DAVIDsTEA Inc. Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2018 Financial Results

MONTREAL, June 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DAVIDsTEA Inc. (Nasdaq:DTEA) today announced financial results for the three months ended May 5, 2018.

DAVIDsTEA President and Chief Executive Officer, Joel Silver, said, "In the first quarter of fiscal 2018, DAVIDsTEA continued to focus on the execution of its plan to improve the company's performance. This includes investing in e-commerce, refocusing on merchandising and marketing, leveraging our strong brand and opportunities in international markets, and rebuilding a profitable store network in North America. The positive highlights of the first quarter were the double-digit growth in e-commerce sales, positive results from our DAVIDSTEA 2.0 store renovation concept and a relative stabilization of sales in our U.S. stores, suggesting we are beginning to gain traction in that market. We are, however, seeing a continued trend in overall sales declines, some of which can be attributed to legacy programs and a product mix current management is actively working to evolve and correct. We expect this trend to continue in the second quarter before gradually reversing in the second half of the year as our management team's initiatives take effect."

"Despite these continued challenges, I am encouraged by the progress we are making. We have a sharp focus on driving traffic into our stores and to our new online platform, delivering an exceptional customer experience in both. We have a clear plan in place and we are executing on it, but it will take some time to see sustainable results. With the strong management team we now have in place at DAVIDsTEA, I am confident we will get there."

For the three months ended May 5, 2018:

• Sales decreased by 6.0% to C$45.8 million from C$48.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Comparable sales decreased by 7.0%. This overall decline in sales can be attributed, in part, to an average decrease in mall traffic and stores located in suboptimal locations, the latter of which we are actively working to correct with select store closures and the renegotiation of subpar lease agreements.
• E-commerce sales continued to perform well and registered double-digit growth over the first quarter of fiscal 2017.
• Gross profit decreased by 6.2% to C$22.7 million from C$24.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017, while gross profit as a percent of sales decreased slightly at 49.6% from 49.7% in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Gross profit as a percent of sales was in line with the prior year quarter as product margin increased, driven by less promotional activity and a shift in product sales mix, which was offset by a deleveraging of fixed costs due to the negative comparable sales.
• Selling, general and administration expenses ("SG&A") increased to C$24.4 million from C$24.2 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. As a percent of sales, SG&A increased to 53.3% from 49.6%. Adjusted SG&A, a non-IFRS measure, which excludes the impact of onerous contracts and costs related to strategic review and proxy contest in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and the impact of onerous contracts in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 (see Reconciliation of IFRS basis to Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses), decreased to C$25.1 million from C$25.6 million. As a percent of sales, adjusted SG&A increased to 54.8% from 52.6%, due to deleveraging of fixed costs due to the negative comparable sales this quarter.
• Results from operating activities were C$(1.7) million as compared to C$0.0 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Adjusted results from operating activities, a non-IFRS measure, which excludes the impact of onerous contracts and costs related to strategic review and proxy contest in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and the impact of onerous contracts in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 (see Reconciliation of IFRS basis to Adjusted results from operating activities), decreased to C$(2.4) million from C$(1.4) million.
• Adjusted EBITDA was C$(0.4) million compared to C$1.5 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Adjusted EBITDA, a non-IFRS measure, excludes non-cash or one-time items in the current and prior year periods (see Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA table).
• Cash of C$53.9 million.
• Net loss was C$(1.2) million compared to net loss of C$(0.4) million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Adjusted net income (loss), a non-IFRS measure, which excludes the impact of onerous contracts and costs related to the strategic review and proxy contest in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and the impact of onerous contracts in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 (see Reconciliation of IFRS basis to Adjusted net income (loss) table), was C$(1.7) million compared to C$(1.1) million.
• Fully diluted income (loss) per common share was C$(0.05) compared to C$(0.01) in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Adjusted fully diluted income (loss) per common share, a non-IFRS measure, which is adjusted net income (loss) on an adjusted fully diluted weighted average shares outstanding basis (see Reconciliation of fully diluted weighted average common shares outstanding table), was C$(0.07) per share compared to C$(0.04) per share.

Conference Call Information:
A conference call to discuss the first quarter of fiscal 2018 financial results is scheduled for today, June 11, 2018, at 4:30pm Eastern Time. The conference call will be webcast and may be accessed via the Company's Investor Relations section of its website at www.davidstea.com. An online archive of the webcast will be available within two hours of the conclusion of the call and will remain available for one year.

Non-IFRS Information:

This press release includes non-IFRS measures including 1) Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses, 2) Adjusted results from operating activities, 3) Adjusted EBITDA, 4) Adjusted net income (loss), and 5) Adjusted fully diluted income (loss) per share. Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses, Adjusted results from operating activities, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income (loss) and Adjusted fully diluted income (loss) per share are not presentations made in accordance with IFRS, and the use of the terms Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses, Adjusted results from operating activities, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income (loss) and Adjusted fully diluted income (loss) per share may differ from similar measures reported by other companies. We believe that Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses, Adjusted results from operating activities, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income (loss) and Adjusted fully diluted income (loss) per share provide investors with useful information with respect to our historical operations. We present Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses, Adjusted results from operating activities, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income (loss) and Adjusted fully diluted income (loss) per share as supplemental performance measures because we believe they facilitate a comparative assessment of our operating performance relative to our performance based on our results under IFRS, while isolating the effects of some items that vary from period-to-period. Specifically, Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses, Adjusted results from operating activities, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income (loss) and Adjusted fully diluted income (loss) per share allow for an assessment of our operating performance, including new store costs, without the effect of non-cash charges of the period or other one-time charges, such as depreciation, amortization, finance costs, deferred rent, non-cash compensation expense, costs related to onerous contracts or contracts where we expect the costs of the obligations to exceed the economic benefit, gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments, loss on disposal of property and equipment, impairment of property and equipment, and certain non-recurring expenses. These measures also function as benchmarks to evaluate our operating performance. Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses, Adjusted results from operating activities, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income (loss), and Adjusted fully diluted income (loss) per share are not measurements of our financial performance under IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as alternatives to net income, net cash provided by operating, investing or financing activities or any other financial statement data presented as indicators of financial performance or liquidity, each as presented in accordance with IFRS. We understand that although Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses, Adjusted results from operating activities, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income (loss), and Adjusted fully diluted income (loss) per share are frequently used by securities analysts, lenders and others in their evaluation of companies, they have limitations as analytical tools, and you should not consider them in isolation, or as a substitute for analysis of our results as reported under IFRS. Some of these limitations are:

• Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses, Adjusted results from operating activities, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income (loss), and Adjusted fully diluted income (loss) per share do not reflect changes in, or cash requirements for, our working capital needs; and
  
  
• Although depreciation and amortization are non-cash charges, the assets being depreciated and amortized will often have to be replaced in the future, and Adjusted EBITDA does not reflect any cash requirements for such replacements.

Because of these limitations, Adjusted selling, general and administration expenses, Adjusted results from operating activities, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted net income (loss), and Adjusted fully diluted income (loss) per share should not be considered as discretionary cash available to us to reinvest in the growth of our business or as a measure of cash that will be available to us to meet our obligations.

Forward-Looking Statements:
This press release includes forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "expect," "plan," "could," "may," "will," "believe," "estimate," "forecast," "goal," "project," and other words of similar meaning. These forward-looking statements address various matters including management's beliefs about the Company's prospects, management's turn-around strategy, plans for investment in marketing initiatives, changes to product offerings and assortment, and strategic plans. The Company cannot assure investors that future developments affecting the Company will be those that it has anticipated. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to risks and uncertainties including: the outcome of the Company's proxy contest with a dissident shareholder, the Company's ability to implement its strategy, the Company's ability to maintain and enhance its brand image, particularly in new markets; the Company's ability to compete in the specialty tea and beverage category; the Company's ability to expand and improve its operations; changes in the Company's executive management team; levels of foot traffic in locations in which the Company's stores are located; changes in consumer trends and preferences; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; general economic conditions and consumer confidence; minimum wage laws; the importance of the Company's first fiscal quarter to results of operations for the entire fiscal year; and other risks set forth in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 5, 2018. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or if any of the Company's assumptions prove incorrect, the Company's actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by the Company in this release speaks only as of the date on which the Company makes it. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

About DAVIDsTEA:
DAVIDsTEA is a retailer of specialty tea, offering a differentiated selection of proprietary loose-leaf teas, pre-packaged teas, tea sachets and tea-related gifts, accessories and food and beverages, primarily through 240 company-operated DAVIDsTEA stores throughout Canada and the United States as of May 5, 2018, and its website, davidstea.com. The Company is headquartered in Montréal, Canada.

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Investor Contact
MaisonBrison Communications
Pierre Boucher
514.207.0000
[email protected]

Media Contact
Edelman
Nina Godard
416.455.6324
[email protected]