DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--February 26, 2013--Neiman Marcus, Inc. today reported financial results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2013. For the 13 weeks ended January 26, 2013, the Company reported total revenues of $1.36 billion compared to $1.28 billion in the prior year. Comparable revenues increased 5.3 percent. Operating earnings for the second quarter of fiscal year 2013 were $124.4 million compared to $108.7 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012, an increase of 14.5 percent.

The Company reported net earnings of $40.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2013. Excluding the $9.4 million after-tax loss on debt extinguishment as described below under “Other Items”, the Company’s adjusted net earnings for the second quarter of fiscal year 2013 were $49.8 million compared to net earnings of $40.1 million in the prior year. EBITDA for the second quarter of fiscal year 2013 was $169.7 million compared to EBITDA of $152.4 million for the second quarter of fiscal year 2012.

For the 26 weeks ended January 26, 2013, the Company reported total revenues of $2.43 billion compared to $2.28 billion in the prior year. Comparable revenues increased 5.4 percent. The Company reported operating earnings for the 26 weeks ended January 26, 2013 of $252.2 million compared to operating earnings of $231.5 million for the comparable period a year ago, an increase of 9.0 percent.

The Company reported net earnings of $90.1 million for the 26 weeks ended January 26, 2013. Excluding the $9.4 million after-tax loss on debt extinguishment as described below under “Other Items”, the Company’s adjusted net earnings for the 26 weeks ended January 26, 2013 were $99.5 million compared to net earnings of $88.5 million in the prior year. EBITDA for the 26 weeks ended January 26, 2013 was $342.9 million compared to EBITDA of $320.7 million for the 26 weeks ended January 28, 2012.

The Company incurred a pre-tax loss on debt extinguishment of $15.6 million (or $9.4 million after-tax) which included 1) costs of $10.7 million related to the tender and redemption of its senior subordinated notes and 2) the write-off of $4.9 million of debt issuance costs related to the extinguished debt facility. The total loss on debt extinguishment was recorded in the second quarter of fiscal year 2013 as a component of interest expense.

A live webcast of the conference call on earnings can be accessed through the Investor Information section of the Neiman Marcus, Inc. website at www.neimanmarcusgroup.com on Tuesday, February 26, 2013 beginning at 9:00 a.m. Central Standard Time. Following the live broadcast, interested parties may replay the webcast by accessing this website. To access financial information that will be presented during the call, please visit the Investor Information section of the Neiman Marcus, Inc. website at www.neimanmarcusgroup.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures. In this press release, the Company's financial results are provided both in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and using certain non-GAAP financial measures. In particular, the Company presents the non-GAAP financial measures adjusted net earnings, which excludes certain charges such as the Company's loss on debt extinguishment, and EBITDA. These results are included as a complement to results provided in accordance with GAAP because management believes these non-GAAP financial measures help investors’ ability to analyze underlying trends in the Company's business, evaluate its performance relative to other companies in its industry, provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain items that may not be indicative of the Company's core operating results and, in the case of EBITDA, help investors to evaluate the Company’s ability to service its debt. In addition, the Company uses EBITDA as a component of the measurement of incentive compensation. These measures should not be considered a substitute for or superior to GAAP results and may vary from others in the industry. For further information related to the Company’s use of EBITDA as a non-GAAP financial measure, see page 9 of this release.

From time to time, the Company may make statements that predict or forecast future events or results, depend on future events for their accuracy or otherwise contain "forward-looking information." These statements are made based on management's expectations and beliefs concerning future events and are not guarantees of future performance.

The Company cautions readers that actual results may differ materially as a result of various factors, some of which are beyond its control, including but not limited to: weakness in domestic and global capital markets and other economic conditions and the impact of such conditions on the Company’s ability to obtain credit; general economic and political conditions or changes in such conditions, including relationships between the United States and the countries from which the Company sources its merchandise; economic, political, social or other events resulting in the short-or long-term disruption in business at the Company’s stores, distribution centers or offices; changes in consumer confidence resulting in a reduction of discretionary spending on goods; changes in the demographic or retail environment; changes in consumer preferences or fashion trends; changes in the Company’s relationships with customers due to, among other things, its failure to provide quality service and competitive loyalty programs, its inability to provide credit pursuant to its proprietary credit card arrangement or its failure to protect customer data or comply with regulations surrounding information security and privacy; the effects of incurring a substantial amount of indebtedness under the Company’s senior secured credit facilities; the ability to refinance the Company’s indebtedness under its senior secured credit facilities and the effects of any refinancing; the effects upon the Company of complying with the covenants contained in its senior secured credit facilities; restrictions on the terms and conditions of the indebtedness under the Company’s senior secured credit facilities may place on the Company’s ability to respond to changes in its business or to take certain actions; competitive responses to the Company’s loyalty programs, marketing, merchandising and promotional efforts or inventory liquidations by vendors or other retailers; changes in the financial viability of the Company’s competitors; seasonality of the retail business; adverse weather conditions or natural disasters, particularly during peak selling seasons; delays in anticipated store openings and renovations; the Company’s success in enforcing its intellectual property rights; changes in the Company’s relationships with designers, vendors and other sources of merchandise, including adverse changes in their financial viability, cash flows or available sources of funds; delays in receipt of merchandise ordered due to work stoppages or other causes of delay in connection with either the manufacture or shipment of such merchandise; changes in foreign currency exchange or inflation rates; significant increases in paper, printing and postage costs; changes in key management personnel and the Company’s ability to retain key management personnel; changes in the Company’s relationships with certain of its key sales associates and the Company’s ability to retain its key sales associates; changes in government or regulatory requirements increasing the Company’s costs of operations; litigation that may have an adverse effect on the Company’s financial results or reputation; terrorist activities in the United States and elsewhere; the impact of funding requirements related to the Company’s pension plan; the Company’s ability to provide credit to its customers pursuant to its proprietary credit card program arrangement, including any future changes in the terms of such arrangement and/or legislation impacting the extension of credit to its customers; and the design and implementation of new information systems as well as enhancements of existing systems.

These and other factors that may adversely affect the Company’s future performance or financial condition are contained in its Annual Report in Form 10-K and other reports filed with and available from the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events, new information or future circumstances.


NEIMAN MARCUS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(UNAUDITED)

(in thousands)	January 26, 2013		January 28, 2012

ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	56,901	$	433,114
Merchandise inventories		919,625		856,921
Other current assets		136,316		124,087
Total current assets		1,112,842		1,414,122

Property and equipment, net		902,817		886,177
Goodwill and intangible assets, net		3,069,190		3,117,013
Other assets		64,787		49,566
Total assets	$	5,149,636	$	5,466,878

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	261,035	$	259,914
Accrued liabilities		409,147		422,799
Total current liabilities		670,182		682,713

Long-term liabilities:
Asset-based revolving credit facility		20,000		-
Long-term debt		2,681,980		2,681,784
Deferred income taxes		617,834		668,756
Other long-term liabilities		441,307		349,757
Total long-term liabilities		3,761,121		3,700,297

Total shareholders’ equity		718,333		1,083,868
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity	$	5,149,636	$	5,466,878


NEIMAN MARCUS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
(UNAUDITED)

	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
(in thousands)	January 26, 2013			January 28, 2012			January 26, 2013			January 28, 2012

Revenues	$	1,362,364		$	1,279,149		$	2,430,902		$	2,282,289
Cost of goods sold including buying and occupancy costs		921,677			859,328			1,567,129			1,466,737
Selling, general and administrative expenses		282,028			280,644			541,793			520,713
Income from credit card program		(14,267	)		(13,233	)		(26,214	)		(25,898	)
Depreciation expense		33,385			31,728			66,880			63,155
Amortization of intangible assets		7,529			7,529			15,057			17,188
Amortization of favorable lease commitments		4,385			4,469			8,770			8,939
Equity in loss of foreign e-commerce retailer		3,218			-			5,251			-

Operating earnings		124,409			108,684			252,236			231,455

Interest expense, net		57,328			43,085			102,419			86,179

Earnings before income taxes		67,081			65,599			149,817			145,276

Income tax expense		26,645			25,511			59,766			56,772

Net earnings	$	40,436		$	40,088		$	90,051		$	88,504


NEIMAN MARCUS, INC.
OTHER OPERATING DATA
(UNAUDITED)

SEGMENTS:	Thirteen Weeks Ended						Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
(dollars in millions)	January 26, 2013			January 28, 2012			January 26, 2013			January 28, 2012

REVENUES:
Specialty Retail Stores	$	1,047.7		$	1,012.2		$	1,898.9		$	1,824.1
On-line		314.7			266.9			532.0			458.2
Total	$	1,362.4		$	1,279.1		$	2,430.9		$	2,282.3


OPERATING EARNINGS:
Specialty Retail Stores	$	106.6		$	101.1		$	231.1		$	226.6
On-line		45.5			36.9			78.2			65.0
Corporate expenses		(12.6	)		(17.3	)		(28.0	)		(34.0	)
Equity in loss of foreign e-commerce retailer		(3.2	)		-			(5.3	)		-
Amortization of intangible assets and favorable lease commitments		(11.9	)		(12.0	)		(23.8	)		(26.1	)
OPERATING EARNINGS	$	124.4		$	108.7		$	252.2		$	231.5


NEIMAN MARCUS, INC.
OTHER OPERATING DATA
(UNAUDITED)
OTHER DATA:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
(dollars in millions)	January 26, 2013		January 28, 2012		January 26, 2013		January 28, 2012

Capital expenditures	$	33.3	$	40.2	$	73.3	$	73.4

Depreciation	$	33.4	$	31.7	$	66.9	$	63.2
Amortization of intangibles	$	11.9	$	12.0	$	23.8	$	26.1

Rent expense	$	25.9	$	24.5	$	50.2	$	47.0

EBITDA*	$	169.7	$	152.4	$	342.9	$	320.7

The following table reconciles net earnings as reflected in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings prepared in accordance with GAAP to EBITDA:

	Thirteen Weeks Ended				Twenty-Six Weeks Ended
(dollars in millions)	January 26, 2013		January 28, 2012		January 26, 2013		January 28, 2012

Net earnings	$	40.4	$	40.1	$	90.1	$	88.5
Income tax expense		26.7		25.5		59.7		56.7
Interest expense, net		57.3		43.1		102.4		86.2
Depreciation expense		33.4		31.7		66.9		63.2
Amortization of intangible assets and favorable lease commitments		11.9		12.0		23.8		26.1
EBITDA	$	169.7	$	152.4	$	342.9	$	320.7

The Company presents the non-GAAP financial measure EBITDA because it uses this measure to monitor and evaluate the performance of its business and believes the presentation of this measure will enhance investors’ ability to analyze trends in its business, evaluate its performance relative to other companies in its industry and evaluate its ability to service its debt. In addition, the Company uses EBITDA as a component of the measurement of incentive compensation.

EBITDA is not a presentation made in accordance with GAAP and this computation may vary from others in the industry. In addition, EBITDA contains some, but not all, adjustments that are taken into account in the calculation of the components of various covenants in the indentures governing the Company’s senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility and senior secured term loan facility. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to operating earnings or net earnings as a measure of operating performance or cash flows as a measure of liquidity. 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 reported under GAAP. For example, EBITDA does not reflect cash expenditures, or future requirements, for capital expenditures or contractual commitments; does not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, working capital needs; does not reflect our considerable interest expense, or the cash requirements necessary to service interest or principal payments, on the Company’s debt; excludes tax payments that represent a reduction in cash available; and does not reflect any cash requirements for assets being depreciated and amortized that may have to be replaced in the future.

CONTACT:
Neiman Marcus, Inc.
Stacie Shirley, 214-757-2967
Senior Vice President – Finance and Treasurer
or
Mark Anderson, 214-757-2934
Director – Finance

1618 Main Street Dallas, Texas		75201
(Address of principal executive offices)		(Zip code)

		SIGNATURES



		NEIMAN MARCUS, INC.



Date:	February 26, 2013	By:	/s/ T. Dale Stapleton

				T. Dale Stapleton
				Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer
				(principal accounting officer of the registrant)

(d)		Exhibits.

		99.1 Press release dated February 26, 2013 announcing financial results for the fiscal second quarter ended January 26, 2013.