Iconix Brand Group Reports Financial Results For The First Quarter 2015

NEW YORK, April 29, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

• Q1 licensing revenue of $95.4 million, flat to prior year quarter excluding 2014 ABC deal
• Continued to execute acquisition strategy with Strawberry Shortcake and PONY
• Expanded global footprint- acquired full ownership and control of China JV
• Maintaining revenue, non-GAAP diluted EPS and free cash flow guidance for full-year 2015

Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: ICON) ("Iconix" or the "Company"), today announced financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2015.

Q1 2015 Results for Iconix Brand Group, Inc.: 

Licensing revenue for the first quarter of 2015 was approximately $95.4 million, a 15% decrease as compared to approximately $112.2 million in the first quarter of 2014. After excluding $17.1 million of revenue recorded in the first quarter of 2014 related to the 5-year renewal of the Peanuts specials with ABC, licensing revenue in the first quarter of 2015 was approximately flat to the prior year quarter. Other revenue was $0 in the first quarter of 2015 as compared to $4.0 million of other revenue recorded in the first quarter of 2014 for the Lee Cooper transaction.  EBITDA attributable to Iconix for the first quarter of 2015 was approximately $52.4 million, a 25% decrease as compared to $69.8 million in the prior year quarter. On a non-GAAP basis, as described in the tables below, net income attributable to Iconix was $26.7 million, a 32% decrease as compared to the prior year quarter of approximately $39.3 million.  Non-GAAP diluted EPS for the first quarter of 2015 was $0.54, a 27% decrease as compared to $0.74 in the prior year quarter. GAAP net income attributable to Iconix for the first quarter of 2015 was approximately $62.8 million, a 5% increase as compared to $59.8 million in the prior year quarter, and GAAP diluted EPS for the first quarter of 2015 increased approximately 17% to $1.21 compared to $1.03 in the prior year quarter. Free cash flow attributable to Iconix for the first quarter of 2015 was approximately $30.1 million, a 39% decrease as compared to the prior year quarter of approximately $49.4 million. 

In the first quarter of 2015, the Company acquired the remaining 50% of its Iconix China joint venture and, as a result, recognized a $47.4 million pre-tax non-cash gain related to the re-measurement of its initial investment. Similarly, in the first quarter of 2014, the Company acquired the remaining 50% of its Latin America joint venture and, as a result, recognized a $37.9 million pre-tax non-cash gain. Both of these gains are excluded from the Company's non-GAAP metrics.

In addition, in the first quarter of 2015, the Company recognized a $10.5 million pre-tax foreign currency translation gain. This gain is excluded from the Company's non-GAAP metrics. 

EBITDA, free cash flow, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP diluted EPS are all non-GAAP metrics and reconciliation tables for each are attached to this press release.

Neil Cole, Chairman and CEO of Iconix Brand Group, Inc. commented, "In the first quarter we continued to execute on our global strategy and remain focused on international, entertainment and sports as key drivers of our growth. Our international business continued to grow in the first quarter with our joint ventures in Australia, India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, as well as our Latin America business, each delivering double-digit gains. Our Peanuts brand had a strong quarter and we are excited about the opportunities around the global release of the Peanuts movie in the fourth quarter. We expect our Strawberry Shortcake and PONY acquisitions will generate increasing value throughout the year for our entertainment and sports platforms, and our core licensing business remains healthy. Reflecting these drivers, and the strong results we expect to achieve in the second half of the year, we believe we are on track to deliver on the 2015 guidance we provided earlier this year."

2015 Guidance for Iconix Brand Group, Inc.:

The Company is maintaining its 2015 guidance as follows:

• 2015 revenue guidance of $490-$510 million
• 2015 Non-GAAP diluted EPS guidance of $3.00-$3.15
• 2015 free cash flow guidance of $208-$218 million 

The Company is increasing its 2015 GAAP diluted EPS guidance to $3.65-$3.79 from $3.06-$3.20 to reflect the gain in the first quarter of 2015 related to the Company's acquisition of full ownership and control of its Iconix China joint venture.

This guidance relates to the Company's existing portfolio of brands and does not include any additional acquisitions following the first quarter.

See reconciliation tables below for non-GAAP metrics. These non-GAAP metrics may be inconsistent with similar measures presented by other companies and should only be used in conjunction with our results reported according to U.S. GAAP.  Any financial measure other than those prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

About Iconix Brand Group, Inc.

Iconix Brand Group, Inc. owns, licenses and markets a growing portfolio of consumer brands including: CANDIE'S (R), BONGO (R), BADGLEY MISCHKA (R), JOE BOXER (R), RAMPAGE (R), MUDD (R), MOSSIMO (R), LONDON FOG (R), OCEAN PACIFIC (R), DANSKIN (R), ROCAWEAR (R), CANNON (R), ROYAL VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R), CHARISMA (R), STARTER (R), WAVERLY (R), ZOO YORK (R), SHARPER IMAGE (R), UMBRO (R), LEE COOPER (R), ECKO UNLTD. (R), MARC ECKO (R) and STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE (R). In addition, Iconix owns interests in the ARTFUL DODGER (R), MATERIAL GIRL (R), PEANUTS (R), ED HARDY (R), TRUTH OR DARE (R), BILLIONAIRE BOYS CLUB (R), ICE CREAM (R), MODERN AMUSEMENT (R), BUFFALO (R), NICK GRAHAM (R) and PONY (R) brands. The Company licenses its brands to a network of leading retailers and manufacturers that touch every major segment of retail distribution from the luxury market to the mass market in both the U.S. and worldwide. Through its in-house business development, merchandising, advertising and public relations departments, Iconix manages its brands to drive greater consumer awareness and equity.

Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The statements that are not historical facts contained in this press release are forward-looking statements that involve a number of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, all of which are difficult or impossible to predict and many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, uncertainty regarding the results of the Company's acquisition of additional licenses, continued market acceptance of current products and the ability to successfully develop and market new products particularly in light of rapidly changing fashion trends, the impact of supply and manufacturing constraints or difficulties relating to the Company's licensees' dependence on foreign manufacturers and suppliers, uncertainties relating to customer plans and commitments, the ability of licensees to successfully market and sell branded products, competition, uncertainties relating to economic conditions in the markets in which the Company operates, the ability to hire and retain key personnel, the ability to obtain capital if required, the risks of litigation and regulatory proceedings, the risks of uncertainty of trademark protection, the uncertainty of marketing and licensing acquired trademarks and other risks detailed in the Company's SEC filings. The words "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect", "confident", "continue", "will", "project", "provide" "guidance" and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward looking statements, which speak only as of the date the statement was made. All forward-looking statements are qualified by these cautionary statements and apply only as of the date they are made. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Contact Information: Jaime Sheinheit Investor Relations Iconix Brand Group 212.730.0030

 

 

 

 

The following tables detail unaudited reconciliations from non-GAAP amounts to U.S. GAAP and include reconciliations related to ASC Topic 470 as it relates to accounting for convertible debt, incremental dilutive shares related to our convertible debt that are covered by our existing convertible note hedges, and non-cash gains related to the re-measurement of investments and foreign currency translation. 

Note: All items in the following reconciliation tables are attributable to Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and exclude results related to non-controlling interests.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                         

 

 

 

 

 

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iconix-brand-group-reports-financial-results-for-the-first-quarter-2015-300074153.html

SOURCE Iconix Brand Group, Inc.