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HOOKER FURNISHINGS Corp - Annual Report: 2002 (Form 10-K)

Form 10-K for year ended 11/30/2002
Table of Contents

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 20549

 


 

Form 10-K

 

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended November 30, 2002

Commission file number 000-25349

 

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Virginia

 

54-0251350

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

440 East Commonwealth Boulevard, Martinsville, VA 24112

(Address of principal executive offices, Zip Code)

 

(276) 632-0459

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

None

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

Common stock, no par value

(Title of class)

 


 

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 No ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (Section 229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of 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. ¨

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act). Yes ¨ No x

 

State the aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates computed by reference to the price at which the common equity was last sold, or the average bid and asked price of such common equity, as of the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter: $48.9 million

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the registrant’s classes of common stock as of February 13, 2003:

 

Common stock, no par value

 

7,237,650

(Class of common stock)

 

(Number of shares)

 

Documents incorporated by reference: Portions of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held March 28, 2003 are incorporated by reference into Part III.

 


 


Table of Contents

 

Hooker Furniture Corporation

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

           

Page


Part I

           
   

Item 1.

 

Business

 

3

   

Item 2.

 

Properties

 

7

   

Item 3.

 

Legal Proceedings

 

7

   

Item 4.

 

Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

 

7

       

Executive Officers of Hooker Furniture Corporation

 

8

Part II

           
   

Item 5.

 

Market for Registrant’s Common Equity and Related Shareholder Matters

 

9

   

Item 6.

 

Selected Financial Data

 

10

   

Item 7.

 

Management’s Discussion and Analysis

 

11

   

Item 7A.

 

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

16

   

Item 8.

 

Financial Statements and Supplementary Data

 

16

   

Item 9.

 

Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure

 

16

Part III

           
   

Items 10. through 13.

 

17

   

Item 14.

 

Controls and Procedures

 

17

Part IV

           
   

Item 15.

 

Exhibits, Financial Statement Schedule, and Reports on Form 8-K

 

17

Signatures

 

19

Certifications

 

20

Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Schedule

 

F-1

 

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Table of Contents

Hooker Furniture Corporation

Part I

 

ITEM 1.     BUSINESS

 

General

 

Incorporated in Virginia in 1924, Hooker Furniture Corporation (the “Company”) is a leading manufacturer and importer of wall and entertainment systems, home office, occasional, dining and bedroom residential furniture, primarily targeted at the upper-medium price range. Its extensive style selections within each of its product niches make the Company an important furniture resource for retailers in its price range. The Company has established a broad distribution network that includes independent furniture stores, department stores, specialty retailers, catalog merchandisers, and national and regional furniture chains. By emphasizing continuous improvement in its manufacturing processes, the Company offers competitive advantages to its customers such as quick delivery, reduced inventory investment, high quality and value. The Company operates facilities in Martinsville and Roanoke, Virginia and Kernersville, Maiden, and Pleasant Garden, North Carolina.

 

On January 2, 2003, the Company completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Cherryville, NC-based upholstery producer Bradington-Young, LLC (“Bradington-Young (NC)”) for $24.5 million in cash less assumed debt, subject to a post-closing net working capital adjustment. The Company will conduct this business through a subsidiary formed in December 2002 of the same name (“Bradington-Young (VA)”). In general, the discussion of the Company’s business reflects that business as of the end of the Company’s most recent completed fiscal year and does not include Bradington-Young (VA). For more information concerning Bradington-Young (VA), see the section titled “Bradington-Young” below.

 

Products and Styles

 

The Company’s product lines cover most major design categories. The Company believes that the diversity of its product lines enables it to anticipate and respond quickly to changing consumer preferences, and provides retailers an important furniture resource in the upper-medium price range. The Company intends to continue expanding each of its product lines. The Company believes that its products represent good value and that the quality and style of its furniture compare favorably with more premium-priced products.

 

The Company provides furniture products in a variety of materials, woods, veneers, and finishes. The number of patterns by product line are:

 

 

      

Number of Patterns


Bedroom

    

22

Chairs

    

16

Dining room

    

31

Entertainment centers

    

62

Home and executive office

    

42

Occasional furniture

    

86

Wall systems

    

31

 

These product lines cover most major design categories including European traditional, transitional, American traditional, and country/casual designs.

 

The Company designs and develops new product styles semi-annually to replace discontinued items or styles and, if desired, expand product lines. The Company’s product design process begins with marketing personnel identifying customer needs and conceptualizing product ideas, which generally consist of a group of related furniture pieces. A variety of sketches are produced, usually by independent designers, from which prototype furniture pieces are built. The Company invites certain dealers and independent sales representatives to view and critique the prototypes. From this input, changes in design are made and the Company’s engineering department prepares a sample for actual full-scale production. The Company introduces its new product styles at the fall and spring international furniture markets in High Point, North Carolina.

 

From time to time, the Company will partner with third parties to design and market products under mutually beneficial licensing agreements. During 2001, the Company began working with professional golf tournament sponsor The PGA TOUR®, to develop a line of furniture to be marketed under the “PGA TOUR® Home Collection by Hooker Furniture” name. The Company introduced products for this collection during 2001 and 2002.

 

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During 2002, the Company expanded its offerings into new product niches. The Company expanded its bedroom offerings by introducing products scaled for the second and third bedrooms of homes, as well as for vacation homes and condominiums. Additionally, there were a number of product innovations in the home entertainment and home office product lines, many of which addressed style and price point voids in the line and targeted younger consumers. These innovations included the development of low profile corner entertainment centers and computer cabinets designed to be highly functional and conserve space within the home. The Company also expanded its new offerings in imported products by expanding its casual dining category and introducing a new, innovative product niche: a collection of ready-to-install designer sink cabinets.

 

Distribution

 

The Company has developed a broad domestic customer base and also sells to a limited international market. The Company sells its furniture through over 90 independent sales representatives to independent furniture retailers such as Nebraska Furniture Mart and Louis Shanks of Texas, catalog merchandisers such as the Horchow Collection (a unit of Neiman Marcus), national chain stores such as Breuners Home Furnishings, regional chain stores such as Haverty’s and Robb & Stucky, and department stores such as Federated and Dillard’s. The Company believes this broad network reduces its exposure to regional recessions, and allows it to capitalize on emerging channels of distribution. The Company offers tailored merchandising programs to address each channel of distribution.

 

The general marketing practice followed in the furniture industry is to exhibit products at international and regional furniture markets. In the spring and fall of each year, a nine-day furniture market is held in High Point, North Carolina, which is attended by most buyers and is regarded by the industry as the international market. The Company utilizes approximately 60,000 square feet of showroom space at the High Point market to introduce new products, increase sales of its existing products, and test ideas for future products.

 

The Company has sold to over 4,150 customers during the past fiscal year. Approximately 2% of the Company’s sales in 2002 were to international customers. No single customer accounted for more than 3% of the Company’s sales in 2002. No material part of the Company’s business is dependent upon a single customer, the loss of which would have a material effect on the business of the Company. The loss of several of the Company’s major customers could have a material impact on the business of the Company.

 

Manufacturing

 

The Company’s manufacturing strategy is to produce products that are on the leading edge of changing consumer demand for the home, such as home theater, home office, and computer furniture, as well as traditional bedroom. The Company stresses strong customer relationships in developing new products as well as improving existing ones. The Company believes strongly in employee involvement with employee and management teams working and communicating in all areas of manufacturing to improve production and quality related issues, stressing quality improvement, not quality control. To meet customer expectations of just-in-time inventory delivery, the Company’s strategy has been to strike a balance between minimizing cutting size together with increasing the frequency of cuttings on the one hand, and the efficiencies gained from longer production runs on the other. In recent years, cutting sizes have been reduced and frequencies of cuttings increased.

 

In order to enhance efficiency and profitability, the Company has emphasized the alignment of each of its product lines to the manufacturing strengths of each production facility. However, each facility continues to maintain the flexibility to produce multiple product lines, allowing the Company to shift products between facilities in order to balance capacity with demand. The Company communicates constantly with key suppliers in monitoring and addressing quality and delivery issues, a process that enables both the Company and its suppliers to respond quickly to constantly changing customer needs.

 

The Company operates manufacturing facilities in North Carolina and Virginia consisting of an aggregate of approximately 1.8 million square feet. The Company considers its machinery and equipment to be generally modern and well maintained.

 

The Company schedules production of its various styles based upon actual and anticipated orders. The Company’s backlog of unshipped orders was $35.6 million at November 30, 2002 and $28.1 million at November 30, 2001. The Company strives to provide inventory-on-demand for its dealers. In addition, it is the Company’s policy and industry practice to allow order cancellation up to time of shipment; therefore customer orders are not firm until shipped. For these reasons, management does not consider order backlogs to be an accurate indicator of expected business. Over the last three fiscal years, however, 92% of all orders booked were ultimately shipped. Backlogs are normally shipped within six months. During 2002, the Company shipped 79% of domestic product orders and 54% of import product orders within 30 days of order receipt.

 

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Imported Lines

 

The Company imports finished furniture in a variety of styles and materials, and markets these products under the Company name through its normal distribution channels. Imported products accounted for 42% of net sales in 2002 and 31% of net sales in 2001. Product lines include occasional tables, consoles, chests, casual and formal dining room furniture, bedroom furniture, entertainment centers, and accent items. The Company imports products primarily from China, the Philippines, Mexico, Indonesia, and Honduras sourcing through 16 independent agents representing over 65 factories.

 

The Company has imported products from foreign manufacturers for over 14 years. The Company’s imported products business is subject to the usual risks inherent in importing products manufactured abroad, including, but not limited to, supply disruptions and delays, currency exchange rate fluctuations, economic and political fluctuations and destabilization, as well as the laws, policies, and actions of foreign governments and the United States affecting trade.

 

Because of the large number and diverse nature of foreign factories, the Company has flexibility in the placement of product in any particular country or factory. Factories located in China have become an important resource for the Company. A sudden disruption in the Company’s supply chain from China could significantly impact the Company’s ability to fill customer orders for products manufactured in that country. If such a disruption were to occur, the Company believes that it would have sufficient inventory to adequately meet demand for a two to three-month period. The Company believes that it could, at higher cost, source most of the products currently sourced from factories in China from factories in different countries and could produce certain of those products domestically at its own factories. However, supply disruption delays on selected items could extend for up to six to nine months. If the Company were to be unsuccessful in obtaining those products from other sources, then a sudden disruption in the Company’s supply chain from China could have a short-term material adverse effect on the Company’s results of operations.

 

Since the Company transacts its import purchases in U.S. Dollars, a relative decline in the value of the U.S. Dollar could increase the cost of the Company’s imported products and adversely impact sales volume and profit margins during affected periods. Conversely, a relative increase in the value of the U.S. Dollar could decrease the cost of imported products and favorably impact sales volume and profit margins during affected periods. See also “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.”

 

Raw Materials

 

The principal materials used by the Company in manufacturing its products include lumber, veneer, plywood, particleboard, hardware, glue, finishing material, glass products, and fasteners. The Company uses a variety of species of lumber, including cherry, oak, poplar, pine, and maple. The Company’s five largest suppliers accounted for approximately 12% of its purchases in 2002.

 

The Company believes that its sources of supply for these materials are adequate and that it is not dependent on any one supplier.

 

Competition

 

The Company is the eighteenth largest furniture manufacturer in North America based on 2001 sales, according to Furniture/Today, a trade publication. The furniture industry is highly competitive and includes a large number of foreign and domestic manufacturers, none of which dominates the market. The markets in which the Company competes include a large number of relatively small manufacturers; however, certain competitors of the Company have substantially greater sales volumes and financial resources than the Company. The Company also competes with foreign manufacturers, many of which have substantially lower production costs, including the cost of labor, than the Company. Competitive factors in the upper-medium price range include style, price, quality, delivery, design, service, and durability. The Company believes that its long-standing customer relationships, customer responsiveness, consistent support of existing diverse product lines that are high quality and good value, and experienced management are competitive advantages.

 

Employees

 

As of November 30, 2002, the Company had approximately 1,830 employees. None of the Company’s employees are represented by a labor union. The Company considers its relations with its employees to be good.

 

The Company sponsors the Hooker Furniture Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan (the “ESOP”) to provide ownership and retirement benefits for eligible employees. As of November 30, 2002, the ESOP covered substantially all Company employees. The ESOP enables employees to share in the growth of the Company and to accumulate a beneficial ownership interest in the Company’s common stock.

 

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Patents and Trademarks

 

The trade name of the Company represents many years of continued business. The Company believes that its name is well recognized and associated with quality in the furniture industry. The Company owns a number of patents, trademarks, and licenses, none of which is considered to be material to the Company.

 

Governmental Regulations

 

The Company is subject to federal, state, and local laws and regulations in the areas of safety, health, and environmental pollution controls. Compliance with these laws and regulations has not in the past had any material effect on the Company’s earnings, capital expenditures, or competitive position; however, the effect of compliance in the future cannot be predicted. Management believes that the Company is in material compliance with applicable federal, state, and local safety, health, and environmental regulations. See “Item 3. Legal Proceedings” for information concerning certain environmental matters.

 

Bradington-Young

 

On January 2, 2003, the Company, through its wholly owned subsidiary Bradington-Young (VA), completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Cherryville, NC-based upholstery producer Bradington-Young (NC) for $24.5 million in cash less assumed debt, subject to a post-closing net working capital adjustment. Bradington-Young (NC) completed fiscal 2002 with sales of just under $50 million. Bradington-Young (VA) will specialize in upscale leather reclining chairs, executive desk chairs and motion and stationary upholstery in the upper-medium and high-end price niches, employs approximately 400 people, and owns four factories, two showrooms, and an office in North Carolina. Plant locations include Cherryville, Hickory, and Woodleaf, NC and its two showrooms are located in High Point, NC.

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements made in this report are not based on historical facts, but are forward-looking statements. These statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could,” or “anticipates,” or the negative thereof, or other variations thereon, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. These statements reflect the Company’s reasonable judgment with respect to future events and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Those risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to the ability of the Company to successfully integrate Bradington-Young’s business operations, the cyclical nature of the furniture industry, domestic and international competition in the furniture industry, general economic or business conditions, both domestically and internationally, fluctuations in the price of key raw materials including lumber, which is the most significant raw material used by the Company, supply disruptions or delays affecting imported products, adverse political acts or developments in the international markets from which the Company imports products, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates affecting the price of the Company’s imported products, and capital costs.

 

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ITEM 2.     PROPERTIES

 

Set forth below is information with respect to the Company’s principal properties. The Company believes that all these properties are well maintained and in good condition. The Company believes its manufacturing facilities are being efficiently utilized. The Company estimates that its facilities are currently being operated at approximately 85% of capacity, on a one-shift basis. All Company plants are equipped with automatic sprinkler systems and modern fire and spark detection systems, which the Company believes are adequate. All facilities set forth below are active and operational.

 

           

Approximate Facility Size

        

Location


  

Primary Use


    

(Square Feet)


    

Owned or Leased


 

Martinsville, VA

  

Corporate Headquarters

    

32,000

    

Owned

 

Martinsville, VA

  

Manufacturing

    

760,000

    

Owned

 

Martinsville, VA

  

Distribution and Imports

    

580,000

    

Owned

 

Martinsville, VA

  

Distribution and Imports

    

125,000

    

Leased 

(1)

Martinsville, VA

  

Distribution and Imports

    

162,000

    

Leased 

(2)

Martinsville, VA

  

Distribution

    

189,000

    

Owned

 

Martinsville, VA

  

Plywood Production

    

146,000

    

Owned

 

Kernersville, NC

  

Manufacturing

    

115,000

    

Owned

 

Roanoke, VA

  

Manufacturing

    

265,000

    

Owned

 

Pleasant Garden, NC

  

Manufacturing

    

300,000

    

Owned

 

Maiden, NC

  

Manufacturing

    

200,000

    

Owned

 

High Point, NC

  

Showroom

    

60,000

    

Leased 

(3)

Cherryville, NC

  

Offices and Manufacturing

    

144,000

    

Owned 

(4)

Cherryville, NC

  

Manufacturing

    

53,000

    

Owned 

(4)

Hickory, NC

  

Manufacturing

    

91,000

    

Owned 

(4)

Woodleaf, NC

  

Manufacturing

    

34,000

    

Leased 

(4) (5)

High Point, NC

  

Showroom

    

14,000

    

Owned 

(4)

High Point, NC

  

Showroom

    

33,000

    

Owned 

(4)


(1)   Lease expires October 31, 2003
(2)   Lease expires July 13, 2003, with option to extend to August 31, 2003
(3)   Lease expires October 31, 2007
(4)   Comprise the principal properties of Bradington-Young (VA)
(5)   Lease expires December 31, 2003, with two, one-year renewal options

 

ITEM 3.     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

During 1998, Triwood, Inc. (“Triwood”), a joint venture that produced particleboard for furniture manufacturing, in which the Company was a 50% shareholder, was cited by the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) for a violation of certain regulations under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The joint venture members elected to cease operations in November 1998. On June 30, 2000, the Company acquired all of the outstanding shares of Triwood owned by the other shareholder in the joint venture for an aggregate consideration of $1.9 million. The purchase price included the assumption by the Company of the first $100,000 of liability, if any, related to the 1998 EPA citation. Pursuant to an indemnification agreement, the Company and the other former joint venture owner will share equally, any liability in excess of $100,000. Based upon its most recent information, management does not believe the Company’s share of the liability, if any, will be material to the Company’s financial condition or results of operations.

 

ITEM 4.     SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

None.

 

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EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION

 

The Company’s executive officers and their ages as of February 14, 2003 and the year each joined the Company are as follows:

 

Name


  

Age


  

Position


    

Year Joined Company


Paul B. Toms, Jr.

  

48

  

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

    

1983

Douglas C. Williams

  

55

  

President and Chief Operating Officer

    

1971

E. Larry Ryder

  

55

  

Executive Vice President-Finance and Administration, Assistant Secretary, and Assistant Treasurer

    

1977

Raymond T. Harm

  

53

  

Senior Vice President-Sales

    

1999

Henry P. Long

  

51

  

Senior Vice President-Merchandising and Design

    

1983

Michael P. Spece

  

50

  

Senior Vice President-Import Division

    

1997

C. Scott Young

  

45

  

Chief Executive Officer and President of Bradington-Young (VA)

    

2003

 

Paul B. Toms, Jr. has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer since December 2000. Mr. Toms was President and Chief Operating Officer from December 1999 to December 2000, Executive Vice President—Marketing from 1994 to December 1999, Senior Vice President—Sales & Marketing from 1993 to 1994, and Vice President—Sales from 1987 to 1993. Mr. Toms joined the Company in 1983 and has been a Director since 1993. Mr. Toms is the nephew of J. Clyde Hooker, Jr., who is a Director and the Chairman Emeritus of the Company.

 

Douglas C. Williams has been President and Chief Operating Officer since December 2000. Mr. Williams was Executive Vice President—Manufacturing from December 1999 to December 2000, Senior Vice President—Manufacturing from 1987 to 1999, and Vice President—Manufacturing from 1986 to 1987. Prior to 1986, Mr. Williams held various positions in manufacturing management. Mr. Williams joined the Company in 1971 and has been a Director since 1987.

 

E. Larry Ryder has been Executive Vice President—Finance and Administration since December 2000, Assistant Treasurer since 1998, and Assistant Secretary since 1990. Mr. Ryder was Senior Vice President—Finance and Administration from December 1987 to December 2000, Treasurer from 1989 to 1998, and Vice President—Finance and Administration from 1983 to 1987. Prior to 1983, Mr. Ryder served in various financial management positions. Mr. Ryder joined the Company in 1977 and has been a Director since 1987.

 

Raymond T. Harm has been Senior Vice President—Sales since joining the Company in 1999. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Harm served as Vice President—Sales for The Barcalounger Company, a manufacturer of upholstered motion furniture, from 1992 to 1999.

 

Henry P. Long, Jr. has been Senior Vice President—Merchandising and Design since 1994. Mr. Long was Vice President— Sales from 1987 to 1994. Prior to 1987, Mr. Long served in various sales management positions. Mr. Long joined the Company in 1983 and has been a Director since 1993.

 

Michael P. Spece has been Senior Vice President—Import Division since December 2001. Mr. Spece was Vice President—Import Division since joining the Company in 1997 until December 2001. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Spece served as Merchandise Manager for Gabberts Furniture and Design Studio, an independent furniture retailer, from 1989 to 1997.

 

C. Scott Young has been the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary Bradington-Young (VA) since January 2003. Mr. Young joined the Company in connection with the Company’s acquisition, through Bradington-Young (VA), of substantially all of the assets of Bradington-Young (NC). Mr. Young was a member and manager of Bradington-Young (NC), and served as its Chief Executive Officer and President, from June 1995 to January 2003.

 

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Part II

 

ITEM   5.     MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED SHAREHOLDER MATTERS

 

Beginning in June 2002, the Company’s stock began trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market under the symbol “HOFT”. From April 2001 until June 2002, the Company’s common stock was quoted on the Over-the-Counter Bulletin Board (“OTCBB”) also under the symbol “HOFT”. The OTCBB is a regulated quotation service for subscribing members of the National Association of Securities Dealers (the “NASD”) that displays real-time quotes, last-sale prices, and volume information in over-the-counter securities. Before April 2001, the Company’s common stock was not listed for trading on any securities exchange, or on Nasdaq, or on any other inter-dealer quotation system of a registered securities association. The table below sets forth the high and low sales prices per share for the Company’s common stock for the periods indicated. For periods before June 2002, the stock price information reported in the table below represents transactions in the Company’s common stock in the “over-the-counter” market during the periods indicated as reported to the NASD by the NASD’s member firms.

 

    

2002


  

2001


    

High


  

Low


  

High


  

Low


First Quarter

  

$

12.25

  

$

8.20

  

$

9.00

  

$

7.00

Second Quarter

  

 

17.45

  

 

12.10

  

 

9.25

  

 

7.13

Third Quarter

  

 

16.55

  

 

13.00

  

 

9.50

  

 

8.10

Fourth Quarter

  

 

15.92

  

 

13.95

  

 

9.50

  

 

7.75

 

As of February 14, 2003, the Company had approximately 894 beneficial shareholders and 1,492 current and former employees participating in the Company’s ESOP. The Company pays dividends on its common stock on or about the last day of February, May, August, and November, when declared by the Board of Directors, to shareholders of record approximately two weeks earlier. Although the Company presently intends to declare cash dividends at historical levels on a quarterly basis for the foreseeable future, the determination as to the payment and the amount of any future dividends will be made by the Board of Directors from time to time and will depend on the Company’s then current financial condition, capital requirements, results of operations, and any other factors then deemed relevant by the Board of Directors. The following table sets forth the dividends per share paid by the Company with respect to its common stock during the Company’s two most recent fiscal years:

 

    

2002


  

2001


First Quarter

  

$

0.090

  

$

0.085

Second Quarter

  

 

0.090

  

 

0.090

Third Quarter

  

 

0.100

  

 

0.090

Fourth Quarter

  

 

0.100

  

 

0.090

 

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ITEM 6.     SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

The following selected financial data for each of the last five fiscal years ended November 30, 2002 has been derived from the Company’s audited, consolidated financial statements. The selected financial data should be read in conjunction with the Financial Statements, including the related Notes, and Management’s Discussion and Analysis included elsewhere in this Annual Report.

 

    

For The Years Ended November 30,


    

2002


  

2001


  

2000


  

1999


  

1998


    

(In thousands, except per share data)

Income Statement Data:

                                  

Net sales

  

$

248,346

  

$

221,289

  

$

251,051

  

$

229,238

  

$

206,521

Cost of goods sold

  

 

179,558

  

 

170,008

  

 

187,727

  

 

171,145

  

 

158,137

Gross profit

  

 

68,788

  

 

51,281

  

 

63,324

  

 

58,093

  

 

48,384

Selling and administrative expenses

  

 

42,469

  

 

39,323

  

 

40,377

  

 

34,559

  

 

31,471

Restructuring charge (1)

         

 

881

                    

Income from operations

  

 

26,319

  

 

11,077

  

 

22,947

  

 

23,534

  

 

16,913

Other income, net

  

 

560

  

 

1,213

  

 

792

  

 

289

  

 

675

Interest expense

  

 

2,094

  

 

2,140

  

 

830

  

 

647

  

 

561

Income before income taxes

  

 

24,785

  

 

10,150

  

 

22,909

  

 

23,176

  

 

17,027

Income taxes

  

 

9,394

  

 

3,640

  

 

7,995

  

 

8,881

  

 

6,241

Net income

  

 

15,391

  

 

6,510

  

 

14,914

  

 

14,295

  

 

10,786

Per Share Data:

                                  

Basic and diluted earnings per share

  

 

2.73

  

 

1.12

  

 

2.06

  

 

1.87

  

 

1.40

Cash dividends per share

  

 

0.38

  

 

0.36

  

 

0.34

  

 

0.30

  

 

0.28

Net book value per share (2)

  

 

17.74

  

 

15.45

  

 

14.68

  

 

12.52

  

 

10.97

Weighted average shares outstanding

  

 

5,643

  

 

5,809

  

 

7,257

  

 

7,636

  

 

7,692

Balance Sheet Data:

                                  

Cash, primarily interest-bearing deposits

  

 

2,316

  

 

7,926

  

 

1,243

  

 

157

  

 

3,625

Trade receivables

  

 

33,771

  

 

29,430

  

 

31,019

  

 

26,599

  

 

23,346

Inventories

  

 

54,959

  

 

33,522

  

 

42,785

  

 

37,051

  

 

35,812

Working capital

  

 

71,376

  

 

59,624

  

 

60,669

  

 

54,557

  

 

51,793

Total assets

  

 

149,881

  

 

130,695

  

 

133,531

  

 

116,423

  

 

111,233

Long-term debt (including current maturities)

  

 

24,703

  

 

26,911

  

 

29,500

  

 

7,000

  

 

12,062

Common stock held by ESOP (3)

         

 

9,397

  

 

10,412

  

 

10,129

  

 

10,213

Shareholders’ equity (3)

  

 

101,044

  

 

77,741

  

 

75,559

  

 

85,234

  

 

73,900


(1)   In August 2001, the Company recorded a pretax charge of $881,000 for severance and early retirement benefits related to a workforce reduction of approximately 100 employees at its Martinsville, Virginia facility.

 

(2)   Net book value per share is derived by dividing (a) the sum of (i) “common stock held by ESOP” and (ii) “shareholders’ equity” by (b) the number of common shares issued and outstanding, excluding unearned ESOP shares.

 

(3)   In June 2002, Hooker Furniture common stock began trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. As a result, the Company is no longer obligated to repurchase shares from participants in the Company’s ESOP. Consequently, shares previously reflected in the Company’s balance sheets as “common stock held by ESOP” have been reclassified to “shareholders’ equity”.

 

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ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

 

The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Selected Financial Data and the Financial Statements, including the related Notes, contained elsewhere in this Annual Report.

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth the percentage relationship to net sales of certain items included in the statements of income:

 

    

For the Years Ended November 30,


 
    

2002


    

2001


    

2000


 

Net sales

  

100.0

%

  

100.0

%

  

100.0

%

Cost of sales

  

72.3

 

  

76.8

 

  

74.8

 

    

  

  

Gross profit

  

27.7

 

  

23.2

 

  

25.2

 

Selling & administrative expenses

  

17.1

 

  

17.8

 

  

16.1

 

Restructuring charge

         

0.4

 

      
    

  

  

Operating income

  

10.6

 

  

5.0

 

  

9.1

 

Other income, net

  

0.2

 

  

0.6

 

  

0.3

 

Interest expense

  

0.8

 

  

1.0

 

  

0.3

 

    

  

  

Income before income taxes

  

10.0

 

  

4.6

 

  

9.1

 

Income taxes

  

3.8

 

  

1.7

 

  

3.2

 

    

  

  

Net income

  

6.2

%

  

2.9

%

  

5.9

%

    

  

  

 

2002 Compared to 2001

 

Net sales in 2002 increased $27.1 million, or 12.2%, to $248.3 million from $221.3 million in 2001. Increased unit volume in imported product lines (primarily occasional, bedroom, casual dining and entertainment centers) and domestically produced home office furniture was partially offset by lower unit volume in domestically produced bedroom furniture, wall systems, and entertainment centers. Average selling prices were lower during the 2002 periods due to the mix of products shipped (primarily higher imported furniture shipments). In 2001, the Company experienced a downturn in shipments, reflecting the industry-wide downturn experienced during most of last year.

 

During 2002, net sales for imported product lines, including sales under the Container Direct Program, increased $35.0 million, or nearly 51%, to $103.9 million, representing almost 42% of the Company’s total net sales. The Container Direct Program allows larger retailers to purchase full containers of imported product that the Company can expedite from its offshore suppliers directly to the retailers’ docks. While increased customer demand and the new Container Direct Program account for most of the increase in volume during 2002, the Company also increased significantly its purchases of imported product during the last half of the year. The increased level of purchases enabled the Company to ship a substantial portion of its backlog of orders for imported products. The Company believes that its ability to improve delivery of imported products to customers has generated additional demand. Although systems are in place to help meet customer demand efficiently in the future, the Company does not expect to purchase inventory at the same levels and consequently does not expect to experience the same rate of growth in import sales that it experienced during the last half of 2002. Generally the cost of imported products is lower as a percentage of sales than for domestically manufactured goods. However, the increased cost of warehousing to facilitate dealer demand, captured in selling and administrative expenses, is higher as a percentage of sales than for domestically manufactured goods.

 

Gross profit margin increased to 27.7% in 2002 compared to 23.2% in 2001. Most of the improvement during 2002 can be attributed to the increased shipments of “higher margin” imported products through customary distribution channels as well as the new Container Direct Program. Also during 2002, the Company’s domestic manufacturing facilities continued to see reductions in raw material costs, principally lumber and wood products, as a percentage of sales volume. Labor and overhead efficiencies also improved in spite of shortened work schedules at most plants during the second half of 2002. The Company also operated on reduced production schedules during the first nine months of 2001.

 

Selling and administrative expenses increased $3.1 million, or 8.0%, to $42.5 million in 2002 from $39.3 million in 2001. The increase was due principally to higher selling and distribution expenses to support increased sales (principally sales commissions). A decrease in selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales contributed to the improvement in operating margins. Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales decreased to 17.1% in 2002 compared to 17.8% in 2001 as a result of higher net sales in the 2002 period.

 

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A one-time restructuring charge and a special cash distribution to former ESOP participants also contributed to the decline in operating income in 2001. These expenses were related to the workforce reduction at the Martinsville facility on August 30, 2001. The one-time restructuring charge consisted of $881,000, pretax, in severance and early retirement benefits paid to terminated employees. In addition, the Company recorded a $321,000 pretax expense related to a cash distribution, required by the terms of the ESOP, terminated employees who requested distribution of their ESOP accounts in cash. The amount of the distribution was based on the fair market value, as determined by an independent appraisal, of the approximately 19,000 shares of common stock held in those employees’ ESOP accounts. These shares have been reallocated to active ESOP participants. These combined, non-recurring charges reduced 2001 operating income by $1.2 million, or 0.5% of net sales.

 

As a result of the above, operating income increased to $26.3 million, or 10.6% of net sales, in 2002, compared to $11.1 million, or 5.0% of net sales, in 2001.

 

Other income in 2002 declined to $560,000 from $1.2 million in 2001. The decline is due principally to lower rental income. During 2001, the Company received rental income for land and a building that was sold on May 31, 2001 and for a warehouse facility under a lease agreement that terminated in August 2001. In July 2002, the Company decided to reactivate that warehouse facility, located in Martinsville, Virginia. The facility reopened September 3, 2002, for warehousing certain domestically produced goods, making room for more imported products at the Company’s central distribution center. Consequently, the $1.7 million carrying value of the reactivated facility (stated at the lower of carrying value, or fair value net of estimated selling expenses) was reclassified from “assets held for sale” (included in “other assets” on the balance sheets) to “property, plant, and equipment”.

 

Interest expense decreased $46,000 during 2002 from 2001, as a result of lower debt levels. Interest expense approximated $2.1 million in each period.

 

The Company’s effective tax rate increased to 37.9% in 2002 from 35.8% in 2001. The lower federal tax rate in 2001 is primarily attributed to the applicability of lower tax brackets.

 

Net income in 2002 increased 136.4%, to $15.4 million, from $6.5 million in 2001. Earnings per share increased to $2.73 in 2002, compared with $1.12 in 2001. The restructuring charge and the cash distribution to former ESOP participants discussed above reduced 2001 net income by $745,000 after tax, or $0.13 per share.

 

2001 Compared to 2000

 

Net sales decreased $29.8 million, or 11.9%, to $221.3 million in 2001 compared to $251.1 million in 2000. Unit volume declined across all domestically produced product lines, while unit volume for imported product lines increased slightly. Average selling prices also declined during 2001, due to a change in the mix of products sold. The sales declines in the 2001 periods are a reflection of the difficult economic climate experienced since late 2000.

 

Gross profit margin for 2001 declined to 23.2% from 25.2% in 2000. The decrease was due principally to an increase in overhead cost as a percentage of sales volume resulting from lower production levels. Raw material costs and the delivered cost of imported furniture both declined as a percentage of sales volume, partially offsetting the increases in cost absorption. The Company’s labor cost as a percentage of sales volume also increased from the prior year, even though the Company’s manufacturing facilities worked a short, 35-hour weekly production schedule from January through August 2001. The Company also closed its production facilities for one week in July for annually-scheduled maintenance and also for one week in each of August and September to control inventory levels. In addition, on August 30, 2001, the Company reduced the workforce at its Martinsville plant by about 100 employees.

 

Selling and administrative expenses decreased $1.1 million, or 2.6%, to $39.3 million in 2001 from $40.4 million in 2000. During 2001, the Company incurred lower selling expenses related to lower sales (principally sales commissions) and lower legal and professional costs. Legal and professional costs were higher in 2000 due to fees incurred in connection with a tender offer by the Company’s ESOP to purchase 1.8 million shares of the Company’s stock from existing shareholders, completed in September 2000 (the “ESOP Tender Offer”). These cost decreases were partially offset by higher sample costs and depreciation expense in 2001. As a percentage of net sales, selling and administrative expenses increased to 17.8% in 2001, from 16.1% in 2000, as a result of lower net sales in 2001.

 

Overall, while production costs and selling and administrative expenses decreased in 2001, these reductions in cost were not sufficient to completely offset the effect of lower sales volume on operating margins.

 

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A one-time restructuring charge and a special cash distribution to former ESOP participants also contributed to the decline in operating income in 2001. These expenses were related to the workforce reduction at the Martinsville facility on August 30, 2001. The one-time restructuring charge consisted of $881,000, pretax, in severance and early retirement benefits paid to terminated employees. In addition, the Company recorded a $321,000 pretax expense related to a cash distribution, required by the terms of the ESOP, to terminated employees who requested distribution of their ESOP accounts in cash. The amount of the distribution was based on the fair market value, as determined by an independent appraisal, of the approximately 19,000 shares of common stock held in those employees’ ESOP accounts. These shares have been reallocated to active ESOP participants. These combined, non-recurring charges reduced operating income by $1.2 million, or 0.5% of net sales.

 

As a result of the above, operating income decreased to $11.1 million, or 5.0% of net sales, in 2001, compared to $22.9 million, or 9.1% of net sales, in 2000.

 

Other income in 2001 increased to $1.2 million from $792,000 in 2001. The increase is due principally to a net gain in 2001, compared to a net loss in 2000, on the incidental disposal of assets. Rental income was higher in 2001 than in 2000. The Company received rental income for land and a building from July 1, 2000, until the property was sold on May 31, 2001. Also the Company leased a warehouse facility to a third party from August 2000 through July 2001. In addition, the Company generated more interest income in 2001 compared to 2000, as a result of having higher available cash balances to invest.

 

Interest expense increased $1.3 million to $2.1 million in 2001 compared to $830,000 in 2000. The increase was due to interest incurred on the September 2000 term loan entered into in connection with the ESOP Tender Offer.

 

The Company’s effective tax rate increased from 34.9% in 2000 to 35.8% in 2001.

 

Net income in 2001 declined 56.3%, to $6.5 million, from $14.9 million in 2000. Earnings per share decreased to $1.12 in 2001, compared with $2.06 in 2000. The restructuring charge and the cash distribution to former ESOP participants discussed above reduced 2001 net income by $745,000 after tax, or $0.13 per share.

 

Financial Condition, Liquidity, and Capital Resources

 

As of November 30, 2002, assets totaled $149.9 million, increasing from $130.7 million at November 30, 2001. Shareholders’ equity at November 30, 2002, was $101.0 million, compared to $77.7 million at November 30, 2001. The increase in shareholders’ equity includes the reclassification of “common stock held by ESOP” in the amount of $9.4 million into “retained earnings” (see Note 11 to the Financial Statements). The Company’s long-term debt, including current maturities, was $24.7 million at November 30, 2002, declining from $26.9 million at November 30, 2001. Working capital increased to $71.4 million as of November 30, 2002, from $59.6 million at the end of 2001, reflecting higher inventories and trade receivables, partially offset by a lower cash position and higher trade payables and accrued liabilities.

 

During 2002 and 2001, the Company recognized a decrease in the aggregate fair market value of its interest rate swap agreements, resulting from the general decline in interest rates that occurred during those periods. The aggregate decrease in the fair market value of the effective portion of the agreements of $1.9 million after tax ($3.1 million pretax) as of November 30, 2002, and $1.7 million after tax ($2.7 million pretax) as of November 30, 2001, is reflected under the caption “accumulated other comprehensive loss” in the balance sheets.

 

During 2002, cash generated from operations ($5.7 million) and a decrease in available cash ($5.6 million) funded capital expenditures ($6.1 million), net repayments of long-term debt ($2.2 million), dividend payments ($1.9 million), and the purchase and retirement of common stock ($1.2 million). During 2001, cash generated from operations ($20.5 million) and the sale of property ($2.8 million) funded capital expenditures ($8.8 million), an increase in available cash ($6.7 million), the purchase and retirement of common stock ($2.9 million), net repayments of long-term debt ($2.6 million), and dividend payments ($2.3 million).

 

Cash generated from operations of $5.7 million during 2002 decreased $14.8 million from $20.5 million in 2001. The decrease was due to higher payments to suppliers and employees and higher tax payments, partially offset by higher payments received from customers and lower interest payments. Payments to suppliers and employees increased $33.9 million, principally to fund increases in inventory of imported products and trade receivables. The increase was partially offset by higher current liabilities. The Company increased its inventory of imported products during 2002 in order to meet customer demand and fill order backlogs during the fourth quarter. The Company expects inventory purchases of imported products to stabilize at current levels for the foreseeable future. Cash received from customers increased $20.5 million as a result of higher sales. Tax payments increased $1.5 million as a result of higher income levels.

 

 

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Investing activities consumed $6.1 million during 2002 compared to $6.0 million in 2001. Expenditures in each year were incurred principally for plant, equipment, and other assets to maintain and enhance the Company’s facilities and business operating systems. On May 31, 2001, the Company’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Triwood, Inc., sold land and a building that was being leased to a third party for $2.7 million in cash.

 

The Company used cash of $5.2 million for financing activities in 2002 compared to $7.8 million in 2001. During 2002, the Company repaid $2.2 million, net, of long-term debt, paid dividends of $1.9 million, repurchased approximately 60,000 shares of common stock from ESOP participants at a total cost of $1.1 million, or $17.95 per share, as required by the terms of the ESOP, and repurchased approximately 6,000 shares of common stock at a total cost of $83,000, or $13.62 per share, under the common stock repurchase program authorized by the Board of Directors in 2001. During 2001, the Company purchased and retired $2.9 million of common stock, repaid $2.6 million, net, of long-term debt, and paid dividends in the amount of $2.3 million.

 

In 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an aggregate $5.2 million of the Company’s common stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market, or in privately negotiated transactions, at prevailing market prices that the Company deems appropriate. Through November 30, 2002, the Company has repurchased 292,000 shares under the authorization, at a total cost of $2.5 million or an average of $8.58 per share. Based on the market value of the common stock as of November 30, 2002, the remaining $2.7 million of the authorization would allow the Company to repurchase approximately 2.4% of the 7.2 million shares outstanding, or 3.4% of the Company’s outstanding shares excluding the 2.3 million shares held by the ESOP.

 

As of November 30, 2002, the Company had $9.1 million available under its revolving line of credit and $39.9 million available under additional lines of credit to fund working capital needs. The Company believes it has the financial resources (including available cash, expected cash flow from operations, and lines of credit) needed to meet business requirements for the foreseeable future including capital expenditures, working capital, purchases under the stock repurchase program, and dividends on the Company’s common stock. Cash flow from operations is highly dependent on order rates and the Company’s operating performance. The Company expects to spend $5.0 to $8.0 million in capital expenditures during fiscal 2003 to maintain and enhance its facilities and operating systems.

 

Commitments and Contractual Obligations

 

As of November 30, 2002, the Company’s commitments and contractual obligations were as follows:

 

    

Payments Due by Period (In thousands)


    

Less than 1 Year


  

1-3

 Years


  

4-5
 Years


  

After 5 Years


Long-term debt and capital leases

  

$

2,905

  

$

10,629

  

$

8,376

  

$

2,793

Operating leases

  

 

1,355

  

 

1,351

  

 

858

      
    

  

  

  

Total contractual cash obligations

  

$

4,260

  

$

11,980

  

$

9,234

  

$

2,793

    

  

  

  

 

Outlook

 

The Company believes that the stagnant economy, geo-political concerns, unsettled financial markets, and low consumer confidence all indicate slow to moderate retail sales for at least the first half of 2003. We continue to be optimistic about growth in our domestically produced bedroom business. Over 470 dealers have purchased and placed the new bedroom groups on their retail showroom floors. The Company’s goal is 500 placements for these new bedroom groups. The Company expects product introductions for the April 2003 furniture market to be well received based on feedback from a limited number of retailers who critiqued those offerings at our February 2003 design show. Order backlogs in February 2003 approximate backlog levels one year ago. Generally, our plants will continue to work 35-hour per week schedules into April 2003.

 

Our integration of the Bradington-Young acquisition is proceeding as planned. We have made progress on integrating our sales force and are working together on product development, promotions, and sales. Our first quarter 2003 results will include the results of Bradington-Young for the two-month period from January through February 2003.

 

Environmental Matters

 

Hooker Furniture Corporation is committed to protecting the environment as evidenced by its products and its manufacturing operations. The Company’s manufacturing sites generate both hazardous and non-hazardous wastes, the treatment, storage, transportation, and disposal of which, are subject to various local, state, and national laws relating to protecting the environment.

 

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The Company is in various stages of investigation or remediation of alleged or acknowledged contamination at current or former manufacturing sites. The Company’s policy is to record environmental liabilities when loss amounts are probable and can be reasonably estimated. The costs associated with the Company’s environmental responsibilities, compliance with federal, state, and local laws regulating the discharge of materials into the environment, or otherwise relating to the protection of the environment, has not had and, in the opinion of management, will not have a material effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, capital expenditures, or competitive position.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

The Company’s significant accounting policies are more fully described in its Summary of Significant Accounting Policies to the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted within the United States requires management to make estimates and assumptions in certain circumstances that affect amounts reported in the accompanying financial statements and related notes. In preparing these financial statements, management has made its best estimates and judgments of certain amounts included in the financial statements, giving due consideration to materiality. The Company does not believe there is a great likelihood that materially different amounts would be reported related to the accounting policies described below, however, application of these accounting policies involves the exercise of judgment and the use of assumptions as to future uncertainties and as a result, actual results could differ from these estimates.

 

The Company evaluates the adequacy of its allowance for doubtful accounts at the end of each quarter. In performing this evaluation, the Company analyzes the payment history of its significant past due accounts, subsequent cash collections on these accounts and comparative accounts receivable aging statistics. Based on this information, along with consideration of the general strength of the economy, the Company develops what it considers to be a reasonable estimate of the un-collectible amounts included in accounts receivable. This estimate involves significant judgment by the management of the Company. Actual un-collectible amounts may differ from the Company’s estimate.

 

The Company values its inventories at the lower of cost, using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, or market. The Company evaluates its inventory for excess or slow moving items based on recent and projected sales and order patterns. The Company establishes an allowance for those items that the estimated market value or net sales value is lower than their recorded cost. This estimate involves significant judgment by management and actual values may differ from the Company’s estimate.

 

Accounting Pronouncements

 

In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141, “Business Combinations”, which became effective July 1, 2001. SFAS 141 requires the purchase method of accounting for business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001, and eliminates the pooling-of-interests method. The adoption of SFAS 141 did not had an effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In July 2001, the FASB issued SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. SFAS 142 requires, among other things, the discontinuance of goodwill amortization. In addition, the standard includes provisions for the reclassification of certain existing, recognized intangibles such as goodwill, reassessment of the useful lives of existing, recognized intangibles, reclassification of certain intangibles out of previously reported goodwill and the identification of reporting units for purposes of assessing potential future impairment of goodwill. SFAS 142 also requires a transitional goodwill impairment test six months from the date of adoption and further requires an evaluation of the carrying value of goodwill for impairment annually thereafter. The adoption of SFAS 142 did not have an effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In October 2001, the FASB issued SFAS 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”. This statement addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. This statement supersedes SFAS 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of”, and the accounting and reporting provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30, “Reporting the Results of Operations - Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions”. This statement also amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements”, to eliminate the exception to consolidation for a subsidiary for which control is likely to be temporary. This statement requires that

 

15


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one accounting model be used for long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale, whether previously held and used or newly acquired. This statement also broadens the presentation of discontinued operations to include more disposal transactions. SFAS 144 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of SFAS 144 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities”. This statement addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)”. This statement requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. This statement also establishes that fair value is the objective for initial measurement of the liability. The provisions of this statement are effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002. The adoption of SFAS 146 will not have an effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—an Amendment of SFAS No. 123”. This statement amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value-based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, this statement amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. The adoption of SFAS 148 will not have an effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

ITEM 7A.     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The Company is exposed to market risk from changes in interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates, which could impact its results of operations and financial condition. The Company manages its exposure to these risks through its normal operating and financing activities and through the use of interest rate swap agreements with respect to interest rates.

 

The Company’s obligations under its lines of credit, industrial revenue bonds, and term loan bear interest at variable rates. The Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements that, in effect, fix the rate of interest on the industrial revenue bonds at 4.7% through 2006 and on the term loan at 7.4% through 2010. There were no other material derivative instrument transactions during any of the periods presented. As of November 30, 2002, $6.4 million was outstanding under the Company’s industrial revenue bonds, $17.8 million was outstanding under the term loan, and $500,000 was outstanding under the revolving credit line. A 10% fluctuation in market interest rates would not have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations or financial condition.

 

For imported products, the Company generally negotiates firm pricing with its foreign suppliers, for periods typically of up to one year. The Company accepts the exposure to exchange rate movements beyond these negotiated periods without using derivative financial instruments to manage this risk. Since the Company transacts its purchases of import products in U.S. Dollars, a decline in the relative value of the U.S. Dollar could increase the cost of imported products when the Company renegotiates pricing. As a result, a weakening U.S. Dollar exchange rate could adversely impact sales volume and profit margins during affected periods. However, the Company generally expects to reflect substantially all of the effect of any price changes from suppliers in the price it charges for its imported products.

 

ITEM 8.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

The financial statements and schedule listed in Items 15(a)(1) and 15(a)(2) of this report are incorporated herein by reference and are filed as a part of this report.

 

ITEM 9.     CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

As reported in the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K originally filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 2002, as amended February 26, 2003, the Company engaged KPMG LLP on September 30, 2002 to serve as the Company’s principal accountant to audit the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending November 30, 2003. BDO Seidman, LLP continued to serve as the Company’s principal accountant to audit the Company’s financial statements for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2002, through the completion of that audit and the date of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for that period. The change in the Company’s principal accountant was recommended by the Audit Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.

 

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Part III

 

In accordance with General Instruction G (3) of Form 10-K, the information called for by Items 10, 11, 12, and 13 of Part III is incorporated by reference to the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for its Annual Meeting of Shareholders scheduled to be held March 28, 2003, except for information concerning the executive officers of the registrant which is included in Part I of this report under the caption “Executive Officers of Hooker Furniture Corporation”.

 

ITEM 14.     CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Based on their most recent review, which was completed within 90 days of the filing of this report, the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and are effective to ensure that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms. There were no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect those controls subsequent to the date of their evaluation.

 

Part IV

 

ITEM 15.    EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES, AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

 

(a)

      

Documents filed as part of this report on Form 10-K:

(1)

      

The following financial statements are included in this report on Form 10-K:

        

Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants.

        

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of November 30, 2002 and 2001.

        

Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the three fiscal years ended November 30, 2002.

        

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three fiscal years ended November 30, 2002.

        

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for each of the three fiscal years ended November 30, 2002.

        

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies.

        

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

(2)

      

Financial Statement Schedule:

        

Report on Financial Statement Schedule.

        

Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for each of the three fiscal years ended November 30, 2002.

(b)

      

The following reports on Form 8-K were filed by the registrant during the last quarter covered by this report:

        

Form8-K, dated September 30, 2002 and filed with the SEC October 2, 2002, announcing a change in the Company’s accountant.

        

Form 8-K, dated October 7, 2002 and filed with the SEC October 7, 2002, announcing the signing of a letter of intent to acquire Bradington-Young, LLC.

(c)

      

Exhibits:

   

3.1

  

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (SEC File No. 000-25349))

   

3.2

  

Articles of Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (SEC File No. 000-25349))

   

3.3

  

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (SEC File No. 000-25349))

   

4.1

  

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (See Exhibit 3.1)

   

4.2

  

Articles of Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (See Exhibit 3.2)

   

4.3

  

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (See Exhibit 3.3)

   

4.4(a)

  

Term Loan Agreement, dated September 18, 2000 (“SunTrust Term Loan”), between the Company and SunTrust Bank (including related Term Note and Negative Pledge Agreement) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Form 10-K (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000)

 

17


Table of Contents
   

  4.4

(b)

  

Loan Modification Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2002, with respect to the SunTrust Term Loan, between the Company and SunTrust Bank (including Renewal Term Note dated January 2, 2003)*

   

  4.5

 

  

Promissory Note, dated January 2, 2003, between Bank of America, N.A., and the Company*

          

Pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(4)(iii), instruments evidencing long-term debt less than 10% of the Company’s total assets have been omitted and will be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

   

10.1

 

  

Form of Salary Continuation Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (SEC File No. 000-25349))**

   

10.2

 

  

Form of Split Dollar Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (SEC File No. 000-25349))**

   

10.3

(a)

  

Commitment Letter for line of credit (“BB&T Credit Line”) and related Promissory Note, each dated August 1, 2000, between Branch Banking & Trust Company of Virginia and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 10-K (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001)

   

10.3

(b)

  

Commitment Letter renewing and increasing the BB&T Credit Line and related Promissory Note, each dated April 6, 2001, between Branch Banking & Trust Company of Virginia and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Form 10-K (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001)

   

10.3

(c)

  

Commitment Letter renewing the BB&T Credit Line and related Promissory Note, each dated April 19, 2002, between Branch Banking & Trust Company of Virginia and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2002)

   

10.3

(d)

  

Commitment Letter renewing and increasing the BB&T Credit Line and related Promissory Note, each dated July 3, 2002, between Branch Banking & Trust Company of Virginia and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 10-Q (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2002)

   

10.4

(a)

  

SunTrust Term Loan, dated September 18, 2000, between the Company and SunTrust Bank (including related Term Note and Negative Pledge Agreement) (See Exhibit 4.4(a))

   

10.4

(b)

  

Loan Modification Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2002, with respect to the SunTrust Term Loan, between the Company and SunTrust Bank (including related Renewal Term Note dated January 2, 2003) (See Exhibit 4.4(b))

   

10.5

 

  

Credit Agreement, dated September 18, 2000, between the Company and the Hooker Furniture Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust (including related Non-Recourse Promissory Note and Stock Pledge Agreement) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Company’s Form 10-K (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000)

   

10.6

 

  

Promissory Note, dated January 2, 2003, between Bank of America, N.A., and the Company (See Exhibit 4.5)

   

10.7

 

  

Lease, dated November 1, 2002, between International Home Furnishings Center and the Company*

   

10.8

 

  

Lease, dated March 14, 1994, between Fred B. Caffey (the “Caffey Lease”) and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (SEC File No. 000-25349))

   

10.9

 

  

Addendum to the Caffey Lease dated October 26, 2002*

   

10.1

0

  

Sublease, dated January 29, 2003, between Pulaski Furniture Corporation and the Company*

   

21

 

  

List of Subsidiaries:

          

Bradington-Young, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company

          

Triwood, Inc., a Virginia corporation

   

99.1

 

  

Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*

   

99.2

 

  

Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*

 

 

*     Filed herewith

**   Management contract or compensatory plan

 

18


Table of Contents

 

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.

 

   

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION

   

/s/    PAUL B. TOMS, JR.        


   

Paul B. Toms, Jr.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

February 26, 2003

 

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/    PAUL B. TOMS, JR.        


Paul B. Toms, Jr.

  

Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)

 

February 26, 2003

/s/    DOUGLAS C. WILLIAMS        


Douglas C. Williams

  

President, Chief Operating Officer and
Director

 

February 26, 2003

/s/     E. LARRY RYDER        


E. Larry Ryder

  

Executive Vice President—Finance and Administration and Director
(Principal Financial Officer)

 

February 26, 2003

/s/    HENRY P. LONG, JR.        


Henry P. Long, Jr.

  

Senior Vice President—Merchandising and Design and Director

 

February 26, 2003

/s/    R. GARY ARMBRISTER        


R. Gary Armbrister

  

Chief Accounting Officer
(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

February 26, 2003

/s/    J. CLYDE HOOKER, JR.        


J. Clyde Hooker, Jr.

  

Director and Chairman Emeritus

 

February 26, 2003

/s/    W. CHRISTOPHER BEELER, JR.        


W. Christopher Beeler, Jr.

  

Director

 

February 26, 2003

/s/    ALAN D. COLE        


Alan D. Cole

  

Director

 

February 26, 2003

/s/    JOHN L. GREGORY, III        


John L. Gregory, III

  

Director

 

February 26, 2003

/s/    IRVING M. GROVES, JR.        


Irving M. Groves, Jr.

  

Director

 

February 26, 2003

/s/    A. FRANK HOOKER, JR.        


A. Frank Hooker, Jr.

  

Director

 

February 26, 2003

/s/    ROBERT A. TAYLOR        


Robert A. Taylor

  

Director

 

February 26, 2003

/s/    L. DUDLEY WALKER        


L. Dudley Walker

  

Director

 

February 26, 2003

 

19


Table of Contents

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, Paul B. Toms, Jr., certify that:

 

1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Hooker Furniture Corporation;

 

2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

 

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

 

4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

 

  a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

 

  b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

  c)   presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

  b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

 

6.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date:

 

February 26, 2003

 

/s/    Paul B. Toms, Jr.


       

Paul B. Toms, Jr.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

20


Table of Contents

 

CERTIFICATION

 

I, E. Larry Ryder, certify that:

 

1.   I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Hooker Furniture Corporation;

 

2.   Based on my knowledge, this annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual report;

 

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this annual report;

 

4.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-14 and 15d-14) for the registrant and have:

 

  a)   designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this annual report is being prepared;

 

  b)   evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of this annual report (the “Evaluation Date”); and

 

  c)   presented in this annual report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on our evaluation as of the Evaluation Date;

 

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

 

  a)   all significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls which could adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data and have identified for the registrant’s auditors any material weaknesses in internal controls; and

 

  b)   any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal controls; and

 

6.   The registrant’s other certifying officers and I have indicated in this annual report whether there were significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to the date of our most recent evaluation, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.

 

Date:

 

February 26, 2003

 

/s/    E. Larry Ryder


       

E. Larry Ryder

Executive Vice President—Finance and

Administration and Chief Financial Officer

 

21


Table of Contents

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

 

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULE

 

    

Page


Financial Statements

    

Report of Independent Certified Public Accountants

  

F-1

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of November 30, 2002 and 2001

  

F-2

Consolidated Statements of Income for each of the three fiscal years ended November 30, 2002

  

F-3

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for each of the three fiscal years ended November 30, 2002

  

F-4

Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity for each of the three fiscal years ended November 30, 2002

  

F-5

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

  

F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

  

F-8

Financial Statement Schedule

    

Report on Financial Statement Schedule

  

S-1

Schedule II-Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for each of the three fiscal years ended November 30, 2002

  

S-1

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

 

To the Shareholders of

Hooker Furniture Corporation and Subsidiary

Martinsville, Virginia

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Hooker Furniture Corporation and subsidiary as of November 30, 2002 and 2001 and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2002. These consolidated 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, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Hooker Furniture Corporation and subsidiary at November 30, 2002 and 2001, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended November 30, 2002, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

LOGO

 

Richmond, Virginia

December 13, 2002, except for Note 12, which is as of January 2, 2003

 

F-1


Table of Contents

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

(In thousands, including share data)

 

    

As of November 30,


 
    

2002


    

2001


 

Assets

                 

Current assets

                 

Cash, primarily interest-bearing deposits

  

$

2,316

 

  

$

7,926

 

Trade receivables, less allowances of $800 and $650

  

 

33,771

 

  

 

29,430

 

Inventories

  

 

54,959

 

  

 

33,522

 

Income taxes recoverable

           

 

1,359

 

Prepaid expenses and other

  

 

2,225

 

  

 

2,368

 

    


  


Total current assets

  

 

93,271

 

  

 

74,605

 

Property, plant, and equipment, net

  

 

49,577

 

  

 

49,952

 

Other assets

  

 

7,033

 

  

 

6,138

 

    


  


Total assets

  

$

149,881

 

  

$

130,695

 

    


  


Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

                 

Current liabilities

                 

Trade accounts payable

  

$

5,427

 

  

$

4,088

 

Accrued salaries, wages, and benefits

  

 

6,022

 

  

 

4,789

 

Accrued income taxes

  

 

3,169

 

        

Other accrued expenses

  

 

4,372

 

  

 

3,374

 

Current maturities of long-term debt

  

 

2,905

 

  

 

2,730

 

    


  


Total current liabilities

  

 

21,895

 

  

 

14,981

 

Long-term debt

  

 

21,798

 

  

 

24,181

 

Other long-term liabilities

  

 

5,144

 

  

 

4,395

 

    


  


Total liabilities

  

 

48,837

 

  

 

43,557

 

    


  


Common stock held by ESOP

           

 

9,397

 

Shareholders’ Equity

                 

Common stock, no par value, 10,000 shares authorized, 7,238 and 7,304 shares issued and outstanding

  

 

3,025

 

  

 

2,789

 

Unearned ESOP shares (1,541 and 1,663 shares)

  

 

(19,261

)

  

 

(20,793

)

Retained earnings

  

 

119,213

 

  

 

97,432

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  

 

(1,933

)

  

 

(1,687

)

    


  


Total shareholders’ equity

  

 

101,044

 

  

 

77,741

 

    


  


Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  

$

149,881

 

  

$

130,695

 

    


  


 

See accompanying Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

F-2


Table of Contents

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

    

For The Year Ended November 30,


    

2002


  

2001


  

2000


Net sales

  

$

248,346

  

$

221,289

  

$

251,051

Cost of sales

  

 

179,558

  

 

170,008

  

 

187,727

    

  

  

Gross profit

  

 

68,788

  

 

51,281

  

 

63,324

Selling and administrative expenses

  

 

42,469

  

 

39,323

  

 

40,377

Restructuring charge

         

 

881

      
    

  

  

Operating income

  

 

26,319

  

 

11,077

  

 

22,947

Other income, net

  

 

560

  

 

1,213

  

 

792

Interest expense

  

 

2,094

  

 

2,140

  

 

830

    

  

  

Income before taxes

  

 

24,785

  

 

10,150

  

 

22,909

Income taxes

  

 

9,394

  

 

3,640

  

 

7,995

    

  

  

Net income

  

$

15,391

  

$

6,510

  

$

14,914

    

  

  

Earnings per share:

                    

Basic and diluted

  

$

2.73

  

$

1.12

  

$

2.06

    

  

  

Weighted average shares outstanding

  

 

5,643

  

 

5,809

  

 

7,257

    

  

  

 

 

 

See accompanying Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

F-3


Table of Contents

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

(In thousands)

 

    

For The Year Ended November 30,


 
    

2002


    

2001


    

2000


 

Cash flows from operating activities:

                    

Cash received from customers

  

$244,376

 

  

$223,845

 

  

$247,459

 

Cash paid to suppliers and employees

  

(230,982

)

  

(197,110

)

  

(222,562

)

Income taxes paid, net

  

(5,980

)

  

(4,484

)

  

(8,028

)

Interest paid, net

  

(1,719

)

  

(1,791

)

  

(490

)

    

  

  

Net cash provided by operating activities

  

5,695

 

  

20,460

 

  

16,379

 

    

  

  

Cash flows from investing activities:

                    

Purchase of property, plant, and equipment

  

(6,082

)

  

(8,797

)

  

(12,064

)

Acquisition of joint venture, net of cash received

                

(801

)

Sale of property and equipment

  

18

 

  

2,779

 

  

56

 

    

  

  

Net cash absorbed by investing activities

  

(6,064

)

  

(6,018

)

  

(12,809

)

    

  

  

Cash flows from financing activities:

                    

Proceeds from long-term debt

  

3,000

 

  

2,500

 

  

41,000

 

Payments on long-term debt

  

(5,208

)

  

(5,089

)

  

(18,500

)

Cash dividends paid

  

(1,866

)

  

(2,259

)

  

(2,484

)

Purchase and retirement of common stock

  

(1,167

)

  

(2,911

)

      

Purchase of common stock by ESOP

                

(22,500

)

    

  

  

Net cash absorbed by financing activities

  

(5,241

)

  

(7,759

)

  

(2,484

)

    

  

  

Net increase (decrease) in cash

  

(5,610

)

  

6,683

 

  

1,086

 

Cash at beginning of year

  

7,926

 

  

1,243

 

  

157

 

    

  

  

Cash at end of year

  

$    2,316

 

  

$    7,926

 

  

$    1,243

 

    

  

  

Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

                    

Net income

  

$  15,391

 

  

$    6,510

 

  

$  14,914

 

Depreciation and amortization

  

8,103

 

  

7,592

 

  

6,689

 

Non-cash ESOP cost

  

1,794

 

  

1,514

 

  

678

 

Deferred taxes

  

(634

)

  

(295

)

  

782

 

(Gain) loss on disposal of property and equipment

  

(5

)

  

(59

)

  

111

 

Changes in assets and liabilities, net of effect from acquisition:

                    

Trade receivables

  

(4,341

)

  

1,589

 

  

(4,420

)

Inventories

  

(21,437

)

  

9,263

 

  

(5,734

)

Income taxes recoverable

  

1,359

 

  

(549

)

  

(458

)

Prepaid expenses and other assets

  

(1,626

)

  

(1,947

)

  

440

 

Trade accounts payable

  

1,339

 

  

(1,318

)

  

1,630

 

Accrued salaries, wages, and benefits

  

1,233

 

  

(1,681

)

  

1,083

 

Accrued income taxes

  

3,169

 

         

(669

)

Other accrued expenses

  

601

 

  

(452

)

  

905

 

Other long-term liabilities

  

749

 

  

293

 

  

428

 

    

  

  

Net cash provided by operating activities

  

$    5,695

 

  

$  20,460

 

  

$  16,379

 

    

  

  

 

See accompanying Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

    

For Each of The Three Years Ended November 30, 2002


 
    

Common Stock


    

Unearned ESOP Shares


    

Retained Earnings


      

Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss


    

Total Shareholders’ Equity


 
    

Shares


    

Amount


               

Balance at November 30, 1999

  

7,617

 

  

$

2,418

 

           

$

82,816

 

             

$

85,234

 

Net income

                           

 

14,914

 

             

 

14,914

 

Cash dividends on common stock ($0.34 per share)

                           

 

(2,484

)

             

 

(2,484

)

Purchase of shares by ESOP

                  

$

(22,500

)

                      

 

(22,500

)

ESOP cost

         

 

187

 

  

 

491

 

                      

 

678

 

Increase in fair value of shares held by ESOP

                           

 

(283

)

             

 

(283

)

    

  


  


  


             


Balance at November 30, 2000

  

7,617

 

  

 

2,605

 

  

 

(22,009

)

  

 

94,963

 

             

 

75,559

 

Net income

                           

 

6,510

 

             

 

6,510

 

Change in unrealized loss on interest rate swap

                                      

$

(1,687

)

  

 

(1,687

)

                                                 


Total comprehensive income

                                               

 

4,823

 

                                                 


Cash dividends on common stock ($0.36 per share)

                           

 

(2,259

)

             

 

(2,259

)

Purchase and retirement of common stock

  

(313

)

  

 

(114

)

           

 

(2,797

)

             

 

(2,911

)

ESOP cost

         

 

298

 

  

 

1,216

 

                      

 

1,514

 

Decrease in fair value of shares held by ESOP

                           

 

1,015

 

             

 

1,015

 

    

  


  


  


    


  


Balance at November 30, 2001

  

7,304

 

  

 

2,789

 

  

 

(20,793

)

  

 

97,432

 

    

 

(1,687

)

  

 

77,741

 

Net income

                           

 

15,391

 

             

 

15,391

 

Change in unrealized loss on interest rate swap

                                      

 

(246

)

  

 

(246

)

                                                 


Total comprehensive income

                                               

 

15,145

 

                                                 


Cash dividends on common stock ($0.38 per share)

                           

 

(1,866

)

             

 

(1,866

)

Purchase and retirement of common stock

  

(66

)

  

 

(26

)

           

 

(1,141

)

             

 

(1,167

)

ESOP cost

         

 

262

 

  

 

1,532

 

                      

 

1,794

 

Reclassification of common stock held by ESOP to retained earnings

                           

 

9,397

 

             

 

9,397

 

    

  


  


  


    


  


Balance at November 30, 2002

  

7,238

 

  

$

3,025

 

  

$

(19,261

)

  

$

119,213

 

    

$

(1,933

)

  

$

101,044

 

    

  


  


  


    


  


 

 

See accompanying Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

 

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

 

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

 

Nature of Business

 

The Company manufactures and imports household and home office furniture for sale to wholesale and retail merchandisers located primarily throughout North America. The Company operates in one business segment. Substantially all revenues result from the sale of residential wood furniture products. Substantially all of the Company’s trade accounts receivable are due from retailers in this market, which consists of a large number of entities with a broad geographical dispersion.

 

Consolidation

 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiary, Triwood, Inc. All material inter-company accounts and transactions have been eliminated upon consolidation.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost, using the last-in, first-out (LIFO) method, or market.

 

Property, Plant, and Equipment

 

Property, plant, and equipment is stated at cost, less allowances for depreciation. Provision for depreciation has been computed (generally by the declining balance method) at annual rates that will amortize the cost of the depreciable assets over their estimated useful lives.

 

Income Taxes

 

Deferred income taxes reflect the future tax consequences of differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities.

 

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

 

The carrying value for each of the Company’s financial instruments (consisting of cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, and accrued salaries) approximates fair value because of the short-term nature of those instruments. The fair value of the Company’s industrial development revenue bonds and term loan is estimated based on the quoted market rates for similar debt with remaining maturity. On November 30, 2002, the carrying value of the industrial development revenue bonds and term loan approximated fair value. The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements is based on values provided by the issuers.

 

Use of Estimates

 

The preparation of 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 and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reported period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

The Company recognizes sales revenue and ownership passes to the buyer at the time products are shipped. Substantially all of the Company’s trade accounts receivable are from customers in the retail furniture industry. Management continually performs credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral.

 

Long-Lived Assets

 

Long-lived assets, such as property, plant, and equipment, are evaluated for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable through the estimated undiscounted future cash flows from the use of those assets. When any such impairment exists, the related assets will be written down to fair value. No impairment losses have been recorded through November 30, 2002.

 

F-6


Table of Contents

 

Earnings Per Share

 

Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing income available to common shareholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the potential dilutive effect of securities that could share in the earnings of the Company. Unallocated ESOP shares are not considered outstanding for purposes of calculating basic and diluted earnings per share. At November 30, 2002, there were no securities that had a dilutive effect.

 

Accounting Pronouncements

 

In July 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 141, “Business Combinations”, which became effective July 1, 2001. SFAS 141 requires the purchase method of accounting for business combinations initiated after June 30, 2001, and eliminates the pooling-of-interests method. The adoption of SFAS 141 did not had an effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In July 2001, the FASB issued SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. This statement is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001. SFAS 142 requires, among other things, the discontinuance of goodwill amortization. In addition, the standard includes provisions for the reclassification of certain existing, recognized intangibles such as goodwill, reassessment of the useful lives of existing, recognized intangibles, reclassification of certain intangibles out of previously reported goodwill and the identification of reporting units for purposes of assessing potential future impairment of goodwill. SFAS 142 also requires a transitional goodwill impairment test six months from the date of adoption and further requires an evaluation of the carrying value of goodwill for impairment annually thereafter. The adoption of SFAS 142 did not have an effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In October 2001, the FASB issued SFAS 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets”. This statement addresses financial accounting and reporting for the impairment or disposal of long-lived assets. This statement supersedes SFAS 121, “Accounting for the Impairment of Long-Lived Assets and for Long-Lived Assets to Be Disposed Of”, and the accounting and reporting provisions of Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 30, “Reporting the Results of Operations - Reporting the Effects of Disposal of a Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions”. This statement also amends Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51, “Consolidated Financial Statements”, to eliminate the exception to consolidation for a subsidiary for which control is likely to be temporary. This statement requires that one accounting model be used for long-lived assets to be disposed of by sale, whether previously held and used or newly acquired. This statement also broadens the presentation of discontinued operations to include more disposal transactions. SFAS 144 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2001, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of SFAS 144 did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, “Accounting for Costs Associated with Exit or Disposal Activities”. This statement addresses financial accounting and reporting for costs associated with exit or disposal activities and nullifies Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) Issue No. 94-3, “Liability Recognition for Certain Employee Termination Benefits and Other Costs to Exit an Activity (including Certain Costs Incurred in a Restructuring)”. This statement requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred. This statement also establishes that fair value is the objective for initial measurement of the liability. The provisions of this statement are effective for exit or disposal activities that are initiated after December 31, 2002. The adoption of SFAS 146 will not have an effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—an Amendment of SFAS No. 123”. This statement amends SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, to provide alternative methods of transition for a voluntary change to the fair value-based method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation. In addition, this statement amends the disclosure requirements of SFAS 123 to require prominent disclosures in both annual and interim financial statements about the method of accounting for stock-based employee compensation and the effect of the method used on reported results. The adoption of SFAS 148 will not have an effect on the Company’s financial statements.

 

F-7


Table of Contents

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

(Dollar amounts in tables, except per share amounts, in thousands unless otherwise indicated)

 

NOTE 1—INVENTORIES

 

    

November 30,


    

2002


  

2001


Finished furniture

  

$

55,380

  

$

33,481

Furniture in process

  

 

1,963

  

 

1,712

Materials and supplies

  

 

7,997

  

 

9,685

    

  

Inventories at FIFO

  

 

65,340

  

 

44,878

Reduction to LIFO basis

  

 

10,381

  

 

11,356

    

  

Inventories

  

$

54,959

  

$

33,522

    

  

 

If the first-in, first-out (FIFO) method had been used in valuing all inventories, net income would have been $14.8 million in 2002, $6.6 million in 2001, and $16.0 million in 2000.

 

NOTE 2—PROPERTY, PLANT, AND EQUIPMENT

 

    

Depreciable Lives (In years)

  

November 30,


       

2002


  

2001


Buildings

  

20 – 30

  

$

46,758

  

$

44,314

Machinery and equipment

  

10

  

 

48,423

  

 

46,231

Furniture and fixtures

  

5 – 8

  

 

20,804

  

 

17,404

Other

  

5

  

 

3,008

  

 

3,291

         

  

Total depreciable property at cost

       

 

118,993

  

 

111,240

Accumulated depreciation

       

 

70,787

  

 

62,574

         

  

Total depreciable property, net

       

 

48,206

  

 

48,666

Land

       

 

1,371

  

 

1,286

         

  

Property, plant, and equipment, net

       

$

49,577

  

$

49,952

         

  

 

NOTE 3—LONG-TERM DEBT

 

    

November 30,


    

2002


  

2001


Revolving credit line

  

$

500

      

Term loan

  

 

17,803

  

$

20,511

Industrial development revenue bonds

  

 

6,400

  

 

6,400

    

  

Total debt outstanding

  

 

24,703

  

 

26,911

Less current maturities

  

 

2,905

  

 

2,730

    

  

Long-term debt

  

$

21,798

  

$

24,181

    

  

 

The unsecured revolving credit line provides for borrowings of up to $10.0 million at a variable interest rate (2.2% on November 30, 2002). Interest is payable monthly. Principal is due April 30, 2004.

 

The term loan, borrowed in 2000, bears interest at a variable rate (2.1% on November 30, 2002) and is unsecured. Principal and interest payments are due quarterly through December 1, 2010.

 

The industrial development revenue bonds, issued in 1996, are secured by a letter of credit. Interest is payable monthly at a variable rate (1.2% at November 30, 2002). Principal repayments are due from 2004 through 2006.

 

The Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements that in effect provide a fixed interest rate of 4.7% on its industrial development revenue bonds through 2006, and 7.4% on its term loan through 2010. See “Note 4—Derivatives”.

 

F-8


Table of Contents

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(Dollar amounts in tables, except per share amounts, in thousands unless otherwise indicated)

 

 

The Company has available lines of credit totaling $55.0 million, including the revolving credit line, to fund its working capital needs. On November 30, 2002, $500,000 was outstanding on the revolving credit line. The Company utilizes letters of credit issued against its lines of credit to collateralize imported inventory purchases and certain insurance arrangements. Outstanding letters of credit on November 30, 2002, were $5.5 million. As of November 30, 2002, $49.0 million of additional borrowings were available under these lines of credit.

 

The debt instruments contain, among other things, certain covenants as to minimum tangible net worth, net equity ratio, current ratio, and debt coverage ratio. The Company was in compliance with these covenants as of November 30, 2002. Annual debt service requirements are $2.9 million in 2003, $5.2 million in 2004, $5.4 million in 2005, $5.3 million in 2006, $3.1 million in 2007, and $2.8 million thereafter.

 

NOTE 4—DERIVATIVES

 

The Company uses interest rate swap agreements to manage variable interest rate exposures on its long-term debt. The Company’s objective for holding these derivatives is to decrease the volatility of future cash flows associated with interest payments on its variable rate debt. The Company does not hold or issue derivative instruments for trading purposes. The Company’s swap agreements in effect provide a fixed interest rate of 4.7% on its industrial development revenue bonds through 2006, and 7.4% on its term loan through 2010. The notional principal values of these agreements are substantially equal to the outstanding long-term debt balances. Differences between amounts paid and amounts received under the contracts are recognized in interest expense.

 

The Company believes that its swap agreements are “highly effective” (as defined by applicable accounting standards) in managing the volatility of future cash flows associated with interest payments on its variable rate debt. The “effective” portion of the derivative’s gain or loss (i.e. that portion of the derivative’s gain or loss that offsets the corresponding change in the cash flows of the hedged transaction) is initially reported as a component of “accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)” and will be subsequently reclassified into earnings when the hedged exposure affects earnings (i.e. when interest expense on the debt is accrued). The “ineffective” portion of the derivative’s gain or loss is recognized in earnings immediately.

 

The aggregate fair market value of the Company’s swap agreements decreases when interest rates decline and increases when interest rates rise. Interest rates declined during 2002 and 2001. The decrease in the aggregate fair market value of the effective portion of the agreements of $1.9 million after tax ($3.1 million pretax) as of November 30, 2002, and $1.7 million after tax ($2.7 million pretax) as of November 30, 2001, is reflected under the caption “accumulated other comprehensive loss” in the balance sheets. The Company also recognized additional interest expense of $170,000 in 2002 and $109,000 in 2001, reflecting the ineffective portion of the agreements’ aggregate decrease in value. Approximately $1.3 million of the aggregate decrease in fair market value of the agreements is expected to be reclassified into earnings during the next 12 months.

 

NOTE 5—EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

 

Employee Stock Ownership Plan

 

The Company sponsors a leveraged employee stock ownership plan (the “ESOP”) to provide retirement benefits for eligible employees, allowing them to share on a noncontributory basis in the growth of the Company and allowing them to accumulate a beneficial ownership interest in the common stock of the Company. The ESOP covers substantially all employees.

 

In September 2000, the ESOP completed a tender offer for 1.8 million shares of the Company’s common stock at a price of $12.50 per share. In connection with the tender offer, the Company borrowed $22.5 million under a 10-year term loan, at an effective interest rate of 7.4% per annum, and loaned the proceeds to the ESOP. The ESOP issued a 25-year note to the Company bearing interest at 8% (the “ESOP loan”). The ESOP will repay the ESOP loan from Company contributions and dividends paid with respect to substantially all allocated and unallocated shares. Dividends paid on allocated shares held by the ESOP are charged to retained earnings. The cost of unallocated shares held by the ESOP is reported in the balance sheets as “unearned ESOP shares”. The fair market value of unallocated shares on November 30, 2002, based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock, was $23.9 million. The Company will release shares to eligible employees over the remaining 23-year term of the ESOP loan based

 

F-9


Table of Contents

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(Dollar amounts in tables, except per share amounts, in thousands unless otherwise indicated)

 

on the principal and interest payments made by the ESOP on the ESOP loan. Compensation expense is recorded for shares “committed to be released” to employees based on fair market value.

 

In June 2002, Hooker Furniture common stock began trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market. Before the listing of its common stock on Nasdaq, the Company was obligated under certain circumstances to repurchase shares allocated to ESOP participants. Consequently the fair market value, as determined by an independent appraisal, of shares allocated to ESOP participants was classified as “common stock held by ESOP” outside of shareholders’ equity for periods before that date.

 

Through November 30, 2002, the Company had redeemed 88,000 shares from terminating ESOP participants at a total cost of $1.6 million, or $17.95 per share, as required by the terms of the ESOP plan. These shares had been distributed from the ESOP to participants. The purchase price per share was determined under a special provision of the ESOP, which established a minimum purchase price for share repurchases through August 31, 2002.

 

As a result of its listing on Nasdaq, the Company is no longer obligated to repurchase shares from ESOP participants. Currently benefits are distributed from the ESOP in the form of Company common stock. However benefits under a minimum share limit are distributed in the form of cash. Prospectively, the Company does not expect to repurchase shares distributed to ESOP participants.

 

Compensation expense is recorded for shares “committed to be released” to employees based on the average daily closing price of the Company’s common stock during the year. Through November 30, 2002, 736,000 shares were allocated or “committed to be allocated to participants”. The cost of the ESOP, including cash contributions and the fair market value of shares released, amounted to $2.2 million in 2002, $2.2 million in 2001, and $1.2 million in 2000.

 

Employee Savings Plan

 

The Company sponsors the Employees’ Savings Plan covering substantially all employees. The plan is a tax-qualified 401(k) savings plan that is designed to permit employees of the Company to meet their savings goals and provide them with funds for retirement. A participant in the plan may contribute an amount of not less than 1%, nor more than 60%, of their compensation, subject to regulatory limitations. The Company contributes 50% of the amount contributed by the participant, up to 6% of their compensation, as a matching cash contribution. Contributions to the plan by the Company amounted to $615,000 in 2002, $657,000 in 2001, and $675,000 in 2000.

 

Salary Continuation Agreements

 

The Company maintains a salary continuation program for certain management employees. The program consists of individual agreements with participating employees which specify the amount of benefits to be paid to each participating employee. These are un-funded agreements with all benefits paid solely from the general assets of the Company when the employee retires. The accrued liabilities relating to this program of $3.2 million and $2.8 million at November 30, 2002 and 2001, respectively, are included in “accrued salaries, wages, and benefits” and “other long-term liabilities”. The cost of the program amounted to $541,000 in 2002, $468,000 in 2001, and $302,000 in 2000.

 

F-10


Table of Contents

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(Dollar amounts in tables, except per share amounts, in thousands unless otherwise indicated)

 

 

NOTE 6—INCOME TAXES

 

The provision for income taxes:

 

   

For The Years Ended November 30,


   

2002


    

2001


    

2000


Current expense

                     

Federal

 

$8,814

 

  

$

3,407

 

  

$

6,509

State

 

1,214

 

  

 

528

 

  

 

704

   

  


  

Total current expense

 

10,028

 

  

 

3,935

 

  

 

7,213

   

  


  

Deferred expense

                     

Federal

 

(527

)

  

 

(273

)

  

 

717

State

 

(107

)

  

 

(22

)

  

 

65

   

  


  

Total deferred expense

 

(634

)

  

 

(295

)

  

 

782

   

  


  

Income tax expense

 

$9,394

 

  

$

3,640

 

  

$

7,995

   

  


  

 

The effective income tax rate differed from the federal statutory tax rate, as follows:

 

    

For The Years Ended November 30,


 
    

2002


    

2001


    

2000


 

Income taxes at statutory rate

  

35.0

%

  

35.0

%

  

35.0

%

Increase (decrease) in tax rate resulting from:

                    

State taxes, net of federal benefit

  

2.9

 

  

2.9

 

  

2.6

 

Federal tax rate differential due to lower tax brackets

         

(1.0

)

      

Other

         

(1.1

)

  

(2.7

)

    

  

  

Effective income tax rate

  

37.9

%

  

35.8

%

  

34.9

%

    

  

  

 

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities:

 

   

November 30,


   

2002


  

2001


Assets

            

Deferred compensation

 

$

1,210

  

$

1,068

Interest rate swaps

 

 

1,333

  

 

1,033

Inventory

 

 

380

  

 

75

Allowance for bad debts

 

 

304

  

 

247

Other

 

 

57

  

 

192

   

  

Total deferred tax assets

 

 

3,284

  

 

2,615

   

  

Liabilities

            

Property

 

 

1,700

  

 

1,958

Employee benefits

 

 

309

  

 

285

Other

 

 

10

  

 

41

   

  

Total deferred tax liabilities

 

 

2,019

  

 

2,284

   

  

Net deferred tax asset

 

$

1,265

  

$

331

   

  

 

The net deferred tax asset is included in the balance sheets under “other assets”.

 

F-11


Table of Contents

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(Dollar amounts in tables, except per share amounts, in thousands unless otherwise indicated)

 

 

NOTE 7—INVESTMENT IN SUBSIDIARY

 

On June 30, 2000, the Company acquired the remaining 50% interest in Triwood, Inc. (“Triwood”), for an aggregate consideration of $1.9 million. Triwood was a joint venture that formerly produced particleboard for furniture manufacturing. During 1998, the joint venture was cited by the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) for a violation of certain regulations under the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. The joint venture members elected to cease operations in November 1998. The purchase price for Triwood included the assumption by the Company of the first $100,000 of liability, if any, related to the 1998 EPA citation. Pursuant to an indemnification agreement, the Company and the other former joint venture owner will share equally, any liability in excess of $100,000. Based upon its most recent information, management does not believe the Company’s share of the liability, if any, related to the 1998 EPA citation will be material to the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

 

In 2001, Triwood sold land and a building to a third party for $2.7 million in cash, the approximate carrying value of the property.

 

NOTE 8—RESTRUCTURING CHARGE

 

In August 2001, the Company recorded a pretax charge of $881,000 ($546,000 after tax) for severance and early retirement benefits related to a workforce reduction of approximately 100 employees at its Martinsville, Virginia facility. Substantially all of the benefits were paid in 2001.

 

NOTE 9—QUARTERLY DATA (Unaudited)

 

    

Fiscal Quarter


    

First


  

Second


  

Third


  

Fourth


2002

                           

Net sales

  

$

60,929

  

$

62,253

  

$

54,726

  

$

70,438

Gross profit

  

 

15,401

  

 

16,022

  

 

15,136

  

 

22,229

Net income

  

 

3,229

  

 

3,083

  

 

3,172

  

 

5,908

Basic and diluted earnings per share

  

 

0.57

  

 

0.55

  

 

0.56

  

 

1.04

2001

                           

Net sales

  

$

55,924

  

$

55,578

  

$

50,606

  

$

59,181

Gross profit

  

 

13,600

  

 

12,630

  

 

10,781

  

 

14,270

Net income

  

 

2,443

  

 

1,368

  

 

167

  

 

2,532

Basic and diluted earnings per share

  

 

0.42

  

 

0.23

  

 

0.03

  

 

0.45

 

Earnings per share for each quarter is derived using the weighted average number of shares outstanding during the quarter. Earnings per share for the year is derived using the weighted average number of shares outstanding on an annual basis. Consequently, the sum of earnings per share for the quarters may not equal earnings per share for the full year.

 

F-12


Table of Contents

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

 

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)

 

(Dollar amounts in tables, except per share amounts, in thousands unless otherwise indicated)

 

 

NOTE 10—OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

 

   

For The Years Ended November 30,


   

2002


  

2001


Loss on interest rate swaps

 

$

1,860

  

$

3,280

Less amount of swaps’ fair value reclassified to interest expense

 

 

1,462

  

 

559

   

  

Other comprehensive loss before tax

 

 

398

  

 

2,721

Income tax expense

 

 

152

  

 

1,034

   

  

Other comprehensive loss, net of tax

 

$

246

  

$

1,687

   

  

 

The aggregate amount of the interest rate swaps’ fair value reclassified to interest expense includes $170,000 in 2002 and $109,000 in 2001 related to the ineffective portion of the interest rate swap agreements.

 

NOTE 11—COMMON STOCK

 

In June 2002, Hooker Furniture common stock began trading on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market under the symbol HOFT. As a result, the Company is no longer obligated to repurchase shares distributed to participants in the Company’s ESOP. Consequently, amounts representing shares that were previously subject to the repurchase obligation and reflected in the Company’s balance sheets as “common stock held by ESOP” have been reclassified to “retained earnings”.

 

Through November 30, 2002, the Company had redeemed 88,000 shares from terminating ESOP participants at a total cost of $1.6 million, or $17.95 per share, as required by the terms of the ESOP plan. These shares had been distributed from the ESOP to participants. The purchase price per share was determined under a special provision of the ESOP, which established a minimum purchase price for share repurchases through August 31, 2002. Prospectively, the Company does not expect to repurchase shares distributed to ESOP participants.

 

In 2001, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an aggregate $5.2 million of the Company’s common stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market, or in privately negotiated transactions, at prevailing market prices that the Company deems appropriate. Through November 30, 2002, the Company has repurchased 292,000 shares at a total cost of $2.5 million or an average of $8.58 per share. Based on the market value of the common stock as of November 30, 2002, the remaining $2.7 million of the authorization would allow the Company to repurchase approximately 2.4% of the 7.2 million shares outstanding, or 3.4% of the Company’s outstanding shares excluding the 2.3 million shares held by the ESOP.

 

NOTE 12—SUBSEQUENT EVENT

 

On January 2, 2003, the Company completed the acquisition of substantially all of the assets of Cherryville, NC based upholstery producer Bradington-Young, LLC for $24.5 million in cash less assumed debt, subject to a post-closing net working capital adjustment. The Company financed the acquisition with additional bank debt.

 

F-13


Table of Contents

REPORT ON FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE

 

The audits referred to in our report dated December 13, 2002, except for Note 12, which is as of January 2, 2003, relating to the consolidated financial statements of Hooker Furniture Corporation and Subsidiary, which are contained in Item 8 of Form 10-K included the audits of the financial statement schedule listed in the accompanying index. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statement schedule based upon our audits.

 

In our opinion such financial statement schedule presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

 

LOGO

 

Richmond, Virginia

December 13, 2002

 

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY

 

SCHEDULE II

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

(In thousands)

 

For Each of the Three Fiscal Years Ended November 30, 2002

 

Year


  

Description


  

Balance at

Beginning

of Period


  

Charged to

Costs and

Expenses


    

Deductions (1)


  

Balance at

End of Period


2002

  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

  

$

650

  

$

961

    

$

811

  

$

800

2001

  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

  

 

610

  

 

711

    

 

671

  

 

650

2000

  

Allowance for doubtful accounts

  

 

525

  

 

736

    

 

651

  

 

610


(1)   Uncollectible receivables written off, net of recoveries

 

 

 

S-1


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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit


  

Description


  3.1

  

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (SEC File No. 000-25349))

  3.2

  

Articles of Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (SEC File No. 000-25349))

  3.3

  

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (SEC File No. 000-25349))

  4.1

  

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (See Exhibit 3.1)

  4.2

  

Articles of Amendment to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company (See Exhibit 3.2)

  4.3

  

Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (See Exhibit 3.3)

  4.4(a)

  

Term Loan Agreement, dated September 18, 2000 (“SunTrust Term Loan”), between the Company and SunTrust Bank (including related Term Note and Negative Pledge Agreement) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 of the Company’s Form 10-K (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000)

  4.4(b)

  

Loan Modification Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2002, with respect to the SunTrust Term Loan, between the Company and SunTrust Bank (including Renewal Term Note dated January 2, 2003)*

  4.5

  

Promissory Note, dated January 2, 2003, between Bank of America, N.A., and the Company*

    

Pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(4)(iii), instruments evidencing long-term debt less than 10% of the Company’s total assets have been omitted and will be furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon request.

10.1

  

Form of Salary Continuation Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (SEC File No. 000-25349))**

10.2

  

Form of Split Dollar Agreement (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (SEC File No. 000-25349))**

10.3 (a)

  

Commitment Letter for line of credit (“BB&T Credit Line”) and related Promissory Note, each dated August 1, 2000, between Branch Banking & Trust Company of Virginia and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 of the Company’s Form 10-K (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001)

10.3(b)

  

Commitment Letter renewing and increasing the BB&T Credit Line and related Promissory Note, each dated April 6, 2001, between Branch Banking & Trust Company of Virginia and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Company’s Form 10-K (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2001)

10.3(c)

  

Commitment Letter renewing the BB&T Credit Line and related Promissory Note, each dated April 19, 2002, between Branch Banking & Trust Company of Virginia and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2002)


Table of Contents

10.3(d)

  

Commitment Letter renewing and increasing the BB&T Credit Line and related Promissory Note, each dated July 3, 2002, between Branch Banking & Trust Company of Virginia and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 of the Company’s Form 10-Q (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2002)

10.4(a)

  

SunTrust Term Loan, dated September 18, 2000, between the Company and SunTrust Bank (including related Term Note and Negative Pledge Agreement) (See Exhibit 4.4(a))

10.4(b)

  

Loan Modification Agreement, dated as of December 31, 2002, with respect to the SunTrust Term Loan, between the Company and SunTrust Bank (including related Renewal Term Note dated January 2, 2003) (See Exhibit 4.4(b))

10.5

  

Credit Agreement, dated September 18, 2000, between the Company and the Hooker Furniture Corporation Employee Stock Ownership Plan Trust (including related Non-Recourse Promissory Note and Stock Pledge Agreement) (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of the Company’s Form 10-K (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2000)

10.6

  

Promissory Note, dated January 2, 2003, between Bank of America, N.A., and the Company (See Exhibit 4.5)

10.7

  

Lease, dated November 1, 2002, between International Home Furnishings Center and the Company*

10.8

  

Lease, dated March 14, 1994, between Fred B. Caffey (the “Caffey Lease”) and the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 of the Company’s Registration Statement on Form 10 (SEC File No. 000-25349))

10.9

  

Addendum to the Caffey Lease dated October 26, 2002*

10.10

  

Sublease, dated January 29, 2003, between Pulaski Furniture Corporation and the Company*

21

  

List of Subsidiaries:

    

Bradington-Young, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company

    

Triwood, Inc., a Virginia corporation

99.1

  

Certification of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*

99.2

  

Certification of the Company’s Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002*

 


*Filed herewith

**Management contract or compensatory plan