Handleman Company Reports Second Quarter Results

Handleman Company Reports Second Quarter Results * Revenues Up Over 9% From Last Year to $295 Million * Earnings Per Share From Continuing Operations of 38 cents, Up From 33 cents Last Year TROY, Mich., Nov. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Handleman Company (NYSE:HDL), http://www.handleman.com/ , today announced results for its second quarter of fiscal year 2005, which ended October 30, 2004. Revenues for the second quarter of this year increased 9.4% to $295.3 million, compared to $269.9 million for the second quarter of last year. Net income was $8.2 million or $.36 per diluted share for the second quarter of this year, inclusive of a loss from discontinued operations of $0.5 million or $.02 per diluted share. Net income for the second quarter of last year was $9.9 million or $.40 per diluted share, which included income from discontinued operations of $1.7 million or $.07 per diluted share. Accordingly, income from continuing operations for the second quarter of this year was $8.6 million or $.38 per diluted share, compared to $8.2 million or $.33 per diluted share for the second quarter of last year. The higher revenues for the second quarter of this year were attributable to increased revenues within the Company's United States and Canadian operations. Revenues within the Company's United Kingdom operation were in- line with the second quarter of last year. Stephen Strome, the Company's Chairman and CEO commented, "Revenues during the second quarter this year increased almost 10% compared to the same period last year. This was driven, in part, by higher consumer purchases of music in mass merchant retail stores, our primary customer base. As a result, mass merchant retailers continue to gain market share within the music industry. We expect this favorable trend to continue throughout this year's important holiday selling season." The Company's gross profit margin, as a percentage of revenues, was 20.2% for the second quarter of this year, compared to 20.5% for the second quarter of last year. The year-over-year decrease in gross profit margin percentage was primarily due to a higher proportion of revenues from promotional products, which earn a lower gross margin as a percentage of revenues than the Company's overall gross margin percent. Selling, general and administrative expenses for the second quarter of this year were $47.6 million or 16.1% of revenues, compared to $43.5 million or 16.1% of revenues for the same quarter of last year. The Company's income tax rate for the second quarter of fiscal 2005 was 34.5%, compared to 29.2% for the second quarter of last year. The lower income tax rate last year was attributable to recording a tax benefit during the second quarter last year that resulted from certain operating losses that the Company incurred during its first quarter last year. During the second quarter of this fiscal year, the Company repurchased 1,085,000 shares of its common stock at an average price of $21.07 per share. This brings the total number of shares repurchased under the Company's 20% share repurchase authorization to 4.3 million, or 84% of the total authorization. As of October 30, 2004, the Company had 22,212,193 shares outstanding. Revenues for the first six months of this year were $527.4 million, compared to $475.2 million for the first six months of last year, an increase of 11%. Net income for the first six months of this year was $9.1 million or $.39 per diluted share compared to $11.2 million or $.45 per diluted share for the same period last year. Income from continuing operations for the first six months of fiscal 2005 was $9.6 million or $.41 per diluted share, compared to $8.6 million or $.35 per diluted share from continuing operations for the comparable period of last year. As previously announced, the Company completed its sale of Anchor Bay Entertainment, a wholly-owned subsidiary, during its second quarter of last year. As a result, the current and prior years reflect the classification of Anchor Bay Entertainment's financial results as discontinued operations. During the second quarter of this year, the Company recorded a $0.5 million increase ($.02 per diluted share) to certain royalty payable estimates made last year at the time of the sale. Stephen Strome concluded, "While mass merchant retailers continue to increase their market share, the rate of sales growth within the music industry has slowed. As we enter the holiday season it is difficult to predict how consumers might respond to several new music releases by popular artists. Therefore, we are cautiously optimistic about sales for the second half of our fiscal year and do not expect to achieve the same growth rate achieved during our first six months. However, we are maintaining our fiscal 2005 earnings per share guidance from continuing operations of $1.52 to $1.58, versus $1.38 per diluted share from continuing operations last year." Call Notice Handleman Company will host a conference call to discuss the second quarter of fiscal year 2005 financial and operating results on Wednesday, November 24, 2004 at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time). To participate in the teleconference call (in listen mode only), please dial 800-442-9683 at least five minutes before the start of the conference call. In addition, Handleman Company will simulcast the conference live via the Internet. The web cast can be accessed and will be available for 30 days on the investor relations page of Handleman Company's web site, http://www.handleman.com/ . A telephone replay of the conference call will be available until Friday, November 26, 2004 at midnight by calling 800-642-1687 (PIN Number 2180005). About Handleman Company: Handleman Company is a category manager and distributor of prerecorded music to mass merchants in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Brazil and Argentina. As a category manager, the Company manages a broad assortment of titles to optimize sales and inventory productivity in retail stores and also provides direct-to-store shipments, marketing and in-store merchandising. Information in this press release contains forward-looking statements, which are not historical facts and involve risk and uncertainties. Actual results, events and performance could differ materially from those contemplated by these forward-looking statements, including without limitation, conditions in the music industry, securing funding or generating sufficient cash required to build and grow new businesses, customer requirements, continuation of satisfactory relationships with existing customers and suppliers, establishing satisfactory relationships with new customers and suppliers, effects of electronic commerce, dependency on technology, relationships with the Company's lenders, pricing and competitive pressures, the occurrence of catastrophic events or acts of terrorism, certain global and regional economic conditions, and other factors discussed in this press release and those detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this press release. CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (amounts in thousands, except per share data) (unaudited) Three Months Six Months (13 Weeks) Ended (26 Weeks) Ended Nov. 1, Nov. 1, Oct. 30, 2003 Oct. 30, 2003 2004 (restated) 2004 (restated) Revenues $295,340 $269,900 $527,399 $475,193 Costs and expenses: Direct product costs 235,768 214,548 424,637 375,633 Selling, general and administrative expenses 47,648 43,504 90,449 86,346 Operating income 11,924 11,848 12,313 13,214 Investment income (expense), net 1,251 (219) 2,047 7 Income from continuing operations before income taxes 13,175 11,629 14,360 13,221 Income tax expense 4,539 3,390 4,799 4,591 Income from continuing operations 8,636 8,239 9,561 8,630 Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of taxes (483) 1,651 (483) 2,598 Net income $8,153 $9,890 $9,078 $11,228 Basic net income per share: - From continuing operations $.38 $.33 $.41 $.35 - From discontinued operations (.02) .07 (.02) .10 Total basic net income per share $.36 $.40 $.39 $.45 Diluted net income per share - From continuing operations $.38 $.33 $.41 $.35 - From discontinued operations (.02) .07 (.02) .10 Total diluted net income per share $.36 $.40 $.39 $.45 Weighted average number of shares outstanding - basic 22,681 24,742 23,032 25,034 - diluted 22,704 24,831 23,071 25,108 CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS (amounts in thousands) (unaudited) November 1, 2003 October 30, 2004 (restated) Assets Cash and cash equivalents $34,744 $27,177 Accounts receivable 236,875 214,496 Merchandise inventories 200,645 176,597 Other current assets 12,314 13,866 Assets held for sale -- 73,031 Total current assets 484,578 505,167 Property and equipment, net of depreciation and amortization 63,633 55,163 Other assets, net 25,718 27,195 Total assets $573,929 $587,525 Liabilities Accounts payable $212,743 $227,826 Other current liabilities 31,949 30,449 Liabilities held for sale -- 13,141 Total current liabilities 244,692 271,416 Debt, non-current 25,000 -- Other liabilities 10,828 9,726 Shareholders' equity 293,409 306,383 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $573,929 $587,525 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS (amounts in thousands) Three Months Six Months (13 Weeks) Ended (26 Weeks) Ended Nov. 1, 2003 Nov. 1, 2003 Oct. 30, 2004 (restated) Oct. 30, 2004 (restated) Income from continuing operations $8,636 $8,239 $9,561 $8,630 Investment (income) expense, net (1,251) 219 (2,047) (7) Income tax expense 4,539 3,390 4,799 4,591 Depreciation expense 4,375 3,525 8,468 6,970 Adjusted EBITDA* $16,299 $15,373 $20,781 $20,184 Additions to property and equipment $6,072 $4,919 $10,733 $6,684 * Adjusted EBITDA is computed as income from continuing operations, less net investment income, plus income tax expense, net investment expense, and depreciation expense. Source: Handleman Company CONTACT: Handleman Company: Greg Mize, Vice President, Investor Relations, +1-248-362-4400, Ext. 211, or Thomas Braum, Sr. Vice President and CFO, +1-248-362-4400, Ext. 718, both of Handleman Company; Media Relations: David Bassett, +1-248-855-6777, Ext. 132, or Fred Marx, +1-248-855-6777, Ext. 131, both for Handleman Company Web site: http://www.handleman.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment