Interviews
News Flash
'We will generate substantial cash from operations' - Tiffany Chairman
30 May '09
5 min read
• The effective tax rate was 42.0% in the first quarter compared with 36.7% in the prior year, due to a shift in the geographical mix of earnings, but the Company continues to expect an effective tax rate of approximately 37% for the full year.
• Accounts receivable at April 30, 2009 were 30% lower than the prior year as a result of the sales decline.
• Net inventories at April 30, 2009 were 6% above the prior year due to the opening of new stores and lower sales. Consistent with the Company's objective, net inventories have declined 3% since the beginning of the fiscal year and are projected to decline by a single-digit percentage for the full year.
• The Company's balance sheet liquidity at April 30, 2009 included: cash and cash equivalents of $303.7 million (versus $159.6 million a year ago) and total short-term borrowings and long-term debt of $821.8 million (versus $611.2 million a year ago). The increase in debt included $400 million of new long-term debt issuances which have been and will be applied to retire existing debt and for general corporate purposes.
2009 Outlook:
Mr. Kowalski added, "We are now almost one month into our second quarter and, although it's still too early to draw any conclusions, we are seeing a lessening in the rate of year-over-year total sales decline, as we expected. The rate of decline has improved slightly in the Americas and to a greater extent in other regions.
Therefore, we reaffirm our previously-announced full year expectations (based on assumptions that may or may not prove valid) which continue to call for:
(i) a worldwide sales decline of approximately 11% including regional sales declines of: (a) a mid-teens percentage in the Americas (greater in the first half of the year), (b) a mid-single-digit percentage in the Asia-Pacific region, (c) a high-single-digit percentage in Europe, as well as (d) a 20% decline in Other sales;
(ii) a decline in the operating margin (when the prior year is adjusted to exclude one-time items) due to a lower gross margin and the anticipated sales de-leverage effect on fixed costs, partly offset by savings tied to staff reductions as well as other cost-related initiatives; and
(iii) net earnings from continuing operations of $1.50 - $1.60 per diluted share. Our balance sheet provides us with more than ample liquidity to pursue our growth strategies."
• Accounts receivable at April 30, 2009 were 30% lower than the prior year as a result of the sales decline.
• Net inventories at April 30, 2009 were 6% above the prior year due to the opening of new stores and lower sales. Consistent with the Company's objective, net inventories have declined 3% since the beginning of the fiscal year and are projected to decline by a single-digit percentage for the full year.
• The Company's balance sheet liquidity at April 30, 2009 included: cash and cash equivalents of $303.7 million (versus $159.6 million a year ago) and total short-term borrowings and long-term debt of $821.8 million (versus $611.2 million a year ago). The increase in debt included $400 million of new long-term debt issuances which have been and will be applied to retire existing debt and for general corporate purposes.
2009 Outlook:
Mr. Kowalski added, "We are now almost one month into our second quarter and, although it's still too early to draw any conclusions, we are seeing a lessening in the rate of year-over-year total sales decline, as we expected. The rate of decline has improved slightly in the Americas and to a greater extent in other regions.
Therefore, we reaffirm our previously-announced full year expectations (based on assumptions that may or may not prove valid) which continue to call for:
(i) a worldwide sales decline of approximately 11% including regional sales declines of: (a) a mid-teens percentage in the Americas (greater in the first half of the year), (b) a mid-single-digit percentage in the Asia-Pacific region, (c) a high-single-digit percentage in Europe, as well as (d) a 20% decline in Other sales;
(ii) a decline in the operating margin (when the prior year is adjusted to exclude one-time items) due to a lower gross margin and the anticipated sales de-leverage effect on fixed costs, partly offset by savings tied to staff reductions as well as other cost-related initiatives; and
(iii) net earnings from continuing operations of $1.50 - $1.60 per diluted share. Our balance sheet provides us with more than ample liquidity to pursue our growth strategies."
Tiffany & Co.
Popular News
Leave your Comments
Editor’s Pick
Esteemed Clients
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation Limited (TSllC Ltd)")
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Taiwan Textile Federation (TTF)")
