Coty Inc. Reports Positive Fiscal 2013 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Results

- Revenue Growth, Margin Expansion, Strong Cash Flow Generation

- Dividend Raised to $0.20 per share

NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Coty Inc. (NYSE: COTY) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2013.

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* These measures, as well as "free cash flow," are Non-GAAP Financial Measures. Refer to "Basis of Presentation and Exceptional Items" and "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for discussion of these measures. Reconciliations from reported to adjusted results can be found at the end of this release.

Fiscal 2013 Summary

• Net revenues of $4,649.1 million increased 2% like-for-like and 1% as reported
• Adjusted operating income of $572.8 million increased 8% at constant currency and 7% at actual rates from $535.9 million in the prior-year period
• Adjusted net income of $323.2 million increased 7% from $300.7 million in the prior-year period
• Adjusted earnings per diluted share increased to $0.82 from $0.78 in the prior-year period  
• Net cash provided by operating activities, excluding cash used for private company stock option exercises, was $618.4 million compared to $593.3 million in the prior-year period. Free cash flow, excluding cash used for private company stock option exercises, was $394.5 million for fiscal 2013 compared to $385.9 million in fiscal 2012

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2013 Summary

• Net revenues of $1,058.8 million increased 4% like-for-like and 3% as reported
• Adjusted operating income of $45.4 million increased from $11.6 million in the prior-year period
• Adjusted net income of $9.9 million increased from ($2.3) million in the prior-year period
• Adjusted earnings per diluted share increased to $0.03 from ($0.01) in the prior-year period 
• Net cash provided by operating activities, excluding cash used for private company stock option exercises, was $214.1 million compared to $183.4 million in the prior-year period

Commenting on the Company's performance, Michele Scannavini, CEO of Coty Inc., said, "Coty delivered another year of positive financial performance. Our increase in net revenues was driven by growth in our Fragrances and Color Cosmetics segments as well as positive developments across all regions, particularly the emerging markets. Operating and net income grew faster than revenues, contributing to margin expansion and demonstrating our ongoing focus on operational efficiency. We continue to show strong ability to convert earnings into cash, enabling us to keep investing to support our growth. We remain committed to our long term strategy to grow revenues in line or faster than the markets and segments where we compete, and to grow earnings faster than sales, driving continuous margin expansion."

Basis of Presentation and Exceptional Items

The term "like-for-like" describes the performance of the business on a comparable basis, excluding material acquisitions, disposals, discontinued operations and foreign currency exchange translations to the extent applicable. The term "adjusted" excludes the impact of non-recurring items, private company share-based compensation expense and restructuring costs to the extent applicable. Refer to "Non-GAAP Financial Measures" for a definition of free cash flow.

Net revenues are reported by segment and geographic region and are discussed below on a constant currency basis. Operating income is reported by segment. All changes in margin percentage are described in basis points rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent.

Net revenues, adjusted selling, general and administrative expense (SG&A) and adjusted operating income are presented on an actual and a constant currency basis. SG&A, operating income, effective tax rate, net income and earnings per share (EPS) are presented on a reported (GAAP) basis and an adjusted (non-GAAP) basis. Adjusted SG&A, adjusted operating income, adjusted effective tax rate, adjusted net income and adjusted EPS on an actual and constant currency basis, net revenues on a constant currency basis and like-for-like are non-GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP results can be found in the tables and footnotes at the end of this release.

Fiscal 2013 Summary Operating Review

Net revenues of $4,649.1 million increased 2% like-for-like and 1% as reported from the prior-year period. LFL growth was driven by solid increases in the Color Cosmetics and Fragrances segments, with strong performance in our power brands Rimmel, Marc Jacobs, Chloe, and Playboy. This growth was partially offset by lower net revenues in the Skin & Body Care segment. By geographic region, all regions reflected higher net revenues at constant currency led by Asia Pacific with 5% growth. Despite continued economic weakness in Southern European markets, at constant currency EMEA was 1% higher than the previous year.

Gross margin decreased to 60.0% compared to 60.4%. This decline primarily reflected the negative impact of higher customer discounts and allowances necessary to compete in the difficult and highly promotional European market. The decline more than offset the cost of goods savings from our supply chain savings program. Since its implementation in fiscal 2010, the supply chain savings program has contributed to improvements in manufacturing costs resulting from more streamlined manufacturing processes, procurement savings programs with suppliers, and supply chain redesign including improved management of third-party contractors.

Adjusted SG&A expense was flat at constant currency and declined 2% at actual rates. As a percentage of net revenues, adjusted SG&A expense decreased 110 basis points to 45.7%. The reduction was related to lower administrative costs, efficiencies in indirect spending, and a shift of some advertising and consumer promotion spending toward customer discounts and allowances in the last part of the year to keep competitiveness in a highly promotional environment in the mass business, particularly in Southern Europe and in the U.K.

Operating income increased to $394.4 million from $(209.5) million. The reported operating loss in the previous year primarily reflected an asset impairment charge in the Skin & Body Care segment related to acquisitions made in fiscal 2011 and higher share-based compensation.

Adjusted operating income at constant currency increased 8% to $576.3 million from $535.9 million. As a percentage of net revenues, adjusted operating margin increased 70 basis points to 12.3% from 11.6%, primarily driven by lower SG&A expense and amortization expense, partially offset by a decrease in gross margin.

Adjusted effective tax rate was 28.2% in fiscal 2013 compared to 27.7% in the prior year. The increase was primarily due to a change in jurisdictional mix with higher profits in countries with higher tax rates. The cash tax rate for the year was 16.9%.

Net income increased to $168.0 million from $(324.4) million.

Adjusted net income increased to $323.2 million from $300.7 million, primarily reflecting higher operating income and lower interest expense. As a percentage of net revenues, adjusted net income margin increased 50 basis points to 7.0% from 6.5%.

Cash Flows

• Net cash provided by operating activities for fiscal 2013 was $618.4 million, excluding the $154.5 million cash used for private company stock option exercises, compared to $593.3 million in the prior year, which excludes $4.0 million used for private company stock option exercises.  This increase was driven in part by higher net income and improved management of inventory and accounts receivable.
• Net debt decreased by $141.1 million to $1,709.8 million from $1,850.9 million at June 30, 2012.
• Free cash flow, excluding cash used for private company stock option exercises, was $394.5 million in fiscal 2013 compared to $385.9 million in fiscal 2012.
• The Company believes that cash on hand, cash generated from operations, available credit lines and access to credit markets will be adequate to support its planned business operations on both a near- and long-term basis.

Fiscal 2013 Business Review by Segment

Fragrances

• Increased net revenues reflected strong growth in our power brands Marc Jacobs, Chloe and Playboy, bolstered by the success of new launches DOT Marc Jacobs, See by Chloe, and Playboy VIP.
• Also driving segment growth was the newly established brand Lady Gaga Fame and the strengthening of the Roberto Cavalli brand through new launches, including the extremely successful special edition fragrance for the Middle East, Roberto Cavalli Oud.
• Operating income for Fragrances increased 9% to $369.7 million from $340.5 million in the prior year, resulting in 14.8% operating income margin, an improvement of 90 basis points versus fiscal 2012.

Color Cosmetics

• Segment growth in Color Cosmetics was primarily driven by the outstanding development of the Rimmel brand, gaining market share in the U.S. and Europe.  Its double-digit growth was driven by a creative and successful innovation plan and a cutting edge marketing mix, with an innovative and engaging digital program.
• N.Y.C. New York Color and Manhattan, the Company's entry price level brands, also contributed to the growth of the segment.
• Nail care brands OPI and Sally Hansen remained stable versus last year.
• Operating income for Color Cosmetics increased 4% to $208.8 million from $200.2 million in the prior year, resulting in 14.2% operating income margin, an improvement of 20 basis points compared to fiscal 2012.

Skin & Body Care

• Skin & Body Care net revenues declined 4%.  adidas net revenues were impacted by soft market conditions in Europe and the lack of mega promotions related to major sport events compared to the prior year, which benefitted from Euro Cup promotional activities.  adidas experienced strong double- digit growth in China, leveraging the TJoy production and distribution platform, which partially offset the decline experienced in the TJoy brand.
• philosophy, after a slow start to the year, progressively recovered momentum in the second half of the fiscal year, as our new innovation plan and international expansion started to kick in.
• Adjusted operating loss for Skin & Body Care was $(5.7) million compared to $(4.8) million in the prior year, resulting in a decline in operating margin of 10 basis points.

Fiscal 2013 Business Review by Geographic Region

Americas

• The net revenues increase in the region reflected growth in virtually all countries in the region with the largest increase in the U.S., followed by Latin America and Canada.
• Higher net revenues in the U.S. were primarily driven by new fragrance launches, including new launches from power brands Marc Jacobs, Calvin Klein and Chloe.
• Emerging markets in the region, particularly Brazil, Mexico and Argentina, experienced strong double-digit growth.

Europe, the Middle East & Africa

• Growth at constant currency was driven by emerging markets in the region, primarily Russia, the Middle East, and Travel Retail which all delivered double-digit growth.
• Growth in the region was achieved despite recessive market conditions in Southern Europe and a slow-down of the U.K. and Eastern European markets.  

Asia Pacific

• The Company recorded double-digit growth in South East Asia, driven primarily by Calvin Klein, Chloe, Marc Jacobs and the introduction of philosophy into the region.
• Australia delivered strong growth primarily due to growth in Fragrances and the Rimmel brand through expanded distribution.

Both developed and emerging markets experienced net revenue growth during the year, with emerging markets leading the way, growing 6% versus the prior year, and developed markets up 1%. Emerging markets now represent 24% of total net revenues, up from 23% in the prior year.

Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2013 Summary Operating Review

• For the three months ended June 30, 2013, the Company reported net revenues of $1,058.8 million, an increase of 4% like-for-like and 3% as reported.
• Fragrances and Skin & Body Care segments both had a strong quarter with 6% net revenue like-for-like growth.  By geographic region, net revenue like-for-like growth was driven by Asia Pacific with an 11% increase and EMEA with a 5% increase.  Emerging markets had a solid quarter with net revenue growth of 8% compared to the prior-year period, representing 25% of total net revenues.
• Adjusted operating income increased $33.8 million to $45.4 million from $11.6 million in the prior-year period.  Adjusted operating margin increased 320 basis points to 4.3% compared to 1.1%, primarily reflecting lower SG&A expense, partially offset by a decrease in gross margin.
• Adjusted net income attributable to Coty Inc. increased $12.2 million to $9.9 million from ($2.3) million in the prior-year period.  Adjusted net earnings per diluted share increased to $0.03 from ($0.01) in the prior-year period. 
• Net cash provided by operating activities was $214.1 million in the three months ended June 30, 2013, excluding $112.7 million of cash used for private company stock option exercises, compared to $183.4 million in the prior-year period excluding $0.8 million of cash used for private company stock option exercises.

Outlook for Fiscal 2014 First Quarter and Full Year

Over the last few months the Company has seen a deceleration of market growth in the U.S. and Europe, triggering significant trade de-stocking activity, particularly by U.S. mass retailers. As a consequence, Coty estimates net revenues in the first quarter of fiscal 2014 to marginally decline versus the prior year period. The Company expects to return over the course of the fiscal year to its long term target to grow in line or faster than the markets and segments where it competes, when trade inventory is expected to normalize and the Company's new investments in emerging markets will start to show positive impact on its growth.

The Company will pay an annual dividend of $0.20 per share of the Company's Class A and Class B Common Stock on October 31, 2013 to stockholders of record at the close of business on October 11, 2013.

Conference Call

Coty Inc. will host a conference call at 9:30 a.m. (ET) today, September 17, 2013 to discuss its results. The dial-in number for the call is 800-510-0146 in the U.S. or 617-614-3449 internationally (conference passcode number: 34186630). The call will also be webcast live at http://investors.coty.com. The conference call will be available for replay.

About Coty Inc.

Coty is a new emerging leader in beauty with net revenues of $4.6 billion for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2013. Founded in Paris in 1904, Coty is a pure play beauty company with a portfolio of well-known fragrances, color cosmetics and skin & body care products sold in over 130 countries and territories. Coty's product offerings include such power brands as adidas, Calvin Klein, Chloe, Davidoff, Marc Jacobs, OPI, philosophy, Playboy, Rimmel and Sally Hansen.

For additional information about Coty Inc., please visit www.coty.com.

Forward Looking Statements

Certain statements in this release are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect our current views with respect to, among other things, our operations and financial performance. These forward-looking statements are generally identified by words or phrases, such as "anticipate", "estimate", "plan", "project", "expect", "believe", "intend", "foresee", "forecast", "will", "may", "outlook" and similar words or phrases.

Risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from the results predicted, and reported results should not be considered an indication of future performance. Risks and uncertainties to which our forward-looking statements are subject include:

• our ability to achieve our global business strategy, compete effectively in the beauty industry and anticipate, gauge and response to rapid changes in market trends and consumer preferences;
• our ability to identify suitable acquisition targets and realize the full intended benefit of acquisitions we undertake and managerial, integration, operational and financial risks associated with those acquisitions;
• risks related to our international operations, including foreign political, regulatory, economic and reputational risks;
• dependence on certain licenses, on entities performing our outsourced functions and on third-party suppliers;
• our and our brand partners' and licensors' ability to obtain, maintain and protect the intellectual property rights used in our products and our abilities to protect our respective reputations;
• impairments to our goodwill and other assets;
• global political and/or economic uncertainties or disruptions, including a general economic downturn, the debt crisis and economic environment in Europe, a sudden disruption in business conditions affecting consumer purchases of our products, volatility in the financial markets and fluctuations in currency exchange rates;
• our ability to manage seasonal variability;
• changes in the retail environment in which we sell our products;
• disruptions in operations;
• increasing dependency on information technology and our ability to protect against service interruptions, data corruption, cyber-based attacks or network security breaches;
• changes in laws, regulations and policies that affect our business or products;
• our new product introductions may not be as successful as we anticipate; and the illegal distribution and sale by third parties of counterfeit versions of our products;

More information about potential risks and uncertainties that could affect our business and financial results is included under "Risk Factors" and "Management Discussion and Analysis of financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 and other periodic reports the Company may file with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time.

The Company assumes no responsibility to update forward-looking statements made herein or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The company operates on a global basis, with the majority of net revenues generated outside of the U.S. Accordingly, fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates can affect results of operations. Therefore, to supplement financial results presented in accordance with GAAP, certain financial information is presented excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange translations to provide a framework for assessing how the underlying businesses performed excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange translations ("constant currency"). Constant currency information compares results between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period-over-period. The Company calculates constant currency information by translating current and prior-period results for entities reporting in currencies other than U.S. dollars into U.S. dollars using constant foreign currency exchange rates. The constant currency calculations do not adjust for the impact of revaluing specific transactions denominated in a currency that is different to the functional currency of that entity when exchange rates fluctuate. The constant currency information presented may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The Company discloses the following constant currency financial measures: net revenues, adjusted SG&A expense and adjusted operating income.

The Company presents growth on a like-for-like basis. The Company believes that like-for-like growth better enables management and investors to analyze and compare our organic growth from period to period. In the periods described in this release, like-for-like growth only excludes the impact of foreign currency exchange translations and therefore is the same as constant currency presentations. See the table entitled "Reconciliation of Reported to Adjusted Results for the Consolidated Statements of Operation."

The Company presents SG&A expense, operating income, effective tax rate, net income and EPS on a non-GAAP basis and specifies that these measures are non-GAAP by using the term "adjusted". The Company believes these non-GAAP financial measures better enable management and investors to analyze and compare the underlying business results from period to period. In calculating, SG&A expense, operating income, effective tax rate, net income and EPS, the Company excludes the impact of nonrecurring items, private company share-based compensation expense and restructuring costs. The Company has provided a quantitative reconciliation of the difference between the non-GAAP financial measures and the financial measures calculated and reported in accordance with GAAP. For a reconciliation of adjusted SG&A expense to SG&A expense, and adjusted EPS to EPS, see the table entitled "Reconciliation of Reported to Adjusted Results for the Consolidated Statements of Operation." For a reconciliation of adjusted operating income to operating income, see the table entitled "Reconciliation of Reported Operating Income to Adjusted Operating Income." For a reconciliation of adjusted effective tax rate to effective tax rate, see the table entitled "Reconciliation of Reported Income Before Income Taxes and Effective Tax Rates to Adjusted Income Before Income Taxes and Effective Taxes." For a reconciliation of adjusted net income to net income, see the table entitled "Reconciliation of Reported Net Income to Adjusted Net Income."

The Company also presents free cash flow. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities, less capital expenditures and the contingent purchase price consideration payments of up to $30.0 per year related to the Unilever Cosmetics International acquisition. Free cash flow excludes cash used for private company stock option exercises and cash used for acquisitions. Management believes that free cash flow is useful for investors because it provides them with an important perspective on the cash available for debt repayment and other strategic measures, after making necessary capital investments in property and equipment to support the Company's ongoing business operations, and provides them with the same measures that management uses as the basis for making resource allocation decisions. For a reconciliation of Free Cash Flow, see the table entitled "reconciliation of Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities to Free Cash Flow".

These non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation, or as a substitute for, or superior to, financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP.

For additional financial statements and charts go to http://investors.coty.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=251569&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1855289&highlight .

For more information:

Investor Relations
Kevin Monaco, 212-389-6815, Senior Vice President, Treasurer and Investor Relations

Media
Catherine Walsh, 212-389-7346, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications