Books-A-Million (Books-A-Million) Risk Assessment

Books-A-Million Inc was founded in 1917, originally incorporated under the laws of the State of Alabama in 1964 and reincorporated in Delaware in September 1992. The Company is a book retailer located in the eastern United States and operates both superstores and traditional bookstores. The Company operates both superstores and traditional bookstores. The first Superstore was opened in 1987 and operates under the names Books-A-Million and Books and Co. and 2nd & Charles. Traditional bookstores are smaller stores operated under the names Bookland, Books-A-Million and BAM. All store formats generally offer a selection of sellers and other hardcover and paperback books, magazines, toys, games, electronics and gifts. In addition to these retail store formats, it offers its products over the internet at Booksamillion.com. Its retail operations also include the operation of Yogurt Mountain Holding, LLC, a retailer and franchisor of self-serve frozen yogurt stores. It also develops and manages commercial real estate investments through its subsidiary, Preferred Growth Properties, LLC. The Company operates in three reportable operating segments: Retail trade; Electronic commerce trade; and Real estate development and management. In the retail trade segment, it is engaged in the retail sale of books, magazines and general merchandise, including gifts, cards, games, toys, collectibles, music, DVDs, electronic devices and accessories in its retail stores. In the electronic commerce trade segment, it is engaged in the retail sale of books and general merchandise over the internet. The real estate development and management segment is managed separately from the retail trade and electronic commerce trade segments, with a focus on deriving revenues through developing and leasing commercial retail real estate for purposes of earning rental income. The Company promotes its bookstores through the use of traditional direct mail, e-mail and online advertising, as well as point-of-sale materials posted and distributed in its stores. The retail book business is competitive. The Company faces direct competition from other superstores, such as Barnes & Noble, and it also faces competition from mass merchandisers, such as Wal-Mart and Costco, and online retailers, such as Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble and Wal-Mart. Its bookstores also compete with specialty retail stores that offer books in particular subject areas, independent single store operators, variety discounters, drugstores, warehouse clubs, mail order clubs and other retailers offering books. In addition, its bookstores face additional competition from the market for electronic books and may face competition from other categories of retailers entering the retail book market. The Company is subject to general business regulations and laws, as well as regulations and laws specifically governing the Internet and e-commerce.