Trinity Place Holdings Inc. - Quarter Report: 2007 September (Form 10-Q)

literature that requires certain assets and liabilities to be carried at fair value. SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The adoption of SFAS No. 159 is not expected to have a material impact on our results of operations or our financial position.

Note 8 – Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation

          The Company’s Amended and Restated Stock Option and Appreciation Plan allows for the granting of incentive stock options, as defined in Section 422A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended), non-qualified stock options or stock appreciation rights. The plan requires that incentive stock options be granted at an exercise price not less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted. The exercise price of the option for holders of more than 10% of the voting rights of the Company must be not less than 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. Non-qualified options and stock appreciation rights may be granted at any exercise price. The Company has reserved 1,500,000 shares of common stock for issuance thereunder. The Company is no longer issuing options under its Amended and Restated Incentive Stock Option and Appreciation Plan.

          No option or stock appreciation rights may be granted under the Amended and Restated Incentive Stock Option Plan after July 28, 2013. The maximum exercise period for any option or stock appreciation right under the plan is ten years from the date the option is granted (five years for any optionee who holds more than 10% of the voting rights of the Company).

          On July 14, 2005, at the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company, the shareholders of the Company approved the 2005 Stock Option Plan (the "2005 Plan"), which 2005 Plan was adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company on April 7, 2005 subject to shareholder approval. The 2005 Plan permits the grant of options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, performance units, performance shares, cash-based awards and other share-based awards. Key employees, non-employee directors, and third party service providers of the Company who are selected by a committee designated by the Board of Directors of the Company are eligible to participate in the 2005 Plan. The maximum number of shares issuable under the Plan is 850,000, subject to certain adjustments in the event of changes to the Company’s capital structure.

          The 2005 Plan requires that incentive stock options be granted at an exercise price not less than the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the option is granted. The exercise price of such options for holders of more than 10% of the voting stock of the Company must be not less than 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. The exercise price of non-qualified options and stock appreciation rights must not be less than fair market value.

          The maximum exercise period for any option or stock appreciation right under the 2005 Plan is ten years from the date the option is granted (five years for any incentive stock options issued to a person who holds more than 10% of the voting stock of the Company).

          The 2005 Plan permits the Company to issue restricted shares, restricted share units, performance units, cash-based awards and other share-based awards with such term and conditions (including applicable vesting conditions) as the Company shall determine, subject to certain terms and conditions set forth in the 2005 Plan.

          Effective February 25, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of FAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment” (“FAS123(R)”). Under FAS123(R), share-based compensation cost is measured at grant date, based on the estimated fair value of the award, and is recognized as expense over the requisite service period. The Company adopted the provisions of FAS123(R) using a modified prospective application. Under this method, compensation cost is recognized for all share-based payments granted, modified or settled after the date of adoption, as well as for any unvested awards that were granted prior to the date of adoption. Prior periods are not revised for comparative purposes. Because the Company previously adopted only the pro forma disclosure provisions of SFAS 123, it will recognize compensation cost relating to the unvested portion of awards granted prior to the date of adoption using the same estimate of the grant-date fair value and the same attribution method used to determine the pro forma disclosures under SFAS 123, except that forfeitures rates will be estimated for all options, as required by FAS123(R).

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          The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of grant using a Black-Scholes option valuation model. Expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of the price of the Company’s stock. The risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasury issues with a term equal to the expected life of the option. The Company uses historical data to estimate expected dividend yield, expected life and forfeiture rates. There were no options granted during the six months ended September 1, 2007, and all options previously issued are fully vested.

          Stock option activity during the six months ended September 1, 2007 is as follows:
          (In thousands, except per share amounts)

				Weighted		Average
				Average		Remaining		Aggregate
		Number		Exercise		Contracted		Intrinsic
		Of options		Price		Term (years)		Value
Outstanding at March 3, 2007		330		$11.18		-		-
Options granted		-		-		-		-
Options exercised		-		-		-		-
Options forfeited		-		-		-		-
Options outstanding at September 1, 2007		330		$11.18		3.15		$1,718
Options exercisable at September 1, 2007		330		$11.18		3.15		$1,718

          As of September 1, 2007, there was no total unrecognized stock-based compensation cost related to options granted under our plans that will be recognized in future periods.

Note 9 – Income Taxes

          Effective March 1, 2007, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Interpretation No. 48 (Fin No. 48), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”, which clarifies the accounting and disclosure for uncertainty in income taxes. As a result of the adoption, we recorded as a cumulative effect adjustment, a decrease to beginning retained earnings of approximately $247,000 and increased our accruals for uncertain tax positions and related interest and penalties by a corresponding amount. As of the adoption date, this $247,000 represents our liability for uncertain tax positions.

          The entire $247,000 would favorably impact our effective tax rate if these liabilities were reversed. We do not expect to pay any of this $247,000 within the following twelve months.

          We recognize interest and, if applicable, penalties, which could be assessed, related to uncertain tax positions in income tax expense. As of the adoption date, the total amount of accrued interest and penalties was $165,000, before federal and state tax effect. For the quarter ended September 1, 2007, we recorded approximately $3,420 in interest before federal and state tax effect.

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

          The Quarterly Report (including but not limited to factors discussed below, in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” as well as those discussed elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q) includes forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934) and information relating to the Company that are based on the beliefs of the management of the Company as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to the management of the Company. When used in this Quarterly Report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” and similar expressions, as they relate to the Company or the management of the Company, identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of the Company with

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respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to certain risks, including among others general economic and market conditions, decreased consumer demand for the Company’s products, possible disruptions in the Company’s computer or telephone systems, possible work stoppages, or increases in labor costs, effects of competition, possible disruptions or delays in the opening of new stores or inability to obtain suitable sites for new stores, higher than anticipated store closings or relocation costs, higher interest rates, unanticipated increases in merchandise or occupancy costs and other factors which may be outside the Company’s control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned. Subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph and elsewhere described in this Quarterly Report and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimate

          The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires the appropriate application of certain accounting policies, many of which require us to make estimates and assumptions about future events and their impact on amounts reported in the financial statements and related notes. Since future events and their impact cannot be determined with certainty, the actual results will inevitably differ from our estimates. Such differences could be material to the consolidated financial statements.

          The Company believes application of accounting policies, and the estimates inherently required by the policies, are reasonable. These accounting policies and estimates are constantly reevaluated, and adjustments are made when facts and circumstances dictate a change. Historically, the Company has found the application of accounting policies to be appropriate, and actual results have not differed materially from those determined using necessary estimates.

          The Company’s accounting policies are more fully described in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, located in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended March 3, 2007. The Company has identified certain critical accounting policies that are described below.

          Merchandise Inventory – Inventory is stated at the lower of cost of market, FIFO retail method. Inventory cost and the resulting gross margins are calculated by applying a cost to retail ratio between the costs of goods available for sale and the retail value of inventories. The significant estimates used are for markdowns and shrinkage.

          Factors considered in the determination of permanent markdowns include current and anticipated demand, customer preferences, age of the merchandise, fashion trends and weather conditions. In addition, inventory is also evaluated against corporate pre-determined historical markdown trends. When a decision is made to permanently markdown merchandise, the resulting gross margin reduction is recognized in the period the markdown is recorded. The timing of the decision, particularly surrounding the balance sheet date, can have a significant effect on the results of operations.

          Shrinkage is estimated as a percentage of sales for the period from the date of the last physical inventory to the end of the fiscal year. Physical inventories are taken at least annually for all stores and inventory records are adjusted accordingly. The shrinkage rate from the most recent physical inventory, in combination with historical experience, is used as the standard for the shrinkage accrual following the physical inventory.

          The Company has found the use of these estimates to be appropriate and actual results have not differed materially. However, the Company is subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause its future estimates to differ materially from past experience.

          Long-Lived Assets - In evaluation of the fair value and future benefits of long-lived assets, the Company performs analyses of the anticipated undiscounted future net cash flows of the related long-lived assets. If the carrying value of the related asset exceeds the undiscounted cash flows, the Company reduces

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the carrying value to its fair value, which is generally calculated using discounted cash flows. Various factors including future sales growth and profit margins are included in this analysis. To the extent these future projections or our strategies change, the conclusion regarding impairment may differ from the Company’s current estimates.

Results of Operations

13 Weeks and 26 Weeks Ended September 1, 2007 Compared to 13 and 26 Weeks Ended August 26, 2006

Net sales for the 13 weeks ended September 1, 2007 were $61,384,000, a decrease of $1,299,000 (2.1%) as compared to the net sales of $62,683,000 for the 13 weeks ended August 26, 2006. For the 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007 net sales were $128,531,000 as compared to net sales of $128,876,000 for the 26 weeks ended August 26, 2006. Comparable store sales increased .9% for the 13 weeks and 3.1% for the 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007 as compared to the comparable periods in the prior fiscal year. In our comparable store computation, we only include stores that have been opened for a period of at least 12 months and stores that were open during both fiscal years. We did not have any expansion in square footage in the 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007. The decrease in sales in the 13 weeks and 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007 is largely attributable to the closing of three stores located in Rochester, New York, Monroeville, Pennsylvania and St. Louis, Missouri which closed in fiscal 2006.

Gross profit for the 13 weeks ended September 1, 2007 was $22,530,000 (36.7% as a percentage of net sales as compared to $23,185,000 (37.0% as a percentage of net sales) for the 13 weeks ended August 26, 2006. Gross profit for the 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007 was $50,820,000 (39.5% as a percentage of net sales) as compared to $50,896,000 (39.5% as a percentage of net sales) for the 26 weeks ended August 26, 2006. The Company’s gross profit may not be comparable to those of other entities, since other entities may include all of those costs related to their distribution network in cost of goods sold and others, like the Company, exclude a portion of those costs from gross profit and, instead, include them in other line items; such as selling and administrative expenses and occupancy costs. The decline in gross profit in the 13 weeks ended September 1, 2007 compared to a year ago is primarily due to lower sales and higher markdowns.

Selling, general and administrative expense decreased $599,000 to $17,850,000 (29.1% as a percentage of net sales) for the 13 weeks ended September 1, 2007 as compared to $18,449,000 (29.4% as a percentage of net sales) for the 13 weeks ended August 26, 2006. Selling, general and administrative expense decreased $953,000 to $36,186,000 (28.2% as a percentage of net sales) as compared to $37,139,000 (28.8% as a percentage of net sales) for the 26 weeks ended August 26, 2006. This decrease in the 13 and 26 week period is largely the result of closing three stores located in Rochester, New York, Monroeville, Pennsylvania and St. Louis, Missouri.

Advertising expense for the 13 weeks ended September 1, 2007 was $781,000 (1.3% as a percentage of net sales) as compared to $1,084,000 (1.7% as a percentage of net sales) for the 13 weeks ended August 26, 2006. Advertising expense for the 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007 was $3,595,000 (2.8% as a percentage of net sales) as compared to $4,135,000 for the 26 weeks ended August 26, 2006.

Occupancy costs were $4,529,000 (7.4% as a percentage of net sales) for the 13 weeks ended September 1, 2007 as compared to $4,653,000 (7.4% as a percentage of net sales) for the 13 weeks ended August 26, 2006. Occupancy costs were $8,725,000 (6.8% as a percentage of net sales for the 26 week period ended September 1, 2007 as compared to $9,109,000 (7.1% as a percentage of net sales) for the 26 week period ended August 26, 2006. The reduced occupancy expenses in the 13 and 26 week periods resulted from the closing of three stores located in Rochester, New York, Monroeville, Pennsylvania and St. Louis, Missouri.

Depreciation and amortization expense was $1,805,000 (2.9% as a percentage of net sales) for the 13 weeks ended September 1, 2007 as compared to $2,022,000 (3.2% as a percentage of net sales) for the 13 weeks ended August 26, 2006. Depreciation and amortization expense for the 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007 was $3,784,000 (2.9% as a percentage of net sales) as compared to $4,238,000 (3.3% as a percentage of net sales) for the 26 weeks ended August 26, 2006. The closing of three stores located in Rochester, New

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York, Monroeville, Pennsylvania and St. Louis Missouri accounts for this decline in the 13 and 26 week periods.

In the second quarter ended September 1, 2007, the Company recorded an impairment charge amounting to $745,000 relating to its store in Cleveland, Ohio. This store was closed in June 2007, and a contract has been executed for the sale of this property.

The results for the 26 weeks ended August 26, 2006 reflects a gain of $10,424,000 resulting from the sale of its two stores located in Rochester, New York and Dallas, Texas. These two stores, which closed in May 2006, included the land and buildings occupied by these stores. The Dallas store was replaced by a store located in Plano, Texas which opened in May 2006 and is a leased property.

The loss before income taxes for the 13 weeks September 1, 2007 was $2,751,000 as compared to a loss of $2,469,000 for the 13 weeks ended August 26, 2006. The loss before income tax for the 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007 was $1,411,000 as compared to a profit before taxes of $7,857,000 for the 26 weeks ended August 26, 2006. This significant variance resulted largely from the gain on the sale of real estate as noted above.

For the 26 week period ended September 1, 2007 the effective income tax rate was 47.0% as compared to 44.4% for the comparable period a year ago.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Working capital as of September 1, 2007 was $61,176,000, a decrease of $15,264,000 as compared to $76,440,000 as of August 26, 2006. The ratio of current assets to current liabilities was 2.65 to 1 as of September 1, 2007 as compared to 2.81 to 1 as of August 26, 2006.

Net cash provided by operating activities totaled $1,807,000 for the 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007, as compared to $4,376,000 for the 26 weeks ended August 26, 2006. This decline resulted largely from a loss in the 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007 compared to a profit in the 26 weeks ended August 26, 2006.

Net cash used in investing activities was $3,138,000 for the 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007, as compared to $12,981,000 provided by investing activities for the 26 weeks ended August 26, 2006. Expenditures for property and equipment were $3,155,000 and $3,273,000 for the 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007 and August 26, 2006, respectively. The sale of the Dallas, Texas and Rochester, New York properties largely accounts for this variance.

Net cash used in financing activities was $9,106,000 for the 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007, as compared to $9,821,000 for the 26 weeks ended August 26, 2006. On August 6, 2007, the Company paid a cash dividend to its shareholders of record amounting to $8,820,000. In May 2006, the Company had a tender offer of its stock of 418,474 shares of common stock at a total cost of $7,533,000.

The Company has a revolving credit agreement with a bank for a line of credit not to exceed $30,000,000 through May 1, 2008. The agreement contains financial covenants, with respect to consolidated tangible net worth, as defined as working capital and maximum capital requirements, including dividends (defined to include cash repurchases of capital stock), as well as other financial ratios. The Company is in compliance with all covenants as of September 1, 2007. Except for funds provided from this revolving credit agreement, the Company has satisfied its operating and capital expenditure requirements, including those for the operations and expansion of stores, from internally generated funds. As of September 1, 2007, March 3, 2007 and August 26, 2006, there were no outstanding borrowings under this agreement. At September 1, 2007, March 3, 2007 and August 26, 2006, the Company had $795,000, $955,619 and $1,391,097 respectively, in outstanding letters of credit under this agreement.

The Company has planned capital expenditures of approximately $5,000,000 for the fiscal year ending March 1, 2008. Through the 26 week period ended September 1, 2007, the Company has incurred $3,155,000 of capital expenditures.

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On June 5, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the repurchase of an aggregate of up to 20% (not to exceed 2,900,000 shares) of its outstanding shares of common stock during the next 24 months expiring on June 5, 2008. During the 26 weeks ended September 1, 2007, the Company purchased 19,400 shares which represents .1% of its outstanding shares at an aggregate cost of $286,000.

Management believes that existing cash, internally generated funds, trade credit and funds available from the revolving credit agreement will be sufficient for working capital and capital expenditure requirements for the fiscal year ending March 1, 2008.

Impact of Inflation and Changing Prices

Although the Company cannot accurately determine the precise effect of inflation on its operations, it does not believe inflation has had a material effect on sales or results of operations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 7 of the Consolidated Financial Statements for a full description of the Recent Accounting Pronouncements including the respective dates of adoption and the effects on Results of Operation and Financial Condition.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

The Company’s operations are not currently subject to material market risks for interest rates, foreign currency rates or other market price risks.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including Marcy Syms, the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Antone F. Moreira, the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13 a-15(b) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer have concluded that these disclosure controls and procedures are effective. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a control system, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that it will detect or uncover failures within the Company to disclose information otherwise required to be set forth in the Company’s periodic reports.

Part II. Other Information

Item 1.		LEGAL PROCEEDINGS - None
Item 1a.		RISK FACTORS
		In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the factors discussed in Part I “Item 1A. Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10- K for the year ended March 3, 2007, which could materially affect our business, financial condition or future results. The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K are not the only risks facing our Company. Additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial may also materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results.

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   Item 2.           UNREGISTERED SALE OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS -

   Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

	Period		Total Number		Average Price		Total Number of		Maximum
			of Shares		Paid per Share		Shares Purchased		Number of Shares
			Purchased				as Part of Publicly		that May Yet Be
							Announced Plans		Purchased Under
							or Programs (1)		the Plans or
									Programs (1)
	June 3, 2007 – July		0		0		0		0
	7, 2007
	July 8, 2007 –		0		0		0		0
	August 4, 2007
	August 5, 2007 –		19,400		14.72		19,400		2,748,200
	September 1, 2007
	Total		19,400		14.72		19,400		2,748,200

	(1)		On June 5, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors approved the repurchase of an aggregate
			up to 20% (not to exceed 2,900,000 shares) of its outstanding shares of common stock during
			next 24 months expiring on June 5, 2008.
	Item 3.		DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES - None
	Item 4.		SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS
	At the annual meeting of shareholders held on July 12, 2007, the Company’s shareholders holding a majority of the shares of the Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on June 1, 2007, voted to approve each of the three proposals included in the Company’s proxy statement as follows: To elect six directors to hold office for one year or until their respective successors are duly elected and qualified.

		FOR			WITHHELD
Sy Syms		10,973,802			817,140
Marcy Syms		11,015,402			775,540
Antone F. Moreira		9,684,867			2,101,075
Bernard H. Tenenbaum		11,429,784			361,158
Henry M. Chidgey		11,429,784			361,158
Thomas Zanecchia		11,429,784			361,158

   To ratify the appointment of BDO Seidman, LLP as independent registered public accounting firm for the Company for the fiscal year ending March 1, 2008:

For:		11,513,750
Against:		277,090
Abstain:		102

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Item 5.		OTHER INFORMATION - None
Item 6.		EXHIBITS
(a)	Exhibits filed with this Form 10-Q
	31.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
	31.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
	32.1	Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
	32.2	Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(b) under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 and 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

			SYMS CORP
	Date:   October 5, 2007		By /s/ Marcy Syms
			MARCY SYMS
			CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
	Date:   October 5, 2007		By /s/ Antone F. Moreira
			ANTONE F. MOREIRA
			VICE PRESIDENT, CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
			(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

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