Beauty Sales Grow 16%; Active Representatives Increase 10% Third-Quarter Earnings of $.32 per Share
Avon Products, Inc. (NYSE: AVP) today reported that third-quarter 2007 total revenue grew 14% year over year (8% in local currency) to $2.3 billion with all six operating regions contributing to the company's revenue growth. Sales of Beauty products rose 16% and Active Representatives increased 10%. Units sold increased 8% versus the prior-year quarter.
Net income in the third quarter 2007 was $139 million compared with $86 million in the year-ago quarter. Earnings per share were $.32 versus $.19 per share in the prior-year quarter, representing a 68% increase.
The quarter's results included $96 million in advertising expense, a 44% increase over prior year, to support the launch of new products as well as Representative recruitment advertising in several markets. The 2007 quarter also included an incremental $37 million of costs for initiatives to improve Avon's Representative Value Proposition (RVP), including continued implementation of Avon's multi-level Sales Leadership program, increased incentives and the roll-out of a more frequent, three-week selling cycle in the company's Central & Eastern Europe region.
Andrea Jung, chairman and CEO, commented, "We are pleased with Avon's progress in the third quarter as we continue to implement our turnaround plan. The 14% revenue increase - including the 16% growth in Beauty sales and a 10% advance in Active Representatives - reflects the benefits of significantly increased investments we've made in advertising and the Representative Value Proposition over the last two years. For full-year 2007, we remain on track to our targeted spending of $375 million in advertising and an incremental $100 million in Representative Value Proposition initiatives.
"Looking ahead to 2008, our analytics suggest that we are approaching the right levels of investment spending on advertising and the Representative Value Proposition needed to support long-term sustainable growth. Accordingly, we expect our investments next year will grow roughly in line with sales growth.
"This more stabilized level of investment, together with the projected benefits from our major initiatives of restructuring, Product Line Simplification and Strategic Sourcing, and decreased costs to implement those programs, support our expectation of an operating margin in 2008 that approaches 2005's level," Jung said.
In the third quarter, sales of Beauty products recorded another quarter of double-digit growth, with increases in all categories: fragrance up 23%, color cosmetics up 18%, personal care up 18%, and skin care up 5%.
Third-quarter operating profit of $224 million rose 33% from 2006's level of $168 million, while operating margin was 9.5%, versus 8.1% in the prior- year quarter. In addition to investments in advertising and RVP, third- quarter 2007 operating profit included $33 million of costs associated with the company's ongoing restructuring and Product Line Simplification (PLS) programs, including a new restructuring initiative to outsource information technology applications development and maintenance. 2006's third quarter included $16 million of costs to implement restructuring and $40 million of initial costs associated with PLS.
The quarter's effective tax rate of 33.0% was lower than 2006's rate of 41.3%, primarily due to the impact of repatriation of international earnings in 2006.
The company continued to repurchase its shares during the third quarter, buying approximately $148 million of stock, to bring repurchases for the first nine months of 2007 to $558 million. With total program purchases of $904 million under the current $1 billion authorization, Avon's board of directors, earlier this month, authorized a new $2 billion, five-year stock repurchase program to take effect upon completion of the current authorization.
At quarter end, Avon's net debt had increased $788 million from the 2006 year-end level. Net cash provided by operating activities was $63 million through nine months of 2007, compared with $439 million of cash provided by operations in the same period of 2006, due primarily to increased payments in 2007 for inventory purchases and incentive-based compensation. The company said that it expects fourth-quarter cash flow provided by operating activities to be substantially higher than in the prior-year period; however, it expects full-year 2007 cash flow provided by operating activities to be somewhat lower than that of full-year 2006.
Third-Quarter Regional Highlights
In the North America region, third-quarter revenue grew 6% over that of the prior year. Active Representatives increased 6% as the company continued to implement initiatives to improve the Representative Value Proposition, and units sold were 10% higher. Operating profit increased 156% versus the 2006 quarter, primarily due to lower inventory obsolescence as well as higher sales, and the region's operating margin was 6.9%.
In Latin America, third-quarter revenue rose 21% year over year (13% in local currency), with Brazil being the largest contributor to the region's expansion with revenue growth of over 30%. Revenue in Venezuela and Colombia grew 40% and over 20%, respectively, in the quarter. Mexico continued to progress on its turnaround as Active Representatives increased mid-single digits year over year, and revenue was flat with that of the prior year. The region's Active Representatives grew 11%, and units sold were up 8%. Operating profit increased 14% versus the 2006 quarter as revenue growth and lower obsolescence expense more than offset higher spending on RVP and advertising. Latin America's third-quarter operating margin was 16.8%.
Western Europe, Middle East & Africa achieved revenue growth of 12% (3% in local currency), due to continued strength in Turkey, with revenue up close to 30%, and the U.K., where revenue increased close to 10%. The region's Active Representatives rose 3% and units sold increased 1%, versus the prior-year period. Operating profit improved to $11 million compared with a loss of $28 million in the prior-year quarter, due to a large expense associated with the resolution of a VAT-tax dispute recorded in 2006, and higher sales and lower obsolescence expense in 2007. Third-quarter 2007 operating margin was 3.6%.
In Central & Eastern Europe, third-quarter revenue rose 22% (12% in local currency). Russia was the largest contributor to the region's growth, with revenue up 25%. The 2006 results were impacted by the company's inability in the prior-year quarter to ship fragrance orders due to a change in Russia's importation laws. The region's third-quarter 2007 Active Representatives grew 17%, benefiting from one additional sales campaign in the quarter due to a recent move to offer more frequent selling opportunities to Representatives. Units sold during the quarter increased 6%. Operating profit grew 19% year over year, as benefits of higher revenue more than offset higher spending on advertising and RVP, and the operating margin was 20.9%.
Asia-Pacific revenue increased 3% (decreased 2% in local currency), with the Philippines contributing strong revenue growth driven by Sales Leadership. Third-quarter revenue in Japan decreased 9% due to lower sales from direct- mailing programs and flat sales from direct selling, as that market continues to implement its turnaround. The region's Active Representatives were 9% higher and units sold were down 2% as compared with the prior year. Operating profit decreased 41% versus the 2006 quarter, due in part to higher spending
on consumer incentives, RVP and advertising. Operating margin in the quarter was 6.0%.
Revenue in China grew 23% (17% in local currency) in the third quarter. Active Representatives were up 44% year over year, and units sold were 32% higher. As of the end of September, Avon China had nearly 680,000 certified Sales Promoters. During September, approximately 130,000 of those Sales Promoters fit Avon's definition of an Active Representative, reflecting a program that made it more advantageous for Representatives with small orders to delay their orders until October. As a consequence, the number of Active Representatives for the month of October is expected to be closer to 200,000. This shift in orders has no significant impact on revenue in either the third or fourth quarters. In the third quarter, China had an operating loss of $5 million compared with an operating loss of $3 million in the prior-year quarter due to a continued high level of investment to continue to build direct selling in the market. The region's third-quarter operating margin was (7.9%).
Avon will conduct a conference call at 9:30 A.M. today to discuss the quarter's results. The dial-in number for the call is (800) 843-2086 in the U.S. or (706) 643-1815 from non-U.S. locations (conference ID number: 19636587). The call will be webcast live at www.avoninvestor.com and can be accessed or downloaded from that site for a period of two weeks.
Avon, the company for women, is a leading global beauty company, with almost $9 billion in annual revenue. As the world's largest direct seller, Avon markets to women in well over 100 countries through over five million independent Avon Sales Representatives. Avon's product line includes beauty products, fashion jewelry and apparel, and features such well-recognized brand names as Avon Color, Anew, Skin-So-Soft, Avon Solutions, Advance Techniques, Avon Naturals, Mark, and Avon Wellness. Learn more about Avon and its products at www.avoncompany.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT FOR PURPOSES OF THE "SAFE HARBOR" STATEMENT UNDER THE
PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
Statements in this release that are not historical facts or information are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "estimate," "project," "plan," "believe," "may," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "planned," "potential," "expectation" and similar expressions, or the negative of those expressions, may identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable current assumptions and expectations. Such forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may cause the actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievement of Avon to be materially different from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements, and there can be no assurance that actual results will not differ materially from management's expectations. Such factors include, among others, the following: -- our ability to implement the key initiatives of and realize the projected benefits from our global business strategy, including our
multi-year restructuring initiatives, product mix and pricing
strategies, enterprise resource planning, customer service initiatives,
product line simplification, strategic sourcing initiative, zero
overhead growth and cash management, tax, foreign currency hedging and
risk management strategies;
-- our ability to realize the anticipated benefits (including our
projections concerning future revenue and operating margin increases)
from our multi-year restructuring initiatives or other strategic
initiatives on the time schedules or in the amounts that we expect, and
our plans to invest these anticipated benefits ahead of future growth;
-- the possibility of business disruption in connection with our multi-
year restructuring initiatives or other strategic initiatives;
-- our ability to realize sustainable growth from our investments in our
brand and the direct selling channel;
-- the inventory obsolescence and other costs associated with our product
line simplification program;
-- our ability to achieve growth objectives, particularly in our largest
markets and new and emerging markets;
-- our ability to successfully identify new business opportunities and
identify and analyze acquisition candidates, and our ability to
negotiate and consummate acquisitions as well as to successfully
integrate or manage any acquired business;
-- the effect of political, legal and regulatory risks, as well as foreign
exchange or other restrictions, imposed on us, our operations or our
Representatives by governmental entities;
-- our ability to successfully transition our business in China in
connection with the resumption of direct selling in that market, our
ability to operate using the direct selling model permitted in that
market and our ability to retain and increase the number of Active
Representatives there over a sustained period of time;
-- the impact of substantial currency fluctuations on the results of our
foreign operations;
-- general economic and business conditions in our markets, including
social, economic and political uncertainties in Latin America, Asia
Pacific, Central and Eastern Europe and the Middle East;
-- the risk of disruption in Central and Eastern Europe associated with a
change to a more rapid selling cycle with more frequent brochures;
-- a general economic downturn, information technology systems outages,
disruption in our supply chain or manufacturing and distribution
operations, or other sudden disruption in business operations beyond
our control as a result of events such as acts of terrorism or war,
natural disasters, pandemic situations and large scale power outages;
-- the risk of product or ingredient shortages resulting from our
concentration of sourcing in fewer suppliers;
-- the quality, safety and efficacy of our products;
-- the success of our research and development activities;
-- our ability to attract and retain key personnel and executives;
-- competitive uncertainties in our markets, including competition from
companies in the cosmetics, fragrances, skin care and toiletries
industry, some of which are larger than we are and have greater
resources;
-- our ability to implement our Sales Leadership program globally, to
generate Representative activity, to increase Representative
productivity, to improve Internet-based tools for our Representatives,
and to compete with other direct selling organizations to recruit,
retain and service Representatives;
-- the impact of the seasonal nature of our business, changes in market
trends, purchasing habits of our consumers and changes in consumer
preferences, particularly given the global nature of our business and
the conduct of our business in primarily one channel;
-- our ability to protect our intellectual property rights;
-- the risk of an adverse outcome in our material pending and future
litigations;
-- our access to financing and ability to secure financing at attractive
rates; and
-- the impact of possible pension funding obligations, increased pension
expense and any changes in pension regulations or interpretations
thereof on our cash flow and results of operations.
Additional information identifying such factors is contained in Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. We undertake no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements.
AVON PRODUCTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
(Unaudited)
(In millions, except per share data)
Three months Nine months
ended Percent ended Percent
September 30 Change September 30 Change
-------------- ------ ------------- ------
2007 2006 2007 2006
-------- -------- -------- --------
Net sales $2,326.1 $2,038.1 14% $6,795.8 $6,079.4 12%
Other revenue 23.0 20.5 67.4 61.9
------- ------- ------- -------
Total revenue 2,349.1 2,058.6 14% 6,863.2 6,141.3 12%
Cost of sales(1) 893.0 814.8 2,654.7 2,371.0
Selling, general
and administrative
expenses(1)(2) 1,232.6 1,076.3 3,560.3 3,291.3
------- ------- ------- -------
Operating profit 223.5 167.5 33% 648.2 479.0 35%
------- ------- ------- -------
Interest expense (29.2) (23.9) (83.8) (74.3)
Interest income 10.2 10.9 32.8 40.8
Other income
(expense), net 3.2 (5.5) 1.4 (7.9)
------- ------- ------- -------
Total other expenses (15.8) (18.5) (49.6) (41.4)
Income before taxes
and minority interest 207.7 149.0 39% 598.6 437.6 37%
Income taxes (3) (68.6) (61.5) (195.2) (142.6)
------- ------- ------- -------
Income before
minority interest 139.1 87.5 403.4 295.0
Minority interest - (1.1) (1.6) (1.5)
------- ------- ------- -------
Net income $139.1 $86.4 61% $401.8 $293.5 37%
======= ======= ======= =======
Earnings per share:
Basic $.32 $.19 68% $.92 $.65 42%
======= ======= ======= =======
Diluted $.32 $.19 68% $.92 $.65 42%
======= ======= ======= =======
Average shares
outstanding:
Basic 430.03 446.36 435.13 448.80
Diluted 433.03 447.93 438.38 450.40
(1) For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, costs to
implement restructuring initiatives impacted cost of sales by ($0.4)
and $0.3, respectively, and selling, general and administrative
expenses by $27.6 and $57.1, respectively. For the three and nine
months ended September 30, 2006, costs to implement restructuring
initiatives impacted cost of sales by ($0.5) and ($0.8), respectively,
and selling, general and administrative expenses by $16.1 and $185.9,
respectively.
(2) For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, selling,
general and administrative expenses included $21.0 associated with
the resolution of a long-standing dispute regarding value-added tax
in the U.K.
(3) For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, income taxes
were impacted by an increase in tax expense due to the repatriation of
international earnings by $12.2 and $21.6, respectively. For the nine
months ended September 30, 2006, income taxes were impacted by a
reduction in tax expense of $12.6, due to audit settlements and the
closure of tax years by expiration of the statute of limitations, as
well as $11.8 due to tax refunds.
AVON PRODUCTS, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(Unaudited)
(In millions)
Sep 30 Dec 31
2007 2006
------- -------
Cash and equivalents $840.5 $1,198.9
Accounts receivable, net 752.7 700.4
Inventories 1,229.2 900.3
Prepaid expenses and other 640.0 534.8
------- -------
Total current assets 3,462.4 3,334.4
Property, plant and equipment, net 1,166.0 1,100.2
Other assets 852.1 803.6
------- -------
Total assets 5,480.5 5,238.2
======= =======
Debt maturing within one year 1,042.7 615.6
Accounts payable 700.9 655.8
Other current liabilities 1,150.8 1,253.8
------- -------
Total current liabilities 2,894.4 2,525.2
Long-term debt 1,172.9 1,170.7
Other noncurrent liabilities 796.5 751.9
Total shareholders' equity 616.7 790.4
------- -------
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $5,480.5 $5,238.2
======= =======
AVON PRODUCTS, INC.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)
(In millions)
Nine Months Ended
September 30
---------------------
2007 2006
------ ------
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net income $401.8 $293.5
Depreciation and amortization 126.9 120.4
Provision for doubtful accounts 113.9 104.3
Provision for obsolescence 141.6 120.7
Asset write-off restructuring charges 0.2 7.7
Share-based compensation 48.1 46.5
Deferred income taxes (8.1) (45.2)
Other 27.2 9.5
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable (129.8) (96.4)
Inventories (415.4) (278.7)
Prepaid expenses and other (73.5) (50.0)
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities 13.4 234.1
Income and other taxes (61.4) (10.9)
Noncurrent assets and liabilities (122.0) (17.0)
-------- --------
Net cash provided by operating activities 62.9 438.5
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures (139.9) (97.9)
Disposal of assets 10.3 11.1
Other investing activities (20.2) (48.4)
-------- --------
Net cash used by investing activities (149.8) (135.2)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Cash dividends (244.4) (239.0)
Total debt, net change 422.0 176.1
Repurchase of common stock (555.7) (233.4)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options,
net of excess tax benefits 64.8 26.8
Book overdrafts 0.8 (1.4)
-------- --------
Net cash used by financing activities (312.5) (270.9)
Effect of exchange rate changes on
cash and cash equivalents 41.0 11.7
Net (decrease) increase in -------- --------
cash and cash equivalents $(358.4) $44.1
======== ========
AVON PRODUCTS, INC.
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE
(Unaudited)
(In millions)
THREE MONTHS ENDED 9/30/07
REGIONAL RESULTS
-----------------
$ in Millions Total Revenue
Total in Local Operating Op. Active
Revenue US$ Currency Profit US$ Margin Units Reps
-------------- -------- ---------- ------ ------ -----
% var. % var. % var. % var. % var.
vs vs vs 2007 vs vs
3Q06 3Q06 3Q06 percent 3Q06 3Q06
------- ---- ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ -----
North America $605.2 6% 6% $42.0 156% 6.9% 10% 6%
Latin America 854.8 21 13 143.5 14 16.8 8 11
Western Europe,
Middle East
& Africa 292.8 12 3 10.6 * 3.6 1 3
Central &
Eastern Europe(1) 327.4 22 12 68.5 19 20.9 6 17
Asia Pacific 208.1 3 -2 12.4 -41 6.0 -2 9
China 60.8 23 17 (4.8) * -7.9 32 44
Total from
Operations 2,349.1 14 8 272.2 44 11.6 8 10
Global Expenses - - - (48.7) -120 - - -
Consolidated(1) $2,349.1 14% 8% 223.5 33% 9.5% 8% 10%
CATEGORY SALES (US$)
--------------------
Consolidated
------------------
% var. vs
3Q06
-------------------
Beauty
(cosmetics/fragrances/skin care/toiletries) $1,656.7 16%
Beauty Plus
(fashion jewelry/watches/apparel/accessories) 432.1 13
Beyond Beauty
(home products/gift and decorative products) 237.3 7
-------- -------
Net Sales $2,326.1 14%
Other Revenue 23.0 12
-------- -------
Total Revenue $2,349.1 14%
NINE MONTHS ENDED 9/30/07
REGIONAL RESULTS
----------------
$ in Millions Total Revenue
Total in Local Operating Op. Active
Revenue US$ Currency Profit US$ Margin Units Reps
------------- -------- ---------- ------- ----- -----
% var. % var. % var. % var. % var.
vs vs vs 2007 vs vs
9M06 9M06 9M06 percent 9M06 9M06
-------- ---- ------- ------ ------ ------ ------ -----
North America $1,855.6 3% 3% $160.7 39% 8.7% 5% 3%
Latin America 2,309.2 17 12 345.9 19 15.0 7 7
Western Europe,
Middle East
& Africa 874.4 14 5 39.5 * 4.5 4 7
Central &
Eastern Europe 1,019.2 18 9 191.8 1 18.8 4 11
Asia Pacific 610.9 4 - 49.5 60 8.1 1 2
China 193.9 34 28 (3.9) * -2.0 22 *
Total from
Operations 6,863.2 12 7 783.5 34 11.4 6 8
Global Expenses - - - (135.3) -29 - - -
Consolidated $6,863.2 12% 7% $648.2 35% 9.4% 6% 8%
CATEGORY SALES (US$)
--------------------
Consolidated
---------------------
% var. vs
9M06
---------------------
Beauty
(cosmetics/fragrances/skin care/toiletries) $4,832.5 13%
Beauty Plus
(fashion jewelry/watches/apparel/accessories) 1,309.6 9
Beyond Beauty
(home products/gift and decorative products) 653.7 6
-------- -------
Net Sales $6,795.8 12%
Other Revenue 67.4 9
-------- -------
Total Revenue $6,863.2 12%
* Calculation not meaningful
(1) Central & Eastern Europe Active Representative growth for the three
months ended September 30, 2007, benefited from increased ordering
opportunities as a result of a move from a four-week campaign cycle to
a three-week campaign cycle. This change had a minimal impact on
Consolidated Avon.
