Pier 1 2011 Annual Report Download - page 19

petitions, if successful, could significantly increase the United States import duties on those products. In that
event, the Company might possibly decide to pay the increased duties, thereby possibly increasing the
Company’s price to consumers. Alternatively, the Company might decide to source the product or a similar
product from a different country not subject to increased duties or else discontinue the importation and sale of the
product.
In recent years, dispute resolution processes have been utilized to resolve disputes regarding market
access between the European Union, China, the United States and other countries. In some instances, these trade
disputes can lead to threats by countries of sanctions against each other, which can include import prohibitions
and increased duty rates on imported items. The Company considers any agreement that reduces tariff and
non-tariff barriers in international trade to be beneficial to its business. Any type of sanction on imports is
likely to increase the Company’s import costs or limit the availability of merchandise purchased from sanctioned
countries. In that case, the Company may be required to seek similar merchandise from other countries.
Risks Relating to Liquidity
A disruption in the global credit and equity markets could adversely impact the Company’s ability to
obtain financing on acceptable terms.
In the future, the Company could become dependent on the availability of adequate capital to fund its
operations. Disruption in the global credit and equity markets and future disruptions in the financial markets
could adversely affect the Company’s ability to enter into new financing agreements or obtain funding through
the issuance of Company securities. A decline in economic conditions could also result in difficulties for
financial institutions and other parties that the Company does business with, which could potentially affect the
Company’s ability to access financing under existing arrangements or to otherwise recover amounts as they
become due under the Company’s contractual agreements. The inability of the Company to obtain financing as
needed, on acceptable terms in order to fund its operations may have a material adverse impact on the
Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations.
Insufficient cash flows from operations could result in the substantial utilization of the Company’s
secured credit facility, which may limit the Company’s ability to conduct certain activities.
The Company maintains a secured credit facility to enable it to issue merchandise and special purpose
standby letters of credit as well as to fund working capital requirements. Borrowings under the credit facility are
subject to a borrowing base calculation consisting of a percentage of certain eligible assets of the Company and is
subject to advance rates and commercially reasonable reserves. Substantial utilization of the availability under
the borrowing base will result in various restrictions on the Company including: restricted ability of the Company
to repurchase its common stock or pay dividends and dominion over the Company’s cash accounts. See Note 5 to
the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements for additional discussion regarding the Company’s secured
credit facility. Significant decreases in cash flow from operations and investing could result in the Company’s
borrowing increased amounts under the credit facility to fund operational needs. Increases in utilization of letters
of credit and/or increased cash borrowings could result in the Company being subject to these limitations.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff Comments.
None.
Item 2. Properties.
The Company is headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas. In August 2004, the Company completed
construction of a corporate headquarters facility, which contains approximately 460,000 square feet of office
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