lululemon athletica inc. Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2017 Results and Plan to Restructure Its ivivva Operations

VANCOUVER, British Columbia --(BUSINESS WIRE)-- lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) today announced financial results for the first quarter ended April 30, 2017 and a plan to restructure its ivivva operations.

The Company reported diluted earnings per share of $0.23 for the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Excluding the impact of the ivivva restructuring, the Company reported adjusted diluted earnings per share of $0.32 .

The Company plans to operate ivivva, its activewear brand for girls, as a primarily e-commerce focused business, with a select number of stores in key communities across North America . It plans to close approximately 40 of its 55 ivivva branded stores and to convert approximately half of the remaining stores to lululemon branded stores. The Company will also close all of its ivivva branded showrooms and other temporary locations, and will streamline its corporate infrastructure.

It is anticipated that the closures and restructuring will be substantially complete by the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2017. In connection with this restructuring plan, the Company recognized pre-tax costs totaling $17.7 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017.

The summary below provides both GAAP and adjusted non-GAAP financial measures. The adjusted financial measures exclude the impact of the ivivva restructuring plan and the related tax effects, and also exclude certain discrete tax items which were recognized during the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

For the first quarter ended April 30, 2017 :

• Net revenue was $520.3 million , an increase of 5% compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016. On a constant dollar basis, net revenue increased 5%.
• Total comparable sales decreased 1%, or decreased by 1% on a constant dollar basis.

- Comparable store sales decreased 2%, or decreased by 1% on a constant dollar basis.

- Direct to consumer net revenue was flat, and was flat on a constant dollar basis.

• Gross profit was $256.9 million , an increase of 7% compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted gross profit was $262.3 million , an increase of 10%.
• Gross margin was 49.4%, an increase of 110 basis points compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted gross margin was 50.4%, an increase of 210 basis points.
• Income from operations was $45.4 million , a decrease of 21% compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted income from operations was $63.2 million , an increase of 10%.
• Operating margin was 8.7%, a decrease of 290 basis points compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted operating margin was 12.1%, an increase of 50 basis points.
• Income tax expense was $15.1 million compared to $11.8 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 and the effective tax rate was 32.6% compared to 20.6%. The adjusted effective tax rate was 30.8% compared to 29.8% in the first quarter of fiscal 2016.
• Diluted earnings per share were $0.23 compared to $0.33 in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted diluted earnings per share were $0.32 compared to $0.30 for the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

The Company ended the first quarter of fiscal 2017 with $698.3 million in cash and cash equivalents compared to $550.0 million at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Inventories at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2017 increased by 6% to $303.9 million compared to $286.2 million at the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2016. The Company ended the quarter with 411 stores.

Laurent Potdevin , CEO, lululemon, commented: "I'm excited to see the positive trends that materialized late in Q1 continuing into Q2. Our current outlook for the remainder of 2017 is strong, and I'm energized by the growth strategies taking shape. I'm also confident in our plans to restructure ivivva and believe they are the best means to optimize this part of the business."

Mr. Potdevin added: "From our cadence of product innovation, to our enhanced digital experience, and first-ever global brand campaign, we have never felt more deeply connected to our guest or better positioned to expand our collective. We remain laser focused on owning our position as the global brand defining an active, mindful lifestyle."

Updated Outlook

In connection with the restructuring of the ivivva operations, we expect to recognize total pre-tax costs of between $50.0 million and $60.0 million in fiscal 2017, inclusive of $17.7 million recognized during the first quarter of fiscal 2017. This primarily relates to long-lived asset impairment and lease termination costs.

For the second quarter of fiscal 2017, we expect net revenue to be in the range of $565 million to $570 million based on a total comparable sales increase in the low-to-mid single digits on a constant dollar basis. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $0.13 to $0.15 for the quarter. Excluding the impact of the ivivva restructuring, we expect adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $0.33 to $0.35 for the quarter. This guidance assumes 137.2 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding and a 36.6% tax rate, or 31.0% excluding the tax effect of the ivivva restructuring. The guidance does not reflect potential future repurchases of the Company's shares.

For the full fiscal 2017, we now expect net revenue to be in the range of $2.530 billion to $2.580 billion based on a total comparable sales increase in the low-single digits on a constant dollar basis. Diluted earnings per share are expected to be in the range of $1.97 to $2.07 for the full year. Excluding the impact of the ivivva restructuring, we expect adjusted diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $2.28 to $2.38 for the year. This guidance assumes 137.2 million diluted weighted-average shares outstanding and a 31.6% tax rate, or 31.0% excluding the tax effect of the ivivva restructuring. The guidance does not reflect potential future repurchases of the Company's shares.

The guidance and outlook forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on management's expectations as of the date of this press release and the Company undertakes no duty to update or to continue to provide information with respect to any forward-looking statements or risk factors, whether as a result of new information or future events or circumstances or otherwise. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, including those stated below.

Conference Call Information

A conference call to discuss first quarter results is scheduled for today, June 1, 2017 , at 4:30 p.m. Eastern time . Those interested in participating in the call are invited to dial 1-800-319-4610 or 1-604-638-5340, if calling internationally, approximately 10 minutes prior to the start of the call. A live webcast of the conference call will be available online at: http://investor.lululemon.com/events.cfm. A replay will be made available online approximately two hours following the live call for a period of 30 days.

About lululemon athletica inc.

lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ:LULU) is a healthy lifestyle inspired athletic apparel company for yoga, running, training, and most other sweaty pursuits, with products that create transformational experiences for people to live happy, healthy, fun lives. Setting the bar in technical fabrics and functional designs, lululemon works with yogis and athletes in local communities for continuous research and product feedback. For more information, visit www.lululemon.com.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

Constant dollar changes in net revenue, total comparable sales, comparable store sales, and direct to consumer net revenue, and the adjusted financial results, are non-GAAP financial measures.

A constant dollar basis assumes the average foreign exchange rates for the period remained constant with the average foreign exchange rates for the same period of the prior year. We provide constant dollar changes in net revenue, total comparable sales, comparable store sales, and changes in direct to consumer net revenue because we use these measures to understand the underlying growth rate of net revenue excluding the impact of changes in foreign exchange rates. We believe that disclosing these measures on a constant dollar basis is useful to investors because it enables them to better understand the level of growth of our business.

Adjusted gross profit, gross margin, income from operations, operating margin, effective tax rates, and diluted earnings per share exclude the costs recognized in connection with the plan to restructure the ivivva operations, its related tax effects, and certain discrete items related to the Company's transfer pricing arrangements and taxes on repatriation of foreign earnings. We believe these adjusted financial results and measures provide useful information because these items do not directly relate to our ongoing business operations and therefore do not contribute to a meaningful evaluation of the Company's future operating performance. Furthermore, we believe these adjusted financial results and metrics are useful to investors because of their comparability to our historical information.

The presentation of this financial information is not intended to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for, or with greater prominence to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. For more information on these non-GAAP financial measures, please see the section captioned "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" included in the accompanying financial tables, which includes more detail on the GAAP financial measure that is most directly comparable to each non-GAAP financial measure, and the related reconciliations between these financial measures.

Forward-Looking Statements:

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements regarding our future financial condition or results of operations and our prospects and strategies for future growth. In many cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will," "should," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "outlook," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "predicts," "potential" or the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements also include our guidance and outlook statements. These statements are based on management's current expectations but they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements as a result of risks and uncertainties, which include, without limitation: our ability to maintain the value and reputation of our brand; the acceptability of our products to our guests; our highly competitive market and increasing competition; our reliance on and limited control over third-party suppliers to provide fabrics for and to produce our products; an economic downturn or economic uncertainty in our key markets; increasing product costs and decreasing selling prices; our ability to anticipate consumer preferences and successfully develop and introduce new, innovative and updated products; our ability to accurately forecast customer demand for our products; our ability to safeguard against security breaches with respect to our information technology systems; any material disruption of our information systems; our ability to have technology-based systems function effectively and grow our e-commerce business globally; the fluctuating costs of raw materials; our ability to expand internationally in light of our limited operating experience and limited brand recognition in new international markets; our ability to deliver our products to the market and to meet customer expectations if we have problems with our distribution system; imitation by our competitors; higher than anticipated costs and our ability to realize the benefits associated with the restructuring of our ivivva business; our ability to protect our intellectual property rights; changes in tax laws or unanticipated tax liabilities, capital or financing needs in the United States , or our intentions with respect to the reinvestment of foreign earnings; our ability to manage our growth and the increased complexity of our business effectively; our ability to cancel store leases if an existing or new store is not profitable; increasing labor costs and other factors associated with the production of our products in South and South East Asia ; our ability to successfully open new store locations in a timely manner; our ability to source our merchandise profitably or at all; our ability to comply with trade and other regulations; the continued service of our senior management; seasonality; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the operations of many of our suppliers are subject to international and other risks; our exposure to various types of litigation; actions of activist stockholders; and other risks and uncertainties set out in filings made from time to time with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov, including, without limitation, our most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10- Q. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements contained herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this press release and we undertake no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as may be required by law.

lululemon athletica inc.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Unaudited; Expressed in thousands, except per share amounts

Constant dollar changes in net revenue, total comparable sales, comparable store sales, and direct to consumer net revenue

The below changes in net revenue, total comparable sales, comparable store sales, and direct to consumer net revenue show the net change for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

__________

¹Total comparable sales includes comparable store sales and direct to consumer sales.

²Comparable store sales reflects net revenue from company-operated stores that have been open for at least 12 months, or open for at least 12 months after being significantly expanded.

Adjusted financial measures

The following table reconciles adjusted financial measures with the most directly comparable measures calculated in accordance with GAAP:

__________

¹ During the first quarter of fiscal 2017, we recognized costs totaling $5.4 million to reduce the carrying value of certain ivivva branded inventories to their estimated net realizable value and to record the expected net loss on certain committed inventory purchases.

² During the first quarter of fiscal 2017, we recognized long-lived asset impairment charges of $11.6 million and severance costs of $0.7 million related to our plan to restructure our ivivva operations.

³ The adjustments in the first quarter of fiscal 2016 relate to our transfer pricing arrangements and the associated repatriation of foreign earnings.

⁴ The adjustment to income tax expense for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 represents the tax effect of the ivivva related restructuring adjustments, calculated based on the expected annual tax rate of the applicable tax jurisdictions.

Please refer to Notes 7 and 9 to the unaudited interim consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of Part I of our Report on Form 10-Q to be filed with the SEC on or about June 1, 2017 for further explanation as to the nature of these items.

Adjusted expected effective tax rate and diluted earnings per share

__________

¹ These adjustments relate to our plan to restructure our ivivva operations. Please refer to Item 5 of Part II of our Report on Form 10-Q to be filed with the SEC on or about June 1, 2017 for an explanation as to the nature of these items.

lululemon athletica inc.

Store Count and Square Footage¹
Square Footage Expressed in Thousands

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¹Store count and square footage summary includes company-operated stores which are branded lululemon or ivivva. Excludes retail locations operated by third parties under license and supply arrangements.

²Gross square feet added/lost during the quarter includes net square foot additions for company-operated stores which have been renovated or relocated in the quarter.

³As part of the plan to restructure its ivivva operations the Company plans on closing approximately 40 of the 55 ivivva branded company-operated stores which were in operation as at April 30, 2017 , and plans on converting approximately half of the remaining stores to lululemon branded company-operated stores.

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