Actions to Manage Stores and Direct Operations
On
The temporary closure relates to all retail banners across the US and
In conjunction with the decision to extend the temporary store closures,
As previously announced, the Company is providing impacted store associates with applicable pay and benefits until
"This is a time of unprecedented disruption to our industry. We do not make these decisions lightly but, while the vast majority of our stores remain closed, we must now balance our ability to provide jobs and financial support for our associates in the short, medium and long-term, as well as prioritizing investments that will strengthen our business. We are therefore making the difficult decision today to place many of our associate team members on temporary leave, while our stores remain temporarily closed.
"I want to thank all our associates for their service to the business and our loyal customers and we look forward to welcoming back all team members when our stores can safely re-open."
In recognition of the sacrifices being made by associates during this time, the Company will also temporarily reduce salaries by 30% across the executive team, including President and CEO,
Actions to Drive Long-Term Shareholder Value & Strengthen Financial Flexibility
To support plans to build long-term shareholder value, and further strengthen the Company's financial flexibility beyond its substantial cash position,
- Electing to draw down the remaining available funds (
$236 million ) from its revolving credit agreement, in an abundance of caution and as a proactive measure; - Executing a substantial reduction in expenses, including managing to lower inventory levels and extending payment terms for goods and services;
- Prioritizing approximately
$250 million in essential capital expenditures to drive strategic growth plans, including investments in digital andBuy Online Pick Up In Store (BOPIS); - Deferring approximately
$150 million of other planned capital expenditures; and - Postponing, until further notice, its plans for share repurchases, dividends and debt reduction.
Tritton added, "We are taking decisive action across our business to proactively manage the unprecedented financial and operational impacts of COVID-19, while we prioritize the investments that will allow us to rebuild and grow. These measured steps will help preserve our financial health and best position
About
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the Company's plans in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Many of these forward-looking statements can be identified by use of words such as may, will, expect, anticipate, approximate, estimate, assume, continue, model, project, plan, goal, and similar words and phrases, although the absence of those words does not necessarily mean that statements are not forward-looking. The Company's actual results and future financial condition may differ materially from those expressed in any such forward-looking statements as a result of many factors. Such factors include, without limitation: general economic conditions including the housing market, a challenging overall macroeconomic environment and related changes in the retailing environment; risks associated with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including its impacts across our businesses on demand and operations; consumer preferences, spending habits and adoption of new technologies; demographics and other macroeconomic factors that may impact the level of spending for the types of merchandise sold by the Company; civil disturbances and terrorist acts; unusual weather patterns and natural disasters; competition from existing and potential competitors across all channels; pricing pressures; liquidity; the ability to achieve anticipated cost savings, and to not exceed anticipated costs, associated with organizational changes and investments; the ability to attract and retain qualified employees in all areas of the organization; the cost of labor, merchandise and other costs and expenses; potential supply chain disruption due to trade restrictions, political instability, labor disturbances, product recalls, financial or operational instability of suppliers or carriers, and other items; the ability to find suitable locations at acceptable occupancy costs and other terms to support the Company's plans for new stores; the ability to establish and profitably maintain the appropriate mix of digital and physical presence in the markets it serves; the ability to assess and implement technologies in support of the Company's development of its omnichannel capabilities; uncertainty in financial markets; volatility in the price of the Company's common stock and its effect, and the effect of other factors, on the Company's capital allocation strategy; risks associated with the ability to achieve a successful outcome for its business concepts and to otherwise achieve its business strategies; the impact of intangible asset and other impairments; disruptions to the Company's information technology systems including but not limited to security breaches of systems protecting consumer and employee information or other types of cybercrimes or cybersecurity attacks; reputational risk arising from challenges to the Company's or a third party product or service supplier's compliance with various laws, regulations or standards, including those related to labor, health, safety, privacy or the environment; reputational risk arising from third-party merchandise or service vendor performance in direct home delivery or assembly of product for customers; changes to statutory, regulatory and legal requirements, including without limitation proposed changes affecting international trade; changes to, or new, tax laws or interpretation of existing tax laws; new, or developments in existing, litigation, claims or assessments; changes to, or new, accounting standards; and foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update its forward-looking statements.
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SOURCE
INVESTOR CONTACT: Janet M. Barth, (908) 613-5820 OR IR@bedbath.com ; MEDIA CONTACT: Dominic Pendry, (347) 604-0381 OR dominic.pendry@bedbath.com