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Thursday, November 06, 2008

Steinway Reports Q3 Results

Steinway Reports Q3 Results

GAAP EPS ($0.03); Adjusted EPS $0.57

WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. (NYSE:LVB) , one of the world's leading manufacturers of musical instruments, today announced results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008.

Revenues for the third quarter increased 1% over the same period in the prior year. A 7% increase in piano segment revenues, which includes the Company's recently acquired online music business, more than offset a 5% decrease in band segment revenues. Overall gross margins improved to 29.8% from 28.3%.

In connection with the Company's annual impairment testing of goodwill, in the third quarter the band segment recorded a non-cash charge of $8.6 million, impacting after tax earnings by $0.60 per diluted share. Controllable operating expenses were flat with the prior year period but the negative impact of the impairment charge caused a $6.6 million decline in operating income for the quarter. Net interest expense decreased 18% as a result of lower borrowings during the third quarter of 2008.

Adjusted EBITDA improved to $12.2 million, or 25%, over the prior year period. The Company posted a loss per share of $0.03 and Adjusted earnings per share of $0.57 compared to earnings per share of $0.35 in the third quarter of 2007. Adjustments for the quarter are detailed in the attached financial tables.

For the first nine months of 2008, revenue increased 3% and gross margins improved slightly, to 29.5% from 29.4%. Operating income declined $7.4 million as a result of the charge to goodwill. Adjusted EBITDA improved to $31.4 million, or 14%, reflecting improvement in both the band and piano segments.

Band Operations

In the third quarter, band revenues decreased $2.5 million, or 5%, despite a unit sales decline of 15%. Declines occurred in all major product categories, with the most significant shortfall in student level instruments. Gross margins improved from 19.5% to 23.2% as a result of a change in product mix toward higher priced instruments, reduced sales incentive programs, and greater manufacturing efficiencies.

For the nine-month period, band sales were nearly equal to the prior year period. Gross margins improved from 20.7% to 22.2%, despite $0.9 million of severance costs during the period.

Piano Operations

Piano segment revenues for the third quarter increased $3.7 million, or 7%, to $55.7 million. An increase in piano sales overseas offset a domestic decline while online music sales contributed an additional $1.8 million in revenue during the quarter. Overall unit shipments of Steinway grand pianos decreased 5% from the prior year period. Domestic shipments of Steinway grand pianos decreased 6% and overseas shipments decreased 3%. Unit shipments of mid-priced pianos declined 7%. Gross margins declined from 36.3% to 35.1% due to a decline in domestic retail sales and a change in product mix toward lower margin upright pianos.

For the nine-month period, piano revenues increased 5%. Steinway grand unit shipments declined 6% and mid-priced piano unit shipments decreased 2%. Gross margins decreased to 34.8% from 36.3% primarily as a result of lower production levels at the Company's New York piano plant.

Comments

CEO Dana Messina discussed the Company's results, "Given the state of the global economy, we are pleased with our third quarter results. We saw significant improvement in Adjusted EBITDA in both the band and piano segments."

Messina added, "We have substantially completed the consolidation of our band manufacturing facilities and we are currently working through the many issues involved in making our reduced production footprint even more efficient. Provided demand remains flat, we expect to start realizing improved profitability from these recent plant consolidation efforts in the first half of 2009."

On the outlook for the remainder of 2008, Messina said, "The outlook for the worldwide economy is uncertain and we expect general weakness in many of our markets for the next few quarters. Our balance sheet is strong and we have substantial liquidity to handle this present economic environment. Steinway has weathered many economic cycles over the last 155 years and has always emerged an even stronger competitor. I am confident that we will successfully navigate the current challenges."

Conference Call

Management will be discussing the Company's third quarter results and outlook for the remainder of 2008 on a conference call today beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET. A live webcast and an archive of the call will be available to all interested parties on the Company's website, www.steinwaymusical.com.

About Steinway Musical Instruments

Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc., through its Steinway and Conn-Selmer divisions, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of musical instruments. Its notable products include Bach Stradivarius trumpets, Selmer Paris saxophones, C.G. Conn French horns, Leblanc clarinets, King trombones, Ludwig snare drums and Steinway & Sons pianos. Through its online music retailer, ArkivMusic, the Company also distributes classical music recordings.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures Used by Steinway Musical Instruments

The Company uses the non-GAAP measurement Adjusted EBITDA, which it defines as earnings before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude non-recurring, infrequent, or unusual items. The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA because it is useful to management and investors as a measure of the Company's core operating performance in that it eliminates the impact of items that are either out of operating management's control or are otherwise unrelated to how well the Company is completing its manufacturing and operating responsibilities. In addition, the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA as the basis for determining bonuses for its managers.

The Company also believes Adjusted EBITDA is helpful in determining the Company's ability to meet future debt service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements as it factors out non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization. The Company's domestic credit agreement, which provides for borrowings up to $110.0 million and is a material credit agreement to the Company, contains a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio which is based on Adjusted EBITDA. A minimum ratio of 1.1 to 1.0 is required to be met if the Company has had less than $20.0 million of availability on its line of credit in the last thirty days. At the end of the most recent period the Company had remaining borrowing availability on the line of credit of $108.8 million (net of letters of credit) and therefore this covenant did not apply. Should this covenant apply and not be met, the Company could be required to make immediate repayment of its line of credit borrowings, if it were unable to obtain a waiver from the lenders.

There are limitations in the use of Adjusted EBITDA because the Company's actual results do include the impact of the noted Adjustments. Accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA should be used as a supplement to the comparable GAAP measures and should not be construed as a substitute for income from operations or net income, or a better indicator of liquidity than cash flows from operating activities, which are determined in accordance with GAAP.

"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This release contains "forward-looking statements" which represent the Company's present expectations or beliefs concerning future events. The Company cautions that such statements are necessarily based on certain assumptions which are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in this release. These risk factors include the following: changes in general economic conditions; recent geopolitical events; increased competition; work stoppages and slowdowns; ability to successfully consolidate band manufacturing; impact of dealer consolidations on orders; exchange rate fluctuations; variations in the mix of products sold; market acceptance of new product and distribution strategies; ability of suppliers to meet demand; concentration of credit risk; fluctuations in effective tax rates resulting from shifts in sources of income; and the ability to successfully operate acquired businesses. Further information on these risk factors is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

   Contact:    Julie A. Theriault   Telephone:  781-894-9770   Email:      ir@steinwaymusical.com                       STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.                Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income                   (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)                                (Unaudited)                                       Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended                                      9/30/2008 9/30/2007 9/30/2008 9/30/2007      Net sales                        $100,488  $99,293  $293,195  $284,982      Cost of sales                      70,559   71,202   206,829   201,086        Gross profit                     29,929   28,091    86,366    83,896                                           29.8%    28.3%     29.5%     29.4%       Operating expenses:        Sales and marketing              11,670   11,243    36,539    35,336        Provision for doubtful accounts      12      794       484     1,512        General and administrative        8,701    8,361    26,176    25,512        Amortization                        336      196       795       588        Other operating expenses             68      262       537     1,297        Facility rationalization and         impairment charges               8,555        -     9,617         -      Total operating expenses           29,342   20,856    74,148    64,245         Income from operations              587    7,235    12,218    19,651      Interest expense, net               2,378    2,905     6,811     7,580      Other income, net                    (405)      37    (1,024)     (154)        (Loss) income before income         taxes                           (1,386)   4,293     6,431    12,225      Income tax (benefit) provision     (1,126)   1,285     1,671     4,634        Net (loss) income                 $(260)  $3,008    $4,760    $7,591       (Loss) earnings per share -       basic                             ($0.03)   $0.35     $0.56     $0.89      (Loss) earnings per share -       diluted                           ($0.03)   $0.35     $0.55     $0.88      Weighted average common shares -       basic                              8,538    8,569     8,566     8,503      Weighted average common shares -       diluted                            8,538    8,683     8,653     8,641                     Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets                               (In Thousands)                                (Unaudited)                                           9/30/2008   9/30/2007  12/31/2007      Cash                                 $22,288     $14,988     $37,304      Receivables, net                      77,340      86,061      73,131      Inventories                          161,752     167,733     152,451      Other current assets                  25,551      24,311      22,843        Total current assets               286,931     293,093     285,729       Property, plant and equipment, net    88,014      94,676      94,150      Other assets                          72,410      70,935      77,799        Total assets                      $447,355    $458,704    $457,678       Debt                                  $2,983      $3,369      $2,285      Other current liabilities             63,424      56,170      64,701        Total current liabilities           66,407      59,539      66,986       Long-term debt                       168,385     194,672     173,981      Other liabilities                     46,956      57,165      52,932      Stockholders' equity                 165,607     147,328     163,779        Total liabilities and         stockholders' equity             $447,355    $458,704    $457,678                        STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.            Reconciliation of GAAP Earnings to Adjusted Earnings                   (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)                                (Unaudited)                                         Three Months Ended 9/30/08                                     GAAP        Adjustments    Adjusted   Band sales                      $44,782              $-       $44,782   Piano sales (1)                  55,706               -        55,706     Total sales                   100,488               -       100,488    Band gross profit                10,377             (62)(2)    10,315   Piano gross profit (1)           19,552               -        19,552     Total gross profit             29,929             (62)       29,867    Band GM%                           23.2%                         23.0%   Piano GM% (1)                      35.1%                         35.1%     Total GM%                        29.8%                         29.7%    Operating expenses               29,342          (8,555)(3)    20,787      Income from operations            587           8,493         9,080    Interest expense, net             2,378               -         2,378   Other (income) expense, net        (405)              -          (405)      (Loss) income before income      taxes                         (1,386)          8,493         7,107    Income tax (benefit) provision   (1,126)          3,312(4)      2,186      Net (loss) income               $(260)         $5,181        $4,921    (Loss) earnings per share -    basic                           ($0.03)                        $0.58   (Loss) earnings per share -    diluted                         ($0.03)                        $0.57   Weighted average common shares    - basic                          8,538                         8,538   Weighted average common shares    - diluted                        8,538                         8,631                                           Three Months Ended 9/30/07                                     GAAP        Adjustments    Adjusted   Band sales                      $47,308              $-       $47,308   Piano sales                      51,985               -        51,985     Total sales                    99,293               -        99,293    Band gross profit                 9,209               -         9,209   Piano gross profit               18,882               -        18,882     Total gross profit             28,091               -        28,091    Band GM%                           19.5%                         19.5%   Piano GM%                          36.3%                         36.3%     Total GM%                        28.3%                         28.3%    Operating expenses               20,856               -        20,856      Income from operations          7,235               -         7,235    Interest expense, net             2,905               -         2,905   Other (income) expense, net          37               -            37      Income before income taxes      4,293               -         4,293    Income tax provision              1,285               -         1,285      Net income                     $3,008              $-        $3,008    Earnings per share - basic        $0.35                         $0.35   Earnings per share - diluted      $0.35                         $0.35   Weighted average common shares    - basic                          8,569                         8,569   Weighted average common shares    - diluted                        8,683                         8,683     Notes to Reconciliation of GAAP Earnings to Adjusted Earnings   (1) Includes results of online music business.   (2) Reflects reversal of employee severance costs associated with plant       closures.   (3) Reflects impairment of goodwill.   (4) Reflects the tax effect of Adjustments.                        STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.            Reconciliation of GAAP Earnings to Adjusted Earnings                   (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)                                (Unaudited)                                           Nine Months Ended 9/30/08                                     GAAP       Adjustments     Adjusted   Band sales                     $125,300              $-      $125,300   Piano sales (1)                 167,895               -       167,895     Total sales                   293,195               -       293,195    Band gross profit                27,855             941(2)     28,796   Piano gross profit (1)           58,511               -        58,511     Total gross profit             86,366             941        87,307    Band GM%                           22.2%                         23.0%   Piano GM% (1)                      34.8%                         34.8%     Total GM%                        29.5%                         29.8%    Operating expenses               74,148          (9,617)(3)    64,531      Income from operations         12,218          10,558        22,776    Interest expense, net             6,811               -         6,811   Other (income) expense, net      (1,024)            636(4)       (388)      Income before income taxes      6,431           9,922        16,353    Income tax provision              1,671           3,841(5)      5,512      Net income                     $4,760          $6,081       $10,841    Earnings per share - basic        $0.56                         $1.27   Earnings per share - diluted      $0.55                         $1.25   Weighted average common shares    - basic                          8,566                         8,566   Weighted average common shares    - diluted                        8,653                         8,653                                            Nine Months Ended 9/30/07                                     GAAP       Adjustments     Adjusted   Band sales                     $125,690              $-      $125,690   Piano sales                     159,292               -       159,292     Total sales                   284,982               -       284,982    Band gross profit                26,012               -        26,012   Piano gross profit               57,884               -        57,884     Total gross profit             83,896               -        83,896    Band GM%                           20.7%                         20.7%   Piano GM%                          36.3%                         36.3%     Total GM%                        29.4%                         29.4%    Operating expenses               64,245               -        64,245      Income from operations         19,651               -        19,651    Interest expense, net             7,580               -         7,580   Other (income) expense, net        (154)              -          (154)      Income before income taxes     12,225               -        12,225    Income tax provision              4,634               -         4,634      Net income                     $7,591              $-        $7,591    Earnings per share - basic        $0.89                         $0.89   Earnings per share - diluted      $0.88                         $0.88   Weighted average common shares -    basic                            8,503                         8,503   Weighted average common shares -    diluted                          8,641                         8,641     Notes to Reconciliation of GAAP Earnings to Adjusted Earnings   (1) Includes results of online music business.   (2) Reflects costs (primarily employee severance) associated with plant       closures.   (3) Reflects facility rationalization costs of $1,062 due to the       impairment of plants in Elkhorn, WI and France and $8,555 impairment       of goodwill.   (4) Reflects a gain on early extinguishment of debt.   (5) Reflects the tax effect of Adjustments.                        STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.                               (In Thousands)                                (Unaudited)    

Reconciliation from Cash Flows from Operating Activities to Adjusted EBITDA

                                      Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended                                      9/30/2008 9/30/2007 9/30/2008 9/30/2007   Cash flows from operating    activities                         $(3,833)  $5,165    $(2,402) $(11,374)   Changes in operating assets and    liabilities                         12,667    1,248     22,116    27,104   Stock based compensation expense       (300)    (210)      (811)     (853)   Income taxes, net of deferred tax    benefit                              1,445    1,416      5,591     6,672   Net interest expense                  2,378    2,905      6,811     7,580   Provision for doubtful accounts         (12)    (794)      (484)   (1,512)   Other                                   (46)      94       (381)       27   Non-recurring, infrequent or    unusual cash charges                   (62)       -        941         -   Adjusted EBITDA                     $12,237   $9,824    $31,381   $27,644               Reconciliation from Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA                                       Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended                                      9/30/2008 9/30/2007 9/30/2008 9/30/2007   Net (loss) income                     $(260)  $3,008     $4,760    $7,591   Income taxes                         (1,126)   1,285      1,671     4,634   Net interest expense                  2,378    2,905      6,811     7,580   Depreciation                          2,416    2,430      7,422     7,251   Amortization                            336      196        795       588   Non-recurring, infrequent or    unusual items                        8,493        -      9,922         -   Adjusted EBITDA                     $12,237   $9,824    $31,381   $27,644  

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.

CONTACT: Julie A. Theriault, +1-781-894-9770, ir@steinwaymusical.com

Web site: http://www.steinwaymusical.com/


Profile: International Entertainment

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