Lifetime Brands, Inc. Reports Third Quarter 2019 Financial Results

GARDEN CITY, N.Y., Nov. 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lifetime Brands, Inc. LCUT, a leading global designer, developer and marketer of a broad range of branded consumer products used in the home, today reported its financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2019.

Robert Kay, Lifetime's Chief Executive Officer, commented, "We are pleased with Lifetime's progress in the third quarter, with our businesses delivering solid growth over last year in a challenging retail end market. The strategy that we've implemented over the past year is yielding meaningful results as we focus on our newly rolled-out strategic product development and sales initiative and unlocking the value of the cost efficiency campaign launched in connection with the Filament acquisition. We are also beginning to see the early benefits of our product portfolio optimization and rationalization, and we remain committed to increasing the brand equity and trend and product relevance of our best-in-class products and brands. While we are pleased to have produced growth during the quarter, these results were partially offset by the continued impact of U.S. tariffs and Brexit uncertainty in Europe, as well as some operational challenges as part of the ongoing reorganization of our UK operations. We remain optimistic in our ability to continue on this path and will continue to invest in initiatives to advance our strategy and global positioning."

Third Quarter Financial Highlights:

Consolidated net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2019 were $215.5 million, representing an increase of $6.1 million, or 2.9%, as compared to consolidated net sales of $209.4 million for the corresponding period in 2018. In constant currency, which excludes the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations, consolidated net sales increased $7.2 million, or 3.5%, as compared to consolidated net sales in the corresponding period in 2018.

Gross margin for the three months ended September 30, 2019 was $72.9 million, or 33.8%, as compared to $73.8 million, or 35.2%, for the corresponding period in 2018. The decrease was primarily due to changes in both product and customer mix for the U.S. segment and International segment.

Mr. Kay added, "In connection with the Company's European restructuring initiative, in the quarter we recognized a $9.7 million non-cash write-off of the full carrying value of the goodwill. This is a one-time accounting charge relating to our 2014 acquisition, and has no impact on the benefits to be derived from the reorganization of our European operations, which we expect will produce a meaningful improvement in profitability."

Income from operations in the 2019 period, including the impact of the $9.7 million non-cash goodwill impairment taken during the period, was $6.9 million. For the corresponding period in 2018 net income from operations was $12.3 million, including a non-cash goodwill impairment charge taken in the third quarter of 2018 of $2.2 million. Excluding the non-cash goodwill impairment charges taken in each of the 2019 and 2018 third quarter periods, net income from operations would have been $16.6 million and $14.5 million, respectively.

Net loss was $13.5 million, or $0.66 per diluted share, as compared to a net income of $5.9 million, or $0.29 per diluted share, in the corresponding period in 2018.

Excluding the non-cash goodwill impairment charges and other adjustments taken in each of the 2019 and 2018 third quarter periods, adjusted net loss was $2.7 million, or $0.13 per diluted share and adjusted net income was $8.5 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, respectively. A table which reconciles this non-GAAP financial measure to net income, as reported, is included below.

Nine Months Financial Highlights:

Consolidated net sales for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 were $508.0 million, an increase of $31.7 million, or 6.7%, as compared to net sales of $476.3 million for the corresponding period in 2018. The nine months ended September 30, 2018 includes sales of $77.2 million from Filament for the period from March 2, 2018, the date of the acquisition. In constant currency, which excludes the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations, consolidated net sales increased $35.3 million, or 7.5 %, as compared to consolidated net sales in the corresponding period in 2018.

Gross margin for the nine months ended September 30, 2019 was $171.3 million, or 33.7%, as compared to $171.0 million, or 35.9%, for the corresponding period in 2018. Excluding an $8.5 million non-recurring, non-cash charge for the SKU rationalization initiative, gross margin would have been $179.8 million, or 35.4%, in the 2019 period.

Including the non-recurring, non-cash charge for the SKU rationalization in 2019 and the impact of the non-cash goodwill impairment in each of the 2019 and 2018 third quarter periods, loss from operations was $7.9 million in 2019 and $4.3 million in the corresponding period of 2018. Excluding the non-recurring, non-cash charge for the SKU rationalization in 2019 and the impact of the non-cash goodwill impairment in each of the 2019 and 2018 third quarter periods, net income (loss) from operations would have been $10.3 million in 2019, and net (loss) from operations would have been $2.1 million in 2018, respectively. 

Net loss was $29.9 million, or $1.46 per diluted share, as compared to a net loss of $11.7 million, or $0.61 per diluted share, in the corresponding period in 2018.

Excluding the non-recurring, non-cash charge for the SKU rationalization in 2019 and the impact of the non-cash goodwill impairment in each of the 2019 and 2018 third quarter periods, adjusted net loss was $11.2 million, or $(0.55) per diluted share in 2019 and $5.7 million, or $0.30 per diluted share in 2018.

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA, after giving effect to certain adjustments and before limitations as permitted and defined under our debt agreements, was $69.6 million for the twelve months ended September 30, 2019. A table which reconciles this non-GAAP financial measure to net income, as reported, is included below.

Outlook Update

For the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2019, the Company is providing a revised financial outlook which reflects the non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $9.7 million, as follows:

This outlook is based on a forecasted GBP to USD rate of $1.25. Net income, adjusted net income, diluted income per common share and adjusted diluted income per common share were calculated based on an effective tax provision rate of 30.0%.

Dividend

On November 7, 2019, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.0425 per share payable on February 14, 2020 to shareholders of record on January 31, 2020.

Conference Call

The Company has scheduled a conference call for Thursday, November 7, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. The dial-in number for the conference call is (866) 610-1072 (U.S.) or (973) 935-2840 (International), Conference ID: 5897824.

A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible through:
https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/2126405-1/AB1D4C8524E2F8A6266F3AFED896C7DE.

For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, an audio replay of the webcast will be available.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This earnings release contains non-GAAP financial measures, including consolidated net sales in constant currency, adjusted net income, adjusted diluted income per common share, gross margin (excluding non-recurring charges) and consolidated adjusted EBITDA. A non-GAAP financial measure is a numerical measure of a company's historical or future financial performance, financial position or cash flows that excludes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of excluding amounts, that are included in the most directly comparable measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP in the statements of income, balance sheets, or statements of cash flows of a company; or, includes amounts, or is subject to adjustments that have the effect of including amounts, that are excluded from the most directly comparable measure so calculated and presented. As required by SEC rules, the Company has provided reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP financial measures are provided because management of the Company uses these financial measures in evaluating the Company's on-going financial results and trends, and management believes that exclusion of certain items allows for more accurate comparison of the Company's operating performance by investors and analysts. Management uses these non-GAAP financial measures as indicators of business performance. These non-GAAP financial measures should be viewed as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, GAAP financial measures of performance.

Forward-Looking Statements

In this press release, the use of the words "believe," "could," "expect," "may," "positioned," "project," "projected," "should," "will," "would" or similar expressions is intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such statements include all statements regarding the growth of the Company, our financial outlook, our initiatives to create value, our efforts to mitigate geopolitical factors and tariffs, our current and projected financial and operating performance, results, and profitability and all guidance related thereto, including forecasted exchange rates and effective tax rates, as well as our future plans and intentions regarding the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries. Such statements represent the Company's current judgments, estimates, and assumptions about possible future events. The Company believes these judgments, estimates, and assumptions are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial or operational results, and actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors. Such factors might include, among others, the Company's ability to comply with the requirements of its credit agreements; the availability of funding under such credit agreements; the Company's ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt; the possibility of impairments to the Company's goodwill; changes in U.S. or foreign trade or tax law and policy; the impact of tariffs on imported goods and materials; changes in general economic conditions which could affect customer payment practices or consumer spending; the impact of changes in general economic conditions on the Company's customers; customer ordering behavior; the performance of our newer products; the impact of our SKU rationalization initiative, expenses and other challenges relating to the integration of the Filament Brands business and future acquisitions; warehouse consolidation efforts performed by the business; the ongoing reorganization of our U.K. operations; changes in demand for the Company's products; changes in the Company's management team; the significant influence of the Company's largest stockholder; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; changes in U.S. trade policy or the trade policies of nations in which we or our suppliers do business; uncertainty regarding the U.K.'s exit from the European Union (Brexit); shortages of and price volatility for certain commodities; and significant changes in the competitive environment and the effect of competition on the Company's markets, including on the Company's pricing policies, financing sources and ability to maintain an appropriate level of debt. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements other than as required by law.

Lifetime Brands, Inc.

Lifetime Brands is a leading global designer, developer and marketer of a broad range of branded consumer products used in the home. The Company markets its products under well-known kitchenware brands, including Farberware®, KitchenAid®, Sabatier®, Amco Houseworks®, Chef'n® Chicago™ Metallic, Copco®, Fred® & Friends, Houdini™, KitchenCraft®, Kamenstein®, Kizmos™, La Cafetière®, MasterClass®, Misto®, Mossy Oak®, Swing-A-Way®, Taylor® Kitchen, Rabbit® and Vasconia®; respected tableware and giftware brands, including Mikasa®, Pfaltzgraff®, Fitz and Floyd®, Creative Tops®, Empire Silver™, Gorham®, International® Silver, Kirk Stieff®, Towle® Silversmiths, Tuttle®, Wallace®, Wilton Armetale®, V&A® and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew®; and valued home solutions brands, including BUILT NY®, Taylor® Bath, Taylor® Weather and PlanetBox®. The Company also provides exclusive private label products to leading retailers worldwide.

The Company's corporate website is www.lifetimebrands.com.

Contacts:

Lifetime Brands, Inc.
Laurence Winoker, Chief Financial Officer
516-203-3590
investor.relations@lifetimebrands.com

or

Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Ed Trissel / Andrew Squire / Sophie Throsby
212-355-4449

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In thousands—except per share data)
(unaudited)

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands—except share data)

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(In thousands)
(unaudited)

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
Supplemental Information
(In thousands)

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating Results

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA for the twelve months ended September 30, 2019:

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure which is defined in the Company's debt agreements. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income (loss), adjusted to exclude undistributed equity in (earnings) losses, income tax provision (benefit), interest, depreciation and amortization, stock compensation expense, and SKU rationalization expenses.

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
Supplemental Information
(In thousands—except per share data)

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating Results(continued)

Permitted non-recurring charges includes the non-cash charge associated with the SKU rationalization initiative, restructuring expenses, and integration charges. These addbacks are subject to limitations as defined in our debt agreements. Consolidated adjusted EBITDA includes pro forma adjustments, permitted under the debt agreements, for the acquisition of Filament and projected cost savings, operating expense reductions, restructuring charges and expenses and cost saving synergies projected by the Company as a result of actions taken through September 30, 2019 or expected to be taken as of September 30, 2019, net of the benefits realized.

Adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted diluted (loss) income per common share (in thousands):

Adjusted net (loss) income and adjusted diluted (loss) income per common share in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 excludes acquisition related expenses, restructuring expenses, integration charges, warehouse relocation expenses, goodwill impairment and SKU rationalization expenses. The income tax effect on adjustments reflects the statutory tax rates applied on the adjustments.

Adjusted net income (loss) and adjusted diluted loss income per common share in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 excludes acquisition related expenses, restructuring expenses, integration charges, impairment of goodwill, warehouse relocation expenses, other permitted non-cash charges, unrealized gain on foreign currency contracts, and the deferred tax expense related to our equity earnings of Vasconia due to recording the tax benefit of cumulative translation gains through other comprehensive income (loss). The income tax effect on adjustments reflects the statutory tax rates applied on the adjustments.

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
Supplemental Information
(In thousands)

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating Results (continued)

Constant Currency:

(1) "Constant Currency" is determined by applying the 2019 average exchange rates to the prior year local currency sales amounts, with the difference between the change in "As Reported" net sales and "Constant Currency" net sales, reported in the table as "Currency Impact". Constant currency sales growth is intended to exclude the impact of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates.

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
Supplemental Information
(In millions—except per share data)

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Outlook

Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted income per share outlook for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2019:

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA outlook for the full fiscal year ending December 31, 2019: