BIG - 8-K - Earnings Release - Q4'14
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 4, 2015
BIG LOTS, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Ohio | 1-8897 | 06-1119097 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
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300 Phillipi Road, Columbus, Ohio 43228
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(614) 278-6800
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On March 6, 2015, Big Lots, Inc. (“we,” “us,” “our” or “Company”) issued a press release (the “Earnings Press Release”) and conducted a conference call, both of which reported our fourth quarter and full fiscal 2014 unaudited results, provided initial guidance for fiscal 2015, provided an update on the status of our quarterly cash dividend program, and announced that our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $200 million of our common shares.
The Earnings Press Release and conference call both included “non-GAAP financial measures,” as that term is defined by Rule 101 of Regulation G (17 CFR Part 244) and Item 10 of Regulation S-K (17 CFR Part 229). Specifically, the following non-GAAP financial measures were included: (i) adjusted selling and administrative expenses; (ii) adjusted selling and administrative expense rate; (iii) adjusted operating profit; (iv) adjusted operating profit rate; (v) adjusted income tax expense; (vi) adjusted effective income tax rate; (vii) adjusted income from continuing operations; (viii) adjusted net income; (ix) adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations; and (x) adjusted diluted earnings per share.
The non-GAAP financial measures exclude from the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) the following items for the periods noted:
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Item | Fiscal 2013 Full Year |
After-tax store-related legal settlement charge of $2.8 million, or $0.05 per diluted common share | X |
After-tax gain on the sale of real estate of $2.2 million, or $0.04 per diluted common share | X |
The Earnings Press Release posted in the Investor Relations section of our website contains a presentation of the most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP and a reconciliation of the difference between the non-GAAP financial measures and the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP.
Our management believes that disclosure of the non-GAAP financial measures provides useful information to investors because the non-GAAP financial measures present an alternative and more relevant method for measuring our operating performance, excluding special items included in the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, which our management believes are more indicative of our ongoing operating results and financial condition. These non-GAAP financial measures, along with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, are used by our management to evaluate our operating performance.
Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information presented in accordance with GAAP. Non-GAAP financial measures as reported by us may not be comparable to similarly titled items reported by other companies.
Attached as exhibits to this Form 8-K are copies of the Earnings Press Release (Exhibit 99.1) and the transcript of our March 6, 2015 conference call (Exhibit 99.2), including information concerning forward-looking statements and factors that may affect our future results. The information in Exhibits 99.1 and 99.2 is being furnished, not filed, pursuant to Item 2.02 of this Form 8-K. By furnishing the information in this Form 8-K and the attached exhibits, we are making no admission as to the materiality of any information in this Form 8-K or the exhibits.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On March 6, 2015, we announced that, on March 4, 2015, our Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program providing for the repurchase of up to $200 million of our common shares. The repurchase program is eligible to commence on March 11, 2015 and will continue until exhausted. We expect the purchases to be made from time to time in the open market and/or in privately negotiated transactions at our discretion, subject to market conditions and other factors. Common shares acquired through the repurchase program will be available to meet obligations under equity compensation plans and for general corporate purposes.
On March 6, 2015, we issued a press release announcing that, on March 4, 2015, our Board of Directors increased the Company’s quarterly dividend payment rate by approximately 12% by declaring a quarterly cash dividend of $0.19 per common share payable on April 3, 2015 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 20, 2015. This press release is filed herewith as Exhibit 99.3 hereto and incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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| (d) | Exhibits | | | |
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| | Exhibits marked with an asterisk (*) are furnished herewith. | |
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| | Exhibit No. | | Description | |
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| | | | Form of Big Lots 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan Performance Share Units Award Agreement.
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| | | | Form of Big Lots 2012 Long-Term Incentive Plan Restricted Stock Units Award Agreement.
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| | | | Big Lots, Inc. press release on operating results and guidance dated March 6, 2015. |
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| | | | Big Lots, Inc. conference call transcript dated March 6, 2015. |
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| | | | Big Lots, Inc. press release on dividend declaration dated March 6, 2015. |
Signature
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
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| | BIG LOTS, INC. |
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Date: March 10, 2015 | By: | /s/ Timothy A. Johnson |
| | | Timothy A. Johnson |
| | | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer |
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