Le Château enters into long-term financing arrangement

MONTREAL, January 2, 2012 /CNW Telbec/ - Le Château Inc. (TSX: CTU.A) has entered into an agreement with a Corporation controlled by Herschel Segal, the founder of Le Château and a Director and majority shareholder of the Company, for long-term financing of $10 million. The financing is in the form of a four year, unsecured loan which bears interest at a rate of 7.5%, is repayable by way of equal monthly instalments of principal and interest, commencing in February 2013, and may be prepaid without penalty. The purpose of the loan is for the financing of ongoing capital expenditures and other investment purposes. The loan is in addition to other financing sources the Company has in place or may have in place in the future. The loan will provide the Company with additional capital and operational flexibility as all of its existing credit and other facilities remain in place.

As at the date hereof, the Company has an operating line of credit totaling $20 million under which $2.4 million of letters of credit are currently outstanding. In addition, the Company has an import line of credit of $25 million, which includes a $1 million loan facility, under which $5.3 million of letters of credit are currently outstanding. The Company uses such facilities and lines of credit from time to time in the ordinary course of its business.

The loan from Mr. Segal was approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (with Mr. Segal and Jane Segal abstaining from the vote) and is exempt from the requirements to obtain an independent valuation or minority approval under the related party transaction rules of applicable securities legislation.

Profile
Le Château is a leading Canadian brand in specialty retailing, offering a broad array of contemporary fashion apparel, accessories and footwear for style-conscious women and men. The Le Château brand is synonymous with ageless fashion at accessible prices and is sold exclusively through the Company's 244 retail locations, of which 242 are located in Canada. The Company's outlets are primarily found in major urban shopping malls, as well as street-front locations with high pedestrian traffic. In addition, the Company has 7 stores under license in the Middle East. Le Château's web-based marketing is further broadening the Company's customer base among Internet shoppers in both Canada and the United States. With its 52-year tradition of vertical integration, emphasizing a design and manufacturing approach to retailing, Le Château is unique among Canadian fashion merchants. 

Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements relating to the Company and/or the environment in which it operates that are based on the Company's expectations, estimates and forecasts. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict and/or are beyond the Company's control. A number of factors may cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed. These factors include those set forth in other public filings of the Company. Therefore, readers should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. In addition, these forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made and the Company disavows any intention or obligation to update or revise any such statements as a result of any event, circumstance or otherwise except to the extent required under applicable securities law.

Factors which could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: the ability of the Company to successfully implement its business initiatives and whether such business initiatives will yield the expected benefits; competitive conditions in the businesses in which the Company participates; changes in consumer spending; general economic conditions and normal business uncertainty; customer preferences towards product offerings; seasonal weather patterns; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; changes in the Company's relationship with its suppliers; interest rate fluctuations and other changes in borrowing costs; and changes in laws, rules and regulations applicable to the Company.

Emilia Di Raddo, CA, President [phone]
Johnny Del Ciancio, CA, Vice-President, Finance, [phone]
MaisonBrison:  Pierre Boucher, [phone]
Source:  Le Château Inc.