Form 8-K Childrens Place, Inc. For: Dec 08
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): December 8, 2015
THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)
| 0-23071 | 31-1241495 |
| (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
| 500 Plaza Drive, Secaucus, New Jersey | 07094 |
| (Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
(201) 558-2400
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| o | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| o | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| o | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 2.02 Results of Operations and Financial Condition.
On December 8, 2015, the Company issued a press release containing the Company’s financial results for the third quarter of the fiscal year ending January 30, 2016 (“Fiscal 2015”), affirming a previously announced estimated range of adjusted net income per diluted share for Fiscal 2015 and providing a preliminary estimated range of adjusted net income per diluted share for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2015. A copy of the press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
The information in this Current Report is being furnished pursuant to Item 2.02 of Form 8-K insofar as it discloses historical information regarding the Company’s results of operations and financial condition as of and for the third quarter of Fiscal 2015. In accordance with General Instructions B.2 of Form 8-K, such information in this Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, shall not be deemed “filed” for the purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), as amended, or otherwise subject to the liability of that section, nor shall it be deemed incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such a filing.
Item 8.01 Other Events.
On December 8, 2015, the Company issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors has authorized a new $250 million share repurchase program and has declared a quarterly cash dividend, payable on January 7, 2016 to common shareholders of record at the close of business on December 17, 2015. A copy of the press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits
Exhibit 99.1 Press Release, dated December 8, 2015, issued by the Company regarding the Company’s financial results for the third quarter of Fiscal 2015 (Exhibit 99.1 is furnished as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K).
Exhibit 99.2 Press Release, dated December 8, 2015, issued by the Company regarding the authorization of a new share repurchase program and the declaration of a dividend (Exhibit 99.2 is furnished as part of this Current Report on Form 8-K).
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Forward Looking Statements
This Current Report on Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1 and Exhibit 99.2, contains forward-looking statements made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including but not limited to statements relating to the Company’s strategic initiatives and adjusted net income per diluted share. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the “Risk Factors” section of its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015. Included among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially are the risk that the Company will be unsuccessful in gauging fashion trends and changing consumer preferences, the risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of the Company’s business and its dependence on consumer spending patterns, which may be affected by weakness in the economy that continues to affect the Company’s target customer, the risk that the Company’s strategic initiatives to increase sales and margin are delayed or do not result in anticipated improvements, the risk that the cost of raw materials or energy prices will increase beyond current expectations or that the Company is unable to offset cost increases through value engineering or price increases, and the uncertainty of weather patterns. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. The inclusion of any statement in this Current Report on Form 8-K does not constitute an admission by the Company or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material.
* * *
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Date: December 8, 2015
| THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Jane Elfers | |
| Name: | Jane Elfers | |
| Title: | President and Chief Executive Officer | |
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Exhibit 99.1
THE CHILDREN’S PLACE REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2015 RESULTS
Reports Q3 Adjusted Earnings per Diluted Share of $1.93
Reaffirms Fiscal 2015 Adjusted EPS Guidance in the Range of $3.35 to $3.45
Board Authorizes New $250 Million Stock Repurchase Program and Declares Quarterly Dividend
`
Secaucus, New Jersey – December 8, 2015 – The Children’s Place, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCE), the largest pure-play children’s specialty apparel retailer in North America, today announced financial results for the thirteen weeks ended October 31, 2015.
Jane Elfers, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We delivered adjusted earnings per diluted share of $1.93 in the third quarter compared to $1.82 in the third quarter of 2014. Comparable retail sales were negative (3.0%), primarily driven by unseasonably warm weather across most of the United States. Despite this challenge, we leveraged adjusted gross margin by 60 basis points, adjusted SG&A by 60 basis points and adjusted operating margin by 80 basis points compared to last year. Importantly, our inventories are well controlled, down 4.4% at quarter-end compared to last year.”
Elfers stated, “Comparable retail sales are running positive 4.5% quarter to date, representing approximately 50% of our planned sales volume for the fourth quarter. Our quarter to date results are being driven by increases in key retail selling metrics despite continued weakness in traffic.”
Elfers continued, “The systems investments we have made in state of the art assortment planning, inventory allocation and replenishment tools are delivering results. Our digital initiatives continue to gain traction; we implemented a new distributed order management system in the third quarter which is a key component of our omni-channel strategy. Our fleet rationalization initiative is on track and we expect to close 200 stores through 2017. Our wholesale and international businesses continue to expand; we recently announced a new partnership with El Palacio de Hierro to open free-standing stores and shop in shops in Mexico, with the first successful opening occurring last month. And today, our Board authorized a new $250 million share repurchase and declared a quarterly dividend. This new authorization and dividend reflect our Company’s commitment to return excess capital to our shareholders.”
Elfers concluded, “In summary, we believe the benefits we are realizing from our multi-pronged transformation strategy are enabling us to navigate through a difficult retail environment.”
Third Quarter 2015 Results
Net sales declined (6.4%) to $455.9 million in the third quarter of 2015. The quarter included the negative impact of approximately $9.9 million from currency exchange rate fluctuations. On a constant currency basis, net sales were $465.8 million, a (4.4%) decrease, compared to net sales of $487.3 million in the third quarter of 2014. Comparable retail sales decreased (3.0%) in the third quarter of 2015.
Net income was $38.5 million, or $1.88 per diluted share, in the third quarter of 2015, compared to net income of $36.9 million, or $1.70 per diluted share, the previous year. Adjusted net income was $39.6 million, or $1.93 per diluted share, an increase of 6.0%, inclusive of a negative ($0.08) impact due to foreign exchange, compared to $39.5 million, or $1.82 per diluted share, in the third quarter last year. On a constant currency basis, adjusted earnings per diluted share were $2.01, a 10.4% increase, compared to the third quarter of 2014.
Gross profit was $180.5 million in the third quarter, compared to $190.1 million in the third quarter of 2014. Adjusted gross profit was $180.6 million in the third quarter, compared to $190.3 million last year, and leveraged 60 basis points to 39.6% of sales primarily as a result of merchandise margin leverage and a higher AUR. This was partially offset by the fixed cost deleverage resulting from negative comparable retail sales.
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $105.8 million compared to $116.1 million in the third quarter of 2014. Adjusted SG&A was $105.0 million compared to $115.0 million in the third quarter last year and leveraged 60 basis points as a percentage of sales primarily as a result of decreased store expenses and incentive compensation expenses.
Operating income was $57.6 million, compared to $55.8 million in the third quarter of 2014. Adjusted operating income in the third quarter of 2015 was $59.5 million compared to an adjusted operating income of $60.1 million in the third quarter last year, and leveraged 80 basis points to 13.1% of sales.
During the third quarter, the Company recorded charges of $1.9 million for unusual items, which primarily consisted of certain non-recurring items, including expenses related to asset impairment and restructuring costs.
Adjusted net income, adjusted gross profit, adjusted SG&A, and adjusted operating income are non-GAAP measures, and are not intended to replace GAAP financial information. The Company believes the excluded items are not indicative of the performance of its core business and that providing this supplemental disclosure to investors will facilitate comparisons of its past and present performance. A reconciliation to GAAP financial information is provided at the end of this release.
Store Openings and Closures
Consistent with our store fleet rationalization initiative, the Company opened 1 store and closed 2 during the third quarter of 2015. Year to date, Company opened 4 stores and closed 16. The Company ended the third quarter with 1,085 stores and square footage of 5.064 million, a decrease of 2.9% compared to the prior year. The Company’s international franchise partners opened 5 stores in the third quarter, and the Company ended the quarter with 90 international franchise stores open and operated by its franchise partners in 12 countries.
Fiscal Year-to-Date
Net sales declined (4.3%) to $1.23 billion, including the negative impact of approximately $21.1 million from currency exchange rate fluctuations. On a constant currency basis, net sales were $1.25 billion, a (2.6%) decrease compared to net sales of $1.28 billion in the prior year. Comparable retail sales declined (2.0%) in the first nine months of 2015.
Net income was $40.4 million, or $1.94 per diluted share, in the first nine months of 2015, compared to net income of $39.9 million, or $1.81 per diluted share, the previous year. Adjusted net income was $50.5 million, or $2.42 per diluted share, inclusive of a negative ($0.11) impact due to foreign exchange, compared to $46.7 million, or $2.12 per diluted share, an increase of 14.2%, the previous year. On a constant currency basis, adjusted earnings per diluted share were $2.53, a 19.3% increase compared to last year.
Gross profit was $447.6 million in the first nine months of 2015, compared to $457.5 million last year. Adjusted gross profit was $448.0 million, or 36.5% of net sales, leveraging 80 basis points compared to last year.
Selling, general and administrative expenses in the first nine months were $338.7 million, compared to $347.0 million last year. Adjusted SG&A was $324.9 million, compared to $342.5 million last year, leveraging 20 basis points.
Operating income was $60.7 million, compared to operating income of $59.4 million in the first nine months of 2014. Adjusted operating income was $77.4 million, or 6.3% of net sales, compared to $70.3 million, or 5.5% of net sales last year.
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Capital Return Program
During the third quarter of 2015, the Company returned approximately $22 million to shareholders through the repurchase of 330,248 shares and its quarterly dividend payment. Year to date, the Company returned approximately $90 million to shareholders through the repurchase of 1,302,048 shares and its quarterly dividend payments. Since 2009, the Company has returned over $582 million to its investors through share repurchases and dividends. At the end of the third quarter of 2015, approximately $59 million remained available for future share repurchases under the Company’s existing repurchase program. Additionally, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new $250 million share repurchase and declared a quarterly dividend of $0.15 per share, payable on January 7, 2016 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 17, 2015.
Outlook
The Company is reaffirming its adjusted net income per diluted share guidance for fiscal 2015 in the range of $3.35 to $3.45, inclusive of a ($0.14) negative impact from foreign exchange. This compares to adjusted net income per diluted share of $3.05 in fiscal 2014. This guidance assumes that comparable retail sales for the year will be slightly negative compared to fiscal 2014.
For the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company expects adjusted net income per diluted share between $0.93 and $1.03, inclusive of an estimated ($0.03) negative impact from foreign exchange. This compares to adjusted net income per diluted share of $0.94 in the fourth quarter of 2014. This guidance assumes that comparable retail sales for the fourth quarter will increase low single digits.
Conference Call Information
The Children’s Place will host a conference call to discuss its third quarter 2015 results today at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be broadcast live at http://investor.childrensplace.com. An audio archive will be available on the Company’s website approximately one hour after the conclusion of the call.
About The Children’s Place, Inc.
The Children’s Place is the largest pure-play children’s specialty apparel retailer in North America. The Company designs, contracts to manufacture, sells at retail and wholesale, and licenses to sell fashionable, high-quality merchandise at value prices, primarily under the proprietary “The Children’s Place,” “Place” and “Baby Place” brand names. As of October 31, 2015, the Company operated 1,085 stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, an online store at www.childrensplace.com, and had 90 international stores open and operated by its franchise partners in 12 countries.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release (and the above referenced call) may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding future circumstances, including statements relating to the Company’s strategic initiatives and adjusted net income per diluted share. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the “Risk Factors” section of its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015. Included among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially are the risk that the Company will be unsuccessful in gauging fashion trends and changing consumer preferences, the risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of the Company’s business and its dependence on consumer spending patterns, which may be affected by the weakness in the economy that continues to affect the Company’s target customer, the risk that the Company’s strategic initiatives to increase sales and margin are delayed or do not result in anticipated improvements, the risk that the cost of raw materials or energy prices will increase beyond current expectations or that the Company is unable to offset cost increases through value engineering or price increases, and the uncertainty of weather patterns. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. The inclusion of any statement in this release (or on the above referenced call) does not constitute an admission by the Company or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material.
Contact: Robert Vill, Group Vice President, Finance, (201) 453-6693
(Tables Follow)
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THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| Third Quarter Ended | Year-to-Date Ended | |||||||||||||||
| October 31, | November 1, | October 31, | November 1, | |||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 455,913 | $ | 487,304 | $ | 1,227,233 | $ | 1,282,081 | ||||||||
| Cost of sales | 275,400 | 297,193 | 779,607 | 824,591 | ||||||||||||
| Gross profit | 180,513 | 190,111 | 447,626 | 457,490 | ||||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 105,797 | 116,120 | 338,653 | 346,951 | ||||||||||||
| Asset impairment charges | 919 | 3,306 | 2,371 | 6,351 | ||||||||||||
| Other costs (income) | 14 | (286 | ) | 87 | (153 | ) | ||||||||||
| Depreciation and amortization | 16,136 | 15,168 | 45,782 | 44,952 | ||||||||||||
| Operating income | 57,647 | 55,803 | 60,733 | 59,389 | ||||||||||||
| Interest income (expense), net | (254 | ) | (82 | ) | (635 | ) | (123 | ) | ||||||||
| Income before taxes | 57,393 | 55,721 | 60,098 | 59,266 | ||||||||||||
| Provision for income taxes | 18,898 | 18,779 | 19,687 | 19,415 | ||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 38,495 | $ | 36,942 | $ | 40,411 | $ | 39,851 | ||||||||
| Earnings per common share | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 1.90 | $ | 1.71 | $ | 1.96 | $ | 1.82 | ||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 1.88 | $ | 1.70 | $ | 1.94 | $ | 1.81 | ||||||||
| Weighted average common shares outstanding | ||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 20,297 | 21,541 | 20,628 | 21,843 | ||||||||||||
| Diluted | 20,517 | 21,756 | 20,878 | 22,062 | ||||||||||||
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THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO GAAP
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| Third Quarter Ended | Year-to-Date Ended | |||||||||||||||
| October 31, | November 1, | October 31, | November 1, | |||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||
| Net income | $ | 38,495 | $ | 36,942 | $ | 40,411 | $ | 39,851 | ||||||||
| Non-GAAP adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
| Store disposition and other | 1,021 | 3,469 | 2,935 | 6,612 | ||||||||||||
| Restructuring costs | 817 | 1,110 | 1,480 | 4,481 | ||||||||||||
| Proxy costs | 10 | - | 5,773 | - | ||||||||||||
| Legal settlement | - | - | 5,000 | - | ||||||||||||
| Sales tax audit | - | - | 1,350 | - | ||||||||||||
| DC exit costs (income) | 14 | (286 | ) | 87 | (153 | ) | ||||||||||
| Aggregate impact of Non-GAAP adjustments | 1,862 | 4,293 | 16,625 | 10,940 | ||||||||||||
| Income tax effect (1) | (745 | ) | (1,688 | ) | (6,520 | ) | (4,112 | ) | ||||||||
| Net impact of Non-GAAP adjustments | 1,117 | 2,605 | 10,105 | 6,828 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted net income | $ | 39,612 | $ | 39,547 | $ | 50,516 | $ | 46,679 | ||||||||
| GAAP net income per common share | $ | 1.88 | $ | 1.70 | $ | 1.94 | $ | 1.81 | ||||||||
| Adjusted net income per common share | $ | 1.93 | $ | 1.82 | $ | 2.42 | $ | 2.12 | ||||||||
(1) The tax effects of the non-GAAP items are calculated based on the statutory rate of the jurisdiction in which the discrete item resides.
| Operating income | $ | 57,647 | $ | 55,803 | $ | 60,733 | $ | 59,389 | ||||||||
| Non-GAAP adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
| Store disposition and other | 1,021 | 3,469 | 2,935 | 6,612 | ||||||||||||
| Restructuring costs | 817 | 1,110 | 1,480 | 4,481 | ||||||||||||
| Proxy costs | 10 | - | 5,773 | - | ||||||||||||
| Legal settlement | - | - | 5,000 | - | ||||||||||||
| Sales tax audit | - | - | 1,350 | - | ||||||||||||
| DC exit costs (income) | 14 | (286 | ) | 87 | (153 | ) | ||||||||||
| Aggregate impact of Non-GAAP adjustments | 1,862 | 4,293 | 16,625 | 10,940 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted operating income | $ | 59,509 | $ | 60,096 | $ | 77,358 | $ | 70,329 |
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THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC.
RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO GAAP
(In thousands, except per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
| Third Quarter Ended | Year-to-Date Ended | |||||||||||||||
| October 31, | November 1, | October 31, | November 1, | |||||||||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | 2015 | 2014 | |||||||||||||
| Gross Profit | $ | 180,513 | $ | 190,111 | $ | 447,626 | $ | 457,490 | ||||||||
| Non-GAAP adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
| Store disposition and other | 102 | 163 | 406 | 261 | ||||||||||||
| Aggregate impact of Non-GAAP adjustments | 102 | 163 | 406 | 261 | ||||||||||||
| Adjusted Gross Profit | $ | 180,615 | $ | 190,274 | $ | 448,032 | $ | 457,751 | ||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | 105,797 | $ | 116,120 | $ | 338,653 | $ | 346,951 | ||||||||
| Non-GAAP adjustments: | ||||||||||||||||
| Store disposition and other | - | - | (158 | ) | - | |||||||||||
| Restructuring costs | (817 | ) | (1,110 | ) | (1,480 | ) | (4,481 | ) | ||||||||
| Legal settlement | - | - | (5,000 | ) | - | |||||||||||
| Sales tax audit | - | - | (1,350 | ) | - | |||||||||||
| Proxy costs | (10 | ) | - | (5,773 | ) | - | ||||||||||
| Aggregate impact of Non-GAAP adjustments | (827 | ) | (1,110 | ) | (13,761 | ) | (4,481 | ) | ||||||||
| Adjusted Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | 104,970 | $ | 115,010 | $ | 324,892 | $ | 342,470 | ||||||||
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THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
| October 31, | January 31, | November 1, | ||||||||||
| 2015 | 2015* | 2014 | ||||||||||
| Assets: | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 183,923 | $ | 173,291 | $ | 170,787 | ||||||
| Short-term investments | 34,600 | 52,000 | 39,000 | |||||||||
| Accounts receivable | 36,501 | 31,928 | 28,126 | |||||||||
| Inventories | 327,324 | 297,631 | 342,455 | |||||||||
| Other current assets | 52,106 | 54,429 | 49,423 | |||||||||
| Total current assets | 634,454 | 609,279 | 629,791 | |||||||||
| Property and equipment, net | 302,216 | 310,301 | 318,871 | |||||||||
| Other assets, net | 40,688 | 39,038 | 46,759 | |||||||||
| Total assets | $ | 977,358 | $ | 958,618 | $ | 995,421 | ||||||
| Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity: | ||||||||||||
| Revolving loan | $ | 34,351 | $ | - | $ | 19,100 | ||||||
| Accounts payable | 183,738 | 155,323 | 150,426 | |||||||||
| Accrued expenses and other current liabilities | 115,615 | 119,144 | 127,609 | |||||||||
| Total current liabilities | 333,704 | 274,467 | 297,135 | |||||||||
| Other liabilities | 94,127 | 95,033 | 97,620 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities | 427,831 | 369,500 | 394,755 | |||||||||
| Stockholders' equity | 549,527 | 589,118 | 600,666 | |||||||||
| Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 977,358 | $ | 958,618 | $ | 995,421 | ||||||
* Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015.
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THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(Unaudited)
| 39 Weeks Ended | ||||||||
| October 31, | November 1, | |||||||
| 2015 | 2014 | |||||||
| Net income | $ | 40,411 | $ | 39,851 | ||||
| Non-cash adjustments | 48,497 | 49,541 | ||||||
| Working Capital | (3,847 | ) | (20,836 | ) | ||||
| Net cash provided by operating activities | 85,061 | 68,556 | ||||||
| Net cash used in investing activities | (16,932 | ) | (21,120 | ) | ||||
| Net cash used in financing activities | (56,338 | ) | (49,532 | ) | ||||
| Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | (1,159 | ) | (1,114 | ) | ||||
| Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 10,632 | (3,210 | ) | |||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period | 173,291 | 173,997 | ||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents, end of period | $ | 183,923 | $ | 170,787 | ||||
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Exhibit 99.2
THE CHILDREN’S PLACE EXPANDS CAPITAL RETURN PROGRAM
INCREASES AUTHORIZED STOCK REPURCHASES BY $250 MILLION
Declares Quarterly Dividend
Secaucus, New Jersey – December 8, 2015 – The Children’s Place, Inc. (Nasdaq: PLCE), the largest pure-play children’s specialty apparel retailer in North America, today announced that its Board of Directors has approved a new $250 million share repurchase program and has declared a quarterly dividend.
Jane Elfers, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "Since 2009, we have returned over $582 million to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends. The continuation of our quarterly dividend and the new share repurchase authorization reflect our confidence in our ability to execute on our strategic initiatives and our continuing commitment to return excess capital to shareholders."
The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.15 per share to be paid January 7, 2016 to shareholders of record at the close of business on December 17, 2015. Future declarations of quarterly dividends and the establishment of future record and payment dates are subject to approval by the Company’s Board of Directors based on a number of factors, including business and market conditions, the Company’s future financial performance and other investment priorities.
The share repurchase authorization announced today permits the Company to repurchase shares in the open market at current market prices at the time of purchase or in privately negotiated transactions. The timing and actual number of shares repurchased under the program will depend on a variety of factors including price, corporate and regulatory requirements, and other market and business conditions, and the Company may suspend or discontinue the program at any time, and may thereafter reinstitute purchases, all without prior announcement.
About The Children’s Place, Inc.
The Children’s Place is the largest pure-play children’s specialty apparel retailer in North America. The Company designs, contracts to manufacture, sells at retail and wholesale, and licenses to sell fashionable, high-quality merchandise at value prices, primarily under the proprietary “The Children’s Place,” “Place” and “Baby Place” brand names. As of October 31, 2015, the Company operated 1,085 stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, an online store at www.childrensplace.com, and had 90 international stores open and operated by its franchise partners in 12 countries.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding future circumstances, including statements relating to the Company’s strategic initiatives and adjusted net income per diluted share. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially. Some of these risks and uncertainties are described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in the “Risk Factors” section of its annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015. Included among the risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and performance to differ materially are the risk that the Company will be unsuccessful in gauging fashion trends and changing consumer preferences, the risks resulting from the highly competitive nature of the Company’s business and its dependence on consumer spending patterns, which may be affected by the weakness in the economy that continues to affect the Company’s target customer, the risk that the Company’s strategic initiatives to increase sales and margin are delayed or do not result in anticipated improvements, the risk that the cost of raw materials or energy prices will increase beyond current expectations or that the Company is unable to offset cost increases through value engineering or price increases, and the uncertainty of weather patterns. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they were made. The Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. The inclusion of any statement in this release does not constitute an admission by the Company or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material.
Contact: Robert Vill, Group Vice President, Finance, (201) 453-6693
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