Wilhelmina International, Inc. Announces Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2020 Results

Financial Results

DALLAS, March 16, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Wilhelmina International, Inc. (Nasdaq: WHLM) ("Wilhelmina" or the "Company") today reported revenues of $12.0 million and net income of $0.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2020, compared to revenues of $18.3 million and net loss of $5.0 million for the three months ended December 31, 2019. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, Wilhelmina reported revenues of $41.6 million and net loss of $4.9 million compared to revenue of $75.5 million and net loss of $4.8 million for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. During the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2020, the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic had a material impact on revenues. The decrease in revenues when compared to the same periods of the prior year was primarily due to postponement and cancellation of bookings by many of Wilhelmina’s customers while non-essential business activities were barred, or limited, in the cities where the Company operates, as well as the closure of the Wilhelmina Studios division in the fourth quarter of 2019 and the hair and makeup artist division in the second half of 2020. The increase in net income for the fourth quarter of 2020 was due to a reduction in operating expenses from the Company’s cost savings initiatives and absence of goodwill impairment expense, partially offset by lower revenue net of model costs. The increase in loss for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 was primarily due to the decrease in revenues net of model costs, partially offset by decreases in goodwill impairment expense and operating expenses. In the first quarter of 2020 and the fourth quarter of 2019, Wilhelmina recorded non-cash goodwill impairments charges of $0.8 million and $4.8 million, respectively, triggered by a sustained decline in share price of the Company’s common stock.  

COVID-19 Pandemic

On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the outbreak of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a pandemic, which spread rapidly throughout the United States and the world. As the global impact of COVID-19 continues, Wilhelmina’s first priority has been to protect the health and safety of its employees and talent. To help mitigate the spread of the virus and in response to health advisories and governmental actions and regulations, the Company has modified its business practices and has implemented health and safety measures that are designed to protect employees and represented talent.

The Company’s revenues are heavily dependent on the level of economic activity in the United States and the United Kingdom, particularly in the fashion, advertising and publishing industries, all of which have been negatively impacted by the pandemic and may not recover as quickly as other sectors of the economy. There have been mandates from federal, state, and local authorities requiring forced closures of non-essential businesses. As a result, beginning in March 2020, the Company saw a significant reduction in customer bookings, resulting in a negative impact to revenue and earnings. During the second half of 2020, bookings increased from the preceding months, but remained significantly below pre-pandemic levels.

In addition to reduced revenue, business operations have been adversely affected by reductions in productivity, limitations on the ability of customers to make timely payments, disruptions in talents’ ability to travel to needed locations, and supply chain disruptions impeding clothing or footwear wardrobe from reaching destinations for photoshoots and other bookings. Many of the Company’s customers are large retail and fashion companies, some of which have had to close stores in the United States and internationally due to the spread of COVID-19. Some of these customers have filed for bankruptcy in 2020 and others may be unable to pay amounts already owed to the Company, resulting in increased future bad debt expense. These customers also may not emerge from the pandemic with the financial ability, or need, to purchase Wilhelmina’s services to the extent that they did in previous years. Some model talent have been quarantined with family far from the major cities where Wilhelmina’s offices are located, and also away from where most modeling jobs take place. Many U.S. and international airlines have decreased their flight schedules which, as economic activities resumes and clients increase booking requests, may make it difficult for talent to be available when and where they are needed. The B.1.1.7 variant of the COVID-19 virus, which is believed to spread easily and quickly, has particularly impacted the United Kingdom in recent months, resulting in renewed strict lockdowns that have impacted Wilhelmina’s London operations and are continuing into 2021. While these disruptions are currently expected to be temporary, there continues to be uncertainty around the duration.

Postponed and cancelled bookings related to the pandemic contributed significantly to reduced revenues and increased operating losses during 2020. Although some clients increased activity and bookings during the second half of 2020, rising COVID-19 infection rates in cities where Wilhelmina operates could lead to a slower economic recovery in those markets, and possible additional business closings or local mandates that could slow the recovery in operations there. Since Wilhelmina extends customary payment terms to its clients, even as bookings resume, there is likely to be a lag before significant cash collections return. In the meantime, the Company continues to have significant employee, office rent, and other expenses.

Reduced outstanding accounts receivable available as collateral under the Company’s credit agreement with Amegy Bank has limited its access to additional financing. Net losses in recent periods have also impacted compliance with the financial covenants under the Amegy Bank credit agreement, further impeding the Company’s ability to obtain additional financing. Since the pandemic began, many stock markets, including Nasdaq Capital Market where Wilhelmina’s common stock is listed, have been volatile. A further decline in the Company’s stock price would reduce its market capitalization and could require additional goodwill or intangible asset impairment writedowns.

The Company has taken the following actions to address the impact of COVID-19 and the current recessionary environment, in order to efficiently manage the business and maintain adequate liquidity and maximum flexibility:

If the quarantines and limitations on non-essential work are re-implemented, or persist for an extended period, the Company may need to implement additional cost savings measures.

Financial Results

Net income for the three months ended December 31, 2020 was $0.4 million, or $0.08 per fully diluted share, compared to net loss of $5.0 million, or $0.96 per fully diluted share, for the three months ended December 31, 2019. Net loss for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 was $4.9 million, or $0.96 per fully diluted share, compared to net loss of $4.8 million, or $0.92 per fully diluted share, for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

Pre-Corporate EBITDA was $1.3 million and ($1.0) million for the three months and fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, compared to $0.7 million and $3.1 million for the three months and fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.  

The following table reconciles reported net income under generally accepted accounting principles to EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Pre-Corporate EBITDA for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2020 and 2019.

Changes in net income (loss), EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Pre-Corporate EBITDA for the three months and fiscal year ended December 31, 2020, when compared to the three months and fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, were primarily the result of the following:

• Revenues net of model costs for the three months and fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 decreased by 34.4% and 44.9% primarily due to postponed and cancelled bookings resulting from COVID-19, as well as the closure of the Wilhelmina Studios division in the fourth quarter of 2019 and the closure of the hair and makeup artist division in the second half of 2020;
  
  
• Salaries and service costs for the three months and fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 decreased by 53.3% and 34.4% primarily due to employee layoffs in July 2020, temporary reductions in staff salaries, the closure of the Wilhelmina Studios division during the fourth quarter of 2019 and closure of the hair and makeup division in the second half of 2020, open positions for two executives that resigned in January 2020, and a reduction in share-based payment expense;
  
  
• Office and general expenses for the three months and fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 decreased by 26.9% and 18.1%, primarily due to reduced rent expense, legal fees, computer expense, utilities, and other office expenses, partially offset by an increase in bad debt expense;
  
  
• Goodwill impairment of $0.8 million and $4.8 million, for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively, was recorded during the first quarter of 2020 and the fourth quarter of 2019, respectively; and
  
  
• Corporate overhead expenses for the three months and fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 decreased by 3.9% and 14.5%, primarily due to lower corporate travel costs and temporary reductions in fees to the Company’s Board of Directors.
  

In October 2020, the Company paid the final scheduled $0.6 million payment of principal and interest on one of its two Amegy Bank term loans.

WILHELMINA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
(In thousands, except share data) 

WILHELMINA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
 (In thousands, except per share data)

WILHELMINA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES`
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
(In thousands)

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

WILHELMINA INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
For the Years Ended December 31, 2020 and 2019
 (In thousands)

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Pre-Corporate EBITDA represent measures of financial performance that are not calculated and presented in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“non-GAAP financial measures”). The Company considers EBITDA, Adjusted EBITDA and Pre-Corporate EBITDA to be important measures of performance because they:

• are key operating metrics of the Company's business;
• are used by management in its planning and budgeting processes and to monitor and evaluate its financial and operating results; and
• provide stockholders and potential investors with a means to evaluate the Company's financial and operating results against other companies within the Company's industry. 
  

The Company's calculation of non-GAAP financial measures may not be consistent with similar calculations by other companies in the Company's industry. The Company calculates EBITDA as net income plus interest expense, income tax expense, and depreciation and amortization expense. The Company calculates “Adjusted EBITDA” as EBITDA plus foreign exchange gain/loss, share-based payment expense and certain significant non-recurring items that the Company may include from time to time. For 2020, these non-recurring items represented goodwill impairments. The Company calculates “Pre-Corporate EBITDA” as Adjusted EBITDA plus corporate overhead expense, which includes director compensation, securities laws compliance costs, audit and professional fees, and other public company costs.

Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as alternatives to net and operating income as an indicator of the Company's operating performance or cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity or any other measure of performance derived in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.

Form 10-K Filing

Additional information concerning the Company's results of operations and financial position is included in the Company's Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 16, 2021.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain “forward-looking” statements as such term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements relating to the Company are based on the beliefs of the Company’s management as well as information currently available to the Company’s management. When used in this report, the words “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “expect” and “intend” and words or phrases of similar import, as they relate to the Company or Company management, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, in particular, projections about the Company’s future results, statements about its plans, strategies, business prospects, changes and trends in its business and the markets in which it operates. Additionally, statements concerning future matters such as gross billing levels, revenue levels, expense levels, and other statements regarding matters that are not historical are forward-looking statements. Management cautions that these forward-looking statements relate to future events or the Company’s future financial performance and are subject to business, economic, and other risks and uncertainties, both known and unknown, that may cause actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements of its business or its industry to be materially different from those expressed or implied by any forward-looking statements. Should any one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated, expected or intended. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update these forward-looking statements. As a result, no person should place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.

About Wilhelmina International, Inc. (www.wilhelmina.com):

Wilhelmina, together with its subsidiaries, is an international full-service fashion model and talent management service, specializing in the representation and management of leading models, celebrities, artists, photographers, athletes, and content creators. Established in 1967 by fashion model Wilhelmina Cooper, Wilhelmina is one of the oldest and largest fashion model management companies in the world. Wilhelmina is publicly traded on Nasdaq under the symbol WHLM.  Wilhelmina is headquartered in New York and, since its founding, has grown to include operations in Los Angeles, Miami, London and Chicago. Wilhelmina also owns Aperture, a talent and commercial agency located in New York and Los Angeles. For more information, please visit www.wilhelmina.com and follow @WilhelminaModels.