Exhibit 99

 

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Rocky Brands, Inc. Announces Second Quarter 2024 Results

Net Sales of $98.3 Million; Net Loss Per Share of $0.17; Adjusted Net Income Per Share of $0.17

Inventories Decreased 20.0% and Total Debt Decreased 31.3% Year-Over-Year

 

 

NELSONVILLE, Ohio, July 30, 2024 – Rocky Brands, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCKY) today announced financial results for its second quarter ended June 30, 2024.

 

Second Quarter 2024 Overview

 

Net sales decreased 1.6% to $98.3 million from the year ago quarter, or increased 6.1%, excluding certain non-recurring sales from the year ago quarter
Operating income increased 104.7% to $4.5 million from the year ago quarter
Net loss was $1.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted share as compared to a net loss of $2.7 million or $0.37 per diluted share for the year ago quarter
Adjusted net income was $1.3 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, as compared to $0.0 million or $0.00 per diluted share for the year ago quarter
Inventories at June 30, 2024 decreased 20.0% year-over-year
Total debt at June 30, 2024 decreased 31.3% year-over-year

 

Jason Brooks, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We continue to effectively navigate an unpredictable consumer environment thanks to our diversified brand portfolio and recently deployed cost saving initiatives. Strong double-digit gains in sales for our Durango and XTRATUF brands in both our wholesale and e-commerce channels helped offset softness in other areas of our business and generated low-single digit year-over-year recurring sales growth. The second quarter was also highlighted by the refinancing of our debt and simplification of our capital structure which is expected to generate approximately $4.4 million in annualized savings beginning in 2025. Over the past several years, we have taken actions to improve the Company’s financial profile in order to reinvest in growth and drive increased shareholder value. We are encouraged with our recent results and look forward to delivering further growth over the near and long-term.”

 

Second Quarter 2024 Review

 

Second quarter net sales decreased 1.6% to $98.3 million compared with $99.8 million in the second quarter of 2023. Excluding certain non-recurring sales relating to the manufacturing of Servus product following the divestiture of the Servus brand, the change to a distributor model in Canada in November 2023, and temporarily elevated commercial military footwear sales to a single customer throughout 2023, net sales increased 6.1% in the second quarter of 2024 compared to the year ago period. Wholesale sales for the second quarter were $68.3 million, down 4.5% compared to the second quarter of 2023, or up 2.3% excluding the aforementioned non-recurring sales. Retail sales for the second quarter increased 4.1%, or 6.1% excluding the non-recurring sales related to the change in the Canada distribution model, to $26.1 million compared to the second quarter of 2023. Contract Manufacturing sales, which include contract military sales and private label programs, were $3.9 million in the second quarter of 2024 compared to $3.3 million in the prior year period, or up $2.6 million excluding the aforementioned non-recurring sales.

 

Gross margin in the second quarter of 2024 was $38.0 million, or 38.7% of net sales, compared to $37.6 million, or 37.6% of net sales, for the same period last year. The 110-basis point increase in gross margin as a percentage of net sales was due to an increase of 200-basis points in Wholesale gross margins as well as a higher percentage of Retail net sales, which carry higher gross margins than our Wholesale and Contract Manufacturing segments.

 

Operating expenses were $33.5 million, or 34.1% of net sales, for the second quarter of 2024 compared to $35.4 million, or 35.4% of net sales, for the same period a year ago. Excluding $0.7 million of acquisition-related amortization in the second quarter of 2024 and $1.7 million of acquisition-related amortization and restructuring costs in the second quarter of 2023, adjusted operating expenses were $32.8 million, or 33.4%, in the current year period and $33.6 million, or 33.2%, in the year ago period.

 

Income from operations for the second quarter of 2024 was $4.5 million, or 4.6% of net sales, compared to $2.2 million, or 2.2% of net sales, for the same period a year ago. Adjusted operating income for the second quarter of 2024 was $5.2 million, or 5.3% of net sales, compared to adjusted operating income of $5.7 million, or 5.6% of net sales, a year ago.

 

Interest expense for the second quarter of 2024 was $6.1 million, inclusive of a $2.6 million one-time term loan extinguishment charge, compared with $5.6 million a year ago. Excluding the one-time term loan extinguishment charge, interest expense for the second quarter was $3.5 million. The $2.1 million decrease was driven by lower debt levels and lower interest rates as a result of the debt refinancing completed in April 2024.

 

The Company reported a second quarter net loss of $1.2 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $2.7 million, or $0.37 per diluted share, in the second quarter of 2023. Adjusted net income for the second quarter of 2024 was $1.3 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, compared to $0.0 million, or $0.00 per diluted share, in the year ago period.

 

Balance Sheet Review

 

Cash and cash equivalents were $4.1 million at June 30, 2024 compared to $3.1 million on the same date a year ago.

 

Inventories at June 30, 2024 were $175.0 million, down 20.0% compared to $218.3 million on the same date a year ago.

 

Total debt, net of unamortized debt issuance costs, at June 30, 2024 was $152.4 million consisting of a $49.3 million senior term loan and $105.7 million of borrowings under the Company's $175.0 million revolving credit facility with Bank of America, N.A. Compared with June 30, 2023 and December 31, 2023, total debt at June 30, 2024 was down 31.3% and 12.0%, respectively.

 

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Conference Call Information

 

The Company's conference call to review second quarter 2024 results will be broadcast live over the internet today, Tuesday, July 30, 2024 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 the Company's ability to effectively navigate changes in the consumer environment (Paragraph 2), anticipated annualized savings beginning in 2025 as a result of the Company's recent debt refinancing and simplified capital structure (Paragraph 2) and the Company's actions to improve its financial profile in order to reinvest in growth and to drive increased shareholder value (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, 2023 (filed March 15, 2024) and the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 (filed May 9, 2024). 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, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

(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,

 
   

2024

   

2023

   

2023

 

ASSETS:

                       

CURRENT ASSETS:

                       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 4,107     $ 4,470     $ 3,082  

Trade receivables – net

    62,968       77,028       72,566  

Contract receivables

    -       927       2,990  

Other receivables

    427       1,933       2,225  

Inventories – net

    174,973       169,201       218,327  

Income tax receivable

    1,025       1,253       3,494  

Prepaid expenses

    5,659       3,361       5,522  

Total current assets

    249,159       258,173       308,206  

LEASED ASSETS

    7,367       7,809       9,362  

PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT – net

    51,296       51,976       54,032  

GOODWILL

    47,844       47,844       47,844  

IDENTIFIED INTANGIBLES – net

    111,220       112,618       114,019  

OTHER ASSETS

    988       965       1,049  

TOTAL ASSETS

  $ 467,874     $ 479,385     $ 534,512  
                         

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

                       

CURRENT LIABILITIES:

                       

Accounts payable

  $ 57,824     $ 49,840     $ 61,225  

Contract liabilities

    -       927       2,990  

Current portion of long-term debt

    8,361       2,650       4,625  

Accrued expenses and other liabilities

    20,663       18,112       21,526  

Total current liabilities

    86,848       71,529       90,366  

LONG-TERM DEBT

    144,073       170,480       217,114  

LONG-TERM TAXES PAYABLE

    -       169       169  

LONG-TERM LEASE

    4,914       5,461       6,804  

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES

    7,475       7,475       8,006  

DEFERRED LIABILITIES

    752       716       1,325  

TOTAL LIABILITIES

    244,062       255,830       323,784  

SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY:

                       

Common stock, no par value;

                       

25,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding June 30, 2024 - 7,444,881; December 31, 2023 - 7,412,480; June 30, 2023 - 7,354,060

    73,223       71,973       70,400  

Retained earnings

    150,589       151,582       140,328  

Total shareholders' equity

    223,812       223,555       210,728  

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY

  $ 467,874     $ 479,385     $ 534,512  

 

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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,

 
   

2024

   

2023

   

2024

   

2023

 

NET SALES

  $ 98,258     $ 99,822     $ 211,164     $ 210,267  

COST OF GOODS SOLD

    60,220       62,250       128,977       128,936  

GROSS MARGIN

    38,038       37,572       82,187       81,331  
                                 

OPERATING EXPENSES

    33,530       35,370       69,695       74,974  
                                 

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

    4,508       2,202       12,492       6,357  
                                 

INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER – net

    (6,131 )     (5,630 )     (10,785 )     (10,294 )
                                 

(LOSS) INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE

    (1,623 )     (3,428 )     1,707       (3,937 )
                                 

INCOME TAX (BENEFIT) EXPENSE

    (380 )     (713 )     399       (823 )
                                 

NET (LOSS) INCOME

  $ (1,243 )   $ (2,715 )   $ 1,308     $ (3,114 )
                                 

(LOSS) INCOME PER SHARE

                               

Basic

  $ (0.17 )   $ (0.37 )   $ 0.18     $ (0.42 )

Diluted

  $ (0.17 )   $ (0.37 )   $ 0.18     $ (0.42 )
                                 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF COMMON SHARES OUTSTANDING

                               
                                 

Basic

    7,429       7,354       7,423       7,350  

Diluted

    7,429       7,354       7,466       7,350  

 

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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,

 
   

2024

   

2023

   

2024

   

2023

 
                                 

NET SALES

                               

NET SALES, AS REPORTED

  $ 98,258     $ 99,822     $ 211,164     $ 210,267  

ADD: RETURNS RELATING TO SUPPLIER DISPUTE

    -       1,542       -       1,542  

ADJUSTED NET SALES

  $ 98,258     $ 101,364     $ 211,164     $ 211,809  
                                 

COST OF GOODS SOLD

                               

COST OF GOODS SOLD, AS REPORTED

  $ 60,220     $ 62,250     $ 128,977     $ 128,936  

LESS: SUPPLIER DISPUTE INVENTORY ADJUSTMENT

    -       (181 )     -       (181 )

ADJUSTED COST OF GOODS SOLD

  $ 60,220     $ 62,069     $ 128,977     $ 128,755  
                                 

GROSS MARGIN

                               

GROSS MARGIN, AS REPORTED

  $ 38,038     $ 37,572     $ 82,187     $ 81,331  

ADJUSTED GROSS MARGIN

  $ 38,038     $ 39,295     $ 82,187     $ 83,054  
                                 

OPERATING EXPENSES

                               

OPERATING EXPENSES, AS REPORTED

  $ 33,530     $ 35,370     $ 69,695     $ 74,974  

LESS: ACQUISITION-RELATED AMORTIZATION

    (692 )     (692 )     (1,384 )     (1,456 )

LESS: RESTRUCTURING COSTS

    -       (1,034 )     -       (1,034 )

ADJUSTED OPERATING EXPENSES

  $ 32,838     $ 33,644     $ 68,311     $ 72,484  
                                 

ADJUSTED OPERATING INCOME

  $ 5,200     $ 5,651     $ 13,876     $ 10,570  
                                 

INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER – net, AS REPORTED

  $ (6,131 )   $ (5,630 )   $ (10,785 )   $ (10,294 )

ADD: TERM LOAN FACILITY EXINGUISHMENT COSTS

    2,597       -       2,597       -  

LESS: GAIN ON SALE OF BUSINESS

    -       -       -       (1,341 )

ADJUSTED INTEREST EXPENSE AND OTHER – net

    (3,534 )     (5,630 )     (8,188 )     (11,635 )
                                 

NET INCOME

                               

NET (LOSS) INCOME, AS REPORTED

  $ (1,243 )   $ (2,715 )   $ 1,308     $ (3,114 )

TOTAL NON-GAAP ADJUSTMENTS

    3,289       3,449       3,981       2,872  

TAX IMPACT OF ADJUSTMENTS

    (770 )     (717 )     (931 )     (600 )

ADJUSTED NET INCOME (LOSS)

  $ 1,276     $ 17     $ 4,358     $ (842 )
                                 

NET (LOSS) INCOME PER SHARE, AS REPORTED

                               

BASIC

  $ (0.17 )   $ (0.37 )   $ 0.18     $ (0.42 )

DILUTED

  $ (0.17 )   $ (0.37 )   $ 0.18     $ (0.42 )
                                 

ADJUSTED NET INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE

                               

BASIC

  $ 0.17     $ -     $ 0.59     $ (0.11 )

DILUTED

  $ 0.17     $ -     $ 0.58     $ (0.11 )
                                 

WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING

                               

BASIC

    7,429       7,354       7,423       7,350  

DILUTED

    7,429       7,354       7,466       7,350  

 

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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 operating expenses," "non-GAAP adjusted operating income," "non-GAAP adjusted interest expense and other income/(expense) - net," "non-GAAP adjusted net income," and "non-GAAP adjusted net 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 of 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 a 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 a 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.

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.
Term debt extinguishment costs Term debt extinguishment costs relate to the loss incurred on the extinguishment of debt during the second quarter 2024. The prepayment penalty associated with the early termination of the term debt, as well as the accelerated amortization of deferred financing fees of the term debt, was recorded as expense within Interest Expense and Other - net accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. We excluded this cost for purposes of calculating non-GAAP measures because these costs do not reflect our current operating performance. This adjustment is a one-time cost for refinancing the term debt and is not reoccurring. This adjustment facilitates 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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