Mar 17, 2016

Lands' End Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2015 Results

Lands' End Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2015 Results 60.5 KB

DODGEVILLE, Wis., March 17, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lands' End, Inc. (NASDAQ:LE) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended January 29, 2016.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2015 Highlights:

Net revenue was $473.5 million as compared to $504.6 million in the fourth quarter last year. Direct segment net revenue decreased 5.2% to $409.1 million. Retail segment net revenue decreased 11.5% to $64.4 million driven by an 8.7% decrease in same store sales and a reduction in the number of Lands' End Shops at Sears.
Gross margin was 42.0% as compared to 44.0% in the fourth quarter last year due to an increase in promotions as compared to last year in response to a difficult retail environment and unseasonably warm weather.
Net loss was $39.5 million, or $1.23 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $33.1 million, or $1.03 per diluted share in the fourth quarter last year. Excluding a $98.3 million ($62.0 million after tax) non-cash impairment charge related to the write-down of the the Lands' End trade name, an indefinite-lived intangible asset, Adjusted Net income¹ in the fourth quarter of 2015 was $22.6 million, or $0.71 per diluted share. Excluding the impact of a product recall, Adjusted Net income¹ in the fourth quarter of 2014 was $35.9 million, or $1.12 per diluted share.
Adjusted EBITDA² was $48.1 million compared to $70.4 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2014. Fourth quarter fiscal 2015 Adjusted EBITDA² excludes the $98.3 million non-cash impairment charge related to the write-down of the Lands' End trade name. Fourth quarter fiscal 2014 Adjusted EBITDA² excludes the impact of a product recall.

Full Year Fiscal 2015 Highlights:

Net revenue was $1.42 billion as compared to $1.56 billion in fiscal 2014. Direct segment net revenue decreased 8.0% to $1.21 billion. Retail segment net revenue decreased 12.8% to $204.6 million driven by a 9.3% decrease in same store sales and a reduction in the number of Lands' End Shops at Sears.
Net loss was $19.5 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, as compared to net income of $73.8 million or $2.31 per diluted share for the same period last year. Excluding a $98.3 million ($62.0 million after tax) non-cash impairment charge related to the Lands' End trade name and the impact of the reversal of a product recall accrual, Adjusted Net income¹ was $40.4 million, or $1.26 per diluted share in fiscal 2015. Excluding the impact of a product recall, Adjusted Net income¹ in fiscal 2014 was $76.6 million, or $2.39 per diluted share.
Adjusted EBITDA² was $107.3 million compared to $164.3 million in fiscal 2014. Fiscal 2015 Adjusted EBITDA² excludes the $98.3 million non-cash impairment charge related to the write-down of the Lands' End trade name and the impact of the reversal of the product recall accrual. Fiscal 2014 Adjusted EBITDA² excludes the impact of the product recall. The impact of changes in currency exchange rates negatively impacted fiscal 2015 Adjusted EBITDA² by approximately $12.0 million.

Federica Marchionni, Lands' End's Chief Executive Officer, stated, "While we made meaningful progress in the business throughout 2015, these efforts are not yet reflected in our financial performance. This past year was a transition year for Lands' End, during which we were intently focused on creating a solid foundation from which to grow over the long term. Over the course of 2015, we bolstered our team with a number of talented and experienced executives, updated our product assortment, revamped our catalogs and took steps to improve catalog productivity, and enhanced our branding efforts. As we look to 2016, we will continue to develop a product assortment that is both timeless and updated, with improved fit and quality. We also remain focused on elevating our branding initiatives, further enhancing our e-commerce and distribution channels, as well as investing in our infrastructure to increase operational efficiencies and support the business. Importantly, we believe that these steps will position us to deliver sequential improvement beginning in the second quarter of the year."

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow Highlights

Cash and cash equivalents were $228.4 million on January 29, 2016, compared to $221.5 million on January 30, 2015. Net cash provided by operations was $35.9 million for the 52 weeks ended January 29, 2016, compared to net cash provided by operations of $211.1 million for the same period last year.

Inventory increased 9.2% to $329.2 million on January 29, 2016, from $301.4 million on January 30, 2015.

The Company had $150.7 million of availability under its asset-based senior secured credit facility and had long-term debt of $500.8 million as of January 29, 2016.

Conference Call

The company will host a conference call on Thursday, March 17, 2016 at 8:00 a.m. EDT to review its fourth quarter financial results and related matters. The call may be accessed through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at http://investors.landsend.com.

About Lands' End, Inc.

Lands' End, Inc. (NASDAQ:LE) is a leading multi-channel retailer of casual clothing, accessories, footwear and home products. We offer products through catalogs, online at www.landsend.com and affiliated specialty and international websites, and through retail locations, primarily at Lands' End Shops at Sears® and standalone Lands' End Inlet® Stores. We are a classic American lifestyle brand with a passion for quality, legendary service and real value, and seek to deliver timeless style for men, women, kids and the home.

Forward-Looking Statements

Results are unaudited. This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements about our strategies and our opportunities for growth. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, information concerning our future financial performance, business strategy, plans, goals and objectives. There can be no assurance that any of our efforts initiatives will be successful. Statements preceded or followed by, or that otherwise include, the words "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "intends," "project," "estimates," "plans," "forecast," "is likely to" and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "may," "would," "should" and "could" are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements. The following additional factors, among others, could cause our actual results, performance, and achievements to differ from those described in the forward-looking statements: our ability to offer merchandise and services that customers want to purchase, including new collections that are designed to attract new customers and drive demand from core customers; changes in customer preference for our branded merchandise; customers' use of our digital platform, including our e-commerce websites, and response to direct mail catalogs and digital marketing, including the success of initiatives that are intended to optimize catalog productivity; the success of our overall marketing strategies, including our brand awareness initiatives and our efforts to maintain a robust customer list; our dependence on information technology and a failure of information technology systems, including with respect to our e-commerce operations, or an inability to upgrade or adapt our systems; the success of our ERP implementation; fluctuations and increases in the costs of raw materials; impairment of our relationships with our vendors; our failure to maintain the security of customer, employee or company information; our failure to compete effectively in the apparel industry; the performance of our "store within a store" business model; if Sears Holdings sells or disposes of its retail stores or if its retail business does not attract customers or does not adequately provide services to the Lands' End Shops at Sears; legal, regulatory, economic and political risks associated with international trade and those markets in which we conduct business and source our merchandise; our failure to protect or preserve the image of our brands and our intellectual property rights; increases in postage, paper and printing costs; failure by third parties who provide us with services in connection with certain aspects of our business to perform their obligations; our failure to timely and effectively obtain shipments of products from our vendors and deliver merchandise to our customers; reliance on promotions and markdowns to encourage consumer purchases; our failure to efficiently manage inventory levels; unseasonal or severe weather conditions; the seasonal nature of our business; the adverse effect on our reputation if our independent vendors do not use ethical business practices or comply with applicable laws and regulations; assessments for additional state taxes; our exposure to periodic litigation and other regulatory proceedings, including with respect to product liability claims; incurrence of charges due to impairment of goodwill, other intangible assets and long-lived assets; our failure to retain our executive management team and to attract qualified new personnel; the impact on our business of adverse worldwide economic and market conditions, including economic factors that negatively impact consumer spending on discretionary items; the inability of our past performance generally, as reflected on our historical financial statements, to be indicative of our future performance; the impact of increased costs due to a decrease in our purchasing power following our separation from Sears Holdings ("Separation") and other losses of benefits associated with being a subsidiary of Sears Holdings; the failure of Sears Holdings or its subsidiaries to perform under various transaction agreements that have been executed in connection with the Separation or our failure to have necessary systems and services in place when certain of the transaction agreements expire; our agreements related to the Separation and our continuing relationship with Sears Holdings were negotiated while we were a subsidiary of Sears Holdings and we may have received better terms from an unaffiliated third party; potential indemnification liabilities to Sears Holdings pursuant to the separation and distribution agreement; our inability to engage in certain corporate transactions after the Separation; the ability of our principal shareholders to exert substantial influence over us; adverse effects of the Separation on our business; potential liabilities under fraudulent conveyance and transfer laws and legal capital requirements; declines in our stock price due to the eligibility of a number of our shares of common stock for future sale; our inability to pay dividends; stockholders' percentage ownership in Lands' End may be diluted in the future; and increases in our expenses and administrative burden in relation to being a public company, in particular to maintain compliance with certain provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and other risks, uncertainties and factors discussed in the "Risk Factors" section of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2015. We intend the forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time made and do not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available, except as required by law.

Contacts

ICR
Jean Fontana
(646) 277-1214
Jean.Fontana@icrinc.com

Lands' End, Inc.
Michele Casper
Vice President of Public Relations
(608) 935-4633
Michele.Casper@landsend.com

Lands' End, Inc.
Jim Gooch
Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer
(608) 935-9341

-Financial Tables Follow-


LANDS' END, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)

(in thousands, except share data)	January 29, 2016			January 30, 2015
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	228,368		$	221,454
Restricted cash	3,300			3,300
Accounts receivable, net	32,061			30,073
Inventories, net	329,203			301,367
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	24,972			31,408
Total current assets	617,904			587,602
Property and equipment, net	109,831			101,223
Goodwill	110,000			110,000
Intangible assets, net	430,000			528,712
Other assets	20,791			22,462
TOTAL ASSETS	$	1,288,526		$	1,349,999
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	146,097		$	132,796
Other current liabilities	83,992			107,553
Total current liabilities	230,089			240,349
Long-term debt	500,838			505,988
Long-term deferred tax liabilities	157,252			181,045
Other liabilities	15,838			18,424
TOTAL LIABILITIES	904,017			945,806
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity
Common stock, par value $0.01- authorized: 480,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding: 31,991,668, 31,956,521, respectively	320			320
Additional paid-in capital	344,244			342,294
Retained earnings	49,329			68,877
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(9,384		)	(7,298		)
Total stockholders' equity	384,509			404,193
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY	$	1,288,526		$	1,349,999

LANDS' END, INC.
Consolidated and Combined Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

	13 Weeks Ended						52 Weeks Ended
(in thousands except per share data)	January 29, 2016			January 30, 2015			January 29, 2016			January 30, 2015
REVENUES
Net revenue:	$	473,543		$	504,566		$	1,419,778		$	1,555,353
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	274,433			282,358			767,189			819,422
Gross profit	199,110			222,208			652,589			735,931

Selling and administrative	151,040			153,476			545,301			573,335
Depreciation and amortization	4,525			5,074			17,399			19,703
Intangible asset impairment	98,300			—			98,300			—
Other operating expense (income), net	39			3,205			(3,327		)	3,250
Operating (loss) income	(54,794		)	60,453			(5,084		)	139,643
Interest expense	6,211			6,170			24,826			20,494
Other income, net	(461		)	(561		)	(671		)	(1,408		)
(Loss) income before income taxes	(60,544		)	54,844			(29,239		)	120,557
Income tax (benefit) expense	(21,086		)	21,749			(9,691		)	46,758
NET (LOSS) INCOME	$	(39,458	)	$	33,095		$	(19,548	)	$	73,799
NET (LOSS) INCOME PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO STOCKHOLDERS
Basic:	$	(1.23	)	$	1.04		$	(0.61	)	$	2.31
Diluted:	$	(1.23	)	$	1.03		$	(0.61	)	$	2.31

Basic weighted average common shares outstanding	31,992			31,957			31,979			31,957
Diluted weighted average common shares outstanding	31,992			32,053			31,979			32,016

Use and Definition of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

¹Adjusted Net income and Adjusted Earnings per share- As a result of the intangible asset impairment and the impacts of product recall, the Company is presenting a reconciliation of Net income and Earnings per share determined in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP") to Adjusted Net income and Adjusted Earnings per share which excludes the impact of the intangible asset impairment and the product recall.

²Adjusted EBITDA-In addition to our Net income, for purposes of evaluating operating performance, we use an Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"), which is adjusted to exclude certain significant items as set forth below. Our management uses Adjusted EBITDA to evaluate the operating performance of our business, as well as for executive compensation metrics, for comparable periods. Adjusted EBITDA should not be used by investors or other third parties as the sole basis for formulating investment decisions as it excludes a number of important cash and non-cash recurring items.

³The sum of net income and adjustments per diluted common share may not equal the Adjusted earnings per share due to rounding.

While Adjusted Net income¹, Adjusted Earnings per share¹ and Adjusted EBITDA² are non-GAAP measurements, management believes that they are important indicators of operating performance, and useful to investors, because:

EBITDA excludes the effects of financings, investing activities and tax structure by eliminating the effects of interest, depreciation and income tax costs, and
- For the 13 and 52 weeks ended January 29, 2016 and January 30, 2015, we exclude the loss on disposal of property and equipment as management considers the gains or losses on disposal of assets to result from investing decisions rather than ongoing operations.
Other significant items, while periodically affecting our results, may vary significantly from period to period and have a disproportionate effect in a given period, which affects comparability of results. We have adjusted our results for these items to make our statements more comparable and therefore more useful to investors as the items are not representative of our ongoing operations.
- For the 13 and 52 weeks ended January 29, 2016 we exclude the impairment of our indefinite-lived trade name asset as this is a non-cash charge that is an unusual event that affects the comparability of our financial results.
- For the 13 and 52 weeks ended January 30, 2015, we recorded an accrual related to a recall of selected styles of children's sleepwear that did not meet the federal flammability standard. For the 52 weeks ended January 29, 2016, an amount was reversed due to lower than estimated customer return rates for the recalled products despite our efforts to contact impacted customers. These are unusual events that affect the comparability of our financial results.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Information to GAAP
(Unaudited)

	13 Weeks Ended
(in thousands except per share data)	January 29, 2016						January 30, 2015
	Amount			per Diluted Common Share			Amount		per Diluted Common Share
Net (loss) income	$	(39,458	)	$	(1.23	)	$	33,095	$	1.03
Intangible asset impairment, net of tax	62,017			1.94			—		—
Product recall, net of tax	—			—			2,844		0.09
Adjusted net income and earnings per share ⁽¹⁾	$	22,559		$	0.71		$	35,939	$	1.12

	52 Weeks Ended
(in thousands except per share data)	January 29, 2016						January 30, 2015
	Amount			per Diluted Common Share			Amount		per Diluted Common Share
Net (loss) income	$	(19,548	)	$	(0.61	)	$	73,799	$	2.31
Intangible asset impairment, net of tax	62,017			1.94			—		—
Product recall, net of tax	(2,063		)	(0.06		)	2,844		0.09
Adjusted net income and earnings per share ⁽¹⁾⁽³⁾	$	40,406		$	1.26		$	76,643	$	2.39

	13 Weeks Ended
	January 29, 2016							January 30, 2015
(in thousands)	$'s			% of Net Sales				$'s			% of Net Sales
Net (loss) income	$	(39,458	)		(8.3	)	%	$	33,095			6.6		%
Income tax (benefit) expense	(21,086		)		(4.5	)	%	21,749				4.3		%
Other income, net	(461		)		(0.1	)	%	(561		)		(0.1	)	%
Interest expense	6,211				1.3		%	6,170				1.2		%
Operating (loss) income	(54,794		)		(11.6	)	%	60,453				12.0		%
Intangible asset impairment	98,300				20.8		%	—				—		%
Depreciation and amortization	4,525				1.0		%	5,074				1.0		%
Product recall	—				—		%	4,713				0.9		%
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	39				—		%	194				—		%
Adjusted EBITDA ⁽²⁾	$	48,070			10.2		%	$	70,434			14.0		%

	52 Weeks Ended
	January 29, 2016							January 30, 2015
(in thousands)	$'s			% of Net Sales				$'s			% of Net Sales
Net (loss) income	$	(19,548	)		(1.4	)	%	$	73,799			4.8		%
Income tax (benefit) expense	(9,691		)		(0.7	)	%	46,758				3.0		%
Other income, net	(671		)		—		%	(1,408		)		(0.1	)	%
Interest expense	24,826				1.7		%	20,494				1.3		%
Operating (loss) income	(5,084		)		(0.4	)	%	139,643				9.0		%
Intangible asset impairment	98,300				6.9		%	—				—		%
Depreciation and amortization	17,399				1.2		%	19,703				1.3		%
Product recall	(3,371		)		(0.2	)	%	4,713				0.3		%
Loss on disposal of property and equipment	44				—		%	239				—		%
Adjusted EBITDA ⁽²⁾	$	107,288			7.6		%	$	164,298			10.6		%

LANDS' END, INC.
Consolidated and Combined Statements of Cash Flows
for Fiscal Years Ended
(Unaudited)

(in thousands)	January 29, 2016				January 30, 2015
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
Net (loss) income		$	(19,548	)		$	73,799
Adjustments to reconcile net (loss) income to net cash used in operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		17,399				19,703
Intangible asset impairment		98,300				—
Product recall		(3,371		)		4,713
Amortization of debt issuance costs		1,741				1,563
Loss on disposal of property and equipment		44				239
Stock-based compensation		2,395				2,118
Deferred income taxes		(22,670		)		17,545
Change in operating assets and liabilities:
Inventories		(29,819		)		64,252
Accounts payable		10,005				19,207
Other operating assets		3,462				(9,342		)
Other operating liabilities		(22,047		)		17,324
Net cash provided by operating activities		35,891				211,121
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES


Purchases of property and equipment		(22,224		)		(16,608		)
Net cash used in investing activities		(22,224		)		(16,608		)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
Contributions from / (distributions to) Sears Holdings, net		—				8,481
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt		—				515,000
Payments on term loan facility		(5,150		)		(3,862		)
Debt issuance costs		—				(11,433		)
Dividend paid to a subsidiary of Sears Holdings Corporation		—				(500,000		)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities		(5,150		)		8,186
Effects of exchange rate changes on cash		(1,603		)		(3,656		)
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS		6,914				199,043
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF YEAR		221,454				22,411
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF YEAR		$	228,368			$	221,454
SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION:
Supplemental Cash Flow Data:
Unpaid liability to acquire property and equipment		$	8,182			$	4,157
Income taxes paid		$	23,991			$	19,842
Interest paid		$	22,690			$	18,726

Financial information by segment is presented in the following tables for the 13 and 52 weeks ended January 29, 2016 and January 30, 2015.

	13 Weeks Ended				52 Weeks Ended
(in thousands)	January 29, 2016		January 30, 2015		January 29, 2016		January 30, 2015
Net revenue
Direct	$	409,107	$	431,753	$	1,214,993	$	1,320,642
Retail	64,400		72,801		204,566		234,632
Corporate/ other	36		12		219		79
Total Net revenue	$	473,543	$	504,566	$	1,419,778	$	1,555,353

	13 Weeks Ended						52 Weeks Ended
(in thousands)	January 29, 2016			January 30, 2015			January 29, 2016			January 30, 2015
Adjusted EBITDA⁽²⁾:
Direct	$	56,620		$	77,213		$	141,936		$	192,763
Retail	387			3,059			(520		)	7,161
Corporate/ other	(8,937		)	(9,838		)	(34,128		)	(35,626		)
Total adjusted EBITDA⁽²⁾	$	48,070		$	70,434		$	107,288		$	164,298

Share

Lands' End Announces Fourth Quarter and Fiscal 2015 Results