Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. Reports Third Quarter Fiscal 2016 Results

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YORK, Pa., Nov. 17, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc. BONT today reported operating results for its fiscal third quarter ended October 29, 2016, and updated its guidance for the full year fiscal 2016.  

Results for the Third Quarter Ended October 29, 2016

  • Comparable store sales decreased 4.9% as compared with the prior year period. 
  • Net loss was $31.6 million, or $1.58 per diluted share, compared with net loss of $34.0 million, or $1.72 per diluted share, in the third quarter of fiscal 2015.  
  • Adjusted EBITDA was $10.6 million compared to Adjusted EBITDA of $5.7 million in the third quarter of 2015.  (As used in this release, Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure recognized under GAAP – see the accompanying financial table which reconciles this non-GAAP measure to net loss).  Excluding the financial impact of $2.1 million of consulting expenses and severance costs related to the company's cost savings initiatives, Adjusted EBITDA was $12.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016.

Kathryn Bufano, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Although our third quarter sales performance was impacted by warm weather in addition to soft traffic trends, we made progress on a number of our strategic initiatives.  We delivered sales gains in several key categories as well as double digit growth in our omnichannel business and accelerated growth on our mobile site.  In addition, we increased our gross margin rate by 170 basis points as a result of improved merchandise margin and reduced delivery costs.  We also continued to execute against our cost savings initiatives and reduced inventory by 4.9%." 

Ms. Bufano continued, "Looking ahead, we expect to drive continued momentum in omnichannel with enhancements to our website and mobile site, in addition to our Buy Online Pick Up In-Store initiative.  We also expect to benefit from our new Love Style Rewards program, continued expansion of new brands and categories, and recently opened furniture departments."

Third Quarter Review

Comparable store sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 decreased 4.9%.  Total sales in the period decreased 5.4% to $589.9 million, compared with $623.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2015, primarily as a result of the impact that unseasonably warm weather had on cold weather-related sales.  Sales increases were achieved in furniture, dresses, denim, all active sportswear, contemporary plus, men's big and tall, and men's sportswear.  

The company achieved accelerated growth in omnichannel, which reflects sales via its website, mobile site, and its Buy Online Pick Up In-Store initiative.  The company also launched its Love Style Rewards program, rolled out a new and enhanced mobile site, expanded new brands and categories, and opened furniture departments in additional stores.

Other income in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 was $17.3 million, a decrease of $0.2 million over the comparable prior year period.  Proprietary credit card sales, as a percentage of total sales, increased 250 basis points to 57.0% in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 compared to the previous year.

Gross profit decreased $1.3 million to $207.1 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, primarily as a result of lower sales volume, partially offset by improved merchandise margin and favorable delivery costs.  The gross margin rate in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 was 35.1% of net sales as compared to 33.4% in the same quarter last year.

Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expense in the third quarter of fiscal 2016 decreased $6.4 million, or 2.9%, to $213.8 million, compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2015. This was largely due to savings related to non-customer facing expenses, partially offset by higher medical claims, as well as the consulting expenses and severance associated with the company's cost savings initiatives.  The SG&A expense rate in the third quarter of 2016 was 36.2% of net sales, an increase of 90 basis points over the prior year, primarily as a result of the decreased sales volume in the period.  Excluding the $2.1 million of consulting costs and severance in the third quarter of fiscal 2016, SG&A expense decreased $8.6 million from the comparable prior year period.

As of October 29, 2016, the company had approximately $303 million of borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facility. As previously announced, on November 29, 2016, the company will repay the outstanding principal amount of $57 million of its 10 5/8% Second Lien Senior Secured Notes due in 2017.  The company is still on-track to achieve its previously stated $21 to $24 million net SG&A and cost of goods savings, and expects to decrease debt by approximately $5 million to $10 million by the end of the year.

Guidance     

As a result of unseasonably warm weather in our regions and prevailing soft mall traffic trends, we believe it is prudent to revise our guidance for the year.  We are now forecasting loss per diluted share to be in the range of $2.04 to $2.54 and Adjusted EBITDA to be in the range of $114 million to $124 million.  (As used in this release, Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure recognized under GAAP – see the accompanying financial table which reconciles this non-GAAP measure to net loss.).

Assumptions reflected in the company's revised full-year guidance include the following:

  • A comparable sales decrease ranging from 2.5% to 3.5%;  
  • A gross margin rate ranging from a 80- to 90-basis-point increase over the fiscal 2015 rate of 34.7%;
  • SG&A between $885 million and $888 million, or an expense rate ranging from a 50- to 70-basis-point increase from the fiscal 2015 rate of 33.3%;
  • Capital expenditures not to exceed $40 million, net of external contributions; and
  • An estimated 20 million weighted average shares outstanding.

Call Details

The company's quarterly conference call to discuss third quarter fiscal 2016 results will be broadcast live today at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time.  Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (888) 293-8969 at 9:55 a.m. Eastern time.  A taped replay of the conference call will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and will remain available through Thursday, November 24, 2016.  The number to call for the taped replay is (877) 870-5176 and the replay PIN is 1572377.  The conference call will also be broadcast on the company's website at http://investors.bonton.com.  An online archive of the webcast will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call.

About The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc.

The Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., with corporate headquarters in York, Pennsylvania and Milwaukee, Wisconsin, operates 267 stores, which includes nine furniture galleries and five clearance centers, in 26 states in the Northeast, Midwest and upper Great Plains under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson's, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers nameplates.  The stores offer a broad assortment of national and private brand fashion apparel and accessories for women, men and children, as well as cosmetics and home furnishings.  For further information, please visit the investor relations section of the company's website at http://investors.bonton.com.   

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information included in this press release contains statements that are forward-looking within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements, which may be identified by words such as "may," "could," "will," "plan," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "project," "intend" or other similar expressions and include the Company's fiscal 2016 guidance, involve important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect results in the future and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of the Company.   Factors that could cause such differences include, but are not limited to: risks related to retail businesses generally; a significant and prolonged deterioration of general economic conditions which could negatively impact the Company in a number of ways, including the potential write-down of the current valuation of intangible assets and deferred taxes; risks related to the Company's proprietary credit card program; potential increases in pension obligations; consumer spending patterns, debt levels, and the availability and cost of consumer credit; additional competition from existing and new competitors or changes in the competitive environment; inflation; deflation; changes in the costs of fuel and other energy and transportation costs; weather conditions that could negatively impact sales; uncertainties associated with expanding or remodeling existing stores; the ability to attract and retain qualified management; the dependence upon relationships with vendors and their factors; a data security breach or system failure; the ability to reduce or control SG&A expenses, including initiatives to reduce expenses and improve efficiency; operational disruptions; unsuccessful marketing initiatives; the ability to expand our capacity and improve efficiency through our new eCommerce fulfillment center; changes in, or the failure to successfully implement, our key strategies, including initiatives to improve our merchandising, marketing and operations; adverse outcomes in litigation; the incurrence of unplanned capital expenditures; the ability to obtain financing for working capital, capital expenditures and general corporate purposes; the impact of regulatory requirements including the Health Care Reform Act and the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act; the inability or limitations on the Company's ability to favorably adjust the valuation allowance on deferred tax assets; and the financial condition of mall operators.  Additional factors that could cause the Company's actual results to differ from those contained in these forward-looking statements are discussed in greater detail under Item 1A of the Company's Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


THE BON-TON STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
        
(In thousands, except share and per share data)    October 29, October 31,
(Unaudited)     2016   2015 
        
Assets       
Current assets:       
Cash and cash equivalents    $6,975  $21,667 
Merchandise inventories     945,902   994,482 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets     79,013   82,647 
Deferred income taxes     -   - 
Total current assets     1,031,890   1,098,796 
Property, fixtures and equipment at cost, net of accumulated depreciation and       
amortization of $1,016,532 and $951,138 at October 29, 2016 and October 31, 2015, respectively     606,382   643,511 
Intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $66,533 and $62,412 at       
October 29, 2016 and October 31, 2015, respectively    77,733   85,417 
Other long-term assets     18,421   16,128 
Total assets    $1,734,426  $1,843,852 
        
Liabilities and Shareholders' Deficit       
Current liabilities:       
Accounts payable   $331,747  $362,042 
Accrued payroll and benefits    21,693   21,353 
Accrued expenses    156,850   154,831 
Current maturities of long-term debt    57,208   102,931 
Current maturities of capital lease and financing obligations    5,806   5,262 
Total current liabilities     573,304   646,419 
            
Long-term debt, less current maturities     913,654   895,810 
Capital lease and financing obligations, less current maturities     135,534   128,089 
Other long-term liabilities     180,576   191,329 
Total liabilities   1,803,068   1,861,647 
        
Shareholders' deficit:       
Preferred Stock - authorized 5,000,000 shares at $0.01 par value; no shares issued    -   - 
Common Stock - authorized 40,000,000 shares at $0.01 par value; issued shares      
of 18,976,168 and 18,343,527 at October 29, 2016 and October 31, 2015, respectively   190   183 
Class A Common Stock - authorized 20,000,000 shares at $0.01 par value; issued      
and outstanding shares of 2,951,490 at October 29, 2016 and October 31, 2015   30   30 
Treasury stock, at cost - 337,800 shares at October 29, 2016 and October 31, 2015    (1,387)  (1,387)
Additional paid-in-capital    166,394   163,747 
Accumulated other comprehensive loss    (73,515)  (77,573)
Accumulated deficit    (160,354)  (102,795)
Total shareholders' deficit     (68,642)  (17,795)
Total liabilities and shareholders' deficit    $1,734,426  $1,843,852 
        


THE BON-TON STORES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
          
          
   THIRTEEN THIRTY-NINE
   WEEKS ENDED WEEKS ENDED
(In thousands, except per share data)  October 29, October 31, October 29, October 31,
(Unaudited)   2016   2015   2016   2015 
          
Net sales  $589,942  $623,400  $1,723,309  $1,789,769 
Other income   17,333   17,497   51,001   49,369 
    607,275   640,897   1,774,310   1,839,138 
          
Costs and expenses:         
Costs of merchandise sold  382,892   415,025   1,118,078   1,170,318 
Selling, general and administrative  213,816   220,183   641,873   654,055 
Gain on insurance recovery  -   -   -   (748)
Depreciation and amortization  22,304   22,786   70,497   69,012 
Amortization of lease-related interests  1,007   1,045   3,022   3,207 
Impairment charges  137   203   315   425 
Loss from operations   (12,881)  (18,345)  (59,475)  (57,131)
Interest expense, net   18,183   15,846   48,431   46,232 
Loss on extinguishment of debt   676   -   676   4,862 
          
Loss before income taxes   (31,740)  (34,191)  (108,582)  (108,225)
Income tax benefit   (158)  (199)  (446)  (596)
          
Net loss  $(31,582) $(33,992) $(108,136) $(107,629)
          
Basic loss per share  $(1.58) $(1.72) $(5.44) $(5.47)
          
Diluted loss per share  $(1.58) $(1.72) $(5.44) $(5.47)
          

Adjusted EBITDA (Non-GAAP Financial Measure)

As used in this release, Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net loss before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, including amortization of lease-related interests, impairment charges and loss on extinguishment of debt.  Adjusted EBITDA is not a measure of financial performance under generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP").  We present Adjusted EBITDA in this release because we consider it to be a useful financial measure in evaluating our operating performance. When analyzed in conjunction with our net income and cash flows from operations, Adjusted EBITDA provides investors with a supplemental tool to evaluate our ongoing operations as it excludes the effects of financing and investing activities. Adjusted EBITDA is frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties to evaluate the performance of companies in our industry and by some investors to determine a company's ability to service or incur debt. In addition, our management uses Adjusted EBITDA (i) to compare the profitability of our stores, (ii) to evaluate the effectiveness of our business strategies, and (iii) as a factor in evaluating management's performance when determining incentive compensation.

Adjusted EBITDA is not calculated in the same manner by all companies and, accordingly, is not necessarily comparable to similarly entitled measures of other companies and may not be an appropriate measure for performance relative to other companies.  Adjusted EBITDA should not be assessed in isolation from or construed as a substitute for net income or cash flows from operations, which are determined in accordance with GAAP.  Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to represent, and should not be considered to be a more meaningful measure than, or an alternative to, measures of operating performance as determined in accordance with GAAP.

The following is a reconciliation of net loss to Adjusted EBITDA for the historical periods indicated:

          
   THIRTEEN THIRTY-NINE
   WEEKS ENDED WEEKS ENDED
(In thousands) October 29, October 31, October 29, October 31,
(Unaudited)  2016   2015   2016   2015 
          
Net loss  $(31,582) $(33,992) $(108,136) $(107,629)
Adjustments:        
Income tax benefit  (158)  (199)  (446)  (596)
Loss on extinguishment of debt  676   -   676   4,862 
Interest expense, net  18,183   15,846   48,431   46,232 
Depreciation and amortization  22,304   22,786   70,497   69,012 
Amortization of lease-related interests  1,007   1,045   3,022   3,207 
Impairment charges  137   203   315   425 
Adjusted EBITDA $10,567  $5,689  $14,359  $15,513 
          

The following is a reconciliation of forecasted net loss to forecasted Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2016 based on the Company's guidance metrics: 

     
   FORECASTED FISCAL 2016 
(In thousands)  Minimum Maximum 
(Unaudited)  Guidance Guidance 
       
Net loss  $(51,000) $(41,000) 
Adjustments:      
Income tax benefit  (500)  (500) 
Interest expense, net  67,500   67,500  
Loss on extinguishment of debt   900   900  
Depreciation and amortization, amortization of     
lease-related interests, and impairment charges  97,100   97,100  
Adjusted EBITDA  $114,000  $124,000  
     
CONTACT: Investor Relations Wendy Wilson 414-347-5153 Wendy.Wilson@bonton.com

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