Lifetime Hoan Announces Record First Quarter Results
Sales and Net Income Improved Significantly
WESTBURY, NY, April 27, 2000 -- LIFETIME HOAN CORPORATION (NASDAQ NM: LCUT): a leading marketer of cutlery, kitchenware, cutting boards and bakeware, today announced results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2000. Net sales were up 55% to $27.6 million for the first quarter of 2000, as compared to $17.8 million in the first quarter of 1999. Net income for the period was $1.4 million as compared to net income of $257,000 recorded for the comparable period in 1999. Diluted earnings per share for the 2000 quarter were $0.12 as compared to $0.02 in the prior year period. The current period’s results reflect the positive impact of the Company’s return to normalized shipping rates and turnaround times for customer orders, as all of its warehouse issues have been resolved. To a lesser extent, the quarterly sales comparisons also benefited from the Company’s September 1999 acquisition of a 51% controlling interest in the Prestige companies based in Italy and Germany.
In commenting on the results, Milton Cohen, Chairman and CEO, stated, “The operating problems we encountered in our warehouse during 1999 substantially reduce the value of any comparison with last year’s results. Using instead 1998, net sales for the first quarter of 2000 were up 26% as compared to the first quarter of 1998. This increase takes into account new product introductions, increased demand for our brands, overseas expansion, and the Roshco acquisition.”
Jeffrey Siegel, President of Lifetime Hoan commented, “Product demand in the U.S. remains strong, especially for merchandise on the high end, as evidenced by the receptiveness of buyers at the January housewares trade show and our overall pattern of orders. Through our affiliation with the Prestige Companies which market products under the highly recognized Prestige brand in Europe, we plan to introduce several hundred new products into the European market in 2000 and to lower the cost of merchandise for these companies through our strong sourcing channels. The success of our branding strategy in the U.S. which began in 1995 has served as a model for expansion of this strategy overseas.”
Mr. Cohen concluded, “Market conditions have afforded the Company the opportunity to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock in the open market at prices the Board of Directors believes to be attractive. During the first quarter of 2000, the Company purchased an additional 95,000 shares, bringing the total number of shares purchased pursuant to the Board’s current program to 877,500. In March 2000, the Board increased the total number of shares which the Company may purchase to 2,000,000 shares. The Board intends to continue this program at its discretion in light of market conditions.”
The Company also announced that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.0625 per share, payable on May 19, 2000 to shareholders of record on May 5, 2000.
Lifetime Hoan Corporation is a leading designer, marketer and distributor of household cutlery, kitchenware, cutting boards and bakeware, marketing its products under various trade names including Farberware®, Hoffritz® and Revere®. Through the use of various brand names, Lifetime Hoan’s products are distributed through almost every major retailer in the U.S. including Bed Bath & Beyond, WalMart, Kmart, Target, Macy’s, Saks Inc. and Dayton Hudson.
The information herein contains certain forward-looking statements including statements concerning the Company’s future prospects. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, including risks relating to general economic conditions and risks relating to the Company’s operations, such as the risk of loss of major customers and risks relating to changes in demand for the Company’s products, as detailed from time to time in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
COMPANY CONTACT: INVESTOR RELATIONS:
Robert McNally John Heilshorn/Klea Theoharis
Chief Financial Officer Lippert/Heilshorn & Associates, Inc.
(516) 683-6000 (212) 838-3777 or klea@lhai.com
- Tables Follow –
LIFETIME HOAN COPORATION
INCOME STATEMENT
(in 000’s, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
|
Quarter EndedMarch 31, |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2000 |
|
1999 |
|
% Increase |
Net Sales |
|
$ 27,609 |
|
$ 17,817 |
|
55.0% |
Cost of Sales |
|
14,517 |
|
9,164 |
|
58.4% |
Gross Profit |
|
13,092 |
|
8,653 |
|
51.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SG&A |
|
10,763 |
|
8,271 |
|
30.1% |
Other Expense (Income) |
|
(57) |
|
(46) |
|
23.9% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Income Before Taxes |
|
2,386 |
|
428 |
|
457.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tax Provision |
|
1,013 |
|
171 |
|
492.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Net Income |
|
$ 1,373 |
|
$ 257 |
|
434.2% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Basic Earnings Per Share |
|
$ 0.12 |
|
$ 0.02 |
|
|
Weighted Average Shares |
|
11,802 |
|
12,591 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Diluted Earnings Per Share |
|
$ 0.12 |
|
$ 0.02 |
|
|
Weighted Average Shares |
|
11,850 |
|
12,821 |
|
|
LIFETIME HOAN COPORATION
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands)
|
|
March 31, 2000 |
|
December 31, 1999 |
|||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|||
CURRENT ASSETS |
|
|
|
|
|||
Cash and cash equivalents |
|
$ 118 |
|
$ 1,563 |
|||
Accounts receivable, net |
|
18,036 |
|
22,443 |
|||
Merchandise inventories |
|
52,681 |
|
54,046 |
|||
Prepaid expenses and other current assets |
|
4,266 |
|
4,252 |
|||
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS |
|
75,101 |
|
82,304 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|||
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net |
|
12,548 |
|
12,597 |
|||
INTANGIBLES, NET |
|
20,236 |
|
20,310 |
|||
OTHER ASSETS |
|
1,224 |
|
1,173 |
|||
TOTAL ASSETS |
|
$ 109,109 |
|
$ 116,384 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|||
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
|
|
|
|||
CURRENT LIABILITIES |
|
|
|
|
|||
Short-term borrowings |
|
$ 1,265 |
|
$ 8,073 |
|||
Accounts payable and trade acceptances |
|
4,291 |
|
3,783 |
|||
Other current liabilities |
|
14,669 |
|
15,832 |
|||
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES |
|
20,225 |
|
27,688 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|||
MINORITY INTEREST |
|
981 |
|
888 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|||
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
87,903 |
|
87,808 |
|||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |
|
$ 109,109 |
|
$ 116,384 |
|||
|
|
|
|
|
|||
- End -