CHESTERFIELD, Mo., April 30, 2009 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reliv International, Inc. (Nasdaq:RELV), a nutrition and direct selling company, today reported its first quarter results. Net sales for the quarter declined to $23.8 million compared to net sales of $28.3 million in the first quarter of 2008.
Net income for the quarter was $1.0 million or $0.07 per diluted share, compared to net income of $1.5 million or $0.10 per diluted share in the 2008 first quarter.
The company reported a 19 percent increase, however, in the number of new distributors joining Reliv in the quarter, compared to the number joining in the first quarter of 2008. During the first quarter of 2009, Reliv enrolled approximately 8,400 new distributors compared to 7,030 in the prior year quarter.
During the first-quarter of 2009, U.S. net sales totaled $21.4 million, down 13.4 percent from the 2008 first quarter. Sales outside of the United States, were $2.4 million compared to $3.6 million in the prior year quarter. The strengthening of the U.S. dollar accounted for approximately one-half of the reported international sales decline.
Robert L. Montgomery, chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, "In an effort to increase sponsoring this year, beginning in January we began offering distributors half-price distributor kits. I believe that promotion, which will run through August, helped spur some of the new enrollments we saw in the first quarter."
"The solid increase in the number of new distributors is a good sign for Reliv's future," he said. "Typically, a strong increase in sponsorship leads to sales growth, and we hope to see growth in sales this year. In addition, we plan to increase initiatives designed to help convert our new distributors into Master Affiliates, which are our business builders," Montgomery added.
"During the second quarter, our senior executives, including myself, are planning to visit as many as a dozen cities as a means of maintaining the sponsoring momentum," Montgomery said. Those meetings are expected to highlight the value of the Reliv business opportunity.
Montgomery said, "Reliv's business directly addresses two consumer needs right now. One, consumers increasingly are looking for ways to supplement their income or to replace lost income. Two, consumers continue to seek ways to improve their health. We're well positioned in both cases."
In the first quarter, Reliv generated net cash from operating activities of $2.8 million, down from $3.2 million for the same quarter last year. Reliv had approximately $7.0 million in cash and cash-equivalents as of March 31, 2009.
As of March 31, 2009, Reliv had 68,680 distributors, a slight decline of 1.5 percent compared to the number of distributors at the end of the first quarter 2008. The March 2009 distributor total represents a 2 percent increase over the distributor total as of December 31, 2008 of 67,340.
"Reliv makes nutrition simple, and we offer a great business opportunity,"Montgomery said. "In addition, we believe Reliv has great growth potential both within and outside of the United States."
Buyout of major shareholder
Earlier this week, Reliv announced that it has acquired approximately 2.1 million shares formerly owned by the Paul and Jane Meyer Family Foundation, which had been Reliv's second largest shareholder.
CEO Montgomery said, "We believe the buyout is good for Reliv, our shareholders, distributors and employees. The purchase reflects the board's and management's confidence in the future of Reliv."
Reliv will host a conference call to discuss first-quarter earnings with investors at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 30th. The dial-in number for investors is 888-713-4213. The participant passcode is 52123645. To register, please call in 15 minutes prior to start of the call. A replay of this call will be available for one week by telephone from 3:00 p.m. Eastern by calling 888-286-8010 and using the passcode 31442555. A live web cast of this call will be available through the Investor Relations section of Reliv's Web site: http://www.reliv.com/US/EN/Conference%20Calls%20Presentations.html. An online archive of the broadcast will be available on Reliv's Web site in the Investor Relations section 24 hours after the call concludes.
Reliv International, Inc., based in Chesterfield, Mo., is a developer, manufacturer and marketer of a proprietary line of nutritional supplements. Reliv supplements address essential daily nutrition, weight loss and targeted solutions such as energy and performance enhancement, digestive health, women's health and anti-aging. Reliv sells its products through an international network marketing system of 68,680 independent distributors. Additional information about Reliv International, Inc. can be obtained on the Web at www.reliv.com.
Reliv International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Consolidated Balance Sheets
March 31 December 31
2009 2008
-------------------------
(Unaudited)
Assets
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents $ 6,983,335 $ 4,460,637
Accounts and notes receivable, less
allowances of $15,400 in 2009 and
$10,200 in 2008 273,144 494,689
Accounts due from employees and
distributors 207,948 241,532
Inventories 6,649,057 6,221,954
Other current assets 1,806,312 2,176,802
-------------------------
Total current assets 15,919,796 13,595,614
Other assets 1,463,749 1,220,546
Accounts due from employees and
distributors 148,729 164,462
Net property, plant and equipment 8,784,173 8,912,157
-------------------------
Total Assets $26,316,447 $23,892,779
=========================
Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity
Total current liabilities $ 8,873,420 $ 7,350,199
Other non-current liabilities 393,912 434,990
Stockholders' equity 17,049,115 16,107,590
-------------------------
Total Liabilities and Stockholders'
Equity $26,316,447 $23,892,779
=========================
Consolidated Statements of Operations
---------------------------
Three months ended March 31
2009 2008
---------------------------
(Unaudited) (Unaudited)
Product sales $21,166,181 $25,197,178
Handling & freight income 2,624,809 3,074,208
-------------------------
Net Sales 23,790,990 28,271,386
Costs and expenses:
Cost of products sold 4,575,751 4,834,526
Distributor royalties and
commissions 8,937,667 11,122,372
Selling, general and administrative 8,617,873 9,931,799
-------------------------
Total Costs and Expenses 22,131,291 25,888,697
-------------------------
Income from operations 1,659,699 2,382,689
Other income (expense):
Interest income 20,715 134,873
Interest expense (9,550) (413)
Other income (expense) 12,055 (35,112)
-------------------------
Income before income taxes 1,682,919 2,482,037
Provision for income taxes 671,000 956,000
-------------------------
Net Income $ 1,011,919 $ 1,526,037
=========================
Earnings per common share - Basic $ 0.07 $ 0.10
=========================
Weighted average shares 14,299,000 15,874,000
=========================
Earnings per common share - Diluted $ 0.07 $ 0.10
=========================
Weighted average shares 14,299,000 15,874,000
=========================
Cash dividends declared per common
share $ -- $ --
=========================
Reliv International, Inc. and Subsidiaries
The following table summarizes net sales by geographic market ranked
by the date we began operations in each market.
Net sales by Market
(in thousands)
Three months ended March 31, Change from
2009 2008 prior year
% of % of
Net Net
Amount Sales Amount Sales Amount %
---------------- --------------- ----------------
United
States 21,381 89.9% 24,685 87.3% (3,304) -13.4%
Australia
/New
Zealand 516 2.1% 747 2.6% (231) -30.9%
Canada 336 1.4% 461 1.6% (125) -27.1%
Mexico 281 1.2% 398 1.4% (117) -29.4%
Europe 308 1.3% 524 1.9% (216) -41.2%
Asia 969 4.1% 1,456 5.2% (487) -33.4%
---------------- --------------- ----------------
Consolidated
Total 23,791 100.0% 28,271 100.0% (4,480) -15.8%
================ =============== ================
The following table sets forth, as of March 31, 2009 and 2008,
the number of our active distributors and Master Affiliates and above.
The total number of active distributors includes Master Affiliates
and above. We define an active distributor as one that enrolls as a
distributor or renews its distributorship during the prior twelve
months. Master Affiliates and above are distributors that have
attained the highest level of discount and are eligible for royalties
generated by Master Affiliates and above in their downline
organization. Growth in the number of active distributors and Master
Affiliates and above is a key factor in continuing the growth of our
business.
Active Distributors and Master Affiliates and above by Market
As of 3/31/2009 As of 3/31/2008 Change in %
Master Master Master
Affil- Affil- Affil-
Active iates Active iates Active iates
Distri- and Distri- and Distri- and
butors Above butors Above butors Above
---------------- --------------- ------------------
United
States 54,440 7,490 55,970 9,400 -2.7% -20.3%
Australia
/New
Zealand 2,440 180 2,520 210 -3.2% -14.3%
Canada 1,250 110 1,180 130 5.9% -15.4%
Mexico 1,700 200 1,490 190 14.1% 5.3%
Europe 1,080 140 1,280 170 -15.6% -17.6%
Asia 7,770 880 7,270 720 6.9% 22.2%
---------------- --------------- ------------------
Consolidated
Total 68,680 9,000 69,710 10,820 -1.5% -16.8%
================ =============== ==================