HELEN OF TROY LTD - Quarter Report: 2017 August (Form 10-Q)

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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

☒QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended August 31, 2017

☐TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ..... to …..

Commission file number: 001-14669

HELEN OF TROY LIMITED

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


Bermuda		74-2692550
(State or other jurisdiction of		(I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)		Identification No.)

Clarendon House 2 Church Street Hamilton, Bermuda
(Address of principal executive offices)

1 Helen of Troy Plaza
El Paso, Texas		79912
(Registrant’s United States Mailing Address)		(Zip Code)

(915) 225-8000

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files). Yes ☒ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”, “smaller reporting company” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.


Large accelerated filer ☒	Accelerated filer ☐	Non-accelerated filer ☐	Smaller reporting company ☐	Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.

Yes ☐ No ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes ☐ No ☒

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.


Class		Outstanding at October 4, 2017
Common Shares, $0.10 par value, per share		27,266,562 shares

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HELEN OF TROY LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

FORM 10‐Q

TABLE OF CONTENTS


PAGE

PART 1.	FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1.	Financial Statements	2

Item 2.	Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations	22

Item 3.	Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk	43

Item 4.	Controls and Procedures	45

PART 2.	OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.	Legal Proceedings	46

Item 1A.	Risk Factors	46

Item 2.	Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds	47

Item 6.	Exhibits	48

SIGNATURES		49

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PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

HELEN OF TROY LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets (Unaudited)


	August 31,		February 28,
(in thousands, except shares and par value)	2017		2017
Assets
Assets, current:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	13,720	$	23,087
Receivables - principally trade, less allowances of $10,300 and $5,656		238,421		229,928
Inventory		325,562		289,122
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		14,999		11,699
Income taxes receivable		-		2,242
Total assets, current		592,702		556,078

Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation of $114,327 and $106,561		134,672		134,935
Goodwill		672,929		698,929
Other intangible assets, net of accumulated amortization of $178,522 and $165,388		386,856		419,489
Deferred tax assets, net		8,809		1,955
Other assets, net of accumulated amortization of $1,976 and $1,930		2,519		1,710
Total assets	$	1,798,487	$	1,813,096

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Liabilities, current:
Accounts payable, principally trade	$	136,225	$	111,763
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		147,283		153,200
Income taxes payable		8,484		-
Long-term debt, current maturities		20,789		24,404
Total liabilities, current		312,781		289,367

Long-term debt, excluding current maturities		423,477		461,211
Deferred tax liabilities, net		7,030		20,091
Other liabilities, noncurrent		17,860		21,661
Total liabilities		761,148		792,330

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders' equity:
Cumulative preferred stock, non-voting, $1.00 par. Authorized 2,000,000 shares; none issued		-		-
Common stock, $0.10 par. Authorized 50,000,000 shares; 27,262,549 and 27,028,665 shares
issued and outstanding		2,726		2,703
Additional paid in capital		224,689		218,760
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)		(2,947)		1,173
Retained earnings		812,871		798,130
Total stockholders' equity		1,037,339		1,020,766
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity	$	1,798,487	$	1,813,096

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

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HELEN OF TROY LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Income (Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended August 31,				Six Months Ended August 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)	2017		2016		2017		2016
Sales revenue, net	$	378,462	$	368,170	$	738,067	$	716,108
Cost of goods sold		210,529		205,202		413,685		400,713
Gross profit		167,933		162,968		324,382		315,395

Selling, general and administrative expense ("SG&A")		129,755		125,481		253,438		247,610
Asset impairment charges		18,070		-		54,070		7,400
Operating income		20,108		37,487		16,874		60,385

Nonoperating income, net		81		88		247		237
Interest expense		(3,869)		(3,866)		(7,708)		(7,517)
Income before income taxes		16,320		33,709		9,413		53,105

Income tax expense (benefit):
Current		14,164		7,925		13,563		11,697
Deferred		(6,777)		(2,571)		(18,951)		(5,973)
Net income	$	8,933	$	28,355	$	14,801	$	47,381

Earnings per share:
Basic	$	0.33	$	1.02	$	0.55	$	1.70
Diluted	$	0.33	$	1.00	$	0.54	$	1.68

Weighted average shares of common stock used in
computing net earnings per share:
Basic		27,232		27,845		27,154		27,809
Diluted		27,401		28,224		27,323		28,185

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

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HELEN OF TROY LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)


	Three Months Ended August 31,
	2017						2016
	Before		Tax (Expense)		Net of		Before		Tax (Expense)		Net of
(in thousands)	Tax		Benefit		Tax		Tax		Benefit		Tax
Income	$	16,320	$	(7,387)	$	8,933	$	33,709	$	(5,354)	$	28,355
Cash flow hedge activity - foreign currency contracts
Changes in fair market value		(1,958)		484		(1,474)		1,289		(275)		1,014
Settlements reclassified to income		(578)		109		(469)		(141)		3		(138)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		(2,536)		593		(1,943)		1,148		(272)		876
Comprehensive income	$	13,784	$	(6,794)	$	6,990	$	34,857	$	(5,626)	$	29,231

	Six Months Ended August 31,
	2017						2016
	Before		Tax (Expense)		Net of		Before		Tax (Expense)		Net of
(in thousands)	Tax		Benefit		Tax		Tax		Benefit		Tax
Income	$	9,413	$	5,388	$	14,801	$	53,105	$	(5,724)	$	47,381
Cash flow hedge activity - foreign currency contracts
Changes in fair market value		(4,203)		800		(3,403)		270		(42)		228
Settlements reclassified to income		(880)		163		(717)		17		(53)		(36)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)		(5,083)		963		(4,120)		287		(95)		192
Comprehensive income	$	4,330	$	6,351	$	10,681	$	53,392	$	(5,819)	$	47,573

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

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HELEN OF TROY LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)


	Six Months Ended August 31,
(in thousands)	2017		2016
Cash provided by operating activities:
Net income	$	14,801	$	47,381
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization		21,602		22,098
Amortization of financing costs		650		583
Provision for doubtful receivables		2,020		886
Non-cash share-based compensation		6,479		8,758
Non-cash intangible asset impairment charges		54,070		7,400
Gain on the sale or disposal of property and equipment		(10)		(10)
Deferred income taxes and tax credits		(18,952)		(5,916)
Changes in operating capital, net of effects of acquisition of businesses:
Receivables		(10,513)		1,632
Inventories		(36,440)		(9,408)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		(4,730)		(3,986)
Other assets and liabilities, net		(2,550)		(3,870)
Accounts payable		24,497		24,788
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities		(9,513)		(4,246)
Accrued income taxes		8,588		(409)
Net cash provided by operating activities		49,999		85,681

Cash provided by investing activities:
Capital and intangible asset expenditures		(16,814)		(10,215)
Proceeds from the sale of property and equipment		13		32
Payments to acquire businesses, net of cash acquired		-		(209,258)
Net cash used in investing activities		(16,801)		(219,441)

Cash provided by financing activities:
Proceeds from line of credit		249,000		155,900
Repayment of line of credit		(285,300)		(224,000)
Repayment of long-term debt		(5,700)		(3,800)
Payment of financing costs		-		(36)
Proceeds from share issuances under share-based compensation plans		6,236		6,129
Payment of tax obligations resulting from cashless share award settlements		(6,801)		(424)
Net cash used in financing activities		(42,565)		(66,231)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents		(9,367)		(199,991)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning balance		23,087		225,800
Cash and cash equivalents, ending balance	$	13,720	$	25,809

See accompanying notes to consolidated condensed financial statements.

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HELEN OF TROY LIMITED AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Unaudited)

August 31, 2017

Note 1 - Basis of Presentation and Related Information

The accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of only normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly our consolidated financial position as of August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2017, and the results of our consolidated operations for the interim periods presented. We follow the same accounting policies when preparing quarterly financial data as we use for preparing annual data. These statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes included in our latest annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2017, and our other reports on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”).

In this report and the accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements and notes, unless otherwise indicated or the context suggests otherwise, references to “the Company”, “our Company”, “Helen of Troy”, “we”, “us”, or “our” refer to Helen of Troy Limited and its subsidiaries. References to “the FASB” refer to the Financial Accounting Standards Board. References to “GAAP” refer to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. References to “ASU” refer to the codification of GAAP in the Accounting Standards Updates issued by the FASB. References to “ASC” refer to the codification of GAAP in the Accounting Standards Codification issued by the FASB.

We incorporated as Helen of Troy Corporation in Texas in 1968 and were reorganized as Helen of Troy Limited in Bermuda in 1994. We are a global designer, developer, importer, marketer, and distributor of an expanding portfolio of brand-name consumer products. We have four segments: Housewares, Health & Home, Nutritional Supplements, and Beauty. Our Housewares segment provides a broad range of innovative consumer products for the home. Product offerings include food preparation tools and storage containers; cleaning, bath and garden tools and accessories; infant and toddler care products; and insulated beverage and food containers. The Health & Home segment focuses on healthcare devices such as thermometers, humidifiers, blood pressure monitors, and heating pads; water filtration systems; and small home appliances such as portable heaters, fans, air purifiers, and insect control devices. Our Nutritional Supplements segment is a leading provider of premium branded vitamins, minerals and supplements, topical skin products and other health products sold directly to consumers. Our Beauty segment products include electric hair care, beauty care and wellness appliances; grooming tools and accessories; and liquid-, solid- and powder-based personal care and grooming products.

Our business is seasonal due to different calendar events, holidays and seasonal weather patterns. Historically, our highest sales volume and operating income occur in our third fiscal quarter ending November 30th. We purchase our products from unaffiliated manufacturers, most of which are located in China, Mexico and the United States.

The preparation of financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in our consolidated condensed financial statements and accompanying notes. Actual results may differ materially from those estimates.

Our consolidated condensed financial statements are prepared in U.S. Dollars and include the accounts of Helen of Troy Limited and its wholly owned subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation.

We have reclassified, combined or separately disclosed certain amounts in the prior years’ consolidated condensed financial statements and accompanying footnotes to conform to the current year’s presentation.

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Note 2 – New Accounting Pronouncements

Not Yet Adopted

In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting.” This update amends the scope of modification accounting surrounding share-based payment arrangements as issued in ASU 2016-09 by providing guidance on the various types of changes which would trigger modification accounting for share-based payment awards. ASU 2017-09 is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those annual periods. Early adoption is permitted, including adoption in any interim period, for public business entities for reporting periods for which financial statements have not yet been issued. We do not expect the adoption of ASU 2017-09 to have a material effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-16, “Accounting for Income Taxes: Intra-Entity Asset Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory.” ASU 2016-16 amends accounting guidance for intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory to require the recognition of taxes when the transfer occurs. The amendment will be effective for us in fiscal 2019 with early adoption permitted as of the beginning of an annual reporting period for which financial statements have not been issued or made available for issuance. A modified retrospective approach will be required for transition to the new guidance, with a cumulative-effect adjustment consisting of the net impact from (1) the write-off of any unamortized expense previously deferred and (2) recognition of any previously unrecognized deferred tax assets, net of any valuation allowance. The new guidance does not include any specific new disclosure requirements. The new guidance may impact our effective tax rate, after adoption. We are currently evaluating the impact this guidance may have on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, “Leases.” ASU 2016-02 will require lessees to recognize on their balance sheets “right-of-use assets” and corresponding lease liabilities, measured on a discounted basis over the lease term. Virtually all leases will be subject to this treatment except leases that meet the definition of a “short-term lease.” For expense recognition, the dual model requiring leases to be classified as either operating or finance leases has been retained from the prior standard. Operating leases will result in straight-line expense while finance leases will result in a front-loaded expense pattern. Classification will use criteria very similar to those applied in current lease accounting, but without explicit bright lines. The new lease guidance will essentially eliminate off-balance sheet financing. The guidance is effective for us in fiscal 2021. The new standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective transition and requires the new guidance to be applied at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. We are currently evaluating the effect this new accounting guidance may have on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”, issued as a new Topic, ASC Topic 606. The new revenue recognition standard provides a five-step analysis of transactions to determine when and how revenue is recognized. The core principle of the guidance is that a company should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. We plan to adopt the new standard on March 1, 2018. If changes in policy or practice are required, we can adopt either retrospectively or as a cumulative effect adjustment as of the date of adoption. We continue to make progress in our assessment and implementation of the new standard. Our implementation approach has included a survey of revenue recognition policies and practices across each of our global reporting units, and a detailed study of the various types of commercial arrangements that we have with our customers to assess conformance of our current accounting practices with the new standard. While our completion of this assessment is ongoing, based on progress to date, we expect the new standard to primarily impact qualitative disclosure rather than materially effecting our accounting policies or practices. This is because our revenue is primarily generated from the sale of non-customized finished product to customers. Such sales contain a single delivery element and revenue is recognized at a single point in time when ownership, risks and rewards transfer. The accounting for these transactions is largely not impacted by the new standard.

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Unless otherwise discussed above, we believe the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows upon adoption.

Adopted

In January 2017, the FASB, issued ASU 2017-04, “Intangibles-Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment.” This guidance provides for a single-step quantitative test to identify and measure impairment, requiring an entity to recognize an impairment charge for the amount by which the goodwill carrying amount exceeds the reporting unit’s fair value. We adopted the new guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2018, applying it on a prospective basis. The application of this guidance has not had a material impact on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Note 3 – Commitments and Contingencies

Thermometer Patent Litigation – In January 2016, a jury ruled against the Company in a case that involved claims by Exergen Corporation. The case involved the alleged patent infringement related to two forehead thermometer models sold by our subsidiary, Kaz USA, Inc., in the United States. As a result of the jury verdict, we recorded a charge in fiscal 2016, including legal fees and other related expenses, of $17.8 million (before and after tax). In June 2016, certain post-trial motions were concluded with Exergen Corporation being awarded an additional $1.5 million of pre-judgment compensation. We accrued this additional amount in May 2016. In July 2016, we appealed the judgment to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The Company continues to vigorously pursue its appellate rights and defend against the underlying judgment.

Other Matters – We are involved in various other legal claims and proceedings in the normal course of operations, including from time to time inquiries and audits from various taxing authorities. We believe the outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity, although the estimation of certain loss contingencies inherently involves some amount of uncertainty.

Product Warranties – Most of our products are under warranty against defects in material and workmanship for periods ranging from two to five years. We estimate our warranty accrual using our historical experience and believe that this is the most reliable method by which we can estimate our warranty liability. The following table summarizes the activity in our accrual for the periods shown:

ACCRUAL FOR WARRANTY RETURNS


	Three Months Ended August 31,				Six Months Ended August 31,
(in thousands)	2017		2016		2017		2016
Beginning balance	$	20,629	$	18,981	$	21,766	$	20,622
Additions to the accrual		13,943		13,671		26,182		28,194
Reductions of the accrual - payments and credits issued		(12,478)		(13,193)		(25,854)		(29,357)
Ending balance	$	22,094	$	19,459	$	22,094	$	19,459

Notes 7, 10, 12 and 13 to these consolidated condensed financial statements provide additional information regarding certain of our significant commitments and contingencies.

Note 4 – Earnings per Share

We compute basic earnings per share using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. We compute diluted earnings per share using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding plus the effect of dilutive securities. Dilutive securities at any given point in time may consist of outstanding options to purchase common stock and issued and contingently issuable unvested restricted share units (RSUs) and performance-based restricted share units (PSUs). Options for common stock are excluded from the computation of diluted earnings per share if their effect is antidilutive. See Note 15 to these consolidated condensed financial statements for more information regarding share-based payment awards.

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The following table presents our basic and diluted shares for the periods shown:

WEIGHTED AVERAGE DILUTED SECURITIES


	Three Months Ended August 31,		Six Months Ended August 31,
(in thousands)	2017	2016	2017	2016
Weighted average shares outstanding, basic	27,232	27,845	27,154	27,809
Incremental shares from share-based payment arrangements	169	379	169	376
Weighted average shares outstanding, diluted	27,401	28,224	27,323	28,185

Dilutive securities, stock options	233	386	243	405
Dilutive securities, unvested or unsettled stock awards	141	324	110	329
Antidilutive securities	300	133	339	138

Note 5 – Segment Information

The following tables present segment information for the periods shown:

THREE MONTHS ENDED


(in thousands)					Nutritional
August 31, 2017	Housewares		Health & Home		Supplements		Beauty		Total
Sales revenue, net	$	114,720	$	147,861	$	31,257	$	84,624	$	378,462
Asset impairment charges		-		-		18,070		-		18,070
Operating income (loss)		23,513		7,730		(20,293)		9,158		20,108
Capital and intangible asset expenditures		2,267		1,133		264		123		3,787
Depreciation and amortization		1,419		4,183		2,390		2,813		10,805


					Nutritional
August 31, 2016	Housewares		Health & Home		Supplements		Beauty		Total
Sales revenue, net	$	105,976	$	144,453	$	33,112	$	84,629	$	368,170
Asset impairment charges		-		-		-		-		-
Operating income (loss)		24,233		9,397		(1,229)		5,086		37,487
Capital and intangible asset expenditures		2,249		845		545		1,422		5,061
Depreciation and amortization		1,442		5,284		2,174		2,242		11,142

SIX MONTHS ENDED


(in thousands)					Nutritional
August 31, 2017	Housewares (1)		Health & Home		Supplements		Beauty		Total
Sales revenue, net	$	213,148	$	298,127	$	62,876	$	163,916	$	738,067
Asset impairment charges		-		-		50,070		4,000		54,070
Operating income (loss)		41,619		22,290		(54,892)		7,857		16,874
Capital and intangible asset expenditures		4,758		2,246		9,209		601		16,814
Depreciation and amortization		2,846		8,321		4,846		5,589		21,602


					Nutritional
August 31, 2016	Housewares (1)		Health & Home		Supplements		Beauty		Total
Sales revenue, net	$	190,579	$	290,808	$	69,052	$	165,669	$	716,108
Asset impairment charges		-		-		5,000		2,400		7,400
Operating income (loss)		39,733		19,001		(6,501)		8,152		60,385
Capital and intangible asset expenditures		2,838		2,034		2,107		3,236		10,215
Depreciation and amortization		2,771		10,517		4,134		4,676		22,098

(1)

The six months ended August 31, 2017 includes a full six months of operating results for Hydro Flask compared to five and a half months for the six months ended August 31, 2016.

We compute segment operating income based on net sales revenue, less cost of goods sold, SG&A, and any asset impairment charges associated with the segment. The SG&A used to compute each segment’s operating income is directly associated with the segment, plus shared service and corporate overhead expenses that are allocable to the

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segment. We do not allocate nonoperating income and expense, including interest or income taxes, to operating segments.

Note 6 – Comprehensive Income (Loss)

The changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) by component and related tax effects for the fiscal 2018 year-to-date are as follows:

CHANGES IN ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) BY COMPONENT


(in thousands)		Unrealized Holding Gains (Losses) on Cash Flow Hedges (1)
Balance at February 28, 2017	$	1,173
Other comprehensive income before reclassification		(4,203)
Amounts reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive income		(880)
Tax effects		963
Other comprehensive income (loss)		(4,120)
Balance at August 31, 2017	$	(2,947)

(1)

Represents activity associated with certain foreign currency contracts. Balances at August 31, 2017 and February 28, 2017 include net deferred tax benefits (expense) of $0.7 and ($0.2) million, respectively.

Note 7 – Supplemental Balance Sheet Information

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT


	Estimated
	Useful Lives			August 31,		February 28,
(in thousands)	(Years)			2017		2017
Land		-		$	12,800	$	12,800
Building and improvements	3	-	40		109,055		109,026
Computer, furniture and other equipment	3	-	15		89,128		81,122
Tools, molds and other production equipment	1	-	10		32,650		31,157
Construction in progress		-			5,366		7,391
Property and equipment, gross					248,999		241,496
Less accumulated depreciation					(114,327)		(106,561)
Property and equipment, net				$	134,672	$	134,935

ACCRUED EXPENSES AND OTHER CURRENT LIABILITIES


	August 31,		February 28,
(in thousands)	2017		2017
Accrued compensation, benefits and payroll taxes	$	22,543	$	34,917
Accrued sales returns, discounts and allowances		27,034		27,377
Accrued warranty returns		22,094		21,766
Accrued advertising		24,390		23,747
Accrued legal fees and settlements		17,512		16,908
Accrued royalties		8,612		9,553
Accrued property, sales and other taxes		8,099		6,564
Accrued freight and duty		4,565		3,454
Accrued product liability		3,199		2,141
Derivative liabilities, current		3,643		47
Other		5,592		6,726
Total accrued expenses and other current liabilities	$	147,283	$	153,200

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OTHER LIABILITIES, NONCURRENT


	August 31,		February 28,
(in thousands)	2017		2017
Deferred compensation liability	$	4,956	$	6,560
Liability for uncertain tax positions		4,473		6,611
Other liabilities		8,431		8,490
Total other liabilities, noncurrent	$	17,860	$	21,661

Note 8 – Goodwill and Intangible Assets

Impairments in Fiscal 2018 – We continue to evaluate strategic alternatives for our Nutritional Supplements segment, which could include a transaction to divest the business, further investments in the segment’s e-commerce platforms, further restructuring or realignment programs, and consolidating our operations and functions. We believe that over the longer-term, these alternatives are designed to enhance revenue growth and profitability; however, over the short-term, certain of these alternatives may have a disproportionate impact on our income relative to the cost savings or generate other charges or losses.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we received information regarding the potential fair value of our Nutritional Supplements segment that we concluded should be considered when determining if impairments of our long-lived assets, including goodwill, had occurred. Consequently, we performed interim impairment testing. As a result of our testing, we recorded pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges totaling $32.0 million, consisting of $6.0 million to the segment’s indefinite-lived brand assets and $26.0 million to the segment’s goodwill.

During the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we performed additional impairment testing for our Nutritional Supplements segment due to a revised financial projection. As a result of our testing, we recorded pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges totaling $18.1 million to the segment’s indefinite-lived brand assets.

The fair values used in our impairment tests were determined using a weighted average of various valuation methods including estimated future discounted cash flows and other market data. The valuation techniques utilized assumptions we believed to be appropriate in the circumstances; however, future circumstances attributable to a strategic change in the Nutritional Supplements segment could result in changes to those assumptions and other charges or losses relating to the segment may be recorded and could be material. For example, if we determine that a divestiture is the probable outcome of our strategic review, we may need to perform additional impairment tests that may include future offer values. We are unable to project the amount of any expense, charge or loss that may be incurred in future periods.

In our Beauty segment, we performed interim impairment testing in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 for a certain brand due to a revised financial projection. As a result of our testing, we recorded a pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charge of $4.0 million.

Impairment Testing in Fiscal 2017 – Our annual impairment testing for goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets had historically occurred in the first quarter of our fiscal year. In December 2016, we elected to change our annual impairment testing to the fourth quarter of our fiscal year. Accordingly, for fiscal 2017 we completed impairment tests during the first and fourth fiscal quarters. As a result of our testing of indefinite-lived trademarks in the fourth quarter, we recorded non-cash asset impairment charges of $5.0 million ($3.2 million after tax). As a result of our testing of indefinite-lived trademarks in the first quarter, we recorded non-cash asset impairment charges of $7.4 million ($5.1 million after tax). The charges in both quarters were related to certain brand assets and trademarks in our Beauty and Nutritional Supplements segments, which were written down to their estimated fair values, determined on the basis of our estimated future discounted cash flows using the relief from royalty valuation method. The fair values used for our impairment testing in fiscal 2017 were estimated using a weighted average approach, which heavily weighted a valuation derived from a discounted cash flow model based on the Company’s estimates of future cash flows and based on management’s intentions with respect to the business.

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The following table summarizes the carrying amounts and associated accumulated amortization for all intangible assets by operating segment as of the end of the periods shown:

GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS


	August 31, 2017								February 28, 2017
	Gross		Cumulative						Gross		Cumulative
	Carrying		Goodwill		Accumulated		Net Book		Carrying		Goodwill		Accumulated		Net Book
(in thousands)	Amount		Impairments		Amortization		Value		Amount		Impairments		Amortization		Value
Housewares:
Goodwill	$	282,056	$	-	$	-	$	282,056	$	282,056	$	-	$	-	$	282,056
Trademarks - indefinite		134,200		-		-		134,200		134,200		-		-		134,200
Other intangibles - finite		40,613		-		(16,598)		24,015		40,393		-		(15,476)		24,917
Total Housewares		456,869		-		(16,598)		440,271		456,649		-		(15,476)		441,173

Health & Home:
Goodwill		284,913		-		-		284,913		284,913		-		-		284,913
Trademarks - indefinite		54,000		-		-		54,000		54,000		-		-		54,000
Licenses - finite		15,300		-		(15,300)		-		15,300		-		(15,300)		-
Licenses - indefinite		7,400		-		-		7,400		7,400		-		-		7,400
Other intangibles - finite		117,332		-		(71,603)		45,729		116,982		-		(66,027)		50,955
Total Health & Home		478,945		-		(86,903)		392,042		478,595		-		(81,327)		397,268

Nutritional Supplements:
Goodwill		96,609		(26,000)		-		70,609		96,609		-		-		96,609
Brand assets - indefinite		31,950		-		-		31,950		56,020		-		-		56,020
Other intangibles - finite		52,180		-		(20,324)		31,856		44,180		-		(16,715)		27,465
Total Nutritional Supplements		180,739		(26,000)		(20,324)		134,415		196,809		-		(16,715)		180,094

Beauty:
Goodwill		81,841		(46,490)		-		35,351		81,841		(46,490)		-		35,351
Trademarks - indefinite		41,854		-		-		41,854		45,854		-		-		45,854
Trademarks - finite		150		-		(95)		55		150		-		(92)		58
Licenses - indefinite		10,300		-		-		10,300		10,300		-		-		10,300
Licenses - finite		13,696		-		(12,008)		1,688		13,696		-		(11,849)		1,847
Other intangibles - finite		46,403		-		(42,594)		3,809		46,402		-		(39,929)		6,473
Total Beauty		194,244		(46,490)		(54,697)		93,057		198,243		(46,490)		(51,870)		99,883
Total goodwill and intangible assets	$	1,310,797	$	(72,490)	$	(178,522)	$	1,059,785	$	1,330,296	$	(46,490)	$	(165,388)	$	1,118,418

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The following table summarizes the amortization expense attributable to intangible assets recorded in SG&A in the consolidated condensed statements of income for the periods shown below, as well as our estimated amortization expense for fiscal 2018 through 2023.

AMORTIZATION OF INTANGIBLE ASSETS


Aggregate Amortization Expense (in thousands)
For the three months ended
August 31, 2017	$	6,463
August 31, 2016	$	7,222

Aggregate Amortization Expense (in thousands)
For the six months ended
August 31, 2017	$	13,148
August 31, 2016	$	14,426


Estimated Amortization Expense (in thousands)
Fiscal 2018	$	25,967
Fiscal 2019	$	21,157
Fiscal 2020	$	20,056
Fiscal 2021	$	17,487
Fiscal 2022	$	6,989
Fiscal 2023	$	4,830

Note 9 – Acquisitions

Hydro Flask Acquisition - On March 18, 2016, we completed the acquisition of all membership units of Steel Technology, LLC, doing business as Hydro Flask. Hydro Flask is a leading designer, distributor and marketer of high performance insulated stainless steel food and beverage containers for active lifestyles. The aggregate purchase price for the transaction was approximately $209.3 million, net of cash acquired. Significant assets acquired include receivables, inventory, prepaid expenses, property and equipment, trade names, technology assets, customer relationships, and goodwill. Acquisition-related expenses, incurred during fiscal 2016, were approximately $0.7 million (before and after tax).

We accounted for the acquisition as the purchase of a business and recorded the excess purchase price as goodwill, which is not expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. We completed our analysis of the economic lives of all the assets acquired and determined the appropriate fair values of the acquired assets. We assigned $59.0 million to trade names with indefinite economic lives. We assigned $10.3 million to technology assets and $14.2 million to customer relationships and are amortizing these assets over expected lives of 10 and 24 years, respectively. For technology assets, we considered the average life cycle of the underlying products, which range from 7 - 15 years, and the overall average life of the associated patent portfolio. For the customer relationships, we used historical attrition rates to assign an expected life.

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The following schedule presents the net assets of Hydro Flask recorded at the acquisition date, excluding cash acquired:

HYDRO FLASK - NET ASSETS RECORDED UPON ACQUISITION AT MARCH 18, 2016

(in thousands)


Assets:
Receivables	$	7,955
Inventory		6,243
Prepaid expenses and other current assets		336
Property and equipment		1,108
Goodwill		116,053
Trade names - indefinite		59,000
Technology assets - definite		10,300
Customer relationships - definite		14,200
Subtotal - assets		215,195

Liabilities:
Accounts payable		2,275
Accrued expenses		3,662
Subtotal - liabilities		5,937
Net assets recorded	$	209,258

The fair values of the above assets acquired and liabilities assumed were estimated by applying income and market approaches. Key assumptions include various discount rates based upon a 12.3% weighted average cost of capital; royalty rates used in the determination of trade names and technology asset values of 6% and 2%, respectively; and a customer attrition rate used in the determination of customer relationship values of approximately 4% per year.

Note 10 – Long-Term Debt

We have a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and other lenders that provided for an unsecured total revolving commitment of $1 billion as of August 31, 2017. The commitment under the Credit Agreement terminates on December 7, 2021. Borrowings accrue interest under one of two alternative methods as described in the Credit Agreement. With each borrowing against our credit line, we can elect the interest rate method based on our funding needs at the time. We also incur loan commitment fees and letter of credit fees under the Credit Agreement. Outstanding letters of credit reduce the borrowing availability under the Credit Agreement on a dollar-for-dollar basis. As of August 31, 2017, the outstanding revolving loan principal balance was $404.4 million and the face amount of outstanding letters of credit was $7.6 million. For the three- and six-months ended August 31, 2017, borrowings under the Credit Agreement incurred interest charges at rates ranging from 2.5% to 4.8% and 2.3% to 4.8%, respectively. For the three- and six-months ended August 31, 2016, borrowings under the Credit Agreement incurred interest charges at rates ranging from 2.2% to 4.3% and 1.9% to 4.3%, respectively. As of August 31, 2017, the amount available for borrowings under the Credit Agreement was $588.0 million. Covenants in our debt agreements limit the amount of total indebtedness we can incur. As of August 31, 2017, these covenants effectively limited our ability to incur more than $315.2 million of additional debt from all sources, including our Credit Agreement.

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The following table summarizes our long-term debt as of the end of the periods shown:

LONG-TERM DEBT


	Original
	Date	Interest			August 31,		February 28,
(dollars in thousands)	Borrowed	Rates		Matures	2017		2017
$37.6 million unsecured loan with the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation (the "MBFC Loan"), interest is set and payable quarterly at a Base Rate, plus a margin of up to 1.0%, or applicable LIBOR plus a margin of up to 2.0%, as determined by the interest rate elected and the Leverage Ratio. Loan subject to holder's call on or after March 1, 2018. Loan can be prepaid without penalty. (1)	03/13	Floating		03/23	$	24,212	$	29,903
$100 million unsecured Senior Notes payable at a fixed interest rate of 3.9%. Interest payable semi-annually. Annual principal payments of $20 million began in January 2014. Prepayment of notes are subject to a "make whole" premium.	01/11	3.9	%	01/18		19,905		19,763
Credit Agreement	01/15	Floating		12/21		400,149		435,949
Total long-term debt						444,266		485,615
Less current maturities of long-term debt						(20,789)		(24,404)
Long-term debt, excluding current maturities					$	423,477	$	461,211

(1)

The remaining principal balance of the MBFC loan is payable as follows: $1.9 million annually on March 1, 2018 through 2022; and $14.8 million on March 1, 2023. Any remaining outstanding principal and interest is due upon maturity on March 1, 2023.

The fair market value of the fixed rate debt at August 31, 2017, computed using a discounted cash flow analysis and comparable market rates was $20.1 million, compared to the $19.9 million book value. Our other long-term debt has floating interest rates, and its book value approximates its fair value at August 31, 2017.

All of our debt is unconditionally guaranteed, on a joint and several basis, by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries. Our debt agreements require the maintenance of certain financial covenants, including maximum leverage ratios, minimum interest coverage ratios and minimum consolidated net worth levels (as each of these terms is defined in the various agreements). Our debt agreements also contain other customary covenants. We were in compliance with the terms of these agreements as of August 31, 2017.

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Note 11 – Income Taxes

Due to the Company’s organization in Bermuda and the ownership structure of our foreign subsidiaries, many of which are not owned directly or indirectly by a U.S. parent company, an immaterial amount of our foreign income is subject to U.S. taxation on a permanent basis under current law. Additionally, our intellectual property is largely owned by our foreign subsidiaries, resulting in proportionally higher earnings in jurisdictions with lower statutory tax rates, which decreases our overall effective tax rate.

For the three months ended August 31, 2017, income tax expense as a percentage of pre-tax income was 45.3%, compared to 15.9% for the same period last year, primarily due to the recognition of tax benefits from impairment charges over the course of the year in relation to pre-tax income, as opposed to the periods in which the charges were incurred. The net effect of this treatment resulted in an additional tax expense of $6.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2018. For the six months ended August 31, 2017, the Company has recognized $6.4 million of the expected $19.9 million tax benefit from impairment charges. The remaining tax benefit of $13.5 million will be recognized in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2018 relative to pre-tax income each quarter.

In addition to the tax expense of $6.5 million referred to above, income taxes for the three months ended August 31, 2017 also includes a tax benefit of $2.2 million related to the favorable resolution of an uncertain tax position. There were no comparable expenses or benefits in the same period last year.

For the six months ended August 31, 2017, income tax expense as a percentage of pre-tax income was (57.2)% compared to 10.8% for the same period last year. Income taxes for the six months ended August 31, 2017 includes:

net tax benefits of $6.4 million related to asset impairment charges, as described above;

$2.6 million in excess tax benefits from share-based compensation settlements and exercises; and

tax benefits of $2.8 million related to the resolution of uncertain tax positions.

Income taxes for the six months ended August 31, 2016 includes tax benefits of $1.4 million related the resolution of uncertain tax positions and $1.3 million in excess tax benefits from share-based compensation settlements and exercises.

Note 12 – Fair Value

We classify our various assets and liabilities recorded or reported at fair value under a hierarchy prescribed by GAAP that prioritizes inputs to fair value measurement techniques into three broad levels:

Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets;

Level 2: Observable inputs other than quoted prices that are directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability, including quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for similar or identical assets or liabilities in markets that are not active; and model-derived valuations whose inputs are observable or whose significant value drivers are observable; and

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that reflect the reporting entity’s own assumptions.

Assets and liabilities subject to classification are classified upon acquisition. When circumstances dictate the transfer of an asset or liability to a different level, our policy is to recognize the transfer at the beginning of the reporting period in which the event resulting in the transfer occurred.

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The following tables present the fair value of our financial assets and liabilities measured on a recurring basis as of the end of the periods shown:

FAIR VALUES OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES


	Fair Values at
	August 31, 2017
(in thousands)	(Level 2) (1)
Assets:
Money market accounts	$	2,182
Foreign currency contracts		19
Total assets	$	2,201

Liabilities:
Fixed rate debt (2)	$	20,099
Floating rate debt		424,361
Foreign currency contracts		3,746
Total liabilities	$	448,206


	Fair Values at
	February 28, 2017
(in thousands)	(Level 2) (1)
Assets:
Money market accounts	$	2,711
Foreign currency contracts		2,167
Total assets	$	4,878

Liabilities:
Fixed rate debt (2)	$	20,105
Floating rate debt		465,852
Foreign currency contracts		47
Total liabilities	$	486,004

(1)

Our financial assets and liabilities are classified as Level 2 because their valuation is dependent on observable inputs and other quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, or model-derived valuations whose significant value drivers are observable.

(2)

Debt values are reported at estimated fair value in these tables, but are recorded in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets at the undiscounted value of remaining principal payments due.

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and accounts payable approximate fair value because of the short maturity of these items. Money market accounts are included in cash and cash equivalents in the accompanying consolidated condensed balance sheets and are classified as Level 2 items.

We use derivatives for hedging purposes and our derivatives are primarily foreign currency contracts and cross-currency debt swaps. See Notes 6, 7 and 13 to these consolidated condensed financial statements for more information on our hedging activities.

We classify our fixed and floating rate debt as Level 2 items because the estimation of the fair market value of these financial assets requires the use of a discount rate based upon current market rates of interest for obligations with comparable remaining terms. Such comparable rates are considered significant other observable market inputs. The fair market value of the fixed rate debt was computed using a discounted cash flow analysis and discount rates of 0.9% at August 31, 2017 and 1.8% at February 28, 2017. All other long-term debt has floating interest rates, and its book value approximates its fair value as of the reporting date.

Our other non-financial assets include goodwill and other intangible assets, which we classify as Level 3 items. These assets are measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis as part of our impairment testing. Note 8 to these

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consolidated condensed financial statements contains additional information regarding impairment testing and related intangible asset impairments.

Note 13 – Financial Instruments and Risk Management

Foreign Currency Risk - Our functional currency is the U.S. Dollar. By operating internationally, we are subject to foreign currency risk from transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar (“foreign currencies”). Such transactions include sales, certain inventory purchases and operating expenses. As a result of such transactions, portions of our cash, trade accounts receivable and trade accounts payable are denominated in foreign currencies. During the three- and six-months ended August 31, 2017, approximately 12% and 13%, respectively, of our net sales revenue was in foreign currencies. During the three- and six-months ended August 31, 2016, approximately 11% and 12%, respectively, of our net sales revenue was in foreign currencies. These sales were primarily denominated in British Pounds, Euros, Mexican Pesos and Canadian Dollars. We make most of our inventory purchases from the Far East and primarily use the U.S. Dollar for such purchases. In our consolidated condensed statements of income, exchange gains and losses resulting from the remeasurement of foreign taxes receivable, taxes payable, deferred tax assets, and deferred tax liabilities, are recognized in their respective income tax lines, and all other foreign exchange gains and losses from remeasurement of the balance sheet are recognized in SG&A. For the three- and six-months ended August 31, 2017, we recorded net foreign exchange gains (losses) from remeasurement, including the impact of foreign currency hedges and cross-currency debt swaps, of $0.1 and $0.7 million, respectively, in SG&A, and $(0.5) and $(0.6) million, respectively, in income tax expense. For the three- and six-months ended August 31, 2016, we recorded net foreign exchange gains (losses) from remeasurement, including the impact of foreign currency hedges and cross-currency debt swaps, of ($0.7) and ($0.5) million, respectively, in SG&A, and $0.1 million in income tax expense for both periods.

We hedge against certain foreign currency exchange rate risk by using a series of forward contracts designated as cash flow hedges and mark-to-market derivatives to protect against the foreign currency exchange risk inherent in our forecasted transactions denominated in currencies other than the U.S. Dollar. We do not enter into any forward exchange contracts or similar instruments for trading or other speculative purposes.

Interest Rate Risk - Interest on our outstanding debt as of August 31, 2017 is both floating and fixed. Fixed rates are in place on $20 million of Senior Notes at 3.9% and floating rates are in place on the balance of all other debt outstanding, which totaled $428.7 million as of August 31, 2017. If short-term interest rates increase, we will incur higher interest rates on any future outstanding balances of floating rate debt.

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The following table summarizes the fair values of our derivative instruments as of the end of the periods shown:

FAIR VALUES OF DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS


	August 31, 2017
					Prepaid				Accrued
					Expenses				Expenses
		Final			and Other				and Other		Other
(in thousands)		Settlement	Notional		Current		Other		Current		Liabilities,
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	Hedge Type	Date	Amount		Assets		Assets		Liabilities		Non-current
Foreign currency contracts - sell Euro	Cash flow	12/2018	€	36,500	$	-	$	-	$	2,283	$	2
Foreign currency contracts - sell Canadian Dollars	Cash flow	12/2018	$	27,000		-		-		719		23
Foreign currency contracts - sell Pounds	Cash flow	8/2018	£	15,500		-		-		174		-
Foreign currency contracts - sell Mexican Pesos	Cash flow	5/2018	$	70,000		-		-		467		-
Subtotal						-		-		3,643		25

Derivatives not designated under hedge accounting
Foreign currency contracts - cross-currency debt swaps - Euro	(1)	4/2020	$	5,280		-		19		-		-
Foreign currency contracts - cross-currency debt swaps - Pound	(1)	4/2020	$	6,395		-		-		-		78
Subtotal						-		19		-		78
Total fair value					$	-	$	19	$	3,643	$	103


	February 28, 2017
					Prepaid				Accrued
					Expenses				Expenses
		Final			and Other				and Other		Other
		Settlement	Notional		Current		Other		Current		Liabilities,
Derivatives designated as hedging instruments	Hedge Type	Date	Amount		Assets		Assets		Liabilities		Non-current
Foreign currency contracts - sell Euro	Cash flow	2/2018	€	27,500	$	727	$	-	$	-	$	-
Foreign currency contracts - sell Canadian Dollars	Cash flow	6/2018	$	26,000		155		32		-		-
Foreign currency contracts - sell Pounds	Cash flow	2/2018	£	13,500		548		-		-		-
Foreign currency contracts - sell Mexican Pesos	Cash flow	2/2018	$	59,600		-		-		47		-
Subtotal						1,430		32		47		-

Derivatives not designated under hedge accounting
Foreign currency contracts - cross-currency debt swap - Euro	(1)	1/2018	$	10,000		705		-		-		-
Total fair value					$	2,135	$	32	$	47	$	-

(1)

These are foreign currency contracts for which we have not elected hedge accounting. We refer to them as “cross-currency debt swaps”. They in effect adjust the currency denomination of a portion of our outstanding debt to the Euro and British Pound for the notional amounts reported, creating an economic hedge against currency movements.

The following table summarizes the pre-tax effect of derivative instruments for the periods shown:

PRE-TAX EFFECT OF DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS


	Three Months Ended August 31,
	Gain / (Loss)				Gain / (Loss) Reclassified from
	Recognized in OCI				Accumulated Other Comprehensive					Gain / (Loss) Recognized
	(effective portion)				Income (Loss) into Income					As Income
(in thousands)	2017		2016		Location	2017		2016		Location	2017		2016
Currency contracts - cash flow hedges	$	(1,958)	$	1,289	SG&A	$	578	$	141		$	-	$	-
Cross-currency debt swaps - principal		-		-			-		-	SG&A		(215)		(17)
Cross-currency debt swaps - interest		-		-			-		-	Interest Expense		-		35
Total	$	(1,958)	$	1,289		$	578	$	141		$	(215)	$	18


	Six Months Ended August 31,
	Gain / (Loss)				Gain / (Loss) Reclassified from
	Recognized in OCI				Accumulated Other Comprehensive					Gain / (Loss) Recognized
	(effective portion)				Income (Loss) into Income					As Income
(in thousands)	2017		2016		Location	2017		2016		Location	2017		2016
Currency contracts - cash flow hedges	$	(4,203)	$	270	SG&A	$	880	$	(17)		$	-	$	-
Cross-currency debt swaps - principal		-		-			-		-	SG&A		(764)		35
Cross-currency debt swaps - interest		-		-			-		-	Interest Expense		-		35
Total	$	(4,203)	$	270		$	880	$	(17)		$	(764)	$	70

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We expect pre-tax net losses of $3.6 million associated with foreign currency contracts currently reported in accumulated other comprehensive income, to be reclassified into income over the next twelve months. The amount ultimately realized, however, will differ as exchange rates change and the underlying contracts settle.

Counterparty Credit Risk - Financial instruments, including foreign currency contracts and cross currency debt swaps, expose us to counterparty credit risk for nonperformance. We manage our exposure to counterparty credit risk by only dealing with counterparties who are substantial international financial institutions with significant experience using such derivative instruments. Although our theoretical credit risk is the replacement cost at the then-estimated fair value of these instruments, we believe that the risk of incurring credit losses is remote.

Note 14 – Repurchase of Helen of Troy Common Stock

On May 10, 2017, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $400 million of our outstanding common stock. The new authorization is effective for a period of three years and replaced our existing repurchase authorization, of which approximately $82 million remained. These repurchases may include open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, block trades, accelerated stock repurchase transactions, or any combination of such methods. The number of shares purchased and the timing of the purchases will depend on a number of factors, including share price, trading volume and general market conditions, working capital requirements, general business conditions, financial conditions, any applicable contractual limitations, and other factors, including alternative investment opportunities. As of August 31, 2017, our repurchase authorization allowed for the purchase of $394.1 million of common stock.

Our current equity-based compensation plans include provisions that allow for the “net exercise” of share settled awards by all plan participants. In a net exercise, any required payroll taxes, federal withholding taxes and exercise price of the shares due from the option holder can be paid for by having the option holder tender back to the Company a number of shares at fair value equal to the amounts due. Net exercises are accounted for as a purchase and retirement of shares.

The following table summarizes our share repurchase activity for the periods shown:


	Three Months Ended August 31,				Six Months Ended August 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)	2017		2016		2017		2016
Common stock received in connection with share-based compensation:
Number of shares		1,858		668		72,565		5,274
Aggregate value of shares	$	185	$	65	$	6,973	$	507
Average price per share	$	99.59	$	97.11	$	96.09	$	96.17

Note 15 – Share-Based Compensation Plans

We have equity awards outstanding under several share-based compensation plans. During the three- and six- months ended August 31, 2017, we had the following share-based compensation activity:

We issued 1,504 and 2,928 shares, respectively, to non-employee Board members with a total grant date fair value of $0.1 and $0.3 million, respectively, and average share prices of $93.40 and $95.86, respectively.

We granted time-vested restricted stock units (“RSUs”) that may be settled for 3,108 and 72,915 shares, respectively, of common stock with average fair values at the grant dates of $95.88 per unit, for both periods.

We also granted performance-based restricted stock units (“PSUs”) for 1,524 and 66,534 shares, respectively, of common stock with average fair values at the grant dates of $95.20 and $96.76 per unit, respectively.

Employee RSUs for 869 and 34,135 shares vested and settled with a total fair value at settlement of $0.1 and $3.4 million and an average share price of $96.24 and $98.33, respectively.

Employees exercised stock options to purchase 26,811 and 103,404 shares of common stock, respectively.

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During the three months ended May 31, 2017, employee PSUs for 149,884 shares vested and settled with a total fair value at settlement of $14.3 million, and an average share price of $95.55.

We recorded the following share-based compensation expense in SG&A for the periods shown below:

SHARE-BASED PAYMENT EXPENSE


	Three Months Ended August 31,				Six Months Ended August 31,
(in thousands, except per share data)	2017		2016		2017		2016
Stock options	$	423	$	667	$	962	$	1,407
Directors stock compensation		200		175		400		350
Performance based and other stock awards		2,427		2,096		4,939		6,847
Employee stock purchase plan		297		258		297		258
Share-based payment expense		3,347		3,196		6,598		8,862
Less income tax benefits		(591)		(693)		(1,081)		(2,214)
Share-based payment expense, net of income tax benefits	$	2,756	$	2,503	$	5,517	$	6,648

Earnings per share impact of share-based payment expense:
Basic	$	0.10	$	0.09	$	0.20	$	0.24
Diluted	$	0.10	$	0.09	$	0.20	$	0.24

Note 16 – Subsequent Events

On September 18, 2017, Toys “R” Us, Inc. and certain subsidiaries, a retail customer of the Housewares and Health & Home segments, filed for protection under chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company recorded a charge of $3.6 million to reserve outstanding accounts receivable and provide for estimated liabilities from the bankruptcy proceedings.

On October 5, 2017, the Company announced that it had approved a restructuring plan (referred to as “Project Refuel”) intended to enhance the performance of the Beauty and Nutritional Supplements segments. Through the restructuring, the Company is targeting annualized savings of $10 million combined over the next 18 months and expects to incur restructuring charges over the same period in the range of $4.0 to $6.0 million.

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

This management’s discussion and analysis (“MD&A”) contains a number of forward-looking statements, all of which are based on current expectations. Actual results may differ materially due to a number of factors, including those discussed in Part I, Item 3.“Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” and “Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in this report and “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K and its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). This discussion should be read in conjunction with our consolidated condensed financial statements included under Part I, Item 1. of this report. Throughout MD&A, we refer to our Leadership Brands, which are brands that have number-one and number-two positions in their respective categories and include OXO®, Honeywell®, Braun®, PUR®, Hydro Flask®, Vicks®, and Hot Tools®.

Throughout MD&A, we refer to certain measures used by management to evaluate financial performance. We also may refer to a number of financial measures that are not defined under GAAP, but have corresponding GAAP-based measures. Where non-GAAP measures appear, we provide tables reconciling these to their corresponding GAAP-based measures and refer to a discussion of their use. We believe these measures provide investors with important information that is useful in understanding our business results and trends.

OVERVIEW

We incorporated as Helen of Troy Corporation in Texas in 1968 and were reorganized as Helen of Troy Limited in Bermuda in 1994. We are a leading global consumer products company offering creative products and solutions for our customers through a diversified portfolio of well-recognized and widely-trusted brands. We have built leading market positions through new product innovation, product quality and competitive pricing. We operate in four segments consisting of Housewares, Health & Home, Nutritional Supplements, and Beauty. In fiscal 2015, we launched a transformational strategy to improve the performance of our business segments and strengthen our shared service capabilities. We believe we continue to make progress on achieving our strategic objectives.

Significant Trends Impacting the Business

Restructuring Plan

On October 5, 2017, the Company announced that it had approved a restructuring plan (referred to as “Project Refuel”) intended to enhance the performance of the Nutritional Supplements and Beauty segments. Through the restructuring, the Company is targeting annualized profit improvement of $10 million combined over the next 18 months and expects to incur restructuring charges in the range of $4.0 to $6.0 million over the same period.

Nutritional Supplements Business

We continue to evaluate strategic alternatives for our Nutritional Supplements business, which could include a transaction to divest the business, further investments in the segment’s e-commerce platforms, further restructuring or realignment programs, and consolidation of our operations and functions. We believe that over the longer-term, these alternatives are designed to enhance revenue growth and profitability; however, over the transitional near-term, certain of these alternatives may have a disproportionate impact on our income relative to the cost savings or generate other charges or losses.

During the first quarter of fiscal 2018, we received information regarding the potential fair value of our Nutritional Supplements business that we concluded should be considered when determining if impairments of our long-lived assets, including goodwill, had occurred. Consequently, we performed interim impairment testing to determine whether our long-lived assets, including goodwill, associated with our Nutritional Supplements segment were impaired. As a result of our testing, we recorded non-cash asset impairment charges totaling $32.0 million, consisting of $6.0 million to the segment’s indefinite-lived trademarks, and $26.0 million to the segment’s goodwill.

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In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, we performed additional impairment testing for the Nutritional Supplements segment due to a revised financial projection. As a result of our testing, we recorded non-cash asset impairment charges totaling $18.1 million related to the the segment’s indefinite-lived brand assets.

The fair values used in our impairment tests were determined using a weighted average of various valuation methods including estimated future discounted cash flows and other market data. The valuation techniques utilized assumptions we believe to be appropriate in the circumstances; however, future circumstances attributable to a strategic change in the Nutritional Supplements segment could result in changes to those assumptions and other charges or losses relating to the segment may be recorded and could be material. For example, if we determine that a divestiture is the probable outcome of our strategic review, we expect to perform additional impairment tests with updated assumptions. We are unable to project what, if any, expense, charges or losses will be in future periods.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations

Due to the nature of our operations, we have exposure to the impact of fluctuations in exchange rates from transactions that are denominated in a currency other than our reporting currency (the U.S. Dollar). The most significant currencies affecting our operating results are the British Pound, Euro, Canadian Dollar, and Mexican Peso. For the three months ended August 31, 2017, changes in foreign currency exchange rates had a favorable impact on consolidated U.S dollar reported net sales revenue of approximately $0.5 million, or 0.1%. For the six-months ended August 31, 2017, net foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations negatively impacted our consolidated U.S. dollar reported net sales revenue by approximately $1.7 million, or 0.2%.

Consumer Spending and Changes in Shopping Preferences

Our business depends upon discretionary consumer demand for most of our products and primarily operates within mature and highly developed consumer markets. The principal driver of our operating performance is the strength of the U.S. retail economy, as approximately 81%, 80% and 79% of our consolidated net sales were from U.S. shipments in fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, respectively. Additionally, the shift in consumer shopping preferences to online or multichannel shopping experiences has shifted the concentration of our sales. For fiscal 2017, 2016 and 2015, our net sales to retail customers fulfilling end-consumer online orders and online sales directly to consumers comprised approximately 13%, 10% and 9%, respectively, of our total consolidated net sales revenue for each fiscal year and grew over 30% in fiscal 2017. For the second quarter and first six months of fiscal 2018, our net sales to retail customers fulfilling end-consumer online orders and online sales directly to consumers comprised approximately 16% and 15% respectively of our total consolidated net sales revenue and grew approximately 18% and 23%, respectively, compared to the same periods last year. With the continued growth in online sales across the retail landscape, many brick and mortar retailers are aggressively looking for ways to improve their customer delivery capabilities to be able to meet customer expectations. As a result, it will become increasingly important for us to leverage our distribution capabilities in order to meet the changing demands of our customers, as well as to increase our online capabilities to support our direct-to-consumer sales channels and online channel sales by our retail customers.

Variability of the Cough/Cold/Flu Season

Sales in several of our Health & Home segment categories are highly correlated to the severity of winter weather and cough/cold/flu incidence. In the U.S., the cough/cold/flu season historically runs from November through March, with peak activity normally in January to March. For the 2016-2017 season, fall and winter season weather was mild and reports of cough/cold/flu incidence were below the 2015-2016 season, which was a below average season. We expect that the weakness in the 2016-2017 cough/cold/flu season will have an unfavorable impact on initial replenishment of affected categories during fiscal 2018, due to high retail inventory levels.

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Second Quarter Fiscal 2018 Financial Results

Consolidated net sales revenue increased 2.8%, or $10.3 million, to $378.5 million for the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $368.2 million for the same period last year.

Consolidated operating income was $20.1 million for the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to operating income of $37.5 million in the same period last year. Consolidated operating income for the three months ended August 31, 2017 includes pre-tax non-cash impairment charges of $18.1 million, and a $3.6 million charge related to the bankruptcy of Toys “R” Us (“TRU”). There were no comparable charges in the same period last year.

Consolidated adjusted operating income increased 7.7%, or $3.7 million, to $51.5 million for the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $47.9 million in the same period last year. Consolidated adjusted operating margin increased 0.6 percentage points to 13.6% of consolidated net sales revenue in the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to 13.0% in the same period last year.

Net income was $8.9 million for the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $28.4 million for the same period last year. Diluted EPS decreased to $0.33 in the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $1.00 in the same period last year.

Adjusted income increased 22.0% to $45.2 million in the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $37.0 million in the same period last year. Adjusted diluted EPS increased 26.0% to $1.65 in the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $1.31 in the same period last year.

Year-To-Date Fiscal 2018 Financial Results

Consolidated net sales revenue increased 3.1%, or $22.0 million, to $738.1 million for the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $716.1 million for the same period last year.

Consolidated operating income was $16.9 million for the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to operating income of $60.4 million in the same period last year. Consolidated operating income for the six months ended August 31, 2017 includes pre-tax non-cash impairment charges of $54.1 million and a $3.6 million charge related to the bankruptcy of TRU. The six months ended August 31, 2016 includes pre-tax non-cash impairment charges of $7.4 million and a patent litigation charge of $1.5 million.

Consolidated adjusted operating income increased 1.9%, or $1.7 million to $94.2 million for the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $92.4 million in the same period last year. Consolidated adjusted operating margin decreased 0.1 percentage point to 12.8% of consolidated net sales revenue in the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to 12.9% in the same period last year.

Net income was $14.8 million for the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $47.4 million for the same period last year. Diluted EPS decreased to $0.54 in the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $1.68 in the same period last year.

Adjusted income increased 13.4% to $82.7 million in the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $72.9 million in the same period last year. Adjusted diluted EPS increased 17.0% to $3.03 in the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $2.59 in the same period last year.

Adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted income, and adjusted diluted EPS as discussed above and on the pages that follow are non‐GAAP financial measures as contemplated by SEC Regulation G, Rule 100. These measures are discussed further, and reconciled to their applicable GAAP‐based measures, on pages 28 through 37.

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following tables set forth, for the periods indicated, our selected operating data, in U.S. Dollars, as a year-over-year percentage change and as a percentage of net sales revenue. We will refer to this table in the discussion of results of operations which follows:


	Three Months Ended August 31,								% of Sales Revenue, net
(In thousands)	2017		2016		$ Change		% Change		2017		2016
Sales revenue by segment, net
Housewares	$	114,720	$	105,976	$	8,744	8.3	%	30.3	%	28.8	%
Health & Home		147,861		144,453		3,408	2.4	%	39.1	%	39.2	%
Nutritional Supplements		31,257		33,112		(1,855)	(5.6)	%	8.3	%	9.0	%
Beauty		84,624		84,629		(5)	(0.0)	%	22.4	%	23.0	%
Total sales revenue, net		378,462		368,170		10,292	2.8	%	100.0	%	100.0	%
Cost of goods sold		210,529		205,202		5,327	2.6	%	55.6	%	55.7	%
Gross profit		167,933		162,968		4,965	3.0	%	44.4	%	44.3	%
Selling, general and administrative expense		129,755		125,481		4,274	3.4	%	34.3	%	34.1	%
Asset impairment charges		18,070		-		18,070	*		4.8	%	-	%
Operating income		20,108		37,487		(17,379)	(46.4)	%	5.3	%	10.2	%
Nonoperating income, net		81		88		(7)	(8.0)	%	-	%	-	%
Interest expense		(3,869)		(3,866)		(3)	0.1	%	(1.0)	%	(1.1)	%
Total other expense		(3,788)		(3,778)		(10)	0.3	%	(1.0)	%	(1.0)	%
Income before income taxes		16,320		33,709		(17,389)	(51.6)	%	4.3	%	9.2	%
Income tax expense		7,387		5,354		2,033	38.0	%	2.0	%	1.5	%
Net income	$	8,933	$	28,355	$	(19,422)	(68.5)	%	2.4	%	7.7	%


	Six Months Ended August 31,								% of Sales Revenue, net
	2017		2016		$ Change		% Change		2017		2016
Sales revenue by segment, net
Housewares (1)	$	213,148	$	190,579	$	22,569	11.8	%	28.9	%	26.6	%
Health & Home		298,127		290,808		7,319	2.5	%	40.4	%	40.6	%
Nutritional Supplements		62,876		69,052		(6,176)	(8.9)	%	8.5	%	9.6	%
Beauty		163,916		165,669		(1,753)	(1.1)	%	22.2	%	23.1	%
Total sales revenue, net		738,067		716,108		21,959	3.1	%	100.0	%	100.0	%
Cost of goods sold		413,685		400,713		12,972	3.2	%	56.0	%	56.0	%
Gross profit		324,382		315,395		8,987	2.8	%	44.0	%	44.0	%
Selling, general and administrative expense		253,438		247,610		5,828	2.4	%	34.3	%	34.6	%
Asset impairment charges		54,070		7,400		46,670	*		7.3	%	1.0	%
Operating income		16,874		60,385		(43,511)	(72.1)	%	2.3	%	8.4	%
Nonoperating income, net		247		237		10	4.2	%	-	%	-	%
Interest expense		(7,708)		(7,517)		(191)	2.5	%	(1.0)	%	(1.0)	%
Total other expense		(7,461)		(7,280)		(181)	2.5	%	(1.0)	%	(1.0)	%
Income before income taxes		9,413		53,105		(43,692)	(82.3)	%	1.3	%	7.4	%
Income tax expense (benefit)		(5,388)		5,724		(11,112)	*		(0.7)	%	0.8	%
Net income	$	14,801	$	47,381	$	(32,580)	(68.8)	%	2.0	%	6.6	%

(1)

The six months ended August 31, 2017 includes approximately one-half month of incremental operating results from Hydro Flask, which was acquired on March 18, 2016.

* Calculation is not meaningful

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Comparison of Second Quarter Fiscal 2018 to Second Quarter Fiscal 2017

Consolidated and Segment Net Sales

The following table summarizes the impact that core business, foreign exchange and acquisitions, as applicable, had on our net sales revenue by segment:


	Three Months Ended August 31,
(in thousands)		Housewares			Health & Home			Nutritional Supplements			Beauty			Total
Fiscal 2017 sales revenue, net	$	105,976		$	144,453		$	33,112		$	84,629		$	368,170
Core business		8,804			3,024			(1,855)			(177)			9,796
Impact of foreign currency		(60)			384			-			172			496
Change in sales revenue, net		8,744			3,408			(1,855)			(5)			10,292
Fiscal 2018 sales revenue, net	$	114,720		$	147,861		$	31,257		$	84,624		$	378,462

Total net sales revenue growth		8.3	%		2.4	%		(5.6)	%		0.0	%		2.8	%
Core business		8.3	%		2.1	%		(5.6)	%		(0.2)	%		2.7	%
Impact of foreign currency		(0.1)	%		0.3	%		0.0	%		0.2	%		0.1	%

In the above table, core business refers to our net sales revenue associated with product lines or brands after the first twelve months from the date the product line or brand is acquired, excluding the impact that foreign currency had on reported net sales. Net sales revenue from internally developed brands or product lines is considered core business activity.

Consolidated Net Sales Revenue

Consolidated net sales revenue increased $10.3 million, or 2.8%, to $378.5 million for the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $368.2 million for the same period last year. The growth was primarily driven by new product introductions, online customer growth, incremental distribution, growth in international sales, and a favorable impact from foreign currency, partially offset by:

a decline in the Nutritional Supplements segment of $1.9 million, or 5.6%;

a decline in our personal care category within Beauty; and

the impact of lower store traffic and soft consumer spending at traditional brick and mortar retail.

Segment Net Sales Revenue

Housewares

Net sales revenue in the Housewares segment increased $8.7 million, or 8.3%, to $114.7 million for the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $106.0 million for same period last year. The growth was primarily driven by an increase in online sales, incremental distribution with existing customers, expanded international and U.S. distribution, and new product introductions for both the Hydro Flask and OXO brands. These factors were partially offset by the unfavorable impact of lower store traffic and soft consumer spending at traditional brick and mortar retail, and the unfavorable comparative impact of strong retail pipeline fill in the same period last year.

Health & Home

Net sales revenue in the Health & Home segment increased $3.4 million, or 2.4%, to $147.9 million for the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $144.5 million for the same period last year. The growth was primarily driven by online sales, strong sales in certain seasonal categories, incremental distribution with existing customers, new product introductions, and growth in international sales. Segment net sales also benefitted from the favorable impact of net foreign currency fluctuations of approximately $0.4 million, or 0.3%. These factors were partially offset by lower club sales and lower royalty revenue.

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Nutritional Supplements

Net sales revenue in the Nutritional Supplements segment decreased $1.9 million, or 5.6%, to $31.3 million for the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $33.1 million for the same period last year. The change was primarily driven by a decline in auto-delivery revenue resulting primarily from the transition to new order management and customer relationship management systems, partially offset by increases in direct mail and third-party retail sales. The segment continues to implement a multi-year strategic transition from offline to online channels.

Beauty

Net sales revenue in the Beauty segment was unchanged at $84.6 million for the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to the same period last year. Solid growth in both retail and professional appliance sales, particularly to online retail customers, was offset by declines in the personal care category due primarily to competitive conditions. Segment net sales benefitted from the favorable impact of net foreign currency fluctuations of approximately $0.2 million, or 0.2%.

Gross Profit Margin

Consolidated gross profit as a percentage of net sales revenue for the three months ended August 31, 2017 increased 0.1 percentage point to 44.4%, compared to 44.3% for the same period last year. The increase in consolidated gross profit margin was primarily due to favorable product mix and growth in our Leadership Brands, partially offset by higher overall promotional spending with customers and the unfavorable impact that the revenue decline in Nutritional Supplements has on consolidated gross profit margin.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense (“SG&A”)

Our consolidated SG&A ratio, defined as consolidated SG&A expense as a percent of consolidated net sales, increased 0.2 percentage points to 34.3% for the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to 34.1% for the same period last year. The increase in consolidated SG&A ratio was primarily due to a $3.6 million charge related to the bankruptcy of TRU, higher product liability expense and higher overall marketing, advertising and new product development expense in support of our Leadership Brands, partially offset by:



lower license royalty expense;

lower incentive compensation expense;

lower amortization expense; and

improved distribution and logistics efficiency and lower outbound freight expense.

Asset Impairment Charges

As previously discussed under the heading “Significant Trends Impacting the Business”, we performed interim impairment testing in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 as the result of a revised financial projection for the Nutritional Supplements segment. As a result of our testing, we recorded pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges totaling $18.1 million related to the segment’s indefinite-lived brand assets.

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Operating Income, Operating Margin, Adjusted Operating Income (non-GAAP), and Adjusted Operating Margin (non-GAAP) by Segment

In order to provide a better understanding of the comparative impact of certain items on operating income, the tables that follow report the comparative before tax impact of non‐cash asset impairment charges, the TRU bankruptcy charge, patent litigation charges, amortization of intangible assets, and non‐cash share‐based compensation, as applicable, on operating income and operating margin for each segment and in total for the periods covered below.


	Three Months Ended August 31, 2017
(In thousands)	Housewares				Health & Home				Nutritional Supplements				Beauty				Total
Operating income (loss), as reported (GAAP)	$	23,513	20.5	%	$	7,730	5.2	%	$	(20,293)	(64.9)	%	$	9,158	10.8	%	$	20,108	5.3	%
Asset impairment charges (1)		-	-	%		-	-	%		18,070	57.8	%		-	-	%		18,070	4.8	%
TRU bankruptcy charge (2)		956	0.8	%		2,640	1.8	%		-	-	%		-	-	%		3,596	1.0	%
Subtotal		24,469	21.3	%		10,370	7.0	%		(2,223)	(7.1)	%		9,158	10.8	%		41,774	11.0	%
Amortization of intangible assets (3)		485	0.4	%		2,790	1.9	%		1,772	5.7	%		1,416	1.7	%		6,463	1.7	%
Non-cash share-based compensation (4)		1,028	0.9	%		1,080	0.7	%		332	1.1	%		848	1.0	%		3,288	0.9	%
Adjusted operating income (loss)(non-GAAP)	$	25,982	22.6	%	$	14,240	9.6	%	$	(119)	(0.4)	%	$	11,422	13.5	%	$	51,525	13.6	%


	Three Months Ended August 31, 2016
(In thousands)	Housewares				Health & Home				Nutritional Supplements				Beauty				Total
Operating income (loss), as reported (GAAP)	$	24,233	22.9	%	$	9,397	6.5	%	$	(1,229)	(3.7)	%	$	5,086	6.0	%	$	37,487	10.2	%
Amortization of intangible assets (3)		671	0.6	%		3,542	2.5	%		1,571	4.7	%		1,438	1.7	%		7,222	2.0	%
Non-cash share-based compensation (4)		705	0.7	%		1,005	0.7	%		333	1.0	%		1,101	1.3	%		3,144	0.9	%
Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP)	$	25,609	24.2	%	$	13,944	9.7	%	$	675	2.0	%	$	7,625	9.0	%	$	47,853	13.0	%

In the tables above, footnote references (1) to (4) correspond to the notes beginning on page 31 under the heading entitled “Net Income, EPS, Adjusted Income (non-GAAP) and Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP).” Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin may be considered non-GAAP financial measures as set forth in SEC Regulation G, Rule 100. An explanation of the reasons why the Company believes the non-GAAP financial information is useful and the nature and limitations of the non-GAAP financial measures, is furnished beginning on page 38.

Consolidated

Consolidated operating income decreased 46.4% to $20.1 million, or 5.3% of net sales, compared to $37.5 million, or 10.2% of net sales, for the same period last year. The three months ended August 31, 2017 includes pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges totaling $18.1 million and a $3.6 million charge related to the bankruptcy of TRU, with no comparable charges in the same period last year. These items unfavorably impacted the year-over-year comparison of operating margin by 5.8 percentage points. The remaining increase in consolidated operating margin primarily reflects:

a higher mix of Leadership Brand sales at a higher operating margin;

lower license royalty expense;

lower incentive compensation expense;

lower amortization expense; and

improved distribution and logistics efficiency and lower outbound freight costs.

These factors were partially offset by:

lower operating leverage in the Nutritional Supplements segment;

higher product liability expense; and

higher marketing, advertising and new product development expense in support of our Leadership Brands.

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Consolidated adjusted operating income increased 7.7% to $51.5 million, or 13.6% of net sales, compared to $47.9 million, or 13.0% of net sales, in the same period last year.

Housewares

The Housewares segment’s operating income was $23.5 million, or 20.5% of segment net sales, compared to $24.2 million, or 22.9% of segment net sales, for the same period last year. The 2.4 percentage point decrease in segment operating margin is primarily due to:

higher marketing, advertising and new product development expense; and

a $1.0 million charge related to the bankruptcy of TRU.

These factors were partially offset by lower incentive compensation expense and the impact of increased operating leverage from net sales growth.

Segment adjusted operating income increased 1.5% to $26.0 million, or 22.6% of segment net sales, compared to $25.6 million, or 24.2% of segment net sales, in the same period last year.

Health & Home

The Health & Home segment’s operating income was $7.7 million, or 5.2% of segment net sales, compared to $9.4 million, or 6.5% of segment net sales, in the same period last year. The 1.3 percentage point decrease in segment operating margin is primarily due to:

an increase in marketing, advertising and new product development expense;

a $2.6 million charge related to the bankruptcy of TRU; and

an increase in product liability expense.

These factors were partially offset by:

improved distribution and logistics efficiency and lower outbound freight costs;

increased operating leverage from net sales growth;

lower legal fee expense; and

lower royalty expense.

Segment adjusted operating income increased 2.1% to $14.2 million, or 9.6% of segment net sales, compared to $13.9 million, or 9.7% of segment net sales, in the same period last year.

Nutritional Supplements

The Nutritional Supplements segment’s operating loss was $20.3 million for the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to an operating loss of $1.2 million in the same period last year. The increase in the segment operating loss is primarily due to:

the comparative impact of pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges of $18.1 million recorded during the three months ended August 31, 2017, with no comparable charges in the same period last year;

the net sales decline and its unfavorable impact on operating leverage; and

higher promotion, advertising and customer acquisition costs.

These factors were partially offset by lower royalty expense and lower incentive compensation expense.

Segment adjusted operating loss was $0.1 million compared to segment adjusted operating income of $0.7 million in the same period last year.

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Beauty:

The Beauty segment’s operating income was $9.2 million, or 10.8% of segment net sales, for the three months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $5.1 million, or 6.0% of segment net sales, in the same period last year. The increase in operating margin is primarily due to:

the favorable impact of new product introductions in the appliance category;

lower personnel expense;

lower media advertising expense; and

improved distribution and logistics efficiency and lower outbound freight costs.

These factors were partially offset by the net sales decline in the personal care category and its unfavorable impact on sales mix and operating leverage.

Segment adjusted operating income increased 49.8% to $11.4 million, or 13.5% of segment net sales, compared to $7.6 million, or 9.0% of segment net sales, in the same period last year.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $3.9 million for the three months ended August 31, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Lower average levels of debt held during the three months ended August 31, 2017, were offset by higher overall average interest rates.

Income Tax Expense

The year-over-year comparison of our effective tax rates is impacted by the mix of taxable income in our various tax jurisdictions. Due to our organization in Bermuda and the ownership structure of our foreign subsidiaries, many of which are not owned directly or indirectly by a U.S. parent company, an immaterial amount of our foreign income is subject to U.S. taxation on a permanent basis under current law. Additionally, our intellectual property is largely owned by our foreign subsidiaries, resulting in proportionally higher earnings in jurisdictions with lower statutory tax rates, which decreases our overall effective tax rate.

For the three months ended August 31, 2017, income tax expense as a percentage of pretax income was 45.3%, compared to 15.9% for the same period last year, primarily due to the recognition of tax benefits from impairment charges over the course of the year in relation to pre-tax income, as opposed to the periods in which the charges were incurred. The net effect of this treatment resulted in an additional tax expense of $6.5 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2018. For the six months ended August 31, 2017, the Company has recognized $6.4 million of the expected $19.9 million tax benefit from impairment charges. The remaining tax benefit of $13.5 million will be recognized in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2018 relative to pre-tax income each quarter.

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Net Income, EPS, Adjusted Income (non-GAAP), and Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP)

In order to provide a better understanding of the impact of certain items on our net income and EPS, the analysis that follows reports the comparative after tax impact of non‐cash asset impairment charges, patent litigation charges, amortization of intangible assets, and non‐cash share‐based compensation, as applicable, on our net income, and basic and diluted EPS for the periods covered below.


	Three Months Ended August 31,				Basic EPS				Diluted EPS
(in thousands, except per share data)	2017		2016		2017		2016		2017		2016
Net income as reported (GAAP)	$	8,933	$	28,355	$	0.33	$	1.02	$	0.33	$	1.00
Asset impairment charges, net of tax (1)		24,559		-		0.90		-		0.90		-
TRU bankruptcy charge (2)		3,392		-		0.12		-		0.12		-
Subtotal		36,884		28,355		1.35		1.02		1.35		1.00
Amortization of intangible assets, net of tax (3)		5,607		6,228		0.21		0.22		0.20		0.22
Non-cash share-based compensation, net of tax (4)		2,698		2,451		0.10		0.09		0.10		0.09
Adjusted income (non-GAAP)	$	45,189	$	37,034	$	1.66	$	1.33	$	1.65	$	1.31

Weighted average shares of common stock used in computing basic and diluted EPS						27,232		27,845		27,401		28,224

(1)

Non-cash intangible asset impairment charges for the three months ended August 31, 2017 of $18.1 million ($24.6 million after tax).

(2)

A $3.6 million charge ($3.4 million after tax) related to the TRU bankruptcy.

(3)

Amortization of intangible assets for the three months ended August 31, 2017 and 2016 of $6.5 million ($5.6 million after tax) and $7.2 million ($6.2 million after tax), respectively.

(4)

Non-cash share-based compensation for the three months ended August 31, 2017 and 2016 of $3.3 million ($2.7 million after tax) and $3.1 million ($2.5 million after tax), respectively.

Our net income was $8.9 million for the three months ended August 31, 2017 compared to $28.4 million for the same period last year. Our diluted earnings per share decreased to $0.33 for the three months ended August 31, 2017 compared to $1.00 for the same period last year.

Adjusted income increased $8.2 million, or 22.0%, to $45.2 million for the three months ended August 31, 2017 compared to $37.0 million the same period last year. Adjusted diluted EPS increased 26.0% to $1.65 for the three months ended August 31, 2017 compared to $1.31 for the same period last year. Adjusted diluted EPS increased primarily due to the impact of higher adjusted operating income across all segments except for the Nutritional Supplements segment, and lower weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the three months ended August 31, 2017 compared to the same period last year.

Adjusted income and EPS, as discussed in the preceding tables, may be considered non-GAAP financial measures as set forth in SEC Regulation G, Rule 100. An explanation of the reasons why the Company believes the non-GAAP financial information is useful and the nature and limitations of the non-GAAP financial measures, is furnished beginning on page 38.

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Comparison of First Six Months of Fiscal 2018 to First Six Months of Fiscal 2017

Consolidated and Segment Net Sales

The following table summarizes the impact that core business, foreign exchange and acquisitions, as applicable, had on our net sales revenue by segment:


	Six Months Ended August 31,
(in thousands)		Housewares			Health & Home			Nutritional Supplements			Beauty			Total
Fiscal 2017 sales revenue, net	$	190,579		$	290,808		$	69,052		$	165,669		$	716,108
Core business		16,969			8,041			(6,176)			(1,294)			17,540
Impact of foreign currency		(548)			(722)			-			(459)			(1,729)
Acquisitions (1)		6,148			-			-			-			6,148
Change in sales revenue, net		22,569			7,319			(6,176)			(1,753)			21,959
Fiscal 2018 sales revenue, net	$	213,148		$	298,127		$	62,876		$	163,916		$	738,067

Total net sales revenue growth		11.8	%		2.5	%		(8.9)	%		(1.1)	%		3.1	%
Core business		8.9	%		2.8	%		(8.9)	%		(0.8)	%		2.4	%
Impact of foreign currency		(0.3)	%		(0.2)	%		0.0	%		(0.3)	%		(0.2)	%
Acquisitions		3.2	%		0.0	%		0.0	%		0.0	%		0.9	%

(1)

Includes approximately one-half month of incremental operating results from Hydro Flask, which was acquired on March 18, 2016.

Consolidated Net Sales Revenue

Consolidated net sales revenue increased $22.0 million, or 3.1%, to $738.1 million for the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $716.1 million for the same period last year. The growth was primarily driven by:

a core business increase of $17.5 million, or 2.4%, primarily due to new product introductions, online customer growth, incremental distribution and growth in international sales; and

growth from acquisitions of $6.1 million, or 0.9%.

These factors were partially offset by:

a decline in the Nutritional Supplements segment of $6.2 million;

a decline in the personal care category within Beauty;

the unfavorable impact from foreign currency fluctuations of approximately $1.7 million, or 0.2%; and

the impact of lower store traffic and soft consumer spending at traditional brick and mortar retail.

Segment Net Sales Revenue

Housewares

Net sales revenue in the Housewares segment increased $22.6 million, or 11.8%, to $213.1 million for the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $190.6 million for same period last year. The growth was primarily driven by:

a core business increase of $17.0 million, or 8.9%, due to incremental distribution with existing customers, expanded international and U.S. distribution, and new product introductions for both the Hydro Flask and OXO brands; and

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growth from acquisitions of $6.1 million, or 3.2%, representing an incremental half month of operating results from Hydro Flask, compared to the same period last year.

These factors were partially offset by:

lower store traffic and soft consumer spending at traditional brick and mortar retail;

the unfavorable comparative impact of strong retail pipeline fill in the prior year period; and

the unfavorable impact of net foreign currency fluctuations of approximately $0.5 million, or 0.3%.

Health & Home

Net sales revenue in the Health & Home segment increased $7.3 million, or 2.5%, to $298.1 million for the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $290.8 million for the same period last year. The growth was primarily driven by an increase in online sales, incremental distribution and shelf space gains with existing customers, as well as growth in international sales, partially offset by lower club sales, lower royalty revenue and the unfavorable impact of net foreign currency fluctuations of approximately $0.7 million, or 0.2%.

Nutritional Supplements

Net sales revenue in the Nutritional Supplements segment decreased $6.2 million, or 8.9%, to $62.9 million for the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $69.1 million for the same period last year. The change was primarily driven by a decline in auto-delivery revenue resulting primarily from the transition to new order management and customer relationship management systems; partially offset by increases in direct mail and third-party retail sales. The segment continues to implement a multi-year strategic transition from offline to online channels.

Beauty

Net sales revenue in the Beauty segment decreased $1.8 million, or 1.1%, to $163.9 million for the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $165.7 million for the same period last year. The change was primarily driven by declines in the personal care category due to competitive conditions, a decline in international sales and the unfavorable impact of net foreign currency fluctuations of approximately $0.5 million, or 0.3%. These factors were partially offset by solid growth in both retail and professional appliance sales, particularly to online retail customers.

Gross Profit Margin

Consolidated gross profit as a percentage of net sales revenue for the six months ended August 31, 2017 and 2016 was 44.0% in both periods. The favorable impact of growth in our Leadership Brands and a higher margin mix was offset by higher overall promotional spending with customers and the unfavorable impact of net foreign currency fluctuations.

Selling, General and Administrative Expense

Our consolidated SG&A ratio, decreased 0.3% percentage points to 34.3% for the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to 34.6% for the same period last year. The decrease in consolidated SG&A ratio was primarily due to:

the favorable comparative impact of a $1.5 million patent litigation charge in the same period last year;

lower share-based compensation expense;

lower amortization expense;

lower license royalty expense; and

improved distribution and logistics efficiency and lower outbound freight expense.

These factors were partially offset by a $3.6 million charge related to the bankruptcy of TRU, higher product liability expense, and higher overall marketing, advertising and new product development expense in support of our Leadership Brands.

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Asset Impairment Charges

As previously discussed under the heading “Significant Trends Impacting the Business”, for the six months ended August 31, 2017, we recorded non-cash asset impairment charges totaling $54.1 million to certain goodwill and intangible assets as further discussed below.

We performed interim impairment testing in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 in connection with our continuing evaluation of strategic alternatives for the Nutritional Supplements segment. We performed interim impairment testing in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 as the result of a revised financial projection for the segment. As a result of our testing, we recorded non-cash asset impairment charges totaling $50.1 million, consisting of 24.1 million to the the segment’s indefinite-lived brand assets and $26.0 million to the segment’s goodwill.

We also performed interim impairment testing in the first quarter of fiscal 2018 for a certain brand in our Beauty segment as a result of a revised financial projection. As a result of our testing, we recorded a non-cash impairment charge of $4.0 million.

Operating Income, Operating Margin, Adjusted Operating Income (non-GAAP), and Adjusted Operating Margin (non-GAAP) by Segment


	Six Months Ended August 31, 2017
(In thousands)	Housewares (6)				Health & Home				Nutritional Supplements				Beauty				Total
Operating income (loss), as reported (GAAP)	$	41,619	19.5	%	$	22,290	7.5	%	$	(54,892)	(87.3)	%	$	7,857	4.8	%	$	16,874	2.3	%
Asset impairment charges (1)		-	-	%		-	-	%		50,070	79.6	%		4,000	2.4	%		54,070	7.3	%
TRU bankruptcy charge (3)		956	0.4	%		2,640	0.9	%		-	-	%		-	-	%		3,596	0.5	%
Subtotal		42,575	20.0	%		24,930	8.4	%		(4,822)	(7.7)	%		11,857	7.2	%		74,540	10.1	%
Amortization of intangible assets (4)		1,129	0.5	%		5,576	1.9	%		3,610	5.7	%		2,833	1.7	%		13,148	1.8	%
Non-cash share-based compensation (5)		2,052	1.0	%		2,160	0.7	%		513	0.8	%		1,754	1.1	%		6,479	0.9	%
Adjusted operating income (loss) (non-GAAP)	$	45,756	21.5	%	$	32,666	11.0	%	$	(699)	(1.1)	%	$	16,444	10.0	%	$	94,167	12.8	%


	Six Months Ended August 31, 2016
(In thousands)	Housewares				Health & Home				Nutritional Supplements				Beauty				Total
Operating income (loss), as reported (GAAP)	$	39,733	20.8	%	$	19,001	6.5	%	$	(6,501)	(9.4)	%	$	8,152	4.9	%	$	60,385	8.4	%
Asset impairment charges (1)		-	-	%		-	-	%		5,000	7.2	%		2,400	1.4	%		7,400	1.0	%
Patent litigation charge (2)		-	-	%		1,468	0.5	%		-	-	%		-	-	%		1,468	0.2	%
Subtotal		39,733	20.8	%		20,469	7.0	%		(1,501)	(2.2)	%		10,552	6.4	%		69,253	9.7	%
Amortization of intangible assets (4)		1,328	0.7	%		7,080	2.4	%		3,142	4.6	%		2,876	1.7	%		14,426	2.0	%
Non-cash share-based compensation (5)		1,733	0.9	%		2,915	1.0	%		1,365	2.0	%		2,745	1.7	%		8,758	1.2	%
Adjusted operating income (non-GAAP)	$	42,794	22.5	%	$	30,464	10.5	%	$	3,006	4.4	%	$	16,173	9.8	%	$	92,437	12.9	%

(6)

Includes approximately one-half month of incremental operating results from Hydro Flask, which was acquired on March 18, 2016.

In the tables above, footnote references (1) to (5) correspond to the notes beginning on page 37 under the heading entitled “Net Income, EPS, Adjusted Income (non-GAAP) and Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP).” Adjusted operating income and adjusted operating margin may be considered non-GAAP financial measures as set forth in SEC Regulation G, Rule 100. An explanation of the reasons why the Company believes the non-GAAP financial information is useful and the nature and limitations of the non-GAAP financial measures, is furnished beginning on page 38.

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Consolidated

Consolidated operating income was $16.9 million, or 2.3% of net sales, compared to consolidated operating income of $60.4 million, or 8.4% of net sales, for the same period last year. The six months ended August 31, 2017 includes pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges totaling $54.1 million and a $3.6 million charge related to the TRU bankruptcy. The six months ended August 31, 2016 includes pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges of $7.4 million and a patent litigation charge of $1.5 million. The effect of these items in both years unfavorably impacted the year-over-year comparison of operating margin by a combined 6.6 percentage points. The remaining improvement in consolidated operating margin primarily reflects:

a higher mix of Leadership Brand sales at a higher operating margin;

lower share-based compensation expense;

lower license royalty expense;

lower amortization expense; and

improved distribution and logistics efficiency and lower outbound freight costs.

These factors were partially offset by:

lower operating leverage in the Nutritional Supplements and Beauty segments;

higher marketing, advertising and new product development expense in support of our Leadership Brands;

an increase in product liability expense; and

the unfavorable impact from foreign currency fluctuations.

Consolidated adjusted operating income increased 1.9% to $94.2 million, or 12.8% of net sales, compared to $92.4 million, or 12.9% of net sales, in the same period last year.

Housewares

The Housewares segment’s operating income was $41.6 million, or 19.5% of segment net sales, compared to $39.7 million, or 20.8% of segment net sales, for the same period last year. The 1.3 percentage point decrease in segment operating margin is primarily due to:

higher marketing, advertising and new product development expense; and

a $1.0 million charge related to the bankruptcy of TRU.

These factors were partially offset the favorable margin impact from growth in the Hydro Flask business, improved distribution and logistics efficiency and lower outbound freight costs, and the impact of increased operating leverage from overall sales growth.

Segment adjusted operating income increased 6.9% to $45.8 million, or 21.5% of segment net sales, compared to $42.8 million, or 22.5% of segment net sales, in the same period last year.

Health & Home

The Health & Home segment’s operating income was $22.3 million, or 7.5% of segment net sales, compared to $19.0 million, or 6.5% of segment net sales, in the same period last year. The 1.0 percentage point increase in segment operating margin is primarily due to:

the comparative impact of a $1.5 million patent litigation charge in the same period last year;

lower legal fee expense;

improved distribution and logistics efficiency and lower outbound freight costs; and

lower royalty expense.

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These factors were partially offset by:

an increase in marketing, advertising and new product development expense;

a $2.6 million charge related to the bankruptcy of TRU;

an increase in product liability expense; and

the unfavorable impact of foreign currency fluctuations.

Segment adjusted operating income increased 7.2% to $32.7 million, or 11.0% of segment net sales, compared to $30.5 million, or 10.5% of segment net sales, in the same period last year.

Nutritional Supplements

The Nutritional Supplements segment’s operating loss was $54.9 million, or (87.3)% of segment net sales, for the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to an operating loss of $6.5 million, or (9.4)% of segment net sales, in the same period last year. The increase in the segment operating loss is primarily due to:

pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges of $50.1 million recorded during the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $5.0 million recorded in the same period last year;

the net sales decline and its unfavorable impact on operating leverage; and

higher promotion, advertising and customer acquisition costs.

These factors were partially offset by lower personnel expense.

Segment adjusted operating loss was $0.7 million, or (1.1)% of segment net sales, compared to segment adjusted operating income of $3.0 million, or 4.4% of segment net sales in the same period last year.

Beauty

The Beauty segment’s operating income was $7.9 million, or 4.8% of segment net sales, for the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to operating income of $8.2 million, or 4.9% of segment net sales, in the same period last year. The 0.1 percentage point decrease in segment operating margin is primarily due to:

pre-tax non-cash asset impairment charges of $4.0 million, recorded during the six months ended August 31, 2017, compared to $2.4 million recorded in the same period last year;

the net sales decline in the personal care category and its unfavorable impact on sales mix and operating leverage;

higher marketing and advertising expense; and

the unfavorable impact of foreign currency fluctuations.

Segment adjusted operating income increased 1.7% to $16.4 million, or 10.0% of segment net sales, compared to $16.2 million, or 9.8% of segment net sales, in the same period last year.

Interest Expense

Interest expense was $7.7 million for the six months ended August 31, 2017 compared to $7.5 million in the same period last year. The increase in interest expense is due to higher overall average interest rates, partially offset by lower average levels of debt held during the six months ended August 31, 2017.

Income Tax Expense

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For the six months ended August 31, 2017, the Company has recognized $6.4 million of the expected $19.9 million tax benefit from impairment charges. The remaining tax benefit of $13.5 million will be recognized in the third and fourth quarters of fiscal 2018 relative to pre-tax income each quarter.

For the six months ended August 31, 2017, income tax expense as a percentage of pre-tax income was (57.2)%, compared to 10.8% for the same period last year, primarily due to:

net tax benefits of $6.4 million related to asset impairment charges, as described above;

$2.6 million in excess tax benefits from share-based compensation settlements and exercises; and

tax benefits of $2.8 million related to the resolution of uncertain tax positions.

Income taxes for the six months ended August 31, 2016 includes tax benefits of $1.4 million related to the resolution of uncertain tax positions and $1.3 million in excess tax benefits from share-based compensation settlements and exercises.

Net Income, EPS, Adjusted Income (non-GAAP), and Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP)

In order to provide a better understanding of the impact of certain items on our net income and EPS, the analysis that follows reports the comparative after tax impact of non‐cash asset impairment charges, the TRU bankruptcy charge, patent litigation charges, amortization of intangible assets, and non‐cash share‐based compensation, as applicable, on our net income, and basic and diluted EPS for the periods covered below.


	Six Months Ended August 31,				Basic EPS				Diluted EPS
(in thousands, except per share data)	2017		2016		2017		2016		2017		2016
Net income as reported (GAAP)	$	14,801	$	47,381	$	0.55	$	1.70	$	0.54	$	1.68
Asset impairment charges, net of tax (1)		47,687		5,097		1.76		0.18		1.75		0.18
Patent litigation charge, net of tax (2)		-		1,464		-		0.05		-		0.05
TRU bankruptcy charge (3)		3,392		-		0.12		-		0.12		-
Subtotal		65,880		53,942		2.43		1.94		2.41		1.91
Amortization of intangible assets, net of tax (4)		11,376		12,430		0.42		0.45		0.42		0.44
Non-cash share-based compensation, net of tax (5)		5,398		6,544		0.20		0.24		0.20		0.23
Adjusted income (non-GAAP)	$	82,654	$	72,916	$	3.04	$	2.62	$	3.03	$	2.59

Weighted average shares of common stock used in computing basic and diluted EPS						27,154		27,809		27,323		28,185

(1)Non-cash intangible asset impairment charges for the six months ended August 31, 2017 and 2016 of $54.1 million ($47.7 million after tax) and $7.4 million ($5.1 million after tax), respectively.

(2)

Patent litigation charge for the six months ended August 31, 2016 of $1.5 million (before and after tax).

(3)

A $3.6 million charge ($3.4 million after tax) related to the TRU bankruptcy.

(4)

Amortization of intangible assets for the six months ended August 31, 2017 and 2016 of $13.1 million ($11.4 million after tax) and $14.4 million ($12.4 million after tax), respectively.

(5)

Non-cash share-based compensation for the six months ended August 31, 2017 and 2016 of $6.5 million ($5.4 million after tax) and $8.8 million ($6.5 million after tax), respectively.

Consolidated net income was $14.8 million for the six months ended August 31, 2017 compared to $47.4 million for the same period last year. Diluted earnings per share decreased to $0.54 for the six months ended August 31, 2017 compared to $1.68 for the same period last year.

Adjusted income increased $9.7 million, or 13.4%, to $82.7 million for the six months ended August 31, 2017 compared to $72.9 million the same period last year. Adjusted diluted EPS increased 17.0% to $3.03 for the six months ended August 31, 2017 compared to $2.59 for the same period last year. Adjusted diluted EPS increased primarily due to the impact of higher adjusted operating income across all segments except for the Nutritional Supplements segment, and lower weighted average diluted shares outstanding for the six months ended August 31, 2017 compared to the same period last year.

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The tables referred to beginning on pages 28, 30, 34 and 37 under the headings “Operating Income, Operating Margin, Adjusted Operating Income (non-GAAP) and Adjusted Operating Margin (non-GAAP) by Segment” and “Net Income, EPS, Adjusted Income (non-GAAP), and Adjusted EPS (non-GAAP),” respectively report operating income, operating margin, net income and EPS without the impact of non-cash asset impairment charges, the TRU bankruptcy charge, patent litigation charges, amortization of intangible assets, and non-cash share-based compensation for the periods presented, as applicable. These measures may be considered non-GAAP financial information as set forth in SEC Regulation G, Rule 100. The preceding table reconciles these measures to their corresponding GAAP-based measures presented in our consolidated statements of income. We believe that adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted income and adjusted EPS provide useful information to management and investors regarding financial and business trends relating to our financial condition and results of operations. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures, in combination with our financial results calculated in accordance with GAAP, provide investors with additional perspective regarding the impact of such charges on net income and earnings per share. We also believe that these non-GAAP measures facilitate a more direct comparison of our performance with our competitors. We further believe that including the excluded charges would not accurately reflect the underlying performance of our continuing operations for the period in which the charges are incurred, even though such charges may be incurred and reflected in our GAAP financial results in the near future. The material limitation associated with the use of the non-GAAP financial measures is that the non-GAAP measures do not reflect the full economic impact of our activities. Our adjusted operating income, adjusted operating margin, adjusted income and adjusted EPS are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, are not an alternative to GAAP financial information and may be calculated differently than non-GAAP financial information disclosed by other companies. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed on non-GAAP information.

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Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources

Selected measures of our liquidity and capital resources are shown for the periods below:

SELECTED MEASURES OF OUR LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL UTILIZATION


	Three Months Ended August 31,
	2017			2016
Accounts Receivable Turnover (Days) (1)		55.7			54.8
Inventory Turnover (Times) (1)		2.8			2.7
Working Capital (in thousands)	$	279,921		$	283,958
Current Ratio		1.9:1			2.0:1
Ending Debt to Ending Equity Ratio		42.8	%		55.3	%
Return on Average Equity (1) (2)		10.7	%		10.9	%

(1)

Accounts receivable turnover, inventory turnover and return on average equity computations use 12 month trailing net sales revenue, cost of goods sold or net income components as required by the particular measure. The current and four prior quarters' ending balances of accounts receivable, inventory and equity are used for the purposes of computing the average balance component as required by the particular measure.

(2)

Net income and average equity reported above include the twelve month trailing impacts, after tax, of non-cash asset impairment charges and patent litigation charges, as applicable to each period. For the periods reported above, these items had an unfavorable impact of 5.3 and 4.9 percentage points, respectively, on the return on average equity.

Operating Activities

Operating activities provided $50.0 million of cash during the six months ended August 31, 2017 compared to $85.7 million of cash provided during the same period last year.

Accounts receivable increased $8.5 million, to $238.4 million as of August 31, 2017, compared to $229.9 million at the end of fiscal year 2017. Accounts receivable turnover was 55.7 days at August 31, 2017, compared to 54.8 days for the same period last year.

Inventory increased $36.4 million, to $325.6 million as of August 31, 2017, compared to $289.1 million at the end of fiscal year 2017. Inventory turnover was 2.8 times at August 31, 2017 compared to 2.7 times August 31, 2016.

Working capital was $279.9 million at August 31, 2017, compared to $284.0 million at August 31, 2016 and our current ratio was 1.9:1 at August 31, 2017, compared to 2.0:1 as of August 31, 2016.

Investing Activities

Investing activities used $16.8 million of cash during the six months ended August 31, 2017. We spent $5.3 million on computers, furniture and other equipment, $2.9 million on tools, molds and other capital asset additions, and $8.6 million on patents and certain trademark related assets.

Financing Activities

Financing activities used $42.6 million of cash during the six months ended August 31, 2017. Highlights of those activities follow:

we had draws of $249.0 million against our credit agreement;

we repaid $285.3 million drawn against our credit agreement;

we repaid $5.7 million of our long-term debt;

employees exercised options to purchase 103,404 shares of common stock, providing $5.0 million of cash;

employees purchased 16,018 shares of common stock for $1.2 million through our employee stock purchase plan; and

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we paid $6.8 million in tax obligations resulting from cashless share award settlements.

Credit and Other Debt Agreements

Credit Agreement

We have a credit agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) with Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and other lenders that provides for an unsecured total revolving commitment of $1 billion as of August 31, 2017. The commitment under the Credit Agreement terminates on December 7, 2021. Borrowings accrue interest under one of two alternative methods as described in the Credit Agreement. With each borrowing against our credit line, we can elect the interest rate method based on our funding needs at the time. We also incur loan commitment and letter of credit fees under the Credit Agreement. Outstanding letters of credit reduce the borrowing availability under the Credit Agreement on a dollar-for-dollar basis. As of August 31, 2017, the outstanding revolving loan principal balance was $404.4 million and the balance of outstanding letters of credit was $7.6 million. As of August 31, 2017, the amount available for borrowings under the Credit Agreement was $588.0 million. Covenants in our debt agreements limit the amount of total indebtedness we can incur. As of August 31, 2017, these covenants effectively limited our ability to incur more than $315.2 million of additional debt from all sources, including our Credit Agreement.

Other Debt Agreements

In addition to the Credit Agreement, at August 31, 2017, we had an aggregate principal balance of $20 million of 3.9% Senior Notes due January 2018 with one remaining installment due in January 2018.

We also have an aggregate principal balance of $24.3 million under a loan agreement with the Mississippi Business Finance Corporation (the “MBFC Loan”). The borrowings were used to fund construction of our Olive Branch, Mississippi distribution facility. The remaining loan balance is payable as follows: $1.9 million annually on March 1, 2018 through 2022; and $14.8 million on March 1, 2023. Any remaining outstanding principal and interest is due upon maturity on March 1, 2023.

Our debt agreements require the maintenance of certain key financial covenants, defined in the table below. Our debt agreements also contain other customary covenants, including, among other things, covenants restricting or limiting us, except under certain conditions set forth therein, from (1) incurring debt, (2) incurring liens on its properties, (3) making certain types of investments, (4) selling certain assets or making other fundamental changes relating to mergers and consolidations, and (5) repurchasing shares of our common stock and paying dividends. Our debt agreements also contain customary events of default, including failure to pay principal or interest when due, among others. Our debt agreements are cross-defaulted to each other. Upon an event of default under our debt agreements, the holders or lenders may, among other things, accelerate the maturity of any amounts outstanding under our debt agreements. The commitments of the lenders to make loans to us under the Credit Agreement are several and not joint. Accordingly, if any lender fails to make loans to us, our available liquidity could be reduced by an amount up to the aggregate amount of such lender’s commitments under the Credit Agreement.

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The table below provides the formulas currently in effect for certain key financial covenants as defined under our debt agreements:


Applicable Financial Covenant	Credit Agreement and MBFC Loan	3.9% Senior Notes

		$500 Million
Minimum Consolidated Net Worth	None	+
		25% of Fiscal Quarter Net Earnings
		After August 31, 2010 (1)


	EBIT (2)	EBIT (2)
	÷	÷
Interest Coverage Ratio	Interest Expense (2)	Interest Expense (2)


	Minimum Required: 3.00 to 1.00	Minimum Required: 2.50 to 1.00


	Total Current and Long Term Debt (3)	Total Current and Long Term Debt (3)
	÷	÷
Maximum Leverage Ratio	[EBITDA (2) + Pro Forma Effect of Acquisitions]	[EBITDA (2) + Pro Forma Effect of Acquisitions]


	Maximum Currently Allowed: 3.25 to 1.00	Maximum Allowed: 3.25 to 1.00

Key Definitions:


EBIT:	Earnings Before Non-Cash Charges, Interest Expense and Taxes

EBITDA:	EBIT + Depreciation and Amortization Expense + Share Based Compensation

Total Capitalization:	Total Current and Long Term Debt + Total Equity

Pro Forma Effect of Acquisitions:	For any acquisition, pre-acquisition EBITDA of the acquired business is included so that the EBITDA of the acquired business included in the computation equals its twelve month trailing total.

Notes:

(1) Excluding any fiscal quarter net losses.

(2) Computed using totals for the latest reported four consecutive fiscal quarters.

(3) Computed using the ending balances as of the latest reported fiscal quarter.

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Contractual obligations

Our contractual obligations and commercial commitments in effect as of August 31, 2017, were:

PAYMENTS DUE BY PERIOD - TWELVE MONTHS ENDED THE LAST DAY OF AUGUST:


			2018		2019		2020		2021		2022		After
(in thousands)	Total		1 year		2 years		3 years		4 years		5 years		5 years
Fixed rate debt	$	20,000	$	20,000	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-	$	-
Floating rate debt		428,708		1,900		1,900		1,900		1,900		406,300		14,808
Long-term incentive plan payouts		9,196		4,539		3,719		938		-		-		-
Interest on fixed rate debt		1,324		1,324		-		-		-		-		-
Interest on floating rate debt (1)		50,478		11,147		11,099		11,050		11,002		5,900		280
Open purchase orders		178,697		178,697		-		-		-		-		-
Long-term purchase commitments		1,324		1,324		-		-		-		-		-
Minimum royalty payments		58,683		12,553		12,767		13,035		9,293		8,980		2,055
Advertising and promotional		52,787		20,179		7,287		7,366		7,422		7,267		3,266
Operating leases		35,786		6,536		5,390		4,631		4,123		3,777		11,329
Capital spending commitments		742		742		-		-		-		-		-
Total contractual obligations (2)	$	837,725	$	258,941	$	42,162	$	38,920	$	33,740	$	432,224	$	31,738

(1)

We estimate our future obligations for interest on our floating rate debt by assuming the weighted average interest rates in effect on each floating rate debt obligation at August 31, 2017 remain constant into the future. This is an estimate, as actual rates will vary over time. In addition, for the Credit Agreement, we assume that the balance outstanding as of August 31, 2017 remains the same for the remaining term of the agreement. The actual balance outstanding under our Credit Agreement may fluctuate significantly in future periods, depending on the availability of cash flow from operations and future investing and financing considerations.

(2)

In addition to the contractual obligations and commercial commitments in the table above, as of August 31, 2017, we have recorded total provisions for our uncertain tax positions totaling $4.5 million. We are unable to reliably estimate the timing of most of the future payments, if any, related to uncertain tax positions. Therefore, we have excluded these tax liabilities from the table above.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

We have no existing activities involving special purpose entities or off-balance sheet financing.

Current and Future Capital Needs

Based on our current financial condition and current operations, we believe that cash flows from operations and available financing sources will continue to provide sufficient capital resources to fund our foreseeable short- and long-term liquidity requirements. We expect our capital needs to stem primarily from the need to purchase sufficient levels of inventory and to carry normal levels of accounts receivable on our balance sheet. In addition, we continue to evaluate acquisition opportunities on a regular basis. We may finance acquisition activity with available cash, the issuance of shares of common stock, additional debt, or other sources of financing, depending upon the size and nature of any such transaction and the status of the capital markets at the time of such acquisition. We may also elect to repurchase additional shares of common stock up to the balance of its current authorization over the next three fiscal years, subject to limitations contained in its debt agreements and based upon its assessment of a number of factors, including share price, trading volume and general market conditions, as well as on working capital requirements, general business conditions, financial conditions, any applicable contractual limitations and other factors, including alternative investment opportunities.

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ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

There have been no material changes in the information provided in the section entitled “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended February 28, 2017. Additional information regarding risk management activities can be found in Note 13 to the accompanying consolidated condensed financial statements.

Information Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Certain written and oral statements in this Form 10-Q may constitute "forward-looking statements" as defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This includes statements made in this report, in other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), in press releases, and in certain other oral and written presentations. Generally, the words "anticipates", "believes", "expects", "plans", "may", "will", "should", "seeks", "estimates", "project", "predict", "potential", "continue", "intends", and other similar words identify forward-looking statements. All statements that address operating results, events or developments that may occur in the future, including statements related to sales, earnings per share results, and statements expressing general expectations about future operating results, are forward-looking statements and are based upon our current expectations and various assumptions. We believe there is a reasonable basis for our expectations and assumptions, but there can be no assurance that we will realize our expectations or that our assumptions will prove correct. Forward-looking statements are subject to risks that could cause them to differ materially from actual results. Accordingly, we caution readers not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We believe that these risks include but are not limited to the risks described in this report under Item 1A., “Risk Factors” and that are otherwise described from time to time in our SEC reports as filed. As described later in this report, such risks, uncertainties and other important factors include, among others:

our ability to deliver products to our customers in a timely manner and according to their fulfillment standards;

the costs of complying with the business demands and requirements of large sophisticated customers;

our relationship with key customers and licensors;

our dependence on the strength of retail economies and vulnerabilities to any prolonged economic downturn;

our dependence on sales to several large customers and the risk associated with any loss or substantial decline in sales to top customers;

expectations regarding any proposed restructurings, our recent and future acquisitions or divestitures, including our ability to realize anticipated cost savings, synergies and other benefits along with our ability to effectively integrate acquired businesses or separate divested businesses;

circumstances which may contribute to future impairment of goodwill, intangible or other long-lived assets;

the retention and recruitment of key personnel;

foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations;

disruptions in U.S., U.K., Euro zone, and other international credit markets;

risks associated with weather conditions, the duration and severity of the cold and flu season and other related factors;

our dependence on foreign sources of supply and foreign manufacturing, and associated operational risks including, but not limited to, long lead times, consistent local labor availability and capacity, and timely availability of sufficient shipping carrier capacity;

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risks to the Nutritional Supplements segment associated with the availability, purity and integrity of materials used in the manufacture of vitamins, minerals and supplements;

the impact of changing costs of raw materials, labor and energy on cost of goods sold and certain operating expenses;

the geographic concentration and peak season capacity of certain U.S. distribution facilities increases our exposure to significant shipping disruptions and added shipping and storage costs;

our projections of product demand, sales, and net income are highly subjective in nature and future sales and net income could vary in a material amount from such projections;

the risks associated with the use of trademarks licensed from and to third parties;

our ability to develop and introduce a continuing stream of new products to meet changing consumer preferences;

increased product liability and reputational risks associated with the formulation and distribution of vitamins, minerals and supplements;

the risks associated with adverse publicity and negative public perception regarding the use of vitamins, minerals and supplements;

trade barriers, exchange controls, expropriations, and other risks associated with U.S. and foreign operations;

the risks to our liquidity as a result of changes to capital market conditions and other constraints or events that impose constraints on our cash resources and ability to operate our business;

the costs, complexity and challenges of upgrading and managing our global information systems;

the risks associated with information security breaches;

the increased complexity of compliance with a number of new government regulations covering vitamins, minerals and supplements;

the risks associated with product recalls, product liability, other claims, and related litigation against us;

the risks associated with tax positions, tax audits and related disputes with taxing authorities;

the risk of potential changes in laws in the U.S. or abroad, including tax laws, regulations or treaties, employment and health insurance laws and regulations, and laws relating to environmental policy, financial regulation, transportation policy and infrastructure policy along with the costs and complexities of compliance with such laws; and

our ability to continue to avoid classification as a controlled foreign corporation.

We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

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ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), maintains disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Because of inherent limitations, disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance that the objectives of disclosure controls and procedures are met.

Our management, including our CEO and CFO, has evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2017. Based upon that evaluation, the CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective at a reasonable level of assurance as of August 31, 2017, the end of the period covered by this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

In connection with the evaluation described above, we identified no change in our internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act that occurred during our fiscal quarter ended August 31, 2017, that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

We are involved in various legal claims and proceedings in the normal course of operations. We believe the outcome of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or liquidity.

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

The ownership of our common stock involves a number of risks and uncertainties. When evaluating the Company and our business before making an investment decision regarding our securities, potential investors should carefully consider the risk factors and uncertainties described in Part 1, Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of our annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended February 28, 2017. Since the filing of our annual report on Form 10-K, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed therein.

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ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

On May 10, 2017, our Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $400 million of our outstanding common stock. The new authorization is effective for a period of three years and replaced our existing repurchase authorization of which approximately $82 million remained. These repurchases may include open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, block trades, accelerated stock repurchase transactions, or any combination of such methods. The number of shares purchased and the timing of the purchases will depend on a number of factors, including share price, trading volume and general market conditions, working capital requirements, general business conditions, financial conditions, any applicable contractual limitations, and other factors, including alternative investment opportunities. As of August 31, 2017, our repurchase authorization allowed for the purchase of $394.1 million of common stock.

The following table summarizes our share repurchase activity for the periods shown:

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED AUGUST 31, 2017


	Total Number of Shares Purchased	Average Price Paid per Share		Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs		Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs (in thousands)
June 1 through June 30, 2017	137	$	94.00		137	$	394,286
July 1 through July 31, 2017	145		98.68		145		394,271
August 1 through August 31, 2017	1,576		100.16		1,576		394,114
Total	1,858	$	99.59		1,858

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ITEM 6.	EXHIBITS

	(a)	Exhibits

		31.1*	Certification of the Chief Executive Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

		31.2*	Certification of the Chief Financial Officer required by Rule 13a-14(a) or Rule 15d-14(a) pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

		32**	Joint certification of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

		101.INS *	XBRL Instance Document
		101.SCH *	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
		101.CAL *	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
		101.DEF *	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
		101.LAB *	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
		101.PRE *	XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

		* Filed herewith.

		** Furnished herewith.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


	HELEN OF TROY LIMITED
	(Registrant)


Date: October 10, 2017	/s/ Julien R. Mininberg
	Julien R. Mininberg
	Chief Executive Officer, Director and Principal Executive Officer


Date: October 10, 2017	/s/ Brian L. Grass
	Brian L. Grass
	Chief Financial Officer, Principal Financial
	Officer and Principal Accounting Officer