Scott Drake
Analyst · B. Riley. Your line is now open
Thanks, Deverl. Before I discuss the financial components in more detail, I want to take the time to note a couple of items that I think are significant, especially in light of the operating environment we've experienced during the fourth quarter. As you have seen in our release, our sales were greatly impacted as compared to the fourth quarter of last year, and this is reflected in the $22.2 million year-over-year decline in our gross profit. However, it is important to highlight that due to our aggressive cost saving efforts and other income changes, we reported only $1 million increase in our net loss, and a $3.2 million decline in our adjusted EBITDA for the quarter. Additionally, the balance sheet results from our fourth quarter this year reflect good progress in the management of our working capital, despite the impacts from COVID-19. As compared to our fiscal year 2019 year ending balance sheet results, we lowered our inventory balances by over $20 million, and reduced our net accounts receivable balances by over $14 million. These changes produce the fund that allowed us to also reduce our accounts payable by almost $36 million, with little use of pre-existing cash on hand or debt borrowings. I will talk about some additional financial highlights that I think are meaningful in our capital spending discussion, and review the overall impact of these results on our debt and cash balances. Now, let me walk through our fourth quarter and fiscal year results in more detail. Beginning with coffee volumes, volumes in the quarter decreased by 7.7 million to 19.7 million pounds, a 28% decrease from the prior year period, primarily due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mix of coffee volumes processed and sold during the quarter was approximately 5.4 million pounds, or 27.5% of the total volume through our DSD network, while direct ship customers represented approximately 14.3 million pounds of green coffee processed and sold, or 72.5% of total volume. As this volume ratio is usually closer to one-third through our DSD network and two-thirds to direct ship customers, you can see one of the primary impacts to our business from the COVID-19 environment. Turning to the income statement. Net sales for the quarter were $81.1 million, which is a decrease of $61 million, or 42.9% from $142.1 million reported in the same period a year ago. The decline in net sales was driven primarily by lower sales of coffee, beverage and allied products sold through our DSD network due to COVID-19, as well as the sale of our office coffee business in July of 2019, and some net customer attrition. As Deverl mentioned, our average sales trends steadily improved throughout the fourth quarter to a decline of approximately 45% by June 30, 2020. As Deverl mentioned, the largest DSD sales declines were from restaurants, hotel and casino channels, while demand from healthcare and convenience store channels were less impacted. Our direct ship sales declined compared to the prior year period due to lower coffee volume related to COVID-19 in certain direct ship channels, and the impact of coffee prices for our cost plus customers, which was partially offset by improved volume from our retail business, products sold to key grocery stores under their private labels and third party e-commerce platforms. Gross profit in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 was $15.5 million, a decrease of $22.2 million or 58.8% from the prior year period, and gross margin decreased to 19.2% from 26.6%. The decrease in gross profit was primarily driven by lower net sales of $61 million, which was partially offset by lower cost of goods sold. The decrease in gross margin was impacted by COVID-19 and the unfavorable impact it had on our customer mix, partially offset by lower reserves for slower moving inventories, lower freight costs, lower coffee brewing equipment costs and improved production variances resulting from the various cost savings initiatives implemented. Turning to our operating expenses. Operating expenses in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 were $29.1 million or 35.9% of sales, compared to $44.7 million or 31.5% of net sales in the prior year period. The decrease in operating expense dollars was primarily due to a $7.2 million decrease in general and administrative expenses, and a $7.1 million decrease in selling expenses. The decrease in general and administrative expenses was associated with lower headcount and reductions in third party costs, partially offset by COVID-19 related severance costs. The decrease in selling expenses was primarily driven by lower headcount, lower DSD fleet costs, less sales commissions, lower travel expenses, and other savings realized from our initiatives. As we discussed on last quarter's call, we had targeted expense savings of approximately $6.5 million per month through the fourth quarter, and we exceeded this goal, which mitigated the COVID-19 impacts on both gross profit and reduced operating expenses. We continue to actively manage costs as areas of the business partially returned to pre-COVID-19 sales levels. Interest expense in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 decreased $200,000 to $2.6 million, compared to $2.8 million in the prior year period, largely due to lower pension related interest expense, which was partially offset by higher interest expense on our higher outstanding borrowings on our revolving credit facility, since we had our revolver fully drawn for the majority of the fourth quarter this year, as a precaution against the potential impacts of COVID-19 on the business. In April 2020, we borrowed an additional $42 million from the revolving credit facility as a precautionary measure to increase our cash position and to preserve our financial flexibility. We’ve repaid a total of $50 million of the borrowings in July 2020, in connection with the amendment previously discussed. Other net in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 increased by $5.4 million to $7.5 million in the quarter, compared to $2.1 million in the prior year period, primarily due to higher amortized gains on our postretirement medical benefit plan, partially offset by mark to market net losses on coffee related derivative instruments not designated as accounting hedges. Turning to income taxes, we reported an income tax expense of $1 million in both the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 and the prior year period. The tax expense in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020 was primarily due to changes in accumulated and other comprehensive income, while the prior year period was driven by state tax income expense. Net loss with $9.7 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, compared to net loss of $8.8 million in the prior year period. Net loss available to common stockholders with $9.9 million or $0.57 per common share on a diluted basis in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2020, compared to a net loss available to common shareholders of $8.9 million or $0.52 per common share on a diluted basis in the prior year period. Adjusted EBITDA was $700,000 compared to $3.9 million in the prior year period. Our adjusted EBITDA margin decreased to 0.9% for the quarter, compared to 2.8% for the fourth quarter last year, reflecting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, turning to the balance sheet. As of June 30, 2020, the outstanding debt on our revolver was $122 million, an increase of $30 million since June 30, 2019. However, our cash increased by $53 million to $60 million as of June 30, 2020, compared to a $7 million cash balance as of June 30, 2019. We continue to focus on prudent working capital management, and the liquidity improvements resulting from these actions will provide additional financial and operational flexibility during and after COVID-19. As Deverl mentioned, in July 2020, we amended our existing senior secured revolving credit facility, providing us with increased financial flexibility and positioning us to weather these turbulent times. As of September 1, 2020, the company's total debt was $66.8 million, and the company had cash on hand of $8.2 million and $31.8 million of availability on its amended credit facility. I want to pause to make an important point regarding our net debt balances or total debt left our cash on hand, which is a key measure of our recent performance. This net debt measure was reduced by $23 million from $85 million to $62 million over the course of the full fiscal year 2020 that ended on June 30, 2020. Additionally, if you look at the company's net debt as of September 1, which is available in the press release we issued today, is further declined since June 30, of 2020, to $58.6 million. This is an indication of our ability to stabilize the business until we experienced better sales results. During the quarter, our accounts receivable balance decreased $10 million to $40.9 million, compared to $50.9 million at the end of the third quarter, and was down $14.2 million from $55.1 million at the end of the prior year period. Our inventory levels decreased during the quarter by $18.5 million to $67.4 million, compared to $85.9 million at the end of the third quarter, and are down $20.5 million from $87.9 million for the prior year period. Accounts payable decreased during the quarter to $37 million, compared to $59.6 million at the end of the third quarter, and is down $35.8 million from the prior year balance of $72.8 million. Turning to capital expenditures. Capital expenditures for the fourth quarter was $4.5 million, of which $1.2 million related to maintenance spending. Our maintenance CapEx has declined $2.9 million from $4.1 million a year ago. Our capital expenditures for the fiscal year were $17.6 million, representing lower maintenance capital spend of $11.8 million of 49.5% reduction compared to the prior year period. This is the final significant measure that I'd like to highlight as support for how the business has been managed in order to preserve the financial flexibility, we discussed regarding the balance sheet and our debt and cash balances. These capital cost savings were driven by several key initiatives put in place, including a focus on our refurbished coffee brewing equipment program. We have successfully leveraged opportunities to lower our repair service and maintenance costs, as well as reduced our capital spend on equipment. Compared to prior year, our coffee brewing equipment CapEx declined $2 million during the fourth quarter and $8 million for the full fiscal year. These savings were due to several key strategies implemented this year, including a shift towards refurbished equipment, which has a lower cost per unit. The successful implementation of our 24x7 call center has also improved our service capabilities. We look forward to sharing results of our service pilot noted earlier, as we expand the reach of these enhanced services to new customers. Depreciation and amortization expense was $7.4 million in the fourth quarter versus $7.8 million in the same period of the prior year. We continue to believe the steps we're taking will enable us to emerge from these challenging times as a stronger organization. And with that, I'd like to turn the call over to the operator for any questions.