Samsonite Reports Third Quarter Results
Denver, Colorado (ots/PRNewswire)
SAMSONITE CORPORATION (OTC Bulletin Board: SAMC) today reported revenues of US$231.4 million, operating income of US$22.0 million and net income to common stockholders of US$2.7 million, or US$0.01 per share, for the quarter ended October 31, 2004. These results compare to revenue of US$202.4 million, operating income of US$17.1 million and net loss to common stockholders of US$0.6 million, or less than US$0.01 per share, for the third quarter of the prior year. The accrual of preferred stock dividends in arrears of US$3.5 million for the current quarter and US$3.3 million for the prior year period are reflected in the net income (loss) to common stockholders.
Adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest expense, taxes, depreciation, amortization, and minority interest, adjusted for certain items management believes should be excluded in order to reflect recurring operating performance including restructuring charges, executive severance, non-cash stock compensation adjustments, asset impairment charges and to include realized currency hedge gains and loses), a measure of core business cash flow, was US$26.5 million for the three months ended October 31, 2004 compared to US$21.8 million for the third quarter of the prior year.
Revenues for the nine months ended October 31, 2004 were US$651.9 million compared to revenues of US$556.5 million during the same nine-month period in the prior year. Operating earnings for the first nine months of the year were US$42.4 million compared to US$46.1 million during the prior year. Net loss to common stockholders for the first nine months of the year was US$26.0 million, or US$0.12 per share, versus a net loss of US$31.5 million, or US$0.35 per share, during the same period in the prior year. Net loss to common stockholders includes charges of US$10.2 million in the current year and US$27.8 million in the prior year for accrued preferred stock dividends. Adjusted EBITDA for the first nine months of the current year was US$69.4 million versus US$58.9 million for the same period in the prior year.
Chief Executive Officer, Marcello Bottoli, stated: "The Company's operating performance continues to improve with sales growth of 14.3% (10.6% on a constant currency basis) for the quarter and Adjusted EBITDA growth of 21.7% representing the Company's fourth consecutive quarter of consistent year-over-year growth. Reflecting the positive impacts of the Company's operational restructuring activities, quarterly gross profit margins also improved increasing to 45.4% from 44.0% in the prior year. These results also reflect the Company's commitment to support its brands and products in various markets around the world. Advertising and marketing promotional expenses during the quarter were US$15.5 million bringing the year-to-date expense total through the third quarter to US$44.4 million or US$11.8 million more than the prior year."
Richard Wiley, Chief Financial Officer, commented: "In addition to improved sales and profitability, the Company continues to improve the efficiency of its working capital deployment and to reduce its debt. Net working capital efficiency improved 290 basis points from the prior year third quarter on a last twelve-month average balance basis to 20.5% and debt net of cash balances was US$316.8 million at quarter end or US$10.2 million lower than at the end of the second quarter."
Samsonite Corporation will hold a conference call with securities analysts to discuss this press release at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time on Friday, December 10, 2004. Investors and interested members of the public are invited to listen to the discussion. The dial-in phone numbers are +1 (877) 809-7599 in the U.S./Canada and +1-(706)-679-6135 for international calls, the conference name is Samsonite and the conference ID # is 2607296. The leader of the call is Marcello Bottoli. If you cannot attend this call, it will be played back through Thursday, December 30, 2004. The playback numbers are +1 (800) 642-1687 in the U.S./Canada and +1-(706)-645-9291 for international calls, and the conference ID # is 2607296.
Samsonite is one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of luggage and markets luggage, casual bags, business cases and travel-related products under brands such as SAMSONITE(R), AMERICAN TOURISTER(R), LARK(R), HEDGREN(R), LACOSTE(R) and SAMSONITE(R) black label.
A summary of the Company's calculation of Adjusted EBITDA, a
reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net cash provided by (used in)
operating activities, and a summary of the Company's earnings
(losses) under generally accepted accounting principles are attached
as part of this release. The Company believes that disclosure of its
operating earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and
amortization, as further adjusted to exclude goodwill and asset
impairment charges, restructuring charges and expenses, executive
severance and stock compensation expense and to include realized
currency hedge gains and losses ("Adjusted EBITDA"), provides useful
information regarding the Company's ability to incur and service
debt, but that it should not be considered a substitute for operating
income or cash flow from operations determined in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles. Other companies may
calculate EBITDA, or derivations thereof, in a different manner than
the Company. Adjusted EBITDA does not take into consideration
substantial costs and cash flows of doing business, such as interest
expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization, restructuring
charges and expenses, and stock compensation expense, and should not
be considered in isolation to or as a substitute for other measures
of performance. Adjusted EBITDA, as calculated by the Company, also
excludes extraordinary items, discontinued operations, minority
interest in earnings of subsidiaries, certain items of other income
and expense and preferred stock dividends. Adjusted EBITDA does not
represent funds available for discretionary use by the Company
because those funds are required for debt service, capital
expenditures, working capital, and other commitments and obligations.
Neither EBITDA nor Adjusted EBITDA is an accounting term used in
generally accepted accounting principles.Certain statements contained herein constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. They can often be recognized by words such as "proposed," "may," "will," "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "plan" and "expect" and similar expressions. Variations on those or similar words, or the negative of those words, may also indicate forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual and future performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future estimated results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, among others, events which affect travel levels (such as the impact of terrorist attacks, armed conflicts in the Middle East and other regions, the incidence or spread of contagious diseases (such as SARS), or other economic, political or public health or safety conditions or events that impact consumer confidence and spending); general economic and business conditions, including foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; industry capacity; changes in consumer preferences; demographic changes; competition; changes in methods of distribution and technology; changes in political, social and economic conditions and local regulations; general levels of economic growth in emerging market countries; the loss of significant customers; completion of new product developments within anticipated time frames; changes in interest rates; and other factors that are beyond our control. More information on the risks, uncertainties and other factors affecting Samsonite Corporation may be obtained from the Company's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements are believed to be accurate as of the date of this release, and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise said statements as a result of future events.
Samsonite Corporation Earnings Summary
October 31, 2004 and 2003
(in thousands, except per share data)
(Unaudited)
(All amounts in USD)
Three months ended Nine months ended
October 31, October 31,
2004 2003 2004 2003
Net sales $231,369 202,421 $651,920 556,514
Cost of goods sold 126,420 113,282 356,198 310,853
Gross profit 104,949 89,139 295,722 245,661
Selling, general and
administrative expenses 82,337 71,700 246,783 198,635
Amortization of intangible assets 588 320 1,767 967
Provision for restructuring
operations -- -- 4,074 --
Asset impairment charge -- -- 671 --
Operating income 22,024 17,119 42,427 46,059
Interest expense and amortization
of debt issue costs (8,042) (10,244) (27,210) (33,546)
Interest and other income (expense),
net (2,569) (2,166) (20,626) (7,297)
Income before income taxes, minority
interest and extraordinary item 11,413 4,709 (5,409) 5,216
Income tax expense (4,276) (1,422) (7,567) (6,731)
Minority interest in earnings of
subsidiaries (967) (662) (2,922) (2,159)
Net income (loss) 6,170 2,625 (15,898) (3,674)
Senior redeemable preferred stock
dividends, paid
and accrued, and accretion of
discount (3,463) (3,251) (10,151) (27,790)
Net income (loss) to common
stockholders $2,707 (626) $(26,049) (31,464)
Net income (loss) per common share -
basic $0.01 -- (i) $(0.12) (0.35)
Net income (loss) per common share -
diluted $0.01 -- (i) $(0.12) (0.35)
Weighted average shares outstanding
- basic 224,809 224,705 224,740 88,888
Weighted average shares outstanding
- diluted 229,164 224,705 224,740 88,888
(i) Less than $.01 loss per share
Summary of Adjusted EBITDA
Calculation
Operating income $22,024 17,119 $42,427 46,059
Depreciation expense 4,579 4,348 14,066 13,515
Amortization expense 588 320 1,767 967
Asset impairment and restructuring
charges and expenses 543 (16) 7,765 --
Stock compensation expense (benefit) (1,395) -- 2,738 --
Realized gains/(losses) on foreign
currency forward contracts 160 2 651 (1,618)
Adjusted EBITDA 26,499 21,773 69,414 58,923
Adjustments to reconcile Adjusted
EBITDA to net cash provided by
operating activities
Restructuring related expense, not
previously accrued (543) 16 (1,621) --
Cash provided (used) by changes in
operating assets and liabilities 7,950 11,878 (8,438) (1,218)
Non-cash operating additions
(subtractions)
Amortization and write-off of
debt issue costs and premium 636 568 5,871 2,539
Provision for doubtful accounts 1,206 353 1,918 393
Pension and other post-
retirement plan losses (gains) 852 (156) 2,416 280
Other, net 402 (88) (615) (4,648)
Income (expense) excluded from
Adjusted EBITDA
Interest income 95 57 325 228
Interest expense (8,042) (10,244) (27,210) (33,546)
Income tax expense (4,276) (1,422) (7,567) (6,731)
Minority interest in earnings of
subsidiaries (967) (662) (2,922) (2,159)
Other income (expense) items,
net (2,864) (2,170) (23,744) (7,899)
Net cash provided by operating
activities $20,948 19,903 $7,827 6,162Web site: http://www.samsonite.com
Contact:
Richard Wiley of Samsonite Corporation, +1-303-373-6373