Lifetime Brands, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter 2017 Financial Results

GARDEN CITY, N.Y., March 15, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Lifetime Brands, Inc. (Nasdaq:LCUT), a leading global provider of branded kitchenware, tableware and other products used in the home, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2017.

Fourth Quarter Financial Highlights:

Consolidated net sales were $182.8 million in the quarter ended December 31, 2017; a decrease of $10.7 million, or 5.6%, as compared to consolidated net sales of $193.5 million for the corresponding period in 2016. In constant currency, which excludes the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations, consolidated net sales decreased $12.7 million, or 6.5%, as compared to consolidated net sales in the corresponding period in 2016.

Gross margin was $71.2 million, or 39.0%, as compared to $75.0 million, or 38.8%, for the corresponding period in 2016.

Income from operations was $10.9 million, as compared to $21.8 million in the prior year’s quarter.

The income tax provision for the quarter ended December 31, 2017 was $8.2 million, as compared to $6.8 million in the corresponding period in 2016. The 2017 income tax provision includes provisional adjustments for U.S. tax reform of approximately $3.3 million.

Net income was $1.3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, in the quarter ended December 31, 2017, as compared to net income of $14.7 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, in the corresponding period in 2016.

Adjusted net income was $7.1 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, in the quarter ended December 31, 2017, as compared to adjusted net income of $14.9 million, or $1.01 per diluted share, in the corresponding period in 2016. 

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $19.2 million, equal to 10.5% of consolidated net sales, in the quarter ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $24.7 million, or 12.8% of consolidated net sales, for the corresponding 2016 period.

Equity in losses, net of taxes, was $0.3 million for the three months ended December 31, 2017, as compared to equity in earnings, net of tax, of $1.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2016. 

Full Year Financial Highlights:

Consolidated net sales were $579.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2017; a decrease of $13.1 million, or 2.2%, as compared to consolidated net sales of $592.6 million for the corresponding period in 2016. In constant currency, consolidated net sales decreased $9.7 million, or 1.6%.

Gross margin was $215.2 million, or 37.1%, in the year ended December 31, 2017 as compared to $216.9 million, or 36.6%, for the corresponding period in 2016.

Income from operations was $15.2 million, as compared to $27.1 million in the prior year.

The income tax provision for the year ended December 31, 2017 was $9.0 million, as compared to $7.0 million in the corresponding period in 2016. The 2017 income tax provision includes provisional adjustments for U.S. tax reform of approximately $3.3 million.

Net income was $2.2 million, or $0.14 per diluted share, in the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to net income of $15.7 million, or $1.08 per diluted share, in the corresponding period in 2016.

Adjusted net income was $10.6 million, or $0.71 per diluted share, in the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to adjusted net income of $18.6 million, or $1.28 per diluted share, in the corresponding period in 2016. 

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA was $40.2 million in the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to $46.5 million for the corresponding 2016 period.

Equity in earnings, net of taxes, was $407 thousand for the year ended December 31, 2017, as compared to equity in earnings, net of taxes, of $748 thousand for the corresponding 2016 period.

Jeffrey Siegel, Lifetime's Executive Chairman, commented,

“While generally consistent with prior disclosure, our fourth quarter operating results were disappointing, resulting in full year 2017 performance that was below our expectations. The fourth quarter shortfall was directly attributable to sales declines at two key retailers; one reflecting a storewide reduction of inventory weeks on hand and the other due to two 2016 promotions that were not repeated in 2017. In addition, we decided not to fulfill orders due to credit concerns at two other retailers.

“We believe the changes we have made in our U.K. operations, including combining Kitchen Craft and Creative Tops and closing our Netherlands operations, will create operating efficiencies and enable each business effectively to leverage the other’s traditional customer base, thereby resulting in significantly improved results for 2018.

“Our recent acquisition of Fitz and Floyd, with its popular assortment of tabletop products and decorative ceramic collections, added to fourth-quarter sales in our Tableware division. As we expected, Fitz and Floyd was accretive to our 2017 results.

“Inventory levels at December 31, 2017 declined, reflecting a company-wide effort eliminate less productive SKU’s as part of an ongoing effort to improve our inventory turns.

“As noted above, the U.S. Tax Reform Act that was signed into law in December had a significant effect on reported tax expense. The impact of the change in the law increased our tax expense for the quarter by $3.3 million. Of this amount $3.0 million was a non-cash charge to adjust deferred taxes. The balance of $300 thousand is our current estimate of the U.S. tax owed on previously unremitted foreign earnings and will be paid over eight years. The overall impact of the Tax Reform Act is quite favorable to us, and excluding further one-time charges related to the Tax Act, will reduce our effective tax rate beginning in 2018.”

Robert Kay, Lifetime's Chief Executive Officer, added,

“As Lifetime’s new CEO, I am excited to be working with Jeff and the combined Lifetime and Filament team to drive value creation through growth and increased efficiencies.  We have just brought together two industry leaders that represent innovation, execution and best in class capabilities in sales, marketing, design, creative, finance and operations.  During our first quarter earnings report, we will provide a roadmap laying out our strategy and guidance for the full year 2018.  This will include a discussion of ongoing initiatives such as Lifetime Next as well as the implementation of over $8 million of cost savings resulting from the Filament merger, which closed on March 2^nd.”

Dividend        

On Thursday, March 8, 2018, the Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.0425 per share payable on May 15, 2018 to shareholders of record on May 1, 2018.

Conference Call

The Company has scheduled a conference call for Thursday, March 15, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. The dial-in number for the conference call is (844) 787-0801 or (661) 378-9632, passcode #4479898. A live webcast of the conference call will be accessible through https://edge.media-server.com/m6/p/2rdt77c9.  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, 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 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. 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 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. Management uses this non-GAAP information as an indicator of business performance.  These non-GAAP measures should be viewed as a supplement to, and not a substitute for, GAAP 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 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 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; changes in U.S. or foreign tax law and policy; 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; expenses and other challenges relating to the integration of the Filament Brands business and future acquisitions; changes in demand for the Company’s products; changes in the Company’s management team; the significant influence and consent rights of the Company’s largest stockholder; fluctuations in foreign exchange rates; 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 a leading global provider of kitchenware, tableware and other 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 and Vasconia®; respected tableware and giftware brands, including Mikasa®, Pfaltzgraff®, Fitz and Floyd®, Creative Tops®, Empire Silver™, Gorham®, International® Silver, Kirk Stieff®, Rabbit® Towle® Silversmiths, Tuttle®, Wallace®, Wilton Armetale®, V&A® and Royal Botanic Gardens Kew®; and valued home solutions brands, including Bombay®, BUILT NY®, Taylor® Bath and Taylor® Weather. 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.                                                             LHA
Laurence Winoker, Chief Financial Officer                              Harriet Fried, SVP
516-203-3590                                                                          212-838-3777
investor.relations@lifetimebrands.com                                   hfried@lhai.com

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

		Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
		2017				2016				2017				2016
Net sales		$	182,770			$	193,520			$	579,476			$	592,619
Cost of sales			111,539				118,487				364,319				375,719
Gross margin			71,231				75,033				215,157				216,900
Distribution expenses			18,540				16,781				58,050				57,006
Selling, general and administrative expenses			41,331				35,735				140,903				130,397
Restructuring expenses			498				719				1,024				2,420
Income from operations			10,862				21,798				15,180				27,077
Interest expense			(1,177	)			(1,257	)			(4,291	)			(4,803	)
Loss on early retirement of debt			-				-				(110	)			(272	)
Income before income taxes and equity in earnings			9,685				20,541				10,779				22,002
Income tax provision			(8,169	)			(6,812	)			(9,032	)			(7,030	)
Equity in earnings (losses), net of taxes			(265	)			1,018				407				748
NET INCOME		$	1,251			$	14,747			$	2,154			$	15,720
Weighted-average shares outstanding- basic			14,592				14,310				14,505				14,174
BASIC INCOME PER COMMON SHARE		$	0.09			$	1.03			$	0.15			$	1.11
Weighted-average shares outstanding- diluted			14,960				14,712				14,955				14,549
DILUTED INCOME PER COMMON SHARE		$	0.08			$	1.00			$	0.14			$	1.08
Cash dividends declared per common share		$	0.0425			$	0.0425			$	0.17			$	0.17

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

				December 31,
				2017				2016
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
	Cash and cash equivalents			$	7,600			$	7,883
	Accounts receivable, less allowances of $6,190 at December 31, 2017 and $5,725 at   December 31, 2016				108,033				104,556
	Inventory				132,436				135,212
	Prepaid expenses and other current assets				10,354				8,796
		TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS			258,423				256,447
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net					23,065				21,131
INVESTMENTS					23,978				22,712
INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net					88,479				89,219
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES					5,826				8,459
OTHER ASSETS					1,750				1,886
			TOTAL ASSETS	$	401,521			$	399,854
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
	Current maturity of Credit Agreement Term Loan			$	-			$	9,343
	Short term loan				69				113
	Accounts payable				25,461				29,698
	Accrued expenses				44,121				45,212
	Income taxes payable				1,864				6,920
		TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES			71,515				91,286
DEFERRED RENT & OTHER LONG-TERM LIABILITIES					20,249				18,973
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES					4,423				5,666
INCOME TAXES PAYABLE, LONG-TERM					311				-
REVOLVING CREDIT FACILITY					94,744				86,201
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
	Preferred stock, $1.00 par value, shares authorized: 100 shares of Series A and   2,000,000 shares of Series B; none issued and outstanding				-				-
	Common stock, $.01 par value, shares authorized: 50,000,000 at December 31, 2017    and 2016; shares issued and outstanding: 14,902,527 at December 31, 2017 and  14,555,936 at December 31, 2016				149				146
	Paid-in capital				178,909				173,600
	Retained earnings				60,546				60,981
	Accumulated other comprehensive loss				(29,325	)			(36,999	)
		TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY			210,279				197,728
			TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY	$	401,521			$	399,854

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

				Year ended December 31,
				2017				2016
OPERATING ACTIVITIES
	Net income			$	2,154			$	15,720
	Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
		Depreciation and amortization			14,189				14,148
		Amortization of financing costs			519				650
		Deferred rent			(642	)			(243	)
		Deferred income taxes			1,030				(1,951	)
		Net loss on disposal of fixed assets			-				84
		Stock compensation expense			3,390				2,942
		Undistributed equity earnings			(379	)			(544	)
		Loss on early retirement of debt			110				272
	Changes in operating assets and liabilities (excluding the effects of business acquisitions)
		Accounts receivable			1,481				(17,977	)
		Inventory			10,818				4,491
		Prepaid expenses, other current assets and other assets			(951	)			(1,199	)
		Accounts payable, accrued expenses and other liabilities			(9,778	)			12,255
		Income taxes receivable			-				132
		Income taxes payable			(4,935	)			969
			NET CASH PROVIDED BY OPERATING ACTIVITIES		17,006				29,749
INVESTING ACTIVITIES
	Purchases of property and equipment				(6,311	)			(3,380	)
	Equity investments				-				567
	Acquisitions, net of cash acquired				(9,072	)			(21,699	)
	Net proceeds from sale of property				15				64
			NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES		(15,368	)			(24,448	)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES
	Proceeds from Revolving Credit Facility				237,658				268,242
	Repayments of Revolving Credit Facility				(229,696	)			(246,756	)
	Repayments of Credit Agreement Term Loan				(9,500	)			(25,500	)
	Proceeds from Short Term Loan				187				118
	Repayments of Short Term Loan				(239	)			(248	)
	Payments for stock repurchase				(644	)			(86	)
	Payment of financing costs				(31	)			(30	)
	Cash dividends paid				(2,475	)			(2,413	)
	Payment of capital lease obligations				(94	)			(68	)
	Proceeds from the exercise of stock options				2,537				2,353
	Excess tax benefits from stock options, net				-				223
			NET CASH USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES		(2,297	)			(4,165	)
Effect of foreign exchange on cash					376				(384	)
(DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS					(283	)			752
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year					7,883				7,131
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF YEAR				$	7,600			$	7,883

LIFETIME BRANDS, INC.
Supplemental Information
(In thousands)

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Operating Results

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA:

				Three Months Ended December 31,							Year Ended December 31,
				2017			2016				2017				2016
				(in thousands)
Net income as reported				$	1,251		$	14,747			$	2,154			$	15,720
	Subtract out:
		Undistributed equity losses (earnings), net			265			(814	)			(379	)			(544	)
	Add back:
		Income tax provision			8,169			6,812				9,032				7,030
		Interest expense			1,177			1,257				4,291				4,803
		Depreciation and amortization, net			3,468			2,404				14,165				14,148
		Stock compensation expense			908			827				3,390				2,942
		Loss on early retirement of debt			-			-				110				272
		Restructuring expenses			498			719				1,024				2,420
		Severance expense			166			-				321				-
		Warehouse relocation			667			-				667				-
		Unrealized loss (gain) on foreign    currency contracts			169			(359	)			2,817				(745	)
		Permitted acquisition related expenses,   net of acquisition not completed			2,424			(852	)			2,616				435
Consolidated adjusted EBITDA				$	19,162		$	24,741			$	40,208			$	46,481

Consolidated EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that the Company defines as net income, adjusted to exclude undistributed equity in (losses) earnings, income taxes, interest, losses on early retirement of debt, depreciation and amortization, stock compensation expense, certain acquisition related expenses, non-cash gains or losses associated with the Company’s foreign currency contracts and certain one-time cash charges such as restructuring expenses, non-restructuring severance expense and warehouse relocation expenses, as shown in the tables above.

Consolidated adjusted EBITDA for the three months and year ended December 31, 2016 presented above have been re-cast to exclude the non-cash gains and losses related to the Company’s derivative financial instruments not designated as hedging instruments, recognized in earnings. These non-cash gains or losses are permitted to be excluded from the EBITDA covenant in the Company’s Credit Agreement.

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

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

Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted income per common share:

				Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
				2017				2016				2017				2016
				(in thousands)
Net income as reported				$	1,251			$	14,747			$	2,154			$	15,720
	Adjustments:
		Restructuring expenses			498				719				1,024				2,420
		Acquisition related expenses			2,424				65				2,616				1,352
		Loss on early retirement of debt			-				-				110				272
		Severance expenses			166				-				321				-
		Unrealized loss (gain) on foreign currency contracts			169				(359	)			2,817				(745	)
		Warehouse relocation			667				-				667				-
		Depreciation expense adjustment			-				(86	)			-				1,241
		Gain on sale of GS International, net of tax			-				-				-				(189	)
		Deferred tax for foreign currency translation for Grupo Vasconia			(1	)			-				(239	)			517
		Transition tax on non-U.S. subsidiaries' earnings			338				-				338				-
		Re-measurement of U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities			2,981				-				2,981				-
		Income tax effect on adjustments			(1,432	)			(208	)			(2,224	)			(1,965	)
Adjusted net income				$	7,061			$	14,878			$	10,565			$	18,623
Adjusted diluted income per common share				$	0.47			$	1.01			$	0.71			$	1.28

Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted income per common share in the three months and year ended December 31, 2017 excludes restructuring expenses, acquisition related expenses, loss on early retirement of debt, non-restructuring severance expense, the unrealized loss on foreign currency contracts and deferred tax (benefit) expense related to our equity earnings of Vasconia due to recording the tax benefit of cumulative translation gains through other comprehensive income (loss). Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted income per common share in the three months and year ended December 31, 2017 also excludes the impact of the transition tax and re-measurement of U.S. deferred tax assets and liabilities included in the income tax provision as a result of the U.S. tax reform. The income tax effect on adjustments reflects the statutory tax rates applied on the adjustments.

Adjusted net income and adjusted diluted income per common share in the three months and year ended December 31, 2016 excludes acquisition related expenses, a charge to correct accumulated depreciation balance relating to certain leasehold improvements at one of the Company’s U.S. warehouses, loss on early retirement of debt, restructuring expenses, the unrealized (gain) loss on foreign currency contracts, deferred tax expense related to our equity earnings of Vasconia due to recording the tax benefit of cumulative translation losses through other comprehensive income and the related income tax effect on adjustments.

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

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

Constant Currency:

		As Reported										Constant Currency (1)
		Three Months Ended										Three Months Ended														Year-Over-Year
		December 31,										December 31,														Increase (Decrease)
	Net sales	2017			2016			Increase (Decrease)				2017			2016			Increase (Decrease)				Currency Impact				Excluding Currency				Including Currency				Currency Impact
	U.S. Wholesale	$	143,330		$	156,368		$	(13,038	)		$	143,330		$	156,390		$	(13,060	)		$	22			(8.4	)	%		(8.3	)	%		0.0		%
	International		31,834			29,101			2,733				31,834			31,073			761				1,972			2.4		%		9.4		%		6.9		%
	Retail Direct		7,606			8,051			(445	)			7,606			8,051			(445	)			-			(5.5	)	%		(5.5	)	%		-		%
	Total net sales	$	182,770		$	193,520		$	(10,750	)		$	182,770		$	195,514		$	(12,744	)		$	1,994			(6.5	)	%		(5.6	)	%		1.0		%
		As Reported										Constant Currency (1)
		Year Ended										Year Ended														Year-Over-Year
		December 31,										December 31,														Increase (Decrease)
	Net sales	2017			2016			Increase (Decrease)				2017			2016			Increase (Decrease)				Currency Impact				Excluding Currency				Including Currency				Currency Impact
	U.S. Wholesale	$	462,588		$	470,981		$	(8,393	)		$	462,588		$	471,032		$	(8,444	)		$	51			(1.8	)	%		(1.8	)	%		0.0		%
	International		97,757			101,070			(3,313	)			97,757			97,552			205				(3,518	)		0.2		%		(3.3	)	%		(3.5	)	%
	Retail Direct		19,131			20,568			(1,437	)			19,131			20,568			(1,437	)			-			(7.0	)	%		(7.0	)	%		-		%
	Total net sales	$	579,476		$	592,619		$	(13,143	)		$	579,476		$	589,152		$	(9,676	)		$	(3,467	)		(1.6	)	%		(2.2	)	%		(0.6	)	%

⁽¹⁾  Constant Currency" is determined by applying the 2017 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 currency.

Source: Lifetime Brands, Inc.