HAIN Hain Celestial Group Inc

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., Aug. 20, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAIN) a leading organic and natural products company providing consumers with A Healthier Way of Life™, today reported results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2014.

PERFORMANCE HIGHLIGHTS

Fourth Quarter Fiscal Year 2014

• Record net sales of $583.8 million, a 26% increase
• GAAP earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of $0.70, a 32% increase
• Adjusted earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of $0.90, a 39% increase
• Adjusted operating income of $73.9 million, 12.7% of net sales
• Record adjusted EBITDA of $79.4 million, a 27% increase

Fiscal Year 2014

• Record net sales of $2.154 billion, a 24% increase
• GAAP earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of $2.83, a 12% increase
• Adjusted earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of $3.17, a 25% increase
• Adjusted operating income of $256.0 million, 11.9% of net sales
• Record adjusted EBITDA of $300.0 million, a 27% increase
• Operating free cash flow reached $143.2 million for the 12-months ended June 30, 2014

"We completed our fiscal year with record net sales by delivering solid performance across brands and geographies, and I am pleased with the results," said Irwin D. Simon, Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Hain Celestial.  "Our US business continued to generate strong results as momentum for organic and natural products builds across various channels of distribution.  Our UK business posted record sales with increased profit contribution and our Rest of World segment delivered high single digit sales growth." 

Fourth Quarter 2014
Worldwide net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2014 were a record $583.8 million, an increase of 26.0% compared to net sales of $463.5 million in the prior year fourth quarter.  Hain Celestial US reported record net sales of $323.0 million, a 13.2% increase.  In the United Kingdom net sales were a record $200.5 million.  The Rest of World segment reported net sales of $60.4 million.  The Company had strong brand contribution across various sales channels including Ella's Kitchen®, Garden of Eatin®, Imagine®, The Greek Gods®, Sensible Portions®, Terra®, Westbrae®, Spectrum® and Alba Botanica® in North America and Gale's®, Natumi®, Frank Cooper's®, SunRipe®, Hartley's®, Sun-Pat®, Linda McCartney®, and Cully & Sully® internationally.  The growth in net sales also resulted from sales of the Tilda® and Rudi's Organic Bakery® brands acquired earlier this year. 

The Company earned income from continuing operations of $35.7 million compared to $25.9 million in the prior year fourth quarter and reported earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of $0.70 compared to $0.53 in the prior year fourth quarter, a 32.1% increase.  Adjusted income from continuing operations was $46.0 million compared to $31.7 million, a 45.3% increase, and adjusted earnings per diluted share from continuing operations was $0.90 compared to $0.65, a 38.5% increase, from the prior year fourth quarter.  Adjusted EBITDA reached a record $79.4 million during the fourth quarter.  Refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for adjustments.

Fiscal Year 2014
Worldwide net sales for fiscal year 2014 were a record $2.154 billion, an increase of 24.2% compared to net sales of $1.735 billion in the prior year.  Hain Celestial US reported record net sales of $1.282 billion, a 17.0% increase.  In the United Kingdom, net sales were a record $637.5 million.  The Rest of World segment net sales were a record $234.0 million.  The Company had strong brand contribution across various sales channels led by Ella's Kitchen, BluePrint®, Garden of Eatin', The Greek Gods, Spectrum, Bearitos®, Sensible Portions, Imagine, Hain Pure Foods®, Earth's Best®, MaraNatha®, Arrowhead Mills® and Alba Botanica in North America and Frank Cooper's, Sun-Pat, Natumi, Danival®, Cully & Sully, Linda McCartney and Lima® internationally.  The growth in net sales also resulted from sales of the Tilda and Rudi's Organic Bakery brands acquired earlier this year and the full year contribution of Ella's Kitchen, BluePrint and UK grocery brands acquired in fiscal year 2013.

The Company earned income from continuing operations of $141.5 million compared to $119.8 million in the prior year and reported earnings per diluted share from continuing operations of $2.83 compared to $2.52 in the prior year, a 12.3% increase.  Adjusted income from continuing operations was $158.6 million compared to $120.2 million, a 32.0% increase, and adjusted earnings per diluted share from continuing operations was $3.17 compared to $2.53 in the prior year, a 25.3% increase.  Adjusted EBITDA reached a new high of $300.0 million for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014.  Operating free cash flow reached a record $143.2 million for the 12 months ended June 30, 2014.  Refer to Non-GAAP Financial Measures for adjustments.

Fiscal Year 2014 Highlights

The Company highlighted several of its accomplishments during fiscal year 2014:

• Completed two strategic acquisitions:

- Tilda, a leading premium 100% branded Basmati and specialty rice products company, which offers a range of over 60 dry rice and ready-to-heat branded products principally in the United Kingdom, the Middle East and North Africa, Continental Europe, North America and India;

- Rudi's Organic Bakery, a leading organic and gluten-free company, which offers a range of USDA-certified organic and gluten-free bread and baked goods in the United States and Canada;

• Worldwide net sales surpassed $2 billion;
• Introduced over 200 new innovative products worldwide;
• Hain Celestial AOC US consumption as measured by AC Nielsen was 10.8% for the 52-weeks ended July 5, 2014;
• Delivered in excess of $50 million in worldwide productivity savings;
• Achieved record adjusted EBITDA of $300.0 million;
• Generated record operating free cash flow of $143.2 million; and
• Divested non-core Grains Noirs foodservice business in Belgium.

The Company, through one of its subsidiaries, nSpired Natural Foods, Inc., initiated a voluntary recall on August 19, 2014 of certain lots of MaraNatha® almond butters and peanut butters, Arrowhead Mills® peanut butters and specific private label nut butters.  As a result of this voluntary recall, the Company has accrued costs of $6.0 million as of June 30, 2014. 

"Our business continues to benefit from strong growth trends in the organic and natural, better-for-you segment of consumer packaged goods as more consumers and retailers seek out our products.  The success of our initiatives to drive profitable sales growth through distribution gains, strategic brand investments, new product innovation and accretive strategic acquisitions in complementary growth categories and geographies has positioned the Company with a solid foundation to capitalize on the tremendous opportunities in front of us.  I'm also proud to once again have Hain Celestial ranked as one of FORTUNE's 100 Fastest Growing Companies, moving up to No. 61 in 2014, in recognition of  the tremendous growth in the Company's revenues and earnings over the last three years," concluded Irwin Simon.

Fiscal Year 2015 Guidance
The Company provided annual guidance for fiscal year 2015 including the July 2014 acquisition of Hain Pure Protein Corporation ("HPP") with approximately $230 million in net sales in fiscal year 2014, which is expected to be accretive by $0.03 to $0.05 per diluted share: 

• Total net sales range of $2.725 billion to $2.80 billion; an increase of approximately 27% to 30% as compared to fiscal year 2014.
• Earnings range of $3.72 to $3.90 per diluted share; an increase of 17% to 23% as compared to fiscal year 2014.

Guidance is provided for continuing operations on a non-GAAP basis and excludes acquisition-related expenses, integration and restructuring charges, factory start-up costs, unrealized net foreign currency gains or losses, reserves for litigation settlements and other non-recurring items that have been or may be incurred during the Company's fiscal year 2015, which the Company will continue to identify as it reports its future financial results.  Guidance excludes the impact of any future acquisitions.  Sales in the Company's second quarter are historically the highest, and the Company's earnings growth is expected to be the lowest in the first quarter and relatively consistent in the second, third and fourth quarters. 

Segment Results
During fiscal year 2014 the Company's operations were organized into the following segments:  United States, United Kingdom and Rest of World (comprised of Canada and Continental Europe).  In fiscal year 2015, HPP will be a reportable segment.

The following is a summary of fourth quarter and annual results by reportable segment:   

Webcast
Hain Celestial will host a conference call and webcast at 8:30 AM Eastern Time today to review its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2014 results.  The conference call will be webcast and available under the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.hain.com.

The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.
The Hain Celestial Group (NASDAQ: HAIN), headquartered in Lake Success, NY, is a leading organic and natural products company in North America and Europe.  Hain Celestial participates in many natural categories with well-known brands that include Celestial Seasonings®, Earth's Best®, Ella's Kitchen®, Terra®, Garden of Eatin'®, Sensible Portions®, Health Valley®, Arrowhead Mills®, MaraNatha®, SunSpire®, DeBoles®, Rudi's Organic Bakery®, Gluten Free Cafe™, Hain Pure Foods®, Spectrum®, Spectrum Essentials®, Walnut Acres Organic®, Imagine®, Almond Dream®, Rice Dream®, Soy Dream®, WestSoy®, The Greek Gods®, BluePrint®, FreeBird®, Plainville Farms®, Yves Veggie Cuisine®, Europe's Best®, Cully & Sully®, New Covent Garden Soup Co.®, Johnson's Juice Co.®, Farmhouse Fare®, Hartley's®, Sun-Pat®, Gale's®, Robertson's®, Frank Cooper's®, Linda McCartney®, Lima®, Danival®, GG UniqueFiber®, Tilda®, Akash Basmati®, Abu Shmagh®, JASON®, Avalon Organics®, Alba Botanica® and Queen Helene®.  Hain Celestial has been providing A Healthier Way of Life™ since 1993.  For more information, visit www.hain.com.

Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains forward-looking statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Words such as "plan," "continue," "expect," "expected," "anticipate," "estimate," "believe," "may," "potential," "can," "positioned," "should," "future," "look forward" and similar expressions, or the negative of those expressions, may identify forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements include the Company's expectations relating to (i) the Company's guidance for net sales and earnings per diluted share for fiscal year 2015; and (ii) growth trends, strategic initiatives and opportunities.  Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements.  These factors include, but are not limited to the Company's ability to achieve its guidance for net sales and earnings per diluted share in fiscal year 2015 given the economic environment in the U.S. and other markets that it sells products as well as economic, political and business conditions generally and their effect on the Company's customers and consumers' product preferences, and the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations; changes in estimates or judgments related to the Company's impairment analysis of goodwill and other intangible assets, as well as with respect to the Company's valuation allowances of its deferred tax assets; the Company's ability to implement its business and acquisition strategy; the ability of the Company's joint venture investments to successfully execute their business plans; the Company's ability to realize sustainable growth generally and from investments in core brands, offering new products and its focus on cost containment, productivity, cash flow and margin enhancement in particular; the Company's ability to effectively integrate its acquisitions; the Company's ability to successfully consummate its proposed divestitures; the effects on the Company's results of operations from the impacts of foreign exchange; competition; the success and cost of introducing new products as well as the Company's ability to increase prices on existing products; availability and retention of key personnel; the Company's reliance on third party distributors, manufacturers and suppliers; the Company's ability to maintain existing customers and secure and integrate new customers; the Company's ability to respond to changes and trends in customer and consumer demand, preferences and consumption; international sales and operations; changes in fuel, raw material and commodity costs; changes in, or the failure to comply with, government regulations; the availability of organic and natural ingredients; the loss of one or more of the Company's manufacturing facilities; the ability to use the Company's trademarks; reputational damage; product liability; seasonality; litigation; the Company's reliance on its information technology systems; and the 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, 2013.  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
This press release and the accompanying tables include non-GAAP financial measures, including adjusted income from continuing operations, adjusted gross profit, adjusted earnings per diluted share, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization ("EBITDA"), adjusted EBITDA and operating free cash flow. The reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP financial measures are presented in the tables "Reconciliation of GAAP Results to Non-GAAP Measures" for the three- and 12-months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013 and in the paragraphs below.  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 be read only in connection with the Company's Consolidated Statements of Income presented in accordance with GAAP. 

The Company defines EBITDA as net income (a GAAP measure) before income taxes, net interest expense, depreciation and amortization, impairment of long lived assets, equity in the earnings of non-consolidated affiliates and stock based compensation. Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before income taxes, net interest expense, depreciation and amortization, impairment of long lived assets, equity in the earnings of non-consolidated affiliates, stock based compensation and acquisition-related expenses, including integration and restructuring charges. The Company's management believes that these presentations provide useful information to management, analysts and investors regarding certain additional financial and business trends relating to its results of operations and financial condition.  In addition, management uses these measures for reviewing the financial results of the Company as well as a component of performance-based executive compensation. 

For the three-months and 12-months ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA were calculated as follows:  

The Company defines Operating Free Cash Flow as cash provided from or used in operating activities (a GAAP measure) less capital expenditures.  The Company views operating free cash flow as an important measure because it is one factor in evaluating the amount of cash available for discretionary investments. 

For the fiscal years ended June 30, 2014 and 2013, operating free cash flow was calculated as follows:   

Operating free cash flow for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2014 was $143.2 million, an increase of $95.1 million over the prior year period primarily as a result of the increase in our net income and improved working capital management.

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SOURCE The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.