Blyth, Inc. Reports 1st Quarter 2015 Sales and Earnings

Blyth, Inc,  a direct-to-consumer company and leading designer and marketer of candles and accessories for the home and health, wellness and beauty products, household convenience items and personalized gifts sold through the direct selling and direct marketing channels, today reported sales and earnings for the first quarter of 2015.

Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2015 decreased approximately 12% to $103.7 million from $118.2 million for the comparable prior year period.  Sales for the quarter were negatively impacted by the strengthening U.S. Dollar, particularly against the euro, by approximately 9%, or $10.7 million.

Commenting on the first quarter results, Robert B. Goergen, Jr., Chief Executive Officer noted, «While our Catalog & Internet segment sales gained over the prior year period, our Candles & Home Decor segment sales were negatively affected by the increasing strength of the U.S. dollar versus the euro, as well as the lower number of independent sales Consultants.  Absent the adverse currency impact, we experienced year-over-year sales growth in all of our emerging markets as well as in several of our mature markets, including Germany, Austria, the U.K. and Australia.»

Mr. Goergen also noted, «As the global economy remains uneven and the strong dollar mutes our global profit contribution, our operating profit was anticipated to decline versus last year; thus, we initiated ambitious restructuring and gross margin improvement programs that should benefit profitability going forward.  In the first quarter we announced the successful migration of all candle production to our Batavia, Illinois facility, which we anticipate will result in annualized savings of $8.0 million.  We also announced that the Greenwich corporate headquarters will be relocated to Plymouth, MA, and occupy space in a building owned by PartyLite.  The one-time costs of the move of our headquarters, to be incurred in 2015, including severance, outplacement and relocation expenses, will be approximately $2.1 million.»

Turning to Blyth’s Catalog & Internet business, Silver Star Brands, Mr. Goergen said, «The first quarter increase in revenue is promising.  The Native Remedies® brand of herbal dietary supplements and homeopathic products, acquired in early 2015, is integrating seamlessly into our existing business.  In addition to growing our health, wellness and beauty segment, we are creating opportunities for our home decor business.  Our Exposures® brand recently announced a partnership with celebrity event stylist David Tutera on a chic collection of home decor.»

Blyth’s operating loss for the first quarter was $9.1 million this year versus $0.1 million last year.   During the first quarter, the Company recorded restructuring and impairment charges of $2.5 million at PartyLite’s manufacturing plant in Cumbria, U.K. related to the consolidation of candle production into one Global Center of Manufacturing Excellence, in Batavia, Illinois.

The Company also recorded charges of $0.6 million for the integration of Native Remedies, a brand acquired during the first quarter under the Silver Star Brands umbrella.   Excluding these charges, first quarter operating loss this year was $6.0 million versus $0.1 million last year.  A stronger U.S. dollar negatively impacted the operating loss for the first quarter by approximately $1.0 million.

Net Loss Attributable to Blyth, Inc. was $12.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to a loss of $2.8 million in the prior year period.  Diluted Net Earnings per Share Attributable to Blyth, Inc. were a loss of $0.77 per share for the three months ended March 31, 2015 compared to $0.17 per share in the prior year period.  During the respective first quarters, the Company recorded the following after-tax charges per share:

• Charges of $0.10 related to the aforementioned restructuring and impairment at PartyLite’s U.K. manufacturing plant this year,
• charges of $0.03 this year for the integration of Native Remedies,
• expenses of $0.04 this year for fees associated with the modification of Senior Notes, including accelerated amortization of previously deferred transaction costs and a redemption premium, and
• a loss from discontinued operations for ViSalus of $0.13 last year.

Normalized earnings from continuing operations were a loss of $9.7 million, or $0.60 per share, in this year’s first quarter versus a loss of $0.7 million, or $0.04 per share, in the comparable period last year .