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NATURES SUNSHINE PRODUCTS INC - Quarter Report: 2014 March (Form 10-Q)

Table of Contents

 

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 10-Q

 

(Mark One)

 

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

 

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2014

 

OR

 

o                   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: 0-8707

 

 

NATURE’S SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Utah

 

87-0327982

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(IRS Employer

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

 

2500 West Executive Parkway, Suite 100

Lehi, Utah 84043

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

 

(801) 341-7900

(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  x  No  o

 

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  x  No  o

 

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

 

Large accelerated filer  o

 

Accelerated filer  x

 

 

 

Non-accelerated filer  o

 

Smaller reporting company  o

(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)

 

 

 

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

 

The number of shares of Common Stock, no par value, outstanding on April 30, 2014 was 16,184,392 shares.

 

 

 



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NATURE’S SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC.

FORM 10-Q

 

For the Quarter Ended March 31, 2014

 

Table of Contents

 

Part I. Financial Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements (Unaudited)

4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets

4

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations

5

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income

5

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

6

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements

7

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

16

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

29

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

32

 

 

 

 

Part II. Other Information

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

32

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

32

 

 

 

 

 

Item 2.

Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

32

 

 

 

 

 

Item 3.

Default Upon Senior Securities

32

 

 

 

 

 

Item 4.

Mine Safety Disclosures

33

 

 

 

 

 

Item 5.

Other Information

33

 

 

 

 

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

33

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

Certain information included or incorporated herein by reference in this report may be deemed to be “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our objectives, plans and strategies. All statements (other than statements of historical fact) that address activities, events or developments that we intend, expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are often characterized by terminology such as “believe,” “hope,” “may,” “anticipate,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “positioned,” “strategy” and similar expressions, and are based on assumptions and assessments made by management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. For example, information appearing under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” includes forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties. Important factors that could cause actual results, developments and business decisions to differ materially from forward-looking statements are more fully described in this report, including the risks set forth under “Risk Factors” in Item 1A, is included from time to time in our reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, particularly under the captions “Forward-Looking Statements” and “Risk Factors.” but include the following:

 

·             any negative consequences resulting from the economy, including the availability of liquidity to us, our Distributors and our suppliers or the willingness of our customers to purchase products;

·             our relationship with, and our ability to influence the actions of, our Distributors, and other third parties with whom we do business;

·             improper action by our employees or Distributors;

·             negative publicity related to our products or direct selling organization;

·             changing consumer preferences and demands;

·             our reliance upon, or the loss or departure of any member of, our senior management team which could negatively impact our Distributor relations and operating results;

·             the competitive nature of our business;

·             regulatory matters governing our products, our direct selling program, or the direct selling market in which we operate;

·             legal challenges to our direct selling program;

·             risks associated with operating internationally and the effect of economic factors, including foreign exchange, inflation, disruptions or conflicts with our third party importers, pricing and currency devaluation risks, especially in countries such as Venezuela, Ukraine, Russia and Belarus;

·             uncertainties relating to the application of transfer pricing, duties, value-added taxes, and other tax regulations, and changes thereto;

·             our dependence on increased penetration of existing markets;

·             our reliance on our information technology infrastructure;

·             the sufficiency of trademarks and other intellectual property rights;

·             changes in tax laws, treaties or regulations, or their interpretation;

·             taxation relating to our Distributors;

·             product liability claims;

·             share price volatility related to, among other things, speculative trading.

 

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this report and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in or incorporated by reference into this report. Except as is required by law, we expressly disclaim any obligation to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this report.  Throughout this report, we refer to Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, as “we,” “us,” “our Company” or “the Company.”

 

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PART I FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

NATURE’S SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

March 31,
2014

 

December 31,
2013

 

Assets

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

71,467

 

$

77,247

 

Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,102 and $1,087, respectively

 

11,498

 

10,206

 

Investments available for sale

 

2,012

 

2,006

 

Inventories

 

41,106

 

41,910

 

Deferred income tax assets

 

5,495

 

5,711

 

Prepaid expenses and other

 

13,533

 

11,514

 

Total current assets

 

145,111

 

148,594

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Property, plant and equipment, net

 

35,283

 

32,022

 

Investment securities

 

1,004

 

971

 

Intangible assets, net

 

816

 

853

 

Deferred income tax assets

 

13,967

 

9,928

 

Other assets

 

7,502

 

7,244

 

 

 

$

203,683

 

$

199,612

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

$

5,174

 

$

5,664

 

Accrued volume incentives

 

20,733

 

19,206

 

Accrued liabilities

 

30,341

 

34,893

 

Deferred revenue

 

4,231

 

4,173

 

Current installments of long-term debt and revolving credit facility

 

1,420

 

2,267

 

Income taxes payable

 

1,432

 

2,366

 

Total current liabilities

 

63,331

 

68,569

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Liability related to unrecognized tax benefits

 

12,349

 

12,402

 

Long-term debt and revolving credit facility

 

10,000

 

10,000

 

Deferred compensation payable

 

1,004

 

971

 

Other liabilities

 

2,418

 

2,411

 

Total long-term liabilities

 

25,771

 

25,784

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shareholders’ equity:

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock, no par value, 50,000 shares authorized, 16,179 and 16,179 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively

 

84,216

 

83,122

 

Retained earnings

 

44,147

 

36,100

 

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 

(13,782

)

(13,963

)

Total shareholders’ equity

 

114,581

 

105,259

 

 

 

$

203,683

 

$

199,612

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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NATURE’S SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share information)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net sales revenue

 

$

95,753

 

$

96,479

 

Cost of sales

 

(23,106

)

(24,445

)

Gross profit

 

72,647

 

72,034

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

Volume incentives

 

35,717

 

34,975

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

29,758

 

30,117

 

Operating income

 

7,172

 

6,942

 

Other income (loss), net

 

(1,115

)

330

 

Income before provision for income taxes

 

6,057

 

7,272

 

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

(3,608

)

2,408

 

Net income

 

$

9,665

 

$

4,864

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted net income per common share

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

0.60

 

$

0.31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

0.58

 

$

0.30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average basic common shares outstanding

 

16,179

 

15,822

 

Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding

 

16,618

 

15,956

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dividends declared per common share

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.10

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

NATURE’S SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Amounts in thousands, except per share information)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

9,665

 

$

4,864

 

Foreign currency translation gain (loss) (net of tax)

 

178

 

(1,886

)

Net unrealized gains on investment securities (net of tax)

 

3

 

24

 

Total comprehensive income

 

$

9,846

 

$

3,002

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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NATURE’S SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Amounts in thousands)

(Unaudited)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

9,665

 

$

4,864

 

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

Provision for doubtful accounts

 

39

 

(25

)

Depreciation and amortization

 

1,237

 

1,088

 

Share-based compensation expense

 

1,094

 

1,148

 

Loss on sale of property and equipment

 

13

 

11

 

Deferred income taxes

 

(3,823

)

235

 

Amortization of bond discount

 

1

 

1

 

Purchase of trading investment securities

 

(67

)

(19

)

Proceeds from sale of trading investment securities

 

49

 

105

 

Realized and unrealized gains on investments

 

(15

)

(21

)

Foreign exchange losses (gains)

 

980

 

(416

)

Changes in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts receivable

 

(1,170

)

(555

)

Inventories

 

707

 

1,716

 

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

 

(2,011

)

(658

)

Other assets

 

(390

)

83

 

Accounts payable

 

(274

)

(943

)

Accrued volume incentives

 

1,513

 

2,206

 

Accrued liabilities

 

(6,156

)

262

 

Deferred revenue

 

58

 

(740

)

Income taxes payable

 

(940

)

(516

)

Liability related to unrecognized tax benefits

 

(53

)

38

 

Deferred compensation payable

 

33

 

(41

)

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

490

 

7,823

 

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

 

(4,614

)

(1,165

)

Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment

 

 

8

 

Purchase of investments available for sale

 

(6

)

(83

)

Proceeds from investments available for sale

 

33

 

 

Net cash used in investing activities

 

(4,587

)

(1,240

)

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

 

 

 

 

 

Payments of cash dividends

 

 

(1,583

)

Principal payments of long-term debt and revolving credit facility

 

(847

)

(834

)

Proceeds from the exercise of stock options

 

 

633

 

Net cash used in financing activities

 

(847

)

(1,784

)

Effect of exchange rates on cash and cash equivalents

 

(836

)

(1,004

)

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

 

(5,780

)

3,795

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the period

 

77,247

 

79,241

 

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the period

 

$

71,467

 

$

83,036

 

SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:

 

 

 

 

 

Cash paid for income taxes

 

$

2,236

 

$

3,282

 

Cash paid for interest

 

30

 

20

 

 

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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NATURE’S SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(Amounts in thousands, except per share information)

(Unaudited)

 

(1)                     Basis of Presentation

 

Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc., together with its subsidiaries (hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Company”), is a natural health and wellness company primarily engaged in the manufacturing and direct selling of nutritional and personal care products. The Company is a Utah corporation with its principal place of business in Lehi, Utah and sells its products to a sales force of Managers and Distributors who use the products themselves or resell them to other Distributors or consumers. The formulation, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, advertising, distribution and sale of each of the Company’s major product groups are subject to regulation by one or more governmental agencies.

 

The Company markets its products in Australia, Austria, Belarus, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela and Vietnam. The Company also exports its products to Argentina, Australia, Chile, Israel, New Zealand and Norway.

 

Principles of Consolidation

 

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial statements. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries.  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions are eliminated in consolidation. In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) considered necessary for a fair presentation of the Company’s financial information as of March 31, 2013, and for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.  The results of operations of any interim period are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations to be expected for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2014.

 

It is suggested that these condensed consolidated financial statements be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

Classification of Venezuela as a Highly Inflationary Economy and Devaluation of Its Currency

 

Since January 1, 2010, Venezuela has been designated as a highly inflationary economy. Accordingly, the U.S. dollar became the functional currency for the Company’s subsidiary in Venezuela. On February 11, 2013, the Venezuelan government’s currency control agency (“CADIVI”), announced the further devaluation of the bolivar to 6.3 bolivars per U.S. dollar. In addition, the CADIVI enacted a new currency exchange mechanism, the First Complementary System for Foreign Currency Administration (“SICAD 1”), and mandated foreign entities domiciled in Venezuela to formally apply and be approved by the CADIVI to obtain U.S. dollars through banking institutions approved by the Venezuelan government at the official CADIVI exchange rate of 6.3 bolivars per U.S. dollar or at the official SICAD 1 exchange rate of 11.3 bolivars per U.S. dollar. On a weekly basis, the CADIVI determined how many U.S. dollars would be sold and which previously approved companies would be authorized to obtain them. Companies were approved to obtain U.S. dollars based on the individual products that they imported and sold in Venezuela. Products that are considered to be more beneficial to consumers in Venezuela, such as medicinal products, were approved for payment at the official CADIVI exchange rate of 6.3 while other beneficial products, such as dietary supplements, were approved for payment at the official SICAD 1 exchange rate of 11.3.  Foreign entities domiciled in Venezuela pay bolivars to the Venezuela Central Bank, which then pays U.S. dollars directly to the foreign entities to limit the amount of U.S. dollars available within Venezuela.  The Company is currently in the process of registering its products in order to obtain U.S. dollars at the official CADAVI exchange rate of 6.3 or the official SICAD 1 exchange rate of 11.3. The Company has not successfully obtained U.S. dollars at the CADIVI or SICAD 1 exchange rates since the establishment of the SICAD 1 currency exchange mechanism.

 

Effective January 24, 2014, additional changes to the country’s foreign exchange system were enacted by the Venezuelan government that expanded the types of products that could be subject to the weekly SICAD 1 auction process. In addition, a new currency control agency (“CENCOEX”) was established to replace the CADIVI. The CENCOEX official exchange rate was maintained at the CADIVI official exchange rate 6.3 bolivars per U.S. dollar. The CENCOEX also enacted a new currency exchange mechanism, the Second Complementary System for Foreign Currency Administration (“SICAD 2”) that will supplement and coexist with the SICAD 1 currency exchange mechanism. The SICAD 2 is expected to provide a greater supply of U.S. dollars from sources

 

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other than the Venezuelan government and to allow all sectors and companies to participate. The SICAD 2 is intended to more closely resemble a market-driven exchange rate than the official CENCOEX and SICAD 1 exchange rates of 6.3 and 11.3, respectively. As of March 31, 2014, the SICAD 2 exchange rate was approximately 50.0 bolivars per U.S. dollar.

 

The Company does not intend to apply for exchange or register any products at the SICAD 2 exchange rate. The Company is currently monitoring the currency exchange mechanisms in place and the potential for currency exchange transactions should the Company’s applications for currency exchange be unsuccessful. At this time, the Company is uncertain of the process or exchange rate for obtaining U.S. dollars for previously shipped products dating back to the establishment of the SICAD 1 currency exchange mechanism in February 2013.

 

Due to these circumstances, the Company has re-measured its assets and liabilities in Venezuela at the official SICAD 1 exchange rate of 11.3, effective March 31, 2014. This re-measurement resulted in a foreign exchange loss of $845. Going forward the Company will report its results at the higher official exchange rate of 11.3 bolivars to the U.S. dollar.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s Venezuelan subsidiary’s net sales revenue represented approximately 2.4 percent and 2.2 percent of consolidated net sales revenue, respectively.  As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company’s Venezuelan subsidiary held cash and cash equivalents of $2,585 and $3,922, respectively.

 

Classification of Belarus as a Highly Inflationary Economy and Devaluation of Its Currency

 

Since June 30, 2012, Belarus has been designated as a highly inflationary economy. The U.S. dollar is the Company’s functional currency for this market. As a result, there were no resulting gains or losses from a re-measurement of the financial statements using official rates of the Company’s Belarusian subsidiary.  However, as a result of the weakening of the Belarusian ruble, the purchasing power of the Company’s Distributors in this market has diminished. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s Belarusian subsidiary’s net sales revenue represented approximately 2.5 percent and 2.3 percent of consolidated net sales revenue, respectively.

 

(2)                     Inventories

 

The composition of inventories is as follows:

 

 

 

March 31,

 

December 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

Raw materials

 

$

11,310

 

$

10,848

 

Work in progress

 

759

 

740

 

Finished goods

 

29,037

 

30,322

 

Total inventory

 

$

41,106

 

$

41,910

 

 

(3)                     Intangible Assets

 

At March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, intangibles for product formulations had a gross carrying amount of $1,763 and $1,763, accumulated amortization of $947 and $910, and a net amount of $816 and $853, respectively. The estimated useful lives of the product formulations range from 9 to 15 years.

 

Amortization expense for intangible assets for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was $37 and $37, respectively. Estimated amortization expense for the next succeeding fiscal year thereafter is $149 followed by four fiscal years with estimated amortization expense of $91.

 

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(4)                     Investments

 

The amortized cost and estimated fair values of available-for-sale securities by balance sheet classification are as follows:

 

As of March 31, 2014

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair
Value

 

Municipal obligations

 

$

402

 

$

8

 

$

 

$

410

 

U.S. government securities funds

 

999

 

 

(14

)

985

 

Equity securities

 

227

 

397

 

(7

)

617

 

Total short-term investment securities

 

$

1,628

 

$

405

 

$

(21

)

$

2,012

 

 

As of December 31, 2013

 

Amortized
Cost

 

Gross
Unrealized
Gains

 

Gross
Unrealized
Losses

 

Fair
Value

 

Municipal obligations

 

$

403

 

$

12

 

$

 

$

415

 

U.S. government securities funds

 

997

 

 

(14

)

983

 

Equity securities

 

227

 

386

 

(5

)

608

 

Total short-term investment securities

 

$

1,627

 

$

398

 

$

(19

)

$

2,006

 

 

The municipal obligations held at a fair value of $410 at March 31, 2014, all mature in less than two years.

 

During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the proceeds from the sales of available-for-sale securities were $33 and $0, respectively. There were no gross realized gains (losses) on sales of available-for-sale securities (net of tax) for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively.

 

The Company’s trading securities portfolio totaled $1,004 at March 31, 2014, and $971 at December 31, 2013, and generated gains of $15 and $45 for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the Company had unrealized losses of $14 and $14, respectively, in its U.S. government securities funds. These losses are due to the interest rate sensitivity of the municipal obligations and the performance of the overall stock market for the equity securities.

 

(5)                     Long-Term Debt

 

On August 9, 2011, the Company entered into a revolving credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. that permits the Company to borrow up to $15,000 through August 9, 2014, bearing interest at LIBOR plus 1.25 percent (1.50 percent as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013). The Company must pay an annual commitment fee of 0.25 percent on the unused portion of the commitment.

 

On August 8, 2013, the Company renegotiated the revolving credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. to increase the borrowing limit to $25,000 and extend the maturity to September 1, 2015.  At March 31, 2014, the outstanding balance under the revolving credit agreement was $10,000.

 

A term loan of $10,000 was obtained in conjunction with the revolving credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and has a maturity date of August 9, 2014, and a variable interest rate of LIBOR plus 1.25 percent (1.50 percent as of March 31, 2014, and December 31, 2013). As of March 31, 2014, the outstanding balance under the term loan was $1,420. The term loan is collateralized by the Company’s manufacturing facility in Spanish Fork, Utah.

 

Long-term debt consists of the following:

 

 

 

March 31,
2014

 

December 31,
2013

 

Term loan in monthly installments of approximately $284, including interest

 

$

1,420

 

$

2,267

 

Less current installments

 

(1,420

)

(2,267

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revolving credit agreement

 

10,000

 

10,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Long-term debt less current installments

 

$

10,000

 

$

10,000

 

 

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The various debt agreements contain restrictions on liquidity, leverage, minimum net income and consecutive quarterly net losses. In addition, the agreements restrict capital expenditures, lease expenditures, other indebtedness, liens on assets, guaranties, loans and advances, and the merger, consolidation and the transfer of assets except in the ordinary course of business. The Company is in compliance with these debt covenants as of March 31, 2014.

 

(6)                     Net Income Per Share

 

Basic net income per common share (“Basic EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income per common share (“Diluted EPS”) reflects the potential dilution that could occur if stock options or other contracts to issue common stock were exercised or converted into common stock. The computation of Diluted EPS does not assume exercise or conversion of securities that would have an anti-dilutive effect on net income per common share.

 

Following is a reconciliation of the numerator and denominator of Basic EPS to the numerator and denominator of Diluted EPS for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

9,665

 

$

4,864

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

16,179

 

15,822

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic net income per common share

 

$

0.60

 

$

0.31

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted shares outstanding

 

 

 

 

 

Basic weighted average shares outstanding

 

16,179

 

15,822

 

Stock options

 

439

 

134

 

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding

 

16,618

 

15,956

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Diluted net income per common share

 

$

0.58

 

$

0.30

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options

 

134

 

45

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Potentially anti-dilutive shares excluded from diluted per share amounts:

 

 

 

 

 

Stock options

 

210

 

1,124

 

 

Potentially dilutive shares excluded from diluted-per-share amounts include performance-based options to purchase shares of common stock for which certain earnings metrics have not been achieved. Potentially anti-dilutive shares excluded from diluted-per-share amounts include both non-qualified stock options and unearned performance-based options to purchase shares of common stock with exercise prices greater than the weighted-average share price during the period and shares that would be anti-dilutive to the computation of diluted net income per share for each of the years presented.

 

(7)                     Capital Transactions

 

Dividends

 

The declaration of future dividends is subject to the discretion of the Company’s Board of Directors and will depend upon various factors, including the Company’s earnings, financial condition, restrictions imposed by any indebtedness that may be outstanding, cash requirements, future prospects and other factors deemed relevant by its Board of Directors.

 

On March 17, 2014, the Company announced a cash dividend of $0.10 per common share in an aggregate amount of $1,618 that was paid on April 7, 2014 to shareholders of record on March 28, 2014. Dividends payable of $1,618 was included in accrued liabilities as of March 31, 2014.

 

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Share Repurchase Program

 

On August 8, 2013, the Board of Directors authorized a $10,000 share repurchase program to be implemented over two years. Such purchases may be made in the open market, through block trades, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing and amount of any shares repurchased will be determined based on the Company’s evaluation of market conditions and other factors and the program may be discontinued or suspended at any time. There were no share repurchases during the three months ended March 31, 2014. At March 31, 2014, the remaining balance available for repurchases under the program was $7,454.

 

Share-Based Compensation

 

Stock option activity for the three months ended March 31, 2014, is as follows:

 

 

 

Number of
Shares

 

Weighted Average
Exercise
Price Per Share

 

Options outstanding at December 31, 2013

 

1,926

 

$

12.54

 

Granted

 

258

 

15.38

 

Expired

 

(9

)

13.58

 

Exercised

 

 

 

Options outstanding at March 31, 2014

 

2,175

 

12.87

 

 

The Company’s outstanding stock options include time-based stock options, which vest over differing periods ranging from the date of issuance up to 48 months from the option grant date; performance-based stock options, which have already vested upon achieving operating income margins of six, eight and ten percent as reported in four of five consecutive quarters over the term of the options; performance-based stock options, which vest upon achieving cumulative annual net sales revenue growth targets over a rolling two-year period, subject to the Company maintaining at least an eight percent operating income margin during the applicable period; and performance-based stock options, which vest upon achieving annual net sales targets over a rolling one-year period.

 

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, the Company issued options to purchase 258 shares of common stock under the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan to the Company’s executive officers and other employees, which are composed of time-based stock options. These options were issued with a weighted-average exercise price of $15.38 per share and a weighted-average grant date fair value of $6.53 per share. All of the options issued have an option termination date of ten years from the option grant date.

 

The fair value of each option grant was estimated on the date of the grant using the Black-Scholes option-pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014:

 

 

 

2014

 

Expected life (in years)

 

6.0

 

Risk-free interest rate

 

1.5

 

Expected volatility

 

56.7

 

Dividend yield

 

2.6

 

 

Expected option lives and volatilities are based on historical data of the Company. The risk free interest rate is calculated as the average U.S. Treasury bill rate that corresponds with the option life.  The dividend yield is based on the Company’s historical and expected amount of dividend payouts, at the time of grant. On August 29, 2013, the Company paid a special one-time cash dividend of $1.50 per common share. The Company has excluded this special one-time cash dividend from the dividend yield used in the Black-Scholes option-pricing model calculations as it is not representative of future dividends to be declared by the Company.

 

Share-based compensation expense from time-based stock options for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was approximately $897 and $1,074, respectively; the related tax benefit was approximately $354 and $424, respectively. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to the grants described above was $4,019 and $3,294, respectively. As of March 31, 2014, the remaining compensation cost is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average period of approximately 2.1 years.

 

The Company has not recognized any share-based compensation expense related to the net sales revenue performance-based stock options for the three-month period ended March 31, 2014.  Should the Company attain all of the net sales revenue metrics related to the net sales revenue performance-based stock option grants, the Company would recognize up to $800 of potential share-based compensation expense.

 

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At March 31, 2014, the aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding stock options to purchase 2,175 shares of common stock, exercisable stock options to purchase 1,017 shares of common stock and stock options to purchase 972 shares of common stock that are expected to vest was $3,492, $3,280 and $201, respectively. At December 31, 2013, the aggregate intrinsic value of outstanding options to purchase 1,926 shares of common stock, the exercisable options to purchase 838 shares of common stock, and options to purchase 905 shares of common stock expected to vest was $9,415, $6,069 and $3,179, respectively.

 

Restricted stock unit activity for the period ended March 31, 2014 is as follows:

 

 

 

Number of
Shares

 

Weighted Average
Grant Date
Fair Value

 

Units outstanding at December 31, 2013

 

32

 

$

12.47

 

Granted

 

118

 

14.33

 

Issued

 

 

 

Forfeited

 

 

 

Units outstanding at March 31, 2014

 

150

 

13.72

 

 

During the three-month period ended March 31, 2014, the Company issued 118 restricted stock units (RSUs) of common stock under the 2012 Incentive Plan to the Company’s executive officers and other employees. The RSUs were issued with a weighted average grant date fair value of $14.33 per share and vest in annual installments over a four year period from the grant date.

 

RSUs are valued at the market value on the date of grant.  For RSUs with post-vesting restrictions, a Finnerty Model was utilized to calculate a valuation discount from the market value of common shares reflecting the restriction embedded in the RSUs preventing the sale of the underlying shares over a certain period of time. The Finnerty Model proposes to estimate a discount for lack of marketability such as transfer restrictions by using an option pricing theory. This model has gained recognition through its ability to address the magnitude of the discount by considering the volatility of a company’s stock price and the length of restriction. The concept underpinning the Finnerty Model is that restricted stock cannot be sold over a certain period of time. Using assumptions previously determined for the application of the option pricing model at the valuation date, the Finnerty Model discount for lack of marketability is approximately 17.5 percent for a common share.

 

Share-based compensation expense from RSUs for the periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was approximately $197 and $74, respectively; the related tax benefit was approximately $78 and $29, respectively. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, the unrecognized share-based compensation expense related to the grants described above was $1,551 and $62, respectively. As of March 31, 2014, the remaining compensation expense is expected to be recognized over the weighted average period of approximately 2.4 years.

 

(8)                     Segment Information

 

The Company has three business segments. These business segments are components of the Company for which separate information is available that is evaluated regularly by the chief executive officer in deciding how to allocate resources and in assessing relative performance.

 

The Company has two business segments that operate under the Nature’s Sunshine Products brand and are divided based on the characteristics of their Distributor base, similarities in compensation plans, as well as the internal organization of NSP’s officers and their responsibilities (NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe and NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe). The Company’s third business segment operates under the Synergy WorldWide brand, which distributes its products through different selling and Distributor compensation plans and has products with formulations that are sufficiently different from those of the NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe and NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe to warrant accounting for these operations as a separate business segment. Net sales revenues for each segment have been reduced by intercompany sales as they are not included in the measure of segment profit or loss reviewed by the chief executive officer. The Company evaluates performance based on contribution margin (loss) by segment before consideration of certain inter-segment transfers and expenses.

 

Reportable business segment information is as follows:

 

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Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

Net sales revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe

 

$

50,673

 

$

53,137

 

NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe

 

15,037

 

16,140

 

Synergy WorldWide

 

30,043

 

27,202

 

Total net sales revenue

 

95,753

 

96,479

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contribution margin (1):

 

 

 

 

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe

 

20,921

 

21,956

 

NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe

 

5,396

 

5,983

 

Synergy WorldWide

 

10,613

 

9,120

 

Total contribution margin

 

36,930

 

37,059

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Selling, general and administrative

 

29,758

 

30,117

 

Operating income

 

7,172

 

6,942

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense), net

 

(1,115

)

330

 

Income before provision for income taxes

 

$

6,057

 

$

7,272

 

 


(1)              Contribution margin consists of net sales revenue less cost of sales and volume incentives expense.

 

From an individual country perspective, only the United States and South Korea comprise 10 percent or more of consolidated net sales revenue for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 as follows:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

Net sales revenue:

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

37,615

 

$

39,148

 

South Korea

 

12,371

 

6,721

 

Other

 

45,767

 

50,610

 

 

 

$

95,753

 

$

96,479

 

 

Revenue generated by each of the Company’s product lines is set forth below:

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe:

 

 

 

 

 

General health

 

$

21,311

 

$

22,472

 

Immune

 

6,582

 

6,986

 

Cardiovascular

 

3,491

 

3,435

 

Digestive

 

14,911

 

15,446

 

Personal care

 

1,052

 

1,481

 

Weight management

 

3,326

 

3,317

 

 

 

50,673

 

53,137

 

NSP Russia, Eastern and Central Europe:

 

 

 

 

 

General health

 

$

5,545

 

$

5,760

 

Immune

 

1,968

 

2,101

 

Cardiovascular

 

938

 

1,138

 

Digestive

 

3,947

 

4,046

 

Personal care

 

1,868

 

2,359

 

Weight management

 

771

 

736

 

 

 

15,037

 

16,140

 

Synergy WorldWide:

 

 

 

 

 

General health

 

$

10,753

 

$

8,668

 

Immune

 

211

 

392

 

Cardiovascular

 

10,444

 

11,089

 

Digestive

 

5,017

 

4,864

 

Personal care

 

1,736

 

1,742

 

Weight management

 

1,882

 

447

 

 

 

30,043

 

27,202

 

 

 

$

95,753

 

$

96,479

 

 

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From an individual country perspective, only the United States and Venezuela comprise 10 percent or more of consolidated property, plant and equipment as follows:

 

 

 

March 31,
2014

 

December 31,
2013

 

Property, plant and equipment:

 

 

 

 

 

United States

 

$

29,233

 

$

25,713

 

Venezuela

 

3,130

 

3,207

 

Other

 

2,920

 

3,102

 

Total property, plant and equipment

 

$

35,283

 

$

32,022

 

 

(9)                     Income Taxes

 

Interim income taxes are based on an estimated annualized effective tax rate applied to the respective quarterly periods, adjusted for discrete tax items in the period in which they occur. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s provision (benefit) for income taxes, as a percentage of income before income taxes was (59.6) percent and 33.1 percent, respectively, compared with a U.S. federal statutory rate of 35.0 percent.

 

The difference between the effective tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was primarily attributed to foreign tax credits arising from intercompany dividends of $21,500 paid by foreign subsidiaries to the U.S. corporation. This discrete first quarter item resulted in an income tax benefit of $6,720 for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

The difference between the effective tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2013 was primarily attributed to net favorable foreign items related to foreign tax rate differences, the impact of unremitted earnings, and adjustments to foreign valuation allowances (-9.7 percent), offset, in part, by an increase in tax liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions (7.7 percent).

 

Changes to the effective rate due to dividends received from foreign subsidiaries, impact of foreign tax credits and the unremitted earnings calculation are expected to be recurring, although it is unlikely that these items will again have an impact as large as what occurred in the three months ended March 31, 2014. Depending on various factors, changes from the foregoing items may be favorable or unfavorable in a particular period.

 

The Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns for 2009 through 2012 are open to examination for federal tax purposes. The Company has several foreign tax jurisdictions that have open tax years from 2007 through 2013. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) is currently conducting an audit of the Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns for the 2009 through 2011 tax years.

 

As of March 31, 2014, the Company had accrued $12,349 of liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits compared with $12,402, as of December 31, 2013. This net decrease was primarily attributed to the Venezuela currency devaluation, partially offset by an increase in transfer pricing contingencies, including increases in penalties and interest.

 

Although the Company believes its estimates are reasonable, the Company can make no assurance that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be different from that which it has reflected in its historical income tax provisions and accruals.  Such differences could have a material impact on the Company’s income tax provision and operating results in the period in which the Company makes such determination.

 

(10)              Commitments and Contingencies

 

Legal Proceedings

 

The Company is party to various legal proceedings. Management cannot predict the ultimate outcome of these proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, or their resulting effect on the Company’s business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows as litigation and related matters are subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. Were an unfavorable outcome to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the business, financial position, results of operations, or

 

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cash flows for the period in which the ruling occurs and/or future periods. The Company maintains product liability, general liability and excess liability insurance coverage. However, no assurances can be given that such insurance will continue to be available at an acceptable cost to the Company, that such coverage will be sufficient to cover one or more large claims, or that the insurers will not successfully disclaim coverage as to a pending or future claim.

 

Since late 2007, the Company has administered its sales in Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Mongolia, Russia and Ukraine (the “Territories”) through an International Reseller Agreement (“Reseller Agreement”) with a third party general dealer (the “General Dealer”) based in Russia. The General Dealer administers the marketing and distribution of the Company’s products in the Territories.  The Reseller Agreement has a one-year term, which has been renewed annually by the parties, and is set to expire on November 1, 2014.  As a part of its services, the General Dealer provides certain discounts (the “Discounts”) to its network of dealers related to the costs associated with transporting the Company’s products from the General Dealer to the dealers.  In July 2013, the General Dealer began to withhold the amount of these Discounts from the funds remitted each month to the Company for the sale of the products, claiming that it is entitled to reimbursement for these costs under the Reseller Agreement.  These withholdings have averaged approximately $330 per month and totaled approximately $3,000 at March 31, 2014.

 

The parties have negotiated a resolution to the dispute, whereby the General Dealer has agreed to pay the Company the entire sum of Discounts withheld and relinquish all claims to the reimbursement of Discounts with respect to periods prior to July 2013, and the parties have agreed to a new three year international reseller agreement, effective April 1, 2014. The General Dealer has paid the Company all withheld Discounts from July 2013 to present as of May 1, 2014.

 

Non-Income Tax Contingencies

 

The Company has reserved for certain state sales and use tax and foreign non-income tax contingencies based on the likelihood of an obligation in accordance with accounting guidance for probable loss contingencies. Loss contingency provisions are recorded for probable losses at management’s best estimate of a loss, or when a best estimate cannot be made, a minimum loss contingency amount is recorded. The Company provides provisions for potential payments of tax to various tax authorities for contingencies related to non-income tax matters, including value-added taxes and sales tax. The Company provides provisions for U.S. state sales taxes in each of the states where the Company has nexus. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, accrued liabilities include $5,058 and $6,312, respectively, related to non-income tax contingencies. While management believes that the assumptions and estimates used to determine this liability are reasonable, the ultimate outcome of those matters cannot presently be determined. The Company is not able at this time to predict the ultimate outcomes of those matters or to estimate the effect of the ultimate outcomes, if greater than the amounts accrued, would have on the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

 

Other Litigation

 

The Company is party to various other legal proceedings in several foreign jurisdictions related to value-added tax assessments and other civil litigation.  While there is a reasonable possibility that a material loss may be incurred, either the losses are not considered to be probable or the Company cannot at this time estimate the loss, if any; therefore, no provision for losses has been provided.  The Company believes future payments related to these matters could range from $0 to approximately $800.

 

(11)              Fair Value Measurements

 

The fair value of a financial instrument is the amount that could be received upon the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. Financial assets are marked to bid prices and financial liabilities are marked to offer prices. Fair value measurements do not include transaction costs. A fair value hierarchy is used to prioritize the quality and reliability of the information used to determine fair values of each financial instrument. Categorization within the fair value hierarchy is based on the lowest level of input that is significant to the fair value measurement. The fair value hierarchy is defined into the following three categories:

 

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Level 1: Quoted market prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Observable market based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are not corroborated by market data.

 

The following table presents the Company’s hierarchy for its assets, measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as of March 31, 2014:

 

 

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets

 

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs

 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

 

Total

 

Investments available-for-sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal obligations

 

$

 

$

410

 

$

 

$

410

 

U.S. government security funds

 

985

 

 

 

985

 

Equity securities

 

617

 

 

 

617

 

Investment securities

 

1,004

 

 

 

1,004

 

Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis

 

$

2,606

 

$

410

 

$

 

$

3,016

 

 

The following table presents the Company’s hierarchy for its assets, measured at fair value on a recurring basis, as of December 31, 2013:

 

 

 

Level 1

 

Level 2

 

Level 3

 

 

 

 

 

Quoted Prices
in Active
Markets for
Identical Assets

 

Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs

 

Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

 

Total

 

Investments available-for-sale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Municipal obligations

 

$

 

$

415

 

$

 

$

415

 

U.S. government security funds

 

983

 

 

 

983

 

Equity securities

 

608

 

 

 

608

 

Investment securities

 

971

 

 

 

971

 

Total assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis

 

$

2,562

 

$

415

 

$

 

$

2,977

 

 

Investments available-for-sale — The majority of the Company’s investment portfolio consist of various securities such as state and municipal obligations, U.S. government security funds, short-term deposits and various equity securities.  The Level 1 securities are valued using quoted prices for identical assets in active markets including equity securities and U.S. government treasuries.  The Level 2 securities include investments in state and municipal obligations whereby all significant inputs are observable or can be derived from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the asset.

 

Investment securities — The majority of the Company’s trading portfolio consists of various marketable securities that are valued using quoted prices in active markets.

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2014, and for the year ended December 31, 2013, there were no fair value measurements using the significant unobservable inputs (Level 3).

 

The carrying amounts reflected on the consolidated balance sheet for cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, and accounts payable approximate fair value due to their short-term nature. The carrying amount reflected in the consolidated balance sheet for long-term debt approximates fair value due to the interest rate on the debt being variable based on current market rates. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company did not have any re-measurements of non-financial assets at fair value on a nonrecurring basis subsequent to their initial recognition.

 

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

 

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis should be read in conjunction with the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in this report, as well as the consolidated financial statements, the notes thereto, and management’s discussion and analysis included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, and our Reports on Form 8-K filed since the date of such Form 10-K.

 

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Throughout this report, we refer to Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, as “we,” “us,” “our,” “Company” or “the Company.”

 

OVERVIEW

 

Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, is a natural health and wellness company primarily engaged in the manufacturing and direct selling of nutritional and personal care products. The Company is a Utah corporation with its principal place of business in Lehi, Utah, and sells its products to a sales force of Managers and Distributors who use the products themselves or resell them to other Distributors or customers. The formulation, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, advertising, distribution and sale of each of our major product groups are subject to regulation by one or more governmental agencies.

 

The Company has three business segments that are divided based on the different characteristics of their Distributor bases, selling and Distributor compensation plans and product formulations, as well as the internal organization of our officers and their responsibilities and business operations.  Two business segments operate under the Nature’s Sunshine Products brand (NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe and NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe), and one operates under the Synergy WorldWide brand.

 

We market our products in Australia, Austria, Belarus, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Czech Republic, Denmark, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Finland, Germany, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Iceland, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, the United States, Venezuela and Vietnam. We export our products to Argentina, Australia, Chile, Israel, New Zealand and Norway.

 

During the first quarter of 2014, we experienced a decrease in our consolidated net sales of 0.8 percent compared to the first quarter of 2013. However, net sales revenue increased by 0.3 percent in local currencies excluding the negative impact of foreign currency fluctuations. Synergy WorldWide net sales increased approximately 10.4 percent compared to the same period in 2013 (or 11.1 percent in local currencies). NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe net sales decreased approximately 6.8 percent compared to the same period in 2013.  NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe net sales decreased approximately 4.6 percent compared to the same period in 2013 (or 3.1 percent in local currencies). Our most significant sales revenue growth was from our Synergy South Korea market during 2014. Gains in this market were partially offset by decreases in our NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe market and in our North American markets included within our NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe and Synergy WorldWide segments.

 

Despite the robust net sales growth experienced in NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe in 2013, the Company must caution that near-term growth will undoubtedly be impacted by the political unrest in Ukraine and Russia. Also, the Company has negotiated a resolution to the contract dispute with its General Dealer, whereby the General Dealer has agreed to pay the Company the entire sum of Discounts withheld and relinquish all claims to the reimbursement of Discounts with respect to periods prior to July 2013, and the parties have agreed to a new international reseller agreement, effective April 1, 2014. The General Dealer has paid the Company all withheld Discounts from July 2013 to present as of May 1, 2014.

 

Over the same period, selling, general and administrative costs as a percentage of net sales revenue for 2014, decreased to 31.1 percent from 31.2 percent in 2013.

 

We distribute our products to consumers through an independent sales force comprised of Managers and Distributors, some of whom also consume our products. Typically, a person who joins our independent sales force begins as a Distributor. A Distributor may earn Manager status by committing more time and effort to selling our products, recruiting productive Distributors and attaining certain product sales levels. On a worldwide basis, active Managers were approximately 17,200 and 18,200 and active Distributors and customers were approximately 329,800 and 341,200 at March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. The decrease in Managers, Distributors and customers is the result of lower recruiting and retention principally within our NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe segment.

 

Net sales revenue represents net sales including shipping and handling revenues offset by volume rebates given to Managers, Distributors and customers. Volume rebates as a percentage of retail sales may vary by country depending upon regulatory restrictions that limit or otherwise restrict rebates. We also offer reduced volume rebates with respect to certain products and promotions worldwide.

 

Our gross profit consists of net sales less cost of sales, which represents our manufacturing costs, the price we pay to our raw material suppliers and manufacturers of our products, and duties and tariffs, as well as shipping and handling costs related to product shipments and distribution to our Managers, Distributors and customers.

 

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Volume incentives are a significant part of our direct sales marketing program, and represent commission payments made to our independent Managers and Distributors. These payments are designed to provide incentives for reaching higher sales levels and for recruiting additional Distributors.  Volume incentives vary slightly, on a percentage basis, by product due to our pricing policies and commission plans in place in our various operations.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses represent our operating expenses, components of which include labor and benefits, sales events, professional fees, travel and entertainment, Distributor marketing, occupancy costs, communication costs, bank fees, depreciation and amortization, and other miscellaneous operating expenses.

 

Most of our sales to Distributors outside the United States are made in the respective local currencies. In preparing our financial statements, we translate revenues into U.S. dollars using average exchange rates. Additionally, the majority of our purchases from our suppliers generally are made in U.S. dollars. Consequently, a strengthening of the U.S. dollar versus a foreign currency can have a negative impact on our reported sales and contribution margins and can generate transaction losses on intercompany transactions.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

The following table summarizes our unaudited consolidated operating results in U.S. dollars and as a percentage of net sales revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 (dollar amounts in thousands).

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

Change

 

 

 

Total

 

Percent of

 

Total

 

Percent of

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

dollars

 

net sales

 

dollars

 

net sales

 

dollars

 

Percentage

 

Net sales revenue

 

$

95,753

 

100.0

%

$

96,479

 

100.0

%

$

(726

)

(0.8

)%

Cost of sales

 

(23,106

)

(24.1

)

(24,445

)

(25.3

)

1,339

 

5.5

 

 

 

72,647

 

75.9

 

72,034

 

74.7

 

613

 

0.9

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Volume incentives

 

35,717

 

37.3

 

34,975

 

36.3

 

742

 

2.1

 

SG&A expenses

 

29,758

 

31.1

 

30,117

 

31.2

 

(359

)

(1.2

)

Operating income

 

7,172

 

7.5

 

6,942

 

7.2

 

230

 

3.3

 

Other income (loss), net

 

(1,115

)

(1.2

)

330

 

0.3

 

(1,445

)

(437.9

)

Income before provision for income taxes

 

6,057

 

6.3

 

7,272

 

7.5

 

(1,215

)

(16.7

)

Provision (benefit) for income taxes

 

(3,608

)

(3.8

)

2,408

 

2.5

 

(6,016

)

(249.8

)

Net income

 

$

9,665

 

10.1

%

$

4,864

 

5.0

%

$

4,801

 

98.7

%

 

Net Sales Revenue

 

Our international operations have provided and are expected to continue to provide a significant portion of our total net sales. As a result, total net sales will continue to be significantly affected by fluctuations in the U.S. dollar against foreign currencies. In order to provide a framework for assessing how our underlying businesses performed excluding the effect of foreign currency fluctuations, in addition to comparing the percent change in net sales from one period to another in U.S. dollars, we also compare the percentage change in net sales from one period to another period by excluding the effects of foreign currency exchange as shown below. Net sales excluding the impact of foreign exchange fluctuations is not a U.S. GAAP financial measure. Net sales in local currency removes from net sales in U.S. dollars the impact of changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the functional currencies of our foreign subsidiaries, by translating the current period net sales into U.S. dollars using the same foreign currency exchange rates that were used to translate the net sales for the previous comparable period. We believe presenting the impact of foreign currency fluctuations is useful to investors because it allows a more meaningful comparison of net sales of our foreign operations from period to period. However, net sales excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net sales in U.S. dollar measures that reflect current period exchange rates, or to other financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Throughout the last five years, foreign currency exchange rates have fluctuated significantly. See Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.

 

The following table summarizes the changes in our net sales revenue by operating segment with a reconciliation to net sales revenue excluding the impact of currency fluctuations for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013;

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

Net Sales Revenue by Operating Segment

 

 

 

Three Months
Ended March 31,
2014

 

Three Months
Ended March 31,
2013

 

Percent
Change

 

Impact of
Currency
Exchange

 

Percent
Change
Excluding
Impact of
Currency

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NSP North America

 

$

36,914

 

$

38,655

 

(4.5

)%

$

(306

)

(3.7

)%

NSP Latin America

 

12,052

 

11,890

 

1.4

 

(578

)

6.2

 

NSP Other

 

1,707

 

2,592

 

(34.1

)

64

 

(36.6

)

 

 

50,673

 

53,137

 

(4.6

)

(820

)

(3.1

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe

 

$

15,037

 

$

16,140

 

(6.8

)%

$

7

 

(6.9

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synergy WorldWide:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synergy North America

 

$

3,960

 

$

4,190

 

(5.5

)%

$

 

(5.5

)%

Synergy Asia Pacific

 

18,595

 

14,143

 

31.5

 

(446

)

34.6

 

Synergy Europe

 

7,488

 

8,869

 

(15.6

)

267

 

(18.6

)

 

 

30,043

 

27,202

 

10.4

 

(179

)

11.1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

95,753

 

$

96,479

 

(0.8

)%

$

(992

)

0.3

%

 

Consolidated net sales revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2014, was $95.8 million compared to $96.5 million for the same period in 2013, a decrease of approximately 0.8 percent. We experienced a $1.0 million unfavorable impact in foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations in 2014, and our consolidated net sales revenue would have increased by 0.3 percent from 2013, excluding the negative impact. The increase in local currency net sales revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013, is primarily due to an increase of net sales in our Synergy WorldWide segment and was partially offset by a decline of net sales in our NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe and NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe segments.

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe

 

Net sales revenue related to NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $50.7 million compared to $53.1 million for the same period in 2013, a decrease of 4.6 percent. In local currency, net sales decreased 3.1 percent, compared to the same period in 2013. Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates had a $0.8 million unfavorable impact on net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Active Managers within NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe totaled approximately 8,300 and 9,100 at March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Active Distributors and customers within NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe totaled approximately 151,700 and 157,300 at March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Segment net sales revenue and the number of Managers, Distributors and customers decreased primarily due to combining our NSP Japan business with our Synergy Japan business and lower net sales in the United States. Managers and Distributors within NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe are predominantly practitioners, retailers and consumers of our products. The Active Managers category includes Managers under our various compensation plans that have achieved and maintained certain product sales levels. As such, all Managers are considered to be active Managers. The Active Distributors and customers category includes our Distributors and customers who have purchased products directly from the Company for resale and/or personal consumption during the previous three months.

 

Notable activity in the following markets contributed to the results of NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe:

 

In the United States, net sales revenues decreased approximately $1.3 million, or 3.7 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013. While we continue to see improvement in some key sequential business metrics, we have not yet returned to prior year levels. We continue our efforts to stabilize and grow the U.S. business through targeted investment in sales and marketing personnel, training, the launch of new products (including the strengthening of our weight management category), sales programs and incentive programs.

 

In Venezuela, net sales revenues increased approximately $0.2 million, or 8.6 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013. In local currency, net sales increased 19.9 percent, compared to the same period in 2013. Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates had a $0.2 million unfavorable impact on net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The increase in local currency net sales is due to price increases designed to offset the inflationary environment in addition to increased Manager and Distributor activity.

 

Due to the continued challenges in returning the market to growth, we made the decision to cease to operate under the NSP brand and to merge our NSP Japan business with our Synergy Japan business to create one unified approach to the market with a common product

 

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Table of Contents

 

offering and business opportunity model. As part of this transition, we allowed NSP Japan Distributors to transfer their businesses to our Synergy Japan brand. The combined businesses began operating as Synergy Japan in January 2014, and provide a greater opportunity for a return to profitable growth. As such, we had no net sales revenue from NSP Japan in 2014 compared to approximately $0.9 million of net sales revenue for the same period in 2013.

 

NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe

 

Net sales revenue related to NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe markets (primarily Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus) for the three months ended March 31, 2014, was $15.0 million compared to $16.1 million for the same period in 2013, a decrease of 6.8 percent. Active Managers within NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe totaled approximately 5,200 and 6,000 at March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Active Distributors and customers within NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe totaled approximately 125,200 and 130,000 at March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Net sales and the number of Managers, Distributors and customers decreased primarily as a result of the current political uncertainty in Ukraine and the decline in the value of the Ukrainian hryvnia against the U.S.dollar. Although changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and Ukrainian hryvnia do not result in currency fluctuations within our financial statements, the Company’s products in Ukraine are priced in U.S. dollars and therefore become more expensive when the local currency declines in value. At this time, we cannot estimate to what extent this dispute may have on our future results. Should the situation in the region escalate, our results could be further negatively impacted. NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe’s business model is more oriented to a direct selling approach than that of NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe.

 

Synergy WorldWide

 

Net sales revenue related to Synergy WorldWide for the three months ended March 31, 2014 was $30.0 million, compared to $27.2 million for the same period in 2013, an increase of 10.4 percent. In local currency, net sales increased 11.1 percent, compared to the same period in 2013. Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates had a $0.2 million unfavorable impact on net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2013. Active Managers within Synergy WorldWide totaled approximately 3,700 and 3,100 at March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Active Distributors and customers within Synergy WorldWide totaled approximately 52,900 and 53,900 at March 31, 2014 and 2013, respectively. Synergy WorldWide’s business model is operating under a traditional direct selling approach. Synergy WorldWide reported a growth of net sales revenue due to improvements South Korea and Japan, partially offset by lower net sales in Europe and North America.

 

Notable activity in the following markets contributed to the results of Synergy WorldWide:

 

In South Korea, net sales revenues increased approximately $5.6 million, or 84.1 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013. In local currency, net sales increased 81.0 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013.  Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates had a $0.2 million favorable impact on net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Last year, promotions and incentives programs were implemented to support and enhance Distributor activity ahead of the Synergy WorldWide global summit held in South Korea in late September. During that event, the SLMsmart weight-management program was launched, which further contributed to the sustained growth through the end of the year.

 

In Japan, net sales revenues increased approximately $0.6 million, or 27.4 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013.  In local currency, net sales increased 42.2 percent, compared to the same period in 2013. Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates had a $0.3 million unfavorable impact on net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2014. New products and programs introduced and implemented to stimulate activity had a positive impact in the second half of 2013. In addition, as referenced above, in order to provide a more stable platform for growth, we made the decision to cease to operate under the NSP brand and to combine the NSP Japan and Synergy Japan businesses, and operate as a single entity from January 2014 forward. As part of this transition, we allowed NSP Japan Distributors to transfer their businesses to our Synergy Japan brand.

 

In Europe, net sales revenues decreased approximately $1.4 million, or 15.6 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013. In local currency, net sales decreased 18.6 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013. Fluctuations in foreign exchange rates had a $0.3 million favorable impact on net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2014. The successful resolution of temporary shipping restrictions imposed by the Norwegian Food Authority, which had adversely impacted net sales in the fourth quarter of 2012, had a favorable impact on 2013 net sales. Due to the backlog of sales orders from 2012 that was released in the first quarter of 2013 in Norway, Synergy Europe net sales decreased in 2014 as compared to 2013.

 

In North America, net sales revenues decreased approximately $0.2 million, or 5.5 percent, for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to the same period in 2013. The decline in sales is primarily driven by lower Distributor recruiting.  The lack of recruiting, retention and training efforts has been the primary driver for this decrease. Growth initiatives have been developed and implemented to more effectively support recruiting, retention and training activity.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Further information related to NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe, NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe, and Synergy WorldWide business segments is set forth in Note 8 to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part 1, Item 1 of this report.

 

Cost of Sales

 

Cost of sales as a percent of net sales revenue decreased to 24.1 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to 25.3 percent for the same period in 2013. The decrease was primarily due to changes in product mix between markets, lower raw material costs as well as lower in market distribution costs, partially offset by increased importation fees (customs and duties) related to higher transfer prices within some of our foreign markets.

 

Volume Incentives

 

Volume incentives as a percent of net sales revenue increased to 37.3 percent for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to 36.3 percent for the same period in 2013. The increase was primarily due to net sales increases in markets that pay a higher sales commission in our Synergy WorldWide segment.

 

Selling, General and Administrative

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased by approximately $0.4 million to $29.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014. Selling, general and administrative expenses were 31.1 percent of net sales revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2014, compared to 31.2 percent for the same period in 2013. Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased due to $1.4 million of one-time severance costs and the acceleration of stock option expense incurred related to the resignation of our former Chief Executive Officer that were incurred in 2013, partially offset by $1.0 million of increased compensation, health insurance and other benefit costs as a result of the Company’s incremental investment in sales, marketing, science and product development personnel and programs in 2014.

 

Other Income (Expense), Net

 

Other income (expense), net for the three months ended March 31, 2014 decreased $1.4 million compared to the same period in 2013 due to foreign exchange rate losses of $0.8 million incurred in Venezuela.

 

Income Taxes

 

Interim income taxes are based on an estimated annualized effective tax rate applied to the respective quarterly periods, adjusted for discrete tax items in the period in which they occur. For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s provision (benefit) for income taxes, as a percentage of income before income taxes was (59.6) percent and 33.1 percent, respectively, compared with a U.S. federal statutory rate of 35.0 percent.

 

The difference between the effective tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2014, was primarily attributed to foreign tax credits arising from intercompany dividends of $21.5 million paid by foreign subsidiaries to the U.S. corporation. This discrete first quarter item resulted in an income tax benefit of $6.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

The difference between the effective tax rate and the U.S. federal statutory tax rate for the three months ended March 31, 2013, was primarily attributed to net favorable foreign items related to foreign tax rate differences, the impact of unremitted earnings, and adjustments to foreign valuation allowances (-9.7 percent), offset, in part, by an increase in tax liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions (7.7 percent).

 

Changes to the effective rate due to dividends received from foreign subsidiaries, impact of foreign tax credits and the unremitted earnings calculation are expected to be recurring, although it is unlikely that these items will again have an impact as large as what occurred in the three months ended March 31, 2014. Depending on various factors, changes from the foregoing items may be favorable or unfavorable in a particular period.

 

The Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns for 2009 through 2012 are open to examination for federal tax purposes. The Company has several foreign tax jurisdictions that have open tax years from 2007 through 2013. The Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) is currently conducting an audit of the Company’s U.S. federal income tax returns for the 2009 through 2011 tax years.

 

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Table of Contents

 

As of March 31, 2014, the Company had accrued $12.3 million of liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits compared with $12.4 million as of December 31, 2013. This net decrease was primarily attributed to the Venezuela currency devaluation, partially offset by transfer pricing contingencies, including increases in penalties and interest.

 

Although the Company believes its estimates are reasonable, the Company can make no assurance that the final tax outcome of these matters will not be different from that which it has reflected in its historical income tax provisions and accruals.  Such differences could have a material impact on the Company’s income tax provision and operating results in the period in which the Company makes such determination.

 

Product Categories

 

Our line of over 700 products includes several different product classifications, such as immune, cardiovascular, digestive, personal care, weight management and other general health products. We purchase herbs and other raw materials in bulk and, after quality control testing, we formulate, encapsulate, tablet or concentrate them, and package them for shipment. Most of our products are manufactured at our facility in Spanish Fork, Utah. Contract manufacturers produce some of our products in accordance with our specifications and standards. We have implemented stringent quality control procedures to verify that our contract manufacturers have complied with our specifications and standards.

 

Presented below are the U.S. dollar amounts and associated revenue percentages from the sale of general health, immune, cardiovascular, digestive, personal care and weight management products for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, by business segment.

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General health

 

$

21,311

 

42.0

%

$

22,472

 

42.3

%

Immune

 

6,582

 

13.0

 

6,986

 

13.1

 

Cardiovascular

 

3,491

 

6.9

 

3,435

 

6.5

 

Digestive

 

14,911

 

29.4

 

15,446

 

29.1

 

Personal care

 

1,052

 

2.1

 

1,481

 

2.8

 

Weight management

 

3,326

 

6.6

 

3,317

 

6.2

 

Total NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe

 

50,673

 

100.0

%

53,137

 

100.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General health

 

$

5,545

 

36.9

%

$

5,760

 

35.7

%

Immune

 

1,968

 

13.1

 

2,101

 

13.0

 

Cardiovascular

 

938

 

6.2

 

1,138

 

7.0

 

Digestive

 

3,947

 

26.3

 

4,046

 

25.1

 

Personal care

 

1,868

 

12.4

 

2,359

 

14.6

 

Weight management

 

771

 

5.1

 

736

 

4.6

 

Total NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe

 

15,037

 

100.0

%

16,140

 

100.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Synergy WorldWide:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General health

 

$

10,753

 

35.8

%

$

8,668

 

31.9

%

Immune

 

211

 

0.7

 

392

 

1.4

 

Cardiovascular

 

10,444

 

34.7

 

11,089

 

40.8

 

Digestive

 

5,017

 

16.7

 

4,864

 

17.9

 

Personal care

 

1,736

 

5.8

 

1,742

 

6.4

 

Weight management

 

1,882

 

6.3

 

447

 

1.6

 

Total Synergy WorldWide

 

30,043

 

100.0

%

27,202

 

100.0

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consolidated:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General health

 

$

37,609

 

39.3

%

$

36,900

 

38.3

%

Immune

 

8,761

 

9.2

 

9,479

 

9.8

 

Cardiovascular

 

14,873

 

15.5

 

15,662

 

16.2

 

Digestive

 

23,875

 

24.9

 

24,356

 

25.2

 

Personal care

 

4,656

 

4.9

 

5,582

 

5.8

 

Weight management

 

5,979

 

6.2

 

4,500

 

4.7

 

Total Consolidated

 

$

95,753

 

100.0

%

$

96,479

 

100.0

%

 

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Table of Contents

 

The following table summarizes our product lines by category:

 

Category

 

Description

 

Selected Representative Products

General health

 

We manufacture or contract with independent manufacturers to supply a wide selection of general health products. The general health line is a combination of assorted health products related to blood sugar support, bone health, cellular health, cognitive function, essential oils, joint health, mood, sexual health, sleep, sports and energy, and vision.

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe; and NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe: Adrenal Support, CurcuminBP, Everflex®, Ionic Minerals, Mind-Max, Nutri-Calm®, Perfect Eyes®, Skeletal Strength®, Super Supplemental Vitamin and Mineral, Super Trio, Tai-Go®, Tei-Fu®, Vitamin B-Complex, Vitamin D3

 

 

Synergy WorldWide:

Core Greens®, Mistica®, Noni Plus, NutriBurst, Spirulina Vegi-Cap

 

 

 

 

 

Immune

 

We manufacture or contract with independent manufacturers to supply immune products. The immune line has been designed to offer products that support and strengthen the human immune system.

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe; and NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe: ALJ®, Elderberry D3fense, HistaBlock®, Immune Stimulator, Silver Shield, VS-C®

 

 

Synergy WorldWide:

BodyGuard, Colostrum

 

 

 

 

 

Cardiovascular

 

We manufacture or contract with independent manufacturers to supply cardiovascular products. The cardiovascular line has been designed to offer products that combine a variety of superior heart health ingredients to give the cardiovascular system optimum support.

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe; and NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe: Blood, Pressurex, Co-Q10, Flax Seed Oil, Mega-Chel®, Red Yeast Rice, Super Omega-3 EPA

 

 

Synergy WorldWide:

E-9, ProArgi-9 Plus®

 

 

 

 

 

Digestive

 

We manufacture or contract with independent manufacturers to supply digestive products. The disgestive line has been designed to offer products that regulate intestinal and digestive functions in support of the human digestive system.

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe; and NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe: Bifidophilus Flora Force®, CleanStart®, Food Enzymes, LBS II®, Liquid Chlorophyll, Milk Thistle, Proactazyme®, Probiotic Eleven®

 

 

Synergy WorldWide:

Detox Plus, Liquid Chlorophyll

 

 

 

 

 

Personal care

 

We manufacture or contract with independent manufacturers to supply a variety of personal care products for external use, including oils and lotions, aloe vera gel, herbal shampoo, herbal skin treatment, toothpaste and skin cleanser.

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe; and NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe: EverFlex® Cream , HSN-W®, Pau-D Arco Lotion, Pro-G Yam® Cream, Tei-Fu® Lotion, Vari-Gone®

 

 

Synergy WorldWide:

Bright Renewal Serum, Hydrating Toner, 5 in 1 Shampoo, Repair Complex

 

 

 

 

 

Weight management

 

We manufacture or contract with independent manufacturers to supply a variety of weight management products. The weight management

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe; and NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe: Fat Grabbers®, Garcinia Combination, Love and Peas,

 

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Table of Contents

 

 

 

line has been designed to simplify the weight management process by providing healthy meal replacements and products that increase caloric burn rate.

 

MetaboMax, Nature’s Harvest, Nutri-Burn®, SmartMeal, Stixated™, Ultra Therm™

 

 

Synergy WorldWide:

Double Burn, SLMSmart™

 

Distribution and Marketing

 

Our Managers and Distributors market our products to customers through direct selling techniques, as well as sponsoring other Managers and Distributors. We seek to motivate and provide incentives to our Managers and Distributors by offering high quality products and providing our Managers and Distributors with product support, training seminars, sales conventions, travel programs and financial incentives.

 

Our products sold in the United States are shipped directly from our manufacturing and warehouse facilities located in Spanish Fork, Utah, as well as from our regional warehouses located in Georgia, Ohio and Texas. Many of our international operations maintain warehouse facilities with inventory to supply their Managers, Distributors and customers. However, in foreign markets that we do not maintain warehouse facilities, we have contracted with third-parties to distribute our products and provide support services to our independent sales force of Managers and Distributors.

 

As of March 31, 2014, we had approximately 329,800 active Distributors and customers worldwide who purchase our products directly from the Company. In addition, our products can be purchased directly from our Distributors. A person who joins our independent sales force begins as a Distributor. An individual can become a Distributor by signing up under the sponsorship of someone who is already a Distributor or by signing up through the Company, where they will then be assigned a Distributor as a sponsor. Many Distributors sell our products on a part-time basis to friends or associates or use the products themselves. A Distributor may earn Manager status by committing more time and effort to selling our products, recruiting productive Distributors and attaining certain product sales levels. Managers resell our products to Distributors within their sales group or directly to customers, or use the products themselves. As of March 31, 2014, we had approximately 17,200 active Managers worldwide. In many of our markets, our Managers and Distributors are primarily retailers of our products, including practitioners, proprietors of retail stores and other health and wellness specialists.

 

In the United States, we generally sell our products on a cash or credit card basis. From time to time, our U.S. operations extend short-term credit associated with product promotions. For certain of our international operations, we use independent distribution centers and offer credit terms that are generally consistent with industry standards within each respective country.

 

We pay sales commissions, or “volume incentives” to our Managers and Distributors based upon the amount of their sales group product purchases. These volume incentives are recorded as an expense in the year earned. The amounts of volume incentives that we expensed during the quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 are set forth in our Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 1 of this report. In addition to the opportunity to receive volume incentives, Managers who attain certain levels of monthly product sales are eligible for additional incentive programs including automobile allowances, sales convention privileges and travel awards.

 

Distributor Information

 

Our revenue is highly dependent upon the number and productivity of our Managers, Distributors and customers.  Growth in sales volume requires an increase in the productivity and/or growth in the total number of Managers, Distributors and customers.

 

The following table provides information concerning the number of total Managers, Distributors and customers by segment, as of the dates indicated;

 

Total Managers, Distributors and Customers by Segment as of March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

Distributors
& Customers

 

Managers

 

Distributors
& Customers

 

Managers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe

 

324,400

 

8,300

 

338,500

 

9,100

 

NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe

 

259,300

 

5,200

 

253,400

 

6,000

 

Synergy WorldWide

 

116,400

 

3,700

 

118,300

 

3,100

 

 

 

700,100

 

17,200

 

710,200

 

18,200

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

“Total Managers” includes independent Managers under our various compensation plans that have achieved and maintained specified and personal groups sale volumes as of the date indicated. To maintain Manager status, an individual must continue to meet certain product sales volume levels. As such, all Managers are considered to be active Managers.

 

“Total Distributors and customers” includes our independent Distributors and customers who have purchased products directly from the Company for resale and/or personal consumption during the previous twelve months ended as of the date indicated. This includes Manager, Distributor and customer accounts that may have become inactive since such respective dates.

 

The following table provides information concerning the number of active Distributors and customers by segment, as of the dates indicated;

 

Active Distributors and Customers by Segment as of March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

Distributors &
Customers

 

Distributors &
Customers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe

 

151,700

 

157,300

 

NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe

 

125,200

 

130,000

 

Synergy WorldWide

 

52,900

 

53,900

 

 

 

329,800

 

341,200

 

 

“Active Distributors and customers” includes our independent Distributors and customers who have purchased products directly from the Company for resale and/or personal consumption during the previous three months ended as of the date indicated. All of our Managers are active.

 

The following tables provide information concerning the number of new Managers, Distributors and customers by segment, as of the dates indicated;

 

New Managers, Distributors and Customers by Segment for the Quarter Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

Distributors
& Customers

 

Managers

 

Distributors
& Customers

 

Managers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe

 

35,500

 

1,000

 

37,700

 

1,000

 

NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe

 

22,400

 

400

 

23,000

 

400

 

Synergy WorldWide

 

17,000

 

600

 

18,500

 

500

 

 

 

74,900

 

2,000

 

79,200

 

1,900

 

 

“New Managers” includes independent Managers under our various compensation plans that first achieved the rank of Manager during the previous three months ended as of the date indicated.

 

“New Distributors and Customers” include our independent Distributors and customers who have made their initial product purchase directly from us for resale and/or personal consumption during the previous three months ended as of the date indicated.

 

The following tables provide information concerning the number of new Managers, Distributors and customers by segment, as of the dates indicated;

 

New Managers, Distributors and Customers by Segment for the Twelve Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

 

 

Distributors
& Customers

 

Managers

 

Distributors
& Customers

 

Managers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe

 

146,300

 

3,800

 

157,800

 

4,000

 

NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe

 

88,700

 

1,600

 

80,000

 

1,500

 

Synergy WorldWide

 

70,300

 

2,100

 

74,300

 

1,800

 

 

 

305,300

 

7,500

 

312,100

 

7,300

 

 

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Table of Contents

 

“New Managers” includes independent Managers under our various compensation plans that first achieved the rank of Manager during the previous twelve months ended as of the date indicated.

 

“New Distributors and customers” include our independent Distributors and customers who have made their initial product purchase directly from us for resale and/or personal consumption during the previous twelve months ended as of the date indicated.

 

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

 

Our principal use of cash is to pay for operating expenses, including volume incentives, inventory and raw material purchases, capital assets and funding of international expansion. As of March 31, 2014, working capital was $81.8 million, compared to $80.0 million as of December 31, 2013.  At March 31, 2014, we had $71.5 million in cash and cash equivalents, of which $38.7 million was held in our foreign markets and may be subject to various withholding taxes and other restrictions related to repatriation, and $2.0 million in unrestricted short-term investments, which were available to be used along with our normal cash flows from operations to fund any unanticipated shortfalls in future cash flows. During the quarter ended March 31, 2014, we repatriated $21.5 million of foreign cash through intercompany dividends and have flexibility to invest in our business.

 

Our net consolidated cash (outflows) inflows are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 

 

 

2014

 

2013

 

Operating activities

 

$

490

 

$

7,823

 

Investing activities

 

(4,587

)

(1,240

)

Financing activities

 

(847

)

(1,784

)

 

For the three months ended March 31, 2013, operating activities provided cash in the amount of $0.5 million compared to $7.8 million for the same period in 2013. Operating cash flows decreased due to the timing of payments and receipts for accounts receivable, prepaid expenses and other current assets, inventories, other assets, accrued volume incentives, accrued liabilities and income taxes payable, and were partially offset by the timing of payments and receipts for accounts payable and deferred revenue.

 

The decrease in accrued liabilities is primarily due to the timing of employee bonus payments, salary and other payroll accruals and the payment of a one-time customs audit assessment in our Synergy South Korea market (accrued in the prior year). Long-term deferred income tax assets and current prepaid expenses and other increased as a result of the repatriation of $21.5 million in cash from foreign affiliates, which created foreign tax credit carryforwards in addition to the one-time income tax benefit in the consolidated statement of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2014.

 

Capital expenditures related to the purchase of equipment, computer systems and software for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, were $4.6 million and $1.2 million, respectively. In 2013, the Company began to significantly reinvest in its information technology systems. Included within this plan is an Oracle ERP implementation program to provide the Company with a single integrated software solution that will integrate the Company’s business process on a worldwide basis. The Company anticipates completion of this project by mid-2016.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we used cash to pay dividends in an aggregate amount of $0 and $1.6 million, respectively.

 

The Board of Directors authorized a $10 million share repurchase program to be implemented over two years. Such purchases may be made in the open market, through block trades, in privately negotiated transactions or otherwise. The timing and amount of any shares repurchased will be determined based on the Company’s evaluation of market conditions and other factors and the program may be discontinued or suspended at any time. The Company will fund the share repurchase program through available cash on hand, future cash flows from operations and borrowings under its revolving credit facility. At March 31, 2014, the remaining balance available for repurchases under the program was $7.5 million.

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, we used cash to make principal payments of $0.8 million and $0.8 million on our term credit facility, respectively. The term credit facility is secured by the Company’s manufacturing facility in Spanish Fork, Utah.

 

The Company has a revolving credit agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. with a borrowing limit of $25.0 million that matures September 1, 2015.  The Company pays an annual commitment fee of 0.25 percent on the unused portion of the commitment and LIBOR plus 1.25 percent on any borrowings on the agreement (1.50 percent as of March 31, 2014). The Company must pay an annual commitment fee of 0.25 percent on the unused portion of the commitment. The Company borrowed $10.0 million under this credit line in August 2013 for general business purposes. The Company retains ample capital capacity to continue making long-term investments in its sales, marketing, science and product development initiatives and overall operations, as well as pursue strategic opportunities as they may arise. As of March 31, 2014, the outstanding balance under the revolving credit agreement was $10.0 million.

 

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Table of Contents

 

These loans contain restrictions on liquidity, leveraging, minimum net income and consecutive quarterly net losses. In addition, the agreements restrict capital expenditures, lease expenditures, other indebtedness, liens on assets, guaranties, loans and advances, and the merger, consolidation and the transfer of assets except in the ordinary course of business.  As of March 31, 2014, the Company was in compliance with these debt covenants.

 

We believe that cash generated from operations, along with available cash and cash equivalents will be sufficient to fund our normal operating needs, including dividends, share repurchases, and capital expenditures, as well as certain potential business development activity. However, among other things, a prolonged economic downturn, a decrease in demand for our products, an unfavorable settlement of our unrecognized tax positions or non-income tax contingencies could adversely affect our long-term liquidity.

 

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES AND ESTIMATES

 

Our unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and form the basis for the following discussion and analysis on critical accounting policies and estimates. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, and related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. On a regular basis we evaluate our estimates and assumptions. We base our estimates on historical experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results could differ from these estimates and those differences could have a material effect on our financial position and results of operations. Management has discussed the development, selection and disclosure of these estimates with the Board of Directors and its Audit Committee.

 

A summary of our significant accounting policies is provided in Note 1 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 8 of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. We believe the critical accounting policies and estimates described below reflect our more significant estimates and assumptions used in the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. The impact and any associated risks on our business that are related to these policies are also discussed throughout this “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” where such policies affect reported and expected financial results.

 

Revenue Recognition

 

Net sales revenue and related volume incentive expenses are recorded when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, collectability is reasonably assured, the amount is fixed and determinable, and title and risk of loss have passed. The amount of the volume incentive is determined based upon the amount of qualifying purchases in a given month. It is necessary for the Company to make estimates about the timing of when merchandise has been delivered. These estimates are based upon the Company’s historical experience related to time in transit, timing of when shipments occurred and shipping volumes. Amounts received for undelivered merchandise are recorded as deferred revenue.

 

From time to time, the Company’s U.S. operations extend short-term credit associated with product promotions. In addition for certain of the Company’s international operations, the Company offers credit terms consistent with industry standards within the country of operation. Payments to Managers and Distributors for sales incentives or rebates are recorded as a reduction of revenue. Payments for sales incentives and rebates are calculated monthly based upon qualifying sales. Membership fees are deferred and amortized as revenue over the life of the membership, primarily one year. Prepaid event registration fees are deferred and recognized as revenues when the related event is held.

 

A reserve for product returns is recorded based upon historical experience.  The Company allows Managers or Distributors to return the unused portion of products within ninety days of purchase if they are not satisfied with the product.  In some of the Company’s markets, the requirements to return product are more restrictive.

 

Accounts Receivable Allowances

 

Accounts receivable have been reduced by an allowance for amounts that may be uncollectible in the future. This estimated allowance is based primarily on the aging category, historical trends and management’s evaluation of the financial condition of the customer. This reserve is adjusted periodically as information about specific accounts becomes available.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Investments

 

The Company’s available-for-sale investment portfolio is recorded at fair value and consists of various securities such as state and municipal obligations, U.S. government security funds, short-term deposits and various equity securities. These investments are valued using (a) quoted prices for identical assets in active markets or (b) from significant inputs that are observable or can be derived from or corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the asset. The Company’s trading portfolio is recorded at fair value and consists of various marketable securities that are valued using quoted prices in active markets.

 

For available-for-sale debt securities with unrealized losses, the Company performs an analysis to assess whether it intends to sell or whether it would be more likely than not required to sell the security before the expected recovery of the amortized cost basis. Where the Company intends to sell a security, or may be required to do so, the security’s decline in fair value is deemed to be other-than-temporary, and the full amount of the unrealized loss is recorded within earnings as an impairment loss.

 

For all other debt securities that experience a decline in fair value that is determined to be other-than-temporary and not related to credit loss, the Company records a loss, net of any tax, in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The credit loss is recorded within earnings as an impairment loss when sold. Management judgment is involved in evaluating whether a decline in an investment’s fair value is other-than-temporary.

 

Regardless of the Company’s intent to sell a security, the Company performs additional analysis on all securities with unrealized losses to evaluate losses associated with the creditworthiness of the security. Credit losses are identified where the Company does not expect to receive cash flows sufficient to recover the amortized cost basis of a security.

 

For equity securities, when assessing whether a decline in fair value below the Company’s cost basis is other-than-temporary, the Company considers the fair market value of the security, the length of time and extent to which market value has been less than cost, the financial condition and near-term prospects of the issuer as well as specific events or circumstances that may influence the operations of the issuer, and the Company’s intent and ability to hold the investment for a sufficient time in order to enable recovery of the cost. New information and the passage of time can change these judgments. Where the Company has determined that it lacks the intent and ability to hold an equity security to its expected recovery, the security’s decline in fair value is deemed to be other-than-temporary and is recorded within earnings as an impairment loss.

 

Inventories

 

Inventories are stated at the lower-of-cost-or-market, using the first-in, first-out method. The components of inventory cost include raw materials, labor and overhead. To estimate any necessary obsolescence or lower-of-cost-or-market adjustments, various assumptions are made in regard to excess or slow-moving inventories, non-conforming inventories, expiration dates, current and future product demand, production planning and market conditions.

 

Self-Insurance Liabilities

 

Similar to other manufacturers and Distributors of products that are ingested, the Company faces an inherent risk of exposure to product liability claims in the event that, among other things, the use of its products results in injury. The Company carries insurance in the types and amounts it considers reasonably adequate to cover the risks associated with its business. The Company has a wholly owned captive insurance company to provide it with product liability insurance coverage. The Company has accrued an amount that it believes is sufficient to cover probable and reasonably estimable liabilities related to product liability claims based on the Company’s history of such claims. However, there can be no assurance that these estimates will prove to be sufficient, nor can there be any assurance that the ultimate outcome of any litigation for product liability will not have a material negative impact on the Company’s business prospects, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

The Company self-insures for certain employee medical benefits. The recorded liabilities for self-insured risks are calculated using actuarial methods and are not discounted. The liabilities include amounts for actual claims and claims incurred but not reported. Actual experience, including claim frequency and severity as well as health care inflation, could result in actual liabilities being more or less than the amounts currently recorded.

 

Incentive Trip Accrual

 

We accrue for expenses associated with our direct sales program, which rewards Managers and Distributors with paid attendance for incentive trips, including Company conventions and meetings. Expenses associated with incentive trips are accrued over qualification periods as they are earned. We specifically analyze incentive trip accruals based on historical and current sales trends as well as contractual obligations when evaluating the adequacy of the incentive trip accrual. Actual results could generate liabilities more or less than the amounts recorded.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Impairment of Long-Lived Assets

 

We review our long-lived assets, such as property, plant and equipment and intangible assets for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value of an asset may not be recoverable. We use an estimate of future undiscounted net cash flows of the related assets or groups of assets over their remaining lives in measuring whether the assets are recoverable. An impairment loss is calculated by determining the difference between the carrying values and the fair values of these assets. As of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, we did not consider any of our long-lived assets to be impaired.

 

Contingencies

 

We are involved in certain legal proceedings. When a loss is considered probable in connection with litigation or non-income tax contingencies and when such loss can be reasonably estimated with a range, we record our best estimate within the range related to the contingency. If there is no best estimate, we record the minimum of the range. As additional information becomes available, we assess the potential liability related to the contingency and revise the estimates. Revision in estimates of the potential liabilities could materially affect our results of operations in the period of adjustment. Our contingencies are discussed in further detail in Note 10, “Commitments and Contingencies”, to the Notes of our Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, of Item 1, Part 1 of this report.

 

Income Taxes

 

Our income tax expense, deferred tax assets and liabilities and contingent reserves reflect management’s best assessment of estimated future taxes to be paid. We are subject to income taxes in both the United States and numerous foreign jurisdictions. Significant judgments and estimates are required in determining the Company’s consolidated income tax expense.

 

Deferred income taxes arise from temporary differences between the tax and financial statement recognition of revenue and expense. In evaluating the Company’s ability to recover its deferred tax assets, management considers all available positive and negative evidence, including scheduled reversals of deferred tax liabilities, projected future taxable income, tax planning strategies and recent financial operations. In projecting future taxable income, the Company develops assumptions including the amount of future state, federal and foreign pretax operating income, the reversal of temporary differences, and the implementation of feasible and prudent tax planning strategies. These assumptions require significant judgment about the forecasts of future taxable income, and are consistent with the plans and estimates that the Company is using to manage the underlying businesses. Valuation allowances are recorded as reserves against net deferred tax assets by the Company when it is determined that net deferred tax assets are not likely to be realized in the foreseeable future.

 

Changes in tax laws and rates could also affect recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities in the future. Management is not aware of any such changes that would have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows or financial position.

 

The calculation of the Company’s tax liabilities involves dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax laws and regulations in a multitude of jurisdictions across its global operations. Income tax positions must meet a more-likely-than-not recognition threshold to be recognized.

 

Share-Based Compensation

 

We recognize all share-based payments to Directors and employees, including grants of stock options and restricted stock units, to be recognized in the statement of operations based on their grant-date fair values. We record compensation expense, net of an estimated forfeiture rate, over the vesting period of the stock options based on the fair value of the stock options on the date of grant. We estimated forfeiture rate is based upon historical experience.

 

Item 3.         QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

We conduct business in several countries and intend to continue to grow our international operations. Net sales revenue, operating income and net income are affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates, interest rates and other uncertainties inherent in doing business and selling product in more than one currency. In addition, our operations are exposed to risks associated with changes in social, political and economic conditions inherent in international operations, including changes in the laws and policies that govern international investment in countries where we have operations, as well as, to a lesser extent, changes in U.S. laws and regulations relating to international trade and investment.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Foreign Currency Risk

 

During the three months ended March 31, 2014, approximately 60.7 percent of our net sales revenue and approximately 57.2 percent of our operating expenses were realized outside of the United States. Inventory purchases are transacted primarily in U.S. dollars from vendors located in the United States. The local currency of each international subsidiary is generally the functional currency. We conduct business in multiple different currencies with exchange rates that are not on a one-to-one relationship with the U.S. dollar. All revenues and expenses are translated at average exchange rates for the periods reported. Therefore, our operating results will be positively or negatively affected by a weakening or strengthening of the U.S. dollar in relation to another fluctuating currency. Given the uncertainty and diversity of exchange rate fluctuations, we cannot estimate the effect of these fluctuations on our future business, product pricing, results of operations or financial condition, but we have provided consolidated sensitivity analyses below of functional currency/reporting currency exchange rate risks. Changes in various currency exchange rates affect the relative prices at which we sell our products. We regularly monitor our foreign currency risks and periodically take measures to reduce the risk of foreign exchange rate fluctuations on our operating results. We do not use derivative instruments for hedging, trading or speculating on foreign exchange rate fluctuations. Additional discussion of the impact on the effect of currency fluctuations has been included in our management’s discussion and analysis included in Part I, Item 2 of this report.

 

The following table sets forth a composite sensitivity analysis of our net sales revenue, costs and expenses and operating income in connection with strengthening of the U.S. dollar (our reporting currency) by 10%, 15% and 25% against every other fluctuating functional currency in which we conduct business.  We note that our individual net sales revenue, cost and expense components and our operating income were equally sensitive to increases in the strength of the U.S. dollar against every other fluctuating currency in which we conduct business.

 

Exchange rate sensitivity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 (dollar amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

With Strengthening of U.S. Dollar by:

 

 

 

 

 

10%

 

15%

 

25%

 

 

 

 

 

($)

 

(%)

 

($)

 

(%)

 

($)

 

(%)

 

Net sales revenue

 

$

95,753

 

(3,594

)

(3.8

)%

$

(5,157

)

(5.4

)%

$

(7,907

)

(8.3

)%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost and expenses

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales

 

23,106

 

(944

)

(4.1

)

(1,354

)

(5.9

)

(2,076

)

(9.0

)

Volume incentives

 

35,717

 

(1,355

)

(3.8

)

(1,944

)

(5.4

)

(2,981

)

(8.3

)

Selling, general and administrative

 

29,758

 

(894

)

(3.0

)

(1,283

)

(4.3

)

(1,967

)

(6.6

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Operating income

 

$

7,172

 

(401

)

(5.6

)%

$

(576

)

(8.0

)%

$

(883

)

(12.3

)%

 

Certain of our operations, including Russia and Ukraine, are served by a U.S. subsidiary through third-party entities, for which all business is conducted in U.S. dollars. Although changes in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the Russian ruble or the Ukrainian hryvnia do not result in currency fluctuations within our financial statements, a weakening or strengthening of the U.S. dollar in relation to these other currencies can significantly affect the prices of our products and the purchasing power of our Managers, Distributors and customers within these markets. As a result of the current tension between Russia and Ukraine, the Ukrainian hryvnia has weakened significantly against the U.S. dollar, impacting net sales in this market.  Should the conflict continue to escalate, exchanges rates for the Ukrainian hryvnia, as well as the Russian ruble, could weaken further against the U.S. dollar, further impacting net sales in these markets.

 

The following table sets forth a composite sensitivity analysis of our assets and liabilities by those balance sheet line items that are subject to exchange rate risk, together with the total gain or loss from the strengthening of the U.S. dollar in relation to our various fluctuating functional currencies.  The sensitivity of our assets and liabilities, taken by balance sheet line items, is somewhat less than the sensitivity of our operating income to increases in the strength of the U.S. dollar in relation to other fluctuating currencies in which we conduct business.

 

Exchange rate sensitivity of the Balance Sheet financial instruments as of March 31, 2014 (dollar amounts in thousands)

 

 

 

 

 

With Strengthening of U.S. Dollar by:

 

 

 

 

 

10%

 

15%

 

25%

 

 

 

 

 

($)

 

(%)

 

($)

 

(%)

 

($)

 

(%)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

71,467

 

$

(2,109

)

(3.0

)%

$

(3,283

)

(4.6

)%

$

(5,349

)

(7.5

)%

Accounts receivable, net

 

11,498

 

(292

)

(2.5

)

(418

)

(3.6

)

(642

)

(5.6

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable

 

5,174

 

(59

)

(1.1

)

(85

)

(1.6

)

(131

)

(2.5

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net Financial Instruments Subject to Exchange Rate Risk

 

$

77,791

 

$

(2,342

)

(3.0

)%

$

(3,616

)

(4.6

)%

$

(5,860

)

(7.5

)%

 

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Table of Contents

 

The following table sets forth the local currencies other than the U.S. dollar in which our assets that are subject to exchange rate risk were denominated as of March 31, 2014, and exceeded $1 million upon translation into U.S. dollars.  None of our liabilities that are denominated in a local currency other than the U.S. dollar and that are subject to exchange rate risk exceeded $1 million upon translation into U.S. dollars. We use the spot exchange rate for translating balance sheet items from local currencies into our reporting currency.  The respective spot exchange rate for each such local currency meeting the foregoing thresholds is provided in the table as well.

 

Translation of Balance Sheet Amounts Denominated in Local Currency as of March 31, 2014 (dollar amounts in thousands).

 

 

 

Translated into U.S.
Dollars

 

At Spot Exchange Rate
per One U.S. Dollar as
of March 31, 2014

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

 

 

 

 

European Markets (Euro)

 

$

5,608

 

0.7

 

South Korea (Won)

 

5,279

 

1,071.0

 

Venezuela (Bolivar)

 

2,578

 

11.3

 

Japan (Yen)

 

2,395

 

102.8

 

Colombia (Peso)

 

1,953

 

1,867.2

 

Canada (Dollar)

 

1,928

 

1.1

 

United Kingdom (Pound Sterling)

 

1,763

 

0.6

 

Thailand (Baht)

 

1,216

 

32.6

 

Other

 

7,031

 

Varies

 

Total foreign denominated cash and cash equivalents

 

29,751

 

 

 

U.S. dollars held by foreign subsidiaries

 

8,945

 

 

 

Total cash and cash equivalents held by foreign subsidiaries

 

$

38,696

 

 

 

 

During the quarter ended March 31, 2014, we repatriated $21.5 million of foreign cash through intercompany dividends and have flexibility to invest in our business.

 

 

 

Translated into U.S.
Dollars

 

At Spot Exchange Rate
per One U.S. Dollar as
of March 31, 2014

 

Accounts receivable

 

 

 

 

 

South Korea (Won)

 

$

1,412

 

1,071.0

 

Other

 

1,913

 

Varies

 

Total accounts receivable held by foreign subsidiaries

 

$

3,325

 

 

 

 

Finally, the following table sets forth the annual weighted average of fluctuating currency exchange rates of each of the local currencies per one U.S. dollar for each of the local currencies in which sales revenue exceeded $10.0 million during any of the three years presented.  We use the annual average exchange rate for translating items from the statement of operations from local currencies into our reporting currency.

 

Three months ended March 31, 

 

2014

 

2013

 

Canada (Dollar)

 

1.1

 

1.0

 

European Markets (Euro)

 

0.7

 

0.8

 

Japan (Yen)

 

102.8

 

92.2

 

South Korea (Won)

 

1,071.3

 

1,089.5

 

Mexico (Peso)

 

13.2

 

12.6

 

 

The local currency of the foreign subsidiaries is used as the functional currency, except for subsidiaries operating in highly inflationary economies or where the Company’s operations are served by a U.S. based subsidiary (for example, Russia and Ukraine). The financial statements of foreign subsidiaries, where the local currency is the functional currency, are translated into U.S. dollars using exchange rates in effect at year-end for assets and liabilities and average exchange rates during each year for the results of operations. Adjustments resulting from translation of financial statements are reflected in accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of income taxes. Foreign currency transaction gains and losses are included in other income (expense) in the consolidated statements of operations.

 

The functional currency in highly inflationary economies is the U.S. dollar and transactions denominated in the local currency are re-measured as if the functional currency were the U.S. dollar. The re-measurement of local currencies into U.S. dollars creates translation adjustments, which are included in the consolidated statements of operations.  A country is considered to have a highly

 

31



Table of Contents

 

inflationary economy if it has a cumulative inflation rate of approximately 100 percent or more over a three-year period as well as other qualitative factors including historical inflation rate trends (increasing and decreasing), the capital intensiveness of the operation and other pertinent economic factors.  During the three months ended March 31, 2014, Venezuela and Belarus were considered to be highly inflationary. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s Venezuelan subsidiary’s net sales revenue represented approximately 2.4 percent and 2.2 percent of consolidated net sales revenue, respectively. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company’s Belarusian subsidiary’s net sales revenue represented approximately 2.5 percent and 2.3 percent of consolidated net sales revenue, respectively. With the exception of Venezuela and Belarus, there were no other countries considered to have a highly inflationary economy during the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

The primary objectives of our investment activities are to preserve principal while maximizing yields without significantly increasing risk. These objectives are accomplished by purchasing investment grade securities. On March 31, 2014, we had investments of $2.0 million of which $0.4 million were municipal obligations, which carry an average fixed interest rate of 5.1 percent and mature over a two-year period. A hypothetical 1.0 percent change in interest rates would not have had a material effect on our liquidity, financial position or results of operations.

 

Item 4.         CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

Our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) are designed to provide reasonable assurance that the information required to be disclosed in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized, and reported within the time periods specified in rules and forms adopted by the SEC, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Our management, under the supervision and with the participation of the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of March 31, 2014. Based on this evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of March 31, 2014, at the reasonable assurance level.

 

Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

 

There were no changes in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) during the fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2014, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

 

Item 1.                     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

Please refer to Note 10 to the Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part 1, Item 1 of this report, as well as our recent SEC filings, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, for information regarding the status of certain legal proceedings that have been previously reported.

 

Item 1A.            RISK FACTORS

 

In addition to the other information set forth in this report, you should carefully consider the risks discussed under the heading “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, which could materially affect our business or our consolidated financial statements, results of operations, and cash flows. Additional risks not currently known to us, or risks that we currently believe are not material, may also impair our business operations. There have been no material changes to our risk factors since the filing of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013.

 

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

 

None.

 

Item 3.                     DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

 

None.

 

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Table of Contents

 

Item 4.                     MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

 

Not applicable.

 

Item 5.                     OTHER INFORMATION

 

None.

 

Item 6.                     EXHIBITS

 

a)             Index to Exhibits

 

Item No.

 

Exhibit

3.1(1)

 

Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation

 

 

 

3.2(1)

 

Second Amended and Restated Bylaws

 

 

 

31.1(2)

 

Certification of Interim Chief Executive Officer under SEC Rule 13a—14(a)/15d—14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

31.2(2)

 

Certificate of Chief Financial Officer under SEC Rule 13a—14(a)/15d—14(a) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

 

 

32.1(2)

 

Certification of Interim Chief Executive Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

 

 

 

32.2(2)

 

Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350

 

 

 

101

 

The following financial information from the quarterly report on Form 10-Q of Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc. for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, formatted in XBRL (eXtensible Business Reporting Language): (i) Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations, (iii) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (v) Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements, tagged as blocks of text.

 


(1)         Previously filed with the SEC on May 19, 2013 as an exhibit to Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

(2)         Filed currently herewith.

 

33



Table of Contents

 

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.

 

 

NATURE’S SUNSHINE PRODUCTS, INC.

 

 

 

 

Date: May 8, 2014

/s/ Gregory L. Probert

 

Gregory L. Probert, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

Date: May 8, 2014

/s/ Stephen M. Bunker

 

Stephen M. Bunker, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

34