UNITED STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT
REPORT PURSUANT
TO
SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES
EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of
Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 10, 2008
Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.
_______________________________
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware |
001-32320 |
43-1883836 |
(State or Other
|
(Commission File Number) |
(IRS Employer Identification No.) |
1954 Innerbelt Business Center Drive St. Louis, Missouri
|
63114 |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(314) 423-8000
________________
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
⃞ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
⃞ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
⃞ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item
7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure.
On
March 10, 2008, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (the "Company") issued a
press release regarding the completion of its previously announced
review of strategic alternatives. A copy of the press release is
furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated by reference
herein. The description of the press release contained herein is
qualified in its entirety by the full text of such exhibit.
This
information furnished in this Item 7.01 is being furnished and shall not
be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") or otherwise subject to the
liabilities of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by
reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or
the Exchange Act, regardless of any general incorporation language in
such filing. In addition, this report shall not be deemed an admission
as to the materiality of any information contained herein that is
required to be disclosed solely as a requirement of this Item.
Item
8.01 Other Events.
As
described in Item 7.01 above, on March 10, 2008, the Company announced
that the Board of Directors has completed its previously announced
review of strategic alternatives. After an extensive analysis of a broad
range of strategic alternatives by a special committee of independent
directors and its financial and legal advisors, the Board of Directors
has authorized an increase in the Company’s share repurchase program to
up to $50 million.
The Company’s existing $25 million share
repurchase program was announced in February 2007, and as of March 7,
2008, approximately 176,500 shares have been purchased for a total cost
of approximately $4.7 million. Under the expanded share repurchase
program authorized by the Board the Company currently intends to
purchase up to $50 million of its common stock in the open market
(including through 10b5-1 trading plans), through privately negotiated
transactions, or through an accelerated repurchase transaction. The
primary source of funding for the program is expected to be cash on
hand. The timing and amount of share repurchases, if any, will depend on
price, market conditions, applicable regulatory requirements, and other
factors. The program authorizes the Company to repurchase shares over
the next 12 months, does not require the Company to repurchase any
specific number of shares, and may be modified, suspended or terminated
at any time without prior notice. Shares repurchased under the program
will be subsequently retired.
Forward-looking Statements
The statements contained or incorporated by reference in this Form 8-K
contain "forward-looking statements" (within the meaning of the federal
securities laws) which represent the Company’s expectations or beliefs
with respect to future events. These forward-looking statements are
subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those anticipated. Those factors
include, without limitation: we may be unable to generate interest in
and demand for our interactive retail experience, or to identify and
respond to consumer preferences in a timely fashion; our marketing and
on-line initiatives may not be effective in generating sufficient levels
of brand awareness and guest traffic; we may be unable to generate
comparable store sales growth; we may be unable to open new stores or
may be unable to effectively manage our growth; we may be unable to
effectively manage our international franchises or laws relating to
those franchises may change; we may be unable to realize some of the
expected benefits of the acquisition of Amsbra and Bear Factory
including making these operations profitable; customer traffic may
decrease in the shopping malls where we are located, on which we depend
to attract guests to our stores; general economic conditions may
deteriorate, which could lead to disproportionately reduced consumer
demand for our products, which represent relatively discretionary
spending; our market share could be adversely affected by a significant,
or increased, number of competitors; we may lose key personnel, be
unable to hire qualified additional personnel, or experience turnover of
our management team; the effect on the Company’s business of the
announcement of the completion of the strategic review process; the
ability of our principal vendors to deliver merchandise may be
disrupted; the availability and costs of our products could be adversely
affected by risks associated with international manufacturing and trade;
high petroleum products prices could increase our inventory
transportation costs and adversely affect our profitability; our
products could become subject to recalls or product liability claims
that could adversely impact our financial performance and harm our
reputation among consumers; we may be unable to realize the anticipated
benefits from our company-owned distribution center; fluctuations in our
quarterly results of operations could cause the price of our common
stock to substantially decline; we may fail to renew, register or
otherwise protect our trademarks or other intellectual property; we may
have disputes with, or be sued by, third parties for infringement or
misappropriation of their proprietary rights; we may be unable to renew
or replace our store leases, or enter into leases for new stores on
favorable terms or in favorable locations, or may violate the terms of
our current leases; we may suffer negative publicity or be sued due to
violations of labor laws or unethical practices by manufacturers of our
merchandise; we may be unable to repurchase shares at all or at the
times or in the amounts we currently anticipate or the results of the
share repurchase program may not be as beneficial as we currently
anticipate; and we may improperly obtain or be unable to protect
information from our guests in violation of privacy or security laws or
expectations. These and other applicable risks, cautionary statements
and factors that could cause actual results to differ from the Company's
forward-looking statements are included in the Company's filings with
the SEC, including as described in the Company's annual report on Form
10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2006. The Company undertakes
no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking
statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Item
9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit Number |
Description of Exhibit |
|
99.1 | Press Release dated March 10, 2008 |
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.
BUILD-A-BEAR WORKSHOP, INC. |
||||
Date: | March 10, 2008 | By: |
/s/ Tina Klocke |
|
Name: |
Tina Klocke |
|||
Title: |
Chief Financial Bear, Secretary and Treasurer |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number |
Description of Exhibit |
|
99.1 | Press Release dated March 10, 2008 |
5