Quarterly Report


Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


(Mark one)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended July 29, 2006

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission file number 0-20052

 


STEIN MART, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Florida   64-0466198

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

1200 Riverplace Blvd., Jacksonville, Florida   32207
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (904) 346-1500

 


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 is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer   ¨                  Accelerated filer    x                  Non-accelerated filer   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes   ¨      No   x

The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant’s common stock as of August 25, 2006 was 43,625,623.

 



Table of Contents

STEIN MART, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

     PAGE

PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  
Item 1.    Financial Statements (Unaudited):   
   Consolidated Balance Sheets at July 29, 2006, January 28, 2006 and July 30, 2005    3
   Consolidated Statements of Income for the 13 Weeks and 26 Weeks Ended July 29, 2006 and July 30, 2005    4
   Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the 26 Weeks Ended July 29, 2006 and July 30, 2005    5
   Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements    6
Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    11
Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    14
Item 4.    Controls and Procedures    15

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

  
Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    15
Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    16
Item 5.    Other Information    16
Item 6.    Exhibits    16
SIGNATURES    17

 

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Table of Contents

Stein Mart, Inc.

Consolidated Balance Sheets

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

     July 29, 2006     January 28, 2006     July 30, 2005  
ASSETS       

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 21,559     $ 20,200     $ 18,916  

Short-term investments

     5,000       104,935       76,000  

Trade and other receivables

     11,303       11,121       7,912  

Inventories

     266,543       265,788       263,122  

Prepaid income taxes

     5,201       —         4,185  

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     13,901       13,672       16,178  
                        

Total current assets

     323,507       415,716       386,313  

Property and equipment, net

     104,795       87,106       77,975  

Other assets

     18,624       17,023       14,725  
                        

Total assets

   $ 446,926     $ 519,845     $ 479,013  
                        
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY       

Current liabilities:

      

Accounts payable

   $ 84,864     $ 88,408     $ 72,862  

Accrued liabilities

     70,136       80,337       72,872  

Income taxes payable

     —         5,453       —    
                        

Total current liabilities

     155,000       174,198       145,734  

Other liabilities

     21,922       21,908       21,761  
                        

Total liabilities

     176,922       196,106       167,495  

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

      

Stockholders’ equity:

      

Preferred stock - $.01 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; no shares issued or outstanding

      

Common stock - $.01 par value; 100,000,000 shares authorized; 43,676,810; 43,516,372 and 43,658,910 shares issued and outstanding, respectively

     437       435       437  

Additional paid-in capital

     25,638       21,967       25,782  

Unearned compensation

     (6,141 )     (3,704 )     (2,760 )

Retained earnings

     250,070       305,041       288,059  
                        

Total stockholders’ equity

     270,004       323,739       311,518  
                        

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 446,926     $ 519,845     $ 479,013  
                        

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Stein Mart, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Income

(Unaudited)

(In thousands except per share amounts)

 

    

13 Weeks Ended

July 29, 2006

  

13 Weeks Ended

July 30, 2005

  

26 Weeks Ended

July 29, 2006

  

26 Weeks Ended

July 30, 2005

Net sales

   $ 336,304    $ 337,065    $ 701,135    $ 717,719

Cost of merchandise sold

     242,298      240,809      509,543      509,768
                           

Gross profit

     94,006      96,256      191,592      207,951

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     84,790      81,507      175,326      170,475

Other income, net

     3,441      3,591      7,594      7,557
                           

Income from operations

     12,657      18,340      23,860      45,033

Interest income

     233      433      1,124      827
                           

Income before income taxes

     12,890      18,773      24,984      45,860

Provision for income taxes

     4,578      7,134      9,113      17,427
                           

Net income

   $ 8,312    $ 11,639    $ 15,871    $ 28,433
                           

Net income per share:

           

Basic

   $ 0.19    $ 0.27    $ 0.37    $ 0.66
                           

Diluted

   $ 0.19    $ 0.26    $ 0.36    $ 0.64
                           

Weighted-average shares outstanding:

           

Basic

     43,245      43,299      43,236      43,102
                           

Diluted

     43,985      44,465      44,029      44,334
                           

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

Stein Mart, Inc.

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

(Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

    

26 Weeks Ended

July 29, 2006

   

26 Weeks Ended

July 30, 2005

 
Cash flows from operating activities:     

Net income

   $ 15,871     $ 28,433  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     12,248       9,741  

Impairment of property and other assets

     —         195  

Store closing charges

     1,190       481  

Deferred income taxes

     (818 )     1,353  

Share-based compensation

     2,188       307  

Tax benefit from equity issuances

     425       3,499  

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation

     (272 )     —    

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Trade and other receivables

     (182 )     3,468  

Inventories

     (755 )     14,042  

Prepaid income taxes

     (5,201 )     (4,185 )

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     (229 )     (3,253 )

Other assets

     (2,486 )     (686 )

Accounts payable

     (3,544 )     (26,301 )

Accrued liabilities

     (11,079 )     (7,390 )

Income taxes payable

     (5,453 )     (5,089 )

Other liabilities

     (526 )     657  
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     1,377       15,272  
                
Cash flows from investing activities:     

Capital expenditures

     (28,006 )     (15,850 )

Purchases of short-term investments

     (580,925 )     (945,400 )

Sales of short-term investments

     680,860       941,875  
                

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

     71,929       (19,375 )
                
Cash flows from financing activities:     

Cash dividends paid

     (70,842 )     (2,718 )

Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation

     272       —    

Proceeds from exercise of stock options

     1,675       11,563  

Proceeds from employee stock purchase plan

     581       499  

Repurchase of common stock

     (3,633 )     (6,575 )
                

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

     (71,947 )     2,769  
                

Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     1,359       (1,334 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     20,200       20,250  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 21,559     $ 18,916  
                
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:     

Income taxes paid

   $ 20,230     $ 21,974  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

STEIN MART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

July 29, 2006

(Unaudited)

(Dollars in tables in thousands, except per share amounts)

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair statement have been included. Operating results for the 26-week periods are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the entire year. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Stein Mart, Inc. annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2006.

As used herein, the terms “we”, “our”, “us”, “Stein Mart” and the “Company” refer to Stein Mart, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. (“FIN”) 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109”. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in accordance with Statement of Financial Standards (“SFAS”) No. 109. This interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, classification and disclosure of tax positions. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, with the cumulative effect of initially adopting this interpretation being recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. We are currently evaluating the impact FIN 48 will have on our financial statements.

2. Share-Based Compensation

In December 2004, the FASB issued SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment”, which replaced SFAS No. 123 “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” and superseded Accounting Principles Board (“APB”) No. 25 “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”. SFAS No. 123R requires companies to recognize expense in the financial statements for the fair values of all share-based payments to employees over the employees’ requisite service periods. The pro forma disclosures previously permitted under SFAS No. 123 no longer are an alternative to financial statement recognition. Effective January 29, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123R and elected to apply the modified prospective transition method to all past awards outstanding and unvested as of that date. Accordingly, financial statement amounts for the prior periods presented in this Form 10-Q have not been restated to reflect the fair value method of expensing share-based compensation.

For the 13 weeks ended July 29, 2006 and July 30, 2005, the Company recorded pretax share-based compensation expense of $1.3 million and $0.2 million, respectively, and related income tax benefits of $0.5 million and $0.1 million, respectively. For the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 and July 30, 2005, the Company recorded pretax share-based compensation expense of $2.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively, and related income tax benefits of $0.8 million and $0.1 million, respectively. The adoption of SFAS No. 123R caused a $0.01 decrease in basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) for the 13 weeks ended July 29, 2006 and a $0.02 decrease in basic and diluted EPS for the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006.

For the 13 and 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006, pretax share-based compensation expense was recorded as follows:

 

    

13 Weeks Ended

July 29, 2006

  

26 Weeks Ended

July 29, 2006

Cost of merchandise sold

   $ 810    $ 1,354

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     487      834
             

Total

   $ 1,297    $ 2,188
             

Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company presented all tax benefits resulting from share-based compensation arrangements as operating activities in the unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. SFAS No. 123R requires that tax benefits resulting from share-based compensation in excess of compensation cost recognized be classified as financing cash flows. As a result, $0.3 million of excess tax benefits has been classified as financing cash flows for the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006.

 

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Table of Contents

STEIN MART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Share-Based Compensation Plans

The Company has an Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “Stock Purchase Plan”) whereby all employees who complete six months employment with the Company and who work on a full-time basis or are regularly scheduled to work more than 20 hours per week are eligible to participate in the Stock Purchase Plan. Participants in the Stock Purchase Plan are permitted to use their payroll deductions to acquire shares at 85% of the lower of the fair market value of the Company’s stock determined at either the beginning or the end of each option period.

In 2001, the shareholders approved a stock option plan (the “Omnibus Plan”), which replaced the Company’s Employee Stock and Director Stock Option Plans (the “Previous Plans”). After the approval of the Omnibus Plan, no further options have been or will be issued under the Previous Plans. The term of the Omnibus Plan is indefinite, except that no incentive stock option award can be granted after the tenth anniversary of the plan. In 2002, the Board of Directors determined that it was appropriate to undertake an overall review of the Company’s compensation strategies. As part of this review, it was decided that starting in 2003 restricted stock awards as provided for in the Omnibus Plan, in addition to stock options, would be granted.

The Omnibus Plan, consistent with the Previous Plans, provides that shares of common stock may be granted to certain key employees and outside directors through non-qualified stock options, incentive stock options, stock appreciation rights, performance awards, restricted stock, or any other award made under the terms of the plan. The Board of Directors, or its delegated authority, determines the exercise price and all other terms of all grants. In general, one-third of the options granted become exercisable on the third, fourth and fifth anniversary dates of grant and expire seven years after the date of grant. No stock appreciation rights have been granted under this or the prior plan.

The following table presents the number of awards initially authorized and available to grant under the Omnibus Plan (shares in thousands):

 

     Shares

Awards initially authorized

   4,500

Awards available for grant:

  

January 28, 2006

   2,495

July 29, 2006

   1,572

The Company’s Management Incentive Compensation Plan (the “Compensation Plan”), as amended in June 2006, provides for long-term incentive compensation, payable as performance shares (60%) and stock options (40%) to certain qualified key employees. Long-term incentive compensation will be awarded only if EPS goals are met, and then aggregate compensation value is based on each key employee’s position. Performance shares are earned based on aggregate EPS goals for a three year rolling period and options are granted based on annual EPS goals. As defined by the Compensation Plan, 50% of the performance shares will be earned if the aggregate three year actual EPS equals Threshold (85% of goal), 100% of the performance shares will be earned if the aggregate three year actual EPS equals Target (100% of goal), and 150% of the performance shares will be earned if the aggregate three year actual EPS equals Superior (115% of goal). The number of stock options to be granted is based on a calculation of option values as defined in the Compensation Plan.

Performance Shares

In accordance with FASB No. 123R, recording of share-based compensation expense for awards with performance conditions is based on the probable outcome of that performance condition. As defined by the Company’s Compensation Plan, performance shares are earned based on the Company’s achieving aggregate three year EPS goals. Due to the effect of the current year’s projected EPS shortfall to goal, no share-based compensation expense has been recorded for these performance-based shares.

Stock Options

The fair value of each stock option granted during the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 was estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes options pricing model with the following assumptions: expected volatility of 47.2%, expected dividend yield of 1.5%, a risk-free interest rate of 4.8% and an expected option term of 5.2 years. The expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of our stock prices over assumed expected terms. The risk-free interest rate is estimated from yields of U.S. Treasury instruments of varying maturities with terms consistent with the expected terms of the options. The expected term of an option is calculated from a lattice model using historical employee exercise data.

 

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STEIN MART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

A summary of stock option information as of and for the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 is as follows (in thousands except per share amounts):

 

    

Number of

Shares

   

Weighted-Average

Exercise Price

  

Aggregate

Intrinsic Value

Outstanding at January 28, 2006

   2,775     $ 12.63   

Granted

   751       16.66   

Exercised

   (138 )     12.02   

Forfeited

   (18 )     11.54   
               
Outstanding at July 29, 2006    3,370     $ 13.75    $ 5,989
                   
Exercisable stock options at July 29, 2006    1,547     $ 11.59    $ 3,392
                   

The aggregate intrinsic value in the preceding table represents the total pretax intrinsic value (the difference between the Company’s closing stock price on the last trading date of the second quarter of 2006 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options) that would have been received by the option holders had all option holders exercised their options on July 29, 2006. This amount changes based on the fair market value of the Company’s common stock.

The following table summarizes information about the weighted-average remaining contractual life (in years) and the weighted-average exercise prices for fixed-price stock options outstanding at July 29, 2006 (shares in thousands):

 

     Options Outstanding    Options Exercisable

Range of

Exercise Prices

  

Number

Outstanding

  

Remaining

Life

  

Exercise

Price

  

Number

Exercisable

  

Exercise

Price

$ 5.00 – 8.95

   867    5.3    $ 7.59    494    $ 7.96

$ 8.96 – 13.43

   433    5.0      11.00    323      11.03

$13.44 – 17.91

   1,643    4.3      15.50    730      14.29

$17.92 – 22.39

   427    5.6      22.35    —        —  
                            
   3,370    4.8    $ 13.75    1,547    $ 11.59
                            

As of July 29, 2006, there was $7.0 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to stock options which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 4.9 years. The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 was $7.06. The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised during the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 was approximately $0.6 million. Cash received and the total tax benefit from the exercise of stock options during the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 was $1.7 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

Restricted Stock

The Company has issued restricted stock awards to eligible key employees and directors. All awards have restriction periods tied primarily to employment, service and performance. Shares awarded under the plan entitle the shareholder to all rights of common stock ownership except that the shares may not be sold, transferred, pledged, exchanged or otherwise disposed of during the restriction period. For most awards, vesting is based on the service period and vesting occurs (1) 100% at the end of seven years following the date of grant, (2) at the rate of 33%, 33% and 34%, respectively, at the end of each of the first three years, (3) 100% at the end of the third year, or (4) at the rate of 33%, 33% and 34%, respectively, at the end of the third, fourth and fifth years. For awards that fully vest at the end of seven years following the date of grant, vesting is accelerated to the end of the second fiscal year if certain defined Company performance goals are achieved. Unvested shares are forfeited upon termination of employment. The total value of share-based compensation expense for restricted stock is equal to the closing price of the Company’s stock on the date of grant.

A summary of restricted stock information as of and for the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 is as follows (shares in thousands):

 

     Shares    

Weighted-Average

Grant Date

Fair Value

Non-vested at January 28, 2006

   262     $ 17.75

Granted

   189       16.73

Vested

   (57 )     6.36

Forfeited

   (2 )     21.02
            

Non-vested at July 29, 2006

   392     $ 18.91
            

 

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STEIN MART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The total fair value of restricted stock vested during the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 was $0.9 million. As of July 29, 2006, there was $6.1 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to non-vested restricted stock awards which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 4.8 years.

Prior Period Pro Forma Presentation

Prior to January 29, 2006, the Company accounted for share-based compensation to employees in accordance with APB No. 25 and related interpretations. The Company also followed the disclosure requirements of SFAS No. 123 as amended by SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation Transition and Disclosure”. The following table illustrates the pro forma effect on net income and earnings per share for the 13 weeks and 26 weeks ended July 30, 2005 as if the Company had applied the fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 to share-based employee awards prior to January 29, 2006:

 

    

13 Weeks Ended

July 30, 2005

   

26 Weeks Ended

July 30, 2005

 

Net income – as reported

   $ 11,639     $ 28,433  

Add: Stock-based compensation expense included in

net income, net of related tax effects

     105       190  

Less: Stock-based compensation expense determined

under the fair value method, net of related tax effects

     (423 )     (805 )
                

Pro forma net income

   $ 11,321     $ 27,818  
                

Basic earnings per share – as reported

   $ 0.27     $ 0.66  

Basic earnings per share – pro forma

   $ 0.26     $ 0.65  

Diluted earnings per share – as reported

   $ 0.26     $ 0.64  

Diluted earnings per share – pro forma

   $ 0.25     $ 0.63  

The fair value of options granted during the 26 weeks ended July 30, 2005 was estimated on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following assumptions: expected volatility of 50.9%, expected dividend yield of 0.0%, a risk-free interest rate of 4.0% and expected option term of 5 years. The weighted-average fair value of options granted during the 26 weeks ended July 30, 2005 was $10.84 per share. No options were granted during the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2005.

3. Store Closing Charges

The Company closed four stores during the first half of 2006 and six stores during 2005, all of which were closed during the first half of 2005. Lease termination and severance costs of $1.1 million and $1.0 million were incurred during the first half of 2006 and 2005, respectively, and are included in selling, general and administrative expenses in the unaudited Consolidated Statements of Income.

The following tables show the activity in the store closing reserve for the first half of 2006 and 2005:

 

    

January 28,

2006

   Charges    Payments   

July 29,

2006

Lease termination costs

   $ 5,522    $ 639    $ 1,542    $ 4,619

Severance

     63      445      360      148
                           

Total store closing reserve

   $ 5,585    $ 1,084    $ 1,902    $ 4,767
                           
    

January 29,

2005

   Charges    Payments   

July 30,

2005

Lease termination costs

   $ 6,898    $ 579    $ 1,862    $ 5,615

Severance

     131      469      541      59
                           

Total store closing reserve

   $ 7,029    $ 1,048    $ 2,403    $ 5,674
                           

The store closing reserve at July 29, 2006, January 28, 2006 and July 30, 2005 includes a current portion (in accrued liabilities) of $2.5 million, $2.8 million and $2.4 million, respectively, and a long-term portion (in other liabilities) of $2.3 million, $2.8 million and $3.3 million, respectively.

4. Income Taxes

In May 2006, the Texas legislature enacted a new law that reforms the Texas franchise tax system and replaces it with a new Texas margin tax system. For companies that have fiscal tax years ending between January 1 and May 18, 2006, the enactment is treated as a retroactive change in enacted law and the computation of tax liability will be based on 2006 operating results.

 

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STEIN MART, INC.

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

The Texas margin tax is considered an income tax for accounting purposes. In accordance with the provisions of SFAS No. 109, which require that deferred tax assets and liabilities be adjusted for the effects of new income tax legislation in the period of enactment, the Company has decreased its net deferred tax liabilities resulting in a $0.2 million reduction in the provision for income taxes for the 13 weeks and 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006.

5. Net Income Per Share

Basic net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the basic weighted-average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted net income per share is computed by dividing net income by the diluted weighted-average number of common shares outstanding.

A reconciliation of basic weighted-average number of common shares to diluted weighted-average number of common shares is as follows (000’s):

 

    

13 Weeks Ended

July 29, 2006

  

13 Weeks Ended

July 30, 2005

  

26 Weeks Ended

July 29, 2006

  

26 Weeks Ended

July 30, 2005

Basic weighted-average number of common shares

   43,245    43,299    43,236    43,102

Incremental shares from assumed exercise of stock options and restricted stock awards

   740    1,166    793    1,232
                   

Diluted weighted-average number of common shares

   43,985    44,465    44,029    44,334
                   

Options to purchase approximately 1.5 million shares of common stock that were outstanding during the 13 weeks ended July 29, 2006 were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share as the exercise prices of these options were greater than the average market price of the common shares. For the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 and July 30, 2005, options to purchase 1.1 million and 0.4 million shares of common stock, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted net income per shares for the aforementioned reason.

 

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STEIN MART, INC.

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

As used herein, the terms “we”, “our”, “us”, “Stein Mart” and the “Company” refer to Stein Mart, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiary.

Forward-Looking Statements

This report contains forward-looking statements which are subject to certain risks, uncertainties or assumptions and may be affected by certain factors, including but not limited to changing preferences in apparel, changes in consumer spending due to current events and/or general economic conditions, the availability of suitable new store sites at acceptable lease terms, unanticipated weather conditions and unseasonable weather, the effectiveness of advertising, marketing and promotional strategies, ongoing competition from other retailers, adequate sources of merchandise at acceptable prices, the Company’s ability to attract and retain qualified employees to support planned growth, ability to successfully implement strategies to exit or improve under-performing stores, disruption of the Company’s distribution system and acts of terrorism. Readers are urged to review and consider the matters discussed in “Item 1A. Risk Factors” of our Form 10K for 2005.

Should one or more of these risks, uncertainties or other factors materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results, performance or achievements of the Company may vary materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on beliefs and assumptions of the Company’s management and on information currently available to such management. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements in light of new information or future events. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking statements, which are based on current expectations. Forward-looking statements are no guarantees of performance.

Overview

Stein Mart is a retailer offering the fashion merchandise, service and presentation of a better department or specialty store at prices competitive with off-price retail chains. Our focused assortment of merchandise features fashionable, current-season, moderate to better brand-name apparel for women and men, as well as accessories, gifts, linens and shoes all offered at prices targeted to be 25% to 60% below the list prices at department stores. Our target customers are fashion-conscious, value-seeking 35-60 year old women with above average annual household incomes. As of July 29, 2006, we operated 261 stores in 30 states and the District of Columbia.

During the second quarter and first half of 2006, comparable stores sales decreased 0.8 percent and 3.1 percent, respectively, from the same 2005 periods. Gross profit was negatively impacted during the second quarter and first half of 2006 by increased markdowns, occupancy costs and share-based compensation expense, somewhat offset by improved markup. Selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were higher during the second quarter and first half of 2006 compared to the same 2005 periods primarily due to increased store closing costs, depreciation expense and share-based compensation expense. An integration problem during the recent implementation of our markdown price optimization software impaired our clearance cadence during the second quarter and as a result, we experienced substantial sales and gross margin deterioration. The price optimization software integration issue was rectified and we expect full utilization during the fall season.

During the third quarter of 2006, we expect comparable store sales to increase 2-3 percent which would produce break-even results as compared to last year’s third quarter results of $0.03 per share. For the fourth quarter of 2006, we expect comparable store sales to increase in the mid-single digit range. If both these premises occur, earnings for the year would be approximately $1.00 per share.

The Company expects to launch its co-branded credit card in October 2006. It is anticipated that this new arrangement will present the Company with new marketing opportunities, as well as a rewards program for its credit card holders.

Stores

There were 261 stores open as of July 29, 2006 and 259 stores open at July 30, 2005. We plan to open a total of six new stores and close two stores during the third quarter of 2006. Three additional stores are planned to open in the fourth quarter of 2006, for a total of nine fall season openings. At the end of the year, we expect to have opened 12 new stores and closed six stores for a year-end total of 268 stores.

 

    

13 Weeks Ended

July 29, 2006

   

13 Weeks Ended

July 30, 2005

   

26 Weeks Ended

July 29, 2006

   

26 Weeks Ended

July 30, 2005

 

Stores at beginning of period

   263     258     262     261  

Stores opened during the period

   —       2     3     4  

Stores closed during the period

   (2 )   (1 )   (4 )   (6 )
                        

Stores at the end of period

   261     259     261     259  
                        

 

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STEIN MART, INC.

Results of Operations

The following table sets forth each line item of the Consolidated Statements of Income expressed as a percentage of the Company’s net sales (numbers may not add due to rounding):

 

    

13 Weeks Ended

July 29, 2006

   

13 Weeks Ended

July 30, 2005

   

26 Weeks Ended

July 29, 2006

   

26 Weeks Ended

July 30, 2005

 

Net sales

   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %   100.0 %

Cost of merchandise sold

   72.0     71.4     72.7     71.0  
                        

Gross profit

   28.0     28.6     27.3     29.0  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   25.2     24.2     25.0     23.8  

Other income, net

   1.0     1.1     1.1     1.1  
                        

Income from operations

   3.8     5.4     3.4     6.3  

Interest income

   0.1     0.1     0.2     0.1  
                        

Income before income taxes

   3.8     5.6     3.6     6.4  

Provision for income taxes

   1.4     2.1     1.3     2.4  
                        

Net income

   2.5 %   3.5 %   2.3 %   4.0 %
                        

For the 13 weeks ended July 29, 2006 compared to the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2005

The 0.2% total sales decrease for the 13 weeks ended July 29, 2006 from the same 2005 period reflects an 0.8% decrease in sales from comparable stores, the closing of two stores during the second quarter of 2006 and the closing of six stores during 2005 offset by sales from the three new stores opened in 2006 and the seven stores opened in 2005.

Gross profit for the 13 weeks ended July 29, 2006 was $94.0 million or 28.0 percent of net sales, a 0.6 percentage point decrease from gross profit of $96.3 million or 28.6 percent of net sales for the 13 weeks ended July 30, 2005. Gross profit was negatively impacted by a 0.3 percentage point increase in markdowns to keep inventories current, a 0.6 percentage point increase in occupancy costs due to increased expenses, a 0.2 percentage point increase in share-based compensation expense and a lack of leverage as a result of the 0.8% decrease in comparable store sales. Gross profit was favorably impacted by a 0.5 percentage point increase in markup.

SG&A expenses were $84.8 million or 25.2 percent of net sales for the 13 weeks ended July 29, 2006 as compared to $81.5 million or 24.2 percent of net sales for the same 2005 quarter. Included in SG&A expenses for the second quarter of 2006 are store closing charges of $0.8 million compared to a net store closing cost recovery of $0.3 million for the second quarter of 2005. Also included in SG&A expenses for the second quarter of 2006 is share-based compensation expense from stock options, restricted stock awards and the employee stock purchase plan of $0.5 million and for the second quarter of 2005 share-based compensation expense of $0.2 million from restricted stock awards. Depreciation expense was $0.9 million higher in the second quarter of 2006 compared to the second quarter of 2005 due to increased capital expenditures. The 1.0 percentage point increase in SG&A expenses as a percent of sales is due in part to these additional expenses and in part to a lack of leverage on lower than planned sales during the second quarter of 2006.

The Company closed four stores during the first half of 2006 and six stores during 2005, all of which were closed in the first half of 2005. Those ten closed stores had sales of $1.0 million and $4.3 million and operating losses of $0.7 million and $0.1 million during the second quarter of 2006 and 2005, respectively.

The Company earned interest income of $233,000 and $433,000 on its cash and short-term investments during the second quarter of 2006 and 2005, respectively. The decrease in interest income is due to lower average cash and short-term investment balances during the second quarter of 2006 compared to the second quarter of 2005, somewhat offset by higher interest rates.

The income tax provision for the second quarter of 2006 and 2005 was $4.6 million and $7.1 million, respectively, reflecting an effective tax rate of 35.5% and 38.0%, respectively. The income tax provision for the second quarter of 2006 includes a one-time reduction of certain net deferred tax liabilities of $0.2 million to reflect the impact of the new Texas margin tax which is replacing the existing Texas franchise tax. The effective tax rate for the remainder of 2006 is expected to be approximately 37.2%.

For the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 compared to 26 weeks ended July 30, 2005

The 2.3% total sales decrease for the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 from the same 2005 period reflects a 3.1% decrease in sales from comparable stores, the closing of four stores during the first half of 2006 and the closing of six stores during 2005 offset by sales from the three new stores opened in 2006 and the seven stores opened in 2005.

 

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STEIN MART, INC.

Gross profit for the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 was $191.6 million or 27.3 percent of net sales, a 1.7 percentage point decrease from gross profit of $208.0 million or 29.0 percent of net sales for the 26 weeks ended July 30, 2005. Gross profit was negatively impacted by a 1.5 percentage point increase in markdowns to keep inventories current and a 0.7 percentage point increase in occupancy costs due to increased expenses, a 0.2 percentage point increase in share-based compensation expense and a lack of leverage as a result of the 3.1% decrease in comparable store sales. Gross profit was favorably impacted by a 0.6 percentage point increase in markup.

SG&A expenses were $175.3 million or 25.0 percent of net sales for the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006 as compared to $170.5 million or 23.8 percent of net sales for the same 2005 period. Included in SG&A expenses for the first half of 2006 and 2005 are store closing charges of $1.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively. Also included in SG&A expenses for the first half of 2006 is share-based compensation expense from stock options, restricted stock awards and the employee stock purchase plan of $0.8 million and for the first half of 2005 share-based compensation expense of $0.3 million from restricted stock awards. Depreciation expense was $1.6 million higher in the first half of 2006 compared to the first half of 2005 due to increased capital expenditures. The 1.2 percentage point increase in SG&A expenses as a percent of sales is due in part to these additional expenses and in part to a lack of leverage on lower than planned sales during the first half of 2006.

The Company closed four stores during the first half of 2006 and six stores during 2005, all of which were closed in the first half of 2005. Those ten closed stores had sales of $4.2 million and $13.2 million and operating losses of $2.7 million and $1.6 million during the first half of 2006 and 2005, respectively.

The Company earned interest income of $1.1 million and $0.8 million on its cash and short-term investments during the first half of 2006 and 2005, respectively. The increase in interest income is due to higher interest rates offset by lower average cash and short-term investment balances during the first half of 2006 compared to the first half of 2005.

The income tax provision for the first half of 2006 and 2005 was $9.1 million and $17.4 million, respectively, reflecting an effective tax rate of 36.5% and 38.0%, respectively. The income tax provision for the first half of 2006 includes a one-time reduction of certain net deferred tax liabilities of $0.2 million to reflect the impact of the new Texas margin tax which is replacing the existing Texas franchise tax. The effective tax rate for the remainder of 2006 is expected to be approximately 37.2%.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

The Company’s primary source of liquidity is the sale of its merchandise inventories. Capital requirements and working capital needs are funded through a combination of internally generated funds, a revolving credit facility and credit terms from vendors. Working capital is needed to support store inventories and capital investments for new store openings and to maintain existing stores. Historically, the Company’s working capital needs are lowest in the first quarter and highest in either the third or fourth quarter in anticipation of the fourth quarter peak selling season. As of July 29, 2006, the Company had $21.6 million in cash and cash equivalents and $5.0 million in short-term investments.

Net cash provided by operating activities was $1.4 million for the first half of 2006 compared to $15.3 million for the first half of 2005. The decrease in cash provided by operating activities during the first half of 2006 compared to the first half of 2005 was due in part to lower net income during the first half of 2006. Cash of $14.0 million was provided from reduced inventories in the first half of 2005 while cash of $0.8 million was used to increase inventories in the first half of 2006. However, cash of $26.3 million was used to reduce accounts payable in the first half of 2005 while only $3.5 million was used to reduce accounts payable in the first half of 2006. The significant change in accounts payable during the first half of 2005 was due to an increase in the year-end 2004 accounts payable balance resulting from more current merchandise receipts at the end of 2004.

Net cash provided by investing activities was $71.9 million for the first half of 2006 compared to net cash used in investing activities of $19.4 million for the first half of 2005. The net liquidation of short-term investments provided $99.9 million of cash in the first half of 2006 compared to the net investment of $3.5 million of cash in the first half of 2005. Capital expenditures were $28.0 million and $15.9 million for the first half of 2006 and 2005, respectively. Capital expenditures were higher in the first half of 2006 compared to the first half of 2005 due primarily to remodeling costs for existing stores and the continued roll-out of new point-of-sale equipment. The Company expects to invest approximately $50 to $55 million in capital expenditures in 2006 to open new stores and continue investment in systems and store upgrades for increased productivity and enhanced customer service.

Net cash used in financing activities was $71.9 million during the first half of 2006 compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $2.8 million during the first half of 2005. In the first half of 2006, two regular quarterly dividends of $0.0625 per share totaling $5.4 million and a special dividend of $1.50 per share totaling $65.4 million were paid compared to the initial quarterly dividend of $0.625 per share paid in the first half of 2005. In August 2006, the Company declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.0625 per share which will be paid on September 22, 2006 to shareholders of record at close of business on September 8, 2006.

 

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STEIN MART, INC.

Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123R, the Company presented all tax benefits resulting from share-based compensation arrangements as operating activities in the unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows. SFAS No. 123R requires that tax benefits resulting from share-based compensation in excess of compensation cost recognized be classified as financing cash flows. As a result, $0.3 million of excess tax benefits has been classified as financing cash flows for the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006.

The Company has a $100 million senior revolving credit agreement with a group of lenders, with an initial term ending January 2011. At July 29, 2006 there were no direct borrowings and no Event of Default existed under the terms of the Agreement.

The Company believes that expected net cash provided by operating activities and unused borrowing capacity under the revolving credit agreement will be sufficient to fund anticipated current and long-term capital expenditures, working capital requirements and dividend payments. Should current operating conditions change, management can borrow on the revolving credit agreement or adjust operating plans, including new store rollout.

Contractual Obligations

To facilitate an understanding of the Company’s contractual obligations, the following payments due by period data is provided:

 

     Total   

Less than

1 Year

  

1 – 2

Years

  

3 – 5

Years

  

After 5

Years

Operating leases

   $ 386,016    $ 68,336    $ 65,014    $ 146,621    $ 106,045
                                  

At July 29, 2006, the Company had no direct borrowings on its credit facility. Other long-term liabilities on the balance sheet include deferred income taxes, deferred compensation and other long-term liabilities that do not have specific due dates, so are excluded from the preceding table. Other long-term liabilities also include long-term store closing reserves, a component of which is future minimum payments under non-cancelable leases for closed stores. These future minimum lease payments total $11.8 million and are included in the above table.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company has outstanding standby letters of credit totaling $7.3 million securing certain insurance programs at July 29, 2006. If certain conditions were to occur under these arrangements, the Company would be required to satisfy the obligations in cash. Due to the nature of these arrangements and based on historical experience, the Company does not expect to make any payments; therefore, the letters of credit are excluded from the preceding table. There are no other off-balance sheet arrangements that could affect the financial condition of the Company.

Seasonality

The Company’s business is seasonal in nature with a higher percentage of the Company’s merchandise sales and earnings generated in the fall and holiday selling seasons. Accordingly, SG&A expenses are typically higher as a percent of net sales during the first three quarters of each year.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. (“FIN”) 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes, an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109”. FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes recognized in accordance with Statement of Financial Standards (“SFAS”) No. 109. This interpretation prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. Additionally, FIN 48 provides guidance on derecognition, classification and disclosure of tax positions. The provisions of FIN 48 are effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006, with the cumulative effect of initially adopting this interpretation being recorded as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. We are currently evaluating the impact FIN 48 will have on our financial statements.

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

For information regarding our exposure to certain market risk, see “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in Part II, Item 7A of our Form 10-K for the year ended January 28, 2006, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 6, 2006. There were no material changes to our market risk during the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2006.

 

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Table of Contents

STEIN MART, INC.

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

Our management, with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(e) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of July 29, 2006 to provide reasonable assurance that the objectives of disclosure controls and procedures are met.

There have been no changes in our internal control structure over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) that occurred during the last fiscal quarter that have materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following table provides information regarding repurchases by the Company of its common stock during the 26-week period ended July 29, 2006:

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES


 

Period

  

Total

number

of shares

purchased

  

Average

price

paid per

share

  

Total number of

shares purchased

as part of publicly

announced plans

or programs (1)

  

Maximum number of

shares that may yet

be purchased under

the plans or

programs (1)

April 30, 2006 – May 27, 2006

   9,346    $ 15.80    9,346    946,838

May 28, 2006 – July 1, 2006

   —         —      946,838

July 2, 2006 – July 29, 2006

   —         —      946,838
               

Total

   9,346       9,346   
               

(1) The Company’s Open Market Repurchase Program is conducted pursuant to authorizations made from time to time by the Company’s Board of Directors. The shares reported in the table are covered by a Board authorization to repurchase 2.5 million shares of common stock announced on March 5, 2001; this authorization does not have an expiration date.

The following table provides information regarding our equity compensation plans as of July 29, 2006:

EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN INFORMATION


 

Plan category

  

(A)

Number of securities

to be issued upon

exercise of

outstanding options

  

(B)

Weighted-average

exercise price of

outstanding options

  

(C)

Number of securities

remaining available

for the future

issuance under

equity compensation

plans (excluding

securities reflected

in column (A))

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders

   3,370,300    $ 13.75    1,571,941

Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders

   —        —      —  
                

Total

   3,370,300    $ 13.75    1,571,941
                

 

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STEIN MART, INC.

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

The Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Stein Mart, Inc. was held on June 6, 2006. At the meeting, the stockholders elected all of the Company’s directors to serve for one-year terms. The vote for each nominee for director was as follows:

 

Name of Director

   Votes For    Votes Withheld

Alvin R. Carpenter

   40,990,193    258,556

Linda McFarland Farthing

   36,897,689    4,351,060

Michael D. Fisher

   37,531,702    3,717,047

Mitchell W. Legler

   36,956,369    4,292,380

Michael D. Rose

   40,931,863    316,886

Richard L. Sisisky

   37,238,184    4,010,565

Jay Stein

   37,528,877    3,719,872

Martin E. Stein, Jr.

   29,902,760    11,345,989

J. Wayne Weaver

   41,061,917    186,832

John H. Williams, Jr.

   37,365,639    3,883,110

James H. Winston

   37,219,743    4,029,006

The following proposals were also submitted to Stockholders with the following voting results:

 

1. Re-approval of the material terms of the performance goals under the Stein Mart 2001 Omnibus Plan
 For    36,695,051                     
 Against      1,181,080                     
 Abstain         314,165                     

 

2. Re-approval of the material terms of the Stein Mart Employee Stock Purchase Plan
 For    37,501,085                     
 Against         376,753                     
 Abstain         312,458                     

 

3. Approval of the modified material terms of the performance goals under the Stein Mart, Inc. Management Incentive Compensation Plan
 For    34,390,422                     
 Against      3,770,239                     
 Abstain           29,635                     

Item 5. Other Information

In June 2006, the stockholders approved the modified material terms of the performance goals under the Stein Mart, Inc. Management Incentive Compensation Plan. The amended plan is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1.

Item 6. Exhibits

 

10.1 Management Incentive Compensation Plan, amended June 6, 2006

 

31.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a)

 

31.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a)

 

32.1 Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

 

32.2 Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

 

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Table of Contents

SIGNATURES

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.

 

  STEIN MART, INC..
Date: September 6, 2006   By:  

/s/ Michael D. Fisher

    Michael D. Fisher
    President and Chief Executive Officer
   

/s/ James G. Delfs

    James G. Delfs
    Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

17


Exhibit 10.1

STEIN MART, INC.

MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE COMPENSATION PLAN

( As Amended June 6, 2006 )

SECTION 1. Purpose. The purpose of the Stein Mart Inc. Management Incentive Compensation Plan (the “ Plan” ) is to attract, retain and motivate highly qualified individuals who are key employees of Stein Mart, Inc. (“ Stein Mart ”) and its subsidiaries (together called the “ Company ”); to attract and retain the most qualified employees; to obtain the best possible performance from each Participant; to further underscore the importance of achieving particular business objectives established for Stein Mart; and to include in Participants’ compensation package a bonus component that is tied directly to the achievement of those objectives. Such bonus component is intended to qualify as performance-based compensation under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “ Code ”), and the Plan shall be interpreted accordingly.

SECTION 2. Definitions. For the purposes of the Plan, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

Awards ” shall mean the incentive awards made pursuant to the Plan.

Board of Directors ” shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

Code ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

Committee ” shall mean the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

Company ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

Covered Person ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12(f).

Eligible Employee ” shall mean an Employee who is a key member of management of the Company, as determined by the Committee.

Employee ” shall mean an individual who is on the active payroll of the Company at any time during the period for which an Award is made under the Plan.

Establishment Period ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 5.

Participant ” shall mean an Eligible Employee who is selected by the Committee to participate in the Plan.

Performance Goals ” shall mean the goals for the performance of the Company or a division of the Company set by the Committee from time to time in connection with the grant of Performance Shares.

Performance Period ” shall mean a full fiscal year of the Company unless, to the extent consistent with Section 162(m) of the Code, otherwise determined by the Committee.

Performance Shares” shall mean shares of the Company’s common stock which shall be earned and issued only if and to the extent certain prospective Performance Goals as provided herein or as set forth in the Award for such shares are met during the Performance Period.

Plan ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

Stein Mart ” shall have the meaning set forth in Section 1.

SECTION 3. Effective Date; Term. The Plan is effective as of February 1, 2006, subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders at the Company’s 2006 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and, subject to Section 9, shall remain in effect until such time as it shall be terminated or modified by the Board of Directors. The Plan supersedes all previous bonus plans for Participants.

SECTION 4. Maximum Awards. Awards payable with respect to any fiscal year of the Company to any Participant shall not exceed $2,000,000. Moreover, the aggregate of all Long-Term Incentive Compensation grants made in options and Performance Shares) made annually shall be limited to no more than 2.2% of all outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock.


SECTION 5. Eligibility.

(a) Establishment Period . Within the first 90 days of the applicable Performance Period (or, if shorter, within the maximum period allowed under Section 162(m) of the Code) (the “ Establishment Period ”), the Committee shall select those Eligible Employees who shall participate in the Plan for such Performance Period. In determining those Eligible Employees who are selected to participate in the Plan, the Committee shall give consideration to the contribution made by the Employee to the achievement of Stein Mart’s established objectives and such other matters as it shall deem relevant. The Committee shall have the authority at any time prior to the payment of Awards for the applicable Performance Period to remove Participants from the Plan for that Performance Period.

(b) Employment . To be eligible to receive an Award, the Eligible Employee must be employed through the last day of the Performance Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the discretion of the Committee, Awards may be made to Eligible Employees who have retired or whose employment has terminated after the beginning of the Performance Period for which an Award is made, or to the designee or estate of an Eligible Employee who died prior to the date on which Stein Mart makes payments with respect to Awards for the applicable Performance Period, but not unless and until the Committee has certified attainment of the relevant performance goals in accordance with Section 7(b).

SECTION 6. Awards.

(a) Terms . Subject to the terms of the Plan, the Committee shall have the authority to determine the terms of any Award.

(b) Committee Actions in Establishment Period . Within the Establishment Period, the Committee shall establish in writing (i) the length of the Performance Period, (ii) the Eligible Employees who shall participate in the applicable Performance Period, and (iii) the performance goal(s) for Awards granted for that Performance Period.

(c) Performance Goals .

 

  i. General . The performance goal(s) that may be selected by the Committee shall be based upon one or more of the following criteria: revenue, net cash provided by operations, return on assets, return on equity, operating income, gross or operating margins, net income before or after taxes, total earnings, net operating profit, basic or diluted earnings per share (EPS), total shareholder return (TSR), relative (versus an index or peer group) TSR, or stock price. The foregoing criteria may, as determined by the Committee, relate to the Company, one or more of its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions or operational units, or any combination of the foregoing, and may be applied on an absolute basis and/or be relative to one or more peer companies or indices or any combination thereof. To the extent required under Section 162(m) of the Code, within the Establishment Period, the Committee shall define, in writing and in an objective fashion, the manner of calculating the performance criteria it selects to use for the applicable Performance Period in order to determine whether the applicable performance goal(s) have been attained.

 

  ii. Initial Goals. Unless and until modified by the Committee, under the Long-Term Compensation component of the Management Compensation Plan, the Performance Shares would be earned (and issued) only if the aggregate EPS goals as established in a plan for a three year rolling period are achieved. 50% of the Performance Shares will be earned if the aggregate three year EPS equals the Threshold (85% of plan), 100% of the Performance Shares will be earned if the aggregate three year EPS equals the Target (100% of plan), and 150% of the Performance Shares will be earned if the aggregate three year EPS equals Superior (115% of plan). The Stock Option component of Long-Term Compensation would continue to be subject to the vesting requirements of five years, with 1/3 vesting in each of the third, fourth and fifth years,

 

  iii. Special Adjustment for Top Executives. In addition to the Performance Goals set by the Committee, the number of Performance Shares which shall be retained by the top five executive officers of the Company shall increase or decrease the aggregate value of the Long-Term Compensation Performance Share awards by 20% in either direction based on how the Total Shareholder Return for the Company over a three year rolling period compares to the Total Shareholder Return achieved by the Company’s peer group as calculated in the Dow Jones U.S. Apparel Retail Index.

 

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(d) Modifications . The Committee is authorized at any time during the Establishment Period, or any time thereafter (but only to the extent the exercise of such authority after the Establishment Period would not cause the applicable Awards to fail to qualify as “qualified performance-based compensation” under Section 162(m) of the Code), in its sole and absolute discretion, to adjust or modify the calculation of performance goal(s) for the applicable Performance Period to the extent permitted under Section 162(m) of the Code (i) in the event of, or in anticipation of, any unusual or extraordinary corporate item, transaction, event or development affecting the Company, or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such performance goal(s)) or (ii) in recognition of, or in anticipation of, any other unusual or nonrecurring events affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such performance goal(s)), or the financial statements of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, affiliates, divisions or operating units (to the extent applicable to such performance goal(s)), or of changes in applicable rules, rulings, regulations or other requirements of any governmental body or securities exchange, accounting principles, law or business conditions.

SECTION 7. Payment of Awards.

(a) Form of Payment . Awards under the plan for a Performance Period may be made in cash or in a combination of restricted shares, Performance Shares and options as the Committee shall determine. Unless the Committee determines otherwise, awards under the Company’s Long-Term Incentive Compensation Plan shall be made 60% in Performance Shares and 40% in Options.

(b) Time of Payment . Cash Awards payable under the Plan for a Performance Period shall be paid in cash to Participants as soon as administratively possible following completion of the performance goal certifications required by Section 7(b), unless the Committee shall determine that any Award or any portion thereof shall be deferred. In no event may a Participant receive any payment (i) in respect of an Award unless and until, and only to the extent that, the performance goal(s) for the applicable Performance Period are achieved and certified by the Committee in accordance with Section 7(b) and (ii) of any Award in excess of the limitation set forth in Section 4.

(c) Goal Achievement Determination . Following the completion of the applicable Performance Period, the Committee shall meet to review and certify in writing whether, and to what extent, the performance goal(s) for the Performance Period have been achieved. If the applicable performance goal(s) have been achieved, the Committee shall then determine the actual size of each Participant’s Award for the Performance Period. In determining the actual size of an individual Award for a Performance Period, the Committee may, in its sole judgment, reduce or eliminate the Award otherwise payable to the Participant for the Performance Period, based on the level of performance achieved and certified.

SECTION 8. Administration and Interpretation.

(a) Committee Administers . The Committee shall have full authority to administer the Plan. The Committee shall have full power to construe and interpret the Plan, establish and amend rules and regulations for its administration, correct any defect, supply any omission and reconcile any inconsistency in the Plan and any Award, and perform all other acts relating to the Plan, including the delegation of administrative responsibilities, that it believes reasonable and proper and in conformity with the purposes of the Plan and the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

(b) Committee Determinations . The Committee has sole responsibility for selecting Eligible Employees and Participants, establishing performance goals, setting Performance Periods, setting target/maximum Award amounts, certifying whether performance goals have been attained and determining actual Award amounts.

(c) Committee Decision Conclusive . Any decision made, or action taken, by the Committee arising out of or in connection with the interpretation and/or administration of the Plan shall be final, conclusive and binding on all persons affected thereby.

(d) Limitations . In no event shall any discretionary authority granted to the Committee by the Plan be used to (i) provide payment in respect of any Award if the performance goal(s) for the applicable Performance Period have not been attained and certified by the Committee, (ii) increase an Award for any Participant following the Establishment Period, (iii) increase an Award above the maximum amount payable under Section 4 of the Plan, or (iv) be exercised in a manner which is inconsistent with Section 162(m) of the Code.

SECTION 9. Amendment/Termination. The Committee shall have the right to amend the Plan from time to time or to repeal it entirely or to direct the discontinuance of Awards either temporarily or permanently; provided , however , that no amendment of the Plan that changes (i) the persons eligible to receive Awards under the Plan, (ii) the criteria that may be used to set performance goals under the Plan, as set forth in Section 6(b), or (iii) the maximum Award payable to an Eligible Employee, as set forth in Section 4, shall be effective before approval by shareholders in a manner that complies with the requirements of Section 162(m) of the Code.

 

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SECTION 10. Special Awards and Other Plans.

(a) Other Incentives . Nothing contained in the Plan shall prohibit Stein Mart from establishing other special awards or incentive compensation plans providing for the payment of incentive compensation to Employees (including Eligible Employees).

(b) Other Plans . Payments or benefits provided to an Eligible Employee under any stock, deferred compensation, savings, retirement or other employee benefit plan are governed solely by the terms of such plan.

SECTION 11. Rights of Eligible Employees.

(a) No Right to Continued Employment . Neither the Plan, nor the adoption or operation of the Plan, nor any documents describing or referring to the Plan (or any part hereof) shall confer upon any Employee any right to continue in the employ of Stein Mart.

(b) No Interest in Assets of Company . No individual to whom an Award has been made or any other party shall have any interest in any asset of Stein Mart until such amount has been paid.

(c) Rights Not Assignable . No right or interest of any Participant in the Plan shall be assignable or transferable, or subject to any claims of any creditor or subject to any lien.

SECTION 12. Miscellaneous.

(a) Expenses . All expenses and costs incurred in connection with the operation of the Plan shall be borne by Stein Mart, and no part thereof (other than the amounts of Awards under the Plan) shall be charged against the maximum limitation of Section 4.

(b) Withholding . All Awards are subject to withholding, where applicable, for Federal, state, local and foreign taxes.

(c) Savings Clause . Any provision of the Plan that is held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable (whether in whole or in part) shall be deemed modified to the extent, but only to the extent, of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability and the remaining provisions of the Plan shall not be affected thereby.

(d) Applicable Law . The Plan and the rights and obligations of the parties to the Plan shall be governed by, and construed and interpreted in accordance with, the laws of the State of Florida (without regard to principles of conflicts of law).

(e) Successors . All obligations of the Company under the Plan with respect to Awards granted hereunder shall be binding on any successor to the Company, including any purchaser of all or substantially all the assets of the Company.

(f) Limitations on Liability; Indemnity . No member of the Board of Directors, the Committee or any employee of the Company (each such person, a “ Covered Person ”) shall be liable for any action taken or omitted to be taken or any determination made in good faith with respect to the Plan or any Award hereunder. Each Covered Person shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Company against and from (i) any loss, cost, liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) that may be imposed upon or incurred by such Covered Person in connection with or resulting from any action, suit or proceeding to which such Covered Person may be a party or in which such Covered Person may be involved by reason of any action taken or omitted to be taken under the Plan or any Award Agreement and (ii) any and all amounts paid by such Covered Person, with the Company’s approval, in settlement thereof, or paid by such Covered Person in satisfaction of any judgment in any such action, suit or proceeding against such Covered Person; provided that the Company shall have the right, at its own expense, to assume and defend any such action, suit or proceeding and, once the Company gives notice of its intent to assume the defense, the Company shall have sole control over such defense with counsel of the Company’s choice. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be available to a Covered Person to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction in a final judgment or other final adjudication, in either case not subject to further appeal, determines that the acts or omissions of such Covered Person giving rise to the indemnification claim resulted from such Covered Person’s bad faith, fraud or willful criminal act or omission or that such right of indemnification is otherwise prohibited by law. The foregoing right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights of indemnification to which Covered Persons may be entitled under the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Restated Bylaws, as a matter of law, or otherwise, or any other power that the Company may have to indemnify such persons or hold them harmless.

 

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Exhibit 31.1

Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a)

I, Michael D. Fisher, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Stein Mart, Inc.;

 

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 reasonable 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 controls 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: September 6, 2006  

/s/ Michael D. Fisher

  Michael D. Fisher
  President and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 31.2

Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a)

I, James G. Delfs, certify that:

 

1. I have reviewed this report on Form 10-Q of Stein Mart, Inc.;

 

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 reasonable 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 controls 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: September 6, 2006  

/s/ James G. Delfs

  James G. Delfs
  Chief Financial Officer

Exhibit 32.1

Certification of the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 29, 2006 of Stein Mart, Inc. (the “Form 10-Q”), I, Michael D. Fisher, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

1. The Form 10-Q fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2. The information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: September 6, 2006  

/s/ Michael D. Fisher

  Michael D. Fisher
  President and Chief Executive Officer

Exhibit 32.2

Certification of the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

In connection with the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended July 29, 2006 of Stein Mart, Inc. (the “Form 10-Q”), I, James G. Delfs, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

 

1. The Form 10-Q fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

 

2. The information contained in the Form 10-Q fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

 

Date: September 6, 2006  

/s/ James G. Delfs

  James G. Delfs
  Chief Financial Officer