Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes thereto for the period ended December 31, 2023 contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023. Forward-looking statements in this Form 10-Q are qualified by the cautionary statement included in this Form 10-Q under the sub-heading “Forward-Looking Statements” in the introduction of this Form 10-Q.
Overview
The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (collectively, along with its subsidiaries, the “Company,” and herein referred to as “Hain Celestial,” “we,” “us” and “our”), was founded in 1993. The Company is a leading manufacturer, marketer, and seller of better-for-you brands that inspire healthier living. The Company is committed to growing sustainably while continuing to implement environmentally sound business practices and manufacturing processes. Hain Celestial sells its products through specialty and natural food distributors, supermarkets, natural food stores, mass-market and e-commerce retailers, food service channels and club, drug and convenience stores worldwide.
The Company’s food and beverage brands include Celestial Seasonings ® , Clarks™, Cully & Sully ® , Earth’s Best ® , Ella’s Kitchen ® , Frank Cooper’s ® , Garden of Eatin’ ® , Garden Veggie™, Hartley’s ® , Health Valley ® , Imagine ® , Joya ® , Lima ® , Linda McCartney’s ® (under license), MaraNatha ® , Natumi ® , New Covent Garden Soup Co. ® , ParmCrisps ® , Robertson’s ® , Rose’s ® (under license), Sensible Portions ® , Spectrum ® , Sun-Pat ® , Terra ® , The Gre ek Gods ® , Thinsters ® , Yorkshire Provender ® and Yves Veggie Cuisine ® . The Company’s personal care brands include Alba Botanica ® , Avalon Organics ® , JASON ® , Live Clean ® and Queen Helene ® .
Hain Reimagined Program
During the first quarter of fiscal year 2024, we initiated a multi-year growth and transformation program (the “Hain Reimagined Program”) to drive shareholder returns. The savings initiatives are expected to impact our reportable segments and Corporate and Other. The program is intended to optimize our portfolio, improve underlying profitability and increase our flexibility to invest in targeted growth initiatives, brand building and other capabilities critical to delivering future growth. Hain Reimagined is grounded on four strategic pillars:
• Focus
◦ Concentrate our portfolio in five consumer-centric Better-For-You (“BFY”) platforms: Snacks, Baby & Kids, Beverages, Meal Preparation, and Personal Care.
◦ Simplify our footprint, maintaining direct presence in five key markets – United States, Canada, UK, Ireland, and Europe – and align our global operating model and footprint, leveraging scale and realizing synergies across the business.
• Grow
◦ Deliver share gain in key platforms where we have the most compelling right to win, through expanded channel reach and acceleration in its innovation pipeline.
• Build
◦ Enhance critical capabilities in brand building and effectiveness of marketing spend; expand reach across under-penetrated margin-accretive channels such as away-from-home and omni-channel e-commerce; and enhance our innovation capability to be more leading edge in BFY.
• Fuel
◦ Drive revenue growth management, working capital management and operational efficiency to fund growth and enhance margins.
Cumulative pretax charges are expected to be $115 million - $125 million inclusive of potential inventory reductions of approximately $25 million related to brand/category exits. The balance of cumulative pretax restructuring charges is expected to be $90 million - $100 million comprised of contract termination costs, asset write-downs, employee-related costs and other transformation-related expenses. For the three and six months ended December 31, 2023, we incurred approximately $31 million and $40 million, respectively, of expenses associated with the Company’s restructuring program. Annualized pretax savings are expected to be $130 million - $150 million.
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Global Economic Environment
The duration and intensity of inflation fluctuations, the possibility of an impending recession, alterations in consumer shopping and consumption patterns, and shifts in geopolitical events, such as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict and the recent Gaza Strip conflict, may lead to increased supply chain expenses, higher inflation, and other business impacts. We continually assess the nature and extent of these potential and evolving impacts on our business, consolidated operational results, liquidity, and capital resources.
Comparison of Three Months Ended December 31, 2023 to Three Months Ended December 31, 2022
Consolidated Results
The following table compares our results of operations, including as a percentage of net sales, on a consolidated basis, for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (amounts in thousands, other than per share data and percentages, which may not add due to rounding):
Three Months Ended Change in
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Dollars Percentage
Net sales $ 454,100 100.0% $ 454,208 100.0% $ (108) —%
Cost of sales 351,885 77.5% 350,351 77.1% 1,534 0.4%
Gross profit 102,215 22.5% 103,857 22.9% (1,642) (1.6)%
Selling, general and administrative expenses 73,952 16.3% 72,357 15.9% 1,595 2.2%
Long-lived asset impairment 20,666 4.6% 340 0.1% 20,326 **
Productivity and transformation costs 6,869 1.5% 986 0.2% 5,883 596.7%
Amortization of acquired intangible assets 1,509 0.3% 2,785 0.6% (1,276) (45.8)%
Operating (loss) income (781) (0.2)% 27,389 6.0% (28,170) (102.9)%
Interest and other financing expense, net 16,138 3.6% 10,812 2.4% 5,326 49.3%
Other income, net (42) —% (1,062) (0.2)% 1,020 (96.0)%
(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in net loss of equity-method investees (16,877) (3.7)% 17,639 3.9% (34,516) *
(Benefit) provision for income taxes (4,249) (0.9)% 6,357 1.4% (10,606) *
Equity in net loss of equity-method investees 907 0.2% 316 0.1% 591 187.0%
Net (loss) income $ (13,535) (3.0)% $ 10,966 2.4% $ (24,501) *
Adjusted EBITDA $ 47,126 10.4% $ 49,817 11.0% $ (2,691) (5.4)%
Diluted net (loss) income per common share $ (0.15) $ 0.12 $ (0.27) *
* Percentage is not meaningful due to one or more numbers being negative.
** Percentage is not meaningful due to significantly lower number in the comparative period.
Net Sales
Net sales for the three months ended December 31, 2023 were $454.1 million, a decrease of $0.1 million, or flat, as compared to $454.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2022. Net sales, adjusted for the impact of divestitures and discontinued brands, increased approximately $1.0 million, or 0.2%, from the prior year quarter due to growth in the International reportable segment, mostly offset by a decline in the North America reportable segment. The effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates increased net sales by $10.0 million. Further details of changes in net sales by segment are provided below in the Segment Results section.
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Gross Profit
Gross profit for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $102.2 million, a decrease of $1.6 million, or 1.6%, as compared to the prior year quarter. Additionally, gross profit margin of 22.5% was slightly lower when compared with 22.9% in the prior year quarter. The decrease in gross profit was driven primarily by the North America reportable segment, mainly due to lower sales volume, as well as by inflation and recognition of charges in the three months ended December 31, 2023 associated with the consolidation of facilities, partially offset by improvements in pricing and productivity. The International reportable segment had an increase in gross profit mainly driven by higher net sales due to pricing.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $74.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $1.6 million, or 2.2%, from $72.4 million for the prior year quarter. The increase was primarily due to higher marketing expenses and an increase in employee compensation-related expenses.
Long-lived asset impairment
During the three months ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized a non-cash impairment charge of $20.7 million due to a decline in actual and projected performance and cash flows related to an asset group primarily comprised of certain production assets in the North America reportable segment. See Note 6, Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, and Note 14, Fair Value Measurements , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Productivity and Transformation Costs
Productivity and transformation costs were $6.9 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $5.9 million from $1.0 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was primarily due to the recognition of restructuring costs incurred in connection with the Hain Reimagined Program.
Amortization of Acquired Intangible Assets
Amortization of acquired intangibles was $1.5 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $1.3 million from $2.8 million in the prior year quarter, primarily reflecting reduced amortization expenses due to impairment of the ParmCrisps customer relationships recognized in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. See Note 8, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of the Form 10-K.
Operating (Loss) Income
Operating loss for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $0.8 million compared to operating income of $27.4 million in the prior year quarter as a result of the items described above.
Interest and Other Financing Expense, Net
Interest and other financing expense, net totaled $16.1 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $5.3 million, or 49.3%, from $10.8 million in the prior year quarter. The increase resulted primarily from higher borrowing rates, partially offset by a lower outstanding debt balance compared to the prior year quarter. See Note 9, Debt and Borrowings , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Other Income, Net
Other income, net was not significant for the three months ended December 31, 2023, compared to income of $1.1 million in the prior year quarter. The decrease in other income, net was primarily attributable to lower unrealized foreign currency gains.
(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes and Equity in Net Loss of Equity-Method Investees
Loss before income taxes and equity in net loss of our equity-method investees for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $16.9 million compared to income of $17.6 million in the prior year quarter. The change was due to the items discussed above.
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(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes
The (benefit) provision for income taxes includes federal, foreign, state and local income taxes. Our income tax benefit was $4.2 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 compared to income tax expense of $6.4 million in the prior year quarter.
The effective income tax rate was a benefit of 25.2% and an expense of 36.0% for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The effective income tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was impacted by tax expense related to stock-based compensation, global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”), and limitations on the deductibility of executive compensation. The effective income tax rate for the three months ended December 31, 2022 was impacted by the gain on the sale of Westbrae Natural® brand (“Westbrae”), an operating lease modification during the second quarter, severance with respect to our former CEO (as part of the limitation on the deductibility of executive compensation), stock-based compensation and uncertain tax positions. The effective income tax rates in each period were also impacted by the geographical mix of earnings and state income taxes.
Equity in Net Loss of Equity-Method Investees
Our equity in net loss from our equity-method investments for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $0.9 million and $0.3 million in the prior year quarter. See Note 13, Investments , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Net (Loss) Income
Net loss for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $13.5 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared to net income of $11.0 million, or $0.12 per diluted share, in the prior year quarter. The change was attributable to the factors noted above.
Adjusted EBITDA
Our Adjusted EBITDA was $47.1 million and $49.8 million for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, as a result of the factors discussed above and the adjustments described in the Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures to U.S. GAAP Measures presented following the discussion of our results of operations.
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Segment Results
Our organizational structure consists of two geographic based reportable segments: North America and International, which are also the operating segments. This structure is in line with how the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) assesses the Company’s performance and allocates resources. The Company uses segment net sales and segment Adjusted EBITDA in order to analyze segment results and trends.
Segment Adjusted EBITDA excludes: net interest expense, (benefit) provision for income taxes, depreciation and amortization, equity in net loss of equity-method investees, stock-based compensation, net, unrealized currency (gains) losses, certain litigation and related costs, plant closure related costs-net, productivity and transformation costs, warehouse and manufacturing consolidation and other costs, costs associated with acquisitions, divestitures and other transactions, (gain) loss on sale of assets, certain inventory write-downs related to exited categories, long-lived asset impairments and other adjustments. In addition, Segment Adjusted EBITDA does not include Corporate and Other expenses related to the Company’s centralized administrative functions, which do not specifically relate to a reportable segment. Such Corporate and Other expenses are comprised mainly of compensation and related expenses of certain of the Company’s senior executive officers and other employees who perform duties related to our entire enterprise, litigation expense and expenses for certain professional fees, facilities, and other items which benefit the Company as a whole. We do not allocate amounts below operating (loss) income to our reportable segments.
The following table provides a summary of net sales and Adjusted EBITDA by reportable segment for the three months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
(dollars in thousands) North America International Corporate and Other Consolidated
Net sales
Three months ended 12/31/23 $ 267,671 $ 186,429 $ — $ 454,100
Three months ended 12/31/22 282,361 171,847 — 454,208
$ change $ (14,690) $ 14,582 n/a $ (108)
% change (5.2) % 8.5 % n/a — %
Adjusted EBITDA
Three months ended 12/31/23 $ 31,218 $ 25,969 $ (10,061) $ 47,126
Three months ended 12/31/22 38,510 19,242 (7,935) 49,817
$ change $ (7,292) $ 6,727 $ (2,126) $ (2,691)
% change (18.9) % 35.0 % (26.8) % (5.4) %
Adjusted EBITDA margin
Three months ended 12/31/23 11.7 % 13.9 % n/a 10.4 %
Three months ended 12/31/22 13.6 % 11.2 % n/a 11.0 %
See the Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures to U.S. GAAP Measures following the discussion of our results of operations and Note 18, Segment Information , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for a reconciliation of segment Adjusted EBITDA.
North America
Our net sales in the North America reportable segment for the three months ended December 31, 2023 were $267.7 million, a decrease of $14.7 million, or 5.2%, from net sales of $282.4 million in the prior year quarter. The decrease in net sales was primarily due to lower sales in the baby/kids category on account of continued industry-wide challenges in organic formula supply, as well as by a decline in the snacks category as we shifted our promotional strategy and optimized our channel mix for improved trade efficiency and profitability, partially offset by growth in the beverages category.
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Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $31.2 million, a decrease of $7.3 million, or 18.9%, from Adjusted EBITDA of $38.5 million in the prior year quarter. The decrease was primarily driven by reduced gross profit reflecting lower sales volume and the impact of inflation, partially offset by improvements in productivity. The decline in Adjusted EBITDA also reflected higher selling, general and administrative expenses primarily associated with increased marketing investments. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 11.7%, a 190-basis point decrease from the prior year period.
International
Net sales in the International reportable segment for the three months ended December 31, 2023 were $186.4 million, an increase of $14.6 million, or 8.5%, from net sales of $171.8 million in the prior year quarter. The net sales increase was mainly driven by growth in the meal preparation and beverages categories due to pricing and strong private label performance. The increase also reflected 5.8% of growth from the favorable impact of foreign exchange.
Adjusted EBITDA for the three months ended December 31, 2023 was $26.0 million, an increase of $6.7 million, or 35.0%, from Adjusted EBITDA of $19.2 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in gross profit reflecting higher net sales due to pricing, partially offset by lower volumes and inflation. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 13.9%, a 270-basis point increase from the prior year period.
Corporate and Other
The increase in Corporate and Other expenses primarily reflected an increase in consulting charges. Refer to Note 18, Segment Information , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
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Comparison of Six Months Ended December 31, 2023 to Six Months Ended December 31, 2022
Consolidated Results
The following table compares our results of operations, including as a percentage of net sales, on a consolidated basis, for the six months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 (amounts in thousands, other than per share data and percentages, which may not add due to rounding):
Six Months Ended Change in
December 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 Dollars Percentage
Net sales $ 879,129 100.0% $ 893,559 100.0% $ (14,430) (1.6)%
Cost of sales 692,971 78.8% 695,367 77.8% (2,396) (0.3)%
Gross profit 186,158 21.2% 198,192 22.2% (12,034) (6.1)%
Selling, general and administrative expenses 151,121 17.2% 147,308 16.5% 3,813 2.6%
Long-lived asset impairment 21,360 2.4% 340 —% 21,020 **
Productivity and transformation costs 13,272 1.5% 1,759 0.2% 11,513 654.5%
Amortization of acquired intangible assets 3,464 0.4% 5,573 0.6% (2,109) (37.8)%
Operating (loss) income (3,059) (0.3)% 43,212 4.8% (46,271) *
Interest and other financing expense, net 29,382 3.3% 18,489 2.1% 10,893 58.9%
Other income, net (307) —% (2,852) (0.3)% 2,545 (89.2)%
(Loss) income before income taxes and equity in net loss of equity-method investees (32,134) (3.7)% 27,575 3.1% (59,709) *
(Benefit) provision for income taxes (9,628) (1.1)% 8,988 1.0% (18,616) *
Equity in net loss of equity-method investees 1,405 0.2% 698 0.1% 707 101.3%
Net (loss) income $ (23,911) (2.7)% $ 17,889 2.0% $ (41,800) *
Adjusted EBITDA $ 71,216 8.1% $ 85,846 9.6% $ (14,630) (17.0)%
Diluted net (loss) income per common share $ (0.27) $ 0.20 $ (0.47) *
* Percentage is not meaningful due to one or more numbers being negative.
** Percentage is not meaningful due to significantly lower number in the comparative period.
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Net Sales
Net sales for the six months ended December 31, 2023 were $879.1 million, a decrease of $14.4 million, or 1.6%, as compared to $893.6 million for the six months ended December 31, 2022. Net sales, adjusted for the impact of divestitures and discontinued brands, decreased approximately $11.5 million, or 1.3%, from the prior comparable period due to a decline in the North America reportable segment, partially offset by growth in the International reportable segment. The effect of fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates increased net sales by $20.8 million. Further details of changes in net sales by segment are provided below in the Segment Results section.
Gross Profit
Gross profit for the six months ended December 31, 2023 was $186.2 million, a decrease of $12.0 million, or 6.1%, as compared to the prior year comparable period. Gross profit margin was 21.2% of net sales, compared to 22.2% in the prior year comparable period.
The decrease in gross profit was driven primarily by the North America reportable segment, mainly due to lower sales volume as well as by inflation, partially offset by pricing and productivity. The International reportable segment had an increase in gross profit mainly driven by higher net sales due to pricing.
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $151.1 million for the six months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $3.8 million, or 2.6%, from $147.3 million for the prior year comparable period. The increase was due to higher selling and marketing expenses and higher employee compensation-related expenses.
Long-lived asset impairment
During the six months ended December 31, 2023, the Company recognized aggregate impairment charges of $21.4 million, an increase of $21.0 million from $0.3 million in the prior year comparable period. Results for the six months ended December 31, 2023 included the recognition of a $20.7 million charge related to a decline in actual and projected performance and cash flows related to an asset group primarily comprised of certain production assets in the North America reportable segment. See Note 6, Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, and Note 14, Fair Value Measurements , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Productivity and Transformation Costs
Productivity and transformation costs were $13.3 million for the six months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $11.5 million from $1.8 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase was primarily due to the recognition of restructuring costs incurred in connection with the Hain Reimagined Program.
Amortization of Acquired Intangible Assets
Amortization of acquired intangibles was $3.5 million for the six months ended December 31, 2023, a decrease of $2.1 million from $5.6 million in the prior year comparable period, primarily reflecting reduced amortization expenses due to impairment of the ParmCrisps customer relationships recognized in the third quarter of fiscal 2023. See Note 8, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of the Form 10-K.
Operating (Loss) Income
Operating loss for the six months ended December 31, 2023 was $3.1 million compared to operating income of $43.2 million in the prior year comparable period as a result of the items described above.
Interest and Other Financing Expense, Net
Interest and other financing expense, net totaled $29.4 million for the six months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $10.9 million, or 58.9%, from $18.5 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase resulted primarily from higher borrowing rates, partially offset by a lower outstanding debt balance compared to the prior year comparable period. See Note 9, Debt and Borrowings , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
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Other Income, Net
Other income, net totaled $0.3 million for the six months ended December 31, 2023, compared to $2.9 million in the prior year comparable period. The decrease in other income, net was primarily attributable to lower unrealized foreign currency gains.
(Loss) Income Before Income Taxes and Equity in Net Loss of Equity-Method Investees
Loss before income taxes and equity in net loss of our equity-method investees for the six months ended December 31, 2023 was $32.1 million compared to income of $27.6 million in the prior year comparable period. The decrease was due to the items discussed above.
(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes
The (benefit) provision for income taxes includes federal, foreign, state and local income taxes. Our income tax benefit was $9.6 million for the six months ended December 31, 2023 compared to income tax expense of $9.0 million in the prior year comparable period.
The effective income tax rate was a benefit of 30.0% and an expense of 32.6% for the six months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. The effective income tax rate for the six months ended December 31, 2023 was impacted by tax expense related to stock-based compensation, GILTI, and limitations on the deductibility of executive compensation. The effective income tax rate for the six months ended December 31, 2022 was impacted by the gain on sale of Westbrae, an operating lease modification during the second quarter, severance with respect to our former CEO (as part of the limitation on the deductibility of executive compensation), stock-based compensation and uncertain tax positions. The effective income tax rates in each period were also impacted by the geographical mix of earnings and state income taxes.
Equity in Net Loss of Equity-Method Investees
Our equity in net loss from our equity-method investments for the six months ended December 31, 2023 was $1.4 million compared to $0.7 million in the prior year comparable period. See Note 13, Investments , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Net (Loss) Income
Net loss for the six months ended December 31, 2023 was $23.9 million, or $0.27 per diluted share, compared to income of $17.9 million, or $0.20 per diluted share, in the prior year comparable period. The change was attributable to the factors noted above.
Adjusted EBITDA
Our Adjusted EBITDA was $71.2 million and $85.8 million for the six months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, as a result of the factors discussed above, and the adjustments described in the Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures to U.S. GAAP Measures presented following the discussion of our results of operations.
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Segment Results
The following table provides a summary of net sales and Adjusted EBITDA by reportable segment for the six months ended December 31, 2023 and 2022:
(dollars in thousands) North America International Corporate and Other Consolidated
Net sales
Six months ended 12/31/23 $ 527,725 $ 351,404 $ — $ 879,129
Six months ended 12/31/22 570,757 322,802 — 893,559
$ change $ (43,032) $ 28,602 n/a $ (14,430)
% change (7.5) % 8.9 % n/a (1.6) %
Adjusted EBITDA
Six months ended 12/31/23 $ 49,945 $ 43,407 $ (22,136) $ 71,216
Six months ended 12/31/22 69,291 34,189 (17,634) 85,846
$ change $ (19,346) $ 9,218 $ (4,502) $ (14,630)
% change (27.9) % 27.0 % (25.5) % (17.0) %
Adjusted EBITDA margin
Six months ended 12/31/23 9.5 % 12.4 % n/a 8.1 %
Six months ended 12/31/22 12.1 % 10.6 % n/a 9.6 %
See the Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures to U.S. GAAP Measures following the discussion of our results of operations and Note 18, Segment Information , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for a reconciliation of segment Adjusted EBITDA.
North America
Our net sales in the North America reportable segment for the six months ended December 31, 2023 were $527.7 million, a decrease of $43.0 million, or 7.5%, from net sales of $570.8 million in the prior year comparable period. The decrease in net sales was primarily due to lower sales in the baby/kids category on account of continued industry-wide challenges in organic formula supply, a decline in the snacks category associated with more focused promotional activities and an optimized channel strategy as well as lower sales in the meal preparation and personal care categories.
Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended December 31, 2023 was $49.9 million, a decrease of $19.3 million, or 27.9%, from Adjusted EBITDA of $69.3 million in the prior year comparable period. The decrease was primarily driven by reduced gross profit reflecting the reduction in net sales discussed above, inflation and an increase in certain inventory obsolescence reserves, partially offset by improvements in productivity. The decline in Adjusted EBITDA also reflected higher selling, general and administrative expenses primarily associated with increased marketing investments. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 9.5%, a 260-basis point decrease from the prior year period.
International
Net sales in the International reportable segment for the six months ended December 31, 2023 were $351.4 million, an increase of $28.6 million, or 8.9%, from net sales of $322.8 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase reflected 6.7% of growth from the favorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates. The remainder of the net sales increase was mainly driven by growth in the meal preparation and beverages categories due to pricing and strong private label performance.
Adjusted EBITDA for the six months ended December 31, 2023 was $43.4 million, an increase of $9.2 million, or 27.0%, from Adjusted EBITDA of $34.2 million in the prior year comparable period. The increase was primarily driven by an increase in gross profit reflecting higher net sales due to pricing, partially offset by inflation and an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses primarily due to increase in employee compensation-related expenses. Adjusted EBITDA margin was 12.4%, a 180-basis point increase from the prior year period.
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Corporate and Other
The increase in Corporate and Other expenses primarily reflected an increase in consulting charges. Refer to Note 18, Segment Information , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
We finance our operations and growth primarily with the cash flows we generate from our operations and from borrowings available to us under our Credit Agreement (as defined below). We believe that our cash flows from operations and borrowing capacity under our Credit Agreement will be adequate to meet anticipated operating and other expenditures for the foreseeable future. See Note 9, Debt and Borrowings , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
In addition to obligations under the Credit Agreement, we are party to other contractual obligations involving commitments to make payments to third parties, including purchase commitments and lease obligations, which impact our short-term and long-term liquidity and capital resource needs. See Note 7, Leases .
Amended and Restated Credit Agreement
On August 22, 2023, the Company entered into a Second Amendment (the “Second Amendment”) to the Credit Agreement (as amended by a First Amendment dated December 16, 2022, the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement provides for senior secured financing of $1,100 million in the aggregate, consisting of (1) $300 million in aggregate principal amount of term loans (the “Term Loans”) and (2) an $800 million senior secured revolving credit facility (which includes borrowing capacity available for letters of credit, and is comprised of a $440 million U.S. revolving credit facility and $360 million global revolving credit facility) (the “Revolver”). Both the Revolver and the Term Loans mature on December 22, 2026.
During the Second Amendment Period, loans under the Credit Agreement will bear interest at (a) Term SOFR plus 2.5% per annum or (b) the Base Rate plus 1.5% per annum. Following the Second Amendment Period, Loans will bear interest at rates based on (a) Term SOFR plus a rate ranging from 1.125% to 2.0% per annum or (b) the Base Rate plus a rate ranging from 0.125% to 1.0% per annum, the relevant rate in each case being the Applicable Rate. The Applicable Rate following the Second Amendment Period will be determined in accordance with a leverage-based pricing grid, as set forth in the Credit Agreement as amended by the Second Amendment. The weighted average interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement at December 31, 2023 was 7.90%. Additionally, the Credit Agreement contains a Commitment Fee (as defined in the Credit Agreement) on the amount unused under the Credit Agreement ranging from 0.15% to 0.25% per annum, and such Commitment Fee is determined in accordance with a leverage-based pricing grid.
The Credit Agreement includes financial covenants that require compliance with a consolidated interest coverage ratio, a consolidated leverage ratio and a consolidated secured leverage ratio. Pursuant to the Second Amendment, the Company’s maximum consolidated secured leverage ratio was amended to be 5.00:1.00 until September 30, 2023, 5.25:1.00 until December 31, 2023 and 5.00:1.00 until December 31, 2024 (the period of time during which such maximum consolidated secured leverage ratios are in effect, the “Second Amendment Period,” which the Company may elect to end early). Following the Second Amendment Period, the maximum consolidated secured leverage ratio will be 4.25:1.00, subject to possible temporary increase following certain corporate acquisitions. Pursuant to the Second Amendment, the Company’s minimum interest coverage ratio was amended to be 2.50:1.00.
As of December 31, 2023, there were $526,000 of loans under the Revolver , $285,000 of Term Loans, and $3,188 let ters of credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement. As of December 31, 2023, $270,812 was available under the Credit Agreement, subject to compliance with the financial covenants. As of December 31, 2023, the Company was in compliance with all associated covenants.
In addition to obligations under the Credit Agreement, we are party to other contractual obligations involving commitments to make payments to third parties, including purchase commitments and lease obligations, which impact our short-term and long-term liquidity and capital resource needs. See Note 7, Leases , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
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Our cash and cash equivalents balance increased $0.3 million at December 31, 2023 to $53.7 million as compared to $53.4 million at June 30, 2023. Our working capital was $332.0 million at December 31, 2023, a decrease of $27.0 million from $358.9 million at the end of fiscal 2023. Additionally, our total debt decreased by $19.5 million at December 31, 2023 to $809.2 million as compared to $828.7 million at June 30, 2023 as a result of $18.8 million of net repayments carried out during the period.
Our cash balances are held in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Europe, the Middle East and India. As of December 31, 2023, substantially all cash was held outside of the United States.
We maintain our cash and cash equivalents primarily in money market funds or their equivalent. Accordingly, we do not believe that our investments have significant exposure to interest rate risk. Cash (used in) provided by operating, investing and financing activities is summarized below.
Six Months Ended December 31, Change in
(amounts in thousands) 2023 2022 Dollars
Cash flows provided by (used in):
Operating activities $ 34,685 $ (2,652) $ 37,337
Investing activities (11,403) (6,014) (5,389)
Financing activities (24,093) (10,892) (13,201)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash 1,119 (2,517) 3,636
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents $ 308 $ (22,075) $ 22,383
Cash provided by operating activities was $34.7 million for the six months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $37.3 million from cash used in operating activities of $2.7 million in the prior year period. This increase versus the prior period resulted primarily from higher cash generation of $66.2 million from our working capital accounts which was mainly due to our accounts payable optimization initiatives and focused inventory management, partially offset by a reduction in accounts receivable recovery. The increase was also partially offset by a reduction of $28.9 million in net income adjusted for non-cash charges in the current period.
Cash used in investing activities was $11.4 million for the six months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $5.4 million from $6.0 million in the prior year period primarily due to the receipt of $7.5 million of proceeds from the divestiture of Westbrae during the six months ended December 31, 2022.
Cash used in financing activities was $24.1 million for the six months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $13.2 million compared to $10.9 million in the prior year period. The increase in cash used in financing activities was primarily due to higher debt repayment during the six months ended December 31, 2023.
Free Cash Flow
Our free cash flow was $22.0 million for the six months ended December 31, 2023, an increase of $38.7 million from negative free cash flow of $16.7 million in the six months ended December 31, 2022. This increase versus the prior year period resulted primarily from an increase in cash flows from operations of $37.3 million driven by the reasons explained above. See Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures to U.S. GAAP Measures following the discussion of our results of operations for definitions and a reconciliation from our net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow.
Share Repurchase Program
In January 2022, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $200.0 million of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market, pursuant to pre-set trading plans, in private transactions or otherwise. The current 2022 authorization does not have a stated expiration date. The extent to which the Company repurchases its shares and the timing of such repurchases will depend upon market conditions and other corporate considerations. During the six months ended December 31, 2023, the Company repurchased no shares under the repurchase program. As of December 31, 2023, the Company had $173.5 million of remaining authorization under the share repurchase program.
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Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures to U.S. GAAP Measures
We have included in this report measures of financial performance that are not defined by U.S. GAAP. We believe that these measures provide useful information to investors and include these measures in other communications to investors.
For each of these non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, we are providing below a reconciliation of the differences between the non-U.S. GAAP measure and the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, an explanation of why our management and Board of Directors believe the non-U.S. GAAP measure provides useful information to investors and any additional purposes for which our management and Board of Directors use the non-U.S. GAAP measures. These non-U.S. GAAP measures should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, the comparable U.S. GAAP measures.
Net Sales - Adjusted for the Impact of Divestitures and Discontinued Brands
We exclude the impact of divestitures and discontinued brands when comparing net sales to prior periods, which results in the presentation of certain non-U.S. GAAP financial measures. The Company’s management believes that excluding the impact of divestitures and discontinued brands when presenting period-over-period results of net sales aids in comparability.
To present net sales adjusted for the impact of divestitures and discontinued brands, the net sales of a divested business or discontinued brand are excluded from all periods. A reconciliation between reported net sales and net sales adjusted for the impact of divestitures and discontinued brands is as follows:
(amounts in thousands) North America International Hain Consolidated
Net sales - Three months ended December 31, 2023 $ 267,671 $ 186,429 $ 454,100
Net sales adjusted for divestitures and discontinued brands - Three months ended December 31, 2023 $ 267,671 $ 186,429 $ 454,100
Net sales - Three months ended December 31, 2022 $ 282,361 $ 171,847 $ 454,208
Divestitures and discontinued brands (1,148) — (1,148)
Net sales adjusted for divestitures and discontinued brands - Three months ended December 31, 2022 $ 281,213 $ 171,847 $ 453,060
Net sales (decline) growth (5.2) % 8.5 % — %
Impact of divestitures and discontinued brands 0.4 % — % 0.2 %
Net sales (decline) growth adjusted for divestitures and discontinued brands (4.8) % 8.5 % 0.2 %
Net sales - Six months ended December 31, 2023 $ 527,725 $ 351,404 $ 879,129
Divestitures and discontinued brands 8 — 8
Net sales adjusted for divestitures and discontinued brands - Six months ended December 31, 2023 $ 527,733 $ 351,404 $ 879,137
Net sales - Six months ended December 31, 2022 $ 570,757 $ 322,802 $ 893,559
Divestitures and discontinued brands (2,910) — (2,910)
Net sales adjusted for divestitures and discontinued brands - Six months ended December 31, 2022 $ 567,847 $ 322,802 $ 890,649
Net sales (decline) growth (7.5) % 8.9 % (1.6) %
Impact of divestitures and discontinued brands 0.4 % — % 0.3 %
Net sales (decline) growth adjusted for divestitures and discontinued brands (7.1) % 8.9 % (1.3) %
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Adjusted EBITDA
The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, equity in net loss of equity-method investees, stock-based compensation, net, unrealized currency losses (gains), certain litigation and related costs, CEO succession costs, plant closure related costs-net, productivity and transformation costs, warehouse and manufacturing consolidation and other costs, costs associated with acquisitions, divestitures and other transactions, gains on sales of assets, certain inventory write -downs related to exited categories, intangibles and long-lived asset impairment and other adjustments. The Company’s management believes that this presentation provides useful information to management, analysts and investors regarding certain additional financial and business trends relating to its results of operations and financial condition. In addition, management uses this measure for reviewing the financial results of the Company and as a component of performance-based executive compensation. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-U.S. GAAP measure and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
We do not consider Adjusted EBITDA in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The principal limitation of Adjusted EBITDA is that it excludes certain expenses and income that are required by U.S. GAAP to be recorded in our consolidated financial statements. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is subject to inherent limitations as this metric reflects the exercise of judgment by management about which expenses and income are excluded or included in determining Adjusted EBITDA. In order to compensate for these limitations, management presents Adjusted EBITDA in connection with U.S. GAAP results. A reconciliation of net (loss) income to Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:
Three Months Ended December 31, Six Months Ended December 31,
(amounts in thousands) 2023 2022 2023 2022
Net (loss) income $ (13,535) $ 10,966 $ (23,911) $ 17,889
Depreciation and amortization 11,197 12,155 23,502 24,125
Equity in net loss of equity-method investees 907 316 1,405 698
Interest expense, net 15,333 10,379 27,956 17,658
(Benefit) provision for income taxes (4,249) 6,357 (9,628) 8,988
Stock-based compensation, net 3,376 3,435 7,118 7,429
Unrealized currency (gains) losses (194) 2,160 (159) 449
Certain litigation expenses, net (a)
2,091 2,482 3,615 4,945
Restructuring activities
Productivity and transformation costs 6,869 986 13,272 1,759
Plant closure related costs, net 2,302 53 4,143 51
Warehouse/manufacturing consolidation and other costs, net 811 (1,972) 811 (1,972)
CEO succession — 5,113 — 5,113
Acquisitions, divestitures and other
Transaction and integration costs, net 109 402 227 1,769
(Gain) loss on sale of assets — (3,355) 62 (3,395)
Impairment charges
Long-lived asset impairment 20,666 340 21,360 340
Inventory write-downs related to exited categories 1,443 — 1,443 —
Adjusted EBITDA $ 47,126 $ 49,817 $ 71,216 $ 85,846
(a) Expenses and items relating to securities class action and baby food litigation.
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Free Cash Flow
In our internal evaluations, we use the non-GAAP financial measure “Free Cash Flow.” The difference between Free Cash Flow and cash flows provided by or used in operating activities, which is the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, is that Free Cash Flow reflects the impact of purchases of property, plant and equipment (capital spending). Since capital spending is essential to maintaining our operational capabilities, we believe that it is a recurring and necessary use of cash. As such, we believe investors should also consider capital spending when evaluating our cash flows provided by or used in operating activities. We view Free Cash Flow as an important measure because it is one factor in evaluating the amount of cash available for discretionary investments. We do not consider Free Cash Flow in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. A reconciliation from cash flows provided by (used in) operating activities to Free Cash Flow is as follows:
Six Months Ended December 31,
(amounts in thousands) 2023 2022
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 34,685 $ (2,652)
Purchases of property, plant and equipment (12,735) (14,055)
Free cash flow $ 21,950 $ (16,707)
Critical Accounting Estimates
Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The accounting principles we use require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and amounts of income and expenses during the reporting periods presented. We believe in the quality and reasonableness of our critical accounting policies; however, materially different amounts may be reported under different conditions or using assumptions different from those that we have applied. The accounting policies that have been identified as critical to our business operations and to understanding the results of our operations pertain to variable consideration, valuation of long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets, stock-based compensation and valuation allowances for deferred tax assets. The application of each of these critical accounting policies and estimates is discussed in Part II, Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations , of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2023, from which there have been no material changes.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Refer to Note 2, Basis of Presentation , in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.
Seasonality
Certain of our product lines have seasonal fluctuations. Hot tea, hot-eating desserts and soup sales are stronger in colder months, while sales of snack foods, sunscreen and certain of our personal care products are stronger in the warmer months. As such, our results of operations and our cash flows for any particular quarter are not indicative of the results we expect for the full year, and our historical seasonality may not be indicative of future quarterly results of operations. In recent years, net sales and diluted earnings per share in the first fiscal quarter have typically been the lowest of our four quarters.