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Turning Point Brands, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Results

March 8, 2018 6:50 AM

LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Turning Point Brands, Inc. (NYSE: TPB), a leading provider of Other Tobacco Products (“OTP”), today announced fourth quarter and full year 2017 results.

Results at a Glance

Fiscal Year ending December 31, 2017(Comparisons vs. same period year-ago)

Fourth Quarter 2017(Comparisons vs. same period year-ago)

“2017 was a solid year with record-setting financial achievements and activities that have strengthened the Turning Point Brand’s sales, marketing and distribution platforms,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Wexler. “Our focus brands, Stoker’s in Smokeless, Zig-Zag in Smoking, and VaporBeast in NewGen, remain the driving forces behind our organic growth story. At the same time, we continue to evaluate acquisitions to further augment our growth.”

Recent Events

On March 7, 2018, TPB amended and extended its $250 million credit facility arranged by Fifth Third Bank, Capital One, National Association and Regions Capital Markets. The amended $250 million facility consists of a $160 million first lien term loan, a $40 million second lien term loan and a $50 million cash flow revolver. The existing $40 million accordion feature was retained. The amendment reduces our blended interest rate and is expected to reduce annual interest expense by approximately $2.0 million on an interest rate risk adjusted basis.

The credit structure amendment eliminates the $35 million first lien second out tranche, reduces the second lien term loan by $15 million and extends maturities of the first lien and revolver by one year and the second lien by one and a half years.

President and CEO Larry Wexler said, “This amended credit facility is another step that further simplifies our credit facility, reduces our interest expense and provides greater flexibility in the execution of our growth and acquisition strategies.”

On March 7, 2018, the TPB board of directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.04 per common share which will be paid on April 13, 2018, to shareholders of record on the close of business on March 26, 2018.

Management Observations on the Full Year and Fourth Quarter 2017

Smokeless Products Segment (29% of total net sales in the quarter)

For the full year 2017, Smokeless products net sales increased 8.5% to a record $84.6 million, with gross profit up 10.3% to a record $42.6 million.

For the fourth quarter, Smokeless products net sales increased 10.7% to $21.0 million on the continuing growth of Stoker’s MST. In the quarter, total Smokeless segment volume increased 2.9% and price/mix increased 7.8%.

On the strength of Stoker’s, TPB outpaced the smokeless industry in the quarter, growing its MSAi share in both chewing tobacco and MST. Stoker’s MST cases shipped in the quarter rose by greater than 10%, despite a highly competitive MST environment and flat MSAi industry volumes. (TPB measures industry MST volumes excluding pouch and snus products.) TPB MSAi chewing tobacco volumes held steady to year-ago levels while industry chewing tobacco volumes declined by approximately 6%.

For the quarter, gross profit for the Smokeless segment increased 13.1% to $10.3 million. Segment gross margin expanded 100 basis points to 49.2% due to product mix and price increases, offset to some degree by LIFO expense of $0.5 million. Absent the LIFO expense in both years, gross margin for the fourth quarter of 2017 was 51.8% versus 50.2% in the fourth quarter of 2016 (see Schedule B for reconciliation).

Smoking Products Segment (39% of total net sales in the quarter)

For the full year 2017, Smoking products net sales decreased by 0.9% to $110.0 million with gross profit decreasing 0.8% to $57.1 million.

For the fourth quarter, net sales of Smoking products increased 4.8% to $28.9 million. In the quarter, Smoking products volume increased 0.4%, while price/mix increased 4.4%.

The increase in 2017 fourth quarter net sales in the Smoking segment was a result of a strong performance in sales of Zig-Zag cigarette papers in Canada and year-over-year advances on Zig-Zag MYO cigar wraps, partially offset by continued weakness in cigars.

According to MSAi, fourth quarter industry volumes for cigarette papers increased by mid-single-digits, largely driven by competitive promotional efforts on discount cigarette papers. Industry MYO cigar wraps continued to produce double-digit category expansion. Zig-Zag volumes in both cigarette papers and MYO cigar wraps advanced in the quarter while the Zig-Zag brand retains a leading industry share in both MYO cigar wraps and premium cigarette papers.

Smoking products gross profit for the quarter was down $0.1 million to $15.1 million due to LIFO expense in the quarter of $0.3 million and an adverse year-over-year euro exchange rate impact of $0.2 million. Gross margin decreased to 52.3% compared with 55.1% for the year-ago quarter due to product mix, exchange rates and LIFO expense. Absent the LIFO expense in both years, gross profit was up 1.6% to $15.5 million with a gross margin of 53.5% compared to 55.2% in 2016 (see Schedule B for reconciliation).

The TPB core tobacco portfolio (Smokeless and Smoking) again produced strong net sales advances of 7.2% in the quarter to a record $49.9 million and a 4.6% expansion in gross profit to $25.5 million.

NewGen (New Generation) Products Segment (32% of total net sales in the quarter)

For the full year 2017, net sales for NewGen products increased $74.0 million to a record $91.3 million with gross profit increasing $21.0 million to a record $25.1 million. The addition of VaporBeast and Vapor Shark results in December 2016 and April 2017, respectively, fueled exceptionally strong segment performance.

For the fourth quarter, NewGen segment net sales grew $16.4 million to $23.7 million on continued VaporBeast momentum. Volume increased 222% while price/mix accounted for an increase of 3.1%.

Gross profit for the NewGen segment increased by $4.9 million over the year-ago fourth quarter to $6.8 million. Gross margin for the 2017 fourth quarter expanded by 300 basis points to 28.8% compared to the year-ago fourth quarter.

For the quarter, VaporBeast’s key sales performance metrics indicate continued progress against our goal to grow sales in the existing store base, as evidenced by increases in both order sizes and order frequency. Additionally, operational improvements at Vapor Shark have fortified sales performance in both the company and franchise Vapor Shark branded stores.

Coincident with the Vapor Shark acquisition earlier in 2017, the company recorded a $0.6 million liability in relation to the option granted to the former Vapor Shark owner to purchase the seven company owned Vapor Shark branded stores. Late in the fourth quarter, the company reached an agreement to purchase and cancel the option for $1.5 million. As a result of this agreement, there was a one-time charge of $0.9 million in fourth quarter. Wexler noted, “These stores have demonstrated improving sales results and provide a valuable window into trends and consumer behavior,” he continued, “We will continue to evaluate the benefits of owning these stores in the short-term compared to re-franchising the stores to existing or new franchisees”.

TPB will also relocate the Vapor Shark distribution and e-liquid manufacturing facility from Miami, FL to Louisville, KY where it will be consolidated with other operations for improved operating synergy. The relocation and installation is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2018.

“We continue to drive innovation and operational improvements in our vapor business, while also vetting acquisition candidates in both the tobacco and vapor segments,” said Wexler. “To support our growth, I am pleased to announce the promotion of Graham Purdy to President, New Ventures. Graham is an experienced industry veteran who came to us in 2004 from Philip Morris and heretofore served as our Senior Vice President of Sales. In his new role, he will be responsible for driving NewGen integration, sales growth and operational efficiency, while also leading efforts to expand via our OTP acquisition strategy.”

Other Performance Measures

Total company net sales growth of 36.7% in the fourth quarter was driven by volume gains of 34.2% with price/mix contributing another 4.4%.

For the full year, 2017 consolidated selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expenses were $75.4 million compared to $56.8 million in 2016 due primarily to the inclusion of the VaporBeast and Vapor Shark SG&A.

Fourth quarter 2017 consolidated SG&A expenses were $21.5 million compared to $16.2 million in 2016 due primarily to the inclusion of the VaporBeast and Vapor Shark SG&A.

Certain components of 2017 fourth quarter SG&A were as follows:

Fourth quarter 2017 cost of goods sold included:

Interest expense for the quarter was $3.9 million, which is $1.8 million, or 32.1%, lower than the year-ago period. For the full year 2017, interest expense was $16.9 million, or $9.7 million lower than a year ago. The full year 36.6% decrease is principally attributable to lower interest rates as a result of our February 2017 refinancing and lower debt levels compared to 2016.

Fourth quarter and full year 2017 income before income taxes increased 56.5% to $6.9 million and 80.7% to $26.9 million, respectively. Income tax expense for the quarter was $3.4 million and for the full year was $7.3 million. The full year effective income tax rate was 27% and is lower than the expected income tax rate primarily as the result of permanent differences and discrete items. Net income attributable to TPB was $3.5 million for the fourth quarter and $20.2 million for the year.

For the quarter and year ended December 31, 2017 fully diluted weighted average shares were 19.7 million and 19.5 million, respectively.

Diluted EPS were $0.18 for the fourth quarter and $1.04 for the full year 2017. Adjusted diluted EPS was $0.23 and $1.08 for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017, respectively (see Schedule D for reconciliation).

Fourth quarter 2017 Adjusted EBITDA increased to $14.8 million from $13.5 million in 2016. For the year 2017, Adjusted EBITDA increased to $60.0 million from $52.4 million in 2016 (See Schedule A for a reconciliation).

Capital expenditures in the fourth quarter 2017 totaled $1.0 million and for full-year 2017 were $2.0 million.

Total debt at December 31, 2017 was $202.0 million. Net debt at December 31, 2017 was $199.4 million, compared to $215.4 million as of December 31, 2016, a decrease of $15.9 million. Net debt at December 31, 2017 to Adjusted EBITDA was 3.3x (see Schedule C for a reconciliation).

Impact of Excise Tax Changes

Pennsylvania implemented a $0.55 per ounce excise tax on smokeless products effective October 1, 2016. The impact of the tax increase on trade volumes was material to both the industry and TPB in the first three quarters of 2017. MST industry Pennsylvania volumes in the fourth quarter 2017 are below the year-ago quarter by a more modest 3%, while Stoker’s MST volumes in the state are up versus a year-ago by mid-single-digits.

Effective July 1, 2017, California enacted a tax on all OTP products of 65.08%. The new excise tax on MYO cigar wraps adversely impacted category sales, as California industry sales for the fourth quarter 2017 contracted by 33% with TPB off more sharply versus year-ago. Importantly, industry and Zig-Zag volumes in the adjacent states are up versus year-ago, suggesting a level of shifting demand. The company initiated promotional strategies and new products activity in late fourth quarter to address the adverse TPB trends. We anticipate that California OTP tax will unfavorably impact trade behavior over the next two quarters, and we will continue to closely evaluate its impact on consumer behavior.

2018 Outlook

Based upon our current understanding of the 2018 FDA schedule, the company expects to continue its SKU rationalization efforts to sharpen focus on key growth areas while discontinuing products that do not warrant the expense required to achieve FDA compliance, including specific mid-year 2018 packaging requirements. At the present time, the company has identified products for 2018 rationalization and estimates that SKU discontinuations will unfavorably impact year-over-year net sales by approximately $3.5 million.

Absent any acquisitions and net of the above-mentioned SKU rationalizations, the company anticipates 2018 volume growth of 4% to 6% with price/mix contributing another 2% to 4%. SG&A expenses as a percent of net sales are expected to be in the 25% to 27% range. Interest expense is currently expected to be $14 to $15 million.

The California state excise tax on MYO cigar wraps is anticipated to continue impacting state volume comparisons to year ago through the second quarter of 2018, offset to some degree by sales volumes in adjacent states and new product and promotional initiatives.

The company expects a 2018 effective income tax rate of 26% to 27%. Net operating losses, or NOLs, available to offset federal income taxes amounted to approximately $17.8 million at year end 2017. We expect to fully utilize these NOLs during 2018 when we will begin paying cash federal income taxes.

Capital expenditures for 2018 are expected to be $2 to $3 million, which includes one-time expenditures associated with logistics efficiency and integration activities including the Vapor Shark distribution and e-liquid manufacturing facility relocation.

Earnings Conference Call

As previously disclosed, a conference call with the investment community to review TPB’s financial results has been scheduled for 10 a.m. Thursday, March 8, 2017. Investment community participants should dial in ten minutes ahead of time using the toll free number 844-889-4324 (International participants should call 412-317-9262). A live listen-only webcast of the call is available from the Events and Presentations section of the investor relations portion of the company website (www.turningpointbrands.com). A replay of the webcast will be available on the site one hour following the call.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (GAAP), this press release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures including Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted diluted EPS, Net Debt and Gross Profit excluding LIFO. A reconciliation of these non-GAAP financial measures accompanies this release.

About Turning Point Brands, Inc.

Louisville, Kentucky based Turning Point Brands, Inc. (NYSE: TPB) is a leading U.S. provider of Other Tobacco Products. TPB, through its three focus brands, Stoker’s® in Smokeless products, Zig-Zag® in Smoking products and the VaporBeast® distribution engine in NewGen products, generates solid cash flow which it uses to finance acquisitions, increase brand support and strengthen its capital structure. TPB does not sell cigarettes. More information about the company is available at its corporate website, www.turningpointbrands.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Forward-looking statements may generally be identified by the use of words such as "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "intend," "plan" and "will" or, in each case, their negative, or other variations or comparable terminology. These forward-looking statements include all matters that are not historical facts. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. As a result, actual events may differ materially from those expressed in or suggested by the forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement made by TPB in this press release speaks only as of the date hereof. New risks and uncertainties come up from time to time, and it is impossible for TPB to predict these events or how they may affect it. TPB has no obligation, and does not intend, to update any forward-looking statements after the date hereof, except as required by federal securities laws. Factors that could cause these differences include, but are not limited to:

Financial statements follow:

Turning Point Brands, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Income
(dollars in thousands except share data)
Three Months Ended
December 31, December 31,
2017 2016
Net sales $ 73,563 $ 53,822
Cost of sales 41,285 27,605
Gross profit 32,278 26,217
Selling, general and administrative expenses 21,546 16,208
Operating income 10,732 10,009
Interest expense 3,887 5,726
Investment income (104 ) (157 )
Income before income taxes 6,949 4,440
Income tax expense (benefit) 3,430 (12,647 )
Consolidated net income $ 3,519 $ 17,087
Basic earnings per common share:
Net income $ 0.18 $ 0.93
Diluted earnings per common share:
Net income $ 0.18 $ 0.87
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic 19,207,490 18,357,629
Diluted 19,722,513 19,741,667
Supplemental disclosures of statement of income information:
Excise tax expense $ 4,811 $ 4,629
FDA fees $ 140 $ 132
Turning Point Brands, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Income
(dollars in thousands except share data)
Years Ended
December 31, December 31,
2017 2016
Net sales $ 285,777 $ 206,228
Cost of sales 160,908 105,872
Gross profit 124,869 100,356
Selling, general and administrative expenses 75,369 56,771
Operating income 49,500 43,585
Interest expense 16,889 26,621
Gain on investment (438 ) (768 )
Loss on extinguishment of debt 6,116 2,824
Income before income taxes 26,933 14,908
Income tax expense (benefit) 7,280 (12,005 )
Consolidated net income 19,653 26,913
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest (556 ) -
Net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc. $ 20,209 $ 26,913
Basic income per common share:
Net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc. $ 1.06 $ 1.63
Diluted income per common share:
Net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc. $ 1.04 $ 1.49
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic 18,989,177 16,470,352
Diluted 19,513,008 18,015,545
Supplemental disclosures of statement of income information:
Excise tax expense $ 19,646 $ 20,540
FDA fees $ 584 $ 413
Turning Point Brands, Inc.
Consolidated Balance Sheet
(dollars in thousands except share data)
December 31, December 31,
ASSETS 2017 2016
Current assets:
Cash $ 2,607 $ 2,865
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $17 in 2017 and $35 in 2016 3,248 2,181
Inventories 63,296 62,185
Other current assets 10,342 11,625
Total current assets 79,493 78,856
Property, plant and equipment, net 8,859 7,590
Deferred income taxes 450 6,288
Deferred financing costs, net 630 139
Goodwill 134,620 134,390
Other intangible assets, net 26,436 27,138
Master Settlement Agreement - escrow deposits 30,826 30,410
Pension asset 396 -
Other assets 567 209
Total assets $ 282,277 $ 285,020
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable $ 3,686 $ 9,153
Accrued liabilities 18,229 15,336
Accrued interest expense 465 394
Current portion of long-term debt 7,850 1,650
Revolving credit facility 8,000 15,034
Total current liabilities 38,230 41,567
Notes payable and long-term debt 186,190 201,541
Postretirement benefits 3,962 4,407
Pension benefits - 423
Other long-term liabilities 571 3,024
Total liabilities 228,953 250,962
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
Preferred stock; $0.01 par value; authorized shares 40,000,000; issued and outstanding shares -0- - -
Common stock, voting, $0.01 par value; authorized shares, 190,000,000; issued and 192 184
outstanding shares, 2017 19,210,633 and 2016 18,402,022 - -
Common stock, nonvoting, $0.01 par value; authorized shares, 10,000,000; - -
issued and outstanding shares -0- - -
Additional paid-in capital 103,640 104,895
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (2,973 ) (4,049 )
Accumulated deficit (47,535 ) (66,972 )
Total stockholders' equity 53,324 34,058
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 282,277 $ 285,020
Turning Point Brands, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
(dollars in thousands)
Years Ended
December 31, December 31,
2017 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income $ 19,653 $ 26,913
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on extinguishment of debt 6,116 2,824
(Gain) loss on sale of property, plant and equipment 150 -
Depreciation expense 1,626 1,227
Amortization of deferred financing costs 1,005 1,419
Amortization of original issue discount 66 724
Amortization of other intangible assets 702 58
Interest incurred but not paid on PIK Toggle Notes - 3,422
Interest incurred but not paid on 7% Senior Notes - 329
Interest paid on PIK Toggle Notes - (9,893 )
Reserve of note receivable - 430
Deferred income taxes 5,181 (12,719 )
Stock compensation expense 720 180
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (1,067 ) 2,072
Inventories 495 (12,513 )
Other current assets 1,495 1,361
Pension asset (396 ) -
Other assets 62 (100 )
Accounts payable (5,702 ) 3,631
Accrued pension liabilities 588 262
Accrued postretirement liabilities (24 ) (172 )
Accrued liabilities and other (980 ) (327 )
Net cash provided by operating activities 29,690 9,128
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures (2,021 ) (3,207 )
Acquisitions 268 (23,625 )
Payments for investments (179 ) -
Net cash used in investing activities (1,932 ) (26,832 )
Turning Point Brands, Inc.
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Cont.)
(dollars in thousands)
Years Ended
December 31, December 31,
2017 2016
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from 2017 revolving credit facility 8,000 -
Proceeds from 2017 first lien term loans 145,000 -
Proceeds from 2017 second lien term loan 55,000 -
Payments of 2017 first lien term loans (4,387 ) -
Payments of financing costs (4,783 ) (450 )
Proceeds from (payments of) old revolving credit facility, net (15,083 ) 15,016
Payments of first lien term loan (147,362 ) (4,388 )
Payments of second lien term loan (60,000 ) (20,000 )
Prepaid equity issuance costs (453 ) -
Payment of PIK Toggle Notes - (24,107 )
Redemption of Intrepid options - (661 )
Redemption of Intrepid warrants - (5,500 )
Exercise of warrants - 4
Exercise of options 1,431 169
Redemption of options (1,740 ) (85 )
Surrender of options (1,000 ) -
Proceeds from issuance of stock - 55,736
Distribution to non-controlling interest (4 ) -
Payment of Vapor Shark loans (1,867 ) -
Payment of cash dividends (768 ) -
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (28,016 ) 15,734
Net decrease in cash (258 ) (1,970 )
Cash, beginning of period 2,865 4,835
Cash, end of period $ 2,607 $ 2,865

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

To supplement our financial information presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP, we use non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, including EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted diluted EPS, Net Debt and Gross Profit excluding LIFO. We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides useful information to management and investors regarding certain financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations. Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted diluted EPS, Net Debt and Gross Profit excluding LIFO are used by management to compare our performance to that of prior periods for trend analyses and planning purposes and is presented to our board of directors. We believe that EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted diluted EPS and Gross Profit excluding LIFO are appropriate measures of operating performance because they eliminate the impact of expenses that do not relate to business performance.

We define “EBITDA” as net income before interest expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization. We define “Adjusted EBITDA” as net income before interest expense, loss on extinguishment of debt, provision for income taxes, depreciation, amortization, other non-cash items and other items that we do not consider ordinary course in our evaluation of ongoing operating performance. We define “Adjusted diluted EPS” as diluted earnings per share excluding one-time charges. We define “Net Debt” as total debt less cash. We define “Gross Profit excluding LIFO” as gross profit less LIFO charges.

Non-U.S. GAAP measures should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with U.S. GAAP. EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted diluted EPS exclude significant expenses that are required by U.S. GAAP to be recorded in our financial statements and is subject to inherent limitations. In addition, other companies in our industry may calculate this non-U.S. GAAP measure differently than we do or may not calculate it at all, limiting its usefulness as a comparative measure.

In accordance with SEC rules, we have provided, in the supplemental information attached, a reconciliation of the non-GAAP measures to the next directly comparable GAAP measures.

Schedule A
Turning Point Brands, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA
(dollars in thousands)
Three Months Ended
December 31, December 31,
2017 2016
Consolidated net income $ 3,519 $ 17,087
Add:
Interest expense 3,887 5,726
Income tax expense (benefit) 3,430 (12,647 )
Depreciation expense 434 331
Amortization expense 176 58
EBITDA $ 11,446 $ 10,555
Components of Adjusted EBITDA
LIFO adjustment (a) 877 397
Pension/postretirement expense (b) 32 58
Stock options, restricted stock and incentives expense (c) 222 35
Strategic initiatives (d) 1,143 1,116
New product launch costs (e) 687 909
Product line rationalizations (f) 249 -
Bonus (g) 107 -
IPO-related compensation costs (h) - 310
Foreign exchange hedging (gains) losses (i) - 91
Adjusted EBITDA $ 14,763 $ 13,471
(a) Represents expense related to an inventory valuation allowance for last-in, first-out ("LIFO") reporting.
(b) Represents our non-cash Pension/Postretirement expense.
(c) Represents non-cash stock options, restricted stock and incentives expense.
(d) Represents the fees incurred for the study of strategic initiatives and acquisition expenses.
(e) Represents product launch costs of our new product lines.
(f) Represents costs associated with discontinued products related to product line rationalization
(g) Represents bonuses associated with the December 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
(h) Represents non-recurring compensation expenses incurred coincident with the May 2016 IPO.
(i) Represents non-cash gain and loss stemming from our foreign exchange hedging activities.
Schedule A
Turning Point Brands, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA
(dollars in thousands)
Years Ended
December 31, December 31,
2017 2016
Net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc. $ 20,209 $ 26,913
Add:
Interest expense 16,889 26,621
Loss on extinguishment of debt 6,116 2,824
Income tax expense (benefit) 7,280 (12,005 )
Depreciation expense 1,626 1,227
Amortization expense 702 58
EBITDA $ 52,822 $ 45,638
Components of Adjusted EBITDA
LIFO adjustment (a) 1,123 889
Pension/postretirement expense (b) 284 437
Stock options, restricted stock, and incentives expense (c) 668 180
Foreign exchange hedging (d) (90 ) 125
Strategic initiatives (e) 2,133 1,587
New product launch costs (f) 2,414 2,678
Product line rationalizations (g) 563 -
Bonus (h) 107 -
IPO related compensation costs (i) - 915
Adjusted EBITDA $ 60,024 $ 52,449
(a) Represents expense related to an inventory valuation allowance for last-in, first-out ("LIFO") reporting.
(b) Represents our non-cash Pension/postretirement expense.
(c) Represents non-cash stock options, restricted stock and incentives expense.
(d) Represents non-cash gain and loss stemming from our foreign exchange hedging activities.
(e) Represents the fees incurred for the study of strategic initiatives and acquisition expenses.
(f) Represents product launch costs of our new product lines.
(g) Represents costs associated with discontinued products related to product line rationalization.
(h) Represents bonuses associated with the December 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
(i) Represents non-recurring compensation expenses incurred coincident with the May 2016 IPO.
Schedule B
Turning Point Brands, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP Gross Profit to Gross Profit excluding LIFO
(dollars in thousands)
Consolidated Consolidated
Three Months Ended Years Ended
December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
2017 2016 2017 2016
Net sales $ 73,563 $ 53,822 $ 285,777 $ 206,228
Cost of sales 41,285 27,605 160,908 105,872
Gross profit 32,278 26,217 124,869 100,356
Gross margin 43.9% 48.7% 43.7% 48.7%
LIFO adjustment (a) 877 397 1,123 889
Gross profit excluding LIFO $ 33,155 $ 26,614 $ 125,992 $ 101,245
Gross margin excluding LIFO 45.1% 49.4% 44.1% 49.1%
Smokeless Segment Smokeless Segment
Three Months Ended Years Ended
December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
2017 2016 2017 2016
Net sales $ 20,997 $ 18,974 $ 84,560 $ 77,913
Cost of sales 10,665 9,838 41,958 39,279
Gross profit 10,332 9,136 42,602 38,634
Gross margin 49.2% 48.2% 50.4% 49.6%
LIFO adjustment (a) 547 380 710 994
Gross profit excluding LIFO $ 10,879 $ 9,516 $ 43,312 $ 39,628
Gross margin excluding LIFO 51.8% 50.2% 51.2% 50.9%
Smoking Segment Smoking Segment
Three Months Ended Years Ended
December 31, December 31, December 31, December 31,
2017 2016 2017 2016
Net sales $ 28,900 $ 27,571 $ 109,956 $ 111,005
Cost of sales 13,772 12,366 52,810 53,410
Gross profit 15,128 15,205 57,146 57,595
Gross margin 52.3% 55.1% 52.0% 51.9%
LIFO adjustment (a) 330 15 413 (105)
Gross profit excluding LIFO $ 15,458 $ 15,220 $ 57,559 $ 57,490
Gross margin excluding LIFO 53.5% 55.2% 52.3% 51.8%
(a) Represents expense related to an inventory valuation allowance for last-in, first-out ("LIFO") reporting.
(b) NewGen segment is not on LIFO.
Schedule C
Turning Point Brands, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP Total Debt to Net Debt
(dollars in thousands)
December 31, December 31,
2017 2016
Cash $ 2,607 $ 2,865
Total Debt $ 202,040 $ 218,225
Net Debt $ 199,433 $ 215,360
Leverage Ratio (a) 3.3x 4.1x
(a) Leverage ratio is calculated by net debt / adjusted EBITDA.
Schedule D
Turning Point Brands, Inc.
Reconciliation of GAAP diluted EPS to Adjusted diluted EPS
(dollars in thousands)

Income beforeincome taxes

Income taxexpense

Consolidatednet income

Net incomeattributable toTurning PointBrands, Inc.

Diluted EPS
Three Months Ended December 31, 2017 $ 6,949 $ 3,430 $ 3,519 $ 3,519 $ 0.18
Vapor Shark option purchase (a) 924 249 675 675 0.03
Tax Cut and Jobs Act (b) 107 237 286 286 0.02
Adjusted Three Months Ended December 31, 2017

$

7,980

$

3,916

$

4,480

$ 4,480 $ 0.23

Income beforeincome taxes

Income taxexpense

Consolidatednet income

Net incomeattributable toTurning PointBrands, Inc.

Diluted EPS
Year Ended December 31, 2017 $ 26,933 $ 7,280 $ 19,653 $ 20,209 $ 1.04
Vapor Shark option purchase (a) 924 249 675 675 0.03
Tax Cut and Jobs Act (b) 107 237 286 286 0.01
Adjusted Year Ended December 31, 2017

$

27,964

$

7,766

$

20,614

$ 21,170 $ 1.08
(a) Represents purchase of option for Vapor Shark branded retail stores.
(b) Represents bonuses from the Tax Cut and Jobs Acts and income tax expense related to revaluing our deferred taxes as a result of change in income tax rate from the Tax Cut and Jobs Act.

Turning Point Brands, Inc.

Investment Community:

Mark A. Stegeman, 502-774-9238

Senior Vice President, CFO

[email protected]

or

Media:

Mozaic Investor Relations, Inc.

Terry McWilliams, 502-774-9238

President

[email protected]

Source: Turning Point Brands, Inc.

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