MONTRÉAL, QUÉBEC–(Marketwired – April 28, 2017) – Le Château Inc. (TSX:CTU), today reported that sales for the fourth quarter ended January 28, 2017 amounted to $62.6 million as compared with $65.2 million for the fourth quarter ended January 30, 2016, a decrease of 4.0%, with 24 fewer stores in operation. Comparable store sales increased 1.2% for the fourth quarter as compared to last year, with comparable regular store sales increasing 1.8% and comparable outlet store sales decreasing 0.9% (see non-GAAP measures below). Over the past fiscal year, comparable store sales for regular stores have trended positively, reflecting the traction of our merchandise selection, marketing, rebranding efforts and a remaining store base of better performing stores.

Included in comparable store sales are online sales which increased 31.8% for the fourth quarter. At the end of September 2016, our new e-commerce warehouse and distribution facility became operational following an initial investment of $1.1 million. This investment has greatly enhanced our ability to service our customers more quickly and more efficiently. The continued success with our online sales is consistent with the shift in consumer shopping habits and supports our strategy of rightsizing our retail network of stores.

Earnings (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, write-off and/or impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets (“Adjusted EBITDA”) (see non-GAAP measures below) for the fourth quarter of 2016 amounted to $(2.9) million, compared to $(675,000) for the same period last year. The decrease of $2.2 million in adjusted EBITDA for the fourth quarter was primarily attributable to the decrease of $3.8 million in gross margin dollars, offset by a decrease of $1.6 million in selling, general and administrative expenses (“SG&A”). The decrease in SG&A expenses resulted primarily from the reduction in store occupancy costs due mainly to store closures. The decrease of $3.8 million in gross margin dollars was the result of the decline in gross margin percentage to 58.4% from 61.9% in 2015 due to increased promotional activity primarily in scheduled store closures and in the outlet stores, combined with the 4.0% overall sales decline for the fourth quarter. As for the regular stores, they reported a slight increase in gross margin dollars when compared with the same period last year, despite the pressure of the weaker Canadian dollar on the cost of merchandise purchased. For the fourth quarter ended January 28, 2017, the Company recorded write-downs of inventory, net of reversals, totaling $1.0 million, compared to $300,000 the previous year.

Net loss for the fourth quarter ended January 28, 2017 amounted to $8.8 million or $(0.29) per share compared to a net loss of $6.9 million or $(0.23) per share for the same period last year.

Year-end Results

Sales for the year ended January 28, 2017 amounted to $226.6 million as compared with $236.9 million last year, a decrease of 4.3%, with 24 fewer stores in operation. Comparable store sales increased 0.3% for the year, with comparable regular store sales increasing 1.9% and comparable outlet store sales decreasing 5.2%. Included in comparable store sales are online sales which increased 43.6% for the year ended January 28, 2017.

Adjusted EBITDA for the year ended January 28, 2017 amounted to $(16.3) million, compared to $(12.8) million last year. The decrease of $3.5 million in adjusted EBITDA for 2016 was primarily attributable to the decrease of $11.7 million in gross margin dollars, offset by the reduction in SG&A expenses of $8.2 million. The decrease in SG&A expenses resulted from (a) the reduction in store occupancy costs due mainly to store closures and (b) the non-recurrence of the advertising campaign conducted across Canada last year, for which we continue to accrue the benefits of the “Le Château de Montréal” rebrand. The decrease of $11.7 million in gross margin dollars was the result of the decline in gross margin percentage to 61.9% from 64.2% in 2015 due to increased promotional activity primarily in the 25 stores closed during the year and in the outlet stores, combined with the 4.3% overall sales decline for 2016. For the year ended January 28, 2017, the Company recorded write-downs of inventory, net of reversals, totaling $1.2 million, compared to $300,000 the previous year.

Net loss for the year ended January 28, 2017 amounted to $37.2 million or $(1.24) per share compared to a net loss of $35.7 million or $(1.19) per share the previous year.

The retail landscape has evolved and consumer shopping habits have changed significantly with e-commerce. In light of this evolution, the high concentration of stores in large urban markets – a successful model in the pre-digital world – is no longer required. Consequently, our strategy is to continue to review our retail network and close underperforming stores.

During the year, the Company opened one store, renovated one existing location and, as planned, closed 25 underperforming stores. As at January 28, 2017, the Company operated 187 stores (including 56 fashion outlet stores) compared to 211 stores (including 65 fashion outlet stores) as at January 30, 2016. Total square footage for the Le Château network as at January 28, 2017 amounted to 1,025,000 square feet (including 377,000 square feet for fashion outlet stores), compared to 1,162,000 square feet (including 460,000 square feet for fashion outlet stores) as at January 30, 2016.

First Quarter of 2017

For the first twelve weeks ended April 22, 2017, total retail sales decreased 8.2%, with 27 fewer stores in operation. Comparable store sales decreased 1.6% compared to the same period last year, with comparable regular store sales increasing 0.6% and comparable outlet store sales decreasing 9.9%. Included in comparable store sales are online sales which increased 21.0%.

Profile

Le Château is a leading Canadian brand in specialty retailing, offering a broad array of contemporary fashion apparel, accessories and footwear for style-conscious women and men. The Le Château brand is sold exclusively through the Company’s 182 retail stores located in Canada. The Company’s retail locations are primarily found in major urban shopping malls, as well as street-front locations with high pedestrian traffic. In addition, Le Château’s web-based marketing is further broadening the Company’s customer base among internet shoppers in both Canada and the United States. With its 57-year tradition of vertical integration, emphasizing a design and manufacturing approach to retailing, Le Château is unique among Canadian fashion merchants.

Non-GAAP Measures

In addition to discussing earnings measures in accordance with IFRS, this press release provides adjusted EBITDA as a supplementary earnings measure, which is defined as earnings (loss) before interest, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, write-off and/or impairment of property and equipment and intangible assets. Adjusted EBITDA is provided to assist readers in determining the ability of the Company to generate cash from operations and to cover financial charges. It is also widely used for valuation purposes for public companies in our industry.

The following table reconciles adjusted EBITDA to loss before income tax recovery for the fourth quarters and years ended January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016:

The Company also discloses comparable store sales which are defined as sales generated by stores that have been open for at least one year on a comparable week basis. Comparable store sales exclude sales from stores converted to outlet or clearance stores during the year of conversion.

The following table reconciles comparable store sales to total sales disclosed in the consolidated statements of loss for the fourth quarters and years ended January 28, 2017 and January 30, 2016:

The above measures do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by IFRS and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release may contain forward-looking statements relating to the Company and/or the environment in which it operates that are based on the Company’s expectations, estimates and forecasts. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and/or are beyond the Company’s control. A number of factors may cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed. These factors also include those set forth in other public filings of the Company. Therefore, readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. In addition, these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and the Company disavows any intention or obligation to update or revise any such statements as a result of any event, circumstance or otherwise except to the extent required under applicable securities law.

The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for the next twelve months is dependent on its ability to obtain necessary financing through a renewal of its long-term credit facility and the continued support of the controlling shareholders. Management is currently actively addressing this and is in discussions with its current lender for the renewal of a long-term facility, as well as with prospective subordinated lenders. While the Company believes that it will be able to obtain the necessary financing and has been successful in renewing its facility in the past, there can be no assurance of the success of these plans (see note 2 of the Company’s consolidated financial statements).

Factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern; the credit facility renewal and other liquidity risks; the ability of the Company to successfully implement its business initiatives and whether such business initiatives will yield the expected benefits; competitive conditions in the businesses in which the Company participates; changes in consumer spending; general economic conditions and normal business uncertainty; seasonality and weather patterns; changes in the Company’s relationship with its suppliers; lease renewals; information technology security and loss of customer data; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; interest rate fluctuations and changes in laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Company and the approval of the listing of the Company’s shares on the TSX Venture Exchange. There can be no assurance that borrowings will be available to the Company, or available on acceptable terms, in an amount sufficient to fund the Company’s needs or that additional financing will be provided by any of the controlling shareholders of the Company. The foregoing list of risk factors is not exhaustive and other factors could also adversely affect our results.

The Company’s consolidated financial statements and Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the year ended January 28, 2017 are available online at www.sedar.com.

Johnny Del Ciancio, CPA, CA,
Vice-President, Finance
(514) 738-7000

MaisonBrison:
Pierre Boucher
(514) 731-0000

Source:
Le Chateau Inc.