J.Crew Group, Inc. Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2015 Results

NEW YORK, June 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- J.Crew Group, Inc. (the "Company") today announced financial results for the three months ended May 2, 2015.

First Quarter highlights:

• Total revenues decreased 2% to $581.8 million. Comparable company sales decreased 8% following a decrease of 2% in the first quarter last year.
• J.Crew sales decreased 5% to $508.7 million. J.Crew comparable sales decreased 10% following a decrease of 3% in the first quarter last year.
• Madewell sales increased 33% to $61.9 million. Madewell comparable sales increased 12% following an increase of 13% in the first quarter last year.
• Gross margin was 37.2% compared to 38.6% in the first quarter last year.
• Selling, general and administrative expenses were $203.8 million, or 35.0% of revenues, compared to $194.2 million, or 32.8% of revenues in the first quarter last year.
• Operating loss was $520.6 million compared with operating income of $34.0 million in the first quarter last year. The operating loss includes pre-tax, non-cash impairment charges of $533.4 million.
• Net loss was $462.4 million compared to a net loss of $30.1 million in the first quarter last year. This year reflects the impact of non-cash impairment charges. The first quarter last year reflects the impact of a loss on refinancing.
• Adjusted EBITDA was $44.8 million compared to $64.8 million in the first quarter last year. An explanation of the manner in which the Company uses adjusted EBITDA and a reconciliation to GAAP measures are included in Exhibit (3).

Balance Sheet highlights:

• Cash and cash equivalents were $64.5 million compared to $59.4 million at the end of the first quarter last year.
• Total debt, net of discount, was $1,545 million compared to $1,559 million at the end of the first quarter last year.
• Inventories were $410.1 million compared to $395.7 million at the end of the first quarter last year. Inventories increased 4% and inventories per square foot decreased 5% compared to the end of the first quarter last year.

Impairment

During the first quarter, the Company experienced a further significant reduction in the profitability of its J.Crew reporting unit, primarily driven by performance of women's apparel and accessories, which the Company expects to continue at least through fiscal 2015. As a result of current and expected future operating results, the Company concluded that the carrying value of the J.Crew reporting unit exceeded its fair value and recorded an estimated non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $341 million.  There has been no deterioration of the excess of fair value over the carrying value of its Madewell reporting unit.  Additionally, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $190 million to write down the intangible asset related to the J.Crew trade name.

After recording the non-cash goodwill charge of $341 million, the carrying value of goodwill is $676 million in the J.Crew reporting unit and $108 million in the Madewell reporting unit.  After recording the non-cash intangible asset charge of $190 million, the carrying value of the J.Crew trade name is $550 million.  In fiscal 2014, the Company recorded non-cash impairment charges of $562 million and $145 million to write down goodwill and the intangible asset related to the J.Crew trade name. If operating results continue to decline below the Company's expectations, additional impairment charges may be recorded in the future.

These impairment charges do not have an effect on the Company's operations, liquidity or financial covenants, and do not change management's long-term strategy, which includes its plans to drive disciplined growth across its brands.

Related Party

On November 4, 2013, Chinos Intermediate Holdings A, Inc. (the "Issuer"), an indirect parent holding company of J.Crew Group, Inc., issued $500 million aggregate principal of 7.75/8.50% Senior PIK Toggle Notes due May 1, 2019 (the "PIK Notes"). The PIK Notes are (i) senior unsecured obligations of the Issuer, (ii) structurally subordinated to all of the liabilities of the Issuer's subsidiaries, and (iii) not guaranteed by any of the Issuer's subsidiaries, and therefore are not recorded in the Company's financial statements. The Company declared a dividend to the Issuer in the first quarter of fiscal 2015 to fund the semi-annual interest payment due May 1, 2015. Additionally, while not required, the Company intends to pay dividends to the Issuer to fund future interest payments, which would aggregate to $155 million through the remainder of the term if all interest on the PIK Notes is paid in cash.

How the Company Assesses the Performance of its Business

In assessing the performance of its business, the Company considers a variety of performance and financial measures. A key measure used in its evaluation is comparable company sales, which includes (i) net sales from stores that have been open for at least twelve months, (ii) e-commerce net sales, and (iii) shipping and handling fees. The Company also considers gross profit and selling, general and administrative expenses in assessing the performance of our business.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This announcement includes certain non-GAAP financial measures. An explanation of the manner in which the Company uses adjusted EBITDA and an associated reconciliation to GAAP measures is included in Exhibit (3).

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss first quarter results is scheduled for today, June 4, 2015, at 2:00 PM Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (877) 407-3982 approximately ten minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call will also be webcast live at www.jcrew.com. A replay of this call will be available until June 11, 2015 and can be accessed by dialing (877) 870-5176 and entering conference ID number 13610524.

About J.Crew Group, Inc.

J.Crew Group, Inc. is an internationally recognized omni-channel retailer of women's, men's and children's apparel, shoes and accessories. As of June 4, 2015, the Company operates 283 J.Crew retail stores, 88 Madewell stores, jcrew.com, jcrewfactory.com, the J.Crew catalog, madewell.com, the Madewell catalog, and 143 factory stores. Certain product, press release and SEC filing information concerning the Company are available at the Company's website www.jcrew.com.

Forward-Looking Statements:

Certain statements herein, including projected store count and square footage in Exhibit (4) hereof, are "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations or beliefs concerning future events and actual results of operations may differ materially from historical results or current expectations. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including the Company's substantial indebtedness and the indebtedness of its indirect parent, for which the Company pays and intends to continue to pay dividends to service such debt, and its substantial lease obligations, the strength of the global economy, declines in consumer spending or changes in seasonal consumer spending patterns, competitive market conditions, its ability to anticipate and timely respond to changes in trends and consumer preferences, its ability to successfully develop, launch and grow its  newer concepts and execute on strategic initiatives, products offerings, sales channels and businesses, adverse or unseasonable weather, material disruption to its information systems, its ability to implement its real estate strategy, its ability to implement its international expansion strategy, its ability to attract and retain key personnel, interruptions in its foreign sourcing operations, and other factors which are set forth in the section entitled "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and in all filings with the SEC made subsequent to the filing of the Form 10-K. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

The Company presents Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, because we use such measure to: (i) monitor the performance of its business, (ii) evaluate its liquidity, and (iii) determine levels of incentive compensation. The Company believes the presentation of this measure will enhance the ability of its investors to analyze trends in its business, evaluate its performance relative to other companies in the industry, and evaluate its ability to service debt.

Adjusted EBITDA is not a presentation made in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and therefore, differences may exist in the manner in which other companies calculate this measure. Adjusted EBITDA should not be considered an alternative to (i) net income, as a measure of operating performance, or (ii) cash flows, as a measure of liquidity. Adjusted EBITDA has important limitations as an analytical tool and should not be considered in isolation to, or as a substitute for, analysis of the Company's results as measured in accordance with GAAP.

(1)         Actual and projected number of stores opened or closed during fiscal 2015 by channel are as follows:

Q1 – Two retail, three international retail, three factory, and two Madewell stores.  Close two retail stores.

Q2 – Four factory, one international factory, and two Madewell stores.

Q3 – One retail, three international retail, six factory, and eight Madewell stores.

Q4 – Two retail, seven factory and eight Madewell stores. Close one retail store.

(2)         Reflects actual activity.

(3)         Reflects projected activity.

SOURCE J.Crew Group, Inc.