Reeds Jewelers, Inc.
 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON DC 20549


FORM 10-Q

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

FOR THE QUARTER ENDED AUGUST 31, 2003
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER 0-15247

REEDS JEWELERS, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
North Carolina   56-1441702
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
2525 South Seventeenth Street    
Wilmington, North Carolina   28401
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(910) 350-3100

     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 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 o

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

     Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s class of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

     The number of outstanding shares of Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share, as of October 15, 2003 was 8,476,372.

 


 

PART I

Item 1. Financial Statements

The consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by Reeds Jewelers, Inc. (the “Company”), without audit, pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations; however, the Company believes that the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. It is suggested that these consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s latest annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003.

2


 

REEDS JEWELERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                                 
            February 28   August 31 August 31  
            2003   2003 2002  
           
 

 
ASSETS           (unaudited) (unaudited)  
Current assets:
                       
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 384,000     $ 512,000     $ 353,000  
 
Accounts receivable:
                       
   
Customers, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $499,000, $200,000 and $581,000, respectively
    7,000       112,000       199,000  
   
Other
    1,411,000       2,220,000       1,198,000  
 
Merchandise inventories
    41,637,000       44,458,000       48,362,000  
 
Income taxes receivable
    305,000       98,000       2,092,000  
 
Deferred income taxes, net of valuation allowance of $341,000, $339,000 and $0, respectively (Note D)
    1,327,000       1,181,000        
 
Other
    758,000       735,000       900,000  
 
   
     
     
 
       
Total current assets
    45,829,000       49,316,000       53,104,000  
Property, furniture and equipment:
                       
 
Land and building
    83,000       83,000       83,000  
 
Furniture and equipment
    20,000,000       20,334,000       20,148,000  
 
Leasehold improvements
    9,202,000       9,110,000       9,206,000  
 
   
     
     
 
 
    29,285,000       29,527,000       29,437,000  
 
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    18,843,000       19,683,000       18,316,000  
 
   
     
     
 
       
Net property, furniture and equipment
    10,442,000       9,844,000       11,121,000  
Other assets:
                       
 
Deferred income taxes, net of valuation allowance of $804,000, $805,000 and $0, respectively (Note D)
    3,132,000       3,091,000        
 
Other receivable, less allowance of $906,000, $906,000, and $906,000 respectively
    5,474,000       5,474,000       5,474,000  
 
Miscellaneous
    1,142,000       413,000       1,051,000  
 
   
     
     
 
       
Total other assets
    9,748,000       8,978,000       6,525,000  
 
   
     
     
 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 66,019,000     $ 68,138,000     $ 70,750,000  
 
   
     
     
 
       
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                       
Current liabilities:
                       
 
Accounts payable
  $ 7,385,000     $ 12,140,000     $ 12,558,000  
 
Accrued compensation
    1,727,000       1,165,000       1,267,000  
 
Accrued expenses
    3,167,000       2,628,000       2,383,000  
     
Total current liabilities
    12,279,000       15,933,000       16,208,000  
 
 
Revolving credit note (Note E)
    18,873,000       22,088,000       23,880,000  
 
Subordinated notes payable to shareholders
    2,579,000       2,579,000       2,579,000  
 
Deferred income taxes (Note D)
    3,292,000       3,105,000        
 
Other long-term liabilities
    845,000       213,000       855,000  
 
   
     
     
 
     
Total liabilities
    37,868,000       43,918,000       43,522,000  
Shareholders’ equity:
                       
 
Common stock, par value $0.10 per share; 25,000,000 shares authorized; 8,476,372 shares issued and outstanding in 2003 and 2002
    847,000       847,000       847,000  
 
Additional paid-in capital
    10,560,000       10,560,000       10,560,000  
 
Retained earnings
    16,744,000       12,813,000       15,821,000  
 
   
     
     
 
     
Total shareholders’ equity
    28,151,000       24,220,000       27,228,000  
 
   
     
     
 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  $ 66,019,000     $ 68,138,000     $ 70,750,000  
 
   
     
     
 

3


 

REEDS JEWELERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(unaudited)

                                     
        Three months ended   Six months ended
        August 31   August 31
       
 
        2003   2002   2003   2002
       
 
 
 
Net sales
  $ 19,447,000     $ 19,046,000     $ 39,045,000     $ 39,972,000  
Cost of sales
    10,034,000       9,610,000       19,908,000       20,072,000  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Gross profit
    9,413,000       9,436,000       19,137,000       19,900,000  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    10,530,000       10,530,000       21,023,000       21,335,000  
Depreciation and amortization
    605,000       593,000       1,201,000       1,195,000  
Restructuring charge
          270,000             270,000  
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Operating loss
    (1,722,000 )     (1,957,000 )     (3,087,000 )     (2,900,000 )
Interest expense
    313,000       350,000       620,000       711,000  
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes
    (2,035,000 )     (2,307,000 )     (3,707,000 )     (3,611,000 )
Income tax benefit
          (854,000 )           (1,336,000 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Loss from continuing operations
    (2,035,000 )     (1,453,000 )     (3,707,000 )     (2,275,000 )
Loss from discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit of $0, $44,000, $0, and $90,000 respectively
    (61,000 )     (75,000 )     (125,000 )     (153,000 )
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations, net of income tax benefit of $0, $0, $0 and $0, respectively
    (99,000 )           (99,000 )      
 
   
     
     
     
 
   
Net loss
  $ (2,195,000 )   $ (1,528,000 )   $ (3,931,000 )   $ (2,428,000 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Basic and diluted net loss from continuing operations per share
  $ (0.24 )   $ (0.17 )   $ (0.44 )   $ (0.27 )
Basic and diluted net loss from discontinued operations per share
    (0.02 )     (0.01 )     (0.02 )     (0.02 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Basic and diluted net loss per share
  $ (0.26 )   $ (0.18 )   $ (0.46 )   $ (0.29 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Weighted average shares outstanding-diluted
    8,476,372       8,476,372       8,476,372       8,476,372  
 
   
     
     
     
 

4


 

REEDS JEWELERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(unaudited)

                     
        Six months ended August 31
       
        2003   2002
       
 
Operating activities
   
Net loss
  $ (3,931,000 )   $ (2,428,000 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities of continuing operations:
               
   
Loss from discontinued operations
    125,000       153,000  
   
Loss on disposal of discontinued operations
    99,000        
   
Depreciation
    1,126,000       1,136,000  
   
Amortization
    75,000       59,000  
   
Loss on sale of property, furniture and equipment
    26,000       24,000  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
   
Accounts receivable
    (1,038,000 )     (917,000 )
   
Merchandise inventories
    (2,821,000 )     (4,025,000 )
   
Other current assets and other assets
    677,000       (233,000 )
   
Accounts payable
    4,755,000       (4,675,000 )
   
Accrued compensation and expenses
    (1,200,000 )     (2,166,000 )
   
Income taxes
    207,000       4,684,000  
   
Other long-term liabilities
    (632,000 )      
 
   
     
 
Net cash used in operating activities of continuing operations
    (2,532,000 )     (8,388,000 )
Investing activities
               
Proceeds from sale of property, furniture and equipment
    5,000       285,000  
Purchases of property, furniture and equipment
    (560,000 )     (424,000 )
 
   
     
 
Net cash used in investing activities
    (555,000 )     (139,000 )
Financing activities
           
Net proceeds from revolving credit note
    3,215,000       8,071,000  
 
   
     
 
Net cash provided by financing activities
    3,215,000       8,071,000  
 
   
     
 
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    128,000       (456,000 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    384,000       809,000  
 
   
     
 
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 512,000     $ 353,000  
 
   
     
 
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
               
Cash paid (received) during the period for:
               
 
Interest
  $ 660,000     $ 1,016,000  
 
   
     
 
 
Income taxes
  $ (207,000 )   $ (6,422,000 )
 
   
     
 

5


 

REEDS JEWELERS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

A. MANAGEMENT’S OPINION

These consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003.

Management of Reeds Jewelers, Inc. believes that the consolidated financial statements contained herein contain all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position, consolidated results of operations, and cash flows for the interim period. Management also believes that all adjustments so made are of a normal and recurring nature.

B. RECLASSIFICATIONS

Certain reclassifications were made to the 2002 financial statements to conform to the classifications used in 2003. The reclassifications had no effect on net loss or shareholders’ equity as previously reported.

C. NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCMENTS

In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, “Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of Both Liabilities and Equity”. This Statement establishes standards for how a company classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liabilities and equity. This Statement is effective for financial instruments entered into or modified after May 31, 2003 and otherwise is effective at the beginning of the first interim period beginning after June 15, 2003. The adoption of SFAS No. 150 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity for the current reporting periods.

In April 2003, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 149, “Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” SFAS No. 149 amends and clarifies financial accounting and reporting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities.” In general, SFAS No. 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. The adoption of SFAS No. 149 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity for the current reporting periods.

In November 2002, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) reached a consensus on Issue 1 of Issue No. 02-16, “Accounting by a Reseller for Cash Consideration Received from a Vendor.” This issue addresses circumstances under which cash consideration received from a vendor by a reseller should be considered (a) an adjustment of the prices of the vendor’s product and therefore, characterized as a reduction of cost of sales, (b) an adjustment to costs incurred by the reseller and therefore characterized as a reduction of that expense, or (c) a payment for assets or services delivered to the vendor and therefore, characterized as revenue on the income statement. The consensus on EITF 02-16 should be applied prospectively to new arrangements, including modifications to existing arrangements, entered into after December 31, 2002. The Company has adopted the provisions of the consensus EITF 02-16, and that adoption had no impact on its financial position, results of operations or liquidity for the current reporting periods.

In November 2002, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Interpretation No. 45, Guarantor’s Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees on Indebtedness of Others. This Interpretation clarifies significant new disclosures to be made by a guarantor in its financial statements and requires certain guarantees to be recorded at fair value, which is different from current practice, which is generally to record a liability only when a loss is probable and reasonably estimable, as those terms are defined in FASB Statement No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies. The adoption of Interpretation No. 45 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or liquidity for the current reporting periods. See Note I. Guarantee Obligations.

6


 

D. INCOME TAXES

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on differences between the financial reporting and tax basis of assets and liabilities and are measured using the enacted tax rates and laws anticipated to be in effect when those differences are expected to reverse. For the six months ended August 31, 2003 and 2002, the Company generated net losses. The Company has established a valuation allowance for these net operating loss carryforwards and certain other deferred tax assets. The Company will reduce the valuation allowance when, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will be realized.

E. DEBT

The asset-based revolving credit agreement with the Company’s bank is collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s assets and permits borrowings of up to $30 million through February 28, 2005, subject to “advance rates” applied to levels of eligible inventory. The Company pays interest monthly at an interest rate ranging from the 30-day LIBOR rate (1.12% at August 31, 2003) plus 200 to 325 basis points or prime (4.00% at August 31, 2003) plus 0 to 100 basis points, depending upon the Company’s earnings before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”). The Company could have borrowed $22.8 million at August 31, 2003 based on its eligible inventory and a 60% advance rate; at that time, $22.1 million was outstanding. The loan agreement requires Reeds Jewelers to satisfy certain financial and other covenants including (1) maintaining a minimum amount of EBITDA and (2) limiting capital expenditures to an agreed specified amount. At August 31, 2003, the Company was in compliance with these financial covenants as amended in March 2003.

F. RESTRUCTURING CHARGE

In the fiscal year ended February 28, 2002, $6,020,000 was recorded for restructuring and related costs associated with the Company’s exit from under-performing markets. In the quarter ended August 31, 2002, the Company recorded the final expenses of its restructuring plan in the amount of $270,000. These costs represent the costs of closing 24 under-performing stores and costs of not opening 3 new stores in new or under-performing markets. The amounts recorded consist of the costs associated with buying out store leases, store closing costs, and the loss on the sale or abandonment of leasehold improvements and furniture and fixtures. The remaining liability as of August 31, 2003 was $21,000, which is included in accrued expenses on the balance sheet. As of August 31, 2003, the following amounts were recorded:

Activity For the Period Ended August 31, 2003

                                   
      Balance at                   Balance at
      February 28,           Write-offs/   August 31,
      2003   Accruals   Payments   2003
     
 
 
 
Lease exit costs
  $ 62,000     $     $ 41,000     $ 21,000  
Sale/disposal of fixed assets
                       
Severance costs
                       
Professional fees
    3,000             3,000        
 
   
     
     
     
 
 
Totals
  $ 65,000     $     $ 44,000     $ 21,000  
 
   
     
     
     
 

G. DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Financial Accounting Standards Board Statement (SFAS) Nos. 133/138, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities,” as amended, requires the Company to recognize all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Derivatives that are not hedges must be adjusted to fair value through earnings. If the derivative is a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivative will either be offset against the change in fair value of the hedged assets, liabilities or firm commitments through earnings, or recognized in comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings. The ineffective portion of a derivative’s change in fair value is recognized in earnings.

7


 

Our interest rate risk management objective is to limit the impact of interest rate changes on earnings and cashflows and to lower overall borrowing costs. To achieve these objectives, from time to time the Company enters into interest rate hedge contracts such as swaps and caps in order to mitigate our interest rate risk with respect to various debt instruments. We do not hold these derivatives for trading or speculative purposes.

During the first quarter ended May 31, 2002, the Company purchased an interest rate cap for $152,000 with a notional amount of $20 million. The fair value of the interest rate cap agreement was $10,000 at August 31, 2002 and was recorded in other long-term assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at August 31, 2002. The decrease in the fair market value of the interest rate cap was $148,000 for the year ended February 28, 2003 and was reflected in selling, general and administrative expenses. The fair value of the interest rate cap agreement was $4,000 at August 31, 2003 and is recorded in other long-term assets in the Consolidated Balance Sheet at August 31, 2003. To determine the fair values of derivative and financial instruments, we use a variety of methods and assumptions that are based on market conditions and risks existing at the balance sheet date. For the majority of financial instruments including derivatives and long-term debt, standard market conventions and techniques such as discounted cash flow analysis, option pricing models, replacement cost and termination cost are used to determine fair value. All methods of assessing fair value result in a general approximation of value, and such value may never actually be realized.

H. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

On June 22, 2003, the Company completed its exit from the state of Kansas resulting in a $99,000 year-to-date loss from disposal of discontinued operations, net of $0 tax benefit. The Kansas operations for the quarter ended August 31, 2003 resulted in a $61,000 loss from discontinued operations, net of $0 tax benefit while the operations for the six months ended August 31, 2003 resulted in a $125,000 loss from discontinued operations, net of $0 tax benefit. On December 31, 2002, the Company completed its exit from the state of Iowa and as such the Iowa operations have been reclassified for the three and six month periods ending August 31, 2002 and are combined with the Kansas operations for those same periods in discontinued operations. Discontinued operations for the quarter ended August 31, 2002 is composed of a $29,000 loss, net of $17,000 tax benefit, relating to the Company’s exit from the state of Kansas and a loss of $46,000, net of $27,000 tax benefit, resulting from the Company’s exit from the state of Iowa. Year-to-date losses for the six months ended August 31, 2002 in the amount of $59,000, net of $35,000 tax benefit, relate to Kansas and losses of $94,000, net of $55,000 tax benefit, relate to the exit from the Iowa markets.

I. GUARANTEE OBLIGATIONS

As the Company’s strategies and needs change, the Company will from time to time exit locations and assign the underlying lease obligation to unrelated third parties. The Company currently has eight assigned leases in which it remains secondarily liable if the assignee defaults on the obligations. If an assignee were to default and the Company was required to fulfill the obligation to the lessor, the assignee would then be indebted to the Company for the amount the Company was required to pay out. These assigned leases expire at various times from January 2004 to December 2010. As of August 31, 2003, the maximum amount of future lease payments that the Company would be required to make if all of the assignees were to default was approximately $2,143,000. The reserve for these potential liabilities was $638,000 at August 31, 2003, which the Company believes is adequate based on the historical trend of actual defaults. As of August 31, 2003 only one of the eight assignees was in arrears to the landlord, and the Company is currently involved in litigation with regards to this assignee. The maximum amount of lease payments that the Company is secondarily liable for in connection with this lease is approximately $209,000.

J. STOCK OPTION PLANS

The Company accounts for its Stock Option and Employee Stock Purchase Plans under the recognition and measurement principles of APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees,” and related interpretations. Option valuation models require the input of highly subjective assumptions. Changes in the subjective input assumptions can materially affect the fair value estimate, and therefore, the existing models do not necessarily provide a reliable single measure of the fair value of employee stock options.

For purposes of pro forma net income and earnings per share calculations in accordance with SFAS 123, for each option granted during the three and six months ended August 31, 2003 and 2002 the fair value is estimated using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model. The assumptions used are as follows:

8


 

                                 
    For the three months   For the six months
    ended August 31,   ended August 31,
   
 
    2003   2002   2003   2002
   
 
 
 
Risk-free interest rate
    4.52 %     4.55 %     4.52 %     4.55 %
Dividend yield
    0 %     0 %     0 %     0 %
Volatility factor
    .479       .493       .479       .493  
Expected life
  10.0 years   10.0 years   10.0 years   10.0 years

The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per share for the three and six months ended August 31, 2003 and 2002, if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS 123, as amended by SFAS 148, to stock-based employee compensation.

                                 
    For the three months ended   For the six months ended
    August 31,   August 31,
   
 
    2003   2002   2003   2002
   
 
 
 
Net loss, as reported
  $ (2,195,000 )   $ (1,528,000 )   $ (3,931,000 )   $ (2,428,000 )
Deduct: Total stock-based employee compensation expense determined under fair value based method for all awards, net of related tax effects
    5,000       7,000       5,000       10,000  
 
   
     
     
     
 
Pro forma net loss
  $ (2,200,000 )   $ (1,535,000 )   $ (3,936,000 )   $ (2,438,000 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Basic and diluted net loss per share, as reported
  $ (0.26 )   $ (0.18 )   $ (0.46 )   $ (0.29 )
 
   
     
     
     
 
Basic and diluted net loss per share, pro forma
  $ (0.26 )   $ (0.18 )   $ (0.46 )   $ (0.29 )
 
   
     
     
     
 

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

Results of Operations

Application of Critical Accounting Policies

The Company’s critical accounting policies as of August 31, 2003 have not materially changed since February 28, 2003. It is suggested that this discussion and analysis be read in conjunction with the critical accounting policies included in the Company’s latest annual report on form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003.

Net Sales

Comparable store sales increased 5% for the quarter ended August 31, 2003 compared to the same quarter of the prior year. The Company’s total net sales for the quarter increased to $19,447,000 from $19,046,000, a 2% increase, while operating an average of 5% fewer stores in the second quarter of the current fiscal year. Comparable store sales increased 1% during the first half of the year. The Company’s total net sales for the six months ended August 31, 2003, decreased to $39,045,000 from $39,972,000, a 2% decrease, while operating an average of 6% fewer stores in the first half of the current year. In the second quarter of fiscal 2004, the Company closed its last remaining store in the Kansas market. At August 31, 2003, the Company operated 91 stores in 18 states compared to 96 stores in 20 states at August 31, 2002. The Company has no commitments to open additional stores in the remainder of this fiscal year.

The Company seeks to distinguish itself from its competition by its offering of larger diamonds, fine Swiss watches, and fashionable jewelry. Adjustments in the mix of its merchandise offering during the second quarter ended August 31, 2003 resulted in a 16% increase to $280 from $241 for the average price of each piece of merchandise sold. This offset a 12% reduction in the number of customer transactions in the current quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. Management is evaluating the Company’s marketing alternatives to address the decrease in

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customer transactions, some of which is attributable to apparently lower customer traffic in the malls in which the Company operates. Inventory items that have the most favorable turnover and are the most profitable have been identified as core items. The Company averaged 92% in-stock on its core items during the second quarter of fiscal 2004, compared to 96% last year; it averaged 89% in-stock on its entire basic merchandise mix compared to 92% for the same quarter a year ago. During the quarter ended August 31, 2003, core merchandise accounted for 45% of net sales, 47% of the items offered in the Company’s basic merchandise mix, and 36% of its inventory investment. In the same quarter last year, core merchandise accounted for 51% of net sales, 51% of the items offered by Reeds, and 33% of its inventory investment.

    Gross Profit

Gross margins were 48% during the quarter, down from 50% in the second quarter of last year. Year-to-date, gross margins were 49%, down from 50% for the first six months last year. The decline in gross margins is primarily attributable to aggressive promotional pricing in order to gain market share and management’s commitment to improve inventory turns by rapidly marking down slower-moving inventory.

    Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses (SG&A)

Selling, general, and administrative expenses remained constant in the second quarter of this year compared to the same period a year ago, but as a percentage of net sales SG&A was 54% and 55% for the quarters ended August 31, 2003 and 2002, respectively. Year-to-date selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased $312,000 or 2% from the same period in the prior year. The Company’s total labor costs decreased by $189,000 to 29% of net sales in the second quarter of this year from 30% in the same period a year earlier while year-to-date labor costs decreased $765,000 to 28% of net sales from 30% in the prior year comparative period. The decreases in labor costs are primarily a result of lower incentive compensation earned by sales and management associates and management’s efforts to decrease personnel costs.

    Interest Expense

The average borrowings on the Company’s line of credit for the quarter dropped 4% over the same quarter last year. The Company’s effective pre-tax interest rate during the quarter dropped to 5.2% from 5.6% for the same period in the previous year. As a result of these two factors, interest expense for the quarter was $313,000, 11% lower than the same quarter last year. The average borrowings on the Company’s line of credit for the six months ended August 31, 2003 dropped 7% over the same six months last year. The Company’s effective pre-tax interest rate during the first half of the year dropped to 5.2% from 5.5% for the same period in the previous year. As a result, year-to-date interest expense was $620,000, 13% lower than the same period last year.

    Discontinued Operations

On June 22, 2003, the Company completed its exit from the state of Kansas resulting in a $99,000 year-to-date loss from disposal of discontinued operations, net of $0 tax benefit. The Kansas operations for the quarter ended August 31, 2003 resulted in a $61,000 loss from discontinued operations, net of $0 tax benefit while the operations for the six months ended August 31, 2003 resulted in a $125,000 loss from discontinued operations, net of $0 tax benefit. Discontinued operations for the quarter ended August 31, 2002 is composed of a $29,000 loss, net of $17,000 tax benefit, relating to the Company’s exit from the state of Kansas and a loss of $46,000, net of $27,000 tax benefit, resulting from the Company’s exit from the state of Iowa which was completed in December of 2002. Year-to-date losses for the six months ended August 31, 2002 in the amount of $59,000, net of $35,000 tax benefit, relate to Kansas and losses of $94,000, net of $55,000 tax benefit, relate to the exit from the Iowa markets.

    Income Taxes & Net Loss

The Company has established valuation allowances against the deferred tax benefit from previous years’ losses. The Company does not expect its income tax expense for the current year to exceed the $1.1 million reserve against deferred tax assets. Therefore no income tax expense or benefit is reflected in the current year. A tax benefit of $854,000 was recognized in the second quarter last year and a year-to-date benefit of $1,336,000 was recognized for the first six months of last year. The Company’s anticipated net effective tax rate was 0% and 37% in the first two quarters of fiscal 2004 and 2003, respectively. For the quarter ended August 31, 2003, Reeds had a net loss of $2.2

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million, or $.26 per share loss, compared to a net loss of $1.5 million, or $.18 per share loss, in the quarter ended August 31, 2002. For the first six months of fiscal year 2004, Reeds had a net loss of $3.9 million, or $.46 per share loss, compared to a net loss of $2.4 million, or $.29 per share loss in the prior year comparative period.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Reeds Jewelers requires cash for purchasing inventory, updating technology and equipment, opening new stores, and remodeling existing locations. The Company’s primary sources of liquidity are cash flows generated from operations and its revolving credit facility with a major bank. Cash used in operations for the six months ended August 31, 2003 was $2,532,000 compared to $8,388,000 used for the six months ended August 31, 2002. The main factors that contributed to the change in cash flows from operations was the increase in accounts payable and the reduced inventory levels in 2003 as compared to 2002. The sale of the Company’s accounts receivable portfolio in February 2002 and the subsequent increase in availability on the Company’s revolving credit agreement contributed to the Company’s increase in payments to its vendors, which resulted in the decrease in accounts payable for the six months ended August 31, 2002. Management has made efforts to reduce inventory levels and improve inventory turns in the current fiscal year by aggressively marking down slower-moving inventory.

Working capital (current assets less current liabilities) and the corresponding current ratio (current assets divided by current liabilities) were $33,383,000 and 3.1 to 1 at August 31, 2003 compared with $33,550,000 and 3.7 to 1 at February 28, 2003 and $36,896,000 and 3.3 to 1 at August 31, 2002. Working capital needs normally peak in the third quarter as the Company increases inventories to meet anticipated demand during the Christmas selling season. The fourth quarter has historically produced the majority of the Company’s cash flows from operations.

The asset-based revolving credit agreement with the Company’s bank is collateralized by substantially all of the Company’s assets and permits borrowings of up to $30 million, subject to “advance rates” applied to levels of eligible inventory. The Company could have borrowed $22.8 million at August 31, 2003 based on its eligible inventory and a 60% advance rate; at that time, $22.1 million was outstanding. The loan agreement requires Reeds Jewelers to satisfy certain financial and other covenants including (1) maintaining a minimum amount of EBITDA and (2) limiting capital expenditures to an agreed specified amount. At August 31, 2003, the Company was in compliance with these financial covenants as amended in March 2003.

The Company borrowed $1,734,000 from three related parties in conjunction with the pay-off of its previous revolving credit facility. Interest is payable at the prime rate (4.00% at August 31, 2003) quoted in The Wall Street Journal plus 6%. The note is secured and is subordinate to the revolving credit facility with the Company’s bank. The loan matures on February 28, 2005, but principal payments may be made earlier based on the Company achieving certain financial targets.

The Company also has subordinated notes totaling $845,000 with three related parties, with interest payable monthly at the prime rate (4.00% at August 31, 2003). The notes are unsecured and are subordinate to the revolving credit facility.

Reeds Jewelers expects to incur capital expenditures of approximately $1 million during the fiscal year ending February 29, 2004 for store remodels, equipment upgrades, and the construction of two new stores planned to open in spring of 2004. Management does not plan to open additional locations in the current fiscal year.

Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for forward-looking statements to encourage companies to provide prospective information about their companies without fear of litigation so long as those statements are identified as forward-looking and are accompanied by meaningful cautionary statements identifying important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the statement. Various forward-looking statements have been made throughout this discussion, including comments about:

  (i)   merchandising and marketing plans;
 
  (ii)   planned store openings;
 
  (iii)   anticipated capital expenditures;

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  (iv)   anticipated outcome of legal proceedings; and
 
  (v)   anticipated income tax expense.

Accordingly, Reeds Jewelers, Inc. hereby identifies the following important factors that could cause its actual financial results to differ materially from those projected by the Company in forward-looking statements:

  (i)   unexpected changes in the marketing and pricing strategies of competitors;
 
  (ii)   adverse changes in the political environments of countries providing raw materials for the jewelry industry;
 
  (iii)   availability of favorable locations on terms acceptable to the Company;
 
  (iv)   disruptions to operations caused by significant natural disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, or tornadoes;
 
  (v)   potential future terrorist attacks;
 
  (vi)   further decline in the domestic economy resulting from, but not limited to, inflation, deflation, recession, depression, or other adverse economic conditions;
 
  (vii)   adverse changes in consumer spending;
 
  (viii)   significant changes in interest rates;
 
  (ix)   the loss of key executives; or
 
  (x)   management’s estimate of the valuation allowance for deferred tax benefits.

Impact of Inflation or Deflation

In management’s opinion, changes in net sales and net earnings that have resulted from inflation and changing prices have not been material during the periods presented. There is no assurance, however, that inflation or deflation will not materially affect Reeds Jewelers, Inc. in the future.

ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risks

The Company believes that the market risk related to interest rate changes as of August 31, 2003 has not materially changed since February 28, 2003. The market risk disclosure in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 28, 2003 is incorporated by reference herein.

ITEM 4. Internal Controls

As of October 13, 2003, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on that evaluation, the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of October 13, 2003. There have been no significant changes in the Company’s internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls subsequent to October 13, 2003.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. Legal Proceedings.

  The Company is involved in certain legal actions and claims incidental to the conduct of its business. Management believes that such litigation and claims will be resolved without material effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Item 2. Changes in Securities.

     Not applicable.

Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities.

     Not applicable.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.

     Not applicable.

Item 5. Other Information.

     Not applicable.

Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

     (a)  Exhibits.

       Not applicable.

     (b)  Reports on Form 8-K.

  On September 10, 2003, the Company filed a Current Report on Form 8-K with the SEC relating to a press release issued containing the financial results for the second quarter ended August 31, 2003.

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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.

     
    REEDS JEWELERS, INC.
 
October 15, 2003

  /s/ James R. Rouse

James R. Rouse
Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer

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CERTIFICATIONS

I, Alan M. Zimmer, certify that:

  1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Reeds Jewelers, Inc.;
 
  2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly 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 quarterly report;
 
  3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly 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 quarterly 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 quarterly 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 quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and
         
    c)   presented in this quarterly 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 quarterly 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.
     
October 15, 2003

  /s/ Alan M. Zimmer

Alan M. Zimmer
President and
Chief Executive Officer

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CERTIFICATIONS

I, James R. Rouse, certify that:

  1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Reeds Jewelers, Inc.;
 
  2.   Based on my knowledge, this quarterly 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 quarterly report;
 
  3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this quarterly 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 quarterly 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 quarterly 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 quarterly report (the “Evaluation Date”); and
         
    c   presented in this quarterly 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 quarterly 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.
     
October 15, 2003

  /s/ James R. Rouse

James R. Rouse
Treasurer and
Chief Financial Officer

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