Borders Group Reports Q2 2009 Results; Adjusted EBITDA $6.9 Million and Operating Cash Flow $40.6 Million

Borders Group Reports Q2 2009 Results; Adjusted EBITDA $6.9 Million and Operating Cash Flow $40.6 Million

ANN ARBOR, Mich., Aug. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE:BGP) today reported results for the fiscal second quarter of 2009, ended Aug. 1.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060208/BORDERSGRPLOGO )

Second quarter results, compared to the same period a year ago, include the following highlights:

-- Adjusted EBITDA was $6.9 million compared to $14.9 million in the
prior year quarter. On a year-to-date basis, adjusted EBITDA was $9.9
million compared to $0.6 million in 2008.
-- SG&A expenses, on an operating basis, were reduced by $35.8 million.
-- Inventory was reduced by $201.3 million, including a reduction in
multimedia inventory of $57.3 million.
-- Debt, net of cash, at the end of the second quarter was $242.5
million, a reduction from the prior year of $179.3 million, or 42.5%.
Debt, net of cash, compared to year-end levels was reduced by $40.1
million, or 14.2%.
-- Total consolidated sales were $616.8 million, down $132.4 million, or
17.7%.
-- Comparable store sales declined by 17.9% and 10.8% at Borders
superstores and Waldenbooks Specialty Retail stores, respectively.
Excluding multimedia, comparable store sales at Borders declined by
13.0%.

-- On an operating basis, the company generated a loss from continuing
operations of $12.7 million or $0.21 per share compared to a loss of
$10.5 million or $0.18 per share a year ago. On a GAAP basis, the loss
from continuing operations was $45.6 million or $0.76 per share
compared to a loss of $11.3 million or $0.19 per share a year ago. The
$0.76 per share loss includes $0.55 per share of non-operating charges
that were primarily non-cash.

"The second quarter was a transitional one as we made significant space and inventory reductions to strategically position declining categories for profitability while further developing businesses that have potential," said Borders Group Chief Executive Officer Ron Marshall. "While this transition impacted sales in the short run, our stores are now better positioned to drive improved sales in the back half of the year. Further, we are pleased that even with the level of transformation we undertook in the second quarter, our financial disciplines remained intact and we continued to strengthen our balance sheet by cutting debt, generating positive cash flow, reducing inventory and tightly managing working capital. The big changes for the year are behind us now and the challenge is to deliver on the opportunity we have created to drive sales."

Consolidated Results

All sales and earnings/loss figures reported throughout this news release are on a continuing operations basis unless otherwise noted.

Second quarter consolidated sales were $616.8 million, down 17.7% from a year ago. On an operating basis, Borders Group generated a second quarter loss of $12.7 million or $0.21 per share compared to a loss of $10.5 million or $0.18 per share for the same period last year. On a GAAP basis, the second quarter loss was $45.6 million or $0.76 per share compared to a GAAP loss of $11.3 million or $0.19 per share a year ago. The second quarter GAAP loss includes non-operating, after-tax charges--primarily non-cash--totaling $32.9 million.

Excluding non-operating charges, SG&A as a percent of sales improved over last year by 0.2% from 26.0% to 25.8% due to the company's aggressive expense reduction initiatives, which were partially offset by de-leveraging due to negative sales trends. Expense reduction initiatives helped reduce SG&A dollar expenses by $35.8 million compared to the prior year. On a GAAP basis, SG&A as a percent of sales was flat with last year at 27.4%.

Operating cash flow in the second quarter was $40.6 million compared to $71.1 million one year ago when the company first initiated a significant inventory reduction program.

Second quarter capital expenditures were $2.0 million compared to $27.1 million in 2008 as the company continued to manage capital prudently. Debt, net of cash, at the end of the second quarter totaled $242.5 million compared to debt, net of cash, at the end of the second quarter a year ago of $421.8 million, a reduction of 42.5%. Inventory was reduced by 18.5% as the company reduced its second quarter inventory investment to $889.0 million compared to year-ago inventory of $1.1 billion.

Non-Operating Adjustments

The table below details the non-operating adjustments for the second quarter and the year to date.

Non-Operating Line Item
Adjustments Item Impact Q2 2009 YTD 2009

Consulting, Cash Gross Margin $4.7 million $8.9 million
professional and and SG&A
other fees

Store closure and Cash Gross Margin $0.9 million $0.7 million
related items and SG&A

Severance and Cash Gross Margin $1.6 million $2.0 million
other compensation and SG&A
costs

Asset impairments Non-cash Asset $0.7 million $0.8 million
and other Impairments
writedowns

Accelerated Non-cash SG&A $2.8 million $7.1 million
depreciation-
multimedia
space reduction

Term loan Non-cash Interest $1.1 million $2.7 million
cost/discount Expense
amortization

International Non-cash Warrant/Put $0.0 million $16.2 million
"put" expiration Expense

Warrant liability Non-cash Warrant/Put $14.7 million $47.6 million
fair value Expense
adjustment

Total pre-tax $26.5 million $86.0 million
non-operating
adjustments

Normalized income Non-cash Income Taxes $6.4 million $17.0 million
taxes (Benefit)

Total after-tax $32.9 million $103.0 million
non-operating
adjustments

$0.55 EPS $1.71 EPS

Borders Superstores

Total sales at Borders superstores, including Borders.com, in the second quarter were $513.6 million, down 17.4% from a year ago. Comparable store sales decreased by 17.9% at Borders superstores in the second quarter. Excluding multimedia, which was substantially transitioned out of stores throughout the second quarter, comparable store sales at Borders declined by 13.0%.

On an operating basis, the segment generated a second quarter operating loss of $9.0 million compared to an operating loss of $3.1 million for the same period a year ago. On a GAAP basis, the segment generated an operating loss in the second quarter of $17.4 million compared to an operating loss of $7.7 million the prior year.

Two Borders superstores were closed in the second quarter, ending the period with 513 locations.

Waldenbooks Specialty Retail

Total sales in the second quarter within the Waldenbooks Specialty Retail segment were $74.5 million, a 23.1% decline compared to the same period in 2008 as the number of stores was decreased to 370 at the end of the second quarter this year compared to 468 stores that were open at the close of the same period a year ago. The company closed six Waldenbooks locations in the second quarter of this year. Comparable store sales in the second quarter at Waldenbooks decreased by 10.8%.

On an operating basis, the segment generated an operating loss of $2.9 million in the second quarter compared to an operating loss of $6.7 million for the same period in 2008. On a GAAP basis, the segment generated a second quarter operating loss of $3.1 million compared to an operating loss of $7.7 million for the same period in 2008.

International

Total sales within the International segment (which consists primarily of Paperchase) totaled $28.7 million in the second quarter, which is down by 5.6% compared to a year ago. Excluding the impact of foreign currency translation, segment sales increased by 10.4% for the period.

On an operating basis, the segment generated an operating loss of $1.0 million in the second quarter compared to an operating loss of $1.3 million for the same period in 2008. On a GAAP basis, the segment generated a second quarter operating loss of $1.7 million compared to an operating loss of $1.4 million for the same period in 2008.

Conference Call Today

Management will review second quarter results on a conference call today at 10 a.m. Eastern. This call is being web cast by Thomson Financial and can be accessed at the Borders Group corporate Web site at www.bordersgroupinc.com. A replay will be accessible on the Web site through Sept. 25. In addition, a replay phone service will be available toll-free 800-229-6237, or for international calls, at 402-220-9680. The phone service will be available through Sept. 8 until 11:59 p.m. Eastern.

Next Financial Release-Q3 2009
Borders Group plans to issue fiscal third quarter 2009 results Nov. 24.

About Borders Group

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE:BGP) is a leading retailer of books, music and movies with more than 25,000 employees. Through its subsidiaries, the company operates approximately 1,000 stores worldwide primarily under the Borders and Waldenbooks brand names. For online shopping, visit Borders.com. For more information about the company, visit www.borders.com/investors.

Safe Harbor Statement

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. One can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "expect," "planning," "possibility," "opportunity" "goal," "will," "may," "intend," "anticipates," and other words of similar meaning. One can also identify them by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements are likely to address matters such as the company's future financial condition and performance (including earnings per share, liquidity, sales, inventory levels and capital expenditures), its cost reduction initiatives and plans for the expansion of product categories. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and plans to differ materially from those included in the company's forward-looking statements.

These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, consumer demand for the company's products, particularly during the holiday season, which is believed to be related to general economic and geopolitical conditions, competition and other factors; the availability of adequate capital--including vendor credit--to fund the company's operations and to carry out its strategic plans, adverse litigation results or other claims and the performance of the company's information technology systems.

The company's periodic reports filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission contain more detailed discussions of these and other risk factors that could cause actual results and plans to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements, and those discussions are incorporated herein by reference. The company does not undertake any obligation to update forward-looking statements.

Borders Group, Inc. Financial Statements
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Unaudited

Sales and Earnings Summary
Quarter Ended Quarter Ended
August 1, 2009 August 2, 2008 (1)
Operating Adjustments GAAP Operating Adjustments GAAP
Basis (2) (2) Basis Basis (3) (3) Basis
Borders
Superstores $513.6 $- $513.6 $621.9 $- $621.9
Waldenbooks
Specialty
Retail 74.5 - 74.5 96.9 - 96.9
International 28.7 - 28.7 30.4 - 30.4
Total sales 616.8 - 616.8 749.2 - 749.2
Other revenue 7.9 - 7.9 9.3 - 9.3
Total revenue 624.7 - 624.7 758.5 - 758.5
Cost of goods
sold, including
occupancy costs 481.7 0.2 481.9 576.5 - 576.5
Gross margin 143.0 (0.2) 142.8 182.0 - 182.0
Selling, general
and administrative
expenses 159.1 9.8 168.9 194.9 10.2 205.1
Asset impairments
and other
writedowns - 0.7 0.7 - - -
Operating loss (16.1) (10.7) (26.8) (12.9) (10.2) (23.1)
Interest expense 4.1 1.1 5.2 6.6 4.5 11.1
Warrant/put
expense (income) - 14.7 14.7 - (10.9) (10.9)
Total interest
expense 4.1 15.8 19.9 6.6 (6.4) 0.2
Loss before
income taxes (20.2) (26.5) (46.7) (19.5) (3.8) (23.3)
Income taxes
(benefit) (7.5) 6.4 (1.1) (9.0) (3.0) (12.0)
Loss from
continuing
operations $(12.7) $(32.9) $(45.6) $(10.5) $(0.8) $(11.3)
Loss from
operations of
discontinued
operations
(net of tax) - - - (0.5) - (0.5)
Gain on disposal
of discontinued
operations
(net of tax) - - - - 2.6 2.6
Income
(loss) from
discontinued
operations
(net of tax) - - - (0.5) 2.6 2.1
Net loss $(12.7) $(32.9) $(45.6) $(11.0) $1.8 $(9.2)

Basic EPS from
continuing
operations $(0.21) $(0.55) $(0.76) $(0.18) $(0.01) $(0.19)
Basic EPS
from
discontinued
operations $- $- $- $- $0.04 $0.04
Basic EPS
including
discontinued
operations $(0.21) $(0.55) $(0.76) $(0.18) $0.03 $(0.15)
Basic weighted
avg. common
shares 60.2 60.2 60.2 60.5 60.5 60.5

Comparable Store
Sales
Borders
Superstores (17.9%) (8.9%)
Waldenbooks
Specialty
Retail (10.8%) (7.0%)

Sales and Earnings Summary (As Percentage of Total Sales)

Quarter Ended Quarter Ended
August 1, 2009 August 2, 2008 (1)
Operating Adjustments GAAP Operating Adjustments GAAP
Basis (2) (2) Basis Basis (3) (3) Basis
Borders
Superstores 83.3% -% 83.3% 83.0% -% 83.0%
Waldenbooks
Specialty Retail 12.1 - 12.1 12.9 - 12.9
International 4.6 - 4.6 4.1 - 4.1
Total sales 100.0 - 100.0 100.0 - 100.0
Other revenue 1.3 - 1.3 1.2 - 1.2
Total revenue 101.3 - 101.3 101.2 - 101.2
Cost of goods
sold, including
occupancy costs 78.1 - 78.1 76.9 - 76.9
Gross margin 23.2 - 23.2 24.3 - 24.3
Selling, general
and administrative
expenses 25.8 1.6 27.4 26.0 1.4 27.4
Asset impairments
and other
writedowns - 0.1 0.1 - - -
Operating loss (2.6) (1.7) (4.3) (1.7) (1.4) (3.1)
Interest expense 0.7 0.2 0.9 0.9 (0.6) 1.5
Warrant/put
expense (income) - 2.4 2.4 - (1.5) (1.5)
Total interest
expense 0.7 2.6 3.3 0.9 (0.9) -
Loss before
income taxes (3.3) (4.3) (7.6) (2.6) (0.5) (3.1)
Income taxes
(benefit) (1.2) 1.0 (0.2) (1.2) (0.4) (1.6)
Loss from
continuing
operations (2.1)% (5.3)% (7.4)% (1.4)% (0.1)% (1.5)%

(1) The results of Borders Australia, Borders New Zealand and Borders
Singapore are reported as discontinued operations.

(2) Results from 2009 were impacted by a number of non-operating items,
including accelerated depreciation related to our multimedia reduction
initiative, asset impairments, severance costs, store closure costs,
professional fees related to our turnaround efforts, amortization of
the term loan discount and debt issuance costs, and a non-cash charge
related to the fair market value adjustment of the warrant liability.
Therefore, solely for analytical purposes and as an aid to better
understand underlying trends, operating basis data are presented
excluding these items. To aid in the comparability to last year,
operating basis data is presented using a normalized tax rate.

(3) Results from 2008 were impacted by a number of non-operating items,
including store closure costs, severance costs, professional fees
related to strategic alternatives and amortization of the term loan
discount and debt issuance costs, offset by income related to the fair
market value adjustment of the warrant liability and related tax
benefit. Therefore, solely for analytical purposes and as an aid to
better understand underlying trends, operating basis data are
presented excluding these items.

Borders Group, Inc. Financial Statements
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Unaudited

Sales and Earnings Summary
Six Months Ended Six Months Ended
August 1, 2009 August 2, 2008 (1)
Operating Adjustments GAAP Operating Adjustments GAAP
Basis (2) (2) Basis Basis (3) (3) Basis
Borders
Superstores $1,050.3 $- $1,050.3 $1,222.6 $- $1,222.6
Waldenbooks
Specialty
Retail 151.4 - 151.4 192.9 - 192.9
International 56.6 - 56.6 63.2 - 63.2
Total sales 1,258.3 - 1,258.3 1,478.7 - 1,478.7
Other revenue 16.6 - 16.6 15.6 - 15.6
Total
revenue 1,274.9 - 1,274.9 1,494.3 - 1,494.3
Cost of goods
sold, including
occupancy
costs 989.4 (0.7) 988.7 1,142.6 1.5 1,144.1
Gross margin 285.5 0.7 286.2 351.7 (1.5) 350.2
Selling,
general and
administrative
expenses 321.9 19.4 341.3 405.8 12.4 418.2
Asset
impairments
and other
writedowns - 0.8 0.8 - - -
Operating
loss (36.4) (19.5) (55.9) (54.1) (13.9) (68.0)
Interest
expense 9.0 2.7 11.7 14.9 5.7 20.6
Warrant/put
expense
(income) - 63.8 63.8 - (14.5) (14.5)
Total
interest
expense 9.0 66.5 75.5 14.9 (8.8) 6.1
Loss before
income
taxes (45.4) (86.0) (131.4) (69.0) (5.1) (74.1)
Income
taxes
(benefit) (16.8) 17.0 0.2 (28.0) (4.7) (32.7)
Loss from
continuing
operations $(28.6) $(103.0) $(131.6) $(41.0) $(0.4) $(41.4)
Loss from
operations
of
discontinued
operations
(net of tax) - - - (1.7) - (1.7)
Gain on
disposal of
discontinued
operations
(net of tax) - - - - 2.2 2.2
Income
(loss) from
discontinued
operations
(net of tax) - - - (1.7) 2.2 0.5
Net loss $(28.6) $(103.0) $(131.6) $(42.7) $1.8 $(40.9)

Basic EPS
from
continuing
operations $(0.48) $(1.71) $(2.19) $(0.68) $(0.01) $(0.69)
Basic EPS
from
discontinued
operations $ - $ - $ - $(0.03) $ 0.04 $0.01
Basic EPS
including
discontinued
operations $(0.48) $(1.71) $(2.19) $(0.71) $0.03 $(0.68)
Basic
weighted
avg. common
shares 60.1 60.1 60.1 60.0 60.0 60.0

Comparable Store
Sales
Borders
Superstores (15.7%) (6.5%)
Waldenbooks
Specialty
Retail (8.2%) (4.0%)

Sales and Earnings Summary (As Percentage of Total Sales)

Six Months Ended Six Months Ended
August 1, 2009 August 2, 2008 (1)
Operating Adjustments GAAP Operating Adjustments GAAP
Basis (2) (2) Basis Basis (3) (3) Basis
Borders
Superstores 83.5% -% 83.5% 82.7% -% 82.7%
Waldenbooks
Specialty
Retail 12.0 - 12.0 13.0 - 13.0
International 4.5 - 4.5 4.3 - 4.3
Total sales 100.0 - 100.0 100.0 - 100.0
Other revenue 1.3 - 1.3 1.1 - 1.1
Total revenue 101.3 - 101.3 101.1 - 101.1
Cost of goods
sold, including
occupancy costs 78.6 - 78.6 77.3 0.1 77.4
Gross margin 22.7 - 22.7 23.8 (0.1) 23.7
Selling,
general and
administrative
expenses 25.6 1.5 27.1 27.5 0.8 28.3
Asset
impairments
and other
writedowns - 0.1 0.1 - - -
Operating
loss (2.9) (1.6) (4.5) (3.7) (0.9) (4.6)
Interest
expense 0.7 0.2 0.9 1.0 0.4 1.4
Warrant/put
expense
(income) - 5.1 5.1 - (1.0) (1.0)
Total interest
expense 0.7 5.3 6.0 1.0 (0.6) 0.4
Loss before
income taxes (3.6) (6.9) (10.5) (4.7) (0.3) (5.0)
Income taxes
(benefit) (1.3) 1.3 - (1.9) (0.3) (2.2)
Loss from
continuing
operations (2.3)% (8.2)% (10.5)% (2.8)% -% (2.8)%

(1) The results of Borders Australia, Borders New Zealand and Borders
Singapore are reported as discontinued operations.

(2) Results from 2009 were impacted by a number of non-operating items,
including accelerated depreciation related to our multimedia reduction
initiative, asset impairments, severance costs, store closure costs,
professional fees related to our turnaround efforts, amortization of
the term loan discount and debt issuance costs, and non-cash charges
related to the write-off of an intangible asset and the fair market
value adjustment of the warrant liability. Therefore, solely for
analytical purposes and as an aid to better understand underlying
trends, operating basis data are presented excluding these items. To
aid in the comparability to last year, operating basis data is
presented using a normalized tax rate.

(3) Results from 2008 were impacted by a number of non-operating items,
including store closure costs, severance costs, professional fees
related to strategic alternatives and amortization of the term loan
discount and debt issuance costs, offset by income related to the fair
market value adjustment of the warrant liability and related tax
benefit. Therefore, solely for analytical purposes and as an aid to
better understand underlying trends, operating basis data are
presented excluding these items.

Borders Group, Inc. Financial Statements
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

August 1, August 2, January 31,
2009 2008 2009

Assets
Cash and cash equivalents $45.1 $43.9 $53.6
Merchandise inventories 889.0 1,090.3 915.2
Other current assets 76.3 118.1 102.4
Property and equipment, net 444.6 584.5 494.2
Other assets and deferred charges 47.6 114.6 43.4
Goodwill 0.3 40.5 0.2

Total assets $1,502.9 $1,991.9 $1,609.0

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Short-term borrowings and current
portion of long-term debt $281.3 $459.4 $329.8
Trade accounts payable 410.0 469.2 350.0
Other current liabilities 279.8 268.4 313.9
Long-term debt 6.3 6.3 6.4
Other long-term liabilities 388.6 363.9 345.8

Total liabilities 1,366.0 1,567.2 1,345.9
Total stockholders' equity 136.9 424.7 263.1

Total liabilities and
stockholders' equity $1,502.9 $1,991.9 $1,609.0

Store Activity Summary

Quarter Ended Six Months Ended Year Ended
August 1, August 2, August 1, August 2, January 31,
2009 2008 2009 2008 2009
Borders Superstores
Beginning number of
stores 515 514 515 509 509
Openings - 4 - 9 12
Closings (2) - (2) - (6)
Ending number of stores 513 518 513 518 515
Ending square footage
(in millions) 12.7 12.7 12.7 12.7 12.8

Waldenbooks Specialty
Retail Stores (1)
Beginning number of
stores 376 476 386 490 490
Openings - - 1 - 8
Closings (6) (8) (17) (22) (112)
Ending number of stores 370 468 370 468 386
Ending square footage
(in millions) 1.3 1.8 1.3 1.8 1.4

(1) Includes all small format stores in malls, airports and outlet malls.

Borders Group, Inc. Financial Statements
(dollars in millions)
Unaudited

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

Quarter Ended Six Months Ended
August 1, August 2, August 1, August 2,
2009 2008 2009 2008
CASH PROVIDED BY (USED FOR):
OPERATIONS
Loss from continuing operations$ (45.6) $(11.3) $(131.6) $(41.4)
Adjustments to reconcile loss
from continuing operations to
operating cash flows:

Depreciation 25.8 27.8 53.4 54.7
Loss on disposal of assets 0.5 - 0.5 0.1
Stock based compensation cost 0.6 1.4 - 3.3
Change in other long-term
assets, liabilities and
deferred charges 13.3 5.9 39.7 (0.2)
Write-off of intangible asset - - 16.2 -
Asset impairments and other
writedowns 0.7 - 0.8 -
Decrease in inventories 6.2 57.6 29.1 151.6
Increase (decrease) in
accounts payable 36.2 6.7 58.9 (42.7)
Cash provided by (used for) other
current assets and other current
liabilities 2.9 (17.0) (24.0) (71.4)
Net cash provided by
operating activities of
continuing operations 40.6 71.1 43.0 54.0
INVESTING
Capital expenditures (2.0) (27.1) (4.4) (54.1)
Proceeds from the sale of
discontinued operations - 87.9 - 87.9
Net cash provided by (used for)
investing activities of
continuing operations (2.0) 60.8 (4.4) 33.8
FINANCING
Net repayment of financing
obligations (38.9) (128.8) (46.4) (83.6)
Issuance and repurchase of
common stock (0.1) 0.1 (0.4) 0.3
Net funding from (repayment of)
long-term debt (0.3) (0.4) (0.3) 0.7
Net repayment of capital lease
obligations (0.4) - (0.5) -
Cash dividends paid - - - (6.5)
Net cash used for financing
activities of
continuing operations (39.7) (129.1) (47.6) (89.1)
Effect of exchange rates on cash
and cash equivalents 0.5 0.1 0.5 0.1
Net cash provided by (used for)
discontinued operations - 6.0 - (13.4)
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH
AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (0.6) 8.9 (8.5) (14.6)
Cash and cash equivalents at
beginning of period 45.7 35.0 53.6 58.5
Cash and cash equivalents at
end of period $45.1 $43.9 $45.1 $43.9

Borders Group, Inc. Segment Financial Information
(dollars in millions, except per share amounts)
Unaudited

Quarter Ended August 1, Quarter Ended August 2,
2009 2008
Operating Adjustments GAAP Operating Adjustments GAAP
Basis (1) (1) Basis Basis (2) (2) Basis

Borders Superstores

Sales $513.6 $- $513.6 $621.9 $- $621.9
Depreciation
expense 19.7 2.8 22.5 24.1 - 24.1
Operating loss (9.0) (8.4) (17.4) (3.1) (4.6) (7.7)
Adjusted EBITDA(5) 10.7 21.0
Waldenbooks Specialty
Retail
Sales $74.5 $- $74.5 $96.9 $- $96.9
Depreciation
expense 1.9 - 1.9 2.2 - 2.2
Operating loss (2.9) (0.2) (3.1) (6.7) (1.0) (7.7)
Adjusted EBITDA(5) (1.0) (4.5)
International(3)
Sales $28.7 $- $28.7 $30.4 $- $30.4
Depreciation
expense 1.4 - 1.4 1.5 - 1.5
Operating loss (1.0) (0.7) (1.7) (1.3) (0.1) (1.4)
Adjusted EBITDA(5) 0.4 0.2
Corporate (4)
Operating loss $(3.2) $(1.4) $(4.6) $(1.8) $(4.5) $(6.3)
Adjusted EBITDA(5) (3.2) (1.8)
Consolidated(3)
Sales $616.8 $- $616.8 $749.2 $- $749.2
Depreciation
expense 23.0 2.8 25.8 27.8 - 27.8
Operating loss (16.1) (10.7) (26.8) (12.9) (10.2) (23.1)
Adjusted EBITDA(5) 6.9 14.9

Six Months Ended Six Months Ended
August 1, 2009 August 2, 2008
Operating Adjust- GAAP Operating Adjust- GAAP
Basis (1) ments (1) Basis Basis (2) ments (2) Basis

Borders
Superstores
Sales $1,050.3 $- $1,050.3 $1,222.6 $- $1,222.6
Depreciation
expense 39.8 7.1 46.9 47.1 - 47.1
Operating loss (21.7) (12.2) (33.9) (31.0) (6.7) (37.7)
Adjusted
EBITDA (5) 18.1 16.1
Waldenbooks
Specialty
Retail
Sales $151.4 $- $151.4 $192.9 $- $192.9
Depreciation
expense 3.8 - 3.8 4.6 - 4.6
Operating loss (8.5) (1.4) (9.9) (19.5) (1.8) (21.3)
Adjusted
EBITDA (5) (4.7) (14.9)
International
(3)
Sales $56.6 $- $56.6 $63.2 $- $63.2
Depreciation
expense 2.7 - 2.7 3.0 - 3.0
Operating loss (0.9) (0.7) (1.6) 0.1 (0.1) -
Adjusted
EBITDA (5) 1.8 3.1
Corporate (4)
Operating loss $(5.3) $(5.2) $(10.5) $(3.7) $(5.3) $(9.0)
Adjusted
EBITDA (5) (5.3) (3.7)
Consolidated
(3)
Sales $1,258.3 $- $1,258.3 $1,478.7 $- $1,478.7
Depreciation
expense 46.3 7.1 53.4 54.7 - 54.7
Operating loss (36.4) (19.5) (55.9) (54.1) (13.9) (68.0)
Adjusted
EBITDA (5) 9.9 0.6

(1) Results from 2009 were impacted by a number of non-operating items,
including accelerated depreciation related to our multimedia reduction
initiative, asset impairments, severance costs, store closure costs,
and professional fees related to our turnaround efforts. Therefore,
solely for analytical purposes and as an aid to better understand
underlying trends, operating basis data are presented excluding these
items.

(2) Results from 2008 were impacted by a number of non-operating items,
including store closure costs, severance costs, and professional fees
related to strategic alternatives. Therefore, solely for analytical
purposes and as an aid to better understand underlying trends,
operating basis data are presented excluding these items.

(3) Excludes the results of 2008 discontinued operations (Borders
Australia, Borders New Zealand and Borders Singapore).

(4) The Corporate segment includes various corporate governance costs
and corporate incentive costs.

(5) Adjusted EBITDA is operating income (loss) before depreciation and
amortization. Adjusted EBITDA is not a Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles (GAAP) measurement. Adjusted EBITDA information is being
included as we believe it is a commonly used measure of operating
performance in the retail industry. Adjusted EBITDA is provided to
enhance an investor's understanding of our operating results. It
should not be construed as an alternative to income from operations
as an indicator of operating performance or as an alternative to cash
flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity as
determined in accordance with GAAP. All companies do not calculate
Adjusted EBITDA in the same manner. As a result, Adjusted EBITDA as
reported may not be comparable to Adjusted EBITDA as reported by other
companies.

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060208/BORDERSGRPLOGO
Source: Borders Group, Inc.

CONTACT: Investors, Mark Bierley, +1-734-477-4105, Media, Anne Roman,
+1-734-477-1392

Web Site: http://www.bordersgroupinc.com/

-------
Profile: intent