EXHIBIT 99
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[LOGO]THE NAUTILUS GROUP
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACTS: The Nautilus Group, Inc. Investor Relations Inquiries:
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Rod Rice John Mills
Chief Financial Officer Integrated Corporate Relations, Inc.
360-694-7722 310-395-2215--203-222-9013
THE NAUTILUS GROUP ANNOUNCES FOURTH QUARTER AND YEAR-END
DECEMBER 31, 2003 RESULTS IN LINE WITH GUIDANCE
VANCOUVER, Wash., January 28, 2004 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Nautilus Group, Inc.
(NYSE: NLS), a leading marketer, developer, and manufacturer of branded health
and fitness products, today announced results for the fourth quarter and
year-ended December 31, 2003.
Fourth quarter net sales were $152.8 million compared to $155.5 million for the
corresponding period last year. Net income during the period was $9.4 million,
or $0.28 per diluted share, compared to $23.0 million, or $0.69 per diluted
share, for the corresponding period in the previous year.
The Company's net sales for the year ended December 31, 2003 were $498.8 million
compared to $584.7 million for last year. Net income during the year was $34.4
million or $1.04 per diluted share, compared to $97.9 million, or $2.79 per
diluted share, last year.
Gregg Hammann, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "2003 was a
challenging year for Nautilus. Our management and employees worked through a
difficult environment to identify the Company's strengths and market
opportunities. We conducted extensive research on the fitness equipment market
and determined that we were missing a very large part of this $5 billion market.
By working more closely with our customers across multiple channels to provide
innovative and differentiated products we will begin to capitalize on Nautilus'
strong portfolio of health and fitness brands."
"Over the coming years, Nautilus will continue to focus on positioning the
Company as an innovator and brand leader in the health and fitness industries,"
Mr. Hammann continued. "We plan to expand our consumer base by repositioning our
brands and improving our distribution channels. We will continue to introduce
new and differentiated products and maximize operating efficiencies to increase
revenue and profitability, while maintaining a commitment to superior customer
service."
"From a product development perspective, we are pleased with our progress in
2003 and are encouraged by the market reception of our new products. We
introduced several new innovative fitness products, including SelectTech. This
free weight adjustable dumbbell product received national recognition for one of
the best new innovative fitness products of
the year by several national magazines. In addition, Consumer Reports just
ranked one of our Schwinn consumer treadmills as Best Buy and one of our
Nautilus treadmills as a Very Good Buy. Consumer Reports ranked our new
TreadClimber as best TV consumer cardio product. Bowflex was named best TV
consumer strength product by Consumer Reports. Based on our current R&D product
release schedule, we believe we will be well positioned for the 2004 consumer
fitness season for which retailers will begin taking delivery of inventory in
the second half of this year."
Rod Rice, Chief Financial Officer, stated, "We look forward to accelerating the
pace of innovation over the coming quarters to position Nautilus as the clear
leader in the health and fitness industries. We will be increasing our research
and development investment in 2004 as we take a longer-term focus on creating
new products and improving existing ones. At the same time, we continue to
maintain a tight control on expenditures and work to reduce costs."
At December 31, 2003, Nautilus had $72.6 million in cash and cash equivalents, a
47% increase over 2002 cash and short-term investments, with no debt.
Today, the Board of Directors has declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.10
per common share, payable March 10, 2004, to shareholders of record at the close
of business on February 19, 2004.
Mr. Hammann concluded, "We are excited about our long-term prospects as we build
a foundation for clear and sustainable growth. Nautilus has the most recognized
brands in the health and fitness industry, and we have identified significant
untapped market opportunities for our brands. In the past, we have been
primarily focused on selling strength products through our direct channel, but
our research shows that 80% of our target consumer market buys fitness products
through the retail channel and 60% of the dollars are spent on consumer
cardiovascular products. We will continue to be the leader in selling strength
and cardio brands through our direct channel, but over the long term we will
focus on forging partnerships with key commercial, specialty retail and sporting
goods customers as well as continuing to focus on our direct consumer business."
"In light of our current turnaround position, we remain cautious about guidance
and believe it is prudent at this time to provide only detailed guidance for the
first quarter. As we move to a more diversified revenue stream, we expect to
experience seasonality similar to the retail and commercial sales channels. We
believe our revenue and earnings will be lower in the first half of 2004
compared to the latter half of the year, with the second quarter experiencing
the most softness. In addition, we will be increasing our research and
development investment in 2004. Our first quarter revenue is expected to be in
the range of $120 to $130 million, with earnings per share in the range of $0.18
to $0.20. We are projecting our gross profit margin to be in the range of 46% to
49%, with operating cash flow in the range of $9 to $10 million. We will provide
additional guidance, as well as an update on the progress of our turnaround,
during our first quarter conference call. "
The Nautilus Group will host a conference call on January 28, 2004 to discuss
its 2003 fourth quarter and year end financial results at 2:00 PM Pacific (5:00
PM Eastern). The earnings release will be broadcast live over the Internet
hosted at http://www.nautilusgroup.com/ir/events.asp under "Investor
Relations/Events Calendar" and will be archived online within one hour of the
completion of the conference call. In
addition, you may call 800-366-7449 if in North America. International callers
will dial 303-275-2170. Participating in the call will be Gregg Hammann, Chief
Executive Officer, and Rod Rice, Chief Financial Officer. A telephonic replay of
the call will be available through February 11, 2003 by calling 800-405-2236 if
in North America or calling 303-590-3000 if an international caller and using
the passcode 568251#.
--more--
ABOUT THE NAUTILUS GROUP
The Nautilus Group, Inc. is a leading marketer, developer, and manufacturer of
branded health and fitness products sold under such well-known names as
Nautilus, Bowflex, Schwinn and StairMaster. The Company currently markets its
Bowflex and TreadClimber home fitness equipment and Nautilus Sleep Systems
through its direct-marketing channel, using an effective combination of
television commercials, infomercials, response mailings, the Internet, and
inbound/outbound call centers. The Company sells its Nautilus, Schwinn and
StairMaster commercial fitness equipment through its sales force and selected
dealers to health clubs, government agencies, hotels, corporate fitness centers,
colleges, universities, and assisted living facilities. The Nautilus Group also
markets and sells a complete line of consumer fitness equipment, under its
Nautilus, Schwinn, Bowflex, StairMaster and Trimline brands, through a network
of specialty dealers, distributors, and retailers worldwide. The Company is
headquartered in Vancouver, Washington. The Nautilus Group is located on the Web
at www.nautilusgroup.com.
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This press release includes forward-looking statements, including statements
related to anticipated revenues, expenses, earnings, operating cash flows,
distribution channels and new product introductions. Factors that could cause
The Nautilus Group's actual results to differ materially from these
forward-looking statements include availability of media time and fluctuating
advertising rates, a decline in consumer spending due to unfavorable economic
conditions, expiration of important patents, its reliance on a limited product
line, its ability to effectively develop, market, and sell future products, its
ability to effectively identify and negotiate any future strategic acquisitions,
its ability to integrate any acquired businesses into its operations,
unpredictable events and circumstances relating to international operations
including its use of foreign manufacturers, government regulatory action, and
general economic conditions. Please refer to our reports and filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including our most recent annual report on
Form 10-K and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, for a further discussion of these
risks and uncertainties. We also caution you not to place undue reliance on
forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. We
undertake no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements to
reflect new information, events or circumstances after the date they were made
or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
--Financial Tables Follow--
THE NAUTILUS GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In Thousands)
(Unaudited)
December 31, December 31,
2003 2002
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ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 72,634 $ 31,719
Short-term investments -- 17,578
Trade receivables, net 75,492 50,099
Inventories 53,129 63,798
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 6,049 4,919
Short-term notes receivable 2,362 3,067
Current deferred tax assets 4,646 2,924
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Total current assets 214,312 174,104
LONG-TERM NOTES RECEIVABLE -- 363
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, net 50,602 55,564
GOODWILL 29,755 29,755
OTHER ASSETS, net 17,266 16,867
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TOTAL ASSETS $ 311,935 $ 276,653
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LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Trade payables 34,879 41,288
Accrued liabilities 28,648 15,827
Income taxes payable 8,488 5,284
Royalty payable to stockholders 2,133 1,997
Customer deposits 1,453 685
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Total current liabilities 75,601 65,081
LONG-TERM DEFERRED TAX LIABILITY 10,206 9,149
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock 2,828 --
Unearned compensation (1,544) --
Retained earnings 221,580 201,238
Accumulated other comprehensive income 3,264 1,185
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Total stockholders' equity 226,128 202,423
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TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY $ 311,935 $ 276,653
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THE NAUTILUS GROUP, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Operations
(In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
(Unaudited)
Three months ended December 31, Twelve months ended December 31,
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2003 2002 2003 2002
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NET SALES $ 152,827 $ 155,463 $ 498,836 $ 584,650
COST OF SALES 84,546 72,396 252,690 252,083
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Gross profit 68,281 83,067 246,146 332,567
OPERATING EXPENSES:
Selling and marketing 39,557 38,913 149,245 145,257
General and administrative 12,207 6,677 37,098 26,017
Related-party royalties 1,718 1,997 6,556 9,089
Third-party royalties 462 302 1,431 1,019
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Total operating expenses 53,944 47,889 194,330 181,382
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OPERATING INCOME 14,337 35,178 51,816 151,185
OTHER INCOME:
Interest income 246 301 839 1,561
Other - net 61 527 1,098 202
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Total other income, net 307 828 1,937 1,763
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INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES 14,644 36,006 53,753 152,948
INCOME TAX EXPENSE 5,272 12,962 19,351 55,061
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NET INCOME $ 9,372 $ 23,044 $ 34,402 $ 97,887
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BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE $ 0.29 $ 0.69 $ 1.06 $ 2.84
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE $ 0.28 $ 0.69 $ 1.04 $ 2.79
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic shares outstanding 32,602,362 33,162,654 32,579,533 34,499,482
Diluted shares outstanding 33,159,067 33,470,373 33,018,694 35,142,794