Form 10-Q
Table of Contents

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 10-Q

 

 

(Mark One)

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended February 28, 2009

or

 

¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from              to             

Commission File Number 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 No.)

1061 Cudahy Place

San Diego, CA

  92110
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(619) 275-1400

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

 

Large accelerated filer   ¨    Accelerated filer   x
Non-accelerated filer   ¨    Smaller reporting company   ¨

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

The number of outstanding shares of the registrant’s common stock, par value $0.001 per share, as of March 31, 2009 was 16,501,046.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

WD-40 COMPANY

QUARTERLY REPORT ON FORM 10-Q

For the Quarter Ended February 28, 2009

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page
PART I — FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.    Financial Statements    3
Item 2.    Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations    18
Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk    35
Item 4.    Controls and Procedures    35
PART II — OTHER INFORMATION
Item 1.    Legal Proceedings    36
Item 1A.    Risk Factors    36
Item 4.    Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders    37
Item 6.    Exhibits    39

 

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Table of Contents

Part I — Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

WD-40 COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     February 28, 2009     August 31, 2008  

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 28,494     $ 41,983  

Trade accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $609 and $486 at February 28, 2009 and August 31, 2008, respectively

     42,067       49,271  

Product held at contract packagers

     3,960       2,453  

Inventories

     18,542       18,280  

Current deferred tax assets, net

     4,006       4,045  

Other current assets

     4,118       3,453  
                

Total current assets

     101,187       119,485  

Property, plant and equipment, net

     11,177       11,309  

Goodwill

     94,910       95,909  

Other intangible assets, net

     35,807       39,992  

Other assets

     3,399       3,543  

Investment in related party

     —         435  
                

Total assets

   $ 246,480     $ 270,673  
                

Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 14,915     $ 22,985  

Accounts payable to related party

     285       547  

Accrued liabilities

     14,380       13,143  

Current portion of long-term debt

     10,714       10,714  

Accrued payroll and related expenses

     3,687       6,084  

Income taxes payable

     1,893       1,090  
                

Total current liabilities

     45,874       54,563  

Long-term debt

     21,429       32,143  

Long-term deferred tax liabilities, net

     17,686       16,876  

Deferred employee benefits and other long-term liabilities

     3,008       3,099  
                

Total liabilities

     87,997       106,681  
                

Shareholders’ equity:

    

Common stock - authorized 36,000,000 shares, $0.001 par value; 18,064,544 and 18,041,715 shares issued at February 28, 2009 and August 31, 2008, respectively; and 16,501,046 and 16,478,217 shares outstanding at February 28, 2009 and August 31, 2008, respectively

     18       18  

Additional paid-in capital

     84,882       82,647  

Retained earnings

     132,124       128,627  

Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income

     (8,475 )     2,766  

Common stock held in treasury, at cost - 1,563,498 shares

     (50,066 )     (50,066 )
                

Total shareholders’ equity

     158,483       163,992  
                

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

   $ 246,480     $ 270,673  
                

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

WD-40 COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited and in thousands, except share and per share amounts)

 

     Three Months Ended February 28 or 29,     Six Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Net sales

   $ 61,837     $ 78,948     $ 145,434     $ 158,098  

Cost of products sold (including cost of products acquired from related party of $3,460 and $4,496 for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively; and $7,720 and $11,177 for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively)

     31,192       40,808       76,052       82,488  
                                

Gross profit

     30,645       38,140       69,382       75,610  
                                

Operating expenses:

        

Selling, general and administrative

     17,836       20,344       38,953       41,568  

Advertising and sales promotion

     4,604       4,243       10,017       10,883  

Amortization of intangible asset

     110       150       239       302  

Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets

     2,760       —         2,760       —    
                                

Total operating expenses

     25,310       24,737       51,969       52,753  
                                

Income from operations

     5,335       13,403       17,413       22,857  

Other (expense) income:

        

Interest expense, net of interest income of $91 and $426 for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively; and $348 and $956 for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively

     (510 )     (390 )     (950 )     (796 )

Other income, net

     480       229       701       541  
                                

Income before income taxes

     5,305       13,242       17,164       22,602  

Provision for income taxes

     1,222       4,576       5,396       7,706  
                                

Net income

   $ 4,083     $ 8,666     $ 11,768     $ 14,896  
                                

Earnings per common share:

        

Basic

   $ 0.25     $ 0.52     $ 0.71     $ 0.88  
                                

Diluted

   $ 0.25     $ 0.51     $ 0.71     $ 0.87  
                                

Shares used in per share calculations:

        

Basic

     16,500,749       16,784,469       16,498,200       16,836,803  
                                

Diluted

     16,649,840       16,971,502       16,661,691       17,032,147  
                                

Dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.25     $ 0.25     $ 0.50     $ 0.50  
                                

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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Table of Contents

WD-40 COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

     Six Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
     2009     2008  

Operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 11,768     $ 14,896  

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

    

Depreciation and amortization

     1,780       1,862  

Impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets

     2,760       —    

Net gains on sales and disposals of property and equipment

     (21 )     (2 )

Deferred income tax expense (benefit)

     1,113       (151 )

Excess tax benefits from exercises of stock options and conversions of restricted stock units to common shares

     (14 )     (149 )

Equity losses from related party

     435       19  

Stock-based compensation

     1,577       1,391  

Changes in assets and liabilities:

    

Trade accounts receivable

     1,544       (5,698 )

Product held at contract packagers

     (1,507 )     (103 )

Inventories

     (1,324 )     (3,727 )

Other assets

     (1,188 )     (446 )

Accounts payable and accrued expenses and liabilities

     (6,111 )     (6,869 )

Accounts payable to related party

     (262 )     (981 )

Income taxes payable

     1,214       2,690  

Deferred employee benefits and other long-term liabilities

     (57 )     2,056  
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     11,707       4,788  
                

Investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (2,019 )     (2,656 )

Proceeds from sales of property and equipment

     126       108  

Purchases of marketable securities

     —         (76,175 )

Proceeds from sales of marketable securities

     —         70,100  
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (1,893 )     (8,623 )
                

Financing activities:

    

Repayments of long-term debt

     (10,714 )     (10,714 )

Proceeds from issuance of common stock

     640       2,906  

Excess tax benefits from exercises of stock options and conversions of restricted stock units to common shares

     14       149  

Dividends paid

     (8,271 )     (8,453 )

Treasury stock purchases

     —         (17,720 )
                

Net cash used in financing activities

     (18,331 )     (33,832 )
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents

     (4,972 )     (17 )
                

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (13,489 )     (37,684 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

     41,983       61,078  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 28,494     $ 23,394  
                

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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WD-40 COMPANY

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(Unaudited and in thousands)

 

     Three Months Ended February 28 or 29,     Six Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
     2009     2008     2009     2008  

Net income

   $ 4,083     $ 8,666     $ 11,768     $ 14,896  

Other comprehensive loss:

        

Equity adjustment from foreign currency translation, net of tax benefit (provision) of $10 and ($20) for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively; and $140 and ($65) for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively

     (2,991 )     (1,419 )     (11,241 )     (331 )
                                

Total comprehensive income

   $ 1,092     $ 7,247     $ 527     $ 14,565  
                                

See accompanying notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.

 

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WD-40 COMPANY

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Note 1. The Company

WD-40 Company (“the Company”), based in San Diego, California, is a global consumer products company dedicated to delivering unique, high value and easy-to-use solutions for a wide variety of maintenance needs of “doer” and “on-the-job” users by leveraging and building the brand fortress of the Company. The Company markets two multi-purpose maintenance product brands, WD-40® and 3-IN-ONE® Oil, and eight homecare and cleaning product brands, X-14® hard surface cleaners and automatic toilet bowl cleaners, 2000 Flushes® automatic toilet bowl cleaners, Carpet Fresh® and No Vac® rug and room deodorizers, Spot Shot® aerosol and liquid carpet stain removers, 1001® carpet and household cleaners and rug and room deodorizers and Lava® and Solvol® heavy-duty hand cleaners.

The Company’s brands are sold in various locations around the world. Multi-purpose maintenance products are sold worldwide in markets throughout North, Central and South America, Asia, Australia and the Pacific Rim, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Homecare and cleaning products are sold primarily in North America, the U.K., Australia and the Pacific Rim.

Note 2. Basis of Presentation and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The condensed consolidated financial statements included herein have been prepared by the Company, without audit, according to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). 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, 2008 year-end condensed consolidated 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 of America. 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 the 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. Operating results for interim periods are not necessarily indicative of operating results for an entire fiscal year.

In the opinion of management, the unaudited financial information for the interim periods shown reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation thereof. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008 filed with the SEC on October 23, 2008.

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

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 7 percent and 6 percent of the Company’s consolidated net sales during the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively, and 6 percent and 7 percent of the Company’s consolidated net sales during the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively. Excluding sales to U.S. Wal-Mart stores, sales to affiliates of Wal-Mart worldwide accounted for approximately 3 percent and 4 percent of the Company’s consolidated net sales for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively, and 4 percent and 3 percent for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively.

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Foreign Currency Forward Contracts

The Company is exposed to a variety of risks, including foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. In the normal course of business, the Company employs established policies and procedures to manage its exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency values.

The Company’s objective in managing its exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations is to reduce the impact of adverse fluctuations in earnings and cash flows associated with foreign currency exchange rate changes. Accordingly, the Company’s U.K. subsidiary utilizes foreign currency forward contracts in accordance with SFAS No. 52, Foreign Currency Translation, to limit its exposure on converting cash and accounts receivable balances maintained in non-functional currencies. The principal currency affected is the Euro. The Company regularly monitors its foreign exchange exposures to ensure the overall effectiveness of its foreign currency hedge positions. While the Company engages in foreign currency hedging activity to reduce its risk, for accounting purposes, none of its foreign currency forward contracts are designated as hedges.

Forward contracts are accounted for on a mark-to-market basis, with net realized and unrealized gains and losses recognized currently in other income (expense) in the condensed consolidated statements of operations. Cash flows from settlements of forward contracts are included in operating activities in the condensed consolidated statements of cash flows. Forward contracts in an asset position are included in other current assets, while foreign exchange forward contracts in a liability position are included in accrued liabilities in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets.

The Company continually monitors its positions with, and the credit quality of, the major international financial institutions which are counterparties to its foreign currency forward contracts, and has not experienced nonperformance by any of these counterparties. As a matter of policy, the Company does not purchase contracts that exceed the amount of the foreign denominated cash and accounts receivable balances. At February 28, 2009, the Company had approximately $9.8 million of foreign currency forward contracts outstanding with a net unrealized gain of $0.1 million. These foreign currency forward contracts mature from March 2009 through June 2009. For the three and six months ended February 28, 2009, the Company realized net losses on foreign currency forward contracts of $0.5 million and $0.7 million, respectively. For the three and six months ended February 29, 2008, the Company realized net losses on foreign currency forward contracts of $0.2 million and $0.5 million, respectively.

Income Taxes

Current income tax expense is the amount of income taxes expected to be payable for the current year. A deferred income tax liability or asset is established for the expected future tax consequences resulting from the differences in financial reporting and tax bases of assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is provided if it is more likely than not that some or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. In addition to valuation allowances, the Company provides for uncertain tax positions when such tax positions do not meet the recognition thresholds or measurement standards prescribed by Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) Interpretation (“FIN”) No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes—an Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). Amounts for uncertain tax positions are adjusted in periods when new information becomes available or when positions are effectively settled. In accordance with FIN 48, the Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as a component of income tax expense.

U.S. federal income tax expense is provided on remittances of foreign earnings and on unremitted foreign earnings that are not indefinitely reinvested. U.S. federal income taxes and foreign withholding taxes are not provided when foreign earnings are indefinitely reinvested in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 23, Accounting for Income Taxes, Special Areas. The Company determines whether its foreign subsidiaries will invest their undistributed earnings indefinitely based on the capital needs of the foreign subsidiaries. The Company periodically reassesses this determination. Changes to the Company’s determination may be warranted based on the Company’s experience as well as plans regarding future international operations and expected remittances.

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

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. Potentially dilutive securities are comprised of stock options and restricted stock units granted under the Company’s prior stock option plan and current stock incentive plan.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Effective September 1, 2008, the Company adopted the required portions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS No. 157”), which had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements. SFAS No. 157 currently applies to all financial assets and liabilities and those nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis. The effective date of the provisions of SFAS No. 157 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities, except for items recognized at fair value on a recurring basis, was delayed by FASB Staff Position No. 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157, and is effective for the Company’s fiscal year beginning on September 1, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the delayed portions of SFAS No. 157 on its consolidated financial position and results of operations. The adoption of the nondelayed portions of SFAS No. 157 is more fully described in Note 4.

Note 3. Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets

Goodwill and other intangible assets 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 when there is evidence that events or changes in circumstances indicate that an impairment condition may exist.

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 on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives and are evaluated each reporting period to determine whether events and circumstances continue to support their remaining useful lives.

During the quarter ended February 28, 2009, the Company performed its annual impairment test of goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets. Based on the results of this test, the Company determined that its indefinite-lived intangible asset related to its Carpet Fresh brand of homecare and cleaning products was impaired by $2.8 million. The impairment charge was recorded in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations for the three and six months ended February 28, 2009. The impairment was due to an increase in cost of goods and a decline in future forecasted sales levels of the Carpet Fresh brand, both of which occurred during the quarter ended February 28, 2009. The decline in future forecasted sales levels resulted from the Company’s strategic decision to redirect its research and development efforts towards its global brands, the loss of distribution with a significant U.S. mass retail customer and assumed lower future foreign currency exchange rates in the U.K. and Australia. While these factors also impacted the indefinite-lived intangible assets related to the Company’s other homecare and cleaning products, they did not result in an impairment to any of such other indefinite-lived intangible assets for the quarter ended February 28, 2009.

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

As of February 28, 2009, the fair values of the Carpet Fresh and X-14 brands approximate their carrying values, and the fair values of the Company’s other homecare and cleaning brands exceed their carrying values. However, a future impairment could result if there is a change to any of the assumptions used in the Company’s impairment test, including the following: forecasted sales revenue, advertising and promotional expenses, cost of products sold, gross margins, operating margins, the success of product innovations and introductions, customer retention, development of new and/or alternative distribution channels, tax rates, terminal growth values and the selection of appropriate discount and royalty rates. The Company will continue to closely monitor events and circumstances that could further impair its indefinite-lived intangible assets.

Acquisition-related Goodwill

Changes in the carrying amounts of acquisition-related goodwill by segment for the six months ended February 28, 2009 are summarized below (in thousands):

 

     Americas     Europe     Asia-Pacific     Total  

Balance as of August 31, 2008

   $ 85,637     $ 9,059     $ 1,213     $ 95,909  

Translation adjustments

     (142 )     (854 )     (3 )     (999 )
                                

Balance as of February 28, 2009

   $ 85,495     $ 8,205     $ 1,210     $ 94,910  
                                

Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets

Intangible assets, excluding acquisition-related 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. Changes in the carrying amounts of indefinite-lived intangible assets by segment for the six months ended February 28, 2009 are summarized below (in thousands):

 

     Americas     Europe     Asia-Pacific    Total  

Balance as of August 31, 2008

   $ 34,360     $ 3,693     $ —      $ 38,053  

Impairment charge

     (2,760 )     —         —        (2,760 )

Translation adjustments

     —         (795 )     —        (795 )
                               

Balance as of February 28, 2009

   $ 31,600     $ 2,898     $ —      $ 34,498  
                               

Definite-lived Intangible Asset

The Company’s definite-lived intangible asset consists of certain non-contractual customer relationships from the acquisition of the 1001 line of products during fiscal year 2004. 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. The following table summarizes the non-contractual customer relationships intangible asset and the related accumulated amortization as of February 28, 2009 and August 31, 2008 (in thousands):

 

     February 28,
2009
    August 31,
2008
 

Gross carrying amount

   $ 3,397     $ 4,329  

Accumulated amortization

     (2,088 )     (2,390 )
                

Net carrying amount

   $ 1,309     $ 1,939  
                

Changes in the carrying amount of the definite-lived intangible asset for the six months ended February 28, 2009 are summarized below (in thousands):

 

     Americas    Europe     Asia-Pacific    Total  

Balance as of August 31, 2008

   $ —      $ 1,939     $ —      $ 1,939  

Amortization expense

     —        (239 )     —        (239 )

Translation adjustments

     —        (391 )     —        (391 )
                              

Balance as of February 28, 2009

   $ —      $ 1,309     $ —      $ 1,309  
                              

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

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 expense for the non-contractual customer relationships intangible asset in future fiscal years is as follows (in thousands):

 

Remainder of fiscal year 2009

   $ 212

Fiscal year 2010

     425

Fiscal year 2011

     425

Fiscal year 2012

     247
      
   $ 1,309
      

Note 4. Fair Value Measurements

Effective September 1, 2008, the Company adopted the required portions of SFAS No. 157 for financial assets and liabilities. SFAS No. 157 establishes a hierarchy that prioritizes fair value measurements into the following three categories based on the types of inputs used in measuring fair value:

Level 1: Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: Observable market-based inputs or observable inputs that are corroborated by market data; and

Level 3: Unobservable inputs reflecting the Company’s own assumptions.

The following table sets forth the Company’s financial assets that were measured at fair value as of February 28, 2009, and indicates the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques utilized by the Company to determine such fair value (in thousands):

 

     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets

(Level 1)
   Significant
Other
Observable
Inputs

(Level 2)
   Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)

Assets:

        

Money market funds

   $ —      $ 5,439    $ —  

Money market funds are classified as cash and cash equivalents in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets as of February 28, 2009.

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

Note 5. Supplementary Balance Sheet Information (in thousands):

 

     February 28,
2009
    August 31,
2008
 

Inventories:

    

Raw materials and components

   $ 3,004     $ 3,766  

Work-in-process

     1,162       1,174  

Finished goods

     14,376       13,340  
                
   $ 18,542     $ 18,280  
                

Other current assets:

    

Prepaid expenses and other

   $ 2,924     $ 3,453  

Federal income taxes receivable

     1,194       —    
                
   $ 4,118     $ 3,453  
                

Property, plant and equipment, net:

    

Machinery, equipment and vehicles

   $ 12,213     $ 11,507  

Buildings and improvements

     4,232       4,540  

Computer and office equipment

     2,802       3,132  

Software

     3,772       3,769  

Furniture and fixtures

     874       899  

Land

     527       574  
                
     24,420       24,421  

Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization

     (13,243 )     (13,112 )
                
   $ 11,177     $ 11,309  
                

Accrued liabilities:

    

Accrued advertising and sales promotion expenses

   $ 8,792     $ 8,232  

Other

     5,588       4,911  
                
   $ 14,380     $ 13,143  
                

Accrued payroll and related expenses:

    

Accrued payroll

   $ 1,694     $ 1,519  

Accrued bonuses

     793       1,988  

Accrued profit sharing

     388       1,408  

Accrued payroll taxes

     607       930  

Other

     205       239  
                
   $ 3,687     $ 6,084  
                

Deferred employee benefits and other long-term liabilities:

    

Supplemental employee retirement plan benefits liability

   $ 817     $ 878  

Other income taxes payable

     2,077       2,077  

Other

     114       144  
                
   $ 3,008     $ 3,099  
                

Note 6. Earnings per Common Share

The table below summarizes the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding included in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings per common share (“EPS”) for the three and six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008:

 

     Three Months Ended February 28 or 29,    Six Months Ended February 28 or 29,
     2009    2008    2009    2008

Weighted-average common shares outstanding, basic

   16,500,749    16,784,469    16,498,200    16,836,803

Weighted-average dilutive securities

   149,091    187,033    163,491    195,344
                   

Weighted-average common shares outstanding, diluted

   16,649,840    16,971,502    16,661,691    17,032,147
                   

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

For the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, there were 1,243,656 and 588,765 weighted-average stock options outstanding, respectively, that were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the stock options having an exercise price greater than or equal to the average market value of the Company’s common stock during the period. For the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, there were 937,723 and 294,383 weighted-average stock options outstanding, respectively, that were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the stock options having an exercise price greater than or equal to the average market value of the Company’s common stock during the period.

Additionally, for the six months ended February 29, 2008, there were 214,169 weighted-average stock options outstanding that were excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS under the treasury stock method as they were anti-dilutive. These stock 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 services 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 stock options. For the three and six months ended February 28, 2009 and the three months ended February 29, 2008, there were no additional anti-dilutive weighted-average stock options outstanding excluded from the calculation of diluted EPS under the treasury stock method.

Note 7. Related Parties

VML Company L.L.C. (“VML”), a Delaware company, was formed in April 2001, at which time the Company acquired a 30% membership interest. VML makes profit distributions to the Company and the 70% owner on a discretionary basis in proportion to each party’s respective interest. VML currently serves as one of the Company’s contract manufacturers for certain homecare and cleaning products. During fiscal year 2008, VML acquired a significant new customer, which resulted in manufacturing disruptions. As a result, the Company transitioned its sourcing to alternative suppliers to significantly reduce its reliance on VML as a manufacturer.

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 FIN 46(R), 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 earnings or losses of VML 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 losses related to its investment in VML of $192,000 and $60,000 for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively, and $435,000 and $19,000 for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively. The Company’s investment in VML has been written off in full as of February 28, 2009.

Cost of products sold which were purchased from VML, net of rebates and equity earnings or losses, was approximately $3.5 million and $4.5 million during the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively, and $7.7 million and $11.2 million for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively. The Company had product payables to VML of $0.3 million and $0.5 million as of February 28, 2009 and August 31, 2008, respectively. Additionally, the Company receives rental income from VML, which is recorded as a component of other income, net in the Company’s condensed consolidated statements of operations.

Note 8. Commitments and Contingencies

The Company has relationships with various suppliers (or 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 obsolete or slow-moving inventory.

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

In addition to the commitments to purchase products from contract manufacturers described above, the Company may also enter into commitments with other manufacturers to purchase finished goods and components to support innovation initiatives and/or supply chain initiatives. As of February 28, 2009, such commitments totaled approximately $1.9 million.

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 consolidated 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. On August 24, 2007, the Company successfully defeated the plaintiff’s attempt to have the case certified as a class action. The plaintiff has been granted permission to appeal the District Court’s decision. If the plaintiff is successful in an appeal and 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 Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. There is not sufficient information to estimate the Company’s exposure at this time.

Since 2004, the Company has been named as a defendant in 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 “Benzene Lawsuits”). 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. The Company believes its products have always been formulated without containing benzene and that the facts developed in litigation to date support this position. The plaintiffs in the Benzene Lawsuits typically seek damages in unspecified amounts for injuries or death attributable to a form of cancer linked to exposure to benzene. The Company is unable to quantify the total amount of damages asserted by the plaintiffs in the Benzene Lawsuits. 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 consolidated financial condition or results of operations. The Company is vigorously defending these lawsuits. 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 increases, it is reasonably possible that such costs of defense may materially affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows in future periods.

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 February 28, 2009.

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

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

 

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. Thus, no liabilities have been recorded with respect to such indemnification agreements as of February 28, 2009.

Note 9. Income Taxes

To determine its quarterly provision for income taxes, the Company uses an estimated annual effective tax rate, which is based on expected annual income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates. Certain significant or unusual items are separately recognized in the quarter in which they occur and can be a source of variability in the effective tax rates from quarter to quarter.

As of February 28, 2009 and August 31, 2008, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $1.7 million, of which $1.1 million would affect the effective tax rate if recognized. As of February 28, 2009 and August 31, 2008, the total balance of accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits was $0.4 million. The gross liability for income taxes related to unrecognized tax benefits is included in other long-term liabilities in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. There were no material interest or penalties included in income tax expense for the three and six months ended February 28, 2009.

The Company is subject to taxation in the U.S. and in various state and foreign jurisdictions. The Company currently has no years under examination by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and is not subject to examination for years prior to fiscal year 2005. Generally, for the majority of state and foreign jurisdictions where the Company does business, periods prior to fiscal year 2004 are no longer subject to examination. The Company is currently under audit in various state and local jurisdictions for fiscal years 2004 through 2007. The Company has estimated that up to $0.3 million of unrecognized tax benefits related to income tax positions may be affected by the resolution of tax examinations or expiring statutes of limitation within the remainder of the current fiscal year. Audit outcomes and the timing of settlements are subject to significant uncertainty.

During the six months ended February 28, 2009, the Company recorded liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits of $0.1 million in the current fiscal year, offset by recognized tax benefits of $0.1 million due to expiring statutes.

Note 10. 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 portion of costs from headquarters relates 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 CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

The tables below present information about reportable segments and net sales by product line as of and for the three and six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (in thousands):

 

As of and for the Three Months Ended February 28 or 29:                    
     Americas    Europe    Asia-Pacific    Total

2009

           

Net sales

   $ 37,241    $ 19,546    $ 5,050    $ 61,837

Income from operations (1)

   $ 1,021    $ 3,829    $ 485    $ 5,335

Depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 563    $ 273    $ 35    $ 871

Interest income

   $ 23    $ 59    $ 8    $ 90

Interest expense

   $ 599    $ —      $ 1    $ 600

Total assets

   $ 179,350    $ 59,682    $ 7,448    $ 246,480

2008

           

Net sales

   $ 41,887    $ 29,757    $ 7,304    $ 78,948

Income from operations (1)

   $ 4,682    $ 7,407    $ 1,314    $ 13,403

Depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 512    $ 374    $ 45    $ 931

Interest income

   $ 225    $ 191    $ 10    $ 426

Interest expense

   $ 811    $ —      $ 5    $ 816

Total assets

   $ 183,939    $ 68,977    $ 9,141    $ 262,057

 

(1) For the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, income from operations for the Americas segment included costs from headquarters of $4.3 million and $4.5 million, respectively.

 

As of and for the Six Months Ended February 28 or 29:                    
     Americas    Europe    Asia-Pacific    Total

2009

           

Net sales

   $ 82,762    $ 49,680    $ 12,992    $ 145,434

Income from operations (2)

   $ 5,525    $ 10,197    $ 1,691    $ 17,413

Depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 1,130    $ 581    $ 69    $ 1,780

Interest income

   $ 63    $ 263    $ 22    $ 348

Interest expense

   $ 1,294    $ —      $ 4    $ 1,298

Total assets

   $ 179,350    $ 59,682    $ 7,448    $ 246,480

2008

           

Net sales

   $ 85,442    $ 58,153    $ 14,503    $ 158,098

Income from operations (2)

   $ 8,420    $ 11,942    $ 2,495    $ 22,857

Depreciation and amortization expense

   $ 1,038    $ 736    $ 88    $ 1,862

Interest income

   $ 550    $ 387    $ 19    $ 956

Interest expense

   $ 1,743    $ —      $ 9    $ 1,752

Total assets

   $ 183,939    $ 68,977    $ 9,141    $ 262,057

 

(2) For the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, income from operations for the Americas segment included costs from headquarters of $8.9 million and $8.3 million, respectively.

 

Net Sales by Product Line:     
     Three Months Ended February 28 or 29,
     2009    2008

Multi-purpose maintenance products

   $ 47,084    $ 59,306

Homecare and cleaning products

     14,753      19,642
             
   $ 61,837    $ 78,948
             
Net Sales by Product Line:     
     Six Months Ended February 28 or 29,
     2009    2008

Multi-purpose maintenance products

   $ 112,959    $ 116,623

Homecare and cleaning products

     32,475      41,475
             
   $ 145,434    $ 158,098
             

 

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NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (continued)

Note 11. Subsequent Event

On March 24, 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share payable on April 30, 2009 to shareholders of record on April 16, 2009.

 

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

As used in this report, the terms “we,” “our,” “us” and “the Company” refer to WD-40 Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, unless the context suggests otherwise. Amounts and percents in tables and discussions may not total due to rounding.

The following information is provided as a supplement to, and should be read in conjunction with, the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report and the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto and Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on October 23, 2008.

Overview

The Company

WD-40 Company, based in San Diego, California, is a global consumer products company dedicated to delivering unique, high value and easy-to-use solutions for a wide variety of maintenance needs of “doer” and “on-the-job” users by leveraging and building the brand fortress of the Company. We market two multi-purpose maintenance products, WD-40® and 3-IN-ONE® Oil, and eight homecare and cleaning products, X-14® hard surface cleaners and automatic toilet bowl cleaners, 2000 Flushes® automatic toilet bowl cleaners, Carpet Fresh® and No Vac® rug and room deodorizers, Spot Shot® aerosol and liquid carpet stain removers, 1001® carpet and household cleaners and rug and room deodorizers and Lava® and Solvol® heavy-duty hand cleaners.

Multi-purpose maintenance products are sold worldwide in markets throughout North, Central and South America, Asia, Australia and the Pacific Rim, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Homecare and cleaning products are sold primarily in North America, the U.K., Australia and the Pacific Rim. We sell our products primarily through mass retail and home center stores, warehouse club stores, grocery stores, hardware stores, automotive parts outlets and industrial distributors and suppliers.

We plan to continue to leverage and build the brand fortress of our Company by developing and acquiring brands that deliver a unique, high value to end users and that can be distributed across multiple trade channels in one or more areas of the world.

Highlights

 

   

Consolidated net sales decreased 22% for the second quarter of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year due to decreases in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas of 34%, 31% and 11%, respectively. On a year-to-date basis, consolidated net sales decreased 8% compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year due to decreases in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas of 15%, 10% and 3%, respectively.

 

   

Net income decreased 53% and 21% for the three and six months ended February 28, 2009, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods of the prior fiscal year.

 

   

Changes in foreign currency exchange rates for the second quarter of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year had an unfavorable impact on our net sales and net income. The current fiscal year second quarter results translated at last fiscal year’s second quarter exchange rates would have produced net sales of $70.3 million and net income of $5.7 million. Thus, excluding the impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates quarter over quarter, net sales and net income would have decreased by 11% and 34%, respectively. The current fiscal year-to-date results translated at last fiscal year’s exchange rates would have produced net sales of $159.4 million and net income of $14.2 million. Thus, excluding the impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period, net sales would have increased 1%, while net income would have decreased 5%.

 

   

Sales of multi-purpose maintenance products decreased 21% for the current fiscal year second quarter compared to the prior fiscal year second quarter due to declines in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas of 34%, 32% and 4%, respectively. On a year-to-date basis, sales of multi-purpose maintenance products decreased 3% compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year due to declines in Europe and Asia-Pacific of 15% and 10%, respectively,

 

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partially offset by an increase in the Americas of 10%. The year-to-date sales decline in the Europe segment was due solely to the impact of the changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In local currency, the Europe segment experienced an increase of 6% in sales of multi-purpose maintenance products.

 

   

The categories in which our homecare and cleaning products are sold are very competitive by nature. Sales of our homecare and cleaning products decreased 25% for the current fiscal year second quarter compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year as a result of sales decreases in Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Americas of 36%, 25% and 23%, respectively. On a year-to-date basis, sales of homecare and cleaning products decreased 22% compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year due to declines in the Americas, Europe and Asia-Pacific of 24%, 14% and 13%, respectively. The year-to-date sales decline in the Europe segment was due solely to the impact of the changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In local currency, the Europe segment experienced an increase of 8% in sales of homecare and cleaning products.

 

   

During the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, the Company recorded an impairment charge of $2.8 million related to its Carpet Fresh indefinite-lived intangible asset. The impairment was due to an increase in cost of goods and a decline in future forecasted sales levels of the Carpet Fresh brand, both of which occurred during the second quarter of fiscal year 2009. The decline in future forecasted sales levels resulted from our strategic decision to redirect our research and development efforts towards our global brands, the loss of distribution with a significant U.S. mass retail customer and assumed lower future foreign currency exchange rates in the U.K. and Australia. We are taking measures to reduce the influence of the volatile grocery trade channel on the sales of our homecare and cleaning products.

 

   

A significant challenge for us continues to be the rising costs of components and raw materials. In recent years, we have incurred continuous cost increases. To combat the rise in costs, we have implemented price increases on certain products during each of the last three fiscal years, and we have implemented further price increases worldwide during fiscal year 2009. As a result, our gross margin as a percentage of net sales increased to 49.6% from 48.3% for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

Results of Operations

Three Months Ended February 28, 2009 Compared to Three Months Ended February 29, 2008

Operating Items

The following table summarizes operating data for our consolidated operations for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (in thousands, except percentages and per share amounts):

 

     Three Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
               Change from
Prior Year
 
     2009    2008    Dollars     Percent  

Net sales:

          

Multi-purpose maintenance products

   $ 47,084    $ 59,306    $ (12,222 )   (21 )%

Homecare and cleaning products

     14,753      19,642      (4,889 )   (25 )%
                        

Total net sales

     61,837      78,948      (17,111 )   (22 )%

Cost of products sold

     31,192      40,808      (9,616 )   (24 )%
                        

Gross profit

     30,645      38,140      (7,495 )   (20 )%

Operating expenses

     25,310      24,737      573     2 %
                        

Income from operations

   $ 5,335    $ 13,403    $ (8,068 )   (60 )%
                        

Net income

   $ 4,083    $ 8,666    $ (4,583 )   (53 )%
                        

Earnings per common share – diluted

   $ 0.25    $ 0.51    $ (0.26 )   (52 )%
                        

 

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Net Sales by Segment

The following table summarizes net sales by segment for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Three Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
               Change from
Prior Year
 
     2009    2008    Dollars     Percent  

Americas

   $ 37,241    $ 41,887    $ (4,646 )   (11 )%

Europe

     19,546      29,757      (10,211 )   (34 )%

Asia-Pacific

     5,050      7,304      (2,254 )   (31 )%
                        
   $ 61,837    $ 78,948    $ (17,111 )   (22 )%
                        

Americas

The following table summarizes net sales by product line for the Americas segment for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Three Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
                 Change from
Prior Year
 
     2009     2008     Dollars     Percent  

Multi-purpose maintenance products

   $ 25,368     $ 26,550     $ (1,182 )   (4 )%

Homecare and cleaning products

     11,873       15,337       (3,464 )   (23 )%
                          
   $ 37,241     $ 41,887     $ (4,646 )   (11 )%
                          

% of consolidated net sales

     60 %     53 %    
                    

Sales in the Americas decreased to $37.2 million, down $4.6 million, or 11%, for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year had an unfavorable impact on sales. Sales for the three months ended February 28, 2009 translated at the exchange rates in effect for the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year would have produced sales of $38.0 million in the Americas segment. Thus, excluding the impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period, sales would have decreased by approximately $3.9 million, or 9%, for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

Sales of multi-purpose maintenance products in the Americas for the three months ended February 28, 2009 decreased 4% compared to the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year primarily due to sales decreases in Canada of 29% and the U.S. of 1%. The decrease in sales in Canada was primarily due to the changes in foreign currency exchange rates and the timing of promotional activities. Sales of multi-purpose maintenance products in the U.S. declined as customers continued to reduce inventory levels in response to the slowing economy, partially offset by price increases that were implemented during the current fiscal year first quarter.

Sales of homecare and cleaning products in the Americas decreased 23% for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year due to sales declines across all homecare and cleaning brands throughout the Americas segment. The most significant decreases related to sales of automatic toilet bowl cleaners and Carpet Fresh which were down 27% and 47%, respectively, compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. These declines were the result of several factors, including lost distribution, declining product categories or shifts within these categories, the effect of competitive factors and challenges due to the ongoing economic slowdown.

Our homecare and cleaning products compete in a highly competitive market and continue to face diminishing product categories or shifts within these categories. Additionally, as a result of the current economic slowdown, our sales are subject to changes in customer purchasing patterns. Such changes may result from changes in the manner in which customers purchase and manage inventory levels and/or display and promote our products within their stores. We are addressing these challenges through our focus on increased consumer-targeted marketing tactics and new distribution channels, as well as the continued renovation of certain of our homecare and cleaning product lines. We have made a strategic decision to redirect our research and development efforts related to our homecare and cleaning products to reduce our dependence on the volatile grocery trade channel.

 

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For the Americas segment, 82% of sales came from the U.S., and 18% came from Canada and Latin America for the three months ended February 28, 2009, compared to the distribution for the three months ended February 29, 2008, when 81% of sales came from the U.S. and 19% came from Canada and Latin America.

Europe

The following table summarizes net sales by product line for the Europe segment for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Three Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
                 Change from
Prior Year
 
     2009     2008     Dollars     Percent  

Multi-purpose maintenance products

   $ 17,601     $ 26,706     $ (9,105 )   (34 )%

Homecare and cleaning products

     1,945       3,051       (1,106 )   (36 )%
                          
   $ 19,546     $ 29,757     $ (10,211 )   (34 )%
                          

% of consolidated net sales

     32 %     38 %    
                    

Sales in Europe decreased to $19.5 million, down $10.2 million, or 34%, for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year negatively impacted sales. Sales for the three months ended February 28, 2009 translated at the exchange rates in effect for the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year would have produced sales of $26.6 million in the Europe segment. Thus, excluding the impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period, sales would have decreased by approximately $3.2 million, or 11%, for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

The countries in Europe where we sell through a direct sales force include the U.K., Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Austria. Overall, sales from these direct markets decreased 27% for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year and accounted for 77% of the region’s sales, up from 69% in the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year. Percentage decreases in sales in U.S. dollars across the Europe segment were as follows: U.K., 39%; Spain, 36%; German sales region, 19%; Italy 15%; and France, 4%.

While most of the countries throughout the Europe segment experienced sales declines as customers reduced inventory levels in response to the economic slowdown, France experienced sales growth of 13% in local currency. The sales growth in France was driven by the continued growth of the WD-40 Smart Straw and the 3-IN-ONE Pro product line. However, the negative impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates period over period more than offset this sales growth in local currency.

In the countries in which we sell through local distributors, sales decreased 52% for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year due primarily to the timing of promotional activities as well as customers reducing inventory levels across all trade channels. The distributor market accounted for approximately 23% of the total Europe segment sales for the three months ended February 28, 2009, compared to 31% for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

 

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Asia-Pacific

The following table summarizes net sales by product line for the Asia-Pacific segment for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Three Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
                 Change from
Prior Year
 
     2009     2008     Dollars     Percent  

Multi-purpose maintenance products

   $ 4,115     $ 6,050     $ (1,935 )   (32 )%

Homecare and cleaning products

     935       1,254       (319 )   (25 )%
                          
   $ 5,050     $ 7,304     $ (2,254 )   (31 )%
                          

% of consolidated net sales

     8 %     9 %    
                    

In the Asia-Pacific segment, which includes Australia and Asia, sales decreased to $5.1 million, down $2.3 million, or 31%, for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared to the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year had an unfavorable impact on sales. Sales for the three months ended February 28, 2009 translated at the exchange rates in effect for the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year would have produced sales of $5.7 million in the Asia-Pacific segment. Thus, excluding the impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period, sales would have decreased by approximately $1.6 million, or 22%, for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

Sales in Asia decreased 35% for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year, primarily due to decreased sales of WD-40 products across the entire region, including China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. Sales in China decreased 22%, while sales across the rest of the Asian region decreased 40%. The decreases throughout the entire Asia segment were primarily due to the slow economic environment. We began to experience a slowdown in certain markets in this region during the first quarter of fiscal year 2009. We expect the overall economic uncertainty across the region to negatively impact sales for the remainder of fiscal year 2009.

Sales in Australia decreased 24% for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year due to the impact of foreign currency exchange rates which negatively affected sales for the three months ended February 28, 2009. Excluding the impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period, sales remained flat versus the same period last year.

Gross Profit

Gross profit was $30.6 million, or 49.6% of net sales, for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to $38.1 million, or 48.3% of net sales, in the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of net sales was due primarily to price increases implemented worldwide during the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, partially offset by the continued increase in costs of products, losses associated with VML Company L.L.C. (“VML”), a related party contract manufacturer, and costs from product conversions and sourcing changes. The aforementioned price increases added approximately 5.4 percentage points to our gross margin percentage for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009.

The rise in costs of products has been primarily due to the increase in costs for components and raw materials, including petroleum-based materials and aerosol cans, during fiscal year 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. The higher costs for petroleum-based materials and aerosol cans negatively impacted our gross margin by 1.6 percentage points in the current fiscal year second quarter. Although the cost of oil declined during the second half of calendar year 2008, we will not begin to experience the full benefit from lower costs of petroleum-based products until the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. In addition, we began to experience a significant increase in the cost of aerosol cans at the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 primarily due to the cost of tinplate used to manufacture such cans. Tinplate pricing is set annually and is independent of the movements in the cost of steel on the spot market. While the cost of steel on the spot market has experienced recent declines, the cost of aerosol cans has not benefited from this recent trend. The increase in the cost of aerosol cans is expected to offset any benefit from the decline in the cost of petroleum-based products.

Losses associated with VML also partially offset the benefit of price increases and negatively impacted gross profit by 0.2 percentage points during the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. We have a 30%

 

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equity investment in VML which is accounted for using the equity method of accounting, and our equity in earnings or losses of VML is recorded as a component of cost of products sold. During the three months ended February 28, 2009, we incurred additional cost of products sold of approximately $0.2 million related to our investment in VML. These losses were the result of manufacturing inefficiencies at VML related to their acquisition of a significant new customer during fiscal year 2008. In response to these inefficiencies, we obtained alternative manufacturers, who are expected to help improve the cost structure for some of our products. Our investment in VML has been written off in full as of February 28, 2009.

In addition to rising costs and losses associated with VML, the remaining costs associated with product conversions and sourcing changes in the U.S. during last fiscal year’s fourth quarter also negatively impacted gross profit by 0.4 percentage points during the current fiscal year second quarter compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. Product conversions related to Spot Shot and automatic toilet bowl cleaners resulted in obsolete packaging and other components as well as finished goods that were expensed in cost of products sold. We expect the additional sales and margin opportunities arising from the conversions and sourcing changes to far outweigh the short-term costs of the conversions.

In general, shifts in product and customer mix, as well as the timing of advertising, promotional and other discounts, which are recorded as a reduction to sales, may cause fluctuations in gross margin percentage from period to period. Examples of advertising, promotional and other discounts include coupon redemptions, consideration and allowances given to retailers for space and/or favorable display positions in their stores, co-operative advertising and promotional activity, volume discounts and other one-time or ongoing incentives. During the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, advertising, promotional and other discounts increased compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year, negatively impacting gross margin by 0.8 percentage points. The increase in such discounts was due to the fact that a greater percentage of sales during the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 was subject to promotional allowances due to the overall increase in promotional activity in response to the slowing economy.

Note that our 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 (“SG&A”) expenses for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 decreased to $17.8 million, or 28.8% of net sales, from $20.3 million, or 25.8% of net sales, for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in SG&A was largely attributable to the impact of foreign currency translation and to lower freight costs. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year decreased SG&A expenses by $2.3 million for the three months ended February 28, 2009. SG&A expenses for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 translated at the exchange rates in effect for the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year would have produced total SG&A expenses of $20.1 million. Freight costs decreased $0.4 million primarily due to improved shipping efficiencies and reduced fuel costs. Sales commissions decreased $0.2 million primarily due to the decline in sales. Partially offsetting these decreases were increases in employee-related costs and other miscellaneous expenses. Employee-related costs, which include salaries, profit sharing and other fringe benefits, increased $0.2 million due to annual compensation increases and higher staffing levels primarily to support the growth of international operations. Other miscellaneous expenses, including stock-based compensation, professional services costs and bad debt expense, increased by $0.2 million.

We continued our research and development investment in support of our focus on innovation and renovation. Research and development costs for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 were $1.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively. Our new-product development team, 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 our current and prospective outsource suppliers.

 

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Advertising and Sales Promotion Expenses

Advertising and sales promotion expenses increased to $4.6 million, or 7.4% of net sales, for the second quarter of fiscal year 2009, up from $4.2 million, or 5.4% of net sales, for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. The increase was related to the timing of investment in advertising activities, partially offset by the favorable impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates. In the current fiscal year second quarter, we increased our level of consumer print advertising in the U.S. to promote the Spot Shot brand of homecare and cleaning products. Investment in global advertising and sales promotion expenses for fiscal year 2009 is expected to be in the range of 6.5% to 8.5% of 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. The costs of certain promotional activities are required to be recorded as reductions to sales, while others remain in advertising and sales promotion expenses. For the three months ended February 28, 2009, total promotional costs recorded as a reduction to sales were $3.5 million compared to $3.9 million for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. Therefore, our total investment in advertising and sales promotion activities remained flat at $8.1 million for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively.

Amortization of Intangible Asset Expense

Amortization of our definite-lived intangible asset was $110,000 and $150,000 for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively. The amortization relates to the non-contractual customer relationships acquired in the 1001 acquisition completed by the Europe segment in fiscal year 2004. This intangible asset is recorded and amortized in pounds sterling on a straight-line basis over its estimated eight-year life and is converted to U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. Therefore, any fluctuations in amortization from period to period are the result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Impairment of Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets

During the second quarter of the current fiscal year, we performed our annual impairment test in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, and SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. As a result, we recorded an impairment charge of $2.8 million during the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 to reduce the carrying value of our Carpet Fresh indefinite-lived intangible asset to its estimated fair value. The impairment was due to an increase in cost of goods and a decline in future forecasted sales levels of the Carpet Fresh brand, both of which occurred during the three months ended February 28, 2009. The decline in future forecasted sales levels resulted from our strategic decision to redirect our research and development efforts towards our global brands, the loss of distribution with a significant U.S. mass retail customer and assumed lower future foreign currency exchange rates in the U.K. and Australia. While these factors also impacted the indefinite-lived intangible assets related to our other homecare and cleaning products, they did not result in an impairment to any of such other indefinite-lived intangible assets for the three months ended February 28, 2009.

As of February 28, 2009, the fair values of the Carpet Fresh and X-14 brands approximate their carrying values, and the fair values of our other homecare and cleaning brands exceed their carrying values. However, a future impairment could result if there is a change to any of the assumptions used in our impairment test, including the following: forecasted sales revenue, advertising and promotional expenses, cost of products sold, gross margins, operating margins, the success of product innovations and introductions, customer retention, development of new and/or alternative distribution channels, tax rates, terminal growth values and the selection of appropriate discount and royalty rates. We will continue to closely monitor events and circumstances that could further impair our indefinite-lived intangible assets.

 

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Non-Operating Items

The following table summarizes non-operating income and expenses for our consolidated operations for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (in thousands):

 

     Three Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
     2009    2008    Change  

Interest expense, net

   $ 510    $ 390    $ 120  

Other income, net

   $ 480    $ 229    $ 251  

Provision for income taxes

   $ 1,222    $ 4,576    $ (3,354 )

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net increased for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. Although interest expense decreased due to the lower principal balance on long-term borrowings resulting from the annual $10.7 million principal payment made in October 2008, this decrease was more than offset by a larger decrease in interest income as a result of lower interest rates during the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net increased $0.3 million for the three months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year primarily due to increased foreign currency exchange gains in Europe.

Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes was 23.0% of income before income taxes for the three months ended February 28, 2009, a decrease from 34.6% for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in tax rate was primarily due to an enacted California tax law change. As a result, we revalued our deferred tax assets and liabilities that are expected to reverse after the effective date of this law change. This resulted in a tax benefit for the three months ended February 28, 2009 of approximately $0.5 million.

Net Income

Net income was $4.1 million, or $0.25 per common share on a fully diluted basis for the three months ended February 28, 2009, compared to $8.7 million, or $0.51 per common share on a fully diluted basis for the three months ended February 29, 2008. The change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period had a negative impact of $1.6 million on net income for the three months ended February 28, 2009. Net income for the three months ended February 28, 2009 translated at the exchange rates in effect for the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year would have produced net income of $5.7 million.

 

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Six Months Ended February 28, 2009 Compared to Six Months Ended February 29, 2008

Operating Items

The following table summarizes operating data for our consolidated operations for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (in thousands, except percentages and per share amounts):

 

     Six Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
                 Change from
Prior Year
 
     2009     2008     Dollars     Percent  

Net sales:

        

Multi-purpose maintenance products

   $ 112,959     $ 116,623     $ (3,664 )   (3 )%

Homecare and cleaning products

     32,475       41,475       (9,000 )   (22 )%
                          

Total net sales

     145,434       158,098       (12,664 )   (8 )%

Cost of products sold

     76,052       82,488       (6,436 )   (8 )%
                          

Gross profit

     69,382       75,610       (6,228 )   (8 )%

Operating expenses

     51,969       52,753       (784 )   (1 )%
                          

Income from operations

   $ 17,413     $ 22,857     $ (5,444 )   (24 )%
                          

Net income

   $ 11,768     $ 14,896     $ (3,128 )   (21 )%
                          

Earnings per common share – diluted

   $ 0.71       $ 0.87       $ (0.16 )   (19 )%
                          

Net Sales by Segment

The following table summarizes net sales by segment for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Six Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
                 Change from
Prior Year
 
     2009     2008     Dollars     Percent  

Americas

   $ 82,762     $ 85,442     $ (2,680 )   (3 )%

Europe

     49,680       58,153       (8,473 )   (15 )%

Asia-Pacific

     12,992       14,503       (1,511 )   (10 )%
                          
   $ 145,434       $ 158,098       $ (12,664 )   (8 )%
                          

Americas

The following table summarizes net sales by product line for the Americas segment for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Six Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
                 Change from
Prior Year
 
     2009     2008     Dollars     Percent  

Multi-purpose maintenance products

   $   57,059     $   51,814     $    5,245     10 %

Homecare and cleaning products

     25,703       33,628       (7,925 )   (24 )%
                          
   $ 82,762     $ 85,442     $ (2,680 )   (3 )%
                          

% of consolidated net sales

     57 %     54 %    
                    

Sales in the Americas decreased to $82.8 million, down $2.7 million, or 3%, for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year had an unfavorable impact on sales. Sales for the six months ended February 28, 2009 translated at the exchange rates in effect for the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year would have produced sales of $83.8 million in the Americas segment. Thus, excluding the impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period, sales would have decreased by $1.6 million, or 2%, for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

Sales of multi-purpose maintenance products in the Americas for the six months ended February 28, 2009 increased $5.2 million, or

 

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10%, compared to the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year primarily due to sales growth in the U.S. of 14%. Sales of multi-purpose maintenance products in the U.S. increased due to price increases and promotional activities during the first quarter of fiscal year 2009; however, such growth was partially offset by sales decreases during the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 as customers continued to reduce inventory levels in response to the slowing economy.

Sales of homecare and cleaning products in the Americas decreased $7.9 million, or 24%, for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year due to sales declines across all homecare and cleaning brands throughout the Americas segment. The most significant decreases related to sales of automatic toilet bowl cleaners and Carpet Fresh which were down 28% and 34%, respectively, compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. These declines were the result of several factors, including lost distribution, declining categories or shifts within these categories, the effect of competitive factors and challenges due to the ongoing economic slowdown.

Our homecare and cleaning products compete in a highly competitive market and continue to face diminishing product categories or shifts within these categories. Additionally, as a result of the current economic slowdown, our sales are subject to changes in customer purchasing patterns. Such changes may result from changes in the manner in which customers purchase and manage inventory levels and/or display and promote our products within their stores. We are addressing these challenges through our focus on increased consumer-targeted marketing tactics and new distribution channels, as well as the continued renovation of certain of our homecare and cleaning product lines. We have made a strategic decision to redirect our research and development efforts related to our homecare and cleaning products to reduce our dependence on the volatile grocery trade channel.

For the Americas segment, 81% of sales came from the U.S., and 19% came from Canada and Latin America for each of the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008.

Europe

The following table summarizes net sales by product line for the Europe segment for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Six Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
                 Change from
Prior Year
 
     2009     2008     Dollars     Percent  

Multi-purpose maintenance products

   $ 45,027     $ 52,751     $ (7,724 )   (15 )%

Homecare and cleaning products

     4,653       5,402       (749 )   (14 )%
                          
   $ 49,680     $ 58,153     $ (8,473 )   (15 )%
                          

% of consolidated net sales

     34 %     37 %    
                    

Sales in Europe decreased to $49.7 million, down $8.5 million, or 15%, for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year negatively impacted sales. Sales for the six months ended February 28, 2009 translated at the exchange rates in effect for the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year would have produced sales of $61.7 million in the Europe segment. Thus, excluding the impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period, sales would have increased by approximately $3.5 million, or 6%, for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

The countries in Europe where we sell through a direct sales force include the U.K., Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark and Austria. Overall, sales from these direct markets decreased 14% for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year and accounted for 66% of the region’s sales, consistent with the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year. We experienced sales growth in U.S. dollars in France of 4%. However, such growth was offset by decreases in sales in U.S. dollars in the Europe segment as follows: Spain, 23%; German sales region, 19%; Italy, 17%; and the U.K., 16%.

While several countries throughout the Europe segment experienced sales declines as customers reduced inventory levels in response to the economic slowdown, France and the U.K. experienced sales growth of 14% and 5%, respectively, in their respective local

 

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currencies during the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. The sales growth in the U.K. was due primarily to increased sales of our multi-purpose maintenance products during the first quarter of fiscal year 2009 as a result of promotional activity. However, such growth was partially offset by a decline in sales during the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 as customers reduced inventory levels in response to the economic slowdown. The overall sales growth in the U.K. in local currency was more than offset by the negative impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates period over period. The sales growth in France was the result of increased promotional activity during the first quarter, the continued growth in sales of the WD-40 brand, including the WD-40 Smart Straw, and increased distribution of the 3-IN-ONE Professional line of products. The increase in sales in France in local currency was substantially offset by the negative impact of changes in foreign currency exchange rates period over period.

In the countries in which we sell through local distributors, sales decreased 15% for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year primarily due to the negative impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period. In local currencies, sales in the distributor markets were essentially flat versus the same period last year. The distributor market accounted for approximately 34% of the total Europe segment sales for each of the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008. In the long term, we expect these markets to continue to experience growth in distribution and usage resulting from increased market penetration and brand awareness.

Asia-Pacific

The following table summarizes net sales by product line for the Asia-Pacific segment for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (in thousands, except percentages):

 

     Six Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
                 Change from
Prior Year
 
     2009     2008     Dollars     Percent  

Multi-purpose maintenance products

   $ 10,873     $ 12,058     $ (1,185 )   (10 )%

Homecare and cleaning products

     2,119       2,445       (326 )   (13 )%
                          
   $ 12,992     $ 14,503     $ (1,511 )   (10 )%
                          

% of consolidated net sales

     9 %     9 %    
                    

In the Asia-Pacific segment, which includes Australia and Asia, sales decreased to $13.0 million, down $1.5 million, or 10%, for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year had an unfavorable impact on sales. Sales for the six months ended February 28, 2009 translated at the exchange rates in effect for the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year would have produced sales of $13.9 million in the Asia-Pacific segment. Thus, excluding the impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period, sales would have decreased by approximately $0.6 million, or 4%, for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

Sales in Asia decreased 8% for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year due primarily to decreased sales of WD-40 products across the entire region, including Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. Sales in China were flat while sales across the rest of the Asian region decreased 12%, due to the slow economic environment throughout the region. Despite overall sales growth in the Asian region during the first quarter of fiscal year 2009, we began experiencing a slowdown in certain markets in this region during early fiscal year 2009 as a result of overall economic uncertainty across the region, which we expect to negatively impact sales for the remainder of the current fiscal year.

Sales in Australia decreased 14% for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year due to the unfavorable impact of foreign currency exchange rates. Excluding the impact of the change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period, sales would have increased by approximately 5% for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year due to price increases across all product lines, promotional activities and new distribution across all trade channels.

 

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Gross Profit

Gross profit was $69.4 million, or 47.7% of net sales, for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to $75.6 million, or 47.8% of net sales, in the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. As a percentage of net sales, gross profit remained essentially flat as price increases implemented worldwide during the first quarter of fiscal year 2009 were offset by higher costs of products, losses associated with VML and costs from product conversions and sourcing changes.

To combat the higher costs of products, we have implemented price increases on certain products worldwide which added approximately 4.2 percentage points to our gross margin percentage for the six months ended February 28, 2009.

The rise in costs of products has been primarily due to the increase in costs for components and raw materials, including petroleum-based materials and aerosol cans, during fiscal year 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. The higher costs for petroleum-based materials and aerosol cans negatively impacted our gross margin by 3.7 percentage points in the first six months of the current fiscal year. Although the cost of oil declined during the second half of calendar year 2008, we will not begin to experience the full benefit from lower costs of petroleum-based products until the third quarter of fiscal year 2009. In addition, we began to experience a significant increase in the cost of aerosol cans at the end of the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 primarily due to the cost of tinplate used to manufacture such cans. Tinplate pricing is set annually and is independent of the movements in the cost of steel on the spot market. While the cost of steel on the spot market has experienced recent declines, the cost of aerosol cans has not benefited from this recent trend. The increase in the cost of aerosol cans is expected to offset any benefit from the decline in the cost of petroleum-based products.

Losses associated with VML also negatively impacted gross profit by 0.3 percentage points for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. We have a 30% equity investment in VML which is accounted for using the equity method of accounting, and our equity in earnings or losses of VML is recorded as a component of cost of products sold. During the six months ended February 28, 2009, we incurred additional cost of products sold of approximately $0.4 million related to our investment in VML. These losses were the result of manufacturing inefficiencies at VML related to their acquisition of a significant new customer during fiscal year 2008. In response to these inefficiencies, we obtained alternative manufacturers, who are expected to help improve the cost structure for some of our products. Our investment in VML has been written off in full as of February 28, 2009.

In addition to rising costs and losses associated with VML, the remaining costs associated with product conversions and sourcing changes in the U.S. during last fiscal year’s fourth quarter also negatively impacted gross profit by 0.3 percentage points during the first half of the current fiscal year compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. Product conversions related to WD-40, Spot Shot and automatic toilet bowl cleaners resulted in obsolete packaging and other components as well as finished goods that were expensed in cost of products sold. We expect the additional sales and margin opportunities arising from the conversions and sourcing changes to far outweigh the short-term costs of the conversions.

In general, shifts in product and customer mix, as well as the timing of advertising, promotional and other discounts, which are recorded as a reduction to sales, may cause fluctuations in gross margin percentage from period to period. Examples of advertising, promotional and other discounts include coupon redemptions, consideration and allowances given to retailers for space and/or favorable display positions in their stores, co-operative advertising and promotional activity, volume discounts and other one-time or ongoing incentives. During the six months ended February 28, 2009, advertising, promotional and other discounts increased compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year, negatively impacting gross margin by 0.7 percentage points. The increase in such discounts was due to the fact that a greater percentage of sales during the six months ended February 28, 2009 was subject to promotional allowances due to the overall increase in promotional activity in response to the slowing economy.

Note that our 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.

 

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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

SG&A expenses for the six months ended February 28, 2009 decreased to $39.0 million, or 26.8% of net sales, from $41.6 million, or 26.3% of net sales, for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in SG&A was largely attributable to the impact of foreign currency translation and to lower freight costs. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year decreased SG&A expenses by $3.6 million for the six months ended February 28, 2009. SG&A expenses for the six months ended February 28, 2009 translated at the exchange rates in effect for the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year would have produced total SG&A expenses of $42.6 million. Freight costs decreased $1.2 million primarily due to improved shipping efficiencies and reduced fuel costs. Partially offsetting these decreases were increases in employee-related costs, professional services costs, research and development costs and other miscellaneous expenses. Employee-related costs, which include salaries, profit sharing and other fringe benefits, increased $0.8 million due to annual compensation increases and higher staffing levels primarily to support the growth of international operations. Professional services costs increased $0.5 million primarily as a result of increased legal costs. Research and development costs increased $0.5 million due to the timing of new product development activity. Other miscellaneous expenses, including stock-based compensation and bad debt expense, increased by $0.4 million.

We continued our research and development investment in support of our focus on innovation and renovation. Research and development costs for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 were $2.3 million and $1.8 million, respectively. Our new-product development team, 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 our current and prospective outsource suppliers.

Advertising and Sales Promotion Expenses

Advertising and sales promotion expenses decreased slightly to $10.0 million, or 6.9% of net sales, for the six months ended February 28, 2009, down from $10.9 million, or 6.9% of net sales, for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. The decrease was due to the changes in foreign currency exchange rates period over period. Advertising and sales promotion expenses translated at the exchange rates in effect for the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year would have resulted in advertising and sales promotion expenses of $10.9 million. Investment in global advertising and sales promotion expenses for fiscal year 2009 is expected to be in the range of 6.5% to 8.5% of 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. The costs of certain promotional activities are required to be recorded as reductions to sales, while others remain in advertising and sales promotion expenses. For the six months ended February 28, 2009, total promotional costs recorded as a reduction to sales were $9.2 million compared to $9.0 million for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. Therefore, our total investment in advertising and sales promotion activities totaled $19.2 million for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to $19.9 million for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

Amortization of Intangible Asset Expense

Amortization of our definite-lived intangible asset was $239,000 and $302,000 for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively. The amortization relates to the non-contractual customer relationships acquired in the 1001 acquisition completed by the Europe segment in fiscal year 2004. This intangible asset is recorded and amortized in pounds sterling on a straight-line basis over its estimated eight-year life and is converted to U.S. dollars for reporting purposes. Therefore, any fluctuations in amortization from period to period are the result of changes in foreign currency exchange rates.

Impairment of Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets

During the second quarter of the current fiscal year, we performed our annual impairment test in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 142, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, and SFAS No. 144, Accounting for the

 

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Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets. As a result, we recorded an impairment charge of $2.8 million during the second quarter of fiscal year 2009 to reduce the carrying value of our Carpet Fresh indefinite-lived intangible asset to its estimated fair value. The impairment was due to an increase in cost of goods and a decline in future forecasted sales levels of the Carpet Fresh brand, both of which occurred during the three months ended February 28, 2009. The decline in future forecasted sales levels resulted from our strategic decision to redirect our research and development efforts towards our global brands, the loss of distribution with a significant U.S. mass retail customer and assumed lower future foreign currency exchange rates in the U.K. and Australia. While these factors also impacted the indefinite-lived intangible assets related to our other homecare and cleaning products, they did not result in an impairment to any of such other indefinite-lived intangible assets for the quarter ended February 28, 2009.

As of February 28, 2009, the fair values of the Carpet Fresh and X-14 brands approximate their carrying values, and the fair values of our other homecare and cleaning brands exceed their carrying values. However, a future impairment could result if there is a change to any of the assumptions used in our impairment test, including the following: forecasted sales revenue, advertising and promotional expenses, cost of products sold, gross margins, operating margins, the success of product innovations and introductions, customer retention, development of new and/or alternative distribution channels, tax rates, terminal growth values and the selection of appropriate discount and royalty rates. We will continue to closely monitor events and circumstances that could further impair our indefinite-lived intangible assets.

Non-Operating Items

The following table summarizes non-operating income and expenses for our consolidated operations for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008 (in thousands):

 

     Six Months Ended February 28 or 29,  
     2009    2008    Change  

Interest expense, net

   $ 950    $ 796    $ 154  

Other income, net

   $ 701    $ 541    $ 160  

Provision for income taxes

   $ 5,396    $ 7,706    $ (2,310 )

Interest Expense, Net

Interest expense, net increased for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. Although interest expense decreased due to the lower principal balance on long-term borrowings resulting from the annual $10.7 million principal payments made in October 2008 and October 2007, this decrease was more than offset by a larger decrease in interest income as a result of lower cash balances and interest rates during the first half of fiscal year 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

Other Income, Net

Other income, net increased $0.2 million for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year primarily due to increased foreign currency exchange gains in Europe.

Provision for Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes was 31.4% of income before income taxes for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to 34.1% for the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year. The decrease in tax rate was primarily due to an enacted California tax law. As a result, we revalued our deferred tax assets and liabilities that are expected to reverse after the effective date of this law change. This resulted in a tax benefit for the six months ended February 28, 2009 of approximately $0.5 million.

Net Income

Net income was $11.8 million, or $0.71 per common share on a fully diluted basis for the six months ended February 28, 2009, compared to $14.9 million, or $0.87 per common share on a fully diluted basis for the six months ended February 29, 2008. The

 

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change in foreign currency exchange rates period over period had a negative impact of $2.4 million on net income for the six months ended February 28, 2009. Net income for the six months ended February 28, 2009 translated at the exchange rates in effect for the corresponding period in the prior fiscal year would have produced net income of $14.2 million.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Overview

The Company’s financial condition and liquidity remain strong. Net cash provided by operations was $11.7 million for the six months ended February 28, 2009 compared to $4.8 million for the six months ended February 29, 2008. However, in light of the recent liquidity issues experienced in the global credit and capital markets, we have further evaluated our financial position and identified steps we will take to maintain our strong financial health. We believe we are well positioned to weather the uncertainty in the global credit and capital markets due to our strong balance sheet and efficient business model, along with our growing and diversified global revenues. We are managing all aspects of our business including, but not limited to, monitoring the financial health of our customers, suppliers and other third-party relationships, implementing margin enhancement strategies and seeking new opportunities for growth.

Our principal sources of liquidity are our existing cash and cash equivalents, cash generated from operations and cash available from our $10 million revolving credit facility, obtained in September 2008, which is currently undrawn. At February 28, 2009, we had a total of $28.5 million in cash and cash equivalents. We believe that our existing cash and cash equivalents at February 28, 2009, the liquidity under our revolving credit facility and our anticipated cash flows from operations will be sufficient to meet the projected operating and capital requirements for our current business plans. We consider 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 our business.

Our outstanding indebtedness under our original $75 million, 7.28% fixed-rate term loan was $32.1 million as of February 28, 2009. Outstanding borrowings under our term loan must be repaid in annual principal payments of $10.7 million, with the final payment due in October 2011.

Cash Flows

Operating Activities

Net cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended February 28, 2009 was $11.7 million. This amount consisted of $11.8 million from net income with an additional $7.6 million of adjustments for non-cash items, including depreciation and amortization, impairment of indefinite-lived intangible assets, net gains on sales and disposals of property and equipment, deferred income tax expense, excess tax benefits from exercises of stock options and conversions of restricted stock units to common shares, equity losses from VML and stock-based compensation, partially offset by $7.7 million related to changes in operating assets and liabilities.

Investing Activities

Net cash used in investing activities for the six months ended February 28, 2009 was $1.9 million primarily due to capital expenditures during the period. For fiscal year 2009, we expect to spend approximately $4.4 million for new capital assets, largely driven by purchases of machinery and equipment to enhance manufacturing efficiencies, as well as purchases of computer equipment, software and vehicles.

Financing Activities

Net cash used in financing activities was $18.3 million for the six months ended February 28, 2009, which included the effects of the following transactions:

 

   

In October 2008, we paid our annual principal payment of $10.7 million on our term loan;

 

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During the six months ended February 28, 2009, we paid dividends of $8.3 million; and

 

   

During the six months ended February 28, 2009, we received cash proceeds of $0.6 million from the issuance of common stock upon the exercises of stock options.

Working Capital

At February 28, 2009, working capital decreased to $55.3 million, down $9.6 million from $64.9 million at August 31, 2008. The current ratio was 2.2 at February 28, 2009 and August 31, 2008.

Current assets decreased by $18.3 million to $101.2 million at February 28, 2009, down from $119.5 million at August 31, 2008 primarily due to the decrease in cash and cash equivalents and to the $7.2 million decrease in accounts receivable related to the timing of sales.

Current liabilities decreased by $8.7 million to $45.9 million at February 28, 2009, down from $54.6 million at August 31, 2008 primarily due to the $7.1 million decrease in accounts payable and accrued liabilities due to the timing of payments. In addition, accrued payroll and related expenses were down $2.4 million primarily due to payment of the fiscal year 2008 bonuses in October 2008 and a lower profit sharing accrual. At February 28, 2009, the accrued profit sharing balance included two months of accrual compared to eight months of accrual at August 31, 2008, as the Company’s profit sharing plan is based on a calendar year.

Commercial Commitments

We have relationships with various suppliers (contract manufacturers) who manufacture our products. Although we do not have any definitive minimum purchase obligations included in the contract terms with the contract manufacturers, supply needs are communicated and we are committed to purchase the products produced based on orders and short-term projections provided to the contract manufacturers, ranging from two to five months. We are also obligated to purchase obsolete or slow-moving inventory.

In addition to the commitments to purchase products from contract manufacturers described above, we may also enter into commitments with other manufacturers to purchase finished goods and components to support innovation initiatives and/or supply chain initiatives. As of February 28, 2009, such commitments totaled approximately $1.9 million.

Dividends

On March 24, 2009, the Company’s Board of Directors declared a cash dividend of $0.25 per share payable on April 30, 2009 to shareholders of record on April 16, 2009. Our ability to pay dividends could be affected by future business performance, liquidity, capital needs, alternative investment opportunities and loan covenants.

Income Taxes

We adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48 (FIN 48), Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – An interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109, effective September 1, 2007. The cumulative effect of adopting FIN 48 resulted in a decrease of $0.6 million to the September 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings. As of February 28, 2009 and August 31, 2008, the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits totaled $1.7 million, of which $1.1 million would affect the effective tax rate if recognized. As of February 28, 2009 and August 31, 2008, the total balance of accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits was $0.4 million. The gross liability for income taxes related to unrecognized tax benefits is included in other long-term liabilities in the our condensed consolidated balance sheets. There were no material interest or penalties included in income tax expense for the six months ended February 28, 2009.

 

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We are subject to taxation in the U.S. and in various state and foreign jurisdictions. We currently do not have any years under examination by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service and are not subject to examination for years prior to fiscal year 2005. Generally, for the majority of state and foreign jurisdictions where the Company does business, periods prior to fiscal year 2004 are no longer subject to examination. We are currently under audit in various state and local jurisdictions for fiscal years 2004 through 2007. We have estimated that up to $0.3 million of unrecognized tax benefits related to income tax positions may be affected by the resolution of tax examinations or expiring statutes of limitation within the remainder of the current fiscal year. Audit outcomes and the timing of settlements are subject to significant uncertainty.

During the six months ended February 28, 2009, we recorded liabilities related to unrecognized tax benefits of $0.1 million in the current fiscal year, offset by recognized tax benefits of $0.1 million due to expiring statutes.

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 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 Item 7, “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” and Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements contained in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2008.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements

Effective September 1, 2008, we adopted the required portions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 157, Fair Value Measurements (“SFAS No. 157”), which had no impact on our consolidated financial statements. SFAS No. 157 currently applies to all financial assets and liabilities and those nonfinancial assets and liabilities that are recognized or disclosed at fair value on a recurring basis. The effective date of the provisions of SFAS No. 157 for nonfinancial assets and liabilities, except for items recognized at fair value on a recurring basis, was delayed by FASB Staff Position No. 157-2, Effective Date of FASB Statement No. 157, and is effective for our fiscal year beginning on September 1, 2009. We are currently evaluating the impact of the delayed portions of SFAS No. 157 on our consolidated financial position and results of operations. The adoption of the nondelayed portions of SFAS No. 157 is more fully described in Note 4 included in Part I, Item 1 of this report.

Related Parties

VML Company L.L.C. (“VML”), a Delaware company, was formed in April 2001, at which time the Company acquired a 30% membership interest. VML makes profit distributions to the Company and the 70% owner on a discretionary basis in proportion to each party’s respective interest. VML currently serves as one of our contract manufacturers for certain homecare and cleaning products. During fiscal year 2008, VML acquired a significant new customer, which resulted in manufacturing disruptions. As a result, we transitioned our sourcing to alternative suppliers to significantly reduce our reliance on VML as a manufacturer.

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

Under FIN 46(R), VML qualifies as a variable interest entity, and it has been determined that we are not the primary beneficiary. Our investment in VML is accounted for using the equity method of accounting, and our equity in earnings or losses of VML is recorded

 

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as a component of cost of products sold, as VML acts primarily as a contract manufacturer to the Company. The Company recorded equity losses related to its investment in VML of $192,000 and $60,000 for the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively, and $435,000 and $19,000 for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively. Our investment in VML has been written off in full as of February 28, 2009.

Cost of products sold which were purchased from VML, net of rebates and equity earnings or losses, was approximately $3.5 million and $4.5 million during the three months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively, and $7.7 million and $11.2 million for the six months ended February 28, 2009 and February 29, 2008, respectively. We had product payables to VML of $0.3 million and $0.5 million at February 28, 2009 and August 31, 2008, respectively. Additionally, we receive rental income from VML, which is recorded as a component of other income, net in our condensed consolidated statements of operations.

 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Refer to Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk,” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2008 for further discussion of our exposure to market risks.

 

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 February 28, 2009, 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.

 

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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, or 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. On August 24, 2007 the Company successfully defeated the plaintiff’s attempt to have the case certified as a class action. The plaintiff has been granted permission to appeal the District Court’s decision. If the plaintiff is successful in an appeal and 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 Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows. There is not sufficient information to estimate the Company’s exposure at this time.

Since 2004, the Company has been named as a defendant in 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 “Benzene Lawsuits”). 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. The Company believes its products have always been formulated without containing benzene and the facts developed in litigation to date support this position. The plaintiffs in the Benzene Lawsuits typically seek damages in unspecified amounts for injuries or death attributable to a form of cancer linked to exposure to benzene. The Company is unable to quantify the total amount of damages asserted by the plaintiffs in the Benzene Lawsuits. 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 consolidated financial condition or results of operations. The Company is vigorously defending these lawsuits. 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 increases, it is reasonably possible that such costs of defense may materially affect the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows in future periods.

During the quarter ended February 28, 2009, 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 fiscal year ended August 31, 2008.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

Other than the addition of the risk factor below, there have been no material changes in our risk factors from those disclosed in Part I, Item 1A, “Risk Factors”, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2008, filed with the SEC on October 23, 2008.

The recent changes in general economic conditions, and the impact on consumer confidence and consumer spending, could continue to adversely impact our results of operations.

The Company’s performance is subject to general economic conditions and their impact on levels of consumer confidence and consumer spending. Recently, consumer confidence and consumer spending have deteriorated significantly, and could remain depressed for an extended period. Some of the factors influencing this deterioration include fluctuating interest rates and credit

 

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availability, fluctuating fuel and other energy costs, fluctuating commodity prices, higher levels of unemployment, higher consumer debt levels, reductions in net worth based on market declines, home foreclosures and reductions in home values, and general uncertainty regarding the overall future economic environment. Consumer purchases of discretionary items, including our multi-purpose maintenance products and homecare and cleaning products, generally decline during periods where disposable income is adversely affected or there is economic uncertainty, and this could adversely impact our consolidated results of operations.

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, 2008, 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 multi-purpose maintenance products and homecare and cleaning products 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 segment, direct European countries and Eastern and Northern 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 fiscal year ended August 31, 2008, and in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which may be updated from time to time.

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 or readers 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 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

At the Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders on December 9, 2008, the following matters were voted upon and approved by the margins indicated.

 

     Number of Shares
     Voted For    Withheld

1. Election of Directors:

     

John C. Adams, Jr.

   15,674,214    154,216

Giles H. Bateman

   15,674,538    153,892

Peter D. Bewley

   15,672,694    155,736

Richard A. Collato

   15,666,131    162,299

Mario L. Crivello

   15,647,396    181,034

Linda A. Lang

   15,665,881    162,549

Garry O. Ridge

   15,672,185    156,245

Neal E. Schmale

   15,610,312    218,118

 

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     Number of Shares
     Voted For    Voted Against    Abstained    Broker
Non-Votes

2. Approval of the Amendment to the Bylaws

   13,530,008    56,843    33,830    2,207,749

3. Approval of the Performance Incentive Plan

   13,052,186    402,556    165,939    2,207,749

 

     Number of Shares
     Voted For    Voted Against    Abstained

4. Ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s public accounting firm for fiscal year 2009

   15,731,644    62,783    34,003

 

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Item 6. Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

  3(a)

  Certificate of Incorporation, incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-K filed October 25, 2007,
Exhibit 3(a) thereto.

  3(b)

  Bylaws, incorporated by reference from the Registrant’s Form 10-Q filed January 9, 2009, Exhibit 3(b) thereto.

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: April 9, 2009   By:  

/s/ GARRY O. RIDGE

    Garry O. Ridge
    President and Chief Executive Officer
    (Principal Executive Officer)
  By:  

/s/ JAY W. REMBOLT

    Jay W. Rembolt
    Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
    (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)

 

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