RELIV INTERNATIONAL INC - Annual Report: 2008 (Form 10-K)
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
D.C. 20549
____________
FORM
10-K
ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO
SECTION
13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES
EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934
For
the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2008
(Mark
One)
x
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ANNUAL
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
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For
the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
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OR
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¨
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TRANSITION
REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF
1934
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For
the transition period from _________to_________
Commission
File Number
1-11768
RELIV'
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
(Exact
name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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371172197
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(State
or other jurisdiction of
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(I.R.S.
Employer Identification Number)
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incorporation
or organization)
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136
Chesterfield Industrial Boulevard
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Chesterfield, Missouri
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63005
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(Address
of principal executive offices)
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(Zip
Code)
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(636)
537-9715
Registrant's
telephone number, including area code
Securities
registered pursuant to Sections 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class
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Name of Each Exchange on Which
Registered
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Common
Stock, par value $0.001
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NASDAQ
Global Select Market
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Securities
registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Act: None
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in
Rule 405 of the Securities Act. Yes ¨ No þ
Indicate
by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act. Yes o No þ
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 þ No o
Indicate
by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of
Regulation S-K (§229.405 of this chapter) is not contained herein, and will
not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or
information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this
Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. o
Indicate
by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an
accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated
filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
(Check one):
Large
accelerated filer o Accelerated
filer þ Non-accelerated
filer o
Indicate
by check mark whether registrant is a shell company (as defined in
Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act). Yes o No þ
Based upon the closing price of $5.47
per share of the registrant’s common stock as reported on the NASDAQ Global
Select Market on June 30, 2008, the aggregate market value of the common stock
held by non-affiliates of the registrant was approximately $51.5
million. (The determination of stock ownership by non-affiliates was
made solely for the purpose of responding to the requirements of the Form and
the registrant is not bound by this determination for any other
purpose.)
The number of shares outstanding of the
registrant’s common stock as of March 2, 2009 was 14,305,585 (excluding treasury
shares).
DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
Document
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Part
of Form 10-K into Which
Document Is Incorporated
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Sections
of the registrant’s definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders to be held on May 28, 2009, which is expected to be filed no
later than 120 days after December 31, 2008
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Part
III
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INDEX
Part
I
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Item
No. 1
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Business
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1
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Item
No. 1A
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Risk
Factors
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16
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Item
No. 1B
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Unresolved
Staff Comments
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25
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Item
No. 2
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Properties
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25
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Item
No. 3
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Legal
Proceedings
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25
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Item
No. 4
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Submission
of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
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25
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Part
II
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Item
No. 5
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Market
for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder
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Matters
and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities
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26
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Item
No. 6
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Selected
Financial Data
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28
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Item
No. 7
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Management’s
Discussion and Analysis of
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Financial
Condition and Results of Operations
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29
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Item
No. 7A
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Quantitative
and Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Market Risk
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42
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Item
No. 8
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Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data
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43
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Item
No. 9
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Changes
in and Disagreements with Accountants
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on
Accounting and Financial Disclosure
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43
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Item
No. 9A
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Controls
and Procedures
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43
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Item
No. 9B
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Other
Information
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44
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Part
III
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Item
No. 10
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Directors
and Executive Officers of the Registrant
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44
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Item
No. 11
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Executive
Compensation
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44
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Item
No. 12
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Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners
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and
Management and Related Stockholder Matters
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44
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Item
No. 13
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Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
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44
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Item
No. 14
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Principal
Accounting Fees and Services
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44
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Part
IV
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Item
No. 15
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Exhibits
and Financial Statement Schedules
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45
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FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This
annual report includes both historical and “forward-looking statements” within
the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended. We have based these forward-looking statements on our
current expectations and projections about future results. Words such
as “may,” “should,” “could,” “would,” “expect,” “plan,” “anticipate,” “believe,”
“estimate,” “predict,” “potential,” “continue,” or similar words are intended to
identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements
contain these words. Although we believe that our opinions and
expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, we
cannot guarantee future results, levels of activity, performance or
achievements, and our actual results may differ substantially from the views and
expectations set forth in this annual report. We disclaim any intent
or obligation to update any forward-looking statements after the date of this
annual report to conform such statements to actual results or to changes in our
opinions or expectations. These forward-looking statements are
affected by risks, uncertainties and assumptions that we make, including, among
other things, the factors that are described in “Item No. 1A - Risk
Factors.”
PART
I
Item No. 1 -
Business
Overview
We are a
developer, manufacturer and marketer of a proprietary line of nutritional
supplements addressing basic nutrition, specific wellness needs, weight
management and sports nutrition. All but one of our science-based supplements
are packaged in powdered form and are not only simple to use but also, when
mixed with water, juice or other liquid and consumed, provide an effective means
of delivering nutrients to the body. We also offer one encapsulated product and
a line of skin care products. We sell our products through an international
network marketing system using independent distributors. We have sold products
in the United States since 1988 and in selected international markets since
1991.
We
currently offer 16 nutritional supplements and a line of seven skin care
products. We have selectively evolved our product offering over our history. Our
core line of nutritional supplements, which represented 65.7% of net product
sales for the year ended December 31, 2008, includes the following four
products:
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•
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Reliv
Classic and Reliv NOW — two basic nutritional supplements containing
a full and balanced blend of vitamins, minerals, proteins and
herbs
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•
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Innergize! —
an isotonic sports supplement in three
flavors
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•
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FibRestore —
a high-fiber and antioxidant
supplement
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These are
our most successful supplements based on fiscal year 2008 net sales. We have 12
other nutritional supplements that complement these four core products. We
periodically refine our products and introduce related new products and product
categories. Our internal research and development team has developed most of our
products, and we hold U.S. patents on five of these products —
Innergize!, FibRestore, Arthaffect, ReversAge and Cellebrate. In addition, we
have applied for U.S. patents on our ProVantage, GlucAffect and
CardioSentials products.
We
believe that our network marketing model is the best method for the marketing
and sale of our products because it utilizes ongoing personal contact among our
distributors and their retail customers. This enables our distributors to
communicate directly regarding the products, the business opportunity we offer
and their personal experiences with both. We provide our distributors with a
financially rewarding and entrepreneurial opportunity, affording them the
ability to earn compensation both from the direct sale of products and from
sales volume generated by distributors they sponsor. We actively support our
distributors by providing marketing materials, a dependable product fulfillment
system and frequent educational, training and motivational
programs.
The
majority of our sales traditionally has been, and is expected to continue to be,
made through our distributors in the United States. We also currently
generate sales through distributor networks in Australia, Austria, Brunei,
Canada, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand,
the Philippines, Singapore and the United Kingdom. In each country in which
we conduct business, our distributors operate under a uniform business and
compensation model that maintains consistent marketing, sales, fulfillment and
compliance procedures. As of December 31, 2008, our network consisted of
approximately 67,340 distributors — 53,450 in the United States and
13,890 across our international markets.
1
We
manufacture all of our powdered nutritional supplements at our facility in
Chesterfield, Missouri. We believe our ability to formulate and manufacture all
but one of our own products enables us to produce our products efficiently while
maintaining our high standards of quality assurance and proprietary product
composition.
Industry
Overview
Nutritional
Supplement Market
We operate primarily in the
$22.5 billion U.S. nutritional supplement market, which is part of the
broader $85 billion U.S. nutrition industry according to 2007 data
published by the Nutrition
Business Journal, or NBJ, and $228.0 billion global nutrition
industry, also according to the NBJ.
A combination of demographic,
healthcare and lifestyle trends are expected to drive continued growth in the
nutritional supplement market. These trends include:
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•
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Aging Population: The
U.S. Census Bureau projects that, by 2010, approximately 39.2% of the
U.S. population will be 45 years of age or older, up from 34.5%
in 2000. This growing population is expected to live longer, as the
average life expectancy reached an all-time high of 75.2 years for
men and 80.4 years for women in 2005 according to the Centers for
Disease Control, or CDC. We believe this growing population will
continue to focus on their nutritional needs as
they age.
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•
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Rising Healthcare Costs and
Use of Preventive Measures: The cost of healthcare in the United
States has increased rapidly, reaching approximately $2.4 trillion in
2008 and is expected to reach $4.3 trillion by 2017, according to the
National Coalition on Health Care. Since 1999, insurance premiums for
family coverage have increased by 120% compared with inflation growth of
44% according to the 2008 Employee Health Benefits Survey by the Henry J.
Kaiser Family Foundation. In order to maintain quality of life as well as
reduce medical costs, many consumers take preventative measures to improve
their general health, including the use of nutritional
supplements.
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•
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Increasing Focus on Weight
Management: A study from the CDC completed in 2006 estimated that
73% of the U.S. adult population is overweight, obese or extremely obese.
Since being overweight can lead to more serious health concerns such as
diabetes, heart disease and other chronic illnesses, we believe that the
rise in obesity will result in an increased need not only for weight loss
products but wellness products as
well.
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Direct
Selling Market
Health and nutrition products are
distributed through various market means, including retailers such as
supermarkets, drugstores, mass merchants and specialty retailers; direct
marketers such as mail order companies and Internet retailers; and direct
sellers such as network marketers and healthcare practitioners. We distribute
our products through the direct selling channel via our network
marketers.
Direct selling involves the marketing
of products and services directly to consumers in a person-to-person manner.
Direct selling is a significant global industry largely utilized for the sale of
a wide range of consumer products from companies such as Avon Products Inc.,
Alticor Inc. (Amway Corp.) and Tupperware Brands Corporation. According to the
World Federation of Direct Selling Associations, or WFDSA, the 2007 global
direct selling market (for all product categories) was estimated to be
$114.0 billion. The WFDSA estimates that the number of individuals engaged
in direct selling nearly doubled between 1998 and 2007, from 33.6 million
sellers to 62.7 million in 2007. The U.S. had 15.0 million direct
sellers in 2007.
While the United States is currently
the largest direct selling market with $30.8 billion in annual sales in
2007, international markets account for 73% of the entire industry, according to
the WFDSA. Fifteen countries (including the United States) have
annual direct sales revenue of at least $1 billion and another 24 countries
have annual direct sales revenue of at least $100 million, according to the
WFDSA.
2
For the nutrition industry, the direct
selling channel accounted for approximately 19.2% of the total
U.S. nutritional supplements sold in 2007, or approximately
$4.6 billion, according to the NBJ.
We
believe that we are well positioned to capitalize on the domestic and
international growth trends in direct sales, as both a developer and
manufacturer of proprietary nutritional products, utilizing our network
marketing distribution system.
Our
Competitive Strengths
We believe that we possess a number of
competitive strengths that have historically supported our growth and enabled us
to achieve sustained profitability.
Complete, Simple Nutrition.
We focus on the completeness, balance and simplicity of our basic
nutritional supplements — Reliv Classic and Reliv NOW — as captured by
our slogan, “Nutrition Made Simple. Life Made Rich.” Because these two basic
nutritional supplements each contain a full and balanced blend of vitamins,
minerals, proteins and herbs, supplementation is made simple for the consumer,
who does not have to select and purchase several supplements for his or her
basic nutritional needs. For more specific individual needs, we provide 14
additional supplements. We believe that our two basic nutritional supplements,
together with our additional supplements and skin care products, enhance the
ability of our distributors to build their businesses by providing a
comprehensive, simple product offering.
Powder-Based Nutritional
Supplements. We believe that our powder-based nutritional supplements
provide a competitive advantage over other supplements such as vitamins,
minerals and herbs in pill or tablet form. Our nutritional products are consumed
with water, milk or juice and provide an effective means of delivering nutrients
to the body. We believe nutrients taken orally in liquid form lead to better
absorption at the cellular level, or “bioavailability.”
In-House Development and Production.
We have developed substantially all of our products utilizing nutrition
science as the basis for product formulation. We maintain an ongoing research
and development effort led by Carl W. Hastings, Ph.D., our Chief Scientific
Officer and Vice Chairman. In November 2008, we hired Thomas G.
Reynolds, Ph.D., as Director of Research and Development and Technical Affairs,
to strengthen our research and development efforts. In addition, we
consult regularly with other industry professionals and with the physicians on
our Medical Advisory Board with respect to developments in nutritional science,
product enhancements and new products. Since 1993, we have
manufactured substantially all of our nutritional products at our facility in
Chesterfield, Missouri. Currently, we outsource only one product, our
Slimplicity accelerator capsules. We believe our ability to formulate
and manufacture all but one of our own products enables us to maintain our high
standards of quality assurance and proprietary product composition.
Experienced Ambassador
Team. Our Ambassador corps consists of distributors who have
achieved the level of Master Director, have earned royalty payments of at least
$4,000 in consecutive months and meet our leadership and character criteria
necessary to garner our invitation to be an Ambassador. Our Ambassadors
generally are our most productive distributors and are essential in recruiting,
motivating and training our entire distributor network. We, and our Ambassadors,
lead hundreds of annual events throughout all of our markets to motivate and
train distributors, including regular recruiting meetings, trainings, conference
calls, training schools for Master Affiliates and higher levels and regional,
national and international distributor conferences. As of December 31,
2008, we had a total of 368 Ambassadors. The top 10 distributors at
the Ambassador level have been with us for an average of 16 years, which
provides consistency in training new distributors and contributes to increased
sales.
Uniform Distributor Business Model.
Our distributor compensation system is essentially uniform throughout our
domestic and international markets. The compensation plan is
“seamless” in that distributors in each market all receive discounts and
commissions on relatively the same terms, subject to a few variances to address
market conditions and cultural preferences. We also provide
consistent distributor documentation and training throughout our system and in
all of our markets. We believe this uniform model is effective in
motivating and training distributors to build their businesses and enter new
markets.
3
Experienced and Incentivized
Management Team. Our management team is led by our founder, Robert L.
Montgomery, who has been our Chief Executive Officer since the inception of our
company in 1985. Our executive officers have been employed by our company for an
average of 14 years and are experienced in their areas of focus, which
include manufacturing, sales, finance, marketing and operations. As
of March 1, 2009, our directors and executive officers beneficially own
approximately 34.2% of our common stock.
Our
Business Strategy
Our basic objective is to increase our
net sales by increasing the number and productivity of our distributors and by
periodically improving our existing products and introducing new products. We
also intend to invest in our infrastructure to improve our operating
efficiencies, provide better service to our distributors and leverage our
current operating facilities to improve our profitability. We seek to accomplish
these objectives by employing the following strategic initiatives:
Leverage and Expand our Existing
Distributor Base Throughout the United States. The United States has been
and will continue to be our largest market. Our growth strategy in the United
States involves multiple initiatives, such as increased investment in
company-sponsored events and training and better utilization of our upper-level
distributors across different geographical areas. In addition, we
recently introduced a new autoship program intended to increase customer and
distributor retention. We will continue to implement these
initiatives while focusing on untapped markets in the United
States.
Expand in Existing and New
International Markets. We believe there is a significant opportunity to
increase our net sales in international markets. We have a uniform business
model across all of our markets and encourage our distributors to pursue their
business in multiple markets. In selected markets, we have begun
investing in additional marketing support for our distributors that is
consistent with our successful activities in the United States, including third
party advertising materials and company-sponsored distributor meetings. We
believe this uniform business model and additional marketing expense will
encourage expansion of our distributors in our existing international markets
and will provide a framework that facilitates our entry into new international
markets. To that end, we continue to monitor business conditions in potential
new markets and will selectively expand as timing and conditions are
appropriate.
Invest in Improved and New Products.
As a developer of nutritional supplements, it is vital to continue to
invest in the research and development of new and innovative products.
Additionally, we will continue to improve and validate the efficacy of our
existing product line. For example, in November 2008 we introduced GlucAffect to
support healthy blood sugar management and in February 2007 we launched our
Slimplicity Weight Loss System that includes a meal replacement product and
accelerator capsules to aid in weight loss. These types of
investments should facilitate customer and distributor retention, as well as the
recruitment of new distributors.
Expand and Improve our Manufacturing
and Distribution Capabilities. We currently manufacture all of our
powdered nutritional supplements at our facility in Chesterfield, Missouri. This
allows us to precisely control product composition and quality assurance.
Periodically, we make appropriate investments that enhance our manufacturing
capabilities and capacity to further leverage our existing facilities and
trained production staff. We expect to continue to make appropriate
investments in our manufacturing and fulfillment facilities.
Our
Products
Product
Overview
Our product line includes nutritional
supplements that address basic nutrition, specific wellness needs, weight
management and sports nutrition. We combine ingredients from science and nature
in targeted, well-balanced, easy-to-use formulas that are specifically designed
to enhance wellness and increase performance and energy in specific
applications. All but one of our supplements are in powdered form that the
consumer mixes with water, juice or other liquid. We also have one encapsulated
product and a line of skin care products.
4
We currently offer 16 nutritional and
seven skin care products. Our basic nutritional supplements are formulated to
provide a balanced and complete level of supplementation for the consumer. For
more specific needs, we provide other focused product formulations. We have
purposely been selective in the number and types of products that we offer. By
providing a line of targeted products, we make it simple for our distributors
and consumers to choose products appropriate for their objectives. We consider
four of our oldest and best selling products — Reliv Classic, Reliv NOW,
Innergize! and FibRestore — to be our primary or “core”
products.
The following table summarizes our
product categories. The net sales figures are for the year ended
December 31, 2008:
Product Category
|
Product Name
|
%
of 2008
Net Sales(1)
|
Year
Introduced
|
|||||
Basic
Nutrition
|
Reliv
Classic
|
22.5 |
1988
|
|||||
Reliv
NOW
|
13.2 |
1988
|
||||||
NOW
for Kids
|
4.1 |
2000
|
||||||
Reliv
Delight
|
0.3 |
2001
|
||||||
Specific
Wellness(2)
|
FibRestore
|
16.0 |
1993
|
|||||
Arthaffect
|
7.6 |
1996
|
||||||
ReversAge
|
5.0 |
2000
|
||||||
SoySentials
|
2.5 |
1998
|
||||||
CardioSentials
|
2.3 |
2005
|
||||||
GlucAffect
|
1.9 |
2008
|
||||||
Weight
Management(3)
|
Slimplicity
Meal Replacement
|
2.5 |
2007
|
|||||
Slimplicity
Accelerator Capsule
|
1.5 |
2007
|
||||||
Reliv
Ultrim Plus
|
0.8 |
1988
|
||||||
Cellebrate
|
1.0 |
1995
|
||||||
Sports
Nutrition
|
Innergize!
|
14.0 |
1991
|
|||||
ProVantage
|
3.6 |
1997
|
||||||
Skin
Care
|
ReversAge
Skin Care
|
1.2 |
2001
|
(1)
|
This
table does not include net sales for the year ended December 31, 2008
related to freight and handling and sales of marketing materials, which
represented approximately 13.3% of net sales for the year ended
December 31, 2008.
|
(2)
|
In
November 2008, we introduced GlucAffect in the United
States.
|
(3)
|
In
February 2007, we introduced our Slimplicity Meal Replacement formula and
Slimplicity Accelerator Capsules in the United States and in January 2008,
we introduced Slimplicity in each of our European markets. Upon
introduction of our Slimplicity products in a particular market, our Reliv
Ultrim-Plus line was discontinued in that
market.
|
Basic
Nutrition Supplements
Our four basic nutrition supplements
provide consumers with a broad spectrum of essential nutrients. Every
formulation is specifically designed to optimize and enhance the benefits of the
nutrients it contains.
|
•
|
Reliv
Classic is a nutritional supplement containing a variety of vitamins and
minerals, soy and other protein sources and various herbs. It is a
vegetarian product that contains no animal compounds, artificial
preservatives, artificial flavors or added simple sugars. Reliv Classic is
available in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Germany,
Austria, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malaysia,
Singapore, Brunei and the
Philippines.
|
5
|
•
|
Reliv
NOW is a nutritional supplement containing a variety of vitamins and
minerals, soy and other protein sources and various herbs. Reliv NOW is
available in every country where we
operate.
|
|
•
|
NOW
for Kids is a product designed to provide a balanced nutritional
supplement for a child’s diet and contains a variety of vitamins and
minerals. NOW for Kids is available in Australia, New Zealand, United
States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Malaysia and the
Philippines.
|
|
•
|
Reliv
Delight is a powdered nutritional supplement sold as a milk replacement.
Reliv Delight is available in Mexico and the United
States.
|
Specific
Wellness Supplements
Our line of five specific wellness
supplements contains specific compounds that target certain conditions and
promote health. Each product is intended to work in conjunction with our basic
nutritional supplement formulas to provide an effective, balanced and natural
method for sustaining health and well-being.
|
•
|
ReversAge
is a patented youth-promoting nutritional supplement designed to slow down
the effects of the aging process. Three proprietary complexes form the
foundation of the supplement: longevity complex, antioxidant complex and
herbal complex. The longevity complex is restorative and designed to
replenish key hormones while creating balance within the body’s major
systems; the antioxidant complex is designed to slow aging at the cellular
level and the herbal complex delivers a variety of herbs, including Ginkgo
Biloba and Maca. ReversAge is available in every country where we operate
except Germany, the United Kingdom, Ireland and Brunei, Singapore. In
Canada, the product is marketed as
Nutriversal.
|
|
•
|
SoySentials
is a nutritional supplement containing soy as well as other vitamins,
minerals and herbs designed for use by women. SoySentials provides a woman
with key nutrients targeted to promote women’s health and ease the
symptoms of menopause and PMS. SoySentials is available in the United
States, Canada and Mexico.
|
|
•
|
CardioSentials
is a berry-flavored nutritional supplement introduced in February 2005
that promotes heart health. The product contains 1,500 mg of
phytosterols per serving, policosanol and several powerful antioxidants.
In a clinical study of this product, participants experienced meaningful
reductions in cholesterol as well as improvement in their high-density
lipoprotein, or HDL, and low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, ratios. We have
applied for a U.S. patent on CardioSentials. CardioSentials is
available only in the United
States.
|
|
•
|
Arthaffect
is a patented nutritional supplement containing Arthred, a patented form
of hydrolyzed collagen protein, which is clinically reported to support
healthy joint function. The product is available in the United States,
Australia, New Zealand, Mexico, the Philippines and Canada. The product is
marketed as A-Affect in Australia, New Zealand and Canada due to local
product regulations.
|
|
•
|
FibRestore
is a patented nutritional supplement containing fiber, vitamins, minerals
and herbs. A modified version of the FibRestore formula is marketed in
Canada under the name Herbal Harmony to comply with Canada’s nutritional
regulations. FibRestore is available in all of the countries in which we
operate.
|
|
•
|
GlucAffect
is a cinnamon cream flavored nutritional supplement launched in November
2008 as our latest product offering. GlucAffect contains
Pycnogenol® and other clinically supported active ingredients. GlucAffect
has been clinically proven to assist in healthy blood sugar management and
support weight loss. We have applied for a U.S. patent on
GlucAffect. GlucAffect is available only in the United States
at this time.
|
6
Weight
Management Supplements
Our four weight management supplements
combine advanced weight loss promoting complexes with scientifically balanced
nutrition and health enhancing soy protein. Our ingredients are designed to work
together, along with proper diet and exercise, to turn unwanted fat into energy
without sacrificing muscle.
|
•
|
Our
Slimplicity Weight Loss System was introduced in the United States in
February 2007 and includes two products: (1) Slimplicity meal
replacement and (2) Slimplicity accelerator capsules. Our
Slimplicity Weight Loss System incorporates these new products into an
overall program that includes proper diet and exercise and is focused on
facilitating weight loss and developing healthier lifestyle
choices. Slimplicity is currently available in the United
States, Germany, Austria, the Netherlands, Ireland, the United Kingdom,
Australia and New Zealand. In our European markets, we offer
chewable tablets instead of capsules in light of local preferences and
formula modifications required to comply with product
regulations. In Australia and New Zealand, the products are
marketed as Slimsimply due to trademark
availability.
|
|
•
|
Reliv
Ultrim-Plus is designed as a meal replacement (for a maximum of two meals
per day) for use in a weight loss program. Reliv Ultrim-Plus is
sold in Canada, Malaysia, Mexico, Philippines, Brunei and
Singapore. Reliv Ultrim-Plus is no longer available in the
United States, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, the United
Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand due to the introduction of our
Slimplicity meal replacement product. We expect Slimplicity to
eventually replace Reliv Ultrim-Plus in all of our markets as we introduce
our Slimplicity Weight Loss System in each
market.
|
|
•
|
Cellebrate
is a patented weight loss aid designed to suppress appetite, curb the
storage of body fat, and facilitate the body’s fat burning process.
Cellebrate is available in the United States and
Canada.
|
Sports
Nutrition Supplements
Our two sports nutrition supplements
contain a balance of nutrients scientifically designed to improve athletic
performance and endurance, as well as muscle recovery and repair.
|
•
|
Innergize!
is a patented sports supplement, containing vitamins and minerals designed
for performance enhancement. Innergize! is available in every country
where we operate. In Canada, the product is marketed as Optain due to
local product regulations.
|
|
•
|
ProVantage
is a nutritional supplement containing soy designed to enhance athletic
performance with a balance of nutrients needed to improve endurance,
muscle recovery and repair. ProVantage is designed to increase muscle
recovery, muscle mass and function, reduce fatigue and burn excess body
fat for extra energy. The product also benefits dieters and others seeking
to increase their soy intake. We have applied for a U.S. patent on
ProVantage. ProVantage is available in the United States and
Canada.
|
Skin
Care Products
Our ReversAge skin care product line
combines advancements in youth-promoting nutrients with a delivery system
designed to enhance the way those nutrients are absorbed and utilized by the
skin. Our seven ReversAge products are designed to reduce the visible signs of
aging and work within the skin to repair the damage done by the sun and
environmental pollutants. Each skin care product is enriched with the
Dermalongevity Complex containing (1) vitamins and antioxidants to protect
the skin from ultraviolet rays, toxins and pollutants, (2) botanicals to
nourish the skin with essential micronutrients that enhance the body’s healing
process, and (3) moisturizing factors to replenish the skin. Our ReversAge
skin care line includes:
|
•
|
Balanced
Cleansing Gel
|
|
•
|
Total
Body Renewal Lotion
|
|
•
|
Smooth
and Lift Serum
|
|
•
|
Daily
Skin Defense
|
|
•
|
Eye
Renewal Cream
|
|
•
|
Nightly
Skin Restore
|
|
•
|
Rich
Cleansing Bar
|
7
Our Daily Skin Defense and Total Body
Renewal Lotion contain the ReversAge Read and Need technology that adjusts to
different skin types and delivers the necessary moisture and nutrients to repair
and replenish skin. The Nutri-Dynamic Delivery System, used in our Daily Skin
Defense, Total Body Renewal Lotion and Nightly Skin Restore, holds active
ingredients in place on the surface of the skin for up to 12 hours,
allowing continuous delivery of youth-promoting nutrients to the skin. ReversAge
skin care is available in the United States, Australia, New Zealand and
Canada.
Research
and Development
We maintain an ongoing research and
development effort led by Carl W. Hastings, Ph.D. and Thomas G.
Reynolds, Ph.D. and consult with other industry professionals and with the
physicians and professionals on our Medical Advisory Board with respect to
developments in nutritional science, product enhancements and new products.
Since 2000, we have introduced eight of our current products, including
ReversAge, NOW for Kids, Reliv Delight, GlucAffect, CardioSentials, Slimplicity
meal replacement, Slimplicity accelerator capsules and ReversAge Performing
Enhancing Skin Care. From time to time, we have also reformulated and enhanced
our products. We currently are in the later development stages of a
line of ancillary products that will be available through a catalogue and which
we expect to introduce later this year. Our research and development
team consistently evaluates product advancements in the marketplace and
advancements in raw materials and ingredients available for new product ideas
and developments.
For the years ended December 31,
2008, 2007 and 2006, our research and development expenses were $397,000,
$453,000 and $437,000, respectively.
Network
Marketing Program
General
Overview
We market and sell our products through
a network marketing system of independent distributors, who purchase our
products from us, or from other distributors, and who then sell our products
directly to consumers. In addition to selling our products, our distributors
also recruit others to distribute our products. Distributors receive
compensation from both the sale of the products they have purchased at wholesale
and, in the case of Master Affiliates and above, commissions on the volume of
products sold by their downline organization. We believe network marketing is an
effective way to distribute our products because it allows and relies on
personal contact, education and endorsement of products which is not as readily
available through other distribution channels.
We recognize that our sales growth is
based on the continued development and growth of our independent distributor
force and we strive to maintain an active and motivated distributor network
through a combination of quality products, discounts, commissions and bonus
payments, sales conventions, training, personal recognition and a variety of
publications and promotional materials.
Program
Structure
Individuals who desire to market and
sell our products may become distributors by being sponsored into the program by
an existing distributor, and becoming part of that distributor’s “downline.” We
offer a tiered discount and commission, or royalty, format that consists of four
principal levels and several sub-levels, which are designed to compensate and
motivate distributors to increase their networks and sales volumes.
Our distributors consist principally of
individuals, although we also permit entities such as corporations,
partnerships, limited liability companies and trusts to become distributors. A
new distributor is required to complete a distributor application and, in most
areas, to purchase a package of distributor materials (for $39.95 plus shipping
in the United States) consisting of a Distributor Guide and CD, business forms
and promotional materials. The Distributor Agreement, when accepted by us,
becomes the contract between us and the distributor and obligates the
distributor to the terms of the agreement, which includes our Policies and
Procedures for conduct of their business. All distributors are independent
contractors and are not our employees.
8
In each country in which we conduct
business, distributors operate under a uniform compensation system in which
distributors generally are compensated based on their sales volumes. On the
basis of sales volume or commission volume, distributors may achieve the
following successive levels of achievement and compensation:
Designation
|
Discount
|
|||
Retail
Distributor
|
20 | % | ||
Affiliate
|
25 | % | ||
Key
Affiliate
|
30 | % | ||
Senior
Affiliate
|
35 | % | ||
Master
Affiliate
|
40 | % (1) | ||
Director
|
40 | % (1) | ||
Key
Director
|
40 | % (1) | ||
Senior
Director
|
40 | % (1) | ||
Master
Director
|
40 | % (1) | ||
Presidential
Director
|
40 | % (1) |
(1)
|
In
addition to discounts, these levels also receive commissions based on
sales in their downline
organization.
|
Distributors purchase products from us
at a discount from the suggested retail price for the products and then may sell
the product at retail to customers, sell the product to other distributors at
wholesale or consume the product. The amount of the discount varies depending on
the distributor’s level of achievement, as indicated above.
Distributors generate income equal to
the difference between the price at which they sell the product to customers and
the discounted price they pay for the product. Distributors also earn wholesale
commissions on products purchased by downline distributors in the distributor’s
sponsored group equal to the difference between the price at which the
distributor is entitled to purchase product and the price at which downline
distributors purchase product. We calculate payments and issue a check directly
to the qualified distributor once a month. For example, assume Distributor A is
a 40% discount Master Affiliate who signs up Distributor B, a 30% discount Key
Affiliate, who signs up Distributor C, a 20% discount Retail Distributor. If
Distributor C purchases directly from us, a 10% wholesale profit check will be
sent to Distributor A and B.
Upon achieving the level of Master
Affiliate, distributors begin to receive additional compensation —
“generation royalty” — payments of 8%, 6%, 4%, 3% and 2% of the retail
volume of product purchased from us by Master Affiliates and above (and their
personal groups) whom they have sponsored, and for each of five downline levels
of sponsorship. To qualify for these additional compensation payments, Master
Affiliates and above are required to maintain certain monthly sales volumes and
to document specified levels of retail sales.
Master Affiliates who sponsor other
distributors that achieve the level of Master Affiliate are entitled to become
part of the Director Program. Advancement at the Director level is based upon
achieving increasing levels of royalties based on sales generated by other
distributors in the Director’s downline organization. Distributors achieving
each level receive recognition for their achievements at our company-sponsored
events and in our publications. We also have a Star Director Program under which
distributors achieving the level of Director and above receive additional
compensation based on the number of Master Affiliates they have sponsored into
the program. Directors receive an additional 1% to 3% royalty on the retail
sales volume of Master Affiliates in their downline organization for an
unlimited number of levels of sponsorship, until reaching a level that includes
a Master Affiliate who also has achieved Star Director status.
Master Directors and Presidential
Directors may also be invited to participate in the Ambassador Program. As of
December 31, 2008, we had 368 Ambassadors. Qualifications to be invited by
us to participate in the Ambassador Program include demonstrated competence and
leadership qualities. Ambassadors receive recognition and awards for achieving
Ambassador status and can then achieve additional levels of accomplishment. We
utilize our Ambassadors to lead meetings and conferences, and to provide
training and education to our distributors. Ambassadors achieving the level of
Silver and higher also participate in the “Reliv Inner Circle,” which may
entitle them to receive additional compensation, paid participation in our
sponsored events, health insurance and car allowances.
9
In addition to the levels of
compensation described, we also provide a variety of incentives, bonuses, awards
and trips to distributors who achieve high sales volumes and who advance in the
distributor ranks.
Distributor
Training, Motivation and Management
Our marketing efforts are focused on
the development, training, motivation and support of our independent
distributors. We support an active training program for our distributors in
which our representatives and experienced distributors, usually Ambassadors,
lead group training sessions. We provide distributors with manuals, brochures
and other promotional, training and informational publications. We encourage
distributors to hold regular Tuesday evening recruiting meetings and Saturday
training sessions. We sponsor weekly training conference calls in which a
significant number of distributors participate.
Our sponsorship generally includes the
following:
|
•
|
During
2008, we sponsored approximately 45 training schools on a quarterly basis
across all of our markets for new Master
Affiliates;
|
|
•
|
For
each market in which we operate, we sponsor an annual conference for
distributors; and
|
|
•
|
In
the United States, we sponsor an annual International Conference in summer
for all worldwide distributors and a winter conference for U.S.
distributors.
|
During 2008, we invested approximately
$4.6 million in training, conferences and promotional events for our
distributors worldwide.
Distributor
Compliance
Our
distributor organization and business model are designed and intended to promote
the sale of our products to consumers by distributors. Sales training and
promotional efforts emphasize that intention. To that end, and to comply with
applicable governmental regulations of network marketing organizations, we have
established specific programs and requirements for distributors, including
(1) monitoring by us of purchases by distributors to identify potentially
excessive individual purchases, (2) requiring that distributors certify to
a minimum number of retail sales, and (3) requiring that distributors
certify the sale of at least 70% of previous purchases of a particular product
prior to the purchase of additional amounts of such product. Distributors are
not required at any time to purchase product, although Master Affiliates and
above are required to maintain certain minimum sales levels in their personal
groups to continue receiving generation royalty compensation
payments.
Distributors may create their own
advertising provided that it is within our advertising rules. Unless a
distributor is using our designed and approved advertisements, the distributor
must submit for approval in writing all advertising (e.g. brochures, flyers,
audio tapes, classified or display ads, radio scripts) to our Compliance
Department before placing it or arranging for placement.
Pursuant to our Policies and
Procedures, which are incorporated by reference into our Distributor Agreement,
distributors are permitted to make only those claims about our products that
have been approved by us and/or provided in sales and training materials.
Distributors acknowledge that our products are not represented as drugs and they
are not authorized to make any diagnosis of any medical condition, make
drug-type claims for, or prescribe our products to treat or cure, any disease or
condition. We do not authorize or permit our distributors to make any express or
implied references with regard to our products that they cure, prevent or
relieve disease, replace or augment medication, provide therapy, promote
healing, alleviate illnesses or symptoms of illnesses, or make any other medical
claims for specific ailments.
In order to comply with regulations
that apply to both us and our distributors, we conduct considerable research
into the applicable regulatory framework prior to entering any new market to
identify all necessary licenses and approvals and applicable limitations on
operations in that market. We devote substantial resources to obtaining the
necessary licenses and approvals and maintaining operations that are in
compliance with the applicable limitations. We also research laws applicable to
distributor operations and revise or alter distributor materials and products
and similar matters, as required by applicable regulations in each
market.
10
Regulations in existing and new markets
often are ambiguous and subject to considerable interpretive and enforcement
discretion by the responsible regulators. In addition, regulations affecting our
business often change and are subject to varying interpretation and application.
We make every effort to monitor and comply with changes in laws and regulations
as they occur.
We have a Compliance Department that
receives and reviews allegations of distributor misconduct. If we determine that
a distributor has violated our Policies and Procedures, we may take a number of
disciplinary actions. For example, we may impose sanctions such as warnings or
suspensions until specific conditions are satisfied, or take other appropriate
actions at our discretion, including termination of the distributor’s
agreement.
Geographic
Presence
Markets
We currently sell our products
throughout the United States and in 13 other countries around the world. We have
sold products in the United States since 1988 and sold our first product outside
of the United States in 1991 when we entered Australia. In 2008, approximately
13.0% of our net sales were generated outside of the United States.
The table below shows the countries in
which we operate and the year we commenced selling products:
Country
|
Year Entered
|
||
United
States
|
1988
|
||
Australia
|
1991
|
||
New
Zealand
|
1992
|
||
Canada
|
1992
|
||
Mexico
|
1993
|
||
United
Kingdom(1)
|
1995
|
||
Philippines
|
2000
|
||
Malaysia
|
2003
|
||
Ireland
|
2003
|
||
Singapore
|
2004
|
||
Germany
|
2005
|
||
Austria
|
2006
|
||
Netherlands
|
2006
|
||
Brunei
|
2009
|
(1)
|
Includes
Great Britain, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland.
|
Within the United States, we sell our
products to distributors in all 50 states. We derived 32.4% of our net
sales in 2008 in California, Illinois, Kansas, Texas, Missouri and Arizona, with
each state contributing at least 4% of net sales. We believe that there is the
opportunity to increase the number of our distributors in all markets where we
sell our products, as our existing distributor bases grow and
expand.
We organize all of our international
operations under our wholly owned subsidiary, Reliv’ World. As of
December 31, 2008, Reliv’ World consisted of the following market-specific
entities: Reliv’ Australia, Reliv’ New Zealand, Reliv’ Canada, Reliv’ Mexico,
Reliv’ UK (including Ireland), Reliv’ Philippines, Reliv’ Malaysia, Reliv’
Singapore, Reliv’ Brunei and Reliv’ Germany (including Austria and the
Netherlands). We have utilized this method of separate corporations in most of
our markets, as local business licensing and product approvals require a local
legal entity.
We believe that there is a significant
opportunity to increase sales in all of our current international markets. We
have established a uniform business model and compensation plan across all of
our markets, and we continue to support our international markets with
additional marketing programs and materials. We continue to encourage, and in
certain circumstances provide limited financial support to, certain top
distributors in an effort to help them expand their distributor networks
internationally.
11
In addition to increasing sales in
current international markets, our expansion strategy targets selected new
foreign markets. Our presence in Malaysia, Singapore and the
Philippines provides us with familiarity from which to expand into other areas
of Asia. For example, we entered Brunei in February 2009 due to
regional interest and distributor activity. In addition, we
tentatively plan to open for business in Indonesia in 2009, subject to our
receipt of certain licensing and product approvals that have thus far been
difficult to obtain due to local administrative changes and
processes. Similar to Asia, our recent entry into Germany, Austria
and the Netherlands and our 12 years of experience in the UK offer us the
knowledge to expand efficiently into additional
European markets.
New
Market Entry Process
We constantly evaluate new markets for
our products. In order to do so, we perform an analysis of synergies between new
and existing countries and distributor presence or interest in new markets,
market conditions, regulatory conditions, product approval procedures and
competition before selecting markets to enter. Once we decide to enter a new
market, we first hire local legal counsel and/or a consultant with appropriate
expertise to:
|
•
|
help
ensure that our network marketing system and products comply with all
applicable regulations;
|
|
•
|
help
establish favorable public relations in the new market by acting as an
intermediary between us and local regulatory authorities, public officials
and business people; and
|
|
•
|
explain
our products and product ingredients to appropriate regulators and, when
necessary, to arrange for local technicians to conduct required ingredient
analysis tests of the products.
|
Where regulatory approval in a foreign
market is required, local counsel and/or consultants work with regulatory
agencies to confirm that all of the ingredients in our products are permissible
within the new market. Where reformulation of one or more of our products is
required, we attempt to obtain substitute or replacement ingredients. During the
regulatory compliance process, we may alter the formulation, packaging, branding
or labeling of our products to conform to applicable regulations as well as
local variations in customs and consumer habits, and we may modify some aspects
of our network marketing system as necessary to comply with applicable
regulations.
Following completion of the regulatory
compliance phase, we undertake the steps necessary to meet the operations
requirements of the new market. In the majority of our new markets, we establish
a sales center in a major city and provide for product purchases by telephone
and/or pick up. Product is shipped to the purchaser from a warehouse located in
the general geographic market or the distributor may walk in to the local office
and purchase products, if a pick up center is available. In addition, we
initiate plans to satisfy inventory, personnel and transportation requirements
of the new market, and we modify our distributor materials, recordings, videos
and other training materials as necessary to be suitable for the new
market.
In some countries, regulations
applicable to the activities of our distributors also may affect our business
because in some countries we are, or regulators may assert that we are,
responsible for our distributors’ conduct. In these countries, regulators may
request or require that we take steps to ensure that our distributors comply
with local regulations.
Manufacturing
We established a manufacturing line at
our headquarters facility in Chesterfield, Missouri and began to manufacture all
of our nutritional supplements in early 1993. We expanded our Chesterfield
facility in 1997 to now include 126,000 square feet of total space. At this
facility, we manufacture all of our powdered nutritional supplements for
distribution both domestically and internationally. Our Slimplicity accelerator
capsules are manufactured by a third party and our skin care line is
manufactured by a third party that is both owner and licensee of certain
proprietary technology used in our skin care products.
12
Our ability to manufacture our powdered
nutritional supplements is a competitive advantage over competitors not engaged
in manufacturing and contributes to our ability to provide high-quality
products. Our product manufacturing includes identifying suppliers of raw
materials, acquiring the finest quality raw materials, blending exact amounts of
raw materials into batches, and canning and labeling the finished products.
Since we carefully select our ingredient suppliers, we are able to control the
quality of raw materials and our finished products. We have not experienced any
significant difficulty in obtaining supplies of raw materials for our
nutritional supplements or finished product of our Slimplicity accelerator
capsules. By monitoring and testing products at all stages of the manufacturing
process, we precisely control product composition. In addition, we can control
costs by manufacturing our own powdered nutritional supplements.
In 1996, we received approval from the
Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration, or TGA, to manufacture products
sold in Australia at our Chesterfield plant. The certification of our
Chesterfield site by the Australian TGA also satisfied Canadian
requirements. In 2007, our Chesterfield plant was audited and
re-certified by the Australian TGA.
Fulfillment
Distributors order product in case lots
of individual quantities and pay for the goods prior to shipment. We offer our
Direct Advantage for distributors and their retail customers to order product in
less than case lots directly from us by phone. Direct Advantage, an automatic
monthly reorder program available for distributors and customers, provides a
simple and convenient ordering process for consumers as well as distributors
wanting to satisfy maintenance requirements. Product is shipped directly to the
distributor or customer and upline distributors earn wholesale profits or, if
applicable, a commission on all Direct Advantage sales.
In the United States, our products are
warehoused at our Chesterfield facility and shipped by common carrier to
distributors upon order. Our facility in Chesterfield, Missouri serves all parts
of the country. Our products are also warehoused in, and shipped to local
distributors from: Sydney, Australia; Auckland, New Zealand; Oakville, Canada;
Birmingham, England; Petaling Jaya, Malaysia; Singapore; and Frankfurt, Germany.
Our Philippines subsidiary currently has approximately 23 product pick-up
centers located throughout the country which are operated by local business
contractors and a company-owned and operated business center located in Makati.
In Mexico, product is warehoused in and shipped from approximately
5 distribution centers located throughout the country. With the exception
of our Canada, New Zealand, Singapore, and German subsidiaries, each of our
subsidiaries maintains an office and personnel to receive, record, and fill
orders from distributors. Distributors in Ireland order and receive product from
our UK subsidiary. Distributors in Austria and the Netherlands order
and receive product from our Germany distribution center.
We maintain a policy that unused
product may be returned by a customer to the selling distributor for a full
refund or exchange within 30 days after purchase. We also maintain a policy
that any distributor who terminates his or her distributorship may return
saleable product which was purchased from us within twelve months of the
termination for a refund of 90% of the purchase price less any compensation
received relating to the purchase of the products. We believe this buyback
policy addresses and satisfies a number of regulatory compliance issues
pertaining to network marketing systems.
Historically, product returns and buy
backs have not been significant. Product returns and buy backs have been
approximately 0.86%, 1.72%, and 1.17% of net sales in 2008, 2007 and 2006,
respectively.
Information
Technology Systems
In order to facilitate our continued
growth and support distributor activities, we continually upgrade our management
information and telecommunication systems, along with increasing our
internet-based capabilities. These systems include: (1) a centralized host
computer in our Chesterfield headquarters, which is linked to our international
offices via secure frame relay connections that provide real-time order entry
and information to respond to distributor inquiries, as well as financial and
inventory management systems; (2) local area networks of personal computers
within our markets, serving our local administrative staffs; (3) an
international e-mail system through which our employees communicate; (4) an
Avaya telecommunication system that services the U.S. market; and
(5) internet capabilities that provide a variety of online services to
distributors, including product ordering, product information, event information
and other related announcements, and tools to assist distributor leaders in
managing their downline distributor group. We continue to pursue initiatives to
increase the percentage of distributor orders placed via the internet. To
accomplish this goal, we continue to make improvements to our shopping cart
platform, and we have run periodic incentives to encourage distributors to place
their orders via the internet. As a result of these initiatives, approximately
40% of our order volume in the U.S. is placed via internet.
13
These systems are designed to provide
financial and operating data for management, timely and accurate product
ordering, generation royalty payment calculation and processing, inventory
management, and detailed distributor records. We intend to continue to invest in
our systems in order to help meet our business strategies.
Intellectual
Property
We have obtained U.S. patents on
five products: Innergize!, FibRestore, Cellebrate, Arthaffect and ReversAge
(specific wellness supplement). The principal ingredient delivery system of
ReversAge (skin care) is licensed exclusively under issued U.S. patents.
Our formulas are protected as trade secrets and, to the extent necessary, by
confidentiality agreements.
Currently, we have 21 trademarks
registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, or USPTO, including
Reliv and the names of 14 of our 16 nutritional products. NOW for Kids is not
registered with the USPTO and we have filed a trademark application for
GlucAffect. Trademark registrations for selected marks have been issued or
applied for in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Mexico, the
United Kingdom, Ireland, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Germany and
several other foreign countries that offer network marketing opportunities. We
consider our trademarks to be an important asset of our business.
Regulation
Product
Regulation
The formulation, manufacturing,
labeling and advertising or promotion of our products are subject to regulation
by the Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, which regulates our products under
the federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, or FDCA, the Federal Trade Commission,
or FTC, and various agencies of the states or countries into which our products
are shipped or sold. FDA regulations include requirements and limitations with
respect to the labeling of our food and cosmetic products and also with respect
to the formulation of those products. FDA regulations also limit and control the
extent to which health or other claims can be made with respect to the efficacy
of any food or cosmetic. The FDCA has been amended several times with respect to
dietary supplements, most recently by the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act
of 1990, or NLEA, and the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act of 1994,
or DSHEA, and related regulations. Such legislation governs the formulation,
manufacturing, marketing and sale of nutritional supplements, including the
content and presentation of health-related information included on the labels or
labeling of nutritional supplements.
The majority of the products we market
are classified as dietary supplements under the FDCA. Dietary supplements such
as those we manufacture and sell, for which no “drug” claim is made, are not
subject to FDA approval prior to their sale. However, DSHEA established a
pre-market notification process for dietary supplements that contain a “new
dietary ingredient,” or NDI, a term that is defined as “a dietary ingredient
that was not marketed in the United States before October 15, 1994,” the
date on which DSHEA was signed into law. Certain NDIs that have been “present in
the food supply” are exempt from the notification requirement. For those NDIs
that are not exempt, DSHEA requires the manufacturer or distributor of a dietary
supplement containing an NDI to submit to the FDA, at least 75 days prior
to marketing, a notification containing the basis for concluding that the
dietary supplement containing the NDI will “reasonably be expected to be safe.”
Dietary supplement products can be removed from the market if shown to be
unsafe, or if the FDA determines, based on the labeling of products, that the
intended use of the product is for the diagnosis, cure, mitigation, treatment or
prevention of disease. The FDA can regulate those products as “drugs” and
require premarket approval of a “new drug application.” Manufacturers of dietary
supplements that make any claims for dietary supplements, including product
performance and health benefit claims, must have substantiation that the
statements are truthful and not misleading.
14
In January 2000, the FDA published a
final rule that defines the types of statements that can be made concerning the
effect of a dietary supplement on the structure or function of the body pursuant
to the DSHEA. Under the DSHEA, dietary supplement labeling may bear
“structure/function” claims, which are claims that the products affect the
structure or function of the body, without prior FDA approval. They may not,
without prior FDA approval, bear a claim that they can prevent, treat, cure,
mitigate or diagnose disease, otherwise known as a “drug claim.” The final rule
describes how the FDA will distinguish drug claims from structure/function
claims. Dietary supplements, like conventional foods, are also permitted to make
“health claims,” which are claims that are exempt from regulation as “drug”
claims pursuant to the amendments to the FDCA established by the NLEA in 1990. A
“health claim” is a claim, ordinarily approved by FDA regulation, on a food or
dietary supplement product’s labeling that “characterizes the relationship of
any substance to a disease or health-related condition.” To help assure that
foods, dietary supplements and cosmetics comply with the provisions of the FDCA
and FDA’s regulations, the FDA has numerous enforcement tools, including the
ability to issue warning letters, initiate product seizures and injunctions and
pursue criminal penalties.
The manufacture of dietary supplements
is subject to existing FDA current good manufacturing practice, or cGMP,
regulations for food. In June 2007, the FDA issued new regulations
relating to more detailed cGMP specifically for dietary
supplements. Under the new regulations, we qualify as a small
business and have until June 2009 before the regulations apply to
us. We have evaluated our systems and facilities in light of the
regulations and expect to be in full compliance by June 2009.
Advertisements for our products are
subject to regulation by the FTC. The FTC prohibits unfair methods of
competition and unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce
and provides that the dissemination of any false advertisement pertaining to
drugs, cosmetics or foods, including dietary supplements, is an unfair or
deceptive practice. Under the FTC’s substantiation doctrine, an advertiser must
have a “reasonable basis” for all claims made about a product. The failure to be
able to adequately substantiate claims may be considered either deceptive or
unfair practices. In order to avoid a violation of the FTC standards, we
endeavor to assure that we have adequate substantiation for all advertising
claims made for our products. In addition, the FTC has increased its scrutiny of
the use of distributor testimonials. Although it is impossible for us to monitor
all the product claims made by our independent distributors, we make efforts to
monitor distributor testimonials and restrict inappropriate distributor claims.
The FTC has been more aggressive in pursuing enforcement against dietary
supplement products since the passage of DSHEA in 1994, and has brought numerous
actions against dietary supplement companies, some resulting in several million
dollar civil penalties and/or restitution as well as court-ordered
injunctions.
We are aware that, in some of our
international markets, there has been recent adverse publicity concerning
products that contain substances generally referred to as “genetically modified
organisms,” or GMOs. In some markets, the possibility of health risks thought to
be associated with GMOs has prompted proposed or actual governmental regulation.
When necessary, we have responded to government regulations that forbid products
containing GMOs by changing certain unacceptable ingredients to non-GMO
substitutes. Some of our products in certain markets still contain substances
that would be or might be classified as GMOs. We cannot anticipate the extent to
which future regulations in these markets will restrict the use of GMOs in our
products or the impact of any regulations on our business in those markets. In
response to any applicable future regulations, we intend to reformulate our
products to satisfy the regulations. Compliance with regulatory requirements in
this area should not have a material adverse effect on our
business.
Sales
Program Regulation
Our distribution and sales program is
subject to regulation by the FTC and other federal and state regulation as well
as regulations in several countries in which we conduct in business. Various
state agencies regulate multi-level distribution services. We are required to
register with, and submit information to, certain of such agencies and we
believe we have complied fully with such requirements. We actively strive to
comply with all applicable state and federal laws and regulations affecting our
products and our sales and distribution programs. The Attorneys General of
several states have taken an active role in investigating and prosecuting
companies whose compensation plans they claim violate local anti-pyramid and/or
consumer protection statutes. We are unable to predict the effect such increased
activity will have on our business in the future nor are we able to predict the
probability of future laws, regulations or interpretations which may be passed
by state or federal regulatory authorities.
Federal and state laws directed at
network marketing programs have been adopted throughout the years to prevent the
use of fraudulent practices often characterized as “pyramid schemes.” Illegal
pyramid schemes compensate participants primarily for the introduction or
enrollment of additional participants into the program. Often these schemes are
characterized by large up-front entry or sign-up fees, over-priced products of
low value, little or no emphasis on the sale or use of products, high-pressure
recruiting tactics and claims of huge and quick financial rewards with little or
no effort. Generally, these laws are directed at ensuring that product sales
ultimately are made to consumers and that advancement within such sales
organizations is based on sales of products. We have obtained approval of our
marketing program as required in all of the markets where we operate and do so
for each country we enter.
15
We believe that our network marketing
system satisfies the standards and case law defining a legal marketing system.
It is an ongoing part of our business to monitor and respond to regulatory and
legal developments, including those that may affect our network marketing
system. However, the regulatory and legal requirements concerning network
marketing systems do not include “bright line” rules and are inherently
fact-based.
Competition
The business of developing and
distributing nutritional and skin care products such as those we offer is highly
competitive. Numerous manufacturers, distributors and retailers compete for
consumers and, in the case of other network marketing companies, for
distributors. Our competitors include both network marketing companies such as
Alticor Inc. (Amway Corp.), Avon Products Inc., Herbalife Ltd., Mary Kay
Inc., Melaleuca, Inc., Mannatech, Inc., Nature’s Sunshine Products Inc., NuSkin
Enterprises Inc. and USANA Health Sciences Inc., as well as specialty and mass
retail establishments. Our ability to remain competitive depends on the
underlying science and high quality of our products and our success in
recruiting and retaining distributors. The pool of individuals interested in
network marketing tends to be limited in each market and may be reduced to the
extent other network marketing companies successfully recruit these individuals
into their businesses. We believe that we offer a rewarding compensation plan
with attractive financial benefits to compete for the time, attention and
commitment of distributors. Our compensation plan is seamless, permitting
international expansion.
Reliv NOW and Reliv Classic compete
with numerous supplements that offer multi-vitamin benefits. The Reliv
Ultrim-Plus, Slimplicity and Cellebrate products compete with other products in
the weight loss market, including nationally advertised products such as
SlimFast. Many companies have entered, or have plans to enter, the sports drink
market in which Innergize! and ProVantage compete, a market led by Gatorade.
With Arthaffect, FibRestore, ReversAge, GlucAffect, CardioSentials, SoySentials
and the Reliv ReversAge Performance Enhancing Skin Care, we are in the specific
wellness needs product and anti-aging markets, which are extremely competitive
and led by the major food and skin care companies.
Employees
As of December 31, 2008, we and
all of our subsidiaries had approximately 247 full-time employees compared
with 253 such employees at the end of 2007.
Additional
Available Information
We make available, free of charge,
copies of our annual reports on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q,
current reports on Form 8-K, and all amendments to these reports as soon as
reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with, or
furnished to the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act. This information is available on our corporate web site at www.reliv.com under
the “Investor Relations” section. This information may also be
obtained from the SEC’s on-line database located at www.sec.gov.
Item No. 1A - Risk
Factors
Risks
Related to Our Business
The
current economic and financial crisis, including declining consumer spending and
reduced access to credit, may adversely affect our business.
The current worldwide economic and
financial crisis has caused a drastic reduction in consumer confidence and
spending, as well as access to capital. A prolonged downturn in the
global economy, and particularly in the United States, our largest market, could
adversely impact sales of our products and our ability to attract new
distributors or retain our existing distributors. Further, the
current economic deterioration may limit our access to capital and the ability
of our distributors to maintain or obtain credit. Any significant
reduction in sales or of our distributor force could materially and adversely
impact our results of operations, financial condition and liquidity, which, in
turn, could adversely affect our access to capital. While we have
historically met operating capital requirements through cash flow from
operations, there can be no assurance that the current economic and financial
crisis will not require us to obtain additional capital or financing or that
such capital or financing will be available on commercially reasonable
terms.
16
As
a company that distributes products through a network marketing system, we
experience constant turnover among our distributors. Our failure to establish
and maintain distributor relationships for any reason could negatively impact
sales of our products and harm our financial condition and operating
results.
We distribute our products exclusively
through approximately 67,340 independent distributors as of December 31,
2008, and we depend upon them directly for substantially all of our sales. Our
network marketing organization is headed by a relatively small number of key
distributors. To increase our revenue, we must increase the number, and/or the
productivity, of our distributors. Accordingly, our success depends in
significant part upon our ability to attract, retain and motivate a large base
of distributors. The loss of a significant number of distributors, including any
key distributors, together with their downline sales organizations, could
materially and adversely affect sales of our products and could impair our
ability to attract new distributors.
In 2008, approximately 65% of our
distributors from 2007 renewed their Distributor Agreements with us.
Distributors who purchase our products for personal consumption or for
short-term income goals may stay with us for several months to one year.
Distributors who have committed time and effort to build a sales organization,
particularly our Master Affiliates and above, will generally stay for longer
periods. Distributors have highly variable levels of training, skills and
capabilities. The turnover rate of our distributors, and our operating results,
can be adversely impacted if we and our upper-level distributor leadership do
not provide the necessary mentoring, training and business support tools for new
distributors to become successful salespeople in a short period of
time.
Due
to the high level of competition in our industry, we might fail to increase our
distributor base, which could negatively impact sales of our
products.
In our efforts to attract and retain
distributors, we compete with other network marketing organizations, including
those in the dietary and nutritional supplement, weight management product and
personal care and cosmetic product industries. Our competitors include both
network marketing companies such as Alticor Inc. (Amway Corp.), Avon Products
Inc., Herbalife Ltd., Mary Kay Inc., Melaleuca, Inc., Mannatech, Inc.,
Nature’s Sunshine Products Inc., NuSkin Enterprises Inc. and USANA Health
Sciences Inc., as well as specialty and mass retail establishments. Because the
industry in which we operate is not particularly capital-intensive or otherwise
subject to high barriers to entry, it is relatively easy for new competitors to
emerge who will compete with us for our distributors and customers. In addition,
the fact that our distributors may easily enter and exit our network marketing
program contributes to the level of competition that we face. For example, a
distributor can enter or exit our network marketing system with relative ease at
any time without facing a significant investment or loss of capital because
(1) we have a low upfront financial cost (generally $39.95) to become
a distributor, (2) we do not require any specific amount of time to work as
a distributor, (3) we do not insist on any special training to be a
distributor and (4) we do not prohibit a new distributor from working with
another company. Our ability to remain competitive, therefore, depends, in
significant part, on our success in recruiting and retaining distributors
through an attractive compensation plan, the maintenance of an attractive
product portfolio and other incentives. We cannot ensure that our programs for
recruitment and retention of distributors will be successful, and if they are
not, our financial condition and operating results would be harmed.
Since
we cannot exert the same level of influence or control over our independent
distributors as we could were they our own employees, our distributors could
fail to comply with our distributor Policies and Procedures, which could result
in claims against us that could harm our financial condition and operating
results.
Our distributors are independent
contractors and, accordingly, we are not in a position to directly provide the
same direction, motivation and oversight as we would if our distributors were
our own employees. As a result, there can be no assurance that our distributors
will participate in our marketing strategies or plans, accept our introduction
of new products or comply with our distributor Policies and
Procedures.
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Our Policies and Procedures for our
independent distributors differ according to the various legal requirements of
each country in which we do business. While our Policies and Procedures are
designed to govern distributor conduct and to protect the goodwill associated
with our trademarks, they can be difficult to enforce because of the large
number of distributors and their independent status. Violations by our
distributors of applicable law or of our Policies and Procedures in dealing with
customers could reflect negatively on our products and operations, and harm our
business reputation. In addition, it is possible that a court could hold us
civilly or criminally accountable based on vicarious liability because of the
actions of our independent distributors. If any of these events occur, the value
of an investment in our common shares could be impaired.
If
we fail to further penetrate and expand our business in existing markets, then
the growth in sales of our products, along with our operating results, could be
negatively impacted.
The success of our business is to a
large extent contingent on our ability to continue to grow by further
penetrating existing markets, both domestically and internationally. Our ability
to further penetrate existing markets in which we compete is subject to numerous
factors, many of which are out of our control. For example, government
regulations in both our domestic and international markets can delay or prevent
the introduction, or require the reformulation or withdrawal, of some of our
products, which could negatively impact our business, financial condition and
results of operations. Also, our ability to increase market penetration in
certain countries may be limited by the finite number of persons in a given
country inclined to pursue a network marketing business opportunity. Moreover,
our growth will depend upon improved training and other activities that enhance
distributor retention in our markets. As we continue to focus on expanding our
existing international operations, these and other risks associated with
international operations may increase, which could harm our financial condition
and operating results.
Failure
to expand into, or to succeed in, new international markets will limit our
ability to grow sales of our products.
We believe that our ability to achieve
future growth is dependent in part on our ability to continue our international
expansion efforts. However, there can be no assurance that we would be able to
enter new international markets on a timely basis, or that new markets would be
profitable. We must overcome significant regulatory and legal barriers before we
can begin marketing in any foreign market. Our operations in some markets also
may be adversely affected by political, economic and social instability in those
markets.
We may be required to reformulate
certain of our products before commencing sales in a given country. Once we have
entered a market, we must adhere to the regulatory and legal requirements of
that market. No assurance can be given that we would be able to successfully
reformulate our products in any of our potential international markets to meet
local regulatory requirements or attract local customers. The failure to do so
could result in increased costs of producing products and adversely affect our
financial condition. There can be no assurance that we would be able to obtain
and retain necessary permits and approvals.
Also, it is difficult to assess the
extent to which our products and sales techniques would be accepted or
successful in any given country. In addition to significant regulatory barriers,
we may also encounter problems conducting operations in new markets with
different cultures and legal systems from those encountered
elsewhere.
Additionally, in many markets, other
network marketing companies already have significant market penetration, the
effect of which could be to desensitize the local distributor population to a
new opportunity, or to make it more difficult for us to recruit qualified
distributors. There can be no assurance that, even if we are able to commence
operations in new foreign countries, there would be a sufficiently large
population of potential distributors inclined to participate in a network
marketing system offered by us. We believe our future success could depend in
part on our ability to seamlessly integrate our business methods, including our
distributor compensation plan, across all markets in which our products are
sold. There can be no assurance that we would be able to further develop and
maintain a seamless compensation program.
18
We
rely on a limited number of products for the majority of our sales and any
reduction in the demand for or availability of these products would have an
adverse effect on our sales.
Reliv Classic accounted for 22.5%,
21.3% and 20.7% of our net product sales in for the years ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and, combined with
Reliv NOW, Innergize! and FibRestore, these four products accounted for
65.7%, 64.5% and 71.3% of our net product sales for the years ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006. If demand for any of these products
decreases significantly, government regulation restricts the sale of these
products, we are unable to adequately source or deliver these products or we
cease offering any of these products for any reason without a suitable
replacement, our business, financial condition and results of operations would
be materially and adversely affected.
The
failure to introduce or to gain distributor and market acceptance of new
products could have a negative effect on our business.
The development and introduction of new
products may be a factor in maintaining and developing our distributor network
and customers. If we fail to introduce new products on a timely basis, our
distributor productivity could be harmed. In addition, if any new products fail
to gain market acceptance, are restricted by regulatory requirements, or have
quality problems, this would harm our results of operations. Factors
that could affect our ability to continue to introduce new products include,
among others, limited capital resources, government regulations, the inability
to attract and retain qualified research and development staff, proprietary
protections of competitors that may limit our ability to offer comparable
products and any failure to anticipate changes in consumer tastes and buying
preferences. Additionally, our operating results could be harmed if our existing
and new products do not generate sufficient interest to retain existing
distributors and attract new distributors.
The business of marketing nutritional
products is sensitive to the introduction of new products or nutritional
technologies, including various prescription drugs, which may rapidly capture a
significant share of the market. Our present or future competitors may be able
to develop products that are comparable or superior to those we offer, adapt
more quickly than we do to new technologies, evolving industry trends and
standards or customer requirements or devote greater resources to the
development, promotion and sale of their products than we do.
Since
we conduct all of our manufacturing operations at one facility, any interruption
in our ability to operate could have a material adverse effect on our financial
condition and operating results.
We conduct our manufacturing operations
at our Chesterfield, Missouri facility and store a substantial amount of raw
materials and finished goods on site. An event such as a fire, flood or natural
disaster could prevent us from operating for a period of time and could
adversely affect our financial condition and operating results.
We
may incur material product liability claims, which could increase our costs and
harm our financial condition and operating results.
Our products consist of herbs,
vitamins, minerals and other ingredients that are classified as foods or dietary
supplements and are not subject to pre-market regulatory approval in the
United States. Our products could contain contaminated substances, and some
of our products contain innovative ingredients that do not have long histories
of human consumption. As a marketer of dietary and nutritional supplements and
other products that are ingested by consumers or applied to their bodies, we
have been, and may again be, subjected to various product liability claims,
including that the products contain contaminants, the products include
inadequate instructions as to their uses, or the products include inadequate
warnings concerning side effects and interactions with other substances. It is
possible that product liability claims could increase our costs, and adversely
affect our revenues and operating income. Moreover, liability claims arising
from a serious adverse event may increase our costs through higher insurance
premiums and deductibles, and may make it more difficult to secure adequate
insurance coverage in the future. In addition, our product liability insurance
may fail to cover future product liability claims, thereby requiring us to pay
substantial monetary damages and adversely affecting our business.
We
rely on independent third parties for the ingredients used in our products. If
these third parties fail to reliably supply ingredients to us at required
levels, then our financial condition and operating results could be
harmed.
In the event any of our third party
suppliers were to become unable or unwilling to continue to provide us with
ingredients in required volumes and at suitable quality levels, we would be
required to identify and obtain acceptable replacement sources. There is no
assurance that we would be able to obtain alternative supply sources on a timely
basis. An extended interruption in the supply of ingredients would result in the
loss of sales. In addition, any actual or perceived degradation of product
quality as a result of reliance on third party suppliers may have an adverse
effect on our sales or result in increased product returns and buybacks. We
obtain the key component of Arthaffect through a non-exclusive licensing
agreement. In the event that we were unable to obtain that ingredient from our
supplier, we could have difficulty obtaining an acceptable
alternative.
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We
depend on the integrity and reliability of our information technology
infrastructure, and any related inadequacies may result in substantial
interruptions to our business.
Our ability to timely provide products
to our distributors and their customers, and services to our distributors,
depends on the integrity of our information technology system. The most
important aspect of our information technology infrastructure is the system
through which we record and track distributor sales, volume points, generation
royalty payments, bonuses and other incentives. Our primary data sets are
archived and stored at a third party secure site. We have encountered, and may
encounter in the future, errors in our software or our enterprise network, or
inadequacies in the software and services supplied by our vendors. Any such
errors or inadequacies that we may encounter in the future may result in
substantial interruptions to our services and may damage our relationships with,
or cause us to lose, our distributors if the errors or inadequacies impair our
ability to track sales and to make generation royalty payments, bonuses and
other incentives, which would harm our financial condition and operating
results. Such errors may be expensive or difficult to correct in a timely
manner, and we may have little or no control over whether any inadequacies in
software or services supplied to us by third parties are corrected, if at all.
Despite any precautions, the occurrence of a natural disaster or other
unanticipated problems could result in interruptions in services and reduce our
revenue and profits.
If
we fail to protect our trademarks, then our ability to compete could be
negatively affected, which would harm our financial condition and operating
results.
The market for our products depends to
a significant extent upon the goodwill associated with our trademarks. We own,
or have licenses to use, the material trademark rights used in connection with
the packaging, marketing and distribution of our products in the markets where
those products are sold. Therefore, trademark protection is important to our
business. Although most of our trademarks are registered in the United States
and in certain foreign countries in which we operate, we may not be successful
in asserting trademark protection. In addition, the laws of certain foreign
countries may not protect our intellectual property rights to the same extent as
the laws of the United States. The loss or infringement of our trademarks could
impair the goodwill associated with our brands and harm our reputation, which
would harm our financial condition and operating results.
If
our intellectual property is not adequate to provide us with a competitive
advantage or to prevent competitors from replicating our products, or if we
infringe the intellectual property rights of others, then our financial
condition and operating results would be harmed.
Our future success and ability to
compete depend, in part, upon our ability to timely produce innovative products
and product enhancements that motivate our distributors and customers, which we
attempt to protect under a combination of patents, copyrights, trademark and
trade secret laws, confidentiality procedures and contractual provisions.
However, not all of our products are patented domestically or abroad, and the
legal protections afforded by our common law and contractual proprietary rights
in our products provide only limited protection and may be time-consuming and
expensive to enforce and/or maintain. Further, despite our efforts, we may be
unable to prevent third parties from infringing upon or misappropriating our
proprietary rights or from independently developing non-infringing products that
are competitive with, equivalent to and/or superior to our products.
Additionally, third parties may claim that products we have independently
developed infringe upon their intellectual property rights.
Monitoring infringement and/or
misappropriation of intellectual property can be difficult and expensive, and we
may not be able to detect all infringement or misappropriation of our
proprietary rights. Even if we detect infringement or misappropriation of our
proprietary rights, litigation to enforce these rights could cause us to divert
financial and other resources away from our business operations. Further, the
laws of some foreign countries do not protect our proprietary rights to the same
extent as do the laws of the United States.
20
If
we lose the services of members of our senior management team or fail to attract
and retain qualified scientific or production personnel, then our financial
condition and operating results would be harmed.
We depend on the continued services of
our Chief Executive Officer and founder, Robert L. Montgomery, and our current
senior management team and the relationships that they have developed with our
upper-level distributor leadership. Although we have entered into employment
agreements with many members of our senior management team, and do not believe
that any of them are planning to leave or retire in the near term, we cannot
ensure that our senior managers will remain with us. The loss or departure of
any member of our senior management team, in particular, Mr. Montgomery,
could negatively impact our distributor relations and operating results.
Mr. Montgomery’s employment agreement currently allows him at any time
either to (1) reduce his level of service to us by approximately one-half
with a corresponding decrease in position and base compensation and a 25%
decrease in incentive compensation or (2) terminate his employment
agreement and continue in a consulting capacity for 15 years at 30% of his
average annual compensation over the previous five years as a consulting fee.
The loss of such key personnel could negatively impact our ability to implement
our business strategy, and our continued success will also be dependent upon our
ability to retain existing, and attract additional, qualified personnel to meet
our needs.
Recruiting and retaining qualified
scientific and production personnel to perform research and development work and
product manufacturing are also critical to our success. Because the industry in
which we compete is very competitive, we face significant challenges in
attracting and retaining this qualified personnel base. We generally do not
enter into employment agreements requiring these employees to continue in our
employment for any period of time.
We
may be held responsible for certain taxes relating to our distributors, which
could harm our financial condition and operating results.
Under current law, our distributors in
the United States and the other countries in which we operate are treated for
income tax purposes as independent contractors and compensation paid to them is
not subject to withholding by us. The definition of independent contractor has
been challenged in the past and any changes could possibly jeopardize the exempt
status enjoyed by direct sellers and negatively impact our recruiting efforts.
The network marketing industry has strongly opposed such bills as they relate to
direct sellers. States have become increasingly active in this area as well. To
date, the status of direct sellers as independent contractors has not been
affected. However, there is no assurance that future legislation at the federal
or state level, or in countries other than the United States, affecting direct
sellers will not be enacted.
Risks
Related to Our Industry
The
nutritional products industry is highly competitive.
The business of marketing nutritional
products is highly competitive. The nutritional products industry includes
numerous manufacturers, distributors, marketers, retailers and physicians that
actively compete for the business of consumers both in the United States and
abroad. Additionally, companies in other industries, such as the pharmaceutical
industry, could compete in the nutritional products industry. Some of these
competitors have longer operating histories, significantly greater financial,
technical, product development, marketing and sales resources, greater name
recognition, larger established customer bases and better-developed distribution
channels than we do.
Adverse
publicity associated with our products, ingredients or network marketing
program, or those of similar companies, could harm our financial condition and
operating results.
The size of our distribution network
and the results of our operations may be significantly affected by the public’s
perception of us and similar companies. This perception is dependent upon
opinions concerning:
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the
safety and quality of our products and
ingredients;
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the
safety and quality of similar products and ingredients distributed by
other companies;
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regulatory
investigations of us, our competitors and our respective
products;
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the
actions of our current or former
distributors;
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our
network marketing program; and
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network
marketing businesses generally.
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Adverse publicity concerning any actual
or purported failure by us or our distributors to comply with applicable laws
and regulations regarding product claims and advertising, good manufacturing
practices, the regulation of our network marketing program, the licensing of our
products for sale in our target markets or other aspects of our business,
whether or not resulting in enforcement actions or the imposition of penalties,
could have an adverse effect on the reputation of our company and could
negatively affect our ability to attract, motivate and retain distributors,
which would negatively impact our ability to generate revenue. We cannot ensure
that all distributors will comply with applicable legal requirements relating to
the advertising, labeling, licensing or distribution of our
products.
In addition, our distributors’ and
consumers’ perception of the safety and quality of our products and ingredients,
as well as similar products and ingredients distributed by other companies, can
be significantly influenced by national media attention, publicized scientific
research or findings, widespread product liability claims and other publicity
concerning our products or ingredients or similar products and ingredients
distributed by other companies. Adverse publicity, whether or not accurate or
resulting from consumers’ use or misuse of our products, that associates
consumption of our products or ingredients or any similar products or
ingredients with illness or other adverse effects, or that questions the
benefits of our or similar products or claims that any such products are
ineffective, inappropriately labeled or have inaccurate instructions as to their
use, could negatively impact our reputation or the market demand for our
products.
We
are affected by extensive laws, governmental regulations, administrative
determinations, court decisions and similar constraints, both domestically and
abroad, and our or our distributors’ failure to comply with these restraints
could lead to the imposition of significant penalties or claims, which could
harm our financial condition and operating results.
In both domestic and foreign markets,
the formulation, manufacturing, packaging, labeling, distribution, importation,
exportation, licensing, sale and storage of our products are affected by
extensive laws, governmental regulations, administrative determinations, court
decisions and similar constraints. There can be no assurance that we or our
distributors are in compliance with all of these regulations. Our or our
distributors’ failure to comply with these regulations or new regulations could
lead to the imposition of significant penalties or claims and could negatively
impact our business. In addition, the adoption of new regulations or changes in
the interpretations of existing regulations may result in significant compliance
costs or discontinuation of product sales and may negatively impact the
marketing of our products, resulting in significant loss of sales.
On
April 12, 2006, the Federal Trade Commission issued its Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking in respect of The Business Opportunity Rule, R511993. The
rule, if enacted in its original form, would likely have caused us, as well as
most other direct sellers, to be regulated as a seller of business opportunities
in the United States and could have negatively impacted our business and
ability to attract new distributors in the United States. However, on
March 18, 2008, the Federal Trade Commission issued a revised proposed rule that
is narrowed in scope to avoid broadly sweeping in sellers of multi-level
marketing opportunities, as indicated in the supplementary information
accompanying the issuance of the revised rule by the Federal Trade
Commission. If enacted in its current revised form, we believe that
the revised rule would not adversely impact our U.S. business. There
can be no assurance, however, that the revised proposed rule will be enacted in
the form proposed.
On June 25, 2007, the FDA announced a
final rule establishing current good manufacturing practices, or cGMPs,
affecting the manufacture, packing and holding of dietary supplements. The new
rule creates standards to ensure that dietary supplements and dietary
ingredients are not adulterated with contaminants or impurities and are labeled
to accurately reflect the active ingredients and other ingredients in the
products. It also includes requirements for designing and constructing physical
plants, establishing quality control procedures, and testing manufactured
dietary ingredients and dietary supplements, as well as requirements for
maintaining records. Under the new rule, we are considered a small
business and, accordingly, have until June 2009 to comply with the final
rule. We have evaluated the impact of the final rule on our
manufacturing facilities and procedures and believe we will be compliant with
the final rule by June 2009. There can be no assurance, however, that
we will not have to alter our manufacturing facilities and/or procedures or that
compliance with the final cGMPs will not increase production costs.
22
Our
network marketing program could be found not to be in compliance with current or
newly adopted laws or regulations in one or more markets, which could prevent us
from conducting our business in these markets and harm our financial condition
and operating results.
Our network marketing program is
subject to a number of federal and state regulations administered by the Federal
Trade Commission and various state agencies in the United States as well as
regulations on network marketing in foreign markets administered by foreign
agencies. We are subject to the risk that, in one or more markets, our network
marketing program could be found not to be in compliance with applicable law or
regulations. Regulations applicable to network marketing organizations generally
are directed at preventing fraudulent or deceptive schemes, often referred to as
“pyramid” or “chain sales” schemes, by ensuring that product sales ultimately
are made to consumers and that advancement within an organization is based on
sales of the organization’s products rather than investments in the organization
or other non-retail sales-related criteria. The regulatory requirements
concerning network marketing programs do not include “bright line” rules and are
inherently fact-based. Thus, even in jurisdictions where we believe that our
network marketing program is in full compliance with applicable laws or
regulations governing network marketing systems, we are subject to the risk that
these laws or regulations or the enforcement or interpretation of these laws and
regulations by governmental agencies or courts could change. The failure of our
network marketing program to comply with current or newly adopted regulations
could negatively impact our business in a particular market or in general. An
adverse determination could (1) require us to make modifications to our
network marketing system, (2) result in negative publicity or (3) have
a negative impact on distributor morale. In addition, adverse rulings by courts
in any proceedings challenging the legality of multi-level marketing systems,
even in those not involving us directly, could have a material adverse effect on
our operations.
We also are subject to the risk of
private party challenges to the legality of our network marketing program. The
multi-level marketing programs of other companies have been successfully
challenged in the past. An adverse judicial determination with respect to our
network marketing program, or in proceedings not involving us directly but which
challenge the legality of multi-level marketing systems in any market in which
we operate, could negatively impact our business.
Changes
in consumer preferences and discretionary spending could negatively impact our
operating results.
Our business is subject to changing
consumer trends and preferences. Our continued success depends in part on our
ability to anticipate and respond to these changes, and we may not respond in a
timely or commercially appropriate manner to such changes. Furthermore, the
nutritional supplement industry is characterized by rapid and frequent changes
in demand for products and new product introductions and enhancements. Our
failure to accurately predict these trends could negatively impact consumer
opinion of our products, which in turn could harm our customer and distributor
relationships and cause the loss of sales. The success of our new product
offerings and enhancements depends upon a number of factors, including our
ability to:
|
•
|
accurately
anticipate customer needs;
|
|
•
|
innovate
and develop new products or product enhancements that meet these
needs;
|
|
•
|
successfully
commercialize new products or product enhancements in a timely
manner;
|
|
•
|
price
our products competitively;
|
|
•
|
manufacture
and deliver our products in sufficient volumes and in a timely manner;
and
|
|
•
|
differentiate
our product offerings from those of our
competitors.
|
If we do not introduce new products or
make enhancements to meet the changing needs of our customers in a timely
manner, some of our products could be rendered obsolete, which could negatively
impact our revenues, financial condition and operating results.
Additionally, the success of our
business and our operating results is dependent on discretionary spending by
consumers. A decline in discretionary spending could adversely affect our
business, financial condition, operating results and cash flows. Our business
could also be adversely affected by general economic conditions, demographic
trends, consumer confidence in the economy and changes in disposable consumer
income.
23
Risks
Related to Ownership of Our Common Stock
The
trading price of our common shares is likely to be volatile.
The trading price of our common shares
has been and is likely to be subject to fluctuations. Factors affecting the
trading price of our common shares may include:
|
•
|
fluctuations
in our quarterly operating and earnings per share
results;
|
|
•
|
material
developments with respect to future
acquisitions;
|
|
•
|
loss
of key personnel and key
distributors;
|
|
•
|
announcements
of technological innovations or new products by us or our
competitors;
|
|
•
|
delays
in the development and introduction of new
products;
|
|
•
|
our
failure to timely address changing customer or distributor
preferences;
|
|
•
|
legislative
or regulatory changes;
|
|
•
|
general
trends in the industry;
|
|
•
|
recommendations
and/or changes in estimates by equity and market research
analysts;
|
|
•
|
biological
or medical discoveries;
|
|
•
|
disputes
and/or developments concerning intellectual property, including patents
and litigation matters;
|
|
•
|
sales
of common stock by our existing holders, in particular, sales by
management;
|
|
•
|
securities
class action or other litigation;
|
|
•
|
developments
in our relationships with current or future distributors, customers or
suppliers; and
|
|
•
|
general
economic conditions, both in the United States and
abroad.
|
In addition, if the market for health
and nutrition or network marketing stocks, or the stock market in general,
experiences a loss of investor confidence, the trading price of our common
shares could decline for reasons unrelated to our business or financial results.
The trading price of our common shares might also decline in reaction to events
that affect other companies in our industry even if these events do not directly
affect us.
Our
Chief Executive Officer, together with his family members and affiliates,
controls a substantial portion of our combined stockholder voting power, and his
interests may be different from yours.
Our Chief Executive Officer, Robert L.
Montgomery, together with his family (including his sons R. Scott
Montgomery and Ryan A. Montgomery) and affiliates, has the ability to influence
the election and removal of the members of our board of directors and, as a
result, to influence the future direction and operations of our company. As of
March 1, 2009, Robert L. Montgomery, his family and affiliates beneficially
owned approximately 24.3% of our common stock. Accordingly, they may
significantly influence decisions concerning business opportunities, declaring
dividends, issuing additional shares of common stock or other securities and the
approval of any merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of our
assets. They may make decisions that are inconsistent with your
interests.
Limited
daily trading volume of our common stock may contribute to its price
volatility.
Our common stock trades on the NASDAQ
Global Select Market. During 2008, the average daily trading volume for our
common stock as reported by the NASDAQ Global Select Market was approximately
22,700 shares. As a result, relatively small trades may have a
significant impact on the price of our common stock.
Future
sales of shares by existing stockholders, including management stockholders,
could cause our stock price to decline.
If our existing stockholders sell, or
indicate an intention to sell, substantial amounts of our common shares in the
public market, the trading price of our common shares could
decline. The sale of substantial amounts of Mr. Robert L.
Montgomery’s or management’s stock in the public market, or the perception that
these sales may occur, could reduce the market price of our stock.
24
We
may issue preferred stock in the future, with rights senior to our common
stock.
We have authorized in our certificate
of incorporation the issuance of up to three million shares of preferred stock.
We may issue shares of preferred stock in one or more new series. Our board of
directors may determine the terms of the preferred stock without further action
by our stockholders. These terms may include voting rights, preferences as to
dividends and liquidation, conversion and redemption rights, and sinking fund
provisions. Although we have no present plans to issue shares of preferred stock
or to create new series of preferred stock, if we do issue preferred stock, it
could affect the rights, or even reduce the value, of our common
stock.
Item No. 1B - Unresolved
Staff Comments
As of the filing of this Annual Report
on Form 10-K, we had no unresolved comments from the staff of the Securities and
Exchange Commission that were received not less than 180 days before the end of
our 2008 fiscal year.
Item No. 2 –
Properties
We own approximately six acres of land
and a building containing approximately 126,000 square feet of office,
manufacturing and warehouse space located in Chesterfield, Missouri, where we
maintain our corporate headquarters and sole manufacturing facility. We believe
that our worldwide facilities are suitable and adequate in relation to our
present and immediate future needs.
The following table summarizes
information related to our worldwide facilities as of December 31,
2008:
Location
|
Nature of Use
|
Square Feet
|
Owned/Leased
|
|||
Chesterfield,
MO, USA
|
corporate
headquarters/call center/manufacturing/warehouse
|
126,000
|
Owned
|
|||
Seven
Hills (Sydney), Australia
|
central
office/ warehouse/distribution
|
8,900
|
Leased
|
|||
Oakville,
Ontario, Canada
|
warehouse/distribution
|
2,100
|
Leased
|
|||
Mexico
City, Mexico
|
central
office/ warehouse/distribution
|
28,000
|
Leased
|
|||
Makati
City (Manila), Philippines
|
central
office/ warehouse/distribution
|
3,900
|
Leased
|
|||
Birmingham,
England, UK
|
central
office/ warehouse/distribution
|
2,200
|
Leased
|
|||
Petaling
Jaya, Malaysia
|
central
office/call center warehouse/distribution
|
4,000
|
Leased
|
|||
Dietzenbach
(Frankfurt), Germany
|
|
warehouse/distribution
|
|
8,300
|
|
Leased
|
Item No. 3 - Legal
Proceedings
From time
to time, we are involved in litigation incidental to the conduct of our
business. We do not believe that any current proceedings will have a
material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, results of
operations or cash flows.
Item No. 4 - Submission of
Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
No matters were submitted to a vote of
security holders during the fourth quarter of 2008.
25
PART
II
Item No. 5 - Market for
Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of
Equity Securities
Our common stock is listed on the
NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol: RELV. The following
table sets forth the high and low sales prices of our common stock and the
quarterly dividends per share paid on our common stock during the years ended
December 31, 2008 and 2007.
High
|
Low
|
Dividend
|
||||||||||
Year
Ending December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||
Fourth
Quarter
|
$ | 5.95 | $ | 3.85 | $ | 0.05 | ||||||
Third
Quarter
|
6.90 | 5.00 | - | |||||||||
Second
Quarter
|
7.47 | 5.45 | 0.05 | |||||||||
First
Quarter
|
8.75 | 6.03 | - | |||||||||
Year
Ending December 31, 2007
|
||||||||||||
Fourth
Quarter
|
10.07 | 7.50 | 0.05 | |||||||||
Third
Quarter
|
11.60 | 8.94 | - | |||||||||
Second
Quarter
|
11.56 | 9.53 | 0.05 | |||||||||
First
Quarter
|
11.49 | 8.57 | - |
As of February 27, 2009, there were
approximately 2,005 holders of record of our common stock and an additional
4,453 beneficial owners, including shares of common stock held in street
name.
ISSUER
PURCHASES OF EQUITY SHARES
Period
|
Total
Number
of
Shares
Purchased(1)
|
Average
Price
Paid per Share
|
Total Number of Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Programs
|
Approximate
Dollar
Value
of Shares that
May Yet Be Purchased
Under
the Plans or
Programs(2)
|
||||||||||||
October
1-31, 2008
|
124,427 | $ | 4.73 | 49,427 | $ | 12,192,000 | ||||||||||
November
1-30, 2008
|
105,100 | $ | 5.19 | 17,600 | $ | 12,099,000 | ||||||||||
December
1-31, 2008
|
44,000 | $ | 4.91 | 19,000 | $ | 12,005,000 | ||||||||||
Total
|
273,527 | 86,027 |
(1)
|
Includes
75,000, 87,500, and 25,000 shares purchased from a significant shareholder
in October, November, and December 2008, respectively, at market price at
the time of each purchase.
|
(2)
|
In
May 2007, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a share repurchase
plan of up to $15 million through April
2010.
|
26
Stock Performance
Graph
The
following graph compares, for the period January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2008,
the cumulative total return (assuming reinvestment of dividends) on our common
stock with (i) NASDAQ Composite Index (U.S.) and (ii) a peer group including the
following companies: Mannatech, Inc., Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc., and
USANA Health Sciences, Inc. The peer group consists of other
companies marketing nutritional products through direct sales. The graph assumes
an investment of $100 on January 1, 2004, in our common stock and each of the
other investment categories.
The
historical stock prices of our common stock shown on the graph below are not
necessarily indicative of future price performance. Per share value as of
December 31, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 is based on the common stock’s
closing price as of such date.
The
information provided under the heading “Performance Graph” shall not be
considered “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 or incorporated by reference in any filing under the Securities Act of 1933
or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Base
Period
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
12/03 | 12/04 | 12/05 | 12/06 | 12/07 | 12/08 | |||||||||||||||||||
Reliv'
International, Inc.
|
100.00 | 175.83 | 261.28 | 173.77 | 165.81 | 92.76 | ||||||||||||||||||
NASDAQ
Composite
|
100.00 | 110.08 | 112.88 | 126.51 | 138.13 | 80.47 | ||||||||||||||||||
Peer
Group
|
100.00 | 146.57 | 138.18 | 156.89 | 103.60 | 81.52 |
27
Item No. 6 - Selected
Financial Data
The following selected financial data
are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The
data should be read in conjunction with “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included in this Annual Report on
Form 10-K and our audited consolidated financial statements, related notes and
other financial information included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Our
historical results are not necessarily indicative of our results of operations
for future periods.
Year
Ended
December
31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
||||||||||||||||
Statements
of Operations Data:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Product
sales
|
$ | 87,348,915 | $ | 99,465,246 | $ | 105,497,420 | $ | 102,045,383 | $ | 87,565,109 | ||||||||||
Handling
and freight income
|
10,845,903 | 11,592,258 | 11,969,737 | 11,519,781 | 9,417,324 | |||||||||||||||
Net
sales
|
98,194,818 | 111,057,504 | 117,467,157 | 113,565,164 | 96,982,433 | |||||||||||||||
Costs
and expenses:
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Cost
of products sold
|
17,437,133 | 19,100,527 | 19,519,904 | 19,264,347 | 16,662,935 | |||||||||||||||
Distributor
royalties and commissions
|
38,207,889 | 44,298,744 | 47,127,026 | 45,479,062 | 38,622,537 | |||||||||||||||
Selling,
general, and administrative
|
36,881,041 | 40,363,322 | 38,716,529 | 36,348,526 | 32,710,657 | |||||||||||||||
Total
costs and expenses
|
92,526,063 | 103,762,593 | 105,363,459 | 101,091,935 | 87,996,129 | |||||||||||||||
Income
from operations
|
5,668,755 | 7,294,911 | 12,103,698 | 12,473,229 | 8,986,304 | |||||||||||||||
Other
income (expense):
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Interest
income
|
328,057 | 634,446 | 692,595 | 238,473 | 118,467 | |||||||||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(37,327 | ) | (1,373 | ) | (50,156 | ) | (313,329 | ) | (243,118 | ) | ||||||||||
Gain
(loss) on limited partnership investment
|
(595,887 | ) | 52,162 | 32,320 | — | — | ||||||||||||||
Other
income
|
30,353 | 261,969 | 224,646 | 101,043 | 146,036 | |||||||||||||||
Total
other income (expense)
|
(274,804 | ) | 947,204 | 899,405 | 26,187 | 21,385 | ||||||||||||||
Income
before income taxes
|
5,393,951 | 8,242,115 | 13,003,103 | 12,499,416 | 9,007,689 | |||||||||||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
2,513,000 | 3,201,000 | 5,105,000 | 4,978,000 | 3,621,000 | |||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
2,880,951 | 5,041,115 | 7,898,103 | 7,521,416 | 5,386,689 | |||||||||||||||
Preferred
dividends accrued and paid
|
— | — | — | — | 12,292 | |||||||||||||||
Net
income available to common shareholders
|
$ | 2,880,951 | $ | 5,041,115 | $ | 7,898,103 | $ | 7,521,416 | $ | 5,374,397 | ||||||||||
Earnings
per common share – Basic
|
$ | 0.19 | $ | 0.31 | $ | 0.48 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 0.34 | ||||||||||
Weighted
average shares
|
15,213,000 | 16,094,000 | 16,465,000 | 15,885,000 | 15,662,000 | |||||||||||||||
Earnings
per common share – Diluted
|
$ | 0.19 | $ | 0.31 | $ | 0.47 | $ | 0.46 | $ | 0.31 | ||||||||||
Weighted
average shares
|
15,223,000 | 16,303,000 | 16,727,000 | 16,388,000 | 17,137,000 | |||||||||||||||
Cash
dividends declared per common share
|
$ | 0.100 | $ | 0.100 | $ | 0.100 | $ | 0.075 | $ | 0.065 |
As
of December 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
Sheet Data:
|
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
2005
|
2004
|
|||||||||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 4,460,637 | $ | 11,694,699 | $ | 9,332,810 | $ | 5,653,594 | $ | 10,151,503 | ||||||||||
Working
capital
|
6,245,415 | 12,513,543 | 16,229,922 | 3,963,741 | 11,466,647 | |||||||||||||||
Total
assets
|
23,892,779 | 33,606,771 | 37,282,220 | 25,981,423 | 30,996,667 | |||||||||||||||
Long-term
debt, less current maturities
|
— | — | — | 2,211,065 | 3,357,691 | |||||||||||||||
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
16,107,590 | 23,805,201 | 27,733,851 | 12,564,828 | 18,190,753 |
28
Item No.
7 - Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition
and Results of Operations
The following discussion and analysis
of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in
conjunction with “Item No. 6 - Selected Financial Data” and our financial
statements and related notes included elsewhere in this Annual Report on Form
10-K. The following discussion and analysis discusses the financial
condition and results of our operations on a consolidated basis, unless
otherwise indicated.
Overview
We are a developer, manufacturer and
marketer of a proprietary line of nutritional supplements addressing basic
nutrition, specific wellness needs, weight management and sports nutrition. We
also offer a line of skin care products. We sell our products through an
international network marketing system utilizing independent distributors. Sales
in the United States represented approximately 87.0% of worldwide net sales for
the year ended December 31, 2008 compared to approximately 88.5% for the year
ended December 31, 2007. Our international operations currently generate sales
through distributor networks in Australia, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia,
Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore and the
United Kingdom. We also operate on a limited basis in Austria
and the Netherlands from our German distribution center and in Brunei from our
Malaysia office.
We derive our revenues principally
through product sales made by our global independent distributor base, which, as
of December 31, 2008, consisted of approximately 67,340 distributors. Our sales
can be affected by several factors, including our ability to attract new
distributors and retain our existing distributor base, our ability to properly
train and motivate our distributor base and our ability to develop new products
and successfully maintain our current product line.
All of our sales to distributors
outside the United States are made in the respective local currency;
therefore, our earnings and cash flows are subject to fluctuations due to
changes in foreign currency rates as compared to the U.S. dollar. As a
result, exchange rate fluctuations may have an effect on sales and gross
margins. Accounting practices require that our results from operations be
converted to U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. Consequently, our
reported earnings may be significantly affected by fluctuations in currency
exchange rates, generally increasing with a weaker U.S. dollar and
decreasing with a strengthening U.S. dollar. Products manufactured by us
for sale to our foreign subsidiaries are transacted in U.S. dollars. From
time to time, we enter into foreign exchange forward contracts to mitigate our
foreign currency exchange risk.
Components
of Net Sales and Expense
Product sales represent the actual
product purchase price typically paid by our distributors, after giving effect
to distributor allowances, which can range between 20% to 40% of suggested
retail price, depending on the rank of a particular
distributor. Handling and freight income represents the amounts
billed to distributors for shipping costs. We record net sales and
the related commission expense when the merchandise is shipped.
Our primary expenses include cost of
products sold, distributor royalties and commissions and selling, general and
administrative expenses.
Cost of products sold primarily
consists of expenses related to raw materials, labor, quality control and
overhead directly associated with production of our products and sales
materials, as well as shipping costs relating to the shipment of products to
distributors, and duties and taxes associated with product
exports. Cost of products sold is impacted by the cost of the
ingredients used in our products, the cost of shipping distributors’ orders,
along with our efficiency in managing the production of our
products.
Distributor royalties and commissions
are monthly payments made to Master Affiliates and above, based on products sold
in their downline organization. Based on our distributor agreements, these
expenses typically approximate 23% of sales at suggested retail. Also, we
include other sales leadership bonuses, such as Ambassador bonuses, in this line
item. Distributor royalties and commissions are directly related to the level of
our sales and, absent any changes in our distributor compensation plan, should
continue at comparable levels as a percentage of net sales as in recent periods.
However, in 2008, we adjusted the commission structure on our newest product,
GlucAffect, and other higher priced products in our line. We reduced the
value of the product used to determine purchase discounts and commission payouts
on these products. This, in turn, allows us to sell these products at a
lower suggested retail price. This adjustment appears as a slight
reduction in the percentage of distributor royalties and commissions as a
percentage of net sales. We are considering similar adjustments in
our foreign markets during 2009.
29
Selling, general and administrative
expenses include the compensation and benefits paid to our employees, all other
selling expenses, marketing, promotional expenses, travel and other corporate
administrative expenses. These other corporate administrative expenses include
professional fees, depreciation and amortization, occupancy costs, communication
costs and other similar operating expenses. Selling, general and administrative
expenses can be affected by a number of factors, including staffing levels and
the cost of providing competitive salaries and benefits; the amount we decide to
invest in distributor training and motivational initiatives; the cost of
regulatory compliance, such as the costs incurred to comply with the various
provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; and other administrative
costs.
Results
of Operations
The
following table sets forth selected results of our operations expressed as a
percentage of net sales for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
Our results of operations for the periods described below are not necessarily
indicative of results of operations for future periods.
Year
ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Net
sales
|
100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | 100.0 | % | ||||||
Costs
and expenses:
|
||||||||||||
Cost
of products sold
|
17.8 | 17.2 | 16.6 | |||||||||
Distributor
royalties and commissions
|
38.9 | 39.9 | 40.1 | |||||||||
Selling,
general and administrative
|
37.5 | 36.3 | 33.0 | |||||||||
Income
from operations
|
5.8 | 6.6 | 10.3 | |||||||||
Interest
income
|
0.3 | 0.5 | 0.6 | |||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | (0.0 | ) | ||||||
Gain
(loss) on limited partnership investment
|
(0.6 | ) | 0.0 | 0.0 | ||||||||
Other
income
|
0.0 | 0.3 | 0.2 | |||||||||
Income
before income taxes
|
5.5 | 7.4 | 11.1 | |||||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
2.6 | 2.9 | 4.4 | |||||||||
Net
income
|
2.9 | % | 4.5 | % | 6.7 | % |
Year
Ended December 31, 2008 Compared to Year Ended December 31,
2007
Net
Sales. Overall, sales decreased by 11.6% worldwide, as sales
in the United States decreased by 13.2% in the year ended December 31, 2008
compared to 2007. During 2008, our international sales increased by
0.8% over the prior year. The Malaysia/Singapore market experienced a
52.5% increase in net sales in 2008; however, this was offset by declines in the
United Kingdom, Germany, Philippines, and Australia/New Zealand markets, as
shown in the table below. Net sales in Canada and Mexico showed
slight increases in net sales during 2008 compared to 2007.
30
The
following table summarizes net sales by geographic market ranked by the date we
began operations in each market for the years ended December 31, 2008 and
2007.
Year
Ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
Change
from prior year
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Amount
|
%
of Net
Sales
|
Amount
|
%
of Net Sales
|
Amount
|
%
|
|||||||||||||||||||
(dollars
in thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
United
States
|
$ | 85,382 | 87.0 | % | $ | 98,348 | 88.5 | % | $ | (12,966 | ) | (13.2 | )% | |||||||||||
Australia/New
Zealand
|
2,681 | 2.7 | 2,944 | 2.7 | (263 | ) | (8.9 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Canada
|
1,660 | 1.7 | 1,634 | 1.5 | 26 | 1.6 | ||||||||||||||||||
Mexico
|
1,543 | 1.6 | 1,526 | 1.4 | 17 | 1.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
United
Kingdom/Ireland
|
1,023 | 1.0 | 1,062 | 1.0 | (39 | ) | (3.7 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Philippines
|
2,709 | 2.8 | 2,942 | 2.6 | (233 | ) | (7.9 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Malaysia/Singapore
|
2,692 | 2.7 | 1,765 | 1.5 | 927 | 52.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Germany
|
505 | 0.5 | 837 | 0.8 | (332 | ) | (39.7 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Consolidated
total
|
$ | 98,195 | 100.0 | % | $ | 111,058 | 100.0 | % | $ | (12,863 | ) | (11.6 | )% |
The following table sets forth, as of
December 31, 2008 and 2007, the number of our active distributors and Master
Affiliates and above. The total number of active distributors
includes Master Affiliates and above. We define an active distributor as one
that enrolls as a distributor or renews its distributorship during the prior
twelve months. Master Affiliates and above are distributors that have
attained the highest level of discount and are eligible for royalties generated
by Master Affiliates and above in their downline organization. Growth
in the number of active distributors and Master Affiliates and above is a key
factor in continuing the growth of our business.
December
31, 2008
|
December
31, 2007
|
%
Change
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Active
Distributors
|
Master
Affiliates
and
Above
|
Active
Distributors
|
Master
Affiliates
and
Above
|
Active
Distributors
|
Master
Affiliates
and
Above
|
|||||||||||||||||||
United
States
|
53,450 | 10,910 | 56,920 | 13,890 | (6.1 | )% | (21.5 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Australia/New
Zealand
|
2,390 | 240 | 2,450 | 280 | (2.4 | ) | (14.3 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Canada
|
1,260 | 170 | 1,140 | 180 | 10.5 | (5.6 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
Mexico
|
1,480 | 240 | 1,430 | 220 | 3.5 | 9.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
United
Kingdom/Ireland
|
760 | 120 | 780 | 120 | (2.6 | ) | 0.0 | |||||||||||||||||
Philippines
|
4,470 | 450 | 4,530 | 400 | (1.3 | ) | 12.5 | |||||||||||||||||
Malaysia/Singapore
|
3,190 | 590 | 2,170 | 350 | 47.0 | 68.6 | ||||||||||||||||||
Germany
|
340 | 80 | 550 | 150 | (38.2 | ) | (46.7 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Consolidated
total
|
67,340 | 12,800 | 69,970 | 15,590 | (3.8 | )% | (17.9 | )% |
Sales in the United States are being
adversely impacted by multiple factors. First, we believe the credit
problems in the U.S. economy, primarily during the last four months of 2008,
played a role in our sales decline. In addition to the direct impact
on sales, recruiting activity has declined in the form of decreased new
distributor enrollments. In 2008, approximately 17,200 new
distributors were enrolled in the United States, as compared to approximately
21,930 in 2007. However, distributor retention in the United States
remained fairly steady at approximately 64.7% for 2008 compared to a rate of
65.2% for 2007. Also contributing to the decline in sales was that
fewer distributors qualified for the level of Master Affiliate during 2008,
compared to 2007. In 2008, approximately 3,890 distributors qualified
as new Master Affiliates and 50.5% of the Master Affiliates and above as of
December 31, 2007 requalified as Master Affiliates and above during
2008. This compares to approximately 5,150 new Master Affiliates and
a requalification rate of 47.6% in 2007.
Another
factor in the decline in U.S. sales was the reduction in sales volume of
Slimplicity®, the weight control product line we introduced in this market in
February 2007. Approximately 45% of the 2008 overall reduction in
U.S. sales was the result of the decline in the sales of the Slimplicity product
line. In 2007, sales of the Slimplicity product line represented 9.3%
of net product sales. In 2008, this product line represented only
4.0% of net product sales.
31
In
the United States during 2008, we processed approximately 284,780 orders for
products at an average order of $388 at suggested retail. In 2007, we
processed approximately 336,100 product orders at an average order of $386 at
suggested retail. Included in these order and average order totals
are orders placed through our Direct Select program. This program is
available for distributors and their retail customers to order products in less
than case lots directly from us. In the United States during 2008, we processed
a total of approximately 43,750 orders under this program at a suggested retail
sales value of $5.3 million, compared to 61,360 orders, at a suggested
retail value of $7.2 million during 2007. The average order size at a suggested
retail value was $121 in 2008 compared to $118 during 2007. In August
2008, we launched a retail customer autoship program referred to as Direct
Advantage, under which customers can receive a 10% discount from the suggested
retail prices of the products by enrolling in an automatic ordering program with
a 28-day cycle.
In
November 2008, we introduced a new product, GlucAffect, which has been
clinically shown to help to maintain healthy blood sugar levels and support
weight loss. Sales of this new product represented 9.3% of net sales
in the United States in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Over
the past year, we have continued to emphasize the importance in our distributor
training of bringing in new distributors at all levels, not just directly into
the Master Affiliate level. However, we will continue to focus on efforts to
teach our newest distributors to build their business to the Master Affiliate
level through training and other programs. We also continue to focus
on initiatives to improve our new distributor enrollment rates, which we believe
will lead to improved sales.
During
the year ended December 31, 2008, net sales in our international operations
increased in aggregate by 0.8% to $12.8 million compared to
$12.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2007. The increase
in international sales occurred primarily in the Malaysia/Singapore market,
offset by decreases in the United Kingdom, Germany, the Philippines, and
Australia/New Zealand. When net sales for the full year of 2008 are
converted using the 2007 exchange rate for both 2008 and 2007, international net
sales decreased by 0.6% for 2008 compared to the prior year. The
average exchange rate for the U.S. dollar for all of 2008 was slightly weaker
against all currencies of the countries we conduct business in except Mexico and
the United Kingdom, compared to the average exchange rates for all of 2007;
however, the U.S dollar strengthened dramatically over the last 5 months of
2008.
Net sales
in the Australia/New Zealand market decreased by 8.9% in 2008 compared to
2007. New distributor enrollments were 808 in 2008 compared to 900 in
2007. In 2008, 67 distributors qualified as new Master Affiliates,
compared to 94 in the prior year. When net sales are converted using
the 2007 exchange rate for both 2008 and 2007, net sales in this market
decreased by 10.1%. The sales development program initiated in 2006
was discontinued during 2008. The program began to show diminishing
returns and management turned over more of the responsibility of that role to
distributor leaders in the area. As a result, there has been a
short-term decline in sales in the market. However, this reduction
led to decreases in sales development expenses and other expenses resulting in
net income for the Australia/New Zealand market of $45,000 in 2008, compared to
a net loss of $43,000 in 2007. In February 2009, the Slimplicity
weight control line was introduced in the Australia/New Zealand
market. It is marketed under the name, Slimsimply, in this region due
to local product regulations.
Net sales in Canada increased by 1.6%
in 2008 compared to 2007. Sales improved slightly as distributor
enrollments were somewhat improved in 2008 compared to the prior
year. New distributor enrollments were 474 in 2008 compared to 381 in
2007. In 2008, 60 distributors qualified as new Master Affiliates,
compared to 65 in the prior year. When measured in
local currency, Canadian net sales increased by 0.5% in 2008 compared to 2007.
We experienced a net loss in Canada of $147,000 for 2008, compared to net income
of $62,000 in 2007. This change was primarily due to foreign currency
transaction losses of $91,000 for all of 2008, compared to transaction gains of
$60,000 for 2007.
Net sales in Mexico increased 1.1% in
2008 compared to 2007. New distributor enrollments were 1,007 in 2008 compared
to 976 in 2007, and 132 distributors qualified as new Master Affiliates in 2008,
compared to 135 in the prior year. When measured in local currency,
2008 net sales increased by 2.5%, as the Mexican peso weakened slightly on
average for 2008 when compared to the U.S. dollar. The net loss
in Mexico for 2008 was $405,000, compared to a net loss of $332,000 in
2007. The net loss in 2008 is higher due to a new statutory minimum
tax imposed by the Mexican government beginning in 2008, along with an increase
in salary expense due to severance costs of certain terminated
employees.
32
Net sales in the United Kingdom
(UK) decreased by 3.7% for 2008 compared to 2007. However, when
measured in local currency, net sales in the UK increased by 4.3% in 2008
compared to the prior year. Nevertheless, progress in developing
local distributor leaders in this market continues to be slow. New
distributor enrollments were 351 in 2008 compared to 415 in 2007, and 64
distributors qualified as new Master Affiliates in 2008, compared to 46 in
2007. The net loss incurred in the United Kingdom was $377,000 in
2008, compared to a net loss of $564,000 in
2007. Reductions in local selling, general, and
administrative, or SGA expenses were the primary reason for the improved
operating results.
Net sales in the Philippines decreased
by 7.9% in 2008 compared to the prior year. New distributor
enrollments were 3,427 in 2008 compared to 3,390 in 2007, and 265 distributors
qualified as new Master Affiliates in 2008, compared to 253 in
2007. When measured in local currency, 2008 net sales decreased by
11.6%. We made a slight decrease in the price of our products in the
Philippines in early 2008 in response to the strength of the Philippine peso
against the U.S. dollar. However, this did not spur an increase in
sales volume as expected. Further, during the 4th quarter
of 2008, the Philippines began experiencing similar economic issues as
experienced in the U.S. Net income in the Philippines for 2008 was
$32,000, compared to a net loss of $210,000 in 2007, as the result of reductions
in SGA expenses.
Net sales in the Malaysia/Singapore
market increased by 52.5% in 2008 compared to the prior year. New
distributor enrollments were 2,458 in 2008 compared to 1,361 in 2007, and 453
distributors qualified as new Master Affiliates in 2008, compared to 197 in
2007. When measured in local currency, 2008 net sales increased by
47.4%. Positive growth took place in this market in 2008, as shown by
the trends in distributor enrollments and new Master Affiliate
qualifications. Part of the growth is the result of anticipated
additional market openings in the region. However, the combined net
loss for Malaysia/Singapore for 2008 was $267,000, compared to a net loss of
$312,000 in 2007. We began formal operations in Brunei in February
2009, and we are working towards other market openings in the region that can be
operated from our existing regional offices in Malaysia and the
Philippines.
Net sales in Germany decreased by 39.7%
in 2008 compared to the prior year. New distributor enrollments were
106 in 2008, compared to 368 in 2007, and 9 distributors qualified as new Master
Affiliates in 2008, compared to 75 in 2007. When measured in local
currency, 2008 net sales declined by 43.5%. The net loss in Germany for 2008 was
$495,000, compared to a net loss of $688,000 in 2007. We expected
this decline in sales in response to the closing of our Germany corporate office
and restructuring efforts there. During the second quarter of 2008,
we centralized all European call center and administrative functions to our
office in the United Kingdom. While our corporate office in Germany
has been closed, our distribution facility there continues to ship product
orders for the European continent. Orders for the United Kingdom and
Ireland continue to be shipped from our U.K. office. As a result of this
restructuring, we took a one-time charge of $110,000 after taxes in our second
quarter results. This charge related to severance payments and lease
termination costs.
Cost of Products Sold. Cost
of products sold as a percentage of net sales increased to 17.8% for the year
ended December 31, 2008 compared to 17.2% for the year ended December 31,
2007. Gross margins declined in 2008 compared to 2007 due to raw
material price increases, higher freight costs, and lower production levels
corresponding with the decrease in sales.
Distributor Royalties and
Commissions. Distributor royalties and commissions as a percentage of net
sales decreased slightly to 38.9% for the year ended December 31, 2008 compared
to 39.9% for the same period in 2007. The decrease as a percentage of net sales
is the result of changes made to our handling and freight income rates as of
January 1, 2008, coupled with changes made to our commission payout structure on
our newest product, GlucAffect, and certain other higher priced products in our
line.
Selling, General and Administrative
Expenses. For 2008, selling, general and administrative, or SGA, expenses
decreased by $3.5 million compared to 2007. However, SGA
expenses as a percentage of net sales increased to 37.5% in 2008 compared to
36.3% in 2007, as a function of the 11.6% decline in consolidated net
sales.
Sales expenses decreased by $2.01
million in 2008. Of that amount, $1.25 million represented the
decrease in expenses directly related to sales volume, such as star director
bonuses, other sales production bonuses, and credit card fees. The
termination of the sales development program, primarily in Australia, resulted
in a savings of approximately $391,000 in 2008 compared to
2007. Marketing expenses decreased by $759,000 in 2008 compared to
2007. Components of the change included a decrease of $79,000 for our
international and regional leadership conferences, a decrease of $398,000 in
promotional bonuses and trips, and a decrease of $105,000 for distributor
newsletter costs.
33
Distribution
and warehouse expenses decreased by $127,000, primarily from lower
wages. General and administrative expenses decreased by approximately
$587,000 in 2008 compared to 2007. Significant decreases were in
salaries, incentive compensation expense and benefits of $155,000, travel
expenses of $187,000, consulting and professional fees of $88,000, accounting
fees of $233,000, business insurance expenses of $75,000, and directors’ fees of
$85,000. These were offset by increases in depreciation expense of
$98,000, and compensation expense for options and warrants granted of
$123,000.
Interest Income/Expense.
Interest income decreased to $328,000 for the year ended December 31,
2008, compared to $634,000 for the same period in 2007. The decrease
in interest income is the result of a decrease in cash and cash equivalents
during 2008. Interest expense increased to $37,000 for 2008 compared
to $1,000 for 2007.
Gain/loss on investment in a limited
partnership. We invested $1 million as a limited partner in a
private equity fund during 2006. We recognized gains of $52,000 and
$32,000 in 2007 and 2006, respectively, based on our share of the market value
of the investments net of expenses accrued in the fund. During 2008,
we incurred a loss of $596,000 on our investment. As of December 31,
2008, the fund is in the process of being liquidated and in January 2009 we have
received back $469,000 of our total recorded December 31, 2008 account balance
of $489,000.
Income Taxes. We recorded
income tax expense of $2.5 million for 2008, representing an effective rate
of 46.6%. In 2007, we recorded income tax expense of $3.2 million,
representing an effective rate of 38.8%. The higher effective rate in
2008 is the result of current year capital losses incurred on the limited
partnership investment and other investments for which we do not expect to
have sufficient future capital gains to offset and, therefore, have placed a
valuation allowance on the income tax benefit of these capital
losses.
Net Income. Our net income
decreased to $2.9 million ($0.19 per share basic and diluted) for the
year ended December 31, 2008 compared to $5.0 million ($0.31 per share
basic and diluted) for 2007. Profitability decreased commensurate with the
decrease in net sales in the United States, as discussed above, offset by the
reduction in the net loss from international operations. Net income
in the United States was $4.5 million in 2008, compared to $7.1 million in
2007. The net loss from international operations was $1.6 million in
2008, compared a net loss of $2.1 million in 2007.
Year
Ended December 31, 2007 Compared to Year Ended December 31,
2006
Net
Sales. Overall, sales decreased by 5.5% worldwide, as sales in
the United States decreased by 7.0% in the year ended December 31, 2007 compared
to 2006. During 2007, our international sales increased by 8.8% over
the prior year, primarily the result of the weakening U.S.
dollar. However, we did experience sales growth of 20% in our
Philippine market, when measured in local currency.
34
The
following table summarizes net sales by geographic market ranked by the date we
began operations in each market for the years ended December 31, 2007 and
2006.
Year
Ended December 31,
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
2007
|
2006
|
Change
from prior year
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Amount
|
%
of Net
Sales
|
Amount
|
%
of Net Sales
|
Amount
|
%
|
|||||||||||||||||||
(dollars
in thousands)
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
United
States
|
$ | 98,348 | 88.5 | % | $ | 105,784 | 90.0 | % | $ | (7,436 | ) | (7.0 | )% | |||||||||||
Australia/New
Zealand
|
2,944 | 2.7 | 2,550 | 2.2 | 394 | 15.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
Canada
|
1,634 | 1.5 | 1,638 | 1.4 | (4 | ) | (0.2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Mexico
|
1,526 | 1.4 | 1,433 | 1.2 | 93 | 6.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
United
Kingdom/Ireland
|
1,062 | 1.0 | 1,235 | 1.1 | (173 | ) | (14.0 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Philippines
|
2,942 | 2.6 | 2,198 | 1.9 | 744 | 33.8 | ||||||||||||||||||
Malaysia/Singapore
|
1,765 | 1.5 | 1,805 | 1.5 | (40 | ) | (2.2 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Germany
|
837 | 0.8 | 824 | 0.7 | 13 | 1.6 | ||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated
total
|
$ | 111,058 | 100.0 | % | $ | 117,467 | 100.0 | % | $ | (6,409 | ) | (5.5 | )% |
The following table sets forth, as of
December 31, 2007 and 2006, the number of our active distributors and Master
Affiliates and above. The total number of active distributors
includes Master Affiliates and above. We define an active distributor as one
that enrolls as a distributor or renews its distributorship during the prior
twelve months. Master Affiliates and above are distributors that have
attained the highest level of discount and are eligible for royalties generated
by Master Affiliates and above in their downline organization. Growth
in the number of active distributors and Master Affiliates and above is a key
factor in continuing the growth of our business.
December
31, 2007
|
December
31, 2006
|
%
Change
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Active
Distributors
|
Master
Affiliates
and
Above
|
Active
Distributors
|
Master
Affiliates
and
Above
|
Active
Distributors
|
Master
Affiliates
and
Above
|
|||||||||||||||||||
United
States
|
56,920 | 13,890 | 52,880 | 16,580 | 7.6 | % | (16.2 | )% | ||||||||||||||||
Australia/New
Zealand
|
2,450 | 280 | 2,460 | 300 | (0.4 | ) | (6.7 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Canada
|
1,140 | 180 | 1,170 | 180 | (2.6 | ) | 0.0 | |||||||||||||||||
Mexico
|
1,430 | 220 | 1,130 | 240 | 26.5 | (8.3 | ) | |||||||||||||||||
United
Kingdom/Ireland
|
780 | 120 | 910 | 160 | (14.3 | ) | (25.0 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Philippines
|
4,530 | 400 | 3,430 | 370 | 32.1 | 8.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Malaysia/Singapore
|
2,170 | 350 | 2,560 | 410 | (15.2 | ) | (14.6 | ) | ||||||||||||||||
Germany
|
550 | 150 | 420 | 130 | 31.0 | 15.4 | ||||||||||||||||||
Consolidated
total
|
69,970 | 15,590 | 64,960 | 18,370 | 7.7 | % | (15.1 | )% |
In the United States, the sales
decline was the result of fewer distributors qualifying for the level of Master
Affiliate during 2007, compared to 2006. This decrease in the number
of new Master Affiliates led to a reduction in the size of the average
order. In 2007, approximately 5,150 distributors qualified as new
Master Affiliates and 47.6% of the Master Affiliates and above as of December
31, 2006 requalified as Master Affiliates and above during 2007. This
compares to approximately 7,600 new Master Affiliates and a requalification rate
of 56.7% in 2006. In 2007, approximately 21,930 new distributors were
enrolled in the United States, as compared to approximately 20,390 in 2006.
Distributor retention in the United States improved slightly to
approximately 65.2% for 2007 compared to a rate of 62.4% for 2006.
In
the United States during 2007, we processed approximately 336,060 orders for
products at an average order of $386 at suggested retail. In 2006, we
processed approximately 332,725 product orders at an average order of $421 at
suggested retail. Included in these order and average order totals
are orders placed through our Direct Select program. In the United States during
2007, we processed a total of approximately 61,360 orders under this program at
a suggested retail sales value of $7.2 million, compared to 75,870 orders,
at a suggested retail value of $8.8 million during 2006. The average order size
at a suggested retail value was $118 in 2007 compared to $116 during
2006.
35
In
February 2007, we launched our new weight control product line,
Slimplicity®. Slimplicity replaces the Ultrim-Plus meal replacement
product line in the United States, Germany, and the United Kingdom and we expect
it to replace Ultrim-Plus in other markets. In 2007, sales of the
Slimplicity product line represented approximately 9% of net sales in the United
States. In comparison, sales of the previous weight control
product line historically represented approximately 2% of net sales in the
United States annually.
During the year ended December 31,
2007, net sales in our international operations increased in aggregate by 8.8%
to $12.7 million compared to $11.7 million for the year ended December
31, 2006. The increase in international sales occurred primarily in
the Philippines, Australia/New Zealand, and Mexico. When net sales
are converted using the 2006 exchange rate for both 2007 and 2006, international
net sales increased 0.6% for 2007 compared to the prior year, as the
U.S. dollar weakened against all of the currencies in which we conduct
operations, except for the Mexican peso.
Net sales
in the Australia/New Zealand market increased by 15.5% in 2007 compared to
2006. New distributor enrollments were 900 in 2007 compared to 893 in
2006. When net sales are converted using the 2006 exchange rate for
both 2007 and 2006, net sales in this market increased by 3.8%. In
2006, we started a sales development program in that region by supporting
leading U.S. distributors as part of a sustained plan to develop more activity
in this and other foreign markets. In 2007, that plan continued, but
at a slightly reduced level. In total, we invested approximately
$433,000 in sales development expenses across our foreign markets during
2007. The majority of this investment took place in this
market. The sales development efforts had a positive impact on
net sales, which in turn, has improved the operating results of this
market. The combined net loss for the Australia/New Zealand market
was $43,000 in 2007, compared to a net loss of $224,000 in 2006.
Net sales in Canada decreased by 0.2%
in 2007 compared to 2006. Just as in the United States, the decline
in new qualifying Master Affiliates played a role in the decline in net
sales. In 2007, 65 distributors qualified as Master Affiliates,
compared to 88 in the prior year. New distributor enrollments
were 381 in 2007 compared to 441 in 2006. When measured in local
currency, Canadian net sales decreased by 5.8% in 2007 compared to 2006. Net
income in Canada was $62,000 for 2007, compared to a net loss of $2,000 in
2006. In November 2007, we adjusted the pricing of our products in
Canada to reflect the value of the stronger Canadian dollar.
Net sales in Mexico increased 6.5% in
2007 compared to 2006. New distributor enrollments were 976 in 2007 compared to
682 in 2006. When measured in local currency, 2007 net sales
increased by 6.8%, as the Mexican peso weakened slightly on average for 2007
when compared to the U.S. dollar. Mexico began to show signs of
improvement in sales from the price increase and change in distributor
qualification requirements that were made in March 2005 to make the Mexican
business model consistent with the rest of our markets. These
improved sales results were also due in part to the efforts of the national
sales manager we named for our Reliv Mexico operations in August
2006. The net loss in Mexico for 2007 was $332,000, compared to a net
loss of $285,000 in 2006. The increase in the net loss was due to higher
expenses for local distributor conferences and other marketing
support.
Net sales in the United Kingdom
decreased by 14.0% for 2007 compared to 2006, as we struggled to make inroads in
developing local distributor leaders in this market. When measured in
local currency, net sales in the UK decreased by 20.8% in 2007 compared to the
prior year. New distributor enrollments were 415 in 2007 compared to
624 in 2006. The net loss incurred in the United Kingdom was $564,000
in 2007, compared to a net loss of $507,000 in 2006. The weakening
U.S. dollar was the primary cause of the increased loss, as the net loss when
measured in British pounds sterling was £282,000 in 2007 and £274,000 in
2006.
Net sales in the Philippines increased
by 33.8% in 2007 compared to the prior year. New distributor
enrollments were 3,390 in 2007 compared to 2,254 in 2006. When
measured in local currency, 2007 net sales increased by 20.0%. Sales
growth in the Philippines has been the result of stable and effective local
sales leadership, along with the continuing development of local distributor
leaders. Along with the increase in new distributor enrollments, the
active distributor count in the Philippines grew by 32.1% as of the end of 2007
compared to the end of 2006, and the number of distributors at the Master
Affiliate or higher level grew by 8.1%. The net loss in the
Philippines for 2007 was $210,000, compared to a net loss of $127,000 in 2006,
due to higher expenses in corporate-sponsored distributor meetings.
36
Net sales in the Malaysia/Singapore
market decreased by 2.2% in 2007 compared to the prior year. New
distributor enrollments were 1,361 in 2007 compared to 1,743 in
2006. When measured in local currency, 2007 net sales declined by
8.3%. The combined net loss for Malaysia/Singapore for 2007 was
$312,000, compared to a net loss of $258,000 in 2006. We appointed a
new sales manager for this market in May 2007. We view this market,
coupled with the Philippines, as part of a larger Asian regional
market. We are gradually designing our products, product labeling,
and sales materials to work across the entire region. As part of this
regional consolidation, we began to use a public bonded warehouse in Singapore
to consolidate inventories across the region. This will allow us to
eventually eliminate local warehousing needs in each country which should reduce
our carrying costs.
Net sales in Germany increased by 1.6%
in 2007 compared to the prior year. New distributor enrollments were
368 in 2007, compared to 359 in 2006. When measured in local
currency, 2007 net sales declined by 7.1%. The net loss in Germany for 2007 was
$688,000, compared to a net loss of $473,000 in 2006. The increase in
the net loss was the result of additional corporate spending in sales staffing
and support.
Cost of Products Sold. Cost
of products sold as a percentage of net sales increased to 17.2% for the year
ended December 31, 2007 compared to 16.6% for the year ended December 31,
2006. Gross margins declined in 2007 compared to 2006 primarily due
to lower production levels corresponding with the decrease in
sales. Additionally, raw material price increases and higher
outbound freight costs negatively impacted gross margins.
Distributor Royalties and
Commissions. Distributor royalties and commissions as a percentage of net
sales decreased slightly to 39.9% for the year ended December 31, 2007 compared
to 40.1% for the same period in 2006.
Selling, General and Administrative
Expenses. For 2007, selling, general and administrative, or SGA, expenses
increased by $1.6 million compared to 2006. Additionally, SGA
expenses as a percentage of net sales increased to 36.3% in 2007 compared to
33.0% in 2006.
Sales and marketing expenses
represented approximately $1.4 million of the increase in
2007. Components of the change included an increase in salaries,
fringes, and contract labor expenses of $871,000, an increase of $294,000 for
our international and regional leadership conferences, an increase of $209,000
in promotional bonuses and trips related to sales volume. At our
international distributor conference in St. Louis in late July 2006, we
announced a special bonus program, called “Mega Bonus.” Under the new
“Mega Bonus” program, we awarded more than $700,000 in bonuses at our
international conference in August 2007. The bonuses were awarded to
the top 50 distributors in group sales volume between August 1, 2006 and July
31, 2007, with the first-place winner receiving $100,000. The
promotional trip expenses related to an incentive trip to Germany earned by our
top 50 distributorships upon reaching $15 million in worldwide retail sales in
two consecutive months during the first quarter of 2007. Additional
year over year increases in expenditures were incurred for distributor
newsletter costs, and costs incurred for corporate-sponsored business
opportunity meetings.
Distribution
and warehouse expenses increased by $247,000 due to higher wages, contract labor
expenses, and shipping supply expenses. General and administrative
expenses decreased by approximately $10,000 in 2007 compared to
2006. Significant increases were in salaries and benefits of
$636,000, accounting fees of $170,000, legal fees of $178,000, and directors’
fees of $117,000. These were offset by decreases in incentive
compensation expense of $871,000, business insurance expenses of $216,000, and
shareholder communication expenses of $164,000.
Interest Income/Expense.
Interest income decreased to $634,000 for the year ended December 31,
2007, compared to $693,000 for the same period in 2006. The decrease
in interest income is the result of a decrease in short-term investments over
the second half of 2007. Interest expense decreased to $1,000 for
2007 compared to $50,000 for 2006.
Income Taxes. We recorded
income tax expense of $3.2 million for 2007, an effective rate of 38.8%. In
2006, we recorded income tax expense of $5.1 million, an effective rate of
39.3%. The lower effective rate in 2007 is the result of the
increased benefit of the Domestic Manufacturing Deduction, a reduction in
international losses for which there was no tax benefit, and lower marginal
income tax rate, as our income before taxes was lower than the prior
year.
37
Net Income. Our net income
decreased to $5.0 million ($0.31 per share basic and diluted) for the
year ended December 31, 2007 compared to $7.9 million ($0.48 per share
basic and $0.47 per share diluted) for 2006. Profitability decreased
commensurate with the decrease in net sales in the United States, as discussed
above, and as a result of the increase in the net loss from international
operations. Net income in the United States was $7.1 million in 2007,
compared to $9.8 million in 2006. The net loss from international
operations was $2.1 million in 2007, compared a net loss of $1.9 million in
2006.
Financial
Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources
We generated $3.7 million of net
cash during 2008 from operating activities, $503,000 was used in investing
activities, and we used $10.3 million in financing activities. This
compares to $4.8 million of net cash provided by operating activities,
$6.6 million generated in investing activities, and $9.2 million used
in financing activities in 2007. Cash and cash equivalents decreased
by $7.2 million to $4.5 million as of December 31, 2008 compared to
December 31, 2007. We did not hold any short-term
investments as of December 31, 2008, compared to $399,000 in short-term
investments as of December 31, 2007.
Significant changes in working capital
items consisted of a decrease in accounts receivable of $376,000, a decrease in
accounts payable and accrued expenses of $2.4 million, and a decrease in other
assets of $640,000 in 2008. The decrease in accounts receivable
is due to the receipt of certain refunds due from vendors. The
decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses is due primarily to the timing
of payments for inventory at the end of 2007 without similar amounts due at the
end of 2008. Furthermore, accrued commission expense is approximately
$476,000 lower at the end of 2008 as compared to the end of
2007. Other assets decreased primarily from the distribution of
assets held in our supplemental executive retirement plan to a participant,
along with a decrease in the value of the plan’s remaining trading
securities.
Our net investing activities included
$901,000, $836,000, and $477,000 in net capital expenditures for the years ended
December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Investing
activities for 2008 and 2007 also included net proceeds of $399,000 and $7.5
million, respectively, in short-term investments of which the majority were
purchased in 2006.
Financing
activities in 2008 included $8.8 million in purchases of our common stock into
treasury and $1.5 million in common stock dividends paid. We also
borrowed $4.0 million on our line of credit in July 2008, which was repaid in
full by September 2008. Financing activities in 2007 included $7.7
million in purchases of our common stock into treasury and $1.6 million in
common stock dividends paid. Financing activities in 2006 included
$11.9 million in net proceeds from the common stock offering that closed in
April 2006, $1.7 million in common stock dividends paid, $3.6 million in
purchases of our common stock into treasury, $317,000 in proceeds from options
and warrants exercised and related excess tax benefits from stock-based
compensation, and $3.1 million of principal payments made on long-term
borrowings. These principal payments paid off the balance of a
promissory note for the purchase of common stock from a former officer/director
and his wife that occurred in March 2005.
Stockholders’ equity decreased to
$16.1 million at December 31, 2008 compared with $23.8 million at
December 31, 2007. The components of the change in equity are
our net income during 2008 of $2.9 million, less the treasury stock purchases
and common stock dividends paid. Other changes to equity include the
contribution of treasury shares to our ESOP of $250,000, and other equity-based
compensation options and warrants for $278,000.
Our working capital balance was
$6.2 million at December 31, 2008 compared to $12.5 million at
December 31, 2007. The current ratio at December 31, 2008 was 1.8
compared to 2.5 at previous year-end.
On
February 21, 2006, we filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with the
Securities and Exchange Commission relating to an underwritten public offering
of 2,000,000 shares of our common stock. On April 5, 2006, we
commenced the public offering at a price of $11.25 per share. The
public offering was completed on April 11, 2006 and consisted of 1,200,000
shares of common stock offered and sold by us and 800,000 shares of common stock
offered and sold by certain selling stockholders. The selling
stockholders were four of our directors and/or officers. The
underwriters had a 30-day option to purchase up to 300,000 additional shares
from certain of the selling stockholders to cover over-allotments, if
any. This option was exercised for the full 300,000 shares and closed
on May 9, 2006. We did not receive any proceeds from the sale of
common stock by the selling stockholders. Net proceeds to us from the
offering, after reduction for the underwriters’ fee and other offering expenses,
were $11.9 million.
38
We also
have a $5 million secured revolving credit facility with our primary lender
that we renewed in September 2008. This facility expires in September 2009, and
any advances accrue interest at a variable interest rate based on LIBOR. The
credit facility is secured by all of our assets. The facility includes covenants
to maintain total stockholders’ equity of not less than $10.5 million, and
that the ratio of borrowings under the facility to EBITDA shall not exceed 3.5
to 1.0. At December 31, 2008, we have no outstanding borrowings on the
revolving line of credit facility and were in compliance with the minimum
stockholders’ equity covenant.
Management believes that our internally
generated funds and the borrowing capacity under the new revolving line of
credit facility will be sufficient to meet working capital requirements for the
remainder of 2009.
Contractual
Obligations
The table below presents our
contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of December 31, 2008.
This consists of our short-term debt and operating leases. For the short-term
debt, the amounts shown represent the principal and interest amounts by year of
anticipated maturity for our debt obligations and related average interest rates
based on the weighted-average interest rates at the end of the period. For the
operating leases, the amounts shown represent the future minimum payments under
noncancelable leases with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year as of
December 31, 2008.
Less
Than 1
year
|
1-3
years
|
3
- 5 years
|
More
than 5
years
|
Total
|
||||||||||||||||
Promissory
note(1)
|
$ | 578 | $ | — | $ | — | $ | — | $ | 578 | ||||||||||
Operating
leases
|
413 | 600 | 236 | 112 | 1,361 | |||||||||||||||
Total
Obligations
|
$ | 991 | $ | 600 | $ | 236 | $ | 112 | $ | 1,939 |
(1) The
outstanding principal amount of the promissory notes was $569,000 million
at December 31, 2008 and accrues interest at 6.0% per
year.
Critical
Accounting Policies
Our
financial statements are based on the selection and application of significant
accounting policies, which require management to make significant estimates and
assumptions. We believe that the following are some of the more critical
judgment areas in the application of our accounting policies that currently
affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Revenue
We
receive payment by credit card, personal check, or guaranteed funds for orders
from independent distributors and makes related commission payments in the
following month. Net sales reflect product sales at suggested retail price less
the distributor discount of 20% to 40%. Sales revenue and commission expenses
are recorded when the merchandise is shipped, as this is the point title and
risk of loss pass. In accordance with EITF 01-09, we present
distributor royalty and commission expense as an operating expense, rather than
a reduction to net sales, as these payments are not made to the purchasing
distributor.
Actual
and estimated returns are classified as a reduction of net sales. We
estimate and accrue a reserve for product returns based on our return policy and
historical experience. Total returns have been approximately 0.86%,
1.72%, and 1.17% of net sales in 2008, 2007 and 2006,
respectively. We record handling and freight income as a component of
net sales and record handling and freight costs as a component of cost of
products sold. Total revenues do not include sales tax as we consider
ourselves a pass-through conduit for collecting and remitting applicable sales
taxes.
39
Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of
cost or market. Product cost includes raw material, labor and overhead costs and
is accounted for using the first-in, first-out basis. On a periodic basis, we
review our inventory levels in each country for estimated obsolescence or
unmarketable items, as compared to future demand requirements and the shelf life
of the various products. Based on this review, we record inventory write-downs
when costs exceed expected net realizable value. Historically, our estimates of
obsolete or unmarketable items have been materially accurate.
Foreign
Currency Translation
All balance sheet accounts are
translated using the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet date.
Statements of operations amounts are translated using the average exchange rate
for the year-to-date periods. The gains and losses resulting from the changes in
exchange rates during the period have been reported in other comprehensive loss.
Foreign currency translation adjustments exclude income tax expense (benefit)
given that our investments in non-U.S. subsidiaries are deemed to be
reinvested for an indefinite period of time.
Legal
Proceedings
In the ordinary course of business, we
are subject to various legal proceedings, including lawsuits and other claims
related to labor, product and other matters. We are required to assess the
likelihood of adverse judgments and outcomes to these matters as well as the
range of potential loss. Such assessments are required to determine whether a
loss contingency reserve is required under the provisions of
SFAS No. 5, “Accounting for Contingencies,” and to determine the
amount of required reserves, if any. These assessments are subjective in nature.
Management makes these assessments for each individual matter based on
consultation with outside counsel and based on prior experience with similar
claims. To the extent additional information becomes available or our strategies
or assessments change, our estimates of potential liability for a given matter
may change. Changes to estimates of liability would result in a corresponding
additional charge or benefit recognized in the statement of operations in the
period in which such changes become known. We recognize the costs associated
with legal defense in the periods incurred. Accordingly, the future costs of
defending claims are not included in our estimated liability.
Stock-Based
Compensation
On January 1, 2006, we adopted
Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payments”
(“SFAS No. 123(R)”). Prior to the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), we had
adopted the disclosure-only provisions of SFAS No. 123 and accounted for
employee stock-based compensation under the intrinsic value method, and no
expense related to stock options was recognized. We adopted the
provisions of SFAS 123(R) using the modified prospective transition
method. Under this method, our consolidated financial statements as
of and for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 reflect the impact
of SFAS 123(R), while the consolidated financial statements for prior periods
have not been restated to reflect, and do not include, the impact of SFAS
123(R).
We use the Black-Scholes option pricing
model to determine the fair value of stock options which requires us to estimate
certain key assumptions. For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007,
and 2006, we incurred employee stock-based compensation cost of $186,000
($123,000 net of tax), $75,000 ($51,000 net of tax) and $63,000 (also $63,000
net of tax), respectively.
Income
Tax Matters
We account for income taxes in
accordance with SFAS No. 109, which requires that deferred tax assets and
liabilities be recognized using enacted tax rates for the effect of temporary
differences between the book and tax bases of recorded assets and
liabilities. SFAS No. 109 also requires that deferred tax assets be
reduced by a valuation allowance if it is “more likely than not” that some
portion or all of the deferred tax asset will not be realized. In our
annual evaluation of the need for a valuation allowance, we take into account
various factors, including the expected level of future taxable income and
available tax planning strategies. If actual results differ from the
assumptions made in our annual evaluation of our valuation allowance, we may
record a change in valuation allowance through income tax expense in the period
this determination is made.
40
At December 31, 2008, we had
deferred tax assets related to net operating loss carryforwards and other income
tax credits with a tax value of $4.07 million. These net operating loss
carryforwards have various expiration dates, depending on the country and period
in which they occurred. A valuation allowance of $4.07 million has been
established for these deferred tax assets based on projected future taxable
income and the expiration dates of these carryforwards.
At December 31, 2008, we also had
deferred tax assets related to 2008 capital losses on investments with a tax
value of $446,000. We have established a corresponding valuation allowance of
$396,000 against this deferred tax asset as we do not anticipate having
sufficient future capital gains to offset this portion of these current year
capital losses.
The calculations of our tax liabilities
involve dealing with uncertainties in the application of complex tax
regulations. On January 1, 2007, we adopted Financial Accounting Standards Board
(FASB) Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an
interpretation of SFAS No. 109” (FIN No. 48), and related guidance (see Note
11: Income Taxes” in Part II, Item 8 of this Form 10-K). As a result
of the implementation of FIN No. 48, we recognize liabilities for uncertain tax
positions based on the two-step process prescribed in FIN No. 48. The first step
is to evaluate the tax position for recognition by determining if the weight of
available evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the position
will be sustained on audit, including resolution of related appeals or
litigation processes, if any. The second step requires us to estimate and
measure the tax benefit as the largest amount that is more than 50% likely to be
realized upon ultimate settlement. It is inherently difficult and subjective to
estimate such amounts, as we have to determine the probability of various
possible outcomes. We reevaluate these uncertain tax positions on a quarterly
basis. This evaluation is based on factors including, but not limited to,
changes in facts or circumstances, changes in tax law, effectively settled
issues under audit, or new audit activity. Such a change in recognition or
measurement would result in the recognition of a tax benefit or an additional
charge to the tax provision.
Fair
Value
Effective
January 1, 2008, we adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value
Measurements” (SFAS No. 157) which defines fair value, establishes a framework
for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements
required under other accounting pronouncements. SFAS No. 157
clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would
be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly
transaction between market participants. SFAS No. 157 also requires
that a fair value measurement reflect the assumptions market participants would
use in pricing an asset or liability based on the best information
available. Assumptions include the risks inherent in a particular
valuation technique (such as a pricing model) and/or the risks inherent in the
inputs to the model. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not have a
significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In
February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) 157-1, “Application of
FASB Statement No. 157 to FASB Statement No. 13 and Other Accounting
Pronouncements That Address Fair Value Measurements for Purposes of Lease
Classification or Measurement under Statement 13” (FSP 157-1) and FSP 157-2,
“Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (FSP 157-2). FSP 157-1
amends SFAS No. 157 to remove certain leasing transactions from its
scope. FSP 157-2 delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all
non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are
recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring
basis (at least annually), until the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal
2009. The measurement and disclosure requirements related to
financial and non-financial assets and liabilities are not anticipated to have a
significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In
October 2008, the FASB issued FSP 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a
Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active” (FSP
157-3). FSP 157-3 clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157 in a
market that is not active, and addresses application issues such as the use of
internal assumptions when relevant observable data does not exist, the use of
observable market information when the market is not active, and the use of
market quotes when assessing the relevance of observable and unobservable
data. FSP 157-3 is effective for all periods presented in accordance
with SFAS No. 157. The adoption of FSP 157-3 did not have a
significant impact on our consolidated financial statements.
41
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an Amendment of FASB
Statement No. 115” (SFAS No. 159). SFAS No. 159 allows an entity the
irrevocable option to elect fair value for the initial and subsequent
measurement of certain financial assets and liabilities under an
instrument-by-instrument election. Under SFAS No. 159, subsequent
measurements for the financial assets and liabilities an entity elects to
measure at fair value will be recognized in its results of
operations. SFAS No. 159 also establishes additional disclosure
requirements. We adopted SFAS No. 159 on January 1, 2008 and did not
elect to measure any additional assets or liabilities at fair
value.
Accounting
Pronouncements Not Yet Implemented
In March
2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities” (SFAS No. 161). SFAS No. 161 requires
companies with derivative instruments to disclose information that should enable
financial statement users to understand how and why a company uses derivative
instruments, how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted
for under SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities”, and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect a
company’s financial position, financial performance, and cash
flows. SFAS No. 161 is effective for financial statements issued for
fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. We are currently
evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 161 and have not determined the impact on our
financial statements.
Item No. 7A - Quantitative
And Qualitative Disclosures Regarding Market Risk
Foreign
Currency Risk
Our earnings and cash flows are subject
to fluctuations due to changes in foreign currency rates as we have several
foreign subsidiaries. As a result, exchange rate fluctuations may have an effect
on sales and gross margins. Accounting practices require that our results from
operations be converted to U.S. dollars for reporting purposes.
Consequently, our reported earnings in future periods may be significantly
affected by fluctuations in currency exchange rates, generally increasing with a
weaker U.S. dollar and decreasing with a strengthening U.S. dollar.
Products manufactured by us for sale to our foreign subsidiaries are transacted
in U.S. dollars.
Net sales
outside of the United States represented 13.0%, 11.5%, and 10.0% of total net
sales in 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. Our primary exposures to
adverse currency fluctuations would result in an increase in the cost of goods
sold, relative to foreign net sales, as the vast majority of the products sold
are purchased from the parent company in the United States, with prices
denominated in U.S. dollars. As of December 31, 2008, we had a net
investment in our foreign subsidiaries of $2.8 million (in U.S.
dollars).
We have
performed a sensitivity analysis as of December 31, 2008 that measures the
change in the results of our foreign operations arising from a hypothetical 10%
adverse movement in the exchange rate of all of the currencies in which we
conduct business. Using the results of operations for 2008 for our
foreign operations as a basis for comparison, an adverse movement of 10% would
create a potential reduction in our net income of approximately $9,000 and
reduce the value of the net investment in the foreign subsidiaries by
$276,000.
From time to time, we enter into
foreign exchange forward contracts with a financial institution to sell Canadian
dollars in order to protect against currency exchange risk associated with
expected future cash flows. We have accounted for these contracts as
freestanding derivatives, such that gains or losses on the fair market value of
these forward exchange contracts are recorded as other income and expense in the
consolidated statements of operations. As of December 31, 2007, we
were holding Canadian forward exchange contracts totaling $588,000 with
maturities through December 31, 2008, and a related mark-to-market loss of
$14,000. However, as the value of Canadian dollar versus the U.S.
dollar declined during the 4th quarter
of 2008, we did not enter into any additional contracts, and therefore, we hold
no foreign exchange contracts for Canadian dollars or for any other foreign
currencies for any of the other countries in which we do business as of December
31, 2008.
42
Interest
Rate Risk
Our
interest income is subject to interest rate risk. At December 31,
2008, we hold worldwide balances of cash, cash equivalents, and short-term
investments totaling approximately $4.5 million; a substantial portion of which
is invested in U.S. based financial instruments. A significant
portion of our U.S. held cash and cash equivalents balances earn overnight
interest income at either the daily prevailing market rate or other short-term
(30 days) variable rates. Our primary objective of our interest
income strategy is to preserve principal while maximizing yields, without
significantly increasing risk. Utilizing an average fiscal year 2008
quarter-end balance comprised of U.S. held cash, cash equivalents, and short
term investments, a hypothetical 1% change in interest rates could result in a
change in our interest income of approximately $88,000.
As noted above, our cash, cash
equivalents, and short-term investments are generally invested in short-term
financial instruments which the interest rate approximates current market
rates. Therefore, we believe our market risk to unrealized
gains or losses on the carrying value of these investments is not
significant.
Item No. 8 - Financial
Statements and Supplementary Data
Reference is made to the Consolidated
Financial Statements contained in Part IV hereof.
Item No. 9 - Changes in and
Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial
Disclosure
None
Item No. 9A - Controls and
Procedures
Effectiveness
of Controls and Procedures
Our management, under the supervision
and with the participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer, has reviewed and evaluated the effectiveness of the design and
operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of December 31,
2008. Based on such review and evaluation, our Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer have concluded that the disclosure controls
and procedures were effective as of December 31, 2008, to ensure that the
information required to be disclosed by us in the reports that we file or submit
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (a) is recorded,
processed, summarized and reported within the time period specified in the SEC’s
rules and forms and (b) is accumulated and communicated to our management,
including the officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding
required disclosure. There were no material changes in our internal
control over financial reporting during the fourth quarter of 2008 that have
materially affected or are reasonably likely to materially affect our internal
controls over financial reporting.
Management’s Report on
Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Management
is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over
financial reporting. Our management conducted an evaluation of the
effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting based on the
framework in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of
Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. This evaluation
included review of the documentation of controls, evaluation of the design
effectiveness of controls, testing of the operation effectiveness of controls
and a conclusion on this evaluation. Although there are inherent
limitations in the effectiveness of any system of internal control over
financial reporting, based on our evaluation, management has concluded our
internal controls over financial reporting were effective as of December 31,
2008.
The
effectiveness of our internal control over financial reporting as of
December 31, 2008 has been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, our
independent registered public accounting firm. Their report, which expresses an
unqualified opinion on the effectiveness of our internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2008, is included herein.
43
Item No. 9B - Other
Information
None
PART
III
Item No. 10 - Directors and
Executive Officers of the Registrant
Information
called for by Item 10 of Part III is incorporated by reference to the definitive
Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May
28, 2009, which is expected to be filed with the Commission within 120 days
after December 31, 2008.
Item No. 11 - Executive
Compensation
Information
called for by Item 11 of Part III is incorporated by reference to the definitive
Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May
28, 2009, which is expected to be filed with the Commission within 120 days
after December 31, 2008.
Item No. 12 - Security
Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder
Matters
Information
called for by Item 12 of Part III is incorporated by reference to the definitive
Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May
28, 2009, which is expected to be filed with the Commission within 120 days
after December 31, 2008.
Item No. 13 - Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions
Information
called for by Item 13 of Part III is incorporated by reference to the definitive
Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May
28, 2009, which is expected to be filed with the Commission within 120 days
after December 31, 2008.
Item No. 14 - Principal
Accountant Fees and Services
Information
called for by Item 14 of Part III is incorporated by reference to the definitive
Proxy Statement for the 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held on May
28, 2009, which is expected to be filed with the Commission within 120 days
after December 31, 2008.
44
PART IV
Item No. 15 - Exhibits and
Financial Statement Schedules
|
(a)
|
1.
|
The
Consolidated Financial Statements filed as part of this report on Form
10-K are listed on the accompanying Index to Consolidated Financial
Statements and Consolidated Financial Statement
Schedules.
|
|
2.
|
Financial
schedules required to be filed by Item 8 of this form, and by Item 15(d)
below:
|
|
Schedule
II
|
Valuation
and qualifying accounts
|
All other
financial schedules are not required under the related instructions or are
inapplicable and therefore have been omitted.
|
3.
|
Exhibits:
|
Exhibit
|
||
Number
|
Document
|
|
3.1
|
Second
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by
reference to Appendix B of Schedule 14A of the Registrant filed
on April 17, 2003).
|
|
3.2
|
By-Laws
(incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of
the Registrant filed on February 21, 2006).
|
|
3.3
|
Amendment
to By-Laws dated March 22, 2001 (incorporated by reference to the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Registrant filed on
February 21, 2006).
|
|
3.4
|
Certificate
of Designation to Create a Class of Series A Preferred Stock for Reliv'
International, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1
to the Form 10-Q of the Registrant for quarter ended March 31,
2003).
|
|
4.1
|
Form
of Reliv International, Inc. common stock certificate (incorporated by
reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the
Registrant filed on February 21, 2006).
|
|
10.1
|
Amended
Exclusive License Agreement with Theodore P. Kalogris dated December 1,
1991 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 10-K of the
Registrant for the year ended December 31, 1992).
|
|
10.2*
|
Robert
L. Montgomery Employment Agreement dated June 19, 2007 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed June 25, 2007).
|
|
10.3*
|
Carl
W. Hastings Employment Agreement dated July 26, 2007 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed July 27, 2007).
|
|
10.4
|
Letter
Agreement with Southwest Bank of St. Louis dated November 20, 2008
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K of the
Registrant filed November 24, 2008).
|
|
10.5
|
Promissory
Note with Southwest Bank of St. Louis dated November 20, 2008
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K of the
Registrant filed November 24, 2008).
|
|
10.6*
|
Reliv’
International, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan dated June 1,
1998 (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Form10-K of the Registrant for year
ended December 31,
1998).
|
45
10.7*
|
Reliv
International, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust dated August
24, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form
8-K of the Registrant filed August
30, 2006).
|
|
10.8
|
Agreement
with Hydron Technologies, Inc. dated March 1, 2001 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Form 10-K of the Registrant
for year ended December 31, 2001).
|
|
10.9*
|
Amended
and Restated Distributor Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to
Form S-8 Registration Statement the Registrant filed May 9,
2002).
|
|
10.10*
|
2003
Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Form S-8 Registration
Statement the Registrant filed August 13,
2003).
|
|
10.11*
|
Reliv
International, Inc. Incentive Compensation Plan effective January 1, 2007
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K of
the Registrant filed May 31, 2007).
|
|
10.12*
|
Stock
Redemption Agreement with David G. Kreher and Pamela S. Kreher dated March
14, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Form 10-K of
the Registrant for the year ended December 31, 2004).
|
|
10.13*
|
Kreher
Employment Agreement dated March 14, 2005 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.19 to the Form 10-K of the Registrant for the year ended
December 31, 2004).
|
|
10.14*
|
R.
Scott Montgomery Employment Agreement dated January 2, 2008 (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed January 4, 2008).
|
|
10.15*
|
Ryan
A. Montgomery Employment Agreement dated January 2, 2008 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed January 4, 2008).
|
|
10.16*
|
Steven
G. Hastings Employment Agreement dated January 2, 2008 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed January 4, 2008).
|
|
10.17*
|
Steven
D. Albright Employment Agreement dated January 2, 2008 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed January 4, 2008).
|
|
10.18*
|
Brett
M. Hastings Employment Agreement dated January 2, 2008 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed January 4, 2008).
|
|
10.19
|
Rule
10b5-1 Stock Repurchase Plan dated June 12, 2008 between the Registrant
and Canaccord Adams, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
the Form 8-K of the Registrant filed June 13, 2008).
|
|
10.20
|
Stock
Purchase Agreement dated July 24, 2008 by and between the Paul and Jane
Meyer Family Foundation and Reliv International, Inc. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant filed July 30,
2008).
|
|
10.21
|
Stock
Purchase Agreement dated July 24, 2008 by and between Centre Island
Properties, Ltd. and Reliv International, Inc. (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant filed July 30,
2008).
|
|
10.22
|
Standstill
Letter from Paul J. Meyer to Robert L. Montgomery dated July 25, 2008.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Form 8-K of the
Registrant filed July 30,
2008).
|
46
11
|
Statement
re: computation of per share earnings (incorporated by reference to Note 8
of the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part
IV).
|
|
21
|
Subsidiaries
of the Registrant (filed herewith).
|
|
23
|
Consent
of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors (filed
herewith).
|
|
31.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a)
of the Securities
Exchange Act, as amended (filed herewith).
|
|
31.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a)
of the Securities
Exchange Act, as amended (filed herewith).
|
|
32
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18
U.S.C. 1350,
as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(filed
herewith).
|
47
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section
13 or 15(d) 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.
RELIV'
INTERNATIONAL, INC.
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Robert L. Montgomery
|
|
Robert
L. Montgomery, Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief
Executive Officer
|
||
Date:
March 13, 2009
|
||
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1934, this report has been
signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Robert L. Montgomery
|
|
Robert
L. Montgomery, Chairman of the Board of Directors, President and Chief
Executive Officer
|
||
Date: March
13, 2009
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Steven D. Albright
|
|
Steven
D. Albright, Chief Financial Officer (and accounting
officer)
|
||
Date:
March 13, 2009
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Carl W. Hastings
|
|
Carl
W. Hastings, Vice Chairman, Chief Scientific Officer,
Director
|
||
Date: March
13, 2009
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Stephen M. Merrick
|
|
Stephen
M. Merrick, Senior Vice President, Secretary, Director
|
||
Date: March
13, 2009
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Donald L. McCain
|
|
Donald
L. McCain, Director
|
||
Date: March
13, 2009
|
||
By:
|
/s/
John B. Akin
|
|
John
B. Akin, Director
|
||
Date: March
13, 2009
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Robert M. Henry
|
|
Robert
M. Henry, Director
|
||
Date: March
13, 2009
|
||
By:
|
/s/
Denis St. John
|
|
Denis
St. John, Director
|
||
Date:
March 13, 2009
|
48
By:
|
/s/
Michael D. Smith
|
|
|
Michael
D. Smith, Director
|
|
By:
|
/s/Patrick
G. Doherty
|
|
Patrick
G. Doherty, Director
|
||
Exhibit
Index
Number
|
Document
|
|
3.1
|
Second
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (incorporated by
reference to Appendix B of Schedule 14A of the Registrant filed
on April 17, 2003).
|
|
3.2
|
By-Laws
(incorporated by reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of
the Registrant filed on February 21, 2006).
|
|
3.3
|
Amendment
to By-Laws dated March 22, 2001 (incorporated by reference to the
Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the Registrant filed on
February 21, 2006).
|
|
3.4
|
Certificate
of Designation to Create a Class of Series A Preferred Stock for Reliv'
International, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1
to the Form 10-Q of the Registrant for quarter ended March 31,
2003).
|
|
4.1
|
Form
of Reliv International, Inc. common stock certificate (incorporated by
reference to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the
Registrant filed on February 21, 2006).
|
|
10.1
|
Amended
Exclusive License Agreement with Theodore P. Kalogris dated December 1,
1991 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 10-K of the
Registrant for the year ended December 31, 1992).
|
|
10.2*
|
Robert
L. Montgomery Employment Agreement dated June 19, 2007 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed June 25, 2007).
|
|
10.3*
|
Carl
W. Hastings Employment Agreement dated July 26, 2007 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed July 27, 2007).
|
|
10.4
|
Letter
Agreement with Southwest Bank of St. Louis dated November 20, 2008
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K of the
Registrant filed November 24, 2008).
|
|
10.5
|
Promissory
Note with Southwest Bank of St. Louis dated November 20, 2008
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K of the
Registrant filed November 24, 2008).
|
|
10.6*
|
Reliv’
International, Inc. Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan dated June 1,
1998 (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the Form10-K of the Registrant for year
ended December 31, 1998).
|
|
10.7*
|
Reliv
International, Inc. Employee Stock Ownership Plan and Trust dated August
24, 2006 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form
8-K of the Registrant filed August
30, 2006).
|
49
10.8
|
Agreement
with Hydron Technologies, Inc. dated March 1, 2001 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the Form 10-K of the Registrant
for year ended December 31, 2001).
|
|
10.9*
|
Amended
and Restated Distributor Stock Purchase Plan (incorporated by reference to
Form S-8 Registration Statement the Registrant filed May 9,
2002).
|
|
10.10*
|
2003
Stock Option Plan (incorporated by reference to Form S-8 Registration
Statement the Registrant filed August 13,
2003).
|
|
10.11*
|
Reliv
International, Inc. Incentive Compensation Plan effective January 1, 2007
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K of
the Registrant filed May 31, 2007).
|
|
10.12*
|
Stock
Redemption Agreement with David G. Kreher and Pamela S. Kreher dated March
14, 2005 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the Form 10-K of
the Registrant for the year ended December 31, 2004).
|
|
10.13*
|
Kreher
Employment Agreement dated March 14, 2005 (incorporated by reference to
Exhibit 10.19 to the Form 10-K of the Registrant for the year ended
December 31, 2004).
|
|
10.14*
|
R.
Scott Montgomery Employment Agreement dated January 2, 2008 (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed January 4, 2008).
|
|
10.15*
|
Ryan
A. Montgomery Employment Agreement dated January 2, 2008 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed January 4, 2008).
|
|
10.16*
|
Steven
G. Hastings Employment Agreement dated January 2, 2008 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed January 4, 2008).
|
|
10.17*
|
Steven
D. Albright Employment Agreement dated January 2, 2008 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed January 4, 2008).
|
|
10.18*
|
Brett
M. Hastings Employment Agreement dated January 2, 2008 (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant
filed January 4, 2008).
|
|
10.19
|
Rule
10b5-1 Stock Repurchase Plan dated June 12, 2008 between the Registrant
and Canaccord Adams, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to
the Form 8-K of the Registrant filed June 13, 2008).
|
|
10.20
|
Stock
Purchase Agreement dated July 24, 2008 by and between the Paul and Jane
Meyer Family Foundation and Reliv International, Inc. (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant filed July 30,
2008).
|
|
10.21
|
Stock
Purchase Agreement dated July 24, 2008 by and between Centre Island
Properties, Ltd. and Reliv International, Inc. (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.2 to the Form 8-K of the Registrant filed July 30,
2008).
|
|
10.22
|
Standstill
Letter from Paul J. Meyer to Robert L. Montgomery dated July 25, 2008.
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to the Form 8-K of the
Registrant filed July 30, 2008).
|
|
11
|
Statement
re: computation of per share earnings (incorporated by reference to Note 8
of the Consolidated Financial Statements contained in Part
IV).
|
|
21
|
Subsidiaries
of the Registrant (filed herewith).
|
|
23
|
Consent
of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors (filed
herewith).
|
50
31.1
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a)
of the Securities
Exchange Act, as amended (filed herewith).
|
|
31.2
|
Certification
of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) and Rule 15d-14(a)
of the Securities
Exchange Act, as amended (filed herewith).
|
|
Certification
of Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer pursuant to 18
U.S.C. 1350,
as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
(filed
herewith).
|
51
Reliv’
International, Inc.
and
Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Financial Statements
Years
ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006
Contents
Consolidated
Financial Statements:
|
||
Reports
of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
|
F-1
|
|
Consolidated
Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2008 and 2007
|
F-3
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and
2006
|
F-5
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity for the years ended December 31, 2008,
2007, and 2006
|
F-6
|
|
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and
2006
|
F-7
|
|
Notes
to Consolidated Financial Statements – December 31, 2008
|
F-9
|
|
Financial
Statement Schedule:
|
||
Schedule
II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts for the years ended December 31,
2008, 2007, and 2006
|
F-34
|
All other
schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulation of
the Securities and Exchange Commission are not required under the related
instructions or are inapplicable and, therefore, have been omitted.
Report of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board
of Directors and Stockholders
Reliv’
International, Inc.
We have
audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Reliv’ International,
Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related
consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. Our audits
also included the financial statement schedule listed in the index at Item
15(a). These financial statements and schedule are the responsibility
of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
these financial statements and schedule based on our audits.
We
conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial
statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a
test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial
statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and
significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall
financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a
reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our
opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material respects, the consolidated financial position of Reliv’ International,
Inc. and Subsidiaries at December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the consolidated
results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in
the period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted
accounting principles. Also, in our opinion, the related financial
statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic financial
statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all respects, the information
set forth therein.
As
discussed in Note 1 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company
changed its method of accounting for uncertainty in income taxes effective
January 1, 2007.
We also
have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), Reliv’ International, Inc. and Subsidiaries’
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on
criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission, and our report
dated March 11, 2009, expressed an unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/
Ernst & Young LLP
|
St.
Louis, Missouri
March 11,
2009
F-1
Report of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
The Board
of Directors and Stockholders
Reliv’
International, Inc.
We have
audited Reliv’ International Inc. and Subsidiaries (Reliv’ International, Inc.)
internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on
criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the
Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (the COSO
criteria). Reliv’ International, Inc.’s management is responsible for
maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its
assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting
included in the accompanying Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial
Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the company’s
internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
We
conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company
Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan
and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective
internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material
respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over
financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing
and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based
on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered
necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable
basis for our opinion.
A
company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to
provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting
and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over
financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to
the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly
reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2)
provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are
being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of
the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely
detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s
assets that could have a material effect on the financial
statements.
Because
of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not
prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation
of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may
become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of
compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
In our
opinion, Reliv’ International, Inc. maintained, in all material respects,
effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008,
based on the COSO
criteria.
We also
have audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of Reliv’
International, Inc. as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related
consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, of Reliv’
International, Inc., and our report dated March 11, 2009, expressed an
unqualified opinion thereon.
/s/
Ernst & Young LLP
|
St.
Louis, Missouri
March 11,
2009
F-2
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Balance Sheets
December
31
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Assets
|
||||||||
Current
assets:
|
||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents
|
$ | 4,460,637 | $ | 11,694,699 | ||||
Short-term
investments
|
- | 398,592 | ||||||
Accounts
and notes receivable, less allowances of $10,200 in 2008 and $8,300 in
2007
|
494,689 | 811,634 | ||||||
Accounts
due from employees and distributors
|
241,532 | 204,705 | ||||||
Inventories:
|
||||||||
Finished
goods
|
3,533,371 | 3,290,114 | ||||||
Raw
materials
|
1,710,319 | 1,630,976 | ||||||
Sales
aids and promotional materials
|
978,264 | 1,258,148 | ||||||
Total
inventories
|
6,221,954 | 6,179,238 | ||||||
Refundable
income taxes
|
129,137 | 362,330 | ||||||
Prepaid
expenses and other current assets
|
1,525,665 | 862,172 | ||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
522,000 | 574,430 | ||||||
Total
current assets
|
13,595,614 | 21,087,800 | ||||||
Other
assets
|
1,220,546 | 2,999,903 | ||||||
Accounts
due from employees and distributors
|
164,462 | 319,883 | ||||||
Property,
plant, and equipment
|
18,288,571 | 18,511,944 | ||||||
Less
accumulated depreciation
|
9,376,414 | 9,312,759 | ||||||
8,912,157 | 9,199,185 | |||||||
Total
assets
|
$ | 23,892,779 | $ | 33,606,771 |
F-3
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Balance Sheets (continued)
December
31
|
||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Liabilities
and stockholders’ equity
|
||||||||
Current
liabilities:
|
||||||||
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses
|
$ | 6,780,824 | $ | 8,464,257 | ||||
Notes
payable
|
569,375 | - | ||||||
Income
taxes payable
|
- | 110,000 | ||||||
Total
current liabilities
|
7,350,199 | 8,574,257 | ||||||
Noncurrent
liabilities:
|
||||||||
Noncurrent
deferred income taxes
|
70,000 | - | ||||||
Other
noncurrent liabilities
|
364,990 | 1,227,313 | ||||||
Total
noncurrent liabilities
|
434,990 | 1,227,313 | ||||||
Stockholders’
equity:
|
||||||||
Preferred
stock, par value $0.001 per share; 3,000,000 shares authorized; -0- shares
issued and outstanding in 2008 and 2007
|
- | - | ||||||
Common
stock, par value $0.001 per share; 30,000,000 shares authorized,
14,425,185 shares issued and 14,302,160 shares outstanding in 2008;
15,877,179 shares issued and 15,873,754 shares outstanding in
2007
|
14,425 | 15,877 | ||||||
Additional
paid-in capital
|
30,321,066 | 33,100,351 | ||||||
Accumulated
deficit
|
(12,938,430 | ) | (8,869,332 | ) | ||||
Accumulated
other comprehensive loss:
|
||||||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
(663,478 | ) | (419,179 | ) | ||||
Treasury
stock
|
(625,993 | ) | (22,516 | ) | ||||
Total
stockholders’ equity
|
16,107,590 | 23,805,201 | ||||||
Total
liabilities and stockholders’ equity
|
$ | 23,892,779 | $ | 33,606,771 |
See
accompanying notes.
F-4
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Income
Year
ended December 31
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Product
sales
|
$ | 87,348,915 | $ | 99,465,246 | $ | 105,497,420 | ||||||
Handling
& freight income
|
10,845,903 | 11,592,258 | 11,969,737 | |||||||||
Net
sales
|
98,194,818 | 111,057,504 | 117,467,157 | |||||||||
Costs
and expenses:
|
||||||||||||
Cost
of products sold
|
17,437,133 | 19,100,527 | 19,519,904 | |||||||||
Distributor
royalties and commissions
|
38,207,889 | 44,298,744 | 47,127,026 | |||||||||
Selling,
general, and administrative
|
36,881,041 | 40,363,322 | 38,716,529 | |||||||||
Income
from operations
|
5,668,755 | 7,294,911 | 12,103,698 | |||||||||
Other
income (expense):
|
||||||||||||
Interest
income
|
328,057 | 634,446 | 692,595 | |||||||||
Interest
expense
|
(37,327 | ) | (1,373 | ) | (50,156 | ) | ||||||
Gain
(loss) on limited partnership investment
|
(595,887 | ) | 52,162 | 32,320 | ||||||||
Other
income (expense)
|
30,353 | 261,969 | 224,646 | |||||||||
Income
before income taxes
|
5,393,951 | 8,242,115 | 13,003,103 | |||||||||
Provision
for income taxes
|
2,513,000 | 3,201,000 | 5,105,000 | |||||||||
Net
income available to common shareholders
|
$ | 2,880,951 | $ | 5,041,115 | $ | 7,898,103 | ||||||
Earnings
per common share - Basic
|
$ | 0.19 | $ | 0.31 | $ | 0.48 | ||||||
Weighted
average shares
|
15,213,000 | 16,094,000 | 16,465,000 | |||||||||
Earnings
per common share - Diluted
|
$ | 0.19 | $ | 0.31 | $ | 0.47 | ||||||
Weighted
average shares
|
15,223,000 | 16,303,000 | 16,727,000 |
See
accompanying notes.
F-5
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Stockholders’ Equity
Accumulated
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Additional
|
Other
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
Stock
|
Paid-In
|
Accumulated
|
Comprehensive
|
Treasury
Stock
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shares
|
Amount
|
Capital
|
Deficit
|
Loss
|
Shares
|
Amount
|
Total
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
at December 31, 2005
|
15,613,644 | $ | 15,614 | $ | 22,972,463 | $ | (9,252,413 | ) | $ | (669,346 | ) | 50,082 | $ | (501,490 | ) | $ | 12,564,828 | |||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
- | - | 7,898,103 | - | - | - | 7,898,103 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive income:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
- | - | - | - | 128,693 | - | - | 128,693 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive income
|
8,026,796 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
stock dividends paid, $0.10 per share
|
- | - | - | (1,675,582 | ) | - | - | - | (1,675,582 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrants
granted under DSPP
|
- | - | 102,224 | - | - | - | - | 102,224 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Employee
stock-based compensation
|
- | - | 62,991 | - | - | - | - | 62,991 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
stock purchased for treasury
|
- | - | - | - | - | 416,487 | (3,602,531 | ) | (3,602,531 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement
of treasury stock
|
(341,627 | ) | (342 | ) | (707,608 | ) | (2,258,289 | ) | - | (341,627 | ) | 2,966,239 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
Proceeds
from issuance of common stock, net
|
1,200,000 | 1,200 | 11,917,592 | - | - | - | - | 11,918,792 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Options
and warrants exercised
|
258,448 | 259 | 262,451 | (48,685 | ) | - | - | - | 214,025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Tax
benefit from exercise of options and warrants
|
- | - | 122,308 | - | - | - | - | 122,308 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
at December 31, 2006
|
16,730,465 | 16,731 | 34,732,421 | (5,336,866 | ) | (540,653 | ) | 124,942 | (1,137,782 | ) | 27,733,851 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
- | - | - | 5,041,115 | - | - | - | 5,041,115 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive income:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
- | - | - | - | 121,474 | - | - | 121,474 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive income
|
5,162,589 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
stock dividends paid, $0.10 per share
|
- | - | - | (1,600,621 | ) | - | - | - | (1,600,621 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrants
granted under DSPP
|
- | - | 80,026 | - | - | - | - | 80,026 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Employee
stock-based compensation
|
- | - | 75,151 | - | - | - | - | 75,151 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
stock purchased for treasury
|
- | - | - | - | - | 752,491 | (7,677,124 | ) | (7,677,124 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement
of treasury stock
|
(874,008 | ) | (874 | ) | (1,818,556 | ) | (6,972,960 | ) | - | (874,008 | ) | 8,792,390 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
Options
and warrants exercised
|
28,722 | 28 | 83,469 | - | - | - | - | 83,497 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
|
(8,000 | ) | (8 | ) | (52,160 | ) | - | - | - | - | (52,168 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
at December 31, 2007
|
15,877,179 | 15,877 | 33,100,351 | (8,869,332 | ) | (419,179 | ) | 3,425 | (22,516 | ) | 23,805,201 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Net
income
|
- | - | - | 2,880,951 | - | - | - | 2,880,951 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
comprehensive income:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Foreign
currency translation adjustment
|
- | - | - | - | (244,299 | ) | - | - | (244,299 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Total
comprehensive income
|
2,636,652 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
stock dividends paid, $0.10 per share
|
- | - | - | (1,514,016 | ) | - | - | - | (1,514,016 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrants
granted under DSPP
|
- | - | 92,229 | - | - | - | - | 92,229 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Employee
stock-based compensation
|
- | - | 185,635 | - | - | - | - | 185,635 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Contribution
of treasury shares to ESOP
|
- | - | (21,073 | ) | - | - | (53,500 | ) | 271,453 | 250,380 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Common
stock purchased for treasury
|
- | - | - | - | - | 1,626,609 | (9,357,732 | ) | (9,357,732 | ) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Retirement
of treasury stock
|
(1,453,509 | ) | (1,454 | ) | (3,045,315 | ) | (5,436,033 | ) | - | (1,453,509 | ) | 8,482,802 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
Options
and warrants exercised
|
1,515 | 2 | 6,967 | - | - | - | - | 6,969 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other
|
- | - | 2,272 | - | - | - | - | 2,272 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Balance
at December 31, 2008
|
14,425,185 | $ | 14,425 | $ | 30,321,066 | $ | (12,938,430 | ) | $ | (663,478 | ) | 123,025 | $ | (625,993 | ) | $ | 16,107,590 |
See
accompanying notes.
F-6
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows
Year
ended December 31
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Operating
activities
|
||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 2,880,951 | $ | 5,041,115 | $ | 7,898,103 | ||||||
Adjustments
to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating
activities:
|
||||||||||||
Depreciation
and amortization
|
1,200,892 | 1,114,974 | 1,243,407 | |||||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
277,864 | 155,177 | 165,215 | |||||||||
Contribution
of treasury shares to ESOP
|
250,380 | - | - | |||||||||
(Gain)
loss on limited partnership investment
|
595,887 | (52,162 | ) | (32,320 | ) | |||||||
Deferred
income taxes
|
140,430 | (40,000 | ) | (189,000 | ) | |||||||
Foreign
currency transaction (gain)/loss
|
72,434 | (118,718 | ) | (194,760 | ) | |||||||
(Increase)
decrease in accounts and notes receivable
|
376,277 | (50,098 | ) | 52,869 | ||||||||
(Increase)
decrease in inventories
|
(231,833 | ) | (1,286,334 | ) | 896,792 | |||||||
(Increase)
decrease in refundable income taxes
|
233,431 | (90,923 | ) | (260,035 | ) | |||||||
(Increase)
decrease in prepaid expenses and other current assets
|
(210,161 | ) | 268,442 | 154,428 | ||||||||
(Increase)
decrease in other assets
|
640,411 | (378,585 | ) | (17,357 | ) | |||||||
Increase
(decrease) in accounts payable & accrued expenses and other
non-current liabilities
|
(2,370,437 | ) | 90,397 | 63,346 | ||||||||
Increase
(decrease) in income taxes payable
|
(110,000 | ) | 110,000 | (821,571 | ) | |||||||
Net
cash provided by operating activities
|
3,746,526 | 4,763,285 | 8,959,117 | |||||||||
Investing
activities
|
||||||||||||
Proceeds
from sale of property, plant, and equipment
|
28,445 | 4,847 | 97,117 | |||||||||
Purchase
of property, plant, and equipment
|
(929,874 | ) | (841,193 | ) | (572,748 | ) | ||||||
Purchase
of investments
|
(1,521,111 | ) | (1,398,592 | ) | (8,974,000 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds
from sales or maturities of investments, at cost
|
1,919,703 | 8,864,000 | 110,000 | |||||||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) investing activities
|
(502,837 | ) | 6,629,062 | (9,339,631 | ) | |||||||
Financing
activities
|
||||||||||||
Proceeds
from line of credit borrowings
|
4,000,000 | - | - | |||||||||
Principal
payments on long-term borrowings and line of credit
|
(4,000,000 | ) | - | (3,127,344 | ) | |||||||
Net
proceeds from issuance of common stock
|
- | - | 11,918,792 | |||||||||
Common
stock dividends paid
|
(1,514,016 | ) | (1,600,621 | ) | (1,675,582 | ) | ||||||
Proceeds
from options and warrants exercised
|
6,969 | 83,497 | 214,025 | |||||||||
Excess
tax benefits from stock-based compensation
|
- | - | 103,182 | |||||||||
Purchase
of stock for treasury
|
(8,788,357 | ) | (7,677,124 | ) | (3,602,531 | ) | ||||||
Other
|
2,272 | - | - | |||||||||
Net
cash provided by (used in) financing activities
|
(10,293,132 | ) | (9,194,248 | ) | 3,830,542 | |||||||
Effect
of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
|
(184,619 | ) | 163,790 | 229,188 | ||||||||
Increase
(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
|
(7,234,062 | ) | 2,361,889 | 3,679,216 | ||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at beginning of year
|
11,694,699 | 9,332,810 | 5,653,594 | |||||||||
Cash
and cash equivalents at end of year
|
$ | 4,460,637 | $ | 11,694,699 | $ | 9,332,810 |
F-7
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Cash Flows (continued)
Year
ended December 31
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Supplemental
disclosures of cash flow information:
|
||||||||||||
Cash
paid during the year for:
|
||||||||||||
Interest
|
$ | 33,171 | $ | 1,373 | $ | 81,156 | ||||||
Income
taxes
|
$ | 2,143,000 | $ | 3,036,000 | $ | 6,262,000 | ||||||
Noncash
investing and financing transactions:
|
||||||||||||
Issuance
of promissory notes for purchase of stock for treasury
|
$ | 569,375 | $ | - | $ | - |
See
accompanying notes.
F-8
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
December
31, 2008
1.
Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Nature
of Business
Reliv’
International, Inc. (the Company) produces a proprietary line of nutritional
supplements addressing basic nutrition, specific wellness needs, weight
management, and sports nutrition. These products are sold by
subsidiaries of the Company to a sales force of independent distributors and
licensees of the Company that sell products directly to consumers. The Company
and its subsidiaries sell products to distributors throughout the United States
and in Australia, Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, Mexico, the
Netherlands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, and the United
Kingdom.
Principles
of Consolidation
The
consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its
foreign and domestic subsidiaries. All significant intercompany accounts and
transactions have been eliminated.
Inventories
Inventories
are valued at the lower of cost or market. Product cost includes raw materials,
labor, and overhead costs and is accounted for using the first-in, first-out
basis. On a periodic basis, the Company reviews its inventory levels, as
compared to future demand requirements and the shelf life of the various
products. Based on this review, the Company records inventory
write-downs when necessary.
In 2006,
the Company adopted SFAS No. 151, “Inventory Costs” which clarifies that
abnormal amounts of idle facility expense, freight, handling costs, and wasted
material (spoilage) should be recognized as period charges, rather than as an
inventory value. This standard also requires the allocation of fixed
production overheads to inventory based on the normal capacity of the production
facilities. The Company’s pre-existing accounting policy for
inventory valuation was generally consistent with this guidance, and therefore,
the adoption of SFAS No. 151 did not have a significant impact on 2006 financial
results.
Property,
Plant, and Equipment
Property,
plant, and equipment are stated on the cost basis. Depreciation is computed
using the straight-line or an accelerated method over the useful life of the
related assets. Generally, computer equipment and software are
depreciated over 5 years, office equipment and machinery over 7 years, and real
property over 39 years.
F-9
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Nature of Business and
Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Foreign
Currency Translation
All
balance sheet accounts have been translated using the exchange rates in effect
at the balance sheet date. Statements of income amounts have been
translated using the average exchange rate for the year. The gains
and losses resulting from the changes in exchange rates from year to year have
been reported in other comprehensive income (loss). The foreign
currency translation adjustment is the only component of accumulated other
comprehensive loss. Foreign currency translation adjustments
exclude income tax expense (benefit) given that the Company’s investments in
non-U.S. subsidiaries are deemed to be reinvested for an indefinite period of
time. The transaction (gains) losses were $72,434, ($118,718),
and ($194,760) for 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.
Revenue
Recognition
The
Company receives payment by credit card, personal check, or guaranteed funds for
orders from independent distributors and makes related commission payments in
the following month. Generally, net sales reflect product sales less the
distributor discount of 20 percent to 40 percent of the suggested retail price.
Sales revenue and commission expenses are recorded when the merchandise is
shipped, as this is the point title and risk of loss pass. In
accordance with EITF 01-09, the Company presents distributor royalty and
commission expense as an operating expense, rather than a reduction to net
sales, as these payments are not made to the purchasing
distributor.
Actual
and estimated returns are classified as a reduction of net sales. The
Company estimates and accrues a reserve for product returns based on the
Company’s return policy and historical experience. The Company
records handling and freight income as a component of net sales and records
handling and freight costs as a component of cost of products
sold. Total revenues do not include sales tax as the Company
considers itself a pass-through conduit for collecting and remitting applicable
sales taxes.
Basic
and Diluted Earnings per Share
Basic
earnings per common share are computed using the weighted average number of
common shares outstanding during the year. Diluted earnings per
common share are computed using the weighted average number of common shares and
potential dilutive common shares that were outstanding during the
period. Potential dilutive common shares consist of outstanding stock
options, outstanding stock warrants, and convertible preferred
stock. See Note 8 for additional information regarding earnings per
share.
F-10
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Nature of Business and
Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Stock-Based
Compensation
The
Company has a stock option plan for employees and eligible directors allowing
for incentive and non-qualified stock options, which are described more fully in
Note 7. On January 1, 2006, the Company adopted Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, “Share-Based Payments” (“SFAS No.
123(R)”) using the modified prospective transition method. Under this
method, the Company’s consolidated financial statements for prior periods have
not been restated and do not include the impact of SFAS No.
123(R). Accordingly, no compensation expense related to stock option
awards was recognized in years prior to 2006 because all stock options granted
had an exercise price equal to the fair market value of the underlying common
stock on the date of grant.
The
Company accounts for options granted to non-employees and warrants granted to
distributors under the fair value approach required by EITF 96-18, “Accounting
for Equity Instruments that are Issued to Other Than Employees for Acquiring, or
in Conjunction with Selling, Goods, or Services.”
Income
Taxes
The
provision for income taxes is computed using the liability method. The primary
differences between financial statement and taxable income result from financial
statement accruals and reserves and differences between depreciation for book
and tax purposes.
In July
2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB
Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN No.
48”). FIN No. 48 prescribes a more likely than not threshold for
financial statement presentation and measurement of a tax position taken or
expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN No. 48 also provides
guidance on de-recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, accounting for
interest and penalties associated with tax positions, accounting for income
taxes in interim periods, and income tax disclosures. Effective
January 1, 2007, the Company adopted FIN No. 48. See Note 11 for
further discussion.
Advertising
Costs of
sales aids and promotional materials are capitalized as inventories. All other
advertising and promotional costs are expensed when incurred. The
Company recorded $68,000, $226,000, and $296,000 of advertising expense in 2008,
2007, and 2006, respectively.
Research
and Development Expenses
Research
and development expenses, which are charged to selling, general, and
administrative expenses as incurred, were $397,000, $453,000, and $437,000 in
2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.
F-11
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Nature of Business and
Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Fair
Value
Effective
January 1, 2008, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value
Measurements” (SFAS No. 157) which defines fair value, establishes a framework
for measuring fair value, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements
required under other accounting pronouncements. SFAS No. 157
clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would
be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly
transaction between market participants. SFAS No. 157 also requires
that a fair value measurement reflect the assumptions market participants would
use in pricing an asset or liability based on the best information
available. Assumptions include the risks inherent in a particular
valuation technique (such as a pricing model) and/or the risks inherent in the
inputs to the model. The adoption of SFAS No. 157 did not have a
significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial
statements.
In
February 2008, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (FSP) 157-1, “Application of
FASB Statement No. 157 to FASB Statement No. 13 and Other Accounting
Pronouncements That Address Fair Value Measurements for Purposes of Lease
Classification or Measurement under Statement 13” (FSP 157-1) and FSP 157-2,
“Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157” (FSP 157-2). FSP 157-1
amends SFAS No. 157 to remove certain leasing transactions from its
scope. FSP 157-2 delays the effective date of SFAS No. 157 for all
non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, except for items that are
recognized or disclosed at fair value in the financial statements on a recurring
basis (at least annually), until the beginning of the first quarter of fiscal
2009. The measurement and disclosure requirements related to
financial and non-financial assets and liabilities are not anticipated to have a
significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial
statements.
In
October 2008, the FASB issued FSP 157-3, “Determining the Fair Value of a
Financial Asset When the Market for That Asset Is Not Active” (FSP
157-3). FSP 157-3 clarifies the application of SFAS No. 157 in a
market that is not active, and addresses application issues such as the use of
internal assumptions when relevant observable data does not exist, the use of
observable market information when the market is not active, and the use of
market quotes when assessing the relevance of observable and unobservable
data. FSP 157-3 is effective for all periods presented in accordance
with SFAS No. 157. The adoption of FSP 157-3 did not have a
significant impact on the Company’s consolidated financial
statements.
In
February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for
Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, Including an Amendment of FASB
Statement No. 115” (SFAS No. 159). SFAS No. 159 allows an entity the
irrevocable option to elect fair value for the initial and subsequent
measurement of certain financial assets and liabilities under an
instrument-by-instrument election. Under SFAS No. 159, subsequent
measurements for the financial assets and liabilities an entity elects to
measure at fair value will be recognized in its results of
operations. SFAS No. 159 also establishes additional disclosure
requirements. The Company adopted SFAS No. 159 on January 1, 2008 and
did not elect to measure any additional assets or liabilities at fair
value.
F-12
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Nature of Business and
Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Cash
Equivalents
The
Company's policy is to consider the following as cash and cash
equivalents: demand deposits, short-term investments with a maturity
of three months or less when purchased, and highly liquid debt securities with
both insignificant interest rate risk and with original maturities from the date
of purchase of generally three months or less.
Short-Term
Investments
In 2007
and 2006, certain short-term investments, categorized as available-for-sale,
were comprised of investment grade variable rate debt obligations issued by
various state and municipal governments. Accordingly, investments in
these securities were recorded at cost, which approximated fair value due to
their variable interest rates, which typically reset every 35 days or
less. Despite the long-term nature of their stated contractual
maturities, the Company had the ability to quickly liquidate these securities
and therefore classifies them as current assets. As a result of the
resetting variable rates, no cumulative gross unrealized or realized holding
gains or losses were recognized from these investments. In accordance
with management’s objective for their available-for-sale investments, each reset
of the variable interest rate was not considered a sale and subsequent
repurchase. Accordingly, this activity was presented net in the
consolidated statements of cash flows.
Short-term
investments also include certificates of deposit with original maturities at
acquisition ranging from greater than ninety days and less than one
year. Income generated from all short-term investments is presented
as interest income in the consolidated statements of income.
Use
of Estimates
The
preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States requires management to make estimates
and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and
accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from those
estimates.
Reclassifications
To
conform to the 2008 presentation, certain previously reported 2007 and 2006
amounts within other income (expense) have been reclassified to gain (loss) on
limited partnership investment within the consolidated statements of
income. To conform to the 2008 presentation, certain previously
reported 2007 and 2006 amounts within increase (decrease) in other assets have
been reclassified to (gain) loss on limited partnership investment within the
consolidated statements of cash flows.
F-13
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
1. Nature of Business and
Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Recent
Accounting Pronouncements Pending Adoption
In March
2008, the FASB issued SFAS No. 161, “Disclosures about Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities” (SFAS No. 161). SFAS No. 161 requires
companies with derivative instruments to disclose information that should enable
financial statement users to understand how and why a company uses derivative
instruments, how derivative instruments and related hedged items are accounted
for under SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging
Activities”, and how derivative instruments and related hedged items affect a
company’s financial position, financial performance, and cash
flows. SFAS No. 161 is effective for financial statements issued for
fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2008. The Company is
currently evaluating the impact of SFAS No. 161 and has not determined the
impact on its financial statements.
F-14
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
2. Property,
Plant, and Equipment
Property,
plant, and equipment at December 31, 2008 and 2007, consist of the
following:
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Land
and land improvements
|
$ | 852,147 | $ | 829,222 | ||||
Building
|
9,786,037 | 9,817,692 | ||||||
Machinery
and equipment
|
3,293,526 | 3,673,515 | ||||||
Office
equipment
|
1,452,015 | 1,525,905 | ||||||
Computer
equipment and software
|
2,904,846 | 2,665,610 | ||||||
18,288,571 | 18,511,944 | |||||||
Less
accumulated depreciation
|
9,376,414 | 9,312,759 | ||||||
$ | 8,912,157 | $ | 9,199,185 |
3.
Accounts Payable and Accrued Expenses
Accounts
payable and accrued expenses at December 31, 2008 and 2007, consist of the
following:
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Trade
payables
|
$ | 2,948,467 | $ | 4,288,481 | ||||
Distributors'
commissions
|
2,809,164 | 3,285,270 | ||||||
Sales
taxes
|
374,643 | 390,585 | ||||||
Payroll
and payroll taxes
|
648,550 | 499,921 | ||||||
$ | 6,780,824 | $ | 8,464,257 |
4. Fair Value of Financial
Instruments
At
December 31, 2008, the carrying values and fair values of the Company’s
financial instruments are approximately as follows:
Using
Quoted
|
||||||||
Total
|
Prices
in
|
|||||||
Carrying
|
Active
Markets
|
|||||||
Description
|
Value
|
(Level
1)
|
||||||
Marketable
securities (1)
|
$ | 155,000 | $ | 155,000 |
(1)
|
Representing
assets of the Company's Supplemental Executive Retirement
Plan
|
(trading
securities). Presented within Other Assets in the consolidated
balance sheets.
The
carrying value of other financial instruments, including cash, accounts
receivable and accounts payable, and accrued liabilities approximate fair value
due to their short maturities or variable-rate nature of the respective
balances.
F-15
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
5.
Short-Term Borrowings and Notes Payable
On June
28, 2006, the Company entered into a revolving loan agreement with its primary
lender. The agreement had an effective date of April 30, 2006 and
replaced the prior revolving loan agreement with the same
lender. Under this 2006 agreement, the lender agreed to provide a
line of credit for the Company in the amount of $5 million. This 2006
revolving line of credit facility, as amended, expired on September 30,
2008.
Effective
October 1, 2008, the Company entered into a new revolving loan agreement for a
one year term with its primary lender. Similar to the prior
agreement, the lender agreed to provide a line of credit for the Company in the
amount of $5 million. Any advances under the revolver accrue interest
at a variable interest rate based on LIBOR + 2.5%. Similar to the
previous facility, the new facility includes covenants to maintain total
stockholders' equity of not less than $10.5 million, and that borrowings under
the facility shall not exceed EBITDA by a ratio of 3.5:1. At December
31, 2008, the Company had no borrowings under the revolving loan agreement and
was in compliance with the minimum stockholders' equity covenant.
2008
Purchases of Stock for Treasury and related Borrowings
On July
24, 2008, the Company entered into similar, but separate Stock Purchase
Agreements with two significant shareholders to purchase, as amended, 999,000
shares of the Company’s common stock for $5.994 million ($6 per
share). To finance the purchase, the Company utilized cash on hand
and borrowed $4 million under its 2006 line of credit agreement. In
September 2008, the aforementioned $4 million borrowing and related interest was
repaid.
Included
within the Stock Purchase Agreement, each of the selling shareholders also
granted the Company a right of first refusal regarding each subsequent proposed
sale of shares of the Company’s common stock. Under this provision,
as defined within the Agreement, the Company will have two days to exercise its
purchase right as to all or any of the shares to be sold on the negotiated
terms.
Under the
aforementioned first refusal provision, from October 2008 through December 2008,
the Company purchased 187,500 shares of the Company’s common stock for $928,875
in a series of transactions. A portion of the total purchase was paid
utilizing available cash on hand and the Company issued a series of five notes
payable aggregating to $569,375 for the remaining amount due. The
five notes range in amounts from $73,375 to $132,250 with the following key
terms: interest payable quarterly at 6%; all outstanding principal
and unpaid interest due two years from each note’s issuance date; and no
prepayment penalty. At December 31, 2008, the Company has classified
the outstanding notes payable balance of $569,375 as a current liability in the
accompanying consolidated balance sheets as the Company has the intent and
financial ability to repay all of the notes in 2009.
F-16
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
6.
Investments
Available-for-Sale
Investments
Available-for-sale
investments at December 31, 2007 are as follows:
Unrealized
|
Recorded
|
Cash
and
|
Short-term
|
|||||||||||||||||
Cost
|
gains
/ (losses)
|
basis
|
cash
equivalents
|
investments
|
||||||||||||||||
Cash
|
$ | 7,670,244 | $ | - | $ | 7,670,244 | $ | 7,670,244 | $ |
-
|
||||||||||
Certificates
of deposit
|
4,423,047 | - | 4,423,047 | 4,024,455 | 398,592 | |||||||||||||||
$ | 12,093,291 | $ | - | $ | 12,093,291 | $ | 11,694,699 | $ | 398,592 |
At
December 31, 2008, the Company’s only available-for-sale investments were
cash.
Other
Investment
In June
2006, the Company contributed $1,000,000 as a limited partner in a private
equity fund. In accordance with EITF Topic D-46, “Accounting for
Limited Partnership Investments,” the Company accounts for its investment under
the equity method. Under this method, the Company’s proportionate
share of partnership income (loss) is recorded to gain (loss) on limited
partnership investment with a corresponding increase (decrease) in the carrying
value of its investment. For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007,
and 2006, the Company’s partnership income (loss) was ($596,000), $52,000, and
$32,000, respectively.
The
carrying value of this investment was $1,084,000 at December 31, 2007 and was
included in “Other Assets” in the accompanying consolidated balance
sheets. In 2008, the Company delivered notice to the partnership’s
general partner of its notice to fully withdraw from the
partnership. Therefore, the carrying value of the investment at
December 31, 2008 of $489,000 is included in “Prepaid Expenses and Other Current
Assets” in the accompanying consolidated balances sheets. In January
2009, the Company received cash from the partnership of $469,000 and expects to
receive the remaining balance due in 2009 upon final cessation of the
partnership.
Other-Than-Temporary
Impairment
All of
the Company’s available-for-sale and other investments are subject to a periodic
impairment review. Investments are considered to be impaired when a
decline in fair value is judged to be other-than-temporary. Once a
decline in fair value is determined to be other-than-temporary, an impairment
charge is recorded in other income (expense), and a new cost basis in the
investment is established. For the years ended December 31, 2008 and
2007, a review of the Company’s investments has not resulted in any
impairment.
F-17
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
7.
Stockholders’ Equity
Stock
Options
On
January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS 123(R). Prior to the
adoption of SFAS 123(R), the Company had adopted the disclosure-only provisions
of SFAS 123 and accounted for employee stock-based compensation under the
intrinsic value method, and no expense related to stock options was
recognized. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS 123(R) using
the modified prospective transition method. Under this method, the
Company's consolidated financial statements as of and for the years ended
December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006 reflect the impact of SFAS 123(R), while the
consolidated financial statements for prior periods have not been restated to
reflect, and do not include, the impact of SFAS 123(R). SFAS 123(R)
amends SFAS No. 95, "Statement of Cash Flows," to require that excess tax
benefits be reported as a financing cash flow rather than as an operating cash
flow.
The
Company sponsors a stock option plan (the “2003 Plan”) allowing for incentive
stock options and non-qualified stock options to be granted to employees and
eligible directors. The plan has been approved by the stockholders of
the Company. The 2003 Plan provides that 1,000,000 shares may be
issued under the plan at an option price not less than the fair market value of
the stock at the time the option is granted. The 2003 Plan expires on
March 20, 2013. The options vest pursuant to the schedule set forth
for the plan. In 2005, the Company issued grants of 543,000 shares
under the 2003 Plan. The 2005 option grants were issued with an
exercise price equal to the fair value of the shares at the time of grant and
were fully vested in the year of grant. Accordingly, no stock-based
compensation expense has been recognized relating to the 2005 option
grants.
The fair
value of the options granted in 2005 were estimated at the date of grant using a
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average
assumptions: risk-free interest rates ranging from 4.02% to 4.31%;
dividend yield ranging from 0.55% to 0.80%; volatility factor of the expected
price of the Company’s stock ranging from 0.448 to 0.516; and a weighted average
expected life of 7.0 years. The weighted average fair value of the
options granted during 2005 was $4.19 per share.
In August
2007, the Company granted options to purchase 216,000 shares of common stock
under the 2003 Plan. The options were issued with an exercise price
of $9.74 which is equal to the fair value of the shares at the time of
grant.
The fair
value of the options granted in 2007 were estimated at the date of grant using a
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average
assumptions: risk-free interest rate of 5.01%; dividend yield of
1.00%; volatility factor of the expected price of the Company’s
stock of 0.472; an expected life of 4.5 years and a grant date fair
value of $4.07 per share. The options have a term of five years and
vest in increments of 25% beginning August 7, 2009 and ending May 1,
2012. Expense for stock options granted in 2007 is recognized
on a straight-line basis separately for each vesting portion of the stock option
award.
F-18
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
7.
Stockholders’ Equity (continued)
Stock
Options (continued)
During
the third quarter of 2008, the Company granted options to purchase 16,500 and
25,000 shares of common stock with exercise prices of $5.28 per share and $5.50
per share, respectively, and a grant-date fair value of $1.84 per share and
$1.91 per share, respectively. The options’ exercise prices were
equal to the fair value of the shares at the time of the grant.
The fair
value of the options granted in 2008 were estimated at the date of grant using a
Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following weighted average
assumptions: risk-free interest rate of approximately 3.0%; dividend
yield of 1.9%; volatility factor of the expected price of the Company’s
stock of 0.447; and an expected life of 4.5 years. The
options have a term of five years and vest in various increments ranging from
one year to 4.67 years.
As of
December 31, 2008, as adjusted for forfeitures, 232,000 shares remain available
for grant under the 2003 Plan.
Upon
adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) on January 1, 2006, there existed 128,720
unexercised stock options from grants made in 2001 under a prior stock option
plan. The fair value of options granted in 2001 were estimated at the
date of grant using a Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following
weighted average assumptions: risk-free interest rates ranging from
3.07% to 4.78%; dividend yield of zero; volatility factor of the expected price
of the Company’s stock of 0.729; and a weighted average expected life of 4.51
years. The weighted average fair value of options granted during 2001
was $0.42. As of December 31, 2006, all stock options granted in 2001
were vested and have either been exercised or expired.
Compensation
cost for the stock option plans was approximately $186,000 ($123,000 net of
tax), $75,000 ($51,000 net of tax), and $63,000 ($63,000 net of tax) for the
years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively, and has been
recorded in selling, general, and administrative expense. As of
December 31, 2008, the total remaining unrecognized compensation cost related to
non-vested stock options totaled $658,000 ($435,000 net of tax), which will be
amortized over the weighted remaining requisite service period of 3.3
years.
F-19
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
7.
Stockholders’ Equity (continued)
Stock
Options (continued)
A summary
of the Company’s stock option activity and related information for the years
ended December 31 follows:
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Options
|
Weighted
Avg.
Exercise
Price
|
Options
|
Weighted
Avg.
Exercise
Price
|
Options
|
Weighted
Avg.
Exercise
Price
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding
beginning of the year
|
725,500 | $ | 8.48 | 542,321 | $ | 7.70 | 835,395 | $ | 5.46 | |||||||||||||||
Granted
|
41,500 | 5.41 | 216,000 | 9.74 | - | |||||||||||||||||||
Exercised
|
- | (27,321 | ) | 2.60 | (247,457 | ) | 0.74 | |||||||||||||||||
Forfeited
|
(4,000 | ) | 9.74 | (5,500 | ) | 9.74 | (45,617 | ) | 4.39 | |||||||||||||||
Outstanding
at end of year
|
763,000 | $ | 8.31 | 725,500 | $ | 8.48 | 542,321 | $ | 7.70 | |||||||||||||||
Exercisable
at end of year
|
515,000 | $ | 7.96 | 515,000 | $ | 7.96 | 542,321 | $ | 7.70 |
As
of December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||
Options
Outstanding
|
Options
Exercisable
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||
Range
of
Exercise
Prices
|
Number
Outstanding
|
Weighted
Avg.
Remaining
Life
|
Weighted
Avg.
Exercise
Price
|
Number
Exercisable
|
Weighted
Avg.
Remaining
Life
|
Weighted
Avg.
Exercise
Price
|
||||||||||||||||||
$5.28
- $5.50
|
41,500 | 4.67 | $ | 5.41 | - | - | $ | - | ||||||||||||||||
$7.92
|
485,000 | 6.00 | 7.92 | 485,000 | 6.00 | 7.92 | ||||||||||||||||||
$8.68
|
30,000 | 6.79 | 8.68 | 30,000 | 6.79 | 8.68 | ||||||||||||||||||
$9.74
|
206,500 | 3.58 | 9.74 | - | - | - | ||||||||||||||||||
$5.28
- $9.74
|
763,000 | 5.30 | $ | 8.01 | 515,000 | 6.05 | $ | 7.96 |
The
aggregate intrinsic value of stock options outstanding and currently exercisable
at December 31, 2008 was $-0-. Intrinsic value for stock options is
calculated based on the exercise price of the underlying awards as compared to
the quoted price of the Company’s common stock as of the reporting
date.
F-20
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
7.
Stockholders’ Equity (continued)
Stock
Options (continued)
A summary
of the total intrinsic value, actual tax benefit realized, and cash received for
stock options exercised for the years ended December 31 follows:
Year
ended December 31
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Stock
Options Exercised:
|
||||||||||||
Intrinsic
value
|
$ | - | $ | 223,000 | $ | 2,262,000 | ||||||
Actual
tax benefit realized
|
- | - | 108,000 | |||||||||
Cash
received
|
- | 71,000 | 121,000 |
Of the
options exercised in 2006, 81,789 shares were paid with 6,537 mature shares of
Company stock, owned six months or greater. These shares tendered as
payment were valued at the fair market price on the date of
exercise.
Distributor
Stock Purchase Plan
In
November 1998, the Company established a Distributor Stock Purchase
Plan. The plan allows distributors who have reached the “Ambassador”
status the opportunity to allocate up to 10% of their monthly compensation into
the plan to be used to purchase the Company’s common stock at the current market
value. The plan also states that at the end of each year, the Company
will grant warrants to purchase additional shares of the Company’s common stock
based on the number of shares purchased by the distributors under the plan
during the year. The warrant exercise price will equal the market
price for the Company’s common stock at the date of issuance. The
warrants issued shall be in the amount of 25% of the total shares purchased
under the plan during the year. This plan commenced in January 1999,
and a total of 26,134, 25,891, and 28,995 warrants were issued during the years
ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The warrants
are fully vested upon grant. The weighted average fair values of
warrants granted during 2008, 2007, and 2006 were $1.30, $2.25, and $2.76 per
share, respectively.
The
Company records expense under the fair value method of SFAS No. 123(R) for
warrants granted to distributors. Total expense recorded for these
warrants was $92,229, $80,026, and $102,224 in 2008, 2007, and 2006,
respectively.
F-21
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
7.
Stockholders’ Equity (continued)
Distributor
Stock Purchase Plan (continued)
The fair
value of the warrants was estimated at the date of grant using a Black-Scholes
option pricing model with the following assumptions:
Year
ended December 31
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Expected
warrant life (years)
|
2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | |||||||||
Risk-free
weighted average interest rate
|
1.20 | % | 3.07 | % | 4.74 | % | ||||||
Stock
price volatility
|
0.502 | 0.431 | 0.476 | |||||||||
Dividend
yield
|
2.2 | % | 1.2 | % | 1.0 | % |
A summary
of the Company’s warrant activity and related information for the years ended
December 31 follows:
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
Warrants
|
Weighted
Avg.
Exercise
Price
|
Warrants
|
Weighted
Avg.
Exercise
Price
|
Warrants
|
Weighted
Avg.
Exercise
Price
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Outstanding
beginning of the year
|
79,724 | $ | 9.95 | 76,142 | $ | 10.25 | 66,719 | $ | 9.47 | |||||||||||||||
Granted
|
26,134 | 4.60 | 25,891 | 8.19 | 28,995 | 8.68 | ||||||||||||||||||
Exercised
|
(1,515 | ) | 4.60 | (1,401 | ) | 8.85 | (17,528 | ) | 5.28 | |||||||||||||||
Expired
and forfeited
|
(25,303 | ) | 13.18 | (20,908 | ) | 8.94 | (2,044 | ) | 5.12 | |||||||||||||||
Outstanding
at end of year
|
79,040 | $ | 7.25 | 79,724 | $ | 9.95 | 76,142 | $ | 10.25 | |||||||||||||||
Exercisable
at end of year
|
79,040 | 79,724 | 76,142 |
As
of December 31, 2008
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Warrants
Outstanding
|
Warrants
Exercisable
|
|||||||||||||||||||
Range
of
Exercise
Prices
|
Number
Outstanding
|
Weighted
Avg.
Remaining
Life
|
Weighted
Avg.
Exercise
Price
|
Number
Exercisable
|
Weighted
Avg.
Exercise
Price
|
|||||||||||||||
$ 4.60
|
24,619 | 2.88 | $ | 4.60 | 24,619 | $ | 4.60 | |||||||||||||
$ 8.19
|
25,891 | 2.00 | 8.19 | 25,891 | 8.19 | |||||||||||||||
$ 8.68
|
28,530 | 1.00 | 8.68 | 28,530 | 8.68 | |||||||||||||||
$4.60
- $8.68
|
79,040 | 1.91 | $ | 7.25 | 79,040 | $ | 7.25 |
F-22
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
7.
Stockholders’ Equity (continued)
Distributor
Stock Purchase Plan (continued)
A summary
of the total intrinsic value, actual tax benefit realized, and cash received for
stock warrants exercised for the years ended December 31 follows:
Year
ended December 31
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Stock
Warrants Exercised:
|
||||||||||||
Intrinsic
value
|
$ | 1,000 | $ | 2,000 | $ | 78,000 | ||||||
Actual
tax benefit realized
|
- | 1,000 | 14,000 | |||||||||
Cash
received
|
7,000 | 12,000 | 93,000 |
The
intrinsic value for stock warrants outstanding at December 31, 2008 was $-0-
with a weighted average remaining life of 1.91 years.
The
November 1998 Distributor Stock Purchase Plan was established with a ten-year
life. As a result, there will be no further grants from this
Plan. Upon exercise, forfeiture or expiration of all outstanding
warrants, the Plan will terminate.
Public
Offering of Common Stock
On
February 21, 2006, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 with
the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to an underwritten public
offering of 2,000,000 shares of its common stock. On April 5, 2006,
the Company commenced the public offering at a price of $11.25 per
share. The public offering was completed on April 11, 2006 and
consisted of 1,200,000 shares of common stock offered and sold by the Company
and 800,000 shares of common stock offered and sold by selling
stockholders. The selling stockholders were four directors and/or
officers of the Company. The underwriters had a 30-day option to
purchase up to 300,000 additional shares from certain of the selling
stockholders to cover over-allotments, if any. This option was
exercised for the full 300,000 shares and closed on May 9, 2006. The
Company did not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock by the
selling stockholders.
The
Company used a portion of the net proceeds from the offering for the repayment
of long-term debt and used the remaining net proceeds for general corporate
purposes. Net proceeds to the Company from the offering, after
reduction for the underwriters' fees and other offering expenses, were
$11,919,000.
F-23
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
8.
Earnings per Share
The
following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per
share:
Year
ended December 31
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Numerator:
|
||||||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 2,880,951 | $ | 5,041,115 | $ | 7,898,103 | ||||||
Denominator:
|
||||||||||||
Denominator
for basic earnings per share – weighted average shares
|
15,213,000 | 16,094,000 | 16,465,000 | |||||||||
Dilutive
effect of employee stock options and other warrants
|
10,000 | 209,000 | 262,000 | |||||||||
Denominator
for diluted earnings per share – adjusted weighted average
shares
|
15,223,000 | 16,303,000 | 16,727,000 | |||||||||
Basic
earnings per share
|
$ | 0.19 | $ | 0.31 | $ | 0.48 | ||||||
Diluted
earnings per share
|
$ | 0.19 | $ | 0.31 | $ | 0.47 |
For the
year ended December 31, 2008, options and warrants totaling 775,921 shares of
common stock were not included in the denominator for diluted earnings per share
because their effect would be anti-dilutive. For the years ended,
December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, warrants to purchase 25,303 shares of
common stock were not included in the denominator for diluted earnings per share
because their effect would be anti-dilutive.
9.
Leases
The
Company leases certain office facilities, storage, equipment, and automobiles.
These leases have varying terms, and certain leases have renewal and/or purchase
options. Future minimum payments under non-cancelable leases with initial or
remaining terms in excess of one year consist of the following at
December 31, 2008:
2009
|
$ | 413,148 | ||
2010
|
344,612 | |||
2011
|
254,991 | |||
2012
|
160,381 | |||
2013
|
75,170 | |||
Thereafter
|
112,485 | |||
$ | 1,360,787 |
Rent
expense for all operating leases was $689,535, $619,066, and $577,823 for
the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively.
F-24
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
10. Derivative
Financial
Instruments
The
Company has various transactions with its foreign subsidiaries that are
denominated in U.S. dollars and are subject to foreign currency exchange risk on
these transactions.
The
Company from time to time uses foreign currency exchange contracts to reduce its
exposure to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. The Company bases
these contracts on the amount of cash flows that it expects to be remitted to
the United States from its foreign operations and does not use such derivative
financial instruments for trading or speculative purposes. The
Company accounts for these contracts as free standing derivatives, such that
gains or losses on the fair market value of these forward exchange contracts as
of the balance sheet dates are recorded as other income and expense in the
consolidated statements of income.
At
December 31, 2005, the Company held forward exchange contracts totaling $978,000
with maturities through December 2006. All such contracts were
denominated in Canadian Dollars. At December 31, 2006, the Company no
longer held any forward exchange contracts. At December 31, 2007, the
Company held forward exchange contracts totaling $588,000 with maturities
through December 2008. At December 31, 2008, the Company no longer
held any forward exchange contracts.
The
aggregate accrued loss on these contracts was $-0- and $14,000 as of December
31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. The increase (decrease) in the
aggregate accrued loss on these contracts was ($14,000), $14,000, and ($59,000)
for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006,
respectively.
11.
Income Taxes
The
components of income before income taxes are as follows:
Year
ended December 31
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
United
States
|
$ | 7,946,609 | $ | 11,448,135 | $ | 15,803,248 | ||||||
Foreign
|
(2,552,658 | ) | (3,206,020 | ) | (2,800,145 | ) | ||||||
$ | 5,393,951 | $ | 8,242,115 | $ | 13,003,103 |
F-25
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
11.
Income Taxes (continued)
The
components of the provision for income taxes are as follows:
Year
ended December 31
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Current:
|
||||||||||||
Federal
|
$ | 2,010,000 | $ | 2,598,000 | $ | 4,340,000 | ||||||
State
|
313,000 | 569,000 | 924,000 | |||||||||
Foreign
|
11,000 | 74,000 | 30,000 | |||||||||
Total
current
|
2,334,000 | 3,241,000 | 5,294,000 | |||||||||
Deferred:
|
||||||||||||
Federal
|
112,000 | (34,000 | ) | (168,000 | ) | |||||||
State
|
18,000 | (6,000 | ) | (21,000 | ) | |||||||
Foreign
|
49,000 | - | - | |||||||||
Total
deferred
|
179,000 | (40,000 | ) | (189,000 | ) | |||||||
$ | 2,513,000 | $ | 3,201,000 | $ | 5,105,000 |
The
provision for income taxes is different from the amounts computed by applying
the United States federal statutory income tax rate of 34%, 34%, and 35% for
2008, 2007, and 2006, respectively. The reasons for these differences
are as follows:
Year
ended December 31
|
||||||||||||
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Income
taxes at U.S. statutory rate
|
$ | 1,834,000 | $ | 2,802,000 | $ | 4,524,000 | ||||||
Impact
of graduated federal taxes
|
- | - | (103,000 | ) | ||||||||
State
income taxes, net of federal benefit
|
348,000 | 434,000 | 727,000 | |||||||||
Lower
effective taxes on earnings in
|
||||||||||||
other
countries
|
(20,000 | ) | (23,000 | ) | - | |||||||
Foreign
corporate income taxes
|
60,000 | 74,000 | 30,000 | |||||||||
Executive
life insurance expense
|
9,000 | (3,000 | ) | 16,000 | ||||||||
Meals
and entertainment
|
46,000 | 58,000 | 68,000 | |||||||||
Extraterritorial
income exclusion
|
- | - | (27,000 | ) | ||||||||
Qualified
production activities
|
||||||||||||
income
- American Jobs Creation Act
|
(73,000 | ) | (117,000 | ) | (99,000 | ) | ||||||
Deferred
tax asset valuation
|
||||||||||||
allowance
- investment losses
|
343,000 | - | - | |||||||||
Other
|
(34,000 | ) | (24,000 | ) | (31,000 | ) | ||||||
$ | 2,513,000 | $ | 3,201,000 | $ | 5,105,000 |
F-26
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
11.
Income Taxes (continued)
The
components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities, and the related tax
effects of each temporary difference at December 31, 2008 and 2007, are as
follows:
2008
|
2007
|
|||||||
Deferred
tax assets:
|
||||||||
Product
refund reserve
|
$ | 143,000 | $ | 243,000 | ||||
Inventory
obsolescence reserve
|
18,000 | 13,000 | ||||||
Vacation
accrual
|
28,000 | 27,000 | ||||||
Stock-based
compensation
|
154,000 | 94,000 | ||||||
Organization
costs
|
146,000 | 134,000 | ||||||
Deferred
compensation
|
50,000 | 361,000 | ||||||
Capital
losses on investments
|
446,000 | - | ||||||
Valuation
allowance - investment losses
|
(396,000 | ) | - | |||||
Miscellaneous
accrued expenses
|
71,000 | 27,430 | ||||||
Foreign
net operating loss carryforwards
|
4,066,000 | 3,328,000 | ||||||
Valuation
allowance - NOL carryforwards
|
(4,066,000 | ) | (3,279,000 | ) | ||||
660,000 | 948,430 | |||||||
Deferred
tax liabilities:
|
||||||||
Depreciation
|
208,000 | 356,000 | ||||||
Net
deferred tax assets (liabilities)
|
$ | 452,000 | $ | 592,430 | ||||
Reported
as:
|
||||||||
Current
deferred tax assets
|
$ | 522,000 | $ | 574,430 | ||||
Non-current
deferred tax assets 1
|
- | 18,000 | ||||||
Non-current
deferred tax liabilities
|
70,000 | - | ||||||
Net
deferred tax assets (liabilities)
|
$ | 452,000 | $ | 592,430 |
1
|
Included
within other non-current assets on the consolidated balance
sheets.
|
The
Company has a deferred tax asset of $4,066,000 as of December 31, 2008, and
$3,328,000 as of December 31, 2007, relating to foreign net operating loss
carryforwards. The Company has recorded a valuation allowance to the
extent that it is more likely than not that this asset will not be realized
before it expires beginning in 2009.
The
Company has a deferred tax asset as of December 31, 2008 related to 2008 capital
losses on investments with a tax value of $446,000. The Company has established
a corresponding valuation allowance of $396,000 as it does not anticipate having
sufficient future capital gains to offset these current year capital
losses.
F-27
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
11.
Income Taxes (continued)
Through
December 31, 2008, the Company has not recorded a provision for income taxes on
the earnings of several of its foreign subsidiaries because such earnings are
intended to be permanently reinvested outside the U.S. The cumulative
amount of unremitted earnings on which the Company has not recognized United
States income tax was $76,000 at December 31, 2008. Although it is
not practicable to determine the deferred tax liability on the unremitted
earnings, credits for foreign income taxes paid would be available to
significantly reduce any U.S tax liability if foreign earnings are
remitted.
The
Company’s effective tax rate is based on expected income, statutory tax rates
and tax planning opportunities available to the Company in the various
jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Significant judgment is
required in determining the Company’s effective tax rate and in evaluating its
tax positions. In evaluating the exposure associated with various
filing positions, the Company estimates reserves for probable exposures, which
are adjusted quarterly in light of changing facts and circumstances, such as the
progress of tax audits, case law and emerging legislation.
Effective
January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48. As
a result of the implementation of FIN No. 48, the Company recognized no material
adjustment in its estimated liability for unrecognized tax
benefits. The Company has historically classified unrecognized tax
benefits in current income taxes payable. As a result of the adoption
of FIN No. 48, the Company reclassified its unrecognized tax benefits to other
non-current liabilities. With adoption of FIN No. 48, the Company is
continuing its practice to recognize interest and / or penalties related to
income tax matters in income tax expense.
The
aggregate changes in the balance of gross unrecognized tax benefits were as
follows:
Beginning balance as of January
1, 2007 (date of adoption)
|
$ | 87,700 | ||
|
||||
Settlements and effective
settlements with tax authorities
|
(1,900 | ) | ||
Lapse of statute of limitations
|
- | |||
Increases
in balances related to tax positions taken during prior
periods
|
112,700 | |||
Decreases
in balances related to tax positions taken during prior
periods
|
(22,300 | ) | ||
Increases
in balances related to tax positions taken during current
period
|
44,300 | |||
|
||||
Balance as of December 31, 2007
|
$ | 220,500 | ||
|
||||
Settlements and effective
settlements with tax authorities
|
(90,100 | ) | ||
Lapse of statute of limitations
|
- | |||
Increases
in balances related to tax positions taken during prior
periods
|
43,800 | |||
Decreases
in balances related to tax positions taken during prior
periods
|
(36,500 | ) | ||
Increases
in balances related to tax positions taken during current
period
|
22,500 | |||
|
||||
Balance as of December 31, 2008
|
$ | 160,200 |
F-28
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
11.
Income Taxes (continued)
The
current portion of the Company’s unrecognized tax benefits is presented in the
balance sheet within income taxes payable and the amount expected to be settled
after one year is recorded in other non-current liabilities.
During
2008, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) closed its examination of the
Company’s 2005 U.S. federal income tax return, resolving issues related to the
tax benefits on various matters including the disallowance of a non-recurring
matter involving certain professional fees. The final settlement paid
by the Company, including $10,000 of interest, was $87,000.
At
December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company had balances of $160,200 and $220,500,
respectively, of unrecognized tax benefits, all of which would impact the
effective income tax rate if recognized.
The
Company, including its domestic and foreign subsidiaries, is subject to U.S.
federal income tax as well as income tax of multiple state and foreign
jurisdictions. The Company has concluded all U.S. federal income tax
matters for years through 2005 and concluded years through 2005 with its primary
state jurisdiction.
12.
Employee Benefit Plans
The
Company sponsors a 401(k) employee savings plan which covers substantially all
employees. Employees can contribute up to 15% of their gross income to the plan,
and the Company matches a percentage of the employee’s contribution at a rate of
50% in 2008, 2007, and 2006. Company contributions under the 401(k)
plan totaled $297,000, $297,000, and $283,000 in 2008, 2007, and 2006,
respectively.
On
September 1, 2006, the Company established an employee stock ownership plan
("ESOP") which covers substantially all U.S. employees. Contributions
to the ESOP are funded by the Company on a discretionary basis. In 2008, the
Company’s contribution consisted of shares of common stock from treasury
measured by the fair value of the stock on date of contribution. In 2007 and
2006, the Company’s contribution was made in cash. Company contributions under
the ESOP plan totaled approximately $250,000 in each of the years ended December
31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
13.
Incentive Compensation Plans
In July
2001, the Board of Directors approved an incentive compensation plan effective
for fiscal years beginning with 2001. Under the plan, the Company
established a bonus pool payable on a semi-annual basis equal to 25% of the net
income of the Company. Bonuses are payable on all profits, but only
if the net income for each six-month period exceeds $250,000. The
bonus pool is allocated to executives according to a specified formula, with a
portion allocated to a middle management group determined by the Executive
Committee of the Board of Directors.
F-29
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
13.
Incentive Compensation Plans (continued)
In May
2007, the Board of Directors approved the adoption of a new incentive
compensation plan. This new plan was effective for fiscal year 2007
and replaces the previous plan. Under the new plan, bonuses are
payable quarterly in an amount not to exceed 18% of the Company’s Income from
Operations for any period, subject to the Company achieving a minimum quarterly
Income from Operations of at least $500,000. For fiscal years 2008
and 2007, the Board determined that the aggregate amount of incentive
compensation available under the Plan shall be equal to 16% of the Company’s
Income from Operations. Similar to the previous plan, the bonus pool
is allocated to executives according to a specified formula, with a portion also
allocated to a middle management group.
The
Company expensed a total of $1,016,000, $1,242,400, and $2,113,400 to the
participants of the bonus pool for 2008, 2007, and 2006,
respectively.
The
Company sponsors a Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan (SERP) to allow
certain executives to defer a portion of their annual salary and bonus into a
grantor trust. A grantor trust was established to hold the assets of
the SERP. The Company funds the grantor trust by paying the amount
deferred by the participant into the trust at the time of
deferral. Investment earnings and losses accrue to the benefit or
detriment of the participants. The SERP also provides for a
discretionary matching contribution by the Company not to exceed 100% of the
participant’s annual contribution. In 2008, 2007, and 2006, the
Company did not provide a match. The participants fully vest in the deferred
compensation three years from the date they enter the SERP. The participants are
not eligible to receive distribution under the SERP until retirement, death, or
disability of the participant. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, SERP
assets were $155,000 and $1,009,000, respectively, and are included in “Other
Assets” in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. At December 31, 2008
and 2007, SERP liabilities were $170,000 and $1,037,000, respectively, and are
included in “Other Non-Current Liabilities” in the accompanying consolidated
balance sheets. The decreases in the balances of SERP assets and SERP
liabilities from December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2008 were due to net realized
and unrealized investment losses incurred by the plan and a $420,000 participant
withdrawal.
14.
Related Party Transactions
In March
2005, the Company entered into a stock redemption agreement (“SRA”) with an
officer/director and his spouse (collectively “Seller”). The price
per share under the SRA was based on a discount from the market price per share
at the time of purchase in order to approximate the dilutive impact of their
shares on the open market. Under the SRA, the Company issued promissory notes
(“Notes”) totaling $4,050,000 to the Seller in exchange for 450,000 shares of
the Company’s common stock ($9.00 per share) owned by the
Seller. Interest, at 4% per annum, accrued on the outstanding balance
of the Notes and was payable quarterly. In 2006, the Company made
principal prepayments (without penalty) on the Notes totaling $3,100,000
resulting in a December 31, 2006 outstanding balance due on the Notes of
$-0-.
F-30
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
14.
Related Party Transactions (continued)
An
officer/director of the Company is of counsel in a law firm which provides legal
services to the Company. During the years ended December 31, 2008,
2007, and 2006, the Company incurred legal fees to this firm of approximately
$28,000, $29,000 and $114,000, respectively.
Prior to
November 2008, an officer/director of the Company had a minority ownership
position in a vendor that supplies finished goods to the
Company. Under this relationship, the Company provides the vendor a
significant portion of the raw materials for the vendor’s conversion to finished
goods. The vendor reimburses the Company for Company-supplied raw
materials and charges the Company a fee for the conversion. During
the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Company’s net purchases from
this vendor were $79,000 and $459,000, respectively.
15.
Restructuring of European Operations
In June
2008, the Company began closing the operations of its Reliv Germany
subsidiary. Under this restructuring plan, the Company now manages
its sales, marketing, and overall general management for its entire European
operations from its existing Reliv United Kingdom office. While this
plan resulted in the closing of the Reliv Germany office, the Company’s Germany
distribution center remains open to support that region’s
customers. In the second quarter of 2008, the Company incurred a
charge of $215,000 ($110,000 net of tax) for employee severance and lease exit
costs. The Company expects that the December 31, 2008 reserve balance
will be substantially settled over the next twelve months.
The
following is a summary of the costs incurred and payments made by
category. (These costs have been recorded in Selling, General and
Administrative within the Consolidated Statements of Income).
Employee
|
Lease
|
|||||||||||
Severance
|
Exit
|
Total
|
||||||||||
Original
charges and reserve balance
|
$ | 107,000 | $ | 108,000 | $ | 215,000 | ||||||
Amounts
settled in 2nd quarter 2008
|
(22,000 | ) | - | (22,000 | ) | |||||||
Reserve
balance at June 30, 2008
|
85,000 | 108,000 | 193,000 | |||||||||
Amounts
settled in 3rd quarter 2008
|
(85,000 | ) | (30,000 | ) | (115,000 | ) | ||||||
Reserve
balance at September 30, 2008
|
- | 78,000 | 78,000 | |||||||||
Additional
charges in 4th quarter 2008
|
17,500 | - | 17,500 | |||||||||
Amounts
settled in 4th quarter 2008
|
(17,500 | ) | (12,000 | ) | (29,500 | ) | ||||||
Reserve
balance at December 31, 2008
|
$ | - | $ | 66,000 | $ | 66,000 |
F-31
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
16.
Segment Information
Description
of Products and Services by Segment
The
Company operates in one reportable segment, a network marketing segment
consisting of eight operating units that sell nutritional and dietary products
to a sales force of independent distributors that sell the products directly to
customers. These operating units are based on geographic
regions.
Geographic
area data for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006,
follows:
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
Net
sales to external customers
|
||||||||||||
United
States
|
$ | 85,382,045 | $ | 98,347,762 | $ | 105,783,642 | ||||||
Australia/New
Zealand
|
2,680,540 | 2,943,848 | 2,550,086 | |||||||||
Canada
|
1,660,207 | 1,633,928 | 1,637,999 | |||||||||
Mexico
|
1,542,567 | 1,526,146 | 1,433,462 | |||||||||
United
Kingdom
|
1,023,378 | 1,062,088 | 1,234,976 | |||||||||
Malaysia/Singapore
|
2,691,611 | 1,765,124 | 1,804,704 | |||||||||
Philippines
|
2,709,463 | 2,942,156 | 2,197,813 | |||||||||
Germany
|
505,007 | 836,452 | 824,475 | |||||||||
Total
net sales
|
$ | 98,194,818 | $ | 111,057,504 | $ | 117,467,157 | ||||||
Assets
by area
|
||||||||||||
United
States
|
$ | 20,136,254 | $ | 29,388,767 | $ | 32,438,453 | ||||||
Australia/New
Zealand
|
485,377 | 604,852 | 500,916 | |||||||||
Canada
|
238,379 | 232,631 | 134,859 | |||||||||
Mexico
|
648,009 | 953,937 | 1,250,811 | |||||||||
United
Kingdom
|
182,179 | 320,767 | 283,884 | |||||||||
Malaysia/Singapore
|
1,392,268 | 1,006,780 | 1,209,616 | |||||||||
Philippines
|
519,252 | 599,733 | 977,034 | |||||||||
Germany
|
291,061 | 499,304 | 486,647 | |||||||||
Total
consolidated assets
|
$ | 23,892,779 | $ | 33,606,771 | $ | 37,282,220 |
F-32
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements
16.
Segment Information (continued)
The
Company classifies its sales into three categories of sales products plus
handling & freight income. Net sales by product category data for the years
ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006, follow:
2008
|
2007
|
2006
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||||
Net sales by product category
|
||||||||||||
Nutritional
and dietary supplements
|
$ | 84,156,989 | $ | 96,935,192 | $ | 102,295,598 | ||||||
Skin
care products
|
995,636 | 1,091,896 | 1,119,836 | |||||||||
Sales
aids and other
|
2,196,290 | 1,438,158 | 2,081,986 | |||||||||
Handling
& freight income
|
10,845,903 | 11,592,258 | 11,969,737 | |||||||||
Total
net sales
|
$ | 98,194,818 | $ | 111,057,504 | $ | 117,467,157 |
17.
Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited)
First
|
Second
|
Third
|
Fourth
|
|||||||||||||
(In
thousands, except per share amounts)
|
||||||||||||||||
2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
sales
|
$ | 28,271 | $ | 23,960 | $ | 23,861 | $ | 22,103 | ||||||||
Gross
profit
|
$ | 23,437 | $ | 19,849 | $ | 19,396 | $ | 18,076 | ||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 1,526 | $ | 569 | $ | 536 | $ | 250 | ||||||||
Net
income available to common shareholders
|
$ | 1,526 | $ | 569 | $ | 536 | $ | 250 | ||||||||
Earnings
per share:
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
$ | 0.10 | $ | 0.04 | $ | 0.04 | $ | 0.02 | ||||||||
Diluted
|
$ | 0.10 | $ | 0.04 | $ | 0.04 | $ | 0.02 | ||||||||
2007
|
||||||||||||||||
Net
sales
|
$ | 34,964 | $ | 26,325 | $ | 25,121 | $ | 24,648 | ||||||||
Gross
profit
|
$ | 28,902 | $ | 21,926 | $ | 20,800 | $ | 20,329 | ||||||||
Net
income
|
$ | 2,620 | $ | 823 | $ | 901 | $ | 697 | ||||||||
Net
income available to common shareholders
|
$ | 2,620 | $ | 823 | $ | 901 | $ | 697 | ||||||||
Earnings
per share:
|
||||||||||||||||
Basic
|
$ | 0.16 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.06 | $ | 0.04 | ||||||||
Diluted
|
$ | 0.16 | $ | 0.05 | $ | 0.06 | $ | 0.04 |
F-33
Reliv’
International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Schedule
II – Valuation and Qualifying Accounts
For the
years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, and 2006
Column
A
|
Column
B
|
Column
C
|
Column
E
|
Column
F
|
||||||||||||
Classification
|
Balance
at
Beginning
of
Year
|
Charged
to Costs
and
Expenses
|
Deductions
Describe
|
Balance
at End
of
Year
|
||||||||||||
Year ended December 31,
2008
|
||||||||||||||||
Deducted
from asset accounts:
|
||||||||||||||||
Allowance
for doubtful accounts
|
$ | 8,300 | $ | 17,400 | $ | 15,500 |
(1)
|
$ | 10,200 | |||||||
Reserve
for obsolete inventory
|
33,300 | 84,700 | 72,500 |
(2)
|
45,500 | |||||||||||
Liability
accounts:
|
||||||||||||||||
Reserve
for refunds
|
630,000 | 840,500 |
(3)
|
1,106,500 |
(3)
|
364,000 | ||||||||||
Year ended December 31,
2007
|
||||||||||||||||
Deducted
from asset accounts:
|
||||||||||||||||
Allowance
for doubtful accounts
|
$ | 6,200 | $ | 19,200 | $ | 17,100 |
(1)
|
$ | 8,300 | |||||||
Reserve
for obsolete inventory
|
32,800 | 46,300 | 45,800 |
(2)
|
33,300 | |||||||||||
Liability
accounts:
|
||||||||||||||||
Reserve
for refunds
|
421,000 | 1,905,900 |
(3)
|
1,696,900 |
(3)
|
630,000 | ||||||||||
Year ended December 31,
2006
|
||||||||||||||||
Deducted
from asset accounts:
|
||||||||||||||||
Allowance
for doubtful accounts
|
$ | 39,700 | $ | 19,700 | $ | 53,200 |
(1)
|
$ | 6,200 | |||||||
Reserve
for obsolete inventory
|
158,000 | 81,800 | 207,000 |
(2)
|
32,800 | |||||||||||
Liability
accounts:
|
||||||||||||||||
Reserve
for refunds
|
382,000 | 1,368,700 |
(3)
|
1,329,700 |
(3)
|
421,000 |
(1)
|
Uncollectible
accounts written off, net of recoveries.
|
(2)
|
Disposal
of obsolete inventory.
|
(3)
|
Amounts
refunded, net of salable amounts returned are shown as a reduction of net
sales.
|
F-34