99 Cents Only Stores Llc (NCSO) SEC Filing 10-Q Quarterly report for the period ending Friday, April 28, 2017

Exhibit 99.1

99 CENTS ONLY STORES REPORTS STRONG FIRST QUARTER FISCAL 2018 RESULTS

First Quarter Fiscal 2018 Overview:

·                  Net sales increased 6.7% to $547.5 million compared to the prior year

·                  Same-store sales increased by 6.9% compared to the prior year

·                  Gross margin, as a percentage of net sales, increased to 29.7%, up from 29.0% in the prior year

·                  Net loss was $8.8 million compared to net loss of $25.2 million in the prior year

·                  Adjusted EBITDA(1) increased 22.3% to $16.3 million compared to the prior year

CITY OF COMMERCE, California — June 8, 2017 — 99 Cents Only Stores LLC

Geoffrey Covert, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “The ongoing execution of our turnaround plan that began to produce operating momentum last year has continued in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 and helped generate solid first quarter results.”

Mr. Covert continued, “Net sales for the first quarter were $547.5 million, up 6.7% over the prior year period. On a same-store basis, sales increased 6.9%, resulting from a 2.5% increase in basket, along with a 4.2% increase in transaction count. This increase was primarily driven by our emphasis on improving the customer shopping experience through improvements to merchandising and in-stock levels, particularly in our fresh categories, general merchandise and seasonal merchandise. We also continue to benefit from our concerted effort to improve operational efficiencies.  First quarter gross margin improved 70 basis points year-over-year, driven primarily by   our success in reducing shrink and scrap and improved execution in our logistics network. In addition, inventory levels are more than 30% lower than they were when the current management team arrived and we have significantly reduced our warehouse footprint.”

Mr. Covert concluded, “Our improved operational performance has also helped the Company to continue to improve its overall liquidity position.  Cash borrowings under our ABL facility as of the end of the first quarter were $33.1 million, down $6.2 million from the prior quarter and down $6.9 million from a year ago.  Importantly, adjusted EBITDA was $16.3 million for the first quarter, up 22.3% compared to the prior year. We are encouraged by this result and we continue to expect to achieve meaningful adjusted EBITDA growth during fiscal 2018.”

First Quarter Financial Results

For the first quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company’s net sales increased 6.7% to $547.5 million, compared to $512.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Same-store sales increased 6.9% compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2017, with higher customer traffic of 4.2% in addition to higher average ticket of 2.5%. The increase in same-store sales was primarily driven by higher sales from general and seasonal merchandise, in part due to