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LifeVantage Corporation (LFVN)

Q1 2017 Earnings Call· Mon, Dec 12, 2016

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Transcript

Operator

Operator

Good day, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Welcome to today's LifeVantage Fourth Quarter Fiscal 2016 and First Quarter Fiscal 2017 Earnings Conference. [Operator Instructions] Hosting today's conference will be Scott Van Winkle with ICR. As a reminder, today's conference is being recorded. At this time, I'd like to turn the conference over to Mr. Van Winkle. Please go ahead, sir

Scott Van Winkle

Analyst

Thank you, and good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to LifeVantage Corporation's conference call to discuss the recently filed fiscal 2016 results and first quarter 2017 results. On the call today from LifeVantage will be prepared remarks from Garry Mauro, Chairman of the Board of Directors; Darren Jensen, Chief Executive Officer; and Mark Jaggi, Chief Financial Officer. By now everyone should have access to the earnings release, which went out this afternoon approximately 4:05 p.m. Eastern time. If you've not received the release, it's available on the Investor Relations portion of LifeVantage's website at lifevantage.com. This call is being webcast and a replay will be available on the company's website as well. Before we begin, we'd like to remind everyone that our prepared remarks contain forward-looking statements and management may make additional forward-looking statements in response to your questions. These statements do not guarantee future performance and therefore, undue reliance should not be placed upon them. These statements are based on current expectations of the management and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, including those identified in the Risk Factors sections of LifeVantage's most recently filed Form 10-Q and 10-K. These risk factors contain a more detailed discussion of the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in any forward-looking statements. Please note that during today's call, we will discuss non-GAAP financial measures, including results on an adjusted basis. Management believes these financial measures can facilitate a more complete analysis and greater transparency into LifeVantage's ongoing results of operations, particularly when comparing underlying results from period to period. We've included a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures with today's release. This call also contains time-sensitive information that is accurate only as of the date of this live broadcast, December 12, 2016. LifeVantage assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking projections that may be made in today's release or call. [Operator Instructions] Now I will turn the call over to the company CEO, Darren Jensen.

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

Thanks, Scott, and good afternoon, everyone. Let me begin by acknowledging that this has been a long process, longer than we had anticipated to report on our fiscal 2016 results and file our 10-K and first quarter 10-Q, both of which were filed this afternoon. With today's SEC filings, we are again current with our financial reporting and in compliance with our Zions Bank credit line. We expect that these filings will also bring us back into compliance with NASDAQ listing rules. While we experienced a delay in our financial reporting, and understand our shareholders' concern over the length of time this process took, I can assure you that we remain focused on our day-to-day operations, supporting both our distributors and customers. I'm pleased to report that the Audit Committee review is now complete, and we can begin to refocus our investors' attention on our business performance and growth objectives. Before we discuss our recent financial results, I'd like to turn the call over to our Chairman of the Board of Directors, Garry Mauro, to address the recent Audit Committee review. Garry?

Garry Mauro

Analyst

Thank you, Darren, and good afternoon. On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to address our shareholders regarding the delayed financial statements and the comprehensive review of our international business procedures. During the 2016 fiscal year closing process, employees in our tax department raised concerns about our international policies dealing with how our products are purchased or sold in some international markets and taxes and tariffs associated with those sales. It's important to note that these potential policy weaknesses were identified internally. Once the board was notified, our Audit Committee initiated an independent review utilizing independent external legal counsel and independent external accounting experts. A formal SOX complaint was submitted by an employee after the review was underway, and the Audit Committee took this information into account and evaluated and completed due diligence on all issues raised. We analyzed transactions, policies and procedures to determine if there were weaknesses and to determine why they may have happened. We aspire to best practices in all areas and the depth of this process was to ensure just that. The questions we addressed in our review revolved around several policies and procedures concerning distributor activities in select international markets. But as the review progressed, the scope was expanded to a general review of our policies and procedures across all international markets. The type of activities reviewed included our products being purchased for personal consumption and being taken into markets where they had not been approved for resale. In general, most countries have an allowance for the personal importation of products for personal use. However, we identified an increase in this type of activity that needed additional review, primarily for tariff and tax purposes. It is important that we have in place the policies, procedures and internal systems to help ensure compliance,…

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

Thank you, Garry. Before I update you on our business progress and activities, let me walk you through some of the remedial measures being implemented as a result of the recent review. As Garry noted, we identified a few international policy weaknesses that are now being addressed. We are implementing changes that include enhanced support from our country-specific experts including legal, tax and customs advice. Given the complexity of operating in multiple international markets, we have also begun to outsource key activities where external support is more effective and efficient. Let me highlight some of the specific policy weaknesses discovered and the steps we have taken. First, in certain markets, the documentation and verification obtained during the enrollment process for people who wanted to become independent distributors was insufficient. We have received local advice and now, where necessary, require in-person verification of local resident identification. Second, we have instituted enhanced policies regarding the purchase for personal consumption of products and markets where such products are not registered or otherwise -- or otherwise restrict our direct selling model. Third, policies regarding distributor payments were not appropriately documented in some markets. We have strengthened these policies and instituted new controls covering payments in local markets and currencies. Fourth, transfer pricing and commissions rebalancing procedures in international markets have been refined to more effectively provide for consistency in cross-border purchases. For example, a distributor may purchase in one market with delivery to customers in another market where pricing, currency and commission rates could vary. Fifth, we have structurally aligned our sales to outsource tax and tariff advisory functions to ensure we have access to the most up-to-date market specific expertise. Sixth, we have started evaluating and reallocating our personnel to ensure that each market has adequate resources to support our enhanced processes and…

Mark Jaggi

Analyst · Slater

Thanks, Darren. Good afternoon, everyone. I'm going to briefly discuss the fourth quarter and fiscal year ended June 30, 2016, and then turn my attention to the first quarter of fiscal 2017. During the fourth quarter, we reported revenue of $53 million, an increase of 17.1% when compared to $45.3 million for the prior year period. For the full year fiscal 2016, we reported $206.5 million in sales, an 8.5% increase over the prior year and within our guidance range of $205 million to $210 million. Foreign currency changes were approximately 2% favorable during Q4, but negatively impacted the full year by about 1%. By region, revenue in the Americas increased 17.1% year-over-year to $39.5 million during the fourth quarter and increased 14.6% to $158.3 million for the full year 2016. Revenue in the Asia/Pacific and Europe region increased 16.9% year-over-year to $13.5 million during the fourth quarter but declined 7.6% to $48.2 million for the full year. As you may recall, earlier in the fiscal year, we posted softer quarterly sales in Japan, which led to the full year decline in the Asia/Pacific and Europe region. The improved trends are evident in the positive fourth quarter growth. Looking at our customers, we ended the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 with 69,000 total active distributors, up from 65,000 a year ago. The number of preferred customers at the end of the fourth quarter of fiscal 2016 was 117,000, up from 115,000 a year ago. Our gross profit margin during both the fourth quarter and fiscal year was between 160 and 170 basis points below the prior year. The decline in the full year is largely due to a $2 million reduction in cost of goods sold in the prior year related to insurance proceeds from a product recall. The remainder…

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

Thank you, Mark. Now I'd like to review guidance. In fiscal 2017, we expect to generate full year revenue in the range of $207 million to $212 million, which reflects the disruption in sales during Q1 and Q2 as we reviewed and updated our international policies and procedures. We anticipate fiscal 2017 adjusted earnings per diluted share in the range of $0.40 to $0.47. Our fiscal 2017 adjusted EPS guidance excludes significant cost associated with the Audit Committee review and any potential additional nonoperating adjustments, which we cannot reasonably estimate at this time. Further, given the timing of this conference call, we have visibility into the second quarter of fiscal 2017 and we'd like to provide you with the second quarter revenue guidance. We expect second quarter revenue in the range of $48 million to $49 million, which would be down sequentially versus the first quarter of fiscal 2017. During the second quarter, our sales have been negatively impacted by the disruption surrounding our policy changes affecting international markets. Additionally, our October Elite Academy event in Orlando, Florida was disrupted by Hurricane Matthew, which caused airport closures and significantly limited the number of distributors that could attend the event. As such, our event-related sales were lower than expected. Please note that we do not intend to provide quarterly guidance on an ongoing basis. However, the unique timing of this conference call relative to our second quarter calendar provides this opportunity. Again, we thank you for your patience and know many of you have been frustrated with the duration of the reporting delay. We have been equally as frustrated and assume full responsibility. As such, your senior management team is foregoing much of the bonus awards for fiscal 2016 that were otherwise payable under our cash incentive plans, given the length of the delay and costs associated with the review. Again, we thank you for your support and interest in LifeVantage. I would now like to open the call up to questions.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] We will go first to Will Hamilton with Manatuck Hill.

Will Hamilton

Analyst

If I were to boil down the conclusion on the audit review, is it essentially that certain distributors were selling into certain markets where they shouldn't have been or that certain shipments were going to certain markets where they shouldn't have been going?

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

The audit committee...

Will Hamilton

Analyst

Trying to get a better determination of what was concluded. Sorry.

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

The conclusion? Basically, what you're saying, the conclusion was that some independent contractor distributors were personally importing product that was purchased in a market and then they took it into a different market. That was one of the issues that was being reviewed.

Will Hamilton

Analyst

Okay. And then, do you have any -- could you quantify how much, in the name of sales, was that in 2016?

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

Sure. In the 10-K, we released -- yes, it's approximately 8%.

Will Hamilton

Analyst

8% of the sales in '16 were to, like, these nonresidents or something?

Mark Jaggi

Analyst · Slater

Correct.

Will Hamilton

Analyst

Okay. And so with talking, or was that, $13 million, $14 million, $15 million?

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

It would be $17 million.

Mark Jaggi

Analyst · Slater

It's about $17 million, Will.

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

That was subject to the review.

Will Hamilton

Analyst

And so we're losing much of that this year, right? Do you think you might recoup in the right process some of those sales in the second half, but do the right means versus what was being done before?

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

As I said, roughly 8% of our sales were the subject to the review. Going forward, we can refocus and remove this distraction and focus on our strategic plan so the impact, from what we can see, primarily affects Q2 and I think is evident in our low guidance.

Will Hamilton

Analyst

Okay. Yes, so the sequential decline of, say, $6 million or so in Q2 is primarily because of the hurricane...?

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

Part of that was related -- yes, to the hurricane also.

Will Hamilton

Analyst

Would that have been about $1 million or something?

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

Yes, probably approximately $1 million or so.

Will Hamilton

Analyst

Okay, that's helpful color. Just a question on SG&A. So if I take out the roughly $1 million out of -- from the audit, you're about $16 million or so -- or I'm sorry, $16.5 million. What should be sort of our run rate going forward for SG&A excluding further audit costs?

Mark Jaggi

Analyst · Slater

One second, Will. Yes, so, Will, just to be clear, the SG&A in total, as you said, is about $4 million up on a quarter-over-quarter basis. There's $1 million of that related to the review. And then you've got some where we had an event in Japan where prior year we didn't have any event in Japan, we have essentially been on...

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

Hold pattern.

Mark Jaggi

Analyst · Slater

Yes, hold pattern, really, in Japan at the time. And so we started spending a little bit more there. We also have a much larger event in the United States than we used to have, and that was another roughly 700,000. So you've got a couple of million right there. Furthermore, as Darren pointed out, executing on the strategic plan, this disruption in our business guides us lower. But regardless of the disruption in Q1 and Q2, we have a strategic plan, and our infrastructure is really ahead of our revenue, given the disruption. So investments in SG&A are simply ahead of our revenue right now. Forward, we're looking pretty stable, but we didn't want to bring that -- we don't want to bring that back hard right now as we focus on growth and the strategic plan.

Will Hamilton

Analyst

Okay, that makes sense. My last question is just on the inventory. Is there any risk that the $23 million, $24 million goes bad or obsolete like just being some of it maybe food related that might expire?

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

Will, I'll answer that one. There's always risk that something would expire. But right now, recognizing that, that was an issue and a very big disappointment for us, we're aggressively moving forward with our sales plans and promotions to drive down the inventories as soon as possible in order to eliminate the risk of expiration.

Operator

Operator

[Operator Instructions] We'll hear next from Steven Martin with Slater.

Steven Martin

Analyst · Slater

I guess, I'm less concerned about the past and more concerned about the future. So if I take your guidance for the year, your actual first quarter and your guidance for the second quarter, you're going to do about $104 million in the first half. If I subtract that from your guidance for the full year, you're going to do about $106 million in the second half. And that gets you to about $210 million. The second half -- I'm sorry?

Mark Jaggi

Analyst · Slater

Yes. I'd say, yes, between $207 million to $212 million.

Steven Martin

Analyst · Slater

Right. Okay, I picked the midpoint. That's a down second half versus the year we just -- that you just reported to us because you did $53 million in the third quarter -- I'm sorry, you did $53 million in the fourth quarter you just reported and $56 million in third quarter you reported a while ago. So that would mean $109 million in the second 6 months. So I guess, my question is, with all the new products and all the growth you're talking about, you're going to have a down back half with SG&A up large and inventory up significantly. And I don't understand given the nature of your business, I hate to be tough guys, but I don't understand how you get to 270 days of inventory. When your product -- a good chunk of your Protandim and product shipments are sort of regular monthly, and the corollary to that is given your cost of sales runs about $7 million or $8 million a month -- a quarter, why would you only be able to reduce inventory $1 million? I'll leave it to you now.

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

Okay, yes. There were multiple questions in there, so let me hope that I get those. First, on the guidance. Obviously, we're being conservative on the guidance, considering disruption that we had with Q2. It's my belief that most of the damage will be limited to Q2 and we'll spend the rest of the year recovering and returning back to a growth model. Looking at -- you mentioned the inventory levels, frankly speaking, there's not an excuse for that. There were errors that were made and we're in the process of driving that inventory down as quickly as possible. We're also implementing the new MRP system and inside that process, there were errors that happened. So basically, there's miscalculations of our inventory needs relative to our position at the time. And we identified the issues and responded. And however, there were required volumes associated with orders from third-party suppliers that complicated matters. But in the end, we had too much inventory. It was a mistake. It wasn't something that was planned.

Steven Martin

Analyst · Slater

I understand. But -- I mean, all the electronic in your MRP systems are great, but didn't someone sort of -- I've highlighted that to you 2 -- the last quarter you were able to report to us, I said your inventories were too high. And I don't understand why they just don't come down quicker, you shut the spigot off.

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

One, I would say we're trying to drive them down as quickly as possible. We're estimating anywhere between $0.5 million to $1 million per month or per quarter -- per month it's where we're driving it down. And again, there was no excuse for them to go that high.

Steven Martin

Analyst · Slater

Okay. Let me, with all the new -- so when you look around the globe at the back half of the year, again, it's the future I care about, not the past, when you look around the globe at the back half of the year, you've added a whole bunch of countries, which frankly, I didn't understand why you were adding them while you were going through all the stuff you were going through. But where do you expect -- regionally or country wise, where do you expect pluses and where do you expect minuses?

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

Pluses right now, high points that I'm seeing, I expect pluses in the United States. We're getting strong growth out of Canada as well as in Australia. We don't report individually per market, but I'm very positive on those areas. Areas I'm also quite positive, with some of the changes and the new people that we brought on to support Japan, which is our second largest market. I think we've seen that market finally begin to turn. And so I would say that the positive areas definitely Japan, Canada, Australia, the United States. Those are the high points that I'm looking at. We're also, in addition, I've mentioned in -- a little earlier today, that in January, we are launching our Nrf1 product into Japan. The first -- our first go around with that where we limited it to just 1 event and sold it, was very, very successful. So we're hoping to generate a lot of excitement in that market next month.

Operator

Operator

And we have no further questions at this time. I'll turn the conference back to you all for closing remarks.

Darren Jensen

Analyst · Slater

All right. Thank you, everyone, for joining us today. We appreciate all of your patience and continued support. We look forward to continuing our growth initiatives and progress during fiscal 2017. And I hope to be speaking and meeting with many of you over the next few months. Have a good day.

Operator

Operator

Again that will conclude today's conference. Thank you all for joining us.