May 26, 2011

Michaels Stores, Inc. Reports Record First Quarter Results

IRVING, TX -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/26/11 -- Michaels Stores, Inc. (the "Company") today reported unaudited financial results for the first quarter ended April 30, 2011. Total sales for the quarter were $953 million, a 5.7% increase from fiscal 2010 first quarter sales of $901 million. Same-store sales for the comparable 13-week period increased 4.3%, versus a 4.9% increase last year.

John Menzer, Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are pleased with our record level of sales and operating performance during the first quarter. In addition, Michaels is proud to be included in the prestigious ranking of the top 50 U.S. brands, debuting at #29 on Interbrand's annual Best Retail Brands report. This accomplishment is a testament to the success of our ability to meet the needs and desires of our customers, to constantly evolve and differentiate the Michaels brand."

Operating Results

The 4.3% increase in same-store sales for the quarter was the result of a 2.4% increase in transactions, a 1.5% increase in average ticket, and a positive impact of 0.4% from deferred custom framing revenue. Canadian currency translation positively affected average ticket for the first quarter by approximately 50 basis points.

For the first quarter, the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic markets delivered the strongest relative domestic same-store sales performances in Michaels stores. The Company's strongest category performances were in Bakeware, Custom Framing and Kid's Crafts businesses.

The Company's gross margin rate, inclusive of occupancy costs, was 41.2% for the quarter, a 190 basis point increase from the prior year. The increase in the gross margin rate was driven by a 170 basis point improvement in merchandise margin for the quarter primarily related to lower costs associated with an increase in imported merchandise and improved management of promotional and clearance markdowns, as well as improved inventory controls. Occupancy costs decreased 20 basis points primarily due to leveraging of fixed costs on an increase in comparable store sales.

Selling, general and administrative expense decreased 60 basis points in the first quarter to 26.6% of sales versus the prior year due primarily to increased payroll and group insurance leverage on higher comparable store sales.

Operating income increased approximately $30 million to $135 million, or 14.2% of sales, in the first quarter of fiscal 2011.

Interest expense for the quarter was $65 million compared to $68 million for the same period last year. During the quarter, the Company repurchased approximately $93 million of its 13% Subordinated Discount Notes which resulted in an $11 million loss on early extinguishment of debt.

The provision for income taxes was $23 million and cash paid for taxes during the quarter totaled $44 million.

Net income increased 185% to $37 million for the thirteen weeks ended April 30, 2011, compared to $13 million for the thirteen weeks ended May 1, 2010.

Adjusted EBITDA for the quarter was $168 million, or 17.6% of sales, compared to $138 million, or 15.3% of sales, for the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA includes rent expense of $84 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2011 compared to $81 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2010. Reconciliations of GAAP measures to non-GAAP Adjusted EBITDA are included at the end of this press release.

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow

At the end of the first quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company had $157 million in cash and approximately $600 million of availability under its revolving credit facility.

Quarter end debt levels totaled $3.543 billion, down approximately $152 million from the prior year. During the quarter, the Company made a $50 million voluntary prepayment on its Senior Secured Term Loan and repurchased approximately $93 million face value or $87 million accreted value of its 13% Subordinated Discount Notes which were subsequently retired. Subsequent to quarter end, the Company repurchased an additional $22 million face value of its 13% Subordinated Discount Notes.

Average Michaels store inventory at the end of the first quarter, inclusive of distribution centers, was $780,000, down 2.8% from last year's balance of $803,000.

Capital spending for the quarter totaled $15 million, with $9 million attributable to real estate activities, such as new, relocated and existing stores and $6 million for information system and corporate investments.

The Company will host a conference call at 8:00 a.m. Central time today. Those who wish to participate in the call may do so by dialing 866-425-6198, conference ID# 34791682. Any interested party will also have the opportunity to access the call via the internet at www.michaels.com. To listen to the live call, please go to the website at least 15 minutes early to register and download any necessary audio software. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, a recording will be available for 30 days after the date of the event. Recordings may be accessed at www.michaels.com or by phone at 800-642-1687, PIN # 34791682. In addition, the Company will file its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission later today.

Michaels Stores, Inc. is North America's largest specialty retailer of arts, crafts, framing, floral, wall décor and seasonal merchandise for the hobbyist and do-it-yourself home decorator. As of May 25, 2011, the Company owns and operates 1,049 Michaels stores in 49 states and Canada, and 136 Aaron Brothers stores.

This news release may contain forward-looking statements that reflect our plans, estimates and beliefs. Any statements contained herein (including, but not limited to, statements to the effect that the Company or its management "plans," "estimates," "believes" and other similar expressions) that are not statements of historical fact should be considered forward-looking statements and should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2011. Specific examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, forecasts of same-store sales growth, operating income and forecasts of other financial performance. These forward-looking statements rely on a number of assumptions concerning future events and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, that could cause actual results to materially differ from such statements. Such risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not necessarily limited to: risks related to the effect of economic uncertainty; our reliance on foreign suppliers increases our risk of obtaining adequate, timely, and cost-effective product supplies; significant increases in inflation or commodity prices such as petroleum, natural gas, electricity, steel and paper may adversely affect our costs, including cost of merchandise; risks related to our substantial indebtedness; our debt agreements contain restrictions that limit our flexibility in operating our business; our growth depends on our ability to open new stores; our success will depend on how well we manage our business; changes in customer demand could materially adversely affect our sales, operating results and cash flow; unexpected or unfavorable consumer responses to our promotional or merchandising programs could materially adversely affect our sales, operating results and cash flow; changes in newspaper subscription rates may result in reduced exposure to our circular advertisements; improvements to our supply chain may not be fully successful; our suppliers may fail us; risks associated with the vendors from whom our products are sourced could materially adversely affect our revenue and gross profit; product recalls and/or product liability, as well as changes in product safety and other consumer protection laws, may adversely impact our operations, merchandise offering, reputation and financial position; we have co-sourced certain of our information technology, accounts payable, payroll, accounting and human resources functions and may co-source other administrative functions, which make us more dependent upon third parties; our information systems may prove inadequate; failure to adequately maintain security and prevent unauthorized access to our electronic and other confidential information or respond to the payment card terminal tampering could materially adversely affect our financial condition and operating results; changes in regulations or enforcement may adversely impact our business; a weak fourth quarter would materially adversely affect our operating results; competition could negatively impact our business; the interests of our controlling stockholders may conflict with the interests of our creditors; and other factors as set forth in our prior filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including those set forth under Item 1A "Risk Factors" in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 29, 2011. We intend these forward-looking statements to speak only as of the time of this release and do not undertake to update or revise them as more information becomes available.

This press release is also available on the Michaels Stores, Inc. website (www.michaels.com).

Michaels Stores, Inc.

Supplemental Disclosures Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Information

The following table sets forth the Company's Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA"). The Company defines EBITDA as net income before interest, income taxes, discontinued operations, goodwill impairment, depreciation and amortization. Additionally, the table presents Adjusted Earnings before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"). The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as EBITDA adjusted for certain defined amounts that are added to, or subtracted from, EBITDA (collectively, the "Adjustments") in accordance with the Company's $2.4 billion Senior secured term loan and $850 million Asset-based revolving credit facility. The Adjustments are described in further detail in the footnotes to the table below.

The Company has presented EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA in this press release to provide investors with additional information to evaluate our operating performance and our ability to service our debt. The Company uses EBITDA, among other metrics, to evaluate operating performance, to plan and forecast future periods' operating performance and as an element of its incentive compensation targets for certain management personnel. Adjusted EBITDA is a required calculation under the Company's Senior secured term loan and its Asset-based revolving credit facility. As it relates to the Senior secured term loan, Adjusted EBITDA is used in the calculations of fixed charge coverage and leverage ratios, which, under certain circumstances may result in limitations on the Company's ability to make restricted payments as well as the determination of mandatory repayments of the loans. Under the Asset-based revolving facility, Adjusted EBITDA is used in the calculation of fixed charge coverage ratios, which, under certain circumstances, may restrict the Company's ability to make certain payments (characterized as restricted payments), investments (including acquisitions) and debt repayments.

As EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA are not measures of operating performance or liquidity calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP, these measures should not be considered in isolation of, or as a substitute for, net income, as an indicator of operating performance, or net cash provided by operating activities as an indicator of liquidity. Our computation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA may differ from similarly titled measures used by other companies. As EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA exclude certain financial information compared with net income and net cash provided by operating activities, the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures, users of this financial information should consider the types of events and transactions which are excluded. The table below shows a reconciliation of EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA to net earnings and net cash provided by operating activities.

                          Michaels Stores, Inc.
                  Consolidated Statements of Operations
                              (In millions)
                                (Unaudited)

Subject to reclassification

                                                       Quarter Ended
                                                 -------------------------
                                                  April 30,     May 1,
                                                     2011         2010
                                                 -----------  ------------
Net sales                                        $       953  $        901
Cost of sales and occupancy expense                      560           547
                                                 -----------  ------------
Gross profit                                             393           354
Selling, general, and administrative expense             254           245
Related party expenses                                     3             3
Store pre-opening costs                                    1             1
                                                 -----------  ------------
Operating income                                         135           105
Interest expense                                          65            68
Loss on early extinguishment of debt                      11             -
Other (income) and expense, net                           (1)            7
                                                 -----------  ------------
Income before income taxes                                60            30
Provision for income taxes                                23            17
                                                 -----------  ------------
Net income                                       $        37  $         13
                                                 ===========  ============






                          Michaels Stores, Inc.
                        Consolidated Balance Sheets
            (In millions, except share and per share amounts)
                                (Unaudited)

Subject to reclassification

                                      April 30,   January 29,    May 1,
                                         2011         2011         2010
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
                ASSETS
Current assets:
  Cash and equivalents               $       157  $       319  $        79
  Merchandise inventories                    852          826          866
  Prepaid expenses and other                  79           73           69
  Deferred income taxes                       56           56           42
  Income tax receivable                        4            1           10
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
    Total current assets                   1,148        1,275        1,066
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
Property and equipment, at cost            1,343        1,329        1,260
Less accumulated depreciation             (1,047)      (1,028)        (960)
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
    Property and equipment, net              296          301          300
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
Goodwill                                      95           95           94
Debt issuance costs, net of
 accumulated amortization of $63,
 $60, and $61, respectively                   67           72           84
Deferred income taxes                         18           18            8
Other assets                                   7            9           11
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
    Total non-current assets                 187          194          197
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
Total assets                         $     1,631  $     1,770  $     1,563
                                     ===========  ===========  ===========

    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS'
               DEFICIT
Current liabilities:
  Accounts payable                   $       258  $       273  $       196
  Accrued liabilities and other              360          384          339
  Current portion of long-term debt            -            1            -
  Income taxes payable                        13           29            3
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
    Total current liabilities                631          687          538
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
Long-term debt                             3,543        3,667        3,695
Deferred income taxes                          4            4            3
Other long-term liabilities                   77           76           83
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
    Total long-term liabilities            3,624        3,747        3,781
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
                                           4,255        4,434        4,319
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' deficit:
  Common Stock, $0.10 par value,
   220,000,000 shares authorized;
   118,511,580 shares issued and
   outstanding at April 30, 2011;
   118,419,850 shares issued and
   outstanding at January 29, 2011;
   118,389,571 shares issued and
   outstanding at May 1, 2010                 12           12           12
  Additional paid-in capital                  45           43           37
  Accumulated deficit                     (2,689)      (2,726)      (2,812)
  Accumulated other comprehensive
   income                                      8            7            7
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
    Total stockholders' deficit           (2,624)      (2,664)      (2,756)
                                     -----------  -----------  -----------
Total liabilities and stockholders'
 deficit                             $     1,631  $     1,770  $     1,563
                                     ===========  ===========  ===========






                          Michaels Stores, Inc.
                  Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
                              (In millions)
                                (Unaudited)

Subject to reclassification

                                                        Quarter Ended
                                                  ------------------------
                                                   April 30,     May 1,
                                                      2011         2010
                                                  -----------  -----------
Operating activities:
  Net income                                      $        37  $        13
  Adjustments:
    Depreciation and amortization                          25           26
    Share-based compensation                                2            2
    Debt issuance costs amortization                        4            5
    Accretion of long-term debt                            13           12
    Change in fair value of interest rate cap               2           10
    Loss on early extinguishment of debt                   11            -
    Changes in assets and liabilities:
      Merchandise inventories                             (26)          10
      Prepaid expenses and other                           (6)           2
      Accounts payable                                      2          (24)
      Accrued interest                                     27           26
      Accrued liabilities and other                       (54)         (39)
      Income taxes payable                                (19)         (19)
      Other long-term liabilities                           1            3
                                                  -----------  -----------
        Net cash provided by operating activities          19           27
                                                  -----------  -----------

Investing activities:
  Additions to property and equipment                     (15)         (14)
                                                  -----------  -----------
        Net cash used in investing activities             (15)         (14)
                                                  -----------  -----------

Financing activities:
  Repurchase of subordinated discount notes due
   2016                                                   (97)           -
  Repayments on senior secured term loan facility         (50)        (118)
  Payment of debt issuance costs                            -          (19)
  Change in cash overdraft                                (18)         (13)
  Other                                                    (1)          (1)
                                                  -----------  -----------
        Net cash used in financing activities            (166)        (151)
                                                  -----------  -----------

Decrease in cash and equivalents                         (162)        (138)
Cash and equivalents at beginning of period               319          217
                                                  -----------  -----------
Cash and equivalents at end of period             $       157  $        79
                                                  ===========  ===========

Supplemental Cash Flow Information:
  Cash paid for interest                          $        20  $        24
                                                  ===========  ===========
  Cash paid for income taxes                      $        44  $        32
                                                  ===========  ===========






Michaels Stores, Inc.
Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA
(in millions)

                                                        Quarter Ended
                                                  ------------------------
                                                   April 30,     May 1,
                                                      2011         2010
                                                  -----------  -----------

Net cash provided by operating activities         $        19  $        27
Depreciation and amortization                             (25)         (26)
Share-based compensation                                   (2)          (2)
Debt issuance costs amortization                           (4)          (5)
Accretion of long-term debt                               (13)         (12)
Change in fair value of interest rate cap                  (2)         (10)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt                      (11)           -
Changes in assets and liabilities                          75           41
                                                  -----------  -----------
Net income                                                 37           13
Interest expense                                           65           68
Loss on early extinguishment of debt                       11            -
Income tax provision                                       23           17
Depreciation and amortization                              25           26
                                                  -----------  -----------
EBITDA                                                    161          124
Adjustments:
  Share-based compensation                                  2            2
  Sponsor Fees                                              3            3
  Termination expense                                       1            -
  Pre-opening costs                                         1            1
  Foreign currency translation gains                       (3)          (3)
  Store closing costs                                       -            1
  Loss on interest rate cap                                 2           10
  Other (1)                                                 1            -
                                                  -----------  -----------
Adjusted EBITDA                                   $       168  $       138
                                                  ===========  ===========

(1) Other adjustments relate to items such as the moving & relocation
    expenses, franchise taxes and foreign currency hedge.






                          Michaels Stores, Inc.
                        Summary of Operating Data
                                (Unaudited)

The following table sets forth the percentage relationship to net sales of
each line item of our unaudited consolidated statements of operations:
(Schedule may not foot due to rounding)

                                                        Quarter Ended
                                                  -----------  -----------
                                                   April 30,     May 1,
                                                     2011         2010
                                                  -----------  -----------
Net sales                                               100.0%       100.0%
Cost of sales and occupancy expense                      58.8         60.7
                                                  -----------  -----------
Gross profit                                             41.2         39.3
Selling, general, and administrative expense             26.6         27.2
Related party expenses                                    0.3          0.3
Store pre-opening costs                                   0.1          0.1
                                                  -----------  -----------
Operating income                                         14.2         11.7
Interest expense                                          6.8          7.6
Loss on early extinguishment of debt                      1.2            -
Other (income) and expense, net                          (0.1)         0.8
                                                  -----------  -----------
Income before income taxes                                6.3          3.3
Provision for income taxes                                2.4          1.9
                                                  -----------  -----------
Net income                                                3.9%         1.4%
                                                  ===========  ===========


The following table sets forth certain of our
 unaudited operating data:
                                                        Quarter Ended
                                                  -----------  -----------
                                                   April 30,     May 1,
                                                     2011         2010
                                                  -----------  -----------
Michaels stores:
  Retail stores open at beginning of period             1,045        1,023
  Retail stores opened during the period                    5            5
  Retail stores opened (relocations) during the
   period                                                   4            7
  Retail stores closed during the period                   (1)           -
  Retail stores closed (relocations) during the
   period                                                  (4)          (7)
                                                  -----------  -----------
  Retail stores open at end of period                   1,049        1,028

Aaron Brothers stores:
  Retail stores open at beginning of period               137          152
  Retail stores closed during the period                   (1)          (6)
                                                  -----------  -----------
  Retail stores open at end of period                     136          146

                                                  -----------  -----------
Total store count at end of period                      1,185        1,174
                                                  ===========  ===========

Other operating data:
  Average inventory per Michaels store (in
   thousands) (1)                                 $       780  $       803
  Comparable store sales increase (2)                     4.3%         4.9%






                          Michaels Stores, Inc.
            Footnotes to Financial and Operating Data Tables
                               (Unaudited)


(1) Average inventory per Michaels store calculation excludes Aaron
    Brothers.

(2) Comparable store sales increase (decrease) represents the increase
    (decrease) in net sales for stores open the same number of months in
    the indicated period and the comparable period of the previous year,
    including stores that were relocated or expanded during either period.
    A store is deemed to become comparable in its 14th month of operation
    in order to eliminate grand opening sales distortions. A store
    temporarily closed more than 2 weeks due to a catastrophic event is not
    considered comparable during the month it closed. If a store is closed
    longer than 2 weeks but less than 2 months, it becomes comparable in
    the month in which it reopens, subject to a mid-month convention. A
    store closed longer than 2 months becomes comparable in its 14th month
    of operation after its reopening.

Source: Michaels Stores, Inc.