S-1 1 d264743ds1.htm S-1 S-1
Table of Contents

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on December 22, 2021.

Registration Statement No. 333-                 

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

FORM S-1

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

S-Evergreen Holding LLC

to be converted as described herein to a corporation named

Savers Value Village, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

Delaware

 

5900

 

83-4165683

(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)

 

(Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)

11400 S.E. 6th Street, Suite 125

Bellevue, WA 98004

425-462-1515

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

Mark Walsh

Chief Executive Officer

S-Evergreen Holding LLC

11400 S.E. 6th Street, Suite 125

Bellevue, WA 98004

425-462-1515

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Lawrence G. Wee, Esq.
Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP
1285 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019-6064
212-373-3000

 

Marc D. Jaffe, Esq.
Gregory P. Rodgers, Esq.
Brittany D. Ruiz, Esq.
Latham & Watkins LLP
1271 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
212-906-1200

 

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:

As soon as practicable after the effective date of this registration statement.

If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, check the following box.  

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large Accelerated Filer 

 

Accelerated Filer

  

Non-accelerated Filer                              

 

Smaller reporting company 

      

Emerging growth company 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act of 1933.  

CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

 

 

Title of Each Class of Securities
to be Registered

  Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(1)(2)
  Amount of
Registration Fee(3)

Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share

 

$100,000,000

 

$9,270

 

 

 

(1)

Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(o) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

(2)

Includes the aggregate offering price of additional shares that the underwriters have the option to purchase. See “Underwriting.”

(3)

To be paid in connection with the initial public filing of the registration statement.

The registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the registrant shall file a further amendment that specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 


Table of Contents

This information in this preliminary prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This preliminary prospectus is not an offer to sell, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy, these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, dated             , 2022

Prospectus

                 Shares

 

LOGO

Common Stock

This is an initial public offering of shares of common stock of Savers Value Village, Inc. We are offering                shares of common stock. Certain selling stockholders identified in this prospectus are selling an additional                shares of our common stock. Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. We anticipate that the initial public offering price for our common stock will be between $                and $                per share.

We intend to apply to list our common stock on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “SVV.” After giving effect to this offering and the Corporate Conversion (as defined in this prospectus), certain funds, investment vehicles or accounts managed or advised by the Private Equity Group of Ares Management Corporation, will hold approximately                 % of our outstanding common stock. Accordingly, we expect to be a “controlled company” as defined in the corporate governance rules of the New York Stock Exchange and will be exempt from certain corporate governance requirements of those rules. We are also an “emerging growth company” as defined under the U.S. federal securities laws, and as such may elect to comply with reduced public company reporting requirements. Please see “Prospectus Summary—Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company.”

 

     Per share      Total  

Price to the public

   $                    $                

Underwriting discounts and commissions

   $        $    

Proceeds, before expenses, to us(1)

   $        $    

Proceeds, before expenses, to the selling stockholders

   $        $    

 

(1)

See “Underwriting” for additional information regarding underwriting compensation.

We and the selling stockholders have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to additional shares at the initial public offering price, less the underwriting discount. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock by the selling stockholders, including upon the sale of shares of our common by the selling stockholders if the underwriters exercise their option.

Investing in our common stock involves risks. See “Risk factors” beginning on page 34.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense. The underwriters expect to deliver the shares on or about                  , 2022.

 

 

J.P. Morgan    Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC    Jefferies    UBS Investment Bank

 

Baird    CIBC Capital Markets    Guggenheim Securities    Piper Sandler

                , 2022


Table of Contents

Explanatory note

S-Evergreen Holding LLC, the registrant whose name appears on the cover of this registration statement, is a Delaware limited liability company. Prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, S-Evergreen Holding LLC intends to convert into a Delaware corporation pursuant to a statutory conversion and change its name to Savers Value Village, Inc. as described in the section “Corporate Conversion” of the accompanying prospectus. Except as disclosed in the prospectus, the Consolidated Financial Statements and selected historical consolidated financial data and other financial information included in this registration statement are those of S-Evergreen Holding LLC and its subsidiaries and do not give effect to the Corporate Conversion. Shares of common stock of Savers Value Village, Inc. are being offered by the prospectus.


Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Prospectus

 

A LETTER FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

     1  

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

     4  

THE OFFERING

     26  

RISK FACTORS

     34  

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

     76  

USE OF PROCEEDS

     78  

CORPORATE CONVERSION

     79  

DIVIDEND POLICY

     80  

CAPITALIZATION

     81  

DILUTION

     83  

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

     85  

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

     99  

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     101  

BUSINESS

     138  

MANAGEMENT

     160  

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

     168  

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

     176  

PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

     179  

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

     181  

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

     188  

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

     191  

UNDERWRITING

     195  

VALIDITY OF COMMON STOCK

     205  

EXPERTS

     205  

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

     205  

S-EVERGREEN HOLDING LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

     F-1  

Neither we, the selling stockholders, nor the underwriters have authorized anyone to provide any information or to make any representations other than those contained in this prospectus or in any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of us or to which we have referred you. We, the selling stockholders and the underwriters take no responsibility for, and can provide no assurance as to the reliability of, any other information that others may give you. We and the selling stockholders are offering to sell, and seeking offers to buy, shares of common stock only under circumstances and in jurisdictions where it is lawful to do so. The information contained in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of the time of delivery of this prospectus or of any sale of common stock.

You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give information that is not contained in this prospectus. This prospectus is not an offer to sell nor is it seeking an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.

For investors outside the United States: Neither we, the selling stockholders, nor any of the underwriters have done anything that would permit this offering or the possession or distribution of this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for those purposes is required, other than in the United States. Persons outside the United States who come into possession of this prospectus must inform themselves about, and observe any restrictions relating to, this offering of common stock and the distribution of this prospectus outside the United States.

 

i


Table of Contents

Through and including                 , 2022 (the 25th day after the commencement of this offering), all dealers that buy, sell or trade shares of our common stock, whether or not participating in this offering, may be required to deliver a prospectus. This delivery requirement is in addition to the dealers’ obligation to deliver a prospectus when acting as underwriters and with respect to their unsold allotments or subscriptions.

PRESENTATION OF FINANCIAL INFORMATION

March 2019 Transactions

On March 28, 2019, pursuant to a Restructuring Support Agreement, TCW/Crescent Mezzanine Partners V, L.P., TCW/Mezzanine Partners VB, L.P., TCW/Crescent Mezzanine Partners VC, L.P., Trust Company of the West (as Trustee for TCW Capital Trust), TCW/Crescent Mezzanine Partners VI, L.P., TCW/Crescent Mezzanine Partners VIB, L.P., and TCW/Crescent Mezzanine Partners VIC, L.P. (collectively, “Crescent”), certain other holders and certain of the Ares Funds (as defined below), effectuated various refinancing and recapitalization transactions (collectively, the “March 2019 Transactions”), including (among others):

 

   

through a series of transactions, our predecessor company, S-Evergreen Holding Corp., a Washington corporation (the “Predecessor”), became a subsidiary of S-Evergreen Holding LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Successor”);

 

   

all of the outstanding capital stock of the Predecessor was cancelled and extinguished, and new equity in the Successor was issued in exchange;

 

   

Crescent and certain other existing lenders, as well as such Ares Funds, paid cash for new equity securities of the Successor, constituting 92.5% of the outstanding equity securities of the Successor, and other indebtedness of the Predecessor was settled for the remaining 7.5%; and

 

   

the existing indebtedness of the Predecessor was refinanced under new debt facilities of the Successor.

The March 2019 Transactions were accounted for as a business combination, and the total purchase price in the March 2019 Transactions was allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at their fair value as of March 28, 2019. As a result, our fiscal year ended December 28, 2019 consists of a Predecessor period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 and a Successor period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019. See Note 3 to our Audited Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this prospectus for more information regarding the March 2019 Transactions.

On April 26, 2021, certain of the Ares Funds, pursuant to a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Crescent, purchased for cash all of the outstanding equity securities of the Successor held by Crescent (the “Ares Share Purchase Transaction”). As a result, the Ares Funds became the holders of all of our outstanding equity, prior to this offering. We did not elect to apply push down accounting for the Ares Share Purchase Transaction, as the transaction was entirely among the holders of the securities.

Fiscal Year End

We report on the basis of a 52- or 53-week fiscal year, which ends on the Saturday closest to the last day of December. Accordingly, references herein to “fiscal year 2019” relate to the 52-weeks ended December 28, 2019 and references herein to “fiscal year 2020” relate to the 53-weeks ended January 2,

 

ii


Table of Contents

2021. References herein to “fiscal year 2021” relate to the 52 weeks ending January 1, 2022. Because of the March 2019 Transactions, our fiscal year 2019 consists of a Predecessor period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 and a Successor Period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019. Both the nine month interim reporting period ended on October 2, 2021 and the nine month interim reporting period ended September 26, 2020 consisted of 39 weeks.

Rounding

Certain monetary amounts, percentages and other figures included in this prospectus have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown as totals in certain tables or charts and figures expressed as percentages in the text may not total 100% or, as applicable, when aggregated may not be the arithmetic aggregation of the percentages that precede them.

CERTAIN TRADEMARKS

This prospectus includes trademarks and service marks owned by us, including “Savers Value Village,” “Savers®,” “Value Village,” “Village des Valeurs,” “Unique®,” “Super Savers Club®,” “Community Donation Center®,” “Thrift Proud®,” “2nd Ave®,” “2nd Ave Value Stores®,” and “GreenDrop®.” This prospectus also contains trademarks, trade names and service marks of other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. Solely for convenience, trademarks, trade names and service marks referred to in this prospectus may appear without the ®, or SM symbols, but such references are not intended to indicate, in any way, that we will not assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our rights or the right of the applicable licensor to these trademarks, trade names and service marks. We do not intend our use or display of other parties’ trademarks, trade names or service marks to imply, and such use or display should not be construed to imply, a relationship with, or endorsement or sponsorship of us by, these other parties.

 

iii


Table of Contents

LOGO

savers® | value villageTM


Table of Contents

LOGO

What if a business could revolutionize the relationship between people, planet and profit? Welcome to the Savers® family of thrift stores and the reuse economy. For nearly 70 years, we've run a proven, successful, triple bottom line company. This is a business model consumers demand, and it's already here. savers | value villageTM | village des valeursMD | unique® | Thrift Superstore


Table of Contents

LOGO

OUR MISSION Our mission is to champion reuse and inspire a future where secondhand is second nature. From the thrill of the hunt to the joy of decluttering, we help communities harness the power of reuse to keep clothing and household items around for years to come.


Table of Contents

LOGO

OUR BRAND At Savers® pre-loved becomes re-loved by our thrifting community. They celebrate and share their finds wherever they can. Why? Ask them and they will tell you: the excitement of a one-of-a-kind discovery at an exceptional price. Fashion statements become environmental ones, too. That's Thrift Proud®. @__reme_ @lifewithkails @justinhamm_ @amandadaises @lusfinds @soa.ma.eva @thriftedstylez @niftee_thrifteee @thevillagelook thrift proud®.


Table of Contents

LOGO

OUR IMPACT What's good for people, communities and the planet, is also good for business. Thrift is proof the reuse economy works and is the future of retail. 1. BUSINESS 2. PLANET 3. PEOPLE REVENUE ___ $859.3MM1 COMP STORE SALES ___ +16.3%2 vs. 2019 +77.4%2 vs. 2020 LOYALTY MEMBERS ___ 3.8MM active loyalty members drive 64.6% of total point-of-sale transaction value3 AVERAGE UNIT RETAIL PRICE ___ <$5 3.4B+ lbs. of goods diverted from North American landfills4 +38,000 reusable items merchandised per store every week5 Each year on average our thrifters purchase6: 82 Million tops & pants 6 million coats 13 Million accessories 25 million books 6 million dresses 12 Million pairs of shoes 13 Million pieces of kitchenware 90%+ of our supply is locally sourced7 $670MM+ paid to our non-profit partners for secondhand clothing and household goods8 25+ year average relationship with our top 10 non-profit partners 75% of open salaried management positions filled by internal promotions9 70% of management roles held by team members identifying as female10 50% of U.S. workforce is represented by diverse backgrounds and ethnicities10 1 YTD Q3 2021 • 2 U.S. comparable store sales growth (YTD Q3 2021 vs. YTD Q3 2019 and vs. YTD Q3 2020) • 3 U.S. & Canada 12 months ended October 2, 2021 • 4 2016 - 2020 • 5 2019 internal company data • 6 2015 to 2019 7 2015 to 2020 • 8 Average between 2015-2019 • 9 U.S. & Canada since January 2021 • 10 As of August 2021


Table of Contents

LOGO

A LETTER FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER At Savers Value VillageTM, our mission is to champion reuse and inspire a future where secondhand is second nature. I believe in it today, and I see the immense potential ahead as more consumers come to believe in it too. If you are new to our company and the thrift industry, we are excited to welcome you. If you know us already, thank you for remaining with us on this incredible journey. The Savers(R) family of thrift stores is the largest for-profit thrift operator in the United States and Canada. We have over 300 stores in the United States, Canada and Australia and 20,000 team members who are engaged and committed to our mission. Our position is strong because our business model-vertically integrated across supply and processing, brick and mortar retail, and sales to wholesale reuse customers-differentiates us from others in the industry, and we believe our scale and capabilities cannot be easily replicated. We've made a promise to affect the world for the better as we grow: to benefit local communities by partnering with non-profits, to benefit the planet, and to benefit our shareholders. That is our triple bottom line. In 1954 we opened our first thrift shop in an old San Francisco movie theater, and since then, we've been innovating our stores and operations to redefine the modern thrift experience. Through economic and fashion cycles, and across generations, we've shown resiliency and remain Thrift Proud(R)-a mantra that has brought us to today: the most exciting time in our company's history. Whether you refer to us as "secondhand," "thrift" or "reuse," Savers is the place for anyone and everyone to buy necessities and to explore one-of-a-kind products-all with an average price tag of under $5. Our value proposition attracts customers from all walks of life who are embracing thrift for an authentic experience that creates shareable moments. For many, thrifting is about the thrill of the treasure hunt. You don't know you need it until you see it-that 70's daisy print salad bowl... a football jersey from your alma mater... a kid's toy that makes the perfect gift. While thrifting should always be fun, we take secondhand seriously, and we are committed to our local impact.


Table of Contents

LOGO

Here is how we work. Our typical store has a Community Donation Center(R) (CDC) to accept clothing and household items people no longer want or need on behalf of a local non-profit partner. In addition, our GreenDrop(R) locations provide communities surrounding our stores with further donation opportunities benefiting a local non-profit. We operate our CDCs and GreenDrop locations as a registered professional fundraiser (where required), paying our non-profit partners for these donated goods to create revenue they can use to help fund their missions. Our non-profit partners work to better our communities, fight disease, support youth at risk, and provide services for veterans, among many other important causes. These relationships are longstanding, with some spanning decades, which is a testament to our team members' dedication to delivering for our non-profit partners and to consumers who are committed to decluttering responsibly. Dropping off reusable goods for our non-profit partners at our Community Donation Centers and GreenDrop locations is a convenient, fast and friendly experience that encourages repeat donors and creates unlimited possibilities for our customers to access a huge range of brands, styles and products. We then sort through these items and select merchandise for our sales floors where thrifters come in search of style-defining discoveries across apparel, accessories and everyday housewares. This seamless experience is created by our team members who keep our inventory fresh by stocking thousands of pre-loved products on each of our stores' racks and shelves every day. Processing thrift is hard work. It requires sifting through drop-offs to separate items that can be placed on our sales floors from those our wholesale customers can reuse or repurpose. We're innovating to streamline item processing at Centralized Processing Centers (CPCs), powered by industry-leading technology exclusive to Savers. This initiative is a game changer for us. By moving processing from stores to CPCs, we now have the flexibility to expand into prime retail locations with smaller footprints in more densely populated areas. One of the best parts of what we do is divert millions of reusable items away from landfills every year. We recognize that shoppers today are discerning, engaged and more conscious consumers. They want a broad product selection, but not at the expense of the environment. It takes 700 gallons of water to produce just one new cotton t-shirt-that's as much as you'll drink in two and a half years. More than 26 billion pounds of textiles are thrown away every year in the United States alone, 95% of which could have been reused or repurposed. When people understand this impact, and recognize their own potential contribution, they want to participate in the reuse economy. And it is important to them that their favorite retailers are doing so, too, in a meaningful way.


Table of Contents

LOGO

As we look to the future, we are focused on and excited about our growth plan: First, grow the footprint. The things people love most about thrift are best executed in-store, and we have identified approximately 2,200 potential new stores, the vast majority of which is comprised of infilling the markets where we already exist. Both current and new markets are underpenetrated, particularly in the South and West of the United States and in Central Canada. Second, continue to drive consistent comparable store sales growth. Capitalizing on strong secular trends, this will continue to be a priority as we enhance our product offerings, improve the shopping experience, expand our loyal customer base and drive brand awareness. Third, keep innovation and operational excellence at the center. This has been a part of our culture since the beginning and a major differentiator of our for-profit model. We are directing investment to elevate the retail experience and leverage new technology like our innovative CPCs. Finally, pursue inorganic growth opportunities. The thrift sector is fragmented and ripe for consolidation. There are strong regional players that may benefit from our infrastructure and would offer us the opportunity to scale in new or underpenetrated markets. We are also looking at businesses that could add value on the operational side. To make this plan a reality, I am honored to work alongside our leadership team of thrift veterans and technology, manufacturing and supply chain experts. I'm also immensely grateful to our Savers team members who work tirelessly to deliver for our customers, non-profit partners, and the planet. Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our company. Our model is powerful, the thrift industry is resilient and poised for significant growth, and our future is bright. Sincerely, Mark Walsh, CEO savers® | value villageTM | village des valeursMD | unique®


Table of Contents

PROSPECTUS SUMMARY

The following summary contains selected information about us and about this offering. It does not contain all of the information that is important to you and your investment decision. Before you make an investment decision, you should review this prospectus in its entirety, including matters set forth under “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and our Consolidated Financial Statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. Some of the statements in the following summary constitute forward-looking statements. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.” Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this prospectus to “Savers Value Village, Inc.,” “S-Evergreen Holding LLC,” the “company,” “we,” “us,” “our” or similar terms refer to S-Evergreen Holding LLC and its consolidated subsidiaries (including the accounting Predecessor with respect to periods prior to March 28, 2019), and after the Corporate Conversion, Savers Value Village, Inc. and its consolidated subsidiaries. On November 8, 2021, we acquired Thrift Intermediate Holdings I., Inc. (“2nd Ave.”) for purchase price consideration of $238.9 million in cash (the “2nd Ave. Acquisition”). Where we present information on a “pro forma basis,” it means that such information is presented giving pro forma effect to the “Transactions”, which include the April 2021 Refinancing, the 2nd Ave. Acquisition and the related financing, the November 2021 Dividend and the Initial Public Offering and the use of proceeds from the Initial Public Offering. For more information about the Transactions, please read the section of this prospectus under the heading, “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.”

Company Overview

Our mission

To champion reuse and inspire a future where secondhand is second nature.

From the thrill of the hunt to the joy of decluttering, we help communities harness the power of pre-loved stuff to keep reusable items around for years to come.

Who we are

We are the largest for-profit thrift operator in the United States and Canada. With over 20,000 team members, we operate a total of 306 stores under the Savers, Value Village, Village des Valeurs, Unique, and 2nd Ave banners. We are committed to redefining secondhand shopping by providing one-of-a-kind, low-priced merchandise ranging from quality clothing to home goods in an exciting treasure-hunt shopping environment. We purchase secondhand textiles (i.e., clothing, bedding and bath items), shoes, accessories, housewares, books and other goods from our non-profit partners (“NPPs”), either directly from them or via on-site donations (“OSDs”) at Community Donation Centers at our stores. We then process, select, price, merchandise and sell these items in our stores. Items that are not sold to our retail customers are marketed to wholesale customers, who reuse or repurpose the items they purchase from us. We believe our hyper-local and socially responsible procurement model, industry-leading and innovative operations, differentiated value proposition and deep relationships with our customers distinguish us from other secondhand and value-based retailers.

We offer a dynamic, ever-changing selection of items, with an average unit retail (“AUR”) under $5. We have a highly engaged customer base, with over 3.8 million active loyalty program members in the United States and Canada who shopped with us, driving 64.6% of point-of-sale transaction value in the 12 months ended October 2, 2021. Our business model is rooted in environmental, social and corporate governance (“ESG”) principles, with a mission to positively impact our stakeholders—

 

4


Table of Contents

thrifters, NPPs and their donors, our team members and our stockholders. As a leader and pioneer of the for-profit thrift category, we seek to positively impact the environment by reducing waste and extending the life of reusable goods. The vast majority of the clothing and textiles we source are sold to our retail or wholesale customers. In 2019, we processed over one billion pounds of secondhand goods. In 2020 and in the nine months ended October 2, 2021, periods that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, we processed 682 million and 624 million pounds, respectively. During fiscal year 2020, we generated $834.0 million of net sales, $63.5 million of net loss and $59.5 million of Adjusted EBITDA, resulting in a 7.6% net loss margin and a 7.1% Adjusted EBITDA margin. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are considered non-GAAP financial measures under the SEC’s rules because they exclude certain charges included in net (loss) income calculated in accordance with GAAP. For additional information on our use of non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure, see “Prospectus Summary—Summary Financial and Other Data—Key business metrics and non-GAAP financial measures.”

The U.S. secondhand market, which is a subset of the broader retail market, is expected to reach $36 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow 21% annually to $77 billion by 2025. Thrift accounted for approximately 60% of the total secondhand market in 2021, and we believe we benefit from the powerful secular trends driving growth in the sector. We also believe consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of the clothes they wear. There is a growing awareness that the textile and clothing industry is one of the most environmentally damaging sectors of the economy.

Meanwhile, discarded clothing remains the largest source of textile waste in the world. Twenty-six billion pounds, or 81 pounds per capita, of clothing and textiles are thrown away annually in the United States alone, 95% of which could have been re-worn or repurposed; yet 85% of this material ends up in landfills. To put this another way, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation reports that one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or incinerated every second. Thrift as a business model provides one of the most effective solutions in mitigating the environmental cost of clothing and extending its life.

Track record of consistent growth and recent performance

We have a proven track record of consistently delivering comparable store sales growth across the United States and Canada. Prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, we achieved over ten years of positive comparable store sales growth across the United States and Canada and our business has recovered strongly from COVID-19-related disruptions in 2021.

 

5


Table of Contents

LOGO

Powerful, Vertically Integrated Business Model

We have innovated and invested to develop significant operational expertise and integrate the three highly-complex parts of thrift operations—supply and processing, retail, and sales to wholesale markets. Our business model enables us to provide value to our NPPs and our customers, while driving attractive profitability and cash flow.

 

LOGO

 

6


Table of Contents

Supply and processing

We source our merchandise locally by purchasing secondhand items donated to our NPPs primarily through two distinct and strategic procurement models:

 

   

on-site donations, or “OSDs,” which are donations of items by individuals to our local NPPs made at the Community Donation Centers located at our stores; and

 

   

delivered supply, which includes items donated to and collected by NPPs through a variety of methods, such as neighborhood collections and donation drives, and delivered to our stores or Centralized Processing Centers, or “CPCs.”

Our business model is predicated on sourcing and selling quality secondhand items to our customers in local communities. We are able to meet our customer demand given our deep relationships with an extensive network of locally-based NPPs that is unmatched in the thrift industry. Our local sourcing strategy also reduces transportation costs and emissions typically associated with the production and distribution of new merchandise.

The quantity and quality of our supply of secondhand items has continued to evolve and improve, particularly as OSDs have grown as a percentage of the pounds of goods we process. While it is strategically important for us to maintain a diverse supply mix, items sourced through OSDs have a cost per pound that is on average one-third that of delivered supply from our NPPs. Because OSD volume is primarily driven by convenience, the more we are able to expand our footprint and geographic reach, the more we will be able to attract and procure additional OSD supply, which benefits our supply cost and yields. OSDs have grown at a 5.2% compound annual growth rate (“CAGR”) from the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to the nine months ended October 2, 2021, and its contribution to total pounds processed has expanded from 45.8% to 72.7% during the same period as a percentage of total supply. Our acquisition of 2nd Ave. in November 2021 included GreenDrop, which allows donors to drop off their items at attended donation stations that are movable and can be placed in attractive, high traffic areas that are convenient to donors. We are currently considering expanding the use of GreenDrop for our other locations. In addition, data analytics have played a critical role in elevating the quality of our delivered supply by enabling us to concentrate on supply sources with quality goods, which has been a significant driver of our gross product margin.

Nearly all of our retail stores have space dedicated to handle the processing of secondhand goods that provide the inventory to be sold on our retail sales floors. In 2019, we processed over one billion pounds of secondhand goods. In 2020 and in the nine months ended October 2, 2021, periods that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, we processed 682 million and 624 million pounds, respectively.

We are currently implementing our CPC strategy, having opened our first CPC in the third quarter of 2021. The CPC system is an offsite, semi-automated processing facility that mechanizes the flow of clothing, accessories and shoes through an integrated series of conveyor belts, robotics, sensors, and other technology. The CPC unlocks new store expansion by allowing for a more flexible store layout and loading configuration thereby improving access to more densely populated urban areas.

 

7


Table of Contents

LOGO

Retail

Our continued investment in our stores has both elevated and modernized the thrift shopping experience, transforming our stores into a destination for all generations with increasing traffic from younger generations.

Our store experience directly reflects our mission to make secondhand second nature. We deliver a well merchandised environment that maximizes customer engagement and supports a core tenet for any thrifter—the treasure hunt. Our stores offer a wide selection of quality items across clothing, home goods, books and other items at convenient locations. More than 38,000 items are merchandised per store every week. Our merchandise is also regularly rotated and refreshed, with inventory turns of roughly 15 times a year, providing our customers with an extensive, ever-changing selection at tremendous value.

We are enhancing our visual presentation with the roll out of our updated “Thrift Proud” sign package that has a great new look, while communicating who we are and what we do. In addition, we have enhanced the customer experience with the introduction of self-checkout kiosks that significantly shorten and, at most times of the day, eliminate payment lines.

 

LOGO

We have a continuous feedback loop on the customer experience. Our REactions surveys take the pulse of our customers on a weekly basis regarding the shopping experience and environment. This information is proactively shared with our leadership team and cascaded to store managers, who are measured on their ability to improve operations.

 

8


Table of Contents

Wholesale reuse and repurpose

Historically, we display approximately 50% of all textile items we receive on our retail sales floors, approximately 50% of which are sold to thrifters. In support of our efforts to extend the life of reusable goods and recover a portion of the cost of acquiring our supply of secondhand items, we sell the majority of textile items unsold at retail to our wholesale customers, predominately comprised of textile graders and small business owners, who supply local communities across the globe with gently-used, affordable items like clothing, housewares, toys, and shoes. Textiles not suitable for reuse as secondhand clothing can be repurposed into other textile items (e.g., wiping rags) and post-consumer fibers (e.g., insulation, carpet padding), further reducing waste.

LOGO

ESG impact

Environmental: Our business model is designed to maximize the life of reusable goods, and we found a reuse for over 3.4 billion pounds of secondhand items from 2016 to 2020.

 

9


Table of Contents

 

LOGO

The environmental impacts of textile manufacturing are well documented. The textile industry largely relies on non-renewable resources such as oil for synthetic fibers, fertilizer to grow cotton, and chemicals associated with the production, dyeing, and finishing of fibers and textiles. Between 2002 and 2017, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation (“EMF”) found that clothing production approximately doubled, while utilization decreased by 36%. In addition, textile production is both energy-intensive

and water-intensive. EMF estimates that the production of textiles resulted in 1.2 billion tons of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2015, which outpaced the year’s carbon dioxide emissions from all international flights and marine shipping, with additional impacts on local environments. With respect to water usage, which includes cotton farming, EMF also found that the textile industry used approximately 93 billion cubic meters of water each year, while contributing to water scarcity in many parts of the world. Since less than 1% of the material used to produce new clothing can be recycled into new clothing, the reuse of clothing, rather than the purchase of new clothing, is key to mitigating the environmental impacts of the textile industry. In order to achieve the 2030 Paris climate objectives, 20% of garments worldwide must be traded through circular business models.

In 2020, we purchased enough Renewable Energy Certificates to match our electricity usage with renewable energy at our three corporate offices and our largest U.S. and Canadian Wholesale Distribution and Reuse Centers. Additionally, we are committed to further reducing our emissions and energy consumption whenever feasible. We also recently completed a LED lighting retrofit for more than 90% of our U.S. and Canadian stores and warehouses.

Social: Our business model is predicated on sourcing our supply from local non-profit organizations in the communities where we do business. Our relationships with our top 10 NPPs average more than 25 years. Over the last five years, we have paid our NPPs approximately $670 million for secondhand goods, providing them with unrestricted revenue to support their community-focused missions. From 2015 to 2020, over 90% of our supply was locally sourced, delivering a broad and diverse selection to our customers and fostering a sense of community.

 

10


Table of Contents

Our leading “people” metric across our organization is team member engagement, which is scored across various areas, including overall job satisfaction, whether the team member would recommend us as a place to work, personal commitment, being energized at work and intent to remain employed. Our team member engagement is considered best-in-class, as measured by an external consultant, comparing our results to other companies in the retail sector. Team member engagement is crucial to customer satisfaction and the satisfaction of our NPPs and their donors.

We also invest in the training, development and advancement of our team members. Since January 2021, more than 75% of open salaried management positions in the United States and Canada were filled by internal promotions. As of August 2021, more than 70% of the management roles in our stores and corporate operations were held by team members identifying as female.

Governance: We are committed to ethical practices in every aspect of our business and have adopted a Savers Code of Conduct that outlines our expectations for internal interactions and helps us maintain compliance with local laws and regulations. Our five core values guide our strategic direction and how our team members interact with one another, our communities and our customers: (1) make service count; (2) celebrate uniqueness; (3) do the right thing; (4) find a better way; and (5) make an impact.

Our Market Opportunity

We operate within the large, fragmented and fast-growing secondhand market, which is a subset of the broader retail market. In addition to being recession-resilient, growth in the secondhand market is accelerating due to a number of powerful secular trends.

The emergence of conscious consumerism

Consumers are increasingly taking into consideration the ESG impacts of their shopping decisions and the brands with which they choose to interact. As of April 2021, 42% of all consumers and 53% of millennials and Gen Z consumers reported that they expect to spend more on secondhand items in the next five years.

Growing importance of value retail and treasure hunt experience

The relevance of value shopping and treasure hunting has grown stronger in recent years. Our thrift model provides a highly compelling, differentiated customer proposition and experience that gives us a competitive advantage over traditional retail and other existing secondhand options. Today’s consumers, and thrifters specifically, are seeking experiential shopping opportunities and compelling value propositions, combined with the multifaceted possibilities of brands and styles. They are drawn to the excitement of finding great value through a treasure hunt experience. That experience, combined with our low AUR, makes us more attractive to customers than traditional retail. Furthermore, our in-store experience and broad, ever-changing inventory cannot be replicated online. We believe that we operate leading brands within the thrift industry offering consumers this unique experience.

Fast-growing secondhand market across both demand and supply

Secondhand demand-side total addressable market: The secondhand market is rapidly growing and continues to gain share in the total retail market from a wide range of traditional retailers, including department stores, fast fashion brands and off-price retailers. The secondhand market consists of both resale (e.g., consignment) and thrift goods, with thrift accounting for approximately 60% of the total market during 2021. In the United States alone, the secondhand market is projected to increase from $36 billion in 2021 to more than $77 billion by 2025, representing a compounded annual growth rate over this period of 21%. Additionally over this period, the U.S. secondhand share of consumer spending as a percentage of the total U.S. apparel market is expected to increase from 14% in 2021 to over 25% in 2025.

 

11


Table of Contents

LOGO

Our total market opportunity continues to grow due to a general rise in demand for secondhand goods in part as consumers continue to expand the occasions for shopping for secondhand goods. In 2019, approximately 50% of every age demographic reported shopping in the secondhand market. As of October 2021, Salvation Army and Goodwill, the two leading non-profit thrift operators in the United States, operated approximately 8,000 locations and 3,300 retail locations, respectively, further indicating that there is a robust market for secondhand goods.

Secondhand supply-side total addressable market: There is an abundant and growing source of supply that facilitates the availability of secondhand and thrift goods. As this market continues to develop and expand with the opening of new points of collection, there is significant opportunity to unlock and drive further OSDs to our NPPs at our stores. OSDs are typically driven by a combination of location, convenience, ease of drop and a fast and friendly experience at our Community Donation Centers at our stores.

In 2019 alone, we processed over one billion pounds of secondhand goods. In 2020 and in the nine months ended October 2, 2021, periods that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, we processed 682 million and 624 million pounds, respectively. As donations continue to grow and awareness of secondhand shopping increases, we believe more consumers are likely to become thrift shoppers. As of January 2021, 84% of shoppers surveyed reported that they donate at thrift store locations more than once every six months, and 21% of shoppers cited plans to increase the frequency of their donations.

Competitive Strengths

We have been able to delight millions of customers each year and grow our business consistently through the following competitive strengths:

A leader in the industry with a powerful business model

We are the largest for-profit thrift operator in the United States and Canada. With 306 retail stores under our Savers, Value Village, Village des Valeurs, Unique and 2nd Ave banners, we are nine times

 

12


Table of Contents

larger than the next largest for-profit thrift operator. In Canada, our principal brand, Value Village, is the largest in thrift volume and has over 93% aided brand awareness as of January 2021. We believe our significant scale advantage allows us to deliver extreme value and a superior shopping experience to customers, while generating strong cash flow that can be reinvested in our business.

We have innovated and integrated three highly-complex parts of thrift operations—supply and processing, retail and sales to wholesale markets—through significant operational expertise and investments. This has created a compelling business model which is differentiated against online competition and traditional retail, based on our treasure-hunt experience and low AUR. Our AUR, which is under $5, is approximately 70% lower than that of our retail competitors. Further, our business has demonstrated resilience through economic cycles. Such advantages of our business model provide compelling value to customers, drive attractive profitability for the business, and underpin positive comparable store sales growth from 2009 to 2019. As interest in the secondhand market continues to grow, we will have the opportunity to elevate and define the thrift experience for decades to come.

LOGO

Unmatched value proposition driving exceptional customer engagement

We offer quality items at one of the deepest values across all of our product categories and an exciting, engaging treasure hunt experience in a contemporary in-store atmosphere, which underpins strong customer loyalty. Our most engaged customers are members of our Super Savers Club loyalty program. As of October 2, 2021, we had 3.8 million active members enrolled in our U.S. and Canadian loyalty programs who have made a purchase within the last 12 months compared to 3.1 million active members for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021. Our members earn points or store credit, which further enhances the value shopping experience. Members in both the United States and Canada receive exclusive coupons and offers via email, as well as a special birthday coupon.

During the twelve months ended October 2, 2021, U.S. loyalty members spent approximately 41% more per shopping trip than non-members. During the same period, U.S. loyalty members shopped at our stores an average of 6.8 times annually. As of October 2, 2021, the top three loyalty segments, which represent approximately 50% of active members in the United States, shopped with us more than 12 times per year, and as of September 2021, 37% of our new members were under 35 years old

 

13


Table of Contents

compared to our total loyalty member base, of which 21% were under the age of 35, and 61% were aged between 35-64. In addition, as of September 2021, 35% of our loyalty members had annual household incomes of over $75,000, and 85% identified as female.

We have a particularly active presence on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, to connect with our customers, and we also partner with a number of social media “influencers” who generate further awareness of our brands through sponsored content. At the core of our “Thrift Proud” movement, our customers and followers on social media serve as influential peer-to-peer brand ambassadors and are tagging our brand and banners in thousands of photos and videos weekly. We enjoy highly engaged communities on social media who are inspired by thrift hauls, shopping cart photos, do-it-yourself and upcycling, creating “new from used.” As of September 2021, Savers, Value Village, Village des Valeurs and Thrift Proud branded hashtags had more than 75 million organic views on TikTok alone.

Supply model with proven capacity to drive growth

Quality and volume of supply play a critical role in driving traffic and customer frequency and engagement. We have developed a proven strategy to continuously improve our supply model. In order to maximize supply quality, we periodically assess sales yield, which we define as revenues generated per pound processed, from each supply source to make informed decisions on supplier selection. This approach ultimately improves both our revenue and profitability. We have been strategically focused on increasing our OSDs, particularly in increasing convenience and proximity to potential donors. OSDs not only drive profitability but also enhance the consistency and reliability of supply to each of our stores. We expect our focus on increasing OSDs will contribute to further improvement and growth in our supply.

Culture of innovation and operational excellence

Our culture of innovation underpins our key decisions and the way we run our business. We continue to be an industry leader with innovation to improve the customer experience, while enhancing operational efficiency. We have continuously improved our thrift operations across sourcing, processing, and retailing. We have recently launched major initiatives that will further reinforce our competitive advantage and have a measurable impact on our financial profile:

 

   

Centralized Processing Centers (CPCs): The CPC system is an offsite, semi-automated processing facility that mechanizes the flow of clothing, accessories, and shoes through an integrated series of conveyor belts, robotics, sensors, and other technology. It significantly improves upon our traditional process by driving labor efficiencies and enabling grader specialization and pricing precision. CPCs also allow for a more flexible store layout and loading configuration.

 

   

Automated Book Processing (ABP): The ABP system is an integrated set of technologies that efficiently identify, price, and sort books based on their critical attributes (e.g., genre, author, market price). The system design consists of high-speed conveyors, optic recognition, robot tagging and an automated book distribution system working in concert to increase throughput over traditional, manual processes.

 

   

Self-checkout: We are rolling out self-checkout kiosks in many of our stores in order to enhance the customer experience, with shorter lines and more access points, while reducing labor costs.

 

14


Table of Contents

Attractive financial profile with proven track record of consistent growth

We achieved positive comparable store sales growth from 2009 through 2019, even throughout recessionary periods. We have also delivered steady and consistent gross product margin expansion over the last five years, from 46.4% in 2015 to 63.0% for the nine months ended October 2, 2021. We define gross product margin as net sales minus cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization, divided by net sales. We have utilized multiple levers that are unique to our business model to drive margin improvements, especially the growth of OSDs as part of our supply mix and sales yield improvement. As a result of our attractive financial profile, we have significant flexibility with respect to capital allocation, giving us the ability to drive long-term shareholder and stakeholder value through various operating and financial strategies.

Highly experienced and strategic leadership

Our strategic vision and culture are directed by a leadership team that combines deep industry expertise and advanced operational capabilities to continuously innovate our business. Given the unique needs of the business, our leadership team has diverse backgrounds across not only retail but also technology, manufacturing, and supply chain. We are committed to ethical practices in every aspect of our business and are guided by people who fundamentally do the right thing.

How We Plan to Grow

Strategically grow our store base

Our goal is to expand our position as the leading for-profit thrift operator by expanding our store footprint. We have identified approximately 2,200 potential new locations across the United States and Canada based on a third-party analysis prepared for us by Transom Consulting Group LLC. We plan to open at least 10 net new stores during 2022 and more than 20 net new stores per year beginning in 2023.

 

   

In-fill opportunities: We will continue to identify attractive locations in our existing markets by leveraging our brand awareness and operational capabilities, and where we have the advantage of both attractive supply and demand. These in-fill opportunities will include both traditional and alternative format stores.

 

   

Adjacent store opportunities: We also will pursue opportunities to expand our regional footprint in adjacent areas where we can leverage our operational capabilities and regional market knowledge.

 

   

Greenfield store opportunities: We are currently underpenetrated in multiple important regional markets, including the South and West regions of the United States and in Central Canada.

 

15


Table of Contents

LOGO

            

Expansive new store opportunityLocational strategy based on demographic data and third-party analysis.Current stores 284 In-fill stores -1,400 Adjacent stores 500Greenfield stores 300Systematic, data-driven new store opening frameworkDeep understanding of supply and demand dynamics 13+ store leases signed in202220+ stores per year beginning in 2023Team with a track record of new store openingsTotal new store potential:-2,200

Our CPC strategy is designed to support more than half of our new and existing stores in the United States and Canada by 2026. As a result, we believe we can unlock significant new store potential given that a CPC-served store can have a more flexible store layout and size. In more densely populated areas specifically, CPCs enable in-fill opportunities in alternative store formats without the need for a full-scale processing facility in the back-of-store.

Driven by our disciplined real estate selection approach, we expect to deliver attractive return on investment and store-level profitability. We target most of our new stores to achieve a payback period of two and half years or less. Of the seven new stores opened since January 2019, two have already returned their initial investment despite the impacts of the pandemic. Our alternative store format is designed to capitalize on high real estate availability in in-fill markets through smaller formats.

Drive consistent comparable store sales growth

Our goal is to drive consistent growth in comparable store sales growth by maintaining a superior value proposition to our customers and continuing to offer a compelling selection of quality secondhand items. Benefitting from secular tailwinds, we expect to further drive comparable sales growth with the following strategies:

 

   

Quality product offerings: We will continue to procure ample supply of quality items to delight our customers. Our compelling selection of offerings enables us to drive both frequency with existing customers and the acquisition of new customers.

 

   

Improving shopping experience: We will continue to invest in the in-store shopping experience to facilitate the treasure hunt dynamics for our customers. We have invested in renovations to modernize our stores; new technologies to optimize store operations; and alternative store formats supported by CPCs.

 

   

Expanding engagement with our loyalty program members: Our loyalty program members have increased shopping frequencies, stronger retention, more transactions, and larger basket sizes. Our marketing efforts are designed to continue to increase our loyalty program member base.

 

16


Table of Contents
   

Conducting brand marketing: We will continue to increase our brand marketing spend to improve our brand awareness, bolstered by the broader adoption of thrift shopping overall to drive new customer acquisition.

Continue to implement strategic initiatives to drive efficiency and expand margin

Compared to our traditional retail competitors, we have multiple levers within our control that have been critical in driving our profitability and Free Cash Flow. For instance, our data analysis has improved our sales yield, defined as sales per pound processed, which has been a primary driver of comparable store profitability. Our deliberate strategy of increasing the penetration of OSDs as a percentage of total supply has had a significant impact on our gross product margin. In addition, our recent initiatives, including CPCs, ABPs and self-checkout, are expected to generate combined incremental savings of at least $200,000 per store per year, based on anticipated savings per store of approximately $125,000 for CPCs, $25,000 for ABPs, and $50,000 for self-checkout. These savings are based on management estimates of the average savings for each of our stores from these initiatives. Our CPC initiative, which we expect to be the greatest contributor towards these future savings, assumes significant cost reductions in labor and freight costs associated with the sorting, processing, and distribution of inventory. We also anticipate further labor cost reductions from our ABP and self-checkout initiatives. Our culture of innovation and data orientation has been critical to driving operational efficiencies, and we will continue to lead in terms of innovating the thrift business model.

Selectively pursue other growth opportunities

In addition to our organic growth initiatives, we will also take an opportunistic yet disciplined approach toward potential inorganic growth opportunities. Given the fragmented nature of the thrift category, we believe there are significant opportunities for growth. This can be conducted through the acquisition of well-operated regional players where we believe we can build upon our infrastructure and scale to accelerate the growth of a potential target and generate synergies. Our acquisition criteria include a significant regional presence; access to a robust flow of quality supply; strong brand awareness; and a complementary cultural fit for our company. For example, in November 2021, we completed the acquisition of 2nd Ave., which allowed us to add 12 stores in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, representing a complementary store footprint for our existing store network and offering new store expansion opportunities. The 2nd Ave. Acquisition also included the GreenDrop system used to provide supply to 2nd Ave. stores, which allows donors to drop off their items at attended donation stations that are movable and can be placed in attractive, high traffic areas that are convenient to donors. We are currently considering expanding the use of the GreenDrop system to other geographies.

Recent Developments

Preliminary Estimated Unaudited Financial Results for the Three Months and the Fiscal Year Ended January 1, 2022

Our preliminary estimated unaudited net sales, net (loss) income, Adjusted EBITDA, net (loss) income margin, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, comparable store sales growth, comparable store daily sales, number of stores and pounds processed for the three months and the fiscal year ended January 1, 2022 (the “preliminary estimated financial results”) are set forth below. We have provided a range for these preliminary estimated financial results because our closing procedures for our fiscal quarter and year ended January 1, 2022 are not yet complete. Our preliminary estimates of the financial results set forth below are based solely on information available to us as of the date of this prospectus and are inherently uncertain and subject to change. Our preliminary estimated financial results contained in this prospectus are forward-looking statements. Our actual results remain subject to the completion of management’s final review and our other closing procedures, as well as the

 

17


Table of Contents

completion of the audit of our annual financial statements. These preliminary estimated financial results are not a comprehensive statement of our financial results for the three months and the fiscal year ended January 1, 2022 and should not be viewed as a substitute for financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these preliminary estimated financial results for the three months and the fiscal year ended January 1, 2022 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be achieved in any future period. Accordingly, our preliminary estimated financial results are subject to change, and you should not place undue reliance on these preliminary estimated financial results. See “Risk Factors,” “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements,” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” for a discussion of certain factors (many of which are beyond our control) that could result in differences between the preliminary estimated financial results reported below and the actual results. Our actual audited financial statements and related notes as of and for the fiscal year ended January 1, 2022 are not expected to be filed with the SEC until after this offering is completed.

The preliminary estimated financial results included in this prospectus have been prepared by, and are the responsibility of, our management. Our independent registered public accounting firm, KPMG LLP, has not audited, reviewed, compiled or performed any procedures with respect to the preliminary estimated financial results. Accordingly, KPMG LLP does not express an opinion or any other form of assurance with respect thereto.

Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest December 31. Our fiscal year 2020 consists of the 53 weeks ended January 2, 2021. Our fiscal year 2021 consists of the 52 weeks ended January 1, 2022.

 

     Three Months Ended                    
     January 1,
2022
    January 2,
2021
    Fiscal Year
2021
    Fiscal Year
2020
 
     Low     High           Low     High        
(Dollar amounts in thousands)    (estimated)     (actual)     (estimated)     (actual)  

Net sales

   $               $               $               $               $               $            

Net (loss) income

            

Adjusted EBITDA

            

Adjusted EBITDA margin

                                               

For the three months ended January 1, 2022, we estimate net sales in the range of $         million to $         million, representing a change of $         million or     %, using the midpoint of the estimated net sales range when compared to the three months ended January 2, 2021. This change resulted from                 .

For the three months ended January 1, 2022, we estimate net (loss) income in the range of $         million to $         million, representing a change of $         million or     %, using the midpoint of the estimated net (loss) income range when compared to the three months ended January 2, 2021. This change resulted from                 .

For the three months ended January 1, 2022, we estimate Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $         million to $         million, representing a change of $         million or     %, using the midpoint of the estimated Adjusted EBITDA range when compared to the three months ended January 2, 2021. This change resulted from                 .

For fiscal year 2021, we estimate net sales in the range of $         million to $         million, representing a change of $         million or     %, using the midpoint of the estimated net sales range when compared to fiscal year 2020. This change resulted from                 .

 

18


Table of Contents

For fiscal year 2021, we estimate net (loss) income in the range of $         million to $         million, representing a change of $         million or     %, using the midpoint of the estimated net (loss) income range when compared to fiscal year 2020. This change resulted from                 .

For fiscal year 2021, we estimate Adjusted EBITDA in the range of $         million to $         million, representing a change of $         million or     %, using the midpoint of the estimated Adjusted EBITDA range when compared to fiscal year 2021. This change resulted from                 .

As of January 1, 2022, we estimate cash and cash equivalents in the range of $         million to $         million, representing a change of $         million or     %, using the midpoint of the estimated cash and cash equivalents range in comparison to cash and cash equivalents as of January 2, 2021. Our net borrowings outstanding as of January 1, 2022 are estimated in the range of $         million and $         million, representing a change of $         million or     %, using the midpoint of the estimated borrowings outstanding range in comparison to borrowings outstanding as of January 2, 2021.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are non-GAAP financial measures. For more information about these non-GAAP financial measures, including their definitions, see “Summary Financial and Other Data—Non GAAP measures.” The following table presents a reconciliation of net (loss) income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to Adjusted EBITDA and for each of the periods indicated:

 

     Three Months Ended                    
     January 1,
2022
    January 2,
2021
    Fiscal Year
2021
    Fiscal Year
2020
 
     Low     High           Low     High        
(Dollar amounts in thousands)    (estimated)     (actual)     (estimated)     (actual)  

Net (loss) income

   $         `     $               $               $               $               $            

Interest expense

            

Income tax expense (benefit)

            

Depreciation and amortization

            

Loss on extinguishment of debt(1)

            

Equity-based compensation expense(2)

            

Non-cash occupancy-related expenses(3)

            

Pre-opening expenses(4)

            

Store closing expenses(5)

            

Executive transition costs(6)

            

Shared service center transition costs(7)

            

COVID-related adjustments(8)

            

Transaction costs(9)

            

Other adjustments(10)

            
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

   $       $       $       $       $       $    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss) margin

            
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

                                                      
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Represents the loss on extinguishment of debt incurred in relation to the April 2021 Refinancing.

(2) 

Equity-based compensation expense represents non-cash compensation expenses related to stock options granted to certain of our employees and directors.

(3) 

Includes the difference between cash and straight-line rent for all periods.

(4) 

Pre-opening expenses include expenses incurred in the preparation and opening of new store and processing locations, such as payroll, training, travel, occupancy, and supplies.

 

19


Table of Contents
(5) 

Costs associated with the closing of certain retail locations, including lease termination costs, amounts paid to third parties for rent reduction negotiations, fees paid to landlords for store closings, and, in some instances, income associated with early lease terminations.

(6) 

Represents severance costs associated with executive leadership changes.

(7) 

Represents severance costs associated with the opening of our new shared service center in Boise, Idaho during fiscal year 2020.

(8) 

Represents benefits, net of costs in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic during fiscal year 2020, including wage subsidies and severance costs. During fiscal year 2020, we received $     million in wage subsidies and incurred $     million in severance costs. During fiscal year 2021, we received wage subsidies and incurred severance costs of $         million and $         million, respectively. During the three months ended January 1, 2022 and January 2, 2021, we received wage subsidies of $     million and $     million, respectively. Wage subsidies are reflected as a reduction to employee personnel costs in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income.

(9) 

Adjustment represents transaction costs related to this offering and the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, including third-party advisor and consulting fees, legal costs, and other transaction-related expenses.

(10) 

Other adjustments include foreign exchange gains and losses.

The following table summarizes our preliminary estimated key business metrics for fiscal year 2021 and our actual key business metrics for fiscal year 2020.

 

     Three Months Ended              
     January 1,
2022
    January 2,
2021
    Fiscal Year
2021
    Fiscal Year
2020
 
(Dollar amounts in thousands)    (estimated)     (actual)     (estimated)     (actual)  

Comparable store sales growth(*)(1)

        

United States

                                         

Canada

                                                    

Total(3)

                                                    

Comparable store daily sales(*)(2)

        

United States

                                                    

Canada

                                                    

Total(3)

                                                    

Number of stores(4)

        

United States

        

Canada

        

Total(3)

        

Pounds processed (mm lbs)

        

 

(*) 

Excludes stores acquired in the 2nd Ave. Acquisition.

(1) 

Comparable store sales growth is the percentage change in comparable store sales over the prior year. Comparable store sales is calculated as net sales for the period by stores open during the entirety of both periods that are being compared. We considered any store temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic to be open and comparable during the period. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Business Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Comparable store sales growth.”

(2) 

Comparable store daily sales for the period is the net sales by stores in the relevant geography that were or would have been open for the entirety of both periods if not for temporary closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, divided by the aggregate number of days those stores were open. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations— Key Business Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Comparable store daily sales.”

(3) 

Total number of stores, comparable store sales growth and comparable store daily sales includes our Australia retail locations, in addition to the United States and Canada.

(4) 

Number of Stores includes new stores not yet included in the comparable store sales growth and comparable store daily sales computations measured as of the last day of the fiscal year.

 

20


Table of Contents

Acquisition

On November 8, 2021, we acquired 2nd Ave. for purchase price consideration of $238.9 million in cash. We financed the 2nd Ave. Acquisition with cash on hand and $225.0 million of additional borrowings on our New Term Loan Facility. The additional borrowings are on substantially the same terms as our existing loans under the New Term Loan Facility. We have accounted for the 2nd Ave. Acquisition as a business combination under applicable accounting guidance. See “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” for more information regarding the 2nd Ave. Acquisition.

November 2021 Dividend

In November 2021, we paid a dividend of $75.0 million to our shareholders, the Ares Funds, using cash on hand. No executive officers or directors received dividend payments.

Risk Factors Summary

Our business is subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those highlighted in the section titled “Risk Factors” and summarized below. We have various categories of risks, including risks relating to our business and industry; risks relating to legal, regulatory, accounting and tax matters; risks relating to our indebtedness and liquidity; and risks relating to this public offering and ownership of our common stock, which are discussed more fully in the section titled “Risk Factors.” As a result, this risk factor summary does not contain all of the information that may be important to you, and you should read this risk factor summary together with the more detailed discussion of risks and uncertainties set forth in the section titled “Risk Factors.” Additional risks, beyond those summarized below or discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, may apply to our business, activities or operations as currently conducted or as we may conduct them in the future or in the markets in which we operate or may in the future operate. You should carefully consider these risks before making an investment. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

   

If we fail to obtain a sufficient quantity of new and recurring quality secondhand items at attractive prices by maintaining our strong relationships with existing NPPs, maintaining and growing OSDs and developing new relationships in the areas in which we operate, our business, results of operations, and financial condition could be harmed;

 

   

We are subject to risks associated with sourcing and processing of secondhand items, including processing costs and capacity, risks due to damage, loss or contamination of items, increased costs to maintain and/or develop sources of supply, and risks associated with itemizing, grading, storage, transportation and other logistics;

 

   

Our business depends on our ability to attract and retain suitable workers for our stores and processing facilities and to manage labor costs, particularly given recent disruptions in the supply and cost of labor;

 

   

Our continued growth depends on attracting new, and retaining existing, customers, including by increasing the acceptance of thrift among new and growing customer demographics;

 

   

Both supply of and demand for our products is influenced by general economic conditions, including trends in consumer spending;

 

   

We have experienced rapid growth, and those growth rates may not be indicative of our future growth. If we fail to manage our growth effectively, we may be unable to execute our business plan and our business, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed;

 

21


Table of Contents
   

We face risks related to integrating the 2nd Ave. operations, financial and other systems, team members and facilities into our business, as well as similar risks related to any future acquisitions or joint ventures we may pursue;

 

   

We may not be able to identify and obtain suitable locations for new stores as we grow our business. The success of each store location is dependent on a number of factors, including site suitability, our ability to negotiate appropriate store leases, customer traffic and convenience and proximity to NPPs and their donors, customers, suitable workers, and our processing facilities;

 

   

Some of our stores may have challenges achieving period-to-period comparable store sales growth targets due to, various factors outside our control, including availability of suitable workers, site suitability, lease terms and conditions, operational risks and regional growth and development patterns;

 

   

We have significant foreign operations, particularly in Canada, so we are subject to risks specific to operating in these jurisdictions and are also exposed to exchange rate risks, which we may not be able to fully hedge;

 

   

The global COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s responses in the jurisdictions in which we operate has had and may continue to have an unpredictable and adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition, and similar events may have such effects in the future;

 

   

We may not be able to expand our CPC operations in geographic regions that enable us to effectively scale our operations;

 

   

If we are unable to successfully leverage technology to automate and drive efficiencies in our operations, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed;

 

   

We are subject to various risks to our physical store and processing facility locations, which may adversely affect our business, results of operations, and financial condition;

 

   

A failure to retain key store and processing center management personnel and labor-related matters, including labor disputes, could materially and adversely affect our business;

 

   

Actions by wholesale customers could harm our brand and reputation, influence donor behavior and adversely affect our relationships with our NPPs and our customers;

 

   

Compromises of our data security could cause us to incur unexpected expenses and may materially harm our reputation and results of operations;

 

   

We may be unable to protect our intellectual property rights and we may be accused of infringing intellectual property or other proprietary rights of third parties;

 

   

Risks arising from the material weaknesses we have identified in our internal control over financial reporting and any failure to remediate these material weaknesses;

 

   

We may be unable to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting and produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations;

 

   

We will incur increased expenses associated with being a public company;

 

   

Changes in Canadian, Australian or U.S. national or local regulations, including those relating to the sale of secondhand items, or our actual or alleged failure to comply with such regulations may have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business financial condition, and results of operations;

 

22


Table of Contents
   

There has been no prior public market for our common stock, the stock price of our common stock may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance and you may not be able to resell your shares at or above the initial public offering price;

 

   

The continuing control after this offering of our company, including the right to designate individuals to be included in the slate of nominees for election to our board of directors, by the Ares Funds, whose interests may conflict with our interests and those of other stockholders. As such, the Ares Funds may be able to influence or control our affairs and policies following the completion of this offering; and

 

   

Certain provisions in our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws that may delay or prevent a change of control.

If we are unable to adequately address these and other risks we face, our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects may be harmed.

Implications of Being an Emerging Growth Company

We qualify as an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act of 2012, or the JOBS Act. An emerging growth company may take advantage of relief from certain reporting requirements and other burdens that are otherwise applicable generally to public companies. These provisions include:

 

   

reduced obligations with respect to financial data, including presenting only two years of audited financial statements and only two years of selected financial data;

 

   

an exemption from compliance with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act;

 

   

reduced disclosure about our executive compensation arrangements in our periodic reports, proxy statements, and registration statements; and

 

   

exemptions from the requirements of holding non-binding advisory votes on executive compensation or golden parachute arrangements.

In addition, under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay adopting new or revised accounting standards until such time as those standards apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards, and, therefore, we will not be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies or that have opted out of using such extended transition period, which may make comparison of our financial statements with those of other public companies more difficult. We may take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we no longer qualify as an emerging growth company, or, with respect to adoption of certain new or revised accounting standards, until we irrevocably elect to opt out of using the extended transition period.

We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more; (ii) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the completion of this offering; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; and (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the SEC. We may choose to take advantage of some but not all of these reduced reporting burdens.

 

23


Table of Contents

Ares

Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) (“Ares”) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, private equity, real estate and infrastructure asset classes. Ares seeks to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for its stakeholders and within its communities. By collaborating across its investment groups, Ares aims to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of June 30, 2021, including the acquisition of Black Creek Group which closed July 1, 2021, Ares’ global platform had approximately $262 billion of assets under management, with approximately 2,000 employees operating across the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Prior to this offering, the Ares Funds indirectly owned all of our limited liability company interests. Following the Corporate Conversion, the Ares Funds will receive a number of shares of our common stock in direct proportion to its interests in S-Evergreen Holding LLC. The economic interests of the Ares Funds will not be altered as a result of the Corporate Conversion. After giving effect to this offering and the Corporate Conversion, the Ares Funds will hold                shares of our common stock. After giving effect to this offering and the Corporate Conversion, the Ares Funds will hold approximately                % of our outstanding common stock. We use the term “Ares Funds” to describe certain funds, investment vehicles or accounts managed or advised by the Private Equity Group of Ares who own our securities.

The Ares Funds will have significant power to control our affairs and policies, including with respect to the election of directors (and through the election of directors, the appointment of management). For a description of certain potential conflicts between the Ares Funds and our other stockholders, see “Risk Factors—The continuing control after this offering of our company, including the right to designate individuals to be included in the slate of nominees for election to our board of directors, by the Ares Funds, whose interests may conflict with our interests and those of other stockholders. As such, the Ares Funds may be able to influence or control our affairs and policies following the completion of this offering.” For a description of the Ares Funds’ ownership interests in us and their rights with respect to such ownership interests, including the right to designate individuals to be included in the slate of nominees for election to our board of directors, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions,” “Principal and Selling Stockholders” and “Description of Capital Stock.”

Corporate Conversion

We currently operate as a Delaware limited liability company under the name S-Evergreen Holding LLC. S-Evergreen Holding LLC is a holding company which holds all of the equity interests S-Evergreen Holding Corp., the entity which directly and indirectly holds all of the equity interests in our operating subsidiaries. Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, S-Evergreen Holding LLC will convert into a Delaware corporation pursuant to a statutory conversion and will change its name to Savers Value Village, Inc.

The purpose of the Corporate Conversion is to reorganize our structure so that the entity that is offering our common stock to the public in this offering is a corporation rather than a limited liability company and so that our existing investors will own our common stock rather than equity interests in a limited liability company. For more information, see “Corporate Conversion.”

 

24


Table of Contents

Corporate Information

S-Evergreen Holding LLC was formed March 22, 2019. Upon completion of this offering, we will be a Delaware corporation, and we will change our name to Savers Value Village, Inc. See “Corporate Conversion.” Our principal executive offices are located at 11400 S.E. 6th Street., Suite 125, Bellevue, WA 98004, and our telephone number is 425-462-1515. Our website address is www.savers.com. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not part of and is not incorporated by reference into this prospectus, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus.

 

25


Table of Contents

THE OFFERING

 

Common stock offered by us

                     shares.

 

Common stock offered by the
selling stockholders

                     shares.

 

 

Common stock to be outstanding
after this offering

                     shares (                if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full).

 

Option to purchase additional
shares of common stock

We and the selling stockholders have granted the underwriters the right to purchase an additional                  shares of common stock within 30 days from the date of this prospectus.

 

Use of proceeds

We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $                million (or approximately $                million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of common stock from us in full), based on an assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

  The principal purposes of this offering are to increase our capitalization and financial flexibility and create a public market for our common stock. We intend to use net proceeds received by us from this offering to repay approximately $             million of indebtedness plus accrued and unpaid interest and premium under the New Term Loan Facility and any remainder for general corporate purposes, including working capital, operating expenses and capital expenditures. We may also use a portion of any net proceeds we receive from this offering for acquisitions or other strategic investments, although we do not currently have any specific plans to do so. We will have broad discretion over the uses of any net proceeds in this offering to be used for general corporate purposes. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in this offering by the selling stockholders, including upon the sale of shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares. See “Use of Proceeds.”

 

Voting rights

One vote per share.

 

  The Ares Funds, which immediately after this offering will control approximately             % of the voting power of our outstanding common stock, will, acting alone, be able to exercise significant influence over all matters submitted to our stockholders for approval, including the election of our board of directors. See “Risk Factors—Risks relating to this offering and ownership of our common stock.”

 

26


Table of Contents

Dividend policy

We currently do not anticipate paying any cash dividends after this offering and for the foreseeable future. Any future determination relating to dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on a number of factors, including restrictions in our current and future debt instruments, our future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, future prospects, and applicable Delaware law, which provides that dividends are only payable out of surplus or current net profits. See “Dividend Policy.”

 

Risk factors

See “Risk Factors” and the other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should carefully consider before deciding to invest in our common stock.

 

Controlled company

Following this offering, the Ares Funds will continue to control a majority of the voting power of our outstanding voting stock, and as a result we will be a controlled company within the meaning of the New York Stock Exchange corporate governance standards.

 

Proposed ticker symbol

“SVV.”

The number of shares of our common stock to be outstanding after this offering is based on                shares of our common stock outstanding as of                , after giving effect to the Corporate Conversion, and excludes:

 

   

                 shares of our common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans, consisting of                  shares subject to options outstanding under our 2019 Management Incentive Plan and                  shares reserved under our Omnibus Incentive Plan which will become effective on the day prior to the first public trading date of our common stock, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the Omnibus Incentive Plan; and

 

   

                 shares of our common stock that will become available for issuance under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which we expect to be adopted in connection with this offering, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

In addition, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires, the information in this prospectus assumes:

 

   

the completion of the Corporate Conversion;

 

   

no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional                shares of our common stock; and

 

   

the effectiveness of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws in connection with the completion of this offering.

 

27


Table of Contents

Summary Financial and Other Data

The summary consolidated statement of operations data for fiscal year 2020, for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor) are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The summary consolidated statement of operations data for the nine months ending October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020 and summary consolidated balance sheet data as of October 2, 2021 are derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in any future period. You should read the following summary financial and other data in conjunction with the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Financial Information” and our financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

Consolidated statement of operations data

 

    Successor     Predecessor     Successor  
(In thousands, except unit/
share and per unit/share
data)
  Fiscal Year
2020
    March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
    December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
    Nine

months
ended
October 2,
2021
    Nine

months
ended
September 26,
2020
 

Net sales

  $ 834,010     $ 945,527     $ 259,972     $ 859,291     $ 564,328  

Operating expenses:

         

Cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    353,455       460,169       133,595       317,620       233,202  

Salaries, wages, and benefits

    184,392       195,066       60,193       168,314       124,243  

Selling, general, and administrative

    229,886       187,727       71,537       186,858       168,847  

Depreciation and amortization

    59,432       32,391       18,837       33,972       43,434  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    827,165       875,353       284,162       706,764       569,726  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

    6,845       70,174       (24,190     152,527       (5,398

Other (expense) income:

         

Interest expense

    (69,678     (58,003     (20,784     (40,591     (51,454

Other income (expense), net

    3,410       (6,353     6,605       (399     2,137  

Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt

    —         —         283,241       (47,541     —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other (expense) income, net

    (66,268     (64,356     269,062       (88,531     (49,317
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income tax expense

    (59,423     5,818       244,872       63,996       (54,715

Income tax expense

    4,060       4,437       5,256       8,340       (13,398
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

  $ (63,483   $ 1,381     $ 239,616     $ 55,656     $ (41,317
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

28


Table of Contents
    Successor     Predecessor      Successor  
(In thousands, except unit/
share and per unit/share
data)
  Fiscal Year
2020
    March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
    December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
     Nine

months
ended
October 2,
2021
    Nine

months
ended
September 26,
2020
 

Net (loss) earnings per unit, basic

  $ (0.34   $ 0.01        $ 0.28     $ (0.22

Net (loss) earnings per unit, diluted

  $ (0.34   $ 0.01        $ 0. 28     $ (0.22

Pro forma net loss per share, basic and diluted

  $                         

Weighted average number of units outstanding used to compute net (loss) earnings per unit, basic

    188,757,245       178,378,867          198,378,867       185,290,632  

Weighted average number of units outstanding used to compute net (loss) earnings per unit, diluted

    188,757,245       178,609,336          201,821,886       185,290,632  

Weighted average number of shares outstanding used to compute pro forma loss per share, basic and diluted

                                            

Consolidated balance sheet data

 

     As of
October 2,
2021
     Pro
Forma(1)(2)
 
(In thousands)              

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 160,252      $                

Total assets

     1,008,834     

Total liabilities

     777,992     

Total members’ / stockholders’ equity

     230,842     

 

(1)

The pro forma column reflects the effects of the Transactions, including the Corporate Conversion, the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, the additional borrowings of $225.0 million on our New Term Loan Facility to finance the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, the November 2021 Dividend and gives effect to the sale and issuance by us of shares of our common stock in this offering, based upon the assumed initial public offering price of $                 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us upon completion of our initial public offering. See “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information.”

(2)

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $                 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease the amount of our pro forma cash and cash equivalents,

 

29


Table of Contents
  total assets and total stockholders’ equity by $                 million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. An increase or decrease of 1.0 million shares in the number of shares offered by us would increase or decrease, as applicable, the amount of our pro forma cash and cash equivalents, total assets and total stockholders’ equity by $                 million assuming the assumed initial public offering price remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us.

Key business metrics and non-GAAP financial measures

We use the following key business metrics and non-GAAP financial measures to evaluate our performance, identify trends, formulate financial projections, and make strategic decisions. We believe that these key business metrics and non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations in the same manner as our management team.

We present Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and Free Cash Flow, which are non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. Further, we believe the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin and Free Cash Flow is helpful in highlighting trends in our operating results, because it excludes the impact of items that are outside the control of management or not reflective of our ongoing operations and performance.

Key business metrics

The following table summarizes our key business metrics for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

    Fiscal Year 2020     Fiscal Year 2019     Nine months ended
October 2,
2021
    Nine months ended
September 26,
2020
 

Comparable store sales growth(1)

       

United States

    (27.8 )%      7.8     77.4     (34.4 )% 

Canada

    (29.3 )%      3.4     22.7     (32.2 )% 

Total(3)

    (28.6 )%      5.7     49.7     (33.3 )% 

Comparable store daily sales(2)

       

United States

    (7.7 )%      7.8     25.1     (7.0 )% 

Canada

    (12.5 )%      3.4     18.5     (10.4 )% 

Total(3)

    (10.3 )%      5.7     24.2     (9.3 )% 

Number of Stores(4)

       

United States

    137       145       136       138  

Canada

    147       147       148       148  

Total(3)

    294       302       294       296  
Other Metrics        

Pounds processed (mm lbs)

    682       1,029       624       462  

 

(1)

Comparable store sales growth is the percentage change in comparable store sales over the prior year. Comparable store sales is calculated as net sales for the period by stores open during the entirety of both periods that are being compared. We considered any store temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic to be open and comparable during the period. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Business Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Comparable store sales growth.”

 

30


Table of Contents
(2)

Comparable store daily sales for the period is the net sales by stores in the relevant geography that were or would have been open for the entirety of both periods if not for temporary closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, divided by the aggregate number of days those stores were open. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Business Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Comparable store daily sales.”

(3)

Total number of stores, comparable store sales growth and comparable store daily sales includes our Australia retail locations, in addition to the United States and Canada.

(4)

Number of Stores includes new stores not yet included in the comparable store sales growth and comparable store daily sales computations measured as of the last day of the fiscal year.

Non-GAAP measures

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Free Cash Flow are non-GAAP financial measures. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and Free Cash Flow have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. There are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures, including that amounts presented in accordance with our definitions of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and Free Cash Flow may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by our competitors, because not all companies and analysts calculate Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and Free Cash Flow in the same manner. Because of these limitations, you should consider Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and Free Cash Flow alongside other financial performance measures, including, as applicable, net (loss) income and net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, and our other GAAP results. We present Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and Free Cash Flow because we consider these metrics to be important supplemental measures of our performance and believe it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors, and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. Management believes that investors’ understanding of our performance is enhanced by including these non-GAAP financial measures as a reasonable basis for comparing our ongoing results of operations.

The following table presents our Adjusted EBITDA and Free Cash Flow amounts.

 

    Successor     Predecessor     Successor  
    Fiscal
Year 2020
    Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
    Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
    Nine months
ended
October 2,
2021
    Nine months
ended
September 26,
2020
 

(Dollar amounts in thousands)

         

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 59,496     $   118,170     $   13,989     $   166,334     $   36,463  

Adjusted EBITDA margin

    7.1     12.5     5.4     19.4     6.5

Free Cash Flow

  $   10,741     $ 37,859     $ (23,263   $ 122,559     $ (9,767)  

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin

We define Adjusted EBITDA as net (loss) income before interest expense, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude gain on extinguishment of debt, equity-based compensation expense, non-cash occupancy-related costs, pre-opening expenses, store closing expenses, executive transition costs, shared service center transition costs, certain COVID-19 related costs and benefits, transaction costs, and certain other adjustments. We define Adjusted EBITDA margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are considered non-GAAP financial measures under the SEC’s rules and regulations because they exclude certain charges included in net (loss) income calculated in accordance with GAAP.

 

31


Table of Contents

Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are meaningful measures to share with investors because they best allow comparison of the performance of one period with that of another period. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin afford investors a view of what management considers its operating performance to be and the ability to make a more informed assessment of such operating performance as compared with that of the prior period.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net (loss) income, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin:

 

    Successor      Predecessor     Successor  
    Fiscal
Year 2020
    Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
     Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
    Nine months
ended
October 2,
2021
    Nine months
ended
September 26,
2020
 

(In thousands)

                                                                                                      

Net (loss) income

  $ (63,483   $ 1,381      $ 239,616     $ 55,656     $ (41,317

Interest expense

    69,678       58,003        20,784       40,591       51,454  

Income tax expense (benefit)

    4,060       4,437        5,256       8,340       (13,398

Depreciation and amortization

    59,432       32,391        18,837       33,972       43,434  

(Gain) loss on extinguishment of debt(1)

    —         —          (283,241     47,541       —    

Equity-based compensation expense(2)

    354       211        315       594       267  

Non-cash occupancy-related costs(3)

    11,778       1,756        (91     (389     10,876  

Pre-opening expenses(4)

    1,458       1,222        —         210       290  

Store closing expenses(5)

    10,315       6,400        5,272       (751     7,749  

Executive transition costs(6)

    655       —          —         —         655  

Shared service center transition costs(7)

    358       —          —         181       —    

COVID-related adjustments(8)

    (31,820     —          —         (21,359     (21,549

Transaction costs(9)

    —         3,890        9,443       4,507       —    

Other adjustments(10)

    (3,289     8,479        (2,202     (2,758     (1,998
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 59,496     $ 118,170      $ 13,989     $ 166,334     $ 36,463  
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income margin

    (7.6 )%      0.1      92.2     6.5     (7.3 )% 
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA margin

    7.1     12.5      5.4     19.4     6.5
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Represents gain on debt extinguishment in relation to the March 2019 Transactions and the loss on extinguishment of debt incurred in relation to the April 2021 Refinancing.

(2)

Equity-based compensation expense represents non-cash compensation expenses related to stock options granted to certain of our employees and directors.

(3)

Includes the difference between cash and straight-line rent for all periods. The increase in non-cash occupancy-related costs in fiscal year 2020 relates to operating leases renegotiated during the pandemic, which allowed us to defer payment toward future periods.

(4)

Pre-opening expenses include expenses incurred in the preparation and opening of new store and processing locations, such as payroll, training, travel, occupancy, and supplies.

(5)

Costs associated with the closing of certain retail locations, including lease termination costs, amounts paid to third parties for rent reduction negotiations, fees paid to landlords for store closings, and, in some instances, income associated with early lease terminations.

(6)

Represents severance costs associated with executive leadership changes.

 

32


Table of Contents
(7)

Represents severance costs associated with the opening of our new shared service center in Boise, Idaho during fiscal year 2020.

(8)

Represents benefits, net of costs in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic during fiscal year 2020, including wage subsidies and severance costs. During fiscal year 2020, we received $32.6 million in wage subsidies and incurred $0.8 million in severance costs. During the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020, we received wage subsidies of $21.7 million and $22.3 million, respectively. Wage subsidies are reflected as a reduction to employee personnel costs in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income.

(9)

Adjustments to the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 represent costs associated with the March 2019 Transactions, including employee bonuses, third-party advisor and consulting fees, and other transaction-related expenses, which are partially offset by accrued interest forgiven by certain of our former lenders. The benefit from accrued interest forgiven by certain of our former lenders is reflected as a reduction in Adjusted EBITDA in the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019.

Adjustment to the nine months ended October 2, 2021 represents transaction costs related to this offering and the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, including third-party advisor and consulting fees, legal costs, and other transaction-related expenses.

 

(10)

Other adjustments include foreign exchange gains and losses.

Free Cash Flow

We define Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. Free Cash Flow is considered a non-GAAP financial measure under the SEC’s rules and regulations because it excludes purchases of property and equipment calculated in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that Free Cash Flow, which measures the ability to generate additional cash from business operations, is an important financial measure for use in evaluating the company’s financial performance and ability to reduce debt, fund acquisitions and fund growth initiatives.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to Free Cash Flow:

 

    Successor     Predecessor     Successor  
    Fiscal
Year 2020
    Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
    Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
    Nine
months
ended
October 2,
2021
    Nine
months
ended
September 26,
2020
 

(In thousands)

         

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ 29,913     $ 61,985     $ (18,039   $ 145,886     $ 4,449  

Purchases of property and equipment(1)

    (19,172     (24,126     (5,224     (23,327     (14,216
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Free Cash Flow

  $ 10,741     $ 37,859     $ (23,263   $ 122,559     $ (9,767
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Purchases of property and equipment include capital expenditures on our retail stores and facilities, including leasehold improvements and information technology equipment.

 

33


Table of Contents

RISK FACTORS

A description of the risks and uncertainties associated with our business is set forth below. You should carefully consider the risks and uncertainties described below, together with all of the other information in this prospectus, including the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes, before making a decision to invest in our common stock. Our business, results of operations, financial condition, and prospects could also be harmed by risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently do not believe to be material. If any of the risks actually occur, our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects could be harmed. In that event, the market price of our common stock could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment.

Risks Relating to Our Business and Industry

If we fail to obtain a sufficient quantity of new and recurring quality secondhand items at attractive prices, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed.

The quality and quantity of the supply of our secondhand items are critically important drivers of our sales generated per pound of goods processed, which we internally refer to as “sales yield.” If we are unable to achieve a favorable sales yield with a sufficient quantity of goods obtained at attractive prices, our profitability will suffer. Our business model is based on sourcing from and selling to the local community, so our business is dependent on our ability to obtain quality secondhand items at attractive prices from sources in each community we operate in.

To the extent we are required to pay higher prices to our NPPs for secondhand items, our profitability will be directly negatively affected. The pricing of secondhand items may be dependent on factors such as the volume of items donated to our NPPs (which may fluctuate due to factors outside of our control), our ability to negotiate, maintain and grow our relationships with our NPPs and competition for secondhand items from other potential purchasers of secondhand items. As a result, if we are required to pay higher prices for secondhand items, our profitability will be reduced.

Furthermore, the quality of items we receive (either directly from our NPPs or through OSDs) is critical to our sales yield and profitability. To the extent the items supplied to us are lower in quality or are worse in condition, fewer of those items may be graded in our processing centers as saleable at retail; the price points they will be able to obtain may be lower; and fewer of those items may be seen as desirable by our customers and actually be sold at retail. Lower item quality could result in markdowns and other promotions in our retail stores and a greater proportion of items sold at wholesale. The sales prices we receive for items sold to our wholesale customers for reuse and repurposing are lower than those we receive for items sold at retail. As a result, lower item quality could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to generate revenue from retail sales.

Finally, to the extent we do not obtain a sufficient quantity of quality secondhand items, we will not be able to provide our customers with a sufficient quantity of items they perceive as desirable. Because many of our customers desire a treasure hunt experience at our stores, a decline in the amount of desirable items could have a negative effect on their shopping experience and could have a negative impact on the number of store visits and purchase volumes of our existing customers as well as on our ability to attract new customers.

As a result, the failure to obtain a sufficient quantity of quality items at attractive prices could negatively impact our sales yield, revenues and profitability and could have a material, adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

34


Table of Contents

Our ability to obtain a sufficient quantity of quality secondhand items at attractive prices is dependent on maintaining our strong relationships with existing NPPs, maintaining and growing OSDs and developing new relationships in the areas in which we operate.

Our ability to cost-effectively obtain quality secondhand items is dependent on maintaining strong relationships with our existing NPPs, maintaining and growing OSDs and developing relationships with new NPPs and their donors. Numerous factors, however, may impede our ability to maintain and develop relationships with NPPs and their donors with quality secondhand items. To expand our base of secondhand items for sale and our base of NPPs, we must appeal to and engage NPPs new to selling secondhand items and individuals new to donating secondhand items to our NPPs through OSDs. We cannot be certain that these efforts will result in more supply of quality secondhand items or that these efforts will be cost-effective.

In addition, as we expand our operations, because our business model is focused locally, we will be required to expand or develop relationships with NPPs and donors who make OSDs in and around those locations. If we are unable to develop and maintain those new relationships, our ability to grow our business will be negatively impacted.

Our efforts to appeal to NPPs and donors may not result in more supply of quality secondhand items, and these efforts may not be cost-effective. Our ability to obtain new and recurring quality secondhand items from new and existing NPPs and their donors depends on a number of factors, such as our ability to enhance and improve our Community Donation Centers, NPPs’ perceptions of whether payouts they are receiving are adequate and timely compensation for their items. Our ability to increase OSDs is dependent in large part on the convenience to donors of making a donation at one of our stores (which can be driven in large part by store location) and the quality of the donors’ donation experience, including the quality and selection of the NPPs to which they can donate their items. If we are unable to meet the expectations of our NPPs and their donors and drive repeat supply, the quality and volume of the secondhand items we receive could be adversely affected.

In addition, due to economic uncertainties, governmental orders, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, other similar events or other challenges, our NPPs may be unable to obtain donated items for delivered supply or may be unable or unwilling to continue supplying secondhand items on terms or in quantities desirable to us. Furthermore, such uncertainties, restrictions or events could have a negative impact on donors’ ability or willingness to make OSDs.

If we are unable to obtain a sufficient volume of quality secondhand items, our sales revenue from secondhand items would be materially and adversely affected, which would have a material, adverse effect on our business, growth prospects, results of operations and financial condition.

We are subject to risks associated with sourcing and processing of secondhand items, including processing costs and capacity, risks due to damage, loss or contamination of items, increased costs to maintain and/or develop sources of supply, and risks associated with itemizing, grading, storage, transportation and other logistics.

The secondhand items we offer at retail through our stores and at wholesale in domestic and global resale markets are initially sourced through our NPPs either directly or through OSDs at our stores. As a result, we are subject to fluctuations in the price we pay for secondhand items. In addition, the cost of merchandise sold may increase due to increases in labor costs and costs of storage, which may be driven by market forces outside our control. Furthermore, to the extent that the volume of secondhand items we obtain in a particular locality exceeds our capacity to process or store them, our ability to generate revenue in that locality will be limited by that capacity constraint. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be negatively impacted by these cost and capacity issues.

 

35


Table of Contents

Furthermore, the secondhand items we receive may not be of sufficient quality or free from damage, and such secondhand items may be damaged during shipping or processing. While we conduct inspections of secondhand items in our inventory, we cannot control items while they are out of our possession or prevent all damage while in our processing facilities. For example, we may experience contamination from various sources, such as mold, bacteria, insects and other pests, in certain secondhand items provided to us. If we are unable to detect, quarantine and properly deal with such contaminants at the time such secondhand items are initially received in our stores or in our processing facilities, some or all of the other secondhand items in such facilities could be contaminated. We may incur additional expenses and our reputation could be harmed if the secondhand items we offer are damaged or contain contaminants.

We may also experience increased costs to attract, retain and grow relationships with our NPPs. If we are unsuccessful in establishing or maintaining our relationships with our NPPs, or if they partner with our competitors and devote greater resources to implement and support the platforms or retail items of our competitors, our ability to compete in the marketplace, or to grow our revenue, could be impaired, and our results of operations may suffer.

Our business depends on our ability to attract and retain suitable workers for our stores and processing facilities and to manage labor costs, particularly given recent disruptions in the supply and cost of labor.

Our future growth and performance, positive customer experience and legal and regulatory compliance depends on our ability to attract, develop, retain and motivate a large number of highly qualified store management personnel, processing employees and team members. Our team members in our processing facilities must efficiently and accurately sort and price many of our secondhand items for sale in our stores.

Our ability to meet our labor needs, while controlling labor costs in a labor market challenged by historically high rates of employee turnover, labor shortages and rising wage rates, is subject to many external factors, including competition for and availability of qualified personnel particularly during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, unemployment levels, governmental regulatory bodies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and the National Labor Relations Board, prevailing wage rates in the jurisdictions in which we operate (including the heightened possibility of increased applicable minimum wage rules and regulations), health and other insurance costs, changes in employment and labor laws or other workplace regulations (including those relating to employee benefit programs such as health insurance and paid leave programs), our ability to maintain good relations with our team members, employee activism, and our reputation and relevance within the labor market. In addition, to the extent unemployment assistance and other similar benefits are enhanced or extended by governmental agencies in the jurisdictions in which we operate (including in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic), such enhancements or extensions could have a negative effect on the supply of qualified workers.

We compete with other retail businesses for many of our store management personnel and sales team members in hourly and part-time positions. These positions have had historically high turnover rates, which can lead to increased training and retention costs. In addition, we compete with retail business and warehouse operations for employees in our processing facilities, which are growing quickly and competing aggressively for additional labor. If we are unable to attract and retain quality employees and other management personnel, or fail to comply with the regulations and laws impacting personnel, our operations, processing efficiency, customer service levels, legal and regulatory compliance, and support functions could suffer, resulting in a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

36


Table of Contents

In addition, to the extent a significant portion of our employee base unionizes, or attempts to unionize, our labor and other related costs could increase. Our ability to pass along labor and other related costs to our customers is constrained by our everyday low-price model, and we may not be able to offset such increased costs elsewhere in our business.

Our continued growth depends on attracting new, and retaining existing, customers, including by increasing the acceptance of thrift among new and growing customer demographics.

To expand our customer base, we must appeal to and attract customers who do not typically purchase secondhand items, who have historically purchased only new retail items or who used other means to purchase secondhand items, such as other consignment and thrift stores or the websites of secondary marketplaces. We reach new customers through paid search, social media, influencers, advertising, other paid marketing, press coverage, retail locations, referral programs, organic word of mouth and other methods of discovery, such as converting our NPPs’ donors to customers. We expect to continue investing in these and other marketing channels in the future and cannot be certain that these efforts will enable us to attract and retain more customers, result in increased purchase frequency or increased basket sizes from our customers or be cost-effective. In addition, successful growth requires us to find appropriate store locations tailored to consumer demographics in our targeted market areas. Our ability to attract and retain customers also depends on our ability to offer a broad selection of desirable and quality secondhand items in our stores, our ability to consistently provide high-quality customer experiences and our ability to promote and position our brands and stores. Our investments in marketing may not effectively reach potential customers and existing customers, potential customers or existing customers may decide not to buy through us or the spend of customers that purchase from us may not yield the intended return on investment, any of which could negatively affect our results of operations. Moreover, consumer preferences may change, and customers may not purchase through our stores as frequently or spend as much with us as historically has been the case. As a result, the revenue generated from customer transactions in the future may not be as high as the revenue generated from transactions historically. Consequently, failure to attract new customers and to retain existing customers could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Both supply of and demand for our products is influenced by general economic conditions, including trends in consumer spending.

Our business and results of operations are subject to global economic conditions, conditions in the markets in which we operate and their impact on consumer discretionary spending, particularly in the retail market. Some of the factors that may negatively influence consumer spending on retail items include high levels of unemployment, high consumer debt levels, fluctuating interest rates and credit availability, fluctuating fuel and other energy costs, fluctuating commodity prices and general uncertainty regarding the overall future political and economic environment. Economic conditions in particular regions may also be affected by natural disasters, such as earthquakes, hurricanes and wildfires; unforeseen public health crises, such as pandemics and epidemics, including the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic; political crises, such as terrorist attacks, war and other incidents of political or social instability or other catastrophic events, whether occurring in the United States, Canada or internationally. The presence or absence of government stimulus funding programs has had and may continue to have an impact on consumer discretionary spending and, consequently, purchases at our stores.

Traditionally, consumer purchases of new retail items have declined and secondhand markets have grown during periods of economic uncertainty, when disposable income is reduced or when there is a reduction in consumer confidence. Nevertheless, we cannot guarantee that our customers will continue to visit our stores and buy our items if economic conditions worsen. On the other hand, economic upswings could increase the rate of new retail purchases in the primary market and slow the rate at which individuals choose to shop in the secondhand market, thereby decreasing our revenue.

 

37


Table of Contents

Furthermore, fluctuations in economic and other conditions could also negatively impact the rate at which individuals choose to donate their secondhand items to our NPPs. To the extent that donors have lower actual or perceived wealth or economic security, donors may be less willing or able to donate items to our NPPs (either directly or through OSDs). The constriction of supply of secondhand items could increase the price we must pay for items and could also reduce the quality and quantity of items we are able to purchase for sale in our stores, which would adversely affect our revenues, profitability and sales yields.

As a result, general economic and other conditions could have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operation and financial condition.

We have experienced rapid growth, and those growth rates may not be indicative of our future growth. If we fail to manage our growth effectively, we may be unable to execute our business plan and our business, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed.

We have experienced rapid growth in certain recent periods, and may continue to experience rapid growth in future periods, which has placed, and may continue to place, significant demands on our management and our operational and financial resources. We have also experienced significant growth in the number of customers using our stores in certain periods, despite a reduction in total days our stores were open during 2020 and growth rates that were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, our organizational structure is becoming more complex as we scale our operational, financial and management controls as well as our reporting systems and procedures.

To manage growth in our operations and the growth in our number of customers, we will need to continue to grow and improve our operational, financial and management controls and our reporting systems and procedures. We will also need to actively and carefully manage the expansion of our store footprint through a targeted real estate strategy. We will need to maintain or increase the automation of our processing facilities (including our CPCs) and continue to improve how we apply data science to our operations. Our expansion has placed, and our expected future growth will continue to place, a significant strain on our management, marketing, operations, administrative, legal, financial, customer support, engineering and other resources. If we fail to manage our anticipated growth and change in a manner that preserves the key aspects of our corporate culture, our employee morale, productivity and retention could suffer, which could negatively affect our brands and reputation and harm our ability to attract new customers and to grow our business. In addition, future growth, such as the potential further expansion of our operations internationally or expansion into new categories of offerings, either organically or through acquisitions, would require significant capital expenditures, which could adversely affect our results of operations, and the allocation of valuable management resources to grow and change in these areas.

In future periods, we may not be able to sustain or increase revenue growth rates consistent with recent history, or at all. We believe our success and revenue growth depends on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, our ability to:

 

   

generate a sufficient amount of new and recurring quality secondhand items at an attractive price by maintaining our strong relationships with existing NPPs, maintaining and growing OSDs and developing new relationships in the areas in which we operate;

 

   

attract and retain suitable workers for our stores and processing facilities and manage labor costs;

 

   

attract new, and retain existing, customers, including by increasing the acceptance of thrift among new and growing customer demographics;

 

   

increase awareness of our brands;

 

38


Table of Contents
   

maintain a high level of customer service and satisfaction;

 

   

anticipate and respond to changing market preferences;

 

   

anticipate and respond to macroeconomic changes generally, including changes in the markets for both new and secondhand retail items;

 

   

identify and obtain suitable locations for new stores and facilities;

 

   

adapt to changing conditions in our industry and related to the COVID-19 pandemic and measures implemented to contain its spread;

 

   

improve, expand and further automate our CPC operations, information systems and stores;

 

   

effectively scale our operations while maintaining high-quality service and customer satisfaction;

 

   

successfully compete against established companies and new market entrants, including national retailers and brands, other consignment and thrift stores and online resale platforms;

 

   

avoid or manage interruptions in our business from information technology downtime, cybersecurity breaches and other factors that could affect our physical and digital infrastructure; and

 

   

comply with regulations applicable to our business.

If we are unable to accomplish any of these tasks, our revenue growth may be harmed. We also expect our operating expenses to increase in future periods, and if our revenue growth does not increase to offset these anticipated increases in our operating expenses, our business, results of operations and financial condition will be harmed, and we may not be able to maintain profitability.

We may not be able to identify and obtain suitable locations for new stores as we grow our business. The success of each store location is dependent on a number of factors, including site suitability, our ability to negotiate appropriate store leases, customer traffic and convenience and proximity to NPPs and their donors, customers, suitable workers and our processing facilities.

Our business strategy requires us to find appropriate store and processing facility sites in our targeted market areas. We compete with other retailers and businesses for acceptable locations for our stores and other facilities. For the purpose of identifying suitable locations we rely, in part, on information regarding the demographics of the local areas, both with respect to potential customers and potential donors. While we believe demographics are helpful indicators of favorable locations, we recognize that this information cannot predict future consumer preferences and buying trends with complete accuracy. We also rely on other factors such as proximity to potential and existing NPPs and their donors, our CPCs and suitable workers. Time frames for negotiations and store development vary from location to location and can be subject to unforeseen delays or unexpected cancellations.

We lease all of our locations. While locations that source product through a CPC do not require on-site production facilities, currently, most of our locations have processing facilities on-site. To the extent a location requires an on-site processing facility, the location will have specific requirements as to size, layout and physical facilities that may not be available widely in the local area. To the extent suitable store and other locations are unavailable, whether due to large scale redevelopment of shopping centers or otherwise, we may experience difficulties entering into new leases on favorable terms. The failure to secure new locations for our stores and other facilities could have a material and adverse effect on our ability to grow and maintain our business.

Our leases are generally for extended terms with a typical initial term of 10 years, and we had an average remaining term of obligation of 65 months as of January 2, 2021. The majority of our leases

 

39


Table of Contents

contain provisions for base rent and a small number of our leases contain provisions for base rent plus percentage rent based on sales in excess of an agreed upon minimum annual sales level. We may not be able to terminate a particular lease if or when we would like to do so, which could prevent us from closing or relocating certain underperforming locations. If we decide to close locations, we generally are required to continue paying rent and operating expenses for the balance of the lease term, and the performance of any of these obligations may be expensive. When we assign or sublease vacated locations, we may remain liable on the lease obligations for the rent differential or if the assignee or sub-lessee does not perform. Accordingly, we are subject to the risks associated with leasing locations, which can have a material and adverse effect on us.

If we are unable to renew, renegotiate or replace our leases or enter into leases for new locations on favorable terms, our growth and profitability could be harmed, which could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are also required to make significant lease payments for our existing leases, which may strain our cash flow. We depend on net cash provided by operating activities to pay our lease expenses and to fulfill our other cash needs. If our business does not generate sufficient cash provided by operating activities, and sufficient funds are not otherwise available to us from borrowings under our credit facilities or from other sources, we may not be able to service our lease expenses, grow our business, respond to competitive challenges or fund our other liquidity and capital needs, which would harm our business.

Some of our stores may have challenges achieving period-to-period comparable store sales growth targets due to various factors outside our control, including availability of quality secondhand items, availability of suitable workers, site suitability, lease terms and conditions, operational risks and regional growth and development patterns.

Because each store seeks to sell secondhand goods that are sourced locally to customers in its local area, each store’s results may fluctuate from one period to the next. While we seek to grow comparable store sales, various factors (many of which are outside our control) may negatively impact each store’s ability to meet our comparable store sales targets. These factors include (among others):

 

   

COVID-related or other government-imposed operational restrictions;

 

   

changes in the availability of quality secondhand items;

 

   

changes in the availability of suitable workers;

 

   

changes in or termination of store and facility leases;

 

   

changes in the economy or demographics of the local area or region;

 

   

changes in weather or climate;

 

   

the impact of natural disasters, cyber-attacks, social unrest or terrorist incidents;

 

   

changes in our relationships with local NPPs and the local community of donors;

 

   

changes in the timing and extent of promotional and advertising efforts; and

 

   

holidays or seasonal periods.

If our future year to year store sales growth fails to meet expectations, then our cash flow and profitability could decline substantially, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

 

40


Table of Contents

We have significant foreign operations, particularly in Canada, so we are subject to risks specific to operating in these jurisdictions and are also exposed to exchange rate risks, which we may not be able to fully hedge.

As of January 2, 2021, we operated 147 stores in Canada and 10 stores in Australia. Our operations in these non-U.S. jurisdictions require us to understand the retail climate and trends, customs and cultures, seasonal differences, business practices and competitive conditions in those jurisdictions. We are also required to familiarize ourselves with the laws, rules, regulations and government of each of those jurisdictions. Operations in each jurisdiction also require us to develop the appropriate in-country infrastructure, identify suitable partners for local operations and successfully integrate operations in that jurisdiction with our overall operations while effectively communicating and implementing company policies and practices. There are also financial, regulatory and other risks associated with international operations, including currency exchange fluctuations, potentially adverse tax and transfer pricing considerations, limitations on the repatriation and investment of funds outside of the country where earned, trade regulations, the risk of sudden policy or regulatory changes, the risk of political, economic and civil instability and labor unrest and uncertainties regarding interpretation, application and enforceability of laws and agreements. Any of these risks could adversely impact our operations, profitability or liquidity.

With respect to our Canadian operations, the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (“PIPEDA”) and various provincial laws require that companies give detailed privacy notices to consumers, obtain consent to use personal information, with limited exceptions, allow individuals to access and correct their personal information and report certain data breaches. In addition, Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (“CASL”) or provincial privacy or data protection laws could result in significant fines and penalties or possible damage awards.

In addition our Canadian and Australian operations use a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar. In fiscal year 2020, 48.8% of our net sales were derived from markets outside the United States. We are exposed to currency translation risk because the results of our international businesses in some countries are generally reported in local currency, which we then translate to U.S. dollars we record for our foreign assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and could have a negative effect on our financial results.

The global COVID-19 pandemic and the government’s responses in the jurisdictions in which we operate has had and may continue to have an unpredictable and adverse impact on our business, results of operations and financial condition, and similar events may have such effects in the future.

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic, and this contagious disease outbreak has continued to spread. The related public health measures, including orders to shelter-in-place, travel restrictions and mandated business closures, have adversely affected workforces, organizations, customers, economies and financial markets globally, leading to an economic downturn and increased market volatility. The fear associated with COVID-19, or any pandemic, and the reactions of governments around the world in response to COVID-19, or any pandemic, to regulate the flow of labor and sales and impede the travel of individuals, have and may continue to impact our ability to conduct normal business operations, which could adversely affect our results of operations and liquidity. For example, in March 2020, due to the progression of COVID-19 in areas where we operate and have corporate offices, we temporarily closed our corporate offices and all of our locations in the United States and Canada for a period of time to slow the spread of COVID-19, protect our team members and comply with certain local regulations. Later in 2020, all of our stores in Australia and stores elsewhere in our network were closed for similar reasons.

 

41


Table of Contents

The presence or absence of government stimulus funding programs, however, has had and may continue to have an impact on consumer discretionary spending and, consequently, purchases at our stores. Without timely and robust government stimulus funding programs, consumers would have less money to spend on secondhand items, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. We are also impacted by the overall decrease in spending during the pandemic, as many jurisdictions required closures or reduced capacity in our stores. In particular, in connection with this reduced social activity, the shift to wear-at-home clothing has also meant that many popular secondhand apparel categories sold at our stores, such as formal wear, office wear and shoes, have been less in-demand than pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, which affects our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Further, disruptions to our business operations have included and could include personnel absences, temporary closures of our stores, offices and processing facilities, further or ongoing reduced capacity at those locations, decreased foot traffic at and/or closure of our stores and a decrease or volatile patterns in spending on retail in general.

Further, developing various responses to the challenges caused by COVID-19 and its effects has and may continue to divert the attention of our management team. In the future, we may need to temporarily close some or all of our offices, processing facilities or stores. If a critical number of our employees become too ill to work or are unable to work due to personal reasons related to the effects of COVID-19, our ability to process and sell merchandise could be significantly slowed or halted.

Similarly, COVID-19 has led to a broader economic slowdown that may heighten other risks disclosed in this prospectus. Public health concerns, such as COVID-19, could also result in social, economic and labor instability in the localities in which we or our customers and NPPs and their donors reside. Such instability and concerns could negatively impact the amount and quality of donations to our NPPs (whether directly provided to us by NPPs or through OSDs) and could also negatively impact our customers’ willingness to shop at our stores, which would negatively impact our revenues and sales yields.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant negative impact on our net sales and pounds processed. Our net sales were $834.0 million during fiscal year 2020, compared to $945.5 million during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and $260.0 million during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The decrease in net sales resulted primarily from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health restrictions enacted during the year. Our retail stores were closed for a substantial portion of 2020 due to public health restrictions enacted during the pandemic, which resulted in lower store traffic and retail sales volume. During fiscal year 2020, our percentage open store days was 77.3%, compared to 100% during the Successor and Predecessor periods of fiscal year 2019. We define percentage open store days as the total number of days during which each of our stores generated revenue during a fiscal period, divided by the total number of days in the fiscal period, excluding planned holiday closures.

In addition, due to the closure of our retail locations during the pandemic, we accepted fewer donations made to our NPPs at our Community Donation Centers. Total pounds processed by us decreased to 682 million pounds during fiscal year 2020, compared to 791 million pounds during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and 238 million pounds during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. Our operating income was $6.8 million during fiscal year 2020, compared to operating income of $70.1 million during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and operating loss of $24.2 million during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019.

Any of these uncertainties and actions we take to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 and uncertainties related to COVID-19 could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. We face similar risks with respect to any worsening of the COVID-19 pandemic, the spread

 

42


Table of Contents

of any variants of COVID-19, including the Omicron variant, and any future outbreaks of disease. See the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations-COVID-19 Impact” for additional information about the impact of COVID-19 on our business.

We may not be able to expand our CPC operations in geographic regions that enable us to effectively scale our operations.

To grow our business, we must continue to improve and expand our CPC operations, proprietary systems, equipment and related technology. We must also staff our CPCs with suitable workers in each of the localities we wish to service. Our CPC operations are complex and require the coordination of multiple functions that are highly dependent on numerous qualified employees and personnel working as a team. Each item that we process requires multiple touch points, including categorization, inspection, grading, pricing and delivery to our store locations. This process is complex and, from time to time, we may have more secondhand items arriving from our NPPs and their donors than we can timely process.

As we grow our CPC operations, we expect that the number of employees in our CPCs will increase significantly in the near term, particularly as and when concerns and restrictions due to COVID-19 abate. The market for these employees is increasingly competitive and is highly dependent on geographic location. We could be required to raise wages or introduce other compensation incentives to remain competitive, which could increase our costs and harm our results of operations. If we fail to effectively locate, hire and retain such personnel, our ability to continue to implement our CPC strategy could be negatively impacted, which could harm our growth prospects and our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Further, the success of our business depends on our ability to secure additional locations for our CPCs that are able to serve our stores. Space meeting our physical requirements in well-positioned geographic locations is becoming increasingly scarce, and where it is available, the lease terms offered by landlords are increasingly competitive, particularly in geographic locations with access to the large, qualified talent pools required for us to run our logistics infrastructure. Companies who have more financial resources and negotiating leverage than us may be more attractive tenants and, as a result, may outbid us for the facilities we seek. Due to the competitive nature of the real estate market in the locations where we currently operate, we may be unable to renew our existing leases or renew them on satisfactory terms. Failure to identify and secure suitable new CPCs or to maintain our current CPCs could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

If we are unable to successfully leverage technology to automate and drive efficiencies in our operations, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed.

We are continuing to build automation, machine learning and other capabilities to drive efficiencies in our stores, our CPC operations, our ABP capabilities and other automated processing functions. As we continue to enhance automation and add capabilities, our operations may become increasingly complex. While we expect these technologies to improve productivity in many of our merchandising operations, including processing, itemizing and selling, any flaws, bugs or failures of such technologies could cause interruptions in and delays to our operations, which may harm our business. We are increasing our investment in technology, software and systems to support these efforts, but such investments may not increase productivity, maintain or improve the experience for customers or result in more efficient operations. While we have created our own proprietary technology to operate our business, we also rely on technology from third parties, particularly in our CPCs. If we are no longer able to rely on such third parties, we would be required to either seek licenses to technologies or services from other third parties and redesign aspects of business and operations to function with such technologies or services or develop such technologies ourselves, either of which would result in increased costs and could result in operational delays until equivalent technologies can be licensed or developed and integrated into our business and operations.

 

43


Table of Contents

We are subject to various risks to our physical store and processing facility locations, which may adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our business model is predicated on sourcing from local NPPs and their donors and selling to local customers. As a result, our stores and processing facilities are critical to our operations, and disruptions to those facilities (as well as to our headquarters) could disrupt our business and overall operations.

Our various facilities including our CPCs, may be affected by natural disasters, disease outbreaks, severe weather events or man-made events such as terrorism, labor unrest, social unrest, riots, looting and arson. Our facilities may also be affected by construction defects, damage to the physical structure that requires repair or disruptions in utility service. Any of the above events could severely disrupt our operations, cause harm to our team members and result in damage to or loss of inventory (in a location or regionally).

Additionally, given the nature of the unique selection of secondhand items we offer in our stores, our ability to restore such secondhand items in our stores would take time, and to the extent any events affecting our stores or other facilities also affect our NPPs or their donors, the supply of goods to our stores may also suffer. As a result, any of these events could result in a limitation and delay of available supply for customers, which would negatively impact our revenue and results of operations. For example, in March 2020 due to the progression of COVID-19 in areas where we operate and have corporate offices, we temporarily closed our corporate offices and all of our locations in the United States and Canada for a period of time to slow the spread of COVID-19, protect our team members and comply with certain local regulations. Later in 2020, all of our stores in Australia and stores elsewhere in our network were closed for similar reasons. Such reductions in operations and closures have slowed and may in the future slow or temporarily halt our operations and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We are also subject to shrinkage of inventory at our stores and facilities, and if we are unable to control such shrinkage, our sales yields will be negatively affected.

Further, while our property insurance covers certain of our inventory and losses, insurance coverage has become more expensive, which has resulted in increased premiums and deductibles. The insurance we do carry may not continue to be available on commercially reasonable terms and, in any event, may not be adequate to cover all possible losses that our business could suffer. In the event that we suffer a catastrophic loss of any or all of our facilities or the secondhand items in such facilities, our liabilities may exceed the maximum insurance coverage amount, which could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

A failure to retain key store and processing center management personnel could materially and adversely affect our business.

Our performance also depends on recruiting, hiring, developing, training, and retaining talented key management personnel for our stores and processing facilities. Similar to other retailers, we face challenges in securing and retaining sufficient talent in key management for many reasons, including competition for talent in the retail industry and in various geographic markets. In addition, because of the distinctive nature of our business model, which emphasizes promotion from within, we must provide significant internal training and development for key management personnel across the company and must effectively manage succession planning. If we do not effectively attract qualified individuals, train them in our business model and operating procedures, support their development, engage them in our business, and retain them in sufficient numbers and at appropriate levels of the organization, our growth could be limited, and the successful execution of our business model could be adversely affected.

 

44


Table of Contents

Labor-related matters, including labor disputes, may adversely affect our operations.

None of our employees are currently represented by a union. If our employees decide to form or affiliate with a union, we cannot predict the effects such future organizational activities will have on our business and operations. If we were to become subject to work stoppages, we could experience disruption in our operations, including increases in our labor costs, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

In addition, we have in the past and could face in the future a variety of employee claims against us, including but not limited to general discrimination, privacy, wage and hour, labor and employment, Employee Retirement Income Security Act, or ERISA, and disability claims. Any claims could also result in litigation against us or regulatory proceedings being brought against us by various federal and state agencies that regulate our business, including the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Often these cases raise complex factual and legal issues and create risks and uncertainties.

Acquisitions could be difficult to identify, pose integration challenges, divert the attention of management, disrupt our business, dilute stockholder value, and adversely affect our results of operations and expansion prospects.

We have in the past and may in the future make acquisitions of other companies or technologies. Competition within our industry for acquisitions of businesses (such as the 2nd Ave. Acquisition) may become intense, and we have limited experience in acquisitions. As such, even if we are able to identify a target for acquisition, we may not be able to complete the acquisition on commercially reasonable terms, or such target may be acquired by another company including, potentially, one of our competitors. Negotiations for such potential acquisitions may result in diversion of management time and significant out-of-pocket costs. If we do complete acquisitions, we may not ultimately strengthen our competitive position, realize the benefits from the acquired business or otherwise achieve our goals, and any acquisitions we complete could be viewed negatively by customers, team members, or investors or result in the incurrence of significant other liabilities. We may also not be able to successfully integrate the acquired operations, systems (including financial, inventory, customer and other systems), team members and facilities into our company, and the time and resources spent on such integration could be greater than expected. We may expend significant cash or incur substantial debt to finance such acquisitions, which indebtedness may restrict our business or require the use of available cash to make interest and principal payments. In addition, we may finance or otherwise complete acquisitions by issuing equity or convertible debt securities, which may result in further dilution of our existing stockholders. For example, we spent significant time and resources and incurred a significant amount of debt to finance the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, and expect to spend significant additional resources on integrating the 2nd Ave. operations, including 12 new stores, into our business. Doing so may take more time or use more resources than we expect, and we may not be successful at all in realizing our goals in the transaction. Additionally, the time and resources we spend toward integrating 2nd Ave. operations, systems (including financial, inventory, customer and other systems), team members and facilities may be a significant distraction to successfully growing the rest of our business. If we fail to evaluate and execute acquisitions successfully or fail to successfully address any of these risks, our results of operations and expansion prospects may be harmed.

We face risks related to acquisitions or joint ventures we may pursue.

We may in the future seek to acquire businesses, products or technologies that we believe could complement our business, extend our store footprint into new localities, enhance our technical capabilities or otherwise offer growth opportunities. The pursuit of potential acquisitions may divert the attention of management and cause us to incur various expenses in identifying, investigating and pursuing suitable acquisitions, whether or not they are consummated. Any acquisition, investment or business relationship may result in unforeseen operating difficulties and expenditures. In addition, we have limited experience in acquiring other businesses. If we acquire additional businesses, we may not

 

45


Table of Contents

be able to successfully integrate the acquired personnel, operations, systems and technologies, or effectively manage the combined business following the acquisition. Specifically, we may not successfully evaluate or utilize the acquired business, operations, systems, technology or personnel, or accurately forecast the financial impact of an acquisition transaction, including accounting charges. Moreover, the anticipated benefits of any acquisition, investment or business relationship may not be realized or we may be exposed to unknown risks or liabilities.

We may not be able to find and identify desirable acquisition targets or we may not be successful in entering into an agreement with any one target. Acquisitions could also result in dilutive issuances of equity securities or the incurrence of debt, which could harm our results of operations. In addition, if an acquired business fails to meet our expectations, our business, results of operations and financial condition may suffer.

Actions by wholesale customers could harm our brands and reputation, influence donor behavior and adversely affect our relationships with our NPPs and our customers.

We believe that our brands and reputation have significantly contributed to the success of our business. Our reputation, brands and ability to build trust with existing and new customers, donors and NPPs may be adversely affected by complaints and negative publicity about us and our merchandise, even if factually incorrect or based on isolated incidents. Our ability to attract and retain customers and maintain or enhance our relationships with NPPs and their donors is highly dependent upon external perceptions of our company, and damage to our brands and reputation may be caused by wholesale customers that improperly use or dispose of the items we sell to them. These and other events that may harm our brands and reputation could diminish the confidence of our customers in our products and shopping experience and could negatively impact the acceptance by our NPPs and their donors of our company and our business model. These risks could have an adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Such events could also cause our stockholders to sell or otherwise dispose of a significant number of shares of our common stock, which may have a significant adverse effect on the trading price of our common stock.

Disruptions in the wholesale markets due to market conditions, conditions in the countries where our wholesale goods are sold or other factors may adversely affect our business.

Much of the merchandise we purchase from our NPPs is not sold in our stores, but instead is sold into the global wholesale secondhand goods market. We have in the past, and may in the future, experience fluctuations and disruptions in this market. These fluctuations and disruptions could be caused by an influx of inexpensive textiles or other replacement goods that could compete with the secondhand goods we offer. In addition, a change in the end markets in which these goods are sold could affect demand for secondhand goods in the wholesale market. These end markets may be affected negatively by natural disasters, civil unrest, economic conditions or other localized or regional events. Further, changes in laws, rules and regulations in the end markets could also negatively affect demand for or price of secondhand items. If we are unable to sell a sufficient amount of secondhand goods into the wholesale market, our business, our reputation and our revenues, profitability, results of operations and financial condition could be materially and adversely affected.

Our business could be negatively impacted by a failure to live up to our commitments to, or our failure to appropriately address existing and emerging matters relating to, sustainability and good corporate citizenship and diversity.

Our company is premised on a focus on sustainability and the reduction of waste in our local communities and in the textile and other industries through thrift, reuse and repurposing. We also seek to maintain good corporate citizenship and continuously strive for a more inclusive and diverse workplace. Our mission is to promote a more sustainable future by making secondhand second nature

 

46


Table of Contents

and positively impacting the communities we operate in. Our company is committed to a focus on sustainability and the reduction of waste in our local communities through thrift, reuse and repurposing. We also seek to maintain good corporate citizenship and continuously strive for a more inclusive and diverse workplace. Our commitment to such matters may require us to devote additional resources in our review of prospective investments and our operations and could increase the amount of expenses we are required to bear, which could lead to reduced profitability. In addition, if incidents occur in which we fail, or are perceived to have failed, to live up to our commitments to sustainability, good corporate citizenship or diversity, or if we fail to accurately report our progress toward such commitments, negative publicity with respect to any such incident could discourage our customers from shopping at our stores, causing our net sales to decrease, and could negatively impact our relationships with our NPPs and their donors, causing the quantity and quality of secondhand goods we receive to decrease (and thus negatively impacting our revenues and sales yields). We could also be criticized for the scope of our sustainability, good corporate citizenship or diversity commitments and engagement; or for a perceived lack of sustainability, good corporate citizenship or diversity commitments and engagement; or for any perceived lack of transparency about such matters, which in turn could have a negative impact on stakeholder perception and stakeholder engagement with our business. This may also impact our ability to attract and retain talent to compete in the marketplace. These risks could therefore have a material and adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The market in which we participate is competitive and rapidly changing, and if we do not compete effectively with established companies as well as new market entrants or maintain and develop strategic relationships with NPPs, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed.

The markets for resale and secondhand items are highly competitive. We compete with vendors of new and secondhand items, including branded goods stores, local, national and global department stores, consignment and thrift stores (including non-profit operators), specialty retailers, direct-to-consumer, retailers, discount chains, independent retail stores, the offerings of other retail competitors, resale players focused on niche or single categories, as well as internet-based secondhand retailers and other technology-enabled marketplaces. We believe our ability to compete depends on many factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

 

   

maintaining favorable brand recognition;

 

   

identifying and delivering quality secondhand items;

 

   

maintaining and increasing the amount, diversity and quality of secondhand items that we offer;

 

   

our ability to expand the means through which we acquire and offer secondhand items for resale;

 

   

attracting and retaining suitable workers for our stores and processing facilities and managing labor costs;

 

   

attracting donors and retaining relationships with NPPs;

 

   

the ease with which our customers and NPPs and their donors can supply, purchase and return secondhand items;

 

   

the price at which secondhand items are offered;

 

   

the speed and cost at which we can process and make available secondhand items to our customers; and

 

   

attracting and retaining customers and increasing the volume of secondhand items they buy.

As our market evolves and we begin to compete with new market entrants, we expect competition to intensify in the future. Established companies may not only develop their own platforms and competing lines of business, but also acquire or establish cooperative relationships with our current

 

47


Table of Contents

competitors or provide meaningful incentives to third parties to favor their offerings over our stores. The performance of our competitors as well as changes in their pricing and promotional policies, marketing activities, new location openings, merchandising and operational strategies could negatively impact our sales and profitability.

Many of our existing competitors have, and some of our potential competitors or potential alliances among competitors could have, substantial competitive advantages such as greater brand name recognition and longer operating histories; larger fulfillment infrastructures; greater technical capabilities; internet-based marketplaces; broader supply; established relationships with a larger existing customer and/or NPP and donor base; better access to merchandise; superior or more desirable secondhand items for sale or resale; greater customer service resources; greater financial, marketing, institutional and other resources; greater resources to make acquisitions; lower labor and development costs; larger and more mature intellectual property portfolios; and better access to capital markets than we do. Such competitors with greater financial and operating resources may be able to respond more quickly and effectively than we can to new or changing opportunities, technologies, standards or customer requirements and derive greater revenue and profits from their existing customer bases, adopt more aggressive pricing policies to build larger customer or NPP bases, or respond more quickly than we can to new or emerging technologies and changes in consumer shopping behavior.

If we are unsuccessful in establishing or maintaining our relationships with our NPPs, or if they partner with our competitors and devote greater resources to implement and support the platforms or retail items of our competitors, our ability to compete in the marketplace, or to grow our revenue, could be impaired, and the results of our operations may suffer. Even if these partnerships and any future partnerships we undertake are successful, these relationships may not result in increased buying and selling through our stores or increased revenue.

Conditions in our market could also change rapidly and significantly as a result of technological advancements, partnering by our competitors or continuing market consolidation or strategic changes we or our competitors make in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is uncertain how our market will evolve. These competitive pressures in our market or our failure to compete effectively may result in price reductions, fewer customers and NPPs, reduced revenue, reduced profitability, increased net losses, and loss of market share. Any failure to meet and address these factors could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

National retailers and brands set their own retail prices and promotional discounts on new items, which could adversely affect our value proposition to customers and harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

National retailers and brands set pricing for their own new retail items, which can include promotional discounts. For example, there may be reductions in the price of new retail items in light of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Promotional pricing by these parties may adversely affect the relative value of secondhand items offered for resale with us. In order to attract customers to our stores, the prices for the secondhand items sold through our stores may need to be lowered in order to compete with pricing strategies employed by national retailers and brands for their own new retail items. These pricing changes and promotional discounts could, as a result, adversely affect our business, revenue, growth, results of operations and financial condition.

Natural disasters, pandemics, geo-political events and other highly disruptive events could materially and adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The occurrence of one or more natural disasters, such as fires, hurricanes, tornados, tsunamis, floods and earthquakes, geo-political events or terrorist or military activities disrupting transportation, communication or utility systems or other highly disruptive events, such as nuclear accidents, public health epidemics or pandemics (such as the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak), unusual weather conditions

 

48


Table of Contents

or cyberattacks, could adversely affect our operations and financial performance. Such events could result in physical damage to or destruction or disruption of one or more of our properties (including our corporate offices, Centralized Processing Centers, other processing facilities and stores) or properties used by NPPs in connection with the supply of secondhand items to us, negative impacts on our team members in parts or all of our operations, supply chain disruptions, data, utility and communications disruptions, fewer customers visiting our stores, including due to quarantines or public health crises and the inability of our customers to reach or have transportation to our stores directly affected by such events. These events could also negatively impact the willingness of donors to donate items to our NPPs (either directly to our NPPs or through OSDs), which would adversely affect the price, quantity and quality of secondhand items we are able to purchase. In addition, these events could cause a temporary reduction in consumer sales or the ability to sell our items or could indirectly result in increases in the costs of our insurance if they result in significant loss of property or other insurable damage. These factors could also cause consumer confidence and spending to decrease or result in increased volatility in the United States, Canada and global financial markets and economies. Any of these developments could have a material and adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our advertising activity may fail to efficiently drive growth in customers, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our future growth and potential profitability will depend in large part upon the effectiveness and efficiency of our advertising, promotion, public relations and marketing programs, and we are investing in these activities. Our advertising activities may not yield increased revenue and the efficacy of these activities will depend on a number of factors, including our ability to:

 

   

determine the effective creative message and media mix for advertising, marketing and promotional expenditures;

 

   

select the right markets, media and specific media vehicles in which to advertise;

 

   

identify the most effective and efficient level of spending in each market, media and specific media vehicle; and

 

   

effectively manage marketing costs, including creative and media expenses, to maintain acceptable customer acquisition costs.

We closely monitor the effectiveness of our advertising campaigns and changes in the advertising market, and adjust or re-allocate our advertising spend across channels, customer segments and geographic markets in real-time to optimize the effectiveness of these activities. We expect to increase advertising spend in future periods to continue driving our growth. Increases in the pricing of one or more of our marketing and advertising channels could increase our marketing and advertising expenses or cause us to choose less expensive but possibly less effective marketing and advertising channels. If we implement new marketing and advertising strategies, we may incur significantly higher costs than our current channels, which, in turn, could adversely affect our results of operations.

Implementing new marketing and advertising strategies also could increase the risk of devoting significant capital and other resources to endeavors that do not prove to be cost effective. We also may incur marketing and advertising expenses significantly in advance of the time we anticipate recognizing revenue associated with such expenses and our marketing and advertising expenditures may not generate sufficient levels of brand awareness or result in increased revenue. Even if our marketing and advertising expenses result in increased sales (or donations made to our NPPs), the increase might not offset our related expenditures. If we are unable to maintain our marketing and advertising channels on cost-effective terms or replace or supplement existing marketing and advertising channels with similarly or more effective channels, our marketing and advertising expenses could increase substantially, our customer base could be adversely affected, our brands could suffer and our business, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed.

 

49


Table of Contents

We may not succeed in promoting and maintaining our reputation, which could harm our business and future growth.

We believe that maintaining our reputation is critical to driving customer and NPP and donor engagement. An important goal of our brand promotion strategy is establishing trust with our customers and NPPs and their donors.

For customers, maintaining our reputation requires that we foster trust through responsive and effective customer service and a broad supply of desirable brands and secondhand items. For NPPs and their donors, maintaining our brands and reputation requires that we foster convenience with service that is convenient, consistent and timely. We must also maintain trust through consistent receiving and payment processes for secondhand items supplied to us. Our payments must also be perceived by our NPPs to be adequate compensation for the items they collect.

If we fail to maintain our reputation with our customers, our revenues could be materially and adversely affected. If we fail to maintain our reputation with our NPPs and their donors, the quantity and quality of goods supplied to us could be materially and adversely affected. As a result, a failure to maintain our reputation could have a material, adverse effect on our business, growth, results of operations and financial condition.

Certain estimates of market opportunity and our customer and NPP and donor metrics included in this prospectus may prove to be inaccurate, and any real or perceived inaccuracies may harm our reputation and negatively affect our business.

This prospectus includes our estimates, based on research, surveys and internally generated data, of the addressable market for our company and metrics related to our customers and NPPs and their donors. Market opportunity estimates, whether obtained from third-party sources or developed internally, are subject to significant uncertainty and are based on assumptions and estimates that may not prove to be accurate. The estimates and forecasts in this prospectus relating to the size of our target market, market demand, capacity to address this demand, and pricing may prove to be inaccurate. The addressable market we estimate may not materialize for many years, if ever.

We may not be able to address fully the markets that we believe we can address, and we cannot be sure that these markets will grow at historical rates or the rates we expect for the future. Even if we are able to address the markets that we believe represent our market opportunity and even if these markets experience the growth we expect, we may not grow our business at similar rates, or at all. Our growth is subject to many factors, including our success in implementing our business strategy, which is subject to many risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, the estimates and forecasts of market size and opportunity and of market growth included in this prospectus may not be indicative of our future growth.

Certain metrics presented in this prospectus, including the numbers of customers and NPPs and their donors, are based on market research, internally generated data, assumptions and estimates, and we use these numbers in managing our business. To the extent the metrics are inaccurate, our business decisions based on such metrics may prove to be incorrect. If investors or analysts do not perceive our metrics to be accurate representations of our business, or if we discover material inaccuracies in our metrics or the underlying information, our reputation, business, results of operations and financial condition would be harmed.

Risks Relating to Information Technology, Intellectual Property, Data Security and Privacy

Compromises of our data security could cause us to incur unexpected expenses and may materially harm our reputation and results of operations.

In the ordinary course of our business, we collect, process and store certain personal information and other data relating to individuals, such as our customers and employees. We also maintain other

 

50


Table of Contents

information, such as financial information, operating statistics and metrics, trade secrets and confidential business information and certain confidential information of third parties, that is sensitive and that we seek to protect.

We rely substantially on commercially available systems, software, tools and monitoring to provide security for our processing, transmission and storage of personal information and other confidential information. We have been in the past and could be in the future the subject of hacking, phishing attacks, data breaches, ransomware attacks or other attacks. For example, in July 2020, we suffered a ransomware attack that caused the loss of some of our data and caused some temporary operational disruptions. These incidents have allowed, and may in the future continue to allow, hackers or other unauthorized parties to gain access to personal information or other data, including payment card data or confidential business information, and we might not discover such issues for an extended period. The techniques used to obtain unauthorized access or to sabotage systems change frequently and generally are not identified until they are launched against a target. As a result, we may be unable to anticipate these techniques or to implement adequate preventative measures. In addition, our employees, NPPs or other third parties with whom we do business may attempt to circumvent security measures in order to misappropriate such personal information, confidential information or other data, or may inadvertently release or compromise such data. We expect to incur ongoing costs associated with the detection and prevention of security breaches and other security-related incidents. In addition, we provide the audit committee of our board of directors regular reports on such breaches or incidents, including the July 2020 incident, and on our efforts to implement more robust security measures. We may incur additional costs in the event of a security breach or other security-related incident. Any actual or perceived compromise of our systems or data security measures or those of third parties with whom we do business, or any failure to prevent or mitigate the loss of personal or other confidential information and delays in detecting or providing notice of any such compromise or loss could disrupt our operations, harm the perception of our security measures, damage our reputation, cause some participants to decrease or stop their visiting of our stores and subject us to litigation, government action, increased transaction fees, regulatory fines or penalties or other additional costs and liabilities that could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Our insurance coverage may not be adequate for data handling or data security liabilities, and that insurance may not continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms, or at all. An insurer may also deny coverage as to a future claim. The successful assertion of one or more large claims against us that exceed available insurance coverage or the occurrence of changes in our insurance policies, including premium increases or the imposition of large deductible or co-insurance requirements, could harm our business, results of operations, financial condition and reputation.

In addition, the changes in our work environment as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic could impact the security of our systems, as well as our ability to protect against attacks and detect and respond to them quickly. Any rapid adoption by us of third-party services designed to enable the transition to a remote workforce also may introduce security risk that is not fully mitigated prior to the use of these services. We may also be subject to increased cyber-attacks, such as phishing attacks by threat actors using the attention placed on the COVID-19 pandemic as a method for targeting our personnel.

Our use and other processing of personal information and other data is subject to laws and regulations relating to privacy, data protection and information security. Changes in such laws or regulations, or any actual or perceived failure by us to comply with such laws and regulations, our privacy policies and/or contractual obligations, could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We collect, maintain and otherwise process significant amounts of personal information and other data relating to our customers and employees. Numerous state, federal and international laws, rules and regulations govern the collection, use and protection of personal information and other types of

 

51


Table of Contents

data we collect, use, disclose and otherwise process. Such requirements are constantly evolving, and we expect that there will continue to be new proposed requirements relating to privacy, data protection and information security in the United States, Canada and other jurisdictions, or changes in the interpretation of existing privacy requirements. For example, the California Consumer Privacy Act, or CCPA, took effect on January 1, 2020 and broadly defines personal information, imposes stringent consumer data protection requirements, gives California residents expanded privacy rights, provides for civil penalties for violations and introduces a private right of action for data breaches. Additionally, on November 3, 2020, Proposition 24 was approved in California which creates a new privacy law, the California Privacy Rights Act, or CPRA. The CPRA creates additional obligations relating to personal information that will take effect on January 1, 2023 (with certain provisions having retroactive effect to January 1, 2022). The CPRA’s implementing regulations are expected on or before July 1, 2022, and enforcement is scheduled to begin July 1, 2023. We will continue to monitor developments related to the CPRA and anticipate additional costs and expenses associated with CPRA compliance. Additionally, the CCPA has prompted other states to propose and enact similar laws and regulations relating to privacy. For example, in March 2021, Virginia enacted the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act, or CDPA, which becomes effective on January 1, 2023, and on June 8, 2021, Colorado enacted the Colorado Privacy Act, or CPA, which takes effect on July 1, 2023. The CDPA and CPA share similarities with the CCPA, the CPRA, and legislation proposed in other states. Aspects of the CCPA, CPRA, CDPA, and CPA, and their interpretation, remain unclear, and we cannot yet fully predict the impact of these laws or regulations on our business or operations.

We have significant operations in Canada and Australia, and must comply with data privacy laws in both jurisdictions. In Canada, our collection, use, disclosure, and management of personal information must comply with both federal and provincial privacy laws, which impose separate requirements, but may overlap in some instances. The Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act, or PIPEDA, applies in all Canadian provinces except Alberta, British Columbia and Québec, as well as to the transfer of consumer data across provincial borders. PIPEDA imposes stringent consumer data protection obligations, requires privacy breach reporting, and limits the purposes for which organizations may collect, use, and disclose consumer data. The provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, and Québec have enacted separate data privacy laws that are substantially similar to PIPEDA, but all three additionally apply to our handling of our own employees’ personal data within their respective provinces. We may incur additional costs and expenses related to compliance with these laws. We are also subject to Canada’s anti-spam legislation, or CASL, which includes rules governing commercial electronic messages, which include marketing emails, text messages, and social media advertisements. Under these rules, we must follow certain standards when sending marketing communications, are prohibited from sending them to customers without their consent, and can be held liable for violations. In Australia, the Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles regulate the handling of personal information, which is defined in similar terms to the CCPA. The Privacy Act and the APPs set out data protection principles for how personal information should be collected, used, stored and disclosed, and when an entity must provide notice if personal information has been lost or accessed without authorization. The Privacy Act also gives the Australian Information Commissioner the power to conduct investigations, and contains civil penalties for breach. The Privacy Act is currently under review and may be amended to include more stringent requirements, including mandating the destruction or de-identification of personal information in certain circumstances. We may also be subject to the Spam Act 2003 and the Do Not Call Register Act 2006 which regulate the sending of commercial electronic messages and telemarketing activities. To the extent our operations further expand internationally, we may become subject to additional laws and regulations relating to privacy and data protection. We are subject to analogous laws applicable to our operations in Australia.

Future requirements, or changes in the interpretation of existing requirements relating to privacy, data protection and information security may require us to implement privacy and security policies, provide certain types of notices, grant certain rights to individuals, inform individuals of security

 

52


Table of Contents

breaches and, in some cases, obtain individuals’ consent to use personal data for certain purposes. These requirements may be inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another, subject to differing interpretations and may be interpreted to conflict with our practices. We cannot yet fully determine the impact that such future requirements may have on our business or operations. Additionally, we are subject to the terms of our privacy policies and notices and may be bound by contractual requirements applicable to our collection, use, processing, security and disclosure of personal information, and may be bound by or alleged to be subject to, or voluntarily comply with, self-regulatory or other industry standards relating to these matters.

Any failure or perceived failure by us or any third parties with which we do business to comply with these privacy requirements, with our posted privacy policies or with other obligations to which we or such third parties are or may become subject relating to privacy, data protection or information security, may result in investigations or enforcement actions against us by governmental entities, private claims, public statements against us by consumer advocacy groups or others and fines, penalties or other liabilities. For example, California consumers whose information has been subject to a security incident may bring civil suits under the CCPA for statutory damages between $100 and $750 per consumer. In Canada, we may be subject to regulatory investigations, fines, or class action suits stemming from violations of either PIPEDA or CASL. Any such action would be expensive to defend, likely would damage our reputation and market position, could result in substantial liability and could adversely affect our business and results of operations.

We may be unable to protect our intellectual property rights.

We rely on a combination of intellectual property rights, contractual protections and other practices to protect our brands, proprietary information, technologies and processes. We primarily rely on copyright and trade secret laws and exclusive licenses-in to protect our proprietary technologies and processes, including the automated operations systems and machine learning technology we use throughout our business. Others may independently develop the same or similar technologies and processes or may improperly acquire and use information about our technologies and processes, which may allow them to provide a service similar to ours, which could harm our competitive position. Our principal trademark assets include the registered and common law trademarks “Savers Value Village,” “Savers,” “Value Village,” “Village des Valeurs,” “Unique,” :2nd Ave,” “GreenDrop,” “Super Savers Club,” “Community Donation Center” and “Thrift Proud” and our logos and taglines. Our trademarks are valuable assets that support our brands and customers’ perception of our services and merchandise. We have registered trademarks in Australia, Canada and the United States. We also hold the rights to the “savers.com” Internet domain name and various related domain names, which are subject to Internet regulatory bodies and trademark and other related laws of each applicable jurisdiction. If we are unable to protect our trademarks or domain names, our brand recognition and reputation would suffer, we would incur significant expense establishing new brands and our results of operations would be adversely impacted. Further, to the extent we pursue patent protection for our innovations, patents we may apply for may not issue, and patents that do issue or that we acquire may not provide us with any competitive advantages or may be challenged by third parties. There can be no assurance that any patents we obtain will adequately protect our inventions or survive a legal challenge, as the legal standards relating to the validity, enforceability and scope of protection of patent and other intellectual property rights are uncertain. We may be required to spend significant resources to monitor and protect our intellectual property rights, and the efforts we take to protect our proprietary rights may not be sufficient.

We rely in part on trade secrets, proprietary know-how and other confidential information to maintain our competitive position. Although we enter into confidentiality and invention assignment agreements with our employees and consultants and enter into confidentiality agreements with the parties with whom we have strategic relationships, partnerships and business alliances, no assurance can be given that these agreements will be effective in controlling access to and distribution of our

 

53


Table of Contents

proprietary information. Further, these agreements do not prevent our competitors from independently developing technologies that are substantially equivalent or superior to our automation technologies or technologies related to our operations or services.

To protect our intellectual property rights, we may be required to spend significant resources to monitor and protect these rights, and we may or may not be able to detect infringement by third parties. Litigation may be necessary in the future to enforce our intellectual property rights and to protect our trade secrets. Such litigation could be costly, time consuming and distracting to management and could result in the impairment or loss of portions of our intellectual property. Furthermore, our efforts to enforce our intellectual property rights may be met with defenses, counterclaims and countersuits attacking the validity and enforceability of our intellectual property rights. Our inability to protect our proprietary technology against unauthorized copying or use, as well as any costly litigation or diversion of our management’s attention and resources, could delay the implementation of our platform, impair the functionality of our platform, delay introductions of new capabilities, result in our substituting inferior or more costly technologies into our business, or injure our reputation. In addition, we may be required to license additional technology from third parties to develop and market new capabilities, and we cannot assure you that we could license that technology on commercially reasonable terms or at all, and our inability to license this technology could harm our ability to compete.

We may be accused of infringing intellectual property or other proprietary rights of third parties.

We have been in the past and may be accused in the future of infringing intellectual property or other proprietary rights of third parties. We are also at risk of claims by others that we have infringed their copyrights, trademarks or patents, or improperly used or disclosed their trade secrets or otherwise infringed or violated their proprietary rights, such as the right of publicity. For example, although we require our employees to not use the proprietary information or know-how of others in their work for us, we may become subject to claims that these employees have divulged, or we have used, proprietary information of these employees’ former employers. The costs of supporting any litigation or disputes related to these claims can be considerable, and we cannot assure you that we will achieve a favorable outcome of any such claim. If any such claim is valid, we may be compelled to cease our use of such intellectual property or other proprietary rights and pay damages, which could adversely affect our business. In addition, if such claims are valid, we may lose valuable intellectual property rights or personnel, which could harm our business. Even if such claims were not valid, defending them could be expensive and distracting, adversely affecting our results of operations.

We rely on software, technology and services from other parties. Defects in or the loss of access to software or services from third parties could increase our costs and adversely affect the quality of our products.

We rely on software, technologies and services sourced or licensed from third parties to operate critical functions of our business, including payment processing services, certain aspects of CPC automation and customer relationship management services. We also use Microsoft services for our business emails, file storage and communications. Our business would be disrupted if any of the third-party software or services we utilize, or functional equivalents thereof, were unavailable due to extended outages or interruptions or because they are no longer available on commercially reasonable terms or prices. In each case, we would be required to either seek licenses to software or services from other parties and redesign our business and operations to function with such software or services or develop these components ourselves, which would result in increased costs.

 

54


Table of Contents

Risks Relating to Legal, Regulatory, Accounting and Tax Matters

Risks arising from the material weaknesses we have identified in our internal control over financial reporting and any failure to remediate these material weaknesses.

As a public company, we will be required to maintain internal control over financial reporting in accordance with applicable rules and guidance and to report any material weaknesses in such internal control over financial reporting. Prior to this offering, we were a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources with which to address our internal control over financial reporting.

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. In connection with this filing, we identified deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting, which in the aggregate, constitute material weaknesses related to (i) the sufficiency of technical accounting and SEC reporting expertise within our accounting and financial reporting function, (ii) the establishment and documentation of clearly defined roles within our finance and accounting functions and (iii) our ability to evidence the design and implementation of effective information technology general controls (“ITGCs”) for information systems and applications that are relevant to the preparation of our financial statements.

If our steps are insufficient to successfully remediate the material weaknesses and otherwise establish and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, the reliability of our financial reporting, investor confidence in us, and the value of our common stock could be materially and adversely affected. We may not be able to remediate the identified material weaknesses, and additional material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting may be identified in the future. Effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to provide reliable and timely financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to reasonably detect and prevent fraud. Our failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, to remedy identified material weaknesses or significant deficiencies or to implement required new or improved controls could result in errors in our financial statements that could result in a restatement of our financial statements or cause us to fail to timely meet our financial and other reporting obligations.

We may be unable to maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures or internal control over financial reporting and produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations.

As a public company, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, or the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and, if approved for listing, the rules and regulations and the listing standards of the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE.

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act requires, among other things, that we maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting. We are continuing to develop and refine our disclosure controls and other procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we will file with the SEC is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in SEC rules and forms and that information required to be disclosed in reports under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to our principal executive and financial officers. We are also continuing to improve our internal control over financial reporting. In order to maintain and improve the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and

 

55


Table of Contents

procedures and internal control over financial reporting, we have expended, and anticipate that we will continue to expend, significant resources, including accounting-related costs and significant management oversight.

In addition to the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting that we have identified, we may discover weaknesses in our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting in the future. Any failure to develop or maintain effective controls or any difficulties encountered in their implementation or improvement could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations and may result in a restatement of our financial statements for prior periods. Any failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting also could adversely affect the results of periodic management evaluations and annual independent registered public accounting firm attestation reports regarding the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting that we will eventually be required to include in our periodic reports that will be filed with the SEC. Ineffective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting could cause delays in our ability to comply with public company reporting requirements (including under the Exchange Act or stock exchange rules) and could also cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial and other information, which could have a negative effect on the trading price of our common stock. In addition, if we are unable to continue to meet these requirements, we may not be able to remain listed on the NYSE. We are not currently required to comply with the SEC rules that implement Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and are therefore not required to make a formal assessment of the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting for that purpose. As a public company, we will be required to provide an annual management report on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting commencing with our second annual report on Form 10-K.

Our independent registered public accounting firm is not required to formally attest to the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting until after we are no longer an “emerging growth company” as defined in the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act, or the JOBS Act. At such time, our independent registered public accounting firm may issue a report that is adverse in the event it is not satisfied with the level at which our internal control over financial reporting is documented, designed or operating. Any failure to maintain effective disclosure controls and internal control over financial reporting could have a material adverse effect on our business and operating results and could cause a decline in the price of our common stock.

We will incur increased expenses associated with being a public company.

As a public company, we will incur significant legal, accounting, investor relations and other expenses that we did not incur as a private company. For example, we will be subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and will be required to comply with the applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, as well as rules and regulations subsequently implemented by the SEC and the NYSE, including the establishment and maintenance of effective disclosure and financial controls and changes in corporate governance practices. We expect that the requirements of operating as a public company will increase our legal and financial compliance and investor relations costs and will make some activities more time consuming and costly. In addition, we expect that our management and other personnel will need to divert attention from operational and other business matters to devote substantial time to these public company requirements. In particular, we expect to incur significant expenses and devote substantial management effort toward ensuring compliance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which will increase when we are no longer an emerging growth company, as defined by the JOBS Act. We will also need to establish an investor relations function. We cannot predict or estimate the amount of additional costs we may incur as a result of becoming a public company or the timing of those costs.

 

56


Table of Contents

Public company reporting and disclosure obligations and a broader shareholder base as a result of our status as a public company may expose us to a greater risk of claims by shareholders, and we may experience threatened or actual litigation from time to time. If claims asserted in such litigation are successful, our business and operating results could be adversely affected, and, even if claims do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor, these claims, and the time and resources necessary to resolve them and the diversion of management resources, could adversely affect our business and operating results.

Changes in Canadian, Australian or U.S. national or local regulations, including those relating to the sale of secondhand items, or our actual or alleged failure to comply with such regulations may have a material adverse effect on our reputation, business financial condition, and results of operations.

Our business and financial condition could be adversely affected by unfavorable changes in or interpretations of existing laws, rules and regulations or the promulgation of new laws, rules and regulations applicable to us and our business, including those relating to consumer protection, anti-corruption, antitrust and competition, economic and trade sanctions, tax, banking, environmental protection, waste management, sustainability, data security, network and information systems security, data protection and privacy. As a result, regulatory authorities could prevent or temporarily suspend us from conducting some or all of our activities or otherwise penalize us if our practices were found not to comply with applicable regulatory or licensing requirements or any binding interpretation of such requirements. Unfavorable changes or interpretations could decrease demand for our merchandise, limit marketing methods and capabilities, affect our growth, increase costs or subject us to additional liabilities. In addition, if we were to further expand internationally, we could be subject to additional regulation.

The resale of secondhand items is subject to regulation, including by regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Federal Trade Commission, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other international, federal, state and local governments and regulatory authorities. These laws and regulations are complex, vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction and change often. We monitor these laws and regulations and adjust our business practices as warranted to comply. We receive our supply of secondhand items from numerous NPPs and their donors located in approximately 27 U.S. states, and the items we receive from our NPPs and their donors may contain materials such as ivory, fur, snakeskin and other exotic animal product components, that are subject to regulation in the United States and overseas. In Canada, we follow the Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act, which restricts the sale of ivory and other protected species. In Australia, we are prohibited from trading in certain animal products because Australia is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. Failure of our employees to identify prohibited items and remove them from the sale process could lead to violations of regulations or other claims against us, resulting in increased legal expenses and costs. Moreover, in connection with our marketing and advertisement practices, we have in the past, and may in the future, be the target of claims relating to false or deceptive advertising, including under the auspices of the FTC and the consumer protection statutes of some states. Failure by us to effectively monitor the application of these laws and regulations to our business, and to comply with such laws and regulations, may negatively affect our brands and subject us to penalties and fines.

Numerous jurisdictions, including the States of California and New York, Canada, and Australia, have regulations regarding the handling of secondhand items and licensing requirements of secondhand dealers. In Canada, we follow the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act Health Canada’s “Industry Guide to Second-Hand Products (Including Children’s Products) which guides businesses selling second-hand products ensure all appropriate steps are taken to ensure consumer product

 

57


Table of Contents

safety, including with regard to product recalls. In Australia, product safety regulation is a shared responsibility between the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the product regulators in each of the Australian States and Territories. In Australia, all consumer products, regardless of whether they are secondhand or new, must be safe and meet the consumer guarantees under the Australian Consumer Law which include that products are of acceptable quality, match their description and are fit for purpose, and that any express warranties will be met. We must ensure that we meet mandatory reporting requirements if there is a risk that a product is not safe, and that we do not sell banned or recalled products. In addition, some products such as aquatic toys and certain goods designed for use by babies and children are regulated by mandatory product safety standards. There are serious penalties for selling non-compliant products. We must also be registered with the regulatory bodies in each of the Australian States and Territories to sell secondhand goods. Such government regulations could require us to change the way we conduct business in the applicable jurisdictions, such as prohibiting or otherwise restricting the sale or shipment of certain items in some locations. These regulations could result in increased costs or reduced revenue. We could also be subject to fines or other penalties that could harm our business.

Additionally, supplied secondhand items could be subject to recalls and other remedial actions and product safety, labeling and licensing concerns may require us to voluntarily remove certain secondhand items from our stores. Such recalls or voluntary removal of items can result in, among other things, lost sales, diverted resources, potential harm to our reputation and increased customer service costs and legal expenses, which could have an adverse effect on our results of operations. Some of the secondhand items sold at our stores may expose us to product liability claims and litigation or regulatory action relating to personal injury, environmental or property damage. We cannot be certain that our insurance 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.

Our failure to address risks associated with payment methods, credit card fraud and other consumer fraud, or our failure to control any such fraud, could damage our reputation and brands and could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

We have in the past incurred and may in the future incur losses from various types of fraudulent transactions, including the use of stolen credit card numbers, and claims that a customer did not authorize a purchase. In addition, as part of the payment processing process, our customers’ credit and debit card information is transmitted to our third-party payment processors, and we may in the future become subject to lawsuits or other proceedings for purportedly fraudulent transactions arising out of the actual or alleged theft of our customers’ credit or debit card information if the security of our third-party credit card payment processors are breached.

We and our third-party credit card payment processors are also subject to payment card association operating rules, certification requirements and rules governing electronic funds transfers, which could change or be reinterpreted to make it difficult or impossible for us to comply. If we or our third-party credit card payment processors fail to comply with these rules or requirements, we may be subject to fines and higher transaction fees and lose our ability to accept credit and debit card payments from our customers. Further, we could violate or be alleged to have violated applicable laws, regulations, contractual obligations or other obligations, including those regulating to privacy, data protection and data security as outlined above, and including harm to our reputation and market position. Any of these could have an adverse impact on our business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects. Our failure to adequately prevent fraudulent transactions could damage our reputation and market position, result in claims, litigation or regulatory investigations and proceedings or lead to expenses that could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

58


Table of Contents

We and our directors and executive officers may be subject to litigation for a variety of claims, which could harm our reputation and adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition.

In the ordinary course of business, we have in the past and may in the future be involved in and subject to litigation for a variety of claims or disputes and receive regulatory inquiries. These claims, lawsuits and proceedings could include labor and employment, wage and hour, commercial, consumer protection, regulatory, antitrust, alleged securities law violations or other investor claims, claims that our employees have wrongfully disclosed or we have wrongfully used proprietary information of our employees’ former employers and other matters. The number and significance of these potential claims and disputes may increase as our business expands. Further, our general liability insurance may not cover all potential claims made against us or be sufficient to indemnify us for all liability that may be imposed. Any claim against us, regardless of its merit, could be costly, divert management’s attention and operational resources, and harm our reputation.

Our directors and executive officers may also be subject to litigation. The limitation of liability and indemnification provisions that are included in our amended and restated certificate of incorporation, our amended and restated bylaws and indemnification agreements that we entered into with our directors and executive officers provide that we will indemnify our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law and may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against our directors and executive officers for breach of their fiduciary duties. Such provisions may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against our directors and executive officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and other stockholders. Further, a stockholder’s investment may be harmed to the extent that we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against our directors and executive officers as required by these indemnification provisions. We have obtained insurance policies under which, subject to the limitations of the policies, coverage is provided to our directors and executive officers against loss arising from claims made by reason of breach of fiduciary duty or other wrongful acts as a director or executive officer, including claims relating to public securities matters, and to us with respect to payments that may be made by us to these directors and executive officers pursuant to our indemnification obligations or otherwise as a matter of law. These insurance policies may not cover all potential claims made against our directors and executive officers, may not be available to us in the future at a reasonable rate and may not be adequate to indemnify us for all liability that may be imposed. See the section titled “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Indemnification of officers and directors.”

As litigation is inherently unpredictable, we cannot assure you that any potential claims or disputes will not harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

Subjective estimates and judgments used by management in the preparation of our financial statements, including estimates and judgments that may be required by new or changed accounting standards, may impact our financial condition and results of operations.

The preparation of financial statements requires management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue and expenses. Due to the inherent uncertainty in making estimates, results reported in future periods may be affected by changes in estimates reflected in our financial statements for earlier periods. Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. From time to time, there may be changes in the financial accounting and reporting standards that govern the preparation of our financial statements. These changes can materially impact how we record and report our financial condition and results of operations. In some instances, we could be required to apply a new or revised standard retrospectively. If the estimates and judgments we use in preparing our financial statements

 

59


Table of Contents

are subsequently found to be incorrect or if we are required to restate prior financial statements, our financial condition or results of operations could be significantly affected.

Tax legislation could adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, (the “Tax Act”), among other things, contains significant changes to corporate taxation, including reduction of the corporate tax rate from a top marginal rate of 35% to a flat rate of 21%, limitation of the tax deduction for interest expense to 30% of “adjusted earnings” (roughly defined as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization in the case of taxable years beginning before January 1, 2022 and earnings before interest and taxes thereafter), limitation of the deduction for net operating losses to 80% of current year taxable income and elimination of net operating loss carrybacks, one time taxation of offshore earnings at reduced rates regardless of whether they are repatriated, elimination of U.S. tax on foreign earnings (subject to certain important exceptions), immediate deductions for certain new investments instead of deductions for depreciation expense over time, and modifying or repealing many business deductions and credits. The most significant impacts of the Tax Act on our financial results to date have included lowering of the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate and remeasurement of our net deferred tax liabilities. We continue to examine the impact that the Tax Act may have on our business in the longer term. The U.S. government may enact significant new changes to the taxation of business entities, including, among others, an increase in the U.S. taxation of international business operations. Accordingly, the impact of the Tax Act and any future tax legislation on us is uncertain.

Our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards and certain other tax attributes to offset taxable income or taxes may be limited.

As of January 2, 2021, we had U.S. federal and state net operating loss carryforwards of $70.6 million and $99.0 million, respectively. The federal net operating loss carryforwards will expire at various dates beginning in 2028. State net operating loss carryforwards began expiring at various dates starting in 2020. Portions of these net operating loss carryforwards could expire unused and be unavailable to offset future income tax liabilities. Under the Tax Act, as modified by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (the “CARES Act”), U.S. federal net operating losses incurred in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, may be carried forward indefinitely, but the deductibility of such federal net operating losses in taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020, is limited. It is uncertain how various states will respond to the Tax Act and the CARES Act. For state income tax purposes, there may be periods during which the use of net operating loss carryforwards is suspended or otherwise limited, which could accelerate or permanently increase state taxes owed.

In addition, under Sections 382 and 383 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and corresponding provisions of state law, if a corporation undergoes an “ownership change,” which is generally defined as a greater than 50% change, by value, in its equity ownership over a three-year period, the corporation’s ability to use its pre-change net operating loss carryforwards and other pre-change tax attributes to offset its postchange income or taxes may be limited. We have experienced such ownership changes in the past, and may experience such ownership changes in the future as a result of subsequent shifts in our stock ownership, some of which may be outside of our control. If an ownership change occurs and our ability to use our net operating loss carryforwards is materially limited, it would harm our future results of operations by effectively increasing our future tax obligations.

 

60


Table of Contents

We are subject to various anti-corruption laws and regulations and laws and regulations relating to export controls and economic sanctions. Violations of these laws and regulations could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

We are subject to various anti-corruption laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. These laws generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from engaging in bribery or making other improper payments of cash (or anything else of value) to government officials and other persons in order to obtain or retain business. Our business operations also must be conducted in compliance with applicable export control and economic sanctions laws and regulations, including rules administered by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Department of Commerce, the United Nations Security Council, and other relevant authorities.

We strive to conduct our business activities in compliance with relevant anti-corruption and trade control laws and regulations, and we are not aware of issues of historical noncompliance. However, full compliance cannot be guaranteed. Further expansion of our retail or wholesale footprint outside the United States would likely increase our future legal exposure. Violations of anti-corruption or trade control laws and regulations, or even allegations of such violations, could result in civil or criminal penalties, as well as disrupt our business, operations, financial condition and results of operations. Further, changes to the applicable laws and regulations, and/or significant business growth, may result in the need for increased compliance-related resources and costs.

Risks Relating to Our Indebtedness and Liquidity

Our indebtedness could materially adversely affect our financial condition.

We have, and after this offering will continue to have, a significant amount of indebtedness. As of October 2, 2021, on a pro forma basis, our total indebtedness would have been $             million, including $             million aggregate principal amount outstanding under our Credit Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2021, by and among Evergreen AcqCo 1 LP and Value Village Canada Inc., as borrowers, the guarantors party thereto, KKR Loan Administration Services LLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent and the lenders party thereto (the “Secured Credit Agreement”). Under the Secured Credit Agreement, we have a term loan facility (the “New Term Loan Facility”) and a super-priority revolving credit facility (the “New Revolving Credit Facility”). As of October 2, 2021, giving effect to the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, the related financing and the November 2021 Dividend, we would have had $825.0 million principal amount of loans outstanding under the New Term Loan Facility and $                 million principal amount of loans and $                 million of letters of credit outstanding under the New Revolving Credit Facility.

Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences to the holders of our common stock, including the following:

 

   

making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our other debt;

 

   

limiting our ability to obtain additional financing to fund future working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions or other general corporate requirements;

 

   

requiring us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flows to debt service payments instead of other purposes, thereby reducing the amount of cash flows available for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes;

 

   

increasing our vulnerability to general adverse economic and industry conditions;

 

61


Table of Contents
   

exposing us to the risk of increased interest rates as certain of our borrowings, including borrowings under the Secured Credit Agreement, are at variable rates of interest;

 

   

limiting our flexibility in planning for and reacting to changes in the industry in which we compete;

 

   

placing us at a disadvantage compared to other, less leveraged competitors; and

 

   

increasing our cost of borrowing.

In addition, the Secured Credit Agreement contains restrictive covenants that limit our ability to engage in activities that may be in our long-term best interest. Our failure to comply with those covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the acceleration of all our debt. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Senior Secured Credit Facilities.”

The New Term Loan Facility will mature on April 26, 2028. The New Revolving Credit Facility will mature on April 26, 2026. We may need to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness on or before the maturity thereof. We may not be able to obtain such financing on commercially reasonable terms or at all. Failure to refinance our indebtedness could have a material adverse effect on us.

We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful.

Our ability to make scheduled payments on or refinance our debt obligations depends on our financial condition and operating performance, which are subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to financial, business, legislative, regulatory and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. We cannot be sure that our business will generate sufficient cash flows from operating activities, or that future borrowings will be available, to permit us to pay the principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness.

If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we could face substantial liquidity problems and could be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures or to dispose of material assets or operations, seek additional debt or equity capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness. We may not be able to implement any such alternative measures, if necessary, on commercially reasonable terms or at all and, even if successful, those alternative actions may not allow us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations. The Secured Credit Agreement restricts our ability to dispose of assets and use the proceeds from those dispositions and may also restrict our ability to raise debt or equity capital to be used to repay other indebtedness when it becomes due. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions or to obtain proceeds in an amount sufficient to meet any debt service obligations then due. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

Our inability to generate sufficient cash flows to satisfy our debt obligations, or to refinance our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all, would have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

If we cannot make scheduled payments on our debt, we will be in default, and the lenders under the Secured Credit Agreement could terminate their commitments to loan money, the lenders could foreclose against the assets securing their borrowings and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. Any of these events could result in you losing all or a portion of your investment in the common stock.

 

62


Table of Contents

Despite our current level of indebtedness, we and our subsidiaries may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks to our financial condition described herein.

We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur significant additional indebtedness in the future. Although the Secured Credit Agreement contains restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions, and the additional indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. These restrictions also will not prevent us from incurring obligations that do not constitute indebtedness. As of October 2, 2021, giving effect to the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, the related financing and the November 2021 Dividend, we would have had $825.0 million of borrowings outstanding under the New Revolving Credit Facility, with $             million of outstanding letters of credit, leaving $             million available for borrowing. The Secured Credit Agreement provides for additional uncommitted incremental loans of up to the greater of $136 million and 100% of EBITDA for the most recent four fiscal quarters, plus certain other amounts, with additional incremental loans available if certain leverage ratios are maintained. Of the incremental loans, $15.0 million can be incremental loans under the New Revolving Credit Facility. All of those borrowings would be secured by first-priority liens on our property.

The terms of the Secured Credit Agreement restrict our current and future operations, including our ability to respond to changes or to take certain actions.

The Secured Credit Agreement contains a number of restrictive covenants that impose significant operating and financial restrictions on us and may limit our ability to engage in acts that may be in our long-term best interest. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Senior Secured Credit Facilities.” The indebtedness under the Secured Credit Agreement will continue to be outstanding following completion of this offering. The restrictive covenants under the Secured Credit Agreement include restrictions on our ability to:

 

   

incur additional indebtedness and guarantee indebtedness;

 

   

pay dividends or make other distributions or repurchase or redeem our capital stock;

 

   

prepay, redeem or repurchase junior debt;

 

   

issue certain preferred stock or similar equity securities;

 

   

make loans and investments;

 

   

sell assets or property, except in certain circumstances;

 

   

incur liens;

 

   

enter into transactions with affiliates;

 

   

modify or waive certain material agreements in a manner that is adverse in any material respect to the lenders;

 

   

enter into agreements restricting our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends; and

 

   

make fundamental changes in our business, corporate structure or capital structure, including, among other things, entering into mergers, acquisitions, consolidations and other business combinations.

As a result of these restrictions, we may be:

 

   

limited in how we conduct our business;

 

63


Table of Contents
   

unable to raise additional debt or equity financing to operate during general economic or business downturns; or

 

   

unable to compete effectively or to take advantage of new business opportunities.

These restrictions may affect our ability to grow in accordance with our strategy.

A breach of the covenants or restrictions under the Secured Credit Agreement could result in a default or an event of default. Such a default may allow the creditors to accelerate the related debt and may result in the acceleration of any other debt to which a cross-acceleration or cross-default provision applies. In addition, an event of default under the Secured Credit Agreement would permit the lenders under the New Revolving Credit Facility to terminate all commitments to extend further credit under such facility. Furthermore, if we were unable to repay the amounts due and payable under the Secured Credit Agreement, those lenders under each facility could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness. In exacerbated or prolonged circumstances, one or more of these events could result in our bankruptcy or liquidation.

We rely on available borrowings under the New Revolving Credit Facility for liquidity, and the availability of credit under the New Revolving Credit Facility may be subject to significant fluctuation.

In addition to cash we generate from our business, our principal existing source of liquidity is borrowings available under the New Revolving Credit Facility. As of October 2, 2021, giving effect to the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, the related financing and the November 2021 Dividend, we would have had $             million of borrowings outstanding under the New Revolving Credit Facility, with $             million of letters of credit outstanding, leaving $             million available for borrowing. We also have the option to increase the commitments under the New Revolving Credit Facility by up to $15.0 million, subject to certain conditions. The inability to borrow under the New Revolving Credit Facility may adversely affect our liquidity, financial position and results of operations.

We are subject to risks associated with our indebtedness and debt service, including risks related to changes in interest rates.

Borrowings under the Secured Credit Agreement are at variable rates of interest and expose us to interest rate risk. If interest rates were to increase, our debt service obligations on the variable rate indebtedness would increase even though the amount borrowed remained the same, and our net income and cash flows, including cash available for servicing our indebtedness, will correspondingly decrease. Based on amounts outstanding as of January 2, 2021, each 100 basis point change in interest rates would result in a $6.3 million change, in annual interest expense on our indebtedness under the Secured Credit Agreement. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk—Interest Rate Risk.” We enter into interest rate swaps, which act as economic hedges against changes in interest rates under the Secured Credit Agreement. In the future, we may enter into interest rate swaps that involve the exchange of floating for fixed rate interest payments or other instruments in order to reduce interest rate volatility. However, we may not maintain interest rate swaps with respect to all of our variable rate indebtedness, and any swaps or other instruments we enter into may not fully mitigate our interest rate risk.

Uncertainty relating to the LIBOR calculation process and potential phasing out of LIBOR in the future may adversely affect our financing costs.

Currently, the Secured Credit Agreement utilizes LIBOR (as defined below) or various alternative methods set forth in the Secured Credit Agreement to calculate interest on any borrowings. National

 

64


Table of Contents

and international regulators and law enforcement agencies have conducted investigations into a number of rates or indices known as “reference rates.” Actions by such regulators and law enforcement agencies may result in changes to the manner in which certain reference rates are determined, their discontinuance or the establishment of alternative reference rates. In particular, on July 27, 2017, the Chief Executive of the United Kingdom Financial Conduct Authority, or the FCA, which regulates LIBOR, announced that the FCA will no longer persuade or compel banks to submit rates for the calculation of LIBOR after 2021. Such announcement indicates that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis cannot and will not be guaranteed after 2021. As a result, it appears highly likely that LIBOR will be discontinued or modified by 2021.

At this time, it is not possible to predict the effect that these developments, any discontinuance, modification or other reforms to LIBOR or any other reference rate, or the establishment of alternative reference rates may have on LIBOR, other benchmarks or LIBOR-based debt instruments. Uncertainty as to the nature of such potential discontinuance, modification, alternative reference rates or other reforms could cause the interest rate calculated for the Secured Credit Agreement to be materially different than expected, which could have a material adverse effect on our financing costs.

A lowering or withdrawal of the ratings assigned to our debt by rating agencies may increase our future borrowing costs and reduce our access to capital.

Our debt currently has a non-investment grade rating, and any rating assigned could be lowered or withdrawn entirely by a rating agency if, in that rating agency’s judgment, future circumstances relating to the basis of the rating, such as adverse changes, so warrant. Any future lowering of our ratings likely would make it more difficult or more expensive for us to obtain additional debt financing.

Risks Relating to This Offering and Ownership of Our Common Stock

There has been no prior public market for our common stock, the stock price of our common stock may be volatile or may decline regardless of our operating performance and you may not be able to resell your shares at or above the initial public offering price.

There has been no prior public market for our common stock prior to our initial public offering. The initial public offering price for our common stock will be determined through negotiations among the underwriters and us and may vary from the market price of our common stock following this offering. If you purchase shares of common stock in this offering, you may not be able to resell those shares at or above the initial public offering price. The market price of our common stock may fluctuate or decline significantly in response to numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control, including:

 

   

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our revenues or other operating results;

 

   

variations between our actual operating results and the expectations of securities analysts, investors and the financial community;

 

   

any forward-looking financial or operating information we may provide to the public or securities analysts, any changes in this information or our failure to meet expectations based on this information;

 

   

actions of securities analysts who initiate or maintain coverage of us, changes in financial estimates by any securities analysts who follow us or our failure to meet these estimates or the expectations of investors;

 

   

additional shares of common stock being sold into the market by us or our existing stockholders, or the anticipation of such sales, including if existing stockholders sell shares into the market when the applicable “lock-up” periods end;

 

65


Table of Contents
   

announcements by us or our competitors of significant products or features, innovations, acquisitions, strategic partnerships, joint ventures, capital commitments, divestitures or other dispositions;

 

   

loss of relationships with significant suppliers or customers;

 

   

changes in operating performance and stock market valuations of companies in our industry, including our competitors;

 

   

difficulties in integrating any new acquisitions we may make;

 

   

loss of services from members of management or employees or difficulty in recruiting additional employees;

 

   

worsening of economic conditions in the United States or Canada and reduction in demand for our products;

 

   

price and volume fluctuations in the overall stock market, including as a result of general economic trends;

 

   

lawsuits threatened or filed against us, or events that negatively impact our reputation; and

 

   

developments in new legislation and pending lawsuits or regulatory actions, including interim or final rulings by judicial or regulatory bodies.

In addition, extreme price and volume fluctuations in the stock markets have affected and continue to affect the stock prices of many companies. Often, their stock prices have fluctuated in ways unrelated or disproportionate to their operating performance. In the past, stockholders have filed securities class action litigation against companies following periods of market volatility. Such securities litigation, if instituted against us, could subject us to substantial costs, divert resources and the attention of management from our business and seriously harm our business.

An active trading market for our common stock may never develop or be sustained.

We intend to apply to list our common stock on the NYSE under the symbol “SVV.” However, we cannot be certain that an active trading market for our common stock will develop on that exchange or elsewhere or, if developed, that any market will be sustained. Furthermore, even if we are approved to list our common stock on the NYSE, we cannot be certain that we will continue to satisfy the continued listing standards of the NYSE. If we fail to satisfy the continued listing standards, we could be de-listed, which would have a material adverse effect on the liquidity and price of our common stock.

Future sales of our common stock and other actions by existing stockholders could cause our stock price to decline.

If our existing stockholders, including employees, who have or obtain equity, sell or indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market after the lock-up and legal restrictions on resale discussed in this prospectus lapse, the trading price of our common stock could decline. Based on shares outstanding as of                 , upon the completion of this offering, we will have outstanding a total of                  shares of common stock (assuming the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full).

Subject to certain exceptions described under “Underwriting,” we and all of our stockholders have entered into or will enter into agreements with the underwriters under which we and they have agreed or will agree, subject to certain exceptions, not to dispose of any shares of common stock, any options or warrants to purchase any shares of common stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for or that represent the right to receive shares of common stock during the period from the date of this prospectus continuing through the date 180 days after the date of this prospectus.

 

66


Table of Contents

When the lock up period in these agreements expires, we and our stockholders will be able to sell shares in the public market. In addition, J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Jefferies LLC may release all or some portion of the shares subject to the lock up agreements prior to the expiration of the lock-up period. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale.” Sales of a substantial number of such shares, or the perception that such sales may occur, upon the expiration or early release of the securities subject to the lock up agreements could cause the price of our common stock to decline or make it more difficult for you to sell your common stock at a time and price that you deem appropriate.

In addition, the Ares Funds have demand and “piggy-back” registration rights with respect to our common stock that they will retain following this offering. See “Shares Eligible for Future Sale” for a discussion of the shares of our common stock that may be sold into the public market in the future, including our common stock held by the Ares Funds.

We currently do not intend to pay dividends on our common stock, and our indebtedness could limit our ability to pay dividends on our common stock.

After completion of this offering, we currently do not anticipate paying any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. In addition, the terms of our indebtedness limit our ability to pay dividends or make other distributions on, or to repurchase or redeem, shares of our capital stock. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.” Consequently, your only opportunity to achieve a return on your investment in our company will be if the market price of our common stock appreciates and you sell your shares at a profit. There is no guarantee that the price of our common stock that will prevail in the market after this offering will ever exceed the price that you pay. For more information, see “Dividend Policy.” We cannot be sure that we will pay dividends in the future or continue to pay dividends if we do commence paying dividends.

If securities or industry analysts either do not publish research about us or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about us, our business or our market, if they adversely change their recommendations regarding our common stock, or if our operating results do not meet their expectations or any financial guidance we may provide, the trading price or trading volume of our common stock could decline.

The trading market for our common stock will be influenced in part by the research and reports that securities or industry analysts may publish about us, our business, our market or our competitors. If one or more of the analysts initiate research with an unfavorable rating or downgrade our common stock, provide a more favorable recommendation regarding our competitors or publish inaccurate or unfavorable research about our business, our common stock price would likely decline. If one or more analysts who may cover us were to cease coverage of us or fail to regularly publish reports on us, we could lose visibility in the financial markets, which in turn could cause the trading price or trading volume of our common stock to decline.

In addition, if we do not meet any financial guidance that we may provide to the public or if we do not meet expectations of securities analysts or investors, the trading price of our common stock could decline significantly. Our operating results may fluctuate significantly from period to period as a result of changes in a variety of factors affecting us or our industry, many of which are difficult to predict. As a result, we may experience challenges in forecasting our operating results for future periods.

Future issuances of our common stock could result in significant dilution to our stockholders, dilute the voting power of our common stock and depress the market price of our common stock.

Future issuances of our common stock could result in dilution to existing holders of our common stock. Such issuances, or the perception that such issuances may occur, could depress the market

 

67


Table of Contents

price of our common stock. We may issue additional equity securities from time to time, including equity securities that could have rights senior to those of our common stock. As a result, purchasers of shares of common stock in this offering bear the risk that future issuances of equity securities may reduce the value of their shares and dilute their ownership interests. Also, to the extent outstanding stock-based awards are issued or become vested, there will be further dilution to the holders of our common stock.

We are an “emerging growth company” and will be able to avail ourselves of reduced disclosure requirements applicable to emerging growth companies, which could make our common stock less attractive to investors.

We are an emerging growth company, as defined in the JOBS Act, and we intend to take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in our periodic reports and proxy statements and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and stockholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved. In addition, under the JOBS Act, emerging growth companies can delay the adoption of certain new or revised accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. We have elected to avail ourselves of this exemption from new or revised accounting standards and, therefore, we will not be subject to the same new or revised accounting standards as other public companies that are not emerging growth companies or that have opted out of using such extended transition period, which may make comparison of our financial statements with those of other public companies more difficult. We cannot predict if investors will find our common stock less attractive because we may rely on these exemptions. If some investors find our common stock less attractive as a result, there may be a less active trading market for our common stock and our stock price may be more volatile.

We may take advantage of these reporting exemptions until we are no longer an emerging growth company or, with respect to adoption of certain new or revised accounting standards, until we irrevocably elect to opt out of using the extended transition period. We will remain an emerging growth company until the earliest of (i) the last day of the fiscal year in which we have total annual gross revenues of $1.07 billion or more; (ii) the last day of our fiscal year following the fifth anniversary of the date of the completion of this offering; (iii) the date on which we have issued more than $1 billion in nonconvertible debt during the previous three years; or (iv) the date on which we are deemed to be a large accelerated filer under the rules of the SEC.

If you purchase shares of our common stock in this offering, you will experience substantial and immediate dilution in net tangible book value per share.

The assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, is substantially higher than the net tangible book value per share of our outstanding common stock immediately after this offering. If you purchase shares of common stock in this offering, you will experience substantial and immediate dilution in the pro forma net tangible book value per share of $                per share as of                , based on the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share. That is because the price that you pay will be substantially greater than the pro forma net tangible book value per share of common stock that you acquire. This dilution is due in large part to the fact that our earlier investors paid substantially less than the initial public offering price when they purchased their shares of our capital stock. You will experience additional dilution to the extent that new securities are issued under our equity incentive plans or we issue additional shares of common stock or common stock in the future. See “Dilution.”

 

68


Table of Contents

Risks Relating to Our Organizational Structure

Our reliance on dividends, distributions and other payments from our subsidiaries to meet our obligations.

We are a holding company that does not conduct any business operations of our own. As a result, we are dependent upon cash distributions and other transfers from our direct and indirect subsidiaries to meet our obligations. The agreements governing the indebtedness of our subsidiaries impose restrictions on our subsidiaries’ ability to pay dividends or other distributions to us. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources.” Each of our subsidiaries is a distinct legal entity, and under certain circumstances legal and contractual restrictions may limit our ability to obtain cash from them and we may be limited in our ability to cause any future joint ventures to distribute their earnings to us. The deterioration of the earnings from, or other available assets of, our subsidiaries for any reason could impair their ability to make distributions to us.

The continuing control after this offering of our company, including the right to designate individuals to be included in the slate of nominees for election to our board of directors, by the Ares Funds, whose interests may conflict with our interests and those of other stockholders. As such, the Ares Funds may be able to influence or control our affairs and policies following the completion of this offering.

Following this offering, the Ares Funds will beneficially own                 % of our common stock (or                 % if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement that will be entered into between the Ares Funds and us in connection with this offering, the Ares Funds will have the right to designate a number of individuals to be included in the slate of nominees for election to our board of directors equal to the greater of up to directors and the number of directors comprising a majority of our board of directors for so long as the Ares Funds own 50% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock. The Stockholders Agreement will provide that the Ares Funds will be able to nominate a specified number of directors to our board based on its beneficial ownership of our common stock.

Because our board of directors will be divided into three staggered classes, the Ares Funds may be able to influence or control our affairs and policies even after they cease to own a majority of our outstanding common stock during the period in which the Ares Funds’ nominees finish their terms as members of our board, but in any event no longer than would be permitted under applicable law and the NYSE listing requirements. Therefore, following the completion of this offering and for so long as the Ares Funds continue to own 50% or more of our common stock, individuals affiliated with the Ares Funds will have the power to elect a majority of our directors and will have effective control over the outcome of votes on all matters requiring approval by our board of directors or our stockholders regardless of whether other stockholders believe such matter is in our best interests.

In addition, following the completion of this offering, the Stockholders Agreement will provide that, for so long as the Ares Funds own at least                 % of the outstanding shares of our common stock, certain significant corporate actions will require the prior written consent of the Ares Funds, subject to certain exceptions. The Stockholders Agreement is currently being formulated and will be filed as an exhibit to future amendments to this Registration Statement. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Stockholders Agreement.”

The interests of Ares, its affiliates and managed accounts could conflict with or differ from our interests or the interests of our other stockholders. For example, the concentration of ownership held by the Ares Funds could delay, defer or prevent a change in control of our company or impede a

 

69


Table of Contents

merger, takeover or other business combination which may otherwise be favorable for us. Additionally, Ares, its affiliates and managed accounts are in the business of making investments in companies and may, from time to time, acquire and hold interests in or provide advice to businesses that compete directly or indirectly with us, or are suppliers or customers of ours. Any such investment may increase the potential for the conflicts of interest discussed in this risk factor. So long as funds, investment vehicles or accounts managed or advised by the Private Equity Group of Ares continue to directly or indirectly own a significant amount of our equity, even if such amount is less than 50%, Ares will continue to be able to substantially influence or effectively control our ability to enter into corporate transactions.

Our status as a “Controlled Company” within the meaning of the NYSE rules, and our exemption from certain corporate governance requirements.

Following this offering, funds, investment vehicles or accounts managed or advised by the Private Equity Group of Ares will continue to control a majority of the voting power of our outstanding voting stock, and as a result we will be a controlled company within the meaning of the NYSE corporate governance standards. Under the NYSE rules, a company of which more than 50% of the voting power is held by another person or group of persons acting together is a controlled company and may elect not to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including the requirements that:

 

   

a majority of the board of directors consist of independent directors;

 

   

the nominating, corporate governance and sustainability committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and

 

   

the compensation committee be composed entirely of independent directors with a written charter addressing the committee’s purpose and responsibilities.

We intend to utilize these exemptions as long as we remain a controlled company. As a result, we will not have a majority of independent directors and our nominating, corporate governance and sustainability committee and compensation committee will not consist entirely of independent directors. Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE.

Pursuant to Rule 10C-1 under the Exchange Act, the NYSE has adopted amendments to its listing standards that require, among other things, that:

 

   

compensation committees be composed of fully independent directors, as determined pursuant to new independence requirements;

 

   

compensation committees be explicitly charged with hiring and overseeing compensation consultants, legal counsel, and other committee advisors; and

 

   

compensation committees be required to consider, when engaging compensation consultants, legal counsel, or other advisors, certain independence factors, including factors that examine the relationship between the consultant or advisor’s employer and us.

As a “controlled company,” we will not be subject to these compensation committee independence requirements.

Certain provisions in our certificate of incorporation and our bylaws that may delay or prevent a change of control.

Our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, each of which will be in effect upon the completion of this offering, contain provisions that could depress the trading price of our common stock by acting to

 

70


Table of Contents

discourage, delay or prevent a change of control of our company or changes in our management that our stockholders may deem advantageous. In particular, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws:

 

   

establish a classified board of directors so that not all members are elected at one time, which could delay the ability of stockholders to change the membership of a majority of our board of directors;

 

   

permit our board of directors to establish the number of directors and fill any vacancies (including vacancies resulting from an expansion in the size of our board of directors), except in the case of the vacancy of an Ares Funds-designated director (in which case the Ares Funds will be able to fill the vacancy);

 

   

establish limitations on the removal of directors;

 

   

authorize the issuance of “blank check” preferred stock that our board of directors could use to implement a stockholder rights plan;

 

   

provide that our board of directors is expressly authorized to make, alter or repeal our bylaws;

 

   

restrict the forum for certain litigation against us to Delaware;

 

   

provide that stockholders may not act by written consent following the time when the Ares Funds cease to beneficially own at least a majority of the shares of our outstanding common stock, which time we refer to as the Trigger Date, which would require stockholder action to be taken at an annual or special meeting of our stockholders;

 

   

prohibit stockholders from calling special meetings following the Trigger Date, which would delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or to take action, including with respect to the removal of directors; and

 

   

establish advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our board of directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at annual stockholder meetings, which may discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or the DGCL, prohibits a publicly held Delaware corporation from engaging in a business combination with an interested stockholder, generally a person, individually or together with any other interested stockholder, who owns or within the last three years has owned 15% of our voting stock, unless the business combination is approved in a prescribed manner. We have elected to opt out of Section 203 of the DGCL. However, our certificate of incorporation will contain a provision that is of similar effect, except that it will exempt from its scope the Ares Funds, any of their affiliates and certain of their respective direct or indirect transferees as described under “Description of Capital Stock—Anti-Takeover Provisions.”

Any provision of our certificate of incorporation, our bylaws or Delaware law that has the effect of delaying or deterring a change in control could limit the opportunity for our stockholders to receive a premium for their shares of common stock and could also affect the price that some investors are willing to pay for our common stock. See “Description of Capital Stock—Anti-Takeover Provisions.”

 

71


Table of Contents

Our certificate of incorporation, which will be in effect upon the completion of this offering, will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for a wide range of disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.

Our certificate of incorporation, which will be in effect upon the completion of this offering, will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware is the exclusive forum for the following types of actions or proceedings under Delaware statutory or common law:

 

   

any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf;

 

   

any action asserting a breach of fiduciary duty;

 

   

any action asserting a claim against us arising under the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation or our bylaws; and

 

   

any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal-affairs doctrine.

This provision would not apply to suits brought to enforce a duty or liability created by the Exchange Act or any other claim for which the U.S. federal courts have exclusive jurisdiction. Any person or entity purchasing or otherwise acquiring any interest in shares of our capital stock will be deemed to have notice of, and consented to, the exclusive-forum provisions in our certificate of incorporation.

The exclusive-forum provisions will also provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States will be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, subject to and contingent upon a final adjudication in the State of Delaware of the enforceability of such exclusive-forum provision. However, there is substantial uncertainty as to whether a court would enforce the exclusive-forum provisions relating to causes of action arising under the Securities Act. For example, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware recently determined that a provision stating that federal district courts are the exclusive forum for resolving any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act is not enforceable. This decision may be reviewed and ultimately overturned by the Delaware Supreme Court. If a court were to find any of the exclusive-forum provisions in our certificate of incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving the dispute in other jurisdictions, which could seriously harm our business.

These exclusive-forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees, which may discourage lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and employees, although our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder.

Our certificate of incorporation will contain a provision renouncing our interest and expectancy in certain corporate opportunities.

Under our certificate of incorporation, neither the Ares Funds nor any of their affiliates or their respective portfolio companies or affiliated funds, nor any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents, stockholders, members or partners will have any duty to refrain from engaging, directly or indirectly, in the same business activities, similar business activities, or lines of business in which we operate. In addition, our certificate of incorporation provides that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, no officer or director of ours who is also an officer, director, employee, agent,

 

72


Table of Contents

stockholder, member, partner or affiliate of the Ares Funds or their affiliates will be liable to us or our stockholders for breach of any fiduciary duty by reason of the fact that any such individual directs a corporate opportunity to the Ares Funds or their affiliates, instead of to us, or does not communicate information regarding a corporate opportunity to us that the officer, director, employee, agent, stockholder, member, partner or affiliate has directed to the Ares Funds or their affiliates. For example, a director of our company who also serves as an officer, director, employee, agent, stockholder, member, partner or affiliate of the Ares Funds or their affiliates, or any of their respective portfolio companies or affiliated funds may pursue certain acquisitions or other opportunities that may be complementary to our business and, as a result, such acquisition or other opportunities may not be available to us. These potential conflicts of interest could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations or prospects if attractive corporate opportunities are allocated by an Ares Fund to itself or their affiliates or their respective portfolio companies or affiliated funds instead of to us. A description of our obligations related to corporate opportunities under our certificate of incorporation are more fully described in “Description of Capital Stock—Corporate Opportunity.”

General Risks

We depend on our executive officers and other key technical, operational and sales employees, and the loss of one or more of these employees or an inability to attract and retain other highly skilled employees could harm our business.

Our success depends largely upon the continued services of our executive officers and other key technical, operational and sales employees. From time to time, there may be changes in our executive management team resulting from the hiring or departure of executives, which could disrupt our business. Our employment agreements with our executive officers or other key personnel do not require them to continue to work for us for any specified period and, therefore, they could terminate their employment with us at any time. The loss of one or more of our executive officers, especially our Chief Executive Officer, or other executive officers or key technical, operational and sales employees could harm our business.

Volatility or lack of appreciation in the stock price of our common stock may also affect our ability to attract and retain our executive officers and key technical, operational and sales employees. Many of our senior personnel and other key technical, operational and sales employees have become, or will soon become, vested in a substantial amount of stock or stock options. Employees may be more likely to leave us if the shares they own or the shares underlying their vested options have significantly appreciated in value relative to the original purchase price of the shares or the exercise price of the options, or conversely, if the exercise price of the options that they hold are significantly above the market price of our common stock. If we do not maintain and continue to develop our corporate culture as we grow and evolve, it could harm our ability to foster the innovation, craftsmanship, teamwork, curiosity and diversity that we believe we need to support our continued growth.

Use of social media, emails and text messages may adversely impact our reputation or subject us to fines or other penalties.

We use social media, emails, push notifications and text messages as part of our omni-channel approach to marketing. As laws and regulations evolve to govern the use of these channels, the failure by us, our employees or third parties acting at our direction to comply with applicable laws and regulations in the use of these channels could adversely affect our reputation or subject us to fines or other penalties. In addition, our employees or third parties acting at our direction may knowingly or inadvertently make use of social media in ways that could lead to the loss or infringement of intellectual

 

73


Table of Contents

property, as well as the public disclosure of proprietary, confidential or sensitive personal information of our business, employees, customers or others. Information concerning us, our customers and the brands available at our stores, whether accurate or not, may be posted on social media platforms at any time and may have an adverse impact on our brands, reputation or business. Any such harm may be immediate without affording us an opportunity for redress or correction and could have an adverse effect on our reputation, business, results of operations, financial condition and prospects.

Our management team has limited experience managing a public company.

Most members of our management team have limited experience managing a publicly-traded company, interacting with public company investors and complying with the increasingly complex laws pertaining to public companies. Our management team may not successfully or efficiently manage our transition to being a public company that is subject to significant regulatory oversight and reporting obligations under the federal securities laws and the continuous scrutiny of securities analysts and investors. These new obligations and constituents require significant attention from our senior management and could divert their attention away from the day-to-day management of our business, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

The requirements of being a public company may strain our resources, divert management’s attention and affect our ability to attract and retain executive management and qualified board members.

As a public company, we are subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, the listing standards of the NYSE and other applicable securities rules and regulations. We expect that the requirements of these rules and regulations will continue to increase our legal, accounting and financial compliance costs, make some activities more difficult, time-consuming and costly, and place significant strain on our personnel, systems and resources. For example, the Exchange Act requires, among other things, that we file annual, quarterly and current reports with respect to our business and results of operations. As a result of the complexity involved in complying with the rules and regulations applicable to public companies, our management’s attention may be diverted from other business concerns, which could harm our business, results of operations and financial condition. Although we have already hired additional employees to assist us in complying with these requirements, we will need to hire more employees in the future or engage outside consultants, which will increase our operating expenses.

In addition, changing laws, regulations and standards relating to corporate governance and public disclosure are creating uncertainty for public companies, increasing legal and financial compliance costs and making some activities more time-consuming. These laws, regulations and standards are subject to varying interpretations, in many cases due to their lack of specificity, and, as a result, their application in practice may evolve over time as new guidance is provided by regulatory and governing bodies, which could result in continuing uncertainty regarding compliance matters and higher costs necessitated by ongoing revisions to disclosure and governance practices. We intend to invest substantial resources to comply with evolving laws, regulations and standards, and this investment may result in increased general and administrative expenses and a diversion of management’s time and attention from business operations to compliance activities. If our efforts to comply with new laws, regulations and standards differ from the activities intended by regulatory or governing bodies due to ambiguities related to their application and practice, regulatory authorities may initiate legal proceedings against us and our business may be harmed.

We also expect that being a public company and being subject to these new rules and regulations will make it more expensive for us to obtain director and officer liability insurance, and we may be required to accept reduced coverage or incur substantially higher costs to obtain coverage. These

 

74


Table of Contents

factors could also make it more difficult for us to attract and retain qualified members of our board of directors, particularly to serve on our audit committee and compensation committee, and qualified executive officers.

As a result of disclosure of information in this prospectus and in filings required of a public company, our business and financial condition are more visible, which may result in an increased risk of threatened or actual litigation, including by competitors and other third parties. If such claims are successful, our business, results of operations and financial condition could be harmed, and even if the claims do not result in litigation or are resolved in our favor, these claims, and the time and resources necessary to resolve them, could divert the resources of our management and harm our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

75


Table of Contents

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This prospectus contains forward-looking statements. Many statements included in this prospectus that are not statements of historical fact, including statements about our beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks and uncertainties, some of which cannot be predicted or quantified. These risks and other factors include, but are not limited to, those listed under “Risk Factors.” In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “might,” “objective,” “ongoing,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “potential,” “should,” “will,” “would” or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. In particular, statements about the markets in which we operate, including growth of our various markets and growth in the use of engineered products, statements about potential new products and product innovation and our expectations, beliefs, plans, strategies, objectives, prospects, assumptions or future events or performance contained in this prospectus under the headings “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and “Business” are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about:

 

   

our market opportunity and the potential growth of that market;

 

   

our strategy, outcomes and growth prospects;

 

   

trends in our industry and markets; and

 

   

the competitive environment in which we operate.

Some of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements include:

 

   

both supply of and demand for our products is influenced by general economic conditions and trends in consumer spending on clothing and household items;

 

   

our ability to source a sufficient quantity of quality secondhand items at attractive prices on a recurring basis;

 

   

our ability to effectively manage our growth and execute our business plan;

 

   

risks related to attracting new, and retaining existing customers, including by increasing acceptance of secondhand items among new and growing customer demographics;

 

   

risks associated with sourcing and processing secondhand items on a continued basis, including processing costs and capacity; risk of damage, loss, or contamination of items, and increased costs to maintain or develop sources of supply;

 

   

risks that certain stores may experience challenges achieving period-to-period comparable sales growth targets due to factors out of our control;

 

   

our ability to identify and secure suitable locations for new stores as we grow our business;

 

   

our ability to expand our CPC operations in geographic regions that enable us to effectively scale our operations;

 

   

various risks to our physical store and processing center locations;

 

   

risks associated with our significant foreign operations, including regulatory risks in foreign jurisdictions (particularly in Canada, where we maintain extensive operations) and exchange rate risks, which we may not be able to fully hedge;

 

   

risks related to our ability to attract and retain suitable workers for our stores and processing facilities and to manage labor costs;

 

76


Table of Contents
   

our ability to retain key store and facility management personnel, who are crucial to our business;

 

   

risks related to acquisitions or joint ventures we may pursue;

 

   

our ability to protect our intellectual property rights;

 

   

risks arising from the material weaknesses we have identified in our internal control over financial reporting and any failure to remediate these material weaknesses;

 

   

risks arising from compromises of our data security, which may materially harm our reputation and results of operations;

 

   

our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls and produce timely and accurate financial statements or comply with applicable regulations;

 

   

our ability to maintain normal operations and retain customers in the context of the global COVID-19 pandemic and related public health regulations in the jurisdictions in which we operate;

 

   

the increased expenses associated with being a public company; and

 

   

other risks and uncertainties, including those described under “Risk Factors.”

We have based the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus primarily on our current expectations and projections about future events and trends that we believe may affect our business, financial condition, results of operations, prospects, business strategy and financial needs. The outcome of the events described in these forward-looking statements is subject to risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors described under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. These risks are not exhaustive. Other sections of this prospectus include additional factors that could adversely affect our business and financial performance. Moreover, we operate in a very competitive and rapidly changing environment. New risks and uncertainties emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict all risks and uncertainties that could have an impact on the forward-looking statements contained in this prospectus. We cannot be sure that the results, events and circumstances reflected in the forward-looking statements will be achieved or occur, and actual results, events or circumstances could differ materially from those described in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements.

In addition, statements that “we believe” and similar statements reflect our beliefs and opinions on the relevant subject. These statements are based upon information available to us as of the date of this prospectus, and while we believe that information forms a reasonable basis for such statements, that information may be limited or incomplete, and our statements should not be read to indicate that we have conducted an exhaustive inquiry into, or review of, all potentially available relevant information.

The forward-looking statements made in this prospectus relate only to events as of the date on which such statements are made. We undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this prospectus or to conform such statements to actual results or revised expectations, except as required by law.

 

77


Table of Contents

USE OF PROCEEDS

We estimate that we will receive net proceeds from this offering of approximately $                 million (or approximately $                 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of common stock from us in full), based on an assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

The principal purposes of this offering are to increase our capitalization and financial flexibility and create a public market for our common stock. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of shares in this offering by the selling stockholders, including upon the sale of shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares. After deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, the selling stockholders will receive approximately $                 million of net proceeds from this offering (or approximately $                 million if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). See “Principal and Selling Stockholders.”

A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $                 per share of common stock, the midpoint of the estimated price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $                 million, assuming that the number of shares of common stock offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Similarly, each increase (decrease) of 1.0 million shares in the number of shares of common stock offered by us would increase (decrease) the net proceeds to us from this offering by approximately $                 million, assuming the assumed initial public offering price of $                 per share remains the same, and after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

We intend to use net proceeds received by us from this offering to repay approximately $             million of indebtedness plus accrued and unpaid interest and premium under the New Term Loan Facility. The New Term Loan Facility matures in April 2028 and accrues interest at a variable rate equal to a reference rate plus a margin ranging from 4.50% to 5.75%. As of October 2, 2021, there was $600.0 million outstanding, which was incurred in April 2021 to refinance existing indebtedness, and on November 8, 2021, we incurred an additional $225.0 million to finance the 2nd Ave Acquisition. We intend to use any remainder for general corporate purposes, including working capital, debt reduction, payment of operating expenses and capital expenditures. We may also use a portion of any net proceeds we receive from this offering for acquisitions or other strategic investments, although we do not currently have any specific plans to do so. We will have broad discretion over the uses of any net proceeds in this offering to be used for general corporate purposes.

We intend to invest the net proceeds to us from this offering that are not used as described above (or pending such use) in investment-grade, interest-bearing instruments. The precise allocation of funds among these uses will depend upon future developments in or affecting our business and the emergence of future opportunities.

 

78


Table of Contents

CORPORATE CONVERSION

We currently operate as a Delaware limited liability company under the name S-Evergreen Holding LLC. S-Evergreen Holding LLC is a holding company which directly and indirectly holds all of the equity interests in our operating subsidiaries. Prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part, S-Evergreen Holding LLC will convert into a Delaware corporation pursuant to a statutory conversion and will change its name to Savers Value Village, Inc.

In conjunction with the Corporate Conversion, all of our outstanding membership interests will be converted into an aggregate of shares of our common stock. The number of shares of common stock issuable in connection with the Corporate Conversion will be determined pursuant to the applicable provisions of the plan of conversion.

As a result of the Corporate Conversion, Savers Value Village, Inc. will succeed to all of the property and assets of S-Evergreen Holding LLC and will succeed to all of the debts and obligations of S-Evergreen Holding LLC. Savers Value Village, Inc. will be governed by a certificate of incorporation filed with the Delaware Secretary of State and bylaws, the material provisions of which are described under the heading “Description of Capital Stock.” On the effective date of the Corporate Conversion, each of our directors and officers will be as described elsewhere in this prospectus. See “Management.”

The purpose of the Corporate Conversion is to reorganize our structure so that the entity that is offering our common stock to the public in this offering is a corporation rather than a limited liability company and so that our existing investors will own our common stock rather than equity interests in a limited liability company. Except as otherwise noted herein, the Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere in this prospectus are those of S-Evergreen Holding LLC and its consolidated operations. We do not expect that the Corporate Conversion will have an effect on our results of operations.

 

79


Table of Contents

DIVIDEND POLICY

On November 22, 2021, we paid the November 2021 Dividend to our shareholders, the Ares Funds. No executive officers or directors received dividend payments. Following completion of this offering, we do not anticipate paying any cash dividends for the foreseeable future. Instead, we anticipate that all of our earnings on our common stock in the foreseeable future will be used to repay debt, for working capital, to support our operations and to finance the growth and development of our business. Any future determination relating to dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our board of directors and will depend on a number of factors, including restrictions in our current and future debt instruments, our future earnings, capital requirements, financial condition, prospects, and applicable Delaware law, which provides that dividends are only payable out of surplus or current net profits.

As a holding company, our ability to pay dividends depends on our receipt of cash dividends from our operating subsidiaries. Our ability to pay dividends will therefore be restricted as a result of restrictions on their ability to pay dividends to us, including under the agreements governing our existing and any future indebtedness. See “Risk Factors—Risks relating to this offering and ownership of our common stock,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Senior Secured Credit Facilities.”

 

80


Table of Contents

CAPITALIZATION

The following table sets forth our cash and cash equivalents and capitalization as of October 2, 2021:

 

   

on an actual basis; and

 

   

on a pro forma basis, to give effect to the Transactions, including the Corporate Conversion, the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, the related financings, the November 2021 Dividend; and the issuance and sale of                  shares of our common stock in this offering at the assumed initial offering price of $                 per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range on the cover page of this prospectus, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

You should read this table together with the sections titled “Selected Financial and Other Data,” “Use of Proceeds,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” and our financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

     As of October 2, 2021  
(In thousands, except unit/share and per unit/share data)    Actual     Pro Forma(1)  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 160,252     $                    

Total debt

   $ 578,548     $                    

Members’ equity / stockholders’ equity:

    

Common A Units, 198,378,867 units authorized, issued, and outstanding as of October 2, 2021

     223,379    

Common B Units, 25,482,695 units authorized as of October 2, 2021; No units issued and outstanding as of October 2, 2021

     1,112    

Common stock, $              par value;              shares authorized; no shares issued and outstanding, actual;              shares authorized, pro forma;              shares issued and outstanding, pro forma;

     —      

Additional paid-in capital

     —      

Accumulated deficit

     (6,446  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

     12,797    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total members’ / stockholders’ equity(2)

     230,842    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total capitalization

   $ 809,390     $                    
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Each $1.00 increase or decrease in the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase or decrease the amount of our pro forma cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity, and capitalization by $                million, assuming that the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us. An increase or decrease of 1.0 million shares in the number of shares offered by us would increase or decrease, as applicable, the amount of our pro forma cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, total stockholders’ equity, and capitalization by $                million assuming the assumed initial public offering price remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions payable by us.

(2)

In connection with the Corporate Conversion, the membership interests and will be reduced to zero to reflect the elimination of all outstanding interests in S-Evergreen Holding LLC and corresponding adjustments will be reflected as common stock, additional paid-in capital, and total stockholders’ equity in Savers Value Village, Inc.

 

81


Table of Contents

Assuming no change in the number of shares offered by us as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, a $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $                 per share of common stock (the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus) would increase (decrease) each of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, and total equity by $                , would decrease (increase) total debt by $                , and would increase (decrease) total capitalization by $                , after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

Similarly, a share increase (decrease) in the number of shares offered by us, as set forth on the cover of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) each of cash and cash equivalents, additional paid-in capital, and total equity by $                , would decrease (increase) total debt by $                , and would increase (decrease) total capitalization by $                , after deducting assumed underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, based on the assumed initial public offering price of $                 per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover of this prospectus, remained the same.

The table above does not include shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans, consisting of options outstanding under our 2019 Management Incentive Plan and shares reserved under our Omnibus Incentive Plan, which will become effective on the day prior to the first public trading date of our common stock, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our Omnibus Incentive Plan, or under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which we expect to be adopted in connection with this offering, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

 

82


Table of Contents

DILUTION

If you invest in our common stock in this offering, your interest will be diluted to the extent of the difference between the initial public offering price per share of common stock and the pro forma net tangible book value per share immediately after this offering.

Our pro forma net tangible book value as of October 2, 2021 was $                million, or $                per share. Pro forma net tangible book value per share represents the amount of our total tangible assets less our total liabilities, divided by the number of our shares of common stock outstanding as of October 2, 2021, after giving effect to the Corporate Conversion immediately prior to the completion of this offering, assuming an initial public offering price of $                per share, which is the midpoint of the estimated offering price range on the cover page of this prospectus. After giving effect to the sale by us of                shares of common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, the midpoint of the estimated offering price range on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our pro forma net tangible book value would have been $                , or $                per share. This amount represents an immediate increase in pro forma net tangible book value of $                per share to our existing stockholders and an immediate dilution in pro forma net tangible book value of $                per share to new investors purchasing common stock in this offering. We determine dilution by subtracting the pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering from the amount of cash that a new investor paid for a share of common stock.

The following table illustrates this dilution on a per share basis:

 

Assumed initial public offering price per share

      $            

Historical net tangible book value as of

     

Pro forma net tangible book value per share as of October 2, 2021

   $               
  

 

 

    

Increase in pro forma net tangible book value per share attributable to this offering existing investors

     
  

 

 

    

Pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering

     
     

 

 

 

Dilution per share to new investors purchasing shares in this offering

      $    
     

 

 

 

The dilution information discussed above is illustrative only and may change based on the actual initial public offering price and other terms of this offering. A $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share of common stock, the midpoint of the estimated offering price range on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) our pro forma net tangible book value per share after this offering by $                per share and increase (decrease) the dilution to new investors by $                per share, in each case assuming the number of shares of common stock offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us. Similarly, each increase or decrease of 1.0 million shares in the number of shares of common stock offered by us would increase (decrease) our pro forma net tangible book value by approximately $                per share and decrease (increase) the dilution to new investors by approximately $                per share, in each case assuming the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share of common stock remains the same, and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

If the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares of common stock in full, the pro forma net tangible book value per share, to give effect to this offering, would be $                per share, and the dilution in pro forma net tangible book value per share to new investors in this offering would be $                per share.

The following table summarizes, as of October 2, 2021, on a pro forma basis as described above, the number of shares of our common stock, the total consideration and the average price per share

 

83


Table of Contents

(1) paid to us by existing stockholders and (2) to be paid by new investors acquiring our common stock in this offering at an assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, the midpoint of the estimated offering price range on the cover page of this prospectus, before deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us.

 

     Shares Purchased     Total Consideration     Average Price
Per Share
 
     Number      Percent     Amount      Percent  

Existing investors(1)

                       $                                     $                

New investors

                             
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

Total

     100                       $ 100                      
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

(1)

Does not give effect to the sale of shares by the selling stockholders in this offering or the exercise by the underwriters of the option to purchase additional shares and includes an estimated                 shares related to the Stock Payment.

After giving effect to the sale of                 shares by the selling stockholders in this offering, the percentage of our shares held by existing investors would be                 % and the percentage of our shares held by new investors would be     %. If the underwriters were to exercise in full their over-allotment option to purchase an additional                  shares from the selling stockholders, the percentage of our shares held by existing investors would be                 %, and the percentage of our shares held by new investors would be                 %.

Each $1.00 increase (decrease) in the assumed initial public offering price of $                per share, the midpoint of the estimated offering price range on the cover page of this prospectus, would increase (decrease) the total consideration paid by new investors and total consideration paid by all stockholders by approximately $                , assuming that the number of shares of common stock offered by us, as set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, remains the same and after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions.

The total number of shares reflected in the discussion and tables above is based on                 common shares outstanding as of the date of this prospectus on a pro forma basis.

The table above assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares in this offering. If the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares is fully exercised, the number of shares of our common stock held by existing stockholders would be reduced to                 % of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding after this offering, and the number of shares of common stock held by new investors purchasing common stock in this offering would be increased to % of the total number of shares of our common stock outstanding after this offering.

The discussion and tables give effect to the Corporate Conversion and exclude shares of common stock reserved for future issuance under our equity incentive plans, consisting of options outstanding under our 2019 Management Incentive Plan and shares reserved under our Omnibus Incentive Plan, which will become effective on the day prior to the first public trading date of our common stock, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under our Omnibus Incentive Plan, or under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan, which we expect to be adopted in connection with this offering, as well as any future increases in the number of shares of our common stock available for issuance under our Employee Stock Purchase Plan.

We expect to require additional capital to fund our current and future operating plans. To the extent additional capital is raised through the sale of equity or convertible debt securities, the issuance of these securities could result in further dilution to our stockholders. See “Risk Factors—Risks relating to this offering and ownership of our common stock—Future issuances of our common stock could result in significant dilution to our stockholders, dilute the voting power of our common stock and depress the market price of our common stock.”

 

84


Table of Contents

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared in accordance with Article 11 of Regulation S-X and should be read in conjunction with the accompanying notes. The adjustments presented in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information have been identified and presented to provide relevant information necessary for an understanding of S-Evergreen Holding Corp. (the “Company”) upon consummation of the following transactions (collectively, the “Transactions”):

 

   

April 2021 Refinancing - In connection with the Ares Share Purchase Transaction in April 2021 (See “Presentation of Financial Information”), the outstanding borrowings under the Company’s existing credit facilities were refinanced (the “April 2021 Refinancing”) with proceeds from the Company’s New Term Loan Facility (See “Risks Relating to Our Indebtedness and Liquidity”). The historical unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of October 2, 2021 already reflects the effects of the April 2021 Refinancing and does not require a pro forma adjustment. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations reflect the April 2021 Refinancing as if it occurred on December 29, 2019, the first day of fiscal year 2020.

 

   

2nd Ave. Acquisition - On November 8, 2021, the Company acquired Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. (“2nd Ave.”) for purchase price consideration of $238.9 million in cash (the “2nd Ave. Acquisition”). The Company financed the 2nd Ave. Acquisition with cash on hand and $225.0 million of additional borrowings under the New Term Loan Facility.

 

   

November 2021 Dividend - The Company paid a dividend (the "November 2021 Dividend”) of $75.0 million to the Company’s equityholders on November 22, 2021, which is reflected on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet.

 

   

Initial Public Offering - The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information reflects the Corporate Conversion and the issuance and sale of our common stock in this offering after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us and the intended use of the net proceeds, as described under “Use of Proceeds” (collectively, the “Initial Public Offering”).

The following unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is derived from the historical consolidated financial statements of the Company and 2nd Ave., as detailed below.

 

   

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet combines the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of October 2, 2021 and 2nd Ave. as of October 3, 2021, giving effect to the 2nd Ave. Acquisition and related adjustments, the November 2021 Dividend, and this offering as if they had been consummated on October 2, 2021.

 

   

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 combines the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations of the Company for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 with the unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations of 2nd Ave. for the nine months ended October 3, 2021, giving effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on December 29, 2019, the first day of fiscal year 2020.

 

   

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations for the year ended January 2, 2021 combines the audited statement of operations of the Company for the year ended January 2, 2021 with the audited statement of operations of 2nd Ave. for the year ended January 3, 2021, giving effect to the Transactions as if they had occurred on December 29, 2019, the first day of fiscal year 2020.

 

85


Table of Contents

The unaudited pro forma adjustments are based upon available information and certain assumptions that we believe are reasonable under the circumstances. This unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared to give effect to the Transactions that have occurred or are probable for which disclosure of pro forma financial information would be material to investors.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information herein has been adjusted to depict the accounting for the April 2021 Refinancing, the 2nd Ave. Acquisition and the related financing, the November 2021 Dividend and the Initial Public Offering (“Transaction Accounting Adjustments”), which reflect the application of the accounting required by the U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“GAAP”), linking the effects of the Transactions to the historical consolidated financial statements, of the Company on a pro forma basis.

We elected not to present the reasonably estimable cost savings, synergies, and other transaction effects that may occur (“Management’s Adjustments”). The Transaction Accounting Adjustments are described in the notes to the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

As a public company, we will be implementing additional procedures and processes for the purpose of addressing the standards and requirements applicable to public companies. We expect to incur additional annual expenses related to these steps and, among other things, additional directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, director fees, reporting requirements of the SEC, transfer agent fees, hiring additional accounting, legal and administrative personnel, increased auditing and legal fees and similar expenses. We have not included any pro forma adjustments relating to these expenses.

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information is presented for informational purposes only and does not purport to represent what our actual consolidated statements of operations or consolidated balance sheet would have been had the Transactions actually occurred on the dates indicated, nor are they necessarily indicative of future consolidated results of operations or consolidated financial condition. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information should be read in conjunction with the information contained in the “Capitalization,” “Dilution,” “Selected financial data,” “Management’s discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations,” sections and the historical consolidated financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere in this prospectus. All pro forma adjustments and their underlying assumptions are described more fully in the notes to our unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

 

86


Table of Contents

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED BALANCE SHEET

AS OF OCTOBER 2, 2021

 

    Historical                                            
(in thousands of US dollars)   S-Evergreen
Holding
Corp.
    Thrift
Intermediate
Holdings I
(4)
    Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments -
Business
Combination
          Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments -
Financing
          Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments -
Initial Public
Offering
          Pro forma  

Assets

                 

Current assets:

                 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 160,252     $ 16,019     $

 

(238,944

(2,127


   
5B
5C
 
 
  $

 

225,000

(5,625

(75,000

 

   

5A

5A

5D

 

 

 

  $        

5E

5F

 

 

  $ 79,575  

Restricted cash

    1,093       —         —           —               1,093  

Trade and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts

    6,389       861       —           —               7,250  

Inventories

    21,758       7,635       —           —               29,393  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    19,347       3,094       —           —               22,441  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current assets

    208,839       27,609       (241,071     $ 144,375       $           139,752  

Property and equipment, net

    122,053       9,693       —           —               131,746  

Goodwill

    485,934       47,013       129,166       5B       —               662,113  

Intangible assets, net

    172,597       29,624       5,897       5B       —               208,118  

Derivative asset - non-current

    14,923       —         —           —               14,923  

Other assets

    4,488       3,221       —           —               7,709  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total assets

  $ 1,008,834     $ 117,160     $ (106,008     $ 144,375       $                     $ 1,164,361  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Liabilities

                 

Current liabilities:

                 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

    79,075       2,252       (546     5C       —         $           80,781  

Accrued payroll and related taxes

    60,443       3,107       —           —               63,550  

Derivative liability – current

    3,999       —         —           —               3,999  

Current portion of long-term debt, net

    4,500       692       —           1,446       5A           6,638  

Current portion of long-term debt, net due to related parties

    —         —         —           —               —    

Other current liabilities

    —         3,965       —           —               3,965  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    148,017       10,016       (546       1,446             158,933  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Insurance reserves

    6,779       —         —           —         $           6,779  

Deferred rent

    16,111       —         —           —               16,111  

Deferred compensation

    2,352       —         —           —               2,352  

Lease intangible liability, net

    3,283       —         —           —               3,283  

Long-term debt, net

    574,048       41,998       (40,776     5B       217,929       5A         5F       793,199  

Long-term debt, net due to related parties

    —         —         —           —         $           —    

Derivative liability – non-current

    4,027       —         —           —               4,027  

Deferred tax liabilities

    18,302       —         1,544       5B       —               19,846  

Other liabilities

    5,073       881       —           —               5,954  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total liabilities

  $ 777,992     $ 52,895     $ (39,778     $ 219,375       $         $ 1,010,484  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Stockholders’ equity

                 

Common Stock

    —         —         —           —             5F       —    

Common A Units

    223,379       —         —           —             5G       223,379  

Common B Units

    1,112       —         —           —             5G       1,112  

(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings

    (6,446     —         (1,965     5C       —               (8,411

Member’s equity

    —         64,265       (64,265     5B       (75,000     5D           (75,000

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

    12,797       —         —           —               12,797  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total stockholders’ equity

    230,842       64,265       (66,230       (75,000           153,877  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

  $ 1,008,834     $ 117,160     $ (106,008     $ 144,375       $         $ 1,164,361  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

87


Table of Contents

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 2, 2021

 

    Historical                                                        
(in thousands of US dollars)   S-Evergreen
Holding
Corp.
    Thrift
Intermediate
Holdings I
(4)
          Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments -
Business
Combination
          Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments -
Financing
          Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments -
Initial Public
Offering
          Pro forma        

Net sales

  $ 859,291     $ 71,081       $ —         $ —         $ —         $ 930,372    

Operating expenses:

                     

Cost of merchandise sold exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    317,620       19,057         —           —           —           336,677    

Salaries, wages, and benefits

    168,314       31,426         —           —           —           199,740    

Selling, general, and administrative

    186,858       4,160         (546     AB       —           (766     AE       189,706    

Depreciation and amortization

    33,972       7,294         (5,166     AA       —           —           36,099    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

    706,764       61,937         (5,712       —           (766       762,223    

Operating income (loss)

    152,527       9,144         5,712         —           766         168,149    

Other (expense) income:

    —         —           —           —           —           —      

Interest expense

    (40,591     (3,043       —           2,955       AC       —           (43,284  
              (2,605     AD          

Other income (expense), net

    (399     7,021         —           —           —           6,621    

(Loss) on extinguishment of debt

    (47,541     —           —           47,541       AD       —           —      
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Other (expense) income, net

    (88,531     3,978         —           47,890         —           (36,663  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

(Loss) income before income tax expense

    63,996       13,122         5,712         47,890         766         131,486    

Income tax expense

    8,340       (1,196       1,554       AF       13,409       AF       —           22,107    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net (loss) income

  $ 55,656     $ 14,318       $ 4,158       $ 34,481       $ 766       $ 109,379    
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Basic earnings (loss) per common share

  $ 0.28                     $         AG  

Diluted earnings (loss) per common share

  $ 0.28                     $         AG  

 

88


Table of Contents

UNAUDITED PRO FORMA CONDENSED COMBINED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED JANUARY 2, 2021

 

    Historical                                                  

(in thousands of US dollars)

  S-Evergreen
Holding
Corp.
    Thrift
Intermediate
Holdings I
(4)
    Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments -
Business
Combination
          Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments -

Financing
          Transaction
Accounting
Adjustments -

Initial Public
Offering
          Pro
forma
       

Net sales

  $ 834,010     $ 63,875     $ —         $ —         $                   $ 897,885    

Operating expenses:

                   

Cost of merchandise sold exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    353,455       24,323       —           —               377,778    

Salaries, wages, and benefits

    184,392       27,615       —           —               212,007    

Selling, general, and administrative

    229,886       9,520       7,986       AB       —          

 

AE

 

    247,392    

Depreciation and amortization

    59,432       9,264       (6,895     AA       —               61,802    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Total operating expenses

    827,165       70,722       1,092         —               898,979    
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Operating income (loss)

    6,845       (6,847     (1,092       —               (1,094  

Other (expense) income:

    —         —         —           —               —      

Interest expense

    (69,678     (2,991     —           2,904       AC           (61,442  
            8,323       AD          
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

   

Other income (expense), net

    3,410       32       —           —               3,442    

(Loss) on extinguishment of debt

    —         —         —           (47,541     AD           (47,541  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Other (expense) income, net

    (66,268     (2,959     —           (36,314           (105,541  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

(Loss) income before income tax expense

    (59,423     (9,806     (1,092       (36,314           (106,635  

Income tax expense

    4,060       (23     290       AF       (10,168     AF           (5,841  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Net (loss) income

  $ (63,483   $ (9,783   $ (1,382     $ (26,146     $         $ (100,794  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

     

 

 

   

Basic earnings (loss) per common share

  $ (0.34                 $         AG  

Diluted earnings (loss) per common share

  $ (0.34                 $         AG  

 

89


Table of Contents
1.

Basis of Presentation

The adjustments presented in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information have been identified and presented to provide relevant information necessary for an understanding of S-Evergreen Holding Corp. (the “Company”) upon consummation of the following transactions (collectively, the “Transactions”):

 

   

April 2021 Refinancing - In connection with the Ares Share Purchase Transaction in April 2021 (See “Presentation of Financial Information”), the outstanding borrowings under the Company’s existing credit facilities were refinanced (the “April 2021 Refinancing”) with proceeds from the Company’s New Term Loan Facility (See “Risks Relating to Our Indebtedness and Liquidity”). The historical unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of October 2, 2021 already reflects the effects of the April 2021 Refinancing and does not require a pro forma adjustment. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations reflect the April 2021 Refinancing as if it occurred on December 29, 2019, the first day of the earliest period presented.

 

   

2nd Ave. Acquisition - On November 8, 2021, the Company acquired Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. (“2nd Ave.”) for purchase price consideration of $238.9 million in cash (the “2nd Ave. Acquisition”). The Company financed the 2nd Ave. Acquisition with cash on hand and $225.0 million of additional borrowings under the New Term Loan Facility.

 

   

November 2021 Dividend - The Company paid a dividend (the “November 2021 Dividend”) of $75.0 million to the Company’s equityholders on November 22, 2021, which is reflected on the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet.

 

   

Initial Public Offering - The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information reflects the Corporate Conversion and the issuance and sale of our common stock in this offering after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us and the intended use of the net proceeds, as described under “Use of Proceeds” (collectively, the “Initial Public Offering”).

The unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information has been prepared as if the 2nd Ave. Acquisition and related adjustments, the November 2021 Dividend, and the Initial Public Offering had been consummated on October 2, 2021 in the case of the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statements of operations assume the Transactions, including the April 2021 Refinancing, occurred on December 29, 2019, the first day of fiscal year 2020.

The 2nd Ave. Acquisition is accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting under the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) Topic 805, Business Combinations (“ASC 805”) on the basis of the Company as the accounting acquirer. The acquisition method of accounting is based on ASC 805 and uses the fair value concepts defined in ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”). In general, ASC 805 requires, among other things, that assets acquired and liabilities assumed to be recognized at their fair values as of the acquisition date. The consolidated financial statements issued by the Company after completion of the 2nd Ave. Acquisition will reflect these values. Prior periods will not be retroactively restated to reflect the historical financial position or results of operations of 2nd Ave.

The Transaction Accounting Adjustments represent management’s estimates based on information available as of the date of this Registration Statement on Form S-1 and are subject to change as additional information becomes available and additional analyses are performed. These adjustments are discussed in greater detail in Note 5 below. Management considers this basis of presentation to be reasonable under the circumstances.

 

90


Table of Contents

Additionally, certain amounts in the 2nd Ave. historical balance sheet and statements of operations have been conformed to the Company’s presentation in Note 4 below.

 

2.

Accounting Policies

2nd Ave. is in the process of being integrated with the Company. This integration includes a review by the Company of 2nd Ave.’s accounting policies. As a result of that review, the Company may identify differences between the accounting policies that, when conformed, could have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. As a private company, 2nd Ave. historically amortized its acquired goodwill. The unaudited pro forma condensed combined statement of operations includes an adjustment to remove the effects of 2nd Ave.’s goodwill amortization in its historical financial results. At this time, the Company is not aware of any other accounting policy differences that would have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements that have not been adjusted for in the pro forma financial information. Accounting policy differences may be identified after completion of the integration.

 

3.

Purchase Price Allocation

The Company completed the 2nd Ave. Acquisition for cash consideration of $238.9 million, of which $1.0 million was placed in escrow pending future potential working capital adjustments and satisfaction of potential claims as defined in the purchase agreement. The 2nd Ave. Acquisition has been accounted for as a business combination in accordance with ASC 805, using the acquisition method of accounting, which results in acquired assets and assumed liabilities being measured at their estimated fair values as of the acquisition date. Goodwill is measured as the excess of consideration transferred, which is generally measured at fair value of the net assets acquired.

The following table summarizes the preliminary allocation of the purchase price as of the acquisition date.

 

Assets acquired and liabilities assumed

   Book Value As
of Oct 2, 2021
     Adjustment      Fair Value  

Current assets

   $ 27,609      $ —        $ 27,609  

Property and equipment, net

     9,693        —          9,693  

Goodwill

     47,013        129,166        176,179  

Intangible assets, net

     29,624        5,897        35,521  

Other assets

     3,221        —          3,221  

Current liabilities

     10,016        (384      9,632  

Long-term debt, net

     41,998        (40,776      1,222  

Other liabilities

     881        —          881  

Deferred tax liabilities

     —          1,544        1,544  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 64,265      $ 174,679      $ 238,944  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

This preliminary purchase price allocation has been used to prepare pro forma adjustments in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial statements herein. The Company may make changes to the above purchase price allocation within the measurement period (one year from the acquisition date) due to, among other things, identification of additional long-lived intangible assets and changes to goodwill related to completion of valuation procedures, changes to deferred tax assets and liabilities, and completion of our purchase accounting procedures. Accordingly, the final allocation could differ materially from the preliminary allocation used in the pro forma adjustments.

The Company expects to finalize the accounting for the business combination as soon as practicable within the measurement period in accordance with ASC 805.

 

91


Table of Contents
4.

Reclassification Adjustments

The unaudited condensed combined financial information reflects certain reclassification adjustments to conform the historical financial amounts of 2nd Ave. to the Company’s presentation.

The following adjustments have been made to the historical consolidated balance sheet of 2nd Ave. to conform to the Company’s presentation (in thousands):

 

    Thrift Intermediate
Holdings I
Historical
Amounts
    Reclassification
Adjustments
    TMs     Adjusted Thrift
Intermediate
Holdings I
 

Store supplies

  $ 698     $ (698     A1     $ —    

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    2,396       698       A1       3,094  

Other assets

    —         3,221       A2       3,221  

Deposits

    1,276       (1,276     A2       —    

Deferred tax asset

    1,945       (1,945     A2       —    

Current portion of long-term debt, GOLUB Note

    584       (584     A3       —    

Current maturities of obligations under capital leases

    108       (108     A3       —    

Current portion of long-term debt

    —         692       A3       692  

Income tax payable

    700       (700     A4       —    

Other current liabilities

    2,467       1,498       A4       3,965  

Sales tax payable

    798       (798     A4       —    

Accrued severance

    263       (263     A5       —    

Accrued salaries and wages

    2,844       (2,844     A5       —    

Accrued payroll and related taxes

    —         3,107       A5       3,107  

Long-term debt, less current portion

    41,838       (41,838     A6       —    

Long-term debt, net

    —         41,998       A6       41,998  

Obligations under capital leases, less current maturities

    160       (160     A6       —    

Accrued severance - LT

    65       (65     A7       —    

Other liabilities

    816       65       A7       881  

 

92


Table of Contents

Adjustment

  

Nature of Reclassfication

A1    Reflects reclassification of store supplies to prepaid expenses and other current assets.
A2    Reflects reclassification of deposits to other assets.
A3    Reflects reclassification of current portion of long-term debt, GOLUB Note and current maturities of obligations under capital leases to current portion of long-term debt.
A4    Reflects reclassification of income tax payable, other current liabilities, sales tax payable, to other current liabilities.
A5    Reflects reclassification from accrued severance and accrued salaries and wages to accrued payroll and related taxes.
A6    Reflects reclassification of long-term debt, less current portion, mortgage payable, long-term debt, less current portion, GOLUB note and obligations under capital leases, less current maturities to long-term debt, net.
A7    Reflects reclassification of accrued severance - LT to other liabilities

The following adjustments have been made to the historical consolidated statement of operations for the year ended January 3, 2021 of 2nd Ave. to conform the Company’s presentation (in thousands):

 

     Thrift
Intermediate
Holdings I
Historical
Amounts
    Reclassification
Adjustments
    TMs      Adjusted
Thrift
Intermediate
Holdings I
 

Net sales

   $ —       $ 63,875       B1      $ 63,875  

Sales, retail

     55,922       (55,922     B1        —    

Sales wholesale

     7,953       (7,953     B1        —    

Lease revenue, real estate

     38       (38     B2        —    

Other income (expenses)

     —         32       B2        32  

Interest income

     2       (2     B2        —    

Gain (loss) on sale of property and equipment

     (8     8       B2        —    

Cost of sales

     24,323       (24,323     B3        —    

Cost of merchandise sold exclusive of depreciation and amortization

     —         24,323       B3        24,323  

Salaries, wages, and benefits

     —         27,615       B4        27,615  

Selling, general and administrative

     38,871      

 

(27,615

 

(1,736

 

   

 

B4

 

B5

 

 

 

     9,520  

Depreciation and amortization

     —         9,264       B5        9,264  

Amortization expense on goodwill and intangible assets

     7,528       (7,528     B5        —    

 

93


Table of Contents

Adjustment

  

Nature of Reclassification

B1    Reflects reclassification of sales, retail and sales, wholesale to net sales.
B2    Reflects reclassification of lease revenue, real estate, interest income, and gain (loss) on sale of property and equipment to other income (expense).
B3    Reflects reclassification from cost of sales to cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization.
B4    Reflects reclassification from selling, general and administrative to salaries, wages, and benefits.
B5    Reflects reclassification from selling, general and administrative and amortization expense on goodwill and intangible assets to depreciation and amortization.

The following adjustments have been made to the historical consolidated statement of operations for the nine months ended October 3, 2021 of 2nd Ave. to conform the Company’s presentation (in thousands):

 

    Thrift Intermediate
Holdings I
Historical
Amounts
    Reclassification
Adjustments
     TMs     Adjusted Thrift
Intermediate
Holdings I
 

Net sales

  $ —       $ 71,081        C1     $ 71,081  

Sales, retail

    62,786       (62,786      C1       —    

Sales wholesale

    8,295       (8,295      C1       —    

Lease revenue, real estate

    38       (38      C2       —    

Other income (expense), net

    —         7,021        C2       7,021  

Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness

    8,121       (8,121      C2       —    

Rental income

    3       (3      C2       —    

Discontinued operations

    (384     384        C2       —    

Severance expense

    (289     289        C2       —    

Board and other fees

    (457     457        C2       —    

Gain (loss) of sale of property and equipment

    (11     11        C2       —    

Cost of sales

    19,057       (19,057      C3       —    

Cost of merchandise sold exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    —         19,057        C3       19,057  

Salaries, wages, and benefits

    —         31,426        C4       31,426  

Selling, general and administrative

    37,164      

 

(31,426

 

(1,578

 

    

 

C4

 

C5

 

 

 

    4,160  

Depreciation and amortization

    —         7,294        C5       7,294  

Amortization expense on goodwill and intangible assets

    5,715       (5,715      C5       —    

 

94


Table of Contents

Adjustment

  

Nature of Reclassification

C1    Reflects reclassification of sales, retail and sales, wholesale to net sales.
C2    Reflects reclassification of lease revenue, real estate, interest income, and gain (loss) on sale of property and equipment to other income (expense). 2nd Ave. recognized $8.1 million of non-recurring income within other income (expense), net related to the forgiveness of loans received under the Paycheck Protection Program.
C3    Reflects reclassification from cost of sales to cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization.
C4    Reflects reclassification from selling, general and administrative to salaries, wages, and benefits.
C5    Reflects reclassification from selling, general and administrative and amortization expense on goodwill and intangible assets to depreciation and amortization.

 

5.

Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Balance Sheet Adjustments

A.     Represents the Company’s incremental borrowings of $225.0 million under the New Term Loan Facility in connection with the 2nd Ave. Acquisition. Net proceeds are $219.4 million, after consideration of debt issuance costs of $5.6 million, which are reflected as an increase to cash and cash equivalents, current portion of long-term debt, and long-term debt, net.

B.     This adjustment reflects the preliminary allocation of the purchase price consideration to the net assets acquired as discussed in Note 3. Other than the acquired tradenames and supply agreements, which collectively reflect an incremental fair value of $5.9 million in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet, Management has determined that the carrying value of the assets and liabilities acquired approximate fair value for purposes of the preliminary purchase price allocation. As part of the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, the historical debt was repaid, so that in effect, the Company acquired a debt-free business.

As a result of the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, the Company recorded a deferred tax liability of $1.5 million in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined balance sheet as of October 2, 2021, as a result of the difference between the financial reporting value and the tax basis of the intangible assets of 2nd Ave.

As part of the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, the historical equity balances, including noncontrolling interest, of 2nd Ave. are eliminated.

The final allocation of the purchase consideration may differ materially from these amounts.

C.     In connection with the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, the combined Company incurred approximately $8.0 million of transaction expenses, of which $5.9 million was paid, and $0.6 million was accrued as of October 2, 2021. The unaudited condensed combined pro forma financial information reflects the payment of transaction expenses as a reduction of cash and cash equivalents and accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The Company records the non-recurring transaction expenses associated with the 2nd Ave. Acquisition as an expense when incurred, resulting in a reduction to retained earnings.

D.     Reflects the payment of the November 2021 Dividend of $75.0 million. As the Company is in an accumulated deficit position, the dividend payment is reflected as a reduction to members’ equity.

E.     Reflects the reduction of cash of (i) $        million for the payment of offering expenses, (ii) reclassification of $        million from other assets for previously capitalized deferred offering costs, (iii) reduction of $        million from accounts payable for the payment of accrued offering costs and (iv) $        million to additional paid-in capital for costs directly related to the Initial Public Offering.

 

95


Table of Contents

F.     The Company estimates that the net proceeds from the sale of shares in this offering will be approximately $        million (or approximately $        million, if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares), based on the assumed Initial Public Offering price of $        per share, which is the midpoint of the price range set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, and after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by the Company.

The Company intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to repay approximately $        million of indebtedness plus accrued and unpaid interest and premium under the New Term Loan Facility and any remainder for general corporate purposes. If the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares, the Company estimates that it will receive additional net proceeds of approximately $        million, which it will use for general corporate purposes.

 

Offering price per share

   $                

Shares of common stock issued by us in this offering

  
  

 

 

 

Gross proceeds

  

Less: underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses

  
  

 

 

 

Net cash proceeds from offering

  

Repayment of debt

  
  

 

 

 

Net impact to cash and cash equivalents

   $        
  

 

 

 

G.     Reflects the reclassification of equity as a result of the Corporate Conversion and the anticipated post-offering capital structure. As of the closing date of this offering, the shareholders’ equity will reflect the issuance of common stock to the public and will reflect the $0.01 par value of million outstanding shares of common stock.

6.    Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Statements of Operations Adjustments

AA.    Reflects the reduction of amortization expense resulting from the removal of historical amortization expense related to goodwill and intangibles reflected in the historical financial results of 2nd Ave. offset by the amortization expense associated with the identified intangible assets related to 2nd Ave.’s supply agreements, which have an estimated useful life of fifteen years and are amortized on a straight-line basis. The Company also recognized a tradename intangible asset which was assigned an indefinite life. The final useful lives applied to the Company’s identified intangible assets may differ from these estimates.

The adjustment to depreciation and amortization for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 is computed as follows:

 

Amortization of supply agreement

   $ (475

Reversal of historical amortization

     5,641  
  

 

 

 

Adjustment to depreciation and amortization

   $ 5,166  
  

 

 

 

The adjustment to depreciation and amortization for fiscal year 2020 is computed as follows:

 

Amortization of supply agreement

   $ (633

Reversal of historical amortization

     7,528  
  

 

 

 

Adjustment to depreciation and amortization

   $ 6,895  
  

 

 

 

AB.     Represents transaction costs incurred or expected to be incurred by the Company and 2nd Ave. of $8.0 million, of which $0.6 million were incurred during the nine months ended October 2, 2021.

 

96


Table of Contents

These non-recurring transaction costs are reflected entirely in fiscal year 2020, the earliest period presented, resulting in an increase to selling, general and administrative expenses of $8.0 million in fiscal year 2020 and a reduction to selling, general and administrative expenses of $0.6 million during the nine months ended October 2, 2021. Refer to Adjustment 5C above for further details.

AC.     Reflects the removal of the interest expense associated with 2nd Ave.’s historical debt reflected in its consolidated statements of operations for fiscal year 2020 and the nine months ended October 3, 2020.

AD.     Reflects the pro forma adjustment to reflect interest expense as if the April 2021 Refinancing and the incremental $225 million in borrowings under the New Term Loan Facility Term Loan had occurred on December 29, 2019.

The adjustment to reflect interest expense as if the April 2021 Refinancing and incremental $225.0 million in borrowings for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 is computed as follows:

 

Elimination of historical interest expense

   $ 40,105  

Interest expense on new debt

     (42,710
  

 

 

 

Adjustment to interest expense

   $ (2,605
  

 

 

 

The adjustment to reflect interest expense as if the April 2021 Refinancing and incremental $225.0 million in borrowings for fiscal year 2020 is computed as follows:

 

Elimination of historical interest expense

   $ 65,739  

Interest expense on new debt

     (57,416
  

 

 

 

Adjustment to interest expense

   $ 8,323  
  

 

 

 

A sensitivity analysis on interest expense for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and the year ended January 2, 2021 has been performed to assess the effect of a change of 1/8% of the hypothetical interest rate would have on interest expense. The interest rate assumed for purposes of preparing this pro forma financial information is approximately 6.5%. The rates for the April 2021 Refinancing facilities and incremental $225.0 million consist of a LIBOR floor, plus certain margins specified in the definitive agreements. A 1/8% increase or decrease in interest rates would result in a change in interest of approximately $0.8 million and $1.0 million for the applicable periods.

The loss on extinguishment of debt associated with the April 2021 Refinancing is reflected in fiscal year 2020 in the unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information.

AE.     Represents $     million of costs incurred or expected to be incurred by the Company in connection with the Initial Public Offering, of which $0.8 million were incurred during the nine months ended October 2, 2021. Offering costs are reflected entirely in fiscal year 2020, the first year presented in the unaudited condensed combined pro forma financial information. Refer to Adjustment E above for further details.

AF.     Reflects the estimated tax effect of the pro forma adjustments using the Company’s estimated blended statutory tax rate of 28% for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and for fiscal year 2020. Tax deductibility of certain costs was not assessed for purposes of this unaudited pro forma condensed combined financial information and actual tax expense may differ due to other items such as changes in actual transaction costs and changes to the valuation of intangible assets during the measurement period.

 

97


Table of Contents

AG.     Represents the basic and diluted net income (loss) per share as a result of the pro forma adjustments for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and for fiscal year 2020, respectively. The table below presents the pro forma basic and diluted earnings per share for the Company:

 

     For the nine
months ended
October 2,
2021
     For the year
ended January 2,
2021
 

Pro forma Basic (loss) earnings per share:

     

Net (loss) income

   $            $        

Weighted average common stock outstanding for basic (loss) earnings per unit calculation

     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic (loss) earnings per share:

   $                        $                    
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted (loss) earnings per share:

     

Net (loss) income

   $        $    

Weighted average common stock outstanding for basic (loss) earnings per unit calculation

     

Assumed exercise / vesting of:

     

Options

     

Weighted average common stock outstanding for diluted (loss) earnings per unit calculation

     
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted (loss) earnings per share:

   $            $        
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

98


Table of Contents

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The selected consolidated statement of operations data for fiscal year 2020, for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor) and selected consolidated balance sheet data as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. The selected consolidated statement of operations data for the nine months ending October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020 and summary consolidated balance sheet data as of October 2, 2021 are derived from our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected in any future period. You should read the following selected financial data in conjunction with the section titled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” and our consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

99


Table of Contents

Consolidated Statement of Operations Data

 

    Successor     Predecessor     Successor  
(In thousands, except unit and
per unit data)
  Fiscal Year
2020
    March 28, 2019 to
December 28, 2019
    December 30,
2018 to
March 27, 2019
    Nine months
ended
October 2,
2021
    Nine months
ended
September 26,
2020
 

Net sales

  $ 834,010     $ 945,527     $ 259,972     $ 859,291     $ 564,328  

Operating expenses:

         

Cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    353,455       460,169       133,595       317,620       233,202  

Salaries, wages, and benefits

    184,392       195,066       60,193       168,314       124,243  

Selling, general, and administrative

    229,886       187,727       71,537       186,858       168,847  

Depreciation and amortization

    59,432       32,391       18,837       33,972       43,434  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    827,165       875,353       284,162       706,764       569,726  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

    6,845       70,174       (24,190     152,527       (5,398

Other (expense) income:

         

Interest expense

    (69,678     (58,003     (20,784     (40,591     (51,454

Other income (expense), net

    3,410       (6,353     6,605       (399     2,137  

Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt

                283,241       (47,541      
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other (expense) income, net

    (66,268     (64,356     269,062       (88,531     (49,317
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income tax expense

    (59,423     5,818       244,872       63,996       (54,715

Income tax expense

    4,060       4,437       5,256       8,340       (13,398
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

  $ (63,483   $ 1,381     $       239,616     $ 55,656     $ (41,317
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings per unit, basic

  $ (0.34   $ 0.01       $ 0.28     $ (0.22

Net (loss) earnings per unit, diluted

  $ (0.34   $ 0.01       $ 0.28     $ (0.22

Weighted average number of units outstanding used to compute net (loss) earnings per unit, basic

    188,757,245       178,378,867         198,378,867       185,290,632  

Weighted average number of units outstanding used to compute net (loss) earnings per units, diluted

    188,757,245       178,609,336         201,821,886       185,290,632  

Consolidated Balance Sheet Data

 

     As of  
(In thousands)    January 2, 2021      December 28, 2019      October 2, 2021  

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 137,201      $ 84,924      $ 160,252  

Total assets

     965,615        959,742                1,008,834  

Total liabilities

     791,690        770,265        777,992  

Total members’ equity

             173,925                  189,477        230,842  

 

100


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

You should read the following discussion and analysis of the financial condition and results of operations of S-Evergreen Holding LLC (“Successor”) and S-Evergreen Holding Corp. (“Predecessor”) that is the accounting predecessor of Successor, in conjunction with the section entitled “Selected Financial and Other Data” and the consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. Unless the context otherwise requires, all references in this section to the “Savers Value Village,” “the company,” “we,” “us” or “our” refer to the business of Predecessor and Successor in both periods. See “Presentation of Financial Information” for more information regarding the Successor and the Predecessor.

This discussion contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties about our business and operations. Our actual results and the timing of selected events may differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, including those we describe under “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this prospectus. See “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements.”

Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday nearest December 31. Our fiscal year 2021 comprises the 52 weeks ended January 1, 2022. Our fiscal year 2020 comprises the 53 weeks ended January 2, 2021. Our fiscal year 2019 is comprised of a Predecessor period and Successor period. The Predecessor period of fiscal year 2019 represents the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 and comprises 12 weeks and four days. The Successor period of fiscal year 2019 represents the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and comprises 39 weeks and three days. Both the nine month interim reporting period ended on October 2, 2021 and the nine month interim reporting period ended September 26, 2020 consisted of 39 weeks.

Overview

We are the largest for-profit thrift operator in the United States and Canada. With over 20,000 team members, we operate a total of 306 stores under the Savers, Value Village, Village des Valeurs, Unique, and 2nd Ave banners. We are committed to redefining secondhand shopping by providing one-of-a-kind, low-priced merchandise ranging from quality clothing to home goods in an exciting treasure-hunt shopping environment. We purchase secondhand textiles (i.e., clothing, bedding and bath items), shoes, accessories, housewares, books and other goods from our non-profit partners (“NPPs”), either directly from them or via on-site donations (“OSDs”) at Community Donation Centers at our stores. We then process, select, price, merchandise and sell these items in our stores. Items that are not sold to our retail customers are marketed to wholesale customers, who reuse or repurpose the items they purchase from us. We believe our hyper-local and socially responsible procurement model, industry-leading and innovative operations, differentiated value proposition and deep relationships with our customers distinguish us from other secondhand and value-based retailers.

We offer a dynamic, ever-changing selection of items, with an average unit retail (“AUR”) under $5. We have a highly engaged customer base, with over 3.8 million active loyalty program members in the United States and Canada who shopped with us in the 12 months ended October 2, 2021. Our business model is rooted in environmental, social and corporate governance (“ESG”) principles, with a mission to positively impact our stakeholders—thrifters, NPPs and their donors, our team members and our stockholders. As a leader and pioneer of the for-profit thrift category, we seek to positively impact the environment by reducing waste and extending the life of reusable goods. The vast majority of the clothing and textiles we source are sold to our retail or wholesale customers. In 2019, we processed over one billion pounds of secondhand goods. During fiscal year 2020 and the nine months

 

101


Table of Contents

ended October 2, 2021, periods that were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, we processed 682 million and 624 million pounds, respectively. During fiscal year 2020, we generated $834.0 million of net sales, $63.5 million of net loss and $59.5 million of Adjusted EBITDA, resulting in a net loss margin of 7.6% and an Adjusted EBITDA Margin of 7.1%. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are considered non-GAAP financial measures under the SEC’s rules because they exclude certain charges included in net (loss) income calculated in accordance with GAAP. For additional information on our use of non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure, see “Prospectus Summary—Summary Financial and Other Data—Key business metrics and non-GAAP financial measures.”

Powerful, Vertically Integrated Business Model

We have innovated and invested to develop significant operational expertise and integrate the three highly-complex parts of thrift operations—supply and processing, retail, and sales to wholesale markets. Our business model enables us to provide value to our NPPs and our customers, while driving attractive profitability and cash flow.

We are a for-profit company that champions reuse. While purchases made by our customers in our stores do not benefit any NPP, we pay our NPPs a contracted rate for all OSDs and delivered product. Our subsidiaries are registered professional fundraisers where such registration is required.

We source our merchandise locally by purchasing secondhand items donated to our NPPs primarily through two distinct and strategic procurement models:

 

   

OSDs, which are donations of items by individuals to our local NPPs made at the Community Donation Centers located at our stores; and

 

   

delivered supply, which includes items donated to and collected by our NPPs through a variety of methods, such as neighborhood collections and donation drives, and delivered to our stores or centralized processing centers (“CPCs”).

In either case, we purchase our merchandise from our NPPs which provides them with revenue to support their community-focused missions. Over 90% of our supply is locally sourced; each store supports a NPP in the local community, delivers a broad selection for our customers, and at the same time reduces transportation costs and emissions typically associated with the production and distribution of new merchandise.

Our stores offer a compelling selection of quality items across clothing, home goods, books and other items at convenient locations. Our continued investment in our stores has both elevated and modernized the thrift shopping experience, transforming our stores into a thrift destination for all generations with increasing traffic from younger generations. To maximize traffic and frequency, we leverage data to drive our decisions on merchandising. For each store, we closely track what is being sold to inform how we optimize our merchandising mix, including by leveraging various data analytics. We also are implementing self-checkout kiosks to significantly enhance store efficiency, while improving the shopping experience further through shorter lines.

Historically, we display approximately 50% of all textile items we receive on our retail sales floors, approximately 50% of which are sold to thrifters. In support of our efforts to extend the life of reusable goods and recover a portion of the cost of acquiring our supply of secondhand items, we sell the majority of textile items unsold at retail to our wholesale customers, which are predominately comprised of textile graders and small business owners, who supply local communities across the globe with gently-used, affordable items like clothing, housewares, toys, and shoes. Textiles not suitable for reuse as secondhand clothing can be repurposed into other textile items (e.g., wiping rags) and post-consumer fibers (e.g., insulation, carpet padding), further reducing waste.

 

102


Table of Contents

We primarily generate revenue from our U.S. Retail and Canada Retail segments, which accounted for, in the aggregate, 93% of our net sales in fiscal year 2020. We also generate revenue from our Australian retail business and sales to wholesale markets.

Recent Developments

Ares Share Purchase Transaction

On April 26, 2021, certain of the Ares Funds, pursuant to a Purchase and Sale Agreement with Crescent, purchased for cash all of the outstanding equity securities of S-Evergreen Holding LLC held by Crescent. As a result, the Ares Funds became the holders of all of our outstanding equity, prior to this offering. We did not elect to apply push down accounting for the Ares Share Purchase Transaction, as the transaction was entirely among the holders of the securities.

In connection with the Ares Share Purchase Transaction, the outstanding borrowings under our existing credit facilities were refinanced with the proceeds of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (defined below — see “Liquidity and Capital Resources”), resulting in a $47.5 million loss on extinguishment of debt.

2nd Ave. Acquisition

On November 8, 2021, we completed the 2nd Ave. Acquisition for purchase price consideration of $238.9 million in cash. The 2nd Ave. Acquisition adds 12 stores in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, representing a complementary store footprint for our existing store network and offering new store expansion opportunities. The 2nd Ave. Acquisition also included GreenDrop, which allows donors to drop off their items at attended donation stations that are movable and can be placed in attractive, high traffic areas that are convenient to donors. We are currently considering expanding the use of GreenDrop for our other locations.

We financed the 2nd Ave. Acquisition through cash on hand and $225.0 million of additional borrowings under our New Term Loan Facility. The additional borrowings are on substantially the same terms as our existing loans under the New Term Loan Facility. We have accounted for the 2nd Ave. Acquisition as a business combination under applicable accounting guidance. See “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” for more information regarding the 2nd Ave. Acquisition.

November 2021 Dividend

On November 22, 2021, we paid a dividend of $75.0 million to our shareholders, the Ares Funds, using cash on hand. No executive officers or directors received dividend payments.

COVID-19 update

After the novel coronavirus disease (“COVID-19”) emerged and spread worldwide, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic in March 2020, and national, state, provincial and local governments and private entities began issuing various restrictions, including travel restrictions, restrictions on public gatherings, stay at home orders and advisories and quarantine or isolation protocols. From time to time throughout the year, we temporarily closed our retail stores and Community Donation Centers in accordance with local restrictions and to provide for the safety and well-being of our team members and customers. The effects of the pandemic reduced our percentage open store days from 100% in fiscal year 2019 to 77.3% in fiscal year 2020. We nearly returned to pre-

 

103


Table of Contents

pandemic levels during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021 with our stores open for 87% of possible store days. We define percentage open store days as the total number of days during which each of our stores generated revenue in a fiscal period, divided by the total number of days in the fiscal period, excluding planned holiday closures.

Measures were taken to mitigate the operating and financial impact of the pandemic including, but not limited to:

 

   

furloughing team members;

 

   

implementing temporary tiered salary reductions for team members;

 

   

suspending the 401(k) plan match;

 

   

extending payment terms with vendors and suppliers;

 

   

deferring or abating payments of rent based on negotiations with each landlord; and

 

   

executing substantial reductions in operating expenses, store occupancy costs, capital expenditures, and other costs.

Additionally, we received wage subsidies from the Canadian and Australian governments during fiscal year 2020 and the first nine months of fiscal year 2021. As the public health restrictions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic slowly eased during the latter half of fiscal year 2020 and first nine months of fiscal year 2021, we were able to roll back and reverse several of the cost mitigation measures enacted during fiscal year 2020, including the furloughing of team members in our corporate operations, salary reductions, and the suspension of our 401(k) match program.

We also enhanced our liquidity by raising additional capital and amending our credit agreements. In June 2020, we raised $45.0 million of additional capital through an equity contribution from certain of the Ares Funds. We also amended our existing credit agreements by deferring cash interest payments and modifying our covenant requirements. See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources.”

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, and the ultimate pace and timing of recovery is dependent on future developments, such as public health restrictions enacted by local and federal governments, rates of vaccination, and the impact of COVID-19 variants. Due to the measures taken, in addition to our flexible business model, we believe we are well positioned for sustained growth as COVID-19 restrictions are gradually reduced. During the first nine months of fiscal year 2021, we experienced growth in net sales, net income, adjusted EBITDA net cash provided by operating activities, and free cash flow.

Key Factors Affecting our Performance

Comparable store sales growth

Processed supply volume and product quality. Our long-term growth will depend on our ability to continue to drive comparable store sales growth, which is generally driven by a combination of increase in processed volume, quality of supply, category and price mix and higher customer demand. Supply volume and quality both play a critical role in driving traffic, customer frequency and lifetime value.

Our ability to continue to source quality supply determines the value and quantity of sellable products within the millions of pounds of supply we purchase. It also shapes the experience of our customers as they look for a wide selection of quality products at an exceptional value. Since OSDs

 

104


Table of Contents

allow us to increase supply volume and enhance product quality, we have strategically expanded this source of supply. Between 2018 and 2020, our supply from OSD increased from 49% of total supply to 75% by making the donation experience as easy, convenient and pleasant as possible. We have consistently grown the average comparable store’s OSD volume from 1.6 million pounds to 1.7 million pounds from 2018 to 2020. During the first nine months of fiscal year 2021, our OSD volume was 453.5 million pounds, constituting 72.7% of our supply.

 

LOGO

Our ability to maximize sales generated per pound of processed volume, which we internally refer to as “sales yield,” is critical to driving both long-term sales and profitability of the business. Sales yield can be used as a proxy for the quality of goods we source, because when the quality of supply is high we are able to sell more items and/or items at higher prices from the volume we process than we would otherwise. In recent years, we have made targeted use of data analytics to help elevate the quality of supply by explicitly measuring the sales yield of specific sources of supply and concentrating purchases on sources with quality, lowest cost goods. Our sales yield has also improved from $1.03 to $1.31 for the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

LOGO

Existing customer engagement and new customer acquisition. Our long-term growth will also depend on our continued ability to retain existing customers and acquire new customers. We must continue to provide deep value and a compelling shopping experience that our customers love.

 

105


Table of Contents

Additionally, we must continue to engage our most active customers by growing our loyalty program. Our industry-leading investment in technology will continue to elevate our customer experience and differentiate it from other thrift retailers. We believe we will benefit from the secular tailwinds driven by a broader adoption of secondhand shopping resulting in an industry that is expected to grow at a 21% CAGR from 2021 to 2025. We utilize customer feedback and closely analyze sales data to introduce, test and improve our offerings. In addition, we see a significant opportunity to continue to expand and grow awareness of our multiple brands in the communities we serve.

Our marketing strategy is generally different from that of many traditional retailers because we do not rely on major sale events and focus on driving consistent traffic to our stores by providing everyday value and ever-changing selection. We regularly utilize public relations and experiential marketing, leveraging social media and targeted digital advertising to expand the reach of our brands and to drive traffic to our stores. We are also pursuing a robust capital expenditure program to improve the in-store customer experience and invest in technology to improve our execution.

New store openings in the United States and Canada

We expect that new stores will be a key driver of long-term growth. Our results of operations have been and will continue to be affected by the timing and number of new store openings. We are continually assessing the number of locations available that could accommodate our preferred size of stores in our target markets. We have already entered into new store leases for nine out of at least ten net new locations we are planning to open in 2022. We plan to open more than 20 net new stores each year beginning in 2023.

We have the opportunity to open new locations across the United States, Canada, and Australia. Our compelling value proposition creates a significant opportunity to grow our store base in a profitable and disciplined manner. We plan to solidify our leadership by expanding our store footprint. We have identified close to 2,200 potential new locations across the United States and Canada in both existing and new markets, based on a third-party analysis prepared for us.

We believe our real estate strategy has positioned us well for further expansion. Our CPC initiative is expected to be rolled out and implemented to support more than half of our new and existing store locations in the United States and Canada by 2026, which we expect to unlock significant new store potential. A store served by a CPC can have a much more flexible physical layout and size.

The performance of new stores may vary depending on various factors such as the store opening date, the time of year of a particular opening, the amount of store opening costs, the amount of store occupancy costs and the location of the new store, including whether it is located in a new or existing market. For example, we typically incur higher than normal team member costs at the time of a new store opening associated with set-up and other opening costs. We target most of our new stores to achieve a payback period of two and half years or less.

Cost of supply and processing

Our ability to reduce the cost of merchandise sold per pound processed directly increases our overall gross product margin. We define gross product margin as net sales less cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization, divided by net sales. If we are unable to cost-effectively purchase and process supply items, it could negatively affect our profitability. In recent years, we increased the OSD volume as a percentage of our total supply to drive down the cost of merchandise sold per pound processed and improve sales yield, which improved our gross product margin significantly. Between 2018 and 2020, cost of merchandise sold per pound processed declined from $0.58 to $0.52, contributing to our gross product margin expansion from 48.3% to 57.6%.

 

106


Table of Contents

The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to a portion of our gross product margin expansion during 2020, when we received $32.6 million in wage subsidies, of which $18.6 million are classified within cost of merchandise sold. These wage subsidies are recorded as a reduction to compensation expense, which increased gross product margin by approximately 2.2% during fiscal year 2020. Our gross product margin would be adversely affected by a decline in future wage subsidies or a material decline in OSD volume as a percentage of total supply, which increased during the pandemic.

During the first nine months of fiscal year 2021, our cost of merchandise sold per pound processed continued to decline to $0.51, resulting in a gross product margin of 63.0%. During the first nine months of fiscal year 2021, we received $21.7 million of wage subsidies, of which $13.4 million was classified as a reduction to cost of merchandise sold and increased our gross product margin by 1.6%.

 

LOGO

Over the last several years we have found that items sourced through OSDs have a cost per pound that is on average one-third that of delivered supply from our NPPs. As such, our store footprint plays a critical role in accepting OSDs from donors who wish to donate to our NPPs. On a comparable store basis, the average store’s OSDs have grown at a 5.2% CAGR from the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and OSDs as a percentage of total supply has expanded from 45.8% to 72.7% during the same period. Expansion of OSDs has been a significant driver of our gross product margin improvement in recent years.

Investment in operations

We expect to continue to focus on long-term margin growth through investments in our infrastructure and logistics, including significant investments in store efficiency, processing centers, and pricing. We are accelerating our roll-out of self-checkout kiosks, which decrease lines and reduce reliance on availability of labor and exposure to wage rate risk. We have begun to operationalize CPCs in order to unlock new store potential, reduce labor costs and maximize processing capacity. We have also implemented ABP systems utilizing scanning technology to identify the value of each item, thereby increasing processing volume, as well as automatic pricing, which provides consistent merchandising and market-based pricing across stores.

 

107


Table of Contents

Seasonality

Seasonality in our business does not follow that of traditional retailers, which usually experience a typical concentration of revenue during the holidays. Supply from donations made to our NPPs is usually slightly more concentrated during the second and third quarters of the year, as it coincides with warmer periods, and customer demand for secondhand goods is usually slightly higher during the third and fourth quarters of the year, in part as a result of increased demand during the fall season.

Key Business Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures

We use the following metrics to evaluate our performance, identify trends, formulate financial projections and make strategic decisions. We believe that these metrics provide useful information to investors and others in understanding and evaluating our results of operations in the same manner as our management team.

The following table summarizes our key business metrics for the periods indicated:

 

                  Nine Months Ended  
     Fiscal Year
2020
    Fiscal Year
2019
     October 2,
2021
    September 26,
2020
 

Comparable Store Sales Growth

         

United States

     (27.8 )%      7.8      77.4     (34.4 )% 

Canada

     (29.3 )%      3.4      22.7     (32.2 )% 

Total(1)

     (28.6 )%      5.7      49.7     (33.3 )% 

Comparable Store Daily Sales

         

United States

     (7.7 )%      7.8      25.1     (7.0 )% 

Canada

     (12.5 )%      3.4      18.5     (10.4 )% 

Total(1)

     (10.3 )%      5.7      24.2     (9.3 )% 

Number of Stores(2)

         

United States

     137       145        136       138  

Canada

     147       147        148       148  

Total(1)

     294       302        294       296  

Other Metrics

         

Pounds Processed (mm lbs)

     682       1,029        624       462  

 

(1)

Includes our stores in the United States and Canada as well as those in Australia.

(2)

Number of stores includes new stores not yet included in the comparable store sales growth and comparable store daily sales computations, measured as of the last day of the fiscal period.

Comparable store sales growth (United States, Canada, total)

Comparable store sales growth is the percentage change in comparable store sales over the prior year. Comparable store sales is calculated as net sales for the period by stores open during the entirety of both periods that are being compared. We considered any store temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic to be open and comparable during the period. This metric provides us with visibility into top-line performance on a like-for-like basis excluding new stores opened in the current or previous reporting period and excluding all closed stores as of the end of the current reporting period. We believe investors can use this metric to assess our ability to increase comparable store sales over time.

 

108


Table of Contents

During fiscal year 2020, our comparable store sales growth was (28.6)%, compared to 5.7% during fiscal year 2019. The decrease resulted primarily from temporary COVID-19 related store closures in the United States and Canada in March, April, and May 2020 as well as store closures in Australia during August and September 2020.

During the nine months ended October 2, 2021, our comparable store sales growth was 49.7%, compared to (33.3)% for the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The increase in comparable store sales growth resulted primarily from a higher percentage of open store days in 2021 resulting from reduced COVID-19 related restrictions in much of the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Comparable store daily sales

Comparable store daily sales for the period is the net sales by stores in the relevant geography that were or would have been open for the entirety of both periods if not for temporary closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, divided by the aggregate number of days those stores were open. We use comparable store daily sales to evaluate comparable store sales during periods during which a substantial number of our stores were closed, such as fiscal year 2020, when many of our stores were closed for varying periods due to COVID-related restrictions.

In fiscal year 2020, our comparable store daily sales growth was (10.3)%, compared to 5.7% during fiscal year 2019. The decrease was primarily due to adverse economic conditions and customer uncertainty related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

During the nine months ended October 2, 2021, our comparable store daily sales growth was 24.2%, compared to (9.3)% for the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The increase in comparable store daily sales resulted from a greater percentage of open store days in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021. In the first nine months of 2020, our stores were open for 72.9% of possible store days, compared to 87.7% during the first nine months of 2021.

Number of stores (United States, Canada, total)

We define number of stores as the number of retail stores in our portfolio, including new retail stores opened at the end of the period. This metric provides us visibility into our scale of operations. We believe investors can use this metric to assess our ability to open new stores in high-growth markets while reducing our number of stores in low-growth markets.

On January 2, 2021, our number of stores was 294, representing a decrease of 2.6% from December 28, 2019, when we had 302 stores. During fiscal year 2020, we elected not to renew eight and two leases for our stores in the United States and Canada, respectively, which resulted in a net decrease in the number of stores. Our number of open stores remained consistent through the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

Pounds processed

We define pounds processed as the total number of pounds of goods processed during the period, excluding furniture and other large items. We process inventory by receiving goods directly from our NPPs or through OSDs, sorting them, and placing them on the sales floor. This metric is our indicator of the volume of secondhand goods processed during the period and is typically a key driver of top-line sales growth. We believe investors can use this metric to assist in their evaluation of our sales growth and sales yield.

For fiscal year 2020, our pounds processed decreased to 682 million pounds, representing a decrease of 33.7% compared to fiscal year 2019.

 

109


Table of Contents

For the nine months ended October 2, 2021, our pounds processed increased to 624 million pounds, compared to 462 million pounds during the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The increase in pounds processed resulted from increased sourcing of merchandise through both our OSD and delivered supply channels. As public health restrictions eased during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021 and our percentage of open store days increased, we were able to purchase and process greater amounts of supply from our NPPs.

Non-GAAP measures

The following information provides definitions and reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures presented in this registration statement to the most directly comparable financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. We present Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin, and Free Cash Flow, which are non-GAAP financial measures. These measures are frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate companies in our industry. Further, we believe the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA margin and Free Cash Flow is helpful in highlighting trends in our operating results, because it excludes the impact of items that are outside the control of management or not reflective of our ongoing operations and performance. The Company has provided this non-GAAP financial information, which is not calculated or presented in accordance with GAAP, as information supplemental and in addition to the financial measures presented in this registration statement that are calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP. Such non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered superior to, as a substitute for or alternative to, and should be considered in conjunction with, the GAAP financial measures presented elsewhere in this registration statement. The non-GAAP financial measures in this registration statement may differ from similarly-titled measures used by other companies. For more information about these non-GAAP financial measures, see “Summary Financial and Other Data—Non GAAP measures.”

 

     Successor      Predecessor     Successor  
     Fiscal Year
2020
    Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
     Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
    Nine
months
ended
October 2,
2021
    Nine months
ended
September 26,
2020
 

(In thousands)

           

Adjusted EBITDA

   $ 59,496     $ 118,170      $ 13,989   $ 166,334     $  36,463  

Adjusted EBITDA margin

     7.1     12.5      5.4     19.4     6.5

Free Cash Flow

   $ 10,741     $ 37,859      $ (23,263   $ 122,559     $ (9,767

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are considered non-GAAP financial measures under the SEC’s rules and regulations because they exclude certain charges included in net (loss) income calculated in accordance with GAAP. Management believes that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are meaningful measures to share with investors because they best allow comparison of the performance of one period with that of another period. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin afford investors a view of what management considers its operating performance to be and the ability to make a more informed assessment of such operating performance as compared with that of the prior period.

For a definition of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin and a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net (loss) income, see “Prospectus Summary—Summary Financial and Other Data—Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin.”

 

110


Table of Contents

Free Cash Flow

Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure that is calculated as net cash generated by operations less cash paid for fixed assets. Management believes that Free Cash Flow, which measures the ability to generate additional cash from business operations, is an important financial measure for use in evaluating the company’s financial performance and ability to reduce debt, fund acquisitions and fund growth initiatives. Free Cash Flow has limitations as an analytical tool, and you should not consider it in isolation or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. There are limitations to using non-GAAP financial measures, including that other companies, including companies in our industry, may calculate Free Cash Flow differently. Because of these limitations, you should consider Free Cash Flow alongside other financial performance measures, including net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, purchases of property and equipment and our other GAAP results.

For a definition of Free Cash Flow and a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow to net cash provided by operating activities, see “Summary Financial and Other Data—Free Cash Flow.”

Components of Results of Operations

Net sales

We earn revenues by selling primarily secondhand items in our retail stores along with small amounts of new merchandise in complementary and seasonal categories. We recognize revenues at the point of sale, net of sales promotions and sales taxes collected. We allow customers to exchange certain goods within fourteen days of purchase, with no right of return for customers.

We also earn revenue through our sales to wholesale customers for reuse and repurposing. Wholesale sales are recognized at the point of shipment with no right of return.

Cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

Cost of merchandise sold primarily consists of the cost of merchandise sold in our retail stores, including costs related to payments to our NPPs, sorting and processing and inventory storage. Cost of merchandise sold also includes costs for personnel who are responsible for receiving and processing inventory, including salaries, wages and employee benefit costs.

Salaries, wages and benefits

Salaries, wages and benefits primarily consist of personnel-related expenses not classified within cost of merchandise sold. These costs include salaries, wages and other employee benefit costs, including stock-based compensation expense, for personnel not directly involved in the receiving and processing of inventory.

Selling, general and administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses primarily consist of costs related to occupancy, repair and maintenance, professional services, and other general and administrative activities.

Depreciation and amortization

Depreciation and amortization consists of depreciation associated with our property and equipment and amortization of our definite-lived intangible assets.

Interest expense

Interest expense primarily consists of interest associated with our outstanding debt, including amortization of debt issuance costs and realized and unrealized gains and losses on our interest rate swap.

 

111


Table of Contents

Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt

Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt consists of the settlement of certain debt amounts in connection with the March 2019 Transactions and the April 2021 Refinancing.

Other income (expense), net

Other income consists primarily of realized and unrealized gains and losses associated with our forward contracts used to manage foreign exchange risk.

Income tax expense (benefit)

Income tax expense (benefit) consists of income taxes related to foreign and domestic federal and state jurisdictions in which we conduct business, adjusted for allowable credits, deductions and valuation allowance against deferred tax assets.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth our results of operations for each of the periods presented (in thousands):

 

    Successor      Predecessor      Successor  
    Fiscal Year
2020
    Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
     Period from
December 30,
2018 to March
27, 2019
     Nine months
ended
October 2,
2021
    Nine months
ended
September 26,
2020
 

Net sales

  $ 834,010     $ 945,527      $ 259,972      $ 859,291     $ 564,328  

Operating expenses:

             

Cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    353,455       460,169        133,595        317,620       233,202  

Salaries, wages, and benefits

    184,392       195,066        60,193        168,314       124,243  

Selling, general and administrative

    229,886       187,727        71,537        186,858       168,847  

Depreciation and amortization

    59,432       32,391        18,837        33,972       43,434  
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

        827,165           875,353            284,162            706,764           569,726  
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

    6,845       70,174        (24,190      152,527       (5,398

Other (expense) income:

             

Interest expense

    (69,678     (58,003      (20,784      (40,591     (51,454

Other income (expense), net

    3,410       (6,353      6,605        (399     2,137  

Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt

    —         —          283,241        (47,541     —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other (expense) income, net

    (66,268     (64,356      269,062        (88,531     (49,317
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income tax expense

    (59,423     5,818        244,872        63,996       (54,715

Income tax expense (benefit)

    4,060       4,437        5,256        8,340       (13,398
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

  $ (63,483   $ 1,381      $ 239,616      $ 55,656     $ (41,317
 

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

112


Table of Contents

The following table sets forth the components of our results of operations for each of the periods presented as a percentage of net sales:

 

     Successor      Predecessor      Successor  
     Fiscal Year
2020
    Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
     Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
     Nine months
ended
October 2,
2021
    Nine months
ended
September 26,
2020
 

Net sales

     100.0     100.0      100.0      100.0     100.0

Operating expenses:

            

Cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

     42.4       48.7        51.4        37.0       41.3  

Salaries, wages, and benefits

     22.1       20.6        23.2        19.6       22.0  

Selling, general and administrative

     27.6       19.9        27.5        21.7       29.9  

Depreciation and amortization

     7.1       3.4        7.2        4.0       7.7  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     99.2       92.6        109.3        82.2       101.0  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     0.8       7.4        (9.3      17.8       (1.0

Other (expense) income:

            

Interest expense

     (8.4     (6.1      (8.0      (4.7     (9.1

Other income (expense), net

     0.4       (1.0      2.5        —         0.4  

Gain (loss) on extinguishment of debt

     —         —          109.0        (5.5     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other (expense) income, net

     (7.9     (7.1      103.5        (10.3     (8.7
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income tax expense

     (7.1     0.6        94.2        7.4       (9.7

Income tax expense (benefit)

     0.5       0.5        2.0        1.0       (2.4
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

     (7.6 )%      0.1      92.2      6.5     (7.3 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comparison of nine months ended October 2, 2021 (Successor) and nine months ended September 26, 2020 (Successor)

The following table presents net sales (in thousands):

Net sales

 

     Nine months ended      $ Change      % Change  
     October 2,
2021
     September 26,
2020
 

Retail sales

     $822,587        $541,701        $280,886        51.9

Wholesale sales

     36,704        22,627        14,077        62.2
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net sales

     $859,291        $564,328        $294,963        52.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Our net sales increased by $295.0 million, or 52.3% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 compared to the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The increase in net sales resulted primarily from a gradual reduction in public health restrictions related to COVID-19 during the nine months ended October 2, 2021, which resulted in fewer temporary store closures associated with the pandemic.

 

113


Table of Contents

During the nine months ended October 2, 2021, our percentage open store days was 87.7%, compared to 72.9% during the nine months ended September 26, 2020.

As our percentage open store days increased during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021, we accepted significantly more inventory through both our OSD and delivered supply channels allowing us to increase both our retail sales and wholesale sales. Total pounds processed by us increased to 624 million pounds during nine months ended October 2, 2021, compared to 462 million pounds during the nine months ended September 26, 2020.

Our increase in sales volume during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 was complemented by an increase in sales yield. Net sales per pound processed, which includes net sales from our Retail business only, increased to $1.31 during the nine months ended October 2, 2021, compared to $1.16 during the nine months ended September 26, 2020. Our net sales per pound increased as a result of increased sales volume by our retail business, which resulted from improved supply quality purchased from our non-profit partners and less discounting in our retail stores. During the first nine months of 2021, the average selling price of goods sold through our retail business increased by approximately 6%.

Overall, wholesale sales increased by $14.1 million, or 62.2% during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021. The increase in wholesale sales during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021 resulted primarily from an increase in sales volume of 39%. The remaining increase resulted from more favorable pricing associated with the product mix processed by our wholesale business.

Cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

The following table presents cost of merchandise sold (in thousands):

 

     Nine months ended      $ Change      % Change  
     October 2,
2021
     September 26,
2020
 

Total cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

   $ 317,620      $ 233,202      $ 84,418        36.2

Cost of merchandise sold increased by $84.4 million or 36.2% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021, compared to the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The increase in cost of merchandise sold resulted primarily from an increase in sales volume. Our total pounds processed increased by 35.1%, reaching 624 million pounds during the nine months ended October 2, 2021, compared to 462 million pounds during the nine months ended September 26, 2020.

As a percentage of revenue, cost of merchandise sold decreased to 37.0% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021, compared to 41.3% during the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The decrease in cost of merchandise sold as a percentage of revenue resulted primarily from an increase in our net sales and sales yield. During the first nine months of fiscal year 2021, the cost of merchandise sold per pound processed remained consistent with the first nine months of fiscal year 2020 at $0.51 per pound. The cost per pound processed of $0.51 per pound represents a decline from a cost of $0.52 per pound incurred during fiscal year 2020 (full year), which resulted from improved supply mix.

During the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020, we received a total of $21.7 million and $22.3 million in wage subsidies, respectively, resulting in reductions to cost of merchandise sold of $13.4 million and $12.4 million, respectively. These wage subsidies reimbursed us for certain employee wage costs incurred in Canada and Australia. We were eligible for the wage subsidy program in Canada and Australia and complied with the requirements of the programs, because we had a reduced amount of sales during the initial phases of the pandemic in fiscal year 2020 and the first half of fiscal year 2021 and continued to pay a significant portion of our team members’ wages that were not covered by the subsidies. We do not currently expect wage subsidies to

 

114


Table of Contents

continue in future periods, because our Canadian and Australian net sales have recovered to a large extent as our Canadian and Australian stores resumed a more normal store opening schedule. Assuming no significant increases in public health restrictions associated with the pandemic, which may result in increased store closures and decreased customer traffic, we do not expect the absence of wage subsidies to have a significant impact on our future operations or expansion plans.

Salaries, wages, and benefits

The following table presents salaries, wages, and benefits expense (in thousands):

 

     Nine months ended      $ Change      % Change  
     October 2,
2021
     September 26,
2020
 

Salaries, wages, and benefits:

           

Retail and wholesale

   $ 120,401      $ 91,649      $ 28,752        31.4

Corporate

     47,913        32,594        15,319        47.0
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total salaries, wages, and benefits

   $ 168,314      $ 124,243      $ 44,071        35.5
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Salaries, wages, and benefits expense increased by $44.1 million or 35.5% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021, compared to nine months ended September 26, 2020.

The increase in labor costs was greatest for our retail and wholesale operations which increased by $28.8 million or 31.4%. The increase primarily resulted from an overall increase in operations and open store days as public health restrictions related to COVID-19 eased during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

Salaries, wages, and benefits for our corporate employees increased by $15.3 million or 47.0% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 when compared to nine months ended September 26, 2020. The increase primarily resulted from reversal of pandemic related cost cutting measures enacted during 2020, including employee furlough, temporary salary reductions, and suspension of our 401(k) plan match program. We also increased our corporate employee headcount in our finance, accounting and other corporate functions during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021 as we prepare to be a public company.

As relief during the pandemic, we received a total of $21.7 million and $22.3 million in wage subsidies during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020, respectively. These wage subsidies resulted in reductions to salaries, wages, and benefits of $8.3 million and $9.9 million during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020, respectively. We do not currently expect wage subsidies to continue in future periods, and to the extent wage subsidies are not provided in future periods, our salaries, wages and benefits expense will increase.

Selling, general, and administrative

The following table presents selling, general, and administrative expenses (in thousands):

 

     Nine months ended      $ Change     % Change  
     October 2,
2021
     September 26,
2020
 

Rent and utilities

   $ 88,653      $ 81,622      $ 7,031       8.6

Repairs and maintenance

     28,524        22,737        5,787       25.5

Marketing

     6,954        3,792        3,162       83.4

Real estate taxes

     17,774        16,151        1,623       10.0

Professional service fees

     7,024        5,584        1,440       25.8

Supplies

     8,768        7,851        917       11.7

Other expenses

     29,161        31,110        (1,949     (6.3 )% 
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total selling, general, and administrative

   $ 186,858      $ 168,847      $ 18,011       10.7
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

115


Table of Contents

Selling, general, and administrative expense increased by $18.0 million or 10.7% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 compared to the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The increase in selling, general, and administrative expenses resulted primarily from increases in rent and utilities, repairs and maintenance, marketing expenses, and professional service fees.

Rent and utilities increased by $7.0 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021 as rent abatements offered by landlords at our retail store locations during fiscal year 2021 did not reoccur.

We significantly increased our retail store operations during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021 as COVID-19 related restrictions eased. The overall increase in store operations resulted in a $5.8 million increase in repair and maintenance costs. We also increased our marketing spend by $3.2 million to support our increase in store operations.

Professional service fees increased by $1.4 million or 25.8% during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021, primarily due to higher consulting, legal, and accounting fees incurred related to our contemplated initial public offering.

Depreciation and amortization

The following table presents depreciation and amortization expense (in thousands):

 

     Nine months ended      $ Change     % Change  
     October 2,
2021
     September 26,
2020
 

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 33,972      $ 43,434      $ (9,462     (21.8 )% 

Depreciation and amortization decreased by $9.5 million or 21.8% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 compared to the nine months ended September 26, 2020 due to amortization and depreciation recorded in fiscal year 2020 related to expired licensing agreements and fixed assets no longer in service, which did not reoccur in fiscal year 2021.

Interest expense

The following table presents interest expense (in thousands):

 

     Nine months ended      % Change  
     October 2,
2021
    September 26,
2020
    $ Change  

Interest expense

   $ (37,590     (44,099   $ 6,509        (14.8 )% 

Amortization debt issuance cost

     (3,014     (3,824     810        (21.2 )% 

Realized and unrealized loss on interest swap

     13       (3,531     3,544        n/m (1) 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total interest expense

   $ (40,591   $ (51,454   $ 10,863        (21.1 )% 
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

not meaningful

Interest expense decreased by $10.9 million, or 21.1%, during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 compared to the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The reduction in interest expense resulted primarily from lower interest rates under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, which were negotiated as part of the Ares Share Purchase Transaction in April 2021, as well as lower principal outstanding during second and third quarters of fiscal year 2021. We also incurred $3.5 million in losses under our interest rate swap during the nine months ended September 26, 2020, which did not reoccur during the nine months ended October 2, 2021.

 

116


Table of Contents

Other (expense) income, net

The following table presents other income, net (in thousands):

 

     Nine months ended      $
Change
    % Change  
     October 2,
2021
    September 26,
2020
 

Other (expense) income, net

   $ (399   $ 2,137      $ (2,536     n/m (1) 

 

(1) 

not meaningful

Other (expense) income was an expense of $0.4 million during the nine months ended October 2, 2021, compared to $2.1 million of income during the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The change was primarily due to a decrease in foreign currency gains.

Loss on extinguishment of debt

As part of the Ares Share Purchase Transaction, we refinanced our outstanding borrowings under our Prior Credit Facilities, which resulted in a loss on extinguishment of debt of $47.5 million during the nine months ended October 2, 2021.

Comparison of fiscal year 2020, period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019

Net sales

The following table presents net sales (in thousands):

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
     Fiscal
Year 2020
     Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
     Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
 

Retail sales

   $ 800,278      $ 902,056      $ 247,531  

Wholesale sales

     33,732        43,471        12,441  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net sales

   $ 834,010      $ 945,527      $ 259,972  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Our net sales were $834.0 million during fiscal year 2020, compared to $945.5 million during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and $260.0 million during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The decrease in net sales resulted primarily from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related public health restrictions enacted during the year.

Our retail stores were closed for a substantial portion of 2020 due to public health restrictions enacted during the pandemic, which resulted in lower store traffic and retail sales volume. During fiscal year 2020, our percentage open store days was 77.3%, compared to 100% during the Successor and Predecessor periods of fiscal year 2019.

We define percentage open store days as the total number of days during which each of our stores generated revenue during a fiscal period, divided by the total number of days in the fiscal period, excluding planned holiday closures. During 2020, our percentage open store days declined substantially due to public health restrictions to reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Due to the closure of our retail locations during the pandemic, we accepted fewer donations made to our NPPs at our Community Donation Centers. Total pounds processed by us decreased to 682 million pounds during fiscal year 2020, compared to 791 million pounds during the period from

 

117


Table of Contents

March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and 238 million pounds during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The decrease in wholesale sales resulted primarily from the reduction in pounds processed.

Our decrease in sales volume during fiscal year 2020 was partially offset by favorable pricing. Net sales per pound processed increased to $1.16 in fiscal year 2020, compared to $1.09 during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and $1.02 during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019.

Cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

The following table presents cost of merchandise sold (in thousands):

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
     Fiscal Year 2020      Period from
March 28, 2019
to December 28,
2019
     Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27, 2019
 

Cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

   $ 353,455      $ 460,169      $ 133,595  

Cost of merchandise sold was $353.5 million during fiscal year 2020, $460.2 million during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and $133.6 million during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The overall decrease in cost of merchandise sold resulted primarily from decreased donation volume and sales volume. Our total pounds processed decreased to 682 million pounds during fiscal year 2020, compared to 791 million pounds during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and 238 million pounds during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019.

As a percent of net sales, cost of merchandise sold decreased to 42.4% during fiscal year 2020, compared to 48.7% during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and 51.4% during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The decrease in cost of merchandise sold as a percentage of net sales resulted from favorable pricing and an increase in the percentage of OSDs received by us relative to all goods received. OSDs typically have a lower cost than delivered supply received from our NPPs. During fiscal year 2020, OSDs accounted for 75.1% of all volume received, compared to 53.9% during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and 50.4% during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019.

As relief during the pandemic, we received wage subsidies during fiscal year 2020, which resulted in a reduction in cost of merchandise sold of $18.6 million.

Salaries, wages, and benefits

The following table presents salaries, wages, and benefits expense (in thousands):

 

     Successor     

 

     Predecessor  
     Fiscal Year
2020
     Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
    

 

     Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
 

Salaries, wages, and benefits:

             

Retail and wholesale

   $ 129,636      $ 144,255           $ 41,174  

Corporate

     54,756        50,811             19,019  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total salaries, wages, and benefits

   $ 184,392      $ 195,066           $ 60,193  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

118


Table of Contents

Salaries, wages, and benefits expense was $184.4 million during fiscal year 2020, $195.1 million during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and $60.2 million during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The reduction in labor costs resulted primarily from temporary closures of our retail locations and cost reduction initiatives enacted by us during the pandemic.

The reduction in costs was greatest for our wholesale operations and retail stores, which were temporarily closed for a substantial portion of fiscal year 2020 due to the pandemic. Salaries, wages, and benefits for our retail stores and wholesale operations were $129.6 million during fiscal year 2020, $144.3 million during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and $41.2 million during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The decrease primarily resulted from store closures related to COVID-19, wage subsidies received by us, as well as cost cutting measures such as suspending the company’s 401(k) plan match. As relief during the pandemic, we received $14.0 million in wage subsidies, in addition to the subsidies received and classified as cost of merchandise sold, which are classified as a reduction in salaries, wages and benefits for our retail and wholesale operations during fiscal year 2020.

Salaries, wages, and benefits for our corporate employees was $54.8 million during fiscal year 2020, $50.8 million during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and $19.0 million during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The decrease is primarily due to cost cutting measures such as furloughing employees, implementing temporary tiered salary reductions for employees, and suspending the company’s 401(k) plan match.

Selling, general, and administrative

The following table presents selling, general and administrative expense (in thousands):

 

     Successor     

 

     Predecessor  
     Fiscal Year
2020
     Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
    

 

     Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
 

Rent and utilities

   $ 111,149      $ 86,640           $ 27,497  

Repairs and maintenance

     32,991        25,018             8,213  

Marketing

     5,768        18,222             2,760  

Real estate taxes

     22,083        16,171             5,442  

Professional service fees

     7,403        7,290             16,198  

Supplies

     11,394        8,487             2,635  

Other expenses

     39,098        25,899             8,792  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total selling, general, and administrative

   $ 229,886      $ 187,727           $ 71,537  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Selling, general, and administrative expense was $229.9 million during fiscal year 2020, $187.7 million during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and $71.5 million for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The decrease in selling, general, and administrative expenses resulted primarily from a reduction in professional service fees, marketing expenses, and rent and utilities.

Professional service fees decreased during fiscal year 2020, as transaction costs associated with the March 2019 Transactions did not reoccur.

We reduced our marketing spend considerably during fiscal year 2020 as our stores were temporarily closed for a substantial portion of the year during the pandemic.

During fiscal year 2020, our rent expense decreased as we did not renew expiring lease contracts for eight of our retail locations in the United States and two in Canada in addition to rent abatements received of $3.1 million.

 

119


Table of Contents

Other expenses, which include bank services charges, travel and entertainment expenses, security expenses, IT expenses and other miscellaneous expenses, decreased as a result of spending reductions enacted by us during the pandemic.

Depreciation and amortization

The following table presents depreciation and amortization expense (in thousands):

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
     Fiscal Year
2020
     Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
     Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
 

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 59,432      $ 32,391      $ 18,837  

Depreciation and amortization expense was $59.4 million during fiscal year 2020, $32.4 million during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and $18.8 million during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The increase in depreciation and amortization expense resulted primarily from the increased values of our property and equipment and definite-lived intangible assets following the application of purchase accounting in connection with the March 2019 Transactions.

Interest expense

The following table presents interest expense (in thousands):

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
     Fiscal
Year 2020
    Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
     Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
 

Interest expense

   $ (60,497   $ (46,409    $ (19,111

Amortization debt issuance cost

     (5,723     (2,696      (1,673

Realized loss on interest rate swap

     (3,458     (8,898      —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total interest expense

   $ (69,678   $ (58,003    $ (20,784
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Interest expense was $69.7 million for fiscal period 2020, $58.0 million for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and $20.8 million for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The reduction in interest expense resulted primarily from the debt restructuring, which resulted in a $368.4 million decrease in outstanding borrowings.

Other income (expense), net

The following table presents other income (expense), net (in thousands):

 

     Successor      Predecessor  
     Fiscal Year
2020
     Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
     Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
 

Other income (expense), net

   $ 3,410      $ (6,353    $ 6,605  

During fiscal year 2020 and the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, other income (expense), net included $2.7 million in unrealized gains and $5.8 million in unrealized losses, respectively, related to our foreign currency forward contracts. During the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019, other income (expense), net included $7.4 million of income related to accrued interest forgiven by certain of our former lenders in connection with the March 2019 Transactions.

 

120


Table of Contents

Gain on extinguishment of debt

As part of the March 2019 Transactions, certain of our former lenders settled a portion of our outstanding debt for equity, which resulted in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $283.2 million during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019.

Segment results

The following table presents net sales and profit by segment (in thousands) for the periods presented:

Comparison of nine months ended October 2, 2021 and nine months ended September 26, 2020

 

     Nine months ended                
     October 2, 2021      September 26, 2020      $Change      % Change  

Net sales:

           

U.S. Retail

   $ 466,783      $ 273,695      $ 193,087        70.5

Canada Retail

     333,739        251,422        82,317        32.7  

Other

     58,769        39,211        19,558        49.9  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net sales

   $ 859,291      $ 564,328      $ 294,962        52.3
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Segment Profit:

           

U.S. Retail

   $ 135,564      $ 26,085      $ 109,479        419.7

Canada Retail

     108,288        73,392        34,896        47.5  

Other

     13,003        11,275        1,728        15.3  

U.S. Retail

U.S. Retail net sales increased by $193.1 million or 70.5% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021, compared to the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The increase resulted primarily from the gradual easing of COVID-19 related restrictions during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021 through most of the United States, which allowed our stores to remain open. During the nine months ended October 2, 2021, our percentage open store days in the United States was 99.9% compared to 70.5% during the nine months ended September 26, 2020.

U.S. Retail segment profit increased by $109.5 million or 419.7% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021, compared to nine months ended September 26, 2020. As a percentage of net sales, segment profit for our U.S. Retail segment increased to 29.0% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 from 9.5% during the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The increase resulted primarily from an increase in net sales and sales yield, which increased to $1.36 per pound during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021 from $1.21 per pound during the first nine months of fiscal year 2020, in addition to more favorable merchandise costs. As a percentage of net sales, labor and merchandise costs declined to 52.8% during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021 compared to 66.2% during the first nine months of fiscal year 2020.

Canada Retail

Canada Retail net sales increased by $82.3 million or 32.7% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021, compared to the nine months ended September 26, 2020. Although less pronounced than the U.S. Retail segment, the increase in Canada Retail net sales resulted from the gradual easing of COVID-19 restrictions and increased consumer willingness to engage in retail. During the nine months ended October 2, 2021, our percentage open store days in Canada was 77.3%, compared to 74.2% during the nine months ended September 26, 2020.

 

121


Table of Contents

Canada Retail segment profit increased by $34.9 million or 47.5% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021, compared to the nine months ended September 26, 2020. As a percentage of net sales, segment profit increased to 32.4% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 from 29.2% during the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The increase resulted primarily from wage subsidies received, which increased to $21.7 million in the first nine months of fiscal year 2021 compared to $15.4 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2020. Labor and merchandise costs, excluding wage subsidies, also declined as a percentage of revenue to 51.7% during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021 from 53.9% during the first nine months of fiscal year 2020.

Other

Other includes our Australian retail stores and our wholesale operations. Net sales for our other businesses increased by $19.6 million or 49.9% during the nine months ended October 2, 2021, compared to the nine months ended September 26, 2020. The increase in inventory volume processed by our wholesale operations in the United States, Canada, and Australia, in addition to increased retail net sales in Australia of $5.5 million, resulted in the overall increase in net sales for Other. The increase in profit was partially offset by a reduction in wage subsidies of $7.0 million received by our Australian businesses during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021.

Comparison of fiscal year 2020 to period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019

 

     Successor    

 

     Predecessor  
     Fiscal Year
2020
     Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
   

 

     Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
 

Net sales:

            

U.S. Retail

   $ 412,272      $ 469,977          $ 134,720  

Canada Retail

     364,159        405,501            105,003  

Other

     57,579        70,049            20,249  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net sales

   $ 834,010      $ 945,527          $ 259,972  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Segment Profit:

            

U.S. Retail

   $ 44,571      $ 64,430          $ 13,264  

Canada Retail

     100,695        97,521            22,384  

Other

     18,247        16,607            4,814  

U.S. Retail

U.S. Retail net sales was $412.3 million for fiscal year 2020, $470.0 for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and $134.7 million for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The decrease in fiscal year 2020 resulted primarily from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders in place during 2020, which resulted in the temporary closures of our retail locations. During fiscal year 2020, our percentage open store days in the United States was 76.8%, compared to 100% during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and 100% during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. Overall, our number of retail stores in the United States decreased during fiscal year 2020, decreasing from 145 stores as of December 28, 2019 to 137 stores as of January 2, 2021.

The net decrease of eight retail stores in the United States during fiscal year 2020 resulted largely from the expiration of store leases, which we elected not to renew. We did not open any new stores in the United States during fiscal year 2020.

 

122


Table of Contents

U.S. Retail segment profit was $44.6 million during fiscal year 2020, $64.4 million for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and $13.3 million for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The decrease in fiscal year 2020 was primarily driven by a reduction in sales from stores temporarily closed in connection with the pandemic. The decline in U.S. Retail profit was partially offset by a reduction in store payroll while the stores were closed.

As a percentage of net sales, segment profit for our U.S. Retail segment was 10.8% in fiscal year 2020, compared to 13.7% during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and 9.8% during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The decline in fiscal year 2020 resulted primarily from lower net sales.

Canada Retail

Canada Retail net sales was $364.2 million for fiscal year 2020, $405.5 million for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and $105.0 million for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The decrease in fiscal year 2020 resulted primarily from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in the temporary closures of our retail locations. During fiscal year 2020, our percentage open store days in Canada was 78.1%, compared to 100% during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and 100% during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. Overall, our number of retail stores in Canada remained consistent during fiscal year 2020.

Canada Retail segment profit was $100.7 million during fiscal year 2020, compared to $97.5 million for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and $22.4 million for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The decrease in fiscal year 2020 was primarily driven by a reduction in sales resulting from the temporary store closures during the pandemic. The decline in Canada Retail profit was partially offset by a reduction in store payroll while the stores were closed, in addition to $22.7 million of wage subsidies.

Our Canada Retail segment has historically been more profitable than our U.S. Retail segment, due to lower merchandise and labor costs. This trend resulted in greater segment profit for our Canada Retail segment when compared to our U.S. Retail segment, despite lower net sales during fiscal year 2020, the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019.

During fiscal year 2020, labor and merchandise costs accounted for 55.0% of net sales in our Canada Retail segment compared to 65.9% in our U.S. Retail segment when excluding wage subsidies. Our Canada Retail segment also received wage subsidies of $22.7 million in fiscal year 2020, compared to zero for our U.S. Retail segment.

During the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (successor) and the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (predecessor), labor and merchandise costs accounted for 57.9% and 60.7% for our Canada Retail segment, respectively, compared to 67.3% and 71.0% for our U.S. Retail segment.

Other

Other includes our Australian retail stores and our wholesale operations. Net sales for our other businesses were $57.6 million during fiscal year 2020, $70.0 for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and $20.2 million for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. The decrease in fiscal year 2020 resulted primarily from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and stay-at-home orders in place during 2020, which resulted in the temporary closure of our retail

 

123


Table of Contents

locations in Australia. In addition, the overall reduction in total pounds processed resulted in lower sales by our wholesale processing facilities in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Profit for other decreased in line with the overall reductions in sales volume. The decline in profit was partially offset by a reduction in store payroll while the stores in Australia were closed, in addition to $9.9 million of wage subsidies received from the Australian government.

Quarterly Results of Operations

The information below for each quarter has been prepared on a basis consistent with our audited consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus and reflect all adjustments, consisting only of normal recurring adjustments, that we consider necessary for a fair presentation of the financial information contained in those statements. Our historical results are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the full year or any other period in the future. The following quarterly financial information should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related notes and our interim financial statements and related notes included in this prospectus.

The following table sets forth certain unaudited financial data for each fiscal quarter for the periods indicated in dollars (in thousands):

 

     Fiscal
Year

2019
    Fiscal Year 2020     Fiscal Year 2021  
     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3  

Net sales

   $ 328,418     $ 236,115     $ 80,938     $ 247,275     $ 269,682     $ 252,827     $ 278,275     $ 328,189  

Operating expenses:

                

Cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

     170,592       127,565       22,209       83,428       120,254       96,357       97,737       123,526  

Salaries, wages, and benefits

     63,933       53,182       24,848       46,213       60,150       52,409       51,941       63,964  

Selling, general, and administrative

     54,738       61,500       49,458       57,889       61,040       55,125       63,899       67,834  

Depreciation and amortization

     10,944       11,575       20,169       11,690       15,998       12,261       10,768       10,943  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     300,207       253,822       116,684       199,220       257,442       216,152       224,345       266,267  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     28,211       (17,707     (35,746     48,055       12,240       36,675       53,930       61,922  

Other (expense) income:

                

Interest expense

     (15,979     (17,142     (17,346     (16,966     (18,224     (16,735     (12,918     (10,938

Other income (expense), net

     (197     (2,284     3,728       693       1,275       1,922       1,426       (3,747

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —         —         —         —         —         —         (47,541     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other (expense) income, net

     (16,176     (19,426     (13,618     (16,273     (16,949     (14,813     (59,033     (14,685
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income tax expense

     12,035       (37,133     (49,364     31,782       (4,709     21,862       (5,103     47,237  

Income tax expense

     9,169       (9,093     (12,088     7,783       17,458       2,849       (665     6,156  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

   $ 2,866     $ (28,040   $ (37,276   $ 23,999     $ (22,167   $ 19,013     $ (4,438   $ 41,081  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

124


Table of Contents

The following table sets forth certain unaudited financial data for each fiscal quarter for the periods indicated as a percentage of net sales:

 

     Fiscal
Year
2019
    Fiscal Year 2020     Fiscal Year 2021  
     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3  

Net sales

     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0     100.0

Operating expenses:

                

Cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

     51.9       54.0       27.4       33.7       44.6       38.1       35.1       37.6  

Salaries, wages, and benefits

     19.5       22.5       30.7       18.7       22.3       20.7       18.7       19.5  

Selling, general, and administrative

     16.7       26.0       61.1       23.4       22.6       21.8       23.0       20.7  

Depreciation and amortization

     3.3       4.9       24.9       4.7       5.9       4.8       3.9       3.3  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     91.4       107.5       144.2       80.6       95.5       85.5       80.6       81.1  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

     8.6       (7.5     (44.2     19.4       4.5       14.5       19.4       18.9  

Other (expense) income:

                

Interest expense

     (4.9     (7.3     (21.4     (6.9     (6.8     (6.6     (4.6     (3.3

Other income (expense), net

     (0.1     (1.0     4.6       0.3       0.5       0.8       0.5       (1.1

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     —         —         —         —         —         —         (17.1     —    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other (expense) income, net

     (4.9     (8.2     (16.8     (6.6     (6.3     (5.9     (21.2     (4.5
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income tax expense

     3.7       (15.7     (61.0     12.9       (1.7     8.6       (1.8     14.4  

Income tax expense

     2.8       (3.9     (14.9     3.1       6.5       1.1       (0.2     1.9  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

     0.9       (11.9     (46.1     9.7       (8.2     7.5       (1.6     12.5  
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Key Financial and Operating metrics

 

    Fiscal
Year

2019
    Fiscal Year 2020     Fiscal Year 2021  
    Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3  

Comparable store sales growth(1)

               

United States

    7.3     (8.4 )%      (76.7 )%      (16.8 )%      (10.3 )%      24.2     410.2     39.2

Canada

    2.8       (15.1     (66.2     (13.6     (21.8     (9.8     101.4       19.5  

Total(4)

    5.2       (11.2     (70.6     (16.5     (16.0     8.8       221.7       28.9  

Comparable store daily sales(2)

               

United States

    7.3     1.7     (11.9 )%      (12.4 )%      (12.1 )%      12.1     35.0     32.4

Canada

    2.8       (5.6     (8.6     (13.5     (18.5     15.6       16.3       18.4  

Total(4)

    5.2       (1.6     (13.4     (13.2     (14.6     15.3       32.8       26.0  

Number of stores(3)

               

United States

    145       145       139       138       137       137       137       136  

Canada

    147       148       148       148       147       148       148       148  

Total(4)

    302       303       297       296       294       295       295       294  

Other metrics

               

Pounds processed (mm lbs)

    257       216       54       191       220       190       201       232  

Net (loss) income

  $ 2,866     $ (28,040   $ (37,276   $ 23,999     $ (22,167   $ 19,013     $ (4,438   $ 41,081  

Net (loss) income margin

    0.9     (11.9 %)      (46.1 %)      9.7     (8.2 %)      7.5     (1.6 %)      12.5

Adjusted EBITDA (in thousands)(5)

  $ 42,433     $ (4,332   $ (3,577   $ 44,371     $ 23,033     $ 42,182     $ 46,555     $ 77,597  

Adjusted EBITDA Margin(5)

    12.9     (1.8 )%      (4.4 )%      17.9     8.5     16.7     16.7     23.6

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ 31,782     $ (53,376   $ (4,483   $ 62,307     $ 25,465     $ 23,493     $ 50,265     $ 72,128  

Free Cash Flow(6)

  $ 22,031     $ (60,799   $ (6,873   $ 57,905     $ 20,507     $ 18,519     $ 43,647     $ 60,393  

 

 

(1)

Comparable store sales growth is the percentage change in comparable store sales over the prior year. Comparable store sales is calculated as net sales for the period by stores open and comparable during the

 

125


Table of Contents
  entirety of both periods that are being compared. We consider any store temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic to be open and comparable during the period for the purposes of calculating comparable store sales growth. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Business Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Comparable store sales growth.”
(2)

Comparable store daily sales for the period is the net sales by stores in the relevant geography that were or would have been open for the entirety of both periods if not for temporary closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic, divided by the aggregate number of days those stores were open. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Business Metrics and Non-GAAP Financial Measures—Comparable store daily sales.”

(3)

Number of Stores includes new stores not yet included in the comparable store sales growth and comparable store daily sales computations measured as of the last day of the fiscal year.

(4)

Includes our stores in the United States and Canada as well as those in Australia.

(5)

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are non-GAAP financial measures. For more information about these non-GAAP financial measures, see “Summary Financial and Other Data—Non GAAP measures.” The following tables provides a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA and its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, net income (loss). Net income (loss) margin is the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure for Adjusted EBITDA Margin.

(6) 

Free Cash Flow is a non-GAAP financial measure. We define Free Cash Flow as net cash provided by (used in) operating activities less purchases of property and equipment. For more information about this non-GAAP financial measure, see “Summary Financial and Other Data—Non GAAP measures.” The reconciliation of Free Cash Flow and its most directly comparable GAAP financial measure is provided below.

The following table presents a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA from net (loss) income for each fiscal quarter for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

    Fiscal Year
2019
    Fiscal Year 2020     Fiscal Year 2021  
    Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3  

Net (loss) income

  $ 2,866     $ (28,040   $ (37,276   $ 23,999     $ (22,167   $ 19,013     $ (4,438   $ 41,081  

Interest expense

    15,979       17,142       17,346       16,966       18,224       16,735       12,918       10,938  

Income tax expense

    9,169       (9,093     (12,088     7,783       17,458       2,849       (665     6,156  

Depreciation and amortization

    10,944       11,575       20,169       11,690       15,998       12,261       10,768       10,943  

Equity-based compensation expense(1)

    55       89       89       89       87       178       184       233  

Non-cash occupancy-related costs(2)

    752       504       15,064       (4,692     902       (923     (502     1,035  

Store pre-opening expenses(3)

    582       152       —         137       1,168       210       —         —    

Store closing expenses(4)

    1,733       712       4,073       2,964       2,566       (763     (110     122  

Executive transition costs(5)

    —         607       48       —         —         —         —         —    

Shared service center costs(6)

    —         —         —         —         358       181       —         —    

COVID-related adjustments(7)

    —         —         (7,256     (14,293     (10,272     (6,730     (14,628     (1

Transaction costs(8)

    609       —         —         —         —         199       1,238       3,069  

Loss on extinguishment of debt(9)

    —         —         —         —         —         —         47,541       —    

Other adjustments(10)

    (255     2,020       (3,747     (271     (1,291     (1,028     (5,751     4,021  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Adjusted EBITDA

  $ 42,433     $ (4,332   $ (3,577   $ 44,371     $ 23,033     $ 42,182     $ 46,555     $ 77,597  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1)

Equity-based compensation expense represents non-cash compensation expenses related to stock options granted to certain of our employees and directors.

(2)

Includes the difference between cash and straight-line rent for all periods. The large increase in non-cash occupancy-related costs in the second quarter of fiscal year 2020 relates to operating leases renegotiated during the pandemic, which allowed us to defer payment toward future periods. Some of these payments were deferred into the third quarter of fiscal year 2020, while other renegotiated lease agreements allowed us to defer payment over the remaining lease terms.

(3)

Pre-opening expenses include expenses incurred in the preparation and opening of new store and processing locations, such as payroll, training, travel, occupancy, and supplies.

 

126


Table of Contents
(4)

Costs associated with the closing of certain retail locations, including lease termination costs, amounts paid to third parties for rent reduction negotiations, fees paid to landlords for store closings, and, in some instances, income associated with early lease terminations.

(5)

Represents severance costs associated with executive leadership changes.

(6)

Represents severance costs associated with the opening of our new shared service center in Boise, Idaho.

(7)

Represents benefits, net of costs in connection with the COVID-19 pandemic during fiscal year 2020 and the first three quarters of fiscal year 2021, including $32.6 million and $21.7 million received in wage subsidies during fiscal year 2021 and first three quarters of 2021, which are reflected as a reduction to employee personnel costs in our Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income.

(8)

Includes costs associated with the Ares Share Purchase and the contemplated initial public offering, including employee bonuses, third-party advisor and consulting fees, and other transaction-related expenses.

(9)

Represents loss on extinguishment of debt incurred in connection with the April 2021 Refinancing.

(10)

Other adjustments consist primarily of foreign exchange gains and losses.

The following table provides a reconciliation of net cash provided by (used in) operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure, to Free Cash Flow:

 

    Fiscal Year
2019
    Fiscal Year 2020     Fiscal Year 2021  
    Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3     Q4     Q1     Q2     Q3  

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ 31,782     $ (53,376   $ (4,483   $ 62,308     $ 25,463     $ 23,493     $ 50,265     $ 72,128  

Purchases of property and equipment(1)

    (9,751     (7,423     (2,390     (4,403     (4,956     (4,974     (6,618     (11,735
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Free Cash Flow

  $ 22,031     $ (60,799   $ (6,873   $ 57,905     $ 20,507     $ 18,519     $ 43,647     $ 60,393  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Purchases of property and equipment include capital expenditures on our retail stores and facilities, including leasehold improvements and information technology equipment.

Quarterly Trends

Our quarterly net sales decreased during the first and second quarters of fiscal 2020 as the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic first took hold and public health restrictions forced a substantial portion of our retail store locations to close temporarily. These public health measures slowly eased in the second half of fiscal year 2020 and through the first three quarters of fiscal year 2021. By the third quarter of fiscal year 2021, our net sales nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels. COVID-19 will continue to have an impact on our net sales as the pandemic continues to evolve and the relaxation of public health restrictions may reverse in some cases. Due to steps taken by us, we believe we are well positioned to react to changes in the pandemic and public health restrictions.

2nd Ave. Acquisition

On November 8, 2021, we completed the 2nd Ave. Acquisition for purchase price consideration of $238.9 million in cash. The 2nd Ave. Acquisition adds 12 stores in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, representing a complementary store footprint for our existing store network and offering new store expansion opportunities. We financed the 2nd Ave. Acquisition through cash on hand and $225.0 million of additional borrowings under our New Term Loan Facility. We have accounted for the 2nd Ave. Acquisition as a business combination under applicable accounting guidance. See “Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Combined Financial Information” for more information regarding the 2nd Ave. Acquisition.

 

127


Table of Contents

The following table presents the historical statement of operations for 2nd Ave. (in thousands):

 

     Three months ended
January 3, 2021
    Nine months ended
October 3, 2021
 

Sales, retail

   $ 19,033     $ 62,786  

Sales, wholesale

     2,641       8,295  

Lease revenue, real estate

     9       38  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total sales and revenues

     21,684       71,119  

Cost of sales

     6,917       19,057  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     11,153       37,164  

Amortization expense on goodwill and intangible assets

     1,918       5,715  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     19,988       61,936  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     1,696       9,183  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other income (expenses):

    

Interest income

     —         —    

Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness

     —         8,121  

Rental income

     —         3  

Interest expense

     (332     (3,043

Discontinued operations

     —         (384

Severance expense

     (514     (289

Board and other fees

     (169     (457

Gain (loss) of sale of property and equipment

     —         (12
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total other income (expenses)

     (1,015     3,939  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income before income taxes

     681       13,122  

Benefit from income taxes

     4       (1,196
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 676     $ 14,318  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We have historically financed our operations primarily through cash generated from our operating activities and debt. Our primary short-term requirements for liquidity and capital are to fund general working capital, capital expenditures and debt service requirements. Our primary long-term liquidity needs are related to the repayment of our loans, in addition to our lease commitments at our 306 retail stores and 14 processing facilities.

Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations and proceeds from borrowings, including our New Revolving Credit Facility (as defined below). We believe our existing cash and cash equivalents are sufficient to fund our liquidity needs for the next 12 months. As of October 2, 2021, we had $160.3 million of cash and cash equivalents, of which 40.1%, 56.2% and 3.7% were held in U.S., Canada, and Australia, respectively, and denominated in U.S. dollars, Canadian dollars, and Australian dollars, respectively. As of the same date we had we had $600 million of borrowings outstanding under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, all of which is pursuant to the New Term Loan Facility. As of October 2, 2021, we would have had $825.0 million of borrowings outstanding under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, all of which is pursuant to the New Term Loan Facility, leaving $46 million available for borrowing, $13.9 million of letters of credit outstanding and $79.6 million of cash and cash equivalents, giving effect to the borrowing of an additional $225.0 million of additional term loans under our New Term Loan Facility, the payment of the $238.9 million purchase price consideration in the 2nd Ave. Acquisition (using cash on hand and the net cash proceeds of the additional term loans) and the payment of the $75.0 million November 2021 Dividend.

 

128


Table of Contents

Prior Credit Facilities

As of January 2, 2021, we had $603.8 million (excluding original issuance discounts and debt issuance costs) in outstanding borrowings under our credit facilities existing at the time (the “Prior Credit Facilities”), which we entered into as part of the March 2019 Transactions. As of January 2, 2021, the Prior Credit Facilities included (i) a first lien term loan facility (the “First Lien Term Loan Facility”), (ii) a super-priority first lien revolving loan facility (the “Revolving Loan Facility”) and (iii) a second lien term loan facility (the “Second Lien Term Loan Facility”). To provide enhanced liquidity during the pandemic, we amended the Prior Credit Facilities in June 2020 to allow for smaller cash interest payments and larger deferrals of interest and to modify the financial covenants. The Prior Credit Facilities were subsequently refinanced with the proceeds of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities in connection with the Ares Share Purchase Transaction in April 2021. See “—Recent Developments—Ares Share Purchase Transaction” for additional details on the Ares Share Purchase Transaction.

As of January 2, 2021, the First Lien Term Loan Facility had an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $566.1 million. The First Lien Term Loan Facility was to mature in March 2024, subject to quarterly amortization payments of $1.35 million each. The First Lien Term Loan Facility carried a variable interest rate equal to a reference rate plus a margin ranging from 5.25% to 7.00% based on the type and currency of loan and our first lien net leverage ratio. Pursuant to an amendment, for the 12-month period between March 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021, an option to pay increased interest in-kind was added, and the applicable interest rate was based on the type and currency of loan and whether we elected to pay increased interest in-kind, resulting in an interest rate per year equal to a reference rate plus a margin ranging from 7.75% to 9.25%.

As of January 2, 2021, the Revolving Loan Facility provided a commitment of $60.0 million, subject to a borrowing base based on 70% of our EBITDA, with an option to draw in U.S. dollars or Canadian dollars. The Revolving Loan Facility was to mature in December 2023 and carried a variable interest rate equal to a reference rate plus a margin of 1.75% to 2.75% per year based on the type of loan, resulting in an all-in interest rate per year ranging from 4.25% to 5.50% during fiscal year 2020. During the first and second quarter of fiscal year 2020, we borrowed $42.1 million under the Revolving Loan Facility, which we subsequently repaid in the third quarter of fiscal year 2020. As of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, we had no amounts outstanding under the Revolving Loan Facility and letters of credit totaling $13.2 million and $13.7 million, respectively.

As of January 2, 2021, the Second Lien Term Loan Facility had an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $64.5 million and was to mature in March 2024. The Second Lien Term Loan Facility carried an interest rate of 14.00% to 14.75% per year based on our first lien net leverage ratio and whether we elected to pay interest in-kind.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

As noted above, in connection with the Ares Share Purchase Transaction, the Prior Credit Facilities were refinanced with the proceeds of a new Credit Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2021, by and among Evergreen AcqCo 1 LP and Value Village Canada Inc., as borrowers, the guarantors party thereto, KKR Loan Administration Services LLC, as administrative agent and collateral agent and the lenders party thereto (the “Secured Credit Agreement”).

The new senior secured credit facilities under the Secured Credit Agreement consist of a term loan facility (the “New Term Loan Facility”) and a revolving credit facility (the “New Revolving Credit Facility” and, together with the New Term Loan Facility, the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”). Our principal subsidiaries in the United States and Canada are borrowers under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, and most of our U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries are guarantors. The Senior Secured Credit

 

129


Table of Contents

Facilities are secured by a first-priority lien on substantially all of the assets of the borrowers and guarantors, subject to certain exceptions. The New Revolving Credit Facility is senior to the New Term Loan Facility in right of payment.

The New Term Loan Facility matures in April 2028. As of October 2, 2021, the New Term Loan Facility had an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $600 million and subject to quarterly amortization payments of $1.5 million each. On November 8, 2021, we borrowed a further $225.0 million of additional term loans under the New Term Loan Facility in order to finance, together with cash on hand, the 2nd Ave. Acquisition. The additional term loans have substantially the same terms as the original term loans under the New Term Loan Facility. The New Term Loan Facility bears interest at a variable rate equal to a reference rate plus a margin ranging from 4.50% to 5.75% based on the type of loan and our first lien net leverage ratio.

The New Revolving Credit Facility matures in April 2026. The maximum available amount under the New Revolving Credit Facility is $60 million, with a maximum of $60 million available for letters of credit and a maximum of $10 million available as a swingline facility. Borrowings under the New Revolving Credit Facility may be made in either U.S. dollars or Canadian dollars and bear interest at a variable rate equal to a reference rate plus a margin of 2.25% or 3.25% based on the type of loan. We are required to prepay the New Term Loan Facility with a percentage (based on our net first lien leverage ratio) of our annual excess cash flow. We are also required to prepay the New Term Loan Facility with a percentage (based on our net first lien leverage ratio) of the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales, subject to customary reinvestment provisions. We are able to prepay amounts outstanding under the New Term Loan Facility without a prepayment premium.

The applicable margins under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities will be reduced by 0.25% per annum upon the completion of an initial public offering.

We are required to prepay the New Term Loan Facility with a percentage (based on our net first lien leverage ratio) of our annual excess cash flow. We are also required to prepay the New Term Loan Facility with the a percentage (based on our net first lien leverage ratio) of the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales, subject to customary reinvestment provisions. We are able to prepay amounts outstanding under the New Term Loan Facility without a prepayment premium.

The Senior Secured Credit Facilities also have a customary uncommitted incremental facility equal to (a) the greater of $136 million and 1.0 times our EBITDA plus unused amounts under our “general” debt basket, plus (b) an additional amount such that (x) our pro forma net first lien leverage ratio is less than or equal to 4.50 (or less than our net first lien leverage ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such additional debt) (in the case of first-lien debt), (y) our pro forma net secured lien leverage ratio is less than or equal to 4.75 (or less than our net secured lien leverage ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such additional debt) (in the case of junior lien debt) or (z) either our pro forma net leverage ratio is less than or equal to 5.00 (or less than our net leverage ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such additional debt) or our pro forma interest coverage ratio is greater than or equal to 2.00 (or less than our interest coverage ratio immediately prior to the incurrence of such additional debt) (in the case of unsecured debt). Up to $15.0 million of this incremental capacity may be used to increase the commitments under the New Revolving Credit Facility.

The Senior Secured Credit Facilities have customary affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions our ability to incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, make investments, make restricted payments, make optional prepayments on junior financings, engage in transactions with affiliates and make asset sales, in each case, subject to customary exceptions and baskets.

The New Revolving Credit Facility is subject to a financial maintenance covenant that requires us to maintain a maximum net first lien leverage ratio, tested quarterly, beginning with our fourth fiscal quarter

 

130


Table of Contents

in the 2021 fiscal year. The financial maintenance covenant is only applicable if the aggregate amount of revolving loans, swingline loans and letters of credit outstanding under the New Revolving Credit Facility (excluding up to $20 million of undrawn letters of credit and certain other amounts) exceeds 35% of the committed amount. The New Revolving Credit Facility provides for customary equity cure rights.

For additional information on our loan obligations, refer to Note 7 of the audited consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus.

Lease agreements

We rent office facilities, warehousing and processing facilities, and retail store space from various unaffiliated lessors with expiration dates through 2036. Aggregate future minimum lease payments under these agreements as of January 2, 2021 are as follows for each of the following fiscal years (in thousands):

 

     Minimum
lease payments
payable to
Unaffiliated
lessors
 

2021

   $ 96,632  

2022

     89,238  

2023

     78,792  

2024

     66,553  

2025

     54,723  

Thereafter

     130,407  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 516,345  
  

 

 

 

Cash Flows

The following table summarizes our cash flows for the periods indicated (in thousands):

 

     Successor      Predecessor     Successor  
     Fiscal Year
2020
    Period from
March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
     Period from
December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
    Nine
months
ended
October 2,
2021
    Nine months
ended
September 26,
2020
 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ 29,913     $ 61,985      $ (18,039   $ 145,886     $ 4,449  

Net cash used in investing activities

     (19,172     (752,918      (5,224     (23,327     (14,216

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     36,807       729,233        51,494       (90,222     39,524  

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     4,044       (688      846       (8,851     1,648  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

   $ 51,592     $ 37,612      $ 29,077     $ 23,486     $ 31,405  
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

131


Table of Contents

Comparison of nine months ended October 2, 2021 and nine months ended September 26, 2020

Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $145.9 million for the nine months ended October 2, 2021, primarily resulting from net income of $55.7 million, after consideration of non-cash charges of $88.5 million and a net favorable movement of $1.7 million in our operating assets and liabilities. Net cash provided by changes in operating assets and liabilities during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 consisted primarily of $6.8 million increase in accrued payroll and related taxes and a $5.0 million increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, which were partially offset by a $9.2 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets. The increase in accrued payroll and related taxes resulted from $24.8 million in unpaid bonuses in connection with our management incentive programs, which were partially offset by bonuses paid in the first quarter of fiscal year 2021. The Company pays the majority of its management incentive bonuses in the first quarter following fiscal year-end. The increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities resulted from an increase in inventory and fixed asset purchases during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 which have not yet been paid. The increase in $9.2 million increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets resulted from an increase in occupancy related prepayments as of October 2, 2021.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $4.5 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 primarily resulting from a net loss of $41.3 million, after consideration of non-cash charges of $52.4 million and a net unfavorable movement of $6.6 million in our operating assets and liabilities. Net cash provided by changes in operating assets and liabilities during the nine months ended September 26, 2020 consisted primarily of a $25.0 million decrease in accrued payroll and related taxes, offset by a $11.7 million increase in deferred rent and other and a $6.5 million increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The decrease in accrued payroll and related taxes resulted from $25.0 million paid in bonuses during the first quarter in connection with our management incentive program. The increase in deferred rent and other resulted from favorable lease negotiations during the pandemic, which resulted in the deferral of rent payments to future periods. The increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities resulted from the deferral of interest payments during the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and increase in unpaid real estate taxes, which resulted in an increase to our net cash provided by operating activities.

Cash Used in Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $23.3 million for the nine months ended October 2, 2021, and $14.2 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020. During both periods, investing activities consisted exclusively of capital expenditures on property and equipment. The increase in our capital spending during the nine months ended October 2, 2021, compared to the nine months ended September 26, 2020 resulted from greater investment in our CPC, ABP, and customer self-checkout initiatives.

Cash (Used in) Provided by Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $90.2 million for nine month ended October 2, 2021, compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $39.5 million for the nine months ended September 26, 2020. During the nine months ended October 2, 2021, we repaid $643.6 million of outstanding principal on our Prior Credit Facilities, which was offset by $553.4 million of net debt proceeds received from the New Term Loan Facility in connection with the April 2021 Refinancing. Significant financing activities during the nine months ended September 26, 2020 consisted primarily of $45.0 million in proceeds received from a new equity issuance during the pandemic. During the pandemic, we also borrowed and subsequently repaid $42.1 million on our revolving credit facility.

 

132


Table of Contents

Comparison of cash flows during fiscal year 2020 to period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 and period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019

Cash provided by (used in) operating activities

Net cash provided by operating activities was $29.9 million for fiscal year 2020, primarily resulting from a net loss of $63.5 million, after consideration of non-cash charges of $72.9 million and a net favorable movement of $20.5 million in our operating assets and liabilities. Net cash provided by changes in operating assets and liabilities during fiscal year 2020 consisted primarily of a $21.8 million increase in deferred rent and other and a $4.8 million increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities, which were offset by a $9.1 million decrease in accrued payroll and related taxes. The increase in deferred rent and other resulted primarily from favorable renegotiations of our operating leases during the COVID-19 pandemic, which resulted in $4.4 million in rent deferrals and $3.1 million in rent abatement, in addition to a decrease in prepaid income taxes of $8.9 million related to primarily to the Canadian Revenue Authority settlement. The increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities resulted from the timing of our payment activity associated with our taxes, accrued interest, and trade payables. During fiscal year 2020, our accruals for income and real estate taxes increased by $15.2 million, which was partially offset by a $5.6 million decrease in accrued interest on our debt and an overall decrease in accounts payable resulting from the timing of inventory purchases and supplier payments. The decrease in accrued payroll and related taxes resulted from the payment of $25.0 million in accrued bonuses from the prior year combined with a lower accrual for bonus payments under our management incentive program at the end of fiscal year 2020.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $62.0 million in the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, primarily resulting from a net income of $1.4 million, after consideration of non-cash charges of $41.4 million and a net favorable change of $19.2 million in operating assets and liabilities. Net cash provided by changes in operating assets and liabilities during the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 consisted primarily of a $20.2 million increase in accrued payroll and related taxes, a $10.9 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets, and a $5.7 million decrease in inventories, which were partially offset by a $14.8 million decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities. The increase in accrued payroll and related taxes resulted primarily from $25.0 million in unpaid bonus payments incurred under our management incentive plans, which were accrued during the period. The decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets resulted from a reduction in estimated tax payments to tax authorities in Canada during the period. The decrease in inventories and accounts payable and accrued liabilities resulted from lower inventory purchasing activity during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2019. We also had greater unpaid accrued liabilities associated with interest, professional service fees incurred in connection with the March 2019 Transactions, and unpaid state income taxes in the United States.

Net cash used in operating activities was $18.0 million during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019, primarily resulting from a net income of $239.6 million, after consideration of non-cash charges of $247.2 million and a net unfavorable change of $10.5 million in operating assets and liabilities. Net cash provided by changes in operating assets and liabilities during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 consisted primarily of a $14.0 million decrease in accrued payroll and related taxes and a $7.1 million decrease in deferred rent and other, which were partially offset by a $7.9 million decrease in trade and other receivables. The decrease in accrued payroll and related taxes resulted from the payment of accrued bonuses of $22.9 million in connection with our management incentive program. The decrease in deferred rent and other, which includes certain accrued liabilities, resulted primarily from payments for certain accrued general and administrative expenses in the period. The decrease in trade and other receivables primarily resulted from an increase in cash collected from a refund of certain expenses that were overpaid by us in the prior period.

 

133


Table of Contents

Cash used in investing activities

Net cash used in investing activities was $19.2 million for fiscal year 2020, which exclusively related to capital expenditures on property and equipment, $752.9 million for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, which included a payment of $728.8 million for the March 2019 Transactions as discussed in Note 3 of the financial statements with the remainder attributable to capital expenditures, and $5.2 million for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019, exclusively related to capital expenditures on property and equipment. Our capital spending decreased during 2020 due to cost reductions implemented following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020.

Cash provided by financing activities

Net cash provided by financing activities was $36.8 million for fiscal year 2020, $729.2 million for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and $51.5 million for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. Significant financing activities consisted of $45.0 million of additional paid-in capital for fiscal year 2020 resulting from the issuance of additional shares, $573.8 million of long-term debt issuance and a capital contribution in connection with the acquisition of $165.0 million for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and $51.5 million from advances on the revolving line of credit for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

As of October 2, 2021, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined in Regulation S-K, that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

Our consolidated financial statements are prepared in accordance with GAAP. Preparation of our financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenue, costs, and expenses, and related disclosures. On an ongoing basis, we evaluate our estimates and assumptions. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions. We believe that the assumptions and estimates associated with revenue recognition; impairment of our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets; and income taxes have the greatest potential impact on our consolidated financial statements. Accordingly, these are the policies we believe are the most critical to aid in fully understanding and evaluating our consolidated balance sheets, results of operations, and cash flows.

Revenue recognition

We earn revenues by selling secondhand and limited new seasonal merchandise in retail markets. We recognize retail revenue at the point of sale, net of promotional price reductions, with no right of return. Sales of residual product to wholesale customers for reuse and repurposing are recognized at the point of shipment with no right of return. Sales taxes collected from customers are not considered revenue (net basis) and are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities until remitted to the taxing authorities.

We do not recognize revenue on the issuance of gift cards. We recognize revenue when a gift card is redeemed for merchandise.

Impairment of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets

We assess goodwill and our indefinite-lived intangible assets (our trademarks) for impairment annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate that an asset may be

 

134


Table of Contents

impaired. We assess definite-lived intangible assets and other long-lived assets (collectively, “long-lived assets”) for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate the carrying amount of an asset or asset group may not be recoverable.

We account for acquired businesses using the acquisition method of accounting which requires that the assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recorded at the date of acquisition at their respective fair values with the differences between consideration and net assets acquired being recorded as goodwill.

Goodwill is not subject to amortization and is reviewed for impairment annually, or earlier whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate an impairment may have occurred. We assess goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level. Goodwill is considered impaired if the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, with an impairment charge recognized for the difference.

In developing fair values for our reporting units, we use a discounted cash flow valuation approach, supplemented with a market multiple valuation approach. Significant estimates used in the discounted cash flow models include (i) risk-adjusted discount rates, (ii) forecasted revenue and operating expenses, (iii) forecasted capital expenditures and working capital needs, and (iv) long-term growth rates. These estimates are uncertain as actual discount rates, revenue, operating expenses, capital expenditures, working capital needs, and long-term growth rates may be different than those we have forecasted. These estimates consider the recent financial performance of our reporting units, as well as the anticipated rate of recovery, and implied risk premiums based on the market prices of our equity and debt as of the assessment date. The company ultimately determined that the carrying value of its reporting units does not exceed its estimated fair value, resulting in no impairment of goodwill.

Similar to goodwill, our indefinite-lived trade name is not amortized, but reviewed for impairment annually, or earlier whenever events or changes in business circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. We also assessed our indefinite-lived trademark for impairment in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2020 by comparing the carrying value to the fair value which was estimated utilizing the relief from royalty method of the income approach. This annual impairment test resulted in no impairment charge.

Each reporting period, we perform an evaluation of the remaining useful life of our indefinite-lived trademark to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite life. We consider the life of our indefinite-lived trademark to be appropriate.

Income taxes

Management makes estimates, assumptions, and judgments to determine our provision for income taxes, deferred tax assets and liabilities, and any valuation allowance recorded against deferred tax assets. We utilize the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes, as well as operating loss, capital loss, and tax credit carryforwards. Valuation allowances are established against deferred tax assets if it is more likely than not that they will not be realized. Income tax expense represents the current expense incurred for the period plus or minus the change during the period in net deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Material Weaknesses

As a public company, we will be required to maintain internal control over financial reporting in accordance with applicable rules and guidance and to report any material weaknesses in such internal control over financial reporting. Prior to this offering, we were a private company with limited accounting personnel and other resources with which to address our internal control over financial reporting.

 

135


Table of Contents

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. In connection with this filing, we identified deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting, which in the aggregate, constitute material weaknesses related to (i) the sufficiency of technical accounting and SEC reporting expertise within our accounting and financial reporting function, (ii) the establishment and documentation of clearly defined roles within our finance and accounting functions and (iii) our ability to evidence the design and implementation of effective information technology general controls (“ITGCs”) for information systems and applications that are relevant to the preparation of our financial statements.

To address these material weaknesses, we have initiated a plan to hire additional qualified personnel and establish more robust processes to support our internal control over financial reporting, including the documentation of clearly defined roles and responsibilities, and the design and implementation of effective ITGCs. In the near term, we have engaged external advisors who are providing financial accounting assistance and are assisting in evaluating the design, implementation and operating effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting.

If our steps are insufficient to successfully remediate the material weaknesses and otherwise establish and maintain an effective system of internal control over financial reporting, the reliability of our financial reporting, investor confidence in us, and the value of our common stock could be materially and adversely affected. We may not be able to remediate the identified material weaknesses, and additional material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in our internal control over financial reporting may be identified in the future. Effective internal control over financial reporting is necessary for us to provide reliable and timely financial reports and, together with adequate disclosure controls and procedures, are designed to reasonably detect and prevent fraud. Our failure to implement and maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, to remedy identified material weaknesses or significant deficiencies or to implement required new or improved controls could result in errors in our financial statements that could result in a restatement of our financial statements or cause us to fail to timely meet our financial and other reporting obligations.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

See Note 2 to our audited consolidated financial statements and our unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this proxy statement/prospectus for a description of recently adopted accounting pronouncements and issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted.

JOBS Act Accounting Election

Section 107 of the JOBS Act allows emerging growth companies to take advantage of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards. Under Section 107, an emerging growth company can delay the adoption of certain accounting standards until those standards would otherwise apply to private companies. Any decision to opt out of the extended transition period for complying with new or revised accounting standards is irrevocable. We have elected to use the extended transition period under the JOBS Act.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

In the normal course of business, we are exposed to various market risks. We continually monitor these risks and regularly develop appropriate strategies to manage them. Accordingly, we manage our

 

136


Table of Contents

exposure to these risks through the use of derivative contracts with the objective of reducing potential income statement, cash flow, and market exposures from changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates. Our primary market risks are interest rate risk associated with our long-term debt and foreign currency exchange risk associated with our operations in Canada and Australia. These instruments are used solely to mitigate market exposure and are not used for trading or speculative purposes. Refer to “Note 9. Derivative Financial Instruments” for additional information.

Interest rate risk

Our market risk is affected by changes in interest rates on our borrowings. We maintain floating-rate debt that bears interest based on market rates plus an applicable spread. Because our interest rate is tied to market rates, we will be susceptible to fluctuations in interest rates if we do not hedge the interest rate exposure arising from our floating-rate borrowings. We performed a sensitivity analysis to determine the effect of interest rate fluctuations on our interest expense. A hypothetical 1% increase or decrease in interest rates above our interest rate floors would change our annual interest expense by approximately $6.3 million. To reduce our exposure to fluctuations in interest rates, we enter into interest rate swaps. These interest rate swaps act as economic hedges to reduce our exposure to interest rate movements and effectively convert a portion of our floating-rate debt to a fixed-rate basis. We do not designate these swaps as hedges, because we do not elect to apply hedge accounting.

Foreign currency exchange risk

In addition to our U.S. businesses, we operate in Canada and Australia. Operations conducted entirely in each jurisdiction use that jurisdiction’s currency as their functional currency, and changes in foreign exchange rates affect the translation of the results of these businesses into U.S. dollars for financial reporting purposes. For fiscal year 2020, approximately 47% of our net sales were denominated in a currency other than our functional U.S. dollar currency. For fiscal year 2020, the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, and the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019, a hypothetical 10% change in the relative value of the U.S. dollar to the Canadian dollar would impact our net sales by $36.4 million, $40.6 million, and $10.5 million, respectively. A hypothetical 10% change in the relative fair value of the U.S. dollar to the Australian dollar would not have a material impact on our operations. We will be susceptible to fluctuations in our local currency compared to foreign currency if we do not hedge the exchange rate exposure. As such, we routinely enter into currency forwards and swap contracts to reduce our exposure to fluctuations in earnings and cash flows associated with changes in foreign exchange rates. We do not designate any of the currency forwards and swap contract as hedges for accounting purposes as we do not elect to apply hedge accounting.

 

137


Table of Contents

BUSINESS

Company Overview

Our mission

To champion reuse and inspire a future where secondhand is second nature.

From the thrill of the hunt to the joy of decluttering, we help communities harness the power of pre-loved stuff to keep reusable items around for years to come.

Who we are

We are the largest for-profit thrift operator in the United States and Canada. With over 20,000 team members, we operate a total of 306 stores under the Savers, Value Village, Village des Valeurs, Unique and 2nd Ave banners. We are committed to redefining secondhand shopping by providing one-of-a-kind, low-priced merchandise ranging from quality clothing to home goods in an exciting treasure-hunt shopping environment. We purchase secondhand textiles (i.e., clothing, bedding and bath items), shoes, accessories, housewares, books and other goods from our NPPs, either directly from them or via OSDs at Community Donation Centers at our stores. We then process, select, price, merchandise and sell these items in our stores. Items that are not sold to our retail customers are marketed to wholesale customers, who reuse or repurpose the items they purchase from us. We believe our hyper-local and socially responsible procurement model, industry-leading and innovative operations, differentiated value proposition and deep relationships with our customers distinguish us from other secondhand and value-based retailers.

We offer a dynamic, ever-changing selection of items, with an AUR under $5. We have a highly engaged customer base, with over 3.8 million active loyalty program members in the United States and Canada who shopped with us, driving 64.6% of point-of-sale transaction value during the twelve months ended October 2, 2021. Our business model is rooted in ESG principles, with a mission to positively impact our stakeholders—thrifters, NPPs and their donors, our team members and our stockholders. As a leader and pioneer of the for-profit thrift category, we seek to positively impact the environment by reducing waste and extending the life of reusable goods. The vast majority of the clothing and textiles we source are sold to our retail or wholesale customers. In 2019, we processed over one billion pounds of secondhand goods. During fiscal year 2020, we generated $834.0 million of net sales, $63.5 million of net loss and $59.5 million of Adjusted EBITDA, resulting in 7.6% net loss margin and a 7.1% Adjusted EBITDA margin. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA margin are considered non-GAAP financial measures under the SEC’s rules because they exclude certain charges included in net (loss) income calculated in accordance with GAAP. For additional information on our use of non-GAAP financial measures and a reconciliation to the nearest GAAP measure, see “Prospectus Summary — Summary Financial and Other Data — Key business metrics and non-GAAP financial measures.”

The U.S. secondhand market, which is a subset of the broader retail market, is expected to reach $36 billion in 2021, and is expected to grow 21% annually to $77 billion by 2025. Thrift accounted for approximately 60% of the total secondhand market in 2021, and we believe we benefit from the powerful secular trends driving growth in the sector. We also believe consumers are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of the clothes they wear. There is a growing awareness that the textile and clothing industry is one of the most environmentally damaging sectors of the economy. Meanwhile, discarded clothing remains the largest source of textile waste in the world, with the average U.S. citizen throwing away 81 pounds of clothing each year, 95% of which could have been re-worn or repurposed; yet 85% of this material ends up in landfills. To put this another way, the Ellen MacArthur Foundation reports that one garbage truck of textiles is landfilled or incinerated every second. Thrift as a business model provides one of the most effective solutions in mitigating the environmental cost of clothing and extending its life.

 

138


Table of Contents

Track record of consistent growth and recent performance

We have a proven track record of consistently delivering comparable store sales growth across the United States and Canada. Prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, we achieved over ten years of positive comparable store sales growth across the United States and Canada and our business has recovered strongly from COVID-19-related disruptions in 2021.

 

 

LOGO

ESG impact

Environmental: Our business model is designed to maximize the life of reusable goods, and we found a reuse for over 3.4 billion pounds of secondhand items from 2016 to 2020.

 

 

LOGO

 

139


Table of Contents

In 2020, we purchased enough Renewable Energy Certificates to match our electricity usage with renewable energy at our three corporate offices and our largest U.S. and Canadian Wholesale Distribution and Reuse Centers. Additionally, we are committed to further reducing our emissions and energy consumption whenever feasible. We also recently completed a LED lighting retrofit for more than 90% of our U.S. and Canadian stores and warehouses.

Social: Our business model is predicated on sourcing our supply from local non-profit organizations in the communities where we do business. Our relationships with our top 10 NPPs average more than 25 years. Over the last five years, we have paid our NPPs approximately $670 million for secondhand goods, providing them with unrestricted revenue to support their community-focused missions. From 2015 to 2020, over 90% of our supply was locally sourced, delivering a broad and diverse selection to our customers and fostering a sense of community.

Our leading “people” metric across our organization is team member engagement, which is scored across various areas, including overall job satisfaction, whether the team member would recommend us as a place to work, personal commitment, being energized at work and intent to remain employed. Our team member engagement is considered best-in-class, as measured by an external consultant, comparing our results to other companies in the retail sector. Team member engagement is crucial to customer satisfaction and the satisfaction of our NPPs and their donors.

We also invest in the training, development and advancement of our team members. Since January 2021, more than 75% of open salaried management positions in the United States and Canada were filled by internal promotions. As of August 2021, more than 70% of the management roles in our stores and corporate operations were held by team members identifying as female.

Governance: We are committed to ethical practices in every aspect of our business and have adopted a Savers Code of Conduct that outlines our expectations for internal interactions and helps us maintain compliance with local laws and regulations. Our five core values guide our strategic direction and how our team members interact with one another, our communities and our customers: (1) make service count; (2) celebrate uniqueness; (3) do the right thing; (4) find a better way; and (5) make an impact.

Our Market Opportunity

We operate within the large, fragmented and fast-growing secondhand market, which is a subset of the broader retail market. In addition to being recession-resilient, growth in the secondhand market is accelerating due to a number of powerful secular trends.

The emergence of conscious consumerism

Consumers are increasingly taking into consideration the ESG impacts of their shopping decisions and the brands with which they choose to interact. As of April 2021, 42% of all consumers and 53% of millennials and Gen Z consumers reported that they expect to spend more on secondhand items in the next five years.

Growing importance of value retail and treasure hunt experience

The relevance of value shopping and treasure hunting has grown stronger in recent years. Our thrift model provides a highly compelling, differentiated customer proposition and experience that gives us a competitive advantage over traditional retail and other existing secondhand options. Today’s consumers, and thrifters specifically, are seeking experiential shopping opportunities and compelling value propositions, combined with the multifaceted possibilities of brands and styles. They are drawn to

 

140


Table of Contents

the excitement of finding great value through a treasure hunt experience. That experience, combined with our low AUR, makes us more attractive to customers than traditional retail. Furthermore, our in-store experience and broad, ever-changing inventory cannot be replicated online. We believe that we operate leading brands within the thrift industry offering consumers this unique experience.

Fast-growing secondhand market across both demand and supply

Secondhand demand-side total addressable market: The secondhand market is rapidly growing and continues to gain share in the total retail market from a wide range of traditional retailers, including department stores, fast fashion brands and off-price retailers. The secondhand market consists of both resale (e.g., consignment) and thrift goods, with thrift accounting for approximately 60% of the total market during 2021. In the United States alone, the secondhand market is projected to increase from $36 billion in 2021 to more than $77 billion by 2025, representing a compounded annual growth rate over this period of 21%. Additionally over this period, the U.S. secondhand share of consumer spending as a percentage of the total U.S. apparel market is expected to increase from 14% in 2021 to over 25% in 2025.

 

LOGO

Our total market opportunity continues to grow due to a general rise in demand for secondhand goods in part as consumers continue to expand the occasions for shopping for secondhand goods. In 2019, approximately 50% of every age demographic reported shopping in the secondhand market.

Secondhand supply-side total addressable market: There is an abundant and growing source of supply that facilitates the availability of secondhand and thrift goods. As this market continues to develop and expand with the opening of new points of collection, there is significant opportunity to unlock and drive further OSDs to our NPPs at our stores. OSDs are typically driven by a combination of location, convenience, ease of drop and a fast and friendly experience at our Community Donation Centers at our stores.

In 2019 alone, we processed over one billion pounds of secondhand goods. As donations continue to grow and awareness of secondhand shopping increases, we believe more consumers are likely to

 

141


Table of Contents

become thrift shoppers. As of January 2021, 84% of shoppers surveyed reported that they donate at thrift store locations more than once every six months, and 21% of shoppers cited plans to increase the frequency of their donations.

Competitive Strengths

We have been able to delight millions of customers each year and grow our business consistently through the following competitive strengths:

A leader in the industry with a powerful business model

We are the largest for-profit thrift operator in the United States and Canada. In Canada, our principal brand, Value Village, is the largest in thrift volume and has over 93% aided brand awareness as of January 2021. We believe our significant scale advantage allows us to deliver extreme value and a superior shopping experience to customers, while generating strong cash flow that can be reinvested in our business.

We have innovated and integrated three highly-complex parts of thrift operations—supply and processing, retail and sales to wholesale markets—through significant operational expertise and investments. This has created a compelling business model which is differentiated against online competition and traditional retail, based on our treasure-hunt experience and low AUR. Further, our business has demonstrated resilience through economic cycles. Such advantages of our business model provide compelling value to customers, drive attractive profitability for the business, and underpin positive comparable store sales growth from 2009 to 2019. As interest in the secondhand market continues to grow, we will have the opportunity to elevate and define the thrift experience for decades to come.

LOGO

Unmatched value proposition driving exceptional customer engagement

We offer quality items at one of the deepest values across all of our product categories and an exciting, engaging treasure hunt experience in a contemporary in-store atmosphere, which underpins

 

142


Table of Contents

strong customer loyalty. Our most engaged customers are members of our Super Savers Club® loyalty program. As of October 2, 2021, we had 3.8 million active members enrolled in our U.S. and Canadian loyalty programs who have made a purchase within the last 12 months, driving 64.6% of point-of-sale transaction value during the 12 months ended October 2, 2021. Our members earn points or store credit, which further enhances the value shopping experience. Members in both the United States and Canada receive exclusive coupons and offers via email, as well as a special birthday coupon.

During the twelve months ended October 2, 2021, U.S. loyalty members spent approximately 41% more per shopping trip than non-members. During the same period, U.S. loyalty members shopped at our stores an average of 6.8 times annually. As of October 2, 2021, the top three loyalty segments, which represent approximately 50% of active members in the United States, shopped with us more than 12 times per year, and as of September 2021, 37% of our new members were under 35 years old compared to our total loyalty member base, of which 21% were under the age of 35 and 61% were aged between 35-64. In addition, as of September 2021, 35% of our loyalty members had annual household incomes of over $75,000, and 85% identified as female.

We have a particularly active presence on social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest, to connect with our customers, and we also partner with a number of social media “influencers” who generate further awareness of our brands through sponsored content. At the core of our “Thrift Proud” movement, our customers and followers on social media serve as influential peer-to-peer brand ambassadors and are tagging our brand and banners in thousands of photos and videos weekly. We enjoy highly engaged communities on social media who are inspired by thrift hauls, shopping cart photos, do-it-yourself and upcycling, creating “new from used.” As of September 2021, Savers, Value Village, Village des Valeurs and Thrift Proud branded hashtags had more than 75 million organic views on TikTok alone.

Supply model with proven capacity to drive growth

Quality and volume of supply play a critical role in driving traffic and customer frequency and engagement. We have developed a proven strategy to continuously improve our supply model. In order to maximize supply quality, we periodically assess sales yield, which we define as revenues generated per pound processed, from each supply source to make informed decisions on supplier selection. This approach ultimately improves both our revenue and profitability. We have been strategically focused on increasing our OSDs, particularly in increasing convenience and proximity to potential donors. OSDs not only drive profitability but also enhance the consistency and reliability of supply to each of our stores. We expect our focus on increasing OSDs will contribute to further improvement and growth in our supply.

Culture of innovation and operational excellence

Our culture of innovation underpins our key decisions and the way we run our business. We continue to be an industry leader with innovation to improve the customer experience, while enhancing operational efficiency. We have continuously improved our thrift operations across sourcing, processing, and retailing. We have recently launched major initiatives that will further reinforce our competitive advantage and have a measurable impact on our financial profile:

Centralized Processing Centers (CPCs): The CPC system is an offsite, semi-automated processing facility that mechanizes the flow of clothing, accessories, and shoes through an integrated series of conveyor belts, robotics, sensors, and other technology. It significantly improves upon our traditional process by driving labor efficiencies and enabling grader specialization and pricing precision. CPCs also allow for a more flexible store layout and loading configuration.

Automated Book Processing (ABP): The ABP system is an integrated set of technologies that efficiently identify, price, and sort books based on their critical attributes (e.g., genre, author, market price). The system design consists of high-speed conveyors, optic recognition, robot tagging and an

 

143


Table of Contents

automated book distribution system working in concert to increase throughput over traditional, manual processes.

Self-checkout: We are rolling out self-checkout kiosks in many of our stores in order to enhance the customer experience, with shorter lines and more access points. We estimate that self-checkout kiosks also can save up to 80 labor hours per week per store, which reduces our labor costs.

Attractive financial profile with proven track record of consistent growth

We achieved positive comparable store sales growth from 2009 through 2019, even throughout recessionary periods. We have also delivered steady and consistent gross product margin expansion over the last five years, from 46.4% in 2015 to 63.0% for the nine months ended October 2, 2021. We define gross product margin as net sales minus cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization, divided by net sales. We have utilized multiple levers that are unique to our business model to drive margin improvements, especially the growth of OSDs as part of our supply mix and sales yield improvement. As a result of our attractive financial profile, we have significant flexibility with respect to capital allocation, giving us the ability to drive long-term shareholder and stakeholder value through various operating and financial strategies.

Highly experienced and strategic leadership

Our strategic vision and culture are directed by a leadership team that combines deep industry expertise and advanced operational capabilities to continuously innovate our business. Given the unique needs of the business, our leadership team has diverse backgrounds across not only retail but also technology, manufacturing, and supply chain. We are committed to ethical practices in every aspect of our business and are guided by people who fundamentally do the right thing.

How We Plan to Grow

Strategically grow our store base

Our goal is to expand our position as the leading for-profit thrift operator by opening new store locations. We have identified approximately 2,200 potential new locations across the United States and Canada, based on a third-party analysis prepared for us. We plan to open at least 10 net new stores during 2022 and more than 20 net new stores per year beginning in 2023.

In-fill opportunities: We will continue to identify attractive locations in our existing markets by leveraging our brand awareness and operational capabilities, and where we have the advantage of both attractive supply and demand. These in-fill opportunities will include both traditional and alternative format stores.

Adjacent store opportunities: We also will pursue opportunities to expand our regional footprint in adjacent areas where we can leverage our operational capabilities and regional market knowledge.

Greenfield store opportunities: We are currently underpenetrated in multiple important regional markets, including the South and West regions of the United States and in Central Canada.

 

144


Table of Contents

LOGO

Expansive new store opportunity Locational strategy based on demographic data and third-party analysis. Systematic, data-driven new store opening framework Current stores 284 In-fill stores -1,400 Adjacent stores -500 Greenfield stores -300 Deep understanding of supply and demand dynamics 13+ store leases signed in 2022 20+ stores per year beginning in 2023 Team with a track record of new store openings Total new store potential: -2,200

Our CPC strategy is designed to support more than half of our new and existing stores in the United States and Canada by 2026. As a result, we believe we can unlock significant new store potential given that a CPC-served store can have a more flexible store layout and size. In more densely populated areas specifically, CPCs enable in-fill opportunities in alternative store formats without the need for a full-scale processing facility in the back-of-store.

Driven by our disciplined real estate selection approach, we expect to deliver attractive return on investment and store-level profitability. We target most of our new stores to achieve a payback period of two and half years or less. Of the seven new stores opened since January 2019, two have already returned their initial investment despite the impacts of the pandemic. Our alternative store format is designed to capitalize on high real estate availability in in-fill markets through smaller formats.

Drive consistent comparable store sales growth

Our goal is to drive consistent growth in comparable store sales growth by maintaining a superior value proposition to our customers and continuing to offer a compelling selection of quality secondhand items. Benefitting from secular tailwinds, we expect to further drive comparable sales growth with the following strategies:

 

   

Quality product offerings: We will continue to procure ample supply of quality items to delight our customers. Our compelling selection of offerings enables us to drive both frequency with existing customers and the acquisition of new customers.

 

   

Improving shopping experience: We will continue to invest in the in-store shopping experience to facilitate the treasure hunt dynamics for our customers. We have invested in renovations to modernize our stores; new technologies to optimize store operations; and alternative store formats supported by CPCs.

 

   

Expanding engagement with our loyalty program members: Our loyalty program members have increased shopping frequencies, stronger retention, more transactions, and larger basket sizes. Our marketing efforts are designed to continue to increase our loyalty program member base.

 

   

Conducting brand marketing: We will continue to increase our brand marketing spend to improve our brand awareness, bolstered by the broader adoption of thrift shopping overall to drive new customer acquisition.

 

145


Table of Contents

Continue to implement strategic initiatives to drive efficiency and expand margin

Compared to our traditional retail competitors, we have multiple levers within our control that have been critical in driving our profitability and Free Cash Flow. For instance, our data analysis has improved our sales yield, defined as sales per pound processed, which has been a primary driver of comparable store profitability. Our deliberate strategy of increasing the penetration of OSDs as a percentage of total supply has had a significant impact on our gross product margin. In addition, our recent initiatives, including CPCs, ABPs and self-checkout, are expected to generate combined incremental savings of at least $200,000 per store per year, based on anticipated savings of approximately $125,000 for CPCs, $25,000 for ABPs, and $50,000 for self-checkout. Our culture of innovation and data orientation has been critical to driving operational efficiencies, and we will continue to lead in terms of innovating the thrift business model.

Selectively pursue other growth opportunities

In addition to our organic growth initiatives, we will also take an opportunistic yet disciplined approach toward potential inorganic growth opportunities. Given the fragmented nature of the thrift category, we believe there are significant opportunities for growth. This can be conducted through the acquisition of well-operated regional players where we believe we can build upon our infrastructure and scale to accelerate the growth of a potential target and generate synergies. Our acquisition criteria include a significant regional presence; access to a robust flow of quality supply; strong brand awareness; and a complementary cultural fit for our company.

Supply

Supply Sources Overview. Our supplier base for each store is predominantly local, with over 90% of our supply locally-sourced. As a result, each store draws its supply predominantly from local NPPs and their donors, delivering a broad and diverse selection for our customers and fostering a sense of community. Our local sourcing strategy reduces transportation costs and emissions typically associated with the production and distribution of new merchandise.

We are a for-profit company that champions reuse. While purchases made by our customers in our stores do not benefit any NPP, we pay our NPPs a contracted rate for all OSDs and delivered product. Our subsidiaries are registered professional fundraisers where such registration is required.

We source our merchandise primarily through two distinct and strategic methods: (i) on-site donations and (ii) delivered supply, all of which we purchase directly from our NPPs. We pay a market-competitive contractual rate to purchase items received as OSDs or as part of delivered supply. OSDs are the largest part of our supply mix, accounting for 75% of our total pounds supplied as of the year ended January 2, 2021.

On-Site Donations: OSDs are donations of items made by individuals to our NPPs at our stores’ Community Donation Centers. We operate as a registered professional fundraiser, where required, on behalf of local NPPs in accepting donations from their respective donors. Each store is specifically designated as an OSD location for a particular NPP, such that all donations received at the Community Donation Center are credited to that NPP.

Delivered supply: Delivered supply is comprised of two types of supply: First, items collected by our NPPs through a variety of methods, such as neighborhood collections and donation drives, and second, items delivered to our stores and CPCs. On behalf of our NPPs, we may solicit, collect, and deliver items to our stores.

 

146


Table of Contents

GreenDrop collections: Donations of items are made by individuals to our NPPs at convenient and well-signed brick and mortar and trailer locations in neighborhoods surrounding a store location. On behalf of our NPPs, we solicit, collect, and deliver items to our stores and CPCs.

Donation drives: Donation drives operate within our FUNDrive® program and include smaller, local non-profits such as schools, sports teams, community groups, and other charitable organizations. These drives are one-time and event-based, with contractual agreements based on each distinct donation drive itself.

Third-party credential: Third-party credential goods are purchased in small amounts on an as-needed basis from regional for-profit collectors, generally consisting of bin operators and other for-profit resellers.

We leverage an analytical platform to measure the sales yield and product margin of an individual stream of supply in our stores. In general, this tool is either used to periodically confirm the performance of an existing stream of supply or to evaluate the performance of a new source of supply.

Non-Profit Partners (“NPPs”). We have deep relationships with an extensive roster of NPPs that is unmatched in the thrift industry. Our relationships with our top 10 NPPs average 25 to 30 years. Over the last five years we have paid our NPPs approximately $670 million for goods donated to them. We support both large and small partners alike and offer a reliable, unrestricted source of revenue. Delivered product enables our NPPs to not only generate additional revenue, but also promote awareness of their missions even further throughout the community via collection truck signage, collection bin messaging, and home pickup flyers.

On-Site Donations (“OSDs”). The quantity and quality of our supply of secondhand items has continued to evolve and improve, particularly as OSDs have grown as a percentage of pounds of goods we process. While it is strategically important for us to maintain a diverse supply mix, items sourced through OSDs have a cost per pound that is on average one-third that of delivered supply from our NPPs. Our store footprint has played a critical role in strengthening our OSD intake by accepting OSDs on behalf of our NPPs. Additionally, because OSD volume is primarily driven by convenience, the more we are able to expand our footprint and geographic reach, the more we will be able to attract and procure additional OSD supply, which benefits our growth and margin profiles.

Our OSD’s have grown at a 5.2% CAGR from the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to the last nine months ended October 2, 2021, and its contribution to total supply has expanded from 45.8% to 72.7% during the same period as a percentage of total supply. In addition, data analytics have played a critical role in elevating the quality of our delivered supply by enabling us to concentrate on supply sources with quality goods, which has been a significant driver of our gross product margin.

 

LOGO

 

147


Table of Contents

Processing

Overview. Nearly all of our retail stores have a dedicated space that handles the processing of soft and hard goods that provide the inventory to be sold on our retail sales floors. In 2019, we processed over one billion pounds of secondhand goods. We are currently implementing our CPC strategy, which allows us to process goods at a larger-scale facility and distribute the goods to multiple stores in a local market. We opened our first CPC in the third quarter of 2021.

Historically, we display approximately 50% of all textile items we receive on our retail sales floors, approximately 50% of which are sold to thrifters. In support of our efforts to extend the life of reusable goods and recover a portion of the cost of acquiring our supply of secondhand items, we sell the majority of textile items unsold at retail to our wholesale customers, predominately comprised of textile graders and small business owners, who supply local communities across the globe with gently-used, affordable items like clothing, housewares, toys, and shoes. Textiles not suitable for reuse as secondhand clothing can be repurposed into other textile items (e.g., wiping rags) and post-consumer fibers (e.g., insulation, carpet padding), further reducing waste.

LOGO

Our process has five sequential and interdependent steps: (1) Receiving; (2) Sorting; (3) Grading and Pricing; (4) Merchandising; and (5) Wholesale. Given the high volumes processed in our stores, effective process management is critical to ensuring each step is done properly and in coordination with the other steps. The typical processing room has approximately 30 team members, each of whom is trained in a specific area with many who are cross trained to support adjacent roles as needed.

 

148


Table of Contents

 

LOGO

Receiving

Upon receipt, most of our supply is separated into either soft goods, hard goods, or books and then weighed in aggregate. The weight is then recorded into our inventory management system which initiates the payment process to our NPPs, as defined by their contracted rate. The one exception is the receipt of furniture and other large items which are received and purchased by the piece. The aggregated goods are then staged in designated areas of the processing room.

Sorting

The sorting process consists of emptying the contents of each donated bag or box, separating them by department, and then transferring them to that specific area for further inspection. Each item is inspected and determined to be either salable, unsalable, or backstock storage. The salability of an item is based primarily on its quality and condition. Every effort is made by our stores to maximize the extraction of salable items, including the use of well-established analytics which are routinely used by store management. Items deemed unsalable are removed from the processing stream and incorporated into the wholesale process. Salable items that are seasonal are backstocked and stored for future sale during the appropriate season (e.g., winter coats received in the summer). On average, each of our stores evaluate approximately 15,000 items every day.

Grading and pricing

The price for a garment is determined through a grading process that ends with a centrally controlled pricing algorithm. Grading involves a team member assessing a garment for quality and condition relative to other garments within the same category. This enables a more scalable, consistent, and comparative approach in determining the value of items for which there are many of the same kind. The grader enters in their assessment and the system generates a price based on an underlying pricing algorithm based on quality and condition for garments in that category. The algorithms are centrally controlled and we conduct routine analyses to monitor price and sales performance.

 

149


Table of Contents

Merchandising

Priced goods are merchandised in our stores to maximize both customer selection and sales yield using a data-driven approach. Our stores do this by balancing and optimizing three primary levers: (i) allocation of retail floor space, (ii) processing output targets by category, and (iii) sales floor rotation. Our point-of-sale system is integrated with our grading and pricing system which provides visibility into the exact performance for over 200 categories across 10 departments. Our stores routinely modulate each of the three levers in accordance with real-time data analytics available to them.

Additionally, our stores utilize colored price tags which reflect the processing date and enable us to manage the sales floor rotation and retail lifecycle of each item. The system makes it easy for team members to determine the age of each item and distinguish between which should be removed to be sold through wholesale and which should remain on the floor.

Wholesale

The vast majority of clothing, accessories, shoes, and books that either are unfit for retail sale in our stores, or, have gone unsold on our sales floor after a period of time are sold into the wholesale market. In general, clothing is baled into cubes that are required for transport to the wholesale customer. Shoes are paired and bundled in drawstring bags, and books are aggregated into cardboard gaylords. We have a variety of standards and controls across each of these product categories to ensure consistency and efficiency at our store locations.

Most stores aggregate these categories onto trailers which are then sent to one of several company-operated Wholesale Reuse and Distribution Centers. These centers perform additional sorting on certain categories, containerization, and ultimately sell to our wholesale customers.

Centralized Processing Centers and Automated Book Processing

Our first CPC and ABP systems were launched in the third quarter of 2021.

The CPC system is an offsite, semi-automated processing facility that mechanizes the flow of clothing, accessories, and shoes through an integrated series of conveyor belts, robotics, sensors, and other technology. It significantly improves upon our traditional process by (i) improving labor efficiencies, and (ii) enabling grader specialization and pricing precision. Importantly, the CPC unlocks new store expansion by allowing for a more flexible store layout, loading configuration, and overall building requirements when selecting new store locations.

 

LOGO

 

150


Table of Contents

The ABP system is an integrated set of technologies that efficiently identify, price, and sort books based on their critical attributes (e.g., genre, author, market price). The system design consists of high-speed conveyors, optic recognition, robot tagging, and an automated book distribution system working in concert to increase throughput eightfold over our traditional, manual process. The system also utilizes a central database of over 56.9 million ISBN records and a pricing algorithm to determine the optimal price point for each salable book.

The CPC and ABP technologies widen our competitive and operational advantage, and we plan to aggressively expand both across many of the markets in which we operate in the next several years. We have contractual arrangements with Valvan Baling Systems NV, the provider of CPC technology, and ABP technology that include exclusive rights to the use of the CPC technology and ABP technology for a period of time that may be extended as we purchase additional technology from the provider in connection with our buildout of additional CPCs and ABP facilities.

Our initial contract was for a CPC system in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Signed in July 2020, the agreement required the design, manufacture and installation of the system over a period of eleven months, with percentage payments due at each of several milestones, with the final payment due upon acceptance of the system. The system components are designed and manufactured in Belgium, with Valvan responsible for shipping the components to the facility in Edmonton where the CPC is operating. The agreement granted an initial two-year period of exclusivity for use of the technology and design in the United States and Canada and an initial period of three years after the acceptance date of the Edmonton CPC (which was October 2021). Exclusivity is extended by three years from the date of each subsequent order for an additional CPC or other products or services exceeding 2 million made within one year after the date of a prior order. Orders for CPC products in Australia extend the exclusivity period in the United States and Canada, but not vice-versa. As of December 2021, we have made orders to purchase an additional three CPCs, extending our exclusivity for the use of the CPC technology and design in the United States and Canada through October 2024. Our exclusivity in Australia lasts through October 2024. If we complete the purchases we currently plan to make, our exclusive rights would extend until at least 2027 in the United States and Canada and until at least 2029 in Australia.

The contract for the first ABP system was signed in September 2020 and requires the design, manufacture and installation of an ABP system in Edmonton over a period of seven months. Like the CPC systems, the ABP system components are designed and manufactured in Belgium with percentage payments due at each of several milestones. The initial ABP system contract granted a one year period of exclusivity for use of the technology and design for the ABP system, extending by one year for each system purchased, up to a maximum of five years after the commissioning date of the last-commissioned system. Our first ABP system installation was completed in May 2020, resulting in an initial term through May 2021. We have subsequently ordered an additional four ABP systems, extending our exclusive rights in the United States, Canada and Australia until May 2025. If we complete the purchases we currently plan to make, our exclusive rights would extend until 2030.

Our ability to extend these exclusive rights with respect to the CPC and ABP technologies is dependent on our continuing to secure our relationship with the provider as we expand our CPCs and ABP facilities. There is no guarantee that we will complete the purchases we currently plan to make, and if we do not do so, we may not extend our exclusive rights as described above.

Retail

Retail Footprint and Banners. As of November 2021, we had 148 stores in the United States, 148 stores in Canada and 10 stores in Australia. We operate under five distinct store banners—Savers, Value Village, Village des Valeurs Unique, and 2nd Ave.

 

151


Table of Contents

In Canada, we operate 131 Value Village stores located in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island and Saskatchewan (nine provinces). Additionally, we have 17 stores in Quebec that operate under the Village des Valeurs brand. In Canada, we are the top-of-mind thrift retailer with 93% aided brand awareness.

In the United States, Value Village is our original store brand established by our founders in 1954. We have 22 U.S. Value Village stores located in Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Maryland (four states). However, the predominant brand in the United States is Savers and we operate 105 Savers stores across 24 states, including Arkansas, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Wisconsin.

In 2011 and 2013, we acquired the Unique brand name and currently operate nine stores across Minnesota, Illinois, Maryland and Virginia (four states). We have retained the Unique store name given its strong brand equity amongst our customer base. In November 2021, in the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, we acquired an additional twelve stores operating under the 2nd Ave banner in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

In Australia, we operate ten stores under the Savers brand with seven located in Victoria and three located in South Australia. All store banners are managed and operated centrally with a common marketing and operations strategy.

 

LOGO

            

Current store footprint21 18 5 6 69 17 12 4 14 1 9 7 4 14 4 4 2 12 1 2 1 3 3 4 8 4 3 8 6 11 8 4 3 1 3 7 2Our footprint:Total: U.S. 148 CA 148 AU 10

Merchandising Overview. Our merchandising strategy is focused on a broad, compelling product offering. On average, we turn our inventory every three weeks to ensure we are offering a fresh assortment to new and returning customers. Items are organized within five “soft” goods and four “hard” goods departments spanning 210 distinct categories. Our product selection is consistently identified as the top driver of customer satisfaction in feedback surveys.

We monitor customer purchasing trends on a weekly and seasonal basis at each individual location to maximize sales and profitability. Space on the sales floor for each store is allocated by category, utilizing a data-driven process to predict category demand trends.

 

152


Table of Contents

LOGO

We believe that the breadth and depth of the assortment across our categories distinguishes us from our competitors.

Soft goods department and sample categories

 

   

Womens – e.g., long / short sleeve knits, sleeveless tops, jeans, pants, dresses, skirts

 

   

Mens – e.g., t-shirts, long / short sleeve shirts / knits, jeans, pants, shorts, activewear

 

   

Kids – e.g., infants, long / short sleeve tops, dresses, shorts, skirts, activewear

 

   

Bed & Bath – e.g., bed linens, purses, scarves, kids accessories, bags / backpacks, belts / suspenders, curtains / drapes

 

   

Shoes – e.g., women’s shoes / active /boots / sandals; men’s active / shoes, boys active, infant / toddler

Hard goods department and sample categories

 

   

Jewelry – e.g., costume jewelry, showcase jewelry

 

   

Housewares – e.g., toys, home décor, toy bag, vases / floral, glassware, servicewear, plastics, office

 

   

Furniture and Other – e.g., sporting goods, electronics, lamps, tvs / stereos / computers, tools

 

   

Books – e.g., books, cds / cassettes / lps, dvds, video cassettes, video games / software

Shopping experience. Our store experience is a direct reflection of our mission to make secondhand second nature. We deliver a well merchandised environment that maximizes customer engagement and supports a core tenet for any thrifter—the treasure hunt. More than 38,000 items are merchandised per store every week. Our merchandise is also regularly rotated and refreshed, with inventory turns of roughly 15 times a year, providing our customers with an extensive, ever-changing selection at tremendous value.

The average store in the United States and Canada has approximately 20,400 square feet of retail space. The retail space continues to evolve as we execute two major initiatives to contemporize our experience. We are enhancing our visual presentation with the roll out of our updated “Thrift Proud”

 

153


Table of Contents

sign package that has a great new look, while communicating who we are and what we do. In addition, we have enhanced the customer experience with the introduction of self-checkout kiosks that significantly shorten and, at most times of the day, eliminate payment lines.

Lastly, we have a continuous feedback loop on the customer experience. Our REactions surveys take the pulse of our customers on a weekly basis regarding the shopping experience and environment. This information is proactively shared with our leadership team and cascaded to store managers, who are measured on their ability to improve operations.

 

LOGO

Loyalty Program. Our most engaged customers are members of the Super Savers Club® loyalty program. As of October 2, 2021, we have 3.8 million active members enrolled in our U.S. and Canadian loyalty programs who have made a purchase within the last 12 months. This compares to 3.1 million and 4.0 million active loyalty members for fiscal year 2020 and fiscal year 2019, respectively. Our members earn points or store credit, which further enhances the value shopping experience. Members in both the United States and Canada receive exclusive coupons and offers via email, as well as a special birthday coupon.

The majority of our customers join our loyalty programs during the checkout process in our store. We also offer in-store self-service sign-ups at our self-checkout kiosks, which makes the process more efficient by eliminating the need for sign-up assistance from a team member. Customers also have the option to sign up online or via text message (in the United States only). While the number of loyalty program members overall did not decline from fiscal year 2019 to fiscal year 2020, our active members declined 23% for the fiscal year 2020 versus the fiscal year 2019, due primarily to our loyalty program members shopping less because of pandemic-related store closures. Since 2020, we have grown our active member base 24% as of the twelve months ended October 2, 2021 versus fiscal year 2020 with an accelerated growth over the last few months of over 100,000 active members per month, which reflects the continued momentum in our loyalty program.

During the twelve months ended October 2, 2021, U.S. loyalty members spent approximately 41% more per shopping trip than non-members. During the same period, U.S. loyalty members shopped at our stores an average of 6.8 times annually, driving 64.6% of point-of-sale transaction value. As of October 2, 2021, the top three loyalty segments, which represent approximately 50% of active members in the United States, shopped with us more than 12 times per year, and as of September 2021, 37% of our new members were under 35 years old compared to our total loyalty member base, of which 21% were under the age of 35 and 61% were aged between 35-64. In addition, as of September 2021, 35% of our loyalty members had annual household incomes of over $75,000, and 85% identified as female.

We have e-mail addresses for 69% of our U.S. and Canadian active loyalty members as of October 2, 2021, which we have leveraged as a cost-effective communication channel. In August 2021, we expanded our loyalty member communications in the United States to include text messaging, and we plan to roll out text messaging to our loyalty members in Canada in 2022.

 

154


Table of Contents

Marketing and Brand Awareness. We have highly recognizable brands in Canada, with 93% aided brand awareness. In the United States, we have an opportunity to continue building brand awareness across our three brands.

We drive traffic, acquire new customers and donors to our NPPs at our Community Donation Centers and promote brand awareness through an efficient, cost-effective mix of customer engagement (word-of-mouth), paid and organic marketing. Our marketing channels and approach include social media, influencer engagement, digital media, email, text messaging, online, and in store promotional materials, which support existing and new market entries. Our website is also an extension of our brand and retail stores, and serves as a marketing and informational tool.

We believe we have an expansive opportunity to further leverage our growing social media presence to drive brand awareness and generate excitement to increase store visits. At the core of our “Thrift Proud” movement, our customers and followers on social media serve as influential peer-to-peer brand ambassadors and are tagging our brand and banners in thousands of photos and videos weekly. We enjoy highly engaged communities on social media who are inspired by thrift hauls, shopping cart photos, do-it-yourself and upcycling, creating “new from used.” As of September 2021, Savers, Value Village, Village des Valeurs and Thrift Proud branded hashtags have more than 75 million organic views on TikTok alone.

 

LOGO

To further strengthen brand awareness, particularly in the United States, we are partnering with authentic, relatable influencers with highly engaged audiences. Our roster of influencers have enabled us to create a steady stream of on-brand, owned content that we can use and repurpose through other marketing methods, such as paid digital amplification efforts to reach our audiences at scale. Our user and influencer-generated content strategy builds authenticity by celebrating the real, genuine shoppers who have shaped our brand image through social media, online, email, paid digital, and in-store signage, among other avenues.

New Store Openings. We foresee a total addressable market potential of approximately 2,200 stores. We intend to accelerate new store openings in the United States and Canada beginning in 2022. We believe we can unlock significant new store potential, given that a CPC-served store can have a more flexible store layout and size.

We use a sophisticated sales and donations projection model that incorporates key factors, including per capita income, population, internal and external competition and population psychographics to determine a market’s propensity to shop at our stores or donate to our NPPs. We also utilize store footprint analysis and market optimization tools inform our retail site selection process.

Additionally, we employ several real estate strategies to ensure that our sites are both convenient for donors and accessible by shoppers. Through careful analysis, we have determined the optimal

 

155


Table of Contents

strategy is to lease stores within quality donation markets to secure higher donation volumes of better quality that expand gross product margins. In such cases, shoppers are willing to travel further for higher quality retail offerings and more curated assortments.

Wholesale, Reuse and Repurpose

Textiles, shoes and books that are unsold at retail stores are sold to wholesale customers, who reuse and repurpose the items we sell to them across six continents and 29 countries. Textiles not suitable for reuse as secondhand clothing can be repurposed into other textile items (e.g., wiping rags) and post-consumer fibers (e.g., insulation, carpet padding), further reducing waste.

We have long-standing relationships with our wholesale customers and work directly with textile processors that have multiple reuse and repurposing streams. Other categories, such as hard goods, move directly to small businesses and shop owners in markets across the globe for resale in various retail forms.

Logistics and Distribution

The vast majority of our supply is processed as it is generated. We store very little of our collected inventory, and any excess supply that is stored is only done so for short durations on rented trailers onsite at store locations or in a variety of local trailer yards. Our supply is nearly all locally sourced and locally consumed within a few weeks after it is initially collected.

We also operate a number of warehouse locations in various markets which serve as supply and demand buffers when needed and help to modulate supply flow to the stores. Only a very small portion of supply is transferred across markets or regions.

Our Culture and Team

We are guided by our mission and values, and we aspire to always act with purpose to promote inclusion, diversity and respect throughout our team and culture. We are committed to ethical practices in every aspect of our business and have adopted a Savers Code of Conduct that outlines our expectations for internal interactions and helps us maintain compliance with local laws and regulations. Five core values guide how our team members interact with one another, our communities and our customers: (1) make service count; (2) celebrate uniqueness; (3) do the right thing; (4) find a better way; and (5) make an impact. These core values also guide our strategic direction.

We have over 20,000 team members across 306 stores in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Our team members are primarily full-time employees (61% of our workforce) as of August 2021. As of August 2021, approximately 31% of our workforce in the United States and Canada is aged 20 to 30, with 25% aged 51 or older. As of August 2021, the average tenure of our store team members was three years, and our field multi-unit leaders, directors and executive population averaged 13 to 14 years of tenure. Since January 2021, more than 75% of open salaried management positions in the United States and Canada were filled by internal promotions. As of August 2021, more than 70% of the management roles in our stores and corporate operations were held by team members identifying as female.

We proudly provide a competitive total compensation package to our team members. In addition to competitive base pay and bonus programs, we also provide healthcare (both medical and dental), flexible spending accounts, life and disability insurance, retirement savings, and mental health and wellness support programs. We also offer work-life balance programs including parental leave, and vacation, sick, and holiday pay.

 

156


Table of Contents

Additionally, we host our own in-house “university” where we offer a wide array of both mandatory and elective online technical and management training programs. We also provide blended learning opportunities for compliance purposes, and offer growth and development opportunities for our team members.

Our leading “people” metric across the organization is team member engagement. We have been working alongside an external partner for the last five years to operate programs to measure and analyze shopper, donor, and team member satisfaction and engagement. These programs embrace the service profit chain concept: starting with a highly engaged team member who provides better service to our customers is critical to customer satisfaction and the overall profitability of our stores. We have had tremendous positive momentum over the past five years in team member engagement, with a focus on respect and inclusion. Our overall team member engagement scores and performance are at the top of our benchmark comparison amongst other retail companies as measured by our external partner. Team member engagement scores are based on various metrics, including overall job satisfaction, whether the team member would recommend us as a place to work, personal commitment, being energized at work and intent to remain employed.

Competition

Retail Competition. We compete for customer spend with value retailers, including off-price and other thrift operators. The thrift non-profit sector is largely decentralized, resulting in inconsistent shopping experiences from market to market. The thrift for-profit sector is characterized by smaller regional chains of 10-30 retail locations each. These organizations can maintain more consistent retail experiences from store to store, but typically lack the ability and capital to expand beyond their regional footprints.

Supply Competition. The thrift retail industry is made possible by the availability of quality secondhand items. As the secondhand movement continues to thrive and grow, we face increasing competition for secondhand goods from other thrift stores, consignment retailers, on-line thrift retailers and on-line marketplaces.

Our Sponsor

Ares Management Corporation. Ares Management Corporation (NYSE: ARES) is a leading global alternative investment manager offering clients complementary primary and secondary investment solutions across the credit, private equity, real estate and infrastructure asset classes. Ares seeks to provide flexible capital to support businesses and create value for its stakeholders and within its communities. By collaborating across its investment groups, Ares aims to generate consistent and attractive investment returns throughout market cycles. As of June 30, 2021, including the acquisition of Black Creek Group which closed July 1, 2021, Ares’ global platform had approximately $262 billion of assets under management, with approximately 2,000 employees operating across the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Trademarks and Other Intellectual Property

We own federally registered trademarks related to our brands, including SAVERS, UNIQUE, UNIQUE THRIFT STORE, 2ND AVE., 2ND AVE VALUE STORES in the United States, VALUE VILLAGE and VILLAGE DES VALEURS in Canada, and SAVERS in Australia. In addition, we own federal trademarks for certain business programs, like FUNDRIVE and ALTEREGO in the United States and Canada and SUPER SAVERS CLUB and GREENDROP in the United States. We also pursue and maintain federal registrations for certain slogans that we use, including THRIFT PROUD in the United States (pending in Canada) and RETHINK REUSE and I GIVE A SH!RT in the United States.

 

157


Table of Contents

Our trademark registrations have various expiration dates. However, assuming that the trademark registrations are properly renewed, they have a perpetual duration.

We also own several domain names, including www.savers.com, www.valuevillage.com, www.valuevillage.ca, www.villagedesvaleurs.ca, and www.savers.com.au, and registered and unregistered copyrights in our website content.

Additionally, we own the unregistered copyright in our Donation Manager route and schedule management software that we license for use by and on behalf of our non-profit partners.

We pursue infringement of our trademarks and copyrights when appropriate. We rely on trademark and copyright laws, trade-secret protection and confidentiality, license and other agreements with our NPPs, our vendors, employees and others to protect our intellectual property.

We hold exclusive rights to the CPC technology in the United States and Canada until June 2024, and under our current purchase plans, our exclusive rights will extend until at least 2029. Our exclusive right to the CPC technology in Australia extends to October 2024, and with current purchase plans could extent until at least 2027. Finally, our exclusive right to the ABP technology in the United States, Canada and Australia currently extends to May 2024, and under our current purchase plan will extend until 2030.

Properties

We do not own any real property. As of November 8, 2021, we operate 306 retail stores in the United States, Canada and Australia.

We actively continue to identify sites to open new store locations. As a result, our number of store properties may grow or fluctuate. We maintain a focused and disciplined approach to entering into lease arrangements. All leases are approved by our real estate committee, which is comprised of senior management and executive officers. All of our stores are leased from third parties, and the leases typically have ten-year terms with two or more options to renew for successive five-year periods. All of our leases have pre-defined rent escalation provisions over the initial term, and most of our leases include predefined rents for the extension options. We have created strategic relationships with a broad brokerage network throughout the United States and Canada as we exclusively lease our locations from third parties.

Our corporate headquarters are located in Bellevue, Washington (consisting of 14,031 square feet), Renton, Washington (consisting of 19,594 square feet), and Boise, Idaho, (consisting of 12,312 square feet) under leases expiring in September 2028, September 2022, and November 2025 respectively. We lease a major distribution center in Fife, Washington consisting of 93,146 square feet which has term through February 2027, and another in Toronto, Ontario consisting of 94,914 square feet which has term through March 2030 with two additional options to extend the term by 5 years each. We also have signed leases for four CPCs: Edmonton, Alberta for 46,348 square feet of space with term through May 2036 and two 5-year options to renew thereafter; Vancouver, British Columbia for 57,843 square feet of space with term through July 2036 and two 5-year options to renew thereafter; Hyattsville, Maryland for 56,244 square feet of space with term through October 2031 and one option to renew for an additional 5 years; and Mississauga, Ontario for 59,676 square feet of space with term into 2037 and two 5-year options to renew thereafter.

 

158


Table of Contents

Insurance

We maintain third-party insurance for a number of risk management activities including workers’ compensation, general liability, property, automobile, cargo and warehouse, cybersecurity, directors and officers and fiduciary insurance. We evaluate our insurance programs on an ongoing basis to ensure we maintain adequate levels of coverage.

Government regulation

We are subject to labor and employment laws, COVID-19-related mandates, laws related to the collection of sales taxes and other tax matters, laws governing advertising and marketing including via text messaging and email and operation of customer loyalty programs, privacy laws, local fire codes, safety regulations, consumer product safety regulations, and other laws including consumer protection regulations that regulate retailers and/or govern the promotion and sale of merchandise and the operation of stores and warehouse facilities, certain secondhand dealer ordinances, regulations related to clothing donation bins, environmental and waste regulations and laws, laws related to commercial and professional fundraiser registration and disclosure, regulations regarding telephone and mail solicitations, laws governing international trade and customs, laws governing weights and measures and laws related to transportation and trucking.

We sell certain portions of the secondhand goods that do not sell at our retail locations overseas and source a minimal amount of new goods from overseas markets. The U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (“FCPA”) and other similar anti-bribery and anti-kickback laws and regulations generally prohibit companies and their intermediaries from making improper payments to non-U.S. officials for the purpose of obtaining or retaining business. The U.S. Department of the Treasury Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) is responsible for economic sanctions on countries, designated individuals, and entities (businesses, charities, institutions) named on its list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons. This list includes roughly 10,000 companies, organizations, and individuals around the world with whom the vast majority of dealings with U.S. persons (including companies and companies outside the United States owned by U.S. persons) are prohibited. Our policies and our vendor compliance agreements mandate compliance with applicable law, including these laws and regulations.

We monitor changes in the laws and regulations affecting the company and believe that we are in material compliance with applicable laws.

Legal Matters

We are subject to various proceedings, lawsuits, disputes, and claims arising in the ordinary course of our business. Many of these actions raise complex factual and legal issues and are subject to uncertainties.

Actions filed against us from time to time include commercial, intellectual property, regulatory, consumer protection, and employment actions, including class action lawsuits. Actions are in various procedural stages, and some are covered in part by insurance. We cannot predict with assurance the outcome of actions brought against us. Accordingly, adverse developments, settlements, or resolutions may occur and negatively impact income in the quarter of such development, settlement, or resolution.

If a potential loss arising from these lawsuits, claims and pending actions is probable and reasonably estimable, we record the estimated liability based on circumstances and assumptions existing at the time. Although the outcome of these and other claims cannot be predicted with certainty, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution of these matters will have a material adverse effect on our financial condition or results of operations.

 

159


Table of Contents

MANAGEMENT

Directors and Executive Officers

The following table sets forth certain information with respect to our directors and executive officers as of the date of this prospectus:

 

Name

   Age   

Position(s)

Non-Employee Directors:      
Scott Graves    50    Chairman of our Board of Directors, Compensation Committee Chair
Aaron Rosen    40    Director
Robyn Collver    57    Director
William T. Allen    65    Director
Duane C. Woods    70    Director
Aina E. Konold    52    Director
Kristy Pipes    62    Director
Executive Officers:      
Mark Walsh    60    Chief Executive Officer, President and Director
Scott Estes    45    Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer
Jubran Tanious    45    Chief Operating Officer
Richard Medway    54    General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Secretary
Mindy Geisser    53    Chief People Services Officer
Carl Paschke    63    Chief Information Officer

Non-employee directors

Scott Graves, a director since April 2021, is the Chairman of our board of directors, a position he has held since April 2021. Mr. Graves is a Partner in and Co-Head of the Ares Private Equity Group and is Head of Special Opportunities. He serves on the Ares Executive Management Committee, the Ares Business Advisory Group, and the Ares Private Equity Group’s Corporate Opportunities and Special Opportunities Investment Committees. Prior to joining Ares in this role in January 2017, Mr. Graves spent over 15 years in various capacities as a senior executive and investment professional for Oaktree Capital Management, L.P. From 2013 through December 2016, Mr. Graves served as Oaktree’s Head of Credit Strategies and Portfolio Manager of Multi-Strategy Credit. He was responsible for a substantial portion of Oaktree’s credit platform, managed investment portfolios spanning the breadth of Oaktree’s credit strategies and was active in Oaktree corporate management, serving on the Capital and Risk Management Board, the Senior Leadership Counsel, the Product Governance Board and the Project Steering Committee. From 2001 through 2013, Mr. Graves was an investment professional in Oaktree’s Distressed Opportunities, Value Opportunities and Strategic Credit strategies, where he served as a Co-Portfolio Manager. From 2010 to 2015, Mr. Graves also managed Oaktree’s corporate and strategic development group, leading the firm’s product step-outs into emerging market credit, strategic credit, value equities, infrastructure, the enhanced income strategies, structured credit and senior secured lending. Prior to joining Oaktree, Mr. Graves served as a Principal in William E. Simon & Sons’ private equity group and as an Analyst at Merrill Lynch & Company in the mergers and acquisitions group. Additionally, Mr. Graves worked at Price Waterhouse LLP in the audit business services division. Mr. Graves has served as a director of Infrastructure and Energy Alternatives, Inc. and McLaren Group Limited since August 2021, Vmo Aircraft Leasing GP, LLC since January 2021 and Cincinnati Bell, Inc. since September 2021. Mr. Graves received a B.A. from the University of California, Los Angeles, in History, and an M.B.A. from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, where he currently serves on the Wharton School Graduate Executive Board. He is a Certified Public Accountant (inactive).

 

160


Table of Contents

Aaron Rosen, a director since April 2019, is a Partner and Co-Portfolio Manager of Special Opportunities in the Ares Private Equity Group, where he focuses on investing in the public and private markets. Mr. Rosen serves as a member of the Ares Private Equity Group’s Special Opportunities Investment Committee. Prior to joining Ares in December 2017, Mr. Rosen had been a Partner and Director of Research at Archview Investment Group LP where he was employed since February 2009. Prior to Archview, Mr. Rosen was a Vice President at Citigroup Inc., where he was a founding member of its Global Special Situations Group focused on U.S. opportunistic credit and equity investment strategies. Mr. Rosen was previously a member of Citigroup’s Asset-Based Finance group, where he focused on structuring senior secured debt financing for non-investment grade corporate borrowers. Since August 2019, Mr. Rosen has also served as a director of certain affiliates of Tru Kids Inc., an intellectual property licensing company for a portfolio of children’s brands, and previously served on the board of directors of the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York from 2012 to June 2018. Mr. Rosen holds a B.S., summa cum laude, from New York University’s Stern School of Business in Finance and Information Systems, where he received the Valedictorian Award.

Robyn Collver, a director since May 2019, is currently Senior Vice President, Regulatory and Chief Sustainability Officer at Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (CTC), a family of businesses that includes a Retail segment, a Financial Services division and CT REIT. Previously, she was SVP, Risk and Regulatory Affairs at CTC, having been appointed to that position in March 2015 after serving as Secretary and General Counsel since January 2009. She joined CTC in 2002; prior thereto she was a partner in the corporate and securities group at Cassels, Brock & Blackwell LLP, a Toronto, Canada law firm. Ms. Collver is involved in producer responsibility organizations in Canada; she currently serves as a director at both MMBC Recycling Inc. (Recycle BC) and Multi-Material Stewardship Western Inc., where she is the Chair of the respective Governance Committees. Ms. Collver was Chair of the Board of Stewardship Ontario from 2019-21, Chair of its Governance Committee from 2018-19 and a director of the organization from 2016-21. She was a director of the Alzheimer Society of Toronto from 2015-20 and Chair of its Governance Committee from 2016-20. She was a director of Automotive Materials Stewardship from 2016-17. Ms. Collver holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Acadia University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Toronto.

William T. Allen, a director since May 2019, has an extensive 30-year background managing businesses and providing leadership to manufacturing operations requiring operational turnarounds, notably as CEO. Amongst industries Mr. Allen has worked in have included nuclear power, oil/petrochemical, automotive, industrial equipment, steel fabrication and plastic injection molding. Mr. Allen served as a director of Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. from December 2018 until its business combination with Clever Leaves Holdings Inc. in December 2020. Mr. Allen was, until December 2017, CEO of Werner Co., Inc., a leading manufacturer of industrial climbing products, from August 2007, and President and Chairman of the Board from March 2009, until its sale to Triton Funds in July 2017. Mr. Allen currently serves as a member of the board of directors of AQuity Solutions (formerly Mmodal Inc.), a leading provider of clinical documentation technology solutions to the healthcare market, and Schultze Special Purpose Acquisition Corp. II. From December 2017 until July 2018, Mr. Allen also served as a board member of Rockport, a leading provider of men’s and women’s footwear, which filed a voluntary petition for reorganization under Chapter 11 in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware and is in the process of being sold through Section 363 of the Bankruptcy Code. He has also held board positions at USI, Arclin, Inc., Constar, Ames Taping Tools, Oriental Trading Company, Hines Nurseries, Inc., Running Aces Harness Park, Wright Line LLC (former CEO), APW Company (former CEO), Chart Industries, Inc. (former CEO) and Millennium Rail, many of which were on behalf of leading alternative investment firms including Ares Management, Black Diamond Capital Management, Oaktree Capital and Crescent Capital Group. In 2012, Mr. Allen received the Pittsburgh Business Times’ Diamond Award as CEO of the Year in the ‘Large for Profit’ category.

 

161


Table of Contents

Duane C. Woods, a director since May 2019, is the Chairman of our board of directors, a position he has held with us or a predecessor entity since January 2017. Mr. Woods also served as Chief Executive Officer of us or a predecessor from 2017 to October 2019, when he led the company through a strategic business transformation and complex refinance. He previously served as Vice Chairman of the Board and CEO of Foundation Bank, a privately held state chartered bank in Bellevue, Washington, from October 2015 to September 2016. Since 2015, Mr. Woods has served as a director of RoadRunner Recycling, Inc., an innovative provider of commercial recycling and waste services, and previously served as a director of Pacific Continental Corporation, a publicly traded bank headquartered in Eugene, Oregon, from November 2016 to November 2017. Mr. Woods has more than 30 years of experience in various executive management and leadership roles and over 18 years of experience as a successful lawyer and general counsel. Mr. Woods has proven experience in leading large and small dynamic organizations to achieve consistent profitable growth, operational excellence, productivity, customer service, capital management and innovation.

Aina E. Konold, a director since June 2021, is the Chief Financial Officer of Nautilus, Inc., a developer and manufacturer of fitness equipment brands including Bowflex®, Schwinn®, JRNY® and Nautilus®, where she leads the Finance, Strategy, Business Development, and IT functions. Ms. Konold has over 25 years of global retail, strategy, financial management, and operational experience, with a strong track record of driving growth and optimizing and scaling operating models. Prior to joining Nautilus, Inc. in December 2019, Ms. Konold held several executive level positions during her 20-year career with The Gap, Inc., across financial planning and analysis, controllership, shared services, real estate strategy, and investor relations. From March 2011 until May 2018, she was the founding CFO for Gap Inc. in China, where she led the business through its hyper growth phase and established a scalable business model in a constantly evolving marketplace, particularly in the areas of digital and e-commerce. Ms. Konold holds a B.A. from Stanford University and began her career at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Kristy Pipes, a director since July 2021, until April 2019 served as Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of Deloitte Consulting, a management consultancy firm with operations in the United States, India, Germany, and Mexico, where she managed the finance function. Ms. Pipes held various leadership positions, including serving on the firm’s Management Committee and Consulting Operations Committee. Prior to joining Deloitte in 1999, Ms. Pipes was Vice President and Manager, Finance Division, at Transamerica Life Companies and Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff for the President and Chief Executive Officer (among other senior management positions) at First Interstate Bank of California. Ms. Pipes has also served as a director of PS Business Parks, Inc. since October 2020 and ExlService Holdings, Inc. since January 2021, and on the board of trustees of Public Storage since October 2020.

Executive Officers

Mark Walsh is currently serving as our Chief Executive Officer and President, a role he has held since October 2019. He also serves as a director on the board of directors, a position he has held since December 2020. After beginning his career at Deloitte Consulting and Pepsico, Mr. Walsh amassed nearly two decades of successful leadership for a wide range of top brands in apparel retailing including J. Crew, Juicy Couture, Prana, Ellen Tracy and Laundry. Prior to joining us, Mr. Walsh served as CEO of Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports from 2008 to 2013, prior to returning to the role again from 2015 to May 2017, when the company was renamed Vestis Retail Group. During this period, Mr. Walsh optimized brand and organizational value and retained approximately 400 jobs throughout all stores, as well as managed a Section 363 sale to Versa Capital and subsequent sale to UK-based Sports Direct through a debtor in possession process. Due to these actions, both the Bob’s Stores and Eastern Mountain Sports brands are currently operating today under the Sports Direct corporate umbrella. Mr. Walsh also served as operating Chairman of Polartec

 

162


Table of Contents

from 2012 to 2014. From May 2017 to October 2019, Mr. Walsh pursued personal interests and was an independent consultant focused on special situations and interim turnaround CEO services. Mr. Walsh holds a B.A. from Brown University and an M.B.A. from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Mr. Walsh currently serves as a director of Savers Australia Pty Ltd.

Scott Estes is currently serving as our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and joined us in 2015. Prior to becoming our CFO in February 2021, Mr. Estes held the roles of Senior Vice President of Finance from October 2020 to February 2021, Vice President of Finance from November 2018 to October 2020, Director of Finance, FP&A and Treasury from July 2016 to November 2018 and Director of Finance, Australia and Canada, Retail from July 2015 to July 2016. Mr. Estes has over 20 years of finance experience, including leadership positions at Microsoft Corporation and PACCAR Inc., making him uniquely qualified to guide our day-to-day financial operations while establishing strategic long-range plans. Mr. Estes has been instrumental in managing our capital structure and developing a robust customer analytics function. Mr. Estes received his B.A. and M.B.A. from the University of Washington.

Jubran Tanious is currently serving as our Chief Operating Officer and joined us in 2011. In his role he oversees all of Store, Supply, and Real Estate Operations. Mr. Tanious has nearly two decades of leadership and general management experience across a variety of operating companies. Prior to assuming the role of COO in November 2019, he served as our Vice President of Supply from January 2017 to October 2019 and was instrumental in transforming the Company’s supply strategy and organization. Prior to that he served as Director of Supply and Regional Director of stores. Prior to Savers, Mr. Tanious served as Director of Business Risk Management for UnitedHealth Group and as Product Marketer for the 3M Company. Early in his career he worked in an Operations Management and Engineering role for the Valspar Corporation. Mr. Tanious holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University and a Masters of Business Administration from Harvard Business School. Mr. Tanious currently serves as a director of Savers Australia Pty Ltd.

Richard Medway is currently serving as our General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer and joined us in 2015. In November 2019, he was appointed corporate Secretary. Mr. Medway ensures our compliance with laws and regulations in each of the communities in which we operate, and assists in risk management and government relations as we grow our business and build our partnerships. Additionally, he oversees an in-house legal and risk team which oversees workplace safety, insurance and loss prevention issues. Previously, Mr. Medway served as Vice President, Deputy General Counsel for Nintendo of America and was a partner at Powell Goldstein LLP. Mr. Medway received his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and holds a Juris Doctor from the Catholic University of America.

Mindy Geisser has served as our Chief People Services Officer since October 2015. Ms. Geisser oversees our benefits, compensation, HR systems, recruitment, training, team member relations, and employee engagement and retention efforts. She also champions our ongoing priority around diversity and inclusion and ensuring a respectful workplace. Ms. Geisser has over three decades of HR generalist and leadership experience for companies including Colliers International, where she was the Chief Human Resources Officer, as well as Slalom Consulting, Amazon.com Inc, and Philips Medical Systems, among others. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and her Master of Arts in Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota.

Carl Paschke has served as our Chief Information Officer since May 2015. Mr. Paschke is passionate about our purpose and dedicated to a digital transformation that will help us realize our vision and meet any new challenges as they emerge. Previously, Mr. Paschke spent 23 years leading teams at Microsoft Corporation in information technology, Xbox and worldwide operations.

 

163


Table of Contents

Composition and Risk Management Practices

Board Composition

After the completion of this offering, the authorized number of directors comprising our board of directors will be not less than                but not more than                , with the actual number to be fixed from time to time by resolution of our board of directors, subject to the terms of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws that will be in effect upon the completion of this offering and the Stockholders Agreement. Our certificate of incorporation, which will be in effect upon the completion of this offering, provides for a board of directors comprised of three classes of directors, with each class serving a three-year term beginning and ending in different years than those of the other two classes. Only one class of directors will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. Our board of directors will be divided among the three classes as follows:

 

   

Our class I directors will be                 , and                  and their term will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2022.

 

   

Our class II directors will be                 , and                  and their term will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2023.

 

   

Our class III directors will be                  ,                 ,                  and                  and their term will expire at the annual meeting of stockholders to be held in 2024.

Any additional directorships resulting from an increase in the number of directors will be distributed among the three classes so that, as nearly as possible, each class will consist of one-third of the directors. This classification of our board of directors could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, control of us.

Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, the Ares Funds will be entitled to designate individuals to be included in the slate of nominees for election to our board of directors as follows:

 

   

for so long as the Ares Funds own 50% or more of the outstanding shares of our common stock, the greater of up to                  directors and the number of directors comprising a majority of our board; and

 

   

except as provided below, for so long as the Ares Funds own less than 50% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, that number of directors (rounded up to the nearest whole number or, if such rounding would cause the Ares Funds to have the right to elect a majority of our board of directors, rounded to the nearest whole number) that is the same percentage of the total number of directors comprising our board as the collective percentage of common stock owned by the Ares Funds.

Controlled company exemption

Upon the completion of this offering, we will be deemed to be a “controlled company” under the                  rules, and we will qualify for the “controlled company” exemption to the board of directors and committee composition requirements under the NYSE rules. Pursuant to this exception, we will be exempt from the requirements that (1) our board of directors be comprised of a majority of independent directors, (2) we have a nominating, corporate governance and sustainability committee composed entirely of independent directors and (3) our compensation committee be comprised solely of independent directors. The “controlled company” exemption does not modify the independence requirements for the audit committee, and we intend to comply with the requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the NYSE rules, which require that our audit committee be composed of at least three

 

164


Table of Contents

directors, one of whom must be independent upon the listing of our common stock on the NYSE, a majority of whom must be independent within 90 days of the date of this prospectus and each of whom must be independent within one year from the date of this prospectus. We intend to utilize these exemptions as long as we remain a controlled company. As a result, we will not have a majority of independent directors and our nominating, corporate governance and sustainability committee and compensation committee will not consist entirely of independent directors. Accordingly, you may not have the same protections afforded to stockholders of companies that are subject to all of the corporate governance requirements of the NYSE.

If at any time we cease to be a “controlled company” under the NYSE rules, the board of directors will take all action necessary to comply with such rules within the applicable transition periods, including appointing a majority of independent directors to the board and establishing certain committees composed entirely of independent directors.

Board leadership

Our board of directors has no policy with respect to the separation of the offices of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. It is our board of directors’ view that rather than having a rigid policy, our board of directors should determine, as and when appropriate upon consideration of all relevant factors and circumstances, whether the two offices should be separate.

Currently, our leadership structure separates the offices of Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, with Mr. Walsh serving as our Chief Executive Officer and Mr. Graves serving as non-executive Chairman of the Board. We believe this is appropriate as it provides Mr. Walsh with the ability to focus on our day-to-day operations while Mr. Graves focuses on the oversight of our board of directors.

Board’s role in risk management

Management is responsible for the day-to-day management of the risks facing our company, while our board of directors, as a whole and through its committees, has responsibility for the oversight of risk management. Our board of directors regularly reviews information regarding our credit, liquidity and operations, as well as the risks associated therewith. Effective upon the consummation of this offering, our compensation committee will be responsible for overseeing the management of risks relating to our executive compensation plans and arrangements. Effective upon consummation of this offering, our audit committee will oversee management of financial and cybersecurity risks. While each committee will be responsible for evaluating certain risks and overseeing the management of such risks, our full board of directors plans to keep itself regularly informed regarding such risks through committee reports and otherwise. We believe that the leadership structure of our board of directors provides appropriate risk oversight of our activities given the controlling interests held by the Ares Funds.

Director independence

Pursuant to the corporate governance standards of the NYSE, a director employed by us cannot be deemed an “independent director,” and each other director will qualify as “independent” only if our board of directors affirmatively determines that he has no material relationship with us, either directly or as a partner, stockholder or officer of an organization that has a relationship with us. The fact that a director may own our capital stock is not, by itself, considered a material relationship. Based on information provided by each director concerning his or her background, employment and affiliations, our board of directors has affirmatively determined that each of                and                  are independent in accordance with the NYSE rules.

 

165


Table of Contents

Board Committees

Upon the completion of this offering, our board of directors will have three standing committees: an audit committee, a compensation committee and a nominating, corporate governance and sustainability committee, each of which has the composition and responsibilities described below. From time to time, our board of directors may establish other committees to facilitate the management of our business.

Audit Committee

Upon the completion of this offering, the audit committee will consist of five directors: Aaron Rosen, Robyn Collver, Aina Konold,                  and                 . Our board of directors has determined that Robyn Collver and Aina Konold each satisfy the independence requirements for audit committee members under the listing standards of the NYSE and Rule 10A-3 of the Exchange Act. Ms. Konold has been determined to be an audit committee “financial expert” as defined under SEC rules. All members of the audit committee are able to read and understand fundamental financial statements, are familiar with finance and accounting practices and principles and are financially literate.

The purpose of the audit committee is to assist our board of directors in overseeing (1) the integrity of our financial statements, (2) our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, including global data privacy and security laws applicable to the data we receive, (3) our independent auditors’ qualifications and independence, (4) the performance of the independent auditors and our internal audit function and (5) our capabilities, policies and controls, and methods for identifying, assessing and mitigating information and cybersecurity risks. The audit committee also prepares the audit committee report as required by the SEC for inclusion in our annual proxy statement.

Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for the audit committee which will take effect upon the completion of this offering and which satisfies the applicable rules of the SEC and the listing standards of the NYSE This charter will be posted on our website upon the completion of this offering.

Compensation Committee

Upon the completion of this offering, the compensation committee will consist of four directors: Duane Woods, Aaron Rosen, William Allen and Scott Graves. We intend to avail ourselves of the “controlled company” exemption under the NYSE rules which exempts us from the requirement that we have a compensation committee composed entirely of independent directors.

The purpose of the compensation committee is to assist our board of directors in discharging its responsibilities relating to (1) setting our compensation program and compensation of our executive officers and directors, (2) monitoring our incentive and equity-based compensation plans and (3) preparing the compensation committee report required to be included in our proxy statement under the rules and regulations of the SEC.

Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for the compensation committee which will take effect upon the completion of this offering and which satisfies the applicable rules of the SEC and the listing standards of the NYSE. This charter will be posted on our website upon the completion of this offering.

Nominating, Corporate Governance and Sustainability Committee

The nominating, corporate governance and sustainability committee consists of              directors:                 and                 . We intend to avail ourselves of the “controlled company” exemption under the NYSE rules which exempts us from the requirement that we have a nominating, corporate governance and sustainability committee composed entirely of independent directors.

 

166


Table of Contents

The purpose of the nominating, corporate governance and sustainability committee is to assist our board of directors in discharging its responsibilities relating to (1) identifying individuals qualified to become new board of directors members, consistent with criteria approved by the board of directors, subject to our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the Stockholders Agreement, (2) reviewing the qualifications of incumbent directors to determine whether to recommend them for reelection and selecting, or recommending that the board of directors select, the director nominees for the next annual meeting of stockholders, (3) identifying board of directors members qualified to fill vacancies on the board of directors or any board of directors committee and recommending that the board of directors appoint the identified member or members to the board of directors or the applicable committee, subject to our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the Stockholders Agreement, (4) reviewing and recommending to the board of directors corporate governance principles applicable to us, (5) overseeing the evaluation of the board of directors and management, (6) oversee our strategy on corporate social responsibility and sustainability and (7) handling such other matters that are specifically delegated to the committee by the board of directors from time to time.

Our board of directors has adopted a written charter for the nominating, corporate governance and sustainability committee which will take effect upon the completion of this offering and which satisfies the applicable rules of the SEC and the listing standards of the NYSE. This charter will be posted on our website upon the completion of this offering.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

None of our executive officers currently serves, or in the past year has served, as a member of the board of directors or compensation committee of any entity that has one or more executive officers serving on our board of directors or compensation committee. None of the members of the compensation committee is, nor has ever been, an officer or employee of our company.

Code of Ethics

Prior to the consummation of this offering, we intend to adopt a code of business conduct and ethics that applies to all our employees, officers, and directors, including those officers responsible for financial reporting. Upon the closing of this offering our code of business conduct and ethics will be available our website. We intend to disclose any amendments to the code, or any waivers of its requirements, on our website or in public filings.

 

167


Table of Contents

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Summary Compensation Table

The following table provides compensation information for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 for our principal executive officer and our two other most highly compensated executive officers. We refer to these executive officers as the named executive officers.

 

Name and Principal
Position

  Year     Salary
($)(1)
    Bonus
($)(2)
    Option
Awards
($)(3)
    Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
    Non-Qualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)(4)
    All Other
Compensation
($)(5)
    Total ($)  

Mark Walsh
Chief Executive Officer

    2020       774,634       698,750       2,049,971       —         —         206,611       3,729,966  

Rich Medway
General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer

    2020       446,513       305,170       248,200       —         —         9,960       1,009,843  

Jubran Tanious
Chief Operating Officer

    2020       393,941       280,313       149,600       —         —         6,710       830,564  

 

(1)

Reflects a temporary salary reduction during a portion of fiscal 2020.

(2)

These bonus amounts are described under “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table” below.

(3)

The amounts in this column reflect the aggregate grant date fair value of time-vesting and performance-vesting stock options granted during the fiscal year, computed in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 718 issued by the Financial Accounting Standards Board, or FASB ASC 718. For a description of the assumptions used to determine the grant date fair value of these awards, see Note 14 to our consolidated financial statements for the year ended January 2, 2021 included elsewhere in this prospectus. The grant date fair value for the performance-vesting options assumes full attainment of the performance conditions.

(4)

No above-market or preferential interest rate options are available under our deferred compensation plan. See “Narrative Disclosure to Summary Compensation Table” below for a description of the plan.

(5)

The amounts shown in this column for the year ended January 2, 2021 include the following: (i) for Mr. Walsh, $125,065 in relocation expenses, such as temporary housing, home sale expenses and costs of moving household goods, and $81,446 in tax reimbursement payments for the taxable income recognized on the relocation expenses; (ii) for Mr. Medway and Mr. Tanious, matching contributions to our 401(k) plan of $9,860 and $6,610, respectively; and (iii) a charitable contribution benefit of $100 for each named executive officer.

Narrative disclosure to summary compensation table

Employment arrangements. As further described under “Additional Narrative Disclosure” below, we have entered into an employment agreement with each of our named executive officers.

Cash bonus. A portion of each named executive officer’s total target compensation opportunity is in the form of an annual incentive bonus under our Store Support Center (SSC) Bonus Plan. Each executive has a target bonus (as a percentage of base salary) under the SSC Bonus Plan. The target amounts are 100% of base salary for Mr. Walsh and 75% of base salary for each other named executive officer. For fiscal 2020, in lieu of paying bonuses based on financial metrics, we paid discretionary annual bonuses to each named executive officer under the SSC Bonus Plan in an

 

168


Table of Contents

amount equal to 75 % of target, resulting in payments of $618,750, $260,170 and $239,063 to each of Mr. Walsh, Mr. Medway and Mr. Tanious, respectively. This amount was determined as appropriate in recognition of our business performance before the pandemic and after the reopening of our stores and the efforts of our management team to manage our business during fiscal 2020, particularly their work mitigating the impact of the pandemic and managing the store closures. In addition to this annual bonus, in recognition of the successful reopening of our stores, we awarded a special cash bonus in fiscal 2020 to each named executive officer to make up for the temporary salary reductions during our store closures at the beginning of the pandemic, resulting in payments of $80,000, $45,000 and $41,250 to each of Mr. Walsh, Mr. Medway and Mr. Tanious, respectively.

Health and welfare benefits. The named executive officers are eligible to participate in our health and welfare benefit plans, including medical benefits and life insurance, on the same basis as other salaried employees.

401(k) retirement plan. We maintain a tax-qualified defined contribution plan, or a 401(k) plan, in which all employees may make contributions from eligible compensation, subject to Internal Revenue Code limits. We may make matching contributions, subject to Internal Revenue Code limits. The named executive officers are eligible to participate in the 401(k) plan on the same terms as other participating U.S. employees.

Deferred compensation plan. We provide a non-qualified deferred compensation plan to the named executive officers and other employees. Participants may elect to defer all or a portion of their eligible salary and bonus until a specified date. Executive officers who defer salary or bonus under this plan are credited with market-based returns depending upon the investment choices made by the executive. The investment options under the plan, which are similar to those provided under our qualified 401(k) plan, include a number of mutual funds with varying risk and return profiles. In addition, under our deferred compensation plan, we may provide matching contributions, with combined matching under the 401(k) plan and deferred compensation plan not to exceed the annual limits defined under the 401(k) plan.

Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-end

The following table shows all outstanding equity awards held by each of the named executive officers as of January 2, 2021, which consisted entirely of stock options.

 

     Option Awards  

Name and Principal Position

   Grant Date      Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Exercisable
     Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options (#)
Unexercisable
(1)
     Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Unearned
Options
(#)(2)
     Option
Exercise
Price ($)
     Option
Expiration
Date
 

Mark Walsh

     10/7/2019        254,827        1,019,308        1,911,202        1.00        10/7/2029  
     12/9/2020        —          1,205,865        1,808,798        2.25        12/9/2030  

Rich Medway

     6/12/2019        71,352        285,406        535,136        1.00        6/12/2029  
     12/9/2020        —          146,000        219,000        2.25        12/9/2030  

Jubran Tanious

     6/12/2019        50,965        203,862        382,240        1.00        6/12/2029  
     11/1/2019        69,035        276,138        517,760        1.00        11/1/2029  
     12/9/2020        —          88,000        132,000        2.25        12/9/2030  

 

169


Table of Contents

 

(1)

The amounts in this column represent unvested time-vesting stock options. These stock options vest in equal installments on each of the first, second, third, fourth and fifth anniversaries of the grant date, subject to continued employment through the applicable vesting date.

(2)

The amounts in this column represent unvested and unearned performance-vesting stock options. These stock options are eligible to become vested upon the achievement of the performance conditions described under “Additional Narrative Disclosure—Equity Compensation” below.

Additional Narrative Disclosure

Employment agreements

We have entered into an employment agreement with each of our named executive officers pursuant to which each executive agrees to work for us. The term of each agreement lasts until the executive’s employment is terminated by either party at any time. Mr. Walsh’s employment agreement was entered into in connection with the commencement of his employment in October 2019. His agreement provided an initial base salary (which has been increased to $900,000) and a target annual bonus of 100% of base salary. His agreement provided for relocation expenses for his move to our headquarters in Washington. The employment agreements with Mr. Medway and Mr. Tanious provide for continued payments of base salary, annual cash bonus eligibility (with a target bonus of 75% of salary) and welfare and retirement benefits provided to other employees.

Pursuant to each named executive officer’s employment agreement, upon the executive’s involuntary termination without cause or resignation for good reason (as defined below), and subject to signing a release and complying with the restrictive covenants, the executive will be entitled to receive the following:

 

   

12 months of continued base salary,

 

   

12 months of payment of healthcare premiums under COBRA, and

 

   

outplacement services in an amount up to $10,000 (or $15,000 for Mr. Walsh).

For purposes of each employment agreement, “good reason” is defined as one of the following occurring without the executive’s consent: (i) material diminution of authority, duties or responsibilities; (ii) a change of principal employment location by more than 50 miles; (iii) material diminution in base salary; or (iv) material breach by the company of the employment agreement. In addition, each of the employment agreements provides for a Section 280G “better-of provision” such that payments or benefits that each individual receives in connection with a change in control will be reduced to the extent necessary to avoid the imposition of any excise tax under Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code if a reduction would result in greater after-tax payment amount for the individual.

Restrictive Covenants. Each named executive officer’s employment agreement subjects the executive to a non-competition covenant for up to 18 months following termination of employment. Each named executive officer is also subject to confidentiality and proprietary information covenants, non-disparagement covenants and two-year post-termination non-solicit covenants.

Equity compensation

We have granted equity compensation to the named executive officers prior to this offering in the form of stock options under our 2019 Management Incentive Plan. In general, 40% of each stock option grant was time-vesting and 60% was performance-vesting.

 

   

The time-vesting portion of the stock options generally vest in equal annual installments over five years, subject to continued employment through each vesting date.

 

170


Table of Contents
   

The performance-vesting portion of the stock options become vested to the extent our private equity investors receive a specified multiple of invested capital (or MOIC) before the tenth anniversary of the option grant date, subject to the executive’s continued employment through the applicable measurement date. MOIC is a ratio comparing cash proceeds to aggregate investment. The portion of the entire stock option that would become vested is as follows: 20% (that is, one-third of the performance-vesting portion) if MOIC equals or exceeds 2.00; an additional 20% if MOIC equals or exceeds 3.00; and an additional 20% if MOIC equals or exceeds 4.00.

The stock option agreements for stock options granted prior to this offering provide that, if a holder’s employment is terminated without cause, or due to death or disability, then a pro-rated portion of the time-vesting stock option will become vested. In the event of a change in control (which, for the avoidance of doubt, would not include our initial public offering), the time-vesting stock options will become fully vested, and the performance-vesting options will become vested to the extent the MOIC returns described above are met in connection with the change in control.

2021 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan

Our board of directors expects to adopt, and we expect our stockholders to approve, our 2021 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Omnibus Incentive Plan”) to become effective in connection with the consummation of this offering. Following the adoption of the Omnibus Incentive Plan, we do not expect to issue additional awards under the 2019 Management Incentive Plan, as amended (the “Prior Plan”). This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Omnibus Incentive Plan that is ultimately adopted by our board of directors.

Administration. We expect that the board of directors will authorize the compensation committee of our board of directors to administer the Omnibus Incentive Plan. The compensation committee, or its delegate, will have the authority to determine the type, size terms and conditions of any awards and the terms of the underlying agreements evidencing any awards granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan and to adopt, alter and repeal rules, guidelines and practices relating to the Omnibus Incentive Plan. The compensation committee will have full discretion to administer and interpret the Omnibus Incentive Plan and to adopt such rules, regulations and procedures as it deems necessary or advisable and to determine, among other things, the time or times at which the awards may vest and be exercised.

Eligibility. Any current or prospective employees, directors, officers, consultants or advisors of the Company or its affiliates who are selected by the compensation committee will be eligible for awards under the Omnibus Incentive Plan. The compensation committee will have the sole and complete authority to determine who will be granted an award under the Omnibus Incentive Plan.

Number of Shares Authorized. Pursuant to the Omnibus Incentive Plan, the aggregate number of shares of Company Stock that may be issued or transferred under the Omnibus Incentive Plan shall be equal to the sum of the following: (i)                shares of common stock, plus (ii) shares of common stock underlying any award under the Prior Plan that expires, terminates, or is canceled for any reason without having been exercised in full and that due to such expiration, termination, or cancellation would otherwise be made available again for issuance under the Prior Plan. The aggregate number of shares of common stock that may be issued or transferred under the Omnibus Incentive Plan pursuant to incentive stock options (as described below) shall not exceed                shares of common stock. The maximum grant date fair value of cash and equity awards that may be awarded to a non-employee director under the Omnibus Incentive Plan during any one calendar year, taken together with any cash fees earned by such non-employee director for services rendered as a member of the Board during the calendar year, will be $                , provided that a majority of the independent non-employee directors

 

171


Table of Contents

may provide for an exception to this limitation in the case of a non-executive chair of the Board. If any award granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan expires, terminates, or is canceled or forfeited without being settled, vested or exercised, shares of our common stock subject to such award will again be made available for future grants. If shares of common stock otherwise issuable under the Omnibus Incentive Plan are surrendered in payment of the exercise price of an option, then the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the Omnibus Incentive Plan shall be reduced only by the net number of shares actually issued by the Company upon such exercise and not by the gross number of shares as to which such option is exercised. Upon the exercise of any SAR under the Omnibus Incentive Plan, the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the Omnibus Incentive Plan shall be reduced by only by the net number of shares actually issued by the Company upon such exercise. If shares of Company stock otherwise issuable under the Omnibus Incentive Plan are withheld by the Company in satisfaction of the withholding taxes incurred in connection with the issuance, vesting or exercise of any grant or the issuance of Company stock thereunder, then the number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the Omnibus Incentive Plan shall be reduced by the net number of shares issued, vested or exercised under such grant, calculated in each instance after payment of such share withholding. To the extent any grants are paid in cash, and not in shares of common stock, any shares previously subject to such grants shall again be available for issuance or transfer under the Omnibus Incentive Plan.

Change in Capitalization. If there is a change in our capitalization in the event of a stock or extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, stock split, reverse stock split, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, split-off, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of our common stock or other relevant change in capitalization or applicable law or circumstances, such that the compensation committee determines that an adjustment to the terms of the Omnibus Incentive Plan (or awards thereunder) is necessary or appropriate, then the compensation committee shall make adjustments in a manner that it deems equitable. Such adjustments may be to the number of shares reserved for issuance under the Omnibus Incentive Plan, the number of shares covered by awards then outstanding under the Omnibus Incentive Plan, the limitations on awards under the Omnibus Incentive Plan, the exercise price of outstanding options, or any applicable performance measures (including, without limitation, performance conditions and performance periods), or such other equitable substitution or adjustments as the compensation committee may determine appropriate.

Awards Available for Grant. The compensation committee may grant awards of non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights (“SARs”), stock awards (including restricted stock), stock units (including restricted stock units), other stock-based awards, other cash-based awards, dividend equivalents or any combination of the foregoing. Awards may be granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan in assumption of, or in substitution for, outstanding awards previously granted by an entity acquired by us or with which we combine, which are referred to herein as “Substitute Awards.” All awards granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan will vest and become exercisable in such manner and on such date or dates or upon such event or events as determined by the compensation committee.

Stock Options. The compensation committee will be authorized to grant options to purchase shares of our common stock that are either “incentive stock options,” meaning they are intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code for incentive stock options, or “non-qualified,” meaning they are not intended to satisfy the requirements of Section 422 of the Code. All options granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan shall be non-qualified unless the applicable award agreement expressly states that the option is intended to be an incentive stock option. Options granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the compensation committee. Under the terms of the Omnibus Incentive Plan, the exercise price of the options will not be less than the fair market value (or 110% of the fair market value in the case of an incentive stock option granted to a 10% stockholder) of our common stock at the time of grant (except

 

172


Table of Contents

with respect to Substitute Awards). Options granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan will be subject to such terms, including the exercise price and the conditions and timing of exercise, as may be determined by the compensation committee and specified in the applicable award agreement. The maximum term of an option granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan will be ten years from the date of grant (or five years in the case of an incentive stock option granted to a 10% stockholder), provided that if the term of a non-qualified option would expire at a time when trading in the shares of our common stock is prohibited by our insider trading policy, the option’s term shall be extended automatically until the 30th day following the expiration of such prohibition (as long as such extension shall not violate Section 409A of the Code) unless otherwise determined by the compensation committee. Payment in respect of the exercise of an option may be made (i) in cash, (ii) unless otherwise determined by the compensation committee, by delivery of shares of our common stock valued at the fair market value at the time the option is exercised, (iii) if there is a public market for the shares of our common stock at such time, by means of a broker-assisted cashless exercise mechanism, (iv) if permitted by the compensation committee, by means of a “net exercise” procedure effected by withholding the minimum number of shares otherwise deliverable in respect of an option that are needed to pay the exercise price or (v) by such other method as the compensation committee may permit in its sole discretion.

Stock Awards. The compensation committee will be authorized to grant stock awards under the Omnibus Incentive Plan, which will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the compensation committee. Stock awards are common stock that is generally non-transferable and is subject to such restrictions determined by the compensation committee for a specified period. The compensation committee may, but shall not be required to, establish conditions under which restrictions on stock awards shall lapse over a period of time or according to such other criteria as the compensation committee deems appropriate, including, without limitation, restrictions based upon the achievement of specific performance goals. Unless the compensation committee determines otherwise, during any restriction period, the participant shall have the right to vote shares of stock awards and to receive any dividends or other distributions paid on such shares. Dividends with respect to stock awards that vest based on performance shall vest if and to the extent that the underlying stock award vests, as determined by the compensation committee.

Stock Unit Awards. The compensation committee will be authorized to grant stock unit awards, which will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the compensation committee. Each stock unit shall represent the right of the participant to receive a share of Company stock or an amount of cash based on the value of a share of Company stock, if and when specified conditions are met. The compensation committee may grant stock units that vest and are payable if specified performance goals or other conditions are met, or under other circumstances. Stock units may be paid at the end of a specified performance period or other period, or payment may be deferred to a date authorized by the compensation committee. The compensation committee may accelerate vesting or payment, as to any or all stock units at any time for any reason, provided such acceleration complies with section 409A of the Code. To the extent provided in an award agreement, the holder of outstanding restricted stock units shall be entitled to be credited with dividend equivalent payments upon the payment by us of dividends on shares of our common stock, either in cash or, at the sole discretion of the compensation committee, in shares of our common stock having a fair market value equal to the amount of such dividends (or a combination of cash and shares), which accumulated dividend equivalents shall be payable at the same time that the underlying restricted stock units are settled.

Stock Appreciation Rights. The compensation committee will be authorized to award SARs under the Omnibus Incentive Plan. SARs will be subject to the terms and conditions established by the compensation committee. A SAR is a contractual right that allows a participant to receive, in the form of either cash, shares or any combination of cash and shares, the appreciation, if any, in the value of a share over a certain period of time. An option granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan may include

 

173


Table of Contents

SARs, and SARs may also be awarded to a participant independent of the grant of an option. SARs granted in connection with an option shall be subject to terms similar to the option corresponding to such SARs, including with respect to vesting and expiration. Except as otherwise provided by the compensation committee (in the case of Substitute Awards or SARs granted in tandem with previously granted options), the strike price per share of our common stock underlying each SAR shall not be less than 100% of the fair market value of such share, determined as of the date of grant and the maximum term of a SAR granted under the Omnibus Incentive Plan will be ten years from the date of grant.

Other Stock-Based Awards. The compensation committee may grant other stock-based awards, which are awards (other than those described above) that are based on or measured by common stock, on such terms and conditions as the compensation committee shall determine. Other stock-based awards may be awarded subject to the achievement of performance goals or other criteria or other conditions and may be payable in cash, common stock or any combination of the foregoing, as the compensation committee shall determine and as set forth in the applicable award agreement.

Cash Awards. The compensation committee may grant cash awards to participants. The compensation committee shall determine the terms and conditions applicable to cash awards, including the criteria for the vesting and payment of cash awards. Cash awards shall be based on such measures as the compensation committee deems appropriate and need not relate to the value of shares of common stock.

Effect of a Change in Control. Unless otherwise provided in an award agreement, or any applicable employment, consulting, change of control, severance or other agreement between us and a participant, in the event of a change in control (as defined in the Omnibus Incentive Plan), if the acquirer or successor company in a change in control has agreed to provide for the substitution, assumption, exchange or other continuation of awards granted pursuant to the Omnibus Incentive Plan, then, unless a participant’s award agreement provides otherwise, if a participant’s employment or service is terminated by us other than for cause (and other than due to death or disability) within the 24-month period following a change of control, all outstanding options and SARs, stock awards, stock unit awards, other stock based awards or cash awards held by such participant will become immediately vested and exercisable as of such participant’s date of termination with respect to all of the shares subject to such award; provided that with respect to any award whose vesting or exercisability is otherwise subject to the achievement of performance conditions in whole or in part, vesting shall be determined under the applicable award agreement. In the event of a change of control, if any outstanding awards are not assumed by, or replaced with grants that have comparable terms by, the surviving corporation (or a parent or subsidiary of the surviving corporation), the compensation committee may (but is not obligated to) make adjustments to the terms and conditions of outstanding awards, including, without limitation, taking any of the following actions (or combination thereof) with respect to any or all outstanding awards, without the consent of any participant: (i) the compensation committee may determine that outstanding stock options and SARs shall automatically accelerate and become fully exercisable and the restrictions and conditions on outstanding stock awards, stock units, other stock-based awards, cash awards, and dividend equivalents shall immediately lapse; (ii) the compensation committee may determine that participants shall receive a payment in settlement of outstanding stock units, other stock-based awards, cash awards, or dividend equivalents, in such amount and form as may be determined by the compensation committee; (iii) the compensation committee may require that participants surrender their outstanding stock options and SARs in exchange for a payment by the Company, in cash or stock as determined by the compensation committee, in an amount equal to the amount, if any, by which the then fair market value of the shares of company stock subject to the participant’s unexercised stock options and SARs exceeds the stock option exercise price or SAR base amount, and (iv) after giving participants an opportunity to exercise all of their outstanding stock options and SARs, the compensation committee may terminate any or all unexercised stock options and SARs at such time as the compensation

 

174


Table of Contents

committee deems appropriate. Such surrender, termination or payment shall take place as of the date of the change of control or such other date as the compensation committee may specify. Without limiting the foregoing, if the per share fair market value of the company stock does not exceed the per share stock option exercise price or SAR base amount, as applicable, the Company shall not be required to make any payment to the participant upon surrender of the stock option or SAR.

Nontransferability. Each award may be exercised during the participant’s lifetime by the participant or, if permissible under applicable law, by the participant’s guardian or legal representative. No award may be assigned, alienated, pledged, attached, sold or otherwise transferred or encumbered by a participant other than by will or by the laws of descent and distribution or, with respect to certain awards, pursuant to a domestic relations order. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the compensation committee may provide that a participant may transfer non-qualified stock options to family members, or one or more trusts or other entities for the benefit of or owned by family members, consistent with the applicable securities laws, according to such terms as the compensation committee may determine, provided that the participant receives no consideration for the transfer of an option and the transferred option shall continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as were applicable to the option immediately before the transfer.

Amendment. The Omnibus Incentive Plan will have a term of ten years, unless the Omnibus Incentive Plan is terminated earlier by the board of directors or is extended by the board of directors with the approval of the stockholders. The board of directors may amend, suspend or terminate the Omnibus Incentive Plan at any time, subject to stockholder approval if necessary to comply with any tax, exchange rules, or other applicable regulatory requirement. Except in connection with a corporate transaction involving the Company (including, without limitation, any stock dividend, distribution (whether in the form of cash, stock, other securities or property), stock split, extraordinary cash dividend, recapitalization, change in control, reorganization, merger, consolidation, split-up, spin-off, combination, repurchase or exchange of shares of stock or other securities, or similar transactions), the Company may not, without obtaining stockholder approval, (i) amend the terms of outstanding stock options or SARs to reduce the exercise price of such outstanding stock options or base amount of such SARs, (ii) cancel outstanding stock options or SARs in exchange for stock options or SARs with an exercise price or base amount, as applicable, that is less than the exercise price or base amount of the original stock options or SARs or (iii) cancel outstanding stock options or SARs with an exercise price or base amount, as applicable, above the current stock price in exchange for cash or other securities.

Clawback/Forfeiture. Awards may be subject to clawback or forfeiture to the extent required by a clawback or recoupment policy adopted by us or by the provisions of the Omnibus Incentive Plan or an award agreement.

 

175


Table of Contents

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

Director Compensation Table

During the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021, the following members of our board of directors received compensation from the company for their service:

 

Name (1)

   Fees Earned
or Paid in
Cash ($)(2)
     Option
Awards ($)(3)
     All Other
Compensation ($)
     Total ($)  

William Allen

     101,280        17,000        —          118,280  

Robyn Collver

     91,253        17,000        —          108,253  

Mary Egan

     93,750        17,000        —          110,750  

Duane Woods

     125,000        52,921        —          177,921  

 

(1)

Mr. Walsh did not receive any additional compensation for his service on the board of directors apart from his compensation as CEO as set forth above in the Summary Compensation Table. Our directors who are associated with Ares did not receive compensation from us for their service on the board of directors. Ms. Egan left the board of directors during fiscal 2021.

(2)

Ms. Collver’s cash compensation was paid in Canadian dollars, but has been reported here in U.S. dollars using an average currency exchange rate during fiscal 2020 of 0.7468.

(3)

The amounts in this column reflect the grant to each director of options to purchase 25,000 shares on December 9, 2020, with a per-share exercise price of $2.25 and, with respect to Mr. Woods, the grant of options to purchase 115,875 shares on January 1, 2020, with a per share exercise price of $1.00. The options granted during fiscal 2020 were 40% time-based and 60% performance-based, with the time-based options vesting annually over five years and the performance-based options vesting on the terms described under “Executive Compensation—Additional Narrative Disclosure—Equity Compensation” above. As of January 2, 2021, the directors held the following number of outstanding stock options: Mr. Allen, 140,875 options; Ms. Collver, 140,875 options; Ms. Egan, 140,875 options; Mr. Woods, 140,875 options.

Post-Offering Director Compensation Program

We are evaluating the specific terms of our director compensation program following this offering, but we anticipate that our non-employee directors will be eligible to receive cash and equity and will be reimbursed for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with their services.

 

176


Table of Contents

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Corporate conversion

We currently operate as a Delaware limited liability company under the name S-Evergreen Holding LLC. In connection with this offering, we will convert from a Delaware limited liability company to a Delaware corporation pursuant to a statutory conversion and change our name to Savers Value Village, Inc. All of our existing members, will receive the number of shares of common stock described in this prospectus as a result of the Corporate Conversion. See “Corporate Conversion” for more information.

Stockholders agreement

In connection with this offering, we intend to enter into a Stockholders Agreement with the Ares Funds. The terms and provisions of the Stockholders Agreement will be summarized in this Registration Statement once finalized.

Registration rights agreement

In connection with this offering, we intend to enter into a registration rights agreement, or the Registration Rights Agreement, with the Ares Funds. Subject to certain conditions, the Registration Rights Agreement will provide the Ares Funds with unlimited “demand” registrations and unlimited “demand” registrations at any time we are eligible to register shares on Form S-3. The Registration Rights Agreement will also provide the Ares Funds with customary “piggyback” registration rights. The Registration Rights Agreement will also provide that we will pay certain expenses of these holders relating to such registrations and indemnify them against certain liabilities which may arise under the Securities Act.

Indemnification of officers and directors

Following completion of this offering, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws will provide that we will indemnify each of our directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. In addition, we have entered, or will enter, into indemnification agreements with each of our directors and executive officers. See “Description of Capital Stock—Limitations of Liability, Indemnification and Advancement” below for more details.

Purchases of products in the ordinary course of business

Certain of our related persons may, either directly or through their respective affiliates, enter into commercial transactions with us from time to time in the ordinary course of business, primarily for the purchase of merchandise. We believe that none of the transactions with such persons is significant enough to be considered material to such persons or to us.

Related persons transaction policy

We have adopted formal written procedures for the review, approval or ratification of transactions with related persons, or the Related Persons Transaction Policy. The Related Persons Transaction Policy provides that the audit committee of our board of directors is charged with reviewing for approval or ratification all transactions with “related persons” (as defined in paragraph (a) of Item 404 of Regulation S-K) that are brought to the audit committee’s attention. This policy was adopted

on                , 2021 and will take effect upon the effectiveness of our certificate of incorporation in

 

177


Table of Contents

connection with this offering, and as a result, certain of the transactions entered into prior to that date were not reviewed under the policy.

We also maintain certain compensation agreements and other arrangements with certain of our executive officers, which are described under “Executive Compensation” elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

178


Table of Contents

PRINCIPAL AND SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

The following table sets forth the beneficial ownership of our common stock (i) as of and (ii) immediately following this offering, as adjusted to reflect the sale of shares of common stock by us, in each case, by the following individuals or groups:

 

   

each of our directors;

 

   

each of our named executive officers;

 

   

all of our directors and executive officers as a group;

 

   

each selling stockholder; and

 

   

each person, or group of affiliated persons, who is known by us to beneficially own more than 5% of our common stock.

The percentage ownership information shown in the table prior to this offering is based upon shares of common stock outstanding as of                 , after giving effect to the Corporate Conversion. The percentage ownership information shown in the table after this offering is based upon                  shares of common stock outstanding as of                 , after giving effect to the sale of shares of common stock by us in this offering and assuming no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares.

We have determined beneficial ownership in accordance with the rules of the SEC. These rules generally attribute beneficial ownership of securities to persons who possess sole or shared voting power or investment power with respect to those securities, or have the right to acquire such powers within 60 days. Under these rules, more than one person may be deemed beneficial owner of the same securities and a person may be deemed to be a beneficial owner of securities as to which such person has no economic interest. In addition, the rules include shares of common stock issuable pursuant to the exercise of stock options or warrants that are either immediately exercisable or exercisable on or before                 , 2021, which is 60 days after                 , 2021. These shares are deemed to be outstanding and beneficially owned by the person holding those options or warrants for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of that person, but they are not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage ownership of any other person. The information contained in the following table is not necessarily indicative of beneficial ownership for any other purpose, and the inclusion of any shares in the table does not constitute an admission of beneficial ownership of those shares. Unless otherwise indicated, the persons or entities identified in this table have sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares shown as beneficially owned by them, subject to applicable community property laws.

 

179


Table of Contents

Except as otherwise noted below, the address for persons listed in the table is c/o Savers Value Village, Inc., 11400 S.E. 6th Street, Suite 125, Bellevue, WA 98004.

 

     Shares Beneficially Owned
Prior to this Offering
     Shares Beneficially Owned
Following this Offering
 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Shares      %      % of Total
Voting
Power
     Shares      %      % of Total
Voting
Power
 

Directors(1):

                 

Scott Graves

                 

Aaron Rosen

                 

Robyn Collver

                 

William Allen

                 

Duane Woods

                 

Aina Konold

                 

Kristy Pipes

                 

Named Executive Officers:

                 

Mark Walsh

                 

Scott Estes

                 

Jubran Tanious

                 

Richard Medway

                 

Mindy Geisser

                 

Carl Paschke

                 

Directors and executive officers as a group

                 

5% or Greater Stockholders:

                 

Funds and accounts managed indirectly by Ares Management LLC (1)

*  Represents beneficial ownership of less than 1%.

                 

 

(1)

Includes shares held by Ares Corporate Opportunities Fund V, L.P. (“ACOF V”), ASSF IV AIV B Holdings III, L.P. (“ASSF IV AIV Holdings”), ASSF IV AIV B, L.P. (“ASSF IV AIV”) and ASOF Holdings I, L.P. (“ASOF Holdings I” and, collectively with ACOF V, ASSF IV AIV Holdings and ASSF IV AIV, the “Ares Holders”). The manager of ACOF V is ACOF Investment Management LLC and the sole member of ACOF Investment Management LLC is Ares Management LLC. The general partner of ASSF IV AIV Holdings is ASSF IV AIV B Holdings III GP LLC (“ASSF IV AIV Holdings GP”) and the sole member of ASSF IV AIV Holdings GP is ASSF IV AIV. The manager of ASSF IV AIV is ASSF Operating Manager IV, L.P. and the general partner of ASSF Operating Manager IV, L.P. is Ares Management LLC. The manager of ASOF Holdings I is ASOF Investment Management LLC and the sole member of ASOF Investment Management LLC is Ares Management LLC. The sole member of Ares Management LLC is Ares Management Holdings L.P. and the general partner of Ares Management Holdings L.P. is Ares Holdco LLC. The sole member of Ares Holdco LLC is Ares Management Corporation. Ares Management Corporation is indirectly controlled by Ares Partners Holdco LLC. We refer to all of the foregoing entities collectively as the Ares Entities. Ares Partners Holdco LLC is managed by a board of managers, which is composed of Michael Arougheti, Ryan Berry, R. Kipp deVeer, David Kaplan, Antony Ressler and Bennett Rosenthal. Mr. Ressler generally has veto authority over decisions by the board of managers of Ares Partners Holdco LLC. Each of the members of the board of managers expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of our shares of common stock owned by the Ares Holders. Each of the Ares Entities (other than the Ares Holders, with respect to the securities owned by them, respectively) and the equity holders, partners, members and managers of the Ares Entities and the executive committee of Ares Partners Holdco LLC expressly disclaims beneficial ownership of these shares. Also includes                  shares held by an account managed by ASSF Operating Manager IV, L.P. with respect to which the Ares Entities may be deemed to have shared voting or dispositive power with the owner of such account. The address of each Ares Entity is 2000 Avenue of the Stars, 12th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90067.

 

180


Table of Contents

DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK

The following descriptions are summaries of our capital stock, certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, as each will be in effect upon the completion of this offering, and certain provisions of Delaware law. The description below reflects the completion of the Corporate Conversion. Please note that these summaries are not intended to be exhaustive. For further information, you should also refer to the full versions of our certificate of incorporation and the bylaws, which are filed as exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.

General

Upon the completion of this offering, our authorized capital stock will consist of                  shares of common stock, par value $0.001 per share and                shares of preferred stock, par value $0.001 per share.

As of                  , 2021 after giving effect to the Corporate Conversion, there were                 shares of our common stock outstanding, held of record by stockholders. No shares of our preferred stock are designated, issued or outstanding.

Common Stock

Voting rights

Each share of our common stock entitles its holder to one vote per share on all matters to be voted upon by the stockholders. There is no cumulative voting, which means that a holder or group of holders of more than 50% of the shares of our common stock can elect all of our directors. For a description of the Stockholders Agreement, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Stockholders Agreement.”

Dividend rights

The holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends when and as declared by our board of directors from legally available sources, subject to the prior rights of the holders of our preferred stock, if any. See “Dividend Policy.”

Preemptive or similar rights

Our common stock is not entitled to preemptive rights. The rights of the holders of our common stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of our preferred stock that our board of directors may designate and issue in the future.

Liquidation rights

Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up, the assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders would be distributable ratably among the holders of our common stock and any participating preferred stock outstanding at that time after payment of liquidation preferences, if any, on any outstanding shares of preferred stock and payment of claims of creditors.

 

181


Table of Contents

Preferred Stock

Our board of directors is authorized to issue up to                 shares of our preferred stock in one or more series, to establish from time to time the number of shares to be included in each series, to fix the designation, powers, preferences and rights of the shares of each series and any qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, in each case without further action by our stockholders. Subject to the terms of any series of preferred stock so designated, our board of directors is also authorized to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series of preferred stock, but not below the number of shares of that series then outstanding. Our board of directors may authorize the issuance of preferred stock with voting or conversion or other rights that could adversely affect the voting power or other rights of the holders of our common stock. The issuance of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in our control and could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and the voting and other rights of the holders of our common stock. We have no current plan to issue any shares of preferred stock in the foreseeable future.

Anti-Takeover Provisions

Below are brief summaries of various anti-takeover provisions contained primarily in our organizational documents. We believe the benefits of these provisions, including increased protection of our potential ability to negotiate with the proponent of an unfriendly or unsolicited proposal to acquire or restructure our company, outweigh the disadvantages of discouraging takeover proposals, because negotiation of takeover proposals could result in an improvement of their terms.

Anti-takeover statute

Our certificate of incorporation provides that we are not governed by Section 203 of the DGCL which, in the absence of such provisions, would have imposed additional requirements regarding mergers and other business combinations.

However, our certificate of incorporation, which will become effective on the consummation of this offering, will include a provision that restricts us from engaging in any business combination with an interested stockholder for three years following the date that person becomes an interested stockholder. These restrictions will not apply to any business combination involving Ares or any affiliate of Ares, including the Ares Funds, or their respective direct and indirect transferees, on the one hand, and us, on the other.

Additionally, we would be able to enter into a business combination with an interested stockholder if:

 

   

before that person became an interested stockholder, our board of directors approved the transaction in which the interested stockholder became an interested stockholder or approved the business combination;

 

   

upon consummation of the transaction that resulted in the interested stockholder becoming an interested stockholder, the interested stockholder owned at least 85% of our voting stock outstanding at the time the transaction commenced, excluding for purposes of determining the voting stock outstanding (but not the outstanding voting stock owned by the interested stockholder) stock held by directors who are also officers of our company and by employee stock plans that do not provide employees with the right to determine confidentially whether shares held under the plan will be tendered in a tender or exchange offer; or

 

182


Table of Contents
   

following the transaction in which that person became an interested stockholder, the business combination is approved by our board of directors and authorized at a meeting of stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of our outstanding voting stock not owned by the interested stockholder.

In general, a “business combination” is defined to include mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in financial benefit to a stockholder and an “interested stockholder” is any person who, together with affiliates and associates, is the owner of 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock or is our affiliate or associate and was the owner of 15% or more of our outstanding voting stock at any time within the three-year period immediately before the date of determination. Under our certificate of incorporation, an “interested stockholder” generally does not include Ares or any affiliate of Ares, including the Ares Funds, or their respective direct and indirect transferees.

This provision of our certificate of incorporation could prohibit or delay mergers or other takeover or change in control attempts and, accordingly, may discourage attempts to acquire us even though such a transaction may offer our stockholders the opportunity to sell their stock at a price above the prevailing market price.

Anti-takeover effects of certain provisions of our certificate of incorporation and bylaws to be in effect upon the completion of this offering

Undesignated preferred stock

As discussed above, subject to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, our board of directors will have the ability to issue preferred stock with voting or other rights or preferences that could impede the success of any attempt to acquire control of us. These and other provisions may have the effect of deterring hostile takeovers or delaying changes in control or management.

Action by written consent; special meetings of stockholders

Our certificate of incorporation will provide that, from and after the Trigger Date, our stockholders may not act by written consent, which may lengthen the amount of time required to take stockholder actions. As a result, following the Trigger Date, a holder controlling a majority of our common stock would not be able to amend our bylaws or remove directors without holding a meeting of our stockholders called in accordance with our bylaws. In addition, our certificate of incorporation will provide that, from and after the Trigger Date, special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the chairperson of our board of directors, our Chief Executive Officer or our board of directors. Following the Trigger Date, stockholders may not call a special meeting of stockholders, which may delay the ability of our stockholders to force consideration of a proposal or for holders controlling a majority of our common stock to take any action, including the removal of directors.

Advance notice procedures

Our bylaws will establish advance notice procedures with respect to stockholder proposals and stockholder nomination of candidates for election as directors. These provisions may have the effect of precluding the conduct of certain business at a meeting if the proper procedures are not followed. These provisions may also discourage or deter a potential acquirer from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect the acquirer’s own slate of directors or otherwise attempting to obtain control of us.

Board classification

Our certificate of incorporation, which will be in effect upon the completion of this offering, provides for a board of directors comprised of three classes of directors, with each class serving a three-year

 

183


Table of Contents

term beginning and ending in different years than those of the other two classes. Only one class of directors will be elected at each annual meeting of our stockholders, with the other classes continuing for the remainder of their respective three-year terms. The classification of our board of directors and the limitations on the ability of our stockholders to remove directors without cause following the Trigger Date could make it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or discourage a third party from seeking to acquire, control of us.

Removal of directors; vacancies

From and after the Trigger Date, directors may only be removed for cause by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. Prior to the Trigger Date, directors may be removed with or without cause by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. Except in the case of a vacancy arising with respect to a director designated by the Ares Funds where they continue to have a right of designation pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, our board of directors has the sole power to fill any vacancy on our board of directors, whether such vacancy occurs as a result of an increase in the number of directors or otherwise.

No cumulative voting

Because our stockholders will not have cumulative voting rights, stockholders holding a majority of the voting power of the common stock outstanding will be able to elect all of our directors. The absence of cumulative voting makes it more difficult for a minority stockholder to nominate and elect a director to our board of directors in order to influence our board of directors’ decision regarding a takeover or otherwise.

Amendment of Charter and Bylaw Provisions

Subject to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, following the Trigger Date, the amendment of certain of the provisions of our certificate of incorporation described in this prospectus will require approval by holders of at least two-thirds of the voting power of our outstanding common stock. Subject to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, our certificate of incorporation will provide that our board of directors may from time to time adopt, amend, alter or repeal our bylaws without stockholder approval. Subject to the terms of the Stockholders Agreement, the stockholders may adopt, amend, alter or repeal our bylaws by the affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of our outstanding common stock (other than certain specified bylaws which, following the Trigger Date, will require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of our outstanding common stock).

In addition, following the completion of this offering, the Stockholders Agreement will provide that, for so long as the Ares Funds own at least 30% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, certain significant corporate actions will require the prior written consent of the Ares Funds, subject to certain exceptions. If the Ares Funds own less than 5% of the outstanding shares of our common stock, such action will not be subject to the approval of the Ares Funds and the shares of common stock owned by the Ares Funds will be excluded in calculating the 30% threshold. See “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Stockholders Agreement.”

The combination of these provisions will make it more difficult for another party to obtain control of us by replacing our board of directors. Because our board of directors has the power to retain and discharge our officers, these provisions could also make it more difficult for another party to effect a change in management.

 

184


Table of Contents

These provisions are intended to enhance the likelihood of continued stability in the composition of our board of directors and its policies and to discourage coercive takeover practices and inadequate takeover bids.

These provisions are also designed to reduce our vulnerability to hostile takeovers and to discourage certain tactics that may be used in proxy fights. However, such provisions could have the effect of discouraging others from making tender offers for our shares and may have the effect of delaying changes in our control or management.

Corporate Opportunity

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will provide that, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the doctrine of “corporate opportunity” will not apply against the Ares Funds, any of our non-employee directors or any of their respective affiliates in a manner that would prohibit them from investing in competing businesses. See “Risk Factors—The continuing control after this offering of our company, including the right to designate individuals to be included in the slate of nominees for election to our board of directors, by the Ares Funds, whose interests may conflict with our interests and those of other stockholders. As such, the Ares Funds may be able to influence or control our affairs and policies following the completion of this offering.”

Choice of Forum

Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation to be in effect upon the closing of this offering will provide that unless we consent to the selection of an alternative forum, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware shall, to the fullest extent permitted by law, be the sole and exclusive forum for any (i) derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of us, (ii) action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any of our directors, officers, employees or stockholders to us or our stockholders, creditors, or other constituents, (iii) action asserting a claim arising out of or relating to any provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law or our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or our amended and restated by-laws (as either may be amended and/or restated from time to time), or (iv) action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors or officers that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine; provided, that, if the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware does not have jurisdiction, such action may be brought in another state court sitting in the State of Delaware, or if no state court of the State of Delaware has jurisdiction, the federal district court for the District of Delaware, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum. Additionally, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation will state that the foregoing provision will not apply to claims arising under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal securities laws for which there is exclusive federal or concurrent federal and state jurisdiction. Unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the federal district courts of the United States of America shall be the exclusive forum for the resolution of any complaint asserting a cause of action arising under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or such other federal securities law. The exclusive forum provisions may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or any of our directors, officers or stockholders, which may discourage lawsuits with respect to such claims. Our stockholders will not be deemed to have waived our compliance with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder as a result of our exclusive forum provisions. See “Risk Factors—Risks relating to this offering and ownership of our common stock—Our certificate of incorporation, which will be in effect upon the completion of this offering, will provide that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware will be the exclusive forum for a wide range of disputes between us and our stockholders, which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or employees.”

 

185


Table of Contents

Limitations of Liability, Indemnification and Advancement

Upon the completion of this offering, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws will provide that we will indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers, and may indemnify and advance expenses to our employees and other agents, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, which prohibits our certificate of incorporation from limiting the liability of our directors for the following:

 

   

any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to us or to our stockholders;

 

   

acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

   

unlawful payment of dividends or unlawful stock repurchases or redemptions; and

 

   

any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

If Delaware law is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal liability of a director, then the liability of our directors will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as so amended. Our certificate of incorporation will not eliminate a director’s duty of care and, in appropriate circumstances, equitable remedies, such as injunctive or other forms of non-monetary relief, remain available under Delaware law. This provision also does not affect a director’s responsibilities under any other laws, such as the federal securities laws or other state or federal laws. Under our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, we will also be empowered to purchase insurance on behalf of any person whom we are required or permitted to indemnify.

In addition to the indemnification and advancement of expenses required in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws, we intend to enter into indemnification agreements with each of our current directors and executive officers. These agreements will provide for the indemnification of, and the advancement of expenses to, such persons for all reasonable expenses and liabilities, including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines and settlement amounts, incurred in connection with any action or proceeding brought against them by reason of the fact that they are or were serving in such capacity. We believe that these charter and bylaw provisions and indemnification agreements are necessary to attract and retain qualified persons as directors and officers. We also maintain directors’ and officers’ liability insurance.

The limitation of liability, indemnification and advancement provisions in our certificate of incorporation and bylaws may discourage stockholders from bringing a lawsuit against directors for breach of their fiduciary duties. They may also reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation against directors and officers, even though an action, if successful, might benefit us and our stockholders. A stockholder’s investment may be harmed to the extent we pay the costs of settlement and damage awards against directors and officers pursuant to these indemnification provisions. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to our directors, officers and controlling persons pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, we have been advised that, in the opinion of the SEC, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act, and is, therefore, unenforceable. There is no pending litigation or proceeding naming any of our directors or officers as to which indemnification is being sought, nor are we aware of any pending or threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification or advancement by any director or officer.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is                 . The transfer agent’s address is                 .

 

186


Table of Contents

Listing

We have applied intend to apply to have our common stock approved for listing on the NYSE under the symbol “SVV.”

 

187


Table of Contents

SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE

Prior to this offering, no public market existed for our capital stock. Future sales of substantial amounts of common stock in the public market, the availability of shares for future sale or the perception that such sales may occur, could adversely affect the market price of our common stock and/or impair our ability to raise equity capital.

Upon the completion of the Corporate Conversion and this offering,                 shares of our common stock will be outstanding, or                shares of common stock if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares from us in full.

All of the shares of common stock sold in this offering will be freely tradable without restrictions or further registration under the Securities Act, except for any shares sold to our “affiliates,” as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or Rule 144. The outstanding shares of our common stock held by existing stockholders are “restricted securities,” as defined in Rule 144. Restricted securities may be sold in the public market only if the offer and sale is registered under the Securities Act or if the offer and sale of those securities qualifies for exemption from registration, including exemptions provided by Rule 144 or Rule 701 under the Securities Act, or Rule 701.

As a result of lock-up agreements described below and the provisions of Rules 144 and 701,                 shares of our common stock will be available for sale in the public market as follows:

 

   

                 shares of our common stock will be eligible for immediate sale upon the completion of this offering; and

 

   

approximately                 shares of common stock, will be eligible for sale upon expiration of lock-up agreements described below, beginning 181 days after the date of this prospectus, subject in certain circumstances to the volume, manner of sale and other limitations under Rules 144 and 701.

We may issue shares of our capital stock from time to time for a variety of corporate purposes, including in capital-raising activities through future public offerings or private placements, in connection with the exercise of stock options and warrants, vesting of RSUs and other issuances relating to our employee benefit plans and as consideration for future acquisitions, investments or other purposes. The number of shares of our capital stock that we may issue may be significant, depending on the events surrounding such issuances. In some cases, the shares we issue may be freely tradable without restriction or further registration under the Securities Act; in other cases, we may grant registration rights covering the shares issued in connection with these issuances, in which case the holders of the shares will have the right, under certain circumstances, to cause us to register any resale of such shares to the public.

Rule 144

In general, persons who have beneficially owned restricted shares of our common stock for at least six months, and any affiliate of ours who owns either restricted or unrestricted shares of our common stock, are entitled to sell their securities without registration with the SEC under an exemption from registration provided by Rule 144.

Non-affiliates

Any person who is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale may sell an unlimited number of restricted securities under Rule 144 if:

 

   

the restricted securities have been held for at least six months, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates;

 

188


Table of Contents
   

we have been subject to the Exchange Act periodic reporting requirements for at least 90 days before the sale; and

 

   

we are current in our Exchange Act reporting at the time of sale.

Any person who is not deemed to have been an affiliate of ours at the time of, or at any time during the three months preceding, a sale and has held the restricted securities for at least one year, including the holding period of any prior owner other than one of our affiliates, will be entitled to sell an unlimited number of restricted securities without regard to the length of time we have been subject to Exchange Act periodic reporting or whether we are current in our Exchange Act reporting.

Affiliates

Persons seeking to sell restricted securities who are our affiliates at the time of, or any time during the three months preceding, a sale would be subject to the restrictions described above. Sales of restricted or unrestricted shares of our common stock by affiliates are also subject to additional restrictions, by which such person would be required to comply with the manner of sale and notice provisions of Rule 144 and would be entitled to sell within any three-month period only that number of securities that does not exceed the greater of either of the following:

 

   

1% of the number of shares of our common stock then outstanding, which will equal approximately shares immediately following the completion of this offering (or shares if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full); or

 

   

the average weekly trading volume of our common stock during the four calendar weeks preceding the filing of a notice on Form 144 with respect to the sale.

Rule 701

In general, under Rule 701, a person who purchased shares of our common stock pursuant to a written compensatory plan or contract and who is not deemed to have been one of our affiliates during the immediately preceding 90 days may sell these shares in reliance upon Rule 144, but without being required to comply with the holding period, notice, manner of sale, public information requirements or volume limitation provisions of Rule 144. Rule 701 also permits affiliates to sell their Rule 701 shares under Rule 144 without complying with the holding period requirements of Rule 144. All holders of Rule 701 shares, however, are required to wait until 90 days after the date of this prospectus before selling such shares pursuant to Rule 701, subject to the expiration of the lock-up agreements described below.

Lock-up Agreements

In connection with this offering, we and our officers, directors and holders of substantially all of our common stock and securities convertible into or exercisable for our common stock, including the Ares Funds and the selling stockholders, have agreed, or will agree, with the underwriters that, until 180 days after the date of this prospectus, we and they will not, without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Jefferies LLC on behalf of the underwriters, offer, sell or transfer any of our shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for our common stock.

The agreements do not contain any pre-established conditions to the waiver by J.P. Morgan Securities LLC. Goldman Sachs & Co. and Jefferies LLC on behalf of the underwriters of any terms of the lock-up agreements. Any determination to release shares subject to the lock-up agreements would be based on a number of factors at the time of determination, including but not necessarily limited to the market price of the common stock, the liquidity of the trading market for the common stock, general market conditions, the number of shares proposed to be sold and the timing, purpose and terms of the proposed sale.

 

189


Table of Contents

In addition to the restrictions contained in the lock-up agreements described above, we have entered into agreements with certain of our security holders, including our stockholders agreement and agreements governing our equity awards, that contain market stand-off provisions imposing restrictions on the ability of such security holders to offer, sell or transfer our equity securities for a period of 180 days following the date of this prospectus.

Registration Rights

Following the completion of this offering, under the Registration Rights Agreement, subject to certain conditions, the Ares Funds will have unlimited “demand” registrations and unlimited demand registrations at any time we are eligible to register shares on Form S-3. The Ares Funds will also have customary “piggy-back” registration rights. The Registration Rights Agreement will also provide that we will pay certain expenses of these holders relating to such registrations and indemnify them against certain liabilities which may arise under the Securities Act. Following completion of this offering, the shares covered by such registration rights would represent approximately                % of our outstanding common stock (or approximately                % of our outstanding common stock if the underwriters exercise their option to purchase additional shares in full). These shares also may be sold under Rule 144, depending on their holding period and subject to restrictions in the case of shares held by persons deemed to be our affiliates. For a description of the rights that the Ares Funds and certain members of management will have to require us to register shares of common stock they own, see “Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions—Registration Rights Agreement.”

 

190


Table of Contents

MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS

The following is a discussion of material U.S. federal income tax considerations applicable to Non-U.S. Holders (as defined herein) with respect to the ownership and disposition of our common stock issued pursuant to this offering. The following discussion is based upon current provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), U.S. judicial decisions, administrative pronouncements and existing and proposed Treasury regulations, all as in effect as of the date hereof. All of the preceding authorities are subject to change at any time, possibly with retroactive effect, so as to result in U.S. federal income tax consequences different from those discussed below. We have not requested, and will not request, a ruling from the IRS with respect to any of the U.S. federal income tax consequences described below, and as a result there can be no assurance that the IRS will not disagree with or challenge any of the conclusions we have reached and describe herein.

This discussion only addresses beneficial owners of our common stock that hold such common stock as a capital asset within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be important to a Non-U.S. Holder in light of such Non-U.S. Holder’s particular circumstances or that may be applicable to Non-U.S. Holders subject to special treatment under U.S. federal income tax law, including, for example, financial institutions; dealers in securities; traders in securities that elect mark-to-market treatment; insurance companies; tax-exempt entities; Non-U.S. Holders who acquire our common stock pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation for their services; Non-U.S. Holders liable for the alternative minimum tax; controlled foreign corporations; passive foreign investment companies; former citizens or former long-term residents of the United States; Non-U.S. Holders that hold our common stock as part of a hedge, straddle, constructive sale or conversion transaction; Non-U.S. Holders that are required to report income no later than when such income is reported in an “applicable financial statement”; and Non-U.S. Holders that are foreign governments and other entities that are eligible for the benefits of Section 892 of the Code. In addition, this discussion does not address U.S. federal tax laws other than those pertaining to U.S. federal income tax (such as U.S. federal estate or gift tax or the Medicare contribution tax on certain net investment income), nor does it address any aspects of U.S. state, local or non-U.S. taxes. Non-U.S. Holders are urged to consult with their tax advisors regarding the possible application of these taxes.

For purposes of this discussion, the term “Non-U.S. Holder” means a beneficial owner of our common stock that is an individual, corporation, estate or trust, other than:

 

   

an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes;

 

   

a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, created or organized in the United States or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;

 

   

an estate, the income of which is includible in gross income for U.S. federal income tax purposes regardless of its source; or

 

   

a trust if: (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust; or (ii) it has a valid election in effect under applicable U.S. Treasury regulations to be treated as a domestic trust.

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes holds shares of our common stock, the tax treatment of a person treated as a partner in such partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Persons that, for

 

191


Table of Contents

U.S. federal income tax purposes, are treated as partners in a partnership holding shares of our common stock are urged to consult their tax advisors.

Prospective purchasers are urged to consult their tax advisors as to the particular consequences to them under U.S. federal, state and local and applicable foreign tax laws of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common stock.

Distributions

Distributions of cash or property that we pay in respect of our common stock will constitute dividends for U.S. federal income tax purposes to the extent paid from our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined under U.S. federal income tax principles). Subject to the discussions below under “—U.S. Trade or Business Income,” “—Information Reporting and Backup Withholding” and “—FATCA,” you generally will be subject to U.S. federal withholding tax at a 30% rate, or at a reduced rate prescribed by an applicable income tax treaty (if you qualify for the benefits of such tax treaty), on any dividends received in respect of our common stock. If the amount of the distribution exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits, such excess first will be treated as a return of capital to the extent of your tax basis in our common stock and thereafter will be treated as capital gain. However, except to the extent that we elect (or the paying agent or other intermediary through which you hold your common stock elects) otherwise, we (or the intermediary) must generally withhold on the entire distribution, in which case you would be entitled to a refund from the IRS for the withholding tax on the portion of the distribution that exceeded our current and accumulated earnings and profits.

In order to obtain a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax under an applicable income tax treaty, you will be required to provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN or Form W-8BEN-E (or, in each case, a successor form) certifying your entitlement to benefits under the treaty. If you are eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. federal withholding tax under an income tax treaty but do not provide the documentation described in the preceding sentence, you may obtain a refund or credit of any excess amounts withheld by timely filing an appropriate claim for a refund with the IRS. You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding your possible entitlement to benefits under an applicable income tax treaty.

Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock

Subject to the discussions below under “—U.S. Trade or Business Income,” “—Information Reporting and Backup Withholding” and “—FATCA,” you generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income or withholding tax in respect of any gain on a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock unless:

 

   

the gain is U.S. trade or business income, in which case, such gain will be taxed as described in “—U.S. Trade or Business Income” below;

 

   

you are an individual who is present in the United States for 183 or more days in the taxable year of the disposition and certain other conditions are met, in which case you will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at a rate of 30% (or a reduced rate under an applicable income tax treaty) on the amount by which certain capital gains allocable to U.S. sources exceed certain capital losses allocable to U.S. sources; or

 

   

we are or have been a “United States real property holding corporation” (a “USRPHC”) under Section 897 of the Code at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the

 

192


Table of Contents
 

date of the disposition and your holding period for the common stock, in which case, subject to the exception set forth in the second sentence of the next paragraph, such gain will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the same manner as U.S. trade or business income discussed below.

In general, a corporation is a USRPHC if the fair market value of its “United States real property interests” (as defined in the Code) equals or exceeds 50% of the sum of the fair market value of its worldwide real property interests and its other assets used or held for use in a trade or business. In the event that we are determined to be a USRPHC, your gain on a sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock will not be subject to tax as U.S. trade or business income if your holdings (direct and indirect) at all times during the applicable period described in the third bullet point above constituted 5% or less of our common stock, provided that our common stock was regularly traded on an established securities market during such period. We believe that we are not currently, and we do not anticipate becoming in the future, a USRPHC for U.S. federal income tax purposes.

U.S. Trade or Business Income

For purposes of this discussion, your dividend income with respect to our common stock and gain on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of our common stock will be considered to be “U.S. trade or business income” if (A)(i) such income or gain is effectively connected with your conduct of a trade or business within the United States and (ii) if you are eligible for the benefits of an income tax treaty with the United States and such treaty so requires, such income or gain is attributable to a permanent establishment (or, if you are an individual, a fixed base) that you maintain in the United States or (B) with respect to gain, we are or have been a USRPHC at any time during the shorter of the five-year period ending on the date of the disposition of our common stock and your holding period for our common stock (subject to the 5% ownership exception set forth above in the second paragraph of “—Sale, Exchange or Other Taxable Disposition of Common Stock”). Generally, U.S. trade or business income is not subject to U.S. federal withholding tax (provided that you comply with applicable certification and disclosure requirements, including providing a properly executed IRS Form W-8ECI (or successor form)); instead, such income is subject to U.S. federal income tax on a net basis at regular U.S. federal income tax rates (generally in the same manner as a U.S. person). If you are a corporation, any U.S. trade or business income that you receive may also be subject to a “branch profits tax” at a 30% rate, or at a lower rate prescribed by an applicable income tax treaty.

Information Reporting and Backup Withholding

We must annually report to the IRS and to each Non-U.S. Holder any dividend income that is subject to U.S. federal withholding tax or that is exempt from such withholding pursuant to an income tax treaty. Copies of these information returns may also be made available under the provisions of a specific treaty or agreement to the tax authorities of the country in which a Non-U.S. Holder resides. Under certain circumstances, the Code imposes a backup withholding obligation on certain reportable payments. Dividends paid to you will generally be exempt from backup withholding if you provide a properly executed IRS Form W-8BEN, Form W-8BEN-E or W-8ECI (or, in each case, a successor form) or otherwise establish an exemption and the applicable withholding agent does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a U.S. person or that the conditions of such other exemption are not, in fact, satisfied.

The payment of the proceeds from the disposition of our common stock to or through the U.S. office of any broker (U.S. or non-U.S.) will be subject to information reporting and possible backup withholding unless you certify as to your non-U.S. status under penalties of perjury or otherwise

 

193


Table of Contents

establish an exemption and the broker does not have actual knowledge or reason to know that you are a U.S. person or that the conditions of any other exemption are not, in fact, satisfied. The payment of proceeds from the disposition of our common stock to or through a non-U.S. office of a non-U.S. broker will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding unless the non-U.S. broker has certain types of relationships with the United States (a “U.S. related financial intermediary”). In the case of the payment of proceeds from the disposition of our common stock to or through a non-U.S. office of a broker that is either a U.S. person or a U.S. related financial intermediary, the Treasury regulations require information reporting (but not backup withholding) on the payment unless the broker has documentary evidence in its files that the owner is not a U.S. person and the broker has no knowledge to the contrary. You are urged to consult your tax advisor regarding the application of information reporting and backup withholding in light of your particular circumstances.

Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to you will be refunded or credited against your U.S. federal income tax liability, if any, provided that the required information is timely furnished to the IRS.

FATCA

Pursuant to Section 1471 through 1474 of the Code, commonly referred to as the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (“FATCA”), foreign financial institutions (which include most foreign hedge funds, private equity funds, mutual funds, securitization vehicles and any other investment vehicles) and certain other foreign entities that do not otherwise qualify for an exemption must comply with information reporting rules with respect to their U.S. account holders and investors or be subject to a withholding tax on U.S. source payments made to them (whether received as a beneficial owner or as an intermediary for another party).

More specifically, a foreign financial institution or other foreign entity that does not comply with the FATCA reporting requirements or otherwise qualify for an exemption will generally be subject to a 30% withholding tax with respect to any “withholdable payments.” For this purpose, withholdable payments generally include U.S.-source payments otherwise subject to nonresident withholding tax (e.g., U.S.-source dividends) and, subject to the following two sentences, also include the entire gross proceeds from the sale of any equity instruments of U.S. issuers (such as our common stock). The U.S. Department of the Treasury has released proposed regulations which, if finalized in their present form, would eliminate the U.S. federal withholding tax applicable to the gross proceeds from a sale or disposition of equity instruments. In its preamble to the proposed regulations, the U.S. Department of the Treasury stated that taxpayers may generally rely on the proposed regulations until final regulations are issued. The FATCA withholding tax will apply even if the payment would otherwise not be subject to U.S. nonresident withholding tax. Foreign financial institutions located in jurisdictions that have an intergovernmental agreement with the United States governing FATCA may be subject to different rules.

To avoid withholding imposed under FATCA, you may be required to provide us (or our withholding agents) with applicable tax forms or other information. You are urged to consult with your tax advisor regarding the effect, if any, of the FATCA provisions to you based on your particular circumstances.

 

194


Table of Contents

UNDERWRITING

We and the selling stockholders are offering the shares of common stock described in this prospectus through a number of underwriters. J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC and UBS Securities LLC are acting as joint book-running managers of the offering and as representatives of the underwriters (the “Representatives”). We and the selling stockholders have entered into an underwriting agreement with the underwriters. Subject to the terms and conditions of the underwriting agreement, we and the selling stockholders have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each underwriter has severally agreed to purchase, at the public offering price less the underwriting discounts and commissions set forth on the cover page of this prospectus, the number of shares of common stock listed next to its name in the following table:

 

Name

   Number of shares
of common stock
 

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC

  

Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC

  

Jefferies LLC

  

UBS Securities LLC

  

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

  

CIBC World Markets Corp.

  

Guggenheim Securities, LLC

  

Piper Sandler & Co.

  

Total

  

The underwriters are committed to purchase all the common stock offered by us and the selling stockholders if they purchase any shares of common stock. The underwriting agreement also provides that if an underwriter defaults, the purchase commitments of non-defaulting underwriters may also be increased or the offering may be terminated.

The underwriters propose to offer the common stock directly to the public at the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to certain dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $                 per share. The offering of the shares by the underwriters is subject to receipt and acceptance subject to the underwriters’ right to reject any order in whole or in part. After the initial offering of the shares of common stock to the public, if all of the shares of common stock are not sold at the initial public offering price, the underwriters may change the offering price and the other selling terms. Sales of any shares of common stock made outside of the United States may be made by affiliates of the underwriters.

The underwriters have an option to buy up to                  additional shares of common stock from us and the selling stockholders to cover sales of common stock by the underwriters which exceed the number of shares of common stock specified in the table above. The underwriters have 30 days from the date of this prospectus to exercise this option to purchase additional shares of common stock. If any shares of common stock are purchased with this option to purchase additional common stock, the underwriters will purchase common stock in approximately the same proportion as shown in the table above. If any additional shares of common stock are purchased, the underwriters will offer the additional shares of common stock on the same terms as those on which the shares of common stock are being offered.

The underwriting fee is equal to the public offering price per share less the amount paid by the underwriters to us and the selling stockholders per share. The underwriting fee is $                 per share. The following table shows the per share and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid to the underwriters assuming both no exercise and full exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock.

 

195


Table of Contents
     S-Evergreen Holding LLC      Selling Stockholders  
     No Exercise      Full Exercise      No Exercise      Full Exercise  

Per Share

   $                    $                    $             $       $                

Total

   $        $        $      $    

We estimate that the total expenses of this offering, including registration, filing and listing fees, printing fees and legal and accounting expenses, but excluding the underwriting discounts and commissions, will be approximately $                . We have also agreed to reimburse the underwriters for certain of their expenses in an amount up to $30,000.

A prospectus in electronic format may be made available on the web sites maintained by one or more underwriters, or selling group members, if any, participating in the offering. The underwriters may agree to allocate a number of shares of common stock to underwriters and selling group members for sale to their online brokerage account holders. Internet distributions will be allocated by the representatives to underwriters and selling group members that may make Internet distributions on the same basis as other allocations.

We have agreed that we will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or submit to, or file with, the Securities and Exchange Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for any shares of our common stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, loan, disposition or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion of the economic consequences associated with the ownership of any shares of common stock or any such other securities (regardless of whether any of these transactions are to be settled by the delivery of common stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise), in each case without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Jefferies LLC for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus, other than the shares of our common stock to be sold in this offering.

The restrictions on our actions, as described above, do not apply to certain transactions, including (i) the issuance of shares of common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of our common stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities or the exercise of warrants or options (including net exercise) or the settlement of RSUs (including net settlement), in each case outstanding on the date of the underwriting agreement and described in this prospectus; (ii) grants of stock options, stock awards, restricted stock, RSUs, or other equity awards and the issuance of shares of our common stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of our common stock (whether upon the exercise of stock options or otherwise) to our employees, officers, directors, advisors, or consultants pursuant to the terms of an equity compensation plan in effect as of the closing of this offering and described in this prospectus, provided that such recipients enter into a lock-up agreement with the underwriters; (iii) the issuance of up to                 % of the outstanding shares of our common stock, or securities convertible into, exercisable for, or which are otherwise exchangeable for, our common stock, immediately following the closing of this offering, in acquisitions or other similar strategic transactions, provided that such recipients enter into a lock-up agreement with the underwriters; or (iv) our filing of any registration statement on Form S-8 relating to securities granted or to be granted pursuant to any plan in effect on the date of the underwriting agreement and described in this prospectus or any assumed benefit plan pursuant to an acquisition or similar strategic transaction.

The selling stockholders, our directors and executive officers, and substantially all of our stockholders (such persons, the “lock-up parties”) have entered into lock-up agreements with the underwriters prior to the commencement of this offering pursuant to which each lock-up party, with

 

196


Table of Contents

limited exceptions, for a period of 180 days after the date of this prospectus (such period, the “restricted period”), may not (and may not cause any of their direct or indirect affiliates to), without the prior written consent of J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC and Jefferies LLC, (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of our common stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our common stock (including, without limitation, common stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by such lock-up parties in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant (collectively with the common stock, the “lock-up securities”)), (2) enter into any hedging, swap or other agreement or transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the lock-up securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of lock-up securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any lock-up securities, or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing. Such persons or entities have further acknowledged that these undertakings preclude them from engaging in any hedging or other transactions or arrangements (including, without limitation, any short sale or the purchase or sale of, or entry into, any put or call option, or combination thereof, forward, swap or any other derivative transaction or instrument, however described or defined) designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition or transfer (by any person or entity, whether or not a signatory to such agreement) of any economic consequences of ownership, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, of any lock-up securities, whether any such transaction or arrangement (or instrument provided for thereunder) would be settled by delivery of lock-up securities, in cash or otherwise. The restrictions described in the immediately preceding paragraph and contained in the lock-up agreements between the underwriters and the lock-up parties do not apply, subject in certain cases to various conditions, to certain transactions, including (a) transfers of lock-up securities: (i) as bona fide gifts, or for bona fide estate planning purposes, (ii) by will or intestacy, (iii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the lock-up party or any immediate family member, (iv) to a partnership, limited liability company or other entity of which the lock-up party and its immediate family members are the legal and beneficial owner of all of the outstanding equity securities or similar interests, (v) to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would be permissible under clauses (i) through (iv), (vi) in the case of a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity, (A) to another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust or other business entity that is an affiliate of the lock-up party, or to any investment fund or other entity controlling, controlled by, managing or managed by or under common control with the lock-up party or its affiliates or (B) as part of a distribution to members or stockholders of the lock-up party; (vii) by operation of law, (viii) to us from an employee upon death, disability or termination of employment of such employee, (ix) as part of a sale of lock-up securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of this offering, (x) to us in connection with the vesting, settlement or exercise of restricted stock units, options, warrants or other rights to purchase shares of our common stock (including “net” or “cashless” exercise), including for the payment of exercise price and tax and remittance payments, or (xi) pursuant to a bona fide third-party tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction approved by our board of directors and made to all stockholders involving a change in control, provided that if such transaction is not completed, all such lock-up securities would remain subject to the restrictions in the immediately preceding paragraph; (b) exercise of the options, settlement of RSUs or other equity awards, or the exercise of warrants granted pursuant to plans described in this prospectus, provided that any lock-up securities received upon such exercise, vesting or settlement would be subject to restrictions similar to those in the immediately preceding paragraph; (c) the conversion of outstanding preferred stock, warrants to acquire preferred stock, or convertible securities into shares of our common stock or warrants to acquire shares of our common stock, provided that any common stock or warrant received upon such conversion would be subject to restrictions similar to those in the immediately preceding

 

197


Table of Contents

paragraph; and (d) the establishment by lock-up parties of trading plans under Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, provided that such plan does not provide for the transfer of lock-up securities during the restricted period.

                , in their sole discretion, may release the securities subject to any of the lock-up agreements with the underwriters described above, in whole or in part at any time.

We, and the selling stockholders have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

We will apply to have our common stock approved for listing/quotation on the NYSE under the symbol “SVV.”

In connection with this offering, the underwriters may engage in stabilizing transactions, which involves making bids for, purchasing and selling shares of common stock in the open market for the purpose of preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock while this offering is in progress. These stabilizing transactions may include making short sales of common stock, which involves the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares of common stock than they are required to purchase in this offering, and purchasing shares of common stock on the open market to cover positions created by short sales. Short sales may be “covered” shorts, which are short positions in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares of common stock referred to above, or may be “naked” shorts, which are short positions in excess of that amount. The underwriters may close out any covered short position either by exercising their option to purchase additional shares of common stock, in whole or in part, or by purchasing shares of common stock in the open market. In making this determination, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares of common stock available for purchase in the open market compared to the price at which the underwriters may purchase shares of common stock through the option to purchase additional shares of common stock. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of the common stock in the open market that could adversely affect investors who purchase in this offering. To the extent that the underwriters create a naked short position, they will purchase shares of common stock in the open market to cover the position.

The underwriters have advised us that, pursuant to Regulation M of the Securities Act of 1933, they may also engage in other activities that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of the common stock, including the imposition of penalty bids. This means that if the representatives of the underwriters purchase common stock in the open market in stabilizing transactions or to cover short sales, the representatives can require the underwriters that sold those shares of common stock as part of this offering to repay the underwriting discount received by them.

These activities may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of the common stock or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of the common stock, and, as a result, the price of the common stock may be higher than the price that otherwise might exist in the open market. If the underwriters commence these activities, they may discontinue them at any time. The underwriters may carry out these transactions on the NYSE, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.

Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for our common stock. The initial public offering price will be determined by negotiations between us and the representatives of the underwriters. In determining the initial public offering price, we and the representatives of the underwriters expect to consider a number of factors including:

 

   

the information set forth in this prospectus and otherwise available to the representatives;

 

   

our prospects and the history and prospects for the industry in which we compete;

 

198


Table of Contents
   

an assessment of our management;

 

   

our prospects for future earnings;

 

   

the general condition of the securities markets at the time of this offering;

 

   

the recent market prices of, and demand for, publicly traded securities of generally comparable companies; and

 

   

other factors deemed relevant by the underwriters and us.

Neither we nor the underwriters nor the selling stockholders can assure investors that an active trading market will develop for our common shares of common stock, or that the shares of common stock will trade in the public market at or above the initial public offering price.

Other than in the United States, no action has been taken by us or the underwriters that would permit a public offering of the securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction where action for that purpose is required. The securities offered by this prospectus may not be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, nor may this prospectus or any other offering material or advertisements in connection with the offer and sale of any such securities be distributed or published in any jurisdiction, except under circumstances that will result in compliance with the applicable rules and regulations of that jurisdiction. Persons into whose possession this prospectus comes are advised to inform themselves about and to observe any restrictions relating to the offering and the distribution of this prospectus. This prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities offered by this prospectus in any jurisdiction in which such an offer or a solicitation is unlawful.

Certain of the underwriters and their affiliates have provided in the past to us and our affiliates and may provide from time to time in the future certain commercial banking, financial advisory, investment banking and other services for us and such affiliates in the ordinary course of their business, for which they have received and may continue to receive customary fees and commissions. An affiliate of Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC is a lender under our First Lien Term Loan Facility. An affiliate of Jefferies LLC is a joint lead arranger and lender under our First Lien Term Loan Facility. In addition, from time to time, certain of the underwriters and their affiliates may effect transactions for their own account or the account of customers, and hold on behalf of themselves or their customers, long or short positions in our debt or equity securities or loans, and may do so in the future.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the European Economic Area

In relation to each Member State of the European Economic Area (each a “Relevant State”), no shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in that Relevant State prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares which has been approved by the competent authority in that Relevant State or, where appropriate, approved in another Relevant State and notified to the competent authority in that Relevant State, all in accordance with the Prospectus Regulation, except that offers of shares may be made to the public in that Relevant State at any time under the following exemptions under the Prospectus Regulation:

 

   

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation;

 

   

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of the underwriters; or

 

   

in any other circumstances falling within Article 1(4) of the Prospectus Regulation,

 

199


Table of Contents

provided that no such offer of shares shall require us or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Article 3 of the Prospectus Regulation or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the Prospectus Regulation. and each person who initially acquires any shares or to whom any offer is made will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed to and with each of the underwriters and the Company that it is a “qualified investor” within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation. In the case of any shares being offered to a financial intermediary as that term is used in the Prospectus Regulation, each such financial intermediary will be deemed to have represented, acknowledged and agreed that the shares acquired by it in the offer have not been acquired on a non-discretionary basis on behalf of, nor have they been acquired with a view to their offer or resale to, persons in circumstances which may give rise to an offer of any shares to the public other than their offer or resale in a Relevant State to qualified investors as so defined or in circumstances in which the prior consent of the underwriters have been obtained to each such proposed offer or resale.

For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to shares in any Relevant State means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any shares, and the expression “Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129.

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom

No shares have been offered or will be offered pursuant to the offering to the public in the United Kingdom prior to the publication of a prospectus in relation to the shares which has been approved by the Financial Conduct Authority, except that the Shares may be offered to the public in the United Kingdom at any time:

 

   

to any legal entity which is a qualified investor as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation;

 

   

to fewer than 150 natural or legal persons (other than qualified investors as defined under Article 2 of the UK Prospectus Regulation), subject to obtaining the prior consent of underwriters for any such offer; or

 

   

in any other circumstances falling within Section 86 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“FSMA”).

provided that no such offer of the Shares shall require the company or any underwriter to publish a prospectus pursuant to Section 85 of the FSMA or supplement a prospectus pursuant to Article 23 of the UK Prospectus Regulation. For the purposes of this provision, the expression an “offer to the public” in relation to the Shares in the United Kingdom means the communication in any form and by any means of sufficient information on the terms of the offer and any Shares to be offered so as to enable an investor to decide to purchase or subscribe for any Shares and the expression “UK Prospectus Regulation” means Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 as it forms part of domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018.

In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Regulation) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”) or otherwise in circumstances

 

200


Table of Contents

which have not resulted and will not result in an offer to the public of the shares in the United Kingdom within the meaning of the FSMA.

Any person in the United Kingdom that is not a relevant person should not act or rely on the information included in this document or use it as basis for taking any action. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity that this document relates to may be made or taken exclusively by relevant persons.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada

The shares of common stock may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the shares of common stock must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.

Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.

Pursuant to section 3A.3 of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Switzerland

The shares of common stock may not be publicly offered in Switzerland and will not be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (“SIX”) or on any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. This document does not constitute a prospectus within the meaning of, and has been prepared without regard to the disclosure standards for issuance prospectuses under art. 652a or art. 1156 of the Swiss Code of Obligations or the disclosure standards for listing prospectuses under art. 27 ff. of the SIX Listing Rules or the listing rules of any other stock exchange or regulated trading facility in Switzerland. Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the shares of common stock or the offering may be publicly distributed or otherwise made publicly available in Switzerland.

Neither this document nor any other offering or marketing material relating to the offering, the company, the shares of common stock have been or will be filed with or approved by any Swiss regulatory authority. In particular, this document will not be filed with, and the offer of shares of common stock will not be supervised by, the Swiss Financial Market Supervisory Authority FINMA (FINMA), and the offer of shares of common stock has not been and will not be authorized under the Swiss Federal Act on Collective Investment Schemes (“CISA”). The investor protection afforded to acquirers of interests in collective investment schemes under the CISA does not extend to acquirers of shares of common stock.

 

201


Table of Contents

Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Arab Emirates

The shares of common stock have not been, and are not being, publicly offered, sold, promoted or advertised in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) other than in compliance with the laws of the United Arab Emirates (and the Dubai International Financial Centre) governing the issue, offering and sale of securities. Further, this prospectus does not constitute a public offer of securities in the United Arab Emirates (including the Dubai International Financial Centre) and is not intended to be a public offer. This prospectus has not been approved by or filed with the Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates, the Securities and Commodities Authority or the Dubai Financial Services Authority.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia

This prospectus:

 

   

does not constitute a disclosure document or a prospectus under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (the “Corporations Act”);

 

   

has not been, and will not be, lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), as a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act and does not purport to include the information required of a disclosure document for the purposes of the Corporations Act; and

 

   

may only be provided in Australia to select investors who are able to demonstrate that they fall within one or more of the categories of investors, available under section 708 of the Corporations Act (“Exempt Investors”).

The shares of common stock may not be directly or indirectly offered for subscription or purchased or sold, and no invitations to subscribe for or buy the shares of common stock may be issued, and no draft or definitive offering memorandum, advertisement or other offering material relating to any shares of common stock may be distributed in Australia, except where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act or is otherwise in compliance with all applicable Australian laws and regulations. By submitting an application for the shares of common stock, you represent and warrant to us that you are an Exempt Investor.

As any offer of shares of common stock under this document will be made without disclosure in Australia under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act, the offer of those securities for resale in Australia within 12 months may, under section 707 of the Corporations Act, require disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D.2 if none of the exemptions in section 708 applies to that resale. By applying for the shares of common stock you undertake to us that you will not, for a period of 12 months from the date of issue of the shares of common stock, offer, transfer, assign or otherwise alienate those shares of common stock to investors in Australia except in circumstances where disclosure to investors is not required under Chapter 6D.2 of the Corporations Act or where a compliant disclosure document is prepared and lodged with ASIC.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Japan

The shares of common stock have not been and will not be registered pursuant to Article 4, Paragraph 1 of the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act. Accordingly, none of the common stock nor any interest therein may be offered or sold, directly or indirectly, in Japan or to, or for the benefit of, any “resident” of Japan (which term as used herein means any person resident in Japan, including any corporation or other entity organized under the laws of Japan), or to others for re-offering or resale,

 

202


Table of Contents

directly or indirectly, in Japan or to or for the benefit of a resident of Japan, except pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of, and otherwise in compliance with, the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act and any other applicable laws, regulations and ministerial guidelines of Japan in effect at the relevant time.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong

The shares of common stock have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571 of the Laws of Hong Kong) (the “SFO”) of Hong Kong and any rules made thereunder; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies (Winding Up and Miscellaneous Provisions) Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong) (the “CO”) or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of the CO. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the common stock has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to shares of common stock which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the SFO and any rules made thereunder.

Notice to Prospective Investors in Singapore

This prospectus has not been registered as a prospectus with the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Accordingly, this prospectus and any other document or material in connection with the offer or sale, or invitation for subscription or purchase, of common stock may not be circulated or distributed, nor may the common stock be offered or sold, or be made the subject of an invitation for subscription or purchase, whether directly or indirectly, to persons in Singapore other than (i) to an institutional investor (as defined in Section 4A of the Securities and Futures Act (Chapter 289) of Singapore, as modified or amended from time to time (the “SFA”)) pursuant to Section 274 of the SFA; (ii) to a relevant person (as defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA) pursuant to Section 275(1) of the SFA, or any person pursuant to Section 275(1A) of the SFA, and in accordance with the conditions specified in Section 275 of the SFA, or (iii) otherwise pursuant to, and in accordance with the conditions of, any other applicable provision of the SFA.

Where the shares of common stock are subscribed or purchased under Section 275 of the SFA by a relevant person which is:

 

   

a corporation (which is not an accredited investor (as defined in Section 4A of the SFA)) the sole business of which is to hold investments and the entire share capital of which is owned by one or more individuals, each of whom is an accredited investor; or

 

   

a trust (where the trustee is not an accredited investor) whose sole purpose is to hold investments and each beneficiary of the trust is an individual who is an accredited investor,

securities or securities-based derivatives contract (each term as defined in Section 2(1) of the SFA) of that corporation or the beneficiaries’ rights and interest (howsoever described) in that trust shall not be transferred within six months after that corporation or that trust has acquired the common stock pursuant to an offer made under Section 275 of the SFA except:

 

   

to an institutional investor or to a relevant person defined in Section 275(2) of the SFA, or to any person arising from an offer referred to in Section 275(1A) or Section 276(4)(i)(B) of the SFA;

 

203


Table of Contents
   

where no consideration is or will be given for the transfer;

 

   

where the transfer is by operation of law;

 

   

as specified in Section 276(7) of the SFA; or

 

   

as specified in Regulation 37A of the Securities and Futures (Offers of Investments) (Securities and Securities based Derivatives Contracts) Regulations 2018.

Singapore SFA Product Classification—Solely for the purposes of its obligations pursuant to sections 309B(1)(a) and 309B(1)(c) of the SFA, the company has determined, and hereby notifies all relevant persons (as defined in Section 309A of the SFA) that the shares of common stock are “prescribed capital markets products” (as defined in the Securities and Futures (Capital Markets Products) Regulations 2018) and Excluded Investment Products (as defined in MAS Notice SFA 04-N12: Notice on the Sale of Investment Products and MAS Notice FAA-N16: Notice on Recommendations on Investment Products).

Notice to Prospective Investors in Israel

This document does not constitute a prospectus under the Israeli Securities Law, 5728-1968, or the Securities Law, and has not been filed with or approved by the Israel Securities Authority. In Israel, this prospectus is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer of the shares is directed only at, (i) a limited number of persons in accordance with the Israeli Securities Law and (ii) investors listed in the first addendum, or the Addendum, to the Israeli Securities Law, consisting primarily of joint investment in trust funds, provident funds, insurance companies, banks, portfolio managers, investment advisors, members of the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange, underwriters, venture capital funds, entities with equity in excess of NIS 50 million and “qualified individuals,” each as defined in the Addendum (as it may be amended from time to time), collectively referred to as qualified investors (in each case, purchasing for their own account or, where permitted under the Addendum, for the accounts of their clients who are investors listed in the Addendum). Qualified investors are required to submit written confirmation that they fall within the scope of the Addendum, are aware of the meaning of same and agree to it.

 

204


Table of Contents

VALIDITY OF COMMON STOCK

The validity of the shares of common stock being offered by this prospectus will be passed upon for us by Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, New York, New York. Certain legal matters in connection with this offering will be passed upon for the underwriters by Latham & Watkins LLP, New York, New York.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of S-Evergreen Holding LLC as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 and for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 (Successor) and the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor) and the consolidated financial statements of S-Evergreen Holding Corp. for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor) have been included herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, appearing elsewhere herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

The consolidated financial statements of Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of January 3, 2021 and for the year then ended have been included herein and in the registration statement in reliance upon the report of CohnReznick LLP, independent accountant, appearing elsewhere herein, upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

We have filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form S-1 under the Securities Act with respect to the shares of common stock offered by this prospectus. This prospectus, which constitutes a part of the registration statement, does not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement, some of which is contained in exhibits to the registration statement as permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information with respect to us and our common stock, we refer you to the registration statement, including the exhibits filed as a part thereof. Statements contained in this prospectus concerning the contents of any contract or any other document are not necessarily complete. If a contract or document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, please see the copy of the contract or document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a contract or document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit. The SEC maintains an internet website that contains reports and other information about issuers, like us, that file electronically with the SEC. The address of that website is www.sec.gov.

Upon the completion of this offering, we will be subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and we will file reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. These reports, proxy statements and other information will be available on the website of the SEC referred to above.

We also maintain a website at www.savers.com, at which you may access these materials free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after they are electronically filed with or furnished to the SEC. Information contained on, or that can be accessed through, our website is not incorporated by reference in this prospectus, and you should not consider information on our website to be part of this prospectus.

 

205


Table of Contents

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

S-EVERGREEN HOLDING LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES   
Consolidated Financial Statements   

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

     F-2  

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019

     F-4  

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 for the Successor and for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 for the Successor and for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 for the Predecessor

     F-5  

Consolidated Statements of Members’ Equity for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 for the Successor and for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 for the Successor and for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 for the Predecessor

     F-6  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 for the Successor and for the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 for the Successor and for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 for the Predecessor

     F-7  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-8  
Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)   

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 2, 2021 and January 2, 2021 (unaudited)

     F-40  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020 (unaudited)

     F-41  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Members’ Equity for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020 (unaudited)

     F-42  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020 (unaudited)

     F-43  

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

     F-44  
THRIFT INTERMEDIATE HOLDINGS I, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES   
Consolidated Financial Statements   

Independent Auditor’s Report

     F-58  

Consolidated Balance Sheet as of January 3, 2021

     F-59  

Consolidated Statement of Operations for the year ended January 3, 2021

     F-60  

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the year ended January 3, 2021

     F-61  

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the year ended January 3, 2021

     F-62  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

     F-63  
Interim Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)   

Consolidated Balance Sheet as of October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

     F-74  

Consolidated Statement of Operations for the period ending October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

     F-75  

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity for the period ended October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

     F-76  

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the period ended October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

     F-77  

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)

     F-78  

 

F-1


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Members and Board of Directors

S-Evergreen Holding LLC:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of S-Evergreen Holding LLC and subsidiaries (the Company) as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income, members’ equity, and cash flows for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 (Successor) and the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021 (Successor) and the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ KPMG LLP

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2003.

Boise, Idaho

October 11, 2021

 

F-2


Table of Contents

Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

To the Members and Board of Directors

S-Evergreen Holding LLC:

Opinion on the Consolidated Financial Statements

We have audited the accompanying consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income, members’ equity, and cash flows of S-Evergreen Holding Corp. and subsidiaries (the Company) for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor), and the related notes (collectively, the consolidated financial statements). In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the results of the Company’s operations and its cash flows for the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor), in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Basis for Opinion

These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audit included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audit also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

/s/ KPMG LLP

 

We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2003.

Boise, Idaho

October 11, 2021

 

F-3


Table of Contents

S-EVERGREEN HOLDING LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except unit amounts)

 

    January 2,
2021
    December 28,
2019
 

Current assets:

   

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 137,201     $ 84,924  

Restricted cash

    658       1,343  

Trade and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,332 and $363 as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively

    8,898       13,802  

Inventories

    21,595       24,201  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    10,255       6,491  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

    178,607       130,761  

Property and equipment, net

    119,962       141,309  

Goodwill

    485,789       477,774  

Intangible assets, net

    179,439       198,638  

Other assets

    1,818       11,260  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

  $     965,615     $     959,742  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  $ 66,728     $ 62,178  

Accrued payroll and related taxes

    53,688       62,811  

Derivative liability – current

    3,452       2,882  

Current portion of long-term debt

    2,754       3,393  

Current portion of long-term debt due to related parties

    2,755       3,394  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

  $ 129,377     $ 134,658  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Insurance reserves

  $ 6,465     $ 6,556  

Deferred rent

    16,460       4,253  

Deferred compensation

    2,488       2,547  

Lease intangible liability, net

    4,005       5,530  

Long-term debt, net

    268,263       259,421  

Long-term debt, net due to related parties

    330,056       311,527  

Derivative liability – non-current

    6,078       5,565  

Deferred tax liabilities

    21,416       33,871  

Other liabilities

    7,082       6,337  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

  $ 791,690     $ 770,265  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (see Note 14)

   

Members’ equity:

   

Common A Units, 198,378,867 and 178,378,867 units authorized, issued, and outstanding as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively

  $ 223,379     $ 178,379  

Common B Units, 25,482,695 units authorized as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively; 0 units issued and outstanding as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively

    565       211  

(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings

    (62,102     1,381  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    12,083       9,506  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total members’ equity

    173,925       189,477  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and members’ equity

  $ 965,615     $ 959,742  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-4


Table of Contents

S-EVERGREEN HOLDING LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income

(Dollars in thousands, except per unit amounts)

 

    Successor           Predecessor  
    Fiscal Year 2020     March 28, 2019 to
December 28, 2019
          December 30, 2018
to March 27, 2019
 

Net sales

  $ 834,010     $ 945,527         $ 259,972  

Operating expenses:

         

Cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    353,455       460,169           133,595  

Salaries, wages, and benefits

    184,392       195,066           60,193  

Selling, general, and administrative

    229,886       187,727           71,537  

Depreciation and amortization

    59,432       32,391           18,837  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    827,165       875,353           284,162  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

    6,845       70,174           (24,190

Other (expense) income:

         

Interest expense

    (69,678     (58,003         (20,784

Other income (expense), net

    3,410       (6,353         6,605  

Gain on extinguishment of debt

    —         —             283,241  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Other (expense) income, net

    (66,268     (64,356         269,062  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

(Loss) income before income tax expense

    (59,423     5,818           244,872  

Income tax expense

    4,060       4,437           5,256  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

  $ (63,483   $ 1,381         $ 239,616  

Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax:

         

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    2,577       9,506           10,376  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

    2,577       9,506           10,376  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Comprehensive (loss) income

  $ (60,906   $ 10,887         $ 249,992  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Net (loss) earnings per unit, basic

  $ (0.34   $ 0.01        

Net (loss) earnings per unit, diluted

  $ (0.34   $ 0.01        

Weighted average number of units outstanding used to compute net (loss) earnings per unit, basic

      188,757,245         178,378,867                                 

Weighted average number of units outstanding used to compute net (loss) earnings per unit, diluted

    188,757,245       178,609,336        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-5


Table of Contents

S-EVERGREEN HOLDING LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Members’ Equity

(Dollars in thousands, except share and unit amounts)

 

Predecessor

  Common stock     Common A units     Common B
units
    (Accumulated
deficit)
retained
earnings
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
(loss) income
    Total  
  Shares     Amount     Units     Amount     Units     Amount  

Balance at December 29, 2018

    213,008,666     $ 793,296       —       $ —         —       $ —       $ (804,804   $ (255,437   $   (266,945)  

Net Income

    —         —                 239,616       —         239,616  

Common B Units

    —         315       —         —         —         —         —         —         315  

Equity interest for mezzanine debt conversion

    —         13,379       —         —         —         —         —         —         13,379  

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effect of $0

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         10,376       10,376  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at March 27, 2019

    213,008,666     $   806,990       —       $ —       $   —       $ —       $   (565,188)     $   (245,061)     $ (3,259
                                                                         

Successor

                                                     

Elimination of predecessor equity

    (213,008,666     (806,990     —         —         —         —         565,188       245,061       3,259  

Issuance of common A units—acquisition

    —         —         178,378,867       178,379       —         —         —         —         178,379  

Net Income

    —         —         —         —         —         —         1,381       —         1,381  

Common B units equity compensation

    —         —         —         —         —         211       —         —         211  

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effect of $0

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         9,506       9,506  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at December 28, 2019

    —       $ —         178,378,867     $ 178,379       —       $ 211     $ 1,381     $ 9,506     $ 189,477  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net loss

    —       $ —         —       $ —         —       $ —       $ (63,483   $ —       $ (63,483

Common B units equity compensation

    —         —         —         —         —         354       —         —         354  

Share issuance

    —         —         20,000,000       45,000       —         —         —         —         45,000  

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effect of $0

    —         —         —         —         —         —         —         2,577       2,577  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance at January 2, 2021

    —       $ —         198,378,867     $   223,379       —       $   565     $ (62,102   $ 12,083     $ 173,925  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-6


Table of Contents

S-EVERGREEN HOLDING LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Dollars in thousands)

 

    Successor           Predecessor  
    Fiscal
Year 2020
    March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
          December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

         

Net (loss) income

  $   (63,483)     $ 1,381         $   239,616  

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

         

Stock-based compensation expense

    354       211           315  

Amortization of debt issuance costs and term debt discount

    5,723       2,696           1,673  

Depreciation and amortization

    59,432       32,391           18,837  

Deferred income tax (benefit) expense

    (12,911     (16,312         14,881  

Gain on extinguishment of debt

    —         —             (283,241

Unrealized loss on interest rate derivative instrument

    732       8,190           —    

Unrealized (gain) loss on foreign currency exchange

    (3,293     5,836           442  

Noncash interest expense

    20,779       6,608           —    

Other noncash items, net

    2,078       1,821           (91

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

         

(Increase) decrease in trade and other receivables

    4,182       (3,151         7,936  

(Increase) decrease in inventories

    2,606       5,699           (2,605

Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses and other current assets

    (3,764     10,864           268  

Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

    4,784       (14,771         4,958  

(Decrease) increase in accrued payroll and related taxes

    (9,123     20,245           (13,971

Increase (decrease) in deferred rent and other

    21,817       277           (7,057
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

  $ 29,913     $ 61,985         $ (18,039
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

         

Acquisition

    —         (728,792         —    

Purchases of property and equipment

    (19,172     (24,126         (5,224
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

  $ (19,172)     $   (752,918)         $ (5,224)  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

         

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

    —         260,363           —    

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt from related parties

    —         313,400           —    

Principal payments on long-term debt

    (3,356     (1,351         (3

Principal payments on long-term debt to related parties

    (3,356     (1,351         (3

Advances on revolving line of credit

    42,095       30,000           99,500  

Repayments of revolving line of credit

    (42,095     (30,000         (48,000

Capital contribution in connection with the acquisition

    —         165,000           —    

Proceeds from share issuance

    45,000       —             —    

Debt issuance costs

    (1,481     (6,828         —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

  $ 36,807     $ 729,233         $ 51,494  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

    4,044       (688         846  

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

    51,592       37,612           29,077  

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

    86,267       48,655           19,578  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

  $ 137,859     $ 86,267         $ 48,655  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

         

Interest paid on debt

    49,201       40,865           18,243  

Income taxes paid, net

    4,637       8,978           1,102  

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing activities:

         

Change in noncash capital expenditures

    235       (1,313         (598

Exchange of pre-existing equity from mezzanine debt conversion

    —         13,379           —    

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-7


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Description of business

S-Evergreen Holding LLC (the “Company,” “we,” “our” or the “Successor”) was established on March 22, 2019 as part of the restructuring in 2019 (see Note 3) and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. The Company, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, sells second-hand merchandise in retail stores located in the United States (“U.S.”), Canada, and Australia. The term “Company” shall also refer to S-Evergreen Holding Corp (“Predecessor”) for the period during which S-Evergreen Holding Corp was the predecessor entity to the Successor during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019. If Predecessor or Successor is not specified, the terms “we,” “our” or the “Company” refer to both periods. As discussed in Note 3, on March 28, 2019, the Company entered into a restructuring and refinancing transaction which was accounted for as a business combination in accordance with the Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 805, Business Combinations.

Basis of presentation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. These consolidated financial statements present the results of operations, financial position, and cash flows of the Company in U.S. dollars, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP).

As a result of the business combination and the application of purchase price accounting in accordance with ASC 805, the consolidated financial statements and notes for the period before March 28, 2019 are presented on a different basis than the period after March 28, 2019, and therefore, are not comparable. Accordingly, the consolidated financial statements are presented for the Predecessor and Successor, which relate to the accounting periods preceding and succeeding the completion of the acquisition, respectively. The Successor had no activity from its inception on March 22, 2019 through the Valuation Date and accordingly is presented from the completion of the acquisition going forward. The Predecessor and Successor periods have been separated by a black line on the consolidated financial statements to highlight the fact that the financial information for such periods has been prepared under two different historical cost accounting bases.

The Company reports on a fiscal year basis, which ends on the Saturday nearest December 31. The Successor fiscal year 2020 was the 53 weeks ended January 2, 2021 (“fiscal year 2020”) and the Successor period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 includes 39 weeks and 3 days whereas the Predecessor period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 includes 12 weeks and 4 days. All dollar amounts in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, with the exception of per unit and per share amounts, are rounded to the nearest thousand unless otherwise indicated.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

In March 2020, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and governmental authorities around the world implemented measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19. These measures created disruptions within our business and our results for fiscal year 2020 were adversely impacted. From time to time throughout the year, we temporarily closed our stores in accordance with local restrictions and where we believed we could provide for the safety and well-being of our team members and customers.

Measures were taken to mitigate the operating and financial impact of the pandemic including, but not limited to: (i) furloughing team members, (ii) implementing temporary tiered salary reductions for

 

F-8


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

employees, (iii) suspending the 401k plan match, (iv) extending payment terms with partners and suppliers, (v) deferring or abating payments of rent based on negotiations with each landlord and (vi) executing substantial reductions in expenses, store occupancy costs, capital expenditures, and other costs. Additionally, the Company received wage subsidies from the Canadian and Australian governments, which are reflected as a reduction to cost of merchandise sold and salaries, wages, and benefits on the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income. These subsidies are not loans to the Company. These wage subsidies helped the Company to avoid reductions in workforce in Canada and Australia during the pandemic. For fiscal year 2020, we received a total of $32.6 million in wage subsidies, of which our Canadian and Australian operations received $22.7 million and $9.9 million, respectively. The $32.6 million in wage subsidies are presented as a reduction of $18.6 million and $14.0 million of costs of merchandise sold and salaries, wages, and benefits, respectively. There were no unfulfilled conditions or contingencies relating to these subsidies at January 2, 2021.

In June 2020, the Company issued 20.0 million units, resulting in proceeds of $45.0 million from an existing shareholder. Also, in June 2020, the Company amended its First Lien and Second Lien Credit Agreements to allow for deferral of certain cash interest payments and to amend certain covenants (see Note 7).

During fiscal year 2020, the Company also negotiated rent deferrals and rent abatements for a significant number of its stores, with repayment at later dates, primarily in fiscal year 2021. In April 2020, the FASB issued guidance allowing entities to make a policy election whether to account for lease concessions related to the COVID-19 pandemic as if the enforceable rights and obligations of the concessions existed in the contracts at lease inception. The election applies to any lessor-provided lease concession related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, provided the concession does not result in a substantial increase in the rights of the lessor or in the obligations of the lessee. The Company did not make this policy election and accounted for lease concessions and abatements as lease modifications. In fiscal year 2020, the Company’s received total rent deferrals of $11.9 million, of which the Company repaid $7.5 million within fiscal year 2020, and rent abatements of $3.1 million.

Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of estimates

The preparation of these consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. These estimates are based on information that is currently available and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Certain items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the useful lives of property and equipment, equity-based compensation, insurance reserves, allowances on trade and other receivables, valuation of intangibles and goodwill, and income taxes. Actual results could vary from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Foreign currency

The functional currency of the Company’s foreign entities is the local currency of the country in which the entity operates. Assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated into the reporting

 

F-9


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

currency, U.S. dollars, using rates of exchange in effect at the end of the reporting period. Income and expense accounts are translated into U.S. dollars using average rates of exchange during the reporting period. The net gain or loss resulting from translation is shown as a foreign currency translation adjustment and is included in other comprehensive income in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income and in accumulated other comprehensive income in total members’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets. Gains and losses from foreign currency transactions are included in other (expense) income, net in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

The Company also has intercompany loans denominated in foreign currencies and issued to its foreign subsidiaries. The gain or loss on settlement of such intercompany loans survives consolidation and is recognized in other comprehensive (loss) in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income and in accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income in total members’ equity on the consolidated balance sheets.

Revenue recognition

Retail sales. The Company recognizes revenue pursuant to ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Revenue is recorded for store sales upon the purchase of merchandise by customers. Sales taxes collected from customers are not considered revenue and are included in accrued liabilities until remitted to the taxing authorities.

Revenue is recorded net of promotional price reductions. The Company does not record a sales return reserve as no right of return exists for customers. Only exchanges are accepted within fourteen days of purchase.

Gift Cards. Revenue is not recorded on the issuance of gift cards. A current liability is recorded upon issuance, and revenue is recognized when the gift card is redeemed for merchandise.

Customer Loyalty Program. In 2017, the Company launched its loyalty program called the Super Savers Club (the “Program”). The Program features unique benefits for loyalty members. Under the Program, members accumulate points based on purchase activity and earn rewards by reaching certain point thresholds. Members earn rewards in the form of discount savings certificates. Rewards earned are valid through the stated expiration date, which is 60 days from the issuance date of the reward. Rewards not redeemed during the 60-day redemption period are forfeited.

Wholesale sales. Sales of residual products are recognized at the point of delivery with no right of return and exclude shipping and handling costs, which are paid by the customer. The Company does not have a significant financing component as customers pay within one year of title transfer.

Sales broken out by retail and wholesale are as follows:

 

    Successor           Predecessor  
    Fiscal Year
2020
    March 28,
2019 to
December 28,
2019
          December 30,
2018 to
March 27,
2019
 

Retail sales

  $     800,278     $     902,056         $     247,531  

Wholesale sales

    33,732       43,471           12,441  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total net sales

  $ 834,010     $ 945,527         $ 259,972  
 

 

 

   

 

 

     

 

 

 

 

F-10


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash

Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash, demand deposits with banks, proceeds due from credit and debit card transactions, and highly liquid investments with maturity dates of three months or less from the date of purchase. The carrying amounts reported for cash and cash equivalents are considered to approximate fair values based upon their short maturities.

The Company’s cash and cash equivalents are maintained in accounts primarily with two major financial institutions in the U.S. and Canada. Substantially all the cash on deposit exceed the federally insured limits for such deposits.

In addition, the Company maintains restricted cash in connection with lines of credit required by landlords. These balances have been excluded from the Company’s cash and cash equivalents balance and are classified as restricted cash in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

Trade accounts receivable

Trade accounts receivable are recorded at the invoiced amount, net of any allowances. Allowance for doubtful accounts typically relates to wholesale sales only.

Inventories

Inventories consist almost entirely of used clothing and other household goods purchased from nonprofit partners on a volume basis or donated to nonprofit partners by individuals at the Company’s donation centers and then purchased by the Company from the nonprofit partners. Inventory is valued at the lower of average purchase cost or net realizable value. As of January 2, 2021, and December 28, 2019, there was no allowance for obsolete and excess inventory.

The Canadian Diabetes Association provided approximately 31%, 25%, and 24% of the Company’s product supply for fiscal year 2020, the period March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and the period December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor), respectively.

Property and equipment

At the Valuation Date, the Company’s property and equipment were recorded at fair value as the result of the March 2019 Transactions (see Note 3). Property and equipment acquired subsequent to the March 2019 Transactions are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is calculated using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets ranging from 2 to 15 years for certain furniture, fixtures, and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized using the straight-line method over the shorter of the estimated useful lives of the assets or the remaining lease term.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets represent the Company’s trade names, charity agreements, and favorable lease rights. The Company’s trade names, which have indefinite lives, are not amortized, but rather, reviewed for impairment at least annually in connection with the goodwill impairment assessment. All other long-lived intangibles are amortized using the straight-line method over their estimated period of benefit ranging from 2 to 24 years (see Note 6).

 

F-11


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Long-lived asset impairment recoverability

The carrying value of long-lived assets, primarily property, equipment, leasehold improvements, and certain intangible assets, is evaluated whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that a potential impairment has occurred. A potential impairment has occurred if projected undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying value of the asset group. The estimated cash flows include management’s assumptions of cash inflows and outflows directly resulting from the use of that asset group in operations and dispositions. If the carrying value of the asset group exceeds the undiscounted expected future cash flows from the asset group, impairment is indicated. The impairment loss recognized is the excess of the carrying value of the asset group over its fair market value (defined as the discounted expected future cash flows).

The Company reviews asset groups to assess whether a triggering event has occurred. For asset groups where a triggering event has been identified, the carrying amounts of the asset groups are compared to the related expected undiscounted future cash flows to be generated by those asset groups over the estimated remaining useful life of the primary asset. Cash flows are projected for each asset group based upon historical results and expectations. In cases where expected future cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset groups, those asset groups are considered impaired and the asset group is written down to fair value. For fiscal year 2020 and the period March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and the period December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor), the Company did not identify any triggering events related to the potential impairment of its long-lived asset groups.

Goodwill

Goodwill is reviewed for impairment annually in the Company’s fourth quarter or whenever circumstances indicate goodwill might be impaired. The Company first performs a qualitative assessment, evaluating relevant events or circumstances to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If not, no further impairment testing is performed. If the assessment indicates that it is more likely than not, the Company compares the carrying value of the reporting unit to the estimated fair value of the reporting unit, both as of the testing date. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds the estimated fair value, the Company will recognize an impairment charge equal to the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value up to but not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.

The Company’s reporting units are consistent with its operating segments, with goodwill balances allocated entirely to the U.S. Retail and Canada Retail reporting units.

Insurance reserves

The Company is self insured for general liability, medical, and workers’ compensation and regularly reviews the related insurance reserves to adjust the balances as determined necessary. Self-insurance claims filed and claims incurred-but-not-reported are accrued based on management’s estimates of cost by considering historical claims experience, demographic factors, severity factors, and other actuarial assumptions. Additionally, the Company reviews specific large insurance claims to determine whether there is need for additional accrual on a case-by-case basis. Changes in these assumptions could materially impact the required reserve balances period-to-period, and it is possible that actual results could differ from recorded insurance reserves.

 

 

F-12


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Current portions of insurance reserves of $1.5 million and $1.6 million are included in accounts payable and accrued liabilities and $6.1 million and $10.0 million are included in accrued payroll and related taxes as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively. Noncurrent insurance reserves were $6.5 million and $6.6 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.

Advertising costs

Advertising production costs are expensed the first time the advertisement is run and media placement costs are expensed in the month the advertising first appears. Total advertising costs for fiscal year 2020, the period March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor) were $5.8 million, $18.2 million and $2.8 million, respectively.

Income taxes

The Company follows the asset and liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the consolidated financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates in effect for the year in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in the period that includes the enactment date. A valuation allowance is established when necessary to reduce deferred income tax assets to the amount more likely than not expected to be realized. Income tax expense represents the current expense incurred for the period plus or minus the change during the period in net deferred tax assets and liabilities.

Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, and similar state regulations, contain provisions that may limit the net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards available to be used to offset income in any given year upon the occurrence of certain events, including changes in ownership of more than 50% (see Note 3 and Note 16). The Company reduced its tax attributes (as defined in Note 3) (NOLs and tax credits) and certain tax basis of assets in connection with the March 2019 Transactions. In addition, pursuant to Section 382, a limitation on utilization of such tax attributes resulted from the acquisition.

The Company recognizes the effect of income tax positions only if those positions are more likely than not to be sustained. Recognized income tax positions are measured at the largest amount of the benefit that is greater than 50% likelihood of being realized. Changes in recognition or measurement are reflected in the period in which the change in judgment occurs. The Company records interest related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense and penalties in income tax expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

Equity based compensation

The Company recognizes compensation expense related to the cost of services received in exchange for equity-based awards over the awards’ vesting period based on its fair value at the appropriate measurement date, under ASC 718, Compensation – Stock Compensation (see Note 13).

 

F-13


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Derivative instruments

In the normal course of business, the Company uses derivative financial instruments, which may include interest rate swaps and foreign exchange forwards and swap to hedge against adverse fluctuations in interest rates or foreign exchange rates by reducing exposure to variability in cash flows on our floating-rate debt or from foreign operations. These hedges are intended to economically hedge the interest rate and foreign exchange risks and we do not elect to apply hedge accounting. Any change in the fair value of interest swaps and foreign exchange forwards is recognized immediately in interest expense and other (expense) income, respectively, in the consolidated statements of operations. The Company does not use derivative instruments for trading or speculative purposes.

Segment reporting

Operating segments are defined as components of an entity for which discrete financial information is available and is regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) in making decisions regarding resource allocation and performance assessment. The Company’s CODM is its Chief Executive Officer. The Company has determined it has two reportable segments: U.S. Retail and Canada Retail.

(Loss) earnings per unit

Basic (loss) earnings per unit is computed by dividing the net (loss) earnings attributable to common unitholders by the weighted-average number of units outstanding during the period. Diluted (loss) earnings per unit is computed by giving effect to all potentially dilutive common equivalent units outstanding for the period. In periods of a net loss, common equivalent units are excluded from the calculation of diluted (loss) earnings per units, because their inclusion would have an antidilutive effect. Accordingly, for periods in which we report a net loss, diluted (loss) earnings per unit is equal to basic (loss) earnings per unit, as the dilutive common equivalent units are not assumed to have been issued if their effect is antidilutive.

Debt

Long-term debt is carried at the outstanding principal balance, less debt issuance costs and any unamortized discount or premium. Deferred borrowing costs, premiums and discounts are amortized to interest expense over the terms of the respective borrowings using the effective interest method.

Leases and deferred rent

The Company categorizes leases at their inception as either operating or capital leases. At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the Company had only entered into operating leases.

The Company leases office facilities and retail stores under operating leases. The majority of leases contain renewal options and require the Company to pay specific taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance costs on a pro rata basis or based upon the actual expenses incurred. The Company records retail and office rent expense as a component of selling, general, and administration expenses.

The recognition of rent expense for an operating lease commences on the date at which control and possession of the property is obtained. Rent expense is calculated by recognizing total minimum rental payments, net of any rental abatement, tenant improvement allowances, and other rental concessions,

 

F-14


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

on a straight-line basis over the lease term. The difference between straight-line rent expense and rent paid is recorded as deferred rent, which is classified within accounts payable and accrued liabilities for the current portion and non-current deferred rent on the consolidated balance sheets.

Emerging growth company

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable.

The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised, and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, requiring the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and the disclosure of key information about the leasing arrangements. The new guidance is applied utilizing a modified retrospective approach and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), which provides entities with an additional (and optional) transition method to adopt the new lease requirements by allowing entities to initially apply the requirements by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company plans to adopt this guidance at the beginning of fiscal year 2022. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of adoption on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The adoption is expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company continues to

 

F-15


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

evaluate the impact of adoption on the Company’s consolidated financial statement. The adoption is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40), which align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and will adopt the guidance effective as of the beginning of fiscal year 2021.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740), which removes certain exceptions and simplifies accounting for income tax with various specific changes. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, to provide relief that, if elected, will require less accounting analysis and less accounting recognition for modifications related to reference rate reform. The amendments in this Update are effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the reference rate reform on its credit agreements and cash flow derivative instruments.

Note 3. March 2019 Transactions

On March 28, 2019 (the “Valuation Date”), the Company executed a restructuring of its equity (the “Restructuring Transaction”), refinancing of its debt (the “Refinancing Transaction”), and also entered into the Amended and Restated Limited Liability Company Agreement (“2019 LLC Agreement”) and collectively with the Restructuring and Refinancing Transactions referred to as the “March 2019 Transactions”).

The 2019 LLC Agreement governs the outstanding equity of the Company at January 2, 2021 and at December 28, 2019. The Company’s capital structure includes no provision for the issuance of preferred stock. The 2019 LLC Agreement, among other provisions, contains the following items:

 

   

Restrictions on the transfer of equity, rights of first refusal, and rights of first offer;

 

   

A call right, as defined by the 2019 LLC Agreement, by the Company related to equity held by any employee stockholder;

 

   

Certain take along rights and come along rights related to Company sales as defined in the 2019 LLC Agreement;

 

   

Participation rights related to the issuance of any new securities as defined in the 2019 LLC Agreement;

The Company entered into the March 2019 Transactions with its existing equity holders, certain of its debt holders, and certain funds, investment vehicles or accounts managed or advised by the Private

 

F-16


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Equity Group of Ares Management Corporation to refinance and recapitalize the Predecessor on March 28, 2019 (“the Closing Date”) (see Note 1). Certain parties, including the Predecessor, the noteholders of senior notes, and the holders of the majority of the outstanding equity of the Predecessor agreed to effectuate the March 2019 Transactions.

As part of the March 2019 Transactions, the following transactions occurred:

 

   

The parties listed in the table below purchased 165,000 shares of new common stock of the Predecessor, representing 92.5% of the outstanding equity of the surviving corporation, S-Evergreen Holding LLC at the completion of the March 2019 Transactions.

 

Determination of consideration

   Amount  

Crescent

   $     108,814  

Certain funds, investment vehicles or accounts managed or advised by the Private Equity Group of Ares Management Corporation

     45,000  

Goldpoint

     11,186  
  

 

 

 

Total cash consideration

   $ 165,000  
  

 

 

 

 

   

The senior notes (see Note 8), held by parties acquiring new common stock as described above, were settled for the issuance of an additional 7.5% of new equity worth $13.4 million.

 

   

All previously existing equity securities (including all shares of common stock and option and restricted stock units) issued by the Predecessor were cancelled and extinguished.

 

   

The Company obtained a $540.0 million first lien term loan and $60.0 million revolving line of credit and $50.0 million second lien term loan.

 

   

The obligations under the existing credit agreements were paid in full in cash. The payment of such debt was included in the consideration transferred.

The March 2019 Transactions were accounted for as a business combination in accordance with ASC 805, and the purchase price has been allocated to the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed based on their fair value at the acquisition date on March 28, 2019. The excess purchase price over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. Goodwill is primarily attributable to assembled workforce, expected synergies, and other factors. The valuation process included a review of financial and other data, the projected and operating performance of the business, analysis of the economic and financial market conditions, and the ability to generate future cash flows through established revenue channels. The Company recognized deferred tax assets of $1.3 million relating to the difference in tax basis on the net assets acquired. Additionally, deferred tax liabilities of $50.9 million were recorded relating to the difference in tax basis on the net assets acquired. None of the goodwill recognized is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. The Company recorded $12.0 million of transaction costs during the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 associated with the March 2019 Transactions. The charges were included in selling, general, and administrative expenses.

 

F-17


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The fair value of consideration transferred on the closing date includes the value of cash consideration and pre-existing equity for the conversion of the Mezzanine debt. The purchase price is as follows:

 

     March 28,
2019
 

Cash consideration paid for common stock issued and outstanding

   $     165,000  

Pre-existing equity for Mezzanine debt conversion

     13,379  

Payment of debt

     728,792  
  

 

 

 

Total purchase price

   $ 907,171  
  

 

 

 

In connection with the purchase price allocation, the Company made estimates of the fair values of its tangible and intangible assets and liabilities, which were based upon the income approach, the market approach or a combination of both and the cost approach with assumptions related to future cash flows, discount rates, business enterprise valuation, economic growth, market interest rates, and asset lives, utilizing currently available information.

Based on those estimates and the premise of value as of the Valuation Date, the Company increased the carrying value of its property and equipment, inventory, intangible assets and leasehold interests.

Fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the Valuation Date are as follows:

 

     March 28,
2019
 

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 195,648  

Restricted cash

     18,007  

Trade receivables, net

     10,554  

Inventories

     29,900  

Prepaid expenses and other

     17,355  

Property and equipment

     141,783  

Identifiable intangible assets

     204,948  

Goodwill

     471,962  

Other assets

     10,385  
  

 

 

 

Total assets

   $     1,100,542  
  

 

 

 

Accounts payable

     75,636  

Accrued expenses and related taxes

     42,566  

Deferred income taxes

     49,588  

Other liabilities

     25,581  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

   $ 193,371  
  

 

 

 

Total purchase price

   $ 907,171  
  

 

 

 

 

F-18


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The intangible assets and liabilities acquired and their respective weighted average lives are as follows:

 

     Amount      Weighted
average life
 

Trade names and trademarks

   $ 92,500        Indefinite  

Charity licensing agreements

     74,500        15.0 years  

Favorable lease commitments

     37,948        8.0 years  
  

 

 

    

Total intangible assets

   $     204,948     
  

 

 

    

Unfavorable lease commitments

   $ 6,538        5.2 years  

The fair value of identified intangible assets were estimated based on the income approach. These fair value measures were based on significant inputs not observable in the market and thus represent Level 3 measurements as defined in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurement. The valuations of the trade names and trademarks were based on the relief-from-royalty method (income approach). The charity supply agreements were valued using the present value of cash flows assuming the charity supply agreements were not in place, reflecting the additional potential lost revenue and potential expenses that the Company would incur in the absence of the charity supply agreements (income approach). The leasehold interests were valued using the income and cost approaches, which are the methodologies used to develop remaining lives of the leasehold interests.

Pro forma financial information (unaudited)

The following table presents the unaudited pro forma results for fiscal year 2020 and the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019. The unaudited pro forma financial information presents the results of operations of the Company as though the March 2019 Transactions had occurred as of the beginning of fiscal year ended December 29, 2018. The pro forma information is presented for informational purposes only and is not indicative of the results of operations that would have been achieved had the acquisition taken place at such time. The unaudited pro forma results presented below reflect pro forma adjustments related to the March 2019 Transactions, including increased amortization and depreciation resulting from the application of purchase accounting, differences in interest expense resulting from debt issued in connection with the March 2019 Transactions, and the effects of the step-up in inventory on cost of merchandise sold.

 

     Pro forma  
     Fiscal Year
2020
     Fiscal Year
ended
December 28,
2019
 

Net sales

   $     834,010      $     1,205,499  

Net loss

     (63,483      (40,136

 

F-19


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 4. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment, net of related depreciation, consist of the following at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019:

 

     January 2,
2021
     December 28,
2019
 

Furnitures, fixtures, and equipment

   $ 105,594      $ 92,916  

Leasehold improvements

     80,168        74,362  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property and equipment

   $ 185,762      $ 167,278  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less accumulated depreciation

     (65,800      (25,969
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, net

   $     119,962      $     141,309  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation expense (1)

     39,886        25,931  

 

(1) 

Depreciation expense is included within depreciation and amortization in the consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive (loss) income.

Note 5. Goodwill

Changes in the carrying value of goodwill by reportable segments were as follows:

 

     U.S.
Retail
     Canada
Retail
     Consolidated
Total
 

Balance at March 28, 2019

   $ 203,368      $ 268,594      $ 471,962  

Foreign currency translation effect

     —          5,812        5,812  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at December 28, 2019

   $     203,368      $     274,406      $     477,774  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Foreign currency translation effect

     —          8,015        8,015  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance at January 2, 2021

   $ 203,368      $ 282,421      $ 485,789  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

As a result of its assessment during the fourth quarter of 2019 and 2020, the Company determined it was more likely than not that the fair values of the U.S. and Canadian reporting units were greater than their carrying amounts. No impairment charge was recorded in the U.S. reporting unit nor the Canadian reporting unit for the period March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor) or fiscal year 2020.

 

F-20


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 6. Intangible Assets and Liabilities

The components of intangible assets, inclusive of the impact of foreign currency translation, were as follows:

 

January 2, 2021

 
     Gross
carrying
amount
     Accumulated
amortization
     Net carrying
amount
 

Assets:

        

Trade names and trademarks

   $ 92,500      $ —        $ 92,500  

Charity licensing agreements

     75,498        (18,674      56,824  

Lease intangible asset

     36,135        (6,020      30,115  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $     204,133      $     (24,694    $     179,439  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

        

Lease intangible liability

   $ (5,449    $ 1,444      $ (4,005
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ (5,449 )      $ 1,444      $
(4,005

  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

December 28, 2019

 
     Gross
carrying
amount
     Accumulated
amortization
     Net carrying
amount
 

Assets:

        

Trade names and trademarks

   $ 92,500      $ —        $ 92,500  

Charity licensing agreements

     75,340        (3,798      71,542  

Lease intangible asset

     38,346        (3,750      34,596  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $     206,186      $ (7,548    $     198,638  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

        

Lease intangible liability

   $ (6,581    $     1,051      $ (5,530
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ (6,581    $ 1,051      $ (5,530
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The amortization expense associated with long-lived intangible assets net of liabilities was $19.5 million, $6.5 million and $1.9 million, respectively, for fiscal year 2020, the period March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and the period December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor).

At January 2, 2021, estimated future intangible amortization expense is expected to be as follows:

 

2021

   $ 7,815  

2022

     7,442  

2023

     7,270  

2024

     7,033  

2025

     6,750  

Thereafter

     46,624  
  

 

 

 
   $     82,934  
  

 

 

 

During fiscal year 2020, and the period March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), the Company performed its annual indefinite lived intangible asset impairment test during the fourth

 

F-21


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

quarter utilizing a qualitative analysis and concluded it was more likely than not the fair value of the intangible assets was greater than its carrying value and no impairment charge was required.

Note 7. Indebtedness

Long-term debt consists of the following at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019:

 

     January 2,
2021
     December 28,
2019
 

U.S. first lien term loan, quarterly principal payments and periodic interest payments at certain variable rates as outlined in the 2019 Credit Agreement; balance due March 28, 2024 (1)

   $     277,423      $ 270,034  

Canada first lien term loan, quarterly principal payments and periodic interest payments at certain variable rates as outlined in the 2019 Credit Agreement; balance due March 28, 2024 (2)

     288,647        272,986  

U.S. second lien term loan, quarterly principal payments and periodic interest payments at certain variable rates as outlined in the 2019 Credit Agreement; balance due March 28, 2024 (3)

     64,532        53,829  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total face value of debt

   $ 630,602      $     596,849  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less current portion of long-term debt

     5,509        6,787  

Less deferred financing costs, net

     26,774        19,114  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-term debt, net of current portion

   $ 598,319      $ 570,948  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Borrowings from related parties for the U.S. first lien term loan were $138.7 million and $135.0 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.

(2) 

Borrowings from related parties for the Canadian first lien term loan were $144.3 million and $136.5 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.

(3) 

Borrowings from related parties for the U.S. second lien term loan were $64.5 million and $53.8 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.

(a) Term loan

On March 28, 2019, the Company entered into the RSA and completed a recapitalization and refinancing. This agreement provided the Company with the funding of an aggregate principal amount of $540.0 million for the first lien term and $50.0 million under the second lien term, and the receipt of an aggregate principal amount of up to $60.0 million in commitments under the revolving line of credit.

On August 2, 2019, Amendment 1 to the credit agreement was executed. As the Company entered into an amended credit agreement that was classified as a debt instrument, and there were no embedded features such as conversion options, put, call, and other interest rate features, this change was treated as a debt modification.

On June 24, 2020, Amendment 2 to the credit agreement was executed. This amendment changed the terms of the agreement to allow for smaller cash interest payments, larger deferral of paid-in-kind (“PIK”) interest, and to modify the debt covenant requirements. As the Company entered into an amended credit agreement that was classified as a debt instrument, and there were no embedded features such as conversion options, put, call, and other interest rate features, this change was treated as a debt modification.

 

F-22


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

First lien credit agreement

The first lien term loan is to be paid back in quarterly installments of $1.4 million, the remainder of which is due on the five-year anniversary of the closing date. The revolving line of credit matures on December 28, 2023. The first lien term loan is denominated 50% in U.S. dollars and 50% in Canadian dollars. The revolving line of credit may be borrowed in U.S. dollars or Canadian dollars but in no event may exceed the allowable borrowings under the terms of the agreement.

The interest rates vary based on type of loan and the first lien net leverage ratio. The interest rates are based on the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate, the Base Rate, the Canadian BA Rate, and the Canadian Prime Rate, plus the Applicable Rate. The weighted average effective interest rate of the U.S. First Lien term loan was 8.82% and 9.72% for fiscal year 2020 and the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, respectively. The weighted average effective interest rate of the Canada First Lien term loan was 9.07% and 9.74% for fiscal year 2020 and the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, respectively. The Applicable Rates are based upon the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio in effect as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which a Compliance Certificate has theretofore been most recently delivered.

 

    

Domestic term loans and CAD
term A loans

  

CAD term B loans

First Lien net
leverage ratio

  

Eurocurrency
rate loans

  

Base rate
loans

  

Eurocurrency
rate loans

  

Base rate
loans

Category 1: Greater
than 3.00:1.00

   6.50% plus
the Additional
Margin
   5.50% plus
the
Additional
Margin
   7.00% plus the Additional Margin    6.00% plus the Additional Margin

Category 2: Less
than or equal to
3.00:1.00

   6.25% plus
the Additional
Margin
   5.50% plus
the
Additional
Margin
   6.75% plus the Additional Margin    5.75% plus the Additional Margin

The Additional Margin is 75 basis points and may be paid in cash or in kind at the election of the Company.

The Applicable Rates defined by the Second Amendment are as follows during the PIK Period which begins on, and including, March 31, 2020 and ending on, and including, March 31, 2021:

 

   

Domestic term loans and CAD
term A loans

 

CAD term B loans

Additional Margin

 

Eurocurrency
rate loans

 

Base rate
loans

 

Eurocurrency
rate loans

 

Base rate
loans

Low PIK option

  8.00% plus
0.75%
  7.00% plus
0.75%
  8.50% plus 0.75%   7.50% plus
0.75%

High PIK option

  6.00% plus
2.75%
  5.00% plus
2.75%
  6.50% plus 2.75%   5.50% plus
2.75%

 

F-23


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Second Amendment to the First Lien Credit Agreement has a First Lien Net Leverage Ratio financial covenant. The Borrowers shall not permit the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio on the last day of any test period to exceed the corresponding ratio set forth below:

 

First Lien net leverage ratio

                         6.00:1.00 through March 31, 2020

                         6.50:1.00 through December 31, 2021

                         6.25:1.00 through March 31, 2022

                         5.75:1.00 through December 31, 2023

The First Lien Credit Agreement calls for prepayment of term loans due to excess cash flow as defined in the First Lien Credit Agreement beginning with fiscal year 2019. There was no excess cash flow payment made for fiscal year 2020.

Second lien credit agreement

The second lien term loan of $50.0 million is due on the five-year anniversary of the closing date.

The interest rates vary as a percentage per annum equal to the following, based upon the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio in effect as of the end of the fiscal quarter for which a compliance certificate has theretofore been most recently delivered. The weighted average effective interest rate of the Second Lien term loan was 14.72% and 14.68% for fiscal year 2020 and the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, respectively.

 

First Lien net leverage ratio

  

Interest Rate

Greater than or equal to 3.50:1.00

   14.75% paid in kind

Less than 3.50:1.00 and greater than or equal to 3.00:1.00

   14.75% paid in kind or 7.00% paid in kind plus 7.25% paid in immediately available funds

Less than 3.00:1.00

   14.75% paid in kind or 14.00% paid in immediately available funds

The Second Lien Credit Agreement has a First Lien Net Leverage Ratio financial covenant. The Borrowers shall not permit the First Lien Net Leverage Ratio on the last day of any Test Period to exceed the corresponding ratio set forth below:

 

First quarter ending (on or about)

  First lien net leverage ratio  

June 30, 2019 through March 31, 2020

    7.50:1.00  

June 30, 2020 through March 31, 2021

    8.00:1.00  

June 30, 2021 through December 31, 2021

    7.95:1.00  

March 31, 2022

    7.70:1.00  

June 30, 2022 through March 31, 2023

    7.20:1.00  

June 30, 2023 through March 31, 2024

    7.15:1.00  

The Second Lien Credit Agreement calls for prepayment of term loans (after prepayment of first lien loans) due to excess cash flow as defined in the Second Lien Credit Agreement beginning with the fiscal year 2020. There was no excess cash flow payment made for fiscal year 2020.

 

F-24


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Second Amendment to the First and Second Lien Agreement, effective as of June 24, 2020 until January 1, 2022, subjects the Company to a liquidity covenant ( the “Liquidity Covenant”) which requires the Company to maintain a certain level of unrestricted minimum cash balance plus revolving borrowing capacity (“Liquidity”) based on the percent of retail stores open (defined in the agreement). If the percent of retail stores open is greater than 90%, the Company is required to maintain a lower level of Liquidity compared to when it is less than 90%. The intent of the Liquidity Covenant was to ensure that the Company carried sufficient liquidity in case the Company was not able to reopen retail stores during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company was in compliance with the Liquidity Covenant throughout the life of the First and Second Lien Agreements.

(b) Line of credit

The First Lien Credit Agreement provides the Company with a revolving line of credit of $60.0 million of which interest with respect to the outstanding revolving line of credit is a percentage per annum equal to: (a) for Eurocurrency Rate Loans, the Adjusted Eurocurrency Rate plus 2.75%, (b) for Canadian BA Rate Loans, the Canadian BA Rate plus 2.75%, (c) for Canadian Prime Rate Loans, the Canadian Prime Rate plus 1.75% and (d) for Base Rate Loans, the Base Rate plus 1.75%. The line of credit is subject to commitment and letter of credit fees as described below:

 

  a)

commitment fees equal to one-half of one percent (0.50%) per annum on the daily unused portion of the revolving line of credit.

 

  b)

letter of credit fees with respect to all Letters of Credit equal to (1) the Applicable Rate for Revolving Loans that are Eurocurrency Rate Loans, times (2) the average aggregate daily maximum amount available to be drawn under all Letters of Credit (regardless of whether any conditions for drawing could then be met and determined as of the close of business on any date of determination).

The Company drew $20.0 million of revolving loans upon execution of the agreement on March 28, 2019 (Successor). At January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the Company had $0 drawn on the line and had availability of $46.8 million and $46.3 million, respectively. The Letters of Credit guaranteeing payment to vendors totaled $13.2 million and $13.7 million as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.

(c) Aggregate principal payments for successor

Aggregate principal payments on debt at January 2, 2021 (Successor) are as follows for each of the following fiscal years and thereafter:

 

2021

   $ 5,509  

2022

     5,509  

2023

     5,509  

2024

     614,075  
  

 

 

 
   $     630,602  
  

 

 

 

 

F-25


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(d) Intercompany debt

Subsidiaries of the Company with the U.S. as the lender and Canada as the borrowers amended their interest-bearing note agreeing to pay CAD $256.2 million by March 28, 2024. The interest rate for this note is 9.77% per annum. The promissory note is accompanied by a forward subscription agreement, which allows for common units to be issued in consideration for an amount equal to the principal amount due and payable by the issuer. The notes are eliminated in consolidation in the financial statements (see Note 16).

The original note was for CAD $609.1 million and payable by January 13, 2020. The interest rate for this note was 8.75% per annum.

(e) Senior subordinated notes

On March 28, 2019, per the RSA, the Senior Subordinated Notes previously outstanding were all cancelled in full in exchange for new common units representing 7.5% of outstanding units. The fair value of the units issued was $13.4 million. As a result, the Company recognized a gain on extinguishment of the Senior Subordinated Notes of $283.2 million in the Predecessor Period.

(f) Related party debt

The current portion of long-term debt, net due to related parties was $2.8 million and $3.4 million at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively. The long-term debt, net due to related parties was $330.1 million and $311.5 million at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, respectively.

Note 8. Fair Value Measurements

The Company utilizes fair value measurements for its financial assets and financial liabilities and fair value measurements of nonfinancial items that are recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring basis. Fair value is based upon a hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1 measurements) and the lowest priority to measurements involving significant unobservable inputs (Level 3 measurements). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are as follows:

 

   

Level 1 inputs are quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access at the measurement date.

 

   

Level 2 inputs are inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

 

   

Level 3 inputs are unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

The level in the fair value hierarchy within which a fair value measurement in its entirety falls is based on the lowest level input that is significant to the fair value measurement in its entirety.

 

F-26


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following table presents financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at January 2, 2021:

 

            Fair Value measurements at reporting
date using
 
     January 2,
2021
     Quoted prices in
active markets
for identical
assets (Level 1)
     Significant other
observable inputs
(Level 2)
 

Assets:

        

Money market

   $ 1      $ 1      $ —    

Liabilities:

        

Interest rate swap

   $     8,923      $     —        $     8,923  

Forward contracts

     607        —          607  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 9,530      $ —        $ 9,530  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The following table presents financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis at December 28, 2019:

 

            Fair Value measurements at reporting
date using
 
     December 28,
2019
     Quoted prices in
active markets
for identical
assets (Level 1)
     Significant other
observable inputs
(Level 2)
 

Assets:

        

Money market

   $ 29,999      $     29,999      $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $     29,999      $ 29,999      $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

        

Interest rate swap

   $ 8,190      $ —        $     8,190  

Forward contracts

     257        —          257  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 8,447      $ —        $ 8,447  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The interest rate swap and forward contracts are valued using broker quotations, which include observable market information. Where independent pricing services provide fair values, the Company obtains an understanding of the methods used in pricing. As such, these instruments are classified within Level 2.

There were no transfers of financial assets or liabilities into or out of Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3 for fiscal year 2020, the period March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), or the period December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor).

The Company recognizes or discloses the fair value of certain nonfinancial assets, primarily long-lived assets, goodwill, intangible assets, and certain other assets in connection with impairment evaluations. For fiscal year 2020, the period March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and the period December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor), the Company did not record any material impairment charges to long-lived assets, goodwill, or intangible assets. Additionally, it measures exit costs associated with store closure at fair value. All of the Company’s nonrecurring valuations use significant unobservable inputs and, therefore, fall under Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

 

F-27


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The fair values of the Company’s debt instruments approximate their carrying values as the current rates approximate rates on similar debt and were based on rate notices provided by the Administrative Agent for the amended Credit Agreement (Level 2 inputs) at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 (see Note 7).

Note 9. Derivative Financial Instruments

As a result of its operating and financing activities, the Company is exposed to market risks from changes in interest and foreign currency exchange rates. These market risks may adversely affect the Company’s operating results and financial position. the Company seeks to minimize risk from changes in interest and foreign currency exchange rates through the use of derivative financial instruments when and to the extent deemed appropriate. The Company does not use derivative financial instruments for trading or other speculative purposes and does not use any leveraged derivative financial instruments. The Company recognizes all derivative instruments as either assets or liabilities in the statements of financial position and measures those instruments at fair value. The fair values of the derivatives are classified as assets or liabilities, current or non-current, based upon valuation results and settlement dates of the individual contracts. As the Company does not apply hedge accounting to any of its derivative contracts, changes to the fair value are reported in earnings in the period of the change.

Foreign currency contracts

We operate in foreign countries, which exposes us to market risk associated with foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. We use derivative financial instruments to manage our exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk, specifically forward sales of the CAD, locking in the exchange rate for a portion of the estimated cash flows of the Canadian operations. These contracts are entered into with large, reputable financial institutions that are monitored for counterparty risk.

Interest rate swap contracts

Our market risk is affected by changes in interest rates. We maintain floating-rate debt that bears interest based on market rates plus an applicable spread. Because our interest rate is tied to market rates, we manage our exposure to interest rate movements to effectively convert a portion of our floating-rate debt to a fixed-rate basis.

The fair values of foreign exchange forward contracts and interest rate swap contracts are as follows:

 

    

Balance Sheet
Location

   January 2,
2021
    December 28,
2019
 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments:

       

Interest rate swap

   Derivative
liability, current
   $ (2,845   $ (2,625

Forward contracts

   Derivative
liability, current
     (607     (257

Interest rate swap

   Derivative
liability,
long term
     (6,078     (5,565
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total derivatives in a liability position

      $     (9,530   $     (8,447
     

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-28


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The impact of derivative financial instruments on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income during fiscal year 2020, the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and the period from December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor) are as follows:

 

    Successor           Predecessor  
    Fiscal Year
2020
    March 28, 2019
to December 28,
2019
          December 30,
2018 to March 27,
2019
 

Gain (loss) on forward contract recognized in other income, net

  $     2,924     $ (6,476       $     (653

Loss on interest swap recognized in interest expense

  $ (3,458   $     (8,898       $ —    

Note 10. Segment Information

The Company consists of two reportable segments, U.S. Retail and Canada Retail. In addition to its two reportable segments, the Company has retail stores in Australia and its wholesale operations, which are classified within Other.

The Company evaluates the performance of its segments based on Segment Profit, which it defines as operating income, exclusive of corporate overhead and allocations, asset impairments, and certain separately disclosed unusual or infrequent items. Segment Profit, as defined herein, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities. These measures should not be considered as alternatives to our GAAP measures of Operating income, Net income, or cash flows from operating activities as an indicator of the Company’s performance or as a measure of liquidity.

 

F-29


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

During each of the periods presented, our segment results were as follows:

 

    Successor           Predecessor  
    Fiscal Year
2020
    March 28, 2019
to December 28,
2019
          December 30,
2018 to March 27,
2019
 

Net sales:

         

U.S. Retail

  $     412,272     $     469,977         $     134,720  

Canada Retail

    364,159       405,501           105,003  

Other

    57,579       70,049           20,249  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total net sales

    834,010       945,527           259,972  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Segment profit:

         

U.S. Retail

    44,571       64,430           13,264  

Canada Retail

    100,695       97,521           22,384  

Other

    18,247       16,607           4,814  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total segment profit

    163,513       178,558           40,462  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

General corporate expenses

    156,668       108,384           64,652  

Operating income (loss)

    6,845       70,174           (24,190

Interest expense

    (69,678     (58,003         (20,784

Other income, net

    3,410       (6,353         6,605  

Gain on extinguishment of debt

    —         —             283,241  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

(Loss) income before taxes

    (59,423     5,818           244,872  

Income tax expense

    4,060       4,437           5,256  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Net (loss) income

  $ (63,483   $ 1,381         $ 239,616  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

During each of the years presented, the Company’s reportable segments incurred depreciation and amortization expense as follows:

 

    Successor           Predecessor  
    Fiscal Year
2020
    March 28, 2019 to
December 28, 2019
          December 30, 2018
to March 27, 2019
 

Depreciation expense:

         

U.S. Retail

  $     28,435     $     18,594         $     12,689  

Canada Retail

    10,606       6,735           3,888  

Other

    845       602           388  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total depreciation expense

  $ 39,886     $ 25,931         $ 16,965  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Amortization expense:

         

U.S. Retail

  $ 11,416     $ 2,714         $ 943  

Canada Retail

    7,761       3,473           889  

Other

    369       273           40  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total amortization expense

  $ 19,546     $ 6,460         $ 1,872  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

F-30


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Company’s long-lived assets are primarily located in the United States (“U.S.”) and Canada, with a portion located in Australia. The locations of our long-lived assets consisted of the following as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019:

 

     As of  
     January 2, 2021      December 28, 2019  

U.S.

   $ 77,764      $ 102,100  

Canada

     41,745        47,960  

Other

     2,271        2,509  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-lived assets

   $     121,780      $     152,569  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets by geographic location as of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019 were as follows:

 

     As of  
     January 2, 2021      December 28, 2019  

U.S.

   $ 30,385      $ 73,419  

Canada

     127,819        109,389  

Other

     15,721        6,669  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net assets

   $     173,925      $     189,477  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note 11. (Loss) Earnings Per Unit

For fiscal year 2020 and the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019, basic and diluted (loss) earnings per unit were as follows:

 

     Successor  
     Fiscal Year 2020     March 28, 2019 to
December 28, 2019
 

Basic (loss) earnings per unit:

    

Net (loss) income

   $ (63,483   $ 1,381  

Weighted average common units outstanding for basic (loss) earnings per unit calculation

         188,757,245       178,378,867  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic (loss) earnings per unit:

   $ (0.34   $ 0.01  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted (loss) earnings per unit:

    

Net (loss) income

   $ (63,483   $ 1,381  

Weighted average common units outstanding for basic (loss) earnings per unit calculation

     188,757,245           178,378,867  

Assumed exercise / vesting of:

    

Options

     3,848,794       231,907  

Weighted average common units outstanding for diluted (loss) earnings per unit calculation (1)

     188,757,245       178,610,774  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Diluted (loss) earnings per unit:

   $ (0.34   $ 0.01  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) 

For fiscal year 2020, the calculation of diluted net loss per unit excludes the effect 3,848,794 options if exercised during the period under the treasury stock method as the inclusion of such options would be antidilutive to the period.

 

F-31


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 12. Equity

Common units

The Company’s common units consist of 198,378,867 units of Class A common units. The Company does not have any Class B common units issued and outstanding as of January 2, 2021. However, as of December 28, 2019 and January 2, 2021, there were 25,482,695 units of Class B common units authorized. Class A and Class B common units have the same rights except that Class A common units are entitled to one vote per unit while Class B common units have no voting rights. All holders of all series of common units have the same economic rights and participate in regular dividends based upon pro rata unit ownership. Time and performance-based options issued in connection with the 2019 Incentive Plan are redeemable for units of Class B common units (see Note 13).

Note 13. Compensation Plans

Equity based compensation

The Company established the 2012 Incentive Plan (the 2012 Plan) on July 9, 2012. The 2012 Plan allowed for the issuance of time and performance-based options, equity and cash performance awards, and restricted equity awards, to directors, officers, key employees, and other key individuals for up to 26,932,280 units. An additional authorization of 21,545,824 units to the 2012 Plan was approved by the Board of Directors (Board) in 2013. The 2012 Plan was authorized for up to a total of 48,478,104 units as of January 2, 2016.

As of March 28, 2019, as a result of the RSA, the 2012 Plan was cancelled (see Note 3). S-Evergreen Holding LLC established the 2019 Incentive Plan (the 2019 Plan) which allows for the issuance of time and performance-based options to directors, officers, key employees, and other key individuals for up to 25,482,695 units of Class B common units.

Option awards are generally granted with an exercise price equal to the market price established by the Board at the date of grant. As of January 2, 2021, the Company had 18,592,102 option awards outstanding, of which 7,456,760 vest over a five-year period based on employee service and 11,135,342 vest upon completion of performance conditions. Performance measurements are based on the achievement of specified multiples of the Company’s invested capital as defined. Option awards generally have 10-year contractual terms. When options are granted with other vesting terms, the vesting information is reflected in the valuation. The Company issues new units of Class B common units upon exercise of the options, which are subject to the terms of the 2019 LLC Agreement.

The Company recognized employee equity compensation expense related to its time-based options, net of tax effect, of $0.4 million, $0.2 million, and $0.3 million, respectively, for fiscal year 2020, the period from March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor) and December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor), respectively, in salaries, wages, and benefits expense in the consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive (loss) income. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during fiscal year 2020, the period March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and the period December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor) was $0. As of January 2, 2021 (Successor), there was $2.6 million of total unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested unit-based compensation arrangements granted under the 2019 Plan. That cost is expected to be recognized on a straight-line basis over the weighted average vesting period of 5 years.

 

F-32


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The total fair value of units vested for fiscal year 2020, the period March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and the period December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor) was $2.4 million, $0, and $0, respectively.

Employee options granted for fiscal year 2020, the period March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor) and the period December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor) include 3,153,323, 7,982,019, and 0 performance-based options. Performance-based options vest in 20% increments as performance measurements are achieved through the term of the options, which is five years from the grant date. Compensation expense for performance-based options is recognized when it is probable that performance measurements will be achieved. For the fiscal year 2020, the period March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and the period December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor), no compensation expense was recognized as the achievement of performance measurements was determined not to be probable.

The fair value of each option award is estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing model. The following assumptions apply for fiscal year 2020 and the fiscal year ended December 28, 2019 (Successor):

 

     Fiscal Year 2020    March 28, 2019 to
December 28, 2019

Expected volatility

   27.02% to 29.37%    26.27% to 28.02%

Risk-free interest rate

   0.47% to 1.72%    1.401% to 1.908%

Expected term (in years)

   6.50    6.50

Weighted average fair value of options

   $    0.52    $    0.31

Expected volatility is based on historic volatilities from publicly traded options of similar retail entities. The risk-free rate is based on the U.S. Treasury yield curve in effect at the time of each grant over the expected term of the options. The Company accounts for forfeitures as they are incurred. The expected term of options granted represents the period of time that options are expected to be outstanding.

 

F-33


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

A summary of the Company’s employee option plan activity is as follows:

 

Successor

   Number of
options
     Weighted
average
exercise price
     Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
term
     Aggregate
intrinsic
value
 

Granted

     16,549,372      $ 1.00        

Exercised

     —          —          

Forfeited or expired

     (2,038,615      1.00        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding at December 28, 2019

     14,510,757        1.00        9.70      $ —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Granted

     5,255,538        2.25        

Exercised

     —          —          

Forfeited or expired

     (1,174,193      1.00        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding at January 2, 2021

     18,592,102        1.35        8.84      $     24,252  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Exercisable at January 2, 2021

     1,088,244      $     1.00        8.42      $ 1,796  

 

Predecessor

   Number of
options
     Weighted
average
exercise
price
     Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
term
     Aggregate
intrinsic
value
 

Outstanding at December 28, 2019

     34,165,358           

Granted

     —        $ —          

Exercised

     —          —          

Forfeited or expired

     (34,165,358          2.63        
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Outstanding at March 27, 2019

     —        $ —          —        $     —    
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Restricted units

On July 9, 2012, 12,668,285 vested restricted units of the 2012 Plan were issued. The restricted units were cancelled and extinguished on March 26, 2019 as a part of the RSA (see Note 3).

Note 14. Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

The Company rents office facilities and retail store space from various unaffiliated lessors with expiration dates through 2032. The majority of the retail leases contain renewal options and require the Company to pay specific taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance costs either on a pro rata basis or based upon the actual expenses incurred.

Certain leases contain clauses that allow for the adjustment of minimum lease commitments based on increases in certain defined indices and also contain clauses for additional rent based on a percentage of gross sales as stipulated in the lease agreements. Many leases also provide for escalating minimum rental payments. Lease expense attributable to minimum rental payments is being recognized on the straight-line basis. Deferred rent represents the difference between straight-line rent expense recognized, and actual payments made on such leases.

 

F-34


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Aggregate future minimum rental payments under these agreements at January 2, 2021 (Successor) are as follows for each of the following fiscal years:

 

     Unaffiliated lessors  

2021

   $ 96,632  

2022

     89,238  

2023

     78,792  

2024

     66,553  

2025

     54,723  

Thereafter

     130,407  
  

 

 

 
   $     516,345  
  

 

 

 

Rent expense totaled $94.6 million, $70.5 million, and $22.0 million for fiscal year 2020, the periods March 28, 2019 to December 28, 2019 (Successor), and December 30, 2018 to March 27, 2019 (Predecessor), respectively.

Litigation and regulatory matters

The Company is involved from time to time in claims, proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We have made accruals with respect to these matters, where appropriate, which are reflected in the consolidated financial statements. For some matters, the amount of liability is not probable or the amount cannot be reasonably estimated and therefore accruals have not been made. The Company may enter into discussions regarding settlement of these matters, and may enter into settlement agreements, if it’s in the best interest of the Company. From time to time, the Company is involved in routine litigation that arises in the ordinary course of business. There are no pending significant legal proceedings to which the Company is a party for which management believes the ultimate outcome would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position.

The Company periodically has inquiries from various government agencies regarding aspects of its operations. In 2014, the Company received such an inquiry from the Attorney General of the State of Washington. In December 2017, the Washington Attorney General (“AG”) filed a lawsuit against the Company in State Court relating to, among other things, alleged deceptive advertisements and marketing practices. The parties completed the first phase of the lawsuit in October 2019. The second phase of the lawsuit was scheduled for June 2020, but in May 2020, the Washington Court of Appeals granted the Company’s request for a discretionary review of the ruling in the first phase. On August 16, 2021, the Washington Court of Appeals ruled in the Company’s favor and dismissed all of the remaining claims. At this point, the Company has prevailed on all claims asserted in the lawsuit. The Washington AG has sought reconsideration of the Court’s ruling.

 

F-35


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 15. Income Taxes

(Loss) income before income tax expense (benefit) consists of the following for each period presented:

 

     Successor     Predecessor  
     Fiscal Year
2020
     March 28, 2019
to December 28,
2019
    December 30, 2018
to March 27,
2019
 

U.S. operations

   $ (57,496    $ (15,488   $ 250,084  

Foreign operations

     (1,927          21,306       (5,212
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total (loss) income before tax expense (benefit)

   $     (59,423    $ 5,818     $     244,872  
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Components of income tax expense (benefit) are summarized as follows for each period presented:

 

    Successor           Predecessor  
    Fiscal Year
2020
    March 28, 2019
to December 28,
2019
          December 30, 2018
to March 27,
2019
 

Current:

         

U.S.—federal

  $ —       $ —           $ 1,545  

U.S.—state

    28       —             63  

Foreign

        16,943           20,749           (11,233

Deferred:

         

U.S.—federal

    (12,602     (4,406         1,240  

U.S.—state

    (2,276     808           2,272  

Foreign

    1,967       (12,714             11,369  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Total income tax expense (benefit)

  $ 4,060     $ 4,437         $ 5,256  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

F-36


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows for the consolidated taxable entities at January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019:

 

     January 2,
2021
     December 28,
2019
 

Deferred tax assets:

     

Net operating loss carryforwards

   $ 23,734      $ 26,456  

Foreign tax credits

     20,579        20,906  

Deferred rent

     3,659        302  

Insurance reserves

     2,969        3,069  

Deferred and equity-based compensation

     764        693  

Employment tax credits

     4,832        —    

Workers’ compensation reserve

     849        1,081  

Unrealized foreign exchange loss

     1,856        4,753  

Contingent liabilities

     2,643        2,194  

Deferred interest

     28,091        25,088  

Deferred payroll

     5,083        —    

Sec. 267 Deferred Basis

     8,635        —    

Other

     1,930        1,290  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax asset, exclusive of valuation allowance

   $   105,624      $   85,832  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Less valuation allowance

     (64,382      (55,413
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax asset, net

   $ 41,242      $ 30,419  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities:

     

Property and equipment depreciation and amortization

     7,027        9,407  

Deferred prepaids

     571        970  

Inventory

     1,813        902  

Leasehold interests

     6,835        7,592  

Goodwill

     537        1,651  

Charity licensing agreements

     14,831        18,303  

Trade names and trademarks

     22,703        23,297  

Partnership tax deferral

     8,341        155  

Unrealized foreign exchange gain

     —          2,006  

Other

     —          7  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liability

   $ 62,658      $ 64,290  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Deferred tax liability, net

   $ 21,416      $ 33,871  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

As of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the Company had $70.6 million and $86.6 million, respectively, of U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards. Net operating loss carryforwards before December 30, 2017 expire between 2028 and 2037. Net operating loss carryforwards after December 30, 2017 can be carried forward indefinitely to offset future U.S. taxable income. As of January 2, 2021 and December 28, 2019, the Company had $99.0 million and $98.7 million, respectively, of U.S. state net operating loss carryforwards. These net operating loss carryforwards expire between 2020 and 2039. As of January 2, 2021 the company had a federal R&D credit of $0.4 million, which will expire in 2039.

 

F-37


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code, and similar state regulations, contain provisions that may limit the NOL carryforwards available to be used to offset income in any given year upon the occurrence of certain events, including changes in the ownership within the meaning of Section 382 (see Note 3 and Note 16). The Company reduced its tax attributes (NOLs and tax credits) and generated a limitation on utilization of such attributes resulting from the March 2019 Transactions.

The Company maintains a valuation allowance of $62.6 million related to its U.S. operations. The remaining balance relates to the Company’s operations in Australia. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amounts that are more-likely-than-not expected to be realized. Management evaluates and weighs all available positive and negative evidence such as historic results, projected future taxable income, future reversals of existing deferred tax liabilities, as well as prudent and feasible tax-planning strategies. On the basis of this evaluation, the Company maintains a valuation allowance for the deferred tax assets related to the foreign tax credits, U.S. net operating loss carryforwards, and other U.S. deferred tax assets has been provided due to uncertainties relating to their realization.

On March 27, 2020, Congress enacted the Coronavirus Aid Relief and Economic Security Act (“CARES Act”), in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act contain numerous income tax provisions, including refundable payroll tax credits, deferment of employer side social security payments, 100% utilization of net operating losses (NOLs) for taxable income in 2018, 2019 and 2020, 5 years NOL carryback from 2018, 2019 or 2020, interest limitation increase to 50% adjusted taxable income from 30% for tax years beginning January 1, 2019 and 2020, and immediate deduction of qualified improvement costs instead of depreciating them over 39 years. The Company has benefited from the increase of the 50% adjusted taxable income limitation on net interest expense deduction, immediate deductions of qualified improvement costs, and the deferment of employer side social security payments.

The differences between income taxes expected by applying the U.S. federal statutory tax rate and the amount of income taxes provided for are as follows:

 

    Successor           Predecessor  
    Fiscal Year
2020
    March 28, 2019
to December 28,
2019
          December 30, 2018
to March 27,
2019
 

U.S. federal statutory income tax rate

    21.0     21.0         21.0

Tax (benefit) expense at statutory rate

  $ (12,479   $ 1,223         $     51,423  

Increase (decrease) in income taxes resulting from:

         

State taxes net of federal benefit

    (5,006     666           (5,747

Tax impact of restructuring

    (11,293         121,655           (81,681

GILTI

    3,193       4,331           1,604  

Foreign rate differential

    2,191       834           (319

Change in valuation allowance

    8,969       (126,915         38,551  

CRA Settlement

        18,611       —             —    

Other

    (126     2,643           1,425  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Income tax expense (benefit)

  $ 4,060     $ 4,437         $ 5,256  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

 

F-38


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The following table summarizes the activity related to the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits:

 

    Successor           Predecessor  
    Fiscal
Year 2020
    March 28, 2019
to December 28,
2019
          December 30, 2018
to March 27,
2019
 

Beginning gross unrecognized tax benefits balance

  $     1,545     $     1,545         $ —    

Increase related to prior year tax position

    —         —             1,545  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

Ending gross unrecognized tax benefits balance

  $ 1,545     $ 1,545         $     1,545  
 

 

 

   

 

 

       

 

 

 

In the normal course of business, the Company is subject to examination by taxing authorities in the countries in which it operates. The Company is currently under audit by several taxing jurisdictions, federal and state. Although the outcome of tax audits is always uncertain, the Company has assessed the probable outcomes and potential exposure and believes that it has provided adequate amounts of tax, interest and penalties for any adjustments that may arise from these open tax years. The Company’s continuing practice is to recognize interest and penalties related to income tax matters in income tax expense.

On December 9, 2020, the Company signed a settlement agreement with Canada Revenue Agency to resolve certain income and nonresident withholding tax disputes with respect to tax years 2012 – 2019. As a result of the settlement, the Company has recorded tax and interest expense of approximately CAD $27.0 million. Of the CAD $27.0 million, approximately CAD $11.8 million has been paid as of January 2, 2021.

As of January 2, 2021, the Company had not recognized a deferred tax liability on approximately $1.0 billion of the excess of the amount for financial reporting over the tax basis in the stock of certain foreign subsidiaries that is essentially permanent in duration. This amount becomes taxable upon a repatriation of assets from the subsidiaries or a disposal of the subsidiaries. It is not practicable to determine the amount of the related unrecognized deferred income tax liability.

Note 16. Subsequent Events

On March 10, 2021, certain funds, investment vehicles or accounts managed or advised by the Private Equity Group of Ares Management Corporation entered into a definitive purchase and sale agreement with the other equity holders of the Company. On April 26, 2021, certain funds, investment vehicles or accounts managed or advised by the Private Equity Group of Ares Management Corporation, which were previously minority owners of the Company, acquired full ownership interest of the Company from the other equity holders, which sold their majority position in the Company. As part of the transaction, the Company also committed to enter into a $600.0 million first lien term loan and a $60.0 million revolving loan with new and existing lenders. The Company used the proceeds of the first lien term loan to pay off existing term loans and transaction costs. Proceeds from the revolving loans will be used for working capital and general corporate purposes. In connection with the refinance, the intercompany debt was settled in full.

The Company has evaluated subsequent events from the balance sheet date through October 11, 2021, the date the financial statements were available to be issued, and determined there are no other items to disclose.

 

F-39


Table of Contents

S-EVERGREEN HOLDING LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Dollars in thousands, except unit amounts)

 

    As of  
    October 2,
2021
    January 2,
2021
 
    (unaudited)        

Current assets:

   

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 160,252     $ 137,201  

Restricted cash

    1,093       658  

Trade and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $440 and $1,332 as of October 2, 2021 and January 2, 2021, respectively

    6,389       8,898  

Inventories

    21,758       21,595  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

    19,347       10,255  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

    208,839       178,607  

Property and equipment, net

    122,053       119,962  

Goodwill

    485,934       485,789  

Intangible assets, net

    172,597       179,439  

Derivative asset – non-current

    14,923       —    

Other assets

    4,488       1,818  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

    1,008,834       965,615  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

   

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

    79,075       66,728  

Accrued payroll and related taxes

    60,443       53,688  

Derivative liability – current

    3,999       3,452  

Current portion of long-term debt

    4,500       2,754  

Current portion of long-term debt due to related parties

    —         2,755  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

    148,017       129,377  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Insurance reserves

    6,779       6,465  

Deferred rent

    16,111       16,460  

Deferred compensation

    2,352       2,488  

Lease intangible liability, net

    3,283       4,005  

Long-term debt, net

    574,048       268,263  

Long-term debt, net due to related parties

    —         330,056  

Derivative liability – non-current

    4,027       6,078  

Deferred tax liabilities

    18,302       21,416  

Other liabilities

    5,073       7,082  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities

    777,992       791,690  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (see Note 14)

   

Members’ equity:

   

Common A Units, 198,378,867 units authorized, issued, and outstanding as of October 2, 2021 and January 2, 2021

    223,379       223,379  

Common B Units, 25,482,695 units authorized as of October 2, 2021 and January 2, 2021; 0 units issued and outstanding as of October 2, 2021 and January 2, 2021

    1,112       565  

Accumulated deficit

    (6,446     (62,102

Accumulated other comprehensive income

    12,797       12,083  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total members’ equity

    230,842       173,925  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total liabilities and members’ equity

  $ 1,008,834     $ 965,615  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-40


Table of Contents

S-EVERGREEN HOLDING LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)

(Dollars in thousands, except per unit amounts)

 

    Nine Months Ended  
    October 2, 2021     September 26, 2020  

Net sales

  $ 859,291     $ 564,328  

Operating expenses:

   

Cost of merchandise sold, exclusive of depreciation and amortization

    317,620       233,202  

Salaries, wages, and benefits

    168,314       124,243  

Selling, general, and administrative

    186,858       168,847  

Depreciation and amortization

    33,972       43,434  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

    706,764       569,726  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

    152,527       (5,398

Other expense:

   

Interest expense

    (40,591     (51,454

Other (expense) income, net

    (399     2,137  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    (47,541     —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other expense, net

    (88,531     (49,317
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before income tax expense

    63,996       (54,715

Income tax expense (benefit)

    8,340       (13,398
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

  $ 55,656     $ (41,317

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

   

Foreign currency translation adjustments

    714       7,001  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Other comprehensive income

    714       7,001  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Comprehensive income (loss)

  $ 56,370     $ (34,316
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net earnings (loss) per unit, basic

  $ 0.28     $ (0.22

Net earnings (loss) per unit, diluted

  $ 0.28     $ (0.22

Weighted average number of units outstanding used to compute net (loss) earnings per unit, basic

      198,378,867       185,290,632  

Weighted average number of units outstanding used to compute net (loss) earnings per unit, diluted

    201,821,886       185,290,632  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-41


Table of Contents

S-EVERGREEN HOLDING LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Members’ Equity

(Dollars in thousands, except unit amounts)

 

(unaudited)

  Common A units     Common B
units
    Accumulated
deficit
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
    Total  
  Units     Amount     Units     Amount  

Balance as of January 3, 2021

    198,378,867     $ 223,379       —       $ 565     $ (62,102   $ 12,083     $ 173,925  

Net Income

            55,656       —         55,656  

Common B Units equity compensation

          547         —         547  

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effect of $0

              714       714  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of October 2, 2021

    198,378,867     $ 223,379     $   —       $ 1,112     $ (6,446   $ 12,797     $ 230,842  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

(unaudited)

  Common A units     Common B
units
    Retained
earnings
(accumulated
deficit )
    Accumulated
other
comprehensive
income
    Total  
  Units     Amount     Units     Amount  

Balance as of December 29, 2019

    178,378,867     $ 178,379       —       $ 211     $ 1,381     $ 9,506     $ 189,477  

Net loss

          $ (41,317     $ (41,317

Common B units equity compensation

        —         267           267  

Share issuance

    20,000,000       45,000               45,000  

Foreign currency translation adjustment, net of tax effect of $0

              (2,505     (2,505
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance as of September 26, 2020

    198,378,867     $   223,379       —       $   478     $ (39,936   $ 7,001     $ 190,922  
 

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-42


Table of Contents

S-EVERGREEN HOLDING LLC AND SUBSIDIARIES

Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Dollars in thousands)

 

     Nine Months Ended  
     October 2,
2021
    September 26,
2020
 

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income (loss)

   $ 55,656     $ (41,317

Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:

    

Stock-based compensation expense

     547       268  

Amortization of debt issuance costs and term debt discount

     2,619       3,824  

Depreciation and amortization

     33,972       43,434  

Deferred income tax benefit

     (3,321     (8,792

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     47,541       —    

Noncash interest expense

     3,415       13,405  

Other noncash items, net

     3,750       246  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:

    

Decrease in trade and other receivables

     3,290       3,759  

Increase in inventories

     (180     (426

Increase in prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (9,168     (3,157

Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities

     4,990       6,511  

Increase (decrease) in accrued payroll and related taxes

     6,809       (25,010

(Decrease) increase in deferred rent and other

     (4,035     11,704  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

   $ 145,886     $ 4,449  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchases of property and equipment

     (23,327     (14,216
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

   $ (23,327   $ (14,216
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt

     600,000       —    

Principal payments on long-term debt

     (420,690     (1,998

Principal payments on long-term debt to related parties

     (222,910     (1,998

Advances on revolving line of credit

     —         42,095  

Repayments of revolving line of credit

     —         (42,095

Prepayment premium on extinguishment of debt

     (14,687     —    

Prepayment premium on extinguishment of debt to related parties

     (8,122     —    

Proceeds from share issuance

     —         45,000  

Debt issuance costs and debt discount

     (23,813     (1,481
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

   $ (90,222   $ 39,524  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     (8,851     1,648  

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

     23,486       31,405  

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period

     137,859       86,266  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period

   $ 161,345     $ 117,671  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:

    

Interest paid on debt

     32,467       28,776  

Income taxes paid (benefit), net

     5,391       (4,947

Supplemental disclosure of noncash investing activities:

    

Change in noncash capital expenditures

     (7,409     374  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

F-43


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

Note 1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation

Description of business

S-Evergreen Holding LLC (the “Company,” “we,” “our” or the “Successor”) was established on March 22, 2019 and is headquartered in Bellevue, Washington. The Company, together with its wholly owned subsidiaries, sells second-hand merchandise in retail stores located in the United States (“U.S.”), Canada, and Australia.

Basis of presentation

These interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. These interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements present the condensed consolidated balance sheets, condensed consolidated statements

of operations and comprehensive income (loss), condensed consolidated statements of members’ equity, and condensed consolidated statements of cash flows of the Company in U.S. dollars, in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) for interim financial information. Certain information and disclosures normally included in consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP have been condensed or omitted. Accordingly, these interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and accompanying footnotes should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021. Except as described elsewhere in Note 2, there have been no material changes to the Company’s significant accounting policies as described in the Company’s consolidated financial statements as of and for the fiscal year ended January 2, 2021. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of January 2, 2021 has been derived from the previously audited consolidated financial statements.

The Company reports on a fiscal year basis, which ends on the Saturday nearest December 31. Both the nine-month interim reporting period ended on October 2, 2021 and the comparative period ended September 26, 2020 consisted of 39 weeks. All dollar amounts in the Notes to these interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements, with the exception of per unit amounts, are rounded to the nearest thousand unless otherwise indicated.

Note 2. Recent Developments

Ares Share Purchase Transaction and April 2021 Refinancing

On April 26, 2021, certain funds, investment vehicles or accounts managed or advised by the Private Equity Group of Ares Management Corporation (the “Ares Funds”), pursuant to a Purchase and Sale Agreement with the then majority equityholder of the Company, purchased for cash all of the outstanding equity securities of the Company of that equityholder (the “Ares Share Purchase Transaction”). As a result, the Ares Funds became the holders of all of the Company’s outstanding equity, prior to this offering. The Company did not elect to apply push down accounting for the Ares Share Purchase Transaction, as the transaction was entirely among the holders of the securities.

As part of the Ares Share Purchase Transaction, the Company also entered into a $600.0 million first lien term loan and a $60.0 million revolving loan (“April 2021 Refinancing”), resulting in a loss on debt

 

F-44


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

extinguishment of $47.5 million. The Company used the proceeds of the first lien term loan to pay off its existing term loans. In connection with the April 2021 Refinancing, all intercompany debt of the Company was settled in full. No lenders from the Company’s previous existing term loans participated in the April 2021 Refinancing.

Refer to Note 7, Indebtedness, for further details regarding the Company’s outstanding debt balances.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic

The novel coronavirus (“COVID-19”) pandemic continues to evolve. During fiscal year 2020, national and local governments where we operate enacted various social mitigation measures in response to COVID-19, which resulted in the temporary closure of our retail locations during a substantial portion of fiscal year 2020. These restrictions were gradually relaxed during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021, and as a result, substantially all of our stores and our central processing center (“CPC”) have remained open.

Capital Spending

During the nine months ended October 2, 2021, the Company significantly increased its capital spending. The increased spending resulted from the Company’s increased focus on CPCs, its automated book processing (“ABP”) system, and customer self-checkout kiosks in its retail store locations. The Company’s CPC is an offsite distribution center, which allows for the centralized sorting and distribution of inventory. The Company’s new ABP system is an integrated set of technologies, which enable the Company to more efficiently identify, price, and sort books based on specific attributes (e.g., genre, author, market price).

Primarily as a result of this new strategy, the purchases of property and equipment increased to $23.3 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2021, compared to $14.2 million during the first nine months of fiscal year 2020.

Note 3. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Use of estimates

Preparation of these interim unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities as of the date of the condensed consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting periods. These estimates are based on information that is currently available and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Certain items subject to such estimates and assumptions include, but are not limited to, the useful lives of property and equipment, equity-based compensation, insurance reserves, allowances on trade and other receivables, valuation of intangibles and goodwill, and income taxes. Actual results could vary from those estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Revenue recognition

Retail sales. The Company recognizes revenue pursuant to ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. Revenue is recorded for store sales upon the purchase of merchandise by customers.

 

F-45


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Sales taxes collected from customers are not considered revenue and are included in accrued liabilities until remitted to the taxing authorities.

Revenue is recorded net of promotional price reductions. The Company does not record a sales return reserve as no right of return exists for customers. Only exchanges are accepted within fourteen days of purchase.

Gift Cards. Revenue is not recorded on the issuance of gift cards. A current liability is recorded upon issuance, and revenue is recognized when the gift card is redeemed for merchandise.

Customer Loyalty Program. In 2017, the Company launched its loyalty program called the Super Savers Club (the “Program”). The Program features unique benefits for loyalty members. Under the Program, members accumulate points based on purchase activity and earn rewards by reaching certain point thresholds. Members earn rewards in the form of discount savings certificates. Rewards earned are valid through the stated expiration date, which is 60 days from the issuance date of the reward. Rewards not redeemed during the 60-day redemption period are forfeited.

Wholesale sales. Sales of residual products are recognized at the point of delivery with no right of return and exclude shipping and handling costs, which are paid by the customer. The Company does not have a significant financing component as customers pay within one year of title transfer.

Sales during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020 consisted of the following:

 

    Nine Months Ended  
    October 2,
2021
    September 26,
2020
 

Retail sales

  $     822,587     $     541,701  

Wholesale sales

    36,704       22,627  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net sales

  $ 859,291     $ 564,328  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Inventories

Inventories consist almost entirely of used clothing and other household goods purchased from nonprofit partners on a volume basis or donated to nonprofit partners by individuals at the Company’s donation centers and then purchased by the Company from the nonprofit partners. Inventory is valued at the lower of average purchase cost or net realizable value. As of October 2, 2021, and January 2, 2021, there was no allowance for obsolete and excess inventory.

Emerging growth company

The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act, as modified by the JOBS Act, and it may take advantage of certain exemptions from various reporting requirements that are applicable to other public companies that are not emerging growth companies including, but not limited to, not being required to comply with the auditor attestation requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, reduced disclosure obligations regarding executive compensation in its periodic reports and proxy statements, and exemptions from the requirements of holding a nonbinding advisory vote on executive compensation and shareholder approval of any golden parachute payments not previously approved.

 

F-46


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Further, Section 102(b)(1) of the JOBS Act exempts emerging growth companies from being required to comply with new or revised financial accounting standards until private companies (that is, those that have not had a Securities Act registration statement declared effective or do not have a class of securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) are required to comply with the new or revised financial accounting standards. The JOBS Act provides that an emerging growth company can elect to opt out of the extended transition period and comply with the requirements that apply to non-emerging growth companies but any such election to opt out is irrevocable.

The Company has elected not to opt out of such extended transition period which means that when a standard is issued or revised, and it has different application dates for public or private companies, the Company, as an emerging growth company, can adopt the new or revised standard at the time private companies adopt the new or revised standard. This may make comparison of the Company’s financial statements with other public companies difficult or impossible because of the potential differences in accounting standards used.

Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases, requiring the recognition of lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and the disclosure of key information about the leasing arrangements. The new guidance is applied utilizing a modified retrospective approach and is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842), which provides entities with an additional (and optional) transition method to adopt the new lease requirements by allowing entities to initially apply the requirements by recognizing a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. The Company plans to adopt this guidance at the beginning of fiscal year 2022. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of adoption on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The adoption is expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments – Credit Losses (Topic 326), to replace the incurred loss impairment methodology in current GAAP with a methodology that reflects expected credit losses and requires consideration of a broader range of reasonable and supportable information to inform credit loss estimates. The guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of adoption on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. The adoption of the new standard is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40), which align the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, and interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2021. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and will adopt the guidance effective as of the beginning of fiscal year 2021.

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (Topic 740), which removes certain exceptions and simplifies accounting for income tax with various specific changes. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and

 

F-47


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

interim periods within annual periods beginning after December 15, 2022. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

In March 2020, the FASB issued ASU 2020-04, Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848), Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, to provide relief that, if elected, will require less accounting analysis and less accounting recognition for modifications related to reference rate reform. The amendments in this Update are effective for all entities as of March 12, 2020 through December 31, 2022. The Company is in the process of evaluating the impact of the reference rate reform on its credit agreements and cash flow derivative instruments.

Note 4. Property and Equipment

Property and equipment, net of related depreciation, consist of the following as of October 2, 2021 and January 2, 2021:

 

     As of  
     October 2,
2021
    January 2,
2021
 

Furnitures, fixtures, and equipment

   $ 134,357     $ 105,594  

Leasehold improvements

     80,967       80,168  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property and equipment

     215,324       185,762  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Less accumulated depreciation

     (93,271     (65,800
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total property and equipment, net

     122,053       119,962  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

During the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020, we recognized depreciation expense of $28.0 million and $29.1 million, respectively.

Note 5. Goodwill

Changes in the carrying value of goodwill by reportable segments were as follows:

 

     U.S.
Retail
     Canada
Retail
     Consolidated
Total
 

Balance as of January 2, 2021

   $ 203,368      $ 282,421      $ 485,789  

Foreign currency translation effect

     —          145        145  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Balance as of October 2, 2021

     203,368        282,566        485,934  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company did not record any impairment to its goodwill during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 or the nine months ended September 26, 2020.

 

F-48


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 6. Intangible Assets and Liabilities

The components of intangible assets, inclusive of the impact of foreign currency translation, were as follows:

 

As of October 2, 2021

 
     Gross
carrying
amount
     Accumulated
amortization
     Net
carrying
amount
 

Assets:

        

Trade names and trademarks

   $ 92,500      $ —        $ 92,500  

Charity licensing agreements

     65,434        (12,195      53,239  

Lease intangible asset

     36,051        (9,193      26,858  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 193,985      $ (21,388    $ 172,597  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

        

Lease intangible liability

   $ (5,443    $ 2,160      $ (3,283
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ (5,443    $ 2,160      $ (3,283
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

As of January 2, 2021

 
     Gross
carrying
amount
     Accumulated
amortization
     Net
carrying
amount
 

Assets:

        

Trade names and trademarks

   $ 92,500      $ —        $ 92,500  

Charity licensing agreements

     75,498        (18,674      56,824  

Lease intangible asset

     36,135        (6,020      30,115  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ 204,133      $ (24,694    $ 179,439  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Liabilities:

        

Lease intangible liability

   $ (5,449    $ 1,444      $ (4,005
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total

   $ (5,449    $ 1,444      $ (4,005
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The amortization expense associated with long-lived intangible assets net of liabilities was $6.0 million during both the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and the nine months ended September 26, 2020.

During the nine months ended October 2, 2021, the Company did not identify any impairment triggering events related to either its indefinite-lived trade names and trademarks or long-lived assets.

 

F-49


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 7. Indebtedness

Long-term debt consisted of the following as of October 2, 2021 and January 2, 2021:

 

     As of  
     October 2, 2021     January 2, 2021  

New Term Loan Facility, quarterly principal payments and periodic interest payments at certain variable rates; balance due April 26, 2028 (1)

   $ 594,212     $ —    

U.S. first lien term loan, quarterly principal payments and periodic interest payments at certain variable rates as outlined in the 2019 Credit Agreement; balance due March 28, 2024 (2)

     —         277,423  

Canada first lien term loan, quarterly principal payments and periodic interest payments at certain variable rates as outlined in the 2019 Credit Agreement; balance due March 28, 2024 (3)

     —         288,647  

U.S. second lien term loan, quarterly principal payments and periodic interest payments at certain variable rates as outlined in the 2019 Credit Agreement; balance due March 28, 2024 (4)

     —         64,532  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total face value of debt

   $ 594,212     $ 630,602  

Less current portion of long-term debt

     (4,500     (5,509

Less deferred financing costs, net

     (15,664     (26,774
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total long-term debt, net of current portion

   $ 574,048     $ 598,319  
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

(1) 

The Company had no related party borrowings under the New Term Loan Facility as of October 2, 2021.

(2)

Borrowings from related parties for the U.S. first lien term loan were $138.7 million as of January 2, 2021.

(3)

Borrowings from related parties for the Canadian first lien term loan were $144.3 million as of January 2, 2021.

(4)

Borrowings from related parties for the U.S. second lien term loan were $64.5 million as of January 2, 2021.

April 2021 Refinancing

As part of the Ares Share Purchase Transaction (See Note 2, Recent Developments) in April 2021, the Company entered into the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, which consist of a $600.0 million first lien term loan (“New Term Loan Facility”) and a $60.0 million revolving loan (“New Revolving Credit Facility”, and together with the New Term Loan Facilities, the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”). The Company used the proceeds of the New Term Loan Facility to pay off its existing term loans, resulting in a loss on debt extinguishment of $47.5 million. In connection with the April 2021 Refinancing, the Company settled its intercompany debt in full. The Company’s principal subsidiaries in the United States and Canada are borrowers under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, and most of the Company’s U.S. and Canadian subsidiaries are guarantors. The Senior Secured Credit Facilities are secured by a first-priority lien on substantially all of the assets of the borrowers and guarantors, subject to certain exceptions. The New Revolving Credit Facility is senior to the New Term Loan Facility in right of payment.

 

F-50


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

(a) New Term Loan Facility

The New Term Loan Facility matures in April 2028. As of October 2, 2021, the New Term Loan Facility had an aggregate outstanding principal amount of $600.0 million and is subject to quarterly amortization payments of $1.5 million each. The New Term Loan Facility bears interest at a variable rate equal to a reference rate plus a margin ranging from 4.50% to 5.75% based on the type of loan and our first lien net leverage ratio. The Company is required to prepay the New Term Loan Facility with a percentage (based on its net first lien leverage ratio) of the Company’s annual excess cash flow. The Company is also required to prepay the New Term Loan Facility with a percentage (based on its net first lien leverage ratio) of the net cash proceeds of certain asset sales, subject to customary reinvestment provisions. The Company is able to prepay amounts outstanding under the New Term Loan Facility without a prepayment premium. The original issue discount on our New Term Loan Facility was $5.8 million as of October 2, 2021.

(b) New Revolving Credit Facility

The New Revolving Credit Facility matures in April 2026. The maximum available amount under the New Revolving Credit Facility is $60.0 million, with a maximum of $60.0 million available for letters of credit and a maximum of $10.0 million available as a swingline facility. Borrowings under the New Revolving Credit Facility may be made in either U.S. dollars or Canadian dollars and bear interest at a variable rate equal to a reference rate plus a margin of 2.25% or 3.25% based on the type of loan.

The applicable interest rates under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities will be reduced by 0.25% per annum upon the completion of an initial public offering by the Company.

The Senior Secured Credit Facilities also have a customary uncommitted incremental facility of (i) the greater of $136.0 million and EBITDA for the prior four fiscal quarters plus (ii) additional amounts based on the Company’s leverage ratio or interest coverage ratio plus (iii) certain specified additional amounts.

As of October 2, 2021, the Company was in compliance with all existing covenants under the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, which have customary affirmative and negative covenants, including restrictions on the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, incur liens, make investments, make restricted payments, make optional prepayments on junior financings, engage in transactions with affiliates and make asset sales, in each case, subject to customary exceptions and baskets.

Aggregate principal payments on debt at October 2, 2021 are as follows for each of the following fiscal years and thereafter:

 

Fiscal Year

   Aggregate
Principal
Payments
 

2021(1)

   $ 1,500  

2022

     6,000  

2023

     6,000  

2024

     6,000  

2025

     6,000  

Thereafter

     574,500  
  

 

 

 
   $ 600,000  
  

 

 

 

 

(1) 

Represents scheduled payments for the remaining three-month period ending January 1, 2022.

 

F-51


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 8. Fair Value Measurements

The following table presents financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 2, 2021:

 

     Fair Value measurements at reporting date
using
 
October 2, 2021    Balance Sheet
Location
     Significant other
observable inputs
(Level 2)
 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

     

Interest rate swap

    
Derivative liability,
current
 
 
   $ (2,786

Forward contracts

    
Derivative liability,
current
 
 
     (1,212

Interest rate swap

    
Derivative liability,
non-current
 
 
     (4,027
     

 

 

 

Total derivatives in a liability position

      $ (8,025
     

 

 

 

Interest rate swap

    
Derivative asset,
non-current
 
 
     69  

Forward contracts

    
Derivative asset,
non-current
 
 
     14,854  
     

 

 

 

Total derivatives in an asset position

      $     14,923  
     

 

 

 

The following table presents financial assets and financial liabilities that are measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of January 2, 2021:

 

     Fair Value measurements at reporting date
using
 
January 2, 2021    Balance Sheet
Location
     Significant other
observable inputs
(Level 2)
 

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments

     

Interest rate swap

    
Derivative liability,
current
 
 
   $ (2,845

Forward contracts

    
Derivative liability,
current
 
 
     (607

Interest rate swap

    
Derivative liability,
non-current
 
 
     (6,078
     

 

 

 

Total derivatives in a liability position

      $ (9,530
     

 

 

 

 

F-52


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The interest rate swap and forward contracts are valued using broker quotations, which include observable market information. Where independent pricing services provide fair values, the Company obtains an understanding of the methods used in pricing. As such, these instruments are classified within Level 2.

The Company recognizes or discloses the fair value of certain nonfinancial assets, primarily long-lived assets, goodwill, intangible assets, and certain other assets in connection with impairment evaluations. For the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020, the Company did not record any material impairment charges to long-lived assets, goodwill, or intangible assets. All of the Company’s nonrecurring valuations use significant unobservable inputs and, therefore, fall under Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

The fair values of the Company’s debt instruments approximate their carrying values as the current rates approximate rates on similar debt and were based on rate notices provided by the administrative agent for the Company’s credit agreements (Level 2 inputs) as of October 2, 2021 and January 2, 2021 (See Note 7).

The impact of derivative financial instruments on the interim unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations and comprehensive income (loss) the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020 are as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended  
     October 2,
2021
     September 26,
2020
 

Gain (loss) on forward contract recognized in other income, net

   $ 1,405      $ 1,682  

Gain (loss) on interest swap recognized in interest expense

   $ 13      $ (3,531

Note 9. Segment Information

The Company consists of two reportable segments, U.S. Retail and Canada Retail. In addition to its two reportable segments, the Company has retail stores in Australia and its wholesale operations, which are classified within Other.

The Company evaluates the performance of its segments based on Segment Profit, which it defines as operating income, exclusive of corporate overhead and allocations, asset impairments, and certain separately disclosed unusual or infrequent items. Segment Profit, as defined herein, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other entities. These measures should not be considered as alternatives to our GAAP measures of operating income, net income, or cash flows from operating activities as an indicator of the Company’s performance or as a measure of liquidity.

 

F-53


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

During each of the periods presented, our segment results were as follows:

 

    Nine Months Ended  
    October 2,
2021
    September 26,
2020
 

Net sales:

   

U.S. Retail

  $     466,783     $     273,695  

Canada Retail

    333,739       251,422  

Other

    58,769       39,211  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total net sales

    859,291       564,328  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Segment Profit:

   

U.S. Retail

    135,564       26,086  

Canada Retail

    108,288       73,392  

Other

    13,003       11,275  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total Segment Profit

    256,855       110,753  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

General corporate expenses

    104,328       116,151  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Operating income (loss)

    152,527       (5,398

Interest expense

    (40,591     (51,454

Other (expense) income, net

    (399     2,137  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

    (47,541     —    
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income (loss) before taxes

    63,996       (54,715

Income tax expense (benefit)

    8,340       (13,398
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income (loss)

  $ 55,656     $ (41,317
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

During each of the periods presented, the Company’s reportable segments incurred depreciation and amortization expense as follows:

 

    Nine Months Ended  
    October 2,
2021
    September 26,
2020
 

Depreciation expense:

   

U.S. Retail

  $     19,691     $     20,828  

Canada Retail

    7,708       7,685  

Other

    589       548  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total depreciation expense

  $ 27,988     $ 29,061  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Amortization expense:

   

U.S. Retail

  $ 2,231     $ 9,330  

Canada Retail

    3,458       4,779  

Other

    295       265  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total amortization expense

  $ 5,984     $ 14,374  
 

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-54


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

The Company’s long-lived assets are primarily located in the United States and Canada, with a portion located in Australia. The locations of the Company’s long-lived assets consisted of the following as of October 2, 2021 and January 2, 2021:

 

     As of  
     October 2, 2021      January 2, 2021  

U.S.

   $ 79,363      $ 77,764  

Canada

     44,948        41,745  

Other

     2,230        2,271  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total long-lived assets

   $     126,541      $     121,780  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net assets by geographic location as of October 2, 2021 and January 2, 2021 were as follows:

 

     As of  
     October 2, 2021      January 2, 2021  

U.S.

   $ 381,922      $ 30,385  

Canada

     (159,019      127,819  

Other

     7,939        15,721  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total net assets

   $     230,842      $     173,925  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Note 10. Earnings (Loss) Per Unit

For nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020, basic and diluted earnings (loss) per unit were as follows:

 

     Nine Months Ended  
     October 2, 2021      September 26, 2020  

Basic (loss) earnings per unit:

     

Net (loss) income

   $ 55,656      $ (41,317

Weighted average common units outstanding for basic (loss) earnings per unit calculation

     198,378,867        185,290,632  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Basic (loss) earnings per unit:

   $ 0.28      $ (0.22
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted (loss) earnings per unit:

     

Net (loss) income

   $ 55,656      $ (41,317

Weighted average common units outstanding for basic (loss) earnings per unit calculation

         198,378,867        185,290,632  

Assumed exercise / vesting of:

     

Weighted average common units outstanding for diluted (loss) earnings per unit calculation (1)

     201,821,886        185,290,632  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted (loss) earnings per unit:

   $ 0.28      $ (0.22
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

(1) 

For the nine months ended October 2, 2021, the calculation of diluted net income per unit includes the effect of 3,443,019 options outstanding. For the nine months ended September 26, 2020, the calculation of diluted net loss per unit excludes the effect of 2,589,779 options if exercised during the period under the treasury stock method as the inclusion of such options would be antidilutive to the period.

 

F-55


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 11. Commitments and Contingencies

Leases

The Company rents office facilities and retail store space from various unaffiliated lessors with expiration dates through 2036. The majority of the retail leases contain renewal options and require the Company to pay specific taxes, insurance, utilities, and maintenance costs either on a pro rata basis or based upon the actual expenses incurred.

Rent expense totaled $73.3 million and $67.5 million during the nine months ended October 2, 2021 and September 26, 2020, respectively.

Litigation and regulatory matters

The Company is involved from time to time in claims, proceedings and litigation arising in the ordinary course of business. We have made accruals with respect to these matters, where appropriate, which are reflected in the condensed consolidated financial statements. For some matters, the amount of liability is not probable or the amount cannot be reasonably estimated and therefore accruals have not been made. The Company may enter into discussions regarding settlement of these matters, and may enter into settlement agreements, if in the best interest of the Company. From time to time, the Company is involved in routine litigation that arises in the ordinary course of business. There are no pending significant legal proceedings to which the Company is a party for which management believes the ultimate outcome would have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position.

The Company periodically has inquiries from various government agencies regarding aspects of its operations. In 2014, the Company received such an inquiry from the Attorney General of the State of Washington. In December 2017, the Washington Attorney General (“AG”) filed a lawsuit against the Company in State Court relating to, among other things, alleged deceptive advertisements and marketing practices. The parties completed the first phase of the lawsuit in October 2019. The second phase of the lawsuit was scheduled for June 2020, but in May 2020, the Washington Court of Appeals granted the Company’s request for a discretionary review of the ruling in the first phase. On August 16, 2021, the Washington Court of Appeals ruled in the Company’s favor and dismissed all of the remaining claims. At this point, the Company has prevailed on all claims asserted in the lawsuit. The Washington AG has sought reconsideration of the Court’s ruling.

Note 12. Income Taxes

The income tax provision or benefit for interim periods is generally determined using an estimate of the Company’s annual effective tax rate and adjusted for discrete items, if any, in the relevant period. Each quarter the estimate of the annual effective tax rate is updated, and if the Company’s estimated tax rate changes, a cumulative adjustment is made.

The income tax expense for the nine months ended October 2, 2021 was $8.3 million, or 13.0% of pre-tax income. The income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 26, 2020 was $13.4 million, or 24.5% of pre-tax loss. The effective tax rates differed from the federal statutory rate primarily due to changes in the valuation allowances, dividend income, and capital gains on disposition of property.

 

F-56


Table of Contents

S-Evergreen Holding LLC and Subsidiaries

Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

 

Note 13. Subsequent Events

On November 8, 2021, we acquired Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. (“2nd Ave.”) for purchase price consideration of $238.9 million in cash (the “2nd Ave. Acquisition”). To finance the 2nd Ave. Acquisition, we borrowed an incremental $225.0 million under our New Term Loan Facility and used cash on hand. 2nd Ave. is a U.S. retailer of secondhand goods and also operates a wholesale business, which sells product to distributors. The acquisition will be accounted for as a business combination in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. This acquisition expands on our retail presence across the U.S.

On November 19, 2021, the Company’s board of directors declared a dividend of $75.0 million payable to the Company’s equityholders, which was paid on November 22, 2021.

The Company has evaluated subsequent events from the balance sheet date through November 26, 2021, the date the financial statements were available to be issued, and identified no additional events or transactions to disclose.

 

F-57


Table of Contents
LOGO    . LOGO

Independent Auditor’s Report

To the Management of

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

We have audited the accompanying consolidated financial statements of Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries, which comprise the consolidated balance sheet as of January 3, 2021, and the related consolidated statements of operations, changes in equity and cash flows for the year then ended, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements.

Management’s Responsibility for the Financial Statements

Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America; this includes the design, implementation and maintenance of internal controls relevant to the preparation and fair presentation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

Auditor’s Responsibility

Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free from material misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditor’s judgment, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditor considers internal controls relevant to the entity’s preparation and fair presentation of the consolidated financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity’s internal control. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements.

We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our audit opinion.

Opinion

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of January 3,

2021, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

/s/ CohnReznick LLP

Parsippany, New Jersey

November 22, 2021

 

F-58


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheet

January 3, 2021

 

Assets   

Current assets

  

Cash

   $ 14,263,749  

Accounts receivable

     711,000  

Inventory

     5,554,056  

Store supplies

     451,320  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     969,676  
  

 

 

 

Total current assets

     21,949,801  

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $2,276,703

     9,459,405  

Goodwill, net of amortization of $7,542,543

     51,439,009  

Other intangible assets, net of amortization of $2,150,641

     30,625,161  

Deposits

     809,225  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 114,282,601  
  

 

 

 
Liabilities and Equity   

Current liabilities

  

Line of credit

   $ 5,000,000  

Current portion of long-term debt

     584,444  

Current portion of obligations under capital lease

     127,992  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     2,170,160  

Other current liabilities

     2,508,406  

Sales tax payable

     297,456  

Accrued salaries and wages

     2,154,277  

Accrued severance pay, short-term

     410,000  
  

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     13,252,735  

Long-term debt, net of current portion and debt issuance costs

     42,155,082  

Long-term portion of obligations under capital lease

     240,781  

Paycheck Protection Program loans payable

     8,120,700  

Accrued severance pay, long-term

     65,000  

Other liabilities

     2,830  

Deferred rent, long-term

     598,270  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     64,435,398  
  

 

 

 

Commitments

     —    

Equity

  

Common stock, par value $0.01, 1,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of January 3, 2021

     10  

Additional paid-in capital

     59,714,696  

Accumulated deficit

     (9,867,503
  

 

 

 

Total equity

     49,847,203  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 114,282,601  
  

 

 

 

 

F-59


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Operations

Year Ended January 3, 2021

 

Sales, retail

   $ 55,922,479  

Sales, wholesale

     7,953,340  

Lease revenue, real estate

     37,750  
  

 

 

 

Total sales and revenues

     63,913,569  

Cost of sales

     24,323,471  
  

 

 

 

Gross profit

     39,590,098  
  

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     38,871,487  

Amortization expense on goodwill and intangible assets

     7,528,066  
  

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     46,399,553  
  

 

 

 

Loss from operations

     (6,809,455
  

 

 

 

Other income (expenses)

  

Interest expense

     (2,990,569

Interest income

     2,225  

Loss of sale of property and equipment

     (8,353
  

 

 

 

Total other income (expenses)

     (2,996,697
  

 

 

 

Net loss before income taxes

     (9,806,152

Benefit from income taxes

     (22,854
  

 

 

 

Net loss

   $ (9,783,298
  

 

 

 

 

F-60


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity Year Ended January 3, 2021

 

     Common
stock
     Additional
paid-in capital
     Accumulated
deficit
    Total  

Balance, December 31, 2019

   $ 10      $ 59,714,696      $ (84,205   $ 59,630,501  

Net loss

     —          —          (9,783,298     (9,783,298
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, January 3, 2021

   $ 10      $ 59,714,696      $ (9,867,503   $ 49,847,203  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-61


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

Year Ended January 3, 2021

 

Cash flows from operating activities

  

Consolidated net loss

   $ (9,783,298

Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net loss to net cash provided by operating activities

  

Depreciation and amortization

     1,773,183  

Amortization of other intangible assets

     1,675,871  

Amortization of goodwill

     5,852,195  

Amortization of debt issuance costs

     162,649  

(Gain) loss on sale of property and equipment

     8,353  

Deferred income taxes

     1,022,733  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

  

Accounts receivable

     (508,410

Inventory

     295,988  

Store supplies

     (104,420

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     331,424  

Deposits

     (183,485

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     (504,718

Accrued salaries and wages

     14,766  

Accrued severance pay

     290,000  

Other current liabilities

     378,606  

Sales tax payable

     23,041  

Deferred rent

     420,062  
  

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     1,164,540  
  

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

  

Purchases of fixed assets

     (1,873,783

Intangible assets

     (183,070
  

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (2,056,853
  

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

  

Repayment of long-term debt

     (584,444

Payments on capital lease obligations

     (173,864

Proceeds from line of credit

     5,000,000  

Proceeds from Paycheck Protection Program loans

     8,120,700  
  

 

 

 

Net cash provided by financing activities

     12,362,392  
  

 

 

 

Net increase in cash

     11,470,079  

Cash, beginning

     2,793,670  
  

 

 

 

Cash, end

   $ 14,263,749  
  

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information

  

Cash interest paid

   $ 2,989,317  
  

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing and financing activities

  

Property and equipment acquired under capital lease obligations

   $ 60,205  
  

 

 

 

See Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

F-62


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended January 3, 2021

Note 1 - Nature of operations

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. (the “Company”), through its subsidiaries, sells high-quality second-hand clothing, accessories and household items through 11 branded retail thrift stores under the 2nd Ave brand. The Company’s retail thrift stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. In 2021, the Company opened an additional retail location in Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania. Under the GreenDrop brand, the Company also operates a network of donation sites and a fleet of trucks which are used to collect home pick-up donations from individuals on behalf of several nationally based charities. In addition, the Company operates a wholesale business that sells clothing, shoes and other goods to distributors who sell these goods to international markets.

Note 2 - Summary of significant accounting policies Principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and activities of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Basis of accounting

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

Debt issuance costs

Costs incurred in obtaining financing, net of accumulated amortization, are reported as a direct deduction from the face amount of the long-term debt to which such costs relate. Amortization of loan acquisition fees is reported as a component of interest expense and is computed using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, over the term of the loan.

Revenue recognition

Revenue is recognized when control of the promised good is transferred to the Company’s customers, in an amount that depicts the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods. Revenue is not recognized unless collectability under the contract is considered probable, the contract has commercial substance and the contract has been approved. Additionally, the contract must contain payment terms, as well as the rights and commitments of both parties. The Company recognizes revenue from retail sales at the point of the sale to its customers. The Company recognizes revenue from wholesale sales when the goods purchased are shipped to the customer.

Sales taxes collected from customers

The Company collects applicable sales taxes from customers and remits the entire amount to various states. The Company’s accounting policy is to record the tax collected and remitted to the states net of revenue.

 

F-63


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended January 3, 2021

 

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable primarily arise from wholesale sales to brokers. Management determines the allowance for uncollectible accounts based on prior Company experience and management’s analysis of specific uncollectible accounts. Accounts receivable is stated net of an allowance, when applicable, for estimated uncollectible accounts. There was no allowance for doubtful accounts as of January 3, 2021.

 

     January 3,
2021
     December 31,
2019
 

Accounts receivable

   $ 711,000      $ 202,590  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Inventory

Inventories are based on direct costs and fees paid for acquisition along with processing costs for those items on the retail floor of the stores. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value with cost determined by the first-in, first-out method.

Property and equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of individual assets or classes of assets, ranging between three and fifteen years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the term of the lease or estimated useful life of the asset.

Impairment of long-lived assets

The carrying value of long-lived assets is assessed for impairment by management when changes in circumstances indicate the assets may be impaired. If it is determined that impairment has occurred, the loss would be recognized during that period. The Company does not believe that any material impairment currently exists related to its long-lived assets.

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Risk concentrations

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash. The Company places its cash amounts with high-credit quality financial institutions. At times, such investments may exceed federally insured limits. At January 3, 2021, the Company has cash in excess of federally insured limits in the amount of approximately $13,742,020.

 

F-64


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended January 3, 2021

 

Major vendor

The Company has a number of contracts and long-standing relationships with charitable organizations which allows it to obtain a majority of its inventory. For the year ended January 3, 2021, 83% of its inventory was obtained from the same two charitable organizations.

Deferred rent

The Company entered into operating lease agreements which contain provisions for future rent increases. The total amount of rental payments to be made over the lease term is being charged to rent expense on the straight-line method over the term of the lease. The difference between the rent expense recorded and the amount paid is recorded as deferred rent in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

Advertising

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and amounted to $156,952 for the year ended January 3, 2021.

Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes pursuant to the asset and liability method, which requires deferred income tax assets and liabilities to be computed annually for temporary differences between the consolidated financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The income tax provision or credit is the tax payable or refundable for the period plus or minus the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.

The Company has no unrecognized tax benefits at January 3, 2021.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties associated with tax matters as part of the income tax provision and includes accrued interest and penalties with the related tax liability in the consolidated balance sheet.

Gift cards

Proceeds from the sale of gift cards are recorded as a liability and are recognized as net sales when the cards are redeemed. There is no expiry date on the gift cards. Management applies a breakage percentage dependent on the likelihood of use or the customer exercising the remaining balance, taking into account the period that has lapsed since the initial issuance of the gift card. Accordingly, gift cards five years and older are 100% written-off, four to five years old are 90% written-off, three to four years old are 80% written-off, two to three years old are 50% written-off and for less than 2 years are not written-off.

 

F-65


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended January 3, 2021

 

Note 3 - Property and equipment

Property and equipment consist of the following:

 

Vehicles

   $ 153,057  

Office equipment

     757,666  

Store equipment

     3,723,482  

Building and improvements

     26,329  

Leasehold improvements

     6,881,392  

Land and land improvements

     75,000  

Purchased computer software

     119,182  
  

 

 

 
     11,736,108  

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     2,276,703  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 9,459,405  
  

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment amounted to $1,773,183 for the year ended January 3, 2021.

Note 4 - Goodwill

The Company records the excess of the purchase price of acquired businesses over the fair value of the acquired identifiable tangible and intangible net assets as goodwill. The Company determined that the estimated useful life of the goodwill recognized in its acquisitions is 10 years. As such, the Company amortizes its goodwill over 10 years. Amortization expense of $5,852,195 was incurred for the year ended January 3, 2021. Amortization expense for the five years subsequent to January 3, 2021 amounts to $5,897,865 per year.

Goodwill consists of the following:

 

     Amortization
period
     Cost      Accumulated
amortization
     Net  

Goodwill

     10 years      $ 58,978,649      $  7,539,640      $ 51,439,009  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company tests for impairment when there is an event or circumstance that indicates that goodwill has been impaired. The Company first considers qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a conclusion that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the entity/reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. For the year ended January 3, 2021, no such triggering event has occurred. Management considered the qualitative factors and concluded that fair value of the entity is not less than its carrying amount.

 

F-66


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended January 3, 2021

 

Note 5 - Intangible assets

Intangible assets consist of the following:

 

     Amortization
period
     Cost      Accumulated
amortization
     Net  

Capitalized software

     5 to 12 years      $ 374,382      $ 67,141      $ 307,241  

Trade names

     20 years        32,401,420        2,083,500        30,317,920  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
      $ 32,775,802      $ 2,150,641      $ 30,625,161  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amortization expense amounted to $1,675,871 for the year ended January 3, 2021. Future amortization expense annually is as follows:

 

2021

   $ 1,694,546  

2022

     1,694,546  

2023

     1,688,029  

2024

     1,669,845  

2025

     1,645,750  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 8,392,716  
  

 

 

 

Note 6 - Revolving line of credit

At January 3, 2021, the Company has a $5,000,000 revolving line of credit with a bank that expires September 18, 2025. Interest is charged at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR or the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate plus applicable margins of 5.5% and 4.5%, respectively. At January 3, 2021, $5,000,000 was outstanding under the line of credit agreement, respectively. The line of credit is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company. This line is subject to various debt covenants.

 

F-67


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended January 3, 2021

 

Note 7 - Long-term debt

Long-term debt consists of the following at January 3, 2021:

 

Mortgage loan payable to a lender in fixed monthly principal payments of $14,537 plus interest. The mortgage matures on September 1, 2037 and is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company. The loan bears interest at an initial rate of 7.75% and will increase annually by 2%.

   $ 2,915,732  

Senior Secured Term Note payable to a lender in quarterly installments of $102,500 with total unpaid principal due at maturity, including interest at a rate of LIBOR + 6.50%. The note matures on September 18, 2025 and is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company. This note is subject to various debt covenants.

     40,590,000  
  

 

 

 

Total

     43,505,732  

Less current portion

     584,444  

Less unamortized debt issuance costs

     766,206  
  

 

 

 

Long-term debt

   $ 42,155,082  
  

 

 

 

On the Senior Secured Term Note payable and the revolving line of credit, as per the first amendment to the credit agreement dated November 2, 2020, the lender granted a financial covenant holiday, whereby the Company is not required to comply with the covenants for the quarters ending September 30, 2020, December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021.

Principal payment requirements for the above obligations in each of the years subsequent to January 3, 2021 are as follows:

 

2022

   $ 584,444  

2023

     584,444  

2024

     584,444  

2025

     584,444  

2026

     41,167,956  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 43,505,732  
  

 

 

 

 

F-68


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended January 3, 2021

 

Note 8 - Capital lease obligations

Capital lease obligations consist of the following at January 3, 2021:

 

Equipment (A)

   $ 7,498  

Equipment (B)

     2,563  

Equipment (C)

     4,686  

Equipment (D)

     2,487  

Vehicle (E)

     22,851  

Vehicle (F)

     30,081  

Computers (G)

     11,140  

Computers (H)

     28,328  

Computers (I)

     30,959  

Vehicle (J)

     22,631  

Vehicle (K)

     24,535  

Vehicle (L)

     30,319  

Vehicle (M)

     28,638  

Vehicle (N)

     99,194  

Vehicle (O)

     22,863  
  

 

 

 

Subtotal

     368,773  

Less current portion

     (127,992
  

 

 

 

Long-term portion

   $ 240,781  
  

 

 

 

 

(A)

In January 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement for equipment. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 3.5% through December 2021.

(B)

In May 2016, the Company entered into a lease agreement for equipment. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 5.9% through April 2021.

(C)

In August 2016, the Company entered into a lease agreement for equipment. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 6.8% through April 2021.

(D)

In May 2016, the Company entered into a lease agreement for equipment. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 4.2% through April 2021.

(E)

In December 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 7.6% through November 2022.

(F)

In May 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 8% through August 2024.

(G)

In October 2018, the Company entered into a lease agreement for computers. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 5.6% through October 2021.

(H)

In June 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement for computers. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 5% through June 2022.

(I)

In September 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement for computers. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 10.1% through September 2022.

(J)

In November 2018, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 5.6% through November 2023.

(K)

In November 2018, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 5.6% through December 2023.

(L)

In October 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 5.2% through October 2024.

 

F-69


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended January 3, 2021

 

(M)

In October 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 6.9% through October 2025.

(N)

In February 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 8.8% through January 2025.

(O)

In June 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 5% through June 2025.

Minimum future lease payments under capital leases are as follows at January 3, 2021:

 

2022

   $ 154,948  

2023

     107,522  

2024

     71,963  

2025

     47,843  

2026

     21,040  
  

 

 

 

Net minimum lease payments

     403,316  

Less amount representing imputed interest

     34,543  
  

 

 

 

Present value of future lease payments

   $ 368,773  
  

 

 

 

The net book value of equipment and vehicles held under capital leases at January 3 is as follows:

 

Vehicles and equipment

   $ 838,982  

Less accumulated depreciation

     438,984  
  

 

 

 
   $ 399,998  
  

 

 

 

Note 9 - Income taxes

The income taxes consists of the following for the period from January 1, 2020 through January 3, 2021:

 

Current

  

Federal

   $ (531,687

State

     (513,900
  

 

 

 

Total

     (1,045,587
  

 

 

 

Deferred

  

Federal

     (2,697,361

State

     (1,056,051

Valuation allowance

     4,776,145  
  

 

 

 

Total

     1,022,733  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ (22,854
  

 

 

 

 

F-70


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended January 3, 2021

 

Deferred tax assets consists of the following as of January 3, 2021:

 

Deferred tax assets

  

Deferred rent

   $ 162,926  

Amortization of goodwill and intangible assets

     1,882,090  

Net operating loss carryforwards

     1,821,377  

Interest expense Limitation

     809,884  

Depreciation - state

     192,900  

Inventory capitalization

     32,709  

Gain on sale of asset

     2,275  
  

 

 

 
     4,904,161  
  

 

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities

  

Depreciation

     (128,017
  

 

 

 
     (128,017
  

 

 

 

Subtotal

     4,776,144  

Valuation allowance on net deferred tax assets

     (4,776,144
  

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

   $ —    
  

 

 

 

As of January 3, 2021, the Company has net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $6,305,000 available to reduce future federal and state taxable income, which expire in 2040.

Note 10 - Self-insured group health plan

The Company has a self-funded health plan. At January 3, 2021, the Company recorded a reserve for claims to be settled in the subsequent year in the amount of approximately $140,000, included in accounts payable and accrued expenses. The Company also obtained stop loss coverage for any claims made in excess of $50,000 per insured.

Note 11 - Commitments Operating leases

The Company occupies warehouse, retail and office facilities under various operating leases expiring through 2039. As of January 3, 2021, the Company leases 11 retail stores, two warehouses, one call center and three office facilities. The Company additionally lease trucks for the purpose of providing donation and transportation services to support the stores. Rent expense for the year ended January 3, 2021 was $4,044,076.

In November 2020, the Company signed a ten-year operating lease for a retail store that opened in 2021.

 

F-71


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended January 3, 2021

 

Aggregate minimum future payments under the leases in each of the five years subsequent to January 3, 2021 and thereafter are as follows:

 

2021

   $ 5,069,006  

2022

     5,404,317  

2023

     5,274,199  

2024

     4,709,239  

2025

     4,180,164  

Thereafter

     16,254,696  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 40,891,621  
  

 

 

 

The Company additionally leases trucks and donation drop sites for the purpose of providing donation and transportation services to support the stores.

Note 12 - Management fees

The Company paid management fees to a related party under the terms of an agreement. The agreement is equal to the greater of 4% of the Company’s adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the master services agreement with our parent, for the year or $500,000 annually not to exceed $900,000 paid-out semiannually. The agreement will expire in 10 years from the effective date of September 18, 2019. Management fees incurred and paid for year-ended January 3, 2021 was $545,194, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Note 13 - Retirement plan

The Company has an employee defined contribution plan, covering all eligible employees of the Company. Employees are eligible to participate in the Plan when they have reached age 21 and have either worked 1,000 hours within the first 12 months of employment or at the end of the plan year following completion of 12 months of employment with the Company. Each year, participants may contribute up to 90% of their annual compensation, as defined in the plan document, on a pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) basis, up to the maximum limits of the Internal Revenue Code. There are no employer contributions in 2020.

Note 14 - Coronavirus impact

In December 2019 and early 2020, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 was reported to have surfaced in China. The spread of this virus globally, including in early 2020, has caused business disruption domestically in the United States, the area in which the Company primarily operates. While the disruption is currently expected to be temporary, there is considerable uncertainty around the duration of this uncertainty. Therefore, while the Company expects this matter to negatively impact the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows, the extent of the financial impact and duration cannot be reasonably estimated at this time.

 

F-72


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

Year Ended January 3, 2021

 

Note 15 - Paycheck Protection Program Loans

On April 2020, the Company entered into unsecured promissory notes with a commercial bank for an aggregate principal amount of $8,120,700 pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP Loan”), which was established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) and is administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”). The outstanding borrowings under the PPP Loan require recipients to meet certain criteria set by the SBA in order to be eligible for full or partial forgiveness of such loans. The Company has submitted its application for PPP Loan forgiveness as of January 3, 2021 and believes it will qualify for full or partial forgiveness. However, there is no assurance the Company’s PPP Loans or any portion thereof will be forgiven. Subsequent to year-end the Company received forgiveness on one of its PPP Loans in the amount of $1,190,000 and is awaiting forgiveness on the remainder of its PPP Loans.

The PPP Loan promissory notes contain customary events of defaults relating to, among other things, payment defaults, breach of representations and warranties, or provisions of the promissory note. The occurrence of an event of default may result in the repayment of all amounts outstanding and/or filing suit and obtaining judgement against the Company.

Note 16 - Subsequent Event

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through November 22, 2021, which is the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued. On November 8, 2021, Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and all of its subsidiaries was sold to TVI, Inc., a subsidiary of Savers, Inc. The Company identified no additional events requiring disclosure in these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-73


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheet (unaudited)

October 3, 2021

 

Assets

      

Current assets

  

Cash

   $ 16,019,110  

Accounts receivable

     861,090  

Inventory

     7,634,670  

Store supplies

     697,530  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     2,396,479  
  

 

 

 

Total current assets

     27,608,879  

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation and amortization of $3,789,683

     9,693,266  

Goodwill, net of amortization of $11,965,890

     47,012,759  

Other intangible assets, net of amortization of $3,453,124

     29,624,227  

Deferred tax assets

     1,944,986  

Deposits

     1,276,188  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 117,160,305  
  

 

 

 

Liabilities and Equity

      

Current liabilities

  

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 584,444  

Current portion of obligations under capital lease

     107,725  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     2,252,287  

Income tax payable

     700,076  

Other current liabilities

     2,466,541  

Sales tax payable

     798,147  

Accrued salaries and wages

     2,844,262  

Accrued severance pay, short-term

     262,917  
  

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     10,016,399  

Long-term debt, net of current portion and debt issuance costs

     41,838,235  

Long-term portion of obligations under capital lease

     159,600  

Accrued severance pay, long-term

     65,000  

Deferred rent, long-term

     815,706  
  

 

 

 

Total liabilities

     52,894,940  
  

 

 

 

Commitments

     —    

Equity

  

Common stock, par value $0.01, 1,000 shares authorized, issued and outstanding as of January 3, 2021

     10  

Additional paid-in capital

     59,814,696  

Accumulated deficit

     4,450,659  
  

 

 

 

Total equity

     64,265,365  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 117,160,305  
  

 

 

 

 

F-74


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Operations

For the period ending October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

 

Sales, retail

   $ 62,786,112  

Sales, wholesale

     8,294,663  

Lease revenue, real estate

     37,750  
  

 

 

 

Total sales and revenues

     71,118,525  

Cost of sales

     19,056,915  
  

 

 

 

Gross profit

     52,061,610  
  

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     37,164,242  

Amortization expense on goodwill and intangible assets

     5,715,117  
  

 

 

 

Total operating expenses

     42,879,359  
  

 

 

 

Income from operations

     9,182,251  
  

 

 

 

Other income (expenses)

  

Interest income

     51  

Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness

     8,120,700  

Rental income

     3,002  

Interest expense

     (3,043,080

Discontinued operations

     (384,155

Severance expense

     (288,726

Board and other fees

     (457,232

Gain (loss) of sale of property and equipment

     (11,286
  

 

 

 

Total other income (expenses)

     3,939,274  
  

 

 

 

Net income before income taxes

     13,121,525  

Benefit from income taxes

     (1,196,637
  

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 14,318,162  
  

 

 

 

 

F-75


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

Period Ended October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

 

     Common
stock
     Additional
paid-in capital
     Accumulated
deficit
    Total  

Balance, January 3, 2021

   $ 10      $ 59,714,696      $ (9,867,503   $ 49,847,203  

Contributions

     —          100,000        —         100,000  

Net Income

     —          —          14,318,162       14,318,162  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

Balance, October 3, 2021

   $ 10      $ 59,814,696      $ 4,450,659     $ 64,265,365  
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

 

F-76


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

For the period ending October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

 

Cash flows from operating activities

  

Consolidated net income

   $ 14,318,162  

Adjustments to reconcile consolidated net loss to net cash provided by operating activities

  

Depreciation and amortization

     1,504,294  

Amortization of other intangible assets

     1,288,867  

Amortization of goodwill

     4,426,250  

Amortization of debt issuance costs

     121,486  

Loss on sale of property and equipment

     11,286  

Deferred income taxes

     (1,944,986

Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness

     (8,120,700

Changes in operating assets and liabilities

  

Accounts receivable

     (150,090

Inventory

     (2,080,614

Store supplies

     (246,210

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (1,426,803

Deposits

     (466,963

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     130,400  

Accrued salaries and wages

     689,985  

Accrued severance pay

     (147,083

Other current liabilities

     (41,865

Sales tax payable

     500,691  

Income tax payable

     651,803  

Other liabilities

     (2,830

Deferred rent

     217,436  
  

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

     9,232,516  
  

 

 

 

Cash flows from investing activities

  

Purchases of fixed assets

     (1,749,441

Intangible assets

     (287,933
  

 

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

     (2,037,374
  

 

 

 

Cash flows from financing activities

  

Repayment of long-term debt

     (438,333

Proceeds from shareholder contributions

     100,000  

Payments on capital lease obligations

     (101,448

Repayment of line of credit

     (5,000,000
  

 

 

 

Net cash used in financing activities

     (5,439,781
  

 

 

 

Net increase in cash

     1,755,361  

Cash, beginning

     14,263,749  
  

 

 

 

Cash, end

   $ 16,019,110  
  

 

 

 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information Cash interest paid

   $ 2,879,742  
  

 

 

 

 

F-77


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the Period Ended October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

Note 1 - Nature of operations

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. (the “Company”), through its subsidiaries, sells high-quality second-hand clothing, accessories and household items through 12 branded retail thrift stores under the 2nd Ave brand. The Company’s retail thrift stores are located in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland and Virginia. Under the GreenDrop brand, the Company also operates a network of donation sites and a fleet of trucks which are used to collect home pick-up donations from individuals on behalf of several nationally based charities. In addition, the Company operates a wholesale business that sells clothing, shoes and other goods to distributors who sell these goods to international markets.

Note 2 - Summary of significant accounting policies

Principles of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts and activities of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

Basis of accounting

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the accrual basis of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”).

Debt issuance costs

Costs incurred in obtaining financing, net of accumulated amortization, are reported as a direct deduction from the face amount of the long-term debt to which such costs relate. Amortization of loan acquisition fees is reported as a component of interest expense and is computed using the straight-line method, which approximates the effective interest method, over the term of the loan.

Revenue recognition

Revenue is recognized when control of the promised good is transferred to the Company’s customers, in an amount that depicts the consideration the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods. Revenue is not recognized unless collectability under the contract is considered probable, the contract has commercial substance and the contract has been approved. Additionally, the contract must contain payment terms, as well as the rights and commitments of both parties. The Company recognizes revenue from retail sales at the point of the sale to its customers. The Company recognizes revenue from wholesale sales when the goods purchased are shipped to the customer.

Sales taxes collected from customers

The Company collects applicable sales taxes from customers and remits the entire amount to various states. The Company’s accounting policy is to record the tax collected and remitted to the states net of revenue.

 

F-78


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the Period Ended October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

 

Accounts receivable

Accounts receivable primarily arise from wholesale sales to brokers. Management determines the allowance for uncollectible accounts based on prior Company experience and management’s analysis of specific uncollectible accounts. Accounts receivable is stated net of an allowance, when applicable, for estimated uncollectible accounts. There was no allowance for doubtful accounts as of October 3, 2021.

 

     October 3,
2021
     January 1,
2021
 

Accounts receivable

   $ 861,090      $ 711,000  
  

 

 

    

 

 

 

Inventory

Inventories are based on direct costs and fees paid for acquisition along with processing costs for those items on the retail floor of the stores. Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value with cost determined by the first-in, first-out method.

Property and equipment

Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation is computed on the straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of individual assets or classes of assets, ranging between three and fifteen years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of the term of the lease or estimated useful life of the asset.

Impairment of long-lived assets

The carrying value of long-lived assets is assessed for impairment by management when changes in circumstances indicate the assets may be impaired. If it is determined that impairment has occurred, the loss would be recognized during that period. The Company does not believe that any material impairment currently exists related to its long-lived assets.

Use of estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Risk concentrations

Financial instruments that potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist primarily of cash. The Company places its cash amounts with high-credit quality financial institutions. At times, such investments may exceed federally insured limits. At October 3, 2021, the Company has cash in excess of federally insured limits in the amount of approximately $15,145,000.

 

F-79


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the Period Ended October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

 

Major vendor

The Company has a number of contracts and long-standing relationships with charitable organizations which allows it to obtain a majority of its inventory. For the period ended October 3, 2021, 82% of its inventory was obtained from the same two charitable organizations.

Deferred rent

The Company entered into operating lease agreements which contain provisions for future rent increases. The total amount of rental payments to be made over the lease term is being charged to rent expense on the straight-line method over the term of the lease. The difference between the rent expense recorded and the amount paid is recorded as deferred rent in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

Advertising

Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and amounted to $502,749 for the period ended October 3, 2021.

Income taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes pursuant to the asset and liability method, which requires deferred income tax assets and liabilities to be computed annually for temporary differences between the financial statement and tax bases of assets and liabilities that will result in taxable or deductible amounts in the future based on enacted tax laws and rates applicable to the periods in which the differences are expected to affect taxable income. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount expected to be realized. The income tax provision or credit is the tax payable or refundable for the period plus or minus the change during the period in deferred tax assets and liabilities.

The Company has no unrecognized tax benefits at October 3, 2021.

The Company recognizes interest and penalties associated with tax matters as part of the income tax provision and includes accrued interest and penalties with the related tax liability in the consolidated balance sheet.

Gift cards

Proceeds from the sale of gift cards are recorded as a liability and are recognized as net sales when the cards are redeemed. There is no expiry date on the gift cards. Management applies a breakage percentage dependent on the likelihood of use or the customer exercising the remaining balance, taking into account the period that has lapsed since the initial issuance of the gift card. Accordingly, gift cards five years and older are 100% written-off, four to five years old are 90% written-off, three to four years old are 80% written-off, two to three years old are 50% written-off and for less than 2 years are not written-off.

Subsequent events

The Company has evaluated subsequent events through November 22, 2021, which is the date the consolidated financial statements were available to be issued. On November 8, 2021, Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and all of its subsidiaries was sold to TVI, Inc., a subsidiary of Savers, Inc. The Company identified no additional events requiring disclosure in these consolidated financial statements.

 

F-80


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the Period Ended October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

 

Note 3 - Property and equipment

Property and equipment consists of the following:

 

Vehicles

   $ 186,798  

Office equipment

     1,084,377  

Store equipment

     4,462,361  

Building and improvements

     26,329  

Leasehold improvements

     7,520,004  

Land and land improvements

     75,000  

Purchased computer software

     128,080  
  

 

 

 
     13,482,949  

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

     3,789,683  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 9,693,266  
  

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization of property and equipment amounted to $1,504,294 for the period ended October 3, 2021.

Note 4 - Goodwill

The Company records the excess of the purchase price of acquired businesses over the fair value of the acquired identifiable tangible and intangible net assets as goodwill. The Company determined that the estimated useful life of the goodwill recognized in its acquisitions is 10 years. As such, the Company amortizes its goodwill over 10 years. Amortization expense of $4,426,250 was incurred for the period ended October 3, 2021. Amortization expense for the periods subsequent to October 3, 2021 amounts to $5,897,865 per year.

Goodwill consists of the following:

 

     October 3, 2021  
     Amortization
period
     Cost      Accumulated
amortization
     Net  

Goodwill

     10 years      $ 58,978,649      $  11,965,890      $ 47,012,759  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The Company tests for impairment when there is an event or circumstance that indicates that goodwill has been impaired. The Company first considers qualitative factors to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a conclusion that it is more likely than not that the fair value of the entity/reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. For the period ended October 3, 2021, no such triggering event has occurred. Management considered the qualitative factors and concluded that fair value of the entity is not less than its carrying amount.

 

F-81


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the Period Ended October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

 

Note 5 - Intangible assets

Intangible assets consist of the following:

 

     Amortization
period
     Cost      Accumulated
amortization
     Net  

Capitalized software

     5 to 12 years      $ 675,931      $ 154,624      $ 521,307  

Trade names

     20 years        32,401,420        3,298,500        29,102,920  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
      $ 33,077,351      $ 3,453,124      $ 29,624,227  
     

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Amortization expense amounted to $1,288,867 for the period ended October 3, 2021. Future amortization expense annually is as follows:

 

2022

   $ 1,747,875  

2023

     1,741,887  

2024

     1,723,913  

2025

     1,697,928  

2026

     1,647,394  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 8,558,997  
  

 

 

 

Note 6 - Revolving line of credit

At October 3, 2021, the Company has a $5,000,000 revolving line of credit with a bank that expires September 18, 2025. Interest is charged at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR or the Wall Street Journal Prime Rate plus applicable margins of 5.5% and 4.5%, respectively. At October 3, 2021, $0 was outstanding under the line of credit agreement. The line of credit is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company. This line is subject to various debt covenants.

 

F-82


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the Period Ended October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

 

Note 7 - Long-term debt

Long-term debt consists of the following at October 3, 2021:

 

Mortgage loan payable to a lender in fixed monthly principal payments of $14,537 plus interest. The mortgage matures on September 1, 2037 and is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company. The loan bears interest at an initial rate of 7.75% and will increase annually by 2%.

   $ 2,784,899  

Senior Secured Term Note payable to a lender in quarterly installments of $102,500 with total unpaid principal due at maturity, including interest at a rate of LIBOR + 6.50%. The note matures on September 18, 2025 and is secured by substantially all of the assets of the Company. This note is subject to various debt covenants.

     40,282,500  
  

 

 

 

Total

     43,067,399  

Less current portion

     584,444  

Less unamortized debt issuance costs

     644,720  
  

 

 

 

Long-term debt

   $ 41,838,235  
  

 

 

 

On the Senior Secured Term Note payable and the revolving line of credit, as per the first amendment to the credit agreement dated November 2, 2020, the lender granted a financial covenant holiday, whereby the Company is not required to comply with the covenants for the quarters ending September 30, 2020, December 31, 2020 and March 31, 2021. The Company is in compliance with the covenants as of October 3, 2021.

Principal payment requirements for the above obligations in each of the periods subsequent to October 3, 2021 are as follows:

 

2022

   $ 584,444  

2023

     584,444  

2024

     584,444  

2025

     584,444  

2026

     40,729,623  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 43,067,399  
  

 

 

 

 

F-83


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the Period Ended October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

 

Note 8 - Capital lease obligations

Capital lease obligations consist of the following at October 3, 2021:

 

Capital lease obligations

      

Equipment (A)

   $ 1,909  

Vehicle (B)

     15,961  

Vehicle (C)

     24,759  

Computers (D)

     1,137  

Computers (E)

     14,429  

Computers (F)

     18,356  

Vehicle (G)

     17,158  

Vehicle (H)

     18,897  

Vehicle (I)

     24,856  

Vehicle (J)

     24,301  

Vehicle (K)

     86,753  

Vehicle (L)

     18,809  
  

 

 

 

Subtotal

     267,325  

Less current portion

     (107,725
  

 

 

 

Long-term portion

   $ 159,600  
  

 

 

 

 

(A)

In January 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement for equipment. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 3.5% through December 2021.

(B)

In December 2017, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 7.6% through November 2022.

(C)

In May 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 8% through August 2024.

(D)

In October 2018, the Company entered into a lease agreement for computers. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 5.6% through October 2021.

(E)

In June 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement for computers. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 5% through June 2022.

(F)

In September 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement for computers. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 10.1% through September 2022.

(G)

In November 2018, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 5.6% through November 2023.

(H)

In November 2018, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 5.6% through December 2023.

(I)

In October 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 5.2% through October 2024.

(J)

In October 2019, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 6.9% through October 2025.

(K)

In February 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 8.8% through January 2025.

(L)

In June 2020, the Company entered into a lease agreement for a vehicle. The terms of the agreement require monthly payments at an interest rate of 5% through June 2025.

 

F-84


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the Period Ended October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

 

Minimum future lease payments under capital leases are as follows at October 3, 2021:

 

2022

   $ 121,530  

2023

     78,428  

2024

     60,462  

2025

     33,264  

2026

     2,024  
  

 

 

 

Net minimum lease payments

     295,708  

Less amount representing imputed interest

     28,383  
  

 

 

 

Present value of future lease payments

   $ 267,325  
  

 

 

 

The net book value of equipment and vehicles held under capital leases at October 3 is as follows:

 

Vehicles and equipment

   $ 838,982  

Less accumulated depreciation

     558,823  
  

 

 

 
   $ 280,159  
  

 

 

 

Note 9 - Income taxes

 

Current

  

Federal

   $ 439,189  

State

     309,160  
  

 

 

 

Total

     748,349  
  

 

 

 

Deferred

  

Federal

     2,158,261  

State

     672,898  

Valuation allowance

     (4,776,145
  

 

 

 

Total

     (1,944,986
  

 

 

 

Benefit from income taxes

   $ (1,196,637
  

 

 

 

Deferred tax assets consists of the following as of October 3, 2021:

 

Deferred tax assets

  

Deferred rent

   $ 250,202  

Amortization of goodwill and intangible assets

     1,694,636  

Depreciation - state

     277,380  

Inventory capitalization

     66,218  
  

 

 

 
     2,288,436  
  

 

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities

  

Depreciation

     (343,450
  

 

 

 

Net deferred tax assets

   $ 1,944,986  
  

 

 

 

 

F-85


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the Period Ended October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

 

Note 10 - Self-insured group health plan

The Company has a self-funded health plan. At October 3, 2021, the Company recorded a reserve for claims in the amount of approximately $125,000, included in accounts payable and accrued expenses. The Company participates in a stop loss captive pool and has purchased specific and aggregate stop loss insurance. These provide both individual, per employee stop loss, and a ceiling on the dollar amount of eligible expenses the Company would pay in total during a contract period.

Note 11- Commitments

Operating leases

The Company occupies warehouse, retail and office facilities under various operating leases expiring through 2039. As of October 3, 2021, the Company leases 12 retail stores, two warehouses, one call center and three office facilities. The Company additionally lease trucks for the purpose of providing donation and transportation services to support the stores. Rent expense for the period ended October 3, 2021 was $3,948,540.

Aggregate minimum future payments under the leases in each of the periods subsequent to October 3, 2021 and thereafter are as follows:

 

2022

   $ 5,404,317  

2023

     5,274,199  

2024

     4,709,239  

2025

     4,180,164  

2026

     3,508,150  

Thereafter

     12,746,547  
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 35,822,616  
  

 

 

 

The Company additionally leases trucks and donation drop sites for the purpose of providing donation and transportation services to support the stores.

Note 12 - Management fees

The Company paid management fees to a related party under the terms of an agreement. The agreement is equal to the greater of 4% of the Company’s adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the management services agreement with our parent, for the year or $500,000 annually not to exceed $900,000 paid-out semiannually. The agreement will expire in 10 years from the effective date of September 18, 2019. Management fees incurred and paid for the period ended October 3, 2021 was $437,322, which are included in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Note 13 - Retirement plan

The Company has an employee defined contribution plan, covering all eligible employees of the Company. Employees are eligible to participate in the Plan when they have reached age 21 and have either worked 1,000 hours within the first 12 months of employment or at the end of the plan year following completion of 12 months of employment with the Company. Each year, participants may contribute up to 90% of their annual compensation, as defined in the plan document, on a pre-tax or post-tax (Roth) basis, up to the maximum limits of the Internal Revenue Code. There are no employer contributions in 2021.

 

F-86


Table of Contents

Thrift Intermediate Holdings I, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

For the Period Ended October 3, 2021 (unaudited)

 

Note 14 - Paycheck Protection Program Loans

On April 2020, the Company entered into unsecured promissory notes with a commercial bank for an aggregate principal amount of $8,120,700 pursuant to the Paycheck Protection Program (the “PPP Loan”), which was established under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”) and is administered by the U.S. Small Business Administration (the “SBA”).

For the period ending October 3, 2021, the Company received full forgiveness on its PPP Loans in the amount of $8,120,700, which is recorded as non-operating income on the financial statements.

 

F-87


Table of Contents

Shares

 

LOGO

Common Stock

Prospectus

            , 2022

 

 

J.P. Morgan   Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC   Jefferies    UBS Investment Bank

 

 

Baird   CIBC Capital Markets   Guggenheim Securities     Piper Sandler  


Table of Contents

PART II

INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS

Item 13. Other expenses of issuance and distribution.

The following table sets forth all costs and expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, payable by us in connection with the sale of the common stock being registered. All amounts shown are estimates except for the SEC registration fee, the FINRA filing fee and the exchange listing fee.

 

     Amount to
be Paid
 

SEC registration fee

   $ 9,270  

FINRA filing fee

             

Initial exchange listing fee

             

Printing and engraving expenses

             

Legal fees and expenses

             

Accounting fees and expenses

             

Transfer agent and registrar fees

             

Miscellaneous fees and expenses

             

Total

   $            

 

*

To be provided by amendment.

Item 14. Indemnification of directors and officers.

Upon the completion of the offering contemplated by this registration statement, we will be incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 102 of the DGCL, permits a corporation to eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for a breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except where the director breached his or her duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law or obtained an improper personal benefit.

Section 145 of the DGCL provides that a corporation has the power to indemnify a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation and certain other persons serving at the request of the corporation in related capacities against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlements actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with an action, suit or proceeding to which he or she is or is threatened to be made a party by reason of such position, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, in any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful, except that, in the case of actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, no indemnification shall be made with respect to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or other adjudicating court determines that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

As permitted by the DGCL, our certificate of incorporation and bylaws will provide that we will indemnify and advance expenses to our directors and officers, and may indemnify and advance expenses to our employees and other agents, to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law. If Delaware law is amended to authorize corporate action further eliminating or limiting the personal

 

II-1


Table of Contents

liability of a director, then the liability of our directors will be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as so amended.

We intend to enter into agreements with our directors and executive officers that will require us to indemnify them against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts that any such person becomes legally obligated to pay in connection with any proceeding to which such person may be made a party by reason of the fact that such person is or was serving in such capacity, provided such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, our best interests. These indemnification agreements also set forth certain procedures that will apply in the event of a claim for indemnification thereunder. At present, no litigation or proceeding is pending that involves any of our directors or officers regarding which indemnification is sought, nor are we aware of any threatened litigation that may result in claims for indemnification.

Upon the completion of this offering, we will maintain a directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policy. The policy will insure directors and officers against unindemnified losses arising from certain wrongful acts in their capacities as directors and officers and reimburse us for those losses for which we lawfully indemnify the directors and officers. The policy will likely contain various exclusions.

In addition, the underwriting agreement filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this registration statement provides for indemnification by the underwriters of us and our officers and directors for certain liabilities arising under the Securities Act or otherwise.

Item 15. Recent sales of unregistered securities.

Prior to the effectiveness of this registration statement, S-Evergreen Holding LLC intends to convert into a Delaware corporation pursuant to a statutory conversion and change its name to Savers Value Village, Inc.

Item 16. Exhibits and financial statement schedules.

(A) Exhibits

The exhibits to this registration statement are listed in the Exhibit Index attached hereto and incorporated by reference herein.

(B) Financial statement schedules

Financial statement schedules are omitted because the required information is not applicable, not required or included in the financial statements or the notes thereto included in the prospectus that forms a part of this registration statement.

Item 17. Undertakings.

Insofar as indemnification by the registrant for liabilities arising under the Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

 

II-2


Table of Contents

The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

 

  (1)

For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

 

  (2)

For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
Number
  

Description of Document

1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
2.2*    Form of Certificate of Conversion of S-Evergreen Holding LLC.
3.1*    Form of Certificate of Incorporation of Savers Value Village, Inc. (to be effective upon completion of the Registrant’s conversion from a limited liability company to a corporation).
3.2*    Form of Bylaws of Savers Value Village, Inc. (to be effective upon completion of the Registrant’s conversion from a limited liability company to a corporation).
4.1*    Form of Stockholders Agreement, by and among the Registrant and the other parties named therein.
4.2*    Form of Registration Rights Agreement, by and among the Registrant and the other parties named therein.
5.1*    Opinion of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP.
10.1*    Form of Indemnification Agreement.
10.2*   

Credit Agreement, dated as of April 26, 2021, by and among Evergreen Acqco 1 LP, as US Borrower, Value Village Canada Inc., as Canadian Borrower, S-Evergreen Holding Corp., as Holdings, Evergreen Acqco GP LLC, as Holdings GP, KKR Loan Administration Services LLC, as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent, KKR Capital Markets LLC, as Lender and as Joint Lead Arranger, Jefferies Finance LLC, as Lender and as Joint Lead Arranger, PNC Bank, National Association, as Lender and as Joint Lead Arranger, and Credit Suisse Loan Funding LLC, as Lender and as Joint Lead Arranger.

10.3    First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of November 8, 2021, by and among Evergreen Acqco 1 LP, as US Borrower, Value Village Canada Inc., as Canadian Borrower, S-Evergreen Holding Corp., as Holdings, Evergreen Acqco GP LLC, as Holdings GP, KKR Loan Administration Services LLC, as Administrative Agent and as Collateral Agent, KKR Corporate Lending LLC, as a 2021 Incremental Term Lender, Jefferies Finance LLC, as a 2021 Incremental Term Lender and Credit Suisse AG, Cayman Islands Branch, as a 2021 Incremental Term Lender.
10.4   

Agreement for the Design, Manufacturing and Commissioning of a Centralized Processing Center CPC, dated as of July 24, 2020, by and between the Registrant and the other party named therein.

10.5    Agreement for the Design, Manufacturing and Commissioning of a Books and Media Processing System, dated as of September 22, 2020, by and between the Registrant and the other party named therein.

 

II-3


Table of Contents
Exhibit
Number
  

Description of Document

10.6#*    2021 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan.
10.7#*   

Form of Option Agreement under the 2021 Omnibus Incentive Compensation

Plan.

10.8#*   

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2021 Omnibus Incentive

Compensation Plan.

10.9#*    2019 Management Incentive Plan.
10.10#*    Form of Option Agreement under the 2019 Management Incentive Plan.
10.11#*    2022 Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
10.12#*    Employment Agreement by and between the Registrant and Mark Walsh.
10.13#*    Form of Executive Employment Agreement.
10.14#*    Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan.
10.15#*    Annual Bonus Plan.
21.1*    Subsidiaries of the Registrant.
23.1    Consents of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm.
23.2    Consent of CohnReznick LLP, independent accountant.
23.3*    Consent of Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1).
23.4    Consent of Transom Consulting Group LLC.
24.1    Power of Attorney (included on signature page).

 

*

To be filed in a subsequent amendment to this registration statement.

#

Indicates management contract or compensatory plan.

 

II-4


Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in Bellevue, Washington, on December 22, 2021.

 

S-EVERGREEN HOLDING LLC
By:  

/s/ Mark Walsh

  Mark Walsh
  Chief Executive Officer

KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Mark Walsh and Richard Medway, and each one of them, as his or her true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in their name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all further amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this registration statement, and to sign any registration statement for thesame offering covered by this registration statement that is to be effective on filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and all post-effective amendments thereto, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in- fact and agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or his or her substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities held on the dates indicated.

 

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

/s/ Mark Walsh   Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)   December 22, 2021
Mark Walsh
/s/ Scott Estes   Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)  

December 22, 2021

Scott Estes
/s/ Scott Graves   Chairman of the Board of Directors   December 22, 2021
Scott Graves
/s/ Aaron Rosen   Director   December 22, 2021
Aaron Rosen
/s/ Robyn Collver   Director   December 22, 2021
Robyn Collver
/s/ William Allen   Director   December 22, 2021
William Allen
/s/ Duane Woods   Director   December 22, 2021
Duane Woods

 

II-5


Table of Contents

Signature

 

Title

 

Date

/s/ Aina Konold   Director   December 22, 2021
Aina Konold
/s/ Kristy Pipes   Director   December 22, 2021
Kristy Pipes

 

II-6