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): August 17, 2016

 

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):

 

oWritten communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
oSoliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
oPre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
oPre-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 August 17, 2016, the Company issued a press release containing the Company’s financial results for the second quarter of the fiscal year ending January 28, 2017 (“Fiscal 2016”), and providing an updated estimated range of adjusted earnings per diluted share for Fiscal 2016 and a preliminary range of adjusted earnings per diluted share for the third quarter of Fiscal 2016. A copy of the press release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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 second quarter of Fiscal 2016. 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, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), 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 August 17, 2016, the Company issued a press release announcing that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share payable on October 6, 2016 to holders of record of the Company’s common stock on September 16, 2016. A copy of the press release announcing the dividend is being furnished as Exhibit 99.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)Exhibits

 

Exhibit 99.1 Press Release, dated August 17, 2016, issued by the Company announcing the Company’s financial results for the second quarter of Fiscal 2016.

 

Exhibit 99.2 Press Release, dated August 17, 2016, issued by the Company announcing the Company’s declaration of a dividend.

 

2 

 

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K 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, comparable retail sales and adjusted net income per diluted share. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. 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 30, 2016. 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 of delays, interruptions and disruptions in the Company’s global supply chain, including resulting from foreign sources of supply in less developed countries or more politically unstable countries, 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.

 

 

*      *      *

3 

 

 

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: August 17, 2016

 

  THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC.
     
     
  By: /s/ Jane Elfers
  Name:   Jane Elfers
  Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

4 

Exhibit 99.1

 

LetterheadLOGO

 

THE CHILDREN’S PLACE REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2016 RESULTS

 

Delivers Q2 Comparable Retail Sales Increase of 2.4%

Reports Q2 GAAP Loss per Diluted Share of ($0.11) vs ($0.67) in Q2 2015 and

Q2 Adjusted Loss per Diluted Share of ($0.01) vs ($0.33) in Q2 2015

Increases Fiscal 2016 Adjusted EPS Guidance to $4.60 to $4.70 vs Previous Guidance of $4.17 to $4.27

Returns $86 Million to Shareholders Year to Date

 

Secaucus, New Jersey – August 17, 2016 – 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 July 30, 2016.

 

Jane Elfers, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We delivered another outstanding quarter. Based on these results and the consistently positive customer response to our merchandise assortments, we are raising our guidance for the full year. We continue to demonstrate our ability to deliver on our multi-pronged transformation strategy - superior product, business transformation through technology, global growth through alternate channels of distribution and store fleet optimization - despite the challenging retail environment and the continued weakness in store traffic.”

 

Financial Results

The Company’s results are reported in this press release on a GAAP and as adjusted, non-GAAP basis. A reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP financial information is provided at the end of this press release.

 

Second Quarter 2016 Results

Net sales increased 1.4% to $371.4 million in the second quarter of 2016. The quarter included the negative impact of approximately $1.7 million from currency exchange rate fluctuations. On a constant currency basis, net sales were $373.1 million, a 1.8% increase, compared to net sales of $366.5 million in the second quarter of 2015. Comparable retail sales increased 2.4% in the second quarter of 2016.

 

Net loss was ($2.0) million, or ($0.11) per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2016, compared to a net loss of ($13.7) million, or ($0.67) per diluted share, the previous year. Adjusted net loss was ($0.2) million, or ($0.01) per diluted share, inclusive of a negative ($0.02) impact due to foreign exchange, compared to an adjusted net loss of ($6.8) million, or ($0.33) per diluted share, in the second quarter last year. On a constant currency basis, adjusted net income per diluted share was $0.01.

 

Gross profit and adjusted gross profit were $123.9 million in the second quarter, compared to $115.0 million in the second quarter of 2015 and leveraged 200 basis points to 33.4% of sales primarily as a result of merchandise margin and fixed cost leverage and a higher AUR.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $107.9 million compared to $118.3 million in the second quarter of 2015. Adjusted SG&A was $107.9 million compared to $108.6 million in the second quarter last year and leveraged 50 basis points as a percentage of sales primarily as a result of decreased store and administrative expenses which were partially offset by increased incentive compensation expenses.

 

Operating loss was ($2.9) million, compared to ($20.1) million in the second quarter of 2015. Adjusted operating income in the second quarter of 2016 was $0.1 million compared to an adjusted operating loss of ($8.9) million in the second quarter last year, and leveraged 240 basis points compared to last year.

 

For the second quarter, the Company’s adjusted results exclude charges of approximately $3.0 million, compared to excluded charges of approximately $11.2 million in the second quarter of 2015, comprising certain items which the Company believes are not reflective of the performance of its core business. These excluded charges are primarily related to asset impairment charges in the second quarter of 2016 and proxy and legal settlement costs in the second quarter of 2015.

 

 

 

 

Fiscal Year to Date

Net sales increased 2.5% to $790.8 million, including the negative impact of approximately $4.0 million from currency exchange rate fluctuations. On a constant currency basis, net sales were $794.8 million, a 3.0% increase compared to net sales of $771.3 million in the prior year. Comparable retail sales increased 3.8% in the first half of fiscal 2016.

 

Net income was $24.0 million, or $1.24 per diluted share, in the first half of fiscal 2016, compared to net income of $1.9 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, the previous year. Adjusted net income was $25.6 million, or $1.32 per diluted share, inclusive of a negative ($0.03) impact due to foreign exchange, compared to $10.9 million, or $0.52 per diluted share, an increase of 154%, compared to the previous year. On a constant currency basis, adjusted net income per diluted share was $1.35, a 160% increase compared to the previous year.

 

Gross profit was $289.2 million in the first half of fiscal 2016, compared to $267.1 million last year. Adjusted gross profit was $289.2 million, or 36.6% of net sales, leveraging 190 basis points compared to last year.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses in the first half of fiscal 2016 were $217.1 million, compared to $232.9 million last year. Adjusted SG&A was $217.5 million, compared to $219.9 million last year, leveraging 100 basis points compared to last year.

 

Operating income was $36.7 million, compared to operating income of $3.1 million in the first half of fiscal 2015. Adjusted operating income was $39.3 million, or 5.0% of net sales, compared to $17.8 million, or 2.3% of net sales last year.

 

For the first half, the Company’s adjusted results exclude charges of approximately $2.6 million, compared to excluded charges of approximately $14.8 million in the first half of 2015, comprising certain items which the Company believes are not reflective of the performance of its core business. These excluded charges are primarily related to asset impairment charges in the first half of 2016 and proxy and legal settlement costs in the first half of 2015.

 

Store Openings and Closures

The Company closed 2 stores and opened 2 stores during the second quarter of 2016. The Company ended the second quarter with 1,064 stores and square footage of 4.967 million, a decrease of 2.0% compared to the prior year. The Company’s international franchise partners opened 13 points of distribution in the second quarter, and the Company ended the quarter with 123 international points of distribution open and operated by its 6 franchise partners in 16 countries.

 

Capital Return Program

During the second quarter of 2016, the Company returned approximately $39 million to shareholders through the repurchase of 454,711 shares and its quarterly dividend payment of $0.20 per share. Year to date, the Company returned approximately $86 million to shareholders compared to approximately $68 million last year. Since 2009, the Company has returned over $710 million to its investors through share repurchases and dividends. At the end of the second quarter, approximately $192 million remained available for future share repurchases under the Company’s existing share repurchase program.

 

Additionally, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a quarterly dividend of $0.20 per share, payable October 6, 2016 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 16, 2016.

 

Outlook

The Company is updating its outlook for fiscal 2016 and now expects adjusted net income per diluted share to be in the range of $4.60 to $4.70, inclusive of a ($0.08) negative impact from foreign exchange. This compares to the Company’s previous guidance of $4.17 to $4.27 per adjusted diluted share and to adjusted net income per diluted share of $3.60 in fiscal 2015. This guidance assumes a positive low single digit increase in comparable retail sales for the year. This guidance for adjusted net income per diluted share excludes year to date charges of approximately $2.6 million primarily related to asset impairment charges that the Company believes are not reflective of the performance of its core business.

 

 

 

 

The Company expects adjusted net income per diluted share in the third quarter of 2016 to be between $1.93 and $2.01, inclusive of an estimated ($0.03) negative impact from foreign exchange. This compares to adjusted net income per diluted share of $1.93 in the third quarter of 2015. This guidance assumes a positive low single digit increase in comparable retail sales for the quarter.

 

Financial Results

The Company’s results are reported in this press release on a GAAP and as adjusted, non-GAAP basis. Adjusted net income, adjusted net loss, adjusted net income per diluted share, adjusted net loss per diluted share, adjusted gross profit, adjusted SG&A, and adjusted operating income are non-GAAP measures, and are not intended to replace GAAP financial information and may be different from non-GAAP measures reported by other companies. The Company believes the items excluded as non-GAAP adjustments are not reflective of the performance of its core business and that providing this supplemental disclosure to investors will facilitate comparisons of the past and present performance of its core business. The Company uses non-GAAP measures to evaluate and measure operating performance, including, as previously disclosed, to measure performance for purposes of the Company’s annual bonus and long-term incentive compensation plans. A reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP financial information is provided at the end of this press release.

 

Conference Call Information

The Children’s Place will host a conference call to discuss its second quarter 2016 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 July 30, 2016, the Company operated 1,064 stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, an online store at www.childrensplace.com, and had 123 international points of distribution open and operated by its 6 franchise partners in 16 countries.

 

Forward Looking Statements

 

This press release contains, and the above referenced conference call may contain, 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. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. 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 30, 2016. 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 of delays, interruptions and disruptions in the Company’s global supply chain, including resulting from foreign sources of supply in less developed countries or more politically unstable countries, 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.

 

 

Contact: Robert Vill, Group Vice President, Finance, (201) 453-6693 (Tables Follow)


 

 

 

    THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC.

    CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

    (In thousands, except per share amounts)

    (Unaudited)

 

   Second Quarter Ended   Year-to-Date Ended 
   July 30,   August 1,   July 30,   August 1, 
   2016   2015   2016   2015 
Net sales  $371,416   $366,455   $790,767   $771,320 
Cost of sales   247,545    251,451    501,545    504,207 
Gross profit   123,871    115,004    289,222    267,113 
Selling, general and administrative expenses   107,903    118,342    217,115    232,856 
Asset impairment charges   2,826    1,452    2,826    1,452 
Other costs (income)   191    76    259    73 
Depreciation and amortization   15,891    15,252    32,352    29,646 
Operating income (loss)   (2,940)   (20,118)   36,670    3,086 
Interest income (expense), net   (176)   (205)   (250)   (381)
Income (loss) before taxes   (3,116)   (20,323)   36,420    2,705 
Provision (benefit) for income taxes   (1,105)   (6,628)   12,446    793 
Net income (loss)  $(2,011)  $(13,695)  $23,974   $1,912 
                     
Earnings (loss) per common share                    
Basic  $(0.11)  $(0.67)  $1.26   $0.09 
Diluted  $(0.11)  $(0.67)  $1.24   $0.09 
                     
Weighted average common shares outstanding                    
Basic   18,811    20,576    19,006    20,794 
Diluted   18,811    20,576    19,357    21,059 

 

 

 

 

THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO GAAP

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

 

   Second Quarter Ended   Year-to-Date Ended 
   July 30,   August 1,   July 30,   August 1, 
   2016   2015   2016   2015 
                 
Net income (loss)  $(2,011)  $(13,695)  $23,974   $1,912 
                     
Non-GAAP adjustments:                    
Asset impairment charges   2,826    1,452    2,826    1,452 
DC exit costs   191    76    259    73 
Restructuring costs   (4)   337    (471)   1,125 
Proxy costs   -    3,025    12    5,763 
Legal Settlement   -    5,000    -    5,000 
Sales tax audit   -    1,350    -    1,350 
Aggregate impact of Non-GAAP adjustments   3,013    11,240    2,626    14,763 
Income tax effect (1)   (1,175)   (4,382)   (1,013)   (5,775)
Net impact of Non-GAAP adjustments   1,838    6,858    1,613    8,988 
                     
Adjusted net income (loss)  $(173)  $(6,837)  $25,587   $10,900 
                     
GAAP net income (loss) per common share  $(0.11)  $(0.67)  $1.24   $0.09 
                     
Adjusted net income (loss) per common share  $(0.01)  $(0.33)  $1.32   $0.52 

 

(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.

                  

   Second Quarter Ended   Year-to-Date Ended 
   July 30,   August 1,   July 30,   August 1, 
   2016   2015   2016   2015 
                 
Operating income (loss)  $(2,940)  $(20,118)  $36,670   $3,086 
                     
Non-GAAP adjustments:                    
Asset impairment charges   2,826    1,452    2,826    1,452 
DC exit costs   191    76    259    73 
Restructuring costs   (4)   337    (471)   1,125 
Proxy costs   -    3,025    12    5,763 
Legal Settlement   -    5,000    -    5,000 
Sales tax audit   -    1,350    -    1,350 
Aggregate impact of Non-GAAP adjustments   3,013    11,240    2,626    14,763 
                     
Adjusted operating income (loss)  $73   $(8,878)  $39,296   $17,849 

 

 

 

 

THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL INFORMATION TO GAAP

(In thousands, except per share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   Second Quarter Ended   Year-to-Date Ended 
   July 30,   August 1,   July 30,   August 1, 
   2016   2015   2016   2015 
                 
Gross Profit  $123,871   $115,004   $289,222   $267,113 
                     
Non-GAAP adjustments:                    
Restructuring costs   -    (38)   (50)   304 
Aggregate impact of Non-GAAP adjustments   -    (38)   (50)   304 
                     
Adjusted Gross Profit  $123,871   $114,966   $289,172   $267,417 

 

   Second Quarter Ended   Year-to-Date Ended 
   July 30,   August 1,   July 30,   August 1, 
   2016   2015   2016   2015 
                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses  $107,903   $118,342   $217,115   $232,856 
                     
Non-GAAP adjustments:                    
Restructuring costs   4    (375)   421    (821)
Proxy costs   -    (3,025)   (12)   (5,763)
Legal Settlement   -    (5,000)   -    (5,000)
Sales tax audit   -    (1,350)   -    (1,350)
Aggregate impact of Non-GAAP adjustments   4    (9,750)   409    (12,934)
                     
Adjusted Selling, general and administrative expenses  $107,907   $108,592   $217,524   $219,922 

 

 

 

 

THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   July 30,   January 30,   August 1, 
   2016   2016*   2015 
Assets:               
Cash and cash equivalents  $170,829   $187,534   $145,753 
Short-term investments   75,100    40,100    59,580 
Accounts receivable   35,255    26,315    31,283 
Inventories   296,584    268,831    314,030 
Other current assets   49,774    58,528    65,641 
Total current assets   627,542    581,308    616,287 
                
Property and equipment, net   277,195    290,980    307,100 
Other assets, net   28,800    25,660    38,567 
Total assets  $933,537   $897,948   $961,954 
                
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity:               
Revolving loan  $43,860   $-   $29,584 
Accounts payable   198,675    154,541    193,723 
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities   116,629    120,481    121,934 
Total current liabilities   359,164    275,022    345,241 
                
Other liabilities   91,953    95,133    87,888 
Total liabilities   451,117    370,155    433,129 
                
Stockholders' equity   482,420    527,793    528,825 
                
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity  $933,537   $897,948   $961,954 

 

*Derived from the audited consolidated financial statements included in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 30, 2016.

 

 

 

 

THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS

(In thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

   26 Weeks Ended 
   July 30,   August 1, 
   2016   2015 
         
Net income  $23,974   $1,912 
Non-cash adjustments   30,946    33,770 
Working Capital   20,263    4,419 
Net cash provided by operating activities   75,183    40,101 
           
Net cash used in investing activities   (51,187)   (27,715)
           
Net cash used in financing activities   (46,481)   (38,488)
           
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash   5,780    (1,436)
           
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents   (16,705)   (27,538)
           
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period   187,534    173,291 
           
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period  $170,829   $145,753 

 

###

 

 

 

Exhibit 99.2

 

 

THE CHILDREN’S PLACE CONTINUES CAPITAL RETURN PROGRAM, DECLARES QUARTERLY DIVIDEND

 

Company Has Returned Over $710 Million to Shareholders Since 2009

 

Secaucus, New Jersey – August 17, 2016 – 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 declared a quarterly dividend.

 

Jane Elfers, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “The continuation of the quarterly dividend is a further reflection of our confidence in our ability to execute on our strategic initiatives and our continuing commitment to return excess capital to shareholders. The Children’s Place has a profitable business model which generates strong cash flow. Since 2009, we have returned over $710 million to shareholders through dividends and share repurchases,” concluded Ms. Elfers.

 

The Board declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.20 per share to be paid October 6, 2016 to shareholders of record at the close of business on September 16, 2016. 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.

 

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 July 30, 2016, the Company operated 1,064 stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico, an online store at www.childrensplace.com, and had 123 international points of distribution open and operated by its 6 franchise partners in 16 countries.

 

Forward Looking Statements

This press release 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. Forward-looking statements typically are identified by use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “plan,” “project,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “estimate” and similar words, although some forward-looking statements are expressed differently. 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 30, 2016. 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 of delays, interruptions and disruptions in the Company’s global supply chain, including resulting from foreign sources of supply in less developed countries or more politically unstable countries, 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.

 

Contact: Robert Vill, Group Vice President, Finance, (201) 453-6693