hookerfurn10q050513.htm


 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 

 
FORM 10-Q
 


 
Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the quarterly period ended May 5, 2013

Commission file number 000-25349

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Virginia
54-0251350
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)
 
440 East Commonwealth Boulevard, Martinsville, VA  24112
(Address of principal executive offices, zip code)

(276) 632-0459
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (Section 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).  Yes x No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
 
  Large accelerated Filer ¨ Accelerated filer x
  Non-accelerated Filer ¨ (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) Smaller reporting company ¨
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes ¨ No x

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock as of June 10, 2013
 
Common stock, no par value
10,739,230
(Class of common stock)
(Number of shares)
 
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
     
Item 1.
3
     
Item 2.
12
     
Item 3.
22
     
Item 4.
23
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
 
     
Item 6.
24
     
25
 
 
 
 
PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.       Financial Statements

HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, including share data)
(Unaudited)
 
   
May 5,
   
February 3,
 
   
2013
   
2013
 
Assets
           
Current Assets
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 28,728     $ 26,342  
Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of
  $1,085 and $1,249, respectively
    26,435       28,272  
Inventories
    46,506       49,872  
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    2,652       3,569  
Deferred taxes
    1,572       1,612  
Total current assets
    105,893       109,667  
Property, plant and equipment, net
    23,125       22,829  
Intangible assets
    1,257       1,257  
Cash surrender value of life insurance policies
    17,720       17,360  
Deferred taxes
    4,434       4,379  
Other assets
    331       331  
Total assets
  $ 152,760     $ 155,823  
                 
Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
               
Current Liabilities
               
Trade accounts payable
  $ 9,224     $ 11,620  
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits
    2,604       3,316  
Other accrued expenses
    1,241       2,531  
Total current liabilities
    13,069       17,467  
Deferred compensation
    7,557       7,311  
Total liabilities
    20,626       24,778  
                 
Shareholders' equity
               
Common stock, no par value, 20,000 shares authorized,
  10,746 shares issued and outstanding on each date, respectively
    17,407       17,360  
Retained earnings
    114,542       113,483  
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    185       202  
Total shareholders' equity
    132,134       131,045  
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity
  $ 152,760     $ 155,823  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(In thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
 
   
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
   
May 5,
   
April 29,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
             
Net sales
  $ 56,295     $ 51,730  
                 
Cost of sales
    42,379       40,808  
                 
Gross profit
    13,916       10,922  
                 
Selling and administrative expenses
    10,682       9,394  
                 
Operating income
    3,234       1,528  
                 
Other (expense) income, net
    (32 )     44  
                 
Income before income taxes
    3,202       1,572  
                 
Income tax expense
    1,076       552  
                 
Net income
  $ 2,126     $ 1,020  
                 
Earnings per share
               
Basic
  $ 0.20     $ 0.09  
Diluted
  $ 0.20     $ 0.09  
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
               
Basic
    10,717       10,772  
Diluted
    10,747       10,794  
                 
Cash dividends declared per share
  $ 0.10     $ 0.10  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)

   
For the
 
   
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
   
May 5,
   
April 29,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
             
Net Income
  $ 2,126     $ 1,020  
       Other comprehensive income:
               
Amortization of actuarial gain net of tax of $10 and $6, respectively
    (17 )     (9 )
        Adjustments to net periodic benefit cost
    (17 )     (9 )
                 
Comprehensive Income
  $ 2,109     $ 1,011  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 
HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
 
   
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
   
May 5,
   
April 29,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Cash flows from operating activities
           
   Cash received from customers
  $ 58,134     $ 53,631  
   Cash paid to suppliers and employees
    (51,992 )     (42,548 )
   Income taxes paid, net
    (2,115 )     (14 )
   Interest paid, net
    (34 )     (8 )
      Net cash provided by operating activities
    3,993       11,061  
                 
Cash flows from investing activities
               
   Purchase of property, plant and equipment
    (880 )     (2,211 )
   Proceeds received on notes issued for the sale of property, plant and equipment
    14       9  
   Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment
    8       30  
   Premiums paid on company-owned life insurance
    (190 )     (187 )
   Proceeds received on company-owned life insurance
    516       -  
      Net cash used in investing activities
    (532 )     (2,359 )
                 
Cash flows from financing activities
               
   Cash dividends paid
    (1,075 )     (1,079 )
      Net cash used in financing activities
    (1,075 )     (1,079 )
                 
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 2,386     $ 7,623  
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period
    26,342       40,355  
   Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period
  $ 28,728     $ 47,978  
                 
Reconciliation of net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
               
   Net income
  $ 2,126     $ 1,020  
       Depreciation and amortization
    584       595  
       Non-cash restricted stock awards and performance grants
    229       58  
       Provision for doubtful accounts
    75       160  
       Deferred income taxes
    (5 )     5  
       Gain on disposal of  property
    (8 )     (13 )
       Gain on insurance policies
    (135 )     (126 )
       Changes in assets and liabilities:
               
          Trade accounts receivable
    1,762       1,690  
          Inventories
    3,366       3,612  
          Prepaid expenses and other current assets
    832       450  
          Trade accounts payable
    (2,876 )     4,182  
          Accrued salaries, wages, and benefits
    (712 )     (1,199 )
          Accrued income taxes
    (1,034 )     533  
          Other accrued expenses
    (256 )     100  
          Deferred compensation
    45       (6 )
             Net cash provided by operating activties
  $ 3,993     $ 11,061  
 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.


HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Dollar and share amounts in tables, except per share amounts, in thousands unless otherwise indicated)
(Unaudited)
For the Thirteen Weeks Ended May 5, 2013


1.
Preparation of Interim Financial Statements

The condensed consolidated financial statements of Hooker Furniture Corporation and subsidiaries (referred to as “we,” “us,” “our,” “Hooker” or the “Company”) have been prepared in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”).  In the opinion of management, these statements include all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the results of all interim periods reported herein.  All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature.  Certain information and footnote disclosures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) are condensed or omitted pursuant to SEC rules and regulations.  However, we believe that the disclosures made are adequate for a fair presentation of our results of operations and financial position.  Operating results for the interim periods reported herein may not be indicative of the results expected for the fiscal year.  These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes included in our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 3, 2013.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect both the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from our estimates.

The financial statements contained herein are being filed as part of a quarterly report on Form 10-Q covering the thirteen-week period (also referred to as “three months,” “three-month period,” “quarter,” “first quarter” or “quarterly period”) that began February 4, 2013 and ended on May 5, 2013.  These financial statements also include the thirteen-week period that began January 30, 2012 and ended on April 29, 2012.

References in these notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company to:

§
the 2014 fiscal year and comparable terminology mean the fiscal year that began February 4, 2013 and will end February 2, 2014; and

§
the 2013 fiscal year and comparable terminology mean the fiscal year that began January 30, 2012 and ended February 3, 2013.
 
Certain amounts have been reclassified in the prior period financial statements and notes to reflect the current period classification.
 
2.
Inventories

   
May 5,
   
February 3,
 
   
2013
   
2013
 
Finished furniture
  $ 55,210     $ 58,584  
Furniture in process
    822       688  
Materials and supplies
    8,618       8,478  
   Inventories at FIFO
    64,650       67,750  
Reduction to LIFO basis
    (18,144 )     (17,878 )
   Inventories
  $ 46,506     $ 49,872  


3.           Property, Plant and Equipment

   
Depreciable Lives
   
May 5,
   
February 3,
 
   
(In years)
   
2013
   
2013
 
                   
Computer software and hardware
   3 - 10     $ 22,259     $ 22,203  
Buildings and land improvements
  15 - 30       23,687       23,680  
Machinery and equipment
      10       3,717       3,663  
Leasehold improvements
      5       2,783       2,697  
Furniture and fixtures
  3 - 8       1,999       1,989  
Other
      5       703       703  
   Total depreciable property at cost
              55,148       54,936  
Less accumulated depreciation
              35,066       34,559  
   Total depreciable property, net
              20,082       20,377  
Land
              1,152       1,152  
Construction-in-progress
              1,891       1,300  
   Property, plant and equipment, net
            $ 23,125     $ 22,829  
 
At May 5, 2013, construction-in-progress consisted of $919,000 of expenses related to our ongoing ERP conversion efforts and $972,000 related to various other projects to enhance our facilities and operations.

4.           Intangible Assets
 
   
May 5,
   
February 3,
 
   
2013
   
2013
 
Non-amortizable Intangible Assets
           
Trademarks and trade names - Bradington-Young
  $ 861     $ 861  
Trademarks and trade names - Sam Moore
    396       396  
   Total trademarks and tradenames
    1,257       1,257  
 
5.           Accounts Receivable

   
May 5,
   
February 3,
 
   
2013
   
2013
 
             
Trade accounts receivable
  $ 19,887     $ 22,712  
Receivable from factor
    7,633       6,809  
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    (1,085 )     (1,249 )
   Accounts receivable
  $ 26,435     $ 28,272  
 
“Receivable from factor” represents amounts due with respect to factored accounts receivable. We factor substantially all of our domestically produced upholstery accounts receivable without recourse to us.
 
 
Under our factoring agreement, invoices for domestically produced upholstery products are generated and transmitted to our customers, with copies to the factor on a daily basis, as products are shipped to our customers.  The factor collects the amounts due and remits collected funds, less factoring fees, to us semi-weekly. We retain ownership of the accounts receivable until the invoices are 90 days past due. At that time, the factor pays us the net invoice amount, less factoring fees, and takes ownership of the accounts receivable. The factor is then entitled to collect the invoices on its own behalf and retain any subsequent remittances. The invoiced amounts are reported as accounts receivable on our condensed consolidated balance sheets, generally when the merchandise is shipped to our customer until payment is received from the factor.

A limited number of our accounts receivable for our domestically produced upholstery are factored with recourse to us. The amounts of these receivables at May 5, 2013 and February 3, 2013 were $245,000 and $130,000, respectively. If the factor is unable to collect the amounts due, invoices are returned to us for collection. We include an estimate of potentially uncollectible receivables in our calculation of our allowance for doubtful accounts.
 
6.           Earnings Per Share

We refer you to the Earnings Per Share disclosure in Note 1-Summary of Significant Accounting Policies, in our fiscal year 2013 Form 10-K, for additional information concerning the calculation of earnings per share.
 
We have issued restricted stock awards to non-employee members of the board of directors since 2006 and restricted stock units (RSUs) to certain senior executives since fiscal 2012, under the Company’s Stock Incentive Plan. We expect to continue to grant these types of awards annually in the future. The following table sets forth the number of outstanding restricted stock awards and restricted stock units, net of forfeitures and vested shares, as of the fiscal quarter-end dates indicated:
 
   
May 5,
   
February 3,
 
   
2013
   
2013
 
             
Restricted shares
    29,063       29,063  
Restricted stock units
    32,353       32,353  
      61,416       61,416  
 
All restricted shares and restricted stock units awarded that have not yet vested are considered when computing diluted earnings per share.  The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

   
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
   
May 5,
   
April 29,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
             
Net income
  $ 2,126     $ 1,020  
   Less: Unvested participating restricted stock dividends
    3       2  
            Net earnings allocated to unvested participating restricted stock
    6       2  
Earnings available for common shareholders
    2,117       1,016  
                 
Weighted average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share
    10,717       10,772  
Dilutive effect of unvested restricted stock and RSU awards
    30       22  
   Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted earnings per share
    10,747       10,794  
                 
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.20     $ 0.09  
                 
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.20     $ 0.09  

 
7.           Long Term Debt

As of May 5, 2013, we had an aggregate $13.2 million available under our $15.0 million revolving credit facility to fund working capital needs.  Standby letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $1.8 million, used to collateralize certain insurance arrangements and for imported product purchases, were outstanding under our revolving credit facility as of May 5, 2013.  There were no additional borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility on May 5, 2013.  Any principal outstanding under the revolving credit facility is due July 31, 2013. We are currently in negotiations to extend or replace our credit facility and expect to have a new agreement in place before the expiration of our current loan agreement on July 31, 2013.
 
8.           Employee Benefit Plans

We maintain a supplemental retirement income plan (“SRIP”) for certain former and current executives. The liability for the SRIP at May 5, 2013 and April 29, 2012 was $7.5 million and $7.4 million, respectively, and is shown in our condensed consolidated balance sheets as follows:

   
May 5,
   
February 3,
 
   
2013
   
2013
 
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits (current portion)
  $ 379     $ 379  
Deferred compensation (long-term portion)
    7,110       7,056  
   Total liability
  $ 7,489     $ 7,435  

Components of net periodic benefit cost for the SRIP are included in our condensed consolidated statements of income under selling and administrative expenses:
 
   
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
   
May 5,
   
April 29,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Net periodic benefit cost
           
   Service cost
  $ 64     $ 64  
   Interest cost
    73       74  
   Actuarial gain
    (26 )     (15 )
      Net periodic benefit cost
  $ 111     $ 124  
 
9.           Income Taxes

We recorded income tax expense of $1.1 million for the fiscal 2014 first quarter compared to $552,000 for the comparable prior year period.  The effective tax rates for the fiscal 2014 and 2013 first quarters were 33.6% and 35.1%, respectively.  Our effective tax rate was slightly lower in the fiscal 2014 first quarter primarily due to larger anticipated rate benefits from earnings on company-owned life insurance policies and distributions from our former captive insurance arrangement.

 
10.         Segment Information
 
The following table presents segment information for each of the following thirteen-week periods:

   
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
   
May 5, 2013
         
April 29, 2012
       
         
% Net Sales
         
% Net Sales
 
Net Sales
                       
   Casegoods
  $ 35,444       63.0 %   $ 32,745       63.3 %
   Upholstery
    20,851       37.0 %     18,985       36.7 %
Consolidated
  $ 56,295       100.0 %   $ 51,730       100.0 %
                                 
Gross Profit & Margin
                               
   Casegoods
  $ 9,998       28.2 %   $ 7,448       22.8 %
   Upholstery
    3,918       18.8 %     3,474       18.3 %
Consolidated
  $ 13,916       24.7 %   $ 10,922       21.1 %
                                 
Operating Income & Margin
                               
   Casegoods
  $ 2,566       7.2 %   $ 1,376       4.2 %
   Upholstery
    668       3.2 %     152       0.8 %
Consolidated
  $ 3,234       5.7 %   $ 1,528       3.0 %
                                 
Capital Expenditures
                               
   Casegoods
  $ 678             $ 1,364          
   Upholstery
    202               847          
Consolidated
  $ 880             $ 2,211          
                                 
Depreciation & Amortization
                               
   Casegoods
  $ 381             $ 408          
   Upholstery
    203               187          
Consolidated
  $ 584             $ 595          
                                 
 
   
As of May 5, 2013
   
% Total
   
As of February 3, 2013
   
% Total
 
Total Assets
         
Assets
           
Assets
 
   Casegoods
  $ 121,944       79.8 %   $ 124,509       79.9 %
   Upholstery
    30,816       20.2 %     31,314       20.1 %
Consolidated
  $ 152,760       100.0 %   $ 155,823       100.0 %
 
 
11.         Subsequent Events
 
Dividends
 
At its June 3, 2013 meeting, our board of directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share, payable on June 28, 2013 to shareholders of record at June 14, 2013.
 
 
Item 2.       Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This quarterly report on Form 10-Q includes our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for the thirteen-week period (also referred to as “three months,” “three-month period,” “quarter” “first quarter” or “quarterly period”) that began February 4, 2013 and ended May 5, 2013.  This report discusses our results of operations for this period compared to the 2013 fiscal year thirteen-week period that began January 30, 2012 and ended April 29, 2012; and our financial condition as of May 5, 2013 compared to February 3, 2013.

We encourage users of this report to familiarize themselves with all of our recent public filings made with the SEC, especially our 2013 annual report on Form 10-K (“2013 Annual Report”) filed with the SEC on April 19, 2013. Our 2013 Annual Report contains critical information regarding known risks and uncertainties that we face, critical accounting policies and information on commitments and contractual obligations that are not reflected in our consolidated financial statements, as well as a more thorough and detailed  discussion of our corporate strategy and new business initiatives. Our 2013 Annual Report and our other public filings made with the SEC are available at www.sec.gov and at http://investors.hookerfurniture.com.

For financial reporting purposes, we are organized into two operating segments – casegoods furniture and upholstered furniture. References in this report to “we,” “us,” “our,” “Hooker,” or “the Company” refer to the Company and our consolidated subsidiaries, unless specifically referring to segment information.

References in this report to:

§
the 2014 fiscal year and comparable terminology mean the fiscal year that began February 4, 2013 and will end February 2, 2014; and

§
the 2013 fiscal year and comparable terminology mean the fiscal year that began January 30, 2012 and ended February 3, 2013.

Dollar amounts presented in the tables below are in thousands.

Nature of Operations

Hooker Furniture Corporation is a home furnishings marketing and logistics company offering worldwide sourcing of residential casegoods and upholstery, as well as domestically-produced custom leather and fabric-upholstered furniture. We were incorporated in Virginia in 1924 and are ranked among the nation’s top 10 largest publicly traded furniture sources, based on 2011 shipments to U.S. retailers, according to a 2012 survey published by Furniture Today, a leading trade publication. We are a key resource for residential wood and metal furniture, commonly referred to as “casegoods,” and upholstered furniture.  Our major casegoods product categories include home entertainment, home office, accent, dining and bedroom furniture under the Hooker Furniture brand.  Our residential upholstered seating companies include Bradington-Young, a specialist in upscale motion and stationary leather furniture and Sam Moore Furniture, a specialist in upscale occasional chairs, settees, sofas and sectional seating with an emphasis on cover-to-frame customization.  An extensive selection of designs and formats, along with finish and cover options, in each of these product categories makes us a comprehensive resource for residential furniture retailers, primarily targeting the upper-medium price range.  Our principal customers are retailers of residential home furnishings that are broadly dispersed throughout the United States. Our customers also include home furniture retailers in Canada and in over 20 other countries internationally. Our customers include independent furniture stores, specialty retailers, department stores, catalog and internet merchants, interior designers and national and regional chains.
 
 
Overview

Consumer home furnishings purchases are driven by an array of factors, including general economic conditions such as:

§
consumer confidence;
§
fashion trends;
§
availability of consumer credit;
§
energy and other commodity prices; and
§
housing and mortgage markets;

as well as lifestyle-driven factors such as changes in:

§
disposable income;
§
household formation and turnover; and
§
family size.

Current economic and economic-related factors, such as high unemployment and changing consumer priorities have resulted in a somewhat depressed retail environment for discretionary home furnishings and related purchases since 2008. However, the extended weakness in housing and housing-related industries is beginning to show signs of sustained recovery and recent positive news on housing and consumer confidence is especially encouraging.

Our lower overhead, variable-cost import operations have driven our profitability over the last few years and provide us with more flexibility to respond to changing demand by adjusting inventory purchases from suppliers. On the other hand, our import model requires that we transition sourcing among suppliers, often located in different countries or regions, when quality concerns or inflationary pressures diminish the value proposition offered by our current suppliers.

Results for our domestic upholstery operations, which have significantly higher overhead and fixed costs than our import operations, have been particularly affected by the decline in demand for home furnishings and experienced operating losses or low operating profitability since our fiscal 2009 second quarter.  Extensive cost reduction efforts over that time have mitigated the effect of the weakness in demand and have resulted in our upholstery segment returning to operating profitability for fiscal 2013 and for the fiscal 2014 first quarter.

The following are the primary factors that affected our consolidated fiscal 2014 first quarter results of operations:

§
Consolidated net sales increased in the high single digits due to:
o  
lower product discounting in our casegoods segment; and
o  
higher average selling prices in both operating segments, partially offset by lower unit volume in our casegoods segment.

§
 Gross profit increased due to increased sales volume in both segments, as well as:
o  
lower product discounting and lower cost of goods sold due to moderating product costs; and
o  
lower domestic manufacturing costs as a percent of sales in our upholstery segment, due to cost reduction initiatives and improved overhead utilization resulting from increased sales volume.

§
Selling and administrative expenses increased due to increased sales and a variety of other factors, including start-up costs for our H Contract and Homeware divisions; and

§
Our casegoods segment nearly doubled operating profitability from $1.4 million in the 2013 first quarter to $2.6 million in the fiscal 2014 first quarter.

§
Our upholstery segment reported operating profitability of $668,000 for the fiscal 2014 first quarter compared to an operating profit of $152,000 for the fiscal 2013 first quarter.


Results of Operations

The following table sets forth the percentage relationship to net sales of certain items included in the condensed consolidated statements of income included in this report.

   
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
   
May 5,
   
April 29,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Net sales
    100.0 %     100.0 %
Cost of sales
    75.3       78.9  
Gross profit
    24.7       21.1  
Selling and administrative expenses
    19.0       18.2  
Operating income
    5.7       3.0  
Other (expense) income, net
    0.0       0.1  
Income before income taxes
    5.7       3.0  
Income tax expense
    1.9       1.1  
Net income
    3.8       2.0  

Fiscal 2014 First Quarter Compared to Fiscal 2013 First Quarter

Net Sales
 
   
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
   
May 5, 2013
         
April 29, 2012
         
$ Change
   
% Change
 
           
% Net
Sales
            % Net
Sales
                 
Casegoods
  $ 35,444       63.0 %   $ 32,745       63.3 %   $ 2,699       8.2 %
Upholstery
    20,851       37.0 %     18,985       36.7 %   $ 1,866       9.8 %
  Consolidated
  $ 56,295       100.0 %   $ 51,730       100.0 %   $ 4,565       8.8 %
 

Unit Volume
 
FY14 Q1 %
Increase vs. FY13 Q1
 
Average Selling Price
 
FY14 Q1 %
Increase vs. FY13 Q1
 
               
Casegoods
    -4.7 %
Casegoods
    13.3 %
Upholstery
    1.0 %
Upholstery
    8.8 %
  Consolidated
    -3.0 %
  Consolidated
    12.0 %
 
The increase in consolidated net sales for the fiscal 2014 first quarter was principally due to higher average selling prices in both segments, partially offset by lower unit volume in our casegoods segment. Higher average selling prices were primarily the result of lower product discounting in our casegoods segment and for both segments, a shift in the mix of products sold toward some of our higher priced items. The decrease in unit volume was primarily due to reduced promotional discounting activity in both segments compared to the prior year quarter.
 
 
Gross Income and Margin
 
   
Thirteen weeks ended
 
   
May 5, 2013
         
April 29, 2012
         
$ Change
   
% Change
 
           
% Net
Sales
           
% Net
Sales
                 
Casegoods
  $ 9,998       28.2 %   $ 7,448       22.8 %   $ 2,550       34.2 %
Upholstery
    3,918       18.8 %     3,474       18.3 %     444       12.8 %
  Consolidated
  $ 13,916       24.7 %   $ 10,922       21.1 %   $ 2,994       27.4 %

Consolidated gross profit increased in the fiscal 2014 first quarter, as compared to the fiscal 2013 first quarter, primarily due to decreased discounting in our casegoods segment, lower domestic upholstery costs as a percentage of net sales and higher sales volume in both segments.

Selling and Administrative Expenses
 
   
Thirteen weeks ended
 
   
May 5, 2013
         
April 29, 2012
         
$ Change
   
% Change
 
         
% Net
Sales
         
% Net
Sales
             
                                     
Casegoods
  $ 7,432       21.0 %   $ 6,072       18.5 %   $ 1,360       22.4 %
Upholstery
    3,250       15.6 %     3,322       17.5 %     (72 )     -2.2 %
  Consolidated
  $ 10,682       19.0 %   $ 9,394       18.2 %   $ 1,288       13.7 %
 
Consolidated selling and administrative expenses increased both in absolute terms and as a percentage of net sales in the fiscal 2014 first quarter compared to the same prior-year period.

Casegoods selling and administrative expenses increased primarily due to:

§
start-up costs for our H Contract and Homeware divisions;
§
an increase in bonus expense due to improved earnings  performance as compared to the prior-year quarter;
§
an increase in furniture disposals eligible to be deducted as contributions for income tax purposes; and
§
a smaller decrease in bad debt expense as a result of  the reduction of our allowance for doubtful accounts in the prior year quarter because of favorable collections experience.

Upholstery selling and administrative expenses decreased both as a percentage of net sales and in absolute terms in the fiscal 2014 first quarter compared to the same prior-year period, primarily due to decreased salaries and wages and benefits, partially offset by increased commissions and selling expenses due to increased sales.
 
 
Operating Profit and Margin

   
Thirteen weeks ended
 
   
May 5, 2013
         
April 29, 2012
         
$ Change
   
% Change
 
         
% Net
Sales
         
% Net
Sales
             
Casegoods
  $ 2,566       7.2 %   $ 1,376       4.2 %   $ 1,190       86.5 %
Upholstery
    668       3.2 %     152       0.8 %     516       339.5 %
  Consolidated
  $ 3,234       5.7 %   $ 1,528       3.0 %   $ 1,706       111.6 %
 
Operating profitability increased for the fiscal 2014 first quarter as compared to the same prior-year period, both as a percentage of net sales and in absolute terms due to the factors discussed above.

Other (expense) income, net

   
Thirteen weeks ended
 
   
May 5, 2013
         
April 29, 2012
         
$ Change
   
% Change
 
         
% Net
Sales
         
% Net
Sales
             
  Consolidated
  $ (32 )     0.0 %   $ 44       0.1 %   $ (76 )     -172.7 %
 
Other (expense) income, net decreased due to lower interest income on past-due customer accounts.
 
Income taxes

   
Thirteen weeks ended
 
   
May 5, 2013
         
April 29, 2012
         
$ Change
   
% Change
 
         
% Net
Sales
         
% Net
Sales
             
Consolidated income tax expense
  $ 1,076       1.9 %   $ 552       1.1 %   $ 524       94.9 %
                                                 
Effective Tax Rate
    33.6 %             35.1 %                        

 
We recorded income tax expense of $1.1 million for the fiscal 2014 first quarter compared to $552,000 for the comparable prior year period.  The effective tax rates for the fiscal 2014 and 2013 first quarters were 33.6% and 35.1%, respectively.  Our effective tax rate was slightly lower in the fiscal 2014 first quarter primarily due to larger anticipated rate benefits from earnings on company-owned life insurance policies and distributions from our former captive insurance arrangement.
 
Net Income

   
Thirteen weeks ended
 
   
May 5, 2013
         
April 29, 2012
         
$ Change
   
% Change
 
         
% Net
Sales
         
% Net
Sales
             
  Consolidated
  $ 2,126       3.8 %   $ 1,020       2.0 %   $ 1,106       108.4 %
                                                 
Earnings per share
  $ 0.20             $ 0.09                          

 
Outlook
 
Given recent positive news on housing and consumer confidence, we are optimistic about our future, both with our core business and our new ventures. We believe we are well positioned to capitalize on the improving economy as we ramp up our manufacturing facilities, maintain good inventory position on our best-selling products and promote what we believe to be our strongest product line in several years. As we move through the beginning of our fiscal 2014 second quarter, we have seen much stronger demand for our products than a year ago, which we attribute to the vitality of our freshened line up and better retail conditions. Although we are entering what is traditionally the slowest season of the year for furniture during the summer months, we believe that we have considerable momentum.

We have seen significant improvement in our upholstery segment results since early in the 2013 fiscal year thanks to higher sales volume and to a number of cost control initiatives.  The upholstery segment has higher fixed costs than our casegoods segment, due to the upholstery segment’s domestic manufacturing operations.  To mitigate the impact of sales declines in recent years, we streamlined our upholstery operations by improving efficiency, reducing overhead and evaluating our operating costs and capacity to better match costs to current and expected sales volume levels. Further significant cost reductions in our upholstery segment will be challenging. Future profitability increases will require us to increase sales while maintaining gross margins at, or close to, current levels.

Our H Contract product line officially launched early in the fiscal 2014 second quarter. We expect our Homeware product line to officially launch in August 2013 on two major home furnishings e-commerce websites.  Startup costs associated with both new product lines were approximately $440,000 before tax, and $294,000 after-tax, or $0.03 per share in the fiscal 2014 first quarter. We expect startup costs for these product lines will account for approximately $0.12 to $0.15 per share for the 2014 fiscal year.

As we progress through the remainder of the year, we will continue to focus on:

§
pursuing additional distribution channels, including through our new H Contract and Homeware initiatives;
§
controlling costs;
§
adjusting our product pricing on our main-line products in order to mitigate inflation and improve margins;
§
achieving proper inventory levels, while optimizing product availability on best-selling items;
§
sourcing product from more competitive locations and from more quality conscious sourcing partners;
§
offering an array of new products and designs, which we believe will help generate additional sales; and
§
upgrading and refining our information systems capabilities to support our business.


Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Balance Sheet and Working Capital

The following chart shows changes in our total assets, current assets, current liabilities, net working capital and working capital ratio during the first quarter of fiscal 2014:

   
Balance Sheet and Working Capital
       
   
May 5, 2013
   
February 3, 2013
   
$ Change
 
                   
Total Assets
  $ 152,760     $ 155,823     $ (3,063 )
                         
Cash
  $ 28,728     $ 26,342     $ 2,386  
Trade Receivables
    26,435       28,272       (1,837 )
Inventories
    46,506       49,872       (3,366 )
Prepaid Expenses & Other
    4,224       5,181       (957 )
                         
Total Current Assets
  $ 105,893     $ 109,667     $ (3,774 )
                         
Trade accounts payable
  $ 9,224     $ 11,620     $ (2,396 )
Accrued salaries, wages and benefits
    2,604       3,316       (712 )
Other accrued expenses
    1,241       2,531       (1,290 )
                         
Total current liabilities
  $ 13,069     $ 17,467     $ (4,398 )
                         
Net working capital
  $ 92,824     $ 92,200     $ 624  
                         
Working capital ratio
 
8.1 to 1
   
6.3 to 1
         
 
As of May 5, 2013, total assets decreased compared to February 3, 2013, primarily due to decreased inventories and trade receivables, partially offset by increased cash and cash equivalents. Cash increased due primarily to the reduction of inventories and accounts receivable. Inventory receipts were lower than cost of goods sold for the first quarter, resulting in a decrease in inventory from the end of fiscal 2013. Trade receivables decreased due to cash collections in excess of net sales during the first quarter

The increase in net working capital (current assets less current liabilities) reflects a smaller decrease in current assets than in current liabilities. Current assets decreased primarily due to decreased inventories and trade receivables. Current liabilities decreased primarily due to decreases in trade accounts payable and other accrued expenses. Trade accounts payable decreased due to lower import purchases during the fiscal 2014 first quarter. Other accrued expenses decreased from year end levels due to the payment of accrued income taxes payable during the fiscal 2014 first quarter.

Cash Flows – Operating, Investing and Financing Activities

   
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
   
May 5,
   
April 29,
 
   
2013
   
2012
 
Net cash provided by operating activities
  $ 3,993     $ 11,061  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (532 )     (2,359 )
Net cash used in financing activities
    (1,075 )     (1,079 )
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
  $ 2,386     $ 7,623  
 
 
During the three months ended May 5, 2013, cash generated from operations of $4.0 million and $516,000 in proceeds received from Company-owned life insurance policies helped to fund an increase in cash and cash equivalents of $2.4 million, cash dividends of $1.1 million, capital expenditures of $880,000 to enhance our business systems and facilities and to pay premiums of $190,000 on Company-owned life insurance policies.

In comparison, during the three months ended April 29, 2012, cash generated from operations of $11.1 million helped to fund an increase in cash and cash equivalents of $7.6 million, cash dividends of $1.1 million, capital expenditures of $2.2 million related to our business operating systems and facilities and to pay premiums on Company-owned life insurance of $187,000.

Liquidity, Financial Resources and Capital Expenditures

Our loan agreement with Bank of America, N.A., which is scheduled to expire on July 31, 2013, includes the following terms:

§
A $15.0 million unsecured revolving credit facility, up to $3.0 million of which can be used to support letters of credit;
§
A floating interest rate, adjusted monthly, based on LIBOR, plus an applicable margin based on the ratio of our funded debt to our EBITDA (each as defined in the agreement);
§
A quarterly unused commitment fee, based on our ratio of funded debt to EBITDA; and
§
No pre-payment penalty.

The loan agreement includes customary representations and warranties and requires us to comply with customary covenants, including, among other things, the following financial covenants:

§
Maintain a tangible net worth of at least $95.0 million;
§
Limit capital expenditures to no more than $15.0 million during any fiscal year; and
§
Maintain a ratio of funded debt to EBITDA not exceeding 2.0:1.0.

We were in compliance with each of these financial covenants at May 5, 2013 and expect to remain in compliance with existing covenants for the foreseeable future.

As of May 5, 2013, we had an aggregate $13.2 million available under our revolving credit facility to fund working capital needs.  Standby letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $1.8 million, used to collateralize certain insurance arrangements and for imported product purchases, were outstanding under the revolving credit facility as of May 5, 2013.  There were no additional borrowings outstanding under the revolving credit facility on May 5, 2013.

We are currently in negotiations to extend or replace our credit facility and expect to have a new agreement in place before the expiration of our current loan agreement on July 31, 2013.

We factor substantially all of our domestic upholstery accounts receivable, in most cases without recourse to us.  We factor these receivables because factoring:

§
allows us to outsource the administrative burden of the credit and collections functions for our upholstery operations;
§
allows us to transfer the collection risk associated with the majority of our domestic upholstery receivables to the factor; and
§
provides us with an additional, potential source of short-term liquidity.
 
 
We believe that we have  the financial resources (including available cash and cash equivalents, expected cash flow from operations, lines of credit and the cash surrender value of Company-owned life insurance) needed to meet business requirements for the foreseeable future, including capital expenditures, and working capital, as well as to pay dividends on our common stock. Cash flow from operations is highly dependent on incoming order rates and our operating performance.

We expect to spend between $1.5 million to $3.5 million in capital expenditures during the remainder of the 2014 fiscal year to maintain and enhance our operating systems and facilities. Of these estimated amounts, we expect to spend between $1.3 million and $1.8 million on the implementation of our ERP system in our upholstery segment.

Enterprise Resource Planning

Conversion efforts began for our domestic upholstery units early in the fiscal 2014 first quarter, with full implementation scheduled to be completed during fiscal 2015. Once both segments  are fully operational on the ERP platform, we expect to realize operational efficiencies and cost savings by presenting a single face to our customers and leveraging best practices across the organization.

Cost savings are difficult to quantify until the ERP system becomes fully operational company-wide. We expect to be able to reduce administrative functions which are presently duplicated across our segments and improve our purchasing power and economies of scale.

To complete the ERP system implementation as anticipated, we expect to expend significant financial and human resources. We anticipate spending approximately $4.3 million in additional funds over the remainder of this project, with a significant amount of time invested by our associates.

We refer you to Item “1A. Risk Factors” included in our 2013 Annual Report  for a more complete discussion of the risks involved in our ERP system conversion and implementation.

Share Repurchase Authorization

During the fiscal 2013 first quarter, our board of directors authorized the repurchase of up to $12.5 million of the Company’s common shares. The authorization does not obligate us to acquire a specific number of shares during any period and does not have an expiration date. The authorization may be modified, suspended or discontinued at any time at the discretion of our board of directors. During fiscal 2013, we used approximately $671,000 of the authorization to purchase 57,700 of our common shares (at an average price of $11.63 per share). The Company made no share purchases during the fiscal 2014 first quarter. Approximately $11.8 million remained available for future purchases under the authorization as of the end of the fiscal 2014 first quarter.

New Accounting Pronouncements

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-12,“Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Deferral of the Effective Date for Amendments to the Presentation of Reclassifications of Items Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income in Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-05,” which deferred the requirement to present on the face of the financial statements items that are reclassified from other comprehensive income to net income. In February 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standard Update No.2013-02, which finalized the reporting requirements of reclassifications out of accumulated other comprehensive income. We adopted this guidance beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 when it was required. The adoption of this update did not have a material effect on our condensed consolidated statements of income, financial position or cash flows.
 

In December 2011, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-11, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities,” which requires disclosure of both gross information and net information about both instruments and transactions eligible for offset in the statement of financial position and instruments and transactions subject to agreements similar to a master netting arrangements. In January 2013, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2013-01, “Balance Sheet (Topic 210): Clarifying the Scope of Disclosures about Offsetting Assets and Liabilities,” which clarified the scope of Accounting Standards Update No. 2011-11. We adopted this guidance beginning in the first quarter of fiscal year 2014 when it was required. The adoption of this update did not have a material effect on our condensed consolidated statements of income, financial position or cash flows.

Critical Accounting Policies

There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates from the information provided in Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” included in our fiscal 2013 annual report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC on April 19, 2013.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain statements made in this report, including under Part 1, Item 2 – “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and in the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements included in this report, are not based on historical facts, but are forward-looking statements.  These statements reflect our reasonable judgment with respect to future events and typically can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “believes,” “expects,” “projects,” “intends,” “plans,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “would,” “could”  or “anticipates,” or the negative thereof, or other variations thereon, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy.  Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements.  Those risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to:

§
general economic or business conditions, both domestically and internationally, and instability in the financial and credit markets, including their potential impact on our (i) sales and operating costs and access to financing or (ii) customers and suppliers and their ability to obtain financing or generate the cash necessary to conduct their respective businesses;
 
§
disruptions involving our vendors or the transportation and handling industries, particularly those affecting imported products, including customs issues, labor stoppages, strikes or slowdowns and the availability of shipping containers and cargo ships;

§
disruptions affecting our Henry County, Virginia warehouses and corporate headquarters facilities;

§
price competition in the furniture industry;
 
§
changes in domestic and international monetary policies and fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates affecting the price of our imported products and raw materials;
 
§
the cyclical nature of the furniture industry, which is particularly sensitive to changes in consumer confidence, the amount of consumers’ income available for discretionary purchases, and the availability and terms of consumer credit;
 
§
risks associated with the cost of imported goods, including fluctuation in the prices of purchased finished goods and transportation and warehousing costs;
 
§
adverse political acts or developments in, or affecting, the international markets from which we import products, including duties or tariffs imposed on those products;
 
 
§
risks associated with domestic manufacturing operations, including fluctuations in capacity utilization and the prices and availability of key raw materials, as well as changes in transportation, warehousing and domestic labor costs and environmental compliance and remediation costs;
 
§
our ability to successfully implement our business plan to increase sales and improve financial performance;
 
§
the direct and indirect costs associated with the implementation of our Enterprise Resource Planning system, including costs resulting from unanticipated disruptions to our business;
 
§
achieving and managing growth and change, and the risks associated with new business lines, acquisitions, restructurings, strategic alliances and international operations

§
risks associated with distribution through third-party retailers, such as non-binding dealership arrangements;
 
§
capital requirements and costs;
 
§
competition from non-traditional outlets, such as catalog and internet retailers and home improvement centers;
 
§
changes in consumer preferences, including increased demand for lower-quality, lower-priced furniture due to declines in consumer confidence and/or discretionary income available for furniture purchases and the availability of consumer credit;  and
 
§
higher than expected costs associated with product quality and safety, including regulatory compliance costs related to the sale of consumer products and costs related to defective or non-compliant products.
 
Any forward-looking statement that we make speaks only as of the date of that statement, and we undertake no obligation, except as required by law, to update any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
 
Item 3.       Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

We are exposed to market risk from changes in foreign currency exchange rates, which could impact our results of operations or financial condition.  We manage our exposure to this risk through our normal operating activities.

For imported products, we generally negotiate firm pricing denominated in U.S. Dollars with our foreign suppliers, typically for periods of at least six months.  We accept the exposure to exchange rate movements beyond these negotiated periods. We do not use derivative financial instruments to manage this risk, but could choose to do so in the future.  Most of our imports are purchased from suppliers located in China.  The Chinese currency floats within a limited range in relation to the U.S. Dollar, resulting in exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.

Since we transact our imported product purchases in U.S. Dollars, a relative decline in the value of the U.S. Dollar could increase the price we pay for imported products beyond the negotiated periods.  We generally expect to reflect substantially all of the effect of any price increases from suppliers in the prices we charge for imported products.  However, these changes could adversely impact sales volume or profit margins during affected periods.

Amounts outstanding under our revolving credit facility would bear interest at variable rates. In the past, we have entered into swap agreements to hedge against the potential impact of increases in interest rates on our floating-rate debt instruments. There was no outstanding balance under our revolving credit facility as of May 5, 2013, other than standby letters of credit in the amount of $1.8 million.  Therefore, a fluctuation in market interest rates of one percentage point (or 100 basis points) would not have a material impact on our results of operations or financial condition.
 
 
Item 4.       Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended May 5, 2013.  Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and are effective to provide reasonable assurance that such information is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the fiscal quarter ended May 5, 2013, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
PART II.  OTHER INFORMATION

Item 6.       Exhibits
 
 
3.1
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended March 28, 2003 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 of the Company’s Form 10-Q (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the quarter ended February 28, 2003)
     
 
3.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Form 10-Q (SEC File No. 000-25349) for the quarter ended August 31, 2006)
     
 
4.1
Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (See Exhibit 3.1)
     
 
4.2
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company (See Exhibit 3.2)
     
 
10.1*
     
 
31.1*
     
 
31.2*
     
 
32.1*
     
 
101*+
The following financial statements from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 5, 2013, formatted in Extensible Business Reporting Language (“XBRL”): (i) condensed consolidated balance sheets, (ii) condensed consolidated statements of income, (iii) condensed consolidated statements of comprehensive income (iv) condensed consolidated statements of cash flows, and (v) the notes to the condensed consolidated financial statements

____________
 
*Filed herewith
 
#Management contract or compensatory plan
 
+Under Rule 406T of Regulation S-T, this exhibit is deemed not filed or part of a registration statement or prospectus for
 
 purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18
 
 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under those sections.


 
SIGNATURE

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

  HOOKER FURNITURE CORPORATION  
       
Date: June 12, 2013
By:
/s/ Paul A. Huckfeldt  
    Paul A. Huckfeldt  
   
Vice President – Finance and
Accounting and Chief Financial Officer
 
       

 

 
 
25

 
 
 
ex10-1.htm
EXHIBIT 10.1
 
 


            Management and Technical
    Solutions for the Furniture Industry
A. G. RAYMOND & COMPANY
                                                 Incorporated




E N G A G E M E N T   L E T T E R



Mr. Paul Toms
Hooker Furniture Corporation
440 East Commonwealth Blvd.
Martinsville, VA 24112

Dear Paul:

Thank you for the opportunity to provide assistance on special projects following the end of my full-time employment.  The following paragraphs contain information on the terms and conditions of this engagement.


BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE
In addition to my regular operating responsibilities while Senior Vice President, Operations, I have been involved in two projects:

·
Entry into the Contract & Internet Distribution Channels – Since last summer Hooker has been developing two new businesses.  These initiatives have included the design of new products, the identification of potential customers, and development of new operating processes.  To accomplish those tasks the company is hiring new personnel as well as leveraging existing manufacturing, sourcing, and administrative human resources and systems.

·
Response to the Prop 65 Notice of Violation – In late February Hooker was served with a Notice of Violation to California’s Proposition 65, which contends that the company has not provided sufficient warning to consumers of the existence of cancer-causing substances in its products.

With my three plus years of experience in the company as well as 40 years in the industry, Hooker believes my continued involvement in these projects will be beneficial.

 
 

 

PLAN OF WORK
My initial involvement in these projects will effectively be as a part-time resource as follows:

1.  
For the contract and internet distribution projects, I will continue to assist the Hooker teams in (a) designing/developing internal manufacturing and administrative processes and (b) identifying/developing external sources for services, components, and products necessary for the efficient supply of the new products to the company’s customers.

2.  
For the Prop 65 project, I will continue to assist Hooker’s Compliance team in coordinating the defense.  This effort will involve regular communication with the attorneys at Sedgwick Law, development of the response to the plaintiff’s attorney, and regular reporting to Hooker management as the case proceeds to resolution.
 

FEE & EXPENSES
The above-described work in addition to other assistance required in the future on similar assignments will be completed for a fee of $12,500 per month.

In addition to the fee are travel and living expenses while away from the office and printing/communication/copying expenses incurred on your behalf.  These expenses are estimated to be $1,500 per month.

Invoices will be submitted monthly for work completed and expenses incurred during the prior 30 days and are payable in twenty (20) days.

 
EXPIRATION & TERMINATION
This agreement will expire one (1) year after the execution date.

Both parties to this agreement may terminate this agreement with thirty (30) days written notice.  In the event of termination I will finish any partially completed activities in progress and submit a final invoice.


CONFIDENTIALITY
All knowledge and information with respect to Hooker Furniture Corporation acquired during my prior employment and continued involvement with the company shall be kept strictly confidential.  A. G. Raymond & Company agrees not to disclose or utilize, or permit the use or disclosure of, such knowledge and information except for completion of the above-described work.

Any such information divulged to prospective third-party suppliers, etc. will be protected by Non-Disclosure Agreements between Hooker and those parties.

 
 

 
 
Our 44-year old consulting practice would not have survived without our commitment to client confidentiality.  You can rest assured that any proprietary information revealed to us during this engagement will remain strictly confidential.


Please indicate your acceptance of this proposal by returning a signed copy to me.

I am looking forward to working with you and your team.


Arthur G. Raymond, Jr.
President


May 5, 2013

Agreed and accepted on May 5, 2013

Hooker Furniture Corporation

By           /s/ Paul B. Toms, Jr.
 
Title           Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
ex31-1.htm
Exhibit 31.1
 
Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended May 5, 2013
SECTION 13a-14(a) CERTIFICATION
 

I, Paul B. Toms, Jr., certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Hooker Furniture Corporation;

2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
 
(c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
Date: June 12, 2013 By:
/s/ Paul B. Toms, Jr.
Paul B. Toms, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
     

ex31-2.htm
Exhibit 31.2
 
Form 10-Q for the Quarterly Period Ended May 5, 2013
SECTION 13a-14(a) CERTIFICATION
 

I, Paul A. Huckfeldt, certify that:

1.   I have reviewed this quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Hooker Furniture Corporation;

2.   Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

3.   Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

4.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

(a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

(b)   Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;
 
 
(c)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant’s disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

(d)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

5.   The registrant’s other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant’s auditors and the audit committee of the registrant’s board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

(a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

(b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.
 
 
Date: June 12, 2013    
  By: /s/ Paul A. Huckfeldt
    Paul A. Huckfeldt
Vice President - Finance and
Accounting and Chief Financial Officer

 
ex32-1.htm
Exhibit 32.1
 

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002


In connection with the Hooker Furniture Corporation (the “Company”) Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended May 5, 2013 as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), each of the undersigned certifies pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that, to the best of his knowledge:

a.  
The Report fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

b.  
The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.
 
 
Date: June 12, 2013 By:
 /s/ Paul B. Toms, Jr.
Paul B. Toms, Jr.
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
     
  By: /s/ Paul A. Huckfeldt
    Paul A. Huckfeldt
Vice President - Finance and
Accounting and Chief Financial Officer