EX-99.1 2 y38894exv99w1.htm EX-99.1: PRESS RELEASE EX-99.1
 

Exhibit 99.1
AÉROPOSTALE REPORTS RECORD RESULTS FOR THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2007
Net Sales of $311.2 Million
Split Adjusted Earnings Per Share Growth of 90% to $0.19 Per Diluted Share
Provides Third Quarter Guidance
New York, New York, August 23, 2007 — Aéropostale, Inc. (NYSE: ARO), a mall-based specialty retailer of active and casual apparel for young men and women, today reported results for the second quarter ended August 4, 2007. Due to our 3-for-2 stock split which was distributed to shareholders on August 21, 2007, all per share data is presented on a post-stock split basis.
Net income for the second quarter of fiscal 2007 was $14.7 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, an increase of 90.0% compared to net income of $8.4 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, in the second quarter of fiscal 2006.
For the second quarter of fiscal 2007, total net sales increased 13.3% to $311.2 million from $274.6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2006. For the second quarter, same store sales decreased 4.1%, compared to the corresponding period ended August 5, 2006. Year-to-date, total net sales increased 12.7% to $587.0 million from $520.9 million in the year-ago period. Year-to-date, same store sales decreased 1.1%, compared to the corresponding period ended August 5, 2006.
Julian R. Geiger, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased with our accomplishments for the quarter, which reflect the strength and balance of our merchandise assortment as well as our disciplined approach to inventory management. During the quarter we were able to generate strong increases in our gross margin and, as a result, deliver record second quarter earnings, which were at the high end of our previously issued guidance.”
Third Quarter Guidance
The Company announced its earnings guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2007. The Company believes it will achieve third quarter earnings in the range $0.43 to $0.45 per diluted share, compared to net earnings of $0.41 per share in the third quarter of last year.
The Company believes that the disclosure of sales on a pro-forma basis due to the 53rd week in fiscal 2006, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, provides investors useful information to help them better understand the Company’s results.
Conference Call Information:
The Company will be holding a conference call today at 4:15 P.M. EDT to review its second quarter 2007 financial results. The broadcast will be available through the ‘Investor Relations’ link at www.aeropostale.com and at www.fulldisclosure.com. To listen to the broadcast your computer must have Windows Media Player installed. If you do not have Windows Media Player go to the latter site prior to the call, where you can download the software for free.

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About Aéropostale, Inc.
Aéropostale, Inc. is a mall-based, specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories, principally targeting 14 to 17 year-old young women and men. The company provides customers with a focused selection of high-quality, active-oriented, fashion and fashion basic merchandise at compelling values. Aéropostale maintains control over its proprietary brands by designing, sourcing, marketing and selling all of its own merchandise. Aéropostale products are currently purchased only in its stores, on-line through its e-commerce website (www.aeropostale.com) or at organized sales events at college campuses.
The Company currently operates 780 Aéropostale stores in 47 states, 4 Aéropostale stores in Canada and 14 Jimmy’Z stores in 11 states.
SPECIAL NOTE: THIS PRESS RELEASE AND ORAL STATEMENTS MADE FROM TIME TO TIME BY REPRESENTATIVES OF THE COMPANY CONTAIN CERTAIN “FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS” CONCERNING EXPECTATIONS FOR SALES, STORE OPENINGS, GROSS MARGINS, EXPENSES, STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND EARNINGS. ACTUAL RESULTS MIGHT DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE PROJECTED IN THE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. AMONG THE FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL RESULTS TO MATERIALLY DIFFER INCLUDE, CHANGES IN THE COMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE, INCLUDING THE INTRODUCTION OF NEW PRODUCTS OR PRICING CHANGES BY OUR COMPETITORS, CHANGES IN THE ECONOMY AND OTHER EVENTS LEADING TO A REDUCTION IN DISCRETIONARY CONSUMER SPENDING; SEASONALITY; RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH CHANGES IN SOCIAL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND OTHER CONDITIONS AND THE POSSIBLE ADVERSE IMPACT OF CHANGES IN IMPORT RESTRICTIONS; RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH UNCERTAINTY RELATING TO THE COMPANY’S ABILITY TO IMPLEMENT ITS GROWTH STRATEGIES, AS WELL AS THE OTHER RISK FACTORS SET FORTH IN THE COMPANY’S FORM 10-K AND QUARTERLY REPORTS ON FORM 10-Q, FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THE COMPANY UNDERTAKES NO OBLIGATION TO UPDATE OR REVISE ANY FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS TO REFLECT SUBSEQUENT EVENTS OR CIRCUMSTANCES.

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EXHIBIT A
AÉROPOSTALE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(in thousands)
                         
    August 4,     February 3,     July 29,  
    2007     2007     2006  
ASSETS
                       
Current Assets:
                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 164,520     $ 200,064     $ 117,307  
Short-term investments
    39,476       76,223       34,117  
Merchandise inventory
    150,605       101,476       154,720  
Other current assets
    44,849       21,030       30,015  
 
                 
Total current assets
    399,450       398,793       336,159  
 
                       
Fixtures, equipment and improvements, net
    209,270       175,591       178,972  
 
                       
Other assets
    8,400       6,780       4,435  
 
                 
 
                       
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 617,120     $ 581,164     $ 519,566  
 
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                       
Current Liabilities:
                       
Accounts payable
  $ 99,219     $ 63,918     $ 99,391  
Accrued expenses
    64,437       100,880       54,640  
 
                 
Total current liabilities
    163,656       164,798       154,031  
 
                       
Other non-current liabilities
    114,097       104,250       100,639  
 
                       
Stockholders’ equity
    339,367       312,116       264,896  
 
                 
 
                       
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
  $ 617,120     $ 581,164     $ 519,566  
 
                 

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EXHIBIT B
AÉROPOSTALE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND
SELECTED STORE DATA
(in thousands, except per share and store data)
                                 
            13 weeks ended          
    August 4, 2007     July 29, 2006  
            % of sales             % of sales  
Net sales
  $ 311,236       100.0 %   $ 274,624       100.0 %
Cost of sales (including certain buying, occupancy and warehousing expenses)
    214,358       68.9       202,048       73.6  
 
                       
Gross profit
    96,878       31.1       72,576       26.4  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    74,533       23.9       62,222       22.7  
Other income
                2,085       0.8  
 
                           
Income from operations
    22,345       7.2       12,439       4.5  
Interest income, net
    1,839       0.6       1,372       0.5  
 
                       
Income before income taxes
    24,184       7.8       13,811       5.0  
Income taxes
    9,482       3.1       5,388       1.9  
 
                       
Net income
  $ 14,702       4.7 %   $ 8,423       3.1 %
 
                       
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.19             $ 0.10          
 
                           
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.19             $ 0.10          
 
                           
Weighted average basic shares
    77,629               80,441          
Weighted average diluted shares
    78,171               81,108          
 
                               
STORE DATA:
                               
Comparable store sales (decrease) increase
    (4.1 %)             1.0 %        
Stores open at end of period
    792               726          
Total gross square footage at end of period
    2,805,960               2,578,224          
Average square footage during period
    2,775,823               2,555,801          
Note:
All share and per share amounts presented above were given retroactive recognition to the three-for-two stock split on all shares of our common stock.

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EXHIBIT C
AÉROPOSTALE, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND
SELECTED STORE DATA
(in thousands, except per share and store data)
                                 
    26 weeks ended  
    August 4, 2007     July 29, 2006  
            % of sales             % of sales  
Net sales
  $ 587,018       100.0 %   $ 520,916       100.0 %
Cost of sales (including certain buying, occupancy and warehousing expenses)
    401,437       68.4       377,862       72.5  
 
                       
Gross profit
    185,581       31.6       143,054       27.4  
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    142,752       24.3       120,487       23.1  
Other income
                2,085       0.4  
 
                           
Income from operations
    42,829       7.3       24,652       4.7  
Interest income, net
    3,974       0.7       2,868       0.6  
 
                       
Income before income taxes
    46,803       8.0       27,520       5.3  
Income taxes
    18,349       3.2       10,734       2.1  
 
                       
Net income
  $ 28,454       4.8 %   $ 16,786       3.2 %
 
                       
Basic earnings per share
  $ 0.37             $ 0.21          
 
                           
Diluted earnings per share
  $ 0.36             $ 0.21          
 
                           
Weighted average basic shares
    77,555               81,026          
Weighted average diluted shares
    78,188               81,789          
 
                               
STORE DATA:
                               
Comparable store sales decrease
    (1.1 )%             (0.9 )%        
Average square footage during period
    2,719,441               2,495,181          
Note:
All share and per share amounts presented above were given retroactive recognition to the three-for-two stock split on all shares of our common stock.

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