UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549

FORM 10-Q
(Mark One)
(X)
Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended October 31, 2015
OR
( )
Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Commission File Number: 0-25464
DOLLAR TREE, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Virginia
 
26-2018846
(State or other jurisdiction of
 
(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)
 
Identification No.)

500 Volvo Parkway
Chesapeake, Virginia 23320
(Address of principal executive offices)

Telephone Number (757) 321-5000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether 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 (X)
No ( )

Indicate by check mark whether the 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 (232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes (X)
No ( )

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 the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.        
Large accelerated filer (X)
Accelerated filer ( )
Non accelerated filer ( )
Smaller reporting company ( )

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ( )
No (X)

As of November 19, 2015, there were 234,795,947 shares of the Registrant's Common Stock outstanding.




DOLLAR TREE, INC.
INDEX
 
 
Page
 
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
Financial Statements:
 
 
 
 
 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Income Statements for the 13 and 39 weeks Ended October 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014
 
 
 
 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the 13 and 39 weeks Ended October 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014
 
 
 
 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of October 31, 2015, January 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014
 
 
 
 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the 39 weeks Ended October 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014
 
 
 
 
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
 
 
 
Item 2.
Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
 
 
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
 
 
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
 
 
 
 
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
 
 
 
 
Item 1.
Legal Proceedings
 
 
 
Item 1A.
Risk Factors
 
 
 
Item 2.
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
 
 
Item 3.
Defaults Upon Senior Securities
 
 
 
Item 4.
Mine Safety Disclosures
 
 
 
Item 5.
Other Information
 
 
 
Item 6.
Exhibits
 
 
 
 
Signatures

2



Part I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

DOLLAR TREE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
 
 
13 Weeks Ended
 
39 Weeks Ended
 
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
(in millions, except per share data)
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net sales
 
$
4,945.2

 
$
2,095.2

 
$
10,133.1

 
$
6,126.6

Cost of sales
 
3,545.2

 
1,369.9

 
7,129.0

 
4,010.7

Gross profit
 
1,400.0

 
725.3

 
3,004.1

 
2,115.9

Selling, general and administrative
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
expenses
 
1,176.3

 
505.6

 
2,424.2

 
1,459.3

Operating income
 
223.7

 
219.7

 
579.9

 
656.6

Interest expense, net
 
98.4

 
9.3

 
484.6

 
25.8

Other (income) expense, net
 
0.6

 
1.1

 
(0.4
)
 
1.2

Income before income taxes
 
124.7

 
209.3

 
95.7

 
629.6

Income tax expense
 
42.8

 
76.3

 
42.3

 
236.9

Net income
 
$
81.9

 
$
133.0

 
$
53.4

 
$
392.7

Basic net income per share
 
$
0.35

 
$
0.65

 
$
0.24

 
$
1.91

Diluted net income per share
 
$
0.35

 
$
0.64

 
$
0.24

 
$
1.90

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


3



DOLLAR TREE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
(Unaudited)
 
 
13 Weeks Ended
 
39 Weeks Ended
 
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
(in millions)
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net income
 
$
81.9

 
$
133.0

 
$
53.4

 
$
392.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
 
0.1

 
(4.3
)
 
(3.5
)
 
(2.2
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total comprehensive income
 
$
82.0

 
$
128.7

 
$
49.9

 
$
390.5


See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.



4



DOLLAR TREE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(in millions)
 
October 31, 2015
 
January 31, 2015
 
November 1, 2014
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
1,106.9

 
$
864.1

 
$
407.6

Short-term investments
 
4.0

 

 

Merchandise inventories, net
 
3,185.3

 
1,035.7

 
1,304.9

Current deferred tax assets, net
 
96.6

 
28.3

 
22.1

Other current assets
 
235.2

 
66.5

 
61.5

Total current assets
 
4,628.0

 
1,994.6

 
1,796.1

Property, plant and equipment, net
 
3,141.0

 
1,210.5

 
1,193.4

Assets available for sale
 
10.1

 

 

Goodwill
 
5,024.1

 
164.6

 
168.7

Deferred tax assets, net
 
19.2

 
30.6

 
52.9

Favorable lease rights, net
 
595.0

 
0.9

 

Other intangible assets, net
 
3,106.1

 
1.2

 
1.8

Other assets
 
175.5

 
90.3

 
154.8

TOTAL ASSETS
 
$
16,699.0

 
$
3,492.7

 
$
3,367.7

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 

 
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Current portion of long-term debt
 
$
95.5

 
$

 
$

Accounts payable
 
1,259.3

 
433.6

 
545.0

Other current liabilities
 
785.3

 
385.3

 
307.2

Income taxes payable
 
21.1

 
42.7

 
14.3

Total current liabilities
 
2,161.2

 
861.6

 
866.5

Long-term debt, net
 
8,248.0

 
682.7

 
757.0

Unfavorable lease rights, net
 
155.5

 

 

Deferred tax liabilities, net
 
1,634.7

 

 

Other liabilities
 
357.4

 
163.4

 
159.1

Total liabilities
 
12,556.8

 
1,707.7

 
1,782.6

Commitments and contingencies
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders' equity
 
4,142.2

 
1,785.0

 
1,585.1

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
$
16,699.0

 
$
3,492.7

 
$
3,367.7

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Common shares outstanding
 
234.8

 
205.7

 
205.7

See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.



5



DOLLAR TREE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
 
 
39 Weeks Ended
 
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
(in millions)
 
2015
 
2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
53.4

 
$
392.7

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash
 
 

 
 

provided by (used in) operating activities:
 
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
 
312.5

 
151.5

Provision for deferred taxes
 
(67.4
)
 
(32.2
)
Other non-cash adjustments to net income
 
57.0

 
33.8

Changes in operating assets and liabilities
 
(406.0
)
 
(157.3
)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
 
(50.5
)
 
388.5

Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 

 
 

Capital expenditures
 
(336.5
)
 
(254.4
)
Acquisition of Family Dollar, net of common stock issued and cash acquired
 
(6,527.7
)
 

Purchase of restricted investments
 
(12.0
)
 
(6.8
)
Proceeds from sale of restricted investments
 

 
15.8

Proceeds from (payments for) fixed asset disposition
 
(0.4
)
 
1.7

Foreign currency loss
 

 
(0.1
)
Net cash used in investing activities
 
(6,876.6
)
 
(243.8
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 

 
 

Principal payments for long-term debt
 
(956.0
)
 
(12.8
)
Proceeds from long-term debt
 
8,200.0

 

Debt issuance costs
 
(90.0
)
 

Proceeds from stock issued pursuant to stock-based
 
 
 
 

compensation plans
 
6.2

 
4.4

Tax benefit of exercises/vesting of stock-based compensation
 
10.2

 
3.6

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
 
7,170.4

 
(4.8
)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
 
(0.5
)
 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
 
242.8

 
139.9

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
 
864.1

 
267.7

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
1,106.9

 
$
407.6

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
 
 

 
 

Cash paid for:
 
 

 
 

Interest
 
$
443.2

 
$
17.2

Income taxes
 
$
133.7

 
$
298.1

Non-cash transactions:
 
 
 
 
Accrued capital expenditures
 
$
34.3

 
$
19.4

Acquisition cost paid in common stock
 
$
2,272.4

 
$

 See accompanying Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.


6



DOLLAR TREE, INC.
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Dollar Tree, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries (the "Company") have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and are presented in accordance with the requirements of Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete consolidated financial statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the year ended January 31, 2015 contained in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 13, 2015. The results of operations for the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire fiscal year ending January 30, 2016.

In the Company's opinion, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included herein contain all adjustments (including those of a normal recurring nature) considered necessary for a fair presentation of its financial position as of October 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014 and the results of its operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The January 31, 2015 balance sheet information was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements as of that date.

On July 6, 2015, the Company acquired Family Dollar Stores, Inc. ("Family Dollar") for cash consideration of $6.8 billion and the issuance of 28.5 million shares of the Company's common stock valued at $2.3 billion based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on July 2, 2015. The results of operations of Family Dollar are included in the Company's results of operations beginning on July 6, 2015. Based on the manner in which the Company manages, evaluates and internally reports its operations, the Company determined that Family Dollar will be reported as a separate operating segment. See Notes 2 and 10 for additional details on the acquisition and the Company's segments.

In the first quarter of 2015, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-12, "Compensation-Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Accounting for Share-Based Payments When the Terms of an Award Provide That a Performance Target Could be Achieved after the Requisite Service Period." This update provides explicit accounting treatment with respect to share-based awards with specific performance targets for employees who are eligible to vest in the award regardless of whether the employee is rendering service on the date the performance target is achieved. This update has been adopted by the Company on a prospective basis for all awards granted or modified on or after February 1, 2015. There was no impact upon the adoption of the update.

In the first quarter of 2015, the Company adopted ASU No. 2015-03, "Interest-Imputation of Interest (Subtopic 835-30): Simplifying the Presentation of Debt Issuance Costs." Previously, debt issuance costs were recorded as assets on the balance sheet. This update requires that debt issuance costs related to a debt liability be presented on the balance sheet as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of the debt liability, consistent with debt discounts. This update does not change the recognition and measurement of debt issuance costs. The update has been adopted retrospectively for all periods presented in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets. The reclassification of debt issuance costs resulted in reductions in "Other assets, net" and "Long-term debt, net" of $74.3 million and $64.5 million as of January 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014, respectively.

In the third quarter of 2015, the Company adopted ASU No. 2015-16, "Business Combinations (Topic 805)." This update requires that an acquirer in a business combination recognize adjustments to provisional amounts that are identified during the measurement period in the reporting period in which the adjustment amounts are determined. The effect on earnings of any changes in the provisional amounts must be calculated as if they occurred as of the acquisition date. The update also requires the acquirer to disclose the portion of the effect on earnings that would have been recorded in previous reporting periods if the adjustments to the provisional amounts had been recognized as of the acquisition date. This update must be adopted prospectively and may be early adopted for financial statements that had not been issued before the update's issuance date. The adoption of the update did not have a material effect on the Condensed Consolidated Income Statements.

7





2. ACQUISITION

On July 27, 2014, the Company executed an Agreement and Plan of Merger to acquire Family Dollar in a cash and stock transaction (the "Acquisition"). On July 6, 2015 (the "Acquisition Date"), the Company completed the Acquisition and Family Dollar became a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company. Under the Acquisition, the Family Dollar shareholders received $59.60 in cash and 0.2484 shares of the Company's common stock for each share of Family Dollar common stock they owned, plus cash in lieu of fractional shares (the "Merger Consideration").
As of the Acquisition Date, each outstanding performance share right of Family Dollar common stock was canceled in exchange for the right of the holder to receive the Merger Consideration (the "PSR Payment"). The aggregate amount paid by the Company for the Merger Consideration and PSR Payment was $6.8 billion in cash and the Company issued 28.5 million shares of the Company's common stock, valued at $2.3 billion based on the closing price of the Company's common stock on July 2, 2015. Additionally, outstanding Family Dollar stock options and restricted stock units were converted into mirror awards exercisable or to be earned in the Company's common stock. The value of these awards was apportioned between total Merger Consideration and unearned compensation to be recognized over the remaining original vesting periods of the awards.
The Company's common stock continues to trade on the Nasdaq Exchange under the symbol "DLTR." Following the Acquisition Date, Family Dollar's common stock ceased trading on, and was delisted from, the New York Stock Exchange. Family Dollar's results from the Acquisition Date through October 31, 2015 are included in the Condensed Consolidated Income Statements.
The following table summarizes the preliminary estimates of the fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the Acquisition Date of July 6, 2015. The preliminary estimates of the fair value of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed are subject to revisions, which may result in adjustments to the preliminary values presented below, when management's appraisals and estimates are finalized:
 
Preliminary Estimates
 
 
As Reported
As Revised
 
(in millions)
August 1, 2015
October 31, 2015
Adjustments
Cash
$
307.4

$
305.3

$
(2.1
)
Short-term investments
4.0

4.0


Accounts receivable
71.4

71.1

(0.3
)
Inventory
1,764.5

1,764.5


Other current assets
94.2

94.7

0.5

Property, plant and equipment
1,912.8

1,897.3

(15.5
)
Assets available for sale

10.1

10.1

Goodwill
4,819.0

4,860.3

41.3

Intangible assets, net
3,570.3

3,570.2

(0.1
)
Other assets
77.7

77.7


Long-term debt, including current portion
(485.2
)
(497.0
)
(11.8
)
Accounts payable
(633.4
)
(633.5
)
(0.1
)
Other current liabilities
(550.4
)
(574.8
)
(24.4
)
Deferred tax liabilities, net
(1,644.7
)
(1,643.5
)
1.2

Other liabilities
(202.2
)
(201.0
)
1.2

   Total purchase price
$
9,105.4

$
9,105.4

$

Less: Cash acquired
(307.4
)
(305.3
)
2.1

   Total purchase price, net of cash acquired
8,798.0

8,800.1

2.1

Acquisition cost paid in common stock
(2,272.4
)
(2,272.4
)

Acquisition cost paid in cash, net of cash acquired
$
6,525.6

$
6,527.7

$
2.1

The adjustments recorded in the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015 to the preliminary estimates of the fair values of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of July 6, 2015 are due to continued refinement of management's

8



appraisals and estimates. The adjustments recorded did not have a material impact on results reported in prior reporting periods. The adjustment to other current liabilities was due to new information available to the Company related to the store divestitures.
On November 1, 2015, the Company completed the transaction pursuant to which it divested 330 Family Dollar stores to Dollar Express LLC, a portfolio company of Sycamore Partners. The divestiture satisfied a condition as required by the Federal Trade Commission in connection with the Acquisition. The divested stores represent approximately $45.5 million of annual operating income and will operate under the Dollar Express banner. The table above reflects the effect of the divestiture as required by purchase accounting as the divestiture was a condition of the Acquisition. As part of the divestiture, the Company was required to guarantee payments under 316 store leases. The amount of the guarantee is not known at this time. Included in other current liabilities is approximately $91.4 million related to the transition of inventory and working capital associated with the divestiture.
Goodwill is calculated as the excess of the purchase price over the net assets acquired. The goodwill recognized is attributable to growth opportunities and expected synergies.
Intangible assets, net consist of three separately identified assets and one liability. First, the Company identified the Family Dollar tradename as an indefinite-lived intangible asset with a fair value of $3.1 billion. The tradename is not subject to amortization but will be evaluated annually for impairment. Second, the Company recognized an intangible asset of $629.2 million for favorable Family Dollar leases and a liability of $164.5 million for unfavorable Family Dollar leases (as compared to prevailing market rates) which will be amortized over the remaining lease terms, including, in some cases, an assumed renewal. Lastly, the Company recognized an intangible asset of $5.5 million for a customer list. The allocation of the purchase price to intangible assets as well as their estimated useful lives is preliminary and may be adjusted.
The Company assumed the liability for Family Dollar's $185.2 million of private placement unsecured senior notes due September 27, 2015, Family Dollar's $300.0 million of 5% unsecured senior notes due February 1, 2021 and Family Dollar's unsecured revolving credit facilities. Following the Acquisition, the Company repaid the $185.2 million outstanding under the Family Dollar private placement unsecured senior notes and terminated the unsecured revolving credit facilities.
The results of operations of Family Dollar are included in the Company's results of operations beginning on July 6, 2015. From July 6, 2015 through October 31, 2015, Family Dollar generated net sales of $3,485.1 million and a net loss of $115.2 million. These results included: $73.0 million of inventory markdowns due to sku rationalization and planned liquidations; $101.4 million of expenses related to purchase accounting, primarily amortization of the step-up of the inventory value, amortization of intangible assets and higher depreciation expense; and $11.3 million of severance and integration costs.
The following unaudited consolidated pro forma summary has been prepared by adjusting the Company's historical data to give effect to the Acquisition as if it had occurred on February 2, 2014:
 
 
Pro Forma - Unaudited
 
 
13 Weeks Ended
 
39 Weeks Ended
(in millions, except per share data)
 
October 31, 2015
 
November 1, 2014
 
October 31, 2015
 
November 1, 2014
Net sales
 
$
4,945.2

 
$
4,613.9

 
$
14,803.0

 
$
13,998.6

Net income
 
$
107.9

 
$
103.9

 
$
344.1

 
$
396.8

Basic net income per share
 
$
0.46

 
$
0.44

 
$
1.47

 
$
1.69

Diluted net income per share
 
$
0.46

 
$
0.44

 
$
1.46

 
$
1.69


The unaudited consolidated pro forma financial information was prepared in accordance with existing standards and is not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that would have occurred if the Acquisition had been completed on the date indicated, nor is it indicative of the future operating results of the Company.
Material non-recurring adjustments excluded from the pro forma financial information above consists of the step up of Family Dollar inventory to its fair value. The unfavorable adjustment to cost of goods sold of $38.4 million and $49.5 million was based on the acquired inventory sold in the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015, respectively. Also excluded were $33.4 million and $90.1 million of expenses related to Family Dollar's restructuring for the 13 and 39 weeks ended November 1, 2014, respectively.
The unaudited pro forma results do not reflect events that either have occurred or may occur after the Acquisition, including, but not limited to, the anticipated realization of ongoing savings from operating synergies in subsequent periods. They also do not give effect to certain charges that the Company expects to incur in connection with the Acquisition, including,

9



but not limited to, additional professional fees, employee integration, retention and severance costs, potential asset impairments, accelerated depreciation and amortization or product rationalization charges.
The Company has incurred $38.7 million in acquisition-related expenses in 2015, excluding acquisition-related interest expense. The Company also expended approximately $165.7 million in remaining capitalizable debt issuance costs related to the financing of the Acquisition and $153.9 million was included as a reduction in "Long-term debt, net" at October 31, 2015.
For additional discussion of the Acquisition, please see the "Acquisition" section included in "Part I. Financial Information, Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations." of this Form 10-Q.

3. LONG-TERM DEBT
Acquisition Notes
On February 23, 2015, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the "Escrow Issuer") completed the offering of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% senior notes due 2020 (the “2020 Notes”) and $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.75% senior notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes”, and together with the 2020 Notes, the “Acquisition Notes”). The Acquisition Notes were offered only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States, only to non-U.S. investors pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Acquisition Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from registration requirements or a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any state securities laws.
The Company used the proceeds of the Acquisition Notes to finance in part the Acquisition. On the Acquisition Date, the Escrow Issuer merged with and into the Company and the Company assumed the obligations in respect of the Acquisition Notes. The Acquisition Notes are jointly and severally guaranteed on an unsecured, unsubordinated basis, subject to certain exceptions, by each of the Company’s subsidiaries which guarantees the obligations under the Company’s new senior secured credit facilities or certain other indebtedness, including Family Dollar and certain of its subsidiaries.
The 2020 Notes, which mature on March 1, 2020, were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of February 23, 2015, with U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “2020 Notes Indenture”). The 2023 Notes, which mature on March 1, 2023, were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of February 23, 2015, with U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “2023 Notes Indenture”, and together with the 2020 Notes Indenture, the “Indentures”).
Interest on the Acquisition Notes is due semiannually on March 1 and September 1, commencing on September 1, 2015.
The Indentures contain covenants that limit the ability of the Company and certain of its subsidiaries to, among other things and subject to certain significant exceptions: (i) incur, assume or guarantee additional indebtedness; (ii) declare or pay dividends or make other distributions with respect to, or purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value, equity interests; (iii) make any principal payment on, or redeem or repurchase, subordinated debt; (iv) make loans, advances or other investments; (v) incur liens; (vi) sell or otherwise dispose of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries; (vii) consolidate or merge with or into, or sell all or substantially all assets to, another person; and (viii) enter into transactions with affiliates. The Indentures also provide for certain events of default, which, if any of them occurs, would permit or require the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Acquisition Notes under the applicable indenture to be declared immediately due and payable.
Credit Facility and Term Loans
On March 9, 2015, the Escrow Issuer entered into a credit agreement, with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, providing for $6.2 billion in senior secured credit facilities (the “New Senior Secured Credit Facilities”) consisting of a $1.25 billion revolving credit facility (the “New Revolving Credit Facility”) and $4.95 billion of term loan facilities (the “New Term Loan Facilities”). The New Term Loan Facilities consist of a $1.0 billion Term Loan A tranche and a $3.95 billion Term Loan B tranche. The New Revolving Credit Facility and the borrowings under the Term Loan A tranche will mature five years after the Acquisition Date, unless any of the 2020 Notes remain outstanding as of 91 days prior to their stated maturity, in which case the New Revolving Credit Facility and the borrowings under the Term Loan A tranche will mature at such time. The borrowings under the Term Loan B tranche will mature seven years after the Acquisition Date.
The New Senior Secured Credit Facilities were not guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries prior to the consummation of the Acquisition, but upon and after the Acquisition Date, the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities are guaranteed by certain of the Company's direct or indirect wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries, including Family Dollar and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Credit Agreement Guarantors”). Upon and after the Acquisition Date, the New Senior

10



Secured Credit Facilities are secured by a security interest in substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Credit Agreement Guarantors, subject to certain exceptions.
The proceeds of the borrowings under the Term Loan B tranche were deposited in an escrow account (separate from the escrow accounts related to the Acquisition Notes) and held in escrow until the Acquisition Date. Upon the consummation of the Acquisition, the Escrow Issuer merged with and into the Company, the Company became the borrower under the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities and drew the borrowings under the Term Loan A facility and the Company has the ability to borrow under the New Revolving Credit Facility.
On June 11, 2015, the Escrow Issuer amended the terms of the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities to refinance the Term Loan B tranche with $3.3 billion of floating-rate Term B-1 Loans and $650.0 million of fixed-rate Term B-2 Loans.
The loans under the Term Loan A tranche and the New Revolving Credit Facility will bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum (or a base rate plus 1.25%), the Term B-1 Loans of the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities will bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.75% per annum (or a base rate plus 1.75%) and the Term B-2 Loans will bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.25%. The Term B-1 tranche will be subject to a “LIBOR floor” of 0.75%. The Term Loan A tranche of the New Term Loan Facilities will require quarterly amortization payments of 1.25% of the original principal amount thereof in the first year following the Acquisition Date, 2.5% of the original principal amount thereof in the second year following the Acquisition Date, and 3.75% of the original principal amount thereof thereafter. The Term B-1 Loans require quarterly amortization payments of 0.25% of the original principal amount thereof after the Acquisition Date and the Term B-2 Loans do not require amortization payments prior to maturity. The New Term Loan Facilities, excluding the Term B-2 Loans, also require mandatory prepayments in connection with certain asset sales and out of excess cash flow, among other things, and subject in each case to certain significant exceptions. The Company will pay certain commitment fees in connection with the New Revolving Credit Facility. Additionally, the Term B-1 Loans will require the Company to pay a 1.0% prepayment fee if the loans thereunder are subject to certain repricing transactions before June 11, 2016. The Term B-2 Loans will require the Company to pay a 2.0% prepayment fee if they are repaid in the second year after the refinance date and a 1.0% prepayment fee if they are repaid in the third year after the refinance date.
The New Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain representations and warranties, events of default and affirmative and negative covenants. These include, among other things and subject to certain significant exceptions, restrictions on the Company's ability to declare or pay dividends, repay the Acquisition Notes, create liens, incur additional indebtedness, make investments, dispose of assets and merge or consolidate with any other person. In addition, a financial maintenance covenant based on the Company’s consolidated first lien secured net leverage ratio applies to the New Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan A tranche of the New Term Loan Facilities.
Unsecured Senior Notes
As a result of the Acquisition, the Company assumed the liability for $300 million of 5.0% unsecured senior notes due February 1, 2021 which were issued by Family Dollar on January 28, 2011 through a public offering.
Senior Notes
On the Acquisition Date, the Company prepaid in full $750.0 million in Senior Notes comprised of (i) $300.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.03% Series A Senior Notes due September 16, 2020, (ii) $350.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.63% Series B Senior Notes due September 16, 2023 and (iii) $100.0 million in aggregate principal amount of 4.78% Series C Senior Notes due September 16, 2025, issued pursuant to that certain Note Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 16, 2013 (as amended on January 20, 2015, the “Dollar Tree NPA”) among the Company, Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., and the Purchasers party thereto, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon and a make-whole premium of approximately $89.5 million determined in accordance with the provisions of the Dollar Tree NPA plus additional interest in accordance with the provisions of the first amendment to the Dollar Tree NPA.
Unsecured Credit Agreement
On the Acquisition Date, the Company paid in full all amounts owing under the Unsecured Credit Agreement, dated as of June 6, 2012, and terminated all commitments to extend further credit thereunder.
Debt Covenants
As of October 31, 2015, the Company was in compliance with its debt covenants.

11



Long-term debt at October 31, 2015 and January 31, 2015, consisted of the following:

 
As of October 31, 2015
 
As of January 31, 2015
(in millions)
Principal
 
Unamortized Debt Premium and Issuance Costs
 
Principal
 
Unamortized Debt Issuance Costs
$750.0 million Senior Notes, fixed interest rates
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   payable semi-annually, January 15 and July 15
$

 
$

 
$
750.0

 
$
3.3

$750.0 million Unsecured Credit Agreement, interest
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   payable at LIBOR, plus 0.90%, which was 1.09%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 at October 31, 2015

 

 

 
0.9

$7.0 million Forgivable Promissory Notes, interest
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   payable beginning in November 2017 at a rate of
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   1%, principal payable beginning November 2017
7.0

 

 
7.0

 

5.25% Acquisition Notes, due 2020
750.0

 
11.7

 

 
11.9

5.75% Acquisition Notes, due 2023
2,500.0

 
41.3

 

 
39.8

Term Loan A, interest payable at LIBOR, plus 2.25%,
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   which was 2.44% at October 31, 2015
987.5

 
3.8

 

 
0.4

Term Loan B-1, interest payable at the higher of
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   LIBOR or 0.75% plus 2.75%, which was 3.50% at
 
 

 
 
 
 
October 31, 2015.
3,291.7

 
63.1

 

 
8.2

$650.0 million Term Loan B-2, fixed interest rate
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   of 4.25%
650.0

 
12.5

 

 

$300.0 million Unsecured Senior Notes, fixed
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   interest rate of 5.00%
300.0

 
(11.2
)
 

 

$1.25 billion Revolving Credit Facility, interest
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   payable at LIBOR, plus 2.25%, which was 2.44%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   at October 31, 2015

 
21.5

 

 
9.8

Total
$8,486.2
 
$142.7
 
$757.0
 
$74.3

4. INCOME TAXES
Our effective tax rate was 34.3% for the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015 compared with 36.5% for the 13 weeks ended November 1, 2014 and 44.2% for the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 compared with 37.6% for the 39 weeks ended November 1, 2014. The decrease in expense for the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015 is primarily attributable to an increase in work opportunity tax credits in relation to income for the third quarter and a decrease in state tax expense. The increase in expense for the nine months ended October 31, 2015 was a result of Acquisition-related costs that were nondeductible for tax purposes.

Deferred income taxes reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts used for income tax purposes.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are classified on the accompanying consolidated balance sheets based on the classification of the underlying asset or liability.  Significant components of the Company's net deferred tax assets (liabilities) follow:


12



(in millions)
October 31,
2015
 
January 31,
2015
Deferred tax assets:
 
 
 
Deferred rent
$
46.2

 
$
41.0

Accrued expenses
65.7

 
37.6

Net operating losses and credit carryforwards
51.0

 
31.0

Accrued compensation expense
60.5

 
33.8

Other
1.3

 
5.1

Total deferred tax assets
224.7

 
148.5

Valuation allowance
(22.1
)
 
(13.8
)
Deferred tax assets, net
202.6

 
134.7

Deferred tax liabilities:
 

 
 

Property and equipment
(290.4
)
 
(48.7
)
Other intangibles
(1,426.6
)
 
(18.7
)
Prepaid expenses
(3.6
)
 
(3.0
)
Inventory
(0.9
)
 
(5.4
)
Total deferred tax liabilities
(1,721.5
)
 
(75.8
)
Net deferred tax asset (liability)
$
(1,518.9
)
 
$
58.9

Deferred tax liabilities have been provided for the tax effect of the difference between the book and tax basis in the assets. The increase in the deferred tax liability was primarily generated from the recording of the Family Dollar tradename, favorable lease rights, inventory and property plant and equipment.
A valuation allowance of $22.1 million, net of federal tax benefits, has been provided principally for certain state credit carryforwards and net operating loss carryforwards and has increased since January 31, 2015 as a result of the Acquisition. In assessing the realizability of deferred tax assets, the Company considers whether it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred taxes will not be realized.  Based upon the availability of carrybacks of future deductible amounts to the past two years’ taxable income and the Company's projections for future taxable income over the periods in which the deferred tax assets are deductible, the Company believes it is more likely than not the remaining existing deductible temporary differences will reverse during periods in which carrybacks are available or in which the Company generates net taxable income.
The Company is participating in the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) Compliance Assurance Program (“CAP”) for the 2015 fiscal year.  This program accelerates the examination of key transactions with the goal of resolving any issues before the tax return is filed.  Dollar Tree's federal tax returns have been examined and all issues have been settled through the fiscal 2014 tax year.  The statute of limitations is still open for Family Dollar's tax returns for the fiscal year ended August 25, 2012 and forward. In general, fiscal years 2012 and forward are within the statute of limitations for state tax purposes.  The statute of limitations is still open prior to 2012 for some states.
The balance for unrecognized tax benefits at October 31, 2015, was $33.9 million.  The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits at October 31, 2015, that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate was $24.1 million (net of the federal tax benefit).  The following is a reconciliation of the Company’s total gross unrecognized tax benefits:
 
October 31, 2015
 
January 31, 2015
Beginning Balance
$
6.5

 
$
5.5

   Additions, acquisition of Family Dollar
28.2

 

   Additions, based on tax positions related to current year
0.2

 
0.6

   Additions for tax positions of prior years

 
0.9

   Lapses in statutes of limitation
(1.0
)
 
(0.5
)
Ending balance
$
33.9

 
$
6.5


13



The increase in unrecognized tax benefits for fiscal 2015 is primarily related to the Acquisition.
United States income taxes have not been provided on accumulated but undistributed earnings of Dollar Tree’s foreign subsidiaries as the Company intends to permanently reinvest the earnings. To date, the earnings and related taxes of the legacy Dollar Tree foreign subsidiaries are negligible. The Company has provided United States income taxes on accumulated but undistributed earnings for Family Dollar’s foreign subsidiaries as of the July 6, 2015 acquisition date.
5. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

The Company is a defendant in legal proceedings including those described below and will vigorously defend itself in these matters. The Company does not believe that any of these matters will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material effect on its business or financial condition. The Company cannot give assurance, however, that one or more of these matters will not have a material effect on its results of operations for the periods in which they are resolved.

The Company assesses its legal proceedings and reserves are established if a loss is probable and the amount of such loss can be reasonably estimated. Many if not substantially all of the contingencies described below are subject to significant uncertainties and, therefore, determining the likelihood of a loss and the measurement of any loss can be complex and subject to judgment. With respect to legal proceedings where the Company has determined that a loss is reasonably possible but not probable, the Company is unable to estimate the amount or range of reasonably possible loss due to the inherent difficulty of predicting the outcome of and uncertainties regarding legal proceedings. The Company’s assessments are based on estimates and assumptions that have been deemed reasonable by management, but that may prove to be incomplete or inaccurate, and unanticipated events and circumstances may occur that might cause the Company to change those estimates and assumptions. Management’s assessment of legal proceedings could change because of future determinations or the discovery of facts which are not presently known. Accordingly, the ultimate costs of resolving these proceedings may be substantially higher or lower than currently estimated.

Dollar Tree Active Matters

In 2011, an assistant store manager and an hourly associate filed a collective action against the Company alleging they were forced to work off the clock in violation of the Fair Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”) and state law. A federal judge in Virginia ruled that all claims made on behalf of assistant store managers under both the FLSA and state law should be dismissed. The court, however, certified an opt-in collective action under the FLSA on behalf of hourly sales associates. Approximately 4,300 plaintiffs remain in the case. The court denied the Company's motion to decertify the collective action and is currently reviewing and considering a revised settlement agreement. The proposed settlement amount has been accrued.

In 2013, a former assistant store manager on behalf of himself and others alleged to be similarly aggrieved filed a representative Private Attorney General Act ("PAGA") claim under California law currently pending in federal court in California. The suit alleges that the Company failed to provide uninterrupted meal periods and rest breaks; failed to pay minimum, regular and overtime wages; failed to maintain accurate time records and wage statements; and failed to pay wages due upon termination of employment. A trial date on the individual claim has been set for March 2016.

In May 2014, a former assistant store manager filed a putative class action in a California state court for alleged failure to provide meal periods, overtime, timely payment of wages during employment and upon termination, failure to provide accurate wage statements, as well as for alleged failure to indemnify employees for business expenses in violation of California labor laws. Discovery has not commenced and no trial date has been set.

In May 2014, the US Consumer Product Safety Commission ("CPSC") began a staff investigation of circumstances related to Letters of Advice that the Company received from the CPSC from 2009 to 2013. The CPSC is now investigating Letters of Advice the Company received in 2014 and 2015. It is possible for a penalty and an injunction to be issued against the Company. The outcome of this matter cannot be determined at this time.

In April 2015, a distribution center employee filed a class action in California state court with allegations concerning wages, meal and rest breaks, recovery periods, wage statements and timely termination pay. Additionally, the employee seeks to certify a nation-wide class of non-exempt distribution employees for overtime compensation. The Company removed this lawsuit to Federal Court.


14



In April 2015, a former store manager filed a class action in California state court alleging store managers were improperly classified as exempt employees and, among other things, did not receive overtime compensation and meal and rest periods and alleging PAGA claims.

Family Dollar Active Matters

In 2008, a Multi-District Litigation forum ("MDL") was created in North Carolina federal court to handle cases alleging FLSA violations against the Company. In the first two cases, the court entered orders finding the plaintiffs were not similarly situated and, therefore, neither nationwide notice nor collective treatment under the FLSA was appropriate. Since that time, the court has granted 60 summary judgments ruling Store Managers are properly classified as exempt from overtime. Presently, there are 10 named plaintiffs in the remaining cases in the MDL, for which the North Carolina Federal Court has not decided the class certification or summary judgment issue.

In 2008, a complaint was filed alleging discriminatory pay practices with respect to the Company's female store managers. This case was pled as a putative class action or collective action under applicable statutes on behalf of all Family Dollar female store managers. The plaintiffs seek recovery of back pay, compensatory and punitive money damages, recovery of attorneys' fees and equitable relief. The case was transferred to North Carolina Federal Court in November 2008. The parties are proceeding with limited discovery. The Company believes the case is fully insured.

In 2013, plaintiffs filed a claim in Massachusetts state court seeking unpaid overtime for a class of current and former Massachusetts Store Managers whom plaintiffs claim are not properly classified as exempt from overtime under Massachusetts law. The Company then removed the case to Federal District court in Massachusetts. In 2014, the case was remanded to state court. The Company has appealed the remand decision to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit and is awaiting that court’s decision.

In 2014, the Company was served with a putative class action in Missouri Federal Court alleging that customers received Short Message Service ("SMS") text message advertisements from the Company, without providing appropriate express written consent in violation of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act ("TCPA"), seeking all damages available under the TCPA, including statutory damages of $500 - $1,500 per willful violation.

In 2014, a putative class action was filed in a California Federal Court by a former employee alleging that the Company had a policy of requiring employee bag checks while the employees were not clocked in for work. As a result of those actions, the employee alleges the Company violated California law by failing to provide meal periods and rest breaks, failing to pay regular and overtime wages for work performed off the clock, failing to provide accurate wage statements, failing to timely pay all final wages and by engaging in unfair competition. He has also alleged PAGA claims. While employed by the Company, the plaintiff agreed to arbitrate matters related to his employment. Accordingly, the Company filed a motion to compel arbitration and is awaiting the court’s ruling on that motion.

In 2014, a former employee brought a putative class action and asserted claims under PAGA alleging the Company failed to provide suitable seating to its California store employees. The case has been stayed pending a ruling by the California Supreme Court on whether a drug store retailer has an obligation to provide suitable seating to drug store cashiers.

Resolved Matters

Winn-Dixie Stores has agreed to drop its appeal of the lower court decision in the Dollar Tree case. Winn-Dixie and Family Dollar have also agreed to settle and terminate their lawsuit and the settlement amount was paid in the third quarter.

In 2012, a former assistant store manager, on behalf of himself and those alleged to be similarly situated, filed a putative class action in a California state court, alleging the Company failed to provide rest breaks to assistant store managers. The class was decertified in July 2015 and the case has now been resolved.

In 2013, district attorneys in California initiated an investigation of whether the Company properly disposed of certain damaged retail products under Federal and California state environmental law, primarily the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. The Company has settled this matter in 2015 and has fully paid the settlement amount.

In 2014, several shareholders of Family Dollar filed class actions, which were consolidated into one class action, in Delaware chancery court against Family Dollar’s CEO and board members alleging breach of fiduciary duty. Dollar Tree and Family Dollar were also named as defendants for allegedly aiding and abetting the other defendants. The Delaware Chancery

15



Court and appellate court refused to issue an injunction against the Family Dollar shareholder vote in favor of the merger. The case was dismissed in August 2015 and was settled for an immaterial amount.

In 2015, a lawsuit was brought as a collective action in Florida Federal Court on behalf of the plaintiff and other similarly situated Family Dollar store managers alleging the store managers are misclassified as being exempt from overtime under the FLSA. The court compelled plaintiff to arbitrate the matter based on the standard Family Dollar arbitration agreement and dismissed the collective action.

6. FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

The Company's cash and cash equivalents, short-term investments, restricted investments and diesel fuel swaps represent the financial assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis as of October 31, 2015. As required, financial assets and liabilities are classified in the fair value hierarchy in their entirety based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The Company's assessment of the significance of a particular input to the fair value measurement requires judgment and may affect the valuation of fair value assets and liabilities and their placement within the fair value hierarchy levels. The fair value of the Company's cash and cash equivalents was $1,106.9 million, $864.1 million and $407.6 million, at October 31, 2015, January 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014, respectively. The fair value of the Company's short-term investments was $4.0 million at October 31, 2015 and the value of the Company's restricted investments was $116.4 million, $78.9 million and $78.9 million, at October 31, 2015, January 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014, respectively. The fair value of the Company's short-term investments and $82.4 million, $78.9 million and $78.9 million of the Company's restricted investments as of October 31, 2015, January 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014, respectively, were determined using Level 1 measurements in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value of $34.0 million of the restricted investments as of October 31, 2015 were estimated using Level 2 measurements in the fair value hierarchy. The fair values of the diesel fuel swaps were a liability of $2.3 million, $5.7 million and $1.1 million as of October 31, 2015, January 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014, respectively, and were estimated using Level 2 measurements in the fair value hierarchy, which used discounted cash flow calculations based upon diesel fuel cost curves.

The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt was $8.6 billion as of October 31, 2015. The fair value of the Company's Acquisition Notes, Term Loans and Unsecured Senior Notes are determined using Level 1 inputs as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities are available. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, which was comprised of the Senior Notes, was $700.9 million and $763.2 million as of January 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014, respectively. The fair values of the Senior Notes were determined through the use of discounted cash flow analyses using Level 3 inputs as there were no quoted prices in active markets for these notes. The discount rates used in the analyses were based on borrowing rates available to the Company for debt of the same remaining maturities, issued in the same private placement debt market. The carrying value of the Company's Revolving Credit Agreement at October 31, 2015 and the Company's Unsecured Credit Agreement at January 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014, respectively, approximated their fair values because the interest rates vary with market interest rates.

Certain assets and liabilities are measured at fair value on a nonrecurring basis; that is, the assets and liabilities are not measured at fair value on an ongoing basis but are subject to fair value adjustments in certain circumstances (for example, when there is evidence of impairment). The Company did not record any significant impairment charges during the 13 or 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015.

16





7. NET INCOME PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the calculations of basic and diluted net income per share:
 
 
13 Weeks Ended
 
39 Weeks Ended
 
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
(in millions, except per share data)
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Basic net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
81.9

 
$
133.0

 
$
53.4

 
$
392.7

Weighted average number of shares
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
outstanding
 
234.7

 
205.6

 
218.4

 
206.1

Basic net income per share
 
$
0.35

 
$
0.65

 
$
0.24

 
$
1.91

Diluted net income per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
81.9

 
$
133.0

 
$
53.4

 
$
392.7

Weighted average number of shares
 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
outstanding
 
234.7

 
205.6

 
218.4

 
206.1

Dilutive effect of stock options and
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
restricted stock (as determined by
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
applying the treasury stock method)
 
1.0

 
1.0

 
1.0

 
0.9

Weighted average number of shares and
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
dilutive potential shares outstanding
 
235.7

 
206.6

 
219.4

 
207.0

Diluted net income per share
 
$
0.35

 
$
0.64

 
$
0.24

 
$
1.90


For the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014, substantially all of the stock options outstanding were included in the calculation of the weighted average number of shares and dilutive potential shares outstanding.

8. STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company's stock-based compensation expense primarily includes the fair value of restricted stock units (RSUs) and employees' purchase rights under the Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan. Stock-based compensation expense was $10.5 million and $38.3 million during the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015, respectively. Stock-based compensation expense was $7.1 million and $31.0 million during the 13 and 39 weeks ended and November 1, 2014, respectively.

In connection with the Acquisition, options to purchase Family Dollar common stock (“Family Dollar Options”) that were outstanding prior to the Acquisition were converted into options to purchase, on the same substantive terms and conditions as were applicable to Family Dollar Options, a number of shares of common stock of the Company determined by multiplying the number of shares of Family Dollar common stock subject to such Family Dollar Options by 1.0000 (the “Award Exchange Ratio”), at an exercise price per share equal to the per share exercise price for the shares of Family Dollar common stock otherwise purchasable pursuant to the Family Dollar Options divided by the Award Exchange Ratio. The Company converted approximately 1.5 million Family Dollar Options into options to purchase Dollar Tree Common Stock or into unvested options to purchase Dollar Tree Common Stock and recognized $1.9 million and $3.0 million of expense related to these options during the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015. Stock options are valued using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis, net of estimated forfeitures, over the requisite service period.

In connection with the Acquisition, unvested Family Dollar RSUs that were outstanding prior to the Acquisition were converted into unvested Dollar Tree RSUs with the same substantive terms and conditions as were applicable to the Family Dollar RSUs, in respect of a number of shares of common stock of the Company determined by multiplying the number of shares of Family Dollar RSUs by the Award Exchange Ratio. The Company converted approximately 0.1 million unvested Family Dollar RSUs into unvested Dollar Tree RSUs and recognized $0.6 million and $1.0 million of expense related to these RSUs during the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015, respectively.

The Company granted approximately 0.3 million service-based RSUs from the Omnibus Incentive Plan (Omnibus

17



Plan) to employees and officers in the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015. The estimated $28.6 million fair value of these RSUs is being expensed ratably over the three-year vesting periods, or shorter periods based on the retirement eligibility of certain grantees. The fair value was determined using the Company's closing stock price on the date of grant. The Company recognized $2.0 million and $8.9 million of expense related to these RSUs during the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015.

In the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 the Company granted 0.1 million RSUs with a fair value of $11.3 million from the Omnibus Plan to certain officers of the Company, contingent on the Company meeting certain performance targets in fiscal 2015. If the Company meets these performance targets in fiscal 2015, the RSUs will vest ratably over three years. The estimated fair value of these RSUs is being expensed ratably over the three-year vesting periods, or shorter periods based on the retirement eligibility of certain grantees. The Company recognized $0.6 million and $8.1 million of expense related to these RSUs in the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015.

In the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 the Company granted RSUs with a fair value of $2.1 million from the Omnibus Plan to certain officers of the Company, contingent on the Company meeting certain performance targets for the period beginning on February 1, 2015 and ending on February 3, 2018. Provided the vesting conditions are satisfied, the awards will vest at the end of the performance period. The estimated fair value of these RSUs is being expensed ratably over the three-year vesting period, or shorter periods based on the retirement eligibility of certain grantees. The Company recognized $0.1 million and $1.2 million of expense related to these RSUs in the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015.

In March 2013, the Company granted RSUs ("2013 Grants") with a fair value of $1.4 million from the Omnibus Plan to certain officers of the Company, contingent on the Company meeting certain performance targets for the period beginning on February 3, 2013 and ending on January 30, 2016 ("2013 Goal"). However, because the Acquisition was not yet contemplated as of the grant date, the 2013 Goal did not exclude costs related to the Acquisition or any income that may be attributable to Family Dollar during the performance period. In the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015, the Company concluded that maintaining the 2013 Grants in their original form would undermine the Company's goals and create skewed incentives for the grantees.

Because amending the 2013 Goal would have jeopardized deductibility of the awards under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Service Code, in the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors canceled the 2013 Grants and approved new awards (“2015 Supplemental Grants”), with a fair value of $2.2 million and a new operating income goal for the one-year period ending January 30, 2016 (“2015 Supplemental Goal”). The 2015 Supplemental Goal equals the amount remaining in the final year of the 2013 Goal, giving credit for actual Company performance utilizing an operating income definition that excludes both costs related to the Acquisition and income from Family Dollar. As such, the 2015 Supplemental Grants exactly replicate the incentive structure of the 2013 Grants had those awards excluded the effect of the then-unknown and unforeseeable Acquisition when they were granted. The Company recognized a $1.2 million reduction of expense related to the 2013 Grants cancellation in the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 and $0.3 million and $2.1 million of expense related to the 2015 Supplemental Grants in the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015.

In the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 the Company granted 0.1 million service-based RSUs with a fair value of $7.9 million from the Omnibus Plan. The estimated fair value of these RSUs is being expensed ratably over the three-year vesting period. The Company recognized $0.5 million of expense related to these RSUs in the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015.

The Company recognized $4.4 million and $14.5 million of expense related to RSUs granted prior to fiscal 2015 in the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015.

In the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015, approximately 0.7 million RSUs vested and approximately 0.4 million shares, net of taxes, were issued. During the 39 weeks ended November 1, 2014, approximately 0.8 million RSUs vested and approximately 0.5 million shares, net of taxes, were issued. In the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015 less than 0.1 million RSUs vested. Less than 0.1 million RSUs vested in the 13 weeks ended November 1, 2014.

18





9. FUEL DERIVATIVE CONTRACTS

In order to manage fluctuations in cash flows resulting from changes in diesel fuel costs, the Company entered into fuel derivative contracts with third parties. The Company has entered into fuel derivative contracts for 1.7 million gallons of diesel fuel, or approximately 37% of the Dollar Tree segment's domestic truckload fuel needs from November 2015 through January 2016. Under these contracts, the Company pays the third party a fixed price for diesel fuel and receives variable diesel fuel prices at amounts approximating current diesel fuel costs, thereby creating the economic equivalent of a fixed-rate obligation.  These derivative contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting and therefore all changes in fair value for these derivatives are included in “Other (income) expense, net” on the accompanying condensed consolidated income statements.

10. SEGMENTS

The Company operates a chain of more than 14,000 retail discount stores in 48 states and five Canadian provinces. The Company's operations are conducted in two reporting business segments: Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. The Company defines its segments as those operations whose results its chief operating decision maker ("CODM") regularly reviews to analyze performance and allocate resources. The results of operations of Family Dollar are included in the Company's results of operations beginning on July 6, 2015.

The Dollar Tree segment is the leading operator of discount variety stores offering merchandise at the fixed price of $1.00. The Dollar Tree segment includes the Company's operations under the "Dollar Tree," "Deals" and "Dollar Tree Canada" brands, ten distribution centers and a Store Support Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

The Family Dollar segment operates a chain of general merchandise retail discount stores providing consumers with a selection of competitively priced merchandise in convenient neighborhood stores. The Family Dollar segment consists of the Company's operations under the "Family Dollar" brand, eleven distribution centers and a Store Support Center in Matthews, North Carolina.

The Company measures the results of its segments using, among other measures, each segment's net sales, gross profit and operating income (loss). The Company may revise the measurement of each segment's operating income (loss), including the allocation of distribution center and Store Support Center costs, as determined by the information regularly reviewed by the CODM. When the measurement of a segment changes, previous period amounts and balances are reclassified to be comparable to the current period's presentation.

Net sales by segment are as follows:
 
 
13 Weeks Ended
 
39 weeks Ended
 
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
(in millions)
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Net sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Dollar Tree
 
$
2,271.7

 
$
2,095.2

 
$
6,648.0

 
$
6,126.6

Family Dollar
 
2,673.5

 

 
3,485.1

 

Net sales
 
$
4,945.2

 
$
2,095.2

 
$
10,133.1

 
$
6,126.6



19



Gross profit by segment is as follows:
 
 
13 Weeks Ended
 
39 weeks Ended
 
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
(in millions)
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Gross profit:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Dollar Tree
 
$
772.2

 
$
725.3

 
$
2,270.4

 
$
2,115.9

Family Dollar
 
627.8

 

 
733.7

 

Gross profit
 
$
1,400.0

 
$
725.3

 
$
3,004.1

 
$
2,115.9


Operating income (loss) by segment is as follows:
 
 
13 Weeks Ended
 
39 weeks Ended
 
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
(in millions)
 
2015
 
2014
 
2015
 
2014
Operating income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Dollar Tree
 
$
224.8

 
$
219.7

 
$
676.0

 
$
656.6

Family Dollar
 
(1.1
)
 

 
(96.1
)
 

Operating income
 
$
223.7

 
$
219.7

 
$
579.9

 
$
656.6


Total assets by segment are as follows:
 
 
As of
 
 
 
October 31,
 
January 31,
 
November 1,
 
(in millions)
 
2015
 
2015
 
2014
 
Total assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Dollar Tree
 
$
4,136.1

 
$
3,492.7

 
$
3,367.7

 
Family Dollar
 
12,562.9

 

 

 
Total assets
 
$
16,699.0

 
$
3,492.7

 
$
3,367.7

 

Total goodwill by segment is as follows:
 
 
As of
 
 
 
October 31,
 
January 31,
 
November 1,
 
(in millions)
 
2015
 
2015
 
2014
 
Total goodwill:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     Dollar Tree
 
$
251.4

 
$
164.6

 
$
168.7

 
Family Dollar
 
4,772.7

 

 

 
Total goodwill
 
$
5,024.1

 
$
164.6

 
$
168.7

 

Goodwill is reassigned between segments when stores are rebannered between segments.



20



Item 2.  MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.

INTRODUCTORY NOTE: Unless otherwise stated, references to "we," "our" and "us" generally refer to Dollar Tree, Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries on a consolidated basis.

A WARNING ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This document contains "forward-looking statements" as that term is used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements address future events, developments or results and typically use words such as "believe," "anticipate," "expect," "intend," "plan," “view,” “target” or "estimate." For example, our forward-looking statements include statements regarding:

Family Dollar integration plans and expenses;

the benefits, results and effects of the Family Dollar acquisition and integration and the combined company’s plans, objectives, expectations (financial or otherwise), including synergies, the cost to achieve synergies, and the effect on earnings per share;

the financial and operating performance of the divested stores;

the inability to retain key personnel at Family Dollar and Dollar Tree;

our anticipated sales, including comparable store net sales, net sales growth, earnings growth and new store growth;

the outcome and costs of pending or potential litigation or governmental investigations;

our growth plans, including our plans to add, rebanner, expand or relocate stores, our anticipated square footage increase, and our ability to renew leases at existing store locations;

the average size of our stores and their performance compared with other store sizes;

the effect on merchandise mix of consumables and the increase in the number of our stores with freezers and coolers on gross profit margin and sales;

the net sales per square foot, net sales and operating income of our stores;

the potential effect of inflation and other economic changes on our costs and profitability, including the potential effect of future changes in minimum wage rates, shipping rates, domestic and import freight costs, fuel costs and wage and benefit costs;

our gross profit margin, earnings, inventory levels and ability to leverage selling, general and administrative and other fixed costs;

our seasonal sales patterns including those relating to the length of the holiday selling seasons;

the capabilities of our inventory supply chain technology and other systems;

the reliability of, and cost associated with, our sources of supply, particularly imported goods such as those sourced from China;

the capacity, performance and cost of our distribution centers;

our cash needs, including our ability to fund our future capital expenditures and working capital requirements;

our expectations regarding competition and growth in our retail sector;

management's estimates associated with our critical accounting policies, including inventory valuation, accrued expenses, the Family Dollar purchase price allocation and income taxes;

21




the potential effect of future law changes including qualification for exempt status under the Fair Labor Standards Act; and

costs expected to be incurred in the fourth quarter for rebannering Deals stores to Dollar Tree stores.

For a discussion of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could affect our future events, developments or results, you should carefully review the risk factors summarized below and the more detailed discussions in the "Risk Factors” and “Business” sections in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed March 13, 2015.

Our profitability is vulnerable to cost increases.

A downturn in economic conditions could impact our sales.

A significant disruption in our computer and technology systems could adversely affect our results of operation or business.

If we are unable to secure our customers' credit card and confidential information, or other private data relating to our associates, suppliers or our business, we could be subject to negative publicity, costly government enforcement actions or private litigation, which could damage our business reputation and adversely affect our results of operation or business.

Changes in federal, state or local law, or our failure to comply with such laws, could increase our expenses and expose us to legal risks. We could experience disruption to our business and higher expenses if fewer employees qualify as exempt due to future law changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Our growth is dependent on our ability to increase sales in existing stores and to expand our square footage profitably.

Risks associated with our domestic and foreign suppliers from whom our products are sourced could affect our financial performance.

We could encounter disruptions in our distribution network or additional costs in distributing merchandise.

Our profitability is affected by the mix of products we sell.

Pressure from competitors may reduce our sales and profits.

Litigation may adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Our business could be adversely affected if we fail to attract and retain qualified associates and key personnel.

Certain provisions in our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws could delay or discourage a takeover attempt that may be in a shareholder's best interest.

In addition to the foregoing risks related to our business, the following risks are related to the Family Dollar acquisition and the business of the combined company:

Integrating the two companies may be more difficult, disruptive, costly or time consuming than expected and the anticipated benefits, synergies and cost savings of the acquisition may not be realized, including as a result of the challenges Family Dollar previously experienced as a stand-alone company.

We have incurred significant transaction and acquisition-related costs and will incur integration-related costs in connection with the acquisition.

Our substantial indebtedness could adversely affect our financial condition and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under the notes.

22




We may not be able to generate sufficient cash to service all of our indebtedness and may be forced to take other actions to satisfy our obligations under our indebtedness, which may not be successful.

Despite current indebtedness levels, we may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks described above.

The terms of the agreements governing our indebtedness may restrict our current and future operations, particularly our ability to respond to changes or to pursue our business strategies, and could adversely affect our capital resources, financial condition and liquidity.

Our variable-rate indebtedness subjects us to interest rate risk, which could cause our annual debt service obligations to increase significantly.

The acquisition may not be accretive, and may be dilutive, to our earnings per share, which may negatively affect the market price of our common stock.

Our costs and the financial operating impact of the divestiture could differ from our expectations.

Sales of our common stock after the completion of the Family Dollar acquisition may cause the market price of our common stock to fall.

Our forward-looking statements could be wrong in light of these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The future events, developments or results described in this report could turn out to be materially different. We have no obligation to publicly update or revise our forward-looking statements after the date of this quarterly report and you should not expect us to do so.

Investors should also be aware that while we do, from time to time, communicate with securities analysts and others, it is against our policy to selectively disclose to them any material nonpublic information or other confidential commercial information. Accordingly, shareholders should not assume that we agree with any statement or report issued by any analyst regardless of the content of the statement or report, as we have a policy against confirming information issued by others. Thus, to the extent that reports issued by securities analysts contain any financial projections, forecasts or opinions, such reports are not our responsibility.

Overview

We are a leading operator of more than 14,000 retail discount stores. Our Dollar Tree segment is the leading operator of discount variety stores offering merchandise at the fixed price of $1.00. Our Family Dollar segment operates general merchandise retail discount stores providing consumers with a selection of competitively priced merchandise in convenient neighborhood stores.

Our net sales are derived from the sale of merchandise. Two major factors tend to affect our net sales trends. First is our success at opening new stores or adding new stores through mergers or acquisitions. Second is the performance of stores once they are open. Sales vary at our existing stores from one year to the next. We refer to this change as a change in comparable store net sales, because we include only those stores that are open throughout both of the periods being compared, beginning after the first fifteen months of operation. We include sales from stores expanded during the period in the calculation of comparable store net sales, which has the effect of increasing our comparable store net sales. The term “expanded” also includes stores that are relocated. In the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015, only our Dollar Tree stores are included in the comparable store net sales calculation. Stores that have been rebannered are considered to be new stores and are not included in the calculation of the comparable store net sales until after the first fifteen months of operation under the new banner.


23



At October 31, 2015, we operated stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia, as well as stores in Canada. A breakdown of store counts and square footage by segment for the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 is as follows (Family Dollar's beginning amounts are as of the July 6, 2015 acquisition date):
 
39 weeks Ended
 
October 31, 2015
 
November 1, 2014
 
Dollar Tree
 
Family Dollar
 
Total
 
Dollar Tree
 
Family Dollar
 
Total
Store Count:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Beginning
5,367

 
8,284

 
13,651

 
4,992

 

 
4,992

   New stores
337

 
101

 
438

 
301

 

 
301

   Rebannered stores
147

 
(185
)
 
(38
)
 

 

 

   Closings
(10
)
 
(3
)
 
(13
)
 
(11
)
 

 
(11
)
   Ending
5,841

 
8,197

 
14,038

 
5,282

 

 
5,282

   Relocations
53

 
60

 
113

 
66

 

 
66

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling Square Feet (in millions):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   Beginning
46.5

 
59.9

 
106.4

 
43.2

 

 
43.2

   New stores
2.7

 
0.7

 
3.4

 
2.5

 

 
2.5

   Relocations
0.1

 

 
0.1

 
0.2

 

 
0.2

   Rebannered stores
1.1

 
(1.3
)
 
(0.2
)
 

 

 

   Closings
(0.1
)
 

 
(0.1
)
 
(0.1
)
 

 
(0.1
)
   Ending
50.3

 
59.3

 
109.6

 
45.8

 

 
45.8


Stores are included as rebanners when they close or open, respectively. Comparable store net sales for Dollar Tree may be negatively affected when a Family Dollar store is rebannered near an existing Dollar Tree store.

The average size of stores opened during the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 was approximately 8,100 selling square feet for the Dollar Tree segment and 7,000 selling square feet for the Family Dollar segment. We believe that these size stores are in the ranges of our optimal sizes operationally and give our customers a shopping environment which invites them to shop longer, buy more and make return visits, which increases our customer traffic.

For the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015, comparable store net sales increased 1.7% due to increased customer traffic and higher average ticket. We believe comparable store net sales continue to be positively affected by a number of our Dollar Tree initiatives, as debit and credit card penetration continued to increase in the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015, and we continued the roll-out of frozen and refrigerated merchandise to more of our Dollar Tree stores. At October 31, 2015, the Dollar Tree segment had frozen and refrigerated merchandise in approximately 4,150 stores, which includes rebannered stores, compared to approximately 3,540 stores at November 1, 2014. We believe that this has and will continue to enable us to increase sales and earnings by increasing the number of shopping trips made by our customers. In addition, the Dollar Tree segment accepts food stamps (under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”)) in approximately 5,475 qualified stores compared to approximately 4,920 stores at November 1, 2014.

We previously announced that we will rebanner our Deals stores to become Dollar Tree stores. We expect to incur approximately $12.5 million in costs in the fourth quarter in connection with this rebannering.

Acquisition
On July 27, 2014, we executed an Agreement and Plan of Merger to acquire Family Dollar in a cash and stock transaction (the "Acquisition"). On July 6, 2015 (the "Acquisition Date") we completed the Acquisition and Family Dollar became a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary. Under the Acquisition, the Family Dollar shareholders received $59.60 in cash and 0.2484 shares of our common stock for each share of Family Dollar common stock they owned, plus cash in lieu of fractional shares (the "Merger Consideration").

24



As of the Acquisition Date, each outstanding performance share right of Family Dollar common stock was canceled in exchange for the right of the holder to receive the Merger Consideration (the "PSR Payment"). The aggregate amount we paid for the Merger Consideration and PSR Payment was $6.8 billion in cash and we issued 28.5 million shares of our common stock, valued at $2.3 billion based on the closing price of the our common stock on July 2, 2015.
For a complete description of the Acquisition refer to our Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on July 8, 2015.
We have incurred $38.7 million in acquisition-related expenses in 2015, excluding acquisition-related interest expense, of which $11.8 million was incurred in the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015. We also expended approximately $165.7 million in capitalizable debt issuance costs related to the financing of the Acquisition and $153.9 million of debt issuance costs was included as a reduction in "Long-term debt, net" at October 31, 2015.
In the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015, we completed the offering of $3.25 billion of senior notes and entered into a credit facility and term loan providing for $6.2 billion in senior secured credit facilities. See "Liquidity and Capital Resources" for a further discussion of these transactions.

In connection with the Acquisition, we agreed to divest 330 Family Dollar stores to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that the Acquisition would be anticompetitive in certain local markets. The 330 Family Dollar stores represent approximately $45.5 million of annual operating income. In accordance with purchase accounting, the net effect of the divestiture on our assets and liabilities is fully reflected in the table summarizing the preliminary estimates of fair value set forth in Note 2 on page 8 of this Form 10-Q, and the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet of Dollar Tree, Inc. as of October 31, 2015 on page 5 of this Form 10-Q. The divestiture was completed on November 1, 2015 and the primary expected future effect of the sale on the Condensed Consolidated Income Statements of Dollar Tree, Inc. will be that we will lose the operating income associated with the divested stores and will incur approximately $5.0 million to $10.0 million in closing costs and set-up costs for transition services. Over a period expected to be no more than 24 months, we will provide certain transition services to the buyer for which we expect to be reimbursed by the buyer at our direct operating costs for those services.

Results of Operations

13 Weeks Ended October 31, 2015 Compared to the 13 Weeks Ended November 1, 2014

Net Sales. Net sales increased $2,850.0 million, or 136.0%, compared with last year's third quarter, resulting from $2,673.5 million of net sales from Family Dollar in the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015, sales in the Dollar Tree segment's new stores and increased comparable store sales. Comparable store sales increased 2.1% on a constant currency basis. Constant currency basis refers to the calculation excluding the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations. We calculated the constant currency basis increase by translating the current year quarter’s comparable store sales in Canada using the prior year third quarter’s currency exchange rates. We believe that the constant currency basis provides a more accurate measure of comparable store sales performance. Including the impact of currency, comparable store net sales increased 1.7% due to an increase in customer count as well as average ticket. Comparable store net sales are positively affected by our expanded and relocated stores, which we include in the calculation, and are negatively affected when we open new stores, rebanner stores or expand stores near existing stores.

Gross Profit. Gross profit increased by $674.7 million or 93.0%, to $1,400.0 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to $725.3 million in the third quarter of 2014. The dollar increase in gross margin was primarily driven by $627.8 million of gross profit for Family Dollar as well as higher sales for Dollar Tree. Negatively impacting gross margin results was $38.4 million for Family Dollar related to the stepped-up inventory which was sold during the third quarter of 2015. Over the remainder of 2015 we expect approximately $10.8 million to negatively impact gross margin related to Family Dollar's stepped-up inventory value.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to $1,176.3 million in the third quarter 2015 from $505.6 million million in the same quarter last year, an increase of $670.7 million or 132.7%. The increase was primarily due to $628.9 million of expense for Family Dollar, which includes the amortization of lease rights recorded in connection with the Acquisition. In the third quarter of 2015 we incurred $11.8 million or 25 basis points of expenses related to the Family Dollar acquisition compared to $14.3 million or 70 basis points of acquisition expenses in the third quarter of 2014. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased to 23.8% in the third quarter of 2015 from 24.1% in the same quarter last year. Excluding acquisition costs, the selling, general and administrative rate for the third quarter as a percentage of sales increased 10 basis points to 23.5% from 23.4%.


25



Operating Income. Operating income for the current quarter increased to $223.7 million compared with $219.7 million in the same period last year. This increase is the result of higher gross profit partially offset by higher selling, general and administrative expenses due to amortization of intangible assets and higher depreciation expense as a result of purchase accounting.

Other (income) expense, net. Other (income) expense, net was a $0.6 million expense in the third quarter of 2015 due to unfavorable fair market value adjustments and settlements on diesel fuel swaps.

Interest expense, net. Interest expense, net was $98.4 million in the third quarter of 2015 compared to $9.3 million in the prior year quarter due to the higher debt outstanding, higher interest rates and higher amortization of deferred financing costs related to the debt entered into to finance the Acquisition.

Income Taxes. Our effective tax rate for the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015 was 34.3% compared 36.5% for the 13 weeks ended November 1, 2014. The decrease is primarily attributable to an increase in work opportunity tax credits in relation to income for the third quarter and a decrease in state tax expense.

39 weeks Ended October 31, 2015 Compared to the 39 weeks Ended November 1, 2014

Net Sales. Net sales increased $4,006.5 million, or 65.4%, compared with the same period last year, resulting from $3,485.1 million of net sales from Family Dollar since the Acquisition Date, sales in the Dollar Tree segment's new stores and increased comparable store sales. Comparable store sales increased 2.8% on a constant currency basis. Constant currency basis refers to the calculation excluding the impact of currency exchange rate fluctuations. We calculated the constant currency basis increase by translating the current year quarter’s comparable store sales in Canada using the prior year 39 weeks' currency exchange rates. We believe that the constant currency basis provides a more accurate measure of comparable store sales performance. Including the impact of currency, comparable store net sales increased 2.5% due to an increase in customer count as well as average ticket. Comparable store net sales are positively affected by our expanded and relocated stores, which we include in the calculation, and are negatively affected when we open new stores, rebanner stores or expand stores near existing stores.

Gross Profit. Gross profit increased by $888.2 million or 42.0%, to $3,004.1 million in the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 compared to $2,115.9 million for the 39 weeks ended November 1, 2014. The dollar increase in gross margin was primarily driven by $733.7 million of gross profit for Family Dollar as well as higher sales for Dollar Tree. Included in Family Dollar's cost of sales is $73.0 million of markdown expense related to sku rationalization and planned liquidations. Negatively impacting gross margin results was $49.5 million for Family Dollar related to the stepped-up inventory which was sold during the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015. Over the remainder of 2015 we expect approximately $10.8 million to negatively impact gross margin related to Family Dollar's stepped-up inventory value.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 increased to $2,424.2 million from $1,459.3 million in the same period last year, an increase of $964.9 million or 66.1%. The increase was primarily due to $829.8 million of expense for Family Dollar, which includes the amortization of lease rights recorded in connection with the Acquisition. In the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015, we incurred $38.7 million or 40 basis points of expenses related to the Family Dollar acquisition compared to $21.8 million or 35 basis points of acquisition expenses in the same period last year. As a percentage of sales, selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 23.9% in the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 from 23.8% in the same period last year. Excluding acquisition expenses, the selling, general and administrative rate for the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 as a percentage of sales was consistent with the prior year at 23.5%.

Operating Income. Operating income for the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 decreased to $579.9 million compared with $656.6 million in the same period last year. This decrease is the result of an operating loss of $96.1 million in the Family Dollar segment as a result of unusually high markdowns related to sku rationalization and planned liquidations, amortization of stepped-up inventory sold in the period, amortization of intangible assets and higher depreciation expense as a result of purchase accounting. The decrease was also due to higher acquisition-related costs in the Dollar Tree segment.

Other (income) expense, net. Other (income) expense, net was a $0.4 million benefit in the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 due to favorable fair market value adjustments and settlements on diesel fuel swaps.


26



Interest expense, net. Interest expense, net was $484.6 million in the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 compared to $25.8 million in the same time period last year due to the higher amounts outstanding, higher interest rates and higher amortization of deferred financing costs related to the debt entered into to finance the Acquisition, an $89.5 million breakage fee related to the prepayment of the Senior Notes and the following costs related to the Term Loan B refinancing: $39.5 million prepayment fee, a $17.4 million write-off of the original issuance discount and a $5.9 million write-off of deferred financing costs.

Income Taxes. Our effective tax rate for the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 was 44.2% compared to 37.6% for the 39 weeks ended November 1, 2014. The increase is primarily a result of the pre-tax loss in the Family Dollar segment and nondeductible acquisition costs.

Segment Information
We operate a chain of more than 14,000 retail discount stores in 48 states and five Canadian provinces. Our operations are conducted in two reporting business segments: Dollar Tree and Family Dollar. We define our segments as those operations whose results our chief operating decision maker ("CODM") regularly reviews to analyze performance and allocate resources.

The Dollar Tree segment is the leading operator of discount variety stores offering merchandise at the fixed price of $1.00. The Dollar Tree segment includes our operations under the "Dollar Tree," "Deals" and "Dollar Tree Canada" brands, ten distribution centers and a Store Support Center in Chesapeake, Virginia.

The Family Dollar segment operates a chain of general merchandise retail discount stores providing consumers with a selection of competitively priced merchandise in convenient neighborhood stores. The Family Dollar segment consists of our operations under the "Family Dollar" brand, eleven distribution centers and a Store Support Center in Matthews, North Carolina.

We measure the results of our segments using, among other measures, each segment's net sales, gross profit and operating income (loss). We may revise the measurement of each segment's operating income, including the allocation of distribution center and Store Support Center costs, as determined by the information regularly reviewed by the CODM. When the measurement of a segment changes, previous period amounts and balances are reclassified to be comparable to the current period's presentation.

Because the Acquisition occurred in the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015, comparable information for the Family Dollar segment is not available; therefore, Family Dollar segment information is not provided in this discussion.

The following table summarizes the operating results of the Dollar Tree segment:
 
 
13 Weeks Ended
 
39 weeks Ended
 
 
October 31, 2015
 
November 1, 2014
 
October 31, 2015
 
November 1, 2014
(in millions)
 
$
 
% of Sales
 
$
 
% of Sales
 
$
 
% of Sales
 
$
 
% of Sales
Net sales
 
$
2,271.7

 
 
 
$
2,095.2

 
 
 
$
6,648.0

 
 
 
$
6,126.6

 
 
Gross profit
 
772.2

 
34.0
%
 
725.3

 
34.6
%
 
2,270.4

 
34.2
%
 
2,115.9

 
34.5
%
Operating income
 
224.8

 
9.9
%
 
219.7

 
10.5
%
 
676.0

 
10.2
%
 
656.6

 
10.7
%

Net sales for Dollar Tree increased 8.4% and 8.5% for the 13 weeks and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015, respectively, as compared to the same periods last year. Comparable store sales increased 2.1% and 2.8% on a constant currency basis for the 13 and 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015, respectively.

Gross profit margin for Dollar Tree decreased to 34.0% for the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015 as compared to 34.6% for the same period last year. The decrease in gross profit margin was the result of higher merchandise and distribution costs as a percentage of net sales.

Gross profit margin for Dollar Tree for the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 decreased to 34.2% compared to 34.5% for the same period last year. The decrease in gross profit margin was due to:
higher shrink as a result of unfavorable physical inventory results;
higher merchandise cost as a result of higher freight rates and lower initial merchandise mark-up; and
higher distribution and occupancy costs as a percentage of net sales.


27



Operating income margin for Dollar Tree decreased to 9.9% for the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015 as compared to 10.5% for the same period last year. Excluding acquisition costs of $11.8 million or 50 basis points in the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015 and $14.3 million or 70 basis points in the 13 weeks ended November 1, 2014, operating income margin was 10.4% and 11.2% for the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014, respectively. Excluding acquisition costs, the decrease in operating income margin was the result of lower gross profit margin as noted above and higher professional fees related to the Family Dollar integrations partially offset by lower payroll costs as a percentage of net sales due to lower incentive compensation.
 
Operating income margin for Dollar Tree for the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 decreased to 10.2% compared to 10.7% for the same period last year. Excluding acquisition costs of $38.7 million or 60 basis points for the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 and $21.8 million or 35 basis points in the 39 weeks ended November 1, 2014, operating income margin was 10.8% and 11.1% for 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014, respectively. Excluding acquisition costs, the decrease in operating income margin was primarily due to lower gross profit margin as noted above and higher professional fees related to the Family Dollar integration.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our business requires capital to open new stores, expand our distribution network and operate our existing business. Our working capital requirements for our existing business are seasonal in nature and typically reach their peak in the months of September and October. Historically, we have satisfied our seasonal working capital requirements, funded our store opening and infrastructure expansion programs and repurchased shares from internally generated funds and borrowings under our credit facility.

The following table compares cash flow information for the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014:
 
 
39 Weeks Ended
 
 
October 31,
 
November 1,
(in millions)
 
2015
 
2014
Net cash provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities
 
$
(50.5
)
 
$
388.5

 
 
 
 
 
Investing activities
 
(6,876.6
)
 
(243.8
)
 
 
 
 
 
Financing activities
 
7,170.4

 
(4.8
)

Net cash provided by operating activities decreased $439.0 million due primarily to decreases in net income, net of depreciation and amortization, and other current liabilities and an increase in inventory.

Net cash used in investing activities increased $6.6 billion primarily due to cash used for the Acquisition.

Net cash provided by financing activities increased $7.2 billion compared with the prior year, primarily due to the receipt of long-term debt proceeds of $8.2 billion to finance the Acquisition partially offset by the prepayment of $750.0 million of Senior Notes, $185.2 million of Family Dollar's Senior Notes and the quarterly required principal payment of $20.8 million on the Term Loans A and B-1.

At October 31, 2015, our total borrowings were $8.5 billion and we had $1,186.8 million available under our Revolving Credit Facility. We also have $380.0 million in Letter of Credit Reimbursement and Security Agreements with various financial institutions, under which approximately $192.1 million was committed to letters of credit issued for routine purchases of imported merchandise as of October 31, 2015.

On February 23, 2015, our wholly-owned subsidiary completed the offering of $750.0 million aggregate principal amount of 5.25% senior notes due 2020 (the “2020 Notes”) and $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.75% senior notes due 2023 (the “2023 Notes,” and together with the 2020 Notes, the “Acquisition Notes”). The Acquisition Notes were offered only to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and outside the United States, only to non-U.S. investors pursuant to Regulation S under the Securities Act. The Acquisition Notes have not been registered under the Securities Act or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States

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absent an effective registration statement or an applicable exemption from registration requirements or a transaction not subject to the registration requirements of the Securities Act or any state securities laws.
We used the proceeds of the Acquisition Notes to finance in part the Acquisition. In connection with the consummation of the Acquisition, our wholly-owned subsidiary that issued the Acquisition Notes was merged with and into us, we assumed the obligations in respect of the Acquisition Notes, and the Acquisition Notes are jointly and severally guaranteed on an unsecured, unsubordinated basis, subject to certain exceptions, by each of our subsidiaries that guarantees the obligations under our new senior secured credit facilities or certain other indebtedness, including Family Dollar and certain of its subsidiaries.
The 2020 Notes, which mature on March 1, 2020, were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of February 23, 2015, with U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “2020 Notes Indenture”). The 2023 notes, which mature on March 1, 2023, were issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of February 23, 2015, with U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “2023 Notes Indenture,” and together with the 2020 notes indenture, the “Indentures”).
Interest on the Acquisition Notes is due semiannually on March 1 and September 1, commencing on September 1, 2015.
The Indentures contain covenants that, from and after the date of the Acquisition, will limit our ability and certain of our subsidiaries to, among other things and subject to certain significant exceptions: (i) incur, assume or guarantee additional indebtedness; (ii) declare or pay dividends or make other distributions with respect to, or purchase or otherwise acquire or retire for value, equity interests; (iii) make any principal payment on, or redeem or repurchase, subordinated debt; (iv) make loans, advances or other investments; (v) incur liens; (vi) sell or otherwise dispose of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries; (vii) consolidate or merge with or into, or sell all or substantially all assets to, another person; and (viii) enter into transactions with affiliates. The indentures also provide for certain events of default, which, if any of them occurs, would permit or require the principal, premium, if any, interest and any other monetary obligations on all the then outstanding Acquisition Notes under the applicable indenture to be declared immediately due and payable.
On March 9, 2015, our wholly-owned subsidiary entered into a credit agreement, with JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, providing for $6.2 billion in senior secured credit facilities (the “New Senior Secured Credit Facilities”) consisting of a $1.25 billion revolving credit facility (the “New Revolving Credit Facility”) and $4.95 billion of term loan facilities (the “New Term Loan Facilities”). The New Term Loan Facilities consist of a $1.0 billion Term Loan A tranche and a $3.95 billion Term Loan B tranche. The New Revolving Credit Facility and the borrowings under the Term Loan A tranche will mature five years after the closing of the Acquisition, unless any of the 2020 Notes remain outstanding as of 91 days prior to their stated maturity, in which case the New Revolving Credit Facility and the borrowings under the Term Loan A tranche will mature at such time. The borrowings under the Term Loan B tranche will mature seven years after the closing of the Acquisition.
On June 11, 2015, the Escrow Issuer amended the terms of the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities to refinance the Term Loan B tranche with $3.30 billion of floating-rate Term B-1 Loans and $650.0 million of fixed-rate Term B-2 Loans.
Upon the consummation of the Acquisition, we became the borrower under the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities, drew the term loans under the Term Loan A facility and have the ability to borrow under the New Revolving Credit Facility.
The New Senior Secured Credit Facilities are guaranteed by certain of our direct or indirect wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries, including Family Dollar and certain of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Credit Agreement Guarantors”). The New Senior Secured Credit Facilities are secured by a security interest in substantially all of our assets and the Credit Agreement Guarantors, subject to certain exceptions.
The loans under the Term Loan A tranche and the New Revolving Credit Facility will bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.25% per annum (or a base rate plus 1.25%), the Term B-1 Loans of the New Senior Secured Credit Facilities will bear interest at LIBOR plus 2.75% per annum (or a base rate plus 1.75%) and the Term B-2 Loans will bear interest at a fixed rate of 4.25%. The Term B-1 tranche will be subject to a “LIBOR floor” of 0.75%. The Term Loan A tranche of the New Term Loan Facilities requires quarterly amortization payments of 1.25% of the original principal amount thereof in the first year following the Acquisition Date, 2.5% of the original principal amount thereof in the second year following the Acquisition Date, and 3.75% of the original principal amount thereof thereafter. The Term B-1 Loans require quarterly amortization payments of 0.25% of the original principal amount thereof after the Acquisition Date and the Term B-2 Loans do not require amortization payments prior to maturity. The New Term Loan Facilities, excluding the Term B-2 Loans, also require mandatory prepayments in connection with certain asset sales and out of excess cash flow, among other things, and subject in each case to certain significant exceptions. The Company expects to pay certain commitment fees in connection with the New Revolving Credit Facility. Additionally, the Term B-1 Loans will require the Company to pay a 1.0% prepayment fee if the loans thereunder are

29



subject to certain repricing transactions before June 11, 2016. The Term B-2 Loans will require the Company to pay a 2.0% prepayment fee if they are repaid in the second year after the refinance date and a 1.0% prepayment fee if they are repaid in the third year after the refinance date.
The New Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain representations and warranties, events of default and affirmative and negative covenants. These include, among other things and subject to certain significant exceptions, restrictions on our ability to declare or pay dividends, repay the Acquisition Notes, create liens, incur additional indebtedness, make investments, dispose of assets and merge or consolidate with any other person. In addition, a financial maintenance covenant based on our consolidated first lien secured net leverage ratio applies to the New Revolving Credit Facility and the Term Loan A tranche of the New Term Loan Facilities.
There were no shares repurchased on the open market during the 39 weeks ended October 31, 2015 and November 1, 2014. As of October 31, 2015, we had $1.0 billion remaining under Board repurchase authorization.

Contractual Obligations
Our contractual obligations reflected in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015 have materially changed as a result of the acquisition of Family Dollar. Our contractual obligations increased for principal and interest payments on the new debt issued in connection with financing the acquisition. Our long-term debt increased to $8,486.2 million as of October 31, 2015 as compared to $757.0 million as of January 31, 2015. In addition, as a result of the Family Dollar acquisition, our contractual obligations related to operating lease payments have also increased. Such future lease commitments for Family Dollar totaled approximately $3,699.5 million as of October 31, 2015.

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

The preparation of our condensed consolidated financial statements requires the appropriate application of accounting policies in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. In many instances, this also requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events that affect the amounts and disclosures included in our financial statements. We base our estimates on historical experience and various assumptions that we believe are reasonable under our current business model. However, because future events and conditions and their effects cannot be determined with certainty, actual results will differ from our estimates and such differences could be material to our financial statements. There have been no significant changes to our critical accounting policies and estimates as discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015, except as discussed below.

Business Combinations-Purchase Price Allocation
For the Family Dollar acquisition, we preliminarily allocated the purchase price to the various tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair values. Determining the fair value of certain assets and liabilities acquired is subjective in nature and often involves the use of significant estimates and assumptions, which are inherently uncertain. Many of the estimates and assumptions used to determine fair values, such as those used for intangible assets, are made based on forecasted information and discount rates. To assist in the purchase price allocation process, as well as the estimate of remaining useful lives of acquired assets, we engaged a third-party appraisal firm. In addition, the judgments made in determining the estimated fair value assigned to each class of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as well as asset lives, can materially impact our results of operations.

Item 3.  QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
We are exposed to various types of market risk in the normal course of our business, including the impact of interest rate changes and diesel fuel cost changes.  We may enter into interest rate or diesel fuel swaps to manage exposure to interest rate and diesel fuel price changes.  We do not enter into derivative instruments for any purpose other than cash flow hedging and we do not hold derivative instruments for trading purposes.
Interest Rate Risk
In conjunction with the Acquisition, we entered into new financing arrangements as described in "Note 3. Long-Term Debt" included in "Item 1. Financial Statements - Notes to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements" of this Form 10-Q. Borrowings under the Term Loan A bear interest based on LIBOR plus 2.25% and borrowings under Term Loan B-1 bear interest at the higher of LIBOR plus 2.75% or 3.50%. As such, these debt instruments expose us to market risk for changes in interest rates. As of October 31, 2015, approximately 50% of our total debt includes variable interest rates. However, the terms of the Term Loan B-1 limit our exposure to short-term interest rate fluctuations due to the existence of the

30



interest rate floor of 3.50%. As current monthly LIBOR rates plus the 2.75% spread are below the interest rate floor of 3.50%, Term Loan B-1 effectively has a fixed interest rate unless monthly LIBOR rates were to increase above 0.75%. A 1.0% increase in the LIBOR rate would result in an annual increase in interest expense related to our variable rate debt of $24.4 million.
Diesel Fuel Cost Risk

In order to manage fluctuations in cash flows resulting from changes in diesel fuel costs, we entered into fuel derivative contracts with third parties.  We have entered into fuel derivative contracts for 1.7 million gallons of diesel fuel, or approximately 37% of the Dollar Tree segment's domestic truckload fuel needs from November 2015 through January 2016.  Under these contracts, we pay the third party a fixed price for diesel fuel and receive variable diesel fuel prices at amounts approximating current diesel fuel costs, thereby creating the economic equivalent of a fixed-rate obligation.  These derivative contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting and therefore all changes in fair value for these derivatives are included in "Other (income) expense, net" on the condensed consolidated income statements. The fair value of these contracts at October 31, 2015 was a liability of $2.3 million.

Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.

Our management has carried out, with the participation of the Company's Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, an evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of October 31, 2015, the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were designed and functioning effectively to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by us in reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is (i) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission rules and forms and (ii) accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

On July 6, 2015, we acquired Family Dollar. As permitted by SEC guidance for newly acquired businesses, we intend to exclude the operations of Family Dollar from the scope of our Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404 report on internal controls over financial reporting for the year ended January 30, 2016. We are in the process of implementing our internal control structure over the acquired Family Dollar operations and expect that this effort will be completed in fiscal 2016.

There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended October 31, 2015 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.

From time to time, we are defendants in ordinary, routine litigation or proceedings incidental to our business, including allegations regarding:

employment-related matters;

infringement of intellectual property rights;

personal injury/wrongful death claims;

product safety matters, which may include product recalls in cooperation with the Consumer Products Safety Commission or other jurisdictions;

real estate matters related to store leases; and

environmental issues.

In addition, we are defendants in several class or collective action lawsuits and lease restriction cases. For a discussion of these proceedings, please refer to “Note 5. Legal Proceedings”, included in “Part I. Financial Information, Item 1. Financial Statements” of this Form 10-Q.

We will vigorously defend ourselves in these matters. We do not believe that any of these matters will, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our business or financial condition. We cannot give assurance, however, that one or more of these lawsuits will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations for the period in which they are resolved.

Item 1A.  RISK FACTORS.

There have been no material changes to the risk factors described in Item 1A. "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 13, 2015.

Item 2.  UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS.

During the 13 weeks ended October 31, 2015 the Company did not repurchase any shares of common stock on the open market. As of October 31, 2015, we had $1.0 billion remaining under Board repurchase authorization.

Item 3.  DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES.

None.

Item 4.  MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
None.

Item 5.  OTHER INFORMATION.
None.


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Item 6. EXHIBITS.    
3.1
Articles of Incorporation of Dollar Tree, Inc. (as amended, effective June 20, 2013) (Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's June 20, 2013 Current Report on Form 8-K, incorporated herein by this reference)
 
 
3.2
Bylaws of Dollar Tree, Inc., as amended (Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's July 6, 2015 Current Report on Form 8-K, incorporated herein by this reference)
 
 
10.1
Dollar Tree, Inc. 2015 Employee Stock Purchase Plan, effective September 1, 2015 (Exhibit 4.0 to the Company's October 28, 2015 Registration Statement on Form S-8, incorporated herein by this reference)
 
 
31.1
Certification required under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of Chief Executive Officer
 
 
31.2
Certification required under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of Chief Financial Officer
 
 
32.1
Certification required under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of Chief Executive Officer
 
 
32.2
Certification required under Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of Chief Financial Officer
 
 
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document
 
 
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Schema Document
 
 
101.CAL
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
 
 
101.DEF
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
 
 
101.LAB
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
 
 
101.PRE
XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document
 
 
 
 



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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
 
DOLLAR TREE, INC.
 
 
 
 
DATE:
November 24, 2015
By:
/s/ Kevin S. Wampler
 
 
Kevin S. Wampler
 
 
Chief Financial Officer
 
 
(principal financial and accounting officer)


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