Quarterlytics / Consumer Cyclical / Specialty Retail / The Michaels Companies, Inc.

The Michaels Companies, Inc.

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FY2016 Annual Report · The Michaels Companies, Inc.
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549

FORM 10-K

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES

EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended January 30, 2016

Commission file number 001-36501

THE MICHAELS COMPANIES, INC.
A Delaware Corporation

IRS Employer Identification No. 37-1737959

8000 Bent Branch Drive
Irving, Texas 75063

(972) 409-1300

The  Michaels  Companies,  Inc.’s  common  stock,  par  value  $0.06775  per  share,  is  registered  pursuant  to  Section  12(b)  of  the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Act) and is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market. The Michaels Companies, Inc. does
not have any securities registered under Section 12(g) of the Act.

The Michaels Companies, Inc. is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act. 

The Michaels Companies, Inc. (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. 

The Michaels Companies, Inc. has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate website, if any, every Interactive Data
File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12
months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). 

Disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will be contained, to the best
of  the  Registrant’s  knowledge,  in  the  definitive  proxy  or  information  statements  incorporated  by  reference  in  Part  III  of  this
Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. 

The Michaels Companies, Inc. is a large accelerated filer.

The Michaels Companies, Inc. is not a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). 

The aggregate market value of The Michaels Companies, Inc.’s common stock held by non-affiliates as of August 1, 2015 was
approximately  $1,713,190,000 based upon the closing sales price of $25.34 quoted on The NASDAQ Global Select Market as of
July 31, 2015. For this purpose, directors and officers have been assumed to be affiliates.

As of March 9, 20 16,  208,977,716 shares of The Michaels Companies, Inc.’s common stock were outstanding.

The registrant will incorporate by reference information required in response to Part III, items 10-14, from its definitive proxy

statement for its annual meeting of shareholders, to be held on June 1, 201 6. 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table of Contents

THE MICHAELS COMPANIES, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

Part I. 

Item 1.     Business 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors 

Item 1B.  Unresolved Staff Comments 

Item 2.     Properties 

Item 3.     Legal Proceedings 

Item 4.     Mine Safety Disclosures 

Part II. 

Item 5.     Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer

Purchases of Equity Securities 

Item 6.     Selected Financial Data  

Item 7.     Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations 

Item 7A.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk 

Item 8.     Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data 

Item  9.          Changes  in  and  Disagreements  with  Accountants  on  Accounting  and  Financial
Disclosure 

Item 9A.  Controls and Procedures 

Item 9B.  Other Information 

Part III. 

Item 10.   Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance 

Item 11.   Executive Compensation 

Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related

Stockholder Matters 

Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence 

Item 14.   Principal Accountant Fees and Services 

Part IV. 

Item 15.   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules 

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ITEM 1.  BUSINESS.

PART I

The  following  discussion,  as  well  as  other  portions  of  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K,  contains
forward-looking  statements  that  reflect  our  plans,  estimates  and  beliefs.  Any  statements  contained  herein
(including, but not limited to, statements to the effect that Michaels or its management “anticipates”, “plans”,
“estimates”,  “expects”,  “believes”,  “intends”,  and  other  similar  expressions)  that  are  not  statements  of
historical  fact  should  be  considered  forward-looking  statements  and  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  our
consolidated  financial  statements  and  related  notes  contained  elsewhere  in  this  report.  Specific  examples  of
forward-looking  statements  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  statements  regarding  our  forecasts  of  financial
performance, share repurchases, store openings, capital expenditures and working capital requirements. Our
actual  results  could  materially  differ  from  those  discussed  in  these  forward-looking  statements.  Factors  that
could  cause  or  contribute  to  such  differences  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  those  discussed  below  and
elsewhere  in  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K  and  particularly  in  “Item  1A.  Risk  Factors”  and  “Item  7.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations”. Unless the context
otherwise indicates, references in this Annual Report on Form 10-K to “we”, “our”, “us”, “our Company”,
“the Company”, “Michaels”, mean The Michaels Companies, Inc., together with its subsidiaries.

General

With  $4,912.8  million  in  sales  in  fiscal  2015,  the  Company,  together  with  its  subsidiaries,  is  the
largest  arts  and  crafts  specialty  retailer  in  North America  (based  on  store  count)  providing  materials,  project
ideas and education for creative activities.  Our mission is to inspire and enable customer creativity, create a
fun and rewarding place to work, foster meaningful connections with our communities and lead the industry in
growth and innovation.  With crafting classes, store events, project sheets, store displays, mobile applications
and online videos, we offer a shopping experience that can inspire creativity and confidence in our customers’
artistic abilities.

As  of  January  30,  2016,  we  operate 1,196  Michaels  retail  stores  in 49  states,  as  well  as  in  Canada,
with approximately 18,000 average square feet of selling space per store. We also operate 117 Aaron Brothers
stores  in nine  states,  with  approximately 5,500  average  square  feet  of  selling  space  per  store,  offering  photo
frames, a full line of ready-made frames, custom framing services and a wide selection of art supplies.

Michaels Stores, Inc. (“MSI”) is headquartered in Irving, Texas and  was  incorporated  in the state of
Delaware in  1983.  In  July  2013, MSI  was  reorganized  into  a  holding  company  structure  and  The  Michaels
Companies, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware in connection with the reorganization. In July
2014,  we  completed  an  initial  public  offering  (“IPO”)  in  which  we  issued  and  sold  27.8  million  shares  of
common stock at a public offering price of $17.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $445.7 million.

On  February  2,  2016,  we  acquired  Lamrite  West,  Inc.  and  certain  of  its  affiliates  and  subsidiaries
(“Lamrite”)  for  $150.0  million, subject  to  certain  purchase  price  adjustments, utilizing  our  existing  cash  on
hand. Lamrite operates an international wholesale business under the Darice brand name and 32 arts and crafts
retail stores, located primarily in Ohio and the surrounding states, under the Pat Catan’s brand name.  Lamrite
is expected to generate revenues of over $200 million in fiscal 2016 and the retail stores have approximately
32,000 average square feet of selling space per store. The acquisition is expected to enhance our private brand
development  capabilities,  accelerate  our  direct  sourcing  initiatives  and  strengthen  our  business-to-business
capabilities.

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Merchandising

Michaels. Each Michaels store offers approximately 33,000 basic stock-keeping units (“SKUs”) in a
number  of  product  categories.  The  following  table  shows  a  breakdown  of  sales  for  Michaels  stores  by
department as a percentage of total net sales:

General crafts
Home décor and seasonal
Framing
Papercrafting

     2015

Fiscal Year
2014

2013

52 %
21  
17  
10  
100 %

52 %
21  
17  
10  
100 %

53 %  
20  
17  
10  
100 %  

We  have  a  product  development  and  sourcing  design  team  focused  on  quality,  innovation  and  cost
mitigation.  Our  infrastructure  and  internal  product  development  and  global  sourcing  teams  position  us  to
continue delivering a differentiated level of innovation, quality and value to our customers. Our global sourcing
network allows us to control new product introductions, maintain quality standards, monitor delivery times, and
manage product costs and inventory levels in order to enhance profitability.

We continue to search for ways to leverage our position as a market leader by establishing strategic
partnerships and exclusive product relationships to provide our customers with exciting merchandise. We have
partnerships  with  popular  brands  such  as  Wilton,  Crayola  and  Isaac  Mizrahi.  We  will  continue  to  explore
opportunities to form future partnerships and exclusive product associations. In fiscal 2014, we launched our e-
commerce platform to complement our existing web and mobile platforms. 

Aaron  Brothers. Each  Aaron  Brothers  store  offers approximately  6,000  SKUs,  including  photo
frames, a full line of ready-made frames, art prints, framed art, art supplies and custom framing services. The
merchandising strategy for our Aaron Brothers stores is to provide a unique, upscale framing assortment in an
appealing environment with attentive customer service.

Seasonality

Our  business  is  highly  seasonal,  with  higher  sales  in  the  third  and  fourth  fiscal  quarters.  Our  fourth
quarter, which includes the Holiday selling season, has on average accounted for approximately 34% of our net
sales and approximately 46% of our operating income.

Purchasing and Inventory Management

We  purchase  merchandise  from  approximately 650  vendors  through  our  wholly-owned  subsidiary,
Michaels  Stores  Procurement  Company.  We  believe  our  buying  power  and  ability  to  make  centralized
purchases  enable  us  to  acquire  products  on  favorable  terms.  Centralized  merchandising  management  teams
negotiate with vendors in an attempt to obtain the lowest net merchandise costs and to improve product mix
and inventory levels. In fiscal 2015, one sourcing agent supplied approximately 16% of our purchases.  There
were no other vendors or sourcing agents accounting for more than 10% of total purchases.

In  addition  to  purchasing  from  outside  vendors,  our  Michaels  and Aaron  Brothers  stores  purchase
custom  frames,  framing  supplies  and  mats  from  our  framing  operation,  Artistree,  which  consists  of  a
manufacturing facility and four regional processing centers to support our retail stores.

Substantially all of the products sold in Michaels stores are manufactured in Asia and North America.
Goods manufactured in Asia generally require long lead times and are ordered four to six months in advance of
delivery. Those products are either imported directly by us or acquired from distributors based in the U.S.

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Our  automated  replenishment  system  uses  perpetual  inventory  records  to  analyze  on-hand  SKU
quantities  by  store,  as  well  as  other  pertinent  information  such  as  sales  forecasts,  seasonal  selling  patterns,
promotional events and vendor lead times, to generate recommended merchandise reorder information. These
recommended  orders  are  reviewed  daily  and  purchase  orders  are  delivered  electronically  to  our  vendors  and
our distribution centers. In addition to improving our store in-stock position, these systems enable us to better
forecast merchandise ordering quantities for our vendors and give us the ability to identify, order and replenish
the  stores’  merchandise  using  less  store  labor.  These  systems  also  allow  us  to  react  more  quickly  to  selling
trends  and  allow  our  store  team  members  to  devote  more  time  to  customer  service,  thereby  improving
inventory productivity and sales opportunities.

Artistree

We  currently  own  and  operate  a  vertically  integrated  framing  operation,  leveraging  Artistree,  our
wholly-owned  manufacturing  subsidiary,  across  our  Michaels  and Aaron  Brothers  store  networks. Artistree
supplies  precut  mats  and  high  quality  custom  framing  merchandise.  We  believe  Artistree  provides  a
competitive advantage to our Michaels and Aaron Brothers stores and gives us quality control over the entire
process.

Our  moulding  manufacturing  plant,  located  in  Kernersville,  North  Carolina,  converts  lumber  into
finished  frame  moulding  and  supplies  the  moulding  to  our  regional  processing  centers  for  custom  framing
orders for our stores. We manufacture approximately 35 % of the moulding we process, import approximately
45%  from  quality  manufacturers  in  Indonesia,  Malaysia,  China  and  Italy,  and  purchase  the  balance  from
distributors.  We  directly  source  metal  moulding  for  processing  in  our  regional  centers.  The  custom  framing
orders are processed (frames cut and joined, along with cutting mats and foamboard backing) and shipped to
our stores where the custom frame order is completed for customer pick-up.

During  fiscal  2015,  we  operated  four  regional  processing  centers  in  City  of  Industry,  California;
Coppell,  Texas;  Kernersville,  North  Carolina;  and  Mississauga,  Ontario.  Our  precut  mats  and  custom  frame
supplies are packaged and distributed out of our Coppell regional processing center. Combined, these facilities
occupy  approximately 538,000  square  feet  and,  in  fiscal  2015,  processed  31.0  million  linear  feet  of  frame
moulding and 4.6 million individually custom cut mats for our Michaels and Aaron Brothers stores.

Distribution

We  currently  operate  a  distribution  network  through  our  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Michaels  Stores
Procurement  Company,  to  supply  our  stores  with  merchandise.  Approximately  88%  of  Michaels  stores’
merchandise  receipts  are  shipped  through  the  distribution  network  with  the  remainder  shipped  directly  from
vendors  to  stores.    Approximately  68%  of  Aaron  Brothers  stores’  merchandise  is  shipped  through  the
distribution  network  with  the  remainder  shipped  directly  from  vendors.  Our  seven  distribution  centers  are
located  in  California,  Florida,  Illinois,  Pennsylvania,  Texas  and  Washington.    We  utilize  a  third-party
warehouse to support the distribution of our seasonal merchandise, as well as a third-party fulfillment center
for our e-commerce merchandise.

Michaels  stores  generally  receive  deliveries  from  the  distribution  centers  weekly  through  a
transportation network using a dedicated fleet of trucks and contract carriers. Aaron Brothers stores generally
receive  merchandise  on  a  biweekly  basis  from  a  dedicated  distribution  center  located  in  the  Los Angeles,
California area.

Our Industry

According  to  the  Craft  &  Hobby  Association  (“CHA”),  approximately  55%  of  U.S.  households
participated  in  at  least  one  crafting  project  during  2012,  which  represented  over  62  million  households.
Additionally,  these  households  purchased  crafting  supplies,  on  average,  1.9  times  per  month  and  reported
participating  in  approximately  three  crafting  categories  during  the  year.  We  believe  the  broad,  multi-
generational appeal, high personal attachment and the low-cost, project-based nature of crafting creates a loyal,
resilient following. This is supported by CHA findings that nearly half of crafters reported being a crafter for
10 or more years.

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Store Expansion and Relocation

The following table shows our total store growth for the last five years:  

Michaels stores:
  Open at beginning of year
  New stores
  Relocated stores opened
  Closed stores
  Relocated stores closed
  Open at end of year

Aaron Brothers stores:
  Open at beginning of year
  New stores
  Relocated stores opened
  Closed stores
  Relocated stores closed
  Open at end of year
Total store count at end of year

2015

2014

Fiscal Year
2013

2012

2011

1,168  
30  
17  
(2) 
(17) 
1,196

1,136  
32  
13  
 —  
(13) 
  1,168

1,099  
40  
14  
(3) 
(14) 
  1,136

1,064  
38  
13  
(3) 
(13) 
  1,099

1,045
25
15
(6)
(15)
  1,064

120  
 —  
 —  
(3) 
 —  
117  
1,313  

121  
5  
 —  
(6) 
 —  
120
1,288

125  
 —  
2  
(5) 
(1) 
121
  1,257

134  
 —  
 —  
(8) 
(1) 
125
  1,224

137
 —
 —
(3)
 —
134
  1,198

We believe, based on an internal real estate and market penetration study of Michaels stores, that the
combined  U.S.  and  Canadian  markets  can  support approximately  1,500  Michaels  stores.  We  plan  to  open
approximately 43  Michaels  stores  in  fiscal  2016,  including approximately 13  relocations.  We  continue  to
pursue a store relocation program to improve the real estate location quality and performance of our store base.
During fiscal 2016, we plan to close up to 10 Michaels stores and up to 10 Aaron Brothers stores. Many of our
store closings are stores that have reached the end of their lease term. We believe our ongoing store evaluation
process results in strong performance across our store base.

We have developed a standardized procedure to allow for the efficient opening of new stores and their
integration into our information and distribution systems. We develop the floor plan, merchandise layout and
organize  the  advertising  and  promotions  in  connection  with  the  opening  of  each  new  store.  In  addition,  we
maintain qualified store opening teams to provide new store team members with store training.

Our  Michaels  store  operating  model,  which  is  based  on  historical  store  performance,  assumes  an
average store size of approximately 18,000 selling square feet. Our fiscal 2015 average initial net investment,
which varies by site and specific store characteristics, is $1.1 million per Michaels store and consists of store
build-out costs, pre-opening expenses and average first year inventory.

Employees

As of January 30, 2016, we employed approximately 50,000 team members, approximately 37,000 of
whom  were  employed  on  a  part-time  basis.  The  number  of  part-time  team  members  substantially  increases
during the Holiday selling season. Of our full-ti me team members, approximately 3,500 are engaged in various
executive, operating, training, distribution and administrative functions in our support center, division offices
and  distribution  centers  and  the  remainder  are  engaged  in  store  operations.  None  of  our  team  members  are
subject to a collective bargaining agreement.

Competition

We are the largest arts and crafts specialty retailer in North America based on store count. The market
in which we compete in is highly fragmented and includes stores across the United States and Canada operated
primarily by small, independent retailers along with a few regional and national chains. We believe customers
choose where to shop based

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upon  store  location,  breadth  of  selection,  price,  quality  of  merchandise,  availability  of  product  and  customer
service. We compete with many different types of retailers and classify our competition within the following
categories:

· Multi-store chains. This category consists of several multi-store chains, each operating more than 100
stores,  including:  Hobby  Lobby  Stores,  Inc.,  which  operates  approximately 700 stores  in  47  states;
Jo-Ann  Stores,  Inc.,  which  operates approximately 850 stores in 49 states; and A.C. Moore Arts &
Crafts,  Inc.,  which  operates  approximately 140  stores  primarily  in  the  Eastern  United  States.  We
believe all of these chains are significantly smaller than Michaels with respect to net sales.

· Mass merchandisers. This category of retailers typically dedicate only a small portion of their selling
space  to  a  limited  selection  of  home  décor,  arts  and  crafts  supplies  and  seasonal  merchandise,  but
they do seek to capitalize on the latest trends by stocking products that are complementary to those
trends  and  their  current  merchandise  offerings.  These  mass  merchandisers  generally  have  limited
customer service staffs with minimal experience in crafting projects.

·

·

Small, local specialty retailers. This category includes local independent arts and crafts retailers and
custom  framing  shops.  Typically,  these  stores  are  single-store  operations  managed  by  the  owner.
These stores generally have limited resources for advertising,  purchasing  and  distribution.  Many  of
these stores have established a loyal customer base within a given community and compete based on
relationships and customer service.

Internet.  This  category  includes  all  internet-based  retailers  that  sell  arts  and  crafts  merchandise,
completed  projects  and  online  custom  framing.  Our  internet  competition  is  inclusive  of  those
companies  discussed  in  the  categories  above,  as  well  as  others  that  may  only  sell  products  online.
These retailers provide consumers with the ability to search and compare products and prices without
having to visit a physical store. These sellers generally offer a wide variety  of  products  but  do  not
offer product expertise or project advice.

Foreign Sales

Substantially all of our international business is in Canada, which accounted for  approximately 9% of
total  sales  in  fiscal  2015,  and  10%  of  total  sales  in  fiscal  2014  and  fiscal  2013.  During  the  last  three  years,
approximately 7% of our assets have been located outside of the U.S. See Note 10 to the consolidated financial
statements for net sales and total assets by country.

Trademarks and Service Marks

As of January 30, 2016, we own or have rights to trademarks, service marks or trade names we use in
connection with the operation of our business, including “Aaron Brothers”, “Artistree”, “Michaels”, “Michaels
the Arts and Crafts Store”, “Recollections”, “Where Creativity Happens”, and the stylized Michaels logo. We
have registered our primary private brands including Artist’s Loft, ArtMinds, Celebrate It, Creatology, Craft
Smart, imagin8, Recollections, Loops & Threads, Studio Décor, Bead Landing, Make Market and Ashland and
various  sub-brands  associated  with  these  primary  marks.  Solely  for  convenience,  some  of  the  trademarks,
service marks and trade names referred to in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are listed without the copyright,
trademark, and registered trademark symbols, but we will assert, to the fullest extent under applicable law, our
rights to our copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names and domain names.

Available Information

We  provide  links  to  our Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K,  Quarterly  Reports  on  Form  10-Q,  Current
Reports  on  Form  8-K,  and  amendments  to  those  reports,  and  other  documents  filed  or  furnished  pursuant  to
Section  13(a)  or  15(d)  of  the  Securities  Exchange Act  of  1934,  as  amended  (the  “Exchange Act”),  on  our
Internet website, free of charge, at www.michaels.com  under the heading “Investor Relations”. These reports
are  available as  soon  as  reasonably  practicable  after  we  electronically  file  them  with  the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission  (“SEC”).  The  reports  may  also  be  accessed  at  the  SEC’s  Public  Reference  Room  at
100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Public
Reference  Room  by  calling  the  SEC  at  1-800-SEC-0330.  These  filings  are  also  available  through  the  SEC’s
EDGAR system at www.sec.gov.

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We  use  our  website  (www.michaels.com)  as  a  means  of  disclosing  material  non-public  information
and for complying with our disclosure obligations under Regulation Fair Disclosure promulgated by the SEC.
These  disclosures  are  included  on  our  website  in  the  “Investor  Relations”  section.  Accordingly,  investors
should monitor this portion of our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings and public
conference calls and webcasts.

We  webcast  our  earnings  calls  and  certain  events  we  participate  in  or  host  with  members  of  the
investment community on the investor relations section of our website. Additionally, we provide notifications
of news or announcements regarding press and earnings releases as part of the investor relations section of our
website. The contents of our website are not part of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, or any other report we
file with, or furnish to, the SEC.

ITEM 1A.  RISK FACTORS. 

Our financial performance is subject to various risks and uncertainties. The risks described below are
those we believe are the material risks we face. Any of the risk factors described below, as well as risks not
currently known to us, could significantly and adversely affect our business, prospects, sales, revenues, gross
profit, cash flows, financial condition and results of operations.

We face risks related to the effect of economic uncertainty.

In the event of an economic downturn or slow recovery, our growth, prospects, results of operations,
cash flows and financial condition could be adversely impacted. Our stores offer arts and crafts supplies and
products for the crafter, and custom framing for the do-it-yourself home decorator, which some customers may
perceive  as  discretionary.  Pressure  on  discretionary  income  brought  on  by  economic  downturns  and  slow
recoveries,  including  housing  market  declines,  rising  energy  prices  and  weak  labor  markets,  may  cause
consumers  to  reduce  the  amount  they  spend  on  discretionary  items.  The  inherent  uncertainty  related  to
predicting  economic  conditions  make  it  difficult  for  us  to  accurately  forecast  future  demand  trends,  which
could cause us to purchase excess inventories, resulting in increases in our inventory carrying cost, or limit our
ability to satisfy customer demand and potentially lose market share.

We face risks related to our substantial indebtedness.

Our  substantial  leverage  could  adversely  affect  our  ability  to  raise  additional  capital  to  fund  our
operations, limit our ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, expose us to interest rate risk
associated with our variable rate debt and prevent us from meeting our obligations under our notes and credit
facilities. As of January 30, 2016, we had total outstanding debt of $2,792.2 million, of which $2,282.2 million
was subject to variable interest rates and $510.0 million was subject to fixed interest rates.  As of January 30,
2016, we had $586.8 million of additional borrowing capacity (after giving effect to $63.2 million of letters of
credit then outstanding) under our Restated Revolving Credit Facility. Our substantial indebtedness could have
important consequences to us, including:

· making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to our debt, and any failure
to comply with the obligations under our debt instruments, including restrictive covenants, could
result in an event of default under the agreements governing our indebtedness;

·

·

·

·

increasing our vulnerability to general economic and industry conditions;

requiring a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to be dedicated to the payment of
principal and interest on our debt, thereby reducing our ability to use our cash flow to fund our
operations,  capital  expenditures,  selling  and  marketing  efforts,  product  development,  future
business opportunities and other purposes;

exposing us to the risk of increased interest rates as certain of our borrowings, including under
our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, which consist of the Restated Revolving Credit Facility and
the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility (each, as defined below), are at variable rates;

restricting  us  from  making  strategic  acquisitions  or  causing  us  to  make  non ‑strategic
divestitures;

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·

·

limiting  our  ability  to  obtain  additional  financing  for  working  capital,  capital  expenditures,
product  development,  debt  service  requirements,  acquisitions,  and  general  corporate  or  other
purposes; and

limiting  our  ability  to  plan  for,  or  adjust  to,  changing  market  conditions  and  placing  us  at  a
competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors who may be less highly leveraged.

The  occurrence  of  any  one  of  these  events  could  have  an  adverse  effect  on  our  business,  financial

condition, results of operations, and ability to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness.

We and our subsidiaries may be able to incur substantial additional indebtedness in the future, subject,
in  the  case  of  MSI,  Michaels  Funding,  Inc.  (“Holdings”),  and Michaels  FinCo  Holdings,  LLC  (“FinCo
Holdings”) and their subsidiaries, to the restrictions contained in our Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the
indenture governing our notes. In addition, our Senior Secured Credit Facilities and indenture governing our
notes do not restrict our owners from creating new holding companies that may be able to incur indebtedness
without regard to the restrictions set forth in our Senior Secured Credit Facilities and indenture governing our
notes.  If  new  indebtedness  is  added  to  our  current  debt  levels,  the  related  risks  that  we  now  face  could
intensify.

Our debt agreements contain restrictions that limit our flexibility in operating our business.

Our Senior Secured Credit Facilities and the indenture governing our notes contain various covenants
that  limit  our  ability  to  engage  in  specified  types  of  transactions.  These  covenants  limit  the  ability  of  the
relevant borrowers, issuers, guarantors and their restricted subsidiaries to, among other things:

·

·

·

incur or guarantee additional debt;

pay dividends or distributions on their capital stock or redeem, repurchase or retire their capital
stock or indebtedness;

issue stock of subsidiaries;

· make certain investments, loans, advances and acquisitions;

·

·

create liens on our assets to secure debt;

enter into transactions with affiliates;

· merge or consolidate with another company; or

·

sell or otherwise transfer assets.

In addition, under the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility, MSI is required to meet specified financial
ratios in order to undertake certain actions, and under our Restated Revolving Credit Facility, MSI is required
to meet specified financial ratios in order to undertake certain actions, and under certain circumstances, MSI
may  be  required  to  maintain  a  specified  fixed  charge  coverage  ratio.  Our  ability  to  meet  those  tests  can  be
affected by events beyond our control, and we cannot assure you we will meet them. A breach of any of these
covenants could result in a default under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, which could also lead to an event
of default under our notes if any of the Senior Secured Credit Facilities were accelerated. Upon the occurrence
of an event of default under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the lenders could elect to declare all amounts
outstanding  under  our  Senior  Secured  Credit  Facilities  to  be  immediately  due  and  payable  and  terminate  all
commitments to extend further credit. If we were unable to repay those amounts, the lenders under our Senior
Secured  Credit  Facilities  could  proceed  against  the  collateral  granted  to  them  to  secure  such  indebtedness.
Holdings,  MSI  and  certain  of  MSI’s  subsidiaries  have  pledged  substantially  all  of  their  assets,  including  the
capital stock of MSI and certain of its subsidiaries, as collateral under our Senior Secured Credit Facilities. If
the indebtedness under our Senior

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Secured  Credit  Facilities  or  our  notes  were  to  be  accelerated,  our  assets  may  not  be  sufficient  to  repay  such
indebtedness in full.

Changes  in  customer  demands  could  materially  adversely  affect  our  sales,  results  of  operations  and  cash
flow.

Our success depends on our ability to anticipate and respond in a timely manner to changing customer
demands and preferences for products and supplies used in creative activities. If we misjudge the market, we
may  significantly  overstock  unpopular  products  and  be  forced  to  take  significant  inventory  markdowns,  or
experience  shortages  of  key  items,  either  of  which  could  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on  our  operating
results and cash flow. In addition, adverse weather conditions, economic instability and consumer confidence
volatility could have material adverse impacts on our sales and operating results.

We have experienced a data breach in the past and any future failure to adequately maintain security and
prevent unauthorized access to electronic and other confidential information could result in an additional
data  breach  which  could  materially  adversely  affect  our  reputation,  financial  condition  and  operating
results.

The protection of our customer, team members and Company data is critically important to us. Our
customers  and  team  members  have  a  high  expectation  that  we  will  adequately  safeguard  and  protect  their
sensitive  personal  information.  We  have  become  increasingly  centralized  and  dependent  upon  automated
information technology processes. In addition, a portion of our business operations is conducted electronically,
increasing  the  risk  of  attack  or  interception  that  could  cause  loss  or  misuse  of  data,  system  failures  or
disruption of operations. This risk has increased with the launch of our e‑commerce  platform  in  fiscal  2014.
Improper  activities  by  third  parties,  exploitation  of  encryption  technology,  new  data‑hacking  tools  and
discoveries  and  other  events  or  developments  may  result  in  a  future  compromise  or  breach  of  our  networks,
payment  card  terminals  or  other  payment  systems.  In  particular,  the  techniques  used  by  criminals  to  obtain
unauthorized access to sensitive data change frequently and often are not recognized until launched against a
target;  accordingly,  we  may  be  unable  to  anticipate  these  techniques  or  implement  adequate  preventative
measures. Any  failure  to  maintain  the  security  of  our  customers’  sensitive  information,  or  data  belonging  to
ourselves or our suppliers, could put us at a competitive disadvantage, result in deterioration of our customers’
confidence  in  us,  and  subject  us  to  potential  litigation,  liability,  fines  and  penalties,  resulting  in  a  possible
material  adverse  impact  on  our  financial  condition  and  results  of  operations.  While  we  maintain  insurance
coverage that may, subject to policy terms and conditions, cover certain aspects of cyber risks, such insurance
coverage may be insufficient to cover all losses and would not remedy damage to our reputation. There can be
no  assurance  that  we  will  not  suffer  a  criminal  attack  in  the  future,  that  unauthorized  parties  will  not  gain
access to personal information, or that any such incident will be discovered in a timely manner.

Competition, including Internet-based competition, could negatively impact our business.

The  retail  arts  and  crafts  industry,  including  custom  framing,  is  competitive,  which  could  result  in
pressure to reduce prices and losses in our market share. We must remain competitive in the areas of quality,
price, breadth of selection, customer service and convenience to retain and grow our market share. We compete
with mass merchants, which dedicate a portion of their selling space to a limited selection of craft supplies and
seasonal  and  holiday  merchandise,  along  with  national  and  regional  chains  and  local  merchants.  We  also
compete with specialty retailers, which include Hobby Lobby Stores, Inc., A.C. Moore Arts & Crafts, Inc. and
Jo‑Ann  Stores,  Inc.  Some  of  our  competitors,  particularly  the  mass  merchants,  are  larger  and  have  greater
financial  resources  than  we  do.  We  also  face  competition  from  Internet‑based  retailers,  such  as
Amazon.com, Inc., in addition to traditional store‑based  retailers,  who  may  be  larger,  more  experienced  and
able to offer products we cannot. This could result in increased price competition since our customers could
more  readily  search  and  compare  non‑private  brand  products.  Furthermore,  we  ultimately  compete  with
alternative sources of entertainment and leisure for our customers.

Our reliance on foreign suppliers increases our risk of obtaining adequate, timely and cost-effective product
supplies.

We  rely  to  a  significant  extent  on  foreign  manufacturers  for  our  merchandise,  particularly
manufacturers  located  in  China.  In  addition,  many  of  our  domestic  suppliers  purchase  a  portion  of  their
products  from  foreign  sources.  This  reliance  increases  the  risk  that  we  will  not  have  adequate  and  timely
supplies of various products due to local political, economic, social or environmental conditions (including acts
of terrorism, the outbreak of war or the occurrence of a

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natural disaster), transportation delays (including dock strikes and other work stoppages), restrictive actions by
foreign  governments,  or  changes  in  U.S.  laws  and  regulations  affecting  imports  or  domestic  distribution.
Reliance  on  foreign  manufacturers  also  increases  our  exposure  to  trade  infringement  claims  and  reduces  our
ability to return product for various reasons.

We are at a risk for higher costs associated with goods manufactured in China. Significant increases
in wages or wage taxes paid by contract facilities may increase the cost of goods manufactured, which could
have a material adverse effect on our profit margins and profitability.

All of our products manufactured overseas and imported into the United States are subject to duties
collected  by  the  U.S.  Customs  Service.  We  may  be  subjected  to  additional  duties,  significant  monetary
penalties, the seizure and forfeiture of the products we are attempting to import, or the loss of import privileges
if we or our suppliers are found to be in violation of U.S. laws and regulations applicable to the importation of
our products.

Our success will depend on how well we manage our business.

Even if we are able to continue our strategy of expanding our store base or, additionally, to expand our
business  through  acquisitions  or  vertical  integration  opportunities,  we  may  experience  problems  which  may
adversely impact profitability or cash flow. For example:

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

the  costs  of  opening  and  operating  new  stores  may  offset  the  increased  sales  generated  by  the
additional stores;

the  closure  of  unsuccessful  stores  may  result  in  the  retention  of  the  liability  for  the
corresponding leases;

a  significant  portion  of  our  management’s  time  and  energy  may  be  consumed  with  issues
unrelated to advancing our core business strategies;

our e‑commerce platform may be unprofitable, cannibalize sales from our existing stores, or be
uncompetitive against other internet‑based retailers who sell similar merchandise;

the  implementation  of  future  operational  efficiency  initiatives,  which  may  include  the
consolidation  of  certain  operations  and/or  the  possible  co‑sourcing  of  additional  selected
functions, may not produce the desired reduction in costs and may result in disruptions arising
from such actions;

failure  to  maintain  stable  relations  with  our  labor  force  may  impact  our  store  operations  and
sales;

our  suppliers  may  be  unable  to  meet  the  increased  demand  of  additional  stores  in  a  timely
manner; and

· we  may  be  unable  to  expand  our  existing  distribution  centers  or  use  third‑party  distribution

centers on a cost‑effective basis to provide merchandise to our new stores.

Our growth depends on our ability to open new stores and increase comparable store sales.

One of our key business strategies is to expand our base of retail stores. If we are unable to continue
this strategy, our ability to increase our sales, profitability and cash flow could be impaired. To the extent we
are  unable  to  open  new  stores  as  we  anticipate,  our  sales  growth  would  come  only  from  increases  in
comparable  store  sales.  Growth  in  profitability  in  that  case  would  depend  significantly  on  our  ability  to
improve gross margin. We may be unable to continue our store growth strategy if we cannot identify suitable
sites for additional stores, negotiate acceptable leases, access sufficient capital to support store growth, or hire
and train a sufficient number of qualified team members.

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Damage to the reputation of the Michaels brand or our private and exclusive brands could adversely affect
our sales.

We  believe  the  Michaels  brand  name  and  many  of  our  private  and  exclusive  brand  names  are
powerful sales and marketing tools and we devote significant resources to promoting and protecting them. To
be successful in the future, we must continue to preserve, grow and utilize the value of Michaels’ reputation.
Reputational value is based in large part on perceptions of subjective qualities, and even isolated incidents may
erode  trust  and  confidence.  In  addition,  we  develop  and  promote  private  and  exclusive  brands,  which  we
believe have generated national recognition. Our private brands amounted to 5 2.9% of net sales in fiscal 2015
and 50.8% of net sales in fiscal 2014. Damage to the reputations (whether or not justified) of our brand names
could  arise  from  product  failures,  data  privacy  or  security  incidents,  litigation  or  various  forms  of  adverse
publicity (including adverse publicity generated as a result of a vendor’s or a supplier’s failure to comply with
general social accountability practices), especially in social media outlets, and may generate negative customer
sentiment, potentially resulting in a reduction in our sales and earnings.

A weak fourth quarter could materially adversely affect our result of operations.

Our  business  is  highly  seasonal.  Our  inventories  and  short-term  borrowings  may  grow  in  the  third
fiscal  quarter  as  we  prepare  for  our  peak  selling  season  in  the  third  and  fourth  fiscal  quarters.  Our  most
important quarter in terms of sales, profitability and cash flow historically has been the fourth fiscal quarter. If
for any reason our fourth fiscal quarter results were substantially below expectations, our operating results for
the  full  year  would  be  materially  adversely  affected,  and  we  could  have  substantial  excess  inventory,
especially in seasonal merchandise that is difficult to liquidate.

Suppliers  from  whom  our  products  are  sourced  may  fail  us  and  transitioning  to  other  qualified  vendors
could materially adversely affect our revenue and gross profit.

The products we sell are sourced from a wide variety of domestic and international vendors. Global
sourcing has become an increasingly important part of our business, as we have undertaken efforts to increase
the amount of product we source directly from overseas manufacturers. Our ability to find qualified vendors
who  meet  our  standards  and  supply  products  in  a  timely  and  efficient  manner  is  a  significant  challenge,
especially  with  respect  to  goods  sourced  from  outside  the  United  States. Any  issues  related  to  transitioning
vendors could adversely affect our revenue and gross profit.

Many  of  our  suppliers  are  small  firms  that  produce  a  limited  number  of  items.  Given  their  limited
resources,  these  firms  are  susceptible  to  cash  flow  issues,  access  to  capital,  production  difficulties,  quality
control  issues  and  problems  in  delivering  agreed‑upon  quantities  on  schedule.  We  may  not  be  able,  if
necessary,  to  return  products  to  these  suppliers  and  obtain  refunds  of  our  purchase  price  or  obtain
reimbursement  or  indemnification  from  them  if  their  products  prove  defective.  These  suppliers  may  also  be
unable  to  withstand  a  downturn  in  economic  conditions.  Significant  failures  on  the  part  of  our  key  suppliers
could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

In addition, many of these suppliers require extensive advance notice of our requirements in order to
supply products in the quantities we desire. This long lead time may limit our ability to respond timely to shifts
in demand.

Unexpected  or  unfavorable  consumer  responses  to  our  promotional  or  merchandising  programs  could
materially adversely affect our sales, results of operations, cash flow and financial condition.

Brand  recognition,  quality  and  price  have  a  significant  influence  on  consumers’  choices  among
competing  products  and  brands.  Advertising,  promotion,  merchandising  and  the  cadence  of  new  product
introductions  also  have  a  significant  impact  on  consumers’  buying  decisions.  If  we  misjudge  consumer
responses  to  our  existing  or  future  promotional  activities,  this  could  have  a  material  adverse  impact  on  our
sales, results of operations, cash flow and financial condition.

We  believe  improvements  in  our  merchandise  offering  help  drive  sales  at  our  stores.  We  could  be
materially  adversely  affected  by  poor  execution  of  changes  to  our  merchandise  offering  or  by  unexpected
consumer responses to changes in our merchandise offering.

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Our  marketing  programs,  e-commerce  initiatives  and  use  of  consumer  information  are  governed  by  an
evolving set of laws and enforcement trends and unfavorable changes in those laws or trends, or our failure
to comply with existing or future laws, could substantially harm our business and results of operations.

We  collect,  maintain  and  use  data  provided  to  us  through  our  online  activities  and  other  customer
interactions  in  our  business.  Our  current  and  future  marketing  programs  depend  on  our  ability  to  collect,
maintain  and  use  this  information,  and  our  ability  to  do  so  is  subject  to  certain  contractual  restrictions  in
third‑party contracts as well as evolving international, federal and state laws and enforcement trends. We strive
to comply with all applicable laws and other legal obligations relating to privacy, data protection and consumer
protection, including those relating to the use of data for marketing purposes. It is possible, however, that these
requirements may be interpreted and applied in a manner that is inconsistent from one jurisdiction to another,
may conflict with other rules or may conflict with our practices. If so, we may suffer damage to our reputation
and be subject to proceedings or actions against us by governmental entities or others. Any such proceeding or
action  could  hurt  our  reputation,  force  us  to  spend  significant  amounts  to  defend  our  practices,  distract  our
management, increase our costs of doing business and result in monetary liability.

In addition, as data privacy and marketing laws change, we may incur additional costs to ensure we
remain in compliance with such laws. If applicable data privacy and marketing laws become more restrictive at
the  federal  or  state  level,  our  compliance  costs  may  increase,  our  ability  to  effectively  engage  customers  via
personalized marketing may decrease, our investment in our e‑commerce platform may not be fully realized,
our  opportunities  for  growth  may  be  curtailed  by  our  compliance  capabilities  or  reputational  harm  and  our
potential liability for security breaches may increase.

Product  recalls  and  product  liability,  as  well  as  changes  in  product  safety  and  other  consumer  protection
laws,  may  adversely  impact  our  operations,  merchandise  offerings,  reputation,  results  of  operations,  cash
flow and financial condition.

We  are  subject  to  regulations  by  a  variety  of  federal,  state  and  international  regulatory authorities,
including  the  Consumer  Product  Safety  Commission.  In  fiscal  2015,  we  purchased  merchandise  from
approximately 650 vendors. Since a majority of our merchandise is manufactured in foreign countries, one or
more of our vendors might not adhere to product safety requirements or our quality control standards, and we
might  not  identify  the  deficiency  before  merchandise  ships  to  our  stores.  Any  issues  of  product  safety,
including  but  not  limited  to  those  manufactured  in  foreign  countries,  could  cause  us  to  recall  some  of  those
products.  If  our  vendors  fail  to  manufacture  or  import  merchandise  that  adheres  to  our  quality  control
standards, our reputation and brands could be damaged, potentially leading to increases in customer litigation
against us. Furthermore, to the extent we are unable to replace any recalled products, we may have to reduce
our merchandise offerings, resulting in a decrease in sales, especially if a recall occurs near or during a seasonal
period. If our vendors are unable or unwilling to recall products failing to meet our quality standards, we may
be  required  to  recall  those  products  at  a  substantial  cost  to  us.  Moreover,  changes  in  product  safety  or  other
consumer protection laws could lead to increased costs to us for certain merchandise, or additional labor costs
associated with readying merchandise for sale. Long lead times on merchandise ordering cycles increase the
difficulty  for  us  to  plan  and  prepare  for  potential  changes  to  applicable  laws.  The  Consumer  Product  Safety
Improvement Act of 2008 imposes significant requirements on manufacturing, importing, testing and labeling
requirements  for  our  products.  In  the  event  that  we  are  unable  to  timely  comply  with  regulatory  changes  or
regulators  do  not  believe  we  are  complying  with  current  regulations  applicable  to  us,  significant  fines  or
penalties could result, and could adversely affect our reputation, results of operations, cash flow and financial
condition.

Changes  in  regulations  or  enforcement,  or  our  failure  to  comply  with  existing  or  future  regulations,  may
adversely impact our business.

We are subject to federal, state and local regulations with respect to our operations in the U.S. We are
further subject to federal, provincial and local regulations in Canada, which are increasingly distinct from those
in the U.S., and may be subject to greater international regulation as our business expands. There are a number
of  legislative  and  regulatory  initiatives  that  could  adversely  impact  our  business  if  they  are  enacted  or
enforced. Those initiatives include wage or workforce issues (such as minimum‑wage requirements, overtime
and  other  working  conditions  and  citizenship  requirements),  collective  bargaining  matters,  environmental
regulation, price and promotion regulation, trade regulations and others.

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Proposed changes in tax regulations may also change our effective tax rate as our business is subject
to  a  combination  of  applicable  tax  rates  in  the  various  countries,  states  and  other  jurisdictions  in  which  we
operate. New accounting pronouncements and interpretations of existing accounting rules and practices have
occurred  and  may  occur  in  the  future. A  change  in  accounting  standards  or  practices  can  have  a  significant
effect on our reported results of operations. Failure to comply with legal requirements could result in, among
other  things,  increased  litigation  risk  that  could  affect  us  adversely  by  subjecting  us  to  significant  monetary
damages and other remedies or by increasing our litigation expenses, administrative enforcement actions, fines
and civil and criminal liability. We are currently subject to various class action lawsuits alleging violations of
wage  and  workforce  laws  and  similar  matters  (see  “Business—Legal  Proceedings”).  If  such  issues  become
more  expensive  to  address,  or  if  new  issues  arise,  they  could  increase  our  expenses,  generate  negative
publicity, or otherwise adversely affect us.

Significant  increases  in  inflation  or  commodity  prices,  such  as  petroleum,  natural  gas,  electricity,  steel,
wood and paper, may adversely affect our costs, including cost of merchandise.

Significant  future  increases  in  commodity  prices  or  inflation  could  adversely  affect  our  costs,
including cost of merchandise and distribution costs. Furthermore, the transportation industry may experience a
shortage or reduction of capacity, which could be exacerbated by higher fuel prices. Our results of operations
may be adversely affected if we are unable to secure, or are able to secure only at significantly higher costs,
adequate transportation resources to fulfill our receipt of goods or delivery schedules to the stores.

We  may  be  subject  to  information  technology  system  failures  or  network  disruptions,  or  our  information
systems  may  prove  inadequate,  resulting  in  damage  to  our  reputation,  business  operations  and  financial
condition.

We depend on our management information systems for many aspects of our business, including our
perpetual  inventory,  automated  replenishment,  and  weighted-average  cost  stock  ledger  systems  which  are
necessary  to  properly  forecast,  manage,  analyze  and  record  our  inventory.  The  Company  may  be  subject  to
information  technology  system  failures  and  network  disruptions.  These  may  be  caused  by  natural  disasters,
accidents, power disruptions, telecommunications failures, acts of terrorism or war, denial‑of‑service  attacks,
computer viruses, physical or electronic break‑ins, or similar events or disruptions. System redundancy may be
ineffective  or  inadequate,  and  the  Company’s  disaster  recovery  planning  may  not  be  sufficient  for  all
eventualities. Such failures or disruptions could prevent access to the Company’s online services and preclude
store  transactions.  System  failures  and  disruptions  could  also  impede  the  manufacturing  and  shipping  of
products,  transactions  processing  and  financial  reporting.  Additionally,  we  may  be  materially  adversely
affected if we are unable to improve, upgrade, maintain, and expand our systems.

Improvements to our supply chain may not be fully successful.

An  important  part  of  our  efforts  to  achieve  efficiencies,  cost  reductions,  and  sales  and  cash  flow
growth is the identification and implementation of improvements to our supply chain, including merchandise
ordering,  transportation,  and  receipt  processing.  We  continue  to  implement  enhancements  to  our  distribution
systems and processes, which are designed to improve efficiency throughout the supply chain and at our stores.
If  we  are  unable  to  successfully  implement  significant  changes,  this  could  disrupt  our  supply  chain,  which
could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

Changes in newspaper subscription rates may result in reduced exposure to our circular advertisements.

A substantial portion of our promotional activities utilize circular advertisements in local newspapers.
A  continued  decline  in  consumer  subscriptions  of  these  newspapers  could  reduce  the  frequency  with  which
consumers  receive  our  circular  advertisements,  thereby  negatively  affecting  sales,  results  of  operations  and
cash flow.

Disruptions in the capital markets could increase our costs of doing business.

Any  disruption  in  the  capital  markets  could  make  it  difficult  for  us  to  raise  additional  capital  when
needed,  or  to  eventually  refinance  our  existing  indebtedness  on  acceptable  terms  or  at  all.  Similarly,  if  our
suppliers face challenges in

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obtaining credit when needed, or otherwise face difficult business conditions, they may become unable to offer
us the merchandise we use in our business thereby causing reductions in our  revenues,  or  they  may  demand
more  favorable  payment  terms,  all  of  which  could  adversely  affect  our  results  of  operations,  cash  flows  and
financial condition.

Our real estate leases generally obligate us for long periods, which subject us to various financial risks.

We lease virtually all of our store, distribution center, and administrative locations, generally for long
terms. While we have the right to terminate some of our leases under specified conditions by making specified
payments, we may not be able to terminate a particular lease if or when we would like to do so. If we decide to
close stores, we are generally required to continue paying rent and operating expenses for the balance of the
lease term, or paying to exercise rights to terminate, and the performance of any of these obligations may be
expensive. When we assign or sublease vacated locations, we may remain liable on the lease obligations if the
assignee  or  sublessee  does  not  perform.  In  addition,  when  leases  for  the  stores  in  our  ongoing  operations
expire,  we  may  be  unable  to  negotiate  renewals,  either  on  commercially  acceptable  terms,  or  at  all,  which
could  cause  us  to  close  stores. Accordingly,  we  are  subject  to  the  risks  associated  with  leasing  real  estate,
which can have a material adverse effect on our results.

We  have  co-sourced  certain  of  our  information  technology,  accounts  payable,  payroll,  accounting  and
human  resources  functions  and  may  co-source  other  administrative  functions,  which  makes  us  more
dependent upon third parties.

We  place  significant  reliance  on  third ‑party  providers  for  the  co‑sourcing  of  certain  of  our
information  technology  (“IT”),  accounts  payable,  payroll,  accounting  and  human  resources  functions.  This
co‑sourcing  initiative  is  a  component  of  our  ongoing  strategy  to  increase  efficiencies,  increase  our  IT
capabilities,  monitor  our  costs  and  seek  additional  cost  savings.  These  functions  are  generally  performed  in
offshore  locations.  As  a  result,  we  are  relying  on  third  parties  to  ensure  that  certain  functional  needs  are
sufficiently  met.  This  reliance  subjects  us  to  risks  arising  from  the  loss  of  control  over  these  processes,
changes  in  pricing  that  may  affect  our  operating  results,  and  potentially,  termination  of  provision  of  these
services  by  our  suppliers.  If  our  service  providers  fail  to  perform,  we  may  have  difficulty  arranging  for  an
alternate supplier or rebuilding our own internal resources, and we could incur significant costs, all of which
may have a significant adverse effect on our business. We may co‑source other administrative functions in the
future, which would further increase our reliance on third parties. Further, the use of offshore service providers
may expose us to risks related to local political, economic, social or environmental conditions (including acts
of  terrorism,  the  outbreak  of  war,  or  the  occurrence  of  natural  disaster),  restrictive  actions  by  foreign
governments or changes in U.S. laws and regulations.

We  are  exposed  to  fluctuations  in  exchange  rates  between  the  U.S.  and  Canadian  dollar,  which  is  the
functional currency of our Canadian subsidiary.

Our  Canadian  operating  subsidiary  purchases  inventory  in  U.S.  dollars,  which  is  sold  in  Canadian
dollars and exposes us to foreign exchange rate fluctuations. In addition, our customers at border locations can
be sensitive to cross‑border price differences. Substantial foreign currency fluctuations could adversely affect
our business. In fiscal 2015, exchange rates had a negative impact on our consolidated operating results due to
a 10% decrease in the Canadian exchange rate. 

We are dependent upon the services of our senior management team.

We are dependent on the services, abilities and experience of our executive officers, including Carl S.
Rubin,  our  Chief  Executive  Officer,  and  Charles  M.  Sonsteby,  our  Chief Administrative  Officer  and  Chief
Financial Officer. The permanent loss of the services of either of these senior executives and any change in the
composition  of  our  senior  management  team  could  have  a  negative  impact  on  our  ability  to  execute  on  our
business and operating strategies.

Failure  to  attract  and  retain  quality  sales,  distribution  center  and  other  team  members  in  appropriate
numbers as well as experienced buying and management personnel could adversely affect our performance.

Our performance depends on recruiting, developing, training and retaining quality sales, distribution
center and other team members in large numbers as well as experienced buying and management personnel.
Many of our store level team members are in entry level or part‑time positions with historically high rates of
turnover. Our ability to meet our labor

15

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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needs while controlling labor costs is subject to external factors such as unemployment levels, prevailing wage
rates, minimum wage legislation, changing demographics, health and other insurance costs and governmental
labor  and  employment  requirements.  In  the  event  of  increasing  wage  rates,  if  we  fail  to  increase  our  wages
competitively,  the  quality  of  our  workforce  could  decline,  causing  our  customer  service  to  suffer,  while
increasing  our  wages  could  cause  our  earnings  to  decrease.  The  market  for  retail  management  is  highly
competitive and, similar to other retailers, we face challenges in securing sufficient management talent. If we
do not continue to attract, train and retain quality team members, our performance could be adversely affected.

Our results may be adversely affected by serious disruptions or catastrophic events, including geo-political
events and weather.

Unforeseen public health issues, such as pandemics and epidemics, and geo‑political events, such as
civil  unrest  in  a  country  in  which  our  suppliers  are  located  or  terrorist  or  military  activities  disrupting
transportation,  communication  or  utility  systems,  as  well  as  natural  disasters  such  as  hurricanes,  tornadoes,
floods, earthquakes and other adverse weather and climate conditions, whether occurring in the United States
or abroad, particularly during peak seasonal periods, could disrupt our operations or the operations of one or
more of our vendors or could severely damage or destroy one or more of our stores or distribution facilities
located in the affected areas. For example, day‑to‑day  operations,  particularly  our  ability  to  receive  products
from our vendors or transport products to our stores, could be adversely affected, or we could be required to
close stores or distribution centers in the affected areas or in areas served by the affected distribution center.
These factors could also cause consumer confidence and spending to decrease or result in increased volatility
in  the  U.S.  and  global  financial  markets  and  economy.  Such  occurrences  could  significantly  impact  our
operating  results  and  financial  performance. For  example,  during  the  third  quarter  of  fiscal  2015,  one  of  our
stores  was  damaged  by weather  related  to Hurricane  Joaquin,  resulting  in  closure  and  lost  sales.  Had  the
hurricane impacted a larger geographic area, it is possible that we would have suffered a substantial negative
impact to our sales for a prolonged period.

Any difficulty executing or integrating an acquisition, a business combination or a major business initiative
could adversely affect our business or results of operations.

Any difficulty in executing or integrating an acquisition, a business combination or a major business
initiative,  including  the  recent  acquisition  of  Lamrite  West,  Inc.  and  certain  of  its  affiliates  and  subsidiaries,
may  result  in  our  inability  to  achieve  anticipated  benefits  from  these  transactions  in  the  time  frame  that  we
anticipate, or at all, which could adversely affect our business or results of operations. Such transactions may
also  disrupt  the  operation  of  our  current  activities  and  divert  management's  attention  from  other  business
matters. In addition, the Company’s current credit agreements place certain limited constraints on our ability to
make an acquisition or enter into a business combination, and future borrowing agreements could place tighter
constraints on such actions.

Our holding company structure makes us, and certain of our direct and indirect subsidiaries, dependent on
the operations of our, and their, subsidiaries to meet our financial obligations.

We,  and  certain  of  our  direct  and  indirect  subsidiaries,  have  no  significant  assets  other  than  the
interest in direct and indirect subsidiaries, including MSI. As a result, we, and certain of our direct and indirect
subsidiaries, rely exclusively upon payments, dividends and distributions from direct and indirect subsidiaries’
cash flows. Our ability to pay dividends, if any are declared, to our shareholders is dependent on the ability of
our subsidiaries to generate sufficient net income and cash flows to pay upstream dividends and make loans or
loan repayments.

We are controlled by the Sponsors, whose interest may conflict with yours and those of our Company.

We are currently controlled by affiliates of or funds advised by  Bain Capital Partners, LLC and The
Blackstone Group L.P. (the “Sponsors”), who own approximately 63% of our outstanding common stock. For
as long as the Sponsors continue to beneficially own a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock,
they will be able to direct the election of all of the members of our Board of Directors (“Board”) and could
exercise  a  controlling  influence  over  our  business  and  affairs,  including  any  determinations  with  respect  to
mergers  or  other  business  combinations,  the  acquisition  or  disposition  of  assets,  the  incurrence  of
indebtedness,  the  issuance  of  any  additional  common  stock  or  other  equity  securities,  the  repurchase  or
redemption of common stock and the payment of dividends. Similarly, the Sponsors will have

16

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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the  power  to  determine  matters  submitted  to  a  vote  of  our  stockholders  without  the  consent  of  our  other
stockholders, will have the power to prevent a change in our control and could take other actions that might be
favorable to them. Even if their ownership falls below a majority, so long as the Sponsors continue to hold a
significant  portion  of  our  outstanding  common  stock,  the  Sponsors  may  continue  to  be  able  to  strongly
influence  or  effectively  control  our  decisions.  Additionally,  the  Sponsors  are  in  the  business  of  making
investments in companies and may acquire and hold interests in businesses that compete directly or indirectly
with us. One or more of the Sponsors may also pursue acquisition opportunities that may be complementary to
our business and, as a result, those acquisition opportunities may not be available to us.

We are a “controlled company” within the meaning of the rules of The NASDAQ Stock Market and, as a
result,  rely  on  exemptions  from  certain  corporate  governance  requirements.  You  will  not  have  the  same
protections  as  those  afforded  to  stockholders  of  companies  that  are  subject  to  such  governance
requirements.

We  are  a  “controlled  company”  within  the  meaning  of  the  corporate  governance  standards  of  The
NASDAQ Stock Market. Under The NASDAQ Stock Market rules, a company of which more than 50% of the
voting power is held by an individual, group or another company is a “controlled company” and may elect not
to comply with certain corporate governance requirements, including:

·

·

·

the requirement that a majority of our Board consist of independent directors;

the requirement that we have a Nominating Committee that is composed entirely of independent
directors with a written charter addressing the Committee’s purpose and responsibilities; and

the  requirement  that  we  have  a  Compensation  Committee  that  is  composed  entirely  of
independent  directors  with  a  written  charter  addressing  the  committee’s  purpose  and
responsibilities.

We currently utilize these exemptions. As a result, we do not have a majority of independent directors
and our Compensation Committee does not consist entirely of independent directors. Accordingly, you will not
have  the  same  protections  afforded  to  stockholders  of  companies  that  are  subject  to  all  of  the  corporate
governance requirements of The NASDAQ Stock Market.

The Sponsors are not subject to any contractual obligation to retain their controlling interest.   There
can be no assurance as to the period of time during which any of the Sponsors will maintain its ownership of
our common stock.

Our stock price could be extremely volatile and may decline and, as a result, you may not be able to resell
your shares at or above the price you paid for them.

Since listing our common stock on The NASDAQ Global Select Market in June 2014 in connection
with our IPO, the price of our common stock has ranged from a low of $14.51 on August 1, 2014 to a high of
$30.00 on March 20, 2015. In addition, the stock market in general has been highly volatile. As a result, the
market price of our common stock is likely to be similarly volatile, and investors in our common stock may
experience a decrease, which could be substantial, in the value of their stock, including decreases unrelated to
our  operating  performance  or  prospects,  and  could  lose  part  or  all  of  their  investment.  The  price  of  our
common  stock  could  be  subject  to  wide  fluctuations  in  response  to  a  number  of  factors,  including  those
described elsewhere in this filing and others such as:

·

·

·

·

variations in our operating performance and the performance of our competitors;

actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly or annual operating results;

publication of research reports by securities analysts about us or our competitors or our industry;

our failure or the failure of our competitors to meet analysts’ projections or guidance that we or
our competitors may give to the market;

17

 
 
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·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

additions and departures of key personnel;

strategic  decisions  by  us  or  our  competitors,  such  as  acquisitions,  divestitures,  spin ‑offs,  joint
ventures, strategic investments or changes in business strategy;

the passage of legislation or other regulatory developments affecting us or our industry;

speculation in the press or investment community;

changes in accounting principles;

terrorist acts, acts of war or periods of widespread civil unrest;

natural disasters and other calamities; and

changes in general market and economic conditions.

In  the  past,  securities  class  action  litigation  has  often  been  initiated  against  companies  following
periods of volatility in their stock price. This type of litigation could result in substantial costs and divert our
management’s  attention  and  resources,  and  could  also  require  us  to  make  substantial  payments  to  satisfy
judgments or to settle litigation.

Provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law may deter takeover efforts that may be beneficial to
stockholder value.

In addition to the Sponsors’ beneficial ownership of a controlling percentage of our common stock,
Delaware  law  and  provisions  in  our  certificate  of  incorporation  and  bylaws  could  make  it  harder  for  a  third
party  to  acquire  us,  even  if  doing  so  might  be  beneficial  to  our  stockholders.  These  provisions  include
limitations on actions by our stockholders. In addition, our Board has the right to issue preferred stock without
stockholder approval that could be used to dilute a potential hostile acquirer. Our certificate of incorporation
imposes some restrictions on mergers and other business combinations between us and any holder of 15% or
more of our outstanding common stock other than the Sponsors. As a result, you may lose your ability to sell
your stock for a price in excess of the prevailing market price due to these protective measures and efforts by
stockholders to change the direction or management of the Company may be unsuccessful.

Our certificate of incorporation designates the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware as the sole and
exclusive  forum  for  certain  types  of  actions  and  proceedings  that  may  be  initiated  by  our  stockholders,
which could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our
directors, officers or employees.

Our certificate of incorporation provides that, subject to limited exceptions, the Court of Chancery of
the State of Delaware will be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action or proceeding brought
on our behalf, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or
other employee to us or our stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to any
provision  of  the  DGCL  or  our  certificate  of  incorporation  or  the  bylaws  or  (iv)  any  action  asserting  a  claim
against  us  governed  by  the  internal  affairs  doctrine. Any  person  or  entity  purchasing  or  otherwise  acquiring
any  interest  in  shares  of  our  capital  stock  shall  be  deemed  to  have  notice  of  and  to  have  consented  to  the
provisions  of  our  certificate  of  incorporation  described  above.  This  choice  of  forum  provision  may  limit  a
stockholder’s  ability  to  bring  a  claim  in  a  judicial  forum  that  it  finds  favorable  for  disputes  with  us  or  our
directors,  officers  or  other  employees,  which  may  discourage  such  lawsuits  against  us  and  our  directors,
officers and employees. Alternatively, if a court were to find these provisions of our certificate of incorporation
inapplicable to, or unenforceable in respect of, one or more of the specified types of actions or proceedings, we
may incur additional costs associated with resolving such matters in other jurisdictions, which could adversely
affect our business and financial condition.

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Table of Contents

Because  our  executive  officers  hold  or  may  hold  restricted  shares  or  option  awards  that  will  vest  upon  a
change of control, these officers may have interests in us that conflict with yours.

Our executive officers hold restricted shares and options to purchase shares that would automatically
vest upon a change of control. As a result, these officers may view certain change of control transactions more
favorably  than  an  investor  due  to  the  vesting  opportunities  available  to  them  and,  as  a  result,  may  have  an
economic incentive to support a transaction that you may not believe to be favorable to stockholders.

Because we have no current plans to pay cash dividends on our common stock for the foreseeable future,
you may not receive any return on investment unless you sell your common stock for a price greater than
you paid.

We plan to retain future earnings, if any, for future operation, expansion and debt repayment and have
no  current  plans  to  pay  any  cash  dividends  for  the  foreseeable  future.  Any  decision  to  declare  and  pay
dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our Board and will depend on, among other things, our
results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, contractual restrictions and other factors that our
Board may deem relevant. In addition, our ability to pay dividends may be limited by covenants of any existing
and  future  outstanding  indebtedness  we  or  our  subsidiaries  incur,  including  our  Senior  Secured  Credit
Facilities. As a result, you may not receive any return on an investment in our common stock unless you sell
our common stock for a price greater than you paid.

ITEM 1B.  UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.

Not applicable.

19

 
 
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ITEM 2.  PROPERTIES

We lease substantially all of the sites for our Michaels and Aaron Brothers stores, with the majority of
our  stores  having  initial  lease  terms  of  approximately  10  years.  The  leases  are  generally  renewable,  with
increases  in  lease  rental  rates.  Lessors  have  made  leasehold  improvements  to  prepare  our  stores  for  opening
under a majority of our existing leases. As of January 30, 2016, in connection with stores that we plan to open
or  relocate  in  future  fiscal  years,  we  had  signed  approximately  35  leases  for  Michaels  stores.  Management
believes our facilities are suitable and adequate for our business as presently conducted.

As of January 30, 2016, we lease the following non-store facilities:

Locations

Distribution centers:

Hazleton, Pennsylvania
Jacksonville, Florida
Lancaster, California
Centralia, Washington
New Lenox, Illinois
Haslet, Texas
City of Commerce, California (Aaron Brothers)

Artistree:

Coppell, Texas (regional processing and fulfillment operations center)
Kernersville, North Carolina (manufacturing plant and regional processing center)
City of Industry, California (regional processing center)
Mississauga, Ontario (regional processing center)

Office space:

Irving, Texas (corporate office support center)
Mississauga, Ontario (Canadian regional office)

Coppell, Texas (new store staging warehouse)

20

Square

Footage

692,000  
506,000  
763,000  
718,000  
693,000  
433,000  
174,000  
3,979,000  

230,000  
156,000  
90,000  
62,000  
538,000  

296,000  
3,000  
299,000  

82,000  
4,898,000  

 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table of Contents

The  following  table  indicates  the  number  of  our  retail  stores  located  in  each  state  or  province  as  of

January 30, 2016:

Number of Stores
     Aaron     

State/Province

Alabama

Alaska

Alberta

Arizona

Arkansas

British Columbia

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Manitoba

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Brunswick

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Newfoundland and Labrador

North Carolina

North Dakota

Nova Scotia

Ohio

Oklahoma

Ontario

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Prince Edward Island

Quebec

Rhode Island

Saskatchewan

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

5  

1  
1  

76  
3  

  Michaels   Brothers   Total  
12  
3  
20  
32  
4  
17  
210  
25  
18  
4  
80  
35  
8  
39  
18  
8  
8  
12  
15  
3  
4  
24  
32  
34  
23  
7  
21  
5  
6  
13  
3  
9  
31  
4  
60  
1  
37  
3  
6  
31  
7  
56  
17  
48  
1  
16  
4  
3  
14  
2  
16  
99  

12  
3  
20  
27  
4  
17  
134  
22  
18  
4  
80  
34  
7  
39  
18  
8  
8  
12  
15  
3  
4  
24  
32  
34  
23  
7  
21  
5  
6  
10  
3  
9  
31  
4  
60  
1  
37  
3  
6  
31  
7  
56  
15  
48  
1  
16  
4  
3  
14  
2  
16  
81  

18  

3  

2  

 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Total

13  
2  
36  
23  
5  
17  
1  
1,196  

13  
2  
36  
31  
5  
17  
1  
1,313  

8  

117  

21

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table of Contents

ITEM 3.  LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.

Information regarding legal proceedings is incorporated by reference from Note 11 to the consolidated

financial statements.

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.

Not applicable.

PART II

ITEM  5.    MARKET  FOR  REGISTRANT’S  COMMON  EQUITY,  RELATED  STOCKHOLDER
MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.

Market Information

Our common stock has been listed on The NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol “MIK”
since our IPO on June 27, 2014. Prior to that date, there was no public market for our common stock. As of
January 30, 2016, there were approximately 360 holders of record of our common stock. The following table
sets  forth  the  high  and  low  sales  price  per  share  for  the  periods  indicated  of  our  common  stock  on  The
NASDAQ Global Select Market:

First Quarter
Second Quarter (1)
Third Quarter
Fourth Quarter

Fiscal Year

2015

2014

     High      Low   High      Low  
  $ 30.00   $ 25.77   $
 —  
  $ 28.49   $ 24.60   $ 17.28   $ 14.51  
  $ 26.84   $ 21.78   $ 18.50   $ 14.64  
  $ 24.05   $ 19.46   $ 27.23   $ 17.82  

 —   $

(1) For fiscal 2014, the indicated stock prices represent the period from June 27, 2014 through August 2,

2014, the end of our second quarter.

Dividends

The Company does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the near future. Instead, we anticipate
that all of our earnings for the foreseeable future will be used to repay debt, repurchase outstanding shares, for
working  capital,  to  support  our  operations  and  to  finance  the  growth  and  development  of  our  business. Any
future  determination  to  pay  dividends  will  be  at  the  discretion  of  our  Board,  subject  to  compliance  with
applicable  law  and  any  contractual  provisions,  including  under  agreements  for  indebtedness,  that  restrict  or
limit  our  ability  to  pay  dividends,  and  will  depend  upon,  among  other  factors,  our  results  of  operations,
financial  condition,  earnings,  capital  requirements  and  other  factors  that  our  Board  may  deem  relevant.  For
additional  information  concerning  restrictions  relating  to  agreements  for  indebtedness,  see  Note  5  to  the
consolidated financial statements.

In July 2013, FinCo Holdings and Michaels FinCo, Inc. (“FinCo Inc.”) issued the 7.50%/8.25% PIK
Toggle  Notes  which  were  due  in  2018  (“PIK  Notes”).  FinCo  Holdings  distributed  the  proceeds,  net  of
expenses, to the Company. We used the proceeds to pay a cash dividend, distribution and other payments to
our equity and equity award holders of $780.1 million (excluding $1.5 million currently held in escrow for the
benefit of holders of restricted shares of the Company’s common stock) and pay related fees and expenses.

22

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table of Contents

Performance Graph

The  following  graph  shows  a  comparison  of  cumulative  total  return  to  holders  of  The  Michaels
Companies, Inc.’s common shares against the cumulative total return of S&P 500 Index and S&P 500 Retail
Index from June 27, 2014 (the date the Company’s stock commenced trading on the NASDAQ Global Select
Market)  through  January  30,  2016.  The  comparison  of  the  cumulative  total  returns  for  each  investment
assumes that $100 was invested in The Michaels Companies, Inc. common shares and the respective indices on
June  27,  2014  through  January  30,  2016  including  reinvestment  of  any  dividends.  Historical  share  price
performance should not be relied upon as an indication of future share price performance.

The Michaels Companies, Inc.

S&P 500 Index

S&P 500 Retail Index

     6/27/2014   8/2/2014   11/1/2014   1/31/2015   5/2/2015   8/1/2015   10/31/2015  1/30/2016
  $100.00   $90.24   $107.53   $151.76   $154.41   $149.06   $137.53   $128.24
    100.00     98.50     103.77     103.10     109.51     109.85     109.16     102.41
    100.00     97.24     103.03     108.50     115.51     115.68     108.22     97.18

23

 
 
 
 
 
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ITEM 6.  SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.

The  following  financial  information  for  the  five  most  recent  fiscal  years  has  been  derived  from  our
consolidated  financial  statements.  This  information  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the  consolidated
financial statements and related notes thereto included elsewhere herein.

Fiscal Year

(1)

2015
2013
(in thousands, except earnings per share, other operating and store count data)

2012

2014

2011

Results of Operations
Data:
Net sales
Operating income (2)
Interest expense
Losses on early
extinguishments of debt
and refinancing costs
Net income
Earnings per common
share:
Basic
Diluted

Weighted-average
common shares
outstanding:

Basic
Diluted

Balance Sheet Data:
Cash and equivalents
Merchandise inventories
Total current assets
Total assets
Total current liabilities
Current portion of long-
term debt
Long-term debt
Total liabilities
Stockholders’ deficit
Other Operating Data:
Average net sales per
selling square foot (3)
Comparable store sales
Comparable store sales, at
constant currency
Total selling square
footage (in thousands)
Stores Open at End of
Year:

Michaels
Aaron Brothers
Total stores open at end
of year

   $ 4,912,782
720,604
139,405

  $ 4,738,144
626,529
198,409

  $ 4,569,792
610,402
214,497

  $ 4,407,545
592,050
245,466

  $ 4,209,586  
537,964  
253,678  

8,485
362,912

74,312
217,395

14,420
243,430

32,551
199,734

17,714  
157,713  

  $
  $

1.75
1.72

  $
  $

1.07
1.05

  $
  $

1.39
1.36

  $
  $

1.14
1.12

  $
  $

0.90  
0.89  

206,845
209,346

203,229
207,101

174,797
178,628

174,715
178,068

174,646  
176,352  

  $

409,391
  1,002,607
  1,499,713
  2,023,277
904,850

  $

378,295
958,171
  1,423,778
  1,961,108
889,632

  $

238,864
901,308
    1,237,336
    1,767,132
825,556

  $

55,961
862,478
    1,007,479
    1,519,510
851,618

24,900
  2,744,942
  3,747,372
  (1,724,095)

24,900
  3,089,781
  4,072,633
  (2,111,525)

16,400
    3,633,279
    4,549,414
    (2,782,282)

150,514
    2,855,834
    3,823,471
    (2,303,961)

  $

371,030  
844,842  
    1,297,062  
    1,791,289  
860,945  

126,540  
    3,316,358  
    4,292,433  
    (2,501,144)  

  $

  $
223
1.8 %    

  $
220
1.7 %    

  $
218
2.9 %    

  $
215
1.5 %    

3.2 %    

2.4 %    

3.4 %    

1.5 %    

212  
3.2 %

3.0 %

22,068

21,605

21,108

20,588

20,096  

1,196
117

1,313

1,168
120

1,288

1,136
121

1,257

1,099
125

1,224

1,064  
134  

1,198  

(1) Fiscal 2012 consisted of 53 weeks while all other periods presented consisted of 52 weeks.
(2) Fiscal 2014 operating income includes a $32.3 million charge associated with the IPO primarily related

to a $30.2 million fee paid to certain related parties to terminate our management agreement.

(3) The  calculation  of  average  net  sales  per  selling  square  foot  includes  only  Michaels  comparable  stores.

Aaron Brothers, which is a smaller store model, is excluded from the calculation.

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ITEM  7.    MANAGEMENT’S  DISCUSSION  AND  ANALYSIS  OF  FINANCIAL  CONDITION  AND
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

We  report  on  the  basis  of  a  52-  or  53-week  fiscal  year,  which  ends  on  the  Saturday  closest  to
January 31. All references to fiscal year mean the year in which that fiscal year began. References to “fiscal
2015” relate to the 52 weeks ended January 30, 2016, references to “fiscal 2014” relate to the 52 weeks ended
January 31, 2015 and references to “fiscal 2013” relate to the 52 weeks ended February 1, 2014.

Michaels Stores, Inc. (“MSI”) is headquartered in Irving, Texas and  was  incorporated  in the state of
Delaware  in  1983. In  July  2013, MSI  was  reorganized  into  a  holding  company  structure  and  The  Michaels
Companies, Inc. (the “Company”) was incorporated in Delaware in connection with the reorganization.  In July
2014,  we  completed  an  initial  public  offering  (“IPO”)  in  which  we  issued  and  sold  27.8  million  shares  of
common stock at a public offering price of $17.00 per share, resulting in net proceeds of $445.7 million.

Fiscal 2015 Overview

With $4,912.8 million in net sales in fiscal 2015, we are the largest arts and crafts specialty retailer in
North America (based on store count) providing materials, project ideas and education for creative activities,
under the retail brands of Michaels and Aaron Brothers.  We also operate a market-leading vertically-integrated
custom  framing  business.   At  January  30,  2016,  we operated 1,196  Michaels  stores  and  117 Aaron  Brothers
stores.

Financial highlights for fiscal 2015 include the following:

·

·

·

Net sales increased to $4,912.8 million, a 3.7% improvement over last year, primarily driven by
comparable store sales growth and the opening of 25 additional stores (net of closures). 

Comparable store sales increased 1.8%, or 3.2% at constant exchange rates.

Our  Michaels  retail  stores’  private  brand  merchandise  drove  52.9%  of  net  sales  in  fiscal  2015
compared to 50.8% of net sales in fiscal 2014.

· We reported operating income of $720.6 million, an increase of 15.0% from the prior year.

·

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure that is a required calculation in our debt agreements,
improved  by  6.6%,  from  $812.8  million  in  fiscal  2014  to  $866.2  million  in  fiscal  2015  (see
“Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Non-
GAAP Measures”).

· We repaid $355.8 million of our outstanding 7.50%/8.25% PIK Toggle Notes due 2018 (“PIK
Notes”) and the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility (as defined below) during fiscal 2015. 

In fiscal 2015, we made significant progress implementing our strategic initiatives, including:

·

·

·

·

enhanced  the  in-store  shopping  experience  by  improving  our  store  signage  and  graphics
packages and lowering drive aisle fixtures;

expansion of our marketing efforts to include occasional store-wide marketing events and new
television campaigns;

partnering  with  Pinterest  to  gain  unique  marketing  opportunities  and  insight  into  crafters’
behavior;

introduction of new private brand products such as new markers and craft paint, a new line of
“Paper Craft It” products and new lifestyle frame and home décor;

25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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·

·

·

·

performing  store  resets  to  provide  the  flexibility  to  cost  effectively  expand  and  contract  the
various  product  categories  in  our  broad  portfolio  offering  based  on  customer  demand  and  the
selling season;

improved our website by adding new products and online video classes to better tailor classes to
the schedule of our customers; 

leveraging  our  industry  leading  database  to  personalize  both  direct  mail  and  email  marketing
based on customer’s shopping history and preference; and

delivered trend-right merchandise to our customers.

Fiscal 2016 Outlook

In fiscal 2016, we intend to continue to lead industry growth and innovation through strategic initiatives
such as:

· making  our  stores  more  inviting  to  a  broader  set  of  customers,  including  those  new  to  do-it-

yourself projects and more experienced crafters;

·

·

·

·

·

enhancing our in-store shopping experience by creating a more visually appealing environment
and making it easier for our customers to shop;

strengthening our connections with customers and reaching new customers through an expanded
marketing program, including print, digital, direct mail, broadcast and community events;

expanding our omni-channel offering of merchandise, promotional and marketing events;

broadening our merchandising and sourcing capabilities to better identify and source new trends,
merchandise and categories that enhance our portfolio of exclusive brands and products; and

strengthening our business-to-business operations.

On  February  2,  2016,  we  acquired  Lamrite  West,  Inc.  and  certain  of  its  affiliates  and  subsidiaries
(“Lamrite”)  for    $150.0  million,  subject  to  certain  purchase  price  adjustments,  utilizing  our  existing  cash  on
hand. Lamrite operates an international wholesale business under the Darice brand name and 32 arts and crafts
retail stores, located primarily in Ohio and the surrounding states, under the Pat Catan’s brand name. Lamrite
is expected to generate revenues of over $200 million in fiscal 2016 and the retail stores have approximately
32,000 average square feet of selling space per store. The acquisition is expected to enhance our private brand
development  capabilities,  accelerate  our  direct  sourcing  initiatives  and  strengthen  our  business-to-business
capabilities.

In  March  2016,  the  Board  of  Directors  authorized  the  Company  to  purchase  $200.0  million  of  the
Company’s  common  stock  on  the  open  market.  The  share  repurchase  program  does  not  have  an  expiration
date,  and  the  timing  and  number  of  repurchase  transactions  under  the  program  will  depend  on  market
conditions, corporate considerations, debt agreements and regulatory requirements.

Comparable Store Sales

Comparable store sales represents the change in net sales for stores open the same number of months
in the comparable period of the previous year, including stores that were relocated or expanded during either
period, as well as e-commerce sales. A store is deemed to become comparable in its 14th month of operation in
order  to  eliminate  grand  opening  sales  distortions. A  store  temporarily  closed  more  than  two  weeks  is  not
considered comparable during the month it is closed. If a store is closed longer than two weeks but less than
two months, it becomes comparable in the month in which it reopens, subject to a mid-month convention. A
store closed longer than two months becomes comparable in its 14th month of operation after its reopening.

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Results of Operations

The following table sets forth the percentage relationship to net sales of line items of our consolidated
statements of comprehensive income. This table should be read in conjunction with the following discussion
and with our consolidated financial statements, including the related notes.

Fiscal Year

Net sales
Cost of sales and occupancy expense
  Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative
Related party expenses
Store pre-opening costs
  Operating income
Interest expense
Losses on early extinguishments of debt and refinancing costs
Other expense, net
Income before income taxes
Provision for income taxes
  Net income

Fiscal 2015 Compared to Fiscal 2014

2013

2014

2015
100.0 % 100.0 % 100.0 %
60.1  
59.9  
39.9  
40.1  
26.1  
26.0  
0.3  
0.8  
0.1  
0.1  
13.4  
13.2  
4.7  
4.2  
0.3  
1.6  
 —  
0.1  
8.3  
7.4  
3.0  
2.8  
4.6 % 5.3 %

59.9  
40.1  
25.3  
 —  
0.1  
14.7  
2.8  
0.2  
 —  
11.6  
4.3  
7.4 %

Net Sales. Net sales increased $174.6 million in fiscal 2015, or 3.7%, compared to fiscal 2014.  The
increase in net sales was due to a $91.5 million increase primarily related to 25 additional stores opened (net of
closures)  since  January  31,  2015  and  an  $83.1  million  increase  in  comparable  store  sales.  Comparable  store
sales increased 1.8%, or 3.2% at constant exchange rates, due primarily to an increase in our average ticket. 

Gross Profit. Gross profit was 40.1% as a percent of net sales for both fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014.
 An improvement related to an increase in retail prices and sourcing efficiencies was offset by an increase in
promotional  activity  as  a  result  of  the  continued  competitive  retail  environment  and  the  negative  impact  of
foreign exchange rates.

Selling,  General  and  Administrative . Selling,  general  and  administrative  (“SG&A”)  was  25.3%  of
net sales in fiscal 2015 compared to 26.0% in fiscal 2014.  SG&A increased $9.1 million to $1,243.0 million in
fiscal  2015  due  primarily  to  $10.9  million  of  costs  associated  with  operating  25  additional  stores  (net  of
closures)  and  an  increase  in  marketing  costs  of  $4.0  million,   partially  offset  by  a  decrease  in  Canadian
operating costs due primarily to the impact of foreign exchange.

Related Party Expenses. Related party expenses decreased $35.7 million in fiscal 2015 compared to
the  prior  year due  to  the  termination  of  the  management  services  agreement  in  connection  with  our  IPO
completed in July 2014.

Interest  Expense.  Interest  expense  decreased  $59.0  million  to  $139.4  million  in  fiscal  2015.  The
decrease  is  primarily  attributable  to  $39.7  million  of  interest  savings  from  the  redemption  of  the  remaining
outstanding PIK Notes in fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2015 and $19.5 million of interest savings from the refinancing
of the 7.75% Senior Notes due 2018 (“2018 Senior Notes”) during fiscal 2014.

Losses on Early Extinguishments of Debt and Refinancing Costs. We recorded a loss on the early
extinguishment  of  debt  of  $8.5  million  during  fiscal  2015  related  to  the  redemption  of  our  remaining
outstanding PIK Notes and the partial prepayment of our Restated Term Loan Credit Facility maturing in 2020
(“Additional Term Loan”), consisting of $4.4 million to write off related debt issuance costs, $3.6 million of
redemption  premiums  and  a  $0.5  million  write-off  of  the  unamortized  net  discount  of  the Additional  Term
Loan. During fiscal 2014, we recorded a loss on the early extinguishment of debt of $74.3 million related to
the  redemption  of  our  2018  Senior  Notes  and  the  partial  redemption  of  our  PIK  Notes,  consisting  of  $58.8
million of redemption premiums and $20.6 million to write off related debt issuance

27

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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costs. The loss in fiscal 2014 was partially offset by a $5.1 million write-off of the unamortized premium on
the 2018 Senior Notes.

Provision for Income Taxes. The effective tax rate for fiscal 2015 was 36.6% compared to 38.1% in
the  prior  year.  The  effective  tax  rate  for  fiscal  2015  was  lower  than  the  prior  year  primarily  due  to  our
assertion in  fiscal  2015 to  indefinitely  reinvest  the  fiscal  2014  and  fiscal  2015  earnings  of  our  Canadian
subsidiary into our operations outside of the U.S., which is taxed at a lower rate than the U.S.

Fiscal 2014 Compared to Fiscal 2013

Net Sales. Net sales increased $168.4 million in fiscal 2014, or 3.7%, compared to fiscal 2013. The
increase in net sales was due to a $90.0 million increase primarily related to 31 additional stores opened (net of
closures) since February 1, 2014 and a $78.4 million increase in comparable store sales. Comparable store sales
increased 1.7%, or 2.4% at constant exchange rates, due primarily to an increase in our average ticket.

Gross Profit. Gross profit was 40.1% of net sales in fiscal 2014 compared to 39.9% in fiscal 2013.
The 20  basis  point  improvement  is  primarily  related  to  a  90  basis  point  increase  due  to  lower  distribution
related costs, favorable shrink experience and leverage associated with occupancy costs as a result of higher
sales.  The  increase  in  gross  profit  was  partially  offset  by  a  70  basis  point  increase  in  merchandise  costs  and
costs related to e-commerce initiatives. 

Selling,  General,  and  Administrative .  SG&A  was  26.0%  of  net  sales  in  fiscal  2014  compared  to
26.1% in fiscal 2013. SG&A increased $40.6 million to $1,233.9 million in fiscal 2014 due primarily to $12.4
million  of  costs  associated  with  operating  31  additional  stores  (net  of  closures),  a  $23.9  million  increase  in
performance-based  compensation  and  other  payroll-related  costs,  a  $4.3  million  increase  in  marketing costs
and a $3.7 million increase in credit card fees. 

Related  Party  Expenses.  Related  party  expenses increased $22.0  million  to  $35.7  million  in  fiscal
2014  compared  to  the  prior  year  due  to  a  $30.2  million  fee  paid  to  terminate  the  management  services
agreement in connection with our IPO completed in July 2014.

Interest Expense. Interest expense decreased $16.1 million to $198.4 million in fiscal 2014 compared
to the prior year. The decrease is primarily attributable to the debt refinancings in the second quarter of fiscal
2014 and the fourth quarter of fiscal 2013. In addition, in December 2014 we redeemed $180.0 million of the
PIK  Notes.  The  decrease  was  partially  offset  by  a  full  year  of  interest  expense  on  the  PIK  Notes  that  were
issued in July 2013.

Losses on Early Extinguishments of Debt and Refinancing Costs. During fiscal 2014, we recorded a
loss on the early extinguishment of debt of $74.3 million related to the redemption of our 2018 Senior Notes
and the partial redemption of our PIK Notes, consisting of $58.8 million of redemption premiums and $20.6
million to write off related debt issuance costs. The loss was partially offset by a $5.1 million write-off of the
unamortized premium on the 2018 Senior Notes. During fiscal 2013, we recorded a $7.3 million loss related to
the partial redemption of our then outstanding 11.375% senior subordinated notes due November 1, 2016 (the
“2016  Senior  Subordinated  Notes”).  The  $7.3  million  loss  was  comprised  of  a  $5.2  million  redemption
premium and $2.1 million to write off related debt issuance costs. In addition, we recorded refinancing costs of
$7.1  million  in  fiscal  2013  related  to  the  subsequent  refinancing  of  our  remaining  outstanding  2016  Senior
Subordinated Notes.

Provision for Income Taxes.  The effective tax rate for fiscal 2014 was 38.1% compared to 35.8% in
the prior year. The effective tax rate in fiscal 2014 was higher than prior year primarily due to a change in tax
status of our Canadian subsidiary, which resulted in the write-off of certain deferred tax assets. In addition, the
prior year tax rate includes higher state tax credits due to a change in state tax law.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We  require  cash  principally  for  day-to-day  operations,  to  finance  capital  investments,  to  purchase
inventory, to service our outstanding debt and for seasonal working capital needs. We expect that our available
cash, cash flow generated from operating activities and funds available under our Restated Revolving Credit
Facility (as defined below) will be

28

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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sufficient  to  fund  planned  capital  expenditures,  working  capital  requirements,  debt  repayments,  debt  service
requirements  and  anticipated  growth  for  the  foreseeable  future.  Our  ability  to  satisfy  our  liquidity  needs  and
continue  to  refinance  or  reduce  debt  could  be  adversely  affected  by  the  occurrence  of  any  of  the  events
described  under  “Item  1A.  Risk  Factors”  or  our  failure  to  meet  our  debt  covenants  as  described  below. Our
Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility  provides  senior  secured  financing  of  up  to  $650.0  million,  subject  to  a
borrowing  base.  As  of  January  30,  2016,  the  borrowing  base  was $650.0  million,  of  which  we  had  no
outstanding  borrowings, $63.2  million  of  outstanding  standby  letters  of  credit  and $586.8  million  of  unused
borrowing capacity. Our cash and cash equivalents totaled $409.4 million at January 30, 2016, of which $33.9
million was held by our Canadian subsidiaries. If it were necessary to repatriate these funds for use in the U.S.,
we would be required to pay U.S. taxes on the amount of undistributed earnings in our Canadian subsidiaries.
However, it is our intent to indefinitely reinvest these funds outside the U.S. 

On  May  6,  2015,  the  Company  redeemed  the  remaining  $180.9  million  of  the  PIK  Notes  for  an
aggregate  redemption  price  of $188.0 million (including  redemption  premium  and  any  unpaid  interest).  This
final  payment  retired  the  PIK  Notes  and  discharged  the  obligations  under  the  indenture  governing  the  PIK
Notes.

On December 28, 2015, MSI voluntarily prepaid $150.0 million in  principal of the Additional Term

Loan for an aggregate redemption price (including any unpaid interest) of $151.0 million.

On  February  2,  2016,  we  acquired  Lamrite  for  $150.0  million,  subject  to  certain  purchase  price
adjustments,  utilizing  our  existing  cash  on  hand.  Lamrite  operates  an  international  wholesale  business  under
the Darice brand name and 32 arts and crafts retail stores, located primarily in Ohio and the surrounding states,
under the Pat Catan’s brand name. Lamrite is expected to generate revenues of over $200 million in fiscal 2016
and the retail stores have approximately 32,000 average square feet of selling space per store. The acquisition
is expected to enhance our private brand development capabilities, accelerate our direct sourcing initiatives and
strengthen our business-to-business capabilities.

In  March  2016,  the  Board  of  Directors  authorized  the  Company  to  purchase  $200.0  million  of  the
Company’s  common  stock  on  the  open  market.  The  share  repurchase  program  does  not  have  an  expiration
date,  and  the  timing  and  number  of  repurchase  transactions  under  the  program  will  depend  on  market
conditions, corporate considerations, debt agreements and regulatory requirements.

We had total outstanding debt of $2,792.2 million at January 30, 2016, of which $2,282.2 million was

subject to variable interest rates and $510.0 million was subject to fixed interest rates.

Our  substantial  indebtedness  could  adversely  affect  our  ability  to  raise  additional  capital,  limit  our
ability to react to changes in the economy or our industry, expose us to interest rate risk and prevent us from
meeting  our  obligations.  Management  reacts  strategically  to  changes  in  economic  conditions  and  monitors
compliance with debt covenants to seek to mitigate any potential material impacts to our financial condition and
flexibility.

We  intend  to  use  excess  operating  cash  flows  to  invest  in  growth  opportunities,  repurchase
outstanding  shares,  and  to  repay  portions  of  our  indebtedness,  depending  on  prevailing  market  conditions,
liquidity  requirements,  contractual  restrictions  and  other  factors. As  such,  we  and  our  subsidiaries,  affiliates
and significant shareholders may, from time to time, seek to retire or purchase our outstanding debt (including
publicly issued debt) through cash purchases and/or exchanges, in open market purchases, privately negotiated
transactions, by tender offer or otherwise. If we use our excess cash flows to repay our debt, it will reduce the
amount of excess cash available for additional capital expenditures.

Cash Flow from Operating Activities

Cash flows provided by operating activities was $504.0 million in fiscal 2015, an increase of  $62.1
million from fiscal 2014.  The increase in cash provided by operating activities was primarily due to a $94.1
million increase in operating income in fiscal 2015 and interest savings from the redemptions of our PIK Notes
in  fiscal  2015  and  fiscal  2014  and  the  refinancing  of  our  2018  Senior  Notes  in  fiscal  2014.  The  increase  in
operating  income  was  partially  due  to  a  $35.7  million  decrease  in  related  party  expenses  as  a  result  of  the
termination of the management services agreement in fiscal 2014. The increase in cash provided by operating
activities  was  partially  offset  by  the  timing  of  vendor  payments  and  an  increase  in  income  taxes  due  to  the
increase in operating income in fiscal 2015. 

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Average inventory per Michaels store (including e-commerce and distribution centers) increased 2.9%
to $813,000 at January 30, 2016, from $790,000 at January 31, 2015. The increase is due to a strategic decision
to increase inventory levels of core products in fiscal 2015.

Cash Flow from Investing Activities

The following table includes capital expenditures paid during the periods presented (in thousands):

New and relocated stores and stores not yet opened (1)
Existing stores
Information systems
Corporate and other

2015

2013

Fiscal Year
2014
  $ 30,315   $ 29,846   $ 38,707  
  48,289     49,898     26,505  
  32,228     40,191     28,032  
  13,088     17,845     18,912  
  $123,920   $137,780   $112,156  

(1)

In fiscal 2015, we incurred capital expenditures related to the opening of 47 Michaels stores, including
the  relocation  of 17  Michaels  stores.  In  fiscal  2014,  we  incurred  capital  expenditures  related  to  the
opening  of  45  Michaels  stores  and  5 Aaron  Brothers  stores,  including  the  relocation  of  13  Michaels
stores.  In  fiscal  2013,  we  incurred  capital  expenditures  related  to  the  opening  of  54  Michaels  stores,
including the relocation of 14 Michaels stores.

We currently estimate that our capital expenditures will be $125.0 million to $135.0 million in fiscal
2016. We plan to invest in the infrastructure necessary to support the further development of our business. In
fiscal  2016,  we  plan  to open approximately  43  new  Michaels  stores,  including approximately 13  relocations.
We expect our capital expenditures will be financed with cash from operating activities.

Restated Term Loan Credit Facility

On October 31, 2006, MSI entered into a $2,400.0 million senior secured term loan facility (“Senior
Secured  Term  Loan  Facility”)  with  Deutsche  Bank  AG  New  York  Branch  (“Deutsche  Bank”)  and  other
lenders. On January 28, 2013, MSI entered into an amended and restated credit agreement maturing on January
28,  2020  (the  “Amended  Credit  Agreement”)  to  amend  various  terms  of  our  Senior  Secured  Term  Loan
Facility. The Amended Credit Agreement, together with the related security, guarantee and other agreements,
is referred to as the “Restated Term Loan Credit Facility”.

On  July  2,  2014,  MSI  issued  an  additional  $850.0  million  of  debt  under  the  Restated  Term  Loan
Credit Facility maturing in 2020 (“Additional Term Loan”). The Additional Term Loan was issued at 99.5% of
face  value,  resulting  in  an  effective  interest  rate  of  4.02%.  The  net  proceeds  from  this  borrowing  and  the
issuance of an additional $250.0 million of the 5.875% senior subordinated notes were used to fully redeem the
then outstanding 2018 Senior Notes and to pay the applicable make-whole premium and accrued interest.

As of January 30, 2016, the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility provides for senior secured financing
of $2,282.2 million.  MSI has the right under the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility to request additional term
loans (a) in an aggregate amount of up to $500.0 million or (b) an amount of term loans requested by MSI so
long  as  MSI’s  consolidated  secured  debt  ratio  (as  defined  in  the  Restated  Term  Loan  Credit  Facility)  is  no
more  than  3.25  to  1.00  on  a  pro  forma  basis  as  of  the  last  day  of  the  most  recently  ended  four  quarter
period.  The lenders under the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility will not be under any obligation to provide
any  such  additional  term  loans  and  the  incurrence  of  any  additional  term  loans  is  subject  to  customary
conditions precedent.

On December 28, 2015, MSI voluntarily prepaid $150.0 million in  principal of the Additional Term

Loan for an aggregate redemption price (including any unpaid interest) of $151.0 million.

Borrowings under the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to, at
MSI’s option, either (a) a base rate determined by reference to the highest of (1) the prime rate of Deutsche
Bank, (2) the federal

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funds effective rate plus 0.5%, subject to a 2% floor in the case of the Additional Term Loan,  and (3) London
Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), subject to certain adjustments, plus 1% or (b) LIBOR, subject to certain
adjustments and a 1% floor, in each case plus an applicable margin. The applicable margin is 1.75% (2.00% for
the Additional Term Loan) with respect to the base rate borrowings and 2.75% (3.00% for the Additional Term
Loan) with respect to LIBOR borrowings.  In addition, the applicable margin is subject to a 0.25% decrease
based on MSI’s consolidated secured debt ratio.  The decrease does not apply to the Additional Term Loan.

The Restated Term Loan Credit Facility requires MSI to prepay outstanding term loans with (a) 100%
of the net proceeds of any debt issued by MSI or its subsidiaries (with exceptions for certain permitted debt)
and (b) 50% of MSI’s annual excess cash flow, as defined. The 50% threshold will be reduced to 25% if MSI’s
consolidated  total  leverage  ratio,  as  defined,  is  less  than  6.00:1.00  and  will  be  reduced  to  zero  if  MSI’s
consolidated total leverage ratio is less than 5.00:1.00.

MSI must offer to prepay outstanding term loans at 100% of the principal amount, plus any unpaid
interest,  with  the  proceeds  of  certain  asset  sales  or  casualty  events  under  certain  circumstances.    MSI  may
voluntarily  prepay  outstanding  loans  under  the  Restated  Term  Loan  Credit  Facility  at  any  time  without
premium or penalty other than customary breakage costs with respect to LIBOR loans.

MSI  is  required  to  make  scheduled  quarterly  payments  equal  to  0.25%  of  the  original  principal
amount of the term loans, subject to adjustments relating to the incurrence of additional term loans for the first
six years and three quarters of the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility, with the balance paid on January 28,
2020.

All obligations under the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility are unconditionally guaranteed, jointly
and severally, by Michaels Funding, Inc. (“Holdings”) and all of MSI’s existing domestic material subsidiaries
and  are  required  to  be  guaranteed  by  certain  of  MSI’s  future  domestic  wholly-owned  material  subsidiaries
(“the  Subsidiary  Guarantors”).  We  are  in  the  process  of  joining  certain  of  our  subsidiaries  acquired  in  the
Lamrite  transaction  as  Subsidiary  Guarantors  under  the  Restated  Term  Loan  Credit  Facility. All  obligations
under the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility, and the guarantees of those obligations, are secured, subject to
certain  exceptions,  by  substantially  all  of  the  assets  of  Holdings,  MSI  and  the  Subsidiary  Guarantors,
including:

·

·

·

a  first-priority  pledge  of  MSI’s  capital  stock  and  all  of  the  capital  stock  held  directly  by  MSI
and the Subsidiary Guarantors (which pledge, in the case of any foreign subsidiary, is limited to
65% of the voting stock of such foreign subsidiary and 100% of the non-voting stock of such
subsidiary);

a  first-priority  security  interest  in,  and  mortgages  on,  substantially  all  other  tangible  and
intangible assets of Holdings, MSI and each Subsidiary Guarantor, including substantially all of
MSI’s  and  its  subsidiaries’  owned  real  property  and  equipment,  but  excluding,  among  other
things, the collateral described below; and

a  second-priority  security  interest  in  personal  property  consisting  of  inventory  and  related
accounts,  cash,  deposit  accounts,  all  payments  received  by  Holdings,  MSI  or  the  Subsidiary
Guarantors from credit card clearinghouses and processors or otherwise in respect of all credit
card charges and debit card charges for sales of inventory by Holdings, MSI and the Subsidiary
Guarantors, and certain related assets and proceeds of the foregoing.

The  Restated  Term  Loan  Credit  Facility  contains  a  number  of  negative  covenants  that  are
substantially  similar  to,  but  more  restrictive  in  certain  respects  than,  those  governing  the  2020  Senior
Subordinated  Notes  (as  defined  below),  as  well  as  certain  other  customary  representations  and  warranties,
affirmative and negative covenants and events of default. As of January 30, 2016, MSI was in compliance with
all covenants.

5.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2020

On  December  19,  2013,  MSI  issued  $260.0  million  in  principal  amount  of 5.875%  senior
subordinated notes maturing in 2020 (“2020 Senior Subordinated Notes”). Interest is payable semi-annually on
June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on June 15, 2014. MSI used the net proceeds of these
notes to redeem the outstanding 11.375% 

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senior  subordinated  notes  due  November  1,  2016,  to  pay  the  applicable  redemption  premium  and  unpaid
interest and to pay other related costs. 

On June 16, 2014, MSI issued an additional $250.0 million of the 2020 Senior Subordinated Notes at
102% of face value, resulting in an effective interest rate of 5.76%. The net proceeds from this borrowing, and
the $850.0 million Additional Term Loan, were used to fully redeem the outstanding 2018 Senior Notes and to
pay the applicable make-whole premium and accrued interest.

The 2020 Senior Subordinated Notes are guaranteed, jointly and severally, fully and unconditionally,
on an unsecured senior subordinated basis, by each of MSI’s subsidiaries that guarantee indebtedness under the
Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility  and  the  Restated  Term  Loan  Credit  Facility  (collectively  defined  as  the
“Senior Secured Credit Facilities”). We are in the process of joining certain of our subsidiaries acquired in the
Lamrite transaction as Subsidiary Guarantors under the 2020 Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture (as defined
below).

The  2020  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  and  the  guarantees  are  MSI’s  and  the  guarantors’  unsecured
senior subordinated obligations and are (i) subordinated in right of payment to all of MSI’s and the guarantors’
existing  and  future  senior  debt,  including  the  Senior  Secured  Credit  Facilities;  (ii)  rank  equally  in  right  of
payment to all of MSI’s and the guarantors’ future senior subordinated debt; (iii) effectively subordinated to all
of MSI’s and the guarantors’ existing and future secured debt (including the Senior Secured Credit Facilities)
to  the  extent  of  the  value  of  the  assets  securing  such  debt;  (iv)  rank  senior  in  right  of  payment  to  all  of  the
MSI’s  and  the  guarantors’  existing  and  future  debt  and  other  obligations  that  are,  by  their  terms,  expressly
subordinated in right of payment to the 2020 Senior Subordinated Notes; and (v) are structurally subordinated
to all obligations of MSI’s subsidiaries that are not guarantors of the 2020 Senior Subordinated Notes.

At  any  time  prior  to  December  15,  2016,  MSI  may  redeem  all  or  a  part  of  the  2020  Senior
Subordinated Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount redeemed plus a make-whole
premium,  as  provided  in  the  indenture  governing  the  2020  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  (“2020  Senior
Subordinated  Notes  Indenture”),  and  any  unpaid  interest  to  the  date  of  redemption,  subject  to  the  right  of
holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

On and after December 15, 2016, MSI may redeem all or part of the 2020 Senior Subordinated Notes,
upon  notice,  at  the  redemption  prices  (expressed  as  percentages  of  the  principal  amount  of  the  2020  Senior
Subordinated Notes to be redeemed) set forth below, plus any unpaid interest thereon to the applicable date of
redemption,  if  redeemed  during  the  twelve-month  period  beginning  on  December  15  of  each  of  the  years
indicated below:

Year
2016
2017
2018 and
thereafter  

Percentage
102.938 %  
101.469 %  

100.000 %  

In addition, until December 15, 2016, MSI may, at its option, on one or more occasions redeem up to
40%  of  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of  the  2020  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  with  the  aggregate  principal
amount  to  be  redeemed  (“Equity  Offering  Redemption  Amount”)  not  to  exceed  an  amount  equal  to  the
aggregate gross proceeds from one or more equity offerings (as defined in the 2020 Senior Subordinated Notes
Indenture),  at  a  redemption  price  equal  to  105.875%  of  the  aggregate  principal  amount,  plus  any  unpaid
interest,  provided  that  (i)  each  such  redemption  occurs  within  120  days  of  the  date  of  closing  of  each  such
equity  offering;  (ii)  proceeds  in  an  amount  equal  to  or  exceeding  the  applicable  equity  offering  redemption
amount shall be received by, or contributed to the capital of MSI or any of its restricted subsidiaries and (iii) at
least  50%  of  the  sum  of  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of  the  2020  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  remains
outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption.

Upon a change in control, MSI is required to offer to purchase all of the 2020 Senior Subordinated
Notes at a price in cash equal to 101% of the aggregate principal amount, plus any unpaid interest. The 2020
Senior  Subordinated  Indenture  contains  covenants  limiting  MSI’s  ability,  and  the  ability  of  MSI’s  restricted
subsidiaries, to incur or guarantee

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additional  debt,  prepay  debt  that  is  subordinated  to  the  2020  Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  issue  stock  of
subsidiaries,  make  certain  investments,  loans,  advances  and  acquisitions,  create  liens  on  MSI’s  and  such
subsidiaries’  assets  to  secure  debt,  enter  into  transactions  with  affiliates,  merge  or  consolidate  with  another
company; and sell or otherwise transfer assets. The covenants also limit MSI’s ability, and the ability of MSI’s
restricted  subsidiaries,  to  pay  dividends  or  distributions  on  MSI’s  capital  stock  or  repurchase  MSI’s  capital
stock,  subject  to  certain  exceptions,  including  dividends,  distributions  and  repurchases  up  to  an  amount  in
excess of (i) $100.0 million plus (ii) a basket that builds based on 50% of MSI’s consolidated net income (as
defined in the 2020 Senior Subordinated Indenture) and certain other amounts, in each case, to the extent such
payment  capacity  is  not  applied  as  otherwise  permitted  under  the  2020  Senior  Subordinated  Indenture  and
subject  to  certain  conditions.  As  of  January  30,  2016,  the  permitted  restricted  payment  amount  was
$268.6 million.  As of January 30, 2016, MSI was in compliance with all covenants.

Restated Revolving Credit Facility

On February 18, 2010, MSI entered into an agreement to amend and restate various terms of the then
existing  asset-based  revolving  credit  facility  dated  October  31,  2006  (as  amended  and  restated,  the  “Senior
Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility”). On September 17, 2012, MSI entered into a second amended
and restated credit agreement (the “Restated Credit Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Bank, National Association
(“Wells Fargo”) and other lenders to amend various terms of our Senior Secured Asset-Based Revolving Credit
Facility.  On  June  6,  2014,  MSI  amended  its  Restated  Credit Agreement  to,  among  other  things,  permit  the
incurrence of the Additional Term Loan and refinancing of the 2018 Senior Notes with the net proceeds of the
2020 Senior Subordinated Notes and the Additional Term Loan. The Restated Credit Agreement, together with
related security, guarantee and other agreements, is referred to as the “Restated Revolving Credit Facility”.

The Restated Revolving Credit Facility provides for senior secured financing of up to $650.0 million,
subject to a borrowing base, and matures on September 17, 2017 (“ABL Maturity Date”). The borrowing base
under the Restated Revolving Credit Facility equals the sum of (i) 90% of eligible credit card receivables and
debit card receivables, plus (ii) 90% of the appraised net orderly liquidation value of eligible inventory, plus
(iii)  the  lesser  of  (a)  90%  of  the  appraised  net  orderly  liquidation  value  of  inventory  supported  by  eligible
letters of credit and (b) 90% of the face amount of eligible letters of credit, minus (iv) certain reserves.

As of January 30, 2016 and January 31, 2015, the borrowing base was $650.0 million, of which MSI
had availability of $586.8 million and $587.6 million, respectively. Borrowing capacity is available for letters
of  credit  and  borrowings  on  same-day  notice.  Outstanding  standby  letters  of  credit  as  of  January  30,  2016
totaled $63.2 million.

The  Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility  also  provides  MSI  with  the  right  to  request  up  to  $200.0
million of additional commitments. The lenders will not be under any obligation to provide any such additional
commitments,  and  any  increase  in  commitments  is  subject  to  customary  conditions.  If  we  were  to  request
additional commitments, and the lenders were to agree to provide such commitments, the facility size could be
increased up to $850.0 million, however, MSI’s ability to borrow would still be limited by the borrowing base.

Borrowings under the Restated Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal to, at
our option, either (a) a base rate determined by reference to the highest of (1) the prime rate of Wells Fargo,
(2)  the  federal  funds  effective  rate  plus  0.50%  and  (3)  LIBOR  subject  to  certain  adjustments  plus  1.00%  or
(b) LIBOR subject to certain adjustments, in each case plus an applicable margin. The initial applicable margin
is (a) 0.75% for prime rate borrowings and 1.75% for LIBOR borrowings. The applicable margin is subject to
adjustment  each  fiscal  quarter  based  on  the  excess  availability  under  the  Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility.
Same-day borrowings bear interest at the base rate plus the applicable margin.

MSI  is  required  to  pay  a  commitment  fee  on  the  unutilized  commitments  under  the  Restated
Revolving Credit Facility, which initially is 0.375% per annum. The commitment fee is subject to adjustment
each fiscal quarter. If average daily excess availability is less than or equal to 50% of the total commitments,
the commitment fee will be 0.25% per annum. If average daily excess availability is greater than 50% of the
total commitments, the commitment fee will be 0.375%. In addition, MSI must pay customary letter of credit
fees and agency fees.

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All  obligations  under  the  Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility  are  unconditionally  guaranteed,  jointly
and  severally,  by  Holdings  and  all  of  MSI’s  existing  domestic  material  subsidiaries  and  are  required  to  be
guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors. We are in the process of joining certain of our subsidiaries acquired
in  the  Lamrite  transaction  as  Subsidiary  Gurantors  under  the  Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility.  All
obligations under the Restated Revolving Credit Facility, and the guarantees of those obligations, are secured,
subject to certain exceptions, by substantially all of the assets of Holdings, MSI and the Subsidiary Guarantors,
including:

·

·

·

a  first-priority  security  interest  in  personal  property  consisting  of  inventory  and  related
accounts,  cash,  deposit  accounts,  all  payments  received  by  Holdings,  MSI  or  the  Subsidiary
Guarantors from credit card clearinghouses and processors or otherwise in respect of all credit
card charges and debit card charges for sales of inventory by Holdings, MSI and the Subsidiary
Guarantors, and certain related assets and proceeds of the foregoing;

a second-priority pledge of all of MSI’s capital stock and the capital stock held directly by MSI
and  the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  (which  pledge,  in  the  case  of  the  capital  stock  of  any  foreign
subsidiary,  is  limited  to  65%  of  the  voting  stock  of  such  foreign  subsidiary  and  100%  of  the
non-voting stock of such subsidiary); and

a  second-priority  security  interest  in,  and  mortgages  on,  substantially  all  other  tangible  and
intangible assets of Holdings, MSI and each Subsidiary Guarantor, including substantially all of
MSI’s and its subsidiaries’ owned real property and equipment.

If, at any time, the aggregate amount of outstanding loans, unreimbursed letter of credit drawings and
undrawn letters of credit under the Restated Revolving Credit Facility exceeds the lesser of (i) the commitment
amount and (ii) the borrowing base (the “Loan Cap”), MSI will be required to repay outstanding loans and cash
collateralized  letters  of  credit  in  an  aggregate  amount  equal  to  such  excess,  with  no  reduction  of  the
commitment amount. If excess availability under the Restated Revolving Credit Facility is less than (i) 12.5%
of  the  Loan  Cap  for  five  consecutive  business  days,  or  (ii)  $65.0  million  at  any  time,  or  if  certain  events  of
default have occurred, MSI will be required to repay outstanding loans and cash collateralized letters of credit
with  the  cash  MSI  is  required  to  deposit  daily  in  a  collection  account  maintained  with  the  agent  under  the
Restated Revolving Credit Facility. Excess availability under the Restated Revolving Credit Facility means the
lesser  of  the  Loan  Cap  minus  the  outstanding  credit  extensions.  MSI  may  voluntarily  reduce  the  unutilized
portion of the commitment amount and repay outstanding loans at any time without premium or penalty, other
than  customary  breakage  costs  with  respect  to  LIBOR  loans.  There  is  no  scheduled  amortization  under  the
Restated Revolving Credit Facility. The principal amount of the loans outstanding is due and payable in full on
the ABL Maturity Date.

The  covenants  limiting  dividends  and  other  restricted  payments,  investments,  loans,  advances  and
acquisitions,  and  prepayments  or  redemptions  of  indebtedness,  each  permit  the  restricted  actions  in  an
unlimited  amount,  subject  to  the  satisfaction  of  certain  payment  conditions,  principally  that  MSI  must  meet
specified excess availability requirements and minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratios, to be tested
on a pro forma and six months projected basis. Adjusted EBITDA, as defined in the Restated Revolving Credit
Facility, is used in the calculation of the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratios.

From the time when MSI has excess availability less than the greater of (a) 10% of the Loan Cap and
(b) $50.0 million, until the time when MSI has excess availability greater than the greater of (a) 10% of the
Loan Cap and (b) $50.0 million for 30 consecutive days, the Restated Revolving Credit Facility will require
MSI  to  maintain  a  consolidated  fixed  charge  coverage  ratio  of  at  least  1.0  to  1.0.  The  Restated  Revolving
Credit  Facility  also  contains  certain  customary  representations  and  warranties,  affirmative  covenants  and
provisions relating to events of default (including change of control and cross-default to material indebtedness).

The Restated Revolving Credit Facility contains a number of covenants that, among other things and

subject to certain exceptions, restrict MSI’s ability, and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries, to:

·

incur or guarantee additional indebtedness;

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·

·

·

·

·

·

·

·

pay dividends on MSI’s capital stock or redeem, repurchase or retire MSI’s capital stock;

make investments, loans, advances and acquisitions;

create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to MSI from its restricted
subsidiaries;

engage in transactions with MSI’s affiliates;

sell assets, including capital stock of MSI’s subsidiaries;

prepay or redeem indebtedness;

consolidate or merge; and

create liens.

PIK Toggle Notes

On  July  29,  2013,  Michaels  FinCo  Holdings,  LLC  (“FinCo  Holdings”)  and  Michaels  FinCo,  Inc.
(“FinCo Inc.”) issued $800.0 million aggregate principal amount of PIK Notes in a private transaction. Interest
was  payable  semi-annually  on  February  1  and August  1  of  each  year  until  maturity  on August  1,  2018.  The
proceeds  from  the  debt  issuance  totaled $782.4  million,  after  deducting  the  debt  issuance  costs.  FinCo
Holdings distributed the net proceeds to the Company which were used to fund a cash dividend, distribution
and other payments to the Company's equity and equity-award holders and to pay related costs.

On July 2, 2014, the Company completed an IPO and received net proceeds totaling $445.7 million. 
The net proceeds were used to redeem $439.1 million of the outstanding PIK Notes and to pay other expenses
of the offering. The aggregate redemption price (including redemption premium and any unpaid interest) was
$473.5  million.  On  December  10,  2014,  the  Company  redeemed  $180.0  million  of  the  PIK  Notes  for  an
aggregate redemption price (including redemption premium and any unpaid interest) of $188.4 million.

On  May  6,  2015,  the  Company  redeemed  the  remaining  $180.9  million  of  the  PIK  Notes  for  an
aggregate redemption price (including redemption premium and any unpaid interest) of $188.0 million. This
final  payment  retired  the  PIK  Notes  and  discharged  the  obligations  under  the  indenture  governing  the  PIK
Notes.

7.75% Senior Notes due 2018

On October 21, 2010, MSI issued $800.0 million aggregate principal amount of 7.75% senior notes
that matured on November 1, 2018 (“Senior Notes”) at a discounted price of 99.262% of face value, resulting
in an effective interest rate of 7.875%. Interest was payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1 and November 1
of each year, commencing on May 1, 2011. On September 27, 2012, MSI issued an additional $200.0 million
aggregate  principal  amount  (the  “Additional  Senior  Notes”  and,  together  with  the  Senior  Notes,  the  “2018
Senior  Notes”)  of  Senior  Notes  under  the  indenture  (the  “2018  Senior  Indenture”).    The Additional  Senior
Notes were issued at a premium of 106.25% of face value, resulting in an effective interest rate of 6.50%. On
July 16, 2014 and August 1, 2014, we redeemed the 2018 Senior Notes in the aggregate principal amounts of
$235.0 million and $765.0 million, respectively, plus the applicable make-whole premium and accrued interest,
and the 2018 Senior Indenture was discharged.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4)(ii) of Regulation S-K.  We
do not typically enter into off-balance sheet arrangements, except for arrangements related to operating lease
commitments,  service  contract  commitments  and  trade  letters  of  credit,  as  disclosed  in  the  contractual
obligations  table  below.  Neither  we  nor  our  subsidiaries  typically  guarantee  the  obligations  of  unrelated
parties.

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Contractual Obligations

As of January 30, 2016, our contractual obligations were as follows (in thousands):

Payments Due By Fiscal Year

Total

     Less Than       
1 Year

1-3 Years

3-5 Years

     More Than  
5 Years

Total debt (1)
Operating lease commitments (2)
Interest payments (3)
Other commitments (4)

  $ 2,792,150   $ 24,900   $ 49,800   $ 2,717,450   $

 —  
  1,958,997     400,096     663,331     437,466     458,104  
 —  
  496,288     120,051     232,934    
 —  
  101,683     87,118     14,037    
  $ 5,349,118   $ 632,165   $ 960,102   $ 3,298,747   $ 458,104  

143,303    
528    

(1) Total  debt  includes  only  principal  payments  owed  on  2020  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  and  Restated
Term  Loan  Credit  Facility.    The  amounts  shown  above  do  not  include  unamortized  premium/discount
and  deferred  debt  issuance  costs  reflected  in  the  Company’s  consolidated  balance  sheets  since  those
excluded amounts do not represent contractual obligations.

(2) Our  operating  lease  commitments  generally  include  non-cancelable  leases  for  property  and  equipment
used  in  our  operations.  Excluded  from  our  operating  lease  commitments  are  amounts  related  to
insurance, taxes, and common area maintenance associated with property and equipment. Such amounts
historically  represented  approximately 32%  of  the  total  lease  obligation  over  the  previous  three  fiscal
years.

(3) Debt associated with our Restated Term Loan Credit Facility was $2,282.2 million at January 30, 2016,
and is subject to variable interest rates. The amounts included in interest payments  in  the  table  for  the
Restated Term Loan Credit Facility were based on the indexed interest rate in effect at January 30, 2016.
Debt associated with the 2020 Senior Subordinated Notes was $510.0 million at January 30, 2016, and
was  subject  to  fixed  interest  rates.  We  had  no  outstanding  borrowings  under  our  Restated  Revolving
Credit Facility at January 30, 2016. Under our Restated Revolving Credit Facility, we are required to pay
a  commitment  fee  of  0.375%  per  year  on  the  unutilized  commitments,  subject  to  an  adjustment  each
fiscal quarter. The amounts included in interest payments for the Restated Revolving Credit Facility were
based on these annual commitment fees.

(4) Other commitments include trade letters of credit and service contract obligations. Our service contract
obligations were calculated based on the time period remaining in the contract or to the earliest possible
date of termination, if permitted to be terminated by Michaels upon notice, whichever is shorter.

Non-GAAP Measures

The  following  table  sets  forth  certain  non-GAAP  measures  the  Company  uses  to  manage  our
performance  and  measure  compliance  with  certain  debt  covenants.  The  Company  defines  “EBITDA
(excluding  losses  on  early  extinguishments  of  debt  and  refinancing  costs)”  as  net  income  before  interest,
income  taxes,  depreciation,  amortization  and  losses  on  early  extinguishments  of  debt  and  refinancing  costs.
The  Company  defines  “Adjusted  EBITDA”  as  EBITDA  (excluding  losses  on  early  extinguishments  of  debt
and refinancing costs) adjusted for certain defined amounts in accordance with the Company’s Restated Term
Loan Credit Facility and Restated Revolving Credit Facility (collectively, the “Adjustments”).

The  Company  has  presented  EBITDA  (excluding  losses  on  early  extinguishments  of  debt  and
refinancing  costs)  and  Adjusted  EBITDA  to  provide  investors  with  additional  information  to  evaluate  our
operating performance and our ability to service our debt.  Adjusted EBITDA is a required calculation under
the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Facilities. As it relates to the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, Adjusted
EBITDA  is  used  in  the  calculations  of  fixed  charge  coverage  and  leverage  ratios,  which,  under  certain
circumstances  determine  mandatory  repayments  or  maintenance  covenants  and  may  restrict  the  Company’s
ability  to  make  certain  payments  (characterized  as  restricted  payments),  investments  (including  acquisitions)
and debt repayments.

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As EBITDA (excluding losses on early extinguishments of debt and refinancing costs) and Adjusted
EBITDA are not measures of operating performance or liquidity calculated in accordance with U.S. generally
accepted  accounting  principles  (“GAAP”),  these  measures  should  not  be  considered  in  isolation  of,  or  as  a
substitute  for,  net  income,  as  an  indicator  of  operating  performance,  or  net  cash  provided  by  operating
activities as an indicator of liquidity.  Our computation of EBITDA (excluding losses on early extinguishments
of debt and refinancing costs) and Adjusted EBITDA may differ from similarly titled measures used by other
companies.

The following table shows a reconciliation of EBITDA (excluding losses on early extinguishments of
debt and refinancing costs) and Adjusted EBITDA to net income and net cash provided by operating activities
(in thousands):

Net cash provided by operating activities
Depreciation and amortization
Share-based compensation
Debt issuance costs amortization
Accretion of long-term debt, net
Deferred income taxes
Losses on early extinguishments of debt and refinancing costs
Gains (losses) on disposition of property and equipment
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation
Other
Changes in assets and liabilities
Net income
Interest expense
Provision for income taxes
Depreciation and amortization
Losses on early extinguishments of debt and refinancing costs
Interest income
EBITDA (excluding losses on early extinguishments of debt and
refinancing costs)
Adjustments:

Share-based compensation
Management fees to Sponsors and others
Transition costs
Severance costs
Store pre-opening costs
Store remodel costs
Foreign currency transaction losses
Store closing costs
IPO costs
Other (1)

Adjusted EBITDA

2015

2013

(19,387)    
(10,333)    
516    
(15,282)    

Fiscal Year
2014
  $ 504,047   $ 441,997   $ 448,989  
  (110,858)     (105,939) 
(34,262) 
(10,195) 
1,310  
4,030  
  (74,312)     (14,420) 
156  
13  
(545) 
(45,707) 
  217,395     243,430  
  198,409     214,497  
  133,639     135,905  
  110,858     105,939  
14,420  
(278) 

  (114,756) 
(15,064) 
(8,467) 
150  
(8,611) 
(8,485) 
25  
14,507  
 —  
(434) 
  362,912  
  139,405  
  209,208  
  114,756  
8,485  
(615) 

(3,995)    
5,081    
 —    
3,968    

74,312    
(363)    

  834,151     734,250     713,913  

15,064  
 —  
 —  
2,733  
4,858  
4,554  
579  
(104) 
 —  
4,336  

34,262  
13,695  
1,510  
5,345  
4,798  
7,100  
1,777  
5,050  
 —  
4,886  
  $ 866,171   $ 812,819   $ 792,336  

19,387    
35,682    
230    
4,123    
5,172    
3,886    
2,757    
1,931    
2,134    
3,267    

(1) Other  adjustments  primarily  relate  to  items  such  as  moving  and  relocation  expenses,  the  Lamrite

acquisition, franchise taxes, sign on bonuses and certain legal expenses.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

We  have  prepared  our  consolidated  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  U.S.  GAAP.  These
consolidated  financial  statements  include  some  amounts  that  are  based  on  our  informed  judgments  and
estimates. Our significant accounting policies are discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements.
Our  critical  accounting  policies  represent  those  policies  that  are  subject  to  judgments  and  uncertainties.  The
following discussion addresses our most

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critical accounting policies, which are those that are both important to the portrayal of our financial condition
and results of operations and that require significant judgment or use of complex estimates. 

Merchandise Inventories.  Merchandise  inventories  are  valued  at  the  lower  of  cost  or  market,  with
cost determined using a weighted-average method. Cost is calculated based upon the purchase price of an item
at the time it is received by us, and also includes the cost of warehousing, handling, purchasing, and importing,
as well as inbound and outbound transportation, partially offset by vendor allowances. This net inventory cost
is  recognized  through  cost  of  sales  when  the  inventory  is  sold.    It  is  impractical  for  us  to  assign  specific
allocated  overhead  costs  and  vendor  allowances  to  individual  units  of  inventory.  As  such,  to  match  net
inventory costs against the related revenues, we estimate the net inventory costs to be deferred and recognized
each period as the inventory is sold.

We utilize perpetual inventory records to value inventory in our stores. Physical inventory counts are
performed  in  a  significant  number  of  stores  during  each  fiscal  quarter  by  a  third-party  inventory  counting
service, with substantially all stores open longer than one year subject to at least one count each fiscal year.
We  adjust  our  perpetual  records  based  on  the  results  of  the  physical  counts.  We  maintain  a  provision  for
estimated  shrinkage  based  on  the  actual  historical  results  of  our  physical  inventories.  We  compare  our
estimates to the actual results of the physical inventory counts as they are taken and adjust the shrink estimates
accordingly.  A  10%  change  in  our  estimated  shrinkage  reserve  would  have  affected  net  income  by  $0.9
million for fiscal 2015. We also evaluate our merchandise to ensure that the expected net realizable value of
the merchandise held at the end of a fiscal period exceeds cost.  In the event that the expected net realizable
value  is  less  than  cost,  we  reduce  the  value  of  that  inventory  accordingly. A  10%  change  in  our  inventory
valuation reserve would have affected net income by $0.7 million in fiscal 2015.

Vendor allowances, which primarily represent volume rebates and cooperative advertising funds, are
recorded as a reduction of the cost of the merchandise inventories and a subsequent reduction in cost of sales
when  the  inventory  is  sold.  We  generally  earn  vendor  allowances  as  a  percentage  of  certain  merchandise
purchases with no minimum purchase requirements. As a result of our increased direct import volume, vendor
allowances,  as  a  percentage  of  net  sales,  have  been  declining  and  we  expect  this  trend  to  continue  in  future
years.

Goodwill. We review goodwill for impairment each year in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if
events occur which indicate a potential reduction in the fair value of our reporting unit’s net assets below its
carrying value. We have elected to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely
than not (that is, a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of our reporting unit is less than its
carrying  value.  Factors  used  in  our  qualitative  assessment  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  macroeconomic
conditions, industry and market conditions, cost factors, overall financial performance, Company and reporting
unit specific events, and the difference between the fair value and carrying value in recent valuations.

If, after assessing the totality of events or circumstances such as those described above, we determine
that it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting unit is greater than its carrying amount, no
further action is required. If we determine that it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting unit
is less than its carrying amount, we will compare the reporting unit’s carrying value to its estimated fair value,
determined  through  estimated  discounted  future  cash  flows  and  market-based  methodologies.  If  the  carrying
value exceeds the estimated fair value, we determine the fair value of all assets and liabilities of the reporting
unit,  including  the  implied  fair  value  of  goodwill.  If  the  carrying  value  of  goodwill  exceeds  the  implied  fair
value, we recognize an impairment charge equal to the difference.

Factors  used  in  the  valuation  of  goodwill  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  management’s  plans  for
future  operations,  recent  operating  results  and  discounted  projected  future  cash  flows.  Material  assumptions
used  in  our  impairment  analysis  include  the  weighted-average  cost  of  capital,  terminal  growth  rate  and
forecasted long-term sales growth. During fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, there was no impairment charge taken
on our goodwill.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets. We evaluate long-lived assets, other than goodwill and assets with
indefinite  lives,  for  indicators  of  impairment  whenever  events  or  changes  in  circumstances  indicate  their
carrying  amounts  may  not  be  recoverable.  Additionally,  for  store  assets,  we  evaluate  the  performance  of
individual stores for indicators of impairment and underperforming stores are selected for further evaluation of
the recoverability of the carrying amounts. The evaluation of long-lived assets is performed at the lowest level
of identifiable cash flows, which is at the individual store level.

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Our  evaluation  requires  consideration  of  a  number  of  factors  including  changes  in  consumer
demographics and uncertain future events. Accordingly, our accounting estimates may change from period to
period. These factors could cause management to conclude impairment indicators exist and require that tests be
performed, which could result in a determination that the value of long-lived assets is impaired, resulting in a
write down to fair value.

Our  initial  indicator  that  store  assets  are  considered  to  be  recoverable  is  that  the  estimated
undiscounted  cash  flows  for  the  remaining  lease  term,  assuming  zero  growth  over  current  year  store
performance, exceed the carrying value of the assets. This evaluation is performed on stores open longer than
12 months (unless significant impairment indicators exist). Any stores that do not meet the initial criteria are
further  evaluated  taking  into  consideration  the  estimated  undiscounted  store-specific  cash  flows  for  the
remaining lease term compared to the carrying value of the assets. To estimate store-specific future cash flows,
management  must  make  assumptions  about  key  store  variables,  including  sales,  growth  rate,  gross  margin,
payroll  and  other  controllable  expenses.  Furthermore,  management  considers  other  factors  when  evaluating
stores for impairment, including the individual store’s execution of its operating plan and other local market
conditions.  If  actual  results  differ  from  these  estimates,  we  may  be  exposed  to  additional  impairment  losses
that may be material.

An  impairment  is  recognized  once  all  the  factors  noted  above  are  taken  into  consideration  and  it  is
determined  the  carrying  amount  of  the  store’s  assets  are  not  recoverable.  The  impairment  is  based  on  the
estimated fair value of the assets, excluding assets that can be redeployed. In addition to recording impairment
charges based on the previously discussed criteria, we maintain a list of stores we consider at risk and monitor
those stores closely.

Self-Insurance. We have insurance coverage for losses in excess of self-insurance limits for medical
claims, general liability and workers’ compensation claims.  Our liability represents an estimate of the ultimate
cost of claims incurred as of the balance sheet dates. The estimated liability is not discounted and is established
based upon analysis of historical data and actuarial estimates. While we believe these estimates are reasonable
based  on  the  information  currently  available,  if  actual  trends,  including  the  severity  or  frequency  of  claims,
medical cost inflation, or fluctuations in premiums differ from our estimates, our results of operations could be
impacted. A  10%  change  in  our  self-insurance  reserves  would  have  affected  net  income  by  $4.0  million  in
fiscal 2015.

Share-Based  Compensation.  ASC  718, Stock  Compensation (“ASC  718”)  requires  all  share-based
payments  to  employees,  including  grants  of  employee  stock  options  and  restricted  shares,  to  be  recognized
using the fair value method of accounting.  During fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and the last quarter of fiscal 2013,
the Company measured share-based compensation using the grant date fair value accounting guidance of ASC
718.  During the first three quarters of fiscal 2013, the Company determined its employee stock options should
be  recorded  under  the  liability  accounting  guidance  of  ASC  718.    As  such,  we  measured  share-based
compensation  based  on  either  the  grant  date  fair  value  of  the  equity  awards  or  the  fair  value  of  our  option
awards at the end of the period.  Share-based awards are recognized ratably over the requisite service period.

All grants of our stock options have an exercise price equal to or greater than the fair market value of
our common stock on the date of grant. Because we were privately held prior to June 27, 2014 and there was
no public market for the common stock, the fair value of our equity was estimated by our management, relying
in part on an independent appraisal of the fair market value by a third-party valuation firm, and approved by
our Board at the time option grants were awarded.  For fiscal 2013 through the second quarter of fiscal 2014,
valuations completed relied on projections of our future performance, estimates of our weighted-average cost
of  capital,  and  metrics  based  on  the  performance  of  a  peer  group  of  similar  companies,  including  valuation
multiples  and  stock  price  volatility.  Following  our  IPO,  the  exercise  price  of  stock  options  are  based  on  the
closing market price of our common stock on the grant date.

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The following table details information on stock options granted by quarter for fiscal 2015:

  Number      

Quarter end date
May 2, 2015
August 1, 2015
October 31, 2015
January 30, 2016

     of options         

     Fair value of     
granted   Exercise   common stock  

Fair value
of
option

(in
thousands)  

price
188   $ 28.61   $
28.25    
77    
23.10    
1,330    
22.30    
80    

at grant

at grant

28.61   $
28.25    
23.10    
22.30    

6.80  
6.72  
5.86  
5.96  

Other  assumptions  used  in  the  option  value  models  for  estimating  the  fair  value  of  stock  option
awards include expected volatility of our common stock share price, expected terms of the options, expected
dividends and historical risk-free rates. The expected volatility rate is based on our historical volatility as well
as historical and implied volatilities from the exchange-traded options on the common stock of a peer group of
companies.  We  utilize  historical  exercise  and  post-vesting  employment  behavior  to  estimate  the  expected
terms of the options and assume a zero dividend rate. The risk-free interest rate is based on the yields of U.S.
Treasury  instruments  with  approximately  the  same  term  as  the  expected  life  of  the  stock  option  award.  Our
forfeiture  assumptions  are  estimated  based  on  historical  experience  and  anticipated  events.  We  update  our
assumptions quarterly based on historical trends and current market observations.

Income Taxes.  Income taxes are estimated for each jurisdiction in which we operate.  This involves
assessing current tax exposure together with temporary differences resulting from differing treatment of items
for  tax  and  financial  statement  accounting  purposes.    Any  resulting  deferred  tax  assets  are  evaluated  for
recoverability  based  on  estimated  future  taxable  income.    To  the  extent  recovery  is  deemed  not  likely,  a
valuation allowance is recorded. Our evaluation regarding whether a valuation allowance is required or should
be adjusted also considers, among other things, the nature, frequency, and severity of recent losses, forecasts of
future profitability and the duration of statutory carryforward periods.

ITEM 7A.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

Foreign Currency Risk

We are exposed to fluctuations in exchange rates between the U.S. and Canadian dollar, which is the
functional currency of our Canadian subsidiaries. Our sales, costs and expenses of our Canadian subsidiaries,
when translated into U.S. dollars, can fluctuate due to exchange rate movement. As of January 30, 2016, a 10%
increase  or  decrease  in  the  exchange  rate  of  the  Canadian  dollar  would  increase  or  decrease  net  income  by
approximately $4 million for fiscal 2015.

Interest Rate Risk

We  have  market  risk  exposure  arising  from  changes  in  interest  rates  on  our  Restated  Term  Loan
Credit  Facility  and  our  Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility.  See  “Item  7.  Management’s  Discussion  and
Analysis  of  Financial  Condition  and  Results  of  Operations  —  Liquidity  and  Capital  Resources  —  Debt”  for
further detail. The interest rates on our Restated Term Loan Credit Facility and our Restated Revolving Credit
Facility will reprice periodically, which will impact our earnings and cash flow. The interest rate on our 2020
Senior  Subordinated  Notes  is  fixed.    Based  on  our  overall  interest  rate  exposure  to  variable  rate  debt
outstanding as of January 30,  2016,  a  1% change  in  interest  rates  would  increase  or  decrease  income  before
income  taxes  by $22.8 million. A  1%  change  in  interest  rates  would  impact  the  fair  value  of  our  long-term
fixed  rate  debt  by $13.0 million.  A change in interest rates would not materially affect the fair value of our
variable rate debt as the debt reprices periodically.

Inflation Risk

We  do  not  believe  inflation  and  changing  commodity  prices  have  had  a  material  impact  on  our  net
sales, income from continuing operations, plans for expansion or other capital expenditures for any year during
the three-year period ended January 30, 2016. However, we cannot be sure inflation and changing commodity
prices  will  not  have  an  adverse  impact  on  our  operating  results,  financial  condition,  plans  for  expansion  or
other capital expenditures in future periods.

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ITEM 8.  CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.

See  the  Index  to  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  and  Supplementary  Data  on  page  F-1.  The
Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data are included on pages F-2 through F-35  and  are
incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 9.  CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.

Not applicable.

ITEM 9A.  CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K are certifications by   our  Chief  Executive  Officer and
our Chief Financial Officer, which are required in accordance with Rule 15d-14 of the Securities Exchange Act
of  1934,  as  amended.  This  section  includes  information  concerning  the  controls  and  controls  evaluation
referred to in the certifications.  Page F-2 of this Report includes the attestation report of Ernst & Young LLP,
our  independent  registered  public  accounting  firm,  regarding  its  audit  of  the  effectiveness  of  our  internal
control  over  financial  reporting.    This  section  should  be  read  in  conjunction  with  the  Ernst  &  Young  LLP
attestation for a complete understanding of this section.

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We  maintain  a  set  of  disclosure  controls  and  procedures  (as  defined  in  Rules  13a-15(e)  and  15d-
15(e)  promulgated  by  the  SEC  under  the  Securities  Exchange Act  of  1934)  designed  to  provide  reasonable
assurance    information,  which  is  required  to  be  timely  disclosed,  is  accumulated  and  communicated  to
management in a timely fashion.  We note the design of any system of controls is based in part upon certain
assumptions about the likelihood of future events, and there can be no assurance that any design will succeed
in achieving its stated goals under all potential future conditions.

An  evaluation  was  carried  out  under  the  supervision  and  with  the  participation  of  our  management,
including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure
controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report.  Based on that evaluation, our Chief
Executive  Officer  and  our  Chief  Financial  Officer  concluded  that  our  disclosure  controls  are  effective  to
provide  reasonable  assurance  that  information  required  to  be  disclosed  in  the  reports  that  we  file  or  submit
under  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Act  of  1934,  as  amended,  is  accumulated  and  communicated  to
management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions
regarding  required  disclosure  and  are  effective  to  provide  reasonable  assurance  that  such  information  is
recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified by the SEC’s rules and forms. 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting during the quarter ended
January 30, 2016 that materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over
financial reporting. 

Management Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Our  management  is  responsible  for  establishing  and  maintaining  adequate  internal  control  over
financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended.  Internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the
maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions
of the assets of the company, (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  U.S.  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,
and that receipts and expenditures are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and
directors of the company, and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention

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or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a
material effect on the financial statements.

Due  to  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or  detect
misstatements and, even when determined to be effective, can only provide reasonable, not absolute, assurance
with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.  Projections of any evaluation of effectiveness
to future periods are subject to risk that controls may become inadequate as a result of changes in conditions or
deterioration in the degree of compliance.

Management assessed the effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of January
30,  2016.    Management  used  the  criteria  set  forth  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the
Treadway  Commission  (COSO)  in  its Internal  Control—Integrated  Framework (2013).   Management’s
assessment  included  the  evaluation  of  such  elements  as  the  design  and  operating  effectiveness  of  financial
reporting  controls,  process  documentation,  accounting  policies  and  the  overall  control  environment.    This
assessment is supported by testing and monitoring performed or supervised by our Internal Audit organization.

Based on management’s assessment, management has concluded that the Company’s internal control
over  financial  reporting  was  effective  as  of  January  30,  2016.  The  independent  registered  public  accounting
firm,  Ernst  &  Young  LLP,  issued  an  attestation  report  on  the  effectiveness  of  our  internal  control  over
financial reporting. The Ernst & Young LLP report is included on Page F-2 of this Annual Report on Form 10-
K.

ITEM 9B.  OTHER INFORMATION.

Iran Threat Reduction and Syria Human Rights Act of 2012

      Pursuant  to  Section  219  of  the  Iran  Threat  Reduction  and  Syria  Human  Rights Act  of  2012,  which
added Section 13(r) of the Exchange Act, the Company hereby incorporates by reference herein Exhibit 99.1
of  this  Annual  Report  on  Form  10-K,  which  includes  disclosures  publicly  filed  and/or  provided  to  The
Blackstone Group L.P., one of our Sponsors, by Travelport Worldwide Limited which may be considered its
affiliate.

PART III

ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.

The  information  required  by  this  item  will  be  contained  in  our  Definitive  Proxy  Statement  and  is

incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 11.  EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.

The  information  required  by  this  item  will  be  contained  in  our  Definitive  Proxy  Statement  and  is

incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 12.  SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT
AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.

The  information  required  by  this  item  will  be  contained  in  our  Definitive  Proxy  Statement  and  is

incorporated herein by reference.

ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR
INDEPENDENCE.

The  information  required  by  this  item  will  be  contained  in  our  Definitive  Proxy  Statement  and  is

incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 14.  PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES. 

The  information  required  by  this  item  will  be  contained  in  our  Definitive  Proxy  Statement  and  is

incorporated herein by reference.

PART IV

ITEM 15.  EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES. 

The following documents are filed as a part of this report:

(1) Consolidated Financial Statements:

See Index to Consolidated Financial Statements and Supplementary Data on page F-1.

(2) Financial Statement Schedules:

All financial statement schedules are omitted because they are not required or are not applicable, or
the required information is provided in the consolidated financial statements or notes described in 15(1) above.

(3)

Exhibits:

The exhibits listed in the accompanying Index to Exhibits attached hereto are filed or incorporated by

reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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THE MICHAELS COMPANIES, INC.

INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm 

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the fiscal years ended January 30, 2016,

January 31, 2015 and February 1, 2014 

Consolidated Balance Sheets at January 30, 2016 and January 31, 2015  

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal years ended January 30, 2016, January 31,

2015 and February 1, 2014 

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Deficit for the fiscal years ended January 30, 2016,

January 31, 2015 and February 1, 2014 

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 

F-1

Page

F-2

F-4

F-5

F-6

F-7

F-8

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
The Michaels Companies, Inc.

We have audited The Michaels Companies, Inc.’s (the Company) internal control over financial
reporting as of January 30, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework
issued  by  the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission  (2013  framework)
(the COSO criteria). The Michaels Companies, Inc.’s management is responsible for maintaining effective
internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting included in the accompanying Management Report on Internal Control over Financial
Reporting  (see  Item  9A).  Our  responsibility  is  to  express  an  opinion  on  the  Company’s  internal  control
over financial reporting based on our audit.

We  conducted  our  audit  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company Accounting
Oversight  Board  (United  States).  Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain
reasonable  assurance  about  whether  effective  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  was  maintained  in
all  material  respects.  Our  audit  included  obtaining  an  understanding  of  internal  control  over  financial
reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating
effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we
considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our
opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed 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.  A  company’s  internal
control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance
of  records  that,  in  reasonable  detail,  accurately  and  fairly  reflect  the  transactions  and  dispositions  of  the
assets  of  the  company;  (2)  provide  reasonable  assurance  that  transactions  are  recorded  as  necessary  to
permit  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting  principles,
and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations
of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention
or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have
a material effect on the financial statements.

Because  of  its  inherent  limitations,  internal  control  over  financial  reporting  may  not  prevent  or
detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to
the  risk  that  controls  may  become  inadequate  because  of  changes  in  conditions,  or  that  the  degree  of
compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In  our  opinion,  The  Michaels  Companies,  Inc.  maintained,  in  all  material  respects,  effective

internal control over financial reporting as of January 30, 2016, based on the COSO criteria.

We  also  have  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets as of January 30, 2016 and January 31,
2015  and  the  related  consolidated  statements  of  comprehensive  income,  stockholders’  deficit  and  cash
flows  for  the  three  years  in  the  period  ended  January  30,  2016  and  our  report  dated  March  17,  2016
expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Dallas, TX
March 17, 2016

F-2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Board of Directors and Stockholders
The Michaels Companies, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of  The Michaels Companies, Inc.
(the  Company)  as  of  January  30,  2016  and  January  31,  2015  and  the  related  consolidated  statements  of
comprehensive income, stockholders’ deficit and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
January  30,  2016.  These  financial  statements  are  the  responsibility  of  the  Company’s  management.  Our
responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

We  conducted  our  audits  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company Accounting
Oversight  Board  (United  States).  Those  standards  require  that  we  plan  and  perform  the  audit  to  obtain
reasonable  assurance  about  whether  the  financial  statements  are  free  of  material  misstatement. An  audit
includes  examining,  on  a  test  basis,  evidence  supporting  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made
by  management,  as  well  as  evaluating  the  overall  financial  statement  presentation.  We  believe  that  our
audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects,
the  consolidated  financial  position  of The  Michaels  Companies,  Inc.  at  January  30,  2016  and  January
31,2015 and the consolidated results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the
period ended January 30, 2016, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted ASU 2015-
1 7 “Income  Taxes  (Topic  740):  Balance  Sheet  Classification  of  Deferred  Taxes”  and  ASU  2015-03
“Interest  –  Imputation  of  Interest  (Subtopic  835-30):  Simplifying  the  Presentation  of  Debt  Issuance
Costs”.

We  also  have  audited,  in  accordance  with  the  standards  of  the  Public  Company  Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), The Michaels Companies, Inc.’s internal control over financial reporting
as of January 30, 2016, based on criteria established in Internal Control-Integrated Framework issued by
the  Committee  of  Sponsoring  Organizations  of  the  Treadway  Commission  (2013  framework)  and  our
report dated March 17, 2016 expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP
Dallas, TX
March 17, 2016

F-3

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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THE MICHAELS COMPANIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(in thousands, except per share data)

Fiscal Year

Net sales
Cost of sales and occupancy expense
  Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative
Related party expenses
Store pre-opening costs
  Operating income
Interest expense
Losses on early extinguishments of debt and refinancing costs  
Other expense, net
Income before income taxes
Provision for income taxes
  Net income

2013

2015

2014
    $4,912,782     $4,738,144     $4,569,792  
  2,747,630  
  2,836,965  
  1,822,162  
  1,901,179  
  1,193,282  
  1,233,901  
13,695  
35,682  
4,783  
5,067  
610,402  
626,529  
214,497  
198,409  
14,420  
74,312  
2,150  
2,774  
379,335  
351,034  
135,905  
133,639  
  $ 362,912   $ 217,395   $ 243,430  

  2,944,431  
  1,968,351  
  1,242,961  
 —  
4,786  
720,604  
139,405  
8,485  
594  
572,120  
209,208  

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

Foreign currency translation adjustment and other

Comprehensive income

Earnings per common share:

Basic
Diluted

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

Basic
Diluted

(10,251) 

(6,239) 
  $ 352,661   $ 205,392   $ 237,191  

(12,003) 

  $
  $

1.75   $
1.72   $

1.07   $
1.05   $

1.39  
1.36  

206,845  
209,346  

203,229     174,797  
207,101     178,628  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Current Assets:

Cash and equivalents
Merchandise inventories
Prepaid expenses and other
Income tax receivables
Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Goodwill
Deferred income taxes
Other assets

Total assets

THE MICHAELS COMPANIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands, except per share data)

ASSETS

  January 30,
2016

  January 31,
2015

  $

409,391   $

378,295  
958,171  
84,894  
2,418  
  1,423,778  
386,372  
94,290  
49,010  
7,658  
  $ 2,023,277   $ 1,961,108  

  1,002,607  
86,484  
1,231  
  1,499,713  
378,507  
94,290  
40,399  
10,368  

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities and other
Current portion of long-term debt
Income taxes payable

Total current liabilities

Long-term debt
Other liabilities

Total liabilities

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders’ Deficit:

  $

457,704   $
377,606  
24,900  
44,640  
904,850  
  2,744,942  
97,580  
  3,747,372  

447,165  
391,997  
24,900  
25,570  
889,632  
  3,089,781  
93,220  
  4,072,633  

Common stock, $0.06775 par value, 350,000 shares authorized;
208,996 shares issued and outstanding at January 30, 2016 and 205,803
shares issued and outstanding at January 31, 2015
Additional paid-in-capital
Accumulated deficit
Accumulated other comprehensive loss

Total stockholders’ deficit
Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit

13,979  
592,420  
  (2,308,438) 
(22,056) 
  (1,724,095) 

13,799  
557,831  
  (2,671,350) 
(11,805) 
  (2,111,525) 
  $ 2,023,277   $ 1,961,108  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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THE MICHAELS COMPANIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

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

2015

Fiscal Year
2014

2013

  $ 362,912   $

217,395   $

243,430  

Depreciation and amortization
Share-based compensation
Debt issuance costs amortization
Accretion of long-term debt, net
Deferred income taxes
Losses on early extinguishments of debt and refinancing costs  
(Gains) losses on disposition of property and equipment
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation
Other
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Merchandise inventories
Prepaid expenses and other
Other assets
Accounts payable
Accrued interest
Accrued liabilities and other
Income taxes
Other liabilities

Net cash provided by operating activities

  114,756    
15,064    
8,467    
(150)    
8,611    
8,485    
(25)    
  (14,507)    
 —    

(44,213)    
(1,150)    
(34)    
24,217    
1,852    
(23,530)    
44,941    
(1,649)    
  504,047    

110,858    
19,387    
10,333    
(516)    
15,282    
74,312    
3,995    
(5,081)    
 —    

(60,343)    
10,613    
(324)    
76,710    
(45,647)    
14,294    
1,006    
(277)    
441,997    

105,939  
34,262  
10,195  
(1,310) 
(4,030) 
14,420  
(156) 
(13) 
545  

(37,799) 
(9,051) 
1,016  
101,829  
22,703  
(29,543) 
(6,900) 
3,452  
448,989  

Cash flows from investing activities:

Additions to property and equipment
Purchase of long-term investment

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:

Issuance of PIK Notes
Payment of PIK Notes
Borrowings on restated revolving credit facility
Payments on restated revolving credit facility
Borrowings on restated term loan credit facility
Payments on restated term loan credit facility
Payment of 2018 senior notes
Issuance of 2020 senior subordinated notes
Payment of 2016 senior subordinated notes
Issuance of common stock
Payment of debt issuance costs
Payment of dividends
Change in cash overdraft
Proceeds from stock options exercised
Common stock repurchased
Excess tax benefits from share-based compensation
Other financing activities

Net cash used in financing activities

  (123,920)    
(5,000)    
  (128,920)    

(137,780)    
 —    
(137,780)    

(112,156) 
 —  
(112,156) 

 —                    —    

  (184,467)    
45,047    
(45,047)    
 —    
  (174,900)    
 —    
 —    
255,000    
 —                    —    
 —    
 —    
(492)    
643    
22,655    
  (21,977)    
14,507    
 —    
  (344,031)    

800,000  
(627,142)                  —  
388,902  
23,000    
(23,000)    
(390,116) 
845,750                  —  
(12,300) 
(20,650)    
(1,057,239)                  —  
260,000  
(402,908) 
445,660                  —  
(21,270) 
(12,363)    
(766,198) 
(530)    
(4,655) 
(2,075)    
5,668  
27,211    
(8,054) 
(21,557)    
13  
5,081    
(3,012) 
(1,932)    
(153,930) 
(164,786)    

Net change in cash and equivalents
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and equivalents at end of period

31,096    
  378,295    
  $ 409,391   $

139,431    
238,864    
378,295   $

182,903  
55,961  
238,864  

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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THE MICHAELS COMPANIES, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT
For the Three Years Ended January 30, 2016
(in thousands)

Balance at February
2, 2013
Net income
Dividend declared
Foreign currency
translation and other
Reclass from share-
based compensation
liability
Exercise of stock
options
Share-based
compensation
Repurchase of stock
Issuance of stock
Balance at February
1, 2014
Net income
Foreign currency
translation and other
Share-based
compensation
Exercise of stock
options and other
awards
Repurchase of stock
Issuance of common
stock in IPO
Issuance of restricted
shares, net
Balance at January
31, 2015
Net income
Foreign currency
translation and other
Share-based
compensation
Exercise of stock
options and other
awards
Repurchase of stock
Issuance of restricted
shares, net

Balance at January
30, 2016

  Number of   Common  

Shares

Stock

  Additional    
Paid-in
  Capital

  Accumulated   Comprehensive    

Deficit

  Income (Loss)  

Total

  Accumulated       
Other

   174,780    $ 11,841    $ 36,772    $ (2,359,011)   $
243,430    
(768,928)    

 —     —  
 —     —  

—  
    —  

6,437    $ (2,303,961) 
243,430  
(768,928) 

—    
—    

 —     —  

(5,533)    

(819)    

(6,239)    

(12,591) 

 —     —  

    49,066    

4,006    

266    

5,402    

—  

—  

 —    
(3,777)    
15    

 —     13,088    
(4,419)    

(218)    

 —     —  

—  
(3,417)    
—  

  175,024     11,889     94,376     (2,888,745)    
217,395    

    —  

—  

—  

—  

    —  

—  

—  

    —  

    15,983    

3,221    
(1,278)    

218     26,993    
(190)     (21,367)    

27,778     1,882     441,846    

1,058     —  

—  

—  

—  

—  
—  

—  

—  

  205,803     13,799     557,831     (2,671,350)    
362,912    

 —    

 —    

 —    

—    

49,066  

—    

5,668  

—    
—    

13,088  
(8,054) 
 —  

198     (2,782,282) 
217,395  
—  

(12,003)    

(12,003) 

—    

15,983  

—    
—    

27,211  
(21,557) 

—    

443,728  

—    

 —  

(11,805)     (2,111,525) 
362,912  

 —    

 —    

 —    

 —    

 —    

(10,251)    

(10,251) 

 —    

 —     15,502    

 —    

 —    

15,502  

3,447    
(1,055)    

233     41,011    
(53)     (21,924)    

 —    
 —    

 —    
 —    

41,244  
(21,977) 

801    

 —    

 —    

 —    

 —    

 —  

  208,996   $ 13,979   $ 592,420   $ (2,308,438)   $

(22,056)   $ (1,724,095) 

See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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THE MICHAELS COMPANIES, INC.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Description of Business

The Michaels Companies, Inc. owns and operates a chain of specialty retail stores in 49 states and
Canada featuring arts, crafts, framing, floral, home décor and seasonal merchandise for the hobbyist and
do-it-yourself  home  decorator.  Our  wholly-owned  subsidiary, Aaron  Brothers,  Inc.,  operates  a  chain  of
framing and art supply stores located in nine states. All expressions of the “Company”, “us”, “we”, “our”,
and all similar expressions are references to The Michaels Companies, Inc. and our consolidated, wholly-
owned subsidiaries, unless otherwise expressly stated or the context otherwise requires. Our consolidated
financial  statements  include  the  accounts  of  The  Michaels  Companies,  Inc.  and  our  wholly-owned
subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

Michaels Stores, Inc. (“MSI”) is headquartered in Irving, Texas and was incorporated in the state
of  Delaware  in  1983.  In  July  2013,  MSI  was  reorganized  into  a  holding  company  structure  and  The
Michaels  Companies,  Inc.  (the  “Company”)  was  incorporated  in  Delaware  in  connection  with  the
reorganization. In July 2014, we completed an initial public offering (“IPO”) in which we issued and sold
27.8  million  shares  of  common  stock  at  a  public  offering  price  of $17.00  per  share,  resulting  in  net
proceeds of $445.7 million.

Fiscal Year

We report on the basis of a 52-week or 53-week fiscal year, which ends on the Saturday closest to
January  31. All  references  to  fiscal  year  mean  the  year  in  which  that  fiscal  year  began.  References  to
“fiscal  2015”  relate  to  the 52 weeks ended January 30, 2016, references to “fiscal 2014” relate to the 52
weeks ended January 31, 2015 and references to “fiscal 2013” relate to the 52  weeks  ended  February  1,
2014.

Preferred Shares

The  Company’s  Board  of  Directors  has  authorized  the  issuance  of  50.0  million  shares  of
preferred stock under The Michaels Companies, Inc. Certificate of Incorporation. No preferred shares have
been issued as of January 30, 2016.

Share Repurchase Program

In March 2016, the Board of Directors authorized the Company to purchase  $200.0 million of the
Company’s common stock on the open market. The share repurchase program does not have an expiration
date,  and  the  timing  and  number  of  repurchase  transactions  under  the  program  will  depend  on  market
conditions, corporate considerations, debt agreements and regulatory requirements.

Foreign Currency

The  functional  currency  of  our  Canadian  operations  is  the  Canadian  dollar.  Translation
adjustments  result  from  translating  our  Canadian  subsidiaries’  financial  statements  into  U.S.  dollars.
Balance  sheet  accounts  are  translated  at  exchange  rates  in  effect  at  the  balance  sheet  date.  Income
statement  accounts  are  translated  at  average  exchange  rates  during  the  year.  Translation  adjustments  are
recorded  as  a  component  of  accumulated  other  comprehensive  income  in  our  consolidated  statements  of
stockholders’ deficit. The translation adjustments recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net
of taxes, was a loss of $10.3 million, $12.0 million and $6.2 million in fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and fiscal
2013,  respectively.    Transaction  gains  and  losses  are  recorded  as  a  part  of  other  expense,  net  in  our
consolidated  statements  of  comprehensive  income  and  were  immaterial  in  fiscal  2015,  fiscal  2014  and
fiscal 2013.

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Cash and Equivalents

Cash and equivalents are comprised of cash, money market mutual funds, and short-term interest
bearing  securities  with  original  maturities  of  three  months  or  less.    Cash  and  equivalents  also  include
proceeds  due  from  credit  card  transactions  with  settlement  terms  of  less  than five  days.  The  carrying
amount of cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of those instruments.

Merchandise Inventories

Merchandise inventories are valued at the lower of cost or market, with cost determined using a
weighted-average  method.  Cost  is  calculated  based  upon  the  purchase  price  of  an  item  at  the  time  it  is
received by us, and also includes the cost of warehousing, handling, purchasing, and importing, as well as
inbound  and  outbound  transportation,  partially  offset  by  vendor  allowances.  This  net  inventory  cost  is
recognized  through  cost  of  sales  when  the  inventory  is  sold.  It  is  impractical  for  us  to  assign  specific
allocated  overhead  costs  and  vendor  allowances  to  individual  units  of  inventory. As  such,  to  match  net
inventory  costs  against  the  related  revenues,  we  estimate  the  net  inventory  costs  to  be  deferred  and
recognized each period as the inventory is sold.

We utilize perpetual inventory records to value inventory in our stores. Physical inventory counts
are  performed  in  a  significant  number  of  stores  during  each  fiscal  quarter  by  a  third-party  inventory
counting service, with substantially all stores open longer than one year subject to at least one count each
fiscal  year.  We  adjust  our  perpetual  records  based  on  the  results  of  the  physical  counts.  We  maintain  a
provision  for  estimated  shrinkage  based  on  the  actual  historical  results  of  our  physical  inventories.  We
compare our estimates to the actual results of the physical inventory counts as they are taken and adjust the
shrink estimates accordingly.

Vendor allowances, which primarily represent volume rebates and cooperative advertising funds,
are recorded as a reduction to the cost of the merchandise inventories and a subsequent reduction in cost of
sales  when  the  inventory  is  sold.  We  generally  earn  vendor  allowances  as  a  percentage  of  certain
merchandise  purchases  with no  minimum  purchase  requirements.  We  recognized  vendor  allowances  of
$82.3 million, or 1.7% of net sales, in fiscal 2015, $91.8 million, or 1.9% of net sales, in fiscal 2014, and
$102.4 million, or 2.2% of net sales, in fiscal 2013.

We  routinely  identify  merchandise  that  requires  some  price  reduction  to  accelerate  sales  of  the
product.  The  need  for  this  reduction  is  generally  attributable  to  clearance  of  seasonal  merchandise  or
product that is being displaced from its assigned location in the store to make room for new merchandise.
Additional stock keeping units (“SKUs”) that are candidates for repricing are identified using our perpetual
inventory data. In each case, the appropriate repricing is determined at our corporate office support center.
Price  changes  are  transmitted  electronically  to  the  store  and  instructions  are  provided  to  our  stores
regarding product placement, signage and display to ensure the product is effectively cleared.

We  also  evaluate  our  merchandise  to  ensure  that  the  expected  net  realizable  value  of  the
merchandise held at the end of a fiscal period exceeds cost. In the event that the expected net realizable
value is less than cost, we reduce the value of that inventory accordingly.

Property and Equipment

Property and equipment is recorded at cost. Depreciation is recorded on a straight-line basis over
the estimated useful lives of the assets. Amortization of property under capital leases is on a straight-line
basis  over  the  lease  term  and  is  included  in  depreciation  expense.  We  expense  repairs  and  maintenance
costs as incurred. We

F-9

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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capitalize and depreciate significant renewals or betterments that substantially extend the life of the asset.
Useful lives are generally estimated as follows:

Buildings
Leasehold improvements (a)
Fixtures and equipment
Computer equipment
Capitalized software

  Years
    30  
    10  
    8  
    5  
  1 - 5  

(a) We amortize leasehold improvements over the lesser of the useful life of the asset or the remaining lease

term of the underlying facility.

Capitalized Software Costs

We  capitalize  certain  costs  related  to  the  acquisition  and  development  of  internal  use  software
that is expected to benefit future periods. These costs are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the
estimated useful life, which is generally five years. As of January 30, 2016 and January 31, 2015, we had
unamortized  capitalized  software  costs  of $83.2  million  and $87.1  million,  respectively.  These  amounts
are  included  in  property  and  equipment,  net  in  the  consolidated  balance  sheets.  Amortization  expense
related to capitalized software costs totaled $31.2 million, $40.5 million and $45.8 million in fiscal 2015,
fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, respectively.

Goodwill

Under the provisions of Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 350,  Intangibles—Goodwill
and Other, we review goodwill for impairment each year in the fourth quarter, or more frequently if events
occur  which  indicate  a  potential  reduction  in  the  fair  value  of  our  reporting  unit’s  net  assets  below  its
carrying value. We have elected to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more
likely than not (that is, a likelihood of more than 50 percent) that the fair value of our reporting unit is less
than  its  carrying  value.  Factors  used  in  our  qualitative  assessment  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,
macroeconomic  conditions,  industry  and  market  conditions,  cost  factors,  overall  financial  performance,
Company and reporting unit specific events, and the difference between the fair value and carrying value
in recent valuations.

If,  after  assessing  the  totality  of  events  or  circumstances  such  as  those  described  above,  we
determine that it is more likely than not that the fair value of our reporting unit is greater than its carrying
amount, no further action is required. If we determine that it is more likely than not that the fair value of
our reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, we will compare the reporting unit’s carrying value to
its  estimated  fair  value,  determined  through  estimated  discounted  future  cash  flows  and  market-based
methodologies.  If  the  carrying  value  exceeds  the  estimated  fair  value,  we  determine  the  fair  value  of  all
assets  and  liabilities  of  the  reporting  unit,  including  the  implied  fair  value  of  goodwill.  If  the  carrying
value  of  goodwill  exceeds  the  implied  fair  value,  we  recognize  an  impairment  charge  equal  to  the
difference.  There  are  assumptions  and  estimates  underlying  the  determination  of  fair  value  and  any
resulting  impairment  loss.  Significant  changes  in  these  assumptions,  or  another  estimate  using  different,
but still reasonable, assumptions could produce different results. During fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014, there
was no impairment charge required related to our goodwill.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

We evaluate long-lived assets, other than goodwill and assets with indefinite lives, for indicators
of  impairment  whenever  events  or  changes  in  circumstances  indicate  their  carrying  amounts  may  not  be
recoverable.  Our  evaluation  compares  the  carrying  value  of  the  assets  with  their  estimated  future
undiscounted  cash  flows.  If  it  is  determined  that  an  impairment  loss  has  occurred,  the  loss  would  be
recognized based on the estimated fair value of the assets. Our impairment analysis contains management
assumptions about key variables including sales, growth rate, gross margin, payroll and other controllable
expenses. If actual results differ from these estimates, we may be

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exposed to additional impairment losses that may be material. As a result of our impairment review, there
were no material impairment charges recorded in fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013.

Reserve for Closed Facilities

We maintain a reserve for future rental obligations, carrying costs and other closing costs related
to closed facilities, primarily closed and relocated stores. In accordance with ASC 420, Exit  or  Disposal
Cost Obligations, we recognize exit costs for any store closures at the time the store is closed. Such costs
are  recorded  within  the  cost  of  sales  and  occupancy  expense  line  item  in  our  consolidated  statements  of
comprehensive income.

The  cost  of  closing  a  store  or  facility  is  recorded  at  the  estimated  fair  value  of  expected  cash
flows which we calculate as the lesser of the present value of future rental obligations remaining under the
lease  (less  estimated  sublease  rental  income)  or  the  lease  termination  fee  (if  an  executed  termination
agreement  exists).  The  determination  of  the  reserves  is  dependent  on  our  ability  to  make  reasonable
estimates of costs to be incurred post-closure and of rental income to be received from subleases.

The following is activity related to closed facilities (in thousands):

Balance at beginning of fiscal year
Additions charged to costs and expenses
Payment of rental obligations and other
Balance at end of fiscal year

Self-Insurance

2015

2013

Fiscal Year
2014
  $ 3,386   $ 4,598   $ 7,684  
  5,050  
  1,931  
  (8,136) 
  (3,143) 
915   $ 3,386   $ 4,598  

  1,946  
  (4,417) 

  $

We  have  insurance  coverage  for  losses  in  excess  of  self-insurance  limits  for  medical  claims,
general liability and workers’ compensation claims. Our liability represents an estimate of the ultimate cost
of claims incurred as of the balance sheet dates. The estimated liability is not discounted and is established
based  upon  analysis  of  historical  data  and  actuarial  estimates.  While  we  believe  these  estimates  are
reasonable  based  on  the  information  currently  available,  if  actual  trends,  including  the  severity  or
frequency  of  claims,  medical  cost  inflation,  or  fluctuations  in  premiums  differ  from  our  estimates,  our
results  of  operations  could  be  impacted.  In  the  event  our  insurance  carriers  are  unable  to  pay  claims
submitted to them, we would record a liability for such estimated payments we expect to incur.

Revenue Recognition

Revenue from sales of our merchandise is recognized when the customer takes possession of the
merchandise. Revenue is presented net of point-of-sale coupons, discounts and sales taxes collected. Sales
related  to  custom  framing  are  recognized  when  the  order  is  picked  up  by  the  customer.  We  allow  for
merchandise to be returned under most circumstances up to 180 days after purchase and provide a reserve
for estimated returns. We use historical customer return behavior to estimate our reserve requirements.

We  record  a  gift  card  liability  on  the  date  we  issue  the  gift  card  to  the  customer.  We  record
revenue and reduce the gift card liability as the customer redeems the gift card or when the likelihood of
redemption  by  the  customer  is  remote  (“gift  card  breakage”).  We  estimate  gift  card  breakage  based  on
customers’  historical  redemption  rates  and  patterns.   If  actual  redemption  patterns  vary  from  the
Company’s  estimates  or  if  regulations  change,  actual  gift  card  breakage  may  differ  from  the  amounts
recorded.  Gift  card  breakage  income  is  recorded  in  net  sales  in  the  consolidated  statements  of
comprehensive income over the period of estimated performance.

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Costs of Sales and Occupancy Expense

The costs of merchandise sales are expensed as the merchandise is sold.  Included in our costs of

sales are the following:

·

·

·

·

purchase price of merchandise, net of vendor allowances and rebates;

inbound freight, inspection costs, duties and import agent commissions;

warehousing, handling, transportation (including internal transfer costs such as distribution
center-to-store freight costs), purchasing and receiving costs; and

share-based compensation costs for those employees involved in preparing inventory for
sale.

Included in our occupancy expenses are the following costs which are recognized as period costs

as described below:

·

·

·

·

store expenses such as rent, insurance, taxes, common area maintenance, utilities, repairs
and maintenance;

amortization of store buildings and leasehold improvements;

store closure costs; and

store remodel costs.

Rent  is  recognized  on  a  straight-line  basis,  including  consideration  of  rent  holiday,  tenant
improvement allowances received from the landlords and applicable rent escalations over the term of the
lease.    The  commencement  date  of  the  lease  term  is  the  earlier  of  the  date  when  we  become  legally
obligated  for  the  rent  payments  or  the  date  when  we  take  possession  of  the  building  for  construction
purposes.

Selling, General and Administrative

Included  in  selling,  general  and  administrative  (“SG&A”)  are  store  personnel  costs,  store
operating  expenses,  advertising,  store  depreciation  and  corporate  overhead  costs.   Advertising  costs  are
expensed  in  the  period  in  which  the  advertising  first  occurs.  Advertising  costs  totaled $188.9  million,
$185.0 million and $180.7 million in fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, respectively.

Store Pre-Opening Costs

We  expense  all  start-up  activity  costs  as  incurred.  Store  pre-opening  costs  consist  primarily  of

payroll-related costs incurred prior to the store opening.

Income Taxes

We record income tax expense using the liability method for taxes and are subject to income tax
in  many  jurisdictions,  including  the  U.S.,  various  states  and  localities,  and  Canada.  A  tax  liability  or
receivable  is  recognized  for  the  estimated  taxes  payable  or  refundable  on  the  tax  returns  for  the  current
year  and  a  deferred  tax  liability  or  asset  is  recognized  for  the  estimated  future  tax  effects  attributable  to
temporary  differences  and  carryforwards.  Deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are  measured  using  enacted
income tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are
expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in tax rates is recognized as income or expense
in  the  period  that  includes  the  enactment  date. A  valuation  allowance  is  recorded  to  reduce  the  carrying
amounts of deferred tax assets unless it is more likely than not that such assets will be realized.

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Share-Based Compensation

ASC 718, Stock Compensation (“ASC 718”), requires all share-based compensation to employees,
including  grants  of  employee  stock  options  and  restricted  shares,  to  be  recognized  using  the  fair  value
method of accounting.  During fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and the last quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company
measured  share-based  compensation  using  the  grant  date  fair  value  accounting  guidance  of  ASC
718.    During  the  first  three  quarters  of  fiscal  2013,  the  Company  determined  its  employee  stock  options
should  be  recorded  under  the  liability  accounting  guidance  of ASC  718.   As  such,  we  measured  share-
based compensation based on either the grant date fair value of the equity awards or the fair value of our
option  awards  at  the  end  of  the  period.    Share-based  awards  are  recognized  ratably  over  the  requisite
service period.

Estimates

The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  U.S.  generally  accepted  accounting
principles  requires  us  to  make  estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the  amounts  reported  in  the
consolidated  financial  statements  and  accompanying  notes.  Actual  results  could  differ  from  those
estimates.

Reclassification

Certain  prior  year  amounts  have  been  reclassified  in  the  accompanying  consolidated  financial
statements  to  conform  to  our  fiscal  2015  presentation,  including  the  reclassification  of  current  deferred
income  taxes  to  non-current  deferred  income  taxes  and  the  reclassification  of  certain  unamortized  debt
issuance costs from non-current assets to a direct reduction of the related long-term debt obligation.

Accounting Pronouncements Recently Adopted

In April 2015, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards
Update  (“ASU”)  No.  2015-03, “Interest  –  Imputation  of  Interest  (Subtopic  835-30):  Simplifying  the
Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs” (“ASU 2015-03”).  ASU 2015-03 requires that debt issuance costs
related  to  a  recognized  debt  liability  be  presented  in  the  balance  sheet  as  a  direct  deduction  from  the
carrying  amount  of  that  debt  liability,  consistent  with  debt  discounts.  Amortization  of  the  costs  will
continue  to  be  reported  as  interest  expense.  In August  2015,  the  FASB  issued ASU  2015-15  “Interest  –
Imputation  of  Interest  (Subtopic  835-30):  Presentation  and  Subsequent  Measurement  of  Debt  Issuance
Costs  Associated  with  Line-of  Credit  Arrangements”,  which  clarifies  that  the  guidance  in ASU  2015-03
does  not  apply  to  line-of-credit  arrangements.  Given  the  absence  of  the  authoritative  guidance  in ASU
2015-03, the SEC will not object to an entity deferring and presenting debt issuance costs related to line-
of-credit  arrangements  as  an  asset  and  subsequently  amortizing  the  deferred  debt  issuance  costs  ratably
over  the  term  of  the  line-of-credit  arrangement,  regardless  of  whether  there  are  any  outstanding
borrowings on the line-of-credit arrangement. The Company adopted this guidance in the fourth quarter of
fiscal 2015, which has been applied retrospectively. As a result of the adoption of this standard, at  January
30,  2016  and January  31,  2015,  unamortized  debt  issuance  costs  of $24.0  million  and $34.6  million,
respectively,  are  reported  as  a  deduction  from  the  related  long-term  debt  obligations  on  the  Company's
consolidated  balance  sheets.  Debt  issuance  costs  associated  with  the  Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility
remain classified as an asset for all periods presented. The adoption of this standard did not have any other
impact on the Company's consolidated financial statements.

In  July  2015,  the  FASB  issued  ASU  No.  2015-11 ,  “Inventory  (Topic  330):  Simplifying  the
Measurement  of  Inventory”  ("ASU  2015-11"),  which  requires  that  inventory  that  is  measured  using
average cost be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Net realizable value is the estimated
selling prices in the ordinary course of business, less reasonably predictable costs of completion, disposal
and transportation. When evidence exists that the net realizable value of inventory is lower than its cost,
the difference will be recognized as a loss in earnings in the period in which it occurs. This new guidance
must be applied on a prospective basis. The Company adopted the provisions of ASU 2015-11 in the fourth
quarter  of  fiscal  2015  and  its  adoption  did  not  have  a  material  impact  on  the  Company's  consolidated
financial statements.

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In  November  2015,  the  FASB  issued ASU  No.  2015-17,  “Income  Taxes  (Topic  740):  Balance
Sheet  Classification  of  Deferred  Taxes”   (“ASU  2015-17”).  ASU  2015-17  requires  that  deferred  tax
liabilities and assets within each tax jurisdiction, including any related valuation allowance, be classified
as noncurrent in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company early adopted ASU 2015-17 in the fourth
quarter of fiscal 2015 on a retrospective basis, resulting in the reclassification of $38.3 million from current
deferred tax assets to noncurrent deferred tax assets as of January 31, 2015.  

Recent Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02,  "Leases  (Topic  842)" ("ASU 2016-02").
Under ASU 2016-02, an entity will be required to recognize right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on its
balance  sheet  and  disclose  key  information  about  leasing  arrangements.  ASU  2016-02  offers  specific
accounting  guidance  for  a  lessee,  a  lessor  and  sale  and  leaseback  transactions.  Lessees  and  lessors  are
required to disclose qualitative and quantitative information about leasing arrangements to enable a user of
the  financial  statements  to  assess  the  amount,  timing  and  uncertainty  of  cash  flows  arising  from  leases.
ASU  2016-02  is  effective  for  annual  reporting  periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2018,  including
interim periods within that reporting period, with early adoption permitted. At adoption, this update will be
applied using a modified retrospective approach. We are currently evaluating the impact that ASU 2016-02
will have on the consolidated financial statements.

In April  2015,  the  FASB  issued ASU  2015-05,  “ Intangibles  —  Goodwill  and  Other  -  Internal-
Use  Software  (Subtopic  350-40):  Customer’s  Accounting  for  Fees  Paid  in  a  Cloud  Computing
Arrangement”  (“ASU  2015-05”). ASU 2015-05  provides  guidance  to  customers  about  whether  a  cloud
computing arrangement includes a software license. If a cloud computing arrangement includes a software
license, the customer should account for the software license element of the arrangement consistent with
the acquisition of other software licenses. If a cloud computing arrangement does not include a software
license, the customer should account for the arrangement as a service contract. The new guidance does not
change  the  accounting  for  a  customer’s  accounting  for  service  contracts. ASU  2015-05  is  effective  for
annual  reporting  periods  beginning  after  December  15,  2015,  including  interim  periods  within  that
reporting  period. We  have  evaluated  the  new  standard  and  it  will  not  have  a  material  impact  to  the
consolidated financial statements once implemented.

In  May  2014,  the  FASB  issued ASU  No.  2014-09,  “Revenue  from  Contracts  with  Customers”
(“ASU  2014-09”).    ASU  2014-09  supersedes  the  revenue  recognition  requirements  in  “ Revenue
Recognition (Topic 605)”, and requires entities to recognize revenue in a way that depicts the transfer of
promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity
expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods or services. In July 2015, the FASB decided to delay
the effective date of ASU 2014-09 by one year. ASU 2014-09 is now effective for annual reporting periods
beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period. The standard is
to be applied retrospectively, with early application permitted for annual reporting periods beginning after
December  15,  2016,  including  interim  periods  within  that  reporting  period.      We  are  evaluating  the  new
standard,  but  do  not  anticipate  a  material  impact  to  the  consolidated  financial  statements  once
implemented.

2. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

As defined in ASC 820, Fair Value Measurements (“ASC 820”), fair value is the price that would
be  received  to  sell  an  asset  or  paid  to  transfer  a  liability  in  an  orderly  transaction  between  market
participants at the measurement date.  ASC 820 establishes a three-level valuation hierarchy for fair value
measurements.  These  valuation  techniques  are  based  upon  observable  and  unobservable  inputs.
Observable  inputs  reflect  market  data  obtained  from  independent  sources,  while  unobservable  inputs
reflect less transparent active market data, as well as internal assumptions. These two types of inputs create
the following fair value hierarchy:

·

Level 1—Quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets;

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·

·

Level 2—Quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets; quoted prices for identical
or  similar  instruments  in  markets  that  are  not  active;  and  model-derived  valuations  whose
significant inputs are observable; and

Level 3—Instruments with significant unobservable inputs.

Impairment  losses  related  to  store-level  property  and  equipment  are  calculated  using  significant
unobservable inputs including the present value of future cash flows expected to be generated using a risk-
adjusted weighted-average cost of capital and comparable store sales growth assumptions, and therefore are
classified as a Level 3 measurement in the fair value hierarchy. As a result of our impairment review, there
were no material impairment charges recorded in fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013. 

The  carrying  value  of  cash  and  cash  equivalents,  accounts  receivable  and  accounts  payable

approximates their estimated fair values due to the short maturities of these instruments.

The table below provides the carrying and fair values of our Restated Term Loan Credit Facility
and our 2020 Senior Subordinated Notes (as defined in Note 5) as of January 30, 2016. The fair value of
our Restated Term Loan Credit Facility and our 2020 Senior Subordinated Notes were determined based
on quoted market prices which are considered Level 2 inputs within the fair value hierarchy.

Restated term loan credit facility
Senior subordinated notes

3. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property and equipment consists of the following (in thousands):

Notional
Value

Fair
Value

(in thousands)

$ 2,282,150  
510,000  

$ 2,251,354  
525,300  

Buildings and leasehold improvements
Fixtures and equipment
Capitalized software
Construction in progress

Less accumulated depreciation and amortization

F-15

January 30,
2016
480,468  
907,457  
241,915  
31,394  
  1,661,234  
  (1,282,727) 
378,507  

$

$

January 31,
2015
450,982  
879,033  
221,005  
28,426  
  1,579,446  
  (1,193,074) 
386,372  

$

$

 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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4. ACCRUED LIABILITIES AND OTHER

Accrued liabilities and other consists of the following (in thousands):

Accrued payroll
Self-insurance
Accrued interest
Property, sales and use taxes
Gift card liability
Accrued and straight-line rent
Other

5. DEBT

Long-term debt consists of the following (in thousands):

January 30,
2016
119,124  
65,716  
11,778  
56,594  
42,577  
19,694  
62,123  
377,606  

$

$

January 31,
2015
127,741  
70,793  
9,926  
60,076  
37,515  
17,785  
68,161  
391,997  

$

$

Restated term loan credit facility
Senior subordinated notes

PIK notes
Total debt
Less unamortized discount/premium and debt costs
Total debt, net
Less current portion
Long-term debt

     Interest Rate  

January 30,
2016

  January 31,
2015

Variable   $ 2,282,150   $ 2,457,050    
510,000    
510,000    

5.875 %  

7.50 % /

 8.25 %  

 —  
  2,792,150  
(22,308)  

180,850    
  3,147,900    
(33,219)    
    2,769,842     3,114,681    
(24,900)    
  $ 2,744,942   $ 3,089,781    

(24,900)    

The aggregate amount of scheduled maturities of debt for the next five years and thereafter is as

follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Total debt payments
Less unamortized discount/premium and debt costs
Total debt balance as of January 30, 2016

Amount

  $

24,900    
24,900    
24,900    
  2,207,450    
  510,000    
  2,792,150    
(22,308)   
  $ 2,769,842    

As of January 30, 2016 and January 31, 2015, the weighted-average interest rate of the variable
debt was 3.83%. Cash paid for interest totaled $129.3 million, $234.3 million and $182.8 million in fiscal
2015, fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, respectively.

As  of  January  30,  2016,  gross  debt  issuance  costs  totaled $88.8  million.  We  amortize  debt
issuance  costs  using  the  straight-line  method  over  the  terms  of  the  respective  debt  agreements  (which
range from five to seven years). Amortization expense related to debt issuance costs is recorded in interest
expense in the accompanying consolidated statements of comprehensive income.  The straight-line method
produces results materially consistent with the

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effective interest method. Our expected amortization expense related to the debt issuance costs for each of
the next five years and thereafter is as follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Total amortization expense

Restated Term Loan Credit Facility

    Amount
  $

7,896    
7,143    
5,638    
5,638    
1,468    
27,783    

  $

On  October  31,  2006,  MSI  entered  into  a $2,400.0  million  senior  secured  term  loan  facility
(“Senior  Secured  Term  Loan  Facility”)  with  Deutsche  Bank AG  New  York  Branch  (“Deutsche  Bank”)
and  other  lenders. On  January  28,  2013,  MSI  entered  into  an  amended  and  restated  credit  agreement
maturing on January 28, 2020 (the “Amended Credit Agreement”) to amend various terms of our Senior
Secured  Term  Loan  Facility.  The  Amended  Credit  Agreement,  together  with  the  related  security,
guarantee and other agreements, is referred to as the “Restated Term Loan Credit Facility”.

On July 2, 2014, MSI issued an additional $850.0 million of debt under the Restated Term Loan
Credit  Facility  maturing  in  2020  (“Additional  Term  Loan”).  The Additional  Term  Loan  was  issued  at
99.5% of face value, resulting in an effective interest rate of 4.02%. The net proceeds from this borrowing
and  the  issuance  of  an  additional $250.0  million  of  the 5.875%  senior  subordinated  notes  were  used  to
fully  redeem  the  then  outstanding 7.75%  Senior  Notes  due  2018  (“2018  Senior  Notes”)  and  to  pay  the
applicable make-whole premium and accrued interest.

As  of  January  30,  2016,  the  Restated  Term  Loan  Credit  Facility  provides  for  senior  secured
financing of $2,282.2 million.  MSI has the right under the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility to request
additional term loans (a) in an aggregate amount of up to $500.0 million or (b) an amount of term loans
requested by MSI so long as MSI’s consolidated secured debt ratio (as defined in the Restated Term Loan
Credit Facility) is no more than 3.25 to 1.00 on a pro forma basis as of the last day of the most recently
ended four quarter period.  The lenders under the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility will not be under any
obligation  to  provide  any  such  additional  term  loans  and  the  incurrence  of  any  additional  term  loans  is
subject to customary conditions precedent.

On  December  28,  2015,  MSI  voluntarily prepaid $150.0  million  in  principal  of  the Additional

Term Loan for an aggregate redemption price (including any unpaid interest) of $151.0 million.

Borrowings under the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal
to, at MSI’s option, either (a) a base rate determined by reference to the highest of (1) the prime rate of
Deutsche  Bank,  (2)  the  federal  funds  effective  rate  plus 0.5%,  subject  to  a 2%  floor  in  the case  of  the
Additional Term Loan, and (3) London Interbank Offered Rate (“LIBOR”), subject to certain adjustments,
plus 1%  or  (b)  LIBOR,  subject  to  certain  adjustments  and  a 1%  floor,  in  each  case  plus  an  applicable
margin.  The  applicable  margin  is 1.75% (2.00%  for  the Additional  Term  Loan)  with  respect  to  the  base
rate borrowings and 2.75% (3.00% for the Additional Term Loan) with respect to LIBOR borrowings.  In
addition, the applicable margin is subject to a 0.25% decrease based on MSI’s consolidated secured debt
ratio.  The decrease does not apply to the Additional Term Loan.

The  Restated  Term  Loan  Credit  Facility  requires  MSI  to  prepay  outstanding  term  loans  with
(a) 100%  of  the  net  proceeds  of  any  debt  issued  by  MSI  or  its  subsidiaries  (with  exceptions  for  certain
permitted  debt)  and  (b) 50%  of  MSI’s  annual  excess  cash  flow,  as  defined.  The  50%  threshold  will  be
reduced  to 25%  if  MSI’s  consolidated  total  leverage  ratio,  as  defined,  is  less  than  6.00:1.00  and  will  be
reduced to zero if MSI’s consolidated total leverage ratio is less than 5.00:1.00.

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MSI  must  offer  to  prepay  outstanding  term  loans  at 100%  of  the  principal  amount,  plus  any
the  proceeds  of  certain  asset  sales  or  casualty  events  under  certain
unpaid 
interest,  with 
circumstances.    MSI  may  voluntarily  prepay  outstanding  loans  under  the  Restated  Term  Loan  Credit
Facility  at  any  time  without  premium  or  penalty  other  than  customary  breakage  costs  with  respect  to
LIBOR loans.

MSI  is  required  to  make  scheduled  quarterly  payments  equal  to 0.25%  of  the  original  principal
amount of the term loans, subject to adjustments relating to the incurrence of additional term loans for the
first six  years  and  three  quarters  of  the  Restated  Term  Loan  Credit  Facility,  with  the  balance  paid  on
January 28, 2020.

All  obligations  under  the  Restated  Term  Loan  Credit  Facility  are  unconditionally  guaranteed,
jointly and severally, by Michaels Funding, Inc. (“Holdings”) and all of MSI’s existing domestic material
subsidiaries and are required to be guaranteed by certain of MSI’s future domestic wholly-owned material
subsidiaries  (“the  Subsidiary  Guarantors”). We  are  in  the  process  of  joining  certain  of  our  subsidiaries
acquired  in  the Lamrite  West,  Inc. transaction  as  Subsidiary  Guarantors  under  the  Restated  Term  Loan
Credit Facility.  All obligations under the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility, and the guarantees of those
obligations, are secured, subject to certain exceptions, by substantially all of the assets of Holdings, MSI
and the Subsidiary Guarantors, including:

·

·

·

a first-priority pledge of MSI’s capital stock and all of the capital stock held directly by MSI
and  the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  (which  pledge,  in  the  case  of  any  foreign  subsidiary,  is
limited  to 65% of the voting stock of such foreign subsidiary and 100%  of  the  non-voting
stock of such subsidiary);

a  first-priority  security  interest  in,  and  mortgages  on,  substantially  all  other  tangible  and
intangible  assets  of  Holdings,  MSI  and  each  Subsidiary  Guarantor,  including  substantially
all of MSI’s and its subsidiaries’ owned real property and equipment, but excluding, among
other things, the collateral described below; and

a  second-priority  security  interest  in  personal  property  consisting  of  inventory  and  related
accounts, cash, deposit accounts, all payments received by Holdings, MSI or the Subsidiary
Guarantors  from  credit  card  clearinghouses  and  processors  or  otherwise  in  respect  of  all
credit card charges and debit card charges for sales of inventory by Holdings, MSI and the
Subsidiary Guarantors, and certain related assets and proceeds of the foregoing.

The  Restated  Term  Loan  Credit  Facility  contains  a  number  of  negative  covenants  that  are
substantially  similar  to,  but  more  restrictive  in  certain  respects  than,  those  governing  the  2020  Senior
Subordinated Notes (as defined below), as well as certain other customary representations and warranties,
affirmative and negative covenants and events of default. As of January 30, 2016, MSI was in compliance
with all covenants.

In accordance with ASC 470, Debt (“ASC 470”), MSI capitalized $14.5 million of debt issuance
costs  in  fiscal  2014  related  to  the  Additional  Term  Loan.  The  debt  issuance  costs  are  reflected  as  a
deduction from the carrying value of debt in the consolidated balance sheets and are being amortized as
interest expense over the life of the Restated Term Loan Credit Facility. As a result of the $150.0 million
Additional Term Loan prepayment on December 28, 2015, MSI recorded a loss on early extinguishment of
debt  of $2.4  million,  consisting  of $1.9  million  of  unamortized  debt  issuance  costs  and $0.5  million  of
unamortized  net  discount.  As  of  January  30,  2016,  MSI  is  amortizing $44.3  million  in  debt  issuance
costs as  interest  expense  over  the  life  of  the  term  loan.  Debt  issuance  costs  related  to  this  facility  are
reflected as a deduction from the carrying value of debt in the consolidated balance sheets.

5.875% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2020

On  December  19,  2013,  MSI  issued $260.0  million  in  principal  amount  of 5.875%  senior
subordinated  notes  maturing  in  2020  (“2020  Senior  Subordinated  Notes”).  Interest  is  payable  semi-
annually  on  June  15  and  December  15  of  each  year,  commencing  on  June  15,  2014.  MSI  used  the  net
proceeds  of  these  notes  to  redeem  the  outstanding 11.375%  senior  subordinated  notes  due  November  1,
2016, to pay the applicable redemption premium and unpaid interest and to pay other related costs. 

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On  June  16,  2014,  MSI  issued  an  additional $250.0  million  of  the  2020  Senior  Subordinated
Notes  at 102%  of  face  value,  resulting  in  an  effective  interest  rate  of 5.76%.  The  net  proceeds  from  this
borrowing, and the $850.0 million Additional Term Loan, were used to fully redeem the outstanding 2018
Senior Notes and to pay the applicable make-whole premium and accrued interest.

The  2020  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  are  guaranteed,  jointly  and  severally,  fully  and
unconditionally, on an unsecured senior subordinated basis, by each of MSI’s subsidiaries that guarantee
indebtedness  under  the  Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility  and  the  Restated  Term  Loan  Credit  Facility
(collectively defined as the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”). We are in the process of joining certain of
our  subsidiaries  acquired  in  the Lamrite  West,  Inc. transaction as  Subsidiary  Guarantors  under  the  2020
Senior Subordinated Notes Indenture (as defined below).

The 2020 Senior Subordinated Notes and the guarantees are MSI’s and the guarantors’ unsecured
senior  subordinated  obligations  and  are  (i)  subordinated  in  right  of  payment  to  all  of  MSI’s  and  the
guarantors’ existing and future senior debt, including the Senior Secured Credit Facilities; (ii) rank equally
in  right  of  payment  to  all  of  MSI’s  and  the  guarantors’  future  senior  subordinated  debt;  (iii)  effectively
subordinated  to  all  of  MSI’s  and  the  guarantors’  existing  and  future  secured  debt  (including  the  Senior
Secured  Credit  Facilities)  to  the  extent  of  the  value  of  the  assets  securing  such  debt;  (iv)  rank  senior  in
right of payment to all of the MSI’s and the guarantors’ existing and future debt and other obligations that
are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the 2020 Senior Subordinated Notes; and
(v) are structurally subordinated to all obligations of MSI’s subsidiaries that are not guarantors of the 2020
Senior Subordinated Notes.

At  any  time  prior  to  December  15,  2016,  MSI  may  redeem  all  or  a  part  of  the  2020  Senior
Subordinated Notes at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount redeemed plus a make-
whole premium, as provided in the indenture governing the 2020 Senior Subordinated Notes (“2020 Senior
Subordinated Notes Indenture”), and any unpaid interest to the date of redemption, subject to the right of
holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

On and after December 15, 2016, MSI may redeem all or part of the 2020 Senior Subordinated
Notes, upon notice, at the redemption prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount of the 2020
Senior  Subordinated  Notes  to  be  redeemed)  set  forth  below,  plus  any  unpaid  interest  thereon  to  the
applicable date of redemption, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on December 15 of
each of the years indicated below:

Year
2016
2017
2018 and
thereafter  

Percentage
102.938 %  
101.469 %  

100.000 %  

In addition, until December 15, 2016, MSI may, at its option, on one or more occasions redeem
up  to 40%  of  the  aggregate  principal  amount  of  the  2020  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  with  the  aggregate
principal amount to be redeemed (“Equity Offering Redemption Amount”) not to exceed an amount equal
to  the  aggregate  gross  proceeds  from  one  or  more  equity  offerings  (as  defined  in  the  2020  Senior
Subordinated  Notes  Indenture),  at  a  redemption  price  equal  to 105.875%  of  the  aggregate  principal
amount,  plus  any  unpaid  interest,  provided  that  (i)  each  such  redemption  occurs  within 120  days  of  the
date  of  closing  of  each  such  equity  offering;  (ii)  proceeds  in  an  amount  equal  to  or  exceeding  the
applicable equity offering redemption amount shall be received by, or contributed to the capital of MSI or
any of its restricted subsidiaries and (iii) at least 50% of the sum of the aggregate principal amount of the
2020  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  remains  outstanding  immediately  after  the  occurrence  of  each  such
redemption.

Upon a change in control, MSI is required to offer to purchase all of the 2020 Senior Subordinated
Notes at a price in cash equal to 101%  of  the  aggregate  principal  amount,  plus  any  unpaid  interest. The
2020  Senior  Subordinated  Indenture  contains  covenants  limiting  MSI’s  ability,  and  the  ability  of  MSI’s
restricted subsidiaries, to incur or guarantee additional debt, prepay debt that is subordinated to the 2020
Senior  Subordinated  Notes,  issue  stock  of  subsidiaries,  make  certain  investments,  loans,  advances  and
acquisitions, create liens on MSI’s and such

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subsidiaries’ assets to secure debt, enter into transactions with affiliates, merge or consolidate with another
company; and sell or otherwise transfer assets. The covenants also limit MSI’s ability, and the ability of
MSI’s restricted subsidiaries, to pay dividends or distributions on MSI’s capital stock or repurchase MSI’s
capital  stock,  subject  to  certain  exceptions,  including  dividends,  distributions  and  repurchases  up  to  an
amount in excess of (i) $100.0 million plus (ii) a basket that builds based on 50% of MSI’s consolidated
net income (as defined in the 2020 Senior Subordinated Indenture) and certain other amounts, in each case,
to  the  extent  such  payment  capacity  is  not  applied  as  otherwise  permitted  under  the  2020  Senior
Subordinated Indenture and subject to certain conditions. As of January 30, 2016, the permitted restricted
payment amount was $268.6 million.  As of January 30, 2016, MSI was in compliance with all covenants.

In  accordance  with  ASC  470,  MSI 

is  amortizing $13.6  million  in  debt  issuance  costs,
including  $5.9  million  capitalized  in  fiscal  2014, as  interest  expense  over  the  life  of  the  2020  Senior
Subordinated  Notes.  Debt  issuance  costs  related  to  these  notes  are  reflected  as  a  deduction  from  the
carrying value of debt in the consolidated balance sheets.

Restated Revolving Credit Facility

On February 18, 2010, MSI entered into an agreement to amend and restate various terms of the
then  existing  asset-based  revolving  credit  facility  dated  October  31,  2006  (as  amended  and  restated,  the
“Senior  Secured Asset-Based  Revolving  Credit  Facility”).  On  September  17,  2012,  MSI  entered  into  a
second amended and restated credit agreement (the “Restated Credit Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Bank,
National Association  (“Wells  Fargo”)  and  other  lenders  to  amend  various  terms  of  our  Senior  Secured
Asset-Based Revolving Credit Facility. On June 6, 2014, MSI amended its Restated Credit Agreement to,
among other things, permit the incurrence of the Additional Term Loan and refinancing of the 2018 Senior
Notes  with  the  net  proceeds  of  the  2020  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  and  the Additional  Term  Loan.  The
Restated Credit Agreement, together with related security, guarantee and other agreements, is referred to as
the “Restated Revolving Credit Facility”.

The  Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility  provides  for  senior  secured  financing  of  up  to $650.0
million,  subject  to  a  borrowing  base,  and  matures  on  September  17,  2017  (“ABL  Maturity  Date”).  The
borrowing base under the Restated Revolving Credit Facility equals the sum of (i) 90% of eligible credit
card receivables and debit card receivables, plus (ii) 90% of the appraised net orderly liquidation value of
eligible  inventory,  plus  (iii)  the  lesser  of  (a) 90%  of  the  appraised  net  orderly  liquidation  value  of
inventory supported by eligible letters of credit and (b) 90% of the face amount of eligible letters of credit,
minus (iv) certain reserves.

As of January 30, 2016 and January 31, 2015, the borrowing base was $650.0 million, of which
MSI  had  availability  of $586.8  million  and $587.6 million, respectively. Borrowing capacity is available
for letters of credit and borrowings on same-day notice. Outstanding standby letters of credit as of January
30, 2016 totaled $63.2 million.

The Restated Revolving Credit Facility also provides MSI with the right to request up to $200.0
million  of  additional  commitments.  The  lenders  will  not  be  under  any  obligation  to  provide  any  such
additional commitments, and any increase in commitments is subject to customary conditions. If we were
to request additional commitments, and the lenders were to agree to provide such commitments, the facility
size could be increased up to $850.0 million, however, MSI’s ability to borrow would still be limited by
the borrowing base.

Borrowings under the Restated Revolving Credit Facility bear interest at a rate per annum equal
to, at our option, either (a) a base rate determined by reference to the highest of (1) the prime rate of Wells
Fargo, (2) the federal funds effective rate plus 0.50% and (3) LIBOR subject to certain adjustments plus
1.00%  or  (b)  LIBOR  subject  to  certain  adjustments,  in  each  case  plus  an  applicable  margin.  The  initial
applicable  margin  is  (a) 0.75%  for  prime  rate  borrowings  and 1.75%  for  LIBOR  borrowings.  The
applicable  margin  is  subject  to  adjustment  each  fiscal  quarter  based  on  the  excess  availability  under  the
Restated Revolving Credit Facility. Same-day borrowings bear interest at the base rate plus the applicable
margin.

MSI  is  required  to  pay  a  commitment  fee  on  the  unutilized  commitments  under  the  Restated
Revolving  Credit  Facility,  which  initially  is 0.375%  per  annum.  The  commitment  fee  is  subject  to
adjustment each fiscal quarter. If average daily excess availability is less than or equal to  50% of the total
commitments, the commitment fee will be

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0.25%  per  annum.  If  average  daily  excess  availability  is  greater  than 50%  of  the  total  commitments,  the
commitment fee will be 0.375%. In addition, MSI must pay customary letter of credit fees and agency fees.

All  obligations  under  the  Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility  are  unconditionally  guaranteed,
jointly and severally, by Holdings and all of MSI’s existing domestic material subsidiaries and are required
to be guaranteed by the Subsidiary Guarantors. We are in the process of joining certain of our subsidiaries
acquired  in  the Lamrite  West,  Inc.  transaction  as  Subsidiary  Gurantors  under  the  Restated  Revolving
Credit Facility. All obligations under the Restated Revolving Credit Facility, and the guarantees of those
obligations, are secured, subject to certain exceptions, by substantially all of the assets of Holdings, MSI
and the Subsidiary Guarantors, including:

·

·

·

a  first-priority  security  interest  in  personal  property  consisting  of  inventory  and  related
accounts, cash, deposit accounts, all payments received by Holdings, MSI or the Subsidiary
Guarantors  from  credit  card  clearinghouses  and  processors  or  otherwise  in  respect  of  all
credit card charges and debit card charges for sales of inventory by Holdings, MSI and the
Subsidiary Guarantors, and certain related assets and proceeds of the foregoing;

a second-priority pledge of all of MSI’s capital stock and the capital stock held directly by
MSI  and  the  Subsidiary  Guarantors  (which  pledge,  in  the  case  of  the  capital  stock  of  any
foreign  subsidiary,  is  limited  to 65%  of  the  voting  stock  of  such  foreign  subsidiary  and
100% of the non-voting stock of such subsidiary); and

a second-priority security interest in, and mortgages on, substantially all other tangible and
intangible  assets  of  Holdings,  MSI  and  each  Subsidiary  Guarantor,  including  substantially
all of MSI’s and its subsidiaries’ owned real property and equipment.

If, at any time, the aggregate amount of outstanding loans, unreimbursed letter of credit drawings
and  undrawn  letters  of  credit  under  the  Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility  exceeds  the  lesser  of  (i)  the
commitment  amount  and  (ii)  the  borrowing  base  (the  “Loan  Cap”),  MSI  will  be  required  to  repay
outstanding loans and cash collateralized letters of credit in an aggregate amount equal to such excess, with
no  reduction  of  the  commitment  amount.  If  excess  availability  under  the  Restated  Revolving  Credit
Facility is less than (i) 12.5% of the Loan Cap for five consecutive business days, or (ii)  $65.0 million at
any time, or if certain events of default have occurred, MSI will be required to repay outstanding loans and
cash collateralized letters of credit with the cash MSI is required to deposit daily in a collection account
maintained  with  the  agent  under  the  Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility.  Excess  availability  under  the
Restated  Revolving  Credit  Facility  means  the  lesser  of  the  Loan  Cap  minus  the  outstanding  credit
extensions.  MSI  may  voluntarily  reduce  the  unutilized  portion  of  the  commitment  amount  and  repay
outstanding  loans  at  any  time  without  premium  or  penalty,  other  than  customary  breakage  costs  with
respect to LIBOR loans. There is no scheduled amortization under the Restated Revolving Credit Facility.
The principal amount of the loans outstanding is due and payable in full on the ABL Maturity Date.

The covenants limiting dividends and other restricted payments, investments, loans, advances and
acquisitions,  and  prepayments  or  redemptions  of  indebtedness,  each  permit  the  restricted  actions  in  an
unlimited amount, subject to the satisfaction of certain payment conditions, principally that MSI must meet
specified excess availability requirements and minimum consolidated fixed charge coverage ratios, to be
tested  on  a  pro  forma  and six  months  projected  basis.  Adjusted  EBITDA,  as  defined  in  the  Restated
Revolving Credit Facility, is used in the calculation of the consolidated fixed charge coverage ratios.

From the time when MSI has excess availability less than the greater of (a) 10% of the Loan Cap
and (b) $50.0 million, until the time when MSI has excess availability greater than the greater of (a) 10%
of the Loan Cap and (b) $50.0 million for 30 consecutive days, the Restated Revolving Credit Facility will
require  MSI  to  maintain  a  consolidated  fixed  charge  coverage  ratio  of  at  least 1.0  to  1.0.  The  Restated
Revolving  Credit  Facility  also  contains  certain  customary  representations  and  warranties,  affirmative
covenants  and  provisions  relating  to  events  of  default  (including  change  of  control  and  cross-default  to
material indebtedness).

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The Restated Revolving Credit Facility contains a number of covenants that, among other things

and subject to certain exceptions, restrict MSI’s ability, and the ability of its restricted subsidiaries, to:

·

·

incur or guarantee additional indebtedness;

pay dividends on MSI’s capital stock or redeem, repurchase or retire MSI’s capital stock;

· make investments, loans, advances and acquisitions;

·

·

·

·

·

·

create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other amounts to MSI from its restricted
subsidiaries;

engage in transactions with MSI’s affiliates;

sell assets, including capital stock of MSI’s subsidiaries;

prepay or redeem indebtedness;

consolidate or merge; and

create liens.

In accordance with ASC 470, MSI is amortizing $30.9 million in debt issuance costs as interest
expense over the life of the Restated Revolving Credit Facility. Debt issuance costs related to this facility
are reflected as an asset within the consolidated balance sheets.

PIK Toggle Notes

On July 29, 2013, Michaels FinCo Holdings, LLC (“FinCo Holdings”) and Michaels FinCo, Inc.
(“FinCo Inc.”) issued $800.0 million aggregate principal amount of  7.50%/8.25% PIK Toggle Notes due
2018 (“PIK Notes”) in a private transaction. Interest was payable semi-annually on February 1 and August
1  of  each  year  until  maturity  on August  1,  2018.  The  proceeds  from  the  debt  issuance  totaled  $782.4
million,  after  deducting  the  debt  issuance  costs.  FinCo  Holdings  distributed  the  net  proceeds  to  the
Company  which  were  used  to  fund  a  cash  dividend,  distribution  and  other  payments  to  the  Company's
equity and equity-award holders and to pay related costs.

On  July  2,  2014,  the  Company  completed  an  IPO  and  received  net  proceeds  totaling  $445.7
million.  The net proceeds were used to redeem $439.1 million of the outstanding PIK Notes and to pay
other  expenses  of  the  offering.  The  aggregate  redemption  price  (including  redemption  premium  and  any
unpaid interest) was $473.5 million. On December 10, 2014, the Company redeemed  $180.0 million of the
PIK Notes for an aggregate redemption price (including redemption premium and any unpaid interest) of
$188.4 million.

On May 6, 2015, the Company redeemed the remaining  $180.9 million of the PIK Notes for an
aggregate  redemption  price  (including  redemption  premium  and  any  unpaid  interest)  of $188.0  million.
This final payment retired the PIK Notes and discharged the obligations under the indenture governing the
PIK Notes.

In  accordance  with ASC  470,  we  recorded  a  loss  on  the  early  extinguishment  of  debt  of  $18.4
million  related  to  the  redemption  of  the  PIK  Notes  in  fiscal  2014.  The  $18.4  million  loss  consisted  of
an  $8.0  million  redemption  premium  and  a $10.4  million  charge  to  write  off  debt  issuance  costs.  In
addition, in fiscal 2015, the Company recorded $6.1 million of debt extinguishment costs, which consists
of a $3.6 million redemption premium and $2.5 million of unamortized debt issuance costs.

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7.75% Senior Notes due 2018

On  October  21,  2010,  MSI  issued $800.0  million  aggregate  principal  amount  of  7.75%  senior
notes that matured on November 1, 2018 (“Senior Notes”) at a discounted price of 99.262% of face value,
resulting in an effective interest rate of 7.875%. Interest was payable semi-annually in arrears on May 1
and  November  1  of  each  year,  commencing  on  May  1,  2011.  On  September  27,  2012,  MSI  issued  an
additional $200.0  million  aggregate  principal  amount  (the  “Additional  Senior  Notes”  and,  together  with
the  Senior  Notes,  the  “2018  Senior  Notes”)  of  Senior  Notes  under  the  indenture  (the  “2018  Senior
Indenture”).  The Additional Senior Notes were issued at a premium of 106.25% of face value, resulting in
an effective interest rate of 6.50%.  On July 16, 2014 and August 1, 2014, we redeemed the 2018 Senior
Notes  in  the  aggregate  principal  amounts  of $235.0  million  and $765.0  million,  respectively,  plus  the
applicable make-whole premium and accrued interest, and the 2018 Senior Indenture was discharged.

In  accordance  with ASC  470,  we  recorded  a  loss  on  the  early  extinguishment  of  debt  of  $55.9
million  related  to  the  redemption  of  the  2018  Senior  Notes  in  fiscal  2014.    The  $55.9  million  loss
consisted  of $50.8  million  of  redemption  premiums  and $10.2  million  to  write  off  related  debt  issuance
costs.  This loss was partially offset by a $5.1 million write-off of unamortized net premiums.

11.375% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2016

On  October  31,  2006,  MSI  issued $400.0  million  in  principal  amount  of 11.375%  senior
subordinated notes due November 1, 2016 (the “2016 Senior Subordinated Notes”). Interest was payable
semi-annually on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing on May 1, 2007.

On February 27, 2013, MSI redeemed $137.0 million of the 2016 Senior Subordinated Notes at a
redemption  price  equal  to 103.792%  for  an aggregate  redemption  price  (including  the  applicable
redemption premium and any unpaid interest) of $147.2 million.  On January 21, 2014, MSI redeemed the
remaining $255.9 million of 2016 Senior Subordinated Notes at a redemption price equal to 101.896%, or
a  total  of $260.7  million.  Accordingly,  MSI’s  obligations  under  the  2016  Senior  Subordinated  Notes
Indenture were discharged. In accordance with ASC 470, MSI recorded a loss on the early extinguishment
of debt in fiscal 2013 of $14.4 million related to the redemption of our 2016 Senior Subordinated Notes.
The $14.4 million loss was comprised of an $8.5  million  redemption  premium  and $5.9  million  to  write
off related debt issuance and other costs.

6. LEASES

We operate stores and use distribution centers, office facilities and equipment that are generally
leased  under  non-cancelable  operating  leases,  the  majority  of  which  provide  for  renewal  options. Future
minimum annual rental commitments for all non-cancelable operating leases as of January 30, 2016 are as
follows (in thousands):

Fiscal Year
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Thereafter

Total minimum rental commitments

  $

400,096  
358,304  
305,027  
247,216  
  190,250  
458,104  
  $ 1,958,997  

Rent  expense  applicable  to  non-cancelable  operating  leases  was  $388.1  million, $376.8  million

and $370.0 million in fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, respectively.

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7. INCOME TAXES

Deferred  income  taxes  reflect  the  net  tax  effects  of  temporary  differences  between  the  carrying
amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities  for  financial  reporting  purposes  and  the  amounts  used  for  income  tax
purposes.  Significant  components  of  deferred  tax  assets  and  liabilities  as  of  the  respective  year-end
balance sheets are as follows (in thousands):

Gross deferred tax assets:

Accrued liabilities
State income taxes
Vacation accrual
Share-based compensation
Deferred rent
Gift cards
Self-insurance
Original issue discount write-off
Federal, State and foreign net operating losses
Other

Total gross deferred tax assets
Valuation allowance

Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance

Deferred tax liabilities:

Merchandise inventories
Property and equipment
Unremitted earnings
Cancellation of debt income

Total deferred tax liabilities

  $

Fiscal Year

2015

2014

13,748   $
8,156  
6,360  
9,387  
17,880  
7,093  
17,992  
24,672  
5,463  
8,731  
119,482  
(3,050) 
116,432  

(9,350)
(42,495) 
 —  
(24,188)
(76,033) 

13,135  
4,160  
7,664  
15,828  
15,373  
4,534  
18,985  
32,750  
8,061  
9,523  
130,013  
(5,317) 
124,696  

(7,959) 
(33,649) 
(2,369) 
(31,709) 
(75,686) 

Net deferred tax assets

  $

40,399   $

49,010  

A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying amounts of deferred tax assets unless it
is more likely than not that such assets will be realized.  In evaluating our ability to realize our deferred tax
assets  we  considered  sources  of  future  taxable  income,  including  future  reversals  of  existing  taxable
temporary  differences,  forecast  of  future  profitability,  taxable  income  in  prior  carryback  years  and  tax-
planning strategies.

At  January  30,  2016,  we  had  state  net  operating  loss  carryforwards  to  reduce  future  taxable
income of $5.5 million, net of federal tax benefits, expiring at various dates between fiscal 2015 and fiscal
2032. Cash paid for income taxes totaled $154.9 million, $112.4 million and $144.7 million in fiscal 2015,
fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, respectively.

A provision for income taxes has not been recognized for U.S. taxes on undistributed earnings of
our  Canadian  subsidiaries  for  fiscal  2014  and  fiscal  2015  as  these  earnings  were,  and  are  expected  to
continue to be, permanently reinvested. The aggregate undistributed earnings of our Canadian subsidiaries
for  which no  deferred  tax  liability  has  been  recognized  is $48.5  million  as  of  the  end  of  fiscal  2015.  If
these earnings are remitted to the U.S. at a future date, additional tax liabilities will be incurred thereon.
The  unrecognized  deferred  tax  liabilities  on  the  unremitted  earnings  is  approximately $8.8  million  at
January 30, 2016.

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The reconciliation between the actual provision for income tax and the provision for income tax

calculated by applying the federal statutory tax rate of 35% is as follows (in thousands):

Income tax provision at statutory rate
State income taxes, net of federal income tax effect
Federal tax credits
Unrecognized tax benefits
State valuation allowance
Other
Total provision for income tax

2015
200,242  
19,131  
(1,696) 
2,268  
(2,268) 
(8,469) 
209,208  

$

$

Fiscal Year
2014
122,862  
11,364  
(2,494) 
3,571  
(3,571) 
1,907  
133,639  

$

$

2013
132,768
8,221
(1,095)
 —
(1,475)
(2,514)
135,905

$

$

The federal, state and international provision for income taxes are as follows (in thousands):

Current:
Federal
State
International

Total current

Deferred:
Federal
State
International

Total deferred

Provision for income taxes

Uncertain Tax Positions

2015

Fiscal Year
2014

  $

  $

164,384
27,167
9,746
201,297  

  $

90,025
19,147
10,418
119,590  

6,300
2,762
(1,151)
7,911  

18,665
(1,786)
(2,830)
14,049  

2013

113,922
14,852
11,488

140,262

(1,020)
(4,480)
1,143
(4,357)

$

209,208  

$

133,639  

$

135,905

We  operate  in  a  number  of  tax  jurisdictions  and  are  subject  to  examination  of  our  income  tax
returns by tax authorities in those jurisdictions who may challenge any item on these tax returns. Because
the  tax  matters  challenged  by  tax  authorities  are  typically  complex,  the  ultimate  outcome  of  these
challenges  is  uncertain.  In  accordance  with  ASC  740,  Income  Taxes,  we  recognize  the  benefits  of
uncertain tax positions in our consolidated financial statements only after determining that it is more likely
than not that the uncertain tax positions will be sustained.

A reconciliation of gross unrecognized tax benefits from the end of fiscal 2014 through the end of

fiscal 2015 is as follows  (in thousands):

Balance at beginning of year
Additions based on tax positions related to the current year
Additions for tax positions related to prior years
Reductions for tax positions related to prior years
Reductions for expiration of statute of limitations

Balance at end of year

  $ 16,715  
3,928  
2,422  
(731) 
(3,198) 
  $ 19,136  

Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits at January 30, 2016 is  $11.2 million which,
if  recognized,  would  affect  tax  expense.  Our  policy  is  to  classify  all  income-tax  related  interest  and
penalties as income tax expense. At January 30, 2016 and January 31, 2015, the total amount of interest
and penalties accrued within the

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tax liability was $4.6  million  and $3.5 million, respectively. There was no material interest and penalties
recognized in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income in fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013.  

In  the  normal  course  of  business,  we  are  subject  to  examination  by  taxing  authorities  in  major
Canadian,  U.S.  Federal  and  U.S.  State  jurisdictions.  The  periods  subject  to  examination  for  our  federal
return are fiscal 2011 to fiscal 2014, fiscal 2008 to fiscal 2014 for our Canadian returns and fiscal 2009 to
fiscal  2014  for  all  major  state  tax  returns.    Our  income  tax  returns  for  fiscal  2011  and  fiscal  2012  are
currently under examination by the Canadian tax authorities. We are not aware of any issues which would
result  in  a  material  assessment  of  tax  obligations.  The  pretax  income  from  foreign  operations  for  fiscal
2015, fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013 totaled $33.2 million, $38.0 million and $38.8 million, respectively.

8. SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

The Michaels Companies, Inc. Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan
(“2014  Omnibus  Plan”)  provides  for  the  grant  of  share-based  awards  for  up  to 21.3  million  shares  of
common  stock.  As  of  January  30,  2016,  there  were 7.4  million  shares  of  common  stock  remaining
available for grant. Generally, awards vest ratably over four or five years and expire eight to ten years from
the grant date. During fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and the last quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company measured
share-based compensation for new awards using the grant date fair value accounting guidance of ASC 718.
During the first three quarters of fiscal 2013, the Company determined its employee stock options should
be  recorded  under  the  liability  accounting  guidance  of  ASC  718.  As  such  we  measured  share-based
compensation based on either the grant date fair value of the equity awards or the fair value of our option
awards at the end of the period. As of January 30, 2016, unrecognized compensation cost for all unvested
share-based awards totaled $45.3 million and is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period
o f 3.0  years.  Share-based  compensation  expense  totaled $15.1  million  in  fiscal  2015, $19.4  million  in
fiscal  2014  and $34.3 million in fiscal 2013  and  is  recorded  in  cost  of  sales  and  occupancy  expense  and
SG&A expense in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

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Stock Options

The  fair  value  of  each  stock  option  is  estimated  using  the  Black-Scholes  option  pricing  model.

The following table presents the assumptions used during fiscal years 2015, 2014 and 2013:

2015

2013

Risk-free interest rates (1)
Expected dividend yield
Expected volatility (2)
Expected life of options in years (3)
Fair value of equity per share (4)

1.1   -   1.5 %   
  0.0 %    

0.1   -   1.4 %
  0.0 %
  27.4   -   31.2 %    27.5   -   28.4 %    25.5   -   32.5 %

  4.0

  4.0

  $ 22.30   - $ 28.82   $ 15.16   - $ 22.75 

4.0   -   5.0
$ 14.76   - $ 18.28 

Fiscal Year
2014
        1.3 %   
  0.0 %    

(1) Based on interest rates for U.S. Treasury instruments with terms consistent with the expected lives

of the awards.

(2) We  considered  o u r historical  volatility  as  well  as the  historical  and implied  volatilities  for

exchange-traded options of a peer group of companies.

(3) Expected  lives  were  based  on  an  analysis  of  historical  exercise  and  post-vesting  employment

termination behavior.

(4) The Company’s common stock valuations for periods prior to our IPO on June 27, 2014 and fiscal
2013  relied  on  projections  of  our  future  performance,  estimates  of  our  weighted-average  cost  of
capital,  and  metrics  based  on  the  performance  of  a  peer  group  of  similar  companies,  including
valuation multiples and stock price volatility.  Subsequent to June 27, 2014, the Company used the
closing market price of our common stock on the grant date.

The stock option activity during the fiscal year ended January 30, 2016 was as follows:

  Number of

Weighted-

     Weighted-       
  Average
  Remaining  
  Contractual  

Aggregate

Intrinsic

Shares
  (in thousands)  

  Average Exercise   Term (in
years)

Price

Value
  (in thousands)  

Outstanding at beginning of year

Granted
Exercised
Expired/Forfeited

Outstanding at end of year

9,838   $
1,675  
(3,169) 
(372) 
7,972  

10.86  
23.92  
7.14  
16.61  
14.84  

5.9   $

58,835  

Shares exercisable at end of year

3,705   $

11.08  

3.8   $

58,667  

The  total grant  date fair  value  of  options  that vested  during  fiscal  2015,  fiscal  2014  and  fiscal
2013 was $7.3 million, $14.5 million and $17.1 million, respectively. The intrinsic value for options that
vested during fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013 was $18.1 million, $33.0 million and $25.3 million,
respectively.  The  intrinsic  value  for  options  exercised  was $65.6  million  in  fiscal  2015, $42.1  million  in
fiscal  2014  and $27.4  million  in  fiscal  2013. As  of the  beginning  of  fiscal  2015,  there  were 4.3  million
nonvested options with a weighted-average fair value of $4.66 per share. As of the end of fiscal 2015, there
were 4.3 million nonvested options with a weighted-average fair value of $4.97 per share. The weighted-
average fair value of options granted during fiscal 2015 and fiscal 2014 was $6.01 and $3.77, respectively.
During fiscal 2015, there were 1.4 million options that vested and 0.4 million options that were cancelled
with a weighted-average fair value of $5.30 and $4.76 per share, respectively.

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Restricted Shares

The  Company  issues  restricted  shares  to  certain  key  employees  and  its  Board  of  Directors.
Generally,  restricted  shares  awarded  to  employees  vest  ratably  over four  or five  years. Restricted  shares
awarded to Board of Director members vest ratably over one year.

Restricted share activity during the fiscal year ended January 30, 2016 was as follows:

Outstanding at beginning of year

Granted
Vested
Forfeited

Outstanding at end of year

9.   EARNINGS PER SHARE

  Number of

Shares
    (in thousands)    
904   $
883  
(276) 
(82) 
1,429   $

  Weighted-
  Average Fair
Value

16.79
23.69
16.59
20.29
20.88

The Company’s unvested restricted stock awards contain non-forfeitable rights to dividends and
meet the criteria of a participating security as defined by ASC 260, “Earnings Per Share.” Under the two-
class method, net income per share is computed by dividing net income allocated to common shareholders
by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period.  In applying the two-class
method,  net  income  is  allocated  to  both  common  and  participating  securities  based  on  their  respective
weighted-average  shares  outstanding  for  the  period.  Diluted  earnings  per  share  is  computed  by  dividing
income  available  to  common  stockholders  by  the  weighted-average common shares  outstanding  plus  the
potential dilutive impact from the exercise of stock options.  Common equivalent shares are excluded from
the  computation  if  their  effect  is  anti-dilutive.    There  were 0.8  million, 0.3  million  and 2.4  million  anti-
dilutive shares in fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, respectively.

The  following  table  sets  forth  the  computation  of  basic  and  diluted  earnings  per  share  (in

thousands, except per share data):

2015

Fiscal Year
2014

2013

Basic earnings per common share:

Net income
Less income related to unvested restricted shares
Income available to common shareholders - Basic

Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Basic
Basic earnings per common share

  $ 362,912   $ 217,395   $ 243,430  
(660) 
  $ 361,012   $ 216,560   $ 242,770  

(1,900) 

(835) 

  206,845  

  203,229  

  $

1.75   $

1.07   $

  174,797  
1.39  

Diluted earnings per common share:

Net income

  $ 362,912   $ 217,395   $ 243,430  

Less income related to unvested restricted shares
Income available to common shareholders - Diluted

Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Basic
Effect of dilutive stock options
Weighted-average common shares outstanding - Diluted
Diluted earnings per common share

F-28

(1,877)   

(646) 
  $ 361,035   $ 216,576   $ 242,784  

(819)   

  206,845  
2,501  
  209,346  

  203,229  
3,872  
  207,101  

  $

1.72   $

1.05   $

  174,797  
3,831  
  178,628  
1.36  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
     
     
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
     
     
   
 
 
     
     
     
 
     
     
     
 
   
 
   
     
     
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     
     
     
 
 
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10. SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION

We  consider  our  Michaels-U.S.,  Michaels-Canada  and  Aaron  Brothers  to  be  our  operating
segments  for  purposes  of  determining  reportable  segments  based  on  the  criteria  of ASC  280, Segment
Reporting (“ASC  280”).  We  determined  that  each  of  our  operating  segments  have  similar  economic
characteristics and meet the aggregation criteria set forth in ASC 280. Therefore, we combine our operating
segments into one reporting segment.

Our net sales and total assets by country are as follows (in thousands):

2015

Fiscal Year
2014

2013

Net Sales:
United States
Canada
Total

Total Assets:
United States
Canada
Total

  $ 4,473,454   $ 4,276,794   $ 4,132,037  
437,755  
  $ 4,912,782   $ 4,738,144   $ 4,569,792  

439,328  

461,350  

  $ 1,887,570   $ 1,825,562   $ 1,644,548  
122,584  
  $ 2,023,277   $ 1,961,108   $ 1,767,132  

135,707  

135,546  

We present assets based on their physical, geographic location. Certain assets located in the U.S.

are also used to support our Canadian operations but are not allocated to Canada.

Our net sales by major product categories are as follows (in thousands):

General crafts
Home décor and seasonal
Framing
Papercrafting

2013

2015

Fiscal Year
2014
  $ 2,487,288   $ 2,409,136   $ 2,370,843  
898,170  
862,020  
438,759  
  $ 4,912,782   $ 4,738,144   $ 4,569,792  

  1,003,436  
927,588  
494,470  

971,176  
902,934  
454,898  

Our  chief  operating  decision  makers  evaluate  historical  operating  performance  and  plan  and
forecast  future  periods’  operating  performance  based  on  operating  income  and  earnings  before  interest,
income taxes, depreciation, amortization and losses on early extinguishments of debt and refinancing costs
(“EBITDA (excluding losses on early extinguishments of debt and refinancing costs)”). We believe these
metrics more closely reflect the operating effectiveness of factors over which management has control. A
reconciliation of EBITDA (excluding losses on early extinguishments of debt and refinancing costs) to net
income is presented below (in thousands):

Net income
Interest expense
Provision for income taxes
Depreciation and amortization
Losses on early extinguishments of debt and refinancing costs
Interest income
EBITDA (excluding losses on early extinguishments of debt and
refinancing costs)

F-29

2015

2013

Fiscal Year
2014
  $ 362,912   $ 217,395   $ 243,430  
  214,497  
  198,409  
  135,905  
  133,639  
  105,939  
  110,858  
  14,420  
  74,312  
(278) 
(363) 

  139,405  
  209,208  
  114,756  
8,485  
(615) 

  $ 834,151   $ 734,250   $ 713,913  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
    
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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11. CONTINGENCIES

Rea Claim

On September 15, 2011, MSI was served with a lawsuit filed in the California Superior Court in
and  for  the  County  of  Orange  (“Superior  Court”)  by four  former  store  managers  as  a  class  action
proceeding  on  behalf  of  themselves  and  certain  former  and  current  store  managers  employed  by  MSI  in
California. The lawsuit alleges that MSI improperly classified its store managers as exempt employees and
as  such  failed  to  pay  all  wages,  overtime,  waiting  time  penalties  and  failed  to  provide  accurate  wage
statements.  The  lawsuit  also  alleges  that  the  foregoing  conduct  was  in  breach  of various  laws,  including
California’s unfair competition law. On December 3, 2013, the Superior Court entered an order certifying a
class  of  approximately 200  members.    MSI  successfully  removed  the  case  to  the  United  States  District
Court for the Central District of California and on May 8, 2014, the class was decertified.   As a result of
the  decertification,  we  have 30  individual  claims  pending  as  well  as  a  separate  representative  action
pending in the California Superior Court in and for the County of San Diego brought on behalf of store
managers throughout the state. We believe we have meritorious defenses and intend to defend the lawsuits
vigorously. We do not believe the resolution of the lawsuits will have a material effect on our consolidated
financial statements.

Fair Credit Reporting Claim

On  December  11,  2014,  MSI  was  served  with  a  lawsuit, Christina  Graham  v.  Michaels  Stores,
Inc., filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey by a former associate.  The lawsuit is a
purported class action, bringing plaintiff’s individual claims, as well as claims on behalf of a putative class
of applicants who applied for employment with Michaels through an online application, and on whom a
background  check  for  employment  was  procured.  The  lawsuit  alleges  that  MSI  violated  the  Fair  Credit
Reporting Act (“FCRA”) and the New Jersey Fair Credit Reporting Act by failing to provide the proper
disclosure  and  obtain  the  proper  authorization  to  conduct  background  checks.    Since  the  initial  filing,
another named plaintiff joined the lawsuit, which was amended in February 2015, Christina Graham and
Gary Anderson v. Michaels Stores, Inc., with substantially similar allegations.  The plaintiffs seek statutory
and punitive damages as well as attorneys’ fees and costs. 

Following  the  filing  of  the Graham case  in  New  Jersey,  five  additional  purported  class  action
lawsuits  with  six  plaintiffs  were  filed, Michele Castro and Janice Bercut v. Michaels Stores, Inc.,  in  the
U.S.  District  Court  for  the  Northern  District  of  Texas, Michelle  Bercut  v.  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.,  in  the
Superior Court of California for Sonoma County,  Raini Burnside v. Michaels Stores, Inc., pending in the
U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri,  Sue Gettings v. Michaels Stores, Inc., in the U.S.
District Court for the Southern District of New York, and  Barbara Horton v. Michaels Stores, Inc., in the
U.S.  District  Court  for  the  Central  District  of  California. All  of  the  plaintiffs  alleged  violations  of  the
FCRA. In addition, the Castro,  Horton and Janice  Bercut lawsuits also alleged violations of California’s
unfair competition law. The  Burnside, Horton and Gettings lawsuits have been dismissed and an offer of
judgment has been accepted in the Castro lawsuit and will be dismissed. The Graham,  Janice  Bercut and
Michelle  Bercut lawsuits  were  transferred  for  centralized  pretrial  proceedings  to  the  District  of  New
Jersey. 

The  Company  intends  to  defend  the  remaining  lawsuits  vigorously.  We  cannot  reasonably

estimate the potential loss, or range of loss, related to the lawsuits, if any.

Data Security Incident

Five putative class actions were filed against MSI relating to the January 2014 data breach. The
plaintiffs  generally  alleged  that  MSI  failed  to  secure  and  safeguard  customers’  private  information
including  credit  and  debit  card  information,  and  as  such,  breached  an  implied  contract,  and  violated  the
Illinois  Consumer  Fraud  Act  (and  other  states’  similar  laws)  and  are  seeking  damages  including
declaratory  relief,  actual  damages,  punitive  damages,  statutory  damages,  attorneys’  fees,  litigation  costs,
remedial action, pre and post judgment interest, and other relief as available.   The  cases,  are  as  follows:
Christina Moyer v. Michaels Stores, Inc., was filed on January 27, 2014; Michael and Jessica Gouwens v.
Michaels  Stores,  Inc.,  was  filed  on  January  29,  2014; Nancy  Maize  and  Jessica  Gordon  v.  Michaels
Stores, Inc., was filed on February 21, 2014; and Daniel Ripes v. Michaels Stores, Inc., was filed on

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March 14, 2014. These four cases were filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of
Illinois, Eastern Division.  On March 18, 2014, an additional putative class action was filed in the United
States District Court for the Eastern District of New York,  Mary Jane Whalen v. Michaels Stores, Inc., but
was  voluntarily  dismissed  by  the  plaintiff  on April  11,  2014  without  prejudice  to  her  right  to  re‑file  a
complaint. On April 16, 2014, an order was entered consolidating the Illinois actions. On July 14, 2014,
the Company’s motion to dismiss the consolidated complaint was granted.

On December 2, 2014, Whalen filed a new lawsuit against MSI related to the data breach in the
United  States  District  Court  for  the  Eastern  District  of  New  York, Mary  Jane  Whalen  v.  Michaels
Stores, Inc., seeking damages including declaratory relief, monetary damages, statutory damages, punitive
damages,  attorneys’  fees  and  costs,  injunctive  relief,  pre  and  post  judgment  interest,  and  other  relief  as
available. The Company filed a motion to dismiss which was granted on December 28, 2015, and judgment
was entered in favor of the Company on January 8, 2016. Plaintiff filed a notice of appeal on January 27,
2016, appealing that judgment to the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

The  Company  intends  to  defend  this  lawsuit  vigorously.  We  cannot  reasonably  estimate  the

potential loss, or range of loss, related to the lawsuit, if any.

In connection with the breach, payment card companies and associations have sought to require
us to reimburse them for unauthorized card charges and costs to replace cards and may also seek fines or
penalties in connection with the data breach, and enforcement authorities may also impose fines or other
remedies  against  us.  We  have  also  incurred  other  costs  associated  with  the  data  breach,  including  legal
fees, investigative fees, costs of communications with customers and credit monitoring services provided to
our customers. In addition, various states’ attorneys general investigated events related to the data breach,
including how it occurred, its consequences and our responses. We fully cooperated in these investigations
and we do not expect any further action. We cannot reasonably estimate the potential loss or range of loss
related to any reimbursement costs, fines or penalties that may be assessed. Such amounts incurred to date
are immaterial to the consolidated financial statements.

Consumer Product Safety Commission Claim

On April 21, 2015, the United States Department of Justice, on behalf of the Consumer Product
Safety  Commission  (the  “CPSC”),  filed  a  complaint  against  MSI  and  Michaels  Stores  Procurement
Company,  Inc.  (“MSPC”)  in  the  U.S.  District  Court  for  the  Northern  District  of  Texas.  The  complaint
seeks civil penalties for an alleged failure to timely report a potential product safety hazard to the CPSC
related to the breakage of certain glass vases. The complaint also alleges the report contained a material
misrepresentation  and  seeks  injunctive  relief  requiring  MSI  and  MSPC  to,  among  other  things,  establish
internal recordkeeping and compliance monitoring systems. The Company filed a partial motion to dismiss
on  June  18,  2015  seeking  dismissal  of  the  CPSC’s  claims  for  civil  penalties,  and  is  awaiting  a  decision
from the Court. We believe we have meritorious defenses and intend to defend the lawsuit vigorously. We
do  not  believe  the  resolution  of  the  lawsuit  will  have  a  material  effect  on  our  consolidated  financial
statements.

General

In addition to the litigation discussed above, we are now, and may be in the future, involved in
various other lawsuits, claims and proceedings incident to the ordinary course of business. The results of
litigation  are  inherently  unpredictable. Any  claims  against  us,  whether  meritorious  or  not,  could  be  time
consuming,  result  in  costly  litigation,  require  significant  amounts  of  management  time  and  result  in
diversion of significant resources.

For some of the matters disclosed above, as well as other lawsuits involving the Company, we are
able  to  estimate  a  range  of  losses  in  excess  of  the  amounts  recorded,  if  any,  in  the  accompanying
consolidated financial statements. As of January 30, 2016, the aggregate estimated loss is approximately
$15 million, which includes amounts recorded by the Company.

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12. RETIREMENT PLANS

We  sponsor  a  401(k)  Savings  Plan  for  our  eligible  employees  and  certain  of  our  subsidiaries.
Participation in the 401(k) Savings Plan is voluntary and available to any employee who is at least 21 years
of  age  and  has  completed three  months  of  full-time  service  or one year of part-time service. Participants
may elect to contribute up to 80% of their compensation on a pre-tax basis and up to 10% on an after-tax
basis. In accordance with the provisions of the 401(k) Savings Plan, we make a matching cash contribution
to the account of each participant in an amount equal to 50% of the participant’s pre-tax contributions that
do  not  exceed 6%  of  the  participant’s  compensation  for  the  year.  Matching  contributions  vest  to  the
participants  based  on  years  of  service,  with 100%  vesting  after three  years.  Our  matching  contribution
expense  was $4.8  million, $4.1  million,  and $4.2  million  in  fiscal  2015,  fiscal  2014  and  fiscal  2013,
respectively.

13. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Affiliates  of,  or  funds  advised  by,  Bain  Capital  Partners,  LLC  (“Bain  Capital”)  and  The
Blackstone Group L.P. (“The Blackstone Group”, together with Bain Capital and their applicable affiliates,
the “Sponsors”) own approximately 63% of our outstanding common stock as of  January 30, 2016. Prior
to  our  IPO  on  July  2,  2014,  the  Sponsors  and  another  common  stockholder,  Highfields  Capital
fees  of $12.0  million  and
Management  LP 
$1.0 million, respectively.  In connection with the IPO, the management agreement was terminated and the
Company paid the Sponsors and Highfields an aggregate $30.2 million termination fee. During fiscal 2014
and  fiscal  2013,  we  recognized  expense  of $35.7  million  and $13.7  million,  respectively,  related  to
management  fees  and  reimbursement  of  out-of-pocket  expenses.  These  expenses  are  included  in  related
party expenses in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income. No related party expenses were
incurred in fiscal 2015.

annual  management 

(“Highfields”), 

received 

The Blackstone Group owns a majority equity position in RGIS, a vendor we utilize to count our
store inventory. Payments associated with this vendor totaled  $5.9  million, $5.8  million  and $5.6 million
during fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2013, respectively, and are included in SG&A in the consolidated
statements of comprehensive income.

The Blackstone Group owns a majority equity position in Vistar, a vendor we utilize for all of the
candy-type items in our stores. Payments associated with this vendor during fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and
fiscal 2013 were $28.6 million, $25.6 million and $24.0 million, respectively, and are recognized in cost of
sales  and  occupancy  expense  in  the  consolidated  statements  of  comprehensive  income  as  the  sales  are
incurred.

The Blackstone Group owns an equity position in Brixmor Properties Group, a vendor we utilize
to lease certain properties. Payments associated with this vendor during fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and fiscal
2013 were $2.1 million, $3.0 million and $3.8 million, respectively. These expenses are included in cost of
sales and occupancy expense in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

The  Blackstone  Group  owns  an  equity  position  in  Hilton  Hotels, a  vendor  we  utilize  for
hospitality  services.  Payments  associated  with  this  vendor  were $0.4  million  during  fiscal  2015, $1.4
million  during  fiscal  2014  and $0.1  million  during  fiscal  2013,  and  are  included  in  SG&A  in  the
consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

The Blackstone Group owns a majority equity position in Excel Trust, Inc., a vendor we utilize to
lease certain properties.  Payments associated with this vendor during fiscal 2015, fiscal 2014 and fiscal
2013 were $2.1 million, $1.8 million and $1.3 million, respectively.  These expenses are included in cost
of sales and occupancy expense in the consolidated statements of comprehensive income.

Five of our current directors, Joshua Bekenstein, Nadim El Gabbani, Lewis S. Klessel, Matthew
S. Levin and Peter F. Wallace, are affiliates of Bain Capital or The Blackstone Group. As such, some or all
of such directors may have an indirect material interest in payments with respect to debt securities of the
Company that have been purchased by affiliates of Bain Capital and The Blackstone Group. As of January
30,  2016,  affiliates  of  The  Blackstone  Group  held $57.9  million  of  our  Restated  Term  Loan  Credit
Facility.

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14. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Our debt covenants restrict MSI, and certain subsidiaries of MSI, from various activities including
the incurrence of additional debt, payment of dividends and the repurchase of MSI’s capital stock (subject
to  certain  exceptions),  among  other  things.  The  following  condensed  consolidated  financial  information
represents the financial information of MSI and its wholly-owned subsidiaries subject to these restrictions.
The  information  is  presented  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  Rule  12-04  under  the  SEC’s
Regulation S-X.

Michaels Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)

ASSETS

Fiscal Year

2015

2014

Current assets:

Cash and equivalents
Merchandise inventories
Prepaid expenses and other current assets

Total current assets
Property and equipment, net
Goodwill
Other assets

Total assets

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ DEFICIT

Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
Accrued liabilities and other
Current portion of long-term debt
Other current liabilities
Total current liabilities

Long-term debt
Other liabilities
Total stockholders’ deficit

Total liabilities and stockholders’ deficit

F-33

  $

404,650   $

373,559  
958,171  
87,093  
  1,418,823  
386,372  
94,290  
60,935  
  $ 2,023,631   $ 1,960,420  

  1,002,607  
87,573  
  1,494,830  
378,507  
94,290  
56,004  

  $

457,704   $
375,992  
24,900  
89,996  
948,592  
  2,744,942  
95,400  
  (1,765,303) 

447,016  
388,785  
24,900  
59,885  
920,586  
  2,911,566  
93,221  
  (1,964,953) 
  $ 2,023,631   $ 1,960,420  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
    
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table of Contents

Michaels Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
(in thousands)

Net sales
Cost of sales and occupancy expense

Gross profit

Selling, general and administrative
Other operating expense
Operating income
Interest and other expense
Income before income taxes
Provision for income taxes

Net income

Other comprehensive income, net of tax:

Foreign currency translation adjustment and other

Comprehensive income

2015

2013

Fiscal Year
2014
  $4,912,782   $4,738,144   $4,569,792  
  2,747,630  
  2,836,965  
  1,822,162  
  1,901,179  
  1,192,520  
  1,230,639  
18,478  
40,749  
611,164  
629,791  
198,898  
213,697  
412,266  
416,094  
147,839  
156,976  
  $ 365,599   $ 259,118   $ 264,427  

  2,944,431  
  1,968,351  
  1,241,876  
4,786  
721,689  
138,662  
583,027  
217,428  

(10,251) 

(6,239) 
  $ 355,348   $ 247,115   $ 258,188  

(12,003) 

Michaels Stores, Inc.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(in thousands)

Cash flows from operating activities:

Net cash provided by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities:

Additions to property and equipment
Purchase of long-term investment

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities:

Net repayments of debt
Net borrowings of debt
Payment of dividend to Michaels Funding, Inc.
Other financing activities

Net cash used in financing activities

Net change in cash and equivalents
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period
Cash and equivalents at end of period

15.  SUBSEQUENT EVENT

2015

Fiscal Year
2014

2013

  $ 507,806   $

521,109   $ 468,780  

  (123,920) 
(5,000) 
  (128,920) 

(137,780) 
 —  
(137,780) 

  (112,156) 
 —  
  (112,156) 

  (219,947) 
45,047  
  (188,046) 
15,151  
  (347,795) 

  (1,100,889) 
  1,123,750  
(255,552) 
(11,239) 
(243,930) 

  (805,324) 
  648,902  
 —  
(22,003) 
  (178,425) 

31,091  
  373,559  
  $ 404,650   $

  178,199  
139,399  
55,961  
234,160  
373,559   $ 234,160  

On  February  2,  2016,  we  acquired t h e Lamrite  West,  Inc.  and  certain  of  its  affiliates  and
subsidiaries (“Lamrite”)  for $150.0  million,  subject  to  certain  purchase  price  adjustments,  utilizing  our
existing cash on hand. Lamrite operates an international wholesale business under the Darice brand name
and 32 arts and crafts retail stores,

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located primarily in Ohio and the surrounding states, under the Pat Catan’s brand name. The acquisition is
expected to enhance our private brand development capabilities, accelerate our direct sourcing initiatives
and  strengthen  our  business-to-business  capabilities.  Since  the  closing  of  this  acquisition  occurred
subsequent to our fiscal year-end, the allocation of the purchase price to the underlying assets acquired and
liabilities assumed is subject to a formal valuation process, which has not yet been completed.   We will
reflect  the  preliminary  valuation  of  the  net  assets  acquired  and  the  operational  results  of  Lamrite  in  our
first quarter of fiscal 2016. The purchase price allocation will be finalized as soon as practicable within the
measurement period, but not later than one year following the acquisition close date.

16. QUARTERLY RESULTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)

Unaudited  quarterly  results  of  operations  for  fiscal  2015  and  fiscal  2014  were  as  follows  (in

thousands, except per share data):

Fiscal 2015

First
Quarter

Second
  Quarter

Third
Quarter

Fourth
Quarter

Net sales
Cost of sales and occupancy expense
Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative
Operating income
Losses on early extinguishments of debt and
refinancing costs
Net income
Diluted earnings per common share

Net sales
Cost of sales and occupancy expense
Gross profit
Selling, general and administrative
Operating income (1)
Losses on early extinguishments of debt and
refinancing costs
Net income (loss)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share

   $ 1,077,600    $ 984,270    $ 1,168,423    $ 1,682,489
  994,854
  687,635
  362,987
  324,188

  610,949  
  373,321  
  275,699  
96,582  

702,825  
465,598  
308,704  
155,852  

635,803  
441,797  
295,571  
143,982  

               —  
66,738  

6,072  
35,711  

               —  
76,797  

  $

0.32   $

0.17   $

0.37   $

2,413
  183,666
0.87

Fiscal 2014

First
Quarter

Second
  Quarter

Third
Quarter

Fourth
  Quarter

   $ 1,052,048    $ 948,150    $ 1,130,195    $ 1,607,751
944,695
663,056
368,493
293,958

  590,953  
  357,197  
  272,888  
50,892  

678,012  
452,183  
307,537  
142,479  

623,305  
428,743  
284,983  
139,200  

               —  
45,414  

67,980  
  (48,643) 

               —  
64,064  

  $

0.25   $

(0.26)  $

0.31   $

6,332
156,560
0.75

(1) Operating  income  for  the  second  quarter  of  fiscal  2014  includes  a $32.3  million  charge  associated
with  the  IPO  primarily  related  to  a $30.2  million  fee  paid  to  related  parties  to  terminate  our
management agreement.

We report on the basis of a 52-week or 53-week fiscal year, which ends on the Saturday closest to
January  31.  Our  interim  periods  each  contain 13  weeks,  with  the  first  quarter  ending  on  a  Saturday 13
weeks after the end of our previous fiscal year.

F-35

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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SIGNATURES

Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  Section  13  or  15(d)  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.

Date: March 17, 2016

THE MICHAELS COMPANIES, INC.

By: /s/ Charles M. Sonsteby
Charles M. Sonsteby
Chief Administrative Officer & Chief Financial
Officer

Pursuant  to  the  requirements  of  the  Securities  Exchange Act  of  1934,  this  report  has  been  signed

below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

/s/ Carl S. Rubin

Carl S. Rubin

  Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  March 17, 2016

/s/ Charles M. Sonsteby

Charles M. Sonsteby

  Chief Administrative Officer & Chief Financial Officer   March 17, 2016

(Principal Financial Officer)

/s/ James E. Sullivan

James E. Sullivan

/s/ Joshua Bekenstein

Joshua Bekenstein

/s/ Monte E. Ford

Monte E. Ford

/s/ Nadim El Gabbani

Nadim El Gabbani

/s/ Karen Kaplan

Karen Kaplan

/s/ Lewis S. Klessel

Lewis S. Klessel

/s/Matthew S. Levin

Matthew S. Levin

/s/ John J. Mahoney

John J. Mahoney

/s/James A. Quella

James A. Quella

/s/ Beryl B. Raff

Beryl B. Raff

/s/ Peter F. Wallace

Peter F. Wallace

  Chief Accounting Officer and Controller

  March 17, 2016

(Principal Accounting Officer)

Director

Director

  Director

  Director

  Director

  Director

  Director

  Director

  Director

  Director

March 17, 2016

March 17, 2016

  March 17, 2016

  March 17, 2016

  March 17, 2016

  March 17, 2016

  March 17, 2016

  March 17, 2016

  March 17, 2016

  March 17, 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
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 Exhibit
Number
2.1

3.1

3.2

4.1

4.2

4.3

4.4

4.5

4.6

4.7

4.8

4.9

EXHIBIT INDEX

Description of Exhibit
Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 22, 2013, by and among Michaels Stores, Inc.,
The  Michaels  Companies,  Inc.,  Michaels  FinCo  Holdings,  LLC,  Michaels  Funding,  Inc.,  and
Michaels Stores MergerCo, Inc. (previously filed as Exhibit 2.1 to Form 10-Q filed by Michaels
Stores, Inc. on August 30, 2013, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Second Amended  and  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation  of  The  Michaels  Companies,  Inc.
(previously filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Form S-1 filed by the Company on June 9, 2014, SEC File
No. 333-193000).

Form of Amended and Restated Bylaws of The Michaels Companies, Inc. (previously filed as
Exhibit 3.4 to Form S-1 filed by the Company on June 2, 2014, SEC File No. 333-193000).

Form of Specimen Common Stock Certificate of The Michaels Companies, Inc. (previously
filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Form S-1 filed by the Company on June 16, 2014, SEC File No. 333-
193000)

Form of Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement (previously filed as Exhibit 4.2
to Form S-1 filed by the Company on June 2, 2014, SEC File No. 333-193000).

Form of Investor Agreement (previously filed as Exhibit 4.3 to Form S-1 filed by the Company
on June 2, 2014, SEC File No. 333-193000).

Indenture,  dated  as  of  October  21,  2010,  by  and  among  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.,  the  guarantors
named therein and Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee (previously filed as
Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on October 26, 2010, SEC File No. 001-
09338).

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 27, 2012, by and among Michaels Stores, Inc.,
the  guarantors  named  therein  and  Law  Debenture  Trust  Company  of  New  York,  as  trustee
(previously filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Form 8-K filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on October 2, 2012,
SEC File No. 001-09338).

Indenture, dated as of December 19, 2013, by and among Michaels Stores, Inc., the guarantors
named  therein  and  Wells  Fargo  Bank,  National  Association,  as  trustee  (previously  filed  as
Exhibit  4.1  to  Form  8-K  filed  by  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  on  December  19,  2013,  SEC  File
No. 001-09338).

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 16, 2014, by and among Michaels Stores, Inc., the
guarantors named therein and Wells Fargo Bank, National Association, as trustee (previously
filed as Exhibit 4.11 to Form S-1 filed by the Company on June 16, 2014, SEC File No. 333-
193000)

Indenture, dated as of July 29, 2013, among Michaels FinCo Holdings, LLC, Michaels FinCo,
Inc. and Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee (previously filed as Exhibit
4.12 to Form S-1 filed by the Company on June 16, 2014, SEC File No. 333-193000)

Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2006, among Michaels Stores, Inc. and
certain  stockholders  thereof  (previously  filed  as  Exhibit  4.7  to  Form  10-Q  filed  by  Michaels
Stores, Inc. on December 7, 2006, SEC File No. 001-09338).

4.10

Registration  Rights  Agreement,  dated  as  of  September  27,  2012,  by  and  among  Michaels
Stores, Inc., the guarantors named therein and the Initial Purchasers named therein (previously
filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on October 2, 2012, SEC File
No. 001-09338).

 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table of Contents

 Exhibit 
Number
10.1*

10.2*

10.3*

10.4*

10.5*

10.6*

10.7*

10.8*

10.9*

10.10*

10.11*

10.12*

10.13*

10.14*

10.15*

Description of Exhibit
Michaels Stores, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K
filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on February 21, 2007, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Form of Stock Option Agreement under the Michaels Stores, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan
(previously  filed  as  Exhibit  10.2  to  Form  8-K  filed  by  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  on  February  21,
2007, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Amended Form of Stock Option Agreement under Michaels Stores, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive
Plan  (previously  filed  as  Exhibit  10.1  to  Form  10-Q  filed  by  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  on
September 4, 2009, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Form  of  Restricted  Stock  Award  Agreement  under  the  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  2006  Equity
Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Form 10-Q filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on
June 6, 2008, SEC File No. 001-09338).

The  Michaels  Companies,  Inc.  Equity  Incentive  Plan  (previously  filed  as  Exhibit  10.1  to
Form 10-Q filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on August 30, 2013, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Form  of  Stock  Option Agreement  under  the  Michaels  Companies,  Inc.  Equity  Incentive  Plan
(previously  filed  as  Exhibit  10.2  to  Form  10-Q  filed  by  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  on August  30,
2013, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Form  of  Restricted  Stock  Award  Agreement  under  the  Michaels  Companies,  Inc.  Equity
Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Form 10-Q filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on
August 30, 2013, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Form  of  Restricted  Stock  Award  Agreement  for  Independent  Directors  under  the  Michaels
Companies, Inc. Equity Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q filed by
Michaels Stores, Inc. on December 10, 2013, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Amended  and  Restated  2014  Omnibus  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan  (previously  filed  as
Exhibit 10.1 to Form S-1 filed by the Company on June 16, 2014, SEC File No. 333-193000).

Form  of  Stock  Option  Agreement  under  the  2014  Omnibus  Long-Term  Incentive  Plan
(previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Form S-1 filed by the Company on June 2, 2014, SEC File
No. 333-193000).

Form of Stock Option Agreement under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (filed
herewith).

Form  of  Restricted  Stock Award Agreement  under  the  2014  Omnibus  Long-Term  Incentive
Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Form S-1 filed by the Company on June 2, 2014, SEC
File No. 333-193000).

Form  of  Restricted  Stock  Award  Agreement  for  Independent  Directors  under  the  2014
Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (previously filed as Exhibit 10.4 to Form S-1 filed by the
Company on June 2, 2014, SEC File No. 333-193000).

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Agreement under the 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan
(previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q filed by the Company on August 29, 2014, SEC
File No. 001-36501).

The  Michaels  Companies,  Inc.  Annual  Incentive  Plan  (previously  filed  as  Exhibit  10.14  to
Form S-1 filed by the Company on June 2, 2014, SEC File No. 333-193000).

    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 Exhibit 
Number
10.16*

10.17*

10.18*

10.19*

10.20

10.21

10.22

10.23*

10.24

10.25

Description of Exhibit
Employment Agreement, dated February 13, 2013, between Michaels Stores, Inc. and Carl S.
Rubin (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on May 24,
2013, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Restricted Stock Award Agreements, dated March 18, 2013, between Michaels Stores, Inc. and
Carl S. Rubin (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to Form 10-Q filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on
May 24, 2013, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Stock  Option Agreement,  dated  March  18,  2013,  between  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  and  Carl  S.
Rubin (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 10-Q filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on May 24,
2013, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Letter Agreement,  dated  September  15,  2010,  between  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  and  Charles  M.
Sonsteby  (previously  filed  as  Exhibit  99.2  to  Form  8-K  filed  by  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  on
September 17, 2010, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Amended  and  Restated  Stockholders  Agreement,  dated  as  of  February  16,  2007,  among
Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  and  certain  stockholders  thereof  (previously  filed  as  Exhibit  10.23  to
Form 10-K filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on May 3, 2007, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Management Agreement,  dated  as  of  October  31,  2006,  among  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.,  Bain
Capital  Partners,  LLC  and  Blackstone  Management  Partners  V,  LLC  (previously  filed  as
Exhibit  10.2  to  Form  10-Q  filed  by  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  on  December  7,  2006,  SEC  File
No. 001-09338).

Management  Agreement,  dated  as  of  October  31,  2006,  between  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  and
Highfields  Capital  Management,  LP  (previously  filed  as  Exhibit  10.3  to  Form  10-Q  filed  by
Michaels Stores, Inc. on December 7, 2006, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Michaels  Stores,  Inc. Amended  and  Restated  Officer  Severance  Pay  Plan  (previously  filed  as
Exhibit  10.26  to  Form  S-1  filed  by  the  Company  on  January  12,  2015,  SEC  File  No.  333-
201444).

Form of Director and Officer Indemnification Agreement (previously filed as Exhibit 10.29 to
Form S-1 filed by the Company on June 9, 2014 SEC File No. 333-193000).

Amended  and  Restated  Credit Agreement,  dated  as  of  February  18,  2010,  among  Michaels
Stores,  Inc.,  as  lead  borrower,  the  borrowers  named  therein,  the  facility  guarantors  named
therein, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent, the lenders party
thereto  (collectively,  the  “Lenders”),  Wells  Fargo  Retail  Finance,  LLC,  as  syndication  agent,
Deutsche  Bank  Securities  Inc.,  JPMorgan  Chase  Bank,  N.A.  and  Credit  Suisse,  as  co-
documentation  agents,  General  Electric  Capital  Corporation,  UBS  Securities  LLC  and  RBS
Business  Capital,  as  senior  managing  agents,  Banc  of America  Securities,  LLC,  Wells  Fargo
Retail  Finance,  LLC  and  Deutsche  Bank  Securities  Inc.,  as  joint  lead  arrangers,  and  Banc  of
America Securities LLC, Wells Fargo Retail Finance, LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P.
Morgan Securities Inc. and Credit Suisse, as joint book runners (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1
to Form 8-K filed by Michaels Stores, Inc., on February 19, 2010, SEC File No. 001-09338).

    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table of Contents

 Exhibit 
Number
10.26

10.27

10.28

10.29

10.30

10.31

Description of Exhibit
Exhibits and Schedules to Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of February 18,
2010, among Michaels Stores, Inc., as lead borrower, the borrowers named therein, the facility
guarantors named therein, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and collateral agent,
the  lenders  party  thereto  (collectively,  the  “Lenders”),  Wells  Fargo  Retail  Finance,  LLC,  as
syndication  agent,  Deutsche  Bank  Securities  Inc.,  JPMorgan  Chase  Bank,  N.A.  and  Credit
Suisse, as co-documentation agents, General Electric Capital Corporation, UBS Securities, LLC
and RBS Business Capital, as senior managing agents, Banc of America Securities, LLC, Wells
Fargo Retail Finance, LLC and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., as joint lead arrangers, and Banc
of America Securities, LLC, Wells Fargo Retail Finance, LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc.,
J.P.  Morgan  Securities,  Inc.  and  Credit  Suisse,  as  joint  book  runners  (previously  filed  as
Exhibit 10.2 to Form 8-K filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on May 28, 2010, SEC File No. 001-
09338).

Second  Amended  and  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  dated  as  of  September  17,  2012,  among
Michaels  Stores,  Inc.,  the  other  borrowers  from  time  to  time  party  thereto,  the  facility
guarantors from time to time party thereto, the lenders from time to time party thereto, Wells
Fargo  Bank,  National Association,  as  administrative  agent  and  collateral  agent,  and  the  other
agents  named  therein  (previously  filed  as  Exhibit  10.1  to  Form  8-K  filed  by  Michaels
Stores, Inc. on September 18, 2012, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Exhibits  and  Schedules  to  Second  Amended  and  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  dated  as  of
September 17, 2012, among Michaels Stores, Inc., the other borrowers from time to time party
thereto,  the  facility  guarantors  from  time  to  time  party  thereto,  the  lenders  from  time  to  time
party  thereto,  Wells  Fargo  Bank,  National Association,  as  administrative  agent  and  collateral
agent, and the other agents named therein (previously filed as Exhibit 10.21 to Form 10-K filed
by Michaels Stores, Inc. on March 15, 2013, SEC File No. 001-09338).

First Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated June 6, 2014, to
the  Second  Amended  and  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  dated  September  17,  2012,  among
Michaels Stores, Inc., the other borrowers named therein, the facility guarantors named therein,
the  lenders  named  therein,  Wells  Fargo  Bank,  National Association,  as  administrative  agent,
collateral agent, lender, swingline lender and issuing bank (previously filed as Exhibit 10.2 to
Form 8-K filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on June 11, 2014, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Credit Agreement, dated as of October 31, 2006, among Michaels Stores, Inc., Deutsche Bank
AG  New  York  Branch,  as  administrative  agent,  the  other  lenders  named  therein,  JPMorgan
Chase Bank, N.A., as syndication agent, and Bank of America, N.A. and Credit Suisse, as co-
documentation  agents,  and  Deutsche  Bank  Securities  Inc.,  J.P.  Morgan  Securities,  Inc.  and
Banc of America Securities, LLC as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (previously filed
as  Exhibit  10.5  to  Form  10-Q  filed  by  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  on  December  7,  2006,  SEC  File
No. 001-09338).

First Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of January 19, 2007, to the Credit Agreement,
dated  as  of  October  31,  2006,  among  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.,  Deutsche  Bank AG  New  York
Branch, as administrative agent, the other lenders named therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
as  syndication  agent,  and  Bank  of  America,  N.A.  and  Credit  Suisse,  as  co-documentation
agents,  and  Deutsche  Bank  Securities  Inc.,  J.P.  Morgan  Securities  Inc.  and  Banc  of America
Securities, LLC as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to
Form 8-K filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on January 25, 2007, SEC File No. 001-09338).

    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table of Contents

 Exhibit 
Number
10.32

10.33

10.34

10.35

10.36

10.37

Description of Exhibit
Second Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of May 10, 2007, to the Credit Agreement,
dated  as  of  October  31,  2006,  among  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.,  Deutsche  Bank AG  New  York
Branch, as administrative agent, the other lenders named therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
as  syndication  agent,  and  Bank  of  America,  N.A.  and  Credit  Suisse,  as  co-documentation
agents, and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. and Banc of America
Securities, LLC as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to
Form 8-K filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on May 11, 2007, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Third Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of August 20, 2009, to the Credit Agreement,
dated  as  of  October  31,  2006,  among  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.,  Deutsche  Bank AG  New  York
Branch, as administrative agent, the other lenders named therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.,
as  syndication  agent,  and  Bank  of  America,  N.A.  and  Credit  Suisse,  as  co-documentation
agents, and Deutsche Bank Securities, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc. and Banc of America
Securities, LLC as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to
Form 10-Q filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on September 4, 2009, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Fourth  Amendment  to  Credit  Agreement,  dated  as  of  November  5,  2009,  to  the  Credit
Agreement,  dated  as  of  October  31,  2006,  among  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.,  Deutsche  Bank AG
New York Branch, as administrative agent, the other lenders named therein, JPMorgan Chase
Bank,  N.A.,  as  syndication  agent,  and  Bank  of  America,  N.A.  and  Credit  Suisse,  as  co-
documentation  agents,  and  Deutsche  Bank  Securities,  Inc.,  J.P.  Morgan  Securities,  Inc.  and
Banc of America Securities, LLC as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (previously filed
as  Exhibit  10.1  to  Form  8-K  filed  by  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  on  November  5,  2009  SEC  File
No. 001-09338).

Fifth  Amendment  to  Credit  Agreement,  dated  as  of  December  15,  2011,  to  the  Credit
Agreement,  dated  as  of  October  31,  2006,  among  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.,  Deutsche  Bank AG
New York Branch, as administrative agent, the other lenders named therein, JPMorgan Chase
Bank,  N.A.,  as  syndication  agent,  and  Bank  of  America,  N.A.  and  Credit  Suisse,  as  co-
documentation  agents,  and  Deutsche  Bank  Securities,  Inc.,  J.P.  Morgan  Securities  Inc.  and
Banc of America Securities, LLC as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (previously filed
as  Exhibit  10.1  to  Form  8-K  filed  by  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  on  December  16,  2011  SEC  File
No. 001-09338).

Amended  and  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  dated  as  of  January  28,  2013,  among  Michaels
Stores, Inc., Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent, and Barclays Bank,
PLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA), LLC, Goldman Sachs Bank USA, J.P. Morgan Securities,
LLC,  Merrill  Lynch,  Pierce,  Fenner  &  Smith  Incorporated,  Morgan  Stanley  Senior
Funding,  Inc.  and  Wells  Fargo  Securities,  LLC,  as  co-documentation  agents,  and  Deutsche
Bank  Securities  Inc.,  Barclays  Bank  PLC,  Credit  Suisse  Securities  (USA),  LLC,  Goldman
Sachs  Bank  USA,  J.P.  Morgan  Securities,  LLC,  Merrill  Lynch,  Pierce,  Fenner  &  Smith
Incorporated, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, as co-lead
arrangers and joint bookrunners (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Form 8-K filed by Michaels
Stores, Inc. on February 1, 2013, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Exhibits  and  Schedules  to Amended  and  Restated  Credit Agreement,  dated  as  of  January  28,
2013,  among  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.,  Deutsche  Bank AG  New  York  Branch,  as  administrative
agent,  and  Barclays  Bank  PLC,  Credit  Suisse  Securities  (USA),  LLC,  Goldman  Sachs  Bank
USA,  J.P.  Morgan  Securities,  LLC,  Merrill  Lynch,  Pierce,  Fenner  &  Smith  Incorporated,
Morgan  Stanley  Senior  Funding,  Inc.  and  Wells  Fargo  Securities,  LLC,  as  co-documentation
agents, and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Barclays Bank PLC, Credit Suisse Securities (USA),
LLC,  Goldman  Sachs  Bank  USA,  J.P.  Morgan  Securities,  LLC,  Merrill  Lynch,  Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley Senior Funding, Inc. and Wells Fargo Securities,
LLC, as co-lead arrangers and joint bookrunners (previously filed as Exhibit 10.29 to Form 10-
K filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on March 15, 2013, SEC File No. 001-09338).

    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Table of Contents

 Exhibit 
Number
10.38

10.39

10.40

10.41

10.42

10.43*

21.1

23.1

31.1

31.2

32.1

99.1

Description of Exhibit
First Amendment  to Amended  and  Restated  Credit Agreement,  dated  June  10,  2014,  to  the
Amended  and  Restated  Credit  Agreement,  dated  January  28,  2013,  among  Michaels
Stores, Inc., Deutsche Bank AG New York Branch, as administrative agent, and the guarantors
named therein (previously filed as Exhibit 10.3 to Form 8-K filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on
June 11, 2014, SEC File No. 001-09338).

Purchase  Agreement,  dated  October  7,  2010,  by  and  among  the  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.,  the
Guarantors  named  therein  and  the  Initial  Purchasers  named  therein  (previously  filed  as
Exhibit  10.1  to  Form  8-K  filed  by  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  on  October  14,  2010,  SEC  File
No. 001-09338).

Purchase Agreement, dated September 20, 2012, by and among the Michaels Stores, Inc., the
Guarantors  named  therein  and  the  Initial  Purchasers  named  therein  (previously  filed  as
Exhibit  10.1  to  Form  8-K  filed  by  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  on  September  25,  2012,  SEC  File
No. 001-09338).

Purchase  Agreement,  dated  December  16,  2013,  by  and  among  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.,  the
guarantors  named  therein  and  the  Initial  Purchasers  named  therein  (previously  filed  as
Exhibit  10.1  to  Form  8-K  filed  by  Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  on  December  19,  2013,  SEC  File
No. 001-09338).

Purchase Agreement, dated June 5, 2014, by and among Michaels Stores, Inc., the Guarantors
named therein and the Initial Purchasers named therein (previously filed as Exhibit 10.1 to
Form 8-K filed by Michaels Stores, Inc. on June 11, 2014, SEC File No. 001-09338)
Michaels  Stores,  Inc.  Employees  401(k)  Plan,  effective  March  1,  2009  (previously  filed  as
Exhibit 10.30 to Form 10-K filed by Michaels Stores, Inc., on April 2, 2009, SEC File No. 001-
09338).*

Subsidiaries of Michaels Stores, Inc. (filed herewith).

Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (filed herewith)

Certifications of Carl S. Rubin pursuant to §302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed
herewith).

Certifications of Charles M. Sonsteby pursuant to §302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(filed herewith).

Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. §1350, as adopted pursuant to §906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley
Act of 2002 (filed herewith).

Section 13(r) Disclosure (filed herewith).

101.INS

XBRL Instance Document

101.SCH

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

101.CAL

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

101.DEF

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

101.LAB

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

101.PRE

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

*  Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Name:
Number of Shares of Stock Subject to Option:
Price Per Share:
Date of Grant:

Exhibit 10.11
[●]
[●]
$[●]
[●]

The Michaels Companies, Inc.
2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan

Non-statutory Stock Option Agreement

This agreement (this “ Agreement”) evidences a stock option granted by The

Michaels Companies, Inc. (the “Company”) to the individual named above (the
“Optionee”) pursuant to and subject to the terms of The Michaels Companies, Inc.
2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan (as amended from time to time, the
“Plan”), which is incorporated herein by reference.

1. Grant of Stock Option .  On the date of grant set forth above (the “ Date of

Grant”) the Company granted to the Optionee an option (the “ Stock Option”) to
purchase, on the terms provided herein and in the Plan, up to the number of shares
of Stock set forth above (each, a “Share,” and collectively, the “ Shares”) at the
exercise price per Share set forth above, in each case subject to adjustment pursuant
to Section 7 of the Plan in respect of transactions occurring after the date hereof.

The Stock Option evidenced by this Agreement is a non-statutory option

(that is, an option that is not to be treated as a stock option described in subsection
(b) of Section 422 of the Code).  The Optionee is an employee of the Company
and/or of one or more subsidiaries of the Company with respect to which the
Company has a “controlling interest” as described in Treas. Regs. §1.409A-1(b)(5)
(iii)(E)(1).

2. Meaning of Certain Terms .  Each initially capitalized term used but not
separately defined herein has the meaning assigned to such term in the Plan.  The
following terms have the following meanings:

(a)

“Change of Control ” means the occurrence of any of the following:
(i) any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any
other corporation or other Person, or any other corporate
reorganization or transaction (including the acquisition of capital
stock of the Company), whether or not the Company is a party
thereto, in which the stockholders of the Company immediately
prior to such consolidation, merger, reorganization or transaction,
own capital stock either (A) representing directly, or indirectly
through one or more entities, less than fifty percent (50%) of the
economic interests in or voting power of the Company or other
surviving entity immediately after such consolidation, merger,
reorganization or transaction or (B) that does not directly, or
indirectly through one or more entities, have the power to elect a
majority of the entire board of directors of the Company or other
surviving entity

 
 
 
 
 
 
immediately after such consolidation, merger, reorganization or
transaction; (ii) any stock sale or other transaction or series of related
transactions, whether or not the Company is a party thereto, after
giving effect to which in excess of fifty percent (50%) of the
Company’s voting power is owned directly, or indirectly through one
or more entities, by any Person and its “affiliates” or “associates” (as
such terms are defined in the rules adopted by the Securities and
Exchange Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as in effect from time to time), other than the Investors and their
respective affiliated funds, excluding, in any case referred to in
clause (i) or (ii) an initial public offering or any bona fide primary or
secondary public offering following the occurrence of an initial
public offering; or (iii) a sale, lease or other disposition of all or
substantially all of the assets of the Company.

(b)

(c)

(d)

“Investors” means Bain Capital Partners, LLC and The Blackstone
Group L.P.

“Person” means any individual, partnership, corporation, company,
association, trust, joint venture, limited liability company,
unincorporated organization, entity or division, or any government,
governmental department or agency or political subdivision thereof.

“Qualifying Retirement” means the Optionee’s voluntary
termination of Employment by reason of his or her retirement (i) at
or above age 65 or (b) at or above age 55 with five (5) years of
service to the Company.

3. Vesting; Method of Exercise .  Unless earlier terminated, forfeited,

relinquished or expired, the Stock Option shall vest as follows, provided in each
case that the Optionee has remained in continuous Employment from the Date of
Grant through the applicable vesting date: 

(a)

(b)

Twenty-five percent (25%) of the Stock Option shall vest on each
anniversary of the Date of Grant.

In the event (i) the Stock Option (or any portion thereof) is
outstanding as of immediately prior to a Change of Control and the
Administrator provides for the assumption or continuation of, or the
substitution of a substantially equivalent award for, the Stock Option
(or any portion thereof) in accordance with Section 7(a)(i) of the
Plan (the “Rollover Award”) and (ii) the Optionee’s Employment is
terminated by the Company (or its successor) without Cause within
the twelve (12) months following the Change of Control, the
Rollover Award to the extent still outstanding will vest in full on the
date of the Optionee’s termination of Employment.

(c)

Notwithstanding Sections 6(a)(4)(A), (B) or (C)  of the Plan, but
subject to Section 6(a)(4)(D) of the Plan, in the event the Optionee’s
Employment

-2-

 
 
 
ceases by reason of a Qualifying Retirement, the portion of the Stock
Option that is then exercisable will remain exercisable until the
earlier of the second anniversary of such Qualifying Retirement and
the Final Exercise Date (as defined below).

No portion of the Stock Option may be exercised until it vests.  Each election to
exercise must comply with such rules as the Administrator prescribes from time to
time and must be accompanied by payment in full of the exercise price in the form
of (i) cash or a check acceptable to the Administrator, (ii) to the extent permitted by
the Administrator, payment by means of a broker-assisted cashless exercise program,
(iii) such other form of payment, if any, as may be acceptable to the Administrator,
or (iv) any combination of the foregoing.  The latest date on which the Stock Option
or any portion thereof may be exercised will be the 10th anniversary of the Date of
Grant (the “Final Exercise Date”); provided,   however, if at such time the Optionee
or other person (if any) authorized to exercise the Stock Option is prohibited by
applicable law or written Company policy applicable to the Optionee (or such other
person, as applicable) and similarly situated persons from engaging in any open-
market sales of Stock, the Final Exercise Date will be automatically extended to
thirty (30) days following the date the Optionee or such other person, as the case
may be, is no longer prohibited from engaging in such open-market sales.  Any
portion of the Stock Option that remains outstanding and has not been exercised by
the Final Exercise Date will thereupon immediately terminate.  Upon any earlier
termination of Employment, subject to Sections 3(b) and (c) above, the provisions of
Section 6(a)(4)(A)-(D) of the Plan shall apply.

4. Forfeiture; Recovery of Compensation .  By accepting the Stock Option
the Optionee expressly acknowledges and agrees that his or her rights, and those of
any permitted transferee, under the Stock Option or to any Stock acquired under the
Stock Option or proceeds from the disposition thereof, are subject to Section 6(a)
(5) of the Plan (including any successor provision) and Section 5 of this
Agreement.  Nothing in the preceding sentence shall be construed as limiting the
general application of Section 9 of this Agreement.

5. Non-Competition/Non-Solicitation.  The Optionee hereby acknowledges

that the Company and its Affiliates have invested and continue to invest
considerable resources in developing Company Information (as defined below) and
trade secrets, and in establishing and maintaining relationships with customers,
employees, and vendors.  The Optionee hereby further acknowledges that the
Award is being furnished to the Optionee as good and valuable consideration,
among other consideration, in exchange for the below covenants, which are
necessary to protect the Company Information, trade secrets, and goodwill of the
Company and its Affiliates:

(a)

Non-Competition.  The Optionee covenants and agrees that during
the Optionee’s Employment and for a period of twelve (12) months
(and such period shall be tolled on a day-to-day basis for each day
during which the Optionee participates in any activity in violation of
the restrictions set forth in this Section 5(a)) following the
Optionee’s termination of Employment, whether such termination
occurs at the insistence of the

-3-

 
 
Company or its Affiliates or the Optionee (for whatever reason), the
Optionee will not, directly or indirectly, alone or in association with
others, anywhere in the Territory (as defined below), own, manage,
operate, control or participate in the ownership, management,
operation or control of, or be connected as an officer, employee,
investor, principal, joint venturer, shareholder, partner, director,
consultant, agent or otherwise with, or have any financial interest
(through stock or other equity ownership, investment of capital, the
lending of money or otherwise) in, any business, venture or activity
that directly or indirectly competes, or is in planning, or has
undertaken any preparation, to compete, with the Business of the
Company or any of its Immediate Affiliates (any Person who
engages in any such business venture or activity, a “Competitor”),
except that nothing contained in this Section 5(a) shall prevent the
Optionee’s wholly passive ownership of two percent (2%) or less of
the equity securities of any Competitor that is a publicly-traded
company.  For purposes of this Section 5(a), the “Business of the
Company or any of its Immediate Affiliates” is that of arts and crafts
specialty retailer providing materials, ideas and education for
creative activities, as well as any other business that the Company or
any of its Immediate Affiliates conducts or is actively planning to
conduct at any time during the Optionee’s Employment, or with
respect to the Optionee’s obligations following his or her termination
of Employment the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the
Optionee’s termination of Employment; provided, that the term
“Competitor” shall not include any business, venture or activity
whose gross receipts derived from the retail sale of arts and crafts
products (aggregated with the gross receipts derived from the retail
sale of arts and crafts projects of any related business, venture or
activity) are less than ten percent (10%) of the aggregate gross
receipts of such businesses, ventures or activities.  For purposes of
this Section 5(a), the “Territory” is comprised of those states within
the United States, those provinces of Canada, and any other
geographic area in which the Company or any of its Immediate
Affiliates was doing business or actively planning to do business at
any time during the Optionee’s Employment, or with respect to the
Optionee’s obligations following his or her termination of
Employment the twelve (12) months immediately preceding the
Optionee’s termination of Employment.  For purposes of this
Section, “Immediate Affiliates” means those Affiliates which are one
of the following: (i) a direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company,
(ii) a parent to the Company or (iii) a direct or indirect subsidiary of
such a parent.

(b)

Non-Solicitation. The Optionee covenants and agrees that during the
Optionee’s Employment and for a period of twelve (12) months (and
such period shall be tolled on a day-to-day basis for each day during
which the Optionee participates in any activity in violation of the
restrictions set forth in this Section 5(b)) after the termination of the
Optionee’s Employment, whether such termination occurs at the
insistence of the

-4-

 
 
(c)

Company or the Optionee (for whatever reason), the Optionee shall
not, and shall not assist any other Person to, (i) hire or solicit for hire
any employee of the Company or any of its Immediate Affiliates or
seek to persuade any employee of the Company or any of its
Immediate Affiliates to discontinue employment or (ii) solicit or
encourage any independent contractor providing services to the
Company or any of its Immediate Affiliates to terminate or diminish
its relationship with them; provided, however, that after termination
of the Optionee’s Employment, these restrictions shall apply only
with respect to employees of, and independent contractors providing
services to, the Company or one of its Immediate Affiliates who
were such on the date that the Optionee’s Employment terminated or
at any time during the nine (9) months immediately preceding such
termination date.

Goodwill and Company Information . The Optionee acknowledges
the importance to the Company and its Affiliates of protecting their
legitimate business interests, including without limitation the
valuable Company Information and goodwill that they have
developed or acquired at considerable expense.  The Optionee
acknowledges and agrees that in the course of the Optionee’s
Employment, the Optionee has acquired: (i) confidential
information including without limitation information received by the
Company (or any of its Affiliates) from third parties, under
confidential conditions, (ii) other technical, product, business,
financial or development information from the Company (or any of
its Affiliates), the use or disclosure of which reasonably might be
construed to be contrary to the interest of the Company (or any of its
Affiliates), or (iii) any other proprietary information or data,
including but not limited to identities, responsibilities, contact
information, performance and/or compensation levels of employees,
costs and methods of doing business, systems, processes, computer
hardware and software, compilations of information, third-party IT
service providers and other Company or its Affiliates’ vendors,
records, sales reports, sales procedures, financial information,
customer requirements and confidential negotiated terms, pricing
techniques, customer lists, price lists, information about past,
present, pending and/or planned Company or its Affiliates’
transactions not publically disclosed and other confidential
information which the Optionee may have acquired during the
Optionee’s Employment (hereafter collectively referred to as
“Company Information”) which are owned by the Company or its
Affiliates and regularly used in the operation of its business, and as
to which precautions are taken to prevent dissemination to persons
other than certain directors, officers and employees and if disclosed,
would assist in competition against the Company or any of its
Affiliates.  The Optionee understands and agrees that such Company
Information was and will be disclosed to the Optionee in confidence
and for use only in performing work for the Company or its
Affiliates.  The Optionee understands and agrees that the Optionee:
(x) will keep such Company Information confidential at all times, (y)
will not disclose or

-5-

 
 
communicate Company Information to any third party, and (z) will
not make use of Company Information on the Optionee’s own
behalf, or on behalf of any third party.  In view of the nature of the
Optionee’s Employment and the nature of Company Information the
Optionee receives during the course of the Optionee’s Employment,
the Optionee agrees that any unauthorized disclosure to third parties
of Company Information would cause irreparable damage to the
confidential or trade secret status of Company Information.  The
Optionee further acknowledges and agrees that the restrictions on the
Optionee’s activities set forth above are necessary to protect the
goodwill, Company Information and other legitimate interests of the
Company and its Affiliates and that the Optionee’s acceptance of
these restrictions is a condition of receipt of the Award, to which the
Optionee would not otherwise be entitled, and the Award is good and
sufficient consideration to support the Optionee’s agreement to and
compliance with these covenants.

(d)

Remedies.  In the event of a breach or threatened breach by the
Optionee of any of the covenants contained in Section 5(a), 5(b) or
5(c):

(i) the Optionee hereby consents and agrees that (x) any
vested portion of the Stock Option that is unexercised and
(y) all shares of Stock issued upon exercise of the Stock
Option shall be forfeited effective as of the date of such
breach or threatened breach, unless sooner terminated by
operation of another term or condition of this Agreement or
the Plan;

(ii) the Optionee hereby consents and agrees that if the
Optionee has sold any shares of Stock upon or following the
exercise of the Stock Option within twelve (12) months prior
to the date of such breach or threatened breach, the Optionee
shall pay to the Company the gross proceeds realized by the
Optionee in connection with such sale; and

(iii) the Optionee hereby consents and agrees that the
Company shall be entitled to seek, in addition to other
available remedies, a temporary or permanent injunction or
other equitable relief against such breach or threatened
breach from any court of competent jurisdiction, without the
necessity of showing any actual damages or that money
damages would not afford an adequate remedy, and without
the necessity of posting any bond or other security. The
aforementioned equitable relief shall be in addition to, not in
lieu of, legal remedies, monetary damages or other available
forms of relief.

(e)

General.  The Optionee agrees that the above restrictive covenants
are completely severable and independent agreements supported by
good and

-6-

 
 
valuable consideration and, as such, shall survive the termination of
this Agreement for whatever reason.  The Company and the
Optionee agree that any invalidity or unenforceability of any one or
more of such restrictions on competition shall not render invalid or
unenforceable any remaining restrictive covenants. Should a court of
competent jurisdiction determine that the scope of any provision of
this Section 5 is too broad to be enforced as written, the Company
and the Optionee intend that the court reform the provision to such
narrower scope as it determines to be reasonable and enforceable.

6. Transfer of Stock Option . The Stock Option may not be transferred

except at death in accordance with Section 6(a)(3) of the Plan.

7. Form S-8 Prospectus.  The Optionee acknowledges that he or she has

received and reviewed a copy of the prospectus required by Part I of Form S-8
relating to shares of Stock that may be issued pursuant to the exercise of the Stock
Option under the Plan. 

8. Governing Law.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Plan,

Section 5 of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of Texas, without giving effect to any choice or conflict of law
provision or rule that would cause the application of the laws of any other
jurisdiction, except where preempted by federal law.  Both parties hereby consent
and submit to the jurisdiction of the state and federal courts in Dallas County,
Texas in all questions and controversies arising out of this Agreement.

9. Acknowledgments.  By accepting the Stock Option, the Optionee agrees

to be bound by, and agrees that the Stock Option is subject in all respects to, the
terms of the Plan.  The Optionee further acknowledges and agrees that (i) the
signature to this Agreement on behalf of the Company is an electronic signature
that will be treated as an original signature for all purposes hereunder and (ii) such
electronic signature will be binding against the Company and will create a legally
binding agreement when this Agreement is countersigned by the Optionee.

[The remainder of this page is intentionally left blank]

-7-

 
 
 
Executed as of the  ___ day of [●],   [●].

Company:

THE MICHAELS COMPANIES,

INC.

By:
______________________________
Name:
Title:

Optionee:

__________________________________

Name:

Address:

[Signature Page to Non-Statutory Option Agreement]

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 21.1

Subsidiaries of The Michaels Companies, Inc.

Aaron Brothers, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Aaron Brothers Card Services, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company

Artistree, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Artistree of Canada, ULC, a Nova Scotia unlimited liability company

ConsumerCrafts, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Darice, Inc., a Ohio corporation

Darice Imports, Inc., a Ohio corporation

Lamrite West, Inc., a Ohio corporation

Michaels Finance Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Michaels FinCo Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

Michaels FinCo, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Michaels Funding, Inc., a Delaware corporation

Michaels of Canada Holdings LP No. 1, an Alberta limited partnership

Michaels of Canada Holdings LP No. 2, an Alberta limited partnership

Michaels of Canada, ULC, a Nova Scotia unlimited liability company

Michaels of Luxembourg S.a.r.l., a "société à responsabilité limitée" organised under the laws of the
Grand-Duchy of Luxembourg

Michaels Stores, Inc., a Delaware corporation
Michaels Stores Card Services, LLC, a Virginia limited liability company

Michaels Stores of Puerto Rico, LLC, a Puerto Rico limited liability company

Michaels Stores Procurement Company, Inc., a Delaware corporation
Michaels U.S. Holdings 1, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
Michaels U.S. Holdings 2, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
Tiny Crafts, LLC, an Ohio limited liability company

Exhibit 23.1

Consent of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-
205583) and the related Prospectus and in the Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 333-
197218) pertaining to the Amended and Restated 2014 Omnibus Long-Term Incentive Plan of
The Michaels Companies, Inc., of our reports dated March 17, 2016, with respect to the
consolidated financial statements of The Michaels Companies, Inc., and the effectiveness of
internal control over financial reporting of The Michaels Companies, Inc. included in this Annual
Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended January 30, 2016.

/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

Dallas, TX
March 17, 2016

 
Exhibit 31.1

I, Carl S. Rubin, certify that:

CERTIFICATIONS

1.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of The Michaels Companies, 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  reasonably  likely  to
materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

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

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

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a

significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 17, 2016

/s/ Carl S. Rubin
Carl S. Rubin
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Exhibit 31.2

I, Charles M. Sonsteby, certify that

CERTIFICATIONS

1.

I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of The Michaels Companies, 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  reasonably  likely  to
materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

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

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

b. Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a

significant role in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting.

Date: March 17, 2016

/s/ Charles M. Sonsteby
Charles M. Sonsteby
Chief Administrative Officer & Chief Financial
Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

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

Exhibit 32.1

In connection with the filing of the Annual Report on Form 10-K of  The Michaels Companies, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), for the year ended January 30, 2016, as filed with the Securities and
Exchange  Commission  on  the  date  hereof  (the  “Report”),  each  of  the  undersigned  officers  of  the  Company
certifies, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as adopted pursuant to § 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that,
to such officer’s knowledge:

1. The  Report  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  Report  fairly  presents,  in  all  material  respects,  the  financial

condition and results of operations of the Company.

6

Date: March 17, 2016

/s/ Carl S. Rubin
Carl S. Rubin
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ Charles M. Sonsteby
Charles M. Sonsteby
Chief Administrative Officer & Chief Financial
Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 and is not being

filed as part of the Report or as a separate disclosure document.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Section 13(r) Disclosure

Exhibit 99.1

Travelport  Worldwide  Limited,  which  may  be  considered  an  affiliate  of  The  Blackstone  Group,  L.P.,
provided the disclosure reproduced below in its Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015. We
have no involvement in or control over the activities of Travelport Worldwide Limited, any of its predecessor
companies or any of its subsidiaries, and we have not independently verified or participated in the preparation
of this disclosure.

“As part of our global business in the travel industry, we provide certain passenger travel related Travel
Commerce Platform and Technology Services to Iran Air. We also provide certain Technology Services to
Iran Air Tours. All of these services are either exempt from applicable sanctions prohibitions pursuant to a
statutory  exemption  permitting  transactions  ordinarily  incident  to  travel  or,  to  the  extent  not  otherwise
exempt, specifically licensed by the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control. Subject to any changes in the
exempt/licensed status of such activities, we intend to continue these business activities, which are directly
related to and promote the arrangement of travel for individuals.

The gross revenue and net profit attributable to these activities for the year ended December 31, 2015
were approximately $551,000 and $389,000, respectively, and $660,000 and $470,000 for the year ended
December 31, 2014, respectively.”