OREANDA-NEWS. Sequential Brands Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SQBG) (“Sequential” or the “Company”) announced today that it has closed on the acquisition of the branded consumer product business from GAIAM, Inc. (NASDAQ:GAIA) (“GAIAM”) for a total purchase price of approximately $146 million in cash.

In the transaction, Sequential has acquired GAIAM’s yoga, fitness and wellness product business - which includes the GAIAM and SPRI brands. This bolt-on acquisition will be added to Sequential’s Active Division, which includes the AND1 and AVIA brands.

Yehuda Shmidman, CEO of Sequential, commented, “We are pleased that the acquisition closed on schedule and we’re excited to further tap into the growing athletic market with one of the leading yoga lifestyle brands.”

With a 20+ year heritage, GAIAM is dedicated to making yoga, fitness and wellness accessible to all through a wide distribution network that consists of approximately 38,000 retail doors, 19,000 store within stores, 5,000 category management locations, e-commerce, and a mobile platform which features Yoga Studio, the leading paid yoga app for Apple, mobile, and tablet devices with over 1 million downloads to date.

Financial Update:

As a result of the acquisition, the Company previously increased its twelve-month run rate projection from $150 - $155 million of revenue to $172 - $177 million of revenue and from $92.5 - $95.0 million of Adjusted EBITDA to $112 - $115 million of Adjusted EBITDA.  This run rate projection is anticipated after the completion of the integration of the Martha Stewart business.

For full-year 2016, the Company is increasing its projection from $145 -$150 million of revenue to $155 - $160 million of revenue and from $83 - $87 million of Adjusted EBITDA to $88 - $91 million of Adjusted EBITDA. 

In connection with the acquisition, the Company refinanced its existing credit facilities with Bank of America Merrill Lynch and GSO Capital Partners, LP, an affiliate of Blackstone Group.  The Company currently has approximately $650 million of net debt.  Additionally, the Company has in excess of $500 million of aggregate contractual guaranteed minimum royalties under its license agreements.

White & Case LLP and Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP acted as legal counsel to the Company.

ABOUT SEQUENTIAL BRANDS GROUP, INC.
Sequential Brands Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:SQBG) owns, promotes, markets, and licenses a portfolio of consumer brands in the fashion, home, active, and lifestyle categories. Sequential seeks to ensure that its brands continue to thrive and grow by employing strong brand management, design and marketing teams. Sequential has licensed and intends to license its brands in a variety of consumer categories to retailers, wholesalers and distributors in the United States and around the world. 

  Non-GAAP Financial Measure Reconciliation - Projected Fiscal Year 2016 and Post MSLO Integration Run Rate                  
  (in thousands, except earnings per share data)                  
                       
        (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)  
        Projected Fiscal Year 2016   Post MSLO Integration Run Rate  
        High   Low   High   Low  
                       
  GAAP net income attributable to Sequential Brands Group, Inc.   $ 14,885     $ 12,935     $ 30,095     $ 28,470    
                       
  Adjustments:                  
    Provision for income taxes     8,015       6,965       16,205       15,330    
    Interest expense, net     50,000       50,000       54,800       54,800    
    Non-cash compensation     6,250       6,250       9,000       8,500    
    Depreciation and amortization     4,500       4,500       4,900       4,900    
    Acquisition-related costs (a)     4,500       4,500       -       -    
    Restructuring (b)     2,850       2,850       -       -    
  Total Adjustments     76,115       75,065       84,905       83,530    
                       
  Adjusted EBITDA (1)   $ 91,000     $ 88,000     $ 115,000     $ 112,000    
                       
                       
        (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)  
        Projected Fiscal Year 2016   Post MSLO Integration Run Rate  
        High   Low   High   Low  
                       
  GAAP net income attributable to Sequential Brands Group, Inc.   $ 14,885     $ 12,935     $ 30,095     $ 28,470    
                       
  Adjustments:                  
    Acquisition-related costs (a)     4,500       4,500       -       -    
    Non-cash mark-to-market adjustments to stock-based compensation (c)     (333 )     (333 )     -       -    
    Write-off of deferred financing costs (e)     310       310       -       -    
    Restructuring (b)     2,850       2,850       -       -    
    Adjustment for non-cash taxes (d)     7,015       5,965       15,205       14,330    
    Total non-GAAP adjustments     14,342       13,292       15,205       14,330    
                       
  Non-GAAP net income (2)   $ 29,227     $ 26,227     $ 45,300     $ 42,800    
                       
  Weighted average diluted shares     62,800       62,800       62,800       62,800    
                       
        (Unaudited)   (Unaudited)  
        Projected Fiscal Year 2016   Post MSLO Integration Run Rate  
        High   Low   High   Low  
                       
  GAAP earnings per share attributable to Sequential Brands Group, Inc.   $ 0.24     $ 0.21     $ 0.48     $ 0.45    
                       
  Adjustments:                  
    Acquisition-related costs (a)     0.07       0.07       -       -    
    Non-cash mark-to-market adjustments to stock-based compensation (c)     -       -       -       -    
    Write-off of deferred financing costs (e)     -       -       -       -    
    Restructuring (b)     0.05       0.05       -       -    
    Adjustment for non-cash taxes (d)     0.11       0.09       0.24       0.23    
    Total non-GAAP adjustments   $ 0.23     $ 0.21     $ 0.24     $ 0.23    
                       
  Non-GAAP earnings per share (2)   $ 0.47     $ 0.42     $ 0.72     $ 0.68    
                       
                       
    (1 ) Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income, excluding interest income or expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, acquisition-related costs, non-cash compensation and restructuring costs.  Management uses Adjusted EBITDA as a measure of operating performance to assist in comparing performance from period to period on a consistent basis and to identify business trends relating to the Company's financial condition and results of operations.  The Company believes Adjusted EBITDA provides additional information for determining its ability to meet future debt service requirements and capital expenditures.  
   
   
   
                       
    (2 ) Non-GAAP net income and non-GAAP earnings per share are non-GAAP financial measures which represent net income, excluding acquisition-related costs, mark-to-market adjustments to non-cash stock-based compensation provided to non-employees, write-off of deferred financing costs, restructuring costs and adjustments for non-cash taxes.  Management uses this information to measure performance over time on a consistent basis and to identify business trends relating to the Company's financial condition and results of operations.  Management believes that these non-GAAP measures provide investors with information regarding the underlying performance of the Company's core business operating results on a cash basis.  
   
   
   
                       
  (a) Represents acquisition-related costs related to legal, advisory and accounting services that are not representative of the Company's day-to-day licensing business.  
     
                       
  (b) Represents restructuring charges of the Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. acquisition.  
                       
  (c) Represents mark-to-market adjustments to non-cash stock-based compensation provided to non-employees.  
                       
  (d) Adjustment to reflect that the Company expects to pay cash taxes of approximately $1.0 million per year as the Company's net operating losses and other tax benefits will reduce any additional tax obligation.  
     
                       
  (e) Represents the write-off of existing deferred financing costs as a result of extinguishment of a portion of the Company's first lien credit facilities in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.