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): November 17, 2017

 

Foot Locker, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)

 

New York 1-10299 13-3513936
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
(Commission
File Number)
(IRS Employer
Identification No.)
   
330 West 34th Street, New York, New York 10001
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  (212) 720-3700
 
(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 (see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
   
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
   
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
   
o 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).

 

Emerging growth company   o

 

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 financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.   o

 
Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

 

On November 17, 2017, Foot Locker, Inc. issued a press release announcing its financial and operating results for the third quarter of 2017. A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K. The press release includes a non-GAAP financial measure for third quarter 2017 net income excluding an $8 million after-tax charge related to a reduction and reorganization of divisional and corporate staff. The press release also includes a non-GAAP financial measure for third quarter 2016 net income excluding a $5 million after-tax impairment charge associated with the Runners Point and Sidestep banners and a $10 million reduction in tax expense associated with a scheduled intellectual property reassessment in Europe. The Company believes these non-GAAP financial results provide useful information to investors because they allow for a more direct comparison of the Company’s operating performance for the third quarter of 2017 to the Company’s performance in the comparable prior-year period. The non-GAAP financial results are provided in addition to, and not as an alternative to, the Company’s reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation to GAAP is provided in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations.

 

In accordance with General Instruction B.2. of Form 8-K, the information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed to be “filed” for 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, and shall not be deemed incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
   
(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit No. Description
   
99.1 Press Release, dated November 17, 2017, issued by Foot Locker, Inc.
 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Exchange Act, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

  FOOT LOCKER, INC.
     
Date: November 17, 2017 By:  /s/ Lauren B. Peters
    Name:  Lauren B. Peters
    Title: Executive Vice President and
      Chief Financial Officer
 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

NEWS RELEASE

 

Contact:   John A. Maurer
Vice President,
Treasurer and Investor Relations
Foot Locker, Inc.
(212) 720-4092

 

FOOT LOCKER, INC. REPORTS 2017 THIRD QUARTER RESULTS

 

Third Quarter Net Income of $102 Million, or $0.81 Per Share
   
 Non-GAAP Net Income of $110 Million, or $0.87 Per Share
   
 Third Quarter Comparable-Store Sales Decreased 3.7 Percent

 

NEW YORK, NY, November 17, 2017 – Foot Locker, Inc. (NYSE: FL), the New York-based specialty athletic retailer, today reported financial results for its third quarter ended October 28, 2017.

 

Third Quarter Results

Net income for the Company’s third quarter ended October 28, 2017 was $102 million, or $0.81 per share, compared with net income of $157 million, or $1.17 per share in the same period of 2016.

 

Third quarter comparable-store sales decreased 3.7 percent. Total sales decreased 0.8 percent, to $1,870 million this quarter, compared with sales of $1,886 million for the corresponding prior-year period. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, total sales for the third quarter decreased 2.3 percent. The Company’s gross margin rate decreased to 31.0 percent of sales from 33.9 percent a year ago, and the selling, general, and administrative expense rate increased 30 basis points to 19.7 percent of sales. Within SG&A, the Company incurred $7 million of hurricane-related costs, the majority of which related to damaged or lost inventory.

 

The third quarter results included a $13 million pre-tax charge related to reducing and reorganizing corporate and division staff. Excluding this charge, which reduced after-tax earnings by 6 cents per share, non-GAAP earnings were $0.87 per share, compared to non-GAAP earnings of $1.13 per share in the comparable period of 2016.

 

“The Company’s results in the quarter were broadly in line with our expectations,” said Richard Johnson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “Despite the highly promotional environment we still see in the marketplace, the availability of premium product is gradually improving compared to the first half of the year, and we believe we can achieve, and perhaps modestly exceed, the top- and bottom-line guidance we gave for the fourth quarter back in August.”

 

Mr. Johnson continued, “The reduction and reorganization of our corporate and division staff during the quarter, while a difficult decision, was a critical step in positioning us for success as we navigate through the tremendous disruption affecting our customers and the retail industry in general. We are adjusting our course proactively, including creating new initiatives with key vendors and making critical investments in our digital platforms and supply chain, to ensure that Foot Locker will continue to thrive at the center of sneaker culture and, more broadly, youth culture.”

 

Lauren Peters, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, added “In addition to taking meaningful steps to create an even more flexible and efficient organization, we maintained our solid management of inventory in the third quarter, which is enabling us to flow improving merchandise assortments into the business for the holiday season. We also significantly accelerated the pace of share repurchases in the quarter given the value we perceived in the price of the Company’s shares.”

 

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Year-To-Date Results

Net income for the Company’s first nine months of the year decreased to $333 million, or $2.55 per share on a GAAP basis, compared to net income of $475 million, or $3.50 per share, for the corresponding period in 2016. Year-to-date sales were $5,572 million, a decrease of 1.4 percent compared to sales of $5,653 million in the corresponding nine-month period of 2016. Year-to-date, comparable store sales decreased 2.9 percent, while total year-to-date sales, excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, decreased by 1.5 percent.

 

Year-To-Date Non-GAAP Adjustments

On a non-GAAP basis, earnings per share for the nine-month period totaled $2.84, an 18 percent decrease compared to the same period in 2016. In addition to the $13 million reorganization charge in the third quarter of this year, the Company’s results in the second quarter included a $50 million pre-tax litigation charge. Combined, these two charges reduced GAAP earnings by 29 cents per share, compared with non-GAAP items which increased GAAP earnings 4 cents per share in the first nine months of 2016.

 

Financial Position

At October 28, 2017, the Company’s merchandise inventories were $1,315 million, 3.4 percent lower than at the end of the third quarter last year. Using constant currencies, inventory decreased 4.9 percent. The Company’s cash totaled $890 million, while the debt on its balance sheet was $126 million. The Company spent $304 million to repurchase 8.69 million shares during the quarter and paid a quarterly dividend of $0.31 per share for $38 million.

 

Store Base Update

During the third quarter, the Company opened 12 new stores, remodeled or relocated 41 stores, and closed 22 stores. As of October 28, 2017, the Company operated 3,349 stores in 23 countries in North America, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. In addition, 83 franchised Foot Locker stores were operating in the Middle East, as well as 14 franchised Runners Point stores in Germany.

 

The Company is hosting a live conference call at 9:00 a.m. (EST) today, November 17, 2017, to review these results and discuss the outlook for the remainder of 2017. This conference call may be accessed live by dialing 1-800-763-5545 (U.S. and Canada) or +44 208-196-2877 (International), or via the Investor Relations section of the Foot Locker, Inc. website at http://www.footlocker-inc.com. Please log on to the website 15 minutes prior to the call in order to register. A replay of the call will be available via webcast from the same Investor Relations section of the Foot Locker, Inc. website at http://www.footlocker-inc.com through December 1, 2017.

 

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Other than statements of historical facts, all statements which address activities, events, or developments that the Company anticipates will or may occur in the future, including, but not limited to, such things as future capital expenditures, expansion, strategic plans, financial objectives, dividend payments, stock repurchases, growth of the Company’s business and operations, including future cash flows, revenues, and earnings, and other such matters, are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on many assumptions and factors which are detailed in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the effects of currency fluctuations, customer demand, fashion trends, competitive market forces, uncertainties related to the effect of competitive products and pricing, customer acceptance of the Company’s merchandise mix and retail locations, the Company’s reliance on a few key vendors for a majority of its merchandise purchases (including a significant portion from one key vendor), cybersecurity breaches, pandemics and similar major health concerns, unseasonable weather, deterioration of global financial markets, economic conditions worldwide, deterioration of business and economic conditions, any changes in business, political and economic conditions due to the threat of future terrorist activities in the United States or in other parts of the world and related U.S. military action overseas, the ability of the Company to execute its business and strategic plans effectively with regard to each of its business units, and risks associated with global product sourcing, including political instability, changes in import regulations, and disruptions to transportation services and distribution.

 

For additional discussion on risks and uncertainties that may affect forward-looking statements, see “Risk Factors” disclosed in the 2016 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could produce significantly different results. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

 

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FOOT LOCKER, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

 

Periods ended October 28, 2017 and October 29, 2016

(In millions, except per share amounts)

 

   Third Quarter   Year-to-Date 
   2017   2016   2017   2016 
Sales  $1,870   $1,886   $5,572   $5,653 
                     
Cost of sales (1)   1,290    1,246    3,809    3,730 
SG&A   368    366    1,078    1,077 
Depreciation and amortization   44    40    127    118 
Income from operations   168    234    558    728 
                     
Litigation and other charges   13    6    63    6 
Interest (income)/expense, net       1    (1)   2 
Other income   (1)       (2)   (3)
Income before income taxes   156    227    498    723 
Income tax expense   54    70    165    248 
Net income  $102   $157   $333   $475 
                     
Diluted EPS  $0.81   $1.17   $2.55   $3.50 
Weighted-average diluted shares outstanding   126.4    134.0    130.3    135.7 

 

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Results:

 

   Third Quarter   Year-to-Date 
   2017   2016   2017   2016 
   After       After       After       After     
   Tax   EPS   Tax   EPS   Tax   EPS   Tax   EPS 
GAAP net income  $102   $0.81   $157   $1.17   $333   $2.55   $475   $3.50 
                                         
After-tax adjustments:                                        
Reorganization costs (2)   8    0.06            8    0.06         
Litigation charge (3)                   30    0.23         
Impairment charge (4)           5    0.03            5    0.03 
Tax benefit related to intellectual property reassessment (5)           (10)   (0.07)           (10)   (0.07)
Non-GAAP results  $110   $0.87   $152   $1.13   $371   $2.84   $470   $3.46 

 

Footnotes:

 

(1) Cost of sales includes: the cost of merchandise, freight, distribution costs (including related depreciation expense), shipping and handling, occupancy, and buyers’ compensation. Occupancy costs include rent, common area maintenance charges, real estate taxes, general maintenance, and utilities.
   
(2) During the third quarter of 2017, the Company reduced and reorganized its division and corporate staff. The Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $13 million ($8 million after-tax applying a marginal tax rate) or $0.06 per diluted share. The substantial majority of the charge is for severance and related costs.
   
(3) During the second quarter of 2017, the Company recorded a pre-tax charge of $50 million ($30 million after-tax, applying a marginal tax rate, or $0.23 per diluted share) in connection with its U.S. retirement plan litigation. The Company had previously recorded a pre-tax charge for $100 million during 2015. This charge reflects the Company’s revised estimate of its exposure for this matter, bringing the total pre-tax amount accrued to $150 million. The Company will continue to vigorously defend itself in this case. In light of the uncertainties involved in this matter, there is no assurance that the ultimate resolution will not differ from the amount currently accrued by the Company.
   
(4) In the third quarter of 2016, the Company recorded a $6 million impairment charge ($5 million after tax, applying a marginal tax rate) associated with underperforming store assets of Runners Point and Sidestep.
   
(5) During the third quarter of 2016, the Company’s scheduled triennial reassessment of the value of the intellectual property provided to our European business by Foot Locker in the U.S. resulted in a $10 million tax reduction.

 

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FOOT LOCKER, INC.

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(unaudited)

(In millions)

 

   October 28,   October 29, 
   2017   2016 
ASSETS          
           
Current assets:          
Cash and cash equivalents  $890   $865 
Merchandise inventories   1,315    1,361 
Other current assets   295    291 
    2,500    2,517 
Property and equipment, net   835    732 
Deferred taxes   164    171 
Other assets   316    274 
   $3,815   $3,694 
           
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY          
           
Current liabilities:          
Accounts payable  $243   $215 
Accrued and other liabilities   326    327 
Current portion of capital lease obligations       1 
    569    543 
Long-term debt and obligations under capital leases   126    127 
Other liabilities   463    391 
Total liabilities   1,158    1,061 
Total shareholders’ equity   2,657    2,633 
   $3,815   $3,694 

 

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FOOT LOCKER, INC.

Store and Square Footage

(unaudited)

 

Store activity is as follows:

 

   January 28,           October 28,   Relocations/ 
   2017   Opened   Closed   2017   Remodels 
Foot Locker US   948    3    24    927    35 
Foot Locker Europe   622    14    7    629    39 
Foot Locker Canada   119    1    7    113    5 
Foot Locker Asia Pacific   95    4    2    97    8 
Kids Foot Locker   411    26    8    429    21 
Lady Foot Locker   124        16    108     
Champs Sports   545    4    3    546    14 
Footaction   261    11    7    265    18 
Runners Point   122    1    2    121     
Sidestep   86        3    83     
SIX:02   30    2    1    31     
Total   3,363    66    80    3,349    140 

 

Selling and gross square footage are as follows:

 

   January 28, 2017   October 28, 2017 
(in thousands)  Selling   Gross   Selling   Gross 
Foot Locker US   2,453    4,250    2,444    4,253 
Foot Locker Europe   907    1,971    928    2,021 
Foot Locker Canada   265    432    267    435 
Foot Locker Asia Pacific   134    220    139    230 
Kids Foot Locker   688    1,175    731    1,250 
Lady Foot Locker   167    280    146    245 
Champs Sports   1,930    2,978    1,949    3,015 
Footaction   786    1,309    837    1,389 
Runners Point   162    267    154    264 
Sidestep   81    135    76    131 
SIX:02   61    101    63    106 
Total   7,634    13,118    7,734    13,339 

 

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