e10vq
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
     
þ   QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Quarterly Period Ended October 31, 2009
OR
     
o   TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from _________ to __________
Commission File Nos. 1-8899 and 333-148108
Claire’s Stores, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
     
Florida   59-0940416
     
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
3 S.W. 129th Avenue, Pembroke Pines, Florida   33027
     
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (954) 433-3900
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes þ   No o
     Indicate by check mark whether registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files ) Yes o   No o
     Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definition of “large accelerated filer”, “accelerated filer”, and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer o Accelerated filer o 
Non-accelerated filer þ
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company o
     Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o   No þ
     As of December 1, 2009, 100 shares of the Registrant’s common stock, $0.001 par value, were outstanding.
 
 

 


 

CLAIRE’S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
INDEX
         
    PAGE NO.  
 
       
       
 
       
Item 1. Financial Statements
       
 
       
    3  
 
       
    4  
 
       
    5  
 
       
    6  
 
       
    20  
 
       
    31  
 
       
    32  
 
       
    33  
 
       
    33  
 
       
    33  
 
       
    33  
 
       
    34  
 EX-10.1
 EX-10.2
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-32.2

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CLAIRE’S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
                 
    October 31, 2009     January 31, 2009  
    (In thousands, except share  
    and per share amounts)  
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 165,159     $ 204,574  
Inventories
    138,817       103,691  
Prepaid expenses
    40,417       31,837  
Other current assets
    27,516       27,079  
 
           
Total current assets
    371,909       367,181  
 
           
Property and equipment:
               
Land and building
    22,288       22,288  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
    160,803       143,702  
Leasehold improvements
    230,504       214,007  
 
           
 
    413,595       379,997  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (169,969 )     (113,926 )
 
           
 
    243,626       266,071  
 
           
 
               
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $30,733 and $19,371, respectively
    587,555       587,125  
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $27,101 and $17,646, respectively
    50,489       59,944  
Other assets
    60,293       56,428  
Goodwill
    1,544,346       1,544,346  
 
           
 
    2,242,683       2,247,843  
 
           
 
               
Total assets
  $ 2,858,218     $ 2,881,095  
 
           
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S DEFICIT
               
Current liabilities:
               
Trade accounts payable
  $ 66,183     $ 53,237  
Current portion of long-term debt
    14,500       14,500  
Income taxes payable
    6,186       6,477  
Accrued interest payable
    28,436       13,316  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
    105,727       107,974  
 
           
Total current liabilities
    221,032       195,504  
 
           
 
               
Long-term debt
    2,320,481       2,373,272  
Revolving credit facility
    194,000       194,000  
Deferred tax liability
    114,479       112,829  
Deferred rent expense
    22,020       18,462  
Unfavorable lease obligations and other long-term liabilities
    37,134       42,871  
 
           
 
    2,688,114       2,741,434  
 
           
 
               
Commitments and contingencies
           
 
               
Stockholder’s deficit:
               
Common stock par value $0.001 per share; authorized 1,000 shares; issued and outstanding 100 shares
           
Additional paid-in capital
    613,759       609,427  
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
    8,131       (22,319 )
Retained deficit
    (672,818 )     (642,951 )
 
           
 
    (50,928 )     (55,843 )
 
           
Total liabilities and stockholder’s deficit
  $ 2,858,218     $ 2,881,095  
 
           
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CLAIRE’S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(in thousands)
                                 
    Three Months     Three Months     Nine Months     Nine Months  
    Ended     Ended     Ended     Ended  
    October 31, 2009     November 1, 2008     October 31, 2009     November 1, 2008  
Net sales
  $ 324,404     $ 332,971     $ 931,698     $ 1,019,947  
Cost of sales, occupancy and buying expenses
    158,294       170,979       467,561       523,228  
 
                       
Gross profit
    166,110       161,992       464,137       496,719  
 
                       
Other expenses (income):
                               
Selling, general and administrative
    116,929       129,121       336,211       392,877  
Depreciation and amortization
    17,327       20,024       54,185       64,686  
Severance and transaction-related costs
    32       (569 )     406       5,695  
Other (income) expense, net
    (874 )     (2,612 )     (1,182 )     (3,721 )
 
                       
 
    133,414       145,964       389,620       459,537  
 
                       
Operating income
    32,696       16,028       74,517       37,182  
Gain on early debt extinguishment
    16,096             33,200        
Interest expense, net
    43,716       50,462       134,279       147,858  
 
                       
Income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)
    5,076       (34,434 )     (26,562 )     (110,676 )
Income tax expense (benefit)
    2,187       (12,880 )     3,305       (36,621 )
 
                       
Net income (loss)
  $ 2,889     $ (21,554 )   $ (29,867 )   $ (74,055 )
 
                       
 
                               
Net income (loss)
  $ 2,889     $ (21,554 )   $ (29,867 )   $ (74,055 )
Foreign currency translation and interest rate swap adjustments, net of tax
    4,851       (42,827 )     30,450       (30,682 )
 
                       
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ 7,740     $ (64,381 )   $ 583     $ (104,737 )
 
                       
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CLAIRE’S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(in thousands)
                 
    Nine Months     Nine Months  
    Ended     Ended  
    October 31, 2009     November 1, 2008  
Cash flows from operating activities:
               
Net loss
  $ (29,867 )   $ (74,055 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization
    54,185       64,686  
Amortization of lease rights and other assets
    1,513       1,593  
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    7,845       7,931  
Payment in kind interest expense
    29,415       15,130  
Net accretion of favorable (unfavorable) lease obligations
    (1,594 )     (1,114 )
Loss (gain) on sale/retirement of property and equipment, net
    39       (215 )
Gain on early debt extinguishment
    (33,200 )      
Gain on sale of intangible assets/lease rights
    (598 )     (1,446 )
Stock compensation expense
    4,332       6,153  
(Increase) decrease in:
               
Inventories
    (30,915 )     (37,704 )
Prepaid expenses
    (5,193 )     (4,989 )
Other assets
    (5,567 )     (3,600 )
Increase (decrease) in:
               
Trade accounts payable
    9,945       31,874  
Income taxes payable
    1,749       (14,551 )
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    (954 )     2,863  
Accrued interest payable
    15,121       18,867  
Deferred income taxes
    1,578       (38,204 )
Deferred rent expense
    2,895       7,337  
 
           
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    20,729       (19,444 )
 
           
Cash flows from investing activities:
               
Acquisition of property and equipment, net
    (17,675 )     (45,267 )
Acquisition of intangible assets/lease rights
    (484 )     (1,273 )
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets/lease rights
    2,154        
 
           
Net cash used in investing activities
    (16,005 )     (46,540 )
 
           
Cash flows from financing activities:
               
Credit facility proceeds
          194,000  
Credit facility payments
    (10,875 )     (10,875 )
Note purchases
    (36,521 )      
 
           
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
    (47,396 )     183,125  
 
           
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    3,257       (9,218 )
 
           
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (39,415 )     107,923  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    204,574       85,974  
 
           
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 165,159     $ 193,897  
 
           
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
                 
Income taxes paid
  $ 2,719     $ 15,251  
Interest paid
    81,927       107,186  
See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

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CLAIRE’S STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
1. Basis of Presentation
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and footnotes required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim periods presented have been included. These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2009 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements included therein which discusses principles of consolidation and summary of significant accounting policies.
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, which require management to make certain estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures regarding contingent assets and liabilities and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Such estimates include, but are not limited to, the value of inventories, goodwill, intangible assets, investment in joint venture and other long-lived assets, legal contingencies and assumptions used in the calculation of income taxes, retirement and other post-retirement benefits, stock-based compensation, derivative and hedging activities, residual values and other items. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors, including the current economic environment, which management believes to be reasonable under the circumstances. Management adjusts such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. Illiquid credit markets, volatile equity, foreign currency, energy markets and declines in consumer spending have combined to increase the uncertainty inherent in such estimates and assumptions. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates. Changes in those estimates will be reflected in the financial statements in those future periods when the changes occur.
Due to the seasonal nature of the retail industry and the Company’s business, the results of operations for interim periods of the year are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations on an annualized basis.
2. Significant Accounting Policies
Update to Significant Accounting Policies and Certain Financial Statement Disclosures
The Company has updated certain portions of its significant accounting policies and financial statement disclosures since it published its annual report on Form 10-K as of and for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2009. The portions updated include the following:
Impairment of Assets
The Company continually evaluates whether events and changes in circumstances warrant recognition of an impairment of goodwill. The conditions that would trigger an impairment assessment of goodwill include a significant, sustained negative trend in our operating results or cash flows, a decrease in demand for our products, a change in the competitive environment, and other industry and economic factors. The Company conducts its annual impairment test to determine whether an impairment of the value of goodwill has occurred. The impairment test requires a two-step process for determining goodwill impairment. The first step in this process compares the fair value of the reporting unit to its carrying value. If the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, the second step of the impairment test is performed to measure the impairment. In the second step, the fair value of the reporting unit is

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allocated to all of the assets and liabilities of the reporting unit to determine an implied goodwill value. This allocation is similar to a purchase price allocation performed in purchase accounting. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s goodwill exceeds the implied goodwill value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess. The Company has two reporting units. These reporting units are the North America segment and the Europe segment.
Fair value is determined using appropriate valuation techniques. All valuation methodologies applied in a valuation of any form of property can be broadly classified into one of three approaches: the asset approach, the market approach and the income approach. The Company relies on the income approach using discounted cash flows and market approach using comparable public company entities in deriving the fair values for its reporting units. The asset approach is not used as the reporting units have significant intangible assets, the value of which is dependent on cash flow.
The fair value of each reporting unit determined under step 1 of the goodwill impairment test was based on a three-fourths weighting of a discounted cash flow analysis under the income approach using forward-looking projections of estimated future operating results and a one-fourth weighting of a guideline company methodology under the market approach using an earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) multiples. The Company’s determination of the fair value of each reporting unit incorporates multiple assumptions and contains inherent uncertainties, including significant estimates relating to future business growth, earnings projections and the weighted average cost of capital used for purposes of discounting. Decreases in revenue growth, decreases in earnings projections and increases in the weighted average cost of capital will all cause the fair value of the reporting unit to decrease, which could require the Company to modify future models and cash flow estimates, and could result in an impairment triggering event in the future.
The Company has weighted the valuation of its reporting units at three-fourths using the income approach and one-fourth using the market based approach. The Company believes that this weighting is appropriate since it is difficult to find other comparable publicly traded companies that are similar to our reporting units’ heavy penetration of jewelry and accessories sales and margin structure. It is the Company’s view that the future discounted cash flows are more reflective of the value of the reporting units.
The projected cash flows used in the income approach cover the periods consisting of the fourth quarter fiscal 2008 and fiscal years 2009 through 2013. Beyond fiscal year 2013, a terminal value was calculated using the Gordon Growth Model. The Company developed the projected cash flows based on estimates of forecasted same store sales, new store openings, operating margins and capital expenditures. Due to the inherent judgment involved in making these estimates and assumptions, actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company’s projected cash flows reflect projected same store sales increases representative of the Company’s past performance post-recession.
A weighted average cost of capital reflecting the risk associated with the projected cash flows was calculated for each reporting unit and used to discount each reporting unit’s cash flows and terminal value. Key assumptions made in calculating a weighted average cost of capital include the risk-free rate, market risk premium, volatility relative to the market, cost of debt, specific company premium, small company premium, tax rate and debt to equity ratio.
The calculation of fair value is significantly impacted by the reporting unit’s projected cash flows and the discount interest rates used. Accordingly, any sustained volatility in the economic environment could impact these assumptions and make it reasonably possible that another impairment charge could be recorded sometime in the future. However, since the terminal value is a significant portion of each reporting unit’s fair value, the impact of any such near-term volatility on our fair value would be lessened.
For the North American reporting unit, a change of 25 basis points in the same store sales assumptions would result in a change to the intangible asset impairment of approximately $83 million. A change of 25 basis points in the discounted interest rate would result in a change to the intangible impairment of approximately $37 million. For the European reporting unit, a change of 25 basis points in the same store

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sales assumption would result in a change to the intangible asset impairment of approximately $45 million. A change of 25 basis points in the discounted interest rate would result in a change to the intangible asset impairment of approximately $15 million.
Debt
The Company is not required to repay any of the Revolver until the due date of May 29, 2013; therefore, the Revolver is classified as a long-term liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of January 31, 2009.
Stock Options and Stock-Based Compensation
Options granted during the fiscal period ended February 2, 2008 include options to purchase an aggregate of 312,500 BOGO options granted outside of the Plan to certain senior executive officers and directors.
Income Taxes
U.S. income taxes have not been recognized on the balance of accumulated unremitted earnings from the Company’s foreign subsidiaries at January 31, 2009 of $187.8 million, as these accumulated undistributed earnings are considered reinvested indefinitely. This amount is based on the balance maintained in local currency of the Company’s accumulated unremitted earnings from its foreign subsidiaries at February 2, 2008 converted into U.S. dollars at foreign exchange rates in effect on January 31, 2009.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In the third quarter of fiscal 2009, the Company adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). The ASC is the single official source of authoritative, non-governmental U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, other than the guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The adoption of the ASC did not have any substantive impact on the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements or related footnotes.
In December 2006, the FASB issued guidance that established a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. Certain provisions of this guidance were effective for the Company on February 3, 2008, while the effective date of other provisions relating to nonfinancial assets and liabilities were effective for the Company as of February 1, 2009. The Company’s adoption of this guidance on February 1, 2009 related to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See Note 7 for further discussion and disclosure.
In April 2008, the FASB issued guidance that amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset. The Company adopted this guidance on February 1, 2009 which did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In June 2008, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) issued guidance that requires lessees to account for nonrefundable maintenance deposits as deposits if it is probable that maintenance activities will occur and the deposit is realizable. Amounts on deposit that are not probable of being used to fund future maintenance activities should be charged to expense. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The Company adopted this guidance on February 1, 2009 which did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In October 2008, the EITF issued guidance that addressed the potential effect of FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations and FASB ASC 810-10-65, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51 on equity-method accounting under FASB ASC Topic 323, Investments — Equity Method and Joint Ventures. This guidance will not require the Company to perform a separate impairment test on the underlying assets of our investment in Claire’s Nippon. However, the Company would be required to recognize its proportionate share of impairment charges recognized by our

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joint venture with AEON Co. Ltd. It would also be required to perform an overall other than temporary impairment test of its investment in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 323, Investments — Equity Method and Joint Ventures. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years and is to be applied on a prospective basis. The Company adopted this guidance on February 1, 2009 which did not have a material impact on its financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In May 2009, the FASB issued guidance regarding subsequent events that established accounting and reporting standards for events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or available to be issued. The guidance sets forth (i) the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, (ii) the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements, and (iii) the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements. The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance for the interim period ended August 1, 2009. See Note 9 for further discussion and disclosure. The adoption of this guidance had no impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In August 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-05, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures — Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value (amendments to FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements). ASU 2009-05 provides clarification that in circumstances in which a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available, a reporting entity is required to measure fair value using certain techniques. ASU 2009-05 also clarifies that when estimating the fair value of a liability, a reporting entity is not required to include a separate input or adjustment to other inputs relating to the existence of a restriction that prevents the transfer of a liability. ASU 2009-05 also clarifies that both a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability at the measurement date and the quoted price for the identical liability when traded as an asset in an active market when no adjustments to the quoted price of the asset are required are level 1 fair value measurements. ASU 2009-05 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after August 27, 2009. The Company does not expect adoption of ASU 2009-05 to have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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3. Segment Information
The Company is organized based on the geographic markets in which it operates. Under this structure, the Company currently has two reportable segments: North America and Europe. The Company accounts, within its North American division, for the goods it sells to third parties under franchising agreements within “Net sales” and “Cost of sales, occupancy and buying expenses” in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). The franchise fees the Company charges, within its European division, under the franchising agreements are reported in “Other income, net” in the Company’s Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).
Net sales and operating income for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009 and November 1, 2008 are as follows (in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months     Three Months     Nine Months     Nine Months  
    Ended     Ended     Ended     Ended  
    October 31,     November 1,     October 31,     November 1,  
    2009     2008     2009     2008  
Net sales:
                               
North America
  $ 199,867     $ 211,873     $ 589,476     $ 643,893  
Europe
    124,537       121,098       342,222       376,054  
 
                       
Total net sales
    324,404       332,971       931,698       1,019,947  
 
                       
 
                               
Depreciation and amortization:
                               
North America
    11,230       13,356       36,479       42,758  
Europe
    6,097       6,668       17,706       21,928  
 
                       
Total depreciation and amortization
    17,327       20,024       54,185       64,686  
 
                       
 
                               
Operating income for reportable segments:
                               
North America
    15,459       11,642       44,251       30,871  
Europe
    17,269       3,817       30,672       12,006  
 
                       
Total operating income for reportable segments
    32,728       15,459       74,923       42,877  
Severance and transaction-related costs
    32       (569 )     406       5,695  
 
                       
Net consolidated operating income
    32,696       16,028       74,517       37,182  
Gain on early debt extinguishment
    16,096             33,200        
Interest expense, net
    43,716       50,462       134,279       147,858  
 
                       
 
                               
Net consolidated income (loss) before income tax expense (benefit)
  $ 5,076     $ (34,434 )   $ (26,562 )   $ (110,676 )
 
                       
Excluded from operating income for the North American segment are severance and transaction-related costs of approximately $0 for the three months ended October 31, 2009, $0.4 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2009, $(0.6) million for the three months ended November 1, 2008 and $3.7 million for the nine months ended November 1, 2008.
Excluded from operating income for the European segment are severance and transaction-related costs of approximately $0 for the three months ended October 31, 2009, $0 for the nine months ended October 31, 2009, $0 for the three months ended November 1, 2008 and $2.0 million for the nine months ended November 1, 2008.

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4. Debt
The following is a summary of the Company’s debt repurchase activity for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009 (in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months     Nine Months  
    Principal     Purchase     Principal     Purchase  
Note Purchased   Amount     Price     Amount     Price  
Senior Subordinated Notes
  $ 15,000     $ 8,965     $ 42,838     $ 19,001  
Senior Toggle Notes
    27,500       17,520       27,500       17,520  
 
                       
 
  $ 42,500     $ 26,485     $ 70,338     $ 36,521  
 
                       
See Note 7 for related fair value disclosure on debt.
5. Stock Options and Stock-Based Compensation
The following is a summary of activity in the Company’s stock option plan for the nine months ended October 31, 2009:
                                 
                    Weighted    
            Weighted   Average    
            Average   Remaining   Aggregate
    Number of   Exercise   Contractual   Intrinsic
Options   Shares   Price   Life (Years)   Value
Outstanding at January 31, 2009
    6,807,556     $ 10.00       4.6        
Options granted
    758,100     $ 10.00       6.6        
Options exercised
                           
Options forfeited
    (1,270,424 )   $ 10.00              
Options expired
                           
 
                               
Outstanding at October 31, 2009
    6,295,232     $ 10.00       4.7        
 
                               
 
                               
Exercisable at October 31, 2009
    1,716,533     $ 10.00       4.7        
 
                               
The weighted average grant date fair value of options granted during the nine months ended October 31, 2009 and November 1, 2008 were $2.99 and $4.21, respectively.
During the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009 and November 1, 2008, the Company recorded stock-based compensation and additional paid-in capital relating to stock-based compensation of approximately $1.4 million, $4.3 million, $2.2 million and $6.1 million, respectively. Stock-based compensation is recorded in selling, general and administrative expenses in the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

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6. Income Taxes
The effective income tax rate was 43.1% and (12.4)% for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009, respectively. These effective income tax rates differed from the statutory federal tax rate of 35% primarily from increases in the valuation allowance recorded for additional deferred tax assets generated in the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009 by the Company’s U.S. operations.
The effective income tax rate was 37.4% and 33.1% for the three and nine months ended November 1, 2008, respectively. These effective income tax rates differed from the statutory federal tax rate of 35% due to the overall geographic mix of losses in jurisdictions with higher tax rates and income in jurisdictions with lower tax rates, offset by the accrual of U.S. tax expense on current foreign earnings, and other factors.
7. Fair Value Measurements and Derivative Instruments
Disclosures of the fair value of certain financial instruments are required, whether or not recognized in the balance sheet. Fair value is defined as 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 and in the principal or most advantageous market for that asset or liability. There is a three-level valuation hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs when measuring fair value. Observable inputs are inputs market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability and are developed based on market data obtained from sources independent of the Company. Unobservable inputs are inputs that reflect the Company’s assumptions about the factors market participants would use in valuing the asset or liability.
The Company’s financial instruments consist primarily of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, current liabilities, long-term debt, the revolving credit facility and interest rate swaps. Cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and current liabilities approximate fair market value due to the relatively short maturity of these financial instruments.
The Company considers all investments with a maturity of three months or less when acquired to be cash equivalents. The Company’s cash equivalent instruments are valued using quoted market prices and are primarily U.S. Treasury securities. The fair value (estimated market value) of the debt is based primarily on quoted prices for similar instruments.
The Company uses three interest rate swap agreements (the “Swaps”) to manage exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The Swaps represent contracts to exchange floating rate for fixed interest payments periodically over the lives of the Swaps without exchange of the underlying notional amount. At October 31, 2009, the Swaps cover an aggregate notional amount of $435.0 million of the $1,417 million outstanding principal balance of the senior secured term loan facility. The fixed rates of the Swaps range from 4.96% to 5.25% and the Swaps expire on June 30, 2010. The Swaps have been designated and accounted for as cash flow hedges. For these Swaps, the Company reports the effective portion of the change in fair value as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax, and reclassifies it into earnings in the same periods in which the hedged item affects earnings, and within the same income statement line item as the impact of the hedged item. No ineffective portion was recorded to earnings for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009, and all components of the derivative gain or loss were included in the assessment of hedge effectiveness.
The fair value of the Company’s interest rate swaps represents the estimated amounts the Company would receive or pay to terminate those contracts at the reporting date based upon pricing or valuation models applied to current market information. The interest rate swaps are valued using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash payments and the discounted expected variable cash receipts. The variable cash receipts are based on an expectation of future interest rates derived from observed market interest rate curves. The Company includes credit valuation adjustment risk in the calculation of fair value. The Company mitigates derivative credit risk by transacting with highly rated

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counterparties. The Company does not enter into derivative financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes.
The following table summarizes the Company’s assets (liabilities) measured at fair value on a recurring basis segregated among the appropriate levels within the fair value hierarchy (in thousands):
                                 
            Fair Value Measurements at October 31, 2009 Using
            Quoted Prices in        
            Active Markets for   Significant   Significant
            Identical Assets   Other Observable   Unobservable
            (Liabilities)   Inputs   Inputs
    Carrying Value   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3)
Debt and Credit Facility
  $ (2,528,981 )   $ (1,931,037 )   $     $  —  
Interest rate swaps
  $ (13,617 )   $  —     $ (13,617 )   $  —  
                                 
            Fair Value Measurements at January 31, 2009 Using
            Quoted Prices in        
            Active Markets for   Significant   Significant
            Identical Assets   Other Observable   Unobservable
            (Liabilities)   Inputs   Inputs
    Carrying Value   (Level 1)   (Level 2)   (Level 3)
Debt and Credit Facility
  $ (2,581,772 )   $ (734,000 )   $     $  —  
Interest rate swaps
  $ (19,734 )   $     $ (19,734 )   $  —  
The fair value of the interest rate swaps are included in accrued expenses and other current liabilities and is recorded, net of tax of approximately $5.0 million and $7.3 million, as a component in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) as of October 31, 2009 and January 31, 2009, respectively, in the accompanying Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The following tables provide a summary of the financial statement effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments designated as interest rate cash flow hedges during the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009 and November 1, 2008 (in thousands):
                                         
                    Location of Gain    
                    or (Loss)   Amount of Gain or (Loss)
    Amount of Gain or (Loss)   Reclassified from   Reclassified from
Derivatives in Cash   Recognized in OCI on   Accumulated OCI   Accumulated OCI into
Flow Hedging   Derivative   into Income   Income
Relationships   (Effective Portion)   (Effective Portion)   (Effective Portion)(1)
    Three months ended           Three months ended
    October   November           October   November
    31, 2009   1, 2008           31, 2009   1, 2008
 
                                       
Interest Rate Swaps
  $ 2,266     $ (2,228 )   Interest Expense   $ (5,275 )   $ (2,180 )
 
(1)   Represents reclassification of amounts from accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings as interest expense is recognized on the senior term loan facility. No ineffectiveness is associated with these interest rate cash flow hedges.

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                    Location of Gain    
                    or (Loss)   Amount of Gain or (Loss)
    Amount of Gain or (Loss)   Reclassified from   Reclassified from
Derivatives in Cash   Recognized in OCI on   Accumulated OCI   Accumulated OCI into
Flow Hedging   Derivative   into Income   Income
Relationships   (Effective Portion)   (Effective Portion)   (Effective Portion)(1)
    Nine months ended           Nine months ended
    October   November           October   November
    31, 2009   1, 2008           31, 2009   1, 2008
 
                                       
Interest Rate Swaps
  $ 3,862     $ 2,793     Interest Expense   $ (13,920 )   $ (6,070 )
 
(1)   Represents reclassification of amounts from accumulated other comprehensive loss to earnings as interest expense is recognized on the senior term loan facility. No ineffectiveness is associated with these interest rate cash flow hedges.
As of October 31, 2009, the Company expects to reclassify net losses on the Company’s interest rates swaps recognized within accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) of $8.6 million, net of tax, to interest expense by the time the swaps expire on June 30, 2010.
The Company’s non-financial assets and liabilities, which include goodwill, intangible assets, and long-lived-assets, are not required to be carried at fair value on a recurring basis. Fair value measures of non-financial assets and liabilities are primarily used in the impairment analysis of these assets. A resulting asset impairment would require that the non-financial asset be recorded at its fair value. The Company reviews goodwill and intangible assets for impairment annually, during the fourth quarter of each fiscal year, or as circumstances indicate the possibility of impairment. The Company monitors the carrying value of long-lived assets for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate its carrying amount may not be recoverable. During the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009, the Company did not recognize any impairment charges related to goodwill, intangible assets, or long-lived assets.
8. Commitments and Contingencies
The Company is, from time to time, involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of its business, including personal injury litigation, litigation regarding merchandise sold, including product and safety concerns regarding metal content in merchandise, litigation with respect to various employment matters, including litigation with present and former employees, wage and hour litigation, and litigation to protect trademark rights. The Company believes that current pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on its consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
9. Subsequent Events
The Company has evaluated subsequent events and transactions for potential recognition and disclosure in the financial statements through December 8, 2009, the day the financial statements were issued.
10. Supplemental Financial Information
On May 29, 2007, Claire’s Stores, Inc. (the “Issuer”), issued $935.0 million in senior notes, senior toggle notes and senior subordinated notes. These notes are irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, by all wholly-owned domestic current and future subsidiaries of Claire’s Stores, Inc. that guarantee the Company’s senior secured credit facility (the “Guarantors”). The Company’s other subsidiaries, principally its international subsidiaries including our European, Canadian and Asian subsidiaries (the “Non-Guarantors”), are not guarantors of these notes.

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The following tables present the condensed consolidating financial information for the Issuer, the Guarantors and the Non-Guarantors, together with eliminations, as of and for the periods indicated. The consolidating financial information may not necessarily be indicative of the financial position, results of operations or cash flows had the Issuer, Guarantors and Non-Guarantors operated as independent entities.
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
October 31, 2009
(in thousands)
                                         
                    Non-              
    Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
ASSETS
                                       
Current assets:
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 92,873     $ (5,005 )   $ 77,291     $     $ 165,159  
Inventories
          95,005       43,812             138,817  
Prepaid expenses
    592       15,316       24,509             40,417  
Other current assets
    2,414       16,042       9,060             27,516  
 
                             
Total current assets
    95,879       121,358       154,672             371,909  
 
                             
Property and equipment:
                                       
Land and building
          22,288                   22,288  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
    2,178       108,409       50,216             160,803  
Leasehold improvements
    1,706       138,544       90,254             230,504  
 
                             
 
    3,884       269,241       140,470             413,595  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (1,775 )     (107,692 )     (60,502 )           (169,969 )
 
                             
 
    2,109       161,549       79,968             243,626  
 
                             
Intercompany receivables
          77,969       90,833       (168,802 )      
Investment in subsidiaries
    2,250,561       3,407             (2,253,968 )      
Intangible assets, net
    286,000       14,161       287,394             587,555  
Deferred financing costs, net
    50,489                         50,489  
Other assets
    18,380       2,869       39,044             60,293  
Goodwill
          1,229,940       314,406             1,544,346  
 
                             
 
    2,605,430       1,328,346       731,677       (2,422,770 )     2,242,683  
 
                             
Total assets
  $ 2,703,418     $ 1,611,253     $ 966,317     $ (2,422,770 )   $ 2,858,218  
 
                             
 
                                       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT)
                                       
Current liabilities:
                                       
Trade accounts payable
  $ 1,834     $ 21,850     $ 42,499     $     $ 66,183  
Current portion of long-term debt
    14,500                         14,500  
Income taxes payable
          (322 )     6,508             6,186  
Accrued interest payable
    28,436                         28,436  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
    25,092       36,084       44,551             105,727  
 
                             
Total current liabilities
    69,862       57,612       93,558             221,032  
 
                             
Intercompany payables
    168,802                   (168,802 )      
Long-term debt
    2,320,481                         2,320,481  
Revolving credit facility
    194,000                         194,000  
Deferred tax liability
    987       99,476       14,016             114,479  
Deferred rent expense
    214       14,879       6,927             22,020  
Unfavorable lease obligations and other long-term liabilities
          34,420       2,714             37,134  
 
                             
 
    2,684,484       148,775       23,657       (168,802 )     2,688,114  
 
                             
Stockholder’s equity (deficit):
                                       
Common stock
          367       2       (369 )      
Additional paid in capital
    613,759       1,445,795       876,798       (2,322,593 )     613,759  
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net of tax
    8,131       1,529       6,894       (8,423 )     8,131  
Retained deficit
    (672,818 )     (42,825 )     (34,592 )     77,417       (672,818 )
 
                             
 
    (50,928 )     1,404,866       849,102       (2,253,968 )     (50,928 )
 
                             
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity (deficit)
  $ 2,703,418     $ 1,611,253     $ 966,317     $ (2,422,770 )   $ 2,858,218  
 
                             

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Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheet
January 31, 2009

(in thousands)
                                         
                    Non-              
    Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
ASSETS
                                       
Current assets:
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 154,414     $ 211     $ 49,949     $     $ 204,574  
Inventories
          73,445       30,246             103,691  
Prepaid expenses
    434       14,641       16,762             31,837  
Other current assets
    6       16,104       10,969             27,079  
 
                             
Total current assets
    154,854       104,401       107,926             367,181  
 
                             
Property and equipment:
                                       
Land and building
          22,288                   22,288  
Furniture, fixtures and equipment
    2,025       103,571       38,106             143,702  
Leasehold improvements
    1,704       136,554       75,749             214,007  
 
                             
 
    3,729       262,413       113,855             379,997  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (1,250 )     (77,042 )     (35,634 )           (113,926 )
 
                             
 
    2,479       185,371       78,221             266,071  
 
                             
Intercompany receivables
          26,876       58,416       (85,292 )      
Investment in subsidiaries
    2,139,955       (4,061 )           (2,135,894 )      
Intangible assets, net
    286,750       17,960       282,415             587,125  
Deferred financing costs, net
    59,944                         59,944  
Other assets
    19,392       2,602       34,434             56,428  
Goodwill
          1,229,940       314,406             1,544,346  
 
                             
 
    2,506,041       1,273,317       689,671       (2,221,186 )     2,247,843  
 
                             
Total assets
  $ 2,663,374     $ 1,563,089     $ 875,818     $ (2,221,186 )   $ 2,881,095  
 
                             
 
                                       
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDER’S EQUITY (DEFICIT)
                                       
Current liabilities:
                                       
Trade accounts payable
  $ 2,347     $ 21,112     $ 29,778     $     $ 53,237  
Current portion of long-term debt
    14,500                           14,500  
Income taxes payable
                6,477             6,477  
Accrued interest payable
    13,313             3               13,316  
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
    35,795       35,782       36,397             107,974  
 
                             
Total current liabilities
    65,955       56,894       72,655             195,504  
 
                             
Intercompany payables
    85,292                   (85,292 )      
Long-term debt
    2,373,272                         2,373,272  
Revolving credit facility
    194,000                         194,000  
Deferred tax liability
          99,122       13,707             112,829  
Deferred rent expense
    698       12,532       5,232             18,462  
Unfavorable lease obligations and other long-term liabilities
          39,074       3,797             42,871  
 
                             
 
    2,653,262       150,728       22,736       (85,292 )     2,741,434  
 
                             
Stockholder’s equity (deficit):
                                       
Common stock
          367       2       (369 )      
Additional paid in capital
    609,427       1,445,795       876,798       (2,322,593 )     609,427  
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax
    (22,319 )     (2,326 )     (20,597 )     22,923       (22,319 )
Retained deficit
    (642,951 )     (88,369 )     (75,776 )     164,145       (642,951 )
 
                             
 
    (55,843 )     1,355,467       780,427       (2,135,894 )     (55,843 )
 
                             
Total liabilities and stockholder’s equity (deficit)
  $ 2,663,374     $ 1,563,089     $ 875,818     $ (2,221,186 )   $ 2,881,095  
 
                             

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income
For The Three Months Ended October 31, 2009

(in thousands)
                                         
                    Non-              
    Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
Net sales
  $     $ 381,633     $ 139,537     $ (196,766 )   $ 324,404  
Cost of sales, occupancy and buying expenses
          289,173       65,887       (196,766 )     158,294  
 
                             
Gross profit
          92,460       73,650             166,110  
 
                             
Other expenses (income):
                                       
Selling, general and administrative
    6,970       64,904       45,055             116,929  
Depreciation and amortization
    163       10,374       6,790             17,327  
Severance and transaction-related costs
    32                         32  
Other (income) expense
    (4,310 )     4,328       (892 )           (874 )
 
                             
 
    2,855       79,606       50,953             133,414  
 
                             
Operating income (loss)
    (2,855 )     12,854       22,697             32,696  
Gain on early debt extinguishment
    16,096                         16,096  
Interest expense (income), net
    43,714       2                   43,716  
 
                             
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (30,473 )     12,852       22,697             5,076  
Income tax expense (benefit)
    174       440       1,573             2,187  
 
                             
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    (30,647 )     12,412       21,124             2,889  
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
    33,536       2,100             (35,636 )      
 
                             
Net income
    2,899       14,512       21,124       (35,636 )     2,889  
Foreign currency translation and interest rate swap adjustments, net of tax
    4,851       (194 )     1,716       (1,522 )     4,851  
 
                             
Comprehensive income
  $ 7,740     $ 14,318     $ 22,840     $ (37,158 )   $ 7,740  
 
                             
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Loss
For The Three Months Ended November 1, 2008

(in thousands)
                                         
                    Non-              
    Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
Net sales
  $     $ 422,260     $ 136,281     $ (225,570 )   $ 332,971  
Cost of sales, occupancy and buying expenses
          330,020       66,529       (225,570 )     170,979  
 
                             
Gross profit
          92,240       69,752             161,992  
 
                             
Other expenses (income):
                                       
Selling, general and administrative
    8,108       66,553       54,460             129,121  
Depreciation and amortization
    733       11,735       7,556             20,024  
Severance and transaction-related costs
    (569 )                       (569 )
Other (income) expense
    (7,608 )     6,857       (1,861 )           (2,612 )
 
                             
 
    664       85,145       60,155             145,964  
 
                             
Operating income (loss)
    (664 )     7,095       9,597             16,028  
Interest expense (income), net
    50,703       (46 )     (195 )           50,462  
 
                             
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (51,367 )     7,141       9,792             (34,434 )
Income tax expense (benefit)
    (26,135 )     11,347       1,908             (12,880 )
 
                             
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    (25,232 )     (4,206 )     7,884             (21,554 )
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
    3,678       2,646             (6,324 )      
 
                             
Net income (loss)
    (21,554 )     (1,560 )     7,884       (6,324 )     (21,554 )
Foreign currency translation and interest rate swap adjustments, net of tax
    (42,827 )     (5,124 )     (40,587 )     45,711       (42,827 )
 
                             
Comprehensive loss
  $ (64,381 )   $ (6,684 )   $ (32,703 )   $ 39,387     $ (64,381 )
 
                             

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income
For The Nine Months Ended October 31, 2009
(in thousands)
                                         
                    Non-              
    Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
Net sales
  $     $ 1,043,158     $ 380,734     $ (492,194 )   $ 931,698  
Cost of sales, occupancy and buying expenses
          772,043       187,712       (492,194 )     467,561  
 
                             
Gross profit
          271,115       193,022             464,137  
 
                             
Other expenses (income):
                                       
Selling, general and administrative
    20,957       179,863       135,391             336,211  
Depreciation and amortization
    1,276       32,995       19,914             54,185  
Severance and transaction-related costs
    406                           406  
Other (income) expense
    (10,548 )     13,811       (4,445 )           (1,182 )
 
                             
 
    12,091       226,669       150,860             389,620  
 
                             
Operating income (loss)
    (12,091 )     44,446       42,162             74,517  
Gain on early debt extinguishment
    33,200                         33,200  
Interest expense (income), net
    134,332       (11 )     (42 )           134,279  
 
                             
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (113,223 )     44,457       42,204             (26,562 )
Income tax expense (benefit)
          2,288       1,017             3,305  
 
                             
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    (113,223 )     42,169       41,187             (29,867 )
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
    83,356       3,372             (86,728 )      
 
                             
Net income (loss)
    (29,867 )     45,541       41,187       (86,728 )     (29,867 )
Foreign currency translation and interest rate swap adjustments, net of tax
    30,450       3,855       27,565       (31,420 )     30,450  
 
                             
Comprehensive income
  $ 583     $ 49,396     $ 68,752     $ (118,148 )   $ 583  
 
                             
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss)
For The Nine Months Ended November 1, 2008
(in thousands)
                                         
                    Non-              
    Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
Net sales
  $     $ 1,173,323     $ 420,993     $ (574,369 )   $ 1,019,947  
Cost of sales, occupancy and buying expenses
          889,345       208,252       (574,369 )     523,228  
 
                             
Gross profit
          283,978       212,741             496,719  
 
                             
Other expenses (income):
                                       
Selling, general and administrative
    24,969       200,364       167,544             392,877  
Depreciation and amortization
    2,244       37,648       24,794             64,686  
Severance and transaction-related costs
    3,737             1,958             5,695  
Other (income) expense
    (16,765 )     15,189       (2,145 )           (3,721 )
 
                             
 
    14,185       253,201       192,151             459,537  
 
                             
Operating income (loss)
    (14,185 )     30,777       20,590             37,182  
Interest expense (income), net
    148,922       (300 )     (764 )           147,858  
 
                             
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (163,107 )     31,077       21,354             (110,676 )
Income tax expense (benefit)
    (64,201 )     29,150       (1,570 )           (36,621 )
 
                             
Income (loss) from continuing operations
    (98,906 )     1,927       22,924             (74,055 )
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
    24,851       4,878             (29,729 )      
 
                             
Net income (loss)
    (74,055 )     6,805       22,924       (29,729 )     (74,055 )
Foreign currency translation and interest rate swap adjustments, net of tax
    (30,682 )     (5,085 )     (34,147 )     39,232       (30,682 )
 
                             
Comprehensive income (loss)
  $ (104,737 )   $ 1,720     $ (11,223 )   $ 9,503     $ (104,737 )
 
                             

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
Nine Months Ended October 31, 2009
(in thousands)
                                         
                    Non-              
    Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
Cash flows from operating activities:
                                       
Net income (loss)
  $ (29,867 )   $ 45,541     $ 41,187     $ (86,728 )   $ (29,867 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
                                       
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
    (83,356 )     (3,372 )           86,728        
Depreciation and amortization
    1,276       32,995       19,914             54,185  
Amortization of lease rights and other assets
          36       1,477             1,513  
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    7,845                         7,845  
Payment in kind interest expense
    29,415                         29,415  
Net accretion of favorable (unfavorable) lease obligations
          (1,885 )     291             (1,594 )
Loss on sale/retirement of property and equipment and other assets, net
    3       17       19             39  
Gain on early debt extinguishment
    (33,200 )                       (33,200 )
Gain on sale of intangible assets/lease rights
                (598 )           (598 )
Stock compensation expense
    2,901             1,431             4,332  
(Increase) decrease in:
                                       
Inventories
          (21,560 )     (9,355 )           (30,915 )
Prepaid expenses
    (158 )     (674 )     (4,361 )           (5,193 )
Other assets
    (1,487 )     (2,215 )     (1,865 )           (5,567 )
Increase (decrease) in:
                                       
Trade accounts payable
    (510 )     1,319       9,136             9,945  
Income taxes payable
          (216 )     1,965             1,749  
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    (4,585 )     302       3,329             (954 )
Accrued interest payable
    15,124             (3 )           15,121  
Deferred income taxes
    987       1,035       (444 )           1,578  
Deferred rent expense
    (486 )     2,348       1,033             2,895  
 
                             
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    (96,098 )     53,671       63,156             20,729  
 
                             
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                       
Acquisition of property and equipment, net
    (162 )     (9,723 )     (7,790 )           (17,675 )
Acquisition of intangible assets/lease rights
          (87 )     (397 )           (484 )
Proceeds from sale of intangible assets/lease rights
                2,154             2,154  
 
                             
Net cash used in investing activities
    (162 )     (9,810 )     (6,033 )           (16,005 )
 
                             
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                       
Credit facility payments
    (10,875 )                       (10,875 )
Note purchases
    (36,521 )                       (36,521 )
Intercompany activity, net
    82,115       (48,835 )     (33,280 )            
 
                             
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    34,719       (48,835 )     (33,280 )           (47,396 )
 
                             
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
          (242 )     3,499             3,257  
 
                             
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    (61,541 )     (5,216 )     27,342             (39,415 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    154,414       211       49,949             204,574  
 
                             
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 92,873     $ (5,005 )   $ 77,291     $     $ 165,159  
 
                             

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Condensed Consolidating Statement of Cash Flows
For The Nine Months Ended November 1, 2008
(in thousands)
                                         
                    Non-              
    Issuer     Guarantors     Guarantors     Eliminations     Consolidated  
Cash flows from operating activities:
                                       
Net income (loss)
  $ (74,055 )   $ 6,805     $ 22,924     $ (29,729 )   $ (74,055 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
                                       
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries
    (24,851 )     (4,878 )           29,729        
Depreciation and amortization
    2,244       37,648       24,794             64,686  
Amortization of lease rights and other assets
          41       1,552             1,593  
Amortization of debt issuance costs
    7,931                         7,931  
Payment in kind interest expense
    15,130                         15,130  
Net accretion of favorable (unfavorable) lease obligations
          (1,520 )     406               (1,114 )
(Gain) loss on sale / retirement of property and equipment and other assets, net
          7       (222 )           (215 )
Gain on sale of intangible assets/lease rights
                (1,446 )           (1,446 )
Stock compensation expense
    4,516             1,637             6,153  
(Increase) decrease in:
                                       
Inventories
          (22,265 )     (15,439 )           (37,704 )
Prepaid expenses
    (553 )     (79 )     (4,357 )           (4,989 )
Other assets
    (137 )     (3,232 )     (231 )           (3,600 )
Increase (decrease) in:
                                       
Trade accounts payable
    3,444       8,255       20,175             31,874  
Income taxes payable
    8,383       (17,468 )     (5,466 )           (14,551 )
Accrued expenses and other liabilities
    2,455       (3,056 )     3,464             2,863  
Accrued interest payable
    18,855             12             18,867  
Deferred income taxes
          (35,756 )     (2,448 )           (38,204 )
Deferred rent expense
    (122 )     5,621       1,838             7,337  
 
                             
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
    (36,760 )     (29,877 )     47,193             (19,444 )
 
                             
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                       
Acquisition of property and equipment, net
    (78 )     (31,307 )     (13,882 )           (45,267 )
Acquisition of intangible assets/lease rights
                (1,273 )           (1,273 )
 
                             
Net cash used in investing activities
    (78 )     (31,307 )     (15,155 )           (46,540 )
 
                             
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                       
Credit facility proceeds
    194,000                         194,000  
Credit facility payments
    (10,875 )                       (10,875 )
Intercompany activity, net
    (16,740 )     57,413       (40,673 )            
 
                             
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
    166,385       57,413       (40,673 )           183,125  
 
                             
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
          (358 )     (8,860 )           (9,218 )
 
                             
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
    129,547       (4,129 )     (17,495 )           107,923  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
    25,835       1,892       58,247             85,974  
 
                             
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
  $ 155,382     $ (2,237 )   $ 40,752     $     $ 193,897  
 
                             
Item2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is designed to provide the reader of the financial statements with a narrative on our results of operations, financial position and liquidity, risk management activities, and significant accounting policies and critical estimates. Management’s Discussion and Analysis should be read in conjunction with the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes thereto contained elsewhere in this document.
We include a store in the calculation of same store sales once it has been in operation sixty weeks after its initial opening. A store which is temporarily closed, such as for remodeling, is removed from the same store sales computation if it is closed for nine consecutive weeks. The removal is effective prospectively upon the completion of the ninth consecutive week of closure. A store which is closed permanently, such as upon termination of the lease, is immediately removed from the same store sales computation. We compute same store sales on a local currency basis, which eliminates any impact for changes in foreign currency rates.

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Business Overview
We are a leading specialty retailer offering value-priced, fashion-right accessories and jewelry for kids, tweens, teens, and young women in the 3 to 27 age range. We are organized based on our geographic markets, which include our North American Division and our European Division. As of October 31, 2009, we operated a total of 2,954 stores, of which 2,001 were located in all 50 states of the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, and the U.S. Virgin Islands (our North American Division) and 953 stores were located in the United Kingdom, France, Switzerland, Spain, Ireland, Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Portugal, and Belgium (our European Division). Our stores operate under the trade names “Claire’s” and “Icing.”
In addition, as of October 31, 2009, we franchised 192 stores in the Middle East, Turkey, Russia, South Africa, Poland and Guatemala under franchising agreements. We account within our North American Division for the goods we sell under the merchandising agreements with our franchisees within “Net sales” and “Cost of sales, occupancy and buying expenses.” The royalty fees are accounted for within our European Division in “Other income” in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this report.
We also operated, as of October 31, 2009, 215 stores in Japan through our Claire’s Nippon 50:50 joint venture with AEON Co. Ltd. We account for the results of operations of Claire’s Nippon under the equity method. These results are included within our North American Division in “Other income” in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in this report.
Our primary brand in North America and exclusively in Europe is Claire’s. Our Claire’s customers are predominantly teens (ages 13 to 18), tweens (ages 7 to 12) and kids (ages 3 to 6), or known internally to Claire’s as our Young, Younger and Youngest target customer groups.
Our second brand in North America is Icing, which targets a single edit point customer represented by a 23 year old young woman just graduating from college and entering the workforce who dresses consistent with the current fashion influences. We believe this niche strategy will enable us to create a well defined merchandise point of view and attract a broad group of customers from 19 to 27 years of age.
We believe that we are the leading accessories and jewelry destination for our target customers, which is embodied in our mission statement — to be a fashion authority and fun destination offering a compelling, focused assortment of value-priced accessories, jewelry and other emerging fashion categories targeted to the lifestyles of kids, tweens, teens and young women.
We provide our target customer groups a significant selection of fashion right merchandise across a wide range of categories, all with a compelling value proposition. Our two major categories of business are:
    Accessories — includes hair goods, handbags, small leather goods, and other fashion classifications, such as scarves, headwear, attitude glasses, leg wear and seasonal accessories, such as sunglasses, sandals, slippers and cold weather merchandise including hats, gloves, scarves and boots, as well as cosmetics
 
    Jewelry — includes earrings, ear piercing, necklaces, bracelets and rings
In Fiscal 2008, we began shifting our merchandise assortment more towards accessory categories and away from jewelry and more towards casual fashion and away from dress-up styling.
In North America, our stores are located primarily in shopping malls. The differentiation of our Claire’s and Icing brands allows us to operate multiple store locations within a single mall. In Europe and Japan, our stores are located primarily on high streets, in shopping malls and in high traffic urban areas.

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Current Market Conditions
The current distress in the financial markets has resulted in declines in consumer confidence and spending, extreme volatility in securities prices, and has had a negative impact on credit availability and declining valuations of certain investments. We have assessed the implications of these factors on our current business and have responded with our Cost Savings Initiative (“CSI”) and Pan European Transformation (“PET”) projects, scaled back planned capital expenditures for Fiscal 2009 and have implemented a conservative approach to discretionary spending. If the national, or global, economies or credit market conditions in general were to deteriorate further in the future, it is possible that such deterioration could put additional negative pressure on consumer spending and negatively affect our cash flows or cause a tightening of trade credit that may negatively affect our liquidity.
Consolidated Results of Operations
Summaries of our consolidated results of operations for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009 and November 1, 2008 are as follows (dollars in thousands):
                 
    Three Months   Three Months
    Ended   Ended
    October 31,   November 1,
    2009   2008
Net sales
  $ 324,404     $ 332,971  
Increase (decrease) in same store sales
    (0.3 )%     (6.3 )%
Gross profit percentage
    51.2 %     48.7 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales
    36.0 %     38.8 %
Depreciation and amortization as a percentage of net sales
    5.3 %     6.0 %
Severance and transaction-related costs as percentage of net sales
    0.0 %     (0.2 )%
Operating income
  $ 32,696     $ 16,028  
Gain on early debt extinguishment
  $ 16,096     $  
Net income (loss)
  $ 2,889     $ (21,554 )
Number of stores at the end of the period (1)
    2,954       3,074  
 
(1)   Number of stores excludes stores operated under franchise agreements and joint venture stores.
                 
    Nine Months   Nine Months
    Ended   Ended
    October 31,   November 1,
    2009   2008
Net sales
  $ 931,698     $ 1,019,947  
Increase (decrease) in same store sales
    (3.2 )%     (6.8 )%
Gross profit percentage
    49.8 %     48.7 %
Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales
    36.1 %     38.5 %
Depreciation and amortization as a percentage of net sales
    5.8 %     6.3 %
Severance and transaction-related costs as percentage of net sales
    0.0 %     0.6 %
Operating income
  $ 74,517     $ 37,182  
Gain on early debt extinguishment
  $ 33,200     $  
Net loss
  $ (29,867 )   $ (74,055 )
Number of stores at the end of the period (1)
    2,954       3,074  
 
(1)   Number of stores excludes stores operated under franchise agreements and joint venture stores.

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Net sales
Net sales for the three months ended October 31, 2009 decreased by $8.6 million, or 2.6%, from the three months ended November 1, 2008. The decrease was attributable to the effect of stores closed in North America and Europe at the end of fiscal 2008 and the first half of fiscal 2009 that decreased sales by $7.1 million, decreases in shipments to franchisees of $2.7 million, foreign currency translation effect of our foreign locations’ sales of $2.2 million, and a decrease in same store sales of $1.1 million, partially offset by new store revenue of $4.5 million.
Net sales for the nine months ended October 31, 2009 decreased by $88.2 million, or 8.7%, from the nine months ended November 1, 2008. The decrease was attributable to foreign currency translation effect of our foreign locations’ sales of $49.2 million, the effect of stores closed in North America and Europe at the end of fiscal 2008 that decreased sales by $21.5 million, decrease in same store sales of $30.2 million, and decreases in shipments to franchisees of $3.2 million, partially offset by new store revenue of $15.9 million.
During the three months ended October 31, 2009, the decrease in the average number of transactions per store of 5.3% was offset by an increase in average transaction value of 5.3%; the aggregate of which differs immaterially from the decrease in same store sales as the Company currently only collects this data on an average rather than same store basis.
During the nine months ended October 31, 2009, the decrease in the average number of transactions per store of 6.8% was offset by an increase in average transaction value of 3.2%; the aggregate of which differs immaterially from the decrease in same store sales as the Company currently only collects this data on an average rather than same store basis.
The following table compares our sales of each product category for each of the periods presented:
                                 
    Three Months   Three Months   Nine Months   Nine Months
    Ended   Ended   Ended   Ended
    October 31,   November 1,   October 31,   November 1,
% of Total   2009   2008   2009   2008
Accessories
    54.5       48.8       51.5       46.7  
Jewelry
    45.5       51.2       48.5       53.3  
 
                               
 
    100.0       100.0       100.0       100.0  
 
                               
Gross profit
In calculating gross profit and gross profit percentages, we exclude the costs related to our distribution center. These costs are included instead in selling, general and administrative expenses. Other retail companies may include these costs in cost of sales, so our gross profit percentages may not be comparable to those retailers.
Gross profit percentage increased 250 basis points during the fiscal 2009 third quarter to 51.2% compared to the fiscal 2008 third quarter of 48.7%. The increase consisted of a 240 basis point improvement in merchandise margin and a 10 basis point decrease in buying cost. The improvement in merchandise margin was due to increased initial mark-up on purchases, reduced markdowns and decreased freight costs. Occupancy costs decreased approximately $2.0 million primarily due to foreign currency translation effects. The fiscal 2008 third quarter included $0.5 million of PET project costs, included in buying costs, that did not recur in the fiscal 2009 third quarter, accounting for 10 basis points of the improvement in gross margin.
Gross profit percentage increased 110 basis points during the first nine months of fiscal 2009 to 49.8% compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2008 of 48.7%. The increase included a 150 basis point improvement in merchandise margin and a 20 basis point decrease in buying cost, offset by a 60 basis point increase in occupancy costs. The improvement in merchandise margin was due to increased initial

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mark-up on purchases, reduced markdowns and decreased freight and shrink related costs. Occupancy costs decreased approximately $15.9 million primarily due to foreign currency translation effects. The first nine months of fiscal 2008 included $3.1 million of PET project costs, included in buying costs, that did not recur in the first nine months of fiscal 2009, accounting for 30 basis points of the improvement in gross margin.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
During the three months ended October 31, 2009, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $12.2 million, or 9.4%, from the comparable prior year period. Excluding a decrease of $5.0 million of non-recurring CSI and PET project costs and a $0.4 million foreign currency translation effect, the net decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses would have been $6.8 million or 5.5%. This net decrease was due primarily to reductions in payroll, benefits and other indirect costs.
During the nine months ended October 31, 2009, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $56.7 million, or 14.4%, from the comparable prior year period. Excluding an $18.8 million foreign currency translation effect and a decrease of $10.1 million of non-recurring CSI and PET project costs, the net decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses would have been $27.8 million or 7.3%. This net decrease was due primarily to reductions in payroll, benefits and other indirect costs.
Depreciation and amortization expense
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $2.7 million to $17.3 million during the three months ended October 31, 2009 compared to the three months ended November 1, 2008. The majority of this decrease is due to the effect of assets becoming fully depreciated or amortized.
Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $10.5 million to $54.2 million during the nine months ended October 31, 2009 compared to the nine months ended November 1, 2008. The majority of this decrease is due to foreign currency translation effect and the effect of assets becoming fully depreciated or amortized.
Severance and transaction-related costs
Since 2007, we have incurred costs related to the sale of the Company. These costs consisted primarily of financial advisory fees, legal fees and change in control payments to employees. In connection with our CSI and PET projects, we incurred severance costs for terminated employees. The aggregate of these severance and transaction-related costs for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009 and November 1, 2008 were $0 million, $0.4 million, $(0.6) million and $5.7 million, respectively.
Other (income) expense
The following is a summary of other (income) expense activity for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009 and November 1, 2008 (in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months     Three Months     Nine Months     Nine Months  
    Ended     Ended     Ended     Ended  
    October 31,     November 1,     October 31,     November 1,  
    2009     2008     2009     2008  
Gain on sale of intangible asset
  $     $ (1,446 )   $ (598 )   $ (1,446 )
Equity (income) loss
    (411 )     (386 )     777       (285 )
Royalty income
    (334 )     (654 )     (1,141 )     (1,519 )
Other (income) expense
    (129 )     (126 )     (220 )     (471 )
 
                       
 
  $ (874 )   $ (2,612 )   $ (1,182 )   $ (3,721 )
 
                       

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Interest expense, net
Net interest expense for the three months ended October 31, 2009 aggregated $43.7 million (of which approximately $2.6 million consisted of amortization of deferred debt issuance costs) compared to $50.5 million for the three months ended November 1, 2008. This decrease of $6.8 million is primarily the result of reductions in interest rates on the floating portion of our debt.
Net interest expense for the nine months ended October 31, 2009 aggregated $134.3 million (of which approximately $7.8 million consisted of amortization of deferred debt issuance costs) compared to $147.9 million for the nine months ended November 1, 2008. This decrease of $13.6 million is primarily the result of reductions in interest rates on the floating portion of our debt.
Income taxes
The effective income tax rate for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009 were 43.1% and (12.4)%, respectively, as compared to an income tax rate of 37.4% and 33.1% for the three and nine months ended November 1, 2008, respectively. The change in the effective income tax rate was primarily the result of an increase in our valuation allowance recorded for additional deferred tax assets generated in the three months and nine months ended October 31, 2009 by our U.S. operations.
Segment Operations
We are organized into two business segments — North America and Europe. The following is a discussion of results of operations by business segment.
North America
Key statistics and results of operations for our North American division are as follows (dollars in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months   Three Months   Nine Months   Nine Months
    Ended   Ended   Ended   Ended
    October 31,   November 1,   October 31,   November 1,
    2009   2008   2009   2008
Net sales
  $ 199,867     $ 211,873     $ 589,476     $ 643,893  
Increase (decrease) in same store sales
    (1.9 )%     (8.7 )%     (5.0 )%     (9.7 )%
Gross profit percentage
    51.2 %     48.1 %     50.0 %     48.2 %
Number of stores at the end of the period (1)
    2,001       2,144       2,001       2,144  
 
(1)   Number of stores excludes stores operated under franchise agreements and joint venture stores.
Net sales in North America decreased by $12.0 million during the three months ended October 31, 2009, or 5.7%, from the three months ended November 1, 2008. This decrease was attributable to the effect of stores closed in North America at the end of fiscal 2008 and the first half of fiscal 2009 that decreased sales by $6.8 million, decreases in same store sales of $3.7 million, and decreases in shipments to franchisees of $2.7 million, partially offset by new store revenue of $0.9 million.
Net sales in North America decreased by $54.4 million during the nine months ended October 31, 2009, or 8.5%, from the nine months ended November 1, 2008. This decrease was attributable to the effect of stores closed in North America at the end of fiscal 2008 that decreased sales by $20.7 million, decrease in same store sales of $30.2 million, foreign currency translation effect of our Canadian operations of $4.0 million, and decreases in shipments to franchisees of $3.2 million, partially offset by new store revenue of $3.6 million.
Gross profit percentage increased 310 basis points for the three months ended October 31, 2009 to 51.2% compared to the gross profit percentage for the three months ended November 1, 2008 of 48.1%. The increase was comprised of a 280 basis point improvement in merchandise margin and a 30 basis point decrease in buying costs. The improvement in merchandise margin was due to increased initial mark-up

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on purchases and reduced freight and shrink related costs. The fiscal 2008 third quarter included $0.3 million of PET project costs, included in buying costs, that did not recur in the fiscal 2009 third quarter, accounting for 10 basis points of the improvement in gross margin.
Gross profit percentage increased 180 basis points during the first nine months of fiscal 2009 to 50.0% compared to the gross profit percentage for the first nine months of fiscal 2008 of 48.2%. The increase included a 220 basis point improvement in merchandise margin and a 30 basis point decrease in buying costs, partially offset by a 70 basis point increase in occupancy costs. The improvement in merchandise margin was due to increased initial mark-up on purchases and reduced freight and shrink related costs. The first nine months of fiscal 2008 included $1.1 million of PET project costs, included in buying costs, that did not recur in the first nine months of fiscal 2009, accounting for 20 basis points of the improvement in gross margin.
The following table compares our sales of each product category in North America for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009 and November 1, 2008:
                                 
    Three Months   Three Months   Nine Months   Nine Months
    Ended   Ended   Ended   Ended
    October 31,   November 1,   October 31,   November 1,
% of Total   2009   2008   2009   2008
Accessories
    49.3       43.7       46.1       41.3  
Jewelry
    50.7       56.3       53.9       58.7  
 
                               
 
    100.0       100.0       100.0       100.0  
 
                               
Europe
Key statistics and results of operations for our European division are as follows (dollars in thousands):
                                 
    Three Months   Three Months   Nine Months   Nine Months
    Ended   Ended   Ended   Ended
    October 31,   November 1,   October 31,   November 1,
    2009   2008   2009   2008
Net sales
  $ 124,537     $ 121,098     $ 342,222     $ 376,054  
Increase (decrease) in same store sales
    2.3 %     (1.8 )%     0.0 %     (1.3 )%
Gross profit percentage
    51.2 %     49.7 %     49.5 %     49.6 %
Number of stores at the end of the period (1)
    953       930       953       930  
 
(1)   Number of stores excludes stores operated under franchise agreements and joint venture stores.
Net sales in our European division during the three months ended October 31, 2009 increased by $3.4 million, or 2.8%, over the comparable prior year period. This increase was attributable to an increase in same store sales of $2.6 million, or 2.3%, and new store revenue of $3.6 million offset by a decrease of $0.3 million due to store closures and a decrease of $2.5 million resulting from foreign currency translation of our European operations.
Net sales in our European division during the nine months ended October 31, 2009 decreased by $33.8 million, or 9.0%, over the comparable prior year period. This decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease of $45.2 million resulting from foreign currency translation of our European operations and a decrease of $0.8 million due to store closures partially offset by new store revenue of $12.3 million.
Gross profit percentage increased 150 basis points for the three months ended October 31, 2009 to 51.2% compared to the gross profit percentage for the three months ended November 1, 2008 of 49.7%. The increase was comprised of a 170 basis point improvement in merchandise margin, a 10 basis point decrease in occupancy costs, offset by a 30 basis point increase in buying costs. The fiscal 2008 third quarter included $0.2 million of PET project costs, included in buying costs, that did not recur in the fiscal 2009 third quarter, accounting for 10 basis points of the improvement in gross margin.

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Gross profit percentage decreased 10 basis points during the first nine months of fiscal 2009 to 49.5% compared to the gross profit percentage for the first nine months of fiscal 2008 of 49.6%. The decrease was comprised of a 30 basis point improvement in merchandise margin, offset by a 10 basis point increase in buying costs and a 30 basis point increase in occupancy costs. The first nine months of fiscal 2008 included $2.0 million of PET project costs, included in buying costs, that did not recur in the first nine months of fiscal 2009, accounting for 50 basis points improvement in gross margin.
The following table compares our sales of each product category in Europe for the three and nine months ended October 31, 2009 and November 1, 2008:
                                 
    Three Months   Three Months   Nine Months   Nine Months
    Ended   Ended   Ended   Ended
% of Total   October 31, 2009   November 1, 2008   October 31, 2009   November 1, 2008
Accessories
    62.9       57.6       60.6       55.9  
Jewelry
    37.1       42.4       39.4       44.1  
 
                               
 
    100.0       100.0       100.0       100.0  
 
                               
Financial Resources and Liquidity
A summary of cash flows provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities for the nine months ended October 31, 2009 and November 1, 2008 is outlined in the table below (in thousands):
                 
    Nine Months   Nine Months
    Ended   Ended
    October 31, 2009   November 1, 2008
Operating activities
  $ 20,729     $ (19,444 )
Investing activities
    (16,005 )     (46,540 )
Financing activities
    (47,396 )     183,125  
Cash flows from operating activities
Cash provided by operating activities increased $40.2 during the nine months ended October 31, 2009 compared to the prior year period. The primary reasons for the increase were lower cash interest payments of $25.3 million, lower cash tax payments of $12.5 million, and an increase in operating income before depreciation and amortization expense of $26.8 million, offset slightly by an increase in working capital of $25.6 million.
Cash flows from investing activities
Cash used in investing activities decreased by $30.5 million during the nine months ended October 31, 2009 compared to the prior year period. The primary reason for the decrease was less new stores opened. During the remainder of Fiscal 2009, we expect to fund between $7 and $8 million of capital expenditures.
Cash flows from financing activities
Cash used in financing activities decreased $230.5 million for the nine months ended October 31, 2009 compared to the prior year period. In both of these periods, we paid $10.9 million for the scheduled principal payments on our credit facility. In the nine months ended October 31, 2009, we paid $36.5 million to retire $27.5 million of Senior Toggle Notes and $42.8 million of Senior Subordinated Notes. During the nine months ended November 1, 2008, we drew down the remaining $194.0 million available under our Revolving Credit Facility.
As discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2009, we elected to pay interest in kind on our Senior Toggle Notes for the interest period of December 2, 2008 through June 1, 2009, as permitted by the terms of the Notes. We continued that election for the interest period of June 2,

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2009 through December 1, 2009. It is our current intention to pay interest in kind on the Senior Toggle Notes for all interest periods through June 1, 2011.
We or our affiliates may, from time to time, purchase portions of our indebtedness.
Cash position
As of October 31, 2009, we had cash and cash equivalents of $165.2 million, and substantially all of such cash equivalents consisted of U.S. Treasury Securities.
The current distress in the financial markets has resulted in extreme volatility in security prices and has had a negative impact on credit availability, and there can be no assurance that our liquidity will not be affected by changes in the financial markets and the global economy or that our capital resources will at all times be sufficient to satisfy our liquidity needs. Although we believe that our existing cash will provide us with sufficient liquidity through the current credit crisis, tightening of the credit markets could make it more difficult for us to access funds, refinance our existing indebtedness and enter into agreements for new indebtedness.
We have significant amounts of cash and cash equivalents at financial institutions that are in excess of federally insured limits. With the current financial environment and the instability of financial institutions, we cannot be assured that we will not experience losses on our deposits.
We anticipate that cash generated from operations will be sufficient to meet our future working capital requirements, new store expenditures, and debt service requirements as they become due. However, our ability to fund future operating expenses and capital expenditures and our ability to make scheduled payments of interest on, to pay principal on, or refinance indebtedness and to satisfy any other present or future debt obligations will depend on future operating performance. Our future operating performance and liquidity may also be adversely affected by general economic, financial, and other factors beyond the Company’s control, including those disclosed in “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2009.
Credit Facility and Notes
Although the Company did not need to do so, during the quarter ended November 1, 2008, we drew down the remaining $194.0 million available under our Revolving Credit Facility (“Revolver”). An affiliate of Lehman Brothers is a member of the facility syndicate, and so immediately after Lehman Brothers filed for bankruptcy, in order to preserve the availability of the commitment, we drew down the full available amount under the Revolver. We received the entire $194.0 million, including the remaining portion of Lehman Brothers affiliate’s commitment of $33 million. Upon the replacement of Lehman Brothers, or the assumption of its commitment by a creditworthy entity, we will assess whether to pay down all or a portion of this outstanding balance based on various factors, including the creditworthiness of other syndicate members and general economic conditions. We believe it is unlikely that this matter will be resolved until some time following the conclusion of the Lehman Brothers bankruptcy proceedings. The Company is not required to repay any of the Revolver until the due date of May 29, 2013, therefore, the Revolver is classified as a long-term liability in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheet as of October 31, 2009.
Our Senior Notes, Senior Toggle Notes and Senior Subordinated Notes (collectively, the “Notes”) contain certain covenants that, among other things, and subject to certain exceptions and other basket amounts, restrict our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to:
    incur additional indebtedness;
 
    pay dividends or distributions on our capital stock, repurchase or retire our capital stock and redeem, repurchase or defease any subordinated indebtedness;
 
    make certain investments;
 
    create or incur certain liens;

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    create restrictions on the payment of dividends or other distributions to us from our subsidiaries;
 
    transfer or sell assets;
 
    engage in certain transactions with our affiliates; and
 
    merge or consolidate with other companies or transfer all or substantially all of our assets.
Certain of these covenants, such as limitations on our ability to make certain payments such as dividends, or incur debt, will no longer apply if our Notes have investment grade ratings from both of the rating agencies of Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. (“Moody’s”) and Standard & Poor’s Ratings Group (“S&P”) and no event of default has occurred. Since the date of issuance of the Notes in May 2007, the Notes have not received investment grade ratings from Moody’s or S&P. Accordingly, all of the covenants under the Notes currently apply to us. None of these covenants, however, require the Company to maintain any particular financial ratio or other measure of financial performance. As of October 31, 2009, we were in compliance with the covenants under our Notes.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Our Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Preparation of these statements requires management to make judgments and estimates. Some accounting policies have a significant impact on amounts reported in these financial statements. A summary of significant accounting policies and a description of accounting policies that are considered critical may be found in our Fiscal 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K, filed on April 28, 2009, in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, Note 2, and the Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates section contained in the Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations therein.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In the third quarter of fiscal 2009, we adopted the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”). The ASC is the single official source of authoritative, non-governmental U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, other than the guidance issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission. The adoption of the ASC did not have any substantive impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements or related footnotes.
In December 2006, the FASB issued guidance that established a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosure about fair value measurements. Certain provisions of this guidance were effective for us on February 3, 2008, while the effective date of other provisions relating to nonfinancial assets and liabilities were effective for us as of February 1, 2009. The adoption of this guidance on February 1, 2009 related to nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. See Note 7 in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion and disclosure.
In April 2008, the FASB issued guidance that amends the factors that should be considered in developing renewal or extension assumptions used to determine the useful life of a recognized intangible asset. The adoption of this guidance on February 1, 2009 did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In June 2008, the Emerging Issues Task Force (“EITF”) issued guidance that requires lessees to account for nonrefundable maintenance deposits as deposits if it is probable that maintenance activities will occur and the deposit is realizable. Amounts on deposit that are not probable of being used to fund future maintenance activities should be charged to expense. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. The adoption of this guidance on February 1, 2009 did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

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In October 2008, the EITF issued guidance that addressed the potential effect of FASB ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations and FASB ASC 810-10-65, Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements — an amendment of ARB No. 51 on equity-method accounting under FASB ASC Topic 323, Investments — Equity Method and Joint Ventures. This guidance will not require us to perform a separate impairment test on the underlying assets of our investment in Claire’s Nippon. However, we would be required to recognize our proportionate share of impairment charges recognized by our joint venture with AEON Co. Ltd. We would also be required to perform an overall other than temporary impairment test of our investment in accordance with FASB ASC Topic 323, Investments — Equity Method and Joint Ventures. This guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning on or after December 15, 2008 and interim periods within those fiscal years and is to be applied on a prospective basis. The adoption of this guidance on February 1, 2009 did not have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In May 2009, the FASB issued guidance regarding subsequent events that established accounting and reporting standards for events that occur after the balance sheet date but before financial statements are issued or available to be issued. The guidance sets forth (i) the period after the balance sheet date during which management of a reporting entity should evaluate events or transactions that may occur for potential recognition or disclosure in the financial statements, (ii) the circumstances under which an entity should recognize events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements, and (iii) the disclosures that an entity should make about events or transactions occurring after the balance sheet date in its financial statements. We adopted the provisions of this guidance for the interim period ended August 1, 2009. See Note 9 in the Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for further discussion and disclosure. The adoption of this guidance had no impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
In August 2009, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2009-05, Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures — Measuring Liabilities at Fair Value (amendments to FASB ASC Topic 820, Fair Value Measurements). ASU 2009-05 provides clarification that in circumstances in which a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability is not available, a reporting entity is required to measure fair value using certain techniques. ASU 2009-05 also clarifies that when estimating the fair value of a liability, a reporting entity is not required to include a separate input or adjustment to other inputs relating to the existence of a restriction that prevents the transfer of a liability. ASU 2009-05 also clarifies that both a quoted price in an active market for the identical liability at the measurement date and the quoted price for the identical liability when traded as an asset in an active market when no adjustments to the quoted price of the asset are required are level 1 fair value measurements. ASU 2009-05 is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after August 27, 2009. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2009-05 to have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors
We and our representatives may from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in this and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in our press releases and reports we issue publicly. All statements which address operating performance, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, including statements relating to our future financial performance, business strategy, planned capital expenditures, ability to service our debt, and new store openings for future periods, are forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are and will be based on management’s then current views and assumptions regarding future events and operating performance, and we assume no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Forward-looking statements involve known or unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, including changes in estimates and judgments discussed under “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or industry results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements may use the words “expect”, “anticipate”, “plan”, “intend”, “project”, “may”, “believe”, “forecasts” and similar expressions. Some of these risks, uncertainties and

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other factors are as follows: our level of indebtedness; general economic conditions; changes in consumer preferences and consumer spending; competition; general political and social conditions such as war, political unrest and terrorism; natural disasters or severe weather events; currency fluctuations and exchange rate adjustments; uncertainties generally associated with the specialty retailing business; disruptions in our supply of inventory; inability to increase same store sales; inability to renew, replace or enter into new store leases on favorable terms; significant increases in our merchandise markdowns; inability to grow our store base in Europe; inability to design and implement new information systems; delays in anticipated store openings or renovations; changes in applicable laws, rules and regulations, including changes in federal, state or local regulations governing the sale of our products, particularly regulations relating to the content in our products, and employment laws relating to overtime pay, tax laws and import laws; product recalls; loss of key members of management; increases in the cost of labor; labor disputes; unwillingness of vendors and service providers to supply goods or services pursuant to historical customary credit arrangements; increases in the cost of borrowings; unavailability of additional debt or equity capital; and the impact of our substantial indebtedness on our operating income and our ability to grow. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances. In addition, we typically earn a disproportionate share of our operating income in the fourth quarter due to seasonal buying patterns, which are difficult to forecast with certainty. Additional discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties is contained elsewhere in this Item 2, in Item 3, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” and in our Form 10-K for Fiscal 2008 under “Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Disclosures” and “Risk Factors.”
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
Cash and cash equivalents
We have significant amounts of cash and cash equivalents at financial institutions that are in excess of federally insured limits. With the current financial environment and the instability of financial institutions, we cannot be assured that we will not experience losses on our deposits. We mitigate this risk by investing in two money market funds that are invested exclusively in U.S. Treasury securities and limiting the cash balance in any one bank account. As of October 31, 2009, approximately 94.9% of cash equivalents were maintained in two money market funds that were invested exclusively in U.S. Treasury securities.
Foreign Currency
We are exposed to market risk from foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on the U.S. dollar value of foreign currency denominated transactions and our investment in foreign subsidiaries. We manage this exposure to market risk through our regular operating and financing activities, and may from time to time, use foreign currency options. Exposure to market risk for changes in foreign exchange rates relates primarily to foreign operations’ buying, selling, and financing in currencies other than local currencies and to the carrying value of net investments in foreign subsidiaries. At October 31, 2009, we maintained no foreign currency options. We do not generally hedge the translation exposure related to our net investment in foreign subsidiaries. Included in comprehensive income (loss) are $26.6 million and $(33.5) million, net of tax, reflecting the unrealized gain on foreign currency translation during the nine months ended October 31, 2009 and November 1, 2008, respectively.
Certain of our subsidiaries make significant U.S. dollar purchases from Asian suppliers particularly in China. In July 2005, China revalued its currency 2.1%, changing the fixed exchange rate from 8.28 to 8.11 Chinese Yuan to the U.S. Dollar. Since July 2005, the Chinese Yuan increased by 18.6% as compared to the U.S. Dollar, based on continued pressure from the international community. If China adjusts the exchange rate further or allows the value to float, we may experience increases in our cost of merchandise imported from China, which could have a significant effect on our results of operations.

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Interest Rates
Between July 20, 2007 and August 3, 2007, we entered into three interest rate swap agreements (the “Swaps”) to manage exposure to fluctuations in interest rates. The Swaps represent contracts to exchange floating rate for fixed interest payments periodically over the lives of the Swaps without exchange of the underlying notional amount. At October 31, 2009, the Swaps cover an aggregate notional amount of $435.0 million of the $1.42 billion outstanding principal balance of the senior secured term loan facility. The fixed rates of the three swap agreements range from 4.96% to 5.25% and each swap expires on June 30, 2010. The Swaps have been designated as cash flow hedges. At October 31, 2009 and January 31, 2009, the estimated fair value of the Swaps were liabilities of approximately $13.6 million and $19.7 million, respectively, and were recorded, net of tax, as a component in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss).
At October 31, 2009, we had fixed rate debt of $917.6 million and variable rate debt of $1.61 billion. Based on our variable rate debt balance (less $435 million of interest rate swaps) as of October 31, 2009, a 1% change in interest rates would increase or decrease our annual interest expense by approximately $11.8 million, net.
General Market Risk
Our competitors include department stores, specialty stores, mass merchandisers, discount stores and other retail and internet channels. Our operations are impacted by consumer spending levels, which are affected by general economic conditions, consumer confidence, employment levels, availability of consumer credit and interest rates on credit, consumer debt levels, consumption of consumer staples including food and energy, consumption of other goods, adverse weather conditions and other factors over which the company has little or no control. The increase in costs of such staple items has reduced the amount of discretionary funds that consumers are willing and able to spend for other goods, including our merchandise. Should there be continued volatility in food and energy costs, sustained recession in the U.S. and Europe, rising unemployment and continued declines in discretionary income, our revenue and margins could be significantly affected in the future. We can not predict whether, when or the manner in which the economic conditions described above will change.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934), as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including each of such officers as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
No changes in our internal control over financial reporting have been made during the quarter ended October 31, 2009, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
We are, from time to time, involved in routine litigation incidental to the conduct of our business, including litigation instituted by persons injured upon premises under our control, litigation regarding the merchandise that we sell, including product and safety concerns regarding metal content in our merchandise, litigation with respect to various employment matters, including wage and hour litigation, litigation with present and former employees, and litigation regarding intellectual property rights.
Although litigation is routine and incidental to the conduct of our business, like any business of our size and employing a significant number of employees, such litigation can result in large monetary awards when judges, juries or other finders of facts do not agree with management’s evaluation of possible liability or outcome of litigation. Accordingly, the consequences of these matters cannot be finally determined by management. However, in the opinion of management, we believe that current pending litigation will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes in our risk factors disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended January 31, 2009.
Item 6. Exhibits
     
10.1
  Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated and effective as of May 29, 2007, among Bauble Holdings Corp., Bauble Acquisition Sub, Inc., and Credit Suisse, dated as of May 29, 2007 (re-filed with Schedules and Exhibit attached)
 
   
10.2
  Mortgage, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated as of May 29, 2007 (re-filed with Exhibit A legal description attached)
 
   
31.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).
 
   
31.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).
 
   
32.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
32.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Items 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Part II are not applicable and have been omitted.

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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
         
  CLAIRE’S STORES, INC.
 
 
December 8, 2009  By:   /s/ Eugene S. Kahn    
    Eugene S. Kahn, Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer)   
 
     
December 8, 2009  By:   /s/ J. Per Brodin    
    J. Per Brodin, Senior Vice President and Chief   
    Financial Officer (principal financial and accounting officer)   

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
     
EXHIBIT NO.   DESCRIPTION
 
   
10.1
  Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated and effective as of May 29, 2007, among Bauble Holdings Corp., Bauble Acquisition Sub, Inc., and Credit Suisse, dated as of May 29, 2007 (re-filed with Schedules and Exhibit attached)
 
   
10.2
  Mortgage, Assignment of Leases and Rents, Security Agreement and Fixture Filing, dated as of May 29, 2007 (re-filed with Exhibit A legal description attached)
 
   
31.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).
 
   
31.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a).
 
   
32.1
  Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 USC Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
   
32.2
  Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 USC Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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