Registration No. 33-58191
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Prospectus Supplement Dated June 30, 2001
(To Prospectus dated March 30, 2001)
698 Shares Class A (Voting) Stock, $1,000 par value
23,239 Shares Class C (Nonvoting) Stock, $100 par value
1. Set forth below is certain updated information under the heading "The Company's Business, " subheading, "Certain Charges and Assessments."
Effective August, 2001, we assess a mandatory monthly fee for "Core Retail Services" in the amount of $197 per month for all parent stores and $67 per month for all branch stores located in the United States. "Core Retail Services" consist of the following elements:
1. ACENET. This service is our primary communications vehicle. It is an electronic network that allows defective goods claims processing, product search online or through a CD-ROM catalog, electronic communications, employee testing and training courses, review and payment of retailer statements and numerous other applications.
2. Material Safety Data Sheet Subscription Service (MSDS). This service provides access 24 hours per day and 7 days per week to information on the chemical ingredients of certain products that we carry.
3. Ace Training Network (ATN). This service is one of our retail training programs. Each single store or parent store is credited with 16 points per month and each branch store is credited with 11 points per month. A single store or parent store is one that has a share of our Class A voting stock (or one that involves a stock subscription for a share of our Class A Stock.) A branch store is one whose membership involves only shares (or a subscription for shares) of our nonvoting Class C Stock. (See Article XXV, Section 2 of our By-laws). You may use your points at any time to buy one of the training programs that we offer. If you do not have enough points for the program that you want, you can use the points that you have and we will bill you for the difference at the rate of $1.00 per point. Multiple stores and member groups can pool their points together to purchase our training programs.
4. NRHA E-Tools. These include unlimited use of certain Internet-based services offered by the National Retail Hardware Association (NRHA), including their Advanced Course in Hardware Retailing, the Forte International Communications Survey and their Employee Compensation Study.
5. Retail Pricing. This includes access to our national price shopping and ad data collected from non-Ace stores, our suggested retail prices, our customized retail pricing strategy services and catalog updates to our suggested retail prices.
The monthly charges and descriptions indicated above supercede the separate charges and descriptions for the Ace Training Network and the Material Safety Data Sheet Subscription Service contained in our Prospectus dated March 30, 2001.
2. Set forth below is certain financial information of Ace Hardware Corporation with respect to the thirteen week period ended June 30, 2001.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(000's omitted)
June 30, December 30,
2001 2000
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents $ 22,406 $ 24,644
Short-term Investments 11,512 12,772
Accounts Receivable, Net 404,110 372,971
Merchandise Inventory 395,081 395,565
Prepaid Expenses and Other Current Assets 16,313 15,105
Total Current Assets 849,422 821,057
Property and Equipment, Net 286,848 261,890
Other Assets 39,959 40,863
Total Assets $ 1,176,229 $ 1,123,810
============= ============
LIABILITIES AND MEMBER DEALERS' EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Current Installment of Long-Term Debt $ 7,018 $ 6,904
Short-Term Borrowings 42,000 81,500
Accounts Payable 498,993 448,766
Patronage Dividends Payable in Cash 13,445 34,764
Patronage Refund Certificates Payable 9,114 4,795
Accrued Expenses 63,870 63,224
Total Current Liabilities 634,440 639,953
Long-Term Debt 173,158 105,891
Patronage Refund Certificates Payable 65,502 68,385
Other Long-Term Liabilities 26,984 24,923
Total Liabilities 900,084 839,152
Member Dealers' Equity:
Class A Stock of $1,000 Par Value 3,872 3,783
Class B Stock of $1,000 Par Value 6,499 6,499
Class C Stock of $100 Par Value 274,087 250,480
Class C Stock of $100 Par Value, Issuable 8,718 24,267
Additional Stock Subscribed, Net of Unpaid Portion 327 351
Retained Deficit (11,199) (5,551)
Contributed Capital 13,485 13,485
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (598) (162)
295,191 293,152
Less: Treasury Stock, at Cost (19,046) (8,494)
Total Member Dealers' Equity 276,145 284,658
Total Liabilities and Member Dealers' Equity $ 1,176,229 $ 1,123,810
============= ============
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(000's omitted)
(Unaudited)
Thirteen Weeks Ended Twenty-six Weeks Ended
June 30, July 1, June 30, July 1,
2001 2000 2001 2000
Net Sales $ 792,233 $ 807,116 $1,451,828 $1,508,125
Cost of Sales 719,250 732,983 1,320,167 1,371,233
Gross Profit 72,983 74,133 131,661 136,892
Operating Expenses:
Warehouse and Distribution 6,314 6,124 15,912 14,098
Selling, General and Administration 21,729 22,391 45,033 45,776
Retail Success and Development 19,489 18,145 38,064 34,793
Total Operating Expenses 47,532 46,660 99,009 94,667
Operating Income 25,451 27,473 32,652 42,225
Interest Expense (5,993) (5,264) (11,596) (9,966)
Other Income, net 4,323 3,187 7,533 6,973
Income Taxes (1,606) 148 (1,378) 658
Net Earnings $ 22,175 $ 25,544 $ 27,211 $ 39,890
========== ========== =========== ===========
Distribution of Net Earnings:
Patronage Dividends $ 24,649 $ 26,184 $ 32,859 $ 41,665
Retained Earnings (2,474) (640) (5,648) (1,775)
Net Earnings $ 22,175 $ 25,544 $ 27,211 $ 39,890
========== ========== =========== ===========
(000's omitted)
(Unaudited)
Thirteen Weeks Ended Twenty-six Weeks Ended
June 30, July 1, June 30, July 1,
2001 2000 2001 2000
Net Earnings $ 22,175 $ 25,544 $ 27,211 $ 39,890
Unrealized gains on securities (419) - (80) -
Foreign currency translation, net 824 (501) (356) (557)
Comprehensive Income $ 22,580 $ 25,043 $ 26,775 $ 39,333
============= ============= ============= =============
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(000's omitted)
(Unaudited)
Twenty-six Weeks Ended
June 30, July 1,
2001 2000
Operating Activities:
Net Earnings $ 27,211 $ 39,890
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings
to net cash used in operating activities:
�� Depreciation and amortization 13,855 12,462
Gain on sale of property and equipment, net of
deferred taxes of $1,522 (2,953) -
Increase in accounts receivable, net (36,536) (94,321)
Decrease (increase) in inventories 484 (40,430)
Increase in other current assets (1,208) (1,731)
Increase in accounts payable and
accrued expenses 49,351 127,219
Increase in other long-term liabilities 2,061 1,254
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities 52,265 44,343
Investing Activities:
Purchase of property and equipment (34,338) (26,518)
Decrease (increase) in other assets 1,728 (11,728)
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities (32,610) (38,246)
Financing Activities:
Proceeds (payments) of short-term borrowings (39,500) 41,919
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 70,000 -
Principal payments on long-term debt (2,619) (2,184)
Payments of patronage refund certificates (5,260) (277)
Proceeds from sale of common stock 802 1,145
Repurchase of common stock (10,552) (7,319)
Payments of cash portion of patronage dividend (34,764) (38,173)
Net Cash Used in Financing Activities (21,893) (4,889)
Increase (decrease) in Cash and Cash Equivalents (2,238) 1,208
Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Period 24,644 35,422
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Period $ 22,406 $ 36,630
========= =========
See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
1) General
The condensed consolidated interim period financial statements presented
herein do not include all of the information and disclosures required in
annual financial statements and have not been audited, as permitted by the
rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The
condensed consolidated interim period financial statements should be read
in conjunction with the annual financial statements included in the Ace
Hardware Annual Report on Form 10-K as filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on March 22, 2001. In the opinion of management,
these financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States and reflect all adjustments
necessary for a fair statement of the results of operations and cash flows
for the interim periods ended June 30, 2001 and July 1, 2000 and of the
Company's financial position as of June 30, 2001. All such adjustments are of
a normal recurring nature. The results of operations for the thirteen week and
twenty-six week periods ended June 30, 2001 and July 1, 2000 are not
necessarily indicative of the results of operations for a full year.
2) Patronage Dividends
The Company operates as a cooperative organization and will pay patronage
dividends to consenting member dealers based on the earnings derived from
business done with such dealers. It has been the practice of the Company
to distribute substantially all patronage sourced earnings in the form of
patronage dividends.
Net earnings and patronage dividends will normally be similar since
patronage sourced net earnings is paid to consenting member dealers.
International operations and dealers signed under a Retail Merchant Agreement
are not eligible for patronage dividends and related earnings or losses are
not included in patronage sourced earnings.
3) Reclassifications
Certain financial statement reclassifications have been made to prior
year and prior quarter amounts to conform to comparable classifications
followed in 2001.
4) Segments
The Company is principally engaged as a wholesaler of hardware and related
products and manufactures paint products. The Company identifies segments
based on management responsibility and the nature of the business activities
of each component of the Company. The Company measures segment earnings as
operating earnings including an allocation for administrative expenses,
interest expense and income taxes. Information regarding the identified
segments and the related reconciliation to consolidated information is as
follows:
Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
June 30, 2001
Elimination
Paint Intersegment
Wholesale Manufacturing Other Activities Consolidated
Net Sales from External Customers $1,415,378 $10,522 $25,928 $ - $1,451,828
Intersegment Sales 12,378 56,840 - (69,181) -
Segment Earnings (Loss) 22,396 6,839 (1,904) (120) 27,211
Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
July 1, 2000
Elimination
Paint Intersegment
Wholesale Manufacturing Other Activities Consolidated
Net Sales from External Customers $1,475,319 $11,708 $21,098 $ - $1,508,125
Intersegment Sales 11,966 56,654 - (68,620) -
Segment Earnings (Loss) 35,854 5,648 (1,497) (115) 39,890
Thirteen Weeks Ended
June 30, 2001
Elimination
Paint Intersegment
Wholesale Manufacturing Other Activities Consolidated
Net Sales from External Customers $ 771,348 $ 6,368 $14,517 $ - $ 792,233
Intersegment Sales 8,120 32,921 - (41,041) -
Segment Earnings (Loss) 18,397 4,477 (579) (120) 22,175
Thirteen Weeks Ended
July 1, 2000
Elimination
Paint Intersegment
Wholesale Manufacturing Other Activities Consolidated
Net Sales from External Customers $ 788,538 $ 6,707 $11,871 $ - $ 807,116
Intersegment Sales 7,613 33,282 - (40,895) -
Segment Earnings (Loss) 22,731 3,477 (604) (60) 25,544
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Thirteen Weeks Ended June 30, 2001 compared to Thirteen Weeks Ended July 1, 2000.
Results of Operations
Consolidated sales decreased 1.8%. Domestic sales increased 1.3% primarily due to conversions of new stores to the Ace program. Sales to our existing retailer
base were flat due to the softening economy. The decline in international sales
was affected by a sale of Ace stores and reduced sales in Canada.
Gross profit decreased $1.2 million and increased slightly as a percent of total sales from 9.18% in 2000 to 9.21% in 2001. The increase, as a percent of sales, results primarily from higher margin from company-owned retail locations. Lower cash discounts due to lower sales and merchandise purchases partially offset the gross profit percentage increase.
Warehouse and distribution expenses increased $190,000 over 2000 and increased as a percent of total handled sales from 1.08% in 2000 to 1.12% in 2001. Increased utilities and distribution expenses associated with the new Loxley, Alabama distribution facility and the start-up of the Prince George, Virginia facility drove the higher expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $662,000 over 2000 and decreased slightly as a percent of total sales from 2.77% in 2000 to 2.74% in 2001 due to continued cost control measures put in place.
Retail success and development expenses increased $1.3 million primarily due to costs associated with operating additional company-owned retail locations, timing of advertising income and investments made at retail to support our Vision 21 strategy. Increases in this category are directly related to retail support of the Ace retailer as the Company continues to make investments in our dealer base.
Interest expense increased $729,000 due to higher average borrowing levels partially offset by a decline in interest rates. The increased borrowing levels result from completion of the construction of the Loxley, Alabama distribution center, the expansion of our LaCrosse, Wisconsin facility and increased retailer dating programs.
Other income increased $1.1 million primarily due to a gain recognized on the sale of two retail support centers offset by lower income realized on non-controlling investments in affiliates and a partial write-down of an affiliate
investment.
Income taxes increased $1.8 million primarily due to the tax incurred on the sale of two retail support centers.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
Twenty-six Weeks Ended June 30, 2001 compared to Twenty-six Weeks Ended July 1, 2000.
Results of Operations
Consolidated sales decreased 3.7%. Domestic sales declined 1.2% while International sales were affected by a sale of Ace stores and reduced sales in Canada. The decline in domestic sales is primarily due to lower sales to our existing retailer base due to the softening economy partially offset by conversions of new stores to the Ace program.
Gross profit decreased $5.2 million and decreased slightly as a percent of total sales from 9.08% in 2000 to 9.07% in 2001. The decrease resulted primarily from lower handling charges and lower cash discounts due to lower sales and merchandise purchases. Higher vendor rebates and margin from company-owned retail locations partially offset the gross profit decline.
Warehouse and distribution expenses increased $1.8 million over 2000 and increased as a percent of total handled sales from 1.33% in 2000 to 1.54% in 2001. Increased utilities and distribution expenses associated with the new Loxley, Alabama distribution facility and the start-up of the Prince George, Virginia facility drove the higher warehouse expenses.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $743,000 due to continued cost control measures put in place.
Retail success and development expenses increased $3.3 million primarily due to costs associated with investments made at retail to support our Vision 21 strategy and operating additional company-owned retail locations. Increases in this category are directly related to retail support of the Ace retailer as the Company continues to make investments in our dealer base.
Interest expense increased $1.6 million due to higher average borrowing levels partially offset by lower interest rates. The increased borrowing levels result from completion of the construction of the Loxley, Alabama distribution center, the expansion of our LaCrosse, Wisconsin facility and increased retailer dating programs.
Other income increased $560,000 primarily due to a gain recognized on the sale of two retail support centers partially offset by lower income realized on non-controlling investments in affiliates and a partial write-down of an affiliate
investment.
Income taxes increased primarily due to the gain recognized on the sale of two retail support centers.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
The Company expects that existing and internally generated funds, along with new and established lines of credit and long-term financing, will continue to be sufficient in the foreseeable future to finance the Company's working capital requirements and patronage dividend and capital expenditures programs.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
There have been no material changes in the Company's market risk during the twenty-six week period ended June 30, 2001. For additional information, refer to Item 7a in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2000.