NEW YORK, Nov. 07, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) Sequential Brands Group, Inc. (“Sequential” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq:SQBG) today announced financial results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2018.

“Our third quarter results reflect the progress we’ve made against our strategic initiatives to position our brands for long-term growth,” said Karen Murray, CEO of Sequential Brands Group. “We’ve recently signed several exciting partnerships across our portfolio including a new fashion license for the Martha Stewart brand, and a long-term extension for Jessica Simpson’s core footwear business. We are encouraged by the momentum across our business as we head into the new year, and our strong pipeline of new licenses.”    

As previously disclosed, effective January 1, 2018, the Company adopted a new revenue recognition standard ("ASC 606"), which impacted the Company’s reported revenue. The Company adopted ASC 606 using the modified retrospective method, which means that the total amount of revenue reported for the 2017 periods has not been restated in the current financial statements. In the interest of comparability during the transition year to ASC 606, the Company will provide revenue, net income and earnings per share information in accordance with both ASC 606 and the prior year’s revenue recognition rules, ASC 605.

Third Quarter 2018 Results:

Included in third quarter 2018 results was a $4.2 million expense, to be paid out over several years, related to a settlement with a licensee as part of a strategic shift to a direct-to-retail license with Walmart for the AVIA brand.

• Revenue for the third quarter 2018 was $40.8 million.  Under ASC 605, revenue for the third quarter 2018 would have been $41.2 million, compared to $39.0 million in the third quarter 2017.
• On a GAAP basis, the net loss for the third quarter 2018 was $(9.6) million or $(0.15) per diluted share. Under ASC 605, GAAP net loss for the third quarter 2018 would have been $(9.3) million or ($0.15) per diluted share, compared to the net loss of $(24.2) million or $(0.38) per diluted share in the third quarter 2017.  Included in the net loss for the third quarter 2018 were non-cash impairment charges of $17.9 million for indefinite-lived intangible assets related to the trademarks of two of the Company’s non-core brands.
• On a non-GAAP basis, net income for the third quarter 2018 was $2.7 million, or $0.04 per diluted share.  Under ASC 605, non-GAAP net income for the third quarter 2018 would have been $3.1 million or $0.05 per diluted share, compared to $6.5 million, or $0.11 per diluted share, in the prior year period.  See Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliation tables below for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures.
• Adjusted EBITDA (defined under “Non-GAAP Financial Measures” below) for the third quarter 2018 was $20.5 million. Under ASC 605, Adjusted EBITDA for the third quarter 2018 would have been $21.0 million, compared to $23.3 million in the prior year quarter.  

Year-to-Date 2018 Results:

• Revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $121.1 million.  Under ASC 605, revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 would have been $123.6 million, compared to $120.6 million in the prior year period.
• On a GAAP basis, net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $(8.3) million or $(0.13) per diluted share. Under ASC 605, GAAP net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 would have been $(6.5) million or $(0.10) per diluted share, compared to the net loss of $(22.8) million or $(0.36) per diluted share in the prior year period.  
• On a non-GAAP basis, net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $13.4 million, or $0.21 per diluted share.  Under ASC 605, non-GAAP net income for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 would have been $15.8 million, or $0.24 per diluted share, compared to $20.1 million, or $0.32 per diluted share, in the prior year period.  See Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliation tables below for a reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP measures.
• Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $66.4 million. Under ASC 605, Adjusted EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 would have been $68.8 million, compared to $71.0 million in the prior year period.  

Non-GAAP Financial Measures: 

This press release contains historical and projected measures of Adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per diluted share. The Company defines Adjusted EBITDA as net income attributable to Sequential Brands Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries, excluding provision for income taxes, interest income or expense, non-cash compensation, depreciation and amortization, deal advisory costs, Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia (MSLO) shareholder and pre- acquisition litigation costs, write-off of deferred financing costs, debt refinancing costs, loss on sale of assets, net of non-controlling interest, non-cash impairment of trademarks, net of non-controlling interest, realized loss on the sale of available-for-sale securities, costs incurred in connection with CEO transition, other non-cash items, and severance. Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures which represent net income (loss) attributable to Sequential Brands Group, Inc. and Subsidiaries, excluding deal advisory costs, non-cash mark-to-market adjustments to stock-based compensation provided to non-employees, MSLO shareholder and pre-acquisition litigation costs, write-off of deferred financing costs, debt refinancing costs, loss on sale of assets, net of non-controlling interest, non-cash impairment of trademarks, net of non-controlling interest, realized loss on the sale of available-for-sale securities, costs incurred in connection with CEO transition, other non-cash items, and adjustments to taxes. These non-GAAP metrics are an alternative to the information calculated under U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), as provided in the reports the Company files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, may be inconsistent with similar measures presented by other companies and should only be used in conjunction with the Company’s results reported according to GAAP. Any financial measure other than those prepared in accordance with GAAP should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. We consider these measures to be useful measures of our ongoing financial performance because they adjust for certain costs and other events that the Company believes are not representative of its core licensing business. See below for a reconciliation of these non-GAAP metrics from the most directly comparable GAAP measure. 

Sequential Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SQBG) owns, promotes, markets, and licenses a portfolio of consumer brands in the home, active and fashion categories. Sequential seeks to ensure that its brands continue to thrive and grow by employing strong brand management, design and marketing teams. Sequential has licensed and intends to license its brands in a variety of consumer categories to retailers, wholesalers and distributors in the United States and around the world.