Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Item 8.
Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
TURNING POINT BRANDS, INC.
CONTENTS
Page
Reports of RSM US LLP (PCAOB ID: 49 )
59
Financial Statements:
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2023 and 2022
62
Consolidated Statements of Income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
63
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
64
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
65
Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity for the
years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
67
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
68
58
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Report of
Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Turning Point Brands, Inc.
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Turning Point Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries (the Company) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, the related
consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes to the consolidated financial statements
(collectively, the financial statements). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the results of its operations and its
cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. Our
report dated February 28, 2024 expressed an opinion that the Company had not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal
Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s financial statements based on our
audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether
the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud. Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and
performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles
used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Critical Audit Matter
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the financial statements that were communicated or required to be communicated
to the audit committee and that: (1) relate to accounts or disclosures that are material to the financial statements and (2) involved especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of a critical audit matter does
not alter in any way our opinion on the financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to
which its relates.
Fair Value of Non-Marketable Equity Investments with Impairment Charges
As described in Note 11 to the financial statements, for the year ended December 31, 2023, the Company recorded an impairment loss of $10.9 million on two non-marketable equity
investments, one of which is recorded using the equity method with the other recorded at original cost, as adjusted for impairment and observable price changes.
Investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting are assessed for impairment, which includes estimating the fair value of the investment, when events or
circumstances suggest that any loss in value of the investment may be other than temporary. A loss in value of an investment that is other than a temporary decline is recognized when evidence of a loss in value indicates, but would not
necessarily be limited to, absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the investee to sustain an earnings capacity that would justify the carrying amount of the investment.
For equity investments that do not qualify to be accounted for under the equity method of accounting and do not have a readily determinable fair value, the Company has elected a
practical expedient to record the investment at the original cost, as adjusted for impairment and observable price changes. Under the practical expedient, if a qualitative analysis indicates impairment exists, the fair value of the investment
is required to be estimated and any excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value is recognized as an impairment loss.
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The Company’s assessment of two non-marketable equity investments identified significant events negatively impacting each investments’ business strategy, deterioration in
operating results, and adverse cannabinoid market conditions, which management determined to be indicators of impairment. Consequently, the Company estimated the fair values of these investments using a market approach derived from applying
market multiples of comparable public companies to the financial results of each investment. The Company then compared the estimated fair value to the carrying value of each of these investments and recorded impairment losses equal to the
differences.
We identified the estimates of the fair values of these non-marketable equity investments as a critical audit matter because of the complexity of the valuation methodology and
the significant assumptions used by management in estimating the fair values of each investment, including the market multiples applied to the financial results of the investees. Auditing management’s estimates of fair values of these
investments involved a high degree of auditor judgment and an increased audit effort, including the use of our valuation specialists, due to the impact these assumptions have on the estimates of fair value.
Our audit procedures related to the estimated fair values of these
non-marketable equity investments (collectively, the investees) included the following, among others:
•
We evaluated the relevance and reliability of the underlying business-related data used by management by comparing it to the investees’ historical financial results.
•
We utilized valuation specialists to assist in the following procedures, among others:
°
Assessing the appropriateness of management’s valuation methodologies
°
Corroborating guideline public company market multiples used in the Company’s fair value calculations by comparing them to publicly available market data.
•
We evaluated the comparability of the guideline public companies identified by management to the operations of the investees.
•
We recomputed the valuation models for mathematical accuracy.
/s/ RSM US LLP
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 2006.
Charlotte, North Carolina
February 28, 2024
60
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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Stockholders and the Board of Directors of Turning Point Brands, Inc.
Opinion on the Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
We have audited Turning Point Brands, Inc.’s (the Company) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013. In our opinion, because of the effect of the material weakness described
below on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, the Company has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2023, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in 2013.
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB), the consolidated balance sheets as of December
31, 2023 and 2022, the related consolidated statements of income, comprehensive income, changes in stockholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2023, and the related notes to the
consolidated financial statements of the Company and our report dated February 28, 2024 expressed an unqualified opinion.
A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material
misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The following material weakness has been identified and included in management’s assessment:
There were deficiencies in the design and operation of information technology general controls (ITGCs) in the areas of user access and program change-management over certain
information technology (IT) systems that support the Company’s financial reporting processes. The business process controls (automated and manual) that are dependent on the affected ITGCs were also deemed ineffective because they could have
been adversely impacted.
This material weakness was considered in determining the nature, timing and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the 2023 financial statements, and this report does not
affect our report dated February 28, 2024 on those financial statements.
Basis for Opinion
The Company’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 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 are a
public accounting firm registered with the PCAOB and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. 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, and
testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audit also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit
provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
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.
/s/ RSM US LLP
Charlotte, North Carolina
February 28, 2024
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Turning Point Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
December 31, 2023 and 2022
(dollars in thousands except share data)
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash
$
117,886
$
106,403
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $ 78 in 2023 and $ 114 in 2022
9,989
8,377
Inventories, net
98,960
119,915
Other current assets
40,781
22,959
Total current assets
267,616
257,654
Property, plant, and equipment, net
25,300
22,788
Deferred income taxes
1,468
8,443
Right of use assets
11,480
12,465
Deferred financing costs, net
2,450
282
Goodwill
136,250
136,253
Other intangible assets, net
80,942
83,592
Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) escrow deposits
28,684
27,980
Other assets
15,166
22,649
Total assets
$
569,356
$
572,106
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
8,407
$
8,355
Accrued liabilities
33,635
33,001
Current portion of long-term debt
58,294
–
Other current liabilities
–
20
Total current liabilities
100,336
41,376
Notes payable and long-term debt
307,064
406,757
Lease liabilities
9,950
10,593
Total liabilities
417,350
458,726
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock; $ 0.01 par value; authorized shares 40,000,000 ; issued and outstanding
shares - 0 -
–
–
Common stock, voting, $ 0.01 par value; authorized shares, 190,000,000 ; 19,922,137 issued shares, 17,605,677
outstanding shares at December 31, 2023 , and 19,801,623 issued shares, 17,485,163 outstanding shares at December 31,
2022
199
198
Common stock, nonvoting, $ 0.01 par value; authorized shares, 10,000,000 ; issued and
outstanding shares - 0 -
–
–
Additional paid-in capital
119,075
113,242
Cost of repurchased common stock ( 2,316,460 shares at December 31, 2023 and 2022)
( 78,093
)
( 78,093
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
( 2,648
)
( 2,393
)
Accumulated earnings
112,443
78,691
Non-controlling interest
1,030
1,735
Total stockholders’ equity
152,006
113,380
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
569,356
$
572,106
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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Turning Point Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Statements of Income
for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
(dollars in thousands except share data)
For the year ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Net sales
$
405,393
$
415,013
$
445,471
Cost of sales
202,152
209,475
227,637
Gross profit
203,241
205,538
217,834
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
125,009
130,024
127,513
Other operating income, net
( 4,345
)
–
–
Operating income
82,577
75,514
90,321
Interest expense, net
14,645
19,524
20,500
Investment loss
11,914
13,303
6,673
Other income
( 4,000
)
–
–
Goodwill and intangible impairment loss
–
27,566
–
Gain on extinguishment of debt
( 1,664
)
( 885
)
( 2,154
)
Income before income taxes
61,682
16,006
65,302
Income tax expense
23,901
4,849
14,040
Consolidated net income
37,781
11,157
51,262
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
( 681
)
( 484
)
( 797
)
Net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc.
$
38,462
$
11,641
$
52,059
Basic income per common share:
Net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc.
$
2.19
$
0.65
$
2.75
Diluted income per common share:
Net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc.
$
2.01
$
0.64
$
2.52
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic
17,578,270
17,899,794
18,917,570
Diluted
20,467,406
18,055,015
22,381,994
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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Turning Point Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income
for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
(dollars in thousands)
For the year ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Consolidated net income
$
37,781
$
11,157
$
51,262
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax
Unrealized gain (loss) on MSA investments, net of tax of $ 161 in 2023 and $ 860 in 2022 and $ 81 in 2021
542
( 2,879
)
( 272
)
Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $ 0 in 2023 , 2022 and 2021
( 74
)
( 269
)
260
Unrealized (loss) gain on derivative instruments, net of tax of $ 237 in 2023 , $ 273 in 2022 and $ 813 in 2021
( 747
)
857
2,634
( 279
)
( 2,291
)
2,622
Consolidated comprehensive income
37,502
8,866
53,884
Comprehensive loss attributable to non-controlling interest
( 705
)
( 577
)
( 615
)
Comprehensive income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc.
$
38,207
$
9,443
$
54,499
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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Turning Point Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of
Cash Flows
for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
(dollars in thousands)
For the year ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Cash flows from operating activities:
Consolidated net income
$
37,781
$
11,157
$
51,262
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on extinguishment of debt
( 1,664
)
( 885
)
( 2,154
)
Loss (gain) on sale of property, plant, and equipment
90
( 9
)
( 54
)
Loss on goodwill impairment
–
25,585
–
Loss on intangible asset impairment
–
1,981
–
Gain on insurance recovery of inventory loss
( 15,181
)
–
–
Loss on investments
12,177
13,570
7,100
Depreciation and other amortization expense
3,262
3,388
3,105
Amortization of other intangible assets
3,096
1,911
1,907
Amortization of deferred financing costs
2,445
2,576
2,541
Deferred income tax expense (benefit)
7,024
( 6,506
)
( 1,485
)
Stock compensation expense
6,561
5,273
7,557
Noncash lease income
( 82
)
( 29
)
( 167
)
Gain on MSA escrow deposits
–
( 54
)
( 255
)
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable
( 1,609
)
( 2,103
)
3,317
Inventories
20,977
( 32,653
)
( 9
)
Other current assets
( 3,533
)
4,581
( 134
)
Other assets
( 4,835
)
420
996
Accounts payable
( 14
)
1,240
( 2,367
)
Accrued liabilities and other
386
830
( 2,943
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
$
66,881
$
30,273
$
68,217
Cash flows from investing activities:
Capital expenditures
$
( 5,707
)
$
( 7,685
)
$
( 6,156
)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired
–
–
( 16,416
)
Payments for investments
( 202
)
( 1,000
)
( 16,657
)
Restricted cash, MSA escrow deposits
–
( 10,170
)
( 19,664
)
Proceeds on sale of property, plant and equipment
3
62
54
Net cash used in investing activities
$
( 5,906
)
$
( 18,793
)
$
( 58,839
)
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Turning Point Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (cont.)
for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
(dollars in thousands)
For the year ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from Senior Notes
$
–
$
–
$
250,000
Payments of 2018 first lien term loan
–
–
( 130,000
)
Settlement of interest rate swaps
–
–
( 3,573
)
Convertible Senior Notes repurchased
( 41,794
)
( 9,000
)
–
Proceeds from call options
114
51
–
Payment of promissory note
–
–
( 9,625
)
Payment of dividends
( 4,497
)
( 4,250
)
( 4,096
)
Payments of financing costs
( 2,437
)
–
( 6,921
)
Exercise of options
450
504
2,071
Redemption of options
( 346
)
( 155
)
( 2,111
)
Redemption of restricted stock units
( 995
)
( 1,229
)
–
Common stock repurchased
–
( 29,224
)
( 38,678
)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities
$
( 49,505
)
$
( 43,303
)
$
57,067
Net increase (decrease) in cash
$
11,470
$
( 31,823
)
$
66,445
Effect of foreign currency translation on cash
$
13
$
( 320
)
$
191
Cash, beginning of period:
Unrestricted
$
106,403
$
128,320
$
41,765
Restricted
4,929
15,155
35,074
Total cash at beginning of period
$
111,332
$
143,475
$
76,839
Cash, end of period:
Unrestricted
$
117,886
$
106,403
$
128,320
Restricted
4,929
4,929
15,155
Total cash at end of period
$
122,815
$
111,332
$
143,475
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid during the period for interest
$
18,047
$
18,717
$
12,539
Cash paid during the period for income taxes, net
$
12,447
$
13,369
$
16,063
Supplemental schedule of noncash investing activities:
Accrued capital expenditures
$
8
$
11
$
–
Accrued consideration for acquisition of investments
$
248
$
–
$
–
Supplemental schedule of noncash financing activities:
Dividends declared not paid
$
1,489
$
1,354
$
1,261
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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Turning Point Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Statements of
Changes in Stockholders’ Equity
for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021
(dollars in thousands)
Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
Income (Loss)
Common
Stock,
Voting
Additional
Paid-In
Capital
Cost of
Repurchased
Common Stock
Accumulated
Earnings
(Deficit)
Non-
Controlling
Interest
Voting
Shares
Total
Beginning balance January 1, 2021
19,133,794
$
195
$
102,423
$
( 10,191
)
$
( 2,635
)
$
23,645
$
4,050
$
117,487
Unrealized loss on MSA investments, net of tax of $ 81
–
$
–
$
–
$
–
$
( 272
)
$
–
$
–
$
( 272
)
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments, net of tax of $ 813
–
–
–
–
2,634
–
–
2,634
Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $ 0
–
–
–
–
78
–
182
260
Stock compensation expense
–
–
7,557
–
–
–
–
7,557
Exercise of options
158,420
2
2,069
–
–
–
–
2,071
Redemption of options
–
–
( 2,111
)
–
–
–
–
( 2,111
)
Cost of repurchased common stock
( 896,738
)
–
–
( 38,678
)
–
–
–
( 38,678
)
A cquisition of ReCreation Marketing interest
–
–
( 1,127
)
–
–
–
( 1,123
)
( 2,250
)
Dividends
–
–
–
–
–
( 4,244
)
–
( 4,244
)
Net income
–
–
–
–
–
52,059
( 797
)
51,262
Ending balance December 31, 2021
18,395,476
$
197
$
108,811
$
( 48,869
)
$
( 195
)
$
71,460
$
2,312
$
133,716
Unrealized loss on MSA investments, net of tax of $ 860
–
$
–
$
–
$
–
$
( 2,879
)
$
–
$
–
$
( 2,879
)
Unrealized gain on derivative instruments, net of tax of $ 273
–
–
–
–
857
–
–
857
Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $ 0
–
–
–
–
( 176
)
–
( 93
)
( 269
)
Stock compensation expense
–
–
5,273
–
–
–
–
5,273
Exercise of options
35,394
1
503
–
–
–
–
504
Redemption of options
–
–
( 155
)
–
–
–
–
( 155
)
Issuance of performance based restricted stock units
69,756
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Redemption of performance based restricted stock units
–
–
( 1,141
)
–
–
–
–
( 1,141
)
Issuance of restricted stock units
5,589
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Redemption of restricted stock units
–
–
( 88
)
–
–
–
–
( 88
)
Cost of repurchased common stock
( 1,021,052
)
–
–
( 29,224
)
–
–
–
( 29,224
)
Settlement of call options, net of tax of $ 12
–
–
39
–
–
–
–
39
Dividends
–
–
–
–
–
( 4,410
)
–
( 4,410
)
Net income
–
–
–
–
–
11,641
( 484
)
11,157
Ending balance December 31, 2022
17,485,163
$
198
$
113,242
$
( 78,093
)
$
( 2,393
)
$
78,691
$
1,735
$
113,380
Unrealized gain on MSA investments, net of tax of $ 161
–
$
–
$
–
$
–
$
542
$
–
$
–
$
542
Unrealized loss on derivative instruments, net of tax of $ 237
–
–
–
–
( 747
)
–
–
( 747
)
Foreign currency translation, net of tax of $ 0
–
–
–
–
( 50
)
–
( 24
)
( 74
)
Stock compensation expense
–
–
6,561
–
–
–
–
6,561
Exercise of options
33,851
–
450
–
–
–
–
450
Redemption of options
( 15,985
)
–
( 346
)
–
–
–
–
( 346
)
Issuance of performance based restricted stock units
105,032
1
75
–
–
–
–
76
Redemption of performance based restricted stock units
( 34,704
)
–
( 800
)
–
–
–
–
( 800
)
Issuance of restricted stock units
40,910
–
2
–
–
–
–
2
Redemption of restricted stock units
( 8,590
)
–
( 195
)
–
–
–
–
( 195
)
Settlement of call options, net of tax of $ 28
–
–
86
–
–
–
–
86
Dividends
–
–
–
–
–
( 4,710
)
–
( 4,710
)
Net income
–
–
–
–
–
38,462
( 681
)
37,781
Ending balance December 31, 2023
17,605,677
$
199
$
119,075
$
( 78,093
)
$
( 2,648
)
$
112,443
$
1,030
$
152,006
The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.
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Turning Point Brands, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
(dollars in thousands, except where designated and per share data)
Note 1. Organizations and Basis of Presentation
Description of Business
Turning Point Brands, Inc. and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to
herein as the “Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is a leading manufacturer, marketer and distributor of branded consumer products. We sell a wide range of products to adult consumers consisting of staple products with our iconic brands Zig-Zag ® and Stoker’s ® and its next generation
products to fulfill evolving consumer preferences. Our segments are led by our core, proprietary brands: Zig-Zag ® and CLIPPER ® in the Zig-Zag Products segment and Stoker’s ® along with Beech-Nut ® and Trophy ® in the Stoker’s Products
segment. The Company’s products are available in more than 217 ,000 retail outlets in North America. We operate in three segments: (i) Zig-Zag Products, (ii) Stoker’s Products, and (iii) Creative Distribution Solutions, formerly known as NewGen.
Basis of Presentation
The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the U.S. (“U.S. GAAP”)
and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) regulations.The preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of
contingent assets and liabilities as of the dates of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from those estimates. The Company’s significant estimates
include those affecting the valuation of goodwill and other intangible assets, deferred income tax valuation allowances, the valuation of investments and the valuation of
inventory, including reserves.
Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year’s presentation. The changes did not have an impact on the Company’s
consolidated financial position, results of operations, or cash flows in any of the periods presented.
Note 2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
Consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company, its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly-owned, and variable interest entities (“VIEs”) for
which the Company is considered the primary beneficiary. All significant intercompany transactions have been eliminated.
U.S. GAAP requires the Company to identify entities for which control is achieved through means other than voting rights and to determine whether the Company is the
primary beneficiary of VIEs. A VIE is broadly defined as an entity with one or more of the following characteristics: (a) the total equity investment at risk is insufficient to finance the entity’s activities without additional subordinated
financial support; (b) as a group, the holders of the equity investment at risk lack (i) the ability to make decisions about the entity’s activities through voting or similar rights, (ii) the obligation to absorb the expected losses of the entity,
or (iii) the right to receive the expected residual returns of the entity; and (c) the equity investors have voting rights that are not proportional to their economic interests, and substantially all of the entity’s activities either involve, or
are conducted on behalf of, an investor that has disproportionately few voting rights. The Company consolidates its investment in a VIE when it determines that it is the VIE’s primary beneficiary. The Company may change its original assessment of a
VIE upon subsequent events such as the modification of contractual arrangements that affects the characteristics or adequacy of the entity’s equity investments at risk and the disposition of all or a portion of an interest held by the primary
beneficiary.
The primary beneficiary of a VIE is the entity that has both: (i) the power to direct the activities of the VIE that most significantly impact the entity’s economic
performance; and (ii) the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits of the VIE that could be significant to the entity. The Company performs this analysis on an ongoing basis.
Management of the Company has determined that Turning Point Brands Canada (formerly ReCreation Marketing) is a VIE for which the Company is considered the primary beneficiary due to the power the Company has
over the activities that most significantly impact the economic performance of Turning Point Brands Canada and the right to receive benefits and the obligation to absorb losses of Turning Point Brands Canada through the Company’s 65 % equity interest, additional subordinated financing provided by the Company to Turning Point Brands Canada and the distribution agreement with Turning Point Brands Canada for the sale of the
Company’s products that makes up a significant portion of Turning Point Brands Canada’s business activities.
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Revenue Recognition
The Company recognizes revenues in accordance with Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606,
Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“Topic 606”), which includes excise taxes and shipping and handling charges billed to customers, net of cash discounts for prompt payment, sales returns and sales incentives, upon delivery of goods to the
customer—at which time the Company’s performance obligation is satisfied—at an amount that the Company expects to be entitled to in exchange for those goods in accordance with the five-step analysis outlined in Topic 606: (i) identify the contract
with the customer, (ii) identify the performance obligations in the contract, (iii) determine the transaction price, (iv) allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations, and (v) recognize revenue when (or as) performance obligations
are satisfied. The Company excludes from the transaction price, sales taxes and value-added taxes imposed at the time of sale (which do not include excise taxes on smokeless tobacco, cigars, or vaping products billed to customers).
The Company records an allowance for sales returns, based principally on historical volume and return rates, which is included in accrued liabilities on the consolidated
balance sheets. The Company records sales incentives, which consist of consumer incentives and trade promotion activities, as a reduction in revenues (a portion of which is based on amounts estimated as being due to wholesalers, retailers and
consumers at the end of the period) based principally on historical volume and utilization rates. Expected payments for sales incentives are included in accrued liabilities on the consolidated balance sheets.
A further requirement of ASC 606 is for entities to disaggregate revenue recognized from contracts with customers into categories that depict how the nature, amount,
timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows are affected by economic factors. Company management views business performance through segments that closely resemble the performance of major product lines. Thus, the primary and most useful
disaggregation of the Company’s contract revenue for decision making purposes is the disaggregation by segment which can be found in Note 20, “Segment Information”. An additional disaggregation of contract revenue by sales channel can be found within
Note 20 as well.
Derivative Instruments
The Company enters into foreign currency contracts to hedge a portion of its exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates on inventory purchase commitments.
The Company accounts for its foreign currency contracts under the provisions of ASC 815, Derivatives and Hedging. Under the Company’s policy, the Company may hedge up to 100 % of its anticipated purchases of inventory in the denominated invoice currency over a forward period not to exceed twelve months . The Company may also, from time to time, hedge up to 100 % of its
non-inventory purchases (e.g. production equipment) in the denominated invoice currency. Foreign currency contracts that qualify as hedges are adjusted to their fair value through other comprehensive income as determined by market prices on the
measurement date, except any hedge ineffectiveness which is recognized currently in income. Gains and losses on these foreign currency contracts are transferred from other comprehensive income into inventory as the related inventories are received and are transferred to net income as inventory is sold . Changes in fair value of any contracts that do not
qualify for hedge accounting or are not designated as hedges are recognized currently in income.
Shipping Costs
The Company records shipping costs incurred as a component of selling, general and administrative expenses. Shipping costs incurred were approximately $ 23.5 million, $ 24.2 million, and $ 27.6 million in 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
Research and Development and Quality Assurance Costs
Research and development and quality assurance costs are expensed as incurred. These expenses, classified as selling, general and administrative expenses, were
approximately $ 0.6 million, $ 0.6
million, and $ 1.1 million in 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
The Company considers any highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less from the date of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Inventories
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost or net realizable value using the first-in, first-out (“FIFO”) method. Leaf tobacco is presented in current assets in
accordance with standard industry practice, notwithstanding the fact that such tobaccos are carried longer than one year for the purpose of curing.
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Property, Plant and Equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment. Depreciation is provided using the straight-line method over the lesser of
the estimated useful lives of the assets or the life of the leases for leasehold improvements ( 4 to 7 years for machinery, equipment and furniture, 10
to 15 years for leasehold improvements, and up to 15 years for buildings and building improvements). Expenditures for repairs and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred. The costs of major renewals and improvements are capitalized and
depreciated over their estimated useful lives. Upon disposition of fixed assets, the costs and related accumulated depreciation amounts are relieved. Any resulting gain or loss is reflected in operations during the period of disposition. Long-lived
assets are reviewed for impairment when changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable.
Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The Company follows the provisions of ASC 350, Intangibles –
Goodwill and Other in accounting for goodwill and other intangible assets. Goodwill is tested for impairment annually on December 31, or more frequently if certain indicators are present.
When testing goodwill for impairment, the Company has the option to first perform qualitative testing to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value.
If the Company chooses not to complete a qualitative assessment for a given reporting unit or if the initial assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its estimated fair value,
additional quantitative testing is required. If the carrying value of a reporting unit exceeds its fair value, an impairment loss is recognized in the amount by which the carrying value of the reporting unit exceeds its fair value, limited to the
amount of goodwill at the reporting unit. The Company determines fair values for each of the reporting units using a combination of the income approach and/or market approach. Under the income approach, fair value is determined based on the
present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at an appropriate risk-adjusted rate. Under the market approach, the Company selects peer sets based on close competitors and reviews the revenue and EBITDA multiples to determine the fair
value. See Note 10, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets” for further information on goodwill.
Indefinite-lived intangible assets are tested for impairment
at least annually; however, these tests are performed more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the asset may be impaired. Impairment exists when carrying value exceeds fair value. The Company’s fair value methodology is
primarily based on the relief from royalty approach.
Definite-lived intangible assets are amortized over their
estimated useful lives, generally on a straight-line basis for periods ranging primarily from 3.5 to 15 years . The Company continually evaluates the reasonableness of the useful lives of these assets.
Fair Value
U.S. GAAP establishes a framework for measuring fair value. That framework provides a fair value hierarchy that prioritizes the inputs to valuation techniques used to
measure fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3).
The three levels of the fair value hierarchy under U.S. GAAP are described below:
•
Level 1 – Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets at the measurement date.
•
Level 2 – Inputs to the valuation methodology include: quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets; quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities
in inactive markets; inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability; and inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means.
•
Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that reflect management’s best estimate of what market participants would use in pricing the asset or liability at the measurement date.
Equity Investments
The Company's investments include equity securities, which are accounted for at cost and under the equity method of accounting.
For equity investments that do not qualify to be accounted for under the equity method of accounting and that do not have a readily determinable fair
value, the Company has elected a practical expedient to record the investment at the original cost, as adjusted for impairment and observable price changes. Under the practical expedient, if a qualitative analysis indicates impairment exists, the
fair value of the investment is required to be estimated and any excess of the carrying value over the estimated fair value is recognized as an impairment loss.
Equity investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting are assessed for impairment when events or circumstances suggest that any loss in
value of the investment may be other than temporary. A loss in value of an investment is other than temporary when evidence of a loss in value indicates the absence of an ability to recover the carrying amount of the investment or inability of the
investee to sustain an earnings capacity that would justify the carrying amount of the investment.
In the absence of observable data, the Company estimates the fair values of these investments using a market approach derived from
applying market multiples of comparable public companies to the financial results of each investment. The valuation methodology and the significant assumptions used by management in estimating the fair values of each investment, involve a high
degree of judgment and may involve the use of third-party valuation specialists.
Deferred Financing Costs
Deferred financing costs are amortized over the terms of the related debt obligations using the straight-line method. Unamortized amounts are expensed upon
extinguishment of the related borrowings. Deferred financing costs are presented as a direct deduction from the carrying amount of that debt liability except for deferred financing costs relating to our revolving credit facility, which are presented
as an asset.
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Income Taxes
The Company records the effects of income taxes under the liability method in which deferred income tax assets and liabilities are recognized based on the difference
between the financial and tax basis of assets and liabilities using the enacted tax rates in effect for the years in which the differences are expected to reverse. The Company assesses its ability to realize future benefits of deferred tax assets by
determining if they meet the “more likely than not” criteria in ASC 740, Income Taxes. If the Company determines that future benefits do not meet the “more likely than not” criteria, a valuation allowance is recorded.
Advertising and Promotion
Advertising and promotion costs, including point of sale materials, are expensed as incurred and amounted to $ 9.2 million, $ 9.3 million, and $ 12.1 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company measures stock-based compensation costs related to its stock options on the fair value-based method under the provisions of ASC 718, Compensation – Stock
Compensation. The fair value-based method requires compensation cost for stock options to be recognized over the requisite service period based on the fair value of stock options granted. The Company determined the fair value of these awards using
the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
The Company grants performance-based restricted stock units (“PRSU”) subject to both performance-based and service-based vesting conditions. The fair value of each PRSU
is the Company’s stock price on the date of grant. For purposes of recognizing compensation expense as services are rendered in accordance with ASC 718, the Company assumes all employees involved in the PRSU grant will provide service through the end
of the performance period. Stock compensation expense is recorded based on the probability of achievement of the performance conditions specified in the PRSU grant.
The Company grants restricted stock units (“RSU”) subject to service-based vesting conditions. The fair value of each RSU is the Company’s stock price on the date of grant. The
Company recognizes compensation expense as services are rendered in accordance with ASC 718. Stock compensation expense is recorded over the service
period in the RSU grant.
Risks and Uncertainties
Manufacturers and sellers of tobacco products are subject to regulation at the federal, state, and local levels. Such regulations include, among others, labeling
requirements, limitations on advertising, and prohibition of sales to minors. The tobacco industry is likely to continue to be heavily regulated. There can be no assurance as to the ultimate content, timing, or effect of any regulation of tobacco
products by any federal, state, or local legislative or regulatory body, nor can there be any assurance that any such legislation or regulation would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations, or
cash flows. In a number of states targeted flavor bans have been proposed or enacted legislatively or by the administrative process. Depending on the number and location of such
bans, that legislation or regulation could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) continues to consider various restrictive regulations
around our products, including targeted flavor bans; however, the details, timing, and ultimate implementation of such measures remain unclear.
The tobacco industry has experienced, and is experiencing, significant product liability litigation. Most tobacco liability lawsuits have been brought against
manufacturers and sellers of cigarettes for injuries allegedly caused by smoking or exposure to smoke. However, several lawsuits have been brought against manufacturers and sellers of smokeless products for injuries to health allegedly caused by use
of smokeless products. Typically, such claims assert that use of smokeless products is addictive and causes oral cancer. Additionally, several lawsuits have been brought against manufacturers and distributors of Creative Distribution Solutions
products due to malfunctioning devices. There can be no assurance the Company will not sustain losses in connection with such lawsuits and that such losses will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of
operations, or cash flows.
Master Settlement Agreement (MSA): Forty-six states, certain U.S. territories, and the District of Columbia are parties to the Master Settlement Agreement (“MSA”) and the Smokeless Tobacco Master Settlement
Agreement (“STMSA”). To the Company’s knowledge, signatories to the MSA include 49 cigarette manufacturers and/or distributors. The only
signatory to the STMSA is US Smokeless Tobacco Company. In the Company’s opinion, the fundamental basis for each agreement is the states’ consents to withdraw all claims for monetary, equitable, and injunctive relief against certain tobacco products
manufacturers and others and, in return, the signatories have agreed to certain marketing restrictions and regulations as well as certain payment obligations.
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Pursuant to the MSA and subsequent states’ statutes, a “cigarette manufacturer” (which is defined to also include MYO cigarette tobacco) has the option of either
becoming a signatory to the MSA or opening, funding, and maintaining an escrow account, with sub-accounts on behalf of each settling state. The STMSA has no similar provisions. The MSA escrow accounts are governed by states’ statutes that expressly
give the manufacturers the option of opening, funding, and maintaining an escrow account in lieu of becoming a signatory to the MSA. The statutes require companies who are not signatories to the MSA to deposit, on an annual basis, into qualified
banks, escrow funds based on the number of cigarettes or cigarette equivalents, i.e., the pounds of MYO tobacco, sold. The purpose of these statutes is expressly stated to be to eliminate the cost disadvantage the settling manufacturers have as a
result of entering into the MSA. Such companies are entitled to direct the investment of the escrowed funds and withdraw any appreciation, but cannot withdraw the principal for twenty-five years from the year of each annual deposit, except to withdraw funds deposited pursuant to an individual state’s escrow statute to pay a final judgment to that state’s plaintiffs
in the event of such a final judgment against the company. Either option – becoming an MSA signatory or establishing an escrow account – is permissible.
The Company chose to open and fund an MSA escrow account as its means of compliance. It is management’s opinion, due to the possibility of future federal or state
regulations, though none have to date been enacted, that entering into one or both of the settlement agreements or establishing and maintaining an escrow account would not necessarily prevent future regulations from having a material adverse effect
on the results of operations, financial position, and cash flows of the Company.
Various states have enacted or proposed complementary legislation intended to curb the activity of certain manufacturers and importers of cigarettes that are selling
into MSA states without signing the MSA or who have failed to properly establish and fund a qualifying escrow account. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such statute has been enacted which could inadvertently and negatively impact the
Company, which has been, and is currently, fully compliant with all applicable laws, regulations, and statutes. However, there can be no assurance that the enactment of any such complementary legislation in the future will not have a material adverse
effect on the results of operations, financial position, or cash flows of the Company.
Pursuant to the MSA escrow account statutes, in order to be compliant with the MSA escrow requirements, companies selling products covered by the MSA are required to
deposit such funds for each calendar year into a qualifying escrow account by April 15 of the following year. At December 31, 2023, the Company had on deposit approximately $ 32.1 million, the fair value of which was approximately $ 28.7
million. At December 31, 2022, the Company had on deposit approximately $ 32.1 million, the fair value of which was approximately $ 28.0 million. The increase in fair value was due to decreasing maturities affecting the fair value of U.S. government securities held in the MSA escrow
account. Inputs to the valuation methodology of the MSA escrow deposits when funds are invested include unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active
markets at the measurement date. During 2023, no monies were deposited into this qualifying escrow account. The investment vehicles
available to the Company are specified in the state escrow agreements and are limited to low-risk government securities.
The Company discontinued its generic category of MYO in 2019 and its Zig-Zag branded
MYO cigarette smoking tobacco in 2017. Thus, pending a change in MSA legislation, the Company has no remaining product lines covered by the MSA and will not be required to make future escrow deposits.
The Company has chosen to invest a portion of the MSA escrow, from time to time, in U.S. Government securities including TIPS, Treasury notes, and Treasury bonds. These
investments are classified as available-for-sale and carried at fair value. Realized losses are prohibited under the MSA; thus, any investment with an unrealized loss position will be held until the value is recovered, or until maturity.
Fair values for the U.S. Governmental agency obligations are Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. The following tables show cost and estimated fair value of the
assets held in the MSA account, respectively, as well as the maturities of the U.S. Governmental agency obligations held in such account for the periods indicated.
As of December 31, 2023
As of December 31, 2022
Gross
Gross
Estimated
Gross
Gross
Estimated
Unrealized
Unrealized
Fair
Unrealized
Unrealized
Fair
Cost
Gains
Losses
Value
Cost
Gains
Losses
Value
Cash and cash equivalents
$
1,929
$
–
$
–
$
1,929
$
1,929
$
–
$
–
$
1,929
U.S. Governmental agency
obligations (unrealized position < 12 months)
–
–
–
–
10,226
–
( 1,251
)
8,975
U.S. Governmental agency obligations (unrealized position > 12 months)
30,144
–
( 3,389
)
26,755
19,918
–
( 2,842
)
17,076
Total
$
32,073
$
–
$
( 3,389
)
$
28,684
$
32,073
$
–
$
( 4,093
)
$
27,980
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As of
December 31, 2023
Less than one year
$
4,200
One to five years
10,735
Five to ten years
13,254
Greater than ten years
1,955
Total
$
30,144
The following shows the amount of deposits by sales year for the
MSA escrow account:
Sales
Deposits as of December 31,
Year
2023
2022
1999
$
211
$
211
2000
1,017
1,017
2001
1,673
1,673
2002
2,271
2,271
2003
4,249
4,249
2004
3,714
3,714
2005
4,553
4,553
2006
3,847
3,847
2007
4,167
4,167
2008
3,364
3,364
2009
1,619
1,619
2010
406
406
2011
193
193
2012
199
199
2013
173
173
2014
143
143
2015
101
101
2016
91
91
2017
82
82
Total
$
32,073
$
32,073
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Concentration of Credit Risk: At December 31, 2023 and 2022, the Company had bank deposits, including MSA escrow accounts, in excess of federally insured limits of approximately $ 119.0 million and $ 105.2 million, respectively. During 2023 and 2022, the Company
invested a portion of the MSA escrow accounts in U.S. Government securities including TIPS, Treasury notes, and Treasury bonds.
The Company sells its products to distributors, retail establishments, and consumers throughout the U.S. and also sells Zig-Zag ® premium cigarette papers in Canada and some smaller quantities in other countries. The Company had no customers that accounted for more than 10% of net sales for 2023, 2022, or 2021. The Company performs periodic credit evaluations of its customers and generally does not require collateral
on trade receivables. Historically, the Company has not experienced significant credit losses.
Accounts Receivable
Accounts receivable are recognized at their net realizable value. All accounts receivable are trade related, recorded at the invoiced amount, and do not bear interest.
The Company maintains allowances for credit losses for estimated uncollectible invoices resulting from a customer’s inability to pay (bankruptcy, out of business, etc., i.e. “bad debt” which results in write-offs). The activity of allowance for
credit losses during 2023 and 2022 is as follows:
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Balance at beginning of period
$
114
$
262
Additions to allowance account during period
38
191
Deductions of allowance account during period
( 74
)
( 339
)
Balance at end of period
$
78
$
114
Note 3. Acquisitions
Unitabac
In July 2021, the Company acquired certain assets of Unitabac, a marketer of mass-market cigars, for $ 10.7 million in total consideration, comprised of $ 9.6 million in
cash and $ 1.1 million of capitalized transaction costs. The acquired assets are comprised of a portfolio of cigarillo products and all
related intellectual property, including Cigarillo Non-Tip (“NT”) Homogenized Tobacco Leaf (“HTL”) products and Rolled Leaf and Natural Leaf Cigarillo Products. The transaction was accounted for as an asset purchase with $ 10.0 million assigned to intellectual property and $ 0.7
million assigned to inventory. The intellectual property asset is deductible for tax purposes.
Direct Value Wholesale
In April 2021, Turning Point Brands Canada, a VIE for which the Company is considered the primary beneficiary, purchased 100 % of the equity interests of Westhem Ventures LTD d/b/a Direct Value Wholesale (“DVW”) for $ 3.9
million, net of cash acquired, with $ 3.5 million paid in cash at closing and $ 0.5 million in accrued consideration paid during 2021. DVW is a Canadian distribution entity that operates in markets not primarily served by Turning Point Brands Canada. The acquisition
expands Turning Point Brands Canada’s markets in Canada. The Company recorded goodwill of $ 2.5 million related to its acquisition of DVW
which consists of the synergies expected from combining the operations and is deductible for tax purposes. Goodwill is determined as the consideration transferred in excess of the acquisition price over the estimated fair value of the identifiable
net assets acquired.
Turning Point Brands Canada
In July 2021, the Company invested an
additional $ 2.3 million in Turning Point Brands Canada increasing its ownership interest to 65 %. The Company received board seats aligned with its ownership position. The Company has determined that Turning Point Brands Canada continues to be a VIE due to its required
subordinated financial support. The Company has determined it remains the primary beneficiary due to its 65% equity interest, additional subordinated financing and distribution agreement with Turning Point Brands Canada for the sale of the
Company’s products. As a result of the Company remaining the primary beneficiary, the increase in ownership interest resulted in a decrease in Non-controlling interest of $ 1.1 million and a decrease in Additional paid-in capital of $ 1.1
million.
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Note 4. Derivative Instruments
Foreign Currency
The Company’s policy is to manage the risks associated with foreign exchange rate movements. The policy allows hedging up to 100 % of its anticipated purchases of inventory over a forward period that will not exceed 12
rolling and consecutive months. The Company may, from time to time, hedge currency for non-inventory purchases, e.g., production equipment, not to exceed 100 % of the purchase price. During 2023, the Company executed various foreign exchange contracts which met hedge accounting requirements for the
purchase of € 20.1 million and sale of € 15.2
million. During 2022, the Company executed various foreign exchange contract, which met hedge accounting requirements for the purchase of € 28.9
million and sale of € 28.9 million .
At December 31, 2023, the Company had foreign currency contracts outstanding for the purchase of € 15.2
million and sale of € 15.2 million. The foreign currency contract’s fair value at December 31, 2023, resulted in an asset of $ 0.3 million included in Other current assets and a liability of $ 0.1 million included in Accrued liabilities. At December 31, 2022, the Company had foreign currency contracts for the purchase of € 18.5 million and sale of € 18.5 million. The foreign currency contracts’ fair
value at December 31, 2022, resulted in an asset of $ 1.2 million included in Other current assets and a liability of $ 0.0 million included in Accrued liabilities. A $ 0.9
million gain and $ 0.1 million loss were reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Cost of sales for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively .
Interest Rate Swaps
The Company terminated its interest rate swap agreements in the first quarter of 2021 with an early termination payment made by the Company in the amount of $ 3.6 million which was reclassified out of accumulated other comprehensive loss into loss on extinguishment of debt. A loss of $ 0.1 million was reclassified into interest expense for the year ended
December 31, 2021 .
Note 5. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The estimated fair value amounts have been determined by the Company using the methods and assumptions described below. However, considerable judgment is required to
interpret market data to develop estimates of fair value. Accordingly, the estimates presented herein are not necessarily indicative of the amounts the Company could realize in a current market exchange. The use of different market assumptions and/or
estimation methodologies may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents are, by definition, short-term. Thus, the carrying amount is a reasonable estimate of fair value.
Accounts Receivable
The fair value of accounts receivable approximates their carrying value due to their short-term nature.
Long-Term Debt
The Company’s Senior
Secured Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.625 % per year. As of December 31, 2023, the fair value approximated $ 234.9 million, with a carrying value of $ 250
million. As of December 31, 2022, the fair value approximated $ 226.4 million with a carrying value of $ 250 million.
The Convertible Senior
Notes bear interest at a rate of 2.50 % per year. As of December 31, 2023, the fair value approximated $ 114.7 million, with a carrying value of $ 118.5
million. As of December 31, 2022, the fair value approximated $ 139.2 million, with a carrying value of $ 162.5 million.
See Note 13, “Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt”, for further information regarding the Company’s long-term debt.
Foreign Currency
The fair value of the Company’s foreign currency contracts are based upon quoted market prices for similar instruments, thus leading to a Level 2 classification within the fair value hierarchy. See Note 4,
“Derivative Instruments”, for further information regarding the Company’s foreign currency contracts .
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Note 6. Inventories
The components of inventories are as follows:
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Raw materials and work in process
$
5,201
$
7,283
Leaf tobacco
34,894
43,468
Finished goods - Zig-Zag Products
41,783
42,279
Finished goods - Stoker’s Products
8,090
9,667
Finished goods - Creative Distribution Solutions
7,281
15,431
Other
1,711
1,787
Inventories
$
98,960
$
119,915
The following represents the inventory valuation allowance roll-forward, for the years ended December 31:
2023
2022
Balance at beginning of period
$
( 4,533
)
$
( 7,668
)
Charged to cost and expense
( 17,275
)
( 987
)
Deductions for inventory disposed
1,215
4,122
Balance at end of period
$
( 20,593
)
$
( 4,533
)
In December 2023, a third-party warehouse in Tennessee used to store some of the Company’s leaf tobacco incurred significant tornado damage resulting
in damage to the leaf tobacco. As a result, the Company recorded a $ 15.2 million inventory reserve related to its leaf tobacco inventory which is included in other operating income , net . The leaf tobacco inventory is covered by the Company’s stock throughput insurance policy and the Company believes the inventory loss is probable of being fully recovered under the policy. As a result, the Company recorded a $ 15.2 million
insurance recovery receivable which is included in other current assets in the consolidated balance sheet, and in other operating income , net offsetting the
inventory reserve recorded in the consolidated statement of income for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company does not expect to incur any delays in
customer deliveries as a result of the damage.
In 2022, the Company determined that the incorrect weight had been used in calculating the amount of federal excise tax assessed and paid on its
imported MYO cigar wraps during the years 2019 - 2021. As a result, the Company filed a refund claim for $ 4.3 million with the
Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau for the overpayment of federal excise taxes, which was approved and paid in the fourth quarter of 2023. This refund is presented in Other operating income, net on the Company’s Consolidated Statements of
Income for the year ended December 31, 2023.
Note 7. Other Current Assets
Other current assets consists of:
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Inventory deposits
$
5,707
$
6,395
Insurance deposit
3,000
3,000
Prepaid taxes
153
448
Settlement receivable
4,000
–
Insurance recovery receivable
15,181
–
Other
12,740
13,116
Total
$
40,781
$
22,959
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Note 8. Property, Plant and Equipment, Net
Property, plant and equipment consists of:
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Land
$
22
$
22
Buildings and improvements
3,956
3,096
Leasehold improvements
5,440
5,404
Machinery and equipment
29,751
25,832
Furniture and fixtures
8,391
9,264
Gross property, plant and equipment
47,560
43,618
Accumulated depreciation
( 22,260
)
( 20,830
)
Net property, plant and equipment
$
25,300
$
22,788
Note 9. Deferred Financing Costs, Net
Deferred financing costs consist of:
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $ 104 and $ 200 , respectively
$
2,450
$
282
Note 10. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets
The following table summarizes goodwill by segment:
Zig-Zag
Stoker’s
CDS
Total
Balance as of December 31, 2021
$
104,158
$
32,590
$
25,585
$
162,333
Impairment
–
–
( 25,585
)
( 25,585
)
Cumulative translation adjustment
( 495
)
–
–
( 495
)
Balance as of December 31, 2022
$
103,663
$
32,590
$
–
$
136,253
Cumulative translation adjustment
( 3
)
–
–
( 3
)
Balance as of December 31, 2023
$
103,660
$
32,590
$
–
$
136,250
The Company tests
goodwill for impairment annually as of December 31, or more frequently when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the fair value is below its carrying value. The Company elected to perform a qualitative assessment in evaluating its
Zig-Zag and Stoker’s reporting units for impairment as of December 31, 2023. The Creative Distribution Solutions reporting unit goodwill was fully impaired as of December 31, 2022 as discussed below.
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In evaluating the impairment indicators of its Zig-Zag and Stoker’s reporting units for its 2023
qualitative assessments, the Company considered macro and micro-economic indicators, changes in costs, overall financial performance and other relevant entity-specific events and noted no indication of impairment. The Company also considered
the significant excess of fair values over carrying values as determined in the prior year’s quantitative assessment as discussed below. The underlying assumptions utilized during the prior year’s quantitative assessment remain sufficiently
similar in 2023 and in line with Company projections. Thus, such underlying assumptions on which the previous fair values are based have not sufficiently changed from the prior year to suggest a material difference in the 2023 fair value
assessments to indicate that it is more likely than not that the fair values of the reporting units in 2023 are below their carrying amounts.
For 2022, the Company performed quantitative testing on its Zig-Zag and Stoker’s reporting units as part of its annual impairment test and determined that no goodwill impairments existed. For the quantitative
assessment, the Company used a combination of discounted cash flow models (income approach) utilizing Level 3 unobservable inputs and the Guideline Public Company Method (market approach). The Company’s significant assumptions in these analyses
include, but are not limited to, projected revenue, the weighted average cost of capital, the terminal growth rate, derived multiples from comparable market transactions and other market data .
The Company also performed quantitative testing on its Creative Distribution Solutions reporting unit as of December 31, 2022, using a combination of the income approach utilizing Level 3 unobservable inputs and the
market approach. Based on the analysis performed the Company concluded that the carrying amount of the reporting unit exceeded its fair value resulting in a non-cash goodwill impairment charge of $ 25.6 million included in Goodwill and intangible impairment loss for the year ended December 31, 2022. The impairment resulted from
continued regulatory uncertainty.
The Company’s goodwill impairment analysis as of December 31, 2022 referenced above used the discounted cash flow model (income approach) utilizing Level 3 unobservable inputs. The Company’s significant assumptions
in this analysis included, but were not limited to, future cash flow projections, the weighted average cost of capital, the terminal growth rate, and the tax rate. The Company’s estimates of future cash flows are based on current regulatory and
economic climates, recent operating results, and planned business strategies. These estimates could be negatively affected by changes in federal, state, or local regulations or economic downturns. Future cash flow estimates are, by their nature,
subjective and actual results may differ materially from the Company’s estimates. If the Company’s ongoing estimates of future cash flows are not met or if discount rates change, the Company may have to record additional impairment charges in
future periods. The Company also used the Guideline Public Company Method (market approach). The significant assumptions used in this analysis include, but are not limited to, the derived multiples from comparable market transactions and other
market data. The selection of comparable businesses is based on the markets in which the reporting unit operates giving consideration to risk profiles, size, geography, and diversity of products. The Company probability-weighted scenarios for
both the income and market approaches and also applied an overall probability-weighting to the income and market approaches to determine the concluded fair value of the reporting unit given the uncertainty in the current economic environment to
determine the concluded fair value of the reporting unit.
The following tables summarize information about the Company’s other intangible assets. Gross carrying amounts of unamortized, indefinite-lived intangible
assets are shown below:
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
Zig-Zag
Stoker’s
CDS
Total
Zig-Zag
Stoker’s
CDS
Total
Unamortized, indefinite life intangible assets:
Trade names
$
–
$
8,500
$
–
$
8,500
$
–
$
8,500
$
9,162
$
17,662
Formulas
42,245
53
–
42,298
52,217
53
–
52,270
Total
$
42,245
$
8,553
$
–
$
50,798
$
52,217
$
8,553
$
9,162
$
69,932
In 2023, the Company conducted a qualitative assessment of its indefinite life intangible assets and noted no indicators of impairment, consistent with the goodwill assessment as discussed above. In January
2023, the Company transferred certain of its formulas and trade names within the Zig-Zag and Creative Distribution Solutions segments to amortized intangible assets. The Company began to amortize the formula and trade name over their useful
lives of 15 years .
In 2022, based on its annual impairment testing, the fair value of the trade name in the Creative Distribution Solutions segment was less than its carrying amount
resulting in an impairment of $ 1.6 million included in Goodwill and intangible impairment loss for the year ended December 31, 2022. The
circumstances giving rise to this impairment are consistent with those resulting in the Creative Distribution Solutions goodwill impairment discussed above.
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Amortized intangible assets consists of:
Zig-Zag
Stoker’s
CDS
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
Gross
Accumulated
Gross
Accumulated
Gross
Accumulated
Gross
Accumulated
Gross
Accumulated
Gross
Accumulated
Carrying
Amortization
Carrying
Amortization
Carrying
Amortization
Carrying
Amortization
Carrying
Amortization
Carrying
Amortization
Amortized intangible assets:
Customer relationships (useful life of 8 - 10 years)
$
–
$
–
$
–
$
–
$
–
$
–
$
–
$
–
$
6,936
$
5,596
$
6,936
$
4,768
Trade names (useful life of 15 years)
449
10
–
–
2,372
633
2,372
475
16,063
2,952
7,158
2,137
Formulas (useful life of 15 years)
9,972
665
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Master distribution agreement (useful life of 15 years)
5,489
1,281
5,489
915
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
Franchise agreements (useful life of 8 years)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
780
780
Non-compete agreements (useful life of 3.5 years)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
100
100
Total
$
15,910
$
1,956
$
5,489
$
915
$
2,372
$
633
$
2,372
$
475
$
22,999
$
8,548
$
14,974
$
7,785
In 2023, the Company noted indicators of possible impairment triggers for its Creative Distribution Solutions reporting unit and, as a result, performed an undiscounted cash flows recoverability assessment which
provided that the fair value of the asset group exceeded its carrying value, and thus no further impairment analysis was performed .
In 2022, the Company recorded an asset impairment charge of $ 0.3
million related to the franchise agreements intangible asset within the Creative Distribution Solutions segment included in Goodwill and intangible impairment loss for the year ended December 31, 2022. The Company exited the franchise business and
determined that the intangible asset was fully impaired.
Annual amortization expense for the next five years is estimated to be approximately $ 3.0 million for 2024 and $ 2.4 million for 2025 through 2028, assuming no
additional transactions occur that require the amortization of intangible assets.
Note 11. Other Assets
Other assets consists of:
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Equity investments
$
2,405
$
13,376
Debt security investment
6,750
7,820
Capitalized software
5,923
929
Other
88
524
Total
$
15,166
$
22,649
The Company records its equity investments without a readily determinable fair value, that
are not accounted for under the equity method, at cost, with adjustments for impairment and observable price changes. The Company utilizes significant judgments in determining fair value of its equity and debt security investments that do
not have an observable market price. Should assumptions underlying the determination of the fair values of the Company's equity and debt security investments change, it could result in material future impairment charges.
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Equity
Investments
In April 2021, the Company invested $ 8.7 million in Docklight Brands, Inc., a
pioneering consumer products company with celebrated brands including Marley Natural® and Marley™. The Company has additional follow-on investment rights. As part of the investment, the Company has obtained exclusive U.S. distribution rights for
Docklight’s Marley™ CBD topical products. In 2023, based on Docklight’s financial results and operating difficulties, a significant change in their business model and the decline in the revenue multiples for public companies comparable to
Docklight, the Company deemed its investment in Docklight was fully impaired resulting in a loss of $ 8.7 million recorded in Investment
loss on our Consolidated Statements of Income. Fair value for all periods presented was determined using a valuation derived from relevant revenue multiples (Level 3). Purchases of inventory from Docklight Brands, Inc. were $ 0.0 million and $ 0.1 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively. There were no amounts payable to Docklight Brands, Inc. at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
In October 2020, the Company invested $ 2.5 million to acquire a 20 % stake in Wild Hempettes, LLC, a
manufacturer of natural CBD cigarettes designed as the first cigarette-styled CBD pre-roll in the world. The Company has options to increase its stake to a 100 % ownership position based on certain milestones. As part of the transaction, the Wild Hempettes joint venture was spun off from Crown Distributing LLC and formed as a vehicle for the
Company to be the exclusive distributor of Hempettes™ to U.S. bricks and mortar retailers under a profit-sharing arrangement. Effective January 2023, the Company terminated its distribution agreement. The Company accounts for its 20 % share of Wild Hempettes profit or loss using the equity method of accounting. In 2023, based on Wild Hempettes financial results, the Company deemed
its investment in Wild Hempettes to be other-than-temporarily impaired resulting in a $ 2.2 million impairment charge included in
investment loss for the year ending December 31, 2023. Fair value for the Company’s share of investment in Wild Hempettes was determined using a valuation derived from relevant revenue multiples (Level 3). The Company recorded investment losses
including impairment charges of $ 2.3 million and $ 0.1 million for years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Purchases of inventory from Wild Hempettes was $ 0.0
million and $ 0.4 million in 2023 and 2022, respectively. There were no amounts payable to Wild Hempettes at December 31, 2023 and 2022. The Company has a $ 0.2 million receivable from Wild Hemp at December 31, 2023 for the return
of product previously purchased and paid for.
In October 2020, the Company invested $ 15.0 million in dosist™ (“Dosist”), a global cannabinoid company, with an option to invest an additional $ 15.0 million on pre-determined terms over the twelve month
period ending October 2021. The Company received a warrant exercisable for preferred shares of Dosist that would automatically be exercised upon the changing of certain federal cannabis laws in the United States, rescheduling cannabis and/or
permitting the general cultivation, distribution and possession of cannabis. In 2021, based on the financial results of Dosist and the overall cannabinoid market, the Company deemed its investment was impaired resulting in a loss of $ 7.1 million recorded in investment loss for the year ended December 31, 2021. In 2022, after a contemplated sale of the assets of Dosist did not
occur, Dosist entered into an agreement with a new buyer receiving the assets of Dosist for the assumption of its liabilities. As such, the Company considered its remaining investment in Dosist to be fully impaired and recorded an additional loss
of $ 7.9 million in investment loss for the year ended December 31, 2022. Fair value was determined using a valuation derived from the
contemplated purchase price (Level 3). There were no purchases of inventory from Dosist in 2023 or 2022.
In October 2020, the Company invested $ 1.8 million in BOMANI Cold Buzz, LLC (“BOMANI”), a manufacturer of alcohol-infused cold brew coffee. The Company received rights to receive equity in BOMANI in the event of
an equity financing. There were no purchases of inventory from BOMANI in 2023 or 2022. There were no amounts payable to BOMANI at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
The Company has a minority ownership position in Canadian American Standard Hemp (“CASH”). CASH is headquartered in Warwick, Rhode Island, and manufactures cannabidiol
isolate (“CBD”) developed through highly efficient and proprietary processes. In October 2020, CASH merged with Real Brands, Inc. (“Real Brands”), an over the counter traded shell company. CASH continued business under the Real Brands name. The
Company maintained its ownership position in Real Brands subsequent to the merger. In 2022, as a result of a significant decline in the enterprise value, the Company determined that the fair value of the investment was $ 0.0 and fully impaired the investment. The impairment resulted in a loss of $ 4.3 million which is recorded in investment loss for the year ended December 31, 2022. There were no purchases of inventory from Real Brands in 2023 or 2022. There were no amounts payable to
Real Brands at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
In December 2018, the Company acquired a minority ownership position in General Wireless Operations, Inc. (d/b/a RadioShack; “RadioShack”) from 5G gaming LLC for $ 0.4 million. There were no amounts
payable to General Wireless Operations, Inc. at December 31, 2023 and 2022.
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Debt Security Investment
In July 2021, the
Company invested $ 8.0 million in Old Pal Holding Company LLC (“Old Pal”). In July 2022, the Company invested an additional $ 1.0 million in Old Pal. The Company invested in the form of a convertible note which includes additional follow-on investment rights. The accrued
interest of $ 0.2 million from July 2021 to July 2022 was rolled into the convertible note in July 2022 resulting in a total investment
of $ 9.2 million. Old Pal is a leading brand in the cannabis lifestyle space that operates a non-plant touching licensing model. The
convertible note bears an interest rate of 3.0 % per year and matures July 31, 2026. Interest and principal not paid to date are
receivable at maturity. Old Pal has the option to extend the maturity date in one-year increments. The interest rate is subject to
change based on Old Pal reaching certain sales thresholds. The weighted average interest rate on the convertible note was 3.0 % for the
year ended December 31, 2023. Old Pal has the option to convert the note into shares once sales reach a certain threshold. The conditions required to allow Old Pal to convert the note were not met as of December 31, 2023. Additionally, the
Company has the right to convert the note into shares at any time. The Company has classified the debt security with Old Pal as available for sale. The Company reports interest income on available for sale debt securities in interest income in
our Consolidated Statements of Income. Quarterly, we perform a qualitative assessment to determine if the fair value of the investment could be less than the amortized cost basis. In 2022, the Company performed a quantitative assessment of the
fair value of the investment. The fair value as of December 31, 2022 was determined to be $ 7.9 million based on a Monte Carlo
simulation (Level 3). The Company determined that the impairment was a result of credit related factors and, as such, recorded an allowance for credit losses of $ 1.4 million which is included in investment loss for the year ended December 31, 2022. In 2023, based on a subsequent quantitative assessment of the fair value using a Monte Carlo
simulation, the Company determined the fair value to be $ 6.9 million and recorded an additional allowance for credit losses of $ 1.3 million which is included in investment loss for the year ended December 31, 2023. The Company has recorded accrued interest receivable of $ 0.1 million and $ 0.1 million at December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively, in other current assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Note 12. Accrued Liabilities
Accrued liabilities consists of:
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Accrued payroll and related items
$
7,085
$
7,685
Customer returns and allowances
5,239
7,291
Taxes payable
3,821
1,867
Lease liabilities
2,678
3,102
Accrued interest
6,682
7,277
Other
8,130
5,779
Total
$
33,635
$
33,001
Note 13. Notes Payable and Long-Term Debt
Notes payable and long-term debt consists of the following in order of preference:
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Senior Secured Notes
$
250,000
$
250,000
Convertible Senior Notes
118,541
162,500
Gross notes payable and long-term debt
368,541
412,500
Less deferred finance charges
( 3,183
)
( 5,743
)
Less current maturities
( 58,294
)
–
Notes payable and long-term debt
$
307,064
$
406,757
Senior Secured Notes
On February 11, 2021, the Company closed a private offering (the “Offering”) of $ 250.0 million aggregate principal amount of its 5.625 % senior secured notes
due 2026 (the “Senior Secured Notes” or the “Notes”). The Senior Secured Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.625 % and will mature on February 15, 2026 . Interest on the Senior Secured Notes is payable semi-annually in arrears on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing on
August 15, 2021. The Company used the proceeds from the Offering (i) to repay all obligations under and terminate the 2018 First Lien Credit Facility, (ii) to pay related fees, costs, and expenses and (iii) for general corporate purposes.
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O bligations under the Senior Secured Notes are guaranteed by the Company’s existing
and future wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries (the “Guarantors”) that guarantee any credit facility (as defined in the Indenture governing the Senior Secured Notes or the “Senior Secured Notes Indenture”) or capital markets debt securities of
the Company or Guarantors in excess of $ 15.0 million. The Senior Secured Notes and the related guarantees are secured by
first-priority liens on substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Guarantors, subject to certain exceptions.
The Company may redeem the Senior Secured
Notes, in whole or in part, at any time on or after February 15, 2023, at the redemption prices (expressed as a percentage of the principal amount to be redeemed) set forth below, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Senior
Secured Notes to be redeemed to (but not including) the applicable redemption date if redeemed during the period indicated below:
On or after February 15, 2023
102.813
%
On or after February 15, 2024
101.406
%
On or after February 15, 2025 and thereafter
100.000
%
If the Company experiences a change of control (as defined in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture), the Company must offer to repurchase the
Senior Secured Notes at a repurchase price equal to 101 % of the principal amount of the Notes to be repurchased, plus accrued and
unpaid interest.
The Senior Secured
Notes Indenture contains covenants that, among other things, restrict the ability of the Company and its restricted subsidiaries to: (i) grant or incur liens; (ii) incur, assume or guarantee additional indebtedness; (iii) sell or otherwise
dispose of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries; (iv) make certain investments; (v) pay dividends, make distributions or redeem or repurchase capital stock; (vi) engage in certain transactions with affiliates; and (vii) consolidate
or merge with or into, or sell substantially all of our assets to another entity. These covenants are subject to a number of limitations and exceptions set forth in the Senior Secured Notes Indenture. The Senior Secured Notes Indenture provides
for customary events of default. The Company was in compliance with all financial covenants as of December 31, 2023.
The Company incurred debt issuance costs attributable to the issuance of the Senior Secured Notes of $ 6.4 million which are amortized to interest expense using the straight-line method over the expected life of the Senior Secured Notes.
2021 Revolving Credit Facility
In connection with the Offering, the Company also entered into a $ 25.0 million senior secured revolving credit facility (the “2021 Revolving Credit Facility”) with the lenders party thereto and Barclays Bank PLC, as administrative agent and collateral
agent (in such capacity, the “Agent”). On May 10, 2023, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, as guarantors, entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the 2021
Revolving Credit Facility (as amended, the “Amended Revolving Credit Facility”). The Amendment includes certain modifications to the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility relating to the replacement of the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate with a
Secured Overnight Financing Rate (“SOFR”) as the interest rate benchmark under the 2021 Revolving Credit Facility and adjusts certain other provisions to reflect current documentation standards and other agreed modifications.
On November 7, 2023, in connection with the entry by a subsidiary of the Company
in a new asset-backed revolving credit facility, the Company terminated the Amended Revolving Credit Agreement. See “2023 ABL Facility” below.
The Company had letters of credit outstanding under the Amended Revolving Credit Facility of approximately $ 1.4 million that were terminated with the facility.
The Company incurred debt issuance costs attributable to the issuance of the Amended Revolving Credit Facility of $ 0.5 million, with a remaining $ 0.2
million written off to gain on debt extinguishment upon termination of the facility.
2023 ABL Facility
On November 7, 2023, TPB Specialty
Finance, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (the “ABL Borrower”), entered into a new $ 75.0 million asset-backed revolving
credit facility (the “2023 ABL Facility”), with the several lenders thereunder, and Barclays Bank Plc, as administrative agent (the “Administrative Agent”) and as collateral agent (the “Collateral Agent”) and First-Citizens Bank & Trust
Company as additional collateral agent (the “Additional Collateral Agent”). Under the 2023 ABL Facility, the ABL Borrower may draw up to $ 75.0
million under Revolving Credit Loans and Last In Last Out (“LILO”) Loans. The 2023 ABL Facility includes a $ 40.0 million accordion
feature. In connection with the 2023 ABL Facility, Turning Point Brands contributed certain existing inventory to the ABL Borrower. The 2023 ABL Facility is secured on a first priority basis (subject to customary exceptions) by all assets of the
ABL Borrower.
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The 2023 ABL Facility contains customary borrowing conditions including a borrowing base equal to the sum of (a) the lesser of (1) 85 % of the lower of (A) the market value (on a first in first out basis) of the sum of eligible inventory, plus eligible in-transit inventory of the
ABL Borrower and (B) 85 % of the cost of the sum of eligible inventory, plus eligible in-transit inventory of the ABL Borrower and (2)
85 % of the net orderly liquidation value (“NOLV”) percentage of the lower of (1)(A) or (1)(B); plus (b) 85 % of the face value of all eligible accounts of the ABL Borrower minus (c) the amount of all eligible reserves. The 2023 ABL Facility also includes
a LILO borrowing base equal to the sum of (a) the lesser of: (1) 10 % of the lower of (A) the market value (on a first in first out
basis) of the sum of eligible inventory, plus eligible in-transit inventory of the ABL Borrower and (B) the cost of the sum of eligible inventory, plus eligible in-transit inventory and (2) 10 % of the NOLV percentage of the lower of (1)(A) or (1)(B); plus (b) 10 %
of the face amount of eligible account; minus (c) the amount of all eligible reserves.
Amounts borrowed under the 2023 ABL Facility are subject to an interest rate margin per annum equal to (a) from and after the closing date until the last day of the
first full fiscal quarter ended after the closing date, (i) 1.25 % per annum, in the case base rate loans, and (ii) 2.25 % per annum, in the case of revolving credit loans that are SOFR Loans, (b)(i) 2.25 % per annum, in the case of LILO loans that are base rate loans, and (ii) 3.25 %
per annum, in the case of LILO loans that are SOFR loans, (c) on the first day of each fiscal quarter, the applicable interest rate margins will be determined from the pricing grid below based upon the historical excess availability for the most
recent fiscal quarter ended immediately prior to the relevant date, as calculated by the Administrative Agent.
Level
Historical Excess Availability
Applicable Margin for
SOFR Loans
Applicable Margin for
Base Rate Loans
I
Greater than or equal to 66.66 %
1.75 %
0.75 %
II
Less than 66.66 %, but greater than or equal to 33.33 %
2.00 %
1.00 %
III
Less than 33.33 %
2.25 %
1.25 %
The 2023 ABL Facility also requires the Company and its restricted subsidiaries to maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.00 to 1.00 as of the end of any four
consecutive fiscal quarters if excess availability shall be less than the greater of (a) 12.5 % of the line cap and (b) $ 9.4 million, at any time and continuing until excess availability is equal to or exceeds the greater of (i) 12.5 % of the line and (ii) $ 9.4 million for thirty ( 30 ) consecutive calendar days; provided that such $ 9.4
million level shall automatically increase in proportion to the amount of any increase in the aggregate revolving credit commitments thereunder in connection with any incremental facility.
The 2023 ABL Facility shall mature on the earlier of (x) November 7, 2027 and (y) the date that is 91 days prior to the maturity date of any material debt of the ABL Borrower or the Company or any of its restricted subsidiaries (subject to customary extensions agreed by the
lenders thereunder); provided that clause (y) shall not apply to the extent that on any applicable date of determination (on any date prior to the date set forth in clause (y)), (A) the sum of (x) cash that is held in escrow for the repayment of
such material debt pursuant to arrangements satisfactory to the Administrative Agent, (y) cash that is held in accounts with the Administrative Agent and/or the Additional Collateral Agent, plus (z) excess availability, is sufficient to repay such
material debt and (B) the ABL Borrower has excess availability of at least $ 15.0 million after giving effect to such repayment of
material debt, including any borrowings under the commitments in connection therewith.
The Company has no t drawn any borrowings under the 2023 ABL Facility but has letters of credit of approximately $ 1.4 million outstanding under the facility and has an available balance of $ 60.0
million as of December 31, 2023.
The Company incurred debt issuance costs attributable to the 2023 ABL Facility
of $ 2.6 million which are amortized to interest expense using the straight-line method over the expected life of the 2023 ABL
Facility.
Convertible Senior Notes
In July 2019, the Company
closed an offering of $ 172.5 million in aggregate principal amount of its 2.50 % Convertible Senior Notes due July 15, 2024 (the “Convertible
Senior Notes”). The Convertible Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 2.50 % per year, payable semiannually in arrears on January 15 and
July 15 of each year, beginning on January 15, 2020. The Convertible Senior Notes are senior unsecured obligations of the Company.
In the fourth quarter of 2022, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company repurchased $ 10.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the Convertible Senior Notes on the open market resulting in a $ 0.9 million gain on extinguishment of debt. Subsequent principal repurchases occurred in 2023 for an aggregate principal amount of $ 44.0 million resulting in a gain on extinguishment of debt of $ 1.9
million. The repurchased notes continue to be held by our subsidiary and may be resold subject to compliance with applicable securities law. As of December 31, 2023, $ 118.5 million aggregate principal remains outstanding and held by third parties.
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The Convertible Senior Notes held by third parties are convertible into approximately 2,217,807
shares of TPB Common Stock under certain circumstances prior to maturity at a conversion rate of 18.7092 shares per $ 1,000 principal amount of the Convertible Senior Notes, which represents a conversion price of approximately $ 53.45 per share, subject to adjustment under certain conditions, but will not be adjusted for any accrued and unpaid interest. The conversion price is adjusted periodically as
a result of dividends paid by the Company in excess of pre-determined thresholds of $ 0.04 per share. Upon conversion, the Company may pay
cash, shares of common stock or a combination of cash and stock, as determined by the Company at its discretion. The conditions required to allow the holders to convert their Convertible Senior Notes were not met as of December 31, 2023.
As discussed above, on
November 7, 2023, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company entered into the new 2023 ABL Facility to refinance up to $ 75.0 million of the
Convertible Senior notes at maturity. As a result, the Company classified $ 60.0 million related to the Convertible Senior Notes in Notes
payable and long-term debt on the Company’s December 31, 2023 Balance Sheet. Based on current liquidity, free cash flow generation and availability under the 2023 ABL Facility, the Company believes it will have sufficient liquidity to address the
maturity of the remaining Convertible Senior Notes.
The Company incurred debt issuance costs attributable to the Convertible Senior Notes of $ 5.9 million which are amortized to interest expense using the straight-line method over the expected life of the Convertible Senior Notes.
In connection with the Convertible Senior Notes offering, the Company entered into privately negotiated capped call transactions with certain financial institutions. The
capped call transactions have a strike price of $ 53.45 per share and a cap price of $ 82.86 per share, and are exercisable when, and if, the Convertible Senior Notes are converted. The Company paid $ 20.53 million for these capped calls at the time they were entered into and charged that amount to additional paid-in capital.
Note 14. Income Taxes
Income tax expense (benefit) for the years ended December 31 consists of the following components:
2023
2022
2021
Current
Deferred
Total
Current
Deferred
Total
Current
Deferred
Total
Federal
$
13,291
$
4,091
$
17,382
$
8,457
$
( 4,713
)
$
3,744
$
11,315
$
( 583
)
$
10,732
State and Local
3,602
2,166
5,768
2,815
( 1,291
)
1,524
4,210
( 637
)
3,573
Foreign
( 16
)
767
751
83
( 502
)
( 419
)
–
( 265
)
( 265
)
Total
$
16,877
$
7,024
$
23,901
$
11,355
$
( 6,506
)
$
4,849
$
15,525
$
( 1,485
)
$
14,040
Deferred tax assets and liabilities consists of:
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Assets
Liabilities
Assets
Liabilities
Inventory
$
5,310
$
–
$
1,384
$
–
Property, plant, and equipment
–
3,120
–
2,856
Goodwill and other intangible assets
–
3,182
–
2,812
Foreign NOL carryforward
1,495
–
561
–
State NOL carryforward
2,398
–
2,483
–
Unrealized loss on investments
7,203
–
5,168
–
Leases
3,278
2,978
3,544
3,222
Original issue discount
426
–
1,604
–
Stock compensation
4,879
–
4,333
–
Insurance receivable
–
3,764
–
–
Other
4,536
3,567
4,281
2,963
Gross deferred income taxes
29,525
16,611
23,358
11,853
Valuation allowance
( 11,446
)
–
( 3,062
)
–
Net deferred income taxes
$
18,079
$
16,611
$
20,296
$
11,853
At December 31, 2023, the Company had state net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards for income tax purposes of approximately $ 27.4 million, which expire between 2034 and 2042, $ 25.7
million of which has an indefinite carryforward period. The Company has determined that, at December 31, 2023 and 2022 its ability to realize future benefits of its state NOL carryforwards does not meet the “more likely than not” criteria in ASC 740,
Income Taxes. Therefore, a valuation allowance for state NOL carryforwards of $ 2.9 million and $ 2.4 million has been recorded at December 2023 and 2022, respectively. The Company has determined that, at December 31, 2023 its ability to realize future benefits of its unrealized loss on investments and foreign NOL carryforwards do not meet the “more likely than not”
criteria in ASC 740, Income Taxes. Therefore a valuation allowance for unrealized loss on investments of $ 6.4 million and foreign NOL
carryforwards of $ 1.7 million has been recorded at December 31, 2023.
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ASC 740-10-25 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken
or expected to be taken in a tax return. For those benefits to be recognized, a tax position must be more-likely-than-not to be sustained upon examination by taxing authorities. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that
is greater than 50 percent likely of being realized upon ultimate settlement. The Company has determined that they did no t have any
uncertain tax positions requiring recognition as a result of the provisions of ASC 740-10-25. The Company’s policy is to recognize interest and penalties accrued on uncertain tax positions as part of interest expense. For the years ended December 31,
2023, 2022, and 2021, no estimated interest or penalties were recognized for the uncertainty of tax positions taken. The Company files
income tax returns in the U.S. federal jurisdiction and various state jurisdictions. In general, the Company is no longer subject to U.S. federal and state tax examinations for years prior to 2020.
Reconciliation of the federal statutory rate and the effective income tax rate for the years ended December 31 is as follows:
2023
2022
2021
Federal statutory rate
21.0
%
21.0
%
21.0
%
Foreign rate differential
( 0.1
)%
( 0.5
)%
( 0.1
)%
State taxes
4.3
%
5.7
%
3.4
%
Permanent differences
( 0.1
)%
( 0.2
)%
( 4.1
)%
Other
-
1.7
%
0.7
%
Valuation allowance
13.6
%
2.6
%
0.6
%
Effective income tax rate
38.7
%
30.3
%
21.5
%
The permanent differences for the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022 are not significant in the aggregate. The permanent difference for the year December 31, 2021 are primarily related to income tax benefits of
$ 7.5 million ($ 1.6 million
tax effected) as a result of the forgiveness of the $ 7.5 million unsecured loan and $ 7.2 million ($ 1.5 million tax effected) as a result of stock
option exercises.
Note 15. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan
The Company
sponsors a voluntary 401(k) retirement savings plan. Eligible employees may elect to contribute up to 15 % of their annual earnings subject to certain limitations. For the 2023, 2022 and 2021 plan years, the Company contributed 4 % to those employees contributing 4 %
or greater. For those employees contributing less than 4 %, the Company matched the contribution by 100 %. Additionally, for all years presented, the Company made discretionary contributions of 1 % to all employees, regardless of an employee’s contribution level. Company contributions to this plan were approximately $ 1.4 million for 2023, $ 1.5 million for 2022 and $ 1.6 million for 2021.
Note 16. Lease Commitments
The Company’s leases consist primarily of leased property for manufacturing, warehouse, corporate offices and retail space, as well as vehicle leases. At
lease inception, the Company recognizes a lease right of use asset and lease liability calculated as the present value of future minimum lease payments. In general, the Company does not recognize any renewal periods within the lease terms as there
are no significant barriers to ending the lease at the initial term. Lease and non-lease components are accounted for as a single lease component.
Leases with an initial term of 12 months or less are not recorded on the balance sheet. Lease expense for these leases is recognized on a straight-line
basis over the lease term.
The components of lease expense consist of the following:
For the year ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Operating lease cost
Cost of sales
$
507
$
940
$
907
Selling, general and administrative
1,991
1,622
1,907
Variable lease cost (1)
1,183
765
1,182
Short-term lease cost
24
37
48
Sublease income
–
–
( 60
)
Total
$
3,705
$
3,364
$
3,984
(1)
Variable lease cost includes elements of a contract that
do not represent a good or service but for which the lessee is responsible for paying.
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For the year ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Financing lease cost
Selling, general and administrative
$
1,164
$
1,138
$
1,094
Total
$
1,164
$
1,138
$
1,094
The Company's lease balances consist of the following:
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Assets:
Right of use assets - Operating
$
8,950
$
10,967
Right of use assets - Financing
2,530
1,498
Total lease assets
$
11,480
$
12,465
Liabilities:
Current lease liabilities - Operating (2)
$
1,991
$
2,007
Current lease liabilities
- Financing (2)
687
1,095
Long-term lease liabilities - Operating
8,374
10,243
Long-term lease liabilities - Financing
1,576
350
Total lease liabilities
$
12,628
$
13,695
(2)
Reported within accrued liabilities on the balance sheet
Other information related to the Company's leases consists of the following:
December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Right of use assets obtained in exchange for lease obligations:
Operating leases
$
143
$
–
Finance leases
$
2,169
$
494
As of December 31,
2023
2022
Weighted-average remaining lease term - operating leases
5.7 years
6.5 years
Weighted-average discount rate - operating leases
5.17
%
5.19
%
Weighted-average remaining lease term - financing leases
3.4
years
1.8
years
Weighted-average discount rate - financing leases
6.48
%
3.42
%
Nearly all the lease contracts for the Company do not provide a readily determinable implicit rate. For these contracts, the Company uses a discount rate
that approximates its incremental borrowing rate at the time of the lease commencement.
The following table illustrates the Company's future minimum rental payments for non-cancelable leases as of December 31, 2023:
Year
Operating
Finance
2024
$
2,471
$
813
2025
2,174
741
2026
2,084
644
2027
2,035
327
2028
1,046
–
Years thereafter
2,263
–
Total lease payments
12,073
2,525
Less: Imputed interest
1,708
262
Present value of lease liabilities
$
10,365
$
2,263
Note 17. Share Incentive Plans
On March 22,
2021, the Company’s Board of Directors adopted the Turning Point Brands, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Plan”), pursuant to which awards may be granted to employees, non-employee directors, and consultants. In addition, the 2021 Plan
provides for the granting of nonqualified stock options to employees of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company. Pursuant to the 2021 Plan, 1,290,000
shares, plus 100,052 shares remaining available for issuance under the 2015 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2015 Plan”), of TPB Common Stock
are reserved for issuance as awards to employees, non-employee directors, and consultants as compensation for past or future services or the attainment of certain performance goals. The 2021 Plan is scheduled to terminate on March 21, 2031. The 2021
Plan is administered by the compensation committee (the “Committee”) of the Company’s Board of Directors. The Committee determines the vesting criteria for the awards, with such criteria to be specified in the award agreement. As of December 31,
2023, net of forfeitures, there were 271,662 Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”), 113,801 options and 23,315 Performance Based Restricted Stock Units (“PRSUs”)
granted under the 2021 Plan. There are 981,274 shares available for future grant under the 2021 Plan.
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Table of Contents
On April 28, 2016, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the 2015 Plan, pursuant to which awards could have been granted to employees, non-employee
directors, and consultants. In addition, the 2015 Plan provided for the granting of nonqualified stock options to employees of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company. Upon adoption of the 2021 Plan, the 2015 Plan was terminated, and the
Company determined no additional grants would be made under the 2015 Plan. However, all awards issued under the 2015 Plan that have not been previously terminated or forfeited remain outstanding and continue unaffected. There are no shares available for grant under the 2015 Plan.
On February 8, 2006, the Board of Directors of the Company adopted the 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”) of North Atlantic Holding Company,
Inc., pursuant to which nonqualified stock options and restricted stock awards may be granted to employees. Upon the adoption of the Company’s 2015 Equity Incentive Plan in connection with its IPO, the Company determined no additional grants would be made under the 2006 Plan. However, all awards issued under the 2006 Plan that have not been previously terminated or
forfeited remain outstanding and continue unaffected. There are no shares available for grant under the 2006 Plan.
Stock option activity for the 2006, 2015 and 2021 Plans is summarized below:
Weighted
Weighted
Stock
Average
Average
Option
Exercise
Grant Date
Shares
Price
Fair Value
Outstanding, December 31, 2021
619,835
$
28.51
$
8.70
Granted
114,827
30.58
10.34
Exercised
( 40,331
)
12.49
4.08
Forfeited
( 11,117
)
32.60
9.35
Outstanding, December 31, 2022
683,214
$
29.74
$
9.24
Granted
77,519
20.71
6.45
Exercised
( 33,851
)
13.30
4.24
Forfeited
( 69,931
)
27.51
9.11
Outstanding, December 31, 2023
656,951
$
29.79
$
9.18
Under the 2006, 2015 and 2021 Plans, the total intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022, and 2021, was $ 0.3 million, $ 0.7 million, and $ 7.9 million, respectively.
At December 31, 2023, under the 2006 Plan, the exercise price for the 43,693 outstanding options is $ 3.83 per share, all of which are exercisable. The
weighted average of the remaining lives of the outstanding stock options with an exercise price of $ 3.83 is approximately 0.60 years. The Company estimates the expected life of these stock options is ten years from the date of grant. For the $ 3.83 per share options, the weighted
average fair value of options at the date of grant was determined using the Black-Scholes model with the following assumptions: a ten-year
life from grant date, a current share price and exercise price of $ 3.83 , a risk-free interest rate of 3.57 %, volatility of 40 %, and no assumed dividend yield. Based on these assumptions, the fair value of these options is approximately $ 2.17 per share option granted.
At December 31, 2023, under the 2015 and 2021 Plans, the risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury rate for the expected life at the time of
grant. The expected volatility is based on the average long-term historical volatilities of peer companies. We intend to continue to consistently use the same group of publicly traded peer companies to determine expected volatility until sufficient
information regarding volatility of our share price becomes available or until the selected companies are no longer suitable for this purpose. Due to our limited trading history, we are using the simplified method presented by SEC Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 107 to calculate expected holding periods, which represent the periods of time for which options granted are expected to be outstanding. We will continue to use this method until we have sufficient historical exercise experience to give
us confidence in the reliability of our calculations. The fair values of these options were determined using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.
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Table of Contents
The following table outlines the assumptions for options granted under the 2015 Plan.
February 10,
May 17,
March 7,
March 20,
October 24,
March 18,
February 18,
May 3,
2017
2017
2018
2019
2019
2020
2021
2021
Number of options granted
40,000
93,819
98,100
155,780
25,000
155,000
100,000
12,000
Options outstanding at December 31, 2023
20,000
39,183
51,567
125,514
25,000
79,675
89,021
12,000
Number exercisable at December 31, 2023
20,000
39,183
51,567
125,514
25,000
79,675
63,394
8,040
Exercise price
$
13.00
$
15.41
$
21.21
$
47.58
$
20.89
$
14.85
$
51.75
$
47.76
Remaining lives
3.12
3.38
4.19
5.22
5.82
6.22
7.14
7.34
Risk free interest rate
1.89
%
1.76
%
2.65
%
2.34
%
1.58
%
0.79
%
0.56
%
0.84
%
Expected volatility
27.44
%
26.92
%
28.76
%
30.95
%
31.93
%
35.72
%
28.69
%
29.03
%
Expected life
6.000
6.000
6.000
6.000
6.000
6.000
6.000
6.000
Dividend yield
–
–
0.83
%
0.42
%
0.95
%
1.49
%
0.55
%
0.59
%
Fair value at grant date
$
3.98
$
4.60
$
6.37
$
15.63
$
6.27
$
4.41
$
13.77
$
13.06
The following table outlines the assumptions for
options granted under the 2021 Plan.
May 17,
March 14,
April 29,
May 12,
2021
2022
2022
2023
Number of options granted
7,500
100,000
14,827
77,519
Options outstanding at December 31, 2023
7,500
71,451
14,827
77,519
Number exercisable at December 31, 2023
5,100
24,741
5,042
58,139
Exercise price
$
45.05
$
30.46
$
31.39
$
20.71
Remaining lives
7.38
8.21
8.33
9.37
Risk free interest rate
0.84
%
2.10
%
2.92
%
3.41
%
Expected volatility
31.50
%
35.33
%
35.33
%
34.51
%
Expected life
6.000
6.000
6.000
5.186
Dividend yield
0.63
%
1.01
%
0.98
%
1.61
%
Fair value at grant date
$
13.23
$
10.23
$
11.07
$
6.45
The Company has recorded compensation expense related to the options based on the provisions of ASC 718 under which the fixed portion of such expense is
determined as the fair value of the options on the date of grant and amortized over the vesting period. The Company recorded compensation expense related to the options of approximately $ 0.7 million, $ 1.1 million and $ 2.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Total unrecognized compensation expense related to options at December 31, 2023, is $ 0.1 million, which will be expensed over 1.0
year.
PRSUs are restricted stock units subject to both performance-based and service-based vesting conditions. The number of shares of TPB Common Stock a
recipient will receive upon vesting of a PRSU will be calculated by reference to certain performance metrics related to the Company’s performance over a five-year
period. PRSUs will vest on the measurement date, which is no more than 65 days after the performance period provided the applicable
service and performance conditions are satisfied. At December 31, 2023, there are 449,790 PRSUs outstanding.
The following table outlines the PRSUs granted and outstanding as of December 31, 2023.
March 20,
March 18,
December 28,
February 18,
March 14,
May 4,
2019
2020
2020
2021
2022
2023
Number of PRSUs granted
92,500
94,000
88,169
100,000
49,996
133,578
PRSUs outstanding at December 31, 2023
76,430
83,560
31,040
84,690
41,550
132,520
Fair value as of grant date
$
47.58
$
14.85
$
46.42
$
51.75
$
30.46
$
22.25
Remaining lives
–
1.00
–
2.00
3.00
2.00
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The Company recorded compensation expense related to the PRSUs of approximately $ 3.0
million, $ 2.9 million and $ 5.0
million in the consolidated statements of income for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively, based on the probability of achieving the performance condition. Total unrecognized compensation expense related to these awards at
December 31, 2023, is $ 4.1 million, which will be expensed over the service period based on the probability of achieving the performance
condition.
RSUs are stock units subject to service-based vesting conditions over one to five years . At December
31, 2023, there are 218,200 RSUs outstanding.
The following table outlines the RSUs granted and outstanding as of December 31, 2023.
March 14,
March 14,
April 29,
May 5,
May 5,
May 8,
2022
2022
2022
2023
2023
2023
Number of RSUs granted
50,004
28,726
4,522
130,873
22,472
20,101
RSUs outstanding at December 31, 2023
40,592
18,961
4,522
128,406
5,618
20,101
Fair value as of grant date
$
30.46
$
30.46
$
31.39
$
22.25
$
22.25
$
21.77
Remaining lives
3.00
1.00
3.00
2.25
–
0.35
The Company has recorded compensation expense related to the RSUs based on the provisions of ASC 718 under which the fixed portion of such expense is
determined as the fair value of the RSUs on the date of grant and amortized over the vesting period. The Company recorded compensation expense related to the RSUs of approximately $ 2.9 million, $ 1.3 million and $ 0.3 million for the years ended December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively. Total unrecognized compensation expense related to RSUs at December 31, 2023, is $ 2.5 million, which will be expensed over 2.3
years.
Note 18. Contingencies
On October 9, 2020, a purported stockholder of Turning Point Brands, Inc., Paul-Emile Berteau, filed a complaint in the Delaware Court of Chancery relating to the merger of SDI with a TPB subsidiary pursuant to the
Agreement and Plan of Merger and Reorganization, dated as of April 7, 2020, by and among TPB, SDI and Merger Sub. The parties attended a mediation in late November 2022 where a settlement was reached. On December 12, 2023, the Court approved the
settlement and dismissed the action with prejudice. As of December 31, 2023, the Company recorded a $ 4.0 million receivable in
other current assets, and a corresponding gain on settlement in other income on its Consolidated Statement of Income for the year ended December 31, 2023. These funds were received in January 2024.
Other major tobacco companies are defendants in product liability claims. In a number of these cases, the amounts of punitive and compensatory damages sought are significant and, if such a claim were brought against the Company, could have a
material adverse effect on our business and results of operations. The Company is subject to several lawsuits alleging personal injuries resulting from malfunctioning vaporizer devices or batteries and may be subject to claims in the future
relating to our other Creative Distribution Solutions products. The Company is still evaluating these claims and the potential defenses to them. For example, the Company did not design or manufacture the products at issue; rather, the Company was
merely the distributor. Nonetheless, there can be no assurance that the Company will prevail in these cases, and they could have a material adverse effect on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.
We have several subsidiaries engaged in making, distributing, and selling liquid nicotine products. As a result of the overall publicity and controversy surrounding the industry generally, many companies have received informational subpoenas from
various regulatory bodies and in some jurisdictions regulatory lawsuits have been filed regarding marketing practices and possible underage sales. We expect that our subsidiaries will be subject to some such cases and investigative requests. To the
extent that litigation becomes necessary, we believe that the subsidiaries have strong factual and legal defenses against claims that they unfairly marketed products.
We have two franchisor subsidiaries. Like many franchise businesses, in the ordinary course of their business, these subsidiaries are
from time-to-time responding parties to arbitration demands brought by franchisees. We recently won a dispositive motion in an arbitration brought by a former franchisee. We have one remaining former franchisee arbitration with breach of contract and negligence allegations, among others. We believe we have good and valid substantive defenses against these claims and
intend on vigorously defending our interests in this matter.
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Table of Contents
Note 19. Earnings Per Share
T he following is a reconciliation of the numerators and denominators of the basic and diluted
EPS computations of net income:
December 31, 2023
December 31, 2022
December 31, 2021
Per
Per
Per
Income
Shares
Share
Income
Shares
Share
Income
Shares
Share
Basic EPS:
Numerator
Net income attributable to Turning
Point Brands, Inc.
$
38,462
$
11,641
$
52,059
Denominator
Weighted average
17,578,270
$
2.19
17,899,794
$
0.65
18,917,570
$
2.75
Diluted EPS:
Numerator
Net income attributable to Turning
Point Brands, Inc.
$
38,462
$
11,641
$
52,059
Interest expense related to
Convertible Senior Notes, net of
tax
2,667
–
4,317
Diluted consolidated net income
$
41,129
$
11,641
$
56,376
Denominator
Basic weighted average
17,578,270
17,899,794
18,917,570
Convertible Senior Notes (1)
2,533,201
–
3,208,172
Stock options and restricted stock units
355,935
155,221
256,252
20,467,406
$
2.01
18,055,015
$
0.64
22,381,994
$
2.52
(1)
For 2022, the effect of 3,208,172 shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Senior Notes were excluded from the diluted net income per share calculation because the effect would have
been antidilutive.
Note 20. Segment Information
In accordance with ASC 280, Segment Reporting, the Company has three reportable segments, (1) Zig-Zag Products; (2) Stoker’s Products; and (3) Creative Distribution Solutions. The Zig-Zag Products segment markets and distributes (a) rolling papers, tubes, and related products; (b) finished cigars and MYO cigar wraps and (c) CLIPPER reusable lighters and other accessories.
The Stoker’s Products segment (a) manufactures and markets moist snuff and (b) contracts for and markets loose-leaf chewing tobacco products. The Creative Distribution Solutions segment (a) markets and distributes liquid nicotine products and certain
other products without tobacco and/or nicotine; (b) distributes a wide assortment of products to non-traditional retail outlets via Vapor Beast; and (c) markets and distributes a wide assortment of products to individual consumers via the VaporFi B2C
online platform. Products in the Zig-Zag Products and Stoker’s Products segments are distributed primarily through wholesale distributors in the U.S. and Canada while products in the Creative Distribution Solutions segment are distributed primarily
through e-commerce to non-traditional retail outlets and direct to consumers in the U.S. Corporate unallocated includes the costs and assets of the Company not assigned to one of the three reportable segments such as intercompany transfers, deferred taxes, deferred financing fees, and investments in subsidiaries. The Company had no customer that accounted for more than 10% of net sales in 2023, 2022, or 2021.
The accounting policies of these segments are the same as those of the Company. Corporate costs are not directly charged to the three reportable segments in the ordinary course of operations. The Company evaluates the performance of its segments and allocates resources to them based
on operating income.
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The tables below present financial information about reportable segments:
For the year ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Net sales
Zig-Zag products
$
180,455
$
190,403
$
176,491
Stoker’s products
144,609
130,826
124,280
Total Zig-Zag and Stoker’s products
325,064
321,229
300,771
Creative Distribution Solutions
80,329
93,784
144,700
Total
$
405,393
$
415,013
$
445,471
Gross profit
Zig-Zag products
$
101,055
$
106,576
$
102,739
Stoker’s products
81,887
71,254
68,084
Total Zig-Zag and Stoker’s products
182,942
177,830
170,823
Creative Distribution Solutions
20,299
27,708
47,011
Total
$
203,241
$
205,538
$
217,834
Operating income (loss)
Zig-Zag products
$
68,280
$
73,342
$
77,109
Stoker’s products
62,208
53,331
52,073
Corporate unallocated (1)(2)
( 47,528
)
( 52,665
)
( 41,124
)
Total Zig-Zag and Stoker’s products
82,960
74,008
88,058
Creative Distribution Solutions
( 383
)
1,506
2,263
Total
$
82,577
$
75,514
$
90,321
Interest expense, net
14,645
19,524
20,500
Investment loss
11,914
13,303
6,673
Other income
( 4,000
)
–
–
Goodwill and intangible impairment loss
–
27,566
–
Gain on extinguishment of debt
( 1,664
)
( 885
)
( 2,154
)
Income before income taxes
$
61,682
$
16,006
$
65,302
Capital expenditures
Zig-Zag products
$
1,112
$
4,641
$
141
Stoker’s products
4,595
3,044
5,960
Total Zig-Zag and Stoker’s products
5,707
7,685
6,101
Creative Distribution Solutions
–
–
55
Total
$
5,707
$
7,685
$
6,156
Depreciation and amortization
Zig-Zag products
$
1,077
$
412
$
388
Stoker’s products
3,041
2,972
2,565
Total Zig-Zag and Stoker’s products
4,118
3,384
2,953
Creative Distribution Solutions
2,240
1,915
2,059
Total
$
6,358
$
5,299
$
5,012
(1)
Includes corporate costs that are not allocated to any of
the three reportable segments.
(2)
Includes costs related to PMTA of $ 2.1 million, $ 4.6 million and $ 2.6 million in 2023, 2022, and 2021, respectively.
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December 31,
December 31,
2023
2022
Assets
Zig-Zag products
$
177,135
$
225,893
Stoker’s products
174,994
151,241
Corporate unallocated (1)
190,223
155,348
Total Zig-Zag and Stoker’s products
542,352
532,482
Creative Distribution Solutions
27,004
39,624
Total
$
569,356
$
572,106
(1)
Includes assets not assigned to the three reportable segments. All goodwill has been allocated to the reportable segments.
Revenue Disaggregation—Sales Channel
Revenues of the Zig-Zag Products and Stoker’s Products segments are primarily comprised of sales made to wholesalers while Creative Distribution Solutions
sales are made business to business and business to consumer, both online and through our corporate retail stores. Creative Distribution Solutions net sales are broken out by sales channel below.
Creative Distribution Solutions
For the year ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Business to Business
$
71,104
$
76,462
$
107,235
Business to Consumer - Online
8,761
16,836
37,069
Other
464
486
396
Total
$
80,329
$
93,784
$
144,700
Net Sales: Domestic and Foreign
The following table shows a breakdown of consolidated net sales between domestic and foreign.
For the year ended December 31,
2023
2022
2021
Domestic
$
374,352
$
381,723
$
415,514
Foreign
31,041
33,290
29,957
Total
$
405,393
$
415,013
$
445,471
Note 21. Selected Quarterly Financial Information (Unaudited)
The following table presents the quarterly operating results:
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
2023
Net sales
$
100,956
$
105,595
$
101,722
$
97,120
Gross profit
48,617
52,478
51,622
50,524
Net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc.
7,597
9,925
10,831
10,109
Basic net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc. per share
0.43
0.56
0.62
0.57
Diluted net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc. per share
$
0.41
$
0.53
$
0.58
$
0.53
2022
Net sales
$
100,894
$
102,925
$
107,802
$
103,392
Gross profit
51,794
51,469
52,712
49,563
Net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc.
10,998
5,424
11,536
( 16,317
)
Basic net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc. per share
0.60
0.30
0.65
( 0.93
)
Diluted net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc. per share
$
0.55
$
0.30
$
0.60
$
( 0.93
) (1)
(1)
The effect of 3,213,796 shares issuable upon conversion of the Convertible Senior Notes were excluded from the diluted net income per share calculation because
the effect would have been antidilutive.
The amounts
presented in the table above are computed independently for each quarter. As a result, their sum may not equal the total year amounts.
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Table of Contents
Note 22. Additional
Information with Respect to Unrestricted Subsidiary
Under the terms of the Senior Secured Notes
Indenture and Senior Secured Notes, the Company has designated its subsidiaries, South Beach Brands LLC, TPB Beast LLC and Intrepid Brands, LLC as “Unrestricted Subsidiaries”. South Beach Brands LLC is a holding company under which our TPB Beast
LLC business operating as Creative Distribution Solutions sits. The Company is required under the terms of the Senior Secured Notes Indenture and the Senior Secured Notes to present additional information that reflects the financial condition and
results of operations of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries separate from the financial condition and results of operations of the Company’s Unrestricted Subsidiaries as of and for the periods presented. This additional information is
below.
Income Statement for the years ended
December 31, 2023, 2022 and 2021:
Years Ended December 31,
2023
2022
Company and
Restricted
Subsidiaries
Unrestricted
Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Company and
Restricted
Subsidiaries
Unrestricted
Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Net sales
$
325,063
$
80,330
$
405,393
$
321,229
$
93,784
$
415,013
Cost of sales
142,121
60,031
202,152
143,399
66,076
209,475
Gross profit
182,942
20,299
203,241
177,830
27,708
205,538
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
104,327
20,682
125,009
129,900
124
130,024
Other operating income, net
( 4,345
)
–
( 4,345
)
–
–
–
Operating income (loss)
82,960
( 383
)
82,577
47,930
27,584
75,514
Interest expense, net
14,645
–
14,645
19,524
–
19,524
Investment loss
11,914
–
11,914
13,303
–
13,303
Other income
( 4,000
)
–
( 4,000
)
–
–
–
Goodwill and intangible impairment loss
–
–
1,488
26,078
27,566
Gain on extinguishment of debt
( 1,664
)
–
( 1,664
)
( 885
)
–
( 885
)
Income (loss) before income taxes
62,065
( 383
)
61,682
14,500
1,506
16,006
Income tax expense
24,049
( 148
)
23,901
4,393
456
4,849
Consolidated net income (loss)
38,016
( 235
)
37,781
10,107
1,050
11,157
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
( 681
)
–
( 681
)
( 484
)
–
( 484
)
Net income (loss) attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc.
$
38,697
$
( 235
)
$
38,462
$
10,591
$
1,050
$
11,641
Year Ended December 31,
2021
Company and
Restricted
Subsidiaries
Unrestricted
Subsidiaries
Consolidated
Net sales
$
300,771
$
144,700
$
445,471
Cost of sales
129,948
97,689
227,637
Gross profit
170,823
47,011
217,834
Selling, general, and administrative expenses
82,765
44,748
127,513
Operating income
88,058
2,263
90,321
Interest expense, net
20,500
–
20,500
Investment loss
6,673
–
6,673
Gain on extinguishment of debt
( 2,154
)
–
( 2,154
)
Income before income taxes
63,039
2,263
65,302
Income tax expense
13,553
487
14,040
Consolidated net income
49,486
1,776
51,262
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interest
( 797
)
–
( 797
)
Net income attributable to Turning Point Brands, Inc.
$
50,283
$
1,776
$
52,059
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Table of Contents
Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2023:
ASSETS
Company and
Restricted
Subsidiaries
Unrestricted
Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Consolidated
Current assets:
Cash
$
116,725
$
1,161
$
–
$
117,886
Accounts receivable, net
9,989
–
–
9,989
Inventories, net
91,679
7,281
–
98,960
Other current assets
36,937
3,844
–
40,781
Total current assets
255,330
12,286
–
267,616
Property, plant, and equipment, net
25,142
158
–
25,300
Deferred income taxes
1,468
–
–
1,468
Right of use assets
11,359
121
–
11,480
Deferred financing costs, net
2,450
–
–
2,450
Goodwill
136,250
–
–
136,250
Other intangible assets, net
66,490
14,452
–
80,942
Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) escrow deposits
28,684
–
–
28,684
Other assets
15,166
–
–
15,166
Investment in unrestricted subsidiaries
48,229
–
( 48,229
)
–
Total assets
$
590,568
$
27,017
$
( 48,229
)
$
569,356
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
7,781
$
626
$
–
$
8,407
Accrued liabilities
32,052
1,583
–
33,635
Current portion of long-term debt
58,294
–
–
58,294
Total current liabilities
98,127
2,209
–
100,336
Notes payable and long-term debt
307,064
–
–
307,064
Lease liabilities
9,898
52
–
9,950
Total liabilities
415,089
2,261
–
417,350
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Total Turning Point Brands Inc. Stockholders’ Equity/Net parent investment in unrestricted subsidiaries
174,449
24,756
( 48,229
)
150,976
Non-controlling interest
1,030
–
–
1,030
Total stockholders’ equity
175,479
24,756
( 48,229
)
152,006
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
590,568
$
27,017
$
( 48,229
)
$
569,356
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Table of Contents
Balance Sheet as of December 31,
2022:
ASSETS
Company and
Restricted
Subsidiaries
Unrestricted
Subsidiaries
Eliminations
Consolidated
Current assets:
Cash
$
103,990
$
2,413
$
–
$
106,403
Accounts receivable, net
7,374
1,003
–
8,377
Inventories, net
104,883
15,032
–
119,915
Other current assets
18,828
4,131
–
22,959
Total current assets
235,075
22,579
–
257,654
Property, plant, and equipment, net
22,261
527
–
22,788
Deferred income taxes
8,443
–
–
8,443
Right of use assets
12,328
137
–
12,465
Deferred financing costs, net
282
–
–
282
Goodwill
136,253
–
–
136,253
Other intangible assets, net
67,241
16,351
–
83,592
Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) escrow deposits
27,980
–
–
27,980
Other assets
22,619
30
–
22,649
Investment in unrestricted subsidiaries
60,120
–
( 60,120
)
–
Total assets
$
592,602
$
39,624
$
( 60,120
)
$
572,106
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable
$
7,628
$
727
$
–
$
8,355
Accrued liabilities
31,118
1,883
–
33,001
Other current liabilities
20
–
–
20
Total current liabilities
38,766
2,610
–
41,376
Notes payable and long-term debt
406,757
–
–
406,757
Lease liabilities
10,593
–
–
10,593
Total liabilities
456,116
2,610
–
458,726
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Total Turning Point Brands Inc. Stockholders’ Equity/Net parent investment in unrestricted subsidiaries
134,751
37,014
( 60,120
)
111,645
Non-controlling interest
1,735
–
–
1,735
Total stockholders’ equity
136,486
37,014
( 60,120
)
113,380
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
592,602
$
39,624
$
( 60,120
)
$
572,106
Note 23. Dividends and Share Repurchase
The Company
currently pays a quarterly cash dividend. Dividends are considered restricted payments under the Senior Secured Notes Indenture. The Company is generally permitted to make restricted payments provided that, at the time of payment, or as a result of
payment, the Company is not in default on its debt covenants. Additional earning and market capitalization restrictions limit the aggregate amount of restricted, quarterly dividends during a fiscal year. During the year ended December 31, 2023, the
Company paid cash dividends of $ 0.26 per common share for $ 4.5 million.
On February 25, 2020,
the Company’s Board of Directors approved a $ 50.0 million share repurchase program, which is intended for opportunistic execution based
upon a variety of factors including market dynamics. The program is subject to the ongoing discretion of the Board of Directors. On October 25, 2021, the Board of Directors increased the approved share repurchase program by $ 30.7 million and by an additional $ 24.6
million on February 24, 2022, in each case bringing the aggregate approval back to $ 50.0 million. As of December 31, 2023, $ 27.2 million remains available for share repurchases under the program. There were no shares repurchased for the year ended December 31, 2023.
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Item 9. Changes In and Disagreements With Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure
None.