CORRECTING and REPLACING Elizabeth Arden, Inc. Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2013 Results

CORRECTING and REPLACING Elizabeth Arden, Inc. Announces Second Quarter Fiscal 2013 Results

~ Net Sales of $468 Million; Increase of 9% ~

~ Adjusted EPS of $1.58; Increase of 11% ~

~ Fiscal Year-to-Date Net Sales Increase of 11%; Adjusted EPS Increase of 17% ~

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- A correction was made to the "Segment Net Sales" table in the release dated January 31, 2012. In the "Three Months Ended" section, the "% Increase/(Decrease)" figures were corrected.

The corrected release reads:

ELIZABETH ARDEN, INC. ANNOUNCES SECOND QUARTER FISCAL 2013 RESULTS

~ Net Sales of $468 Million; Increase of 9% ~

~ Adjusted EPS of $1.58; Increase of 11% ~

~ Fiscal Year-to-Date Net Sales Increase of 11%; Adjusted EPS Increase of 17% ~

Elizabeth Arden, Inc. (NAS: RDEN) , a global prestige beauty products company, today announced financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended December 31, 2012.

SECOND QUARTER RESULTS

For the quarter ended December 31, 2012, the Company reported net sales of $467.9 million, an increase of 8.8% as compared to the second quarter of the prior fiscal year. Excluding the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation, net sales increased by 9.1%.

On a reported basis, net income per diluted share for the current year period was $1.47. On an adjusted basis, net income per diluted share for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 was $1.58, as compared to net income per diluted share of $1.42 for the prior year period. Adjusted net income per diluted share excludes acquisition-related expenses and non-recurring charges associated with the Elizabeth Arden brand repositioning. A reconciliation between GAAP and adjusted results can be found in the tables and footnotes at the end of this press release.

In North America, net sales increased 8.4% for the quarter and 13% fiscal year-to-date. The Company's fragrance portfolio continued to add market share, with both prestige and mass retailers gaining 2.15% and 2.1%, respectively. Sales growth was driven by the recently acquired brands, new launches, including Justin Bieber's Girlfriend, Pink Friday Nicki Minaj and Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Enchanted, which all ranked among the top fragrance launches in U.S. prestige department stores for the holiday season, and growth in existing pillar fragrance brands. Performance at prestige retailers was strong with a number of the Company's key existing brands as well, with the largest retail sales increases posted by the Juicy Couture, John Varvatos and Curve fragrances. Net sales of Elizabeth Arden branded products decreased 6% for the quarter and 6.5% fiscal year-to-date in North America. In terms of retail sales, overall retail sales at Elizabeth Arden counters in North America were flat, with the Company's recently converted Elizabeth Arden flagship counters increasing 24% year over year since conversion through the end of December.

Internationally, net sales grew 11% (constant rates) for the second fiscal quarter and 10% (constant rates) fiscal year-to-date. Net sales of fragrances increased 14% (constant rates) for the first six months, behind the Company's Western European fragrance initiative. As a result, fragrance sales in Europe grew 18% (constant rates) during the same period. Net sales of Elizabeth Arden branded products grew 10% (constant rates) for the second quarter and 7% (constant rates) for the first half of the fiscal year. As for retail sales performance, retail sales of Elizabeth Arden products at international flagship doors increased by 9% since conversion, reflecting later conversion dates as compared to the flagship doors in North America.

E. Scott Beattie, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Elizabeth Arden, Inc., commented, "Second quarter sales and earnings were up solidly from the prior year, with strong retail sales performance within our North America and International businesses. Nonetheless, our net sales results were below original guidance due to lower than forecasted sales in department stores as well as softer than anticipated holiday sales at one of our major mass retail accounts. Despite strong sales growth among many of our global affiliates, international net sales were impacted by lower than expected inventory replenishment in our travel retail business and weakness in Greater China."

Mr. Beattie continued, "Over the course of the past few months, we successfully completed the conversion of our Elizabeth Arden flagship doors and are very excited with the momentum of sales increases. The flagship model was established as a way for us to test, learn, and gather feedback on the repositioning of the Elizabeth Arden brand as well as build confidence in the growth potential of the brand with our key retail partners. Flagship counters in the North American markets were converted earlier this fall, with all door conversions complete by the end of October. U.S. flagship doors delivered 24% year-over-year retail sales growth from conversion through the end of December, well in excess of the U.S. prestige category which grew 5% for the second quarter.

"The timing of the conversion of international flagship doors was staggered across the quarter due to retailer constraints. International flagship doors delivered 9% retails sales growth from conversion, reflecting later conversion dates as compared to the flagship doors in North America, and are gaining momentum by the week. The most recent weeks have achieved retail sales growth of 23%. Given our early success, we plan to extend key elements of the flagship model to the next tier of approximately 200 doors globally during the remainder of fiscal 2013 and drive sales growth behind the roll out of new products for our international markets during the second half of the fiscal year."

SIX MONTH RESULTS

For the six months ended December 31, 2012, the Company reported net sales of $812.5 million, an increase of 10.8%, as compared to the prior year period. Excluding the unfavorable impact of foreign currency translation, net sales increased by 12%. On a reported basis, net income per diluted share for the six months ended December 31, 2012 was $1.54. On an adjusted basis, net income per diluted share was $2.02, as compared to net income per diluted share of $1.73 for the prior year period. Adjusted net income per diluted share excludes acquisition-related expenses and non-recurring charges associated with the Elizabeth Arden brand repositioning. A reconciliation between GAAP and adjusted results can be found in the tables and footnotes at the end of this press release.

OUTLOOK

Based on the retail trends year-to-date and the seasonally slower fragrance market in the second fiscal half, the Company is reducing its second half revenue and earnings guidance. For the full fiscal year ending June 30, 2013, the Company currently expects net sales to increase by 9% to 11%, assuming an expected unfavorable impact from foreign currency of approximately 0.5%, as compared to the prior year period, and for earnings per diluted share (adjusted) to be in the range of $2.30 to $2.50. The Company currently expects gross margin (adjusted) for fiscal 2013 to increase by 75 to 100 basis points as compared to gross margin (adjusted) for fiscal 2012.

For the third quarter of fiscal 2013, the Company is introducing guidance for net sales of $255 million to $270 million, and for net income per diluted share of $0.00 to $0.04. The net sales guidance for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 assumes an unfavorable impact from foreign currency rates of approximately 0.2%, as compared to rates in effect for the prior year period.

The earnings guidance excludes non-recurring charges related to the Elizabeth Arden brand repositioning and expenses related to the acquisitions completed in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012. The Company expects to incur the remainder of these charges, currently estimated at $4.3 million (pre-tax), primarily in the third quarter of fiscal 2013.

The guidance is based on current foreign currency rates. The Company also notes that continued global economic uncertainty may have a negative effect on retailer and consumer confidence and demand, and, along with the foreign currency volatility, makes forecasting difficult.

CONFERENCE CALL INFORMATION

The Company will host a conference call today at 9:30 a.m. Eastern Time. All interested parties can listen to a live web cast of the Company's conference call by visiting the Investor Relations section of the Corporate tab on the Company's web site at http://ir.elizabetharden.com. An online archive of the broadcast will be available within one hour of the completion of the call and will be accessible on the Company's web site until March 1, 2013.

Elizabeth Arden is a global prestige beauty products company with an extensive portfolio of prestige beauty brands sold in over 120 countries. The company's brand portfolio includes Elizabeth Arden skincare, color and fragrance products, the celebrity fragrance brands of Britney Spears, Elizabeth Taylor, Justin Bieber, Mariah Carey, Nicki Minaj, Taylor Swift, and Usher; the designer fragrance brands of Juicy Couture, Alfred Sung, BCBGMAXAZRIA, Geoffrey Beene, Halston, Ed Hardy, John Varvatos, Kate Spade, Lucky Brand, True Religion and Rocawear; and the lifestyle fragrance brands Curve, Giorgio Beverly Hills, and PS Fine Cologne.

(a) EBITDA is defined as net income plus the provision for income taxes plus interest expense, plus depreciation and amortization. EBITDA should not be considered as an alternative to income from operations or net income (as determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)) as a measure of our operating performance or to net cash provided by operating, investing and financing activities (as determined in accordance with GAAP) or as a measure of our ability to meet cash needs. We believe that EBITDA is a measure commonly reported and widely used by investors and other interested parties as a measure of a company's operating performance and debt servicing ability because it assists in comparing performance on a consistent basis without regard to capital structure, depreciation and amortization or non-operating factors (such as historical cost). Accordingly, as a result of our capital structure, we believe EBITDA is a relevant measure. This information has been disclosed here to permit a more complete comparative analysis of our operating performance relative to other companies and of our debt servicing ability. EBITDA may not, however, be comparable in all instances to other similar types of measures. We have also disclosed EBITDA as adjusted without giving effect to acquisition-related and Elizabeth Arden repositioning costs. This disclosure is being provided for comparability purposes because we believe it is meaningful to our investors and other interested parties to understand the EBITDA performance of the Company on a consistent basis without regard to the effect of acquisition-related and Elizabeth Arden repositioning costs.

The table below reconciles net income, as determined in accordance with GAAP, to EBITDA and to EBITDA as adjusted: (For a reconciliation of net income to EBITDA for prior periods, see the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission which can be found on the Company's website at www.elizabetharden.com.)

The table below reconciles net cash flow (used in) provided by operating activities, as determined in accordance with GAAP, to EBITDA:

(b) The table below reconciles the calculation of (i) net income and (ii) net income per share on a basic and diluted basis from the amounts reported in accordance with GAAP to such amounts before giving effect to acquisition-related and Elizabeth Arden repositioning costs. This disclosure is being provided for comparability purposes because we believe it is meaningful to our investors and other interested parties to understand the Company's operating performance on a consistent basis without regard to the effect of acquisition-related and Elizabeth Arden repositioning costs. The presentation in the table below