Lands' End - 10-Q quarterly report FY2015 Q1

 

FORM 10-Q

 

For the quarterly period ended May 1, 2015

Commission File Number: 001-09769

Issuer’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (608) 935-9341

LANDS’ END, INC.

Table of Contents

LANDS’ END, INC.

LANDS’ END, INC.

LANDS’ END, INC.

LANDS’ END, INC.

LANDS’ END, INC.

NOTE 1. BACKGROUND AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Description of Business and Separation

Terms that are commonly used in the Company's notes to condensed consolidated and combined financial statements are defined as follows:

• Sears Holdings or Sears Holdings Corporation - Sears Holdings Corporation, a Delaware Corporation, and its consolidated subsidiaries (other than, for all periods following the Separation, Lands' End)

• Separation - On April 4, 2014 Sears Holdings distributed 100% of the outstanding common stock of Lands' End to its shareholders

• First Quarter 2015 - The thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2015

• First Quarter 2014 - The thirteen weeks ended May 2, 2014

• EPS - Earnings per share

• ESL - ESL Investments, Inc. and its investment affiliates, including Edward S. Lampert

• ABL Facility - Asset-based senior secured credit agreements, dated as of April 4, 2014, with Bank of America, N.A and certain other lenders

• Term Loan Facility - Term loan credit Agreement, dated as of April 4, 2014, with Bank of America, N.A. and certain other lenders

• Facilities - Collectively, the ABL Facility and the Term Loan Facility

• UK Borrower - A United Kingdom subsidiary borrower of Lands’ End under the ABL Facility

• GAAP - Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States

• SEC - United States Securities and Exchange Commission

• FASB - Financial Accounting Standards Board

• FASB ASC - FASB Accounting Standards Codification, which serves as the source for authoritative GAAP, except that rules and interpretive releases by the SEC are also sources of authoritative GAAP for SEC registrants

• ASU -FASB Accounting Standards Update

• Tax Sharing Agreement - A tax sharing agreement entered into by Sears Holdings Corporation and Lands' End in connection with the Separation

• UTBs - Gross unrecognized tax benefits

• Sears Roebuck - Sears, Roebuck and Co., a subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation

• CAM - Common area maintenance for leased properties

• SYW - Shop Your Way member loyalty program

A Registration Statement on Form 10 relating to the Separation was filed by the Company with the SEC, and was subsequently amended by the Company and declared effective by the SEC on March 17, 2014. The Company’s common stock began “regular way” trading on the NASDAQ Stock Market after the distribution date under the symbol “LE”.

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements presented herein represent (i) periods prior to April 4, 2014 when Lands' End was a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (referred to as “Combined Financial Statements”) and (ii) the period as of and subsequent to April 4, 2014 when Lands' End became a separate publicly-traded company (referred to as “Consolidated Financial Statements”).

The Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements include the accounts of Lands' End, Inc. and its subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

The accompanying unaudited Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments which are of a normal and recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented have been reflected. Dollar amounts are reported in thousands, except per share data, unless otherwise noted. Interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for a full year. The information included in this Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with information included in the Lands' End Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 17, 2015.

Our historical Combined Financial Statements have been prepared on a stand-alone basis and have been derived from the consolidated financial statements and accounting records of Sears Holdings. The Combined Financial Statements include Lands’ End, Inc. and subsidiaries and certain other items related to the Lands’ End business which were held by Sears Holdings prior to the Separation. These items were contributed by Sears Holdings to Lands’ End, Inc. prior to the Separation. These historical Combined Financial Statements reflect the Company's financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with GAAP.

All intracompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. Prior to the Separation, all intercompany transactions between Sears Holdings and Lands’ End were considered to be effectively settled in the Condensed Combined Financial Statements at the time the transactions were recorded. The total net effect of the settlement of these intercompany transactions is reflected in the Condensed Combined Statements of Cash Flows as a financing activity.

As a business operation of Sears Holdings, Lands' End did not maintain its own tax and certain other corporate support functions prior to the Separation. Lands' End entered into agreements with Sears Holdings for the continuation of certain of these services, as well as to support the Lands' End Shops at Sears. These expenses had been allocated to Lands’ End based on direct usage or benefit where identifiable, with the remainder allocated on a pro rata basis based upon revenue, headcount, square footage or other measures. Lands’ End considers the expense allocation methodology and results to be reasonable for all periods presented. However, the costs and allocations charged to the Company by Sears Holdings do not necessarily reflect the costs of obtaining the services from unaffiliated third parties or of the Company providing the applicable services itself. The historical Condensed Combined Financial Statements contained herein may not be indicative of the Company’s financial position, operating results, and cash flows in the future, or what they would have been if it had been a stand-alone company during all periods presented. See Note 9 - Related Party Transactions.

Prior to the Separation, Sears Holdings provided financing, cash management and other treasury services to Lands' End. Sears Holdings used a centralized approach to its United States domestic cash management and financing of its operations. The majority of the Company's cash was transferred to Sears Holdings on a daily basis. Sears Holdings was also the Company's only source of funding for its operating and investing activities. Upon Separation, cash and restricted cash held by Sears Holdings were not allocated to Lands’ End unless the cash or restricted cash was held by an entity that was transferred to Lands’ End. Sears Holdings’ third-party debt, and the related interest expense, was not allocated to Lands' End for any of the periods presented as it was not the legal obligor of the debt and the Sears Holdings' borrowings were not directly attributable to the Company's business.

NOTE 2. INCOME TAXES

Lands’ End and Sears Holdings Corporation entered into a Tax Sharing Agreement in connection with the Separation which governs Sears Holdings Corporation’s and Lands’ End’s respective rights, responsibilities and obligations after the Separation with respect to liabilities for U.S. federal, state, local and foreign taxes attributable to the Lands’ End business. In addition to the allocation of tax liabilities, the Tax Sharing Agreement addresses the preparation and filing of tax returns for such taxes and dispute resolution with taxing authorities regarding such taxes. Generally, Sears Holdings Corporation is liable for all pre-Separation U.S. federal, state and local income taxes. Lands’ End generally is liable for all other income taxes attributable to its business, including all foreign taxes.

NOTE 3. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Performance Awards

NOTE 4. EARNINGS PER SHARE

NOTE 5. OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Other comprehensive income (loss) encompasses all changes in equity other than those arising from transactions with stockholders, and is comprised solely of foreign currency translation adjustments and net income.

Comprehensive income—no amounts were reclassified out of Accumulated other comprehensive loss during any of the periods presented.

NOTE 6. DEBT

Interest; Fees

Representations and Warranties; Covenants

The Facilities contain certain affirmative covenants, including reporting requirements such as delivery of financial statements, certificates and notices of certain events, maintaining insurance, and providing additional guarantees and collateral in certain circumstances.

NOTE 7. FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

The Company determines fair value of financial assets and liabilities based on the following fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to measure fair value into three levels:

Level 1 inputs—unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities that the Company has the ability to access. An active market for the asset or liability is one in which transactions for the asset or liability occurs with sufficient frequency and volume to provide ongoing pricing information.

Level 2 inputs—inputs other than quoted market prices included in Level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly, for the asset or liability. Level 2 inputs include, but are not limited to, quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in an active market, quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in markets that are not active and inputs other than quoted market prices that are observable for the asset or liability, such as interest rate curves and yield curves observable at commonly quoted intervals, volatilities, credit risk and default rates.

Level 3 inputs—unobservable inputs for the asset or liability.

Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, accounts payable and other current liabilities are reflected on the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets at cost, which approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of these instruments.

NOTE 8. GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The following summarizes goodwill and intangible assets:

NOTE 9. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

According to statements on form Schedule 13D filed with the SEC by ESL, ESL beneficially owned significant portions of both the Company's and Sears Holdings Corporation's outstanding shares of common stock. Therefore Sears Holdings Corporation, the Company's former parent company, is considered a related party both prior to and subsequent to the Separation.

Prior to the Separation, Sears Holdings Corporation (including certain non-Lands’ End subsidiaries) and the Company entered into various agreements to, among other things: (i) support the Lands’ End Shops at Sears; (ii) provide various general corporate services; and (iii) support the Company's participation in the SYW program; and (iv) allow for the use of intellectual property or services. The amounts charged to the Company by Sears Holdings do not necessarily reflect the costs of obtaining the services from unaffiliated third parties or of the Company providing the applicable services itself. Management believes that such costs are reasonable; however, the Combined Financial Statements contained herein may not be indicative of the Company’s financial position, operating results, and cash flows in the future, or what they would have been if it had been a stand-alone company during all periods presented.

In connection with the Separation, the Company entered into various agreements with Sears Holdings which, among other things, (i) govern specified aspects of the Company's relationship following the Separation, especially with regards to the Lands’ End Shops at Sears, and (ii) establish terms pursuant to which subsidiaries of Sears Holdings Corporation are providing services to us, including the International Buying Office under the Buying Agency Agreement.

References to and descriptions of the agreements below represent the agreements entered into in connection with the Separation.

See further descriptions of the transactions in the Company's 2015 Annual Report on Form 10-K. The components of the transactions between the Company and Sears Holdings, which exclude pass-through payments to third parties, are as follows:

Lands’ End Shops at Sears

Related party costs charged by Sears Holdings to the Company related to Lands’ End Shops at Sears are as follows:

General Corporate Services

Related party costs charged by Sears Holdings to the Company for general corporate services are as follows:

Use of Intellectual Property or Services

Related party revenue and costs charged by the Company to and from Sears Holdings for the use of intellectual property or services is as follows:

Additional Balance Sheet Information

NOTE 10. SEGMENT REPORTING

Corporate overhead and other expenses include unallocated shared-service costs, which primarily consist of employee services and financial services, legal and corporate expenses. These expenses include labor and benefits costs, corporate headquarters occupancy costs and other administrative expenses. Assets include corporate headquarters and facilities, corporate cash and cash equivalents and deferred income taxes.

SUMMARY OF SEGMENT DATA

NOTE 11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Legal Proceedings

The Company is party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. These actions include commercial, intellectual property, employment, regulatory and consumer fraud claims. Some of these actions involve complex factual and legal issues and are subject to uncertainties. At this time, the Company is not able to either predict the outcome of these legal proceedings or reasonably estimate a potential range of loss with respect to the proceedings. The Company does not believe that the outcome of any current legal proceeding would have a material adverse effect on results of operations, cash flows or financial position taken as a whole.

NOTE 12. SUPPLEMENTAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Non-cash Transactions

NOTE 13. RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

Customer's Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement

In April 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-05, Customers' Accounting for Fees Paid in a Cloud Computing Arrangement, which clarifies the circumstances under which a cloud computing customer would account for the arrangement as a license of internal-use software under ASC 350-40. This guidance will be effective for Lands' End in the first quarter of its fiscal year ending January 27, 2017. The Company is currently in the process of evaluating the impact of adoption of this ASU on the Company's Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements.

Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity

Executive Overview

Introduction

Management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and results of operations accompanies our condensed consolidated and combined financial statements and provides additional information about our business, financial condition, liquidity and capital resources, cash flows and results of operations. We have organized the information as follows:

Description of the Company

The Company identifies reportable segments according to how business activities are managed and evaluated. Each of the Company’s operating segments are reportable segments and are strategic business units that offer similar products and services but are sold either directly from our warehouses (Direct) or through our retail stores (Retail).

Basis of Presentation

The financial statements presented herein represent (i) periods prior to April 4, 2014 when we were a wholly owned subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation (referred to as “Combined Financial Statements”) and (ii) the period as of and subsequent to April 4, 2014 when we became a separate publicly-traded company (referred to as “Consolidated Financial Statements”).

Our historical Combined Financial Statements have been prepared on a stand-alone basis and have been derived from the consolidated financial statements of Sears Holdings and accounting records of Sears Holdings. The Combined Financial Statements include Lands’ End, Inc. and subsidiaries and certain other items related to the Lands’ End business which were held by Sears Holdings prior to the Separation, primarily the Lands’ End Shops at Sears. These items were contributed by Sears Holdings to Lands’ End, Inc. prior to the Separation. These historical Combined Financial Statements reflect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows in conformity with GAAP.

All intracompany transactions and accounts have been eliminated. Prior to the Separation, all intercompany transactions between Sears Holdings and Lands’ End were considered to be effectively settled in the Combined Financial Statements at the time the transactions were recorded. The total net effect of the settlement of these intercompany transactions is reflected in the Combined Statements of Cash Flows as a financing activity.

Following the Separation, we began operating as a separate, publicly traded company, independent from Sears Holdings. According to statements on form Schedule 13D filed with the SEC by ESL, ESL beneficially owned significant portions of both the Company's and Sears Holdings Corporation's outstanding shares of common stock. Therefore Sears Holdings Corporation, the Company's former parent company, is considered a related party both prior to and subsequent to the Separation.

The success of our Retail segment depends on the performance of the Lands’ End Shops at Sears. Under the terms of the master lease agreement and master sublease agreement pursuant to which Sears Roebuck leases or subleases to us the premises for the Lands’ End Shops at Sears, Sears Roebuck has certain rights to (1) relocate our leased premises within the building in which such premises are located, subject to certain limitations, including our right to terminate the applicable lease if we are not satisfied with the new premises, and (2) terminate without liability the lease with respect to a particular Lands’ End Shop if the overall Sears store in which such Lands’ End Shop is located is closed or sold. Sears Holdings recently announced that it intends to continue to right-size, redeploy and highlight the value of its assets, including its real estate portfolio, in its transition from an asset-intensive, store-focused retailer and that it has entered into lease agreements with third party retailers for stand-alone stores. Sears Holdings also recently announced that it expects to commence a rights offering in June 2015 in connection with its formation of Seritage Growth Properties, a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), that would purchase from and lease back to Sears Holdings 235 Sears and Kmart stores, and that it has completed the formation of real estate joint ventures with third parties. We believe that in connection with these transactions, Sears Roebuck has or intends to sell and leaseback approximately 77 Sears stores that contain a Lands' End Shop, the impact on the Company of which is not known. If Sears Roebuck continues to dispose of retail stores that contain Lands’ End Shops, and/or offer us relocation alternatives for Lands’ End Shops that are less attractive than the current premises, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected. On May 1, 2015 the Company operated 235 Lands’ End Shops at Sears, compared with 251 Lands’ End Shops at Sears on May 2, 2014.

Seasonality

We experience seasonal fluctuations in our net sales and operating results and historically have realized a significant portion of our net sales and earnings for the year during our fourth fiscal quarter. We generated approximately 34% of our net sales in the fourth fiscal quarter of the past three years. Thus, lower than expected fourth quarter net sales could have an adverse impact on our annual operating results.

Working capital requirements typically increase during the third quarter of the fiscal year as inventory builds to support peak shipping/selling period and, accordingly, typically decrease during the fourth quarter of the fiscal year as inventory is shipped/sold. Cash provided by operating activities is typically higher in the fourth quarter of the fiscal year due to reduced working capital requirements during that period.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, selected income statement data:

Depreciation and amortization is not included in our cost of sales because we are a reseller of inventory and do not believe that including depreciation and amortization is meaningful. As a result, our gross margins may not be comparable to other entities that include depreciation and amortization related to the sale of their product in their gross margin measure.

Net Income and Adjusted EBITDA

While Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measurement, management believes that it is an important indicator of operating performance, and useful to investors, because:

 

In assessing the operational performance of our business, we consider a variety of financial measures. We operate in two reportable segments, Direct (sold through e-commerce websites and direct mail catalogs) and Retail (sold through stores). A key measure in the evaluation of our business is revenue performance by segment. We also consider gross margin and Selling and administrative expenses in evaluating the performance of our business.

To evaluate revenue performance for the Direct segment we use Merchandise sales and services, net. For our Retail segment, we use Same Store Sales as a key measure in evaluating performance. A store is included in Same Store Sales calculations on the first day it has comparable prior year sales. Stores in which the selling square footage has changed by 15% or more as a result of a remodel, expansion, reduction or relocation are excluded from Same Store Sales calculations until the first day they have comparable prior year sales. Online sales and sales generated through our in-store computer kiosks are considered revenue in our Direct segment and are excluded from Same Store Sales.

Merchandise Sales and Services, Net

Gross Profit

Selling and Administrative Expenses

Depreciation and Amortization

Operating Income

Interest Expense

Income Tax Expense

Net Income

Adjusted EBITDA

Our primary need for liquidity is to fund working capital requirements of our business, capital expenditures, debt service and for general corporate purposes. Our cash and cash equivalents and the ABL Facility serve as sources of liquidity for short-term working capital needs and general corporate purposes. We expect that our cash on hand and cash flows from operations, along with our ABL Facility will be adequate to meet our capital requirements and operational needs for the next 12 months. Cash generated from our net sales and profitability, and somewhat to a lesser extent our changes in working capital, are driven by the seasonality of our business, with a disproportionate amount of net sales and operating cash flows generally occurring in the fourth fiscal quarter of each year.

Description of Material Indebtedness

The ABL Facility will mature on April 4, 2019. The Term Loan Facility will mature on April 4, 2021 and will amortize at a rate equal to 1% per annum, and is subject to mandatory prepayment in an amount equal to a percentage of the borrower’s excess cash flows in each fiscal year, ranging from 0% to 50% depending on Lands’ End’s secured leverage ratio, and the proceeds from certain asset sales and casualty events.

Guarantees; Security

All domestic obligations under the Facilities are unconditionally guaranteed by Lands’ End and, subject to certain exceptions, each of its existing and future direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries. In addition, the obligations of the UK Borrower under the ABL Facility are guaranteed by its existing and future direct and indirect subsidiaries organized in the United Kingdom. The ABL Facility is secured by a first priority security interest in certain working capital of the borrowers and guarantors consisting primarily of accounts receivable and inventory. The Term Loan Facility is secured by a second priority security interest in the same collateral, with certain exceptions.

The Term Loan Facility also is secured by a first priority security interest in certain property and assets of the borrowers and guarantors, including certain fixed assets and stock of subsidiaries. The ABL Facility is secured by a second priority security interest in the same collateral.

The interest rates per annum applicable to the loans under the Facilities are based on a fluctuating rate of interest measured by reference to, at the borrowers’ election, either (i) LIBOR plus a borrowing margin, or (ii) an alternative base rate plus a borrowing margin. The borrowing margin is fixed for the Term Loan Facility at 3.25% in the case of LIBOR loans and 2.25% in the case of base rate loans. For the Term Loan Facility, LIBOR is subject to a 1% interest rate floor. The borrowing margin for the ABL Facility is subject to adjustment based on the average excess availability under the ABL Facility for the preceding fiscal quarter, and will range from 1.50% to 2.00% in the case of LIBOR borrowings and will range from 0.50% to 1.00% in the case of base rate borrowings.

Customary agency fees are payable pursuant to the terms of the Facilities. The ABL Facility fees also include (i) commitment fees, based on a percentage ranging from approximately 0.25% to 0.375% of the daily unused portions of the facility, and (ii) customary letter of credit fees.

The Facilities contain certain affirmative covenants, including reporting requirements such as delivery of financial statements, certificates and notices of certain events, maintaining insurance, and providing additional guarantees and collateral in certain circumstances.

Events of Default

The Facilities include customary events of default including non-payment of principal, interest or fees, violation of covenants, inaccuracy of representations or warranties, cross defaults related to certain other material indebtedness, bankruptcy and insolvency events, invalidity or impairment of guarantees or security interests, and material judgments and change of control.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities

Cash Flows from Investing Activities

For 2015, we plan to invest a total of approximately $35.0 million in capital expenditures for strategic investments and infrastructure, primarily associated with our ERP investment, other technology investments and general corporate needs.

Cash Flows from Financing Activities

Financial Instruments with Off-Balance-Sheet Risk

Application of Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We believe that the assumptions and estimates associated with inventory valuation, goodwill and intangible asset impairment assessments and income taxes have the greatest potential impact on our financial statements. Therefore, we consider these to be our critical accounting policies and estimates.

See Part I, Item I Note 13 – Recent Accounting Pronouncements, of the Condensed Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements (Unaudited) included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for information regarding recent accounting pronouncements

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

Certain statements made in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contain forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include without limitation information concerning our future financial performance, business strategy, plans, goals and objectives.

Statements preceded or followed by, or that otherwise include, the words “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “intends,” “project,” “estimates,” “plans,” “forecast,” “is likely to” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will,” “may,” “would,” “should” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause our actual results, performance, and achievements to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements: our ability to offer merchandise and services that customers want to purchase; changes in customer preference for our branded merchandise; customers’ use of our digital platform, including our e-commerce websites, and response to direct mail catalogs and digital marketing; the success of our overall marketing strategies, including our maintenance of a robust customer list; our dependence on information technology and a failure of information technology systems, including with respect to our e-commerce operations, or an inability to upgrade or adapt our systems; the success of our ERP implementation; fluctuations and increases in the costs of raw materials; impairment of our relationships with our vendors; our failure to maintain the security of customer, employee or company information; our failure to compete effectively in the apparel industry; the performance of our “store within a store” business model; if Sears Roebuck sells or disposes of its retail stores or if its retail business does not attract customers or does not adequately provide services to the Lands’ End Shops at Sears; legal, regulatory, economic and political risks associated with international trade and those markets in which we conduct business and source our merchandise; our failure to protect or preserve the image of our brands and our intellectual property rights; increases in postage, paper and printing costs; failure by third parties who provide us with services in connection with certain aspects of our business to perform their obligations; our failure to timely and effectively obtain shipments of products from our vendors and deliver merchandise to our customers; reliance on promotions and markdowns to encourage consumer purchases; our failure to efficiently manage inventory levels; unseasonal or severe weather conditions; the seasonal nature of our business; the adverse effect on our reputation if our independent vendors do not use ethical business practices or comply with applicable laws and regulations; assessments for additional state taxes; our exposure to periodic litigation and other regulatory proceedings, including with respect to product liability claims; incurrence of charges due to impairment of goodwill, other intangible assets and long-lived assets; our failure to retain our executive management team and to attract qualified new personnel; the impact on our business of adverse worldwide economic and market conditions, including economic factors that negatively impact consumer spending on discretionary items; the inability of our past performance generally, as reflected on our historical financial statements, to be indicative of our future performance; the impact of increased costs due to a decrease in our purchasing power following the Separation and other losses of benefits associated with being a subsidiary of Sears Holdings; the failure of Sears Holdings or its subsidiaries to perform under various transaction agreements that have been executed in connection with the Separation or our failure to have necessary systems and services in place when certain of the transaction agreements expire; our agreements related to the Separation and our continuing relationship with Sears Holdings were negotiated while we were a subsidiary of Sears Holdings and we may have received better terms from an unaffiliated third party; potential indemnification liabilities to Sears Holdings pursuant to the separation and distribution agreement; our inability to engage in certain corporate transactions after the Separation; the ability of our principal shareholders to exert substantial influence over us; adverse effects of the Separation on our business; potential liabilities under fraudulent conveyance and transfer laws and legal capital requirements; declines in our stock price due to the eligibility of a number of our shares of common stock for future sale; our inability to pay dividends; stockholders’ percentage ownership in Lands’ End may be diluted in the future; and increases in our expenses and administrative burden in relation to being a public company, in particular to maintain compliance with certain provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and other risks, uncertainties and factors.

The foregoing factors should not be understood as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements, including the “Risk Factors,” that were included in our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K filed on April 17, 2015 and in our other filings with the SEC and our other public announcements. While we believe that our forecasts and assumptions are reasonable, we caution that actual results may differ materially. If one or more of these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if our underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may vary materially from what we projected. Consequently, actual events and results may vary significantly from those included in or contemplated or implied by our forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are made only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and we undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement made by us or on our behalf, whether as a result of new information, future developments, subsequent events or circumstances or otherwise.

We are subject to interest rate risk with our Term Loan Facility and our ABL Facility, as both require us to pay interest on outstanding borrowings at variable rates. Each one percentage point change in interest rates associated with the Term Loan Facility would result in a $0.9 million change in our annual cash interest expenses. Assuming our ABL Facility was fully drawn to a principal amount equal to $175.0 million, each one percentage point change in interest rates would result in a $1.8 million change in our annual cash interest expense.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

PART II

We are involved in various claims, legal proceedings and investigations, including those described below. While it is not feasible to predict the outcome of such pending claims, proceedings and investigations with certainty, management is of the opinion that their ultimate resolution should not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, cash flows or financial position, except where noted below.

Lands’ End’s legal proceedings include commercial, intellectual property, employment, regulatory, and product liability claims. Some of these actions involve complex factual and legal issues and are subject to uncertainties. There are no material legal proceedings presently pending, except for routine litigation incidental

See Part I, Item 1 "Financial Statements - Notes to Consolidated and Combined Financial Statements," Note 11 "Commitments and Contingencies - Legal Proceedings" for additional information regarding legal proceedings (incorporated herein by reference).

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes with respect to the factors disclosed in our Annual Report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended January 30, 2015, which was filed with the SEC on April 17, 2015.

At its Annual Meeting of Stockholders held on June 5, 2015, the Company announced a multi-dimensional strategy involving: (1) Product & Merchandising, (2) Branding & Marketing, (3) Operations & Technology, (4) Channels of Distribution, and (5) Talent. No assurance can be given that our strategy will be successful and will not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and operating results.

The following documents are filed as exhibits hereto: