CSK Auto Corporation Reports 1998 Fiscal Year Sales Earnings
17 March 1999
CSK Auto Corporation Reports $1 Billion in Net Sales and Record Earnings for its 1998 Fiscal YearPHOENIX, March 17 -- CSK Auto Corporation , the parent company of CSK Auto, Inc., today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended January 31, 1999. FISCAL 1998 For fiscal 1998, net sales increased 18.7% to $1.0 billion from $845.8 million for fiscal 1997, primarily reflecting an increase in the number of stores operated from 718 stores at February 1, 1998 to 807 stores at January 31, 1999. Comparable store sales increased 2% in fiscal 1998. Operating profit for fiscal 1998, excluding one-time charges, totaled $81.4 million, or 8.1% of net sales, compared to $49.8 million, or 5.9% of net sales, for fiscal 1997. During fiscal 1998, the Company incurred $3.1 million of expenses associated with the integration of the stores acquired in December 1997 from Trak Auto Corporation, a $3.6 million non-recurring charge associated with the termination of a management agreement as a result of the Company's initial public offering and $0.8 million of costs in connection with a secondary offering of common stock. During fiscal 1997, the Company incurred $3.4 million of expenses associated with the integration of the stores acquired from Trak Auto and $0.9 million of stock-based compensation expense. Including the one-time charges discussed above in both years, operating profit for fiscal 1998 increased by 63% to $74.0 million from $45.5 million in fiscal 1997. Interest expense for fiscal 1998 decreased to $30.7 million from $40.7 million for fiscal 1997, primarily due to the reduction of debt by use of the net proceeds from the Company's initial public offering. Net income for fiscal 1998 was $32.2 million, or $1.13 per diluted share, excluding the above-mentioned charges and an extraordinary loss of $6.8 million, net of taxes. This compares to net income of $5.4 million, or $0.30 per diluted common share, excluding one-time charges of $5.3 million and an extraordinary loss of $3.0 million, net of taxes, for fiscal 1997. Including the above-mentioned charges and extraordinary losses, the Company reported net income for fiscal 1998 of $20.7 million, or $0.75 per diluted common share, compared to a net loss of $0.8 million, or $0.04 per diluted common share, for fiscal 1997. The fiscal 1998 $6.8 million extraordinary loss, net of tax, was associated with premiums paid to noteholders and the write-off of debt-issuance costs produced by the early retirement of debt made possible by the Company's initial public offering. The fiscal 1997 $3.0 million extraordinary loss, net of tax, was related to the early retirement of debt. On March 17, 1998, the Company completed an initial public offering of approximately 8.6 million shares of common stock. The offering raised approximately $159.1 million of proceeds, net of underwriting discounts and offering expenses, which were used to reduce debt. Pro forma net income for fiscal 1998 was $33.0 million, or $1.15 per diluted common share, assuming that the initial public offering and related retirement of indebtedness had occurred on the first day of fiscal 1998 and adjusting for the non-recurring items and extraordinary loss listed above. During fiscal 1998, the Company opened 94 new stores, relocated 31 stores, expanded 5 stores, acquired 2 stores and closed 7 stores in addition to those closed due to relocations. FOURTH QUARTER OF FISCAL 1998 Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998 totaled $248.1 million, an increase of 18.5% from $209.4 million of net sales reported for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997, primarily reflecting an increase in the number of stores operated. Comparable store sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998 increased 5%. Operating profit for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998, excluding one-time costs of $0.8 million, increased to $21.0 million, or 8.5% of net sales, from operating profit of $13.6 million, or 6.5% of net sales, excluding one-time charges for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997. The fourth quarter of fiscal 1998 included the above-mentioned $0.8 million of costs associated with the December 1998 secondary offering of the Company's common stock, while the fiscal 1997 fourth quarter included the above-mentioned $3.4 million of costs associated with the Trak Auto store acquisitions and the $0.9 million stock based compensation cost. Including these one-time items in both years, operating profit increased 118% to $20.2 million in fiscal 1998 from $9.3 million in fiscal 1997. Interest expense for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998 decreased to $7.2 million from $10.9 million for the 1997 fourth quarter, primarily due to the reduction of debt by use of the net proceeds from the Company's initial public offering. Excluding the secondary offering costs and their tax effect, net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998 increased to $8.9 million, or $0.31 per diluted common share from $1.8 million, or $0.09 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997, excluding the above mentioned one-time costs and a $3.0 million extraordinary loss related to the early retirement of debt. Including such costs in both years, net income increased to $8.4 million, or $0.29 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998, compared to a net loss of $4.7 million, or $0.25 per diluted common share, for the fourth quarter of fiscal 1997 During the fourth quarter of fiscal 1998, the Company opened 34 new stores, relocated 7 stores, expanded 1 store and closed 2 stores in addition to those closed due to relocations. In addition, during the quarter, the Company acquired 2 stores in Fairbanks, Alaska, thereby increasing its presence in Alaska to 8 stores. "We are very pleased with our fourth quarter and fiscal 1998 financial results," said Maynard Jenkins, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of CSK Auto Corporation. "The comparable store sales increase of 5% for the fourth quarter represents a significant improvement over the comparable store sales level achieved earlier in the year. We are achieving similar comparable store sales increases during the first quarter of fiscal 1999. In addition, we continue to make progress in improving our gross profit margins which are benefiting from increased vendor support and more favorable pricing terms." CSK Auto Corporation is the parent company of its wholly-owned subsidiary, CSK Auto, Inc., which is a specialty retailer in the automotive aftermarket operating 807 stores in 13 Western states as of January 31, 1999. Certain statements contained in this release are forward-looking statements. They discuss, among other things, expected growth, future store development and relocation strategy, business strategies, future revenues and future performance. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, but not limited to, competitive pressures, demand for the Company's products, the state of the economy, inflation, consumer debt levels and the weather. Actual results may differ materially from anticipated results described in these forward-looking statements. CSK AUTO CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (In thousands, except share and per share data) As Adjusted Thirteen Weeks Ended for One-Time Charges January 31, February 1, January 31, 1999 1998 1999 Net sales $248,119 $209,350 $248,119 Cost and expenses: Cost of sales 127,216 109,254 127,216 Operating and administrative 99,897 86,514 99,897 Transition and integration expenses -- 3,407 -- Stock-based compensation -- 909 -- Secondary stock offering costs 770 --- -- 227,883 200,084 227,113 Operating profit 20,236 9,266 21,006 Other acquisition and financings fees -- 1,009 -- Interest expense 7,198 10,865 7,198 Income before income taxes and extraordinary item 13,038 (2,608) 13,808 Income tax expense 4,670 (914) 4,946 Income before extraordinary loss 8,368 (1,694) 8,862 Extraordinary loss, net of income taxes -- (3,015) -- Net income $8,368 $(4,709) $8,862 Basic earnings per share: Income (loss) before extraordinary loss $0.30 $(0.09) $0.32 Extraordinary loss, net of income taxes -- (0.17) -- Net income (loss) $0.30 $(0.26) $0.32 Shares used in computing per share amounts 27,760,967 18,289,101 27,760,967 Diluted earnings per share: Income (loss) before extraordinary loss $0.29 $(0.09) $0.31 Extraordinary loss, net of income taxes -- (0.16) -- Net income $ 0.29 $(0.25) $0.31 Shares used in computing per share amounts 28,742,794 18,900,553 28,742,794 CSK AUTO CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARY CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (UNAUDITED) (In thousands, except share and per share data) As Adjusted Pro forma, Fiscal Year Ended for One-Time as adjusted Charges January 31, February 1, January 31, January 31, 1999 1998 1999 1999 Net sales $1,004,385 $845,815 $1,004,385 $1,004,385 Cost and expenses: Cost of sales 531,073 468,171 531,073 531,073 Operating and administrative 391,863 327,838 391,863 391,863 Transition and integration expenses 3,075 3,407 -- -- Stock-based compensation -- 909 -- -- Secondary stock offering costs 770 -- -- -- Write-off of unamortized management fee 3,643 -- -- -- 930,424 800,325 922,936 922,936 Operating profit 73,961 45,490 81,449 81,449 Other acquisition and financings fees -- 1,009 -- -- Interest expense 30,730 40,680 30,730 29,620 Income (loss) before income taxes and extraordinary item 43,231 3,801 50,719 51,829 Income tax expense (benefit) 15,746 1,557 18,473 18,878 Income (loss) before extraordinary item 27,485 2,244 32,246 32,951 Extraordinary loss, net of income taxes (6,767) (3,015) -- -- Net income (loss) $20,718 $(771) $32,246 $32,951 Basic earnings per share: Income (loss) before extraordinary item $1.03 $0.13 $1.16 $1.19 Extraordinary loss, net of income taxes (0.25) (0.17) -- -- Net income (loss) $ 0.78 $(0.04) $1.16 $1.19 Shares used in computing per share amounts 26,722,322 17,400,214 27,738,415 27,738,415 Diluted earnings per share: Income (loss) before extraordinary item $0.99 $0.12 $1.13 $1.15 Extraordinary loss, net of income taxes (0.24) (0.16) -- -- Net income (loss) $ 0.75 $(0.04) $1.13 $1.15 Shares used in computing per share amounts 27,640,099 18,011,666 28,643,770 28,643,770