Michael Kors Holdings Limited Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2018 Results

Michael Kors Holdings Limited (KORS) (the "Company"), a global fashion luxury brand, today announced its financial results for the fiscal 2018 first quarter ended July 1, 2017.

For the three months ended July 1, 2017:

• Total revenue decreased 3.6% to $952.4 million from $987.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. On a constant currency basis, total revenue decreased 2.6%.

• Retail net sales increased 10.1% to $619.9 million driven in large part by 67 net new store openings since the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2017 and the impact of the acquisition of the Greater China license. Comparable sales decreased 5.9%. On a constant currency basis, retail net sales increased 11.6%, and comparable sales decreased 4.9%. Wholesale net sales decreased 23.0% to $303.6 million and on a constant currency basis, wholesale net sales decreased 22.7%. Licensing revenue decreased 5.6% to $28.9 million.

• Total revenue in the Americas decreased 8.2% to $634.1 million on a reported basis and decreased 7.9% on a constant currency basis. European revenue decreased 10.2% to $201.2 million on a reported basis, and decreased 7.5% on a constant currency basis. Revenue in Asia increased 60.2% to $117.1 million on a reported basis, and increased 61.9% on a constant currency basis.

• Gross profit decreased 2.8% to $574.7 million, and as a percentage of total revenue was 60.3%. Foreign currency translation and transaction favorably impacted gross profit margin by approximately 10 basis points. This compares to gross margin of 59.9% in the first quarter of fiscal 2017.

• Income from operations was $149.4 million, or 15.7% as a percentage of total revenue. This compares to $186.9 million, or 18.9% as a percentage of total revenue, for the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Excluding the $11.3 million of one-time costs related to the acquisition of the Company’s Greater China licensee, income from operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 was $198.2 million, or 20.1% as a percentage of total revenue.

• Net income attributable to MKHL was $125.5 million, or $0.80 per diluted share, based on a 16.4% tax rate and 156.9 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding. Earnings per diluted share exceeded the Company’s prior expectations of $0.60 to $0.64. Net income attributable to MKHL for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 was $147.1 million, or $0.83 per diluted share, based on a 21.2% tax rate and 176.6 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding. Excluding the $11.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, of one-time costs related to the acquisition of the Company’s Greater China licensee, net income attributable to MKHL for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 was $158.4 million, or $0.90 per diluted share.

• At July 1, 2017, the Company operated 838 retail stores, including concessions, compared to 771 retail stores, including concessions, at the end of the same prior-year period. The Company had 141 additional retail stores, including concessions, operated through licensing partners. Including licensed locations, there were 979 Michael Kors stores worldwide at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2018.

John D. Idol, the Company’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Our first quarter performance exceeded our expectations, driven largely by better than anticipated retail comparable sales results in both North America and Europe. We are encouraged by our first quarter performance, although we continue to believe that fiscal 2018 will be a transition year for our company, as we focus on laying the foundation for the future by executing on our strategic plan, Runway 2020. While it is still early in the process, we are making meaningful progress enhancing our assortments, deepening our connection with consumers, and elevating our jet set luxury experience in our stores and digital flagships."

Mr. Idol continued, "In addition, we are pleased to have recently announced plans to form a global fashion luxury group. Our agreement to acquire Jimmy Choo will bring together two iconic brands that are industry leaders in style and trend. Jimmy Choo has a rich history as a luxury brand with a 20 year track record of enduring customer appeal. We are committed to supporting Jimmy Choo’s strong brand equity and fashion leadership as we work with its talented management team to realize the brand’s significant growth potential. We believe that the development of a global fashion luxury group will increase long-term shareholder value as we create a more diverse product portfolio, increase our exposure to international markets and unlock additional opportunities for future growth."

Share Repurchase Program

During the first quarter, the Company repurchased 4,543,500 of the Company’s ordinary shares for approximately $157.8 million in open market transactions. As of July 1, 2017, the remaining availability under the Company’s share repurchase program was $842.2 million. 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.

Balance Sheet

As of July 1, 2017, the Company had $155.8 million of debt, which was recorded within short-term debt in its Consolidated Balance Sheet. This debt consisted of borrowings under the Company’s revolving credit facilities. The amount available for future borrowings is approximately $844.8 million.

Outlook

For the second quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company expects total revenue to be between $1.035 billion and $1.055 billion, which includes a comparable sales decrease in the mid-single digits range. The Company expects operating margin to be approximately 14.3%. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $0.80 to $0.84. This assumes 154 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding and a tax rate of approximately 15.0%.

For fiscal 2018, the Company expects total revenue to be approximately $4.275 billion and for comparable sales to decrease in the mid-single digits range. Operating margin is expected to be approximately 16.0%. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $3.62 to $3.72. This assumes 156 million weighted average diluted shares outstanding and a tax rate of approximately 17.0%. This guidance excludes $40 million to $60 million in one-time costs associated with 20 to 40 store closures in Fiscal 2018.

The Company’s outlook does not include any expectations related to Jimmy Choo as the transaction has not yet been completed. Based on the Company’s internal forecasts for Jimmy Choo and assuming a close early in the Company’s third fiscal quarter, incremental revenue is expected to be approximately $275 million for the second half of fiscal 2018. For fiscal 2019, the Company expects incremental revenues of $570 million to $580 million(1).

The Company expects this acquisition to be immediately accretive on a cash basis. The Company believes the acquisition will be dilutive to EPS in the low single digit percentage range in both Fiscal 2018 and 2019 and accretive in the low single digits in Fiscal 2020, excluding one-time transaction and transition costs related to the acquisition(2).

Transaction costs related to the acquisition are expected to be between $40 million and $50 million, and transition costs to be between $20 million to $30 million over the next two years. In addition, to mitigate foreign exchange risk related to the British pound purchase price, the Company has entered into a foreign exchange hedge. This type of position is not expected to receive hedge accounting treatment, and the Company expects to record mark-to-market gains and losses through its income statement until the completion of the transaction.

With respect to financing, the acquisition is ultimately expected to be financed through a combination of a term loan and a longer term bond. The Company anticipates a weighted average interest rate of 4.25% to 4.75%.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss first quarter results is scheduled for today, August 8, 2017 at 8:00 am. 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 August 15, 2017. To access the telephone replay, listeners should dial 1-844-512-2921 or 1-412-317-6671 for international callers. The access code for the replay is 5875694. 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 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, ready-to-wear, footwear, wearable technology, watches, and a full line of fragrance products. Michael Kors stores are operated in the most prestigious cities in the world. In addition, Michael Kors operates digital flagships across North America, Europe and Asia, offering customers a seamless omni-channel experience. Michael Kors Holdings Limited is publicly listed on the New York Stock Exchange with the ticker KORS.

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 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 1, 2017 (File No. 001-35368) and other reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.

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SOURCE: Michael Kors Holdings Limited