FORM 10-QSB
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
[Mark One]
[X] Quarterly report under Section 12 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 For the Quarterly period ended March 30, 1997 or
[ ] Transition report under Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act For the
Transition period from ________ to _________
Commission File Number 0-18707
SPECIALTY RETAIL GROUP, INC.
(Exact Name of Small Business Issuer as specified in its charter)
Florida 59-2824411
(State or other jurisdiction (IRS Employer Identification No.)
Of incorporation or organization)
1720 Post Road East, Suite 112, Westport, Connecticut 06880
(Address of principal offices)
(203) 256-4380
(Issuer's telephone number)
Check whether the issuer (1) filed all reports required to be filed by
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the past 12 months (or for such
shorter period that the issuer was required to file such reports), and (2) has
been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X No
On May 14, 1997, 8,674,738 shares of the issuer's Common Stock were outstanding.
The Index to Exhibits
appears on page 19
<PAGE>
SPECIALTY RETAIL GROUP, INC.
INDEX
Page
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1 - Financial Statements
Condensed Consolidated Financial
Statements as of March 30, 1997.................................... 3
Condensed Consolidated Balance
Sheet at March 30, 1997 (unaudited)....................... 3
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the
thirteen-week and thirty-nine week periods ended March 30,
1997 and March 31, 1996
(unaudited)............................................... 4
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
thirty-nine week periods ended March 30, 1997 and
March 31, 1996
(unaudited)............................................... 5
Notes to the Condensed Consolidated
Financial Statements as of March 30,
1997 (unaudited).......................................... 7
Item 2 - Management's Discussion and Analysis or Plan of Operations......... 11
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1 - Legal Proceedings................................................., 16
Item 6 - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K................................... 17
Signature................................................................... 18
Page 2 of 21
<PAGE>
Specialty Retail Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Condensed from
March 30, Audited Financial
1997 Statements
(unaudited) June 30, 1996
----------- -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $315,781 $ 387,006
Inventory -- 1,281,777
Other current assets 83,996 129,538
-------- ----------
Total current assets 399,777 1,798,321
Property and Equipment, net 3,478 778,326
Assets held for sale 15,000 --
Goodwill, net -- 143,032
Equity investments -- 179,744
Other assets, primarily security deposits 14,228 103,255
-------- ----------
TOTAL ASSETS $432,483 $3,002,678
======== ==========
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' (DEFICIT) EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued expenses $ 358,604 $2,108,456
Demand loans - stockholders 86,501 --
----------- ----------
Total current liabilities 445,105 2,108,456
-----------
Legal settlement equity to be issued -- 570,000
----------- ----------
Liabilities subject to compromise:
Trade and other obligations 1,053,998 --
Lease obligations 675,140 --
----------- ----------
Total liabilities subject to compromise 1,729,138 --
----------- ----------
Total liabilities 2,174,243 2,678,456
Commitments and contingencies (Note 5)
Stockholders' deficit:
Series A-1 Preferred Stock; 10,000,000 shares
authorized; $.001 par value; issued and
outstanding, 2,394,130 shares 2,394 2,394
Common Stock; 100,000,000 shares authorized; $.001
par value; 9,538,071 issued and outstanding (March 30,1997) 9,538 8,675
Additional paid-in capital 11,573,357 11,004,220
Accumulated deficit (13,151,385) (10,515,403)
Treasury Stock - 240,500 shares at cost (175,664) (175,664)
----------- ----------
Total stockholders' (deficit) equity (1,741,760) 324,222
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT $ 432,483 $3,002,678
=========== ==========
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
Page 3 of 21
<PAGE>
Specialty Retail Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
13 Weeks Ended 39 Weeks Ended
-------------- --------------
March 30, March 31, March 30, March 31,
1997 1996 1997 1996
--------- --------- --------- ---------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Net sales $443,610 $1,253,656 $2,759,652 $5,728,735
Cost of sales 400,897 706,773 2,026,282 3,142,108
-------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Gross profit 42,713 546,883 733,370 2,586,627
Operating costs:
Selling 31,625 746,381 1,401,591 2,217,220
General and administrative 73,793 574,217 963,805 1,463,278
------ ---------- --------- ---------
Loss from operations (62,705) (773,715) (1,632,026) (1,093,871)
Other income (expense):
Interest income 69 57,971 919 184,287
Miscellaneous income 2,372 -- 23,972 --
Gain on extinguishment of debt -- 45,256 --
(Note 4) --
Loss on sale of subsidiary (63,696) -- (63,696) --
Writedown of goodwill and
organization costs (47,799) -- (184,681) --
Writeoff of leasehold improvements (170,825) -- (170,825) --
--------- --------- --------- --------
Loss before reorganization costs
and income tax expense (342,584) (715,744) (1,981,081) (909,584)
--------- --------- ----------- ---------
Reorganization costs:
Loss on sale of property and
equipment 237,093 551,688
Professional fees 233,027 233,027
Interest income - escrow account (430) (430)
------- ------ ------- ------
Total reorganization costs 469,690 -- 784,285 --
------- ------ ------- ------
Loss before income taxes (812,274) (715,744) (2,765,366) (909,584)
Income tax expense -- 0 -- 0
Net loss ($812,274) ($715,744) ($2,765,366) ($909,584)
---------- ---------- ------------ ----------
Per share amounts:
Net loss ($0.09) ($0.08) ($0.29) ($0.10)
------- ------- ------- --------
Weighted average number of
common shares outstanding 9,538,071 8,674,738 9,538,071 8,674,738
--------- --------- --------- ---------
</TABLE>
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
Page 4 of 21
<PAGE>
Specialty Retail Group, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
39 Weeks Ended 39 Weeks Ended
March 30, 1997 March 31, 1996
-------------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net loss ($2,765,366) ($909,584)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to
net cash used in operating activities
Depreciation and amortization
Writedown of goodwill and organization 71,284 227,448
costs
Loss on sale of property and equipment 184,681
Loss on sale of subsidiary 551,688
Gain on extinguishment of debt (Note 4) 63,696
(Increase) decrease in inventory (45,256)
(Increase) decrease in other current assets 1,281,777 (165,688)
(Increase) decrease in other assets 45,452 (13,132)
Decrease in accounts payable 450,595 (32,734)
and accrued liabilities
Total adjustments (20,714) (1,003,427)
---------- -----------
2,583,203 (987,533)
---------- -----------
Net cash used in operating activities (182,163) 1,897,117
---------- -----------
Cash flows from investing activities:
Expenditures for property and equipment (8,794) (142,051)
Proceeds from sale of subsidiary 33,231 --
Equity investment -- (224,150)
------ -----------
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 24,437 (366,201)
------ -----------
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from borrowings 86,501 (600,000)
Investment in notes 0
----------
Net cash provided by financing activities 86,501 (600,000)
------ -----------
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents (71,225) (2,863,318)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period 387,006 2,913,188
------- ----------
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period 315,781 $ 49,870
======= ==========
</TABLE>
Page 5 of 21
<PAGE>
Supplemental Schedule of Noncash Investing and Financing Activities:
On August 26, 1996, the Company issued 650,000 shares of its Common Stock valued
at $570,000 as part of a legal settlement. This item appeared as "Legal
settlement -- equity to be issued," in the Company's June 30, 1996 Consolidated
Balance Sheet. Please refer to Note 4 in the accompanying notes for a further
discussion of this matter.
In the quarter ended March 30, 1997, the Company recorded a receivable of $9,278
for the sale of store furnishings and equipment and $20,000 for the sale of a
subsidiary.
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.
Page 6 of 21
<PAGE>
Specialty Retail Group, Inc.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)
March 30, 1997
1. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements
of Specialty Retail Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company")
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-QSB.
With respect to the unaudited consolidated financial
statements for the thirteen and thirty-nine weeks ended March 30, 1997 and March
31, 1996, it is the Company's opinion that all necessary adjustments (consisting
of normal and recurring adjustments and adjustments to Goodwill and leasehold
improvements described in Note 6) have been included to present a fair statement
of results for the interim periods.
As discussed in Note 2, effective in the period ended March
30, 1997 the Company sold or discontinued all business operations and its
subsidiary, Building Blocks, Inc. filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11
of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern
District of New York. The only current operations are the general and
administrative costs related to the bankruptcy and maintaining a business
office.
These statements should be read in conjunction with the
Company's financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended June 30, 1996. Due to the bankruptcy
filing by the Company's Building Blocks, Inc. subsidiary, and the sale of the
outstanding capital stock of the Company's Building Blocks Franchise Corp.
subsidiary, operating results for the interim period are not indicative of
results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending June 29, 1997. Certain
information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles have been
condensed or omitted pursuant to the rules and regulations promulgated by the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
2. Going Concern
The accompanying financial statements have been prepared
assuming that the Company will continue as a going concern, and except as
described in Note 6, they do not include adjustments relating to the
recoverability of recorded asset amounts and classification of recorded assets
and liabilities.
On January 31, 1997, the Company's Building Blocks, Inc.
("Building Blocks") subsidiary filed a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of
the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District
of New York (Case No. 97-B-40684
Page 7 of 21
<PAGE>
(BRL)). The petition sought protection from creditors while Building Blocks
liquidated its inventory and fixtures. Effective January 28, 1997 the
outstanding capital stock of the Company's Building Blocks Franchise Corp.
("BBFC") subsidiary, which owns the "Building Blocks" trademarks, was sold by
the Company's Building Blocks Holdings, Inc. ("BBHI") subsidiary. The net
proceeds from the sale were used first to repay amounts owed by BBFC to Building
Blocks. The remainder of the proceeds, including $20,000 due on May 8, 1997,
will be paid over to Building Blocks pursuant to an agreement requiring BBHI to
obtain a general release from Building Blocks. The Company recognized a loss of
$63,696 on the sale of its BBFC subsidiary.
The Company, which has no other business operations, has been
attempting to attract an operating business with which to effectuate a business
combination. The Company has approximately $430,000 of assets and has
liabilities of approximately $2,175,000, including liabilities of approximately
$1,730,000 which are subject to compromise in the Building Blocks bankruptcy. In
addition, the Company is a guarantor of a store lease on which Building Blocks
has defaulted and as to which the landlord commenced a suit against Building
Blocks for approximately $180,000. The Company may also be liable, at some
future date, for payment of up to $160,000 to certain parties pursuant to the
settlement agreement described in Note 5. It is not expected that the Company
will receive any cash from Building Blocks upon completion of Building Blocks'
bankruptcy proceedings. The Company has been receiving cash advances in the form
of demand loans from two of its stockholders in order to meet its operating
expenses and has been obtaining forbearances from its principal creditors. At
May 1, 1997 such advances (which are included in the liabilities described
above) aggregated $86,501. There are no assurances as to the time or extent that
the stockholder advances and/or forbearance will continue. Further, there is no
assurance that any business combination can ever be effectuated. Any such
combination may depend upon the Company's ability to reach settlements of its
outstanding obligations.
The foregoing raise substantial doubt about the Company's
ability to continue as a going concern.
3. Chapter 11 Petition of Debtor
In a Chapter 11 case, substantially all liabilities of the
Debtor, Building Blocks, as of the date of the Filing are subject to resolution
under a plan of reorganization to be voted upon by the Debtor's creditors and
stockholders and confirmed by the Bankruptcy Court. Financial schedules filed by
the Debtor as of the date of the Filing show liabilities exceed assets by
approximately $800,000. Differences between amounts shown by the Debtor and
claims filed by creditors will be investigated and resolved. The amount and
settlement terms for such disputed liabilities are subject to allowance by the
Bankruptcy Court. Ultimately the adjustment of all liabilities of the Debtor
remains subject to a Bankruptcy Court approved plan of reorganization and,
accordingly, are not presently determinable.
Page 8 of 21
<PAGE>
Under the Bankruptcy Code, the Debtor may elect to assume or
reject real estate leases, employment contracts, personal property leases,
service contracts and other executory pre-petition contracts, subject to
Bankruptcy Court review. Building Blocks elected to reject all of its leases and
contracts other than an employment agreement with Steven E. Glass. The Debtor
cannot presently determine or reasonably estimate the ultimate liability which
may result from the filing of claims for any rejected contracts and no
provisions have yet been made for these items. All assets of the Debtor have
either been sold or written down to a realizable value. Based on such values,
Building Blocks has determined that none of its assets will be distributable to
the Company.
4. Equity Investments
Effective December 14, 1995, the Company acquired 25% of the
Common Stock of CM Franchise Corp., a franchiser of specialty carpet retailers
operating under the registered trademark of "Carpet Master" for a total
consideration of $224,150. In addition, as part of the transaction, the Company
obtained an option to acquire an additional 12.5% of CM Franchise Corp.'s common
stock. The Company accounted for this transaction using the equity method.
In July 1996, the Company received a loan of $225,000 to cover
a working capital shortfall. Under the agreement, the Company had the right to
either repay the advance without interest or to transfer to the lender all of
the Company's rights and interests in the common stock of CM Franchise Corp. and
warrants to purchase additional shares of such common stock it acquired in
December 1995. The Company transferred the rights and interests in satisfaction
of the loan on September 29, 1996. As a result, the Company recorded a $45,256
gain on this transaction in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Statements
of Operations for the 39 weeks ended March 30, 1997.
5. Commitments and Contingencies
Legal Settlement-Issuance of Common Stock
The Company was a party defendant in a lawsuit with a former
officer, director and shareholder of the Company's predecessor corporation who
alleged, among other things, breach of contract, fraud, defamation, interference
with stock transfer rights, breach of fiduciary duties by certain former
officers of the Company, conspiracy to defraud, and interference with respect to
the inspection of corporate records. The Plaintiff claimed he was entitled to a
termination payment of $1,400,000 pursuant to an employment agreement with the
Company.
In August 1996, the Company settled this litigation without
admitting liability, by issuing an aggregate of 650,000 shares of the Company's
common stock valued at $570,000 to the plaintiff and his designee. The Company
also agreed to guarantee up to $160,000 for any shortfall from $650,000 realized
upon the sale by the holders of all of the 650,000 shares. The Company may be
required to satisfy the guarantee by a cash payment
Page 9 of 21
<PAGE>
or release to the holders of an additional 213,333 shares of common stock
currently being held by an escrow agent.
Other Legal Proceedings-Leases
Landlords at two mall stores which were closed between June
and October 1996 subsequently obtained judgments of $86,000 (Westland Garden
State Plaza Limited Partnership v. Building Blocks, Inc., Superior Court of New
Jersey, Bergen County, commenced June 4, 1996) and $104,000 (Natick Limited
Partnerships v. Building Blocks, Inc., District Court, Middlesex, Massachusetts,
commenced August 12, 1996) against Building Blocks for rent arrearages and
damages. At the time of the filing of the Chapter 11 petition, an action seeking
$47,000 in back rent and $140,000 in damages was pending with respect to a third
mall store closed prior to October 1996 (Westland Properties, Inc. v. Building
Blocks, Inc., Superior Court - Fairfield, Connecticut, commenced June 24, 1996),
and a suit for rent arrearages of $180,000 was pending with respect to a mall
store closed in October 1996 (Fashion Mall Partners, L.P. v. Building Blocks,
Inc., City Court - Westchester, New York, commenced September 26, 1996). At
March 30, 1997, substantially all unpaid rents were accrued on the Company's
financial statements, and no provision was made with respect to the damage
claims.
Settlements were reached with landlords, and stipulations were
entered by the Bankruptcy Court in recent weeks, with regard to lease
terminations at four Building Blocks store locations. All other pending landlord
claims are posted in the Bankruptcy schedules.
6. Writedown of Goodwill and Loss on Property and Equipment
Due to the Chapter 11 filing by Building Blocks and the sale
of BBFC, the Company has determined that the Goodwill has no future value and
recorded a writeoff of $136,882 during the 39-week period ended March 30, 1997.
Additionally, the Company wrote off $170,825 of leasehold improvements and
recorded a loss on disposition of property and equipment of $527,188 due to the
closing of its stores.
Page 10 of 21
<PAGE>
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
Set forth below is a discussion of the Company's lack of
liquidity and capital resources on an unconsolidated basis and of the
significant factors affecting the consolidated operating results of the Company
for the 39 weeks ended March 30, 1997 ("Current Period"), and March 31, 1996
("Prior Period"). These discussions should be read in conjunction with the
financial statements and notes thereto.
The reported results of operations and the consolidated
balance sheet of the Company are not indicative of future results of operations
or financial position of the Company, because of the sale by the Company of its
toy store franchising subsidiary and the subsequent filing by its toy store
operating subsidiary of a petition for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S.
Bankruptcy Code, all as described under "Liquidity and Capital Resources,"
below. The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles for year-end and interim financial information
applicable to a going concern, which principles, except as otherwise disclosed,
assume that assets will be realized and liabilities will be discharged in the
normal course of business. The financial statements include adjustments for the
loss due to sale of assets and writedown of value for assets held for sale by
its Building Blocks subsidiary.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The matters discussed under this caption that are forward
looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, as described herein and
others which may arise from changes in general economic conditions,
unanticipated changes in the Company's circumstances, and other factors.
The operating subsidiary of the Company during the Prior
Period and the Current Period was Building Blocks, Inc. ("Building Blocks"),
which the Company acquired on April 13, 1993 and which thereafter operated a
chain of specialty retail toy stores. Building Blocks Franchise Corp. ("BBFC")
was organized prior to June 30, 1996, as a second-tier subsidiary for the
purpose of marketing franchises for Building Blocks stores.
In the Company's quarterly report for the period ended March
31, 1996, management projected that the Company would require between $500,000
and $1,250,000 of additional working capital to fund operations through March of
1997. Between June and October 1996, four Building Blocks-operated stores which
were operating in indoor regional malls in Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut
and New Jersey were closed and Building Blocks management began negotiating with
the landlords of such premises for the settlement of approximately $330,000 of
rent arrearages and of $470,000 of additional claims which Building Blocks
disputed. In July 1996 the Company received $225,000 under an agreement
Page 11 of 21
<PAGE>
which provided that the Company would either repay such amount or transfer to
the lender all of its rights and interests in stock and warrants to purchase
stock of CM Franchise Corp. On September 29, 1996, the Company transferred the
stock and warrants to the lender. BBFC and Building Blocks had anticipated the
completion at the end of September 1996 of at least two transfers to franchisees
of the leases, and the sale for cash of the fixtures and inventories, for
Building Blocks-operated stores. These transactions, together with the
above-described transactions, would have provided substantially all of the
working capital required to finance planned holiday season inventory build-ups,
and, management believed, would have enabled Building Blocks to arrange for any
needed additional holiday season working capital. These franchise transactions
did not occur and, as a result, Building Blocks did not have adequate working
capital to finance additional inventories.
Management therefore determined to close two more of Building
Blocks' then remaining stores before the 1996 holiday season and to consolidate
inventories from those stores at its other stores. BBFC and Building Blocks also
actively sought other potential franchisees to acquire Building Blocks-operated
stores and their leases, fixtures and inventories. BBFC simultaneously pursued
the sale of franchises for new locations.
In October 1996 the Company's plan contemplated that any
Building Blocks-operated stores in operation after January 1997 would be sold
and transferred to franchisees, and that the Company would thereafter limit its
retail toy activities to franchising by BBFC. The Company's ability to generate
adequate cash flow to sustain its planned activities beyond December 31, 1996
was dependent upon the success Building Blocks achieved in its plans to transfer
Building Blocks-operated stores to franchisees and upon BBFC's ability to sell
additional franchises. It was expected that cash generated by Building Blocks
would be applied to reduce its accounts payable and other obligations and would
not be available to fund BBFC's operations and that BBFC would rely upon cash
held by the Company and franchise revenues.
As a result of these matters, the report of the Company's
auditors on the Company's June 30, 1996 financial statements contains a "going
concern" explanatory paragraph.
The Company's plans to convert to an all-franchising operation
were not successful.
On January 31, 1997, Building Blocks filed a petition for
relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court
for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 97-B-40684 (BRL)). The petition
sought protection from creditors while Building Blocks attempted to dispose of
its retail stores either through sales of the stores and assignment of their
leases or by the liquidation of inventory and fixtures. The Company's last five
stores were liquidated under a Court-approved agency agreement with a
professional liquidator. All of the Company-operated stores were closed by April
10, 1997, and final creditor claims are to be filed by May 22, 1997. Building
Blocks continues to
Page 12 of 21
<PAGE>
manage its business affairs as Debtor-in-Possession, with current efforts
directed at reconciling creditors' claims and liquidating remaining furniture,
fixtures and equipment. Settlements were reached with landlords, and
stipulations were entered by the Bankruptcy Court in recent weeks, with regard
to lease terminations at four Building Blocks store locations. All other pending
landlord claims, including those described in Note 5 above, are posted in the
Bankruptcy schedules.
Effective January 28, 1997 BBHI sold all of the outstanding
capital stock of BBFC which, in addition to its franchising activities, owns all
of the "Building Blocks" trademarks. The net proceeds from the sale received at
closing ($33,231) were paid over to Building Blocks pursuant to an agreement
requiring BBHI to obtain a general release from Building Blocks to BBFC. BBHI is
also entitled to receive additional net proceeds of the sale in an amount of up
to $20,000, which became payable, subject to possible offsets, on May 8, 1997.
Such net proceeds are also payable to Building Blocks.
It is anticipated that, as a result of the foregoing actions,
Building Blocks will be relieved of claims of its creditors and that thereafter
the Company's liabilities and assets will, on a consolidated basis, be as
described in the next paragraph, subject to changes resulting from the Company's
operations.
The Company, which has no other business operations, has been
attempting to attract an operating business with which to effectuate a business
combination. At May 1, 1997, the Company has only nominal cash and has
liabilities of approximately $2,175,000, including liabilities of approximately
$1,730,000 which are subject to compromise in the Building Blocks bankruptcy. In
addition, the Company is a guarantor of a store lease on which Building Blocks
has defaulted and as to which the landlord has commenced a suit against Building
Blocks for approximately $180,000. The Company may also be liable, at some
future date, for payment of up to $160,000 in conjunction with the settlement of
a legal proceeding described in Note 5 above. It is not expected that the
Company will receive any cash from Building Blocks upon completion of Building
Blocks' bankruptcy proceedings. The Company has been receiving cash advances in
the form of demand loans from certain of its stockholders and related persons in
order to meet its operating expenses and has been obtaining forbearances from
its principal creditors. At May 1, 1997 such advances (which are included in the
liabilities described above) aggregated $86,501. There are no assurances as to
the time or extent that the advances and/or forbearance will continue. Further,
there is no assurance that any business combination can ever be effectuated. Any
such combination may depend upon the Company's ability to reach settlements of
its outstanding obligations.
Results of Operations -- 39-week period ended March 30, 1997 compared with the
corresponding period ended March 31, 1996
Operations
Net sales, substantially all of which were generated by
Building Blocks, were $2,759,652 for the 39-week period ended March 30, 1997, a
decrease of 52% when compared with $5,728,735 for the corresponding period ended
March 31, 1996. This decrease in net sales is due principally to the decrease in
the number of stores operated by
Page 13 of 21
<PAGE>
the Company. Additionally, the Company's lack of working capital to purchase
holiday season inventory had an adverse impact on sales in the current year
period
The Company's Gross Profit, selling expenses and general and
administrative expenses for the 13-week period ended March 30, 1997 have not
been calculated because of the Chapter 11 filing by Building Blocks and the
sale of BBFC in January 1997.
Gross Profit as a percentage of net sales decreased from 46%
for the 26-week period ended December 31, 1995 to 30% for the 26 week period
ended December 29, 1996. This is primarily the result of price discounting
associated with the closing of mall stores during this period. Gross Profit in
dollars decreased from $2,039,744 for the 26-week period ended December 31, 1995
to $690,657 for the 26-week period ended December 29, 1996 because of lower
margins and a net decrease in the number of stores.
Selling expenses consist primarily of payroll, occupancy and
advertising expenses associated with the Building Blocks stores. Selling
expenses were $1,369,967 (59% of net sales) and $1,470,839 (33% of net sales)
during the 26-week periods ended December 29, 1996 and December 31, 1995,
respectively. This increase as a percentage of sales is primarily due to the
continued accrual of rent charges with respect to those stores that the Company
closed.
General and administrative expenses represent salaries and
related expenses associated with the corporate staff, as well as the expenses
associated with Building Blocks' corporate operations. General and
administrative expenses were $890,012 (38% of net sales) and $889,061 (20% of
net sales) during the 26-week periods ended December 29, 1996 and December 31,
1995, respectively. Although salaries and related expenses decreased, this
increase as a percentage of sales is attributable to higher legal costs
associated with a legal settlement as discussed in the following paragraph.
During August 1996, the Company settled litigation, without
admitting liability, by issuing an aggregate of 650,000 shares of the Company's
common stock valued at $570,000 to the plaintiff and his designee. The Company
previously recorded this non-cash expense during its fiscal year ended June 30,
1996.
During the quarter ended September 29, 1996, the Company
recorded a $45,256 gain on the extinguishment of debt as a result of
transferring the rights and interests in the common stock of CM Franchise Corp.
with a recorded value of $179,744 in satisfaction of the $225,000 debt.
Due to the filing of the Chapter 11 petition by Building
Blocks and the sale of BBFC, the Company has determined that the Goodwill has no
future value and has recorded a writeoff of $136,882 during the 13-week period
ended December 29, 1996. Additionally, the Company recorded a Loss on Sale of
Property and Equipment during the 39-week period ended March 30, 1997 of
$551,688 due to the closing of certain stores.
Results of Operations -- 39-week period ended March 31, 1996 compared with
corresponding period ended April 2, 1995.
Page 14 of 21
<PAGE>
As described in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements ("Equity
Investment"), the Company acquired 25% of the common stock of CM Franchise Corp.
on December 14, 1995. The Company's proportion of the operating results in CM
Franchise Corp. is included in the results of operations through September 29,
1996, when it disposed of this investment.
Operations
Net sales, substantially all of which were generated by
Building Blocks, were $5,728,735 for the nine months ended March 31, 1996 versus
$4,169,811 for the nine months ended April 2, 1995, representing an increase of
37.7%. The increase is primarily due to the increase in the number of stores
operated by Building Blocks. Of the thirteen stores operated during the nine
month period, nine were comparable stores. Comparable store sales for the period
increased 8.7% or $3,421,811 to $3,718,198. Due to the seasonality of the toy
industry net sales for the nine months ended March 31, 1996 were not reflective
of the expected net sales of the Company for the full fiscal 1996.
Cost of sales increased 40.3% to $3,142,108 (54.8% of net
sales) during the nine months ended March 31, 1996 versus $2,239,524 (53.8% of
net sales) for the nine months ended April 2, 1995, representing the cost of
additional inventory to support the increased sales for Building Blocks.
Selling expenses were $2,217,220 (38.7% of net sales) for the
nine months ended March 31, 1996 versus $1,792,305 (43.1% of net sales) for the
corresponding period in the prior year. Such amounts including payroll,
occupancy and advertising expenses for the Building Blocks stores. The increase
in fiscal 1996 resulted primarily from the increase in the number of stores
operated by the Company and the substantial advertising expenditures associated
with new store openings. As these new stores matured, selling expense as a
percentage of sales decreased.
General and administrative expenses were $1,463,278 (25.5% of
net sales) in the nine months ended March 31, 1996, representing a decrease of
30.3% from $2,099,867 (50.5% of net sales) in the prior year. This decrease is
attributable to various cost reduction measures undertaken by the Company
including the elimination of a real estate division operated in the prior period
and reduction in corporate payroll. These reductions, combined with the increase
in sales, resulted in the reduction of these expenses as a percentage of net
sales.
One-Time and Restructuring Items
For the 39-week period ended March 31, 1996, the Company
recorded restructuring and other expense charges of $660,767 for the disposition
of fixed assets and other costs related to the closing or expected closings of
certain mall stores.
Page 15 of 21
<PAGE>
The Company had been a defendant in a lawsuit with a former
officer who was suing the Company for various alleged claims (see "Item 3 -
Legal Proceedings"). In fiscal 1995, the Company had taken a reserve of $250,000
related to estimated legal fees as a result of its defense in this matter. As a
result of the settlement of this lawsuit, the Company recorded a noncash expense
of $570,000, which appears as "Legal Settlement-Noncash" in the accompanying
consolidated statement of operations for the 39-week period ended March 31,
1996.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1 - Legal Proceedings
Landlords at two mall stores which were closed between June
and October 1996 subsequently obtained judgments of $86,000 (Westland Garden
State Plaza Limited Partnership v. Building Blocks, Inc., Superior Court of New
Jersey, Bergen County, commenced June 4, 1996) and $104,000 (Natick Limited
Partnerships v. Building Blocks, Inc., District Court, Middlesex, Massachusetts,
commenced August 12, 1996) against Building Blocks for rent arrearages and
damages. At the time of the filing by Building Blocks of the bankruptcy petition
referred to in the next paragraph, an action seeking $47,000 in back rent and
$140,000 in damages was pending with respect to a third mall store closed prior
to October 1996 (Westland Properties, Inc. v. Building Blocks, Inc., Superior
Court-Fairfield, Connecticut, commenced June 24, 1996), and an action for rent
arrearages of approximately $180,000 was pending at March 30, 1997, with respect
to a mall store closed in October 1996 (Fashion Mall Partners, L.P. v. Building
Blocks, Inc., City Court-Westchester, New York, commenced September 26, 1996).
Substantially all unpaid rents through the date of the bankruptcy petition were
accrued on the Company's consolidated financial statements, and no provision had
been made with respect to the damage claims. Subsequent to the filing of the
bankruptcy petition, landlords at the last five stores operated by Building
Blocks served "Notices to Quit" based upon non-payment of rent. These stores
were liquidated under a Court-approved agency agreement with a professional
liquidator. All of the Company-operated stores were closed by April 10, 1997,
and final creditor claims are to be filed by May 22, 1997. Building Blocks
continues to manage its business affairs as Debtor-in-Possession, with current
efforts directed at reconciling creditors' claims and liquidating remaining
furniture, fixtures and equipment. Settlements were reached with landlords, and
stipulations were entered by the Bankruptcy Court in recent weeks, with regard
to lease terminations at four Building Blocks store
locations. All other pending landlord claims, including those described in Note
5 above, are posted in the Bankruptcy schedules.
On January 31, 1997 Building Blocks filed a petition for
relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court
for the Southern District of New York (Case No. 97-B-40684(BRL)). The petition
sought protection from creditors while Building Blocks attempted to dispose of
its retail stores.
Page 16 of 21
<PAGE>
Item 6 - Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
(a) Exhibits
27. Financial Data Schedule
(b) During the fiscal quarter ended March 30, 1997, the Company filed
on Report on Form 8-K dated February 7, 1997, reporting, under item 5, the
filing of a Chapter 11 petition by Building Blocks, Inc. and the sale of the
stock of Building Blocks Franchise Corp.
Page 17 of 21
<PAGE>
SIGNATURE
In accordance with the requirements of the Exchange Act, the
Company caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereto duly authorized.
SPECIALTY RETAIL GROUP, INC.
Date: May 19, 1997 By:/s/ Steven E. Glass
--------------------------
Steven E. Glass, Secretary
Page 18 of 21
<PAGE>
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Page
- ------- ----
27 Financial Data Schedule...................................... 20
Page 19 of 21
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED
FROM THE CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOUND ON PAGES 3 AND 4 OF THE COMPANY'S FORM 10-QSB FOR
THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 30, 1997, AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-29-1997
<PERIOD-START> DEC-30-1996
<PERIOD-END> MAR-30-1997
<CASH> 315,781
<SECURITIES> 0
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 399,777
<PP&E> 3,614
<DEPRECIATION> 136
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 432,483
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 445,105
<BONDS> 0
0
2,394
<COMMON> 9,538
<OTHER-SE> (1,753,692)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 432,483
<SALES> 2,759,652
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 2,759,652
<CGS> 2,026,282
<TOTAL-COSTS> 2,026,282
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 0
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<INCOME-PRETAX> (2,765,366)
<INCOME-TAX> 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> (2,765,366)
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> (2,765,366)
<EPS-PRIMARY> (0.29)
<EPS-DILUTED> (0.29)
</TABLE>
