PORTFOLIO COMPANY NEWS
Sequential Brands Group Announces Closing of Joe's Brand Acquisition
New York - September 14, 2015 – Sequential Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq:SQBG) ("Sequential" or the "Company") announced today that it closed the acquisition of the Joe's Jeans brand (the "Brand" or "Joe's"). In tandem with the closing, the long-term license agreement for the Brand's core categories with Global Brands Group became effective. Financing for the acquisition was provided under the Company's existing credit facilities with Bank of America and GSO Capital Partners LP, an affiliate of Blackstone Group.
The Company is increasing its forward looking twelve month royalty revenue projection to $98 - $100 million and $61 - $63 million of Adjusted EBITDA, from its previous projection of $88 - $90 million in royalty revenue and $53.5 to $55 million of Adjusted EBITDA. The Company anticipates that the financial impact to the balance of the current fiscal year will be immaterial as the new core license agreement is expected to have most of its impact in Fiscal 2016.
The Company has in excess of $325 million of aggregate contractual guaranteed minimum royalties under its existing licenses as of the close of this transaction. Included in this amount is over $63 million related to the Joe's brand, representing 94% of the purchase price.
All projections and aggregate contractual minimum royalty metrics do not include the impact of the pending Martha Stewart Omni Living transaction, which is expected to close by year end.
Founded in 2001, Joe's® is a casual chic global lifestyle brand synonymous with classic, modernized wardrobe staples ranging from premium denim to handcrafted collection pieces, and from contemporary accessories to footwear. With over 12 years of influence in the fashion industry, Joe's® has remained true to its DNA throughout its expansion, embracing fashion and innovation through the creation of a fully faceted line for men, women and kids. Joe's® is available coast to coast at fine department stores and specialty boutiques in the USA and internationally throughout Europe, Asia, Canada and Latin America at stores such as Nordstrom's, Harrods, Liberty, Galeries Lafayette, Le Bon Marché, Printemps and Tsum.
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. For more information, please visit Sequential's website at: www.sequentialbrandsgroup.com. To inquire about licensing opportunities, please email: newbusiness@sbg-ny.com.
Forward Looking Statements
Certain statements in this press release and oral statements made from time to time by representatives of Sequential ("the Company") are forward-looking statements ("forward-looking statements") within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those stated or implied in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning guidance, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, expectations, intentions, projections, developments, future events, performance or products, underlying assumptions and other statements that are not historical in nature, including those that include the words "subject to," "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "estimates," "forecasts," "projects," "aims," "targets," ""may," "will," "should," "can," the negatives thereof, variations thereon and similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events, based on what the Company believes are reasonable assumptions. Whether actual results will conform to expectations and predictions is subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, including: (i) risks and uncertainties discussed in the reports that the Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"); (ii) general economic, market or business conditions; (iii) the Company's ability to identify suitable targets for acquisitions and to obtain financing for such acquisitions on commercially reasonable terms; (iv) the Company's ability to timely achieve the anticipated results of the Joe's Acquisition and any potential future acquisitions; (v) to the Company's ability to successfully integrate the Joe's Brand into its ongoing business; (vi) the potential impact of the Joe's Acquisition or any potential future acquisitions on the Company's relationships, including with employees, licensees, customers and competitors; (vii) the Company's ability to achieve and/or manage growth and to meet target metrics associated with such growth; (viii) the Company's ability to successfully attract new brands and to identify suitable licensees for its existing and newly acquired brands, including the Joe's Brand; (ix) the Company's substantial level of indebtedness, including the possibility that such indebtedness and related restrictive covenants may adversely affect the Company's future cash flows, results of operations and financial condition and decrease its operating flexibility; and (x) other circumstances beyond the Company's control. Refer to section entitled "Risk Factors" set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for a discussion of important risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect the Company's business, results of operations and financial condition. The Company's stockholders are urged to consider such risks, uncertainties and factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not, and should not be relied upon as, a guarantee of future performance or results, nor will they necessarily prove to be accurate indications of the times at or by which any such performance or results will be achieved. As a result, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. The Company is not under any obligation to, and expressly disclaims any such obligation to, update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.