INTER PARFUMS, INC. REPORTS RECORD FOURTH QUARTER AND
YEAR-END RESULTS

 

Fourth Quarter Diluted EPS up 52% on 32% Gain in Net Sales

 
Management Increases 2008 Guidance

 

Board of Directors Authorizes Stock Repurchase Program

 

New York, New York, March 10, 2008 -- Inter Parfums, Inc. (NASDAQ GS: IPAR) today announced record results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2007. 

 

Fourth Quarter 2007 Compared to Fourth Quarter 2006

 

2007 Full Year Results & Review and Outlook for 2008

For the year as a whole, Inter Parfums reported record net sales of $389.6 million, up 21% from $321.1 million in 2006.  At comparable foreign currency exchange rates, net sales for 2007 were up 15%.  European based sales rose to $330.8 million, up 22% year over year and represented 85% of consolidated sales.  The 15% increase in U.S. based sales, which approximated $58.8 million, was due to Inter Parfums’ specialty retail business with Gap, Banana Republic and New York & Company.  Net income increased 34% to $23.8 million from $17.7 million in 2006, and diluted earnings per share were up 33% to $1.14, compared to $0.86 in 2006.

 

Jean Madar, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “As did many of our peers, we entered the fourth quarter of 2007 with much trepidation, and looked to contain costs and brace for a turbulent holiday season. With fourth quarter sales far exceeding our expectations, fourth quarter profits came in considerably better than anticipated, and as a result, our net income and diluted earnings per share surpassed our prior 2007 guidance.  With regard to U.S. based operations, among the highlights of the past year was the launch and rollout of personal care, fragrance, grooming and home fragrance products that we developed for Gap stores in North America.  We also take great pride in the new products and line extensions created for Banana Republic stores.  The April 2007 agreement with New York & Company moved into the fast track and the new collections were developed, produced and delivered in time for the holiday selling season.  Finally, the signing of an agreement with Brooks Brothers last November was a great way to close out the year.  By the end of 2008, our plans call for new products to be introduced into the 200 U.S. Brooks Brothers stores.”

 

He went on to say, “With regard to European based operations in 2007, the license agreement for the Van Cleef & Arpels fragrance brand, the acquisition of Lanvin fragrance brands and trademarks, and the establishment of four majority-owned distribution subsidiaries were among the major developments.  Of special note, Burberry fragrance, the largest brand in the prestige portfolio, performed exceptionally well, even in the absence of a major new launch.  Burberry fragrance sales reached $210 million, up 10% in local currency compared to 2006.  The 2007 product launches undertaken by our European based operations were much smaller in magnitude than our anticipated 2008 new product pipeline.  This month marks the kickoff of the worldwide launch of the Beat, the sixth fragrance family for Burberry fragrance. We also have Roxy Love for women, a Quiksilver fragrance for men, and a Quiksilver suncare collection coming to market in 2008.  In addition, there is a new women’s scent for Van Cleef & Arpels scheduled for launch this fall, which we believe will be the highest retail price cologne in the market, a 100ml. size fragrance with a suggested retail price of approximately $150.  Under the Lanvin brand, we have Rumeur 2 Rose being readied, as are limited edition men’s and women’s fragrances for Paul Smith, and an S.T. Dupont fragrance line for both men and women.”

 

Russell Greenberg, Executive Vice President & CFO again pointed out, “Exceptionally strong sales in the final quarter of 2007, and for that matter the second half of the year, affirm our prior forecast that seasonality is a larger factor than in past years due to the timing of shipments by our majority-owned distribution subsidiaries to their customers and delivery schedules for our U.S. specialty retail customers.” 

 

Mr. Greenberg stated, “As a result of the better than expected performance in 2007 and the initial success with our 2008 launch schedule, we are raising our 2008 guidance to net sales of approximately $442 million and net income of approximately $25.8 million or $1.25 per diluted share.  This guidance assumes the dollar remains at current levels.”

 

Stock Repurchase Authorization

In February 2008, Inter Parfums’ Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program whereby the Company is authorized to repurchase a maximum of 500,000 shares of its common stock in the open market.  In February 2008, the Company repurchased 129,524 shares of its common stock.

 

Cash Dividend

Inter Parfums also announced that its Board of Directors declared a regularly quarterly cash dividendThe first cash dividend for 2008 of $0.05 per share is to be paid on April 15, 2008 to shareholders of record on March 31, 2008.

 

Conference Call

Inter Parfums’ management will host a conference call at 11:00 am EDT on Tuesday, March 11, 2008.  Interested parties may participate by calling 706-679-3037 approximately 10 minutes before the start time.  This conference call will also be distributed live over the Internet via the Investor Relations section of the Company’s web site at www.interparfumsinc.com.  To listen to the live call, please go to the web site in advance to register, and if needed, download any necessary audio software.  The conference call will be archived for approximately 90 days at the web site.

 

Inter Parfums develops, manufactures and distributes prestige perfumes and cosmetics as the exclusive worldwide licensee for Burberry, Paul Smith, S.T. Dupont, Christian Lacroix, Quiksilver/Roxy, and Van Cleef & Arpels.  The Company also owns Lanvin Perfumes and Nickel S.A., a men’s skin care company.  It also produces personal care products for specialty retailers under exclusive agreements with Gap Inc., New York & Company and Brooks Brothers. In addition, Inter Parfums produces and supplies mass market fragrances and fragrance related products. The Company’s products are sold in over 120 countries worldwide.

 

Statements in this release which are not historical in nature are forward-looking statements. Although we believe that our plans, intentions and expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we can give no assurance that such plans, intentions or expectations will be achieved. In some cases you can identify forward-looking statements by forward-looking words such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "should," "will" and "would" or similar words. You should not rely on forward-looking statements because actual events or results may differ materially from those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a number of important factors. These factors include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed under the headings “Forward Looking Statements” and "Risk Factors" in Inter Parfums' annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, and the reports Inter Parfums files from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Inter Parfums does not intend to and undertakes no duty to update the information contained in this press release.

 

 

 

Contact at Inter Parfums, Inc.   or                     Investor Relations Counsel

Russell Greenberg, Exec. VP & CFO               The Equity Group Inc.

(212) 983-2640                                               Linda Latman (212) 836-9609/llatman@equityny.com

rgreenberg@interparfumsinc.com                      Lena Cati  (212) 836-9611/lcati@equityny.com

www.interparfumsinc.com                                 www.theequitygroup.com

 

Inter Parfums, Inc.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME

(In Thousands Except Share and Per Share Amounts)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
December 31,

 

Year Ended
December 31,

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales

 

$             119,354

 

$               90,179

 

$             389,560

 

$             321,054

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

                 50,080

 

                 41,634

 

160,137

 

               143,855

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gross margin

 

                 69,274

 

                 48,545

 

229,423

 

               177,199

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

                 52,034

 

                 37,410

 

181,224

 

               141,074

Impairment loss

 

                      868

 

                          --

 

868

 

                          --

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations

 

                 16,372

 

                 11,135

 

47,331

 

                 36,125

 

Other expenses (income):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

        Interest

 

                   1,507

 

                      966

 

3,667

 

                   1,797

        (Gain) loss on foreign currency

 

                      115

 

                      275

 

219

 

                     (172)

        Interest and dividend income

 

                  (1,393)

 

                  (1,006)

 

(3,166)

 

                  (2,303)

    (Gain) on subsidiary’s issuance of stock

 

 

                       (26)

 

 

                     (314)

 

 

(665)

 

 

                     (332)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                      203

 

                       (79)

 

55

 

                  (1,010)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes and minority interest

 

 

                 16,169

 

 

                 11,214

 

 

47,276

 

 

                 37,135

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income taxes

 

                   6,260

 

                   4,374

 

16,675

 

                 13,201

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income before minority interest

 

                   9,909

 

                   6,840

 

30,601

 

                 23,934

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Minority interest in net income
of consolidated subsidiary        

 

 

                   1,294

 

 

                   1,355

 

 

6,784

 

 

                   6,192

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$                 8,615

 

$                 5,485

 

$             23,817

 

$               17,742

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income per share:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                Basic

 

$                0.42

 

$                0.27

 

$                 1.16

 

$                 0.87

                Diluted

 

$                0.41

 

$                0.27

 

$                 1.14

 

$                 0.86

Weighted average number of shares outstanding:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic

 

20,431,019

 

20,392,359

 

20,444,094

 

          20,324,309

Diluted

 

20,620,826

 

20,620,150

 

20,669,533

 

          20,568,492

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(In thousands except share and per share data)

 

ASSETS

 

 

December 31,

2007

 

December 31,

2006

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

        Cash and cash equivalents

 

$                 90,034

 

$                   58,247

        Short-term investments

 

--

 

                     12,800

        Account receivable, net

 

118,140

 

                   110,251

        Inventories

 

106,022

 

                     69,537

        Receivables, other

 

5,928

 

                       2,481

        Other current assets

 

5,253

 

                       6,137

        Income tax receivable

 

168

 

                          370

        Deferred tax assets

 

4,300

 

                       2,494