• Total fiscal 2012 revenue increased 24% to $980 million from $790 million last year
• Fiscal 2012 GAAP diluted EPS of $1.60 compared to $1.70 last year
• Fiscal 2012 adjusted diluted EPS increased to $1.94 compared to $1.88 last year
• Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2012 increased 16% to $75.1 million compared to $64.7 last year
• Fiscal 2013 revenue expected to be in a range of $990.0 million to $1.0 billion

Company Website: http://www.perryellis.com
MIAMI -- (Business Wire)

Perry Ellis International, Inc. (NASDAQ:PERY) today reported results for the fourth quarter (“fourth quarter of fiscal 2012”) and the fiscal year ended January 28, 2012 (“fiscal 2012”).

Oscar Feldenkreis, President and Chief Operating Officer of Perry Ellis International commented, “Fiscal 2012 included strong sales and profit growth despite second half challenges driven by the difficult holiday season and product setbacks within our Perry Ellis & Rafaella collection businesses. Importantly, we ended the year in a solid financial position with the processes, initiatives and talent in place to improve our long term operating performance. While we expect some ongoing challenges, we are encouraged by the positive momentum of our core businesses at the start of fiscal 2013 with our priorities intensely focused on our namesake Perry Ellis brand. We remain confident in our strategies and our ability to increase value for Perry Ellis stakeholders.”

Fiscal 2012 Results

Fiscal 2012 revenues were $980.6 million, a 24% increase compared to $790.3 million reported in the prior year ended January 29, 2011 (“fiscal 2011”). Rafaella, which the Company acquired in late January 2011, contributed total revenue of $123.3 million for the year. The Company delivered organic revenue growth of 8.5% led by Golf lifestyle, swim, direct to consumer, and ladies dresses.

Net income attributed to Perry Ellis International, Inc. for fiscal 2012 was $25.5 million, or $1.60 per fully diluted share GAAP (“EPS”), compared to $24.1 million, or $1.70 per fully diluted share in fiscal 2011.

Net income attributed to Perry Ellis International, Inc. per fully diluted share as adjusted for fiscal 2012 was $1.94 compared to EPS per fully diluted share as adjusted of $1.88 in fiscal 2011. EPS, as adjusted excludes costs related to the early extinguishment of debt, interest, impairment charges of $6.1 million on long-lived assets in fiscal 2012, and impairment charges of $400k for certain retail store leaseholds in fiscal 2011. (See attached reconciliation “Table 1”)

Overall gross margin for fiscal 2012 was 33.0% compared to 35.7% in fiscal 2011. As the Company previously noted, retailers requesting later deliveries of goods, as well as a significant increase in promotional markdowns and sales allowances for the holiday season pressured overall revenues and gross margin in fiscal 2012.

Selling, general, and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were well controlled throughout fiscal 2012 totaling $248.6 million or 25.4% to sales compared to $220.0 million or 27.9% to sales in fiscal 2011. The year over year increase reflects the Rafaella acquisition as well as 15 new retail doors that were opened throughout fiscal 2012. The increase in SG&A was slightly offset by the reversal of long term incentive compensation. In addition, the Company recorded a non-cash impairment expense of $6.1 million associated with an asset held for sale as well as trade names.

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and impairments (“adjusted EBITDA”) for fiscal 2012 totaled $75.1 million, or 7.7% of total revenue. This represents a 16% increase over fiscal 2011 adjusted EBITDA of $64.7 million. (See attached reconciliation “Table 2”).

Strategic Review

As noted in the Company’s pre-fiscal 2012 earnings press release in February, the Company has launched a strategic review of its brands and businesses with a goal of focusing on those that offer the best value and greatest potential for profitable growth.

The Company’s key focus is on its core businesses of golf, men’s and women’s sportswear, and swim. Distribution strength in wholesale will continue to be augmented by direct-to-consumer as well as international expansion in Europe and Asia. The Company model of utilizing its brand portfolio to create exclusive brands for specific retailers has been very successful and has mitigated potential cannibalization.

In an effort to streamline its business model, the Company has identified smaller brands and businesses which combined generate approximately $30 - $40 million in revenue that it plans to liquidate and close by the end of fiscal 2013. These brands and businesses have not generated sufficient momentum to contribute to the Company’s profitability. The Company will provide additional detail surrounding these specific brands and businesses throughout the year as they are fully exited.

In addition to this business review, the Company has identified approximately $5.5 million in annual cost savings by streamlining its infrastructure including distribution centers, product processes and development costs, trade shows, and headcount reduction. The Company will begin to recognize a portion of these savings by the fall of fiscal 2013 and expects to be fully recognized by spring 2014. The Company expects to incur costs of approximately $2.0 million associated with these initiatives.

Fourth Quarter 2012 Results

Total revenue for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 was $229.4 million, an 11% increase compared to $206.9 million reported in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Rafaella contributed $23.2 million in the fourth quarter.

As reported under GAAP, fourth quarter per fully diluted share EPS was $0.12 compared to $0.54 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2011. Excluding the above mentioned costs and impairment charges in both fiscal 2012 and 2011 per fully diluted share EPS as adjusted for the fourth quarter was $0.38 compared to $0.69 in the prior year period. (See attached reconciliation “Table 1”).

Balance Sheet Update

George Feldenkreis, Chairman and CEO of Perry Ellis International stated, “Our liquidity and leverage profile remains extremely strong. With net debt to capitalization of 31.5% and combined with availability under our credit facility, we are in a compelling position to take full advantage of any strategic opportunities that may arise in the near future while simultaneously investing in international markets and other core competencies.”

Cash and cash equivalents at year end totaled $24.1 million. Accounts receivable totaled $145.6 million compared to $129.5 million in fiscal 2011 reflecting the increase in shipments for the fourth quarter. The quality of the receivables continues to be strong and the Company is focused on maintaining a financially strong customer base.

Inventories increased 13% to $198.3 million at year end compared to $175.8 million in the comparable prior year period ended January 29, 2011. The Company also noted that it continues to reduce its weeks of supply of on-going replenishment business and that inventory quality and aging remains current.

Throughout the fourth quarter the Company repurchased 1.157 million shares for a total of $15.96 million, bringing the total weighted average number of per fully diluted shares outstanding to 15.95 million for the year.

Fiscal 2013 Guidance

Oscar Feldenkreis concluded, “As we look ahead, we believe it is prudent to remain conservative in our business outlook for fiscal 2013. Our focus is direct and unyielding and our priority is on our namesake brand Perry Ellis. We have augmented our management, creative and merchandising teams in Perry Ellis as well as in Rafaella. We are optimistic about our core businesses in all areas and in the expansion of our distribution network.”

The Company announced that for the twelve months ending February 2, 2013 (“fiscal 2013”) it anticipates revenue to be in a range of $990 million - $1.0 billion after exiting businesses discussed above. It anticipates adjusted fully diluted earnings per share to be in a range of $1.95 - $2.00. On a GAAP basis, the Company expects earnings per fully diluted share to be in a range of $1.85 - $1.90.

About Perry Ellis International

Perry Ellis International, Inc. is a leading designer, distributor and licensor of a broad line of high quality men's and women's apparel, accessories and fragrances, as well as select children's apparel. The Company's collection of dress and casual shirts, golf sportswear, sweaters, dress pants, casual pants and shorts, jeans wear, active wear, dresses and men's and women's swimwear is available through all major levels of retail distribution. The Company, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, owns a portfolio of nationally and internationally recognized brands including Perry Ellis®, Jantzen®, Laundry by Shelli Segal®, C&C California®, Rafaella®, Cubavera®, Centro®, Solero®, Munsingwear®, Savane®, Original Penguin® by Munsingwear®, Grand Slam®, Natural Issue®, Pro Player®, the Havanera Co.®, Axis®, Tricots St. Raphael®, Gotcha®, Girl Star®, MCD®, John Henry®, Mondo di Marco®, Redsand®, Manhattan®, Axist®, Farah®, Anchor Blue® and Miller's Outpost®, and Ben Hogan®. The Company enhances its roster of brands by licensing trademarks from third parties including Pierre Cardin® for men’s sportswear, Nike® and Jag® for swimwear, and Callaway®, TOP-FLITE®, PGA TOUR® and Champions Tour® for golf apparel. Additional information on the Company is available at http://www.pery.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

We caution readers that the forward-looking statements (statements which are not historical facts) in this release are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations rather than historical facts and they are indicated by words or phrases such as "anticipate," "believe," "budget," "contemplate," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "guidance," "indicate," "intend," "may," "might," "plan," "possibly," "potential," "predict," "probably," "proforma," "project," "seek," "should," "target," or "will" and similar words or phrases or comparable terminology. We have based such forward-looking statements on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections. While we believe these expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections are reasonable, such forward-looking statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include: general economic conditions, a significant decrease in business from or loss of any of our major customers or programs, anticipated and unanticipated trends and conditions in our industry, including the impact of recent or future retail and wholesale consolidation, recent and future economic conditions, including turmoil in the financial and credit markets, the effectiveness of our planned advertising, marketing and promotional campaigns, our ability to contain costs, disruptions in the supply chain, our future capital needs and our ability to obtain financing, our ability to protect our trademarks, our ability to integrate acquired businesses, trademarks, trade names and licenses, our ability to predict consumer preferences and changes in fashion trends and consumer acceptance of both new designs and newly introduced products, the termination or non-renewal of any material license agreements to which we are a party, changes in the costs of raw materials, labor and advertising, our ability to carry out growth strategies including expansion in international and direct to consumer retail markets, the level of consumer spending for apparel and other merchandise, our ability to compete, exposure to foreign currency risk and interest rate risk, possible disruption in commercial activities due to terrorist activity and armed conflict, and other factors set forth in Perry Ellis International's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including those risks and uncertainties detailed in Perry Ellis' filings with the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are valid only as of the date they were made. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect new information or the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise.

Contacts:

Perry Ellis International, Inc.
Miguel Garcia, 305-873-1830

Source: Perry Ellis International, Inc.