The Jones Group Inc reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2011. Revenues for the fourth quarter of 2011 were $894 million, as compared with $874 million for the fourth quarter of 2010. Revenues for the full year 2011 were $3,785 million, as compared with $3,643 million for the full year 2010.
The Company reported adjusted earnings per share ("EPS") of $0.10 for the fourth quarter of 2011, as compared with adjusted earnings per share of $0.04 for the same period last year. The 2011 fourth quarter results include certain tax benefits of $0.07 per share. Adjusted earnings per share from continuing operations on a full year basis were $1.30 in 2011 as compared with $1.51 per share in the prior year.
Wesley R. Card, The Jones Group Chief Executive Officer, stated: "Fourth quarter revenues were lower than expected due to the highly promotional retail environment and a slowdown in replenishment orders. Our gross margins were much improved due to the inclusion of the Kurt Geiger business and an improvement in our core businesses, which generated a modest improvement in operating income."
Cash provided by operating activities during 2011 was $272 million, compared with $141 million in 2010. The current year results reflect a lower level of required investment in working capital and lower tax payments, somewhat offset by slightly lower earnings. The Company had $239 million in cash and no amounts drawn under its $650 million of committed revolving credit facilities.
John T. McClain, The Jones Group Chief Financial Officer, commented: "Our financial position remains strong. We ended the year with $239 million in cash and our revolver undrawn. We are approaching our 2012 inventory commitments with a conservative, tightened buy plan, which is the same approach we had in 2011. With a focus on inventory management, expense control, and operational efficiencies, we believe we will continue to improve margins and maintain a strong balance sheet."
Mr. Card concluded: "We are committed to driving profitability and continue to operate efficiently, control costs and execute at a high level. At the same time, we are concentrating our efforts on the areas we believe offer the greatest opportunity for revenue growth - upscale and contemporary brands, international and our traditional core brands. We believe our new brand management approach and creative design talents, including the addition of Stefani Greenfield, as Chief Creative Officer, will advance the reinvigoration of our core brands."
20240830145952.gif)
.jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "UBM China (Shanghai)")
-Ltd..jpg?tr=w-120,h-60,c-at_max,cm-pad_resize,bg-ffffff "Thermore (Far East) Ltd.")
