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Michael Dean Succeeds Douglas Faggioli as President and CEO of Naturea?s Sunshine Producta?s, Inc.

^{Published on 2010-07-30 05:11:07 - Market Wire}
 

PROVO, Utah--([ BUSINESS WIRE ])--Naturea™s Sunshine Products, Inc. (NASDAQ:NATR), a leading manufacturer and marketer of nutritional supplements and complementary products, today confirmed that effective July 1, 2010, Michael Dean assumed his new role as President and CEO of Naturea™s Sunshine Products.

As previously reported, Mr. Dean joined the board of Naturea™s Sunshine Products last year and became CEO elect on March 12, 2010. He is the former CEO of Mediaur Technologies, a position he held since 2003. Previously, he was Executive Vice President of ABC Cable Networks, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategic Planning and Development of the Walt Disney Company, and a strategy consultant with Bain & Company. He holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.

Mr. Dean became the CEO after Douglas Faggiolia™s departure after 27 years with the Company, in which he contributed significantly to the Companya™s global growth and development. Mr. Faggioli will continue to work with the Company through a consulting arrangement.

Second Quarter Results

Naturea™s Sunshine Products, Inc. reported an increase in net sales of 3.8 percent to $87.4 million for the second quarter of 2010, compared with $84.1 million for the same period in 2009. Operating income improved by 43.9% to $3.0 million, compared to $2.1 million in the second quarter of 2009. Net income totaled $1.1 million, compared with $1.5 million in the second quarter of 2009. Basic and diluted net income per share was $0.07, compared with $0.10 for the same period last year. The increase in operating income is primarily the result of sales growth, as well as the reduction of selling, general, and administrative expenses. The reduction in net income is the result of a higher effective tax rate.

During the quarter, the Company generated $1.9 million in cash from operations. The Companya™s balance sheet remained strong with cash and cash equivalents of $40.0 million (up from $35.6 million on December 31, 2009) and shareholdersa™ equity of $64.1 million (up from $57.1 million on December 31, 2009). The Company has no long-term debt.

Active Managers worldwide grew 2.3 percent to 30,600 from the end of last quarter and active Distributors worldwide totaled 687,500 at June 30, 2010. The Company benefited from increases in the number of active Managers in all three segments a" NSP US and International, and Synergy Worldwide.

Six-Month Results

For the first half of 2010, net sales increased 4.2 percent to $174.4 million, compared with $167.3 million for the same period in 2009. Operating income improved by approximately $3.8 million to $3.0 million, compared with an operating loss of $0.8 million in the first half of 2009. Net income totaled $5.2 million, compared with $0.1 million in the second half of 2009. Basic and diluted net income per share was $0.34 and $0.33, respectively, compared with $0.00 for the same period last year. The increase in operating and net income is the result of sales growth and the reduction of selling, general, and administrative expenses. In addition, the year-to-date results include a foreign exchange gain recorded in the first quarter of $3.7 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, related to the implementation of highly-inflationary accounting for Venezuela and the devaluation of the Venezuelan bolivar. During the first half of 2010, the Company generated $5.4 million in cash from operations.

Segment Analysis

Naturea™s Sunshine Products U.S., which remains the Companya™s largest segment, decreased net sales revenue by 5.2 percent for the quarter, to $37.5 million, compared with $39.5 million in the same quarter a year ago. With lower sales and operating expenses down 1.7 percent, operating income for the three months ended June 30, 2010 totaled $2.1 million, a decrease of $1.4 million, as compared to $3.5 million for the same period in 2009. The decrease in sales was caused, in part, by changes in our promotional programs, the timing of event qualification periods (contributing to lower sales compared to the same period a year ago), as well as continuing weakness in the U.S. economy.

For Naturea™s Sunshine Products International, net sales revenue for the three month period ended June 30, 2010 totaled $33.3 million, an increase of approximately 5.3 percent, compared to $31.6 million in the same quarter a year ago. Net sales benefited from growth in several key markets, as well as the effect of the weakening U.S. dollar overall and its positive impact on consumer demand in many of the markets in which we operate. These improvements were partially offset by the devaluation of Venezuelaa™s currency in the first quarter of 2010 and its effect on reported net sales for the current quarter. Operating income for the three months ended June 30, 2010, was $0.9 million, compared to an operating loss of $0.5 million for the same period in the prior year.

Among NSP Internationala™s markets:

• Russian markets net sales increased $1.2 million, or 10.6 percent, to $12.5 million, compared to $11.3 million for the same period a year ago.This improvement was due, in part, to improved Manager and Distributor recruiting efforts, a better local economy, and a slight weakening of the U.S. dollar in relation to the various currencies in this market, which modestly reduced the price of our products. The strength of our Russian distributor network and leaders, and the launch of new products helped maintain positive momentum in this market.
• Canada net sales increased approximately $0.6 million, or 17.6 percent, to $4.0 million, compared to $3.4 million for the same period a year ago, strongly benefiting from positive foreign currency fluctuations. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, net sales increased $0.1 million, or 2.9 percent, compared to the same period in 2009.
• Mexico net sales increased approximately $0.5 million, or 14.3 percent, to $4.0 million, compared to $3.5 million for the same period a year ago, and were strongly impacted by positive foreign currency fluctuations.Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, net sales increased $0.3 million, or 8.6 percent, compared to the same period in 2009.
• Venezuela net sales decreased approximately $1.3 million, or 44.8 percent, to $1.6 million, compared to $2.9 million for the same period a year ago, primarily as the result of the devaluation of the bolivar. In January of this year, the official exchange rate for bolivars changed from 2.15 bolivars per U.S. dollar to 4.30 bolivars per U.S. dollar for everything other than essential goods.
• As a group, net sales for the remaining Naturea™s Sunshine Products International markets improved $0.7 million, or 6.7 percent, to net sales of $11.2 million, compared to $10.5 million for the same period in 2009, with 60 percent of the $0.7 million increase stemming from currency exchange rate fluctuations.

For the second quarter of 2010, Synergy Worldwide net sales were $16.6 million, an increase of approximately 27.4 percent, compared to $13.0 million in the same quarter a year ago. Net sales revenues increased due to significant growth in the European, U.S, and Korean markets, as well as the opening of the Vietnam market for Synergy products. These improvements were partially offset by decreases in Japan sales due to weak economic conditions, import restrictions on certain key products, strong competition, and declines in our distributor base in Japan. Operating income from the three months ended June 30, 2010, was at break-even, compared to an operating loss of $1.0 million for the same period in the prior year.

Among Synergy Worldwidea™s markets:

• U.S. net sales increased $2.1 million, or 116.7 percent, to $3.9 million, compared to $1.8 million for the same period a year ago.This improvement was due to strong demand for key products that fostered growth in our U.S. Distributor base.
• European net sales increased $1.2 million, or 75.0 percent, to $2.8 million, compared to $1.6 million for the same period a year ago. This improvement was due to network expansion into relatively new markets.

• Korea net sales increased approximately $0.6 million, or 33.3 percent, to $2.4 million, compared to $1.8 million for the same period a year ago, and benefited from positive foreign currency fluctuations. Excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, net sales increased $0.3 million, or 16.7 percent, compared to the same period in 2009 due to continued growth of our Distributor base and effective leadership and development activities in the market.
• We launched our Synergy operations in Vietnam during the second quarter, achieving net sales of $0.7 million.
• Japan net sales decreased approximately $1.2 million, or 24.5 percent, to $3.7 million, compared to $4.9 million for the same period a year ago, primarily as the result of import restrictions on several key products, strong competition, and continued economic weakness in Japan, which resulted in a decrease in the Distributor base in this market.
• As a group, net sales for the remaining Synergy Worldwide markets improved $0.2 million, or 6.9 percent, to net sales of $3.1 million, compared to $2.9 million for the same period in 2009. The increase includes positive currency fluctuations of $0.4 million.

About Naturea™s Sunshine Products

Naturea™s Sunshine Products manufactures and markets through direct sales encapsulated and tableted herbal products, high quality natural vitamins, and other complementary products. In addition to the United States, the Company has operations in Japan, Mexico, Central America, South Korea, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, the United Kingdom, Columbia, Brazil, Thailand, Israel, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Russia, Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Belarus, China, Poland, Germany, Austria, Norway, Sweden, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, and Vietnam. The Company also has exclusive distribution agreements with selected companies in Argentina, Australia, Chile, New Zealand, and Norway. Additional information can be obtained at the Companya™s website, [ www.natr.com ].

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this release contains forward-looking statements. Naturea™s Sunshine may, from time to time, make written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements encompass Natureas Sunshineas beliefs, expectations, hopes, or intentions regarding future events. Words such as aexpects,a aintends,a abelieves,a aanticipates,a ashould,a alikely,a and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to the Company as of such date. Naturea™s Sunshine assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Actual results will vary, and may vary materially, from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected for a number of reasons, including, among others: further reviews of the Companya™s financial statements by the Company and its Audit Committee; modification of the Companya™s accounting practices; foreign business risks; industry cyclicality; fluctuations in customer demand and order pattern; changes in pricing and general economic conditions; as well as other risks detailed in the Companya™s previous filings with the SEC.