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HD SUPPLY
PART IV

Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-K

 

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:

           Securities registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act:

           Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.

           Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act.

           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 past 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.

           Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

           Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers in response to Item 405 of Regulation S-K (§229.405) is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.

           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.

           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. o

           Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

           The aggregate market value of the voting common stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of July 28, 2017 (the last business day of our most recently completed fiscal second quarter) was $6,118,532,561.

           The number of shares of the registrant's common stock outstanding as of March 9, 2018:

           HD Supply, Inc. meets the conditions set forth in General Instruction I(1)(a) and (b) of Form 10-K and is therefore filing this Form with the reduced disclosure format applicable to HD Supply, Inc.

Documents incorporated by reference:

           Portions of HD Supply Holdings, Inc.'s proxy statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with HD Supply Holdings, Inc.'s 2018 annual meeting of stockholders (the "Proxy Statement') are incorporated by reference into Part III hereof. Such Proxy Statement will be filed within 120 days of HD Supply Holdings, Inc.'s fiscal year ended January 28, 2018.

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INDEX TO FORM 10-K

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EXPLANATORY NOTE

        This Form 10-K is a combined annual report being filed separately by two registrants: HD Supply Holdings, Inc. and HD Supply, Inc. Unless the context indicates otherwise, any reference in this report to "Holdings" refers to HD Supply Holdings, Inc., any reference to "HDS" refers to HD Supply, Inc., the indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings, and any references to "HD Supply," the "Company," "we," "us" and "our" refer to HD Supply Holdings, Inc. together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including HDS. Each registrant hereto is filing on its own behalf all of the information contained in this annual report that relates to such registrant. Each registrant hereto is not filing any information that does not relate to such registrant, and therefore makes no representation as to any such information.

Background Information and Glossary of Certain Defined Terms

The 2007 Transactions

        On August 30, 2007, investment funds associated with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC ("CD&R"), The Carlyle Group ("Carlyle") and Bain Capital Partners, LLC ("Bain", and together with CD&R and Carlyle, the "Equity Sponsors") formed Holdings (previously named HDS Investment Holding, Inc.) and entered into a stock purchase agreement with The Home Depot, Inc. ("Home Depot") pursuant to which Home Depot agreed to sell to Holdings, or to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings, certain intellectual property and all the outstanding common stock of HDS and the Canadian subsidiary CND Holdings, Inc. On August 30, 2007, through a series of transactions, Holdings' direct wholly-owned subsidiary, HDS Holding Corporation, acquired direct control of HDS through the merger of its wholly-owned subsidiary, HDS Acquisition Corp., with and into HDS and CND Holdings, Inc. Through these transactions (the "2007 Transactions"), Home Depot was paid cash of $8.2 billion and 12.5% of Holdings' then outstanding common stock.

        Upon completion of Holdings' secondary public offerings in fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2015, the Equity Sponsors and Home Depot sold all of their remaining original investment in Holdings.

Defined Terms for Indebtedness

        In this annual report on Form 10-K, unless otherwise indicated or the context otherwise requires:

•

"December 2014 First Priority Notes" refers to HDS's 5.25% Senior Secured First Priority Notes due 2021 issued on December 4, 2014 in an aggregate principal amount of $1,250 million.



•

"April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes" refers to HDS's 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 issued on April 11, 2016 in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000 million.



•

"February 2013 Senior Unsecured Notes" refers to HDS's 7.50% Senior Notes due 2020 issued on February 1, 2013 in an aggregate principal amount of $1,275 million.



•

"January 2013 Senior Subordinated Notes" refers to HDS's 10.5% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2021 issued on January 16, 2013 in an aggregate principal amount of $950 million.



•

"October 2012 Senior Unsecured Notes" refers to HDS's 11.50% Senior Notes due 2020 issued on October 15, 2012 in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000 million.



•

"Priority Notes" refers to the December 2014 First Priority Notes.



•

"Senior ABL Facility" refers to HDS's asset based lending facility issued on April 12, 2012, providing for senior secured revolving loans and letters of credit of up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of $1,500 million (subject to availability under the borrowing base).

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•

"Senior Credit Facilities" refers collectively to the Senior ABL Facility and the Term Loan Facility.



•

"Senior Notes" refers collectively to the October 2012 Senior Unsecured Notes and February 2013 Senior Unsecured Notes.



•

"Term Loan" refers to the term loans issued under the Term Loan Facility.



•

"Term Loan Facility" refers to HDS's senior secured credit facility issued on April 12, 2012, providing for Term Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $1,000 million.



•

"Term B-1 Loans" refers to the tranche of Term Loans issued on October 14, 2016 under the Term Loan Facility in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $842 million.



•

"Term B-2 Loans" refers to the tranche of Term Loans issued on October 14, 2016 under the Term Loan Facility in an aggregate principal amount of $550 million.



•

"Term B-3 Loans" refers to the tranche of Term Loans issued on August 31, 2017 under the Term Loan Facility to replace the Term B-1 Loans in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $535 million.



•

"Term B-4 Loans" refers to the tranche of Term Loans issued on August 31, 2017 under the Term Loan Facility to replace the Term B-2 Loans in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $546 million.

Refinancing Transactions

        On August 13, 2015, HDS amended the Term Loan Facility to lower the applicable borrowing margins, extend the maturity date, and prepay in full the tranche of senior secured loans outstanding under the Term Loan Facility.

        On October 13, 2015, HDS used the net proceeds from the sale of the Power Solutions business unit to redeem all of the outstanding $675 million aggregate principal amount of its April 2012 Second Priority Notes.

        On April 11, 2016, HDS issued the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes at par.

        On April 27, 2016, HDS used the net proceeds from the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes issuance, together with available cash, to redeem all of the outstanding October 2012 Senior Unsecured Notes.

        On October 14, 2016, HDS amended the Term Loan Facility to eliminate its LIBOR floor by issuing Term B-1 Loans in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $842 million as a replacement tranche for all outstanding term loans and issued Term B-2 Loans in an aggregate principal amount of $550 million.

        On October 17, 2016, HDS used the proceeds from the Term B-2 Loans, together with cash on hand and available borrowings under HDS's Senior ABL Facility, to redeem all of the outstanding $1,275 million aggregate principal of the February 2013 Unsecured Notes.

        On April 5, 2017, HDS amended the Senior ABL Facility to reduce the applicable margin for borrowing, reduce the applicable commitment fee, and extend the maturity date until April 5, 2022.

        On April 18, 2017, HDS used cash and available borrowings under the Senior ABL Facility to repay $100 million aggregate principal of its Term B-1 Loans.

        On August 25, 2017, HDS amended and supplemented the indenture governing its April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes to (a) amend the definition of "Permitted Payments", (b) increase the interest

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rate to 7.00% on April 15, 2019, (c) amend the definition of "Net Available Cash", and (d) amend the definition of "Consolidated EBITDA".

        On August 31, 2017, HDS amended its Term Loan Facility, refinancing the Term B-1 Loans with the Term B-3 Loans in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $535 million, and refinancing the Term B-2 Loans with the Term B-4 Loans in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $546 million.

        On September 1, 2017, HDS used a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the Waterworks business to redeem all of the outstanding $1,250 million in aggregate principal of its December 2014 First Priority Notes.

        On December 28, 2017, HDS reduced its borrowing capacity under its Senior ABL Facility by $500 million to $1,000 million.

        HDS's Senior Credit Facilities and April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes are discussed in greater detail in "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data—Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements—Note 5, Debt" within this annual report on Form 10-K.

Glossary of Certain Other Terms

Forward-looking statements and information

        This annual report on Form 10-K includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that are based on management's beliefs and assumptions and information currently available to management. Some of the forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "believes," "expects," "may," "will," "should," "could," "seeks," "intends," "plans," "estimates," "anticipates" or other comparable terms. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. They appear in a number of places throughout this report and include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs or

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current expectations concerning, among other things, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity, prospects, growth strategies and the industries in which we operate.

        Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond our control. We caution you that forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and that our actual results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industries in which we operate may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking statements contained in this report. In addition, even if our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, and the development of the industries in which we operate are consistent with the forward-looking statements contained in this report, those results or developments may not be indicative of results or developments in subsequent periods. A number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in or implied by the forward-looking statements, including those reflected in forward-looking statements relating to our operations and business, the risks and uncertainties discussed in this annual report on Form 10-K (See Item 1A, Risk Factors) and those described from time to time in our other filings with the SEC. Factors that could cause actual results to differ from those reflected in forward-looking statements relating to our operations and business include:

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inherent risks of the maintenance, repair and operations market, and the non-residential and residential construction markets;



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our ability to maintain profitability;



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our ability to service our debt and to refinance all or a portion of our indebtedness;



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limitations and restrictions in the agreements governing our indebtedness;



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the competitive environment in which we operate and demand for our products and services in highly competitive and fragmented industries;



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the loss of any of our significant customers;



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competitive pricing pressure from our customers;



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our ability to identify and acquire suitable acquisition candidates on favorable terms;



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cyclicality and seasonality of the maintenance, repair and operations market, and the non-residential and residential construction markets;



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our ability to identify and develop relationships with a sufficient number of qualified suppliers and to maintain our supply chains;



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our ability to manage fixed costs;



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the development of alternatives to distributors in the supply chain;



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our ability to manage our working capital through product purchasing and customer credit policies;



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potential material liabilities under our self-insured programs;



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our ability to attract, train and retain highly qualified associates and key personnel;



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limitations on our income tax net operating loss carryforwards in the event of an ownership change; and



•

our ability to identify and integrate new products.

You should read this annual report on Form 10-K completely and with the understanding that actual future results may be materially different from expectations. All forward-looking statements made in

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this report are qualified by these cautionary statements. These forward-looking statements are made only as of the date of this annual report on Form 10-K, and we do not undertake any obligation, other than as may be required by law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, changes in future operating results over time or otherwise. Comparisons of results for current and any prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.

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PART I

ITEM 1.    BUSINESS

Our Company

        HD Supply is one of the largest industrial distributors in North America. We believe we have leading positions in the two distinct market sectors in which we specialize: Maintenance, Repair & Operations ("MRO") and Specialty Construction. These market sectors are large and fragmented, and we believe they present opportunities for significant growth. We aspire to be the "First Choice" of customers, associates, suppliers and the communities in which we operate. This aspiration drives our relentless focus and is reflected in the customer and market centricity, speed and precision, intense teamwork, process excellence and trusted relationships that define our culture. We believe this aspiration distinguishes us from other distributors and has created value for our shareholders, driven above-market growth and delivered attractive returns on invested capital.

        Through approximately 220 branches and 44 distribution centers, in the U.S. and Canada, we serve our markets with an integrated go-to-market strategy. We have approximately 11,000 associates delivering localized, customer-tailored products, services and expertise. We serve approximately 500,000 customers, which include contractors, maintenance professionals, home builders, industrial businesses, and government entities. Our broad range of end-to-end product lines and services include approximately 600,000 stock-keeping units ("SKUs") of quality, name-brand and proprietary-brand products as well as value-add services supporting the entire life-cycle of a project from construction to maintenance, repair and operations.

        For the fiscal year ended January 28, 2018, or fiscal 2017, we:

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generated $5 billion in Net sales, representing 6.3% growth over the fiscal year ended January 29, 2017, or fiscal 2016;



•

generated Net income of $970 million in fiscal 2017, including a $732 million gain on sale, net of tax, on the sale of the Waterworks business, as compared to a Net income of $196 million in fiscal 2016;



•

generated $731 million of Adjusted EBITDA, representing 7.5% growth over fiscal 2016; and



•

generated $447 million of Adjusted net income in fiscal 2017, as compared to $302 million in fiscal 2016.

        For a reconciliation of Net income (loss), the most directly comparable financial measure under GAAP, to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income, see "Part II, Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Key Business Metrics—Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted Net Income (Loss)."

        We believe our long-standing customer relationships and competitive advantage stem from our knowledgeable associates, extensive product and service offerings, national footprint, integrated best-in-class technology, broad purchasing scale and strategic supplier relationships. We believe that our comprehensive supply chain solutions improve the effectiveness and efficiency of our customers' businesses. Our value-add services include customer training and certification, material and product fabrication, kitting, jobsite delivery and installation and will-call pickup options. Furthermore, we believe our product application knowledge, comprehensive product assortment, and sourcing expertise allow our customers to perform reliably and give them the tools to enhance profitability.

        We reach our customers through a variety of sales channels, including professional outside and inside sales forces, call centers and direct marketing programs utilizing market-specific product catalogs, and business unit websites and digital tools. Our distribution network allows us to provide rapid, reliable, on-time delivery and customer pickup throughout the United States and Canada. Additionally,

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we believe our highly integrated, best-in-class technology provides leading e-commerce and integrated workflow capabilities for our customers, while providing us unparalleled pricing, budgeting, reporting and analytical capabilities across our Company. We believe customers view us as an integral part of the value chain due to our extensive product knowledge, expansive product availability and the ability to directly integrate with their systems and workflows.

Our Strategy

        Since 2007 we have undertaken significant operating and growth initiatives at all levels. We developed and are implementing a multi-year strategy to optimize our business mix. This strategy includes entering new markets and product lines, streamlining and upgrading our process and technology capabilities, acquiring new capabilities and optimizing our portfolio of businesses. At the same time, we attracted what we believe to be "best of the best" talent, capitalizing on relevant experience, teamwork and change navigation.

        Both of our businesses invest in high-growth initiatives that align with our five growth plays:

1.

Sell More to Existing Customers (i.e., Share of Wallet)



2.

Introduce New Products and Services



3.

Expand the Channels to Reach Our Customers (e.g., Internet, Catalog, and Mobility)



4.

Acquire New Customers



5.

Enter New Geographies (i.e., Open New Locations)

        Through investments in these growth plays, we believe we are well-positioned to grow in excess of the markets in which we operate. Specific initiatives focus on increasing penetration within our existing customer base, including the addition of new sales talent across the Company; and the addition of new products and services, including proprietary brands, primarily in our Facilities Maintenance business. We also continue to invest in mobile technologies and e-commerce. We focus primarily on sales talent acquisition and entering new geographies to acquire new customers.

        HD Supply is managed primarily on a product-line basis and reports results of operations in two reportable segments. The reportable segments are Facilities Maintenance and Construction & Industrial. In addition, the consolidated financial statements include Corporate and Eliminations, which comprises enterprise-wide functional departments that operate in a centralized structure.

        Facilities Maintenance.    Facilities Maintenance distributes MRO products, provides value-add services and fabricates custom products. Our Facilities Maintenance business unit serves the owners of multifamily, hospitality, healthcare and institutional facilities. Products include electrical and lighting items, plumbing, HVAC products, appliances, janitorial supplies, hardware, kitchen and bath cabinets, window coverings, textiles and guest amenities, healthcare maintenance and water and wastewater treatment products. Facilities Maintenance operates a distribution center-based model that sells its products primarily through a professional sales force, e-commerce and print catalogs.

        Construction & Industrial.    Construction & Industrial distributes specialized hardware, tools, engineered materials and safety products to non-residential and residential contractors. Service offerings range from pre-bid assistance and product submittals to engineering and tool repair. Construction & Industrial reaches customers through a nationwide network of regionally organized branches as well as print catalogs and e-commerce. Products include tilt-up brace systems, forming and shoring systems, concrete chemicals, hand and power tools, cutting tools, rebar, ladders, safety and fall arrest equipment, specialty screws and fasteners, sealants and adhesives, drainage pipe, geo-synthetics, erosion and sediment control equipment and other engineered materials used broadly across all types of non-residential and residential construction. Construction & Industrial also includes Home

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Improvement Solutions, which offers light remodeling and construction supplies, kitchen and bath cabinets, windows, plumbing materials, electrical equipment and other products, primarily to small remodeling contractors and trade professionals through local retail outlets.

        Corporate and Eliminations.    In addition to the reportable segments, our consolidated financial results include "Corporate and Eliminations" which incurs costs related to our centralized support functions, which are comprised of finance, information technology, human resources, legal, supply chain and other support services, and removes inter-segment transactions. All Corporate operating overhead costs are allocated to the reportable segments. Interest expense, interest income, other non-operating income and expenses, and provision for income taxes are not allocated to the reportable segments. The Company does not allocate Corporate assets to its reportable segments.

Our Market Sectors

        We offer a diverse range of products and services to the Maintenance, Repair & Operations and Specialty Construction market sectors in the United States and Canada. The markets in which we operate have a high degree of customer and supplier fragmentation, with customers that typically demand a high level of service and availability of a broad set of complex products from a large number of suppliers. These market dynamics make the distributor a critical element within the value chain. Net sales for HD Supply outside of the United States, primarily in Canada, were $146 million, $124 million, and $124 million in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, respectively.

Maintenance, Repair & Operations

        In the Maintenance, Repair & Operations market sector, our Facilities Maintenance business unit serves customers across multiple industries by primarily delivering supplies and services needed to maintain and upgrade multifamily, hospitality, healthcare and institutional facilities. Facilities Maintenance is a distribution center-based model. We estimate that this market sector currently represents an addressable market in excess of $55 billion annually with demand driven primarily by ongoing maintenance requirements of a broad range of existing structures and traditional repair and remodeling construction activity across multiple industries. We believe Facilities Maintenance customers value speed and product availability over price. We believe our maintenance, repair and operations business focused on living spaces, including apartment units, hotel or motel rooms and senior care living facilities, provides stable demand, particularly in a challenging economic environment, when new construction tends to decrease.

Specialty Construction

        In the Specialty Construction market sector, our Construction & Industrial and Home Improvement Solutions businesses serve professional contractors and trades by meeting their distinct and customized supply needs in non-residential, residential and industrial applications. We estimate that this market sector currently represents an addressable market of approximately $30 billion annually with demand driven primarily by residential construction, non-residential construction, industrial and repair and remodeling construction spending. Construction & Industrial serves this sector through the broad national presence of its regionally organized branch distribution network, as well as branches in six Canadian provinces, while Home Improvement Solutions operates through retail outlets in California primarily serving cash and carry customers. We believe we are well-positioned to benefit from the continued expansion of non-residential and residential construction end-markets.

Our History

        In March 1997, Home Depot, the former parent of our operating subsidiaries, acquired Maintenance Warehouse / America Corp., a Texas corporation organized on January 26, 1985, and a

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leading direct marketer of MRO products to the hospitality and multifamily housing markets. Since 1997, our business has grown rapidly, primarily through the acquisition of more than 40 businesses.

        From fiscal 2000 to fiscal 2004, we extended our presence into new categories while growing existing businesses through 10 acquisitions. New businesses included plumbing and HVAC (through the acquisition of Apex Supply), flooring products and installation (Floors, Inc., Floorworks, Inc., and Arvada Hardwood Floor Company) and specialty hardware, tools and materials for construction contractors (White Cap). Growth at existing businesses was driven organically and through "tuck-in" acquisitions, expanding our presence in the MRO market sector (N-E Thing Supply and Economy Maintenance Supply) and flooring and design services for professional homebuilders (Creative Touch Interiors).

        In fiscal 2005, we accelerated the pace of consolidation by acquiring 18 businesses, the largest of which was National Waterworks, a leading distributor of products used to build, repair and maintain water and wastewater transmission systems. In fiscal 2006, we transformed our business with the acquisition of Hughes Supply, which doubled our Net sales and further established our market leadership in a number of our largest business units, which we supplemented with 11 other strategic acquisitions.

        In 2007, investment funds associated with the Equity Sponsors formed Holdings and purchased HDS and the Canadian subsidiary CND Holdings, Inc. from Home Depot. In connection with the 2007 Transactions, Home Depot obtained a 12.5% interest in the then outstanding common stock of Holdings.

        Since 2007, we have focused on extending our presence in key growth sectors and exiting less attractive sectors. In February 2008, we sold our Lumber and Building Materials operations to ProBuild Holdings. In June 2009, we purchased substantially all of the assets of ORCO Construction Supply, the second largest construction materials distributor in the U.S., through Construction & Industrial. In February 2011, we sold all of the assets of SESCO/QUESCO, an electrical products division of HD Supply Canada, to Sonepar Canada. In May 2011, we purchased all of the assets of Rexford Albany Municipal Supply Company, Inc., expanding our Waterworks business in upstate New York. In September 2011, we sold our Plumbing/HVAC operations to Hajoca Corporation. In March 2012, we sold our Industrial Pipes, Valves and Fittings business to Shale-Inland Holdings LLC. In June 2012, we acquired Peachtree Business Products LLC, which specializes in customizable business and property marketing supplies, to enhance Facilities Maintenance. In December 2012, we purchased substantially all of the assets of Water Products, expanding the geographic footprint of our Waterworks business.

        On July 2, 2013, Holdings completed an initial public offering of 61,170,212 shares of its common stock at a price of $18.00 per share, for an aggregate offering price of $1,039 million, net of underwriters' discounts and commissions and offering expenses of approximately $16 million. Upon completion of Holdings' secondary public offerings in fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2015, the Equity Sponsors and Home Depot sold all of their remaining original investment in Holdings.

        During fiscal 2014, we completed the disposal of Litemor through liquidation. In January 2015, we sold substantially all of the assets of our Hardware Solutions business to Home Depot. In October 2015, we sold our Power Solutions business to Anixter Inc. In May 2016, we sold our Interior Solutions business to Interior Specialists, Inc. In August 2017, we sold our Waterworks business to funds affiliated with CD&R. For additional information on the discontinued operations, see Note 2, "Discontinued Operations," within "Part II. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."

        In March 2018, we completed the acquisition of A.H. Harris Construction Supplies, a leading specialty construction distributor serving the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, expanding Construction & Industrial's market presence in the northeastern United States.

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Customers and Suppliers

        We maintain a customer base of approximately 500,000 customers, many of whom represent long-term relationships. We are subject to very low customer concentration with our ten largest customers generating approximately 12.3% of our Net sales in fiscal 2017, reducing our exposure to any single customer.

        We have developed relationships with approximately 8,000 strategic suppliers, many of which are long-standing. These supplier relationships provide us with reliable access to inventory, volume purchasing benefits and the ability to deliver a diverse product offering on a cost-effective basis. We maintain multiple suppliers for a substantial number of our products, thereby limiting the risk of product shortage for customers.

Competition

        We operate in a highly fragmented industry and hold leading positions in both market sectors. The majority of our competition comes from mid-size regional distributors and small, local distributors; however, we also face competition from a number of national competitors, including Fastenal, Grainger, MSC Industrial, Watsco, Interline Brands (a Division of Home Depot) and Ferguson.

        We believe the principal competitive factors for our market sectors include local selling capabilities, availability, breadth and cost of materials and supplies, technical knowledge and expertise, value-add service capabilities, customer and supplier relationships, reliability and accuracy of service, effective use of technology, delivery capabilities and timeliness, pricing of products, and the provision of credit. We believe that our competitive strengths and strategy allow us to compete effectively in our market sectors.

Seasonality

        In a typical year, our operating results are impacted by seasonality. Historically, sales of our products have been higher in the second and third quarters of each fiscal year due to favorable weather and longer daylight conditions during these periods. Seasonal variations in operating results may also be significantly impacted by inclement weather conditions, such as cold or wet weather, which can delay construction projects and customer deliveries.

Products

Maintenance, Repair & Operations:

        Facilities Maintenance:    Electrical and lighting items, plumbing, HVAC products, appliances, janitorial supplies, hardware, kitchen and bath cabinets, window coverings, textiles and guest amenities, healthcare maintenance and water and wastewater treatment products.

Specialty Construction:

        Construction & Industrial:    Tilt-up brace systems, forming and shoring systems, concrete chemicals, hand and power tools, cutting tools, rebar, ladders, safety and fall arrest equipment, specialty screws and fasteners, sealants and adhesives, drainage pipe, geo-synthetics, erosion and sediment control equipment and other engineered materials used broadly across all types of non-residential and residential construction.

        Home Improvement Solutions:    Kitchen cabinets, windows, plumbing materials, masonry, electrical equipment, lumber, flooring and tools and tool rentals for small remodeling, home improvement and do-it-yourself residential projects.

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Intellectual property

        Our trademarks and those of our subsidiaries are registered or otherwise legally protected in the United States, Canada and elsewhere. We, together with our subsidiaries, own approximately 160 trademarks registered worldwide. We also rely upon trade secrets and know-how to develop and maintain our competitive position. We protect intellectual property rights through a variety of methods, including trademark, patent, copyright and trade secret laws, in addition to confidentiality agreements with suppliers, employees, consultants and others who have access to our proprietary information. Generally, registered trademarks have a perpetual life, provided that they are renewed on a timely basis and continue to be used properly as trademarks. We intend to maintain our material trademark registrations so long as they remain valuable to our business. Other than the trademarks HD Supply ®, USABluebook ®, Seasons ®, Brigade ®, Maintenance Warehouse ® and White Cap ®, we do not believe our business is dependent to a material degree on trademarks, patents, copyrights or trade secrets. Other than commercially available software licenses, we do not believe that any of our licenses for third-party intellectual property are material to our business, taken as a whole. See "Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—If we are unable to protect our intellectual property rights, or we infringe on the intellectual property rights of others, our ability to compete could be negatively impacted."

Employees

        In domestic and international operations, we had approximately 11,000 employees as of January 28, 2018, consisting of approximately 7,000 hourly personnel and approximately 4,000 salaried employees.

        As of January 28, 2018, none of our hourly workforce was covered by collective bargaining agreements.

Regulation

        Our operations are affected by various statutes, regulations and laws in the markets in which we operate, which historically have not had a material effect on our business. While we are not engaged in a regulated industry, we are subject to various laws applicable to businesses generally, including laws affecting land usage, zoning, the environment, health and safety, transportation, labor and employment practices, competition, immigration and other matters. Additionally, building codes may affect the products our customers are allowed to use, and consequently, changes in building codes may affect the saleability of our products. The transportation and disposal of many of our products are also subject to federal regulations. The DOT regulates our operations in domestic interstate commerce. We are subject to safety requirements governing interstate operations prescribed by the DOT. Vehicle dimensions and driver hours of service also remain subject to both federal and state regulation. See "Risk Factors—Risks Relating to Our Business—Our costs of doing business could increase as a result of changes in U.S. federal, state or local regulations."

Environmental, Health and Safety Matters

        We are subject to a broad range of foreign, federal, state and local environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, including those pertaining to air emissions, water discharges, the handling, disposal and transport of solid and hazardous materials and wastes, the investigation and remediation of contamination and otherwise relating to health and safety and the protection of the environment and natural resources. As our operations, and those of many of the companies we have acquired, to a limited extent involve and have involved the handling, transport and distribution of materials that are, or could be classified as, toxic or hazardous, there is some risk of contamination and environmental damage inherent in our operations and the products we handle, transport and distribute. Our

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environmental, health and safety liabilities and obligations may result in significant capital expenditures and other costs, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition and results of operations. We may be fined or penalized by regulators for failing to comply with environmental, health and safety laws and regulations, or we may be held responsible for such failures by companies we have acquired. In addition, contamination resulting from our current or past operations, and those of many of the companies we have acquired, may trigger investigation or remediation obligations, which may have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

Available Information

        We are subject to the reporting and information requirements of the Exchange Act and, as a result, we file periodic reports and other information with the SEC.

        The public may read and copy any such reports or other information that we file with the SEC. Such filings are available to the public over the internet at the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The SEC's website is included in this annual report on Form 10-K as an inactive textual reference only.

        In addition, the Company's annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K, and amendments to those reports are available free of charge to the public through the "Investor Relations" portion of the Company's website, www.hdsupply.com, as soon as reasonably practical after they are filed with the SEC. We include our website address in this filing only as a textual reference. The information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this report. You may also obtain a copy of any information that we file with the SEC at no cost by calling us, or writing to us, at the following address:

HD Supply
3100 Cumberland Boulevard, Suite 1480
Atlanta, Georgia 30339
Attn: General Counsel
(770) 852-9000

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ITEM 1A.    RISK FACTORS

Risks Relating to Our Business

We are subject to inherent risks of the maintenance, repair and operations market and the non-residential and residential construction markets, including risks related to general economic conditions.

        Demand for our products and services depends to a significant degree on spending in our markets. The level of activity in our markets depends on a variety of factors that we cannot control.

        Historically, both new housing starts and residential remodeling have decreased in slow economic periods. In addition, residential construction activity can impact the level of non-residential construction activity. Other factors impacting the level of activity in the non-residential and residential construction markets include:

•

changes in interest rates;



•

unemployment rates;



•

high foreclosure rates and unsold/foreclosure inventory;



•

unsold new housing inventory;



•

availability of financing (including the impact of disruption in the mortgage markets);



•

adverse changes in industrial economic outlook;



•

a decrease in the affordability of homes;



•

vacancy rates;



•

capacity utilization;



•

capital spending;



•

commercial investment;



•

corporate profitability;



•

local, state and federal government regulation; and



•

shifts in populations away from the markets that we serve.

        In the maintenance, repair and operations market, the level of activity depends largely on the number of units and occupancy rates within multifamily, hospitality, healthcare and institutional facilities markets. Because both of our markets are sensitive to changes in the economy, downturns (or lack of substantial improvement) in the economy in any region in which we operate have adversely affected and could continue to adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. For example, we distribute a number of our products to contractors in connection with non-residential building, residential and industrial construction projects. While we operate in many markets in the United States and Canada, our business is particularly impacted by changes in the economies of California, Texas and Florida, which represented approximately 26.5%, 11.6% and 8.9%, respectively, of our Net sales for fiscal 2017.

        In addition, the markets in which we compete are sensitive to general business and economic conditions in the United States and worldwide, including availability of credit, interest rates, fluctuations in capital, credit and mortgage markets and business and consumer confidence. Adverse developments in global financial markets and general business and economic conditions, including through recession, downturn or otherwise, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, including our ability and the ability of our customers and suppliers to access capital. There was a significant decline in economic growth, both in

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the United States and worldwide, that began in the second half of 2007 and continued through 2009. In addition, volatility and disruption in the capital markets during that period reached unprecedented levels, with stock markets falling dramatically and credit becoming very expensive or unavailable to many companies without regard to those companies' underlying financial strength. As a result of these developments, many lenders and institutional investors reduced, and in some cases, ceased to provide funding to borrowers. Although there has since been stabilization and improvement in the general economy and the industries and markets in which we operate, there can be no guarantee that any improvement in these areas will continue or be sustained.

We have been, and may continue to be, adversely impacted by the decline in the new residential construction market from its peak in 2005.

        Our business is dependent, in part, upon the new residential construction market. The homebuilding industry has undergone a significant decline from its peak in 2005. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, actual single family housing starts in the U.S. during 2017 increased 9% from 2016 levels, but remain 51% below their peak in 2005. The multi-year downturn in the homebuilding industry has resulted in a substantial reduction in demand for our products and services, which in turn has had a significant adverse effect on our business and operating results during fiscal years 2008 to 2017, as compared to peak levels. In addition, during this period the mortgage markets experienced disruption and reduced availability of mortgages for potential homebuyers due to more restrictive standards to qualify for mortgages, including with respect to new home construction loans. Although the new residential construction market has improved in recent years, there can be no assurance this trend will continue.

        We cannot predict the duration of the current housing industry market conditions, or the timing or strength of any future recovery of housing activity in our markets. We also cannot provide any assurances that the homebuilding industry will recover to historical levels, or that the operational strategies we have implemented to address the current market conditions will be successful. Weakness in the new residential construction market could have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. In addition, because of these factors, there may be fluctuations in our operating results, and the results for any historical period may not be indicative of results for any future period.

The non-residential building construction market could experience a downturn which could materially and adversely affect our business, liquidity and results of operations.

        Our business is dependent, in part, on the non-residential building construction market and a slowdown of or volatility in the United States economy in general could have an adverse effect on our business units. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, actual non-residential building construction put-in-place in the U.S. during 2017 increased 2% from 2016 levels, but remains 5% lower than 2008 levels. From time to time, our business units that serve the non-residential building construction market have also been adversely affected in various parts of the country by declines in non-residential building construction starts due to, among other things, changes in tax laws affecting the real estate industry, high interest rates and the level of residential construction activity. Continued uncertainty about current economic conditions will continue to pose a risk to our business units as participants in this industry may postpone spending in response to tighter credit, negative financial news and/or declines in income or asset values, which could have a continued material negative effect on the demand for our products and services.

        We cannot predict the duration of the current market conditions or the timing or strength of any future recovery of non-residential building construction activity in our markets. Weakness in the non-residential building construction market would have a significant adverse effect on our business, financial condition and operating results. In addition, because of these factors, there may be

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fluctuations in our operating results, and the results for any historical period may not be indicative of results for any future period.

Residential renovation and improvement activity levels may not return to historic levels which may negatively impact our business, liquidity and results of operations.

        Our business units rely on residential renovation and improvement (including repair and remodeling) activity levels. Unlike most previous cyclical declines in new home construction in which we did not experience comparable declines in our home improvement business unit, the most recent economic decline adversely affected our home improvement business unit as well. Management believes that residential improvement project spending in the United States increased 6% in 2017, but remains 13% below its peak level in 2005. Elevated unemployment levels, mortgage delinquency and foreclosure rates, limitations in the availability of mortgage and home improvement financing and lower housing turnover may continue to limit consumers' spending, particularly on discretionary items, and affect their confidence level leading to continued reduced spending on home improvement projects.

        We cannot predict the timing or strength of a significant recovery in these markets. Depressed activity levels in consumer spending for home improvement and new home construction would adversely affect our business, liquidity, results of operations and our financial position. Furthermore, economic weakness may cause unanticipated shifts in consumer preferences and purchasing practices and in the business models and strategies of our customers. Such shifts may alter the nature and prices of products demanded by the end consumer, and, in turn, our customers and could adversely affect our operating performance.

We may be unable to maintain profitability.

        We have set goals to progressively improve our profitability over time by growing our sales, increasing our gross margin and reducing our expenses as a percentage of sales. For fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, we had net income of $970 million, $196 million, and $1,472 million, respectively. There can be no assurance that we will achieve our enhanced profitability goals. Factors that could significantly adversely affect our efforts to achieve these goals include, but are not limited to, the failure to:

•

grow our revenue through organic growth or through acquisitions;



•

improve our revenue mix by investing (including through acquisitions) in businesses that provide higher margins than we have been able to generate historically;



•

achieve improvements in purchasing or maintain or increase our rebates from vendors through our vendor consolidation and/or low-cost country initiatives;



•

improve our gross margins through the utilization of improved pricing practices and technology and sourcing savings;



•

maintain or reduce our overhead and support expenses as we grow;



•

effectively evaluate future inventory reserves;



•

collect monies owed to us from customers;



•

maintain relationships with our significant customers; and



•

integrate any businesses acquired.

        Any of these failures or delays may adversely affect our ability to increase our profitability.

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We may be required to take impairment charges relating to our operations which could impact our future operating results.

        As of January 28, 2018, goodwill represented approximately 42% of our total assets. Goodwill is not amortized and is subject to impairment testing at least annually using a fair value based approach. The identification and measurement of impairment involves the estimation of the fair value of reporting units. The estimates of fair value of reporting units are based on the best information available as of the date of the assessment and incorporate management assumptions about expected future cash flows and other valuation techniques. Future cash flows can be affected by changes in industry or market conditions among other things.

        The recoverability of goodwill is evaluated at least annually and when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value of a reporting unit has more likely than not declined below its carrying value. Our annual impairment test resulted in no impairment of goodwill during fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, or fiscal 2015.

        We cannot accurately predict the amount and timing of any impairment of assets, and we may be required to take goodwill or other asset impairment charges relating to certain of our reporting units and asset groups in the event we experience weakness in the non-residential and/or residential construction markets and/or the general U.S. economy. Similarly, certain company transactions could result in goodwill impairment charges being recorded. Any such non-cash charges would have an adverse effect on our financial results.

In the event of a general economic downturn in the United States, we may be required to close under-performing locations.

        We may have to close under-performing branches from time to time as warranted by general economic conditions and/or weakness in the industries in which we operate. For example, during fiscal 2017, we closed certain branches and terminated employees as part of our on-going cost savings and profitability enhancement efforts. Any future facility closures could have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition, operating results and cash flows.

We occupy most of our facilities under long-term non-cancelable leases. We may be unable to renew leases on favorable terms or at all. Also, if we close a facility, we may remain obligated under the applicable lease.

        Most of our facilities are located in leased premises. Many of our current leases are non-cancelable and typically have terms ranging from 3 to 7 years, with options to renew for specified periods of time. We believe that leases we enter into in the future will likely be long-term and non-cancelable and have similar renewal options. However, there can be no assurance that we will be able to renew our current or future leases on favorable terms or at all which could have an adverse effect on our ability to operate our business and on our results of operations. In addition, if we close or idle a facility, we generally remain committed to perform our obligations under the applicable lease, which include, among other things, payment of the base rent for the balance of the lease term. Over the course of the last three fiscal years, we closed or idled facilities for which we remain liable on the lease obligations. Our obligation to continue making rental payments in respect of leases for closed or idled facilities could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.

The industries in which we operate are highly competitive and fragmented, and demand for our products and services could decrease if we are not able to compete effectively.

        The markets in which we operate are fragmented and highly competitive. Our competition includes other distributors and manufacturers that sell products directly to their respective customer bases and some of our customers that resell our products. To a limited extent, retailers of electrical fixtures and supplies, building materials, maintenance, repair and operations supplies and contractors' tools also

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compete with us. We also expect that new competitors may develop over time as internet-based enterprises become more established and reliable and refine their service capabilities. Competition varies depending on product line, customer classification and geographic area.

        We compete with many local, regional and, in several markets and product categories, other national distributors. Certain of our competitors have substantially greater financial and other resources than us. No assurance can be given that we will be able to respond effectively to these competitive pressures. Increased competition by existing and future competitors could result in reductions in sales, prices, volumes and gross margins that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and results of operations. Furthermore, our success will depend, in part, on our ability to maintain our market share and gain market share from competitors.

Our competitors continue to consolidate, which could cause markets to become more competitive and could negatively impact our business.

        Our competitors in the United States and Canada continue to consolidate. This consolidation is being driven by customer needs and supplier capabilities, which could cause markets to become more competitive as greater economies of scale are achieved by distributors, or as competitors with new business models are willing and able to operate with lower gross profit on select products. Customers are increasingly aware of the total costs of fulfillment and of the need to have consistent sources of supply at multiple locations. We believe these customer needs could result in fewer distributors as the remaining distributors become larger and more capable of being consistent sources of supply.

        There can be no assurance that we will be able to take advantage effectively of this trend toward consolidation. The trend in our industry toward consolidation could make it more difficult for us to maintain operating margins and could also increase competition for our potential acquisition targets and result in higher purchase price multiples. Furthermore, as our industrial and construction customers face increased foreign competition and potentially lose business to foreign competitors or shift their operations overseas in an effort to reduce expenses, we may face increased difficulty in growing and maintaining our market share and growth prospects in these markets.

The loss of any of our significant customers could adversely affect our financial condition.

        Our ten largest customers generated approximately 12.3% of our Net sales in fiscal 2017. We cannot guarantee that we will maintain or improve our relationships with these customers or that we will continue to supply these customers at historical levels. During the economic downturn, some of our customers reduced their operations. For example, some specialty construction customers exited or severely curtailed building activity in certain of our markets. There is no assurance that our customers will determine to increase their operations or return to historic levels. Slow economic recovery could continue to have a significant adverse effect on our financial condition, operating results and cash flows.

        In addition, consolidation among customers could also result in a loss of some of our present customers to our competitors. The loss of one or more of our significant customers, a significant customer's decision to purchase our products in significantly lower quantities than they have in the past or deterioration in our relationship with any of our significant customers could significantly affect our financial condition, operating results and cash flows.

        Generally, our customers are not required to purchase any minimum amount of products from us. The contracts into which we have entered with most of our customers typically provide that we supply particular products or services for a certain period of time when and if ordered by the customer. Should our customers purchase our products in significantly lower quantities than they have in the past, such decreased purchases could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operating results and cash flows.

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The majority of our Net sales are credit sales which are made primarily to customers whose ability to pay is dependent, in part, upon the economic strength of the industry and geographic areas in which they operate, and the failure to collect monies owed from customers could adversely affect our financial condition.

        The majority of our Net sales volume in fiscal 2017 was facilitated through the extension of credit to our customers whose ability to pay is dependent, in part, upon the economic strength of the industry in the areas where they operate. Our business units offer credit to customers, either through unsecured credit that is based solely upon the creditworthiness of the customer, or secured credit for materials sold for a specific job where the security lies in lien rights associated with the material going into the job. The type of credit offered depends both on the financial strength of the customer and the nature of the business in which the customer is involved. End users, resellers and other non-contractor customers generally purchase more on unsecured credit than secured credit. The inability of our customers to pay off their credit lines in a timely manner, or at all, would adversely affect our financial condition, operating results and cash flows. Furthermore, our collections efforts with respect to non-paying or slow-paying customers could negatively impact our customer relations going forward.

        Because we depend on the creditworthiness of certain of our customers, if the financial condition of our customers declines, our credit risk could increase. Significant contraction in our markets, coupled with tightened credit availability and financial institution underwriting standards, could adversely affect certain of our customers. Should one or more of our larger customers declare bankruptcy, it could adversely affect the collectability of our accounts receivable, bad debt reserves and net income.

We are subject to competitive pricing pressure from our customers.

        Certain of our largest customers historically have exerted significant pressure on their outside suppliers to keep prices low because of their market share and their ability to leverage such market share in the highly fragmented building products supply industry. The economic downturn resulted in increased pricing pressures from our customers. If we are unable to generate sufficient cost savings to offset any price reductions, our financial condition, operating results and cash flows may be adversely affected.

Future strategic transactions could impact our reputation, business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows, and we may not achieve the acquisition component of our growth strategy.

        We may pursue strategic transactions in the future, which could involve acquisitions or dispositions of businesses or assets. Any future strategic transaction could involve integration or implementation challenges, business disruption or other risks, or change our business profile significantly. Any inability on our part to successfully implement strategic transactions could have an adverse impact on our reputation, business, financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Any acquisition that we make may not provide us with the benefits that were anticipated when entering into such acquisition. Any future disposition transactions could also impact our business and may subject us to various risks, including failure to obtain appropriate value for the disposed businesses, post-closing claims being levied against us and disruption to our other businesses during the sale process or thereafter.

        In addition, although acquisitions may continue to be a component of our growth strategy, there can be no assurance that we will be able to continue to grow our business through acquisitions as we have done historically or that any businesses acquired will perform in accordance with expectations or that business judgments concerning the value, strengths and weaknesses of businesses acquired will prove to be correct. Future acquisitions may result in the incurrence of debt and contingent liabilities, an increase in interest expense and amortization expense and significant charges relative to integration costs. Our strategy could be impeded if we do not identify suitable acquisition candidates, and our financial condition and results of operations will be adversely affected if we overpay for acquisitions.

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        Acquisitions involve a number of special risks, including:

•

problems implementing disclosure controls and procedures for the newly acquired business;



•

unforeseen difficulties extending internal control over financial reporting and performing the required assessment at the newly acquired business;



•

potential adverse short-term effects on operating results through increased costs or otherwise;



•

diversion of management's attention and failure to recruit new, and retain existing, key personnel of the acquired business;



•

failure to successfully implement infrastructure, logistics and systems integration;



•

our business growth could outpace the capability of our systems; and



•

the risks inherent in the systems of the acquired business and risks associated with unanticipated events or liabilities, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations.

        In addition, we may not be able to obtain financing necessary to complete acquisitions on attractive terms or at all.

A range of factors may make our quarterly revenues and earnings variable.

        We have historically experienced, and in the future expect to continue to experience, variability in revenues and earnings on a quarterly basis. The factors expected to contribute to this variability include, among others: (i) the cyclical nature of some of the markets in which we compete, including the non-residential and residential construction markets, (ii) general economic conditions in the various local markets in which we compete, (iii) the pricing policies of our competitors, (iv) the production schedules of our customers and (v) the effects of the weather. These factors, among others, make it difficult to project our operating results on a consistent basis, which may affect the value of our securities.

The maintenance, repair and operations market and the non-residential and residential construction markets are seasonal and cyclical.

        Although weather patterns affect our operating results throughout the year, adverse weather historically has reduced construction and maintenance and repair activity in our first and fourth fiscal quarters. In contrast, our highest volume of Net sales historically has occurred in our second and third fiscal quarters. To the extent that hurricanes, severe storms, floods, other natural disasters or similar events occur in the geographic regions in which we operate, our business may be adversely affected. In addition, our business units experience seasonal variation as a result of the dependence of our customers on suitable weather to engage in construction, maintenance and renovation and improvement projects. For example, our Construction & Industrial business unit sells products used primarily in the non-residential and residential construction industry. Generally, during the winter months, construction activity declines due to inclement weather and shorter daylight hours. As a result, operating results for the business units that experience such seasonality may vary significantly from period to period. We anticipate that fluctuations from period to period will continue in the future.

        Disruptions at distribution centers or shipping ports, due to events such as work stoppages, as well as disruptions caused by tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards and other storms and natural disasters from time to time, may affect our ability to both maintain key products in inventory and deliver products to our customers on a timely basis, which may in turn adversely affect our results of operations.

        In addition, the non-residential and residential construction markets are subject to cyclical market pressures. The length and magnitude of these cycles have varied over time and by market. Prices of the

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products we sell are historically volatile and subject to fluctuations arising from changes in supply and demand, national and international economic conditions, labor costs, competition, market speculation, government regulation and trade policies, as well as from periodic delays in the delivery of our products. We have a limited ability to control the timing and amount of changes to prices that we pay for our products. In addition, the supply of our products fluctuates based on available manufacturing capacity. A shortage of capacity, or excess capacity, in the industry can result in significant increases or declines in market prices for those products, often within a short period of time. Such price fluctuations can adversely affect our financial condition, operating results and cash flows.

Fluctuating commodity prices may adversely impact our results of operations.

        The cost of steel, refrigerants, and other commodities used in the products we distribute can be volatile. Although we attempt to resist cost increases by our suppliers and to pass on increased costs to our customers, we are not always able to do so quickly or at all. In addition, if prices decrease for commodities used in products we distribute, we may have inventories purchased at higher prices than prevailing market prices. Significant fluctuations in the cost of the commodities used in products we distribute have in the past adversely affected, and in the future may adversely affect, our results of operations and financial condition.

If petroleum prices increase, our results of operations could be adversely affected. Conversely, prolonged weakness in the oil and gas industry could negatively impact our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

        Petroleum prices have fluctuated significantly in recent years. Prices and availability of petroleum products are subject to political, economic and market factors that are outside our control. Political events in petroleum-producing regions as well as hurricanes and other weather-related events may cause the price of fuel to increase. Within our business units, we deliver products to our customers via our own trucks as well as third-party carriers. Our operating profit will be adversely affected if we are unable to obtain the fuel we require or to fully offset the anticipated impact of higher fuel prices through increased prices or fuel surcharges to our customers. Besides passing fuel costs on to customers, we have not entered into any hedging arrangements that protect against fuel price increases, and we do not have any long-term fuel purchase contracts. If shortages occur in the supply of necessary petroleum products and we are not able to pass along the full impact of increased petroleum prices to our customers, our results of operations would be adversely affected.

        A number of our branch locations serve customers that are either direct or indirect participants in the oil & gas industry. Additionally, a number of our branch locations are also geographically located in or near areas where the oil & gas industry is a significant component of the overall local economy, such as in Texas and in the various shale gas producing regions within the U.S. and Canada. If the prices of oil and gas remain relatively low and our customers are negatively impacted, then our customers' demand for our products and services could also be negatively impacted which would have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows.

Product shortages may impair our operating results.

        Our ability to offer a wide variety of products to our customers is dependent upon our ability to obtain adequate product supply from manufacturers or other suppliers. Generally, our products are obtainable from various sources and in sufficient quantities. However, the loss of, or substantial decrease in the availability of, products from our suppliers, or the loss of our key supplier agreements, could adversely impact our financial condition, operating results and cash flows. In addition, supply interruptions could arise from shortages of raw materials (including petroleum products), labor disputes or weather conditions affecting products or shipments, transportation disruptions, adjustments to our inventory levels or other factors within and beyond our control.

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        Short- and long-term disruptions in our supply chain would result in a need to maintain higher inventory levels as we replace similar product, a higher cost of product and ultimately a decrease in our Net sales and profitability. A disruption in the timely availability of our products by our key suppliers would result in a decrease in our revenues and profitability. Although in many instances we have agreements with our suppliers, these agreements are generally terminable by either party on limited notice. Failure by our suppliers to continue to supply us with products on commercially reasonable terms, or at all, would put pressure on our operating margins and have a material adverse effect on our financial condition, operating results and cash flows. Short-term changes in the cost of these materials, some of which are subject to significant fluctuations, are sometimes, but not always passed on to our customers. Our inability to pass on material price increases to our customers could adversely impact our financial condition, operating results and cash flows.

We rely on third-party suppliers and long supply chains, and if we fail to identify and develop relationships with a sufficient number of qualified suppliers, or if there is a significant interruption in our supply chains, our ability to timely and efficiently access products that meet our standards for quality could be adversely affected.

        We buy our products and supplies from suppliers located throughout the world. These suppliers manufacture and source products from the United States and abroad. Our ability to identify and develop relationships with qualified suppliers who can satisfy our standards for quality and our need to access products and supplies in a timely and efficient manner is a significant challenge. We may be required to replace a supplier if their products do not meet our quality or safety standards. In addition, our suppliers could discontinue selling products at any time for reasons that may or may not be in our control or the suppliers' control. Our operating results and inventory levels could suffer if we are unable to promptly replace a supplier who is unwilling or unable to satisfy our requirements with a supplier providing similar products. Our suppliers' ability to deliver products may also be affected by financing constraints caused by credit market conditions, which could negatively impact our revenue and cost of products sold, at least until alternate sources of supply are arranged.

        In addition, since some of the products that we distribute are produced in foreign countries, we are dependent on long supply chains for the successful delivery of many of our products. The length and complexity of these supply chains make them vulnerable to numerous risks, many of which are beyond our control, which could cause significant interruptions or delays in delivery of our products. Factors such as political instability, the financial instability of suppliers, suppliers' noncompliance with applicable laws, trade restrictions, labor disputes, currency fluctuations, changes in tariff or import policies, severe weather, terrorist attacks and transport capacity and cost may disrupt these supply chains and our ability to access products and supplies. For example, if the government of China were to reduce or withdraw the tax benefits they provide our Chinese suppliers, the cost of some of our products may increase and our margins could be reduced. We expect more of our products will be imported in the future, which will further increase these risks. If we increase the percentage of our products that are sourced from lower-cost countries, these risks will be amplified. Moreover, these risks will be amplified by our ongoing efforts to consolidate our supplier base across our business units. A significant interruption in our supply chains caused by any of the above factors could result in increased costs or delivery delays and result in a decrease in our Net sales and profitability.

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New trade policies could make sourcing product from foreign countries more difficult and more costly.

        We source a significant amount of our products from outside of the United States. Considerable political uncertainty exists in the United States and abroad that could result in changes to the national and international trade policies around which we have built our sourcing practices and operations. Given our significant investment in our sourcing and logistics operations and infrastructure, as well as our reliance upon non-domestic suppliers, any significant changes to the United States trade policies (and those of other countries in response) may cause a material adverse effect on our ability to source products from other countries or significantly increase the costs of obtaining such products, which would result in a material adverse effect on our financial results. For example, on March 1, 2018, the current presidential administration announced their intention to impose tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on aluminum imports. These tariffs could go into effect in the near future. If the United States were to implement such recommendations, the cost of some of our products may increase and our margins could be reduced.

We have substantial fixed costs and, as a result, our operating income is sensitive to changes in our Net sales.

        A significant portion of our expenses are fixed costs (including personnel), which do not fluctuate with Net sales. Consequently, a percentage decline in our Net sales could have a greater percentage effect on our operating income if we do not act to reduce personnel or take other cost reduction actions. Any decline in our Net sales would cause our profitability to be adversely affected. Moreover, a key element of our strategy is managing our assets, including our substantial fixed assets, more effectively, including through sales or other disposals of excess assets. Our failure to rationalize our fixed assets in the time, and within the costs, we expect could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

A change in our product mix could adversely affect our results of operations.

        Our results may be affected by a change in our product mix. Our outlook, budgeting and strategic planning assume a certain product mix of sales. If actual results vary from this projected product mix of sales, our financial results could be negatively impacted.

The impairment or failure of financial institutions may adversely affect us.

        We have exposure to counterparties with which we execute transactions, including U.S. and foreign commercial banks, insurance companies, investment banks, investment funds and other financial institutions. Many of these transactions could expose us to risk in the event of the bankruptcy, receivership, default or similar event involving a counterparty. While we have not realized any significant losses to date, the bankruptcy, receivership, default or similar event involving one of our financial institution counterparties could have a material adverse impact on our access to funding or our ability to meet our financing agreement obligations.

The development of alternatives to distributors in the supply chain could cause a decrease in our sales and operating results and limit our ability to grow our business.

        Our customers could begin fulfilling more of their product needs directly from manufacturers, which would result in decreases in our Net sales and earnings. Our suppliers could invest in infrastructure to expand their own local sales force and sell more products directly to our customers, which also would negatively impact our business.

        In addition to these factors, our customers may elect to establish their own building products manufacturing and distribution facilities, or give advantages to manufacturing or distribution intermediaries in which they have an economic stake. These changes in the supply chain could adversely affect our financial condition, operating results and cash flows.

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Because our business is working capital intensive, we rely on our ability to manage our product purchasing and customer credit policies.

        Our operations are working capital intensive, and our inventories, accounts receivable and accounts payable are significant components of our net asset base. We manage our inventories and accounts payable through our purchasing policies and our accounts receivable through our customer credit policies. If we fail to adequately manage our product purchasing or customer credit policies, our working capital and financial condition may be adversely affected.

Anti-terrorism measures and other disruptions to the transportation network could impact our distribution system and our operations.

        Our ability to provide efficient distribution of products to our customers is an integral component of our overall business strategy. In the aftermath of terrorist attacks in the United States, federal, state and local authorities have implemented and continue to implement various security measures that affect many parts of the transportation network in the United States and abroad. Our customers typically need quick delivery and rely on our on-time delivery capabilities. If security measures disrupt or impede the timing of our deliveries, we may fail to meet the needs of our customers, or may incur increased expenses to do so.

The implementation of our technology initiatives could disrupt our operations in the near term, and our technology initiatives might not provide the anticipated benefits or might fail.

        We have made, and will continue to make, significant technology investments in each of our business units and in our administrative functions. Our technology initiatives are designed to streamline our operations to allow our associates to continue to provide high quality service to our customers and to provide our customers a better experience, while improving the quality of our internal control environment. The cost and potential problems and interruptions associated with the implementation of our technology initiatives could disrupt or reduce the efficiency of our operations in the near term. In addition, our new or upgraded technology might not provide the anticipated benefits, it might take longer than expected to realize the anticipated benefits or the technology might fail altogether.

Interruptions in the proper functioning of our information technology, or "IT" systems, including from cybersecurity threats, could disrupt operations and cause unanticipated increases in costs or decreases in revenues, or both.

        We use our information systems to, among other things, manage inventories and accounts receivable, make purchasing decisions, manage our manufacturing operations and monitor our results of operations, and process, transmit and store sensitive electronic data, including employee, supplier and customer records. As a result, the proper functioning of our IT systems is critical to the successful operation of our business. Our information systems include proprietary systems developed and maintained by us. In addition, we depend on IT systems of third parties, such as suppliers, retailers and OEMs to, among other things, market and distribute products, develop new products and services, operate our website, host and manage our services, store data, process transactions, respond to customer inquiries and manage inventory and our supply chain. Although our IT systems are protected through physical and software safeguards and remote processing capabilities exist, our IT systems or those of third parties upon whom we depend are still vulnerable to natural disasters, power losses, unauthorized access, telecommunication failures and other problems. If critical proprietary or third-party IT systems fail or are otherwise unavailable, including as a result of system upgrades and transitions, our ability to process orders, track credit risk, identify business opportunities, maintain proper levels of inventories, collect accounts receivable, pay expenses and otherwise manage our business would be adversely affected.

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        Cyber incidents can result from deliberate attacks or unintentional events. These incidents can include, but are not limited to, gaining unauthorized access to digital systems for purposes of misappropriating assets or sensitive information, collecting ransoms, corrupting data, or causing operational disruption. Cybersecurity attacks in particular are becoming more sophisticated and include, but are not limited to, malicious software, attempts to gain unauthorized access to data (either directly or through our vendors and customers) and other electronic security breaches. Despite our security measures, our IT systems and infrastructure or those of our third parties may be vulnerable to such cyber incidents. The result of these incidents could include, but are not limited to, disrupted operations, misstated or misappropriated financial data, theft of our intellectual property or other confidential information (including of our customers, suppliers and employees), liability for stolen assets or information, increased cyber security protection costs and reputational damage adversely affecting customer or investor confidence. In addition, if any information about our customers, including payment information, were the subject of a successful cybersecurity attack against us, we could be subject to litigation or other claims by the affected customers. We have incurred costs and may incur significant additional costs in order to implement the security measures we feel are appropriate to protect our IT systems.

Our costs of doing business could increase as a result of changes in U.S. federal, state or local regulations.

        Our operations are principally affected by various statutes, regulations and laws in the 36 U.S. states and six Canadian provinces in which we operate. While we are not engaged in a regulated industry, we are subject to various laws applicable to businesses generally, including laws affecting land usage, zoning, the environment, health and safety, transportation, labor and employment practices, competition, immigration and other matters. Additionally, building codes may affect the products our customers are allowed to use, and consequently, changes in building codes may affect the saleability of our products. Changes in U.S. federal, state or local regulations governing the sale of some of our products could increase our costs of doing business. In addition, changes to U.S. federal, state and local tax regulations could increase our costs of doing business. We cannot provide assurance that we will not incur material costs or liabilities in connection with regulatory requirements.

        We deliver products to many of our customers through our own fleet of vehicles. The U.S. Department of Transportation (the "DOT") regulates our operations in domestic interstate commerce. We are subject to safety requirements governing interstate operations prescribed by the DOT. Vehicle dimensions and driver hours of service also remain subject to both federal and state regulation. More restrictive limitations on vehicle weight and size, trailer length and configuration, or driver hours of service could increase our costs, which, if we are unable to pass these cost increases on to our customers, would reduce our gross margins, increase our Selling, general and administrative expenses and reduce our Net income (loss).

        We cannot predict whether future developments in law and regulations concerning our business units will affect our business, financial condition and results of operations in a negative manner. Similarly, we cannot assess whether our business units will be successful in meeting future demands of regulatory agencies in a manner which will not materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We are required to evaluate and, if applicable, disclose our use of 'conflict minerals' in certain of the products we distribute, which imposes costs on us and could raise reputational and other risks.

        The SEC promulgated final rules in connection with the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, regarding disclosure of the use of certain minerals, known as 'conflict minerals', that are mined from the Democratic Republic of the Congo and adjoining countries. Compliance with these rules requires due diligence efforts and disclosure in each fiscal year. There are costs associated with complying with these disclosure requirements, including costs to determine which

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of our products are subject to the new rules and the source of any 'conflict minerals' used in those products. In addition, the implementation of these rules could adversely affect the sourcing, supply, and pricing of materials used in those products. Also, we may face reputational challenges if we are unable to verify the origins for all metals used in products through the procedures we may implement. We may also encounter challenges to satisfy customers that may require all of the components of products purchased to be certified as conflict free. If we are not able to meet customer requirements, customers may choose to disqualify us as a distributor which could materially affect our business, financial condition or results of operations.

The nature of our business exposes us to construction defect and product liability claims as well as other legal proceedings.

        We rely on manufacturers and other suppliers to provide us with the products we sell and distribute. As we do not have direct control over the quality of the products manufactured or supplied by such third-party suppliers, we are exposed to risks relating to the quality of the products we distribute and install. It is possible that inventory from a manufacturer or supplier could be sold to our customers and later be alleged to have quality problems or to have caused personal injury, subjecting us to potential claims from customers or third parties. We have been subject to such claims in the past, which have been resolved without material financial impact. From time to time, we are involved in construction defect and product liability claims relating to our various construction trades and the products we distribute and manufacture and relating to products we have installed. In certain situations, we have undertaken to voluntarily remediate any defects, which can be a costly measure. We also operate a large fleet of trucks and other vehicles and therefore face the risk of traffic accidents.

        While we currently maintain insurance coverage to address a portion of these types of liabilities, we cannot make assurances that we will be able to obtain such insurance on acceptable terms in the future, if at all, or that any such insurance will provide adequate coverage against potential claims. Further, while we seek indemnification against potential liability for product liability claims from relevant parties, including but not limited to manufacturers and suppliers, we cannot guarantee that we will be able to recover under such indemnification agreements. Moreover, if we increase the number of private label products we distribute, our exposure to potential liability for products liability claims may increase. Product liability claims can be expensive to defend and can divert the attention of management and other personnel for significant time periods, regardless of the ultimate outcome. An unsuccessful product liability defense could be highly costly and accordingly result in a decline in profitability. In addition, uncertainties with respect to the Chinese legal system may adversely affect us in resolving claims arising from our proprietary brand products manufactured in China. Because many laws and regulations are relatively new and the Chinese legal system is still evolving, the interpretations of many laws, regulations and rules are not always uniform. Finally, even if we are successful in defending any claim relating to the products we distribute, claims of this nature could negatively impact customer confidence in our products and our Company.

        From time to time, we are also involved in government inquiries and investigations, as well as class action, consumer, employment and tort proceedings, and other litigation. We cannot predict with certainty the outcomes of these legal proceedings and other contingencies, including environmental remediation and other proceedings commenced by government authorities. The outcome of some of these legal proceedings and other contingencies could require us to take, or refrain from taking, actions which could adversely affect our operations or could require us to pay substantial amounts of money. Additionally, defending against these lawsuits and proceedings may involve significant expense and diversion of management's attention and resources from other matters.

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If we become subject to material liabilities under our self-insured programs, our financial results may be adversely affected.

        We provide workers' compensation, automobile and product/general liability coverage through a high deductible insurance program. In addition, we are self-insured for our health benefits and maintain per employee stop-loss coverage. Although we believe that we have adequate stop-loss coverage for catastrophic claims to cap the risk of loss, our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected if the number and severity of claims that are not covered by stop-loss insurance increases.

We may see increased costs arising from healthcare reform.

        In March 2010, the United States government enacted comprehensive healthcare reform legislation which, among other things, includes guaranteed coverage requirements, eliminates pre-existing condition exclusions and annual and lifetime maximum limits, restricts the extent to which policies can be rescinded and imposes new and significant taxes on health insurers and healthcare benefits. Although the current United States administration has indicated its desire and intent to repeal and/or replace the current healthcare reform legislation, there can be no assurance that any such action will be achieved. The March 2010 legislation imposes implementation effective dates which began in 2010 and extend through 2020, and many of the changes require additional guidance from government agencies or federal regulations. Therefore, due to the phased-in nature of the implementation and limited interpretive guidance, and the legislation's possible repeal and/or replacement, it is difficult to determine at this time what impact the health care reform legislation, or any possible replacement, will have on our financial results. Possible adverse effects of the health reform legislation, and any replacement, include increased costs, exposure to expanded liability and requirements for us to revise ways in which we provide healthcare and other benefits to our employees. As a result, our results of operations, financial condition and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.

Our success depends upon our ability to attract, train and retain highly qualified associates and key personnel.

        To be successful, we must attract, train and retain a large number of highly qualified associates while controlling related labor costs. Our ability to control labor costs is subject to numerous external factors, including prevailing wage rates and health and other insurance costs. We compete with other businesses for these associates and invest significant resources in training and motivating them. There is no assurance that we will be able to attract or retain highly qualified associates in the future, including, in particular, those employed by companies we acquire. A very small proportion of our employees (within our recent acquisition of A.H. Harris Construction Supplies) are currently covered by collective bargaining or other similar labor agreements. Historically, the effects of collective bargaining and other similar labor agreements on us have not been significant. However, if our employees were to unionize, including in the wake of any future legislation that makes it easier for employees to unionize, the effect on us may be adverse. Any inability by us to negotiate acceptable new contracts under these collective bargaining arrangements could cause strikes or other work stoppages, and new contracts could result in increased operating costs. If any such strikes or other work stoppages occur, or if other employees become represented by a union, we could experience a disruption of our operations and higher labor costs. Labor relations matters affecting our suppliers of products and services could also adversely affect our business from time to time.

        In addition, our business results depend largely upon our chief executive officer and senior management team as well as our branch managers and sales personnel and their experience, knowledge of local market dynamics and specifications and long-standing customer relationships. We customarily sign employment letters providing for an agreement not to compete with key personnel of companies we acquire in order to maintain key customer relationships and manage the transition of the acquired

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business. Our inability to retain or hire qualified branch managers or sales personnel at economically reasonable compensation levels would restrict our ability to grow our business, limit our ability to continue to successfully operate our business and result in lower operating results and profitability.

Fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates may significantly reduce our revenues and profitability.

        As an industrial distributor of manufactured products, our profitability is tied to the prices we pay to the manufacturers from which we purchase our products. Some of our suppliers price their products in currencies other than the U.S. dollar or incur costs of production in non-U.S. currencies. Accordingly, depreciation of the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies increases the prices we pay for these products. Even short-term currency fluctuations could adversely impact revenues and profitability if we are unable to pass higher supply costs on to our customers. Our delayed ability to pass on material price increases to our customers could adversely impact our financial condition, operating results and cash flows.

If we are unable to protect our intellectual property rights, or we infringe on the intellectual property rights of others, our ability to compete could be negatively impacted.

        Our ability to compete effectively depends, in part, upon our ability to protect and preserve proprietary aspects of our intellectual property, including our trademarks and customer lists. The use of our intellectual property or similar intellectual property by others could adversely impact our ability to compete, cause us to lose Net sales or otherwise harm our business. If it became necessary for us to resort to litigation to protect these rights, any proceedings could be burdensome and costly, and we may not prevail.

        Also, we cannot be certain that the products that we sell do not and will not infringe issued patents or other intellectual property rights of others. Further, we are subject to legal proceedings and claims in the ordinary course of our business, including claims of alleged infringement of the trademarks, patents and other intellectual property rights of third parties by us or our customers in connection with their use of the products that we distribute. Should we be found liable for infringement, we (or our suppliers) may be required to enter into licensing agreements (if available on acceptable terms or at all) or pay damages and cease making or selling certain products. Moreover, we may need to redesign or sell different products to avoid future infringement liability. Any of the foregoing could cause us to incur significant costs, prevent us from selling our products or negatively impact our ability to compete.

Income tax payments may ultimately differ from amounts currently recorded by us. Future tax law changes may materially increase our prospective income tax expense.

        We are subject to income taxation in many jurisdictions in the U.S. as well as foreign jurisdictions. Judgment is required in determining our worldwide income tax provision and, accordingly, there are many transactions and computations for which our final income tax determination is uncertain. We are routinely audited by income tax authorities in many tax jurisdictions. Although we believe the recorded tax estimates are reasonable, the ultimate outcome from any audit (or related litigation) could be materially different from amounts reflected in our income tax provisions and accruals. Future settlements of income tax audits may have a material effect on earnings between the period of initial recognition of tax estimates in the financial statements and the point of ultimate tax audit settlement. Additionally, it is possible that future income tax legislation and/or import tariffs or border adjustment proposals in any jurisdiction to which we are subject may be enacted that could have a material impact on our worldwide income tax provision beginning with the period that such legislation becomes effective.

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Our NOL carryforwards could be limited if we experience an ownership change as defined in the Internal Revenue Code.

        As of January 28, 2018, we had U.S. federal NOL carryforwards of $791 million ($166 million on a tax-effected basis). Such NOL carryforwards begin to expire in fiscal 2033. We also had significant state NOL carryforwards, which expire in various years through fiscal 2037. Our ability to deduct these NOL carryforwards against future taxable income is contingent on the generation of future taxable income in the jurisdiction of the prior NOL. Additionally, our ability to deduct NOL carryforwards could be limited if we experience an "ownership change," as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In general, an ownership change may result from transactions increasing the aggregate direct or indirect ownership of certain persons (or groups of persons) in our stock by more than 50 percentage points over a testing period (generally three years). Future direct or indirect changes in the ownership of our common stock, including sales or acquisitions of our common stock by stockholders and purchases and issuances of our common stock by us, some of which are not in our control, could result in an ownership change. Any resulting limitation on the use of our NOL carryforwards could result in the payment of taxes above the amounts currently anticipated and have a negative effect on our future results of operations and financial position. Additionally, uncertainty exists with respect to future regulatory guidance and interpretations of the U.S. Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Act"), as well as the assumptions the Company makes related to the Tax Act, which could have an impact on the use of the Company's NOL carryforwards.

We may not be able to identify new products and new product lines and integrate them into our distribution network, which may impact our ability to compete.

        Our business depends in part on our ability to identify future products and product lines that complement existing products and product lines and that respond to our customers' needs. We may not be able to compete effectively unless our product selection keeps up with trends in the markets in which we compete or trends in new products. In addition, our ability to integrate new products and product lines into our distribution network could impact our ability to compete. Furthermore, the success of new products and new product lines will depend on market demand and there is a risk that new products and new product lines will not deliver expected results, which could negatively impact our future sales and results of operations. Our expansion into new markets may present competitive, distribution and regulatory challenges that differ from current ones. We may be less familiar with the target customers and may face different or additional risks, as well as increased or unexpected costs, compared to existing operations. Growth into new markets may also bring us into direct competition with companies with whom we have little or no past experience as competitors. To the extent we are reliant upon expansion into new geographic, industry and product markets for growth and do not meet the new challenges posed by such expansion, our future sales growth could be negatively impacted, our operating costs could increase, and our business operations and financial results could be negatively affected.

We could incur significant costs in complying with environmental, health and safety laws or permits or as a result of satisfying any liability or obligation imposed under such laws or permits.

        Our operations are subject to various federal, state, local and foreign environmental, health and safety laws and regulations. Among other things, these laws regulate the emission or discharge of materials into the environment, govern the use, storage, treatment, disposal and management of hazardous substances and wastes, protect the health and safety of our employees and the end users of our products, regulate the materials used in and the recycling of products and impose liability for the costs of investigating and remediating, and damages resulting from, present and past releases of hazardous substances. Violations of these laws and regulations or non-compliance with any conditions contained in any environmental permit can result in substantial fines or penalties, injunctive relief,

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requirements to install pollution or other controls or equipment, civil and criminal sanctions, permit revocations and/or facility shutdowns. We could be held liable for the costs to address contamination of any real property we have ever owned, operated or used as a disposal site. We could also incur fines, penalties, sanctions or be subject to third-party claims for property damage, personal injury or nuisance or otherwise as a result of violations of or liabilities under environmental laws in connection with releases of hazardous or other materials. In addition, changes in, or new interpretations of, existing laws, regulations or enforcement policies, the discovery of previously unknown contamination, or the imposition of other environmental liabilities or obligations in the future, including additional investigation or other obligations with respect to any potential health hazards of our products or business activities or the imposition of new permit requirements, may lead to additional compliance or other costs that could have material adverse effect on our business, financial condition or results of operations.

We may be affected by global climate change or by legal, regulatory or market responses to such potential change.

        Concern over climate change, including the impact of global warming, has led to significant federal, state, and international legislative and regulatory efforts to limit greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions. For example, over the past several years, the U.S. Congress has considered various bills that would regulate GHG emissions. While these bills have not yet received sufficient Congressional support for enactment, some form of federal climate change legislation could be possible in the future. Even in the absence of such legislation, the Environmental Protection Agency, spurred by judicial interpretation of the Clean Air Act, may regulate GHG emissions, especially diesel engine emissions, and this could impose substantial costs on us. These costs include an increase in the cost of the fuel and other energy we purchase and capital costs associated with updating or replacing our internal fleet of trucks and other vehicles prematurely. In addition, new laws or future regulation could directly and indirectly affect our customers and suppliers (through an increase in the cost of production or their ability to produce satisfactory products) and our business (through the impact on our inventory availability, cost of sales, operations or demands for the products we sell). Until the timing, scope and extent of any future regulation becomes known, we cannot predict its effect on our cost structure or our operating results. Notwithstanding our dedication to being a responsible corporate citizen, it is reasonably possible that such legislation or regulation could impose material costs on us. Moreover, even without such legislation or regulation, increased awareness and any adverse publicity in the global marketplace about the GHGs emitted by companies involved in the transportation of goods could harm our reputation and reduce customer demand for our products and services.

Our failure to maintain effective disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

        We are required to evaluate the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting on a periodic basis and publicly disclose the results of these evaluations and related matters, in accordance with the requirements of Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. These reporting and other obligations place significant additional demands on our management and administrative and operational resources, including our accounting resources, which could adversely affect our operations among other things. To comply with these requirements, we have upgraded, and are continuing to upgrade, our systems, including information technology, and we have implemented additional financial and management controls, reporting systems and procedures. We cannot be certain that we will be successful in maintaining adequate control over our financial reporting and financial processes. Furthermore, as we grow our business both organically and through acquisition, our disclosure controls and procedures and internal control over financial reporting will become more complex, and we may require significantly more resources to ensure that these controls and procedures remain effective. If we are unable to continue upgrading our financial and management

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controls, reporting systems, information technology and procedures in a timely and effective fashion, additional management and other resources of the Company may need to be devoted to assist in compliance with the disclosure and financial reporting requirements and other rules that apply to reporting companies, which could adversely affect our business, financial position and results of operations.

Future changes in financial accounting standards may significantly change our reported results of operations.

        The accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") are subject to interpretation by the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB"), the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the SEC and various bodies formed to promulgate and interpret appropriate accounting principles. A change in these principles or interpretations could have a significant effect on our reported financial results and could affect the reporting of transactions completed before the announcement of a change. In addition, the SEC has announced a multi-year plan that could ultimately lead to the use of International Financial Reporting Standards by U.S. issuers in their SEC filings. Any such change could have a significant effect on our reported financial results.

        Additionally, our assumptions, estimates and judgments related to complex accounting matters could significantly affect our financial results. GAAP and related accounting pronouncements, implementation guidelines and interpretations with regard to a wide range of matters that are relevant to our business, including, but not limited to, revenue recognition, impairment of long-lived assets, leases and related economic transactions, intangibles, self-insurance, income taxes, property and equipment, litigation and stock-based compensation are highly complex and involve many subjective assumptions, estimates and judgments by us. Changes in these rules or their interpretation or changes in underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments by us (i) could require us to make changes to our accounting systems to implement these changes that could increase our operating costs and (ii) could significantly change our reported or expected financial performance.

        On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)" ("ASU 2016-02"). ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. The lease accounting model is a "right of use" model that assumes that each lease creates an asset (the lessee's right to use the leased asset) and a liability (the future rent payment obligations) which should be reflected on a lessee's balance sheet to fairly represent the lease transaction and the lessee's related financial obligations. We conduct operations primarily under leases that are accounted for as operating leases, with no related assets and liabilities on our balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 requires that substantially all of our operating leases be recognized as assets and liabilities on our balance sheet. Adoption of ASU 2016-02 could have a material impact on our reported results of operations. Interpretations of the new lease accounting rules or changes in underlying assumptions, estimates or judgments by us could significantly change our reported or expected financial performance.

Fulfilling the obligations incident to being a public company, including with respect to the requirements of and related rules under the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, is expensive and time-consuming, and any delays or difficulties in satisfying these obligations could have a material adverse effect on our future results of operations.

        As an issuer of publicly listed equity, we are subject to certain reporting and corporate governance requirements, NASDAQ listing standards and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, which impose certain compliance costs and obligations upon us. These requirements result in a significant commitment of additional resources and management oversight which increases our operating costs. These requirements also place significant demands on our finance and accounting and legal staffs and on our financial accounting and information systems. Other expenses associated with being a public company

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include costs associated with auditing, accounting and legal fees and expenses, investor relations expenses, increased directors' fees and director and officer liability insurance costs, registrar and transfer agent fees and listing fees, as well as other expenses.

        In addition, our independent registered public accounting firm is required to provide an attestation report on the effectiveness of internal controls over financial reporting pursuant to Section 404(b) of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. If our independent registered public accounting firm is unable to provide an unqualified report regarding the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting, investors could lose confidence in the reliability of our financial statements. Failure to comply with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 could potentially subject us to sanctions or investigations by the SEC, or other regulatory authorities.

Risks Relating to Our Indebtedness

We have substantial debt and may incur substantial additional debt, which could adversely affect our financial health, reduce our profitability, limit our ability to obtain financing in the future and pursue certain business opportunities and reduce the value of your investment.

        As of January 28, 2018, we had an aggregate principal amount of $2,101 million of outstanding debt, net of unamortized discounts and unamortized deferred financing costs of $6 million and $29 million, respectively. In fiscal 2017 we incurred $166 million of interest expense.

        The amount of our debt or such other obligations could have important consequences for holders of our common stock, including, but not limited to:

•

a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations must be dedicated to the payment of principal and interest on our indebtedness, thereby reducing the funds available to us for other purposes;



•

our ability to obtain additional financing for working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions, debt service requirements or general corporate purposes and other purposes may be impaired in the future;



•

we are exposed to the risk of increased interest rates because a portion of our borrowings is at variable rates of interest;



•

we may be at a competitive disadvantage compared to our competitors with less debt or with comparable debt at more favorable interest rates and that, as a result, may be better positioned to withstand economic downturns;



•

our ability to refinance indebtedness may be limited or the associated costs may increase;



•

our ability to engage in acquisitions without raising additional equity or obtaining additional debt financing may be impaired in the future;



•

it may be more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations to our creditors, resulting in possible defaults on and acceleration of such indebtedness;



•

we may be more vulnerable to general adverse economic and industry conditions; and



•

our flexibility to adjust to changing market conditions and our ability to withstand competitive pressures could be limited, or we may be prevented from making capital investments that are necessary or important to our operations in general, growth strategy and efforts to improve operating margins of our business units.

        If our cash flow and capital resources are insufficient to fund our debt service obligations, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets, seek to obtain additional equity capital or refinance our debt. We cannot make assurances that we will be able to refinance our debt on terms

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acceptable to us, or at all. In the future, our cash flow and capital resources may not be sufficient for payments of interest on and principal of our debt, and such alternative measures may not be successful and may not permit us to meet our scheduled debt service obligations.

        We cannot make assurances that we will be able to refinance any of our indebtedness, or obtain additional financing, particularly because of our current debt levels and the debt incurrence restrictions imposed by the agreements governing our debt, as well as prevailing market conditions. In the absence of such operating results and resources, we could face substantial liquidity problems and might be required to dispose of material assets or operations to meet our debt service and other obligations. The credit agreements governing our Senior Credit Facilities and the indentures governing our outstanding notes restrict our ability to dispose of assets and how we use the proceeds from any such dispositions. We cannot make assurances that we will be able to consummate those dispositions, or if we do, what the timing of the dispositions will be or whether the proceeds that we realize will be adequate to meet our debt service obligations when due.

Despite our current level of indebtedness, we may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks to our financial condition.

        We may be able to incur significant additional indebtedness in the future, including secured debt. Although the agreements governing our indebtedness contain restrictions on the incurrence of additional indebtedness, these restrictions are subject to a number of qualifications and exceptions, and the additional indebtedness incurred in compliance with these restrictions could be substantial. These restrictions also will not prevent us from incurring obligations that do not constitute indebtedness, including obligations under lease arrangements that are currently recorded as operating leases even if operating leases were to be treated as debt under future GAAP. In addition, the Senior ABL Facility provides a commitment of up to $1,000 million subject to a borrowing base. As of January 28, 2018, we were able to borrow an additional $909 million under the Senior ABL Facility. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the related risks that we now face could intensify.

The agreements and instruments governing our debt contain restrictions and limitations that could significantly impact our ability to operate our business and adversely affect the holders of our common stock.

        Our Senior ABL Facility and our Term Loan Facility contain covenants that, among other things, restrict or limit our subsidiaries' ability to:

•

dispose of assets;



•

incur additional indebtedness (including guarantees of additional indebtedness);



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prepay or amend our various debt instruments;



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pay dividends and make certain payments;



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create liens on assets;



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engage in certain asset sales, mergers, acquisitions, consolidations or sales of all, or substantially all, of our assets;



•

engage in certain transactions with affiliates; and



•

permit consensual restrictions on our subsidiaries' ability to pay dividends.

        The indentures governing our outstanding notes contain restrictive covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of our subsidiaries to:

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incur additional debt;



•

pay dividends, redeem stock or make other distributions;

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•

make certain investments;



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create liens;



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transfer or sell assets;



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merge or consolidate with other companies; and



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enter into certain transactions with our affiliates.

        Our ability to comply with the covenants and restrictions contained in the Senior Credit Facilities and the indentures governing our outstanding notes may be affected by economic, financial and industry conditions beyond our control. The breach of any of these covenants or restrictions could result in a default under either the Senior Credit Facilities or the indentures governing our outstanding notes that would permit the applicable lenders or noteholders, as the case may be, to declare all amounts outstanding thereunder to be due and payable, together with accrued and unpaid interest. If we are unable to repay indebtedness, lenders having secured obligations, such as the lenders under the Senior Credit Facilities, could proceed against the collateral securing the secured obligations. This could have serious consequences to our financial condition and results of operations and could cause us to become bankrupt or insolvent.

We may have future capital needs and may not be able to obtain additional financing on acceptable terms.

        Although we believe that our current cash position and the additional committed funding available under our Senior ABL Facility is sufficient for our current operations, any reductions in our available borrowing capacity, or our inability to renew or replace our debt facilities, when required or when business conditions warrant, could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. The economic conditions, credit market conditions and economic climate affecting our industry, as well as other factors, may constrain our financing abilities. Our ability to secure additional financing, if available, and to satisfy our financial obligations under indebtedness outstanding from time to time will depend upon our future operating performance, the availability of credit generally, economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. The market conditions and the macroeconomic conditions that affect our industry could have a material adverse effect on our ability to secure financing on favorable terms, if at all.

        We may be unable to secure additional financing or financing on favorable terms or our operating cash flow may be insufficient to satisfy our financial obligations under the indebtedness outstanding from time to time. Furthermore, if financing is not available when needed, or is available on unfavorable terms, we may be unable to take advantage of business opportunities or respond to competitive pressures, any of which could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. If we raise additional funds through further issuances of equity, convertible debt securities or other securities convertible into equity, our existing stockholders could suffer significant dilution in their percentage ownership of the Company, and any new securities we issue could have rights, preferences and privileges senior to those of holders of our common stock.

Increases in interest rates would increase the cost of servicing our debt and could reduce our profitability.

        A significant portion of our outstanding debt, including under the Senior Credit Facilities, bears interest at variable rates. As a result, increases in interest rates would increase the cost of servicing our debt and could materially reduce our profitability and cash flows. Each one percentage point increase in interest rates on our variable-rate debt would increase our annual forecasted interest expense by approximately $11 million based on balances as of January 28, 2018. Assuming all revolving loans were fully drawn, each one percentage point increase in interest rates would result in a $21 million increase in annual cash interest expense on our Senior Credit Facilities. The impact of increases in interest rates

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could be more significant for us than it would be for some other companies because of our substantial indebtedness.

We may not be able to repurchase our existing notes upon a change of control.

        Upon the occurrence of specific kinds of change of control events, we will be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding notes until such notes are redeemed in full. Additionally, under the Term Loan Facility and the Senior ABL Facility, a change of control (as defined therein) constitutes an event of default that permits the lenders to accelerate the maturity of borrowings under the respective agreements and terminate their commitments to lend. We may not be able to satisfy the obligations upon a change of control because we may not have sufficient financial resources to purchase all of the debt securities that are tendered upon a change of control and repay our other indebtedness that will become due. Consequently, we may require additional financing from third parties to fund any such purchases, and we may be unable to obtain financing on satisfactory terms or at all. Further, our ability to repurchase our existing notes may be limited by law. In order to avoid the obligations to repurchase our existing notes and events of default and potential breaches of the credit agreement governing the Term Loan Facility, and the credit agreement governing the Senior ABL Facility, we may have to avoid certain change of control transactions that would otherwise be beneficial to us.

Risks Relating to Our Common Stock

Holdings is a holding company with no operations of its own, and it depends on its subsidiaries for cash to fund all of its operations and expenses, including to buy back capital stock and make future dividend payments, if any.

        Our operations are conducted almost entirely through our subsidiaries and our ability to generate cash to meet our debt service obligations, to buy back capital stock and to pay dividends is highly dependent on the earnings and the receipt of funds from our subsidiaries via dividends or intercompany loans. Historically, we have not declared or paid dividends on our common stock. However, to the extent that we determine in the future to pay dividends on our common stock, our Senior Credit Facilities significantly restrict the ability of our subsidiaries to pay dividends or otherwise transfer assets to us. In addition, Delaware law may impose requirements that may restrict our ability to pay dividends to holders of our common stock.

The market price of our common stock may be volatile and could decline in the future.

        We cannot assure you that an active public market for our common stock will be sustained. In the absence of a public trading market, you may not be able to liquidate your investment in our common stock. In addition, the market price of our common stock may fluctuate significantly. Among the factors that could affect our stock price are:

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industry or general market conditions;



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domestic and international economic factors unrelated to our performance;



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changes in our customers' preferences;



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new regulatory pronouncements and changes in regulatory guidelines;



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actual or anticipated fluctuations in our quarterly operating results;



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changes in securities analysts' estimates of our financial performance or lack of research and reports by industry analysts;



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actions by institutional stockholders or other large stockholders, including future sales by them of shares of our common stock;

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speculation in the press or investment community;



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investor perception of us and our industry;



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changes in market valuations or earnings of similar companies;



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announcements by us or our competitors of significant products, contracts, acquisitions, divestitures or strategic partnerships;



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developments or disputes concerning patents or proprietary rights, including increases or decreases in litigation expenses associated with intellectual property lawsuits we may initiate, or in which we may be named as defendants;



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failure to complete significant sales;



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any future sales of our common stock or other securities; and



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additions or departures of key Company personnel.

        In particular, we cannot assure you that you will be able to resell your shares of our common stock at or above the price you paid for them. The stock markets have experienced volatility in recent years that has been unrelated to the operating performance of particular companies. These broad market fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock. In the past, following periods of volatility in the market price of a company's securities, class action litigation has often been instituted against such company and we are currently involved in litigation of this nature as disclosed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K and certain of our prior filings with the SEC. This current litigation and any future litigation of this type brought against us could result in substantial costs and a diversion of our management's attention and resources, which would harm our business, operating results and financial condition.

Future sales of shares by existing stockholders could cause our stock price to decline.

        Sales of substantial amounts of our common stock in the public market, or the perception that these sales could occur, could cause the market price of our common stock to decline. As of January 28, 2018 we had 185,723,608 outstanding shares of common stock, a the majority of which are freely tradeable without restriction under the Securities Act unless held by "affiliates," as that term is defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act. The remaining shares of common stock outstanding as of January 28, 2018 are restricted securities within the meaning of Rule 144 under the Securities Act. Restricted securities may be sold in the U.S. public market only if registered of if they qualify for an exemption from registration, including by reason of Rules 144 or 701 under the Securities Act. Al of our restricted shares are eligible for share in the public market, subject in certain circumstances to the volume, manner of sale limitations with respect to shares held by our affiliates, and other limitations under Rule 144. In connection with our initial public offering, we filed registration statements under the Securities Act to register the shares of common stock to be issued under our equity compensation plans and, as a result, all shares of common stock acquired upon exercise of stock options granted under our plans are also freely tradable under the Securities Act, unless purchased by our affiliates. As of January 28, 2018, there were stock options outstanding to purchase a total of approximately 2.4 million shares of our common stock. In addition, approximately 16.9 million shares of common stock are reserved for future issuance under our omnibus incentive plan and our employee stock purchase plan.

        In the future, we may issue additional shares of common stock or other equity or debt securities convertible into common stock in connection with a financing, acquisition, litigation settlement or employee arrangement or otherwise. Any of these issuances could result in substantial dilution to our existing stockholders and could cause the trading price of our common stock to decline.

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If securities or industry analysts do not publish research or publish misleading or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price and trading volume could decline.

        The trading market for our common stock depends in part on the research and reports that securities or industry analysts publish about us or our business. If one or more of these analysts downgrades our stock or publishes misleading or unfavorable research about our business, our stock price would likely decline. If one or more of these analysts ceases coverage of the Company or fails to publish reports on us regularly, demand for our common stock could decrease, which could cause our stock price or trading volume to decline.

Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and Delaware law could discourage, delay or prevent a change in control of our company and may affect the trading price of our common stock.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws include a number of provisions that may discourage, delay or prevent a change in our management or control over us that stockholders may consider favorable. For example, our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws:

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authorize the issuance of "blank check" preferred stock that could be issued by our Board of Directors to thwart a takeover attempt;



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establish a classified board of directors, as a result of which our Board of Directors is divided into three classes, with each class serving for staggered three-year terms, which prevents stockholders from electing an entirely new board at an annual meeting;



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limit the ability of stockholders to remove directors;



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provide that vacancies on our Board of Directors, including newly-created directorships, may be filled only by a majority vote of directors then in office;



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prohibit stockholders from calling special meetings of stockholders;



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prohibit stockholder action by written consent, thereby requiring all actions to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders;



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establish advance notice requirements for nominations for election to our Board of Directors or for proposing matters that can be acted upon by stockholders at stockholder meetings; and



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require the approval of holders of at least 75% of the outstanding shares of our voting common stock to amend our amended and restated by-laws and certain provisions of our amended and restated certificate of incorporation.

        These provisions may prevent our stockholders from receiving the benefit from any premium to the market price of our common stock offered by a bidder in a takeover context. Even in the absence of a takeover attempt, the existence of these provisions may adversely affect the prevailing market price of our common stock if the provisions are viewed as discouraging takeover attempts in the future.

        Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws may also make it difficult for stockholders to replace or remove our management. These provisions may facilitate management entrenchment that may delay, deter, render more difficult or prevent a change in our control, which may not be in the best interests of our stockholders.

We may not determine to pay dividends on our common stock and, consequently, your ability to achieve a return on your investment will depend on appreciation in the price of our common stock.

        We may not declare and pay dividends on our common stock in the near future. In the absence of a dividend, the success of an investment in shares of our common stock would depend upon any future appreciation in their value. There is no guarantee that shares of our common stock will appreciate in value or even maintain the price at which our stockholders have purchased their shares.

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ITEM 2.    PROPERTIES

Properties

        As of January 28, 2018, we had a network of approximately 260 locations, of which approximately 10 were owned and 250 were leased. We generally prefer to lease our locations, as it provides the flexibility to expand or relocate our sites as needed to serve evolving markets. Our leased locations comprise approximately 12 million square feet while our owned locations comprise approximately 670,000 square feet. Our leases typically have an initial term that ranges from 3 to 7 years, and the leases usually provide for the option to renew. We currently lease approximately 110,000 square feet of office space in both Atlanta, Georgia and Orlando, Florida, for our corporate headquarters. On February 4, 2016, the Company entered into an agreement for the lease of a leadership development and headquarters facility currently under construction in Atlanta, Georgia. The lease commenced upon completion of construction of the facility in February 2018. For additional information, see "Note 10—Supplemental Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Information" in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within "Part II. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this annual report on Form 10-K. We believe our locations meet our current needs and that additional locations will be available as we expand in the future.

ITEM 3.    LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        On July 10, 2017 and August 8, 2017, shareholders filed putative class action complaints in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, alleging that HD Supply and certain senior members of its management (collectively, the "defendants") made certain false or misleading public statements in violation of the federal securities laws between November 9, 2016 and June 5, 2017, inclusive (the "original securities complaints"). Subsequently, the two securities cases were consolidated, and, on November 16, 2017, the lead plaintiffs appointed by the Court filed a Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint (the "Amended Complaint") against the defendants on behalf of all persons other than defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's common stock between November 9, 2016 and June 5, 2017, inclusive. The Amended Complaint alleges that defendants made certain false or misleading public statements, primarily relating to the Company's progress in addressing certain supply chain disruption issues encountered in the Company's Facilities Maintenance business unit. The Amended Complaint asserts claims against the defendants under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and SEC Rule 10b-5, and seeks class certification under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as well as unspecified monetary damages, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, and attorneys' fees and other costs. Defendants moved to dismiss the Consolidated Amended Complaint in December 2017. That motion is pending.

        On August 8, 2017, two shareholder derivative complaints were filed naming the Company as a "nominal defendant" and certain members of its senior management and board of directors (collectively, the "individual defendants") as defendants. The complaints generally allege that the individual defendants caused the Company to issue false and misleading statements concerning the Company's business, operations, and financial prospects, including misrepresentations regarding operating leverage and supply chain corrective actions. The complaints assert claims against the individual defendants under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and allege breaches of fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment, corporate waste, and insider selling. The complaints assert a claim to recover any damages sustained by the Company as a result of the individual defendants' allegedly wrongful actions, seek certain actions by the Company to modify its corporate governance and internal procedures, and seek to recover attorneys' fees and other costs. In October 2017, the Court consolidated the two derivative actions and granted the parties' joint scheduling order request. On December 5, 2017, the Court entered an order staying all activity in the case until a ruling is issued on the motion to dismiss filed in the consolidated securities litigation described above. The Company intends to defend these lawsuits vigorously. Given the stage of the complaints and the claims and issues

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presented in the above matters, the Company cannot reasonably estimate at this time the possible loss or range of loss, if any, that may arise from these unresolved lawsuits.

        HD Supply is involved in various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of its business. The Company establishes reserves for litigation and similar matters when those matters present loss contingencies that it determines to be both probable and reasonably estimable in accordance with ASC 450, "Contingencies." In the opinion of management, based on current knowledge, all reasonably estimable and probable matters are believed to be adequately reserved for or covered by insurance and are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. For all other matters management believes the possibility of losses from such matters is not probable, the potential loss from such matters is not reasonably estimable, or such matters are of such kind or involve such amounts that would not have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company if disposed of unfavorably. For material matters that are reasonably possible and reasonably estimable, including matters that are probable and estimable but for which the amount that is reasonably possible is in excess of the amount that the Company has accrued for, management has estimated the aggregate range of potential loss as $0 to $10 million. If a material loss is probable or reasonably possible, and in either case estimable, the Company has considered it in the analysis and it is included in the discussion set forth above.

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PART II

ITEM 5.    MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Stock Exchange Information

        Holdings' common stock is listed on The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC ("NASDAQ"). As of March 5, 2018, there were approximately 18 holders of record and 251 restricted stock holders of Holdings' common stock. No dividends were declared during fiscal 2017 or fiscal 2016. Holdings' common stock began trading on June 27, 2013.

Holdings' common stock market prices*:

Stock Performance Graph

        The graph below presents Holdings' cumulative total shareholder returns relative to the performance of the Standard & Poor's 500 Composite Stock Index and the Industrial Select Sector SPDR® Fund (XLI) for our fiscal 2013-2017 years, commencing June 27, 2013, Holdings' initial day of trading. The graph assumes $100 invested at the opening price of Holdings' common stock on NASDAQ and each index on June 27, 2013 and assumes all dividends were reinvested on the date

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paid. The points on the graph represent fiscal year-end amounts based on the last trading day in each fiscal year.

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

        On August 25, 2017, Holdings' Board of Directors authorized the Company to enter into a new share repurchase program for the repurchase of up to an aggregate amount of $500 million of Holdings' common stock in accordance with guidelines specified under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As of January 28, 2018, Holdings has repurchased approximately 1.2 million shares at an average price of $35.46 per share.

        On June 3, 2017, Holdings' Board of Directors authorized the Company to enter into a share repurchase program for the repurchase of up to an aggregate amount of $500 million of Holdings' common stock in accordance with guidelines specified under Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As of August 8, 2017, Holdings has completed the repurchase of all $500 million of common stock authorized under the share repurchase program, purchasing approximately 15.9 million shares at an average price of $31.37 per share.

        In fiscal 2014, Holdings' Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program to be funded from cash proceeds received from exercises of employee stock options. This share repurchase program does not obligate Holdings to acquire any particular amount of common stock, and it may be terminated at any time at Holdings' discretion. During fiscal 2017, Holdings repurchased approximately 1.1 million shares of its common stock under this program for approximately $43 million.

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        During fiscal 2017, Holdings retired 611,433 shares of its common stock ("Retired Shares") held as Treasury Shares by Holdings in the amount of $23 million. All of these shares were repurchased by Holdings pursuant to the share repurchase program, discussed above, under which proceeds of employee stock option exercises are used to buy back Holdings common stock in the open market. Holdings reinstated the Retired Shares to the status of authorized but unissued shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, effective as of the date of retirement. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification 505-30, "Equity-Treasury Stock," Holdings reversed the $0.01 par value of the Retired Shares and the excess of the cost of the Retired Shares over par value to Retained Earnings.

        The number and average price of shares repurchased in each fiscal month of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 are set forth in the table below:

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

HDS Securities

        There is no established public trading market for HDS's common stock. HDS had one record holder of common stock on January 28, 2018, and no equity securities of HDS are authorized for issuance under any equity compensation plan.

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ITEM 6.    SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

        The selected consolidated financial data set forth below should be read in conjunction with "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and the audited consolidated financial statements and related notes appearing elsewhere in this annual report on Form 10-K. Our consolidated financial information may not be indicative of our future performance.

        HDS has omitted the information required by this Item pursuant to General Instruction I to the Form 10-K.

        In fiscal 2017, HD Supply sold its Waterworks business. In fiscal 2016, HD Supply sold its Interior Solutions business. In fiscal 2015, HD Supply sold its Power Solutions business. In fiscal 2014, HD Supply sold substantially all of the assets of its Hardware Solutions business and finalized the disposal of Litemor through liquidation. In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 205-20, "Discontinued Operations," the results of the Waterworks, Interior Solutions, Power Solutions, Hardware Solutions, and Litemor operations and the gain/loss on disposition of the businesses are classified as discontinued operations. The presentation of discontinued operations includes revenues and expenses of the discontinued operations and gain/loss on the disposition of the businesses, net of tax, as one line item on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. All prior period Consolidated Statements of Operations have been revised to reflect this presentation. For additional information on the discontinued operations, see Note 2, "Discontinued Operations," within "Part II. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."

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Selected consolidated financial information

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Item 7.    Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Overview

        This Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations is combined for two registrants: HD Supply Holdings, Inc. and HD Supply, Inc. Unless the context indicates otherwise, any reference in this discussion and analysis to "Holdings" refers to HD Supply Holdings, Inc., any reference to "HDS" refers to HD Supply, Inc., the indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings, and any references to "HD Supply," the "Company," "we," "us" and "our" refer to Holdings together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including HDS.

        HD Supply is one of the largest industrial distributors in North America. We believe we have leading positions in the two distinct market sectors in which we specialize: Maintenance, Repair & Operations and Specialty Construction. Through approximately 220 branches and 44 distribution centers, in the U.S. and Canada, the Company serves these markets with an integrated go-to-market strategy. We have approximately 11,000 associates delivering localized, customer-tailored products, services and expertise. We serve approximately 500,000 customers, which include contractors, maintenance professionals, home builders, industrial businesses, and government entities. Our broad range of end-to-end product lines and services include approximately 600,000 stock-keeping units ("SKUs") of quality, name-brand and proprietary-brand products as well as value-add services supporting the entire lifecycle of a project from construction to maintenance, repair and operations.

Description of segments

        We operate our Company through two reportable segments: Facilities Maintenance and Construction & Industrial.

        Facilities Maintenance.    Facilities Maintenance distributes MRO products, provides value-add services and fabricates custom products. The markets that Facilities Maintenance serves include multifamily, hospitality, healthcare and institutional facilities. Products include electrical and lighting items, plumbing supplies, HVAC products, appliances, janitorial supplies, hardware, kitchen and bath cabinets, window coverings, textiles and guest amenities, healthcare maintenance and water and wastewater treatment products.

        Construction & Industrial.    Construction & Industrial distributes specialized hardware, tools and engineered materials to non-residential and residential contractors. Products include tilt-up brace systems, forming and shoring systems, concrete chemicals, hand and power tools, cutting tools, rebar, ladders, safety and fall arrest equipment, specialty screws and fasteners, sealants and adhesives, drainage pipe, geo-synthetics, erosion and sediment control equipment and other engineered materials used broadly across all types of non-residential and residential construction. Construction & Industrial also includes Home Improvement Solutions which offers light remodeling and construction supplies, kitchen and bath cabinets, windows, plumbing materials, electrical equipment and other products, primarily to small remodeling contractors and trade professionals.

        In addition to the reportable segments, our consolidated financial results include "Corporate and Eliminations" which incurs costs related to our centralized support functions, which are comprised of finance, information technology, human resources, legal, supply chain and other support services, and removes inter-segment transactions. All Corporate operating overhead costs are allocated to the reportable segments. Interest expense, interest income, other non-operating income and expense, and provision for income taxes are not allocated to the reportable segments. The Company does not allocate Corporate assets to its reportable segments.

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Discontinued operations

        In August 2017, the Company completed the sale of its Waterworks business. Including the final working capital settlement in January 2018, the Company received cash proceeds of approximately $2.4 billion, net of $38 million of transaction cost payments. Including the final working capital settlement of approximately $29 million in January 2018, the Company recognized a gain on sale of the Waterworks business of approximately $732 million, net of tax of $197 million.

        In May 2016, the Company completed the sale of its Interior Solutions business. Including the final working capital settlement in September 2016, the Company received cash proceeds of approximately $26 million, net of $2 million of transaction costs. As a result of the sale, the Company recorded a $10 million pre-tax loss.

        In October 2015, the Company completed the sale of its Power Solutions business. Including the final working capital settlement in May 2016, the Company received cash proceeds of approximately $812 million, net of $16 million of transaction costs. As a result of the sale, the Company recorded a $189 million pre-tax gain.

        In accordance with Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 205-20, "Discontinued Operations," the results of the Waterworks, Interior Solutions, and Power Solutions operations and the gain/loss on the sales and disposal of the businesses are classified as discontinued operations. The presentation of discontinued operations includes revenues and expenses of the discontinued operations and gain on the sales of the businesses, net of tax, as one line item on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). All Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) presented have been revised to reflect this presentation. For additional detail related to the results of operations of the discontinued operations, see "Note 2, Discontinued Operations," in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this annual report on Form 10-K.

Seasonality

        In a typical year, our operating results are impacted by seasonality. Historically, sales of our products have been higher in the second and third quarters of each fiscal year due to favorable weather and longer daylight conditions during these periods. Seasonal variations in operating results may also be significantly impacted by inclement weather conditions, such as cold or wet weather, which can delay construction projects.

Fiscal Year

        Our fiscal year is a 52- or 53-week period ending on the Sunday nearest to January 31. Fiscal year ending January 28, 2018 ("fiscal 2017"), fiscal year ended January 29, 2017 ("fiscal 2016"), and fiscal year ended January 31, 2016 ("fiscal 2015") each included 52 weeks.

Key business metrics

Net sales

        We earn our Net sales primarily from the sale of construction, maintenance, repair and operations, and renovation and improvement related products and our provision of related services to approximately 500,000 customers, including contractors, government entities, maintenance professionals, home builders and industrial businesses. We recognize sales, net of sales tax and allowances for returns and discounts, when persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, price to the buyer is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. Net sales in certain business units fluctuate with the price of commodities as we seek to minimize the

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effects of changing commodities prices by passing such increases in the prices of certain commodity-based products to our customers.

        We ship products to customers by internal fleet and third-party carriers. Net sales are recognized from product sales when title to and risk of loss for the products are passed to the customer, which generally occurs at the point of destination.

        We include shipping and handling fees billed to customers in Net sales. Shipping and handling costs associated with inbound freight are capitalized to inventories and relieved through Cost of sales as inventories are sold. Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight are included in Selling, general and administrative expenses.

Gross profit

        Gross profit primarily represents the difference between the product cost from our suppliers (net of earned rebates and discounts) including the cost of inbound freight and the sale price to our customers. The cost of outbound freight, purchasing, receiving and warehousing are included in Selling, general and administrative expenses within operating expenses. Our Gross profits may not be comparable to those of other companies, as other companies may include all of the costs related to their distribution network in Cost of sales.

Operating expenses

        Operating expenses are primarily comprised of selling, general and administrative costs, which include payroll expenses (salaries, wages, employee benefits, payroll taxes and bonuses), rent, insurance, utilities, repair and maintenance and professional fees. In addition, operating expenses include depreciation and amortization, and restructuring charges.

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income (loss)

        Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income (loss) are not recognized terms under generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP") and do not purport to be alternatives to Net income (loss) as a measure of operating performance. We present Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income (loss) because each is a primary measure used by management to evaluate operating performance. In addition, we present Adjusted net income to measure our overall profitability as we believe it is an important measure of our performance. We believe the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income (loss) enhances our investors' overall understanding of the financial performance of our business. We believe Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income (loss) are helpful in highlighting operating trends, because each excludes the results of decisions that are outside the control of operating management and that can differ significantly from company to company depending on long-term strategic decisions regarding capital structure, the tax jurisdictions in which companies operate, age and book depreciation of facilities and capital investments.

        Adjusted EBITDA is based on "Consolidated EBITDA," a measure which is defined in HDS's Senior Credit Facilities and used in calculating financial ratios in several material debt covenants. Borrowings under these facilities are a key source of liquidity and our ability to borrow under these facilities depends upon, among other things, our compliance with such financial ratio covenants. In particular, both facilities contain restrictive covenants that can restrict our activities if we do not maintain financial ratios calculated based on Consolidated EBITDA. Our Senior ABL Facility requires us to maintain a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of 1:1 if our specified excess availability (including an amount by which our borrowing base exceeds the outstanding amounts) under the Senior ABL Facility falls below the greater of $100 million and 10% of the lesser of (A) the Borrowing Base and (B) the Total Facility Commitment. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as Net income (loss) less Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, plus (i) Interest expense and Interest income, net,

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(ii) Provision (benefit) for income taxes, (iii) Depreciation and amortization and further adjusted to exclude loss on extinguishment of debt, non-cash items and certain other adjustments to Consolidated Net Income, including costs associated with capital structure enhancements, permitted in calculating Consolidated EBITDA under our Senior Credit Facilities. We believe that presenting Adjusted EBITDA is appropriate to provide additional information to investors about how the covenants in those agreements operate and about certain non-cash and other items. The Term Loan Facility and Senior ABL Facility permit us to make certain additional adjustments to Consolidated Net Income in calculating Consolidated EBITDA, such as projected net cost savings, which are not reflected in the Adjusted EBITDA data presented in this annual report on Form 10-K. We may in the future reflect such permitted adjustments in our calculations of Adjusted EBITDA. These covenants are important to the Company as failure to comply with certain covenants would result in a default under our Senior Credit Facilities. The material covenants in our Senior Credit Facilities are discussed in "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity, capital resources and financial condition—External Financing."

        Adjusted net income (loss) is defined as Net income (loss) less Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, further adjusted for loss on extinguishment of debt and certain non-cash, non-recurring, non-operational, or unusual items, net of tax.

        We believe that Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income (loss) are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in their evaluation of companies, many of which present an Adjusted EBITDA or Adjusted net income (loss) measure when reporting their results. We compensate for the limitations of using non-GAAP financial measures by using them to supplement GAAP results to provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting the business than GAAP results alone. Because not all companies use identical calculations, our presentation of Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income (loss) may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

        Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income (loss) have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analyzing our results as reported under GAAP. Some of these limitations are:

•

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income (loss) do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs;



•

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our interest expense, or the requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments on our debt;



•

Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect our income tax expenses or the cash requirements to pay our taxes;



•

Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted net income (loss) do not reflect historical cash expenditures or future requirements for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; and



•

although depreciation and amortization charges are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements.

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        The following table presents a reconciliation of Net income (loss) and Income (loss) from continuing operations, the most directly comparable financial measures under GAAP, to Adjusted EBITDA for the periods presented (amounts in millions):

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        The following table presents a reconciliation of Net income (loss) and Income (loss) from continuing operations, the most directly comparable financial measures under GAAP, to Adjusted net income (loss) for the periods presented (amounts in millions):

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Consolidated results of operations

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Fiscal 2017 compared to fiscal 2016

Highlights

        Net sales in fiscal 2017 increased $302 million, or 6.3%, compared to fiscal 2016. Operating income in fiscal 2017 increased $43 million, or 7.6% to $608 million during fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. Net income in fiscal 2017 increased $774 million to $970 million as compared to fiscal 2016 due primarily to the sale of the Waterworks business. Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal 2017 increased $51 million, or 7.5%, as compared to fiscal 2016. Adjusted net income in fiscal 2017 increased $145 million, or 48.0%, as compared to fiscal 2016 due primarily to a decline in interest expense as a result of a lower effective interest rate and lower outstanding debt balances. As of January 28, 2018, our liquidity was $1.2 billion. See "Liquidity, capital resources and financial condition" for further information.

        In August 2017, the Company completed the sale of its Waterworks business. Including the final working capital settlement in January 2018, the Company received cash proceeds of approximately $2,419 million, net of $38 million of transaction costs. Including the final working capital settlement of approximately $29 million in January 2018, the Company recognized a gain on sale of approximately $732 million, net of tax of $197 million, reflected in Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, in the Consolidated Statement of Operations. For additional information, see "Note 2, Discontinued Operations," in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

        As a result of the sale of the Waterworks business in August 2017, management evaluated the Company's talent alignment and functional support strategies. During fiscal 2017, management initiated a restructuring plan that included reducing workforce personnel and realigning talent resulting in the recognition of $6 million of restructuring charges, primarily related to severance and other employee-related costs. Management expects to incur a total of $10 million to $15 million under this plan, and expects a payback of the employee-related costs via a reduction in personnel costs over the next one to two years. For additional information, see "Note 11, Restructuring Activities," in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

Net sales

        Net sales increased $302 million, or 6.3% to $5,121 million during fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016.

        Both of our reportable segments reported an increase in Net sales during fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. The Net sales increases were primarily due to increases in market volume and growth initiatives. Growth initiatives contributed approximately $162 million in fiscal 2017.

Gross profit

        Gross profit increased $108 million, or 5.6%, to $2,033 million during fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016.

        Both of our reportable segments generated an increase in Gross profit in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016 primarily due to sales growth from increased market volume and initiatives.

        Gross profit as a percentage of Net sales ("gross margin") decreased approximately 20 basis points to 39.7% in fiscal 2017 as compared to 39.9% in fiscal 2016. The decline in gross margin was primarily driven by decreasing rebar margins and a shift in product mix at our Construction & Industrial business.

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Operating expenses

        Operating expenses increased $65 million, or 4.8%, to $1,425 million during fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $65 million, or 5.1%, to $1,334 million during fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. The increase was primarily a result of increases in variable expenses due to higher sales volume and increased investments in growth initiatives, primarily additional personnel. Depreciation and amortization expense increased $1 million, or 1.2%, to $85 million in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016 due to timing of in-service projects. Restructuring charges decreased $1 million in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. The Company completed its Fiscal 2015 Restructuring Plan activities to strategically align its workforce in fiscal 2016. The Company initiated its Fiscal 2017 Restructuring Plan in third quarter 2017. For additional information, see "Note 11, Restructuring Activities," in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

        Operating expenses as a percentage of Net sales decreased approximately 40 basis points to 27.8%, in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales, decreased approximately 30 basis points to 26.0% in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. The decrease was primarily a result of the leverage of fixed costs through sales volume increases and costs to increase Facilities Maintenance distribution capacity incurred in fiscal 2016 that did not repeat in fiscal 2017, partially offset by increased investments in growth initiatives.

Operating income

        Operating income increased $43 million, or 7.6%, to $608 million during fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016, primarily due to higher sales volume, partially offset by the decrease in gross margins and increase in Operating expenses.

        Operating income as a percentage of Net sales increased approximately 20 basis points to 11.9%, in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. The increase was primarily due to the decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales offset by the decline in gross margins.

Interest expense

        Interest expense decreased $103 million, or 38.3%, during fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. The decrease was due to a lower average interest rate on our outstanding indebtedness due to debt refinancing transactions and a lower average outstanding balance as we continued to use cash flow from operations and proceeds from the sale of businesses to reduce indebtedness.

Interest income

        Interest income during fiscal 2017 was approximately $2 million. The interest income was due to investment of a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the Waterworks business in temporary cash investments.

Loss on extinguishment & modification of debt

        During fiscal 2017, our debt refinancing and redemption activities resulted in charges of $84 million recorded in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt-Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On December 28, 2017, HDS reduced its borrowing capacity under Senior Asset Based Lending Facility due 2022 (the "Senior ABL Facility") by $500 million, incurring a $3 million loss on extinguishment of debt for the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs.

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        On September 1, 2017, HDS redeemed all of the outstanding $1,250 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.25% Senior Secured First Priority Notes (the "December 2014 First Priority Notes"), incurring a $73 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which includes a $62 million make-whole premium and the write-off of $11 million of unamortized deferred financing costs.

        On August 31, 2017, HDS amended its senior secured term loan facility (the "Term Loan Facility"), incurring a modification and extinguishment charge of approximately $3 million, which includes financing fees and other costs of approximately $1 million and the write-off of approximately $2 million of unamortized original issue discount and unamortized deferred financing costs.

        On August 25, 2017, HDS amended its 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 (the "April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes"). As a result, the Company incurred a modification charge of approximately $3 million for financing fees.

        On April 18, 2017, HDS amended its Senior ABL Facility, incurring a $1 million loss on extinguishment of debt for the write-offs of unamortized deferred financing costs.

        During fiscal 2016, our debt refinancing and redemption activities resulted in charges of $179 million recorded in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt-Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On January 26, 2017, HDS paid $200 million to reduce its aggregate principal of approximately $842 million tranche of Term Loans (the "Term B-1 Loans"), incurring a $5 million loss on extinguishment on debt for the write-offs of unamortized original issue discount and unamortized deferred financing costs.

        On October 17, 2016, HDS redeemed all of the outstanding $1,275 million aggregate principal of its 7.5% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2020 (the "February 2013 Senior Unsecured Notes"), incurring a $59 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which included a $48 million premium payment and a write-off of $11 million of unamortized deferred financing costs.

        On April 27, 2016, HDS redeemed all of the outstanding $1,000 million aggregate principal of its 11.5% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2020 (the "October 2012 Senior Unsecured Notes"), incurring a $115 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which included a $106 million make-whole premium payment and a write-off of $9 million of unamortized deferred financing costs.

        See "Liquidity, capital resources and financial condition—External financing" for further information.

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

        The provision for income taxes from continuing operations in fiscal 2017 was $193 million compared to $51 million in fiscal 2016. The effective rate for continuing operations for fiscal 2017 was 53.6% which was primarily impacted by $72 million of tax expense associated with the remeasurement of the U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities driven by the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, $16 million tax benefit related to the excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation, and the geographical mix of where income was generated. The effective rate for continuing operations for fiscal 2016 was 43.6%, primarily impacted by the repatriation of $72 million of cash from Canada to the U.S., which, to the extent of current earnings and profits, and foreign withholding taxes, resulted in $4 million of tax expense. The rate was also impacted by the geographical mix of where income was generated.

        As of the end of fiscal 2017, the minimum amount of future taxable income that needs to be generated to realize the deferred tax assets is approximately $857 million for U.S. federal tax purposes and $1,756 million for U.S. state tax purposes. The current level of pre-tax earnings under GAAP is sufficient to generate the minimum amount of future taxable income to realize our U.S. federal and state tax deferred assets prior to their expiration. As of the end of fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, the

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Company's remaining valuation allowance on its U.S. deferred tax assets was approximately $7 million and $5 million, respectively.

        As of January 28, 2018, the Company has approximately $250 million of tax-effected federal and state NOL carryforwards that can be used to offset cash income taxes due on future earnings.

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

        Income from discontinued operations, net of tax during fiscal 2017 was $803 million, comprised of $1,043 million of pre-tax income from discontinued operations offset by $240 million of income tax expense. During fiscal 2017, the Company recognized a gain on sale of the Waterworks business of $732 million, net of tax of $197 million. For additional information, see "Note 2, Discontinued Operations"in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

Adjusted EBITDA

        Adjusted EBITDA increased $51 million, or 7.5%, in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. Both of our reportable segments generated an increase in Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016.

        The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to the increase in sales volume, partially offset by the increase in Operating expenses. Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Net sales increased approximately 20 basis points to 14.3% in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016, primarily due to the leverage of fixed costs through sales volume increases, partially offset by increased investments in growth initiatives and decline in gross margin.

Adjusted net income

        Adjusted net income increased $145 million, to $447 million, in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. The increase in Adjusted net income was primarily attributable to lower interest expense and an increase in sales volume.

Fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015

Highlights

        Net sales in fiscal 2016 increased $204 million, or 4.4%, compared to fiscal 2015. Operating income in fiscal 2016 increased $40 million, or 7.6%, to $565 million during fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. Net income in fiscal 2016 was $196 million, as compared to $1,472 million in fiscal 2015. Fiscal 2015 Net income included a $1,007 million tax benefit for the reversal of substantially all of the Company's valuation allowance on its U.S. net deferred tax assets and a $189 million tax benefit for the reduction in unrecognized tax benefits as a result of IRS and state audit settlements. Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal 2016 increased $30 million, or 4.6%, as compared to fiscal 2015. Adjusted net income in fiscal 2016 increased $167 million to $302 million, as compared to $135 million in fiscal 2015.

        In May 2016, we completed the sale of our Interior Solutions business, a provider of turnkey supply and installation services for multiple interior finish options. Including the final working capital settlement in September 2016, the Company received cash proceeds of approximately $26 million, net of $2 million of transaction costs. As a result of the sale, the Company recorded a $10 million pre-tax loss, reflected in Income from discontinued operations, net of tax, in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. For additional information, see "Note 2, Discontinued Operations," in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

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        As a result of the 2015 sale of the Power Solutions business unit, management evaluated our talent alignment and functional support strategies. Consequently, during fiscal 2015 we initiated a restructuring plan to strategically align our leadership and functional support teams. During fiscal 2015, we incurred $8 million of restructuring charges under this plan. During fiscal 2016, we accelerated and expanded the restructuring plan, incurring $18 million of restructuring charges, offset by a net gain of approximately $11 million related to real estate transactions under the plan. In total, the Company incurred net restructuring charges of $15 million and expects the plan to deliver a payback of approximately two years via a reduction in costs. The Company completed the activities under the plan in fiscal 2016. For additional information, see "Note 11, Restructuring Activities," in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within Part II, Item 8 of this annual report on Form 10-K.

Net sales

        Net sales increased $204 million, or 4.4%, to $4,819 million during fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015.

        Both of our reportable segments reported an increase in Net sales during fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The Net sales increases were primarily due to growth initiatives at each of our businesses and increases in market volume. Growth initiatives contributed approximately $59 million in fiscal 2016.

Gross profit

        Gross profit increased $111 million, or 6.1%, to $1,925 million during fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015.

        Both of our reportable segments experienced an increase in Gross profit in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The increase in Gross profit is primarily due to sales growth from initiatives and increased market volume.

        Gross margin increased approximately 60 basis points to 39.9% in fiscal 2016 as compared to 39.3% in fiscal 2015. The improvement in gross margin was primarily driven by our category management initiatives and mix of products and services, partially offset by the competitive environment.

Operating expenses

        Operating expenses increased $71 million, or 5.5%, to $1,360 million during fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015.

        Selling, general and administrative expenses increased $85 million, or 7.2%, to $1,269 million during fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The increase was primarily a result of increases in variable expenses due to higher sales volume, increased investments in growth initiatives, primarily additional personnel, increased healthcare costs, and supply chain corrective action at Facilities Maintenance. Depreciation and amortization expense decreased $13 million, or 13.4%, to $84 million in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015 as certain acquisition-related intangible assets became fully amortized during fiscal 2016 and timing of in-service projects. Restructuring charges decreased $1 million, to $7 million during fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015, as the Company completed restructuring activities to strategically align its workforce, initiated during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015 in conjunction with the sale of Power Solutions.

        Operating expenses as a percentage of Net sales increasd approximately 30 basis points to 28.2%, in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales, increased approximately 70 basis points to 26.3% in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The increase was primarily a result of the increased investments in growth initiatives, increased

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healthcare costs, and supply chain corrective action at Facilities Maintenance, partially offset by the decline in Depreciation and amortization expense.

Operating income

        Operating income increased $40 million, or 7.6%, to $565 million during fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015, primarily due to higher Net sales and Gross profit partially offset by higher operating expenses.

        Operating income as a percentage of Net sales increased approximately 30 basis points in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The increase was driven by improvements in gross margins and decline in Depreciation & amortization expense, offset by the increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses.

Interest expense

        Interest expense decreased $125 million, or 31.7%, during fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The decrease was due to a lower average interest rate on our outstanding indebtedness due to debt refinancing transactions in fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, and a lower average outstanding balance as we continue to use cash flow from operations and proceeds from the sale of businesses to reduce indebtedness.

Loss on extinguishment & modification of debt

        During fiscal 2016, our debt refinancing and redemption activities resulted in charges of $179 million recorded in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt-Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On January 26, 2017, HDS paid $200 million to reduce its aggregate principal of Term B-1 Loans, incurring a $5 million loss on extinguishment on debt for the write-offs of unamortized original issue discount and unamortized deferred financing costs.

        On October 17, 2016, HDS redeemed all of the outstanding $1,275 million aggregate principal of the February 2013 Senior Unsecured Notes, incurring a $59 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which included a $48 million premium payment and a write-off of $11 million of unamortized deferred financing costs.

        On April 27, 2016, HDS redeemed all of the outstanding $1,000 million aggregate principal of the October 2012 Senior Unsecured Notes, incurring a $115 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which included a $106 million make-whole premium payment and a write-off of $9 million of unamortized deferred financing costs.

        During fiscal 2015, our debt refinancing and redemption activities resulted in charges of $100 million recorded in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt-Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On October 13, 2015, HDS redeemed all of the outstanding $675 million aggregate principal of its 11% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2020 (the "April 2012 Second Priority Notes"), incurring an $80 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which included a $72 million make-whole premium payment and a write-off of $8 million of unamortized deferred financing costs.

        On August 13, 2015, HDS amended its Term Loan Facility, incurring a $20 million loss on extinguishment and modification of debt, which included a $15 million write-off of pro-rata portions of the unamortized original issue discount and the unamortized deferred financing costs.

        See "Liquidity, capital resources and financial condition—External financing" for further information.

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Other (income) expense, net

        During fiscal 2015, in connection with secondary public offerings by certain of Holdings' stockholders, we incurred approximately $1 million in related fees and expenses.

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

        The provision for income taxes from continuing operations in fiscal 2016 was an expense of $51 million compared to a benefit of $1,170 million in fiscal 2015. The effective rate for continuing operations for fiscal 2016 was an expense of 43.6%, primarily impacted by the repatriation of $72 million of cash from Canada to the U.S., which, to the extent of current earnings and profits, and foreign withholding taxes, resulted in $4 million of tax expense. The rate was also impacted by the geographical mix of where income was generated. The provision for income taxes from continuing operations for fiscal 2015 was not meaningful since income tax was significantly impacted by the release of substantially all of the Company's valuation allowance and substantial decrease in the Company's unrecognized tax benefits.

        For fiscal 2015, the Company had an income tax benefit of $1,007 million related to a release of substantially all of the valuation allowance on the Company's U.S. net deferred tax assets. All of the income tax benefit generated by the release of the valuation allowance was recorded to continuing operations since the valuation allowance decrease was from our change in the assessment that the beginning-of-year deferred tax assets would be realized. The benefit from releasing the valuation allowance was partially offset by the utilization of $20 million of such deferred assets to offset current year income. The effective rate for fiscal 2015 was further impacted by a decrease of $189 million in the Company's unrecognized U.S. federal and state tax benefits related to the settlement of IRS audits.

        As of the end of fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 the Company's remaining valuation allowance on its U.S. deferred tax assets was approximately $5 million and $6 million, respectively.

Adjusted EBITDA

        Adjusted EBITDA increased $30 million, or 4.6%, in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. Construction & Industrial experienced an increase in Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. Facilities Maintenance experienced a decrease in Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015.

        Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Net sales was flat in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015, due to the increase in Gross margin offset by an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales.

Adjusted net income

        Adjusted net income increased $167 million, to $302 million, in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The increase in Adjusted net income was attributable to sales growth, improving gross margins, and lower interest expense.

Results of operations by reportable segment

        As a result of the sale of the Waterworks business, the Company began sharing resources between centralized support functions and the reportable segments. As a result, and to provide better comparability to the Company's industry peers, beginning in fiscal 2017, all Corporate overhead costs are allocated to the reportable segments. Prior periods presented were revised to reflect the allocation of all Corporate overhead costs. Interest expense, interest income, other non-operating income and expenses, and provision for income taxes are not allocated to the Company's reportable segments. The Company does not allocate Corporate assets to its reportable segments.

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Facilities Maintenance

Fiscal 2017 compared to fiscal 2016

Net Sales

        Net sales increased $85 million, or 3.1%, in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016.

        The increase in Net sales was primarily due to market growth in the multifamily and hospitality industries and growth initiatives. These growth initiatives consist of investments in personnel, products, and technology aligned with our selling channels, such as our sales force, e-commerce site and mobile application, and our enabling functions, such as supply chain and data analytics.

Adjusted EBITDA

        Adjusted EBITDA increased $17 million, or 3.5%, in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016.

        The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to increased sales volume, partially offset by increased Selling, general and administrative expenses due to costs incurred to increase distribution center capacity beginning in third quarter 2016, higher personnel costs related to open positions in the first half of fiscal 2016, and an acceleration of investments in growth initiatives due to transitioning the business from San Diego to Atlanta.

        Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Net sales was flat in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016 due to flat Gross margins and flat Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales was negatively impacted by costs incurred to increase distribution center capacity beginning in third quarter 2016 and open positions in the first half of fiscal 2016 due to transitioning the business to Atlanta. These negative impacts were offset by the leverage of fixed costs through sales volume increases, accelerated investments in growth initiatives, and the 2016 supply chain corrective action.

Fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015

Net Sales

        Net sales increased $72 million, or 2.7%, in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015.

        The increase in Net sales was primarily due to market growth and growth initiatives. These growth initiatives consist of investments in sales personnel, products, and technology aligned with our customers' multifamily, hospitality, and healthcare industries. The Net sales increase was partially offset

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by the impact of suboptimal inventory forecasting, and certain operational and distribution challenges from the second half of fiscal 2015. In addition, the Net sales increase was partially offset by an unfavorable Canadian exchange rate impact, resulting in a $1 million reduction to Net sales in fiscal 2016.

Adjusted EBITDA

        Adjusted EBITDA decreased $7 million, or 1.4%, in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015.

        The decrease was primarily due to increased Selling, general and administrative expenses related to expenses incurred for supply chain corrective action, the hiring of additional associates to support the expanding business and future growth, and increased healthcare costs.

        Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Net sales decreased approximately 70 basis points in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The decrease was primarily driven by an increase in Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales due to expenses incurred for supply chain corrective action.

Construction & Industrial

Fiscal 2017 compared to fiscal 2016

Net Sales

        Net sales increased $216 million, or 10.5%, in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016.

        Growth initiatives contributed to the increase in Net sales in fiscal 2017 driven by our Managed Sales Approach ("MSA"), new locations, and direct marketing initiatives. MSA is a structured approach to drive revenue at a regional level through analysis, tools and sales management. In addition, Net sales were positively impacted by end-market improvement in both non-residential and residential housing markets.

Adjusted EBITDA

        Adjusted EBITDA increased $34 million, or 17.2%, in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016.

        The increase in Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016 was primarily driven by growth initiatives and market volume. This increase was partially offset by lower gross margins increased Selling, general and administrative expenses related to variable expenses and the hiring of additional associates to support the expanding business and drive future growth.

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        Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Net sales increased approximately 60 basis points in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. The increase was driven by a decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses as percentage of Net sales due to product mix and the leverage of fixed costs through sales volume increases, partially offset by declines in rebar gross margins. Rebar margins are declining due to an increase in steel costs impacted by duties and the threat of duties on imported steel. We have been unable to pass along all of the cost increases to our customers due to the competitive environment.

Fiscal 2016 compared to fiscal 2015

Net Sales

        Net sales increased $131 million, or 6.8%, in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015.

        Growth initiatives contributed to the increase in Net sales in fiscal 2016 driven by our greenfields, MSA and direct marketing initiatives. In addition, Net sales were positively impacted by end-market improvement in both non-residential and residential housing markets. The Net sales increase was partially offset by an unfavorable Canadian exchange rate impact, resulting in a $1 million reduction to Net sales in fiscal 2016.

Adjusted EBITDA

        Adjusted EBITDA increased $37 million, or 23.0%, in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015.

        The increase in Adjusted EBITDA in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015 was primarily driven by growth initiatives and market volume. This increase was partially offset by increased Selling, general and administrative expenses related to variable expenses and the hiring of additional associates to support the expanding business and drive future growth and increased healthcare costs.

        Adjusted EBITDA as a percentage of Net sales increased approximately 130 basis points in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The increase was driven by improvements in gross margins, due to product mix and category management initiatives, and a decrease in Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of Net sales due to the leverage of fixed costs through sales volume increases and cost control efforts.

Liquidity, capital resources and financial condition

Sources and uses of cash

        Our sources of funds, primarily from operations, cash on-hand, and, to the extent necessary, from readily available external financing arrangements, are sufficient to meet all current obligations on a timely basis. We believe that these sources of funds will be sufficient to meet the operating needs of our business for at least the next twelve months.

        During fiscal 2017, the Company's receipt of cash was primarily driven by cash receipts from operations, the sale of the Waterworks business and proceeds from stock option exercises, partially offset by net debt repayments, the payment of interest on debt, capital expenditures and purchases of treasury shares.

        As of January 28, 2018, our combined liquidity of approximately $1,232 million was comprised of $558 million in cash and cash equivalents and $674 million of additional available borrowings (excluding $235 million of borrowings on available cash balances) under our Senior ABL Facility, based on qualifying inventory and receivables.

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        Information about the Company's cash flows, by category, is presented in the Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows and is summarized as follows:

Net cash provided by (used for):

Working capital

        Working capital, excluding cash and cash equivalents, was $696 million as of January 28, 2018, decreasing $233 million as compared to $929 million as of January 29, 2017. Working capital, excluding the impact of discontinued operations and cash and cash equivalents, increased $83 million. The increase was driven by business growth, resulting in increases in Receivables and Inventory as well as a decrease in accrued interest as a result of reduced debt balances. These increases were partially offset by increases in Accounts Payable.

Operating activities

        During fiscal 2017 cash provided by operating activities was $502 million compared to $513 million in fiscal 2016. Cash interest paid in fiscal 2017 was $159 million, compared to $296 million in fiscal 2016. Cash flows from operating activities included a payment of $6 million of original issue discount related to the extinguishment of a portion of the Term Loans in fiscal 2017. Cash flows from operating activities in fiscal 2016 included a payment of $7 million of original issue discount related to the extinguishment of a portion of the Term Loans. Cash flows provided by operating activities for discontinued operations were $27 million in fiscal 2017 and as compared to $217 million in fiscal 2016. Excluding the cash interest payments in both periods and original issue discounts paid, cash flows from operating activities for continuing operations increased approximately $41 million in fiscal 2017 as compared to fiscal 2016. The increase in operating cash flows excluding interest, original issue discount, and discontinued operations is attributable to growth in earnings of continuing operations, partially offset by investments in working capital for business growth.

        During fiscal 2016 cash provided by operating activities was $513 million compared to $422 million in fiscal 2015. Cash interest paid in fiscal 2016 was $296 million, compared to $397 million in fiscal 2015. Cash flows from operating activities in fiscal 2015 included a payment of $12 million of original issue discount related to the extinguishment of a portion of the Term Loans. Cash flows provided by operating activities for discontinued operations were $217 million and $215 million in fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively. Excluding the cash interest payments in both periods and original issue discounts paid, cash flows from operating activities for continuing operations decreased approximately $17 million in fiscal 2016 as compared to fiscal 2015. The decrease in operating cash flows excluding interest, original issue discount, and discontinued operations is attributable to investment in working capital, restructuring payments, and supply chain corrective action at Facilities Maintenance.

Investing activities

        During fiscal 2017, cash provided by investing activities was $2,329 million, primarily comprised of $2,421 of cash proceeds from the sales of businesses, partially offset by $94 million of capital expenditures.

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        During fiscal 2016, cash used by investing activities was $21 million, primarily comprised of $81 million of capital expenditures, offset by $32 million of cash received from the sales of property and equipment and $28 million of cash received from the sales of businesses, net of transaction costs.

        During fiscal 2015, cash provided by investing activities was $726 million, primarily comprised of $809 million of cash received from the sale of our Power Solutions business, net of transaction costs, offset by $86 million of capital expenditures.

Financing activities

        During fiscal 2017, cash used in financing activities was $2,348 million, primarily due to net debt repayments of $1,783 million, including premiums to redeem debt prior to maturity, purchase of treasury shares of $584 million, and payments for debt issuance costs of $26 million; partially offset by proceeds from employee stock option exercises of $41 million.

        During fiscal 2016, cash used in financing activities was $687 million, primarily due to net debt repayments of $664 million, including premiums and make-whole payments to call or redeem debt prior to maturity, purchase of treasury shares of $34 million, and payments for debt issuance costs of $19 million; partially offset by proceeds from employee stock option exercises of $33 million.

        During fiscal 2015, cash used in financing activities was $962 million, primarily due to net debt repayments of $961 million, including $72 million of contractually required premiums to extinguish the April 2012 Second Priority Notes prior to maturity and purchase of treasury shares of $71 million partially offset by $74 million of proceeds from employee stock option exercises.

External financing

        As of January 28, 2018, HDS had an aggregate principal amount of $2,101 million of outstanding debt, net of unamortized original issue discounts and unamortized deferred financing costs of $6 million and $29 million, respectively, and an additional $909 million of available borrowings under its Senior ABL Facility (after giving effect to the borrowing base limitations and approximately $27 million in letters of credit issued and including $235 million of borrowings available on qualifying cash balances). As of January 28, 2018, all outstanding borrowings on the Senior ABL Facility are Canadian borrowings. We may from time to time repurchase or otherwise retire or extend our debt and/or take other steps to reduce our debt or otherwise improve our financial position. These actions may include open market debt repurchases, negotiated repurchases, other retirements of outstanding debt, and/or opportunistic refinancing of debt. The amount of debt that may be repurchased or otherwise retired or refinanced, if any, will depend on market conditions, trading levels of our debt, our cash position, compliance with debt covenants and other considerations. Our affiliates may also purchase our debt from time to time, through open market purchases or other transactions. In such cases, our debt may not be retired, in which case we would continue to pay interest in accordance with the terms of the debt, and we would continue to reflect the debt as outstanding in our consolidated statements of financial position.

        On December 28, 2017, HDS reduced its U.S. borrowing capacity under its Senior ABL Facility by $500 million. The total borrowing capacity under the Senior ABL Facility is now $1,000 million (subject to availability under a borrowing base). As a result, the Company incurred a $3 million loss on extinguishment of debt for the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On September 1, 2017, HDS used a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the Waterworks business to redeem all of the outstanding $1,250 million in aggregate principal amount of the December 2014 First Priority Notes for an aggregate redemption price of approximately $1,325 million. The redemption price included an approximately $62 million make-whole premium calculated in

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accordance with terms of the indenture governing the December 2014 First Priority Notes (the "2014 indenture") and $14 million of accrued but unpaid interest to the redemption date. In connection with the redemption, the 2014 indenture was satisfied and discharged and the liens securing the December 2014 First Priority Notes were released in accordance with the terms of the 2014 indenture. As a result of the redemption, the Company incurred a $73 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which includes the $62 million make-whole premium and the write-off of $11 million of unamortized deferred financing costs, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On August 31, 2017, HDS entered into a Fifth Amendment (the "Fifth Amendment") to the credit agreement governing HDS's existing Term Loan Facility. Pursuant to the Fifth Amendment, HDS amended its existing Term Loan Facility to, among other things, (i) refinance all the outstanding term loans in an original aggregate principal amount of $842 million (the "Term B-1 Loans") with a new tranche of term loans (the "Term B-3 Loans") in an aggregate principal amount of $535 million, (ii) refinance all the outstanding term loans in an original aggregate principal of $550 million (the "Term B-2 Loans") with a new tranche of term loans (the "Term B-4 Loans") in an aggregate principal amount of $546 million and (iii) amend the definition of "Permitted Payments" contained in the credit agreement to permit an additional category of Permitted Payments permitting Restricted Payments (as defined in the credit agreement) at any time in an aggregate amount not to exceed (x) $500,000,000 and (y) thereafter, upon full use of such capacity set forth in clause (x), an additional amount, if any, such that, after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment, the Company's Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) does not exceed 3.00 to 1.00.

        The Term B-3 Loans bear interest at the applicable margin for borrowings of 2.25% for LIBOR borrowings and 1.25% for base rate borrowings. The Term B-3 Loans amortize in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1.00% of the original principal amount and will mature on August 13, 2021.

        The Term B-4 Loans bear interest at the applicable margin for borrowings of 2.50% for LIBOR borrowings and 1.50% for base rate borrowings. The Term B-4 Loans amortize in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1.00% of the original principal amount and will mature on October 17, 2023.

        The Fifth Amendment also provides for a prepayment premium equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Term Loans, as defined below, being prepaid if, on or prior to March 2, 2018, the Company enters into certain repricing transactions.

        In connection with the Fifth Amendment, the Company paid approximately $1 million in consent fees and incurred a modification and extinguishment charge of approximately $3 million, which includes financing fees and other costs of approximately $1 million and the write-off of approximately $2 million of a portion of the related unamortized original issue discount and deferred financing costs, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On August 25, 2017, HDS entered into the Second Supplemental Indenture (the "Second Supplemental Indenture") which amends and supplements the Indenture, dated as of April 11, 2016, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 11, 2016 (together, the "2016 indenture"). Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes consented to the Proposed Amendments.

        The Second Supplemental Indenture (a) amends the definition of "Permitted Payments" contained in the Indenture to permit an additional category of Permitted Payments permitting Restricted Payments (as defined in the Indenture) at any time in an aggregate amount not to exceed (x) $500,000,000 and (y) thereafter, upon full use of such capacity set forth in clause (x), an additional amount, if any, such that, after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment, the Company's Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) does not exceed 3.00 to 1.00;

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(b) increase the interest rate for the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes to 7.00% per annum commencing April 15, 2019, to the extent the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes remain outstanding after April 15, 2019; (c) amend the definition of "Net Available Cash" contained in the Indenture to provide that proceeds from the sale of the Waterworks business unit consummated on August 1, 2017 (other than proceeds to be applied to redeem the December 2014 First Priority Notes) shall be excluded and accordingly, the Company will not be required to apply the remaining net proceeds in accordance with the provision of the "Sale of Assets" covenant of the Indenture and (d) amend the definition of "Consolidated EBITDA" contained in the 2016 indenture to provide that while the Company may continue to include in the calculation thereof projected cost savings, it may only do so with respect those realized as a result of actions taken or to be taken in connection with a purchase of assets from, or a sale of assets to, a third party (excluding the Waterworks Sale (as defined in the Second Supplemental Indenture)).

        As a result of entering into the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Company paid approximately $15 million in consent fees to holders of the outstanding April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes, which are capitalized as deferred financing costs and amortized over the expected life of the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes. Additionally, the Company incurred a modification charge of approximately $3 million for financing fees in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On April 18, 2017, HDS used cash and available borrowings under its Senior ABL Facility, to repay $100 million aggregate principal of its Term B-1 Loans. As a result, the Company incurred a $2 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which included write-offs of unamortized original issue discount and unamortized deferred financing costs for $1 million each, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On April 5, 2017, HDS entered into a Third Amendment (the "Third Amendment") to the credit agreement governing its existing Senior ABL Facility. The Third Amendment, among other things, reduced the applicable margin for borrowings under the Senior ABL Facility, reduced the applicable commitment fee, and extended the maturity date of the Senior ABL Facility until April 5, 2022. As a result, the Company recorded a $1 million loss on extinguishment of debt, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments," for the write-off of $1 million of unamortized deferred financing costs.

        For additional information, see "Note 5, Debt," in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within "Part II. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this annual report on Form 10-K.

Rating agency actions

        On September 5, 2017, S&P Global Ratings ("S&P") raised the credit ratings on HDS's Term Loan B-3 and Term Loan B-4 to 'BB+' from 'BB' and revised its recovery rating on the Term Loans to '2', citing HDS's repayment of its December 2014 First Priority Notes on September 1, 2017 and increased flexibility in regards to use of the net proceeds from the sale of the Waterworks business.

        In March 2017, Moody's Investor's Service ("Moody's") upgraded HDS's corporate family rating to Ba3, from B1. Moody's cited improved credit metrics and anticipated gains from all of our business units. In related rating actions, Moody's upgraded HDS's senior secured term loans and senior secured notes from Ba3 to B1 and senior unsecured notes to B2 from B3. Moody's rating outlook changed to stable from positive. Also in April 2017, S&P raised HDS's corporate credit rating to 'BB' from 'BB–', assigned a 'BBB–' rating to the Senior ABL Facility, upgraded senior secured debt to 'BB' from 'BB–', and upgraded unsecured notes to 'B+' from 'B'. S&P cited meaningful credit ratio improvement in fiscal 2016 as well as our prioritization of free cash generation for debt reduction. S&P's outlook upgraded to stable.

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Commodity and interest rate risk

Commodity risk

        We are aware of the potentially unfavorable effects inflationary pressures may create through higher asset replacement costs and related depreciation, higher interest rates and higher material costs. In addition, our operating performance is affected by price fluctuations in the commodity based products that we purchase and sell, which contain commodities such as steel, refrigerants, and other commodities. We are also exposed to fluctuations in petroleum costs as we deliver a substantial portion of the products we sell by truck. We seek to minimize the effects of inflation and changing prices through economies of purchasing and inventory management resulting in cost reductions and productivity improvements as well as price increases to maintain reasonable gross margins.

        As discussed above, our results of operations were favorably or negatively impacted by fluctuating commodity prices based on our ability or inability to pass increases in the prices of certain commodity based products to our customers. Such commodity price fluctuations have from time to time produced volatility in our financial performance and could do so in the future.

Interest rate risk related to debt

        We are subject to interest rate risk associated with our debt. While changes in interest rates impact the fair value of the fixed-rate debt, there is no impact to earnings and cash flow. Alternatively, while changes in interest rates do not affect the fair value of our variable-rate debt, they do affect future earnings and cash flows.

        HDS's Senior ABL Facility and Term Loan Facility bear variable interest rates.

•

The Senior ABL Facility bears interest (i) in the case of U.S. dollar denominated loans, either at LIBOR or the Prime Rate, at the option of the Company, plus applicable borrowing margins and (ii) in the case of Canadian dollar denominated loans, either at the BA Rate or the Canadian Prime Rate, at the option of the Company, plus applicable borrowing margins. The borrowing margins are defined by a pricing grid, as included in the ABL Facility agreement, based on average excess availability for the previous quarter.



•

The Term B-3 Loans bear interest at the applicable margin for borrowings of 2.25% for LIBOR borrowings and 1.25% for base rate borrowings, with no LIBOR floor.



•

The Term B-4 Loans bear interest at the applicable margin for borrowings of 2.50% for LIBOR borrowings and 1.50% for base rate borrowings, with no LIBOR floor.

        A 1% increase in interest rates on our variable-rate debt would increase our annual forecasted interest expense by approximately $11 million based on our borrowings as of January 28, 2018.

Off-balance sheet arrangements

        In accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America, operating leases for a portion of our real estate and other assets are not reflected in our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

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Contractual obligations

        The following table discloses aggregate information about our contractual obligations as of January 28, 2018 and the periods in which payments are due (amounts in millions):

Recent accounting pronouncements

        See "Note 1, Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies," in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within "Part II. Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" of this annual report on Form 10-K.

Our critical accounting policies include:

Revenue recognition

        We recognize revenue when persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price to the buyer is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured. We ship products to customers by internal fleet and third-party carriers. Revenues, net of sales tax and allowances for returns and discounts, are recognized from product sales when title to and risk of loss for the products is passed to the customer, which generally occurs at the point of destination.

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Allowance for doubtful accounts

        We evaluate the collectability of accounts receivable based on numerous factors, including past transaction history with customers, their credit worthiness and an assessment of our lien and bond rights. Initially, we estimate an allowance for doubtful accounts as a percentage of aged receivables. This estimate is periodically adjusted when we become aware of a specific customer's inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filing) or as a result of changes in our historical collection patterns. While we have a large customer base that is geographically dispersed, a slowdown in the markets in which we operate may result in higher than expected uncollectible accounts, and therefore, the need to revise estimates for bad debts. To the extent historical credit experience is not indicative of future performance or other assumptions used by management do not prevail, the allowance for doubtful accounts could differ significantly, resulting in either higher or lower future provisions for doubtful accounts.

Inventories

        Inventories consist primarily of finished goods and are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of substantially all of our inventories is determined by the moving or weighted average cost method. We evaluate our inventory value at the end of each quarter to ensure that it is carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. This evaluation includes an analysis of historical physical inventory results, a review of potential excess and obsolete inventories based on inventory aging and anticipated future demand. Periodically, each branch's perpetual inventory records are adjusted to reflect any declines in net realizable value below inventory carrying cost. To the extent historical physical inventory results are not indicative of future results and if future events impact, either favorably or unfavorably, the saleability of our products or our relationship with certain key vendors, our inventory reserves could differ significantly, resulting in either higher or lower future inventory provisions.

Consideration received from vendors

        We enter into agreements with many of our vendors providing for inventory purchase rebates ("vendor rebates") upon achievement of specified volume purchasing levels. We accrue the receipt of vendor rebates as part of our cost of sales for products sold based on progress towards earning the vendor rebates, taking into consideration cumulative purchases of inventory to date and projected purchases through the end of the year. An estimate of vendor rebates is included in the carrying value of inventory at each period end for vendor rebates to be received on products not yet sold. While we believe we will continue to receive consideration from vendors in fiscal 2018 and thereafter, there can be no assurance that vendors will continue to provide comparable amounts of vendor rebates in the future.

Impairment of long-lived assets

        Long-lived assets, including property and equipment, are reviewed for possible impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. To analyze recoverability, we project undiscounted future cash flows over the remaining life of the asset. If these projected cash flows are less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized based on the fair value of the asset less any costs of disposition. Our judgment regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on market and operational performance. Future events could cause us to conclude that impairment indicators exist and that assets are impaired. Evaluating the impairment also requires us to estimate future operating results and cash flows that require judgment by management. If different estimates were used, the amount and timing of asset impairments could be affected.

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Goodwill

        Goodwill represents the excess of the purchase price paid over the fair value of the net assets acquired in connection with business acquisitions. ASC 350, "Intangibles—Goodwill and Other," requires entities to periodically assess the carrying value of goodwill by reviewing the fair value of the net assets underlying all acquisition-related goodwill on a reporting unit basis, as defined by ASC 350. We assess the recoverability of goodwill in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year.

        We also use judgment in assessing whether we need to test goodwill more frequently for impairment than annually given factors such as unexpected adverse economic conditions, competition, product changes and other events. If the carrying amount of a reporting unit that contains goodwill exceeds fair value, a possible impairment would be indicated.

        We determine the fair value of a reporting unit using a discounted cash flow ("DCF") analysis and a market comparable method, with each method being equally weighted in the calculation.

        Determining fair value requires the exercise of significant judgment, including judgment about appropriate discount rates, the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, as well as relevant comparable company earnings multiples for the market comparable approach. The cash flows employed in the DCF analyses are based on the Company's most recent long-range forecast and, for years beyond the forecast, the Company's estimates, which are based on estimated exit multiples times the final forecasted year earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. The discount rates used in the DCF analyses are intended to reflect the risks inherent in the future cash flows of the respective reporting units. For the market comparable approach, the Company evaluated comparable company public trading values, using earnings multiples and sales multiples that are used to value the reporting units.

        For our annual goodwill impairment testing during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017, we tested the three reporting units with goodwill balances. In accordance with ASC 350, we elected to first assess qualitative factors on all three reporting units: Facilities Maintenance, Construction & Industrial-White Cap, and Home Improvement Solutions, to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of each of these reporting units is less than its carrying amount. Based on this assessment, we determined that it was not necessary to calculate the fair value using the DCF and market comparable approach for these four reporting units. There was no indication of impairment in any of the Company's reporting units in the fourth quarter 2017 goodwill impairment test.

        There was no indication of impairment in any of the Company's reporting units in the fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 annual tests.

        The Company's DCF model is based on our expectation of future market conditions for each of the reporting units, as well as discount rates that would be used by market participants in an arms-length transaction. Future events could cause the Company to conclude that market conditions have declined or discount rates have increased to the extent that the Company's goodwill could be further impaired. It is not possible at this time to determine if any such future impairment charge would result.

Income Taxes

        Income taxes are determined under the asset and liability method as required by ASC 740, "Income Taxes." Income tax expense or benefit is based on pre-tax financial accounting income. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the expected tax consequences of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled.

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        At January 28, 2018, Company's U.S. operations continued to have cumulative consolidated pre-tax income for the most recent three-year period. Management concluded that as a consequence of the Company's three-year cumulative consolidated pre-tax income, generating taxable income in fiscal 2015, 2016, and 2017, the Company's long net operating loss carryforward periods, a significant reduction in the Company's recent interest expense, a projected further reduction in the Company's future interest expense, and the Company's business plan for fiscal 2018 and beyond showing continued profitability, that it is more likely than not that substantially all of the Company's U.S. deferred tax assets will be realized. As a result, the Company concluded that no additional valuation on its U.S. Federal deferred tax assets was necessary. The Company increased its valuation allowance related to its state continuing operations by $1 million in fiscal 2017 as it determined it is "more likely than not" certain deferred income tax assets would not be realized.

        At the end of fiscal 2015, the Company concluded that it is more likely than not that substantially all of its U.S. deferred tax assets would be realized. The conclusion was based upon the Company achieving three-year cumulative consolidated pre-tax income, generating taxable income in fiscal 2014 and fiscal 2015, long net operating loss carryforward periods, a reduction in current and future interest expense, and our business plan for fiscal 2016 and beyond showing continued profitability. Accordingly, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company reversed substantially all of its valuation allowance on its net U.S. deferred tax assets, resulting in a $1,007 million benefit in its provision for income taxes. Consistent with ASC 740, the Company evaluated the sources of realization for the deferred tax assets and considered the appropriate component of income to record the income tax benefit. Based on such analysis, approximately $1,007 million was recorded to continuing operations since the valuation allowance decrease was from our change in the assessment that the beginning-of-year deferred tax assets would be realized.

        The Company follows the GAAP guidance for uncertain tax positions within ASC 740, "Income Taxes". ASC 740 provides guidance related to the financial statement recognition and measurement of tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. The standard prescribes the minimum recognition threshold that a tax position is required to meet before being recognized in the financial statements. ASC 740 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods and disclosure. Initial recognition, derecognition and measurement is based on management's judgment given the facts, circumstances and information available at the reporting date. If these judgments are not accurate then future income tax expense or benefit could be different.

        For the Global Intangible Low-Tax Income ("GILTI") provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, the Company has elected GILTI as a period cost if and when incurred.

Self-insurance

        We have a high deductible insurance program for most losses related to general liability, product liability, environmental liability, automobile liability, workers' compensation, and we are self-insured for medical claims, while maintaining per employee stop loss coverage, and certain legal claims. The expected ultimate cost for claims incurred as of the balance sheet date is not discounted and is recognized as a liability. Self-insurance losses for claims filed and claims incurred but not reported are accrued based upon estimates of the aggregate liability for uninsured claims using loss development factors and actuarial assumptions followed in the insurance industry and historical loss development experience. To the extent the projected future development of the losses resulting from environmental, workers' compensation, automobile, general and product liability claims incurred as of January 28, 2018 differs from the actual development of such losses in future periods, our insurance reserves could differ significantly, resulting in either higher or lower future insurance expense.

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Management estimates

        Management believes the assumptions and other considerations used to estimate amounts reflected in our consolidated financial statements are appropriate. However, if actual experience differs from the assumptions and other considerations used in estimating amounts reflected in our consolidated financial statements, the resulting changes could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated results of operations, and in certain situations, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

Stock-Based Compensation

        Our stock option expense is estimated at the grant date based on an award's fair value as calculated by the Black-Scholes option-pricing model and is recognized as an expense over the requisite service period. The Black-Scholes model requires various highly judgmental assumptions including expected volatility and option life. If any of the assumptions used in the Black-Scholes model change significantly, stock-based compensation expense may differ materially in the future from that recorded in the current period. In addition, we estimate an expected forfeiture rate on all of our stock-based compensation awards and only recognize expense for those awards expected to vest. We estimate the forfeiture rate based on historical experience. To the extent our actual forfeiture rate is different from our estimate, stock-based compensation expense is adjusted accordingly. See "Note 8—Stock Based Compensation and Employee Benefit Plans" in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements within Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data of this annual report on Form 10-K.

Item 7A.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

        The information required by this Item is included under "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" under the caption "Commodity and interest rate risk."

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HD SUPPLY

ITEM 8.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

Index to financial statements

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of
HD Supply Holdings, Inc.:

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of HD Supply Holdings, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), of stockholders' equity (deficit) and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 28, 2018, including the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(c) (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

        In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 28, 2018 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

Change in Accounting Principle

        As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for stock-based compensation in 2017.

Basis for Opinions

        The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company's consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

        Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal

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control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

        A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

        Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
March 12, 2018

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2013.

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholder of
HD Supply, Inc.:

Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of HD Supply, Inc. and its subsidiaries as of January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017, and the related consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), of stockholder's equity (deficit) and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 28, 2018, including the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(c) (collectively referred to as the "consolidated financial statements"). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).

        In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended January 28, 2018 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2018, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.

Change in Accounting Principle

        As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company changed the manner in which it accounts for stock-based compensation in 2017.

Basis for Opinions

        The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting appearing under Item 9A. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company's consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) ("PCAOB") and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.

        Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal

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control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.

Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting

        A company's internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company's internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company's assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

        Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Atlanta, Georgia
March 12, 2018

We have served as the Company's auditor since 2008.

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Amounts in millions, except share and per share data

   

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

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Amounts in millions, except share and per share data

   

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

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)

Dollars in millions, shares in thousands

   

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

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Amounts in millions

   

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

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HD SUPPLY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Amounts in millions

   

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

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HD SUPPLY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

Amounts in millions, except share and per share data

   

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

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HD SUPPLY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDER'S EQUITY (DEFICIT)

Amounts in millions

   

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

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HD SUPPLY, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Amounts in millions

   

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

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTE 1—NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Business

        HD Supply Holdings, Inc. ("Holdings") indirectly owns all of the outstanding common stock of HD Supply, Inc. ("HDS").

        Holdings, together with its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including HDS ("HD Supply" or the "Company"), is one of the largest industrial distribution companies in North America. The Company specializes in two distinct market sectors: Maintenance, Repair & Operations and Specialty Construction. Through approximately 220 branches and 44 distribution centers, in the U.S. and Canada, the Company serves these markets with an integrated go-to-market strategy. HD Supply has approximately 11,000 associates delivering localized, customer-tailored products, services and expertise. The Company serves approximately 500,000 customers, which include contractors, maintenance professionals, home builders, industrial businesses, and government entities. HD Supply's broad range of end-to-end product lines and services includes approximately 600,000 stock-keeping units ("SKUs") of quality, name-brand and proprietary-brand products as well as value-add services supporting the entire life-cycle of a project from construction to maintenance, repair and operations.

        HD Supply is managed primarily on a product line basis and reports results of operations in two reportable segments: Facilities Maintenance and Construction & Industrial. In addition, the consolidated financial statements include Corporate and Eliminations, which is comprised of enterprise-wide functional departments.

Principles of Consolidation

        The consolidated financial statements of HD Supply Holdings, Inc. present the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of HD Supply Holdings, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including HD Supply, Inc. The consolidated financial statements of HD Supply, Inc. present the results of operations, financial position and cash flows of HD Supply, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany balances and transactions are eliminated. Results of operations of businesses acquired are included from their respective dates of acquisition. The results of operations of all discontinued operations have been separately reported as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

Fiscal Year

        HD Supply's fiscal year is a 52- or 53-week period ending on the Sunday nearest to January 31. Fiscal year ended January 28, 2018 ("fiscal 2017"), fiscal year ended January 29, 2017 ("fiscal 2016"), and fiscal year ended January 31, 2016 ("fiscal 2015") each included 52 weeks.

Estimates

        Management has made a number of estimates and assumptions relating to the reporting of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses in preparing these consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP"). Actual results could differ from these estimates.

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HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 1—NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Cash and Cash Equivalents

        HD Supply considers all highly liquid investments with maturities of three months or less when purchased to be cash equivalents.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts

        Accounts receivable are evaluated for collectability based on numerous factors, including past transaction history with customers, their credit worthiness, and an assessment of lien and bond rights. An allowance for doubtful accounts is estimated as a percentage of aged receivables. This estimate is periodically adjusted when management becomes aware of specific customer's inability to meet its financial obligations (e.g., bankruptcy filing) or as a result of changes in historical collection patterns.

Inventories

        Inventories consist primarily of finished goods and are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. The cost of substantially all inventories is determined by the moving or weighted average cost method. Inventory value is evaluated at each balance sheet date to ensure that it is carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. This evaluation includes an analysis of historical physical inventory results, a review of excess and obsolete inventories based on inventory aging, and anticipated future demand. Periodically, perpetual inventory records are adjusted to reflect declines in net realizable value below inventory carrying cost.

Consideration Received From Vendors

        HD Supply enters into agreements with many of its vendors providing for inventory purchase rebates ("vendor rebates") upon achievement of specified volume purchasing levels. Vendor rebates are accrued as part of cost of sales for products sold based on progress towards earning the vendor rebates, taking into consideration cumulative purchases of inventory to date and projected purchases through the end of the year. An estimate of unearned vendor rebates is included in the carrying value of inventory at each period end for vendor rebates recognized on products not yet sold. At January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017, vendor rebates due to HD Supply were $58 million and $50 million, respectively. These receivables are included in Receivables in the accompanying Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Property and Equipment

        Property and equipment are recorded at cost and depreciated using the straight-line method based on the following estimated useful lives of the assets:

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 1—NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Capitalized Software Costs

        HD Supply capitalizes certain software costs, which are being amortized on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the software, generally three years. At January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017, capitalized software costs totaled $27 million and $30 million, respectively, net of accumulated amortization of $209 million and $205 million, respectively. Amortization of capitalized software costs totaled $24 million, $25 million, and $37 million, in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, respectively.

Goodwill

        Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired. HD Supply does not amortize goodwill, but does assess the recoverability of goodwill on an annual basis or whenever events or circumstances indicate that it is "more likely than not" that the fair value of a reporting unit has dropped below its carrying value. The Company determines the fair values of its identified reporting units using a discounted cash flow ("DCF") analysis and a market comparable method, with each method being equally weighted in the calculation. Determining fair value requires the exercise of significant judgment, including judgment about appropriate discount rates, the amount and timing of expected future cash flows, as well as relevant comparable company earnings multiples for the market comparable approach. There were no goodwill impairment charges recorded in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, or fiscal 2015.

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

        Long-lived assets, including property and equipment, are reviewed for possible impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. To analyze recoverability, undiscounted future cash flows over the remaining life of the asset are projected. If these projected cash flows are less than the carrying amount, an impairment loss is recognized to the extent the fair value of the asset less any costs of disposition is less than the carrying amount of the asset. Judgments regarding the existence of impairment indicators are based on market and operational performance. Evaluating potential impairment also requires estimates of future operating results and cash flows.

Self-Insurance

        HD Supply has a high deductible insurance program for most losses related to general liability, product liability, environmental liability, automobile liability, workers' compensation, and is self-insured for medical claims, while maintaining per employee stop loss coverage, and certain legal claims. The expected ultimate cost for claims incurred as of the balance sheet date is not discounted and is recognized as a liability. Self-insurance losses for claims filed and claims incurred but not reported are accrued based upon estimates of the aggregate liability for uninsured claims using loss development factors and actuarial assumptions followed in the insurance industry and historical loss development experience. At January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017, self-insurance reserves for continuing operations totaled approximately $51 million and $56 million, respectively. At January 29, 2017, self-insurance

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 1—NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

reserves classified as discontinued operations totaled approximately $23 million. See "Note 2, Discontinued Operations" for further information on the sale of the Waterworks business.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

        The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable and accounts payable, accrued compensation and benefits and other current liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term nature of these financial instruments. The Company's long-term financial assets and liabilities are recorded at historical costs. See "Note 6, Fair Value Measurements," for information on the fair value of long-term financial instruments.

Revenue Recognition

        HD Supply recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an agreement exists, delivery has occurred or services have been rendered, the price to the buyer is fixed and determinable and collectability is reasonably assured.

        HD Supply ships products to customers by internal fleet and third party carriers. Revenues, net of sales tax and allowances for returns and discounts, are recognized from product sales when title to and risk of loss for the products is passed to the customer, which generally occurs at the point of destination.

        Revenues related to services are recognized in the period the services are performed and totaled $37 million, $25 million, and $24 million in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, respectively.

Shipping and Handling Fees and Costs

        HD Supply includes shipping and handling fees billed to customers in Net sales. Shipping and handling costs associated with inbound freight are capitalized to inventories and relieved through Cost of sales as inventories are sold. Shipping and handling costs associated with outbound freight are included in Selling, general and administrative expenses and totaled $99 million, $97 million, and $86 million in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, respectively.

Concentration of Credit Risk

        The majority of HD Supply's sales are credit sales which are made primarily to customers whose ability to pay is dependent, in part, upon the economic strength of industries and the areas where they operate. Concentration of credit risk with respect to trade accounts receivable is limited by the large number of customers comprising HD Supply's customer base. HD Supply performs ongoing credit evaluations of its customers.

Leases

        Leases are reviewed for capital or operating classification at their inception under the guidance of Accounting Standards Codification ("ASC") 840, "Leases." The Company uses its incremental borrowing rate in the assessment of lease classification and assumes the initial lease term includes

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HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 1—NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

renewal options that are reasonably assured. HD Supply conducts operations primarily under operating leases. For leases classified as operating leases, the Company records rent expense on a straight-line basis, over the lease term beginning with the date the Company has access to the property which in some cases is prior to commencement of lease payments. Accordingly, the amount of rental expense recognized in excess of lease payments is recorded as a deferred rent liability and is amortized to rental expense over the remaining term of the lease.

Advertising

        Advertising costs are charged to expense as incurred except for the costs of producing and distributing certain direct response sales catalogs, which are capitalized and charged to expense over the life of the related catalog. Advertising expenses were approximately $33 million, $32 million, and $32 million in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, respectively. Capitalized advertising costs related to direct response advertising were not material.

Income Taxes

        The Company provides for federal, state and foreign income taxes currently payable, as well as for those deferred due to temporary differences between reporting income and expenses for financial statement purposes versus tax purposes. Federal, state and foreign tax benefits are recorded as a reduction of income taxes. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to temporary differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted income tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. The effect of a change in income tax rates is recognized as income or expense in the period that includes the enactment date.

        The Company consists of corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships. All income tax expense (benefit) of the Company is recorded in the accompanying Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income with the offset recorded through the Company's current tax accounts, deferred tax accounts, or stockholder's equity account as appropriate.

Comprehensive Income

        Comprehensive income includes Net income adjusted for certain revenues, expenses, gains and losses that are excluded from net income under GAAP. Adjustments to net income are for foreign currency translation adjustments.

Foreign Currency Translation

        Assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries with a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar, primarily Canadian dollars, are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange on the last day of the reporting period. Revenues and expenses are translated at a monthly average exchange rate and equity transactions are translated using either the actual exchange rate on the day of the transaction or a monthly average exchange rate.

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HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 1—NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

Stock-Based Compensation

        The HD Supply Holdings, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan, approved by Holdings' stockholders on May 17, 2017, (the "Plan") provides for stock-based awards to employees, consultants and directors, including stock options, stock purchase rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred stock units, performance shares, performance units, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalents and other stock-based awards. The Plan is an amendment and restatement of the HD Supply Holdings, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan, which replaced and succeeded the HDS Investment Holding, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (the "Stock Incentive Plan"), and, from and after June 26, 2013, no further awards may be made under the Stock Incentive Plan. Both plans are accounted for under ASC 718, "Compensation—Stock Compensation," which requires the recognition of share-based compensation costs in the financial statements. The Company includes these costs in Selling, general and administrative expense in the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss).

Recently Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

        Stock Compensation—In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2016-09, "Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" ("ASU 2016-09"). The new guidance identifies areas for simplification involving several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including the income tax consequences, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities as well as certain classifications on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-09 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016.

        The Company adopted the guidance from this amendment on January 30, 2017 (the first day of fiscal 2017) recording a $56 million cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings in order to recognize a deferred tax asset on the excess deduction for stock option exercises over the expense recorded for book purposes. In fiscal 2017, the Company recognized a $16 million benefit in the tax provision reflecting the excess stock-based compensation expense deductible for tax purposes over the amount expensed for book purposes for options exercised.

        Inventory—In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11, "Inventory, Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory" ("ASU 2015-11"). The amended guidance requires that inventory be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value. The amended guidance is limited to inventory measured using the first-in, first-out ("FIFO") or average cost methods and excludes inventory measured using last-in, first-out ("LIFO") or retail inventory methods. ASU 2015-11 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. The Company adopted this guidance on January 30, 2017 (the first day of fiscal 2017) with no material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

        Stock Compensation—In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-09, "Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting" ("ASU 2017-09"). The amendments in

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 1—NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

this update provide guidance about which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting in Topic 718. The ASU is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this update should be applied prospectively to an award modified on or after the adoption date. The Company will adopt this guidance on January 29, 2018 (the first day of fiscal 2018) and expects no material impact to the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        Goodwill—In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, "Intangibles—Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment" ("ASU 2017-04"). The new guidance eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill to measure a goodwill impairment charge. Instead, entities will record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit's carrying amount over its fair value. The ASU is effective for annual and interim impairment tests performed in periods beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for annual and interim goodwill impairment testing dates after January 1, 2017. The amendments in this update should be applied on a prospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2017-04 is not expected to have a material impact on the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        Statement of Cash Flows—In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash" ("ASU 2016-18"). The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice by adding or clarifying guidance on classification and presentation of changes in restricted cash on the statement of cash flows. ASU 2016-18 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this update should be applied retrospectively to all periods presented. The Company will adopt this guidance on January 29, 2018 (the first day of fiscal 2018) and expects no material impact to the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows. On a prospective basis, the ASU will only impact the Company to the extent it has restricted cash.

        Income Taxes—In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, "Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-entity Transfers of Assets Other than Inventory" ("ASU 2016-16"). The new guidance is intended to improve the accounting for intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory by requiring recognition of income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory when the transfer occurs. ASU 2016-16 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this update should be applied on a modified retrospective basis through a cumulative-effect adjustment directly to retained earnings as of the beginning of the period of adoption. The Company will adopt this guidance on January 29, 2018 (the first day of fiscal 2018) and expects no material impact to the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        Statement of Cash Flows—In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Clarification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments" ("ASU 2016-15"). The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice related to certain cash receipts and payments in the statement of cash flows by adding or clarifying guidance on eight specific cash flow issues. ASU 2016-15 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2017. Early adoption is permitted. The amendments in this update should be applied retrospectively to all periods

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 1—NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

presented, unless deemed impracticable, in which case, prospective application is permitted. The Company will adopt this guidance on January 29, 2018 (the first day of fiscal 2018) and expects no material impact to the Company's financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        Leases—In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, "Leases (Topic 842)" ("ASU 2016-02"), amended by ASU 2017-13, "Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Leases (Topic 840), and Leases (Topic 842)," and ASU 2018-01, "Leases (Topic 842)-Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842." The amended guidance requires companies to recognize all leases as assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by leased assets on the consolidated balance sheet. ASU 2016-02 is effective for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2018. Early adoption is permitted. It is to be adopted using a modified retrospective approach. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting ASU 2016-02.

        Revenue recognition—In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, "Revenue from contracts with customers" ("ASU 2014-09"), amended by ASU 2016-10, "Revenue from contracts with customers (Topic 606): Identifying Performance Obligations and Licensing," ASU 2016-12, "Revenue from contracts with customers (Topic 606): Narrow-Scope Improvements and Practical Expedients," ASU 2016-20, "Technical Corrections and Improvements to Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers," ASU 2017-13, "Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), Leases (Topic 840), and Leases (Topic 842)," and ASU 2017-14, "Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220), Revenue Recognition (Topic 605), and Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)." The amended guidance outlines a single comprehensive revenue model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. The guidance supersedes most current revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. The core principle of the revenue model is 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." The update requires significant 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. Entities have the option of using either a full retrospective or modified approach to adopt the guidance. In July 2015, the FASB provided a one-year delay in the effective date of ASU 2014-09, to be effective for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim periods within that reporting period, and a permission to early adopt for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016.

        The Company plans to adopt the provisions of ASU 2014-09 using the modified retrospective method. The Company completed its analysis of reviewing customer contracts and applying the five-step model of the new standard to each contract category identified to identify necessary adjustments to existing accounting policies and to quantify the ASU's impact. The Company has concluded that most of its contracts with customers consist of a single performance obligation to transfer promised goods or services and therefore will not be impacted by the adoption of ASU 2014-09. The adoption of ASU 2014-09 will impact the Company's method of recognizing certain installation income, which is generally recognized when the customer order is fully installed.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 1—NATURE OF BUSINESS AND SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Continued)

ASU 2014-09 requires installation income to be recognized as each performance obligation within a contract is completed. The Company's installation contracts are typically completed in less than 90 days. Due to the seasonal nature of the Company's installation business, recognized revenue could shift between quarters within the year. While the Company will provide expanded disclosure requirements, such as disaggregation of revenue, to comply with ASU 2014-09, it does not expect the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to have a material impact on the Company's annual financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

        The Company will adopt ASU 2014-09, as well as other clarifications and technical guidance issued by the FASB related to this new revenue standard on January 29, 2018 (the first day of fiscal 2018). The Company does not plan to make any adjustments to its financial position upon adoption of ASU 2014-09.

NOTE 2—DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

        In August 2017, the Company completed the sale of its Waterworks business and received cash proceeds of approximately $2.4 billion, net of transaction cost payments of approximately $38 million. Including the final working capital settlement of approximately $29 million in January 2018, the Company recognized a gain on the sale of the Waterworks business of approximately $732 million, net of tax of $197 million.

        In October 2017, the Company recognized a $3 million gain due to the expiration of indemnification for tax positions related to the Canadian operations of the Power Solutions business whose sale was completed by the Company in October 2015.

        In May 2016, the Company completed the sale of its Interior Solutions business. Including the final working capital settlement in September 2016, the Company received cash proceeds of approximately $26 million, net of $2 million of transaction costs. As a result of the sale, the Company recorded a $10 million pre-tax loss.

        In October 2015, the Company completed the sale of its Power Solutions business. Including the final working capital settlement in May 2016, the Company received cash proceeds of approximately $812 million, net of $16 million of transaction costs. As a result of the sale, the Company recorded a $189 million pre-tax gain.

Summary Financial Information

        In accordance with ASC 205-20, "Discontinued Operations" and ASU 2014-08, "Reporting discontinued operations and disclosure of disposals of components of an entity," the results of Waterworks, Interior Solutions, and Power Solutions operations and the gains/losses on sales of the businesses are classified as discontinued operations. The presentation of discontinued operations includes revenues and expenses of the discontinued operations and gain/loss on the disposition of businesses, net of tax, as one line item on the Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss). All Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) presented have been revised to reflect this presentation.

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NOTE 2—DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Continued)

        The following table provides additional detail related to the results of operations of the discontinued operations (amounts in millions):

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NOTE 2—DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS (Continued)

        At January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017, the carrying amounts of major classes of assets and liabilities of discontinued operations in the Consolidated Balance Sheets were as follows (amounts in millions):

        The following table provides additional detail related to the net cash provided by (used in) operating and investing activities of the discontinued operations (amounts in millions):

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NOTE 3—RELATED PARTIES

        On August 30, 2007, investment funds associated with Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, LLC ("CD&R"), The Carlyle Group ("Carlyle") and Bain Capital Partners, LLC ("Bain", and together with CD&R and Carlyle the "Equity Sponsors") formed Holdings (previously named HDS Investment Holding, Inc.) and entered into a stock purchase agreement with The Home Depot Inc. ("Home Depot") pursuant to which Home Depot agreed to sell to Holdings, or to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings, certain intellectual property and all the outstanding common stock of HDS and the Canadian subsidiary CND Holdings, Inc. On August 30, 2007, through a series of transactions, Holdings' direct wholly-owned subsidiary, HDS Holding Corporation, acquired direct control of HDS through the merger of its wholly-owned subsidiary, HDS Acquisition Corp., with and into HDS and CND Holdings, Inc. Through these transactions (the "2007 Transactions"), Home Depot was paid cash of $8.2 billion and 12.5% of Holdings' then outstanding common stock.

        Upon completion of Holdings' secondary public offering in fiscal 2015, Home Depot and the Equity Sponsors sold all of their remaining original investments in Holdings.

        Purchases—HD Supply purchased product from affiliates of Bain for $8 million in fiscal 2015. Management believes these transactions were conducted at prices that an unrelated third party would pay.

        Sales—In May 2015, an independent Board member of the Company acquired a minority interest in an HD Supply customer. HD Supply sold product to the customer totaling $3 million, $3 million, and $4 million in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, respectively. Management believes these transactions were conducted at prices that an unrelated third party would pay.

NOTE 4—GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

        The carrying amount of goodwill by reporting unit is as follows (amounts in millions):

        Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over fair value of net assets acquired. HD Supply does not amortize goodwill, but does assess the recoverability of goodwill on an annual basis, in the fourth quarter of each fiscal year. If an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value, an interim impairment test would be performed between annual tests.

        HD Supply performed the annual goodwill impairment testing during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 (as of October 29, 2017). There was no indication of impairment in any of the Company's

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NOTE 4—GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Continued)

reporting units in the fiscal 2017 annual test or in the fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 annual tests. The Company's analysis was based, in part, on HD Supply's expectation of future market conditions for each of the reporting units, as well as, discount rates that would be used by market participants in an arms-length transaction. Future events could cause the Company to conclude that market conditions have declined to the extent that the Company's goodwill could be impaired.

Intangible Assets

        HD Supply's intangible assets as of January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017 consisted of the following (amounts in millions):

        During fiscal 2017, the Company wrote-off approximately $3 million of gross, fully amortized intangible assets.

        Amortization expense for continuing operations related to intangible assets was $12 million in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015. Estimated future amortization expense for continuing operations for intangible assets recorded as of January 28, 2018 is $11 million each year for fiscal years 2018 through 2022.

NOTE 5—DEBT

2017 Refinancing Transactions

        On December 28, 2017, HDS reduced its U.S. borrowing capacity under its Senior ABL Facility, as defined below, by $500 million. The total borrowing capacity under the Senior ABL Facility is now $1,000 million (subject to availability under a borrowing base). As a result, the Company incurred a $3 million loss on extinguishment of debt for the write-off of unamortized deferred financing costs, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On September 1, 2017, HDS used a portion of the net proceeds from the sale of the Waterworks business to redeem all of the outstanding $1,250 million in aggregate principal amount of 5.25% Senior Secured First Priority Notes due 2021 (the "December 2014 First Priority Notes") for an aggregate redemption price of approximately $1,325 million. The redemption price included an approximately $62 million make-whole premium calculated in accordance with terms of the indenture governing the December 2014 First Priority Notes ("the 2014 indenture") and $14 million of accrued but unpaid interest to the redemption date. In connection with the redemption, the 2014 indenture, was satisfied and discharged and the liens securing the December 2014 First Priority Notes were released in accordance with the terms of the 2014 indenture. As a result of the redemption, the Company incurred a $73 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which includes the $62 million make-whole premium and

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the write-off of $11 million of unamortized deferred financing costs, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On August 31, 2017, HDS entered into a Fifth Amendment (the "Fifth Amendment") to the credit agreement governing HDS's existing Term Loan Facility, as defined below. Pursuant to the Fifth Amendment, HDS amended its existing Term Loan Facility to, among other things, (i) refinance all the outstanding term loans in an original aggregate principal amount of $842 million (the "Term B-1 Loans") with a new tranche of term loans (the "Term B-3 Loans") in an aggregate principal amount of $535 million, (ii) refinance all the outstanding term loans in an original aggregate principal of $550 million (the "Term B-2 Loans") with a new tranche of term loans (the "Term B-4 Loans") in an aggregate principal amount of $546 million, and (iii) amend the definition of "Permitted Payments" contained in the credit agreement to permit an additional category of Permitted Payments permitting Restricted Payments (as defined in the credit agreement) at any time in an aggregate amount not to exceed (x) $500,000,000 and (y) thereafter, upon full use of such capacity set forth in clause (x), an additional amount, if any, such that, after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment, the Company's Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the credit agreement) does not exceed 3.00 to 1.00.

        The Fifth Amendment also provides for a prepayment premium equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the applicable Term Loans, as defined below, being prepaid if, on or prior to March 2, 2018, the Company enters into certain repricing transactions.

        In connection with the Fifth Amendment, the Company paid approximately $1 million in consent fees and incurred a modification and extinguishment charge of approximately $3 million, which includes financing fees and other costs of approximately $1 million and the write-off of approximately $2 million of a portion of the related unamortized original issue discount and deferred financing costs, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On August 25, 2017, HDS entered into the Second Supplemental Indenture (the "Second Supplemental Indenture") which amends and supplements the Indenture, dated as of April 11, 2016, as amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 11, 2016 (together, the "2016 indenture"). Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes consented to the proposed amendments included in the Second Supplemental Indenture.

        The Second Supplemental Indenture (a) amends the definition of "Permitted Payments" contained in the 2016 indenture to permit an additional category of Permitted Payments permitting Restricted Payments (as defined in the Indenture) at any time in an aggregate amount not to exceed (x) $500,000,000 and (y) thereafter, upon full use of such capacity set forth in clause (x), an additional amount, if any, such that, after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment, the Company's Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio (as defined in the Indenture) does not exceed 3.00 to 1.00; (b) increase the interest rate for the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes to 7.00% per annum commencing April 15, 2019, to the extent the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes remain outstanding after April 15, 2019; (c) amend the definition of "Net Available Cash" contained in the Indenture to provide that proceeds from the sale of the Waterworks business unit consummated on August 1, 2017 (other than proceeds to be applied to redeem the December 2014 First Priority Notes) shall be

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NOTE 5—DEBT (Continued)

excluded and accordingly, the Company will not be required to apply the remaining net proceeds in accordance with the provision of the "Sale of Assets" covenant of the Indenture, and (d) amend the definition of "Consolidated EBITDA" contained in the 2016 indenture to provide that while the Company may continue to include in the calculation thereof projected cost savings, it may only do so with respect those realized as a result of actions taken or to be taken in connection with a purchase of assets from, or a sale of assets to, a third party (excluding the Waterworks Sale (as defined in the Second Supplemental Indenture)).

        As a result of entering into the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Company paid approximately $15 million in consent fees to holders of the outstanding April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes, which are capitalized as deferred financing costs and amortized over the expected life of the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes. Additionally, the Company incurred a modification charge of approximately $3 million for financing fees, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On April 18, 2017, HDS used cash and available borrowings under its Senior ABL Facility to repay $100 million aggregate principal of its Term B-1 Loans. As a result, the Company incurred a $2 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which included write-offs of unamortized original issue discount and unamortized deferred financing costs for $1 million each, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On April 5, 2017, HDS entered into a Third Amendment (the "Third Amendment") to the credit agreement governing its existing Senior ABL Facility. The Third Amendment, among other things, reduced the applicable margin for borrowings under the Senior ABL Facility, reduced the applicable commitment fee, and extended the maturity date of the Senior ABL Facility until April 5, 2022. As a result, the Company recorded a $1 million loss on extinguishment of debt, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments," for the write-off of $1 million of unamortized deferred financing costs.

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NOTE 5—DEBT (Continued)

        HDS's long-term debt as of January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017 consisted of the following (dollars in millions):

Senior Credit Facilities

Asset Based Lending Facility

        The Senior ABL Facility provides for senior secured revolving loans and letters of credit of up to a maximum aggregate principal amount of $1,000 million (subject to availability under a borrowing base). Extensions of credit under the Senior ABL Facility will be limited by a borrowing base calculated periodically based on specified percentages of the value of eligible inventory and eligible accounts receivable, subject to certain reserves and other adjustments. As of January 28, 2018, HDS had $909 million of additional available borrowings under the Senior ABL Facility (after giving effect to the borrowing base limitations and approximately $27 million in letters of credit issued and including $235 million of borrowings available on qualifying cash balances). As of January 28, 2018, all outstanding borrowings on the Senior ABL Facility are Canadian borrowings.

        A portion of the Senior ABL Facility is available for letters of credit and swingline loans. The Senior ABL Facility also includes a sub-facility for loans and letters of credit in Canadian dollars. The Senior ABL Facility also permits HDS to add one or more incremental term loans, revolving or letter of credit facilities to be included in the Senior ABL Facility up to an aggregate maximum amount of $1,400 million for the total commitments under the Senior ABL Facility (including all incremental commitments).

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NOTE 5—DEBT (Continued)

        At HDS's option, the interest rates applicable to the loans under the Senior ABL Facility are based (i) in the case of U.S. dollar-denominated loans, either at London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR") plus an applicable margin or Prime Rate plus an applicable margin and (ii) in the case of Canadian dollar-denominated loans, either the banker's acceptance ("BA") rate plus an applicable margin or the Canadian Prime Rate plus an applicable margin. The margins applicable for each elected interest rate are subject to a pricing grid, as defined in the Senior ABL Facility agreement, based on average excess availability for the previous fiscal quarter. The Senior ABL Facility also contains a letter of credit fee computed at a rate per annum equal to the Applicable Margin (as defined in the agreement) then in effect for LIBOR Loans and an unused commitment fee subject to a pricing grid, as included in the Senior ABL Facility agreement, based on the Average Daily Used Percentage (as defined in the agreement).

        The Senior ABL Facility will mature on April 5, 2022, unless the individual applicable lenders agree to extend the maturity of their respective loans under the Senior ABL Facility upon HDS's request and without the consent of any other applicable lender.

Prepayments

        The Senior ABL Facility may be prepaid at HDS's option at any time without premium or penalty and will be subject to mandatory prepayment if the outstanding Senior ABL Facility exceeds either the aggregate commitments with respect thereto or the current borrowing base, in an amount equal to such excess. Mandatory prepayments do not result in a permanent reduction of the lenders' commitments under the Senior ABL Facility.

Guarantees; Security

        The Senior ABL Facility is senior secured indebtedness of HDS and ranks equal in right of payment with all of HDS's existing and future senior indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all of HDS's existing and future subordinated indebtedness.

        HDS, and at HDS's option, certain of HDS's subsidiaries, including HD Supply Canada, Inc., a Canadian subsidiary (the "Canadian Borrower"), are the borrowers under the Senior ABL Facility. Each of HDS's existing and future direct and indirect wholly owned domestic subsidiaries, in each case to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation and contractual provision and subject to certain exceptions (the "Subsidiary Guarantors") guarantees HDS's payment obligations under the Senior ABL Facility (and, in the case of Canadian obligations, each existing and future direct and indirect wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, in each case to the extent permitted by applicable law, regulation and contractual provision and subject to certain exceptions (the "Canadian Guarantors") guarantee the Canadian Borrower's payment obligations under the Senior ABL Facility).

        HDS's obligations under the Senior ABL Facility and the guarantees thereof are secured in favor of the U.S. ABL collateral agent (i) on a first-priority basis by substantially all accounts receivable, inventory and other related assets owned by HDS and each Subsidiary Guarantor and all proceeds thereof, in each case to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to certain exceptions (the "ABL Priority Collateral"), subject to permitted liens, and (ii) (x) all of the capital stock of HDS, all capital stock of all domestic subsidiaries directly owned by HDS and the Subsidiary Guarantors and

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NOTE 5—DEBT (Continued)

65% of the capital stock of any foreign subsidiary held directly by HDS or any Subsidiary Guarantor (with foreign subsidiary holding companies being deemed foreign subsidiaries) and (y) substantially all tangible and intangible assets owned by HDS and each Subsidiary Guarantor, other than the ABL Priority Collateral, and all proceeds thereof, in each case to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to certain exceptions (the "Cash Flow Priority Collateral" and, together with the ABL Priority Collateral, the "Collateral"); in each case, subject to the priority of liens among the Term Loan Facility (as defined below) and the Senior ABL Facility.

        The Canadian obligations under the Senior ABL Facility are also secured by liens on substantially all assets of the Canadian Borrower and the Canadian Guarantors, subject to certain exceptions.

Covenants

        The Senior ABL Facility contains a number of covenants that, among other things, limit or restrict HDS's ability and, in certain cases, HDS's subsidiaries to make acquisitions, mergers, consolidations, dividends, and to prepay certain indebtedness, in each case to the extent any such transaction would reduce availability under the Senior ABL Facility below a specified amount.

        In addition, if HDS's specified excess availability (including an amount by which HDS's borrowing base exceeds the existing commitments) under the Senior ABL Facility falls below the greater of $100 million and 10% of the lesser of (A) the Borrowing Base and (B) the Total Facility Commitment (a "Liquidity Event")., HDS will be required to maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of at least 1.0:1.0, as defined in the credit agreement governing the Senior ABL Facility.

        The Senior ABL Facility also contains certain affirmative covenants, including financial and other reporting requirements. HDS is in compliance with all such covenants.

Senior Term Loan Facility

        HDS's Senior Term Facility (the "Senior Term Facility") consists of a senior secured term loan facility (the "Term Loan Facility," and the term loans thereunder, the "Term Loans") providing for Term Loans in an original aggregate principal amount of $1,081 million. Term B-3 Loans will mature on August 13, 2021 and Term B-4 Loans will mature on October 17, 2023. Both Term B-3 Loans and Term B-4 Loans amortize in equal quarterly installments in aggregate principal amounts equal to 1.00% of the original principal amount of the Term Loans with the balances payable on their respective maturity dates. Term B-3 Loans bear interest at the applicable margin for borrowings of 2.25% for LIBOR borrowings and 1.25% for base rate borrowings. Term B-4 Loans bear interest at the applicable margin for borrowings of 2.50% for LIBOR borrowings and 1.50% for base rate borrowings.

        In accordance with the Fifth Amendment, annual excess cash flow ("ECF") provisions are applicable beginning with the fiscal year ending on January 28, 2018 (fiscal 2017) and each fiscal year thereafter. No payment was required to be offered for fiscal 2017, in accordance with the ECF provisions.

        During the first quarter of fiscal 2015 and in accordance with the annual ECF provisions of the Term Loan Facility prior to the Fourth Amendment to the credit agreement governing its existing Term Loan Facility (the "Fourth Amendment"), the Company offered a prepayment of $34 million based on

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the ECF calculation for fiscal 2014. The lenders of the Term Loan Facility accepted $16 million, which the Company paid on March 30, 2015.

        The Term Loan Facility is senior secured indebtedness of HDS and ranks equal in right of payment with all of HDS's existing and future senior indebtedness and senior in right of payment to all of HDS's existing and future subordinated indebtedness.

        The Term Loan Facility is guaranteed, on a senior secured basis, by the Subsidiary Guarantors. These guarantees are subject to release under customary circumstances. The guarantee of each Subsidiary Guarantor is a senior secured obligation of that Subsidiary Guarantor and ranks equal in right of payment with all existing and future senior indebtedness of that Subsidiary Guarantor and senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated indebtedness of such Subsidiary Guarantor.

Collateral

        The Term Loan Facility and the related guarantees are secured by a first-priority security interest in substantially all of the tangible and intangible assets of HDS and the Subsidiary Guarantors (other than the ABL Priority Collateral, in which the Term Loan Facility and the related guarantees have a second priority security interest), including pledges of all Capital Stock of the Restricted Subsidiaries directly owned by HDS and the Subsidiary Guarantors (but only up to 65% of each series of Capital Stock of each direct Foreign Subsidiary owned by HDS or any Subsidiary Guarantor), subject to certain thresholds, exceptions and permitted liens, and excluding any Excluded Assets (as defined in the credit agreement governing the Term Loan Facility (the "Term Loan Credit Agreement")) and Excluded Subsidiary Securities (as defined in the Term Loan Credit Agreement) (the "Cash Flow Priority Collateral"), subject to permitted liens. In addition, the Term Loan Facility and the related guarantees are secured by a second-priority security interest in the ABL Priority Collateral, subject to permitted liens.

Prepayment

        The Fifth Amendment provides for a prepayment premium equal to 1.00% of the aggregate principal amount of the applicable term loans being prepaid if, on or prior to March 2, 2018, the Company enters into certain repricing transactions. Under certain circumstances and subject to certain exceptions, the Term Loan Facility will be subject to mandatory prepayment in an amount equal to:

•

100% of the net proceeds (other than those that are used to purchase certain assets or to repay certain other indebtedness) of certain asset sales and certain insurance recovery events; and



•

50% of annual excess cash flow for any fiscal year, such percentage to decrease to 0% depending on the attainment of certain secured leverage ratio targets.

Guarantee

        HDS is the borrower under the Term Loan Facility. The Subsidiary Guarantors guarantee HDS's payment obligations under the Term Loan Facility.

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        HDS's obligations under the Term Loan Facility and the guarantees thereof are secured in favor of the collateral agent by (i) all of the capital stock of HDS, all capital stock of all domestic subsidiaries directly owned by HDS and the Subsidiary Guarantors and 65% of the capital stock of any foreign subsidiary owned directly by HDS or any Subsidiary Guarantors (it being understood that a foreign subsidiary holding company will be deemed a foreign subsidiary) and (ii) substantially all other tangible and intangible assets owned by HDS and each Subsidiary Guarantor, in each case to the extent permitted by applicable law and subject to certain exceptions and subject to the priority of liens between the Term Loan Facility and the Senior ABL Facility.

Covenants

        The Term Loan Facility contains a number of covenants that, among other things, limit the ability of HDS and its restricted subsidiaries, as described in the Term Loan Credit Agreement, to: incur more indebtedness; pay dividends, redeem stock or make other distributions; make investments; create restrictions on the ability of HDS's restricted subsidiaries to pay dividends to HDS or make other intercompany transfers; create liens securing indebtedness; transfer or sell assets; merge or consolidate; enter into certain transactions with HDS's affiliates; and prepay or amend the terms of certain indebtedness.

        The Term Loan Facility also contains certain affirmative covenants, including financial and other reporting requirements. HDS is in compliance with all such covenants.

Events of Default under the Senior ABL Facility and Term Loan Facility

        The Senior ABL Facility and Term Loan Facility also provide for customary events of default, including non-payment of principal, interest or fees, violation of covenants, material inaccuracy of representations or warranties, specified cross default and cross acceleration to other material indebtedness, certain bankruptcy events, certain ERISA events, material invalidity of guarantees or security interest, material judgments and changes of control.

Secured Notes

5.25% Senior Secured First Priority Notes due 2021

        HDS's December 2014 First Priority Notes bore interest at 5.25% per annum with a maturity date of December 15, 2021. Interest was paid semi-annually, in arrears, on June 15^th and December 15^th of each year, prior to the September 1, 2017 redemption described above under "2017 Refinancing Transactions."

Unsecured Notes

5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024

        HDS issued $1,000 aggregate principal amount of April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes under an Indenture, dated as of April 11, 2016 (the "April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes Indenture") among HDS, certain subsidiaries of HDS as guarantors and the Trustee. The April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per annum until April 15, 2019 and 7.00% per annum from

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April 15, 2019 until maturity on April 15, 2024. Interest is paid semi-annually, in arrears, on April 15^th and October 15^th of each year.

        The April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes are unsecured senior indebtedness of HDS and rank equal in right of payment with all of HDS's existing and future senior indebtedness, senior in right of payment to all of HDS's existing and future subordinated indebtedness, and effectively subordinated to all of HDS's existing and future indebtedness, including, without limitation, indebtedness under the Senior Credit Facilities, to the extent of the value of the collateral securing each indebtedness.

        The April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes are guaranteed, on a senior unsecured basis, by each of HDS's direct and indirect domestic existing and future subsidiaries that is a wholly owned domestic subsidiary (other than certain excluded subsidiaries), and by each other domestic subsidiary that is a borrower under the Senior ABL Facility or that guarantees HDS's obligations under any credit facility or capital markets securities. These guarantees are subject to release under customary circumstances as stipulated in the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes Indenture.

Redemption

        HDS may redeem the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes, in whole or in part, at any time (1) prior to April 15, 2019, at a price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the redemption date, plus the applicable make-whole premium set forth in the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes Indenture and (2) on or after April 15, 2019, at the applicable redemption price set forth below (expressed as a percentage of principal amount), plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the relevant redemption date, if redeemed during the 12-month period commencing on April 15 of the year set forth below.

        In addition, at any time prior to April 15, 2019, HDS may redeem on one or more occasions up to 40% of the aggregate principal amount of the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes with the proceeds of certain equity offerings at a redemption price of 105.75% of the principal amount in respect of the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, provided, however, that if the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes are redeemed, an aggregate principal amount of April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes equal to at least 50% of the original aggregate principal amount of April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes must remain outstanding immediately after each such redemption of April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes.

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NOTE 5—DEBT (Continued)

Debt Maturities

        Maturities of long-term debt outstanding, in principal amounts, at January 28, 2018 are summarized below (amounts in millions):

Fiscal 2016 and Fiscal 2015 Transactions

        On January 26, 2017, HDS used cash and available borrowings under its Senior ABL Facility, to repay $200 million aggregate principal of its Term B-1 Loans. As a result, the Company incurred a $5 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which includes write-offs of $2 million and $3 million of unamortized original issue discount and unamortized deferred financing costs, respectively, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On October 14, 2016, HDS entered into the Fourth Amendment to the credit agreement governing its existing Term Loan Facility. Pursuant to the Fourth Amendment, HDS amended its existing Term Loan Facility to, among other things, (i) eliminate its LIBOR floor by means of a replacement tranche that replaced all of the Company's outstanding term loans in an aggregate principal amount of approximately $842 million (the "Term B-1 Loans") and (ii) issue a new tranche of term loans in an aggregate principal amount of $550 million (the "Term B-2 Loans").

        Pursuant to the Fourth Amendment, the Term B-1 Loans bore interest at the applicable margin for borrowings of 2.75% for LIBOR borrowings and 1.75% for base rate borrowings, with no LIBOR floor. The Term B-1 Loans amortized in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1.00% of the original principal amount of the replaced tranche with the balance payable on the maturity date, August 13, 2021.

        The Term B-2 Loans bore interest at the applicable margin for borrowings of 2.75% for LIBOR borrowings and 1.75% for base rate borrowings, with no LIBOR floor. The Term Loan Facility allowed for a reduction in the applicable margin on the Term B-2 Loans from 2.75% per annum to 2.50% per annum upon the Company reaching a consolidated total leverage ratio, as defined in the agreement, of 3.0x or less. The Term B-2 Loans amortized in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1.00% of the original principal amount and had a maturity date of October 17, 2023.

        On October 17, 2016, HDS used the proceeds from the Term B-2 Loans, together with available cash and available borrowings under its Senior ABL Facility, to redeem all of the outstanding $1,275 million aggregate principal of its 7.5% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2020 (the "February 2013 Senior Unsecured Notes"), and pay a $48 million premium in accordance with the terms of the indenture governing such notes. As a result, the Company incurred a $59 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which includes the $48 million premium and write-off of $11 million of unamortized deferred financing costs, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

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NOTE 5—DEBT (Continued)

        On April 11, 2016, HDS issued $1,000 million of 5.75% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2024 (the "April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes") at par. HDS received approximately $985 million, net of transaction fees. The transaction fees of $15 million are reflected as deferred financing costs on the Consolidated Balance Sheets and will be amortized into interest expense over the term of the notes.

        On April 27, 2016, HDS used the net proceeds from the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes issuance, together with available cash, to redeem all of the outstanding $1,000 million aggregate principal of its 11.5% Senior Unsecured Notes due 2020 (the "October 2012 Senior Unsecured Notes"), and pay a $106 million make-whole premium calculated in accordance with the terms of the indenture governing such notes and pay $4 million of accrued but unpaid interest to the redemption date. As a result, the Company incurred a $115 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which includes the $106 million make-whole premium and the write-off of $9 million of unamortized deferred financing costs, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On October 13, 2015, HDS used proceeds from the sale of the Power Solutions business unit to redeem all of the outstanding $675 million aggregate principal amount of its 11% Senior Secured Second Priority Notes due 2020 (the "April 2012 Second Priority Notes") and paid a $72 million make-whole premium calculated in accordance with the terms of the indenture governing such notes and $37 million of accrued but unpaid interest to the redemption date. As a result, the Company recorded an $80 million loss on extinguishment of debt, which includes the $72 million make-whole premium and the write-off of $8 million of unamortized deferred financing costs, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

        On August 13, 2015, HDS entered into an incremental amendment (the "Incremental Agreement") to the credit agreement governing its Term Loan Facility, as defined above, pursuant to which HDS requested a borrowing of a new $850 million tranche of senior secured term loans, the proceeds of which, together with cash on hand and available borrowings under HDS's Senior ABL Facility, were used to prepay in full the tranche of senior secured term loans outstanding under the Term Loan Facility as of the date of the Incremental Agreement. Pursuant to the Incremental Agreement, the Term Loans were set to mature on August 13, 2021 and bore interest at the reduced applicable margin for borrowings of 2.75% for LIBOR borrowings and 1.75% for base rate borrowings (down from, respectively, 3.00% and 2.00% applicable to the redeemed term loans), with the LIBOR floor remaining at 1.00%. The Term Loans amortized in equal quarterly installments in aggregate annual amounts equal to 1.00% of the original principal amount of such Term Loans, beginning in December 2015 with the balance payable on such Term Loans' maturity date.

        In connection with the amendment, the Company recorded a modification and extinguishment charge of $20 million, which includes financing fees of $5 million and $15 million to write off a portion of the related unamortized original issue discount and unamortized deferred financing costs, in accordance with ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments."

NOTE 6—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS

        The fair value measurements and disclosure principles of GAAP (ASC 820, "Fair Value Measurements and Disclosures") define fair value, establish a framework for measuring fair value and

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NOTE 6—FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Continued)

provide disclosure requirements about fair value measurements. These principles define a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

        The Company's financial instruments that are not reflected at fair value on the balance sheet were as follows as of January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017 (amounts in millions):

        The Company utilized Level 2 inputs, as defined in the fair value hierarchy, to measure the fair value of the long-term debt. Management's fair value estimates were based on quoted prices for recent trades of HDS's long-term debt, recent similar credit facilities initiated by companies with like credit quality in similar industries, quoted prices for similar instruments, and inquiries with certain investment communities.

NOTE 7—INCOME TAXES

        On December 22, 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "Tax Act") was signed into law making significant changes to the Internal Revenue Code. The changes include, but are not limited to, a federal statutory rate reduction from 35% to 21%, the elimination of U.S. federal alternative minimum tax, the transition of U.S. international taxation from a worldwide tax system to a territorial system and a one-time transition tax on the mandatory deemed repatriation of cumulative foreign earnings.

        As a result of the Tax Act's effective date for the change in tax rate of January 1, 2018, the Company's federal statutory rate for fiscal 2017 was 33.9%. The Tax Act requires the Company, and other fiscal year taxpayers, to compute a blended statutory tax rate based on the ratio of the number of

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NOTE 7—INCOME TAXES (Continued)

fiscal year days in calendar year 2017 at the 35% statutory rate versus the number of fiscal year days in calendar year 2018 at the new 21% statutory rate.

        The Company's deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the enacted tax rate expected to apply when these temporary items are expected to be realized or settled. As a result of the reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% under the Tax Act, the Company remeasured its U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities and recognized a non-cash $72 million tax expense.

        The components of Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes are as follows (amounts in millions):

        The Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes consisted of the following (amounts in millions):

        The Company's combined federal, state and foreign effective tax rate for continuing operations for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015 was approximately 53.6%, 43.6%, and not meaningful since income tax expense (benefit) was significantly impacted by the reversal of substantially all of the valuation allowance and the decrease in the Company's unrecognized tax positions, respectively.

        The Company's effective tax rate will vary based on a variety of factors, including overall profitability, the geographical mix of income before taxes and the related tax rates in the jurisdictions where it operates, restructuring and other one-time charges, as well as discrete events, such as settlements of future audits.

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NOTE 7—INCOME TAXES (Continued)

        The Company's fiscal 2017 effective rate was impacted by the Tax Act, excess tax benefits related to stock-based compensation, and by the geographical mix of where income was generated. The Company's fiscal 2016 effective rate was impacted by the repatriation of $72 million of cash from Canada to the U.S., which, to the extent of current earnings and profits, and foreign withholding taxes, resulted in $4 million of tax expense and was also impacted by the geographical mix of where income was generated. The Company's fiscal 2015 effective rate was impacted by reversing substantially all of the valuation allowance on its net U.S. deferred income taxes and a decrease in the Company's unrecognized tax position.

        The reconciliation of the provision (benefit) for income taxes from continuing operations at the federal statutory rate of 33.9% to the actual tax provision (benefit) for fiscal 2017, at the federal statutory rate of 35% to the actual tax provision (benefit) for both fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 is as follows (amounts in millions):

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NOTE 7—INCOME TAXES (Continued)

        The tax effects of temporary differences that give rise to significant portions of the deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as of January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017 were as follows (amounts in millions):

        The Tax Act includes a mandatory one-time tax on accumulated earnings of foreign subsidiaries, and as a result all previously unremitted earnings for which no U.S. deferred liability has been accrued is now subject to U.S. tax. As a result, the Company recorded a $1 million charge related to the one-time mandatory tax of previously deferred foreign earnings which is payable over an 8-year period.

        Beginning in fiscal 2017 and prior to the Tax Act, the Company anticipated that all of its Canadian earnings would be permanently reinvested until such time the Canadian borrowings under the Senior ABL Facility, which was initially drawn on during fiscal 2016, are paid off. On December 22, 2017, Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 ("SAB 118") was issued to address the application of GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Act. SAB 118 allows companies to record provisional amounts, during a measurement period, in situations where accounting for the Tax Act is incomplete. As a result of the Tax Act, the Company is still evaluating its indefinite reinvestment assertion with respect to its Canadian earnings and anticipates completing its analysis during fiscal 2018.

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NOTE 7—INCOME TAXES (Continued)

        In fiscal 2016, the Company repatriated $72 million of cash to the U.S., which, to the extent of current earnings and profits, and foreign withholding taxes resulted in $4 million of tax expense. In fiscal 2015, the Company repatriated $92 million of cash and property to the U.S., which, to the extent of current earnings and profits, resulted in $10 million income tax expense in the U.S.

        As of January 28, 2018 the Company had tax-effected U.S. federal net operating loss carryforwards of $166 million which expire beginning in fiscal 2033. The Company also had $85 million of tax effected state net operating loss carryforwards which expire in various years between fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2037. The Company also had $30 million of U.S. federal alternative minimum tax credits. As a result of the Tax Act, the federal alternative minimum tax credit is 50% refundable for any tax year beginning after 2017 and before 2021. It becomes 100% refundable for tax years beginning in 2021. The Company also had $4 million of U.S. federal research and development credits which expire between fiscal 2031 and fiscal 2037, and $5 million of tax-effected state tax credits which expire in various years between fiscal 2019 and fiscal 2028.

        At January 31, 2016, the Company's U.S. operations were in a position of cumulative consolidated pre-tax income for the most recent three-year period. Management concluded that as a consequence of the Company's three-year cumulative consolidated pre-tax income, generation of taxable income in fiscal 2014 and 2015, long net operating loss carryforward periods, a significant reduction in recent interest expense, a projected further reduction in future interest expense, and the business plan for fiscal 2016 and beyond showing continued profitability, that it is more likely than not that substantially all of the Company's U.S. deferred tax assets would be realized. Accordingly, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015, the Company reversed substantially all of its valuation allowance on its net U.S. deferred tax assets, resulting in a $1,007 million benefit in its provision for income taxes. The benefit from reversing the valuation allowance was partially offset by the utilization of $20 million of such deferred tax assets to offset current year income.

        In fiscal 2015, after the reversal of the valuation allowance, the Company's remaining valuation allowance on its U.S. deferred tax assets was approximately $6 million. In fiscal 2016, the Company reduced its valuation allowance related to its U.S. continuing operations by $1 million as it determined it is "more likely than not" certain deferred income tax assets would be realized. In fiscal 2017, the Company increased its valuation allowance related to its state continuing operations by $1 million as it determined it is "more likely than not" certain deferred income tax assets would not be realized.

        The future utilization of the Company's net operating loss carryforwards could be limited if the Company experiences an "ownership change," as defined in Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. In general, an ownership change may result from transactions increasing the aggregate direct or indirect ownership of certain persons (or groups of persons) in the Company's stock by more than 50 percentage points over a testing period (generally 3 years). Future direct or indirect changes in the ownership of the Company's common stock, including sales or acquisitions of the Company's common stock by stockholders and purchases and issuances of the Company's common stock by the Company, some of which are not in our control, could result in an ownership change. Any resulting limitation on the use of the Company's net operating loss carryforwards could result in the payment of taxes above the amounts currently anticipated and have a negative effect on the Company's future results of operations and financial position.

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NOTE 7—INCOME TAXES (Continued)

        Upon adoption of ASU 2016-09 at the beginning of fiscal 2017, the Company recorded a $56 million cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings in order to recognize a deferred tax asset on the excess deduction for stock option exercises over the expense recorded for book purposes. In fiscal 2017, the application of stock-based compensation guidance in ASU 2016-09 resulted in discrete tax benefits of $16 million from the exercise and vesting of stock based awards. For additional information on the adoption of ASU No. 2016-09, see "Note 1—Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies".

        Prior to ASU No. 2016-09, deferred tax assets relating to tax benefits of employee stock option grants were reduced to reflect exercises in fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015. Some exercises resulted in tax deductions in excess of previously recorded benefits based on the option value at the time of grant ("windfalls"). Although these additional tax benefits, or windfalls, are reflected in the Company's net operating loss carryforwards, pursuant to ASC 718, the additional tax benefit associated with the windfall is not recognized until the deduction reduces taxes payable. Accordingly, since the tax benefit did not reduce the Company's current taxes payable in fiscal 2016 or fiscal 2015 due to net operating loss carryforwards, these windfall tax benefits are not reflected in the Company's net operating losses in deferred tax assets for fiscal 2016 or fiscal 2015. Windfalls included in net operating loss carryforwards but not reflected in deferred tax assets for fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015 were $56 million and $48 million, respectively.

        For fiscal 2017, the Company recorded a $240 million net income tax expense related to discontinued operations mainly from the operations and sale of the Waterworks business. For fiscal 2016, the Company recorded an $87 million net income tax expense related to discontinued operations mainly from the operations of its Waterworks business. For fiscal 2015, the Company recorded a $159 million net income tax expense in discontinued operations of which $86 million related to the operations of the Waterworks business and $73 million related to the operations and sale of the Power Solutions business.

        Federal, state and foreign income taxes net current receivable total $8 million and $7 million as of fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016, respectively.

Accounting for uncertain tax positions

        The Company follows the GAAP guidance for uncertain tax positions within ASC 740, "Income Taxes." ASC 740 requires application of a "more likely than not" threshold to the recognition and de-recognition of tax positions. It further requires that a change in judgment related to prior years' tax positions be recognized in the quarter of such change. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending

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NOTE 7—INCOME TAXES (Continued)

amount of unrecognized tax benefits for continuing operations for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015 is as follows (amounts in millions):

        The resolution of the unrecognized tax benefits could affect the annual effective income tax rate.

        The Company did not change its accrual for net interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in fiscal 2017 or fiscal 2016. For fiscal 2015, the Company decreased its accrual for net interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits by $29 million. The Company's ending net accrual for interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits at fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, was zero for each of the three periods respectively. The Company's accounting policy is to classify interest and penalties as components of income tax expense. Accrued interest and penalties from unrecognized tax benefits are included as a component of other liabilities on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

        The Company is subject to audits and examinations of its tax returns by tax authorities in various jurisdictions, including the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). Management regularly assesses the likelihood of adverse outcomes resulting from these examinations to determine the adequacy of provisions for income taxes. Certain of the Company's tax years from 2007 and forward remain open for audit by the IRS and various state governments.

        The decrease in the Company's fiscal 2015 unrecognized U.S. federal and state tax benefits including gross interest accrual was driven by an income tax benefit of approximately $189 million from the settlement of an IRS audit.

NOTE 8—STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS

Stock-Based Compensation Plans

        The HD Supply Holdings, Inc. Omnibus Incentive Plan, approved by Holdings' stockholders on May 17, 2017, (the "Plan") provides for stock-based awards to employees, consultants and directors, including stock options, stock purchase rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, deferred stock units, performance shares, performance units, stock appreciation rights, dividend equivalents and other

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NOTE 8—STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Continued)

stock-based awards. The Plan is an amendment and restatement of the HD Supply Holdings, Inc. 2013 Omnibus Incentive Plan, which replaced and succeeded the HDS Investment Holding, Inc. Stock Incentive Plan (the "Stock Incentive Plan"), and, from and after June 26, 2013, no further awards may be made under the Stock Incentive Plan. As of January 28, 2018, approximately 15.3 million shares (6.9 million of which were registered) were available for issuance under the Plan. The ratio at which awards are counted against the Plan's authorized share pool is 2.30 to 1 for full value awards and 1 to 1 for option awards, and any shares returned to the pool are returned at the same ratio.

        The HD Supply Holdings, Inc. Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the "ESPP") permits HD Supply's eligible associates to purchase Holdings common stock at a 5% discount on the closing stock price at the end of each offering period. There are two six-month offering periods during a calendar year beginning each January and July. During fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, eligible associates purchased approximately 105,000 shares, 96,000 shares, and 117,000 shares, respectively, under the ESPP. As of January 28, 2018, approximately 1.6 million registered shares were available for issuance under the ESPP.

Stock Options

        Under the terms of the Plan and the Stock Incentive Plan (collectively, the "HDS Plans"), non-qualified stock options are to carry exercise prices at, or above, the fair market value of Holdings' stock on the date of the grant.

        The non-qualified stock options under the HDS Plans generally vest at the rate of 25% per year commencing on the first anniversary date of the grant or 100% on the third anniversary of the grant and expire on the tenth anniversary date of the grant.

        A summary of option activity under the HDS Plans is presented below (shares in thousands):

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NOTE 8—STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Continued)

        The total intrinsic value of options exercised was approximately $51 million, $33 million, and $110 million in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, respectively. As of January 28, 2018, there were approximately 2.4 million stock options outstanding with a weighted-average remaining life of 7.0 years and an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $29 million. As of January 28, 2018, there were approximately 0.9 million options exercisable with a weighted-average exercise price of $17.99, a weighted-average remaining life of 4.6 years and an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $20 million. As of January 28, 2018, there were approximately 2.1 million options vested or expected to ultimately vest with a weighted-average exercise price of $27.57, a weighted-average remaining life of 6.8 years and an aggregate intrinsic value of approximately $27 million.

        The estimated fair value of the options when granted is amortized to expense over the options' vesting or required service period. The fair value for these options was estimated by management, after considering a third-party valuation specialist's assessment, at the date of grant based on the expected life of the option and historical exercise experience, using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted-average assumptions:

        The risk free interest rate was determined based on an analysis of U.S. Treasury zero-coupon market yields as of the date of the option grant for issues having expiration lives similar to the expected option life. The expected volatility was based on an analysis of the historical volatility of Holdings and HD Supply's competitors over the expected life of the HD Supply options. These competitors' volatilities were adjusted to reflect the leverage of HD Supply. As insufficient data exists to determine the historical life of options issued under the HDS Plans, the expected option life was determined based on the vesting schedule of the options and their contractual life taking into consideration the expected time in which the share price of Holdings would exceed the exercise price of the option. No options were granted during fiscal 2015. The weighted-average fair value of each option granted during fiscal 2017 was $14.30. HD Supply recognized $5 million, $5 million, and $5 million of stock-based compensation expense related to stock options during fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, respectively. As of January 28, 2018 the unamortized compensation expense related to stock options was $14 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.6 years.

Restricted Stock and Restricted Stock Units

        Restricted stock awards ("RSAs") and restricted stock unit awards ("RSUs") granted under the Plan are settled by issuing shares of common stock at the vesting date. Generally, the RSAs and RSUs granted to employees vest on a pro rata basis on each of the first four or five anniversaries of the grant, except in the case of death or disability, in which case the RSAs and RSUs vest as of the date of

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NOTE 8—STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Continued)

the event. Generally, the RSAs granted to members of the Company's Board of Directors vest on the earliest of the one-year anniversary of the grant date, the next annual meeting after the grant date, or a change in control. The grant date fair value of the RSAs and RSUs is expensed over the vesting period. The shares represented by restricted stock awards are considered outstanding at the grant date, as the recipients are entitled to dividends and voting rights, which are subject to the same restrictions (including the risk of forfeiture) as the restricted stock awards.

        A summary of RSA and RSU activity under the HDS Plans is presented below (shares in thousands):

        The total fair value of RSAs and RSUs vested during the year was $18 million, $16 million, and $13 million for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, respectively. HD Supply recognized $20 million, $15 million, and $11 million of stock-based compensation expense related to RSAs and RSUs during fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, respectively. As of January 28, 2018 the unamortized compensation expense related to RSAs and RSUs was $19 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 1.5 years.

Employee Benefit Plans

        HD Supply offers a comprehensive Health & Welfare Benefits Program which allows employees who satisfy certain eligibility requirements to choose among different levels and types of coverage. The Health & Welfare Benefits program provides employees healthcare coverage in which the employer and employee share costs. In addition, the program offers employees the opportunity to participate in various voluntary coverages, including flexible spending accounts.

        HD Supply maintains a 401(k) defined contribution plan that is qualified under Sections 401(a) and 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code. Employees who satisfy the plan's eligibility requirements may elect to contribute a portion of their compensation to the plan on a pre-tax basis. HD Supply may

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NOTE 8—STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION AND EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS (Continued)

match a percentage of the employees' contributions to the plan. A portion of the matching contributions are generally made shortly after the end of each pay period with the remaining portion made after the Company's fiscal year-end if an additional annual matching contribution based on the Company's fiscal-year financial results is approved. HD Supply paid matching contributions of $17 million, $17 million, and $19 million during fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, respectively.

NOTE 9—BASIC AND DILUTED WEIGHTED-AVERAGE COMMON SHARES

        Basic earnings (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the weighted-average common shares outstanding during the respective periods. Diluted earnings (loss) per common share is computed by dividing net income (loss) by the sum of the weighted-average common shares outstanding and all dilutive potential common shares outstanding during the respective periods. Diluted earnings (loss) per common share equals basic earnings (loss) per common share for certain periods, as the effect of stock options, restricted stock, and restricted stock units (collectively "stock plan securities") are anti-dilutive because the Company incurred losses from continuing operations in those periods.

        The following basic and diluted weighted-average common shares information is provided for Holdings.

        The reconciliation of basic to diluted weighted-average common shares for fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015 is as follows (in thousands):

NOTE 10—SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET AND CASH FLOW INFORMATION

Receivables

        Receivables as of January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017 consisted of the following (amounts in millions):

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NOTE 10—SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET AND CASH FLOW INFORMATION (Continued)

Property and Equipment

        Property and equipment as of January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017 consisted of the following (amounts in millions):

Build-to-Suit Lease

        On February 4, 2016, the Company entered into a build-to-suit arrangement for a leadership development and headquarters facility in Atlanta, Georgia, which began construction in 2016. The lease commenced in February 2018. The Company has an option to purchase the facility which expires on April 30, 2018.

        In accordance with ASC 840, "Leases," for build-to-suit arrangements where the Company is involved in the construction of structural improvements prior to the commencement of the lease or takes some level of construction risk, the Company is considered the owner of the assets and land during the construction period. Accordingly, during construction activities, the Company recorded a Construction in progress asset within Property and equipment and a corresponding financing liability on the Consolidated Balance Sheet for contributions by the landlord toward construction. Once the construction is completed, if the lease meets certain "sales-leaseback" criteria, the Company will remove the asset and related financial obligation from the Consolidated Balance Sheet and treat the building lease as an operating lease. If upon completion of construction, the lease does not meet the "sales-leaseback" criteria, the leased property will be treated as a capital lease and included in Property and equipment on the Consolidated Balance Sheet. As of January 28, 2018, the Consolidated Balance Sheet includes $86 million of build-to-suit assets in Construction in progress, and the corresponding financial obligation of $86 million in Other long-term liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

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NOTE 10—SUPPLEMENTAL BALANCE SHEET AND CASH FLOW INFORMATION (Continued)

Other Current Liabilities

        Other current liabilities as of January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017 consisted of the following (amounts in millions):

Supplemental Cash Flow Information

        Cash paid for interest in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015 was approximately $159 million, $296 million, and $397 million, respectively. During fiscal 2017, the Company paid $6 million of original issue discounts related to the $100 million payment on the Term B-1 Loans and the Fifth Amendment to the Term Loan Facility. During fiscal 2016, the Company paid $7 million of original issue discounts related to the portion of the $200 million payment on Term Loans B-1 considered an extinguishment under ASC 470-50, "Debt—Modifications and Extinguishments." During fiscal 2015, the Company paid $12 million of original issue discounts related to the portion of the Incremental Agreement considered an extinguishment under ASC 470-50.

        Cash paid for income taxes, net of refunds, in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015 was approximately $29 million, $13 million, and $16 million, respectively. Cash paid for income taxes in fiscal 2017 includes $13 million in taxes paid related to the sale of the Waterworks business.

        During fiscal 2017, HDS executed an equity cash distribution of $541 million to Holdings, via HDS's direct parent, HDS Holding Corporation. The equity distribution from HDS and return of capital recognized by Holdings were eliminated in consolidation of Holdings and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, including HDS.

        On June 3, 2017, Holdings' Board of Directors authorized the Company to enter into a share repurchase program for the repurchase of up to an aggregate amount of $500 million of Holdings' common stock. As of January 28, 2018, under this plan, Holdings has completed the repurchase of all $500 million of common stock authorized, purchasing 15,940,337 shares of its common stock.

        On August 25, 2017, Holdings' Board of Directors authorized the Company to enter into a new share repurchase program for the repurchase of up to an aggregate amount of $500 million of Holdings' common stock. As of January 28, 2018, under this plan, Holdings has repurchased 1,150,699 shares of its common stock for approximately $41 million.

        In combination with the 2014 authorized share repurchase plan (utilizing proceeds from employee option exercises), Holdings repurchased a total of 18,236,626 shares of its common stock during fiscal 2017 for approximately $584 million.

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 11—RESTRUCTURING ACTIVITIES

Fiscal 2017 Plan

        As a result of the sale of the Waterworks business in August 2017, management evaluated the Company's talent alignment and functional support strategies. During fiscal 2017, management initiated a restructuring plan that included reducing workforce personnel, realigning talent, and closing a C&I branch, resulting in the recognition of $6 million of restructuring charges, primarily related to severance and other employee-related costs.

        In addition to actions already taken, management expects to further realign talent and relocate the Company's headquarters in early 2018. Management expects to incur a total of $10 million to $15 million under this plan, and expects a payback of the employee-related costs via a reduction in personnel costs over the next one to two years.

        The expected charges include approximately $6 million related to property lease obligations upon exiting the Company's current headquarters location. The Company will actively pursue buyout options or subleasing opportunities for the leased property prior to its lease expiration in October 2020.

        Payments for the charges incurred in fiscal 2017 are expected to be substantially complete in the next twelve months. As of January 28, 2018, the Company's liability balance for these restructuring activities was $4 million and is included in Other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

        The following table presents the activity for the liability balance (amounts in millions):

Fiscal 2015 Plan

        As a result of the sale of the Power Solutions business unit in October 2015, management evaluated the Company's talent alignment and functional support strategies. Consequently, during fiscal 2015, the Company initiated a restructuring plan to strategically align its leadership and functional support teams. During fiscal 2016 and fiscal 2015, the Company incurred $7 million and $8 million, respectively, of restructuring charges under this plan. The Company completed the activities under the plan in fiscal 2016 and does not expect to incur additional charges.

        Payments for these charges were substantially complete as of January 28, 2018. As of January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017, the Company's liability balance for these restructuring activities were $1 million and $4 million, respectively and is included in Other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet.

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 12—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Lease Commitments

        HD Supply occupies certain facilities and operates certain equipment and vehicles under leases that expire at various dates through the year 2037. In addition to minimum rentals, there are certain executory costs such as real estate taxes, insurance, and common area maintenance on most of its facility leases. Expense under these leases totaled $127 million, $118 million, and $107 million in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, respectively.

        Future minimum aggregate rental payments under non-cancelable leases as of January 28, 2018 are as follows (amounts in millions):

        The Company subleases certain leased facilities to third parties. In addition, the Company leases certain owned facilities to third parties. Total future minimum rentals to be received under non-cancelable subleases and leases as of January 28, 2018 are approximately $30 million. These subleases and leases expire at various dates through the year 2026.

Purchase Obligations

        As of January 28, 2018, the Company has agreements in place with various vendors to purchase goods and services, primarily inventory, in the aggregate amount of $286 million. These purchase obligations are generally cancelable, but the Company has no intent to cancel. Payment of $281 million is due during fiscal 2018 for these obligations. The Company has IT service contracts that extend through fiscal 2022.

Legal Matters

        On July 10, 2017 and August 8, 2017, shareholders filed putative class action complaints in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, alleging that HD Supply and certain senior members of its management (collectively, the "defendants") made certain false or misleading public statements in violation of the federal securities laws between November 9, 2016 and June 5, 2017, inclusive (the "original securities complaints"). Subsequently, the two securities cases were consolidated, and, on November 16, 2017, the lead plaintiffs appointed by the Court filed a Consolidated Amended Class Action Complaint (the "Amended Complaint") against the defendants on behalf of all persons other than defendants who purchased or otherwise acquired the Company's common stock between November 9, 2016 and June 5, 2017, inclusive. The Amended Complaint alleges that defendants made certain false or misleading public statements, primarily relating to the Company's progress in addressing certain supply chain disruption issues encountered in the Company's Facilities Maintenance business

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 12—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Continued)

unit. The Amended Complaint asserts claims against the defendants under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and SEC Rule 10b-5, and seeks class certification under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, as well as unspecified monetary damages, pre-judgment and post-judgment interest, and attorneys' fees and other costs. Defendants moved to dismiss the Consolidated Amended Complaint in December 2017. That motion is pending.

        On August 8, 2017, two shareholder derivative complaints were filed naming the Company as a "nominal defendant" and certain members of its senior management and board of directors (collectively, the "individual defendants") as defendants. The complaints generally allege that the individual defendants caused the Company to issue false and misleading statements concerning the Company's business, operations, and financial prospects, including misrepresentations regarding operating leverage and supply chain corrective actions. The complaints assert claims against the individual defendants under Section 14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and allege breaches of fiduciary duties, unjust enrichment, corporate waste, and insider selling. The complaints assert a claim to recover any damages sustained by the Company as a result of the individual defendants' allegedly wrongful actions, seek certain actions by the Company to modify its corporate governance and internal procedures, and seek to recover attorneys' fees and other costs. In October 2017, the Court consolidated the two derivative actions and granted the parties' joint scheduling order request. On December 5, 2017, the Court entered an order staying all activity in the case until a ruling is issued on the motion to dismiss filed in the consolidated securities litigation described above. The Company intends to defend these lawsuits vigorously. Given the stage of the complaints and the claims and issues presented in the above matters, the Company cannot reasonably estimate at this time the possible loss or range of loss, if any, that may arise from these unresolved lawsuits.

        HD Supply is involved in various legal proceedings arising in the normal course of its business. The Company establishes reserves for litigation and similar matters when those matters present loss contingencies that it determines to be both probable and reasonably estimable in accordance with ASC 450, "Contingencies." In the opinion of management, based on current knowledge, all reasonably estimable and probable matters are believed to be adequately reserved for or covered by insurance and are not expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. For all other matters management believes the possibility of losses from such matters is not probable, the potential loss from such matters is not reasonably estimable, or such matters are of such kind or involve such amounts that would not have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company if disposed of unfavorably. For material matters that are reasonably possible and reasonably estimable, including matters that are probable and estimable but for which the amount that is reasonably possible is in excess of the amount that the Company has accrued for, management has estimated the aggregate range of potential loss as $0 to $10 million. If a material loss is probable or reasonably possible, and in either case estimable, the Company has considered it in the analysis and it is included in the discussion set forth above.

NOTE 13—SEGMENT INFORMATION

        HD Supply's operating segments are based on management structure and internal reporting. Each segment offers different products and services to the end customer, except for Corporate, which provides general corporate overhead support. The Company determines the reportable segments in

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 13—SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)

accordance with the principles of segment reporting within ASC 280, "Segment Reporting." For purposes of evaluation under these segment reporting principles, the Chief Operating Decision Maker for HD Supply assesses HD Supply's ongoing performance, based on the periodic review and evaluation of Net sales, Adjusted EBITDA, and certain other measures for each of the operating segments.

        HD Supply has two reportable segments, each of which is presented below:

•

Facilities Maintenance—Facilities Maintenance distributes maintenance, repair and operations ("MRO") products, provides value-add services and fabricates custom products to multifamily, hospitality, healthcare and institutional facilities.



•

Construction & Industrial—Construction & Industrial distributes specialized hardware, tools, engineered materials and safety products to non-residential and residential contractors. Construction & Industrial also offers light remodeling and construction supplies, kitchen and bath cabinets, windows, plumbing materials, electrical equipment and other products, primarily to small remodeling contractors and trade professionals.

        In addition to the reportable segments, the Company's consolidated financial results include "Corporate and Eliminations." Corporate incurs costs related to the Company's centralized support functions, which are comprised of finance, information technology, human resources, legal, supply chain and other support services, and removes inter-segment transactions. As a result of the sale of the Waterworks business, the Company began sharing resources between centralized support functions and the reportable segments. As a result, and to provide better comparability to the Company's industry peers, beginning in fiscal 2017, all Corporate overhead costs are allocated to the reportable segments. Prior periods presented were revised to reflect the allocation of all the Corporate overhead costs. Interest expense, interest income, other non-operating income and expenses, and provision for income taxes are not allocated to the Company's reportable segments. The Company does not allocate Corporate assets to its reportable segments. Eliminations include the adjustments necessary to eliminate intercompany transactions.

        See "Note 2—Discontinued Operations" for further information on the sale of the Waterworks business, a previous HD Supply reportable segment.

        The following tables present Net sales, Adjusted EBITDA, and certain other measures for each of the reportable segments and total continuing operations for the periods indicated (amounts in millions):

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 13—SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)

 

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 13—SEGMENT INFORMATION (Continued)

Reconciliation to Consolidated Financial Statements

        Net sales for HD Supply outside the United States, primarily Canada, were $146 million, $124 million, and $124 million in fiscal 2017, fiscal 2016, and fiscal 2015, respectively. Long-lived assets of HD Supply outside the United States, primarily Canada, were $6 million and $5 million as of January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017, respectively.

NOTE 14—GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES

        As of January 28, 2018, HDS (the "Debt Issuer") had outstanding April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes guaranteed by certain of its subsidiaries (the "Subsidiary Guarantors"). The Subsidiary Guarantors are direct or indirect wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries of HDS. The subsidiaries of HDS that do not guarantee the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes ("Non-guarantor Subsidiaries") are direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of HDS and primarily include HDS's operations in Canada.

        The Debt Issuer's payment obligations under the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes are jointly and severally guaranteed by the guarantors and all guarantees are full and unconditional.

        These guarantees are subject to release under the circumstances as described below:

(i)

concurrently with any direct or indirect sale or disposition (by merger or otherwise) of any Subsidiary Guarantor or any interest therein in accordance with the terms of the applicable indebtedness by HDS or a restricted subsidiary, following which such Subsidiary Guarantor is no longer a restricted subsidiary of HDS;



(ii)

at any time that such Subsidiary Guarantor is released from all of its obligations under all of its guarantees of payment of any indebtedness of HDS or any Subsidiary Guarantor under all other indebtedness and is not a borrower under the Senior ABL Facility;

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 14—GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)

(iii)

upon the merger or consolidation of any Subsidiary Guarantor with and into HDS or another Subsidiary Guarantor that is the surviving entity in such merger or consolidation, or upon the liquidation of such Subsidiary Guarantor following the transfer of all of its assets to HDS or another Subsidiary Guarantor;



(iv)

concurrently with any Subsidiary Guarantor becoming an unrestricted subsidiary;



(v)

during the period when the rating on the notes is changed to investment grade and certain covenants cease to apply while such investment grade rating is maintained, upon the merger or consolidation of any Subsidiary Guarantor with and into another subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor with such other subsidiary being the surviving entity in such merger or consolidation, or upon liquidation of such Subsidiary Guarantor following the transfer of all of its assets to a subsidiary that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor;



(vi)

upon legal or covenant defeasance of HDS's obligations under the applicable indebtedness, or satisfaction and discharge of the indenture governing the applicable indebtedness; or



(vii)

subject to customary contingent reinstatement provisions, upon payment in full of the aggregate principal amount of all applicable indebtedness then outstanding and all other obligations guaranteed by a Subsidiary Guarantor then due and owing.

        In addition, HDS has the right, upon 30 days' notice to the applicable trustee, to cause any Subsidiary Guarantor that has not guaranteed payment of any indebtedness of HDS or any Subsidiary Guarantor under all other indebtedness and is not a borrower under the Senior ABL Facility to be unconditionally released from all obligations under its Subsidiary Guarantee, and such Subsidiary Guarantee shall thereupon terminate and be discharged and of no further force or effect.

        In connection with the issuance of the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes, HDS determined the need for compliance with Rule 3-10 of SEC Regulation S-X. In lieu of providing separate audited financial statements for the Guarantor Subsidiaries, HDS has included the accompanying Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements in accordance with Rule 3-10(f) of SEC Regulation S-X. The following supplemental financial information sets forth, on a consolidating basis under the equity method of accounting, the condensed statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), the condensed balance sheets, and the condensed statements of cash flows for the parent company issuer of the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes, HDS, for the Subsidiary Guarantors and for the Non-guarantor Subsidiaries and total consolidated HDS and subsidiaries.

Holdings

        Under the terms of the agreements governing the April 2016 Senior Unsecured Notes issued by HDS, the Term Loan Facility entered into by HDS, and the Senior ABL Facility entered into by HDS and certain of its subsidiaries, HDS and substantially all of its existing and future 100%-owned U.S. subsidiaries are significantly restricted from making dividend payments, loans or advances to Holdings. These restrictions result in substantially all of the net assets of Holdings' 100%-owned U.S. subsidiaries being restricted (as defined in Rule 4-08(e)(3) of Regulation S-X).

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 14—GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)

        In lieu of Schedule I, the condensed statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss), the condensed balance sheets, and the condensed statements of cash flows of Holdings are included in the tables below.

        The condensed parent company financial information of Holdings has been provided in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC and should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements of Holdings and its subsidiaries. Pursuant to the SEC rules and regulations, the condensed parent company financial information does not include all of the financial information and notes normally included with financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

        The condensed parent company financial information has been prepared using the same accounting policies as described in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of Holdings and subsidiaries included herein, except for the investment in subsidiary. For the purposes of this schedule, Holdings' investment in HDS, its indirect wholly-owned subsidiary, is stated at cost plus equity in undistributed earnings of subsidiaries since the date of acquisition. Holdings' share of net income of its unconsolidated subsidiaries is included in consolidated income using the equity method. Holdings received distributions of $541 million from HDS during fiscal 2017. Holdings did not receive any dividends or distributions from subsidiaries during fiscal 2016 or fiscal 2015.

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 14—GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

Amounts in millions

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 14—GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Continued)

Amounts in millions

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 14—GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (Continued)

Amounts in millions

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 14—GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS

Amounts in millions

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HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 14—GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS (Continued)

Amounts in millions

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 14—GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

Amounts in millions

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 14—GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)

Amounts in millions

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HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 14—GUARANTOR SUBSIDIARIES (Continued)

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Continued)

Amounts in millions

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HD SUPPLY HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

HD SUPPLY, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 15—QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

        The following is a summary of the quarterly consolidated results of operations for the fiscal years ended January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017 (amounts in millions):

        Income (loss) from continuing operations and Net income (loss) in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 includes a loss on extinguishment of debt of $3 million. Income (loss) from continuing operations and Net income (loss) in the second quarter of fiscal 2017 includes a loss on extinguishment of debt of $49 million. Income (loss) from continuing operations and Net income (loss) in the third quarter of

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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)

NOTE 15—QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED) (Continued)

fiscal 2017 includes a loss on extinguishment and modification of debt of $78 million and $1 million in interest income. Income (loss) from continuing operations and Net income (loss) in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 includes a loss on extinguishment and modification of debt of $3 million and interest income of $1 million.

        Income (loss) from continuing operations and Net income (loss) in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 includes a loss on extinguishment of debt of $115 million. Income (loss) from continuing operations and Net income (loss) in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 includes a loss on extinguishment of debt of $59 million.

NOTE 16—SUBSEQUENT EVENT

Business Acquisition

        On March 5, 2018, the Company completed the acquisition of A.H. Harris Construction Supply, a leading specialty construction distributor serving the northeast and mid-Atlantic regions, for a purchase price of $380 million. The acquisition is subject to a post-closing working capital adjustment

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ITEM 9.    CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

        None.

ITEM 9A.    CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

HD Supply Holdings, Inc.

        Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of HD Supply Holdings, Inc., we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the HD Supply Holdings, Inc. disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of January 28, 2018 (the end of the period covered by this report).

HD Supply, Inc.

        Under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of HD Supply, Inc., we have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as required by Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(b) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the HD Supply, Inc. disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of January 28, 2018 (the end of the period covered by this report).

Change in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

        There were no changes in Holdings' or HDS's internal control over financial reporting, as defined in the Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) or 15d- 15(f), during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, Holdings' or HDS's internal control over financial reporting.

Management's Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

        Management of Holdings and HDS are responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Securities Exchange Act of 1934 Rule 13a-15(f). Holdings' and HDS' internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. Holdings' and HDS' internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that: (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of Holdings and HDS; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of Holdings and HDS are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of Holdings and HDS; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of Holdings' and HDS' assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

        Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

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        The management of Holdings and HDS assessed the effectiveness of Holdings' and HDS' internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2018 based on the framework set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013). Based on that assessment, management concluded that, as of January 28, 2018, Holdings' and HDS' internal control over financial reporting is effective based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework (2013).

        Holdings' and HDS' internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2018 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their accompanying report which expresses an unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of January 28, 2018.

ITEM 9B.    OTHER INFORMATION

        None.

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PART III

Item 10.    DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

        The information required by this Item for Holdings will be set forth in Holdings' Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders which information is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

        HDS has omitted the information required by this Item pursuant to General Instruction I to the Form 10-K.

Item 11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

        The information required by this Item for Holdings will be set forth in Holdings' Proxy Statement for the 2017 Annual Meeting of Stockholders which information is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

        HDS has omitted the information required by this Item pursuant to General Instruction I to the Form 10-K.

Item 12.    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

        The information required by this Item for Holdings will be set forth in Holdings' Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders which information is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

        HDS has omitted the information required by this Item pursuant to General Instruction I to the Form 10-K.

Item 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

        The information required by this Item for Holdings will be set forth in Holdings' Proxy Statement for the 2018 Annual Meeting of Stockholders which information is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

        HDS has omitted the information required by this Item pursuant to General Instruction I to the Form 10-K.

Item 14.    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES

        Aggregate fees billed to us for the fiscal years ended January 28, 2018 and January 29, 2017 by our independent registered public accountants, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP and its respective affiliates were:

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        The Audit Committee's policy is to pre-approve all audit and permissible non-audit services (including the fees and terms thereof) performed for us by the independent registered certified public accounting firm, subject to the de minimis exceptions for non-audit services described by the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder which are approved by the Audit Committee prior to the completion of the audit. The Audit Committee approved all services provided by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP during fiscal 2017 and fiscal 2016.

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PART IV

ITEM 15.    EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

(a)(1) Financial Statements

        The following financial statements are set forth in Item 8 hereof:

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(b)   Exhibit Index

        The following exhibits are filed or furnished with this annual report:

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(c)   Financial Statement Schedules

HD SUPPLY

SCHEDULE II—VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

(Amounts in millions)

Accounts Receivable Allowance for Doubtful Accounts:

Deferred Tax Valuation Allowances:

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

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SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, hereunto duly authorized.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

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