Pier 1 Imports, Inc. Announces Subsidiary Purchase of $79 Million in Convertible Debt

Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (NYSE:PIR) today announced that on March 20, 2009, a foreign subsidiary of the Company entered into agreements purchasing $79 million of the Company’s outstanding 6.375% convertible senior notes due 2036. The notes were acquired at a purchase price of $27 million, including accrued interest. The foreign subsidiary presently intends to hold the convertible notes until maturity. As a result of this transaction, the Company has reduced its outstanding debt by $79 million on a consolidated basis.

Fourth Quarter Highlights

The Company also pre-released unaudited preliminary financial results for the fourth quarter ended February 28, 2009. The Company reported a net loss of $29 million for the fourth quarter, versus net income of $14 million for the same period last year. Total sales for the fourth quarter declined to $389 million from $437 million in the year-ago quarter. Comparable store sales for the quarter declined 9.7%.

Merchandise margins for the quarter were 44.3% compared to 48.1% in the same period last year. Merchandise margins during the quarter were impacted by the aggressive clearance of merchandise as compared to last year, as the Company continued to manage its inventory levels to the reduced level of sales. Store occupancy costs of $71 million were flat compared to last year. During the fourth quarter, the Company closed 16 stores and ended the year with 1,092 locations.

During the fourth quarter, selling, general and administrative expenses were $122 million consisting primarily of $17 million in marketing, $74 million in payroll, and $31 million in other G&A costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses included approximately $9 million in special charges resulting from store level asset impairment, store closing costs, and severance charges.

Inventory at the end of the year was $316 million versus $412 million last year, as a result of management’s continued focus on the timing and appropriate level of purchases. Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year were $156 million. In anticipation of continued economic uncertainty, management is continuing to take a conservative approach to merchandise purchases, expense planning, and capital expenditures.

Real Estate Update

On February 3, 2009, the Company announced that it hired an outside firm to assist in negotiations with its landlords to achieve rental reductions across its store portfolio. To date, the Company has reached agreements in principal to terminate the leases on 14 stores and has decided to close 2 additional stores for which termination or rental reduction agreements have not been reached. The Company estimates total charges of approximately $4 million in cash and non-cash termination charges related to these closures, of which $2 million will be incurred in the first quarter of fiscal 2010. The cash portion of these charges will be partially offset by the liquidation of inventory in the closing stores. As a result of its efforts to date, the Company has achieved approximately $5 million in rental savings for fiscal 2010 and now estimates that it will close no more than 80 locations in fiscal 2010.

New York Stock Exchange Update

On February 26, 2009 the Company received notice from the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE”) that it has suspended the NYSE’s $1 minimum price requirement on a temporary basis, initially through June 30, 2009. At the time the Company received the notice, it was within the six month compliance period to meet the $1 minimum price criteria. If the Company does not regain compliance prior to June 30, 2009 with the $1 minimum price criteria, the Company’s remaining balance of its compliance period will commence on that date unless further suspensions are implemented by the NYSE.

The notice also extends until June 30, 2009, the NYSE’s current easing of the average global market capitalization standard, calculated over a consecutive 30 trading-day period, from $25 million to $15 million. According to section 802.01B of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, the NYSE will promptly initiate suspension and delisting procedures with respect to a company if a company is determined to be out of compliance with this standard. As of the date of this release, the Company has not received notice from the NYSE that the Company is not in compliance with the minimum global market capitalization required of listed issues.

Financial Disclosure Advisory

Management’s expectations and assumptions regarding future results are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the anticipated results or other expectations expressed in the forward-looking statements included in this press release. Any forward-looking projections or statements should be considered in conjunction with the cautionary statements and risks contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K. Refer to the Company’s most recent SEC filings for any updates concerning these and other risks and uncertainties that may affect the Company’s operations and performance. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise its forward-looking statements even if experience or future changes make it clear that any projected results expressed or implied will not be realized.

Pier 1 Imports, Inc. is the original global importer of imported decorative home furnishings and gifts. Information about the Company is available on www.pier1.com.