CURRENT REPORT

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20599

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT PURSUANT

TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)     September 25, 2003

 


 

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

VIRGINIA   0-209   54-0135270

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

  (Comission File No.)  

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

3525 FAIRYSTONE PARK

HIGHWAY BASSETT, VIRGINIA

  24055
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code 276/629-6000

 


 

Item 12.   Results of Operations and Financial Condition

 

On September 25, 2003, Bassett Furniture Industries issued a news release relating to, among other things, the financial results for the third quarter of fiscal year 2003. A copy of the news release announcing this information is attached to this report as Exhibit 99.

 



Signatures

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

       

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED

                 

Date:

 

September 25, 2002

     

By:

 

/s/    BARRY C. SAFRIT


                Barry C. Safrit
           

Title:

  Vice President, Chief Financial Officer


EXHIBIT INDEX

 

The exhibit listed in this index is being furnished pursuant to Item 12 of Form 8-K and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or incorporated by reference into any document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

 

Exhibit No.

  

Description


99    News release issued by Bassett Furniture Industries on September 25, 2003.

 

EXHIBIT 99

Exhibit 99

 

Bassett®

 

Bassett Furniture Industries, Inc.

P.O. Box 626

Bassett, VA 24055

     

Barry C. Safrit, V.P., CFO

(276) 629-6757 – Investors

(276) 629-6332 – Fax

        Jay S. Moore, Dir. of

Communications

For Immediate Release

     

 

(276) 629-6450 – Media

(276) 629-6418 – Fax

 

Bassett Furniture News Release

Bassett Announces Third Quarter 2003 Earnings

 

(Bassett, Va.) – September 25, 2003 – Bassett Furniture Industries Inc. announced today the financial results for its third fiscal quarter ended August 30, 2003 and year-to-date results.

 

Sales for the third quarter of 2003 were $74.4 million, down 5.0% from third quarter 2002 levels. While industry wide soft retail conditions in June and July were a factor, the previously disclosed sales decrease with JCPenney amounted to the majority of the year-over-year shortfall.

 

The Company reported net income for the quarter of $1.6 million or $.13 per diluted share compared to a net loss of $.7 million or ($.06) per diluted share for the third quarter of 2002. Net income on a year-to-date basis for 2003 was $1.4 million or $.12 per share including a previously announced $3.2 million charge related to closing its Dublin, Ga., facility in the first quarter as compared to net income on a year-to-date basis in 2002 of $5.1 million or $.43 per share including a previously announced $1.3 million charge related to its California upholstery plant.

 

During the year, the Company has generated approximately $13.6 million of positive operating cash flow as inventory levels decreased by over $6 million and the Company received income tax refunds. These monies were used to fund capital spending, fund BFD expansion, and repay all of its outstanding debt. Bassett has repurchased 89,278 of its shares at a cost of $1.2 million during the first nine months of 2003 and has $10 million remaining on its share repurchase program as of the end of the quarter.

 

“Business appears to be improving slightly,” said Robert H. Spilman Jr., president and chief executive officer. “We were pleased with the Labor Day performance of our retail network. We were also again pleased with the operating cash flow we generated during the quarter and our investment results. Our focus continues to be on opening new stores, introducing exciting products, and improving the earnings in our wood division. We are encouraged by the number of prospects we have who want to own and operate Bassett stores. We remain committed to our goal of 150 BFDs by the end of 2005.”

 

Sales for the first nine months of the year were $219.2 million compared to $244.1 million for the nine months of 2002. This decline was indicative of economic conditions, the JCPenney sales decrease and an extra week included in the first nine months of fiscal 2002 (40 weeks vs. 39 weeks).

 

The Bassett Furniture Direct retail store program continues to grow with 96 stores currently in operation. Licensees opened five additional stores in the third quarter making a total of 14 stores opened in fiscal 2003.


The Company expects licensees to open four to six stores in the fourth quarter for a total of 18—20 new stores in fiscal 2003. Sales to BFD stores were 45% of total Company sales in 2002 and are planned to be approximately 55% of total Bassett sales in 2003.

 

The Company reported a modest operating income for the quarter which was reflective of the sales environment and transition costs associated with consolidating products from one wood manufacturing facility into its Bassett, Va., facility as previously announced. Wood division sales decreased 10% as compared to the previous year quarter with relatively flat gross margins as compared to the prior year quarter. Upholstery division gross margin for the quarter improved by 2.1 points over the gross margin from the previous year quarter despite a 6% sales volume decrease. Import division sales increased by approximately 16% with continued solid profit margins in this segment.

 

Other Income improved from a loss of $0.9 million in the third quarter of 2002 to income of $1.3 million for the third quarter of 2003 and improved from income of $1.8 million on a year-to-date basis in 2002 to income of $3.8 million on a year-to-date basis for 2003, due to better investment results from the Company’s Alternative Asset Fund.

 

Also in Other Income, Bassett continued to record losses from its investment in LRG Furniture, LLC (LRG). These losses were primarily due to lower than expected sales in relation to LRG’s cost structure. The retail economy in Texas has been even softer than most other parts of the country. Remaining committed to the success of LRG, Bassett has reached an agreement in principle with the other members of LRG to recapitalize LRG’s balance sheet and restructure its operations. As part of this agreement and new structure, the Company will gain operating control of LRG and the ability to further reduce LRG’s cost structure in order to improve its financial results. This agreement is expected to be finalized in the fourth quarter.

 

As part of the recapitalization, the Company will convert certain notes receivable into an additional 29% ownership interest in LRG and obtain a level of control of the entity reflective of this additional ownership percentage. After gaining control of LRG, the Company will no longer account for its LRG investment using the equity method but will consolidate LRG’s results and financial position into its consolidated results and financial position beginning in the fourth quarter. As previously disclosed, the Company plans to adopt FASB Interpretation No. 46 “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, and Interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB) No. 51” (FIN 46). Adoption of FIN 46 will result in a non-cash one-time charge of approximately $4.4 million after tax in the fourth quarter. The Company has not finalized the complex analysis required by FIN 46 for any affiliated entity other than LRG, and therefore has not determined whether any other affiliated entity will need to be consolidated based on this Interpretation. Since January 31, 2003, the Company has not become involved with any entities determined to be variable interest entities.

 

The Company’s effective income tax rate on both a quarter-to-date and year-to-date basis for 2003 are significantly lower than the statutory federal tax rate due principally to dividends received deductions from the Company’s investment in the International Home Furnishings Center, which owns and leases showroom floor space in High Point, NC.

 

The Company’s Board of Directors on Tuesday declared a regular quarterly dividend of $.20 per share payable on December 1, 2003, to shareholders of record on November 14, 2003.

 

Bassett Furniture Industries Inc., based in Bassett, Va., is one of the world’s leading manufacturers and marketers of branded home furnishings. Bassett’s products, designed to provide quality, style and value, are sold through Bassett Furniture Direct stores, At Home with Bassett®, and other furniture and department stores. The Company’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ market under the symbol BSET. More information about Bassett is available on the Company’s Internet site at www.bassettfurniture.com.


Certain of the statements in the immediately preceding paragraphs, 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 third quarter of fiscal year 2003, 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 those results to differ materially from those expressed 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 conditions and future events on the retail demand for home furnishings.

 

###


BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) – Unaudited

(Stated in thousands of dollars except for per share data)

 

     13 Weeks Ended
August 30, 2003


    13 Weeks Ended
August 31, 2002


 
     Amount

    Percent of
Net Sales


    Amount

    Percent of
Net Sales


 

Net sales

   $ 74,434     100.0 %   $ 78,367     100.0 %

Cost of sales

     58,797     79.0 %     61,783     78.8 %
    


 

 


 

Gross profit

     15,637     21.0 %     16,584     21.2 %

Selling, general and administrative

     15,037     20.2 %     15,472     19.7 %

Restructuring and impaired fixed asset charges

     —       0.0 %     1,251     1.6 %
    


 

 


 

       15,037     20.2 %     16,723     21.3 %

Income (loss) from operations

     600     0.8 %     (139 )   -0.2 %

Other income (expense), net

     1,289     1.7 %     (948 )   -1.2 %
    


 

 


 

Income (loss) before income taxes

     1,889     2.5 %     (1,087 )   -1.4 %

Income tax (provision) benefit

     (332 )   -0.4 %     369     0.5 %
    


 

 


 

Net income (loss)

   $ 1,557     2.1 %   $ (718 )   -0.9 %
    


 

 


 

Basic earnings (loss) per share:

   $ 0.13           $ (0.06 )      
    


       


     

Diluted earnings (loss) per share:

   $ 0.13           $ (0.06 )      
    


       


     


BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) - Unaudited

(Stated in thousands of dollars except for per share data)

 

    

39 Weeks Ended

August 30, 2003


   

40 Weeks Ended

August 31, 2002


 
     Amount

    Percent of
Net Sales


    Amount

    Percent of
Net Sales


 

Net sales

   $ 219,245     100.0 %   $ 244,059     100.0 %

Cost of sales

     172,639     78.7 %     192,298     78.8 %
    


 

 


 

Gross profit

     46,606     21.3 %     51,761     21.2 %
    


 

 


 

Selling, general and administrative

     45,757     20.9 %     45,020     18.4 %

Restructuring and impaired fixed asset charges

     3,200     1.5 %     1,251     0.5 %
    


 

 


 

       48,957     22.3 %     46,271     19.0 %
    


 

 


 

Income (loss) from operations

     (2,351 )   -1.1 %     5,490     2.2 %

Other income, net

     3,772     1.7 %     1,817     0.7 %
    


 

 


 

Income before income taxes

     1,421     0.6 %     7,307     3.0 %

Income tax provision

     (1 )   0.0 %     (2,233 )   -0.9 %
    


 

 


 

Net income

   $ 1,420     0.6 %   $ 5,074     2.1 %
    


 

 


 

Basic earnings per share:

   $ 0.12           $ 0.43        
    


       


     

Diluted earnings per share:

   $ 0.12           $ 0.43        
    


       


     


BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Stated in thousands of dollars except for per share data)

 

     (Unaudited)     
     August 30, 2003

   November 30, 2002

ASSETS

             

Current assets

             

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 9,751    $ 1,371

Accounts receivable,net

     47,055      44,806

Inventories

     37,263      43,449

Refundable income taxes

     —        2,924

Deferred income taxes

     3,600      3,600

Net assets held for sale

     2,244      4,394

Other current assets

     3,238      6,816
    

  

       103,151      107,360
    

  

Property and equipment, net

     82,645      86,148
    

  

Other assets

             

Investments

     62,671      63,248

Investment in unconsolidated affiliated companies

     4,419      4,383

Deferred income taxes

     2,517      3,454

Notes receivable, net

     15,949      18,761

Other, net

     8,319      7,526
    

  

       93,875      97,372
    

  

Total assets

   $ 279,671    $ 290,880
    

  

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

             

Current liabilities

             

Accounts payable

   $ 13,418    $ 17,738

Accrued liabilities

     17,474      16,406
    

  

Total current liabilities

     30,892      34,144
    

  

Long-term liabilities

             

Employee benefits

     9,983      10,152

Long-term debt

     —        3,000

Distributions in excess of affiliate earnings

     15,089      13,941
    

  

       25,072      27,093
    

  

Stockholders’ equity

             

Common stock, par value $5 a share, 50,000,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding – 11,589,691 in 2003 and 11,660,587 in 2002

     57,948      58,303

Retained earnings

     163,604      169,789

Accumulated other comprehensive income – unrealized holding gains, net of tax

     2,155      1,551
    

  

Total stockholders’ equity

     223,707      229,643
    

  

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 279,671    $ 290,880
    

  


BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows – Unaudited

(Stated in thousands of dollars)

 

     39 Weeks Ended
August 30, 2003


    40 Weeks Ended
August 31, 2002


 

Operating Activities

                

Net income

   $ 1,420     $ 5,074  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

                

Depreciation and amortization

     7,732       7,686  

Equity in undistributed income of investments

     (5,998 )     (3,823 )

Provision for write-down of property and equipment

     1,530       —    

Provision for write-down of notes receivable

     1,500       —    

Net gain from sales of investment securities

     (14 )     (707 )

Net gain from sales of property and equipment

     (154 )     —    

Compensation earned under restricted stock and stock option plans

     —         146  

Deferred income taxes

     1       2,117  

Changes in employee benefit liabilities

     (169 )     (172 )

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, exclusive of assets and liabilities acquired in a business combination:

                

Trade accounts receivable

     (2,249 )     3,335  

Inventories

     6,186       (2,020 )

Refundable income taxes

     3,536       —    

Other current assets

     3,578       4,067  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     (3,252 )     (3,291 )
    


 


Net cash provided by operating activities

     13,647       12,412  
    


 


Investing Activities

                

Purchases of property and equipment

     (4,497 )     (7,088 )

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

     477       —    

Proceeds from sales of investment securities

     17,000       8,623  

Dividends from investments

     5,154       1,393  

Purchases of investment securities

     (12,000 )     —    

Investments in unconsolidated affiliated companies

     —         (2,118 )

Other, net

     (441 )     1,451  
    


 


Net cash provided by investing activities

     5,693       2,261  
    


 


Financing Activities

                

Repayments under revolving credit arrangement, net

     (3,000 )     (8,671 )

Issuance of common stock, net

     178       321  

Repurchases of common stock

     (1,191 )     (428 )

Cash dividends

     (6,947 )     (7,030 )
    


 


Net cash used in financing activities

     (10,960 )     (15,808 )
    


 


Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     8,380       (1,135 )
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     1,371       5,347  
    


 


Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 9,751     $ 4,212