Dollar General 2009 Annual Report Download - page 43

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Readers should refer to the detailed discussion of our operating results below for additional
comments on financial performance in the current year periods as compared with the prior year
periods.
Results of Operations
Accounting Periods. The following text contains references to years 2009, 2008, and 2007, which
represent fiscal years ended January 29, 2010, January 30, 2009, and February 1, 2008, respectively. Our
fiscal year ends on the Friday closest to January 31. Fiscal years 2009 and 2008 were 52-week
accounting periods.
As discussed above, we completed a merger transaction on July 6, 2007, and therefore the 2007
presentation includes the 22-week Predecessor period of Dollar General Corporation through July 6,
2007, reflecting the historical basis of accounting prior to our 2007 merger, and a 30-week Successor
period, reflecting the impact of the business combination and associated purchase price allocation of
the merger of Dollar General Corporation and Buck Acquisition Corp. (‘‘BAC’’), from July 7, 2007 to
February 1, 2008. BAC was formed on March 6, 2007, and its results of operations prior to our 2007
merger, which related solely to interest rate swaps entered into in anticipation of the merger, are
included in the 2007 Successor results of operations. Except for the discussion of net sales, which were
not impacted by the 2007 merger, transactions relating to or resulting from the 2007 merger are
discussed separately.
Seasonality. The nature of our business is seasonal to a certain extent. Primarily because of sales
of holiday-related merchandise, sales in our fourth quarter (November, December and January) have
historically been higher than sales achieved in each of the first three quarters of the fiscal year.
Expenses and, to a greater extent, operating profit vary by quarter. Results of a period shorter than a
full year may not be indicative of results expected for the entire year. Furthermore, the seasonal nature
of our business may affect comparisons between periods.
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