EX-99.1 2 dex991.htm PRESS RELEASE - REPORTING RESULTS FOR THE QUARTER AND YEAR ENDED Press Release - Reporting results for the quarter and year ended

Exhibit 99.1

AMERICAN GREETINGS ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER RESULTS

 

   

Earnings results include charges for actions designed to improve return on capital

 

   

Company announces $100 million share repurchase program

 

   

Company announces 25% increase in dividend

CLEVELAND (April 17, 2007) – American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) today announced its results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 28, 2007, a $100 million share repurchase program, and a 25% increase to its quarterly cash dividend.

Fourth Quarter Results

For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007, the Company reported net sales of $472.8 million, pre-tax loss from continuing operations of $4.2 million, and a loss from continuing operations of $7.7 million or 14 cents per share (all per-share amounts assume dilution).

During the quarter, the Company took a series of actions to improve its long-term return on capital and to do so, incurred charges in both its continuing as well as its discontinued operations. Within the continuing operations, the Company sold its candle product lines, and as a result, recorded a pre-tax loss of $16 million or approximately 18 cents per share. In addition, during the quarter, the Company also incurred exit costs in connection with the closure of 60 of its retail stores resulting in a pre-tax loss of $6.5 million or approximately 7 cents per share.

In the prior year’s fourth fiscal quarter, the Company reported net sales of $507.4 million, pre-tax income from continuing operations of $63.6 million, and income from continuing operations of $51.1 million or 70 cents per share.

Full Year Results

For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2007, the Company reported net sales of $1,744.6 million, pre-tax income from continuing operations of $69.4 million, and income from continuing operations of $43.3 million or 72 cents per share. Included in these results are a pre-tax loss on the sale of the Company’s candle product lines of $16 million or approximately 16 cents per share, a pre-tax loss associated with the closure of 60 stores within the retail operations segment of $6.5 million or approximately 7 cents per share, and a pre-tax gain of $20 million or approximately 20 cents per share as a result of retailer consolidations and the effect the consolidations had on several long-term supply agreements between the Company and the affected retailers.

Management Comments and Outlook

Chief Executive Officer Zev Weiss said, “I am pleased that we continued to execute against our goal of improving the return on capital employed and generating strong cash flow. We generated cash flow from operating activities less capital expenditures of $225 million, well above our initial estimates and even beyond our December guidance. For fiscal year 2008, we are projecting earnings per share between $1.35 and $1.55. I am looking forward to improved earnings as a large portion of the investments in our strategic card initiative is now behind us. In addition, we are able to continue returning capital to our shareholders by repurchasing shares and increasing the dividend.”


Financing Activities

The Company purchased 3.0 million shares of its common stock for $71.3 million during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. During the fiscal year, the Company repurchased 11.1 million of its shares for $257.2 million and was not required to issue approximately 7.1 million shares as a result of the convertible notes exchange offer completed in the second quarter.

The Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new $100 million share repurchase program as well as a 25% increase in its quarterly cash dividend from 8 cents per share to 10 cents per share. The share repurchases will be made through a 10b5-1 program in open market or privately negotiated transactions in compliance with the SEC’s Rule 10b-18, subject to market conditions, applicable legal requirements and other factors. The increased dividend will be paid on May 14, 2007 to shareholders of record at the close of business on May 2, 2007.

Conference call on the Web

American Greetings will broadcast its conference call live on the Internet at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time today. The conference call will be accessible through the Investor Relations section of the American Greetings Web site at http://investors.americangreetings.com. A replay of the call will be available on the site.

About American Greetings Corporation

American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of social expression products. Along with greeting cards, its product lines include gift wrap, party goods, stationery, calendars, ornaments and electronic greetings. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual net sales of approximately $1.7 billion. For more information on the Company, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com.

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CONTACT:

Gregory M. Steinberg

Treasurer and Director of Investor Relations

American Greetings Corporation

216-252-4864

investor.relations@amgreetings.com

Certain statements in this release, including those under “Management Comments and Outlook” may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Federal securities laws. These statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. They use such words as “anticipate,” “estimate,” “expect,” “project,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. These forward-looking statements are based on currently available information, but are subject to a variety of uncertainties, unknown risks and other factors concerning the Company’s operations and business environment, which are difficult to predict and may be beyond the control of the Company. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements, and that could adversely affect the Company’s future financial performance, include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

   

retail consolidations, acquisitions and bankruptcies, including the possibility of resulting adverse changes to retail contract terms;

 

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the Company’s ability to successfully implement its strategy to invest in its core greeting card business;

 

   

the timing and impact of investments in new retail or product strategies as well as new product introductions and achieving the desired benefits from those investments;

 

   

the ability to execute share repurchase programs or the ability to achieve the desired accretive effect from such repurchases;

 

   

the Company’s ability to successfully complete, or achieve the desired benefits associated with, dispositions;

 

   

a weak retail environment;

 

   

consumer acceptance of products as priced and marketed;

 

   

the impact of technology on core product sales;

 

   

competitive terms of sale offered to customers;

 

   

successful implementation of supply chain improvements and achievement of projected cost savings from those improvements;

 

   

increases in the cost of material, energy, freight and other production costs;

 

   

the Company’s ability to comply with its debt covenants;

 

   

fluctuations in the value of currencies in major areas where the Company operates, including the U.S. Dollar, Euro, U.K. Pound Sterling, and Canadian Dollar;

 

   

escalation in the cost of providing employee health care;

 

   

successful integration of acquisitions; and

 

   

the outcome of any legal claims known or unknown.

Risks pertaining specifically to AG Interactive include the viability of online advertising, subscriptions as revenue generators and the public’s acceptance of online greetings and other social expression products.

In addition, this release contains time-sensitive information that reflects management’s best analysis as of the date of this release. American Greetings does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of this release. Further information concerning issues that could materially affect financial performance related to forward-looking statements can be found in the Company’s periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the “Risk Factors” section of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2006.

 

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AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION

FOURTH QUARTER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

FISCAL YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2007

(In thousands of dollars except share and per share amounts)

 

     (Unaudited)  
     Quarter Ended February 28,     Year Ended February 28,  
     2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net sales

   $ 472,848     $ 507,413     $ 1,744,603     $ 1,875,104  

Costs and expenses:

        

Material, labor and other production costs

     233,559       222,549       826,791       846,958  

Selling, distribution and marketing

     176,487       171,296       627,906       631,943  

Administrative and general

     67,573       66,440       251,089       242,727  

Goodwill impairment

     —         —         —         43,153  

Interest expense

     7,962       8,460       34,986       35,124  

Other income - net

     (8,503 )     (24,896 )     (65,530 )     (64,676 )
                                
     477,078       443,849       1,675,242       1,735,229  
                                

(Loss) income from continuing operations before income tax expense

     (4,230 )     63,564       69,361       139,875  

Income tax expense

     3,513       12,498       26,096       48,879  
                                

(Loss) income from continuing operations

     (7,743 )     51,066       43,265       90,996  

Loss from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (4,480 )     (9,272 )     (887 )     (6,620 )
                                

Net (loss) income

   $ (12,223 )   $ 41,794     $ 42,378     $ 84,376  
                                

Earnings (loss) per share - basic:

        

(Loss) income from continuing operations

   $ (0.14 )   $ 0.82     $ 0.75     $ 1.38  

Loss from discontinued operations

     (0.08 )     (0.15 )     (0.02 )     (0.10 )
                                

Net (loss) income

   $ (0.22 )   $ 0.67     $ 0.73     $ 1.28  
                                

Earnings (loss) per share - assuming dilution:

        

(Loss) income from continuing operations

   $ (0.14 )   $ 0.70     $ 0.72     $ 1.24  

Loss from discontinued operations

     (0.08 )     (0.12 )     (0.01 )     (0.08 )
                                

Net (loss) income

   $ (0.22 )   $ 0.58     $ 0.71     $ 1.16  
                                

Average number of common shares outstanding

     56,035,238       62,736,831       57,951,952       65,965,024  

Average number of common shares outstanding - assuming dilution

     56,035,238       75,681,656       62,362,794       79,226,384  

Dividends declared per share

   $ 0.08     $ 0.08     $ 0.32     $ 0.32  


AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION

FOURTH QUARTER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

FISCAL YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2007

(In thousands of dollars)

 

    

(Unaudited)

February 28,

 
     2007     2006  

ASSETS

    

CURRENT ASSETS

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 144,713     $ 213,613  

Short-term investments

     —         208,740  

Trade accounts receivable, net

     98,837       139,384  

Inventories

     182,618       213,109  

Deferred and refundable income taxes

     135,379       153,282  

Assets of businesses held for sale

     5,199       24,903  

Prepaid expenses and other

     227,380       212,814  
                

Total current assets

     794,126       1,165,845  

GOODWILL

     224,105       200,763  

OTHER ASSETS

     416,887       548,514  

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

     52,869       —    

Property, plant and equipment - at cost

     944,534       953,634  

Less accumulated depreciation

     659,462       649,794  
                

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - NET

     285,072       303,840  
                
   $ 1,773,059     $ 2,218,962  
                

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

CURRENT LIABILITIES

    

Debt due within one year

   $ —       $ 174,792  

Accounts payable

     118,204       123,757  

Accrued liabilities

     80,389       73,532  

Accrued compensation and benefits

     61,192       68,864  

Income taxes

     24,578       17,240  

Liabilities of businesses held for sale

     1,932       3,627  

Other current liabilities

     84,898       97,270  
                

Total current liabilities

     371,193       559,082  

LONG-TERM DEBT

     223,915       300,516  

OTHER LIABILITIES

     162,410       116,554  

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

     6,315       22,785  

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

    

Common shares - Class A

     50,839       56,130  

Common shares - Class B

     4,283       4,218  

Capital in excess of par value

     414,859       398,505  

Treasury stock

     (710,414 )     (676,436 )

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

     (1,013 )     9,823  

Retained earnings

     1,250,672       1,427,785  
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     1,009,226       1,220,025  
                
   $ 1,773,059     $ 2,218,962  
                


AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION

FOURTH QUARTER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FISCAL YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2007

(In thousands of dollars)

 

    

(Unaudited)

Year Ended February 28,

 
     2007     2006  

OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

    

Net income

   $ 42,378     $ 84,376  

Loss from discontinued operations

     887       6,620  
                

Income from continuing operations

     43,265       90,996  

Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Goodwill impairment

     —         43,153  

Loss on disposal of fixed assets

     1,726       4,355  

Loss on extinguishment of debt

     5,055       863  

Loss on disposal of product lines

     15,969       —    

Depreciation and amortization

     49,380       54,202  

Deferred income taxes

     (16,277 )     23,225  

Other non-cash charges

     13,891       7,219  

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions and dispositions:

    

Decrease in trade accounts receivable

     47,369       33,850  

Decrease in inventories

     22,227       1,541  

Increase in other current assets

     (35,973 )     (13,371 )

Decrease in deferred costs - net

     128,752       56,610  

Decrease in accounts payable and other liabilities

     (1,763 )     (33,374 )

Other - net

     (6,646 )     123  
                

Cash Provided by Operating Activities

     266,975       269,392  

INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

    

Proceeds from sale of short-term investments

     1,026,280       1,733,470  

Purchases of short-term investments

     (817,540 )     (1,733,470 )

Property, plant and equipment additions

     (41,726 )     (46,056 )

Cash payments for business acquisitions, net of cash acquired

     (13,122 )     (15,315 )

Cash receipts related to discontinued operations

     12,559       —    

Proceeds from sale of fixed assets

     4,847       11,416  

Other - net

     6,160       —    
                

Cash Provided (Used) by Investing Activities

     177,458       (49,955 )

FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

    

Increase in long-term debt

     200,000       —    

Reduction of long-term debt

     (440,588 )     (10,782 )

Sale of stock under benefit plans

     6,834       27,068  

Purchase of treasury shares

     (257,817 )     (244,642 )

Dividends to shareholders

     (18,418 )     (21,184 )

Debt issuance costs

     (8,533 )     —    
                

Cash Used by Financing Activities

     (518,522 )     (249,540 )

DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:

    

Cash used by operating activities from discontinued operations

     (961 )     (2,725 )

Cash provided by investing activities from discontinued operations

     1,643       566  
                

Cash Provided (Used) by Discontinued Operations

     682       (2,159 )

EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH

     4,507       (1,924 )
                

DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

     (68,900 )     (34,186 )

Cash and Cash Equivalents at Beginning of Year

     213,613       247,799  
                

Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of Year

   $ 144,713     $ 213,613