Malibu Boats, Inc. Announces First Quarter Fiscal 2017 Results

LOUDON, TN--(Marketwired - November 01, 2016) - Malibu Boats, Inc. (NASDAQ: MBUU) today announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 ended September 30, 2016.

Highlights for the First Quarter of Fiscal 2017

• Net sales increased 8.4% to $62.0 million compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016.
• Unit volume increased 1.0% to 833 boats compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016.
• Net sales per unit increased 7.3% to $74,455 and net sales per unit in the U.S. increased 7.6% to $77,735 compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016.
• Gross profit increased 7.6% to $15.8 million compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016.
• Net income increased 6.2% to $4.2 million, or $0.21 per share compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016.
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 4.4% to $9.9 million from the same period in fiscal 2016.
• Adjusted fully distributed net income increased 4.1% to $4.9 million compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016.
• Adjusted fully distributed net income per share increased 4.0% to $0.26 on a fully distributed weighted average share count of 19.2 million shares of Class A Common Stock as compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

Jack Springer, Chief Executive Officer, stated, "Malibu has again had the best first quarter in units, revenue, net income and Adjusted EBITDA in our history. We continue to meet expectations despite various international and economic uncertainties. While we continue to monitor such factors, we believe we have anticipated and positioned Malibu to be successful despite these influences.

The new product we deliver each year has been a critical driver of our success. We are fortunate that the new boats we have brought to market have been well accepted and have propelled our market share to the highest level in our history. Malibu also continues to be the company of innovation and advanced technology. Our new products and features continue to be compelling and drive the advantages of owning a Malibu boat.

Mr. Springer continued, "While the international markets continue to be challenged due to a strong U.S. dollar among other reasons, the domestic markets have been slightly stronger than we had anticipated. This strength has continued into the fall season, driven by the warm temperatures across most of the country. Especially encouraging is the West region, led by California, where we continue to see strong growth with other regions of the country also faring well. While we continue to watch the global environment, we are encouraged by the strength of the domestic market, the strength of our dealers and the strength of our product."

Comparison of the First Quarter Ended September 30, 2016 to the First Quarter Ended September 30, 2015

Net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2016 increased $4.8 million, or 8.4%, to $62.0 million as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015. Included in net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2016 and September 30, 2015 were net sales of $5.5 million and $4.8 million, respectively, attributable to our Australian business. Unit volume for the three months ended September 30, 2016 increased 8 units, or 1.0%, to 833 units as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015 due to a demand-driven increase in our daily production rate. Net sales per unit increased 7.3% to $74,455 per unit for the three months ended September 30, 2016 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015, primarily driven by year over year price increases, lower discount activity, and a mix shift from Axis to Malibu, which carries a higher average selling price than our Axis brand.

Cost of sales for the three months ended September 30, 2016 increased $3.7 million, or 8.6%, to $46.2 million as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in cost of sales was primarily driven by higher material content and labor hours driven by the mix shift to Malibu from Axis.

Gross profit for the three months ended September 30, 2016 increased $1.1 million, or 7.6%, to $15.8 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015. The increase in gross profit resulted primarily from higher volumes and year over year price increases. Gross margin for the three months ended September 30, 2016 decreased 20 basis points from 25.7% to 25.5% over the same period in the prior fiscal year. The decrease in gross margin was driven primarily by higher labor costs.

Selling and marketing expense for the three month period ended September 30, 2016 increased $0.2 million, or 7.1%, to $2.4 million compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015, due primarily to increased payroll, commissions, and related costs attributable to additional headcount and timing of marketing events. General and administrative expenses for the three months ended September 30, 2016 increased $1.4 million, or 31.1%, to $6.1 million as compared to the three months ended September 30, 2015, largely due to an increase in legal related expenses related to ongoing litigation matters.

Operating income for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 decreased to $6.8 million from $7.3 million in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Net income for the first quarter of fiscal 2017 increased 6.2% to $4.2 million while net income margin decreased to 6.8% from 7.0% in the first quarter of fiscal 2016. Adjusted EBITDA in the first quarter of fiscal 2017 increased 4.4% to $9.9 million from $9.4 million, while Adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 15.9% from 16.5% in the first quarter of fiscal 2016.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

The Company will host a webcast and conference call to discuss first quarter fiscal 2017 results on Tuesday, November 1, 2016, at 8:30 a.m Eastern Time. Investors and analysts can participate on the conference call by dialing (855) 433-0928 or (484) 756-4263 and using Conference ID #4405438.

Alternatively, interested parties can listen to a live webcast of the conference call by logging on to the Investor Relations section on the Company's website at http://investors.malibuboats.com. A replay of the webcast will also be archived on the Company's website for twelve months.

About Malibu Boats, Inc.

Malibu Boats is a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of performance sport boats, with the #1 market share position in the United States since 2010. The Company has two brands of performance sport boats, Malibu and Axis Wake Research (Axis). Since inception in 1982, the Company has been a consistent innovator in the powerboat industry, designing products that appeal to an expanding range of recreational boaters and water sports enthusiasts whose passion for boating and water sports is a key aspect of their lifestyle.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release includes forward-looking statements (as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995). Forward-looking statements can be identified by such words and phrases as "believes," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "estimates," "may," "will," "should," "continue" and similar expressions, comparable terminology or the negative thereof, and includes the statement in this press release regarding the expected demand and acceptance for our new model year 2017 offerings.

Forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to: general industry, economic and business conditions, demand for our products, changes in consumer preferences, competition within our industry, our reliance on our network of independent dealers, our ability to manage our manufacturing levels and our large fixed cost base, the successful introduction of our new products, and other factors affecting us detailed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Many of these risks and uncertainties are outside our control, and there may be other risks and uncertainties which we do not currently anticipate because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may or may not occur in the future. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in any forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions at the time made, we can give no assurance that our expectations will be achieved. Undue reliance should not be placed on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation (and we expressly disclaim any obligation) to update or supplement any forward-looking statements that may become untrue because of subsequent events, whether because of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise. Comparison of results for current and prior periods are not intended to express any future trends or indications of future performance, unless expressed as such, and should only be viewed as historical data.

Use and Definition of Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This release includes the following financial measures defined as non-GAAP financial measures by the SEC: Adjusted EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA Margin, and Adjusted Fully Distributed Net Income. These measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income as determined in accordance with GAAP or as an indicator of our liquidity. Certain items excluded from Adjusted EBITDA are significant components in understanding and assessing a company's financial performance, such as a company's cost of capital and tax structure, as well as the historical costs of depreciable assets. Our presentation of these non-GAAP financial measures should also not be construed as an inference that our results will be unaffected by unusual or non-recurring items. Our computations of these non-GAAP financial measures may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies.

We define Adjusted EBITDA as earnings before interest expense, income taxes, depreciation, amortization and non-cash, non-recurring or non-operating expenses, including certain professional fees, acquisition and integration related expenses and non-cash compensation expense. We define Adjusted EBITDA Margin as Adjusted EBITDA divided by net sales. Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are not measures of net income as determined by GAAP. Management believes Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin are useful because they allow management to evaluate our operating performance and compare the results of our operations from period to period and against our peers without regard to our financing methods, capital structure and non-recurring or non-operating expenses. We exclude the items listed above from net income in arriving at Adjusted EBITDA because these amounts can vary substantially from company to company within our industry depending upon accounting methods and book values of assets, capital structures, the methods by which assets were acquired and other factors.

We define Adjusted Fully Distributed Net Income as net income attributable to Malibu Boats, Inc. (i) excluding income tax expense, (ii) excluding the effect of non-recurring or non-cash items, (iii) assuming the exchange of all Units ("LLC Units") of Malibu Boats Holdings, LLC (the "LLC") into shares of Class A common stock, which results in the elimination of noncontrolling interest in the LLC, and (iv) reflecting an adjustment for income tax expense on fully distributed net income before income taxes (assuming no income attributable to non-controlling interests) at our estimated effective income tax rate. Adjusted Fully Distributed Net Income is a non-GAAP financial measure because it represents net income attributable to Malibu Boats, Inc, before non-recurring or non-cash items and the effects of noncontrolling interests in the LLC. We use Adjusted Fully Distributed Net Income to facilitate a comparison of our operating performance on a consistent basis from period to period that, when viewed in combination with our results prepared in accordance with GAAP, provides a more complete understanding of factors and trends affecting our business than GAAP measures alone. We believe Adjusted Fully Distributed Net Income assists our board of directors, management and investors in comparing our net income on a consistent basis from period to period because it removes non-cash or non-recurring items, and eliminates the variability of noncontrolling interest as a result of member exchanges of LLC Units into shares of Class A Common Stock. In addition, because Adjusted Fully Distributed Net Income is susceptible to varying calculations, the Adjusted Fully Distributed Net Income measures, as presented in this release, may differ from and may, therefore, not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies.

A reconciliation of our net income as determined in accordance with GAAP to Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA Margin, and of our net income attributable to Malibu Boats, Inc. to Adjusted Fully Distributed Net Income is provided under "Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures".