Bojangles’, Inc. Reports Financial Results for its First Fiscal Quarter 2017

Reiterates Annual Guidance for its Fiscal Year 2017


CHARLOTTE, N.C., May 02, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bojangles’, Inc. (Bojangles’) (NASDAQ:BOJA) today announced financial results for the 13-week first fiscal quarter ended March 26, 2017. Bojangles’ also reiterated its annual guidance for the 53-week fiscal year 2017 ending on December 31, 2017.

Highlights for the First Fiscal Quarter 2017 Compared to the First Fiscal Quarter 2016

  • System-wide comparable restaurant sales decreased 1.7%, while company-operated comparable restaurant sales decreased 3.5% and franchised comparable restaurant sales decreased 0.5%;
  • Total revenues increased 3.0% to $131.5 million from $127.7 million;
  • 13 system-wide restaurants were opened – 6 company-operated restaurants and 7 franchised restaurants;
  • Net Income was $7.6 million as compared to $7.8 million in the prior year fiscal quarter;
  • Diluted Net Income per Share was $0.20 as compared to $0.21 in the prior year fiscal quarter;
  • Adjusted Net Income* was $7.6 million as compared to $7.9 million in the prior year fiscal quarter;
  • Adjusted Diluted Net Income per Share* was $0.20 as compared to $0.21 in the prior year fiscal quarter; and
  • Adjusted EBITDA* increased to $19.0 million from $18.9 million in the prior year fiscal quarter.

* Descriptions of Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Net Income per Share, Adjusted EBITDA and other non-GAAP financial measures are provided in “Use and Definition of Non-GAAP Measures,” and reconciliations to GAAP figures are provided in the tables at the end of this release.

“Although challenges persist in our industry, we are executing our strategic plan and staying on course in the current business climate by focusing on what has made Bojangles’® an iconic brand for nearly 40 years -- great tasting, freshly-made food, at an exceptional value. We remain confident in our positioning and ability to stay in front of significant trends through innovative product offerings and investments in our people and technology to ensure operational excellence,” said Bojangles’ President and CEO Clifton Rutledge.

“Bojangles’ represents a remarkable growth opportunity, and we intend to leverage our decades of experience and incredible brand equity in a measured and sustainable way. We have development agreements in place for new markets, and many of our existing franchise partners are also planning for continued growth. Although we will also open company-operated restaurants, our long-term goal is for franchising to ultimately lead our expansion efforts,” Mr. Rutledge added.

“Our ‘Bojangles’ of the Future’ restaurant in Charlotte’s Historic West End is scheduled to open soon and will join our Greenville location which opened earlier this year. The feedback we will gather from these locations will enable us to fine-tune the prototype so that we offer only the highest quality experience to our customers. We also have several remodels underway that include elements of the new design concept. Our excitement for these projects is shared by our franchisees and together we will take Bojangles’ to the next phase of its growth and into an even more incredible future,” Mr. Rutledge concluded.

First Fiscal Quarter 2017 Financial Review
System-wide comparable restaurant sales decreased 1.7%, consisting of a 3.5% decrease in company-operated comparable restaurant sales and a 0.5% decrease in franchised comparable restaurant sales. The comparable restaurant sales decrease at company-operated restaurants was composed of decreases in transactions and mix, partially offset by increases in price.

Total revenues increased 3.0% to $131.5 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2017 from $127.7 million in the prior year fiscal quarter. The increase was primarily due to a net additional 57 system-wide restaurants at March 26, 2017 compared to March 27, 2016, partially offset by comparable restaurant sales declines at our company-operated and franchised restaurants.

Company restaurant revenues increased 2.8% to $124.8 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2017 from $121.4 million in the prior year fiscal quarter. Franchise royalty revenues increased 5.5% to $6.5 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2017 from $6.2 million in the prior year fiscal quarter.

Restaurant contribution, a non-GAAP measure, decreased 5.1% to $20.1 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2017 from $21.1 million in the prior year fiscal quarter. As a percentage of company restaurant revenues, restaurant contribution margin, a non-GAAP measure, decreased to 16.1% in the first fiscal quarter of 2017 from 17.4% in the prior year fiscal quarter.

General and administrative expenses decreased 5.9% to $9.0 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2017 from $9.5 million in the prior year fiscal quarter. The decrease was primarily due to lower incentive compensation expense partially offset by headcount added to support our growing restaurant system.

Net Income decreased 2.9% to $7.6 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2017 compared to $7.8 million in the prior year fiscal quarter. Diluted Net Income per Share decreased 4.8% to $0.20 in the first fiscal quarter of 2017 compared to $0.21 in the prior year fiscal quarter.

Adjusted Net Income, a non-GAAP measure, decreased 3.5% to $7.6 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2017 compared to $7.9 million in the prior year fiscal quarter.

Adjusted EBITDA, a non-GAAP measure, increased 0.8% to $19.0 million in the first fiscal quarter of 2017 from $18.9 million in the prior year fiscal quarter.

Fiscal Year 2017 Guidance
Bojangles’ has reiterated its annual outlook for the 53-week period ending on December 31, 2017:

• Total revenues of $560.0 million to $569.0 million, which includes the impact of our refranchising of five company-operated restaurants, which took place on April 24, 2017;

• System-wide comparable restaurant sales of negative low-single digits to flat;

• The opening of 57 to 62 system-wide restaurants;

  • 27 to 28 company-operated restaurants;

  • 30 to 34 franchised restaurants;

• Net increase of 49 to 54 system-wide restaurants;

  • Net increase of 19 to 20 company-operated restaurants, which includes the impact of our refranchising of five company-operated restaurants, which took place on April 24, 2017;

  • Net increase of 30 to 34 franchised restaurants, which includes the impact of our refranchising of five company-operated restaurants, which took place on April 24, 2017;

• Restaurant contribution margin of 17.0% to 17.5%;

• General and administrative expenses of $40.5 million to $41.5 million;

• Adjusted Diluted Net Income per Share of $0.87 to $0.93; and

• Adjusted EBITDA of $84.0 million to $89.0 million.

We have not reconciled guidance for Adjusted Diluted Net Income per Share or Adjusted EBITDA to the corresponding GAAP financial measures because we do not provide guidance for the various reconciling items. We are unable to provide guidance for these reconciling items because we cannot determine their probable significance, as certain items are outside of our control and cannot be reasonably predicted due to the fact that these items could vary significantly from period to period. Accordingly, reconciliations to the corresponding GAAP financial measures are not available without unreasonable effort.

Conference Call and Webcast Today
Bojangles’ will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the first fiscal quarter 2017 results as well as fiscal year 2017 guidance today at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The conference call dial-in number is 201-493-6725. A telephone replay will be available through Friday, June 2, 2017 and may be accessed by dialing 201-493-6730. The conference ID is 13658656.

The conference call will also be webcast live and later archived on the Investors section of our website at www.bojangles.com.

About Bojangles’, Inc.
Bojangles’, Inc. is a highly differentiated and growing restaurant operator and franchisor dedicated to serving customers high-quality, craveable food made from our Southern recipes. Founded in 1977 in Charlotte, N.C., Bojangles’ serves menu items such as delicious, famous chicken, made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuits, flavorful fixin’s and Legendary Iced Tea®. At March 26, 2017, Bojangles’ had 728 system-wide restaurants, of which 314 were company-operated and 414 were franchised restaurants, primarily located in the Southeastern United States. For more information, visit www.bojangles.com or follow Bojangles’ on Facebook and Twitter.

Note Regarding Comparable Restaurant Sales
Comparable restaurant sales reflects the change in year-over-year sales for the comparable restaurant base (as applicable, system-wide, franchised or company-operated restaurants). A restaurant enters our comparable restaurant base the first full day of the month after being open for 15 months using a mid-month convention. If a company-operated restaurant is temporarily closed for a full calendar week due to items such as a remodel, scrape and rebuild, casualty event, severe weather conditions or any other short-term closure, it is removed from the comparable restaurant sales calculations for such period it is temporarily closed. If a franchised restaurant is temporarily closed for a full calendar week due to items such as a remodel, scrape and rebuild, casualty event, severe weather conditions or any other short-term closure, it is removed from the comparable restaurant sales calculations for the entire month(s) impacted by the temporary closure.

Use and Definition of Non-GAAP Measures
We utilize certain non-GAAP measures when assessing the operational strength and the performance of our business. We believe these non-GAAP measures assist our board of directors, management and investors in comparing our operating performance, on a consistent basis from period to period, by isolating the effects of certain items that vary from period to period without any correlation to core operating performance or that vary significantly among similar companies. Bojangles’ cautions that non-GAAP measures should be considered in addition to, but not as a substitute for, reported GAAP results.

Restaurant contribution is defined as company restaurant revenues less food and supplies costs, restaurant labor costs and operating costs, as identified by the reconciliation table below. Restaurant contribution margin is defined as restaurant contribution as a percentage of company restaurant revenues. Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin are supplemental measures of operating performance of our company-operated restaurants and our calculations thereof may not be comparable to those reported by other companies. Restaurant contribution and restaurant contribution margin have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP.

Adjusted Net Income represents company net income before items that we do not consider representative of our ongoing operating performance as identified in the reconciliation table below. Adjusted Diluted Net Income per Share represents company diluted net income per share before items that we do not consider representative of our ongoing operating performance as identified in the reconciliation table below.

EBITDA represents company net income before interest expense (net of interest income), provision for income taxes and depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents company net income before interest expense (net of interest income), provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, items that we do not consider representative of our ongoing operating performance and certain non-cash items, as identified in the reconciliation table below.

Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Net Income per Share, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are supplemental measures of our performance that are neither required by, nor presented in accordance with, GAAP. Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Net Income per Share, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measurements of our financial performance under GAAP and should not be considered as alternatives to net income, operating income or any other performance measures derived in accordance with GAAP or as alternatives to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of our liquidity. Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Net Income per Share, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA have limitations as analytical tools, and should not be considered in isolation, or as substitutes for analysis of our results as reported under GAAP. In addition, in evaluating Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Net Income per Share, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, you should be aware that in the future we will incur expenses or charges such as those added back to calculate Adjusted Net Income, Adjusted Diluted Net Income per Share, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical or current facts included in this release are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements discuss our current expectations, projections and guidance relating to our financial condition, results of operations, plans, objectives, future performance and business. These statements may be preceded by, followed by or include the words “aim,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect,” “forecast,” “intend,” “outlook,” “plan,” “potential,” “project,” “projection,” “seek,” “may,” “could,” “would,” “will,” “should,” “can,” “can have,” “likely,” the negatives thereof and other words and terms of similar meaning.

Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions; they are not guarantees of performance. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to risks relating to, among other risks, our vulnerability to changes in consumer preferences and economic conditions; our ability to open restaurants in new and existing markets and expand our franchise system; our ability to generate comparable restaurant sales growth; financial or other difficulties, which could cause our restaurants and our franchisees’ restaurants to close; our ability to generate increased sales or profits from new menu items, advertising campaigns, changes in discounting strategy, technology initiatives or restaurant designs and remodels; cancellation of or delay in anticipated future restaurant openings; our reliance on, limited degree of control over and potential responsibility for, our franchisees; increases in the cost of chicken, pork, dairy, wheat, corn and other products; our ability to compete successfully with other quick-service and fast-casual restaurants; our vulnerability to conditions in the Southeastern United States; negative publicity, whether or not valid; concerns about food safety and quality and about food-borne illnesses, including adverse public perception due to the occurrence of avian flu, swine flu or other food-borne illnesses, such as salmonella, E. coli, or others; changes in employment and labor laws; labor shortages and increases in labor costs; and our dependence upon frequent and timely deliveries of restaurant food and other supplies. For further details and discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, see our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 25, 2016, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 7, 2017, and which is available at www.sec.gov. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current expectations and projections about future events. Although we believe that our assumptions made in connection with the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot assure you that the assumptions and expectations will prove to be correct.

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. In addition, all forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this earnings release. We undertake no obligation to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise other than as required under the federal securities laws.

BOJANGLES’, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets 
(in thousands) 
            
            
Assets March 26, 
2017
 December 25, 
2016
 
Current assets:      
 Cash and cash equivalents$21,413 13,898 
 Accounts and vendor receivables, net 5,164 5,421 
 Accounts receivable, related parties, net 435 386 
 Inventories, net 3,273 3,326 
 Other current assets 2,053 3,033 
     Total current assets 32,338 26,064 
 Property and equipment, net 54,710 52,275 
 Goodwill   161,140 161,140 
 Brand    290,500 290,500 
 Franchise rights, net 23,969 24,243 
 Favorable leases, net 900 981 
 Other noncurrent assets 4,118 4,569 
     Total assets$567,675 559,772 
Liabilities and Stockholders’ Equity     
Current liabilities:     
 Accounts payable$11,729 16,818 
 Accrued expenses 20,816 17,940 
 Current maturities of long-term debt 2,132 2,132 
 Current maturities of capital lease obligations 7,533 7,299 
 Other current liabilities 8,189 4,390 
     Total current liabilities 50,399 48,579 
 Long-term debt, less current maturities and deferred debt issuance costs, net 151,616 153,630 
 Deferred income taxes 111,179 111,312 
 Capital lease obligations, less current maturities 22,493 22,524 
 Other noncurrent liabilities 12,962 12,937 
     Total liabilities 348,649 348,982 
Stockholders’ equity:     
 Preferred stock   
 Common stock 366 365 
 Additional paid-in capital 125,337 124,802 
 Retained earnings 92,994 85,377 
 Accumulated other comprehensive income 329 246 
     Total stockholders’ equity 219,026 210,790 
     Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity$567,675 559,772 
            

 

BOJANGLES’, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations 
(in thousands, except per share amounts) 
             
        Thirteen Weeks Ended  
        March 26, 
2017
 March 27, 
2016
  
Revenues:        
 Company restaurant revenues$124,783  121,413   
 Franchise royalty revenues 6,513  6,172   
 Other franchise revenues 200  70   
     Total revenues 131,496  127,655   
Company restaurant operating expenses:      
 Food and supplies costs 38,684  38,521   
 Restaurant labor costs 36,347  33,336   
 Operating costs 29,691  28,413   
 Depreciation and amortization 3,208  3,083   
     Total Company restaurant operating expenses 107,930  103,353   
     Operating income before other operating expenses 23,566  24,302   
Other operating expenses:      
 General and administrative 8,953  9,511   
 Depreciation and amortization 725  717   
 Impairment  296  201   
 Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment 22  (199)  
     Total other operating expenses 9,996  10,230   
     Operating income 13,570  14,072   
Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs (118) (146)  
Interest income  1  1   
Interest expense (1,667) (2,024)  
     Income before income taxes 11,786  11,903   
Income taxes  4,169  4,059   
     Net income$7,617  7,844   
             
             
Net income per share:      
     Basic$0.21  0.22   
     Diluted$0.20  0.21   
             
             
Weighted average shares used in computing net income per share:      
     Basic 36,568  36,023   
     Diluted 38,637  37,435   
             

 

BOJANGLES’, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows 
(in thousands) 
            
        Thirteen Weeks Ended 
        March 26, 
2017
 March 27, 
2016
 
Cash flows from operating activities:     
 Net income $7,617  7,844  
 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:     
   Deferred income tax benefit (183) (855) 
   Depreciation and amortization 3,933  3,800  
   Amortization of deferred debt issuance costs 118  146  
   Impairment 296  201  
   Loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment 22  (199) 
   Provision for doubtful accounts 153  63  
   Benefit for inventory spoilage (3) (1) 
   Benefit for closed stores   (1) 
   Stock-based compensation 374  276  
   Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation   (449) 
   Changes in operating assets and liabilities 1,909  1,500  
     Net cash provided by operating activities 14,236  12,325  
Cash flows from investing activities:     
 Purchases of property and equipment (3,015) (839) 
 Proceeds from disposition of property and equipment 14  9  
     Net cash used in investing activities (3,001) (830) 
Cash flows from financing activities:     
 Principal payments on long-term debt (2,132) (3,669) 
 Stock option exercises 162  271  
 Excess tax benefit from stock-based compensation   449  
 Principal payments on capital lease obligations (1,750) (1,400) 
     Net cash used in financing activities (3,720) (4,349) 
     Net increase in cash and cash equivalents 7,515  7,146  
Cash and cash equivalents balance, beginning of fiscal period 13,898  14,263  
Cash and cash equivalents balance, end of fiscal period$21,413  21,409  
            

 

BOJANGLES’, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Income to Adjusted Net Income 
(in thousands) 
                 
        Thirteen Weeks Ended    
        March 26, 
2017
 March 27, 
2016
      
Net income  $7,617  7,844       
                 
Certain professional and transaction costs (a) 3  33       
Payroll taxes associated with stock option exercises (b) 26  20       
Distributor transition costs (c)   65       
Executive separation expenses (d) 5         
Tax impact of adjustments (e) (11) (44)      
Total adjustments 23  74       
Adjusted Net Income$7,640  7,918       
                 
                 
                 
                 
                 
BOJANGLES’, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
Unaudited Reconciliation of Diluted Net Income Per Share to Adjusted Diluted Net Income Per Share 
                 
        Thirteen Weeks Ended    
        March 26, 
2017
 March 27, 
2016
      
Diluted net income per share$0.20  0.21       
                 
Certain professional and transaction costs (a)          
Payroll taxes associated with stock option exercises (b)          
Distributor transition costs (c)          
Executive separation expenses (d)          
Tax impact of adjustments (e)          
Total adjustments          
Adjusted Diluted Net Income per Share$0.20  0.21       
                 
                 
(a)Includes costs associated with third-party consultants for one-time projects and public offering expenses. We could incur similar expenses in future
periods if we commence additional public offerings, financing transactions or other one-time projects.
 
(b)Represents payroll taxes associated with stock option exercises related to stock options that were outstanding prior to our initial public offering. We
expect to incur similar expenses in future periods when our directors or employees exercise stock options that were outstanding prior to our initial public
offering.
 
(c)Includes expenses incurred in connection with the transition to our new distributor. 
(d)Represents legal fees associated with a former executive's departure from the Company. We expect to incur similar severance and legal fees in future
periods associated with another former executive’s departure from the Company, including $0.6 million during the thirteen weeks ended June 25, 2017.
 
(e)Represents the income tax expense associated with the adjustments in (a) through (d) that are deductible for income tax purposes. 
                 

 

BOJANGLES’, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES 
Unaudited Reconciliation of Net Income to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA 
(in thousands) 
                 
        Thirteen Weeks Ended    
        March 26, 
2017
 March 27, 
2016
      
Net income  $7,617 7,844      
Income taxes   4,169 4,059      
Interest expense, net 1,666 2,023      
Depreciation and amortization (a) 4,051 3,946      
EBITDA     17,503 17,872      
Non-cash rent (b)  404 378      
Stock-based compensation (c) 374 276      
Payroll taxes associated with stock option exercises (d) 26 20      
Preopening expenses (e) 375 218      
Certain professional, transaction and other costs (f) 3 33      
Distributor transition costs (g)  65      
Executive separation expenses (h) 5       
Impairment and dispositions (i) 332 11      
Adjusted EBITDA$19,022 18,873      
                 
                 
(a)Includes amortization of deferred debt issuance costs. 
(b)Includes deferred rent, which represents the extent to which our rent expense has been above or below our cash rent payments, amortization of
favorable (unfavorable) leases and closed store reserves for rent net of cash payments. We expect to continue to incur similar expenses in future
periods as we record rent expense in accordance with GAAP, as well as continue to amortize favorable (unfavorable) leases and record closed store
reserves.
 
(c)Represents non-cash, stock-based compensation. We expect to incur similar expenses in future periods as we record stock-based compensation
related to existing grants (and any potential future grants) in accordance with GAAP.
 
(d)Represents payroll taxes associated with stock option exercises related to stock options that were outstanding prior to our initial public offering. We
expect to incur similar expenses in future periods when our directors or employees exercise stock options that were outstanding prior to our initial
public offering.
 
(e)Includes expenses directly associated with the opening of company-operated restaurants and incurred prior to the opening of a company-operated
restaurant. We expect to continue to incur similar expenses as we open company-operated restaurants.
 
(f)Includes costs associated with third-party consultants for one-time projects and public offering expenses. We could incur similar expenses in future
periods if we commence additional public offerings, financing transactions or other one-time projects.
 
(g)Includes expenses incurred in connection with the transition to our new distributor. 
(h)Represents legal fees associated with a former executive's departure from the Company. We expect to incur similar severance and legal fees in future
periods associated with another former executive’s departure from the Company, including $0.6 million during the thirteen weeks ended June 25, 2017.
 
(i)Includes loss (gain) on disposal of property and equipment, impairment and cash proceeds on disposals from disposition of property and equipment.
We could continue to record impairment expense in future periods if performance of company-operated restaurants is not sufficient to recover the
carrying amount of the related long-lived assets. We may incur future losses (gains) and receive cash proceeds on disposal of property and equipment
associated with retirement, replacement or write-off of fixed assets.
 
                 

 

BOJANGLES’, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Unaudited Reconciliation of Company Restaurant Revenues to Restaurant Contribution
(in thousands)
           
        Thirteen Weeks Ended
        March 26, 
2017
 March 27, 
2016
Company restaurant revenues$124,783  121,413 
Food and supplies costs (38,684) (38,521)
Restaurant labor costs (36,347) (33,336)
Operating costs (29,691) (28,413)
Restaurant contribution$20,061  21,143 
Restaurant contribution margin 16.1% 17.4%



            

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