UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 FORM 10-K [ X ] Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (No Fee Required) For The Fiscal Year Ended February 3, 2001 ---------------- or [ ] Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (No Fee Required) For the transition period from to ------------ -------------- Commission File Number 1-09100 ------- Gottschalks Inc. ----------------------------------------------------- (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter) Delaware 77-0159791 ------------------------------- -------------- (State or other jurisdiction of (IRS Employer incorporation or organization) Identification No.) 7 River Park Place East, Fresno, CA 93720 ---------------------------------------- ----------- (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code) Registrant's telephone no., including area code: (559) 434-4800 --------------- Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: Name of each exchange Title of Each Class on which registered ------------------- --------------------- Common Stock, $.01 par value New York Stock Exchange ---------------------------- ----------------------- Pacific Stock Exchange ----------------------- Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant; (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports); and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X N___ Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ X ] The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant as of March 31, 2001: Common Stock, $.01 par value: $32,762,345 On March 31, 2001 the Registrant had outstanding 12,656,769 shares of Common Stock. Documents Incorporated By Reference: Portions of the Registrant's definitive proxy statement with respect to its Annual Stockholders' Meeting scheduled to be held on June 28, 2001, which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A, are incorporated by reference into Part III of this Form 10-K. INDEX PART I Page No. ________ Item 1. Business................................... 1 Item 2. Properties................................. 15 Item 3. Legal Proceedings.......................... 16 Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders........................... 17 PART II Item 5. Market for Registrant's Common Stock and Related Stockholder Matters................ 17 Item 6. Selected Financial Data.................... 17 Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial Condition.................................. 21 Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.......................... 38 Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data....................................... 40 Item 9. Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Auditing and Financial Disclosures...... 40 PART III Item 10. Directors and Executive Officers of the Registrant................................. 40 Item 11. Executive Compensation..................... 42 Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management...................... 42 Item 13. Certain Relationships and Related Transactions............................... 43 PART IV Item 14. Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedule and Reports on Form 8-K........................ 43 Signatures........................................... 79 PART I Item 1. BUSINESS GENERAL _______ Gottschalks Inc. is a regional department and specialty store chain based in Fresno, California. The Company currently operates 79 full-line "Gottschalks" department stores located in seven Western states, with 39 stores located in California, 21 in Washington, seven in Alaska, five in Idaho, four in Oregon, two in Nevada and one in Utah. The Company also operates 17 "Gottschalks" and "Village East" specialty apparel stores which carry a limited selection of merchandise. In fiscal 2000, the Company's sales totaled $663.9 million, a 22.6% increase from fiscal 1999 sales of $541.3 million. The Company's department stores typically offer a wide range of better to moderate brand-name and private-label merchandise, including men's, women's, junior's and children's apparel; cosmetics, shoes, fine jewelry and accessories; and home furnishings including china, housewares, domestics, small electric appliances and furniture (in selected locations). The majority of the Company's department stores range from 40,000 to 150,000 in gross square feet, and are generally anchor tenants of regional shopping malls or strategically located strip centers. The Company has operated continuously for 97 years since it was founded by Emil Gottschalk in 1904. At the time the Company initially offered its stock to the public in 1986, the Company operated 10 department stores. Since then, a total of 69 department stores have been added, with 42 of those stores being added through acquisitions in fiscal 1998 and 2000. The Company is incorporated in the state of Delaware. Gottschalks Inc. has one wholly-owned subsidiary, Gottschalks Credit Receivables Corporation ("GCRC"). GCRC is a qualified special purpose entity which was formed in 1994 in connection with a receivables securitization program. (See Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.) _________________________ ACQUISITIONS ____________ The Company completed the largest acquisition in its operating history on July 24, 2000, strategically expanding its presence throughout the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Under the transaction (hereinafter the "Lamonts acquisition"), the Company acquired 37 department store leases, related store fixtures and equipment and one store building from Lamonts Apparel, Inc. ("Lamonts"), a bankrupt specialty apparel store chain, for a cash purchase price of $20.1 million. Concurrent with the closing of the transaction, the Company sold one of the store leases for $2.5 million, and subsequently terminated two other store leases, resulting in a net cash purchase price of $17.6 million for 34 store leases, related store fixtures and equipment and one store building. The Company did not acquire any of Lamonts' merchandise inventory, customer credit card receivables or other corporate assets in the transaction, nor did the Company assume any material liabilities, other than the 34 store leases. The 34 stores acquired are located in five Western states, with 19 stores in Washington, seven in Alaska, five in Idaho, two in Oregon and one in Utah. The newly acquired stores were converted to the Gottschalks banner, re-merchandised and re-opened in stages, beginning in late August with all stores completely open by September 7, 2000. On August 20, 1998, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets and assumed certain liabilities of The Harris Company ("Harris"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of El Corte Ingles ("ECI") of Spain. Harris operated nine full-line department stores located in the Southern California area. As planned, the Company closed one of the acquired stores on January 31, 1999. As a result of the acquisition, Harris became a significant stockholder of the Company. The Company also leases three of its store locations from ECI. OPERATING STRATEGY __________________ Merchandising Strategy. The Company's merchandising strategy is directed at offering and promoting moderate to upper- moderately priced brand-name merchandise recognized by its customers for style and value. Brand-name merchandise is complemented with offerings of private-label and other higher and budget-priced merchandise. Brand-name apparel, shoe, cosmetic and accessory lines carried by the Company include Estee Lauder, Lancome, Clinique, Chanel, Dooney & Bourke, Nine West, Liz Claiborne, Carole Little, Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren (Polo and Chaps), Guess, Nautica, Karen Kane, Tommy Hilfiger, Esprit, Evan Picone, Haggar, Koret and Levi Strauss. Brand-name merchandise carried for the home includes Lenox, Krups, Calphalon, Royal Velvet, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, KitchenAid and Samsonite. The Company has also directed considerable effort towards improving the quality and increasing the penetration of private-label merchandise in its overall merchandise mix. The Company's most well-recognized private-label is "Shaver Lake", currently carried in the women's, men's and children's departments, as well as in certain departments in the home division. The "Shaver Lake" brand is exclusively offered in Gottschalks stores, and provides an opportunity to increase Gottschalks' brand acceptance and promote competitive differentiation. The Company purchases merchandise from numerous suppliers. In no instance did purchases from any single vendor amount to more than 5% of the Company's net purchases in fiscal 2000. The Company's merchandising activities are conducted centrally from its corporate offices in Fresno, California. The Company's merchandise mix as a percentage of total sales (including leased department sales) is reflected in the following table: Fiscal Years 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Women's Apparel........ 28.0% 26.6% 27.0% 27.2% 26.3% Cosmetics, Shoes & Accessories(1)..... 22.5 22.2 19.0 17.8 17.5 Home................... 20.8 22.1 22.2 22.7 23.2 Men's Apparel.......... 14.0 13.7 14.0 14.0 14.5 Junior's and Children's Apparel.... 10.7 10.3 10.1 10.5 10.7 Shoes, Fine Jewelry & Other Leased Departments(1)........ 4.0 5.1 7.7 7.8 7.8 ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- Total Sales......... 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% _____________________ ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== (1) The Company currently operates the shoe departments in 42 of its department stores, and leases the operation of the shoe departments in 36 of its Pacific Northwest and Alaska locations. One of the Company's department stores does not have a shoe department. The Company expects to terminate the shoe department lease at the end of July 2001 and assume the operation of the shoe departments in those locations effective August 1, 2001. The Company also leases the operation of its fine jewelry department and beauty salons in certain of its stores. Store Location and Expansion Strategy. The Company's stores are located primarily in diverse, growing, non-major metropolitan or suburban areas in the western United States. Management believes the Company has a competitive advantage in offering better to moderate brand-name merchandise and a high level of service to customers in secondary markets where there is strong demand and fewer competitors offering such merchandise. The Company has historically avoided expansion into major metropolitan areas which are well served by the Company's larger competitors. The Company's department stores are generally anchor tenants of regional shopping malls or strategically located strip centers. Other anchor tenants in the malls or strip centers generally complement the Company's goods with a mixture of competing and non-competing merchandise, and serve to increase customer foot traffic. With new regional shopping mall construction on the decline, management believes the Company has a competitive advantage in being willing to accommodate diverse locations into its operation that may not be desired by its larger competitors that adopt a more standardized approach to expansion. The Company generally seeks to open at least two new department stores per year, although more stores may be opened in any given year if it is believed to be financially attractive to the Company. The Company's future expansion plans include seeking new locations which will serve to "fill in" geographical areas between existing stores. Management believes this strategy will improve the Company's ability to leverage advertising, transportation and other operating costs more effectively. In addition to opening individual store locations, the Company may also pursue additional selective strategic acquisitions. (See Part I, Item I, "Acquisitions".) In addition to opening and acquiring new stores, the Company has continued to invest in the renovation and refixturing of its existing store locations in an attempt to maintain and improve market share in those market areas. Store renovation projects can range from updating decor and improving in-store lighting, fixturing, wall merchandising and signage, to more extensive remodeling and expansion projects. The Company sometimes receives reimbursement from mall owners and vendors for certain of its new store construction costs and costs associated with the renovation and refixturing of existing store locations. Such contributions have enhanced the Company's ability to enter into attractive market areas that are consistent with the Company's long-term expansion plans. The following tables present selected data related to the Company's stores for the fiscal years indicated: Fiscal Years Stores open at year-end: 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 ----------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- Department stores 79(1) 42 40(2) 34 32 Specialty stores (3) 17 20 22 25 27 -- -- -- -- -- TOTAL 96 62 62 59 59 == == == == == Gross store square footage (in thousands): ----------------------- Department stores 6,139 4,377 4,301 3,391 3,175 Specialty stores 63 77 83 94 101 ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- TOTAL 6,202 4,454 4,384 3,485 3,276 ===== ===== ===== ===== ===== _______________________________ (1) The Company opened 37 new department stores in fiscal 2000, including the 34 store locations acquired from Lamonts on July 24, 2000, and three additional new stores opened during the third and fourth quarter of the year. (2) The Company acquired nine stores from Harris in August 1998, closing one of the stores acquired on January 31, 1999, as planned. Two of the stores acquired are located in malls with pre-existing Gottschalks locations. The Company combines separate locations within the same mall for the purpose of determining the total number of stores being operated, resulting in a net addition of six department stores in fiscal 1998. (3) The Company closed the pre-existing specialty store location in Redding, California in fiscal 2000, and opened a new 74,200 gross square foot department store in a nearby location. The Company has continued to close certain free- standing Village East stores as their leases expire and incorporate those stores as separate departments into nearby Gottschalks department stores. Sales generated by these departments are combined with total specialty store sales for reporting purposes. Following is a summary of the Company's department store locations, by store size: # of stores open ------ Larger than 200,000 gross square feet 3 150,000 - 199,999 gross square feet 7 100,000 - 149,999 gross square feet 9 40,000 - 99,999 gross square feet 45 20,000 - 39,999 gross square feet 15 -- TOTAL 79 == Marketing Strategy. The Company's marketing strategy is based on a multi-media approach, using newspapers, television, radio, direct mail and catalogs to highlight seasonal promotions, selected brand-name merchandise and frequent storewide sales events. Advertising efforts are focused on communicating branded merchandise offered by the Company, and the high levels of quality, value and customer service available in the Company's stores. In its efforts to improve the effectiveness of its advertising expenditures, the Company uses data captured through its proprietary credit card and third party credit cards to develop segmented advertising and promotional events targeted at specific customers who have established purchasing patterns for certain brands, departments or store locations. The Company's sales promotion strategy also focuses on special events such as fashion shows, bridal shows and wardrobing seminars in its stores and in the communities in which they are located to convey fashion trends to its customers. The Company receives reimbursement for certain of its promotional activities from some of its vendors. The Company offers selected merchandise, a Bridal Registry service, and other general corporate information on the World Wide Web at http://www.gottschalks.com, and sells merchandise through its mail order department. Customer Service. Management believes one way the Company can differentiate itself from its competitors is to provide a consistently high level of customer service. The Company has a "Four Star" customer service program, designed to continually emphasize and reward high standards of customer service in the Company's stores. Sales associates are encouraged to keep notebooks of customers' names, clothing sizes, birthdays, and major purchases, and to telephone customers about promotional sales and to send thank-you notes and other greetings to their customers during their normal working hours. Product seminars and other training programs are frequently conducted in the Company's stores and its corporate headquarters to ensure that sales associates will be able to provide useful product information to customers. The Company also offers opportunities for management training and leadership classes for those associates identified for promotion within the Company. Various financial incentives are offered to the Company's sales associates for reaching sales performance goals. In addition to providing a high level of personal sales assistance, management believes that well-stocked stores, a liberal return and exchange policy, frequent sales promotions and a conveniently located and attractive shopping environment enhance its customers' shopping experience and increase customer loyalty. Management also believes that maintaining appropriate staffing levels in its stores, particularly at peak selling periods, is essential for providing a high level of customer service. Distribution of Merchandise. The Company currently distributes merchandise to its stores through two distribution centers. The Company's primary distribution center is a 420,000 square foot facility located in Madera, California. The facility, constructed in 1989, is located in close proximity to the Company's corporate headquarters in Fresno, California. The facility currently serves 42 locations, including all of the stores located in California and Nevada, and two stores located in Oregon. The Company currently distributes merchandise to its newly acquired locations in Washington, Alaska, Idaho, Utah and two of the stores located in Oregon through an outsourced facility located in Kent, Washington. In fiscal 2000, approximately 89.0% of the total sales of the Company were generated by the locations serviced through the Company's Madera distribution center. In fiscal 2001, that amount is expected to be in excess of 75.0%. Distributions are made on a daily basis to the stores from both of the facilities. The Company has continued to improve its logistical systems, focusing on the adoption of new technology and operational best practices, with the goals of receiving, processing and distributing merchandise to stores at a faster rate and at a lower cost per unit. The logistical system currently installed at its Madera distribution facility enables the Company to "cross dock" a significant percentage of its merchandise and process merchandise through the distribution center and to the stores in minutes and hours as compared to several days in the past. The Company has formal guidelines for vendors with respect to shipping, receiving and invoicing for merchandise. Vendors that do not comply with the guidelines are charged specified fees depending upon the degree of non- compliance. Such fees are intended to offset higher costs associated with the processing of and payment for such merchandise. Private-Label Credit Card. The Company issues its own credit card, which management believes enhances the Company's ability to generate and retain market acceptance and increase its sales and other revenues. As described more fully in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company sells its customer credit card receivables to its wholly-owned subsidiary, GCRC, on an ongoing basis in connection with a receivables securitization program. The Company has continued to service and administer the receivables under the program. The following table represents a summary of information related to the Company's credit card receivable portfolio for the fiscal years indicated: Fiscal Years 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (In thousands of dollars) Average credit card receivables serviced (1) $80,992 $79,125 $69,143 $64,612 $64,162 Service charge income $16,832 $15,618 $13,522 $11,711 $10,604 Credit sales as a % of total sales 41.4%(2) 44.2% 43.1% 43.7% 43.1% _______________________ (1) Includes receivables sold, the retained interest in receivables sold, and other receivables, all of which are serviced by the Company. (2) Excluding credit sales generated in the 37 stores opened in fiscal 2000, which are currently generating a lower credit sales percentage than the Company's more mature stores, credit sales as a percentage of total sales was 43.9% for fiscal 2000. The Company has a variety of credit-related programs which management believes have improved customer service and have increased service charge revenues. Such programs include: - an "Instant Credit" program, through which successful credit applicants receive a discount ranging from 10% to 50% (depending on the results of the Instant Credit scratch-off card) on the first day's purchases made with the Company's credit card; - a "55-Plus" charge account program, which offers additional merchandise and service discounts to customers 55 years of age and older; - "Gold Card" and "55-Plus Gold Card" programs, which offer special services at a discount for customers who have a minimum net spending history on their charge accounts of $1,000 per year; and - The "Gottschalks Rewards" program, which offers an annual rebate certificate for up to 5% of annual credit purchases on the Company's credit card (up to a maximum of $10,000 of annual purchases) which can be applied towards future purchases of merchandise. As of March 31, 2001, the Company had approximately 747,000 active credit card holders, as compared to 650,000 active credit card holders as of March 31, 2000. Management believes holders of the Company's credit card typically buy more merchandise from the Company than other customers. Competition and Seasonality. See Part I, Item I, "Risk Factors -- Competition" and "Risk Factors -- Seasonality and Weather". Employees. As of February 3, 2001, the Company had approximately 8,300 employees, including 2,200 employees working part-time (less than 20 hours per week on a regular basis). As of January 29, 2000, the Company had 6,550 employees (including 1,950 working part-time). The Company hires additional temporary employees and increases the hours of part-time employees during seasonal peak selling periods. Employees in eight former Lamonts locations in King County Washington are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. Lamonts had a collective bargaining agreement with the United Food and Commercial Worker's Union (UFCW) covering approximately 300 store associates in eight stores. Since the acquisition of Lamonts' assets, which included the leases of those eight stores, the Company engaged in good faith bargaining with the union. As a result, an agreement with a 2 1/2 year term was ratified by the union on April 7, 2001. Management does not believe that the agreement will have a material affect on the Company's business, its financial condition or results of operations. Management considers its employee relations to be good. Executive Officers of the Registrant. Information relating to the Company's executive officers is included in Part III, Item 10 of this report and is incorporated herein by reference. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS __________________________ This Form 10-K contains certain "forward-looking statements" regarding activities, developments and conditions that the Company anticipates may occur or exist in the future relating to things such as: - revenues and earnings; - savings or synergies from acquisitions; - future capital expenditures; - the Company's expansion strategy; - the impact of acquisitions; - the impact of sales promotions and customer service programs on consumer spending; - the termination of the shoe department leases; - the Company's competitive advantages; - the amount of merchandise to be distributed through the Madera distribution center; - lease extensions and suitable alternative store locations; - the Company's future operation of the 34 stores acquired in the Lamonts acquisition - the impact of the current energy crisis in the Western United States; and - the utilization of consumer credit programs. Such forward-looking statements can be identified by words such as: "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "seeks," "may," "will," and "estimates". The Company bases its forward- looking statements on its current views and assumptions. As a result, those statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted. Some of the factors that could cause the Company's results to differ from those predicted include the following risk factors. The following list of important factors is not exclusive and the Company does not undertake to revise any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances that occur after the statement is made. RISK FACTORS ____________ Lamonts Acquisition. On July 24, 2001, the Company acquired 34 former Lamonts store leases, related store fixtures and equipment, and one store building for a net purchase price of $17.6 million in cash. This acquisition has substantially increased the size and scope of the Company. No assurance can be given that the Company will be successful in managing and operating the acquired stores or that such activities will not require a disproportionate amount of management's attention. In addition, the costs associated with the Lamonts acquisition, as well as lower than expected operating results at certain of the former Lamonts stores during their first five months of operation by the Company, contributed to a $36.3 million operating cash flow deficit in fiscal 2000. Although the Company is evaluating certain initiatives to improve the performance of the stores acquired from Lamonts, there can be no assurance that the Company will be able to profitably operate the former Lamonts stores in the future. The Company's inability to successfully integrate the acquired stores could have a material adverse affect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. General Economic and Market Conditions. The Company's stores are located primarily in non-major metropolitan, suburban and agricultural areas in the western United States. A substantial portion of the stores are located in California and Washington. The Company's success depends upon consumer spending, which may be materially and adversely affected by any of the following events or conditions: - a downturn in the national, California or Pacific Northwest economy; - a downturn in the local economies where the stores are located; - a decline in consumer confidence; - an increase in interest rates; - inflation or deflation; - consumer credit availability; - consumer debt levels; - the energy crisis in California and the Pacific Northwest; - healthcare and workers' compensation insurance costs; - tax rates and policy; and - unemployment trends. Seasonality and Weather. Seasonal influences affect the Company's sales and profits. The Company experiences its highest levels of sales and profits during the Christmas selling months of November and December, and, to a lesser extent, during the Easter holiday and Back-to-School seasons. The Company has increased working capital needs prior to the Christmas season to carry significantly higher inventory levels and generally increases its selling staff levels to meet anticipated demands. Any substantial decrease in sales during its traditional peak selling periods could materially adversely impact the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Factors that could cause results to vary include: - the timing and level of sales promotions; - the weather; - fashion trends; - local unemployment levels; and - the overall health of the national, regional and local economies. The Company depends on normal weather patterns across its markets. Historically, unusual weather patterns have significantly impacted its business. Consumer Trends. The Company's success partially depends on its ability to anticipate and respond to changing consumer preferences and fashion trends in a timely manner. However, it is difficult to predict what merchandise consumers will demand, particularly merchandise that is trend driven. Failure to accurately predict constantly changing consumer tastes, preferences and spending patterns could adversely affect short and long term results. Expansion Strategy - Future Growth and Recent Acquisitions. The Company's expansion strategy involves opening and acquiring new stores or remodeling and expanding existing stores. The successful implementation of such expansion plans (including any potential acquisitions) depends upon many factors, including the ability of the Company to: - identify, negotiate, finance, obtain, construct, lease or refurbish suitable store sites; - hire, train and retain qualified personnel; and - integrate new stores into existing information systems and operations. The Company cannot guarantee that it will achieve its targets for opening or acquiring new stores or for remodeling or expanding existing stores, or that such stores will operate profitably when opened or acquired. If the Company fails to effectively implement its expansion strategy, it could materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, while the Company has not historically closed department stores, it may consider the closure of stores in the future. Competition. The retail business is highly competitive. The Company's primary competitors include national, regional and local chain department and specialty stores, general merchandise stores, discount and off-price retailers and outlet malls. Increased use and acceptance of the internet and other home shopping formats also creates increased competition. Some of these competitors offer similar or better branded merchandise and have greater financial resources to purchase larger quantities of merchandise at lower prices. The Company's success in counteracting these competitive pressures depends on its ability to: - offer merchandise which reflects the different regional and local needs of its customers; - differentiate and market itself as a home-town, locally-oriented store (as opposed to its more nationally focused competitors); and - continue to offer adequate quantities of better to moderate branded merchandise. Existing or new competitors, however, may begin to carry such brand-name merchandise or increase their offering of better quality merchandise which may negatively impact the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. Vendor Relations. The Company believes its close relationships with its key vendors enhance its ability to purchase brand-name merchandise at competitive prices. If the Company loses key vendor support or its vendors withdraw brand- name merchandise, it could have a material adverse effect on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. The Company cannot guarantee that it will be able to acquire brand-name merchandise at competitive prices or on competitive terms in the future. Leverage and Restrictive Covenants. Due to the level of the Company's indebtedness, any material adverse development affecting the Company could significantly limit its ability to withstand competitive pressures and adverse economic conditions, take advantage of expansion opportunities or to meet its obligations as they become due. The Company's existing debt agreements impose operating and financial restrictions that limit the Company's ability to make dividend payments and grant liens, among other matters. Interest Rate Risk. The Company's borrowings under its revolving line of credit facility, 2000-1 Series certificate and one of its long-term financing agreements bear interest at a variable rate. If interest rates increase significantly, the Company's financial results could be materially adversely affected. See Item 7A, "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk." California Electric Utilities Crisis. A substantial portion of the Company's stores are located in California. As a result, the Company is particularly sensitive to negative occurrences in that state. Recently, problems associated with the deregulation of the electric industry in California have resulted in intermittent service interruptions and are expected to result in significantly higher utility rates for the Company. The Company's inability to adequately address these problems could have a material adverse affect on its financial position and results of operations. Management believes that power interruptions and higher utilities costs may also be incurred in certain other states in which the Company operates. Consumer Credit Risks. The Company's private-label credit card facilitates sales and generates additional revenue from credit card fees. Changes in credit card use, default rates or in the laws regulating the granting or servicing of credit (including late fees and finance charges applied to outstanding balances) could materially adversely affect the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, the Company cannot guarantee that the credit card programs it has implemented will increase or maintain customer spending. Securitization of Accounts Receivable. The Company securitizes the receivables generated under its private-label credit card. Under the securitization program, the Company sells all of its customer credit card receivables to a wholly-owned subsidiary, GCRC, and those receivables are simultaneously conveyed to a qualified special purpose entity which issues securities representing interests in the receivables to investors. The Company cannot guarantee that it will continue to generate receivables by credit card holders at the same rate, or that it will establish new credit card accounts at the rate it has in the past. Any material decline in the generation of receivables or in the rate of cardholder payments on accounts could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition and results of operations. Dependence on Key Personnel. The Company's success depends to a large extent on its executive management team. The loss of the services of certain of its executives could have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company cannot guarantee that it will be able to retain such key personnel or attract additional qualified members to its management team in the future. Labor Conditions. The Company depends on attracting and retaining a large number of qualified employees to maintain and increase sales and to execute its customer service programs. Many of the employees are in entry level or part-time positions with historically high levels of turnover. The Company's ability to meet its employment needs is dependent on a number of factors, including the following factors which affect the Company's ability to hire or retain qualified employees: - unemployment levels; - minimum wage legislation; and - changing demographics in the local economies where stores are located. Item 2. PROPERTIES Corporate Offices and Distribution Centers. The Company's corporate headquarters are located in an office building in northeast Fresno, California. The building was constructed in 1991 by a limited partnership in which the Company is the sole limited partner holding a 36% interest in the partnership and the building constructed. The Company leases 89,000 square feet of the 176,000 square foot building under a twenty-year lease expiring in the year 2011. The lease contains two consecutive ten-year renewal options and the Company receives favorable rental terms under the lease. The Company believes that its current office space is adequate to meet its office space requirements for the foreseeable future. The Company's primary distribution center, completed in 1989, is a 420,000 square foot distribution facility located in Madera, California, which is in close proximity to the Company's corporate headquarters. The facility was originally designed to provide for the future growth of the Company and its processing capacity and physical size is readily expandable. The Company leases the distribution facility from an unrelated party under a 20-year lease expiring in the year 2009, with six consecutive five-year renewal options. The Company also leases a distribution center located in Kent, Washington from an unrelated party under a one-year lease expiring in February 2002. Store Leases and Locations. The Company owns seven of its 79 department stores, and leases the remaining 72 department stores and all of its 17 specialty stores. Most of the Company's department store leases expire in various years through 2021, and have renewal options for one or more periods ranging from five to 20 years. Leases for specialty store locations generally do not contain renewal options. While there is no assurance that the Company will be able to negotiate further extensions of any particular lease, management believes that satisfactory extensions or suitable alternative store locations will be available. Certain of the department and specialty apparel leases provide for the payment of additional contingent rentals based on a percentage of sales, require the payment of property taxes, insurance and maintenance costs, and in certain cases, also provide for rent abatements and scheduled rent increases during the lease terms. The Company leases three of its department stores from ECI, an affiliate of the Company. Additional information pertaining to the Company's store leases is included in Note 9 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. The following table contains additional information about the Company's stores open as of the end of fiscal 2000: # Gross of Square State Stores Footage(1) ----- ------ --------- Department Stores ----------------- California 39 4,104,250 Washington 21 1,036,500 Alaska 7 358,300 Idaho 5 214,500 Oregon 4 183,100 Nevada 2 206,000 Utah 1 36,500 -- --------- Total 79 6,139,150 == ========= Specialty Stores: ----------------- California 16 59,550 Nevada 1 3,400 -- ------ Total 17 62,950 __________ == ====== (1) Reflects total store square footage, including office space, storage, service and other support space that is not dedicated to direct merchandise sales. Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS The Company is party to legal proceedings and claims which have arisen during the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate outcome of such litigation and claims is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of its operations. Item 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITIES HOLDERS No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders of the Company during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year covered in this report. PART II Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS The Company's common stock is listed for trading on both the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") and the Pacific Stock Exchange. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices per share of common stock as reported on the NYSE Composite Tape under the symbol "GOT" during the periods indicated: 2000 1999 -------------- -------------- Fiscal Quarters High Low High Low --------------- ---- --- ---- --- 1st Quarter 6.94 4.69 7.81 6.75 2nd Quarter 6.56 4.38 9.19 7.19 3rd Quarter 6.81 4.75 9.19 8.06 4th Quarter 4.94 4.13 9.06 6.81 On March 30, 2001, the Company had 812 stockholders of record, some of which were brokerage firms or other nominees holding shares for multiple stockholders. The closing price of the Company's common stock as reported by the NYSE on March 30, 2001 was $5.05 per share. The Company has not paid a cash dividend since its initial public offering in 1986. The Board of Directors has no present intention to pay cash dividends in the foreseeable future, and will determine whether to declare cash dividends in the future depending on the Company's earnings, financial condition and capital requirements. In addition, the Company's credit agreement with Congress Financial Corporation prohibits the Company from paying dividends without prior written consent from that lender. Item 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA The Company reports on a 52/53 week fiscal year ending on the Saturday nearest to January 31. The fiscal years ended February 3, 2001, January 29, 2000, January 30, 1999, January 31, 1998 and February 1, 1997, are referred to herein as fiscal 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively. All fiscal years noted include 52 weeks, except for fiscal 2000, which includes 53 weeks. The Company's results of operations for fiscal 2000 were not materially affected by the 53rd week. The selected financial data below should be read in conjunction with Part II, Item 7, "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and the Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company and related notes included elsewhere herein. The Company completed the acquisition of 34 stores from Lamonts on July 24, 2000. The acquisition has affected the comparability of the Company's financial results. In addition, as described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, certain amounts in the accompanying fiscal 1999, 1998, 1997 and 1996 financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the fiscal 2000 presentation. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS: ----------------------- Fiscal Years 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (In thousands of dollars, except share data) Net sales $663,868 $541,275 $478,538 $414,361 $390,749 Net credit revenues 9,150 8,709 6,988 6,478 4,886 Net leased department revenues(1) 3,948 4,209 5,944 5,135 4,198 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Total revenues 676,966 554,193 491,470 425,974 399,833 Costs and expenses: Cost of sales 433,724 354,010 313,431 274,843 259,524 Selling, general and administrative expenses 201,765 167,561 152,231 132,034 124,976 Depreciation and amortization(2) 11,505 9,465 8,040 6,078 5,585 New store pre-opening costs(3) 6,183 495 421 589 1,337 Asset impairment charge(4) 1,933 Acquisition related expenses 859 673 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Total costs and expenses 653,177 533,464 474,982 414,217 391,422 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= Operating income 23,789 20,729 16,488 11,757 8,411 Other (income) expense: Interest expense 13,750 11,408 9,470 7,325 8,111 Miscellaneous income (1,414) (1,555) (2,011) (1,955) (2,792) ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- 12,336 9,853 7,459 5,370 5,319 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Income before income tax expense 11,453 10,876 9,029 6,387 3,092 Income tax expense 4,374 4,240 3,747 2,657 1,258 ------- ------- ------- ------- ------- Net income $ 7,079 $ 6,636 $ 5,282 $ 3,730 $ 1,834 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= Net income per common share - basic and diluted $ 0.56 $ 0.53 $ 0.46 $ 0.36 $ 0.18 ======= ======= ======= ======= ======= Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 12,614 12,577 11,418 10,474 10,461 Diluted 12,632 12,616 11,449 10,491 10,461 SELECTED BALANCE SHEET DATA: ---------------------------- Fiscal Years 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (In thousands of dollars) Retained interest in receivables sold $19,853 $29,138 $ 37,399 $ 15,813 $ 20,871 Receivables, net 8,840 7,597 18,985 6,650 4,636 Merchandise inventories 185,226 130,028 123,118 99,294 89,472 Property and equipment, net 143,670 120,393 113,645 99,057 87,370 Total assets 407,221 316,164 326,596 244,080 234,370 Working capital 115,052 104,719 96,231 67,579 70,231 Long-term obligations, less current portion 113,012 80,674 74,114 62,420 60,241 Subordinated note payable to affiliate 21,303 20,961 20,618 --- --- Stockholders' equity 117,573 110,238 103,468 83,905 80,139 OTHER SELECTED DATA: ------------------- Fiscal Years 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- (In thousands of dollars, except per square foot data) Sales growth: Total store sales 22.6%(5) 9.9% 15.4% 6.2% 5.3% Comparable store sales(6) 5.6%(7) 7.7% 2.1% 3.3% 1.4% Comparable stores data(8): Sales per selling square foot $ 176 $ 168 $ 170 $ 160 $ 170 Selling square footage 3,384 2,758 2,621 2,642 2,161 Capital expenditures $25,704 $16,059 $16,801 $14,976 $6,845 Current ratio 1.93:1 2.38:1 1.98:1 2.01:1 2.10:1 ____________________________ (1) Net leased department revenues consist of sales totaling $27.7 million, $29.0 million, $40.2 million, $35.2 million and $32.8 million in fiscal 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively, less cost of sales. (2) Depreciation and amortization includes the amortization of goodwill and favorable lease rights (beginning in fiscal 2000) totaling $666,000, $536,000 and $291,000 in fiscal 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively, and $116,000 in both 1997 and 1996. (3) Fiscal 2000 includes $5.6 million pre-tax ($3.5 million, or $0.28 per share, after-tax) of non- recurring costs associated with the re-opening of the stores acquired from Lamonts on July 24, 2000. Excluding this amount, net income for fiscal 2000 was $10.6 million, or $0.84 per share. (4) Represents a non-recurring charge related to the write-off of an investment in a co-operative buying group. Excluding this amount, net income for fiscal 1999 was $7.8 million, or $0.62 per share. (5) The increase in total store sales in fiscal 2000 is partially due to the addition of 34 stores acquired from Lamonts in July 2000. (See "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Net Sales" below.) (6) Comparable store sales in fiscal 1999 were materially affected by the termination of the shoe department leases in 28 department stores effective August 1, 1999, and by the implementation of Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") No. 101, "Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements", which requires the Company to report sales in leased departments separately from sales in owned departments. Comparable store sales data for fiscal years 1995 - 1998 would not be materially affected by the exclusion of leased department sales, due to the consistency of the contribution of those departments during those years. (7) Represents comparable store sales growth for the first 52 weeks of fiscal 2000 as compared to the same period of fiscal 1999. Comparable store sales for the 53 week period in fiscal 2000 increased by 6.9% as compared to the 52 week period in fiscal 1999. (8) Includes leased department sales in order to facilitate an understanding of the Company's sales relative to its selling square footage. Item 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Following is management's discussion and analysis of significant factors which have affected the Company's financial position and its results of operations for the periods presented in the accompanying Consolidated Financial Statements. As described more fully in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company completed the largest acquisition in its operating history on July 24, 2000, acquiring 34 store leases, related store fixtures and equipment, and one store building from Lamonts. As noted below, the acquisition has affected the comparability of the Company's financial results. In addition, fiscal 2000 results include 53 weeks as compared to 52 weeks in fiscal 1999. Management believes the Company's results of operations for fiscal 2000 were not materially affected by results applicable to the 53rd week. Results of Operations ______________________ The following table sets forth for the periods indicated certain items from the Company's Consolidated Income Statements, expressed as a percent of net sales: Fiscal Years 2000 1999 1998 ---- ---- ---- Net sales 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% Net credit revenues 1.4 1.6 1.5 Net leased department revenues 0.6 0.8 1.2 ----- ----- ----- 102.0 102.4 102.7 Costs and expenses: Cost of sales 65.3 65.4 65.5 Selling, general and administrative expenses 30.4 31.0 31.8 Depreciation and amortization 1.7 1.7 1.7 New store pre-opening costs 1.0 0.1 0.1 Asset impairment charge 0.4 Acquisition related costs 0.1 ----- ----- ----- 98.4 98.6 99.2 ----- ----- ----- Operating income 3.6 3.8 3.5 Other (income) expense: Interest expense 2.1 2.1 2.0 Miscellaneous income (0.2) (0.3) (0.4) ----- ----- ----- 1.9 1.8 1.6 ----- ----- ----- Income before income tax expense 1.7 2.0 1.9 Income tax expense 0.6 0.8 0.8 ----- ----- ----- Net income 1.1% 1.2% 1.1% ===== ===== ===== Fiscal 2000 Compared to Fiscal 1999 Net Sales __________ Net sales increased by approximately $122.6 million, or 22.6%, to $663.9 million in fiscal 2000 as compared to $541.3 million in fiscal 1999. This increase is primarily due to additional sales volume generated by the 37 stores opened during the second half of fiscal 2000, and by two new stores opened in Danville and Davis, California in October and November 1999, respectively. The increase is also due to a 6.9% increase in comparable store sales. Fiscal 2000 included 53 weeks of sales as compared to 52 weeks in fiscal 1999. Excluding the 53rd week in fiscal 2000, net sales increased by 21.1%, with a 5.6% increase in comparable store sales. The increase in comparable store sales in fiscal 2000 resulted partially from the conversion of the shoe departments in 28 Gottschalks locations from leased to owned departments, effective August 1, 1999. Sales generated in those departments prior to the termination of the lease on August 1, 1999 are included in Net Leased Department Revenues, as described below. The Company operated 79 department stores and 17 specialty apparel stores as of the end of fiscal 2000, as compared to 42 department stores and 20 specialty apparel stores as of the end of fiscal 1999. Thirty-seven of these department stores were opened in the second half of fiscal 2000, including the 34 stores which were acquired from Lamonts on July 24, 2000 and re-opened during the period beginning August 24 and continuing through September 7, 2000, and the three new stores opened in Grants Pass, Oregon, Walla Walla, Washington and Redding, California on August 23, November 8 and November 10, 2000, respectively. The new department store in Redding is a replacement for a pre-existing specialty store in that location, which was closed. Net Credit Revenues _____________________ Net credit revenues associated with the Company's private label credit card increased by $441,000, or 5.1%, in fiscal 2000 as compared to fiscal 1999. As a percent of net sales, net credit revenues decreased to 1.4% of net sales in fiscal 2000 as compared to 1.6% in fiscal 1999. Net credit revenues consist of the following: (In thousands of dollars) 2000 1999 _________________________________________________________________ Service charge revenues $16,832 $15,618 Interest expense on securitized receivables (4,425) (4,069) Charge-offs on receivables sold and provision for credit losses on receivables ineligible for sal e (3,642) (3,013) Gain on sale of receivables 385 173 ------ ------ $ 9,150 $ 8,709 ====== ====== Service charge revenues increased by approximately $1.2 million, or 7.8%, in fiscal 2000 as compared to fiscal 1999, but as a percent of net sales, decreased to 2.5% in fiscal 2000 as compared to 2.9% in fiscal 1999. The dollar increase is primarily due to a change in the method of assessing service charges to an average-daily balance method effective April 1999 (previously assessed based on the balance as of the end of a billing period), an increase in the volume of late charge fees collected on delinquent credit card balances and additional service charge revenues generated by newly originated customer credit card accounts in the Company's 37 new stores opened in fiscal 2000. The decrease as a percentage of net sales is primarily due to lower average outstanding balances on newly originated customer accounts in those 37 new stores, and such accounts are currently generating lower service charge revenues as compared to those produced by more established accounts. The Company's credit sales as a percent of total sales were 41.4% in fiscal 2000 as compared to 44.2% in fiscal 1999. Excluding credit sales generated in the 37 new stores, credit sales as a percentage of total sales were 43.9% in fiscal 2000. Interest expense on securitized receivables increased by $356,000, or 8.7%, in fiscal 2000 as compared to fiscal 1999. This increase is primarily due to a higher level of outstanding securitized borrowings during the period resulting from the issuance of the 2000-1 Series certificate in November 2000. Charge-offs on receivables sold and the provision for credit losses on receivables ineligible for sale increased by $629,000, or 20.9%, in fiscal 2000 as compared to fiscal 1999. As a percent of net sales, however, such losses decreased to 0.5% in fiscal 2000 as compared to 0.6% in fiscal 1999. The gain on sale of receivables increased by $212,000 in fiscal 2000 as compared to fiscal 1999 as a result of an increase in the volume of receivables sold as compared to the prior year. Net Leased Department Revenues ______________________________ Net rental income generated by the Company's various leased departments decreased by $261,000, or 6.2%, to $3.9 million in fiscal 2000 as compared to $4.2 million in fiscal 1999. This decrease is primarily due to the termination of the shoe department leases in 28 Gottschalks locations as of the end of the first half of 1999. The Company assumed the operation of those shoe departments upon the termination of the lease and shoe department sales in those locations beginning in the second half of 1999 are included in total sales for financial reporting purposes. The decrease in net rental income was partially offset by additional revenues generated by the leased shoe departments in 36 of the Company's new locations in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska, which have been operated by an independent lessee since being opened. The Company expects to terminate that lease at the end of July 2001 and assume the operation of those departments beginning August 2001. As required by SAB No. 101, leased department revenues are presented net of the related costs for financial reporting purposes. Sales generated by the Company's leased departments, consisting primarily of the shoe departments (currently in 36 Pacific Northwest and Alaskan locations), fine jewelry departments and the beauty salons, totaled $27.7 million in fiscal 2000 and $29.0 million in fiscal 1999. Cost of Sales _____________ Cost of sales, which includes costs associated with the buying, handling and distribution of merchandise, increased by approximately $79.7 million to $433.7 million in fiscal 2000 as compared to $354.0 million in fiscal 1999, an increase of 22.5%. This increase is due to the increase in the Company's net sales. The Company's gross margin percentage increased to 34.7% in fiscal 2000 as compared to 34.6% in fiscal 1999. Selling, General and Administrative Expenses ____________________________________________ Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by approximately $34.2 million to $201.8 million in fiscal 2000 as compared to $167.6 million in fiscal 1999, an increase of 20.4%. As a percent of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to 30.4% in fiscal 2000 as compared to 31.0% in fiscal 1999. The dollar increase is primarily due to operating costs associated with the 37 new stores opened during the second half of fiscal 2000. The decrease as a percentage of net sales is primarily due to leveraging the Company's fixed costs and corporate overhead against a higher sales base. This decrease was partially offset by higher costs as a percentage of net sales incurred in the 37 new stores opened in fiscal 2000, which are currently being operated with a higher payroll and advertising structure than the Company's existing stores. Such expenditures are expected to decrease as a percentage of net sales as the new stores mature. The Company expects to incur higher utilities costs in fiscal 2001 as a result of the energy crisis in California and the Pacific Northwest. In an attempt to partially offset the impact of the expected rate increase, the Company is currently implementing various programs aimed at reducing energy consumption at all facilities. The Company also expects to incur higher health care and workers' compensation costs in fiscal 2001. Programs aimed at reducing costs in other controllable areas of the Company are also currently being developed. Depreciation and Amortization ______________________________ Depreciation and amortization expense, which includes the amortization of intangibles (goodwill and favorable lease rights), increased by approximately $2.0 million to $11.5 million in fiscal 2000 as compared to $9.5 million in fiscal 1999, an increase of 21.6%. As a percent of net sales, depreciation and amortization expense remained unchanged at 1.7% in fiscal 2000 and 1999. The dollar increase is primarily due to additional depreciation related to assets acquired from Lamonts, capital expenditures for new stores and the renovation of existing stores, and information systems enhancements, both to integrate the newly acquired stores into the Company's existing systems and for other system enhancements. The dollar increase also relates to goodwill and favorable lease rights recorded as a result of the Lamonts acquisition. Excluding the amortization of intangibles, depreciation and amortization expense increased by $1.9 million, or 21.4%, as compared to the prior year, and as a percentage of net sales, remained unchanged at 1.6%. New Store Pre-Opening Costs _____________________________ New store pre-opening costs, which are expensed as incurred, typically include costs such as payroll and fringe benefits for store associates, store rents, grand opening advertising, credit solicitation and other costs incurred in the opening of a new store. As a result, the amount of new store pre- opening expenses recognized can vary significantly from year to year depending on the number of new stores opened. The Company recognized a total of $6.2 million of new store pre-opening costs in fiscal 2000, including $5.6 million incurred in connection with the re-opening of the 34 stores acquired from Lamonts. The Company also incurred $551,000 in connection with the opening of the three new stores in Grants Pass, Oregon, Walla Walla, Washington and Redding, California. New store pre-opening costs of $495,000 were recognized in fiscal 1999, representing costs incurred in connection with the opening of two new stores in Davis and Danville, California. Asset Impairment Charge _______________________ The Company recognized a non-recurring asset impairment charge of approximately $1.9 million in fiscal 1999 resulting from the write-off of an investment in a cooperative merchandise buying group accounted for under the cost method. Interest Expense _________________ Interest expense, which includes the amortization of deferred financing costs, increased by approximately $2.3 million to $13.8 million in fiscal 2000 as compared to $11.4 million in fiscal 1999, an increase of 20.5%. As a percent of net sales, interest expense remained unchanged at 2.1% in fiscal 2000 and 1999. The dollar increase is primarily due to higher average outstanding borrowings on the Company's working capital facility and an increase in the weighted-average interest rate applicable to the facility (8.76% in fiscal 2000 compared to 7.52% in fiscal 1999). The increase is also due to the issuance of the $10.0 million note payable in connection with the Lamonts acquisition (see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). Interest expense related to securitized receivables is reflected as a reduction of net credit revenues and is not included in interest expense for financial reporting purposes. Miscellaneous Income _____________________ Miscellaneous income, which includes the amortization of deferred income and other miscellaneous income and expense amounts, decreased to approximately $1.4 million in fiscal 2000 as compared to $1.6 million in fiscal 1999. As a percent of net sales, miscellaneous income decreased to 0.2% in fiscal 2000 as compared to 0.3% in fiscal 1999. Income Taxes _____________ The Company's effective tax rate was 38.2% in fiscal 2000 as compared to 39.0% in fiscal 1999. (See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.) Net Income __________ As a result of the foregoing, the Company reported net income of $7.1 million, or $0.56 per share (basic and diluted), in fiscal 2000. This amount includes $5.6 million (pre-tax) of non-recurring costs incurred in connection with the re-opening of the 34 stores acquired from Lamonts. Excluding such costs on an after-tax basis, net income for fiscal 2000 increased by $2.8 million, or $0.22 per share, to $10.6 million, or $0.84 per share in fiscal 2000, as compared to $7.8 million, or $0.62 per share (excluding the non-recurring item), in fiscal 1999. Fiscal 1999 Compared to Fiscal 1998 Net Sales __________ Net sales increased by approximately $62.7 million, or 13.1%, to $541.3 million in fiscal 1999 as compared to $478.5 million in fiscal 1998. This increase is primarily due to additional sales volume generated by the eight new stores acquired from Harris which were not open for the entire period in the prior year, and by two new stores opened in Danville and Davis, California in October and November 1999, respectively. The increase is also due to a 7.7% increase in comparable store sales, resulting partially from the conversion of the shoe departments in 28 stores from leased to owned departments, effective August 1, 1999. Pursuant to SAB No. 101, sales generated in these shoe departments prior to the termination of the lease on August 1, 1999 are included in Net Leased Department Revenues, as described below. Net Credit Revenues ____________________ Net credit revenues associated with the Company's private label credit card increased by approximately $1.7 million, or 24.6%, in fiscal 1999 as compared to fiscal 1998. As a percent of net sales, net credit revenues increased to 1.6% of net sales in fiscal 1999 as compared to 1.5% in fiscal 1998. Net credit revenues consist of the following: (In thousands of dollars) 1999 1998 ____________________________________________________________________ Service charge revenues $15,618 $13,522 Interest expense on securitized receivables (4,069) (3,314) Charge-offs on receivables sold and provision for credit losses on receivables ineligible for sale (3,013) (3,175) Gain (loss) on sale of receivables 173 (45) ------ ------ $ 8,709 $ 6,988 ====== ====== Service charge revenues increased by approximately $2.1 million, or 15.5%, in fiscal 1999 as compared to fiscal 1998. This increase is primarily due to additional service charge revenues generated by customer credit card receivables acquired from Harris, a change in the method of assessing service charges to an average-daily balance method effective April 1999 (previously assessed based on the balance as of the end of a billing period), and an increase in the volume of late charge fees collected on delinquent credit card balances. The Company's credit sales as a percent of total sales increased to 44.2% in fiscal 1999 as compared to 43.1% in fiscal 1998. Interest expense on securitized receivables increased by $755,000, or 22.8%, in fiscal 1999 as compared to fiscal 1998. This increase is primarily due to a higher level of outstanding securitized borrowings during the period, combined with a higher weighted-average interest rate applicable to such borrowings (7.59% in fiscal 1999 as compared to 7.30% in fiscal 1998). Charge-offs on receivables sold and the provision for credit losses on receivables ineligible for sale decreased by $162,000, or 5.1%, in fiscal 1999 as compared to 1998, primarily due to a favorable trend in credit losses during the period. As a result of an increase in the volume of receivables sold as compared to the prior year, the gain (loss) on sale of receivables increased by $218,000 in fiscal 1999 as compared to fiscal 1998. Net Leased Department Revenues ________________________________ Net rental income generated by the Company's various leased departments decreased by approximately $1.7 million, or 29.2%, to $4.2 million in fiscal 1999 as compared to $5.9 million in fiscal 1998. This decrease is primarily due to the termination of the shoe department leases in 28 store locations effective August 1, 1999. Shoe department sales in those locations after August 1, 1999 are included in total sales for financial reporting purposes. Leased department revenues are presented net of the related costs for financial reporting purposes. Sales generated by the Company's leased departments, consisting primarily of the shoe departments (prior to August 1, 1999), fine jewelry departments and the beauty salons, totaled $29.0 million in fiscal 1999 and $40.2 million in fiscal 1998. Cost of Sales _____________ Cost of sales, which includes costs associated with the buying, handling and distribution of merchandise, increased by approximately $40.6 million to $354.0 million in fiscal 1999 as compared to $313.4 million in fiscal 1998, an increase of 12.9%. This increase is due to the increase in sales. The Company's gross margin percentage increased to 34.6% in fiscal 1999 as compared to 34.5% in fiscal 1998. Selling, General and Administrative Expenses ____________________________________________ Selling, general and administrative expenses increased by approximately $15.4 million to $167.6 million in fiscal 1999 as compared to $152.2 million in fiscal 1998, an increase of 10.1%. As a percent of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to 31.0% in fiscal 1999 as compared to 31.8% in fiscal 1998, primarily due to higher sales volume gained through the acquisition of the Harris stores, combined with on-going Company-wide cost reduction efforts. Depreciation and Amortization ______________________________ Depreciation and amortization expense increased by approximately $1.5 million to $9.5 million in fiscal 1998 as compared to $8.0 million in fiscal 1998, an increase of 17.7%. As a percent of net sales, depreciation and amortization remained unchanged at 1.7% in fiscal 1999 and fiscal 1998. The dollar increase is primarily due to additional depreciation related to assets acquired from Harris and capital expenditures for the renovation of existing stores, and a full year of amortization of Harris goodwill. New Store Pre-Opening Costs ____________________________ New store pre-opening costs of $495,000 were recognized in fiscal 1999, representing costs incurred in connection with the opening of two new stores in Danville and Davis, California. New store pre-opening costs incurred in fiscal 1998, totaling $421,000, represents the amortization of costs arising from two new store openings in fiscal 1997. Non-Recurring Items ____________________ The Company recognized a non-recurring asset impairment charge of approximately $1.9 million in fiscal 1999 resulting from the write-off of an investment in a cooperative merchandise buying group accounted for under the cost method. Fiscal 1998 results include acquisition related expenses of $859,000, consisting primarily of costs incurred prior to the elimination of duplicative operations of Harris, including merchandising, advertising, credit and distribution functions. By the end of fiscal 1998, all duplicative operations of Harris had been eliminated. Interest Expense _________________ Interest expense, which includes the amortization of deferred financing costs, increased by approximately $1.9 million to $11.4 million in fiscal 1999 as compared to $9.5 million in fiscal 1998, an increase of 20.5%. As a percent of net sales, interest expense increased to 2.1% in fiscal 1999 as compared to 2.0% in fiscal 1998. These increases are primarily due to additional interest associated with the Subordinated Note issued to Harris (see Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements), combined with higher average outstanding borrowings under the Company's working capital facility, which were required to facilitate increased inventory purchases for new stores and for the newly owned shoe departments. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in the weighted-average interest rate applicable to outstanding borrowings under the Company's working capital facility (7.52% in fiscal 1999 as compared to 7.88% in fiscal 1998), resulting primarily from a 1/4% interest rate reduction effective March 1999. Miscellaneous Income ______________________ Miscellaneous income, which includes the amortization of deferred income and other miscellaneous income and expense amounts, decreased by approximately $400,000 to $1.6 million in fiscal 1999 as compared to $2.0 million in fiscal 1998. Miscellaneous income in fiscal 1998 includes a credit of approximately $350,000 to standardize the amortization periods of certain donated properties. Income Taxes _____________ The Company's effective tax rate decreased to 39.0% in fiscal 1999 as compared to 41.5% in fiscal 1998, primarily due to the implementation of tax planning strategies. (See Note 10 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.) Net Income ____________ As a result of the foregoing, the Company's net income increased by approximately $1.3 million to $6.6 million in fiscal 1999 as compared to $5.3 million in fiscal 1998. On a per share basis (basic and diluted), net income increased to $0.53 per share in fiscal 1999 as compared to $0.46 per share in fiscal 1998. Excluding the previously described non-recurring asset impairment charge, net income for fiscal 1999 was $7.8 million, or $0.62 per share. Liquidity and Capital Resources _________________________________ In fiscal 2000, the Company's working capital requirements were met through a combination of borrowings under its revolving line of credit, short-term trade credit, and by sales of proprietary credit card accounts under its receivables securitization program. Working capital increased by approximately $10.4 million to $115.1 million in fiscal 2000 as compared to $104.7 million in fiscal 1999. The Company's ratio of current assets to current liabilities decreased to 1.93:1 as of the end of fiscal 2000 as compared to 2.38:1 as of the end of fiscal 1999. As described more fully below, the Company acquired 34 stores from Lamonts in fiscal 2000 and capital requirements, costs associated with opening the stores and lower than expected operating results generated by those stores reduced the Company's liquidity position as of the end of fiscal 2000. Acquisition of 34 Stores from Lamonts. As described more fully in Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, on July 24, 2000, the Company acquired 34 former Lamonts store leases, related store fixtures and equipment, and one store building for a net purchase price of $17.6 million in cash. The acquisition significantly expanded the Company's presence in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. A portion of the purchase price for the assets was financed through the issuance of a $10.0 million three-year note payable to a third party lender. The Company financed the remainder of the purchase price from existing financial resources. The Company incurred approximately $5.6 million of non-recurring costs in connection with the re-opening of the former Lamonts stores. The Company also experienced a significant outflow of cash to purchase an adequate level of merchandise to open the stores, to refurbish the stores and to integrate the stores into the Company's existing information systems. In addition to the cash required to acquire and open the stores, operating results produced by those stores for their first five months of operation were lower than expected. These factors contributed to the $36.3 million operating cash flow deficit in fiscal 2000. Management believes that the cash required to operate and maintain an optimal level of merchandise in the acquired stores in fiscal 2001 will be significantly less than that required to initially open those stores in fiscal 2000. Management has also implemented various initiatives aimed at improving sales, profitability and cash flows generated by those stores. Such initiatives include, but are not limited to, revising the merchandise mix in the stores based on current selling trends, improving the effectiveness of advertising expenditures, improving sales associate productivity, and reducing staffing levels and other operating costs, where appropriate. In addition, the Company is evaluating the possible sale or closure of five to seven of the stores which are currently considered to be either underperforming, or inconsistent with the long-term operating strategy of the Company, due to their small size, low sales volume and/or location. The Company is also evaluating the possible mortgage financing of the building acquired in the Lamonts transaction. Although management believes that these initiatives will improve the Company's liquidity position in fiscal 2001, there can be no assurance that the Company will integrate the Lamonts stores into its operations successfully and improve their profitability. Sources of Liquidity. ______________________ Revolving Line of Credit. The Company has a $180.0 million revolving line of credit facility with Congress Financial Corporation (Western) through March 31, 2002. Borrowings under the arrangement are limited to a restrictive borrowing base that is generally equal to 75% of eligible merchandise inventories, and at the Company's option, such borrowings may be increased to 80% of such inventories during the period of November 1 through December 31 of each year, to fund increased seasonal inventory requirements. During the period of March 1, 2000 through February 28, 2001, interest on outstanding borrowings was charged at a rate of LIBOR plus 1.875% (7.9% at February 3, 2001), with no interest charged on the unused portion of the line of credit. The interest rate was increased to LIBOR plus 2.00% on March 1, 2001. The Company had $18.3 million of excess availability under the credit facility as of February 3, 2001, and was in compliance with the single financial loan covenant applicable to the facility. Receivables Securitization Program. As described more fully in Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company sells all of its accounts receivable arising under its private-label credit cards on an ongoing basis under a receivables securitization facility. The facility provides the Company with an additional source of working capital and long- term financing that is generally more cost-effective than traditional debt financing. On March 1, 1999, the Company issued a $53.0 million principal amount 7.66% Fixed Base Class A-1 Credit Card Certificate (the "1999-1 Series") to a single investor through a private placement. Proceeds from the issuance of the 1999-1 Series were used to repay the outstanding balances of previously issued certificates, totaling $26.9 million as of that date, and the remaining funds were used to purchase additional receivables from the Company. The holder of the 1999-1 Series certificate earns interest on a monthly basis at a fixed interest rate of 7.66%, and the outstanding principal balance of the certificate, which is off-balance sheet for financial reporting purposes, is to be repaid in twelve equal monthly installments commencing September 2003 and continuing through August 2004. On November 16, 2000, a Variable Base Class A-1 Credit Card Certificate (the "2000-1 Series") was also issued in the principal amount of up to $24.0 million. The 2000-1 Series was issued to provide financing for receivables in the Company's portfolio in excess of amounts required to support the 1999-1 Series, and for the additional receivables expected to be generated by the 37 new stores opened in the second half of fiscal 2000. The Company can borrow against the 2000-1 Series certificate on a revolving basis, similar to a revolving line of credit arrangement. Such borrowings are limited to a specified percentage of the outstanding balance of receivables underlying the certificate. The holder of the 2000-1 Series certificate earns interest on a monthly basis at a variable rate equal to one- month LIBOR plus 1.5% (7.38% at February 3, 2001). As of February 3, 2001, $18.0 million was issued and outstanding against the certificate, which was the maximum amount available for borrowings as of that date. The 2000-1 Series certificate was issued for an initial 364-day commitment period (expiring October 31, 2001), and may be extended for subsequent 364-day periods at the option of GCC Trust and the certificate holder, through July 31, 2003. The outstanding principal balance of the certificate, which is treated as off-balance sheet for financial reporting purposes, is to be repaid in six equal monthly installments commencing in the month following the end of the commitment period. In the event the commitment period is extended through July 31, 2003, the principal is to be repaid in twelve equal monthly installments commencing September 2003 and continuing through August 2004. Management presently expects to reissue the certificate for an additional 364-day period upon its expiration on October 31, 2001. Monthly cash flows generated by the Company's credit card portfolio, consisting of principal and interest collections, are first used to pay certain costs of the program, which include the payment of principal (when required) and interest to the investor, and monthly servicing fees to the Company. Any excess cash flows are then available to fund additional purchases of newly generated receivables, ultimately serving as a source of working capital financing for the Company. Subject to certain conditions, the Company may expand the securitization program to meet future receivables growth. Uses of Liquidity. _____________________ Capital expenditures in fiscal 2000, totaling $25.7 million, were primarily related to tenant improvements and fixtures and equipment for the 37 new department stores opened during the year, the renovation and refixturing of certain existing locations, and for various information systems enhancements, including those required to integrate the newly acquired stores into the Company's existing systems. The Company presently has no commitments to open or remodel any stores in fiscal 2001. Management has the ability to limit or delay a significant percentage of its current fiscal 2001 planned capital expenditures without adversely affecting the Company's business, its financial condition or its results of operations. As described more fully in Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Company has other long-term obligations, including capital lease obligations, with total outstanding balances of $39.5 million at February 3, 2001 ($35.2 million as of January 29, 2000). The obligations mature at dates ranging from 2001 to 2010, bear interest at fixed and variable rates ranging from 8.63% to 10.45%, and are collateralized by various properties and equipment of the Company. The scheduled annual principal maturities on the Company's various long-term obligations are $5.8 million, $4.8 million, $3.4 million, $906,000 and $660,000 for fiscal 2001 through 2005, with $18.1 million due thereafter. In addition, in fiscal 1998 the Company issued a $22.2 million 8% Subordinated Note in connection with the Harris acquisition. The Subordinated Note is due August 20, 2003, but may be extended to August 2006 under certain circumstances. (See Notes 7 and 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.) Certain of the Company's long-term debt and lease arrangements contain various restrictive financial covenants. The Company was in compliance with all such restrictive financial covenants as of February 3, 2001. Management believes the previously described sources of liquidity, including, without limitation, the anticipated proceeds from the proposed sale or mortgage financing of certain of the stores acquired in the Lamonts transaction, will be adequate to meet the Company's working capital, capital expenditure and debt service requirements for fiscal 2001. Inflation _________ Although inflation has not been a material factor in the Company's operations during the past several years, the Company has experienced increases in the costs of certain of its merchandise, salaries, employee benefits and other general and administrative costs, including health care and workers' compensation costs. The Company is generally able to offset these increases by adjusting its selling prices or by modifying its operations. The Company's ability to adjust selling prices is limited by competitive pressures in its market areas. The Company accounts for its merchandise inventories on the retail method using last-in, first-out (LIFO) cost based upon the department store price indices published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Under this method, the cost of products sold reported in the financial statements approximates current costs and thus reduces the impact of inflation due to increasing costs on reported income. Seasonality _____________ The Company's business, like that of most retailers, is subject to seasonal influences, with the major portion of net sales, gross profit and operating results realized during the Christmas selling months of November and December of each year, and to a lesser extent, during the Easter and Back-to-School selling seasons. The Company's results may also vary from quarter to quarter as a result of, among other things, the timing and level of the Company's sales promotions, weather, fashion trends and the overall health of the economy, both nationally and in the Company's market areas. Working capital requirements also fluctuate during the year, increasing substantially prior to the Christmas selling season when the Company must carry significantly higher inventory levels. The following table sets forth unaudited quarterly results of operations for fiscal 2000 and 1999 (in thousands, except per share data). (See Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.) 2000 _____________________________________________ Quarter Ended April 29 July 29 October 28 February 3 ------------- -------- ------- ---------- ---------- Net sales (1) $121,335 $129,939 $153,694 $258,900 Gross profit 41,034 45,067 57,316 86,727 Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) (2) (1,390) 17 (4,086) 16,912 Net income (loss) ( 841) 11 (2,472) 10,381 Net income (loss) per common share - basic and diluted $ (0.07) $ (0.00) $ (0.20) $ 0.83 Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 12,597 12,605 12,621 12,582 Diluted 12,597 12,629 12,621 12,616 1999 ___________________________________________ Quarter Ended May 1 July 31 October 30 January 29 ------------- ----- ------- ---------- ---------- Net sales (1) $111,502 $119,209 $123,330 $187,234 Gross profit 37,930 41,351 44,366 63,618 Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)(3) (1,851) ( 180) 615 12,292 Net income (loss) (1,079) ( 105) 358 7,462 Net income (loss) per common share - basic and diluted $ (0.09) $ (0.01) $ 0.03 $ 0.59 Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 12,575 12,575 12,575 12,581 Diluted 12,575 12,575 12,646 12,615 (1) The Company's net sales by quarter in both fiscal 2000 and 1999 have been increased to include shipping and handling fees charged to customers, in accordance with EITF No. 00-10 (see "Recently Issued Accounting Standards" below). Such amounts were previously credited to selling, general and administrative costs. (2) Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) in the three month periods ended July 29, 2000 and October 28, 2000 include non-recurring, pre-tax charges for costs incurred in the re-opening of the 34 stores acquired from Lamonts totaling $977,000 and $4,655,000, respectively. The total of such costs recognized in fiscal 2000 amounted to $5,632,000. (3) Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) in the three month period ended January 29, 2000 includes a non- recurring, pre-tax charge for $1,933,000 to reflect the impairment of an investment accounted for under the cost method. Recently Issued Accounting Standards ____________________________________ SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," is effective for all fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. SFAS No. 133, as amended, establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities. Under SFAS 133, certain contracts that were not formerly considered derivatives may now meet the definition of a derivative. The Company will adopt SFAS No. 133 effective as of the beginning of fiscal 2001. Management does not expect its adoption to have a significant impact on the financial position, results of operations, or cash flows of the Company. SFAS No. 140, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities," was issued in September 2000 and replaces SFAS No. 125. SFAS No. 140 is effective for transfers and servicing of financial assets and extinguishments of liabilities occurring after March 31, 2001, with certain disclosure requirements effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2000 (fiscal 2000 for the Company). The statement carries over most of the provisions of SFAS No. 125 without reconsideration and, accordingly, the adoption of SFAS No. 140 is not expected to materially affect the Company's financial position or the results of its operations. The Company adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 140 for its fiscal 2000 financial statements. Effective as of the end of fiscal 2000, the Company adopted the provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue 00-10, "Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs," which requires that all amounts billed to a customer in a sale transaction for shipping and handling, including customer delivery charges, be classified as revenue, and that all prior periods presented be reclassified to conform with the required presentation. The Company had previously included shipping and handling revenues and costs in its selling, general and administrative costs. Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK The Company is exposed to market risks in the normal course of business due to changes in interest rates on short-term borrowings under its revolving line of credit, the Series 2000-1 certificate and on one of its long-term borrowing arrangements. As of February 3, 2001, borrowings subject to a variable interest rate represented 57.0% of the Company's total outstanding borrowings (both on and off-balance sheet). The Company does not engage in financial transactions for speculative or trading purposes, nor does the Company purchase or hold any derivative financial instruments. The interest payable on the Company's revolving line of credit, 2000-1 Series certificate and one of its long-term borrowing arrangements, are based on variable interest rates and are therefore affected by changes in market interest rates. An increase of 88 basis points on existing floating rate borrowings (a 10% change from the Company's weighted-average interest rate as of February 3, 2001) would reduce the Company's pre-tax net income and cash flow by approximately $869,000. This 88 basis point increase in interest rates would not materially affect the fair value of the Company's fixed rate financial instruments. (See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.) Item 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA The response to this item is set forth under Part IV, Item 14, included elsewhere herein. Item 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE None. PART III Item 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE COMPANY The information required by Item 10 of Form 10-K, other than the following information required by Paragraph (b) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K, is incorporated by reference from those portions of the Company's definitive proxy statement with respect to the Annual Stockholders' Meeting scheduled to be held on June 28, 2001, to be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A (the "2001 Proxy") under the headings "Nominees for Election as Director" and "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance." As of March 31, 2001, the name, age and title of the senior executive officers of the Company are as follows: Name Age(1) Position ---- ------ -------- James R. Famalette 49 President and Chief Executive Officer Gary L. Gladding 61 Executive Vice President/ General Merchandise Manager Michael S. Geele 50 Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Michael J. Schmidt 59 Senior Vice President/ Director of Stores David K. Vernon 45 Senior Vice President/General Merchandise Manager - Home and Merchandise Planning James R. Famalette became President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company on June 25, 1999 after serving as President and Chief Operating Officer of the Company since April 14, 1997. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Famalette was President and Chief Executive Officer of Liberty House, a department and specialty store chain based in Honolulu, Hawaii, from 1993 through 1997, and served in a variety of other positions with Liberty House from 1987 through 1993, including Vice President, Stores and Vice President, General Merchandise Manager. From 1982 through 1987, he served as Vice President, General Merchandise Manager and later as President of Village Fashions/Cameo Stores in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and from 1975 to 1982 served as a Divisional Merchandise Manager for Colonies, a specialty store chain, based in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Mr. Famalette serves on the Board of Directors of the National Retail Federation. Gary L. Gladding has been Executive Vice President of the Company since 1987, and joined the Company as Vice President/General Merchandise Manager in 1983 (1). Prior to 1983, he served in a variety of management positions with Lazarus Department Stores, a division of Federated Department Stores, Inc., and the May Department Stores Co. Michael S. Geele became Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of the Company on January 21, 1999. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Geele was Chief Financial Officer of Southwest Supermarkets in Phoenix, Arizona from 1995 to 1998. From 1991 to 1995, Mr. Geele served as Vice President of Finance for Smitty's Super Valu in Phoenix, Arizona, and from 1981 to 1991 served in various financial positions with Smitty's, including Senior Director and Corporate Controller. Mr. Geele is a Certified Public Accountant. Michael J. Schmidt became Senior Vice President/Director of Stores of the Company in 1985(1). From 1983 through 1985, he was Manager of the Gottschalks Fashion Fair store. Prior to joining the Company, he held management positions with Liberty House, Allied Corporation and R.H. Macy & Co., Inc. David K. Vernon became Senior Vice President/General Merchandise Manager - Home and Merchandise Planning in 1999, after serving as Vice President/General Merchandise Manager - Home since 1996. From 1993 to 1996, he was the Divisional Vice President of Broadway Department Stores, and prior to that held senior merchandising manager positions with various other department stores, including Macy's, Rich's and Bullocks. (1) References to the Company prior to 1986 are more specifically to the Company's predecessor and former subsidiary, E. Gottschalk and Co., Inc. Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION The information required by this item is incorporated by reference from those portions of the Company's 2001 Proxy under the headings "Executive Compensation" and "Director Compensation For Fiscal Year 2000." Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT The information required by this item is incorporated by reference from the portion of the Company's 2001 Proxy under the heading "Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management." Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS The information required by this item is incorporated by reference from the portion of the Company's 2001 Proxy under the heading "Certain Relationships and Related Transactions." PART IV Item 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K (a)(1) The following consolidated financial statements of Gottschalks Inc. and Subsidiary as required by Item 8 are included in this Part IV, Item 14: Consolidated balance sheets - As of February 3, 2001 and January 29, 2000 Consolidated income statements -- Fiscal years ended February 3, 2001, January 29, 2000 and January 30, 1999 Consolidated statements of stockholders' equity -- Fiscal years ended February 3, 2001, January 29, 2000 and January 30, 1999 Consolidated statements of cash flows -- Fiscal years ended February 3, 2001, January 29, 2000 and January 30, 1999 Notes to consolidated financial statements -- Three years ended February 3, 2001 Independent auditors' report (a)(2) The following financial statement schedule of Gottschalks Inc. and Subsidiary is included in Item 14(d): Schedule II -- Valuation and qualifying accounts All other schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are included in the consolidated financial statements, are not required under the related instructions or are inapplicable, and therefore have been omitted. (a)(3) The following exhibits are required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K and Item 14(c): Incorporated by Reference From the Exhibit Following No. Description Document ------- ------------------------------- ------------------ 3.1 Certificate of Incorporation Registration of the Registrant, as amended Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-3949) 3.2 By-Laws of the Registrant, Filed electronically herewith 10.1 Agreement of Limited Partnership Annual Report on dated March 16, 1990, by and Form 10-K for the between River Park Properties I year ended February and Gottschalks Inc. relating to 2, 1991 (File No. the Company's corporate 1-09100) headquarters 10.2 Gottschalks Inc. Retirement Registration Savings Plan(*) Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 33-3949) 10.3 Participation Agreement dated Annual Report on as of December 1, 1988 among Form 10-K for the Gottschalks Inc., General Foods year ended January Credit Investors No. 2 Corporation 29, 1994 (File No. and Manufacturers Hanover Trust 1-09100) Company of California relating to the sale-leaseback of the Stockton and Bakersfield department stores and the Madera distribution facility 10.4 Lease Agreement dated December 1, Annual Report on 1988 by and between Manufacturers Form 10-K for the Hanover Trust Company of California year ended January and Gottschalks Inc. relating to 29, 1994 (File No. the sale-leaseback of department 1-09100) stores in Stockton and Bakersfield, California and the Madera distribution facility 10.5 Ground Lease dated December 1, Annual Report on 1988 by and between Gottschalks Form 10-K for the Inc. and Manufacturers Hanover year ended January Trust Company of California 29, 1994 (File No. relating to the sale-leaseback 1-09100) of the Bakersfield department store 10.6 Memorandum of Lease and Lease Annual Report on Supplement dated July 1, 1989 by Form 10-K for the and between Manufacturers Hanover year ended January Trust Company of California and 29, 1994 (File No. Gottschalks Inc. relating to the 1-09100) sale-leaseback of the Stockton department store 10.7 Ground Lease dated August 17, Annual Report on 1989 by and between Gottschalks Form 10-K for the Inc. and Manufacturers Hanover year ended January Trust Company of California 29, 1994 (File No. relating to the sale-leaseback of 1-09100) the Madera distribution facility 10.8 Lease Supplement dated as of Annual Report on August 17, 1989 by and between Form 10-K for the Manufacturers Hanover Trust year ended January Company of California and 29, 1994 (File No. Gottschalks Inc. relating to the 1-09100) sale-leaseback of the Madera distribution facility 10.9 Tax Indemnification Agreement Annual Report on dated as of August 1, 1989 by Form 10-K for the and between Gottschalks Inc. year ended January and General Foods Credit 29, 1994 (File No. Investors No. 2 Corporation 1-09100) relating to the sale-leaseback of the Stockton and Bakersfield department stores and the Madera distribution facility 10.10 Lease Agreement dated as of Annual Report on March 16, 1990 by and between Form 10-K for the Gottschalks Inc. and River year ended January Park Properties I relating to the 29, 1994 (File No. Company's corporate headquarters 1-09100) 10.11 Consulting Agreement dated Quarterly Report on May 27, 1994 by and between Form 10-Q for the Gottschalks Inc. and Gerald quarter ended April H. Blum(*) 30, 1994 (File No. 1-09100) 10.12 Form of Severance Agreement Annual Report on dated March 31, 1995 by and Form 10-K for the between Gottschalks Inc. and year ended January the following senior executives 28, 1995 (File No. of the Company: Joseph W. Levy, 1-09100) Gary L. Gladding and Michael J. Schmidt(*) 10.13 1994 Key Employee Incentive Registration Stock Option Plan(*) Statement on Form S-8 (File #33-54789) 10.14 1994 Director Nonqualified Registration Stock Option Plan(*) Statement on Form S-8 (File #33-54783) 10.15 Promissory Note and Security Annual Report on Agreement dated December 16, Form 10-K for the 1994 by and between year ended January Gottschalks Inc. and 28, 1995 (File No. Heller Financial, Inc. 1-09100) 10.16 Agreement of Sale dated June 27, Quarterly Report on 1995, by and between Gottschalks Form 10-Q for the Inc. and Jack Baskin relating to quarter ended July the sale and leaseback of the 29, 1995 (File No. Capitola, California property 1-09100) 10.17 Lease and Agreement dated June 27, Quarterly Report on 1995, by and between Jack Baskin Form 10-Q for the and Gottschalks Inc. relating to quarter ended July the sale and leaseback of the 29, 1995 (File No. Capitola, California property 1-09100) 10.18 Promissory Notes and Security Quarterly Report on Agreements dated October 4, 1995 Form 10-Q for the and October 10, 1995 by and quarter ended between Gottschalks Inc. and October 28, 1995 Midland Commercial Funding (File No. 1-09100) 10.19 Promissory Note and Security Quarterly Report on Agreement dated October 2, Form 10-Q for the 1996, by and between Gottschalks year ended November Inc. and Heller Financial, Inc. 2, 1996 (File No. 1-09100) 10.20 Loan and Security Agreement dated Annual Report on December 29, 1996, by and between Form 10-K for the Gottschalks Inc. and Congress year ended February Financial Corporation 1, 1997 (File No. 1-09100) 10.21 Gottschalks Inc. 1998 Stock Registration Option Plan(*) Statement on Form S-8 (File #33-61471) 10.22 Gottschalks Inc. 1998 Registration Employee Stock Purchase Statement on Form Plan(*) S-8 (File #33-61473) 10.23 Asset Purchase Agreement dated Current Report on as of July 21, 1998 among Form 8-K dated July Gottschalks Inc., The Harris 21, 1998 (File No. Company and El Corte Ingles, 1-09100) S. A. together with all Exhibits thereto 10.24 Non-Negotiable, Extendable, Current Report on Subordinated Note due Form 8-K dated August 20, 2003 issued to August 20, 1998 The Harris Company (File No. 1-09100) 10.25 Registration Rights Agreement Current Report on between The Harris Company and Form 8-K dated Gottschalks Inc. dated August 20, 1998 August 20, 1998 (File No. 1-09100) 10.26 Tradename License Agreement Current Report on between The Harris Company and Form 8-K dated Gottschalks Inc. dated August 20, 1998 August 20, 1998 (File No. 1-09100) 10.27 Stockholders' Agreement among Current Report on El Corte Ingles, S. A., Gottschalks Form 8-K dated Inc., Joseph Levy and Bret Levy August 20, 1998 dated August 20, 1998 (File No. 1-09100) 10.28 Standstill Agreement between Current Report on El Corte Ingles, S. A., and Form 8-K dated Gottschalks Inc. dated August 20, 1998 August 20, 1998 (File No. 1-09100) 10.29 Store Lease Agreement between Current Report on El Corte Ingles, S. A., and Form 8-K dated Gottschalks Inc. dated August 20, 1998 August 20, 1998 re: East Hills (File No. 1-09100) Mall, Bakersfield, California 10.30 Store Lease Agreement between Current Report on El Corte Ingles, S. A., and Form 8-K dated Gottschalks Inc. dated August 20, 1998 August 20, 1998 re: Moreno (File No. 1-09100) Valley Mall at Towngate, Moreno Valley, California 10.31 Store Lease Agreement between Current Report on El Corte Ingles, S. A., and Form 8-K dated Gottschalks Inc. dated August 20, 1998 August 20, 1998 re: Antelope (File No. 1-09100) Valley Mall at Palmdale, California 10.32 Form of Severance Agreement Annual Report on dated January 21, 1999 by Form 10-K for the and between Gottschalks Inc. year ended January and Michael S. Geele (*) 30,1999 (File No. 1-09100) 10.33 Receivables Purchase Annual Report on Agreement dated March 1, 1999 Form 10-K for the By and between Gottschalks year ended January Credit Receivables Corporation 30, 1999 (File No. and Gottschalks Inc. 1-09100) 10.34 Pooling and Servicing Annual Report on Agreement dated as of March 1, Form 10-K for the 1999 by and among Gottschalks year ended January Credit Receivables Corporation, 30, 1999 (File No. Gottschalks Inc. and Bankers 1-09100) Trust Company 10.35 Series 1999-1 Supplement to Annual Report on Pooling and Servicing Form 10-K for the Agreement dated March 1, 1999 year ended January by and among Gottschalks Credit 30, 1999 (File No. Receivables Corporation, 1-09100) Gottschalks Inc. and Bankers Trust Company 10.36 Sixth Amendment to Loan and Quarterly Report on Security Agreement dated August Form 10-Q for the 12, 1999, by and between Gottschalks quarter ended Inc. and Congress Financial July 31, 1999 (File Corporation (Western). No. 1-09100) 10.37 Employment Agreement dated June Quarterly Report on 25, 1999 by and between Form 10-Q for the Gottschalks Inc. and James R. quarter ended July Famalette(*). 31, 1999 (File No. 1-09100) 10.38 Seventh Amendment to Loan and Annual Report on Security Agreement dated March Form 10-K for the 27, 2000, by and between year ended January Gottschalks Inc. and Congress 29, 2000 (File No. Financial Corporation (Western). 1-09100) 10.41 Asset Purchase Agreement dated Annual Report on April 24, 2000 by and between Form 10-K for the Gottschalks Inc. and Lamonts year ended January Apparel, Inc. 29, 2000 (File No. 1-09100) 10.42 Eighth Amendment to Loan and Quarterly Report on Security Agreement dated Form 10-Q for the May 19, 2000 by and between quarter ended April Gottschalks Inc. and Congress 29, 2000 (File No. Financial Corporation (Western). 1-09100) 10.43 Ninth Amendment to Loan and Quarterly Report on Security Agreement dated Form 10-Q for the June 28, 2000 by and between quarter ended July Gottschalks Inc. and Congress 29, 2000 (File No. Financial Corporation (Western). 1-09100) 10.44 Amendment No. 1 to the Asset Quarterly Report on Purchase Agreement dated May Form 10-Q for the 16, 2000 by and between quarter ended July Gottschalks Inc. and Lamonts 29, 2000 (File No. Apparel, Inc. 1-09100) 10.45 Promissory Note dated July 24, Quarterly Report on 2000 by and between Gottschalks Form 10-Q for the Inc. and Heller Financial Quarter ended July Leasing, Inc. 29, 2000 (File No. 1-09100) 10.46 Series 2000-1 Supplement to the Filed electronically Pooling and Servicing herewith Agreement dated as of November 16, 2000 by and among Gottschalks Credit Receivables Corporation, Gottschalks Inc. and Bankers Trust Company 10.47 Amendment No. 1 to Pooling and Filed electronically Servicing Agreement and the herewith Series 1999-1 Supplement by and among Gottschalks Credit Receivables Corporation, Gottschalks Inc. and Bankers Trust Company 21. Subsidiary of the Registrant Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 1995 (File No. 1-09100) 23. Independent Auditors' Consent Filed electronically herewith (*) Management contract, compensatory plan or arrangement. ________________________________________________________________ (b) Reports on Form 8-K -- The Company did not file any Reports on Form 8-K during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2000. (c) Exhibits -- The response to this portion of Item 14 is submitted as a separate section of this report. (d) Financial Statement Schedule--The response to this portion of Item 14 is submitted as a separate section of this report. ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 10-K ITEM 8, 14(a)(1) and (2), (c) and (d) CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA CERTAIN EXHIBITS FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 3, 2001 GOTTSCHALKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY FRESNO, CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of Gottschalks Inc. Fresno, California We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Gottschalks Inc. and Subsidiary (the "Company") as of February 3, 2001 and January 29, 2000, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended February 3, 2001. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits. We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion. In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Gottschalks Inc. and Subsidiary at February 3, 2001 and January 29, 2000, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended February 3, 2001, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. /s/ Deloitte & Touche LLP ______________________________ Deloitte & Touche LLP February 27, 2001 GOTTSCHALKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) __________________________________________________________________________ February 3, January 29, ASSETS 2001 2000 ----------- ----------- CURRENT ASSETS: Cash $ 2,827 $ 1,901 Retained interest in receivables sold 19,853 29,138 Receivables - net 8,840 7,597 Merchandise inventories 185,226 130,028 Other 21,622 11,826 ------- ------- Total current assets 238,368 180,490 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT - net 143,670 120,393 OTHER ASSETS: Intangibles - net 18,564 8,708 Other 6,619 6,573 ------- ------- 25,183 15,281 ------- ------- $407,221 $316,164 ======= ======= See notes to consolidated financial statements. GOTTSCHALKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In thousands) ______________________________________________________________________ February 3, January 29, 2001 2000 ----------- ----------- LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY ------------------------------------ CURRENT LIABILITIES: Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 80,944 $ 61,136 Revolving line of credit 32,828 5,479 Current portion of long-term obligations 6,537 4,479 Deferred income taxes 3,007 4,677 ------- ------- Total current liabilities 123,316 75,771 LONG-TERM OBLIGATIONS, less current portion 113,012 80,674 OTHER LIABILITIES 19,216 20,911 DEFERRED INCOME TAXES 12,801 7,609 SUBORDINATED NOTE PAYABLE TO AFFILIATE - net 21,303 20,961 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY: Preferred stock, par value of $.10 per share; 2,000,000 shares authorized; none issued Common stock, par value of $.01 per share; 30,000,000 shares authorized; 12,656,769 and 12,596,837 issued 127 126 Additional paid-in capita 71,015 70,760 Retained earnings 46,431 39,352 ------- ------- 117,573 110,238 ------- ------- $407,221 $316,164 ======= ======= See notes to consolidated financial statements. GOTTSCHALKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS (In thousands, except per share data) _______________________________________________________________________ 2000 1999 1998 -------- -------- -------- Net sales $663,868 $541,275 $478,538 Net credit revenues 9,150 8,709 6,988 Net leased department revenues 3,948 4,209 5,944 ------- ------- ------- Total revenues 676,966 554,193 491,470 ------- ------- ------- Costs and expenses: Cost of sales 433,724 354,010 313,431 Selling, general and administrative expenses 201,765 167,561 152,231 Depreciation and amortization 11,505 9,465 8,040 New store pre-opening costs 6,183 495 421 Asset impairment charge 1,933 Acquisition related expenses 859 ------- ------- ------- Total costs and expenses 653,177 533,464 474,982 ------- ------- ------- Operating income 23,789 20,729 16,488 Other (income) expense: Interest expense 13,750 11,408 9,470 Miscellaneous income (1,414) (1,555) (2,011) ------- ------- ------ 12,336 9,853 7,459 ------- ------- ------ Income before income tax expense 11,453 10,876 9,029 Income tax expense 4,374 4,240 3,747 ------- ------- ------- Net income $ 7,079 $ 6,636 $ 5,282 ======= ======= ======= Net income per common share - basic and diluted $ 0.56 $ 0.53 $ 0.46 ======= ======= ======= See notes to consolidated financial statements. GOTTSCHALKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (In thousands, except share data) _____________________________________________________________________________ Additional Common Stock Paid-In Retained Shares Amount Capital Earnings Total ----------------- ---------- -------- ----- BALANCE, JANUARY 31, 1998 10,478,415 $105 $56,366 $27,434 $83,905 Net income 5,282 5,282 Shares issued for business acquisition 2,095,900 21 14,252 14,273 Shares issued under stock option plan 1,250 8 8 ---------- --- ------ ------ ------- BALANCE, JANUARY 30, 1999 12,575,565 126 70,626 32,716 103,468 Net income 6,636 6,636 Shares issued under stock purchase plan 21,272 134 134 ---------- --- ------ ------ ------- BALANCE, JANUARY 29, 2000 12,596,837 126 70,760 39,352 110,238 Net income 7,079 7,079 Shares issued under stock purchase plan 59,932 1 255 256 ---------- --- ------ ------ ------- BALANCE, FEBRUARY 3, 2001 12,656,769 $127 $71,015 $46,431 $117,573 ========== === ====== ====== ======= See notes to consolidated financial statements. GOTTSCHALKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In thousands of dollars) _____________________________________________________________________________ 2000 1999 1998 OPERATING ACTIVITIES: -------- ------- ------- Net income $ 7,079 $ 6,636 $ 5,282 Adjustments: Depreciation and amortization 11,505 9,465 8,040 Deferred income taxes 3,522 3,562 633 Amortization of deferred income and other deferred items (1,695) (3,201) (950) Provision for credit losses 1,025 982 992 Net loss from sale of assets 151 86 26 Asset impairment charge 1,933 Other non-cash items, net (41) 343 (106) Decrease (increase) in assets, excluding effect of business acquisition: Receivables (1,883) (2,643) (1,312) Merchandise inventories (54,409) (6,117) (4,524) Other current and long-term assets ( 9,977) 4,923 5,611 Increase (decrease) in liabilities, excluding effect of business acquisition: Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses 13,748 (7,868) (2,571) Other current and long-term liabilities (5,373) (2,296) 373 Net cash (used in) provided by ------- ------- ------- operating activities (36,348) 5,805 11,494 INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Available-for-sale securities: Maturities (330,131) (305,926) (262,357) Purchases 321,416 304,795 256,571 Purchases of property and equipment (25,704) (16,059) (16,801) Acquisitions of assets and business (19,522) (1,369) Proceeds from property and equipment sales and other 194 317 878 Net cash used in investing ------- ------- ------- activities (53,747) (16,873) (23,078) FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Net proceeds (repayments) under revolving line of credit 57,349 (4,794) 29,506 Net proceeds from issuances of 2000-1 and 1999-1 Series certificates 18,000 53,000 Principal payments on retired certificates (30,900) (15,800) Proceeds from long-term obligations 10,000 500 Principal payments on long-term obligations (6,016) (4,515) (4,065) Changes in cash management liability 11,433 (2,149) 2,035 Proceeds from sale of stock under employee stock purchase plan 255 134 ------- ------- ------- Net cash provided by financing activities 91,021 11,276 11,676 ------- ------- ------- INCREASE IN CASH 926 208 92 CASH AT BEGINNING OF YEAR 1,901 1,693 1,601 ------- ------- ------- CASH AT END OF YEAR $ 2,827 $ 1,901 $ 1,693 ======= ======= ======= SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NON-CASH ACTIVITIES: INVESTING ACTIVITIES: Consideration for acquisition of business: Issuance of 2,095,900 shares of common stock $ 14,273 Issuance of 8% Subordinated Note 20,467 ------- $ 34,740 ======= FINANCING ACTIVITIES: Acquisition of equipment under capital leases $ 411 $ 620 $ 1,273 ======= ======= ======= See notes to consolidated financial statements. GOTTSCHALKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS ___________________________________________________________________________ 1. NATURE OF OPERATIONS AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Gottschalks Inc. is a regional department and specialty store chain based in Fresno, California. As of February 3, 2001, the Company operated 79 full-line department stores located in seven Western states, with 39 stores located in California, 21 in Washington, seven in Alaska, five in Idaho, four in Oregon, two in Nevada and one in Utah. The Company also operated 17 specialty apparel stores which carry a limited selection of merchandise as of that date. The Company's department stores typically offer a wide range of better to moderate brand-name and private-label merchandise, including men's, women's, junior's and children's apparel, cosmetics, shoes and accessories, and also a wide array of home furnishings, including domestics, china, housewares, small electrics and, in certain locations, furniture and mattresses. Use of Estimates - The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Such estimates and assumptions are subject to inherent uncertainties which may cause actual results to differ from reported amounts. Principles of Consolidation - The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of Gottschalks Inc., and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Gottschalks Credit Receivables Corporation ("GCRC"), (collectively, the "Company"). All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation. Fiscal Year - The Company's fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest January 31. Fiscal years 2000, 1999 and 1998, ended on February 3, 2001, January 29, 2000 and January 30, 1999, respectively. Fiscal 2000 included 53 weeks and fiscal 1999 and 1998 each included 52 weeks. Revenue Recognition - Net retail sales are recorded at the point- of-sale and include sales of merchandise, net of estimated returns and exclusive of sales tax. Net retail sales also include all amounts billed to a customer in a sale transaction for shipping and handling, including customer delivery charges. Revenues on special order sales are recognized when the merchandise is delivered to the customer and has been paid for in its entirety. The Company does not sell merchandise on layaway. Net leased department revenues consist of rental income from lessees and sub-lessees. Sales generated in such leased departments totaled $27,738,000, $29,029,000 and $40,216,000 in 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets - The Company currently accounts for the transfer and sale of receivables pursuant to its receivables securitization program in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 125, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities" (see the following "Recently Issued Accounting Standards"). SFAS No. 125 requires the Company to recognize gains and losses on transfers of financial assets (securitizations) that qualify as sales and to recognize as assets certain financial components that are retained as a result of such sales, which consist primarily of the retained interest in receivables sold and the retained rights to future interest income from the serviced assets in excess of the contractually specified servicing fee (interest-only strips). The estimated cost to service the assets is currently equal to the contractually specified servicing fee, resulting in no servicing assets or liabilities in 2000 or 1999. The retained interest in receivables sold is initially recorded at the date of the sale by allocating the previous carrying amount between the assets sold and the retained interests based on their relative fair values. Any gain or loss on the sale is dependent upon the allocation of the previous carrying amount of the receivables sold to the retained interests. Retained interests are subsequently carried at fair value, which are estimated based upon the present value of the expected future cash flows, calculated using management's best estimates of key assumptions about anticipated credit losses, account repayment speeds, discount rates and other factors necessary to derive an estimate of fair value. The certificated portion of the retained interest is considered readily marketable and is classified as available-for-sale in accordance with SFAS No. 115, "Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities." Due to the short-term revolving nature of the credit card portfolio, the carrying value of the Company's retained interest approximates its fair value, resulting in no unrealized gains or losses. Receivables - Receivables consist primarily of customer credit card receivables that do not meet certain eligibility requirements of the Company's receivables securitization program and vendor claims (Note 3). The credit card receivables are not certificated and include revolving charge accounts with terms which, in some cases, provide for payments with terms in excess of one year. In accordance with usual industry practice such receivables are included in current assets. The Company maintains reserves for possible credit losses on such receivables which are based on their expected collectibility. Concentrations of Credit Risk - The Company extends credit to individual customers based on their credit worthiness and generally requires no collateral from such customers. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to the Company's credit card receivables are limited due to the large number of customers comprising the Company's customer base. Merchandise Inventories - Inventories, which consist of merchandise held for resale, are valued by the retail method and are stated at last-in, first-out (LIFO) cost, which is not in excess of market. Current cost, which approximates replacement cost, under the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method is equal to the LIFO value of inventories at February 3, 2001 and January 29, 2000. The Company includes in inventory the capitalization of certain indirect purchasing, merchandise handling and inventory storage costs to better match sales with these related costs. New Store Pre-Opening Costs - New store pre-opening costs are expensed as incurred and may vary significantly from year to year depending on the number of new stores opened. Property and Equipment - Property and equipment is stated on the basis of cost or appraised value as to certain contributed land. Depreciation and amortization is computed by the straight-line method for financial reporting purposes over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the lease term, which range from 20 to 40 years for buildings and leasehold improvements and 3 to 15 years for furniture, fixtures and equipment. The amortization of buildings and equipment under capital leases is computed by the straight-line method over the term of the lease or the estimated economic life of the asset, depending on the criteria used to classify the lease, and such amortization is combined with depreciation in the accompanying income statements. Maintenance and repairs are charged to expense as incurred and major improvements are capitalized. Software Development Costs - Effective the beginning of fiscal 1999, costs associated with the acquisition or development of software for internal use that meet the criteria of AICPA Statement of Position No. 98-1, "Accounting for Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use" are capitalized and amortized over the expected useful life of the software, which generally ranges from 3 to 10 years. Software development costs capitalized under SOP No. 98-1 in fiscal 2000 totaled $242,000 (none in 1999). Goodwill - The excess of acquisition costs over the fair value of the net assets acquired (goodwill) is amortized on a straight- line basis over 20 years. The Company periodically analyzes the value of net assets acquired to determine whether any impairment in the value of such assets has occurred. The primary indicators of recoverability used by the Company are current and forecasted cash flows of the related acquired assets as compared to their carrying values. Favorable Lease Rights - Favorable lease rights associated with acquired leases are amortized on a straight-line basis over the respective lease terms, including option renewal periods if renewal of the lease is probable, which range from 1 to 40 years. Cash Management Liability - Under the Company's cash management program, checks issued by the Company and not yet presented for payment frequently result in overdraft balances for accounting purposes. Such amounts represent interest-free, short-term borrowings by the Company. (See Note 6). Deferred Income - Deferred income consists primarily of donated land and cash incentives received to construct a store and enter into a lease arrangement. Land contributed to the Company is included in land and recorded at appraised fair market values. Deferred income is amortized to income over the average depreciable life of the related fixed assets built on the land for locations that are owned by the Company, and over the minimum lease periods of the related building leases with respect to locations that are leased by the Company, ranging from 10 to 32 years. Deferred income, net of accumulated amortization, totaling $14,342,000 as of February 3, 2001 and $15,344,000 as of January 29, 2000, is included in other liabilities. Deferred Lease Payments - Certain of the Company's department store operating leases provide for rent abatements and scheduled rent increases during the lease terms. The Company recognizes rental expense for such leases on a straight-line basis over the lease term and records the difference between rental expense and amounts payable under the leases as deferred lease payments. Deferred lease payments, totaling $4,588,000 at February 3, 2001 and $5,058,000 at January 29, 2000, are included in other liabilities. Advertising Costs - Advertising costs, totaling $30,111,000, $24,327,000 and $22,270,000 in 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively, are expensed when the related advertisement first takes place. Income Taxes - Deferred tax assets and liabilities are generally recognized for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been included in the financial statements or tax returns, determined based on the differences between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities and net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards, and by using enacted tax rates in effect when the differences are expected to reverse. Fair Value of Financial Instruments - The carrying value of the Company's cash and cash management liability, receivables, notes receivable, trade payables and other accrued expenses, revolving line of credit and stand-by letters of credit approximate their estimated fair values because of the short maturities or variable interest rates underlying those instruments. The retained interest in receivables sold, the retained right to future interest income (interest-only strip) and the Subordinated Note are carried at their estimated fair values. The following methods and assumptions were used to estimate the fair values for each remaining class of financial instruments: Long-Term Obligations - The fair values of the Company's mortgage loans and notes payable are estimated using discounted cash flow analysis, based on the Company's current incremental borrowing rates for similar types of borrowing arrangements. Borrowings with aggregate carrying values of $33,673,000 and $27,937,000 at February 3, 2001 and January 29, 2000, had estimated fair values of $35,287,000 and $28,664,000 at February 3, 2001 and January 29, 2000, respectively. Off-Balance Sheet Financial Instruments - The Company's off- balance sheet financial instruments consist primarily of certificates issued under the securitization program. The estimated fair value of the fixed rate certificate, based on similar issues of certificates at current rates for the same remaining maturities, with a face value of $53,000,000 as of both February 3, 2001 and January 29, 2000, is $50,995,000 and $50,469,000, respectively. The estimated fair value of the floating rate certificate approximates its reported value due to the variable interest rate underlying that instrument. Stock-Based Compensation - The Company accounts for stock-based awards to employees using the intrinsic value method in accordance with APB No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees". Accordingly, no compensation expense has been recognized in the 2000, 1999 and 1998 financial statements for employee stock arrangements. Pro forma information regarding net income and earnings per share, as calculated under the provisions of SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock Based Compensation", is disclosed in Note 12. Long-Lived Assets - The Company periodically evaluates the carrying value of long-lived assets to be held and used, including goodwill and other intangible assets, when events and circumstances warrant such a review. When the anticipated undiscounted cash flow from a long-lived asset is less than its carrying value, a loss is recognized based on the amount by which its carrying value exceeds its fair market value. Fair market value is determined primarily using the anticipated cash flows discounted at a rate commensurate with the risks involved. In 1999, the Company recognized a non-recurring asset impairment charge of $1,933,000 related to an investment in a cooperative merchandise buying group that was accounted for under the cost method. There were no impairment losses recognized in 2000 or 1998. Segment Reporting - The Company operates in one reportable segment, which includes the Company's proprietary credit card operation. The proprietary credit card operation is considered an integral component of the Company's retail store segment, as its primary purpose is to support and enhance this segment's retail operations. Comprehensive Income - There were no items of other comprehensive income in 2000, 1999 or 1998, and therefore net income is equal to comprehensive income for each of those years. Recently Issued Accounting Standards - SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities," is effective for all fiscal years beginning after June 15, 2000. SFAS No. 133, as amended, establishes accounting and reporting standards for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities. Under SFAS 133, certain contracts that were not formerly considered derivatives may now meet the definition of a derivative. The Company will adopt SFAS No. 133 effective as of the beginning of fiscal 2001. Management does not expect the adoption to have a significant impact on the financial position, results of operations, or cash flows of the Company. SFAS No. 140, "Accounting for Transfers and Servicing of Financial Assets and Extinguishments of Liabilities," was issued in September 2000 and replaces SFAS No. 125. SFAS No. 140 is effective for transfers and servicing of financial assets and extinguishments of liabilities occurring after March 31, 2001, with certain disclosure requirements effective for fiscal years ending after December 15, 2000 (fiscal 2000 for the Company). The statement carries over most of the provisions of SFAS No. 125 without reconsideration and, accordingly, the adoption of SFAS No. 140 is not expected to materially affect the Company's financial position or the results of its operations. The Company adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 140 for its fiscal 2000 financial statements. Reclassifications - Effective as of the end of fiscal 2000, the Company adopted the provisions of Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") Issue 00-10, "Accounting for Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs," which requires that all amounts billed to a customer in a sale transaction for shipping and handling, including customer delivery charges, be classified as revenue, and that all prior periods presented be reclassified to conform with the required presentation. The Company had previously included shipping and handling revenues and costs in its selling, general and administrative costs. These items and certain other amounts in the accompanying 1999 and 1998 consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the 2000 presentation. 2. ACQUISITIONS Asset Acquisition. On April 24, 2000, the Company entered into a definitive asset purchase agreement (the "Agreement") with Lamonts Apparel, Inc. ("Lamonts"). The Agreement, as subsequently amended, provided for the Company to acquire 37 of Lamonts' 38 store leases, related store fixtures and equipment, and one store building for a cash purchase price of $20,100,000. Concurrent with the closing of the transaction on July 24, 2000, the Company sold one of the store leases for $2,500,000, and subsequently terminated two other store leases, resulting in a net cash purchase price of $17,600,000 for 34 store leases, related store fixtures and equipment, and one store building. The Company did not acquire any of Lamonts' merchandise inventory, customer credit card receivables or other corporate assets in the transaction, nor did the Company assume any material liabilities, other than the 34 store leases. The 34 stores are located in five Western states, with 19 stores in Washington, seven in Alaska, five in Idaho, two in Oregon and one in Utah, and significantly expanded the Company's presence in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. The newly acquired stores were converted to the Gottschalks banner, re- merchandised and re-opened in stages, beginning in late August with all stores completely open by September 7, 2000. The Company incurred $5,632,000 of non-recurring new store pre-opening costs in connection with the re-opening of the stores. The $17,600,000 net cash purchase price for the assets was partially financed with proceeds from a $10,000,000 note payable (Note 7), with the remainder provided from existing financial resources. Direct transaction costs include investment banking, legal and accounting fees and other costs. The asset acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and, accordingly, the results of operations of the acquired stores are included in the Company's financial statements from the acquisition date of July 24, 2000. The purchase price has been allocated to the acquired assets on the basis of their estimated fair values as of the date of the acquisition, as follows (in thousands): Fair value of note payable $10,000 Cash 7,580 Direct transaction costs 1,942 ------ Total purchase price $19,522 ====== Favorable lease rights $ 9,857 Property and equipment 9,000 Goodwill 665 ------ Total purchase price $19,522 ====== Business Acquisition. On August 20, 1998, the Company completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets and business of The Harris Company ("Harris"), pursuant to an Asset Purchase Agreement entered into with Harris and El Corte Ingles, S. A. ("ECI") of Spain, the parent company of Harris. Harris operated nine full- line department stores located throughout southern California. Assets acquired and liabilities assumed were recorded at their estimated fair values, and the excess of cost over the estimated fair values of the net assets acquired, totaling $8,400,000, is being amortized on a straight-line basis over 20 years. The purchase price for the assets consisted of the issuance to Harris of 2,095,900 shares of common stock of the Company and the issuance of an 8% Non-Negotiable, Extendable, Subordinated Note (the "Subordinated Note") in the principal amount of $22,179,000 (see Note 8). The business acquisition was accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and, accordingly, the results of operations of the acquired stores are included in the Company's financial statements from the acquisition date of August 20, 1998. 3. RECEIVABLES Receivable Securitization Program. The Company sells all of its accounts receivable arising under its private label customer credit cards on a daily basis to its wholly-owned subsidiary, GCRC, and those receivables that meet certain eligibility requirements of the program are simultaneously conveyed to Gottschalks Credit Card Master Trust ("GCC Trust"), to be used as collateral for securities issued to investors. GCC Trust is a qualified special purpose entity under both SFAS No. 125 and 140, and is not consolidated in the Company's financial statements. Accordingly, all transfers of receivables to GCC Trust are accounted for as sales of receivables for financial reporting purposes and such transferred receivables are removed from the Company's balance sheet. The Company services and administers the portfolio for a 3% monthly servicing fee, which totaled $1,926,000 in 2000. On March 1, 1999, GCC Trust issued a $53,000,000 principal amount 7.66% Fixed Base Class A-1 Credit Card Certificate (the "1999-1 Series") to a single investor through a private placement. Proceeds from the issuance of the 1999-1 Series were used to repay the outstanding balances of previously issued certificates, totaling $26,950,000 as of that date, and the remaining funds were used to purchase additional receivables from the Company. The holder of the 1999-1 Series certificate earns interest on a monthly basis at a fixed interest rate of 7.66%. The outstanding principal balance of the certificate, which is off-balance sheet for financial reporting purposes, is to be repaid in twelve equal monthly installments commencing September 2003 and continuing through August 2004. On November 16, 2000, GCC Trust issued a Variable Base Class A-1 Credit Card Certificate (the "2000-1 Series") in a principal amount of up to $24,000,000. The Company can borrow against the 2000-1 Series certificate on a revolving basis, similar to a revolving line of credit arrangement. Such borrowings are limited to a specified percentage of the outstanding balance of receivables underlying the certificate. As of February 3, 2001, $18,000,000 was issued and outstanding against the certificate, which was the maximum amount available for borrowings as of that date. The 2000-1 Series certificate was issued under an initial 364-day commitment period (expiring October 31, 2001), and is renewable for subsequent 364-day periods each, at the option of GCC Trust and the certificate holder, through July 31, 2003. The outstanding principal balance of the certificate, which is treated as off-balance sheet for financial reporting purposes, is to be repaid in six equal monthly installments commencing in the month following the end of the commitment period. In the event the commitment period is renewed through July 31, 2003, the principal is to be repaid in twelve equal monthly installments commencing September 2003 and continuing through August 2004. The holder of the 2000-1 Series certificate earns interest on a monthly basis at a variable rate equal to one-month LIBOR plus 1.5% (7.38% at February 3, 2001). Monthly cash flows generated by the Company's receivables portfolio, consisting of principal, interest and service fee collections, are first used to pay certain costs of the program, which include the payment of monthly principal (when required) and interest to the investors, and monthly servicing fees to the Company. Any excess cash flows are then available to fund additional purchases of newly generated receivables from the Company. The Company is required, among other things, to maintain certain portfolio performance standards under the program. Management believes the portfolio performance has exceeded such standards since the issuance date. Subject to certain conditions, the master trust permits further expansion of the program to meet future receivables growth. The Company retains an ownership interest in certain of the receivables sold under the program, represented by Exchangeable and Subordinated Certificates, and also retains an uncertificated ownership interest in the retained interest to future interest income (interest-only strip) and other receivables that do not meet certain eligibility requirements of the program. The fair value of the retained interests totaled $19,853,000 at February 3, 2001. Key assumptions used to measure the retained interests at the dates of securitization throughout fiscal 2000 were: Repayment speed (monthly rate) 30.4% Expected credit losses as a % of net sales (annual rate) 0.55% Residual cash flows discount rate 12.0% Weighted-average life (in months) 3.5 At February 3, 2001, the reduction in the carrying amount of the retained interests caused by immediate 10% and 20% adverse changes in those key assumptions are as follows (in thousands): Prepayment speed: Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change $(111) Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change (170) Expected credit losses: Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change ( 13) Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change ( 26) Residual cash flows discount rate: Impact on fair value of 10% adverse change ( 1) Impact on fair value of 20% adverse change ( 2) These sensitivities are hypothetical and are presented for illustrative purposes only. Changes in the carrying amount based on a change in assumptions generally cannot be extrapolated because the relationship of the change in an assumption to the change in the carrying amount may not be linear. The changes in assumptions presented in the above table were calculated without changing any other assumption; in reality, changes in one factor may result in changes in another, which could magnify or counteract the sensitivities. As of February 3, 2001, the outstanding balance of the serviced portfolio totaled $93,488,000, with $3,387,000 of that amount in delinquency as of that date. Delinquent receivables are defined as any account for which the required minimum payment has not been received for more than 30 days. Credit losses as a percentage of net sales were 0.55% in 2000. Receivables. Receivables consist of the following: February 3, January 29 (In thousands) 2001 2000 ___________________________________________________________________________ Credit card receivables $3,974 $ 3,995 Vendor claims 5,311 4,089 ----- ------ 9,285 8,084 Less allowance for doubtful accounts ( 445) ( 487) ----- ----- $8,840 $ 7,597 ===== ===== Net Credit Revenues. Net credit revenues associated with the Company's credit card receivable portfolio, including securitized receivables, consists of the following: (In thousands) 2000 1999 1998 ___________________________________________________________________________ Service charge revenues $16,832 $15,618 $13,522 Interest expense on securitized receivables (4,425) (4,069) (3,314) Charge-offs on receivables sold and provision for credit losses on receivables ineligible for sale (3,642) (3,013) (3,175) Gain (loss) on sale of receivables 385 173 (45) ------ ------ ------ $ 9,150 $ 8,709 $ 6,988 ====== ====== ====== 4. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT Property and equipment consists of the following: February 3, January 29, (In thousands) 2001 2000 _____________________________________________________________________ Furniture, fixtures and equipment $104,964 $ 86,155 Buildings and leasehold improvements 83,763 69,196 Land 15,108 15,108 Buildings and equipment under capital leases 13,178 12,768 Construction in progress 1,020 892 ------- ------- 218,033 184,119 Less accumulated depreciation and amortization (74,363) (63,726) ------- ------- $143,670 $120,393 ======= ======= 5. INTANGIBLE ASSETS Intangible assets consist of the following: February 3, January 29, (In thousands) 2001 2000 ____________________________________________________________________ Goodwill $11,464 $10,799 Favorable lease rights(Note 2) 9,857 ------ ------ 21,321 10,799 Less accumulated amortization (2,757) (2,091) ------ ------ $18,564 $ 8,708 ====== ====== The amortization of intangibles, totaling $666,000, $536,000 and $291,000 in 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively, is included in depreciation and amortization in the accompanying financial statements. 6. TRADE ACCOUNTS PAYABLE AND ACCRUED EXPENSES Trade accounts payable and accrued expenses consist of the following: February 3, January 29, (In thousands) 2001 2000 _____________________________________________________________________ Trade accounts payable $27,303 $15,617 Cash management liability 21,460 10,027 Accrued expenses 15,952 12,118 Accrued payroll and related liabilities 8,791 6,861 Taxes, other than income taxes 3,808 11,141 Federal and state income taxes payable 3,630 5,372 ------ ------ $80,944 $61,136 ====== ====== 7. DEBT Revolving Line of Credit. The Company has a $180.0 million revolving line of credit facility with Congress Financial Corporation through March 31, 2002. Borrowings under the facility are generally limited to a restrictive borrowing base equal to 75% of eligible merchandise inventories, and at the Company's option, such borrowings may be increased to 80% of eligible inventories during the period of November 1 through December 31 of each year to provide for increased seasonal inventory requirements. Interest under the facility is charged at a rate of approximately one-month LIBOR plus 1.875% (7.90% at February 3, 2001), with no interest charged on the unused portion of the line of credit. The maximum amount available for borrowings under the line of credit was $131,135,000 as of February 3, 2001, of which $112,828,000 was outstanding as of that date. Outstanding borrowings under the facility which are not expected to be repaid within one year of the respective balance sheet dates, totaling $80,000,000 as of February 3, 2001 and $50,000,000 as of January 29, 2000, are classified as long-term in the accompanying financial statements. The agreement contains one financial covenant, pertaining to the maintenance of a minimum adjusted net worth, as defined in the agreement, with which the Company was in compliance as of February 3, 2001. Long-Term Obligations. Long-term obligations consist of the following: February 3, January 29, (In thousands) 2001 2000 _______________________________________________________________________ Revolving line of credit $ 80,000 $50,000 9.39% mortgage loans payable, due 2010 18,645 18,958 Variable rate note payable, due 2003 8,611 9.97% mortgage loan payable, due 2004 2,714 3,643 Capital lease obligations 5,876 7,216 Other mortgage loans and notes payable 3,703 5,336 ------- ------ 119,549 85,153 Less current portion 6,537 4,479 ------- ------ $113,012 $80,674 ======= ====== The Company issued a $10,00,000 original principal amount variable rate note payable, due 2003, to a third party lender on July 24, 2000. Proceeds from the note were used to finance a portion of the purchase price for the Lamonts acquisition (Note 2). The note is payable in thirty-six monthly principal installments of $278,000 each and bears interest at a variable rate equal to LIBOR plus 3.0% (8.63% at February 3, 2001). The Company's various mortgage loans and notes payable are collateralized by certain real property, assets or equipment. The scheduled annual principal maturities of the Company's mortgage loans and notes payable are $5,836,000, $4,773,000, $3,436,000, $906,000 and $660,000 for 2001 through 2005, with $18,062,000 payable thereafter. Deferred debt issuance costs related to the Company's various financing arrangements are included in other current and long- term assets and are charged to income as additional interest expense on a straight-line basis over the life of the related indebtedness. Such costs, net of accumulated amortization, totaled $1,997,000 at February 3, 2001 and $1,552,000 at January 29, 2000. Interest paid, net of amounts capitalized, was $17,713,000 in 2000, $14,536,000 in 1999 and $12,063,000 in 1998. Capitalized interest expense was $360,000 in 2000, $188,000 in 1999 and $134,000 in 1998. The weighted-average interest rate charged on the Company's revolving line of credit was 8.76% in 2000, 7.52% in 1999 and 7.88% in 1998. Certain of the Company's long-term financing arrangements include various restrictive financial covenants, including the requirement to maintain a minimum tangible net worth. The Company was in compliance with all such financial covenants as of February 3, 2001. 8. SUBORDINATED NOTE PAYABLE TO AFFILIATE As described more fully in Note 2, the Company issued the Subordinated Note to Harris on August 20, 1998 as partial consideration for the Harris acquisition. The Subordinated Note, discounted to an effective interest rate of 10% at issuance, bears interest at a fixed rate of 8%, payable semi-annually. The principal portion of the Subordinated Note is due and payable on August 20, 2003, unless such payment would result in a default on any of the Company's other credit facilities, in which case its maturity could be extended by three years to August 2006. The Subordinated Note is unsecured, contains no restrictive financial covenants and is subordinate to the payment of all debt, including trade credit, of the Company. The discount on the Subordinated Note is being amortized as additional interest expense over the five year term of the note. The unamortized discount totaled $876,000 as of February 3, 2001 and $1,218,000 as of January 29, 2000. Interest paid to Harris totaled $2,117,000 in both 2000 and 1999 and $935,000 in 1998. 9. LEASES The Company leases certain retail department stores, specialty apparel stores, land, furniture, fixtures and equipment under capital and noncancellable operating leases that expire in various years through 2021. Certain of the leases provide for the payment of additional contingent rentals based on a percentage of sales, require the payment of property taxes, insurance and maintenance costs and have renewal options for one or more periods ranging from five to twenty years. The Company also leases three of its department stores from ECI, an affiliate of the Company (see Note 2). Rent paid to ECI, which reflects current market rates, totaled $886,000 in 2000, $900,000 in 1999 and $391,000 in 1998. Future minimum lease payments as of February 3, 2001, by year and in the aggregate, under capital leases and noncancellable operating leases with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year are as follows: Capital Operating (In thousands) Leases Leases _____________________________________________________________________ 2001 $1,269 $ 25,149 2002 1,232 23,393 2003 1,031 22,611 2004 752 21,777 2005 752 20,026 Thereafter 4,914 121,852 ----- ------- Total minimum lease payments 9,950 $234,808 Amount representing interest (4,074) ====== ----- Present value of minimum lease payments 5,876 Less current portion ( 701) ----- $5,175 ===== Rental expense consists of the following: (In thousands) 2000 1999 1998 ____________________________________________________________________ Operating leases: Buildings: Minimum rentals $15,946 $15,441 $14,395 Contingent rentals 2,994 2,461 2,236 Fixtures and equipment 2,342 3,158 3,275 ------ ------ ------ $21,282 $21,060 $19,906 ====== ====== ====== One of the Company's lease agreements contains a restrictive financial covenant pertaining to the debt to tangible net worth ratio with which the Company was in compliance at February 3, 2001. 10. INCOME TAXES The components of income tax expense are as follows: (In thousands) 2000 1999 1998 _________________________________________________________________________ Current: Federal $ 302 $ 219 $2,737 State 550 459 377 ----- ----- ----- 852 678 3,114 Deferred: Federal 3,548 3,337 210 State (26) 225 423 ----- ----- ----- 3,522 3,562 633 ----- ----- ----- $4,374 $4,240 $3,747 ===== ===== ===== The principal components of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in thousands): February 3, January 29, 2001 2000 __________________ __________________ Deferred Deferred Deferred Deferred Tax Tax Tax Tax Assets Liabilities Assets Liabilities ------- ----------- ------ ----------- Current: Accrued employee benefits $ 1,489 $ 1,213 Credit losses 156 132 State income taxes 239 267 LIFO inventory reserve $ (2,920) $ (2,958) Supplies inventory (1,070) (1,035) Workers' compensation (614) (542) Gain on sale of receivables (205) (120) Other items, net 865 (947) 183 (1,817) ----- ------ ------ ------- 2,749 (5,756) 1,795 (6,472) Long-Term: Net operating loss and tax credit carryforwards 3,407 5,906 State income taxes 572 580 Depreciation expense (12,206) (10,716) Accounting for leases 738 (2,995) 805 (3,253) Deferred income 1,080 (2,793) 1,291 (2,571) Other items, net 601 (1,205) 973 (624) ----- ------- ------ ------- 6,398 (19,199) 9,555 (17,164) ----- ------- ------ ------- $ 9,147 $(24,955) $11,350 $(23,636) ===== ======= ====== ======= Income tax expense varies from the amount computed by applying the statutory federal income tax rate to the income before income taxes. The reasons for this difference are as follows: 2000 1999 1998 _________________________________________________________________________ Statutory rate 35.0% 35.0% 35.0% State income taxes, net of federal income tax benefit 3.0 4.2 5.8 General business credits (2.9) (2.2) (1.7) Amortization of goodwill .4 .4 .4 Other items, net 2.7 1.6 2.0 ---- ---- ---- Effective rate 38.2% 39.0% 41.5% ==== ==== ==== The Company paid income taxes, net of refunds, of $2,541,000 in 2000, $109,000 in 1999 and $138,000 in 1998. At February 3, 2001, the Company has, for federal tax purposes, general business credits of $1,192,000 which expire in the years 2012 through 2020, and alternative minimum tax credits of $784,000 which may be used for an indefinite period. At February 3, 2001, the Company also has, for state tax purposes, $1,431,000 of enterprise zone credits which may be used for an indefinite period. These carryforwards are available to offset future taxable income. 11. EARNINGS PER SHARE Net earnings per common share is computed by dividing net income by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the year. Stock options represent potential common shares and are included in computing diluted earnings per share when the effect is dilutive. A reconciliation of the weighted-average shares used in the basic and diluted earnings per share calculation is as follows: (Shares in thousands) 2000 1999 1998 ____________________________________________________________________ Weighted average number of shares - basic 12,614 12,577 11,418 Effect of assumed option exercises 18 39 31 ------ ------ ------ Weighted average number of shares - diluted 12,632 12,616 11,449 ====== ====== ====== Options with an exercise price greater than the average market price of the Company's common stock during the period are excluded from the computation of the weighted-average number of shares on a diluted basis as such options are anti-dilutive. Anti- dilutive options were outstanding for 924,728, 511,861 and 426,698 shares as of the end of 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. 12. STOCK OPTION AND STOCK PURCHASE PLANS Stock Option Plans. The Company has stock option plans for directors, officers and key employees which provide for the grant of non-qualified and incentive stock options. Under the plans, the option exercise price may not be lower than 100% of the fair market value of such shares at the date of the grant. Options granted generally vest on a ratable basis over five years and expire ten years from the date of the grant. At February 3, 2001, options for 161,000 shares were available for future grants under the plans. Option activity under the plans is as follows: 2000 1999 1998 ----------------- --------------- --------------- Weighted- Weighted- Weighted- Number Average Number Average Number Average of Exercise of Exercise of Exercise Shares Price Shares Price Shares Price ------ -------- ------ ------- ------ -------- Options outstanding at beginning of year 953,000 $8.47 771,000 $8.45 500,500 $9.05 Granted 457,500 5.08 209,000 8.45 329,000 7.73 Exercised (1,250) 5.75 Cancelled (46,000) 8.30 (27,000) 8.10 (57,250) 9.46 --------- ---- ------- ---- ------- ---- Options outstanding at end of year 1,364,500 $7.34 953,000 $8.47 771,000 $8.45 ========= ==== ======= ==== ======= ==== Options exercisable at end of year 590,500 $8.70 465,750 $9.01 366,000 $9.50 ========= ==== ======= ==== ======= ==== Additional information regarding options outstanding as of February 3, 2001 is as follows: Weighted-Avg. Remaining Weighted-Avg. Range of Number Contractual Exercise Exercise Prices Outstanding Life (yrs.) Price --------------- ----------- ------------- ------------ $4.25 to $ 7.50 727,500 8.54 $5.81 $7.63 to $ 9.21 341,000 7.95 $8.32 $9.75 to $10.87 296,000 3.44 $9.95 --------------- ---------- ---- ---- $4.25 to $10.87 1,364,500 7.28 $7.34 =============== ========== ==== ==== Employee Stock Purchase Plan. The Company also has a statutory Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which allows its employees to purchase Company common stock at a 15% discount. Employees can purchase stock under the Plan through payroll deductions ranging from 1% to 10% of their annual compensation, up to a maximum of $21,250 per year. A total of 500,000 shares were originally registered under the Plan, with 81,210 shares issued through February 3, 2001. Accounting for Stock Based Compensation. If the Company had elected to follow the measurement provisions of SFAS No. 123 in accounting for its stock option and employee stock purchase plans, compensation expense would be recognized based on the fair value of the options at the date of grant. To estimate compensation expense which would be recognized under SFAS No. 123, the Company used the Black-Scholes options pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions: 2000 1999 1998 ---- ---- ---- Risk-free interest rate 4.8% 6.7% 4.6% Expected dividend yield --- --- --- Expected volatility 51.21% 47.95% 51.08% Expected option life (years) 5 5 5 Fair value of options granted $3.01 $5.10 $4.38 Had the computed fair values of the 2000, 1999 and 1998 awards been amortized to expense over the vesting period of the awards, pro- forma net income and earnings per share (in thousands, except per share data) would have been as follows: 2000 1999 1998 ---- ---- ---- Pro forma net income $6,254 $6,237 $5,176 Pro forma net income per share - basic and diluted $ 0.50 $ 0.50 $ 0.45 As allowed by SFAS No. 123, the impact of outstanding non-vested stock options granted prior to 1995 has been excluded from the pro-forma calculations; accordingly the 2000, 1999 and 1998 pro forma adjustments presented above are not indicative of future period pro forma adjustments. 13. RETIREMENT SAVINGS PLAN The Company has a Retirement Savings Plan ("Plan") which qualifies as an employee retirement plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. Full-time employees meeting certain requirements are eligible to participate in the Plan and may elect to have up to 20% of their annual eligible compensation, subject to certain limitations, deferred and deposited with a qualified trustee. Participants in the Plan may receive an employer matching contribution of up to 4% of the participants' eligible compensation, depending on the Company's quarterly and annual financial performance. Effective for 2001, the Company has amended the Plan to provide for a guaranteed annual match of 3%, including the ability for participants to earn an additional 1% depending on the Company's annual financial performance. The Company recognized $1,073,000, $541,000 and $424,000 in expense related to the Plan in 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. 14. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES The Company is party to legal proceedings and claims which have arisen during the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate outcome of such litigation and claims is not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of its operations. The Company arranges for the issuance of letters of credit in the ordinary course of business. As of February 3, 2001, the Company had outstanding letters of credit amounting to $498,000. 15. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) The following is a summary of the unaudited quarterly results of operations for 2000 and 1999 (in thousands, except per share data): 2000 ___________________________________________ Quarter Ended April 29 July 29 October 28 February 3 -------------- -------- ------- ---------- ---------- Net sales (1) $121,335 $129,939 $153,694 $258,900 Gross profit 41,034 45,067 57,316 86,727 Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)(2) (1,390) 17 (4,086) 16,912 Net income (loss) ( 841) 11 (2,472) 10,381 Net income (loss) per common share - basic and diluted $ (0.07) $ (0.00) $ (0.20) $ 0.83 Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 12,597 12,605 12,621 12,582 Diluted 12,597 12,629 12,621 12,616 1999 _____________________________________________ Quarter Ended May 1 July 31 October 30 January 29 ------------- ----- ------- ---------- ---------- Net sales (1) $111,502 $119,209 $123,330 $187,234 Gross profit 37,930 41,351 44,366 63,618 Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)(3) (1,851) ( 180) 615 12,292 Net income (loss) (1,079) ( 105) 358 7,462 Net income (loss) per common share - basic and diluted $ (0.09) $ (0.01) $ 0.03 $ 0.59 Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding: Basic 12,575 12,575 12,575 12,581 Diluted 12,575 12,575 12,646 12,615 (1) The Company's net sales by quarter in both fiscal 2000 and 1999 have been increased to include shipping and handling fees charged to customers, in accordance with EITF No. 00- 10 (Note 1). Such amounts were previously credited to selling, general and administrative expenses. (2) Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) in the three month periods ended July 29, 2000 and October 28, 2000 include non-recurring, pre-tax charges for costs incurred in the reopening of the 34 stores acquired from Lamonts totaling $977,000 and $4,655,000, respectively. The total of such costs recognized in fiscal 2000 amounted to $5,632,000. (3) Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit) in the three month period ended January 29, 2000 includes a non- recurring, pre-tax charge for $1,933,000 to reflect the impairment of an investment accounted for under the cost method. ******** SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS GOTTSCHALKS INC. AND SUBSIDIARY ________________________________________________________________________________ COL. A COL. B COL. COL. D COL. E COL. F ________________________________________________________________________________ ADDITIONS ------------------------- Balance at Charged to Charged to Balance at Beginning Costs and Other Accounts Deductions End of DESCRIPTION of Period Expenses Describe Describe Period ________________________________________________________________________________ Year ended February 3, 2001: --------------------------- Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 406,688 $1,024,964(1) $ $(1,063,018)(2) $368,634 Allowance for vendor claims receivable $ 80,000 $ ( 4,000)(3) $ 76,000 Year ended January 29, 2000: --------------------------- Allowance for doubtful accounts $1,535,165 $ 982,260(1) $ (177,000)(4) $(1,933,737)(2)$406,688 Allowance for vendor claims receivable $ 120,700 $ ( 40,700)(5)$ 80,000 Year ended January 30, 1999: --------------------------- Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 437,179 $ 991,523(1) $ 881,759(6) $(775,296)(2) $1,535,165 Allowance for vendor claims receivable $ 80,000 $ 40,700(7) $ 120,700 Notes: (1) Represents the provision for credit losses on receivables ineligible for sale. (2) Represents uncollectible accounts written off, net of recoveries, pertaining to receivables ineligible for sale. (3) Represents a change in estimate for the allowance for vendor claims receivable. (4) Represents a change in estimate for the allowance for doubtful accounts related to receivables which were ineligible for sale. This amount is included in net credit revenues in the fiscal 1999 consolidated income statement. (5) Represents a change in estimate for the allowance for vendor claims receivable applicable to vendor claims acquired from Harris (see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.) (6) Represents the allowance for doubtful accounts applicable to the receivables acquired from Harris (see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). (7) Represents the allowance for vendor claims receivable applicable to the outstanding vendor claims acquired from Harris (see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.) SIGNATURES Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized. Dated: April 17, 2001 GOTTSCHALKS INC. By:/s/ James R.Famalette ---------------------- James R. Famalette President and Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated. Signature Title Date ------------ ------ ---- /s/ Joseph W. Levy Chairman April 17, 2001 ------------------------- Joseph W. Levy President, Chief Executive Officer April 17, 2001 /s/ James R. Famalette and Director (principal ------------------------- executive officer) James R. Famalette Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal April 17, 2001 financial and /s/ Michael S. Geele accounting officer) -------------------------- Michael S. Geele /s/ O. James Woodward III Director April 17, 2001 -------------------------- O. James Woodward III /s/ Bret W. Levy Director April 17, 2001 -------------------------- Bret W. Levy /s/ Sharon Levy Director April 17, 2001 -------------------------- Sharon Levy /s/ Joseph J. Penbera Director April 17, 2001 -------------------------- Joseph J. Penbera /s/ Fred Ruiz Director April 17, 2001 -------------------------- Fred Ruiz /s/ Max Gutmann Director April 17, 2001 -------------------------- Max Gutmann /s/ Isidoro Alvarez Alvarez Director April 17, 2001 --------------------------- Isidoro Alvarez Alvarez /s/ Jorge Pont Sanchez Director April 17, 2001 --------------------------- Jorge Pont Sanchez