Syms Corp Reports First Quarter 2010 Financial Results

Syms Corp (NASDAQ: SYMS), the leading off-price retailer, announced results today for its first quarter ended May 29, 2010.

For the first quarter (13 week period) ended May 29, 2010, the Company had a net loss of $0.8 million ($0.06 per share) as compared to a net loss of $2.0 million ($0.14 per share) for the first quarter ended May 30, 2009.

Net sales increased by $71.2 million or 142% to $121.4 million during the thirteen weeks ended May 29, 2010. Sales were $50.3 million in the comparable period last year. During the second quarter of 2009, the Company acquired certain inventory, fixed assets, real property leases and certain other assets of Filene’s Basement, Inc. (“Filene’s”), an off-price retail clothing chain, in an auction conducted pursuant to the Federal Bankruptcy Code. The first quarter sales increase was primarily the result of the acquisition of Filene’s in June 2009 and contributed $74.4 million of the sales increase. In addition, comparable store sales, which are only for the Syms stores, increased 4.5% and contributed $2.0 million of the sales increase in the thirteen weeks ended May 29, 2010. The increase in comparable store sales was the result of a higher average transaction size partially offset by a decrease in the number of transactions. Partially offsetting the above sales increases was the loss of sales resulting from the closing of five stores during the past year.

As of May 29, 2010, the Company owned and operated 49 “off-price” apparel stores located predominantly on the east coast under the Syms and Filene’s Basement names. Each Syms and Filene’s Basement store offers a broad range of first quality, in season merchandise bearing nationally recognized designer and brand-name labels.

Forward-Looking Statements

Certain information in this press release includes forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995) and information relating to Syms Corp and its subsidiaries that are based on the beliefs of Syms’ management, as well as assumptions made by and information currently available to Syms’ management. When used in this press release, the words “anticipate”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “plan” and similar expressions as they relate to Syms Corp and its subsidiaries, identify forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of Syms Corp with respect to future events, the outcome of which is subject to certain risks, including, among others, general economic and market conditions, decreased consumer demand for Syms’ and Filene’s Basement’s products, possible disruptions in Syms’ computer or telephone systems, possible work stoppages or increase in labor costs, effects of competition, the impact of integrating Filene’s Basement’s business and Syms Corp’s existing business, possible disruptions or delays in the opening of new stores or inability to obtain suitable sites for new stores, higher than anticipated store closings or relocation costs, higher interest rates and borrowing costs, unanticipated increases in merchandise or occupancy costs, and other factors which may be outside control of Syms Corp. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results or outcomes may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected, intended or planned. Subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Syms Corp or persons acting on its behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements in this paragraph.

SYMS CORP STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS (in thousands except per-share amounts)
		Thirteen Weeks Ended
			5/29/2010					5/30/2009
Net Sales		$	121,445				$	50,256
Gross Margin			53,743					21,061
Operating Expenses			55,069					22,958
Net loss		$	(809	)			$	(2,035	)
Net loss per share (basic & diluted)		$	(0.06	)			$	(0.14	)
Weighted average shares outstanding (basic & diluted)			14,478					14,590

SYMS CORP CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (in thousands)
		May 29, 2010				May 30, 2009
ASSETS
Current Assets:
Cash		$	2,820			$	20,686
Receivables			4,326				1,479
Merchandise inventories			91,617				49,248
Other current assets			22,269				14,617
Total current assets			121,032				86,030
Property & equipment			118,460				95,969
Other assets			34,895				31,667
Total Assets		$	274,387			$	213,666
LIABILITIES & SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable		$	53,684			$	16,934
Accrued expenses			8,243				7,748
Other current liabilities			5,256				4,218
Total current liabilities			67,183				28,900
Long term debt			9,816				-
Other long term liabilities			4,372				758
Shareholders’ Equity			193,016				184,008
Total Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity		$	274,387			$	213,666