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Bassett Announces Second Quarter 2007 Results

BASSETT, Va., Jul 5, 2007 (PrimeNewswire via COMTEX News Network) -- Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:BSET) announced today its results of operations for its fiscal quarter ended May 26, 2007.

Sales for the second quarter of 2007 were $75.4 million, down 14% from the $87.7 million sold in the second quarter of 2006. As previously reported, this shortfall is primarily due to continued soft furniture retail conditions which have impacted both retail sales and wholesale shipments. The Company reported a net loss of $(2.4) million or $(0.20) per share as compared to net income of $2.8 million or $0.24 per share in the second quarter of 2006. The net loss for the second quarter of 2007 included several non-recurring charges such as severance costs related to the Bassett plant closure, lease exit costs related to three closed stores, and a leasehold improvement asset impairment related to downsizing the Company's wholesale showroom. Excluding the effects of these charges, the Company's net results for the quarter would have been basically a breakeven, which represents a $2 million improvement over the results for the first quarter of 2007. A reconciliation of adjusted net loss has been set forth below.

The Bassett Furniture retail store program had 133 stores (104 licensed and 29 Company-owned) in operation at the end of the second quarter. Two stores were opened during the quarter and one store was closed. The Company expects three to four new stores will be opened in the second half of the year.

"These are truly difficult times for our industry and our results for the second quarter reflect that," said Robert H. Spilman Jr., Bassett, president and chief executive officer. "We continue to believe the initiatives we have in place to improve our store program combined with actions we have and are taking to reduce our cost structure will make us a better company and coupled with a better overall retail environment should lead to improved operating results. An additional challenge will be repositioning our upholstery fabric line in light of the recent financial difficulties of two of our key suppliers."

Wholesale Segment

Net sales for our wholesale segment were $63.4 million for the second quarter of 2007, 16% below the $75.4 million sales level attained in the second quarter of 2006. For the first half of 2007, approximately 72% of wholesale shipments were to Bassett stores compared to 69% in the first half of 2006. Additionally, approximately 46% of wholesale shipments in the first half were imported products compared to 44% in the first half of 2006. The wholesale segment generated operating income of $0.4 million in the second quarter of 2007 as compared to $3.4 million of operating income in the second quarter of 2006. This decrease in operating income was primarily attributable to the reduction in sales volume and partially due to wind-down costs associated with closing a wood manufacturing facility in Bassett, Va. The Company also incurred increased selling, general and administrative expenses associated with developing and distributing its spring and summer consumer catalogs, the development of the new store prototype, additional television advertising and the addition of new retail management personnel.

With the continued difficult furniture retail environment resulting in the significant drop in wholesale volume, the Company will continue to assess and adjust its wholesale cost structure to match the associated demand. The Company expects that the closure of the Bassett plant and a corresponding shift to more imported products will result in annual improvements beginning in 2008 to operating income of $3.0 to $4.0 million per year after factoring in expected sales reductions. Additionally, the Company has targeted another $3.0 to $4.0 million of annualized operating expenses it is currently in the process of reducing. These expenses are primarily in the areas of marketing, distribution, and sales and administrative support.

Retail Segment

Bassett's 29 corporate stores continued to experience relatively soft conditions at retail with sales of $21.9 million in the second quarter of 2007 as compared to $20.9 million in 2006. The retail segment incurred an operating loss of $(2.7) million for the quarter compared to an operating loss of $(2.6) million in 2006. The 2007 loss included approximately $400 thousand of start-up related losses associated with two Boston area stores which were acquired at the beginning of the second quarter. Plans are in place to increase retail division gross margins, fully integrate the Boston stores into the Retail segment, and further reduce retail administrative expenses in the second half of the year.

Restructuring, Asset Impairment, and Lease Exit Charges

As previously announced, the Company ceased operations at its wood manufacturing facility in Bassett earlier this month. The closure of the 323,000 square foot facility affected approximately 280 employees or 15% of the Company's workforce. During the last few years, like most of the U.S. furniture industry, Bassett has experienced a shift in demand from domestically produced to imported wood furniture. With the current business levels, it was no longer feasible to continue to operate the large manufacturing facility, even with the efficiency improvements and investments made over the last two years. The Company will source the majority of the products previously produced at this facility from overseas suppliers, continue to produce certain custom bedroom products domestically and discontinue production of certain slower selling items. The Company recorded a charge of approximately $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2007 for severance benefits associated with the plant closure. The Company recorded in the first quarter of 2007 a $3.6 million non-cash impairment charge related to the property at this facility.

Also during the quarter, as a result of current business levels and operating losses, the Company took a number of other actions to reduce its overall expense structure. These included finalizing a sublease agreement on one of its closed retail stores, making a decision to exit two other closed store locations, and reducing the size of its wholesale showroom by more than half. These specific actions which are all components of the Company's overall cost reduction efforts described above are expected to reduce annual expenses by approximately $1.2 million. The Company recorded pretax non-cash charges of $1.9 million related to lease exit costs and approximately $1.0 million for an asset impairment related to the downsizing of its wholesale showroom.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

Inventories have decreased $6.2 million for the year due to lower business levels and improved inventory management. Accounts receivable have increased $1.7 million during the first half of 2007, due to the slower pace of collections from certain store licensees related in part to the overall retail environment. The Company believes it has adequate reserves for bad debts as it continues to aggressively work with its dealers to help ensure their long-term profitability and, in turn, improved cash collections for the Company.

The Company used $1.5 million of cash from operations during the first half of 2007 and paid $4.7 million in regular quarterly dividends. These cash uses were primarily funded through sales of investments netting an approximate $4.0 million, $2.8 million of dividends received from an affiliate and a $1.0 million increase in borrowings under its revolving credit facility. With $5.0 million outstanding, the $40 million revolving credit facility matures November 30, 2007 and is presented as a current liability in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company expects to renew the facility or have another facility in place prior to the maturity date.

About Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc.

Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc. (Nasdaq:BSET) is a leading manufacturer and marketer of high quality, mid-priced home furnishings. With more than 130 Bassett Furniture stores, Bassett has leveraged its strong brand name in furniture into a growing network of corporate and licensed stores that focus on providing consumers with a friendly environment for buying furniture and accessories. The most significant growth vehicle for Bassett continues to be the Company's dedicated retail store program. Bassett's retail strategy encompasses affordable custom-built furniture that is ready for delivery in the home within 30 days. The stores also feature the latest on-trend furniture styles, more than 1,000 upholstery fabrics, free in-home design visits, and coordinated decorating accessories. For more information, visit the Company's website at bassettfurniture.com.

Certain of the statements in this release, particularly those preceded by, followed by or including the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "should," "estimates," or similar expressions, or those relating to or anticipating financial results for periods beyond the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2007, constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. For those statements, Bassett claims the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. In many cases, Bassett cannot predict what factors would cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Expectations included in the forward-looking statements are based on preliminary information as well as certain assumptions which management believes to be reasonable at this time. The following important factors affect Bassett and could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward looking statements: economic, competitive, governmental and other factors identified in Bassett's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the effects of national and global economic or other conditions and future events on the retail demand for home furnishings.



          BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
         Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income -- Unaudited
              (In thousands, except for per share data)

                                                     (Restated)
                              13 Weeks Ended       13 Weeks Ended
                               May 26, 2007         May 27, 2006
                            ------------------  -------------------
                                    Percent of           Percent of
                            Amount  Net Sales    Amount  Net Sales
                            ---------------------------------------

 Net sales                  $ 75,432   100.0%    $ 87,663   100.0%

 Cost of sales                51,486    68.3%      59,887    68.3%
                            -----------------    -----------------

 Gross profit                 23,946    31.7%      27,776    31.7%
                            -----------------    -----------------

 Selling, general and
  administrative              26,058    34.5%      26,706    30.5%
 Restructuring and asset
  impairment charges           1,935     2.6%          --     0.0%
 Lease exit costs              1,934     2.6%          --     0.0%
                            -----------------    -----------------

 Income (loss) from
  operations                  (5,981)   -7.9%       1,070     1.2%

 Other income, net             2,782     3.7%       2,780     3.2%
                            -----------------    -----------------

 Income (loss) before
  income taxes                (3,199)   -4.2%       3,850     4.4%
 Income tax (provision)
  benefit                        779     1.0%      (1,017)   -1.2%
                            -----------------    -----------------
 Net income (loss)          $ (2,420)   -3.2%    $  2,833     3.2%
                            =================    =================

 Basic earnings (loss) per
  share:                    $  (0.20)            $   0.24
                            ========             ========

 Diluted earnings (loss)
  per share:                $  (0.20)            $   0.24
                            ========             ========

               BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income - Unaudited
                    (In thousands, except for per share data)

                                                       (Restated)
                               26 Weeks Ended        26 Weeks Ended
                                May 26, 2007          May 27, 2006
                             -------------------   -------------------
                                      Percent of            Percent of
                              Amount  Net Sales     Amount  Net Sales
                             -------------------   -------------------

 Net sales                   $ 148,852   100.0%    $ 174,152   100.0%

 Cost of sales                 102,595    68.9%      119,038    68.4%
                             -------------------   -------------------

 Gross profit                   46,257    31.1%       55,114    31.6%
                             -------------------   -------------------

 Selling, general and
  administrative                51,882    34.9%       52,846    30.3%
 Restructuring and impaired
  asset charges                  5,544     3.7%           --     0.0%
 Lease exit costs                1,934     1.3%           --     0.0%
                             -------------------   -------------------
 Operating Income (loss)       (13,103)   -8.8%        2,268     1.3%

 Other income, net               3,692     2.5%        4,553     2.6%
                             -------------------   -------------------

 Income (loss) before income
  taxes                         (9,411)   -6.3%        6,821     3.9%
 Income tax (provision)
  benefit                        2,804     1.9%       (1,808)   -1.0%
                             -------------------   -------------------
 Net income (loss)           $  (6,607)   -4.4%    $   5,013     2.9%
                             ===================   ===================

 Basic earnings (loss) per
  share:                     $   (0.56)            $    0.42
                             =========             =========

 Diluted earnings (loss) per
  share:                     $   (0.56)            $    0.42
                             =========             =========

                 BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                        Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                   (In thousands, except share and per share data)

                                          (Unaudited)
 Assets                                      May 26,     November 25,
                                              2007           2006
                                           ---------      ---------
 Current assets

  Cash and cash equivalents                $   7,347      $   6,051
  Accounts receivable, net                    39,922         38,253
  Inventories                                 42,712         48,880
  Deferred income taxes                        6,047          6,391
  Assets held for sale                            --          1,091
  Other current assets                        10,435          6,812
                                           ---------      ---------
  Total current assets                       106,463        107,478
                                           ---------      ---------

 Property and equipment, net                  52,542         58,925
                                           ---------      ---------

 Investments                                  79,120         78,617
 Retail real estate                           32,573         33,501
 Notes receivable, net                        14,377         13,391
 Other                                        19,781         18,025
                                           ---------      ---------
                                             145,851        143,534
                                           ---------      ---------
 Total assets                              $ 304,856      $ 309,937
                                           =========      =========
 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

 Current liabilities
  Accounts payable                         $  18,704      $  16,927
  Customer deposits                            7,975          8,310
  Short-term revolving debt                    5,000             --
  Other accrued liabilities                   21,221         18,323
                                           ---------      ---------
  Total current liabilities                   52,900         43,560
                                           ---------      ---------

 Long-term liabilities

  Post employment benefit obligations         15,124         15,263
  Long-term revolving debt                        --          4,000
  Real estate notes payable                   19,188         19,522
  Distributions in excess of affiliate
   earnings                                   11,551         11,726
  Other long-term liabilities                  1,560             --
                                           ---------      ---------
                                              47,423         50,511
                                           ---------      ---------
 Commitments and Contingencies

 Stockholders' equity

  Common stock                                59,016         59,018
  Retained earnings                          140,201        151,535
  Additional paid-in-capital                   2,002          1,993
  Accumulated other comprehensive income       3,314          3,320
                                           ---------      ---------
  Total stockholders' equity                 204,533        215,866
                                           ---------      ---------
 Total liabilities and stockholders'
  equity                                   $ 304,856      $ 309,937
                                           =========      =========

           BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
            Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Unaudited
                           (In thousands)
                                                  Six Months Ended
                                              ----------------------
                                                          As restated
                                               May 26,       May 27,
                                                2007          2006
                                              --------      --------
 Operating activities:
 Net income (loss)                            $ (6,607)     $  5,013
 Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss)
  to net cash used in operating activities:
   Depreciation and amortization                 4,779         4,444
   Equity in undistributed income of
    investments and unconsolidated
    affiliated companies                        (5,027)       (5,404)
   Provision for restructuring and asset
    impairment costs                             5,544            --
   Provision for lease exit costs                1,934            --
   Realized income from investments             (1,496)       (1,643)
   Net loss from sales of property and
    equipment                                       33            --
   Provision for losses on trade accounts
    receivable                                   1,388         1,680
   Deferred income taxes                          (724)          398
   Changes in post employment benefit
    obligations                                     55          (265)
   Cash received on licensee notes for
    operating activities                            34            20
   Changes in operating assets and
    liabilities (exclusive of assets
    acquired in a purchase transaction):
     Accounts receivable                        (7,853)       (5,431)
     Inventories                                 7,002        (4,816)
     Other current assets                       (3,574)        1,231
     Accounts payable and accrued liabilities    3,028        (1,774)
                                              --------      --------
    Net cash used in operating activities       (1,484)       (6,547)
                                              --------      --------
 Investing activities:
 Purchases of property and equipment              (844)       (2,284)
 Purchases of retail real estate                    --        (3,344)
 Proceeds from sales of property and
  equipment                                      1,069         1,694
 Proceeds from sales of investments             11,042        12,088
 Purchases of investments                       (6,987)       (7,636)
 Dividends from an affiliate                     2,811         2,811
 Proceeds from sale of certain assets of
  Weiman division                                   --         1,300
 Net cash received (paid) on licensee notes        699        (1,933)
 Other, net                                        (48)         (248)
                                              --------      --------
    Net cash provided by investing activities    7,742         2,448
                                              --------      --------
 Financing activities:
 Borrowings under revolving credit facility      1,000         8,000
 Repayments of long-term debt                     (770)         (201)
 Repayments of real estate notes payable          (334)         (247)
 Issuance of common stock                          348           397
 Repurchases of common stock                      (476)         (910)
 Cash dividends                                 (4,730)       (4,728)
                                              --------      --------
    Net cash provided by (used in) financing
     activities                                 (4,962)        2,311
                                              --------      --------

 Change in cash and cash equivalents             1,296        (1,788)

 Cash and cash equivalents - beginning of
  period                                         6,051         7,109
                                              --------      --------
 Cash and cash equivalents - end of period    $  7,347      $  5,321
                                              ========      ========

             BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
                              Segment Information
                                (In thousands)

                              13 Weeks Ended        26 Weeks Ended
                          --------------------  --------------------
                                     (Restated)            (Restated)
                            May 26,    May 27,    May 26,    May 27,
                             2007       2006       2007       2006
 Net Sales                --------------------  --------------------
 Wholesale                $  63,388  $  75,401  $ 125,734  $ 151,729
 Retail                      21,909     20,927     43,092     42,803
 Inter-company
  elimination                (9,865)    (8,665)   (19,974)   (20,380)
                          --------------------  --------------------
 Consolidated             $  75,432  $  87,663  $ 148,852  $ 174,152
                          ====================  ====================

 Operating Income (loss)
 Wholesale                $     377  $   3,443  $    (783) $   7,190
 Retail                      (2,749)    (2,587)    (5,125)    (4,709)
 Inter-company
  elimination                   260        214        283       (213)
 Restructuring and
  impaired asset charges     (1,935)        --     (5,544)        --
 Lease exit costs            (1,934)        --     (1,934)        --
                          --------------------  --------------------
 Consolidated             $  (5,981) $   1,070  $ (13,103) $   2,268
                          ====================  ====================

              BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                    Reconciliation of Net Income as Reported
                      to Net Income as Adjusted (Unaudited)
                    (In thousands, except for per share data)

                           26 Weeks               26 Weeks
                            Ended                   Ended
                            May 26,      Per       May 27,    Per
                             2007       Share       2006     Share
                         -----------------------------------------
 Net income (loss) as
  reported               $    (6,607) $ (0.56)  $    5,013  $ 0.42
 Restructuring &
  impaired asset charges,
  net of taxes (a)             3,382     0.29           --      --
 Lease exit costs, net
  of taxes (a)                 1,180     0.10           --      --
                         -----------------------------------------
 Net income (loss) as
  adjusted               $    (2,045) $ (0.17)  $    5,013  $ 0.42
                         =========================================

                           13 Weeks               13 Weeks
                            Ended                   Ended
                            May 26,      Per       May 27,    Per
                             2007       Share       2006     Share
                         -----------------------------------------

 Net income (loss) as
  reported               $ (2,420)    $ (0.20)  $    2,833  $ 0.24
 Restructuring &
  impaired asset charges,
  net of taxes (a)          1,180        0.10           --      --
 Lease exit costs, net
  of taxes (a)              1,180        0.10           --      --
                         -----------------------------------------
 Net income (loss) as
  adjusted               $    (60)    $    --   $    2,833  $ 0.24
                         =========================================

 (a)  Adjustments are net of income taxes at a 39% effective tax rate

The Company has included the "as adjusted" information because it uses, and believes that others may use, such information in comparing the Company's operating results from period to period. However, the items excluded in determining the "as adjusted" information are significant components in understanding and assessing the Company's overall financial performance for the periods covered.

Restatement of Financial Statements

As more fully discussed in our 2006 Form 10-K, the fiscal 2006 quarterly financial information was restated based on our review of the accounting treatment associated with our acquisition of three retail licensee operations in fiscal 2005 and the classification of certain notes receivable activity in the statement of cash flows. The effects of those restatements on the financial statements for the quarter and six months ended May 27, 2006 included herein are summarized below:



                                          Increase (Decrease)
                                 -----------------------------------
                                 Quarter Ended      Six Months Ended
                                  May 27, 2006        May 27, 2006
                                 -------------       -------------
 Gross profit                    $        (212)      $        (549)
 Operating income                          (85)               (302)
 Net income                                (52)               (182)

 Cash flow from operations       $          --       $       1,933
 Cash flow from investing
  activities                                --              (1,933)

(BSET-E)

This news release was distributed by PrimeNewswire, www.primenewswire.com

SOURCE: Bassett Furniture

Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc.
          Investors
          Barry C. Safrit, S.V.P., CFO 
            (276) 629-6757 
          Media
          Jay S. Moore, Dir., Public Relations
            (336) 389-5513

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