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Reeds Jewelers Announces Year-End Sales and Earnings WILMINGTON, N.C., April 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Reeds Jewelers, Inc. today announced net sales and earnings results for the year ended February 29, 2004. Comparable storesales increased 5% for the quarter ended February 29, 2004 compared to the same quarter of the prior year. The Company's total net sales for the current fiscal quarter increased 3% to $41,088,000 from $39,969,000 while operating an average of 2% fewerstores in the fourth quarter of the current fiscal year. Comparable store sales increased 3% for the year ended February 29, 2004. The Company's total net sales for the year ended February 29, 2004, were flat at $101,309,000 compared to $101,539,000,while operating an average of 5% fewer stores in the current year. Gross margins were 48% during the quarter, up from 47% in the fourth quarter of last year. Year-to-date gross margins remained flat at 49%. The higher gross margins in the fourth quarter of the current year are primarily attributable to less aggressive markdowns and a more profitable merchandise mix. Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased $748,000 or 5% in the last quarter of this year compared to the same period a year ago. As a percentage of net sales SG&A was 34% and 37% for the quarters ended February 29, 2004 and February 28, 2003, respectively. Year-to-date selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased $895,000 or 2% from the same period in the prior year. SG&A as a percentage of net sales was 45% in the fiscal year ended February 29, 2004 compared to 46% of net sales in the prior year. The average borrowings for the quarter were 15% lower than the same quarter last year. The Company's effective pre-tax interest rate during the quarter was 5.9%, up from 5.5% for the same period in the previous year. As a result of these two factors, interest expense for the quarter (including interest from discontinued operations) was 8% lower than the same quarter of the prior year. The average borrowings for the year ended February 29, 2004 were 8% lower than the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003. The Company's effective pre-tax interest rate during fiscal year 2004 dropped to 5.3% from 5.8% for fiscal year 2003. As a result, year-to-date interest expense (including interest from discontinued operations) was 15% lower than the same period last year. In anticipation of the expiration of the Company's current revolving credit facility on February 28, 2005, management is negotiating with a new lender to replace its existing revolving credit facility, and expects to close the new revolving credit facility in mid-to-late April 2004. On June 22, 2003, the Company completed its exit from the stateof Kansas resulting in an $82,000 year-to-date loss from disposal of discontinued operations, net of $0 tax benefit. The Kansas operations for the year ended February 29, 2004 resulted in a $125,000 loss from discontinued operations, net of $0 tax benefit. The Company incurred a $105,000 loss, net of $62,000 tax benefit, on the disposal of its Iowa operations in the fiscal year ended February 28, 2003. Discontinued operations for the year ended February 28, 2003 is composed of a $136,000 loss, netof $80,000 tax benefit, relating to the Company's exit from the state of Kansas and a loss of $151,000, net of $88,000 tax benefit, resulting from the Company's exit from the state of Iowa. Income from continuing operations for the fourth quarter of the current year was $4,656,000, net of $0 tax benefit, compared to income of $1,776,000, net of $1,042,000 tax expense, for the same quarter last year. Continuing operations for the year ended February 29, 2004 resulted in a loss of $509,000, net of $0 tax benefit, compared to a loss of $1,113,000, net of $654,000 tax benefit, for the prior year. The total net income for the fourth quarter was $4,660,000 ($.55 per share), compared to net income of $1,615,000 ($0.19 per share), in the same quarter last year. Year-to-date net loss was $716,000 ($0.08 per share) compared to a net loss of $1,505,000 ($0.18 per share), for the year ended February 28, 2003. The Company has established valuation allowances against the deferred tax benefit from current years' losses. Therefore no income tax expense or benefit is reflected in the current year. The Company's net effective tax rate was 0% and 37% for the years ended February 29, 2004 and February 28, 2003, respectively. In December 2003, the Company closed one under-performing store in Charlotte NC in which the lease was expiring and in February 2004 bought out the lease and closed another under-performing store in Fredericksburg VA. Reeds Jewelers is a premier specialty retailer presently operating 89 stores in 18 states, primarily in the Southeast and Midwest, and markets online at http://www.reeds.com/. Additional information on Reeds Jewelers, Inc. is available on the Internet at http://www.reeds.com/ . REEDS JEWELERS, INC. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (dollars in thousands, except per share data) Three Months Ended Fiscal Year Ended 2/29/04 2/28/03 2/29/04 2/28/03 Net sales $41,088 $39,969 $101,309 $101,539 Cost of sales 21,396 21,340 52,163 52,307 Gross profit 19,692 18,629 49,146 49,232 Selling, general, and administrative 14,143 14,891 45,998 46,893 Depreciation and amortization 573 599 2,267 2,317 Restructuring charge 0 0 0 270 Operating earnings (loss) 4,976 3,139 881 (248) Interest expense 320 321 1,390 1,519 Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes 4,656 2,818 (509) (1,767) Income tax expense (benefit) 0 1,042 0 (654) Earnings (loss) from continuing operations 4,656 1,776 (509) (1,113) Loss from discontinued operations, net of applicable tax benefit of $0, $33, $0 and $168 respectively 0 (56) (125) (287) Gain (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations, net of applicable tax benefit of $0, $62, $0, and $62 respectively 4 (105) (82) (105) Net earnings (loss) $4,660 $1,615 ($716) ($1,505) Basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share $0.55 $0.19 ($0.08) ($0.18) Weighted averageshares outstanding - basic 8,476,372 8,476,372 8,476,372 8,476,372 Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 8,480,790 8,476,372 8,476,372 8,476,372 2/29/04 2/28/03 ASSETS Cash $606 $384 Merchandise inventories 40,728 41,637 Other current assets 4,722 3,808 Total current assets 46,056 45,829 Property and equipment, net 9,241 10,442 Other assets 9,136 9,748 Total assets $64,433 $66,019 LIABILITIES & EQUITY Accounts payable & accrued liabilities $15,820 $12,279 Current portion of long-term debt 17,030 - Total current liabilities 32,850 12,279 Revolving credit note - 18,873 Other long-term liabilities 4,148 6,716 Shareholders' equity 27,435 28,151 Total liabilities & equity $64,433 $66,019 SOURCE Reeds Jewelers, Inc. CONTACT: Jim Rouse of Reeds Jewelers, Inc., +1-910-350-3116 Web site: http://www.reeds.com/

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