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Borders Group Reports Q1 2009 Results

  Borders Group Logo. (PRNewsFoto/ Borders Group, Inc.)

ANN ARBOR, MI UNITED STATES
 

Adjusted EBITDA $3.0 Million Compared to LY Adjusted EBITDA Loss of $14.3 Million

Operating Cash Flow Improved by $19.5 Million

Debt Reduced by $266.0 Million

SG&A Expenses Reduced by $48.1 Million

ANN ARBOR, Mich., May 26 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) today reported results for the fiscal first quarter of 2009, ended May 2. Highlights include:

  • Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter was $3.0 million compared to an adjusted EBITDA loss of $14.3 million a year ago.
  • First quarter cash flow from operations improved by $19.5 million over last year.
  • Operating SG&A expenses and inventory were reduced from the prior year by $48.1 million and $254.9 million, respectively.
  • Debt at the end of the first quarter was reduced by $266.0 million to $325.9 million -- a 44.9% reduction over a year ago and $10.3 million -- or 3.1% -- less than the end of fiscal 2008.
  • Total consolidated first quarter sales were $641.5 million, down 12.1% from the prior year.
  • Comparable store sales for the first quarter declined by 13.5% and 5.5% at Borders superstores and Waldenbooks Specialty Retail stores, respectively.
  • On an operating basis, the company generated a first quarter loss from continuing operations of $15.9 million or $0.27 per share compared to a loss of $30.5 million or $0.51 cents per share for the same period a year ago. On a GAAP basis, the first quarter loss from continuing operations was $86.0 million or $1.44 per share compared to a loss of $30.1 million or $0.50 per share a year ago. The $1.44 per share loss includes $1.17 per share of non-operating charges that were primarily non-cash.

"We continued to strengthen the financial structure of the company by making further improvements to cash flow, debt and adjusted EBITDA," said Borders Group Chief Executive Officer Ron Marshall. "Make no mistake about it, we have much more work to do and will continue to maintain our financial discipline. At the same time, we know that we cannot save our way to prosperity. Our long-term success will come from doing a much better job of driving sales and that's where our focus is right now."

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060208/BORDERSGRPLOGO )

Consolidated Results

All sales and earnings/loss figures reported throughout this news release are on a continuing operations basis unless otherwise noted.

First quarter consolidated sales were $641.5 million, down 12.1% from a year ago. On an operating basis, Borders Group generated a first quarter loss of $15.9 million or $0.27 per share compared to a loss of $30.5 million or $0.51 per share for the same period last year. On a GAAP basis, the first quarter loss was $86.0 million or $1.44 per share compared to a GAAP loss of $30.1 million or $0.50 per share a year ago. The first quarter GAAP loss includes non-operating, after-tax charges -- primarily non-cash -- totaling $70.1 million.

Excluding non-operating charges, SG&A as a percent of sales improved over last year by 3.6% from 28.9% to 25.3% due to the company's aggressive expense reduction initiatives, which were partially offset by de-leveraging due to negative sales trends. Expense reduction initiatives helped reduce SG&A dollar expenses by $48.1 million compared to the prior year. On a GAAP basis, SG&A as a percent of sales decreased in the first quarter by 2.4% from 29.3% to 26.9%.

Operating cash flow improved in the first quarter by $19.5 million to cash generated of $2.4 million compared to cash used of $17.1 million for the period in the prior year.

First quarter capital expenditures were $2.4 million compared to $27.0 million in 2008 as management took aggressive action to reduce capital expenditures. Debt at the end of the first quarter totaled $325.9 million compared to debt at the end of the first quarter a year ago of $591.9 million, a decrease of 44.9%. Inventory productivity improved as the company reduced its first quarter inventory investment to $893.0 million compared to year-ago inventory of $1.1 billion, a 22.2% reduction.

Non-Operating Adjustments

The following table details the non-operating adjustments for the first quarter 2009.

    Non-Operating Adjustments                             Q1 2009
    Consulting, professional and other fees    $4.3 million     Cash item
    Store closure and related items          ($0.2) million     Cash item
    Severance and other compensation costs     $0.4 million     Cash item
    Accelerated depreciation-multimedia
     space reduction                           $4.3 million     Non-cash item
    Term loan cost/discount amortization       $1.6 million     Non-cash item
    International "put" expiration            $16.2 million     Non-cash item
    Warrant liability fair value
     adjustment                               $32.9 million     Non-cash item
    Total pre-tax non-operating
     adjustments                                      $59.5 million
    Income taxes                              $10.6 million     Non-cash item
    Total after-tax non-operating
     adjustments                                 $70.1 million--$1.17 EPS

Borders Superstores

Total sales at Borders superstores, including Borders.com, in the first quarter were $536.7 million, down 10.7% from a year ago. Comparable store sales decreased by 13.5% at Borders superstores in the first quarter.

On an operating basis, the segment generated a first quarter loss of $12.7 million compared to a loss of $27.9 million for the same period a year ago. On a GAAP basis, the segment generated an operating loss in the first quarter of $16.5 million compared to a loss of $30.0 million the prior year.

No store openings or closings took place in the first quarter; therefore, the total number of Borders superstores remains unchanged from the close of fiscal 2008 at 515 locations.

Waldenbooks Specialty Retail

Total sales in the first quarter within the Waldenbooks Specialty Retail segment were $76.9 million, a 19.9% decline compared to the same period in 2008 as the number of stores was decreased to 376 at the end of the first quarter this year compared to 476 stores that were open at the close of the same period a year ago. The company closed 11 Waldenbooks locations in the first quarter of this year. Comparable store sales in the first quarter at Waldenbooks decreased by 5.5%.

On an operating basis, the segment generated an operating loss of $5.6 million compared to an operating loss of $12.8 million for the same period in 2008. On a GAAP basis, the segment generated an operating loss of $6.8 million compared to a loss of $13.6 million for the same period in 2008.

International

Total sales within the International segment (which consists primarily of Paperchase) totaled $27.9 million in the first quarter, which is down by 14.9% compared to a year ago. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, segment sales increased by 9.5% for the period.

On both an operating basis and GAAP basis, operating income in the International segment for the first quarter was $0.1 million compared to operating income of $1.4 million a year ago.

Next Financial Release - Q2 2009

Borders Group plans to issue fiscal second quarter 2009 results August 25.

About Borders Group

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP) is a leading retailer of books, music and movies with more than 25,000 employees. Through its subsidiaries, the company operates approximately 1,000 stores worldwide primarily under the Borders(R) and Waldenbooks(R) brand names. For online shopping, visit Borders.com. For more information about the company, visit www.borders.com/investors.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. One can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "projects," "expect," "estimated," "look toward," "going forward," "continue," "maintain," "planning," "returning," "guidance," "goal," "will," "may," "intend," "anticipates," and other words of similar meaning. One can also identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements are likely to address matters such as the company's future financial condition and performance (including earnings per share, gross margins and inventory turns, liquidity, sales, including same-store sales, cost reduction initiatives, and anticipated capital expenditures and depreciation and amortization amounts) and its cost reduction initiatives and the benefits thereof. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and plans to differ materially from those included in the company's forward- looking statements.

These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, consumer demand for the company's products, particularly during the holiday season, which is believed to be related to general economic and geopolitical conditions, competition and other factors; the availability of adequate capital--including vendor credit--to fund the company's operations and to carry out its strategic plans and the performance of the company's information technology systems and the development of improvements to the systems necessary to implement the company's strategic plan.

The company's periodic reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission contain more detailed discussions of these and other risk factors that could cause actual results and plans to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements, and those discussions are incorporated herein by reference. The company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.

                          Borders Group, Inc. Financial Statements
                       (amounts in millions, except per share amounts)
                                          Unaudited

                                   Sales and Earnings Summary

                    Quarter Ended May 2, 2009   Quarter Ended May 3, 2008 (1)
                  Operating  Adjustments  GAAP  Operating  Adjustments  GAAP
                   Basis (2)     (2)      Basis   Basis (3)    (3)      Basis
    Borders
     Superstores    $536.7        $-     $536.7   $600.7      $-      $600.7
    Waldenbooks
     Specialty
     Retail           76.9         -       76.9     96.0       -        96.0
    International     27.9         -       27.9     32.8       -        32.8
      Total sales    641.5         -      641.5    729.5       -       729.5
    Other revenue      8.7         -        8.7      6.3       -         6.3
      Total revenue  650.2         -      650.2    735.8       -       735.8
    Cost of goods
     sold, including
     occupancy
     costs           507.7      (0.9)     506.8    566.1     1.5       567.6
      Gross margin   142.5       0.9      143.4    169.7    (1.5)      168.2
    Selling,
     general and
     administrative
     expenses        162.8       9.6      172.4    210.9     2.2       213.1
    Asset impairments
     and other
     writedowns          -       0.1        0.1        -       -           -
      Operating loss (20.3)     (8.8)     (29.1)   (41.2)   (3.7)      (44.9)
    Interest expense   4.9       1.6        6.5      8.3     1.2         9.5
    Warrant / put
     expense (income)    -      49.1       49.1        -    (3.6)       (3.6)
      Total interest
       expense
       (income)        4.9      50.7       55.6      8.3    (2.4)        5.9
      Loss before
       income taxes  (25.2)    (59.5)     (84.7)   (49.5)   (1.3)      (50.8)
    Income taxes
     (benefit)        (9.3)     10.6        1.3    (19.0)   (1.7)      (20.7)
      Loss
       from continuing
       operations   $(15.9)   $(70.1)    $(86.0)  $(30.5)   $0.4      $(30.1)
    Loss from
     operations of
     discontinued
     operations
     (net of tax)        -         -          -     (1.2)      -        (1.2)
    Loss on disposal
     of discontinued
     operations
     (net of tax)        -         -          -        -    (0.4)       (0.4)
      Loss from
       discontinued
       operations
       (net of tax)      -         -          -     (1.2)   (0.4)       (1.6)
      Net loss      $(15.9)   $(70.1)    $(86.0)  $(31.7)     $-      $(31.7)

    Basic EPS from
     continuing
     operations     $(0.27)   $(1.17)    $(1.44)  $(0.51)  $0.01      $(0.50)
    Basic EPS from
     discontinued
     operations         $-        $-         $-   $(0.02) $(0.01)     $(0.03)
    Basic EPS
     including
     discontinued
     operations     $(0.27)   $(1.17)    $(1.44)  $(0.53)     $-      $(0.53)
    Basic weighted
     avg. common
     shares           59.9      59.9       59.9     59.4    59.4        59.4

    Comparable Store
     Sales
    Borders
     Superstores     (13.5%)                        (4.1%)
    Waldenbooks
     Specialty
     Retail           (5.5%)                        (0.8%)


                  Sales and Earnings Summary (As Percentage of Total Sales)

                    Quarter Ended May 2, 2009   Quarter Ended May 3, 2008 (1)
                  Operating  Adjustments  GAAP  Operating  Adjustments GAAP
                   Basis (2)     (2)      Basis   Basis (3)    (3)     Basis

    Borders
     Superstores      83.7%        -%     83.7%    82.3%      -%       82.3%
    Waldenbooks
     Specialty
     Retail           12.0         -      12.0     13.2       -        13.2
    International      4.3         -       4.3      4.5       -         4.5
      Total sales    100.0         -     100.0    100.0       -       100.0
    Other revenue      1.4         -       1.4      0.9       -         0.9
      Total revenue  101.4         -     101.4    100.9       -       100.9
    Cost of goods
     sold, including
     occupancy costs  79.2      (0.2)     79.0     77.6     0.2        77.8
      Gross margin    22.2       0.2      22.4     23.3    (0.2)       23.1
    Selling, general
     and administrative
     expenses         25.3       1.6      26.9     28.9     0.4        29.3
    Asset impairments
     and other
     writedowns          -         -         -        -       -           -
      Operating loss  (3.1)     (1.4)     (4.5)    (5.6)   (0.6)       (6.2)
    Interest expense   0.8       0.2       1.0      1.2     0.1         1.3
    Warrant / put
     expense (income)    -       7.7       7.7        -    (0.5)       (0.5)
      Total interest
       expense
       (income)        0.8       7.9       8.7      1.2    (0.4)        0.8
      Loss before
       income taxes   (3.9)     (9.3)    (13.2)    (6.8)   (0.2)       (7.0)
    Income taxes
     (benefit)        (1.4)      1.6       0.2     (2.6)   (0.3)       (2.9)
      Loss
       from continuing
       operations     (2.5)%   (10.9)%   (13.4)%   (4.2)%   0.1%       (4.1)%

    Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to current year
    presentation.

    (1)  The results of Borders Australia, Borders New Zealand and Borders
         Singapore are reported as discontinued operations.
    (2)  Results from 2009 were impacted by a number of non-operating items,
         including accelerated depreciation related to our multimedia
         reduction initiative, professional fees related to our turnaround
         efforts, amortization of the term loan discount and debt issuance
         costs, and non-cash charges related to the write-off of an
         intangible asset and the fair market value adjustment of the warrant
         liability.  Therefore, solely for analytical purposes and as an aid
         to better understand underlying trends, operating basis data are
         presented excluding these items.
    (3)  Results from 2008 were impacted by a number of non-operating items,
         including store closure costs, severance costs, professional fees
         related to strategic alternatives and amortization of the term loan
         discount and debt issuance costs, offset by income related to the
         fair market value adjustment of the warrant liability and related
         tax benefit. Therefore, solely for analytical purposes and as an aid
         to better understand underlying trends, operating basis data are
         presented excluding these items.



                         Borders Group, Inc. Financial Statements
                                   (dollars in millions)
                                         Unaudited
                          Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

                                     May 2,        May 3,       January 31,
                                     2009           2008           2009
    Assets
      Cash and cash equivalents      $45.7          $35.0          $53.6
      Merchandise inventories        893.0        1,147.9          915.2
      Other current assets            74.3          141.9          102.4
      Current assets of
       discontinued operations           -          108.3              -
      Property and
       equipment, net                469.0          589.9          494.2
      Other assets and
       deferred charges               40.7          110.1           43.4
      Goodwill                         0.2           40.5            0.2
      Noncurrent assets
       of discontinued
       operations                        -           54.0              -
         Total assets             $1,522.9       $2,227.6       $1,609.0

    Liabilities and
     Stockholders' Equity
      Short-term borrowings
       and current portion
       of long-term debt            $319.1         $585.5         $329.8
      Trade accounts payable         372.9          462.5          350.0
      Other current
       liabilities                   272.5          284.0          313.9
      Current liabilities of
       discontinued operations           -           43.2              -
      Long-term debt                   6.8            6.4            6.4
      Other long-term
       liabilities                   374.0          368.1          345.8
      Noncurrent liabilities
       of discontinued
       operations                        -           26.7              -
         Total liabilities         1,345.3        1,776.4        1,345.9
           Total stockholders'
            equity                   177.6          451.2          263.1
               Total liabilities
                and stockholders'
                equity            $1,522.9       $2,227.6       $1,609.0


    Certain reclassifications have been made to conform to current year
    presentation.



                     Borders Group, Inc. Financial Statements
                              (dollars in millions)
                                   Unaudited
                 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                                                      Quarter Ended
                                                    May 2,      May 3,
                                                     2009        2008
    CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR):
    OPERATIONS
      Net loss from continuing operations           $(86.0)     $(30.1)
      Adjustments to reconcile loss from
       continuing operations to
       operating cash flows:
         Depreciation                                 27.6        26.9
         Loss on disposal of assets                      -         0.1
         Stock-based compensation cost                (0.6)        1.9
         Change in other long-term assets,
          liabilities and deferred charges            26.4        (6.1)
         Write-off of intangible asset                16.2           -
         Asset impairment and other writedowns         0.1           -
         Decrease in inventories                      22.9        94.0
         Increase (decrease) in accounts payable      22.7       (49.4)
      Cash provided by (used for) other current
       assets and other current liabilities          (26.9)      (54.4)

         Net cash provided by (used for) operating
          activities of continuing operations          2.4       (17.1)

    INVESTING
      Capital expenditures                            (2.4)      (27.0)
         Net cash provided by (used for) investing
          activities of continuing operations         (2.4)      (27.0)

    FINANCING
      Net (repayment of) funding from credit
       facility                                       (7.5)        2.7
      Funding from short-term note financing             -        42.5
      Issuance of common stock                        (0.3)        0.2
      Issuance of long-term debt                         -         1.1
      Net repayment of long-term capital lease
       obligations                                    (0.1)          -
      Payment of cash dividends                          -        (6.5)
         Net cash provided by (used for) financing
          activities of continuing operations         (7.9)       40.0
    Net cash provided by (used for) discontinued
     operations                                          -       (19.4)
    NET DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS         (7.9)      (23.5)
    Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of
     period                                           53.6        58.5
    Cash and cash equivalents at end of period       $45.7       $35.0



                                Store Activity Summary


                                        Quarter Ended           Year Ended
                                     May 2,       May 3,        January 31,
                                      2009         2008            2009
    Borders Superstores
    Beginning number of stores         515         509             509
    Openings                             -           5              12
    Closings                             -           -              (6)
    Ending number of stores            515         514             515
    Ending square footage
     (in millions)                    12.8        12.6            12.8

    Waldenbooks Specialty
     Retail Stores (1)
    Beginning number of stores         386         490             490
    Openings-Airport Stores              1           -               8
    Closings                           (11)        (14)           (112)
    Ending number of stores            376         476             386
    Ending square footage
     (in millions)                     1.4         1.8             1.4


    (1) Includes all small format stores in malls, airports and outlet malls.



                  Borders Group, Inc. Segment Financial Information
                   (dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
                                     Unaudited

                    Quarter Ended May 2, 2009      Quarter Ended May 3, 2008
                  Operating  Adjustments  GAAP   Operating  Adjustments GAAP
                    Basis (1)    (1)      Basis    Basis (2)    (2)     Basis

    Borders
     Superstores
      Sales          $536.7       $-     $536.7     $600.7      $-    $600.7
      Depreciation
       expense         20.1      4.3       24.4       23.0       -      23.0
      Operating loss  (12.7)    (3.8)     (16.5)     (27.9)   (2.1)    (30.0)
      Adjusted
       EBITDA (5)       7.4                           (4.9)

    Waldenbooks
     Specialty Retail
      Sales           $76.9       $-      $76.9      $96.0      $-     $96.0
      Depreciation
       expense          1.9        -        1.9        2.4       -       2.4
      Operating loss   (5.6)    (1.2)      (6.8)     (12.8)   (0.8)    (13.6)
      Adjusted
       EBITDA (5)      (3.7)                         (10.4)

    International (3)
      Sales           $27.9       $-      $27.9      $32.8      $-     $32.8
      Depreciation
       expense          1.3        -        1.3        1.5       -       1.5
      Operating income  0.1        -        0.1        1.4       -       1.4
      Adjusted
       EBITDA (5)       1.4                            2.9

    Corporate (4)
      Operating loss  $(2.1)   $(3.8)     $(5.9)     $(1.9)  $(0.8)    $(2.7)
      Adjusted
       EBITDA (5)      (2.1)                          (1.9)

    Consolidated (3)
      Sales          $641.5       $-     $641.5     $729.5      $-    $729.5
      Depreciation
       expense         23.3      4.3       27.6       26.9       -      26.9
      Operating loss  (20.3)    (8.8)     (29.1)     (41.2)   (3.7)    (44.9)
      Adjusted
       EBITDA (5)       3.0                          (14.3)


    (1)  Results from 2009 were impacted by a number of non-operating items,
         including accelerated depreciation related to our multimedia
         reduction initiative,  professional fees related to our turnaround
         efforts, amortization of the term loan discount and debt issuance
         costs, and non-cash charges related to the write-off of an
         intangible asset and the fair market value adjustment of the warrant
         liability. Therefore, solely for analytical purposes and as an aid
         to better understand underlying trends, operating basis data are
         presented excluding these items.
    (2)  Results from 2008 were impacted by a number of non-operating items,
         including, store closure costs, severance costs,  professional fees
         related to strategic alternatives and amortization of the term loan
         discount and debt issuance costs, offset by income
         related to the fair market value adjustment of the warrant liability
         and related tax benefit. Therefore, solely for analytical purposes
         and as an aid to better understand underlying trends, operating basis
         data are presented excluding these items.
    (3)  Excludes the results of discontinued operations (Borders Australia,
         Borders New Zealand and Borders Singapore).
    (4)  The Corporate segment includes various corporate governance costs
         and corporate incentive costs.
    (5)  Adjusted EBITDA is operating income (loss) before depreciation and
         amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is not a Generally Accepted Accounting
         Principles (GAAP) measurement. Adjusted EBITDA information is being
         included as we believe it is a commonly used measure of operating
         performance in the retail industry. Adjusted EBITDA is provided to
         enhance an investor's understanding of our operating results. It
         should not be construed as an alternative to income from operations
         as an indicator of operating performance or as an alternative to
         cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity as
         determined in accordance with GAAP. All companies do not calculate
         Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner. As a result, Adjusted EBITDA as
         reported may not be comparable to Adjusted EBITDA as reported by
         other companies.


SOURCE Borders Group