- Company reports 70 cents per share for the fourth quarter for its continuing operations with improvement driven by tax rate and lowered share
count - Company commences refinancing activities designed to enable simultaneous
spending on card business and share repurchases
- An 8 cent quarterly cash dividend is declared
CLEVELAND, April 6 - American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) today announced its results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended February 28, 2006, significant refinancing activities and an 8 cent per share cash dividend.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060321/CLTU081LOGO)
Fourth Quarter Results
For the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, the Company reported net sales of $509.3 million, pre-tax income from continuing operations of $63.1 million and income from continuing operations of $50.6 million or 70 cents per share (all per-share amounts assume dilution). In December, the Company had anticipated fourth quarter earnings per share of 44 cents to 59 cents. The Company's lowered fourth quarter tax rate and reduced share count were the drivers for the difference between the reported earnings per share and the anticipated earnings per share.
During the quarter, the Company decided to sell its South African business unit and as a result has categorized this business as a discontinued operation for all periods presented in its financial statements. This business unit contributed $5.4 million in net sales in the fiscal fourth quarter and $18.4 million during fiscal 2006.
Fiscal Year 2006 Results
For the fiscal year ended February 28, 2006, the Company reported net sales of $1,885.7 million, pre-tax income from continuing operations of $138.9 million and income from continuing operations of $90.1 million or $1.23 per share. Included in the $1.23 of earnings per share was a non-cash pre-tax goodwill impairment charge recorded in the third quarter of $43.2 million (after-tax of approximately $33 million) that reduced earnings per share by 42 cents. In December, the Company had anticipated full year earnings per share of $1.03 to $1.18, including the goodwill impairment charge, and $1.45 to $1.60 exclusive of the goodwill impairment charge. The Company believes that providing the earnings per share impact of the impairment charge is useful for investors who are focusing on core operating results and calculating comparability to prior periods and estimates.
Management Comments
Chief Executive Officer Zev Weiss said, "As we celebrate our 100th year as a Company, we continue to focus on the activities consumers have looked to us to provide for those 100 years: Meaningful connections to help them express and celebrate their lives. To improve our ability to enable those connections, we expect to spend almost $75 million during our 101st year. The expenditures will enhance both our product, such as the quality of our cards, and the merchandising of that product, such as the fixtures on which the product is displayed."
Weiss added, "Besides a focus on our card business, we are significantly enhancing our capital structure to permit simultaneous expenditures in both our core card business as well as an investment in our own shares. Our objective in making these concurrent investments is to generate higher earnings per share over the long-term. We believe our shares are trading at a discount to intrinsic value. Based upon our performance and our share price, we may purchase additional shares beyond the current repurchase program."
Financing Activities
The Company is taking the following actions to change its capital structure, the collective result of which is $1 billion of new or amended financial facilities. The following financing activities have recently been completed or will likely be completed over the next two months:
1. Commencing an exchange offer for its convertible notes. Today, the
Company is announcing an exchange offer for its $175 million par
value convertible subordinated notes. The exchange will permit the
Company to settle the conversion of the new notes in cash and stock,
whereas the old notes were convertible only into stock. Assuming all
of the notes are exchanged, the net effect on the financial
statements will be to use $175 million of cash to settle, in July of
2006, a portion of the total conversion value and to reduce the
dilution associated with the conversion by approximately 8 million
shares.
2. Commencing a tender offer for its $300 million of 6.1% senior notes.
Today, the Company is announcing a tender offer for its 6.1% senior
notes. The retirement of these notes, which are putable in August of
2008, will eliminate the refinancing risk associated with the put.
3. Reduced its accounts receivable securitization program from $200
million to $150 million. The reduction, effective April 4th,
recognizes the gradual decline in the Company's accounts receivable.
4. Increased its senior credit facility from $200 million to $650
million. The Company closed, on April 4th, a significant overhaul of
its senior secured credit facility. The revolving credit facility was
increased in size from $200 million to $350 million and a new secured
$300 million delay draw term loan was added to the structure. Terms
of the new facilities incorporate the Company's improved credit
profile and reflect the excellent dynamics in the loan market.
5. Preparing to commence a senior unsecured notes offering. Within the
next two months, the Company anticipates issuing $200 million of
senior unsecured notes with a 10-year final maturity. If completed,
proceeds from this issuance are expected to be used to finance the
tender for the 6.1% notes, the other financing activities as well as
for general corporate purposes.
Share Repurchases and Dividend Declaration
During the fourth fiscal quarter, the Company purchased 4.3 million shares of common stock for $93.8 million. Approximately $51 million of the share repurchase spending during the quarter was completed under a repurchase program initiated in April of 2005 and completed in January of 2006. Approximately $43 million of the share repurchase spending was completed under a second $200 million repurchase program announced in February of 2006.
With an additional $52.8 million spent after the fiscal year end (during March 2006) for 2.5 million shares, the Company has repurchased about $96 million of common stock or roughly 48% of its second repurchase program.
The Company's Board of Directors authorized a cash dividend of 8 cents per share to be paid on May 1, 2006 to shareholders of record at the close of business on April 21, 2006.
Management Outlook
For fiscal 2007, the Company is projecting earnings per share to be between 80 cents and $1.00. The Company has included in its estimate a $74 million expenditure in its card business, the completion of its second $200 million share repurchase program, the completion of its exchange offer for its convertible subordinated notes, the completion of its tender offer for its 6.1% senior notes and the issuance of $200 million of new 10-year senior unsecured notes. The estimate includes the amortization of deferred financing costs, but not one-time costs such as premium payments related to the financing activities. Also included in the estimate is the anticipated expense for stock options as required upon the adoption of a new accounting rule known as FAS 123R. The adoption of the new rule is expected to reduce diluted earnings per share by approximately 7 to 9 cents.
Conference Call on the Web
American Greetings will broadcast its conference call live on the Internet at 9:30 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, candles, stationery, calendars, educational products, ornaments and electronic greetings. Located in Cleveland, Ohio, American Greetings generates annual net sales of approximately $1.9 billion. For more information on the Company, visit http://corporate.americangreetings.com .
Certain statements in this release, including those under "Management Comments" and "Financing Activities" 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:
- the timing and impact of the changes that the Company plans to make to
its capital structure, including the ability to successfully (1)
exchange the Company's existing convertible subordinated notes for new
convertible subordinate notes, (2) repurchase the Company's 6.1% senior
notes, or (3) raise additional financing on terms favorable to the
Company by issuing senior notes;
- 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;
- retail bankruptcies, consolidations and acquisitions, including the
possibility of resulting adverse changes to retail contract terms;
- 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 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 and the ability of the mobile division to compete effectively in the wireless content aggregation market.
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.
AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
FOURTH QUARTER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME
FISCAL YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2006
(In thousands of dollars except share and per share amounts)
(Unaudited)
Quarter Ended Year Ended
February 28, February 28,
---------------------- -----------------------
2006 2005 2006 2005
---------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Net sales $509,276 $485,505 $1,885,701 $1,883,367
Costs and expenses:
Material, labor and
other production costs 222,922 241,469 850,158 895,110
Selling, distribution
and marketing 172,592 185,932 637,496 648,120
Administrative and
general 67,156 65,774 245,608 249,984
Goodwill impairment - - 43,153 -
Interest expense 8,460 8,808 35,124 79,397
Other income - net (24,911) (43,891) (64,773) (96,069)
---------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Total costs and
expenses 446,219 458,092 1,746,766 1,776,542
---------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Income from continuing
operations before income
tax expense 63,057 27,413 138,935 106,825
Income tax expense 12,427 6,286 48,810 37,328
---------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Income from continuing
operations 50,630 21,127 90,125 69,497
(Loss) income from
discontinued operations,
net of tax (8,836) 243 (5,749) 25,782
---------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Net income $41,794 $21,370 $84,376 $95,279
========== ========== =========== ===========
Earnings per share - basic:
Income from continuing
operations $0.81 $0.31 $1.37 $1.01
(Loss) income from
discontinued operations (0.14) - (0.09) 0.38
---------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Net income $0.67 $0.31 $1.28 $1.39
========== ========== =========== ===========
Earnings per share -
assuming dilution:
Income from continuing
operations $0.70 $0.28 $1.23 $0.94
(Loss) income from
discontinued operations (0.12) - (0.07) 0.31
---------- ---------- ----------- -----------
Net income $0.58 $0.28 $1.16 $1.25
========== ========== =========== ===========
Average number of common
shares outstanding 62,736,831 69,008,342 65,965,024 68,545,432
Average number of common
shares outstanding -
assuming dilution 75,681,656 82,494,966 79,226,384 82,016,835
Dividends declared per share $0.08 $0.06 $0.32 $0.12
AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
FOURTH QUARTER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
FISCAL YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2006
(In thousands of dollars)
February 28,
-----------------------------
2006 2005
----------- -----------
ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $213,613 $247,799
Short-term investments 208,740 208,740
Trade accounts receivable, net 142,087 182,084
Inventories 217,318 218,711
Deferred and refundable income taxes 154,327 193,497
Assets of businesses held for sale 12,990 25,415
Prepaid expenses and other 213,067 204,245
----------- -----------
Total current assets 1,162,142 1,280,491
GOODWILL 203,599 267,527
OTHER ASSETS 549,162 639,361
Property, plant and equipment - at cost 953,981 984,206
Less accumulated depreciation 649,922 647,378
----------- -----------
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - NET 304,059 336,828
----------- -----------
$2,218,962 $2,524,207
=========== ===========
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Debt due within one year $174,792 $-
Accounts payable 126,061 140,930
Accrued liabilities 82,354 116,819
Accrued compensation and benefits 94,073 95,144
Income taxes 16,887 38,777
Liabilities of businesses held for sale 3,016 5,038
Other current liabilities 86,857 79,549
----------- -----------
Total current liabilities 584,040 476,257
LONG-TERM DEBT 300,516 486,087
OTHER LIABILITIES 91,497 137,868
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES 22,884 37,215
SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY
Common shares - Class A 56,130 64,867
Common shares - Class B 4,218 4,160
Capital in excess of par value 398,505 368,777
Treasury stock (676,436) (445,618)
Accumulated other comprehensive income 9,823 29,039
Retained earnings 1,427,785 1,365,555
----------- -----------
Total shareholders' equity 1,220,025 1,386,780
----------- -----------
$2,218,962 $2,524,207
=========== ===========
AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION
FOURTH QUARTER CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FISCAL YEAR ENDED FEBRUARY 28, 2006
(In thousands of dollars)
Year Ended February 28,
-------------------------
2006 2005
--------- ---------
OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income $84,376 $95,279
Loss (income) from discontinued operations 5,749 (25,782)
--------- ---------
Income from continuing operations 90,125 69,497
Adjustments to reconcile to net cash
provided by operating activities:
Goodwill impairment 43,153 -
Gain on sale of investment - (3,095)
Loss on fixed assets 4,355 1,499
Loss on extinguishment of debt 863 39,056
Depreciation and amortization 54,222 56,292
Deferred income taxes 23,604 (9,454)
Other non-cash charges 7,219 7,956
Changes in operating assets and
liabilities, net of acquisitions:
Decrease in trade accounts receivable 33,399 55,725
(Increase) decrease in inventories (211) 23,201
Increase in other current assets (13,533) (15,595)
Decrease in deferred costs - net 61,305 107,337
(Decrease) increase in accounts
payable and other liabilities (33,171) 28,624
Other - net 6,066 5,175
--------- ---------
Cash Provided by Operating Activities 277,396 366,218
INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Property, plant and equipment additions (46,188) (47,243)
Proceeds from sale of fixed assets 11,416 5,756
Proceeds from sale of discontinued operations - 77,000
Cash payments for business acquisitions (15,315) (25,178)
Proceeds from sale of short-term
investments 1,733,470 297,660
Purchases of short-term investments (1,733,470) (506,400)
Investment in corporate owned life
insurance 956 (809)
Other - net (12,020) 2,827
--------- ---------
Cash Used by Investing Activities (61,151) (196,387)
FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Reduction of long-term debt (10,782) (216,417)
Sale of stock under benefit plans 27,068 40,114
Purchase of treasury shares (244,642) (24,080)
Dividends to shareholders (21,184) (8,264)
--------- ---------
Cash Used by Financing Activities (249,540) (208,647)
DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS:
Cash provided (used) by operating
activities from discontinued operations 335 (484)
Cash provided (used) by investing
activities from discontinued operations 698 (1,914)
--------- ---------
Cash Provided (Used) by Discontinued
Operations 1,033 (2,398)
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH (1,924) 4,270
--------- ---------
DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (34,186) (36,944)
Cash and Cash Equivalents at
Beginning of Year 247,799 284,743
--------- ---------
Cash and Cash Equivalents at End of
Year $213,613 $247,799
========= =========
