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8-K - 8-K - CHRISTOPHER & BANKS CORPcbk-form8kxfy19xq4_2020310.htm
Exhibit 99.1
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2400 Xenium Lane North, Plymouth, MN 55441 ▪ (763) 551-5000 ▪ www.christopherandbanks.com

CHRISTOPHER & BANKS CORPORATION REPORTS
FOURTH QUARTER AND FULL YEAR FISCAL 2019 FINANCIAL RESULTS

Comparable Sales Increase 3.6%
Gross Margin Expanded 290 basis points
Provides Fiscal 2020 Guidance

Minneapolis, MN, March 10, 2020 - Christopher & Banks Corporation (OTC: CBKC), a specialty women’s apparel retailer, today reported results for the 13-week fourth quarter and 52-week fiscal year ended February 1, 2020, as compared to the 13-week fourth quarter and 52-week fiscal year ended February 2, 2019.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2019 Highlights:
Comparable sales increased 3.6%
Total revenue increased 4.5% to $88.1 million
Net loss improved by $6.2 million to $5.1 million
Adjusted EBITDA* improves by $4.1 million to negative $3.0 million

Keri Jones, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our fourth quarter results reflect substantial improvement over the prior year and is further evidence of the work we have done in enhancing her shopping experience, improving our marketing and promotional effectiveness, expanding omni-channel capabilities and reducing our costs. We saw a major change in the year-over-year trajectory for the fall season generating a 4.1% increase in comp sales while delivering gross margin expansion and SG&A expense reductions resulting in a $9.6 million EBITDA improvement to nearly breakeven EBITDA. We are also pleased to see that this positive sales momentum continued through fiscal February. We look forward to building on these accomplishments in the coming year as we have built the foundation to drive consistent long-term profitable growth and establish a differentiated brand positioning in the marketplace.”

Results for the Fourth Quarter Ended February 1, 2020
Net sales grew 4.5% to $88.1 million, while operating on average 452 stores. This compares to $84.3 million in net sales for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018, while operating on average 460 stores.
Comparable sales increased 3.6% following a flat comp sales result in the same period last year.
Gross margin rate was 30.4%, as compared to 27.5% in last year's fourth quarter. The 290 basis point increase was due primarily to reduced occupancy costs as well as merchandise margin improvement.
Selling, general & administrative expenses (“SG&A”) decreased by 1.7% to $29.9 million. The decrease was primarily due to lower expenses for medical benefits. As a percent of net sales, SG&A improved approximately 220 basis points to 34.0% due to lower expenses and leverage on higher sales.
Net loss totaled $5.1 million, or ($0.14) per share, compared to a net loss for the prior year's fourth quarter of $11.3 million, or ($0.30) per share. Excluding impairment charges related to long-lived assets and executive severance, adjusted loss per share**, a non-GAAP measure, was ($0.25) for the fourth quarter of Fiscal 2018.
Adjusted EBITDA*, a non-GAAP measure, improved $4.1 million to ($3.0) million, compared to ($7.0) million for the same period last year.

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Results for the Fifty-Two Weeks Ended February 1, 2020
Net sales totaled $348.9 million, flat compared to last year, while operating on average 1.4% fewer stores.
Comparable sales increased 0.2% for the 52-week period as compared to the comparable period last year.
Net loss for Fiscal 2019 totaled $16.7 million, or ($0.44) per share. Net loss for Fiscal 2018 totaled $32.8 million, or $(0.88) per share. Excluding impairment charges related to long-lived assets and executive severance, adjusted loss per share**, a non-GAAP measure, was ($0.40) for Fiscal 2019, compared to an adjusted loss per share of ($0.71) for Fiscal 2018.
Adjusted EBITDA*, a non-GAAP measure, improved by $9.8 million to $(6.1) million, compared to $(15.9) million for Fiscal 2018.

Balance Sheet Highlights and Capital Expenditures
Cash and cash-equivalents totaled $3.2 million, with no outstanding borrowings and net availability under the Company’s Credit Facility of approximately $16.7 million on February 1, 2020.

Total inventory was $41.7 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2019, up 1.6% compared to $41.0 million at the end of the same period last year, largely due to in-transit inventory. The Company ended the fourth quarter with fresh inventory levels.

Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter of 2019 were $0.4 million compared to $1.5 million in last year’s fourth quarter. This primarily reflects investments in technology associated with omni-channel initiatives and expenditures to support new stores.

Fiscal 2020 Outlook
For the full year of Fiscal 2020, the Company expects:
Comparable sales to increase in the low-single digits;
Gross margin expansion of 200 to 350 basis points;
Adjusted EBITDA*, a non-GAAP measure, to be between breakeven and a positive $5.0 million; and
To end the fiscal year with positive cash and no outstanding borrowings under its asset-based Credit Facility.

In regards to the COVID-19 Coronavirus, the situation remains very fluid and the Company is monitoring it closely to assess the potential implications to the business. Accordingly, the guidance above does not reflect the potential impact of the COVID-19 outbreak
______________________
*Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as Net income (loss), adjusted for Income tax provision (benefit); Other income; Interest expense, net; Depreciation and Amortization; Stock compensation; Impairment of long-lived assets; and certain discretionary items. Please see “Non-GAAP Measures” below and reconciliations of this non-GAAP measure to the comparable GAAP measure that follows in the table below.

**Adjusted loss per share is a non-GAAP financial measure. The Company defines Adjusted loss per share as GAAP loss per share adjusted for certain discretionary items as outlined in the reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to the comparable GAAP measure that follows in the table below.



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Conference Call Information
The Company will discuss its fourth quarter and full year Fiscal 2019 results in a conference call scheduled for today, March 10, 2020, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (877) 705-6003 or (201) 493-6725 if calling internationally. Please dial in approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. The conference call will be simultaneously broadcast live over the Internet at http://www.christopherandbanks.com. An online archive of the broadcast will be available within approximately one hour of the completion of the call and will be accessible at http://www.christopherandbanks.com for thirty days. In addition, an audio replay of the call will be available shortly after its conclusion and will be archived until March 17, 2020. This call may be accessed by dialing 1-844-512-2921 and using the passcode 13699643.

Non-GAAP Measures
In addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP"), this press release contains non-GAAP financial measures, Adjusted EBITDA and adjusted loss per share. The presentation of these non-GAAP measures is not in accordance with GAAP, and should not be considered superior to or as a substitute for net income or net loss, or any other measure of performance derived in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes the inclusion of these non-GAAP measures provides useful supplemental information to investors regarding the underlying performance of the Company’s business operations, especially when comparing such results to previous periods. These non-GAAP measures are not an alternative for measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP and may be different from similarly titled non-GAAP measures used by other companies. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to its most directly comparable GAAP measure as provided in the tables below.

About Christopher & Banks
Christopher & Banks Corporation is a Minneapolis-based specialty retailer featuring exclusively designed privately branded women’s apparel and accessories. As of March 10, 2020, the Company operates 447 stores in 44 states consisting of 311 MPW stores, 77 Outlet stores, 31 Christopher & Banks stores, and 28 stores in its women’s plus size clothing division CJ Banks. The Company also operates the www.ChristopherandBanks.com eCommerce website.

Forward-Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release and in our upcoming earnings conference call may constitute forward-looking statements, made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, which reflect our current views with respect to certain events that could have an effect on our future performance. The forward-looking statements relate to expectations concerning matters that are not historical facts and may use the words “will”, "expect", "anticipate", "plan", "intend", "project", "believe", “should”, "drive" "in order to" and similar expressions. Except for historical information, matters discussed in this press release or on our earnings conference call may be considered forward-looking statements.

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These forward-looking statements are based largely on information currently available to our management and our current expectations, assumptions, plans, estimates, judgments and projections about our business and our industry, and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks, as well as assumptions that, if they do not fully materialize or prove incorrect, could cause the Company's future performance and financial results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. We cannot guarantee their accuracy or our future performance, and there are a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies, and other factors (many of which are outside our control) that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Accordingly, there is no assurance that our expectations will, in fact, be achieved or that our estimates or assumptions will be correct, and we caution investors and all others not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.

Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those factors described in Item 1A, “Risk Factors” and in the “Forward-Looking Statements” disclosure in “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” of our latest annual report on Form 10-K and in our subsequent Form 10-Q Reports. All forward-looking statements that are made or attributable to us are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary notice. The Company does not undertake to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that projected results expressed or implied in such statements will not be realized.




    COMPANY CONTACT:
 
 
    Richard Bundy
 
 
    Senior Vice President, Chief Financial Officer
 
 
    (763) 551-5000
 
 
 
 
 
    INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:
 
 
    Jean Fontana
 
 
    ICR, Inc.
 
 
    (646) 277-1214
 
 


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CHRISTOPHER & BANKS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except per share data)

 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
 
February 1,
 
February 2,
 
February 1,
 
February 2,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2020
 
2019
Net sales
$
88,126

 
$
84,293

 
$
348,850

 
$
348,900

Merchandise, buying and occupancy costs
61,313

 
61,071

 
240,023

 
246,269

Gross profit
26,813

 
23,222

 
108,827

 
102,631

Other operating expenses:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Selling, general and administrative
29,930

 
30,460

 
116,143

 
120,371

Depreciation and amortization
1,987

 
2,362

 
8,565

 
10,158

Impairment of long-lived assets

 
1,385

 
311

 
4,384

Total other operating expenses
31,917

 
34,207

 
125,019

 
134,913

Operating loss
(5,104
)
 
(10,985
)
 
(16,192
)
 
(32,282
)
Interest expense, net
(70
)
 
(47
)
 
(475
)
 
(183
)
Loss before income taxes
(5,174
)
 
(11,032
)
 
(16,667
)
 
(32,465
)
Income tax provision
(86
)
 
245

 
27

 
374

Net loss
$
(5,088
)
 
$
(11,277
)
 
$
(16,694
)
 
$
(32,839
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic loss per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
$
(0.14
)
 
$
(0.30
)
 
$
(0.44
)
 
$
(0.88
)
Basic shares outstanding
37,538
 
37,565
 
37,891
 
37,492
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted loss per share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net loss
$
(0.14
)
 
$
(0.30
)
 
$
(0.44
)
 
$
(0.88
)
Diluted shares outstanding
37,538
 
37,565
 
37,891
 
37,492

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CHRISTOPHER & BANKS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)

 
February 1,
 
February 2,
 
2020
 
2019
ASSETS
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
3,198

 
$
10,239

Accounts receivable
2,975

 
2,767

Merchandise inventories
41,698

 
41,039

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
4,072

 
3,372

Income taxes receivable
291

 
268

Total current assets
52,234

 
57,685

Non-current assets:
 
 
 
Property, equipment and improvements, net
24,952

 
31,643

Operating lease assets
110,509

 

Deferred income taxes
613

 
499

Other assets
1,098

 
1,276

Total non-current assets
137,172

 
33,418

Total assets
$
189,406

 
$
91,103

 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
23,715

 
$
17,834

Short-term borrowings

 

Current portion of long-term lease liabilities
26,185

 

Accrued salaries, wages and related expenses
4,723

 
4,954

Accrued liabilities and other current liabilities
24,053

 
25,894

Total current liabilities
78,676

 
48,682

 
 
 
 
Non-current liabilities:
 
 
 
Deferred lease incentives

 
6,267

Long-term lease liabilities
99,793

 
6,661

Other non-current liabilities
1,829

 
8,970

Total non-current liabilities
101,622

 
21,898

 
 
 
 
Stockholders' equity:
 
 
 
Common stock
452

 
481

Additional paid-in capital
129,413

 
128,714

(Accumulated deficit) retained earnings
(7,882
)
 
4,137

Common stock held in treasury
(112,875
)
 
(112,809
)
Total stockholders' equity
9,108

 
20,523

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
$
189,406

 
$
91,103


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CHRISTOPHER & BANKS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)
 
Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
 
February 1,
 
February 2,
 
2020
 
2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
 
 
 
Net loss
$
(16,694
)
 
$
(32,839
)
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash used in operating activities:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
8,565

 
10,158

Impairment of long-lived assets
311

 
4,384

Deferred income taxes, net
(72
)
 
98

Amortization of financing costs
61

 
61

Lease costs
25,449

 

Deferred lease-related liabilities

 
(950
)
Stock-based compensation expense
715

 
1,101

Loss on disposal of assets

 
3

Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(208
)
 
(141
)
Merchandise inventories
(659
)
 
323

Prepaid expenses and other assets
(1,143
)
 
(605
)
Income taxes receivable
(23
)
 
(96
)
Accounts payable
5,920

 
(2,857
)
Accrued liabilities
1,141

 
251

Lease liabilities
(27,882
)
 

Other liabilities
(405
)
 
(399
)
Net cash used in operating activities
(4,924
)
 
(21,508
)
 
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:
 
 
 
Purchases of property, equipment and improvements
(2,006
)
 
(4,294
)
Proceeds from sale of assets

 
13,329

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities
(2,006
)
 
9,035

 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:
 
 
 
Shares redeemed for payroll taxes
(13
)
 
(32
)
Proceeds from short-term borrowings
15,400

 
9,100

Payments of short-term borrowings
(15,400
)
 
(9,100
)
Payments of deferred financing costs

 
(234
)
Acquisition of common stock held in treasury, at cost
(98
)
 
(99
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
(111
)
 
(365
)
 
 
 
 
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents
(7,041
)
 
(12,838
)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
10,239

 
23,077

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
3,198

 
$
10,239

 
 
 
 
Supplemental cash flow information:
 
 
 
Interest paid
$
475

 
$
190

Income taxes paid
$
87

 
$
147

Accrued purchases of equipment and improvements
$
98

 
$
156


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CHRISTOPHER & BANKS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION OF NET LOSS TO ADJUSTED EBITDA (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands)

The following table reconciles from Net loss in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) to Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, for the thirteen and fifty-two weeks ended February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019:

 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
 
February 1,
 
February 2,
 
November 2,
 
November 3,
 
2020
 
2019
 
2019
 
2018
Net loss on a GAAP basis
$
(5,088
)
 
$
(11,277
)
 
$
(16,694
)
 
$
(32,839
)
Income tax provision
(86
)
 
245

 
27

 
374

Interest expense, net
(70
)
 
(47
)
 
(475
)
 
(183
)
Depreciation & amortization
1,987

 
2,362

 
8,565

 
10,158

Impairment of long-lived assets

 
1,385

 
311

 
4,384

Lease termination fees and other related costs, net

 

 
144

 
161

Executive severance

 

 
396

 
625

Stock based compensation
$
145

 
$
213

 
$
715

 
$
1,101

Adjusted EBITDA
$
(2,972
)
 
$
(7,025
)
 
$
(6,061
)
 
$
(15,853
)







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CHRISTOPHER & BANKS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
GAAP TO NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION OF LOSS PER SHARE (UNAUDITED)
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

The following table reconciles Net loss per share in accordance with GAAP to Adjusted net loss per share, on a non-GAAP basis, for the thirteen and fifty-two weeks ended February 1, 2020 and February 2, 2019:

 
Thirteen Weeks Ended
 
February 1,
 
February 2,
 
2020
 
2019
 
Pretax
Net of tax
Per share amounts
 
Pretax
Net of tax
Per share amounts
GAAP net loss per share
 
 
$
(0.14
)
 
 
 
$
(0.30
)
Adjustments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impairment of long-lived assets


0.00
 
1,385

1,354

0.04
Lease termination fees and other related costs, net


0.00
 


0.00
Executive severance


0.00
 


0.00
Stock based compensation
145

143

0.00
 
213

208

0.01
Adjusted loss per share
 
 
$
(0.14
)
 
 
 
$
(0.25
)

 
Fifty-Two Weeks Ended
 
February 1,
 
February 2,
 
2020
 
2019
 
Pretax
Net of tax
Per share amounts
 
Pretax
Net of tax
Per share amounts
GAAP net loss per share
 
 
$
(0.44
)
 
 
 
$
(0.88
)
Adjustments
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Impairment of long-lived assets
311

308

0.01
 
4,384

4,334

0.12
Lease termination fees and other related costs, net
144

144

0.00
 
161

159

0.00
Executive severance
396

395

0.01
 
625

618

0.02
Stock based compensation
715

714

0.02
 
1,101

1,088

0.03
Adjusted loss per share
 
 
$
(0.40
)
 
 
 
$
(0.71
)


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