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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 September 29, 2012

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: 001-16769

 

 

WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Virginia   11-6040273

(State or other jurisdiction of

incorporation or organization)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

11 Madison Avenue, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10010

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (212) 589-2700

 

 

(Former name, former address and former fiscal year, if changed since last report)

 

 

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 has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    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.

 

Large accelerated filer   x    Accelerated filer   ¨
Non-accelerated filer   ¨  (Do not check if a smaller reporting company)    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 shares of common stock outstanding as of October 31, 2012 was 55,652,763.

 

 

 


Table of Contents

WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

          Page No.  

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

  

Financial Statements

  
  

Unaudited Consolidated Balance Sheets at September 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011

     2   
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Net Income for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011

     3   
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011

     4   
  

Unaudited Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011

     5   
  

Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements

     6   
Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements      17   

Item 2.

   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations      18   

Item 3.

   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk      37   

Item 4.

   Controls and Procedures      37   

PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

  

Item 1.

   Legal Proceedings      38   

Item 1A.

   Risk Factors      39   

Item 2.

   Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds      39   

Item 3.

   Defaults Upon Senior Securities      39   

Item 4.

   Mine Safety Disclosures      39   

Item 5.

   Other Information      39   

Item 6.

   Exhibits      39   

Signatures

  

Exhibit Index

  


Table of Contents

PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AT

(IN THOUSANDS)

 

 

     September 29,
2012
    December 31,
2011
 

ASSETS

    

CURRENT ASSETS

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 80,591      $ 47,469   

Receivables, net

     40,936        47,175   

Inventories, net

     40,173        53,437   

Prepaid income taxes

     7,958        3,071   

Deferred income taxes

     24,498        24,612   

Prepaid expenses and other current assets

     30,736        38,762   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

     224,892        214,526   

Property and equipment, net

     62,253        41,072   

Franchise rights acquired

     782,886        764,026   

Goodwill

     51,218        50,012   

Trademarks and other intangible assets, net

     44,894        37,461   

Deferred financing costs, net

     28,460        8,720   

Other noncurrent assets

     3,353        5,811   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL ASSETS

   $ 1,197,956      $ 1,121,628   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

LIABILITIES AND TOTAL DEFICIT

    

CURRENT LIABILITIES

    

Portion of long-term debt due within one year

   $ 133,808      $ 124,933   

Accounts payable

     50,811        60,810   

Dividend payable

     9,955        13,145   

Derivative payable

     17,009        24,613   

UK self-employment liability

     14,707        43,671   

Accrued liabilities

     166,687        140,573   

Income taxes payable

     1,511        2,704   

Deferred revenue

     104,125        83,758   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

     498,613        494,207   

Long-term debt

     2,280,786        926,868   

Deferred income taxes

     127,342        100,723   

Other

     11,649        9,596   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES

     2,918,390        1,531,394   

TOTAL DEFICIT

    

Common stock, $0 par value; 1,000,000 shares authorized; 111,988 shares issued

     0        0   

Treasury stock, at cost, 56,334 shares at September 29, 2012 and 38,389 shares at December 31, 2011

     (3,285,575     (1,793,983

Retained earnings

     1,553,654        1,378,616   

Accumulated other comprehensive income

     11,487        5,601   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL DEFICIT

     (1,720,434     (409,766
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND TOTAL DEFICIT

   $ 1,197,956      $ 1,121,628   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

2


Table of Contents

WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF NET INCOME

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

 

     Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended  
     September 29,
2012
    October 1,
2011
     September 29,
2012
     October 1,
2011
 

Meeting fees, net

   $ 223,209      $ 233,400       $ 724,215       $ 771,898   

Product sales and other, net

     83,157        93,132         307,899         346,442   

Internet revenues

     124,244        101,902         386,783         299,538   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Revenues, net

     430,610        428,434         1,418,897         1,417,878   

Cost of meetings, products and other

     159,056        162,861         533,469         555,095   

Cost of Internet revenues

     15,721        14,390         47,706         41,309   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Cost of revenues

     174,777        177,251         581,175         596,404   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

     255,833        251,183         837,722         821,474   

Marketing expenses

     65,886        61,514         279,981         232,329   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     57,963        51,370         169,475         159,786   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     131,984        138,299         388,266         429,359   

Interest expense

     23,225        13,655         60,149         46,840   

Other (income) expense, net

     (756     285         2,531         40   

Early extinguishment of debt

     0        0         1,328         0   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     109,515        124,359         324,258         382,479   

Provision for income taxes

     42,151        43,709         124,827         141,796   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

     67,364        80,650         199,431         240,683   

Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest

     0        0         0         523   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income attributable to Weight Watchers International, Inc.

   $ 67,364      $ 80,650       $ 199,431       $ 241,206   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Earnings per share attributable to Weight Watchers International, Inc.

          

Basic

   $ 1.21      $ 1.10       $ 3.23       $ 3.29   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ 1.20      $ 1.09       $ 3.19       $ 3.26   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average common shares outstanding

          

Basic

     55,635        73,567         61,828         73,265   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted

     56,122        74,263         62,486         74,040   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Dividends declared per common share

   $ 0.18      $ 0.18       $ 0.53       $ 0.53   
  

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Table of Contents

WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

(IN THOUSANDS)

 

 

     Three Months Ended     Nine Months Ended  
     September 29,      October 1,     September 29,      October 1,  
     2012      2011     2012      2011  

Net income

   $ 67,364       $ 80,650      $ 199,431       $ 240,683   

Other comprehensive income:

          

Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax(a)

     1,243         (6,014     1,018         (3,139

Current period changes in fair value of derivatives, net of tax(b)

     1,167         1,021        4,866         6,511   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Total other comprehensive income

     2,410         (4,993     5,884         3,372   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

     69,774         75,657        205,315         244,055   

Comprehensive loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest

     0         0        0         523   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Comprehensive income attributable to Weight Watchers International, Inc.

   $ 69,774       $ 75,657      $ 205,315       $ 244,578   
  

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

  

 

(a) Net of tax benefit (provision) of $(795) and $3,846 for the three months ended September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011, respectively, and $(651) and $2,007 for the nine months ended September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011, respectively.

 

(b) Net of tax provision of $(746) and $(653) for the three months ended September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011, respectively, and $(3,111) and $(4,163) for the nine months ended September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011, respectively.

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

4


Table of Contents

WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

(IN THOUSANDS)

 

 

     Nine Months Ended  
     September 29,
2012
    October 1,
2011
 

Operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 199,431      $ 240,683   

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

    

Depreciation and amortization

     26,681        22,818   

Amortization of deferred financing costs

     5,178        3,730   

Share-based compensation expense

     5,905        6,456   

Deferred tax provision

     22,621        23,935   

Allowance for doubtful accounts

     (430     1,606   

Reserve for inventory obsolescence, other

     8,245        10,771   

Foreign currency exchange rate gain

     (189     (622

Loss on disposal of assets

     574        500   

Loss on investment

     2,697        735   

Early extinguishment of debt

     1,328        0   

Other items, net

     0        (631

Changes in cash due to:

    

Receivables

     7,003        4,739   

Inventories

     6,710        (7,040

Prepaid expenses

     2,834        14,172   

Accounts payable

     (10,173     (9,803

UK self-employment liability

     (30,018     2,931   

Accrued liabilities

     34,646        37,115   

Deferred revenue

     19,870        29,899   

Income taxes

     (1,748     (7,046
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash provided by operating activities

     301,165        374,948   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (35,585     (12,950

Capitalized software expenditures

     (18,955     (17,526

Cash paid for acquisition

     (17,000     0   

Other items, net

     (81     (544
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used for investing activities

     (71,621     (31,020
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Financing activities:

    

Proceeds from new term loans

     1,449,397        0   

Payments on long-term debt

     (86,603     (298,285

Payment of dividends

     (32,465     (38,745

Payments to acquire treasury stock

     (1,504,208     (34,924

Deferred financing costs

     (25,542     0   

Proceeds from stock options exercised

     10,863        41,428   

Tax benefit of restricted stock units vested and stock options exercised

     3,021        6,617   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash used for financing activities

     (185,537     (323,909
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents and other

     (10,885     868   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

     33,122        20,887   

Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period

     47,469        40,534   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents, end of period

   $ 80,591      $ 61,421   
  

 

 

   

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

5


Table of Contents

WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

 

1. Basis of Presentation

The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Weight Watchers International, Inc. and all of its subsidiaries. The term “Company” as used throughout these notes is used to indicate Weight Watchers International, Inc. and all of its businesses consolidated for purposes of its financial statements. The term “WWI” as used throughout these notes is used to indicate Weight Watchers International, Inc. and all of the Company’s businesses other than WW.com. The term “WW.com” as used throughout these notes is used to indicate WeightWatchers.com, Inc. and all of the Company’s Internet-based businesses.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“U.S. GAAP”) and include amounts that are based on management’s best estimates and judgments. While all available information has been considered, actual amounts could differ from those estimates. The consolidated financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments including those of a normal recurring nature necessary for a fair statement of the interim results presented.

As further discussed in Note 3, effective with its formation in February 2008, the Company consolidated the financial statements of Weight Watchers Danone China Limited.

These statements should be read in conjunction with the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2011, which includes additional information about the Company, its results of operations, its financial position and its cash flows.

 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements:

In July 2012, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued updated guidance on the periodic testing of indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment. This guidance allows companies to first assess qualitative factors to determine if it is more-likely-than-not that an indefinite-lived intangible asset might be impaired and whether it is necessary to perform the quantitative impairment test required under current accounting standards. This guidance is applicable for fiscal years beginning after September 15, 2012, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. The adoption of this guidance did not have any affect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

In September 2011, the FASB issued updated guidance on the periodic testing of goodwill for impairment. This guidance allows companies to assess qualitative factors to determine if it is more-likely-than-not that goodwill might be impaired and whether it is necessary to perform the two-step goodwill impairment test required under current accounting standards. This guidance is applicable for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2011, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2012. The adoption of this guidance did not have any affect on the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

In June 2011, the FASB issued authoritative guidance requiring companies to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. The provisions of the guidance are effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011. In December 2011, the FASB issued an amendment deferring the effective date for the presentation of reclassification adjustments out of accumulated other comprehensive income. The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, and such adoption did not affect the consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company.

In May 2011, the FASB issued authoritative fair value guidance entitled “Fair Value Measurement: Amendments to Achieve Common Fair Value Measurement and Disclosure Requirements in U.S. GAAP and

 

6


Table of Contents

WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

 

IFRSs”. Some of the amendments included in the guidance clarify the FASB’s intent about the application of existing fair value measurement requirements. Other amendments change a particular principle or requirement for measuring fair value or for disclosing information about fair value measurements. This guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. The Company adopted the provisions of this guidance in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, and such adoption did not have a material impact on the disclosures in its consolidated financial statements.

Reclassification:

Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation.

For a discussion of the Company’s other significant accounting policies, see “Summary of Significant Accounting Policies” in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2011.

 

3. Acquisitions of Franchisees and Minority Equity Interest in China Joint Venture

Acquisitions of Franchisees

The acquisitions of franchisees have been accounted for under the purchase method of accounting and, accordingly, earnings of acquired franchisees have been included in the consolidated operating results of the Company since the applicable date of acquisition. During the third quarter of fiscal 2012, the Company acquired certain assets of its franchisee as outlined below. Prior to this purchase, there had been no key franchise acquisitions since fiscal 2008.

On September 10, 2012, the Company acquired substantially all of the assets of its Southeastern Ontario and Ottawa, Canada franchisee, Slengora Limited, for a net purchase price of $17,000. The total purchase price has been preliminarily allocated to franchise rights acquired ($15,263), goodwill ($1,199), customer relationship value ($322), fixed assets ($121), inventory ($71) and prepaid expenses and other current assets ($24). Due to the timing of this acquisition, the purchase price allocation has not yet been finalized.

The effect of this franchise acquisition was not material to the Company’s consolidated financial position, results of operations, or operating cash flows in the periods presented.

Acquisition of Minority Equity Interest in China Joint Venture

On February 5, 2008, Weight Watchers Asia Holdings Ltd. (“Weight Watchers Asia”), a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Danone Dairy Asia (“Danone Asia”), an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Groupe DANONE S.A., entered into a joint venture agreement to establish a weight management business in the People’s Republic of China. Pursuant to the terms of the joint venture agreement, Weight Watchers Asia and Danone Asia owned 51% and 49%, respectively, of the joint venture entity, Weight Watchers Danone China Limited (together with all of its businesses, the “China Joint Venture”). Because the Company had a direct controlling financial interest in the China Joint Venture, it consolidated the entity from the first quarter of fiscal 2008.

On April 27, 2011, Weight Watchers Asia entered into a share purchase agreement with Danone Asia, pursuant to which Weight Watchers Asia acquired Danone Asia’s 49% minority equity interest in the China Joint Venture as of that date for consideration of $1. Effective April 27, 2011, the date of the acquisition of Danone Asia’s minority equity interest by Weight Watchers Asia, the Company owns 100% of the China Joint Venture and no longer accounts for a non-controlling interest in the China Joint Venture. The noncontrolling interest that had been reflected on the Company’s balance sheet was reclassified to retained earnings.

 

4. Goodwill and Intangible Assets

For the nine months ended September 29, 2012, the change in goodwill was due to foreign currency fluctuations. The Company’s goodwill by reportable segment at September 29, 2012 was $25,018 related to its

 

7


Table of Contents

WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

 

WWI segment and $26,200 related to its WW.com segment. Franchise rights acquired are due to acquisitions of the Company’s franchised territories. For the nine months ended September 29, 2012, the change in franchise rights acquired was due to the Company’s acquisition of its Southeastern Ontario and Ottawa, Canada franchisee, as well as foreign currency fluctuations.

Aggregate amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets was recorded in the amounts of $4,323 and $12,791 for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2012, respectively. Aggregate amortization expense for finite-lived intangible assets was recorded in the amounts of $4,313 and $12,161 for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2011, respectively.

The carrying amount of finite-lived intangible assets as of September 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011 was as follows:

 

     September 29, 2012      December 31, 2011  
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
     Gross
Carrying
Amount
     Accumulated
Amortization
 

Capitalized software costs

   $ 77,677       $ 51,231       $ 67,223       $ 44,003   

Trademarks

     10,178         9,525         10,006         9,276   

Website development costs

     53,726         36,292         43,987         30,747   

Other

     7,035         6,674         7,033         6,762   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 
   $ 148,616       $ 103,722       $ 128,249       $ 90,788   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Estimated amortization expense of existing finite-lived intangible assets for the next five fiscal years is as follows:

 

Remainder of fiscal 2012

   $ 4,172   

Fiscal 2013

   $ 17,394   

Fiscal 2014

   $ 13,470   

Fiscal 2015

   $ 7,336   

Fiscal 2016

   $ 2,407   

 

5. Long-Term Debt

The components of the Company’s long-term debt are as follows:

 

     September 29, 2012     December 31, 2011  
     Balance      Effective
Rate
    Balance      Effective
Rate
 

Term A-1 Loan due January 26, 2013

   $ 57,339         1.51   $ 148,749         1.30

Term B Loan due January 26, 2014

     129,789         1.91     238,125         1.65

Term C Loan due June 30, 2015

     115,411         2.74     426,075         2.55

Term D Loan due June 30, 2016

     118,519         2.81     238,852         2.56

Term E Loan due March 15, 2017

     1,169,453         2.53     0         0.00

Term F Loan due March 15, 2019

     824,083         3.88     0         0.00
  

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total Debt

     2,414,594         2.87     1,051,801         2.15

Less Current Portion

     133,808           124,933      
  

 

 

      

 

 

    

Total Long-Term Debt

   $ 2,280,786         $ 926,868      
  

 

 

      

 

 

    

 

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WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

 

The Company’s credit facilities consist of certain term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities (collectively, the “WWI Credit Facility”). During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the composition of the WWI Credit Facility changed as a result of the Company amending and restating the WWI Credit Facility to, among other things, extend the maturity of certain of the Company’s term loan facilities and the revolving credit facility and to obtain new commitments for the borrowing of an additional $1,449,397 of term loans to finance the purchases of shares of the Company’s common stock in the Tender Offer and from Artal Holdings pursuant to the Purchase Agreement (each as defined below in Note 6).

Immediately prior to the amendment of the WWI Credit Facility, the term loan facilities consisted of a tranche A-1 loan (“Term A-1 Loan”), a tranche B loan (“Term B Loan”), a tranche C loan (“Term C Loan”), and a tranche D loan (“Term D Loan”), and a revolving credit facility (“Revolver A-1”). The aggregate principal amount then outstanding under (i) the Term A-1 Loan was $128,648, (ii) the Term B Loan was $237,500, (iii) the Term C Loan was $420,394 and (iv) the Term D Loan was $238,247. Immediately prior to the amendment of the WWI Credit Facility, the Revolver A-1 had no loans outstanding under it, $1,027 of issued but undrawn letters of credit and $331,620 in available unused commitments thereunder.

Following the amendment of the WWI Credit Facility on March 15, 2012, (i) $33,083 in aggregate principal amount of the Term A-1 Loan and $301,777 in aggregate principal amount of the Term C Loan were converted into, and $849,397 in aggregate principal amount of commitments to borrow new term loans were provided under, a new tranche E loan (“Term E Loan”), (ii) $107,025 in aggregate principal amount of the Term B Loan and $119,123 in aggregate principal amount of the Term D Loan were converted into, and $600,000 in aggregate principal amount of commitments to borrow new term loans were provided under, a new tranche F loan (“Term F Loan”), and (iii) $261,971 in aggregate principal amount of commitments under the Revolver A-1 were converted into a new revolving credit facility (“Revolver A-2”). The loans outstanding under each term loan facility existing prior to the amendment of the WWI Credit Facility and the loans and commitments outstanding under the Revolver A-1, in each case that were not converted into the Term E Loan, the Term F Loan or the Revolver A-2, as applicable, continued to remain outstanding under the WWI Credit Facility as the Term A-1 Loan, the Term B Loan, the Term C Loan, the Term D Loan or the Revolver A-1, as applicable. In connection with this amendment, the Company incurred fees of $25,425 during the first quarter of fiscal 2012. On March 27, 2012, the Company borrowed an aggregate of $726,000 under the Term E Loan and the Term F Loan to finance the purchase of shares in the Tender Offer and to pay a portion of the related fees and expenses. On April 9, 2012, the Company borrowed an aggregate of approximately $723,397 under the Term E Loan to finance the purchase of shares from Artal Holdings. At September 29, 2012, the Company had $2,414,594 outstanding under the WWI Credit Facility, consisting entirely of term loans and there were no loans outstanding under any of the revolving credit facilities. In addition, at September 29, 2012, the Revolver A-1 had $186 in issued but undrawn letters of credit outstanding thereunder and $70,490 in available unused commitments thereunder and the Revolver A-2 had $691 in issued but undrawn letters of credit outstanding thereunder and $261,280 in available unused commitments thereunder.

At September 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, the Company’s debt consisted entirely of variable-rate instruments. Interest rate swaps were entered into to hedge a portion of the cash flow exposure associated with the Company’s variable-rate borrowings. The average interest rate on the Company’s debt, exclusive of the impact of swaps, was approximately 3.01% and 2.40% per annum at September 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

The WWI Credit Facility provides that term loans and the loans outstanding under the Revolver A-1 and the Revolver A-2 bear interest at a rate per annum equal to either, at the Company’s option, the LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) (as defined in the WWI Credit Facility agreement) plus an applicable margin or the Alternate Base Rate (as defined in the WWI Credit Facility agreement) plus an applicable margin, which applicable margins will vary depending on the Company’s Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio (as defined in the WWI Credit Facility agreement) from time to time in effect. At September 29, 2012, the Term A-1 Loan bore interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 1.25% per annum; the Term B Loan bore interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 1.50% per annum; the Term C Loan bore interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted)

 

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WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

 

plus 2.25% per annum; the Term D Loan bore interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 2.25% per annum; the Term E Loan bore interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 2.25% per annum; the Term F Loan bore interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 3.00% per annum; had any loans under the Revolver A-1 been outstanding, they would have borne interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 2.50% per annum; and had any loans under the Revolver A-2 been outstanding, they would have borne interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 2.25% per annum. For purposes of calculating the interest rate on the Term F Loan, the LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) will always be at least 1.00% per annum. In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the WWI Credit Facility, the Company is required to pay an undrawn commitment fee to the lenders under each of the Revolver A-1 and the Revolver A-2 with respect to the unused commitments under each such facility at a rate that is dependent on the Company’s Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio from time to time in effect. As of September 29, 2012, the applicable commitment fee rate for the Revolver A-1 was 0.50% per annum and for the Revolver A-2 was 0.40% per annum.

The WWI Credit Facility contains customary covenants including covenants that, in certain circumstances, restrict the Company’s ability to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends on and redeem capital stock, make other payments, including investments, sell its assets and enter into consolidations, mergers and transfers of all or substantially all of its assets. The WWI Credit Facility also requires the Company to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy certain financial condition tests. At September 29, 2012, the Company was in compliance with all of the required financial ratios and also met all of the financial condition tests, and expects to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The WWI Credit Facility contains customary events of default. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the WWI Credit Facility, the lenders thereunder may cease making loans and declare amounts outstanding to be immediately due and payable. The WWI Credit Facility is guaranteed by certain of the Company’s existing and future subsidiaries. Substantially all of the Company’s assets secure the WWI Credit Facility.

The WWI Credit Facility allows the Company to make loan modification offers to all lenders of any tranche of term loans or revolving commitments to extend the maturity date of such loans and/or commitments and/or reduce or eliminate the scheduled amortization. Any such loan modifications would be effective only with respect to such tranche of term loans or revolving commitments and only with respect to those lenders that accept the Company’s offer. Loan modification offers may be accompanied by increased pricing and/or fees payable to accepting lenders. The WWI Credit Facility also allows for up to an additional $400,000 of incremental financing through the creation of either new tranches of term loans or through an increase in commitments under the Revolver A-2, in each case to be provided to the Company under the WWI Credit Facility. The incremental capacity is uncommitted and the Company must find lenders to provide any such financing prior to incurrence. In addition, the Company may incur up to an additional $200,000 of incremental term loans through the creation of a new tranche of term loans, provided that the aggregate principal amount of such new term loans cannot exceed the amount then outstanding under its existing revolving credit facilities and the proceeds from such new tranche of term loans must be used solely to repay certain outstanding revolving loans and permanently reduce the commitments of certain revolving lenders.

 

6. Treasury Stock

On February 23, 2012, the Company commenced a “modified Dutch auction” tender offer for up to $720,000 in value of its common stock at a purchase price not less than $72.00 and not greater than $83.00 per share (the “Tender Offer”). Prior to the Tender Offer, on February 14, 2012, the Company entered into an agreement (the “Purchase Agreement”) with Artal Holdings Sp. z o.o., Succursale de Luxembourg (“Artal Holdings”) whereby Artal Holdings agreed to sell to the Company, at the same price as was determined in the Tender Offer, such number of its shares of the Company’s common stock that, upon the closing of this purchase after the completion of the Tender Offer, Artal Holdings’ percentage ownership in the outstanding shares of the Company’s common stock would be substantially equal to its level prior to the Tender Offer. Artal Holdings also agreed not to participate in the Tender Offer so that it would not affect the determination of the purchase price of the shares in the Tender Offer.

 

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WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

 

The Tender Offer expired at midnight, New York time, on March 22, 2012, and on March 28, 2012 the Company repurchased 8,780 shares at a purchase price of $82.00 per share. On April 9, 2012, the Company repurchased 9,499 of Artal Holdings’ shares at a purchase price of $82.00 per share pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. In March 2012, the Company amended and extended the WWI Credit Facility to finance these repurchases. See Note 5.

On October 9, 2003, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized and the Company announced a program to repurchase up to $250,000 of the Company’s outstanding common stock. On each of June 13, 2005, May 25, 2006 and October 21, 2010, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized and the Company announced adding $250,000 to the program. The repurchase program allows for shares to be purchased from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. No shares will be purchased from Artal Holdings and its parents and subsidiaries under the program. The repurchase program currently has no expiration date.

During the nine months ended September 29, 2012, the Company purchased no shares of its common stock in the open market under the repurchase program. During the nine months ended October 1, 2011, the Company purchased 814 shares of its common stock in the open market under the repurchase program for a total cost of $31,550. The repurchase of shares of common stock under the Tender Offer and from Artal Holdings pursuant to the Purchase Agreement was not made pursuant to the Company’s existing repurchase program.

 

7. Earnings Per Share

Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) are calculated utilizing the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented. Diluted EPS is calculated utilizing the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the periods presented adjusted for the effect of dilutive common stock equivalents.

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted EPS:

 

     Three Months Ended      Nine Months Ended  
     September 29,
2012
     October 1,
2011
     September 29,
2012
     October 1,
2011
 

Numerator:

           

Net income attributable to Weight Watchers International, Inc.

   $ 67,364       $ 80,650       $ 199,431       $ 241,206   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Denominator:

           

Weighted average shares of common stock outstanding

     55,635         73,567         61,828         73,265   

Effect of dilutive common stock equivalents

     487         696         658         775   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average diluted common shares outstanding

     56,122         74,263         62,486         74,040   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

EPS attributable to

           

Weight Watchers International, Inc.:

           

Basic

   $ 1.21       $ 1.10       $ 3.23       $ 3.29   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted

   $ 1.20       $ 1.09       $ 3.19       $ 3.26   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

The number of anti-dilutive common stock equivalents excluded from the calculation of weighted average shares for diluted EPS was 766 and 234 for the three months ended September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011, respectively, and 462 and 165 for the nine months ended September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011, respectively.

 

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WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

 

8. Stock Plans

On May 6, 2008, May 12, 2004 and December 16, 1999, respectively, the Company’s shareholders approved the 2008 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2008 Plan”), the 2004 Stock Incentive Plan (the “2004 Plan”) and the 1999 Stock Purchase and Option Plan (the “1999 Plan” and together with the 2008 Plan and the 2004 Plan, the “Stock Plans”). These plans are designed to promote the long-term financial interests and growth of the Company by attracting, motivating and retaining employees with the ability to contribute to the success of the business and to align compensation for the Company’s employees over a multi-year period directly with the interests of the shareholders of the Company. The Company’s Board of Directors or a committee thereof administers the Stock Plans.

 

9. Income Taxes

The effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2012 was 38.5%. The effective tax rates for the three and nine months ended October 1, 2011 were 35.1% and 37.1%, respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 29, 2012, the primary differences between the US federal statutory tax rate and the Company’s effective tax rate were state income taxes and increases in valuation allowances, offset by lower rates in certain foreign jurisdictions and the reversal of certain tax reserves due to the expiration of the applicable statutes of limitations. For the three and nine months ended October 1, 2011, the primary differences between the US federal statutory tax rate and the Company’s effective tax rate were state income taxes and increases in valuation allowances, offset by lower rates in certain foreign jurisdictions, and the reversal of certain tax reserves due to the expiration of the applicable statutes of limitations and the US tax benefit associated with losses due to the closing of the Company’s Finland business.

 

10. Legal

UK Self-Employment Matter

In July 2007, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (“HMRC”) issued to the Company notices of determination and decisions that, for the period April 2001 to April 2007, its leaders and certain other service providers in the United Kingdom should have been classified as employees for tax purposes and, as such, the Company should have withheld tax from the leaders and certain other service providers pursuant to the “Pay As You Earn” (“PAYE”) and national insurance contributions (“NIC”) collection rules and remitted such amounts to HMRC. HMRC also issued a claim to the Company in October 2008 in respect of NIC which corresponds to the prior notices of assessment with respect to PAYE previously raised by HMRC.

In September 2007, the Company appealed to the UK First Tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) (formerly known as the UK VAT and Duties Tribunal and hereinafter referred to as the “First Tier Tribunal”) HMRC’s notices as to these classifications and against any amount of PAYE and NIC liability claimed to be owed by the Company. In February 2010, the First Tier Tribunal issued a ruling that the Company’s UK leaders should have been classified as employees for UK tax purposes and, as such, the Company should have withheld tax from its leaders pursuant to the PAYE and NIC collection rules for the period from April 2001 to April 2007 with respect to services performed by the leaders for the Company. The Company appealed the First Tier Tribunal’s adverse ruling to the UK Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber) (the “Upper Tribunal”), and in October 2011, the Upper Tribunal issued a ruling dismissing the Company’s appeal. In January 2012, the Company sought permission from the UK Court of Appeal to appeal the Upper Tribunal’s ruling, which the UK Court of Appeal refused in March 2012. In March 2012, the Company applied to the UK Court of Appeal for an oral hearing to seek permission to appeal to the UK Court of Appeal against the Upper Tribunal’s ruling. At the hearing in June 2012, the UK Court of Appeal granted the Company permission to appeal. A hearing date for the appeal has been set for January 2013.

In December 2011, HMRC’s claim in respect of NIC was amended to increase the claimed amount for the period April 2002 to April 2007 and include the interest accrued thereon through December 2011. In addition, in February 2012, HMRC asserted a claim in respect of PAYE for the period April 2007 to April 2011 similar to

 

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WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

 

what it had claimed for the period April 2001 to April 2007. The Company is currently appealing this PAYE claim with the First Tier Tribunal and the First Tier Tribunal has directed that the appeal be stayed until following the decision of the UK Court of Appeal with respect to the Company’s appeal of the Upper Tribunal’s ruling.

In light of the First Tier Tribunal’s adverse ruling and in accordance with accounting guidance for contingencies, the Company recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 a reserve for the period from April 2001 through the end of fiscal 2009, inclusive of estimated accrued interest. On a quarterly basis, beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 and through the second quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company recorded a reserve for UK withholding taxes with respect to its UK leaders consistent with this ruling. The reserve at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2011 equaled approximately $43,671 in the aggregate based on the exchange rates at the end of fiscal 2011. As of the beginning of the third quarter of fiscal 2011, the Company began employing its UK leaders and therefore has ceased recording any further reserves for this matter. In addition, the Company does not currently expect additional reserves will be required in connection with the December 2011 amended NIC claim and the February 2012 PAYE claim by HMRC, as reserves had previously been made for these amounts. In February 2012, the Company paid HMRC, on a without prejudice basis, a portion of the amount previously reserved equal to approximately $30,018 based on the exchange rates at the payment date for estimated amounts claimed to be owed by the Company with respect to PAYE and interest thereon for the period April 2001 to July 2011. The reserve at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012 equaled approximately $14,707 in the aggregate based on the exchange rates at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012. Although the Company disagrees with the First Tier Tribunal’s adverse ruling and believes it has valid grounds to obtain a reversal on appeal, the Company is currently in discussions with HMRC to determine if this matter can be settled prior to the January 2013 appeal hearing date.

Other Litigation Matters

Due to the nature of the Company’s activities, it is also, at times, subject to pending and threatened legal actions that arise out of the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, based in part upon advice of legal counsel, the disposition of any such matters is not expected to have a material effect on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. However, the results of legal actions cannot be predicted with certainty. Therefore, it is possible that the Company’s results of operations, financial condition or cash flows could be materially adversely affected in any particular period by the unfavorable resolutions of one or more legal actions.

 

11. Derivative Instruments and Hedging

As of September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011, the Company had in effect interest rate swaps with notional amounts totaling $640,500 and $800,000, respectively. In January 2009, the Company entered into a forward-starting interest rate swap with an effective date of January 4, 2010 and a termination date of January 27, 2014. During the remaining term of this forward-starting interest rate swap, the notional amount will fluctuate, but will be no higher than the amount outstanding as of the end of the third fiscal quarter. The initial notional amount was $425,000 and the highest notional amount was $755,000.

The Company is hedging forecasted transactions for periods not exceeding the next five years. At September 29, 2012, given the current configuration of its debt, the Company estimates that no derivative gains or losses reported in accumulated other comprehensive income will be reclassified to the Statements of Net Income within the next 12 months due to hedge ineffectiveness.

As of September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011, cumulative unrealized losses for qualifying hedges were reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income in the amounts of $8,456 ($13,863 before taxes) and $17,607 ($28,864 before taxes), respectively. For the three and nine months ended September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011, there were no fair value adjustments recorded in the Statements of Net Income since all hedges were considered qualifying and effective.

 

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WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

 

The Company expects approximately $6,926 ($11,355 before taxes) of derivative losses included in accumulated other comprehensive income at September 29, 2012, based on current market rates, will be reclassified into earnings within the next 12 months.

 

12. Fair Value Measurements

Accounting guidance on fair value measurements for certain financial assets and liabilities requires that assets and liabilities carried at fair value be classified and disclosed in one of the following three categories:

 

   

Level 1 – Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 2 – Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities; quoted prices in markets that are not active; or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the assets or liabilities.

 

   

Level 3 – Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

When measuring fair value, the Company is required to maximize the use of observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments

The Company’s significant financial instruments include long-term debt and interest rate swap agreements.

The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is determined by utilizing average bid prices on or near the end of each fiscal quarter (Level 2 input). As of September 29, 2012 and October 1, 2011, the fair value of the Company’s long-term debt was approximately $2,390,017 and $1,039,962, respectively.

Derivative Financial Instruments

The fair values for the Company’s derivative financial instruments are determined using observable current market information such as the prevailing LIBOR interest rate and LIBOR yield curve rates and include consideration of counterparty credit risk. See Note 11 for disclosures related to derivative financial instruments.

The following table presents the aggregate fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments:

 

            Fair Value Measurements Using:  
     Total
Fair
Value
     Quoted Prices in
Active Markets
for Identical
Assets

(Level 1)
     Significant Other
Observable Inputs
(Level 2)
     Significant
Unobservable
Inputs

(Level 3)
 

Interest rate swap asset at September 29, 2012

   $ 0       $ 0       $ 0       $ 0   

Interest rate swap asset at December 31, 2011

   $ 0       $ 0       $ 0       $ 0   

Interest rate swap liability at September 29, 2012

   $ 17,009       $ 0       $ 17,009       $ 0   

Interest rate swap liability at December 31, 2011

   $ 24,613       $ 0       $ 24,613       $ 0   

 

13. Segment Data

The Company has two reportable segments: WWI and WW.com. WWI has multiple operating segments which have been aggregated into one reportable segment. WWI and WW.com are two separate and distinct businesses for which discrete financial information is available. This discrete financial information is maintained and managed separately and is reviewed regularly by the chief operating decision maker. All intercompany activity is eliminated in consolidation.

 

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WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

 

Information about the Company’s reportable segments is as follows:

 

     Three Months Ended September 29, 2012  
     WWI      WW.com      Consolidated  

Total revenue

   $ 305,657       $ 124,953       $ 430,610   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 8,660       $ 2,363       $ 11,023   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

   $ 60,476       $ 71,508       $ 131,984   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Interest expense

           23,225   

Other income, net

           (756

Provision for taxes

           42,151   
        

 

 

 

Net income

         $ 67,364   
        

 

 

 
     Three Months Ended October 1, 2011  
     WWI      WW.com      Consolidated  

Total revenue

   $ 325,584       $ 102,850       $ 428,434   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 6,323       $ 2,587       $ 8,910   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

   $ 82,378       $ 55,921       $ 138,299   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Interest expense

           13,655   

Other expense, net

           285   

Provision for taxes

           43,709   
        

 

 

 

Net income

         $ 80,650   
        

 

 

 

 

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WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)

 

 

     Nine Months Ended September 29, 2012  
     WWI      WW.com      Consolidated  

Total revenue

   $ 1,029,524       $ 389,373       $ 1,418,897   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 24,597       $ 7,262       $ 31,859   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

   $ 199,461       $ 188,805       $ 388,266   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Interest expense

           60,149   

Other expense, net

           2,531   

Early extinguishment of debt

           1,328   

Provision for taxes

           124,827   
        

 

 

 

Net income

         $ 199,431   
        

 

 

 
     Nine Months Ended October 1, 2011  
     WWI      WW.com      Consolidated  

Total revenue

   $ 1,114,569       $ 303,309       $ 1,417,878   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Depreciation and amortization

   $ 19,076       $ 7,472       $ 26,548   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

   $ 280,234       $ 149,125       $ 429,359   
  

 

 

    

 

 

    

Interest expense

           46,840   

Other expense, net

           40   

Provision for taxes

           141,796   
        

 

 

 

Net income

         $ 240,683   
        

 

 

 

There has not been a material change in total assets from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2011.

 

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CAUTIONARY NOTICE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Except for historical information contained herein, this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking statements,” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act, including, in particular, the statements about our plans, strategies and prospects under the heading “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” We have generally used the words “may,” “will,” “could,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “estimate,” “plan,” “intend” and similar expressions in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to identify forward-looking statements. We have based these forward-looking statements on our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Actual results could differ materially from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions, including, among other things:

 

   

competition from other weight management industry participants or the development of more effective or more favorably perceived weight management methods;

 

   

our ability to continue to develop innovative new services and products and enhance our existing services and products, or the failure of our services and products to continue to appeal to the market;

 

   

the effectiveness of our marketing and advertising programs;

 

   

the impact on the Weight Watchers brand of actions taken by our franchisees, licensees and suppliers;

 

   

risks and uncertainties associated with our international operations, including economic, political and social risks and foreign currency risks;

 

   

our ability to successfully make acquisitions or enter into joint ventures, including our ability to successfully integrate, operate or realize the projected benefits of such businesses;

 

   

uncertainties related to a downturn in general economic conditions or consumer confidence;

 

   

the seasonal nature of our business;

 

   

the impact of events that discourage people from gathering with others;

 

   

our ability to enforce our intellectual property rights both domestically and internationally, as well as the impact of our involvement in any claims related to intellectual property rights;

 

   

uncertainties regarding the satisfactory operation of our information technology or systems;

 

   

the impact of security breaches or privacy concerns;

 

   

the impact of disputes with our franchise operators;

 

   

the impact of existing and future laws and regulations;

 

   

the impact of our debt service obligations and restrictive debt covenants;

 

   

the possibility that the interests of our majority owner will conflict with other holders of our common stock; and

 

   

other risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in our periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. You should understand that many important factors, including those discussed herein, could cause our results to differ materially from those expressed or suggested in any forward-looking statement. Except as required by law, we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that occur after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or otherwise.

 

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ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Weight Watchers International, Inc. is a Virginia corporation with its principal executive offices in New York, New York. In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q unless the context indicates otherwise: “we,” “us,” “our” and the “Company” refer to Weight Watchers International, Inc. and all of its businesses consolidated for purposes of its financial statements; “Weight Watchers International” and “WWI” refer to Weight Watchers International, Inc. and all of the Company’s businesses other than WeightWatchers.com; “WeightWatchers.com” refers to WeightWatchers.com, Inc. and all of the Company’s Internet-based businesses; and “NACO” refers to our North American Company-owned meeting operations.

Our fiscal year ends on the Saturday closest to December 31st and consists of either 52- or 53-week periods. In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q:

 

   

“fiscal 2008” refers to our fiscal year ended January 3, 2009;

 

   

“fiscal 2009” refers to our fiscal year ended January 2, 2010;

 

   

“fiscal 2010” refers to our fiscal year ended January 1, 2011;

 

   

“fiscal 2011” refers to our fiscal year ended December 31, 2011;

 

   

“fiscal 2012” refers to our fiscal year ended December 29, 2012;

 

   

“fiscal 2013” refers to our fiscal year ended December 28, 2013;

 

   

“fiscal 2014” refers to our fiscal year ended January 3, 2015;

 

   

“fiscal 2015” refers to our fiscal year ended January 2, 2016; and

 

   

“fiscal 2016” refers to our fiscal year ended December 31, 2016.

The following terms used in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q are our trademarks: Weight Watchers®, PointsPlus® and ProPoints®.

You should read the following discussion in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2011 that includes additional information about us, our results of operations, our financial position and our cash flows, and with our unaudited consolidated financial statements and related notes included in Item 1 of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (collectively, the “Consolidated Financial Statements”).

USE OF CONSTANT CURRENCY

As exchange rates are an important factor in understanding period-to-period comparisons, we believe the presentation of results on a constant currency basis in addition to reported results helps improve investors’ ability to understand our operating results and evaluate our performance in comparison to prior periods. Constant currency information compares results between periods as if exchange rates had remained constant period-over-period. We use results on a constant currency basis as one measure to evaluate our performance. In this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, we calculate constant currency by calculating current-year results using prior-year foreign currency exchange rates. We generally refer to such amounts calculated on a constant currency basis as excluding or adjusting for the impact of foreign currency. These results should be considered in addition to, not as a substitute for, results reported in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, or GAAP. Results on a constant currency basis, as we present them, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures used by other companies and are not measures of performance presented in accordance with GAAP.

CRITICAL ACCOUNTING POLICIES

For a discussion of the critical accounting policies affecting us, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2011. Our critical accounting policies have not changed since the end of fiscal 2011.

 

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RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

OVERVIEW

Fiscal 2011 was a year of revenue and volume growth in all fiscal quarters as compared to the prior year periods. We experienced accelerated period-over-period volume growth in our North American and UK meetings and Weight Watchers.com businesses throughout the year. The momentum of our new program launches, PointsPlus in North America and ProPoints in our other English-speaking markets, and strong marketing and public relations efforts drove this accelerated growth and historically high volumes in fiscal 2011.

Similar to the first and second quarters of fiscal 2012, the third quarter of fiscal 2012 had, though to a lesser extent than the first and second quarters, the challenge of being compared against the historically high levels of recruitment growth and related results of fiscal 2011. Net revenues were $430.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, as compared to $428.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Growth in Internet revenues in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period was almost fully offset by revenue declines in the meetings business. Despite gross margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 growing to 59.4% from 58.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, our investments in growth initiatives in the quarter resulted in an increase in both selling, general and administrative expenses and marketing expenses as a percentage of revenue in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. As a result, operating income margin for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 declined to 30.7% from 32.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Consequently, and as a result of higher interest expense and a higher tax rate, net income attributable to the Company in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 declined 16.5% versus the prior year period to $67.4 million.

The first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period had similar performance trends as each of the individual fiscal quarters. Net revenues were $1,418.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2012, as compared to $1,417.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Growth in Internet revenues in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period was almost fully offset by revenue declines in the meetings business. Gross margin for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 grew to 59.0% from 57.9% in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Both marketing expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of revenue in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period due to our investments in growth initiatives. As a result, operating income margin for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 declined 2.9% to 27.4% from 30.3% in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Consequently, and as a result of higher interest expense, a write-off of an investment and a higher tax rate, net income attributable to the Company in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 declined 17.3% versus the prior year period to $199.4 million.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 COMPARED TO THE THREE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 1, 2011

The table below sets forth selected financial information for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 from our consolidated statements of net income for the three months ended September 29, 2012 versus selected financial information for the third quarter of fiscal 2011 from our consolidated statements of net income for the three months ended October 1, 2011:

 

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Summary of Selected Financial Data

 

     (In millions, except per share amounts)         
     For the Three Months Ended         
     September 29,
2012
    October 1,
2011
    Increase/
(Decrease)
     % Change  

Revenues, net

   $ 430.6      $ 428.4      $ 2.2         0.5%    

Cost of revenues

     174.8        177.3        (2.5)         (1.4%)   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

     255.8        251.2        4.6         1.9%    

Gross Margin %

     59.4     58.6     

Marketing expenses

     65.9        61.5        4.4         7.1%    

Selling, general & administrative expenses

     58.0        51.4        6.6         12.8%    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     132.0        138.3        (6.3)         (4.6%)   

Operating Income Margin %

     30.7     32.3     

Interest expense

     23.2        13.7        9.6         70.1%    

Other (income) expense, net

     (0.8)        0.3        (1.0)         -100.0%    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     109.5        124.4        (14.8)         (11.9%)   

Provision for income taxes

     42.2        43.7        (1.6)         (3.6%)   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income attributable to the Company

   $ 67.4      $ 80.7      $ (13.3)         (16.5%)   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

     56.1        74.3        (18.1)         (24.4%)   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

   $ 1.20      $ 1.09      $ 0.11         10.5%    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding.

Consolidated Results

Revenues

Net revenues were $430.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, as compared to $428.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which negatively impacted our revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 by $9.2 million, net revenues in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 grew 2.7% versus the prior year period. The third quarter of fiscal 2012 benefited from a higher active Online subscriber base at the start of the quarter as compared to the start of the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and more effective marketing in the Continental European meetings business. Revenue growth on a constant currency basis in our Continental European meetings business was more than offset by revenue declines in the NACO and UK meetings businesses as they cycled against the momentum of their new program innovations and stronger marketing in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. In addition, meeting revenues in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 continued to be negatively impacted by the execution challenges associated with introducing the Monthly Pass commitment plan to NACO’s small accounts portion of its corporate business in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, though to a lesser extent than the first half of fiscal 2012, as well as by macro-economic factors, particularly consumer confidence, in NACO and the United Kingdom.

The combination of the above factors also led to a 4.2% decline in global meeting paid weeks in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. In contrast, with the benefits of starting the third quarter with a higher active Online subscriber base and effective marketing for the Weight Watchers Online product, particularly in Continental Europe, WeightWatchers.com experienced growth of 23.2% in Online paid weeks, as well as a 19.5% increase in end of period active Online subscribers, in the third

 

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quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. The increase in Online paid weeks more than offset the decline in meeting paid weeks which resulted in an 8.8% increase in global paid weeks in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. Global attendance in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 declined 10.2% in comparison to the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

Gross Profit and Operating Income

Gross profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 of $255.8 million increased $4.6 million, or 1.9%, from $251.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which negatively impacted gross profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 by $5.4 million, gross profit in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 increased by $10.0 million, or 4.0%, versus the prior year period. Operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was $132.0 million, a decrease of $6.3 million, or 4.6%, from $138.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which negatively impacted operating income for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 by $3.2 million, operating income in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 decreased by $3.1 million, or 2.2%, versus the prior year period. This decline in operating income was primarily the result of an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses and marketing investments in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. Our gross margin in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 increased to 59.4% from 58.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, but operating income margin in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 declined to 30.7% from 32.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. See “—Components of Expenses and Margins” for additional details.

Net Income and Earnings Per Share

Net income attributable to the Company in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 declined 16.5% from $80.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 to $67.4 million. In addition to the decline in operating income, higher interest expense resulting from our financing of our repurchase of shares in the Tender Offer (defined below) and related share repurchase from Artal Holdings (defined below) and a higher tax rate, primarily resulting from the tax benefit associated with the closure of our Finland business in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, further reduced net income in the third quarter of fiscal 2012.

Earnings per fully diluted share in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 were $1.20, an increase of $0.11 from $1.09 in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Earnings per fully diluted share in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 benefited from our repurchase of shares in the Tender Offer and the related share repurchase from Artal Holdings in the first half of fiscal 2012 as our weighted average diluted shares outstanding decreased to 56.1 million in the quarter from 74.3 million in the prior year period. See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Dividends and Stock Transactions” for a description of the Tender Offer and related share repurchase from Artal Holdings.

Components of Revenue and Volumes

We derive our revenues principally from meeting fees, products sold in meetings, Internet revenues, and licensed products sold in retail channels. In addition, we generate other revenue from royalties paid to us by our franchisees, subscriptions to our branded magazines, and advertising in our publications.

Meeting Fees

Global meeting fees for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 were $223.2 million, a decrease of $10.2 million, or 4.4%, from $233.4 million in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased our global meeting fees for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 by $4.6 million, global meeting fees in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 decreased by 2.4% versus the prior year period. The decline in meeting fees was driven by a 4.2% decline in global meeting paid weeks in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 to 23.9 million from 24.9 million in the prior year period. The decline in meeting paid weeks was driven by the lower meeting membership base we had at the beginning of the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the beginning of the prior year period, as well as lower enrollments in the quarter versus the prior year period. Global attendance decreased 10.2% to 11.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 from 12.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

 

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In NACO, meeting fees in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 were $157.8 million, a decrease of $3.5 million, or 2.2%, from $161.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The decline in meeting fees was driven primarily by a 3.6% decline in NACO meeting paid weeks from 16.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011 to 16.0 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. The decline in meeting paid weeks was driven by the lower meeting membership base at the beginning of the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the beginning of the prior year period, as well as lower enrollments in the quarter versus the prior year period. In addition to the negative impact of the macro-economic climate, enrollments in the quarter were negatively impacted primarily by less promotional activity, as well as less effective marketing, versus the prior year period. The execution challenges associated with introducing Monthly Pass to the small accounts portion of NACO’s corporate business in early fiscal 2012 continued to have a negative impact on volumes, but to a lesser extent than the first half of fiscal 2012. Slightly offsetting this volume decline was a 1.7% increase in meeting fees per paid week on a constant currency basis in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period, primarily the result of a December 2011 price increase for the U.S. Monthly Pass, which was partially offset by a shift to the Monthly Pass model in NACO’s corporate business. NACO revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 also reflected a de minimis benefit from our September 2012 acquisition of substantially all of the assets of our Southeastern Ontario and Ottawa, Canada, franchisee. In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, NACO attendance decreased 9.4% to 7.2 million from 7.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

International meeting fees in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 were $65.4 million, a decrease of $6.7 million, or 9.3%, from $72.2 million in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased international meeting fees for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 by $4.5 million, international meeting fees declined by 3.1% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. Third quarter fiscal 2012 meeting fees were driven lower by a 5.4% decline in international meeting paid weeks in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. Meeting paid weeks performance in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was driven by the lower meeting membership base at the beginning of the quarter versus the beginning of the prior year period, as well as lower enrollments, particularly in the United Kingdom, in the quarter versus the prior year period. International attendance decreased by 11.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period.

In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, UK meeting fees decreased by 14.0% to $25.3 million from $29.4 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased UK meeting fees for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 by $0.5 million, UK meeting fees declined by 12.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. Third quarter fiscal 2012 meeting fees were driven lower primarily by a decline of 12.5% in UK meeting paid weeks in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. Meeting paid weeks performance in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was driven by the lower meeting membership base at the beginning of the quarter versus the beginning of the prior year period, as well as lower enrollments in the quarter versus the prior year period. Enrollments in the quarter were negatively impacted primarily by less effective marketing and the macro-economic climate versus the prior year period. UK attendance decreased by 17.5% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period.

The Continental European meetings business experienced a decrease in meeting fees of 0.8% to $30.6 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 from $30.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased Continental European meeting fees for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 by $3.8 million, Continental European meeting fees increased by 11.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 as compared to the prior year period. The increase in meeting fees on a constant currency basis was driven by an increase of 12.1% in Continental European meeting paid weeks in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. The increase in meeting paid weeks was driven primarily by the higher meeting membership base at the beginning of the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the beginning of the prior year period. Despite the difficult economic climate across Continental Europe, we experienced a slight increase in enrollments in the quarter versus the prior year period, which was the result of effective new marketing strategies in France and Germany. In Continental Europe, attendance increased by 4.9% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period.

 

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In-Meeting Product Sales

Global in-meeting product sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 were $54.6 million, a decrease of $6.6 million, or 10.8%, from $61.3 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased in-meeting product sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 by $1.4 million, global in-meeting product sales in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 declined 8.4% versus the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from a 10.2% decline in global meeting attendance in the quarter versus the prior year period. On a per attendee basis, third quarter fiscal 2012 global in-meeting product sales decreased 0.7%, but increased 1.9% on a constant currency basis, versus the prior year period. This increase in in-meeting product sales per attendee in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was primarily the result of product category expansion in North America and Continental Europe.

In NACO, third quarter fiscal 2012 in-meeting product sales of $32.0 million decreased by $2.3 million, or 6.6%, versus the prior year period. This decrease was driven by a 9.4% attendance decline, and was partially offset by a 3.1% increase in in-meeting product sales per attendee, in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 as compared to the prior year period.

International in-meeting product sales were $22.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, a decrease of 16.1%, or 10.9% on a constant currency basis, versus the prior year period. This decrease was driven primarily by an attendance decline of 11.4% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 as compared to the third quarter of fiscal 2011, which was largely driven by the United Kingdom. In addition, in-meeting product sales per attendee in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 declined by 5.3%, but increased by 0.6% on a constant currency basis, as compared to the prior year period.

Internet Revenues

Internet revenues, which include subscription revenues from sales of our Weight Watchers Online and Weight Watchers eTools products as well as Internet advertising revenues, increased $22.3 million, or 21.9%, to $124.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 from $101.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased Internet revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 by $2.3 million, Internet revenues grew by 24.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. The combination of a higher active Online subscriber base at the start of the third quarter of fiscal 2012, up 26.4%, versus the beginning of the third quarter of fiscal 2011 and effective marketing campaigns in Continental Europe and Canada contributed to Online paid weeks growth of 23.2% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. The growth rate in Online paid weeks in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period was less than the comparable growth rate in the first and second quarters of fiscal 2012. This declining trend is the result of lower sign-ups in our US and UK markets, which were driven by the same challenges the meetings business faced in those markets in the third quarter of fiscal 2012. Additionally, end of period active Online subscribers increased by 19.5% to 2.1 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012 as compared to 1.7 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

Other Revenues

Other revenues, comprised primarily of licensing revenues, franchise royalties, revenues from the sale of products by mail and to our franchisees, and revenues from our publications, were $28.5 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2012, a decrease of $3.4 million, or 10.5%, from $31.9 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased other revenues for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 by $0.8 million, other revenues were 8.1% lower in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to the prior year period. Franchise commissions and sales of products to our franchisees declined in the aggregate by 16.2%, or 15.1% on a constant currency basis, in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. Our by mail product sales and revenues from our publications also declined in the aggregate by 18.4%, or 15.2% on a constant currency basis, in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. These declines were primarily the result of comparing against the prior year period, which had the benefit of the momentum of the new program launches in our English-speaking markets in late fiscal 2010. Global licensing revenues in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 decreased by 2.3%, but increased slightly by 0.2% on a constant currency basis, versus the prior year period.

 

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Components of Expenses and Margins

Cost of Revenues and Gross Margin

Total cost of revenues in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was $174.8 million, a decrease of $2.5 million, or 1.4%, from $177.3 million in the prior year period. Cost of revenues declined at a faster pace than revenues due to the continued shift of revenue towards the higher margin WeightWatchers.com business. Gross profit for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 of $255.8 million increased $4.6 million, or 1.9%, from $251.2 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Gross margin in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 was 59.4%, as compared to 58.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Gross margin expansion was primarily the result of the continued shift in revenue towards the higher margin WeightWatchers.com business. This margin expansion was partially offset by a decline in the meetings business gross margin. This decline in the meetings business gross margin was primarily driven by a lower average number of members per meeting, costs associated with our initiative to modernize and update our retail centers in the United States, the impact of lower product sales margin and one-time costs associated with NACO’s transition to a new customer service provider.

Marketing

Marketing expenses for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 were $65.9 million, an increase of $4.4 million, or 7.1%, versus the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased marketing expenses for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 by $1.1 million, marketing expenses were 8.9% higher in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 compared to the prior year period. In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, marketing expenses were higher primarily due to investments in two initiatives: first time Online TV marketing campaigns in three of our international markets and investment in marketing the Weight Watchers Online product to men in the United States. In addition, in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, we increased our investment in other advertising for the Online business in the United States and increased our celebrity TV advertising spend in Germany for the meetings business. The impact of higher volumes on online advertising costs also contributed to the increase in marketing expenses. Marketing expenses as a percentage of revenue were 15.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 as compared to 14.4% in the prior year period.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $58.0 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 versus $51.4 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011, an increase of $6.6 million, or 12.8%. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased selling, general and administrative expenses for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 by $1.1 million, third quarter fiscal 2012 selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 14.9% versus the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The increase in expenses was primarily related to investments in growth initiatives, including NACO’s corporate business, technology for the development of customer relationship management platforms and additions to staff in support of these initiatives, as well as a one-time expense associated with the move of our New York headquarters facilities planned for next year. Lower bad debt expense in NACO and lower bonus expense globally related to business performance partially offset this increase. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 increased to 13.5% from 12.0% for the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

Operating Income Margin

Our operating income margin in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 decreased to 30.7%, a decrease of 1.6% from 32.3% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The decline in operating income margin was primarily driven by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses and in marketing costs related to first time Online TV marketing campaigns in three of our international markets, as well as marketing the Weight Watchers Online product to men in the United States. In the third quarter of fiscal 2012, both selling, general and administrative expenses and marketing expenses increased as a percentage of revenue as compared to the prior year period.

 

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Interest Expense and Other

Interest expense was $23.2 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2012, an increase of $9.6 million, or 70.1%, from $13.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The increase was primarily driven by higher interest rates on our debt and an increase in our average debt outstanding. The effective interest rate on our debt increased by 0.80% to 2.92% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 from 2.12% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Our average debt outstanding increased by $1,331.8 million to $2,456.7 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 from $1,124.9 million in the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The increase in average debt outstanding was driven by the additional borrowings under the WWI Credit Facility (defined below) in connection with our repurchase of shares in the Tender Offer and the related share repurchase from Artal Holdings (see “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Dividends and Stock Transactions”). Interest expense was partially offset by a decrease in the notional value and interest rates of our interest rate swaps, which resulted in a lower effective interest rate of 3.43% in the third quarter of fiscal 2012, as compared to 4.43% in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

The Company incurred $0.8 million of other income in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 as compared to $0.3 million of other expense in the prior year period, primarily reflecting the impact of foreign currency on intercompany transactions.

Tax

Our effective tax rate was 38.5% for the third quarter of fiscal 2012 as compared to 35.1% for the third quarter of fiscal 2011. The difference in period-over-period effective tax rates is primarily the result of the tax benefit associated with the closure of our Finland business in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 29, 2012 COMPARED TO THE NINE MONTHS ENDED OCTOBER 1, 2011

The table below sets forth selected financial information for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 from our consolidated statements of net income for the nine months ended September 29, 2012 versus selected financial information for the first nine months of fiscal 2011 from our consolidated statements of net income for the nine months ended October 1, 2011:

 

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Summary of Selected Financial Data

 

     (In millions, except per share amounts)         
     For the Nine Months Ended         
     September 29,
2012
    October 1,
2011
    Increase/
(Decrease)
     % Change  

Revenues, net

   $ 1,418.9      $ 1,417.9      $ 1.0         0.1%    

Cost of revenues

     581.2        596.4        (15.2)         (2.6%)   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Gross profit

     837.7        821.5        16.2         2.0%    

Gross Margin %

     59.0     57.9     

Marketing expenses

     280.0        232.3        47.6         20.5%    

Selling, general & administrative expenses

     169.5        159.8        9.7         6.1%    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Operating income

     388.3        429.4        (41.1)         (9.6%)   

Operating Income Margin %

     27.4     30.3     

Interest expense

     60.1        46.8        13.3         28.4%    

Other expense, net

     2.5        0.1        2.5         +100.0%    

Early extinguishment of debt

     1.3        —          1.3         +100.0%    
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

     324.3        382.5        (58.2)         (15.2%)   

Provision for income taxes

     124.8        141.8        (17.0)         (12.0%)   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income

     199.4        240.7        (41.3)         (17.1%)   

Net loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest

     —          0.5        (0.5)         (100.0%)   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Net income attributable to the Company

   $ 199.4      $ 241.2      $ (41.8)         (17.3%)   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Weighted average diluted shares outstanding

     62.5        74.0        (11.6)         (15.6%)   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

Diluted EPS

   $ 3.19      $ 3.26      $ (0.07)         (2.0%)   
  

 

 

   

 

 

   

 

 

    

 

 

 

 

Note: Totals may not sum due to rounding.

Consolidated Results

Revenues

Net revenues were $1,418.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2012, as compared to $1,417.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which negatively impacted our revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 by $24.1 million, net revenues in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 grew 1.8% versus the prior year period. Revenue growth in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 was driven primarily by WeightWatchers.com which benefited from a higher active Online subscriber base at the start of fiscal 2012 as compared to fiscal 2011 and effective marketing in the first nine months of fiscal 2012. Our Continental European meetings business, which benefited from new marketing strategies, also contributed to revenue growth on a constant currency basis. This revenue growth in our Continental European meetings business was more than offset by revenue declines in the NACO and UK meetings businesses as they cycled against the momentum of their new program innovations, and stronger and more effective marketing and public relations efforts, in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. In addition, in the first nine months of fiscal 2012, meeting revenues were negatively impacted by the execution challenges associated with introducing the Monthly Pass commitment plan to NACO’s small accounts portion of its corporate business in the first quarter of fiscal 2012, as well as by macro-economic factors, particularly consumer confidence, in NACO and the United Kingdom.

The combination of the above factors also led to a 4.6% decline in global meeting paid weeks in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. However, with the benefits of starting the fiscal year with a higher active Online subscriber base and effective marketing, WeightWatchers.com experienced growth of 29.5% in Online paid weeks, as well as a 19.5% increase in end of period active Online subscribers, in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. The increase in Online paid weeks more than offset the decline in meeting paid weeks, which resulted in a 10.7% increase in global paid weeks in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. Global attendance in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 declined 10.2% in comparison to the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

 

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Gross Profit and Operating Income

Gross profit for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 of $837.7 million increased $16.2 million, or 2.0%, from $821.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which negatively impacted gross profit for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 by $13.8 million, gross profit in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 increased by $30.1 million, or 3.7%, versus the prior year period. Operating income for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 was $388.3 million, a decrease of $41.1 million, or 9.6%, from $429.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which negatively impacted operating income for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 by $6.8 million, operating income in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 decreased by $34.3 million, or 8.0%, versus the prior year period. This decline was primarily the result of an increase in marketing investments and selling, general and administrative expenses in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. Our gross margin in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 increased to 59.0% from 57.9% in the first nine months of fiscal 2011, but operating income margin in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 declined to 27.4% from 30.3% in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. See “—Components of Expenses and Margins” for additional details.

Net Income and Earnings Per Share

Net income attributable to the Company in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 declined 17.3% from $241.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011 to $199.4 million. In addition to the decline in operating income, higher interest expense resulting from our financing of our repurchase of shares in the Tender Offer and related share repurchase from Artal Holdings, the write-off of an investment and a higher tax rate, primarily resulting from the tax benefit associated with the closure of our Finland business in the third quarter of fiscal 2011, further reduced net income in the first nine months of fiscal 2012.

Earnings per fully diluted share in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 were $3.19, a decrease of $0.07 from $3.26 in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Earnings per fully diluted share in the second and third quarters of fiscal 2012 benefited from our repurchase of shares in the Tender Offer and the related share repurchase from Artal Holdings as our weighted average diluted shares outstanding decreased to 62.5 million from 74.0 million in the prior year period. See “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Dividends and Stock Transactions” for a description of the Tender Offer and related share repurchase from Artal Holdings.

Components of Revenue and Volumes

We derive our revenues principally from meeting fees, products sold in meetings, Internet revenues, and licensed products sold in retail channels. In addition, we generate other revenue from royalties paid to us by our franchisees, subscriptions to our branded magazines, and advertising in our publications.

Meeting Fees

Global meeting fees for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 were $724.2 million, a decrease of $47.7 million, or 6.2%, from $771.9 million in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased our global meeting fees for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 by $12.1 million, global meeting fees in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 decreased by 4.6% versus the prior year period. The decline in meeting fees was driven by a 4.6% decline in global meeting paid weeks in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 to 77.3 million from 81.1 million in the prior year period. The decline in meeting paid weeks was driven by lower enrollments in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 as compared to the

 

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historically high enrollment levels in the prior year period. However, the impact of enrollments on meeting paid weeks was minimized by the higher meeting membership base at the beginning of fiscal 2012 versus the beginning of fiscal 2011. Global attendance decreased 10.2% to 41.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 from 45.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

In NACO, meeting fees in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 were $506.2 million, a decrease of $28.7 million, or 5.4%, from $534.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. The decline in meeting fees was driven primarily by a 5.1% decline in NACO meeting paid weeks from 54.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011 to 51.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2012. The decline in meeting paid weeks primarily resulted from lower enrollments in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 as compared to the historically high enrollment levels in the prior year period. Lower enrollments in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 were driven in part by the execution challenges associated with introducing Monthly Pass to the small accounts portion of NACO’s corporate business. However, the impact of enrollments on meeting paid weeks was minimized by the higher meeting membership base at the beginning of fiscal 2012 versus the beginning of fiscal 2011. In the first nine months of fiscal 2012, NACO attendance decreased 10.6% to 25.7 million from 28.8 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

International meeting fees in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 were $218.0 million, a decrease of $19.0 million, or 8.0%, from $237.0 million in the prior year period. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased international meeting fees for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 by $11.2 million, international meeting fees declined by 3.3% in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. First nine months fiscal 2012 meeting fees were driven by a 3.8% decline in international meeting paid weeks in the period versus the prior year period. Meeting paid weeks performance in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 was driven by declines in enrollments in our international English-speaking markets in the period versus the prior year period, which were partially offset by enrollment growth in Continental Europe. International attendance decreased by 9.5% in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period.

In the first nine months of fiscal 2012, UK meeting fees decreased by 12.5% to $80.9 million from $92.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased UK meeting fees for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 by $1.9 million, UK meeting fees declined by 10.5% in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. First nine months fiscal 2012 meeting fees were driven lower primarily by a decline of 9.4% in UK meeting paid weeks in the period versus the prior year period. Meeting paid weeks performance in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 was driven by lower enrollments in the period as compared to the historically high enrollment levels in the prior year period. In addition, in the first nine months of fiscal 2012, the United Kingdom introduced an advertising campaign that was ineffective in driving enrollment growth. Weak macro-economic trends in the United Kingdom also contributed to the decline in enrollments. However, the impact of enrollments on meeting paid weeks was minimized by the higher meeting membership base at the beginning of fiscal 2012 versus the beginning of fiscal 2011. UK attendance decreased by 15.2% in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period.

Meeting fees in Continental Europe decreased 1.5% to $104.8 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 from $106.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased Continental European meeting fees for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 by $9.2 million, Continental European meeting fees increased by 7.2% in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 as compared to the prior year period. The increase in meeting fees on a constant currency basis was driven by an increase of 9.3% in Continental European meeting paid weeks in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. The increase in meeting paid weeks was driven by higher enrollments in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 as compared to the prior year period. These higher enrollments were the result of effective new marketing strategies in this region. In Continental Europe, attendance increased by 3.9% in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period.

 

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In-Meeting Product Sales

Global in-meeting product sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 were $206.3 million, a decrease of $28.6 million, or 12.2%, from $234.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased in-meeting product sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 by $4.3 million, global in-meeting product sales in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 declined 10.3% versus the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from a 10.2% decline in global meeting attendance in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. In addition, lower product sales per attendee in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period drove the balance of the decline. On a per attendee basis, the first nine months of fiscal 2012 global in-meeting product sales decreased 2.2%, or 0.2% on a constant currency basis, versus the prior year period. This decrease in in-meeting product sales per attendee in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 was primarily the result of cycling against abnormally strong first quarter fiscal 2011 sales of enrollment products in connection with the launch of the new programs in our English-speaking markets in late fiscal 2010.

In NACO, first nine months fiscal 2012 in-meeting product sales of $117.9 million decreased by $13.6 million, or 10.4%, versus the prior year period. This decrease resulted primarily from a 10.6% attendance decline in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 as compared to the prior year period. In-meeting product sales per attendee increased slightly by 0.2%, or 0.4% on a constant currency basis, in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period as sales of consumables and new product categories offset the decline in sales of enrollment products.

International in-meeting product sales were $88.4 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2012, a decrease of 14.5%, or 10.5% on a constant currency basis, versus the prior year period. This decrease was driven primarily by an attendance decline of 9.5% in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 as compared to the first nine months of fiscal 2011, which was largely driven by the United Kingdom. In addition, in-meeting product sales per attendee in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 declined by 5.5%, or 1.1% on a constant currency basis, as compared to the prior year period.

Internet Revenues

Internet revenues, which include subscription revenues from sales of our Weight Watchers Online and Weight Watchers eTools products as well as Internet advertising revenues, increased $87.2 million, or 29.1%, to $386.8 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 from $299.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased Internet revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 by $5.9 million, Internet revenues grew by 31.1% in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. The combination of a higher active Online subscriber base at the start of fiscal 2012, up 50.5%, versus the beginning of fiscal 2011 and effective marketing campaigns in North America and Continental Europe contributed to Online paid weeks growth of 29.5% in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. Additionally, end of period active Online subscribers increased by 19.5% to 2.1 million at the end of the first nine months of fiscal 2012 as compared to 1.7 million at the end of the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

Other Revenues

Other revenues, comprised primarily of licensing revenues, franchise royalties, revenues from the sale of products by mail and to our franchisees, and revenues from our publications, were $101.6 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2012, a decrease of $9.9 million, or 8.9%, from $111.6 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased other revenues for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 by $1.8 million, other revenues were 7.3% lower in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 compared to the prior year period. Franchise commissions and sales of products to our franchisees declined in the aggregate by 21.9%, or 20.9% on a constant currency basis, in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. Our by mail product sales and revenues from our publications also declined in the aggregate by 15.9%, or 14.1% on a constant currency basis, in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. These declines were primarily the result of comparing against the prior year period which had the benefit of the new program launches in our

 

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English-speaking markets in late fiscal 2010. Global licensing revenues increased by 3.3%, or 5.2% on a constant currency basis, in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period. A one-time termination fee in the second quarter of fiscal 2012 which was included in licensing revenues accounted for almost all of the increase. Excluding this one-time termination fee of $2.0 million from licensing revenues, global licensing revenues in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 decreased 1.1% versus the prior year period.

Components of Expenses and Margins

Cost of Revenues and Gross Margin

Total cost of revenues in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 was $581.2 million, a decrease of $15.2 million, or 2.6%, from $596.4 million in the prior year period. Cost of revenues declined at a faster pace than revenues due to the shift of revenue towards the higher margin WeightWatchers.com business. Gross profit for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 of $837.7 million increased $16.2 million, or 2.0%, from $821.5 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Gross margin in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 was 59.0%, as compared to 57.9% in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Gross margin expansion was primarily the result of the shift of revenue towards the higher margin WeightWatchers.com business. This margin expansion was partially offset by a decline in the meetings business gross margin. This decline in the meetings business gross margin was primarily driven by the impact of higher costs associated with our future growth initiatives and lower average number of members per meeting.

Marketing

Marketing expenses for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 were $280.0 million, an increase of $47.6 million, or 20.5%, versus the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased marketing expenses for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 by $4.5 million, marketing expenses were 22.4% higher in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 compared to the prior year period. Included in our first nine months of fiscal 2012 marketing expenses were investments in two initiatives: first time Online TV marketing campaigns in several of our international markets, and investment in marketing the Weight Watchers Online product to men in the United States. In addition, we invested in TV advertising for Continental Europe’s meetings business, which also contributed to the increase in marketing expenses in the first nine months of fiscal 2012. The increase in marketing expenses also reflected the impact of higher volumes on online advertising costs. Marketing expenses as a percentage of revenue were 19.7% in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 as compared to 16.4% in the prior year period.

Selling, General and Administrative

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $169.5 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus $159.8 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2011, an increase of $9.7 million, or 6.1%. Excluding the impact of foreign currency, which decreased selling, general and administrative expenses for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 by $2.5 million, first nine months of fiscal 2012 selling, general and administrative expenses increased by 7.6% versus the first nine months of fiscal 2011. The increase in expenses was primarily related to investments in growth initiatives, including NACO’s corporate business, technology for the development of our mobile and customer relationship management platforms and additions to staff in support of these initiatives. Lower bonus expense globally related to business performance partially offset this increase. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of revenue for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 increased to 11.9% from 11.3% for the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

Operating Income Margin

Our operating income margin in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 decreased to 27.4%, a decrease of 2.9% from 30.3% in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. The decline in operating income margin was primarily driven by

 

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costs related to first time Online TV marketing campaigns in several of our international markets and our significant investment in marketing the Weight Watchers Online product to men in the United States. Both marketing expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses increased as a percentage of revenue in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 as compared to the prior year period.

Interest Expense and Other

Interest expense was $60.1 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2012, an increase of $13.3 million, or 28.4%, from $46.8 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. The increase was primarily driven by higher interest rates on our debt and an increase in our average debt outstanding. The effective interest rate on our debt increased by 0.73% to 2.87% in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 from 2.14% in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Our average debt outstanding increased by $770.7 million to $1,995.7 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 from $1,225.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. The increase in average debt outstanding was driven by the additional borrowings under the WWI Credit Facility (defined below) in connection with our repurchase of shares in the Tender Offer and the related share repurchase from Artal Holdings (see “—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Dividends and Stock Transactions”). Interest expense was partially offset by a decrease in the notional value and interest rates of our interest rate swaps, which resulted in a lower effective interest rate of 3.64% in the first nine months of fiscal 2012, as compared to 4.66% in the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

The Company incurred $2.5 million of other expense in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 as compared to $0.1 million of other expense in the prior year period, primarily reflecting the write-off associated with an investment and the impact of foreign currency on intercompany transactions.

In the first nine months of fiscal 2012, we wrote-off $1.3 million of fees in connection with the refinancing of our debt, which we recorded as an early extinguishment of debt charge.

Tax

Our effective tax rate was 38.5% for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 as compared to 37.1% for the first nine months of fiscal 2011. The difference in period-over-period effective tax rates is primarily the result of the tax benefit associated with the closure of our Finland business in the third quarter of fiscal 2011.

RECENT DEVELOPMENTS

The impact of Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath is expected to negatively impact our paid weeks, attendance, revenue and net income in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

Sources and Uses of Cash – Fiscal 2012

Cash and cash equivalents were $80.6 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012, an increase of $33.1 million from the end of fiscal 2011. Cash flows provided by operating activities for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 were $301.2 million, a decrease of $73.7 million, or 19.7%, from the $374.9 million generated in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. This decrease was primarily the result of lower net income in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the prior year period and a payment of $30.0 million to Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, which was previously recorded as part of a reserve by the Company in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009, in connection with the UK self-employment matter. See Part II, Item 1. “Legal Proceedings—UK Self-Employment Matter” for additional details on this matter.

The $301.2 million of cash flows provided by operating activities for the first nine months of fiscal 2012 exceeded the period’s net income attributable to the Company by $101.7 million. The excess of cash flows provided by operating activities over net income arose primarily from changes in our working capital, as described below (see “—Balance Sheet Working Capital”), non-cash expenses and differences between book and cash taxes.

Net cash used for investing and financing activities combined totaled $257.2 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2012. Net cash used for investing activities was $71.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 and consisted of the following: capital expenditures in connection with our retail initiative; capitalized software expenditures to support global systems initiatives; and the purchase price paid in

 

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connection with our acquisition of substantially all of the assets of our Southeastern Ontario and Ottawa, Canada, franchisee. Net cash used for financing activities totaled $185.5 million in the period and included stock repurchases of $1.5 billion and deferred financing costs of $25.5 million, partially offset by proceeds from new term loans under the WWI Credit Facility of $1.45 billion in connection with the Tender Offer and related Artal Holdings share repurchase. See “—Dividends and Stock Transactions” for a description of the Tender Offer and the related Artal Holdings share repurchase. In addition, we made long-term debt payments of $86.6 million and dividend payments of $32.5 million, and received $13.9 million of proceeds from stock options exercised, in the first nine months of fiscal 2012.

Sources and Uses of Cash – Fiscal 2011

Cash and cash equivalents were $61.4 million at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2011, an increase of $20.9 million from the end of fiscal 2010. Cash flows provided by operating activities for the first nine months of fiscal 2011 were $374.9 million, an increase of $140.0 million, or 59.6%, over the $234.9 million generated in the first nine months of fiscal 2010. The increase of $140.0 million in cash flows provided by operating activities was primarily the result of improvements in our business in the first nine months of fiscal 2011 versus the comparable prior year period. These business improvements included a $95.9 million increase in net income, and $16.5 million of higher deferred income resulting from significant increases in Online subscribers and Monthly Pass members. In addition, in the first nine months of fiscal 2010, there was a $29.1 million payment made which reduced cash flows provided by operating activities in that period. The payment reduced a previously recorded UK value added tax, or VAT, accrual which covered prior periods, and which was made in connection with our previously disclosed adverse UK VAT ruling.

The $374.9 million of cash flows provided by operating activities for the first nine months of fiscal 2011 exceeded net income attributable to the Company by $133.7 million. The excess of cash flows provided by operating activities over net income arose primarily from changes in our working capital, and from non-cash expenses and differences between book and cash taxes.

Net cash used for investing and financing activities combined totaled $354.9 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011. Net cash used for investing activities was $31.0 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2011, consisting primarily of capital expenditures and capitalized software expenditures. Net cash used for financing activities totaled $323.9 million in the period and consisted primarily of long-term debt payments of $298.3 million, stock repurchases of $34.9 million and dividend payments of $38.7 million. These uses were partially offset by $41.4 million of proceeds from stock options exercised in the first nine months of fiscal 2011.

Balance Sheet Working Capital

On our balance sheet at September 29, 2012, the working capital deficit was $274.0 million, which included $80.6 million of cash and cash equivalents and $133.8 million of current portion of long-term debt. At December 31, 2011, our working capital deficit was $279.7 million, which included $47.5 million of cash and cash equivalents and $124.9 million of current portion of long-term debt. After making scheduled debt repayments of $86.6 million during the first nine months of fiscal 2012, and despite the borrowings that we undertook in March and April 2012, the current portion of our long-term debt increased only by $8.9 million versus the end of fiscal 2011 as described below (see “—Long-Term Debt”). Excluding the changes in cash and cash equivalents and current portion of long-term debt from both periods, the working capital deficit at September 29, 2012 increased by $18.6 million to $220.8 million from $202.2 million at December 31, 2011.

The increase of $18.6 million in adjusted working capital deficit (which excludes from working capital the changes in cash and cash equivalents and in the current portion of long-term debt) in the first nine months of fiscal 2012 versus the December 31, 2011 level was primarily attributable to operational items. Operational items increased the deficit by $61.2 million. These operational items included a $20.4 million increase in deferred revenue from growth in our Online subscriber and Monthly Pass member bases, seasonality-related reductions of $13.3 million in inventory, and a $6.2 million decrease in

 

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accounts receivable plus a $21.3 million increase in accrued liabilities. These increases in working capital deficit were partially offset by a $6.0 million decrease in income tax liabilities, primarily related to the timing of income tax payments, a $29.0 million decline in the UK self-employment liability related to payments made in the first quarter of fiscal 2012 and a $7.6 million decline in the derivative liability.

Long-Term Debt

Our credit facilities consist of certain term loan facilities and revolving credit facilities, which we refer to collectively as the WWI Credit Facility. During the first quarter of fiscal 2012, the composition of the WWI Credit Facility changed as a result of our amending and restating the WWI Credit Facility to, among other things, extend the maturity of certain of our term loan facilities and our revolving credit facility and to obtain new commitments for the borrowing of an additional $1,449.4 million of term loans to finance the purchases of shares of our common stock in the Tender Offer and from Artal Holdings pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

Immediately prior to the amendment of the WWI Credit Facility, the term loan facilities consisted of a tranche A-1 loan, or Term A-1 Loan, a tranche B loan, or Term B Loan, a tranche C loan, or Term C Loan, and a tranche D loan, or Term D Loan, and a revolving credit facility, or Revolver A-1. The aggregate principal amount then outstanding under (i) the Term A-1 Loan was $128.6 million, (ii) the Term B Loan was $237.5 million, (iii) the Term C Loan was $420.4 million and (iv) the Term D Loan was $238.2 million. Immediately prior to the amendment of the WWI Credit Facility, the Revolver A-1 had no loans outstanding under it, $1.0 million of issued but undrawn letters of credit and $331.6 million in available unused commitments thereunder.

Following the amendment of the WWI Credit Facility on March 15, 2012, (i) $33.1 million in aggregate principal amount of the Term A-1 Loan and $301.8 million in aggregate principal amount of the Term C Loan were converted into, and $849.4 million in aggregate principal amount of commitments to borrow new term loans were provided under, a new tranche E loan, or Term E Loan, (ii) $107.0 million in aggregate principal amount of the Term B Loan and $119.1 million in aggregate principal amount of the Term D Loan were converted into, and $600.0 million in aggregate principal amount of commitments to borrow new term loans were provided under, a new tranche F loan, or Term F Loan, and (iii) $262.0 million in aggregate principal amount of commitments under the Revolver A-1 were converted into a new revolving credit facility, or Revolver A-2. The loans outstanding under each term loan facility existing prior to the amendment of the WWI Credit Facility and the loans and commitments outstanding under the Revolver A-1, in each case that were not converted into the Term E Loan, the Term F Loan or the Revolver A-2, as applicable, continued to remain outstanding under the WWI Credit Facility as the Term A-1 Loan, the Term B Loan, the Term C Loan, the Term D Loan or the Revolver A-1, as applicable. In connection with this amendment, we incurred fees of approximately $25.4 million during the first quarter of fiscal 2012. On March 27, 2012, we borrowed an aggregate of $726.0 million under the Term E Loan and the Term F Loan to finance the purchase of shares in the Tender Offer and to pay a portion of the related fees and expenses. On April 9, 2012, we borrowed an aggregate of approximately $723.4 million under the Term E Loan to finance the purchase of shares from Artal Holdings. At September 29, 2012, we had $2,414.6 million outstanding under the WWI Credit Facility, consisting entirely of term loans and there were no loans outstanding under any of the revolving credit facilities. In addition, at September 29, 2012, the Revolver A-1 had $0.2 million in issued but undrawn letters of credit outstanding thereunder and $70.5 million in available unused commitments thereunder and the Revolver A-2 had $0.7 million in issued but undrawn letters of credit outstanding thereunder and $261.3 million in available unused commitments thereunder.

At September 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, our debt consisted entirely of variable-rate instruments. Interest rate swaps were entered into to hedge a portion of the cash flow exposure associated with our variable-rate borrowings. The average interest rate on our debt, exclusive of the impact of swaps, was approximately 3.01% and 2.40% per annum at September 29, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively.

 

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The following schedule sets forth our long-term debt obligations at September 29, 2012:

Long-Term Debt

At September 29, 2012

(in millions)

 

     Balance  

Term A-1 Loan due January 26, 2013

   $ 57.3   

Term B Loan due January 26, 2014

     129.8   

Term C Loan due June 30, 2015

     115.4   

Term D Loan due June 30, 2016

     118.5   

Term E Loan due March 15, 2017

     1,169.5   

Term F Loan due March 15, 2019

     824.1   
  

 

 

 

Total Debt

     2,414.6   

Less Current Portion

     133.8   
  

 

 

 

Total Long-Term Debt

   $ 2,280.8   
  

 

 

 

The WWI Credit Facility provides that term loans and the loans outstanding under the Revolver A-1 and the Revolver A-2 bear interest at a rate per annum equal to either, at our option, the LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) (as defined in the WWI Credit Facility agreement) plus an applicable margin or the Alternate Base Rate (as defined in the WWI Credit Facility agreement) plus an applicable margin, which applicable margins will vary depending on our Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio (as defined in the WWI Credit Facility agreement) from time to time in effect. At September 29, 2012, the Term A-1 Loan bore interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 1.25% per annum; the Term B Loan bore interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 1.50% per annum; the Term C Loan bore interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 2.25% per annum; the Term D Loan bore interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 2.25% per annum; the Term E Loan bore interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 2.25% per annum; the Term F Loan bore interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 3.00% per annum; had any loans under the Revolver A-1 been outstanding, they would have borne interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 2.50% per annum; and had any loans under the Revolver A-2 been outstanding, they would have borne interest at a rate equal to LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) plus 2.25% per annum. For purposes of calculating the interest rate on the Term F Loan, the LIBO Rate (Reserve Adjusted) will always be at least 1.00% per annum. In addition to paying interest on outstanding principal under the WWI Credit Facility, we are required to pay an undrawn commitment fee to the lenders under each of the Revolver A-1 and the Revolver A-2 with respect to the unused commitments under each such facility at a rate that is dependent on our Net Debt to EBITDA Ratio from time to time in effect. As of September 29, 2012, the applicable commitment fee rate for the Revolver A-1 was 0.50% per annum and for the Revolver A-2 was 0.40% per annum.

The WWI Credit Facility contains customary covenants including covenants that, in certain circumstances, restrict our ability to incur additional indebtedness, pay dividends on and redeem capital stock, make other payments, including investments, sell our assets and enter into consolidations, mergers and transfers of all or substantially all of our assets. The WWI Credit Facility also requires us to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy certain financial condition tests. At September 29, 2012, we were in compliance with all of the required financial ratios and also met all of the financial condition tests, and expect to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. The WWI Credit Facility contains customary events of default. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under the WWI Credit Facility, the lenders thereunder may cease making loans and declare amounts outstanding to be immediately due and payable. The WWI Credit Facility is guaranteed by certain of our existing and future subsidiaries. Substantially all of our assets secure the WWI Credit Facility.

 

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The WWI Credit Facility allows us to make loan modification offers to all lenders of any tranche of term loans or revolving commitments to extend the maturity date of such loans and/or commitments and/or reduce or eliminate the scheduled amortization. Any such loan modifications would be effective only with respect to such tranche of term loans or revolving commitments and only with respect to those lenders that accept our offer. Loan modification offers may be accompanied by increased pricing and/or fees payable to accepting lenders. The WWI Credit Facility also allows for up to an additional $400.0 million of incremental financing through the creation of either new tranches of term loans or through an increase in commitments under the Revolver A-2, in each case to be provided to us under the WWI Credit Facility. The incremental capacity is uncommitted and we must find lenders to provide any such financing prior to incurrence. In addition, we may incur up to an additional $200.0 million of incremental term loans through the creation of a new tranche of term loans, provided that the aggregate principal amount of such new term loans cannot exceed the amount then outstanding under our existing revolving credit facilities and the proceeds from such new tranche of term loans must be used solely to repay certain outstanding revolving loans and permanently reduce the commitments of certain revolving lenders.

The following schedule sets forth our year-by-year debt obligations at September 29, 2012:

Total Debt Obligation

(Including Current Portion)

At September 29, 2012

(in millions)

 

Remainder of fiscal 2012

   $ 38.2   

Fiscal 2013

     114.7   

Fiscal 2014

     281.2   

Fiscal 2015

     227.3   

Fiscal 2016

     209.3   

Thereafter

     1,543.9   
  

 

 

 

Total

   $ 2,414.6   
  

 

 

 

We currently plan to meet our long-term debt obligations by using cash flows provided by operating activities and opportunistically using other means to repay or refinance our obligations as we determine appropriate. We believe that cash flows from operating activities, together with borrowings available under our revolving credit facilities, will be sufficient for the next 12 months to fund currently anticipated capital expenditure requirements, debt service requirements and working capital requirements.

Dividends and Stock Transactions

We historically have issued a quarterly cash dividend of $0.175 per share of our common stock every quarter for the past several fiscal years. Any decision to declare and pay dividends in the future will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors, after taking into account our financial results, capital requirements and other factors it may deem relevant. Our Board of Directors may decide at any time to increase or decrease the amount of dividends or discontinue the payment of dividends based on these factors. The WWI Credit Facility also contains restrictions on our ability to pay dividends on our common stock.

On October 9, 2003, our Board of Directors authorized and we announced a program to repurchase up to $250.0 million of our outstanding common stock. On each of June 13, 2005, May 25, 2006 and October 21, 2010, our Board of Directors authorized and we announced adding $250.0 million to this program. The repurchase program allows for shares to be purchased from time to time in the open market or through privately negotiated transactions. No shares will be purchased from Artal Holdings Sp. z o.o., Succursale de Luxembourg, or Artal Holdings, and its parents and subsidiaries under this program. The repurchase program currently has no expiration date. During the nine months ended September 29, 2012, the Company repurchased no shares of its common stock in the open market under this program. The

 

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repurchase of shares of common stock under the Tender Offer and from Artal Holdings pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, as discussed further below, was not made pursuant to the repurchase program. During the nine months ended October 1, 2011, the Company repurchased in its first quarter 0.8 million shares of its common stock in the open market under this program for a total cost of $31.6 million, and in its second and third quarters no shares of its common stock under this program.

On February 23, 2012, we commenced a “modified Dutch auction” tender offer for up to $720.0 million in value of our common stock at a purchase price not less than $72.00 and not greater than $83.00 per share, or the Tender Offer. Prior to the Tender Offer, on February 14, 2012, we entered into an agreement, or the Purchase Agreement, with Artal Holdings whereby Artal Holdings agreed to sell to us, at the same price as was determined in the Tender Offer, such number of its shares of our common stock that, upon the closing of this purchase after the completion of the Tender Offer, Artal Holdings’ percentage ownership in the outstanding shares of our common stock would be substantially equal to its level prior to the Tender Offer. Artal Holdings also agreed not to participate in the Tender Offer so that it would not affect the determination of the purchase price of the shares in the Tender Offer.

The Tender Offer expired at midnight, New York time, on March 22, 2012, and on March 28, 2012 we repurchased approximately 8.8 million shares at a purchase price of $82.00 per share. On April 9, 2012, we repurchased approximately 9.5 million of Artal Holdings’ shares at a purchase price of $82.00 per share pursuant to the Purchase Agreement. In March 2012, we amended and extended the WWI Credit Facility to finance these repurchases. See “—Long-Term Debt”.

The WWI Credit Facility provides that we are permitted to pay dividends and extraordinary dividends, as well as repurchase shares of our common stock, so long as we are not in default under the WWI Credit Facility agreement. However, payment of extraordinary dividends and stock repurchases shall not exceed $150.0 million in the aggregate in any fiscal year if net debt to EBITDA (as defined in the WWI Credit Facility agreement) is equal to or greater than 3.75:1 and an investment grade rating date (as defined in the WWI Credit Facility agreement) has not occurred. We currently do not expect this restriction to impair our ability to pay dividends or make stock repurchases, but it could do so in the future.

OFF-BALANCE SHEET TRANSACTIONS

As part of our ongoing business, we do not participate in transactions that generate relationships with unconsolidated entities or financial partnerships established for the purpose of facilitating off-balance sheet arrangements or other contractually narrow or limited purposes, such as entities often referred to as structured finance or special purpose entities.

SEASONALITY

Our business is seasonal, with revenues generally decreasing at year end and during the summer months. Our operating income for the first half of the year is generally the strongest. Our advertising schedule supports the three key enrollment-generating seasons of the year: winter, spring and fall, with winter having the highest concentration of advertising spending. The timing of certain holidays, particularly Easter, which precedes the spring marketing campaign and occurs between March 22 and April 25, may affect our results of operations and the year-to-year comparability of our results. For example, in fiscal 2009, Easter fell on April 12, which means that our spring marketing campaign began in the second quarter of fiscal 2009 as opposed to beginning in the first quarter as it did in fiscal 2008. The introduction of Monthly Pass in the meetings business has resulted in less seasonality with regards to our meeting fee revenues because its revenues are amortized over the related subscription period. While WeightWatchers.com experiences seasonality similar to the meetings business in terms of new subscriber sign-ups, its revenue tends to be less seasonal because it amortizes subscription revenue over the related subscription period.

 

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AVAILABLE INFORMATION

Corporate information and our press releases, Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K, and amendments thereto, are available free of charge on our website at www.weightwatchersinternational.com as soon as reasonably practicable after such material is electronically filed with or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission (i.e., generally the same day as the filing). Moreover, we also make available at that site the Section 16 reports filed electronically by our officers, directors and 10% shareholders. Usually these are publicly accessible no later than the business day following the filing. We use our website at www.weightwatchersinternational.com as a channel of distribution of material Company information. Financial and other material information regarding the Company is routinely posted on and accessible at our website. Our website and the information posted on it or connected to it shall not be deemed to be incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The market risk disclosures appearing in “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2011 have not changed from December 31, 2011, other than as described below.

As of September 29, 2012, we had entered into interest rate swaps with notional amounts totaling $640.5 million to hedge a portion of our variable rate debt. As of such date, $1,774.1 million of our variable rate debt remained unhedged. Our interest rate swap that went effective on January 4, 2010 and terminates on January 27, 2014 had an initial notional amount of $425.0 million, which amount will fluctuate during the remainder of its term to a maximum of $640.5 million. Based on the amount of our variable rate debt and interest swap agreements as of September 29, 2012, a hypothetical 50 basis point increase or decrease in interest rates on our variable rate debt would increase or decrease our annual interest expense by approximately $8.9 million. This change in market risk exposure from the end of fiscal 2011 was driven by the additional borrowings in connection with the repurchases of shares of common stock under the Tender Offer and from Artal Holdings. See “Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations—Liquidity and Capital Resources—Dividends and Stock Transactions” for additional information on these share repurchases.

 

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our reports under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. Any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives. Our management, with the participation of our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based upon that evaluation and subject to the foregoing, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer concluded that the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

There was no change in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the most recent fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

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PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

ITEM 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

UK Self-Employment Matter

In July 2007, Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs, or HMRC, issued to us notices of determination and decisions that, for the period April 2001 to April 2007, our leaders and certain other service providers in the United Kingdom should have been classified as employees for tax purposes and, as such, we should have withheld tax from the leaders and certain other service providers pursuant to the “Pay As You Earn,” or PAYE, and national insurance contributions, or NIC, collection rules and remitted such amounts to HMRC. HMRC also issued a claim to us in October 2008 in respect of NIC which corresponds to the prior notices of assessment with respect to PAYE previously raised by HMRC.

In September 2007, we appealed to the UK First Tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) (formerly known as the UK VAT and Duties Tribunal), or the First Tier Tribunal, HMRC’s notices as to these classifications and against any amount of PAYE and NIC liability claimed to be owed by us. In February 2010, the First Tier Tribunal issued a ruling that our UK leaders should have been classified as employees for UK tax purposes and, as such, we should have withheld tax from our leaders pursuant to the PAYE and NIC collection rules for the period from April 2001 to April 2007 with respect to services performed by the leaders for us. We appealed the First Tier Tribunal’s adverse ruling to the UK Upper Tribunal (Tax and Chancery Chamber), or the Upper Tribunal, and in October 2011, the Upper Tribunal issued a ruling dismissing our appeal. In January 2012, we sought permission from the UK Court of Appeal to appeal the Upper Tribunal’s ruling, which the UK Court of Appeal refused in March 2012. In March 2012, we applied to the UK Court of Appeal for an oral hearing to seek permission to appeal to the UK Court of Appeal against the Upper Tribunal’s ruling. At the hearing in June 2012, the UK Court of Appeal granted us permission to appeal. A hearing date for the appeal has been set for January 2013.

In December 2011, HMRC’s claim in respect of NIC was amended to increase the claimed amount for the period April 2002 to April 2007 and include the interest accrued thereon through December 2011. In addition, in February 2012, HMRC asserted a claim in respect of PAYE for the period April 2007 to April 2011 similar to what it had claimed for the period April 2001 to April 2007. We are currently appealing this PAYE claim with the First Tier Tribunal and the First Tier Tribunal has directed that the appeal be stayed until following the decision of the UK Court of Appeal with respect to our appeal of the Upper Tribunal’s ruling.

In light of the First Tier Tribunal’s adverse ruling and in accordance with accounting guidance for contingencies, we recorded in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2009 a reserve for the period from April 2001 through the end of fiscal 2009, inclusive of estimated accrued interest. On a quarterly basis, beginning in the first quarter of fiscal 2010 and through the second quarter of fiscal 2011, we recorded a reserve for UK withholding taxes with respect to our UK leaders consistent with this ruling. The reserve at the end of the second quarter of fiscal 2011 equaled approximately $43.7 million in the aggregate based on the exchange rates at the end of fiscal 2011. As of the beginning of the third quarter of fiscal 2011, we began employing our UK leaders and therefore have ceased recording any further reserves for this matter. In addition, we do not currently expect additional reserves will be required in connection with the December 2011 amended NIC claim and the February 2012 PAYE claim by HMRC, as reserves had previously been made for these amounts. In February 2012, we paid HMRC, on a without prejudice basis, a portion of the amount previously reserved equal to approximately $30.0 million based on the exchange rates at the payment date for estimated amounts claimed to be owed by us with respect to PAYE and interest thereon for the period April 2001 to July 2011. The reserve at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012 equaled approximately $14.7 in the aggregate based on the exchange rates at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2012. Although we disagree with the First Tier Tribunal’s adverse ruling and believe we have valid grounds to obtain a reversal on appeal, we are currently in discussions with HMRC to determine if this matter can be settled prior to the January 2013 appeal hearing date.

Other Litigation Matters

Due to the nature of our activities, we are also, at times, subject to pending and threatened legal actions that arise out of the ordinary course of business. In the opinion of management, based in part upon advice of legal counsel, the disposition of any such matters is not expected to have a material effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows. However, the results of legal actions cannot be predicted with certainty. Therefore, it is possible that our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows could be materially adversely affected in any particular period by the unfavorable resolutions of one or more legal actions.

 

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS

There have been no material changes in the risk factors from those detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for fiscal 2011.

 

ITEM 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

Nothing to report under this item.

 

ITEM 3. DEFAULTS UPON SENIOR SECURITIES

Nothing to report under this item.

 

ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 5. OTHER INFORMATION

Nothing to report under this item.

 

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit

Number

  

Description

Exhibit 10.1    Second Amended and Restated Weight Watchers Executive Profit Sharing Plan, August 1, 2012
Exhibit 31.1    Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 31.2    Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 32.1    Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
Exhibit 32.2    Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
Exhibit 101   
EX-101.INS

EX-101.SCH

EX-101.CAL

EX-101.DEF

EX-101.LAB

EX-101.PRE

  

XBRL Instance Document

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase

 

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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.

 

    WEIGHT WATCHERS INTERNATIONAL, INC.

Date: November 8, 2012

    By:  

/s/ David P. Kirchhoff

      David P. Kirchhoff
     

President, Chief Executive Officer and Director

(Principal Executive Officer)

 

   
Date: November 8, 2012     By:  

/s/ Nicholas P. Hotchkin

      Nicholas P. Hotchkin
     

Chief Financial Officer

(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)


Table of Contents

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

Exhibit 10.1    Second Amended and Restated Weight Watchers Executive Profit Sharing Plan, August 1, 2012
Exhibit 31.1    Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 31.2    Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
Exhibit 32.1    Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
Exhibit 32.2    Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350.
Exhibit 101   
EX-101.INS

EX-101.SCH

EX-101.CAL

EX-101.DEF

EX-101.LAB

EX-101.PRE

  

XBRL Instance Document

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase

XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase