PriceSmart Announces Second Quarter Results of Operations

March Sales Also Announced

 

San Diego, CA (April 8, 2009) – PriceSmart, Inc. (NASDAQ: PSMT) today announced its results of operations for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 which ended on February 28, 2009.

For the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, net warehouse sales increased 13.9% to $328.2 million from $288.2 million in the second quarter of fiscal year 2008.  Total revenue for the second quarter was $334.8 million compared to $293.8 million in the prior year.  The Company had 25 clubs in operation as of February 2009 and 2008.

The Company recorded operating income in the quarter of $17.5 million, compared to operating income of $10.7 million in the prior year.  Net income was $12.7 million, or $0.43 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 compared to $9.5 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2008.

For the first six months of fiscal year 2009, net warehouse club sales increased 17.5% to $626.8 million from $533.4 million in the first six months of fiscal year 2008.  Total revenues for the first half of the fiscal year increased 17.6% to $640.0 million from $544.3 million in the same period of the prior year.  For the first six months of fiscal year 2009, the Company recorded operating income of $32.4 million and net income of $23.4 million, or $0.80 per diluted share.  During the same six month period in fiscal year 2008, the Company recorded operating income of $20.9 million and net income of $16.2 million, or $0.56 per share.

Included in the results for the second quarter and first six months of fiscal year 2008 were pre-tax charges and income tax benefits related to the Company’s settlement of disputes with PSC, S.A. and related entities which had the effect of reducing reported operating income in both the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2008 by $3.4 million, and net income by $1.7 million, or $0.06 per diluted share.

 

The Company also announced that for the month of March 2009 net sales increased 7.0% to $100.7 million from $94.1 million in March a year earlier.  For the seven months ended March 31, 2009, net sales increased 15.9% to $727.5 million from $627.5 million for the seven months ended March 31, 2008.  There were 25 warehouse clubs in operation at the end of March 2009 and 2008.

For the four weeks ended March 29, 2009, comparable warehouse sales for the warehouse clubs open at least 12 full months increased 8.5% compared to the same four-week period last year.  For the thirty-week period ended March 29, 2009, comparable ware­house sales increased 13.6% compared to the comparable thirty-week period a year ago.

About PriceSmart

PriceSmart, headquartered in San Diego, owns and operates U.S.-style membership shopping warehouse clubs in Central America and the Caribbean, selling high quality merchandise at low prices to PriceSmart members. PriceSmart now operates 25 warehouse clubs in 11 countries and one U.S. territory (four each in Panama and Costa Rica; three each in Guatemala and Trinidad, two each in Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Honduras; and one each in Aruba, Barbados, Jamaica, Nicaragua and the United States Virgin Islands).

This press release may contain forward-looking statements concerning the Company's anticipated future revenues and earnings, adequacy of future cash flow and related matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements containing the words "expect," "believe," "will," "may," "should," "project," "estimate," "scheduled," and like expressions, and the negative thereof. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially, including the following risks: the Company’s financial performance is dependent on international operations which exposes the Company to various risks; any failure by the Company to manage its widely dispersed operations could adversely affect the Company’s business; the Company faces significant competition; the Company faces difficulties in the shipment of and inherent risks in the importation of merchandise to its warehouse clubs; the Company is exposed to weather and other risks associated with international operations; declines in the economies of the countries in which the Company operates its warehouse clubs would harm its business; a few of the Company's stockholders own nearly one-half of the Company's voting stock, which may make it difficult to complete some corporate transactions without their support and may impede a change in control; the loss of key personnel could harm the Company’s business; the Company is subject to volatility in foreign currency exchange; the Company faces the risk of exposure to product liability claims, a product recall and adverse publicity; a determination that the Company's long-lived or intangible assets have been impaired could adversely affect the Company's future results of operations and financial position; and the Company faces increased compliance risks associated with compliance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; as well as the other risks detailed in the Company's SEC reports, including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on November 12, 2008. We assume no obligation and expressly disclaim any duty to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this presentation or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

For further information, please contact Robert E. Price, Chief Executive Officer (858) 551-2336; or John M. Heffner, Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (858) 404-8826.

 


PRICESMART, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(UNAUDITED—AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

 

Six Months Ended

 

 

 

February 28,

 

 

February 29,

 

 

February 28,

 

 

February 29,

 

 

 

2009

 

 

2008

 

 

2009

 

 

2008

 

Revenues:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net warehouse club

 

$

328,240

 

 

$

288,216

 

 

$

626,758

 

 

$

533,405

 

Export

 

 

905

 

 

 

340

 

 

 

1,742

 

 

 

707

 

Membership income

 

 

4,425

 

 

 

3,975

 

 

 

8,749

 

 

 

7,717

 

Other income

 

 

1,223

 

 

 

1,313

 

 

 

2,753

 

 

 

2,426

 

Total revenues

 

 

334,793

 

 

 

293,844

 

 

 

640,002

 

 

 

544,255

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of goods sold:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net warehouse club

 

 

279,993

 

 

 

245,333

 

 

 

534,419

 

 

 

453,844

 

Export

 

 

861

 

 

 

320

 

 

 

1,661

 

 

 

669

 

Selling, general and administrative:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Warehouse club operations

 

 

28,544

 

 

 

26,024

 

 

 

55,829

 

 

 

49,251

 

General and administrative

 

 

7,812

 

 

 

7,870

 

 

 

15,352

 

 

 

15,186

 

Preopening expenses

 

 

99

 

 

 

215

 

 

 

99

 

 

 

987

 

Asset impairment and closure costs

 

 

16

 

 

 

14

 

 

 

264

 

 

 

33

 

Provision for settlement of litigation, including changes in fair market value of put agreement

 

 

 

 

 

3,386

 

 

 

 

 

 

3,386

 

Total operating expenses

 

 

317,325

 

 

 

283,162

 

 

 

607,624

 

 

 

523,356

 

Operating income

 

 

17,468

 

 

 

10,682

 

 

 

32,378

 

 

 

20,899

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interest income

 

 

115

 

 

 

364

 

 

 

241

 

 

 

774

 

Interest expense

 

 

(609

)

 

 

(470

)

 

 

(1,190

)

 

 

(529

)

Other income (expense), net

 

 

(42

)

 

 

(37

)

 

 

(62

)

 

 

(84

)

Total other income (expense)

 

 

(536

)

 

 

(143

)

 

 

(1,011

)

 

 

161

 

Income from continuing operations before provision for income taxes, loss of unconsolidated affiliate and minority interest

 

 

16,932

 

 

 

10,539

 

 

 

31,367

 

 

 

21,060

 

Provision for income taxes

 

 

(4,090

)

 

 

(890

)

 

 

(7,737

)

 

 

(4,605

)

Loss of unconsolidated affiliate

 

 

(7

)

 

 

 

 

 

(12

)

 

 

 

Minority interest

 

 

(85

)

 

 

(160

)

 

 

(150

)

 

 

(290

)

Income from continuing operations

 

 

12,750

 

 

 

9,489

 

 

 

23,468

 

 

 

16,165

 

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

 

 

(63

)

 

 

27

 

 

 

(81

)

 

 

45

 

Net income

 

$

12,687

 

 

$

9,516

 

 

$

23,387

 

 

$

16,210

 

Basic income per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.44

 

 

$

0.33

 

 

$

0.81

 

 

$

0.56

 

Discontinued operations, net of tax

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Net income

 

$

0.44

 

 

$

0.33

 

 

$

0.81

 

 

$

0.56

 

Diluted income per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continuing operations

 

$

0.43

 

 

$

0.33

 

 

$

0.80

 

 

$

0.56

 

Discontinued operations, net of tax

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

 

$

 

Net income

 

$

0.43

 

 

$

0.33

 

 

$

0.80

 

 

$

0.56

 

Shares used in per share computations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

 

28,916

 

 

 

28,848

 

 

 

28,888

 

 

 

28,815

 

       Diluted

 

 

29,179

 

 

 

29,233

 

 

 

29,145

 

 

 

29,207

 

Dividends per share

 

$

0.50

 

 

$

0.32

 

 

$

0.50

 

 

$

0.32

 

 

 


PRICESMART, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED—AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT SHARE DATA)

 

 

 

February 28, 2009

 

 

August 31,

2008

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

29,888

 

 

$

48,121

 

Short-term restricted cash

 

 

9,500

 

 

 

536

 

Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6 and $11 in February 2009 and August 2008, respectively

 

 

3,765

 

 

 

2,455

 

Merchandise inventories

 

 

120,753

 

 

 

113,894

 

Deferred tax asset – current

 

 

2,083

 

 

 

2,179

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

 

18,931

 

 

 

16,669

 

Notes receivable – short term

 

 

2,006

 

 

 

2,104

 

Assets of discontinued operations

 

 

882

 

 

 

1,247

 

Total current assets

 

 

187,808

 

 

 

187,205

 

Long-term restricted cash

 

 

583

 

 

 

673

 

Property and equipment, net

 

 

217,934

 

 

 

199,576

 

Goodwill

 

 

37,902

 

 

 

39,248

 

Deferred tax assets – long term

 

 

19,984

 

 

 

21,198

 

Other assets

 

 

3,805

 

 

 

3,512

 

Investment in unconsolidated affiliates

 

 

7,610

 

 

 

 

Total Assets

 

$

475,626

 

 

$

451,412

 

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current Liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Short-term borrowings

 

 

3,659

 

 

 

3,473

 

Accounts payable

 

 

102,430

 

 

 

96,120

 

Accrued salaries and benefits

 

 

7,466

 

 

 

8,271

 

Deferred membership income

 

 

8,707

 

 

 

7,764

 

Income taxes payable

 

 

6,055

 

 

 

3,695

 

Common stock subject to put agreement

 

 

 

 

 

161

 

Other accrued expenses

 

 

13,626

 

 

 

11,877

 

Dividend payable

 

 

7,392

 

 

 

4,744

 

Long-term debt, current portion

 

 

3,616

 

 

 

2,737

 

Liabilities of discontinued operations

 

 

249

 

 

 

277

 

Deferred tax liability – current

 

 

114

 

 

 

486

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

153,314

 

 

 

139,605

 

Deferred tax liability – long term

 

 

1,339

 

 

 

2,339

 

Long-term portion of deferred rent

 

 

2,695

 

 

 

2,412

 

Accrued closure costs

 

 

3,611

 

 

 

3,489

 

Long-term income taxes payable, net of current portion

 

 

3,471

 

 

 

5,553

 

Long-term debt, net of current portion

 

 

30,101

 

 

 

23,028

 

Total liabilities

 

 

194,531

 

 

 

176,426

 

Minority interest

 

 

636

 

 

 

480

 

Stockholders’ Equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, 0.0001 par value, 45,000,000 shares authorized; 30,244,086 and 30,195,788 shares issued, respectively, and 29,591,125 and 29,615,226 shares outstanding (net of treasury shares), respectively

 

 

3

 

 

 

3

 

Additional paid-in capital

 

 

375,120

 

 

 

373,192

 

Tax benefit from stock-based compensation

 

 

4,420

 

 

 

4,563

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

 

(16,096

)

 

 

(12,897

)

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(68,907

)

 

 

(77,510

)

Less: treasury stock at cost; 652,961 shares as of February 28, 2009 and 580,562 shares as of August 31, 2008

 

 

(14,081

)

 

 

(12,845

)

Total stockholders’ equity

 

 

280,459

 

 

 

274,506

 

Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity

 

$

475,626

 

 

$

451,412