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8-K - FORM 8-K - rue21, inc.d550130d8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

LOGO

rue21, inc. Announces First Quarter Fiscal Year 2013 Financial Results

Warrendale, PA – June 5, 2013 – rue21, inc. [NASDAQ: RUE] today announced its financial results for the first quarter ended May 4, 2013.

First Quarter Summary:

For the first quarter of fiscal 2013, net sales increased 9.1% to $224.4 million from $205.6 million a year ago, including a comparable store sales decrease for the quarter of 4.6% following a 1.7% increase in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. The Company opened 41 new stores in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 compared to 40 new stores in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. Gross profit increased by $10.0 million in the first quarter of 2013 to $89.7 million as compared to $79.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. Gross margin increased 120 bps to 40.0% for the quarter from 38.8% from the first quarter of fiscal 2012. Selling, general and administrative expense increased 18.4%, or $9.9 million, to $63.7 million in the first quarter of 2013 as compared to $53.8 million in the first quarter of 2012. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expense increased to 28.4% in the first quarter of 2013 as compared to 26.2% in the first quarter of 2012. The increase was primarily due to deleveraging of store payroll, stock compensation expenses, and e-commerce expenses. E-commerce start-up costs related to planning and designing the e-commerce business, which is expected to begin operations by the end of the year, were $0.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2013. Net income decreased 6.9%, or $0.8 million, to $10.8 million for the first quarter, and diluted earnings per share were $0.44 compared to earnings per share of $0.46 in the first quarter of 2012.

Bob Fisch, rue21’s President and CEO, stated: “Despite a challenging environment which impacted our first quarter financial results, we are proud to have achieved another 41 successful new store openings, gross margin expansion of 120 basis points, and an increase in gross profit. We also feel positive about the continued progress we made this past quarter on our long term goals, which include opening profitable new stores in underserved markets and moving up the launch of our e-commerce site to the fourth quarter. We are confident that going forward we will be able to continue to produce the consistent productivity and profitability gains that our team is so proud to have delivered over the past 10 years.”


Impact of 53rd Week in Fiscal 2012 on Comparable Store Sales in Fiscal 2013:

Fiscal 2012 included an extra week in the fourth quarter of the year (the 53rd week). For comparable sales reporting in the first quarter of fiscal 2013, sales are compared to the thirteen week period ended May 5, 2012.

Stock Repurchase Program:

During the first quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company repurchased 351,703 shares for $10.4 million. The stock repurchase program was suspended on May 23, 2013.

Apax Partners Transaction:

On May 23, 2013, rue21 announced that it had entered into a definitive agreement under which funds advised by Apax Partners, a global private equity firm, will acquire all outstanding shares of rue21 for $42.00 per share in cash, or a total of $1.1 billion. As part of the agreement, the Special Committee of rue21’s Board of Directors, with the assistance of its advisors, is conducting an initial 40-day “go-shop” process during which it is actively soliciting, evaluating and potentially entering into negotiations with any parties willing to offer a superior acquisition proposal. Pending the outcome of the go-shop process, the transaction is expected to close before the end of calendar 2013, subject to approval by the majority of the stockholders unaffiliated with the SKM II funds, rue21’s largest stockholder, as well as customary closing conditions.

Outlook:

For fiscal 2013, the Company is lowering its prior guidance based on first quarter results and expects diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $1.98 to $2.03 versus its previous guidance of $2.00 to $2.05, and as compared to $1.76 in fiscal 2012. This incorporates 24.2 million average diluted shares expected for fiscal 2013 as compared to 24.9 million average diluted shares in fiscal 2012. For the second quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company currently expects low single digit comparable store sales. Diluted earnings per share for the second quarter are expected to be in the range of $0.51 to $0.53, including $0.03 relating to e-commerce, versus $0.36 in the second quarter last year.

Conference Call Information:

A conference call to discuss first quarter fiscal 2013 financial results is scheduled for today, June 5, 2013 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. To participate, dial toll-free (877) 723-9522 or (719) 325-4789 (international). The conference call will also be webcast live at www.rue21.com under the Investor Relations section. A replay of this call will be available on the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website, www.rue21.com, within two hours of the conclusion of the call and will remain on the website for ninety days.


About rue21, inc.

rue21 is a leading specialty apparel retailer offering exclusive branded merchandise and the newest trends at a great value. rue21 currently operates 934 stores in 47 states. Learn more at www.rue21.com

Forward Looking Statements:

Certain statements herein, including statements relating to future store openings, growth strategies and statements relating to the Apax Partners transaction and the go-shop process, are “forward-looking statements” made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current expectations or beliefs concerning future events and actual results of operations may differ materially from historical results or current expectations. Any such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including the strength of the economy, consumer spending, our ability to effectively identify and respond to changing fashion trends, our ability to compete with other retailers, our strategy and expansion plans, implementation of systems upgrades, reliance on key personnel, trade restrictions, events that may affect our vendors or their ability to finance their operations, availability of suitable new store locations and other factors which are set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed February 2, 2013, and in all filings with the SEC made by the Company subsequent to the filing of the Form 10-K. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Important Additional Information and Where to Find It:

In connection with the proposed transaction, rue21 intends to file a proxy statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) and mail it to its stockholders. Stockholders of rue21 are urged to read the proxy statement and the other relevant material when they become available because they will contain important information about rue21, the proposed transaction and related matters. STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO CAREFULLY READ THE PROXY STATEMENT AND THE OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING OR INVESTMENT DECISION WITH RESPECT TO THE PROPOSED MERGER. The proxy statement and other relevant materials (when available), and any and all documents filed by rue21 with the SEC, may also be obtained for free at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by rue21 by directing a written request to rue21, Attention Corporate Secretary, 800 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, Pennsylvania, 15086.

This announcement is neither a solicitation of proxy, an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of rue21. rue21, its executive officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the security holders of rue21 in connection with the proposed merger. Information about those executive officers and directors of rue21 and their ownership of rue21 common stock is set forth in the rue21 proxy statement for its 2013 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 26, 2013, and its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 2, 2013, which was filed with the SEC on April 3, 2013. These documents may be obtained for free at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov, and from rue21 by contacting rue21, Attention Corporate Secretary, 800 Commonwealth Drive, Warrendale, Pennsylvania, 15086. Additional information regarding the interests of participants in the solicitation of proxies in connection with the transaction will be included in the proxy statement that rue21 intends to file with the SEC.


rue21, inc. and subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income

 

     Thirteen weeks ended  
     May 4,
2013
    April 28,
2012
 
     (Unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except
per share data)
 

Net sales

   $ 224,375      $ 205,615   

Cost of goods sold (includes certain buying, occupancy and distribution center expenses)

     134,676        125,934   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Gross profit

     89,699        79,681   

Selling, general, and administrative expense

     63,708        53,796   

Depreciation and amortization expense

     9,045        7,528   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income from operations

     16,946        18,357   

Interest income, net

     (5     (30
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     16,951        18,387   

Provision for income taxes

     6,153        6,785   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net income

   $ 10,798      $ 11,602   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Basic income per common share

   $ 0.46      $ 0.47   

Diluted income per common share

   $ 0.44      $ 0.46   

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding

     23,724        24,480   

Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding

     24,355        25,119   


rue21, inc. and subsidiaries

Consolidated Balance Sheets

 

     May 4,
2013
    February 2,
2013
    April 28,
2012
 
     (Unaudited)           (Unaudited)  
     (in thousands, except per share data)  
Assets       

Current assets:

      

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 55,696      $ 43,519      $ 51,845   

Short term investments

     —          20,000        30,000   

Accounts receivable

     8,739        10,555        9,864   

Merchandise inventory, net

     168,198        157,269        131,892   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     15,629        13,905        12,133   

Deferred tax assets

     5,846        5,910        6,064   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current assets

     254,108        251,158        241,798   

Property and equipment, net

     153,017        144,852        126,650   

Other assets

     4,071        3,499        3,680   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total assets

   $ 411,196      $ 399,509      $ 372,128   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 
Liabilities and stockholders’ equity       

Current liabilities:

      

Accounts payable

   $ 114,438      $ 108,760      $ 104,321   

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities

     19,497        24,202        18,401   

Accrued payroll and related taxes

     10,517        8,932        7,715   

Deferred rent and tenant allowances, current portion

     10,558        10,228        9,324   

Accrued income and franchise taxes

     5,231        126        10,667   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total current liabilities

     160,241        152,248        150,428   

Non-current liabilities:

      

Deferred rent, tenant allowances and other long-term liabilities

     61,978        59,325        53,190   

Deferred tax liabilities

     8,075        9,625        7,523   

Total non-current liabilities

     70,053        68,950        60,713   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Commitments and Contingencies

     —          —          —     

Stockholders’ equity:

      

Preferred stock– par value $0.001 per share, 10,000 shares authorized; none issued or outstanding

     —          —          —     

Common stock– par value $0.001 per share; 200,000 shares authorized; 24,761, 24,694 and 24,493 shares issued and 23,530, 23,755 and 24,493 outstanding, respectively.

     25        25        24   
      
      
      
      

Additional paid in capital

     51,132        50,281        39,858   

Treasury stock, 1,240, 939 and 0 shares, respectively

     (34,457     (25,399     —     

Retained earnings

     164,202        153,404        121,105   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Total stockholder’s equity

     180,902        178,311        160,987   

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 411,196      $ 399,509      $ 372,128   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

 

Contact:

Joseph Teklits / Jill Gaul

ICR, Inc

203-682-8200

jill.gaul@icrinc.com

jteklits@icrinc.com