EX-99.1 2 erexhibit991q12015.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 ERExhibit991Q12015
Exhibit 99.1


Chico’s FAS, Inc. • 11215 Metro Parkway • Fort Myers, Florida 33966 • (239) 277-6200

Chico's FAS, Inc. Reports First Quarter Adjusted Earnings Per Share of $0.28
Fort Myers, FL - May 27, 2015 - Chico’s FAS, Inc. (NYSE: CHS) today announced its financial results for the fiscal 2015 first quarter.

For the thirteen weeks ended May 2, 2015 ("the first quarter"), the Company reported adjusted net income of $41.8 million compared to net income of $39.9 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 3, 2014, and first quarter 2015 adjusted earnings per diluted share of $0.28 compared to earnings per diluted share of $0.26 in last year’s first quarter. The first quarter adjusted results exclude EPS charges of $0.06 in 2015 related to restructuring and strategic charges (the "Charges"), as presented in the accompanying GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation. Including the impact of the Charges, the Company reported first quarter 2015 net income of $32.5 million, or $0.22 per diluted share.
Net Sales
For the first quarter, net sales were $693.3 million, an increase of 1.7% compared to $681.6 million in last year’s first quarter, primarily reflecting 56 net new stores for a square footage increase of 3.3%, partially offset by a 0.1% decrease in comparable sales. The 0.1% decrease in comparable sales for the first quarter was following a 2.6% decrease in last year’s first quarter, and reflected approximately flat average dollar sale and transaction count.
Comparable Sales
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
May 2, 2015
 
May 3, 2014
Chico's
(2.3
)%
 
(0.9
)%
White House | Black Market
1.7
 %
 
(8.6
)%
Soma
6.5
 %
 
9.3
 %
Total Company
(0.1
)%
 
(2.6
)%
Gross Margin

For the first quarter, gross margin was $395.8 million compared to $382.9 million in last year’s first quarter. Gross margin was 57.1% of net sales, a 90 basis point increase from last year’s first quarter, primarily reflecting a decrease in promotional activity in response to improved inventory management, partially offset by the impact of product delayed by port issues in 2015 and the return to accrued incentive compensation at a target level.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

For the first quarter, selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”) were $328.2 million compared to $319.0 million in last year’s first quarter. SG&A was 47.4% of net sales, a 60 basis point increase from last year’s first quarter, primarily reflecting sales deleverage of occupancy expenses and the return to accrued incentive compensation at a target level, partially offset by benefits from cost reduction efforts announced last quarter.  
Restructuring and Strategic Charges

For the first quarter, the Company recorded pre-tax restructuring and strategic charges of $14.9 million primarily related to employee-related costs and property and equipment impairment charges. On an after-tax basis, the first quarter restructuring and strategic charges impact was $9.3 million, or $0.06 per diluted share.


Page 1


Inventories

At the end of the first quarter of 2015, total inventories per selling square foot decreased 2.8%, primarily reflecting improved inventory management and lower average unit cost compared to the first quarter last year. Total inventories increased by less than one percent compared to the first quarter of last year.

Credit Facility

At the end of the first quarter of 2015, the Company had $124 million in borrowings outstanding under its revolving credit facility dated July 27, 2011 ("Existing Credit Facility"), which was used to fund a portion of the accelerated stock repurchase agreements ("ASR Agreements") entered into in the first quarter. On May 4, 2015, the Company executed a new $200 million credit agreement, with a term of five years, of which $124 million was drawn at closing and used to repay all borrowings outstanding under its Existing Credit Facility.

Accelerated Stock Repurchase Agreements

In March 2015, the Company entered into ASR Agreements with a group of banks to purchase $250 million in outstanding shares of the Company's common stock. The repurchase was funded through a combination of available cash on hand and $124 million in borrowings under our Existing Credit Facility. The Company received an initial delivery of approximately 10.7 million common shares, which represents approximately 75% of the shares expected to be repurchased based on the share price on the date of the agreement. The specific final number of shares to be repurchased will be based on the volume-weighted average share price of the Company's common stock during the calculation period of the ASR Agreements, which are scheduled to expire no later than October 2015.

ABOUT CHICO’S FAS, INC.

The Company, through its brands – Chico's, White House | Black Market, Soma, and Boston Proper, is a leading omni-channel specialty retailer of women’s private branded, sophisticated, casual-to-dressy clothing, intimates, complementary accessories, and other non-clothing items.

As of May 2, 2015, the Company operated 1,552 stores in the US and Canada and sold merchandise through franchise locations in Mexico. The Company’s merchandise is also available at www.chicos.com, www.whbm.com, www.soma.com, and www.bostonproper.com. For more detailed information on Chico's FAS, Inc., please go to our corporate website at www.chicosfas.com.

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 Certain statements contained herein, including without limitation, statements addressing the beliefs, plans, objectives, estimates or expectations of the Company or future results or events constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Such forward-looking statements involve known or unknown risks, including, but not limited to, general economic and business conditions, and conditions in the specialty retail industry. There can be no assurance that the actual future results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements will occur. Users of forward-looking statements are encouraged to review the Company’s latest annual report on Form 10-K, its filings on Form 10-Q, management’s discussion and analysis in the Company’s latest annual report to stockholders, the Company’s filings on Form 8-K, and other federal securities law filings for a description of other important factors that may affect the Company’s business, results of operations and financial condition. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be realized.

(Financial Tables Follow)

Executive Contact:
Jennifer Powers Adkins
Vice President – Investor Relations
Chico’s FAS, Inc.
(239) 346-4199


Page 2




Chico’s FAS, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
May 2, 2015
 
May 3, 2014
 
Amount
 
% of
Sales
 
Amount
 
% of
Sales
Net sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chico's
$
368,492

 
53.2
 %
 
$
372,288

 
54.6
%
White House | Black Market
224,520

 
32.4
 %
 
217,173

 
31.9
%
Soma
76,546

 
11.0
 %
 
67,833

 
10.0
%
Boston Proper
23,781

 
3.4
 %
 
24,311

 
3.5
%
Total net sales
693,339

 
100.0
 %
 
681,605

 
100.0
%
Cost of goods sold
297,569

 
42.9
 %
 
298,714

 
43.8
%
Gross margin
395,770

 
57.1
 %
 
382,891

 
56.2
%
Selling, general and administrative expenses
328,217

 
47.4
 %
 
319,049

 
46.8
%
Restructuring and strategic charges
14,875

 
2.1
 %
 

 
0.0
%
Income from operations
52,678

 
7.6
 %
 
63,842

 
9.4
%
Interest (expense) income, net
(453
)
 
(0.1
)%
 
40

 
0.0
%
Income before income taxes
52,225

 
7.5
 %
 
63,882

 
9.4
%
Income tax provision
19,700

 
2.8
 %
 
24,000

 
3.5
%
Net income
$
32,525

 
4.7
 %
 
$
39,882

 
5.9
%
Per share data:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income per common share-basic
$
0.22

 
 
 
$
0.26

 
 
Net income per common and common equivalent share–diluted
$
0.22

 
 
 
$
0.26

 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding–basic
143,378

 
 
 
148,475

 
 
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding–diluted
143,771

 
 
 
149,044

 
 
Dividends declared per share
$
0.155

 
 
 
$
0.150

 
 

Page 3





Chico’s FAS, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)


 
May 2, 2015
 
January 31, 2015
 
May 3, 2014
 
 
 
 
 
 
ASSETS
Current Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
97,651

 
$
133,351

 
$
80,529

Marketable securities, at fair value
48,447

 
126,561

 
90,984

Inventories
270,313

 
235,159

 
268,917

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
53,484

 
51,088

 
51,801

Assets held for sale
24,042

 
16,800

 

Total Current Assets
493,937

 
562,959

 
492,231

Property and Equipment, net
584,616

 
606,147

 
636,614

Other Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
Goodwill
145,627

 
145,627

 
171,427

Other intangible assets, net
108,449

 
109,538

 
117,107

Other assets, net
13,728

 
14,310

 
10,210

Total Other Assets
267,804

 
269,475

 
298,744

 
$
1,346,357

 
$
1,438,581

 
$
1,427,589

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
147,323

 
$
144,534

 
$
148,858

Current debt
34,000

 

 

Other current and deferred liabilities
171,161

 
158,396

 
155,579

Total Current Liabilities
352,484

 
302,930

 
304,437

Noncurrent Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
Long-term debt
90,000

 

 

Deferred liabilities
142,185

 
142,371

 
143,789

Deferred taxes
49,273

 
49,659

 
49,694

Total Noncurrent Liabilities
281,458

 
192,030

 
193,483

Stockholders’ Equity:
 
 
 
 
 
Preferred stock

 

 

Common stock
1,434

 
1,529

 
1,532

Additional paid-in capital
353,523

 
407,275

 
385,730

Treasury stock
(187,393
)
 

 

Retained earnings
544,511

 
534,255

 
542,332

Accumulated other comprehensive income
340

 
562

 
75

Total Stockholders’ Equity
712,415

 
943,621

 
929,669

 
$
1,346,357

 
$
1,438,581

 
$
1,427,589


Page 4







Chico’s FAS, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Condensed Consolidated Cash Flow Statements
(Unaudited)
(in thousands)

 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
May 2, 2015
 
May 3, 2014
Cash Flows From Operating Activities:
 
 
 
Net income
$
32,525

 
$
39,882

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities —
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
30,743

 
30,083

Loss on disposal and impairment of property and equipment
6,277

 

Deferred tax benefit
(425
)
 
(1,164
)
Stock-based compensation expense
7,631

 
6,474

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation
(2,012
)
 
(925
)
Deferred rent and lease credits
(4,283
)
 
(4,671
)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Inventories
(35,154
)
 
(30,772
)
Prepaid expenses and other assets
(3,468
)
 
(2,084
)
Accounts payable
(8,979
)
 
6,111

Accrued and other liabilities
18,884

 
24,534

Net cash provided by operating activities
41,739

 
67,468

Cash Flows From Investing Activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of marketable securities
(18,252
)
 
(15,053
)
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities
96,351

 
40,063

Purchases of property and equipment, net
(19,839
)
 
(34,506
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
58,260

 
(9,496
)
Cash Flows From Financing Activities:
 
 
 
Proceeds from borrowings
124,000

 

Proceeds from issuance of common stock
8,025

 
2,945

Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation
2,012

 
925

Dividends paid
(11,076
)
 
(11,439
)
Repurchase of common stock
(258,450
)
 
(6,309
)
Net cash used in financing activities
(135,489
)
 
(13,878
)
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
(210
)
 
(9
)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(35,700
)
 
44,085

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Beginning of period
133,351

 
36,444

Cash and Cash Equivalents, End of period
$
97,651

 
$
80,529


Page 5





Supplemental Detail on Earnings Per Share Calculation

In accordance with accounting guidance, unvested share-based payment awards that include non-forfeitable rights to dividends, whether paid or unpaid, are considered participating securities. As a result, such awards are required to be included in the calculation of earnings per common share pursuant to the “two-class” method. For the Company, participating securities are composed entirely of unvested restricted stock awards and performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”) that have met their relevant performance criteria.

Earnings per share is determined using the two-class method, as it is more dilutive than the treasury stock method. Basic earnings per share is computed by dividing net income available to common stockholders by the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per share reflects the dilutive effect of potential common shares from non-participating securities such as stock options and PSUs. For the thirteen weeks ended May 2, 2015 and May 3, 2014, potential common shares were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS to the extent they were antidilutive.

The following unaudited table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share shown on the face of the accompanying condensed consolidated statements of income (in thousands, except per share amounts):

 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
May 2, 2015
 
May 3, 2014
 
 
 
 
Numerator
 
 
 
Net income
$
32,525

 
$
39,882

Net income and dividends declared allocated to participating securities
(786
)
 
(1,055
)
Net income available to common shareholders
$
31,739

 
$
38,827

 
 
 
 
Denominator
 
 
 
Weighted average common shares outstanding – basic
143,378

 
148,475

Dilutive effect of non-participating securities
393

 
569

Weighted average common and common equivalent shares outstanding – diluted
143,771

 
149,044

 
 
 
 
Net income per common share:
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.22

 
$
0.26

Diluted
$
0.22

 
$
0.26



Page 6





SEC Regulation G - The Company reports its consolidated financial results in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). However, to supplement these consolidated financial results, management believes that certain non-GAAP results, which exclude certain charges, may provide a more meaningful measure on which to compare the Company’s results of operations between periods. The Company believes these non-GAAP results provide useful information to both management and investors by excluding certain expenses that impact the comparability of the results. A reconciliation of net income and earnings per diluted share on a GAAP basis to net income and earnings per diluted share on a non-GAAP basis is presented in the table below:

Chico’s FAS, Inc. and Subsidiaries
GAAP to Non-GAAP Reconciliation of Net Income and Diluted EPS
(Unaudited)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
 
May 2, 2015
 
May 3, 2014
Net income:
 
 
 
 
GAAP basis
 
$
32,525

 
$
39,882

Impact of restructuring and strategic charges, net of tax
 
9,264

 

Non-GAAP adjusted basis
 
$
41,789

 
$
39,882

 
 
 
 
 
Net income per diluted share:
 
 
 
 
GAAP basis
 
$
0.22

 
$
0.26

Impact of restructuring and strategic charges, net of tax
 
0.06

 
0.00

Non-GAAP adjusted basis
 
$
0.28

 
$
0.26


Page 7





Chico's FAS, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Store Count and Square Footage
Thirteen Weeks Ended May 2, 2015
(Unaudited)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
January 31, 2015
 
New Stores
 
Closures
 
May 2, 2015
 
 
Store count:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chico’s frontline boutiques
613

 
3

 
(4
)
 
612

 
 
Chico’s outlets
118

 
1

 
(1
)
 
118

 
 
Chico's Canada
3

 
1

 

 
4

 
 
WH|BM frontline boutiques
441

 
2

 
(3
)
 
440

 
 
WH|BM outlets
68

 
1

 

 
69

 
 
WH|BM Canada
5

 
1

 

 
6

 
 
Soma frontline boutiques
263

 
3

 

 
266

 
 
Soma outlets
17

 

 

 
17

 
 
Boston Proper frontline boutiques
19

 
1

 

 
20

 
 
Total Chico’s FAS, Inc.
1,547

 
13

 
(8
)
 
1,552

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
January 31, 2015
 
New Stores
 
Closures
 
Other changes in SSF
 
May 2, 2015
Net selling square footage (SSF):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chico’s frontline boutiques
1,674,640

 
7,807

 
(9,709
)
 
325

 
1,673,063

Chico’s outlets
295,600

 
2,406

 
(2,406
)
 

 
295,600

Chico's Canada
7,313

 
2,382

 

 

 
9,695

WH|BM frontline boutiques
1,010,242

 
4,837

 
(6,774
)
 
1,087

 
1,009,392

WH|BM outlets
141,900

 
2,206

 

 

 
144,106

WH|BM Canada
12,460

 
2,431

 

 

 
14,891

Soma frontline boutiques
498,642

 
5,277

 

 
(1,199
)
 
502,720

Soma outlets
31,672

 

 

 

 
31,672

Boston Proper frontline boutiques
33,035

 
1,430

 

 

 
34,465

Total Chico’s FAS, Inc.
3,705,504

 
28,776

 
(18,889
)
 
213

 
3,715,604


As of May 2, 2015 the Company also sold merchandise through 33 international franchise locations.


Page 8