News Release Details

G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2010 Results

December 2, 2009 at 12:00 AM EST
G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. Announces Third Quarter Fiscal 2010 Results

NEW YORK, Dec 02, 2009 -- -- Company Raises Guidance for Fiscal 2010 Net Income Per Share to $1.31 - $1.35 from Previous Guidance of $0.95-$1.05 --

G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (Nasdaq:GIII) today announced results for the three and nine month periods ended October 31, 2009.

For the three months ended October 31, 2009, net sales increased by 3.4% to $363.5 million from $351.6 million in the same quarter of last year. Net income for the three months ended October 31, 2009 increased by 12.2% to $32.3 million, or $1.87 per diluted share, compared to $28.8 million, or $1.68 per diluted share, in the prior year's period.

For the nine months ended October 31, 2009, net sales increased by 12.3% to $607.0 million from $540.5 million in the same period last year. Net income for the nine months ended October 31, 2009 increased by 25.5% to $22.7 million, or $1.33 per diluted share, compared to $18.1 million, or $1.07 per diluted share, in the same period last year.

Morris Goldfarb, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Over the course of this year, we have worked hard to design and deliver great product, make our operations even more efficient and position our business for continued success. Our year to date results were driven by strong increases in our dress businesses led by Calvin Klein, as well as the strong start from our new Calvin Klein sportswear business."

Mr. Goldfarb continued, "We remain focused on diversifying our business and have invested to expand our capabilities and infrastructure for both the dress and sportswear categories, which we expect to be growth engines for us. We have taken advantage of our reach across every tier of distribution to seek out areas of strength in the market. We are taking market share, creating new opportunities and further developing both our licensed and company-owned brands."

"As we look forward, in the short term, we expect a good finish to the fiscal year and a strong spring season for the first quarter of next year. Longer term, we believe that we have an excellent opportunity to accelerate our strategic development, particularly in regards to our newer categories of business. We believe that continuing our present path of development will lead to sales and earnings growth in fiscal 2011 and excellent value creation for our shareholders," Mr. Goldfarb concluded.

Outlook

For the full fiscal 2010 year ending January 31, 2010, the Company has revised its guidance and now expects net sales of approximately $790 million, compared to its prior guidance of net sales of approximately $770 million, net income in the range of $23.0 million to $23.7 million, compared to its prior guidance of net income in the range of $16.6 million to $18.4 million, and diluted net income per share between $1.31 and $1.35, compared to its prior guidance of diluted net income per share between $0.95 and $1.05. The Company is also now forecasting EBITDA for the fiscal year ending January 31, 2010 to increase approximately 36% to 40% from fiscal 2009 to a range of approximately $49.8 to $51.3 million compared to its prior guidance of EBITDA in the range of $40.2 million to $43.2 million. EBITDA should be evaluated in light of the Company's financial results prepared in accordance with US GAAP. A reconciliation of EBITDA to net income in accordance with US GAAP is included in a table accompanying the condensed financial statements in this release.

About G-III Apparel Group, Ltd.

G-III is a leading manufacturer and distributor of outerwear, dresses, sportswear and women's suits under licensed brands, our own brands and private label brands. G-III has fashion licenses under the Calvin Klein, Sean John, Kenneth Cole, Cole Haan, Guess?, Jones New York, Jessica Simpson, Nine West, Ellen Tracy, Tommy Hilfiger, Enyce, Levi's and Dockers brands and sports licenses with the National Football League, National Basketball Association, Major League Baseball, National Hockey League, Touch by Alyssa Milano and more than 100 U.S. colleges and universities. G-III sells outerwear and handbags under our own Andrew Marc and Marc New York brands and has licensed these brands for women's footwear, men's accessories, women's handbags and men's cold weather accessories. Our other owned brands include Marvin Richards, G-III, Jessica Howard, Eliza J., Black Rivet, Siena Studio, Tannery West, G-III by Carl Banks and Winlit. G-III works with a diversified group of retailers in developing product lines to be sold under their proprietary private labels. G-III also operates 121 retail stores, of which 118 are outlet stores operated under the Wilsons Leather name.

Statements concerning G-III's business outlook or future economic performance, anticipated revenues, expenses or other financial items; product introductions and plans and objectives related thereto; and statements concerning assumptions made or expectations as to any future events, conditions, performance or other matters are "forward-looking statements" as that term is defined under the Federal Securities laws. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and factors which include, but are not limited to, reliance on licensed product, reliance on foreign manufacturers, risks of doing business abroad, the current economic and credit crisis, the nature of the apparel industry, including changing customer demand and tastes, customer concentration, seasonality, risks of operating a retail business; customer acceptance of new products, the impact of competitive products and pricing, dependence on existing management, possible disruption from acquisitions and general economic conditions, as well as other risks detailed in G-III's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. G-III assumes no obligation to update the information in this release.

 G-III APPAREL GROUP, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 (NASDAQGSM:GIII)
 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 (In thousands, except per share amounts)
 (Unaudited)
                        Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended
                             10/31/09   10/31/08   10/31/09   10/31/08
 Net sales                   $363,540   $351,599   $607,029   $540,458
 Cost of sales                237,912    239,080    409,371    381,520
 Gross profit                 125,628    112,519    197,658    158,938
 Selling general and
  administrative
  expenses                     66,738     58,937    150,817    118,625
 Depreciation and
  amortization                  1,303      1,900      4,091      5,255
 Operating profit              57,587     51,682     42,750     35,058
 Interest and financing
  charges, net                  1,891      2,496      3,599      4,161
 Income before income taxes    55,696     49,186     39,151     30,897
 Income tax expense            23,393     20,350     16,443     12,801
 Net income                  $ 32,303   $ 28,836   $ 22,708   $ 18,096
 Basic net income per
  common share               $   1.93   $   1.74   $   1.36   $   1.10
 Diluted net income per
  common share               $   1.87   $   1.68   $   1.33   $   1.07
 Weighted average shares
  outstanding:
 Basic                         16,770     16,526     16,740     16,507
 Diluted                       17,238     17,160     17,011     16,990
 Selected Balance Sheet Data
 (in thousands):                       At October 31, At October 31,
                                           2009           2008
 Cash                                    $ 16,633      $  9,728
 Working Capital                          127,535       110,673
 Inventory                                127,087       131,028
 Total Assets                             464,417       472,629
 Short-term Revolving Debt                167,815       170,659
 Total Stockholders' Equity              $187,631      $193,458
 G-III APPAREL GROUP, LTD. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 RECONCILIATION OF EBITDA TO ACTUAL AND FORECASTED NET
 INCOME/(LOSS)
 (In thousands)
 (Unaudited)
                            Forecasted Twelve Months   Actual Twelve Months
                            Ending                     Ended
                            January                    January
                            31, 2010                   31, 2009
 EBITDA, as defined         $49,800 - $51,300          $ 36,593
 Goodwill impairment        -                          31,202
 Trademark impairment       -                          2,321
 Depreciation and
  amortization              5,400                      6,947
 Interest and financing
  charges, net              5,000                      5,564
 Income tax expense         16,400 - 17,200            4,588
 Net income/(loss)          $23,000 - $23,700          $ (14,029)

EBITDA is a "non-GAAP financial measure" which represents earnings before depreciation and amortization, interest and financing charges, net, and income tax expense. EBITDA is being presented as a supplemental disclosure because management believes that it is a common measure of operating performance in the apparel industry. EBITDA should not be construed as an alternative to net income as an indicator of the Company's operating performance, or as an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of the Company's liquidity, as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Contacts:  G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. 
           Investor Relations 
           James Palczynski
           203-682-8229 
 
           Wayne S. Miller, Chief Operating Officer
           212-403-0500