Burlington Stores, Inc. 10-K

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Sto ckholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities Market Information Our common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “BURL.” Holders As of February 25, 2023, we had six holders of record of our common stock. This figure does not include the significantly greater number of beneficial holders of our common stock. Dividends We have not declared, and do not anticipate declaring in the near term, dividends on shares of our common stock. We currently do, and intend to continue to, retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund all of the Company's capital expenditures, business initiatives, and to support any potential opportunistic capital structure initiatives. Any determination to pay dividends in the future will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend upon results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions, including those under agreements governing our existing indebtedness, or any potential future indebtedness we may incur, restrictions imposed by applicable law, capital requirements and other factors our Board of Directors deems relevant. In addition, since we are a holding company, substantially all of the assets shown on our consolidated balance sheets are held by our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our earnings, cash flow and ability to pay dividends are largely dependent upon the earnings and cash flows of our subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment of such earnings to us in the form of dividends. Stock Performance Graph The performance graph below and related information shall not be deemed “soliciting material” or to be “filed” with the SEC for purposes of Section 18 of the Exchange Act, or otherwise subject to the liabilities under that Section, and shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference into any future filing under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filing. The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on our common stock from the closing prices as of the end of each fiscal year from February 3, 2018 through January 28, 2023, with the return on the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Index, the Dow Jones United States Apparel Retailers Index, and the S&P Retailing Index over the same period. Beginning with Fiscal 2022, we added the Dow Jones United States Apparel Retailers Index due to the similarities of the companies in that index with our line of business, and we will no longer provide a comparison to the S&P Retailing Index in future years. This graph assumes an initial 22 investment of $100 and assumes the reinvestment of dividends, if any. Such returns are based on historical results and are not intended to suggest future performance. Base Period Indexed Returns for Fiscal Years Ended Company / Index February 3, 2018 February 2, 2019 February 1, 2020 January 30, 2021 January 29, 2022 January 28, 2023 Burlington Stores, Inc. $ 100.00 $ 148.48 $ 187.88 $ 215.03 $ 198.95 $ 195.58 S&P 500 Index $ 100.00 $ 97.99 $ 116.78 $ 134.47 $ 160.45 $ 147.37 Dow Jones U.S. Apparel Retailers Index $ 100.00 $ 108.40 $ 120.16 $ 127.64 $ 137.91 $ 149.71 S&P Retailing Index $ 100.00 $ 107.35 $ 128.30 $ 180.26 $ 189.76 $ 155.80 23 Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers The following table provides information regarding our purchases of common stock during the three fiscal months ended January 28, 2023: Month Total Number of Shares Purchased(1) Average Price Paid Per Share(2) Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs(3) Approximate Dollar Value of Shares That May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (in thousands) October 30, 2022 through November 26, 2022 68,023 $ 143.91 68,007 $ 388,985 November 27, 2022 through December 31, 2022 161,768 $ 195.99 161,561 $ 357,321 January 1, 2023 through January 28, 2023 45,461 $ 219.85 45,461 $ 347,326 Total 275,252 275,029 (1) The number of shares purchased between October 30, 2022 and November 26, 2022, and between November 27, 2022 and December 31, 2022 include 16 shares and 207 shares, respectively, which were withheld for tax payments due upon the vesting of employee restricted stock awards, and do not reduce the dollar value that may yet be purchased under our share repurchase program. There were no shares withheld for tax payments between January 1, 2023 and January 28, 2023. (2) Includes commissions for the shares repurchased under our publicly announced share repurchase programs. (3) On February 16, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of $500.0 million of common stock, which is authorized to be executed through February 2024. As of January 28, 2023, we had $347.3 million remaining under our share repurchase authorization. For a further discussion of our share repurchase program, see “Part II, Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Share Repurchase Program.” Item 6. R e served 24 Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations The following discussion summarizes the significant factors affecting our consolidated operating results, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows as of and for the periods presented below. The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements, including the notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report. In addition to historical information, this discussion and analysis contains forward-looking statements based on current expectations that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as our plans, objectives, expectations and intentions as further described under the caption above entitled “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Our actual results or other events and the timing of events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those set forth in Item 1A, Risk Factors and elsewhere in this Annual Report. General We are a nationally recognized off-price retailer of high-quality, branded merchandise at everyday low prices. We opened our first store in Burlington, New Jersey in 1972, selling primarily coats and outerwear. Since then, we have expanded our store base to 927 stores as of January 28, 2023 in 46 states and Puerto Rico. We have diversified our product categories by offering an extensive selection of in-season, fashion-focused merchandise at up to 60% off other retailers’ prices, including: women’s ready-to-wear apparel, menswear, youth apparel, baby, beauty, footwear, accessories, home, toys, gifts and coats. We sell a broad selection of desirable, first-quality, current-brand, labeled merchandise acquired directly from nationally-recognized manufacturers and other suppliers. Executive Summary Store Openings, Closings and Relocations During Fiscal 2022, we opened 113 new stores, inclusive of 22 relocations, and closed four stores, exclusive of the aforementioned relocations, bringing our store count as of January 28, 2023 to 927 stores. We continue to pursue our growth plans and invest in capital projects that meet our financial requirements. During the fiscal year ending February 3, 2024 (Fiscal 2023), we plan to open approximately 70-80 net new stores, which includes approximately 90-100 gross new stores. COVID-19 Results for Fiscal 2020 were significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. All our stores were temporarily closed for a portion of Fiscal 2020, resulting in a sales decline and higher inventory markdowns. These store closures did not repeat in Fiscal 2021 or Fiscal 2022. However, certain lingering economic effects of the pandemic did continue to impact results, including supply chain disruptions. Ongoing Initiatives for Fiscal 2023 We continue to focus on a number of ongoing initiatives aimed at increasing our overall profitability. These initiatives include, but are not limited to: • Driving Comparable Store Sales Growth. We strive to increase comparable store sales through the following initiatives: • More Effectively Chasing the Sales Trend. We plan sales using conservative comparable store sales growth, holding and controlling liquidity, closely analyzing the sales trend by business, and remaining ready to chase that trend. We believe that these actions will also allow us to take more advantage of great opportunistic buys. • Operating with Leaner Inventories. We are planning to carry less inventory in our stores going forward compared to historical levels, which we believe should result in the customer finding a higher mix of fresh receipts and great merchandise values. We believe that this should drive faster turns and lower markdowns, while simultaneously improving our customers’ shopping experience. • Investment in Merchandising Capabilities. We plan to continue investing in training and coaching, improved tools and reporting, incremental headcount, especially in growing or under-developed businesses, and other forms of 25 merchant support. We believe that these investments should improve our ability to strengthen vendor relationships, source great merchandise buys, more accurately assess value, and better forecast and chase the sales trend. • Enhancing Existing Categories and Introducing New Categories. We have opportunities to expand our offerings in certain existing categories, such as ladies’ apparel, bath and cosmetic merchandise, housewares, and décor for the home, and maintain the flexibility to introduce new categories as we expand our merchandising capabilities. • Expanding and Enhancing Our Retail Store Base. We intend to expand and enhance our retail store base through the following initiatives: • Adhering to a Market Focused and Financially Disciplined Real Estate Strategy. We have grown our store base consistently since our founding in 1972, developing more than 99% of our stores organically. We believe there is significant opportunity to expand our retail store base in the United States. As a result of our smaller store prototype, we have identified numerous market opportunities that we believe will allow us to operate 2,000 stores over the long term. • Maintaining Focus on Unit Economics and Returns. We have adopted a market focused approach to new store openings in more productive retail locations, with a specific focus on maximizing sales while achieving attractive unit economics and returns. Additionally, as we continue to execute our smaller store prototype, we believe we can reduce occupancy and operating expenses. • Enhancing the Store Experience. We continue to invest in select store relocations and downsizes to improve the customer experience, taking into consideration the age, size, sales, and location of a store. Relocations provide an opportunity, upon lease expirations, to right-size our stores, improve our competitive positioning, incorporate our new prototype store designs and reduce occupancy costs. Downsizes provide an opportunity to right-size our stores, within our existing space, improve co-tenancy, incorporate our new store designs and reduce occupancy costs. • Enhancing Operating Margins. We intend to increase our operating margins through the following initiatives: • Improving Operational Flexibility. Our store and supply chain teams must continue to respond to the challenge of becoming more responsive to the sales chase, enhancing their ability at flexing up and down based on trends. Their ability to appropriately flex based on the ongoing trends allows us to maximize leverage on sales. • Optimizing Markdowns. We believe that our markdown system allows us to maximize sales and gross margin dollars based on forward-looking sales forecasts, sell-through targets and exit dates. Additionally, as we plan to carry less inventory in our stores compared to historical levels, we expect to drive faster turns, which in turn should reduce the amount of markdowns taken. • Enhancing Purchasing Power. We believe that increasing our store footprint and expanding our east and west coast buying offices provides us with the opportunity to capture incremental buying opportunities and realize economies of scale in our merchandising and non-merchandising purchasing activities. • Challenging Expenses to Drive Operating Leverage. We believe that we will be able to leverage our growing sales over the fixed costs of our business. In addition, by more conservatively planning our comparable store sales growth, we are forcing even tighter expense control throughout all areas of our business. We believe that this should put us in a strong position to drive operating leverage on any sales ahead of the plan. Additionally, we plan to continue challenging the processes and operating norms throughout the organization with the belief that this will lead to incremental efficiency improvements and savings. Uncertainties and Challenges As we strive to increase profitability, there are uncertainties and challenges that we face that could have a material impact on our revenues or income. General Economic Conditions. Consumer spending habits, including spending for the merchandise that we sell, are affected by, among other things, prevailing global economic conditions, inflation, including the costs of basic necessities and other goods, levels of employment, salaries and wage rates, prevailing interest rates, housing costs, energy costs, commodities pricing, income tax rates and policies, consumer confidence and consumer perception of economic conditions. In addition, consumer purchasing patterns may be influenced by consumers’ disposable income, credit availability and debt levels. 26 A broad, protracted slowdown in the U.S. economy, an extended period of high unemployment rates, inflation rates, an uncertain global economic outlook or a credit crisis could adversely affect consumer spending habits resulting in lower net sales and profits than expected on a quarterly or annual basis. Consumer confidence is also affected by the domestic and international political situation. Our financial condition and operations could be impacted by changes in government regulations in areas including, but not limited to, taxes and healthcare. Ongoing international trade and tariff negotiations could have a direct impact on our income and an indirect impact on consumer prices. The outbreak or escalation of war, or the occurrence of terrorist acts or other hostilities in or affecting the U.S., or public health issues such as pandemics or epidemics, including the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, could lead to a decrease in spending by consumers. In addition, natural disasters, public health issues, industrial accidents and acts of war in various parts of the world, such as the current war in Ukraine, could have the effect of disrupting supplies and raising prices globally which, in turn, may have adverse effects on the world and U.S. economies and lead to a downturn in consumer confidence and spending. We closely monitor our net sales, gross margin and expenses. We have performed scenario planning such that if our net sales decline for an extended period of time, we have identified variable costs that could be reduced to partially mitigate the impact of these declines. If we were to experience adverse economic trends and/or if our efforts to counteract the impacts of these trends are not sufficiently effective, there could be a negative impact on our financial performance and position in future fiscal periods. Seasonality of Sales and Weather Conditions . Our business, like that of most retailers, is subject to seasonal influences. In the second half of the year, which includes the back-to-school and holiday seasons, we generally realize a higher level of sales and net income. Weather continues to be a contributing factor to the sale of our merchandise. Generally, our sales are higher if the weather is cold during the Fall and warm during the early Spring. Sales of cold weather clothing are increased by early cold weather during the Fall, while sales of warm weather clothing are improved by early warm weather conditions in the Spring. Although we have diversified our product offerings, we believe traffic to our stores is still driven, in part, by weather patterns. Competition and Margin Pressure. We believe that in order to remain competitive with retailers, including off-price retailers and discount stores, we must continue to offer brand-name merchandise at a discount to prices offered by other retailers as well as an assortment of merchandise that is appealing to our customers. The U.S. retail apparel and home furnishings markets are highly fragmented and competitive. We compete for business with department stores, off-price retailers, internet retailers, specialty stores, discount stores, wholesale clubs, and outlet stores as well as with certain traditional, full-price retail chains that have developed off-price concepts. At various times throughout the year, traditional full-price department store chains and specialty shops offer brand-name merchandise at substantial markdowns, which can result in prices approximating those offered by us at our Burlington Stores. Recently, an overhang of inventory across the retail industry has driven a surge in promotional activity at other retailers. We anticipate that competition will increase in the future. Therefore, we will continue to look for ways to differentiate our stores from those of our competitors. The U.S. retail industry continues to face increased pressure on margins as overall challenging retail conditions have led consumers to be more value conscious. Additionally, lower-to-moderate income shoppers continue to face economic pressure due to higher cost of living. Our strategy to chase the sales trend allows us the flexibility to purchase less pre-season merchandise with the balance purchased in-season and opportunistically. It also provides us with the flexibility to shift purchases between suppliers and categories. This enables us to obtain better terms with our suppliers, which we expect to help offset any rising costs of goods. Industry-wide supply chain issues led to increased freight and labor costs during Fiscal 2021 and continued to add pressure on margins in Fiscal 2022. These costs significantly impacted results in Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2022, and there remains significant uncertainty around when and if freight costs will return to pre-pandemic levels. We have also experienced inflationary pressure in our supply chain and with respect to raw materials and finished goods, as well as in occupancy and other operating costs. There can be no assurance that we will be able to offset inflationary pressure in the future by increasing prices or through other means, or that our business will not be negatively affected by continued inflation in the future. Key Performance and Non-GAAP Measures We consider numerous factors in assessing our performance. Key performance and non-GAAP measures used by management include net income (loss), Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBIT, comparable store sales, gross margin, inventory, store payroll and liquidity. 27 Net income (loss) . We earned net income of $230.1 million during Fiscal 2022 compared with of $408.8 million during Fiscal 2021. This decrease was primarily driven by lower sales, as well as decreased gross margin rate, partially offset by decreased loss on debt extinguishment charges. Refer to the section below entitled “Results of Operations” for further explanation. Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBIT : Adjusted Net Income (Loss), Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBIT are non-GAAP financial measures of our performance. We define Adjusted Net Income (Loss) as net income (loss), exclusive of the following items, if applicable: (i) net favorable lease costs; (ii) costs related to debt issuances and amendments; (iii) loss on extinguishment of debt; (iv) impairment charges; (v) amounts related to certain litigation matters; (vi) non-cash interest on the 2.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2025 (Convertible Notes); (vii) costs related to closing the e-commerce store; and (viii) other unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses, charges or gains, all of which are tax effected to arrive at Adjusted Net Income (Loss). We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income (loss), exclusive of the following items, if applicable: (i) interest expense; (ii) interest income; (iii) loss on extinguishment of debt; (iv) income tax expense (benefit); (v) depreciation and amortization; (vi) impairment charges; (vii) costs related to debt issuances and amendments; (viii) amounts related to certain litigation matters; (ix) costs related to closing the e-commerce store; and (x) other unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses, charges or gains We define Adjusted EBIT as net income (loss), exclusive of the following items, if applicable: (i) interest expense; (ii) interest income; (iii) loss on extinguishment of debt; (iv) income tax expense(benefit); (v) impairment charges; (vi) net favorable lease costs; (vii) costs related to debt issuances and amendments; (viii) amounts related to certain litigation matters; (ix) costs related to closing the e-commerce store; and (x) other unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses, charges or gains. We present Adjusted Net Income (loss), Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBIT, because we believe they are useful supplemental measures in evaluating the performance of our business and provide greater transparency into our results of operations. In particular, we believe that excluding certain items that may vary substantially in frequency and magnitude from what we consider to be our core operating results are useful supplemental measures that assist investors and management in evaluating our ability to generate earnings and leverage sales, and to more readily compare core operating results between past and future periods. Adjusted Net Income (Loss) has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered either in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss) or other data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Among other limitations, Adjusted Net Income (Loss) does not reflect the following items, net of their tax effect: • net favorable lease costs; • costs related to debt issuances and amendments; • losses on extinguishment of debt; • amounts charged for certain litigation matters; • non-cash interest expense related to original issue discount on the Convertible Notes; • impairment charges on long-lived assets; • costs related to closing the e-commerce store; and • other unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses, charges or gains. During Fiscal 2022, Adjusted Net Income (Loss) decreased $292.4 million to $280.8 million. This decrease was primarily driven by lower sales, as well as decreased gross margin rate. Refer to the section below entitled “Results of Operations” for further explanation. 28 The following table shows our reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted Net Income (Loss) for Fiscal 2022, Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020: (unaudited) (in t housands) Fiscal Year Ended January 28, January 29, January 30, 2023 2022 2021 Reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted Net Income (Loss): Net income (loss) $ 230,123 $ 408,839 $ (216,499 ) Net favorable lease costs (a) 18,591 21,914 24,078 Non-cash interest expense on convertible notes (b) — — 23,988 Costs related to debt issuances and amendments (c) — 3,419 3,633 Loss on extinguishment of debt (d) 14,657 156,020 202 Impairment charges - long-lived assets 21,402 7,748 6,012 Litigation matters (e) 10,500 — 22,788 E-commerce closure (f) — — 1,549 Tax effect (g) (14,503 ) (24,741 ) (35,273 ) Adjusted Net Income (Loss) $ 280,770 $ 573,199 $ (169,522 ) (a) Net favorable lease costs represent the non-cash expense associated with favorable and unfavorable leases that were recorded as a result of purchase accounting related to the April 13, 2006 Bain Capital acquisition of Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation (the Merger Transaction). These expenses are recorded in the line item “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) (b) Represents non-cash accretion of original issue discount on the Convertible Notes. The original issue discount was eliminated as of the beginning of Fiscal 2021, as a result of adopting Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2020-06, “Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity” (ASU 2020-06). (c) Represents costs incurred in connection with the review and execution of refinancing opportunities, as well as the issuance of the $300.0 million 6.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (Secured Notes) and the Convertible Notes. (d) Relates to the partial repurchases of the Convertible Notes, the redemption of the Secured Notes, as well as the refinancing of the Term Loan Facility. (e) Represents amounts charged for certain litigation matters. (f) Represents costs related to the closure of our e-commerce store. (g) Tax effect is calculated based on the effective tax rates (before discrete items) for the respective periods, adjusted for the tax effect for the impact of items (a) through (f). The effective tax rate during Fiscal 2020 includes the benefit of loss carrybacks to prior years with higher statutory tax rates. Adjusted EBITDA has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered either in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss) or other data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Among other limitations, Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect: • net interest expense; • losses on the extinguishment of debt; • costs related to debt issuances and amendments; • cash requirements for replacement of assets. Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will likely have to be replaced in the future; • amounts charged for certain litigation matters; • impairment charges on long-lived assets; • costs related to closing the e-commerce store; • income tax expense (benefit); and • other unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses, charges or gains. During Fiscal 2022, Adjusted EBITDA decreased $350.2 million to $700.7 million. This decrease was primarily driven by lower sales, as well as decreased gross margin rate. Refer to the section below entitled “Results of Operations” for further explanation. 29 The following table shows our reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA for Fiscal 2022, Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020: (unaudited) (in thousands) Fiscal Year Ended January 28, January 29, January 30, 2023 2022 2021 Reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA: Net income (loss) $ 230,123 $ 408,839 $ (216,499 ) Interest expense 66,474 67,502 97,767 Interest income (8,799 ) (189 ) (1,253 ) Loss on extinguishment of debt (a) 14,657 156,020 202 Costs related to debt issuances and amendments (b) — 3,419 3,633 Litigation matters (c) 10,500 — 22,788 E-commerce closure (d) — — 1,549 Depreciation and amortization (e) 288,990 271,132 244,273 Impairment charges - long-lived assets 21,402 7,748 6,012 Income tax expense (benefit) 77,386 136,459 (221,124 ) Adjusted EBITDA $ 700,733 $ 1,050,930 $ (62,652 ) (a) Relates to the partial repurchases of the Convertible Notes, the redemption of the Secured Notes, as well as the refinancing of the Term Loan Facility. (b) Represents costs incurred in connection with the review and execution of refinancing opportunities, as well as the issuance of the Secured Notes and the Convertible Notes. (c) Represents amounts charged for certain litigation matters. (d) Represents costs related to the closure of our e-commerce store. (e) Includes $18.6 million, $21.9 million, and $23.9 million of favorable lease costs included in the line item “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) for Fiscal 2022, Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020, respectively. Net favorable lease cost represents the non-cash expense associated with favorable and unfavorable leases that were recorded as a result of the Merger Transaction. Adjusted EBIT has limitations as an analytical tool, and should not be considered either in isolation or as a substitute for net income (loss) or other data prepared in accordance with GAAP. Among other limitations, Adjusted EBIT does not reflect: • net interest expense; • losses on the extinguishment of debt; • costs related to debt issuances and amendments; • net favorable lease cost; • amounts charged for certain litigation matters; • impairment charges on long-lived assets; • costs related to closing the e-commerce store; • income tax expense (benefit); and • other unusual, non-recurring or extraordinary expenses, losses, charges or gains. During Fiscal 2022, Adjusted EBIT decreased $371.4 million to $430.3 million. This decrease was primarily driven by lower sales, as well as decreased gross margin rate. Refer to the section below entitled “Results of Operations” for further explanation. 30 The following table shows our reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBIT for Fiscal 2022, Fiscal 2021 and Fiscal 2020: (unaudited) (in thousands) Fiscal Year Ended January 28, January 29, January 30, 2023 2022 2021 Reconciliation of net income (loss) to Adjusted EBIT: Net income (loss) $ 230,123 $ 408,839 $ (216,499 ) Interest expense 66,474 67,502 97,767 Interest income (8,799 ) (189 ) (1,253 ) Loss on extinguishment of debt (a) 14,657 156,020 202 Costs related to debt issuances and amendments (b) — 3,419 3,633 Net favorable lease costs (c) 18,591 21,914 24,078 Impairment charges - long-lived assets 21,402 7,748 6,012 Litigation matters (d) 10,500 — 22,788 E-commerce closure (e) — — 1,549 Income tax expense (benefit) 77,386 136,459 (221,124 ) Adjusted EBIT $ 430,334 $ 801,712 $ (282,847 ) (a) Relates to the partial repurchases of the Convertible Notes, the redemption of the Secured Notes, as well as the refinancing of the Term Loan Facility. (b) Represents costs incurred in connection with the review and execution of refinancing opportunities, as well as the issuance of the Secured Notes and the Convertible Notes. (c) Net favorable lease costs represent the non-cash expense associated with favorable and unfavorable leases that were recorded as a result of the Merger Transaction. These expenses are recorded in the line item “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). (d) Represents amounts charged for certain litigation matters. (e) Represents costs related to the closure of our e-commerce store. Comparable Store Sales . Comparable store sales measure performance of a store during the current reporting period against the performance of the same store in the corresponding period of a prior year. Comparable store sales were not meaningful for Fiscal 2020 due to the extended store closures resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Fiscal 2020, we are using Fiscal 2019 as the comparable previous year period when calculating comparable store sales for Fiscal 2021. The method of calculating comparable store sales varies across the retail industry. As a result, our definition of comparable store sales may differ from other retailers. For Fiscal 2022, we define comparable store sales as merchandise sales of those stores commencing on the first day of the fiscal month one year after the end of their grand opening activities, which normally conclude within the first two months of operations. If a store is closed for seven or more days during a month, our policy is to remove that store from our calculation of comparable store sales for any such month, as well as during the month(s) of their grand re-opening activities. The change in our comparable store sales was as follows: Fiscal Year Ended January 28, 2023 -13% January 29, 2022 15% Various factors affect comparable store sales, including, but not limited to, weather conditions, current economic conditions, the timing of our releases of new merchandise and promotional events, the general retail sales environment, consumer preferences and buying trends, changes in sales mix among distribution channels, competition, and the success of marketing programs Gross Margin . Gross margin is the difference between net sales and the cost of sales. Our cost of sales and gross margin may not be comparable to those of other entities, since some entities may include all of the costs related to their buying and distribution functions, certain store-related costs and other costs, in cost of sales. We include certain of these costs in the line items “Selling, general and administrative expenses” and “Depreciation and amortization” in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). We include in our “Cost of sales” line item all costs of merchandise (net of purchase discounts and certain vendor allowances), inbound freight, distribution center outbound freight and certain merchandise acquisition costs, primarily commissions and import fees. Gross margin as a percentage of net sales decreased to 40.4% during Fiscal 2022, compared with 41.6% during Fiscal 2021, driven primarily by decreased merchandise margins, primarily due to higher markdowns and increased shortage, as well as increased freight costs. 31 Product sourcing costs, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses, decreased approximately 120 basis points as a percentage of net sales. Inventory . Inventory at January 28, 2023 increased to $1,182.0 million from $1,021.0 million at January 29, 2022. This increase primarily relates to a 32% increase in comparable store inventory, a 30% increase in reserve inventory, and 87 net new stores since the end of Fiscal 2021. In Fiscal 2021, as we came into the spring season, our comparable store inventories were too lean, and this hurt our sales trend in the first quarter of Fiscal 2022. Therefore, the significant increase in our comparable store inventories was by design. Our comparable store inventory is still below pre-pandemic levels. The difference between inventory and comparable store inventory is primarily the result of the latter not including distribution center and warehouse inventory or inventory at new and non-comparable stores. Inventory held at our warehouses and distribution centers includes merchandise being readied for shipment to our stores and reserve inventory acquired opportunistically for future store release. The magnitude of reserve inventory, at any one point in time, is dependent on the buying opportunities identified in the marketplace. Reserve inventory includes all inventory that is being stored for release either later in the season, or in a subsequent season. We intend to use our reserve merchandise to effectively chase sales trends. In order to better serve our customers and maximize sales, we continue to refine our merchandising mix and inventory levels within our stores. By appropriately managing our inventories, we believe we will be better able to deliver a continual flow of fresh merchandise to our customers. Store Payroll as a Percentage of Net Sales . Store payroll as a percentage of net sales measures our ability to manage our payroll in accordance with increases or decreases in net sales. The method of calculating store payroll varies across the retail industry. As a result, our store payroll as a percentage of net sales may differ from other retailers. We define store payroll as regular and overtime payroll for all store personnel as well as regional and territory personnel, exclusive of payroll charges related to corporate and warehouse employees. Store payroll as a percentage of net sales was 8.0% and 8.1% during Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, respectively. Liquidity. Liquidity measures our ability to generate cash. Management measures liquidity through cash flow, which is the measure of cash generated from or used in operating, financing, and investing activities. Cash and cash equivalents, including restricted cash and cash equivalents, decreased $218.5 million during Fiscal 2022, compared with a decrease of $289.2 million during Fiscal 2021. Refer to the section below entitled “Liquidity and Capital Resources” for further explanation. Results of Operations The following table sets forth certain items in the Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) as a percentage of net sales for the periods indicated. Percentage of Net Sales Fiscal Year Ended January 28, January 29, January 30, 2023 2022 2021 Net sales 100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 % Other revenue 0.2 0.2 0.2 Total revenue 100.2 100.2 100.2 Cost of sales 59.6 58.4 61.8 Selling, general and administrative expenses 33.1 30.8 40.5 Costs related to debt issuances and amendments — 0.0 0.1 Depreciation and amortization 3.1 2.7 3.8 Impairment charges - long-lived assets 0.2 0.1 0.1 Other income - net (0.3 ) (0.1 ) (0.1 ) Loss on extinguishment of debt 0.2 1.7 0.0 Interest expense 0.8 0.7 1.7 Total costs and expenses 96.7 94.3 107.9 Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) 3.5 5.9 (7.7 ) Income tax expense (benefit) 0.9 1.5 (3.8 ) Net income (loss) 2.6 % 4.4 % (3.9 )% 32 Performance for Fiscal Year Ended January 28, 2023 (Fiscal 2022) Compared with Fiscal Year Ended January 29, 2022 (Fiscal 2021) Net sales Net sales decreased $622.0 million, or 6.7%, to $8,684.5 million, primarily driven by a decrease of 13% in comparable store sales during Fiscal 2022. We believe this decrease in comparable store sales was driven by economic pressure on our core customers and promotional activity throughout the retail environment, as well as strong comparable store sales of 15% in the prior period. The decrease in net sales was partially offset by 87 net new stores since the end of Fiscal 2021. Other revenue Other revenue improved $2.4 million to $18.1 million, primarily driven by increased revenue from our private label credit card and increased layaway service fees. Cost of sales Cost of sales as a percentage of net sales increased to 59.6% during Fiscal 2022, primarily driven by decreased merchandise margins, as a result of higher markdowns and increased shortage, as well as increased freight costs. On a dollar basis, cost of sales decreased $264.4 million, or 4.9%, primarily driven by our overall decrease in sales. Product sourcing costs, which are included in the line item “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss), were $677.6 million during Fiscal 2022, compared to $618.3 million during Fiscal 2021, primarily driven by increased supply chain costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses The following table details selling, general and administrative expenses for Fiscal 2022 compared with Fiscal 2021. (in millions) Fiscal Year Ended January 28, 2023 Percentage of Net Sales January 29, 2022 Percentage of Net Sales $ Variance % Change Store related costs $ 1,739.0 20.0 % $ 1,766.7 19.0 % $ (27.7 ) (1.6 )% Product sourcing costs 677.6 7.8 618.3 6.6 59.3 9.6 Corporate costs 301.8 3.5 311.6 3.3 (9.8 ) (3.1 ) Marketing and strategy costs 47.0 0.5 61.1 0.7 (14.1 ) (23.1 ) Other selling, general and administrative expenses 112.0 1.3 110.8 1.2 1.2 1.1 Selling, general and administrative expenses $ 2,877.4 33.1 % $ 2,868.5 30.8 % $ 8.9 0.3 % The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales was primarily driven by deleverage in occupancy and increased product sourcing costs, partially offset by decreased incentive compensation, store payroll costs, and advertising costs. The dollar basis increase was primarily due to the same drivers listed above. Depreciation and amortization Depreciation and amortization expense amounted to $270.4 million during Fiscal 2022, compared with $249.2 million during Fiscal 2021. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense was primarily driven by capital expenditures related to our supply chain, as well as new and non-comparable stores. Impairment charges—long-lived assets Impairment charges related to long-lived assets were $21.4 million and $7.7 million during Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, respectively, related to four stores sold below carrying value as well as impairment of store-level assets and lease assets at twelve stores during Fiscal 2022, compared to impairment of store-level assets and lease assets at nine stores during Fiscal 2021. The recoverability assessment related to these store-level assets requires various judgments and estimates, including estimates related to future revenues, gross margin rates, store expenses and other assumptions. We base these estimates upon our past and expected future performance. We believe our estimates are appropriate in light of current market conditions. However, future 33 impairment charges could be required if we do not achieve our current revenue or cash flow projections for each store. Refer to Note 6, “Impairment Charges,” for further discussion. Other income, net Other income, net improved $15.3 million to $26.9 million during Fiscal 2022. The improvement in other income was primarily driven by the gain on sale of real estate related assets, increased interest rates as a result of shifting cash to a higher yielding vehicle, interest income on a tax refund, and insurances recoveries, partially offset by the sale of the NJ Grow tax credit in Fiscal 2021. Loss on Extinguishment of Debt During Fiscal 2022, we entered into separate, privately negotiated exchange agreements with certain holders of the Convertible Notes. Under the terms of the exchange agreements, the holders exchanged $64.6 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes held by them for $78.2 million in cash. These exchanges resulted in aggregate pre-tax debt extinguishment charges of $14.7 million. During Fiscal 2021, we incurred debt extinguishment charges of $124.6 million related to the partial repurchases of the Convertible Notes, $30.2 million related to the premium paid on redemption of the Secured Notes, as well as $1.2 million related to the refinancing of our Term Loan Facility. Refer to Note 7, “Long Term Debt,” for further discussion regarding our debt transactions. Interest expense Interest expense improved $1.0 million to $66.5 million. The decrease was driven by the redemption in full of the $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of Secured Notes and repurchase of $297.3 million of Convertible Notes, partially offset by the increase in LIBOR rates on the unhedged portion of our Term Loan Facility. Our average interest rates and average balances related to our variable rate debt for Fiscal 2022 compared with Fiscal 2021 are summarized in the table below: Fiscal Year Ended January 28, January 29, 2023 2022 Average balance – ABL Line of Credit (in millions) $ — $ — Average interest rate – ABL Line of Credit — — Average balance – Term Loan Facility (in millions) (a) $ 952.2 $ 960.4 Average interest rate – Term Loan Facility 4.0% 2.0% (a) Excludes original issue discount Income tax expense Income tax expense was $77.4 million for Fiscal 2022 compared with $136.5 million for Fiscal 2021. The effective tax rate was 25.2% related to pretax income of $307.5 million for Fiscal 2022, and 25.0% related to pretax income of $545.3 million for Fiscal 2021. The decrease in tax expense is primarily driven by the decrease in pretax income. Net income We earned net income of $230.1 million during Fiscal 2022 compared with net income of $408.8 million for Fiscal 2021. This decrease was primarily driven by lower sales, as well as decreased gross margin rate, partially offset by a smaller debt extinguishment charge. Performance for Fiscal Year Ended January 29, 2022 (Fiscal 2021) Compared with Fiscal Year Ended January 30, 2021 (Fiscal 2020) For a discussion related to Fiscal 2021 performance compared to Fiscal 2020 performance, refer to Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2022 (Fiscal 2021 10-K). Liquidity and Capital Resources Our ability to satisfy interest and principal payment obligations on our outstanding debt will depend largely on our future performance which, in turn, is subject to prevailing economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors beyond our 34 control. If we do not have sufficient cash flow to service interest and principal payment obligations on our outstanding indebtedness, and if we cannot borrow or obtain equity financing to satisfy those obligations, our business and results of operations will be materially adversely affected. We cannot be assured that any replacement borrowing or equity financing could be successfully completed on terms similar to our current financing agreements, or at all. Refer to "Debt and Hedging" below for recent debt transactions completed. We believe that cash generated from operations, along with our existing cash and our ABL Line of Credit, will be sufficient to fund our expected cash flow requirements and planned capital expenditures for at least the next twelve months as well as the foreseeable future. However, there can be no assurance that we would be able to offset declines in our comparable store sales with savings initiatives in the event that the economy declines. As market conditions warrant, we may, from time to time, repurchase our outstanding debt securities in the open market, in privately negotiated transactions, by tender offer, by exchange transaction or otherwise. Such repurchases, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity and other factors and may be commenced or suspended at any time. The amounts involved and total consideration paid may be material. Cash Flows Cash Flows for Fiscal 2022 Compared with Fiscal 2021 We used $218.5 million of cash flows during Fiscal 2022 compared with $289.2 million during Fiscal 2021. Net cash provided by operating activities amounted to $596.4 million and $833.2 million during Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, respectively. The decrease in our operating cash flows was primarily driven by lower sales and margin in Fiscal 2022, as well as changes in working capital (primarily due to an accounts payable policy change resulting in earlier payments to vendors, partially offset by receipt of a tax refund). Net cash used in investing activities was $423.1 million and $344.4 million during Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, respectively. This change was primarily the result of an increase in capital expenditures related to our stores (new stores, remodels and other store expenditures) and supply chain growth initiatives. Net cash used in financing activities was $391.7 million during Fiscal 2022 compared to $778.0 million during Fiscal 2021. This change was primarily driven by higher debt redemptions in Fiscal 2021 compared to Fiscal 2022, partially offset by more share repurchases in Fiscal 2022. Changes in working capital also impact our cash flows. Working capital equals current assets (exclusive of restricted cash) minus current liabilities. We had working capital at January 28, 2023 of $365.3 million compared with $593.4 million at January 29, 2022. The decrease in working capital was primarily due to a decrease in cash and cash equivalents, primarily driven by payments on the Convertible Notes and share repurchases, partially offset by decreased accounts payable and increased inventory. Cash Flows for Fiscal 2021 Compared with Fiscal 2020 For a discussion of our cash flows for Fiscal 2021 compared to Fiscal 2020, refer to Part II, Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included in our Fiscal 2021 10-K. Capital Expenditures For Fiscal 2022, cash spend for capital expenditures, net of $23.1 million of landlord allowances, amounted to $428.0 million. These capital expenditures include approximately $190.5 million, net of the previously mentioned landlord allowances, for store expenditures (new stores, remodels and other store expenditures). In addition, we made capital expenditures of $145.1 million to support our supply chain initiatives, with the remaining capital to support information technology and other business initiatives. We incurred cash spend on capital expenditures of $319.0 million, net of approximately $34.1 million of landlord allowances, during Fiscal 2021. We estimate that we will spend approximately $560 million, net of approximately $10 million of landlord allowances, in capital expenditures during Fiscal 2023, including approximately $300 million, net of the previously mentioned landlord allowances, for store expenditures (new stores, remodels and other store expenditures). In addition, we estimate that we will spend approximately $115 million to support our supply chain initiatives, with the remaining capital used to support our information technology and other business initiatives. 35 Share Repurchase Program On August 18, 2021, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $400.0 million of common stock, which was authorized to be executed through August 2023. This authorization was completed during the second quarter of Fiscal 2022. On February 16, 2022, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $500.0 million of common stock, which is authorized to be executed through February 2024. During Fiscal 2022, we repurchased 1,756,811 shares of common stock for $302.7 million under our share repurchase program. As of January 28, 2023, we had $347.3 million remaining under our share repurchase authorization. We are authorized to repurchase shares of our outstanding common stock from time to time on the open market or in privately negotiated transactions under our repurchase program. The timing and amount of stock repurchases will depend on a variety of factors, including the market conditions as well as corporate and regulatory considerations. Our share repurchase program may be suspended, modified or discontinued at any time, and we have no obligation to repurchase any amount of our common stock under the program. Dividends We currently do, and intend to continue to, retain all available funds and any future earnings to fund all of the Company's capital expenditures, business initiatives, and to support any potential opportunistic capital structure initiatives. Therefore, at this time, we do not anticipate paying cash dividends in the near term. Our ability to pay dividends on our common stock will be limited by restrictions on the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or make distributions under the terms of current and any future agreements governing our indebtedness. Any future determination to pay dividends will be at the discretion of our Board of Directors, subject to compliance with covenants in our current and future agreements governing our indebtedness, and will depend upon our results of operations, financial condition, capital requirements and other factors that our Board of Directors deems relevant. In addition, since we are a holding company, substantially all of the assets shown on our Consolidated Balance Sheets are held by our subsidiaries. Accordingly, our earnings, cash flow and ability to pay dividends are largely dependent upon the earnings and cash flows of our subsidiaries and the distribution or other payment of such earnings to us in the form of dividends. Debt and Hedging As of January 28, 2023, our obligations, inclusive of original issue discount, include $942.0 million under our Term Loan Facility, $507.7 million of Convertible Notes and no outstanding borrowings on our ABL Line of Credit. Our debt obligations also include $33.4 million of finance lease obligations as of January 28, 2023. Refer to Note 7 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, “Long Term Debt,” for an overview of the terms and conditions of these instruments. Term Loan Facility On June 24, 2021, Burlington Coat Factory Warehouse Corporation, an indirect subsidiary of the Company (BCFWC), entered into Amendment No. 9 (the Ninth Amendment) to the Term Loan Credit Agreement governing the Term Loan Facility. The Ninth Amendment, among other things, extended the maturity date from November 17, 2024 to June 24, 2028, and changed the interest rate margins applicable to the Term Loan Facility from 0.75% to 1.00%, in the case of prime rate loans, and from 1.75% to 2.00%, in the case of LIBOR loans, with a 0.00% LIBOR floor. Refer to Note 7, “Long Term Debt,” for further discussion regarding our debt transactions. At January 28, 2023, our borrowing rate related to the Term Loan Facility was 6.4%. ABL Line of Credit On July 20, 2022, we entered into a Fourth Amendment to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Amendment”), by and among BCFWC, as lead borrower and the other borrowers party thereto, the facility guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, which Amendment amends that certain Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of September 2, 2011, by and among the BCFWC, the other borrowers party thereto, the facility guarantors party thereto, the lenders party thereto and Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent. The Amendment increased the aggregate principal amount of the commitments of the ABL Line of Credit 36 from $650.0 million to $900.0 million and replaced the LIBOR-based interest rate benchmark provisions with interest rate benchmark provisions based on a term secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) or a daily SOFR rate (in the case of daily SOFR, available for borrowings up to $100 million, or up to the full amount of the commitments if the term SOFR rate is not available). At January 28, 2023, we had $795.7 million available under the ABL Line of Credit. We did not have any borrowings during Fiscal 2022. Convertible Notes On April 16, 2020, we issued $805.0 million of Convertible Notes. The Convertible Notes have an initial conversion rate of 4.5418 shares per $1,000 principal amount of Convertible Notes (equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $220.18 per share of our common stock), subject to adjustment if certain events occur. The Convertible Notes are our general unsecured obligations. The Convertible Notes bear interest at a rate of 2.25% per year, payable semi-annually in cash, in arrears on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on October 15, 2020. The Convertible Notes will mature on April 15, 2025, unless earlier converted, redeemed or repurchased. During the second half of Fiscal 2021, we entered into separate, privately negotiated exchange agreements with certain holders of the Convertible Notes. Under the terms of the exchange agreements, the holders exchanged $232.7 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes held by them for a combination of an aggregate of $199.8 million in cash and 513,991 shares of common stock. During the first quarter of Fiscal 2022, we entered into separate, privately negotiated exchange agreements with certain holders of the Convertible Notes. Under the terms of the exchange agreements, the holders exchanged $64.6 million in aggregate principal amount of Convertible Notes held by them for $78.2 million in cash. See Note 7, “Long Term Debt,” for additional information. Secured Notes On April 16, 2020, BCFWC, issued $300.0 million of Secured Notes. The Secured Notes were senior, secured obligations of BCFWC, and interest was payable semiannually in cash at a rate of 6.25% per annum on April 15 and October 15 of each year, beginning on October 15, 2020. The Secured Notes were guaranteed on a senior secured basis by Burlington Coat Factory Holdings, LLC, Burlington Coat Factory Investments Holdings, Inc. and BCFWC’s subsidiaries that guarantee the loans under the Term Loan Facility and ABL Line of Credit. On June 11, 2021, BCFWC redeemed the full $300.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Secured Notes. The redemption price of the Secured Notes was $323.7 million, plus accrued and unpaid interest to, but not including, the date of redemption. Refer to Note 7, “Long Term Debt,” for further discussion regarding our debt transactions. Hedging On June 24, 2021, the Company terminated its previous interest rate swap and entered into a new interest rate swap. The new interest rate swap, which hedges $450 million of variable rate exposure under our Term Loan Facility, is designated as a cash flow hedge and expires on June 24, 2028. Refer to Note 8, “Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” for further discussion regarding our derivative transactions. 37 Certain Information Concerning Material Cash Requirements The following table sets forth certain information regarding our obligations to make future payments under current contracts as of January 28, 2023: Payments Due By Period Total Less Than 1 Year 2-3 Years 4-5 Years Thereafter (in thousands) Debt obligations(1) $ 1,454,681 $ 9,614 $ 526,916 $ 19,228 $ 898,923 Interest on debt obligations(2) 293,947 63,500 113,629 97,441 19,377 Finance lease obligations(3) 46,756 5,906 9,337 7,280 24,233 Operating lease obligations(4) 3,922,155 550,636 1,046,178 892,102 1,433,239 Purchase obligations(5) 1,049,047 1,049,047 — — — Other(6) 2,078 2,078 — — — Total $ 6,768,664 $ 1,680,781 $ 1,696,060 $ 1,016,051 $ 2,375,772 (1) Represents future principal payments on outstanding borrowings as of January 28, 2023. (2) Represents interest payments on (i) the outstanding balance of the Term Loan Facility, with an interest rate of 6.4% as of January 28, 2023; (ii) $450.0 million interest rate swap with a fixed LIBOR of 2.2%; and (iii) the outstanding balance of the Convertible Notes, with an interest rate of 2.25%. (3) Finance lease obligations include future interest payments. (4) Represents minimum rent payments for operating leases under the current terms. (5) Represents commitments to purchase goods that have not been received as of January 28, 2023. The table above excludes estimated commitments for services to be used in our business of up to approximately $185 million over the next five years. (6) Represents severance payments in the normal course of business that are included in the line item “Selling, general and administrative expenses” in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). Our agreements with three former employees to pay their respective beneficiaries $1.0 million upon their deaths for a total of $3.0 million is not reflected in the table above because the timing of the payments is unpredictable. The table above excludes ASC Topic No. 740 “Income Taxes” (Topic No. 740) liabilities which represent uncertain tax positions related to temporary differences. The total Topic No. 740 liability was $11.9 million, inclusive of $8.0 million of interest and penalties included in our total Topic No. 740 liability neither of which is presented in the table above as we are not certain if and when these payments would be required. The table above excludes our irrevocable letters of credit guaranteeing payment and performance under certain leases, insurance contracts, debt agreements, merchandising agreements and utility agreements in the amount of $51.1 million as of January 28, 2023. As of January 28, 2023, insurance reserves amounted to $86.2 million. These amounts are excluded from the table above as we are not certain if and when these payments would be required. Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates Our Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. We believe there are several accounting policies that are critical to understanding our historical and future performance as these policies affect the reported amounts of revenues and other significant areas that involve management’s judgments and estimates. The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect (i) the reported amounts of assets and liabilities; (ii) the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the Consolidated Financial Statements; and (iii) the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. On an ongoing basis, management evaluates its estimates and judgments, including those related to revenue recognition, inventories, long-lived assets, intangible assets, goodwill, insurance reserves and income taxes. Historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances form the basis for making estimates and judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. As events continue to evolve and additional information becomes available, our estimates may change materially in future periods. A critical accounting estimate meets two criteria: (1) it requires assumptions about highly uncertain matters and (2) there would be a material effect on the Consolidated Financial Statements from either using a different, although reasonable, amount within the range of the estimate in the current period or from reasonably likely period-to-period changes in the estimate. 38 While there are a number of accounting policies, methods and estimates affecting our Consolidated Financial Statements as addressed in Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies,” areas that are particularly critical and significant include: Revenue Recognition . While our revenue recognition does not involve significant judgment, it represents an important accounting policy. We record revenue at the time control of goods are transferred to the customer, which we determine to be at point of sale and delivery of merchandise, net of allowances for estimated future returns, which is estimated based on historical return rates. We present sales, net of sales taxes, in our Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss). We account for layaway sales in compliance with ASC Topic No. 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers.” Layaway sales are recognized upon delivery of merchandise to the customer. The amount of cash received upon initiation of the layaway is recorded as a deposit liability within the line item “Other current liabilities” in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Stored value cards (gift cards and store credits issued for merchandise returns) are recorded as a liability at the time of issuance, and the related sale is recorded upon redemption. We estimate and recognize stored value card breakage income in proportion to actual stored value card redemptions. We determine an estimated stored value card breakage rate by continuously evaluating historical redemption data. Breakage income is recognized on a monthly basis in proportion to the historical redemption patterns for those stored value cards for which the likelihood of redemption is remote. Inventory . Our inventory is valued at the lower of cost or market using the retail inventory method. Under the retail inventory method, the valuation of inventory and the resulting gross margin are determined by applying a calculated cost to retail ratio to the retail value of inventory. The retail inventory method is an averaging method that results in valuing inventory at the lower of cost or market provided markdowns are taken timely to reduce the retail value of inventory. Inherent in the retail inventory method calculation are certain significant management judgments and estimates including merchandise markups, markdowns and shortage, which significantly impact the ending inventory valuation as well as the resulting gross margin. Management believes that our retail inventory method provides an inventory valuation which approximates cost using a first-in, first-out assumption and results in carrying value at the lower of cost or market. We reserve for aged inventory based on historical trends and specific identification. Our aged inventory reserve contains uncertainties as the calculations require management to make assumptions and to apply judgment regarding a number of factors, including market conditions, the selling environment, historical results and current inventory trends. A 1% change in the dollar amount of retail markdowns would have resulted in an increase in markdown dollars, at cost, of approximately $3.0 million for Fiscal 2022. Estimates are used to record inventory shortage at retail stores between physical inventories. Actual physical inventories are conducted at least annually to calculate actual shortage. While we make estimates on the basis of the best information available to us at the time the estimates are made, over accruals or under accruals of shortage may be identified as a result of the physical inventory counts, requiring adjustments. Insurance Reserves . We have risk participation agreements with insurance carriers with respect to workers’ compensation, general liability insurance and health insurance. Pursuant to these arrangements, we are responsible for paying individual claims up to designated dollar limits. The amounts included in our costs related to these claims are estimated and can vary based on changes in assumptions or claims experience included in the associated insurance programs. For example, changes in legal trends and interpretations, as well as changes in the nature and method of how claims are settled, can impact ultimate costs. An increase in workers’ compensation claims by employees, health insurance claims by employees or general liability claims may result in a corresponding increase in our costs related to these claims. Insurance reserves amounted to $86.2 million and $81.6 million at January 28, 2023 and January 29, 2022, respectively. Recent Accounting Pronouncements There were no new accounting standards that had a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements during Fiscal 2022, and there were no new accounting standards or pronouncements that were issued but not yet effective as of January 28, 2023 that the Company expects to have a material impact on its financial position or results of operations upon becoming effective. Fluctuations in Operating Results We expect that our revenues and operating results may fluctuate from fiscal quarter to fiscal quarter or over the longer term. Certain of the general factors that may cause such fluctuations are discussed in Item 1A, Risk Factors and elsewhere in this Annual Report. 39 Inflation During Fiscal 2022 and Fiscal 2021, we have experienced inflationary pressure in our supply chain and with respect to raw materials and finished goods. There can be no assurance that we will be able to offset inflationary pressure in the future, or that our business will not be negatively affected by continued inflation in the future. We may not be able to adequately increase our prices over time to offset increased costs, whether due to inflation or otherwise. Any decreases in consumer discretionary spending could result in a decrease in store traffic and same store sales, all of which could negatively affect our business, operations, liquidity, financial results and/or stock price, particularly if consumer spending levels are depressed for a prolonged period of time. We do not believe that our operating results were materially affected by inflation during Fiscal 2020. Historically, as the costs of merchandising and related operating expenses have increased, we have been able to mitigate the effect of such impact on our operations. The U.S. retail industry continues to face increased pressure on margins as commodity prices increase and the overall challenging retail conditions have led consumers to be more value conscious. Additionally, lower-to-moderate income shoppers continue to face economic pressure due to higher cost of living. Our strategy of chasing sales, in which we purchase both pre-season and in-season merchandise, allows us the flexibility to purchase less pre-season with the balance purchased in-season and opportunistically. It also provides us the flexibility to shift purchases between suppliers and categories. This enables us to obtain better terms with our suppliers, which we expect to help offset the expected rising costs of goods. Market Risk We are exposed to market risks relating to fluctuations in interest rates. Our borrowings contain floating rate obligations and are subject to interest rate fluctuations. The objective of our financial risk management is to minimize the negative impact of interest rate fluctuations on our earnings and cash flows. We manage interest rate risk through the use of our interest rate swap contracts. As more fully described in Note 8 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, “Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” we enter into interest rate derivative contracts to manage interest rate risks associated with our long term debt obligations. The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in the line item “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. We continue to have exposure to interest rate risks to the extent they are not hedged. Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitat ive Disclosures About Market Risk We are exposed to certain market risks as part of our ongoing business operations. Primary exposures include changes in interest rates, as borrowings under our ABL Line of Credit bear interest based on SOFR and borrowings under our Term Loan Facility bear interest at floating rates based on LIBOR or the base rate, in each case plus an applicable borrowing margin. The interest rate of our Term Loan Facility is also dependent on the prime rate, and the federal funds rate as further discussed in Note 7 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, “Long Term Debt.” During Fiscal 2022, an amendment to the ABL Line of Credit replaced the LIBOR-based interest rate benchmark provisions with interest rate benchmark provisions based on a term secured overnight financing rate (SOFR) or a daily SOFR rate (in the case of daily SOFR, available for borrowings up to $100 million, or up to the full amount of the commitments if the term SOFR rate is not available). We manage our interest rate risk through the use of interest rate derivative contracts. For our floating-rate debt, interest rate changes generally impact our earnings and cash flows, assuming other factors are held constant. On June 24, 2021, we terminated our previous interest rate swap and entered into a new interest rate swap. The new interest rate swap, which hedges $450.0 million of variable rate exposure under our Term Loan Facility, is designated as a cash flow hedge and expires on June 24, 2028. Refer to Note 8, “Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” for further discussion regarding our derivative transactions. We have unlimited interest rate risk related to borrowings on our variable rate debt in excess of the notional principal amount of our interest rate swap contract. At January 28, 2023, we had $947.0 million of floating-rate debt, exclusive of original issue discount. Based on $947.0 million outstanding as floating-rate debt, a one percentage point interest rate increase or decrease as of January 28, 2023 ( after considering our interest rate swap contract and assuming current borrowing level remains constant), would cause an increase or decrease, respectively, to cash interest expense of $4.8 million per year. This sensitivity analysis assumes our mix of financial instruments and all other 40 variables will remain constant in future periods. These assumptions are made in order to facilitate the analysis and are not necessarily indicative of our future intentions. Our ability to satisfy our interest payment obligations on our outstanding debt will depend largely on our future performance, which, in turn, is in part subject to prevailing economic conditions and to financial, business and other factors beyond our control. If we do not have sufficient cash flow to service our interest payment obligations on our outstanding indebtedness and if we cannot borrow or obtain equity financing to satisfy those obligations, our business and results of operations will be materially adversely affected. We cannot be assured that any replacement borrowing or equity financing could be successfully completed. 41