010, from 5.00% for the quarter ended October 31, 2009.
The Company reported a net loss on a GAAP basis of $5.1 million, or diluted loss per share of $0.23, for the third quarter of fiscal 2011, compared to a net loss on a GAAP basis of $14.4 million, or diluted loss per share of $0.64, for the third quarter of fiscal 2010. The reported results for the quarter ended October 31, 2010, include a $2.9 million write-off of costs of financing transactions not completed, while the reported results for the quarter ended October 31, 2009, include a $9.6 million goodwill impairment charge and a $4.1 million increase in the Company’s litigation reserves, for which no tax benefit was recorded. The reduced loss before income taxes experienced in the retail segment during the quarter was partially offset by a larger loss before income taxes in the credit segment. The adjusted net loss, excluding the write-off of costs of financing transactions not completed, was $3.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011, compared with an adjusted net loss, excluding the goodwill impairment charge and litigation reserve adjustment, of $4.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2010.
Completion of Refinancing Plan
On November 30, 2010, the Company completed its previously announced refinancing plan. The Company’s debt facilities now include a $375 million asset-based loan maturing in November 2013 and a $100 million second lien term loan maturing in November 2014. Additionally, the Company issued 9.3 million shares under a common stock subscription rights offering, which raised gross proceeds of $25.0 million. A portion of the net proceeds from the financing transactions and rights offering were utilized to repay all of the Company’s outstanding obligations under its asset-backed securitization program. After the closing of the financing transactions, the Company had $276.0 million outstanding under its asset-based loan, including standby letters of credit issued, and $94 million, net of original issue discount, outstanding under its second lien term loan, leaving the Company with total borrowing capacity of $99.0 million, subject to borrowing base and covenant limitations.