Brad Cohen Integrated Corporate Relations, Inc. 330/463-6865 http://www.joann.com
JO-ANN STORES ANNOUNCES RESULTS FOR FIRST QUARTER
HUDSON, OH – May 15, 2006 — Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (NYSE: JAS) today announced financial results for its fiscal 2007 first quarter ended April 29, 2006. Net loss for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 was $6.6 million, or $0.28 per diluted common share, compared with net income of $4.2 million, or $0.18 per diluted common share in the prior year.
Net sales for the first quarter increased 1.0% to $424.7 million from $420.7 million in the prior year. Same-store sales decreased 3.9% for the quarter, versus a same-store sales increase of 0.6% in the first quarter last year.
Review of Operating Results
Gross margins for the first quarter of fiscal 2007 decreased to 46.6% of net sales from 48.7% in the first quarter last year, due to higher markdowns compared to last year. As expected, in an effort to sell-through excess and discontinued inventory, the first quarter gross margin rate performance was significantly impacted.
Selling, general and administrative expenses increased to 44.7% of sales in the first quarter of fiscal 2007 from 42.9% in the first quarter last year. The increase in percentage is due to the lack of leverage resulting from the same-store sales performance, coupled with logistics costs related to the opening of the distribution center in Opelika, Alabama, and increases in operating expenses, primarily driven by increases in store fixed expenses and advertising, resulting from the larger number of superstores in our store base.
Alan Rosskamm, chairman and chief executive officer said, “As expected, our sales growth and gross margin rate remain challenged as we execute on our repair plan against a backdrop of soft industry conditions with lower customer demand. Although not evident in the numbers, we continue to make progress on our key repair plan initiatives, particularly in the areas of inventory reduction and expense control, as we implement better disciplines, which we expect will benefit our results as we progress through the year.”
Mr. Rosskamm, continued, “Our new Opelika, Alabama distribution center now serves approximately 170 of our stores, and we expect it to enhance the performance of our logistics network. Also, we are making substantial progress on our merchandise assortment project. This project should be completed by the beginning of the third quarter and will bring new, fresh merchandise to our stores which should help drive the business improvement we expect in the second half of fiscal 2007. I am confident that we are focused on the correct initiatives, which I expect will enable us to end the year as a more disciplined organization with a much stronger balance sheet and a significantly reduced debt balance.”
Change in Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation
Effective January 29, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment.” SFAS No. 123R, among other things, changes the way of accounting for forfeited share-based awards. Under the new standard, the Company is required to estimate forfeitures at the time of the award grant, rather than account for them as they occur. The Company had been expensing share-based awards without estimating forfeitures, and reduced the expense recognized as forfeitures actually occurred. Accordingly, as of the adoption date, the Company is required to reduce its previously recognized expense for forfeitures on existing awards which have not yet vested, which results in the reduction of previously recognized expense. The amount of this reduction is presented on the statement of operations as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle, net of tax. The cumulative adjustment increased first quarter 2007 earnings by $1.0 million, or $0.04 per diluted common share.
Investors will have the opportunity to listen to the first quarter earnings conference call at 4:30 p.m. ET today. The call can be accessed via the Internet through Streetevents athttp://www.streetevents.com and on our website athttp://www.joann.com (go to the top of our home page and click on “Jo-Ann Stores,” click on “Our Company,” click on “Investor Relations,” then click on the Conference Call icon). To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least ten minutes before the call begins to register, and download and install any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a replay will be available shortly after the call. The replay may be accessed athttp://www.joann.com and athttp://www.streetevents.com or by phone at 800-642-1687, conference ID #7843531
Jo-Ann Stores, Inc. (http://www.joann.com), the leading national fabric and craft retailer with locations in 47 states, operates 662 Jo-Ann Fabrics and Crafts traditional stores and 164 Jo-Ann superstores.
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. Our actual results, performance or achievements may materially differ from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties that could cause or contribute to such material differences include, but are not limited to, general economic conditions, changes in customer demand, changes in trends in the fabric and craft industry, seasonality, failure to manage new store growth and the store transition strategy, effective execution of the Repair Plan strategy, the availability of merchandise, changes in the competitive pricing for products, the impact of competitors’ store openings and closings, longer-term unseasonable weather or wide spread severe weather, our inability to effectively manage our distribution network, our ability to recruit and retain highly qualified personnel, our ability to sell-through our inventory at acceptable prices, energy costs, increases in transportation costs, our indebtedness and limits on attaining additional financing, failure to maintain the security of our electronic and other confidential information, failure to comply with various laws and regulations, consumer confidence and debt levels, and other capital market and geo-political conditions. Other important factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking statements are discussed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings .
JO-ANN STORES, INC. Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)
Thirteen Weeks Ended
April 29,
April 30,
2006
2005
(Dollars in millions, except per share data)
Net sales
$
424.7
$
420.7
Cost of sales
226.7
215.9
Gross margin
198.0
204.8
Selling, general and administrative expenses
189.7
180.6
Store pre-opening and closing costs
5.5
4.9
Depreciation and amortization
11.6
10.5
Operating (loss) profit
(8.8
)
8.8
Interest expense, net
3.5
2.1
(Loss) income before income taxes and cumulative effect of accounting change
(12.3
)
6.7
Income tax (benefit) provision
(4.7
)
2.5
(Loss) income before cumulative effect of accounting change
(7.6
)
4.2
Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax
1.0
—
Net (loss) income
$
(6.6
)
$
4.2
(Loss) income per common share – basic:
(Loss) income before cumulative effect of accounting change
$
(0.32
)
$
0.19
Net (loss) income
(0.28
)
0.19
(Loss) income per common share – diluted:
(Loss) income before cumulative effect of accounting change
$
(0.32
)
$
0.18
Net (loss) income
(0.28
)
0.18
Weighted average shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic
23,316
22,479
Diluted
23,316
23,208
OTHER INFORMATION
Number of stores open at period end:
Traditional stores
663
724
Superstores
162
125
825
849
Square footage at period end (000’s):
Traditional stores
9,785
10,559
Superstores
6,468
5,124
16,253
15,683
Average square footage per store:
Traditional stores
14,759
14,600
Superstores
39,924
41,000
JO-ANN STORES, INC. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(Unaudited)
April 29,
April 30,
January 28,
2006
2005
2006
(Dollars in millions)
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents
$
26.1
$
43.2
$
17.9
Inventories
463.0
446.4
514.7
Deferred income taxes
38.0
21.3
38.0
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
26.8
20.7
35.2
Total current assets
553.9
531.6
605.8
Property, equipment and leasehold improvements, net
333.9
238.8
331.7
Goodwill, net
—
27.1
—
Other assets
10.2
11.4
9.3
Total assets
$
898.0
$
808.9
$
946.8
Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
131.7
$
153.2
$
146.6
Accrued expenses
76.6
59.9
94.1
Total current liabilities
208.3
213.1
240.7
Long-term debt
190.0
100.0
203.7
Deferred income taxes
23.2
27.6
23.2
Lease obligations and other long-term liabilities
82.4
49.8
79.8
Shareholders’ equity
394.1
418.4
399.4
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
$
898.0
$
808.9
$
946.8
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