Note 3 - Business Acquisition

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2022

Notes to Financial Statements

Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block]

The Performance and Lifestyle Footwear Business of Honeywell International Inc.

On January 24, 2021, we entered into a Purchase Agreement (the "Purchase Agreement") with certain subsidiaries of Honeywell International Inc. (collectively, "Honeywell"), to purchase Honeywell's performance and lifestyle footwear business, including brand names, trademarks, assets and liabilities associated with Honeywell's performance and lifestyle footwear business (the "Acquisition") for an aggregate, adjusted purchase price of $212 million.

On March 15, 2021 (the "Acquisition Date"), pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in the Purchase Agreement, we completed the Acquisition for an aggregate preliminary closing price of approximately $207 million, net of cash acquired, based on preliminary working capital and other adjustments. Upon a final agreement of net working capital as of the Acquisition Date, we owed Honeywell an additional $5.4 million. The Acquisition was funded through cash on hand and borrowings under two new credit facilities. See Note 9 for information regarding the two credit facilities.

The Acquisition expanded our brand portfolio to include Muck, XTRATUF, Servus, Ranger, and NEOS brands (the "Acquired Brands"). We acquired 100% of the voting interests of certain subsidiaries and additional assets comprising the performance and lifestyle footwear business of Honeywell with the Acquisition. On September 30, 2022, we completed the sale of the NEOS brand and the related assets. See Note 4 for additional information. 

Through the Acquisition, we have greatly enhanced our powerful portfolio of footwear brands and significantly increased our sales and profitability. We acquired a well-run business with a corporate culture and a customer base similar to ours, which provides meaningful growth opportunities within our existing product categories as well as an entry into new market segments. Its innovative and authentic product collections complement our existing offering with minimal overlap, which we believe will allow us to strengthen our wholesale relationships and serve a wider consumer audience. At the same time, we plan to leverage our existing advanced fulfillment capabilities to improve distribution of the Acquired Brands to wholesale customers and accelerate direct-to-consumer penetration.

In connection with the Acquisition, we also entered into employment agreements with seven key employees from the performance and lifestyle footwear business of Honeywell, pursuant to which, among other things, we agreed to grant 25,000 non-qualified stock options in the aggregate to the seven employees as an inducement for continuing their employment with us.

We acquired multiple leases through the Acquisition including the lease of our Rock Island and China manufacturing facilities and an office building lease in Westwood, Massachusetts. We closed the office in Westwood, Massachusetts on December 31, 2022.

The Acquisition contributed net sales of $242.8 million to our consolidated operating results for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Acquisition contributed net income of $9.3 million to our consolidated operating results for the year ended December 31, 2022.

Acquisition-related costs

Costs incurred to complete and integrate the Acquisition are expensed as incurred and included in "operating expenses" in the accompanying consolidated statements of operations. During the years ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020 there were approximately $3.5 million, $11.9 million and $0.7 million, respectively, of acquisition-related costs recognized. These costs represent investment banking fees, legal and professional fees, transaction fees, integration costs, amortization and consulting fees associated with the Acquisition.

Purchase Price Allocation

The Acquisition has been accounted for under the business combinations accounting guidance. As a result, we have applied acquisition accounting, which requires, among other things, that assets acquired and liabilities assumed be recognized at their fair values as of the Acquisition Date. The aggregate closing price noted above was allocated to the major categories of assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their fair values at the Acquisition Date using primarily Level 2 and Level 3 inputs. These Level 2 and Level 3 valuation inputs include an estimate of future cash flows and discount rates. Additionally, estimated fair values are based, in part, upon outside valuation for certain assets, including specifically identified intangible assets.

The allocation of the purchase price to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, including the residual amount allocated to goodwill is not finalized and is subject to adjustment until the final valuation related to assets acquired and liabilities assumed is obtained (up to one year from the Acquisition Date).

The following table summarizes the consideration paid and estimated fair value of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the Acquisition Date.

($ in thousands)	Fair Value
Cash	$	2,655
Accounts receivable (1)		36,734
Inventories (2)		41,057
Property, plant and equipment		16,243
Goodwill (3)		50,246
Intangible assets		98,620
Other assets		1,250
Accounts payable		(18,108	)
Accrued expenses		(13,634	)
Total identifiable net assets		215,063
Cash acquired		(2,655	)
Total cash paid, net of cash acquired	$	212,408

⁽¹⁾ The recorded amount for accounts receivable considers expected uncollectible amounts of approximately $0.6 million in its determination of fair value.

⁽²⁾ Fair value of finished goods inventories included step up value of approximately $3.5 million, all of which was expensed during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021, and is included in "Cost of Goods Sold" in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

⁽³⁾ Goodwill largely consists of the acquired workforce, expected costs synergies and economies of scale resulting from the Acquisition.

Unaudited Pro Forma Financial Information 

The following unaudited pro forma results of operations assume that the Acquisition occurred at the beginning of the periods presented. These unaudited pro forma results are presented for information purposes only and are not necessarily indicative of what the results of operations would have been if the Acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the periods presented, nor are they indicative of the future results of operations. The pro forma results presented below are adjusted for the removal of the step up value of finished goods inventory associated with the Acquisition of approximately $3.5 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. The pro forma results presented below are also adjusted for the removal of acquisition-related costs of approximately $3.5 million, $11.9 million and $0.7 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2022, 2021, and 2020, respectively. 

	Year Ended December 31,
($ in thousands, except per share amount)	2022		2021		2020
Net sales	$	615,475	$	552,905	$	482,562
Net income	$	23,250	$	40,248	$	41,726
Diluted earnings per share	$	3.16	$	5.43	$	5.69