EYE 10-Q Quarterly Report Sept. 29, 2018 | Alphaminr
National Vision Holdings, Inc.
ALPHAMINR

EYE 10-Q Quarter ended Sept. 29, 2018

Balance Sheet
Cash Flow
Income Statement
NATIONAL VISION HOLDINGS, INC.
10-Q 1 a18q3nvhi10-q.htm 10-Q Document
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

_______________________________________________________________________
FORM 10-Q
_______________________________________________________________________

☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 29, 2018
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from           to
Commission file number 001-38257
_______________________________________________________________________
National Vision Holdings, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
_______________________________________________________________________
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
46‑4841717
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
2435 Commerce Ave,
Building 2200
Duluth, Georgia
(Address of principal executive offices)

30096
(Zip Code)


Not Applicable
(Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
if changed since last report)
(770) 822‑3600
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
_______________________________________________________________________
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes  ☒  No  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit such files).  Yes  ☒  No  ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
☐
Accelerated filer
☐
Non-accelerated filer
☒
Smaller reporting company
Emerging growth company
☐
☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes  ☐  No  ☒
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.
Class
Outstanding at October 31, 2018
Common stock, $0.01 par value
77,164,296


NATIONAL VISION HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES


Table of Contents
Page




SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (this “Form 10-Q”) contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. All statements, other than statements of historical facts included in this Form 10-Q, including statements concerning our plans, objectives, goals, beliefs, business strategies, future events, business conditions, results of operations, financial position, business outlook, business trends and other information, may be forward-looking statements.
Words such as “believes,” “expects,” “may,” “will,” “should,” “seeks,” “intends,” “plans,” “estimates,” or “anticipates,” and variations of such words or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are not historical facts, or guarantees of future performance and are based upon our current expectations, beliefs, estimates and projections, and various assumptions, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond our control. Our expectations, beliefs, and projections are expressed in good faith and we believe there is a reasonable basis for them. However, there can be no assurance that management’s expectations, beliefs and projections will result or be achieved and actual results may vary materially from what is expressed in or indicated by the forward-looking statements.
There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, many of which are beyond our control, that could cause our actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements contained in this Form 10-Q. Such risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ include, among others, the risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A - “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 30, 2017 (the “Annual Report”), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC, which are accessible on the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and also include the following:
•
our ability to open and operate new stores in a timely and cost-effective manner, and to successfully enter new markets;
•
our ability to maintain sufficient levels of cash flow from our operations to grow;
•
our ability to recruit and retain vision care professionals for our stores;
•
our ability to adhere to extensive state, local and federal vision care and healthcare laws and regulations;
•
our ability to develop and maintain relationships with managed vision care companies, vision insurance providers and other third-party payors;
•
our ability to maintain our current operating relationships with our host and legacy partners;
•
the loss of, or disruption in the operations of, one or more of our distribution centers and/or optical laboratories;
•
risks associated with vendors from whom our products are sourced;
•
our ability to successfully compete in the highly competitive optical retail industry;
•
our dependence on a limited number of suppliers;
•
our and our vendors’ ability to safeguard personal information and payment card data;
•
any failure, inadequacy, interruption, security failure or breach of our information technology systems;
•
overall decline in the health of the economy and consumer spending affecting consumer purchases;
•
our growth strategy straining our existing resources and causing the performance of our existing stores to suffer;
•
our ability to retain our existing senior management team and attract qualified new personnel;
•
the impact of wage rate increases, inflation, cost increases and increases in raw material prices and energy prices;
•
our ability to successfully implement our marketing, advertising and promotional efforts;
•
risks associated with leasing substantial amounts of space;
•
product liability, product recall or personal injury issues;
•
our compliance with managed vision care laws and regulations;
•
our reliance on third-party reimbursement for a portion of our revenues;
•
our ability to manage our inventory balances and inventory shrinkage;

3

•
risks associated with our e-commerce business;
•
seasonal fluctuations in our operating results and inventory levels;
•
the impact of certain technological advances, and the greater availability of, or increased consumer preferences for, vision correction alternatives to prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses, and future drug development for the correction of vision-related problems;
•
risks of losses arising from our investments in technological innovators in the optical retail industry;
•
our failure to comply with, or changes in, laws, regulations, enforcement activities and other requirements;
•
the impact of any adverse litigation judgments or settlements resulting from legal proceedings relating to our business operations;
•
our ability to adequately protect our intellectual property;
•
our leverage;
•
restrictions in our credit agreement that limits our flexibility in operating our business;
•
our ability to generate sufficient cash flow to satisfy our significant debt service obligations;
•
our dependence on our subsidiaries to fund all of our operations and expenses;
•
risks associated with maintaining the requirements of being a public company; and
•
any failure to comply with requirements to design, implement and maintain effective internal controls.
We caution you that the risks, uncertainties and other factors referenced above may not contain all of the risks, uncertainties and other factors that are important to you. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results, benefits or developments that we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences or affect us or our business in the way expected. There can be no assurance that (i) we have correctly measured or identified all of the factors affecting our business or the extent of these factors’ likely impact, (ii) the available information with respect to these factors on which such analysis is based is complete or accurate, (iii) such analysis is correct or (iv) our strategy, which is based in part on this analysis, will be successful. All forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q apply only as of the date of this Form 10-Q or as of the date they were made and, except as required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
All references to “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company” in this Form 10-Q mean National Vision Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless the context otherwise requires. References to “eyecare practitioners” in this Form 10-Q mean optometrists and ophthalmologists and references to “vision care professionals” mean optometrists (including optometrists employed by us or by professional corporations owned by eyecare practitioners with which we have arrangements) and opticians.
Website Disclosure
We use our website www.nationalvision.com as a channel of distribution of Company information. Financial and other important information regarding the Company is routinely accessible through and posted on our website. Accordingly, investors should monitor our website, in addition to following our press releases, SEC filings and public conference calls and webcasts. In addition, you may automatically receive e-mail alerts and other information about Nation Vision Holdings, Inc. when you enroll your e-mail address by visiting the “Email Alerts” page of the Investor Resources section of our website at www.nationalvision.com/investors. The contents of our website are not, however, a part of this Form 10-Q.

4

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.  Financial Statements (Unaudited)
National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
As of September 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017
In Thousands, Except Par Value Information
(Unaudited)
ASSETS
As of
September 29, 2018
As of
December 30, 2017
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
48,881

$
4,208

Accounts receivable, net
38,875

43,193

Inventories
99,280

91,151

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
24,065

23,925

Total current assets
211,101

162,477

Property and equipment, net
340,626

304,132

Other assets:
Goodwill
792,744

792,744

Trademarks and trade names
240,547

240,547

Other intangible assets, net
66,624

72,903

Other assets
9,052

10,988

Total non-current assets
1,449,593

1,421,314

Total assets
$
1,660,694

$
1,583,791

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
30,885

$
35,708

Other payables and accrued expenses
81,465

77,611

Unearned revenue
23,035

27,739

Deferred revenue
53,951

62,993

Current maturities of long-term debt
7,863

7,258

Total current liabilities
197,199

211,309

Long-term debt, less current portion and debt discount
566,932

561,980

Other non-current liabilities:
Deferred revenue
20,723

31,222

Other liabilities
42,291

46,044

Deferred income taxes, net
75,378

73,648

Total other non-current liabilities
138,392

150,914

Commitments and contingencies (See Note 7)




Stockholders’ equity:
Common stock, $0.01 par value; 200,000 shares authorized; 77,136 and 74,654 shares issued as of September 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively; 77,082 and 74,654 shares outstanding as of September 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively
770

746

Additional paid-in capital
659,480

631,798

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(1,059
)
(9,868
)
Retained earnings
100,113

37,145

Treasury stock, at cost; 54 and 28 shares as of September 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017, respectively
(1,133
)
(233
)
Total stockholders’ equity
758,171

659,588

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
1,660,694

$
1,583,791


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

5

National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income
For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017
In Thousands, Except Earnings Per Share
(Unaudited)
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
Revenue:
Net product sales
$
319,312

$
283,648

$
977,497

$
867,192

Net sales of services and plans
68,113

62,441

203,435

186,297

Total net revenue
387,425

346,089

1,180,932

1,053,489

Costs applicable to revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization):
Products
130,951

115,752

389,560

349,099

Services and plans
51,637

46,606

150,541

135,474

Total costs applicable to revenue
182,588

162,358

540,101

484,573

Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses
184,424

151,251

519,564

445,714

Depreciation and amortization
19,080

15,352

54,080

44,404

Asset impairment
2,137

—

2,137

1,000

Litigation settlement
—

—

—

7,000

Other expense, net
411

568

829

744

Total operating expenses
206,052

167,171

576,610

498,862

(Loss) income from operations
(1,215
)
16,560

64,221

70,054

Interest expense, net
9,407

14,851

28,144

40,965

Debt issuance costs
—

—

—

2,702

(Loss) earnings before income taxes
(10,622
)
1,709

36,077

26,387

Income tax (benefit) provision
(16,438
)
163

(7,863
)
9,267

Net income
$
5,816

$
1,546

$
43,940

$
17,120

Earnings per share:
Basic
$
0.08

$
0.03

$
0.58

$
0.30

Diluted
$
0.07

$
0.03

$
0.56

$
0.29

Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic
76,118

56,414

75,361

56,363

Diluted
79,710

58,459

78,571

58,281

Comprehensive income:
Net income
$
5,816

$
1,546

$
43,940

$
17,120

Unrealized gain on hedge instruments
2,267

2,255

11,842

2,176

Tax provision of unrealized gain on hedge instruments
(580
)
(872
)
(3,033
)
(843
)
Comprehensive income
$
7,503

$
2,929

$
52,749

$
18,453


The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

6

National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
For the Nine Months Ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017
In Thousands
(Unaudited)
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income
$
43,940

$
17,120

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization
54,080

44,404

Amortization of loan costs
1,287

3,075

Asset impairment
2,137

1,000

Deferred income tax (benefit) expense
(8,060
)
8,922

Non-cash stock option compensation
13,749

3,140

Non-cash inventory adjustments
2,491

4,695

Bad debt expense
4,981

4,513

Debt issuance costs
—

2,702

Other
1,555

388

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
(663
)
(9,254
)
Inventories
(10,620
)
(7,001
)
Other assets
381

2,487

Accounts payable
(4,823
)
(5,838
)
Deferred revenue
6,235

9,022

Other liabilities
9,282

16,876

Net cash provided by operating activities
115,952

96,251

Cash flows from investing activities:
Purchase of property and equipment
(78,813
)
(67,135
)
Purchase of investments
—

(1,500
)
Other
136

125

Net cash used for investing activities
(78,677
)
(68,510
)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt
—

173,712

Proceeds from issuance of common stock
—

1,004

Proceeds from exercise of stock options
14,032

1,088

Principal payments on long-term debt
(4,275
)
(6,236
)
Purchase of treasury stock
(900
)
—

Payments on capital lease obligations
(1,256
)
(710
)
Debt issuance costs
—

(2,702
)
Dividend to stockholders
—

(170,983
)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities
7,601

(4,827
)
Net change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
44,876

22,914

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of year
5,193

5,687

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period
$
50,069

$
28,601

The following table provides a reconciliation of cash and cash equivalents reported within the condensed consolidated balance sheets to the total of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash shown above:
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
Cash and cash equivalents
$
48,881

$
27,621

Restricted cash included in other assets
1,188

980

Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
50,069

$
28,601

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these condensed consolidated financial statements.

7

National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation
Nature of Operations
National Vision Holdings, Inc. (“NVHI,” the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a holding company whose operating subsidiaries include its indirect wholly owned subsidiary, National Vision, Inc. (“NVI”) and NVI’s direct wholly owned subsidiaries. The Company is a leading value retailer of eyeglasses and contact lenses in the United States and its territories. We operated 1,067 and 1,013 retail optical locations as of September 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 , respectively, through our five store brands, America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses (“America’s Best”), Eyeglass World, Vista Optical locations on U.S. Army/Air Force military bases and within Fred Meyer stores, and our management and services arrangement with Walmart (“legacy”).
Basis of Presentation
We prepared the accompanying condensed consolidated financial statements in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and, therefore, do not include all information and disclosures required by U.S. GAAP for complete consolidated financial statements. The condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 30, 2017 has been derived from the audited consolidated balance sheet for the fiscal year then ended. These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements reflect all normal and recurring adjustments which are, in the opinion of management, necessary to present fairly the Company’s consolidated financial position as of September 29, 2018 , the consolidated results of operations and comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 and its statements of cash flows for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 .
Certain information and disclosures normally included in our annual consolidated financial statements have been condensed or omitted; however, we believe that the disclosures included herein are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. These interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2017 included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal year 2017 filed on March 8, 2018. The Company’s significant accounting policies are set forth in Note 1 within those consolidated financial statements. We use the same accounting policies in preparing interim condensed consolidated financial information and annual consolidated financial statements. There were no changes to our significant accounting policies during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , except for the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers and ASU No. 2016-18, Restricted Cash . See “Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements” below for further discussion.
Changes to stockholders’ equity associated with changes in unrealized gains and losses on cash flow hedging instruments, exercises of stock options, and the cumulative effect of adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 are discussed in Note 3. “Fair Value Measurements of Financial Assets and Liabilities,” Note 4. “Stock Incentive Plan,” and in Note 6. “Revenue from Contracts with Customers,” respectively.
The condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and those of our subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned. All intercompany balances and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
Fiscal Year
Our fiscal year consists of 52 or 53 weeks ending on the Saturday closest to December 31. Fiscal year 2018 contains 52 weeks and will end on December 29, 2018 . All three and nine month periods presented herein contain 13 and 39 weeks, respectively. All references to years and quarters relate to fiscal periods rather than calendar periods.
Seasonality
The consolidated results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full fiscal year due to seasonality and uncertainty of general economic conditions that may impact our key end markets. Historically, our business has realized a higher portion of net revenue, income from operations, and cash flows from operations in the first fiscal quarter, and a lower portion of net revenue, income from operations, and cash flows from operations in the fourth fiscal quarter. The seasonally larger first quarter is attributable primarily to the timing of our customers’ personal income tax refunds and annual health insurance program start or reset periods. Seasonality related to fourth quarter holiday spending by retail customers generally does not impact our business. Our quarterly consolidated results can also be affected by the timing of new store openings, store closings, and certain holidays.

8

National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation (continued)

Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Asset Impairment
We evaluate impairment of long-lived tangible store assets at an individual store level, which is the lowest level at which independent cash flows can be identified, when events or conditions indicate the carrying value of such assets may not be recoverable. If the store's projected undiscounted cash flows expected to be generated by the related assets over the remaining useful life are less than the carrying value of the related assets, we then measure impairment based on a discounted cash flow model (Level 3 inputs) and record an impairment charge as the difference between carrying value and estimated fair value.
During the three months ended September 29, 2018 , we identified indicators of impairment in our long-lived tangible store assets classified as held and used and determined that assets belonging to certain stores with a carrying amount of $2.2 million were no longer recoverable due to underperformance. As a result of our interim tests, we recorded a $2.1 million impairment charge for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018 . The remaining estimated fair value of the impaired assets was $0.1 million .
Income Taxes
Our income tax benefit for the three months ended September 29, 2018 reflected a benefit associated with pre-tax losses at our statutory federal and state rate of 25.6% , and an additional discrete benefit of $13.9 million associated primarily with the exercise of stock options. In comparison, the income tax rate associated with the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily reflected the rate necessary to achieve our 35.2% expected annual effective income tax rate (“ETR”) for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , as discrete items did not materially impact the rates used for those periods. Our income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 reflected income tax expense at our statutory federal and state rate of 25.6% , offset by a discrete benefit of $18.0 million associated primarily with the exercise of stock options.
Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118, Income Tax Accounting Implications of the Tax Legislation, the Company recognized provisional effects of the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 for which measurement could be reasonably estimated as of December 30, 2017 . For the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , the Company recorded adjustments to the provisional estimates related to depreciation expense and believes the remeasurement of its 2017 provisional amount is complete. The adjustments to the provisional estimates of December 30, 2017 did not materially impact the ETR of the Company during nine months ended September 29, 2018 .
Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements
Revenue from Contracts with Customers
In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU No. 2014-09 provides new guidance related to the core principle that an entity recognizes revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. It also requires additional disclosure about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from customer contracts, including significant judgments and changes in judgments.
Under the new guidance, there is a five-step model to apply to revenue recognition, consisting of: (1) determination of whether a contract, an agreement between two or more parties that creates legally enforceable rights and obligations, exists; (2) identification of the performance obligations in the contract; (3) determination of the transaction price; (4) allocation of the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract; and (5) recognition of revenue when (or as) the performance obligation is satisfied.

9

National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation (continued)

The Company adopted this new guidance in the first quarter of 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method. The adoption resulted in a $14.0 million and $11.8 million decrease in current and non-current deferred revenue, respectively, for certain contracts where we satisfy performance obligations over time and a related $6.8 million increase in deferred income tax liability, resulting in a net $19.0 million increase to retained earnings on the condensed consolidated balance sheet as of December 31, 2017. Our results of operations for the reported periods after December 31, 2017 are presented under this amended guidance, while prior period amounts are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with historical accounting guidance. Adoption of this new guidance did not result in significant changes to our accounting policies, business processes, systems or controls, or have a material impact on our results of operations and cash flows. The impact of adopting the amended guidance primarily relates to the timing of revenue recognition for our eyecare club memberships, which comprised approximately 3% of our consolidated net revenue during the most recent three fiscal years. See Note 6. “Revenue From Contracts with Customers” for additional information.
Restricted Cash
In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, Restricted Cash . This new guidance requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. The Company adopted this new guidance during the first quarter of 2018 using full retrospective application to each period presented. The adoption of this new guidance did not have a material effect on the Company’s financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.
Future Adoption of Accounting Pronouncements
Leases
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases . This new guidance establishes a right-of-use (“ROU”) model that requires a lessee to record a ROU asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases with terms longer than 12 months. Leases will be classified as either financing or operating, with such classification affecting the pattern of expense recognition in the statement of operations. Disclosure of key information about leasing arrangements will also be required. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim reporting periods within that fiscal year. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-11, “ Leases: Targeted Improvements ,” as an amendment to ASU 2016-02, “ Leases ,” which provides entities with an additional transition method to recognize a cumulative-effect adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings in the period of adoption. We will adopt this new guidance in the first quarter of 2019.
During the first quarter of 2018, we established a cross-functional team to evaluate and implement the new guidance. The Company made progress towards implementation of the new guidance including surveying the Company’s businesses, assessing the Company’s portfolio of leases and compiling a central repository of active leases. The Company evaluated key policy elections and considerations under the new guidance and is currently updating its accounting policies and internal controls to address the new guidance requirements, including disclosures. Additionally, the Company upgraded its lease accounting software solution to support the new reporting requirements. Significant progress has been made on extracting and loading lease data elements required for lease accounting into the software solution and testing of the lease management system is nearing completion. The Company does not expect the adoption of this new guidance to have a significant impact on the recognition, measurement or presentation of lease expenses within our condensed consolidated statements of operations. While the Company continues to assess all potential impacts of the new standard, we currently believe the most significant impact relates to recording lease assets and related liabilities on the condensed consolidated balance sheets.
Share Based Payment Accounting
In June 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-07, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting . This new guidance expands the scope of Topic 718 to include share-based payments issued to nonemployees for goods or services. Consequently, the accounting for share-based payments to nonemployees and employees will be substantially aligned. This new guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim fiscal periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is assessing this new guidance but does not expect it to have a material impact on its statement of financial condition, results of operations, or cash flows.

10

National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
1. Description of Business and Basis of Presentation (continued)

Cloud Computing
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-15, Intangibles – Goodwill and Other – Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer’s Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That Is a Service Contract (a consensus of the FASB Emerging Issues Task Force). This new guidance aligns the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred in a hosting arrangement that is a service contract with the requirements for capitalizing implementation costs incurred to develop or obtain internal-use software (and hosting arrangements that include an internal-use software license).  This new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and for interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. The amendments in this new guidance may be applied either retrospectively or prospectively. The Company is in the process of assessing the new guidance.
2. Details of Certain Balance Sheet Accounts
In thousands
As of
September 29, 2018
As of
December 30, 2017
Accounts receivable, net:
Trade receivables
$
24,500

$
28,862

Credit card receivables
9,289

10,459

Tenant improvement allowances receivable
4,984

4,794

Other receivables
2,626

2,936

Allowance for uncollectible accounts
(2,524
)
(3,858
)
$
38,875

$
43,193

In thousands
As of
September 29, 2018
As of
December 30, 2017
Inventories:
Raw materials and work in process (1)
$
45,379

$
43,953

Finished goods
53,901

47,198

$
99,280

$
91,151

(1)
Due to the immaterial amount of estimated work in process and the short lead times for the conversion of raw materials to finished goods, the Company does not separately present raw materials and work in process.
In thousands
As of
September 29, 2018
As of
December 30, 2017
Property and equipment, net:
Land and building
$
3,632

$
3,608

Equipment
252,549

220,088

Furniture and fixtures
47,423

42,708

Leasehold improvements
178,346

155,369

Construction in progress
29,806

18,375

Property under capital leases
22,334

11,756

534,090

451,904

Less accumulated depreciation
193,464

147,772

$
340,626

$
304,132


11
National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

2. Details of Certain Balance Sheet Accounts (continued)
In thousands
As of
September 29, 2018
As of
December 30, 2017
Other payables and accrued expenses:
Employee compensation and benefits
$
32,153

$
21,134

Advertising
1,524

2,900

Self-insurance reserves
7,102

6,854

Reserves for customer returns and remakes
6,502

4,565

Capital expenditures
9,060

10,782

Legacy management and services agreement
5,319

6,000

Fair value of derivative liabilities
3,050

6,969

Sales and use taxes
1,130

1,218

Supplies and other store support expenses
2,638

3,014

Litigation settlements
3,838

3,942

Other
9,149

10,233

$
81,465

$
77,611

In thousands
As of
September 29, 2018
As of
December 30, 2017
Other non-current liabilities:
Fair value of derivative liabilities
$
1,230

$
9,155

Tenant improvements (1)
25,742

22,894

Deferred rental expenses
8,463

7,246

Self-insurance reserves
4,915

4,564

Other
1,941

2,185

$
42,291

$
46,044

(1)
Obligations for tenant improvements are amortized as a reduction of rental expense over the respective lease term.
3. Fair Value Measurements of Financial Assets and Liabilities
The Company uses a fair value hierarchy that is intended to increase consistency and comparability in fair value measurements and related disclosures. The fair value hierarchy is based on inputs to valuation techniques that are used to measure fair value that are either observable or unobservable. Observable inputs reflect assumptions market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability based on market data obtained from independent sources while unobservable inputs reflect pricing based upon a reporting entity’s own market assumptions.
Under U.S. GAAP, the Company is required to (a) measure certain assets and liabilities at fair value or (b) disclose the fair values of certain assets and liabilities recorded at cost. Accounting standards define fair value as the price that would be received upon sale of an asset or paid upon transfer of a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Fair value is estimated assuming the transaction occurs in the principal or most advantageous market for the asset or liability and includes consideration of non-performance risk and credit risk of both parties. A three-tier fair value hierarchy prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value. These tiers include:
• Level 1 - Valuation inputs are based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical instruments traded in active markets.
• Level 2 - Valuation inputs are based upon quoted prices for similar instruments in active markets, quoted prices for identical or similar instruments in inactive markets, and model-based valuation techniques for which all significant assumptions are observable in the market or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.
• Level 3 - Valuation inputs are unobservable and typically reflect management’s estimates of assumptions that market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability. The fair values are determined using model-based techniques that include option pricing models, discounted cash flow models and similar techniques.

12
National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
3. Fair Value Measurements of Financial Assets and Liabilities (continued)

The fair value estimates of financial instruments are not necessarily indicative of the amounts we might pay or receive in actual market transactions. The use of different market assumptions and/or estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates fair value due to the short term maturity of the instruments. All cash and cash equivalents are denominated in U.S. currency.
Accounts Receivable
The carrying amount of accounts receivable approximates fair value due to the short-term nature of those items and the effect of related allowances for doubtful accounts.
Accounts Payable and Other Payables and Accrued Expenses
The carrying amounts of accounts payable and other payables and accrued expenses approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of those items.
Long-term Debt - Credit Agreement
Loans under our first lien credit agreement are traded in private markets on a less-than-daily basis. Fair value is based on the average of trading prices and bid/ask quotes around period-end (Level 2 inputs). The estimated fair values of our first lien term loans were $566.5 million and $570.2 million as of September 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 , respectively, compared to carrying values of $554.3 million and $557.3 million , respectively, which includes the current portion, and is net of unamortized discounts and deferred debt issuance costs.
See Note 11. “Subsequent Events,” for details regarding Term Loan A - Joinder and Amendment Agreement completed following the third quarter.
Long-term Debt - Capital Leases
The fair value of capital lease obligations is based on estimated future contractual cash flows discounted at an appropriate market rate of interest (Level 2 inputs). The estimated fair values of our capital leases were $25.0 million and $14.0 million as of September 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 , respectively, compared to carrying values of $20.5 million and $12.0 million , respectively.
Interest Rate Derivatives
The Company is a party to three pay-fixed and receive-floating interest rate swap agreements to offset the variability of cash flows in LIBOR-indexed debt interest payments attributable to changes in the benchmark interest rate from March 13, 2017 to March 13, 2021 related to its current first lien credit agreement. Changes in the cash flows of each derivative have historically been and are expected to be highly effective in offsetting the changes in interest payments on a principal balance equal to the derivative’s notional amount, attributable to the hedged risk. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, in accordance with the original agreements with the counterparties, the notional amount of the first derivative decreased from $175 million to $140 million . There were no other changes in the terms of the arrangements. All of our derivative instruments were deemed to be highly effective to meet the requirements for hedge accounting as of September 29, 2018 .
We recognize as assets or liabilities at fair value the estimated amounts we would receive or pay upon a termination of interest rate swaps prior to their scheduled expiration dates. Fair value is based on information that is model-driven and whose inputs are observable (Level 2 inputs). Cumulative unrealized gains and losses on derivative instruments are recorded in accumulated other comprehensive loss (“AOCL”), net of tax. As of September 29, 2018 , the Company expects to reclassify $2.3 million , net of tax, of AOCL into earnings in the next 12 months . See Note 10. “Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss” for further details.

13
National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
3. Fair Value Measurements of Financial Assets and Liabilities (continued)

Our cash flow hedge position related to interest rate derivative contracts is as follows:
In thousands
Notional Amount
Final Maturity Date
Other Payables and Accrued Expenses
Other Liabilities
AOCL, Net of Tax (1)
As of
September 29, 2018
$
465,000

March 2021
$
3,050

$
1,230

$
1,059

As of
December 30, 2017
$
500,000

March 2021
$
6,969

$
9,155

$
9,868

(1)
Includes stranded tax benefit of $2.1 million within AOCL from adopting provisions of the Tax Legislation of 2017 during the year ended December 30, 2017.
4. Stock Incentive Plan
2014 Stock Incentive Plan
We have reserved an aggregate of 10,988,827 shares of our common stock for issuance under our 2014 Stock Incentive Plan. As of September 29, 2018 , 468,975 shares remained available for future grants.
The following presents a roll-forward of stock options for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 :
Options issued and outstanding
Rollover (1)
Service-Based
Performance-Based
Total
Balance, December 30, 2017
169,049

3,822,915

6,524,152

10,516,116

Exercised
(67,874
)
(1,117,583
)
(1,260,972
)
(2,446,429
)
Forfeited
—

(70,185
)
(329,338
)
(399,523
)
Balance, September 29, 2018
101,175

2,635,147

4,933,842

7,670,164

Options vested and exercisable
Balance, December 30, 2017
169,049

1,631,023

43,478

1,843,550

Vested
—

812,936

2,406,350

3,219,286

Exercised
(67,874
)
(1,117,583
)
(1,260,972
)
(2,446,429
)
Forfeited
—

(4,548
)
—

(4,548
)
Balance, September 29, 2018
101,175

1,321,828

1,188,856

2,611,859

(1)
Reflects options under the Vision Holding Corp. Amended and Restated 2013 Equity Incentive Plan
The weighted average price of exercises during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 was $5.74 , for a total intrinsic value of $81.6 million , resulting in an income tax benefit of $18.0 million .
Compensation expense associated with stock options is presented in selling, general, and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. The Company granted 217,390 performance based stock options to one of our named executive officers that vest as a result of certain profitability targets for fiscal years 2017 to 2021 , of which 20% have vested based on fiscal 2017 results. Vesting of all other performance-based options is conditional upon the achievement by affiliates of Kohlberg Kravis & Co. L.P. (“KKR Sponsor”), with respect to its investment in NVHI, of both a minimum internal rate of return and a minimum multiple of invested capital (“MOIC”) and then increases proportionally as the MOIC increases up to a defined target.
During the three months ended September 29, 2018 , we completed an underwritten public offering in which KKR Sponsor and Berkshire Partners LLC and certain management stockholders (“selling stockholders”) sold an aggregate of 16,614,852 shares of our common stock. We did not receive any proceeds from the shares sold by the selling stockholders. The secondary offering constituted a vesting event whereby 40% of the MOIC performance-based options vested. As a result, we incurred $9.5 million of non-cash stock-based compensation expense during the three months ended September 29, 2018 . As a result of this offering, we additionally recorded $4.6 million in long-term incentives, $0.7 million in offering related expenses and $0.9 million in excess payroll taxes associated with exercises of stock options in SG&A during the three months ended September 29, 2018 .

14
National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
4. Stock Incentive Plan (continued)


2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan
We have reserved an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of our common stock for issuance under our 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan. As of September 29, 2018 , there were equity awards representing 174,298 of restricted stock and 92,443 stock options issued and outstanding, and 3,733,259 shares available for future grants. There was no material activity under the 2017 Omnibus Incentive Plan for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 .
5. Related Party Transactions
Transactions With Equity Sponsors
We recorded the following fees paid to equity sponsors, which are presented in SG&A in the accompanying condensed consolidated statement of operations, except for $2.3 million in KKR Sponsor fees during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , which are presented in debt issuance costs.
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
In thousands
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
KKR Sponsor
$
—

$
220

$
—

$
2,993

Berkshire Partners LLC
$
—

$
52

$
—

$
156

Equity in Net Assets of Non-Consolidated Investee
The Company has an investment in a private start-up company whose principal business is licensing software to eyeglass retailers. Under the equity method of accounting we are required to record our interest in the investee’s reported net income or loss for each reporting period, which is presented in other expense, net in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations. Our interest in the investee’s net losses was $0.4 million and $1.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018 and $0.4 million and $0.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively. After adjusting our investment for our interest in the investee’s reported net losses, our investment balance in the business was $1.4 million and $2.3 million as of September 29, 2018 and December 30, 2017 , respectively, which is included in other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
In the ordinary course of business we are a licensee of our investee. We recorded licensing fees in SG&A in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations in the amount of $0.2 million during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and $0.2 million and $0.7 million during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively. No licensing fees were recorded during the three months ended September 29, 2018 . Additionally, on August 29, 2017 , the investee issued a secured convertible promissory note to the Company, in the principal amount of $1.5 million , due on August 29, 2020 , which is included in non-current other assets in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Interest income associated with the note was immaterial for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018 .
6. Revenue From Contracts With Customers
A performance obligation is a promise in a contract to transfer a distinct good or service to a customer, and is the unit of account under ASU 2014-09, codified in ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts With Customers . As discussed in Note 1, we adopted ASC 606 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method. All of our revenue is derived from contracts with customers and is reported as net revenue in the condensed consolidated statements of operations.
We recognize revenue from the products and services we provide in accordance with the five-step process outlined in ASC 606. We recognize revenue when we satisfy a performance obligation by transferring control of a product or service to a customer in an amount that reflects the consideration that we expect to receive. This revenue can be recognized at a point in time or over time. We invoice customers based on our contractual arrangements with each customer, which may not be consistent with the period that revenues are recognized. When there is a timing difference between when we invoice customers and when revenues are recognized, we record either a contract asset (accounts receivable) or a contract liability (deferred revenue or unearned revenue), as appropriate. See further discussion related to contract assets and liabilities below.

15
National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
6. Revenue From Contracts With Customers (continued)

The majority of our revenue arrangements generally consist of a single performance obligation to transfer promised goods or services. Based on our evaluation process and review of our contracts with customers, in most circumstances the timing and amount of revenue recognized under the new guidance is consistent with our past revenue recognition policy. The majority of our annual revenues are recognized either at the point of sale or upon delivery and customer acceptance, paid for at the time of sale in cash, credit card, or on account with health care plans and programs located throughout the United States (“managed care”) having terms generally between 14 and 120 days, with most paying within 90 days. Revenues recognized over time primarily include product protection plans, eyecare club memberships and management fees earned from our legacy partner.
Refer to Note 8 for the Company’s disaggregation of net revenue by reportable segment. As the reportable segments are aligned by similar economic factors, trends and customers, this disaggregation view best depicts how the nature, amount, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. The following disaggregation of revenues depicts our revenues based on the timing of revenue recognition.
Disaggregation of Revenues:
In thousands
Three Months Ended
September 29, 2018
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2018
Revenues recognized at a point in time
$
352,245

$
1,075,355

Revenues recognized over time
35,180

105,577

Total net revenue
$
387,425

$
1,180,932

Revenues Recognized at a Point in Time
The revenues include 1) retail sales of prescription and non-prescription eyewear, contact lenses, and related accessories to retail customers (including those covered by managed care), 2) eye exams and 3) wholesale sales of inventory in which our customer is another retail entity.
Owned & Host
Within our owned & host segment, product revenues include sales of prescription and non-prescription eyewear, contact lenses and related accessories to retail customers.
For sales of in-store non-prescription eyewear and related accessories, we recognize revenue at the point of sale. For sales of prescription eyewear, we recognize revenue when the performance obligations identified under the terms of contracts with our customers are satisfied, which generally occurs, for products, when those products have been delivered and accepted by our customers.
Revenue is recognized net of sales taxes and returns. The returns allowance is based on historical return patterns. Provisions for estimated returns are established and the expected costs continue to be recognized as contra-revenue when the products are sold.
At our America’s Best brand, our lead offer is two pairs of eyeglasses and a free eye exam for one low price (“two-pair deal”). Since an eye exam is a key component in the ability for acceptable prescription eyewear to be delivered to a customer, we concluded that the eye exam service, while capable of being distinct from the eyeglass product delivery, was not distinct in the context of the two-pair deal. As a result, we do not allocate revenue to the eye exam associated with the two-pair deal, and we record all revenue associated with the offer in owned & host net product sales when the customer has received and accepted the merchandise.
Within our owned & host segment services and plans revenues, eye exam services sold on a stand-alone basis are also recognized at the point of sale which occurs immediately after the exam is performed.
Legacy
Within our legacy segment, product revenues include 1) sales of prescription and non-prescription eyewear, contact lenses and related accessories to retail customers in transactions where the retail customer uses a managed-care payor, and 2) wholesale sales of the same inventory types to the legacy partner.
The revenue recognition for the retail sales are identical to similar sales in the owned & host segment.

16
National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
6. Revenue From Contracts With Customers (continued)

Wholesale sales of inventory to the legacy partner are recognized at the point in time when control of the inventory has been transferred in accordance with the contractual terms and conditions of sale. Since the wholesale sales of inventory to the legacy partner are a separate performance obligation in our management and services agreement with the legacy partner, we considered the appropriate allocation of consideration to wholesale inventory sales. We concluded that the difference between the stand-alone-selling price of the wholesale inventory and the contractual prices was not material.
Within our legacy segment services and plans revenues, eye exam services sold to retail customers covered by a managed care payor are recognized identically to similar sales in the owned & host segment.
Corporate/Other
Revenues from our non-reportable corporate/other segment are attributable to wholly owned subsidiaries Arlington Contact Lens Services, Inc. (“AC Lens”) and FirstSight Vision Services, Inc. (“FirstSight”). AC Lens sells contact lenses and optical accessory products to retail customers through e-commerce. AC Lens also distributes contact lenses to Walmart and Sam’s Club under fee for services arrangements, reports revenue on a gross basis and is the principal in the arrangement since AC Lens controls the products in those transactions before the products are transferred to the customer.
FirstSight issues individual vision care benefit plans in connection with our America’s Best operations in California, and provides or arranges for the provision of optometric services at certain optometric offices next to Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in California.
Revenues Recognized Over Time
Owned & Host
Within our owned & host segment, services and plans revenues include revenues from product protection plans (i.e. warranties), eyecare club memberships and HMO membership fees. We offer extended warranty plans in our owned & host segment that generally provide for repair and replacement of eyeglasses for primarily a one-year term after purchase. We recognize service revenue under these programs on a straight-line basis over the warranty or service period which is consistent with our efforts expended to satisfy the obligation. Amounts collected in advance for these programs are reported as deferred revenue in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets.
We offer three-and five-year eyecare club memberships in our owned & host segment to our contact lens customers. For these plans we apply the guidance in ASC 606 to a portfolio of contracts with similar characteristics. We use estimates and assumptions when accounting for a portfolio that reflect the size and composition of the portfolio of contracts. We selected the portfolio approach because our historical club membership data demonstrated that our club customers behave similarly, such that the difference between the portfolio approach and applying ASC 606 to each contract is not material. We recognize revenue across the contract portfolio based on the value delivered to the customers relative to the remaining services promised under the membership program. We determine the value delivered based on the expected timing and amount of customer usage of eyecare club benefits over the terms of the contracts. Under previous guidance, we recognized revenue for eyecare club memberships on a ratable basis over the service period. This change is not expected to have a significant impact on our ongoing consolidated results of operations. The cumulative effect and the impact on revenues is described in the impact section below.
Legacy
Sales of services and plans in our legacy segment include fees earned for managing the operations of our legacy partner. These fees are recorded on a net basis and are based primarily on sales of products and product protection plans to non-managed care customers. We determined that under the terms of the arrangement our legacy partner controls the products and services in the transaction with the retail customer and therefore we act as the agent in those transactions. We recognize this service revenue using the “right to invoice” method allowed under ASC 606 because our right to payment corresponds directly with the value of the management services provided to our legacy partner.
Impact on Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
The following table summarizes the cumulative effect of adoption of ASC 606 on the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet as of September 29, 2018 , which reflects the change in timing of revenue recognition relating to eyecare club memberships.

17
National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
6. Revenue From Contracts With Customers (continued)

In thousands
With ASC 606 Adoption
Without ASC 606 Adoption
Impact of Adoption
Current liabilities:
Deferred Revenue
$
53,951

$
69,764

$
(15,813
)
Total current liabilities
$
197,199

$
213,012

$
(15,813
)
Other non-current liabilities:
Deferred Revenue
$
20,723

$
32,515

$
(11,792
)
Deferred income taxes, net
$
75,378

$
68,306

$
7,072

Total other non-current liabilities
$
138,392

$
143,112

$
(4,720
)
Stockholders' equity:
Retained earnings
$
100,113

$
79,580

$
20,533

Total stockholders' equity
$
758,171

$
737,638

$
20,533

The following table summarizes the impact of adoption on the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended September 29, 2018 :
In thousands, except earnings per share
With ASC 606 Adoption
Without ASC 606 Adoption
Impact of Adoption
Net sales of services and plans
$
68,113

$
67,651

$
462

Total net revenue
$
387,425

$
386,963

$
462

Loss from operations
$
(1,215
)
$
(1,677
)
$
462

Loss before income taxes
$
(10,622
)
$
(11,084
)
$
462

Income tax benefit
$
(16,438
)
$
(16,556
)
$
118

Net income
$
5,816

$
5,472

$
344

Earnings per share:
Basic
$
0.08

$
0.07

$
0.01

Diluted
$
0.07

$
0.07

$
—

The following table summarizes the impact of adoption on the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of operation for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 :
In thousands, except earnings per share
With ASC 606 Adoption
Without ASC 606 Adoption
Impact of Adoption
Net sales of services and plans
$
203,435

$
201,606

$
1,829

Total net revenue
$
1,180,932

$
1,179,103

$
1,829

Income from operations
$
64,221

$
62,392

$
1,829

Earnings before income taxes
$
36,077

$
34,248

$
1,829

Income tax benefit
$
(7,863
)
$
(8,331
)
$
468

Net income
$
43,940

$
42,579

$
1,361

Earnings per share:
Basic
$
0.58

$
0.57

$
0.01

Diluted
$
0.56

$
0.54

$
0.02

There were no other material impacts on our condensed consolidated financial statements as a result of our adoption of this new guidance.
Contract Assets and Liabilities
The Company’s contract assets and contract liabilities primarily result from timing differences between the performance of our obligations and the customer’s payment.

18
National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
6. Revenue From Contracts With Customers (continued)

Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable associated with revenues consist primarily of trade receivables and credit card receivables. Trade receivables consist primarily of receivables from managed care payors and receivables from major retailers. While we have relationships with almost all vision care insurers in the United States and with all of the major carriers, currently, a relatively small number of payors comprise the majority of our managed care revenues, subjecting us to concentration risk. Trade receivables and credit card receivables are included in accounts receivable, net, on our condensed consolidated balance sheets, and are presented separately in Note 2. “Details of Certain Balance Sheet Accounts.” Accounts receivable are reduced by allowances for amounts that may become uncollectible. Estimates of our allowance for uncollectible accounts are based on our historical and current operating, billing, and collection trends. Impairment losses recognized on our receivables were approximately $1.7 million and $5.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018 and $1.9 million and $4.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively. There was no impact of adoption of ASC 606 on accounts receivable, net.
Unsatisfied Performance Obligations (Contract Liabilities)
Our retail customers generally make payments for prescription eyewear products at the time they place an order. Amounts we collect in advance for undelivered merchandise are reported as unearned revenue in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets. Unearned revenue at the end of a reporting period is estimated based on delivery times throughout the current month and generally ranges from four to ten days. All unearned revenue at the end of a reporting period is recognized in the next fiscal period. There was no impact of adoption of ASC 606 on our unearned revenue accounts.
Our contract liabilities also consist of deferred revenue on services and plans obligations, primarily product protection plans and eyecare club memberships. The unamortized portion of amounts we collect in advance for these services and plans are reported as deferred revenue in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheets (current and non- current portions). Our deferred revenue balance as of September 29, 2018 was $74.7 million . We expect future revenue recognition of this balance of $19.2 million , $39.7 million , $12.5 million , $3.0 million , $0.2 million and $0.1 million in fiscal years 2018 , 2019 , 2020 , 2021 , 2022 and thereafter , respectively. We recognized $26.5 million and $78.5 million of previously deferred revenues for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018 , respectively.
7. Commitments and Contingencies
From time to time, the Company is involved in various legal proceedings incidental to its business. The Company reviews the status of its legal proceedings and records a provision for a liability when it is considered probable that both a liability has been incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated.
The Company’s FirstSight subsidiary is a defendant in a purported class action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California that alleges that FirstSight participated in arrangements that caused the illegal delivery of eye examinations and that FirstSight thereby violated, among other laws, the corporate practice of optometry and the unfair competition and false advertising laws of California. The lawsuit was filed in 2013 and FirstSight was added as a defendant in 2016. In March 2017, the court granted the motion to dismiss previously filed by FirstSight and dismissed the complaint with prejudice. The plaintiffs filed an appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in April 2017. In July 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated in part, and reversed in part, the district court’s dismissal and remanded for further proceedings. In October 2018, the plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint with the district court. The Company believes that the claims are without merit and intends to continue to defend the litigation vigorously.
In May 2017 , a complaint was filed against the Company and other defendants alleging, on behalf of a proposed class of consumers who purchased contact lenses online, that 1-800 Contacts, Inc. entered into a series of agreements with the other defendants, including the Company’s AC Lens subsidiary, to suppress certain online advertising and that each defendant thereby engaged in anticompetitive conduct in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act (the “1-800 Contacts Matter”). The Company has settled the 1-800 Contacts Matter for $7.0 million , without admitting liability. Accordingly, the Company recorded a $7.0 million charge in the second quarter of fiscal year 2017.
On November 8, 2017 , the court in the 1-800 Contacts Matter entered an order preliminarily approving the settlement agreement, subject to a settlement hearing. Pursuant to this order, the Company deposited 50% of the settlement amount, or $3.5 million , into an escrow account, to be distributed subject to and in accordance with the terms of the settlement agreement and any further order of the court.

19

National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

8. Segment Reporting

The Company’s reportable segments were determined on the same basis as used by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) to evaluate performance internally. Our operations consist of two reportable segments:
•
Owned & host store brands - Our owned brands consist of our America’s Best and Eyeglass World operating segments. Our host brands consist of our Vista Optical operating segments at certain U.S. Military Branches and inside Fred Meyer stores. We have aggregated our owned and host operating segments into a single reportable segment due to similar economic characteristics and similarity of the nature of products and services, production processes, class of customers, regulatory environment, and distribution methods of those brands.
•
Legacy - The Company manages the operations of 227 legacy retail vision centers within Walmart stores. We earn management fees as a result of providing such services and therefore we record revenue related to sales of products and product protection plans to our legacy partner’s customers on a net basis. We also sell to our legacy partner wholesale merchandise that is stocked in retail locations, and provide central lab processing services for the finished eyeglasses and frames expected to be sold to our legacy partner’s customers. We lease space from our legacy partner within or adjacent to each of the locations we manage and use this space for the provision of optometric examination services. Our legacy agreements were renewed on January 13, 2017 , and expire on August 23, 2020 , subject to extension pursuant to the terms of the agreements. Sales of services and plans in our legacy segment consist of fees earned for managing the operations of our legacy partner and revenues associated with the provision of eye exams. Revenue associated with managing operations of our legacy partner were $8.6 million and $27.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018 and $9.1 million and $28.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively. During the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , sales associated with our legacy partner arrangement represented 10.1% of consolidated net revenue. This exposes us to concentration of customer risk.
The “Corporate/Other” category includes the results of operations of our other operating segments and corporate overhead support. The “Reconciliations” category represents other adjustments to reportable segment results necessary for the presentation of consolidated financial results in accordance with U.S. GAAP for the two reportable segments.
Revenues from the Corporate/Other segments are attributable to the AC Lens and FirstSight operating segments. AC Lens primarily sells contact lenses, eyeglasses and optical accessory products to retail customers through e-commerce. AC Lens also distributes contact lenses to Walmart and Sam’s Club under fee for services arrangements. FirstSight sells single service health plans in connection with the operations of America’s Best in California, arranges for the provision of eye exams at retail locations throughout California and also sells contact lenses to its members in certain locations. None of those segments met the quantitative thresholds for determining reportable segments for any of the periods presented.
Our reportable segment profit measure is EBITDA, or net revenue, less costs applicable to revenue, less selling, general and administrative costs. Depreciation and amortization, asset impairment, litigation settlement and other corporate costs that are not allocated to the reportable segments, including interest expense and debt issuance costs are excluded from segment EBITDA. There are no transactions between our reportable segments. There are no differences between the measurement of our reportable segments’ assets and consolidated assets. There have been no changes from prior periods in the measurement methods used to determine reportable segment profit or loss, and there have been no asymmetrical allocations to segments.
The following is a summary of certain financial data for each of our segments. Reportable segment information is presented on the same basis as our condensed consolidated financial statements, except for net revenue and associated costs applicable to revenue, which is presented on a cash basis, excluding the effects of unearned and deferred revenue, consistent with the basis on which the CODM regularly reviews segment performance. Asset information is not included in the following summary since the CODM does not regularly review such information for the reportable segments.

20

National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

8. Segment Reporting (continued)


Three Months Ended September 29, 2018
In thousands
Owned & Host
Legacy
Corporate/Other
Reconciliations
Total
Segment product revenues
$
240,882

$
24,739

$
53,286

$
405

$
319,312

Segment services and plans revenues
55,673

12,489

912

(961
)
68,113

Total net revenue
296,555

37,228

54,198

(556
)
387,425

Cost of products
72,532

11,328

46,881

210

130,951

Cost of services and plans
45,581

5,124

932

—

51,637

Total costs applicable to revenue
118,113

16,452

47,813

210

182,588

SG&A
118,384

13,621

52,419

—

184,424

Asset impairment
—

—

2,137

—

2,137

Other expense, net
—

—

411

—

411

EBITDA
$
60,058


$
7,155


$
(48,582
)

$
(766
)
17,865

Depreciation and amortization
19,080

Interest expense, net
9,407

Loss before income taxes
$
(10,622
)
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
In thousands
Owned & Host
Legacy
Corporate/Other
Reconciliations
Total
Segment product revenues
$
211,035

$
24,503

$
46,421

$
1,689

$
283,648

Segment services and plans revenues
48,119

12,864

3,110

(1,652
)
62,441

Total net revenue
259,154

37,367

49,531

37

346,089

Cost of products
63,159

11,427

40,699

467

115,752

Cost of services and plans
39,395

4,579

2,632

—

46,606

Total costs applicable to revenue
102,554

16,006

43,331

467

162,358

SG&A
103,851

12,904

34,496

—

151,251

Other expense, net
—

—

568

—

568

EBITDA
$
52,749


$
8,457


$
(28,864
)

$
(430
)
31,912

Depreciation and amortization
15,352

Interest expense, net
14,851

Income before income taxes
$
1,709


21

National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

8. Segment Reporting (continued)


Nine Months Ended September 29, 2018
In thousands
Owned & Host
Legacy
Corporate/Other
Reconciliations
Total
Segment product revenues
$
738,886

$
80,004

$
153,856

$
4,751

$
977,497

Segment services and plans revenues
167,679

39,088

2,939

(6,271
)
203,435

Total net revenue
906,565

119,092

156,795

(1,520
)
1,180,932

Costs of products
217,195

36,356

134,731

1,278

389,560

Costs of services and plans
132,708

14,965

2,868

—

150,541

Total costs applicable to revenue
349,903

51,321

137,599

1,278

540,101

SG&A
349,239

40,519

129,806

—

519,564

Asset impairment
—

—

2,137

—

2,137

Other expense, net
—

—

829

—

829

EBITDA
$
207,423


$
27,252


$
(113,576
)

$
(2,798
)

118,301

Depreciation and amortization
54,080

Interest expense, net
28,144

Income before income taxes
$
36,077

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
In thousands
Owned & Host
Legacy
Corporate/Other
Reconciliations
Total
Segment product revenues
$
649,526

$
78,828

$
134,371

$
4,467

$
867,192

Segment services and plans revenues
146,415

37,840

11,274

(9,232
)
186,297

Total net revenue
795,941

116,668

145,645

(4,765
)
1,053,489

Costs of products
190,604

37,138

120,116

1,241

349,099

Costs of services and plans
113,902

11,909

9,663

—

135,474

Total costs applicable to revenue
304,506

49,047

129,779

1,241

484,573

SG&A
304,168

39,087

102,459

—

445,714

Asset impairment
—

—

1,000

—

1,000

Debt issuance costs
—

—

2,702

—

2,702

Litigation settlement
—

—

7,000

—

7,000

Other expense, net
—

—

744

—

744

EBITDA
$
187,267


$
28,534


$
(98,039
)

$
(6,006
)
111,756

Depreciation and amortization
44,404

Interest expense, net
40,965

Income before income taxes
$
26,387

9. Earnings Per Share
Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding for the period. Diluted EPS is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average common shares outstanding for the period and includes the dilutive impact of potential new common shares issuable upon vesting and exercise of stock options and vesting of restricted stock units. Potentially dilutive securities are excluded from the computation of diluted EPS if their effect is anti-dilutive. A reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted EPS calculations is as follows:

22

National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

9. Earnings Per Share (continued)

Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
In thousands, except EPS data
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
Net income
$
5,816

$
1,546

$
43,940

$
17,120

Weighted average shares outstanding for basic EPS
76,118

56,414

75,361

56,363

Effect of dilutive securities:
Stock options
3,485

2,045

3,119

1,918

Restricted stock
107

—

91

—

Weighted average shares outstanding for diluted EPS
79,710

58,459

78,571

58,281

Basic EPS
$
0.08

$
0.03

$
0.58

$
0.30

Diluted EPS
$
0.07

$
0.03

$
0.56

$
0.29

Anti-dilutive options outstanding excluded from EPS
—

—

—

339

10. Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
Changes in the fair value of the Company’s cash flow hedge derivative instruments since inception are recorded in AOCL. The following table presents the change in AOCL during the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively:
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
In thousands
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
Cash flow hedging activity:
Balance at beginning of period
$
(2,746
)
$
(14,605
)
$
(9,868
)
$
(14,556
)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification
854

(371
)
6,696

(3,950
)
Tax effect of other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassification
(218
)
143

(1,715
)
1,526

Amount reclassified from AOCL
1,413

2,625

5,146

6,126

Tax effect of amount reclassified from AOCL
(362
)
(1,015
)
(1,318
)
(2,369
)
Net current period other comprehensive income, net of tax
1,687

1,382

8,809

1,333

Balance at end of period
$
(1,059
)
$
(13,223
)
$
(1,059
)
$
(13,223
)
Amounts reclassified from AOCL are included in interest expense in the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of operations. See Note 3. “Fair Value Measurements of Financial Assets and Liabilities” for a description of the Company’s use of cash flow hedging derivatives.
11. Subsequent Events
Term Loan A - Joinder and Amendment Agreement
On October 9, 2018 (the “Closing Date”), our first lien credit agreement dated as of March 13, 2014 (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), was amended pursuant to a joinder and amendment agreement (the “October 2018 Joinder”) to, among other things, (i) establish new first lien term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000 (“Term A Loans”) to prepay a portion of the first lien term loans outstanding immediately prior to the Closing Date, (ii) set the maturity of such term loans to October 9, 2023 and (iii) set the rates applicable to such term loans. Pursuant to the October 2018 Joinder, the initial new Applicable Margins are (i) 1.75% for the new first lien term loans that are LIBOR Loans (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and (ii) 0.75% for the new first lien term loans that are ABR Loans (as defined in the Credit Agreement).

23

National Vision Holdings, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

11. Subsequent Events (continued)


The October 2018 Joinder further provides that following the Closing Date, the above Applicable Margins for the new first lien term loans will be based on (x) NVI’s total leverage ratio or (y) NVI’s public corporate credit rating from Moody’s and/or NVI’s public corporate credit rating from S&P as follows: (a) if NVI’s total leverage ratio is less than 2.00 to 1.00 or NVI’s rating is either Ba2 (stable) or better from Moody’s or BB (stable) or better from S&P, the Applicable Margin will be 1.25% for LIBOR Loans and 0.25% for ABR Loans, (b) if NVI’s total leverage ratio is equal to or greater than 2.00 to 1.00 , but less than 2.50 to 1.00 , or NVI’s rating is BB- (stable) from S&P, the Applicable Margin will be 1.50% for LIBOR Loans and 0.50% for ABR Loans and (c) if NVI’s total leverage ratio is greater than 2.50 to 1.00 and NVI’s rating is not BB- (stable) or better from S&P, the Applicable Margin will be 1.75% for LIBOR Loans and 0.75% for ABR Loans, as specified in the October 2018 Joinder. The new first lien term loans will amortize in equal quarterly installments equal to 2.5% per annum in the first three years of the loan and 5% per annum thereafter.
In addition, pursuant to the October 2018 Joinder, solely with respect to the Term A Loans, commencing on the fiscal quarter ending on December 29, 2018, the Company will not permit (i) the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company to be greater than 4.75 to 1.00 or (ii) the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of the Company as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company to be less than 3.00 to 1.00 .
Agreement with Esslior of America
On November 12, 2018, the Company entered into a new letter agreement (the “Agreement”) with Essilor of America, Inc. (“Essilor”), which, when effective, will replace the current letter agreement, dated May 25, 2011, between the Company and Essilor.  Under our agreement with Essilor, Essilor has the sole and exclusive right to supply certain lenses for eyeglasses to the Company.  The Agreement extends the term of the Company’s contractual arrangement with Essilor from June 1, 2019 until May 31, 2023.  Thereafter, the Agreement will automatically renew on a month-to-month basis unless either party gives 30 days’ prior written notice of termination.  The Company also has the ability to unilaterally extend the Agreement an additional calendar quarter after the proposed termination date.






24

Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
The following contains management’s discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations and should be read together with the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and the related notes thereto included elsewhere in this Form 10-Q and the audited consolidated financial statements and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on March 8, 2018 (the “Annual Report”). This discussion contains forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs and involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, those described in the “Risk Factors” section of the Annual Report as such risk factors may be updated from time to time in our periodic filings with the SEC.  Actual results may differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. You should carefully read “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this Form 10-Q.
Overview
We are one of the largest and fastest growing optical retailers in the United States and a leader in the attractive value segment of the U.S. optical retail industry. We believe that vision is central to quality of life and that people deserve to see their best to live their best, no matter what their budget. Our mission is to make quality eyecare and eyewear affordable and accessible to all Americans. We achieve this by providing eye exams, eyeglasses and contact lenses to cost-conscious and low-income consumers. We deliver exceptional value and convenience to our customers, with an opening price point that strives to be among the lowest in the industry, enabled by our low-cost operating platform. We reach our customers through a diverse portfolio of 1,067 retail stores across five brands and 20 consumer websites as of September 29, 2018 .
Our operations consist of two reportable segments:
•
Owned & host - As of September 29, 2018 , our owned brands consisted of 643 America’s Best Contacts and Eyeglasses (“America’s Best”) retail stores and 113 Eyeglass World retail stores. In America’s Best stores, vision care services are provided by optometrists employed by us or by independent professional corporations. America’s Best stores are primarily located in high-traffic strip centers next to similar nationally-known discount retailers. Eyeglass World locations primarily feature independent optometrists who perform eye exams and on-site optical laboratories that enable stores to quickly fulfill many customer orders and make repairs on site. Eyeglass World stores are primarily located in freestanding or in-suite locations near high-foot-traffic shopping centers. Our two host brands consist of 55 Vista Optical locations on military bases and 29 Vista Optical locations within Fred Meyer stores. We have strong, long-standing relationships with our host partners and have maintained each partnership for over 19 years . Both host brands compete within the value segment of the U.S. optical retail industry. These brands provide eye exams principally by independent optometrists in nearly all locations. All brands utilize our centralized laboratories. This segment also includes sales from our four store websites, three of which are omni-channel.
•
Legacy - We managed the operations of, and supplied inventory and laboratory processing services to, 227 Vision Centers in Walmart retail locations as of September 29, 2018 . Under our management & services agreement, our responsibilities include ordering and maintaining merchandise inventory, arranging the provision of optometry services, providing managers and staff at each location, training personnel, providing sales receipts to customers, maintaining necessary insurance, obtaining and holding required licenses, permits and accreditations, owning and maintaining store furniture, fixtures and equipment, and developing annual operating budgets and reporting. We earn management fees as a result of providing such services and we record revenue related to sales of products and product protection plans to Walmart’s customers on a net basis. Our management & services agreement also allows our legacy partner to collect penalties if the Vision Centers do not generate a requisite amount of revenues. No such penalties have been assessed since the inception of the agreement in 2012. We also sell to our legacy partner merchandise that is stocked in retail locations we manage pursuant to a separate supplier agreement, and provide to our legacy partner centralized laboratory services for the finished eyeglasses for our legacy partner’s customers in stores that we manage. We lease space from Walmart within or adjacent to each of the locations we manage and use this space for the provision of optometric examination services. During the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , sales associated with our legacy partner arrangement represented 10.1% of consolidated net revenue. This exposes us to concentration of customer risk. Our agreements with our legacy partner expire on August 23, 2020 , and will automatically renew for a three-year period unless a party elects not to renew.

25

Our consolidated results also include other non-reportable segment activity recorded in our corporate/other category, which include:
•
Our e-commerce platform of 16 dedicated websites managed by our wholly-owned subsidiary, Arlington Contact Lens Service, Inc. (“AC Lens”). Our e-commerce business consists of six proprietary branded websites, including aclens.com, discountglasses.com and discountcontactlenses.com, and 10 third-party websites with established retailers, such as Walmart, Sam’s Club and Giant Eagle, and mid-sized vision insurance providers. AC Lens handles site management, customer relationship management and order fulfillment and also sells a wide variety of contact lenses, eyeglasses and eyecare accessories.
•
AC Lens also distributes contact lenses to Walmart and Sam’s Club under fee for service arrangements. We record revenue for these activities and we incur costs at a higher percentage of sales than other product categories, given the wholesale nature of the business.
•
Managed care business conducted by FirstSight Vision Services, Inc. (“FirstSight”), our wholly-owned subsidiary that is licensed as a single-service health plan under California law, which arranges for the provision of optometric services at the offices next to Walmart and Sam’s Club stores throughout California, and also issues individual vision care benefit plans in connection with our America’s Best operations in California.
•
Unallocated corporate overhead expenses, which are a component of selling, general and administrative expenses and are comprised of various home office general and administrative expenses such as payroll expenses, occupancy costs, and consulting and professional fees. Corporate overhead expenses also include field supervision for stores included in our owned & host and legacy segments.
Reportable segment information is presented on the same basis as our consolidated financial statements, except the reportable segments’ revenues are presented on a cash basis excluding the effects of unearned and deferred revenue. Reconciliations of segment results to consolidated results include financial information necessary to adjust reportable segment revenues to a consolidated basis in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”), specifically the change in unearned and deferred revenues during the period. There are no revenue transactions between reportable segments, and there are no other items in the reconciliations other than deferred and unearned revenue items previously described.
Deferred revenue represents cash basis sales of product protection plans and club memberships, and is the timing difference of when we collect the cash from the customer and performance of the service to the customer. The increases or decreases in deferred revenue represent cash collections in the reporting period in excess of or below the recognition of previous deferrals and are presented in the reconciliation column in the tables in Note 8. “Segment Reporting” in Part I. Item 1. of this Form 10-Q.
Unearned revenue represents cash basis sales of prescription eyewear only for approximately the last week of the reporting period and is the timing difference of when we collect the cash from the customer and the delivery/customer acceptance of the product.
Trends and Other Factors Affecting Our Business
Various trends and other factors affect or have affected our operating results, including:
New Store Openings
We expect that new stores will be a key driver of growth in our net revenue and operating profit in the future. Our results of operations have been and will continue to be materially affected by the timing and number of new store openings. As stores mature, profitability typically increases significantly. The performance of new stores may vary depending on various factors such as the store opening date, the time of year of a particular opening, the amount of store opening costs, the amount of store occupancy costs, its level of participation in managed care plans, and the location of the new store, including whether it is located in a new or existing market. For example, we typically incur higher than normal employee costs at the time of a new store opening associated with set-up and other opening costs. The multi-year maturation process of our stores is influenced by customer purchasing behavior in our industry, with consumers getting eye exams every 20 months on average and with a substantial majority of our customers being repeat buyers. Our planned store expansion will place increased demands on our operational, managerial, administrative and other resources. Managing our growth effectively will require us to continue to enhance our store management systems, financial and management controls and information systems. We will also be required to hire, train and retain optometric professionals, store management and store personnel, which, together with increased marketing costs, affects our operating margins.
Comparable Store Sales Growth
Comparable store sales growth is a key driver of our business. Various factors affect comparable store sales, including:

26

•
consumer preferences, buying trends and overall economic trends;
•
the recurring nature of eyecare purchases;
•
our ability to identify and respond effectively to customer preferences and trends;
•
our ability to provide an assortment of high quality/low cost product offerings that generate new and repeat visits to our stores;
•
the customer experience we provide in our stores;
•
the availability of vision care professionals;
•
the availability of optometrist professionals;
•
our ability to source and receive products accurately and timely;
•
changes in product pricing, including promotional activities;
•
the number of items purchased per store visit;
•
the number of stores that have been in operation for more than 12 months; and
•
impact and timing of weather related store closures.
A new store is included in the comparable store sales calculation during the thirteenth full fiscal month following the store’s opening. Closed stores are removed from the calculation for time periods that are not comparable. In the past, we have closed our stores as a result of poor store performance, lease expiration or non-renewal and/or the terms of our arrangements with our host and legacy partners.
Managed Care and Insurance
Our managed care business relates to vision care programs and associated benefits (i) sponsored by employers or other groups, (ii) provided by insurers and managed care entities, such as health maintenance organizations to individuals, and (iii) delivered, typically on a fee-for-service or capitated basis, by health care providers, such as ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians. Managed care has become increasingly important to the optical retail industry.
An increasing percentage of our customers receive vision insurance coverage through managed care payors. These payors represent an increasingly significant portion of our overall revenues and our revenue growth. While we have relationships with almost all vision care insurers in the United States and with all of the major carriers, currently, a relatively small number of payors comprise the majority of our managed care revenues, subjecting us to concentration risk. As our managed care business continues to expand, we have incurred and expect to incur additional costs related to this area of our business. Our future operational success could depend on our ability to effectively manage our relationships with managed vision care companies, vision insurance providers and other third-party payors, several of whom have significant market share.
Vision Care Professional Recruitment and Coverage
Our ability to operate our stores is largely dependent upon our ability to attract and retain qualified vision care professionals, and to maintain our relationships with independent optometrists and professional corporations owned by eyecare practitioners that provide vision care services in our stores.
Overall Economic Trends
Macroeconomic factors that may affect customer spending patterns, and thereby our results of operations, include employment rates, business conditions, changes in the housing market, the availability of credit, interest rates, tax rates and fuel and energy costs. However, eyecare purchases are predominantly a medical necessity and are considered non-discretionary in nature. Therefore, the overall economic environment and related changes in consumer behavior have less of an impact on our business than for retailers in other industries. We also benefit from our low prices during periods of economic downturn and uncertainty.
Consumer Preferences and Demand
Our ability to maintain our appeal to existing customers and attract new customers depends on our ability to originate, develop and offer a compelling product assortment responsive to customer preferences and design trends. We estimate that optical consumers typically replace their eyeglasses every two to three years, while contact lens customers typically order new lenses every six to twelve months, reflecting the predictability of these recurring purchase behaviors.
Infrastructure Investment
Our historical results of operations reflect the impact of our ongoing investments in infrastructure to support our growth. We have made significant investments in information technology systems, supply chain systems, optometric labs and marketing. These investments include significant additions to our personnel, including experienced industry executives, and management and merchandising teams to support our long-term growth objectives. We intend to continue making targeted investments in our infrastructure as necessary to support our growth.

27

Pricing Strategy
We are committed to providing our products to our customers at low prices. We generally employ a simple low price/high value strategy that consistently delivers savings to our customers without the need for extensive promotions.
Our Ability to Source and Distribute Products Effectively
Our revenue and operating income are affected by our ability to purchase our products in sufficient quantities at competitive prices. While we believe our vendors have adequate capacity to meet our current and anticipated demand, our level of revenue could be adversely affected in the event we face constraints in our supply chain, including the inability of our vendors to produce sufficient quantities of merchandise in a manner that is able to match market demand from our customers, leading to lost revenue. We rely on a limited number of vendors to supply the majority of our eyeglass frames, eyeglass lenses and contact lenses, and are thus exposed to concentration of supplier risk. In particular, we have agreed to exclusively purchase almost all of our spectacle lenses from one supplier.
In addition, if the presidential administration imposes significant tariffs or other restrictions on imports from China, it could have an adverse impact on our business. We source merchandise from suppliers located in China, a significant amount of our domestically-purchased merchandise is manufactured abroad, including in China, and one of our outsourced optometric labs is located in China. Any such tariffs, restrictions or other changes could lead to additional costs, delays in shipments, embargos and other uncertainties that could negatively impact our relationships with our international vendors and labs and materially adversely affect our business, including by requiring us to increase our prices and identify alternative sources for merchandise and labs. Although current tariffs are not material, we believe that approximately less than 15% of costs applicable to revenue is subject to potential tariffs on Chinese imports.
Inflation
Our financial results can be expected to be directly impacted by substantial increases in product costs due to materials cost increases or general inflation which could lead to greater profitability pressure as costs may not be able to be passed on to consumers. To date, changes in materials prices and general inflation have not materially impacted our business.
Interim Results and Seasonality
Historically, our business has realized a higher portion of net revenue, operating income, and cash flows from operations in the first fiscal quarter, and a lower portion of net revenue, operating income, and cash flows from operations in the fourth fiscal quarter. The seasonally larger first quarter is attributable primarily to the timing of our customers’ income tax refunds and annual health insurance program start/reset periods. Because our target market consists of cost-conscious and low-income consumers, a delay in the issuance of tax refunds can have a negative impact on our financial results. Consumers could also alter how they utilize tax refund proceeds. With respect to our fourth quarter results, compared to other retailers, our products and services are less likely to be included in consumer’s holiday spending budgets, therefore reducing spending on personal vision correction during the weeks preceding December 25 of each year. Additionally, although the period between December 25 and the end of our fiscal year is typically a high-volume period, the net revenue associated with substantially all orders of prescription eyeglasses during that period is deferred until January of the next fiscal year due to our policy of recognizing revenue only after the product has been accepted by the customer, further contributing to higher first quarter results. Our quarterly results may also be affected by the timing of new store openings and store closings, the amount of sales contributed by new and existing stores, impairment charges of property and equipment, as well as the timing of certain holidays. As a result of these factors, our working capital requirements and demands on our product distribution and delivery network may fluctuate during the year.
Competition
The U.S. optical retail industry is highly competitive. Competition is generally based upon brand name recognition, price, selection, service, product quality and convenience. We operate within the value segment of the U.S. optical retail industry, which emphasizes price and value. This segment is fragmented. We compete with mass merchants, specialty retail chains and independent eye practitioners and opticians. In the broader optical retail industry, we also compete with large national retailers such as, in alphabetical order, LensCrafters, Pearle Vision and Visionworks. This competition takes place both in physical retail locations and online.
Consolidation in the Industry
Recently completed and announced mergers of large, global competitors will create organizations that are involved in virtually every sector of the optical industry, from retail and wholesale to frames, spectacle lenses, and managed vision care. These companies will benefit from purchasing advantages and by leveraging management capabilities across a larger revenue base. Recent trends indicate that national and regional optical retail chains are gaining market share from independent vision care providers, benefiting from economies of scale unavailable to smaller competitors. Other trends include the formation of buying groups and similar forms of practice affiliations.

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How We Assess the Performance of our Business
We consider a variety of financial and operating measures in assessing the performance of our business. The key measures we use to determine how our business is performing are net revenue, costs applicable to revenue, and selling, general, and administrative expenses. In addition, we also review other important metrics such as store growth, adjusted comparable store sales growth, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income.
Net Revenue
We report as net revenue amounts generated in transactions with customers who are the end users of our products, services, and plans. Net product sales include sales of prescription and non-prescription eyewear, contact lenses, and related accessories to retail customers and sales of inventory in which our customer is another retail entity. Net sales of services and plans include sales of eye exams, discount clubs memberships, product protection plans (i.e. warranties), and HMO memberships. Net sales of services and plans also includes fees we earn for managing certain Vision Centers located in Walmart stores and for laboratory services to Walmart.
Costs Applicable to Revenue
Costs applicable to revenue include both costs of net product sales and costs of net sales of services and plans. Costs of net product sales include (i) costs to procure non-prescription eyewear, contact lenses, and accessories, which we purchase and sell in finished form, (ii) costs to manufacture finished prescription eyeglasses, including direct materials, labor, and overhead, and (iii) remake costs, warehousing and distribution expenses, and internal transfer costs. Costs of services and plans include costs associated with warranty programs, eyecare and discount club memberships, HMO memberships, eyecare practitioner and exam technician payroll, taxes and benefits and optometric and other service costs. Customer tastes and preferences, product mix, changes in technology, significant increases or slowdowns in production, and other factors impact costs applicable to revenue. The components of our costs applicable to revenue may not be comparable to other retailers.
Selling, General, and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general, and administrative expenses, or SG&A, include store associate (including optician) payroll, taxes and benefits, store occupancy, advertising and promotion, field supervision, corporate support and other costs associated with the provision of vision care services. Non-capital expenditures associated with opening new stores, including rent, store maintenance, marketing expenses, travel and relocation costs, and training costs, are recorded in SG&A as incurred. SG&A generally fluctuates consistently with revenue due to the variable store field office and corporate support costs; however, some fixed costs slightly improve as a percentage of net revenue as our net revenues grow over time.
New Store Openings
The total number of new stores per year and the timing of store openings has, and will continue to have, an impact on our results as described above in “Trends and Other Factors Affecting Our Business.”
Adjusted Comparable Store Sales Growth
We measure adjusted comparable store sales growth as the increase or decrease in sales recorded by the comparable store base in any reporting period, compared to sales recorded by the comparable store base in the prior reporting period, which we calculate as follows: (i) sales are recorded on a cash basis (i.e. when the order is placed and paid for, compared to when the order is delivered), utilizing cash basis point of sale information from stores; (ii) stores are added to the calculation in their 13th full month; (iii) closed stores are removed from the calculation for time periods that are not comparable; (iv) sales from partial months of operation are ignored when stores do not open or close on the first day of the month; and (v) when applicable, we adjust for the effect of the 53rd week. Quarterly, year-to-date and annual adjusted comparable store sales are aggregated using only sales from all whole months of operation included in both the current reporting period and the prior reporting period. When a partial month is excluded from the calculation, the corresponding month in the subsequent period is also excluded from the calculation. There may be variations in the way in which some of our competitors and other retailers calculate comparable store sales. As a result, our adjusted comparable store sales may not be comparable to similar data made available by other retailers.
Adjusted comparable store sales growth is a non-GAAP financial measure, which we believe is useful because it provides timely and accurate information relating to the two core metrics of retail sales: number of transactions and value of transactions. We use adjusted comparable store sales growth as the basis for key operating decisions, such as allocation of advertising to particular markets and implementation of special marketing programs. Accordingly, we believe that adjusted comparable store sales growth provides timely and accurate information relating to the operational health and overall performance of each brand. We also believe that, for the same reasons, investors find our calculation of adjusted comparable stores sales growth to be meaningful.

29

Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income
We define Adjusted EBITDA as net income, plus interest expense, income tax provision and depreciation and amortization, as further adjusted to exclude stock compensation expense, costs associated with debt refinancing, asset impairment, non-cash inventory write-offs, management fees, new store pre-opening expenses, non-cash rent, litigation settlements, secondary offering expenses, long-term incentive plan expenses and other expenses. We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of total revenue. We define Adjusted Net Income as net income, plus stock compensation expense, costs associated with debt refinancing, asset impairment, non-cash inventory write-offs, management fees, new store pre-opening expenses, non-cash rent, litigation settlement, secondary offering expenses, long-term incentive plan expenses, amortization of acquisition intangibles and deferred financing costs, other expenses, and tax benefit of stock option exercises, less the tax effect of these adjustments. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income are key metrics used by management to assess our financial performance. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income are also frequently used by analysts, investors and other interested parties. We use Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income to supplement GAAP measures of performance to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, to establish discretionary annual incentive compensation and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. See “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” for additional information.

30

Results of Operations
The following table summarizes key components of our results of operations for the periods indicated, both in dollars and as a percentage of our net revenue.
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
In thousands, except store data
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
Revenue:
Net product sales
$
319,312

$
283,648

$
977,497

$
867,192

Net sales of services and plans
68,113

62,441

203,435

186,297

Total net revenue
387,425

346,089

1,180,932

1,053,489

Costs applicable to revenue (exclusive of depreciation and amortization):
Products
130,951

115,752

389,560

349,099

Services and plans
51,637

46,606

150,541

135,474

Total costs applicable to revenue
182,588

162,358

540,101

484,573

Operating expenses:
Selling, general and administrative expenses
184,424

151,251

519,564

445,714

Depreciation and amortization
19,080

15,352

54,080

44,404

Asset impairment
2,137

—

2,137

1,000

Litigation settlement
—

—

—

7,000

Other expense, net
411

568

829

744

Total operating expenses
206,052

167,171

576,610

498,862

(Loss) income from operations
(1,215
)
16,560

64,221

70,054

Interest expense, net
9,407

14,851

28,144

40,965

Debt issuance costs
—

—

—

2,702

(Loss) earnings before income taxes
(10,622
)
1,709

36,077

26,387

Income tax (benefit) provision
(16,438
)
163

(7,863
)
9,267

Net income
$
5,816

$
1,546

$
43,940

$
17,120

Operating data:
Number of stores open at end of period
1,067

996

1,067

996

New stores opened
18

19

58

59

Adjusted EBITDA
$
38,803

$
36,161

$
146,722

$
134,686

Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
Percentage of net revenue:
Total costs applicable to revenue
47.1
%
46.9
%
45.7
%
46.0
%
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
47.6
%
43.7
%
44.0
%
42.3
%
Total operating expenses
53.2
%
48.3
%
48.8
%
47.4
%
(Loss) income from operations
(0.3
)%
4.8
%
5.4
%
6.6
%
Net income
1.5
%
0.4
%
3.7
%
1.6
%
Adjusted EBITDA margin
10.0
%
10.4
%
12.4
%
12.8
%

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Three Months Ended September 29, 2018 compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
Net revenue
The following presents, by segment and by brand, comparable store sales growth, stores open at the end of the period and net revenue for the three months ended September 29, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 .
Comparable store sales growth (1)
Stores open at end of period
Net revenue (2)
In thousands, except percentage and store data
Three Months Ended
September 29, 2018
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2017
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
Three Months Ended
September 29, 2018
Three Months Ended
September 30, 2017
Owned & host segment
America’s Best
8.4
%
10.2
%
643

577

$
246,414

63.6
%
$
212,329

61.4
%
Eyeglass World
8.9
%
2.4
%
113

107

40,733

10.5
%
36,979

10.7
%
Military
(2.4
)%
(12.3
)%
55

56

6,032

1.6
%
6,268

1.8
%
Fred Meyer
(5.7
)%
(0.1
)%
29

29

3,376

0.9
%
3,578

1.0
%
Owned & host segment total
840

769

$
296,555

76.6
%
$
259,154

74.9
%
Legacy segment
0.0
%
1.3
%
227

227

37,228

9.6
%
37,367

10.8
%
Corporate/Other
—

—

—

—

54,198

13.9
%
49,531

14.3
%
Reconciliations
—

—

—

—

(556
)
(0.1
)%
37

—
%
Total
7.0
%
8.3
%
1,067

996

$
387,425

100.0
%
$
346,089

100.0
%
Adjusted comparable store sales growth (3)
6.8
%
7.0
%
(1)
We calculate total comparable store sales based on consolidated net revenue excluding the impact of (i) corporate/other segment net revenue, (ii) sales from stores opened less than 12 months, (iii) stores closed in the periods presented, (iv) sales from partial months of operation when stores do not open or close on the first day of the month and (v) if applicable, the impact of a 53rd week in a fiscal year. Brand-level comparable store sales growth is calculated based on cash basis revenues consistent with what the CODM reviews, and consistent with reportable segment revenues presented in Note 8. “Segment Reporting” in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I. Item 1. of this Form 10-Q, with the exception of the legacy segment, which is adjusted as noted in clause (ii) of footnote (3) below.
(2)
Percentages reflect line item as a percentage of net revenue.
(3)
There are two differences between total comparable store sales growth based on consolidated net revenue and adjusted comparable store sales growth: (i) adjusted comparable store sales growth includes the effect of deferred and unearned revenue as if such revenues were earned at the point of sale, resulting in a decrease of 0.1% and 1.3% from total comparable store sales growth based on consolidated net revenue for the three months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively, and (ii) adjusted comparable store sales growth includes retail sales to the legacy partner’s customers (rather than the revenues recognized consistent with the management & services agreement), resulting in a decrease of 0.1% from total comparable store sales growth based on consolidated net revenue for the three months ended September 29, 2018 .
Total net revenue of $387.4 million for the three months ended September 29, 2018 increased $41.3 million , or 11.9% , from $346.1 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 . This increase was driven approximately 50% by comparable store sales growth, approximately 40% by new stores and approximately 10% by order volume in our AC Lens business within the corporate/other segment.
In the three months ended September 29, 2018 , we opened 18 new stores, including 13 America’s Best stores and five Eyeglass World stores. Overall, store count grew 7.1% from September 30, 2017 to September 29, 2018 ( 66 and 6 net new America’s Best and Eyeglass World locations were added, respectively, and one Military location closed during that same period). Comparable store sales growth and adjusted comparable store sales growth were 7.0% and 6.8% for the three months ended September 29, 2018 , respectively. Comparable store sales growth and adjusted comparable store sales growth were primarily driven by increases in customer transactions. We believe the increases in net revenue and customer transactions were primarily due to execution of our key strategies, including new store openings and maturation, advertising, expansion of our participation in managed care programs as well as our recently expanded role in our contact lens distribution relationship with Walmart.
Net product sales comprised 82.4% and 82.0% of total net revenue for the three months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively. Net product sales increased $35.7 million , or 12.6% , in the three months ended September 29, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 , driven primarily by eyeglass sales and, to a lesser extent, contact lens sales. Net sales of services and plans increased $5.7 million , or 9.1% , driven primarily by eye exam sales in our owned & host segment. The eye exam sales increase was driven primarily by expanding participation in managed care programs and our store growth. To a lesser extent, warranty program sales and Eyecare Club membership sales also contributed to the increase. The warranty program sales increase was driven by our America’s Best brand. The

32

increase in Eyecare Club membership sales was primarily driven by the impact of the deferred revenue accounting change discussed in Note 6. “Revenue From Contracts With Customers” of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I. Item 1. of this Form 10-Q.
In August and September of 2017, we temporarily closed certain stores in the Houston, Texas area and in Alabama, Florida and Georgia due to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, respectively. We estimate that these storms affected 203 stores and had an adverse impact of between $3.5 million and $4.1 million on our consolidated net revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2017 . Similarly, during the three months ended September 29, 2018 , we estimate that over 37 stores were impacted by Hurricane Florence and other weather related events having a total adverse impact of approximately $1.3 million on our consolidated net revenue for the three months ended September 29, 2018 .
As a result of changes in applicable California law, effective October 1, 2017, FirstSight ceased the sale of vision managed care products in Walmart locations in California that are not operated by the Company. As a result, FirstSight net revenue and associated costs in the third quarter of fiscal year 2018 were both approximately $1.8 million lower than the third quarter of fiscal year 2017 , and there was an immaterial impact on income from operations.
Owned & host segment net revenue. Net revenue for our owned & host segment grew $37.4 million , or 14.4% , due to comparable store sales growth and new store openings which increased sales across our key product categories. The growth was predominantly driven by performance in America’s Best and Eyeglass World.
Legacy segment net revenue. Net revenue for our legacy segment declined $0.1 million , or (0.4)% , primarily driven by a slight decline in customer transactions.
Corporate/Other segment net revenue. Net revenue in the corporate/other segment increased $4.7 million , or 9.4% , driven by unit growth in our AC Lens business from the recently expanded role in the contact lens distribution relationship with Walmart and our online retail business, which was partially offset by a $1.8 million reduction in sales as a result of the FirstSight operations changes discussed above.
Net revenue reconciliations. Reconciliations include increases in deferred revenue of $1.0 million and $1.7 million , and decreases in unearned revenue of $0.4 million and $1.7 million for the three months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively. The accounting change described in Note 1. “Description of Business and Basis of Presentation” of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I. Item 1. of this Form 10-Q contributed to the lower increase in deferred revenue for the three months ended September 29, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 , due to acceleration of deferred revenue amortization in the three months ended September 29, 2018 . The smaller decrease in unearned revenue was primarily the result of changes in cash basis sales volumes immediately preceding the quarter and at the end of the respective quarter (i.e. a decrease in cash basis sales of prescription eyewear in our stores during the last few days of the month preceding the three months ended September 29, 2018 and an increase in unearned cash basis sales during the last few days of the three months ended September 29, 2018 ).
Costs applicable to revenue
Costs applicable to revenue of $182.6 million for the three months ended September 29, 2018 increased $20.2 million , or 12.5% , from $162.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 . As a percentage of net revenue, costs applicable to revenue increased from 46.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to 47.1% for the three months ended September 29, 2018 . The increase was primarily driven by higher optometrist costs and, to a lesser extent, our growing lower margin AC Lens business from the recently expanded role in our contact lens distribution relationship with Walmart, partially offset by a higher mix of eye exam sales as a result of our growing managed care business and, to a lesser extent, vendor rebates in the three months ended September 29, 2018 . Optometrist costs increased as a result of store coverage and wage pressure in certain geographic markets. Our AC Lens business net revenue grew faster than our store brands in the three months ended September 29, 2018 , and this business had higher costs applicable to revenue as a percentage of net revenue than our other businesses. Vendor rebates increased resulting from higher eyeglass and contact lens purchases for the three months ended September 29, 2018 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2017 .
Costs of products as a percentage of net product sales increased from 40.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to 41.0% for the three months ended September 29, 2018 , primarily driven by our growing AC Lens business partially offset by vendor rebates as described above.
Owned & host segment costs of products. In the owned & host segment, costs of products as a percentage of net product sales increased from 29.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to 30.1% for the three months ended September 29, 2018 . The increase was primarily driven by lower mix of eyeglass sales, partially offset by higher vendor rebates in the three months ended September 29, 2018 .

33

Legacy segment costs of products. In the legacy segment, costs of products as a percentage of net product sales decreased from 46.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to 45.8% for the three months ended September 29, 2018 . The decrease was primarily driven by increased eyeglass net revenue in the three months ended September 29, 2018 as a result of managed care growth year-over-year. Legacy managed care net product revenue is recorded in net product sales while revenue associated with servicing non-managed care customers is recorded in net sales of services and plans. Eyeglass and contact lens product costs for both managed care and non-managed care net revenue are recorded in costs of products. Customer shifts in managed care mix will improve product margins and have a corresponding negative impact on service margins in our legacy segment.
Costs of services and plans as a percentage of net sales of services and plans increased from 74.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to 75.8% for the three months ended September 29, 2018 . The increase was primarily driven by higher optometrist costs, partially offset by increased eye exam sales as a result of our growing managed care business. Optometrist costs increased as a result of store coverage and wage pressure in certain geographic markets.
Owned & host segment costs of services and plans. Costs of services and plans as a percentage of net sales of services and plans in the owned & host segment remained at 81.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and three months ended September 29, 2018 . Higher optometrist costs as described above were offset by increased eye exam sales as a result of our growing managed care business for the three months ended September 29, 2018 .
Legacy segment costs of services and plans. In the legacy segment, costs of services and plans as a percentage of net sales of services and plans increased from 35.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to 41.0% for the three months ended September 29, 2018 . The increase was primarily driven by increased optometrist costs and lower management fees. The higher optometrist costs were primarily as a result of increased store coverage and wage pressure in certain geographic markets. Management fees from our legacy segment declined due to the corresponding impact of the increased managed care business as described above.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
SG&A of $184.4 million for the three months ended September 29, 2018 increased $33.2 million , or 21.9% , from the three months ended September 30, 2017 . As a percentage of net revenue, SG&A increased from 43.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to 47.6% for the three months ended September 29, 2018 . The increase in SG&A as a percentage of net revenue was primarily due to stock compensation expense, cash expenses pursuant to a long-term incentive plan for non-executive employees, advertising expenses and incremental corporate expenses as a result of becoming a public company in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017, partially offset by our recently expanded role in our contact lens distribution relationship with Walmart.
Owned & host SG&A. In the owned & host segment, SG&A as a percentage of net revenue was 39.9% for the three months ended September 29, 2018 compared to 40.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 , driven primarily by slight leveraging of store payroll.
Legacy segment SG&A. In the legacy segment, SG&A as a percentage of net revenue increased from 34.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2017 to 36.6% for the three months ended September 29, 2018 , driven primarily by higher store payroll as a percentage of net revenue.
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense of $19.1 million for the three months ended September 29, 2018 increased $3.7 million , or 24.3% , from $15.4 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily driven by new store openings, as well as investments in optical laboratories, distribution centers and information technology infrastructure, including omni-channel platform related investments. Our property and equipment balance, net, increased $12.6 million , or 3.8% , during the three months ended September 29, 2018 , reflective of $29.9 million in purchases of property and equipment, $2.0 million in new capital lease assets, less $17.0 million in depreciation expense and $2.3 million in impairment and other adjustments. Depreciation and amortization expense was negatively impacted $0.7 million by an adjustment for capital lease asset lives during the three months ended September 29, 2018 . New assets are out-pacing retirements, therefore, we expect continued increases in depreciation expense for the foreseeable future as we continue to execute our growth strategy.

34

Interest expense, net
Interest expense, net, of $9.4 million for the three months ended September 29, 2018 decreased $5.4 million , or 36.7% , from $14.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 . Interest expense decreased $4.5 million resulting from the payoff of our $125.0 million second lien term loans and $235.0 million in outstanding amount of our first lien term loans, during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017. A decrease of $0.6 million resulted from a reduction of deferred debt cost amortization, and corresponding reduction of discounts, related to repayment of outstanding debt in connection with our initial public offering (the “IPO”) during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017. An additional decrease of $0.6 million resulted from applicable margin reductions from refinancing the first lien term loans during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017 and from a Moody's credit rating upgrade received during the third quarter of 2018 . These reductions were partially offset with $0.4 million in additional interest expense relating to capital leases obligations during the three months ended September 29, 2018 .
Income tax provision
Our income tax benefit for the three months ended September 29, 2018 reflected a benefit associated with pre-tax losses at our statutory federal and state rate of 25.6% , and an additional discrete benefit of $13.9 million associated primarily with the exercise of stock options. In comparison, the income tax rate associated with the three months ended September 30, 2017 primarily reflected the rate necessary to achieve our 35.2% expected annual effective income tax rate (“ETR”) for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , as discrete items did not materially impact the rates used for those periods.
Nine Months Ended September 29, 2018 compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Net revenue
The following presents, by segment and by brand, comparable store sales growth, stores open at the end of the period and net revenue for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 .
Comparable store sales growth (1)
Stores open at end of period
Net revenue (2)
In thousands, except percentage and store data
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2018
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2017
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
Nine Months Ended
September 29, 2018
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2017
Owned & host segment
America’s Best
7.6
%
9.6
%
643

577

$
749,896

63.5
%
$
651,167

61.8
%
Eyeglass World
8.2
%
5.0
%
113

107

126,620

10.7
%
114,632

10.9
%
Military
(1.5
)%
(8.9
)%
55

56

19,057

1.6
%
19,357

1.8
%
Fred Meyer
1.9
%
(2.3
)%
29

29

10,992

0.9
%
10,785

1.0
%
Owned & host segment total
840

769

$
906,565

76.7
%
$
795,941

75.5
%
Legacy segment
2.5
%
(0.3
)%
227

227

119,092

10.1
%
116,668

11.1
%
Corporate/Other
—

—

—

—

156,795

13.3
%
145,645

13.9
%
Reconciliations
—

—

—

—

(1,520
)
(0.1
)%
(4,765
)
(0.5
)%
Total
7.4
%
7.4
%
1,067

996

$
1,180,932

100.0
%
$
1,053,489

100.0
%
Adjusted comparable store sales growth (3)
6.6
%
6.7
%
(1)
We calculate total comparable store sales based on consolidated net revenue excluding the impact of (i) corporate/other segment net revenue, (ii) sales from stores opened less than 12 months, (iii) stores closed in the periods presented, (iv) sales from partial months of operation when stores do not open or close on the first day of the month and (v) if applicable, the impact of a 53rd week in a fiscal year. Brand-level comparable store sales growth is calculated based on cash basis revenues consistent with what the CODM reviews, and consistent with reportable segment revenues presented in Note 8. “Segment Reporting” in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I. Item 1. of this Form 10-Q, with the exception of the legacy segment, which is adjusted as noted in clause (ii) of footnote (3) below.
(2)
Percentages reflect line item as a percentage of net revenue.
(3)
There are two differences between total comparable store sales growth based on consolidated net revenue and adjusted comparable store sales growth: (i) adjusted comparable store sales growth includes the effect of deferred and unearned revenue as if such revenues were earned at the point of sale, resulting in a decrease of 0.7% and 0.5% from total comparable store sales growth based on consolidated net revenue for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively, and (ii) adjusted comparable store sales growth includes retail sales to the legacy partner’s customers (rather than the revenues recognized consistent with the management & services agreement), resulting in a decrease of 0.1% and 0.2% from total comparable store sales growth based on consolidated net revenue for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively.

35

Total net revenue of $1,180.9 million for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 increased $127.4 million , or 12.1% , from $1,053.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . This increase was driven approximately 50% by comparable store sales growth, approximately 40% by new stores and approximately 10% by order volume in our AC Lens business within the corporate/other segment.
In the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , we opened 58 new stores, including 51 new America’s Best stores and seven Eyeglass World stores. Additionally, we closed two America’s Best stores, one Eyeglass World store, and one Military Store. Overall, store count grew 7.1% from September 30, 2017 to September 29, 2018 ( 66 and 6 net new America’s Best and Eyeglass World locations were added, respectively, and one Military location was closed during the same period). Comparable store sales growth and adjusted comparable store sales growth were 7.4% and 6.6% for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , respectively. Comparable store sales growth and adjusted comparable store sales growth were driven primarily by increases in customer transactions and, to a lesser extent, average ticket. We believe the increases in net revenue and customer transactions were primarily due to execution of our key strategies, including new store openings and maturation, advertising and expansion of our participation in managed care programs.
Net product sales comprised 82.8% and 82.3% of total net revenue for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively. Net product sales increased $110.3 million , or 12.7% , in the nine months ended September 29, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , driven primarily by eyeglass sales and, to a lesser extent, contact lens sales. Net sales of services and plans increased $17.1 million , or 9.2% , driven primarily by eye exam sales in our owned & host segment. The eye exam increase was driven primarily by expanding participation in managed care programs and our store growth. To a lesser extent, warranty program sales and Eyecare Club membership sales also contributed to the increase. The warranty program sales increase was driven by our America’s Best brand. The increase in Eyecare Club membership sales was primarily driven by the $1.8 million deferred revenue accounting change in the nine months ended September 29, 2018 discussed in Note 6. “Revenue From Contracts With Customers” of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I. Item 1. of this Form 10-Q.
As a result of changes in applicable California law, certain optometrists employed by FirstSight were transferred to a professional corporation that contracts directly with our legacy segment in the third quarter of fiscal year 2017. This change led to an increase in legacy segment eye exam revenue and optometrist payroll costs of $2.3 million and $1.6 million, respectively, in the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . A corresponding decrease was recorded in our FirstSight subsidiary within the corporate/other segment. Therefore, the change had no impact on consolidated income from operations. As of September 29, 2018 , approximately half of the applicable optometrists have been transferred, and we expect the remaining half to be transferred in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2018.
In addition, in connection with these changes in California law, effective October 1, 2017, FirstSight ceased the sale of vision managed care products in Walmart locations in California that are not operated by the Company. As a result, FirstSight net revenue and associated costs in the nine months ended September 29, 2018 were both approximately $5.4 million lower than the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , and there was an immaterial impact on income from operations.
Owned & host segment net revenue. Net revenue for our owned & host segment increased $110.6 million , or 13.9% , due to comparable store sales growth and new store openings which increased sales across our key product categories. The growth was predominately driven by performance in America’s Best and Eyeglass World.
Legacy segment net revenue. Net revenue for our legacy segment grew $2.4 million , or 2.1% , primarily driven by $2.5 million in incremental eye exam sales and $1.1 million in eyeglass sales related to an increase in managed care business explained above, partially offset by lower customer transactions. The increased eye exam sales were primarily the result of changes to our FirstSight operations required by changes in applicable California law discussed above. The FirstSight operations changes resulted in a favorable impact of approximately 135 basis points in comparable store sales growth in the legacy segment.
Corporate/Other segment net revenue. Net revenue in the corporate/other segment increased $11.2 million , or 7.7% , driven by unit growth in our AC Lens online retail business, our recently expanded role in our contact lens distribution relationship with Walmart, and unit growth in our wholesale order fulfillment business, partially offset by a $7.7 million reduction in sales as a result of the FirstSight operations changes discussed above.

36

Net revenue reconciliations. Reconciliations include increases in deferred revenue of $6.3 million and $9.2 million , and decreases in unearned revenue of $4.8 million and $4.5 million for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively. The accounting change described in Note 1. “Description of Business and Basis of Presentation” of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I. Item 1. of this Form 10-Q contributed to the lower increase in deferred revenue for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , due to acceleration of deferred revenue amortization in the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . Deferred revenue for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 was also driven by slower growth in our warranty program sales and Eyecare Club membership sales than other product categories.
Differences between the change in unearned revenue for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 were primarily the result of calendar influences on cash basis sales of prescription eyewear in our stores the last few days of the respective quarter. Unearned revenue was higher in December 2016 compared to December 2017 due to an extra sales day in the 2016 period as a result of the timing of the December 25th holiday. The combination of these factors resulted in an overall increase in unearned revenue growth in the nine months ended September 29, 2018 when compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 .
Costs applicable to revenue
Costs applicable to revenue of $540.1 million for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 increased $55.5 million , or 11.5% , from $484.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . As a percentage of net revenue, costs applicable to revenue decreased from 46.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to 45.7% for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . The decrease was primarily driven by a higher mix of eye exam sales as a result of our growing managed care business, higher vendor rebates during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and a $2.3 million inventory write-off in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 which did not recur in the current year, partially offset by increased optometrist costs and, to a lesser extent, growing AC Lens business as described below.
Costs of products as a percentage of net product sales decreased from 40.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to 39.9% for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , driven by the $2.3 million inventory write-off in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 which did not recur in the current year, the impact of legacy managed care business as further described below and higher rebates from vendors, partially offset by our growing AC Lens business. The inventory write-off recorded in our corporate/other segment in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was related to slow-moving contact lens inventory which had expired or would expire prior to possible sale. No such write-off was recorded in the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . Our AC Lens net revenue grew slightly faster than our store brands in the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , and AC Lens had a higher cost of products as a percentage of net revenue than our other businesses.
Owned & host segment costs of products. In the owned & host segment, costs of products as a percentage of net product sales was 29.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to 29.4% for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 .
Legacy segment costs of products. In the legacy segment, costs of products as a percentage of net product sales decreased from 47.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to 45.4% for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . The decrease was primarily driven by increased eyeglass net revenue in the nine months ended September 29, 2018 as a result of increased managed care business year-over-year compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . Legacy segment managed care net product revenue is recorded in net product sales while revenue associated with servicing non-managed care customers is recorded in net sales of services and plans. Eyeglass and contact lens product costs for both managed care and non-managed care net revenue are recorded in costs of products. Customer shifts in managed care mix will improve product margins and have a corresponding negative impact on service margins in our legacy segment.
Costs of services and plans as a percentage of net sales of services and plans increased from 72.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to 74.0% for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . The increase was primarily driven by higher optometrist costs, partially offset by increased eye exam sales as a result of our growing managed care business. Optometrist costs increased as a result of store coverage in new markets and wage pressure in certain geographic markets.
Owned & host segment costs of services and plans. Costs of services and plans as a percentage of net sales of services and plans in the owned & host segment increased from 77.8% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to 79.1% for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . The increase was driven by higher optometrist costs as described above, partially offset by increased eye exam sales as a result of our growing managed care business.

37

Legacy segment costs of services and plans. In the legacy segment, costs of services and plans as a percentage of net sales of services and plans increased from 31.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to 38.3% for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . The increase was primarily driven by increased optometrist costs and, to a lesser extent, lower management fees, partially offset by increased eye exam sales. The higher optometrist costs and increased eye exam sales were both primarily the result of the FirstSight operations changes discussed in “ Net revenue” above. Management fees from our legacy segment declined due to the corresponding impact of the increased managed care business as described above.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
SG&A of $519.6 million for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 increased $73.9 million , or 16.6% , from the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . As a percentage of net revenue, SG&A increased from 42.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to 44.0% for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . The increase in SG&A as a percentage of net revenue was primarily due to stock compensation expense, cash expenses pursuant to a long-term incentive plan for non-executive employees, advertising expenses and incremental corporate expenses as a result of becoming a public company in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017.
Owned & host SG&A. In the owned & host segment, SG&A as a percentage of net revenue increased from 38.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to 38.5% for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , driven primarily by advertising expenses in new markets.
Legacy segment SG&A. In the legacy segment, SG&A as a percentage of net revenue increased from 33.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 to 34.0% for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , driven primarily by higher store payroll as a percentage of net revenue.
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization expense of $54.1 million for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 increased $9.7 million , or 21.8% , from $44.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 primarily driven by new store openings, as well as investments in optical laboratories, distribution centers and information technology infrastructure. Our property and equipment balance, net, increased $36.5 million , or 12.0% , during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , reflective of $77.1 million in purchases of property and equipment, $9.8 million in new capital leases, less $47.8 million in depreciation expense and $2.6 million in impairment and other adjustments. Depreciation and amortization expense was negatively impacted $0.5 million by an adjustment for capital lease asset lives during the nine months ended September 29, 2018. New assets are out-pacing retirements, therefore, we expect continued increases in depreciation expense for the foreseeable future as we continue to execute our growth strategy.
Interest expense, net
Interest expense, net, of $28.1 million for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 decreased $12.8 million , or 31.3% , from $41.0 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . Interest expense decreased $13.4 million resulting from the payoff of our $125.0 million second lien term loans and $235.0 million in outstanding amount of our first lien term loans, during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017, partially offset by approximately $2.2 million in interest paid to counterparties associated with our derivative cash flow hedges which became effective in March 2017, but were in effect for the full nine months ended September 29, 2018. A decrease of $1.8 million resulted from a reduction of deferred debt cost amortization, and corresponding reduction of discounts, related to repayment of outstanding debt in connection with our IPO during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017. An additional decrease of $1.2 million resulted from applicable margin reductions from refinancing the first lien term loans during the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2017 and from a Moody's credit rating upgrade received during the third quarter of 2018. These reductions were partially offset with $0.9 million in additional interest expense relating to capital lease obligations during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 .
Debt issuance costs
We recorded $2.7 million in fees associated with the incurrence of additional term loans under the first lien credit agreement discussed above during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . No such transaction occurred in the nine months ended September 29, 2018 .
Income tax provision
Our income tax benefit for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 reflected income tax expense at our statutory federal and state rate of 25.6% , with an additional discrete benefit of $18.0 million associated primarily with the exercise of stock options. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , our expected combined statutory federal and state rate was reduced by a $1.4 million income tax benefit resulting from a dividend recapitalization bonus payment.

38

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income
We define EBITDA as net income, plus interest expense, income tax provision and depreciation and amortization. We define Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA, further adjusted to exclude stock compensation expense, costs associated with debt refinancing, asset impairment, non-cash inventory write-offs, management fees, new store pre-opening expenses, non-cash rent, litigation settlements, secondary offering expenses, long-term incentive plan expenses and other expenses. We describe these adjustments reconciling net income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in the tables below. We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of total net revenue. We define Adjusted Net Income as net income, plus stock compensation expense, costs associated with debt refinancing, asset impairment, non-cash inventory write-offs, management fees, new store pre-opening expenses, non-cash rent, litigation settlement, secondary offering expenses, long-term incentive plan expenses, amortization of acquisition intangibles and deferred financing costs, other expenses, tax benefit of stock option exercises less the tax effect of these adjustments. We describe these adjustments reconciling net income to Adjusted Net Income in the tables below.
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income have been presented as supplemental measures of financial performance that are not required by, or presented in accordance with GAAP, because we believe they assist investors and analysts in comparing our operating performance across reporting periods on a consistent basis by excluding items that we do not believe are indicative of our core operating performance. Management believes EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income are useful to investors in highlighting trends in our operating performance, while other measures can differ significantly depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which we operate and capital investments. We also use EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA , Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income to supplement GAAP measures of performance in the evaluation of the effectiveness of our business strategies, to make budgeting decisions, to establish discretionary annual incentive compensation and to compare our performance against that of other peer companies using similar measures. Management supplements GAAP results with non-GAAP financial measures to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone.
EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income are not recognized terms under GAAP and should not be considered as an alternative to net income or income from operations as a measure of financial performance or cash flows provided by operating activities as a measure of liquidity, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with GAAP. Additionally, these measures are not intended to be a measure of free cash flow available for management’s discretionary use as they do not consider certain cash requirements such as interest payments, tax payments and debt service requirements. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income should not be construed to imply that our future results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. In evaluating EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income, you should be aware that in the future we may incur expenses that are the same as or similar to some of the adjustments in this presentation. Our presentation of EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income should not be construed to imply that our future results will be unaffected by any such adjustments. Management compensates for these limitations by primarily relying on our GAAP results in addition to using EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income supplementally.
The presentations of these measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:
•
they do not reflect costs or cash outlays for capital expenditures or contractual commitments;
•
they do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;
•
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect the interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on our debt;
•
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect period to period changes in taxes, income tax expense or the cash necessary to pay income taxes;
•
they do not reflect the impact of earnings or charges resulting from matters we consider not to be indicative of our ongoing operations, including costs related to new store openings, which are incurred on a non-recurring basis with respect to any particular store when opened;
•
although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA do not reflect cash requirements for such replacements; and
•
other companies in our industry may calculate these measures differently than we do, limiting their usefulness as comparative measures.
Because of these limitations, EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income should not be considered as measures of discretionary cash available to invest in business growth or to reduce indebtedness.

39

The following table reconciles our net income to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin and Adjusted Net Income for the periods presented:
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
In thousands
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
Net income
$
5,816

1.5%
$
1,546

0.4%
$
43,940

3.7%
$
17,120

1.6%
Interest expense
9,407

2.4%
14,851

4.3%
28,144

2.4%
40,965

3.9%
Income tax (benefit) provision
(16,438
)
(4.2)%
163

—%
(7,863
)
(0.7)%
9,267

0.9%
Depreciation and amortization
19,080

4.9%
15,352

4.4%
54,080

4.6%
44,404

4.2%
EBITDA
17,865

4.6%
31,912

9.2%
118,301

10.0%
111,756

10.6%
Stock compensation expense (a)
10,629

2.7%
1,151

0.3%
13,749

1.2%
3,140

0.3%
Debt issuance costs (b)
—

—%
—

—%
—

—%
2,702

0.3%
Asset impairment (c)
2,137

0.6%
—

—%
2,137

0.2%
1,000

0.1%
Non-cash inventory write-offs (d)
—

—%
—

—%
—

—%
2,271

0.1%
Management fees (e)
—

—%
271

0.1%
—

—%
845

0.1%
New store pre-opening expenses (f)
512

0.1%
618

0.2%
1,742

0.1%
1,896

0.2%
Non-cash rent (g)
420

0.1%
381

0.1%
1,228

0.1%
1,035

0.1%
Litigation settlement (h)
—

—%
—

—%
—

—%
7,000

1.0%
Secondary offering expenses (i)
702

0.2%
—

—%
1,842

0.2%
—

0.7%
Long-term incentive plan (j)
4,611

1.2%
—

—%
4,611

0.4%
—

—%
Other (k)
1,927

0.5%
1,828

0.5%
3,112

0.3%
3,041

0.2%
Adjusted EBITDA/ Adjusted EBITDA Margin
$
38,803

10.0%
$
36,161

10.4%
$
146,722

12.4%
$
134,686

12.8%
Note: Percentages reflect line item as a percentage of net revenue
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
In thousands
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
Net income
$
5,816

$
1,546

$
43,940

$
17,120

Stock compensation expense (a)
10,629

1,151

13,749

3,140

Debt issuance costs (b)
—

—

—

2,702

Asset impairment (c)
2,137

—

2,137

1,000

Non-cash inventory write-offs (d)
—

—

—

2,271

Management fees (e)
—

271

—

845

New store pre-opening expenses (f)
512

618

1,742

1,896

Non-cash rent (g)
420

381

1,228

1,035

Litigation settlement (h)
—

—

—

7,000

Secondary offering expenses (i)
702

—

1,842

—

Long-term incentive plan (j)
4,611

—

4,611

—

Other (k)
1,927

1,828

3,112

3,041

Amortization of acquisition intangibles and deferred financing costs (l)
2,279

2,884

6,840

8,628

Tax benefit of stock option exercises (m)
(13,900
)
—

(17,964
)
—

Tax effect of total adjustments (n)
(5,943
)
(2,853
)
(9,027
)
(12,623
)
Adjusted Net Income
$
9,190

$
5,826

$
52,210

$
36,055




40

(a)
Non-cash charges related to stock-based compensation programs, which vary from period to period depending on the timing of awards.
(b)
Fees associated with the borrowing of $175.0 million in additional principal under our first lien credit agreement during the first fiscal quarter of 2017.
(c)
Reflects write-off of capitalized software and property and equipment for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018 . Reflects the complete write-off of a cost basis investment for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 .
(d)
Reflects write-offs of inventory relating to the expiration of a specific type of contact lenses that could not be sold and required disposal.
(e)
Reflects management fees paid to KKR Sponsor and Berkshire in accordance with our monitoring agreement with them. The monitoring agreement was terminated automatically in accordance with its terms upon the consummation of the IPO in October 2017
(f)
Pre-opening expenses, which include marketing and advertising, labor and occupancy expenses incurred prior to opening a new store, are generally higher than comparable expenses incurred once such store is open and generating revenue. We believe that such higher pre-opening expenses are specific in nature and amount to opening a new store and as such, are not indicative of ongoing core operating performance. We adjust for these costs to facilitate comparisons of store operating performance from period to period. Pre-opening costs are permitted exclusions in our calculation of Adjusted EBITDA pursuant to the terms of our first lien credit agreement.
(g)
Consists of the non-cash portion of rent expense, which reflects the extent to which our straight-line rent expense recognized under GAAP exceeds or is less than our cash rent payments.
(h)
Amounts accrued related to settlement of litigation. See Note 7. “Commitments and Contingencies “ in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I. Item 1. of this Form 10-Q for further details.
(i)
Expenses related to our secondary public offerings for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018 .
(j)
Cash expenses pursuant to a long-term incentive plan for non-executive employees who were not participants in the management equity plan for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018 .  This plan was effective in 2014 following the acquisition of the Company by KKR, and this payout was triggered as a result of the secondary offering of common stock by KKR and other selling shareholders completed in the third quarter of 2018.
(k)
Other adjustments include amounts that management believes are not representative of our operating performance, including our share of losses on equity method investments of $0.4 million and $0.4 million for the three months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 and $1.0 million and $0.7 million for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively; the amortization impact of the KKR Acquisition-related adjustments (e.g., fair value of leasehold interests) of $0.2 million and $(0.1) million for the three months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 and $0.3 million , and $(0.2) million for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively; expenses related to preparation for being an SEC registrant that were not directly attributable to the IPO and therefore not charged to equity of $0.6 million and $1.8 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 , respectively; differences between the timing of expense versus cash payments related to contributions to charitable organizations of $(0.3) million for each of the three months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 and $(0.8) million for each of the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively; costs of severance and relocation of $0.3 million and $0.7 million for the three months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 and, $0.9 million and $1.0 million for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 respectively; excess payroll taxes related to stock option exercises of $0.9 million and $1.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018 , respectively; and other expenses and adjustments totaling $0.4 million for the three months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 and $0.5 million for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively.
(l)
Amortization of acquisition intangibles related to the increase in the carrying values of intangible assets as a result of the KKR Acquisition of $1.9 million for each of the three months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 and $5.6 million for each of the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 . Amortization of deferred financing costs is primarily associated with the March 2014 term loan borrowings in connection with the KKR Acquisition and, to a lesser extent, amortization of deferred loan discount costs associated with the May 2015 and February 2017 incremental first lien term loans and the November 2017 first lien term loan refinancing, aggregating to $0.4 million , $1.0 million , $1.3 million and $3.1 million for the three months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 and nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively.
(m)
Tax benefit associated with accounting guidance adopted at the beginning of fiscal year 2017 (Accounting Standards Update 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation ), requiring excess tax benefits to be recorded in earnings as discrete items in the reporting period in which they occur.
(n)
Represents the tax effect of the total adjustments at our combined statutory federal and state income tax rates.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We principally rely on cash flows from operations as our primary source of liquidity and, if needed, up to $100.0 million in revolving loans under our revolving credit facility. Our primary cash needs are for inventory, payroll, store rent, capital expenditures associated with new stores and updating existing stores, as well as information technology and infrastructure, including our corporate office, distribution centers, and laboratories. The most significant components of our operating assets and liabilities are inventories, accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other assets, accounts payable, other payables, and accrued expenses. Due to the seasonality of our revenue, any borrowings would generally occur in the fourth or first quarters as we prepare for our peak season, which is the first quarter. We believe that cash expected to be generated from operations and the availability of borrowings under the revolving credit facility will be sufficient for our working capital requirements, liquidity obligations, anticipated capital expenditures, and payments due under our existing credit facilities for at least the next 12 months.
As of September 29, 2018 , we had $48.9 million in cash and cash equivalents and $94.5 million of additional availability under our revolving credit facility, which reflects $5.5 million in outstanding letters of credit.

41

We spent $78.8 million in capital expenditures in the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . Approximately 80% of our planned capital expenditures are related to our expected growth (i.e. new stores, optometric equipment, additional capacity in our optical laboratories and distribution centers, and our IT infrastructure, including omni-channel platform related investments). We plan on opening approximately 75 stores during fiscal year 2018 (inclusive of the 58 new stores opened through September 29, 2018 ). Our working capital requirements for inventory will increase as we continue to open additional stores. We primarily fund our working capital needs using cash provided by operations.
The following table summarizes the net cash provided by (used for) operating activities, investing activities and financing activities for the periods indicated:
Nine Months Ended
In thousands
September 29, 2018
September 30, 2017
Cash flows provided by (used for):
Operating activities
$
115,952

$
96,251

Investing activities
(78,677
)
(68,510
)
Financing activities
7,601

(4,827
)
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash
$
44,876

$
22,914

Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities consists primarily of net income adjusted for non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization, asset impairment, deferred income taxes, non-cash stock option compensation, non-cash inventory adjustments, bad debt expense, and changes in operating assets and liabilities.
Net cash provided by operating activities increased $19.7 million , or 20.5% , during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . Net cash provided by operating activities was $116.0 million for the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , which consisted of non-cash items of $72.2 million , $43.9 million of net income, partially offset by an increase in net working capital and other assets and liabilities of $0.2 million . Net cash provided by operating activities was $96.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , as non-cash items of $72.8 million were combined with $17.1 million of net income and a decrease in net working capital and other assets and liabilities of $6.4 million .
The increase in net working capital and other assets and liabilities during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 was primarily due to increases in accounts receivable of $0.7 million , inventories of $10.6 million , and a decrease in accounts payable of $4.8 million . These changes were offset by increases in deferred revenues of $6.2 million , accrued expenses and other liabilities of $9.3 million , and a decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets of $0.4 million . Decreases in accounts payable reflect the timing of payments. Increases in inventory are generally expected each period, and reflect our growth in sales of products, including product replenishment needs at existing stores and inventory needed to outfit new stores. Increases in accounts receivable and deferred revenue are generally expected each period due to net revenue growth and overall increases in the size of consolidated operations. We opened 58 new stores during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , with four closures.
The decrease in net working capital and other assets and liabilities during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was primarily due to increases in accrued expenses and other liabilities of $16.9 million ($7.0 million of which was the litigation settlement on the 1-800 Contacts Matter), and deferred revenue of $9.0 million , and a decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets of $2.5 million . Increases in deferred revenues are consistent with increased overall net revenue resulting from new stores and positive comparable store sales growth. These changes were partially offset by increases in accounts receivable of $9.2 million and inventories of $7.0 million , and a decrease in accounts payable of $5.8 million . Increases in accounts receivable primarily reflect our overall net revenue growth, and decreases in accounts payable reflect the timing of payments to vendors. Increases in inventory are generally expected each period, and reflect our growth in sales of products, including product replenishment needs at existing stores and inventory needed to outfit new stores. Other assets increase primarily consists of deferred offering costs in connection with preparing for the IPO which occurred in October of 2017.

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Net Cash Used for Investing Activities
Net cash used for investing activities increased by $10.2 million , to $78.7 million , during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 from $68.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . The change in cash used for investing activities included an increase of $11.7 million in purchases of property and equipment to support our growth, including new stores, improvements to our optical laboratories and distribution centers, and continued development of our IT infrastructure. In addition, during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 we made an investment of $1.5 million and received a secured convertible promissory note from our equity method investee in the same amount, as described in Note 5. “Related Party Transactions” of the condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I. Item 1. of this Form 10-Q. No such investment was made during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 .
Net Cash Provided by Financing Activities
Net cash provided by financing activities increased $12.4 million , from $4.8 million use of cash to $7.6 million provision of cash, during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . The change in cash provided by financing activities was primarily due to an increase of $12.9 million in proceeds related to the exercise of stock options during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . Other drivers were quarterly principal payments required under our first lien credit agreement. We paid $4.3 million and $6.2 million in principal payments during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively. Additionally, we paid $1.3 million and $0.7 million in capital lease obligations during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 and September 30, 2017 , respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 , we received $1.0 million in proceeds from the issuance of common stock. No common stock was issued during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . This was partially offset by purchases of treasury stock in the amount of $0.9 million during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 . No purchases of treasury stock occurred during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 . On February 2, 2017, we declared a recapitalization dividend to our stockholders. The dividend was funded with $175.0 million of incremental term loans under our first lien credit agreement. Proceeds from the additional first lien term loans were $173.7 million , net of discounts and fees, offset by the dividend payment of $171.0 million and $2.7 million in debt issuance costs. No such transactions occurred during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 .
Credit Agreement
On October 9, 2018 (the “Closing Date”), our first lien credit agreement dated as of March 13, 2014 (as amended, the “Credit Agreement”), was amended pursuant to a joinder and amendment agreement (the “October 2018 Joinder”) to, among other things, (i) establish new first lien term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $200,000,000 (“Term A Loans”) to prepay a portion of the first lien term loans outstanding immediately prior to the Closing Date, (ii) set the maturity of such term loans to October 9, 2023 and (iii) set the rates applicable to such term loans. Pursuant to the October 2018 Joinder, the initial new Applicable Margins (as defined in the Credit Agreement) are (i) 1.75% for the new first lien term loans that are LIBOR Loans (as defined in the Credit Agreement) and (ii) 0.75% for the new first lien term loans that are ABR Loans (as defined in the Credit Agreement).
The October 2018 Joinder further provides that following the Closing Date, the above Applicable Margins for the new first lien term loans will be based on (x) NVI’s total leverage ratio or (y) NVI’s public corporate credit rating from Moody’s and/or NVI’s public corporate credit rating from S&P as follows: (a) if NVI’s total leverage ratio is less than 2:00 to 1.00 or NVI’s rating is either Ba2 (stable) or better from Moody’s or BB (stable) or better from S&P, the Applicable Margin will be 1.25% for LIBOR Loans and 0.25% for ABR Loans, (b) if NVI’s total leverage ratio is equal to or greater than 2.00 to 1.00, but less than 2.50 to 1.00, or NVI’s rating is BB- (stable) from S&P, the Applicable Margin will be 1.50% for LIBOR Loans and 0.50% for ABR Loans and (c) if NVI’s total leverage ratio is greater than 2.50 to 1.00 and NVI’s rating is not BB- (stable) or better from S&P, the Applicable Margin will be 1.75% for LIBOR Loans and 0.75% for ABR Loans, as specified in the October 2018 Joinder. The new first lien term loans will amortize in equal quarterly installments equal to 2.5% per annum in the first three years of the loan and 5% per annum thereafter.
In addition, pursuant to the October 2018 Joinder, solely with respect to the Term A Loans, commencing on the fiscal quarter ending on December 29, 2018, the Company will not permit (i) the Consolidated Total Debt to Consolidated EBITDA Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company to be greater than 4.75 to 1.00 or (ii) the Consolidated Interest Coverage Ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of the Comapny as of the last day of any fiscal quarter of the Company to be less than 3.00 to 1.00.
As previously disclosed, pursuant to the Joinder and Amendment Agreement, dated as of November 20, 2017, among NVI, as borrower, the guarantors party thereto, each lender party thereto and Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as administrative agent and collateral agent (the “November 2017 Joinder”), the Applicable Margins (as defined in the November 2017 Joinder) for the term loans thereunder, of which there is approximately $364.0 million outstanding following the effective date of the October 2018 Joinder, are based on NVI’s public corporate credit rating from Moody’s.

43

On September 7, 2018, Moody’s announced that it had upgraded NVI’s public corporate credit rating from B1 to Ba3 (stable) and as a result, the Applicable Margin for these term loans has stepped down to 2.50% for LIBOR Loans and 1.50% for ABR Loans, in each case as specified in the November 2017 Joinder.
Off-balance Sheet Arrangements
We follow U.S. GAAP in making the determination as to whether or not to record an asset or liability related to our arrangements with third parties. Consistent with current accounting guidance, we do not record an asset or liability associated with operating leases or with long-term marketing and promotional commitments. We have disclosed the amount of future commitments associated with these items in our consolidated financial statements. We were not a party to any other off-balance sheet arrangements during the nine months ended September 29, 2018 .
Contractual Obligations
During the nine months ended September 29, 2018 , there were no material changes outside the ordinary course of business in our contractual obligations and commercial commitments from those reported as of December 30, 2017 in the Annual Report.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
Management has evaluated the accounting policies used in the preparation of the Company’s unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and related notes and believe those policies to be reasonable and appropriate. Certain of these accounting policies require the application of significant judgment by management in selecting appropriate assumptions for calculating financial estimates. By their nature, these judgments are subject to an inherent degree of uncertainty. These judgments are based on historical experience, trends in the industry, information provided by customers and information available from other outside sources, as appropriate. The most significant areas involving management judgments and estimates may be found in the Annual Report dated December 31, 2017, in the “Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates” section of “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” There have been no material changes to our critical accounting policies as compared to the critical accounting policies described in the Annual Report, except for the adoption of Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers and ASU No. 2016-18, Restricted Cash discussed in Note 1 . “Description of Business and Basis of Presentation” of our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I. Item 1. of this Form 10-Q.
Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements
The information set forth in Note 1. “Description of Business and Basis of Presentation” to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements under Part I. Item 1. under the heading “ Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements ” of this Form 10-Q is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
We have market risk exposure from changes in interest rates. When appropriate, we use derivative financial instruments to mitigate the risk from such exposure. A discussion of our accounting policies for derivative financial instruments is included in Note 3. “Fair Value Measurement of Financial Assets and Liabilities,” to our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements included in Part I. Item 1. of this Form 10-Q.
A substantial portion of our debt bears interest at variable rates. If market interest rates increase, the interest rate on our variable rate debt will increase and will create higher debt service requirements, which would adversely affect our cash flow and could adversely impact our results of operations. We also have a revolving line of credit at variable interest rates. The general levels of LIBOR affect interest expense. We periodically use interest rate swaps to manage such risk. The net amounts to be paid or received under interest rate swap agreements are accrued as interest rates change, and are recognized over the life of the swap agreements as an adjustment to interest expense from the underlying debt to which the swap is designated. The related amounts payable to, or receivable from, the contract counterparties are included in accrued liabilities or accounts receivable in the unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets.
As of September 29, 2018 , all of our $564.3 million in term loan debt was subject to variable interest rates, with a weighted average borrowing rate of 4.7% . After inclusion of the notional amount of $465.0 million of interest rate swaps fixing a portion of the variable rate debt, $99.3 million , or 17.6% of our debt, is subject to variable rates. Assuming an increase to market rates of 1.0% as of September 29, 2018 , we would incur an annual increase to interest expense of approximately $1.0 million related to debt subject to variable rates.
See Liquidity and Capital Resources. “Credit Agreement,” for details regarding Term Loan A - Joinder and Amendment Agreement included in Part 1. Item 2. of this Form 10-Q.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures

44

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as that term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and our Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives.
Our management, with the participation of our CEO and our CFO, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q. Based on their evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that, because the previously identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting described below had not been remediated by the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q, our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of the end of the period covered by this Form 10-Q.
Material Weakness and Status of Material Weakness Remediation
As previously disclosed in our prospectus, dated October 25, 2017 filed with the SEC on October 27, 2017, and our subsequent periodic reports filed with the SEC, we had identified material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting. A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the Company’s annual or interim consolidated financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. We identified a deficiency in the design of controls related to the timely detection of damaged, expired or expiring contact lens inventory for purposes of recording inventory at net realizable value. We also identified a material weakness related to a deficiency in the design of entity level controls to identify and assess changes in our business environment that could significantly impact the system of internal control over financial reporting.
Remediation Plan - We have designed and implemented controls to remediate these material weaknesses, which include the following new policies, procedures, and internal controls:
•
Removed higher obsolescence risk contact lenses from our stores to our Distribution Center in order to better manage inventory turns and related obsolescence potential and established a policy requiring stores to return all contact lenses expiring within the next eighteen months to our central distribution center.
•
Changed our store inventory observation procedures to monitor the compliance with the policy described above, in order to allow for the Company to sell or exchange products with respective vendors for newer products with similar value.
•
Implemented an automated reporting system to report financial results consistent with Regulation S-X and to provide reconciliations between internal and external reporting, highlighting any changes in reporting and business requirements.
•
Established a disclosure committee, consisting of certain key members of management, to assist in formalizing our disclosure, risk assessment, internal controls and procedures.
•
Established an internal audit department that reports directly to the Audit Committee.
•
Added additional resources to enhance the overall control environment.
We are committed to maintaining a strong internal control environment, and we expect to continue our efforts to remediate the material weaknesses described above. During the third quarter of fiscal year 2018, management has continued testing the operating effectiveness of such controls to demonstrate whether successful remediation has occurred. However, the material weaknesses cannot be considered remediated until the applicable remedial controls operate for a sufficient period of time and management has concluded, through testing, that these controls are operating effectively.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) that occurred during the third quarter of fiscal year 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting, other than as described above under “Material Weakness and Status of Material Weakness Remediation.”
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1. Legal Proceedings

45

We are currently and may in the future become subject to various claims and pending or threatened lawsuits in the normal course of our business.
Our subsidiary, FirstSight is a defendant in a purported class action in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California that alleges that FirstSight participated in arrangements that caused the illegal delivery of eye examinations and that FirstSight thereby violated, among other laws, the corporate practice of optometry and the unfair competition and false advertising laws of California. The lawsuit was filed in 2013 and FirstSight was added as a defendant in 2016. In March 2017, the court granted the motion to dismiss previously filed by FirstSight and dismissed the complaint with prejudice. The plaintiffs filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in April 2017. In July 2018, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit vacated in part, and reversed in part, the district court’s dismissal and remanded for further proceedings. In October 2018, the plaintiffs filed a second amended complaint with the district court. We believe that the claims alleged are without merit and intend to continue to defend the litigation vigorously.
In May 2017, a complaint was filed against us and other defendants alleging, on behalf of a proposed class of consumers who purchased contact lenses online, that 1-800 Contacts, Inc. entered into a series of agreements with the other defendants, including AC Lens, to suppress certain online advertising and that each defendant thereby engaged in anticompetitive conduct in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act. We have settled this litigation for $7.0 million, without admitting liability. Accordingly, we recorded a charge for this amount in litigation settlement in the consolidated statement of operations during the second quarter of fiscal year 2017.
On November 8, 2017, the court in the 1-800 Contacts Matter entered an order preliminarily approving the settlement agreement, subject to a settlement hearing. Pursuant to this order, we deposited 50% of the settlement amount, or $3.5 million, into an escrow account, to be distributed subject to and in accordance the terms of the settlement agreement and any further order of the court.
We are not currently party to any other legal proceedings that we believe would have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to the principal risks that we believe are material to our business, results of operations, and financial condition from those disclosed in Part I. Item 1A. of our Annual Report.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
Agreement with Esslior of America
On November 12, 2018, the Company entered into a new letter agreement (the “Agreement”) with Essilor of America, Inc. (“Essilor”), which, when effective, will replace the current letter agreement, dated May 25, 2011, between the Company and Essilor.  Under our agreement with Essilor, Essilor has the sole and exclusive right to supply certain lenses for eyeglasses to the Company.  The Agreement extends the term of the Company’s contractual arrangement with Essilor from June 1, 2019 until May 31, 2023.  Thereafter, the Agreement will automatically renew on a month-to-month basis unless either party gives 30 days’ prior written notice of termination.  The Company also has the ability to unilaterally extend the Agreement an additional calendar quarter after the proposed termination date.



Item 6. Exhibits
Exhibit Index
Exhibit No.
Exhibit Description
Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of National Vision Holdings, Inc. -incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2017.
Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of National Vision Holdings, Inc. -incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2017
Joinder and Amendment Agreement, dated as of October 9, 2018, including as Annex A thereto, the First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of March 13, 2014, as amended by the Joinder and Amendment Agreement dated as of May 29, 2015, Joinder Agreement dated as of February 3, 2017, Joinder and Amendment Agreement dated as of October 31, 2017 and Joinder and Amendment Agreement dated as of November 20, 2017, among Nautilus Acquisition Holdings, Inc., Nautilus Merger Sub, Inc., Vision Holdings Corp., National Vision, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as administrative agent and collateral agent, Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., as the letter of credit issuer, and the lenders from time to time party thereto and the other parties thereto -incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 9, 2018.
Certification of Periodic Report by Chief Executive Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
Certification of Periodic Report by Chief Financial Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith)
Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)
Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)
101.INS
XBRL Instance Document.
101.SCH
XBRL Taxonomy Extension 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.


47

Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
National Vision Holdings, Inc.
Dated: November 13, 2018
By:
/s/ L. Reade Fahs
Chief Executive Officer and Director
(Principal Executive Officer)
Dated: November 13, 2018
By:
/s/ Patrick R. Moore
Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial Officer)


48
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part I Financial InformationItem 1. Financial Statements (unaudited)Item 2. Management S Discussion and Analysis Of Financial Condition and Results Of OperationsItem 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market RiskItem 4. Controls and ProceduresPart II - Other InformationItem 1. Legal ProceedingsItem 1A. Risk FactorsItem 2. Unregistered Sales Of Equity Securities and Use Of ProceedsItem 3. Defaults Upon Senior SecuritiesItem 4. Mine Safety DisclosuresItem 5. Other InformationItem 6. Exhibits

Exhibits

3.1 Second Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of National Vision Holdings, Inc. -incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2017. 3.2 Second Amended and Restated Bylaws of National Vision Holdings, Inc. -incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 31, 2017 10.1 Joinder and Amendment Agreement, dated as of October 9, 2018, including as Annex A thereto, the First Lien Credit Agreement, dated as of March 13, 2014, as amended by the Joinder and Amendment Agreement dated as of May 29, 2015, Joinder Agreement dated as of February 3, 2017, Joinder and Amendment Agreement dated as of October 31, 2017 and Joinder and Amendment Agreement dated as of November 20, 2017, among Nautilus Acquisition Holdings, Inc., Nautilus Merger Sub, Inc., Vision Holdings Corp., National Vision, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, as administrative agent and collateral agent, Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., as the letter of credit issuer, and the lenders from time to time party thereto and the other parties thereto -incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 filed to the Companys Current Report on Form 8-K filed on October 9, 2018. 31.1 Certification of Periodic Report by Chief Executive Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith) 31.2 Certification of Periodic Report by Chief Financial Officer under Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (filed herewith) 32.1 Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith) 32.2 Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (furnished herewith)