Form 10-Q

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D. C. 20549

 


FORM 10-Q

 


QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarter Ended November 30, 2006

Commission File No. 000-06936

 


WD-40 COMPANY

(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   95-1797918

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification Number)

 

1061 Cudahy Place, San Diego, California   92110
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (619) 275-1400

 


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act):

Large accelerated filer  ¨    Accelerated filer  x    Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act):     Yes  ¨    No  x

As of December 29, 2006, 17,039,352 shares of the Registrant’s Common Stock were outstanding.

 



Part I Financial Information

ITEM 1. Financial Statements

WD-40 Company

Consolidated Condensed Balance Sheets

(unaudited)

 

     November 30, 2006     August 31, 2006  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 46,436,000     $ 45,206,000  

Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for cash discounts, returns and doubtful accounts of $1,496,000 and $1,839,000

     40,626,000       44,491,000  

Product held at contract packagers

     1,305,000       1,385,000  

Inventories

     15,669,000       15,269,000  

Current deferred tax assets, net

     4,336,000       4,331,000  

Other current assets

     4,192,000       4,858,000  
                

Total current assets

     112,564,000       115,540,000  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     8,914,000       8,940,000  

Goodwill

     96,285,000       96,118,000  

Other intangibles, net

     42,822,000       42,722,000  

Investment in related party

     942,000       972,000  

Other assets

     4,061,000       4,183,000  
                
   $ 265,588,000     $ 268,475,000  
                

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Current portion of long-term debt

   $ 10,714,000     $ 10,714,000  

Accounts payable

     14,375,000       11,287,000  

Accounts payable to related party

     870,000       463,000  

Accrued liabilities

     12,100,000       11,678,000  

Accrued payroll and related expenses

     4,733,000       7,485,000  

Income taxes payable

     2,653,000       2,040,000  
                

Total current liabilities

     45,445,000       43,667,000  

Long-term debt

     42,857,000       53,571,000  

Deferred employee benefits and other long-term liabilities

     1,926,000       1,895,000  

Long-term deferred tax liabilities, net

     14,161,000       13,611,000  
                

Total liabilities

     104,389,000       112,744,000  
                

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Common stock, $.001 par value, 36,000,000 shares authorized — 17,571,380 and 17,510,668 shares issued

     18,000       17,000  

Paid-in capital

     64,526,000       62,322,000  

Retained earnings

     105,282,000       103,335,000  

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     6,399,000       5,083,000  

Common stock held in treasury, at cost (534,698 shares)

     (15,026,000 )     (15,026,000 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     161,199,000       155,731,000  
                
   $ 265,588,000     $ 268,475,000  
                

(See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.)

 

2


WD-40 Company

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Operations

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,  
     2006     2005  

Net sales

   $ 71,956,000     $ 67,215,000  

Cost of products sold (including cost of products acquired from related party of $5,191,000 and $10,750,000 for the three months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively)

     37,483,000       34,901,000  
                

Gross profit

     34,473,000       32,314,000  

Operating expenses:

    

Selling, general and administrative

     19,055,000       16,357,000  

Advertising and sales promotion

     5,642,000       3,345,000  

Amortization of intangible asset

     141,000       132,000  
                

Income from operations

     9,635,000       12,480,000  

Other (expense) income:

    

Interest expense, net of interest income of $433,000 and $315,000 for the three months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively

     (681,000 )     (1,005,000 )

Other (expense) income, net

     (91,000 )     141,000  
                

Income before income taxes

     8,863,000       11,616,000  

Provision for income taxes

     3,169,000       4,103,000  
                

Net income

   $ 5,694,000     $ 7,513,000  
                

Earnings per common share:

    

Basic

   $ 0.33     $ 0.45  
                

Diluted

   $ 0.33     $ 0.45  
                

Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic

     17,022,286       16,688,982  
                

Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted

     17,241,140       16,776,627  
                

Dividends declared per share

   $ 0.22     $ 0.22  
                

(See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.)

 

3


WD-40 Company

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Cash Flows

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,  
     2006     2005  

Cash flows from operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 5,694,000     $ 7,513,000  

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation and amortization

     924,000       848,000  

Losses (gains) on sales and disposals of property and equipment

     8,000       (9,000 )

Deferred income tax expense

     550,000       556,000  

Excess tax benefits from exercise of stock options

     (71,000 )     (1,000 )

Distributions received and equity (earnings) from related party, net

     30,000       19,000  

Stock-based compensation

     423,000       412,000  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Trade accounts receivable

     4,517,000       6,512,000  

Product held at contract packagers

     80,000       171,000  

Inventories

     (241,000 )     (2,303,000 )

Other assets

     720,000       595,000  

Accounts payable and accrued expenses

     497,000       (2,395,000 )

Accounts payable to related party

     407,000       557,000  

Income taxes payable

     733,000       (116,000 )

Deferred employee benefits and other long-term liabilities

     27,000       26,000  
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     14,298,000       12,385,000  
                

Cash flows from investing activities:

    

Purchases of short-term investments

     (59,075,000 )     —    

Sales of short-term investments

     59,075,000       —    

Proceeds from collections on note receivable

     —         30,000  

Capital expenditures

     (550,000 )     (989,000 )

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

     39,000       19,000  
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (511,000 )     (940,000 )
                

Cash flows from financing activities:

    

Repayments of long-term debt

     (10,714,000 )     (10,714,000 )

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     1,633,000       106,000  

Excess tax benefits from exercise of stock options

     71,000       1,000  

Dividends paid

     (3,747,000 )     (3,671,000 )
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (12,757,000 )     (14,278,000 )
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     200,000       (23,000 )
                

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

     1,230,000       (2,856,000 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     45,206,000       37,120,000  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 46,436,000     $ 34,264,000  
                

(See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.)

 

4


WD-40 Company

Consolidated Condensed Statements of Comprehensive Income

(unaudited)

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,  
     2006    2005  

Net income

   $ 5,694,000    $ 7,513,000  

Other comprehensive income (loss):

     

Equity adjustment from foreign currency translation, net of tax benefit of $24,000 and $260,000 for the three months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively

     1,316,000      (877,000 )
               

Total comprehensive income

   $ 7,010,000    $ 6,636,000  
               

(See accompanying notes to unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements.)

 

5


WD-40 COMPANY

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

November 30, 2006

(unaudited)

NOTE 1 - SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company

WD-40 Company (the Company), based in San Diego, California, markets two lubricant brands known as WD-40® and 3-IN-ONE Oil®, two heavy-duty hand cleaner brands known as Lava ® and Solvol ®, and six household product brands known as X-14 ® hard surface cleaners and automatic toilet bowl cleaners, 2000 Flushes ® automatic toilet bowl cleaner, Carpet Fresh ® and No Vac ® rug and room deodorizers, Spot Shot ® aerosol and liquid carpet stain removers and 1001 ® carpet and household cleaners and rug and room deodorizers.

The Company’s brands are sold in various locations around the world. Lubricant brands are sold worldwide in markets such as North, Central and South America, Asia, Australia and the Pacific Rim, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Household product brands are currently sold primarily in North America, the U.K., Australia and the Pacific Rim. Heavy-duty hand cleaner brands are sold primarily in the U.S. and Australia.

Principles of Consolidation

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated.

Financial Statement Presentation

The financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, according to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. The August 31, 2006 year-end condensed balance sheet data was derived from audited financial statements, but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States.

In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial information for the interim periods shown reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation thereof. These financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2006.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Short-term Investments

Periodically, the Company invests in short-term investments. These short-term investments consist of investment grade auction rate securities classified as available-for-sale and reported at fair value with maturities that could range from 13 months to 30 years. The interest rates are reset through an auction bidding process at predetermined periods ranging from 7 to 35 days. Due to the frequent nature of the reset feature, the realized or unrealized gains or losses associated with these securities are not significant; therefore, auction rate securities are stated at cost, which approximates fair value. Purchase and sale activity of short-term investments is presented as cash flows from investing activities in the consolidated statements of cash flows. As of November 30, 2006 and August 31, 2006, the Company did not carry any short-term investments.

 

6


NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(continued)

Sales Concentration

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. is a significant U.S. mass retail customer and offers a variety of the Company’s products. Sales to U.S. Wal-Mart stores accounted for approximately 9 percent and 8 percent of the Company’s consolidated net sales during the three months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. Excluding sales to U.S. Wal-Mart stores, sales to affiliates of Wal-Mart worldwide accounted for approximately 4 percent during each of the three months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005.

Earnings per Common Share

Basic earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted earnings per common share is calculated by dividing net income for the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period increased by the weighted average number of potentially dilutive common shares (dilutive securities) that were outstanding during the period. Dilutive securities are comprised of options granted under the Company’s stock option plan. The schedule below summarizes the weighted average number of common shares outstanding included in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share for the periods ended November 30, 2006 and 2005.

 

    

Three Months Ended

November 30,

     2006    2005

Weighted average common shares outstanding:

     

Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic

   17,022,286    16,688,982

Weighted average dilutive securities

   218,854    87,645
         

Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted

   17,241,140    16,776,627
         

Weighted average options outstanding totaling 132,280 and 898,303 for the three months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively, were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS, as the options have an exercise price greater than or equal to the average market value of the Company’s common stock during the respective periods. Additionally for the three months ended November 30, 2005, weighted average options outstanding totaling 103,495 were also excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS under the treasury stock method as they were anti-dilutive. These options were anti-dilutive as a result of the assumed proceeds from (i) amounts option holders must pay for exercising stock options, (ii) the amount of compensation costs for future service that the Company has not yet recognized as expense, and (iii) the amount of tax benefits that would be recorded in additional paid-in capital upon exercise of the options. For the three months ended November 30, 2006, there were no additional anti-dilutive weighted average options outstanding excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS under the treasury stock method.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating SFAS No. 157 to determine the impact, if any, on its financial statements.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.” FIN 48 clarifies the 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. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim

 

7


NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(continued)

periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company will adopt this interpretation as required. Management is currently assessing the effect that FIN 48 will have on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

NOTE 2 - GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLES

Goodwill and other intangibles principally relate to the excess of the purchase price over the fair value of tangible assets acquired. Goodwill and intangible assets that have indefinite useful lives are tested at least annually for impairment during the Company’s second fiscal quarter and otherwise as may be required. During the second quarter of fiscal year 2006, the Company tested its goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. Based on this test, the Company determined that there were no instances of impairment.

The Company tests for goodwill impairment based on the SFAS No. 142 goodwill impairment model, which is a two-step process. First, the impairment model requires comparison of the book value of net assets to the fair value of the related reporting units that have goodwill assigned to them. If the fair value is determined to be less than book value, a second step is performed to compute the amount of impairment. In the second step, the implied fair value of goodwill is estimated as the fair value of the reporting unit used in the first step less the fair values of all other net tangible and intangible assets of the reporting unit. If the carrying amount of goodwill exceeds its implied fair market value, an impairment loss is recognized in an amount equal to that excess, not to exceed the carrying amount of the goodwill. The Company tests for impairment of intangible assets with indefinite useful lives in accordance with SFAS No. 142 based on discounted future cash flows compared to the related book values. The Company’s impairment test is based on a discounted cash flow approach that requires significant management judgment and estimates with respect to forecasted revenue, advertising and promotional expenses, cost of products sold, gross margins, operating margins, the success of product innovations and introductions, customer retention and the selection of appropriate discount and royalty rates.

In addition to the annual impairment tests, goodwill and intangible assets with indefinite lives are evaluated each reporting period. Goodwill is evaluated each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances would more likely than not reduce the fair value of a reporting unit below its carrying value. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are evaluated each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support an indefinite useful life and to determine whether any indicators of impairment exist. Indicators such as underperformance relative to historical or projected future operating results, changes in the Company’s strategy for its overall business or use of acquired assets, decline in the Company’s stock price for a sustained period, unexpected adverse industry or economic trends, unanticipated technological change or competitive activities, loss of key distribution, change in consumer demand, loss of key personnel and acts by governments and courts may signal that an asset has become impaired.

Intangible assets with definite lives are amortized over their useful lives and are also evaluated each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support their remaining useful lives.

Acquisition-related Goodwill

Changes in the carrying amounts of goodwill by segment for the three months ended November 30, 2006 are summarized below:

 

     Acquisition-related Goodwill
     Americas    Europe    Asia-Pacific    Total

Balance as of August 31, 2006

   $ 85,667,000    $ 9,239,000    $ 1,212,000    $ 96,118,000

Translation adjustments

     22,000      144,000      1,000      167,000
                           

Balance as of November 30, 2006

   $ 85,689,000    $ 9,383,000    $ 1,213,000    $ 96,285,000
                           

Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets

Intangible assets, excluding goodwill, which are not amortized as they have been determined to have indefinite lives, consist of the trade names Carpet Fresh, X-14, 2000 Flushes, Spot Shot and 1001.

 

8


NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(continued)

Changes in indefinite-lived intangibles by segment for the three months ended November 30, 2006 are summarized below:

 

     Indefinite-lived Intangibles
     Americas    Europe    Asia-Pacific    Total

Balance as of August 31, 2006

   $ 35,700,000    $ 3,862,000    $ —      $ 39,562,000

Translation adjustments

     —        135,000      —        135,000
                           

Balance as of November 30, 2006

   $ 35,700,000    $ 3,997,000    $ —      $ 39,697,000
                           

Definite-lived Intangible Asset

The Company’s definite-lived intangible asset consists of the non-contractual customer relationships acquired in the 1001 acquisition. This definite-lived intangible asset is included in the Europe segment and is being amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated eight-year life. This asset is recorded in pounds sterling and converted to U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. The following table summarizes the non-contractual customer relationships intangible asset and the related amortization:

 

     As of November 30, 2006     As of August 31, 2006  

Gross carrying amount

   $ 4,687,000     $ 4,528,000  

Accumulated amortization

     (1,562,000 )     (1,368,000 )
                

Net carrying amount

   $ 3,125,000     $ 3,160,000  
                

 

    

Three Months Ended

November 30,

     2006    2005

Amortization expense

   $ 141,000    $ 132,000
             

The estimated amortization expense for the non-contractual customer relationships intangible asset is based on current foreign currency exchange rates, and amounts in future periods may differ from those presented due to fluctuations in those rates. The estimated amortization for the non-contractual customer relationships intangible asset in future fiscal years is as follows:

 

Remainder of fiscal year 2007

   $ 439,000

Fiscal year 2008

     586,000

Fiscal year 2009

     586,000

Fiscal year 2010

     586,000

Fiscal year 2011

     586,000

Thereafter

     342,000
      
   $ 3,125,000
      

Changes in definite-lived intangibles by segment for the three months ended November 30, 2006 are summarized below:

 

     Definite-lived Intangibles  
     Americas    Europe     Asia-Pacific    Total  

Balance as of August 31, 2006

   $ —      $ 3,160,000     $ —      $ 3,160,000  

Amortization

     —        (141,000 )     —        (141,000 )

Translation adjustments

     —        106,000       —        106,000  
                              

Balance as of November 30, 2006

   $ —      $ 3,125,000     $ —      $ 3,125,000  
                              

 

9


NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(continued)

NOTE 3 - SELECTED FINANCIAL STATEMENT INFORMATION

 

    

As of

November 30, 2006

   

As of

August 31, 2006

 

Inventories

    

Raw materials and components

   $ 1,498,000     $ 1,110,000  

Work-in-process(1)

     1,740,000       2,196,000  

Finished goods

     12,431,000       11,963,000  
                
   $ 15,669,000     $ 15,269,000  
                

(1)      Consists entirely of WD-40 No-Mess Pens that require final packaging before being offered for sale.

        

Other Current Assets

    

Prepaid expenses and other

   $ 3,563,000     $ 4,229,000  

Federal income taxes receivable

     629,000       629,000  
                
   $ 4,192,000     $ 4,858,000  
                

Property, Plant and Equipment, net

    

Land

   $ 591,000     $ 583,000  

Buildings and improvements

     4,341,000       4,196,000  

Furniture and fixtures

     1,129,000       1,090,000  

Computer and office equipment

     3,776,000       3,513,000  

Software

     3,313,000       3,207,000  

Machinery, equipment and vehicles

     7,165,000       7,135,000  
                
     20,315,000       19,724,000  

Less: accumulated depreciation

     (11,401,000 )     (10,784,000 )
                
   $ 8,914,000     $ 8,940,000  
                

Other Intangibles, net

    

Intangibles with indefinite lives

   $ 39,697,000     $ 39,562,000  

Intangibles with definite lives

     4,687,000       4,528,000  

Less: accumulated amortization

     (1,562,000 )     (1,368,000 )
                
   $ 42,822,000     $ 42,722,000  
                

Accrued Liabilities

    

Accrued advertising and sales promotion expenses

   $ 6,953,000     $ 6,854,000  

Other

     5,147,000       4,824,000  
                
   $ 12,100,000     $ 11,678,000  
                

Accrued Payroll and Related Expenses

    

Accrued bonus

   $ 593,000     $ 3,928,000  

Accrued profit sharing

     1,792,000       1,404,000  

Accrued payroll

     1,459,000       1,141,000  

Accrued payroll taxes

     625,000       779,000  

Other

     264,000       233,000  
                
   $ 4,733,000     $ 7,485,000  
                

NOTE 4 - RELATED PARTIES

VML Company L.L.C. (VML), a Delaware Limited Liability Company, was formed in April 2001, at which time the Company acquired a 30% membership interest. Since formation, VML has served as the Company’s contract manufacturer for certain household products and acts as a warehouse distributor for other product lines of the Company. Although VML has begun to expand its business to other customers, the Company continues to be its largest customer. VML makes profit distributions to the Company and the 70% owner on a discretionary basis in proportion to each party’s respective interest.

The Company has a put option to sell its interest in VML to the 70% owner, and the 70% owner has a call option to purchase the Company’s interest. The sale price in each case is established pursuant to formulas based on VML’s operating results.

 

10


NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(continued)

Under Financial Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51,” VML qualifies as a variable interest entity, and it has been determined that the Company is not the primary beneficiary. The Company’s investment in VML is accounted for using the equity method of accounting, and its equity in VML earnings or losses is recorded as a component of cost of products sold, as VML acts primarily as a contract manufacturer to the Company. The Company recorded equity earnings related to its investment in VML of $6,000 and $54,000 for the three months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

The Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with VML was $0.9 million as of November 30, 2006. This amount represents the balance of the Company’s equity investment in VML, which is presented as investment in related party on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s investment in VML as of August 31, 2006 was $1.0 million.

Cost of products sold which were purchased from VML, net of rebates and equity earnings, was approximately $5.2 million and $10.8 million during the three months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company had product payables to VML of $0.9 million and $0.5 million at November 30, 2006 and August 31, 2006, respectively. Additionally, the Company receives rental income from VML, which is recorded as a component of other (expense) income, net. Rental income from VML was $48,000 during each of the three months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005.

NOTE 5 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

The Company is party to various claims, legal actions and complaints, including product liability litigation, arising in the ordinary course of business. With the possible exception of the legal proceedings discussed below, management is of the opinion that none of these matters is likely to have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

On April 19, 2006, a legal action was filed against the Company in the United States District Court, Southern District of California (Drimmer v. WD-40 Company) . After several of the plaintiff’s factual claims were dismissed by way of motion, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint on September 20, 2006, seeking class action status and alleging that the Company misrepresented that its 2000 Flushes Bleach and 2000 Flushes Blue Plus Bleach automatic toilet bowl cleaners (ATBCs) are safe for plumbing systems and unlawfully omitted to advise consumers regarding the allegedly damaging effect the use of the ATBCs has on toilet parts made of plastic and rubber. The amended complaint seeks to remedy such allegedly wrongful conduct: (i) by requiring the Company to identify all consumers who have purchased the ATBCs and to return money as may be ordered by the court; and (ii) by the granting of other equitable relief, interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. Though a new named plaintiff brought this case, it is legally and factually identical to a similar case that was dismissed by the San Diego Superior Court in April 2005, and the Company intends to vigorously defend this case in the same manner as before. If class action certification is granted in this aforementioned legal action, it is reasonably possible that the outcome could have a material adverse effect on the operating results, financial position and cash flows of the Company. There is not sufficient information to estimate the Company’s exposure at this time.

The Company has been named as a defendant in an increasing number of lawsuits brought by a growing group of attorneys on behalf of individual plaintiffs who assert that exposure to products that allegedly contain benzene is a cause of certain cancers. The Company is one of many defendants in these legal proceedings whose products are alleged to contain benzene. However, the Company specifies that its suppliers provide constituent ingredients free of benzene, and the Company believes its products have always been formulated without containing benzene. Except for self-insured retention amounts applicable to each separately filed lawsuit, the Company expects that the benzene lawsuits will be adequately covered by insurance and will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. The Company is vigorously defending these lawsuits in an effort to demonstrate conclusively that its products do not contain benzene, and that they have not contained benzene in prior years. The Company is unable to assess the expected cost of defense of these lawsuits in future periods. If the number of benzene lawsuits filed against the Company continues to increase, it is reasonably possible that such costs of defense may materially affect the Company’s results of operations and cash flows in future periods.

 

11


NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(continued)

As permitted under Delaware law, the Company has agreements whereby it indemnifies senior officers and directors for certain events or occurrences while the officer or director is, or was, serving at the Company’s request in such capacity. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited; however, the Company maintains Director and Officer insurance coverage that mitigates the Company’s exposure with respect to such obligations. As a result of the Company’s insurance coverage, management believes that the estimated fair value of these indemnification agreements is minimal. No liabilities have been recorded for these agreements as of November 30, 2006.

The Company has relationships with various suppliers (contract manufacturers) who manufacture the Company’s products. Although the Company does not have any definitive minimum purchase obligations included in the contract terms with the contract manufacturers, supply needs are communicated and the Company is committed to purchase the products produced based on orders and short-term projections provided to the contract manufacturers, ranging from two to five months. The Company is also obligated to purchase back obsolete or slow-moving inventory. The Company has acquired inventory under these commitments, the amounts of which have not had a material impact on the Company’s results of operations.

From time to time, the Company enters into indemnification agreements with certain contractual parties in the ordinary course of business, including agreements with lenders, lessors, contract manufacturers, marketing distributors, customers and certain vendors. All such indemnification agreements are entered into in the context of the particular agreements and are provided in an attempt to properly allocate risk of loss in connection with the consummation of the underlying contractual arrangements. Although the maximum amount of future payments that the Company could be required to make under these indemnification agreements is unlimited, management believes that the Company maintains adequate levels of insurance coverage to protect the Company with respect to most potential claims arising from such agreements and that such agreements do not otherwise have value separate and apart from the liabilities incurred in the ordinary course of the Company’s business. No liabilities have been recorded with respect to such indemnification agreements as of November 30, 2006.

When, as part of an acquisition, the Company acquires all of the stock or all of the assets and liabilities of another company, the Company assumes the liability for certain events or occurrences that took place prior to the date of the acquisition. The maximum potential amount of future payments the Company could be required to make for such obligations is undeterminable at this time. No liabilities have been recorded as of November 30, 2006 for unknown potential obligations arising out of the conduct of businesses acquired by the Company in recent years.

NOTE 6 - BUSINESS SEGMENTS AND FOREIGN OPERATIONS

The Company evaluates the performance of its segments and allocates resources to them based on sales, operating income and expected return. The Company is organized based on geographic location. Segment data does not include inter-segment revenues and incorporates costs from corporate headquarters into the Americas segment, without allocation to other segments. The Company’s segments are run independently, and as a result, there are few costs that could be considered only costs from headquarters that would qualify for allocation to other segments. The most significant portions of costs from headquarters relate to the Americas segment both as a percentage of time and sales. Therefore, any allocation to other segments would be arbitrary.

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED CONDENSED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(continued)

The tables below present information about reportable segments and net sales by product line for the three months ended November 30:

 

     Americas    Europe    Asia-Pacific    Total

2006

           

Net sales

   $ 45,144,000    $ 21,886,000    $ 4,926,000    $ 71,956,000

Income from operations

   $ 4,939,000    $ 4,138,000    $ 558,000    $ 9,635,000

Depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 566,000    $ 332,000    $ 26,000    $ 924,000

Interest income

   $ 328,000    $ 101,000    $ 4,000    $ 433,000

Interest expense

   $ 1,114,000    $ —      $ —      $ 1,114,000

Total assets

   $ 203,422,000    $ 56,425,000    $ 5,741,000    $ 265,588,000

2005

           

Net sales

   $ 46,256,000    $ 16,949,000    $ 4,010,000    $ 67,215,000

Income from operations

   $ 8,968,000    $ 2,872,000    $ 640,000    $ 12,480,000

Depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 521,000    $ 305,000    $ 22,000    $ 848,000

Interest income

   $ 267,000    $ 43,000    $ 5,000    $ 315,000

Interest expense

   $ 1,320,000    $ —      $ —      $ 1,320,000

Total assets

   $ 195,480,000    $ 45,432,000    $ 4,187,000    $ 245,099,000

Product Line Information

 

     Net Sales
     2006    2005

Lubricants

   $ 48,904,000    $ 42,426,000

Household products

     21,342,000      22,930,000

Hand cleaners

     1,710,000      1,859,000
             
   $ 71,956,000    $ 67,215,000
             

NOTE 7 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS

On December 12, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share payable on January 31, 2007 to shareholders of record on January 8, 2007.

 

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ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following Management’s Discussion and Analysis (MD&A) is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, the Company’s audited consolidated financial statements, the accompanying notes, and the MD&A included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2006.

In MD&A, “we,” “our,” “us,” and “the Company” refer to WD-40 Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise. Amounts and percents in tables and discussions may not total due to rounding.

OVERVIEW

The Company markets two lubricant brands known as WD-40® and 3-IN-ONE Oil®, two heavy-duty hand cleaner brands known as Lava® and Solvol ®, and six household product brands known as X-14 ® hard surface cleaners and automatic toilet bowl cleaners, 2000 Flushes ® automatic toilet bowl cleaner, Carpet Fresh ® and No Vac ® rug and room deodorizers, Spot Shot ® aerosol and liquid carpet stain removers and 1001 ® carpet and household cleaners and rug and room deodorizers. These brands are sold in various locations around the world. Lubricant brands are sold worldwide in markets such as North, Central and South America, Asia, Australia and the Pacific Rim, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Household product brands are currently sold primarily in North America, the U.K., Australia and the Pacific Rim. Heavy-duty hand cleaner brands are sold primarily in the U.S. and Australia.

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(dollars in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended November 30,
     2006    2005    % Change

Net sales

   $ 71,956    $ 67,215    7%  

Gross profit

   $ 34,473    $ 32,314    7%  

Income from operations

   $ 9,635    $ 12,480    (23)%

Net income

   $ 5,694    $ 7,513    (24)%

Earnings per common share (diluted)

   $ 0.33    $ 0.45    (26)%

HIGHLIGHTS

 

    In the first quarter, sales in Europe and Asia-Pacific increased 29% and 23%, respectively, compared to the prior fiscal year first quarter, partially offset by a sales decrease of 2% in the Americas.

 

    In the first quarter, lubricant sales were up 15%, household product sales were down 7%, and hand cleaner sales were down 8%.

 

    Changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared to the prior fiscal year first quarter contributed to the growth of our sales as well as growth in expenses. The current fiscal year first quarter results translated at last fiscal year’s period exchange rates would have produced sales of $70.4 million and net income of $5.5 million. The impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period positively affected sales and net income for the current fiscal year first quarter by $1.6 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

 

    The Company continues to face significant competition and challenges within the household products categories. For the three months ended November 30, 2006, sales of the Company’s household products in the U.S. were down 12% versus the prior fiscal year first quarter as a result of temporary decreases in distribution, promotional timing and customer purchasing patterns.

 

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    We continue to be concerned about rising costs of components and raw materials during fiscal year 2007. We began to incur increased costs during fiscal year 2004 and have continued to see further cost increases. To combat these cost increases, the Company implemented price increases on certain products during the third quarter of fiscal year 2005. Since that time, the Company has continued to experience increases in product costs. As a result, the Company implemented additional price increases on certain products during the third quarter of fiscal year 2006.

 

    We continue to be focused and committed to innovation and renovation of our brands. We see innovation and renovation as an important factor to the success of our brands, and we intend to continue our commitment to work on future product, packaging and promotional innovations and renovations.

 

    Advertising and sales promotion expenses were up 69% during the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 compared to the prior fiscal year first quarter. Advertising and sales promotion expenses were up due primarily to the timing of consumer broadcast and print media advertising in the U.S. to support the Company’s new products. The Company expects its investment in global advertising and sales promotion expenses to be in the range of 6.5% to 8.5% of net sales for fiscal year 2007.

 

    Selling, general and administrative expenses were up 16% during the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 compared to the prior fiscal year first quarter due to increased employee-related costs, freight costs, bad debt expense, commissions, professional services, miscellaneous expenses and the impact of foreign exchange rate changes.

 

    During the current fiscal year 2007, the Company has begun direct operations in China. First quarter costs related to the start up of direct operations in China totaled $0.2 million.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2007 Compared to First Quarter of Fiscal Year 2006

Net Sales

 

Net Sales by Segment

        Three Months Ended November 30,
(in thousands)        2006    2005    $ Change     % Change

Americas

   $ 45,144    $ 46,256    $ (1,112 )    (2)%

Europe

     21,886      16,949      4,937     29%

Asia-Pacific

     4,926      4,010      916     23%
                          

Total net sales

   $ 71,956    $ 67,215    $ 4,741      7%
                          

Please refer to the discussion under “Segment Results” included later in this section for further detailed results by segment. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared to the same prior fiscal year period positively impacted the growth of the Company’s sales. The current fiscal year first quarter results translated at last fiscal year’s first quarter exchange rates would have produced sales of $70.4 million, thus, the impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period positively affected first quarter fiscal year 2007 sales by $1.6 million, or 2.3%.

 

Net Sales by Product Line

        Three Months Ended November 30,
(in thousands)        2006    2005    $ Change     % Change

Lubricants

   $ 48,904    $ 42,426    $ 6,478     15%

Household products

     21,342      22,930      (1,588 )     (7)%

Hand cleaners

     1,710      1,859      (149 )     (8)%
                          

Total net sales

   $ 71,956    $ 67,215    $ 4,741       7%
                          

By product line, sales of lubricants include WD-40 and 3-IN-ONE; sales of household products include Carpet Fresh, No Vac, X-14, 2000 Flushes, Spot Shot and 1001; and hand cleaner sales include Lava and Solvol.

 

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Gross Profit

Gross profit was $34.5 million, or 47.9% of sales in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, compared to $32.3 million, or 48.1% of sales in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. The increase in cost of products sold negatively affected gross margins in all of the Company’s regions. This increase was primarily due to the significant rise in costs for components and raw materials, including aerosol cans and petroleum-based products. As a result of the general upward trend of costs in the market, we are concerned about the possibility of continued rising costs of components, raw materials and finished goods. The increase in cost of products sold was partially offset by a decrease in advertising and promotional discounts and other discounts, which positively impacted gross margin by 0.6%. This decrease resulted from both timing and reductions in certain traditional advertising and promotional activities that have experienced declines in consumer response. Advertising and promotional discounts, which are recorded as a reduction to sales, include coupon redemptions, consideration and allowances given to retailers for space in their stores, consideration and allowances given to obtain favorable display positions in retailers’ stores and co-operative advertising and promotional activity. The timing of these promotional activities, as well as shifts in product mix, may cause fluctuations in gross margin percentage from period to period.

As a result of the continued trend of rising costs, the Company implemented price increases on certain products during the third quarter of fiscal year 2006. The increase in pricing of certain products worldwide added approximately 1.9% to gross margin percentage in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 compared to the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. Although the price increases helped reduce the current effect of rising costs on gross margin percentage, further rises in the cost of products could offset the benefits of the price increases. In addition to these price increases, the Company is also examining supply chain cost savings initiatives in an effort to further reduce the impact of increased costs on gross margin percentage. Additionally, the Company believes that innovation will be a key factor in improving gross margin percentage in the long term.

Note that the Company’s gross margins may not be comparable to those of other reporting entities, since some entities include all costs related to distribution of their products in cost of products sold, whereas we exclude the portion associated with amounts paid to third parties for distribution to our customers from our contract packagers, and include these costs in selling, general and administrative expenses.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses (SG&A) for the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 increased to $19.1 million from $16.4 million for the same prior fiscal year period. The increase in SG&A was largely attributable to increases in employee-related costs, freight costs, bad debt expense, research and development costs, miscellaneous expenses and the impact of foreign currency translation. Employee-related costs, which include salaries, profit sharing, bonus and other fringe benefits, increased $0.9 million versus the prior fiscal year first quarter as a result of annual compensation increases, relocation expenses and additional staffing to support global sourcing and inventory management, direct operations in China and product introductions. Freight costs increased $0.3 million due to sales growth and increased fuel surcharges. Bad debt expense increased $0.3 million as the prior fiscal year first quarter expense reflected the benefit of bad debt recoveries. Research and development costs increased $0.2 million due to new product development activity. Miscellaneous expenses increased $0.6 million, which included increased professional services, commissions, travel, meeting and insurance costs. Also contributing to the increase in SG&A was $0.4 million related to increased foreign currency exchange rates. The current fiscal year first quarter SG&A expenses translated at last fiscal year’s first quarter exchange rates would have produced total SG&A expenses of $18.7 million.

The Company continued its research and development investment in support of its focus on innovation. Research and development costs in the current fiscal year first quarter were $0.9 million compared to $0.7 million in the prior fiscal year first quarter. The Company’s new-product development team, known as Team Tomorrow, engages in consumer research, product development, current product improvement and testing activities. This team leverages its development capabilities by partnering with a network of outside resources including the Company’s current and prospective outsource suppliers.

As a percentage of sales, SG&A was 26.5% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 and 24.3% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006.

 

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Advertising and Sales Promotion Expenses

Advertising and sales promotion expenses increased to $5.6 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, up from $3.3 million for the first quarter of fiscal year 2006 and, as a percentage of sales, increased to 7.8% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 from 5.0% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. The increase is related to the timing of investment in advertising activities in the current fiscal year first quarter compared to the prior fiscal year first quarter. In the current fiscal year first quarter, the Company increased its consumer broadcast and print media advertising to support new products. In the prior fiscal year first quarter, the Company had lower levels of marketing investment, as the Company did not begin its consumer broadcast advertising until the second quarter. Investment in global advertising and sales promotion expenses for fiscal year 2007 is expected to be in the range of 6.5% to 8.5% of net sales.

As a percentage of sales, advertising and sales promotion expenses may fluctuate period to period based upon the type of marketing activities employed by the Company and the period in which the costs are incurred, as the costs of certain promotional activities are required to be recorded as reductions to sales, and others remain in advertising and sales promotion expenses. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, the total promotional costs recorded as reductions to sales were $4.3 million versus $3.9 million in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. Therefore, the Company’s total investment in advertising and sales promotion activities totaled $9.9 million in the current fiscal year first quarter versus $7.2 million in the prior fiscal year first quarter.

Amortization of Intangible Asset Expense

Amortization of intangible asset expense was $141,000 in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, compared to $132,000 in last fiscal year’s first quarter. The amortization relates to the non-contractual customer relationships intangible asset acquired in the 1001 acquisition, which was completed in April 2004. This intangible asset is being amortized on a straight-line basis over its estimated eight-year life.

Income from Operations

Income from operations was $9.6 million, or 13.4% of sales in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, compared to $12.5 million, or 18.6% of sales in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. The decrease in income from operations was due to the items discussed above.

Interest Expense, net

Interest expense, net was $0.7 million compared to $1.0 million for the quarters ended November 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The change in interest expense, net was primarily due to the reduced principal balance on long-term borrowings resulting from the annual $10.7 million principal payments made in October 2006 and October 2005.

Other Expense / Income, net

Other expense, net was $91,000 during the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, compared to other income, net of $141,000 in the prior fiscal year first quarter, a decrease of $232,000, which was due to foreign currency exchange losses.

Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes was 35.8% of income before income taxes for the first quarter of fiscal 2007, an increase from 35.3% in the prior fiscal year first quarter. The increase in tax rate was primarily due to the impact of reduced low income housing credits and the phase out of the extraterritorial income (ETI) deduction and the expiration of the research and experimentation credit. The increase in tax rate was partially offset by the benefits of I.R.C. Section 199 related to qualified production activities provided by the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 and the tax benefit of municipal bond interest.

 

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The federal research and experimentation credit was retroactively extended on December 20, 2006. The benefit will be reflected in subsequent quarters and is expected to result in a reduction in the second quarter’s effective tax rate.

Net Income

Net income was $5.7 million, or $0.33 per common share on a fully diluted basis for the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, compared to $7.5 million, or $0.45 per common share for the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. The change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period had a positive impact of $0.2 million on first quarter fiscal year 2007 net income. Current fiscal year first quarter results translated at last fiscal year’s first quarter foreign currency exchange rates would have produced net income of $5.5 million.

Segment Results

Following is a discussion of sales by region for the current and prior fiscal year first quarter.

Americas

 

Net Sales

        Three Months Ended November 30,
(in thousands)        2006    2005    $ Change     % Change

Lubricants

   $ 25,591    $ 24,224    $ 1,367      6%

Household products

     18,131      20,487      (2,356 )   (11)%

Hand cleaners

     1,422      1,545      (123 )    (8)%
                          

Sub-total

   $ 45,144    $ 46,256    $ (1,112 )    (2)%
                          

% of consolidated

     63%      69%     

The increase in lubricant sales in the Americas during the current fiscal year first quarter compared to last fiscal year’s first quarter is the result of WD-40 sales growth in Canada, Latin America and the U.S. as sales increased by 34%, 22% and 2%, respectively. Growth in Canada was due to promotional activities with key customers and the continued launch of the WD-40 Smart Straw. Growth in Latin America was primarily due to new distribution and increased promotional activity. The WD-40 sales increase in the U.S. was the result of price increases implemented during the third quarter of the prior fiscal year. The increase in the U.S. was partially offset by temporarily reduced distribution to a key customer as a result of seasonal focus on other items. Price increases implemented on certain products during the prior fiscal year third quarter contributed to the overall sales growth in the Americas in the first quarter of the current fiscal year.

Household product sales in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 were down $2.4 million , or 11%, compared to the first quarter of fiscal year 2006 due to declines in the U.S. Sales in the U.S. decreased by $2.4 million, or 12%, due to decreased sales of Spot Shot, Carpet Fresh, X-14 and 2000 Flushes. These declines were the result of several factors, including temporarily lost or decreased distribution compared to the first quarter of fiscal year 2006, promotional timing and the effect of competitive factors within and among their product categories that are further described below. The Company’s household brands continue to experience significant competition within their categories, and in related categories as well.

Spot Shot sales declined 13% in the U.S. during the current fiscal year first quarter as compared to the prior fiscal year first quarter due to reduced sales to a key customer and reduced promotional activity. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, a key customer temporarily replaced Spot Shot with seasonal items, which had not occurred in the prior fiscal year first quarter. The Company expects to regain these sales to this customer in the second quarter of the current fiscal year. Additionally, certain prior fiscal year first quarter promotional activity was not repeated in the current fiscal year first quarter. Although Spot Shot sales declined during the quarter, at retail, Spot Shot continues to sell at a faster rate than new entrants and established products. The Company has also committed both marketing and research and development resources to support and create meaningful innovation for the Spot Shot brand.

Sales of Carpet Fresh in the U.S. declined 16% in the current fiscal year first quarter due to promotional activities performed in the prior fiscal year first quarter that were not repeated in the current fiscal year first quarter. In recent years, retailers have reduced shelf space for traditional rug and room deodorizers for reallocation to other air care

 

18


products. As a result, the rug and room deodorizer category as a whole has declined in the mass retail and grocery trade channels. The Company continues to refine its marketing, promotions and pricing strategies, and has committed research and development resources to create innovation for the Carpet Fresh brand.

U.S. sales of the X-14 hard surface cleaners decreased 23% in the current fiscal year first quarter versus the prior fiscal year first quarter due primarily to lost or decreased distribution. In an effort to offset these losses and generate growth for the brand, the Company is renovating the X-14 brand through repositioning and repackaging to better communicate and deliver product quality. This repositioning and repackaging is scheduled to launch during the third quarter of fiscal year 2007.

U.S. sales of 2000 Flushes/X-14 automatic toilet bowl cleaners were down 7% in the current fiscal year first quarter compared to the prior fiscal year first quarter due to reduced distribution with a key customer. The decrease in U.S. sales of automatic toilet bowl cleaners was partially offset by a 14% increase in Canada. The increase in Canada was the result of increased distribution. Sales of the automatic toilet bowl cleaning category are being pressured overall due to competition from the manual bowl cleaning category.

To address the challenges and opportunities that exist within the competitive environments of the household products categories, the Company continues to focus on innovation and renovation through product, packaging and promotional strategies.

Sales of heavy-duty hand cleaners for the Americas decreased 8% in the current fiscal year first quarter compared to the prior fiscal year first quarter as a result of decreased promotional activity. Although sales of heavy-duty hand cleaners decreased, distribution remains consistent through the grocery trade and other classes of trade.

For the Americas, 83% of sales came from the U.S., and 17% came from Canada and Latin America in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007, compared to the distribution in the first quarter of fiscal year 2006, when 86% of sales came from the U.S., and 14% came from Canada and Latin America.

Europe

 

Net Sales

        Three Months Ended November 30,
(in thousands)        2006    2005    $ Change    % Change

Lubricants

   $ 19,258    $ 14,920    $ 4,338    29%

Household products

     2,628      2,029      599    30%

Hand cleaners

     —        —        —      —  
                         

Sub-total

   $ 21,886    $ 16,949    $ 4,937    29%
                         

% of consolidated

     30%      25%      

For the quarter ended November 30, 2006, sales in Europe grew to $21.9 million, up $4.9 million, or 29%, over sales in the same prior fiscal year period. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared to the same prior fiscal year period contributed to the growth of sales. The current fiscal year first quarter results translated at last fiscal year’s first quarter exchange rates would have produced sales of $20.6 million in this region. Thus, the impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period positively affected first quarter fiscal year 2007 sales by approximately $1.3 million, or 6%.

The countries where the Company sells through a direct sales force include the U.K., Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Austria. Sales from these countries increased 25% in the current fiscal year first quarter versus last fiscal year’s first quarter. Sales from these countries also accounted for 65% of the region’s sales in the current fiscal year first quarter, down from 68% in the prior fiscal year first quarter. Percentage increases in sales in U.S. dollars across the various parts of the region over the prior fiscal year first quarter are as follows: the U.K., 8%; France, 28%; the German sales region, 68%; Spain/Portugal, 14%; and Italy, 16%. In the long term, the number of countries where the Company sells through a direct sales force is expected to increase, and these direct sales markets are expected to continue to be important contributors to the region’s growth.

The U.K. market benefited from sales growth of the 1001 brand and 3-IN-ONE. The increase in 1001 brand sales was the result of increased distribution and awareness of 1001 No Vac, as well as media advertising investment. The

 

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increase in 3-IN-ONE sales was due to the increased distribution of the 3-IN-ONE Professional line of products. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in WD-40 sales in the UK as a result of reduced promotional activities and a change in purchasing patterns of key customers. The sales growth in France was the result of the continued introduction of the WD-40 Smart Straw as well as increased distribution of the 3-IN-ONE Professional line of products. The sales growth in the German sales region, which includes Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Austria, was the result of increased awareness and penetration of the WD-40 brand, the continued introduction of the WD-40 Smart Straw and the further development of direct sales into the Netherlands. Sales in Spain/Portugal were up as a result of the continued development of the WD-40 Smart Straw and the No-Mess Pen, which was launched under the 3-IN-ONE brand. The sales growth in Italy was also the result of increased awareness and penetration of the WD-40 brand and the continued launch of the WD-40 Smart Straw.

In the countries in which the Company sells through local distributors, sales increased 38% in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 versus the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. The sales growth in the distributor markets was the result of the continued growth in Eastern and Northern Europe. The distributor market accounted for approximately 35% of the total Europe segment sales in the current fiscal year first quarter, up from 32% in the prior fiscal year first quarter. These markets continue to experience growth in distribution and usage resulting from increased market penetration and brand awareness.

Asia-Pacific

 

Net Sales

        Three Months Ended November 30,
(in thousands)        2006    2005    $ Change     % Change

Lubricants

   $ 4,055    $ 3,282    $ 773     24%

Household products

     583      414      169     41%

Hand cleaners

     288      314      (26 )    (8)%
                            

Sub-total

   $ 4,926    $ 4,010    $ 916     23%
                            

% of consolidated

     7%      6%     

In the Asia-Pacific region, which includes Australia and Asia, total sales in the first quarter of fiscal year 2007 were $4.9 million, up $0.9 million, or 23%, compared to the first quarter of fiscal year 2006. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared to the prior fiscal year first quarter did not impact the current fiscal year first quarter sales. Asia-Pacific sales benefited from increased lubricant sales in both Asia and Australia and increased No Vac sales in Australia.

Sales in Australia were up 15% in the current fiscal year first quarter as compared to the prior fiscal year first quarter primarily due to sales growth of No Vac as a result of a new product introduction. No Vac continues to gain market share in Australia. Lubricant sales also contributed to the growth in Australia as a result of the continued launch of the WD-40 Smart Straw and increased distribution of the 3-IN-ONE Professional line.

Sales in Asia were up 28% in the current fiscal year first quarter as compared to the prior fiscal year first quarter primarily due to increased WD-40 sales to customers in China as a result of increased promotional activity. Sales across other parts of the Asian region were also up, including in Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan, Singapore, Thailand and Taiwan. This region represents long-term growth potential for the Company.

While the Company has historically sold to Asia through third party marketing distributors, to help accelerate the growth in this region, the Company has begun direct operations in China in the current fiscal year.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

For the three months ended November 30, 2006, cash and cash equivalents increased by $1.2 million, from $45.2 million at the end of fiscal year 2006 to $46.4 million at November 30, 2006. Operating cash flow of $14.3 million was offset by cash used in investing activities of $0.5 million and cash used in financing activities of $12.8 million.

Current assets decreased by $3.0 million to $112.6 million at November 30, 2006, down from $115.5 million at August 31, 2006. Accounts receivable decreased to $40.6 million, down $3.9 million from $44.5 million at August 31, 2006, as a result of the timing of sales. Inventory increased to $15.7 million, up by $0.4 million from $15.3 million at August 31, 2006. Other current assets decreased by $0.7 million to $4.2 million at November 30, 2006, down from $4.9 million at August 31, 2006 due to the timing of prepaid expenses.

 

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Current liabilities were $45.4 million at November 30, 2006, up from $43.7 million at August 31, 2006. Accounts payable and accrued liabilities increased by $3.9 million due to timing of payments. Accrued payroll and related expenses were down $2.8 million primarily due to decreased bonus accrual as the Company paid its fiscal year 2006 bonuses during the first quarter of fiscal year 2007. Income taxes payable increased $0.6 million due to the timing of payments for federal income taxes.

At November 30, 2006, working capital decreased to $67.1 million, down $4.8 million from $71.9 million at the end of fiscal year 2006. The current ratio was 2.5 at November 30, 2006, down from 2.6 at August 31, 2006.

Net cash provided by operating activities for the three months ended November 30, 2006 was $14.3 million. This amount consisted of $5.7 million from net income with an additional $1.9 million of adjustments for non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization, losses on sales of equipment, deferred income tax expense, excess tax benefits from exercises of stock options, distributions received and equity earnings from VML Company L.L.C. (VML) and stock-based compensation along with $6.7 million related to changes in the working capital as described above and changes in other long-term liabilities.

Net cash used in investing activities for the first three months of fiscal year 2007 was $0.5 million. The Company purchased and sold $59.1 million of short-term investments, which consisted of investment grade auction rate securities with an active resale market to ensure liquidity and the ability to be readily converted into cash. Capital expenditures of $0.6 million were primarily in the areas of computer hardware and software, buildings and improvements, furniture and fixtures and vehicle replacements. For fiscal year 2007, the Company expects to spend approximately $3.6 million for new capital assets, largely driven by new product development, computer equipment, software and vehicles.

For the first three months of fiscal year 2007, net cash used in financing activities included a $10.7 million principal payment on debt in October 2006 and $3.7 million of dividend payments, partially offset by $1.6 million in proceeds from the exercise of common stock options and $0.1 million of excess tax benefits from exercises of stock options. The $10.7 million payment on debt was the second principal payment on the Company’s original $75 million, 7.28% fixed-rate term loan. Subsequent payments in similar amounts will be due in October in each of the following five years.

Management believes the Company has access to sufficient capital through the combination of available cash balances and internally generated funds. Management considers various factors when reviewing liquidity needs and plans for available cash on hand including: future debt, principal and interest payments, early debt repayment penalties, future capital expenditure requirements, future dividend payments (which are determined on a quarterly basis by the Company’s Board of Directors), alternative investment opportunities, loan covenants and any other relevant considerations currently facing the business.

On December 12, 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share payable on January 31, 2007 to shareholders of record on January 8, 2007. This represents a 13.6% increase from the prior quarterly dividend. The Company’s ability to pay dividends could be affected by future business performance, liquidity, capital needs, alternative investment opportunities and loan covenants.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Our discussion and analysis of our operating results and financial condition is based upon our consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

Critical accounting policies are those that involve subjective or complex judgments, often as a result of the need to make estimates. The following areas all require the use of judgments and estimates: allowance for doubtful accounts, revenue recognition, accounting for sales incentives, accounting for income taxes, valuation of long-lived intangible assets and goodwill and inventory valuation. Estimates in each of these areas are based on historical

 

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experience and various judgments and assumptions that we believe are appropriate. Actual results may differ from these estimates. Our critical accounting policies are discussed in more detail in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and Note 1 to our consolidated financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2006.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS

In September 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”. SFAS No. 157 defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. This statement is effective for financial statements issued for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The Company is currently evaluating SFAS No. 157 to determine the impact, if any, on its financial statements.

In June 2006, the FASB issued Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109.” FIN 48 clarifies the 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. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, disclosure and transition. FIN 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company will adopt this interpretation as required. Management is currently assessing the effect that FIN 48 will have on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and liquidity.

TRANSACTIONS WITH RELATED PARTIES

VML Company L.L.C. (VML), a Delaware Limited Liability Company, was formed in April 2001, at which time the Company acquired a 30% membership interest. Since formation, VML has served as the Company’s contract manufacturer for certain household products and acts as a warehouse distributor for other product lines of the Company. Although VML has begun to expand its business to other customers, the Company continues to be its largest customer. VML makes profit distributions to the Company and the 70% owner on a discretionary basis in proportion to each party’s respective interest.

The Company has a put option to sell its interest in VML to the 70% owner, and the 70% owner has a call option to purchase the Company’s interest. The sale price in each case is established pursuant to formulas based on VML’s operating results.

Under Financial Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of Accounting Research Bulletin No. 51,” VML qualifies as a variable interest entity, and it has been determined that the Company is not the primary beneficiary. The Company’s investment in VML is accounted for using the equity method of accounting, and its equity in VML earnings or losses is recorded as a component of cost of products sold, as VML acts primarily as a contract manufacturer to the Company. The Company recorded equity earnings related to its investment in VML of $6,000 and $54,000 for the three months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

The Company’s maximum exposure to loss as a result of its involvement with VML was $0.9 million as of November 30, 2006. This amount represents the balance of the Company’s equity investment in VML, which is presented as investment in related party on the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. The Company’s investment in VML as of August 31, 2006 was $1.0 million.

Cost of products sold which were purchased from VML, net of rebates and equity earnings, was approximately $5.2 million and $10.8 million during the three months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company had product payables to VML of $0.9 million and $0.5 million at November 30, 2006 and August 31, 2006, respectively. Additionally, the Company receives rental income from VML, which is recorded as a component of other (expense) income, net. Rental income from VML was $48,000 during each of the three months ended November 30, 2006 and 2005.

 

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ITEM 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Periodically, the Company invests in highly liquid investment grade auction rate securities, which are classified as available-for-sale and reported at fair value with maturities that could range from 13 months to 30 years. The interest rates are reset through an auction bidding process at predetermined periods ranging from 7 to 35 days. Due to the frequent nature of the reset feature, the realized or unrealized gains or losses associated with these securities are not significant; therefore, the Company considers the reported amounts of these investments, which are stated at cost, to be reasonable approximations of fair values. Management does not believe changes in market interest rates will have a material impact on our financial position.

Please refer to Item 7A “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2006 for a discussion of the Company’s exposure to market risks. The Company’s exposure to market risks has not changed materially since August 31, 2006.

ITEM 4. Controls and Procedures

The term “disclosure controls and procedures” is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) promulgated under the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934 (Exchange Act). The term disclosure controls and procedures means controls and other procedures of a Company that are designed to ensure the information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by a Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. The Company’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of November 30, 2006, the end of the period covered by this report (the Evaluation Date), and they have concluded that, as of the Evaluation Date, such controls and procedures were effective at ensuring that required information will be disclosed on a timely basis in the Company’s reports filed under the Exchange Act. Although management believes the Company’s existing disclosure controls and procedures are adequate to enable the Company to comply with its disclosure obligations, management continues to review and update such controls and procedures. The Company has a disclosure committee, which consists of certain members of the Company’s senior management.

There were no changes to the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Company’s most recent fiscal quarter that materially affected, or would be reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

PART II Other Information

ITEM 1. Legal Proceedings

The Company is party to various claims, legal actions and complaints, including product liability litigation, arising in the ordinary course of business.

On April 19, 2006, a legal action was filed against the Company in the United States District Court, Southern District of California (Drimmer v. WD-40 Company) . After several of the plaintiff’s factual claims were dismissed by way of motion, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint on September 20, 2006, seeking class action status and alleging that the Company misrepresented that its 2000 Flushes Bleach and 2000 Flushes Blue Plus Bleach automatic toilet bowl cleaners (ATBCs) are safe for plumbing systems and unlawfully omitted to advise consumers regarding the allegedly damaging effect the use of the ATBCs has on toilet parts made of plastic and rubber. The amended complaint seeks to remedy such allegedly wrongful conduct: (i) by requiring the Company to identify all consumers who have purchased the ATBCs and to return money as may be ordered by the court; and (ii) by the granting of other equitable relief, interest, attorneys’ fees and costs. Though a new named plaintiff brought this case, it is legally and factually identical to a similar case that was dismissed by the San Diego Superior Court in April 2005, and the Company intends to vigorously defend this case in the same manner as before. If class action certification is granted in this aforementioned legal action, it is reasonably possible that the outcome could have a material adverse effect on the operating results, financial position and cash flows of the Company. There is not sufficient information to estimate the Company’s exposure at this time.

 

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The Company has been named as a defendant in an increasing number of lawsuits brought by a growing group of attorneys on behalf of individual plaintiffs who assert that exposure to products that allegedly contain benzene is a cause of certain cancers. The Company is one of many defendants in these legal proceedings whose products are alleged to contain benzene. However, the Company specifies that its suppliers provide constituent ingredients free of benzene, and the Company believes its products have always been formulated without containing benzene. Except for self-insured retention amounts applicable to each separately filed lawsuit, the Company expects that the benzene lawsuits will be adequately covered by insurance and will not have a material impact on the Company’s financial condition or results of operations. The Company is vigorously defending these lawsuits in an effort to demonstrate conclusively that its products do not contain benzene, and that they have not contained benzene in prior years. The Company is unable to assess the expected cost of defense of these lawsuits in future periods. If the number of benzene lawsuits filed against the Company continues to increase, it is reasonably possible that such costs of defense may materially affect the Company’s results of operations and cash flows in future periods.

During the quarter ended November 30, 2006, there were no material developments with respect to legal proceedings that were pending as of the prior fiscal year end and disclosed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2006.

ITEM 1A. Risk Factors

The Company is subject to a variety of risks, including component supply risk, reliance on supply chain, inventory risks, competition, volume growth, political and economic risks, international operations, business risks, new product development risks, risk that operating results and net earnings may not meet expectations, regulatory risks, resolution of tax disputes, acquisition risk, debt financing risk, protection of intellectual property, intellectual property infringement, volatility in the insurance market, product liability and other litigation risks, marketing distributor relationships, natural disasters, market expectations and internal control over financial reporting. These risk factors are discussed in more detail in Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2006.

There were no material changes during the most recent fiscal quarter in the risk factors described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Forward Looking Statements

The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a “safe harbor” for certain forward-looking statements. This report contains forward-looking statements, which reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and financial performance.

These forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties. The words “aim,” “believe,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “estimate” and other expressions that indicate future events and trends identify forward-looking statements. Additional risks and uncertainties are described in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2006, as updated from time to time in the Company’s SEC filings.

Actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results or those anticipated depending upon factors including, but not limited to, the near term growth expectations for lubricants, household products and heavy-duty hand cleaners in the Americas, the impact of changes in product distribution, competition for shelf space, plans for product and promotional innovation, the impact of new product introductions on the growth of sales, the impact of customer mix and raw material, component and finished goods costs on gross margins, the impact of promotions on sales, the rate of sales growth in the Asia-Pacific region, direct European countries and Eastern Europe, the impact of changes in inventory management, the effect of future income tax provisions and audit outcomes on tax rates, the amount of future capital expenditures, foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates, the effects of, and changes in, worldwide economic conditions, legal proceedings and the other risk factors identified in Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2006.

 

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Readers also should be aware that while the Company does, from time to time, communicate with securities analysts, it is against the Company’s policy to disclose to them any material non-public information or other confidential commercial information. Accordingly, shareholders should not assume that the Company agrees with any statement or report issued by any analyst irrespective of the content of the statement or report. Further, the Company has a policy against confirming financial forecasts or projections issued by others. Accordingly, to the extent that reports issued by securities analysts contain any projections, forecasts or opinions, such reports are not the responsibility of the Company.

ITEM 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.  

Description

3(a)   The Certificate of Incorporation is incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-Q filed January 14, 2000, Exhibit 3(a) thereto.
3(b)   The Bylaws are incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 8-K filed October 20, 2005, Exhibit 3 thereto.
10(a)   Form of Amended and Restated WD-40 Company Supplemental Retirement Benefit Plan applicable to executive officers of the Registrant.
31(a)   Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
31(b)   Rule 13a-14(a)/15d-14(a) Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32(a)   18 U.S.C. Section 1350 Certification of Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32(b)   18 U.S.C. Section 1350 Certification of Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

 

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

   

WD-40 COMPANY

Registrant

Date: January 9, 2007   By:  

/s/ GARRY O. RIDGE

   

Garry O. Ridge

Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

  By:  

/s/ MICHAEL J. IRWIN

   

Michael J. Irwin

Executive Vice President

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial Officer)

  By:  

/s/ JAY REMBOLT

   

Jay Rembolt

Vice President of Finance, Controller

(Principal Accounting Officer)

 

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