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8-K - FORM 8-K - Ignite Restaurant Group, Inc.irg20160229_8k.htm

Exhibit 99.1

 

For Immediate Release

 

 

 

Ignite Restaurant Group Reports Fourth Quarter 2015 Financial Results

 

 

Houston, TX—(BUSINESS WIRE)—March 3, 2016 - Ignite Restaurant Group (NASDAQ: IRG) today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended December 28, 2015.

 

Highlights for the fourth quarter of 2015 were as follows:

 

 

Total revenues were $93.3 million, compared to $97.9 million in the fourth quarter of 2014;

 

Comparable restaurant sales decreased 2.8% at Brick House Tavern + Tap and decreased 2.9% at Joe’s Crab Shack;

 

Loss from continuing operations was $19.1 million, or $0.74 per diluted share, compared to $33.5 million, or $1.30 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2014; and

 

Adjusted loss from continuing operations (a non-GAAP measure) was $7.5 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, compared to $7.9 million, or $0.31 per diluted share in the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

Highlights for the fiscal year of 2015 were as follows:

 

 

Total revenues were $492.0 million, compared to $503.5 million in 2014;

 

Comparable restaurant sales increased 1.0% at Brick House Tavern + Tap and decreased 4.5% at Joe’s Crab Shack;

 

Loss from continuing operations was $24.9 million, or $0.97 per diluted share, compared to $33.4 million, or $1.30 per diluted share in 2014; and

 

Adjusted loss from continuing operations (a non-GAAP measure) was $4.3 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to $5.0 million, or $0.19 per diluted share in 2014

 

Robert S. Merritt, Chief Executive Officer of Ignite Restaurant Group, stated, “We continued to experience declining sales at Joe’s during the fourth quarter and we also began to see sales declines at Brick House later in the year. In order to reverse the negative sales trends, we have narrowed the focus of the operations team to three core areas that we believe provide the best opportunity to increase sales and operating margins in both brands– execution, people, and food. We believe that these core areas are critical to making sure that we are providing a more consistent dining experience for our guests including high quality food and excellent service on every visit. We also initiated several new weekday value programs at Joe’s, including All-You-Can-Eat crab on Wednesdays, which have contributed to increases in comparable sales and guest traffic in sequential periods at Joe’s since being rolled out system-wide in mid-November.”                

 

Review of Fourth Quarter 2015 Operating Results

 

Total revenues were $93.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2015, a decrease of 4.7% compared to $97.9 million in the fourth quarter of last year.

 

 

Revenues at Joe’s Crab Shack were $74.1 million during the fourth quarter of 2015 versus $80.0 million in the prior year fourth quarter. Comparable restaurant sales at Joe’s Crab Shack decreased 2.9%.

 

Revenues at Brick House Tavern + Tap were $19.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2015 compared to $17.9 million in the prior year fourth quarter. Comparable restaurant sales at Brick House Tavern + Tap decreased 2.8%.

 

 
 

 

 

Loss from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2015 was $19.1 million, or $0.74 per diluted share. The Company’s loss from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2015 included a $7.5 million deferred tax valuation allowance, a $5.5 million non-cash impairment charge, a $1.0 million write-off of debt issuance costs and debt discount, and $0.3 million of costs related to conversions, remodels and closures. Excluding the impact of these items, adjusted loss from continuing operations and adjusted loss from continuing operations per diluted share (which are non-GAAP financial measures), net of tax, were $7.5 million and $0.29, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2015.

 

Loss from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2014 was $33.5 million, or $1.30 per diluted share. The Company’s loss from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of 2014 included a $25.6 million deferred tax valuation allowance. Excluding the impact of this item, adjusted loss from continuing operations and adjusted loss from continuing operations per diluted share (which are non-GAAP financial measures), net of tax, were $7.9 million and $0.31, respectively, in the fourth quarter of 2014.

 

Development

During the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company closed one Joe's restaurant, which will be converted to a Brick House, and opened one Joe's franchise restaurant in Dubai, U.A.E. For the year, the Company opened two Brick House restaurants and closed nine Joe's restaurants, of which three were converted to Brick Houses and opened in the first quarter of 2016. The three converted Brick House restaurants are located in Latham, NY, Sugarland, TX, and Methuen, MA.

 

Liquidity

At December 28, 2015, the Company had $7.8 million of cash and approximately $26.4 million of available borrowing capacity under its current credit facility. The Company was in compliance with the financial covenants under the credit facility.

 

Conference Call

Ignite will host a conference call to discuss fourth quarter financial results today at 5:00 PM Eastern Standard Time. Hosting the call will be Robert S. Merritt, Chief Executive Officer and Brad Leist, Chief Financial Officer.

 

The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing 800-839-7875 or for international callers by dialing 913-312-0408. A replay will be available one hour after the call and can be accessed by dialing 877-870-5176 or 858-384-5517 for international callers; the password is 4357030. The replay will be available until Thursday, March 10, 2016. The call will also be webcast live from the Company's website at www.igniterestaurants.com under the “Investors” section.

 

About Ignite Restaurant Group

Ignite Restaurant Group, Inc., headquartered in Houston, Texas, operates a portfolio of restaurant concepts, including Joe's Crab Shack and Brick House Tavern + Tap, in a diverse set of markets across the United States. Each brand offers a variety of high-quality food in a distinctive, casual, high-energy atmosphere. For more information on Ignite and its distinctive brands, visit www.igniterestaurants.com.

 

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which may be beyond the Company’s control. The Company cautions you that the forward-looking information presented in this press release is not a guarantee of future events, and that actual events and results may differ materially from those made in or suggested by the forward-looking information contained in this press release. In addition, forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “plan,” “seek,” “comfortable with,” “will,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “believe” or “continue” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the scheduled conversions of restaurants, the anticipated growth of Brick House Tavern + Tap, and our effective tax rate.

 

 
 

 

 

A number of important factors could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in or implied by the forward-looking statements included in this press release, including the risk factors discussed in the Company’s Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2015 (which can be found at the SEC’s website www.sec.gov). Each such risk factor is specifically incorporated into this press release. Any forward-looking information presented herein is made only as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events, or otherwise.

 

 
 

 

 

Results of Operations

 

The following tables present the consolidated statements of operations and selected other data for the thirteen and fifty-two weeks ended December 28, 2015 and December 29, 2014, and selected consolidated balance sheet information as of December 28, 2015 and December 29, 2014:

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

Thirteen Weeks Ended

December 28, 2015

   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

December 29, 2014

 
   

(In thousands, except percent and per share data)

 
                                 

Revenues

  $ 93,298       100.0

%

  $ 97,858       100.0

%

Costs and expenses

                               

Restaurant operating costs and expenses

                               

Cost of sales

    30,112       32.3

%

    31,846       32.5

%

Labor expenses

    30,212       32.4

%

    30,297       31.0

%

Occupancy expenses

    9,655       10.3

%

    10,062       10.3

%

Other operating expenses

    20,274       21.7

%

    19,154       19.6

%

General and administrative

    7,263       7.8

%

    9,012       9.2

%

Depreciation and amortization

    5,663       6.1

%

    6,246       6.4

%

Pre-opening costs

    391       0.4

%

    827       0.8

%

Asset impairments and closures

    5,662       6.1

%

    26       0.0

%

Loss on disposal of assets

    435       0.5

%

    509       0.5

%

Total costs and expenses

    109,667       117.5

%

    107,979       110.3

%

Loss from operations

    (16,369 )     (17.5

)%

    (10,121 )     (10.3

)%

Interest expense, net

    (4,801 )     (5.1

)%

    (3,839 )     (3.9

)%

Loss from continuing operations before income taxes

    (21,170 )     (22.7

)%

    (13,960 )     (14.3

)%

Income tax expense (benefit)

    (2,074 )     (2.2

)%

    19,527       20.0

%

Loss from continuing operations

    (19,096 )     (20.5

)%

    (33,487 )     (34.2

)%

Loss from discontinued operations, net

    (1,223 )     (1.3

)%

    (15,034 )     (15.4

)%

Net loss

  $ (20,319 )     (21.8

)%

  $ (48,521 )     (49.6

)%

                                 

Basic and diluted net loss per share data:

                               

Net loss per share

                               

Basic and diluted

                               

Loss from continuing operations

  $ (0.74 )           $ (1.30 )        

Loss from discontinued operations, net

  $ (0.05 )           $ (0.59 )        

Net loss

  $ (0.79 )           $ (1.89 )        

Weighted average shares outstanding

                               

Basic and diluted

    25,769               25,673          

 

 

 
 

 

 

Consolidated Statements of Operations

 

Fifty-Two Weeks Ended

December 28, 2015

   

Fifty-Two Weeks Ended

December 29, 2014

 
   

(In thousands, except percent and per share data)

 
                                 

Revenues

  $ 492,044       100.0

%

  $ 503,508       100.0

%

Costs and expenses

                               

Restaurant operating costs and expenses

                               

Cost of sales

    154,270       31.4

%

    163,407       32.5

%

Labor expenses

    142,209       28.9

%

    142,662       28.3

%

Occupancy expenses

    40,890       8.3

%

    39,401       7.8

%

Other operating expenses

    95,384       19.4

%

    94,086       18.7

%

General and administrative

    30,523       6.2

%

    38,669       7.7

%

Depreciation and amortization

    25,831       5.2

%

    23,901       4.7

%

Pre-opening costs

    927       0.2

%

    2,799       0.6

%

Asset impairments and closures

    10,497       2.1

%

    1,980       0.4

%

Loss (gain) on disposal of assets

    (121 )     (0.0

)%

    1,340       0.3

%

Total costs and expenses

    500,410       101.7

%

    508,245       100.9

%

Loss from operations

    (8,366 )     (1.7

)%

    (4,737 )     (0.9

)%

Interest expense, net

    (16,363 )     (3.3

)%

    (12,521 )     (2.5

)%

Gain (loss) on insurance settlements

    (428 )     (0.1

)%

    89       0.0

%

Loss from continuing operations before income taxes

    (25,157 )     (5.1

)%

    (17,169 )     (3.4

)%

Income tax expense (benefit)

    (308 )     (0.1

)%

    16,213       3.2

%

Loss from continuing operations

    (24,849 )     (5.1

)%

    (33,382 )     (6.6

)%

Loss from discontinued operations, net

    (21,516 )     (4.4

)%

    (20,167 )     (4.0

)%

Net loss

  $ (46,365 )     (9.4

)%

  $ (53,549 )     (10.6

)%

                                 

Basic and diluted net loss per share data:

                               

Net loss per share

                               

Basic and diluted

                               

Loss from continuing operations

  $ (0.97 )           $ (1.30 )        

Loss from discontinued operations, net

  $ (0.84 )           $ (0.79 )        

Net loss

  $ (1.80 )           $ (2.09 )        

Weighted average shares outstanding

                               

Basic and diluted

    25,731               25,659          

 

 

Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Information

 

December 28,

2015

   

December 29,

2014

 
   

(In thousands)

 

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 7,817     $ 20,564  

Total assets

    207,371       327,720  

Long term debt (including current portion)

    126,922       162,702  

Total liabilities

    200,758       276,421  

Total stockholders' equity

    6,613       51,299  

 

 
 

 

 

   

Thirteen

Weeks Ended

   

Thirteen

Weeks Ended

   

Fifty-Two

Weeks Ended

   

Fifty-Two

Weeks Ended

 
   

December 28,

2015

   

December 29,

2014

   

December 28,

2015

   

December 29,

2014

 
   

(dollars in thousands)

 

Selected Other Data:

                               

Restaurants opened during the period

    -       1       2       4  

Number of restaurants open (end of period):

                               

Joe's Crab Shack

    130       139       130       139  

Brick House Tavern + Tap

    23       21       23       21  

Total restaurants

    153       160       153       160  

Restaurant operating weeks

                               

Joe's Crab Shack

    1,690       1,797       7,058       7,107  

Brick House Tavern + Tap

    299       273       1,176       1,062  

Average weekly sales

                               

Joe's Crab Shack

  $ 44     $ 45     $ 59     $ 61  

Brick House Tavern + Tap

  $ 65     $ 65     $ 66     $ 66  

Change in comparable restaurant sales

                               

Joe's Crab Shack

    (2.9% )     (4.5% )     (4.5% )     (4.9% )

Brick House Tavern + Tap

    (2.8% )     5.7 %     1.0 %     7.9 %

Total

    (2.9% )     (3.1% )     (3.9% )     (3.5% )

 

 
 

 

 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Results to GAAP Results

 

The Company provided detailed explanation of this non-GAAP financial measure, including a discussion of the usefulness and purpose of the measure, in its Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2016.

 

 

   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

   

Thirteen Weeks Ended

   

Fifty-Two Weeks Ended

   

Fifty-Two Weeks Ended

 
   

December 28,

2015

   

December 29,

2014

   

December 28,

2015

   

December 29,

2014

 
   

(In thousands, except per share data)

 

Loss from continuing operations - GAAP

  $ (19,096 )   $ (33,487 )   $ (24,849 )   $ (33,382 )

Adjustments - continuing operations:

                               

Transaction costs

    -       -       -       510  

Costs related to conversions, remodels and closures

    332       -       1,954       127  

Write-off of debt issuance costs and debt discount

    962       -       962       2,241  

Asset impairment

    5,528       -       9,409       1,770  

Loss (gain) on insurance settlements

    -       -       428       (89 )

Income tax effect of adjustments above

    (2,626 )     -       (4,975 )     (1,796 )

Deferred tax asset valuation allowance

    7,450       25,632       12,807       25,632  

Adjusted loss from continuing operations - non-GAAP

  $ (7,450 )   $ (7,855 )   $ (4,264 )   $ (4,987 )
                                 

Weighted average shares outstanding (GAAP)

                               

Basic and diluted

    25,769       25,673       25,731       25,659  

Loss from continuing operations per share (GAAP)

                               

Basic and diluted

  $ (0.74 )   $ (1.30 )   $ (0.97 )   $ (1.30 )

Adjusted loss from continuing operations per share (non-GAAP)

                               

Basic and diluted

  $ (0.29 )   $ (0.31 )   $ (0.17 )   $ (0.19 )