10-K 1 d10k.htm FORM 10-K Form 10-K

United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-K

 


 

x Annual Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the Fiscal Year Ended February 3, 2007

or

 

¨ Transition Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Commission file number 000-51217

SEARS HOLDINGS CORPORATION

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

Delaware   20-1920798
(State of Incorporation)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
3333 Beverly Road, Hoffman Estates, Illinois   60179
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (847) 286-2500

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

 

Title of each class

 

Name of Each Exchange on Which Registered

Common Shares, par value $0.01 per share   The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

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

None

 


Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.    Yes  ¨    No  x

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 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 is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of the 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.  x

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2).

Large accelerated filer  x            Accelerated filer  ¨            Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

On March 3, 2007, the Registrant had 153,810,297 common shares outstanding. The aggregate market value (based on the closing price of the Registrant’s common shares for stocks quoted on the NASDAQ Global Select Market) of the Registrant’s common shares owned by non-affiliates (which are assumed, solely for the purpose of this calculation, to be stockholders other than (i) directors and executive officers of the Registrant and (ii) any person known by the Registrant to beneficially own five percent or more of the Registrant’s common shares), as of July 29, 2006, the last business day of the Registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, was approximately $8.4 billion.

Documents Incorporated By Reference

Part III of this Form 10-K incorporates by reference certain information from the Registrant’s definitive proxy statement relating to its Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 4, 2007 (the “2007 Proxy Statement”), which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission within 120 days after the end of the fiscal year to which this Form 10-K relates.

 



PART I

 

Item 1. Business

General

Sears Holdings Corporation (“Holdings” or the “Company”) is the parent company of Kmart Holding Corporation (“Kmart”) and Sears, Roebuck and Co. (“Sears”). Holdings was formed as a Delaware corporation in 2004 in connection with the merger of Kmart and Sears (the “Merger”). The Merger, completed on March 24, 2005, combined two of America’s oldest existing retail entities, both with origins dating to the late 1800s. The Company is a broadline retailer with approximately 2,300 full-line and 1,100 specialty retail stores in the United States operating through Kmart and Sears and approximately 370 full-line and specialty retail stores in Canada operating through Sears Canada Inc. (“Sears Canada”), a 70%-owned subsidiary.

Business Segments

During fiscal 2006, the Company operated three reportable segments: Kmart, Sears Domestic and Sears Canada. Financial information, including revenues, operating income and total assets for each of these business segments is contained in Note 19 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Information regarding the components of revenue for Holdings is included in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”

Kmart

As of February 3, 2007, Holdings operated a total of 1,388 Kmart stores across 49 states, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. This store count included 1,333 discount stores, averaging 93,000 square feet, and 55 Super Centers, averaging 165,000 square feet. Most Kmart stores are one-floor, free-standing units that carry a wide assortment of general merchandise, including products sold under such well-known labels as Jaclyn Smith, Joe Boxer and Martha Stewart Everyday. During fiscal 2005, the Company began selling certain proprietary Sears brand products, such as Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard products, and services within certain Kmart stores. At the end of fiscal 2005, approximately 100 Kmart stores were selling an assortment of Sears brand products, mainly within home appliances and tools. During the fall of fiscal 2006, the Company added Craftsman tool assortments into Kmart locations nationwide. In addition, as of February 3, 2007, approximately 180 Kmart stores were also selling an assortment of major home appliances, including Kenmore-branded products. Approximately 1,100 Kmart stores also operate in-store pharmacies. The Super Centers generally operate 24-hours a day and combine a full-service grocery along with the general merchandise selection of a discount store. Kmart also sells its products through its kmart.com website.

Sears Domestic

As of February 3, 2007, Sears Domestic operations consisted of the following:

 

   

Full-line Stores—935 broadline stores of which 861 are full-line stores located across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, primarily mall-based locations averaging 134,000 square feet. Full-line stores offer a wide array of products across many merchandise categories, including home appliances, consumer electronics, tools, fitness and lawn and garden equipment, certain automotive services and products, such as tires and batteries, home fashion products, as well as apparel, footwear and accessories for the whole family, including the Company’s proprietary Lands’ End brand merchandise. Also, as of February 3, 2007, the Company operated 74 Sears Essentials/Grand stores located in 25 states, primarily free-standing units averaging 113,000 square feet and offering health and beauty products, pantry goods, household products and toys in addition to the offerings of the typical mall-based store. Sears also extends the availability of its product selection through the use of its sears.com website, which offers an assortment of home, apparel and accessory merchandise and provides customers the option of buying through the Internet and picking up their merchandise in Sears full-line stores.

 

2


   

Specialty Stores—1,095 specialty stores located across all 50 states and Puerto Rico, located primarily in free-standing, off-mall locations or high-traffic neighborhood shopping centers, and including the operations of:

 

   

817 Dealer Stores—Primarily independently-owned stores, predominantly located in smaller communities and averaging 8,900 square feet offering appliances, consumer electronics, lawn and garden equipment, hardware and automotive batteries. Dealer stores carry proprietary Sears brands, such as Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard, as well as a wide assortment of national brands.

 

   

111 Sears Hardware Stores and 85 Orchard Supply Hardware Stores—Neighborhood hardware stores averaging 40,000 square feet that carry Craftsman brand tools and lawn and garden equipment, a wide assortment of national brands and other home improvement products. Approximately 100 locations also offer a limited selection of home appliances.

 

   

16 The Great Indoors Stores—Home decorating and remodeling superstores, averaging 143,000 square feet, dedicated to the four main rooms of the house: kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and great room.

 

   

47 Outlet Stores—Locations offering overstock and/or distressed appliances, consumer electronics and lawn and garden equipment at a discount.

 

   

Commercial Sales—This business primarily sells appliances to home builders, remodelers and property managers.

 

   

Direct to Customer—The Direct to Customer business includes the direct merchant business of Lands’ End, Inc. (“Lands’ End”). Lands’ End is a leading direct merchant of traditionally-styled casual clothing, accessories and footwear for men, women and children, as well as home products and soft luggage. These products are offered through multiple selling channels including Landsend.com, one of the leading apparel websites, as well as catalog mailings, international businesses and 15 Lands’ End retail stores. These retail stores, averaging 8,500 square feet, offer Lands’ End merchandise primarily from catalog and Internet channel overstocks.

 

   

Home Services—Product Repair Services, the nation’s largest product repair service provider, is a key element in the Company’s active relationship with more than 46 million households. With over 10,000 service technicians making over 13 million service calls annually, this business delivers a broad range of retail-related residential and commercial services across all 50 states and Puerto Rico under the Sears Parts & Repair Services and A&E Factory Service brand names. Commercial and residential customers can obtain parts and repair services for all major brands of products within the home appliances, lawn and garden equipment, consumer electronics, floor care products, and heating and cooling systems categories. Smaller items for repair can be brought into Sears Parts & Repair Centers located throughout the United States or to any Sears full-line store. This business also offers protection agreements, product installation services and Kenmore and Carrier brand residential heating and cooling systems. Home Services also includes home improvement services (primarily siding, windows, cabinet refacing, kitchen remodeling, HVAC and carpet cleaning) provided through Sears Home Improvement Services.

Sears Canada

Sears Canada, a consolidated, 70% -owned subsidiary of Sears, conducts retail operations in Canada similar to those conducted by Sears Domestic, with a greater emphasis on apparel and other softlines than in the U.S. stores. In addition, Sears Canada conducted credit operations prior to the November 15, 2005 sale of its Credit and Financial Services operations to JPMorgan Chase & Co. (“JPMorgan Chase”).

As of February 3, 2007, Sears Canada operated a total of 123 full-line stores, 250 specialty stores (48 furniture and appliance stores, 158 dealer stores operated under independent local ownership, 5 appliances and

 

3


mattresses stores, 28 Corbeil stores and 11 outlet stores), 50 floor covering stores, approximately 1,900 catalog pick-up locations and 100 travel offices. Sears Canada also conducts business over the Internet through its website, sears.ca.

The Merger and Development of the Business

The Merger has provided Holdings a means for leveraging the historical strengths of Kmart and Sears with the goal of making the Company’s products, brands and service offerings available through more locations and customer distribution channels. Furthermore, Holdings is striving to become more responsive to the needs of customers, thereby building long-term, value-added customer relationships.

Sears has a long-standing reputation for offering customers a wide variety of merchandise and related services, with a particular emphasis on its strong proprietary brands such as Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands’ End. Historically, Sears conducted its business primarily using a mall-based format. At the time of the Merger, Sears operated 874 domestic full-line stores mainly located in such on-mall locations. In response to off-mall competitor growth, Sears commenced a strategy prior to the Merger to increase the number of its off-mall stores in order to expand distribution points for its brands, merchandise and services. Kmart, on the other hand, historically used large format, off-mall locations in selling a selection of general merchandise goods. At the time of the Merger, Kmart operated approximately 1,400 off-mall stores and sought to further improve its operational performance by pursuing opportunities to offer customers a differentiated high-quality product selection to distinguish itself from competitors.

With Kmart’s approximately 1,400 off-mall locations, Holdings’ store base offers a greater number of customers the opportunity to purchase Sears products and services outside of Sears’ traditional mall-based stores. This increase in distribution points brought about by the Merger provided a more rapid and lower-cost store base growth than Sears would have been able to accomplish on its own. At the same time, the addition of Sears-owned brands and services, including Sears’ credit products, to Kmart stores enhances the selection and value proposition offered to Kmart customers and helps to differentiate Kmart from its general merchandise competitors. During the fall of fiscal 2006, the Company added Craftsman brand tool assortments into Kmart locations nationwide. In addition, as of February 3, 2007, approximately 180 Kmart stores were also selling an assortment of major home appliances, including Kenmore-branded products. The Company will continue to explore opportunities to profitably cross-merchandise products and services between its Kmart and Sears formats.

The Company’s combined store base of approximately 2,300 full-line stores allows Holdings to compete on a scale larger than that of many of its national competitors. The scale of the combined enterprise has also generated significant opportunities for realizing cost synergies across a number of areas, including merchandise and non-merchandise purchasing, delivery and distribution and within other selling, general and administrative expense areas. While the Company will continue to operate both the Sears and Kmart store formats in the foreseeable future, many of the functions supporting these formats have been integrated.

For accounting purposes, the Merger was treated as a purchase business combination, with Kmart acquiring Sears. In identifying Kmart as the acquiring entity, the companies took into account the relative share ownership of the Company after the Merger, the composition of the governing body of the combined entity and the designation of certain senior management positions. Accordingly, the historical financial statements of Kmart serve as the historical financial statements of Holdings, the registrant.

In connection with the Merger, Kmart shareholders received one share of Holdings common stock for each Kmart share owned. In all, approximately 94.9 million shares of Holdings common stock were issued in exchange for all outstanding common stock of Kmart. Sears shareholders were issued an aggregate of 62.2 million shares of Holdings common stock at a total value of approximately $6.5 billion (based on the average closing price of $104.33 of Kmart’s common stock during the period from November 15, 2004 through

 

4


November 19, 2004, two business days before and after the date the Merger was announced). In addition, approximately $5.4 billion in cash was paid in consideration for (i) all outstanding shares of common stock of Sears, based upon the proration provisions of the agreement pursuant to which the Merger was effected, and (ii) all outstanding stock options of Sears. Including transaction costs of approximately $18 million, the total consideration paid was approximately $11.9 billion.

Additional information concerning the Merger is contained in Note 2 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Bankruptcy of Kmart Corporation

Kmart Corporation (the “Predecessor Company”) is a predecessor operating company of Kmart (the “Successor Company”). In January 2002, the Predecessor Company and 37 of its U.S. subsidiaries (collectively, the “Debtors”) filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the federal bankruptcy laws (“Chapter 11”). The Debtors decided to seek bankruptcy reorganization based upon a rapid decline in their liquidity resulting from below-plan sales and earnings performance in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001, the evaporation of the surety bond market, an erosion of supplier confidence, intense competition and unsuccessful sales and marketing initiatives, as well as the continued recession and capital market volatility in existence at that time. The Predecessor Company utilized Chapter 11 to strengthen its balance sheet and reduce debt, focus its store portfolio on the most productive locations and terminate leases for closed stores, develop a more efficient organization and lower overall operating costs.

On May 6, 2003 (the “Effective Date”), the Predecessor Company emerged from reorganization proceedings under Chapter 11 pursuant to the terms of an Amended Joint Plan of Reorganization (the “Plan of Reorganization”) and related amended Disclosure Statement. This Plan received formal endorsement of the statutory creditors’ committee and, as modified, was confirmed by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in April 2003. The Predecessor Company is presently an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings.

Sale of Sears Canada’s Credit and Financial Services Business

On November 15, 2005, Sears Canada completed the sale of substantially all of the assets and liabilities of its Credit and Financial Services operations to JPMorgan Chase for approximately $2.0 billion in cash proceeds, net of securitized receivables and other related costs and taxes. In addition, Sears Canada and JPMorgan Chase concurrently entered into a long-term marketing and servicing alliance with an initial term of ten years. Sears Canada used a portion of the proceeds it generated from the sale to fund an extraordinary cash dividend and a tax-free return of stated capital to shareholders of record on December 16, 2005. Holdings, as beneficial owner of approximately 54% of the outstanding common stock of Sears Canada at the time of the distribution, received $877 million in after-tax proceeds from this distribution. Additional information concerning the sale is contained in Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Acquisition of Minority Interest in Sears Canada

In December 2005, Holdings announced its intention to acquire 100% ownership of Sears Canada in order to allow Sears Canada to be in a better competitive position relative to other Canadian retailers and the Canadian operations of major U.S. retailers. During fiscal 2006, the Company increased its majority interest in Sears Canada from 54% to 70% by acquiring 17.8 million common shares of Sears Canada pursuant to the takeover bid. The Company paid a total of $282 million for the additional 17.8 million common shares acquired and has accounted for the acquisition of additional interests in Sears Canada as a purchase business combination for accounting purposes. The takeover bid expired on November 27, 2006.

Real Estate Transactions

In the normal course of business, the Company considers opportunities to purchase leased operating properties, as well as offers to sell owned, or assign leased, operating and non-operating properties. These

 

5


transactions may, individually or in the aggregate, result in material proceeds or outlays of cash. In addition, the Company reviews leases that will expire in the short term in order to determine the appropriate action to take with respect to them.

Further information concerning the Company’s real estate transactions is contained in Note 15 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Trademarks, Trade Names and Licenses

The “KMART®” and “SEARS®” trade names, service marks and trademarks, used by the Company both in the United States and internationally, are material to the Company’s retail and other related businesses.

The Company sells proprietary branded merchandise under a number of brand names that are important to its operations. The Company’s KENMORE®, CRAFTSMAN®, DIEHARD® and LANDS’ END® brands are among the most recognized proprietary brands in retailing. These marks are the subject of numerous United States and foreign trademark registrations. Other well recognized Company trademarks and service marks include THE GREAT INDOORS®, OSH®, CANYON RIVER BLUES®, COVINGTON®, and ATHLETECH®. The Company also has the right to sell an exclusive line of Martha Stewart Everyday® products in its Kmart locations over the next three years, as well as within Sears Canada stores through August 2008. The Company’s right to use its trade names and marks continues so long as it uses them.

Seasonality

The retail business is seasonal in nature, and the Company generates a high proportion of its revenues and operating cash flows during the fourth quarter of its fiscal year, which includes the holiday season. As a result, the Company’s overall profitability is heavily impacted by its fourth quarter operating results. Additionally, in preparation for the fourth quarter holiday season, the Company significantly increases its merchandise inventory levels, which have traditionally been financed from operating cash flows and credit terms received from vendors. Fourth quarter reported revenues accounted for 31% of total reported revenues in fiscal 2006.

Competition

The Company’s business is subject to highly competitive conditions. The Company competes with a wide variety of retailers including other department stores, discounters, home improvement stores, consumer electronics dealers and auto service providers, specialty retailers, wholesale clubs and many other competitors operating on a national, regional or local level along with Internet and catalog businesses, which handle similar lines of merchandise. Wal-Mart, Target, Kohl’s, JC Penney, Home Depot, Lowe’s and Best Buy are some of the national competitors with which the Company competes. Home Depot, Lowe’s and Best Buy are major competitors in relation to the Company’s home appliance business, which accounted for approximately 15% of the Company’s fiscal 2006 reported revenues. Sears Canada competes in Canada with Hudson’s Bay Company and U.S.-based competitors, including those mentioned above, that are expanding into Canada. Success in this competitive marketplace is based on factors such as price, product assortment and quality, service and convenience, including availability of retail-related services such as access to credit, product delivery, repair and installation.

Employees

As of February 3, 2007, the Company had approximately 315,000 employees in the United States and U.S. territories, and approximately 37,000 employees in Canada through Sears Canada including, in each case, part-time employees.

Our Website; Availability of SEC Reports and Other Information

The Company’s corporate website is located at searsholdings.com. The Company’s Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and any amendments to these

 

6


reports are available, free of charge, through the SEC filings portion of the Investor Information section of the Company’s website as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

The Corporate Governance Guidelines of the Company’s Board of Directors, the charters of the Audit, Compensation, Finance and Nominating and Governance Committees of the Board of Directors, the Company’s Code of Conduct and the Board of Directors Code of Conduct are available on the Corporate Governance section of searsholdings.com. References to the Company’s website address do not constitute incorporation by reference of the information contained on the website, and the information contained on the website is not part of this document.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

References to “us”, “we” and “our” refer to the Company. The following risk factors could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition. The risks and uncertainties described below are not the only ones we face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us may also negatively impact us.

If we fail to offer merchandise and services that our customers want, our sales may be limited, which would reduce our revenues and profits.

In order for our business to be successful, we must identify, obtain supplies of, and offer to our customers attractive, innovative and high-quality merchandise on a continuous basis. Our products and services must satisfy the desires of our customers, whose preferences may change in the future. If we misjudge either the demand for products and services we sell or our customers’ purchasing habits and tastes, we may be faced with excess inventories of some products and missed opportunities for products and services we chose not to offer. In addition, our sales may decline or we may be required to sell the merchandise we have obtained at lower prices. This would have a negative effect on our business and results of operations.

If we do not successfully manage our inventory levels, our operating results will be adversely affected.

We must maintain sufficient inventory levels to operate our business successfully. However, we also must guard against accumulating excess inventory as we seek to minimize out-of-stock levels across all product categories and to maintain in-stock levels. We obtain a significant portion of our inventory from vendors located outside the United States. These vendors often require lengthy advance notice of our requirements in order to be able to supply products in the quantities we request. This usually requires us to order merchandise, and enter into purchase order contracts for the purchase and manufacture of such merchandise, well in advance of the time these products will be offered for sale. As a result, we may experience difficulty in responding to a changing retail environment, which makes us vulnerable to changes in price. If we do not accurately anticipate the future demand for a particular product or the time it will take to obtain new inventory, our inventory levels will not be appropriate and our results of operations may be negatively impacted.

If we are unable to compete effectively in the highly competitive retail industry, our business and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

The retail industry is highly competitive with few barriers to entry. We compete with a wide variety of retailers including other department stores, discounters, home improvement stores, consumer electronics dealers and auto service providers, specialty retailers, wholesale clubs and many other competitors operating on a national, regional or local level. Some of our competitors are actively engaged in new store expansion. Internet and catalog businesses, which handle similar lines of merchandise, also compete with us. In this competitive marketplace, success is based on factors such as price, product assortment and quality, service and convenience.

 

7


Our success depends on our ability to differentiate ourselves from our competitors with respect to shopping convenience, a quality assortment of available merchandise and superior customer service. We must also successfully respond to our customers’ changing tastes. The performance of our competitors, as well as changes in their pricing policies, marketing activities, new store openings and other business strategies, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Due to the seasonality of our business, our annual operating results would be adversely affected if our fourth quarter results fail to meet our expectations.

Our business is seasonal, with a high proportion of revenues and operating cash flows being generated during the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, which includes the holiday season. As a result, our fourth quarter operating results significantly impact our annual operating results. Our fourth quarter operating results may fluctuate significantly, based on many factors, including holiday spending patterns and weather conditions.

Our comparable store sales may fluctuate for a variety of reasons, which could adversely affect our results of operations.

Our business is sensitive to customers’ spending patterns, which in turn are subject to prevailing economic conditions. Our comparable store sales and results of operations have fluctuated in the past, and we expect them to continue to fluctuate in the future. A variety of other factors affect our comparable store sales and financial performance, including:

 

   

actions by our competitors, including opening of new stores in our existing markets or changes to the way these competitors go to market on line,

 

   

seasonal fluctuations due to weather conditions,

 

   

changes in our merchandise strategy and mix,

 

   

changes in population and other demographics, and

 

   

timing of our promotional events.

Accordingly, our results for any one fiscal quarter are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for any other quarter, and comparable store sales for any particular future period may decrease. For more information on our results of operations, see “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7 of this Form 10-K.

We rely on foreign sources for significant amounts of our merchandise, and our business may therefore be negatively affected by the risks associated with international trade.

We depend on a large number of products produced in foreign markets. We face risks associated with the delivery of merchandise originating outside the United States, including:

 

   

potential economic and political instability in countries where our suppliers are located,

 

   

increases in shipping costs,

 

   

transportation delays and interruptions,

 

   

adverse fluctuations in currency exchange rates, and

 

   

changes in U.S. and foreign laws affecting the importation and taxation of goods, including duties, tariffs and quotas, or changes in the enforcement of those laws.

A decline in general economic conditions, consumer-spending levels and other conditions could lead to reduced consumer demand for our merchandise thereby reducing our revenues and gross margins.

Many economic and other factors outside our control, including consumer confidence, consumer spending levels, employment levels, prevailing interest rates, housing sales and remodels and consumer debt levels, as well

 

8


as fuel costs and the availability of consumer credit, affect consumer-spending habits. In addition, disposable income levels may influence consumer-purchasing patterns. A general slowdown in the United States economy or an uncertain economic outlook could adversely affect consumer spending habits and our operating results.

The domestic and international political situation also affects consumer confidence. The threat, outbreak or escalation of terrorism, military conflicts or other hostilities could lead to a decrease in consumer spending. Any of these events and factors could cause us to increase inventory markdowns and promotional expenses, thereby reducing our gross margins and operating results.

We rely extensively on computer systems to process transactions, summarize results and manage our business. Disruptions in these systems could harm our ability to run our business.

Given the number of individual transactions we have each year, it is critical that we maintain uninterrupted operation of our computer and communications hardware and software systems. Our systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, security breaches, catastrophic events such as fires, tornadoes and hurricanes, and usage errors by our employees. If our systems are damaged or cease to function properly, we may have to make a significant investment to fix or replace them, and we may suffer interruptions in our operations in the interim. Any material interruption in our computer operations may have a material adverse effect on our business or results of operations. In addition, we are pursuing complex initiatives to transform our information technology processes and systems, which will include, for many systems, establishing a common platform across our lines of business, such as common human resources, supply chain and financial systems. The risk of disruption is increased in periods where such complex and significant systems changes are undertaken. Also, if we fail to successfully combine our systems, we may fail to realize cost savings anticipated to be derived from these initiatives.

The loss of key personnel may disrupt our business and adversely affect our financial results.

We depend on the contributions of key personnel, including Edward S. Lampert (chairman), Aylwin B. Lewis (Chief Executive Officer and President) and other key employees, for our future success. Although certain executives, including Mr. Lewis, have employment agreements with us, changes in our senior management and any future departures of key employees may disrupt our business and materially adversely affect our results of operations.

Affiliates of our Chairman, whose interests may be different than your interests, exert substantial influence over our Company.

Affiliates of Edward S. Lampert, the Chairman of our Board of Directors, beneficially own 42.5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock. These affiliates are controlled, directly or indirectly, by Mr. Lampert. Accordingly, these affiliates, and thus Mr. Lampert, have substantial influence over many if not all actions to be taken or approved by our stockholders, including the election of directors and any transactions involving a change of control.

The interests of these affiliates, which have investments in other companies, may from time to time diverge from the interests of our other stockholders, particularly with regard to new investment opportunities. This substantial influence may have the effect of discouraging offers to acquire our Company because the consummation of any such acquisition would likely require the consent of these affiliates.

We may be subject to product liability claims if people or property are harmed by the products we sell or the services we offer.

Some of the products we sell may expose us to product liability claims relating to personal injury, death, or property damage caused by such products, and may require us to take actions such as product recalls. We also

 

9


provide various services which could also give rise to such claims. Although we maintain liability insurance, we cannot be certain that our coverage will be adequate for liabilities actually incurred or that insurance will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all.

We may be subject to periodic litigation and other regulatory proceedings. These proceedings may be affected by changes in laws and government regulations or changes in the enforcement thereof.

From time to time, we may be involved in lawsuits and regulatory actions relating to our business, certain of which may be in jurisdictions with reputations for aggressive application of laws and procedures against corporate defendants. Due to the inherent uncertainties of litigation and regulatory proceedings, we cannot accurately predict the ultimate outcome of any such proceedings. An unfavorable outcome could have a material adverse impact on our business, financial condition and results of operations. In addition, regardless of the outcome of any litigation or regulatory proceedings, these proceedings could result in substantial costs and may require that we devote substantial resources to defend our Company. Further, changes in governmental regulations both in the United States and in the other countries where we operate could have adverse effects on our business and subject us to additional regulatory actions. For a description of current legal proceedings, see Item 3, “Legal Proceedings” in this Form 10-K.

The Company’s failure to successfully invest available surplus cash could negatively affect the Company’s performance

The Company’s performance with respect to the investment of surplus cash is substantially dependent on the performance of Edward S. Lampert, to whom the Company’s Board of Directors has delegated authority to direct such investments, subject to certain limitations.

There can be no assurance that the Company will be successful in its efforts to identify investment opportunities that meet its requirements. Any such investments may include significant and highly concentrated direct investments, related derivative positions, or both, with respect to the equity securities of public companies. In addition, any such investments will involve risks, and Holdings’ balance sheet and results of operations may fluctuate, depending on the extent of excess funds and the timing, magnitude and performance of the Company’s investments. Furthermore, such investments would be subject to volatility due to market conditions and other conditions over which the Company may not have control, which may affect both the recorded value of the investments as well as the Company’s periodic earnings. Accordingly, the poor performance by a significant investment of the Company could have a material adverse effect on the results of operations and financial condition of the Company.

Specifically, at February 3, 2007, the Company had total return swaps outstanding with an aggregate notional amount of $375 million. See Part II, Item 7. “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Investment of Available Capital.” These investments are highly concentrated and involve substantial risks. A significant decline in the value of these investments could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s quarterly and annual results of operations.

 

Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments

None.

 

10


Item 2. Properties

The following table summarizes the locations of the Company’s Kmart and Sears Domestic stores as of February 3, 2007:

 

     Kmart    Sears Domestic

State/Territory

   Discount
Stores
   Super
Centers
   Full-line
Mall Stores
   Sears
Essentials/
Grands
   Specialty
Stores

Alabama

   26    —      13    3    32

Alaska

   —      —      3    —      3

Arizona

   18    2    14    1    12

Arkansas

   6    —      7    —      31

California

   104    1    81    10    132

Colorado

   16    4    13    2    18

Connecticut

   7    —      8    1    8

Delaware

   6    —      4    —      5

Florida

   98    —      55    10    24

Georgia

   38    1    22    —      39

Hawaii

   7    —      6    —      1

Idaho

   8    —      6    —      7

Illinois

   59    4    38    7    47

Indiana

   37    5    21    2    33

Iowa

   24    —      12    —      13

Kansas

   11    —      9    2    20

Kentucky

   30    —      11    1    22

Louisiana

   11    —      13    —      18

Maine

   6    —      6    —      10

Maryland

   22    —      19    2    10

Massachusetts

   18    —      21    1    8

Michigan

   78    7    27    3    31

Minnesota

   32    —      12    —      35

Mississippi

   7    —      9    —      19

Missouri

   25    —      13    4    41

Montana

   10    —      3    —      7

Nebraska

   8    —      5    —      10

Nevada

   9    2    4    1    6

New Hampshire

   6    —      6    3    8

New Jersey

   37    —      20    5    17

New Mexico

   15    —      7    —      8

New York

   58    1    46    —      29

North Carolina

   43    4    27    —      35

North Dakota

   7    —      4    —      4

Ohio

   71    11    42    2    49

Oklahoma

   9    —      11    —      19

Oregon

   14    —      9    —      20

Pennsylvania

   99    2    45    2    34

Rhode Island

   1    —      2    —      2

South Carolina

   27    1    14    2    17

South Dakota

   9    —      2    —      6

Tennessee

   33    3    24    1    25

Texas

   19    1    60    1    80

Utah

   16    —      5    3    5

Vermont

   3    —      2    —      8

Virginia

   40    4    23    1    20

Washington

   20    —      23    —      14

West Virginia

   16    1    8    —      8

Wisconsin

   33    —      15    4    34

Wyoming

   9    —      2    —      6

Puerto Rico

   22    1    9    —      5

U.S. Virgin Islands

   4    —      —      —      —  

Guam

   1    —      —      —      —  
                        

Totals

   1,333    55    861    74    1,095
                        

 

11


     Kmart    Sears Domestic    Sears Canada     
     Discount
Stores
   Super
Centers
   Full-line
Mall Stores
   Sears
Essentials/
Grands
   Specialty
Stores
   Full-line
Stores
   Specialty
Stores
   Total

Owned

   139    34    518    20    55    17    2    785

Leased

   1,194    21    343    54    224    106    90    2,032

Independently-owned and operated stores

   —      —      —      —      816    —      158    974
                                       

Stores as of February 3, 2007

   1,333    55    861    74    1,095    123    250    3,791
                                       

In addition, as of February 3, 2007, the Company had 43 domestic supply chain distribution centers, of which 15 are owned and 28 are leased for terms ranging from one to 15 years. Of the total, 15 primarily support Kmart locations and the remaining 28 primarily support Sears stores. In addition, the Company had 614 domestic store warehouses, customer call centers and service facilities, most of which are leased for terms ranging generally from one to 10 years or are part of other facilities included in the above table.

The Company’s principal executive offices are located on a 200-acre site owned by the Company at the Prairie Stone office park in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The complex consists of six interconnected office buildings totaling approximately two million gross square feet of office space.

In December 2005, the Company sold the former Kmart headquarters building in Troy, Michigan. The Company still owns an 86,000 square foot office building in Troy, Michigan.

As of February 3, 2007, Sears Canada operated a total of 123 full-line stores, 250 specialty stores (48 furniture and appliance stores, 158 dealer stores operated under independent local ownership, 5 appliances and mattresses stores, 28 Corbeil stores and 11 outlet stores), 50 floor covering stores, approximately 1,900 catalog pick-up locations and 100 travel offices.

A description of the Company’s leasing arrangements appears in Note 16 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Item 3. Legal Proceedings

See Part II, Item 8, “Financial Statements and Supplementary Data”—“Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements”, Note 13—“Bankruptcy Claims Resolution and Settlements, and Note 20—“Legal Proceedings”, for information regarding legal proceedings, which information is incorporated herein by this reference.

 

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

None.

 

12


EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

The following table and information sets forth the names of the executive officers of the Company, their current positions and offices with the Company, the date they first became executive officers of the Company, their current ages, and their principal employment during the past five years.

 

Name

 

Position

  Date First
Became
an
Executive
Officer
    Age

Aylwin B. Lewis

  Chief Executive Officer and President   2005 *   52

Karen A. Austin

  Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer   2005 *   45

William C. Crowley

  Executive Vice President, Chief Financial and Administrative Officer   2005 *   49

Mark C. Good

  Executive Vice President and General Manager, Home Services   2005 *   50

William R. Harker

  Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary   2006     34

W. Bruce Johnson

  Executive Vice President, Supply Chain and Operations   2005 *   55

Robert D. Luse

  Senior Vice President, Human Resources   2005 *   44

Maureen A. McGuire

  Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer   2005     55

William K. Phelan

  Vice President, Controller and Chief Accounting Officer   2005 *   44

Allen R. Ravas

  Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer   2006     51

John C. Walden

  Executive Vice President, Chief Customer Officer   2007     47

Peter J. Whitsett

  Senior Vice President, Merchandising   2005     41

Corwin M. Yulinsky

  Executive Vice President, Strategy and Customer Insight   2005     52

* Became an executive officer of Holdings upon the completion of the Merger on March 24, 2005.

Mr. Lewis became Chief Executive Officer and President in September 2005, after serving as the Chief Executive Officer and President of Kmart and Sears Retail as well as President of Holdings from March 2005 until September 2005. He was previously a director and the Chief Executive Officer and President of Kmart from October 2004 to March 2005. Prior to joining Kmart in October 2004, Mr. Lewis was President, Chief Multi-Branding and Operating Officer of YUM! Brands, Inc. (franchisor and licensor of quick-service restaurants) from 2000 until October 2004.

Ms. Austin became Executive Vice President, Chief Information Officer in February 2006 and was Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer prior thereto. She was Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer of Kmart from April 2002 to March 2005. She previously served as its Vice President, IT Applications from 2001 to 2002.

Mr. Crowley has served as an Executive Vice President of the Company since March 2005, as its Chief Administrative Officer since September 2005 and as its Chief Financial Officer since January 2007. He also served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer from March 2005 to September 2006. Mr. Crowley has served as Chairman of the Board of Sears Canada since December 2006 and as a director of Sears Canada since March 2005. Prior to the Merger, Mr. Crowley served as Senior Vice President, Finance of Kmart, and had served as an officer of Kmart since 2003. Mr. Crowley is also the President and Chief Operating Officer of ESL Investments, Inc., a private investment firm, and has served in that capacity since 1999.

Mr. Good was previously Executive Vice President and General Manager, Home Services (formerly Product Repair Services) of Sears from August 1999 to March 2005, when he assumed the same role with Holdings.

Mr. Harker joined the Company as Vice President and Chief Counsel in September 2005. He became Vice President, Acting General Counsel and Corporate Secretary in January 2006. In April 2006, Mr. Harker was elected Senior Vice President, Acting General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, and in December 2006, Mr. Harker was elected Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. Prior to joining Holdings, he practiced corporate law with the law firm of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen and Katz from September 2000 to August 2005.

 

13


Mr. Johnson was previously Kmart’s Senior Vice President, Supply Chain and Operations. He joined Kmart in October 2003, after serving as Director, Organization and Systems for Carrefour S.A. from March 1998 to October 2003.

Mr. Luse joined Sears as Vice President, HR Retail and Related Services in 2001.

Ms. McGuire joined the Company as Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer in October 2005. Prior to joining Holdings, she spent over 30 years at International Business Machines Corporation, most recently as Vice President, Worldwide Strategy and Marketing, IBM Systems and Technology Group from January 2005 to September 2005. Previously she served as IBM’s Vice President, Worldwide Marketing and Strategy, IBM Global Services from August 2003 to January 2005 and Vice President, Worldwide Market Management and Integrated Marketing Communications from 1995 to August 2003.

Mr. Phelan was elected Vice President and Controller of Holdings effective March 2005. From December 2000 to March 2005 he served as Assistant Controller of Sears.

Mr. Ravas was elected Senior Vice President, Finance and Treasurer of Holdings in November 2005. Mr. Ravas served as Vice President, Merchandise Controller of Holdings from March 2005 to October 2005. He previously served in a variety of positions at Kmart, including, Vice President Treasury, Financial Planning and Analysis from October 2004 to March 2005, Vice President, Merchandise Controller from 2002 to September 2004 and Divisional Vice President, Merchandise Finance from 1999 to 2002.

Mr. Walden joined the Company as Executive Vice President, Chief Customer Officer in January 2007. Prior to joining Holdings, Mr. Walden served in a variety of positions at Best Buy Co., Inc., including Executive Vice President—Customer Business Group from December 2004 to January 2007, Executive Vice President—Human Capital and Leadership from 2002 to 2004 and President of BestBuy.com, Inc. from 1999 to 2002.

Mr. Whitsett was elected Senior Vice President, Kmart Merchandising Officer in July 2005. He joined Kmart in 1999 as Director, Merchandise Planning & Replenishment and has served in a variety of positions, including Divisional Vice President, Merchandise Planning from 2000 to 2003, Divisional Vice President, Merchandising Consumables in 2003, Vice President/General Merchandise Manager, Drug Store and Food from 2003 to 2004, and Vice President/General Merchandise Manager from 2004 to 2005.

Mr. Yulinsky joined the Company as Executive Vice President, Strategy and Customer Insight in October 2005. Previously, he was a leader of the Financial Institutions and Marketing/CRM practice at McKinsey and Co., a consulting firm, from August 1999 to October 2005.

 

14


PART II

 

Item 5. Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

Holdings common stock is quoted on The NASDAQ Stock Market under the ticker symbol SHLD. There were approximately 21,800 stockholders of record as of March 1, 2007.

The common stock of Holdings began trading on March 28, 2005, the first trading day after the consummation of the Merger. Prior to that date, Kmart’s common stock was quoted on The NASDAQ Stock Market, under the ticker symbol KMRT. The quarterly high and low sales prices for Holdings’ common stock are set forth below.

 

     2006
     Sears Holdings
     First
Quarter
   Second
Quarter
   Third
Quarter
   Fourth
Quarter

Common stock price

           

High

   $ 147.74    $ 167.95    $ 182.38    $ 181.67

Low

     115.95      134.56      135.04      164.31
     2005
     Sears Holdings
     First
Quarter(1)
   Second
Quarter
   Third
Quarter
   Fourth
Quarter

Common stock price

           

High

   $ 149.50    $ 163.50    $ 155.90    $ 127.66

Low

     125.90      133.24      113.30      111.64

(1)

During the first quarter of 2005, Kmart’s common stock traded from January 27, 2005 until March 23, 2005, during which its high price was $133.85 and its low price was $89.37.

Neither Holdings nor Kmart paid dividends on common stock in the last two fiscal years. Holdings does not expect to pay dividends in the foreseeable future.

From April 1, 2006 through March 27, 2007, approximately 5,700 shares of the Company’s common stock were inadvertently allocated to the plan accounts of a total of 28 participants in two of the Company’s defined contribution savings plans. These shares may not have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 for sale to these plan participants. During this period, the Company’s common share price ranged from a low of $130.65 per share (on April 3, 2006) to a high of $189.97 per share (on February 22, 2007). The Company received no proceeds from any of these transactions.

Equity Compensation Plan Information

The following table reflects information about securities authorized for issuance under the Company’s equity compensation plans as of February 3, 2007.

 

     (a)    (b)    (c)

Plan Category

   Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights
   Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding
options,
warrants and
rights
   Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under equity
compensation plans
(excluding securities reflected
in column (a))(1)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders(2)

   350,000    $ 112.90    818,407

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   —        —      —  

Total

   350,000    $ 112.90    818,407

 

15



(1)

Represents shares of common stock that may be issued pursuant to the Company’s 2006 Stock Plan. Excludes shares covered by a plan award that are not delivered on an unrestricted basis (for example, because the award is forfeited, canceled, settled in cash or used to satisfy tax withholding obligations). Awards under the 2006 Stock Plan may be restricted stock awards, a grant of shares of the Company’s common stock in connection with an award made under a long-term incentive plan, or certain other awards.

(2)

Represents (1) a grant to Aylwin B. Lewis of options to purchase 150,000 shares of Holdings common stock and (2) a grant to Alan J. Lacy, former Vice Chairman of Sears Holdings, of options to purchase 200,000 shares of Holdings common stock. On October 18, 2004, Kmart granted Mr. Lewis options to purchase 150,000 shares of Kmart common stock, subject to approval by Kmart’s stockholders. Kmart’s stockholders approved the option grant on March 24, 2005, and these options were converted into options to purchase an equal number of shares of Holdings common stock upon effectiveness of the Merger. The grant to Mr. Lacy was approved by Kmart, the sole stockholder of Holdings on November 16, 2004, in connection with the approval of Mr. Lacy’s employment agreement pursuant to which the options were granted.

Stock Performance Graph

Comparison of Cumulative Stockholder Return—Value of $100 Invested March 28, 2005

The following graph compares the cumulative total return to stockholders on Holdings common stock from March 28, 2005, the first day of trading of the Company’s common stock after the Merger, through February 2, 2007, the last trading day before the end of the Company’s 2006 fiscal year, with the return on the S&P 500 Stock Index, the S&P 500 Retailing Index and the S&P 500 Department Stores Index for the same period. The graph assumes an initial investment of $100 on March 28, 2005 in each of the Company’s common stock, the S&P 500 Stock Index, the S&P Retailing Index and the S&P 500 Department Stores Index.

The S&P 500 Retailing Index consists of companies included in the S&P 500 Stock Index in the broadly defined retail sector, which includes competing retailers of softlines (apparel and domestics) and hardlines (appliances, electronics and home improvement products), as well as food and drug retailers. The S&P 500 Department Stores Index consists primarily of department stores that compete with the Company’s full-line stores.

LOGO

 

     March 28, 2005    January 27, 2006    February 2, 2007

Sears Holdings

   $ 100.00    $ 93.96    $ 135.10

S&P 500 Index

   $ 100.00    $ 110.99    $ 127.67

S&P 500 Retailing Index

   $ 100.00    $ 108.74    $ 125.17

S&P Department Stores Index

   $ 100.00    $ 105.71    $ 152.02

 

16


Purchase of Equity Securities

The following table provides information about shares of common stock the Company acquired during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, including shares assigned to the Company as part of settlement agreements resolving claims arising from the Chapter 11 reorganization of the Predecessor Company. During the 14 weeks ended February 3, 2007, the Company repurchased 0.1 million of its common shares at a total cost of $14 million under a common share repurchase program. The program was initially announced in 2005 with a total authorization by the Company’s Board of Directors of up to $1.0 billion. During fiscal 2006, the Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to an additional $1.0 billion of common stock for a total authorization of $2.0 billion. As of February 3, 2007, the Company had approximately $604 million of remaining authorization under this program.

 

     Total
Number of
Shares
Purchased(1)
   Average
Price Paid
per Share
   Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced
Program
   Average Price
Paid per Share for
Publicly
Announced
Program
   Approximate
Dollar Value of
Shares that May
Yet Be Purchased
Under the Program

October 29, 2006 to November 25, 2006

   783    $ 174.20    —      $ —     

November 26, 2006 to December 30, 2006

   312      167.79    —        —     

December 31, 2006 to February 3, 2007

   97,343      165.95    82,463      164.91   
                              

Total

   98,438    $ 166.03    82,463    $ 164.91    $ 604,000,000
                              

(1)

Includes 6,706 shares acquired from associates to meet withholding tax requirements from the vesting of restricted stock. In addition, the Company recognized recoveries of $2 million in the quarter ended February 3, 2007 related to vendors who had received cash payments for pre-petition obligations (critical vendor claims) or preference payments. In conjunction with these recoveries, the Company was assigned 9,269 shares of common stock with a weighted average price of $168.39. These shares were acquired during the quarter as follows:

 

October 29, 2006 to November 25, 2006

   783

November 26, 2006 to December 30, 2006

   312

December 31, 2006 to February 3, 2007

   14,880

 

17


Item 6. Selected Financial Data

The table below summarizes the Company’s recent financial information. The data set forth below should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” in Item 7 and the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in Item 8.

 

                            Predecessor Company  
    Fiscal     39 Weeks
Ended
January 28,
2004
    13 Weeks
Ended
April 30,
2003
   

Fiscal

2002

 

dollars in millions, except per share data

  2006     2005(1)     2004        

Summary of Operations

           

Total revenues(2)

  $ 53,012     $ 49,124     $ 19,843     $ 17,190     $ 6,181     $ 29,352  

Domestic comparable sales %

    (3.7 )%     (5.3 )%     (11.0 )%     (9.5 )%     (3.2 )%     (10.1 )%

Income (loss) from continuing operations(3)

    1,490       948       1,106       234       (852 )     (2,771 )

Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of tax(3)

    —         (90 )     —         —         —         —    

Discontinued operations

    —         —         —         —         (10 )     (448 )

Net income (loss)(3)

    1,490       858       1,106       234       (862 )     (3,219 )

Per Common Share

           

Basic:

           

Continuing income (loss)

  $ 9.57     $ 6.22     $ 12.39     $ 2.61     $ (1.63 )   $ (5.47 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

  $ —       $ (0.59 )   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Discontinued operations

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ (0.02 )   $ (0.89 )

Net income (loss)

  $ 9.57     $ 5.63     $ 12.39     $ 2.61     $ (1.65 )   $ (6.36 )

Diluted:

           

Continuing income (loss)

  $ 9.57     $ 6.17     $ 11.00     $ 2.51     $ (1.63 )   $ (5.47 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

  $ —       $ (0.58 )   $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —    

Discontinued operations

  $ —       $ —       $ —       $ —       $ (0.02 )   $ (0.89 )

Net income (loss)

  $ 9.57     $ 5.59     $ 11.00     $ 2.51     $ (1.65 )   $ (6.36 )
                                  Predecessor
Company
 

Book value per common share

  $ 82.65     $ 72.67     $ 50.39     $ 24.64     $ 19.45     $ (0.58 )

Financial Data

           

Total assets

  $ 30,066     $ 30,573     $ 8,651     $ 6,074     $ 6,660     $ 11,238  

Long-term debt(4)

    2,112       2,482       91       76       59       —    

Long-term capital lease obligations

    737       786       275       374       415       623  

Trust convertible preferred securities

    —         —         —         —         —         646  

Capital expenditures (Predecessor Company for the 13 weeks ended April 30, 2003)

    513       546       230       108       4       252  

Number of Stores

    3,791       3,843       1,480       1,511       1,513       1,829  

(1)

Fiscal 2005 includes the results of Sears subsequent to the Merger date. As a result, fiscal 2005 results include approximately 44 weeks of Sears’ results and 52 weeks of Kmart’s results.

(2)

The Company follows a retail-based financial reporting calendar. Accordingly, the Company’s fiscal 2006 results reflect the 53-week period ended February 3, 2007 whereas fiscal years 2005, 2004 and 2002 contained 52-weeks. Fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 ended on the Saturday closest to January 31st. Fiscal 2002, the 39 weeks ended January 28, 2004, and fiscal 2004 ended on the last Wednesday in January. The reported results for fiscal 2003 have been divided into two parts as a result of Kmart’s emergence from Chapter 11

 

18


 

bankruptcy in fiscal 2003. As further discussed in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, due to the application of Fresh-Start Accounting (defined in Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements) upon emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the reported historical financial statements of the Predecessor Company for the periods prior to May 1, 2003 generally are not comparable to those of the Successor Company. Thus, the results of operations of the Successor Company were not combined with those of the Predecessor Company.

(3)

The periods presented were impacted by certain significant items which affected the comparability of amounts reflected in the above selected financial data. For fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, these significant items are discussed within Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” In addition, the 39 weeks ended January 28, 2004, included an $89 million net gain on sales of assets; the 13 weeks ended April 30, 2003, included $769 million in expenses incurred by the Predecessor Company as a result of its Chapter 11 reorganization, a $47 million charge for accelerated depreciation on unimpaired assets to be disposed of following store closings, and a $10 million credit as a result of a change in the estimated expenses for 2002 cost reduction initiatives; Fiscal 2002, included $1,019 million for inventory write-downs in conjunction with accelerated mark-downs due to store closings, $533 million for asset impairments, $50 million for cost reduction initiatives, and $33 million for other items.

(4)

For fiscal year 2002, long-term debt does not include liabilities classified as subject to compromise.

 

19


Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The Company has divided its “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” (“MD&A”) into the following seven sections:

 

   

Overview of Holdings

 

   

Merger and Fiscal Year

 

   

Fiscal 2006 Initiatives and Accomplishments

 

   

Results of Operations:

Fiscal 2006 Summary

Holdings Consolidated Results

Business Segment Results

Pro Forma Reconciliation

 

   

Analysis of Consolidated Financial Condition

 

   

Contractual Obligations and Off-Balance-Sheet Arrangements

 

   

Application of Critical Accounting Policies

Overview of Holdings

Holdings, the parent company of Kmart and Sears, was formed in connection with the March 24, 2005 Merger of these two companies. The Company is a broadline retailer and, at the end of fiscal 2006, had approximately 2,300 full-line and 1,100 specialty retail stores in the United States operating through Kmart and Sears and approximately 370 full-line and specialty retail stores in Canada operating through Sears Canada, a 70%-owned subsidiary.

The Company currently conducts its operations in three business segments: Kmart, Sears Domestic and Sears Canada. Prior to the Merger, the Company operated a single business segment, Kmart. The nature of operations conducted within each of these segments is discussed within the “Business Segments” section of Item 1 in this Form 10-K.

Merger

The Merger was accounted for as a purchase business combination, with Kmart acquiring Sears. Accordingly, the historical financial statements of Kmart serve as the historical financial statements of Holdings. The consolidated statements of income and cash flows for fiscal 2005 include the results of operations of Sears subsequent to the Merger date, or from March 25, 2005 forward. Therefore, Holdings’ operating results for fiscal 2005 include approximately 44 weeks of Sears’ results and 52 weeks of Kmart’s results.

Kmart shareholders received one share of Holdings common stock for each Kmart share owned. In all, approximately 94.9 million shares of Holdings common stock were issued in exchange for all outstanding common stock of Kmart. In aggregate, approximately 62.2 million shares of Holdings common stock were issued to Sears shareholders at a value of approximately $6.5 billion (based on the average closing price of $104.33 of Kmart’s common stock during the period from November 15, 2004 through November 19, 2004, two business days before and after the date the Merger was announced). In addition, approximately $5.4 billion in cash was paid in consideration for (i) all outstanding shares of common stock of Sears, based upon the proration provisions of the agreement pursuant to which the Merger was effected, and (ii) all outstanding stock options of Sears. Including transaction costs of approximately $18 million, the total consideration paid for the acquisition of Sears was approximately $11.9 billion.

 

20


Fiscal Year

Effective March 23, 2005, the Company changed its fiscal year end from the last Wednesday in January to the Saturday closest to January 31st. In fiscal 2006, the Saturday nearest January 31st was February 3, 2007. Therefore, fiscal 2006 consisted of 53 weeks. Both fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004 consisted of 52 weeks. Unless otherwise stated, references to years in this report relate to fiscal years rather than to calendar years. The following fiscal periods are presented in this report.

 

Fiscal year

  

Reporting Entity

   Ended    Weeks

2006

   Sears Holdings Corporation    February 3, 2007    53

2005

   Sears Holdings Corporation    January 28, 2006    52

2004

   Kmart Holding Corporation    January 26, 2005    52

Sears Canada’s fiscal year end is the Saturday closest to December 31st. The results of operations for Sears Canada are reported to Holdings on a one-month lag. Therefore, the consolidated statements of income and cash flows for fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 include operating results for Sears Canada from January 1, 2006 through December 30, 2006 and March 25, 2005 through December 31, 2005, respectively.

Fiscal 2006 Initiatives and Accomplishments

While Holdings was formed as a direct result of the 2005 merger between Kmart and Sears, the Company is an entirely new organization, with both a vision and mission that extend well beyond merely combining these two entities. Management of this new organization has developed vision and mission statements that describe the company Holdings aspires to become. Holdings’ vision statement is:

Sears Holdings is committed to improving the lives of customers by providing quality services, products and solutions that earn their trust and build lifetime relationships.

The Company’s mission is described by the following three simple, focused principles, against which every associate in the Company is evaluated:

 

  1. Build customer relationships

 

  2. Make more money

 

  3. Improve every day

In 2006 Holdings senior management expended significant effort to disseminate Holdings’ vision and mission throughout the organization in order to align all associates, from front-line store managers and store associates serving customers directly to those associates supporting stores in corporate and administrative functions, on common goals and culture. The Company believes that the establishment of the proper culture, a culture where the vision and mission are shared across the entire organization, is a necessary first step for Holdings to achieve prominence in the retail industry and become a great company.

The retail industry is highly competitive and as such Holdings faces significant challenges to achieve prominence. One significant challenge is the fact that the sales and profit productivity of many competitor stores exceeds that of Holdings’ own stores. Therefore, the Company believes the greatest near-term value, and its greatest immediate challenge, comes from better utilizing Holdings’ existing base of over 3,000 stores to deliver greater value to customers and ultimately Holdings shareholders. The Company will strive to better leverage the significant scale it already has, as well as the Company’s brand strength and service offerings to improve Holdings’ multi-channel (store, on-line and catalog) shopability and continue to give customers reasons to shop Holdings more frequently.

While the Company’s mission principles (build customer relationships, make more money and improve every day) are simple in concept, they can be difficult to execute within the context of a highly competitive retail

 

21


environment. Therefore, the Company believes that it must improve its analytical capabilities and foster a discipline of continuous learning and fact-based decision making in order to successfully execute these principles. Accordingly, in 2006 the Company committed resources to improve the organization’s overall analytical capabilities and implement a structured “test, learn and deploy” process to evaluate new initiatives. The Company believes that becoming a “test and learn” organization will allow it to better understand the needs of its existing (and potential future) customers and develop solutions to profitably meet those needs.

Specific actions taken by the Company in 2006 to build long-term customer relationships and improve the profitability and/or daily operations include:

 

   

completed a national roll-out of Craftsman brand tools to Kmart locations nationwide, expanding the number of outlets carrying the Craftsman brand by approximately 1,400 stores. With this nationwide rollout to Kmart stores, the Craftsman brand is now available at more than 3,000 locations in the United States and on sears.com;

 

   

enhanced product development and direct sourcing capabilities, accomplished through the major expansion of a Manhattan-based apparel design center, the purpose of which is to improve the quality, exclusivity and profitability of Holdings’ apparel products. This effort is part of a larger initiative at Holdings to create a more vertical business model, in which Holdings assumes a greater role in the development and design (not merely the procurement) of its apparel merchandise, improving the Company’s agility so that it can respond to and deliver merchandise that meets the needs of customers at a lower cost to the Company. Holdings’ increased utilization of direct-sourced merchandise from manufacturers has increased apparel gross margin rates, particularly at Sears Domestic, which had historically not utilized direct-sourcing to the extent of its use at Kmart;

 

   

improved Holdings’ on-line capabilities and expertise by assembling management talent and building a team with relevant experience and knowledge to support the Company’s e-commerce initiatives. Further, the Company invested in new technologies and functionality for its online commercial websites, and expanded online product and service offerings. Holdings also completed the construction of a new e-commerce development center in Chicago, Illinois during 2006 (scheduled to open in early 2007), which will house approximately 100 highly skilled developers, technical architects and project managers focused exclusively on e-commerce. The development center is intended to act as the catalyst for Holdings’ efforts to leverage web-based technology to better connect with Holdings’ customers and attract new customers to the Company’s offerings of products and services;

 

   

focused on improving the overall customer in-store experience through concerted efforts within various areas of store operations, including improving effectiveness of payroll spending by scheduling store associates to better match customer traffic patterns, reducing lead times associated with merchandise resets and the execution of promotional events/sales, as well as focusing on improving overall store appearance and cleanliness;

 

   

intensified efforts on improving store profitability by enhancing store-level systems and operating procedures to achieve higher levels of compliance with corporate-wide policies/standards in areas such as sales discounts, merchandise returns and inventory handling and control;

 

   

improved efficiencies and cost effectiveness of the supply chain, including transportation synergies, the consolidation of fashion distribution centers and a greater emphasis on direct import merchandise procurement;

 

   

expanded a test program initiated last year that created a Lands’ End store-within-a-store concept at certain Sears full-line store locations. Based on positive customer response, the test program was expanded in fiscal 2006, and currently approximately 100 Sears full-line stores now feature the Lands’ End store-within-a-store concept. At such locations, Sears customers find increased square footage dedicated to Lands’ End, including enhanced visual merchandising and an expanded product assortment for women, men, kids and home, all in one location. Additionally, the concept features a

 

22


 

multi-channel service area where customers can choose from the entire Lands’ End assortment—either online or by phone- shopping for products that would otherwise not be available in the store; and

 

   

remodeled approximately 70 Kmart stores to include Sears-brand products. The Company intends to continue its roll-out of home appliances, including Sears Kenmore brand products, into both Sears Grand and Kmart locations over the next several years as a means of expanding its points of distribution in response to competitor store growth. As of February 3, 2007, approximately 180 Kmart stores, including certain of the remodeled locations, offered broad assortments of home appliances.

Certain of these initiatives and actions benefited the Company’s fiscal 2006 operating results, and the impact of such items is reflected in the Company’s 2006 operating results as presented in the below “Results of Operations” section. Other initiatives represent investments management has made with the belief that they further Holdings’ pursuit of its ultimate mission: profitably building long-term relationships and gaining prominence in the retail industry.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

In the results of operations section that follows, results for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004 are set forth on both a reported and pro forma basis. This presentation reflects the fact that the reported results for Holdings prior to the March 24, 2005 Merger reflect only Kmart’s results. Accordingly, to facilitate an understanding of the Company’s trends and on-going performance, the Company has presented pro forma results below for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004 in addition to the reported results for these years. The pro forma results adjust the reported amounts for these two fiscal years to give effect to the Merger as if it had occurred at the beginning of fiscal 2004. Thus, the pro forma results include both Kmart and Sears results for the entire fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004 periods. A reconciliation of pro forma amounts to reported amounts has been included under the heading “Pro Forma Reconciliation.”

References to comparable store sales amounts within the following discussion include sales for all stores operating for a period of at least 12 full months, including remodeled and expanded stores, but excluding store relocations and stores that have undergone format changes. Comparable store sales results for fiscal 2006 were calculated based on the 52-week period ended January 27, 2007 as compared to the comparable 52-week period in the prior year.

The discussion that follows should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Item 8.

 

23


Holdings Reported Results

Holdings’ consolidated results of operations for fiscal 2006, 2005 and 2004, presented on both a reported and a pro forma basis are summarized below.

 

    Reported     Pro Forma  
    2006     2005     2004     2005     2004  

Merchandise sales and services

  $ 53,012     $ 48,911     $ 19,843     $ 53,962     $ 55,585  

Credit and financial products revenues

    —         213       —         299       381  
                                       

Total revenues

    53,012       49,124       19,843       54,261       55,966  
                                       

Cost of sales, buying and occupancy

    37,820       35,505       14,942       39,177       40,895  

Gross margin dollars

    15,192       13,406       4,901       14,785       14,690  

Gross margin rate

    28.7 %     27.4 %     24.7 %     27.4 %     26.4 %

Selling and administrative

    11,581       10,808       3,999       12,149       12,547  

Selling and administrative expense as a percentage of total revenues

    21.8 %     22.0 %     20.2 %     22.4 %     22.4 %

Depreciation and amortization

    1,142       932       27       1,108       1,196  

Gain on sales of assets

    (82 )     (39 )     (946 )     (40 )     (356 )

Gain on sale of business

    —         (317 )     —         (317 )     —    

Restructuring charges

    28       111       —         111       41  
                                       

Total costs and expenses

    50,489       47,000       18,022       52,188       54,323  
                                       

Operating income

    2,523       2,124       1,821       2,073       1,643  

Interest and investment income

    (254 )     (127 )     (41 )     (159 )     (153 )

Interest expense

    337       323       146       378       442  

Other income

    (24 )     (37 )     (59 )     (37 )     (67 )
                                       

Income before income taxes, minority interest and cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

    2,464       1,965       1,775       1,891       1,421  

Income taxes

    930       716       669       705       491  

Minority interest

    44       301       —         307       46  
                                       

Income before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

    1,490       948       1,106       879       884  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax(1)

    —         (90 )     —         (90 )     —    
                                       

NET INCOME

  $ 1,490     $ 858     $ 1,106     $ 789     $ 884  
                                       

Diluted earnings per share before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle

  $ 9.57     $ 6.17     $ 11.00     $ 5.40     $ 5.40  

Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle(1)

    —         (0.58 )     —         (0.55 )     —    
                                       

Diluted earnings per share

  $ 9.57     $ 5.59     $ 11.00     $ 4.85     $ 5.40  
                                       

(1)

Effective January 27, 2005, Kmart changed its method of accounting for certain indirect buying, warehousing and distribution costs and, accordingly, the Company recorded the cumulative effect of this change in accounting principle in fiscal 2005. Further information regarding this change in accounting is set forth in Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Fiscal 2006 Summary

The following discussion is designed to provide the reader with an overview of fiscal 2006 financial results, with particular emphasis on significant events and transactions that had a disproportionate effect on the Company’s results for the fiscal years presented. Further discussion regarding the Company’s operating performance follows this overview section.

 

24


Net Income

For fiscal 2006, net income was $1.5 billion compared with net income of $858 million (reported) and $789 million (pro forma) in fiscal 2005. Net income for fiscal 2005 included an after-tax charge of $90 million (reported and proforma) for the cumulative effect of a change in accounting as described above. The increase in net income for the year reflects increased operating income at both Sears Domestic and Kmart, driven primarily by improved margin rate performance, most notably within apparel during the second half of fiscal 2006, as well as improved expense management across all segments. The favorable impact of these items more than offset the negative impact of sales declines in fiscal 2006 relative to pro forma sales levels for fiscal 2005.

Earnings per Diluted Share and Significant Items

The table below sets forth earnings per share results for the Company’s most recent three fiscal years, reflected on both a reported and pro forma basis for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004 as explained above. Net income and earnings per diluted share results for all three fiscal years were impacted by certain significant items. The magnitude of such items may vary significantly from period to period and, thereby, have a disproportionate effect on earnings for any given period, affecting the comparability of the Company’s financial performance. Accordingly, management considers the aggregate impact of these items, along with reported results, in reviewing and evaluating the Company’s financial performance.

The impact of these items on diluted earnings per share is shown in the following table:

 

     Reported    Pro Forma  
     2006     2005     2004    2005     2004  

Earnings per diluted share

   $ 9.57     $ 5.59     $ 11.00    $ 4.85     $ 5.40  

Less:

           

Total return swap income

     0.29       —         —        —         —    

Income tax settlements

     0.20       —         —        —         —    

Visa/MasterCard settlement

     0.14       —         —        —         —    

Legal reserve—AIG Annuity Insurance Co., et al. v. Sears Roebuck

     (0.29 )     —         —        —         —    

Gain on sale of assets

     0.32       0.16       5.78      0.15       1.35  

Restructuring charges

     (0.09 )     (0.35 )     —        (0.33 )     (0.16 )

Cumulative effect of change in accounting

     —         (0.58 )     —        (0.55 )     —    
                                       

Earnings per diluted share excluding the above items

   $ 9.00     $ 6.36     $ 5.22    $ 5.58     $ 4.21  
                                       

For fiscal 2006, net income included the following significant items: 1) pre-tax gains of $74 million ($45 million after-tax or $0.29 per diluted share) derived from the Company’s investment of a portion of its surplus cash (see the “Interest and Investment Income” section below for further details); 2) a tax benefit of $31 million ($0.20 per diluted share) related to the resolution of certain income tax matters; 3) a $36 million pre-tax gain ($22 million after-tax or $0.14 per diluted share) recorded by the Company for the aggregate amount received by Holdings in June 2006 as part of the settlement of Visa/MasterCard antitrust litigation; and, 4) a pre-tax charge of $74 million ($45 million after-tax or $0.29 per diluted share) related to an unfavorable verdict in connection with a pre-Merger legal matter concerning Sears’ redemption of certain bonds in 2004. See Note 20 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further information regarding this matter.

All three fiscal years were impacted by gains recorded on the sale of Company assets. These pre-tax gains amounted to $82 million ($50 million after-tax or $0.32 per diluted share) in fiscal 2006, $39 million ($25 million after-tax or $0.16 per diluted share) in fiscal 2005, and $946 million ($586 million after-tax or $5.78 per diluted share) in fiscal 2004. The fiscal 2004 gain reflects Kmart’s completion of multiple sale and lease assignment transactions, including significant transactions with The Home Depot, Inc. (“Home Depot”) and

 

25


Sears. The pro forma gain on sale of assets impact for fiscal 2004, $1.35 per diluted share as shown above, excludes the impact of gains recognized in fiscal 2004 for sales of properties to Sears. Further details pertaining to these transactions are set forth in Note 15 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Additionally, all three fiscal years were impacted by restructuring charges. These pre-tax charges were $28 million ($14 million after-tax or $0.09 per diluted share) in fiscal 2006, $111 million ($54 million after-tax or $0.35 per diluted share- reported, $53 million after-tax or $0.33 per diluted share- pro forma) in fiscal 2005, and pro forma $41 million (pro forma $26 million after-tax or $0.16 per diluted share- pro forma) in fiscal 2004. The charges for both fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005 were recorded in connection with the Merger and integration of Sears’ and Kmart’s headquarters support functions, as well as in connection with productivity initiatives at Sears Canada. The fiscal 2004 pro forma restructuring charges were recorded by Sears in connection with certain productivity initiatives at that entity. Further details pertaining to these restructuring charges are set forth in Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Fiscal 2005 net income was negatively impacted by an after-tax charge of $90 million ($0.58 per diluted share- reported, $0.55 per diluted share- pro forma) for the cumulative effect of a change in accounting for certain indirect overhead costs included in inventory. Further details pertaining to this cumulative effect charge are set forth in Note 3 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Total Revenues and Comparable Store Sales

Fiscal 2006 domestic comparable store sales were down 3.7% in the aggregate, with Sears Domestic declining 6.1% and Kmart declining 0.6%. These declines are less than fiscal 2005 domestic comparable store sales declines of 5.3% in the aggregate, and declines of 8.4% and 1.2% at Sears Domestic and Kmart, respectively. As was the case in fiscal 2005, the current year declines primarily reflect the impact of increased competition and lower transaction volumes across most merchandise categories and formats. In fiscal 2006, notably larger declines within Sears Domestic’s lawn and garden and home fashions businesses (as further discussed below in the review of Sears Domestic’s results), were partially offset by increased apparel and pharmacy sales at Kmart, and increased women’s apparel sales at Sears Domestic. The fiscal 2006 sales increase within women’s apparel at Sears Domestic was driven by stronger performance during the second half of the year, reflecting what the Company believes are improved assortments in this category relative to last year. In fiscal 2005, Sears Domestic modified its apparel assortment to a more “fashion forward” offering, which was not successful and led to significant sales declines within Sears Domestic’s apparel business during the second half of 2005.

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, which includes the holiday selling season, domestic comparable store sales declined 3.1% in the aggregate, with Sears Domestic and Kmart recording comparable store sales declines of 4.9% and 0.9%, respectively. Fourth quarter comparable sales results largely reflect the same factors as noted above; however, during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company experienced a sales decline in its home appliances business as a result of the slower U.S. housing market and increased competition.

While the Company believes that its efforts will make its products, brands and service offerings more responsive to the needs of customers and thereby improve the trend in domestic comparable store sales results during fiscal 2007, the benefits derived from such efforts may be mitigated by the impact of continued market share pressure as competitors open additional locations and engage in heavy promotional activity. The Company expects these competitive trends to continue in the foreseeable future which may negatively affect both the Company’s sales performance and results of operations.

Total revenues for fiscal 2006 were $53.0 billion, as compared to revenues of $49.1 billion (reported) and $54.3 billion (pro forma) for fiscal 2005. The increase in fiscal 2006 revenues as compared to reported revenues in fiscal 2005 was primarily due to the inclusion of Sears for the entire year in fiscal 2006 and, to a lesser degree, the inclusion of an additional week of sales in fiscal 2006 (comprised of 53 weeks) as compared to fiscal 2005

 

26


(comprised of 52 weeks). The Company recorded a total of $711 million in revenues during the 53rd week of fiscal 2006. Fiscal 2006 revenues declined $1.3 billion, or 2.3%, to $53.0 billion, as compared to fiscal 2005 pro forma revenues of $54.3 billion. The decline primarily reflects lower comparable store sales and the impact of Kmart store closures, partially offset by the above-noted additional week of sales recorded in the current year, and to a lesser degree, sales increases in Sears Domestic’s home services business.

The Company aims to pursue a course of disciplined revenue growth, whereby sales growth opportunities are analyzed to ensure that they provide sufficient possibility of improving the Company’s profitability and are consistent with the Holdings’ mission of building long-term customer relationships. As noted above, in the near term, management believes the greatest overall benefit to Holdings’ profitability will not come from increasing the Company’s store base, but rather primarily from better utilizing existing assets to deliver more value to customers.

Gross Margin Rate

Gross margin as a percentage of merchandise sales and services revenue (“gross margin rate”) was 28.7% in fiscal 2006, as compared to 27.4% (reported and pro forma) in fiscal 2005. The overall improvement in the Company’s gross margin rates during fiscal 2006 more than offset the unfavorable profit impact of the above-noted revenue declines. The Company remained focused on the improvement of gross margins during fiscal 2006, and gross margin rates improved across all business segments: Kmart, Sears Domestic and Sears Canada. The overall improved gross margin rate primarily reflects improvements realized in the Company’s apparel businesses. Sears Domestic was the largest contributor to the overall margin rate improvement, as gross margin rates at Sears Domestic improved across most full-line store merchandise categories, with pronounced improvements in apparel. Kmart’s margins improved, but to a lesser degree than at Sears Domestic.

The Company believes the improved gross margin rate performance of its apparel business, and within women’s apparel at Sears Domestic in particular, reflects the impact of having better product assortments in place relative to last year. This improvement in assortments lowered apparel markdowns during the current year relative to prior year levels. Additional markdowns were taken in the latter half of 2005 to clear fashion apparel given poor customer response to Sears Domestic full-line store apparel offerings last year. Additionally, apparel gross margins at both Kmart and Sears Domestic benefited from fiscal 2006 efforts to procure products at a lower cost to the Company including increased utilization of direct-sourced merchandise, particularly at Sears Domestic, which had historically not utilized direct-sourcing to the extent of its use at Kmart. Also, Sears Domestic’s home services and Lands’ End businesses contributed to the overall improved gross margins for Holdings during fiscal 2006. As was the case within other apparel businesses during fiscal 2006, the improvement in Lands’ End’s gross margin reflects more extensive and effective use of direct-sourced merchandise, as well as the favorable impact of pricing initiatives and stronger in-season sales results.

Selling and Administrative Expense Rate

Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues (“selling and administrative expense rate”) was 21.8% in fiscal 2006, as compared to 22.0% (reported) and 22.4% (pro forma) for fiscal 2005. The Company remained focused on disciplined spending in fiscal 2006, and the Company’s selling and administrative expense rate improved across all segments, with the most notable improvements made at Sears Canada. The current year rate improvement primarily reflects improved expense management, particularly within payroll and benefits. Sears Canada’s improvement was due in part to the sale of Sears Canada’s Credit and Financial Products business in late fiscal 2005, as well as improved expense management.

Interest and Investment Income

The Company recorded interest and investment income of $254 million in fiscal 2006, as compared with $127 million (reported) and $159 million (pro forma) in fiscal 2005. The increased interest and investment

 

27


income in fiscal 2006 was primarily due to total return swap income recognized in the current year. During fiscal 2006, the Company entered into total return swaps and recognized $74 million of investment income, consisting of realized gains of $84 million and unrealized losses of $2 million less $8 million of interest cost. These total return swaps are derivative contracts that synthetically replicate the economic return characteristics of one or more underlying marketable equity securities. In exchange for receiving the return tied to the position underlying a total return swap, the Company pays a floating rate of interest tied to LIBOR on the notional amount of the contract. Changes in fair value of the total return swaps are recognized currently in earnings.

Reduction in Debt Assumed as Part of the Merger

Debt levels were reduced by $0.4 billion in fiscal 2006. This debt was primarily Sears debt included in Holdings’ consolidated balance sheet subsequent to the Merger.

Share Repurchases

The Company repurchased approximately 6 million of its common shares in fiscal 2006 at a total cost of approximately $0.8 billion under the Company’s $2.0 billion common share repurchase program described under the “Financing” section below.

Holdings Consolidated Results

Fiscal 2006 Compared to Fiscal 2005

As discussed above, the reported consolidated statement of income for fiscal 2005 includes Sears’ results of operations only for the period subsequent to the Merger, or from March 25, 2005 forward. The Company believes that presenting fiscal 2005 results on a pro forma basis, which includes Sears’ results for the entire fiscal 2005 year, is important to an understanding and assessment of the Company’s results, trends and on-going performance. Accordingly, the Company has provided an analysis of operating results for fiscal 2006 as compared to fiscal 2005 results presented on both a reported and a pro forma basis.

Fiscal 2006 revenues were $53.0 billion as compared to $49.1 billion (reported) and $54.3 billion (pro forma) in fiscal 2005. As discussed above, the increase in fiscal 2006 revenues, as compared to reported revenues for fiscal 2005, was primarily due to the inclusion of Sears for the entire year in fiscal 2006 and, to a lesser degree, the inclusion of an additional week of sales in fiscal 2006. Fiscal 2006 revenues declined $1.3 billion, or 2.3%, to $53.0 billion, as compared to fiscal 2005 pro forma revenues of $54.3 billion, as lower comparable store sales (as discussed above) and the impact of Kmart store closures were partially offset by the above-noted additional week of sales recorded in the current year, and to a lesser degree, sales increases in Sears Domestic’s home services business.

The gross margin rate was 28.7% in fiscal 2006, as compared to 27.4% (reported and pro forma) in fiscal 2005. Gross margin rates improved across all business segments: Kmart, Sears Domestic and Sears Canada, with the increase primarily reflecting the above-noted improvements being realized in the Company’s apparel businesses.

The selling and administrative expense rate was 21.8% in fiscal 2006, as compared to 22.0% (reported) and 22.4% (pro forma) for fiscal 2005. As noted above, the current year rate improvement primarily reflects improved expense management, with the most notable improvements made at Sears Canada due in part to the sale of Sears Canada’s Credit and Financial Products business in late fiscal 2005, as well as improved expense management.

Depreciation and amortization was $1.1 billion for fiscal 2006, as compared to $0.9 billion (reported) and $1.1 billion (pro forma) for fiscal 2005. The increased expense for fiscal 2006, as compared to the reported expense for fiscal 2005, was primarily attributable to the inclusion of Sears for the entire year in fiscal 2006.

 

28


Gains on sales of assets were $82 million in fiscal 2006, as compared to $39 million (reported) and $40 million (pro forma) for fiscal 2005. The increase in fiscal 2006 was primarily attributable to a $41 million pre-tax gain recognized in 2006 in connection with the 2005 sale of the Company’s former Kmart headquarters in Troy, Michigan.

Fiscal 2005 included a $317 million gain on sale of business, which reflected a minority interest gain on the sale of Sears Canada’s Credit and Financial Services operations in November 2005. This gain had no impact on Holdings’ net income as its entire impact was offset by increased minority interest expense. See Note 5 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail.

Restructuring charges were $28 million and $111 million (reported and proforma) for fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, respectively. These charges included charges of $19 million and $57 million in fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, respectively, for employee-related termination costs associated with Sears Canada restructuring initiatives implemented during fiscal 2005, including a workforce reduction of approximately 1,200 associates, as well as $9 million and $54 million in fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, respectively, at Kmart for relocation assistance and employee termination-related costs associated with Holdings’ home office integration efforts. See Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail.

For fiscal 2006, interest and investment income was $254 million, as compared with $127 million (reported) and $159 million (pro forma) in fiscal 2005. As discussed above, the increased interest and investment income in fiscal 2006 was primarily due to total return swap income recognized in the current year.

Other income is primarily comprised of bankruptcy-related recoveries. Bankruptcy-related recoveries decreased $26 million in fiscal 2006 and represent amounts recovered from vendors who had received cash payment for pre-petition obligations. See Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail. The impact of lower bankruptcy-related recoveries in fiscal 2006 as compared with fiscal 2005 was partially offset by increased income recorded relative to foreign currency forward contracts for which hedge accounting was not applied. See Note 8 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.

The effective tax rate increased to 37.7% in fiscal 2006 from 36.4% in fiscal 2005, with the increase primarily attributable to the fact that the effective rate in fiscal 2005 benefited from the November 2005 sale of Sears Canada’s Credit and Financial Services business being taxed at a capital gains rate, lowering the effective tax rate for fiscal 2005.

Effective January 27, 2005, the Company determined that it would be preferable to conform one of the accounting practices utilized by Kmart to that of Sears. The Company changed its method of accounting for certain indirect overhead costs from inventoriable costs to period expenses. In accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 20, “Accounting Changes,” a change in accounting policy to conform the acquirer’s policy to that of the acquired entity is treated as a change in accounting principle. As a result of the accounting change, the Company recorded a charge of $90 million, net of taxes, in the first quarter of fiscal 2005 for the cumulative effect of this change in accounting principle. The charge represents the amount of indirect costs reflected within inventory at the beginning of fiscal 2005. See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail.

Fiscal 2005 Compared to Fiscal 2004

The consolidated statement of income for fiscal 2005 is not comparable to that for fiscal 2004 because fiscal 2004 does not include the results of Sears. Additionally, Holdings’ consolidated statement of income for fiscal 2005 is not representative of the Company’s on-going operations as it only includes Sears’ results of operations for the period subsequent to the Merger, or from March 25, 2005 forward. For these reasons, the Company believes that an understanding of its reported results, trends and on-going performance is not complete without presenting results on a pro forma basis. Accordingly, the Company has provided an analysis of operating results for fiscal 2005 as compared to fiscal 2004 on both a reported and a pro forma basis.

 

29


Total revenues were $49.1 billion (reported) and $54.3 billion (pro forma) for fiscal 2005, as compared to total revenues of $19.8 billion (reported) and $56.0 billion (pro forma) for fiscal 2004. The increase in reported revenues was attributable to the addition of Sears revenues of $30.0 billion in fiscal 2005, partially offset by a decline in Kmart’s revenues of $0.7 billion, or 3.8%, due to a reduction in the total number of Kmart stores in operation and a comparable store sales decline of 1.2% as discussed below. The decline in pro forma revenues was primarily attributable to total revenue declines of 3.9% and 3.8% at Sears Domestic and Kmart, respectively, partially offset by a 5.3% revenue increase at Sears Canada, primarily due to the impact of favorable exchange rates. Total fiscal 2005 revenues also benefited from $153 million of sales being recorded during the first quarter of fiscal 2005 as a result of three additional days being included in the fiscal 2005 period due to the Company’s change from a Wednesday to a Saturday month end.

Domestic comparable store sales were down 5.3% in the aggregate for fiscal 2005, with Sears Domestic comparable store sales declining 8.4% and Kmart comparable store sales declining 1.2%. Kmart’s fiscal 2005 comparable store sales decline was primarily due to lower transaction volumes across most businesses. Apparel sales at Kmart increased in fiscal 2005 on a comparable store basis, but this improvement was more than offset by sales declines in both home goods and the food and drug business. The sharper decline in Sears Domestic’s fiscal 2005 comparable store sales relative to Kmart was due mainly to efforts initiated at Sears in 2005 to improve gross margins by reducing reliance on certain promotional events. Disappointing performance within Sears’ apparel business during 2005 was also a factor in the decline of Sears’ comparable store sales during fiscal 2005.

Gross margin was 27.4% (reported and pro forma) for fiscal 2005, as compared to 24.7% (reported) and 26.4% (pro forma) for fiscal 2004. The increase in reported gross margin was primarily attributable to the addition of Sears, which had a higher overall gross margin rate than Kmart, in fiscal 2005. The increase in pro forma margin in fiscal 2005, as compared to fiscal 2004, was primarily attributable to improvement in Sears Domestic’s gross margin rate, mainly as a result of improved inventory management and the utilization of more targeted clearance and promotional markdowns versus historical reliance on storewide events.

The selling and administrative expense rate was 22.0% (reported) and 22.4% (pro forma) for fiscal 2005, as compared to 20.2% (reported) and 22.4% (pro forma) for fiscal 2004. The increase in the reported selling and administrative expense rate was primarily attributable to the addition of Sears, which had a higher cost structure than Kmart, in fiscal 2005. On a pro forma basis, selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues remained unchanged between fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004. While selling and administrative expenses decreased by $398 million in fiscal 2005, primarily as a function of reduced payroll expenditures and cost-saving initiatives, the selling and administrative expense rate was unchanged compared to fiscal 2004, as the impact of these reductions was offset by lower expense leverage given lower overall sales, as well as increases at Sears Canada in both associate stock-based compensation expense and marketing expense.

Depreciation and amortization was $932 million (reported) for fiscal 2005, as compared to $27 million (reported) for fiscal 2004. The increase was primarily attributable to the addition of Sears, which accounted for $885 million of the reported combined expense in fiscal 2005.

The Company realized gains on sales of assets of $39 million (reported) and $40 million (pro forma) for fiscal 2005, as compared to $946 million (reported) and $356 million (pro forma) for fiscal 2004. During fiscal 2004, the Company entered into multiple agreements with Home Depot to sell four properties and assign 14 leased properties for an aggregate purchase price of $271 million, resulting in a total gain on sale of $253 million. Also during fiscal 2004, Kmart sold four owned properties, assigned 45 leased properties and leased one owned store to Sears for a total purchase price of approximately $576 million, resulting in a gain of $599 million. This gain on transactions with Sears was excluded from the fiscal 2004 pro forma gain on sale of assets amount of $356 million. Additionally, the Company sold certain other real and personal property, resulting in net gains of $39 million and $94 million in fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, respectively. Included within the fiscal 2004 gains were $22 million related to the sale of owned, or assignment of leased, properties, $18 million related

 

30


to the sale of the Company’s Trinidad subsidiary and its associated property, $12 million related to the sale of corporate airplanes and $42 million from sales of other real and personal property.

Restructuring charges were $111 million (reported and pro forma) for fiscal 2005 as compared to $0 million (reported) and $41 million (pro forma) for fiscal 2004. The fiscal 2005 charges included a $57 million charge for employee-related termination costs associated with the above-noted Sears Canada restructuring initiatives implemented during fiscal 2005, as well as $54 million at Kmart for relocation assistance and employee termination-related costs associated with Holdings’ home office integration efforts. The $41 million charge recorded in fiscal 2004 reflected a charge recorded by Sears in fiscal 2004 as part of a productivity initiative at that entity.

Fiscal 2005 included a $317 million gain on sale of business, which reflected a minority interest gain on the sale of Sears Canada’s Credit and Financial Services operations in November 2005 as discussed above.

Interest and investment income was $127 million (reported) and $159 million (pro forma) in fiscal 2005, as compared to $41 million (reported) and $153 million (pro forma) for fiscal 2004. The increase in reported interest and investment income was primarily attributable to the addition of Sears, which accounted for $62 million of the combined interest and investment income in fiscal 2005.

Interest expense was $323 million (reported) and $378 million (pro forma) in fiscal 2005, as compared to $146 million (reported) and $442 million (pro forma) for fiscal 2004. The increase in reported interest expense was a result of the inclusion of Sears debt in fiscal 2005, which accounted for $195 million of the combined interest expense in fiscal 2005, as well as additional interest expense incurred upon the conversion of Kmart’s 9% subordinated convertible notes, as further described in the “Uses and Sources of Liquidity” section below. The decline in pro forma interest expense was due primarily to lower average borrowings.

Other income is primarily comprised of bankruptcy-related recoveries. Bankruptcy-related recoveries decreased $19 million in fiscal 2005 and represented amounts recognized from vendors who had received cash payment for pre-petition obligations. See Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail.

The reported effective tax rate decreased to 36.4% in fiscal 2005 from 37.7% in fiscal 2004, with the decrease primarily attributable to the November 2005 sale of Sears Canada’s Credit and Financial Service business being taxed at a capital gains rate, lowering the effective tax rate for fiscal 2005. The pro forma effective tax rate increased to 37.3% in fiscal 2005 from 34.6% in fiscal 2004, with the lower fiscal 2004 effective rate attributable to the inclusion of Sears.

As noted above, effective January 27, 2005, the Company changed its method of accounting for certain indirect overhead costs from inventoriable costs to period expenses and as a result recorded a charge of $90 million, net of taxes, in the first quarter of fiscal 2005 for the cumulative effect of this change in accounting principle. See Note 3 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for further detail.

Business Segment Results

Holdings has integrated many Kmart and Sears store-support functions to more efficiently serve both formats; however, for purposes of reviewing operating performance and making asset-allocation decisions, senior management has continued to utilize principally the reporting structures that existed independently for Sears and Kmart prior to the Merger. As a result, the following discussion of the Company’s business segments is organized into three segments: Kmart, Sears Domestic and Sears Canada.

 

31


Kmart

Kmart results and key statistics were as follows:

 

millions, except for number of stores    2006     2005     2004  

Merchandise sales and services

   $ 18,647     $ 19,094     $ 19,843  

Cost of sales, buying and occupancy

     14,061       14,462       14,942  

Gross margin dollars

     4,586       4,632       4,901  

Gross margin rate

     24.6 %     24.3 %     24.7 %

Selling and administrative

     3,623       3,804       3,999  

Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues

     19.4 %     19.9 %     20.2 %

Depreciation and amortization

     77       47       27  

Gain on sales of assets

     (71 )     (40 )     (946 )

Restructuring charges

     9       54       —    
                        

Total costs and expenses

     17,699       18,327       18,022  
                        

Operating income

   $ 948     $ 767     $ 1,821  
                        

Number of stores

     1,388       1,416       1,480  

Comparable store sales and total sales decreased 0.6% and 2.3%, respectively, during fiscal 2006. The 0.6% decline in Kmart comparable store sales during fiscal 2006 compares to a 1.2% decline in comparable store sales recorded for fiscal 2005. Similar to the prior year, the current year decline in comparable store sales reflects the continued impact of increased competition and lower transaction volumes recorded across most businesses. Comparable store apparel sales increased for a second year during fiscal 2006, but as was the case in fiscal 2005, this improvement was more than offset by comparable store sales declines across most other Kmart merchandise categories. Total sales in fiscal 2006 benefited from $301 million in sales recorded during the 53rd week of the 53-week fiscal year, partially offset by the fact that $153 million of sales were recorded during the first quarter of fiscal 2005 as a result of three additional days being included in fiscal 2005 due to the Company’s change from a Wednesday to a Saturday month end last year. However, the net favorable impact on fiscal 2006 sales derived from these items (approximately 0.8%) was more than offset by the negative impact of a reduction in the total number of Kmart stores in operation during fiscal 2006, as compared to fiscal 2005. Store closures and conversions accounted for an approximate 2.4% decline in total Kmart sales for fiscal 2006, as fiscal 2005 total sales benefited from sales generated at stores subsequently closed in fiscal 2006, as well as partial-year sales recorded in stores closed during fiscal 2005. A net total of 28 Kmart stores were closed during fiscal 2006, including 16 Kmart stores converted to a Sears Essentials/Grand format. The remaining balance of the decline in total sales for fiscal 2006, as compared to fiscal 2005, was due to the above-noted decline in comparable store sales.

The decline in total sales for fiscal 2005 as compared with fiscal 2004 was due to the above-noted fiscal 2005 decline in comparable store sales, as well as the impact of Kmart store closures and conversions that occurred during 2005. A total of 60 Kmart stores were closed in fiscal 2005, including 48 Kmart stores converted to a Sears Essentials/Grand format. Store closures and conversions accounted for a 2.2% decline in total Kmart sales for fiscal 2005.

The gross margin rate was 24.6% in fiscal 2006, as compared to 24.3% for fiscal 2005. This improvement reflects better margin management across a number of businesses, most notably within apparel, where an increased use of direct-sourced merchandise obtained at a lower cost to the Company, as well as enhanced profitability of promotional activity improved gross margin. The gross margin rate was 24.3% in fiscal 2005, as compared to 24.7% for fiscal 2004, with the decline primarily attributable to lower expense leverage relative to buying and occupancy costs given lower sales levels in fiscal 2005 as compared to fiscal 2004, as well as increased utilities and transportation expense stemming from higher energy price levels prevalent during fiscal 2005.

 

32


The selling and administrative expense rate was 19.4% for fiscal 2006, as compared to 19.9% for fiscal 2005. Fiscal 2006 selling and administrative expenses included a $19 million gain, representing Kmart’s portion of the settlement in the Visa/MasterCard antitrust litigation. This gain accounted for approximately 10 basis points of the improvement in the selling and administrative expense rate. The remaining 40 basis point improvement reflects lower costs across a number of expense categories, most notably store payroll and benefit costs which were reduced in fiscal 2006 as a result of store payroll efficiency initiatives. The selling and administrative expense rate was 19.9% for fiscal 2005, as compared to 20.2% for fiscal 2004, and improved primarily as a function of lower payroll and benefit costs due largely to reduced performance-based incentive expense.

Kmart recorded $71 million and $40 million in gains on sales of assets during fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, respectively, with the increase for fiscal 2006 primarily attributable to a $41 million pre-tax gain recognized in fiscal 2006 in connection with the Company’s 2005 sale of Kmart’s former corporate headquarters in Troy, Michigan. Kmart recorded $946 million in gains on sales of assets during fiscal 2004 attributable to gains on multiple agreements as discussed in the above review of consolidated results for fiscal 2004.

Kmart recorded restructuring charges of $9 million and $54 million during fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, respectively. The charges were for relocation assistance and employee termination-related costs incurred in connection with Holdings’ home office integration efforts initiated in fiscal 2005.

Operating income for fiscal 2006 increased compared to fiscal 2005, primarily as a function of improved expense management, as well as lower restructuring charges, as noted above. The favorable impact on operating income derived from these factors, as well as the $19 million gain recorded on the settlement of the Visa/MasterCard antitrust litigation and the increased gains on assets sales, was partially offset by a decline in total gross margin dollars, as a result of lower overall sales levels, and, to a lesser degree, increased depreciation and amortization expense. Operating income for fiscal 2005 decreased compared to fiscal 2004 primarily due to $906 million less in gains on the sale of assets realized in fiscal 2005 and, to a lesser degree, a decline in sales and gross margin dollars, and restructuring charges of $54 million recorded in fiscal 2005, offset by lower selling and administrative expense.

Sears Domestic

As noted above, the consolidated statement of income for Holdings includes Sears Domestic’s results only for the period subsequent to March 24, 2005 for fiscal 2005, and does not include Sears Domestic’s results for fiscal 2004. The Company believes that an understanding of its reported results and its ongoing financial performance is not complete without presenting Sears Domestic’s results of operations on a pro forma basis for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004. Accordingly, in addition to providing the reported results for fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, the presentation below also provides the results of operations on a pro forma basis for both fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004.

 

33


Sears Domestic results and key statistics were as follows:

 

     Reported     Pro Forma  
millions, except for number of stores    2006     2005     2005     2004  

Merchandise sales and services

   $ 29,179     $ 25,868     $ 30,038     $ 31,254  

Cost of sales, buying and occupancy

     20,120       18,221       21,239       22,682  

Gross margin dollars

     9,059       7,647       8,799       8,572  

Gross margin rate

     31.0 %     29.6 %     29.3 %     27.4 %

Selling and administrative

     6,820       5,968       7,039       7,340  

Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues

     23.4 %     23.1 %     23.4 %     23.5 %

Depreciation and amortization

     927       769       911       992  

Loss (gain) on sales of assets

     (11 )     1       —         (4 )

Restructuring charges

     —         —         —         41  
                                

Total costs and expenses

     27,856       24,959       29,189       31,051  
                                

Operating income

   $ 1,323     $ 909     $ 849     $ 203  
                                

Number of:

        

Full-line Stores(1)

     935       924         873  

Specialty Stores

     1,095       1,128         1,153  
                          

Total Domestic Sears Stores

     2,030       2,052         2,026  
                          

(1)

Fiscal 2006 includes 861 full-line store and 74 Sears Essentials/Grand stores; Fiscal 2005 includes 866 full-line store and 58 Sears Essentials/Grand stores; Fiscal 2004 includes 869 full-line stores and 4 Sears Grand stores

The discussion below pertains to pro forma information in the table above for purposes of reviewing results for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004. These pro forma results have been prepared assuming the Merger occurred at the beginning of fiscal 2004.

Merchandise sales and services revenues declined $0.8 billion, or 2.9%, to $29.2 billion for fiscal 2006, as compared to total revenues of $30.0 billion for fiscal 2005. The decline was due primarily to an aggregate 6.1% decrease in comparable store sales, partially offset by an increase in the total number of full-line stores in operation, as a number of Kmart locations have been converted to the Sears Essentials/Grand format during the past 18 months, increased sales within home services, and the fact that fiscal 2006 revenues benefited from $410 million in sales recorded during the 53rd week of the 53-week fiscal year. The 6.1% decline in comparable store sales during fiscal 2006 was recorded across most categories and formats, with more pronounced declines in both the lawn and garden and home fashions categories, partially offset by sales increases within women’s apparel. The sales increase in women’s apparel reflects what the Company believes are improved assortments in this business relative to last year, as noted in the above discussion of consolidated results. Sales within the lawn and garden category were weaker throughout fiscal 2006, reflecting overall poor weather conditions prevalent during the majority of the summer selling season, the unfavorable impact of certain economic conditions, such as higher energy costs, on consumer demand for higher-ticket discretionary purchases, and the absence of catastrophic weather events in the United States in the fall of 2006, which drove sales of generators, chainsaws and other related power equipment during the fall of 2005. In regards to home fashions, the Company believes sales declines in fiscal 2006 reflect the impact of a poorly executed launch of new product lines within this category during the second quarter of fiscal 2006. While, the negative trend in comparable store sales within home fashions decelerated somewhat during the fourth quarter, the Company believes the poor launch continues to have a negative carryover impact on overall customer traffic within this category. Also of note, the rate of comparable store sales declines within home appliances at Sears Domestic accelerated somewhat during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, reflecting what the Company believes was the impact of both a slow housing market and increased competition.

 

34


The 6.1% decline in Sears Domestic comparable store sales during fiscal 2006 compares to an 8.4% decline in comparable store sales recorded for fiscal 2005. The decline in Sears Domestic comparable store sales during fiscal 2005 primarily reflected efforts initiated in fiscal 2005 to improve gross margin rates by reducing reliance on certain promotional events and, to a lesser extent, the above-noted poor customer response to full-line store fashion offerings.

Gross margin rates improved for a second year at Sears Domestic, reaching 31.0% for fiscal 2006, as compared to 29.3% and 27.4% for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, respectively. The 170 basis point improvement in gross margin rate realized during fiscal 2006 was due primarily to improved apparel margins as described above in the discussion of consolidated results. Also, the home services and Lands’ End businesses contributed to the overall improved gross margins during fiscal 2006. As was the case within other apparel businesses during fiscal 2006, the improvement in Lands’ End’s gross margin reflects more extensive and effective use of direct-sourced merchandise, as well as the favorable impact of pricing initiatives and stronger in-season sales results. The 190 basis point improvement in Sears Domestic’s gross margin rate recorded during fiscal 2005, as compared to fiscal 2004, was primarily attributable to improved inventory management and the utilization of more targeted clearance and promotional markdowns versus historical reliance on storewide events. The margin benefit derived in fiscal 2005 from better inventory management was partially offset by lower expense leverage relative to occupancy costs in that year due to lower sales levels and higher utilities and energy costs.

The selling and administrative expense rate was 23.4% for fiscal 2006, as compared to 23.4% and 23.5% for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, respectively. As was the case in fiscal 2005, the expense rate for fiscal 2006 was largely unchanged from prior year, as expense reductions across a number of categories were offset by lower expense leverage given lower sales levels. The expense reduction in fiscal 2006 included, most notably, reductions in both marketing and payroll and benefits, which accounted for approximately 40 basis points and 10 basis points of improvement in the overall rate, respectively; however, the benefit derived from these and other reductions was offset by lower expense leverage. Sears Domestic’s selling and administrative expense for fiscal 2006 included the favorable impact of a $17 million gain recorded in connection with settlement of Visa/MasterCard antitrust litigation this year, and also benefited from the fact that fiscal 2005 expenses included $37 million of Merger-related costs; however, the favorable impact derived from these items was more than offset by the recognition of a $74 million accrual in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 in connection with a pre-Merger legal matter concerning Sears’ redemption of certain bonds in 2004 as discussed above.

Depreciation and amortization expense was $927 million, $911 million and $992 million for fiscal 2006, fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, respectively. The higher level of depreciation and amortization expense for fiscal 2004 was due primarily to higher capital expenditure levels, as compared with fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, and additional depreciation recognized during fiscal 2004 in connection with shortening the estimated remaining useful lives of certain information technology assets that were sold to an outside IT service provider during that year.

Operating income for fiscal 2006 increased compared to fiscal 2005, primarily as a function of increased gross margin dollars, as well as lower selling and administrative costs. Operating income for fiscal 2005 increased compared to fiscal 2004 for the same reasons, as well as a result of lower depreciation and amortization expense, and due to the fact that fiscal 2004 was unfavorably impacted by a $41 million charge recorded as part of a productivity initiative.

Sears Canada

Sears Canada, a consolidated, 70%-owned subsidiary of Sears, conducts retail and credit operations. In November 2005, Sears Canada completed the sale of its Credit and Financial Services operations.

As noted above, the consolidated statement of income for Holdings includes Sears Canada’s results only for the period subsequent to the Merger, or from March 24, 2005 through December 31, 2005 for fiscal 2005, and

 

35


does not include Sears Canada’s results for fiscal 2004. The Company believes that an understanding of its reported results and its ongoing financial performance is not complete without presenting Sears Canada’s results on a pro forma basis for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004. Accordingly, in addition to providing the reported results for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004, the presentation below also provides the results of operations on a pro forma basis for both fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005. In addition, as noted above, the results of operations for Sears Canada are reported to Holdings on a one-month lag.

Sears Canada results and key statistics were as follows:

 

     Reported     Pro Forma  
millions, except for number of stores    2006     2005     2005     2004  

Merchandise sales and services

   $ 5,186     $ 3,949     $ 4,830     $ 4,488  

Credit and Financial Products revenues

     —         213       299       381  
                                

Total revenues

     5,186       4,162       5,129       4,869  
                                

Cost of sales, buying and occupancy

     3,639       2,822       3,476       3,271  

Gross margin dollars

     1,547       1,127       1,354       1,217  

Gross margin rate

     29.8 %     28.5 %     28.0 %     27.1 %

Selling and administrative

     1,138       1,036       1,306       1,208  

Selling and administrative expenses as a percentage of total revenues

     21.9 %     24.9 %     25.5 %     24.8 %

Depreciation and amortization

     138       116       150       177  

Gain on sales of assets

     —         —         —         (5 )

Gain on sale of business

     —         (317 )     (317 )     —    

Restructuring charges

     19       57       57       —    
                                

Total costs and expenses

     4,934       3,714       4,672       4,651  
                                

Operating income

   $ 252     $ 448     $ 457     $ 218  
                                

Number of:

        

Full-line Stores

     123       123         121  

Specialty Stores

     250       252         219  
                          

Total Sears Canada Stores

     373       375         340  
                          

The discussion below pertains to pro forma information in the table above, which compares Sears Canada’s results for fiscal 2006 with Sears Canada’s results for fiscal 2005 and fiscal 2004. These pro forma results have been prepared assuming the Merger occurred at the beginning of fiscal 2004.

Total revenues increased 1.1% to $5.2 billion in fiscal 2006, as compared to revenues of $5.1 billion in fiscal 2005. The increase was due primarily to the impact of favorable exchange rates, as the Canadian dollar strengthened during fiscal 2006 relative to fiscal 2005. Excluding the impact of exchange rates, total revenues declined 5% versus fiscal 2005, primarily reflecting the impact of the sale of Sears Canada’s Credit and Financial Services operations in November 2005. The revenue stream from Sears Canada’s Credit and Financial Services operations was replaced in part by performance payments received pursuant to the strategic alliance with JPMorgan Chase. The performance payments are classified within merchandise sales and services and, along with the impact of favorable exchange rates, largely account for the increase in merchandise sales and services revenues as compared to fiscal 2005. Sears Canada comparable store sales declined 1.1% during fiscal 2006, as increased sales in major appliances and footwear were more than offset by declines across most other merchandise categories. Total fiscal 2005 revenues increased 5.3% to $5.1 billion, as compared to revenues of $4.9 billion in fiscal 2004, primarily as a result of favorable exchange rates. Excluding the impact of exchange rates, revenues in fiscal 2005 were flat versus fiscal 2004.

 

36


The gross margin rate for fiscal 2006 as compared to fiscal 2005 increased primarily due to the combined effect of improved inventory management and less inventory shrinkage, as well as the favorable impact of a stronger Canadian dollar on the cost of imported merchandise. These same factors primarily account for the improved gross margin rate recorded in fiscal 2005 as compared to fiscal 2004.

The selling and administrative expense rate declined for fiscal 2006 as compared to fiscal 2005 primarily due to the sale of Sears Canada’s Credit and Financial Services operations, the positive impact of productivity initiatives initiated at Sears Canada in late fiscal 2005, and a reduction in marketing costs. The selling and administrative expense rate for fiscal 2005 increased as compared to fiscal 2004 primarily due to increased associate stock-based compensation and, to a lesser extent, increased marketing costs. The stock-based compensation increase accounted for approximately 40 basis points of the total increase in the selling and administrative expense rate in fiscal 2005 and resulted mainly from an increase in Sears Canada’s share price subsequent to its announcement of a definitive agreement to sell substantially all assets and liabilities of its Credit and Financial Services operations, as well as changes in Sears Canada’s associate stock plan to provide for early vesting of unvested options and allow associates to take cash payments in lieu of shares.

Restructuring charges of $19 million and $57 million were recognized during fiscal 2006 and fiscal 2005, respectively, in connection with the above-noted productivity initiatives.

Operating income was $252 million in fiscal 2006 as compared to $457 million in fiscal 2005. Fiscal 2005 operating income included a gain on sale of business totaling $317 million recorded to reflect the above-noted minority interest gain on the sale of Sears Canada’s Credit and Financial Services business in November 2005. Excluding this gain, operating income increased $112 million in fiscal 2006, as the impact of a decline in revenues resulting from the sale of Sears Canada’s Credit and Financial Services operations was more than offset by increased gross margin dollars and lower expenses, including $38 million less in restructuring expenses. Operating income increased $239 million in fiscal 2005 as compared to fiscal 2004 due to the above-noted $317 million gain on sale of business. Excluding this gain, operating income declined $78 million in fiscal 2005 as compared to fiscal 2004 due primarily to $57 million in restructuring charges recorded in fiscal 2005 and higher selling and administrative expenses, partially offset by increased gross margin.

 

37


PRO FORMA RECONCILIATION

The following tables provide a reconciliation from the as reported results to the pro forma results presented above for Sears Holdings for the years ended January 28, 2006 and January 26, 2005, respectively, as well as for Sears Domestic and Sears Canada for the years ended January 28, 2006 and January 29, 2005, respectively.

Sears Holdings

 

    Year Ended January 28, 2006     Year Ended January 26, 2005  
millions, except per share data   As
Reported
    Pre-
merger
Activity(1)
    Purchase
Acctng
    Pro
Forma
    As
Reported
    Pre-
merger
Activity(1)
    Purchase
Acctng
    Pro
Forma
 

Merchandise sales and services

  $ 48,911     $ 5,051     $ —       $ 53,962     $ 19,843     $ 35,742     $ —       $ 55,585  

Credit and financial products revenues

    213       86       —         299       —         381       —         381  
                                                               

Total revenues

    49,124       5,137       —         54,261       19,843       36,123       —         55,966  
                                                               

Cost of sales, buying and occupancy

    35,505       3,672       —         39,177       14,942       25,945       8 (2)     40,895  

Gross margin dollars

    13,406       1,379       —         14,785       4,901       9,797