-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE----- Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov Originator-Key-Asymmetric: MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA, Um8j2wvwb+zQzB2szIF4YrYqV3UD8vCqcw0wrsSLvPdGyoZvXH4NcfZN5f83A/JA LeIYweCimSqBbwkut7jlCw== 0001047469-03-029207.txt : 20030828 0001047469-03-029207.hdr.sgml : 20030828 20030828172118 ACCESSION NUMBER: 0001047469-03-029207 CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: 10-K PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 10 CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT: 20030531 FILED AS OF DATE: 20030828 FILER: COMPANY DATA: COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL INC CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0001022368 STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: WHOLESALE-GROCERIES & RELATED PRODUCTS [5140] IRS NUMBER: 870563574 STATE OF INCORPORATION: DE FISCAL YEAR END: 0531 FILING VALUES: FORM TYPE: 10-K SEC ACT: 1934 Act SEC FILE NUMBER: 001-14608 FILM NUMBER: 03871875 BUSINESS ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2002 SOUTH 5070 WEST CITY: SALT LAKE CITY STATE: UT ZIP: 84104-4726 BUSINESS PHONE: 8019755000 MAIL ADDRESS: STREET 1: 2002 SOUTH 5070 WEST CITY: SALT LAKE CITY STATE: UT ZIP: 84104-4726 10-K 1 a2117749z10-k.htm 10-K
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM 10-K


ý

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended May 31, 2003

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from                   to                   

Commission file number:
1-14608

WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  87-0563574
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

2002 South 5070 West
Salt Lake City, Utah

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

84104-4726
(Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(801) 975-5000

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
(Title of Class)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
None

        Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ý    No o

        Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. ý

        Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an accelerated filer (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 12b-2). Yes o    No ý

        The number of shares outstanding of the Registrant's Class A and Class B common stock is 26,889,436 (as of August 22, 2003).

        The aggregate market value of the voting stock held by non-affiliates of the Registrant is approximately $31,160,000 (as of August 22, 2003).

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

        Portions of the Registrant's Proxy Statement for its 2003 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, which will subsequently be filed with the SEC, are incorporated by reference into Part III.





PART I

Note on Forward Looking Statements

        Certain statements made in this Annual Report on Form 10-K under the captions "Business," "Factors Affecting Future Performance," "Legal Proceedings," and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," and elsewhere herein are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, that are based on management's beliefs and assumptions, current expectations, estimates and projections. Statements that are not historical facts, including without limitation statements which are preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "estimates," "may," "should," or similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, certain of which are beyond our control, and therefore, actual results may differ materially. We disclaim any obligation to update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. Important factors that may cause these forward looking statements to be false include, but are not limited to, the factors discussed in Items 1, 3 and 7A of this Annual Report.


ITEM 1. BUSINESS

General

        Weider Nutrition International, Inc. develops, manufactures, markets, distributes and sells branded and private label vitamins, nutritional supplements and sports nutrition products in the United States and throughout the world. We offer a broad range of capsules and tablets, powdered drink mixes, ready-to-drink beverages and nutrition bars consisting of approximately 800 stock keeping units ("SKUs"). Our portfolio of recognized brands, including Schiff®, Weider®, Tiger's Milk®, Multipower® and Multaben, are primarily marketed through mass market, health food store and health club and gym distribution channels. We market our branded nutritional supplement products, both domestically and internationally, in five principal categories:

    specialty supplements;

    vitamins and minerals;

    sports nutrition;

    weight management; and

    nutrition bars.

        We are organized into three business units: the Schiff® Specialty Unit, the Active Nutrition Unit and the Haleko Unit. The business units are managed independently, each with its own sales and marketing resources, and supported by product research and development, operations and technical services, and administrative functions. The Schiff® Specialty Unit contains the Schiff® and Schiff® Move Free® brands, as well as private label business limited to customers that otherwise carry our products. The Active Nutrition Unit includes our Weider® branded global businesses, our Tiger's Milk® brand and our export business which includes Weider® and Schiff® branded products. The Haleko Unit, our primary European subsidiary, includes the Multipower® and Multaben nutritional supplement brands and private label businesses.

        Our principal executive offices are located at 2002 South 5070 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84104 and our telephone number is (801) 975-5000. We were incorporated in Delaware in 1996. Our internet website address is www.weider.com. Our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments thereto, are available free of charge on our

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internet website. These reports are posted on our website as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are electronically filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Recent Developments

        On May 1, 2003 (the first day of Haleko's fiscal year 2004), we sold substantially all of the assets relating to Haleko's Germany-based Venice Beach® sports apparel brand. The transaction included the sale of Venice Beach® receivables, inventories, intellectual property and certain fixed assets and the assumption by the purchaser of approximately 47 Venice Beach® employees. The net cash proceeds from the sale were approximately $6.0 million. In accordance with SFAS No. 144, operating results for Venice Beach® are reflected as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

Industry Overview

        The market for vitamins, minerals, specialty, sports nutrition and other supplements experienced significant growth during the mid-to-late 1990's. We believe that growth resulted from, among other factors:

    increased awareness of the health benefits of diet, nutrition, and dietary supplements;

    a growing population of older Americans more likely to consume dietary supplements and nutritional products, increased interest in alternative medicine and holistic health; and

    successful product introductions.

        In recent periods, however, nutritional supplement companies, analysts, publications and other industry sources have indicated a significantly slower growth rate in the nutritional supplement industry. We believe that the slowdown is due in part to, among other factors:

    the lack of industry-wide "blockbuster" products;

    negative publicity regarding certain ingredients and companies;

    slower growth or reduction in certain instances of retail shelf space; and

    increased competition, including intense private label expansion.

        Despite the recent slowdown in the industry growth rate, we believe that demand for dietary supplements will continue over the long-term. We believe that Americans' desire for preventive health care will increase demand for dietary supplements. Reports and medical research indicating a correlation between consumption of specific nutrients and better health and reduced incidence of certain diseases continue to heighten public awareness of the benefits of dietary supplements for health.

        Although data from the fragmented international markets is not readily available, we believe similar demographics, events, and other trends also present certain future opportunities in international markets.

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Brands, Products and Distribution

        The following table shows comparative net sales results categorized by business unit and as a percentage of net sales for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001 (dollars in thousands):

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
 
Schiff® Specialty   $ 144,309   59.9 % $ 150,558   53.6 % $ 156,669   52.2 %
Active Nutrition     35,331   14.7     57,921   20.6     71,294   23.7  
Haleko     63,830   26.5     74,538   26.6     74,726   24.9  
Inter-divisional     (2,616 ) (1.1 )   (2,196 ) (.8 )   (2,399 ) (.8 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  Total   $ 240,854   100.0 % $ 280,821   100.0 % $ 300,290   100.0 %
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

Schiff® Specialty Unit

        We market a complete line of specialty supplements, vitamins and minerals under the Schiff® brand, which has been familiar to consumers for over 60 years. The Schiff® brand emphasizes high quality, natural formulas, primarily consisting of tablet, capsule and softgel product forms.

        In response to consumers who seek a more natural and preventive approach to their health care, the industry has developed emerging specialty supplement categories as alternatives or complements to over-the-counter and pharmaceutical products. Our specialty supplements include certain joint health products marketed under the Schiff® brand, including our Move Free® and other glucosamine and chondroitin compounds. Our Move Free® product is one of the leading joint health products in the mass market channel. Net sales of Schiff® Move Free® brand products were $55.0 million, $67.9 million and $83.5 million, respectively, for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001.

        Our Schiff® brand vitamin products are designed to provide consumers with essential vitamins and minerals as supplements to healthy diet and exercise. Schiff® brand vitamin products include:

    multivitamins, such as Single Day;

    individual vitamins, such as Vitamin C and Vitamin E;

    minerals, such as Calcium;

    specialty formulas for men and women, such as Prostate Health, Menopause and Breast Health; and

    other specialty formulas, such as Melatonin, Niacin and Folic Acid.

        The Schiff® brand is marketed primarily in the mass market, with additional limited distribution in health food stores. Our products are sold domestically in leading retail outlets in all 50 states. Our mass market customers include:

    mass merchandisers, such as Wal-Mart and Target;

    warehouse clubs, such as Costco and Sam's Club;

    supermarkets, such as Albertson's, Giant, Safeway and Fred Meyer; and

    drug stores, such as CVS and Rite Aid.

        We service the health food market primarily through sales to leading health food retailers and distributors. We also sell certain Schiff® products to various international markets on an export basis, which sales are managed and included with other export sales in our Active Nutrition business unit. For certain retail customers where we sell our branded products, we also provide private label products.

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Active Nutrition Unit

        Our Active Nutrition Unit develops and markets sports nutrition, nutritional bar and weight management products primarily under the Weider® and Tiger's Milk® brands. The Weider® brand includes a wide variety of sports nutrition products designed to enhance athletic performance and results achieved through exercise and training. These products replenish vital nutrients expended during exercise, training, and performance, and are formulated to enhance exercise and fat-loss programs. The target consumers for these products include "on-the-go" individuals, fitness enthusiasts, bodybuilders, and athletes. Weider® brand products include:

    powdered drink mixes, such as Weider® Super Whey Protein blend and Weider® Mass Weight Gainer 1000;

    tablets and capsules, such as Weider® Creatine Caps and Weider® L-Glutamine;

    ready-to-drink beverages, such as Weider® Pure Pro Shakes; and

    nutrition bars, such as Weider® Dynamic Body Shaper Protein Bars.

        The Active Nutrition Unit also includes Tiger's Milk® and Fi-Bar® nutrition bar products. The Tiger's Milk® product line includes several nutrition bars that supply significant amounts of protein, vitamins and other essential nutrients with less fat than a traditional candy bar. The Fi-Bar® product line is comprised of fat-free granola bars and fruit and nut bars coated with yogurt, chocolate or carob made without hydrogenated fats. The Tiger's Milk® and Fi-Bar® brands are intended to provide consumers with a healthy alternative to traditional snack foods and candy bars.

        Our Active Nutrition Unit also researches, develops and markets natural products utilizing vitamins, herbs and other nutritional ingredients formulated to support weight management. The products are specifically formulated, packaged and priced to appeal to a wide variety of consumers with specific physiological needs and goals, and are distributed primarily through the mass market channel. Our weight management products are primarily sold under the Weider® and Fat Burners brands. In connection with the sale of the American Body Building™ brand in July 2002 (see below), we discontinued the sale of weight management products that contain ephedra for all brands. See "Government Regulation" and "Item 3—Legal Proceedings."

        The Active Nutrition Unit products are primarily distributed through mass market retailers, convenience and health food stores, and health clubs and gyms. We also market certain Weider® and other branded products, including Schiff®, on an export basis to South America, eastern Europe, the Middle East and the Pacific Rim through relationships with certain mass market retailers with international operations and through a network of distributors.

        In July 2002, we sold substantially all of the assets and certain associated liabilities relating to our American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands. Prior to the sale, we distributed products under these brands primarily to health clubs and gyms through a brand related distributor network. American Body Building™ and Science Foods® products were primarily ready-to-drink beverages and powdered drink mixes intended for energy, recovery and weight control.

Haleko Unit

        Our Haleko Unit develops, manufactures and markets nutrition products primarily under the Multipower® and Multaben brands. Acquired in 1998, Haleko has well-recognized nutritional supplement brands in Europe and nutritional supplement manufacturing capabilities in Germany. In May 2003, we sold substantially all of the assets relating to Haleko's Venice Beach® sports apparel brand. See "Recent Developments" above.

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        Haleko's leading sports nutrition brand is Multipower®, which includes a wide variety of products primarily marketed to health clubs and gyms in Germany and to a number of other European countries on an export basis. Haleko also markets weight management and nutrition products under the Multaben brand primarily to mass market accounts in Germany. Multaben products include a variety of beverages, soups and other meal replacement products as well as nutrition bars. Haleko also has a presence in private label nutritional products, providing a variety of SKUs to certain mass market and other customers.

        Prior to the May 2003 sale of our Venice Beach® brand, Haleko marketed a line of sports apparel under this brand. The sportswear was primarily sold in Germany to department stores, health clubs and gyms, and specialty sportswear retail stores. Net sales under the Venice Beach® brand, included in discontinued operations, were $26.2 million, $30.2 million and $42.0 million, respectively, for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001.

Sales and Marketing

        Our sales force for our Schiff® Specialty Unit and Active Nutrition Unit consists of dedicated sales professionals who are assigned to specific accounts, classes of trade and/or geographic territories. These sales professionals work with retailers and distributors to increase knowledge of our products and general nutritional supplement benefits, solicit orders for our products, maximize our shelf presence and provide related product sales assistance. We also utilize brokers to market our products in certain accounts and classes of trade.

        For our Haleko Unit, our sales resources are dedicated to each Haleko business area. Multipower® has a focused health club and gym and export sales force and Multaben has a focused mass market sales force.

        We market our products using a mix of trade and consumer promotions, television, radio and print media advertising and consumer education. Our advertising and marketing expenditures, including certain sales incentives reflected as reductions in net sales and/or increases in cost of goods sold per EITF No. 01-9 (See "Item 7—Management's Discussion and Analysis—Overview"), were approximately $25.9 million, $33.6 million and $41.4 million, respectively, for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001.

        During fiscal 2003, we continued to focus on brand building support for our core brands, particularly relating to our Schiff® Move Free® joint health products. We continued to employ magazine and newspaper media in fiscal 2003, along with several targeted direct mail and public relations campaigns. In addition, during the second half of fiscal 2003, we utilized television and radio media in support of our long-term brand building strategy for Move Free®. During fiscal 2003, our advertisements appeared in various magazines, newspapers and other publications, including:

    Consumer magazines, such as Arthritis Today and Prevention;

    Trade magazines, such as Whole Foods, Vitamin Retailer and Mass Market Retailer; and

    Several magazines published by Weider Publications, Inc., including Muscle and Fitness, Flex, Shape, Men's Fitness and Natural Health.

        Another key component of our marketing strategy is to educate consumers about innovative, safe and beneficial nutritional supplement products. We participate in consumer education at conferences and trade and consumer shows representing all current distribution channels. We also sponsor and/or attend various sporting events, including leading professional body building competitions such as The Mr. Olympia, The Arnold Schwarzenegger Classic and numerous local National Physique Committee bodybuilding competitions. Our Schiffvitamins.com website also provides additional educational information to consumers and customers.

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Product Research and Development

        We are committed to research and development to create safe and efficacious new products and existing product line extensions. New product development is important to the nutritional supplement industry to create new market opportunities, meet consumer demand and strengthen relationships with customers.

        We maintain an extensive research library and employ a variety of industry relationships to identify new research and development projects offering health and wellness benefits. To support our research and development efforts, we maintain a staff of scientific and technical personnel, invest in formulation, processing, and packaging development, perform product quality and stability studies, invest in product efficacy studies, and conduct consumer market research to sample consumer opinions on product concepts, and product design, packaging, advertising, and marketing campaigns. For research and development initiatives, we conduct research and development in our own facilities and with strategic third parties. Our product research and development expenditures were approximately $4.2 million, $3.7 million, and $5.3 million, respectively, in fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001.

Manufacturing and Product Quality

        We manufacture the majority of our domestic products in a capsule and tablet manufacturing facility in Salt Lake City, Utah, which includes our main distribution center and primary administrative offices. Our Salt Lake City capsule and tablet facility is designed and operated to meet United States Pharmacopoeia compliance standards. We were awarded an "A" rating by the National Nutritional Foods Association in fiscal 2002, which was renewed in fiscal 2003. Our packaging, counting and filling operations are fully computerized to promote accuracy and compliance with weights and measures regulations. We have invested in production line flexibility to accommodate various filling sizes, weights or counts of product and final shipped unit configurations to fulfill customer and ultimate consumer needs. The distribution center features a high-rise racked warehouse and a fully automated "order-pick" system using optical readers that interpret bar coded labels on each shipping container.

        We maintain and operate an MRP system fully integrated with distribution, warehousing and quality control, that provides real time lot and quality tracking of raw materials, work in progress and finished goods.

        In July 2002, our sale of substantially all of the assets and certain associated liabilities relating to our America Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands included the sale of our beverage manufacturing facility in South Carolina.

        Internationally, we have two primary manufacturing facilities. We have a capsule, tablet and powder facility in Bleckede, Germany that manufactures products distributed throughout Europe. This facility has received ISO 9002 certification. Our facility in Madrid, Spain primarily produces powders for distribution in Spain, France and Italy.

        Our quality management systems are detailed and rigorous, and include a supplier certification selection process and other analytical processes and procedures. The quality management systems also include professionally equipped and staffed analytical finished product evaluation for compliance to specification. Our products are also subject to extensive shelf life stability testing through which we determine the effects of aging on our products. Certified outside laboratories are used routinely to evaluate our internal test laboratory performance and to supplement our internal testing procedures and capabilities.

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Competition

        The market for the sale of nutritional supplements is highly competitive. We believe that competition is based principally upon price, quality of products, customer service and marketing support.

        Our competition includes numerous nutritional supplement companies that are highly fragmented in terms of both geographic market coverage and product categories. In addition, large pharmaceutical companies and packaged food and beverage companies compete with us in the nutritional supplement market. These companies and many nutritional supplement companies have greater financial and other resources available to them and possess extensive manufacturing, distribution and marketing capabilities. Private label products of our customers, which have been significantly increasing in certain nutrition categories, compete with our products. Increased competition from such companies and from private label pressures could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

        As the nutritional supplement industry grows and evolves, we believe retailers will align themselves with suppliers who are financially stable, market a broad portfolio of products and offer superior customer service. We believe that we compete favorably with other nutritional supplement companies because of our brand names, customer service, competitive pricing, sales and marketing support and quality of our product lines.

Government Regulation

        Our products include foods and dietary supplements, which are subject to the laws and regulations of federal governmental agencies, including the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Federal Trade Commission (the FTC), the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the Environmental Protection Agency, and also various agencies of the states, localities and countries in which we operate and sell our products.

        The FDA regulates foods and dietary supplements through the Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (the FDCA) and amendments thereto, including the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994, as amended (DSHEA), which was intended to promote access to safe, quality dietary supplements, and information about dietary supplements. DSHEA establishes a statutory class of dietary supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbs, amino acids and other dietary substances for human use to supplement the diet, as well as concentrates, metabolites, extracts or combinations of such dietary ingredients. Generally, under DSHEA dietary ingredients on the market before October 15, 1994 may be used without further notification to the FDA. However, dietary ingredients not marketed prior to October 15, 1994 require submission to the FDA evidencing a history of use or other evidence of safety to establish that the ingredient will reasonably be expected to be safe.

        DSHEA permits statements of "nutritional support" for dietary supplements that may describe how particular dietary ingredients, or the mechanism of action by which dietary ingredients, affect the structure, function or general well-being of the body. These statements of nutritional support, or "structure/function claims," may not make a health claim or disease claim, meaning that a statement may not expressly or implicitly claim to treat, prevent, cure, or mitigate an illness or disease unless the claim was authorized by the FDA. A structure/function claim in advertising or on a product label must have scientific substantiation that the claim is truthful and not misleading, have a disclaimer that the statement has not been reviewed by the FDA, and have been disclosed to the FDA that the claim would be used for a product. Our policy is to label products in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, which are amended and repealed from time to time. We cannot assure you that a regulatory agency will not deem one or more of our product claims or labels to be impermissible and to take adverse action against us, including warning letters, fines, product recalls and product seizures.

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        The FDA has proposed final good manufacturing practice regulations (GMPs) for dietary supplements, which are authorized under DSHEA. If finalized, the proposed GMPs would require quality control provisions similar to, and in certain instances beyond, GMPs for drugs and over-the-counter products. These GMPs, if adopted, may result in increased expenses, changes to or discontinuance of products, or implementation of additional record keeping and administrative procedures. We cannot assure you that, if the FDA adopts the GMPs in the proposed form, we will be able to comply with the new regulations without incurring substantial expenses.

        Some of our products are conventional foods, which are also subject to the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act of 1990 (the NLEA). The NLEA prohibits health claims being made for a food without prior FDA approval. Most of our products are classified dietary supplements.

        The FTC exercises jurisdiction over the advertising of nutritional and dietary supplements under the Federal Trade Commission Act. In November 1998, the FTC published an advertising guideline for the dietary supplement industry entitled "Dietary Supplements: An Advertising Guide for Industry." These guidelines reiterate many of the policies regarding dietary supplements the FTC has periodically announced over the years, particularly with respect to the substantiation of claims made in advertising of dietary supplement products.

        In the past several years, the FTC has instituted several enforcement actions against dietary supplement companies alleging false and misleading advertising of certain products. These enforcement actions have resulted in consent decrees and/or the payment of fines by certain of the companies involved. The FTC continues to monitor advertising with respect to dietary supplements and, accordingly, from time to time we received inquiries from the FTC with respect to our advertising.

        In 1985, Weider Health and Fitness agreed to a consent order which governs certain advertising claims relating to certain muscle building products. In addition, we entered into a consent decree with the FTC effective November 2000 governing diet and weight loss claims and certain disease, safety and comparative health benefit claims.

        Our international activities are subject to regulation in each country in which we have operations or sell or distribute our products. The various laws and regulations differ materially in some respects from U.S. laws and regulations, sometimes causing higher costs and expenses, product reformulations, and delay. In countries in which we do not have direct operations, independent distributors generally have responsibility for compliance with applicable foreign laws and regulations. These distributors are independent contractors over whom we have limited control.

Intellectual Property

        We own (or have filed for) over 100 trademarks registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or similar regulatory agencies in certain other countries for our Schiff®, Weider®, Tiger's Milk®, Multipower® and Multaben brands and certain of our products, processes and slogans. We also license rights for other names material to our business and for the use of the Schiff®, Weider® and Tiger's Milk® brand names in certain countries outside of North America. We protect our trademark and other intellectual property rights.

        We rely on common law trademark rights to protect our unregistered trademarks. Common law trademark rights do not provide us with the same level of protection as afforded by a United States federal registration of a trademark. In addition, common law trademark rights are limited to the geographic area in which the trademark is actually used. We register certain of our trademarks in certain foreign jurisdictions where our products are sold or distributed. However, the protection available in such jurisdictions may not be as extensive as the protection available to us in the United States.

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Employees

        At July 31, 2003, we employed approximately 685 persons, of whom approximately 370 were in management, sales, purchasing, logistics and administration and approximately 315 were in manufacturing operations. In addition, we utilize temporary employees in some of our manufacturing processes. We are not party to any collective bargaining arrangements and believe that our relationship with our employees is good.

Factors Affecting Future Performance

        Dependence on Significant Customers.    Our largest customers are Costco and Wal-Mart. Combined, these two customers accounted for approximately 53%, 47% and 45%, respectively, of our total net sales for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001. The loss of either Costco or Wal-Mart as a customer, or a significant reduction in purchase volume by Costco or Wal-Mart, could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. We cannot assure you that Costco and/or Wal-Mart will continue to be significant customers.

        Dependence on Individual Products.    Certain products and product lines account for a significant amount of our total revenues. Net sales for our Schiff® Move Free® brand were approximately 23%, 24% and 28%, respectively, of our total net sales for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001. We cannot assure you that individual or groups of similar products currently experiencing strong popularity and growth will maintain sales levels over time.

        Dependence on New Products.    We believe our ability to grow in existing markets is partially dependent upon our ability to introduce new and innovative products. Although we seek to introduce additional products each year, the success of new products is subject to a number of variables, including developing products that will appeal to customers and comply with applicable regulations. We cannot assure you that our efforts to develop and introduce innovative new products will be successful or that customers will accept new products.

        Risks of Competition.    The market for the sale of nutritional supplements is highly competitive. Certain of our principal competitors have greater financial and other resources available to them and possess extensive manufacturing, distribution and marketing capabilities. Private label products of our customers, which have been significantly increasing in certain nutrition categories, also create significant competition with our products. Increased competition from such companies and from private label pressures could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

        Effect of Unfavorable Publicity.    We believe our sales depend on consumer perceptions of the safety, quality and efficacy of our products as well as products distributed and sold by other companies. Consumer perceptions are influenced by national media attention regarding our products and other nutritional supplements. We expect that there will be some unfavorable future publicity or scientific research. Future unfavorable reports or publicity could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. See "Item 3—Legal Procedures" and "Product Liability and Availability of Related Insurance" below.

        Ma Huang, also known as ephedra, has been the subject of certain adverse publicity relating to alleged harmful or adverse effects. The FDA has reviewed the proposal of regulations relating to the sale of dietary supplements containing ephedra. A number of state and local governments also have proposed or passed legislation regulating or prohibiting the sale of ephedra products. We are not able to predict whether ephedra products will be subject to further federal, state, local or foreign laws or regulations or whether adverse publicity regarding ephedra will continue or increase. We are currently a party to certain lawsuits regarding the sale of ephedra products. See "Item 3—Legal Proceedings." In connection with the sale of the American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands in July 2002, we

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have discontinued the sale of products that contain ephedra. See also "Product Liability and Availability of Related Insurance" below.

        Product Liability and Availability of Related Insurance.    As a manufacturer and distributor of products designed to be ingested, we face an inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims. Certain damages in litigation, such as punitive damages, are generally not covered by insurance. In the event that we do not have adequate insurance or other indemnification coverage, product liability claims could have a material adverse effect on our results of operation and financial condition.

        We have been and are currently named as a defendant in product liability lawsuits regarding certain of our ephedra products. See "Item 3—Legal Proceedings." Prior to September 1, 2001, we maintained, on an occurrence basis, both primary and excess insurance coverage regarding our ephedra products. Subsequent to September 1, 2001, we have maintained, on a claims made basis, primary but not excess coverage regarding our ephedra products, with very limited coverage on only certain ephedra products for the annual policy period which will end on September 1, 2003. Subsequent to September 1, 2003, we do not anticipate having any insurance coverage regarding ephedra products. In connection with the sale of the American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands in July 2002, we discontinued the sale of products that contain ephedra. However, we cannot assure you that we will not be subject to further litigation with respect to ephedra products we have already sold.

        Impact of Government Regulation on Our Operations.    Our operations, properties and products are subject to regulation by various foreign, federal, state and local government entities and agencies, particularly the FDA and FTC. See "Business—Government Regulation" above. Among other matters, government regulation covers statements and claims made in connection with the packaging, labeling, marketing and advertising of our products. Governmental agencies have a variety of processes and remedies available to them, including initiating investigations, issuing warning letters and cease and desist orders, requiring corrective labeling or advertising, requiring consumer redress, seeking injunctive relief or product seizure, imposing civil penalties or commencing criminal prosecution. As a result of our efforts to comply with applicable statutes and regulations, from time to time we have reformulated, eliminated or relabeled certain of our products and revised certain aspects of our sales, marketing and advertising programs.

        The FDA has recently proposed extensive good manufacturing practice regulations for dietary supplements. See "Business—Government Regulation" above. In addition, we may be subject to additional laws or regulations administered by federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities, the repeal or amendment of laws or regulations which we consider favorable, such as DSHEA, or more stringent interpretations of current laws or regulations. We are unable to predict the nature of such future laws, regulations, interpretations or applications, nor can we predict what effect additional governmental regulations or administrative orders, when and if promulgated, would have on our business in the future. Any or all of these requirements and the related costs to comply with such requirements could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

        Restrictions Imposed by Terms of Our Indebtedness.    Our borrowing arrangements impose certain financial and operating covenants, including, among others, requirements that we maintain certain financial ratios and satisfy certain financial tests, limitations on capital expenditures and restrictions or limitations on our ability to incur debt, pay dividends or take certain other corporate actions, all of which may restrict our ability to expand or pursue our business strategies. Changes in economic or business conditions, results of operations or other factors could cause a violation of one or more covenants in our debt instruments.

        Risks Associated with International Markets.    As a result of the acquisition of Haleko in July 1998, we have significant international operations. Approximately 33% of our net sales for fiscal 2003 were generated outside the United States. Operating in international markets exposes us to certain risks,

11



including, among others, changes in or interpretations of foreign regulations that may limit our ability to sell certain products or repatriate products to the United States, foreign currency fluctuations, the potential imposition of trade or foreign exchange restrictions or increased tariffs and political instability. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

        Availability of Raw Materials.    We obtain all of our raw materials for the manufacture of our products from third parties. We cannot assure you that suppliers will provide the raw materials we need in the quantities requested, at a price we are willing to pay, or that meet our quality standards and labeling requirements. Any significant delay in or disruption of the supply of raw materials could, among other things, substantially increase the cost of such materials, require reformulation or repackaging of products, require the qualification of new suppliers, or result in our inability to meet customer demands for certain products. In addition, we also acquire ingredients for a number of our products from suppliers outside of the United States. Accordingly, the acquisition of these ingredients is subject to the risks generally associated with importing raw materials, including, among other factors, delays in shipments, changes in economic and political conditions, tariffs, trade disputes and foreign currency fluctuations. The occurrence of any of the foregoing could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.

        Control by Principal Stockholder.    Weider Health and Fitness owns all of our outstanding shares of Class B common stock, representing over 90% of the aggregate voting power of all outstanding shares of our common stock. Weider Health and Fitness is in a position to exercise control over us and to determine the outcome of all matters required to be submitted to stockholders for approval (except as otherwise provided by law or by our amended and restated certificate of incorporation or amended and restated bylaws) and otherwise to direct and control our operations. Accordingly, we cannot engage in any strategic transactions without the approval of Weider Health and Fitness.


ITEM 2. PROPERTIES

        At May 31, 2003, we owned or leased the following facilities:

Location

  Function
  Approximate
Square Feet

  Lease/Own
  Expiration
Date of Lease

Salt Lake City, UT   Company Headquarters, Manufacturing & Production, Warehouse & Distribution (Schiff Specialty Unit, Active Nutrition Unit)   418,000   Lease   March 2013

Montreal, Quebec

 

Administrative Offices & Warehouse (Active Nutrition Unit)

 

24,600

 

Lease

 

Month to month

Madrid, Spain

 

Administrative Offices, Manufacturing & Production (Active Nutrition Unit)

 

20,000

 

Lease

 

September 2006

Levada, Italy

 

Administrative offices & Warehouse (Haleko Unit)

 

13,000

 

Lease

 

March 2009

Hamburg, Germany

 

Administrative Offices (Haleko Unit)

 

35,200

 

Lease

 

July 2009

Bleckede, Germany

 

Manufacturing & Production, Warehouse (Haleko Unit)

 

100,000

 

Own

 

N/A

Various, Germany(1)

 

Sales & Administrative Offices (Haleko Unit)

 

Various

 

Leases

 

Various

(1)
We have several small sales and administrative offices primarily located in Germany.

12



ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

        In March 2000, we were named as a defendant in Garret v. Weider Nutrition International, Inc. et. al. filed in Kansas state court. The lawsuit alleges that consumption of our products containing ephedra caused Mr. Garrett to experience heart problems leading to brain injuries. We dispute the allegations and tendered the matter to our insurance carrier which assumed defense of the matter. In June 2001, a jury determined that Mr. Garrett was not entitled to any compensation from us. The trial court subsequently denied plaintiffs' motions for a new trial. In August 2001, the plaintiffs filed an appeal of the matter. In April 2003, an appellate court upheld the trial court's decision. The plaintiffs subsequently filed an appeal with the Kansas Supreme Court, which has not yet determined whether to hear the appeal. We will continue to oppose any further appeal by the plaintiffs.

        In December 2000, we were named as a defendant in Long v. Weider Nutrition Group, Inc. et. al. filed in Delaware state court. The lawsuit alleges that consumption of our products containing ephedra caused a heart attack resulting in the death of Mr. Long. We dispute the allegations and are opposing the lawsuit. We have tendered the matter to our insurance carrier which has assumed defense of the matter. Discovery is proceeding.

        In April 2001, we were named as a defendant, along with several other companies, in Garcia et. al. v. Metabolife International, Weider Nutrition International, et. al. filed in Nevada state court. The lawsuit alleges that the various plaintiffs were each separately caused injuries and damages after consuming products containing ephedra manufactured or sold by the various respective defendants. We dispute the allegations and are opposing the lawsuit. We have tendered the matter to our insurance carrier which has assumed defense of the matter. Discovery is proceeding.

        In June 2002, we were named as a defendant in Soupanya v. Weider Nutrition International, Inc. et. al. filed in Utah state court. The lawsuit alleges that consumption of one of our products containing ephedra caused injuries and damages to the plaintiff. We dispute the allegations and are opposing the lawsuit. We have tendered the matter to our insurance carriers which have assumed defense of the matter. Discovery is proceeding.

        In July 2003, we were named as a defendant in Cain v. Metabolife, Inc., Weider Nutrition International, Inc., et. al. filed in Texas state court. The lawsuit alleges that the consumption of various products containing ephedra (distributed by several different companies) caused injuries and damages to the plaintiff. We dispute the allegations and are opposing the lawsuit. We can give no assurance that this lawsuit will be covered by our insurance. Discovery in this matter has not yet commenced.

        We believe that, after taking into consideration our insurance coverage, the ephedra lawsuits described above, if successful, generally would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. However, one or more large punitive damages awards, which are generally not covered by insurance, or a large adverse damage award in a lawsuit not covered by insurance, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. Prior to September 1, 2001, we maintained, on an occurrence basis, both primary and excess insurance coverage regarding our ephedra products. Subsequent to September 1, 2001, we have maintained, on a claims made basis, primary but not excess coverage regarding our ephedra products, with very limited coverage on only certain ephedra products for the annual policy period which will end on September 1, 2003. Subsequent to September 1, 2003, we do not anticipate having any insurance coverage regarding ephedra products. In connection with the sale of the American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands in July 2002, we have discontinued the sale of products that contain ephedra. However, we cannot assure you that we will not be subject to further litigation with respect to ephedra products we have already sold.

        In July and August of 2002 we were named as a defendant, along with numerous other dietary supplement companies, in purported class actions in Florida state court (Hannon et. al. v. Assorted Sports Science, Inc. et. al.) and in Illinois state court (Mallory v. Weider Nutrition International, Inc.).

13



Plaintiffs allege that androstenedione and other purportedly similar products were sold by defendants in violation of certain statutes and utilizing false and misleading claims and advertising. We dispute the allegations and are opposing the lawsuits. In February 2003, the Illinois court granted, without prejudice, our motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim. The plaintiffs subsequently refiled their lawsuit in April 2003. Discovery is proceeding.

        From time to time, we are involved in other claims, legal actions and governmental proceedings that arise from our business operations. Although ultimate liability cannot be determined at the present time, we believe that any liability resulting from these matters, if any, after taking into consideration our insurance coverage, will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations or financial condition.


ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

        No matter was submitted to the vote of security holders during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2003.

14



PART II

ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

        Our Class A common stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "WNI." The high and low closing prices of our Class A common stock for each quarter of fiscal 2003 and 2002, respectively, are set forth below:

 
  High
  Low
Fiscal Year Ended May 31, 2003:            
First Quarter   $ 2.05   $ 1.45
Second Quarter     1.82     1.35
Third Quarter     1.96     1.45
Fourth Quarter     2.46     1.36
 
  High
  Low
Fiscal Year Ended May 31, 2002:            
First Quarter   $ 2.60   $ 1.80
Second Quarter     2.00     1.40
Third Quarter     2.15     1.45
Fourth Quarter     2.00     1.60

        In February 2002, we announced the suspension of the $0.0375 quarterly dividend on our common stock. We paid an annual dividend of $0.15 per share (quarterly dividend of $0.0375 per share) for fiscal 2001. Our Board of Directors will determine dividend policy in the future based upon, among other factors, our results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant at the time. In addition, our credit facilities contain certain customary financial covenants that may limit our ability to pay dividends on our common stock (See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). We can give no assurance that we will pay dividends in the future.

        The closing price of our Class A common stock on August 22, 2003 was $2.81. The approximate number of stockholders of record of our Class A common stock on August 22, 2003 was 344. Weider Health and Fitness owns all of the outstanding shares of our Class B common stock.

        The following table presents information about our Class A common stock that may be issued upon the exercise of options, warrants and rights under existing equity compensation plans at May 31, 2003:

Plan category

  Number of securities to be issued upon exercise of outstanding options, warrants and rights
  Weighted-average exercise price of outstanding options, warrants and rights
  Number of securities remaining available for future issuance under equity compensation plans (excluding securities reflected in column(a))
 
  (a)

  (b)

  (c)

Equity compensation plans approved by security holders   2,272,750   $ 2.43   525,317
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders        
   
 
 
  Total   2,272,750   $ 2.43   525,317
   
 
 

15



ITEM 6. SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA

        The following selected consolidated financial data as of, and for the fiscal years ended May 31, 1999 through May 31, 2003, have been derived from our consolidated financial statements, which have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP, our independent auditors. The financial data should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto, included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. See "Item 7—Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations."

 
  Fiscal Year Ended May 31,
 
 
  1999
  2000
  2001
  2002
  2003
 
 
  (in thousands, except per share data)

 
Income Statement Data(1) and(3):                                
  Net sales   $ 304,708   $ 318,261   $ 300,290   $ 280,821   $ 240,854  
  Cost of goods sold     206,462     206,641     191,367     183,833     148,243  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Gross profit     98,246     111,620     108,923     96,988     92,611  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Operating expenses     97,123     98,960     102,542     84,102     75,495  
  Litigation settlement             (3,571 )   (442 )    
  Asset impairment loss(2)     535             9,027      
  Severance, recruiting and reorganization costs     3,062     4,300         1,514      
  Plant consolidation and transition     5,113         648          
   
 
 
 
 
 
      Total operating expenses     105,833     103,260     99,619     94,201     75,495  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Income (loss) from operations     (7,587 )   8,360     9,304     2,787     17,116  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Other income (expense):                                
    Interest, net     (8,332 )   (8,994 )   (7,207 )   (6,420 )   (3,483 )
    Securities impairment loss             (2,177 )        
    Other     (430 )   (176 )   (874 )   (818 )   360  
   
 
 
 
 
 
      Total other expense, net     (8,762 )   (9,170 )   (10,258 )   (7,238 )   (3,123 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes     (16,349 )   (810 )   (954 )   (4,451 )   13,993  
  Income tax expense (benefit)     (6,591 )   (674 )   (907 )   (555 )   5,528  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Net income (loss) from continuing operations     (9,758 )   (136 )   (47 )   (3,896 )   8,465  
  Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes(3)     980     1,209     258     (3,648 )   (607 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Net income (loss) before cummulative effect of change in accounting principle     (8,778 )   1,073     211     (7,544 )   7,858  
  Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax benefit(4)                     (15,392 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Net income (loss)   $ (8,778 ) $ 1,073   $ 211   $ (7,544 ) $ (7,534 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding, in thousands:                                
  Basic     24,930     25,042     26,244     26,249     26,249  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Diluted     24,930     25,048     26,245     26,249     26,249  
   
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per share:                                
  Basic   $ (0.35 ) $ 0.04   $ 0.01   $ (0.29 ) $ (0.29 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Diluted   $ (0.35 ) $ 0.04   $ 0.01   $ (0.29 ) $ (0.29 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  At May 31,
 
  1999
  2000
  2001
  2002
  2003
 
  (in thousands)

Balance Sheet Data(2) and(3):                              
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 1,926   $ 3,011   $ 2,293   $ 2,412   $ 3,463
  Working capital(5)     79,001     41,048     45,307     31,683     25,959
  Total assets     256,029     227,268     209,072     158,643     115,242
  Total debt     115,439     82,880     73,428     39,967     8,716
  Total stockholders' equity     91,780     86,658     85,800     76,741     68,846

(1)
Effective March 1, 2002, we adopted EITF No. 01-9, which requires certain sales incentives and promotional costs to be reclassified as reductions in net sales and/or increases in cost of goods sold. The fiscal years presented have been reclassified to reflect the approximate impact of adopting EITF No. 01-9.

16


(2)
In July 2002, we sold substantially all assets and certain associated liabilities relating to our American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands (See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

(3)
Subsequent to our fiscal 2003 year end, we sold substantially all assets relating to our Venice Beach® brand. In accordance with SFAS No. 144, the fiscal years presented have been restated to reflect the Venice Beach® operating results as discontinued operations (See Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

(4)
Effective June 1, 2002, we adopted SFAS No. 142, which establishes accounting and reporting standards for goodwill and other intangible assets (See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements).

(5)
Working capital at May 31, 1999 excludes $98,654 of debt extended and refinanced in June 2000 under our credit facility (See Note 8 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). Including such amount, working capital (deficit) amounts to $(19,653) at May 31, 1999.


ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

        The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements, including the notes thereto, appearing elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Overview

        Weider Nutrition International, Inc. develops, manufactures, markets, distributes and sells branded and private label vitamins, nutritional supplements and sports nutrition products in the United States and throughout the world. We offer a broad range of capsules and tablets, powdered drink mixes, ready-to-drink beverages and nutrition bars consisting of approximately 800 stock keeping units ("SKUs"). Our portfolio of brands, including Schiff® Weider®, Tiger's Milk®, Multipower® and Multaben are primarily marketed through mass market, health food store and health club and gym distribution channels. We market our branded nutritional supplement products, both domestically and internationally, in five principal categories: specialty supplements; vitamins and minerals; sports nutrition; weight management; and nutrition bars.

        Our operating results for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001 were affected by an industry slow down (including lack of successful new product introductions), increased competitive pressures (particularly from increasing private label growth), the implementation of our Schiff® Move Free® initiatives to defend the brand against the competition, the sale of our American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands, the reorganization of the company into three business units and the impact of certain other unusual items.

        On July 26, 2002, we announced the sale of substantially all of the assets and certain associated liabilities relating to our American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands. The sales price included approximately $5.65 million in cash and the assumption of an approximate $246,000 mortgage on the accompanying beverage facility. The transaction resulted in a pre-tax impairment loss of approximately $9.0 million during the fiscal 2002 fourth quarter, primarily associated with the write-off of goodwill and other intangible assets.

        On May 1, 2003 (the first day of Haleko's fiscal year 2004), we sold substantially all of the assets relating to Haleko's Germany-based Venice Beach® sports apparel brand. The transaction included the sale of Venice Beach® receivables, inventories, intellectual property and certain fixed assets and the assumption by the purchaser of approximately 47 Venice Beach® employees. The net cash proceeds from the sale were approximately $6.0 million. In accordance with SFAS No. 144, operating results for Venice Beach® are reflected as discontinued operations for all periods presented.

        During fiscal 2002, we initiated a plan to reorganize into three business units: the Schiff® Specialty Unit, the Active Nutrition Unit and the Haleko Unit. The Schiff® Specialty Unit contains the Schiff® and Schiff® Move Free® brands, as well as private label business limited to customers that otherwise carry our products. The Active Nutrition Unit includes Weider® branded global businesses, our Tiger's Milk® brand and our export business which includes Weider® and Schiff® branded produts. The

17



Haleko Unit, our primary European subsidiary, includes the Multipower® and Multaben nutritional supplement brands and private label businesses. The reorganization resulted in an approximate $1.5 million charge during the fiscal 2002 second quarter, primarily associated with employee severance costs.

        We adopted EITF No. 01-9 effective March 1, 2002, and reclassified prior period amounts as required by the new accounting standard. The adoption of EITF No. 01-9 did not materially impact overall results of operations. However, the "cost" of certain sales incentives or promotional considerations previously recognized as operating expenses were reclassified as reductions in net sales and/or increases in cost of goods sold. As a result of our adoption of EITF No. 01-9, gross profit for fiscal 2002 and 2001 decreased by approximately $16.4 million and $11.8 million, respectively, and selling and marketing expenses decreased by the same amounts for the respective periods.

        On June 1, 2002, we adopted SFAS No. 142 and recognized an after-tax goodwill impairment charge of approximately $15.4 million.

        Factors affecting our historical results, including the previous implementation of strategic initiatives as well continuing refinement of our growth and business strategies, are ongoing considerations and processes. While the focus of these considerations are to improve future profitability, no assurance can be given that our decisions relating to these initiatives will not adversely effect our results of operations or financial condition.

        The following table shows selected items as reported and as a percentage of net sales for the years ended May 31:

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
 
 
  (dollars in thousands)

 
Net sales   $ 240,854   100.0 % $ 280,821   100.0 % $ 300,290   100.0 %
Cost of goods sold     148,243   61.5     183,833   65.5     191,367   63.7  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gross profit     92,611   38.5     96,988   34.5     108,923   36.3  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating expenses     75,495   31.4     84,102   30.0     102,542   34.2  
Litigation settlement           (442 ) (.2 )   (3,57 ) (1.2 )
Asset impairment loss           9,027   3.2        
Severance, recruiting and reorganizational costs           1,514   .5        
Plant consolidation and transition                 648   .2  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total operating expenses     75,495   31.4     94,201   33.5     99,619   33.2  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Income from operations     17,116   7.1     2,787   1.0     9,304   3.1  
Other expense, net     3,123   1.3     7,238   2.6     10,258   3.4  
Income tax expense (benefit)     5,528   2.3     (555 ) (.2 )   (907 ) (.3 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) from continuing operations   $ 8,465   3.5 % $ (3,896 ) (1.4 )% $ (47 ) %
   
 
 
 
 
 
 

18


Results of Operations

Fiscal 2003 Compared to Fiscal 2002

        The following tables show comparative results for continuing operations, by business unit, for fiscal 2003 and 2002. Certain indirect costs, including primarily general and administrative and research and development expenses, are charged to the business units based on various allocation methodologies (in thousands).

 
  Schiff®
Specialty

  Active
Nutrition

  Haleko
  Other(1)
  Total
 
2003:                                
  Net sales   $ 144,309   $ 35,331   $ 63,830   $ (2,616 ) $ 240,854  
  Cost of goods sold     92,696     20,392     37,771     (2,616 )   148,243  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Gross profit     51,613     14,939     26,059         92,611  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Operating expenses:                                
    Selling and marketing     22,062     9,813     15,284         47,159  
    General and administrative     12,649     2,620     7,907         23,176  
    Research and development     2,953     560     652         4,165  
    Amortization of intangible assets     343     391     261         995  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    Total operating expenses     38,007     13,384     24,104         75,495  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Income from operations   $ 13,606   $ 1,555   $ 1,955   $   $ 17,116  
   
 
 
 
 
 
2002:                                
  Net sales   $ 150,558   $ 57,921   $ 74,538   $ (2,196 ) $ 280,821  
  Cost of goods sold     95,699     38,883     51,374     (2,123 )   183,833  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Gross profit (loss)     54,859     19,038     23,164     (73 )   96,988  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Operating expenses:                                
    Selling and marketing     21,067     15,051     15,154         51,272  
    General and administrative     10,890     6,953     7,917         25,760  
    Research and development     2,253     979     487         3,719  
    Amortization of intangible assets     652     1,759     940         3,351  
    Asset impairment loss                 9,027     9,027  
    Severance and reorganization costs                 1,514     1,514  
    Litigation settlement                 (442 )   (442 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
    Total operating expenses     34,862     24,742     24,498     10,099     94,201  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Income (loss) from operations   $ 19,997   $ (5,704 ) $ (1,334 ) $ (10,172 ) $ 2,787  
   
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
Amounts include inter-business unit sales eliminations and unallocated amounts.

        Net Sales.    Net sales decreased approximately 14.2% to $240.9 million for fiscal 2003, from $280.8 million for fiscal 2002. Net sales decreased in fiscal 2003 primarily due to the sale of our American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands in July 2002, growth of private label competition in joint care products and elimination of a low margin private label customer. These factors resulted in significant net sales reductions in our Active Nutrition and Haleko business units, and a more moderate overall net sales decrease in Schiff® Specialty.

        Schiff® Specialty net sales decreased approximately 4.2% to $144.3 million for fiscal 2003, from $150.6 million for fiscal 2002. The decrease resulted from a reduction in sales of Schiff® Move Free®, which was primarily attributable to increased private label competition. The decrease was partially

19



offset by an increase in private label sales. Net sales of Schiff® Move Free® were $55.0 million for fiscal 2003, compared to $67.9 million for fiscal 2002. Private label sales were $52.1 million for fiscal 2003, compared to $47.0 million for fiscal 2002.

        Active Nutrition net sales decreased approximately 39.0% to $35.3 million for fiscal 2003, from $57.9 million for fiscal 2002. The decrease was primarily attributable to a reduction in sales under our American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands, which were sold in July 2002.

        Net sales of American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands were $3.1 million for fiscal 2003, compared to $23.5 million for fiscal 2002. Excluding American Body Building™ and Science Foods® net sales, Active Nutrition net sales decreased $2.2 million, primarily attributable to reduced distribution in certain domestic mass market accounts partially offset by modest sales increases in certain international accounts.

        Haleko net sales decreased approximately 14.4% to $63.8 million for fiscal 2003, from $74.5 million for fiscal 2002. The decrease primarily resulted from a decline in private label sales volume, partially offset by an increase in branded nutritional supplement net sales. Private label sales volume was $11.9 million for fiscal 2003, compared to $26.7 million for fiscal 2002, primarily due to the discontinuation of a significant private label account. Economic conditions in Germany continue to decline and may negatively impact operating results in our Haleko business unit for the foreseeable future.

        Gross Profit.    Gross profit decreased approximately 4.5% to $92.6 million for fiscal 2003, from $97.0 million for fiscal 2002. Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, was 38.5% for fiscal 2003, compared to 34.5% for fiscal 2002. Gross profit increased as a percentage of net sales primarily due to significant improvement in our Active Nutrition and Haleko business units, partially offset by a modest decrease in the Schiff® Specialty business unit.

        Schiff® Specialty gross profit decreased approximately 5.9% to $51.6 million for fiscal 2003, compared to $54.9 million for fiscal 2002. Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, was 35.8% for fiscal 2003, compared to 36.4% for fiscal 2002. The decrease resulted primarily from a change in product sales mix, including an increase in lower margin private label sales volume and a decrease in higher margin Schiff® Move Free® sales, partially offset by lower net raw material costs.

        Active Nutrition gross profit decreased approximately 21.5% to $14.9 million for fiscal 2003, from $19.0 million for fiscal 2002, primarily resulting from a decrease in sales volume. Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, was 42.3% for fiscal 2003, compared to 32.9% for fiscal 2002. The increase was primarily attributable to changes in product sales mix, including the elimination of lower-margin American Body Building™ and Science Foods® branded sales, reductions in product returns and cost savings realized in our domestic operations due to the fiscal 2002 business unit realignment.

        Haleko gross profit increased approximately 12.5% to $26.1 million for fiscal 2003, from $23.2 million for fiscal 2002. Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, was 40.8% for fiscal 2003, compared to 31.1% for fiscal 2002. The increase primarily resulted from changes in product sales mix, including a reduction in lower-margin private label sales, overhead cost improvements and lower inventory valuation charges.

        Operating Expenses.    Operating expenses were $75.5 million for fiscal 2003, compared to $94.2 million for fiscal 2002. The fiscal 2003 decrease was primarily attributable to fiscal 2002 charges not repeated in fiscal 2003, including an asset impairment loss of $9.0 million related to the sale of our American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands and severance and reorganization costs of $1.5 million associated with our business unit realignment, partially offset by $0.4 million in litigation settlement income. Furthermore, we adopted SFAS No. 142 in fiscal 2003, resulting in the discontinuation of goodwill amortization expense. The overall decrease was partially offset by an

20



increase in certain fiscal 2003 operating expenses, including incremental transition and marketing costs associated with our long-term Move Free® strategy and increased research and development expenses.

        Selling and marketing expenses, including sales, marketing, advertising, freight and other costs, were $47.2 million for fiscal 2003, compared to $51.3 million for fiscal 2002. As a percentage of net sales, selling and marketing expenses were 19.6% and 18.3%, respectively, for fiscal 2003 and 2002. The increase, as a percentage of net sales, was primarily attributable to incremental transition and marketing costs associated with our long-term Move Free® strategy and changes in sales mix.

        General and administrative expenses were $23.2 million for fiscal 2003, compared to $25.8 million for fiscal 2002. The $2.6 million decrease was primarily due to the reduction of costs associated with the divested American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands and the fiscal 2002 recognition of provisions for potentially unrealizable amounts on certain notes receivable.

        Research and development costs were $4.2 million for fiscal 2003, compared to $3.7 million for fiscal 2002. The increase primarily resulted from increases in product testing and related costs in our Schiff® Specialty and Haleko business units, partially offset by cost reductions in our Active Nutrition unit due to the sale of American Body Building™ and Science Foods®. The adoption of SFAS No. 142 and the sale of American Body Building™ and Science Foods® resulted in the fiscal 2003 decrease in amortization expense for the Active Nutrition and Haleko business units.

        Other Expense.    Other expense, net, was $3.1 million for fiscal 2003, compared to $7.2 million for fiscal 2002. In May 2002, we restructured our domestic credit facilities. We paid off $5.0 million in subordinated loan debt and accelerated amortization of outstanding senior term loans. These modifications resulted in the fiscal 2002 write-off of $1.8 million in previously capitalized financing fees, including original issue discount (OID) costs. In November 2002, we paid off the remaining $5.0 million in subordinated loan debt with borrowings available from our senior bank credit facility, resulting in an additional fiscal 2003 write-off of $1.1 million in similar fees and OID costs. Interest expense decreased due to an overall lower effective borrowing rate on less total indebtedness. Aggregate debt decreased approximately $31.3 million to $8.7 million at May 31, 2003, from approximately $40.0 million at May 31, 2002. Furthermore, other expense, net, increased in fiscal 2002 due to provisions for potentially unrealizable interest accrued on notes receivable and decreased in fiscal 2003 due to income on the sale of certain available-for-sale equity securities.

        Provision for Income Taxes.    Provision for income taxes was a $5.5 million expense for fiscal 2003, compared to a $0.6 million benefit for fiscal 2002. The increase resulted primarily from the increase in pre-tax earnings partially offset by the net effect of tax rate differences for our domestic and international operations. In addition, we did not recognize income tax benefits on international based losses for fiscal 2002.

Results of Operations

Fiscal 2002 Compared to Fiscal 2001

        The following tables show comparative results for continuing operations, by business unit, for fiscal 2002 and 2001. Certain indirect costs, including primarily general and administrative and research and

21



development expenses, are charged to the business units based on various allocation methodologies (in thousands).

 
  Schiff®
Specialty

  Active
Nutrition

  Haleko
  Other(1)
  Total
 
2002:                                
  Net sales   $ 150,558   $ 57,921   $ 74,538   $ (2,196 ) $ 280,821  
  Cost of goods sold     95,699     38,883     51,374     (2,123 )   183,833  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Gross profit (loss)     54,859     19,038     23,164     (73 )   96,988  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Operating expenses:                                
    Selling and marketing     21,067     15,051     15,154         51,272  
    General and administrative     10,890     6,953     7,917         25,760  
    Research and development     2,253     979     487         3,719  
    Amortization of intangible assets     652     1,759     940         3,351  
    Asset impairment loss                 9,027     9,027  
    Severance and reorganization costs                 1,514     1,514  
    Litigation settlement                 (442 )   (442 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
    Total operating expenses     34,862     24,742     24,498     10,099     94,201  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Income (loss) from operations   $ 19,997   $ (5,704 ) $ (1,334 ) $ (10,172 ) $ 2,787  
   
 
 
 
 
 
2001:                                
  Net sales   $ 156,669   $ 71,294   $ 74,726   $ (2,399 ) $ 300,290  
  Cost of goods sold     92,287     52,856     48,623     (2,399 )   191,367  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Gross profit     64,382     18,438     26,103         108,923  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Operating expenses:                                
    Selling and marketing     28,625     21,240     16,860         66,725  
    General and administrative     11,084     6,858     9,336         27,278  
    Research and development     2,699     2,060     552         5,311  
    Amortization of intangible assets     587     1,581     1,060         3,228  
    Litigation settlement                 (3,571 )   (3,571 )
    Plant consolidation and transition                 648     648  
   
 
 
 
 
 
    Total operating expenses     42,995     31,739     27,808     (2,923 )   99,619  
   
 
 
 
 
 
  Income (loss) from operations   $ 21,387   $ (13,301 ) $ (1,705 ) $ 2,923   $ 9,304  
   
 
 
 
 
 

(1)
Amounts include inter-business unit sales eliminations and unallocated amounts.

        Net Sales.    Net sales decreased approximately 6.5% to $280.8 million for fiscal 2002, from $300.3 million for fiscal 2001. Net sales decreased in fiscal 2002 primarily due to an industry slowdown, lower than expected new product sales, an increase in negative publicity towards certain nutritional supplements and the growth of private label competition. The decrease in net sales is primarily reflected in our Active Nutrition business unit, with a more moderate decrease in our Schiff® Specialty business unit.

        Schiff® Specialty net sales decreased approximately 3.9% to $150.6 million for fiscal 2002, from $156.7 million in fiscal 2001. The decrease resulted from a reduction in sales of Schiff® Move Free®, partially offset by an increase in private label sales. Net sales of Schiff® Move Free® were $67.9 million for fiscal 2002, compared to $83.5 million for fiscal 2001. Private label sales were $47.0 million for fiscal 2002, compared to $36.0 million for fiscal 2001.

22



        Active Nutrition net sales decreased approximately 18.8% to $57.9 million for fiscal 2002, from $71.3 million in fiscal 2001. The decrease was primarily attributable to increased competitive pressures in the sports nutrition category, elimination of approximately $5.9 million in powders private label sales volume and our decision to discontinue business in certain unprofitable accounts.

        Haleko net sales remained relatively constant with $74.5 million in fiscal 2002, compared to $74.7 million in fiscal 2001.

        Gross Profit.    Gross profit decreased approximately 11.0% to $97.0 million for fiscal 2002, from $108.9 million for fiscal 2001, primarily resulting from the decrease in net sales. Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, was 34.5% for fiscal 2002, compared to 36.3% for fiscal 2001. The gross profit percentage decrease was primarily attributable to a change in product sales mix and the adoption of EITF No. 01-9, which requires certain sales incentive costs to be reclassified as direct sales deductions.

        Schiff® Specialty gross profit decreased approximately 14.8% to $54.9 million for fiscal 2002, from $64.4 million for fiscal 2001. Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, was 36.4% for fiscal 2002, compared to 41.1% for fiscal 2001. The decrease resulted primarily from a change in product sales mix, including an increase in lower margin private label sales volume and a decrease in higher margin Schiff® Move Free® sales, and an increase in certain sales incentive costs.

        Active Nutrition gross profit increased approximately 3.3% to $19.0 million for fiscal 2002, from $18.4 million for fiscal 2001. Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, was 32.9% for fiscal 2002, compared to 25.9% for fiscal 2001. The increase was primarily attributable to changes in product sales mix, including a decrease in lower margin private label sales volume, reductions in product returns and a decrease in inventory related charges.

        Haleko gross profit decreased approximately 11.3% to $23.2 million for fiscal 2002, from $26.1 million for fiscal 2001. Gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, was 31.1% for fiscal 2002, compared to 34.9% for fiscal 2001. The decrease was primarily attributable to greater inventory valuation charges and higher sales deductions.

        Operating Expenses.    Operating expenses were $94.2 million for fiscal 2002, compared to $99.6 million for fiscal 2001. Fiscal 2002 operating expenses include an asset impairment loss of $9.0 million associated with the sale of our American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands and severance and reorganization costs of $1.5 million associated with our business unit realignment partially offset by $0.4 million in litigation settlement income. Fiscal 2001 operating expenses include $3.6 million in litigation settlement income partially offset by $0.6 million in plant consolidation and transition costs. The fiscal 2002 decrease was primarily attributable to a reduction in selling and marketing expenses and cost cutting initiatives (including reductions in our work force).

        Selling and marketing expenses, including sales, marketing, advertising, freight and other costs, were $51.3 million for fiscal 2002, compared to $66.7 million for fiscal 2001. As a percentage of net sales, selling and marketing expenses were 18.3% and 22.2%, respectively, for fiscal 2002 and 2001. The percentage decrease was primarily attributable to a reduction in advertising and consumer promotion costs as well as customer specific spending in each of the business units.

        General and administrative expenses were $25.8 million for fiscal 2002, compared to $27.3 million for fiscal 2001, primarily attributable to reductions in outside professional and legal related costs and reduced depreciation expense.

        Research and development costs were $3.7 million for fiscal 2002, compared to $5.3 million for fiscal 2001. The $1.6 million decrease was primarily attributable to reductions in personnel related costs, consulting fees and new product testing costs in our Active Nutrition unit.

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        Other Expense.    Other expense, net, was $7.2 million for fiscal 2002, compared to $10.3 million for fiscal 2001. During fiscal 2002, we restructured our domestic credit facilities. We paid off $5.0 million in subordinated loan debt and accelerated amortization of outstanding senior term loans. These modifications to our domestic credit facilities resulted in a fiscal 2002 write-off of $1.8 million in previously capitalized financing fees, including OID costs. During fiscal 2001, we believed that an "other-than-temporary" decline in valuation of certain equity securities had occurred and, accordingly, recognized a securities impairment loss of approximately $2.2 million. Excluding these charges, other expense, net, decreased approximately $2.7 million to $5.4 million in fiscal 2002, from $8.1 million in fiscal 2001. The decrease was primarily due to an overall lower effective borrowing rate on reduced aggregate indebtedness. Aggregate debt decreased approximately $33.4 million to $40.0 million at May 31, 2002, from approximately $73.4 million at May 31, 2001.

        Provision for Income Taxes.    Provision for income taxes was a $0.6 million benefit for fiscal 2002, compared to a $0.9 million benefit for fiscal 2001. The decrease in income tax benefit percentage was primarily due to not recognizing tax benefits on international based losses for fiscal 2002.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

        Working capital decreased $5.7 million to approximately $26.0 million at May 31, 2003, from $31.7 million at May 31, 2002. The decrease in working capital resulted primarily from a decrease in net receivables and the sale of our American Body Building and Science Foods® brands. The decrease in net receivables resulted primarily from lower sales in the fiscal 2003 fourth quarter, as compared to the fiscal 2002 fourth quarter, and the collection of approximately $5.3 million in income tax refunds.

        We entered into a senior credit facility (the "Credit Facility") with Bankers Trust Company, effective June 30, 2000, on behalf of our domestic subsidiaries. The Credit Facility was originally comprised of a $30.0 million amortizing term loan and a $60.0 million revolving loan. Effective May 31, 2002, we amended the Credit Facility whereby the outstanding balance of the term loan was reduced to $11.1 million and the aggregate revolving loan availability was reduced to $45.0 million. During the fiscal 2003 second quarter, the outstanding balance of the term loan was paid in full with funds available under our revolving loan. Under the revolving loan, as amended, we may borrow up to the lesser of $45.0 million or the sum of (i) 85% of eligible accounts receivable and (ii) the lesser of $22.5 million or 65% of the eligible inventory. The Credit Facility contains customary terms and conditions, including, among others, financial covenants regarding minimum cash flows and limitations on indebtedness and our ability to pay dividends under certain circumstances. Our obligations under the Credit Facility are secured by a first priority lien on all owned or acquired tangible and intangible assets of our domestic subsidiaries. The Credit Facility, which expires in March 2005, is being used to fund our normal working capital and capital expenditure requirements. Net proceeds from the sale of our American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands were used to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under the Credit Facility. At May 31, 2003, available revolving loan funds were approximately $20.7 million.

        Our domestic operations were also supported by a subordinated loan (the "Subordinated Loan") obtained in conjunction with the Credit Facility. The Subordinated Loan, in the original amount of $10.0 million, contained customary terms and conditions, including, among others, financial covenants regarding minimum cash flows and limitations on indebtedness and our ability to pay dividends under certain circumstances. Effective May 31, 2002, we used funds available under our revolving loan to pay down $5.0 million of the Subordinated Loan. Effective November 27, 2002, we used funds available under our revolving loan to pay-off the remaining $5.0 million of the Subordinated Loan.

        Our European working capital needs (primarily our Haleko business unit) are supported by a Germany-based secured credit facility (the "Haleko Facility") that is subject to annual renewal in June.

24



Our obligations under the Haleko Facility are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all Haleko tangible and intangible assets. At May 31, 2003, the outstanding balance of the Haleko Facility was $6.0 million and available revolving loan funds were approximately $15.6 million. Net proceeds from the sale of our Venice Beach® sports apparel business were used to repay a portion of our outstanding indebtedness under the Haleko Facility. During June 2003, we renewed the Haleko Facility with Deutsche Bank AG in the approximate amount of $11.0 million (at recent exchange rate).

        We believe that our cash, cash flows from operations and the financing sources discussed above will be sufficient to meet our normal cash operating requirements during the next twelve months. However, we continue to review opportunities to acquire or invest in companies, product rights and other investments that are compatible with our existing business. We could use cash and financing sources discussed herein, or financing sources that subsequently become available, to fund additional acquisitions or investments. In addition, we may consider issuing additional debt or equity securities in the future to fund potential acquisitions or growth, or to refinance existing debt. If a material acquisition or investment is completed, our operating results and financial condition could change materially in future periods. However, no assurance can be given that additional funds will be available on satisfactory terms, or at all, to fund such activities.

        In February 2002, we announced the suspension of the $0.0375 quarterly dividend on our common stock. Our Board of Directors will determine dividend policy in the future based upon, among other factors, results of operations, financial condition, contractual restrictions and other factors deemed relevant at the time. In addition, our credit facilities contain certain customary financial covenants that may limit our ability to pay common stock dividends. We can give no assurance that we will pay dividends in the future.

        A summary of our outstanding long-term debt and operating lease contractual obligations at May 31, 2003 is as follows (in thousands):

Contractual
Cash Obligations

  Total
Amounts
Committed

  Less than
1 year

  1-3 Years
  4-5 Years
  After
5 Years

Long-term debt   $ 8,716   $ 8,057   $ 659   $   $
Operating leases     27,446     4,192     5,848     5,570     11,836
   
 
 
 
 
Total obligations   $ 36,162   $ 12,249   $ 6,507   $ 5,570   $ 11,836
   
 
 
 
 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

        In preparing our consolidated financial statements, we make assumptions, estimates and judgments that affect the amounts reported. We periodically evaluate our estimates and judgments related to valuation of inventories, allowances for doubtful accounts, notes receivable and sales returns, valuation of deferred tax assets and recoverability of long-lived assets. Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements describes the accounting policies governing each of these matters. Our estimates are based on historical experience and on our future expectations that are believed to be reasonable. The combination of these factors forms the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results are likely to differ from our current estimates and those differences may be material.

        We believe the following critical accounting policies affect our more significant estimates and judgements used in preparation of our consolidated financial statements:

    We provide an inventory reserve for estimated obsolescence or unmarketable inventory equal to the difference between the cost of inventory and the estimated market value based upon assumptions about future demand and market conditions. If actual market conditions are less

25


      favorable than those projected by management, additional inventory write-downs would be required.

    We maintain allowances for doubtful accounts, notes receivable and sales returns for estimated losses resulting from known customer exposures, including product returns and inability to make payments. We also consider collateral values and other factors in evaluating collectibility of notes receivable. Actual results may differ resulting in adjustment of the respective allowance(s).

    We currently have deferred tax assets resulting from certain loss carryforwards and other temporary differences between financial and income tax reporting. These deferred tax assets are subject to periodic recoverability assessments. The realization of these deferred tax assets is primarily dependent on future operating results. To the extent we are uncertain whether future operations will generate sufficient profit to utilize the loss carryforwards, valuation allowances are established.

    We have significant intangible assets, including trademarks, patents and goodwill. The determination of related estimated useful lives and whether or not these assets are impaired involves significant judgements. Changes in strategy or market conditions could significantly impact these judgements and require adjustments to recorded asset balances.

Impact of Inflation

        Historically, we have been able to pass inflationary increases for raw materials and other costs onto our customers through price increases and we anticipate that we will be able to continue to do so in the future.

Seasonality

        Our business can be seasonal, with fluctuations in sales resulting from timing of marketing and promotional activities, customer buying patterns and consumer spending patterns. In addition, as a result of changes in product sales mix and other factors, as discussed above, we experience fluctuations in gross profit and operating margins on a quarter-to-quarter basis.

Recently Issued Accounting Standards

        In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated With Exit or Disposal Activities", which requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred and nullifies EITF No. 94-3. SFAS No. 146 is effective for any exit or disposal activities occurring after December 31, 2002. The requirements of SFAS No. 146 were applied in the accounting treatment for the disposition of Venice Beach® assets.

        In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45, "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness to Others" ("Int. No. 45"), which addresses the disclosure to be made by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under guarantees. Int. No. 45 also requires the guarantor to recognize a liability for the non-contingent component of the guarantee, which is the obligation to stand ready to perform in the event that specified triggering events or conditions occur. The recognition and measurement provisions of Int. No. 45 are effective for all guarantees entered into or modified after December 31, 2002. We have not entered into any such guarantees and therefore the adoption of this standard did not impact our consolidated financial statements.

        In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock—Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—an amendment of SFAS No. 123". SFAS No. 148 amends SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", to require disclosure in the summary of significant accounting policies of the effects of an entity's accounting policy with respect to stock-based

26



employee compensation on reported net income and earnings per share in annual and interim financial statements. We have adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148.

        In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities", ("Int. No. 46") an interpretation of ARB No. 51. Int. No. 46 addresses consolidation by business enterprises of variable interest entities. Int. No. 46 applies immediately to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003 and to variable interest entities in which an enterprise obtains and interest after that date. Int. No. 46 applies in the first year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003 to variable interest entities in which an enterprise holds a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003. We have not yet determined the impact of implementing Int. No. 46 on our consolidated financial statements.

        In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, "Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities", which amends and clarifies accounting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133. SFAS No. 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. We do not believe that the adoption of SFAS No. 149 will have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

        In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liability and Equity" which establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liability and equity in its statement of financial position. SFAS No. 150 is effective for new or modified financial instruments beginning June 1, 2003, and for existing instruments beginning August 1, 2003. We do not believe that the adoption of SFAS No. 150 will have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.


ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

        Cash flows and net earnings are subject to fluctuations resulting from changes in interest rates and foreign exchange rates. We are not currently party to any significant derivative instruments and our current investment policy does not allow speculation in derivative instruments for profit or execution of derivative instrument contracts for which there are no underlying exposure. We do not use financial instruments for trading purposes.

        We measure market risk, related to our holdings of financial instruments, based on changes in interest rates utilizing a sensitivity analysis. We do not believe that a hypothetical 10% change in interest rates would have a material effect on pretax earnings or cash flows.


ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

        Financial statements and supplementary data are on the following pages F-1 through F-26.


ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

        None

27




ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

        We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission's rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow for timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, we recognize that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and we are required to apply our judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.

        As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company's disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the year covered by this report. Based on the foregoing, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the Company's disclosure controls and procedures were effective at the reasonable assurance level.

        There has been no change in our internal controls over financial reporting during the our most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal controls over financial reporting.


PART III

ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

        See the Company's 2003 Proxy Statement, incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K, under the headings "Nominees for Election to the Board of Directors," "Executive Officers" and "Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership."


ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

        See the Company's 2003 Proxy Statement, incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K, under the headings "Compensation of Named Executive Officers" and "Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions."


ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

        See the information set forth under Item 5 herein and in the Company's 2003 Proxy Statement, incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K, under the heading "Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Directors and Management."


ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

        See the Company's 2003 Proxy Statement, incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K, under the heading "Certain Relationships and Related Party Transactions."

28



PART IV

ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

    (a)
    Documents filed as part of this report

    (1)
    Financial Statements

        See "Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data" for Financial Statements included with this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

      (2)
      Financial Statement Schedules

        Schedule II—Valuation and Qualifying Accounts

        All other schedules have been omitted because they are not required, not applicable, or the information is otherwise set forth in the financial statements or notes thereto.

      (3)
      Exhibits

2.1   Stock Purchase Agreement, dated July 9, 1998, by and among Weider Nutrition Group, Inc. and Wolfgang Brandt and Eberhardt Schlüter.(2)
2.2   Amendment Deed to Stock Purchase Agreement, dated July 24, 1998.(2)
2.3   Share Transfer Deed, dated July 24, 1998.(2)
2.4   Asset Purchase Agreement, effective as of May 1, 2003, between Haleko, Weider Nutrition GmbH and Hucke AG(12)
3.1   Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Weider Nutrition International, Inc.(1)
3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Weider Nutrition International, Inc.(1)
4.1   Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2000 among Weider Nutrition International, Inc. and Bankers Trust Company.(4)
4.2   Registration Rights Agreement dated as of June 30, 2000 among Weider Nutrition International, Inc., Wynnchurch Capital Partners, L.P. and Wynnchurch Capital Partners Canada, L.P.(4)
4.3   First Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2000 among Weider Nutrition International, Inc. and Bankers Trust Company.(5)
4.4   Second Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of June 30, 2000 among Weider Nutrition International, Inc. and Bankers Trust Company.(8)
4.5   Third Amendment to Credit Agreement dated as of May 31, 2003 among Weider Nutrition International, Inc. and Bankers Trust Company.(10)
10.1   Build-To-Suit Lease Agreement, dated March 20, 1996, between SCI Development Services Incorporated and Weider Nutrition Group, Inc.(1)
10.2   Agreement by and between Joseph Weider and Weider Health and Fitness.(1)
10.3   1997 Equity Participation Plan of Weider Nutrition International, Inc.(1)
     

29


10.4   Form of Tax Sharing Agreement by and among Weider Nutrition International, Inc. and its subsidiaries and Weider Health and Fitness and its subsidiaries.(1)
10.5   License Agreement between Mariz Gestao E Investmentos Limitada and Weider Nutrition Group Limited.(1)
10.6   Agreement between the Company and Bruce J. Wood.(12)
10.7   Form Agreement between the Company and certain executives of the Company.(12)
10.8   Amendments to 1997 Equity Participation Plan of Weider Nutrition International, Inc.(9)
10.9   Employment Agreement between Weider Nutrition Group, Inc. and Bruce J. Wood.(10)
10.10   Consulting Agreement between Weider Nutrition group, Inc. and Gustin foods, LLC dated as of September 2002.(11)
10.11   Consulting Agreement between Weider nutrition group, Inc. and Gustin foods, LLC dated as of July 2003(12)
21   Subsidiaries of Weider Nutrition International, Inc.(12)
23.1   Independent Auditors' Consent(12)
31.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act(12)
31.2   Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act(12)
32.1   Certification of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act(12)

(1)
Filed as an Exhibit to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-12929) and incorporated herein by reference.

(2)
Previously filed in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of July 24, 1998 and incorporated herein by reference.

(3)
Previously filed in the Company's Current Report on From 10-K dated as of August 30, 1999 and incorporated herein by reference.

(4)
Previously filed in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of June 30, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.

(5)
Previously filed in the Company's Current Report on Form 10-K as of August 29, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.

(6)
Previously filed in the Company's Current Report on Form 10-K/A as of September 28, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.

(7)
Previously filed in the Company's Current Report on Form 10-Q as of January 15, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.

(8)
Previously filed in the Company's Current Report on Form 10-K as of August 29, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.

(9)
Previously filed in the Company's Current Report on Form 10-Q as of January 14, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

(10)
Previously filed in the Company's Current Report on Form 10-K as of August 29, 2002 and incorporated herein by reference.

30


(11)
Previously filed in the company's Current Report on Form 10-Q as of January 14, 2003 and incorporated herein by reference.

(12)
Filed herewith.

(b)
Reports on Form 8-K


On April 8, 2003, we filed a report on Form 8-K with the SEC regarding our fiscal 2003 third quarter earnings press release.


On April 14, 2003, we filed a report with the SEC regarding Section 906 certifications by certain company officers.

31



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

    Weider Nutrition International, Inc.

Dated: August 28, 2003

 

By:

/s/  
BRUCE J. WOOD      
Bruce J. Wood
Chief Executive Officer
and President

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

Name
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/  ERIC WEIDER      
Eric Weider
  Chairman of the Board and Director   August 28, 2003

/s/  
BRUCE J. WOOD      
Bruce J. Wood

 

Chief Executive Officer, President and Director (Principal Executive Officer)

 

August 28, 2003

/s/  
JOSEPH W. BATY      
Joseph W. Baty

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)

 

August 28, 2003

/s/  
RONALD L. COREY      
Ronald L. Corey

 

Director

 

August 28, 2003

/s/  
DAVID J. GUSTIN      
David J. Gustin

 

Director

 

August 28, 2003

/s/  
ROGER H. KIMMEL      
Roger H. Kimmel

 

Director

 

August 28, 2003

/s/  
GEORGE F. LENGVARI      
George F. Lengvari

 

Vice Chairman of the Board and Director

 

August 28, 2003

/s/  
BRIAN P. MCDERMOTT      
Brian P. McDermott

 

Director

 

August 28, 2003

/s/  
H. F. POWELL      
H. F. Powell

 

Director

 

August 28, 2003

32



WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC.


INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Independent Auditors' Report   F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets at May 31, 2003 and 2002

 

F-3

Consolidated Statements of Operations,
Years Ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

 

F-4

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity,
Years Ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

 

F-5

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows,
Years Ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

 

F-6

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

 

F-7

F-1



INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT

The Board of Directors
Weider Nutrition International, Inc. and Subsidiaries:

        We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Weider Nutrition International, Inc. and subsidiaries (collectively, the "Company") as of May 31, 2003 and 2002, and the related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 31, 2003. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.

        We conducted our audits in accordance with auditing standards generally accepted in the United States of America. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

        In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Weider Nutrition International, Inc. and subsidiaries at May 31, 2003 and 2002, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended May 31, 2003 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

        As discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, effective June 1, 2002, the company adopted the provisions of Statements of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142, "Goodwill and other Intangible Assets" and No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets."

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Salt Lake City, Utah
July 14, 2003

F-2



WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

MAY 31, 2003 AND 2002

(dollars in thousands, except share data)

 
  2003
  2002
 
ASSETS              
Current assets:              
  Cash and cash equivalents   $ 3,463   $ 2,412  
  Receivables, net (Note 3)     27,592     44,587  
  Inventories (Note 4)     27,543     29,232  
  Prepaid expenses and other     4,312     2,489  
  Deferred taxes (Note 9)     2,908     4,100  
  Net assets held for sale (Note 2)     5,077     3,634  
   
 
 
    Total current assets     70,895     86,454  
   
 
 
Property and equipment, net (Note 5)     26,676     29,741  
   
 
 

Other assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Intangible assets, net (Note 6)     9,738     32,902  
  Deposits and other assets     5,286     4,574  
  Notes receivable, net (Note 7)     2,178     3,206  
  Net assets held for sale (Note 2)     469     1,766  
   
 
 
    Total other assets     17,671     42,448  
   
 
 
      Total assets   $ 115,242   $ 158,643  
   
 
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY              
Current liabilities:              
  Accounts payable   $ 20,096   $ 21,410  
  Accrued expenses     16,610     18,170  
  Current portion of long-term debt (Note 8)     8,057     15,191  
  Income taxes payable     173      
   
 
 
    Total current liabilities     44,936     54,771  
   
 
 
Long-term debt (Note 8)     659     24,776  
   
 
 
Deferred taxes (Note 9)     801     2,355  
   
 
 
Commitments and contingencies (Notes 7, 8 and 11)              

Stockholders' equity:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
  Preferred stock, par value $.01 per share; shares authorized—10,000,000; no shares issued and outstanding          
  Class A common stock, par value $.01 per share; shares authorized—50,000,000; shares issued and outstanding—11,916,288 (2003) and 11,276,288 (2002)     119     112  
  Class B common stock, par value $.01 per share; shares authorized—25,000,000; shares issued and outstanding—14,973,148     150     150  
  Additional paid-in capital     86,943     85,912  
  Deferred compensation costs     (873 )    
  Other accumulated comprehensive loss     (4,951 )   (4,425 )
  Retained deficit     (12,542 )   (5,008 )
   
 
 
    Total stockholders' equity     68,846     76,741  
   
 
 
      Total liabilities and stockholders' equity   $ 115,242   $ 158,643  
   
 
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-3



WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

YEARS ENDED MAY 31, 2003, 2002 AND 2001

(dollars in thousands, except share data)

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
 
Net sales   $ 240,854   $ 280,821   $ 300,290  
Cost of goods sold     148,243     183,833     191,367  
   
 
 
 
Gross profit     92,611     96,988     108,923  
   
 
 
 
Operating Expenses:                    
  Selling and marketing     47,159     51,272     66,725  
  General and administrative     23,176     25,760     27,278  
  Research and development     4,165     3,719     5,311  
  Amortization of intangible assets     995     3,351     3,228  
  Litigation settlement         (442 )   (3,571 )
  Asset impairment loss         9,027      
  Severance, recruiting and reorganization costs         1,514      
  Plant consolidation and transition             648  
   
 
 
 
    Total operating expenses     75,495     94,201     99,619  
   
 
 
 
Income from operations     17,116     2,787     9,304  
   
 
 
 
Other income (expense):                    
  Interest income     77     95     146  
  Interest expense     (2,413 )   (4,729 )   (7,353 )
  Write-off of financing fees, including OID costs     (1,147 )   (1,786 )    
  Securities impairment loss             (2,177 )
  Other     360     (818 )   (874 )
   
 
 
 
    Total other expense, net     (3,123 )   (7,238 )   (10,258 )
   
 
 
 
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes     13,993     (4,451 )   (954 )
Income tax expense (benefit)     5,528     (555 )   (907 )
   
 
 
 
Net income (loss) from continuing operations     8,465     (3,896 )   (47 )
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of income taxes     (607 )   (3,648 )   258  
   
 
 
 
Net income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle     7,858     (7,544 )   211  
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax benefit (Note 6)     (15,392 )        
   
 
 
 
Net income (loss)   $ (7,534 ) $ (7,544 ) $ 211  
   
 
 
 
Weighted average shares outstanding:                    
  Basic     26,249,436     26,249,436     26,243,618  
   
 
 
 
  Diluted     26,249,436     26,249,436     26,244,782  
   
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per share-basic and diluted:                    
  Net income (loss) from continuing operations   $ 0.32   $ (0.15 ) $  
  Net income (loss) from discontinued operations     (0.02 )   (0.14 )   0.01  
   
 
 
 
  Net income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle     0.30     (0.29 )   0.01  
  Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle     (0.59 )        
   
 
 
 
  Net income (loss)   $ (0.29 ) $ (0.29 ) $ 0.01  
   
 
 
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-4



WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

YEARS ENDED MAY 31, 2003, 2002 AND 2001

(dollars in thousands)

 
  Class A
Common
Stock

  Class B
Common
Stock

  Add'l
Paid-In
Capital

  Deferred
Compensation
Costs

  Other
Accumulated
Comprehensive
Loss

  Retained
Earnings
(Deficit)

  Total
 
Balance at June 1, 2000   $ 94   $ 157   $ 83,225   $   $ (5,003 ) $ 8,185   $ 86,658  
Comprehensive loss:                                            
  Net income                         211     211  
  Available-for-sale equity securities valuation adjustment                     1,122         1,122  
  Foreign currency translation adjustments                     (1,983 )       (1,983 )
                                       
 
    Total comprehensive loss                                         (650 )
  Issuance of stock (Note 10)             201                 201  
  Tax loss from performance units             (59 )               (59 )
  Stock warrants granted and exercised (Note 8)     11         3,513                 3,524  
  Stock options exercised             17                 17  
  Dividends paid on common stock                         (3,891 )   (3,891 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at May 31, 2001     105     157     86,897         (5,864 )   4,505     85,800  
Comprehensive loss:                                            
  Net loss                         (7,544 )   (7,544 )
  Available-for-sale equity securities valuation adjustment                     941         941  
  Foreign currency translation adjustments                     498         498  
                                       
 
    Total comprehensive loss                                         (6,105 )
  Stock conversion (Note 1)     7     (7 )                    
  Dividends paid on common stock             (985 )           (1,969 )   (2,954 )
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at May 31, 2002     112     150     85,912         (4,425 )   (5,008 )   76,741  
Comprehensive loss:                                            
  Net loss                         (7,534 )   (7,534 )
  Available-for-sale equity securities valuation adjustment                     (172 )       (172 )
  Foreign currency translation adjustments                     (354 )       (354 )
                                       
 
    Total comprehensive loss                                         (8,060 )
  Issuance of restricted stock (Note 1)     7         1,031     (1,038 )            
  Amortization of deferred compensation costs                 165             165  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Balance at May 31, 2003   $ 119   $ 150   $ 86,943   $ (873 ) $ (4,951 ) $ (12,542 ) $ 68,846  
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-5



WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

YEARS ENDED MAY 31, 2003, 2002 AND 2001

(dollars in thousands)

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
 
Cash flows from operating activities:                    
  Net income (loss)   $ (7,534 ) $ (7,544 ) $ 211  
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:                    
      Provision for bad debts     583     1,300     1,455  
      Deferred taxes     (362 )   4,404     (744 )
      Depreciation and amortization     6,172     10,009     10,619  
      Asset impairment     23,321     9,027      
      Amortization and write-off of financing fees, including OID costs     1,859     2,888     1,152  
      Securities impairment loss             2,177  
      Other non-cash items     246     121     405  
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities:                    
      Receivables     13,067     182     6,150  
      Inventories     (43 )   24,835     (8,523 )
      Prepaid expenses and other     (1,823 )   493     1,811  
      Deposits and other assets     (566 )   1,591     (638 )
      Accounts payable     (1,314 )   (12,663 )   333  
      Other current liabilities     (3,890 )   4,299     (5,289 )
   
 
 
 
      Net cash provided by operating activities     29,716     38,942     9,119  
   
 
 
 
Cash flows from investing activities:                    
  Purchase of property and equipment     (1,681 )   (2,666 )   (4,080 )
  Proceeds from disposition of assets held for sale and property and equipment     5,472     198     5,207  
  Purchase of intangible assets     (231 )   (188 )   (1,553 )
  Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale equity securities     1,496     1,998      
  Increase in notes receivable     (700 )        
  Collection of notes receivable     182          
   
 
 
 
      Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities     4,538     (658 )   (426 )
   
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities:                    
  Net change in revolving line of credit     (12,918 )   (8,749 )   (43,337 )
  Proceeds from long-term debt     4,947     1,227     41,164  
  Payments on long-term debt     (25,665 )   (27,696 )   (6,771 )
  Issuance of warrants/common stock             3,541  
  Dividends paid         (2,954 )   (3,891 )
   
 
 
 
      Net cash used in financing activities     (33,636 )   (38,172 )   (9,294 )
   
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash     433     7     (117 )
   
 
 
 
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents     1,051     119     (718 )
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year     2,412     2,293     3,011  
   
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year   $ 3,463   $ 2,412   $ 2,293  
   
 
 
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

F-6


1. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

        Description of Business—We develop, manufacture, market, distribute and sell branded and private label nutritional supplements in the United States and throughout the world. We offer a broad range of capsules and tablets, powdered drink mixes, bottled beverages and nutrition bars. We market our branded nutritional supplement products, both domestically and internationally, in five principal categories: specialty supplements; vitamins and minerals; sports nutrition; weight management; and nutrition bars.

        Principles of Consolidation—Our consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Weider Nutrition International, Inc. and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. We are a majority-owned subsidiary of Weider Health and Fitness ("WHF"). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.

        WHF is the owner of the 14,973,148 shares of Class B common stock outstanding at May 31, 2003. During fiscal 2002, WHF transferred ownership of 714,284 shares of Class B common stock to certain individuals. Upon transfer, the shares convert to Class A common stock which has the effect (only) of eliminating a super voting right associated with the Class B common stock. Each holder of Class B common stock is entitled to ten votes per share on all matters presented to a vote of stockholders, including the election of directors.

        Use of Estimates and Assumptions in Preparing Financial Statements—In preparing our consolidated financial statements, we make assumptions, estimates and judgements that affect the amounts reported. We periodically evaluate our estimates and judgements related to valuation of inventories, allowances for doubtful accounts, notes receivable and sales returns, valuation of deferred tax assets and recoverability of long-lived assets. Our estimates are based on historical experience and on our future expectations that are believed to be reasonable. The combination of these factors forms the basis for making judgements about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results are likely to differ from our current estimates and those differences may be material.

        Cash Equivalents—Cash equivalents include highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less.

        Inventories—Inventories are stated at the lower of cost (on a first-in, first-out basis) or market.

        Investment in Available-for-Sale Equity Securities—Available-for-sale equity securities are recorded at fair value with the accompanying unrealized holding gains (losses), net of income tax effects, included as a separate component of stockholders' equity. At May 31, 2002, the fair value of the available-for-sale equity securities was $1,244 and unrealized gains of $172, net of income tax expense of $115, were included in other accumulated comprehensive loss in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. During fiscal 2001, We determined that an "other-than-temporary" valuation impairment of the equity securities had occurred. Accordingly, we adjusted our basis in the equity securities and recognized a pre-tax impairment loss of $2,177. During fiscal 2003, we sold our remaining available-for-sale equity securities.

        Property and Equipment—Property and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and amortization. Depreciation and amortization expense was $5,177 (2003), $6,658 (2002) and $7,391 (2001), computed primarily using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of

F-7



31 to 50 years for buildings, 2 to 10 years for furniture and equipment and 3 to 16 years for leasehold improvements. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the shorter of their useful life or of the lease term.

        Intangible Assets—Effective June 1, 2002, we adopted SFAS No. 142, "Goodwill and other Intangible Assets", which establishes accounting and reporting standards for goodwill and other intangible assets. SFAS No. 142 requires that goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives be tested for impairment, at least annually, rather than amortize them. Upon adoption of SFAS No. 142, as disclosed in Note 6, we recognized an after-tax goodwill impairment charge of $15,392. Prior to fiscal 2003, goodwill was amortized using the straight-line method over periods ranging from 15 to 35 years. Other intangibles with definite lives, are amortized using the straight-line method over estimated useful lives of 5 to 20 years. We evaluate economic intangible assets with definite useful lives on a case-by-case basis.

        Long-Lived Assets—Effective June 1, 2002, we adopted SFAS No. 144, "Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets", which establishes accounting and reporting standards for the impairment or disposal of long-lived asets. SFAS No. 144 removes goodwill from its scope and retains the requirements of SFAS No. 121 regarding the recognition of impairment losses on long-lived assets held for use. SFAS No. 144 also supercedes the accounting and reporting provisions of APB Opinion No. 30, "Reporting the Results of Operations—Reporting the Effects of Disposal of Segment of a Business, and Extraordinary, Unusual and Infrequently Occurring Events and Transactions," for the disposal of a segment of a business. In accordance with SFAS No. 144, as disclosed in Note 2, the operating results for Venice Beach® are reflected as discontinued operations and the associated assets at May 31, 2003 are reclassified as assets held for sale, in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

        We evaluate the carrying value of long-term assets based upon current and anticipated undiscounted cash flows, and recognize an impairment when such estimated cash flows will be less than the carrying value of the asset. Measurement of the amount of impairment, if any, is based upon the difference between carrying value and fair value.

        Income Taxes—We record deferred income tax liabilities and assets for temporary differences in the basis of assets and liabilities as reported for financial statement purposes and income tax purposes. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, in our opinion, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized.

        Revenue Recognition—Sales are recognized when all of the following criteria are met: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists; (2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; (3) the seller's price to the buyer is fixed or determinable; and, (4) collectibility is reasonably assured.

        Net sales represent products at gross sales price, less estimated returns and allowances for which provisions are made at the time of sale and less certain other discounts, rebates, allowances and sales incentives that are accounted for as a reduction from gross sales.

        Shipping and handling costs in the accompanying consolidated financial statements are approximately 3.5% of net sales. Shipping costs, approximating 2.0% of net sales, are included in

F-8



selling and marketing expenses. Handling costs, approximating 1.5% of net sales, are included in general and administrative expenses.

        Effective March 1, 2002, we adopted Emerging Issues Task Force No. 01-9 ("EITF NO. 01-9") and reclassified prior period amounts to apply its provisions in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. EITF No. 01-9, representing a summary of previously issued EITF's, addresses the recognition, measurement and statement of operations classification for certain sales incentives. The types of sales incentives included are offers to retailers, distributors or end consumers that are exercisable after a single exchange transaction in the form of price reductions, coupons, rebate offers, or free products delivered on the same date as the underlying exchange transaction. While the adoption of EITF No. 01-9 did not materially impact our overall results of operations, the "cost" of certain sales incentives or promotional considerations previously recognized as operating expenses were reclassified as reductions in net sales and/or increases in cost of goods sold. As a result of the adoption of EITF No. 01-9, gross profit for fiscal 2002 and 2001 decreased $16,413 and $11,791, respectively, and selling and marketing expenses decreased by like amounts for the respective periods.

        Our two largest customers accounted for approximately 53%, 47% and 45%, respectively, of net sales for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001. At May 31, 2003 and 2002, amounts due from these customers represented approximately 39% of total trade accounts receivable. Net sales of our Schiff® Move Free® brand accounted for approximately 23%, 24% and 28%, respectively, of total net sales for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001.

        Issuance of Restricted Stock—Effective August 16, 2002, we issued 640,000 restricted shares of Class A common stock to certain officers and employees. The aggregate value of the restricted shares was approximately $1,038, which we are expensing on a straight-line basis over the accompanying five-year vesting period.

        Stock-Based Compensation—We disclose the effect of SFAS No. 123 "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", on a proforma basis and continue to follow Accounting Principles Board ("APB") Opinion No. 25 (as permitted by SFAS No. 123) as it relates to stock based compensation.

        Proforma information regarding net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share is required by SFAS No. 123, as amended by SFAS No. 148, and has been determined as if we had accounted for our employee stock options and previously unvested performance units (see Note 10) under the fair value method of SFAS No. 123. For the purposes of proforma disclosure, the estimated fair value of the stock options is amortized to expense over the options vesting period. Our proforma net income (loss) and net income (loss) per share were as follows:

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
 
Net income (loss), as reported   $ (7,534 ) $ (7,544 ) $ 211  
Net income (loss), proforma     (7,596 )   (8,024 )   (151 )
Basic net income (loss) per share, as reported     (.29 )   (.29 )   .01  
Diluted net income (loss) per share, as reported     (.29 )   (.29 )   .01  
Basic net income (loss) per share, proforma     (.29 )   (.31 )   (.01 )
Diluted net income (loss) per share, proforma     (.29 )   (.31 )   (.01 )

F-9


        Net Income (Loss) Per Share—Basic net income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares outstanding. Diluted net income (loss) per share is computed using the weighted average number of common shares and potentially diluted common shares outstanding during the period. Potentially dilutive common shares consist of common stock options, restricted stock and performance units ("Common stock equivalents"). Common stock equivalents were antidilutive during fiscal 2003 and 2002 and, accordingly, were not included in the computation of diluted net loss per share.

        Financial Instruments—Our financial instruments, when valued using market interest rates, would not be materially different from the amounts presented in the consolidated financial statements.

        Foreign Currency Translation—We consider local currency as the functional currency for our foreign operations. All assets and liabilities are translated at period-end exchange rates and all statement of operations amounts are translated using average monthly rates. At May 31, 2003, unrealized foreign currency translation losses of $4,951, net of income taxes of $1,402, were included in other accumulated comprehensive loss in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

        Hedging Activities—We account for hedging activities in accordance with SFAS No. 133, "Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities." Derivatives are recognized as either assets or liabilities in the balance sheet and measured at fair value.

        Reclassifications—Certain amounts in prior year consolidated financial statements have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation.

        Recently Issued Accounting Standards—In June 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 146, "Accounting for Costs Associated With Exit or Disposal Activities", which requires that a liability for a cost associated with an exit or disposal activity be recognized when the liability is incurred and nullifies EITF No. 94-3. SFAS No. 146 is effective for any exit or disposal activities occurring after December 31, 2002. The requirements of SFAS No. 146 were applied in the accounting treatment for the disposition of Venice Beach® assets as discussed in Note 2.

        In November 2002, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 45, "Guarantor's Accounting and Disclosure Requirements for Guarantees, Including Indirect Guarantees of Indebtedness to Others" ("Int. No. 45"), which addresses the disclosure to be made by a guarantor in its interim and annual financial statements about its obligations under guarantees. Int. No. 45 also requires the guarantor to recognize a liability for the non-contingent component of the guarantee, which is the obligation to stand ready to perform in the event that specified triggering events or conditions occur. The recognition and measurement provisions of Int. No. 45 are effective for all guarantees entered into or modified after December 31, 2002. We have not entered into any such guarantees and therefore the adoption of this standard did not impact our consolidated financial statements.

        In December 2002, the FASB issued SFAS No. 148, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation—Transition and Disclosure—an amendment of SFAS No. 123". SFAS No. 148 amends SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation", to require disclosure in the summary of significant accounting policies of the effects of an entity's accounting policy with respect to stock-based employee compensation on reported net income and earnings per share in annual and interim financial statements. We have adopted the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 148.

F-10



        In January 2003, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 46, "Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities," ("Int. No. 46") an interpretation of ARB No. 51. Int. No. 46 addresses consolidation by business enterprises of variable interest entities. Int. No. 46 applies immediately to variable interest entities created after January 31, 2003 and to variable interest entities in which an enterprise obtains an interest after that date. Int. No. 46 applies in the first year or interim period beginning after June 15, 2003 to variable interest entities in which an enterprise holds a variable interest that it acquired before February 1, 2003. We have not yet determined the impact of implementing Int. No. 46 on our consolidated financial statements.

        In April 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 149, "Amendment of Statement 133 on Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities", which amends and clarifies accounting for derivative instruments, including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts, and for hedging activities under SFAS No. 133. SFAS No. 149 is effective for contracts entered into or modified after June 30, 2003 and for hedging relationships designated after June 30, 2003. We do not believe that the adoption of SFAS No. 149 will have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

        In May 2003, the FASB issued SFAS No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liability and Equity", which establishes standards for how an issuer classifies and measures certain financial instruments with characteristics of both liability and equity in its statement of financial position. SFAS No. 150 is effective for new or modified financial instruments beginning June 1, 2003, and for existing instruments beginning August 1, 2003. We do not believe that the adoption of SFAS No. 150 will have an impact on our consolidated financial statements.

2. DIVESTITURES

        Effective in our fiscal 2004 first quarter, we sold the assets of our Venice Beach® sports apparel business to Hucke AG, a German apparel company, for net cash proceeds of approximately $6,000. In accordance with SFAS No. 144, the operating results for Venice Beach® are reflected as discontinued operations and the associated assets at May 31, 2003 are reclassified as net assets held for sale, in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. We believe the divestiture of Venice Beach® will have an insignificant impact on fiscal 2004 consolidated net earnings.

        During the fiscal 2002 fourth quarter, we were authorized by the Board of Directors to pursue the sale of our American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands. Effective July 26, 2002, we announced the sale of substantially all the assets and certain associated liabilities relating to these brands to American Body Building Products, L.L.C., a wholly owned subsidiary of Optimum Nutrition, Inc., a privately held company. The final sales price, which was based on a closing statement of acquired assets and assumed liabilities, was approximately $5,650 cash and the assumption of an approximate $246 mortgage on an accompanying beverage facility. As a result of the transaction, we recognized an asset impairment loss of approximately $9,027 during fiscal 2002 and reclassified the associated current and long-term assets and liabilities as net assets held for sale at May 31, 2002 in the accompanying consolidated financial statements.

F-11



        Current and long-term net assets held for sale consist of the following at May 31:

 
  2003
  2002
 
Current              
Receivables, net   $ 3,345   $ 3,131  
Inventories     1,732     1,961  
Prepaid expenses and other         189  
Accounts payable         (1,407 )
Accrued expenses         (210 )
Current portion of long-term debt         (30 )
   
 
 
    $ 5,077   $ 3,634  
   
 
 
Long-Term              
Property and equipment, net   $ 469   $ 2,950  
Intangible assets, net         7,802  
Deposits and other assets         257  
Long-term debt         (216 )
   
 
 
      469     10,793  
Impairment loss         (9,027 )
   
 
 
    $ 469   $ 1,766  
   
 
 

3. RECEIVABLES, NET

        Receivables, net, consist of the following at May 31:

 
  2003
  2002
 
Trade accounts   $ 35,242   $ 46,567  
Other, including income taxes     670     7,586  
   
 
 
      35,912     54,153  
Less allowances for doubtful accounts and sales returns     (8,320 )   (9,566 )
   
 
 
  Total   $ 27,592   $ 44,587  
   
 
 

4. INVENTORIES

        Inventories consist of the following at May 31:

 
  2003
  2002
Raw materials   $ 8,487   $ 11,275
Work in process     1,691     2,208
Finished goods     17,365     15,749
   
 
  Total   $ 27,543   $ 29,232
   
 

F-12


5. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

        Property and equipment, net, consists of the following at May 31:

 
  2003
  2002
 
Land   $   $ 151  
Buildings     6,649     6,287  
Furniture and equipment     37,653     37,151  
Leasehold improvements     11,641     11,442  
Construction in progress     368     43  
   
 
 
      56,311     55,074  
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization     (29,635 )   (25,333 )
   
 
 
  Total   $ 26,676   $ 29,741  
   
 
 

6. INTANGIBLE ASSETS, NET

        Intangible assets, net, consist of the following at May 31:

 
  2003
  2002
 
  Gross
Carrying
Amount

  Accumul.
Amortiz.

  Net
Book
Value

  Gross
Carrying
Amount

  Accumul.
Amortiz.

  Net
Book
Value

Patents and trademarks   $ 9,743   $ (4,351 ) $ 5,392   $ 8,388   $ (3,153 ) $ 5,235
Goodwill     4,346         4,346     40,354     (12,687 )   27,667
   
 
 
 
 
 
    $ 14,089   $ (4,351 ) $ 9,738   $ 48,742   $ (15,840 ) $ 32,902
   
 
 
 
 
 

        Estimated amortization expense, assuming no changes in our intangible assets, for each of the five succeeding fiscal years, beginning with fiscal 2004, is $531 (2004), $385 (2005), $384 (2006), $362 (2007), and $340 (2008).

        Upon the implementation of SFAS No. 142, we tested goodwill for impairment by comparing the carrying amount, including goodwill, for each of our reporting (business) units at June 1, 2002 to the fair value for each of the reporting units. We assessed the fair value of the reporting units by evaluating their current cash flows and net book values in comparison to our overall market capitalization. Based on this comparison, we concluded that the net book values for two of our reporting units, Active Nutrition and Haleko, exceeded their respective fair values. For those two reporting units, we then compared the implied fair values of their respective goodwill to their respective net book values to determine the asset impairment amount. Based on this comparison, effective June 1, 2002, we recognized an impairment loss of $23,321, or an after-tax charge of $15,392, as a cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle.

F-13



        The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill, broken down by reporting unit for fiscal 2002 and 2003, are as follows:

 
  Schiff®
Specialty

  Active
Nutrition

  Haleko
  Total
 
Balance at June 1, 2001   $ 4,851   $ 9,258   $ 21,975   $ 36,084  
Amortization     (505 )   (1,225 )   (685 )   (2,415 )
Impairment loss         (6,193 )       (6,193 )
Currency translation and other         3     188     191  
   
 
 
 
 
Balance at May 31, 2002     4,346     1,843     21,478     27,667  
Adoption of SFAS No. 142         (1,843 )   (21,478 )   (23,321 )
   
 
 
 
 
Balance at May 31, 2003   $ 4,346   $   $   $ 4,346  
   
 
 
 
 

        Actual results of operations for fiscal 2003, and proforma results of operations, had we applied the non-amortization provisions of SFAS No. 142, for fiscal 2002 and 2001 are as follows:

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
Reported net income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle   $ 7,858   $ (7,544 ) $ 211
Add back goodwill amortization, net of tax         1,446     1,436
   
 
 
Adjusted net income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle     7,858     (6,098 )   1,647
Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of tax benefit     (15,392 )      
   
 
 
  Adjusted net income (loss)   $ (7,534 ) $ (6,098 ) $ 1,647
   
 
 
 
  2003
  2002
  2001
Net income (loss) per share-basic and diluted:                  
  Reported net income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle   $ 0.30   $ (0.29 ) $ 0.01
  Add back goodwill amortization, net of income taxes         0.06     0.05
   
 
 
  Adjusted net income (loss) before cumulative effect of change in accounting principle     0.30     (0.23 )   0.06
  Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle, net of income tax benefit     (0.59 )      
   
 
 
    Adjusted net income (loss)   $ (0.29 ) $ (0.23 ) $ 0.06
   
 
 

F-14


7. NOTES RECEIVABLE, NET

        Notes receivable (including accrued interest), net, were $2,178 and $3,206, respectively, at May 31, 2003 and 2002. The original notes receivable are recourse, generally collateralized by debtors' shares of our Class A common stock and are repayable beginning in June of 2002 and ending December of 2006 (See Note 10).

        At present, in connection with collection efforts and in consideration of potential unrealizable amounts, we are pursuing negotiations with the debtors who are no longer employed by the company. As a result of these discussions, the terms of certain notes, including maturity, interest rate and required collateral, have been, or may be modified. Certain allowances for unrealizable amounts are recognized to adjust the outstanding balances to the underlying collateral value and/or to consider other factors that may impact the valuation of the notes receivable.

        Recognition of future provision(s) for unrealizable amounts will depend on, among other considerations, the fair value of our Class A common stock. In the event that shares of common stock are received in lieu of cash payment, a portion of, or the entire net book value of the notes receivable may subsequently be reclassified as treasury stock and reflected as a reduction to stockholders' equity. Notes receivable balances are reflected net of aggregate allowances for unrealizable amounts of $1,819 and $2,531, respectively, at May 31, 2003 and 2002.

8. LONG-TERM DEBT

        Long-term debt consists of the following at May 31:

 
  2003
  2002
 
Advances under a U.S. based $45,000 secured revolving line of credit bearing interest at floating rates (5.75% at May 31, 2003, and 6.25% to 7.70% at May 31, 2002); see below   $ 2   $ 12,920  
Advances under a Germany based $22,600 secured revolving line of credit bearing interest at various rates ranging from 4.00% to 7.25% at May 31, 2003 and 2002     6,003     10,503  
Term loan, secured, payable in quarterly installments, bearing interest at floating rates (5.35% at May 31, 2002) due March 2005; see below         11,126  
Subordinated loan (net of unamortized original issue discount of $1,199 at May 31, 2002) bearing cash interest at 13.00% and payable in quarterly installments, principal due June 2006; see below         3,801  
Notes payable arising from acquisitions bearing interest at various rates ranging from 5.50% to 7.00% at May 31, 2003 and 2002, due 2004 through 2006     1,191     1,473  
Other     1,520     144  
   
 
 
  Total     8,716     39,967  
  Less current portion     (8,057 )   (15,191 )
   
 
 
  Long-term portion   $ 659   $ 24,776  
   
 
 

F-15


        We entered into a senior credit facility (the "Credit Facility") with Bankers Trust Company, effective June 30, 2000, on behalf of our domestic subsidiaries. The Credit Facility was originally comprised of a $30,000 amortizing term loan and a $60,000 revolving loan. Effective May 31, 2002, we amended the Credit Facility whereby the outstanding balance of the term loan was reduced to approximately $11,126 and the aggregate revolving loan availability was reduced to $45,000. During the fiscal 2003 second quarter, the outstanding balance of the term loan was paid in full with funds available under our revolving loan. Under the revolving loan, as amended, we may borrow up to the lesser of $45,000 or the sum of (i) 85% of eligible accounts receivable and (ii) the lesser of $22,500 or 65% of the eligible inventory.

        The Credit Facility contains customary terms and conditions, including, among others, financial covenants regarding minimum cash flows and limitations on indebtedness and our ability to pay dividends under certain circumstances. Our obligations under the Credit Facility are secured by a first priority lien on all owned or acquired tangible and intangible assets associated with our domestic subsidiaries. The Credit Facility, which expires in March 2005, is being used to fund our normal working capital and capital expenditure requirements. Net proceeds from the sale of our American Body Building® and Science Foods® brands were used to repay a portion of the outstanding indebtedness under the Credit Facility. At May 31, 2003, available revolving loan funds were approximately $20,700.

        Our domestic operations were also supported by a subordinated loan (the "Subordinated Loan") obtained in conjunction with the Credit Facility. The Subordinated Loan, in the original amount of $10,000, contained customary terms and conditions, including, among others, financial covenants regarding minimum cash flows and limitations on indebtedness and our ability to pay dividends under certain circumstances. Effective May 31, 2002, we used funds available under our revolving loan to pay down $5,000 of the Subordinated Loan. Effective November 27, 2002, we used funds available under our revolving loan to pay-off the remaining $5,000 of the Subordinated Loan. As part of the Subordinated Loan transaction, we issued detachable warrants to purchase up to 1,174,955 shares of our Class A common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share, subject to certain customary antidilution provisions. The issuance of the warrants, exercised effective August 3, 2000, resulted in the recognition of approximately $3,524 in original-issue-discount ("OID") costs, amortized as an adjustment to the effective interest rate over the life of the Subordinated Loan.

        As a result of the modifications to the Credit Facility and Subordinated Loan noted above, during fiscal 2003 and 2002 we recognized write-offs of approximately $1,147 and $1,786, respectively, of previously capitalized financing fees, including OID costs.

        Our European working capital needs (primarily our Haleko business unit) are supported by a Germany-based secured credit facility (the "Haleko Facility") that is subject to annual renewal in June. Our obligations under the Haleko Facility are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all Haleko tangible and intangible assets. At May 31, 2003, available revolving loan funds were approximately $15,600. During June 2003, we renewed the Haleko Facility with Deutsche Bank AG in the approximate amount of $11,000 (at recent exchange rate).

        At May 31, 2003, future payments of long-term debt are presently due as follows: $8,057 (2004), $536 (2005), $123 (2006).

F-16



        Cash interest payments amounted to $2,349, $6,396 and $12,879, respectively, for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001.

9. INCOME TAXES

        The components of income tax expense (benefit) consist of the following for the years ended May 31:

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
 
Federal:                    
  Current   $ 1,417   $ (3,415 ) $ (247 )
  Deferred     3,028     3,783     (1,045 )
  Change in valuation allowance     2,789     (837 )   511  
Foreign:                    
  Current     286     (107 )   (194 )
  Deferred     (101 )   (1,821 )   (1,070 )
  Change in valuation allowance     (1,741 )   2,509     799  
State and local:                    
  Current     147     (1,437 )   278  
  Deferred     (638 )   917     (86 )
  Change in valuation allowance     341     (147 )   147  
   
 
 
 
    Total   $ 5,528   $ (555 ) $ (907 )
   
 
 
 

        Income tax expense (benefit) differs from a calculated income tax at the Federal statutory rate as follows:

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
 
Computed Federal income tax expense (benefit) at the statutory rate of 34%   $ 4,758   $ (1,513 ) $ (324 )
Foreign tax rate differential     168     (64 )   (1,883 )
Miscellaneous credits     (398 )   (131 )   (325 )
Change in valuation allowance     1,389     1,525     1,457  
State income tax expense (benefit)     (491 )   (520 )   192  
Other     102     148     (24 )
   
 
 
 
  Total   $ 5,528   $ (555 ) $ (907 )
   
 
 
 

        Cash net income tax payments (refunds) amounted to $(5,253), $(743) and $184, respectively, for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001.

F-17


        Net deferred income taxes consist of the following at May 31:

 
  2003
  2002
 
 
  Current
  Long-
Term

  Current
  Long-
Term

 
Assets:                          
  Accounts receivable allowances   $ 2,230   $   $ 1,973   $  
  Inventories adjustment     427         511      
  Deferred compensation         765         1,020  
  Accrued vacation and bonuses     282         528      
  Accrued other     378         182      
  Basis difference in intangible assets         1,010         370  
  Capitalized inventory costs     314         580      
  Insurance reserves         500         640  
  Basis difference in acquired companies                 64  
  Capital loss and charitable contribution carryforwards         622         122  
  Net operating loss carryforwards         6,250         4,490  
  Basis difference in securities                 756  
  Research and development, and other credits         536     336      
   
 
 
 
 
    Total     3,631     9,683     4,110     7,462  
   
 
 
 
 
Liabilities:                          
  Basis differences in fixed assets         1,082         5,933  
  State and other taxes         120         20  
  Foreign currency adjustment         3,889          
  Other     723     417     10     277  
   
 
 
 
 
    Total     723     5,508     10     6,230  
   
 
 
 
 
  Deferred income taxes before valuation allowance     2,908     4,175     4,100     1,232  
  Valuation allowance         (4,976 )       (3,587 )
   
 
 
 
 
  Deferred income taxes, net   $ 2,908   $ (801 ) $ 4,100   $ (2,355 )
   
 
 
 
 

        We have net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards in various jurisdictions, which result in deferred tax assets. The utilization of these net operating loss and capital loss carryforwards is limited to future operations in the tax jurisdictions in which such deductions arose. As a result, we are uncertain as to whether these operations will generate sufficient profit to realize the deferred tax asset benefit in the foreseeable future. The valuation allowance provides a reserve against deferred tax assets that may expire or go unutilized.

        However, we have determined that it is more likely than not that we will realize certain of these benefits. The amount of the deferred tax assets considered realizable, however, could be reduced or increased in the near-term if facts, including the amount of taxable income or the mix of taxable income between subsidiaries, differ from our estimates.

F-18



10. MANAGEMENT INCENTIVE AND STOCK PLANS

        Management Incentive Plan—Prior to our initial public offering ("IPO"), certain individuals (the "Recipients") had management incentive agreements (the "Agreements") pursuant to which the individuals were granted performance units ("Performance Units") as incentive compensation.

        Simultaneously with the IPO, which triggered a conversion under the Agreements, we paid in cash and shares of Class A Common stock the vested portion of the Performance Units. The unvested portion of the performance units (represented by 182,716 restricted shares of Class A common stock as of the IPO date) originally vested (contingent upon continued employment and/or other factors) over a five-year period at 20% per year.

        During fiscal 2001, 18,272 shares of Class A common stock vested and became issued and outstanding. Accordingly, we recognized compensation expense of $201. At June 1, 2002, there were no remaining unvested shares available.

        In order to facilitate the payment of individual income taxes, we made available to each Recipient a recourse loan in principal amount up to 30% of the conversion value of the vested Performance Units held by each Recipient. Such loans to the Recipients bear interest at 8.0% per annum, are repayable five years from the borrowing date and are secured by the Recipients' stock (see Note 7). As a result of WHF subsequently guaranteeing a portion of a Recipient's loan, we have a receivable due from WHF in the amount of $1,431 at May 31, 2003.

        Equity Plan—The 1997 Equity Participation Plan, as amended (the "Equity Plan"), provides for the granting of stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted or deferred stock and other awards ("Awards") to officers, directors, and key employees responsible for the direction and management of the Company and to non-employee consultants. Such awards are granted at fair value. Under the Equity Plan, a total of 3,500,000 shares of Class A common stock (or the equivalent in other equity securities) are reserved for issuance.

        Stock options granted under the Equity Plan primarily become exercisable after one to five years from the date of grant in equal, ratable amounts per each successive anniversary date. Stock options expire no later than eight years after the date of grant.

F-19



        Information relating to stock options issued under the Equity Plan is as follows:

 
  Number
of
Shares

  Weighted
Average Per
Share Option
Price

  Total
Price

 
Options outstanding, June 1, 2000   1,978,300   $ 6.47   $ 12,794  
  Granted   1,351,167     2.99     4,038  
  Exercised   (5,000 )   3.50     (18 )
  Forfeited and/or expired   (339,500 )   8.19     (2,779 )
   
 
 
 
Options outstanding, May 31, 2001   2,984,967     4.70     14,035  
  Granted   190,000     1.58     300  
  Exercised            
  Forfeited and/or expired   (613,867 )   (4.18 )   (2,564 )
   
 
 
 
Options outstanding, May 31, 2002   2,561,100     4.60     11,771  
  Granted   1,008,250     1.60     1,609  
  Exercised            
  Canceled, forfeited and/or expired   (1,296,600 )   (6.07 )   (7,867 )
   
 
 
 
Options outstanding, May 31, 2003   2,272,750   $ 2.43   $ 5,513  
   
 
 
 
Exercisable options, May 31, 2003   949,467   $ 3.20   $ 3,039  
   
 
 
 

        The weighted average fair market value of options granted was $0.50, $0.65 and $0.94, respectively, for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001.

        We applied APB Opinion No. 25 in accounting for our stock options. All stock options were granted at fair value and, accordingly, no compensation expense was recognized in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. For purposes of applying SFAS No. 123, the fair value for these options was estimated at the date of grant using a Binomial Option pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively.

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
Risk-free interest rate     2.95%     4.30%     5.35%
Dividend yield     0.00%     0.00%     5.15%
Volatility factor   42.01%   55.42%   59.84%
Weighted average expected life   3.00 years   3.00 years   2.06 years

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        The following table summarizes information about stock options outstanding at May 31, 2003:

Options Outstanding
  Options Exercisable
Range of
Exercise
Prices

  Number
Outstanding

  Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Life
(in years)

  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

  Number
Exercisable

  Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price

$ 1.40 to $2.50   1,199,250   7.6   $ 1.59   118,667   $ 1.57
$ 2.51 to $3.50   1,003,500   5.6     3.01   761,200     3.01
$ 3.51 to $11.00   70,000   2.6     8.39   69,600     8.42

11. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

        Leases—We lease warehouse and office facilities, manufacturing and production facilities, transportation equipment and other equipment under operating lease agreements expiring through 2013. At May 31, 2003, future minimum payments of $27,446 under the noncancelable operating leases are due as follows: $4,192 (2004), $3,068 (2005), $2,780 (2006), $2,711 (2007), $2,859 (2008) and $11,836 thereafter. Rental expense was $4,622, $4,357 and $4,697, respectively, for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001.

        Litigation—We are currently named as a defendant in five lawsuits alleging that consumption of certain of our products containing ephedra caused or contributed to injuries, death and/or damages. We dispute the allegations and our insurance carriers have assumed defense of four of the matters. We can give no assurance that the fifth matter will be covered by our insurance.

        We are currently named as a defendant along with numerous other supplement and nutrition companies in purported class actions in Florida and Illinois state courts, alleging that androstenedione and other purportedly similar products were sold by defendants in violation of certain statutes and utilizing false and misleading claims and advertising. We dispute the allegations and are opposing the lawsuits.

        We believe that, after taking into consideration our insurance coverage, such lawsuits, if successful, would not have a material adverse effect on our financial condition. However, one or more large punitive damage awards, which are generally not covered by insurance, or a large adverse award in a lawsuit not covered by insurance, could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition.

        In connection with the sale of the American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands, in July 2002, we discontinued the sale of products with ephedra. However, no assurance can be given that we will not be subject to further litigation with respect to ephedra products previously sold.

        We received proceeds of $442 and $3,571, respectively, in fiscal 2002 and 2001, relating to the settlement of certain antitrust litigation brought by us and several other parties.

        From time to time, we are involved in other claims, legal actions and governmental proceedings that arise from our business operations. Although ultimate liability cannot be determined at the present

F-21



time, we believe that any liability resulting from these matters, if any, after taking into consideration our insurance coverage, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or cash flows.

        Royalties—We obtained the exclusive right to use the Weider name and trademarks outside of specified royalty-free territories (most notably North America) throughout the world, with the exceptions of Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Africa, pursuant to a sublicense agreement dated December 1, 1996 with Mariz Gestao E Investimentos Limitada ("Mariz"). Mariz is a company incorporated under the laws of Portugal and owned by a trust of which the family members of a director are included among the beneficiaries. Mariz obtained its exclusive international rights to use the Weider name and trademarks pursuant to a license agreement, effective June 1, 1994, between Mariz and certain affiliates, including WHF (the "Licensors"). Pursuant to the license agreement with Mariz, we are required to make annual royalty payments to Mariz commencing on December 1, 1998 on sales of our brands in existence on December 1, 1996 in countries covered by the agreement.

        The royalty payments are to be equal to (i) 4% of sales up to $33,000; (ii) 3.5% of sales greater than $33,000 and less than $66,000; (iii) 3.0% of sales from $66,000 to $100,000; and (iv) 2.5% of sales over $100,000. In addition, the sublicense agreement with Mariz includes an irrevocable buy-out option that we can exercise after May 31, 2002 for a purchase price equal to the greater of $7,000 or six and a half times the aggregate royalties we paid in the fiscal year immediately preceding the date of the exercise of the option. We incurred royalty expense of $510, $389 and $389, respectively, for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, relating to the Mariz licensing agreement.

        Retirement Plan—We sponsor a contributory 401(k) savings plan covering all employees who have met minimum age and service requirements. We make discretionary contributions of 50% of the employee's contributions up to the first six percent of the employee's compensation. Contributions to this plan were approximately $345, $392 and $449, respectively, for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001.

12. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

        Significant related party transactions, not otherwise disclosed, are summarized below.

        Payments to reimburse WHF for Company expenses (including primarily advertising, insurance, endorsements, retirement benefits and royalties) consist of the following for the years ended May 31:

 
  2003
  2002
  2001
Operating expenses   $ 1,897   $ 2,350   $ 2,028
Other     250     250     250
   
 
 
  Total   $ 2,147   $ 2,600   $ 2,278
   
 
 

13. OPERATING SEGMENTS

        During fiscal 2002, we initiated a plan to reorganize our operations, previously reported as domestic and international segments, into three business units. These business units include the Schiff® Specialty Unit, the Active Nutrition Unit and the Haleko Unit (our primary Germany-based European subsidiary). The business units are managed independently, each with its own sales and marketing

F-22



resources, and supported by product research and development, operations and technical services, and administrative functions.

        We manufacture and market nutritional products, including a full line of vitamins, joint-related and other nutraceuticals through our Schiff® Specialty Unit. Schiff® Specialty products are marketed primarily in the United States, through mass market distribution channels. We manufacture and market a variety of sports nutrition and weight management products through our Active Nutrition Unit. Active Nutrition Unit products are marketed domestically and internationally primarily through mass market and health club and gym distribution channels. We also manufacture and market nutritional products, including a full line of sports nutrition supplements, together with certain other nutraceuticals within our Haleko Unit. Haleko Unit products are marketed primarily in Europe, through mass market and health club and gym distribution channels.

        The accounting policies of these business units are the same as those described in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements. We evaluate the performance of our business units based on actual and expected operating results of the respective business units. Segment reporting information is provided for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001. Certain amounts, including litigation settlement income, asset impairment loss, plant consolidation and transition expense, and severance, recruiting and reorganization costs were not allocated to the respective business units for fiscal 2002 and 2001 because we did not consider such items a part of ongoing operations. Certain domestic assets are not allocated to the Schiff® Specialty and Active Nutrition Units. Accordingly, asset segment information is provided on a total domestic and non-domestic basis.

F-23



        Segment information for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively, is summarized as follows:

 
  Net
Sales

  Income
(Loss)
From
Operations

  Interest
Expense

2003:                  
  Schiff® Specialty   $ 144,309   $ 13,606   $ 1,682
  Active Nutrition     35,331     1,555     192
  Haleko     63,830     1,955     539
  Eliminations     (2,616 )      
   
 
 
    $ 240,854   $ 17,116   $ 2,413
   
 
 
 
  Net
Sales

  Income
(Loss)
From
Operations

  Interest
Expense

2002:                  
  Schiff® Specialty   $ 150,558   $ 19,997   $ 1,376
  Active Nutrition     57,921     (5,704 )   1,121
  Haleko     74,538     (1,334 )   2,232
  Unallocated         (10,099 )  
  Eliminations     (2,196 )   (73 )  
   
 
 
    $ 280,821   $ 2,787   $ 4,729
   
 
 
 
  Net
Sales

  Income
(Loss)
From
Operations

  Interest
Expense

2001:                  
  Schiff® Specialty   $ 156,669   $ 21,387   $ 3,084
  Active Nutrition     71,294     (13,301 )   1,919
  Haleko     74,726     (1,705 )   2,350
  Unallocated         2,923    
  Eliminations     (2,399 )      
   
 
 
    $ 300,290   $ 9,304   $ 7,353
   
 
 

F-24


        Reconciliation of assets for the reportable segments is as follows at May 31:

 
  2003
  2002
 
Total domestic assets   $ 128,420   $ 155,471  
Total international assets     49,101     68,862  
Eliminations     (62,279 )   (65,690 )
   
 
 
  Total   $ 115,242   $ 158,643  
   
 
 

        Capital expenditures for domestic and international operations amounted to approximately $1,158 and $523, respectively, for fiscal 2003, $1,942 and $724, respectively, for fiscal 2002, and $1,628 and $2,452, respectively, for fiscal 2001.

14. QUARTERLY RESULTS (UNAUDITED)

        Quarterly results (unaudited) for fiscal 2003, 2002 and 2001 are as follows:

 
  Quarter Ended
 
 
  Aug. 31
  Nov. 30
  Feb. 28
  May 31
 
2003:                          
  Net sales   $ 69,328   $ 58,017   $ 57,728   $ 55,781  
  Gross profit     28,113     21,869     20,885     21,744  
  Income from operations     9,031     6,209     1,500     376  
  Income tax expense (benefit)     3,371     1,699     494     (36 )
  Cumulative effect of change in accounting principle     (15,392 )            
  Net income (loss)     (10,904 )   2,281     808     281  
  Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share     (.42 )   .09     .03     .01  
 
  Quarter Ended
 
 
  Aug. 31
  Nov. 30
  Feb. 28
  May 31
 
2002:                          
  Net sales   $ 74,944   $ 67,126   $ 65,969   $ 72,782  
  Gross profit     25,815     23,873     23,322     23,978  
  Income (loss) from operations     4,158     2,006     3,440     (6,817 )
  Income tax expense (benefit)     891     670     1,107     (3,223 )
  Net income (loss)     (352 )   (3,886 )   1,249     (4,555 )
  Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share     (.01 )   (.15 )   .05     (.18 )

F-25


 
  Quarter Ended
 
 
  Aug. 31
  Nov. 30
  Feb. 28
  May 31
 
2001:                          
  Net sales   $ 81,381   $ 63,207   $ 77,799   $ 77,903  
  Gross profit     31,098     22,873     27,703     27,249  
  Income (loss) from operations     6,918     (545 )   964     1,967  
  Income tax expense (benefit)     2,017     (1,139 )   (815 )   (970 )
  Net income (loss)     1,964     (257 )   (652 )   (844 )
  Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share     .07     (.01 )   (.02 )   (.03 )

        Our financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2002 were affected by an asset impairment loss of $9,027 recognized due to the sale (subsequent to year-end) of the American Body Building™ and Science Foods® brands (Note 2) and a write-off of previously capitalized financing fees, including original issue discount costs of $1,786 (Note 8).

        Our financial results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2001 were affected by a securities impairment loss of $2,177 recognized due to the determination that an "other-than-temporary" decline in valuation of available-for-sale equity securities had occurred (Note 1).

F-26



WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

Years Ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001

(In Thousands)

Description

  Balance at
Beginning
of Year

  Additions
Charged to
Costs/
Expenses

  Additions
(Reductions)
via
Acquisition/
Divestiture

  Deductions
  Balance at
End of Year

ALLOWANCE FOR DOUBTFUL ACCOUNTS:                              
2001   $ 3,462   $ 1,455   $   $ (246 ) $ 4,671
   
 
 
 
 
2002   $ 4,671   $ 1,300   $ (333 ) $ (1,031 ) $ 4,607
   
 
 
 
 
2003   $ 4,607   $ 583   $ (719 ) $ (1,166 ) $ 3,305
   
 
 
 
 

ALLOWANCE FOR UNREALIZABLE NOTES RECEIVABLE:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
2001   $   $ 332   $   $   $ 332
   
 
 
 
 
2002   $ 332   $ 1,620   $   $   $ 1,952
   
 
 
 
 
2003   $ 1,952   $   $   $ (666 ) $ 1,286
   
 
 
 
 

ALLOWANCE FOR SALES RETURNS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 
2001   $ 5,669   $ 17,006   $   $ (17,922 ) $ 4,753
   
 
 
 
 
2002   $ 4,753   $ 17,061   $   $ (16,855 ) $ 4,959
   
 
 
 
 
2003   $ 4,959   $ 17,181   $   $ (17,125 ) $ 5,015
   
 
 
 
 



QuickLinks

PART I
PART II
PART III
PART IV
SIGNATURES
WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC.
INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' REPORT
WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS MAY 31, 2003 AND 2002 (dollars in thousands, except share data)
WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS YEARS ENDED MAY 31, 2003, 2002 AND 2001 (dollars in thousands, except share data)
WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY YEARS ENDED MAY 31, 2003, 2002 AND 2001 (dollars in thousands)
WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS YEARS ENDED MAY 31, 2003, 2002 AND 2001 (dollars in thousands)
WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS Years Ended May 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001 (In Thousands)
EX-2.4 3 a2117749zex-2_4.htm EX-2.4
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EXHIBIT 2.4


ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

regarding
"Venice Beach"
between
Haleko Hanseatisches Lebensmittel Kontor GmbH & Co. OHG,
Weider Nutrition GmbH,
and
Hucke AG


ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT

between

Haleko Hanseatisches Lebensmittelkontor GmbH & Co. OHG, Holsteinischer Kamp 1, 22081 Hamburg, Germany, represented by Haleko Management GmbH which is represented by its executive director Michael Krüger

        —referred to as "Haleko" or the "Seller"—,

Weider Nutrition GmbH, a corporation organized under the laws of Germany, with headquarters at Holsteinischer Kamp 1, 22081 Hamburg, Germany represented by Dr. Holger Iversen authorized by power of attorney of 26 April 2003,

        —referred to as "Weider Nutrition GmbH"—

and

Hucke AG, Ravensberger Straße 41, 32312 Lübbecke, represented by Dr. Ralf Ek authorized by power of attorney of 28 April 2003,

        —referred to as the "Purchaser"—

—Haleko and the Purchaser individually also referred to as the "Party", collectively also referred to as the "Parties"—

Preamble

1.
Haleko is a partnership under the laws of Germany with its seat in Hamburg. Haleko is, inter alia, engaged in the production, sale and distribution of clothing and related accessories for the sports and leisure industry under the brand "Venice Beach" (such production, sale and distribution referred to as the "Business" and all products and accessories carrying the Trademarks referred to as the "Products").

2.
The Purchaser is one of the leading corporations in the German fashion market with its seat in Lübbecke. The Purchaser creates mid-priced fashionable wear for women, men, and children.

3.
Haleko desires to sell certain assets concerning the Business and Purchaser desires to purchase such assets upon the terms and subject to the conditions of this agreement (this "Agreement").


§ 1
Sale and Purchase of Haleko Business Assets

1.
Assets to be sold and purchased

        Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, the Seller sells to the Purchaser effective as of the Transfer Date as defined in § 5 (1) of this Agreement the following assets concerning the Business and transfers title and possession thereof to the Purchaser. The Purchaser herewith accepts such sale and transfer.

        The assets to be sold and transferred hereunder (collectively referred to as the "Assets") shall comprise the following assets, in each case as and to the extent they may exist on the Transfer Date:

    a)
    Trademarks

            Any and all trademark applications and registrations owned by and/or pursued by the Seller exclusively relating to the Business, including related designations and/or drawings which are individually and/or jointly subject to national and/or international trademark applications and

2


    registrations anywhere in the world, including, but not limited to drawings symbolizing wings and/or the letter "V", all as listed in Schedule 1 (collectively referred to as the "Trademarks").

    b)
    Inventory

            All inventory exclusively relating to the Business (including all finished products relating to the Business, all as listed in Schedule 2, Part 1 hereto; all computer hardware used exclusively by the Employees as defined in § 3 (1) below, all as listed in Schedule 2, Part 2 hereto (referred to as "Hardware"); as well as all accessories and all other items located on the premises exclusively used by the Employees as defined in § 3 (1) below, all as listed in Schedule 2, Part 3 hereto, all parts of Schedule 2 as updated by the Parties as of the Transfer Date, such update to be made by physical inventory by both parties until 15 May 2003 at the latest) as well as all low value fixed assets (geringwertige Wirtschaftsgüter) in the meaning of Section 6 (2) of the German Income Tax Code (Einkommenssteuergesetz) and depreciated assets (abgeschriebene Wirtschaftsgüter) located on the business premises of the Seller exclusively used by the Employees as defined § 3 (1) below, these business premises as described and marked in Schedule 2 Part 4 (referred to as "Depreciated Assets"); (collectively referred to as the "Inventory").

    c)
    Receivables

            The accounts and note receivables (whether current or non-current) of the Seller exclusively and clearly related to the Business (excluding any inter-company accounts and note receivables as well as all receivables against MHG Modehandels Gesellschaft Deutschland mbH and Fit & Co.), all as listed in Schedule 3a hereto as updated by the Parties as of the Transfer Date, such update to be made until 15 May 2003 at the latest (collectively referred to as the "Receivables"). The receivables which were written-off (ausgebucht) by the Seller before the Transfer Date, all as listed in Schedule 3b hereto as updated by the Parties as of the Transfer Date, such update to be made until 15 May 2003 at the latest (referred to as the "Written-off Receivables").

    d)
    Business Documents and Records

            All business documents, records, lists, books, files and papers exclusively relating to the Business, including any and all customer lists, physical contracts and agreements as well as any and all advertising materials (collectively referred to as the "Business Documents and Records").

2.
Excluded Assets

        All assets not expressly provided for in § 1 (1) above, including but not limited to those assets listed in Schedule 4 hereto (collectively referred to as the "Excluded Assets") are excluded from the sale and transfer to the Purchaser.


§ 2
Supply and Customer Orders, Other Contracts

1.
Supply Orders and Letters of Credit etc.

a)
The Purchaser shall take over all supply orders concluded by the Seller for Products ordered in the regular course of business prior to the Transfer Date but not delivered by the supplier before the Transfer Date, including but not limited to the orders listed in Schedule 5 as updated by the Parties as of the Transfer Date, such update to be made until 15 May 2003 at the latest (referred to as the "Supply Orders"). The Parties acknowledge that the transfer of the Supply Orders requires the consent of the respective suppliers. Whether such consent shall be sought shall be determined by the Purchaser. Provided the Purchaser determines to seek consent, the Parties shall use their reasonable efforts to obtain such consent and shall take all such necessary actions to enable the Purchaser to enter into the Supply Orders. Should any

3


      consent not be obtained, either because the supplier has not been approached by the Parties or has refused to consent, the Purchaser shall hold the Seller free and harmless from all obligations arising out of the respective Supply Orders and indemnify him; the Seller, in turn, shall forward all goods received on the basis of these Supply Orders to the Purchaser at its request and shall assist the Purchaser in the carrying-out of the respective Supply Orders at no costs in addition to the service fee agreed upon in the Service Agreement as defined below.

    b)
    The Parties are aware that the Seller has secured or promised to secure certain Supply Orders by the letters of credit listed in Schedule 6 as updated by the Parties as of the Transfer Date, such update to be made until 15 May 2003 at the latest (referred to as the "Letters of Credit"). The obligations from the Letters of Credit issued until the Transfer Date (referred to as the "Issued Letters of Credit") shall remain with the Seller. As security for Issued Letters of Credit, the Purchaser shall present bank guarantees in the nominal amount of each Issued Letter of Credit to the respective bank. If and to the extent that payments are made due to the Issued Letters of Credit, the Purchaser shall reimburse the Seller. The Purchaser shall in addition also reimburse the Seller for any banking costs (including interests, processing charges, handling fees etc., but excluding any advisory fees or similar charges) in relation to the Issued Letters of Credit. Letters of Credit which are not issued until the Transfer Date shall—if possible—be issued by a bank on behalf of the Purchaser. If such procedure is not accepted by the respective supplier, such Letter of Credit shall be issued by a bank on behalf of the Seller and the arrangements for the Issued Letters of Credit shall apply accordingly.

    c)
    The Parties are aware that the Seller has mandated banks to furnish certain guarantees for obligations of the Seller vis-à-vis third parties, such guarantees listed in Schedule 7 (referred to as the "Guarantees"). The Parties shall use their reasonable efforts to have the Guarantees taken over by the Purchaser and its banks, to ensure that no claims are raised against the Seller under the Guarantees and to ensure that the Seller is relieved from any obligations under the Guarantees. If any claims are raised against the Seller under the Guarantees, the Purchaser shall hold the Seller free and harmless of all such claims and indemnify the Seller, if and to the extent that such claims accrue (entstehen) after the Transfer Date.

2.
Customer Orders

a)
The Purchaser shall take over all customer orders in lieu of the Seller for any Product sold by the Seller in the regular course of business prior to the Transfer Date but not delivered to the customer before the Transfer Date, including but not limited to the orders listed in Schedule 8 as updated by the Parties as of the Transfer Date, such update to be made until 15 May 2003 at the latest, and all customer orders received after the Transfer Date (together referred to as the "Customer Orders"). The Parties acknowledge that the transfer of the Customer Orders requires the consent of the respective customers. Whether such consent shall be sought shall be determined by the Purchaser. Provided the Purchaser determines to seek consent, the Parties shall notify the respective customers of the transfer in a manner agreed upon among the Parties beforehand. The Parties shall use their reasonable efforts to obtain such consent and shall take all such necessary actions to enable the Purchaser to enter into the Customer Contracts. Should the respective customers? consents not be requested or obtained, the Seller shall carry out the respective Customer Orders in its own name but on the account of the Purchaser. The Purchaser shall assist the Seller in the carrying-out of these Customer Orders in each and every respect and shall hold the Seller free and harmless and indemnify him from all obligations arising out of these Customer Contracts. All payments received by the Seller on the basis of these Customer Orders shall be forwarded to the Purchaser at no cost in addition to the service fee agreed upon in the Service Agreement as defined below.

4


    b)
    Apart from those contracts provided for in § 2 (2a) above the Purchaser shall be under no obligation to enter into any other contracts the Seller may have with its customers (referred to as the "Other Customer Contracts"). However, the Purchaser shall have to support the Seller in defending any possible warranty and/or product liability claims raised against the Seller, in particular by providing the Seller with all information necessary or useful, by inspecting the Product in question and by technical assistance. Such support shall be free of charge to the Seller during the first twenty four months following the date of signing of this Agreement, thereafter the Parties shall agree on a reasonable remuneration. All out-of-pocket expenses, including traveling costs but excluding salaries and other costs, are to borne by the Seller.

3.
Other Contracts and Dual Contracts

a)
The Purchaser shall take over all other contracts exclusively relating to the Business and/or the Employees as defined in § 3 (1), including, without limitation, lease agreements for company cars and direct insurance (both as they can be allocated to the Employees) and lease agreements for the showrooms in Hanover, Munich, Berlin, Norderstedt, Sindelfingen, Eschborn, and Neuss (individually a "Showroom", collectively the "Showrooms"), as listed in Schedule 9a (referred to as the "Other Contracts"). The Parties acknowledge that the transfer of the Other Contracts may require the consent of the respective other party. The Parties shall use their reasonable efforts to obtain such consent and shall take all such necessary actions to enable the Purchaser to enter into the Other Contracts. Should such consent not be obtained, the Purchaser shall hold the Seller free and harmless and indemnify him from all obligations arising out of the respective Other Contracts; provided that the Seller makes available to the Purchaser all services, premises etc. which it is entitled to under the respective Other Contracts. If the lessor of a Showroom does not give its consent to the transfer of the respective lease agreement, notwithstanding § 1 (1) (b) the fixtures of the respective Showroom shall not be transferred to the Purchaser resulting in a corresponding reduction of Purchase Price 1 as defined in §  4 (1a) below

b)
Contracts relating both to the Business and to other lines of business of the Seller, including, without limitation, insurance policies, software license agreements, and cellular phone agreements, as listed in Schedule 9b (referred to as the "Dual Contracts"), shall not be transferred to the Purchaser. If and insofar as requested by the Purchaser, the Parties shall use their reasonable efforts to have the respective other party to the Dual Contracts enter into new agreements with the Purchaser to the extent the respective Dual Contract relates to the Business. As long as such new agreements have not been concluded and as long as the Service Agreement as defined in § 6 is in place, the Seller shall—if and to the extent to which this is possible under the respective Dual Contract without modification—make available to the Purchaser the services, usage etc. under the Dual Contracts. The fixed costs arising under the Dual Contracts for the Purchaser shall be included in the service fee agreed upon in the Service Agreement. Such fixed costs do not include any costs based on usage or utilization (including any telecommunication base and air time fees and any other time—dependent charges or fees), any brokerage, commission or bonus fees, as well as obligations arising from a breach of contract attributable to the Purchaser from which the Purchaser shall hold the Seller free and harmless and indemnify him. After the expiry of the Service Agreement, the Purchaser shall have no rights whatsoever in connection with the Dual Contracts.


§ 3
Employment Matters

        It is the joint understanding of the Parties that this Agreement has to be considered as a partial transfer of an undertaking (Teilbetriebsübertragung) according to Section 613a of the German Civil Code (referred to as the "BGB") and other German rules of law, including but not limited to case law,

5



relating to the protection of employees' rights in case of a transfer of an undertaking. Thus, according to the understanding of the Parties the employees listed in Schedule 10 (referred to as the "Employees") will transfer as a matter of law from the Seller to the Purchaser with effect from the Transfer Date unless the Employees object to such transfer.

1.
Employment Contracts

        In case and as far as the employment agreements of the Employees are not transferred by law from the Seller to the Purchaser, the Purchaser undertakes to offer each of the Employees employment contracts as if their existing contract with the Seller would be transferred according to Section 613a BGB and will use its best efforts to ensure that the offers are accepted by the Employees with effect from the Transfer Date.

2.
Employees who refuse to transfer

        In the event that one or more of the Employees objects to the transfer from the Seller to the Purchaser and/or do not accept the offer pursuant to § 3 (1) above, the Purchaser shall pay to the Seller a sum equivalent to three gross monthly salaries of the respective Employee, payable within one week after the objection/non-acceptance becomes final.

3.
Other employees

        In case other employees of the Seller except for the Employees are transferred by law to the Purchaser, the Seller shall pay to the Purchaser a sum equivalent to three gross monthly salaries of the respective employee, payable within one week after the transfer has been accepted by Seller and Purchaser or finally decided by a competent court.


§ 4
Purchase Price

        The purchase price to be paid by the Purchaser to the Seller shall be paid according to the following terms and conditions:

1.
The Purchase Price

a)
The Purchase Price to be paid for the Inventory shall be (i) book value minus 15% plus VAT if any and to the extent applicable for finished products pursuant to Schedule 2, Part 1 and (ii) book value plus VAT if any and to the extent applicable for the Hardware pursuant to Schedule 2, Part 2 (the book value for the Hardware shall in no event exceed € 40.000), accessories and other items pursuant to Schedule 2, Part 3 as well as the Depreciated Assets, (together referred to as the "Purchase Price 1");

b)
The Purchase Price to be paid for the Receivables shall be (i) book value minus 10% plus VAT if any and to the extent applicable for receivables having an invoice date up to 90 days before Transfer Date, (ii) book value minus 35% plus VAT if any and to the extent applicable for receivables having an invoice date between 91 and 360 days before Transfer Date, (iii) book value minus 90% plus VAT if any and to the extent applicable for receivables having an invoice date of more than 360 days before Transfer Date and which have not been written-off; and (iv) as regards the Written-off Receivables the purchase price shall be € 5,000 plus VAT if any and to the extent applicable; (the total purchase price for all receivables sold, referred to as the "Purchase Price 2");

c)
The Purchase Price to be paid for the Trademarks shall be € 2,075,000 (Euro two million seventy-five thousands) plus VAT if any and to the extent applicable (referred to as the "Purchase Price 3");

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    d)
    The Parties are of the opinion that the transaction ("Transaction") set out in this Agreement qualifies as sale of a business as a going concern (Geschäftsveräußerung im Ganzen) for purposes of VAT. The Seller and the Purchaser will request—if possible—a binding ruling from the competent tax authority of the Seller in this respect; if no binding ruling can be obtained, the Parties will try to reach otherwise a joint understanding with the competent tax authorities in this respect. Following their joint understanding, all payments of Purchaser to the Seller under § 4 of this Agreement shall be made without VAT. However, if in the future the tax authorities are of the opinion that the Transaction is subject—partly or in total—to VAT, the Purchaser shall pay the VAT to the Seller without undue delay.

2.
Payment of the Purchase Price

        The Purchase Price 3 shall be paid by the Purchaser to the Seller's account at Deutsche Bank, Bank Code: 200 700 00; Account-No.: 03 13 478 on 30 April 2003 (referred to as the "Payment Date"). The Purchase Price 1 shall be paid by the Purchaser to the Seller's account within 5 (in words: five) business days following the receipt by the Purchaser of the update of Schedules 2, 3, 5, 6, and 8 hereto as of the Transfer Date (referred to as the "Updates"). The Purchase Price 2 shall be paid by the Purchaser to the Seller's account within 90 (in words: ninety) days following the receipt of the Updates by the Purchaser.


§ 5
Transfer Date, Delivery of Documents, Granting of Possession etc.

1.
Transfer Date

        The Seller and the Purchaser agree that title to the Assets shall pass to the Purchaser at the end of 30 April 2003/1 May 2003, 00:00 a.m., subject to the condition precedent of the payment of the Purchase Price 3 in accordance with § 4 (2) (referred to as "Transfer Date").

2.
Delivery of Documents

        On the Transfer Date, the Seller shall furnish to the Purchaser all transfer deeds, documents and other instruments, if any, including all deeds and documents necessary to effect the transfer of the titles to and the rights resulting from the Assets to the Purchaser.

3.
Granting of Possession

        The Seller shall procure that the Purchaser shall obtain undisturbed possession of the Assets as of the Transfer Date. The Purchaser undertakes to accept delivery of the Assets at the premises of the Seller in Hamburg and Bleckede, respectively.

4.
Payments received by the Seller after the Transfer Date

        The Seller shall inform the Purchaser about all payments received by the Seller with respect to the Receivables or otherwise (e.g. pursuant to § 2 (2) (a)) after the Transfer Date without undue delay, such payments shall be allocated to the respective customer order and shall be forwarded by the Seller to the Purchaser without undue delay once the Purchase Price 2 has been paid in full. Under the condition precedents that the Purchase Price 2 is settled and the applicable VAT has been paid by the Purchaser to the Seller—provided that the competent tax authority has ruled that the Transaction is subject to VAT—, the Seller hereby waives all and any rights of set-off and retention with regard to such payments.

        The Purchaser shall list all deductibles for cash discounts and bonuses in a separate summary to be sent to the Purchaser on a monthly basis following the Transfer Date.

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        If and in so far as requested by the Purchaser and at his expense, a certified public accountant may review the accounts of the Seller related to the receivables.

5.
Payments received for Written-off Receivables

        The Seller has written-off receivables which are transferred by this Agreement and claimed refund of the respective VAT from the tax office. With respect to such Written-off Receivables the following shall apply:

        If and to the extent the Purchaser receives any payments for Written-off Receivables, the Purchaser shall pay to the competent tax office the VAT due as result of the payments received by the Purchaser for such Written-off Receivables. If the Seller receives payments for such Written-off Receivables, the Seller shall transfer to the Purchaser according to § 5 Subsection 4 of this Agreement only the net amount after deduction of the VAT amounts and shall pay to the competent tax office the VAT due as result of the payments received for such Written-off Receivables.

6.
Duty to supply information

        Upon request of Seller, which shall not be unreasonable, the Purchaser shall inform the Seller of the current status of all Written-off Receivables. The Purchaser will provide such information by written statement which shall include (i) the name of the invoice recipient, (ii) the invoice no., (iii) invoice date, (iv) enforcement measures, (v) the collected amount—if any—and (vi) the VAT amount paid to the competent tax office of the Seller.

        In case the Purchaser informs the Seller of Receivables which turn out to be uncollectible within the meaning of § 17 Subsection 2 No. 1 Value Added Tax Act (Umsatzsteuergesetz), the Seller will claim refund of the respective VAT from the tax office and pay such reclaimed VAT amounts to the Purchaser in due course. Before such payment the Purchaser has to provide to the Seller a written statement which shall include (i) the name of the invoice recipient, (ii) the invoice no., (iii) invoice date, and (iv) sufficient evidence that the relevant Receivable is uncollectible which will enable the Seller to claim of a refund of the respective VAT. In case such refund of VAT is challenged in a field tax audit of the Seller, the Purchaser shall pay to the Seller the amount of VAT refunds which have to be paid back in course of the field tax audit.


§ 6
Seller's Services

        To ensure a seamless transition of the Business from the Seller to the Purchaser, the Parties shall conclude the service agreement which is attached as Exhibit 11 (referred to as the "Service Agreement") and which shall become effective as of the Transfer Date.


§ 7
Representations and Warranties

1.
The Seller and the Purchaser hereby agree pursuant to Section 434, subsection 1, first sentence, BGB (excluding all other regulations of the said provision and hereby neither creating a warranty regarding the nature of the Assets (Beschaffenheitsgarantie) nor an independent warranty (selbständige Garantie) regarding the Assets pursuant to Section 311, subsection 1, BGB), that the following is true as of the date of signing of this Agreement and the Transfer Date unless another date is expressly stated in the respective warranty:

a)
The Seller is the owner or holder of the Trademarks, or can freely dispose of them, and the Trademarks are not encumbered with any rights of third parties. To the best Seller's knowledge there has not been any unauthorized use of the Trademarks by any third party.

b)
The Inventory is in good condition and is usable in the ordinary course of business.

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    c)
    On the day of signing of this Agreement, no law suits, arbitration proceedings or administrative proceedings are pending with regard to any of the Assets except those listed in Schedule 12. To the best of the Seller's knowledge no such law suits, arbitration proceedings or administrative proceedings are threatened against or involving the Assets except those listed in Schedule 12.

    d)
    All sums to which the Employees are entitled (whether arising under statute, employment contracts and side letters, mutual termination agreements (Aufhebungs-oder Abwicklungsvereinbarungen) or otherwise) up to and including the date hereof have been paid or will be paid by the Seller, including, without limitation, all wages and salaries, sick and maternity payments, any liability to taxation, accrued holiday payments, expenses, accrued bonus, commission, company pension and other sums payable to such personnel in respect of any period up to the date hereof.

    e)
    The Seller has paid in full when due, including advance payments, all income tax withholding taxes (Lohnsteuern), company pensions, social security contributions (Sozialversicherungsbeiträge) and any other contributions relating to pensions or social security of employees (Versorgungsbeiträge) up to and including the date hereof.

    f)
    The Seller has not terminated or taken any steps to terminate the contract of employment of, nor to dismiss (constructively or otherwise), any of the Employees.

    g)
    Except as disclosed prior to the Transfer Date, and except for the Customer, Supply, Dual, and Other Contracts, except for the Service Agreement, and except for other material contracts necessary for the operation of the Business as presently conducted in all material respects, there are no other binding arrangements which will effect the Business in the future, in particular no license agreements with respect to the Trademarks except for the license agreements listed in Schedule 13.

    h)
    The Updates will be prepared by the same standards and by the same principles and methods of valuation, in particular but not limited to reductions of valuations; as, and will not materially differ from, the Schedules attached hereto on the date of the signing of this Agreement except as provided in this Agreement and except for any changes resulting from the ordinary course of business of the Seller.

    i)
    All Receivables as listed in Schedule 3 as updated by the Parties as of the Transfer Date originated from the ordinary course of business and—to the best of Seller's knowledge—carried as of the Transfer Date the amounts as indicated in Schedule 3. The Seller does, however, not warrant that these receivables are collectible.

2.
Except for the above listed representations and warranties, the Seller makes no further representations or warranties to the Purchaser.


§ 8
Remedies

1.
Should any of the warranties contained in § 7 be wholly or partially incorrect, the Purchaser has to inform the Seller within six weeks after being informed thereof (the "Notification Period") and to set a time limit to the Seller of at least six further weeks to bring about a situation which is in accordance with this Agreement (the "Repair Period").

2.
Subject to § 8 (6) below, the Seller is obliged to effect the situation which would have existed if the warranty would not have been breached by the end of the Repair Period. Should this not happen in time or should it be impossible, the Purchaser has the right to reduce the Purchase Price 3.

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3.
All further rights, in particular to damages, and rights to withdraw from or rescind this Agreement and any further rights regarding warranties, out of pre-contractual obligations, breach of contract etc. are excluded unless the Sellers has made an intentional misrepresentation.

4.
Warranty rights have to be notified to the Seller by the Purchaser during a period of 18 (in words: eighteen) months from the Transfer Date. A right or remedy shall be validly notified if a written notice thereof has been given by the Purchaser to the Seller before expiry of the aforesaid period. The Purchaser is obliged to institute legal proceedings within one year after the above notice has been given; otherwise such claims shall be time-barred.

5.
Warranty rights exist only if they have been notified within the Notification Period and if they exceed in the aggregate € 100.000 (Euro one hundred thousand).

6.
The liability of the Seller for all rights out of warranties and remedies is limited to the Purchase Price 3. For the calculation of the aforesaid limitation, any costs and expenses incurred by the Seller by a repair pursuant to § 8 (2) above shall be added to any amount by which the Purchase Price 3 has been reduced pursuant to § 8 (2) above, always provided, however, that such repair has been successful.

7.
Section 442 BGB is excluded as far as the knowledge of Roland Berger Consultants is concerned, i.e. if only Roland Berger Consultants, acting on behalf of the Purchaser, has received certain information and not communicated such information to the Purchaser or its other advisors, it shall be deemed that the Purchaser had no knowledge of such information. This shall not apply for any information given to Roland Berger Consultant as well as to the Purchaser and/or its other advisors.


§ 9
Guarantee of Weider Nutrition GmbH

        As the parent company of the Seller, Weider Nutrition GmbH hereby warrants by way of an independent guarantee that the Seller will fulfill its obligations arising from this Agreement.


§ 10
Final Provisions

1.
Communications

        All notices and other communications under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if personally delivered, sent by facsimile transmission (with receipt confirmed and hard copy sent), sent by overnight courier (with delivery confirmed) or registered and certified mail (postage prepaid):

    a)
    if to the Seller, to:

            Haleko Hanseatisches Lebensmittelkontor GmbH & Co. OHG, Holsteinischer Kamp 1, 22081 Hamburg, Germany, Attention: Michael Krüger, Fax Number: ++49 40 29866 303

    b)
    if to the Purchaser, to:

            Hucke AG, Attn. Axel Dorn, Ravensberger Straße 41, 32312 Lübbecke, Fax Number: ++49 5741 364 202

    c)
    if to Weider Nutrition GmbH, to:

            Latham & Watkins Schön Nolte, Attn. Dr. Holger Iversen, Warburgstraße 50, 20354 Hamburg, Germany, Fax Number: ++49 40 41 40 130

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        or to such other addresses as may hereafter be notified by either Party to the other.

2.
Costs

        Each Party shall bear its own costs, fees and other expenses for legal or other advice arising from the negotiation, preparation and performance of this Agreement.

3.
Announcements

        Save to the extent required by law, if any, no announcement concerning the terms of or any matter contemplated by this Agreement or any other matter ancillary to it may be made prior to the Transfer Date by or on behalf of the Parties to this Agreement except with the prior written consent of both Parties.

4.
Amendment and Waiver

        This Agreement (including the Schedules hereto) represents the entire understanding of the Parties with respect to the subject matter hereof, and any previous statements, agreements or understandings between the Parties regarding the subject matter hereof are superceded by this agreement. Any changes and/or amendments to this Agreement—including this provision—shall only be valid and binding if made in writing.

5.
Governing Law and Language

        This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the Federal Republic of Germany, excluding the UN-Convention on the International Sale of Goods. The binding language of this Agreement shall be English.

6.
Arbitration, Place of Jurisdiction

a)
If a dispute in connection with the update of the any Schedule hereto arises, the Parties shall use their best efforts to amicably settle such dispute. If no settlement can be reached within 30 (thirty) days after the Purchase has notified the Seller in writing of the dispute, each party shall be entitled to submit the issue on which an agreement has not been reached to an expert arbitrator (Schiedsgutachter), to be nominated upon request of either party by the institute of certified public accountants in Germany (Institut der Wirtschaftsprüfer e.V.) in Düsseldorf. The language of the arbitration proceedings shall be German. The Parties must be given the opportunity to state and explain their respective views to the expert arbitrator in written form as well as in the course of one or more arbitration hearings. The Parties' written statements shall each be limited to one opening brief and one written rebuttal limited to addressing the points raised in the other party's opening brief. The arbitration hearing or hearings shall take place in Hamburg and in the presence of the parties and their respective advisors. The expert arbitrator shall also decide on the allocation of the costs of the arbitration proceedings between the Parties. Such allocation shall be made in proportion to the relative success of each of the parties (§ 91 et seq. of the German Code of Civil Procedure). Each Party shall, however, bear the costs of its own advisors.

b)
For all disputes under or in connection with this Agreement not subject to the arbitration clause in § 10 (6) (a), the courts of Hamburg shall have exclusive jurisdiction.

7.
Severability

        Should any provision of this Agreement be entirely or partially invalid or unenforceable, or become so at a later date, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement shall not be affected thereby. The invalid or unenforceable provision shall be replaced by an appropriate provision which comes closest to the intention of the Parties or the object of this

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Agreement, or such provision which the Parties had agreed upon, had they included the matter in this Agreement. The same shall apply to omissions.

8.
Confidentiality

        The Parties shall keep this Agreement and all information obtained in its negotiation, execution and performance confidential and shall only make public announcements as to such information or the contents of this Agreement upon mutual agreement. In particular, the Purchaser shall keep all information regarding the Seller's other lines of business, including the food business, confidential and shall at no time use or make public such information.

        The above does not apply to any disclosure required under the applicable laws, by governmental regulatory bodies, under banking covenants or stock exchange regulations which a Party is subject to. The contents of such disclosure will be communicated to the respective other Party or Parties after to the disclosure without undue delay.

        Notwithstanding the above, the Parties may disclose such information to their professional advisors, banks or other financiers that is necessary (i) for the execution and completion of this Agreement and the transaction contemplated hereby or (ii) for the purpose of any discussions with their banks or other financiers, each upon the understanding that suitable confidentiality obligations have been put in place prior to any such disclosure taking place.

9.
Information related to the Business

        All information with respect or in relation to the Business received by the Seller after the Transfer Date (such as new customer orders, inquiries, complaints and other communications) shall be immediately forwarded to the Purchaser.

Done in Hamburg on 29 April 2003


Haleko Hanseatisches Lebensmittelkontor
GmbH & Co. OHG
by: Michael Krüger
 
Hucke AG
by: Dr. Ralf Ek


Weider Nutrition GmbH
by Dr. Holger Iversen

 

 

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ASSET PURCHASE AGREEMENT
§ 1 Sale and Purchase of Haleko Business Assets
§ 2 Supply and Customer Orders, Other Contracts
§ 3 Employment Matters
§ 4 Purchase Price
§ 5 Transfer Date, Delivery of Documents, Granting of Possession etc.
§ 6 Seller's Services
§ 7 Representations and Warranties
§ 8 Remedies
§ 9 Guarantee of Weider Nutrition GmbH
§ 10 Final Provisions
EX-10.6 4 a2117749zex-10_6.htm EX-10.6
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EXHIBIT 10.6


AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT

        THIS AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT ("Agreement") dated as of October 1, 2002 (the "Effective Date") is entered by and between Bruce J. Wood, 3983 East Alta Approach Road, Sandy, Utah 84092 ("Executive"), and Weider Nutrition Group, Inc., a Utah corporation (the "Company").

WITNESSETH:

        WHEREAS, Executive is a senior executive of the Company and has made and is expected to continue to make major contributions to the short and long term profitability, growth and financial strength of the Company;

        WHEREAS, the Company has entered into the Change in Control Agreement with Executive dated as of January 26, 2001, (the "Change in Control Agreement") in order to provide for both present and future continuity of management and to assure itself that Executive is not practically disabled from discharging his duties in respect of a proposed or actual transaction involving a Change in Control;

        WHEREAS, in the event of a Change in Control, the Change in Control Agreement provides for a Retention Bonus based on formula relating to the Transaction Value and the Transaction Target Percentage (as defined);

        WHEREAS, the Company adopted a long term compensation program pursuant to which the Company will pay Executive a bonus if certain debt reduction and working capital targets are met as of May 31, 2003 (the "Long Term Bonus Plan");

        WHEREAS, the Company has (i) granted Executive certain shares of restricted stock pursuant to the Restricted Stock Agreement dated August 16, 2002, (the "Restricted Stock Grant") and (ii) permitted Executive to participate in the Company's Offer to Exchange Certain Outstanding Options dated September 12, 2002 ("Option Exchange Program"); and

        WHEREAS, in consideration of the Long Term Bonus Plan, the Restricted Stock Grant and the Option Exchange Program, the Company and Executive now desire to amend and restate the Change in Control Agreement, including, among other matters, to continue and clarify Executive's rights to Severance Payments and certain tax gross-up payments and to delete any requirement for the payment of a Retention Bonus.


AGREEMENT

        NOW, THEREFORE, in exchange for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and Executive agree as follows:

        1.    Certain Defined Terms.    In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, the following terms have the following meanings when used in this Agreement with initial capital letters:

            (a)   "Affiliate" shall mean a domestic or foreign business entity controlled by, controlling, under common control with, or in a joint venture with, the applicable person or entity.

            (b)   "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

            (c)   "Change in Control" shall mean the occurrence during the Term of this Agreement (as set forth in Section 2) of both (i) and (ii), below:

                (i)    Change in the Board.    A change in the composition of the Board over a period of twelve consecutive months (or less) such that a majority of the Board members (rounded up to the nearest whole number) ceases to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or


        (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (A) who were still in office at the time such election or nomination was approved by the Board; and

                 (ii)  One of:

                  (A)  Sale of Assets.    The sale of all or substantially all of the assets and business of the Company or WNI in substantially a single transaction;

                  (B)  Merger.    The merger or consolidation of WNI with and into another corporation if, following such merger or consolidation, persons who were not direct or indirect shareholders of WNI immediately prior to such event (other than persons in which such original shareholders themselves have an interest) ("New Shareholders"), will collectively own stock in the surviving corporation representing both (A) more than 30% of the surviving corporation's total equity value and (B) more than that percentage of the surviving corporation's total equity value owned by the Weider Group, provided, however, that such merger or consolidation shall not be covered by this paragraph (ii) if the Weider Group owns 30% or more of the surviving corporation's total equity value and no New Shareholders who constitute a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, own more than that percentage of the surviving corporation's total equity value owned by the Weider Group; or

                  (C)  Sale of Stock.    Acquisition of 50% or more of the fair market value of the outstanding capital stock of WNI by one or more other persons if, following such acquisition, persons who were not direct or indirect shareholders of WNI immediately prior to such event (other than persons in which such original shareholders themselves have an interest), will collectively own stock of WNI representing more than 50% of WNI's total equity value.

            (d)   "Closing Date" shall mean the effective date of a Change in Control.

            (e)   "Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

            (f)    "Employment Agreement" shall mean that certain employment agreement entered into by and between Executive and Weider Nutrition Group, Inc., a Utah corporation, as of June 1, 2002, as such agreement may be amended from time to time.

            (g)   "Weider Group" shall mean Weider Heath and Fitness, a Nevada corporation (or its successor) and its Affiliates.

        2.    Term of Agreement.    This Agreement shall be effective with respect to any Change in Control that is both (i) subject to a definitive written purchase, sale, merger or similar agreement entered into during the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on September 30, 2005 and (ii) consummated on or prior to the expiration of six months following September 30, 2005.

        3.    Severance Payment.    In addition to any severance payments Executive may be entitled to receive under the Employment Agreement, in the event Executive's employment with the Company is terminated "in connection with a Change in Control" pursuant to Section 5.2 or 5.3 of the Employment Agreement during the period beginning on the Closing Date, the Company shall pay to Executive an amount equal to his Base Salary (as defined in the Employment Agreement). Such amount shall be payable to Executive in 12 equal monthly installments, beginning on the month following the last month Executive receives any payments under Section 6 of the Employment Agreement.

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        4.    Parachute Payments.    

            (a)   If it is determined (as hereafter provided) that Executive would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999 to which Executive would not have been subject but for any payment or stock option or restricted stock vesting (collectively a "Payment") occurring pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise upon a Change in Control (a "Parachute Tax"), then Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment or payments (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that, after payment by Executive of all taxes (including any Parachute Tax) imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Parachute Tax imposed upon the Payment.

            (b)   Subject to the provisions of Section 4(a) hereof, all determinations required to be made under this Section 4, including whether a Parachute Tax is payable by Executive and the amount of such Parachute Tax and whether a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, shall be made by the nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants (the "Accounting Firm") used by the Company prior to the Change in Control (or, if such Accounting Firm declines to serve, the Accounting Firm shall be a nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants selected by the Company). For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section, the Accounting Firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code, provided that the Accounting Firm's determinations must be made with substantial authority (within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code). The Accounting Firm shall be directed by the Company or Executive to submit its preliminary determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and Executive within 15 calendar days after the determination date, if applicable, and any other such time or times as may be requested by the Company or Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that any Parachute Tax is payable by Executive, the Company shall pay the required Gross-Up Payment to, or for the benefit of, Executive within five business days after receipt of such determination and calculations. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Parachute Tax is payable by Executive, it shall, at the same time as it makes such determination, furnish Executive with an opinion that he has substantial authority not to report any Parachute Tax on his federal tax return. Any good faith determination by the Accounting Firm as to the amount of the Gross-Up Payment shall be binding upon the Company and Executive absent a contrary determination by the Internal Revenue Service or a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, however, that no such determination shall eliminate or reduce the Company's obligation to provide any Gross-Up Payments that shall be due as a result of such contrary determination. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Code Section 4999 at the time of any determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments that will not have been made by the Company should have been made (an "Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts or fails to pursue its remedies pursuant to Section 4(f) hereof and Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Parachute Tax, Executive shall direct the Accounting Firm to determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and to submit its determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and Executive as promptly as possible. Any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to, or for the benefit of, Executive within five business days after receipt of such determination and calculations.

            (c)   The Company and Executive shall each provide the Accounting Firm access to and copies of any books, records and documents in the possession of the Company or Executive, as the case may be, reasonably requested by the Accounting Firm, and otherwise cooperate with the Accounting Firm in connection with the preparation and issuance of the determination contemplated by Section 4(b) hereof.

3



            (d)   The federal tax returns filed by Executive (or any filing made by a consolidated tax group which includes the Company) shall be prepared and filed on a basis consistent with the determination of the Accounting Firm with respect to the Parachute Tax payable by Executive. Executive shall make proper payment of the amount of any Parachute Tax, and at the request of the Company, provide to the Company true and correct copies (with any amendments) of his federal income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service, and such other documents reasonably requested by the Company, evidencing such payment. If prior to the filing of Executive's federal income tax return, the Accounting Firm determines in good faith that the amount of the Gross-Up Payment should be reduced, Executive shall within five business days pay to the Company the amount of such reduction.

            (e)   The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its services in connection with the determinations and calculations contemplated by Sections 4(b) and (d) hereof shall be borne by the Company. If such fees and expenses are initially advanced by Executive, the Company shall reimburse Executive the full amount of such fees and expenses within five business days after receipt from Executive of a statement therefor and reasonable evidence of his payment thereof.

            (f)    In the event that the Internal Revenue Service claims that any payment or benefit received under this Agreement constitutes an "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(1), Executive shall notify the Company in writing of such claim. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but not later than 10 business days after Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30 day period following the date on which Executive gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, Executive shall (i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim; (ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company and reasonably satisfactory to Executive; (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to effectively contest such claim; and (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, additional interest and penalties and related legal, consulting or other similar fees) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for and against for any Parachute Tax or income tax or other tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses.

            (g)   The Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner and Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to Executive on an interest-free basis, and shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after tax basis, from any Parachute Tax (or other tax including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and provided, further, that if Executive is required to extend the statue of limitations to

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    enable the Company to contest such claim, Executive may limit this extension solely to such contested amount. The Company's control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a corporate deduction would be disallowed pursuant to Code Section 280G and Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. In addition, no position may be taken nor any final resolution be agreed to by the Company without Executive's consent if such position or resolution could reasonably be expected to adversely affect Executive unrelated to matters covered hereto.

            (h)   If, after the receipt by Executive of an amount advanced by the Company in connection with the contest of the Parachute Tax claim, Executive receives any refund with respect to such claim, Executive shall promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto); provided, however, if the amount of that refund exceeds the amount advanced by the Company Executive may retain such excess. If, after the receipt by Executive of an amount advanced by the Company in connection with a Parachute Tax claim, a determination is made that Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify Executive in writing of its intent to contest the denial of such refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such determination such advance shall be deemed to be in consideration for services rendered after the Date of Termination.

        5.    Successors and Binding Agreement.    

            (a)   The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise, including, without limitation, any successor due to a Change in Control) to the business or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance reasonable satisfactory to the Executive, expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including, without limitation, any person directly or indirectly acquiring the business or assets of the Company in a transaction constituting a Change in Control (and such successor shall thereafter be deemed the "Company" for the purpose of this Agreement), but will not otherwise be assignable, transferable or delegable by the Company.

            (b)   This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees and legatees.

            (c)   This Agreement is personal in nature and neither of the parties hereto shall, without the consent of the other, assign, transfer or delegate this Agreement or any rights or obligations hereunder except as expressly provided in Sections 5(a) and 5(b). Without limiting the generality or effect of the foregoing, the Executive's right to receive payments hereunder will not be assignable, transferable or delegable, whether by pledge, creation of a security interest, or otherwise, other than by a transfer by Executive's will or by the laws of descent and distribution and, in the event of any attempted assignment or transfer contrary to this Section 5(c), the Company shall have no liability to pay any amount so attempted to be assigned, transferred or delegated.

        6.    Notices.    For all purposes of this Agreement, all communications, including without limitation notices, consents, requests or approvals, required or permitted to be given hereunder will be in writing and will be deemed to have been duly given when hand delivered or dispatched by electronic facsimile transmission (with receipt thereof orally confirmed), or five business days after having been mailed by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, or three business days after having been sent by a nationally recognized overnight courier service such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL, addressed to the Company (to the attention of the Secretary of the Company) at its principal

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executive office and to Executive at his principal residence, or to such other address as any party may have furnished to the other in writing and in accordance herewith, except that notices of changes of address shall be effective only upon receipt.

        7.    Validity.    If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any provision hereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to any other person or circumstances will not be affected, and the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal will be reformed to the extent (and only to the extent) necessary to make it enforceable, valid or legal.

        8.    Governing Law; Jurisdiction.    The laws of the state of Utah shall govern the interpretation, validity and performance of the terms of this Agreement, regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of law. Any suit, action or proceeding against Executive, with respect to this Agreement, or any judgment entered by any court in respect of any of such, may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Utah, and Executive hereby submits to the jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such suit, action, proceeding or judgment.

        9.    Confidentiality.    Executive agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Company or except as required by law, Executive will not disclose to any person the existence or contents of this Agreement or that discussions or negotiations are taking place concerning a possible merger, sale or similar transaction between the Company and a third party or any of the terms, conditions or other facts with respect to any such possible transaction, including the status thereof.

        10.    Miscellaneous.    No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by Executive and the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto or compliance with any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party will be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior agreements of the parties with respect to such subject matter. No agreements or representations, oral or otherwise, expressed or implied with respect to the subject matter hereof have been made by either party which are not set forth expressly in this Agreement. References to Sections are to references to Sections of this Agreement.

        11.    Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same agreement.

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        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

    WEIDER NUTRITION GROUP, INC.

 

 

By:



 

 

Title:



 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 


Bruce J. Wood

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AMENDED AND RESTATED CHANGE IN CONTROL AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT
EX-10.7 5 a2117749zex-10_7.htm EX-10.7
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EXHIBIT 10.7


AGREEMENT

        THIS AGREEMENT ("Agreement") dated as of October 1, 2002 (the "Effective Date") is entered by and between                        , an individual residing at                        , Utah          ("Executive"), and Weider Nutrition Group, Inc., a Utah corporation with offices located at 2002 South 5070 West, Salt Lake City, Utah 84104 (the "Company").

RECITALS

        WHEREAS, Executive is a senior executive of the Company and has made and is expected to continue to make major contributions to the short and long term profitability, growth and financial strength of the Company;

        WHEREAS, the Company has entered into employment-related agreements with Executive, including a Change in Control Agreement;

        WHEREAS, the Company has made certain changes to its long-term compensation programs for executives, which affect Executives employment-related agreements;

        WHEREAS, the Company and Executive desire to amend and restate the employment-related agreements into this Agreement, thereby preserving the present and future continuity of management and providing additional inducement for the Executive to continue to remain in the employ of the Company.

TERMS OF AGREEMENT

        NOW, THEREFORE, in exchange for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the Company and Executive agree as follows:

        1.    Certain Defined Terms.    In addition to terms defined elsewhere herein, the following terms have the following meanings when used in this Agreement with initial capital letters:

            (a)   "Affiliate" shall mean a domestic or foreign business entity controlled by, controlling, under common control with, or in a joint venture with, the applicable person or entity.

            (b)   "Board" shall mean the Board of Directors of the Company.

            (c)   "Cause" shall mean Executive's:

                (i)  Gross, fraudulent or willful misconduct of Executive at any time during Executive's employment by the Company, or any such misconduct during any prior period of employment in an executive capacity with any person or entity if not disclosed to the Company in writing prior to the execution hereof;

               (ii)  Substantial and willful failure to perform specific and lawful directives of the Board or a superior;

              (iii)  Willful and knowing violation of any rules or regulations of any governmental or regulatory body, which is materially injurious to the financial condition of the Company;

              (iv)  Conviction of or plea of guilty or nolo contendere to a felony or fraud during Executive's employment with the Company;

               (v)  Drug, alcohol or substance abuse; or

              (vi)  Material breach of the terms of this Agreement which is not corrected after notice and a reasonable cure period not to exceed 15 days.



            (d)   "Change in Control" shall mean the occurrence during the Term of this Agreement (as set forth in Section 2) of both (i) and (ii), below:

                (i)  A change in the composition of the Board over a period of twelve consecutive months (or less) such that a majority of the Board members (rounded up to the nearest whole number) ceases to be comprised of individuals who either (A) have been Board members continuously since the beginning of such period or (B) have been elected or nominated for election as Board members during such period by at least a majority of the Board members described in clause (A) who were still in office at the time such election or nomination was approved by the Board; and

               (ii)  One of:

                (A)  The sale of all or substantially all of the assets and business of the Company or WNI in substantially a single transaction;

                (B)  The merger or consolidation of WNI with and into another corporation if, following such merger or consolidation, persons who were not direct or indirect shareholders of WNI immediately prior to such event (other than persons in which such original shareholders themselves have an interest) ("New Shareholders"), will collectively own stock in the surviving corporation representing both (A) more than 30% of the surviving corporation's total equity value and (B) more than that percentage of the surviving corporation's total equity value owned by the Weider Group, provided, however, that such merger or consolidation shall not be covered by this paragraph (ii) if the Weider Group owns 30% or more of the surviving corporation's total equity value and no New Shareholders who constitute a "group" within the meaning of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, own more than that percentage of the surviving corporation's total equity value owned by the Weider Group; or

                (C)  Acquisition of 50% or more of the fair market value of the outstanding capital stock of WNI by one or more other persons if, following such acquisition, persons who were not direct or indirect shareholders of WNI immediately prior to such event (other than persons in which such original shareholders themselves have an interest), will collectively own stock of WNI representing more than 50% of WNI's total equity value.

            (e)   "Code" shall mean Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

            (f)    "Good Reason" shall mean any one of the following events which is not cured by the Company within 15 days after Executive's notice in writing to the Company within 90 days of the first happening of the conduct or event:

                (i)  the Company's material diminution of Executive's job titles, responsibilities, duties, perquisites or compensation; or

               (ii)  any involuntary relocation of Executive's principal place of business to a location more than 50 miles form Executive's current principal place of business

            (g)   "Termination Date" shall mean the effective date of the termination of Executive's employment with the Company for any reason.

            (h)   "Weider Group" shall mean Weider Heath and Fitness, a Nevada corporation (or its successor) and its Affiliates.

            (i)    "WNI" shall mean Weider Nutrition International, Inc., a Delaware corporation and the parent of the Company.

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        2.    Term of Agreement.    The term of this Agreement shall be from the Effective Date through September 30, 2005 and this Agreement shall be effective with respect to any Change in Control that is both (i) subject to a definitive written purchase, sale, merger or similar agreement entered into on or before September 30, 2005 and (ii) consummated on or prior to the expiration of six months following September 30, 2005.

        3.    Severance Payment.    

            (a)   If Executive's employment as an at-will employee shall be terminated either by the Company other than for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, then in consideration of and subject to the delivery by Executive to the Company of a release, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, of any claims that Executive might have as a result of the termination of his employment, the Company shall pay the Executive a severance benefit in an amount equal to the sum of (a) his then annual rate of base salary and (b) the greater of (i) his prior fiscal year's annual bonus, (ii) the average of his annual bonuses for the prior three years, or (iii) 30% of his then annual rate of base salary. Such amount shall be paid, without interest, in 24 equal semi-monthly installments payable in accordance with the Company's customary payroll practices, with the first installment to be paid no later than 30 days following the later of (A) the Termination Date or (B) the date on which the release described above is executed by all parties thereto.

            (b)   If Executive's employment as an at-will employee shall be terminated "in connection with a Change in Control" either by the Company other than for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason, then in consideration of and subject to the delivery by Executive to the Company of a release, in form and substance satisfactory to the Company, of any claims that Executive might have as a result of the termination of his employment and in lieu of the provisions of Section 3(a) above, the Company shall pay the Executive a severance benefit in an amount equal to 150% [exec. vp]/125% [sr. vp] of the sum of (a) his then annual rate of base salary and (b) the greater of (i) his prior fiscal year's annual bonus, (ii) the average of his annual bonuses for the prior three years, or (iii) 50% of his then annual rate of base salary. Such amount shall be paid, without interest, in 36/30 equal semi-monthly installments payable in accordance with the Company's customary payroll practices, with the first installment to be paid no later than 30 days following the later of (A) the Termination Date or (B) the date on which the release described above is executed by all parties thereto. For purposes of this Section 3(b), any termination "in connection with a Change in Control" shall be any termination either by the Company other than for Cause or by the Executive for Good Reason during the period beginning 90 days prior to and concluding 120 days subsequent to the consummation of a Change in Control.

        4.    Parachute Payments.    

            (a)   If it is determined (as hereafter provided) that Executive would be subject to the excise tax imposed by Code Section 4999 to which Executive would not have been subject but for any payment or stock option or restricted stock vesting (collectively a "Payment") occurring pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or otherwise upon a Change in Control (a "Parachute Tax"), then Executive shall be entitled to receive an additional payment or payments (a "Gross-Up Payment") in an amount such that, after payment by Executive of all taxes (including any Parachute Tax) imposed upon the Gross-Up Payment, Executive retains an amount of the Gross-Up Payment equal to the Parachute Tax imposed upon the Payment.

            (b)   Subject to the provisions of Section 4(a) hereof, all determinations required to be made under this Section 4, including whether a Parachute Tax is payable by Executive and the amount of such Parachute Tax and whether a Gross-Up Payment is required and the amount of such Gross-Up Payment, shall be made by the nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants (the "Accounting Firm") used by the Company prior to the Change in Control (or, if such

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    Accounting Firm declines to serve, the Accounting Firm shall be a nationally recognized firm of certified public accountants selected by the Company). For purposes of making the calculations required by this Section, the Accounting Firm may make reasonable assumptions and approximations concerning applicable taxes and may rely on reasonable, good faith interpretations concerning the application of Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code, provided that the Accounting Firm's determinations must be made with substantial authority (within the meaning of Section 6662 of the Code). The Accounting Firm shall be directed by the Company or Executive to submit its preliminary determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and Executive within 15 calendar days after the determination date, if applicable, and any other such time or times as may be requested by the Company or Executive. If the Accounting Firm determines that any Parachute Tax is payable by Executive, the Company shall pay the required Gross-Up Payment to, or for the benefit of, Executive within five business days after receipt of such determination and calculations. If the Accounting Firm determines that no Parachute Tax is payable by Executive, it shall, at the same time as it makes such determination, furnish Executive with an opinion that he has substantial authority not to report any Parachute Tax on his federal tax return. Any good faith determination by the Accounting Firm as to the amount of the Gross-Up Payment shall be binding upon the Company and Executive absent a contrary determination by the Internal Revenue Service or a court of competent jurisdiction; provided, however, that no such determination shall eliminate or reduce the Company's obligation to provide any Gross-Up Payments that shall be due as a result of such contrary determination. As a result of the uncertainty in the application of Code Section 4999 at the time of any determination by the Accounting Firm hereunder, it is possible that Gross-Up Payments that will not have been made by the Company should have been made (an "Underpayment"), consistent with the calculations required to be made hereunder. In the event that the Company exhausts or fails to pursue its remedies pursuant to Section 4(f) hereof and Executive thereafter is required to make a payment of any Parachute Tax, Executive shall direct the Accounting Firm to determine the amount of the Underpayment that has occurred and to submit its determination and detailed supporting calculations to both the Company and Executive as promptly as possible. Any such Underpayment shall be promptly paid by the Company to, or for the benefit of, Executive within five business days after receipt of such determination and calculations.

            (c)   The Company and Executive shall each provide the Accounting Firm access to and copies of any books, records and documents in the possession of the Company or Executive, as the case may be, reasonably requested by the Accounting Firm, and otherwise cooperate with the Accounting Firm in connection with the preparation and issuance of the determination contemplated by Section 4(b) hereof.

            (d)   The federal tax returns filed by Executive (or any filing made by a consolidated tax group which includes the Company) shall be prepared and filed on a basis consistent with the determination of the Accounting Firm with respect to the Parachute Tax payable by Executive. Executive shall make proper payment of the amount of any Parachute Tax, and at the request of the Company, provide to the Company true and correct copies (with any amendments) of his federal income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service, and such other documents reasonably requested by the Company, evidencing such payment. If prior to the filing of Executive's federal income tax return, the Accounting Firm determines in good faith that the amount of the Gross-Up Payment should be reduced, Executive shall within five business days pay to the Company the amount of such reduction.

            (e)   The fees and expenses of the Accounting Firm for its services in connection with the determinations and calculations contemplated by Sections 4(b) and (d) hereof shall be borne by the Company. If such fees and expenses are initially advanced by Executive, the Company shall

4



    reimburse Executive the full amount of such fees and expenses within five business days after receipt from Executive of a statement therefor and reasonable evidence of his payment thereof.

            (f)    In the event that the Internal Revenue Service claims that any payment or benefit received under this Agreement constitutes an "excess parachute payment" within the meaning of Code Section 280G(b)(1), Executive shall notify the Company in writing of such claim. Such notification shall be given as soon as practicable but not later than 10 business days after Executive is informed in writing of such claim and shall apprise the Company of the nature of such claim and the date on which such claim is requested to be paid. Executive shall not pay such claim prior to the expiration of the 30 day period following the date on which Executive gives such notice to the Company (or such shorter period ending on the date that any payment of taxes with respect to such claim is due). If the Company notifies Executive in writing prior to the expiration of such period that it desires to contest such claim, Executive shall (i) give the Company any information reasonably requested by the Company relating to such claim; (ii) take such action in connection with contesting such claim as the Company shall reasonably request in writing from time to time, including without limitation, accepting legal representation with respect to such claim by an attorney reasonably selected by the Company and reasonably satisfactory to Executive; (iii) cooperate with the Company in good faith in order to effectively contest such claim; and (iv) permit the Company to participate in any proceedings relating to such claim; provided, however, that the Company shall bear and pay directly all costs and expenses (including, but not limited to, additional interest and penalties and related legal, consulting or other similar fees) incurred in connection with such contest and shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after-tax basis, for and against for any Parachute Tax or income tax or other tax (including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed as a result of such representation and payment of costs and expenses.

            (g)   The Company shall control all proceedings taken in connection with such contest and, at its sole option, may pursue or forgo any and all administrative appeals, proceedings, hearings and conferences with the taxing authority in respect of such claim and may, at its sole option, either direct Executive to pay the tax claimed and sue for a refund or contest the claim in any permissible manner and Executive agrees to prosecute such contest to a determination before any administrative tribunal, in a court of initial jurisdiction and in one or more appellate courts, as the Company shall determine; provided, however, that if the Company directs Executive to pay such claim and sue for a refund, the Company shall advance the amount of such payment to Executive on an interest-free basis, and shall indemnify and hold Executive harmless, on an after tax basis, from any Parachute Tax (or other tax including interest and penalties with respect thereto) imposed with respect to such advance or with respect to any imputed income with respect to such advance; and provided, further, that if Executive is required to extend the statue of limitations to enable the Company to contest such claim, Executive may limit this extension solely to such contested amount. The Company's control of the contest shall be limited to issues with respect to which a corporate deduction would be disallowed pursuant to Code Section 280G and Executive shall be entitled to settle or contest, as the case may be, any other issue raised by the Internal Revenue Service or any other taxing authority. In addition, no position may be taken nor any final resolution be agreed to by the Company without Executive's consent if such position or resolution could reasonably be expected to adversely affect Executive unrelated to matters covered hereto.

            (h)   If, after the receipt by Executive of an amount advanced by the Company in connection with the contest of the Parachute Tax claim, Executive receives any refund with respect to such claim, Executive shall promptly pay to the Company the amount of such refund (together with any interest paid or credited thereon after taxes applicable thereto); provided, however, if the amount of that refund exceeds the amount advanced by the Company Executive may retain such excess. If, after the receipt by Executive of an amount advanced by the Company in connection with a

5



    Parachute Tax claim, a determination is made that Executive shall not be entitled to any refund with respect to such claim and the Company does not notify Executive in writing of its intent to contest the denial of such refund prior to the expiration of 30 days after such determination such advance shall be deemed to be in consideration for services rendered after the Date of Termination

        5.    Confidential Information and Inventions.    

            (a)   Except as otherwise required by Executive's employment duties for the Company, Executive shall maintain in strict confidence and shall not directly, indirectly or otherwise, use, publish, disclose or disseminate, or use for Executive's benefit or the benefit of any person, firm, corporation or entity, any Confidential Information of or relating to the Company or its affiliates (or which the Company or its affiliates has a right to use). For purposes of this Agreement, AConfidential Information@ shall mean all confidential and proprietary information of the Company and its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, whether in oral, written or electronic form or obtained by observation or otherwise, whether or not legended or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary information, and whether or not discovered or developed by Executive or known or obtained by Executive as a consequence of Executive's employment with the Company at any time as employee or agent. Confidential Information shall include, without limitation, all scientific, clinical, engineering, technical, process, method or commercial data, information or know-how, relating to the research, development, manufacture, distribution, sale or marketing of any vitamins, minerals, nutritional supplements, sports nutrition products, beverages, food bars, powdered food supplements, or other products or product lines of the Company. Confidential Information shall also include, without limitation, all customer lists, pricing data, sources of supply and related supplier and vendor information, purchasing, operating or other cost data, manufacturing methods, quality control information, regulatory information, employee and compensation information, financial data, trade secrets, formulas, intellectual property, manuals, financial data, forecasts, business plans, expansion or acquisition plans and product development information and plans. Notwithstanding the foregoing, Confidential Information shall not include (i) information, from a source other than the Company, which is in Executive's possession on the date hereof or subsequently becomes available to Executive so long as such information was lawfully obtained and is not, to the knowledge of Executive, subject to another confidentiality agreement or obligation of secrecy to the Company or another person, or (ii) information which becomes generally available to the public other than directly or indirectly as a result of disclosure by Executive or another party bound by legal obligations prohibiting such disclosure.

            (b)   Executive hereby assigns and transfers to the Company any and all works of authorship, inventions and innovations (whether deemed patentable or not), which relate to the business of the Company and which are made by Executive (or by Executive jointly with others) during the term of Executive's employment and/or within one year after the termination of Executive's employment with the Company, if such work of authorship, invention, or innovation is based upon or relates to Confidential Information acquired by Executive during the term of employment with the Company. For purposes of copyright law, any such work of authorship shall be deemed a work made for hire. Executive agrees to promptly disclose to the Company all such works of authorship, inventions, and innovations. Executive agrees to execute any document reasonably requested by Weider that is necessary or appropriate to document, perfect, or effect the intention of this Section 5 or to secure any patent, copyright registration (as a work made for hire), trademark registration or other protection thereof for Weider.

            (c)   Upon termination of Executive's employment, Executive shall immediately deliver to the Company all Confidential Information embodied in any form (including any form of computer media), including all copies, then in Executive's possession or control, whether prepared by Executive or others, as well as other Company property in Executive's possession or control.

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        6.    Successors and Binding Agreement.    

            (a)   The Company will require any successor (whether direct or indirect, by purchase, merger, consolidation, reorganization or otherwise, including, without limitation, any successor due to a Change in Control) to the business or assets of the Company, by agreement in form and substance reasonable satisfactory to the Executive, expressly assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place. This Agreement will be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the Company and any successor to the Company, including, without limitation, any person directly or indirectly acquiring the business or assets of the Company in a transaction constituting a Change in Control (and such successor shall thereafter be deemed the "Company" for the purpose of this Agreement), but will not otherwise be assignable, transferable or delegable by the Company.

            (b)   This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be enforceable by the Executive's personal or legal representatives, executors, administrators, successors, heirs, distributees and legatees, but will not otherwise be assignable, transferable or delegable by Executive.

        7.    Validity.    If any provision of this Agreement or the application of any provision hereof to any person or circumstances is held invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal, the remainder of this Agreement and the application of such provision to any other person or circumstances will not be affected, and the provision so held to be invalid, unenforceable or otherwise illegal will be reformed to the extent (and only to the extent) necessary to make it enforceable, valid or legal.

        8.    Governing Law; Jurisdiction.    The laws of the state of Utah shall govern the interpretation, validity and performance of the terms of this Agreement, regardless of the law that might be applied under principles of conflicts of law. Any suit, action or proceeding against Executive, with respect to this Agreement, or any judgment entered by any court in respect of any of such, may be brought in any court of competent jurisdiction in the State of Utah, and Executive hereby submits to the jurisdiction of such courts for the purpose of any such suit, action, proceeding or judgment.

        9.    Notices.    Any notices or communications given by any party hereto to the other party shall be in writing and personally delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid. Notices shall be addressed to the parties at the addresses set forth above. Notices shall be deemed given when received. Either party may designate in writing, by notice to the others, such other address to which notices to such party shall thereafter be sent.

        10.    Further Assurances.    Each party agrees at any time, and from time-to-time, to execute, acknowledge, deliver and perform, and/or cause to be executed, acknowledged, delivered and performed, all such further acts, deeds assignments, transfers, conveyances, powers of attorney and/or assurances as may be necessary, and/or proper to carry out the provisions and/or intent of this Agreement.

        11.    Amendment; Waiver; Entire Agreement.    No provision of this Agreement may be modified, waived or discharged unless such waiver, modification or discharge is agreed to in writing signed by the Executive and the Company. No waiver by either party hereto at any time of any breach by the other party hereto or compliance with any condition or provision of this Agreement to be performed by such other party will be deemed a waiver of similar or dissimilar provisions or conditions at the same or at any prior or subsequent time. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any and all prior agreements of the parties with respect to such subject matter.

        12.    Counterparts.    This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original but all of which together will constitute one and the same agreement.

7


        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Agreement to be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.

    WEIDER NUTRITION GROUP, INC.

 

 

By:



 

 

Title:



 

 

EXECUTIVE

 

 


8




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AGREEMENT
EX-10.11 6 a2117749zex-10_11.htm EX-10.11
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EXHIBIT 10.11


CONSULTING AGREEMENT

        THIS CONSULTING AGREEMENT (this "Agreement") is entered into as of July 16, 2003 (the "Effective Date") between Weider Nutrition Group, Inc., a Utah corporation (the "Company"), and Gustin Foods, LLC, a California limited liability company ("Consultant").

RECITALS

        A.    The Company is in the business of developing, manufacturing, marketing and selling branded and private label dietary supplements and nutrition products, including joint care products containing glucosamine and/or chondroitin and other related products.

        B.    Consultant has experience and expertise in developing, marketing and selling branded nutrition and food products.

        C.    The Company desires to retain the services of Consultant and Consultant desires to provide consulting services to the Company, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

AGREEMENT

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual promises set forth in this Agreement, the Company and Consultant hereby agree as follows:

        1.    Retention as Consultant; Consultant Services.    

            a.     Subject to the terms and conditions contained in this Agreement, the Company hereby engages Consultant and Consultant hereby agrees to perform consulting services for the Company during the Term (as defined herein) of this Agreement relating to the Company's development, marketing and selling of joint care products under certain of the Company's brand name (the "Business"). Consultant may perform consulting services at its office or other location, but shall be available to attend meetings and report on its activities at reasonable times upon reasonable request.

            b.     Consultant is and shall be an independent contractor which, subject to the terms hereof, shall have sole control of the manner and means of performing its obligations under this Agreement. The Consultant shall not have, nor shall the Consultant claim, suggest or imply that the Consultant has, any right, power or authority to enter into any contract or obligation on behalf of, or binding upon, the Company or any of its representatives, nor shall Consultant represent himself as having any employment position with the Company.

            c.     Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties, Consultant will provide to the President of the Company written portfolio, marketing and positioning strategies, recommendations and courses of action regarding the Business (the "Recommendations") on or before December 1, 2003 (the "Recommendation Date"). The Company may accept or decline to implement the Recommendations in its sole discretion. If the Company agrees to accept and implement the Recommendations, Consultant agrees to assist the Company in the implementation of the Recommendations. Upon approval of the Recommendations, Consultant will be responsible for executing various elements of the marketing plan, including, among other matters, packaging, creative development, and media and promotion selection.

            d.     The Company understands and recognizes that Consultant provides consulting services on various food, beverage, nutrition and other products and that the Consultant may engage in other activities as an employee of or consultant to other parties; provided, however, Consultant agrees that during the Term (as defined herein) of this Agreement and during the period six months after the completion of the Term, neither Consultant nor Mr. David Gustin will provide consulting or



    employment services to a third party (i) which are inconsistent with Mr. Gustin's duties as a director of the Company or (ii) relating to joint care products.

        2.    Compensation.    

            a.     Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the parties, the three measurement periods for determining Consultant's compensation shall be referred to as a "Year 1," "Year 2" and Year 3," respectively, with each Year defined as a 12 month period and the first Year beginning in the next month following the first shipment of products under the Company's Pain Free brand name. For example, if the first shipment of products under the Company's Pain Free brand name occurs during November 2003, then the "Year 1" measurement period would be the 12 month period from December 2003 through November 2004, the "Year 2" measurement period would be the 12 month period from December 2004 through November 2005 and the "Year 3" measurement period would be the 12 month period from December 2005 through November 2006.

            b.     "Sales," "Contribution Margin" and "Contribution Margin Rate" shall have the definitions set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

            c.     Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, if the Company, in its sole discretion, determines to not accept and implement the Recommendations, no amounts will be due Consultant by the Company pursuant to this Section 2 (other than for reimbursement of expenses as set forth in Section 2(f)), except that the Company shall pay Consultant a one-time fee in the amount of $100,000. This one-time fee will be paid by the Company to Consultant within 30 days following the Company's termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 3(c) below.

            d.     If the Company accepts and implements the Recommendations, the compensation, if any, to be paid to Consultant relating to each Year shall be calculated as follows:

              (1)   The Company shall pay Consultant compensation in the amount of two percent (2%) of the first $10 million in Sales for the Business during each Year.

              (2)   The Company shall pay Consultant compensation in the amount of three percent (3%) of the Sales for the Business over $10 million during each Year.

              (3)   Any amounts to be paid by the Company to Consultant pursuant to this Section 2.b. shall be paid no later than 90 days after the end of each Year.

            e.     For any compensation to be paid to Consultant pursuant to Section 2(d) relating to Year 2 or Year 3, the Contribution Margin for the Business for the respective measurement period must be at least equal to the Contribution Margin Rate. Decisions regarding costs and expenses affecting the Contribution Margin for the Business relating to marketing and promotional matters will be determined under the direction and responsibility of Consultant, subject to final approval by the Company's President.

            f.      The Company will reimburse Consultant for reasonable direct and incidental expenses properly incurred in performing its consulting services pursuant to the Agreement (e.g., travel and related expenses, purchase of competitive products, packaging expenses, etc.). All other expenses must be pre-approved by the Company (e.g., the hiring of design experts, utilization of third party packaging resources, etc.).

            g.     The Consultant shall pay, when and as due, any and all taxes as a result of the Consultant's receipt of the remuneration described in Section 2 of this Agreement, including estimated taxes, and provide its own benefits and insurance.

2



        3.    Term and Termination.    

            a.     Unless otherwise terminated pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement or as otherwise agreed upon in writing by the parties, the Term of this Agreement shall be from the Effective Date through the end of the Year 3.

            b.     If Consultant fails to provide the Recommendations to the Company on or before the Recommendation Date, the Company may terminate this Agreement on 20 days' written notice if Consultant fails to provide the Recommendations within such 20-day notice period. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 3(b), the Company shall have no compensatory obligations to Consultant pursuant to this Agreement other than for reimbursement of expenses as set forth in Section 2.

            c.     If the Company, in its sole discretion, determines to not accept and implement the Recommendations, this Agreement shall be terminated immediately upon written notice thereof by the Company to Consultant, and the Company shall have no compensatory or reimbursement obligations to Consultant pursuant to this Agreement other than as set forth in Sections 2(c) and 2(f).

        4.    Confidential and Proprietary Information.    

            a.     Except as otherwise required by Consultant's duties for the Company, Consultant shall maintain in strict confidence and shall not directly, indirectly or otherwise, use, publish, disclose or disseminate, or use for Consultant's benefit or the benefit of any person, firm, corporation or entity, any Confidential Information of or relating to the Company or its affiliates (or which the Company or its affiliates has a right to use). For purposes of this Agreement, "Confidential Information" shall mean all confidential and proprietary information of the Company and its parents, subsidiaries and affiliates, whether in oral, written or graphical form or obtained by observation or otherwise, whether or not legended or otherwise identified as confidential or proprietary information, and whether or not discovered or developed by Consultant or known or obtained by Consultant as a consequence of Consultant's performance of services with the Company. Confidential Information shall include, without limitation, all scientific, technical, process, method or commercial data, information or know-how, customer lists, pricing data, sources of supply and related supplier and vendor information, purchasing, operating or other cost data, manufacturing methods, quality control information, regulatory information, financial data, trade secrets, formulas, product development information and plans, Inventions, intellectual property, samples and all information regarding pricing, business plans, expansion or acquisition plans, product lines, methods of business operation and the general business operations and financial information regarding the Company. As used in this Agreement, the term "Inventions" means designs, trademarks, discoveries, developments, formulae, processes, manufacturing techniques, trade secrets, inventions, improvements, ideas or copyrightable works, including, without limitation, all rights to obtain, register, perfect and enforce these proprietary interests.

            b.     Consultant agrees and acknowledges that (i) all Confidential Information and Inventions are owned by the Company or its affiliates and no rights in the Confidential Information or Inventions have been or will be granted to otherwise acquired by Consultant, and (ii) by this Agreement Consultant hereby assigns to the Company or its designee, all of its right, title and interest in and to any and all Inventions, original works of authorship, concepts, improvements, trademarks, trade names or trade secrets, whether or not patentable or registrable under trademark, copyright or similar laws, which it solely or jointly conceives, develops, authors or reduces to practice, or causes to be conceived, developed, authored or reduced to practice during the period of any consulting services with the Company.

3



            c.     All documents and material pertaining to the Company or the Services made by the Consultant or that come into the possession of the Consultant during the term of this Agreement are and shall remain the property of the Company. Upon expiration of this Agreement, or upon earlier request of the Company, the Consultant shall deliver to the Company all such documents and materials in the Consultant's possession or control, in addition to all forms of Confidential Information, and the Consultant shall not allow a third party to take any of the foregoing.

        5.    Entire Agreement.    The Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the terms and conditions of the consulting relationship and supersedes all prior agreements, promises, representations and understandings. This Agreement does not in any way amend or supercede any other agreements between the parties with respect to other subjects, including without limitation, any agreements concerning Consultants past employment with the Company or the termination thereof, or Consultant's obligations with respect to the intellectual property and confidential information of the Company, its parents, subsidiaries or affiliates.

        6.    Choice of Law.    This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Utah.

        7.    Severability.    Any provision of this Agreement that is prohibited or unenforceable in any jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction, be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or enforceability without invalidating the remaining provisions of this Agreement, and any such prohibition or unenforceability in any jurisdiction shall not invalidate or render unenforceable such provision in any other jurisdiction.

        8.    Amendment and Waiver.    This Agreement may be amended, modified, superseded, cancelled, renewed, extended or waived only by a written instrument executed by the parties to this Agreement or, in the case of a waiver by the party waiving compliance. No waiver by any party of the breach of any term or provision contained in this Agreement, whether by conduct or otherwise, in any one or more instances shall be deemed to be, or construed as, a further or continuing waiver of any such breach, or a waiver of the breach of any other term or covenant contained in this agreement.

        9.    Notices.    All notices, requests or consent required or permitted under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given to the other party by personal delivery, overnight air courier or facsimile transmission, sent to such party's address or telecopy number as is set forth below such party's signature hereto. Each such notice, request or consent shall be deemed effective upon receipt.

        10.    Attorneys' Fees.    In the event that either party seeks to enforce its right under this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover reasonable fees (including attorneys' fees), costs and other expenses incurred in connection therewith, including the fees, costs and expenses of appeals.

        11.    Headings.    The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience and reference only and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.

        12.    Survival.    Sections 4, and 6 through 10 shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

4


        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have duly executed this Agreement as of the date first above written.

THE COMPANY:

    By:

 

 

Its:



 

 

Address for Notices:

 

 

2002 South 5070 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84104
Attention: General Counsel
Facsimile: (801) 975-1924

CONSULTANT:
    By:

 

 

Its:



 

 

Address for Notices:
   
   
   

 

 

Facsimile:


5




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CONSULTING AGREEMENT
EX-21 7 a2117749zex-21.htm EX-21
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Exhibit 21


SUBSIDIARIES OF WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Entity Name

  State or Country
of Incorporation

  Parent Corporation

Weider Nutrition Group, Inc.

 

Utah

 

Weider Nutrition International, Inc.

WNG Holdings (International) Ltd.

 

Nevada

 

Weider Nutrition Group, Inc.

Weider Nutrition Group (Canada) Ltd.

 

Canada (Nova Scotia)

 

WNG Holdings (International) Ltd.

Weider Nutrition (WNI) Ltd.

 

United Kingdom (England)

 

WNG Holdings (International) Ltd.

Weider Nutrition Group Limited

 

United Kingdom (England)

 

Weider Nutrition (WNI) Ltd.

Weider Nutrition BV

 

The Netherlands

 

Weider Nutrition (WNI) Ltd.

Weider Nutrition Limited

 

United Kingdom (England)

 

Weider Nutrition BV

Weider Fitness SARL

 

France

 

Weider Nutrition BV

Weider Nutrition SL

 

Spain

 

Weider Nutrition BV

Weider Nutrition Italia SrL

 

Italy

 

Weider Nutrition BV

Weider Nutrition GmbH

 

Germany

 

Weider Nutrition BV

Aktivkost GmbH

 

Germany

 

Weider Nutrition GmbH

Food-Tech Handelsgesellschaft mbH

 

Germany

 

Weider Nutrition GmbH

HPH Hamburger Pharma Handelsgesellschaft mbH

 

Germany

 

Weider Nutrition GmbH

Haleko Management GmbH

 

Germany

 

Weider Nutrition GmbH

Haleko Hanseatisches Lebensmittelkontor OHG

 

Germany

 

Weider Nutrition GmbH (99%) &
Haleko Management GmbH (1%)

Power Gym Ltd.

 

United Kingdom (England)

 

Haleko Hanseatisches
Lebensmittelkontor OHG

Haleko Italia SrL

 

Italy

 

Haleko Hanseatisches
Lebensmittelkontor OHG

Sports Direct Ltd. 

 

United Kingdom (England)

 

Power Gym Ltd. (50%)



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SUBSIDIARIES OF WEIDER NUTRITION INTERNATIONAL, INC.
EX-23.1 8 a2117749zex-23_1.htm EX-23.1
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Exhibit 23.1

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in Registration Statement No.'s 333-87944 and 333-27973 of Weider Nutrition International, Inc. on Forms S-8 of our report dated July 14, 2003 (which report expresses an unqualified opinion and includes an explanatory paragraph relating to the adoption of the provisions of Statements of Financial Accounting Standards No. 142 and No. 144), appearing in this Annual Report on Form 10-K of Weider Nutrition International, Inc. for the year ended May 31, 2003.

We also consent to reference to us under "Item 6. Selected Consolidated Financial and Operating Data" in Form 10-K.

Our audits of the consolidated financial statements referred to in our aforementioned report also included the financial statement schedule of Weider Nutrition International, Inc., listed in Item 15. This financial statement schedule is the responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion based on our audits. In our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly in all material respects the information set forth therein.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Salt Lake City, Utah
August 26, 2003




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EX-31.1 9 a2117749zex-31_1.htm EX-31.1
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EXHIBIT 31.1


Certification of Chief Executive Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Bruce J. Wood, certify that:

        1.     I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Weider Nutrition International, Inc.;

        2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

        3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

        4.     The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

            (a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

            (b)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

            (c)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

        5.     The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

            (a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

            (b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 28, 2003

  /s/  BRUCE J. WOOD      
 
  Bruce J. Wood
Chief Executive Officer
 



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EX-31.2 10 a2117749zex-31_2.htm EX-31.2
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EXHIBIT 31.2


Certification of Chief Financial Officer
Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

I, Joseph W. Baty, certify that:

        1.     I have reviewed this annual report on Form 10-K of Weider Nutrition International, Inc.;

        2.     Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

        3.     Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

        4.     The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the registrant and have:

            (a)   Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

            (b)   Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

            (c)   Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant's fourth fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant's internal control over financial reporting; and

        5.     The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

            (a)   All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

            (b)   Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

Date: August 28, 2003

  /s/  JOSEPH W. BATY      
 
  Joseph W. Baty
Chief Financial Officer
 



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EX-32.1 11 a2117749zex-32_1.htm EX-32.1
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EXHIBIT 32.1

        The following certifications are being furnished solely to accompany the Report pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350 and in accordance with SEC Release No. 33-8238. These certifications shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall they be incorporated by reference in any filing of the Company under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.


Certification of Chief Executive Officer

        Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Weider Nutrition International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), hereby certifies, to his knowledge, that:

              (i)  the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended May 31, 2003 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

             (ii)  the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated: August 28, 2003 /s/  BRUCE J. WOOD      
Bruce J. Wood
Chief Executive Officer
 


Certification of Chief Financial Officer

        Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 1350, as created by Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, the undersigned officer of Weider Nutrition International, Inc. a Delaware, corporation (the "Company"), hereby certifies, to his knowledge, that:

              (i)  the accompanying Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the period ended May 31, 2003 (the "Report") fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or Section 15(d), as applicable, of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended; and

             (ii)  the information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

Dated: August 28, 2003 /s/  JOSEPH W. BATY      
Joseph W. Baty
Chief Financial Officer
 

        A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been provided to Weider Nutrition International, Inc. and will be retained by Weider Nutrition International, Inc. and furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.




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