Michael Kors Holdings Limited Announces Fourth Quarter and Annual Fiscal 2017 Results

•Fourth Quarter Loss was ($0.17) Per Diluted Share (adjusted EPS of $0.73 excluding impairment charges)

--Announces New $1 Billion Stock Repurchase Program

Michael Kors Holdings Limited (KORS) (the "Company"), a global luxury fashion brand, today announced its financial results for the fiscal 2017 fourth quarter and fiscal year ended April 1, 2017.

For the fourth quarter ended April 1, 2017:

• Total revenue decreased 11.2% to $1.06 billion from $1.20 billion in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016. On a constant currency basis, total revenue decreased 10.6%. Fiscal year 2017 had 52 weeks versus 53 weeks in fiscal year 2016. As a result, the Company’s results for the fiscal 2016 fourth quarter and fiscal year ended April 2, 2016, include approximately $34 million in retail sales related to the 53rd week. Comparable sales calculations exclude the 53rd week.

• Retail net sales increased 0.5% to $575.3 million, driven primarily by 159 net new store openings since the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, including 111 stores associated with the Company’s acquisition of the previously licensed operation in Greater China. Comparable sales decreased 14.1%. On a constant currency basis, retail net sales grew 1.1%, and comparable sales decreased 13.6%. Wholesale net sales decreased 22.8% to $456.1 million and on a constant currency basis, wholesale net sales decreased 22.3%. Licensing revenue decreased 6.2% to $33.4 million.

• Total revenue in the Americas decreased 18.0% to $721.0 million on a reported basis, and decreased 18.3% on a constant currency basis. European revenue decreased 15.3% to $215.2 million on a reported basis, and declined 11.5% on a constant currency basis. Revenue in Asia increased 96.3% to $128.6 million on a reported basis, and increased 95.1% on a constant currency basis.

• Gross profit decreased 11.1% to $619.7 million, and as a percentage of total revenue was 58.2%. Foreign currency translation and transaction unfavorably impacted gross profit margin by approximately 20 basis points. This compares to gross margin of 58.2% in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016.

• Loss from operations was $42.6 million, or (4.0)% of total revenue. Excluding $193.8 million of non-cash impairment charges primarily associated with underperforming full-price retail stores, income from operations was $151.2 million, or 14.2% as a percentage of total revenue. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, operating income was $244.1 million, or 20.4% as a percentage of total revenue, and excluding $10.9 million of impairment charges was $255.0 million, or 21.3% as a percentage of total revenue.

• Net loss attributable to MKHL was $26.8 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, based on a 35.1% tax rate and 161.8 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding. Excluding the aforementioned impairment charges, net income was $118.0 million or $0.73 per diluted share. For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016, net income attributable to MKHL was $177.0 million, or $0.98 per diluted share, based on a 28.2% tax rate and 180.4 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding. Excluding the impairment charges, fourth quarter fiscal 2016 net income was $184.8 million or $1.02 per diluted share.

• At April 1, 2017, the Company operated 827 retail stores, including concessions, compared to 668 retail stores, including concessions, at the end of the same prior-year period. The Company had 133 additional retail stores, including concessions, operated through licensing partners. Including licensed locations, there were 960 Michael Kors stores worldwide at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017.

John D. Idol, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Fiscal 2017 was a challenging year, as we continued to operate in a difficult retail environment with elevated promotional levels. In addition, our product and store experience did not sufficiently engage and excite consumers. We acknowledge that we need to take further steps to elevate the level of fashion innovation in our accessories assortments and enhance our store experience in order to deepen consumer desire and demand for our products. Looking ahead, as we expand the fashion innovation in our accessories assortments, right-size our store fleet and elevate our store experience, fiscal 2018 will be a transition year in which we establish a new baseline before returning to long-term growth. We have a strong brand, led by Michael Kors, with a history of fashion innovation and leadership, a global footprint with stores positioned in the best locations around the world and the marketing expertise to effectively convey our fashion stories."

For the fiscal year ended April 1, 2017:

• Total revenue decreased 4.6% to $4.49 billion from $4.71 billion in fiscal 2016. On a constant currency basis, total revenue decreased 4.4%.

• Retail net sales increased 7.4% to $2.57 billion. Comparable sales decreased 8.3%. On a constant currency basis, retail net sales grew 7.8%, and comparable sales decreased 8.1%. Wholesale net sales decreased 17.2% to $1.78 billion and on a constant currency basis, wholesale net sales decreased 17.0%. Licensing revenue decreased 15.9% to $145.8 million.

• Gross profit decreased 4.9% to $2.66 billion, and as a percentage of total revenue was 59.2%. Foreign currency translation and transaction unfavorably impacted gross profit margin by approximately 60 basis points. This compares to 59.4% in the same period in fiscal 2016.

• Income from operations was $689.9 million and as a percentage of total revenue was 15.4%. Excluding $210.5 million associated with non-cash impairment charges primarily associated with underperforming full-price retail stores and transaction costs related to the acquisition of the Greater China business, income from operations was $900.4 million, or 20.0% of total revenue. For fiscal 2016, income from operations was $1,175.1 million, or 24.9% as a percentage of total revenue, and excluding $10.9 million of impairment charges was $1,186.0 million, or 25.2% as a percentage of total revenue.

• Net income attributable to MKHL was $552.5 million, or $3.29 per diluted share, based on a tax rate of 19.9% 168.1 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding. Excluding transaction costs and impairment charges, net income was $712.1 million or $4.24 per diluted share. For fiscal 2016, net income attributable to MKHL was $839.1 million, or $4.44 per diluted share, based on a tax rate of 28.5% and 189.1 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding. Excluding impairment charges, net income was $846.9 million or $4.48 per diluted share.

Retail Fleet Optimization

In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2017 the Company recorded impairment charges of $193.8 million primarily related to underperforming lifestyle stores. In addition, the Company announced today that it intends to improve the profitability of its store fleet by closing between 100 and 125 of its full-price retail stores over the next 2 years. Over this time period, the Company expects to incur approximately $100 - $125 million of one-time costs associated with store closures. Collectively, the Company ultimately anticipates ongoing annual savings of $60 million as a result of store closures and the lower depreciation and amortization associated with these impairment charges.

Share Repurchase Program

During the fourth quarter, the Company repurchased 6,641,815 of the Company’s ordinary shares for approximately $250.0 million in open market transactions. As of April 1, 2017, the Company had fully utilized the previously authorized amount under the share repurchase program. On May 25, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new $1 billion share repurchase program. Share repurchases may be made in open market or privately negotiated transactions, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements, trading restrictions under the Company’s insider trading policy, and other relevant factors. The program may be suspended or discontinued at any time.

Outlook

For the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company expects total revenue to be between $910 million and $930 million, and a comparable sales decrease in the high-single digit range. Operating margin is expected to be approximately 13.0%. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $0.60 - $0.64, based on 160.0 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding and a tax rate of approximately 19%.

For fiscal 2018, the Company expects total revenue to be approximately $4.25 billion and for comparable sales to decrease in the high-single digit range. Operating margin is expected to be approximately 16.0%. For the full-year fiscal 2018, diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $3.57 - $3.67, based on 155.0 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding and a tax rate of approximately 18%.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss fourth quarter results is scheduled for today, May 31, 2017, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. ET. A live webcast of the conference call will be available in the investor relations section of the Company’s website, www.michaelkors.com.

In addition, a replay of the call will be available shortly after the conclusion of the call and remain available until June 7, 2017. To access the telephone replay, listeners should dial (844) 512-2921 or (412) 317-6671 for international callers. The access code for the replay is 3097032. A replay of the web cast will also be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and will remain on the website for 90 days.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Constant currency effects are non-GAAP financial measures, which are provided to supplement our reported operating results to facilitate comparisons of our operating results and trends in our business, excluding the effects of foreign currency rate fluctuations. Because we are a global Company, foreign currency exchange rates may have a significant effect on our reported results. We calculate constant currency measures and the related foreign currency impacts by translating the current-year’s reported amounts into comparable amounts using prior year’s foreign exchange rates for each currency. All constant currency performance measures discussed below should be considered a supplement to and not in lieu of our operating performance measures calculated in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP.")

Additionally, this earnings release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures relating to impairment charges and certain one-time costs associated with the acquisition of the Greater China licensee. The Company uses non-GAAP financial measures, among other things, to evaluate its operating performance and in order to represent the manner in which the Company conducts and views its business. The Company believes that excluding non-recurring items helps its management and investors compare operating performance based on its ongoing operations. While the Company considers the non-GAAP measures to be useful supplemental measures in analyzing its results, they are not intended to replace, nor act as a substitute for, any amounts presented in its consolidated financial statements prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP and may be different from non-GAAP measures reported by other companies.

About Michael Kors

Michael Kors is a world-renowned, award-winning designer of luxury accessories and ready-to-wear. His namesake company, established in 1981, currently produces a range of products under Michael Kors Collection, MICHAEL Michael Kors and Michael Kors Mens, including accessories, footwear, watches, jewelry, ready-to-wear and a full line of fragrance products. Michael Kors stores are operated, either directly or through licensing partners, in some of the most prestigious cities in the world, including New York, Beverly Hills, Chicago, London, Milan, Paris, Munich, Istanbul, Dubai, Seoul, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on such statements because they are subject to numerous uncertainties and factors relating to the Company’s operations and business environment, all of which are difficult to predict and many of which are beyond the Company’s control. Forward-looking statements include information concerning the Company’s possible or assumed future results of operations, including descriptions of its business strategy. These statements often include words such as "may," "will," "should," "believe," "expect," "seek," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate" or similar expressions. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on assumptions that the Company has made in light of management’s experience in the industry as well as its perceptions of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors that it believes are appropriate under the circumstances. You should understand that these statements are not guarantees of performance or results. They involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Although the Company believes that these forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, you should be aware that many factors could affect its actual financial results or results of operations and could cause actual results to differ materially from those in these forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the Company’s ability to successfully execute its business and transformation strategies, the Company’s ability to achieve the anticipated cost savings, efficiencies and other benefits related to its retail fleet optimization, the Company’s ability to control costs, the seasonal and quarterly fluctuations in the Company’s sales or operating results and such other risks factors that are more fully discussed in the "Risk Factors" section and elsewhere in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended April 2, 2016(File No. 001-35368), filed on June 1, 2016 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SOURCE: Michael Kors Holdings Limited