BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES INC - Quarter Report: 2023 May (Form 10-Q)

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

FOR THE PERIODS ENDED MAY 27, 2023 AND MAY 28, 2022 – UNAUDITED

(In thousands except per share data)

The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION – CONTINUED

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE PERIODS ENDED MAY 27, 2023 AND MAY 28, 2022 – UNAUDITED

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION – CONTINUED

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

MAY 27, 2023 AND NOVEMBER 26, 2022

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION – CONTINUED

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

BASSETT FURNITURE INDUSTRIES, INCORPORATED AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE PERIODS ENDED MAY 27, 2023 AND MAY 28, 2022 – UNAUDITED

(In thousands)

The accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements are an integral part of the condensed consolidated financial statements.

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. In our opinion, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included.

References to “ASC” included hereinafter refer to the Accounting Standards Codification established by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) as the source of authoritative GAAP.

The condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated (“Bassett”, “we”, “our”, or the “Company”) and our wholly-owned subsidiaries of which we have a controlling interest. In accordance with ASC Topic 810, we have evaluated our licensees and certain other entities to determine whether they are variable interest entities (“VIEs”) of which we are the primary beneficiary and thus would require consolidation in our financial statements. To date we have concluded that none of our licensees represent VIEs. During the second and third fiscal quarters of 2022, we were the primary beneficiary of one VIE by virtue of our control over the activities that most significantly impact the entity’s economic performance. This VIE was created to effect a Section 1031 like-kind exchange involving the purchase of real property in Tampa, Florida, for $7,668 during the second quarter of 2022 and the sale of real property in Houston, Texas for $8,217 during the third quarter of 2022 for the purpose of deferring approximately $4,300 of the taxable gain resulting from the sale of the Houston property. Subsequent to the completion of the exchange transactions during the third quarter of fiscal 2022, the sole equity interest in the VIE was transferred to Bassett and the entity is now consolidated as a wholly owned subsidiary.

Revenue from the sale of furniture and accessories is reported in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income net of estimates for returns and allowances.

On January 31, 2022, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Zenith Freight Lines, LLC (“Zenith”) to J.B. Hunt Transport Services, Inc. (“J.B. Hunt”). The sale was completed on February 28, 2022. Accordingly, the operations of our logistical services segment for the three and six months ended May 28, 2022 are presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income as discontinued operations. See Note 12, Discontinued Operations, for additional information. Costs incurred by Bassett for logistical services performed for Bassett by Zenith were included in selling, general and administrative expenses for the six months ended May 28, 2022.

On September 2, 2022, we acquired 100% of the capital stock of Noa Home Inc. (“Noa Home”), a mid-priced e-commerce furniture retailer headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Noa Home has operations in Canada, Australia, Singapore and the United Kingdom. Since acquisition, Noa Home has been consolidated as a wholly-owned subsidiary. See Note 3 for additional information.

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation (see Note 13, Segments).

2. Interim Financial Presentation and Other Information

All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in the condensed consolidated financial statements. The results of operations for the three and six months ended May 27, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of results for the full fiscal year. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended November 26, 2022.

Income Taxes

We calculate an anticipated effective tax rate for the year based on our annual estimates of pretax income and use that effective tax rate to record our year-to-date income tax provision. Any change in annual projections of pretax income could have a significant impact on our effective tax rate for the respective quarter.

Our effective tax rate was 18.4% and 27.1% for the three and six months ended May 27, 2023, respectively, and 26.0% for both the three and six months ended May 28, 2022. The effective rates for the three and six months ended May 27, 2023 differ from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the non-taxable gain on revaluation of contingent consideration associated with the acquisition of Noa Home (see Note 3), increases in the valuation allowance placed on deferred tax assets associated with Noa Home and the effects of state income taxes and various permanent differences. For the three and six months ended May 28, 2022, the effective rates differ from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to the effects of state income taxes and various permanent differences, including tax of $522 associated with the non-deductible goodwill written off in connection with the sale of Zenith and included in income tax on discontinued operations.

Non-cash Investing and Financing Activity

During the six months ended May 27, 2023 and May 28, 2022, $3,881 and $6,049, respectively, of lease right-of-use assets were added through the recognition of the corresponding lease obligations.

3. Business Combinations

On September 2, 2022, we acquired 100% of the capital stock of Noa Home, a mid-priced e-commerce furniture retailer headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Noa Home has operations in Canada, Australia, Singapore and the United Kingdom. The initial purchase price (denominated in Canadian dollars) of approximately C$7,700 included cash payments of C$2,000 paid to the co-founders of Noa Home and approximately C$5,700 for the repayment of existing debt owed by Noa Home. Per the terms of the agreement at the acquisition date, the Noa Home co-founders also had the opportunity to receive additional cash payments totaling approximately C$1,330 per year for the three fiscal years following the year of acquisition based on established increases in net revenues and achieving certain internal EBITDA goals.

Under the acquisition method of accounting, the fair value of the consideration transferred was allocated to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date with the remaining unallocated amount recorded as goodwill.

The allocation of the fair value of the acquired business has been based on a preliminary valuation. Our estimates and assumptions are subject to change as we obtain additional information for our estimates during the measurement period (up to one year from the acquisition date). The primary areas of the preliminary allocation of the fair value of consideration transferred that are not yet finalized relate to the fair values of certain tangible and intangible assets acquired and the residual goodwill. As of May 27, 2023, there have been no changes to the preliminary allocation of the purchase price (translated into U.S. dollars as of the acquisition date) which is as follows:

Goodwill was determined based on the residual difference between the fair value of the consideration transferred and the value assigned to the tangible and intangible assets and liabilities recognized in connection with the acquisition and is deductible for tax purposes. Among the factors that contributed to a purchase price resulting in the recognition of goodwill are the expected synergies arising from combining the Company’s manufacturing and distribution capabilities with Noa Home’s position in the international e-commerce market for home furnishings and accessories.

A portion of the fair value of the consideration transferred in the amount of $1,929 has been assigned to the identifiable intangible asset associated with the Noa Home trade name. This intangible asset is considered to have an indefinite life. The indefinite-lived intangible asset and goodwill are not amortized but will be tested for impairment annually or between annual tests if an indicator of impairment exists and the Company determines it is more likely than not that the fair value of the goodwill is below its book value.

The fair values of consideration transferred and net assets acquired were determined using a combination of Level 2 and Level 3 inputs as specified in the fair value hierarchy in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures.

Subsequent to the acquisition date, the parties concluded that the targets originally set forth by which the Noa Home co-founders were to earn the contingent consideration would likely not be met within the initially anticipated time frame. Therefore, we have agreed to replace the contingent consideration with two fixed payments of C$200 each, payable in June of 2023 and December of 2024. As a result of the write-down of the contingent consideration payable that was recognized at the acquisition date, we recorded a gain of $1,013 for the three and six months ended May 27, 2023.

The revenues and results of operations of Noa Home for the three and six months ended May 27, 2023 were not material. The pro forma impact of the acquisition has not been presented because it was not material to our consolidated results of operations for the three and six months ended May 28, 2022.

4. Financial Instruments and Investments

Financial Instruments

Our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments in certificates of deposit (CDs), accounts receivable, and accounts payable. Because of their short maturities, the carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments in CDs, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximate fair value.

Investments

Our short-term investments of $17,725 and $17,715 at May 27, 2023 and November 26, 2022 consisted of CDs. At May 27, 2023, the CDs had original terms averaging seven months, bearing interest at rates ranging from 0.7% to 5.05%. At May 27, 2023, the weighted average remaining time to maturity of the CDs was approximately three months and the weighted average yield of the CDs was approximately 4.41%. Each CD is placed with a federally insured financial institution and all deposits are within federal deposit insurance limits. Due to the nature of these investments and their relatively short maturities, the carrying amount of the short-term investments at May 27, 2023 and November 26, 2022 approximates their fair value.

5. Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable consists of the following:

We maintain an allowance for credit losses for estimated losses resulting from the inability of our customers to make required payments. The allowance for credit losses is based on a review of specifically identified accounts in addition to an overall aging analysis which is applied to accounts pooled on the basis of similar risk characteristics. Judgments are made with respect to the collectability of accounts receivable within each pool based on historical experience, current payment practices and current economic trends based on our expectations over the expected life of the receivables, which is generally ninety days or less. Actual credit losses could differ from those estimates.

Activity in the allowance for credit losses for the six months ended May 27, 2023 was as follows:

We believe that the carrying value of our net accounts receivable approximates fair value. The inputs into these fair value estimates reflect our market assumptions and are not observable. Consequently, the inputs are considered to be Level 3 as specified in the fair value hierarchy in ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures. See Note 4.

6. Inventories

Domestic furniture inventories are valued at the lower of cost, which is determined using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, or market. Imported inventories and those applicable to our Lane Venture and Bassett Outdoor lines are valued at the lower of cost, which is determined using the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method, or net realizable value.

Inventories were comprised of the following:

We estimate an inventory reserve for excess quantities and obsolete items based on specific identification and historical write-offs, taking into account future demand, market conditions and the respective valuations at LIFO. The need for these reserves is primarily driven by the normal product life cycle. As products mature and sales volumes decline, we rationalize our product offerings to respond to consumer tastes and keep our product lines fresh. If actual demand or market conditions in the future are less favorable than those estimated, additional inventory write-downs may be required. In determining reserves, we calculate separate reserves on our wholesale and retail inventories. Our wholesale inventories tend to carry the majority of the reserves for excess quantities and obsolete inventory due to the nature of our distribution model. These wholesale reserves primarily represent design and/or style obsolescence. Typically, product is not shipped to our retail warehouses until a consumer has ordered and paid a deposit for the product. We do not typically hold retail inventory for stock purposes. Consequently, floor sample inventory and inventory for delivery to customers account for the majority of our inventory at retail. Retail reserves are based on accessory and clearance floor sample inventory in our stores and any inventory that is not associated with a specific customer order in our retail warehouses.

Activity in the reserves for excess quantities and obsolete inventory by segment are as follows:

Our estimates and assumptions have been reasonably accurate in the past. We have not made any significant changes to our methodology for determining inventory reserves in 2023 and do not anticipate that our methodology is likely to change in the future.

7. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets consisted of the following:

Changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill by reportable segment were as follows:

Accumulated impairment losses at both May 27, 2023 and November 26, 2022 were $3,897.

Due to the decline in the share price of our common stock through the end of the second quarter of 2023, we performed a qualitative analysis of our goodwill as of May 27, 2023 and concluded that it was not more likely than not that the carrying value of our reporting units with goodwill exceeded their fair values.

Amortization expense associated with intangible assets during the three and six months ended May 27, 2023 and May 28, 2022 was as follows:

Estimated future amortization expense for intangible assets that exist at May 27, 2023 is as follows:

8. Bank Credit Facility

Our bank credit facility provides for a line of credit of up to $25,000. At May 27, 2023, we had $3,731 outstanding under standby letters of credit against our line, leaving availability under our credit line of $21,269. The line bears interest at the One-Month Term Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“One-Month Term SOFR”) plus 1.5% and is unsecured. Our bank charges a fee of 0.25% on the daily unused balance of the line, payable quarterly. Under the terms of the bank credit facility, we must maintain the following financial covenants, measured quarterly on a rolling twelve-month basis:

We were in compliance with these covenants at May 27, 2023 and expect to remain in compliance for the foreseeable future. The credit facility will mature on January 27, 2025, at which time any amounts outstanding under the facility will be due.

9. Post Employment Benefit Obligations

Defined Benefit Plans

We have an unfunded Supplemental Retirement Income Plan (the “Supplemental Plan”) that covers one current and certain former executives. The liability for the Supplemental Plan was $6,028 and $5,987 as of May 27, 2023 and November 26, 2022, respectively.

We also have the Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated Management Savings Plan (the “Management Savings Plan”) which was established in the second quarter of fiscal 2017. The Management Savings Plan is an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained for the benefit of certain highly compensated or management level employees. As part of the Management Savings Plan, we have made Long Term Cash Awards (“LTC Awards”) totaling $2,000 to certain management employees in the amount of $400 each. The liability for the LTC Awards was $1,325 and $1,275 as of May 27, 2023 and November 26, 2022, respectively.

The combined pension liability for the Supplemental Plan and LTC Awards is recorded as follows in the condensed consolidated balance sheets:

Components of net periodic pension costs for our defined benefit plans for the three and six months ended May 27, 2023 and May 28, 2022 are as follows:

The components of net periodic pension cost other than the service cost component, which is included in selling, general and administrative expenses, are included in other loss, net in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Deferred Compensation Plans

We have an unfunded deferred compensation plan that covers one current executive and certain former executives and provides for voluntary deferral of compensation. This plan has been frozen with no additional participants or deferrals permitted. Our liability under this plan was $1,636 and $1,616 as of May 27, 2023 and November 26, 2022, respectively.

We also have an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan maintained for the benefit of certain highly compensated or management level employees which was established under the Management Savings Plan. Our liability under this plan, including both accrued Company contributions and participant salary deferrals, was $2,457 and $2,070 as of May 27, 2023 and November 26, 2022, respectively.

Our combined liability for all deferred compensation arrangements, including Company contributions and participant deferrals under the Management Savings Plan, is recorded as follows in the condensed consolidated balance sheets:

We recognized expense under our deferred compensation arrangements during the three and six months ended May 27, 2023 and May 28, 2022 as follows:

10. Commitments and Contingencies

We are involved in various legal and environmental matters which arise in the normal course of business. Although the final outcome of these matters cannot be determined, based on the facts presently known, we believe that the final resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or future results of operations.

Lease Guarantees

We were contingently liable under a licensee lease obligation guarantee in the amounts of $1,897 and $1,880 at May 27, 2023 and November 26, 2022, respectively. The remaining term under this lease guarantee extends for five years.

In the event of default by an independent dealer under the guaranteed lease, we believe that the risk of loss is mitigated through a combination of options that include, but are not limited to, arranging for a replacement dealer or liquidating the collateral (primarily inventory). The proceeds of the above options are expected to cover the estimated amount of our future payments under the guarantee obligation, net of recorded reserves. The fair value of this lease guarantee (an estimate of the cost to the Company to perform on the guarantee) at May 27, 2023 and November 26, 2022 was not material.

11. Earnings Per Share

The following reconciles basic and diluted earnings per share:

For the three and six months ended May 27, 2023 and May 28, 2022, the following potentially dilutive shares were excluded from the computations as their effect was anti-dilutive:

12. Discontinued Operations

On January 31, 2022, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of Zenith to J.B. Hunt. The sale was completed on February 28, 2022. During the second quarter of fiscal 2022, we received the following net proceeds:

The sales price was subject to customary post-closing working capital adjustments. For the three and six months ended May 28, 2022 we recognized a pre-tax gain on the sale of $53,254 which included a preliminary estimate of the post-closing adjustments. Upon settlement of the post-closing adjustments, which were paid in the second half of fiscal 2022, the final pre-tax gain was $52,534.

The operations of our logistical services segment, which consisted entirely of the operations of Zenith, are presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income as discontinued operations.

The following table summarizes the major classes of line items constituting income of the discontinued operations, as reported in the condensed consolidated statements of income for the three and six months ended May 28, 2022:

The amounts for revenue and costs of logistical services shown above represent the results of Zenith’s business transactions with third parties. Zenith also charged Bassett for logistical services provided to our wholesale segment in the amount of $9,121 during the six months ended May 28, 2022. Upon the sale of Zenith we entered into a service agreement with J.B. Hunt for the continuation of these services for a period of seven years. We incurred expense for logistical services performed by J.B. Hunt of $6,717 and $14,094 during the three and six months ended May 27, 2023, respectively, and $9,546 for the three and six months ended May 28, 2022, respectively.

Included in other loss, net, is interest arising from finance leases assumed by J.B. Hunt as part of the transaction. Such interest amounted to $78 for the six months ended May 28, 2022.

The following table summarizes the cash flows generated by discontinued operations during the six months ended May 28, 2022:

13. Segment Information

As of the beginning of fiscal 2023 we have strategically aligned our business into three reportable segments as defined in ASC 280, Segment Reporting, and as described below:

Inter-company net sales elimination represents the elimination of wholesale sales to our Company-owned stores. Inter-company income elimination includes the embedded wholesale profit in the Company-owned store inventory that has not been realized. These profits will be recorded when merchandise is delivered to the retail consumer. The inter-company income elimination also includes rent paid by our retail stores occupying Company-owned real estate.

Prior to the beginning of fiscal 2023, the functions included in Corporate and other were included in our wholesale segment reportable segment, and Noa Home was included in our retail reportable segment for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 following its acquisition on September 2, 2022. We believe that the new alignment of our reporting segments provides our chief operating decision maker with clearer information with which to assess the operating results of our wholesale segment. Noa Home does not meet the requirements to be a separate reportable segment as it is below the thresholds of the revenue, income and asset tests. The segment information presented below for the three and six months ended May 28, 2022 and as of November 26, 2022 has been restated to reflect the new alignment of our reportable segments.

Our former logistical services segment which represented the operations of Zenith is now presented as a discontinued operation in the accompanying condensed consolidated balances sheets and statements of income (see Note 12).

The following table presents our segment information:

See Note 14, Revenue Recognition, for disaggregated revenue information regarding sales of furniture and accessories by product type for the wholesale and retail segments.

14. Revenue Recognition

We recognize revenue when we transfer promised goods or services to our customers in an amount that reflects the consideration we expect to receive in exchange for those goods or services. For our wholesale and retail segments, revenue is recognized when the risks and rewards of ownership and title to the product have transferred to the buyer. At wholesale, transfer occurs and revenue is recognized upon the shipment of goods to independent dealers and licensee-owned BHF stores. At retail, transfer occurs and revenue is recognized upon delivery of goods to the customer. All wholesale and retail revenues are recorded net of estimated returns and allowances based on historical patterns. We typically collect a significant portion of the purchase price from our retail customers as a deposit upon order, with the balance typically collected upon delivery. These customer deposits are carried on our balance sheet as a current liability until delivery is fulfilled and amounted to $23,941 and $35,963 as of May 27, 2023 and November 26, 2022, respectively. Substantially all of the customer deposits held at November 26, 2022 related to performance obligations that were satisfied during the current year-to-date period and have therefore been recognized in revenue for the six months ended May 27, 2023.

Sales commissions are expensed as part of selling, general and administrative expenses at the time revenue is recognized because the amortization period would have been one year or less. Sales commissions at wholesale are accrued upon the shipment of goods. Sales commissions at retail are accrued at the time a sale is written (i.e. – when the customer’s order is placed) and are carried as prepaid commissions in other current assets until the goods are delivered and revenue is recognized. At May 27, 2023 and November 26, 2022, our balance of prepaid commissions included in other current assets was $2,399 and $3,768, respectively.

We exclude from revenue all amounts collected from customers for sales tax. We do not disclose amounts allocated to remaining unsatisfied performance obligations as they are expected to be satisfied within one year or less.

Disaggregated revenue information for sales of furniture and accessories by product category for the three and six months ended May 27, 2023 and May 28, 2022, excluding intercompany transactions between our segments, is a follows:

15. Changes to Stockholders’ Equity

The following changes in our stockholders’ equity occurred during the three and six months ended May 27, 2023 and May 28, 2022:

The balance of cumulative translation adjustments, net of tax, was a net loss of $409 and $204 at May 27, 2023 and November 26, 2022, respectively.

16. Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In October 2021, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2021-08 – Business Combinations (Topic 805) Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers, to improve the accounting for acquired revenue contracts with customers in a business combination by addressing diversity in practice and inconsistency related to the recognition of an acquired contract liability and to payment terms and their effect on subsequent revenue recognized by the acquirer. The amendments in ASU 2021-08 require that an entity (acquirer) recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606. At the acquisition date, an acquirer should account for the related revenue contracts in accordance with Topic 606 as if it had originated the contracts. The amendments in ASU 2021-08 will become effective for us as of the beginning of our 2024 fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period. We do not expect that this guidance will have a material impact upon our financial position and results of operations.

In March 2022, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2022-02 – Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Troubled Debt Restructurings and Vintage Disclosures, to address certain concerns identified in the Post-Implementation Review process for ASU Topic 326. The amendments in ASU 2022-02 eliminate the accounting guidance for troubled debt restructurings by creditors in ASC Subtopic 310-40, Receivables – Troubled Debt Restructurings by Creditors, while enhancing disclosure requirements for certain loan refinancings and restructurings by creditors when a borrower is experiencing financial difficulty. In addition, for public business entities, the amendments in ASU 2022-02 require that an entity disclose current-period gross write-offs by year of origination for financing receivables and net investments in leases within the scope of ASC Subtopic 326-20, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses – Measured at Amortized Cost. The amendments in ASU 2022-02 will become effective for us as of the beginning of our 2024 fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted. We expect that the adoption of this standard will primarily impact our disclosures but do not expect that this guidance will have a material impact upon our financial position and results of operations.

In June 2022, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2022-03 – Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Fair Value Measurement of Equity Securities Subject to Contractual Sale Restrictions, to clarify the guidance in Topic 820 when measuring the fair value of an equity security subject to contractual restrictions that prohibit the sale of an equity security. The amendments in ASU 2022-03 clarify that a contractual restriction on the sale of an equity security is not considered part of the unit of account of the equity security and, therefore, is not considered in measuring fair value. The amendments also clarify that an entity cannot, as a separate unit of account, recognize and measure a contractual sale restriction. In addition, the amendments in ASU 2022-03 require certain additional disclosures related to investments in equity securities subject to contractual sale restrictions. The amendments in ASU 2022-03 will become effective for us as of the beginning of our 2025 fiscal year. Early adoption is permitted. As of May 27, 2023 we do not hold any investments in equity securities, therefore we do not currently expect that this guidance will have a material impact upon our financial position and results of operations.

Item 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Safe-harbor, forward-looking statements:

This report contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of Bassett Furniture Industries, Incorporated and subsidiaries. Such forward-looking statements are identified by use of forward-looking words such as “anticipates”, “believes”, “plans”, “estimates”, “expects”, “aims” and “intends” or words or phrases of similar expression. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties. No assurance can be given that any such matters will be realized. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements include:

Additionally, other risks that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements are set forth in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended November 26, 2022.

You should keep in mind that any forward-looking statement made by us in this report or elsewhere speaks only as of the date on which such forward-looking statement is made. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is impossible for us to predict these events or how they may affect us. We have no duty to, and do not intend to, update or revise the forward-looking statements in this discussion after the date hereof, except as may be required by law. In light of these risks and uncertainties, you should keep in mind that the events described in any forward-looking statement made in this report or elsewhere, might not occur.

Overview

Bassett is a leading retailer, manufacturer and marketer of branded home furnishings. Our products are sold primarily through a network of Company-owned and licensee-owned branded stores under the Bassett Home Furnishings (“BHF”) name, with additional distribution through other wholesale channels including multi-line furniture stores, many of which feature Bassett galleries or design centers. We also sell our products through our website at www.bassettfurniture.com. We were founded in 1902 and incorporated under the laws of Virginia in 1930. Our rich 121-year history has instilled the principles of quality, value, and integrity in everything we do, while simultaneously providing us with the expertise to respond to ever-changing consumer tastes and meet the demands of a global economy.

With 91 BHF stores at May 27, 2023, we have leveraged our strong brand name in furniture into a network of Company-owned and licensed stores that focus on providing consumers with a friendly and casual environment for buying furniture and accessories.  Our store program is designed to provide a single source home furnishings retail store that provides a unique combination of stylish, quality furniture and accessories with a high level of customer service.  In order for the Bassett brand to reach markets that cannot be effectively served by our retail store network, we also distribute our products through other wholesale channels including multi-line furniture stores, many of which feature Bassett galleries or design centers. We use a network of over 30 independent sales representatives who have stated geographical territories. These sales representatives are compensated based on a standard commission rate. We believe this blended strategy provides us the greatest ability to effectively distribute our products throughout the United States and ultimately gain market share.  

The BHF stores feature custom order furniture, free in-home or virtual design visits (“home makeovers”) and coordinated decorating accessories.  Our philosophy is based on building strong long-term relationships with each customer.  Sales people are referred to as “Design Consultants” and are trained to evaluate customer needs and provide comprehensive solutions for their home decor.  Until a rigorous training and design certification program is completed, Design Consultants are not authorized to perform in-home or virtual design services for our customers.

We consider our website to be the front door to our brand experience where customers can research our furniture and accessory offerings and subsequently buy online or engage with an in-store design consultant. Digital outreach strategies have become the primary vehicle for brand advertising and customer acquisition. As a result, we are engaged in a multi-year cross-functional digital transformation initiative with the first phase consisting of the examination and improvement of our underlying data management processes.  During fiscal 2022, we implemented a comprehensive Product Information Management system which allows us to enhance and standardize our product development and data management and governance processes.  This results in more consistent data that our merchandizing and sales teams can use in analyzing various product and sales trends in order to make better informed decisions.  We are also in the process of implementing a new eCommerce platform that we plan to introduce in the second half of 2023.  The new web platform will leverage world class features including enhanced customer research capabilities and streamlined navigation that we believe will result in increased web traffic and sales. While we work to make it easier to purchase either in store or on-line, we will not compromise our in-store experience or the quality of our in-home makeover capabilities.  We expect to spend approximately $4,500 on these efforts in 2023, approximately $2,400 of which has been spent through May 27, 2023.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2022, we opened our first regional fulfillment center (“RFC”) in Orlando, Florida where we are stocking our best sellers for much quicker delivery. This adds an element of immediacy to our proven platform of made to order custom furniture that has driven our strategy for the past two decades. During the fourth quarter of 2022, we opened our second RFC near Baltimore, Maryland. In the first quarter of 2023, we opened three more RFCs in Conover, North Carolina, Grand Prairie, Texas and Riverside, California. We plan to evaluate the performance of these five RFCs before considering any additional locations.

During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 we acquired Noa Home (see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for additional information regarding the acquisition). A mid-priced e-commerce furniture retailer headquartered in Montreal, Canada, Noa Home has operations in Canada, Australia, Singapore and the United Kingdom. With a lean staffing model, the Noa Home team has built an operational blueprint that has the potential for significant growth. We believe the acquisition will provide Bassett with a greater online presence and will allow us to attract more digitally native consumers. We are currently in the process of expanding Noa Home’s North American product assortment and plan to introduce the Noa Home brand in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2023 through a limited geography test.

In 2018, we added outdoor furniture to our offerings with the acquisition of the Lane Venture brand. Our strategy is to distribute these products outside of our BHF store network through independent sales representatives each of which have a stated geographic territory. Using Lane Venture as a platform, we developed the Bassett Outdoor brand that is only marketed through the BHF store network. This allows Bassett branded products to move from inside the home to outside the home to capitalize on the growing trend of outdoor living. In the second quarter of 2023, we debuted the Bassett Outdoor contract line at the HD Expo Show in Las Vegas targeting the hospitality segment.

We have factories in Newton, North Carolina that manufacture both stationary and motion upholstered furniture for inside the home along with our outdoor furniture offerings. We also have factories in Martinsville and Bassett, Virginia that assemble and finish our custom bedroom and dining offerings. Late in the third quarter of fiscal 2022, we purchased a facility which we had formerly leased in Haleyville, Alabama where we manufacture aluminum frames for our outdoor furniture. With the purchase, we also obtained two additional buildings which will allow us to expand our footprint at that facility.

In addition to the furniture that we manufacture domestically, we source most of our formal bedroom and dining room furniture (casegoods) and certain leather upholstery offerings from several foreign plants, primarily in Vietnam, Thailand and China. Over 75% of our wholesale revenues are derived from products that are manufactured in the United States using a mix of domestic and globally sourced components and raw materials.

Company-owned Retail Stores

As we continually monitor the performance of our Company-owned retail store locations, we may occasionally determine that it is necessary to close underperforming stores in certain markets. During 2022, we closed three stores with the operations of one those stores being consolidated into another store in the same market. We are also in the process of closing our northeast clearance center and our store located in Birmingham, Alabama. All of the above-mentioned closures occurred at or near the lease expirations.

We also may occasionally identify opportunities to enhance our presence in existing markets by relocating stores to better locations within the same market. During 2022, we sold the store property of one of our Houston, Texas locations and leased a new 9,600 square foot store property in a more upscale shopping area in the vicinity of the former location. We are in the process of upfitting the store and expect to open in late 2023. During late 2022 at the end of the lease term, we closed our Dallas, Texas store located at the intersection of McKinney and Knox streets. We opened a new 11,600 square foot store in the nearby iconic Inwood Village shopping center during the first quarter of 2023.

In 2022, we acquired a 25,000 square foot property in Tampa, Florida. We are in the process of upfitting the space with a planned opening date in the third quarter of 2023.

As of May 27, 2023, we had 59 Corporate-owned stores operating.

Sale of the Assets of Zenith Freight Lines, LLC

During the first quarter of 2022, we entered into a definitive agreement to sell substantially all of the assets of our wholly-owned subsidiary, Zenith, to J.B. Hunt and the transaction was completed at the beginning of the second quarter of fiscal 2022. As a result of the sale, the operations of our former logistical services segment, which consisted entirely of the operations of Zenith, are presented in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income and in the following discussion as discontinued operations (see Note 12 to the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income).

Results of Continuing Operations – Periods ended May 27, 2023 compared with the periods ended May 28, 2022:

Consolidated results of continuing operations for the three and six months ended May 27, 2023 and May 28, 2022 are as follows:

Analysis of Quarterly Results:

Total sales revenue for the three months ended May 27, 2023 decreased $28,187 or 22% from the prior year period primarily due to a 29% decline in wholesale sales along with a 20% decrease in retail sales through the Company-owned stores, partially offset by the addition of Noa Home in 2023.

Gross margins for the three months ended May 27, 2023 increased 140 basis points from 2022 primarily due to higher margins in the wholesale segment along with the realization during the second quarter of 2023 of deferred gross profit on intercompany sales made during the preceding quarter due to the decline in retail inventory levels since the end of the first quarter.

Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses as a percentage of sales for the three months ended May 27, 2023 increased 840 basis points from 2022 primarily due to the deleverage of fixed costs caused by lower sales volumes.

During the second quarter of 2023 we recognized a gain of $1,013 resulting from the write-down of our contingent consideration obligation associated with the acquisition of Noa Home. See Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Analysis of Year-to-Date Results:

Total sales revenue for the six months ended May 27, 2023 decreased $38,353 or 16% from the prior year period primarily due to a 23% decline in wholesale sales along with a 10% decrease in retail sales through the Company-owned stores partially offset by the addition of Noa Home in 2023.

Gross margins for the six months ended May 27, 2023 increased 280 basis points from 2022 primarily due to higher margins in the wholesale segment along with a greater portion of total sales coming from the Company-owned stores retail segment. 

SG&A expenses as a percentage of sales for the six months ended May 27, 2023 increased 790 basis points from 2022 primarily due to the deleverage of fixed costs caused by lower sales volumes along with a greater portion of total sales coming from the Company-owned stores retail segment.

During the first half of 2023 we recognized a gain of $1,013 resulting from the write-down of our contingent consideration obligation associated with the acquisition of Noa Home. See Note 3 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.

Segment Information

Beginning in fiscal 2023, we strategically aligned our business into three reportable segments as defined in ASC 280, Segment Reporting, and as described below:

Inter-company net sales elimination represents the elimination of wholesale sales to our Company-owned stores. Inter-company income elimination includes the embedded wholesale profit in the Company-owned store inventory that has not been realized. These profits will be recorded when merchandise is delivered to the retail consumer. The inter-company income elimination also includes rent paid by our retail stores occupying Company-owned real estate.

Prior to the beginning of fiscal 2023, the functions included in Corporate and other were included in our wholesale segment reportable segment, and Noa Home was included in our retail reportable segment for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2022 following its acquisition on September 2, 2022. We believe that the new alignment of our reporting segments provides our chief operating decision maker with clearer information with which to assess the operating results of our wholesale segment. Noa Home does not meet the requirements to be a separate reportable segment. The segment information presented below for the three and six months ended May 28, 2022 has been restated to reflect the new alignment of our reportable segments.

Our former logistical services segment which represented the operations of Zenith is now presented as a discontinued operation.

Reconciliation of Segment Results to Consolidated Results of Operations

To supplement the financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, we present gross profit by segment inclusive of the effects of intercompany sales by our wholesale segment to our retail segment. Because these intercompany transactions are not eliminated from our segment presentations and because we do not present gross profit as a measure of segment profitability in the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements, the presentation of gross profit by segment is considered to be a non-GAAP financial measure. In addition, certain special gains or charges are included in consolidated income from operations are not included in the measures of segment profitability. The reconciliation of this non-GAAP financial measure to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP is presented below along with the effects of various other intercompany eliminations on our consolidated results of operations.