The Children's Place Reports 2003 Second Quarter Financial Results; Net Sales Increase 24%; Comparable Store Sales Increase 3%

August 14, 2003

SECAUCUS, N.J., Aug 14, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Children's Place Retail Stores, Inc. (Nasdaq:PLCE) today reported financial results for the second quarter and six months ended August 2, 2003.

    Second Quarter

    --  Net sales for the second quarter increased 24% to $159.1
        million, compared with $128.3 million for the same period in
        2002.

    --  Comparable store sales increased 3% in the quarter, versus a
        9% decrease for the same period last year.

    --  Net loss was $9.4 million, compared to a net loss of $10.2
        million last year.

    --  Loss per share was $0.35 compared to a loss of $0.38 per share
        in the 2002 period.

    --  The Company opened 19 new stores during the second quarter,
        and closed two.

    Six-Month Period

    --  Net sales for the six-month period increased 13% to $340.1
        million, from $301.3 million for the same period in 2002.

    --  Comparable store sales decreased 6% for the period, compared
        to a 10% decrease for the same period last year.

    --  Net loss was $3.8 million, compared to a $5.0 million net
        profit in the year-ago period.

    --  Loss per share was $0.14 compared to earnings per share of
        $0.19 in the 2002 period.

    --  The Company opened 38 new stores during the six-month period,
        and closed two.

"We are pleased with our sales performance in the second quarter, which reflects the continued execution of our strategic initiatives," said Ezra Dabah, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of The Children's Place. "Our positive comparable store sales results were driven by increases in units per transaction, the number of transactions and average transaction size, as well as more full price selling. In addition, we are encouraged by the improvement in our gross margin for the second quarter, which we achieved while offering our customers higher quality merchandise at lower prices. The strong customer acceptance of our merchandise has resulted in a clean inventory position heading into the third quarter, with approximately 30% less old season merchandise on a per store basis versus a year ago."

Dabah concluded, "We are pleased with our Fall merchandise assortment, which is well balanced between fashion and basics and satisfies the lifestyle needs of our customers. We believe this, combined with our compelling in-store marketing, customer service initiatives and the right level of inventory, position us well for the Back-to-School season. While we are encouraged by the strides we have made in our business, our outlook remains cautious given the challenging retail environment."

The Children's Place will host a webcast of its second quarter conference call today at 10:00 a.m., Eastern Time. Interested parties are invited to listen to the call at the Company's Web site, www.childrensplace.com. An archive of the webcast will be available on the site through Thursday, August 21, 2003.

The Children's Place Retail Stores, Inc. is a leading specialty retailer of high-quality, value-priced apparel and accessories for children, newborn to age 10. The Company designs, contracts to manufacture and sells its products under the "The Children's Place" brand name. As of August 2, 2003, the Company operated 679 stores, including 642 stores in the United States and 37 stores in Canada. The Company also sells its merchandise through its virtual store located at www.childrensplace.com.

This press release and above referenced call may contain certain forward-looking statements regarding future circumstances. These forward-looking statements are based upon the Company's current expectations and assumptions and are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated in such forward-looking statements including, in particular, the risks and uncertainties described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Actual results, events, and performance may differ. Readers or listeners (on the call) are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to release publicly any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. The inclusion of any statement in this release does not constitute an admission by The Children's Place or any other person that the events or circumstances described in such statement are material.

               THE CHILDREN'S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC.
                    CONDENSED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
               (In thousands, except per share amounts)
                              (Unaudited)

                           13 Weeks Ended:         26 Weeks Ended:
                           ---------------         ---------------
                         August 2,   August 3,   August 2,   August 3,
                           2003        2002        2003        2002
                           ----        ----        ----        ----

Net sales               $ 159,082   $ 128,295   $ 340,092   $ 301,342
Cost of sales             108,612      91,909     219,732     185,828
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Gross profit               50,470      36,386     120,360     115,514
Selling, general and
 administrative
 expenses                  55,988      44,597     107,379      90,970
Depreciation and
 amortization               9,875       8,441      19,403      16,711
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Operating (loss) income   (15,393)    (16,652)     (6,422)      7,833
Interest income, net           52         118         145         364
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

(Loss) income before
 income taxes             (15,341)    (16,534)     (6,277)      8,197
(Benefit) provision for
 income taxes              (5,982)     (6,367)     (2,447)      3,156
                        ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------

Net (loss) income       $  (9,359)  $ (10,167)  $  (3,830)  $   5,041
                        ==========  ==========  ==========  ==========

Basic (loss) income per
 share                  $   (0.35)  $   (0.38)  $   (0.14)  $    0.19

Basic weighted average
 number of shares
 outstanding               26,620      26,492      26,609      26,460

Diluted (loss) income
 per share              $   (0.35)  $   (0.38)  $   (0.14)  $    0.19

Diluted weighted average
 number of shares
 outstanding               26,620      26,492      26,609      27,219
               THE CHILDREN'S PLACE RETAIL STORES, INC.
                       CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS
                            (In thousands)

                           Aug. 2, 2003   Feb. 1, 2003   Aug. 3, 2002
                           ------------   ------------   ------------
                            (Unaudited)                   (Unaudited)

Current assets:

Cash and cash equivalents  $     25,194   $     36,645   $     31,705
Accounts receivable              15,412         13,571         17,506
Inventories                      87,321         75,417         62,261
Other current assets             26,042         19,570         23,537
                           ------------   ------------   ------------

Total current assets            153,969        145,203        135,009

Property and equipment,
 net                            154,617        155,000        159,645
Other assets, net                 9,326          9,125          6,148
                           ------------   ------------   ------------

Total assets               $    317,912   $    309,328   $    300,802
                           ============   ============   ============

Current liabilities:

Revolving credit facility  $        426   $          0   $          0
Accounts payable                 35,488         30,805         29,169
Accrued expenses and other
 current liabilities             40,818         35,124         35,969
                           ------------   ------------   ------------

Total current liabilities        76,732         65,929         65,138

Other liabilities                15,189         14,391         12,169
                           ------------   ------------   ------------

Total liabilities                91,921         80,320         77,307

Stockholders' equity            225,991        229,008        223,495
                           ------------   ------------   ------------

Total liabilities and
 stockholders' equity      $    317,912   $    309,328   $    300,802
                           ============   ============   ============

SOURCE: The Children's Place

The Children's Place, Secaucus
Seth Udasin, 201-558-2409
or
Heather Anthony, 201-558-2865

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