EX-99.1 2 v159005_ex99-1.htm Unassociated Document
Exhibit 99.1

[THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC. LOGO OMITTED]

Contacts:
 
Ira Lamel/Mary Anthes
David Lilly/Paige Gruman
The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
Kekst and Company
631-730-2200
212-521-4800

THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP ANNOUNCES
FOURTH QUARTER AND FISCAL YEAR 2009 RESULTS

Operating Free Cash Flow
Improves to $28.1 Million for the Fourth Quarter

Solid Performance from Hain Celestial US Operations

Fiscal Year 2010 Outlook
Revenue Growth to $1.010 Billion to $1.030 Billion
EPS Growth to $1.19 to $1.28

Melville, NY, August 25, 2009—The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAIN), a leading natural and organic products company providing consumers with A Healthy Way of Life™, today reported results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2009.  The Company reported earnings per share on a GAAP basis of $0.03 per share including an $0.08 per share loss from Hain Pure Protein (“HPP”) for the fourth quarter. The Company reported adjusted earnings1 of $0.28 per share for the fourth quarter on the strength of solid results in its Hain Celestial US operations.  The $0.28 per share includes a $0.04 per share adjusted loss absorbed from the Company’s investment in its HPP joint venture.  For the fiscal year, the Company reported a loss per share on a GAAP basis of ($0.61) and adjusted earnings of $1.24 per share with adjustments principally from the previously recorded third quarter impairment charges of $1.20 per share.

The Company generated $28.1 million of operating free cash flow2 in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, an improvement of $33.2 million compared to the prior year quarter. This enabled the Company to reduce its outstanding debt by $30.2 million in the quarter.  For the full year, the Company reduced debt by $47.2 million.

“Our business demonstrated solid performance with growth from our United States and Canada operations in a tough economy.  We saw growth in key categories including tea, infant and toddler care, dry grocery, non-dairy beverages, nut butters and frozen.  At the same time, we are positioned for a turnaround in Europe.  We are consolidating our Daily Bread™ production into our Luton facility, and we have gained new customers at our Fakenham facility where we’ve seen growth in both Linda McCartney® branded and private label sales,” said Irwin D. Simon, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hain Celestial.
 

 

The Company’s net sales for the fourth quarter totaled $262.7 million versus the prior year’s fourth quarter sales of $278.3 million.  For the full year, the Company’s sales reached a record $1.135 billion, a 7.5% increase over the prior year’s $1.056 billion in sales.  Foreign exchange rates negatively impacted sales by $10.7 million in the fourth quarter and by $35.6 million for the year.  Sales for the full year were also impacted by distributor, retailer and consumer de-stocking, and in the UK by the loss of a co-pack contract and the recently commenced phasing-out of the supply of fresh sandwiches to a major retail customer.

In fiscal 2009, the Company restarted consumption growth in tea as it increased its focus on selling core SKUs.  The Company implemented a Stock Keeping Unit (“SKU”) program at Celestial Seasonings®, which was modeled after the successful SKU rationalizations in grocery, snacks and personal care.  The Company also concluded the consolidation of its personal care operations and distribution centers. These actions collectively resulted in fourth quarter pre-tax charges of $7.8 million, or $0.12 per share, which includes $7.1 million charged to cost of sales for inventory and related items and $0.7 million charged to general and administrative expenses for severance and other costs.

GAAP gross margins were 19.4% in the fourth quarter this year as compared to 24.3% in the prior year quarter.  GAAP gross margins in the current year quarter were impacted principally by charges from the SKU Rationalization and HPP. Adjusted gross margins for the fourth quarter were 24.4%, and further improved to 28.9%, a 156 basis point improvement over the prior year quarter, after removing HPP sales of $35.5 million and cost of sales of $36.9 million.  The improved result was achieved through the maturing of price increases and a continuing focus on cost containment and productivity initiatives while the inflationary effects of input costs have begun to abate.

On a GAAP basis, selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of sales was 20.7% in this year’s quarter compared to 20.1% in the prior year quarter.  The Company’s adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses were $1.2 million lower in the fourth quarter this year as compared to last year.  For the full year, selling, general and administrative expenses on a GAAP basis were 18.9% this year versus 19.6% last year and 17.5% this year versus 18.5% of sales on an adjusted basis in the prior year.  Adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of sales to 19.0% in this year’s quarter compared to 18.4%.  Both GAAP and adjusted selling, general and administrative expenses increased due to the effect of fixed expenses on lower sales.

The Company’s balance sheet remains strong, with $212.6 million in working capital and a current ratio of 2.6 at June 30, 2009.  Debt as a percentage of equity was 36.8%, with equity at $701.3 million.

The Company’s adjusted effective tax rate for the full year was 33.8% versus 34.6% in the prior year.  The Company’s adjusted effective tax rate through the nine months ended March 31, 2009 was 36.5%.  The decrease compared to the Company’s estimated tax rate resulted from lower than anticipated estimated state taxes, due principally to the mix in income among the various states, and lower than anticipated foreign taxes.  There was no impact from the change in tax rate on fourth quarter GAAP earnings, while fourth quarter adjusted earnings benefitted by $0.01 per share.


“Our investments in the operational performance of our business units position us well to offer innovative new products with healthful attributes and invest in the long-term for our core brands, rolling out innovative new products to the grocery and mass market channels to meet consumers’ needs,” said Irwin Simon.  “One of these innovations is a collaborative effort to create Martha Stewart Clean, a new line of natural cleaning products developed with Martha Stewart to be introduced later in fiscal 2010.  We are very excited about the prospects for these products.”

“The Company improved many key financial metrics with an emphasis on gross margin, generating cash and debt reduction, strengthening our balance sheet during the fourth quarter.  Despite the recessionary environment, our focused execution on cost containment, productivity, cash flow and margin enhancement allowed us to build upon the foundation of our long-term strategy of sustainable growth.  We are well-positioned to gain momentum with our sales and earnings in fiscal year 2010, and we are committed to creating and promoting A Healthy Way of Life™ for the benefit of our shareholders, customers, consumers and employees,” concluded Irwin Simon.

Fiscal Year 2010 Guidance
The Company announced its fiscal year 2010 guidance of $1.010 to $1.030 billion in sales and $1.19 to $1.28 of earnings per share. Sales are expected to increase from 4% to 6% from the Company’s fiscal year 2009 sales base less sales of HPP and items discontinued in the SKU rationalization.

Webcast and Upcoming Events
Hain Celestial will host a conference call and webcast at 4:30 PM Eastern Daylight Time today to review its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2009 results. During the month of September, the Company is scheduled to present at several investor conferences including:  Goldman Sachs Sixteenth Annual Global Retailing Conference on September 9, 2009; Barclays Capital Back-to-School Consumer Conference on September 10, 2009; RBC Capital Markets Consumer Conference on September 17, 2009 and Canaccord Adams Healthy Living Naturally Boston Conference on September 23, 2009. These events will be webcast and available under the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.hain-celestial.com.

The Hain Celestial Group
The Hain Celestial Group (NASDAQ: HAIN), headquartered in Melville, NY, is a leading natural and organic products company in North America and Europe. Hain Celestial participates in almost all natural categories with well-known brands that include Celestial Seasonings®, Terra®, Garden of Eatin’®, Health Valley®, WestSoy®, Earth’s Best®, Arrowhead Mills®, MaraNatha®, SunSpire®, DeBoles®, Hain Pure Foods®, Hollywood®, Spectrum Naturals®, Spectrum Essentials®, Walnut Acres Organic®, Imagine®, Rice Dream®, Soy Dream®, Rosetto®, Ethnic Gourmet®, Yves Veggie Cuisine®, Granose®, Realeat®, Linda McCartney®, Daily Bread™, Lima®, Grains Noirs®, Natumi®, JASON®, Zia® Natural Skincare, Avalon Organics®, Alba Botanica®, Queen Helene®, Tushies® and TenderCare®.  Hain Celestial has been providing “A Healthy Way of Life™” since 1993.  For more information, visit www.hain-celestial.com.


Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements within and constitutes a "Safe Harbor" statement under Rule 3b-6 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Words such as “expect,” “expected”, “anticipate,” “estimate,” “believe,” “may,” “potential,” “can,” “position”, “positioned,” “should,” and similar expressions, or the negative of those expressions, may identify forward-looking statements. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters discussed in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause our actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks include but are not limited to our ability to achieve our guidance for sales and earnings per share in fiscal year 2010 given the recession in the U.S. and other markets that we sell products as well as economic and business conditions generally and their effect on our customers and consumers’ product preferences, and our business, financial condition and results of operations; changes in estimates or judgments related to our impairment analysis of goodwill and other intangible assets; our ability to implement our business and acquisition strategy, including our strategy for improving results in Europe; our ability to realize sustainable growth generally and from investments in core brands, offering new products and our focus on containment, productivity, cash flow and margin enhancement in particular, our ability to effectively integrate our acquisitions; competition; the success and cost of introducing new products as well as our ability to increase prices on existing products, availability and retention of key personnel; our reliance on third party distributors, manufacturers and suppliers; our ability to maintain existing contracts and secure and integrate new customers; our ability to respond to changes and trends in customer  and consumer demand, preferences and consumption; international sales and operations; changes in  fuel and commodity costs; the continuing adverse effects on our results of operations from the impacts of foreign exchange; the resolution of the SEC inquiry and litigation regarding our stock option practices; changes in, or the failure to comply with, government regulations; and other risks detailed from time-to-time in the Company’s reports filed with the SEC, including the annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2008.  As a result of the foregoing and other factors, no assurance can be given as to future results, levels of activity and achievements and neither the Company nor any person assumes responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of these statements.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures
Management believes that the non-GAAP financial measures presented provide useful additional information to investors about current trends in the Company’s operations and are useful for period-over-period comparisons of operations.  These non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the comparable GAAP measures.  In addition, these non-GAAP measures may not be the same as similar measures provided by other companies due to potential differences in methods of calculation and items being excluded.  They should only be read in connection with the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of earnings presented in accordance with GAAP.

The Company defines Operating Free Cash Flow as cash provided from operating activities less capital expenditures.  In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2009, cash provided from operating activities was $31.1 million and capital expenditures were $3.0 million for a total of $28.1 million.  In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2008, cash provided from operating activities was $3.4 million and capital expenditures were $8.5 million for a total usage of ($5.1) million.

Under the Investor Relations section of the Company’s website at www.hain-celesital.com, the Company will post unaudited pro forma non-GAAP information about the Company’s investment in its HPP joint venture and stock compensation expense for each of the annual and quarterly periods in fiscal 2009 and 2008 to allow comparisons to the guidance provided for fiscal year 2010.
 

 
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)

   
June 30,
   
June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
             
ASSETS
           
Current assets:
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 41,408     $ 58,513  
Trade receivables, net
    114,506       118,867  
Inventories
    158,590       175,667  
Deferred income taxes
    13,028       12,512  
Other current assets
    21,599       27,482  
Total current assets
    349,131       393,041  
                 
Property, plant and equipment,  net
    102,135       159,089  
Goodwill, net
    456,459       550,238  
Trademarks and other intangible assets, net
    149,196       136,861  
Other assets
    66,575       20,155  
Total assets
  $ 1,123,496     $ 1,259,384  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Current liabilities:
               
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
  $ 134,618     $ 145,186  
Income taxes payable
    1,877       907  
Current portion of long-term debt
    44       222  
Total current liabilities
    136,539       146,315  
                 
Deferred income taxes
    24,615       26,524  
Other noncurrent liabilities
    2,647       5,012  
Long-term debt, less current portion
    258,372       308,220  
Total liabilities
    422,173       486,071  
                 
Minority Interest
    -       30,502  
                 
Stockholders' equity:
               
Common stock
    417       411  
Additional paid-in capital
    503,161       488,650  
Retained earnings
    212,285       237,008  
Treasury stock
    (16,309 )     (15,473 )
Accumulated other comprehensive income
    1,769       32,215  
Total stockholders' equity
    701,323       742,811  
                 
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
  $ 1,123,496     $ 1,259,384  

 
 

 

THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Twelve Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2009
   
2008
   
2009
   
2008
 
   
(Unaudited)
   
(Unaudited)
       
                         
Net sales
  $ 262,705     $ 278,261     $ 1,135,306     $ 1,056,371  
Cost of sales
    211,622       210,669       876,344       772,062  
Gross profit
    51,083       67,592       258,962       284,309  
                                 
SG&A expenses
    54,372       55,834       215,008       207,553  
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles
    63       -       52,630       -  
                                 
Operating income (loss)
    (3,352 )     11,758       (8,676 )     76,756  
                                 
Interest expense  and other expenses
    (3,083 )     2,512       7,842       11,311  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (269 )     9,246       (16,518 )     65,445  
Income tax provision
    (1,534 )     2,742       8,205       24,224  
Net income (loss)
  $ 1,265     $ 6,504     $ (24,723 )   $ 41,221  
                                 
Basic per share amounts
  $ 0.03     $ 0.16     $ (0.61 )   $ 1.03  
                                 
Diluted per share amounts
  $ 0.03     $ 0.16     $ (0.61 )   $ 0.99  
                                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    40,686       40,133       40,483       40,077  
Diluted
    41,011       41,550       40,483       41,765  

 
 

 

THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations With Adjustments
Reconciliation of GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Presentation
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2009 GAAP
   
Adjustments
   
2009 Adjusted
   
2008 Adjusted
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
Net sales
  $ 262,705           $ 262,705     $ 278,261  
Cost of Sales
    211,622     $ (13,107 )     198,515       207,195  
Gross profit
    51,083       13,107       64,190       71,066  
                                 
SG&A expenses
    54,372       (4,528 )     49,844       51,072  
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles
    63       (63 )     -       -  
                                 
Operating income (loss)
    (3,352 )     17,698       14,346       19,994  
                                 
Interest and other expenses, net
    (3,083 )     2,872       (211 )     2,512  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (269 )     14,826       14,557       17,482  
                                 
Income tax provision
    (1,534 )     4,771       3,237       3,482  
Net income (loss)
  $ 1,265     $ 10,055     $ 11,320     $ 14,000  
                                 
Basic net income (loss) per share
  $ 0.03     $ 0.25     $ 0.28     $ 0.35  
                                 
Diluted net income (loss) per share
  $ 0.03     $ 0.25     $ 0.28     $ 0.34  
                                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    40,686               40,686       40,133  
Diluted
    41,011               41,011       41,550  
 
 
 
   
FY 2009
   
FY 2008
 
   
Impact on Income
before income taxes
   
Impact on Income tax
provision
   
Impact on Income
before income taxes
   
Impact on Income tax
provision
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
                         
Start-up and integration costs related to the Company's Kosher Valley poultry operations
  $ 3,901     $ 1,297              
                             
Start-up costs at the Fakenham manufacturing facility related to the integration of the Haldane Foods frozen meat-free operations and, in 2009, unabsorbed overhead resulting from expiration of a co-pack agreement with the prior owner
    1,506       422     $ 2,537     $ 230  
                                 
SKU rationalization, severance and other reorganization costs
    7,064       2,558       937       285  
                                 
Other items
    636       128                  
Cost of sales
    13,107       4,405       3,474       515  
                                 
Professional fees and other expenses incurred in connection with the review of the Company's stock option practices, net of insurance recovery
                    1,079       462  
                                 
Stock compensation expense
    2,756       1,002       2,273       (667 )
                                 
Severance and other reorganization costs
    707       209       1,410       430  
                                 
Other items
    1,065       232                  
SG&A expenses
    4,528       1,443       4,762       225  
                                 
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles
    63       (10 )     -       -  
                                 
Other (income) expenses, net
    (2,872 )     (1,067 )                
                                 
Interest and other expenses, net
    (2,872 )     (1,067 )     -       -  
                                 
Total adjustments
  $ 14,826     $ 4,771     $ 8,236     $ 740  

 
 

 

THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations With Adjustments
Reconciliation of GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Presentation
(in thousands, except per share amounts)

   
Year Ended June 30,
 
   
2009 GAAP
   
Adjustments
   
2009 Adjusted
   
2008 Adjusted
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
Net sales
  $ 1,135,306           $ 1,135,306     $ 1,056,371  
Cost of Sales
    876,344     $ (25,411 )     850,933       757,623  
Gross profit
    258,962       25,411       284,373       298,748  
                                 
SG&A expenses
    215,008       (16,177 )     198,831       195,782  
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles
    52,630       (52,630 )     -       -  
                                 
Operating income (loss)
    (8,676 )     94,218       85,542       102,966  
                                 
Interest and other expenses, net
    7,842       2,038       9,880       13,313  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (16,518 )     92,180       75,662       89,653  
                                 
Income tax provision
    8,205       17,342       25,547       30,994  
Net income (loss)
  $ (24,723 )   $ 74,838     $ 50,115     $ 58,659  
                                 
Basic net income (loss) per share
  $ (0.61 )   $ 1.85     $ 1.24     $ 1.46  
                                 
Diluted net income (loss) per share
  $ (0.61 )   $ 1.85     $ 1.24     $ 1.40  
                                 
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    40,483               40,483       40,077  
Diluted
    40,483               40,483       41,765  
 

 
   
FY 2009
   
FY 2008
 
   
Impact on Income
before income taxes
   
Impact on Income tax
provision
   
Impact on Income
before income taxes
   
Impact on Income tax
provision
 
   
(Unaudited)
 
                         
Start-up and integration costs related to the Company's Kosher Valley poultry operations
  $ 6,201     $ 2,180              
                             
Start-up costs at the Fakenham manufacturing facility related to the integration of the Haldane Foods frozen meat-free operations and, in 2009, unabsorbed overhead resulting from expiration of a co-pack agreement with the prior owner
    8,153       2,284     $ 7,490     $ 2,097  
                                 
SKU rationalization, severance and other reorganization costs
    8,763       3,160       6,949       2,558  
                                 
Impact of co-pack pricing agreement related to acquisition of turkey processing facility
    721       277                  
                                 
Other items
    1,573       486                  
Cost of sales
    25,411       8,387       14,439       4,655  
                                 
Professional fees and other expenses incurred in connection with the review of the Company's stock option practices, net of insurance recovery
    1,416       530       5,774       2,229  
                                 
Stock compensation expense
    7,211       2,668       2,129       (722 )
                                 
Legal settlement
    1,350       505                  
                                 
Severance and other reorganization costs
    4,145       1,477       3,868       1,392  
                                 
Other items
    2,055       602                  
SG&A expenses
    16,177       5,782       11,771       2,899  
                                 
Impairment of goodwill and intangibles
    52,630       4,143       -       -  
                                 
Other (income) expenses, net
    (2,038 )     (970 )                
                                 
Gain on the sale of the Company's investment in a rice cake manufacturing joint venture in Belgium recorded in the first quarter of FY 2008
                    (2,002 )     (784 )
Interest and other expenses, net
    (2,038 )     (970 )     (2,002 )     (784 )
                                 
Total adjustments
  $ 92,180     $ 17,342     $ 24,208     $ 6,770