Regis (RGS) 10-Q2022 Q1 Quarterly report

N/A

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

REGIS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET (Unaudited)

REGIS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS (Unaudited)

For The Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 And 2020

REGIS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Unaudited)

For The Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 And 2020

REGIS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY (Unaudited)

For The Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 And 2020

REGIS CORPORATION

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited)

REGIS CORPORATION

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Unaudited)

The unaudited interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Regis Corporation (the Company) as of September 30, 2021 and for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, reflect, in the opinion of management, all adjustments necessary to fairly state the consolidated financial position of the Company as of September 30, 2021 and its consolidated results of operations, comprehensive loss, shareholders' equity and cash flows for the interim periods. Adjustments consist only of normal recurring items, except for any discussed in the notes below. The results of operations and cash flows for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results of operations and cash flows for the full year.

The accompanying interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared by the Company pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Accordingly, they do not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (GAAP). The unaudited interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements should be read in conjunction with the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2021 and other documents filed or furnished with the SEC during the current fiscal year.

COVID-19 Impact:

During the period ended September 30, 2021, the global coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) had an adverse impact on operations. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact salon guest visits and franchisee staffing, resulting in a significant reduction in revenue. As a result, COVID-19 has, and may continue to have, a negative affect on revenue and profitability. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in both the short and long term is not currently estimable due to the uncertainty surrounding the duration of the pandemic, the availability and acceptance of preventative vaccines, the emergence and impact of new COVID-19 variants and changing government restrictions. Additional impacts to the business may arise that we are not aware of currently.

Inventories:

The Company has inventory valuation reserves for excess and obsolete inventories or other factors that may render inventories unmarketable at their historical costs. In fiscal year 2021, the Company announced it would transition away from its wholesale product distribution model in favor of a third-party distribution model. As a result, the Company exited 1 distribution center in the quarter and plans to exit its other distribution center in fiscal year 2022. To facilitate the exit, the Company is selling inventory at discounts and disposing of hard-to-sell products. Additionally, the reduction in company-owned salons decreases the Company's ability to re-distribute inventory from closed locations to other salons to be sold or used. The inventory valuation reserve as of September 30, 2021 and June 30, 2021 was $8.8 and $11.8 million, respectively.

Salon Long-Lived Asset and Right of Use Asset Impairment Assessments:

The Company assesses impairment of long-lived salon assets and right of use (ROU) assets at the individual salon level, as this is the lowest level for which identifiable cash flows are largely independent of other groups of assets and liabilities, when events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying value of the assets or the asset grouping may not be recoverable. Factors considered in deciding when to perform an impairment review include significant under-performance of an individual salon in relation to expectations, significant economic or geographic trends, and significant changes or planned changes in the use of the assets. The first step is to assess recoverability, and in doing that, the undiscounted salon cash flows are compared to the carrying value of the salon assets. If the undiscounted estimated cash flows are less than the carrying value of the assets, the Company calculates an impairment charge based on the difference between the carrying value of the asset group and its fair value. The fair value of the salon long-lived asset group is estimated using market participant methods based on the best information available. See Note 7 of the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion related to the ROU asset impairment.

Judgments made by management related to the expected useful lives of long-lived assets and the ability to realize undiscounted cash flows in excess of the carrying amounts of such assets are affected by factors such as changes in economic conditions and changes in operating performance. As the ongoing expected cash flows and carrying amounts of long-lived assets are assessed, these factors could cause the Company to realize material impairment charges.

Goodwill:

As of September 30, 2021 and June 30, 2021, the Franchise reporting unit had $229.0 and $229.6 million, respectively, of goodwill. The change in goodwill for the three months ended September 30, 2021 is due to foreign currency translation. The Company assesses goodwill impairment on an annual basis, during the Company's fourth fiscal quarter, and between annual assessments if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying amount. An interim impairment analysis was not required in the three months ended September 30, 2021.

The Company performs its annual impairment assessment as of April 30. For the fiscal year 2021 annual impairment assessment, the Company performed a Step 1 impairment test for the Franchise reporting unit. The Company compared the carrying value of the Franchise reporting unit, including goodwill, to the estimated fair value. The results of this assessment indicated that the estimated fair value of the Company's Franchise reporting unit significantly exceeded the carrying value.

Classification of Revenue and Expenses:

Beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2022, the Company adjusted its Statement of Operations for both periods presented to align the presentation of results to its franchise-focused business. Below is a summary of the changes to the financial statement captions. The change does not have a financial impact on the Company's reported revenue, operating loss, reported net loss or cash flows from operations.

Depreciation:

Depreciation expense in the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 include $0.3 and $1.3 million of asset retirement obligations, which are cash expenses.

Revenue Recognition and Deferred Revenue:

Revenue recognized at point of sale

Product sales to franchisees are recorded at the time product is delivered to the franchisee. Payment for franchisee product revenue is generally collected within 30 to 90 days of delivery. Company-owned salon revenues are recognized at the time when the services are provided or the guest receives and pays for the merchandise. Revenues from purchases made with gift cards are also recorded when the guest takes possession of the merchandise or services are provided. Gift cards issued by the Company are recorded as a liability (deferred revenue) upon sale and recognized as revenue upon redemption by the guest. Gift card breakage, the amount of gift cards which will not be redeemed, is recognized proportional to redemptions using estimates based on historical redemption patterns.

Revenue recognized over time

Royalty and advertising fund revenues represent sales-based royalties that are recognized in the period in which the sales occur. Generally, royalty and advertising fund revenues are billed and collected monthly in arrears. Advertising fund revenues and expenditures, which must be spent on marketing and related activities per the franchise agreements, are recorded on a gross basis within the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The treatment increases both the gross amount of reported revenue and expense and generally has no impact on operating income and net income. Franchise fees are billed and received upon the signing of the franchise agreement. Recognition of these fees is deferred until the salon opening and is then recognized over the term of the franchise agreement, which is typically ten years. Software fees are recognized over the term of the SaaS agreement. Franchise rental income is a result of the Company signing leases on behalf of franchisees and entering into sublease arrangements with the franchisees. The Company recognizes franchise rental income and expense when it is due to the landlord.

Information about receivables, broker fees and deferred revenue subject to the current revenue recognition guidance is as follows:

Receivables relate primarily to payments due for royalties, franchise fees, advertising fees, rent, franchise product sales and sales of salon services and product paid by credit card. The receivables balance is presented net of an allowance for expected losses (i.e., doubtful accounts), primarily related to receivables from franchisees. The following table is a rollforward of the allowance for doubtful accounts for the period (in thousands):

Broker fees are the costs associated with using external brokers to identify new franchisees. These fees are paid upon the signing of the franchise agreement and recognized as general and administrative expense over the term of the franchise agreement. The following table is a rollforward of the broker fee balance for the periods indicated (in thousands):

Deferred revenue includes the gift card liability and deferred franchise fees for unopened salons and open salons. Deferred franchise fees related to open salons are generally recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the franchise agreement. Franchise fee revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 was $1.6 and $1.6 million, respectively. Estimated revenue expected to be recognized in the future related to deferred franchise fees for open salons as of September 30, 2021 is as follows (in thousands):

Stock-Based Employee Compensation:

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company granted one equity award as follows:

The RSUs granted during the three months ended September 30, 2021 vest on October 27, 2021 and were granted to a Board member who joined the Company during the quarter.

Total compensation cost for stock-based payment arrangements totaling $1.7 and $(1.2) million for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, was recorded within general and administrative expense on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. In the three months ended September 30, 2020, stock compensation includes a $2.4 million benefit from the forfeiture of awards related to the departure of the Company's former CEO.

Share Issuance Program:

In fiscal year 2021, the Company filed a $150.0 million shelf registration statement and $50.0 million prospectus supplement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under which it may offer and sell, from time to time, up to $50.0 million worth of its Class A common stock in "at-the-market" offerings. During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company raised gross proceeds of $33.2 million related to the "at-the-market" offering and paid fees to sales agents and other fees of $1.0 million. On September 29, 2021, the Company sold 1.2 million shares for net proceeds of $5.0 million, which settled on October 1, 2021. The settlement occurred in the second quarter so it is excluded from interim unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Shareholders' Equity and Cash Flows. Net proceeds from sales of shares under the "at-the-market" program, if any, may be used to, among other things, fund working capital requirements, repay debt and support growth strategies.

 A summary of income tax benefits and corresponding effective tax rates is as follows:

The recorded tax provisions and effective tax rates for the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 were different than what would normally be expected primarily due to the impact of the deferred tax valuation allowance.

The Company is no longer subject to IRS examinations for years before 2014. Furthermore, with limited exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to state and international income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2012.

6.    CASH, CASH EQUIVALENTS AND RESTRICTED CASH:

The table below reconciles the cash and cash equivalents balances and restricted cash balances, recorded within other current assets on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet to the amount of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Cash flows:

7.    LEASES:

At contract inception, the Company determines whether a contract is, or contains, a lease by determining whether it conveys the right to control the use of the identified asset for a period of time. If the contract provides the Company the right to substantially all of the economic benefits from the use of the identified asset and the right to direct the use of the identified asset, the Company considers it to be, or contain, a lease. The Company leases its company-owned salons and some of its corporate facilities under operating leases. The original terms of the salon leases range from 1 to 20 years with many leases renewable for an additional 5 to 10-year term at the option of the Company. In addition to the obligation to make fixed rental payments for the use of the salons, the Company also has variable lease payments that are based on sales levels. For most leases, the Company is required to pay real estate taxes and other occupancy expenses. Total rent includes the following:

The Company leases salon premises in which the majority of its franchisees operate and has entered into corresponding sublease arrangements with franchisees. All lease costs are passed through to the franchisees. The Company records the rental payments due from franchisees as franchise rental income and the corresponding amounts owed to landlords as franchise rent expense on the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. For the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, franchise rental income and franchise rent expense were $33.8 and $32.3 million, respectively. These leases generally have lease terms of approximately five years. The Company expects to renew SmartStyle and some franchise leases upon expiration. Other leases are expected to be renewed by the franchisee upon expiration. All lease-related costs are passed through to the franchisees.

For salon operating leases, the lease liability is initially and subsequently measured at the present value of the unpaid lease payments at the lease commencement date, including one lease term option when the lease is expected to be renewed. The ROU asset is initially and subsequently measured throughout the lease term at the carrying amount of the lease liability, plus initial direct costs, less any accrued lease payments and unamortized lease incentives received, if any. The Company's consolidated ROU asset balance was $573.5 and $611.9 million as of September 30, 2021 and June 30, 2021, respectively. For leases classified as operating leases, expense for lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term, including the lease renewal option when the lease is expected to be renewed. Generally, the non-lease components, such as real estate taxes and other occupancy expenses, are separate from rent expense within the lease and are not included in the measurement of the lease liability because these charges are variable.

The discount rate used to determine the present value of the lease payments is the Company's estimated collateralized incremental borrowing rate, based on the yield curve for the respective lease terms, as the interest rate implicit in the lease cannot generally be determined. The Company uses the portfolio approach in applying the discount rate based on the original lease term. The weighted average remaining lease term was 6.38 and 6.44 years and the weighted average discount rate was 4.14% and 4.11% for all salon operating leases as of September 30, 2021 and June 30, 2021, respectively.

A lessee's ROU asset is subject to the same asset impairment guidance in ASC 360, Property, Plant, and Equipment, applied to other elements of property, plant, and equipment. The Company has identified its asset groups at the individual salon level as this represents the lowest level that identifiable cash flows are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets and liabilities. Poor salon performance, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic, resulted in an ASC 360-10-35-21 triggering event. As a result, management assessed underperforming salon asset groups, which included the related ROU assets, for impairment in accordance with ASC 360.

The first step in the impairment test under ASC 360 is to determine whether the long-lived assets are recoverable, which is determined by comparing the net carrying value of the salon asset group to the undiscounted net cash flows to be generated from the use and eventual disposition of that asset group. Estimating cash flows for purposes of the recoverability test is subjective and requires significant judgment. Estimated future cash flows used for the purposes of the recoverability test were based upon historical cash flows for the salons, adjusted for expected changes in future market conditions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and other factors. The period of time used to determine the estimates of the future cash flows for the recoverability test was based on the remaining useful life of the primary asset of the group, which was the ROU asset in all cases.

The second step of the long-lived asset impairment test requires that the fair value of the asset group be estimated when determining the amount of any impairment loss. For the salon asset groups that failed the recoverability test, an impairment loss was measured as the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset group exceeds its fair value. The Company applied the fair value guidance within ASC 820-10 to determine the fair value of the asset group from the perspective of a market-participant considering, among other things, appropriate discount rates, multiple valuation techniques, the most advantageous market, and assumptions about the highest and best use of the asset group. To determine the fair value of the salon asset groups, the Company utilized market-participant assumptions rather than the Company's own assumptions about how it intends to use the asset group. The significant judgments and assumptions utilized to determine the fair value of the salon asset groups include: the market rent of comparable properties based on recently negotiated leases as applicable, the asset group's projected sales for properties with no recently negotiated leases, and a discount rate.

In the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recognized a long-lived impairment charge of $0.2 and $5.8 million, respectively, which included $0.1 and $4.6 million, respectively, related to the ROU assets, in the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The impairments recorded for the three months ended September 30, 2021 were primarily the result of triggering events identified on certain underperforming salons, salons that were identified to close in the year, and certain salons where franchisees were unable to fulfill their rent obligations. Assessing the long-lived assets for impairment requires management to make assumptions and to apply judgment, which can be affected by economic conditions and other factors that can be difficult to predict. The Company does not believe there is a reasonable likelihood that there will be a material change in the estimates or assumptions it uses to calculate impairment losses for its long-lived assets, including its ROU assets. Our projections of future operating performance do not anticipate future salon closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the ultimate severity and longevity of the COVID-19 pandemic is unknown, therefore; if actual results are not consistent with the estimates and assumptions used in the calculations, the Company may be exposed to future impairment losses that could be material.

The Company's long-term debt consists of the following:

Revolving Credit Facility

At September 30, 2021, cash and cash equivalents totaled $45.5 million. As of September 30, 2021, the Company has $195.8 million of outstanding borrowings under a $293.3 million revolving credit facility. The credit facility decreased $1.1 million from $294.4 million as of June 30, 2021 in accordance with the bulk sale provisions in the revolving credit facility agreement, due to the sale of secured inventory related to our transition to third-party distribution partners. At September 30, 2021, the Company had outstanding standby letters of credit under the revolving credit facility of $15.7 million, primarily related to the Company's self-insurance program. The unused available credit under the revolving credit facility was $81.8 million as of September 30, 2021. The Company's liquidity per the agreement includes the unused available balance under the credit facility, unrestricted cash and cash equivalents and the shortfall in the gap in expected proceeds from the sale of salon assets of $20.9 million as of September 30, 2021. Total liquidity per the agreement was $148.2 million as of September 30, 2021. The revolving credit facility has a minimum liquidity covenant of $75.0 million. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash of $56.1 million and current liabilities of $182.5 million.

The Company was in compliance with all covenants and other requirements of the financing arrangements as of September 30, 2021 and believes it will continue to be in compliance for at least one year from the filing date.

Fair value measurements are categorized into one of three levels based on the lowest level of significant input used: Level 1 (unadjusted quoted prices in active markets); Level 2 (observable market inputs available at the measurement date, other than quoted prices included in Level 1); and Level 3 (unobservable inputs that cannot be corroborated by observable market data).

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Recurring Basis

As of September 30, 2021 and June 30, 2021, the estimated fair value of the Company's cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash, receivables, inventory, deferred compensation assets and accounts payable approximated their carrying values. The estimated fair values of the Company's debt is based on Level 2 inputs.

Assets and Liabilities Measured at Fair Value on a Nonrecurring Basis

We measure certain assets, including the Company's equity method investments, tangible fixed and other assets and goodwill, at fair value on a nonrecurring basis when they are deemed to be other than temporarily impaired. The fair values of these assets are determined, when applicable, based on valuation techniques using the best information available, and may include quoted market prices, market comparables and discounted cash flow projections.

The following impairments were based on fair values using Level 3 inputs:

Segment information is prepared on the same basis that the chief operating decision maker reviews financial information for operational decision-making purposes. Beginning in fiscal year 2022, corporate costs are included within the Franchise segment to reflect how the chief operating decision maker reviews the business.

The Company's reportable operating segments consisted of the following salons:

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

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is designed to provide a reader of our consolidated financial statements with a narrative from the perspective of our management on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and certain other factors that may affect our future results. This MD&A should be read in conjunction with the MD&A included in our June 30, 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other documents filed or furnished with the SEC during the current fiscal year.

MANAGEMENT'S OVERVIEW

Regis Corporation (RGS) franchises technology-enabled hairstyling and hair care salons throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. As of September 30, 2021, the Company franchised, owned or held ownership interests in 5,843 worldwide locations. Our locations consisted of 5,766 system-wide North American and international salons, and in 77 locations we maintained a non-controlling ownership interest less than 100 percent. Each of the Company's salon concepts generally offer similar salon products and services and serve the mass market. As of September 30, 2021, the Company had 1,172 employees worldwide.

Impact of COVID-19 on Business Operations

During the period ended September 30, 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic had an adverse impact on operations. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact salon guest visits and franchisee staffing, resulting in a significant reduction in revenue. As a result, COVID-19 has, and may continue to have, a negative affect on revenue and profitability. The ultimate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in both the short and long term is not currently estimable due to the uncertainty surrounding the duration of the pandemic, the availability and acceptance of preventative vaccines, the emergence and impact of new COVID-19 variants, and changing government restrictions. Additional impacts to the business may arise that we are not aware of currently.

Merchandising Strategy

As part of the Company's transformation to focus on managing and nurturing brands, and in line with its capital-light business, a new merchandise strategy to outsource product distribution was adopted in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021. The Company is shifting its product business from a wholesale model to a third-party distribution model. Management expects the change will positively impact franchisees by providing them access to industry-leading pricing, loyalty programs, promotional benefits, educational assets, and ongoing support. The Company will receive a fee from the third-party distributors which is included in Fees on the interim unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The change is expected to result in product sales to franchisees providing significantly less revenue by the end of fiscal year 2022. Cost of product sales to franchisees and general and administrative expense are expected to decrease once the transition is complete which is expected to be by the end of fiscal year 2022.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The interim unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. In preparing the interim unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, we are required to make various judgments, estimates and assumptions that could have a significant impact on the results reported in the interim unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. We base these estimates on historical experience and other assumptions believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Estimates are considered to be critical if they meet both of the following criteria: (1) the estimate requires assumptions about material matters that are uncertain at the time the accounting estimates are made and (2) other materially different estimates could have been reasonably made or material changes in the estimates are reasonably likely to occur from period to period. Changes in these estimates could have a material effect on our interim unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Our significant accounting policies can be found in Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part II, Item 8 of the June 30, 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as Notes 1 and 2 to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements contained within this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. We believe the accounting policies related to the valuation of goodwill, the valuation and estimated useful lives of long-lived assets, estimates used in relation to tax liabilities and deferred taxes are most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our reported financial condition and results of operations. Discussion of each of these policies is contained under "Critical Accounting Policies" in Part II, Item 7 of our June 30, 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our policies related to revenue recognition guidance can be found in Note 2 to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

As an asset-light franchise platform, our results are impacted by our system-wide sales, which include sales by all points of distribution, whether owned by our franchisees or the Company. While we do not record sales by franchisees as revenue, and such sales are not included in our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, we believe that this operating measure is important in obtaining an understanding of our financial performance. We believe system-wide sales information aids in understanding how we derive royalty revenue and in evaluating performance.

System-wide same-store sales (1) by concept are detailed in the table below:

Condensed Consolidated Results of Operations (Unaudited)

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain information derived from our unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. The percentages are computed as a percent of total consolidated revenues, except as otherwise indicated, and the increase (decrease) is measured in basis points.

Consolidated Revenues

Consolidated revenues primarily include franchise royalties, fees, product sales to franchisees, advertising contributions, rental income, and service and product sales in company-owned salons. The following tables summarize revenues and same-store sales by concept, as well as the reasons for the percentage change:

Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 Compared with Three Months Ended September 30, 2020

Consolidated Revenues

Consolidated revenues are primarily comprised of royalties, fees, advertising fund contributions, franchise product sales, rental income and company-owned salon revenue.

Consolidated revenue decreased $33.6 million, or 30.2%, for the three months ended September 30, 2021. Royalty revenue increased $5.2 million in the three months ended September 30, 2021 due to higher franchise system-wide sales and higher franchise salon counts. During the twelve months ended September 30, 2021, 692 salons were sold to franchisees and 799 and 31 system-wide salons were closed and constructed, respectively (2022 Net Salon Count Changes). During the three months ended September 30, 2021, company-owned salon revenue decreased $39.4 million due primarily to the sale of salons to franchisees and salon closures. For the three months ended September 30, 2021, the impact to consolidated revenue due to the sale of salons to franchisees and closure of salons was $35.3 million.

Royalties

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, royalties increased $5.2 million, or 45.6%, primarily due to the increase in franchise salons and higher franchise system-wide sales. Total franchised locations open at September 30, 2021 were 5,587 as compared to 5,226 at September 30, 2020.

Fees

Product Sales to Franchisees

Product sales to franchisees decreased $5.7 million, or 41.6%, during the three months ended September 30, 2021, primarily due to the Company's shift to third-party distribution partners. The Company expects revenue from product sales to decrease significantly during fiscal year 2022.

Advertising Fund Contributions

Advertising fund contributions increased $3.6 million, or 80.0%, during the three months ended September 30, 2021, primarily due to the increase in franchise salon count and system-wide sales.

Franchise Rental Income

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, franchise rental income increased $1.5 million, or 4.6%, primarily due to the increase in franchise salon count.

Company-owned Salon Revenue

Company-owned salon revenue decreased $39.4 million due to the decrease in Company-owned salons as a result of the sale of salons to franchisees and salon closures, a decline in product sales, and exiting our third-party logistic revenue.

Cost of Product Sales to Franchisees

The 2,320 basis point increase in cost of product as a percent of product revenues during the three months ended September 30, 2021 was primarily due to the Company reducing prices to liquidate inventory at its distribution centers to facilitate exiting the distribution centers.

General and Administrative

The decrease of $4.3 million, or 16.5%, in general and administrative expense during the three months ended September 30, 2021 was primarily due to lower administrative and field management salaries due to reductions in headcount as we align our cost structure with our transition to an asset-light franchise model. Additionally, bad debt expense decreased $2.1 million year-over-year. These decreases were offset by an increase in stock compensation expense of $2.9 million, due primarily to a $2.4 million benefit from the forfeiture of awards related to the departure of the Company's former CEO in fiscal year 2021.

Rent

The decrease of $11.4 million, or 86.4%, in rent expense during the three months ended September 30, 2021 was primarily due to the net reduction in the number of company-owned salons. Partially offsetting the decrease is a $1.3 million broker fee incurred this fiscal year related to exiting the Company's distribution centers.

Advertising Fund Expense

Advertising fund expense increased $3.6 million, or 80.0%, during the three months ended September 30, 2021, primarily due to the increase in franchise salon count and system-wide sales.

Franchise Rent Expense

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, franchise rent expense increased $1.5 million, or 4.6%, primarily due to the increase in franchise salon count.

Company-owned Salon Expense

Company-owned salon expense for the three months ended September 30, 2021 decreased $35.0 million, or 81.6%, primarily due to the reduction in company-owned salons.

Depreciation and Amortization

The decrease of $5.5 million, or 74.3%, in depreciation and amortization during the three months ended September 30, 2021 was primarily due to the net reduction in company-owned salon counts and no depreciation expense in the current year related to the distribution center assets that were derecognized in the third quarter of fiscal year 2021.

Long-Lived Asset Impairment

In the three months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, the Company recorded a long-lived asset impairment charge of $0.2 and $5.8 million, respectively, which included a ROU asset impairment charge of $0.1 and $4.6 million, respectively, and salon asset impairment of $0.1 and $1.2 million, respectively. The decrease in long-lived asset impairment is primarily due to more salons being impaired in prior periods.

Interest Expense

The $0.5 million decrease in interest expense for the three months ended September 30, 2021 was primarily due to a lower interest rate in fiscal year 2022.

Loss from Sale of Salon Assets to Franchisees, net

The $0.4 million increase in the loss from the sale of salon assets to franchisees, net in the three months ended September 30, 2021 was primarily due to no proceeds being received for the salons sold in fiscal year 2022 compared to $3.7 million of proceeds in fiscal year 2021.

Interest Income and Other, net

The decrease of $0.3 million in interest income and other, net during the three months ended September 30, 2021 was primarily due to the foreign exchange loss of $0.3 million in fiscal year 2022 compared to no loss in fiscal year 2021.

Income Tax Benefit

During the three months ended September 30, 2021, the Company recognized a tax benefit of $0.05 million, with a corresponding effective tax rate of 0.5% as compared to recognizing a tax benefit of $0.6 million, with a corresponding effective tax rate of 1.8% during the three months ended September 30, 2020.

See Note 4 to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Results of Operations by Segment

Based on our internal management structure, we report two segments: Franchise and Company-owned salons. See Note 10 to the unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Significant results of operations are discussed below with respect to each of these segments.