Business Overview
Vince Holding Corp. (VNCE) is a global retail company that operates the Vince brand women's and men's ready-to-wear business. The company previously owned and operated the Rebecca Taylor and Parker brands until the sale of the respective intellectual property was completed.Vince, established in 2002, is a leading global luxury apparel and accessories brand best known for creating elevated yet understated pieces for every day effortless style. Vince operates 47 full-price retail stores, 15 outlet stores, the e-commerce site vince.com, and the subscription service Vince Unfold. Vince is also available through premium wholesale channels globally.
On April 21, 2023, the company entered into a strategic partnership with Authentic Brands Group, LLC ("Authentic"), whereby the company contributed its Vince intellectual property to a newly formed Authentic subsidiary ("ABG Vince") for cash consideration and a 25% membership interest. The company closed this Asset Sale on May 25, 2023 and entered into a long-term licensing agreement with ABG Vince to operate the Vince brand.
The company has identified three reportable segments: Vince Wholesale, Vince Direct-to-consumer, and the previously owned Rebecca Taylor and Parker brands. The Rebecca Taylor business was wound down in fiscal 2023, while the Parker brand was sold in February 2023.
Financial Overview
For the fiscal year ended February 3, 2024, Vince reported annual net income of $25,446,000, annual revenue of $292,890,000, annual operating cash flow of -$1,696,000, and annual free cash flow of -$3,156,000.In the first quarter of fiscal 2024, the company reported net sales of $59,171,000, a decrease of 7.6% compared to the prior year period. Gross profit was $29,913,000, or 50.6% of net sales, compared to $29,592,000, or 46.2% of net sales, in the prior year quarter. The increase in gross margin was driven by lower promotional activity and lower product and freight costs, partially offset by royalty expenses associated with the new licensing agreement.
Selling, general and administrative (SG&A) expenses were $31,943,000, or 54.0% of net sales, compared to $32,733,000, or 51.1% of net sales, in the prior year quarter. The decrease in SG&A dollars was primarily driven by lower transaction-related expenses compared to the prior year, partially offset by increased rent and occupancy costs and higher short-term incentive compensation.
Operating income for the first quarter was $5,604,000 compared to an operating loss of $2,376,000 in the prior year quarter. Net income for the first quarter was $4,380,000, or $0.35 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $381,000, or a loss of $0.03 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter.
Liquidity
The company's sources of liquidity are cash and cash equivalents, cash flows from operations, borrowings available under the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility, and the ability to access the capital markets. As of May 4, 2024, the company had $739,000 in cash and cash equivalents and $25,909,000 available under the 2023 Revolving Credit Facility, net of the Loan Cap.Guidance and Outlook
For the second quarter of fiscal 2024, the company expects total net sales to be relatively flat to down low single digits compared to the prior year period. The company expects second quarter operating margin to decline approximately 500 to 750 basis points compared to the prior year adjusted operating margin of 4.1%, driven by SG&A deleverage and the impact of the wind-down of the Rebecca Taylor business, partially offset by gross margin expansion.For the full fiscal year 2024, the company continues to expect total net sales to grow in the low single digits compared to fiscal 2023. The company expects operating margin to be flat to up 25 basis points compared to the prior year adjusted operating margin, including a headwind of approximately 140 basis points from royalty fees associated with the new licensing agreement.
Transformation Program and Growth Initiatives
The company is implementing a transformation program focused on driving enhanced profitability through an improved gross margin profile and optimized expense structure. Key initiatives include streamlining manufacturing and production, reducing promotional activity, and enhancing efficiencies within store operations, corporate overhead, and third-party spend.In addition to the transformation program, the company is focused on several growth initiatives. These include expanding the men's business to 30% of total revenues over the next three years, enhancing customer acquisition and loyalty efforts, and benefiting from the partnership with Authentic Brands and the ownership stake in ABG Vince.