BEAUMONT, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Conn's, Inc. (NASDAQ/NM:CONN), a specialty retailer of consumer
electronics, home appliances, furniture, mattresses, computers and lawn
and garden products today announced that Timothy L. Frank has elected to
step down as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and
has resigned his position as a director of the Company to pursue other
opportunities. The Company's Board of Directors has appointed Theodore
M. Wright as the Interim Chief Executive Officer and President of the
Company. Conn's, Inc. will immediately commence a formal search to
identify a permanent Chief Executive Officer.
Mr. Frank has served as President and Chief Executive Officer since June
2009, and has been a member of the board of directors since November
2008. Mr. Frank served as the Company's President beginning in April
2006, and has previously served as the Company's Chief Operating
Officer, Senior Vice President — Retail, and various other roles
throughout the retail and credit operations since joining the Company in
1995.
Theo Wright, the Company's Chairman and Interim Chief Executive Officer,
expressed appreciation for Mr. Frank's service, stating: "Tim became CEO
during challenging times. He successfully stabilized the credit
portfolio and completed an essential refinancing. We are very grateful
for Tim's commitment to Conn's during a critical time in the Company's
history. His hard work, dedication and enthusiasm have been an example
for our associates and we wish him great success in his future
endeavors."
Mr. Frank expressed his thanks to the Company and its Board, saying
"Conn's has represented an incredible opportunity for me and my family.
At this time, however, I intend to focus on my desire to pursue
entrepreneurial opportunities with earlier growth stage businesses. I am
confident in Conn's executive team, including key leaders who have been
with the Company for many years, and the Company's dedicated and
customer focused associates."
The Company has previously announced its net sales results for the
quarter ended January 31, 2011, and also provided updated credit
portfolio performance information. Same store sales increased 5.2% for
the quarter ended January 31, 2011. From October 31, 2010 to January 31,
2011, there was a 100 basis point improvement in 60+ day delinquency.
Mr. Wright has served on the Company's Board of Directors, Audit
Committee and Compensation Committee since 2003 and was elected the
Chairman of Board in December 2010. He has also served as Chairman of
the Company's special committee formed in connection with its recent
debt refinancing. Mr. Wright retired in 2004 as President of Sonic
Automotive, Inc., a New York Stock Exchange listed and Fortune 300
automotive retailer. He also served that organization as its Chief
Financial Officer from April 1997 through April 2003, and served on that
company's board of directors from 1997 through 2004. Mr. Wright also
serves on the board of directors of Titan Machinery, Inc., and is a
member of its audit and compensation committees. Mr. Wright received a
B.A. from Davidson College.
About Conn's, Inc.
The Company is a specialty retailer currently operating 76 retail
locations in Texas, Louisiana and Oklahoma: with 23 stores in the
Houston area, 20 in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, nine in San
Antonio, five in Austin, five in Southeast Texas, one in Corpus Christi,
four in South Texas, six in Louisiana and three in Oklahoma. It sells
home appliances, including refrigerators, freezers, washers, dryers,
dishwashers and ranges, and a variety of consumer electronics, including
LCD, LED, 3-D, plasma and DLP televisions, camcorders, digital cameras,
computers and computer accessories, Blu-ray and DVD players, video game
equipment, portable audio, MP3 players, GPS devices and home theater
products. The Company also sells lawn and garden products, furniture and
mattresses, and continues to introduce additional product categories for
the home to help respond to its customers' product needs and to increase
same store sales. Unlike many of its competitors, the Company provides
flexible in-house credit options for its customers. In the last three
years, the Company financed, on average, approximately 61% of its retail
sales.
CONN-G
Conn's, Inc., Beaumont
Michael J. Poppe, 409-832-1696 ext. 3294
Chief
Financial Officer
Source: Conn's, Inc.
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