Exhibit 99.1
NEWS BULLETIN
RE: CLAIRE’S STORES, INC.
2400 WEST CENTRAL ROAD, HOFFMAN ESTATES, ILLINOIS 60192
CLAIRE’S STORES, INC. REPORTS FISCAL 2018
SECOND QUARTER RESULTS
CHICAGO, September 11, 2018. Claire’s Stores, Inc. (the “Company”), one of the world’s leading specialty retailers of fashionable jewelry and accessories for young women, teens, tweens, and kids, today reported its financial results for the fiscal 2018 second quarter, which ended August 4, 2018.
Second Quarter Results
The Company reported net sales of $314.4 million for the fiscal 2018 second quarter, a decrease of $2.2 million or 0.7% compared to the fiscal 2017 second quarter. Net sales were affected by the effect of company-operated and concession store closures, partially offset by a favorable foreign currency translation effect of ournon-U.S. net sales, an increase in new and same store company-operated store sales and increased franchisees sales. Net sales would have decreased 1.9% excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rate changes.
Consolidated same store sales increased 0.1%, with North America same store sales increasing 4.4% and Europe same store sales decreasing 6.3%. The Company computes same store sales on a local currency basis, which eliminates any impact from changes in foreign currency exchange rates. For the fiscal 2018 thirdquarter-to-date period, consolidated same store sales have increased approximately 2%, with North America outperforming Europe.
Gross profit percentage increased 180 basis points to 50.8% during the fiscal 2018 second quarter versus 49.0% for the prior year quarter. The increase in gross profit percentage consisted of a 100 basis point decrease in occupancy costs and by an 80 basis point increase in merchandise margin. The decrease in occupancy costs, as a percentage of net sales, resulted primarily from the cost reductions associated with store closures. The increase in merchandise margin percentage resulted primarily from a favorable foreign currency translation effect.
Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased $1.3 million, or 1.2%, compared to the fiscal 2017 second quarter. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 20 basis points compared to the three months ended July 29, 2017. Excluding an unfavorable $1.4 million foreign currency translation effect, selling, general, and administrative expenses would have decreased by $2.7 million. Excluding the foreign currency translation effect, the decrease was primarily due to decreased compensation-related expense, including concession store commission expense.
Adjusted EBITDA in the fiscal 2018 second quarter was $54.2 million compared to $47.4 million last year. Adjusted EBITDA would have been $53.8 million excluding the foreign currency translation effect in the second quarter of 2018. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before income taxes, net interest expense, depreciation and amortization, loss (gain) on early debt extinguishments, asset impairments, and reorganization items. Adjusted EBITDA excludes management fees, severance, the impact of transaction-related costs and certain other items. A reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA is attached.
As of August 4, 2018, cash and cash equivalents were $69.4 million. The Company had an additional $65.6 million of borrowing availability under itsdebtor-in-possession credit facility as of August 4, 2018, net of applicable reserves. The fiscal 2018 second quarter cash balance increase of $13.3 million consisted of positive impacts of $54.2 million of Adjusted EBITDA, partially offset by $15.5 million for payment of reorganization items, $12.7 million from seasonal working capital uses, $4.8 million of cash interest payments, $4.0 million of capital expenditures, $3.0 million for payment of current portion of long-term debt, $0.5 million for tax payments and $0.4 million indebtor-in-possession financing costs.