Toys"R"Us, Inc. Reports Results For Third Quarter 2016

- Consolidated net sales were down 2.3% driven by softness in the entertainment category

-- Excluding entertainment, same store sales for Domestic toy categories were up 2.6%

- Consolidated e-commerce sales grew by 9%

- Refinanced all 2017 and a significant portion of the 2018 maturities, which will reduce annual interest payments by $12 million

News provided by

Toys"R"Us, Inc.

Dec 13, 2016, 04:30 ET

WAYNE, N.J., Dec. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Toys"R"Us, Inc. today reported financial results for the third quarter ended October 29, 2016.  Consolidated net sales decreased 2.3% driven by softness in the entertainment category.  Net loss narrowed by $11 million compared to the prior year period.  In addition, the company recently refinanced all of its 2017 debt and a significant portion of its 2018 maturities with the successful completion of the TRU Taj notes exchange in August and the Propco II CMBS and mezzanine financings in November, which will reduce annual interest payments by $12 million based on LIBOR rates as of October 29, 2016.

"While many of our toy categories performed well, we experienced weak market conditions in the electronics and entertainment category and our baby business had a disappointing quarter," said Dave Brandon, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Toys"R"Us, Inc.  "To be a successful specialty retailer, we must bring our stores to life and provide a world-class shopping experience for our customers.  Our results this quarter are a reminder that we still have a lot of work to do in all aspects of our operations - both bricks and mortar stores and our webstore.  However, our commitment to achieving our growth objectives is stronger than ever.  As we enter into these final days of the holiday season, we are focused on delivering the best experience possible along every step of the customer journey while maximizing our financial performance."

Third Quarter Highlights

  • Consolidated net sales were $2,278 million, a decrease of $53 million compared to the prior year period. Excluding a $22 million favorable impact from foreign currency translation, net sales declined by $75 million. The decrease was mainly attributable to a decline in Consolidated same store sales and Domestic store closures, which included our Times Square flagship store.
  • Consolidated same store sales decreased by 2.1%. Domestic declined by 1.9% primarily from decreases in the entertainment and baby categories, partially offset by improvements in the learning and core toy categories. International declined by 2.5%, driven by our Asia Pacific and Europe markets, partially offset by continued growth in Canada. Consolidated e-commerce sales were up 9%.
  • Gross margin dollars were $821 million, a decline of $11 million compared to the prior year period. Excluding a $7 million favorable impact from foreign currency translation, gross margin dollars decreased by $18 million. Gross margin rate was 36.0%, an increase of 30 basis points. Domestic gross margin rate remained consistent with the prior year period, while International gross margin rate increased by 80 basis points led by margin rate improvements in the core toy category and sales mix away from lower margin entertainment products.
  • SG&A was $835 million, an increase of $8 million compared to the prior year period. Excluding a $6 million unfavorable impact from foreign currency translation, SG&A increased by $2 million, largely due to an increase in advertising expenses related primarily to the early release of our "Big Book" holiday catalog, partially offset by a decline in store operating costs from the closure of our Times Square flagship store.
  • Operating losses were $31 million, a decline of $23 million compared to the prior year period, driven mainly by a gain on the sale of the FAO Schwarz brand of $45 million. Domestic segment operating losses increased by $19 million, mainly as a result of reduced gross margin dollars. International segment operating earnings were flat.
  • Adjusted EBITDA1 for the quarter decreased by $13 million to $21 million, compared to $34 million in the prior year period.
  • The above results produced a Net loss of $156 million, which was $11 million lower than the prior year period of $167 million.

Liquidity and Capital Spending

The company, including Toys"R"Us-Delaware, Inc., ended the third quarter with total liquidity of $1.3 billion, which was comprised of cash and cash equivalents of $420 million and availability under committed lines of credit of $841 million.  Toys"R"Us-Delaware, Inc. ended the quarter with $799 million of liquidity, which was comprised of cash and cash equivalents of $189 million and availability under its revolving line of credit of $610 million.

Through the end of the third quarter, capital spending was $174 million, compared to $139 million in the prior year, an increase of $35 million.

As previously announced, on November 3, 2016, the company completed $512 million of CMBS financing and $88 million of mezzanine financing.   The proceeds and a $51 million rent prepayment from Toys"R"Us-Delaware, Inc., along with cash on hand, were used to redeem all of the $725 million 8.5% senior secured notes due 2017 of Toys"R"Us Property Company II, LLC.  As a result of this transaction, the company pushed out this debt maturity to 2021 and reduced annual interest payments by an estimated $22 million based on LIBOR rates as of October 29, 2016.

1 A detailed description and reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for Toys"R"Us, Inc. and Toys"R"Us-Delaware, Inc., and management's reasons for using these measures, are set forth at the end of this press release.  LTM Adjusted EBITDA represents Adjusted EBITDA for the last twelve months.

About Toys"R"Us, Inc.

Toys"R"Us, Inc. is the world's leading dedicated toy and baby products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands.  Merchandise is sold in 880 Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores in the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam, and in more than 780 international stores and over 245 licensed stores in 37 countries and jurisdictions.  With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com and Babiesrus.com, the company provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products.  Toys"R"Us, Inc. is headquartered in Wayne, NJ, and has an annual workforce of approximately 62,000 employees worldwide.  The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need.  For more information, visit Toysrusinc.com or follow @ToysRUsNews on Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

All statements that are not historical facts in this press release, including statements about our beliefs or expectations, are forward-looking statements.  These statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, among others, the seasonality of our business, competition in the retail industry, changes in our product distribution mix and distribution channels, general economic factors in the United States and other countries in which we conduct our business, consumer spending patterns, birth rates, our ability to implement our strategy including implementing initiatives for season, our ability to recognize cost savings, implementation and operation of our new e-commerce platform, marketing strategies, the availability of adequate financing, ability to repatriate cash from our foreign operations, ability to distribute cash from our operating subsidiaries to their parent entities, access to trade credit, changes in consumer preferences, changes in employment legislation, our dependence on key vendors for our merchandise, political and other developments associated with our international operations, costs of goods that we sell, labor costs, transportation costs, domestic and international events affecting the delivery of toys and other products to our stores, product safety issues including product recalls, the existence of adverse litigation, changes in laws that impact our business, our substantial level of indebtedness and related debt-service obligations, restrictions imposed by covenants in our debt agreements and other risks, uncertainties and factors set forth in our reports and documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (which reports and documents should be read in conjunction with this press release).  In addition, we typically earn a disproportionate part of our annual operating earnings in the fourth quarter as a result of seasonal buying patterns and these buying patterns are difficult to forecast with certainty.  We believe that all forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions when made; however, we caution that it is impossible to predict actual results or outcomes or the effects of risks, uncertainties or other factors on anticipated results or outcomes and that, accordingly, one should not place undue reliance on these statements.  Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and we undertake no obligation to update these statements in light of subsequent events or developments unless required by the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and regulations.  Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from anticipated results or outcomes discussed in any forward-looking statement.


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)



13 Weeks Ended

39 Weeks Ended

(In millions)

October 29,
 2016

October 31,
 2015

October 29,
 2016

October 31,
 2015

Net sales

$

2,278

$

2,331

$

6,879

$

6,949

Cost of sales

1,457

1,499

4,350

4,380

Gross margin

821

832

2,529

2,569

Selling, general and administrative expenses

835

827

2,423

2,450

Depreciation and amortization

76

80

240

253

Other income, net

(59)

(21)

(114)

(65)

Total operating expenses

852

886

2,549

2,638

Operating loss

(31)

(54)

(20)

(69)

Interest expense

(122)

(113)

(347)

(333)

Interest income

1

1

2

2

Loss before income taxes

(152)

(166)

(365)

(400)

Income tax expense

3

—

8

2

Net loss

(155)

(166)

(373)

(402)

Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

1

1

4

4

Net loss attributable to Toys "R" Us, Inc.

$

(156)

$

(167)

$

(377)

$

(406)


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited)

(In millions)

October 29,
 2016

January 30,
 2016

October 31,
 2015

ASSETS





Current Assets:





Cash and cash equivalents

$

420

$

680

$

396

Accounts and other receivables

301

225

266

Merchandise inventories

3,472

2,270

3,318

Current deferred tax assets

—

—

40

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

135

113

158

Total current assets

4,328

3,288

4,178

Property and equipment, net

3,074

3,163

3,206

Goodwill

64

64

64

Deferred tax assets

99

96

129

Restricted cash

49

52

53

Other assets

252

247

251

Total Assets

$

7,866

$

6,910

$

7,881







LIABILITIES, TEMPORARY EQUITY AND STOCKHOLDERS' DEFICIT

Current Liabilities:





Accounts payable

$

2,107

$

1,699

$

2,089

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

950

994

932

Income taxes payable

33

32

30

Current portion of long-term debt

70

73

204

Total current liabilities

3,160

2,798

3,255

Long-term debt

5,493

4,612

5,356

Deferred tax liabilities

79

64

112

Deferred rent liabilities

341

345

344

Other non-current liabilities

260

245

268

Temporary equity

119

111

85

Total stockholders' deficit

(1,586)

(1,265)

(1,539)

Total Liabilities, Temporary Equity and Stockholders' Deficit

$

7,866

$

6,910

$

7,881


CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)



39 Weeks Ended

(In millions)

October 29,
 2016

October 31,
 2015

Cash Flows from Operating Activities:



Net loss

$

(373)

$

(402)

Adjustments to reconcile Net loss to Net cash used in operating activities:



Depreciation and amortization

240

253

Amortization and write-off of debt issuance costs and debt discount

25

32

Gains on sales of assets

(45)

(8)

Deferred income taxes

6

2

Unrealized (gains) losses on foreign exchange

(6)

3

Other

14

5

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:



Accounts and other receivables

(25)

(6)

Merchandise inventories

(1,188)

(1,275)

Prepaid expenses and other operating assets

(38)

(24)

Accounts payable, Accrued expenses and other liabilities

358

449

Income taxes payable, net

(28)

(26)

Net cash used in operating activities

(1,060)

(997)

Cash Flows from Investing Activities:



Capital expenditures

(174)

(139)

Proceeds from sales of assets

47

12

Increase in restricted cash

(1)

—

Acquisitions

—

(2)

Net cash used in investing activities

(128)

(129)

Cash Flows from Financing Activities:



Long-term debt borrowings

1,777

1,150

Long-term debt repayments

(852)

(325)

Short-term debt borrowings, net

7

8

Capitalized debt issuance costs

(10)

(2)

Distribution to noncontrolling interest

(12)

—

Net cash provided by financing activities

910

831

Effect of exchange rate changes on Cash and cash equivalents

18

(7)

Cash and cash equivalents:



Net decrease during period

(260)

(302)

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

680

698

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

420

$

396


OPERATING METRICS

(Unaudited)




13 Weeks Ended

39 Weeks Ended


October 29,
 2016

October 31,
 2015

October 29,
 2016

October 31,
 2015

Domestic Segment:







Operating Data








Gross margin as a percentage of net sales

34.0

%

34.0

%

35.0

%

35.4

%

Same store sales

(1.9)

%

(0.9)

%

(0.6)

%

(1.8)

%

Change in number of transactions

(3.0)

%

(1.9)

%

(1.4)

%

(3.4)

%

Change in average basket size

1.1

%

1.0

%

0.8

%

1.6

%

Net Sales by Product Category








Baby

46.1

%

46.2

%

46.7

%

46.8

%

Core Toy

16.6

%

15.7

%

14.8

%

14.1

%

Entertainment

4.7

%

6.5

%

5.1

%

6.5

%

Learning

21.4

%

20.4

%

19.0

%

18.6

%

Seasonal

10.8

%

10.4

%

13.9

%

13.1

%

Other (1)

0.4

%

0.8

%

0.5

%

0.9

%

Total

100

%

100

%

100

%

100

%










International Segment:







Operating Data








Gross margin as a percentage of net sales

39.0

%

38.2

%

39.6

%

39.5

%

Same store sales (2)

(2.5)

%

2.9

%

0.3

%

2.5

%

Change in number of transactions

(3.8)

%

(3.6)

%

(2.1)

%

(1.8)

%

Change in average basket size (2)

1.3

%

6.5

%

2.4

%

4.3

%

Net Sales by Product Category








Baby

26.1

%

25.0

%

26.5

%

25.6

%

Core Toy

22.2

%

22.2

%

21.0

%

21.0

%

Entertainment

4.8

%

6.3

%

5.0

%

6.1

%

Learning

31.0

%

31.2

%

29.1

%

28.7

%

Seasonal

15.0

%

14.5

%

17.5

%

17.7

%

Other (3)

0.9

%

0.8

%

0.9

%

0.9

%

Total

100

%

100

%

100

%

100

%










Consolidated:







Operating Data








Gross margin as a percentage of net sales

36.0

%

35.7

%

36.8

%

37.0

%

Same store sales (2)

(2.1)

%

0.6

%

(0.3)

%

(0.1)

%

Change in number of transactions

(3.4)

%

(2.8)

%

(1.7)

%

(2.7)

%

Change in average basket size (2)

1.3

%

3.4

%

1.4

%

2.6

%


(1)

Consists primarily of non-product related revenues.

(2)

Excludes the impact of foreign currency translation.

(3)

Consists primarily of non-product related revenues, including licensing revenue from unaffiliated third parties.

Non-GAAP Disclosure of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

We believe Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors because it is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry.  Investors in the Company regularly request Adjusted EBITDA as a supplemental analytical measure to, and in conjunction with, the Company's financial data prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP").  We understand that investors use Adjusted EBITDA, among other things, to assess our period-to-period operating performance and to gain insight into the manner in which management analyzes operating performance.

In addition, we believe that Adjusted EBITDA is useful in evaluating our operating performance compared to that of other companies in our industry because the calculation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA generally eliminates the effects of financing and income taxes and the accounting effects of capital spending and acquisitions, which items may vary for different companies for reasons unrelated to overall operating performance.  We use the non-GAAP financial measures for planning and forecasting and measuring results against the forecast and in certain cases we use similar measures for bonus targets for certain of our employees.  Using several measures to evaluate the business allows us and investors to assess our relative performance against our competitors.

Although we believe that Adjusted EBITDA can make an evaluation of our operating performance more consistent because it removes items that do not reflect our core operations, other companies, even in the same industry, may define Adjusted EBITDA differently than we do.  As a result, it may be difficult to use Adjusted EBITDA or similarly named non-GAAP measures that other companies may use to compare the performance of those companies to our performance.  The Company does not, and investors should not, place undue reliance on EBITDA or Adjusted EBITDA as measures of operating performance.

Reconciliation of Net loss attributable to Toys "R" Us, Inc. to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:



13 Weeks Ended

39 Weeks Ended

LTM

(In millions)

October 29,
 2016

October 31,
 2015

October 29,
 2016

October 31,
 2015

October 29,
 2016

October 31,
 2015

Net loss attributable to Toys "R" Us, Inc.

$

(156)

$

(167)

$

(377)

$

(406)

$

(101)

$

(141)













Add:











Income tax expense

3

—

8

2

82

41

Interest expense, net

121

112

345

331

440

442

Depreciation and amortization

76

80

240

253

330

345

EBITDA

44

25

216

180

751

687













Adjustments:











Compensation expense (a)

6

2

20

13

31

20

Certain transaction costs (b)

5

—

15

2

26

(1)

Foreign currency re-measurement (c)

4

—

(5)

3

3

18

Sponsors' management and advisory fees (d)

2

1

5

6

5

10

Severance

2

6

5

19

10

20

Impairment of long-lived assets

2

—

3

4

15

9

Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interest

1

1

4

4

6

6

Net gains on sales (e)

(45)

(1)

(45)

(8)

(57)

(8)

Litigation (f)

—

—

4

(1)

4

(9)

Property losses, net of insurance recoveries (g)

—

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

(1)

Store closure costs (h)

—

1

—

5

2

4

Adjusted EBITDA (i)

$

21

$

34

$

221

$

226

$

795

$

755


A reconciliation of Net (loss) earnings to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA for Toys "R" Us-Delaware, Inc. is as follows:



13 Weeks Ended

39 Weeks Ended

LTM

(In millions)

October 29,
 2016

October 31,
 2015

October 29,
 2016

October 31,
 2015

October 29,
 2016

October 31,
 2015

Net (loss) earnings

$

(83)

$

(110)

$

(198)

$

(245)

$

32

$

(64)













Add:











Income tax expense

4

3

13

7

33

10

Interest expense, net

36

40

117

126

147

173

Depreciation and amortization

47

52

151

167

209

227

EBITDA

4

(15)

83

55

421

346













Adjustments:











Compensation expense (a)

—

(3)

2

(1)

3

2

Certain transaction costs (b)

5

—

13

—

20

(3)

Foreign currency re-measurement (c)

4

—

(5)

3

3

18

Sponsors' management and advisory fees (d)

2

1

5

5

6

9

Severance

2

3

3

11

6

11

Impairment of long-lived assets

—

—

1

2

1

3

Net gains on sales (e)

(45)

(1)

(45)

(1)

(45)

(1)

Litigation (f)

—

—

—

—

—

(8)

Property losses, net of insurance recoveries (g)

—

(1)

—

(1)

—

(1)

Store closure costs (h)

—

1

7

8

9

18

Adjusted EBITDA (i)

$

(28)

$

(15)

$

64

$

81

$

424

$

394


(a)

Represents the incremental compensation expense related to certain one-time awards and modifications, net of forfeitures of certain officers' awards.

(b)

Represents expenses associated with the transition of our U.S. e-commerce operations and other transaction costs.

(c)

Represents the unrealized loss (gain) on foreign exchange related to the re-measurement of the portion of the Tranche A-1 loan facility attributed to Toys-Canada.

(d)

Represents the fees expensed to our Sponsors in accordance with the advisory agreement.

(e)

Represents sales of properties and intellectual property.

(f)

Represents certain litigation expenses and settlements recorded for legal matters.

(g)

Represents property losses and insurance claims recognized.

(h)

Represents store closure costs, net of lease surrender income.

(i)

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA (earnings (loss) before net interest income (expense), income tax expense (benefit), depreciation and amortization), as further adjusted to exclude the effects of certain income and expense items that management believes make it more difficult to assess the Company's actual operating performance including certain items which are generally non-recurring.  We have excluded the impact of such items from internal performance assessments.  We believe that excluding items such as Sponsors' management and advisory fees, asset impairment charges, severance, impact of litigation, store closure costs, noncontrolling interest, net gains on sales and other charges, helps investors compare our operating performance with our results in prior periods.  We believe it is appropriate to exclude these items as they are not related to ongoing operating performance and, therefore, limit comparability between periods and between us and similar companies.

SOURCE Toys"R"Us, Inc.