Lifetime brands

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Lifetime Brands Announces Second Quarter 2010 Results

August 5, 2010 at 8:05 AM EDT
Consolidated EBITDA Increases 41.9% to $6.1 Million

GARDEN CITY, N.Y., Aug 05, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

Lifetime Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCUT), North America's leading resource for nationally branded kitchenware, tabletop and home décor products, today announced its results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2010.

Consolidated net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2010 were $86.9 million, an increase of 1.9% compared to consolidated net sales of $85.3 million for the 2009 period. Net sales in the 2009 period included approximately $1.3 million of net sales into the going-out-of-business sale of a customer that was liquidated. Excluding those net sales, consolidated net sales increased approximately $2.9 million or 3.5% in the 2010 period. Net sales for the Wholesale Segment for the second quarter of 2010 were $81.5 million, as compared to net sales of $80.9 million for the 2009 period. Direct-to-Consumer Segment net sales increased to $5.4 million in the second quarter of 2010 from $4.4 million in the 2009 period.

Consolidated gross margin as a percentage of net sales for the three months ended June 30, 2010 increased to 39.1% from 37.7% in the 2009 period. Wholesale gross margin increased by 120 basis points to 37.2% from 36.0% in the 2009 period, due to more favorable product mix. Gross margin for the Direct-to-Consumer Segment decreased to 66.8% from 70.8%, largely as a result of increased promotional activity and free shipping in the second quarter of 2010.

Consolidated EBITDA for the second quarter of 2010 was $6.1 million, as compared to $4.3 million for the 2009 period. Consolidated EBITDA for the twelve months ended June 30, 2010 was $39.0 million, as compared to $20.5 million for the twelve months ended June 30, 2009. Consolidated EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that the Company defines as net income (loss), adjusted to exclude undistributed earnings of Grupo Vasconia, interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, restructuring expenses, stock compensation expense, and loss on early retirement of debt as shown in the table below.

Consolidated net loss for the quarter was $1.0 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, as compared to a consolidated net loss of $1.3 million, or $0.10 per diluted share, for the second quarter of 2009. During the 2010 quarter, the Company refinanced its bank debt and repurchased $50.9 million principal amount of its Convertible Senior Notes. This early retirement of debt resulted in a non-cash expense of $1.3 million (including income taxes). Excluding the effects of these transactions, the Company would have reported net income of $0.03 per diluted share.

Jeffrey Siegel, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer and President, commented, "Lifetime's business during the quarter continued to improve, reflecting cautious optimism by retailers and stronger confidence among consumers. Based on our current order flow, we expect these trends to continue during the second half of the year.

"The Company's commitment to lower overall merchandise inventories by reducing the number of SKU's and by shortening the period between procurement and sale is ongoing; however, in recent months, global trade conditions have resulted in longer lead times at factories in Asia and in shortages of containers and ships. To assure that we will have sufficient levels of merchandise on hand to fulfill customers' orders in the third and fourth quarters, we temporarily accelerated the timing of our imports. Even with the accelerated inventory build, inventories of finished goods at June 30, 2010 declined to $111.8 million, as compared to $119.2 million at June 30, 2009. We foresee carrying somewhat higher than normal inventory levels into the fourth quarter of 2010.

"As previously announced, we refinanced our bank credit facility and arranged financing to repay our Convertible Senior Notes. Together with our strong cash flow and the anticipated benefits of the continuation of our inventory reduction program, these new facilities provide us with sufficient liquidity to operate and grow our business."

Second-Quarter 2010 Conference Call

Lifetime has scheduled a conference call for Thursday, August 5, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. ET to discuss its second-quarter 2010 results. The dial-in number for the call is 706-679-7464; the conference ID is #83823427. A live webcast of the call will be broadcast at the Company's web site, www.lifetimebrands.com.

A replay of the call will also be available through Thursday, August 12, 2010 and can be accessed by dialing 706-645-9291, conference ID #83823427. For those who cannot listen to the live broadcast, an audio replay of the call will also be available on the site.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This earnings release contains non-GAAP financial measures. For purposes of Regulation G, 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 the 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. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation G, the Company has provided reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. These non-GAAP measures are provided because management of the Company uses these financial measures in maintaining and evaluating the Company's on-going financial results and trends. Management uses this non-GAAP information as an indicator of business 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 that represent the Company's current judgment about possible future events. The Company believes these judgments are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial 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 agreement; the availability of funding under that credit agreement; the Company's ability to maintain adequate liquidity and financing sources and an appropriate level of debt; 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; changes in demand for the Company's products; shortages of and price volatility for certain commodities; 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 an appropriate level of debt.

Lifetime Brands, Inc.

Lifetime Brands is North America's leading resource for nationally branded kitchenware, tabletopand home décor products. The Company markets its products under many of the industry's best known brands, including Farberware(R), KitchenAid(R), Pfaltzgraff(R), Mikasa(R), Cuisinart(R), Calvin Klein(R), CasaModa(R), Design for Living(R), Gorham(R), Hoffritz(R), International(R) Silver, Kirk Stieff(R), Nautica(R), Pedrini(R), Roshco(R), Sabatier(R), Sasaki(R), Towle(R) Silversmiths, Tuttle(R), Wallace(R) and Vasconia(R). Lifetime's products are distributed through most major retailers in North America.

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(In thousands, except per share data)

(unaudited)

Three Months Ended

June 30,

Six Months Ended

June 30,

2010 2009 2010 2009
Net sales $ 86,889 $ 85,334 $ 175,625 $ 175,548
Cost of sales 52,942 53,106 106,894 111,254
Distribution expenses 9,597 9,502 19,730 20,550
Selling, general and administrative expenses 21,828 21,955 43,952 45,522
Restructuring expenses -- (663 ) -- 161
Income (loss) from operations 2,522 1,434 5,049 (1,939 )
Interest expense (2,644 ) (2,894 ) (5,073 ) (5,767 )
Loss on early retirement of debt (764 ) -- (764 ) --
Loss before income taxes and equity in earnings
of Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B. (886 ) (1,460

)

(788)

(7,706

)

Income tax provision (573 ) (281 ) (612 )

(416

)
Equity in earnings of Grupo Vasconia, S.A.B.,
net of taxes 478 488 1,148 910
NET LOSS $ (981 ) $ (1,253 ) $ (252 ) $

(7,212

)
BASIC AND DILUTED LOSS PER
COMMON SHARE $ (0.08 ) $ (0.10 ) $ (0.02) $ (0.60)
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES
OUTSTANDING - BASIC AND
DILUTED 12,027 11,997 12,021

11,993

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands, except share data)

June 30, December 31,
2010 2009
(unaudited)
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 886 $ 682
Accounts receivable, less allowances of $13,532 at 2010 and
$16,557 at 2009 52,609 61,552
Inventory 114,693 103,931
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 8,481 7,685
Prepaid income taxes 951 --
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS 177,620 173,850
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net 38,955 41,623
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net 37,281 37,641
INVESTMENT IN GRUPO VASCONIA, S.A.B. 21,155 20,338
OTHER ASSETS 4,673 3,271
TOTAL ASSETS $ 279,684 $ 276,723
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Bank borrowings

$

--

$ 24,601
Accounts payable 32,853 21,895
Accrued expenses 25,105 29,827
Deferred income tax liabilities 620 207
Income taxes payable

--

680
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES 58,578 77,210
DEFERRED RENT & OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES 20,664 20,527
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES 4,375 4,447
REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY 58,828 --
TERM LOAN 10,000 --
4.75% CONVERTIBLE SENIOR NOTES 23,113 70,527
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common stock, $0.01 par value, shares authorized: 25,000,000; shares issued
and outstanding: 12,046,293 in 2010 and 12,015,273 in 2009 120 120
Paid-in capital 129,582 129,655
Accumulated deficit (19,200 ) (18,949 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (6,376 ) (6,814 )
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY 104,126 104,012
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 279,684 $ 276,723
LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
Supplemental Information

(In thousands)

Consolidated EBITDA - Cumulative Trailing Twelve Months
Consolidated EBITDA for the three months ended:
June 30, 2010 $ 6,117
March 31, 2010 5,728
December 31, 2009 15,558
September 30, 2009 11,611
Consolidated EBITDA - cumulative trailing twelve
months $ 39,014

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating Results

Three Months Ended
June 30, March 31, December 31, September 30,
2010 2010 2009 2009
Net income (loss) reported $ (981 ) $ 729 $ 5,048 $ 4,879
Less: Undistributed earnings of Grupo
Vasconia, S.A.B. (82 ) (670 ) (534 ) (703 )
Add:
Provision for income taxes 573 39 1,311 153
Interest expense 2,644 2,429 4,124 3,294
Depreciation and amortization 2,458 2,542 3,214 2,770
Restructuring expenses -- -- 1,784 671
Stock compensation expense 741 659 611 547
Loss on early retirement of debt 764 -- -- --
Consolidated EBITDA $ 6,117 $ 5,728 $ 15,558 $ 11,611
Three months ended
June 30, 2009
Net loss reported $ (1,253 )
Less: Undistributed earnings of Grupo
Vasconia, S.A.B. (294 )
Add:
Provision for income taxes 281
Interest expense 2,894
Depreciation and amortization 2,810
Restructuring expenses (663 )
Stock compensation expense 483
Consolidated EBITDA $ 4,258

Net income per diluted share excluding the effect of early retirement of debt

Three months ended
June 30, 2009

Net loss reported $ (981 )
Add:
Loss on early retirement of debt 764
Income tax expense related to early
retirement of debt 530
Net income excluding the effect of early
retirement of debt $ 313
Diluted weighted average shares
outstanding 12,027
Net income per diluted share excluding
the effect of early retirement of debt $ 0.03

SOURCE: Lifetime Brands, Inc.

Lifetime Brands, Inc.
Laurence Winoker, 516-203-3590
Chief Financial Officer
investor.relations@lifetimebrands.com
or
Lippert/Heilshorn & Assoc.
Harriet Fried, 212-838-3777
SVP
hfried@lhai.com