David R. Lumley
Analyst · Lee Giordano from Imperial Capital
Thanks, Dave, and thank you, all, for joining us today. These are exciting times for Spectrum Brands. The record fiscal 2012 results we just reported provide strong momentum as we focus on delivering another year of measured improvement in 2013 and as we near the closing on our exciting and accretive acquisition of HHA -- HHI, which is expected before the end of the calendar year, Our record 2012 performance met or exceeded our financial guidance. It was highlighted by strong growth in net income; EPS, both on a GAAP and adjusted basis; and adjusted EBITDA, this, along with record free cash flow of $208 million or approximately $4 per common share. These numbers were delivered in spite of an extraordinary negative foreign currency impact; challenging global economies, including the financial crisis in Europe; cautious, restrained consumer spending; and ongoing major commodity and Asian supply chain cost increases. In fiscal 2012, we also swung to net income of $48.6 million, an EPS of $0.91, from a loss of $75 million or $1.47 per share in 2011. More importantly, on an adjusted non-GAAP basis, our 2012 EPS jumped 25% to $2.28 from $1.83. This is our third consecutive year of increased adjusted EPS. Record net sales of $3.25 billion, an increase of 2.1% versus last year, and in line with our guidance, at or above the rate of GDP, and our operating income increased an impressive 32%. It is our third consecutive year of record adjusted EBITDA, $485 million, a solid 6% increase versus 2011 and grew about 3x the rates of our net sales gain. Now on a constant-currency basis, our results were even stronger and I believe, more noteworthy. For example, net sales increased 4.3% and adjusted EBITDA grew at a solid 10% or more than 2x the growth rate of our sales. What does our record performance mean? It says Spectrum Brands has an important role in the global consumer goods marketplace. We are winning with a balanced combination of volume growth, retail distribution gains, new products, geographic expansions, select pricing actions, continued spending controls and investment paybacks from our global cost improvement programs. Our results reinforce the importance of our largely nondiscretionary, non-premium price replacement products and the returns they provide to our retail partners and consumers worldwide, especially in difficult economic times. Our acquisitions of Black Flag and FURminator in early fiscal 2012 were solid contributors to our record performance. These 2 businesses were fully and quickly integrated ahead of schedule and above initial synergy targets. They will remain significant contributors in fiscal 2013 and beyond. Our primary financial goal and strength, which is strong and consistent free cash flow generation, was evident again in 2012. We delivered record free cash flow of $208 million or approximately $4 per common share, as I said earlier, on an increase from $190 million in 2011. Finally, our fiscal 2012 year-end target leverage ratio of approximately 3.4x was achieved due to term loan voluntary prepayments of $150 million in the fourth quarter. Over the long term, our objective is to maintain a total leverage ratio in the range of 2.5x to 3.5x. Our steady growth is being driven in large part by our Spectrum Value Model. We think it continues to be the right go-to-market strategy for retailers and customers who sell and purchase our largely everyday replacement products. Our Spectrum Value Model delivers real value to the consumer with products that work as well or better than our competitors' for a lower cost. It provides higher margins and lower acquisition costs to our retail customers, along with retail category growth and market share gains. We continue to believe consumers are embracing our "same performance for less price" value brand proposition versus both premium price competitors and private label approaches. We are also increasing trial and brand conversion through our strategy. As a result, we continue to generally outperform our competition in our market categories. Let's turn to our individual businesses. First, Global Pet Supplies. They delivered record sales and a fifth consecutive year of EBITDA growth in fiscal 2012. Its EBITDA margin increased a solid 120 basis points. In short, it was a breakout year for this business. Pet's net sales and profit growth were primarily driven by a turnaround in North American aquatics, in effect, 5 straight quarters of year-over-year net sales growth; the positive impact of the higher margin FURminator acquisition; and an over-delivery of global integration and continuous improvement savings. Pet benefited from first half distribution wins and new product launches throughout the year in both aquatics and companion animal categories, along with select and targeted pricing actions. We're pleased with Pet's performance, and we see even better results ahead in fiscal 2013. In Global Appliances, we experienced, as expected, major commodity and Asian supply chain cost increases in fiscal 2012, along with significant foreign exchange headwinds. Yet, we were ready, and in the end, we're able to offset most of these increases with global new product development programs, restructuring and integration cost synergy programs, retail distribution and share gains and stringent expense controls. Our personal care business part of this division or Remington delivered another record year, with increased net sales and adjusted EBITDA. Remington continues to win in the global marketplace from a combination of new products for men and women, product line extension, geographic expansion and distribution gains. Among bright spots last year was solid growth in our European shaving and grooming business. As evidenced by our announcement of a 56% controlling stake in Shaser Bioscience, our major Remington initiative is to expand our consumables product line at a faster rate than durables. The Shaser acquisition significantly enhances our position in more than a $50 billion global market for home-use dermatology and hair removal devices. We expect the acquisition to add substantial incremental revenues to Remington's consumables business, approximately doubling consumables revenues in 2013 and continuing rapid top line growth in fiscal 2014. U.S. women's hair care accessories are a recent addition to growing our higher-margin consumables business. We have had initial success at several key retailers in the $1 billion U.S. market for women's hair care accessories. Our i-Light Pro Hair Removal System, part of the Shaser acquisition, continues to sell well in Europe and the U.S. In the coming months, you will hear exciting news about expansion of our Remington consumables business. Finally, Remington is the foundation for our increasing company-wide investment in global e-commerce, which we see as a new platform for higher-margin growth across Spectrum Brands. In the home category of Global Appliances, with products like Black & Decker and George Foreman, we delivered solid revenue growth in both Latin America and Europe, including Eastern Europe where expansion is progressing well. In fact, we rolled out Russell Hobbs products in 23 new European markets through our own organization, achieving new sales in fiscal 2012. In North America, lower results were due to the fact that the level of Asian and commodity cost increases were more than we were able to price for and/or offset with cost improvements. As we told you throughout last year, we did reduce the base North American business with the phase-out or replacement of low-margin appliances, eliminating approximately $30 million in sales. In fiscal 2013, we will continue to work with our supply chain and retail partners to replace SKUs in brands where it makes sense, to sustain our collective margins given the cost pressures from Asian suppliers. However, we do see some indication that the rate of Asian cost increases should moderate somewhat this year from fiscal 2012 levels. Fiscal 2012 is a success story for our other division, Home and Garden, which delivered record net sales and adjusted EBITDA of its own. At 22.5%, its adjusted EBITDA margin in 2012 represented the fourth consecutive year of improvement. Home and Garden has been a consistent success story for a number of years. And with its adjusted EBITDA more than doubling from $41 million in 2007 to $87 million in fiscal 2012, excluding the impact of exiting the growing products or big bag business in 2009. Throughout the roller coaster weather patterns of this spring, summer season of 2012 Home and Garden outpaced its competition. Results show that its value alternatives are winning at the store shelf. Our core brands, such as HotShot, Cutter and Repel, gained share. We performed ahead of category growth rates in controls, households and repellents. Our Black Flag/TAT brands acquisition clearly was a major contributor to Home and Garden's record performance. Like FURminator for the Pet division, the accretive Black Flag acquisition was fully and quickly integrated ahead of schedule and with synergies exceeding our original target. Operationally, Home and Garden implemented cost improvement programs to offset commodity pressures; in point of fact, record cost improvement. Looking ahead, we have secured new and expanded leases at all major retailers again for fiscal 2013. We have exciting new product extensions set to launch in controls, repellent and household categories. And with the Black Flag acquisition fully integrated, we have a detailed strategy for even more contribution from these brands in the coming year. Lastly, let's talk about our Global Battery business, which we view as a growth vehicle for Spectrum Brands. It remains a strong EBITDA-producing cash-flow-generator as evidenced by its record EBITDA in fiscal 2012. The point to leave you with is this: Rayovac and Varta are winning with many existing retailers and new consumers. Our strategy of "same or better performance for less" continues to resonate with consumers. Market shares were at record highs, and points of distribution continue to climb through new accounts and existing ones. Important distribution gains secured in fiscal 2012 will bear fruit this holiday season and especially, next spring here and abroad. For example, Rayovac today has its highest North American battery share ever and so far this year, is the fastest-growing consumer battery brand in the United States. Our goal remains, help the retailer, grow the category and increase market share. Finally, we still expect to close the year on our accretive acquisition of the Hardware and Home Improvement Group from Stanley Black & Decker. We remain very excited about the many compelling strategic and financial benefits this transaction will bring to Spectrum Brands in 2013 and beyond. Some of these include: the addition of the leading maker of residential lock sets, residential builders' hardware and faucets with #1 position in North key (sic) [key North] American markets; increases Spectrum Brands' top line growth and margins and is expected to be neatly accretive to EPS, adjusted EBITDA and free cash flow. It will significantly increase Spectrum Brands' scale, product breadth and geographic diversification. It provides the ability to grow HHI further domestically, as well as internationally, by leveraging Spectrum Brands' global infrastructure and business model. It brings excellent additional growth opportunities, including entry into the integrated residential security, lighting and fire categories, as well as the light commercial business. And strong free cash flow will enable Spectrum Brands to deleverage balance sheet, our balance sheet, to return to the higher end of the total leverage ratio target of 2.5x to 3.5x in approximately 2 years. In addition to all this, it further strengthens our relationships with our core retail partners and provides attractive cross-selling opportunities and creates a platform for significant future global growth. So in summary, we are excited. We also want to reaffirm plans to initiate our regular quarterly dividend of $0.25 per share in fiscal 2013 and evaluate increasing the dividend in future years based on free cash flow growth. Thank you for listening. And now to Tony, our CFO, for some additional comments.