Exhibit 99

 

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Rocky Brands, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2023 Results

 

 

 

NELSONVILLE, Ohio, August 1, 2023 – Rocky Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCKY) today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2023.

 

Second Quarter 2023 Overview

 

 

Net sales decreased 38.4% to $99.8 million, or $101.4 million on an adjusted basis

 

Wholesale segment sales decreased 45.5%

  Retail segment revenue decreased 3.6%
 

Gross margin as a percentage of net sales increased 440 basis points to 37.6%

 

Operating income was $2.2 million, or $5.7 million on an adjusted basis

  Net loss was $2.7 million, or $0.37 per diluted share
  Inventories decreased 24.1% year-over-year
  Total debt at June 30, 2023 was down 22.1% compared with June 30, 2022

 

Jason Brooks, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said “For the second quarter in a row, our sell-through performance at several of our major wholesale accounts outpaced sell-in as retailers continue to work on aligning overall inventory levels with the current market environment. Consumer response to our brand portfolio remains solid with strong full price selling and recent price increases helping drive a 440-basis point improvement in gross margin. While our year-to-date results were more challenging than anticipated due in part to ongoing industry headwinds, we believe our business is positioned for improvement over the remainder of 2023 based on consumer demand for our products, our current order book and recent conversations with key wholesale partners about their plans for the second half of the year."

 

Second Quarter 2023 Review

 

Second quarter net sales decreased 38.4% to $99.8 million compared with $162.0 million in the second quarter of 2022. Wholesale segment sales for the second quarter decreased 45.5% to $71.5 million compared to $131.2 million for the same period in 2022. Retail segment sales for the second quarter decreased 3.6% to $25.1 million compared to $26.0 million for the same period last year. Contract Manufacturing segment sales, which include contract military sales and private label programs, were $3.3 million in the second quarter of 2023 compared to $4.9 million in the prior year period. The decrease in Contract Manufacturing segment sales was due to the expiration of certain contracts with the U.S. Military. Adjusted net sales, excluding returns associated with a supplier related dispute, decreased 37.4% to $101.4 million from the same period a year ago.

 

Gross margin in the second quarter of 2023 was $37.6 million, or 37.6% of net sales, compared to $53.8 million, or 33.2% of net sales, for the same period last year. The 440-basis point increase in gross margin as a percentage of net sales was driven by higher Wholesale segment gross margins from the realization of pricing actions taken in the second half of 2022, as well as decreases in in-bound logistics costs, and a higher mix of Retail segment sales which carry higher gross margins than the Wholesale and Contract Manufacturing segments.

 

Operating expenses were $35.4 million, or 35.4% of net sales, for the second quarter of 2023 compared to $48.2 million, or 29.7% of net sales, for the same period a year ago. Adjusted operating expenses were $33.6 million in the current year period after excluding $1.7 million of acquisition related amortization and restructuring costs in the second quarter of 2023. Adjusted operating expenses were $46.0 million in the year ago period after excluding $2.1 million of acquisition related amortization, integration expenses and restructuring costs in the second quarter of 2022. The decrease in operating expenses was driven primarily by a decrease in variable expenses associated with lower sales and improved distribution center efficiencies compared with the year ago period. As a percentage of adjusted net sales, adjusted operating expenses were 33.2% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with 28.4% in the year ago period.

 

Income from operations for the second quarter of 2023 was $2.2 million, or 2.2% of net sales compared to $5.6 million or 3.5% of net sales for the same period a year ago. Adjusted operating income for the second quarter of 2023 was $5.7 million, or 5.6% of adjusted net sales compared to adjusted operating income of $7.7 million, or 4.8% of net sales a year ago.

 

Interest expense for the second quarter of 2023 was $5.6 million compared with $4.3 million a year ago. The increase reflected increased interest rates on the senior term loan and credit facility.

 

The Company reported a second quarter 2023 net loss of $2.7 million, or $0.37 per diluted share compared to net income of $0.9 million, or $0.12 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2022. Adjusted net income for the second quarter of 2023 was $0.0 million, or $0.00 per diluted share, compared to adjusted net income of $2.5 million, or $0.34 per diluted share in the year ago period.

 

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Balance Sheet Review

 

Cash and cash equivalents were $3.1 million at June 30, 2023 compared to $5.8 million on the same date a year ago.

 

Total debt at June 30, 2023 was $221.7 million consisting of $91.1 million senior term loan and $133.0 million of borrowings under the Company's senior secured asset-backed credit facility. Compared with June 30, 2022 and December 31, 2022, total debt at June 30, 2023 was down 22.1% and 13.7%, respectively.

 

Inventories at June 30, 2023 were $218.3 million, down 24.1% compared to $287.8 million on the same date a year ago and down 7.3% compared with $235.4 million at December 31, 2022.

 

Conference Call Information

 

The Company's conference call to review second quarter 2023 results will be broadcast live over the internet today, Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at 4:30 pm Eastern Time. Investors and analysts interested in participating in the call are invited to dial (877) 704-4453 (domestic) or (201) 389-0920 (international). The conference call will also be available to interested parties through a live webcast at www.rockybrands.com. Please visit the website and select the “Investors” link at least 15 minutes prior to the start of the call to register and download any necessary software.

 

About Rocky Brands, Inc.

 

Rocky Brands, Inc. is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of premium quality footwear and apparel marketed under a portfolio of well recognized brand names. Brands in the portfolio include Rocky®, Georgia Boot®, Durango®, Lehigh®, The Original Muck Boot Company®, XTRATUF®, and Ranger®. More information can be found at RockyBrands.com.

 

Safe Harbor Language

 

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created thereby. Those statements include, but may not be limited to, all statements regarding intent, beliefs, expectations, projections, forecasts, and plans of the Company and its management and include statements in this press release regarding retailers’ ongoing alignment of overall inventory levels with the current market environment (Paragraph 2), and the positioning of the Company’s business for improvement over the remainder of 2023 (Paragraph 2). These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the various risks inherent in the Company’s business as set forth in periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 (filed March 10, 2023) and the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2023 (filed May 10, 2023). One or more of these factors have affected historical results, and could in the future affect the Company’s businesses and financial results in future periods and could cause actual results to differ materially from plans and projections. Therefore there can be no assurance that the forward-looking statements included in this press release will prove to be accurate. In light of the significant uncertainties inherent in the forward-looking statements included herein, the inclusion of such information should not be regarded as a representation or warranty by the Company or any other person that the objectives and plans of the Company will be achieved. All forward-looking statements made in this press release are based on information presently available to the management of the Company. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

 

Company Contact:

Tom Robertson

 

Chief Operating Officer

 

(740) 753-9100

   

Investor Relations:

Brendon Frey

 

ICR, Inc.

 

(203) 682-8200

 

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Rocky Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   

June 30,

   

December 31,

   

June 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2022

 

ASSETS:

                       

CURRENT ASSETS:

                       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 3,082     $ 5,719     $ 5,802  

Trade receivables – net

    72,566       94,953       115,794  

Contract receivables

    2,990       -       -  

Other receivables

    2,225       908       224  

Inventories – net

    218,327       235,400       287,817  

Income tax receivable

    3,494       -       6,360  

Prepaid expenses

    5,522       4,067       5,216  

Total current assets

    308,206       341,047       421,213  

LEASED ASSETS

    9,362       11,014       10,376  

PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT – net

    54,032       57,359       61,352  

GOODWILL

    47,844       50,246       50,246  

IDENTIFIED INTANGIBLES – net

    114,019       121,782       124,740  

OTHER ASSETS

    1,049       942       911  

TOTAL ASSETS

  $ 534,512     $ 582,390     $ 668,838  
                         

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

                       

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

                       

Accounts payable

  $ 61,225     $ 69,686     $ 130,246  

Contract liabilities

    2,990       -       -  

Current Portion of Long-Term Debt

    4,625       3,250       3,250  

Accrued expenses:

                       

Salaries and wages

    2,791       1,253       4,869  

Taxes – other

    922       1,325       1,674  

Accrued freight

    2,491       2,413       2,290  

Commissions

    844       1,934       1,428  

Accrued duty

    6,377       6,764       12,144  

Accrued interest

    2,345       2,822       2,705  

Income tax payable

    -       1,172       -  

Other

    5,756       5,675       5,693  

Total current liabilities

    90,366       96,294       164,299  

LONG-TERM DEBT

    217,114       253,646       281,365  

LONG-TERM TAXES PAYABLE

    169       169       169  

LONG-TERM LEASE

    6,804       8,216       7,636  

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

    8,006       8,006       10,293  

DEFERRED LIABILITIES

    1,325       586       609  

TOTAL LIABILITIES

    323,784       366,917       464,371  

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

                       

Common stock, no par value;

                       

25,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding June 30, 2023 - 7,354,060; December 31, 2022 - 7,339,011; June 30, 2022 - 7,313,075

    70,400       69,752       68,680  

Retained earnings

    140,328       145,721       135,787  

Total shareholders' equity

    210,728       215,473       204,467  

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

  $ 534,512     $ 582,390     $ 668,838  

 

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Rocky Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Six Months Ended

 
   

June 30,

   

June 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 

NET SALES

  $ 99,822     $ 162,039     $ 210,267     $ 329,063  

COST OF GOODS SOLD

    62,250       108,288       128,936       212,486  

GROSS MARGIN

    37,572       53,751       81,331       116,577  
                                 

OPERATING EXPENSES

    35,370       48,155       74,974       97,785  
                                 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

    2,202       5,596       6,357       18,792  
                                 

INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER INCOME/EXPENSE – net

    (5,630 )     (4,323 )     (10,294 )     (8,230 )
                                 

(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE

    (3,428 )     1,273       (3,937 )     10,562  
                                 

INCOME TAX (BENEFIT) EXPENSE

    (713 )     353       (823 )     2,304  
                                 

NET (LOSS) INCOME

  $ (2,715 )   $ 920     $ (3,114 )   $ 8,258  
                                 

(LOSS) INCOME PER SHARE

                               

Basic

  $ (0.37 )   $ 0.13     $ (0.42 )   $ 1.13  

Diluted

  $ (0.37 )   $ 0.12     $ (0.42 )   $ 1.12  
                                 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING

                               
                                 

Basic

    7,354       7,313       7,350       7,310  

Diluted

    7,354       7,389       7,350       7,400  

 

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Rocky Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures

(In thousands, except share amounts)

(Unaudited)

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Six Months Ended

 
   

June 30,

   

June 30,

 
   

2023

   

2022

   

2023

   

2022

 
                                 

NET SALES

                               

NET SALES, AS REPORTED

  $ 99,822     $ 162,039     $ 210,267     $ 329,063  

ADD: RETURNS RELATING TO SUPPLIER DISPUTE

    1,542       -       1,542       -  

ADJUSTED NET SALES

  $ 101,364     $ 162,039     $ 211,809     $ 329,063  
                                 

COST OF GOODS SOLD

                               

COST OF GOODS SOLD, AS REPORTED

  $ 62,250     $ 108,288     $ 128,936     $ 212,486  

LESS: SUPPLIER DISPUTE INVENTORY ADJUSTMENT

    (181 )     -       (181 )   $ -  

ADJUSTED COST OF GOODS SOLD

  $ 62,069     $ 108,288     $ 128,755     $ 212,486  
                                 

GROSS MARGIN

                               

GROSS MARGIN, AS REPORTED

  $ 37,572     $ 53,751     $ 81,331     $ 116,577  

ADJUSTED GROSS MARGIN

  $ 39,295     $ 53,751     $ 83,054     $ 116,577  
                                 

OPERATING EXPENSES

                               

OPERATING EXPENSES, AS REPORTED

  $ 35,370     $ 48,155     $ 74,974     $ 97,785  

LESS: ACQUISITION-RELATED AMORTIZATION

    (692 )     (782 )     (1,456 )     (1,564 )

LESS: ACQUISITION-RELATED INTEGRATION EXPENSES

    -       (132 )     -       (397 )

LESS: RESTRUCTURING COSTS

    (1,034 )     (1,201 )     (1,034 )     (1,201 )

ADJUSTED OPERATING EXPENSES

  $ 33,644     $ 46,040     $ 72,484     $ 94,623  
                                 

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME

  $ 5,651     $ 7,711     $ 10,570     $ 21,954  
                                 

INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER INCOME – net

                               

INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER INCOME, AS REPORTED

  $ (5,630 )   $ (4,323 )   $ (10,294 )   $ (8,230 )

LESS: GAIN ON SALE OF BUSINESS

    -       -       (1,341 )     -  

ADJUSTED INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER INCOME/EXPENSE – net

    (5,630 )     (4,323 )     (11,635 )     (8,230 )
                                 

NET (LOSS) INCOME

                               

NET (LOSS) INCOME, AS REPORTED

  $ (2,715 )   $ 920     $ (3,114 )   $ 8,258  

TOTAL NON-GAAP ADJUSTMENTS

    3,449       2,115       2,872       3,162  

TAX IMPACT OF ADJUSTMENTS

    (717 )     (487 )     (600 )     (690 )

ADJUSTED NET INCOME (LOSS)

  $ 17     $ 2,548     $ (842 )   $ 10,730  
                                 

NET (LOSS) INCOME PER SHARE, AS REPORTED

                               

BASIC

  $ (0.37 )   $ 0.13     $ (0.42 )   $ 1.13  

DILUTED

  $ (0.37 )   $ 0.12     $ (0.42 )   $ 1.12  
                                 

ADJUSTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

                               

BASIC

  $ -     $ 0.35     $ (0.11 )   $ 1.47  

DILUTED

  $ -     $ 0.34     $ (0.11 )   $ 1.45  
                                 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

                               

BASIC

    7,354       7,313       7,350       7,310  

DILUTED

    7,354       7,389       7,350       7,400  

 

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Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

 

In addition to GAAP financial measures, we present the following non-GAAP financial measures: "non-GAAP adjusted net sales", "non-GAAP adjusted net cost of goods sold," "non-GAAP adjusted operating expenses," "non-GAAP adjusted operating income," "non-GAAP adjusted interest and other income," "non-GAAP adjusted net (loss) income," and "non-GAAP adjusted net (loss) income per share." Adjusted results exclude the impact of items that management believes affect the comparability or underlying business trends in our consolidated financial statements in the periods presented. We believe that these non-GAAP measures are useful to management and investors and other users of our consolidated financial statements as an additional tool for evaluating operating performance. We believe they also provide a useful baseline for analyzing trends in our operations.

 

Investors should not consider these non-GAAP measures in isolation from, or as a substitute for, financial information prepared in accordance with GAAP. See "Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures" accompanying this press release.

 

Non-GAAP adjustment or measure

Definition

Usefulness to management and investors

Returns relating to supplier dispute Returns relating to supplier dispute consist of returns on product produced by a manufacturing supplier. We excluded these returns for calculating certain non-GAAP measures because these returns are inconsistent in size with our normal course of business and are unique to the on-going dispute with the manufacturing supplier. These adjustments facilitate a useful evaluation of our current operating performance and comparison to past operating performance and provide investors with additional means to evaluate net sales trends.
Supplier dispute inventory adjustment Supplier dispute inventory adjustment consists of an inventory adjustment to cost of goods sold for product produced by a manufacturing supplier. We excluded this inventory adjustment to cost of goods sold for calculating certain non-GAAP measures because this adjustment is noncustomary and is unique to the on-going dispute with the manufacturing supplier. This adjustment facilitates a useful evaluation of our current operating performance and comparison to past operating performance and provides investors with additional means to evaluate net cost of goods sold trends.

Acquisition-related amortization

Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets consists of amortization of intangible assets such as brands and customer relationships acquired in connection with the acquisition of the performance and lifestyle footwear business of Honeywell International Inc. Charges related to the amortization of these intangibles are recorded in operating expenses in our GAAP financial statements. Amortization charges are recorded over the estimated useful life of the related acquired intangible asset, and thus are generally recorded over multiple years.

We excluded amortization charges for our acquisition-related intangible assets for purposes of calculating certain non-GAAP measures because these charges are inconsistent in size and are significantly impacted by the valuation of our acquisition. These adjustments facilitate a useful evaluation of our current operating performance and comparison to past operating performance and provide investors with additional means to evaluate cost and expense trends.

Acquisition-related integration expenses

Acquisition-related integration expenses are expenses including investment banking fees, legal fees, transaction fees, integration costs and consulting fees tied to the acquisition of the performance and lifestyle footwear business of Honeywell International Inc.

We excluded acquisition-related expenses for purposes of calculating certain non-GAAP measures because the charges do not accurately reflect our current operating performance and comparisons to past operating results and provide investors with additional means to evaluate cost trends.

Restructuring Costs Restructuring costs represent severance expenses associated with headcount reductions following the integration of the acquired performance and lifestyle footwear business of Honeywell International Inc in 2022 and the sale of Servus in 2023. We excluded restructuring costs for purposes of calculating non-GAAP measures because these costs do not reflect our current operating performance. These adjustments facilitate a useful evaluation of our current operations performance and comparisons to past operating results and provide investors with additional means to evaluate expense trends.
Gain on Sale of Business Gain on sale of business relates to the sale of the brand Servus. This includes the disposal of non-financial assets and corresponding expenses relating to the sale of the brand along with assets held at our Rock Island manufacturing facility. We excluded the disposition of non-financial assets and related expenses for purposes of calculating certain non-GAAP measures because the gain does not accurately reflect our current operating performance and comparisons to past operating results and provide investors with additional means to evaluate cost trends.

 

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