EX-99.1 2 exhibit1.htm EX-99.1 EX-99.1

(Kirkland’s Logo)
News Release

Contact: Mike Madden

Vice President & CFO

(615) 872-4995

KIRKLAND’S REPORTS SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

JACKSON, Tenn. (August 30, 2007) — Kirkland’s, Inc. (NASDAQ: KIRK) today reported financial results for the 13-week and 26-week periods ended August 4, 2007.

Net sales for the 13-week period ended August 4, 2007, were $87.4 million compared with $91.0 million for the 13-week period ended July 29, 2006. Comparable store sales for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 decreased 10.5% compared with a 9.0% comparable store sales decrease in the prior-year quarter. Comparable store sales in mall stores declined 12.7% for the second quarter while comparable store sales in off-mall stores declined 8.5%. The Company opened 8 stores and closed 8 stores during the quarter.

Net sales for the 26-week period ended August 4, 2007, were $169.7 million compared with $183.6 million for the 26-week period ended July 29, 2006. Comparable store sales for the 26 weeks ended August 4, 2007, decreased 14.7% compared with a 7.1% decrease in the prior-year period. Comparable store sales in mall stores declined 17.0% while comparable store sales in off-mall stores declined 12.6%. The Company opened 18 stores and closed 20 stores during the 26-week period.

Exclusive of a tax charge related to the establishment of a valuation allowance on the Company’s deferred tax assets in the amount of $2.8 million, or $0.14 per share, the Company reported a net loss of $6.5 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 compared with a net loss of $5.6 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, for the prior-year period. The Company’s guidance for the quarter was a loss of $0.35 to $0.40 per share. Inclusive of the charge, the Company’s reported net loss was $0.47 per share. The results for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 also include a pre-tax impairment charge of $540,000, or $0.02 per share, related to the write down of assets in underperforming stores and a pre-tax charge of approximately $552,000, or $0.02 per share, related to the opening of the Company’s sales support office in Nashville, Tennessee.

Robert Alderson, Kirkland’s Chief Executive Officer, said, “The second quarter results continue to reflect the difficulty of operating in today’s promotional environment in the home décor sector, but we were pleased with the year-over-year improvement in gross margin and the success of our Big Sale in July. Unfortunately, the weak trends in May and June were too much to overcome. Going into the quarter, we had identified several key operational targets such as inventory control, reducing fixed costs and opening the office in Nashville. We were able to keep inventories in line with plan and complete the move on time and under budget.”

Grand Opening of Nashville Office and Sale of Jackson Headquarters Building
On August 1, Kirkland’s opened its sales support office in Nashville. The 27,500-square-foot office is home to merchandising, marketing, store operations and real estate personnel, as well as certain other senior management members. The Company announced that it intends to sell its 40,000-square-foot headquarters building in Jackson, Tennessee. All remaining employees in Jackson will be relocated to offices in the Company’s distribution center in Jackson. Active marketing of the property is expected to commence shortly.

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805 N. Parkway ¦ Jackson, Tennessee 38305 ¦ (731) 668-2444

KIRK Reports Second Quarter Results
Page 2
August 30, 2007

Amendment and Extension of $45 Million Credit Facility
Kirkland’s also announced that it extended the maturity of its $45 million senior secured revolving credit facility by two years to October 2011 and amended the facility to increase the borrowing availability by approximately $3 to $5 million, depending on seasonal inventory fluctuations.

Third Quarter and Fiscal 2007 Outlook
The Company issued guidance for the third quarter ending November 3, 2007, of a net loss of $0.24 to $0.29 per diluted share, compared with a net loss of $0.15 per diluted share in the prior-year period. Net sales are expected to be $89 million to $92 million, with a comparable store sales decrease of 9% to 12% compared with net sales of $95.8 million and a comparable store sales decrease of 6.7% in the prior-year period. The Company expects to open approximately 13 stores and close 1 store during the third quarter. For the full year, the Company expects to open approximately 35 new stores and close 40 to 45 stores.

Mr. Alderson added, “With the amendment to our credit facility, opening of the Nashville office and the consolidation of our Jackson offices into one location, we continue to make measurable progress on rationalizing our cost structure and maintaining financial flexibility. Operationally, we remain focused on driving the business by identifying key items, delivering value, improving store presentation and executing better to stand out in what is expected to be a very promotional environment in the second half of the year.”

Investor Conference Call and Web Simulcast
Kirkland’s will host a conference call on August 30, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss its results of operations for the second quarter of fiscal 2007. The number to call for this interactive teleconference is (913) 981-4910. A replay of the conference call will be available through September 6, 2007, by dialing (719) 457-0820 and entering the confirmation number, 6115946.

The live broadcast of Kirkland’s quarterly conference call will be available online at the Company’s website, www.kirklands.com, or at http://www.videonewswire.com/event.asp?id=41193 on August 30, 2007, beginning at 11:00 a.m. ET. The online replay will follow shortly after the call and continue through September 6, 2007.

Kirkland’s, Inc. was founded in 1966 and is a leading specialty retailer of home décor in the United States.  Although originally focused in the Southeast, the Company has grown beyond that region and currently operates 350 stores in 37 states.  The Company’s stores present a broad selection of distinctive merchandise, including framed art, mirrors, candles, lamps, picture frames, accent rugs, garden accessories and artificial floral products.  The Company’s stores also offer an extensive assortment of gifts, as well as seasonal merchandise.  More information can be found at www.kirklands.com.

Except for historical information contained herein, the statements in this release are forward-looking and made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which may cause Kirkland’s actual results to differ materially from forecasted results. Those risks and uncertainties include, among other things, the competitive environment in the home décor industry in general and in Kirkland’s specific market areas, inflation, product availability and growth opportunities, seasonal fluctuations, and economic conditions in general. Those and other risks are more fully described in Kirkland’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K filed on May 2, 2007. Kirkland’s disclaims any obligation to update any such factors or to publicly announce results of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect future events or developments.

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KIRK Reports Second Quarter Results
Page 3
August 30, 2007

KIRKLAND’S, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

                 
    13 Week Period Ended
    August 4,   July 29,
    2007   2006
Net sales
  $ 87,359     $ 90,958  
Cost of sales
    63,552       69,082  
 
               
Gross profit
    23,807       21,876  
Operating expenses:
               
Other operating expenses
    27,649       27,567  
Depreciation and amortization
    4,865       4,351  
Nashville relocation expenses
    552        
Store impairment charge
    540        
 
               
Operating loss
    (9,799 )     (10,042 )
Interest expense
    157       57  
Interest income
    (1 )     (22 )
Other income
    27       (259 )
 
               
Loss before income taxes
    (9,982 )     (9,818 )
Income tax benefit
    (3,517 )     (4,244 )
Valuation allowance
    2,781        
 
               
Net loss
  $ (9,246 )   $ (5,574 )
 
               
Loss per share:
               
Basic
  $ (0.47 )   $ (0.29 )
 
               
Diluted
  $ (0.47 )   $ (0.29 )
 
               
Shares used to calculate loss per share:
               
Basic
    19,501       19,428  
 
               
Diluted
    19,501       19,428  
 
               

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KIRK Reports Second Quarter Results
Page 4
August 30, 2007

KIRKLAND’S, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

                 
    26 Week Period Ended
    August 4,   July 29,
    2007   2006
Net sales
  $ 169,673     $ 183,564  
Cost of sales
    123,634       133,845  
 
               
Gross profit
    46,039       49,719  
Operating expenses:
               
Other operating expenses
    57,078       56,413  
Depreciation and amortization
    9,882       8,636  
Nashville relocation expenses
    762        
Store impairment charge
    813        
 
               
Operating loss
    (22,496 )     (15,330 )
Interest expense
    185       84  
Interest income
    (180 )     (130 )
Other income
    (31 )     (338 )
 
               
Loss before income taxes
    (22,470 )     (14,946 )
Income tax benefit
    (8,506 )     (6,346 )
Valuation allowance
    2,781        
 
               
Net loss
  $ (16,745 )   $ (8,600 )
 
               
Loss per share:
               
Basic
  $ (0.86 )   $ (0.44 )
 
               
Diluted
  $ (0.86 )   $ (0.44 )
 
               
Shares used to calculate loss per share:
               
Basic
    19,492       19,406  
 
               
Diluted
    19,492       19,406  
 
               

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KIRK Reports Second Quarter Results
Page 5
August 30, 2007

KIRKLAND’S, INC.
UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
(dollars in thousands)

                 
    August 4, 2007   February 3, 2007
ASSETS
               
Current assets:
               
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 2,465     $ 25,358  
Inventories, net
    47,372       44,790  
Other current assets
    15,936       8,072  
 
               
Total current assets
    65,773       78,220  
Property and equipment, net
    68,101       71,314  
Other long-term assets
    2,075       1,932  
 
               
Total assets
  $ 135,949     $ 151,466  
 
               
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
               
Revolving line of credit
  $ 12,911     $  
Accounts payable
    11,934       20,572  
Other current liabilities
    23,475       26,792  
 
               
Total current liabilities
    48,320       47,364  
Deferred rent and other long-term liabilities
    35,912       36,120  
 
               
Total liabilities
    84,232       83,484  
 
               
Net shareholders’ equity
    51,717       67,982  
 
               
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  $ 135,949     $ 151,466  
 
               

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