Crown Crafts (CRWS) 10-Q2024 Q3 Quarterly report

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

CROWN CRAFTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE THREE- AND NINE-MONTH PERIODS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023 AND JANUARY 1, 2023

Note 1 – Interim Financial Statements

Basis of Presentation: The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Crown Crafts, Inc. (the “Company”) and its subsidiaries and have been prepared pursuant to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) applicable to interim financial information as promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”). Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and disclosures required by GAAP for complete financial statements. References herein to GAAP are to topics within the FASB Accounting Standards Codification (the “FASB ASC”), which the FASB periodically revises through the issuance of an Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) and which has been established by the FASB as the authoritative source for GAAP recognized by the FASB to be applied by nongovernmental entities.

In the opinion of the Company’s management, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contained herein include all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods presented. Such adjustments include normal, recurring accruals, as well as the elimination of all significant intercompany balances and transactions. Operating results for the three- and nine-months ended December 31, 2023 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected by the Company for its fiscal year ending March 31, 2024. For further information, refer to the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the fiscal year ended April 2, 2023, included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

Fiscal Year: The Company’s fiscal year ends on the Sunday that is nearest to or on March 31. References herein to “fiscal year 2024” or “2024” represent the 52-week period ending March 31, 2024 and references herein to “fiscal year 2023” or “2023” represent the 52-week period ended April 2, 2023.

Recently-Issued Accounting Standards: In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments, the objective of which is to provide financial statement users with more information about the expected credit losses on financial instruments and other commitments to extend credit held by an entity. Current GAAP requires an “incurred loss” methodology for recognizing credit losses that delays recognition until it is probable that a loss has been incurred. Because this methodology restricted the recognition of credit losses that are expected, but did not yet meet the “probable” threshold, ASU No. 2016-13 was issued to require the consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information when determining estimates of credit losses. The ASU is to be applied using a modified retrospective approach, and the ASU could have been early-adopted in the fiscal year that began after December 15, 2018. When issued, ASU No. 2016-13 was required to be adopted no later than the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2019, but on November 15, 2019, the FASB issued ASU No. 2019-10, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates, which provided for the deferral of the effective date of ASU No. 2016-13 for a registrant that is a smaller reporting company to the first interim period of the fiscal year beginning after December 15, 2022. Accordingly, the Company adopted ASU No. 2016-13 effective as of April 3, 2023. Because the Company assigns the majority of its trade accounts receivable under factoring agreements with The CIT Group/Commercial Services, Inc. (“CIT”), a subsidiary of CIT Group Inc., the adoption of the ASU has not had a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and related disclosures.

In October 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-06, Disclosure Improvements – Codification Amendments in Response to the SEC’s Disclosure Update and Simplification Initiative, the objective of which is to clarify or improve disclosure and presentation requirements and to align the requirements in the FASB ASC with the SEC’s regulations. In August 2018, the SEC issued Release No. 33-10532, in which the SEC referred certain of its disclosure requirements that overlap with GAAP to the FASB for potential incorporation into the FASB ASC. The amendments in ASU No. 2023-06 are the result of the FASB’s decision to incorporate into the FASB ASC 14 of the 27 disclosures referred by the SEC. The FASB noted that the disclosure requirements in the SEC’s guidance and the FASB ASC should not be duplicated in both places. Accordingly, although the ASU was required to be adopted upon issuance, each amendment to the FASB ASC included in the ASU will not become effective until the effective date upon which the related SEC disclosure is no longer required. The amendments in this ASU are to be applied prospectively, and early application of the amendments is prohibited. The Company does not anticipate that the adoption of ASU No. 2023-06 will have a significant impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and related disclosures.

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280) – Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures, the objective of which is to improve the disclosures about a public entity’s reportable segments by providing more detailed information about a reportable segment’s expenses. For disclosures associated with annual and interim periods, the amendments in ASU No. 2023-07 are required to be adopted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023 and December 15, 2024, respectively, and early adoption is permitted. Upon adoption, a public entity must apply the amendments in ASU No. 2023-07 retrospectively to disclosures of all prior periods presented. The Company intends to adopt ASU No. 2023-07 effective as of April 1, 2024 and is evaluating the guidance of the ASU against its existing disclosures related to segment reporting.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740) – Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures, the objective of which is to enhance the transparency and decision usefulness of income tax disclosures. The amendments in ASU No. 2023-09 are required to be adopted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024 and early adoption is permitted. The Company is evaluating the guidance of the ASU No. 2023-09 against its existing disclosures related to income tax disclosures.

The Company has determined that all other ASUs issued which had become effective as of December 31, 2023, or which will become effective at some future date, are not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

Note 2 – Advertising Costs

The Company’s advertising costs are primarily associated with cooperative advertising arrangements with certain of the Company’s customers and are recognized using the straight-line method based upon aggregate annual estimated amounts for these customers, with periodic adjustments to the actual amounts of authorized agreements. Advertising expense is included in marketing and administrative expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income and amounted to $267,000 and $123,000 for the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively, and amounted to $631,000 and $370,000 for the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively.

Note 3 – Segment and Related Information

The Company operates primarily in one principal segment, infant, toddler and juvenile products. These products consist of infant and toddler bedding, blankets, accessories, bibs, toys and disposable products. Net sales of bedding, blankets and accessories and net sales of bibs, toys and disposable products for the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023 are as follows (in thousands):

Note 4 – Licensing Agreements

The Company has entered into licensing agreements that provide for royalty payments based on a percentage of sales with certain minimum guaranteed amounts. These royalty amounts are accrued based upon historical sales rates adjusted for current sales trends by customers. Royalty expense is included in cost of products sold in the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of income and amounted to $1.3 million and $1.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively, and amounted to $3.8 million and $3.5 million for the nine months ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively.

Note 5 – Income Taxes

The Company files income tax returns in the many jurisdictions in which it operates, including the U.S., several U.S. states and the People’s Republic of China. The statute of limitations varies by jurisdiction; tax years open to examination or other adjustment as of December 31, 2023 were the fiscal years ended April 2, 2023, April 3, 2022, March 28, 2021, March 29, 2020 and March 31, 2019.

In August 2020, the Company was notified by the Franchise Tax Board of the State of California (the “FTB”) of its intention to examine the Company’s California income tax returns for the fiscal years ended April 2, 2017, April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019. On May 30, 2023, the Company and the FTB entered into an agreement to settle (the “Settlement Agreement”) the FTB’s proposed assessment of additional income tax in respect of these consolidated income tax returns under examination for the amount of $442,000, which included interest expense of $86,000, payment of which was made by the Company to the FTB on May 31, 2023. Because the examination was ongoing as of April 2, 2023, and because the Settlement Agreement was entered into prior to the issuance of the consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended April 2, 2023, the Company recorded the effect of the Settlement Agreement in the consolidated balance sheet as of April 2, 2023 and the consolidated statement of income for the fiscal year ended April 2, 2023.

Although management believes that the calculations and positions taken on its filed income tax returns are reasonable and justifiable, the outcome of an examination could result in an adjustment to the position that the Company took on such income tax returns. Such adjustment could also lead to adjustments to one or more other state income tax returns, or to income tax returns for subsequent fiscal years, or both. To the extent that the Company’s reserve for unrecognized tax liabilities is not adequate to support the cumulative effect of such adjustments, the Company could experience a material adverse impact on its future results of operations. Conversely, to the extent that the calculations and positions taken by the Company on the filed income tax returns under examination are sustained, the reversal of all or a portion of the Company’s reserve for unrecognized tax liabilities could result in a favorable impact on its future results of operations.

Note 6 – Inventories

As of December 31, 2023 and April 2, 2023, the Company’s balances of inventory were $34.9 million and $34.2 million, respectively, nearly all of which were finished goods.

Note 7 – Acquisition

On March 17, 2023 (the “Closing Date”), the Company acquired Manhattan Group, LLC (“Manhattan”) and Manhattan Toy Europe Limited (“MTE”), Manhattan’s wholly-owned subsidiary, from H Enterprises International, LLC (“HEI”) (the “Manhattan Acquisition”), for a purchase price of $17.0 million, subject to adjustments for cash at the Closing Date and to the extent that actual net working capital as of the Closing Date differed from target net working capital of $13.75 million (the “Aggregate Adjustment”). The Manhattan Acquisition was funded with cash available on the Closing Date and borrowings under the Company’s revolving line of credit with CIT. On September 29, 2023, the Company and HEI agreed to a settlement of the Aggregate Adjustment, pursuant to which HEI paid $509,000 to the Company, which included interest income of $21,000.

The Manhattan Acquisition was accounted for in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations. The Company is currently determining the allocation of the acquisition cost with the assistance of an independent third party. The identifiable assets acquired were recorded at their estimated fair value, which has been preliminarily determined based on available information and the use of multiple valuation approaches. The estimated useful lives of the identifiable intangible assets acquired were determined based upon the remaining time that these assets are expected to directly or indirectly contribute to the future cash flow of the Company. Certain data necessary to complete the acquisition cost allocation is not yet available, including the valuations of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed.  The Company has not finalized its measurement of working capital items and goodwill.

The acquisition cost paid on the Closing Date amounted to $17.4 million, which included an estimate for cash as of the Closing Date and an estimate for the net working capital acquired. The settlement of the Aggregate Adjustment decreased the acquisition cost to $16.9 million. The following table represents the Company’s preliminary allocation of this acquisition cost (in thousands) to the identifiable assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their respective estimated fair values as of the Closing Date. The excess of the acquisition cost over the estimated fair value of the identifiable net assets acquired is reflected as goodwill.

The Company expects to complete the acquisition cost allocation during the 12-month period following the Closing Date, during which time the values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including the goodwill, may need to be revised as appropriate. Based upon the preliminary allocation of the acquisition cost, the Company recognized $787,000 of goodwill as of the Closing Date, the entirety of which was assigned to the reporting unit of the Company that produces and markets infant and toddler bibs, developmental toys, feeding, bath care and disposable products, and the entirety of which is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The following table represents the adjustments made to the amount of goodwill during the nine-month period ended December 31, 2023.

The Manhattan Acquisition resulted in net sales of $6.0 million and $14.5 million of developmental toy, feeding and baby care products for the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, respectively. Manhattan recorded amortization expense associated with the acquired amortizable intangible assets of $32,000 and $90,000 during the three and nine months ended December 31, 2023, respectively, which is included in marketing and administrative expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income. Amortization is computed using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets, which are 15 years for the tradename, 10 years for the customer and licensing relationships and 11 years on a weighted-average basis for the grouping taken together.

The Company has determined, on a pro forma basis, that the combined net sales and the combined net income of the Company and Manhattan, giving effect to the Manhattan Acquisition as if it had been completed on April 4, 2022, would have been $26.0 million and $646,000, respectively, for the three months ended January 1, 2023, and would have been $74.5 million and $2.7 million, respectively, for the nine months ended January 1, 2023. The combined net income includes adjustments related to the amortization of the amortizable intangible assets acquired and estimates of the interest expense and income tax expense or benefit that would have been incurred, but otherwise do not reflect the costs of any integration activities or benefits that may result from the realization of future cost savings from operating efficiencies, or any revenue, tax or other synergies that may result from the Manhattan Acquisition.

Note 8 – Financing Arrangements

Factoring Agreements:  To reduce its exposure to credit losses, the Company assigns the majority of its trade accounts receivable to CIT pursuant to factoring agreements, which have expiration dates that are coterminous with that of the financing agreement described below. Under the terms of the factoring agreements, CIT remits customer payments to the Company as such payments are received by CIT. As such, the Company does not take advances on the factoring agreements. CIT bears credit losses with respect to assigned accounts receivable from approved shipments, while the Company bears the responsibility for adjustments from customers related to returns, allowances, claims and discounts. CIT may at any time terminate or limit its approval of shipments to a particular customer. If such a termination or limitation occurs, then the Company either assumes (and may seek to mitigate) the credit risk for shipments to the customer after the date of such termination or limitation or discontinues shipments to the customer. Factoring fees, which are included in marketing and administrative expenses in the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of income, amounted to $106,000 and $77,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively, and amounted to $265,000 and $224,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively.

Credit Facility:  The Company’s credit facility as of December 31, 2023 consisted of a revolving line of credit under a financing agreement with CIT of up to $35.0 million, which includes a $1.5 million sub-limit for letters of credit. The financing agreement matures on July 11, 2028, bears interest at prime minus 0.5% or the Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) plus 1.6%, and is secured by a first lien on all assets of the Company. At December 31, 2023, the Company had elected to pay interest on balances owed under the revolving line of credit under the SOFR option, which was 6.9%. The financing agreement also provides for the payment by CIT to the Company of interest at prime as of the beginning of the calendar month minus 2.0% on daily negative balances, if any, held at CIT.

At December 31, 2023 and April 2, 2023, the balances on the revolving line of credit were $10.0 million and $12.7 million, respectively, there was no letter of credit outstanding and $19.8 million and $20.0 million, respectively, was available under the revolving line of credit based on the Company’s eligible accounts receivable and inventory balances. The financing agreement contains usual and customary covenants for agreements of that type, including limitations on other indebtedness, liens, transfers of assets, investments and acquisitions, merger or consolidation transactions, transactions with affiliates, and changes in or amendments to the organizational documents for the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company believes it was in compliance with these covenants as of December 31, 2023.

Credit Concentration: The Company’s accounts receivable at December 31, 2023 amounted to $22.0 million, net of allowances of $2.5 million. Of this amount, $17.6 million was due from CIT under the factoring agreements, which represents the maximum loss that the Company could incur if CIT failed completely to perform its obligations under the factoring agreements. The Company’s accounts receivable at April 2, 2023 amounted to $22.8 million, net of allowances of $1.5 million. Of this amount, $20.7 million was due from CIT under the factoring agreements, which represented the maximum loss that the Company could have incurred if CIT had failed completely to perform its obligations under the factoring agreements.

Note 9 – Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of net identifiable assets acquired in business combinations. For the purpose of presenting and measuring for the impairment of goodwill, the Company has two reporting units: one that produces and markets infant and toddler bedding, blankets and accessories and another that produces and markets infant and toddler bibs, toys and disposable products. The Company’s reporting units have recognized goodwill as of December 31, 2023 and April 2, 2023 of $30.8 million, which is reflected in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets net of accumulated impairment charges of $22.9 million, for a net reported balance of $7.9 million.

The Company measures for impairment the goodwill within its reporting units annually as of the first day of the Company’s fiscal year. An additional interim measurement for impairment is performed during the year whenever an event or change in circumstances occurs that suggests that the fair value of either of the reporting units of the Company has more likely than not (defined as having a likelihood of greater than 50%) fallen below its carrying value. The annual or interim measurement for impairment is performed by first assessing qualitative factors to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If such qualitative factors so indicate, then the measurement for impairment is continued by calculating an estimate of the fair value of each reporting unit and comparing the estimated fair value to the carrying value of the reporting unit. If the carrying value exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit, then an impairment charge is calculated as the difference between the carrying value of the reporting unit and its estimated fair value, not to exceed the goodwill of the reporting unit.

On April 3, 2023, the Company performed a qualitative assessment to determine if it is more likely than not that the fair values of the Company’s reporting units are less than their carrying values by evaluating relevant events and circumstances, including financial performance, market conditions and share price. Based on this assessment, the Company concluded that the goodwill for each of the Company’s reporting units was not considered at risk of impairment.

Note 10 – Other Intangible Assets

Other intangible assets as of December 31, 2023 and April 2, 2023 consisted primarily of the fair value of identifiable assets acquired in business combinations other than tangible assets and goodwill. The gross amount and accumulated amortization of the Company’s other intangible assets as of December 31, 2023 and April 2, 2023 and the amortization expense for the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, the entirety of which has been included in marketing and administrative expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income, are as follows (in thousands):

Note 11 – Leases

During the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized operating lease obligations as right of use assets and recognized corresponding lease liabilities in the amount of $959,000, and entered into no such transactions during the three- and nine-month periods ended January 1, 2023. The Company made cash payments related to its recognized operating leases of $1.1 million and $492,000 during the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively, and $2.5 million and $1.5 million for the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. Such payments reduced the operating lease liabilities and were included in the cash flows provided by operating activities in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. The Company recognized noncash reductions to its operating right of use assets resulting from reductions to its lease liabilities in the amount of $254,000 and $16,000 during the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively, and $757,000 and $59,000 during the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. As of December 31, 2023 and April 2, 2023, the Company’s operating leases had weighted-average remaining lease terms of 4.2 years and 5.0 years, respectively, and weighted-average discount rates of 6.0% and 5.9%, respectively.

During the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, the Company classified its operating lease costs within the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income as follows (in thousands):

The maturities of the Company’s operating lease liabilities as of December 31, 2023 are as follows (in thousands):

Note 12 – Stock-based Compensation

The Company has three incentive stock plans, the 2006 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”), the 2014 Omnibus Equity Compensation Plan (the “2014 Plan”) and the 2021 Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”), although grants may no longer be issued under either the 2006 Plan or the 2014 Plan. As of December 31, 2023, 549,000 shares of the Company’s common stock were available for future issuance under the 2021 Plan, which may be issued from authorized and unissued shares of the Company’s common stock or treasury shares. The Company recorded stock-based compensation expense of $190,000 and $253,000 during the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively, and $573,000 and $844,000 during the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively. The Company records the compensation expense associated with stock-based awards granted to individuals in the same expense classifications as the cash compensation paid to those same individuals. No stock-based compensation costs were capitalized as part of the cost of an asset as of December 31, 2023.

Stock Options: The following table represents stock option activity for the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023:

As of December 31, 2023, the intrinsic value of the outstanding and exercisable stock options was $19,000 and $11,000, respectively. There were no stock options exercised during the nine months ended December 31, 2023 or the three months ended January 1, 2023. The intrinsic value of the stock options exercised during the nine months ended January 1, 2023 was $28,000. The Company received no cash from the stock options exercised during the nine months ended January 1, 2023. Upon the exercise of stock options, participants may choose to surrender to the Company those shares from the option exercise necessary to satisfy the exercise amount and their income tax withholding obligations that arise from the option exercise. The effect on the cash flow of the Company from these “cashless” option exercises is that the Company remits cash on behalf of the participant to satisfy his or her income tax withholding obligations. The Company used cash to remit the required income tax withholding amounts from “cashless” option exercises of $10,000 during the nine months ended January 1, 2023.

Stock-based compensation is calculated according to FASB ASC Topic 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation, which requires stock-based compensation to be accounted for using a fair-value-based measurement. To determine the estimated fair value of stock options granted, the Company uses the Black-Scholes-Merton valuation formula, which is a closed-form model that uses an equation to estimate fair value. The following table sets forth the assumptions used to determine the fair value of the non-qualified stock options that were awarded to certain employees during the nine months ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, which stock options vest over a two-year period, assuming continued service.

During the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, the Company classified its compensation expense associated with stock options within the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income as follows (in thousands):

As of December 31, 2023, total unrecognized stock option compensation expense amounted to $69,000, which will be recognized as the underlying stock options vest over a weighted-average period of 9.9 months. The amount of future stock option compensation expense could be affected by any future stock option grants and by the separation from the Company of any individual who has received stock options that are unvested as of such individual’s separation date.

Non-vested Stock Granted to Directors: The following shares of non-vested stock were granted to the Company’s directors:

The fair value of the non-vested stock granted to the Company’s directors was based on the closing price of the Company’s common stock on the date of each grant.

The non-vested stock granted on August 11, 2021 included 8,033 shares granted to E. Randall Chestnut, formerly the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. On May 1, 2022, upon the resignation of Mr. Chestnut from the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and his retirement from all positions that he held within the Company, the vesting of these 8,033 shares was accelerated, with such shares having an aggregate value on such date of $50,000.

The non-vested stock granted on August 16, 2022 included 11,724 shares granted to Sidney Kirschner, a director of the Company since 2001. Upon the death of Mr. Kirschner on February 21, 2023, the vesting of these 11,724 shares was accelerated, with such shares having an aggregate value on such date of $67,000.

In August 2023 and August 2022, 35,172 shares and 52,856 shares, respectively, that had been granted to the Company’s directors vested, having an aggregate value of $168,000 and $331,000, respectively. The remaining shares set forth above will vest over the periods indicated, assuming continued service.

Non-vested Stock Granted to Employees: The following shares of non-vested stock were granted to certain of the Company’s employees:

These shares vest on the dates indicated, assuming continued service. In June 2022, 45,000 shares that had been granted to certain of the Company’s employees vested, having an aggregate value on their respective vesting dates of $293,000.

Performance Award Shares: On March 1, 2022, performance awards were granted to certain of the Company’s executive officers, consisting of 187,500 shares of the Company’s common stock, of which: (a) 75,000 shares shall be earned if the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $8.00 on ten trading days within any period of twenty consecutive trading days prior to March 1, 2027; and (b) 112,500 shares shall be earned if the closing price per share of the Company’s common stock equals or exceeds $9.00 on ten trading days within any period of twenty consecutive trading days prior to March 1, 2027.  Upon the achievement of each applicable stock hurdle described above: (i) one-third of the shares that are earned shall vest on the date on which the shares are earned; (ii) one-third of the shares that are earned shall vest on the first anniversary of the date on which the shares are earned; and (iii) one-third shall vest on the second anniversary of the date on which the shares are earned. All shares that are non-earned or non-vested will be forfeited upon the termination of service. The Company, with the assistance of an independent third party, determined that the grant date fair value of the awards amounted to $732,000.

During the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, the Company recorded compensation expense associated with stock grants, which is included in marketing and administrative expenses in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income, as follows (in thousands):

As of December 31, 2023, total unrecognized compensation expense related to the Company’s non-vested stock grants amounted to $491,000, which will be recognized over the respective vesting terms associated with each block of non-vested stock indicated above, such grants having an aggregate weighted-average vesting term of 6.8 months. The amount of future compensation expense related to the Company’s non-vested stock grants could be affected by any future non-vested stock grants and by the separation from the Company of any individual who has non-vested stock grants as of such individual’s separation date.

Note 13 – Subsequent Events

The Company has evaluated all other events which have occurred between December 31, 2023 and the date that the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements were issued, and has determined that there are no material subsequent events that require disclosure.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain of the statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Quarterly Report”) within this Item 2. and elsewhere, including information incorporated herein by reference to other documents, are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of, and subject to the protections of, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements are based upon management’s current expectations, projections, estimates and assumptions. Words such as “expects,” “believes,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “predicts,” “forecasts,” “plans,” “projects,” “targets,” “should,” “potential,” “continue,” “aims,” “intends,” “may,” “will,” “could,” “would” and variations of such words and similar expressions may identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. These risks include, among others, general economic conditions, including changes in interest rates, in the overall level of consumer spending and in the price of oil, cotton and other raw materials used in the Company’s products, changing competition, changes in the retail environment, the Company’s ability to successfully integrate newly acquired businesses, the level and pricing of future orders from the Company’s customers, the Company’s dependence upon third-party suppliers, including some located in foreign countries with unstable political situations, the Company’s ability to successfully implement new information technologies, customer acceptance of both new designs and newly-introduced product lines, actions of competitors that may impact the Company’s business, disruptions to transportation systems or shipping lanes used by the Company or its suppliers, and the Company’s dependence upon licenses from third parties. Reference is also made to the Company’s periodic filings with the SEC for additional factors that may impact the Company’s results of operations and financial condition. The Company does not undertake to update the forward-looking statements contained herein to conform to actual results or changes in the Company’s expectations, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS

The Company was originally formed as a Georgia corporation in 1957 and was reincorporated as a Delaware corporation in 2003. The Company operates indirectly through its four wholly-owned subsidiaries, NoJo Baby & Kids, Inc., Sassy Baby, Inc., Manhattan and MTE in the infant, toddler and juvenile products segment within the consumer products industry. The infant, toddler and juvenile products segment consists of infant and toddler bedding and blankets, bibs, disposables, toys and feeding products.

The Company’s products are marketed under Company-owned trademarks, under trademarks licensed from others and as private label goods. Sales of the Company’s products are made directly to retailers, such as mass merchants, large chain stores, juvenile specialty stores, value channel stores, grocery and drug stores, restaurants, wholesale clubs and internet-based retailers.

The infant, toddler and juvenile consumer products industry is highly competitive. The Company competes with a variety of distributors and manufacturers (both branded and private label), including large infant, toddler and juvenile product companies and specialty infant, toddler and juvenile product manufacturers, on the basis of quality, design, price, brand name recognition, service and packaging. The Company’s ability to compete depends principally on styling, price, service to the retailer and continued high regard for the Company’s products and trade names.

Foreign and domestic contract manufacturers produce most of the Company’s products, with the largest concentration being in China. The Company makes sourcing decisions based on quality, timeliness of delivery and price, including the impact of ocean freight and duties. Although the Company maintains relationships with a limited number of suppliers, the Company believes that its products may be readily manufactured by several alternative sources in quantities sufficient to meet the Company's requirements.

The Company’s products are warehoused and distributed domestically from leased facilities located in Compton, California and Eden Valley, Minnesota and internationally from third-party logistics warehouses in Belgium and England.

A summary of certain factors that management considers important in reviewing the Company’s results of operations, financial position, liquidity and capital resources is set forth below, which should be read in conjunction with the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes included in the preceding sections of this Quarterly Report.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following table contains the results of operations for the three- and nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023 and the dollar and percentage changes for those periods (in thousands, except percentages):

Net Sales: Sales increased to $23.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared with $19.0 million for the three months ended January 1, 2023, an increase of $4.8 million, or 25.2%. Sales of bedding, blankets and accessories decreased by $9,000, and sales of bibs, toys and disposable products increased by $4.8 million. Although Manhattan generated net sales of $6.0 million of developmental toy, feeding and baby care products during the current year quarter, cost pressures facing consumers continue to curb sales even as overall inflation has trended lower in recent months.

Sales increased to $65.1 million for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2023, compared with $53.4 million for the nine-month period ended January 1, 2023, an increase of $11.6 million, or 21.7%. Sales of bibs, toys and disposable products increased by $14.5 million due to the Manhattan Acquisition. This increase was offset by lower sales of bedding, blankets and accessories, which decreased by $1.7 million, due to the continued impact of retailers that have been managing inventory levels, consumers that have lowered their spending due to inflationary pressures and continued overall softness in the infant and toddler bedding and blankets market.

Gross Profit: Manhattan contributed $1.1 million to the $1.9 million increase in gross profit for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, as compared with the three-month period ended January 1, 2023. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased from 23.7% in the prior year quarter to 27.0% in the current year quarter.

Gross profit increased in amount by $2.7 million, but decreased from 28.3% of net sales for the nine-month period ended January 1, 2023 to 27.3% of net sales for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2023. Manhattan contributed $3.4 million to the increase, which was partially offset by an increase in operating lease costs in the current-year period, including $481,000 in operating lease costs of Manhattan.

Marketing and Administrative Expenses: Marketing and administrative expenses increased by $1.4 million, and increased from 14.4% of net sales for the three-month period ended January 1, 2023 to 17.3% of net sales for the three-month period ended December 31, 2023. The increases in the current-year period consisted primarily of $1.3 million for charges incurred by Manhattan and MTE.

Marketing and administrative expenses for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2023 increased by $3.3 million as compared with the nine-month period ended January 1, 2023, and increased from 16.6% of net sales for the year-to-date period of the prior year to 18.7% for the current-year period. The increases in the current-year period were the result of $3.3 million for charges incurred by Manhattan and MTE.

Income Tax Expense: The Company’s provision for income taxes is based upon an estimated annual effective tax rate (“ETR”) from continuing operations of 21.4% for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2023, as compared with an estimated annual ETR from continuing operations of 23.3% for the nine-month period ended January 1, 2023.

As a result of the consideration of the relevant information regarding the state portion of its income tax provision, the Company recorded discrete reserves for unrecognized tax liabilities of $9,000 and $12,000 during the three-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively, and $34,000 and $58,000 during the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively, in the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income. The Company also recorded discrete income tax charges of $43,000 and $6,000 during the nine months ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively, to reflect the net effects of the excess tax benefits and tax shortfalls arising from the exercise and expiration of stock options and the vesting of non-vested stock.

The ETR on continuing operations and the discrete income tax charges and benefits set forth above resulted in an overall provision for income taxes of 23.3% and 24.4% for the nine-month periods ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively.

Although the Company does not anticipate a material change to the ETR from continuing operations for the remainder of fiscal year 2024, several factors could impact the ETR, including variations from the Company’s estimates of the amount and source of its pre-tax income, and the actual ETR for the year could differ materially from the Company’s estimates.

FINANCIAL POSITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased from $4.4 million for the nine-month period ended January 1, 2023 to $4.1 million for the nine-month period ended December 31, 2023. The decrease in the current year was partially the result of an increase in inventory in the current year that was $4.0 million lower than the increase in the prior year. This increase was partially offset by a decrease in accounts receivable in the current year that was $3.6 million lower than the decrease in the prior year.

Net cash used in investing activities decreased from $363,000 in the prior year to $69,000 in the current year. In the current-year period, the Company received $488,000 from the settlement of the Aggregate Adjustment from the Manhattan Acquisition, which was offset by an increase in the current year of $263,000 in capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment.

Net cash used in financing activities, which were primarily associated with net repayments under the revolving line of credit, increased by $2.6 million from the prior year to the current year.

As of December 31, 2023, the balance on the revolving line of credit was $10.0 million, there was no letter of credit outstanding and $19.8 million was available under the revolving line of credit based on the Company’s eligible accounts receivable and inventory balances.

To reduce its exposure to credit losses and to enhance the predictability of its cash flow, the Company assigns the majority of its trade accounts receivable to CIT under factoring agreements. Under the terms of the factoring agreements, CIT remits customer payments to the Company as such payments are received by CIT. As such, the Company does not take advances on the factoring agreements.

CIT bears credit losses with respect to assigned accounts receivable from approved shipments, while the Company bears the responsibility for adjustments from customers related to returns, allowances, claims and discounts. CIT may at any time terminate or limit its approval of shipments to a particular customer. If such a termination or limitation occurs, then the Company either assumes (and may seek to mitigate) the credit risk for shipments to the customer after the date of such termination or limitation or discontinues shipments to the customer. Factoring fees, which are included in marketing and administrative expenses in the accompanying unaudited consolidated statements of income, amounted to $106,000 and $77,000 for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively, and amounted to $265,000 and $224,000 for the nine months ended December 31, 2023 and January 1, 2023, respectively.

The Company’s future performance is, to a certain extent, subject to general economic, financial, competitive, legislative, regulatory and other factors beyond its control. Based upon the current level of operations, the Company believes that its cash flow from operations and funds available under the revolving line of credit will be adequate to meet its liquidity needs.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

For a discussion of market risks that could affect the Company, refer to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A. of Part 1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 2, 2023.

INTEREST RATE RISK

As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $10.0 million of indebtedness that bears interest at a variable rate, comprised of borrowings under the revolving line of credit. Based upon this level of outstanding debt, the Company’s annual net income would decrease by approximately $79,000 for each increase of one percentage point in the interest rate applicable to the debt.

COMMODITY RATE RISK

The Company sources its products primarily from foreign contract manufacturers, with the largest concentration being in China. The Company’s exposure to commodity price risk primarily relates to changes in the prices in China of cotton, oil and labor, which are the principal inputs used in a substantial number of the Company’s products. In addition, although the Company pays its Chinese suppliers in U.S. dollars, a strengthening of the rate of the Chinese currency versus the U.S. dollar could result in an increase in the cost of the Company’s finished goods. There is no assurance that the Company could timely respond to such increases by proportionately increasing the prices at which its products are sold to the Company’s customers.

MARKET CONCENTRATION RISK

The Company’s financial results are closely tied to sales to its top two customers, which represented approximately 71% of the Company’s gross sales in fiscal year 2023. In addition, 40% of the Company’s gross sales in fiscal year 2023 consisted of licensed products, which included 29% of sales associated with the Company’s license agreements with affiliated companies of the Walt Disney Company (“Disney”).  As of January 30, 2024, three of the license agreements with Disney that expired on December 31, 2023 were renewed.   With regard to the one license agreement that had not yet been renewed as of that date, the Company and Disney agreed to continue to operate under the terms of the expired license agreement.  The Company’s results could be materially impacted by the loss of one or more of these licenses.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

The Company’s Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, as required by paragraph (b) of Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 of the Exchange Act.  Based on such evaluation, such officers have concluded that, as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report, the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective.

During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, there were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (“ICFR”) identified in connection with the evaluation required by paragraph (d) of Rules 13a-15 or 15d-15 of the Exchange Act that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s ICFR.

PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is, from time to time, involved in various legal and regulatory proceedings relating to claims arising in the ordinary course of its business. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any such proceeding the outcome of which, individually or in the aggregate, is expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations or cash flow.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A of Part 1 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended April 2, 2023.

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

None.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

During the three-month period ended December 31, 2023, none of the Company’s directors or officers informed the Company of the adoption, modification or termination of a “Rule 10-b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10-b5-1 trading arrangement,” as those terms are defined in Item 408(a) of Regulation S-K.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibits required to be filed by Item 601 of Regulation S-K are included as Exhibits to this Quarterly Report as follows:

SIGNATURE

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