Alliance One International, Inc.
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product mix and currency movement offset the impact of increased volumes, resulting in total costs of goods and services sold remaining consistent with the prior year. Gross profit and gross margin as a percentage of sales improved year-over-year even after excluding the impact of currency movement.
SG&A increased 13.7%, or $4.6 million, to $38.1 million, primarily from inclusion of our new business ventures in the current year and increased costs associated with developing and supporting such operations.
Alliance One incurred $1.5 million of restructuring and asset impairment charges in the quarter primarily related to employee severance due to the closure of a redundant processing facility.
Higher gross profit was to some extent offset by the restructuring and asset impairment charge and higher SG&A; as a result, operating income increased $5.3 million, to $4.7 million from the prior year.
Interest expense decreased 4.4% to $32.9 million from the prior-year period, primarily due to lower average borrowings.
Our effective tax rate was 92.7% this year compared to (2.1)% last year. The primary factor affecting the change in effective tax rates is the impact of tax reform in December of the prior year on current year forecasted income and discrete items compared to the prior year.
During the three months ended June 30, 2018, we purchased $10.9 million of our existing senior secured second lien notes due 2021 at a discount resulting in debt retirement income of $0.1 million. Additionally, in early July, we repurchased an additional $7.0 million at a discount resulting in net cash repayment of $6.5 million.
Earnings Per Share
For the first quarter ended June 30, 2018, the Company reported a net loss of $0.8 million, or $0.08 per basic share, compared to a net loss for the first fiscal quarter last year of $32.5 million, or $3.63 per basic share.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
During the three months ending June 30, 2018, we utilized surplus cash to reduce long-term debt with the purchase and cancellation of $10.9 million of our 9.875% senior secured second lien notes and an additional $7 million in July 2018, leaving $645.1 million face amount outstanding after the purchases in July. Our liquidity at quarter end was strong with available credit lines and cash of $530.9 million including $6.4 million available for letters of credit. We will continue to monitor and adjust funding sources as needed to enhance and drive various business opportunities that maintain flexibility and meet cost expectations. In the future, the Company may elect to redeem, repay, make open market purchases, retire or cancel indebtedness prior to stated maturity under its various global bank facilities and outstanding public notes, as they may permit.
Financial Results Investor Call
The Company will hold a conference call to report financial results for the period ended June 30, 2018, on August 2, 2018 at 8:00 A.M. ET. The dial in number for the call is (877)260-1479 or outside the U.S. (334)323-0522 and conference ID 3939115. Those seeking to listen to the call may access a live broadcast on the Alliance One website. Please visitwww.aointl.com 15 minutes in advance to register.
For those who are unable to listen to the live event on August 2, 2018, a replay will be available by telephone from 11:00 a.m. ET Thursday, August 2, 2018 through 11:00 a.m. ET Tuesday, August 7,