Smith & Wesson Brands (SWBI) 8-K Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation Announces Second Quarter Financial Results

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:
Liz Sharp, VP Investor Relations
Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.
(413) 747-3304
lsharp@smith-wesson.com

William F. Spengler, Chief Financial Officer
Smith & Wesson Holding Corp.
(413) 747-3304

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation Announces
Second Quarter Financial Results

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., December 15, 2008 — Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., the legendary 156-year old company in the global business of safety, security, protection and sport, today announced financial results for its second fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2008.

Net product sales for the three months ended October 31, 2008 were $72.7 million, a $2.0 million, or 2.8%, increase over net product sales for the three months ended October 31, 2007. Net loss for the second fiscal quarter of $76.2 million, or $1.62 per fully diluted share, compared with net income of $2.9 million, or $0.07 per fully diluted share, for the comparable quarter last year. Excluding the impact of a non-cash impairment charge of $76.5 million which the Company is taking related to a write-down of goodwill and intangible assets recorded upon the purchase of Thompson/Center Arms, net income would have been approximately $245,000, or $0.01 per fully diluted share.

Total firearms sales were $67.5 million, an increase of $1.7 million, or 2.6%, over the second quarter of last year. Pistol sales increased 40% to $18.5 million, driven by continued consumer demand and law enforcement adoption of the M&P polymer pistol line and by strong consumer sales of the Sigma pistol line. Sales of M&P pistols increased 45% in the second quarter. M&P tactical rifle sales increased by 308% in the second quarter as demand for this product remained strong in both the consumer and law enforcement channels. Total revolver sales declined slightly in the second quarter versus the comparable quarter one year ago, based upon a large international order included in last year’s results. Domestic revolver sales increased by 13% versus the second quarter of last year. Sales of non-firearms accessories, including handcuffs, totaled $5.2 million, a 4.5% increase over non-firearms accessories sales of $5.0 million in the second quarter last year. Hunting rifle sales of $11.5 million represented a decline of $7.9 million, or 41%, from the comparable quarter in the last fiscal year. Hunting products continued to be negatively impacted by a number of factors, including their position in the consumer discretionary marketplace and a distribution channel that is buying cautiously following an industry-wide inventory correction.

Michael F. Golden, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “The second quarter delivered mixed results, some very positive and others very disappointing. While the general environment remained challenging, we focused on removing costs from the hunting related portion of our business while capitalizing on opportunities to grow the remaining majority of our company.”

“Our handgun and tactical rifle products continued to deliver very positive results. These products have consistently performed well over the past several quarters, despite the recession we have been experiencing for nearly a full year. Sales of our M&P products remained strong, supported by a number of law enforcement and international orders. In fact, we shipped our first order to Iraq in the second quarter, consisting of M&P pistols for Iraqi military and security forces. To date, our M&P pistols have been selected by 465 law enforcement agencies and continue to win over 80% of all contests in which they compete. Our M&P15 tactical rifle sales were particularly strong in the second quarter, having now been selected by 204 law enforcement agencies and winning over 90% of all contests in which they compete.”

Gross profit of $20.0 million was $3.1 million, or 13.5%, lower than gross profit for the comparable quarter last year. Gross margins decreased to 27.3% from 32.3% for the comparable quarter last year. Gross margins were impacted by lower hunting rifle production volumes, which reduced overhead absorption at our Thompson/Center manufacturing facility; a shift in sales toward hunting rifles with lower gross margins; and promotional spending on both hunting rifles and handguns.

The current environment for our hunting rifle business made it appropriate for us to review the book value of assets originating from our purchase of Thompson/Center Arms. This process entailed a review of those assets under SFAS 144 and SFAS 142 accounting standards. Based upon the analysis we conducted in cooperation with outside valuation experts and our independent audit firm, we have taken a $76.5 million, non-cash impairment charge, which is net of a $21.8 million adjustment to deferred tax credit, in the second quarter to reflect the impairment of goodwill and intangible assets recorded upon the purchase of Thompson/Center Arms.

Operating expenses, including the impact of the impairment charge, were $115.5 million. Excluding the impact of the impairment charge, operating expenses for the second quarter increased by approximately $708,000, or 4.3%, over the second quarter last year. Total other expense, net, increased to $2.2 million in the quarter, reflecting mostly a non-cash, mark-to-market adjustment on foreign exchange contracts offset by lower interest costs.

Adjusted EBITDAS, a non-GAAP financial metric introduced last quarter, was $6.6 million in the second quarter, compared with $11.4 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2008. On a year-to-date basis, adjusted EBITDAS was $16.8 million versus $24.8 million in the first six months of fiscal 2008.

Golden concluded, “The hunting market is uncertain for the foreseeable future. The burden that the hunting business places on the otherwise healthy majority of our business is a significant consideration as we plan for our future. In addition to supporting our current growth in tactical rifle sales, the barrel manufacturing expertise in our Thompson/Center Arms facility is a core competency on which we presently place value as we prepare to compete for future opportunities, including those from the military. We have initiated a number of cost-cutting measures, such as extended holiday factory closures, support function consolidations, and workforce reductions. We will continue to identify and execute further actions to reduce costs, while we regularly assess this part of our business and its impact on the balance of Smith & Wesson.”

Conference Call

The Company will host a conference call today, December 15, 2008, to discuss its second quarter results and its outlook. The conference call may include forward-looking statements. The conference call will be Web cast and will begin at 5:00pm Eastern Time (2:00pm Pacific). The live audio broadcast and replay of the conference call can be accessed on the Company’s Web site at www.smith-wesson.com, under the Investor Relations section. The Company will maintain an audio replay of this conference call on its website for a period of time after the call. No other audio replay will be available.

Reconciliation of U.S. GAAP to Adjusted EBITDAS

In this press release, a non-GAAP financial measure, known as “Adjusted EBITDAS” is presented. Adjusted EBITDAS excludes the effects of interest, income taxes, depreciation of tangible fixed assets, amortization of intangible assets, stock-based employee compensation expense and certain other non-cash transactions. See the attached “Reconciliation of GAAP Net Income to Adjusted EBITDAS” for a detailed explanation of the amounts excluded and included from net income to arrive at adjusted EBITDAS for the three-month and six-month periods ended October 31, 2008 and 2007. Adjusted or non-GAAP financial measures provide investors and management with supplemental measures of operating performance and trends that facilitate comparisons between periods before, during, and after certain items that would not otherwise be apparent on a GAAP basis. Adjusted financial measures are not, and should not be, viewed as a substitute for GAAP results. Our definition of these adjusted financial measures may differ from similarly named measures used by others.

SMITH & WESSON HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
As of:

	October 31, 2008			April 30, 2008
	(Unaudited)
ASSETS
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	2,850,001		$	4,358,856
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $881,256 on October 31, 2008 and $196,949 on April 30, 2008		50,996,561			54,162,936
Inventories		53,944,028			47,159,978
Other current assets		5,473,568			4,724,973
Deferred income taxes		10,548,142			9,947,234
Income tax receivable		1,274,156			1,817,509
Total current assets		125,086,456			122,171,486
Property, plant and equipment, net		49,248,946			50,642,953
Intangibles, net		6,293,610			65,500,742
Goodwill		—			41,173,416
Deferred income taxes		409,771			—
Other assets		9,357,686			10,261,975
	$	190,396,469		$	289,750,572
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	$	20,138,023		$	21,995,705
Accrued expenses		13,755,982			16,610,504
Accrued payroll		4,694,877			5,046,446
Accrued taxes other than income		2,037,573			1,747,235
Accrued profit sharing		5,558,024			4,035,522
Accrued workers’ compensation		582,906			422,686
Accrued product liability		3,250,876			2,767,024
Accrued warranty		1,842,384			1,691,742
Deferred revenue		616,591			212,552
Current portion of notes payable		5,586,794			8,919,640
Total current liabilities		58,064,030			63,449,056
Deferred income taxes		—			20,216,239
Notes payable, net of current portion		84,815,640			118,773,987
Other non-current liabilities		9,577,656			9,460,761
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ equity:
Preferred stock, $.001 par value, 20,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding		—			—
Common stock, $.001 par value, 100,000,000 shares authorized, 48,402,859 shares issued and 47,202,859 shares outstanding on October 31, 2008 and 41,832,039 shares issued and 40,632,039 shares outstanding on April 30, 2008		48,402			41,831
Additional paid-in capital		88,187,549			54,127,721
Retained earnings/(accumulated deficit)		(43,973,459	)		30,004,326
Accumulated other comprehensive income		72,651			72,651
Treasury stock, at cost (1,200,000 common shares)		(6,396,000	)		(6,396,000	)
Total stockholders’ equity		37,939,143			77,850,529
	$	190,396,469		$	289,750,572

SMITH & WESSON HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

	For the Three Months Ended:						For the Six Months Ended:
	October 31, 2008			October 31, 2007			October 31, 2008			October 31, 2007
Net product and services sales	$	72,729,122		$	70,775,676		$	150,762,053		$	145,187,384
License revenue		497,561			620,614			944,149			1,050,454
Cost of products and services sold		53,259,126			48,318,050			106,362,569			95,950,812
Gross profit		19,967,557			23,078,240			45,343,633			50,287,026
Operating expenses:
Research and development		617,071			476,468			1,392,034			889,005
Selling and marketing		7,375,909			7,223,154			15,079,115			13,873,600
General and administrative		9,259,933			8,845,011			19,908,954			19,181,882
Impairment of long-lived assets		98,243,188			—			98,243,188			—
Total operating expenses		115,496,101			16,544,633			134,623,291			33,944,487
Income/(loss) from operations		(95,528,544	)		6,533,607			(89,279,658	)		16,342,539
Other income/(expense):
Other income/(expense), net		(926,531	)		213,419			(1,566,883	)		176,253
Interest income		128,733			9,189			186,907			29,881
Interest expense		(1,414,046	)		(2,082,840	)		(3,465,324	)		(4,316,809	)
Total other expense, net		(2,211,844	)		(1,860,232	)		(4,845,300	)		(4,110,675	)
Income/(loss) before income taxes		(97,740,388	)		4,673,375			(94,124,958	)		12,231,864
Income tax expense/(benefit)		(21,508,928	)		1,731,575			(20,147,173	)		4,599,573
Net income/(loss)/comprehensive income/(loss)	$	(76,231,460	)	$	2,941,800		$	(73,977,785	)	$	7,632,291
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding, basic		47,109,337			40,284,784			46,263,611			40,119,638
Net income/(loss) per share, basic	$	(1.62	)	$	0.07		$	(1.60	)	$	0.19
Weighted average number of common and common equivalent shares outstanding, diluted		47,109,337			48,336,522			46,263,611			48,276,242
Net income/(loss) per share, diluted	$	(1.62	)	$	0.07		$	(1.60	)	$	0.18

SMITH & WESSON HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED EBITDAS (Unaudited)

	For the Three Months Ended October 31, 2008:									For the Three Months Ended October 31, 2007:
	GAAP			Adjustments			Adjusted			GAAP			Adjustments			Adjusted
Net product and services sales	$	72,729,122			—		$	72,729,122		$	70,775,676			—		$	70,775,676
License revenue		497,561			—			497,561			620,614			—			620,614
Cost of products and services sold		53,259,126			(1,867,861)	(1)		51,391,265			48,318,050			(1,642,267	)(1)		46,675,783
Gross profit		19,967,557		$	1,867,861			21,835,418			23,078,240		$	1,642,267			24,720,507
Operating expenses:
Research and development		617,071			(21,321)	(1)		595,750			476,468			(3,510	)(1)		472,958
Selling and marketing		7,375,909			(39,986)	(1)		7,335,923			7,223,154			(35,012	)(1)		7,188,142
General and administrative		9,259,933			(1,952,584)	(2)		7,307,349			8,845,011			(3,003,111	)(2)		5,841,900
Impairment of long-lived assets		98,243,188			(98,243,188)	(3)		—			—			—			—
Total operating expenses		115,496,101			(100,257,079	)		15,239,022			16,544,633			(3,041,633	)		13,503,000
Income/(loss) from operations		(95,528,544	)		102,124,940			6,596,396			6,533,607			4,683,900			11,217,507
Other income/(expense):
Other income/(expense), net		(926,531	)		770,324	(4)		(156,207	)		213,419			(28,470	)(4)		184,949
Interest income		128,733			—			128,733			9,189			—			9,189
Interest expense		(1,414,046	)		1,414,046	(5)		—			(2,082,840	)		2,082,840	(5)		—
Total other expense, net		(2,211,844	)		2,184,370			(27,474	)		(1,860,232	)		2,054,370			194,138
Income/(loss) before income taxes		(97,740,388	)		104,309,310			6,568,922			4,673,375			6,738,270			11,411,645
Income tax expense/(benefit)		(21,508,928	)		21,508,928	(6)		—			1,731,575			(1,731,575	)(6)		—
Net income/(loss)/comprehensive income/(loss)	$	(76,231,460	)	$	82,800,382		$	6,568,922		$	2,941,800		$	8,469,845		$	11,411,645

SMITH & WESSON HOLDING CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
RECONCILIATION OF GAAP NET INCOME TO ADJUSTED EBITDAS (Unaudited)

	For the Six Months Ended October 31, 2008:									For the Six Months Ended October 31, 2007:
	GAAP			Adjustments			Adjusted			GAAP			Adjustments			Adjusted
Net product and services sales	$	150,762,053			—		$	150,762,053		$	145,187,384			—		$	145,187,384
License revenue		944,149			—			944,149			1,050,454			—			1,050,454
Cost of products and services sold		106,362,569			(3,787,832)	(1)		102,574,737			95,950,812			(3,105,927	)(1)		92,844,885
Gross profit		45,343,633		$	3,787,832			49,131,465			50,287,026		$	3,105,927			53,392,953
Operating expenses:
Research and development		1,392,034			(44,282)	(1)		1,347,752			889,005			(5,755	)(1)		883,250
Selling and marketing		15,079,115			(83,049)	(1)		14,996,066			13,873,600			(68,820	)(1)		13,804,780
General and administrative		19,908,954			(4,385,606)	(2)		15,523,348			19,181,882			(5,036,669	)(2)		14,145,213
Impairment of long-lived assets		98,243,188			(98,243,188)	(3)		—			—			—			—
Total operating expenses		134,623,291			(102,756,125	)		31,867,166			33,944,487			(5,111,244	)		28,833,243
Income/(loss) from operations		(89,279,658	)		106,543,957			17,264,299			16,342,539			8,217,171			24,559,710
Other income/(expense):
Other income/(expense), net		(1,566,883	)		867,386	(4)		(699,497	)		176,253			27,825	(4)		204,078
Interest income		186,907			—			186,907			29,881			—			29,881
Interest expense		(3,465,324	)		3,465,324	(5)		—			(4,316,809	)		4,316,809	(5)		—
Total other expense, net		(4,845,300	)		4,332,710			(512,590	)		(4,110,675	)		4,344,634			233,959
Income/(loss) before income taxes		(94,124,958	)		110,876,667			16,751,709			12,231,864			12,561,805			24,793,669
Income tax expense/(benefit)		(20,147,173	)		20,147,173	(6)		—			4,599,573			(4,599,573	)(6)		—
Net income/(loss)/comprehensive income/(loss)	$	(73,977,785	)	$	90,729,494		$	16,751,709		$	7,632,291		$	17,161,378		$	24,793,669

(1)	To eliminate depreciation expense.
(2)	To eliminate depreciation, amortization and stock-based compensation expense.
(3)	To eliminate write down of long-lived assets.
(4)	To eliminate unrealized mark-to-market adjustments on foreign exchange contracts.
(5)	To eliminate interest expense.
(6)	To eliminate income tax expense.

About Smith & Wesson

Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation, a global leader in safety, security, protection and sport, is parent company to Smith & Wesson Corp., one of the world’s largest manufacturers of quality firearms and firearm safety/security products and parent company to Thompson/Center Arms Company, Inc., a premier designer and manufacturer of premium hunting rifles, black powder rifles, interchangeable firearms systems and accessories under the Thompson/Center brand.  Smith & Wesson licenses shooter protection, knives, apparel, and other accessory lines.  Smith & Wesson is based in Springfield, Massachusetts with manufacturing facilities in Springfield, Houlton, Maine, and Rochester, New Hampshire.  The Smith & Wesson Academy is America’s longest running firearms training facility for law enforcement, military and security professionals.  For more information on Smith & Wesson, call (800) 331-0852 or log on towww.smith-wesson.com. For more information on Thompson/Center Arms, log on towww.tcarms.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

Certain statements contained in this press release may be deemed to be forward-looking statements under federal securities laws, and the Company intends that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe-harbor created thereby. Such forward-looking statements include statements regarding the Company’s anticipated sales and costs, the effects of the current economic environment on the Company, the demand for the Company’s products, consumer spending patterns, distribution channel inventory, the success of the Company’s cost-reduction efforts, and the ability of the Company to capitalize on growth opportunities. The Company cautions that these statements are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include economic and industry conditions, the demand for the Company’s products, the Company’s growth opportunities, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company’s reports filed with the SEC, including its Form 10-K Report for the fiscal year ended April 30, 2008.