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Iconix Brand Group, Inc. Reports Record Earnings for the Second Quarter 2008
    - Q2 revenue of $51.7 million compared to $39.1 million in the prior year

    - Q2 EBITDA of $35.2 million compared to $31.2 million in the prior year

    - Q2 diluted EPS of $0.27 versus $0.24 in the prior year

    - Free cash flow of $26.3 million for Q2 and $58.9 million for year to
      date 2008

NEW YORK, Aug. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: ICON) ("Iconix" or the "Company"), today announced financial results for the second quarter ended June 30, 2008.

Q2 2008 results:

Revenue for the second quarter of 2008 increased 32% to $51.7 million, as compared to approximately $39.1 million in the second quarter of 2007. EBITDA for the second quarter increased 13% to approximately $35.2 million, as compared to approximately $31.2 million in the prior year quarter and free cash flow for the quarter increased to approximately $26.3 million, as compared to approximately $25.8 million in the prior year quarter. Net income for the second quarter increased 11% to approximately $16.5 million, as compared to $14.8 million the prior year quarter and GAAP diluted earnings per share increased to $0.27 versus $0.24 in the prior year quarter. EBITDA and free cash flow are non-GAAP metrics and reconciliation tables for both are attached to this press release.

Six months ended June 30, 2008:

Revenue for the six months ended June 30, 2008 increased 54% to approximately $107.4 million as compared to approximately $69.9 million in the prior year six month period. EBITDA for the six month period increased 36% to approximately $73.9 million as compared to approximately $54.6 million in the prior year, and free cash flow increased to approximately $58.9 million as compared to approximately $47.4 million in the prior year. Net income for the six month period increased 26% to $34.7 million as compared to approximately $27.5 million in the prior year and GAAP diluted earnings per share increased to $0.57 versus $0.45 in the prior year.

Neil Cole, Chairman and CEO of Iconix Brand Group, Inc. commented, "I am pleased with our results in what has been a challenging retail and economic environment and I am confident that we will continue to execute our plan for the remainder of the year. We are excited about our growth initiatives for 2009, which include all three of our Wal-Mart brands, OP, STARTER and DANSKIN NOW, and the CANNON launch at Sears and Kmart. Longer-term we will have growth from a number of international initiatives that we are working on. While we have taken acquisition revenue out of our guidance it remains an important part of our growth strategy and we believe we will continue to acquire additional iconic brands."

2008 Guidance:

The Company is forecasting free cash flow for 2008 to be in a range of $116 million to $119 million. The Company is reaffirming its previously issued 2008 guidance of revenue in a range of $215 million to $220 million and diluted earnings per share of between $1.15 and $1.20. This guidance relates to the existing portfolio of brands only and includes no revenue assumption from acquisitions.

Iconix Brand Group Inc. (Nasdaq: ICON) 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), LONDON FOG (R), MOSSIMO (R) OCEAN PACIFIC(R), DANSKIN (R) ROCA WEAR(R), CANNON (R), ROYAL VELVET (R), FIELDCREST (R), CHARISMA (R) and STARTER (R). The Company licenses it 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 around the world. Iconix, through its in-house advertising, promotion and public relations agency, markets its brands to continually 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," "expect", "confident", "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.

    Contact Information:
    David Conn
    Executive Vice President
    Iconix Brand Group
    212.730.0030

    Joseph Teklits
    Integrated Corporate Relations
    203.682.8200



    Iconix Brand Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries

    Condensed Consolidated Income Statements - (Unaudited)
    (in thousands, except earnings per share data)

                        Three Months Ended June 30,  Six Months Ended June 30,
                       ---------------------------   ------------------------
                           2008        2007               2008        2007
                       ---------------------------   -------------------------

    Licensing revenue    $51,700     $39,071           $107,367     $69,912

    Selling, general and
     administrative
      expenses            18,320       9,011             37,031      16,730
    Special charges          195         331                386       1,094
                       ---------------------------   -------------------------

    Operating income      33,185      29,729             69,950      52,088

    Other expenses:
     Interest expense -
      net                  7,615       6,913             16,171       9,535
                       ---------------------------   -------------------------

    Income before income
     taxes                25,570      22,816             53,779      42,553
                       ---------------------------   -------------------------

    Provision for income
     taxes                 9,114       8,027             19,079      15,017
                       ---------------------------   -------------------------

    Net income           $16,456     $14,789            $34,700     $27,536
                       ===========================   =========================


    Earnings per share:
      Basic                $0.29       $0.26              $0.60       $0.49
                       ===========================   =========================

      Diluted              $0.27       $0.24              $0.57       $0.45
                       ===========================   =========================


    Weighted average number
     of common shares outstanding:
      Basic               57,719      56,625             57,572      56,451
                       ===========================   =========================

      Diluted             61,279      61,364             61,315      61,241
                       ===========================   =========================



    Selected Balance Sheet Items:        6/30/2008       12/31/2007
                                        (Unaudited)       (Audited)
    Total Assets                        $1,356,001       $1,336,130
    Total Liabilities                     $781,411         $808,210
    Stockholders' Equity                  $574,590         $527,920



    The following table details unaudited reconciliations from non-GAAP
    amounts to U.S. GAAP and effects of these items:
    (in thousands)

                                Three months ended         Six months ended
                               June 30,     June 30,     June 30,     June 30,
                               --------     --------     --------     --------
                                 2008         2007         2008         2007
                                ------       ------       ------       ------


    EBITDA(1)                  $35,188      $31,249      $73,941      $54,554
                               ====================      ====================


    Reconciliation of EBITDA:
    Net Income                  16,456       14,789       34,700       27,536
    Add: Provision for income
     taxes                       9,114        8,027       19,079       15,017
                               ---------------------     ---------------------

    Net Income before taxes     25,570       22,816       53,779       42,553

     Add: Net interest expense   7,615        6,913       16,171        9,535
     Add: Depreciation and
      amortization of certain
       intangibles               2,003        1,520        3,991        2,466
                               ---------------------     ---------------------

    EBITDA                     $35,188      $31,249      $73,941      $54,554
                               ====================      ====================

    (1) EBITDA, a non-GAAP financial measure, represents income before
        income taxes, interest, depreciation and amortization expenses. The
        Company believes EBITDA provides additional information for
        determining its ability to meet future debt service requirements,
        investing and capital expenditures.



    Historical Free Cash
     Flow(2)                   $26,288      $25,790      $58,868      $47,432
                               ====================      ====================

    Reconciliation of Free
     Cash Flow:

      Net Income                16,456       14,789       34,700       27,536
      Add: Depreciation,
       amortization of trademarks and
        finance fees, non cash
        compensation expense, and
         bad debt expense.       5,078        2,974       10,087        4,919

      Add: Non-cash income
      taxes                      8,441        8,027       18,206       15,017

      Less: Capital
       expenditures             (3,687)           -       (4,125)         (40)
                               ---------------------     ---------------------

    Historical Free Cash Flow  $26,288      $25,790      $58,868      $47,432
                               =====================     =====================




                                                      Year Ended Dec 31, 2008
                                                      Low-end        High-end
    2008 Forecasted Free Cash Flow (2)               $116,000        $119,000
                                                   ===========================

    Reconciliation of Free Cash Flow:
     Net Income                                        71,000          74,000
     Add: Depreciation, amortization of trademarks
     and finance fees, non cash compensation expense,
     bad debt expense and non-cash income taxes        50,000          50,000

     Less: Capital expenditures                        (5,000)         (5,000)
                                                   ---------------------------

    2008 Forecasted Free Cash Flow                   $116,000        $119,000
                                                   ===========================

    (2) Free Cash Flow, a non-GAAP financial measure, represents net income
        before depreciation, amortization, non cash compensation expense, bad
        debt expense, adds back the non-cash income taxes and deducts
        capital expenditures. The Free Cash Flow excludes any changes in
        Balance Sheet items. The Company believes Free Cash Flow is useful in
        evaluating its financial condition because it is representative of
        cash flow from operations that is available for repaying debt,
        investing and capital expenditures.

SOURCE  Iconix Brand Group, Inc.
    -0-                             08/05/2008
    /CONTACT:  David Conn, Executive Vice President, Iconix Brand Group,
+1-212-730-0030, or Joseph Teklits, Integrated Corporate Relations,
+1-203-682-8200/
    /Web site:  http://iconixbrand.com /
    (ICON)

CO:  Iconix Brand Group, Inc.
ST:  New York
IN:  HOU REA
SU:  ERN ERP

WM-AA
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4527 08/05/2008 08:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com