ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
Overview
The Company is a leading nationwide specialty retailer of large size (14 or larger) women’s fashions featuring its proprietary AVENUE® brand. Its product line features AVENUE® brand wearing apparel, AVENUE BODY® brand undergarments, CLOUDWALKERS® brand footwear, AVENUE® brand accessories and gifts, AVENUE® brand hosiery and AVENUE BODY® brand loungewear. Sales in fiscal 2005, fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2003, respectively, were principally of apparel, with none of the other product categories representing 10% or more of sales.
History
United Retail Group, Inc. was incorporated in Delaware in 1987 and completed its initial public offering in 1992. The Company’s current business resulted from an internal reorganization at Limited Brands, Inc. (“The Limited”) in 1987, in which The Limited combined its AVENUE® store group (then operating under the LERNER WOMAN trade name) with the SIZES UNLIMITED store group. Raphael Benaroya, currently the Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of United Retail Group, Inc., was selected by The Limited to manage the combined businesses.
Website
The Company’s corporate website is www.unitedretail.com. The Company’s corporate website includes a link to the index of the Company’s filings on the EDGAR database of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), including Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, as well as amendments to previously filed reports. (The EDGAR database can be accessed directly at www.sec.gov.)
Customer Base
The Company serves the mass market in the United States and targets fashion-conscious women between 25 and 55 years of age who wear size 14 or larger apparel. Management believes that the number of women in this age range who wear large size apparel has increased in recent years.
Merchandising and Marketing
Design is an important feature of the Company’s products. Many AVENUE® and AVENUE BODY® products are custom designed. The Company emphasizes a contemporary brand image and consistency of merchandise quality and fit. The Company often updates its merchandise selections to reflect customer demand and mainstream fashion trends. (The apparel industry is subject to rapidly changing consumer fashion preferences and the Company’s performance depends on its ability to respond quickly to changes in fashion.) The Company offers most of its merchandise at popular or moderate price points and reduces the price of slow moving merchandise until it sells.
The Company exclusively promotes merchandise with its own brands, which the Company believes help to distinguish it from competitors. Through careful brand management, including consistent imaging of its brands, the Company seeks enhanced brand recognition. This paragraph includes forward-looking information under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “Reform Act”), which is subject to the variables, uncertainties and other risk factors referred to in Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Future Results” of this Report.
The Company offers selections of AVENUE® brand casual wear, career apparel, specialty items and accessories. The casual wear assortment includes skirts, pants, jeans, active wear, shirts, T-shirts, jackets and sweaters. Casual wear comprises the majority of the Company’s sales. The career assortment includes slacks, skirts, jackets, soft blouses and dresses.
The Company develops new AVENUE® brand apparel assortments on average four to six times each year.
Accessories include earrings, pins, scarves, necklaces, watches and handbags.
The Company maintains an extensive customer database and uses direct mail, print media advertising, credit card statement inserts, and e-mail messages as part of its marketing activities in the belief that shoppers often make tentative purchasing decisions at home.
The Company uses creative merchandise displays, distinctive signage and custom designed packaging to create an attractive store atmosphere.
Channel of Distribution
The Company’s channel of distribution is retail stores, using the AVENUE® trade name, that it leases. Most stores are located in strip shopping centers, where occupancy costs are generally lower than in malls. See, “Properties.” The Company seeks to become a shopping destination instead of relying on traffic in general.
Merchandise selection is allocated to each store based on many factors, including store location, store profile and sales experience. The Company regularly updates each store’s profile based on selling trends. The Company’s point-of-sale systems gather sales, inventory and other statistical information from each store daily. This information is then used to evaluate and adjust each store’s merchandise mix weekly.
The Company also operates a website at www.avenue.com that sells a selection of the merchandise that is also for sale in the stores. Sales on the website are not included in the Company’s calculation of comparable store sales in different periods.
Until March 2003, the Company also mailed catalogs. (The website and the catalog, while it was in existence, are referred to as the “shop@home” business.) The Company has licensed its AVENUE trade name to a leading catalog publisher to conduct a market test of an AVENUE catalog through August 2006. The Company is not responsible for the costs of the market test and will not include sales to catalog customers in its reported sales. The future business relationship between the Company and the catalog publisher, if any, will be negotiated after the results of the market test have been analyzed.
Merchandise Distribution and Inventory Management
Short production schedules and rapid delivery of merchandise from manufacturers reduce business risks arising from changing fashion trends.
The Company uses a centralized distribution system, under which all merchandise is received, processed and distributed through the Company’s distribution complex in Troy, Ohio. The Company maintains a worldwide logistics network of agents and space availability arrangements to support the in-bound movement of merchandise into the distribution complex. There, it is repacked and shipped to the stores. The out-bound system for store deliveries consists of common carrier line haul routes to a network of delivery agents. (The Company does not own or operate trucks.) The Company manages its inventory levels, merchandise allocation to stores and sales replenishing for each store through its computerized management information systems (“MIS”). MIS enables the Company to profile each store and allocate new merchandise by style, color and size each week to achieve a merchandise assortment that is suited to each store’s customer base.
The Company’s inventory management strategy is to maintain targeted inventory levels and turns without permitting inventory to accumulate at the national distribution center. The Company also seeks to minimize the amount of unsold merchandise at the end of each six-month season by closely comparing sales and fashion trends with on-order merchandise and making necessary purchasing adjustments and price reductions, including clearance sales. The preceding sentences constitute forward-looking information under the Reform Act and are subject to the variables, uncertainties and other risk factors referred to in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Future Results” of this Report.
Management Information Systems
The Company’s management information systems consist of a full suite of financial and merchandising systems, including inventory distribution and control, sales reporting, accounts payable, cash/treasury, merchandise reporting and planning.
All of the Company’s stores have point-of-sale terminals that transmit daily information on sales by merchandise category, style, color and size, as well as customer data. The Company evaluates this information, together with its report on merchandise shipments to the stores, to implement merchandising decisions regarding markdowns, reorders of fast-selling items and allocation of merchandise. In addition, the Company’s headquarters and distribution center are linked through a computer network, which is accessible to district sales managers in the field.
Company associates located at its headquarters maintain and support the applications software, operations, networking and point-of-sale functions of the Company’s MIS. The mainframe hardware and systems software for the Company’s MIS are maintained and operated by IBM under an outsourcing agreement that makes the Company’s platform scaleable.
Purchasing
Separate groups of merchants are responsible for different categories of merchandise. Most of the merchandise purchased by the Company consists of custom designed and fitted products, produced for the Company by contract manufacturing, under one of the Company’s brands.
The Company provides manufacturers with strict guidelines for product specifications (such as measurement, fabric and trim) and size gradings to ensure proper, consistent fit and quality. The Company and independent sourcing agents monitor production by manufacturers in the United States and abroad to ensure that size specifications, grading requirements and other specifications are met.
In fiscal 2005, three purchasing agents each accounted for 10% or more of the Company’s merchandise purchases, for a combined total of approximately 42% of purchases. There is no assurance that the replacement of any of these firms would not have a materially adverse effect on the Company’s operations.
Domestic purchases (some of which are foreign-made products) are executed by Company purchase orders. Import purchases are made in U.S. dollars and are generally supported by trade letters of credit.
Credit Sales
The Company permits its customers to use several methods of payment, including cash, personal checks, general purpose credit cards and a private label credit card that is co-branded with the
Company’s AVENUE® service mark and the name of the issuer of the card, World Financial Network National Bank. Management believes that, in addition to supplying needed credit, the Company’s private label credit card builds customer loyalty.
Increased Competition
All aspects of the women’s retail apparel and shoe businesses are highly competitive. Many of the competitors are units of large national chains that have substantially greater resources than the Company and are better known to shoppers. The Company’s competition includes other specialty retailers, mass merchants, department stores, discount stores, mail order companies, television shopping channels and Internet web sites. Management believes that total sales of large size women’s apparel from these sources of supply increased in recent years. Among specialty retailers for large size women like the Company, the competition includes large store chains that have announced long-term store growth plans to aggressively expand into additional strip shopping center locations.
Management believes its proprietary brands, merchandise selection, prices, consistency of merchandise quality and fit, and appealing store experience emphasizing strong merchandise presentations, together with its experienced management team, management information systems and logistics capabilities, enable it to compete in the marketplace.
This section includes forward-looking information under the Reform Act and is subject to the variables, uncertainties and other risk factors referred to in Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Future Results” of this Report.
Trade Name and Trademarks
The Company is the owner in the United States of its trade name, AVENUE®, used on storefronts, its principal trademarks, AVENUE®, AVENUE BODY® and CLOUDWALKERS®, used on merchandise labels, and its service mark, AVENUE®, used on giftcards. The Company also licenses the AVENUE® trademark to manufacturers of high-end towels and watches. The Company is not aware of any use of its trade name or trademarks by its competitors that has a material effect on the Company’s operations or any material claims of infringement or other challenges to the Company’s right to use its trade name, trademarks and service marks in the United States.
Employees
As of March 31, 2006, the Company employed 5,398 associates, of whom 1,887 worked full-time and the balance of whom worked part-time. Considerable seasonality is associated with employment levels. Approximately 52 store associates are covered by collective bargaining agreements. The Company believes that its relations with its associates are good.
ITEM 1A.
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
Fashion Risk
The Company historically experienced fluctuations in customer response to its merchandise assortments. Future success depends on the Company’s ability to consistently anticipate, assess and react to the changing demands of its customer-base. As a private label merchandiser, the Company assumes certain risks, including long product lead times and high initial purchase commitments, that amplify the consequences of any miscalculation that it might make in anticipating fashion trends or interpreting them for customers. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to identify and offer merchandise that appeals to its customer-base or that the introduction of new merchandise will be successful or profitable.
Brand Development Costs
Future success depends upon the Company’s ability to effectively define, evolve and promote its brand. In order to achieve and maintain significant brand name recognition, it may become necessary to increase investments in the development of the brand through various means, including customer research, advertising, direct mail marketing and Internet marketing. There is no assurance that, if such funding becomes necessary, it will be available.
Increased Competition
All aspects of the women’s retail apparel and shoe businesses are highly competitive. Many of the competitors are units of large national chains that have substantially greater resources than the Company and are better known to shoppers. The Company’s competition includes other specialty retailers, mass merchants, department stores, discount stores, mail order companies, television shopping channels and Internet web sites. Management believes that total sales of large size women’s apparel from these sources of supply increased in recent years. Among specialty retailers for large size women like the Company, the competition includes large store chains that have announced long-term store growth plans to aggressively expand into additional strip shopping center locations. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to maintain its market share in the face of increased competition.
Other External Influences
The following external factors could impact the Company’s operations: threats of terrorism; war risk; shifts in consumer spending patterns, overall economic conditions; variations in weather patterns; increases in interest rates; political instability and other risks associated with foreign sources of production and increases in fuel costs.
Key Personnel
Management believes that since the Company’s inception it has benefited substantially from the leadership of Raphael Benaroya, the Company’s Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer. The Company has an employment contract with Mr. Benaroya and believes that its relations with him are good. Nevertheless, there is no assurance that Mr. Benaroya will remain in the Company’s employ or that a suitable replacement could be recruited in a timely manner if he left.
Future success depends on the Company’s ability to attract and retain talented associates engaged in creative activities, such as product design, product management, marketing, brand development and store design. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to attract and retain key associates in these key areas.
ITEM 1B.
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
Not applicable.
ITEM 2.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
As of January 28, 2006, the Company leased 500 stores in the following 37 states:
Alabama
North Carolina
Arizona
Nebraska
Arkansas
New Hampshire
California
New Jersey
Connecticut
New Mexico
Delaware
Nevada
Florida
New York
Georgia
Ohio
Illinois
Oklahoma
Indiana
Oregon
Kansas
Pennsylvania
Kentucky
Rhode Island
Louisiana
South Carolina
Maryland
Tennessee
Massachusetts
Texas
Michigan
Virginia
Minnesota
Washington
Mississippi
Wisconsin
Missouri
Store locations are available on the Internet at www.avenue.com. 403 stores are in strip shopping centers.
The landlord often provides a construction allowance toward the cost of improvements in the Company’s stores, including interior walls, floors, ceilings, fixtures and decorations. The Company usually pays certain store operating costs, including utilities, insurance and taxes and, where applicable, its share of common area maintenance expenses.
The Company leases its executive offices, which consist of approximately 65,000 square feet in an office building at 365 West Passaic Street, Rochelle Park, New Jersey 07662. The office lease has a term ending in August 2016.
The Company owns a 128-acre site adjacent to Interstate 75 in Troy, Ohio, on which its national distribution center is located. The national distribution center is equipped to service approximately 900 retail stores and the Internet store. The site is adequate for a total of four similar facilities.
ITEM 3.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
The Company is defending legal actions and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that such litigation and claims, net of reserves, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, annual results of operations or cash flows.
Certain pending legal proceedings to which the Company was a party were terminated during the fourth quarter of 2005 in the ordinary course of business. The termination of pending legal proceedings during that fiscal quarter did not have a material effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
ITEM 4.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
No matters were submitted to a stockholder vote during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005.
PART II
ITEM 5.
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
(a) The Common Stock of United Retail Group, Inc. is quoted on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol “URGI.”
The following table sets forth the reported high and low sales prices of the Common Stock as reported by Nasdaq for each fiscal quarter indicated.
The last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq Stock Market on April 27, 2006 was $19.98.
(b) At March 31, 2006, there were 368 record owners of Common Stock.
(c) United Retail Group, Inc. has not paid dividends on its Common Stock and has no present intention of doing so. Also, the Financing Agreement between United Retail Group, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries and The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc., dated August 15, 1997, as amended, forbids the payment of dividends.
The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock is Continental Stock Transfer and Trust Co., 17 Battery Place South, 8th Floor, New York, New York 10004.
(d) Equity Compensation Plan Information As Of January 28, 2006
Included in the table above are outstanding stock options issued to an incumbent non-management Director and an incumbent Vice President of the Company, respectively, that were approved by the Company’s Board of Directors but were not issued under a plan approved by the stockholders. In 1998, the Director received an option to purchase 17,000 shares at a price of $12.08 per share and an option to purchase 3,000 shares at a price of $11.50 per share. (The Director had not received any stock options during his service on the Company’s Board of Directors from 1992 through 1997.) In 2000, the Vice President received an option to purchase 2,500 shares at a price of $9.75 per share. All of the foregoing options are vested.
All shares of stock of the Corporation sold by the Corporation between fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2005 were registered under the Securities Act of 1933 on Form S-8 Registration Statements.
(e) There were no stock repurchases by the Company in fiscal 2005.
ITEM 6.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
Selected Financial Data*
*The Selected Financial Data should be read in conjunction with Item 7
ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Introduction
The Executive Summary section of Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations provides a high level summary of the more detailed information elsewhere in this Report and an overview to put this information in context. This section is also an introduction to the discussion and analysis that follows. Accordingly, it necessarily omits details that appear elsewhere in this Report. It should not be relied upon separately from the balance of this Report.
Products and Purchasing
The Company is a leading specialty retailer of women’s fashions featuring its proprietary AVENUE® brand. Its product line features AVENUE® brand large size (14 or larger) women’s wearing apparel, AVENUE BODY® brand large size women’s undergarments and lingerie and CLOUDWALKERS® brand women’s footwear, as well as AVENUE® brand accessories and gifts.
Most of the Company’s products are made for the Company by contract manufacturing abroad.
Customer Base
The Company serves the mass market in the United States and targets fashion-conscious women between 25 and 55 years of age who wear size 14 or larger apparel. Management believes that the number of women in this age range who wear large size apparel has increased in recent years.
Merchandising and Marketing
Design is an important aspect of the Company’s products. Many AVENUE® and AVENUE BODY® products are custom designed. The Company emphasizes a contemporary brand image and consistency of merchandise quality and fit.
The Company has used direct mail, print media advertising, credit card statement inserts, in-store signage, and e-mail messages in its marketing activities.
Channel of Distribution
The Company’s channel of distribution is retail stores using its AVENUE® trade name. At January 28, 2006, it leased 500 stores in 37 states. See, “Stores.” The Company also has operated a website at www.avenue.com that sells a selection of the merchandise that is also on sale in the stores.
Until March 2003, the Company also mailed catalogs that featured a merchandise selection that included both items in the stores and similar products. (The website and the catalog, while it was in existence, are referred to as the “shop@home” business.) The Company has licensed its AVENUE trade name to a leading catalog publisher to conduct a market test of an AVENUE catalog from March 2006 through August 2006. The Company is not responsible for the costs of the market test and will not include sales to catalog customers in its reported sales. The future business relationship between the Company and the catalog publisher, if any, will be negotiated after the results of the market test have been analyzed.
Increased Competition
The women’s retail apparel and shoe industries are highly competitive. Operating results of businesses in these industries, especially businesses that emphasize fashionable merchandise, can vary materially from year to year. The Company’s competition includes other specialty retailers, mass merchants, department stores, discount stores, mail order companies, television shopping channels and Internet websites. Management believes that total sales of large size women’s apparel from these sources of supply increased in recent years. Among specialty retailers for large size women like the Company, the competition includes large store chains that have announced long-term store growth plans to aggressively expand into additional strip shopping center locations.
Deflationary Price Trend in Apparel Industry
The Consumer Price Index published by the U.S. Dept. of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, city average for women’s and girls’ apparel (the “CPI”) declined 1.5% in fiscal 2003, 0.5% in fiscal 2004 and 2.0% in fiscal 2005, comparing January 31st each year with that date in the previous year. During the 10 years ended January 31, 2006, the CPI declined 14.3%. Price deflation in the industry has limited the extent to which the Company’s is able to increase prices. There is no assurance that this general deflationary trend will not continue.
Company Sales Fluctuations
The Company conducts a weekly interdisciplinary review of sales and merchandise margins and prepares budgets for two six-month seasons each year, the Spring season and the Fall season. Management uses comparable store sales (for stores open at least 12 months at the time) to measure business trends.
Seasonal store sales data (with sales improvements versus the previous comparable period in bold type) follow:
*Excludes sales on the Internet and through a catalog that was distributed until March 2003.
**A store that is relocated within the same shopping center or mall is considered comparable. However, if the store is relocated elsewhere, it is considered a new store and not comparable. A store that is expanded or contracted is still comparable, i.e., the sales from the remodeled store are considered comparable. Stores that are closed are not considered comparable. The comparable store sales calculation is not adjusted for changes in the store sales return reserve and excludes sales on the Internet and through a catalog that was distributed until March 2003.
Store Count
Store counts averaged 546 stores, 531 stores and 509 stores, respectively, for fiscal 2003, 2004 and 2005. In fiscal 2005, the Company opened one store, closed 15 stores and ended the year with 500 stores.
The Company estimates that it will close approximately 15-20 stores in fiscal 2006 as part of its normal lease maintenance program and has an objective to open approximately 20 new stores, generally in strip shopping centers, this year. Thus, the average number of stores in fiscal 2006 is not expected to differ materially from the 497 stores open on March 31, 2006. This paragraph constitutes forward-looking information under the Reform Act, which is subject to the variables, uncertainties and other risk factors referred to under the caption “Future Results.”
Liquidity
United Retail Group, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Companies”) are parties to a Financing Agreement, dated August 15, 1997, as amended (the “Financing Agreement”), with The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc. (“CIT”). The Financing Agreement provides credit to the Companies on a revolving basis.
The Company plans to use the Financing Agreement for its immediate and future working capital needs. Management believes that the borrowing capacity under the Financing Agreement, together with cash on hand and current and anticipated cash flow from operations, will be adequate to meet the Company’s cash requirements for at least the next 12 months.
This section constitutes forward-looking information under the Reform Act and is subject to the variables, uncertainties and other risk factors referred to under the caption “Future Results.”
Growth Strategy
The Company’s internal growth strategy is to continue to increase sales per square foot in its existing store base. Also, the Company from time to time conducts “due diligence” reviews of businesses that are either for sale as a going concern or are in liquidation. The Company would consider making a bid on a suitable corporate acquisition at an opportune price if adequate financing at acceptable rates were available.
DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
(This section and the three that follow provide details about the material line items in the Company’s statements of operations and recent sales and comparable store sales data.)
Fiscal 2005 Versus Fiscal 2004
Net sales for fiscal 2005 increased 9.9% from fiscal 2004, to $438.7 million from $399.3 million.
The sources of net sales growth were as follows:
Amount
Attributable to
$43.8 million
11.5% increase in comparable store sales
$1.3 million
new store
(12.3) million
closed stores
6.7 million
other
$39.5 million
Total
In fiscal 2005, transactions per average store increased 18%, units sold per average store increased 15% and average price per unit sold decreased 2%.
There was better customer acceptance of denim, woven tops, knit bottoms, accessories, knit tops and sweaters, which increased sales by $37.9 million in comparison to fiscal 2004.
Average number of stores decreased from 531 to 509. See, “Stores.”
Gross profit increased to $111.4 million in fiscal 2005 from $83.9 million in fiscal 2004, increasing as a percentage of net sales to 25.4% from 21.0%. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased principally because rent and occupancy costs declined as a percentage of net sales (240 basis points as a percentage of net sales), which occurred because net sales increased and rent and occupancy costs declined. Merchandise margins also increased (220 basis points), as a result of lower costs. Future gross profit levels will be subject to the variables, uncertainties and other risk factors referred to under the caption “Future Results.”
General, administrative and store operating expenses increased to $99.8 million in fiscal 2005 from $96.8 million in fiscal 2004 but decreased as a percentage of net sales to 22.7% from 24.3%, principally from a reduction in store payroll (120 basis points). There is no assurance that the general, administrative and store operating expenses percentage will continue to decrease. In addition to general cost inflation, the Company expects consulting and professional fees and Finance Department payroll to increase because of additional resources required to support new regulatory compliance.
The Company had operating income of $11.6 million in fiscal 2005 and incurred an operating loss of $13.0 million in fiscal 2004.
Interest income was $0.5 million in fiscal 2005 and $1.3 million in fiscal 2004, principally as the result of interest on a federal income tax refund in fiscal 2004.
Interest expense was $0.7 million in fiscal 2005 and $0.9 million in fiscal 2004.
The benefit from income taxes increased to $16.8 million in fiscal 2005 from $2.0 million in fiscal 2004, principally from the reversal of the $22.6 million valuation allowance for the Company’s net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards, other net deferred tax assets and other tax attributes. (At January 28, 2006, the Company had federal NOL’s of approximately $17 million and state NOL’s of approximately $65 million.) The Company’s effective tax rate was negative 146.8% for fiscal 2005 and positive 16.2% for fiscal 2004.
The Company had net income of $28.3 million in fiscal 2005 and incurred a net loss of $10.5 million in fiscal 2004.
Fiscal 2004 Versus Fiscal 2003
Net sales for fiscal 2004 increased 0.8% from fiscal 2003, to $399.3 million from $396.3 million.
The sources of net sales growth were as follows:
Amount
Attributable to
$8.5 million
2.2% increase in comparable store sales
$2.8 million
new stores
(10.3) million
closed stores
2.0 million
other
$3.0 million
Total
Comparing fiscal 2004 to fiscal 2003, transactions per average store increased 9%, units sold per average store increased 8% and average price per unit sold decreased 5%.
There was better customer acceptance of sweaters, which increased sales by $3.7 million in comparison to fiscal 2003.
Average number of stores decreased from 546 to 531.
Internet and catalog sales increased to $6.4 million in fiscal 2004 from $4.9 million in fiscal 2003, despite the suspension of catalog mailings early in fiscal 2003. (Catalog and internet sales were excluded from the calculation of comparable store sales.)
Gross profit increased to $83.9 million in fiscal 2004 from $82.1 million in fiscal 2003, increasing as a percentage of net sales to 21.0% from 20.7%. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased principally because rent and occupancy costs declined as a percentage of net sales (110 basis points as a percentage of net sales), which occurred because net sales increased and rent and occupancy costs declined. The decline in rent and occupancy costs was partially offset by smaller merchandise margins (50 basis points) and higher marketing costs (30 basis points). Smaller merchandise margins were the result of lower prices caused principally by less customer acceptance of the Company’s product offering.
General, administrative and store operating expenses decreased to $96.8 million in fiscal 2004 from $100.9 million in fiscal 2003, decreasing as a percentage of net sales to 24.3% from 25.5% principally from reductions in store payroll (60 basis points) and casualty and property insurance expense (60 basis points).
The Company incurred operating losses of $13.0 million in fiscal 2004 and $18.8 million in the previous year.
Interest income was $1.3 million in fiscal 2004 and $0.1 million in fiscal 2003 as the result of interest on a federal income tax refund in fiscal 2004.
Interest expense was $0.9 million in fiscal 2004 and $1.0 million in fiscal 2003.
The benefit from income taxes increased to $2.0 million in fiscal 2004 from $0.6 million in fiscal 2003, principally from the reversal of accruals for potential tax liabilities due to settlements in fiscal 2004. As to the benefit from income taxes, the Company’s effective tax rate was 16.2% for fiscal 2004 and 3.2% for fiscal 2003. The primary contributing factors were the valuation allowance provided for the Company’s NOL carryforwards, other net deferred tax assets and other tax attributes, partially offset by the reversal of previous accruals for potential tax liabilities arising from settlements in each year and, in fiscal 2004, a settlement refund.
In fiscal 2004, the Company’s tax valuation allowance was increased by $4.3 million.
The Company incurred net losses of $10.5 million in fiscal 2004 and $19.1 million in fiscal 2003.
February 2006 - March 2006 Sales
Combined net sales for the months of February and March 2006 increased from February and March 2005 to $70.0 million from $69.9 million. Comparable store sales for the two months combined increased 0.7%. (Notably, Easter occurred during March in 2005 but not in 2006, creating a calendar shift that made March sales results stronger in 2005.) Average number of stores decreased from 513 to 499.
Comparable Store Sales
Management uses comparable store sales* changes to measure productivity. Changes in comparable store sales in previous seasons and in the current season to date were:
*A store that is relocated within the same shopping center or mall is considered comparable. However, if the store is relocated elsewhere, it is considered a new store and not comparable. A store that is expanded or contracted is still comparable, i.e., the sales from the remodeled store are considered comparable. Stores that are closed are not considered comparable. The comparable store sales calculation is not adjusted for changes in the store sales return reserve and excludes sales on the Internet and through a catalog that was distributed until March 2003.
Increased Competition
The women’s retail apparel and shoe industries are highly competitive. Operating results of businesses in these industries, especially businesses that emphasize fashionable merchandise, can vary materially from year to year. The Company’s competition includes other specialty retailers, mass merchants, department stores, discount stores, mail order companies, television shopping channels and Internet websites. Management believes that total sales of large size women’s apparel from these sources of supply increased in recent years. Among specialty retailers for large size women like the Company, the competition includes large store chains that have announced long-term store growth plans to aggressively expand into additional strip shopping center locations.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
This section provides details about the Company’s sources of liquidity.
Cash Flow
Net cash provided from operating activities increased to $20.6 million in fiscal 2005 from $3.2 million in fiscal 2004, principally because the Company had net income of $28.3 million in fiscal 2005 and incurred a net loss of $10.5 million in fiscal 2004.
Balance Sheet Sources of Liquidity
The Company’s cash and cash equivalents were $32.3 million at January 28, 2006 compared with $12.6 million at January 29, 2005.
Inventories were stated at $62.8 million at January 28, 2006 compared with $60.3 million at January 29, 2005, an increase of 4.1%. (Inventories at January 29, 2005 have been revised to include import in-transit inventories on a basis consistent with that used in fiscal 2005 (See, Inventory in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.)
Inventory, excluding Shop @ Home inventory and import in-transit inventory, on a cost per square foot basis increased 2.5% from January 29, 2005 to January 28, 2006. The increase in in-store inventory consisted principally of Spring merchandise. In-store inventory was increased in anticipation of higher demand. See, “February-March Sales.” Inventory levels are seasonal. (See, “Critical Accounting Policies - Inventory” for a discussion of estimates made by management in stating inventories in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.)
Property and equipment decreased to $66.8 million at January 28, 2006 from $79.0 million at January 29, 2005, principally from depreciation. The Company does not expect property and equipment to change materially in fiscal 2006 because capital expenditures (see, “Capital Expenditures”) will be approximately offset by depreciation. The preceding sentence constitutes forward-looking information under the Reform Act and is subject to the variables, uncertainties and other risk factors referred to under the caption “Future Results.”
Other Liquidity Sources
Purchases of merchandise directly imported by the Company are made in U.S. dollars and generally financed by trade letters of credit. The Company was the importer of record for 54% of its total purchases in fiscal 2005. These imports were generally financed with trade letters of credit.
The Financing Agreement has a term expiring on August 15, 2008. The line of credit is $50 million for the Companies, subject to availability of credit as described in the following paragraphs. The line of credit may be used on a revolving basis by any of the Companies to support trade letters of credit and standby letters of credit and to finance loans. At January 28, 2006, trade letters of credit for the account of the Companies and supported by CIT were outstanding in the amount of $24.5 million and standby letters of credit were outstanding in the amount of $6.1 million. Standby letters of credit were used principally in connection with insurance policies issued to the Company.
Subject to the following paragraph, the availability of credit (within the aggregate $50 million line of credit) to any of the Companies at any time is the excess of its borrowing base over the aggregate outstanding amount of its letters of credit and its revolving loans, if any. The borrowing base, as to any of the Companies is (i) the sum of (x) a percentage of the book value of its eligible inventory (both on hand and unfilled purchase orders financed with letters of credit), ranging from 65% to 75% depending on the time of year, (y) the balance from time to time in an account in its name that has been pledged to the lenders (a “Pledged Account”) and (z) 85% of certain receivables from credit card companies less (ii) reserves for rent for 138 stores located in certain states and liens other than permitted liens and, at CIT’s option, a reserve for sales taxes collected but not yet paid.
The provisions of the preceding paragraph to the contrary notwithstanding, the Companies are required to maintain unused at all times combined availability of at least $5 million. Except for the maintenance of a minimum availability of $5 million and a limit on capital expenditures, the Financing Agreement does not contain any significant financial covenants.
The combined borrowing capacity of the Companies is cyclical due to the seasonality of the retail industry. At January 28, 2006, the combined borrowing capacity of the Companies, after satisfying the $5 million minimum availability requirement, was $8.9 million; the Pledged Account had a zero balance; no loan was outstanding; and the Companies’ balance sheet cash and cash equivalents of $32.3 million were unrestricted. The Company has agreed with CIT to have its
subsidiary, Avenue Giftcards, Inc. (which issues AVENUE® giftcards), maintain a minimum level of high-grade liquid investments, which amounted to $0.8 million. These investments were classified as restricted cash on the balance sheet at January 28, 2006 and will fluctuate each quarter in relation to the volume of net issuances of AVENUE® giftcards and merchandise credits during the previous six months. (The volume of net issuances is seasonal.)
The line of credit is collateralized by (i) inventory and its proceeds, (ii) receivables from credit card companies and (iii) the balance, if any, from time to time in the Pledged Account.
The Financing Agreement includes certain restrictive covenants that impose limitations (subject to certain exceptions) on the Companies with respect to making certain investments, declaring or paying dividends, making loans, engaging in certain transactions with affiliates, or consolidating, merging or making acquisitions outside the ordinary course of business.
The Company has drawn on the revolving loan facility under the Financing Agreement from time to time to meet its peak working capital requirements. Interest is payable monthly based on a 360-day year either at the prime rate plus an incremental percentage up to 0.75% per annum or at the LIBOR rate plus an incremental percentage ranging from 1.75% to 2.50% per annum. The borrower can select either the prime rate or the LIBOR rate as the basis for determining the interest rate. In either case, the incremental percentage is determined by the average excess availability. Payments of revolving loans are not required until termination of the agreement unless either (1) the outstanding balance of revolving loans and outstanding letters of credit exceeds the combined borrowing capacity of the Companies, in which case the excess would be payable upon demand from CIT or (2) a default under the Financing Agreement arises.
Short-term trade credit represents a significant source of financing for purchases of merchandise directly imported by the Company. Trade credit arises from the willingness of the Company’s vendors of these products to grant extended payment terms for inventory purchases and is generally financed either by the vendor or a third-party factor. The availability of trade credit depends on the Company’s having other sources of liquidity, as well. In particular, credit authorizations by trade creditors focus on the amount of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents and its borrowing capacity under the Financing Agreement.
Capital Expenditures
This section and the one that follows provide details about certain uses of cash by the Company.
Capital expenditures were $1.8 million in fiscal 2005 and $2.0 million in fiscal 2004.
Capital expenditures are budgeted to be $12 million for fiscal 2006, including costs of refurbishing approximately 20 stores and building approximately 20 new stores. This paragraph constitutes forward-looking information under the Reform Act and is subject to the variables, uncertainties and other risk factors referred to under the caption “Future Results.”
Principal Contractual Obligations and Certain Other Commercial Commitments
The principal contractual obligations of the Company and certain other commercial commitments at January 28, 2006 (see, also “Critical Accounting Policies - Incurred But Not Reported Claims For Personal Injuries and Medical Benefits”) are summarized in the following charts:
* The proceeds of the distribution center mortgage were principally used to partially finance the construction cost of the Company’s national distribution center, which was completed in fiscal 1993. The proceeds of the fixture capital leases were principally used to partially finance new store construction in fiscal 2001.
**Landlord charges other than rent are not included. Additional landlord charges for taxes, maintenance and similar expenses were equivalent to approximately 30% to 35% of the rent paid historically.
***Trade letters of credit support Company obligations under certain purchase orders for merchandise directly imported for which payment is not yet due. (Other purchase orders for products not supported by trade letters of credit represent material commercial obligations, subject to inspection of the products and possible rejection.)
Pending Litigation
The Company is involved in legal actions and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that such litigation and claims, net of reserves, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, annual results of operations or cash flows. This paragraph constitutes forward-looking information under the Reform Act and is subject to the variables, uncertainties and other risk factors referred to under the caption “Future Results.”
Meeting Cash Requirements
The Company’s cash requirements include (i) anticipated working capital needs, including seasonal inventory financing, (ii) financing activities, including payments due on its principal contractual obligations and (iii) investing activities, including costs for refurbishing and building stores and replacing fixtures where appropriate. During fiscal 2005, the Company funded its cash requirements from net cash provided from operating activities. The Company’s historical sources of liquidity have been the availability of credit under the Financing Agreement on a revolving basis and short-term trade credit, as well as its cash on hand and net cash provided by operating activities.
The Company plans to use the Financing Agreement for its immediate and future working capital needs. Management believes that the borrowing capacity under the Financing Agreement, together with cash on hand and current and anticipated cash flow from operations, will be adequate to meet the Company’s cash requirements for at least the next 12 months.
This section constitutes forward-looking information under the Reform Act and is subject to the variables, uncertainties and other risk factors referred to under the caption “Future Results.”
Critical Accounting Policies
Introduction
This section discusses the Company’s critical accounting policies.
Financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles are affected by the policies followed by management in preparing them. Some accounting policies require difficult, subjective or complex judgments by management, often as a result of the need to make estimates about the effect of matters that are inherently uncertain. Among the most important accounting policies of the Company that involve such managerial judgments are (i) the use of the retail method of accounting for inventory, (ii) the use of estimates of incurred but not reported claims for uninsured damages for personal injuries and workers’ compensation benefits and for benefits under the Company’s self-insured medical, dental and prescription plans for its associates, as well as future development costs of reported claims (collectively, “IBNR Claims”) and (iii) the need for a valuation allowance for the Company’s NOL’s, other net deferred tax assets and other tax attributes.
Inventory
In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market. The Company utilizes the retail method, under which a cost-to-price relationship is developed on the basis of original cost as compared to initial retail selling price. The valuation of inventories at cost and the resulting margins are calculated by applying this cost-to-price relationship to the retail value of inventories. Consequently, the use of the retail inventory method results in valuing inventories at lower of cost or market.
Inherent in the retail inventory method are estimates by management on current and future selling value of the inventory. These estimates, which are described in the following paragraphs, can significantly impact the ending inventory valuation at cost, as well as resulting margins. In the women’s retail specialty apparel industry, sales, especially in businesses that emphasize fashionable merchandise, can vary significantly over time. Sales are volatile because of shifts in consumer spending patterns, consumer preferences and overall economic conditions; the impact of increased competition; variations in weather patterns; fluctuations in consumer acceptance of products; changes in the ability to develop new merchandise; differences in promotional strategies; and movements in consumer confidence levels. The necessity for managerial estimates based on these variables, coupled with the fact that the retail inventory method is an averaging process, can produce inventory valuations at any point in time that are inexact.
Permanent markdowns, when taken, reduce both the price and cost components of inventory on hand, which maintains the established cost-to-price relationship. Deferred markdowns can result in an overstatement of inventories under the lower of cost or market principle. Accordingly, at the end of each fiscal year, management conducts a thorough review of inventory on hand and, based on management’s business judgment, estimates what quantities of current merchandise are in excess of the amounts saleable at historical margin rates. A markdown reserve is established to reduce to estimated net realizable value the carrying value of excess current merchandise and obsolete categories of merchandise.
The markdown reserves at the end of fiscal 2005, 2004 and 2003, respectively, ranged from a low of $0.8 million to a high of $1.5 million with the markdown reserve at January 28, 2006 at the high end of the range. Giving effect to these reserves and including 	import in-transit inventories, inventories were stated at $62.8 million at January 28, 2006, $60.3 million at January 29, 2005 and $60.6 million at January 31, 2004. (Inventories at January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004 have been revised to include import in-transit inventories on a basis consistent with that used in fiscal 2005; see Inventory in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements.)
Recording a reserve reduces the inventory on the Company’s balance sheet and is charged to the Company’s cost of sales. If reserves were overestimated at the end of a period, income for that period would be understated and margins for the beginning of the next period would be higher. (The opposite would be true if reserves were underestimated.)
Markdown reserves are likely to continue to fluctuate, principally because the market environment is dynamic for the reasons set forth above. However, a consistent methodology for markdown reserves is one of the Company’s important accounting objectives.
Incurred But Not Reported Claims For Personal Injuries and Medical Benefits
The Company records a liability for IBNR Claims, which is based on (i) the number and size of outstanding claims, (ii) a comparison between the dates paid claims were incurred and the dates they were paid, (iii) an analysis of the amounts previously paid, (iv) projections of inflation in medical costs and (v) advice from time to time from its insurance broker. The Company has insurance policies with coverage for auto, general liability and workers’ compensation claims but it remains liable for a self-insured retention of $0.1 million for each auto claim and $0.3 million for each general liability and workers’ compensation claim. The Company is self-insured for its medical, dental and prescription plans for associates. The Company has stop loss insurance coverage for employee medical claims over $0.2 million each. Also, there is an aggregate limit for these plans which, at January 28, 2006, was $6.7 million based on the number of associates participating at that time. The estimates underlying the liability for IBNR Claims are matters of judgment on which insurance experts may differ.
If the outcome of claims made with respect to a fiscal period were to exceed the recorded IBNR liability for that period, the liabilities on the balance sheet would have been understated and income would have been overstated for the period in question. (The opposite would be true if the subsequent outcome were less than the recorded IBNR liability.)
To estimate its casualty (auto, general liability and workers’ compensation) IBNR, the Company uses policy year (July 1) maturation factors based on the Company’s history of claim development (the high and low year factors are excluded in arriving at an average). Another possible method would be to use industry maturation factors.
The Company believes that industry factors are less reliable because they are broad based. The use of industry factors would not have changed materially the Company’s casualty IBNR liability
reflected on the balance sheets included in the financial statements contained in this Report. As of January 28, 2006, for example, the use of industry factors would have increased the liability by only approximately $0.3 million.
The Company estimates its health claims IBNR by (i) dividing the “run-off” amounts (claims paid after a policy expired without being renewed) by claims paid during the last policy year (December 31) and (ii) applying the resulting percentage to the trailing 12 months of paid claims at the time of the calculation. An alternative methodology would be to use industry factors.
The Company believes that industry factors are less reliable because they are broad based. The use of industry factors might not have changed materially the Company’s health claims IBNR liability reflected on the balance sheets included in the financial statements contained in this Report. As of January 28, 2006, for example, the use of industry factors might have increased the liability by only approximately $0.1 million.
As the use of different estimates would change the IBNR liability recorded materially, a consistent approach to estimating liability for IBNR Claims is one of the Company’s important accounting objectives.
Management believes that (i) the liabilities for IBNR Claims reflected in all the balance sheets included in the financial statements contained in this Report were fairly stated in all material respects, subject to the uncertainties of litigation and the risk of different than anticipated inflation in medical costs and (ii) the changes in the liabilities for IBNR Claims that might have resulted from the use of industry factors in preparing estimates are not material.
Tax Valuation Allowance
In fiscal 2002, 2003 and 2004, the Company recorded valuation allowances for its NOL carryforwards, other net deferred tax assets and other tax attributes in accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”.
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, management concluded that the future utilization of the Company’s NOL carryforwards and other net deferred tax assets was more likely than not and the Company reversed the tax valuation allowance, which was $22.6 million at the time. The preceding sentence contains forward-looking information under the Reform Act, which is subject to the variables, uncertainties and other risk factors referred to under the caption “Future Results.” The benefit from income taxes on the fiscal 2005 consolidated statements of operations reflects the reversal.
Private Label Credit Cards Issued By The Bank
In fiscal 2005, the Company and World Financial Network National Bank (the “Bank”) were parties to a Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement, dated January 27, 1998 (the “1998 Credit Card Program Agreement”).
Under the 1998 Credit Card Program Agreement, the Bank issued credit cards to eligible Company customers who apply to the Bank. Net credit sales volume with the Bank increased to $134.2 million in fiscal 2005 from $123.3 million in fiscal 2004. Customers met standards for creditworthiness set by the Bank with the approval of the Company. The credit cards issued by the Bank were co-branded with both the Company’s AVENUE service mark and the Bank’s name. The credit cards were used only for merchandise and services offered by the Company. Credit card holders remitted payments to the Bank, generally by mailing personal checks. The Bank also handled all statement processing, payment processing, cardholder customer service and collections from delinquent cardholders.
In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, the Company did not include the receivable asset created under the 1998 Credit Card Program Agreement in the Company’s accounts receivable on its balance sheets because the Company had no interest in the customer accounts or receivables. In this connection, it should be noted that the 1998 Credit Card Program Agreement stated that (i) the Bank is the sole and exclusive owner of all customer accounts, (ii) the Company has no interest in the customer accounts and (iii) the Bank is the creditor in respect of receivables (defined in the 1998 Credit Card Program Agreement as amounts owed with respect to retail purchases, finance charges, deferred finance charges, other fees and charges for sales tax). Also, depending on the circumstances, the Company might not purchase the accounts from the Bank upon the expiration of the contractual term.
Receivables as defined in the 1998 Credit Card Program Agreement at the close of the last billing cycle in the fiscal year increased to $81.7 million at January 28, 2006 from $78.0 million at January 29, 2005.
The credit card program premium reflected in general, administrative and store operating expenses was an amount equal to royalties paid to the Company by the Bank minus costs charged by the Bank. Costs were based on the volume of credit card program processing activities performed by the Bank.
General, administrative and store operating expenses were offset in part by premiums received from the Bank of $6.6 million in fiscal 2005 and $5.2 million in fiscal 2004. The increase in premiums from the Bank was primarily due to increased interest income and customer fees.
Royalties were based on program revenues minus receivables written off by the Bank and the cost of funds for the program at the one-year Constant Maturities Treasury (“CMT”) rate plus 25 basis points to be reset every three months. However, the CMT rate was not less than 5.00% per annum for the purpose of this calculation.
On November 28, 2005, the 1998 Credit Card Program Agreement was restated (as restated, the “Amended Agreement”). Under the Amended Agreement, the Bank will continue the private label credit card program and will issue Avenue credit cards that may be used to purchase merchandise and services from United Retail Incorporated and its designees. The Bank also will continue to administer the credit card program, handling remittances and processing services. The Bank will continue to be the sole and exclusive owner of all customer accounts and the creditor in respect of receivables generated. However, the Company must approve any changes to consumer charges, credit terms and credit criteria related to the accounts from those in effect on the date of the Amended Agreement.
The Bank will pay the Company specified percentages of net credit sales and outstanding receivables, respectively. The Company will reimburse the Bank, however, for chargebacks and all “pass through” expenses.
Net amounts realized by the Company under the Amended Agreement on average are not expected to be smaller than the premiums previously received under the 1998 Credit Card Program Agreement. This paragraph constitutes forward-looking information under the Reform Act and is subject to uncertainties relating to economic trends that may affect the behavior of cardholders and changes in governmental regulations affecting the Bank.
The Amended Agreement became effective January 29, 2006, and shall expire on February 29, 2012 (as may be extended, the “Term”) unless earlier terminated. Additionally, the Term shall automatically extend for successive three-year terms unless one party notifies the other at least six months prior to any such extension that it does not wish to extend the Amended Agreement.
During the Term of the Amended Agreement, United Retail Incorporated may not, directly or indirectly, make available to customers any credit program or facility that is similar in purpose to the program established under the Amended Agreement except multi-purpose credit, charge, debit or secured cards.
At the expiration of the Term, the Company shall have the right to purchase the customer accounts from the Bank for a price equal to the receivables. Also, the Bank shall then have the right to sell the customer accounts to the Company at that price if the Company commences a private label credit card program either on its own or through another issuer of credit cards. When the Amended Agreement is about to expire without being renewed, the Company is likely to submit requests for proposals to other banks that issue private label credit cards to retailers’ customers and to use the banks’ proposals to evaluate a continuation of the private label credit card program. There is no assurance, however, that other banks would make proposals to continue the program on terms satisfactory to the Company or that the Company could finance a program on its own without involving a bank. The penultimate sentence constitutes forward-looking information under the Reform Act and is subject to possible changes in the sector of the banking industry that issues co-branded credit cards to customers of retail chains and in governmental regulations affecting that sector.
Stock Options
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”), which replaces SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25. SFAS No. 123R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be measured at their fair values at the date of grant and recognized as expense over the service period, which is generally the vesting period. SFAS No. 123R became effective in fiscal 2006. Management estimates that the resulting compensation expense will reduce net income for the year by approximately $0.01 or $0.02 per diluted share.
The only forms of equity-based compensation used by the Company have been stock options issued to associates and stock options and stock appreciation rights settled in cash issued to nonmanagement members of the Board of Directors. The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted, subject to stockholder approval, the 2006 Equity-Based Compensation and Performance Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”). The 2006 Plan authorizes the Compensation Committee of the Board to grant to associates a variety of equity-based compensation awards. (The 2006 Plan is the appendix to the Proxy Statement.) The types of awards to nonmanagement members of the Board will remain unchanged.
Stores
The Company’s channel of distribution is retail stores using its AVENUE® trade name. The Company leased 500 stores in 37 states at January 28, 2006.
Store counts averaged 546 stores, 531 stores and 509 stores, respectively, for fiscal 2003, 2004 and 2005. In fiscal 2005, the Company opened one store, closed 15 stores and ended the year with 500 stores.
The Company estimates that it will close approximately 15-20 stores in fiscal 2006 as part of its normal lease maintenance program and has an objective to open approximately 20 new stores, generally in strip shopping centers, this year. Thus, the average number of stores in fiscal 2006 is not expected to differ materially from the 497 stores open on March 31, 2006.
Retail selling space was approximately 2.2 million square feet both at January 28, 2006 and January 29, 2005 and is not expected to change materially in fiscal 2006.
The two preceding paragraphs contain forward-looking information under the Reform Act, which is subject to the variables, uncertainties and other risk factors referred to under the caption “Future Results.”
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment relate principally to assets in stores and declined to $13.3 million in fiscal 2005 from $14.3 million in fiscal 2004. Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment are expected to decline further in fiscal 2006.
E-Commerce
The Company has an Internet site (www.avenue.com) that sells a selection of the merchandise that is also for sale in the Company’s stores. The Company ships its avenue.com orders from its national distribution center in Troy, Ohio.
Suspension of Catalog Operations
The Company mailed catalogs until March 2003, when the Company suspended catalog mailings indefinitely.
The Company has licensed its AVENUE trade name to a leading catalog publisher to conduct a market test of an AVENUE catalog through August 2006. The Company is not responsible for the costs of the market test and will not include sales to catalog customers in its reported sales. The future business relationship between the Company and the catalog publisher, if any, will be negotiated after the results of the market test have been analyzed.
Stock Repurchases
The Company did not repurchase shares of its own stock in fiscal 2005 or 2004 except that:
(i) the trust under the Company’s Supplemental Retirement Savings Plan (“SRSP”) purchased 279,870 shares in fiscal 2004 using a portion of the funds accumulated since 1993 in the deferred compensation account of Raphael Benaroya, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (56.2% of the account balance at the time represented amounts withheld from Mr. Benaroya’s salary and earnings thereon and the remainder represented contributions by the Company pursuant to the general terms of the SRSP and earnings thereon); and
(ii) 2,059 outstanding shares were surrendered in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005 by the holder of an employee stock option for cancellation in lieu of payment of the exercise price in cash (a “swap”).
The Company has no plans to repurchase shares of its own stock at present except for swaps in connection with the exercise of employee stock options.
In fiscal 2004, the shares held in Mr. Benaroya’s SRSP account were classified as treasury shares and had no voting rights. With respect to the deferred compensation obligations of the SRSP, the liability was marked to market and this liability adjustment flowed through the statement of operations as either an increase or a decrease in compensation expense. With respect to the SRSP assets, marketable securities were also marked to market except shares of Company stock, which were recorded permanently at cost. This asset adjustment also flowed through the statement of operations. The liability adjustment and the asset adjustment were not necessarily equal in amount because of the disparate treatment of Company stock. In fiscal 2004, the market price of Company stock rose and compensation expense was increased $0.7 million as a result of the foregoing accounting treatment.
In fiscal 2005, the SRSP was amended to change the status of the shares held in Mr. Benaroya’s SRSP account and to accord voting rights to the shares, which are now classified as outstanding shares. (The shares will be voted by the Administrative Committee of the SRSP in the exercise of its fiduciary duties.) The change in the classification of the shares eliminated the disparate adjustments of SRSP liabilities and assets described in the preceding paragraph and the related effect on compensation expense.
Growth Strategy
The Company’s internal growth strategy is to continue to increase sales per square foot in its existing store base. Also, the Company from time to time conducts “due diligence” reviews of businesses that are either for sale as a going concern or are in liquidation. The Company would consider making a bid on a suitable corporate acquisition at an opportune price if adequate financing at acceptable rates were available.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
The Company does not have material off-balance sheet arrangements.
Future Results
The Company cautions that any forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Reform Act) contained in this Report or otherwise made by management of the Company involve risks and uncertainties and are subject to change based on various important factors, many of which may be beyond the Company’s control. Accordingly, the Company’s future performance and financial results may differ materially from those expressed or implied in any such forward-looking statements.
The Company historically experienced fluctuations in customer response to its merchandise assortments. Future success depends on the Company’s ability to consistently anticipate, assess and react to the changing demands of its customer-base. As a private label merchandiser, the Company assumes certain risks, including long product lead times and high initial purchase commitments, that amplify the consequences of any miscalculation that it might make in anticipating fashion trends or interpreting them for customers. There is no assurance that the Company will be able to identify and offer merchandise that appeals to its customer-base or that the introduction of new merchandise will be successful or profitable.
Future success also depends upon the Company’s ability to effectively define, evolve and promote its brand. In order to achieve and maintain significant brand name recognition, it may become necessary to increase investments in the development of the brand through various means, including customer research, advertising, direct mail marketing and Internet marketing. There is no assurance that, if such funding becomes necessary, it will be available.
The following additional factors, among others, could also affect the Company’s actual results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in any forward-looking statements included in this Report or otherwise made by management: threats of terrorism; war risk; shifts in consumer spending patterns, overall economic conditions; the impact of increased competition; variations in weather patterns; increases in interest rates; the ability to retain, hire and train key personnel; risks associated with the ability of the Company’s manufacturers to deliver products in a timely manner; political instability and other risks associated with foreign sources of production and increases in fuel costs.
As a result of the variables, risks and uncertainties referred to in this section, the estimates and projections made in this Report, and the expectations referred to herein, may not be reliable.
The Company’s stockholder rights plan and certain provisions of the By-Laws and of the Delaware General Corporation Law may make it more difficult for a third party to acquire the Company even if doing so would allow the stockholders to receive a premium over the prevailing market price of the Common Stock. These rights and By-Laws provisions are intended to encourage potential acquirers to negotiate and allow the Board of Directors the opportunity to consider alternative proposals in the interest of maximizing stockholder value. However, these rights and provisions may also discourage acquisition proposals or delay or prevent a change in control, which could negatively affect the price of the Common Stock.
The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
Management’s Annual Report On Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
Management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Exchange Act, for the Company. Internal control over financial reporting is designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect transactions and dispositions of Company assets, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and that receipts and expenditures are made only in accordance with authorizations of management and the Board of Directors, and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of assets that could have a material effect on financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements in the financial statements.
Commencing in fiscal 2006, the Company performs a formal annual assessment, in which the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer participate, of the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Management conducted this assessment as of January 28, 2006 using the criteria set forth in “Internal Control - Integrated Framework,” a publication issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. Based on this assessment, management concluded that the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of January 28, 2006.
Internal control over financial reporting in the future will be subject to the risks that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions or that the degree of compliance with established policies and procedures may deteriorate.
The Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, Eisner LLP, issued a report on management’s assessment of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The report is the second document in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Report.
ITEM 7A.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
The Company does not hold or issue financial instruments for trading purposes.
Management of the Company believes that its exposure to interest rate and market risk associated with financial instruments is not material. See, however, in Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” the penultimate paragraph under the caption “Other Liquidity Sources” regarding the variable interest rate payable on revolving loans to the Companies.
The Company is not exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risks.
ITEM 8.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
UNITED RETAIL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Page
Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firms
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 29, 2005 and January 28, 2006
Consolidated Statements of Operations for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended January 28, 2006
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended January 28, 2006
Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for each of the three fiscal years in the period ended January 28, 2006
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
UNITED RETAIL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
UNITED RETAIL GROUP, INC.:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of United Retail Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of January 28, 2006, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of United Retail Group, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 28, 2006, and the consolidated results of their operations and their consolidated cash flows for the year ended January 28, 2006 in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements referred to above, we audited Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts. In our opinion, this schedule, when considered in relation to the financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects, the information stated therein.
We also have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the effectiveness of United Retail Group, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), and our report dated April 7, 2006 expressed an unqualified opinion on management’s assessment of, and the effective operation of, internal control over financial reporting.
Eisner LLP
New York, New York
April 7, 2006
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM ON INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders
United Retail Group, Inc.
We have audited management’s assessment, included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, that United Retail Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2006, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (“COSO”). United Retail Group, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on management’s assessment and an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, evaluating management’s assessment, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our opinion, management’s assessment that United Retail Group, Inc. maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2006, is fairly stated, in all material respects, based on the COSO criteria. Also, in our opinion, United Retail Group, Inc. and subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2006, based on the COSO criteria.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheet of United Retail Group, Inc. and subsidiaries as of January 28, 2006 and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and our report dated April 7, 2006, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
Eisner LLP
New York, New York
April 7, 2006
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
United Retail Group, Inc.:
In our opinion, the accompanying consolidated balance sheet and the related consolidated statements of operations, cash flows and stockholders' equity present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of United Retail Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) at January 29, 2005, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the two years in the period ended January 29, 2005 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits of these statements in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Stamford, Connecticut
April 27, 2005
UNITED RETAIL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
UNITED RETAIL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
UNITED RETAIL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(dollars in thousands)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
UNITED RETAIL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(shares and dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
UNITED RETAIL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Company Description and Basis of Presentation
United Retail Group, Inc. (“United Retail”) is a specialty retailer of large-size women’s fashion apparel, footwear and accessories, featuring AVENUE® brand merchandise, operating 500 stores as of January 28, 2006 throughout the United States.
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of United Retail and its subsidiaries (the “Company”). All significant intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Certain prior year balances have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.
2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Fiscal Year
The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to January 31. Fiscal years are designated in the financial statements and notes by the calendar year in which the fiscal year commences. Fiscal 2003, fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2005 consisted of 52 weeks and ended on January 31, 2004, January 29, 2005, and January 28, 2006, respectively.
Net Revenues
Revenues include sales from all stores operating during the period, the Company’s catalog and website operations. The Company’s catalog was discontinued in March 2003. Revenues are net of returns and exclude sales tax. Revenue is recognized when title and risk of loss have passed to the customer, which for stores is at the point of sale and for catalog and internet sales is at the point of destination. We recognize revenue from gift cards at the time the gift cards are redeemed.
Sales Return Reserve
As part of the normal sales cycle, the Company receives customer merchandise returns. To account for the financial impact of this process, management estimates future returns on previously sold merchandise. Reductions in sales and gross margin are recorded for estimated merchandise returns based on return history.
Shipping and Handling Costs
Shipping and handling revenue is included in net sales. Shipping and handling costs are included in cost of goods sold. During fiscal 2003, fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2005, shipping and handling costs were $364,000, $471,000 and $940,000, respectively.
Vendor Discounts
The Company avails itself of excess cash positions by paying vendors earlier than required by the terms of the purchase order. Such payments resulted in additional discounts in the amount of $1.2 million for fiscal 2005 and were deducted from general, administrative and store operating expenses.
Cost of Goods Sold, Buying and Occupancy
Cost of goods sold includes merchandise costs, net of discounts and allowances, marketing, freight and inventory shrinkage. Buying and occupancy expenses primarily include payroll expenses for the Company’s buying departments and distribution network, rent, common area maintenance, real estate taxes, utilities, maintenance and depreciation for the Company’s stores, distribution center, internet fulfillment center and equipment.
Marketing Costs
Most marketing costs are expensed when ordered. Certain direct mail and media campaigns are expensed over the life of the campaign, which are typically less than one year. Marketing expense, included in cost of goods sold in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations, was $10.3 million, $11.6 million and $14.6 million in fiscal 2003, 2004, and 2005, respectively.
Earnings Per Share
Basic per share data has been computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding. Earnings per diluted share includes the weighted average effect of dilutive options on the weighted average shares outstanding.
The computation of earnings per diluted share excludes options to purchase 1,897,872 shares and 1,893,812 shares in fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2004, respectively, as a result of the Company’s net loss. The computation of earnings per diluted share excludes options to purchase 579,400 shares in fiscal 2005, because the options’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers cash on hand, bank deposits, money market funds and short-term investments with maturities of less than 90 days, when purchased, as cash and cash equivalents. Cash and cash equivalents also include proceeds from credit card sales prior to the end of the fiscal period that were typically remitted as cash within five days after the end of such fiscal period, which amounted to $2.8 million at January 28, 2006.
Restricted Cash
As of January 25, 2005, the Company is required by The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc. to maintain at all times balances in a designated account in an amount not less than 25% of the amount of gift cards and merchandise credits issued and not redeemed during the prior six month period (See Note 9).
Inventory
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or market and include import inventory in-transit under FOB shipping point terms. Import inventory in-transit has been included in the balance sheet and accounts payable on the basis of the FOB shipping point terms. In prior year periods, the Company did not include such inventory on its balance sheet or accounts payable until receipt. Prior year inventory and accounts payable amounts have been revised to appropriately reflect the FOB shipping point terms as well. The amounts of such import inventory in-transit included in the revised inventory amounts at January 31, 2004 and January 29, 2005, and in the reported amount at January 28, 2006 are $11.5 million, $10.8 million and $12.5 million, respectively.
The Company utilizes the retail method (an average cost flow assumption is used), under which a cost-to-price relationship is developed on the basis of original cost as compared to initial retail selling price. The valuation of inventories at cost and the resulting margins are calculated by applying this cost-to-price relationship to the retail value of inventories. Permanent markdowns, when taken, reduce both the cost and price components of inventory on hand, which maintains the established cost-to-price relationship. Consequently, the use of the retail inventory method results in valuing inventories at lower of cost or market.
Inherent in the retail inventory method are management estimates on current and future selling value of the inventory, which can significantly impact the ending inventory valuation at cost as well as resulting margins. The necessity for management estimates, coupled with the fact that the retail inventory method is an averaging process, can produce inventory costs at any point in time that are inexact.
Further, deferred markdowns can result in an overstatement of cost under the lower of cost or market principle. Accordingly, at fiscal year-end, management conducts a thorough review of inventory on hand and, based on its business judgment, may reduce further the carrying value of inventory by recording a markdown reserve for inventory with sales performance below expectations and/or unsold quantities in excess of expectations. Recording a reserve reduces the inventory recorded on the Company’s balance sheet and is charged to the Company’s cost of sales.
Long-Lived Assets
Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment are computed for financial reporting purposes on a straight-line basis, using service lives of 40 years for the distribution center building, the lesser of the useful life or the life of the lease for leasehold improvements and furniture and fixtures, 20 years for material handling equipment and 5 years for other property. The cost of assets sold or retired and the related accumulated depreciation or amortization are removed from the accounts with any resulting gain or loss included in net income. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred. Betterments which extend service lives are capitalized.
The Company continually evaluates whether events and circumstances have occurred that indicate the remaining estimated useful life of long-lived assets may warrant revision or that the remaining balance may not be recoverable. When factors indicate that the asset should be evaluated for possible impairment, the Company uses an estimate of the undiscounted net cash flows over the remaining life of the group of assets that have independent cash flows on a combined basis in measuring whether the carrying value of the asset is recoverable.
Concentration of Credit Risk
Financial instruments, which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk, are primarily cash equivalents. The Company places its cash and cash equivalents in highly liquid investments with high quality financial institutions.
Private Label Credit Card Agreement
The Company and World Financial Network National Bank (“WFN”) are parties to a Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement (“Agreement”). Under the Agreement, WFN reviews applications for credit cards, issues credit cards to eligible applicants, processes billing statements and payments, handles customer service and initiates collection activities from delinquent customers (“Processing Costs”). The Company does not include the receivable created under the Credit Card Program in the Company’s accounts receivables on its balance sheet because under the Agreement, the Company has no interest in the customer accounts or receivables. The credit card program premium (or potentially discount) deducted from general, administrative and store operating expenses is equal to royalties (program revenues less net write-offs of receivables and the cost of funding the receivable) less Processing Costs performed by WFN. The net premium deducted from general, administrative and store operating expenses was $4.2 million, $5.2 million and $6.6 million for the fiscal years ended January 31, 2004, January 29, 2005 and January 28, 2006, respectively.
On November 28, 2005, the Credit Card Program Agreement was restated (as restated, the “Amended Agreement”). The Amended Agreement is effective as of January 29, 2006 and shall expire on February 29, 2012 unless terminated earlier. Under the Amended Agreement, the Bank will continue to provide the aforementioned services. The terms of the Amended Agreement require the Bank to pay the Company amounts based on the program’s levels of sales and accounts receivable.
Incurred But Not Reported Claims For Personal Injuries and Medical Benefits
The Company records a liability for incurred but not reported claims (“IBNR”) for each fiscal year. This liability is based on (i) the number and size of outstanding claims, (ii) a comparison between the dates paid claims were incurred and the dates they were paid, (iii) an analysis of the amounts previously paid, (iv) projections of inflation in medical costs and (v) advice from time to time from its insurance broker. (The Company has insurance policies with coverage for auto, general liability and workers’ compensation but it remains liable for a self-insured retention. The Company is self-insured for its medical, dental and prescription plans for associates but it has stop loss insurance policies to limit its liability.)
The estimates underlying the liability for IBNR Claims are matters of judgment on which insurance experts may differ. The use of different estimates or assumptions would change the amount recorded.
Income Taxes
The Company provides for income taxes in accordance with SFAS No.109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. This statement requires the use of the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred taxes are determined based on the difference between the financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities using enacted tax rates in effect in the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. Deferred tax expense (benefit) represents the change in the deferred tax asset/liability balance. The Company establishes valuation allowances against deferred tax assets when sufficient negative evidence exists concerning the realization of those deferred tax assets. The Company also provides for estimated exposures on its filed tax returns; such accruals are included in other long-term liabilities.
Stock Options
The Company has several stock option plans in operation which are more fully described in Note 14. The Company uses the intrinsic value method to account for stock-based compensation in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting For Stock Issued To Employees” (“Opinion No. 25”) and has adopted the disclosure provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 123, “Accounting For Stock-Based Compensation (“SFAS No. 123”).” Under Opinion No. 25, compensation expense, if any, is measured as the excess of the market price of the stock over the exercise price on the measurement date. In May 1998, the stockholders ratified the issuance of non-qualified stock options whose market price at the date of grant exceeded the exercise price, which equaled the market price on the date of Board action. In accordance with Opinion No. 25, compensation expense is recorded ratably over the five-year vesting period of the options. All other stock options have been granted at the market price of the stock at the measurement date.
The following table illustrates the effect on net (loss) income and (loss) income per share if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions under SFAS No. 123 to stock-based employee compensation:
For the pro forma information disclosed above, the fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions:
The Black-Scholes option valuation model was developed for use in estimating the fair value of traded options which have no vesting restrictions and are fully transferable. In addition, option valuation models require input of highly subjective assumptions including the expected stock price volatility. Because the Company’s employee stock options have characteristics significantly different from those of traded options, and because changes in subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, in management’s opinion, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of its employee stock options.
Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The more significant estimates and assumptions relate to inventory, insurance, useful lives of assets and deferred tax assets.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In November 2004, FASB issued SFAS No. 151 (“SFAS 151”), “Inventory Costs”, which amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 43, Chapter 4, “Inventory Pricing”. SFAS 151 amends the accounting for inventory costs such that idle facility expense, excessive spoilage, double freight and rehandling costs be recognized as current-period charges. The provisions of SFAS 151 are effective for inventory costs incurred during fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2005. The adoption of SFAS 151 is not expected to have an impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows, as the Company historically has not manufactured merchandise.
In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”), which replaces SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”) and supersedes APB Opinion No. 25. SFAS No. 123R requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be measured at their fair values at the date of grant and recognized as expense over the service period, which is generally the vesting period. SFAS No. 123R is effective for the first fiscal year beginning after June 15, 2005, which, for the Company, will be fiscal 2006.
It is expected that the adoption of SFAS No 123R will reduce the Company’s results of operations in fiscal 2006 by amounts comparable to the pro-forma disclosures in prior years (see stock options.) The actual impact will depend, among other things on the market value and the amount of share-based awards outstanding in future periods.
In May 2005, the FASB issued SFAS No. 154, “Accounting Changes and Error Corrections - a replacement of APB Opinion No. 20 and FASB Statement No. 3.” This Statement changes the requirements for the accounting for and reporting of a change in accounting principle. Previously, most voluntary changes in accounting principles required recognition through a cumulative adjustment within net income of the period of the change. The new standard requires retrospective application to prior periods’ financial statements, unless it is impracticable to determine the period-specific effects or the cumulative effect of the change. SFAS No. 154 does not change the transition provisions of any existing pronouncements. The Company does not believe that the adoption of SFAS No. 154 will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
On October 6, 2005, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) FAS No. 13-1 “Accounting for Rental Costs Incurred during a Construction Period.” The FASB has concluded that rental costs incurred during and after a construction period are for the right to control the use of a leased asset and must be recognized as rental expense. Such costs were previously capitalizable as construction costs if the company had a policy to do so. The FSP is effective for reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2005. The Company does not expect that the implementation of FSP FAS No. 13-1 will have a significant impact on its consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.
3. Other Assets
Other assets consist of (dollars in thousands):
4. Property and Equipment
Property and equipment, at cost, consists of (dollars in thousands):
(1) Includes approximately $8.2 million of assets under capital leases resulting from a sale and leaseback agreement (See Note 7).
5. Accrued Expenses
Accrued expenses consist of (dollars in thousands):
6. Other Long-term Liabilities
Other long-term liabilities consist of (dollars in thousands):
7. Leases
Operating Leases
The Company leases its retail store locations, office facilities and certain equipment under operating leases. Annual store rent is composed of a fixed minimum amount, plus contingent rent based upon a percentage of sales exceeding a stipulated amount. Store lease terms generally require additional payments to the landlord covering taxes, maintenance and certain other expenses.
Rent expense was as follows (dollars in thousands):
At January 28, 2006, the Company was committed under store leases with terms typically ranging from 1 to 12 years and with varying renewal options. Some leases also include early termination options, which can be exercised under specific conditions. Many leases entered into by the Company contain rent escalations during the term of the lease and include options that may extend the lease term beyond the initial commitment period.
Rental expense for step rent provisions and escalation clauses is recognized on a straight-line basis over the minimum lease term and included along with other related rent expense as part of buying and occupancy costs.
Lease incentives are recorded as liabilities and are amortized as a reduction of rent expense over the minimum lease term, on a straight-line basis, as a part of buying and occupancy costs. Deferred lease incentives at January 29, 2005 and January 28, 2006, were $12.9 million and $10.6 million, respectively.
Capital Leases
In January 2002, the Company executed a five-year $8.2 million sale and leaseback agreement for certain fixtures in new and remodeled stores. The lease bears an interest rate of 7.0% per annum. The Company was required to pay sales tax as part of the agreement. The agreement provides for equal monthly rent payments of $163,344 beginning February 2002 and gives the Company the option of buying back the fixtures at the end of the term for a nominal price.
The following is a schedule by year of approximate minimum lease payments (dollars in thousands) under operating and capital leases:
8. Long-term Debt
In 1994, the Company executed a fifteen-year $8.0 million loan bearing interest at 8.64% per annum. Interest and principal are payable in equal monthly installments of $79,437 beginning May 1994. The loan is collateralized by a mortgage on its national distribution center.
The balance outstanding under this loan is as follows (dollars in thousands):
Principal maturities by year are as follows (dollars in thousands):
In 1993, the Company executed a ten-year $7.0 million note bearing interest at 7.3% per annum. Interest and principal were payable in equal monthly installments of $81,829 beginning November 1993. The note was collateralized by the material handling equipment in the distribution center owned by the Company in Troy, Ohio. Final payment on this note was made in October 2003.
9. Financing Agreement
The Company and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Companies”) are parties to a Financing Agreement, dated August 15, 1997, as amended (the “Financing Agreement”), with The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc. (“CIT”). The Financing Agreement was amended in December 2003 to increase the revolving line of credit from $40 million to $50 million and to extend the maturity date from August 15, 2005 to August 15, 2008. The revolving line of credit is used by the Companies to support trade letters of credit and standby letters of credit and to finance loans which could be used for working capital and general corporate purposes.
The Companies are required to maintain unused at all times combined asset availability of at least $5 million. Except for the maintenance of a minimum availability of $5 million and a limit on capital expenditures, the Financing Agreement does not contain any significant financial covenants.
The Financing Agreement also includes certain restrictive covenants that impose limitations (subject to certain exceptions) on the Companies with respect to, among other things, making certain investments, declaring or paying dividends, making loans, engaging in certain transactions with affiliates, or consolidating, merging or making acquisitions outside the ordinary course of business.
In the event a loan is made to one of the Companies, interest is payable monthly based on a 360-day year at the Chase Manhattan Bank prime rate plus incremental percentages ranging from 0.00% to 0.75% or the LIBOR rate plus incremental percentages ranging from 1.75% to 2.50% as determined by the average excess availability each month per the Financing Agreement on a per annum basis. The borrower can select either the prime rate or the Libor rate as the basis for determining the interest rate. Payments of revolving loans are not required until termination of the agreement unless either 1) the outstanding balance of revolving loans and outstanding letters of credit exceeds the availability under the agreement, in which case the excess would be payable upon demand from CIT or 2) the Company is in default under the Financing Agreement.
The line of credit is collateralized by (i) inventory and its proceeds, (ii) bank credit card receivables and (iii) the balance on deposit from time to time in an account that has been pledged to the lenders.
At January 28, 2006, the borrowing capacity of the Companies under the Financing Agreement with CIT, after satisfying the $5 million minimum availability requirement, was $8.9 million, trade letters of credit for the account of the Companies were outstanding in the amount of $24.5 million, standby letters of credit were outstanding in the amount of $6.1 million and no loan had been drawn down. The Company’s cash and cash equivalents of $32.3 million was unrestricted.
The Company did not draw down on its revolving credit facility in 2005. The average amount of borrowings outstanding during fiscal 2004 was $0.5 million at a weighted average interest rate of 5.4%. The average outstanding balance in 2003 was less than $0.1 million.
10. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and trade payables approximate fair value because of the short-term maturity of these items. The fair value of long-term debt (distribution center financing and capital leases), including the current portion, is estimated to be $4.4 million at January 28, 2006 based on the current rates quoted to the Company for debt of the same or similar issues.
11. Income Taxes
The provision for (benefit from) income taxes consists of (dollars in thousands):
Reconciliation of the benefit from income taxes from the U.S. Federal statutory rate to the Company’s effective rate is as follows:
In November 2003, the Company agreed in principle with the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) on a settlement and the closure of its examination of the Company’s tax returns for the years through 1996.
In November 2003, the Company also agreed in principle with the IRS on the settlement of a matter related to tax refund claims the Company had filed for research credits and for deductions attributable to certain bank financing transactions during 1989 to 1992. In April 2004, the Company received payment from the IRS in the amount of $2.5 million which was initially deferred on the balance sheet. The Company subsequently received final clearance from the IRS regarding this amount. Consequently, the Company recognized the benefit of the refund claims, including the related interest thereon, during the second fiscal quarter of 2004. $1.1 million was recorded as an increase to additional paid-in capital as it related to stock warrant deductions, $1.2 million of interest income was recorded in the Company’s results of operations and $0.2 million in federal tax benefit was recorded related to research credits. An additional payment of $0.3 million was received in August 2004 in connection with further claims, of which $0.1 million of interest income was recorded in the Company’s third quarter results of operations and $0.2 million in federal tax benefit was recorded related to research credits.
In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2004, due to various settlements, the Company recorded a $1.8 million tax benefit for reversals of accruals for potential tax liabilities.
Significant components of the Company’s deferred tax assets and (liabilities) are summarized below (dollars in thousands):
The Company recorded a $7.3 million non-cash charge to establish a valuation allowance for its net deferred tax assets, including its net operating loss carryforwards, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002.
The Company recorded additional valuation allowances of $12.6 million and $4.3 million in fiscal 2003 and fiscal 2004, respectively. In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, due to a number of factors, primarily that the Company recorded income before taxes of $11.4 million for fiscal 2005 (and taxable income exceeded that amount), management increased its projection of future taxable income. As a result of these increased projections, management concluded the future utilization of its deferred tax assets (with the exception of charitable contributions carryforward) was more likely than not. In fiscal 2005, the Company reduced its valuation allowance by $22.6 million.
At January 28, 2006 the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $17.0 million available to reduce future Federal taxable income, expiring through 2024. Additionally, at January 28, 2006 the Company had net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $65 million available to reduce future taxable income in certain states, expiring through 2024. The utilization of these carryforwards will not have any future impact on the results of operations but will have a favorable impact on future cash flows.
12. Retirement Plan
The Company maintains a qualified defined contribution pension plan. Generally, an employee is eligible to participate in the plan if the employee has completed one year of full-time continuous service. The Company makes a 50% match of a portion of employee savings contributions.
The Company also maintains a non-qualified defined contribution pension plan, which is titled the Supplemental Retirement Savings Plan (the “SRSP”). The Company makes a 50% match of a portion of employee savings contributions for those associates whose contributions to the qualified plan are limited by IRS regulations, as well as retirement contributions for certain grandfathered associates equal to 6% of those associates’ compensation.
In fiscal 2004, the SRSP purchased 279,870 shares of the Company’s common stock at a cost of $0.7 million using a portion of the funds accumulated since 1993 in the deferred compensation account of Raphael Benaroya, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. The shares held in Mr. Benaroya’s SRSP account were reflected in the same manner as treasury shares and carried at cost on the balance sheet. In fiscal 2003, 2004 and the first half of 2005 the liability was marked to market and this liability adjustment flows through the statement of operations as either an increase or a decrease in compensation expense. With respect to the SRSP assets, marketable securities were also marked to market except shares of Company stock, which are recorded permanently at cost. This asset adjustment also flows through the statement of operations. The liability adjustment and the asset adjustment were not necessarily equal in amount because of the disparate treatment of Company stock. In fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2005, the market price of Company stock increased and the related compensation expense was $0.7 million and $0.6 million, respectively.
In the second quarter of fiscal 2005, the Company amended the SRSP and, as a result, the market value of Company stock held in the SRSP, $2.0 million, on the date of the amendment was reclassified on the balance sheet to the deferred compensation obligation in stockholders’ equity from deferred compensation plan liabilities. Additionally, the cost of those shares, $0.65 million, were reclassified from treasury stock and netted against the deferred compensation obligation. Accordingly, movements in the market price of the Company stock no longer impacted compensation expense as of the date of the change to the plan and the asset and liability adjustments are equal in value. The resulting balance in the deferred compensation obligation is $1.35 million.
The value of the other investments, held by the Company on behalf of the SRSP, at January 29, 2005 and January 28, 2006, was $3.5 million and $4.1 million, respectively. The Company accounts for such investments in accordance with SFAS 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities”, and classifies these investments as trading.
Pension expense, excluding net compensation expense related to Company stock, during fiscal 2003, fiscal 2004 and fiscal 2005 was approximately $363,000 and $311,000, and $524,000, respectively.
13. Stockholders’ Equity
Coincident with the completion of its initial public offering on March 17, 1992, the Company’s certificate of incorporation was amended to provide for only one class of Common Stock, par value $.001 per share, with 30 million shares authorized. The Company also authorized 1 million shares of Preferred Stock, par value $.001 per share, to be issued from time to time, in one or more classes or series, each such class or series to have such preferences, voting powers, qualifications and special or relative rights and privileges as shall be determined by the Board of Directors in a resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such class or series of Preferred Stock. Additionally, certain loan agreements, to which the Company is a party, impose restrictions on the payment of dividends.
In September 1999, the Company adopted a Shareholder Rights Plan and distributed rights as a dividend at the rate of one Right for each share of Common Stock of the Company. The rights will expire on September 28, 2009.
Each Right initially entitles a shareholder to buy for $65 one one-hundredth of a share of a series of preferred stock which is convertible to shares of Common Stock. Among other things, the Rights will be exercisable, subject to certain exceptions, if a person or group acquires beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the Company’s Common Stock or commences a tender or exchange offer upon consummation of which such person or group would beneficially own 15% or more of the Company’s Common Stock. Until the Rights become exercisable, each share of common stock of the Company has a Right attached and the securities trade as a unit.
14. Stock Options
The Company has three stock option plans with options available to be granted. Under these three plans, employees of the Company whose judgment, initiative and efforts may be expected to contribute materially to the successful performance of the Company are eligible to receive options. Non-employee Directors also receive annual grants of options. The options granted vest beginning one year from the date of grant, and vest fully after five years, subject to acceleration under certain circumstances. The options granted expire ten years after the date of grant. Options are granted, and the plans are administered, by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors, composed of non-employees of the Company. Other option plans are in operation with no options available for grant.
A summary of stock option activity follows:
A summary of stock options outstanding at year-end fiscal 2005 is as follows:
Certain outstanding options were authorized directly by the Company’s stockholders but most were issued in accordance with stock option plans authorized by the stockholders and administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
15. Stock Appreciation Rights Plan
Commencing in May 2000 and annually thereafter, each nonmanagement Director received an award under the Company’s Stock Appreciation Rights Plan that provides for a cash payment by the Company when the Director exercises the stock option granted to him contemporaneously under the Company’s Stock Option Plans. The payment for options granted prior to June 2005 will be an amount equivalent to the after tax equity in the option that is being exercised, that is, the excess of the then current market price of the shares issued over the sum of 1) the exercise price of the corresponding option plus 2) any personal income tax withholding on the gain arising from the exercise. The payment for options granted in June 2005 will be an amount equivalent to twice the above calculation. No such payments have been made to date.
16. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Net cash flow from operating activities reflects cash payments for interest and income taxes as follows (dollars in thousands):
Non-cash investing activities include $1.4 million related to capital lease obligations incurred between January 2002 and January 2003 and the exercise of certain stock options made by surrendering 2,059 shares of Company common stock with a market value equal to the exercise price of the options of approximately $29,000 in fiscal 2005.
17. Contingencies
The Company is involved in legal actions and claims arising in the ordinary course of business. Management believes that such litigation and claims, net of reserves, will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, annual results of operations or cash flows. Legal fees are typically expensed as incurred.
On May 1, 2003, a suit in California Superior Court, Los Angeles County, styled Erik Stanford vs. United Retail Incorporated was served on the Company by a former store manager in California. On March 3, 2004, an amended complaint was served that added another plaintiff. The suit was purportedly a class action on behalf of certain current and former associates in California in the previous four years.
The plaintiffs in the Stanford case asserted federal and state wage and hour claims and related claims against the Company.
Total expense related to this matter was $0.7 million in fiscal 2003 and $1.6 million in fiscal 2004, of which $0.8 million was recorded in the fourth quarter.
The Stanford case was settled in the second quarter of fiscal 2005 at a cost of $1.8 million, at which time the underlying accruals were adjusted resulting in $0.5 million of income. During the third quarter of fiscal 2005, $1.1 million of this liability was paid. In anticipation of the settlement, compensation of store managers employed by the Company in California had been converted from salaried to hourly wages in January 2005.
18. Supplemental Financial Data (Unaudited)
(dollars in thousands, except per share data)
(1)
Includes $0.8 million for settlement costs related to the Stanford case (See Note 17).
(2)
Includes a $1.8 million tax benefit for reversals of accruals for potential tax liabilities due to various settlements (See Note 11).
(3)
Includes a reduction of $0.5 million for settlement costs related to the Stanford case (See Note 17.)
(4)
Includes a $22.6 million tax benefit for reversals of valuation allowances.
ITEM 9.
ITEM 9.
CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
Information about a change in the Company’s accountants and related matters was filed in a Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 6, 2005, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 29, 2005 and the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended April 30, 2005.
ITEM 9A.
ITEM 9A.
CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Disclosure Controls
A committee of senior managers in the Company’s Finance Department (the “Disclosure Committee”), chaired by the Chief Financial Officer (the “CFO”), coordinates disclosure controls and procedures (as defined by 1934 Act Rule 13a-15(e)) with respect to information required to be disclosed by the Company (“Disclosures”) in filings with the Commission. The Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are intended to provide reasonable assurance that the disclosure controls and procedures will meet their objectives.
Each fiscal quarter, the Company performs a formal evaluation of both the effectiveness and the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. The evaluation includes, among other things, consideration of the processes carried out under the direction of the Disclosure Committee in order to ensure that Disclosures are recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the Commission’s rules and forms, and that Disclosures are accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Company’s Chief Executive Officer (the “CEO”) and CFO, as appropriate, to allow timely discussion regarding required financial disclosure.
As of the end of fiscal 2005, such an evaluation was carried out under the supervision and with the participation of the CEO and CFO. Based on this evaluation, the CEO and CFO each concluded that, at January 28, 2006, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective to ensure that the information required to be disclosed in SEC reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the requisite time periods.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
“Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” is the last section in Item 7 “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of this Report and is incorporated herein by reference. The “Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting” is the second document in Item 8 “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” of this Report.
Each fiscal quarter, the Company performs a formal evaluation, in which the Company’s CEO and CFO participate, of changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Based on this evaluation, management concluded that there was no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended January 28, 2006 that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
ITEM 9B.
ITEM 9B.
OTHER INFORMATION.
Not applicable.
Part III
ITEM 10.
ITEM 10.
DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.
Incumbent Directors of the Registrant
The eight incumbent Directors have been nominated for reelection by the Board of Directors of the Company and an additional nomination has been made by the Board. The subsection under “Election of Directors” captioned “Business and Professional Experience” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Executive Officers of the Registrant and Subsidiaries
In addition to Raphael Benaroya and George R. Remeta, whose employment history with the Corporation is described in the Proxy Statement, the executive officers of the Corporation are the following:
Kenneth P. Carroll, age 63, is United Retail Group, Inc.’s Senior Vice President - General Counsel and Secretary. He has been an officer since joining the Corporation in March 1992.
Paul McFarren, age 42, has been the Chief Information Officer of United Retail Group, Inc. since joining the Corporation in October 2000, with the title of Senior Vice President since August 2003. Previously, he was Vice President of Worldwide Field Operations of LVMH, a consumer goods manufacturer, for two years.
Jon Grossman, age 48, is Vice President - Finance of United Retail Group, Inc. He has been an officer of the Corporation or one of its subsidiaries since May 1992.
Each of the Corporation’s executive officers holds office until the Board of Directors meeting after the 2006 annual meeting of stockholders of United Retail Group, Inc., and until his successor shall be elected. However, officers are always subject to removal from office by the Board of Directors in its discretion.
The subsection under “Executive Compensation” captioned “Employment and Bonus Agreements” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
The executive officers of the Corporation’s subsidiaries are the following:
Ellen Demaio, age 48, has been Senior Vice President - Merchandise of United Retail Incorporated since October 1994 and previously was Vice President-Merchandise since November 1992.
Joann Fielder, age 52, has been Senior Vice President-Chief Design Officer of United Retail Incorporated since April 2004. She was a senior design executive at Ann Taylor stores for more than five years, with the title of Executive Vice President of Design in 2001 and of Senior Vice President of Design before that.
Julie L. Daly, age 51, has been a Vice President of United Retail Incorporated since May 1991, most recently as Vice President-Shop @ Home Operations.
David D. English, age 47, has been Vice President-Store Construction of United Retail Incorporated since October 2005. Previously, he was Vice President-Construction of Thor Equities, Inc., a real estate developer, from August 2005 to January 2003. Earlier, Mr. English was Vice President-Store Planning and Construction of Urban Brands, Inc., a chain of retail specialty apparel stores, from December 2002 to prior to 2001.
Kent Frauenberger, age 59, has been Vice President - Logistics of United Retail Logistics Operations Incorporated since March 1993.
Scott Lucas, age 51, has been a senior sales executive with United Retail Incorporated for more than five years, with the title of Vice President-Sales, Western Region since August 2003. He joined the Company in February 1994.
Patrick McGahan, age 54, has been national Vice President-Sales of United Retail Incorporated since October 2003. Previously, he held similar positions with Bebe Stores, a retail chain, from April 2003 to February 2002 and with the Structure chain of stores operated by Limited Brands, Inc. for many years prior to August 2000.
John J. O’Connell III, age 37, has been Vice President-Controller of United Retail Incorporated since October 2005. Previously, he was Retail Controller for Polo Ralph Lauren, which, among other businesses, operated a chain of retail specialty apparel stores, from September 2005 to October 2002. Earlier, Mr. O’Connell was Controller of Brooks Brothers, Inc., a chain of retail specialty apparel stores, from September 2002 to October 2001. For several years prior to October 2001, Mr. O’Connell was a Senior Manager at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm.
Bradley Orloff, age 48, has been Vice President - Marketing of United Retail Incorporated since May 1991.
Rose Panicali, age 49, has been Vice President-Avenue BODY of United Retail Incorporated since August 2005. Previously, she was Vice President-General Merchandise Manager of Delia’s, a chain of retail specialty apparel stores, from December 2004 to February 2004. Earlier, she was a Divisional Merchandise Manager for New York & Co., Inc., a chain of retail specialty apparel stores, from January 2004 to prior to 2001.
Terence Puffer, age 56, has been Vice President-Production Services of United Retail
Incorporated since August 2005. He joined the Company as Director of Production Services in November 2001. Previously, Mr. Puffer was Vice President-Manufacturing of Jacques Moret, an apparel wholesaler, since prior to 2001.
Gerald Schleiffer, age 54, has been Vice President - Planning and Distribution of United Retail Incorporated since August 1999.
Jerry Soucy, age 58, has been Vice President-Real Estate of United Retail Incorporated since October 2004. Previously, he was Vice President-Development of David King Enterprises, LLC, a real estate developer, from September 2004 to January 2002. Earlier, he was a partner of RAM Development, LLC, a real estate developer, since prior to 2001.
Compliance With Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act
The section captioned “Section 16(a) - Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
Codes of Ethics
Separate corporate codes of ethics apply to the Corporation’s officers, to Directors who are not employed by the Corporation and to associates of the Corporation’s subsidiaries. The code for officers of the Corporation has been incorporated as an exhibit to this Report by reference to Exhibit 14 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2004 and is available at www.sec.gov. The code for associates of the Corporation’s subsidiaries has been posted on the “About Us - Ethical Statement” page at www.unitedretail.com. The several codes reflect the distinct responsibilities of the different persons covered.
Audit Committee
The Corporation’s Board of Directors has determined that at least one audit committee financial expert serves on its Audit Committee, namely, Michael Goldstein. Mr. Goldstein is independent as that term is used in Item 7(d)(3)(iv) of Schedule 14A under the 1934 Act. The other members of the Audit Committee, Joseph A. Alutto and Joseph Ciechanover, are also independent in accordance with that definition.
Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee annually recommends a slate of nominees to the Board of Directors for submission to a stockholder vote. On February 23, 2006, a quorum of the Nominating Committee unanimously recommended the eight incumbent Directors for reelection at the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders and recommended an additional nomination to bring the slate to nine members.
The Nominating Committee considers the comparative qualifications of (i) incumbent Directors who are willing to stand for reelection, (ii) other candidates, if any, whom the Committee invites to apply and (iii) volunteers, if any, including any recommended in a timely manner by a stockholder of the Company. On February 23, 2006, the Nominating Committee evaluated the performance of the eight incumbent Directors and found it satisfactory. The Nominating Committee had also invited additional candidates to apply and recommended one additional candidate for nomination.
A stockholder wishing to submit the name of one or more candidates for consideration by the Nominating Committee should do so by letter to the Committee in care of the Company’s Secretary addressed to the Company’s headquarters and delivered before December of the year preceding the annual meeting of stockholders. An address should be provided for the candidate(s) to receive application materials, including a consent to background and reference checks by the Committee and an autobiographical questionnaire, to be completed, signed and returned to the Secretary. Candidates should be available for interviews upon request.
Apart from the Nominating Committee process, stockholders may present their own nominations. Any nominations for election as Directors of the Company that a stockholder intends to present in person or by proxy at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders but which are not received in proper form by the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company at least 90 days prior to the anniversary date of the 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders will be omitted by the Company from the proxy statement and form of proxy relating to that meeting and may not properly be brought before the meeting. The Nominating Committee may select its slate of nominees for election at the 2007 Annual Meeting of Stockholders after the last day on which a stockholder can give notice of intent to present a nomination at the annual meeting of stockholders. The submission of the name of one or more candidates for consideration by the Committee shall not satisfy the requirement to give notice to the Secretary of intent to present a nomination personally or by proxy at the annual meeting of stockholders.
ITEM 11.
ITEM 11.
EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
The section captioned “Executive Compensation” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 12.
ITEM 12.
SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
The sections captioned “Security Ownership of Principal Stockholders” and “Security Ownership of Management” in the Proxy Statement are incorporated herein by reference.
The table entitled “Equity Compensation Plan Information As of January 28, 2006” appearing in Item 5 “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” of this Report is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 13.
ITEM 13.
CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
The section captioned “Certain Transactions” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 14.
ITEM 14.
PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
The section captioned “Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Proxy Statement is incorporated herein by reference.
“Financial Statements and Supplementary Data,” Item 8 of this Report, includes PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s previous audit report on the Company’s financial statements as of January 29, 2005 and for the years ended January 29, 2005 and January 31, 2004. The Company has agreed to indemnify PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for the payment of all legal costs and expenses incurred in PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s successful defense of any legal action or proceeding that might arise as a result of the inclusion of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP’s previous audit report in this Report. The Company believes that this indemnity is both legally enforceable and appropriate under the circumstances.
PART IV
ITEM 15.
ITEM 15.
EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
(a)
(1)
Consolidated Financial Statements of the Corporation for fiscal 2005 are included herein.
(2)
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, together with the related report of the predecessor Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Corporation, are filed herewith and designated as Exhibit No. 99.
(b)
(3)
The following additional exhibits are filed herewith:
Number
Description
Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement between the Corporation and United Retail Incorporated and World Financial Network National Bank (Confidential portions filed separately with the Secretary of the Commission)
23.1
Consent of Incumbent Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Corporation
23.2
Consent of Predecessor Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Corporation
Certifications pursuant to Section 302
(4)
Certifications pursuant to Section 906 are furnished as Exhibit 32 hereto.
(5)
The following additional documents are incorporated herein by reference.
The 2006 Equity-Based Compensation and Performance Incentive Plan set forth as the appendix to the Corporation’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 2006 annual meeting of stockholders (to be filed by May 28, 2006) is incorporated herein by reference.*
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 2, 2006 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Amended By-laws of the Corporation
10.1*
Spring 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan Agreement
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 29, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Form of Severance Pay Agreements between United Retail Incorporated and its officers hired after August 21, 2005
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 1, 2005 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.2*
Amendment to Supplemental Retirement Savings Plan
10.3*
Amendment, dated August 29, 2005, to Employment Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2004, between the Corporation and Raphael Benaroya (“Benaroya Employment Agreement”)
10.4*
Amendment, dated August 29, 2005, to Employment Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2004, between the Corporation and George R. Remeta (“Remeta Employment Agreement”)
10.5*
Amendment, dated August 29, 2005, to Employment Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2004, between the Corporation and Kenneth P. Carroll (“Carroll Employment Agreement”)
10.6*
Form of Severance Pay Agreements, dated August 26, 2005, between the Corporation and Terence Puffer and Rose Panicali, respectively
10.9*
Bonus Agreement, dated August 22, 2005, between the Corporation and Rose Panicali
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 29, 2005 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1*
Supplemental Retirement Savings Plan
10.2*
Severance Pay Agreement form
10.3*
Amendment to 2003 Stock Option Plan
10.4*
Amendment to 2001 Stock Option Plan
10.5*
Amendment to 1999 Stock Option Plan
10.6*
Amendment to 1996 Stock Option Plan
10.7*
Amendment to 1990 Stock Option Plan
10.8*
Amendment to Stock Option Agreement, dated May 21, 1998, between the Corporation and Raphael Benaroya
10.9*
Amendment to Stock Option Agreement, dated May 21, 1998, between the Corporation and George R. Remeta
10.10*
Amendment to Benaroya Employment Agreement
10.11*
Amendment to Remeta Employment Agreement
10.12*
Amendment to Carroll Employment Agreement
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 22, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10*
Restated Stock Appreciation Rights Plan
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 23, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Stipulation and Settlement Agreement, dated March 18, 2005, in Stanford et ano vs. United Retail Incorporated
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 30, 2004 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Subsidiaries of the Corporation
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2004 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1*
Benaroya Employment Agreement
10.2*
Remeta Employment Agreement
10.3*
Carroll Employment Agreement
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended May 1, 2004 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10*
Bonus agreement, dated May 28, 2004, between the Corporation and Joann Fielder
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2004 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.2*
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Corporation and each of its Directors
Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers pursuant to Section 406
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2004 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Amendment, dated December 23, 2003, to Financing Agreement among the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated, Cloudwalkers, Inc. and The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc., as Agent and Lender (“CIT”)
The 2003 Stock Option Plan set forth as the appendix to the Corporation’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 2003 annual meeting of stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.*
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended February 1, 2003 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Amendment, dated January 31, 2003, to Financing Agreement among the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated, Cloudwalkers, Inc. and CIT
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended August 3, 2002 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Amendment, dated August 2, 2002, to Financing Agreement among the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated, Cloudwalkers, Inc. and CIT
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 2, 2002 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Amendment, dated April 5, 2002, to Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement, dated January 27, 1998, between the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated and World Financial Network National Bank (“Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement”)
10.2
Amendment, dated December 29, 1999, to Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement
10.3
Amendment, dated August 19, 1999, to Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended November 3, 2001 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.4*
Summary Plan Description for United Retail Group, Inc. Incentive Compensation Program for Executives
10.5
Amendment, dated October 1, 2001, to Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement
The 2001 Stock Option Plan set forth as an appendix to the Corporation’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 2001 annual meeting of stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.*
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-44868) is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Amendment, dated August 21, 2000, to Financing Agreement among the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated, Cloudwalkers, Inc. and CIT
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 29, 2000 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.2
Amendment, dated December 28, 1999, to Financing Agreement among the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated and CIT (“Financing Agreement”)
10.3
Amendment, dated January 31, 2000, to Financing Agreement among the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated, Cloudwalkers, Inc. and CIT
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 30, 1999 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Amendment, dated October 6, 1999, to Financing Agreement
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed September 23, 1999, is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
The stockholders’ rights plan filed as the exhibit to the Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated September 15, 1999, is incorporated herein by reference.
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 30, 1999 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Amendment, dated March 29, 1999, to Financing Agreement
The 1999 Stock Option Plan set forth as the Appendix to the Corporation’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 1999 annual meeting of stockholders is incorporated herein by
reference.*
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended May 2, 1998 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1*
1998 Stock Option Agreement, dated May 21, 1998, between the Corporation and Raphael Benaroya
10.2*
1998 Stock Option Agreement, dated May 21, 1998, between the Corporation and George R. Remeta
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 1998 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Restated Stockholders’ Agreement, dated December 23, 1992, between the Corporation and certain of its stockholders and Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2 and Amendment No. 3 thereto
10.2
Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement
10.4*
Restated 1990 Stock Option Plan as of March 6, 1998
10.5*
Restated 1990 Stock Option Plan as of May 28, 1996
10.6*
Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan as of March 6, 1998
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended November 1, 1997 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Amendment, dated September 15, 1997, to Financing Agreement
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended August 2, 1997 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Financing Agreement
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-44499), as amended, are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation
4.1
Specimen Certificate for Common Stock of the Corporation
*A compensatory plan for the benefit of the Corporation’s management or a management contract.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
(Registrant)
UNITED RETAIL GROUP, INC.
Date: April 27, 2006
By:
/s/ Raphael Benaroya
Raphael Benaroya, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer
LIMITED POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOWN ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each Director whose signature appears below other than RAPHAEL BENAROYA and GEORGE R. REMETA constitutes and appoints Raphael Benaroya and George R. Remeta, and each of them, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in his capacity as a Director of United Retail Group, Inc., to sign any or all amendments to this Annual Report, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in and about the foregoing, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or their substitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities indicated on April 27, 2006.
Signature
Title
Signature
Title
/s/RAPHAEL BENAROYA
Chairman of the Board, President,
/s/ MICHAEL GOLDSTEIN
Director
Chief Executive Officer and Director
Raphael Benaroya
Michael Goldstein
Principal Executive Officer
/s/GEORGE R. REMETA
Vice Chairman, Chief Administrative
/s/ ILAN KAUFTHAL
Director
Officer and Director
George R. Remeta
Ilan Kaufthal
Principal Financial Officer
/s/JON GROSSMAN
Vice President-Finance
/s/ VINCENT P. LANGONE
Director
Jon Grossman
Vincent P. Langone
Principal Accounting Officer
/s/JOSEPH A. ALUTTO
Director
/s/ RICHARD W. RUBENSTEIN
Director
Joseph A. Alutto
Richard W. Rubenstein
/s/JOSEPH CIECHANOVER
Director
Joseph Ciechanover
EXHIBIT INDEX
(1)
Consolidated Financial Statements of the Corporation for fiscal 2005 are included herein.
(2)
Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts, together with the related report of the predecessor Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Corporation, are filed herewith and designated as Exhibit No. 99.
(3)
The following additional exhibits are filed herewith:
Number
Description
Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement between the Corporation and United Retail Incorporated and World Financial Network National Bank (Confidential portions filed separately with the Secretary of the Commission)
23.1
Consent of Incumbent Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Corporation
23.2
Consent of Predecessor Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm for the Corporation
Certifications pursuant to Section 302
(4)
Certifications pursuant to Section 906 are furnished as Exhibit 32 hereto.
(5)
The following additional documents are incorporated herein by reference.
The 2006 Equity-Based Compensation and Performance Incentive Plan set forth as the appendix to the Corporation’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 2006 annual meeting of stockholders (to be filed by May 28, 2006) is incorporated herein by reference.*
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 2, 2006 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Amended By-laws of the Corporation
10.1*
Spring 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan Agreement form
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on November 29, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Form of Severance Pay Agreements between United Retail Incorporated and its officers hired after August 21, 2005
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 1, 2005 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.2*
Amendment to Supplemental Retirement Savings Plan
10.3*
Amendment, dated August 29, 2005, to Employment Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2004, between the Corporation and Raphael Benaroya (“Benaroya Employment Agreement”)
10.4*
Amendment, dated August 29, 2005, to Employment Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2004, between the Corporation and George R. Remeta (“Remeta Employment Agreement”)
10.5*
Amendment, dated August 29, 2005, to Employment Agreement, dated as of September 3, 2004, between the Corporation and Kenneth P. Carroll (“Carroll Employment Agreement”)
10.6*
Form of Severance Pay Agreements, dated August 26, 2005, between the Corporation and Terence Puffer and Rose Panicali, respectively
10.9*
Bonus Agreement, dated August 22, 2005, between the Corporation and Rose Panicali
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 29, 2005 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1*
Supplemental Retirement Savings Plan
10.2*
Severance Pay Agreement form
10.3*
Amendment to 2003 Stock Option Plan
10.4*
Amendment to 2001 Stock Option Plan
10.5*
Amendment to 1999 Stock Option Plan
10.6*
Amendment to 1996 Stock Option Plan
10.7*
Amendment to 1990 Stock Option Plan
10.8*
Amendment to Stock Option Agreement, dated May 21, 1998, between the Corporation and Raphael Benaroya
10.9*
Amendment to Stock Option Agreement, dated May 21, 1998, between the Corporation and George R. Remeta
10.10*
Amendment to Benaroya Employment Agreement
10.11*
Amendment to Remeta Employment Agreement
10.12*
Amendment to Carroll Employment Agreement
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 22, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10*
Restated Stock Appreciation Rights Plan
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 23, 2005 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Stipulation and Settlement Agreement, dated March 18, 2005, in Stanford et ano vs. United Retail Incorporated
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 30, 2004 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Subsidiaries of the Corporation
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended July 31, 2004 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1*
Benaroya Employment Agreement
10.2*
Remeta Employment Agreement
10.3*
Carroll Employment Agreement
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended May 1, 2004 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10*
Bonus agreement, dated May 28, 2004, between the Corporation and Joann Fielder
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2004 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.2*
Form of Indemnification Agreement between the Corporation and each of its Directors
Code of Ethics for Principal Executive and Senior Financial Officers pursuant to Section 406
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on January 8, 2004 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Amendment, dated December 23, 2003, to Financing Agreement among the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated, Cloudwalkers, Inc. and The CIT Group/Business Credit, Inc., as Agent and Lender (“CIT”)
The 2003 Stock Option Plan set forth as the appendix to the Corporation’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 2003 annual meeting of stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.*
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended February 1, 2003 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Amendment, dated January 31, 2003, to Financing Agreement among the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated, Cloudwalkers, Inc. and CIT
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended August 3, 2002 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Amendment, dated August 2, 2002, to Financing Agreement among the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated, Cloudwalkers, Inc. and CIT
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 2, 2002 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Amendment, dated April 5, 2002, to Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement, dated January 27, 1998, between the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated and World Financial Network National Bank (“Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement”)
10.2
Amendment, dated December 29, 1999, to Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement
10.3
Amendment, dated August 19, 1999, to Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended November 3, 2001 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.4*
Summary Plan Description for United Retail Group, Inc. Incentive Compensation Program for Executives
10.5
Amendment, dated October 1, 2001, to Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement
The 2001 Stock Option Plan set forth as an appendix to the Corporation’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 2001 annual meeting of stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.*
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-44868) is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Amendment, dated August 21, 2000, to Financing Agreement among the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated, Cloudwalkers, Inc. and CIT
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 29, 2000 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.2
Amendment, dated December 28, 1999, to Financing Agreement among the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated and CIT (“Financing Agreement”)
10.3
Amendment, dated January 31, 2000, to Financing Agreement among the Corporation, United Retail Incorporated, Cloudwalkers, Inc. and CIT
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended October 30, 1999 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Amendment, dated October 6, 1999, to Financing Agreement
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Current Report on Form 8-K, filed September 23, 1999, is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock
The stockholders’ rights plan filed as the exhibit to the Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form 8-A, dated September 15, 1999, is incorporated herein by reference.
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 30, 1999 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Amendment, dated March 29, 1999, to Financing Agreement
The 1999 Stock Option Plan set forth as the Appendix to the Corporation’s proxy statement on Schedule 14A for its 1999 annual meeting of stockholders is incorporated herein by reference.*
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended May 2, 1998 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1*
1998 Stock Option Agreement, dated May 21, 1998, between the Corporation and Raphael Benaroya
10.2*
1998 Stock Option Agreement, dated May 21, 1998, between the Corporation and George R. Remeta
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 1998 are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Restated Stockholders’ Agreement, dated December 23, 1992, between the Corporation and certain of its stockholders and Amendment No. 1, Amendment No. 2 and Amendment No. 3 thereto
10.2
Private Label Credit Card Program Agreement
10.4*
Restated 1990 Stock Option Plan as of March 6, 1998
10.5*
Restated 1990 Stock Option Plan as of May 28, 1996
10.6*
Restated 1996 Stock Option Plan as of March 6, 1998
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended November 1, 1997 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Amendment, dated September 15, 1997, to Financing Agreement
The following exhibit to the Corporation’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended August 2, 1997 is incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
10.1
Financing Agreement
The following exhibits to the Corporation’s Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-44499), as amended, are incorporated herein by reference:
Number in Filing
Description
3.1
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation
4.1
Specimen Certificate for Common Stock of the Corporation
*A compensatory plan for the benefit of the Corporation’s management or a management contract.