Raving Toy Maniac

Toys"R"Us, Inc. Reports Results for Fourth Quarter and Full Year of Fiscal 2011
Fourth Quarter Net Earnings Increase $13 Million to $343 Million

WAYNE, N.J., Mar 21, 2012 -- Annual Adjusted EBITDA of $1,054 Million Marks Third Consecutive Year Over $1 Billion

Toys"R"Us, Inc. today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year of fiscal 2011 ended January 28, 2012. For the fourth quarter, the company reported net sales of $5.9 billion, Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $749 million and net earnings of $343 million.

Jerry Storch, Chairman and CEO, Toys"R"Us, Inc., said, "We are pleased with the company's success in delivering our third consecutive year of Adjusted EBITDA in excess of $1 billion, and with the net earnings growth we realized in the fourth quarter. Importantly, we also increased our gross margin rate during the year through our strategies to expand exclusive product offerings and deepen relationships with manufacturers."

Mr. Storch added, "We continue to see sales and operational benefits from the integration of our juvenile and toy offerings under one roof. During the year we further invested in and strengthened our omnichannel and internet capabilities, providing increased speed and multiple ways by which customers can now order and receive products. We are also pleased with the performance of our international segment, where we are implementing our expansion strategy and broadening our reach in emerging economies that are experiencing GDP growth and rising incomes. To this end, we acquired the ownership interest in our licensee operations in Greater China and Southeast Asia, which we believe provides significant growth opportunities ahead."

"As we move forward in 2012, our team remains focused on offering customers the differentiated product selection, product presentation, service, and in-store experience that build upon our position as the premier shopping destination for toys and juvenile products," Mr. Storch concluded.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2011 Highlights -- Total Company

-- Net sales were $5.9 billion, a decrease of $47 million compared to the prior year. Net sales were lower due to the company's decision to open significantly fewer Toys"R"Us Express stores during the 2011 holiday selling season, along with a decline of 1.1% and 2.7% in comparable store net sales in the Domestic and International segments. These decreases were partially offset by an increase in net sales from new locations within the International segment, which included business operations in Greater China and Southeast Asia, as well as a foreign currency translation benefit of $44 million.

-- Adjusted EBITDA decreased to $749 million, compared to $804 million in the prior year.

-- The Learning and Core Toy categories continued to be strong, generating net sales growth of 3.4% and 1.9%. The Entertainment category (which includes electronics, video game hardware and software) was the weakest, declining 7.3%. Excluding the Entertainment category, net sales were up 0.7%. Internet sales continued to be strong.

-- Gross margin was $1,981 million, compared to $2,034 million in the prior year.

-- Selling, general and administrative ("SG&A") expenses were $1,274 million, compared to $1,272 million in the prior year.

-- Earnings before income taxes for the quarter were $524 million, compared to $565 million in the prior year.

-- Net earnings were $343 million, an increase of $13 million compared to $330 million in the prior year. The increase in net earnings was primarily attributable to a reduction in income tax expense and interest expense.

Note: All comparisons are versus the same period one year ago.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2011 Highlights -- Domestic Segment

-- Net sales of $3.6 billion decreased 3.2% versus the prior year driven by significantly fewer Toys"R"Us Express stores during the 2011 holiday selling season and a comparable store net sales decline of 1.1%.

-- The net sales decline was primarily due to an 8.7% decline in the Entertainment category (which includes electronics, video game hardware and software).

-- Gross margin was $1,141 million, compared to $1,234 million in the prior year. Gross margin, as a percentage of net sales, was 31.7%, a decrease of 1.5 percentage points versus the prior year. The primary reasons for the margin rate decline were increased online sales and decreased sales from Toys"R"Us Express store locations.

-- Operating earnings in the quarter decreased to $368 million, compared to $449 million in the prior year. The decrease was primarily due to a decline in gross margin, partially offset by a decrease in SG&A.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2011 Highlights -- International Segment

-- Net sales were $2.3 billion, an increase of 3.2% versus the prior year, driven principally by sales from new locations, including stores acquired in Greater China and Southeast Asia. Comparable store net sales decreased 2.7%.

-- The Learning and Core Toy categories were the strongest, generating net sales growth of 6.8% and 6.0%. The Entertainment category (which includes electronics, video game hardware and software) was the weakest, declining 4.5%. Excluding the Entertainment category, net sales increased 4.6%.

-- Gross margin was $840 million, compared to $800 million in the prior year. Gross margin, as a percentage of net sales, was 36.1%, an increase of 0.6 percentage points versus the prior year. This increase was due to improvements in margin rate primarily within our Core Toy and Learning categories, as well as a sales mix shift away from lower margin products in the Entertainment category.

-- Operating earnings were $325 million, compared to $315 million in the prior year.

Full Year Fiscal 2011 Highlights -- Total Company

The following highlights combine the fourth quarter results being announced today with the results of the first three quarters of the fiscal year, which have been previously disclosed:

-- Net sales were $13.9 billion, an increase of $45 million compared to the prior year. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation of $293 million, net sales were down due to a decline in comparable store net sales of 1.7% in the Domestic segment and 2.7% in the International segment. Partially offsetting the decrease was an increase in net sales from new locations within the International segment, which included, from the date of acquisition, business operations in Greater China and Southeast Asia.

-- The Learning and Core Toy categories were the strongest categories for the year, generating net sales growth of 5.0% and 4.3%. The Entertainment category (which includes electronics, video game hardware and software) was the weakest, declining 9.0%. Excluding the Entertainment category, net sales were up 1.8% for the year. Internet sales continued to be strong.

-- The company converted or relocated 61 stores to an integrated side-by-side format and opened 10 new side-by-side stores. As of January 28, 2012, the company operated 327 side-by-side stores offering both toy and juvenile products and 96 additional Toys"R"Us stores which received a minor capital reinvestment contemporizing the store and dedicating a small portion of the store to juvenile products.

-- Gross margin was $4,970 million, compared to $4,925 million in the prior year. The increase was driven by a foreign currency translation benefit of $113 million. Gross margin, as a percentage of net sales, increased 0.2 percentage points to 35.7%.

-- SG&A expenses were $4,029 million, compared to $3,942 million in the prior year. The increase in SG&A was driven by $95 million of foreign currency translation impact. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, SG&A decreased primarily as a result of lower litigation settlement expenses for certain legal matters and a decrease in pre-opening, payroll and rent expenses.

-- Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2011 was $1,054 million, compared to $1,118 million in the prior year, marking the third consecutive year the company exceeded $1 billion in Adjusted EBITDA.

-- Interest expense was $442 million, a decrease of $79 million versus the prior year. Interest expense was lower largely due to the write-off of deferred financing charges as a result of debt refinancings in the prior year.

-- Net earnings for the full year were $149 million, compared to $168 million in the prior year. Contributing factors to the change in net earnings were an increase in SG&A, a decrease in income tax benefit and an increase in depreciation and amortization, partially offset by a decrease in interest expense and an increase in gross margin.

Capital Spending

The company's capital expenditure program is a key component of its long-term juvenile integration strategy, which recognizes the synergies between the toy and juvenile categories and integrates these businesses into one store. For the full year, the company invested $380 million primarily to convert, expand and remodel existing stores, open new stores and upgrade its information technology systems and capabilities, compared to $325 million in the prior year.

Debt

Total debt at the end of fiscal 2011 was $5,170 million, a decrease of $118 million from the prior year.

About Toys"R"Us, Inc.

Toys"R"Us, Inc. is the world's leading dedicated toy and juvenile products retailer, offering a differentiated shopping experience through its family of brands. Merchandise is sold in 875 Toys"R"Us and Babies"R"Us stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and in more than 625 international stores and over 140 licensed stores in 35 countries and jurisdictions. In addition, it exclusively operates the legendary FAO Schwarz brand and sells extraordinary toys in the brand's flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. With its strong portfolio of e-commerce sites including Toysrus.com, Babiesrus.com, eToys.com and FAO.com, it provides shoppers with a broad online selection of distinctive toy and baby products. Headquartered in Wayne, NJ, Toys"R"Us, Inc. employs approximately 70,000 associates annually worldwide. The company is committed to serving its communities as a caring and reputable neighbor through programs dedicated to keeping kids safe and helping them in times of need. Additional information about Toys"R"Us, Inc. can be found on Toysrusinc.com.