Nature’s Sunshine Products Reports Fourth Quarter 2016 Financial Results

• Fourth Quarter net sales of $84.0 million was up 4.9% year-over-year  
  
• Net loss of $6.7 million from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders, or $0.35 per common share during the fourth quarter
  
• Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA of $0.6 million
  
• Board of Directors approved a $0.10 per share quarterly cash dividend
  

LEHI, Utah, March 07, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc. (NASDAQ: NATR), a leading natural health and wellness company engaged in the manufacture and direct selling of nutritional and personal care products, today reported its financial results for the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2016.

Fourth Quarter 2016 Financial Highlights

• Net sales of $84.0 million increased 4.9% compared to $80.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. On a local currency basis, net sales increased 4.6% as compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. Synergy Asia Pacific delivered 13.7% growth (11.1% in local currency) in net sales as compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. The quarter included incremental net sales of $2.3 million related to China pre-opening product sales through Hong Kong. Net sales were positively impacted by $0.3 million of favorable foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, offset by a $0.4 million decline in net sales in the NSP Americas segment from Latin America.
   
• Net loss from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders was $6.7 million, or $0.35 per common share, compared to net income from continuing operations of $3.7 million, or $0.19 per diluted common share, in the fourth quarter of 2015. The net loss was primarily driven by activities and items related to China. These included incremental infrastructure related expenses that contributed $1.9 million to the operating loss and the recognition of $1.7 million in inventory obsolescence reserves associated with delay and uncertainty surrounding a direct selling launch in China.  Primarily related to unfavorable financial results and uncertainty in China, the Company also recorded $3.4 million in non-cash deferred tax asset valuation allowances during the quarter. Additionally, the Company recorded a $1.8 million foreign exchange loss during the quarter.
   
• The Company's net loss in China attributable to common shareholders, including expenses associated with infrastructure and inventory obsolescence reserves during the fourth quarter, was approximately $0.15 per share.  The impact of the non-cash deferred tax valuation allowance contributed an additional $0.18 per share loss during the quarter.
   
• Adjusted EBITDA was $0.6 million, compared to $4.6 million in the fourth quarter of 2015. Adjusted EBITDA, which is a non-GAAP financial measure, is defined here as net income/loss from continuing operations before income taxes, depreciation, amortization, share-based compensation expense and other income/loss.

Full Year 2016 Financial Highlights 

• Net sales of $341.2 million increased 5.1%, compared to $324.7 million in 2015. On a local currency basis, net sales increased 5.8% compared to 2015. Net sales growth, adjusted for foreign currency fluctuations, was largely driven by a $13.4 million, or 17.6% increase in the Synergy Asia Pacific region and an incremental net sales increase of $10.4 million related to China pre-opening sales through Hong Kong, when compared to 2015. Net sales were negatively impacted by a $2.7 million decline in NSP America sales from Latin America and a $1.3 million decline in net sales in the NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe segment. Additionally, net sales were negatively impacted by $2.4 million of unfavorable foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations.
  
  
• Net income from continuing operations attributable to common shareholders was $2.1 million, or $0.11 per diluted common share, compared to $14.7 million, or $0.66 per diluted common share, in 2015. Earnings per diluted common share for 2016 were impacted by several factors primarily relating to China. These included net infrastructure related expenses of $5.2 million and recognition of $1.7 million in inventory obsolescence reserves associated with delay and uncertainty surrounding a direct selling launch in China. Primarily related to unfavorable financial results and uncertainty in China, the Company also recorded $3.4 million in non-cash deferred tax asset valuation allowances during the year.  Additionally, the Company recorded a $1.3 million foreign exchange loss during the year.
  
  
• The Company's net loss in China attributable to common shareholders, including expenses associated with infrastructure and inventory obsolescence reserves during the year, was approximately $0.29 per diluted share.  The impact of the non-cash deferred tax valuation allowance contributed an additional $0.18 per diluted share loss during the year.
  
  
• Adjusted EBITDA was $18.1 million compared to $22.9 million in 2015.
  

Management Commentary

“Fourth quarter financial results were negatively impacted by items related to delay and uncertainty surrounding receipt of a direct selling license in China” commented Gregory L. Probert, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. “While our 2016 financial results have been constrained by the infrastructure built in anticipation of a future market opportunity, we remain steadfast in our belief that the investments are prudent given the potential opportunity that lies ahead of us should the regulatory process in China be completed.”

Mr. Probert continued, “We continued to post modest growth in NSP North America during the fourth quarter and Synergy Worldwide again enjoyed good momentum in Synergy Asia Pacific. During 2016, we introduced the Elite Health program in Synergy Asia Pacific and Synergy Europe, and continued to promote our patent-pending IN.FORM program in NSP North America. We look to leverage these new product initiatives to drive further growth and support our new market investments.”

Fourth Quarter 2016 Regional Sales by Operating Segment

Fiscal Year 2016 Regional Sales by Operating Segment

Active Distributors and Customers by Segment ⁽¹⁾

(1) Active Distributors and customers include Nature’s Sunshine Products’ independent Distributors and customers who have purchased products directly from the Company for resale and/or personal consumption during the previous three months ended as of the date indicated.  Total Manager, Distributors and Customers, which includes those who have made a purchase in the last twelve months, was 550,000 as of December 31, 2016.

Cash Flow and Balance Sheet Highlights

• Net cash provided by operating activities was $3.4 million for the year ended December 31, 2016, as compared to $10.2 million provided by operating activities for the year ended December 31, 2015.
   
• Total assets on December 31, 2016 were $205.6 million, compared to $200.5 million on December 31, 2015.
   
• The Company’s Board of Directors approved a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share, payable on April 3, 2017, to shareholders of record as of the close of business on March 22, 2017. Dividend payments were $7.5 million during 2016.

Conference Call

Nature’s Sunshine Products will host a conference call to discuss its fourth quarter 2016 results on March 7, 2017 at 4:30 PM Eastern Time. The toll-free dial-in number for callers in the U.S. and Canada is 1-877-423-9813, conference ID: 13656293. International callers can dial 1-201-689-8573, conference ID: 13656293. A replay will be available from March 7, 2017 at 7:30 PM Eastern Time through March 21, 2017 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time by dialing 1-844-512-2921 (U.S. and Canada) or 1-412-317-6671 (International), replay PIN: 13656293. The call will also be webcast live and will be available on the Investors section of Nature’s Sunshine Products’ website at www.naturessunshine.com for 90 days.

About Nature’s Sunshine Products

Nature’s Sunshine Products (NASDAQ:NATR), a leading natural health and wellness company, markets and distributes nutritional and personal care products through a global direct sales force of approximately 550,000 independent Managers, Distributors and customers in more than 40 countries.  Nature’s Sunshine manufactures most of its products through its own state-of-the-art facilities to ensure its products continue to set the standard for the highest quality, safety and efficacy on the market today. The Company has four reportable business segments that are divided based on the characteristics of their Distributor base, similarities in compensation plans, as well as the internal organization of NSP’s officers and their responsibilities (NSP Americas; NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe; Synergy WorldWide; and China and New Markets). The Company also supports health and wellness for children around the world through its partnership with the Sunshine Heroes Foundation.  Additional information about the Company can be obtained at its website, www.naturessunshine.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding the Company’s future business expectations, which are subject to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements relating to the Company’s objectives, plans and strategies. All statements (other than statements of historical fact) that address activities, events or developments that the Company intends, expects, projects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These statements are often characterized by terminology such as “believe,” “hope,” “may,” “anticipate,” “should,” “intend,” “plan,” “will,” “expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “positioned,” “strategy” and similar expressions, and are based on assumptions and assessments made by management in light of their experience and their perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks and uncertainties, including the following.

• changes in laws and regulations, or their interpretation, applicable to direct selling or the nutritional supplement industry may prohibit or restrict the Company's ability to sell its products in some markets or require the Company to make changes to its business model in some markets;
  
• legal challenges to its direct selling program or to the classification of its independent distributors;
  
• complex legal and regulatory requirements in China, including the failure to obtain the necessary approvals and licenses to engage in direct sales activities in China;
  
• extensive government regulations to which its products, business practices and manufacturing activities are subject;
  
• impact of anti-bribery laws, including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act;
  
• the full implementation of its joint venture for operations in China with Fosun Industrial Co., Ltd.;
  
• registration of products for sale in China, or difficulty or increased cost of importing products into China;
  
• its ability to attract and retain independent distributors;
  
• the effect of fluctuating foreign exchange rates;
  
• negative consequences resulting from difficult economic conditions, including the availability of liquidity or the willingness of its customers to purchase products;
  
• geopolitical issues and conflicts;
  
• restrictions on the repatriation of money;
  
• uncertainties relating to the application of transfer pricing, duties, value-added taxes, and other tax regulations, and changes thereto;
  
• changes in tax laws, treaties or regulations, or their interpretation;
  
• taxation relating to its independent distributors;
  
• high levels of inflation in one or more of the countries in which the Company operates;
  
• cyber security threats and exposure to data loss;
  
• reliance on information technology infrastructure;
  
• liabilities and obligations arising from improper activity by its agents, employees or independent distributors;
  
• its relationship with, and its inability to influence the actions of, its independent distributors, and other third parties with whom it does business;
  
• its reliance upon, or the loss or departure of any member of, its senior management team;
  
• challenges in managing rapid growth in China;
  
• the slowing of the Chinese economy;
  
• negative effects from its independent distributor promotions or compensation plans;
  
• risks associated with the manufacturing of the Company's products;
  
• availability and integrity of raw materials;
  
• obsolescence of product inventory;
  
• changing consumer preferences and demands;
  
• the competitive nature of its business and the nutritional supplement industry;
  
• negative publicity related to its products, ingredients, or direct selling organization and the nutritional supplement industry;
  
• product liability claims;
  
• the sufficiency of trademarks and other intellectual property rights; and
  
• reliance on third-parties to distribute its products and provide support services to independent distributors.
  

These and other risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ from predicted results are more fully detailed under the caption “Risk Factors” in our reports filed with the  the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports filed on Forms 10-Q.

All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release and are expressly qualified in their entirety by the cautionary statements included in or incorporated by reference into this press release. Except as is required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation to publicly release any revisions to forward-looking statements to reflect events after the date of this press release.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company has included information which has not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), such as information concerning Adjusted EBITDA and net sales excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange fluctuations.  Management utilizes the non-GAAP measure Adjusted EBITDA in the evaluation of its operations and believes that this measure is a useful indicator of the Company’s ability to fund its business. This non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, U.S. GAAP net income as an indicator of the Company’s operating performance.  Moreover, Adjusted EBITDA, as presented by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

In addition, the Company believes presenting the impact of foreign currency fluctuations is useful to investors because it allows a more meaningful comparison of net sales of its foreign operations from period to period. Net sales excluding the impact of foreign currency fluctuations should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to net sales in U.S. dollar measures that reflect current period exchange rates, or to other financial measures calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Other companies may use the same or similarly named measures, but exclude different items, which may not provide investors with a comparable view of Nature’s Sunshine Products’ performance in relation to other companies. The Company has included a reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to net income/loss, the most comparable GAAP measure, in the attached financial tables. 

* Other income (loss), net is primarily comprised of foreign exchange gains (losses), interest income, and interest expense.