BKST Brookstone (MM)

Brookstone Reports Q3 Results at the Better End of Guidance Range, Raises Earnings Forecast for the Year MERRIMACK, N.H., Nov. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Brookstone, Inc. (NASDAQ:BKST), the product development and specialty retail company, today announced that its third-quarter earnings were at the better end of the range of Company guidance, posting a net loss of $6.7 million, or $0.33 per diluted share. Total Company sales for the 13-week period ended October 30, 2004, climbed 15.9 percent to $85.4 million, compared to $73.7 million for the third quarter in 2003, while same-store sales rose 4.3 percent. Direct-Marketing sales in the third quarter 2004 jumped 17.9 percent to $15.8 million. For the third quarter, Brookstone reported a net loss of $6.7 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, compared to a net loss in the third quarter of 2003 of $5.9 million, or $0.30 per diluted share. Because of the seasonal nature of specialty retailing, Brookstone generally carries a loss over the first three quarters and makes its profit for the year in the fourth quarter. Year-to-date, Brookstone total sales soared 21.4 percent to $261.1 million, compared to $215.1 million for the first nine months of 2003, while same-store sales climbed 12.2 percent. Direct-Marketing sales for the first nine months of 2004 increased 17.1 percent to $43.9 million, compared to $37.5 million last year. Net loss year-to-date stands at $11.8 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, an improvement of 19.2 percent over the net loss over the first nine months of 2003 of $14.6 million, or $0.75 per diluted share. Brookstone Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Anthony said the Company's year-to-date results position Brookstone well for success in the remainder of the year. "We are very pleased with our performance over the first nine months of the year," Mr. Anthony said. "All three strategies of the Brookstone business model -- product development, retail stores and multi-channel synergy -- continue to drive our Company to record levels." Mr. Anthony continued: "For the Holidays, we have already introduced innovations in a variety of categories, and new merchandise continues to arrive daily. We believe our exciting new products, the majority of which Brookstone designs and engineers, will again make Brookstone the retailer of choice for innovative and high-quality gifts this Holiday season. Our in- stock performance has been excellent, and our current inventory situation, combined with planned receipts, will ensure we are in position to meet our sales plans." Mr. Anthony continued: "We recently completed our 2004 new-store and remodeling program, opening 20 new stores, including three in airports and two Gardeners Eden locations, and remodeling 12 stores." Mr. Anthony continued: "Our Direct-Marketing efforts remain an important component to our success. In the fourth quarter, we will increase the circulation of the Brookstone catalog to more than 19 million books, from 11 million in 2003, a proven strategy that delivers additional incremental traffic and sales to our retail stores and generates revenue and profit to all three sales channels." Mr. Anthony concluded: "We anticipate same-store sales increases in the mid-single digits for the fourth quarter. Based on our performance over the first nine months of the year and the potential for success during the fourth quarter, we are raising our 2004 year-end earnings projection to a range of $1.12 and $1.14 per diluted share." Brookstone, Inc. is a product development and specialty retail company that operates 287 Brookstone Brand stores nationwide and in Puerto Rico. Typically located in high-traffic regional shopping malls, lifestyle centers and airports, the stores feature unique and innovative consumer products. The Company also operates five stores under the Gardeners Eden Brand, and a direct marketing business that consists of three catalogs titles -- Brookstone, Hard- to-Find Tools and Gardeners Eden -- as well as e-commerce web sites at http://www.brookstone.com/ and http://www.gardenerseden.com/ . Statements in this release which are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's confidence or expectations, earnings, anticipated operations of its e-commerce sites and those of third-party service providers, and other statements about the Company's operational outlook, are forward-looking statements subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks of changing market conditions in the overall economy and the retail industry, consumer demand, the effectiveness of e-commerce technology and marketing efforts, availability of products, availability of adequate transportation of such products, and other factors detailed from time to time in the Company's annual and other reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Words such as "estimate," "project," "plan," "believe," "feel," "anticipate," "assume," "may," "will," "should" and similar words and phrases may identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date thereof. The Company undertakes no obligations to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements or reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. Brookstone, Inc. Consolidated Statement of Operations ($ in thousands, except per share data) (Unaudited) Thirteen weeks ended Thirty-nine weeks ended October 30 November 1 October 30 November 1 2004 2003 2004 2003 Net sales $85,355 $73,657 $261,122 $215,088 Cost of sales 58,927 51,993 176,955 152,010 Gross profit 26,428 21,664 84,167 63,078 Selling, general and administrative expenses 36,113 30,903 101,389 86,194 Loss from (9,685) (9,239) (17,222) (23,116) operations Interest expense, net 315 298 760 609 Loss before taxes and other party interest in consolidated entities (10,000) (9,537) (17,982) (23,725) Income tax benefit (3,464) (3,672) (6,537) (9,134) Loss before other party interests in consolidated entities (6,536) (5,865) (11,445) (14,591) Other party interest in consolidated entities, net of tax 143 --- 343 --- Net Loss $(6,679) $(5,865) $(11,788) $(14,591) Net Loss per share - basic and diluted $(0.33) $(0.30) $(0.58) $(0.75) Weighted average shares outstanding - basic/diluted 20,341 19,737 20,183 19,424 Brookstone, Inc. Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheet ($ in thousands) October 30, 2004 November 1, 2003 January 31, 2004 Current Assets: Cash and cash equivalents $3,700 $1,544 $69,738 Receivables, net 8,002 7,044 7,476 Merchandise Inventories 98,845 84,771 66,876 Deferred income taxes 13,027 15,258 4,799 Other current assets 7,389 6,548 6,217 Total current assets 130,963 115,165 155,106 Deferred income taxes 4,731 5,091 4,738 Property and equipment, net 74,796 50,300 53,970 Intangible assets,net 3,920 4,191 4,123 Other assets 10,263 7,610 2,390 Total assets $224,673 $182,357 $220,327 Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current Liabilities: Accounts payable $31,092 $27,001 $15,759 Other current liabilities 29,855 26,137 41,827 Total current liabilities 60,947 53,138 57,586 Other long term liabilities 17,386 14,934 15,676 Long term debt 9,144 1,985 1,941 Commitments and Contingencies Total shareholder's equity 137,196 112,300 145,124 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $224,673 $182,357 $220,327 CONTACT: Philip Roizin EVP of Finance and Administration (603) 880-9500 Robert Fusco Investor Relations (603) 880-9500 DATASOURCE: Brookstone, Inc. CONTACT: Philip Roizin, EVP of Finance and Administration, +1-603-880-9500, Robert Fusco, Investor Relations, +1-603-880-9500, both of Brookstone, Inc. Web site: http://www.brookstone.com/ http://www.gardenerseden.com/

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