Distribution expenses
Distribution expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2019 were $15.5 million, as compared to $14.9 million for the corresponding period in 2018. Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales were 10.9% for the three months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to 10.1% for the three months ended June 30, 2018.
Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the U.S. segment were approximately 10.4% and 9.5% for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. As a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s warehouses, distribution expenses (excluding the moving and relocation costs for the U.S. segment) were 11.8% and 10.5% for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The increase is primarily attributable to lower shipment volume, higher real estate taxes and an increase in freight expense on higher sales to prepaid freight customers.
Distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales for the International segment were 13.9% for the three months ended June 30, 2019, which was consistent with distribution expenses as a percentage of net sales of 13.8%, for the corresponding period in 2018. Distribution expenses as a percentage of sales shipped from the Company’s U.K. warehouses approximated 14% for both the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2019 were $40.9 million, an increase of $0.9 million, or 2.2%, as compared to $40.0 million for the corresponding period in 2018.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the U.S. segment were $28.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to $30.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018. As a percentage of net sales, selling, general and administrative expenses were 23.5% and 24.0% for the three months ended June 30, 2019 and 2018, respectively. The 2019 period reflects the synergy savings from the Filament acquisition, primarily from efficiencies in labor reduction initiatives.
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2019 for the International segment were $7.0 million, an increase of $3.0 million, from $4.0 million for the corresponding period in 2018. Of the increase, $2.1 million represented the absence of a mark to market gain from foreign currency contracts in 2018. Additionally, the Company commenced an operating lease for its new U.K. headquarters and warehouse as part of its reorganization plan to consolidate its European operations and incurred $0.5 million in duplicative operating lease expense.
Unallocated corporate expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2019 were $5.0 million, as compared to $5.1 million for the corresponding period in 2018. Lower employee related and acquisition expenses were partially offset by higher professional fees.
Interest expense
Interest expense was $4.7 million for both the three months ended June 30, 2019 and the corresponding period in 2018. This reflects the benefit of lower debt balances offset by higher interest rates, and a benefit from mark to market changes from interest rate swaps not designated as hedges.
Income tax benefit
Income tax benefit for the three months ended June 30, 2019 was $5.8 million as compared to $1.8 million for the corresponding period in 2018. The Company’s effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2019 was 33.6% as compared to 22.1% for the corresponding 2018 period. The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2019 differs from the federal statutory rate of 21% primarily due to state and local taxes and the impact of non-deductible expenses. The effective tax rate for the three months ended June 30, 2018 reflects the reduced statutory U.S. corporate income tax rate, partially offset by non-deductible expenses.
Equity in (losses) earnings
Equity in (losses) earnings of Vasconia, net of taxes, was $(0.1) million for the three months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to equity in (losses) earnings of Vasconia, net of taxes, of $0.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018. Equity in (losses) earnings for the three months ended June 30, 2018 includes a deferred tax expense of $(0.5) million due to the requirement to record tax benefits for foreign currency translation gains and losses through other comprehensive loss, with a corresponding adjustment to deferred tax liabilities. Vasconia reported income from operations of $2.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2019, as compared to income from operations of $3.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2018. The decrease in income from operations is primarily due to a decrease in operating income from the aluminum division.
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