Document
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
___________________________________________ 
FORM 10-Q
___________________________________________ 
(Mark One)
ý
Quarterly Report Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
For the quarterly period ended March 31, 2018
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 No. 0-22818
___________________________________________ 
hainlogoa13.jpg
THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
___________________________________________ 
 
 
 
Delaware
 
22-3240619
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
 
1111 Marcus Avenue
Lake Success, New York
 
11042
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
(Zip Code)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (516) 587-5000
___________________________________________ 


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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  ý    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 (section 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  ý    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
ý
 
Accelerated filer
¨
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Non-accelerated filer
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
¨
 
Smaller reporting company
¨
Emerging growth company
¨

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes  ¨    No  ý

As of April 30, 2018, there were 108,383,245 shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, par value $.01 per share.


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THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC.
Index
  
 
Part I - Financial Information
Page
 
 
 
Item 1.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Item 2.
Item 3.
Item 4.
 
 
 
 
Part II - Other Information
 
 
 
 
Items 3, 4 and 5 are not applicable

 
Item 1.
Item 1A.
Item 2.
Item 6.
 
 
 
 
 

 

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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, relating to our business and financial outlook, which are based on our current beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, forecasts and projections about future events only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, and are not statements of historical fact. We make such forward-looking statements pursuant to the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Many of our forward-looking statements include discussions of trends and anticipated developments under the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” section of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as the use of “may,” “will,” “should,” “expects,” “plans,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “projects,” “intends,” “predicts,” “potential,” or “continue” and similar expressions, or the negative of those expressions. These forward-looking statements include, among other things, our beliefs or expectations relating to our business strategy, growth strategy, market price, brand portfolio and product performance, the seasonality of our business, our results of operations and financial condition, our Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) filings, enhancing internal controls and remediating material weaknesses. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of our future performance and involve risks, uncertainties, estimates and assumptions that are difficult to predict. Therefore, our actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. Further, any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date hereof, unless it is specifically otherwise stated to be made as of a different date. We undertake no obligation to further update any such statement to reflect new information, the occurrence of future events or circumstances or otherwise.
The forward-looking statements in this filing do not constitute guarantees or promises of future performance. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences may include, but are not limited to, the impact of competitive products, changes to the competitive environment, changes to consumer preferences, general economic and financial market conditions, our ability to introduce new products, improve existing products and execute on stock keeping unit (“SKU”) rationalization plans, changes in relationships with customers, suppliers, independent distributors, strategic partners and lenders, risks associated with our international sales and operations, legal proceedings and government investigations (including any potential action by the Division of Enforcement of the SEC and securities class action and stockholder derivative litigation), our ability to manage our financial reporting and internal control systems and processes, the identification and remediation of material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, the expected sales of our products, our ability to identify and complete acquisitions or divestitures and integrate acquisitions, changes in raw materials, freight and commodity costs and fuel, our ability to execute and realize cost savings initiatives under Project Terra, the availability of organic and natural ingredients, risks relating to the protection of intellectual property, cybersecurity risks, the reputation of our brands, changes to and the interpretation of governmental regulations, unanticipated expenditures, and other risks described in Part I, Item 1A of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 under the heading “Risk Factors” and Part II, Item 1A, “Risk Factors” set forth herein, as well as in other reports that we file in the future.



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PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ITEM 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
MARCH 31, 2018 AND JUNE 30, 2017
(In thousands, except par values)
 
March 31,
 
June 30,
 
2018
 
2017
ASSETS
(Unaudited)
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
117,152

 
$
137,055

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $1,953 and $404, respectively
261,517

 
225,765

Inventories
399,156

 
341,995

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
62,635

 
46,179

Current assets of discontinued operations
315,201

 
123,787

Total current assets
1,155,661

 
874,781

Property, plant and equipment, net
314,237

 
291,866

Goodwill
1,056,954

 
1,018,892

Trademarks and other intangible assets, net
540,234

 
521,228

Investments and joint ventures
20,126

 
18,998

Other assets
33,312

 
30,235

Noncurrent assets of discontinued operations

 
175,104

Total assets
$
3,120,524

 
$
2,931,104

LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 
 
Current liabilities:
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
214,743

 
$
186,193

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
111,326

 
106,727

Current portion of long-term debt
25,677

 
9,626

Current liabilities of discontinued operations
61,941

 
37,948

Total current liabilities
413,687

 
340,494

Long-term debt, less current portion
723,457

 
740,135

Deferred income taxes
83,402

 
98,346

Other noncurrent liabilities
24,211

 
15,975

Noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations

 
23,322

Total liabilities
1,244,757

 
1,218,272

Commitments and contingencies (Note 15)

 

Stockholders’ equity:
 
 
 
Preferred stock - $.01 par value, authorized 5,000 shares; issued and outstanding: none

 

Common stock - $.01 par value, authorized 150,000 shares; issued: 108,383 and 107,989 shares, respectively; outstanding: 103,925 and 103,702 shares, respectively
1,084

 
1,080

Additional paid-in capital
1,147,978

 
1,137,724

Retained earnings
948,457

 
868,822

Accumulated other comprehensive loss
(115,584
)
 
(195,479
)
 
1,981,935

 
1,812,147

Less: Treasury stock, at cost, 4,458 and 4,287 shares, respectively
(106,168
)
 
(99,315
)
Total stockholders’ equity
1,875,767

 
1,712,832

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity
$
3,120,524

 
$
2,931,104

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 AND 2017
(In thousands, except per share amounts) 
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
2018

2017
 
2018

2017
Net sales
$
632,720


$
588,798


$
1,838,171


$
1,740,614

Cost of sales
499,707


449,595


1,447,820


1,365,080

Gross profit
133,013

 
139,203

 
390,351

 
375,534

Selling, general and administrative expenses
86,063


76,169


258,586


237,657

Amortization of acquired intangibles
4,713


4,206


13,859


12,887

Acquisition related expenses, restructuring and integration charges
4,831


2,083


13,750


2,652

Accounting review and remediation costs, net of insurance proceeds
3,313


7,124


6,406


20,089

Long-lived asset impairment
4,839




8,290



Operating income
29,254

 
49,621

 
89,460

 
102,249

Interest and other financing expense, net
6,782


5,399


19,543


15,491

Other (income)/expense, net
(1,560
)

2,072


(5,447
)

246

Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity in net income of equity-method investees
24,032

 
42,150

 
75,364

 
86,512

Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(1,310
)

9,149


(11,516
)

19,512

Equity in net loss (income) of equity-method investees
101


177


(104
)

(45
)
Net income from continuing operations
$
25,241

 
$
32,824

 
$
86,984

 
$
67,045

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax
(12,555
)
 
(1,496
)
 
(7,349
)
 
72

Net income
$
12,686

 
$
31,328

 
$
79,635

 
$
67,117

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income (loss) per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic net income per common share from continuing operations
$
0.24

 
$
0.32

 
$
0.84

 
$
0.65

Basic net (loss) income per common share from discontinued operations
(0.12
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.07
)
 

Basic net income per common share
$
0.12

 
$
0.30

 
$
0.77

 
$
0.65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted net income per common share from continuing operations
$
0.24

 
$
0.31

 
$
0.83

 
$
0.64

Diluted net (loss) income per common share from discontinued operations
(0.12
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.07
)
 

Diluted net income per common share
$
0.12

 
$
0.30

 
$
0.76

 
$
0.64

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shares used in the calculation of net income per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
103,918


103,687


103,821


103,584

Diluted
104,503


104,246


104,473


104,232

See notes to consolidated financial statements.



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THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE THREE AND NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 AND 2017
(In thousands)

 
Three Months Ended
 
March 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2017
 
Pre-tax
amount
 
Tax (expense) benefit
 
After-tax amount
 
Pre-tax
amount
 
Tax (expense) benefit
 
After-tax amount
Net income
 
 
 
 
$
12,686

 
 
 
 
 
$
31,328

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
$
37,868

 
$

 
37,868

 
$
14,630

 
$

 
14,630

Change in deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedging instruments

 

 

 
(21
)
 
4

 
(17
)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale investment
(68
)
 
(33
)
 
(101
)
 
83

 
(33
)
 
50

Total other comprehensive income (loss)
$
37,800

 
$
(33
)
 
$
37,767

 
$
14,692

 
$
(29
)
 
$
14,663

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total comprehensive income
 
 
 
 
$
50,453

 
 
 
 
 
$
45,991

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
March 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2017
 
Pre-tax
amount
 
Tax (expense) benefit
 
After-tax amount
 
Pre-tax
amount
 
Tax (expense) benefit
 
After-tax amount
Net income
 
 
 
 
$
79,635

 
 
 
 
 
$
67,117

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Foreign currency translation adjustments
$
80,065

 
$

 
80,065

 
$
(68,329
)
 
$

 
(68,329
)
Change in deferred gains (losses) on cash flow hedging instruments
(82
)
 
15

 
(67
)
 
(464
)
 
42

 
(422
)
Change in unrealized gain (loss) on available for sale investment
(70
)
 
(33
)
 
(103
)
 
(6
)
 
(3
)
 
(9
)
Total other comprehensive income (loss)
$
79,913

 
$
(18
)
 
$
79,895

 
$
(68,799
)
 
$
39

 
$
(68,760
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total comprehensive income (loss)
 
 
 
 
$
159,530

 
 
 
 
 
$
(1,643
)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
See notes to consolidated financial statements.



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THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018
(In thousands, except par values)

 
Common Stock
 
Additional
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated
Other
 
 
 
 
 
Amount
 
Paid-in
 
Retained
 
Treasury Stock
 
Comprehensive
 
 
 
Shares
 
at $.01
 
Capital
 
Earnings
 
Shares
 
Amount
 
Income (Loss)
 
Total
Balance at June 30, 2017
107,989

 
$
1,080

 
$
1,137,724

 
$
868,822

 
4,287

 
$
(99,315
)
 
$
(195,479
)
 
$
1,712,832

Net income

 

 

 
79,635

 

 

 

 
79,635

Other comprehensive income (loss)


 


 


 


 


 


 
79,895

 
79,895

Issuance of common stock pursuant to stock-based compensation plans
394

 
4

 
(4
)
 

 

 

 

 

Shares withheld for payment of employee payroll taxes due on shares issued under stock-based compensation plans


 


 


 


 
171

 
(6,853
)
 


 
(6,853
)
Stock-based compensation expense

 

 
10,258

 

 

 

 

 
10,258

Balance at March 31, 2018
108,383

 
$
1,084

 
$
1,147,978

 
$
948,457

 
4,458

 
$
(106,168
)
 
$
(115,584
)
 
$
1,875,767

See notes to consolidated financial statements.


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THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED)
FOR THE NINE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 AND 2017
(In thousands)
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Net income
$
79,635

 
$
67,117

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations
(7,349
)
 
72

Net income from continuing operations
86,984

 
67,045

 
 
 
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income from continuing operations to net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations:
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortization
45,139

 
44,735

Deferred income taxes
(30,115
)
 
(6,543
)
Equity in net income of equity-method investees
(104
)
 
(45
)
Stock-based compensation
10,258

 
7,519

Impairment of long-lived assets
8,290

 

Bad debt expense
1,860

 
19

Other non-cash items, net
(3,885
)
 
1,824

Increase (decrease) in cash attributable to changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of amounts applicable to acquisitions:
 
 
 
Accounts receivable
(23,998
)
 
30,891

Inventories
(43,355
)
 
(20,415
)
Other current assets
(8,153
)
 
21,000

Other assets and liabilities
5,367

 
(929
)
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
19,082

 
18,078

Net cash provided by operating activities - continuing operations
67,370

 
163,179

 
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
(13,064
)
 

Purchases of property and equipment
(48,368
)
 
(30,650
)
Proceeds from sale of business

 
5,419

Other
124

 
1,000

Net cash used in investing activities - continuing operations
(61,308
)
 
(24,231
)
 
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
 
 
 
Borrowings under bank revolving credit facility
45,000

 
22,000

Repayments under bank revolving credit facility
(355,185
)
 
(67,500
)
Borrowings under term loan
299,245

 

Borrowings (repayments) of other debt, net
3,111

 
(17,863
)
Funding of discontinued operations entities
(17,167
)
 
(22,473
)
Acquisition related contingent consideration

 
(2,498
)
Shares withheld for payment of employee payroll taxes
(6,853
)
 
(7,936
)
Net cash used in financing activities - continuing operations
(31,849
)
 
(96,270
)
 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
5,884

 
(4,850
)
 
 
 
 
CASH FLOWS FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS
 
 
 
Cash used in operating activities
(11,783
)
 
(11,889
)
Cash used in investing activities
(8,531
)
 
(13,414
)
Cash provided by financing activities
17,011

 
22,191

Net cash flows used in discontinued operations
(3,303
)
 
(3,112
)
 
 
 
 
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
(23,206
)
 
34,716

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
146,992

 
127,926

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
$
123,786

 
$
162,642

Less: cash and cash equivalents of discontinued operations
$
(6,634
)
 
$
(9,820
)
Cash and cash equivalents of continuing operations at end of period
$
117,152

 
$
152,822

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

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THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (UNAUDITED)
(Amounts in thousands, except par values and per share data)

1.    BUSINESS

The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (collectively, along with its subsidiaries, the “Company,” and herein referred to as “Hain Celestial,” “we,” “us” and “our”), was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Lake Success, New York. The Company’s mission has continued to evolve since its founding, with health and wellness being the core tenet — To Create and Inspire A Healthier Way of LifeTM and be the leading marketer, manufacturer and seller of organic and natural, “better-for-you” products by anticipating and exceeding consumer expectations in providing quality, innovation, value and convenience. The Company is committed to growing sustainably while continuing to implement environmentally sound business practices and manufacturing processes. Hain Celestial sells its products through specialty and natural food distributors, supermarkets, natural food stores, mass market and e-commerce retailers, food service channels and club, drug and convenience stores in over 80 countries worldwide.

With a proven track record of strategic growth and profitability, the Company manufactures, markets, distributes and sells organic and natural products under brand names that are sold as “better-for-you” products, providing consumers with the opportunity to lead A Healthier Way of LifeTM.  Hain Celestial is a leader in many organic and natural products categories, with many recognized brands in the various market categories it serves, including Almond Dream®, Arrowhead Mills®, Bearitos®, Better Bean®, BluePrint®, Celestial Seasonings®, Clarks™, Coconut Dream®, Cully & Sully®, Danival®, DeBoles®, Earth’s Best®, Ella’s Kitchen®, Empire®, Europe’s Best®, Farmhouse Fare®, Frank Cooper’s®, FreeBird®, Gale’s®, Garden of Eatin’®, GG UniqueFiberTM, Hain Pure Foods®, Hartley’s®, Health Valley®, Imagine®, Johnson’s Juice Co.®, Joya®, Kosher Valley®, Lima®, Linda McCartney’s® (under license), MaraNatha®, Natumi®, New Covent Garden Soup Co.®, Plainville Farms®, Rice Dream®, Robertson’s®, Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery®, Rudi’s Organic Bakery®, Sensible Portions®, Spectrum Organics®, Soy Dream®, Sun-Pat®, SunSpire®, Terra®, The Greek Gods®, Tilda®, Walnut Acres®, WestSoy®, Yorkshire ProvenderTM and Yves Veggie Cuisine®.  The Company’s personal care products are marketed under the Alba Botanica®, Avalon Organics®, Earth’s Best®, JASON®, Live Clean® and Queen Helene® brands. 

Discontinued Operations
In March 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to sell all of the operations of the Hain Pure Protein Corporation (“HPPC”) and EK Holdings, Inc. (“Empire”) operating segments, which are reported in the aggregate as the Hain Pure Protein reportable segment. These dispositions are being undertaken to reduce complexity in the Company’s operations and simplify the Company’s brand portfolio, in addition to allowing additional flexibility to focus on opportunities for growth and innovation in the Company’s more profitable core businesses.
Collectively, these dispositions represent a strategic shift that will have a major impact on the Company’s operations and financial results and have been accounted for as discontinued operations. See Note 4, Discontinued Operations, for additional information.

Changes in Segments

Effective July 1, 2017, due to changes to the Company’s internal management and reporting structure, the United Kingdom operations of the Ella’s Kitchen® brand (“Ella’s Kitchen UK”), which was previously included within the United States reportable segment, was moved to the United Kingdom reportable segment. See Note 16, Segment Information, for additional information on the Company’s operating and reportable segments.


2.    BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The Company’s unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“U.S. GAAP”) for interim financial information and the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and notes required by U.S. GAAP. The amounts as of and for the periods ended June 30, 2017 are derived from the Company’s audited annual financial statements. The unaudited consolidated financial statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments which, in management’s opinion, are necessary for a fair presentation for interim periods. Operating results for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2018. Please refer to the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements as of June 30, 2017 and for the fiscal year then ended included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 (the “Form 10-K”) for information not included in these condensed notes.


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The Company is presenting the operating results and cash flows of the Hain Pure Protein reportable segment within discontinued operations in the current and prior periods. The assets and liabilities of the Hain Pure Protein reportable segment are presented as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for all periods presented.

All amounts in the unaudited consolidated financial statements, notes and tables have been rounded to the nearest thousand, except par values and per share amounts, unless otherwise indicated.

Newly Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2016, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) 2016-09, Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. This ASU, among other things, changes the treatment of share-based payment transactions by recognizing the impact of excess tax benefits or deficiencies related to exercised or vested awards in income tax expense in the period of exercise or vesting, instead of additional paid in capital. The updated guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016 and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company adopted this new guidance effective July 1, 2017. As a result of this adoption:

As required, we prospectively recognized a discrete tax expense of $6 and a discrete tax benefit of $830, respectively, in the income tax line item of our consolidated income statements for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018 related to excess tax benefits upon vesting or settlement in that period.
We elected to adopt the cash flow presentation of the excess tax benefits retrospectively. As a result, we decreased our cash used in financing activities by $3,338 for the nine months ended March 31, 2017.
We have elected to continue to estimate the number of stock-based awards expected to vest, rather than electing to account for forfeitures as they occur to determine the amount of compensation costs to be recognized in each period.
We have not changed our policy on statutory withholding requirements and will continue to allow an employee to withhold at the minimum statutory withholding requirements. Amounts paid by us to taxing authorities when directly withholding shares associated with employees’ income tax withholding obligations are classified as a financing activity in our cash flow statement.
We excluded the excess tax benefits from the assumed proceeds available to repurchase shares in the computation of our diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018.
We did not have any material excess tax benefits previously recognized in additional paid-in capital; therefore, it was not necessary to record a deferred tax asset for the unrecognized tax benefits with an adjustment to opening retained earnings.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Effective

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases. ASU 2016-02 revises accounting for operating leases by a lessee, among other changes, and requires a lessee to recognize a liability to make lease payments and an asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term in the balance sheet. The standard is effective for the first interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. A modified retrospective transition approach is required for lessees for capital and operating leases existing at, or entered into after, the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented in the financial statements, with certain practical expedients available. We are currently assessing the impact the new standard will have on our consolidated financial statements, which will consist primarily of a balance sheet gross up of our operating leases to show equal and offsetting lease assets and lease liabilities.

In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). This guidance outlines a single, comprehensive model for accounting for revenue from contracts with customers, providing a single five-step model to be applied to all revenue transactions. The guidance also requires improved disclosures to assist users of the financial statements to better understand the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue that is recognized. Subsequent to the issuance of ASU 2014-09, the FASB has issued various additional ASUs clarifying and amending this new revenue guidance. The guidance is effective for public entities for annual reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that period, and we will adopt the new guidance in fiscal 2019. Entities have the choice to apply these ASUs either retrospectively to each reporting period presented or by recognizing the cumulative effect of applying these standards at the date of initial application and not adjusting comparative information. We are currently performing a diagnostic review of our arrangements with customers across our significant businesses, including our practices of offering rebates, refunds, discounts, and other price allowances, and trade and consumer promotion programs. We are evaluating our methods of estimating the amount and timing of these various forms of variable consideration. We are continuing to evaluate the impact the new guidance will have on our consolidated financial statements, but we currently expect to adopt ASU 2014-09 using the modified retrospective option.

Refer to Note 2, Summary of Significant Accounting Policies and Practices, in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements as of June 30, 2017 and for the fiscal year then ended included in the Form 10-K for a detailed discussion on additional recently

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issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted by the Company. There has been no change to the statements made in the Form 10-K as of the date of filing of this Form 10-Q.

3.    EARNINGS PER SHARE

The following table sets forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
2018

2017
 
2018
 
2017
Numerator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net income from continuing operations
$
25,241

 
$
32,824

 
$
86,984

 
$
67,045

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax
(12,555
)
 
(1,496
)
 
(7,349
)
 
72

Net income
$
12,686

 
$
31,328

 
$
79,635

 
$
67,117

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Denominator:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic weighted average shares outstanding
103,918

 
103,687

 
103,821

 
103,584

Effect of dilutive stock options, unvested restricted stock and unvested restricted share units
585

 
559

 
652

 
648

Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
104,503

 
104,246

 
104,473

 
104,232

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic net income (loss) per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.24

 
$
0.32

 
$
0.84

 
$
0.65

Discontinued operations
(0.12
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.07
)
 

Basic net income per common share
$
0.12

 
$
0.30

 
$
0.77

 
$
0.65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Diluted net income (loss) per common share:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Continuing operations
$
0.24

 
$
0.31

 
$
0.83

 
$
0.64

Discontinued operations
(0.12
)
 
(0.01
)
 
(0.07
)
 

Diluted net income per common share
$
0.12

 
$
0.30

 
$
0.76

 
$
0.64


Basic earnings per share excludes the dilutive effects of stock options, unvested restricted stock and unvested restricted share units. Diluted earnings per share includes the dilutive effects of common stock equivalents such as stock options and unvested restricted stock awards.
 
There were 559 and 271 stock-based awards excluded from our diluted earnings per share calculations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, as such awards were contingently issuable based on market or performance conditions, and such conditions had not been achieved during the respective periods. Additionally, 5 restricted stock awards were excluded from our diluted earnings per share calculation for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2017 as such awards were antidilutive. Restricted stock awards excluded from our diluted earnings per share calculation for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018 were de minimis.

Share Repurchase Program

On June 21, 2017, the Company's Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $250,000 of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market, pursuant to pre-set trading plans, in private transactions or otherwise. The authorization does not have a stated expiration date. The extent to which the Company repurchases its shares and the timing of such repurchases will depend upon market conditions and other corporate considerations, including the Company’s historical strategy of pursuing accretive acquisitions. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had not repurchased any shares under this program and had $250,000 of remaining capacity under the share repurchase program.


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4. DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS

In March 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to sell all of the operations of the HPPC and Empire operating segments, which are reported in the aggregate as the Hain Pure Protein reportable segment (“Hain Pure Protein”). Collectively, these dispositions represent a strategic shift that will have a major impact on the Company’s operations and financial results and have been accounted for as discontinued operations. The Company is actively marketing the sale of Hain Pure Protein, and a sale is anticipated to occur within the next twelve months.
The Company is presenting the operating results and cash flows of Hain Pure Protein within discontinued operations in the current and prior periods. The assets and liabilities of Hain Pure Protein are presented as assets and liabilities of discontinued operations in the Consolidated Balance Sheets for all periods presented.

The following table presents the major classes of Hain Pure Protein’s line items constituting the “Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax” in our Consolidated Statements of Income:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net sales
$
118,198

 
$
117,765

 
$
396,227

 
$
387,413

Cost of sales
113,629

 
113,575

 
373,122

 
371,293

Gross profit
4,569

 
4,190

 
23,105

 
16,120

Selling, general and administrative expense
5,888

 
6,407

 
14,458

 
15,074

Other expense
805

 
377

 
3,258

 
1,163

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations before income taxes
(2,124
)
 
(2,594
)
 
5,389

 
(117
)
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
10,431

 
(1,098
)
 
12,738

 
(189
)
Net (loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax
$
(12,555
)
 
$
(1,496
)
 
$
(7,349
)
 
$
72


Included above within provision (benefit) for income taxes for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018 is a $10,703 deferred tax liability related to Hain Pure Protein being classified as held for sale. Refer to Note 10, Income Taxes for further discussion.



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Assets and liabilities of discontinued operations presented in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017 are included in the following table:

 
March 31,
 
June 30,
Assets
2018
 
2017
Cash and cash equivalents
$
6,634

 
$
9,937

Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts
24,908

 
22,671

Inventories
99,782

 
85,313

Prepaid expenses and other current assets
5,883

 
5,866

Total current assets*

 
123,787

Property, plant and equipment, net
81,477

 
78,645

Goodwill
41,089

 
41,089

Trademarks and other intangible assets, net
51,029

 
52,040

Other assets
4,399

 
3,330

Total noncurrent assets of discontinued operations*
 
 
175,104

Total assets of discontinued operations
$
315,201

 
$
298,891

 
 
 
 
Liabilities
 
 
 
Accounts payable
$
30,966

 
$
35,943

Accrued expenses and other current liabilities
5,084

 
2,005

Deferred tax liabilities
25,863

 

Total current liabilities of discontinued operations*

 
37,948

Deferred tax liabilities

 
23,129

Other noncurrent liabilities
28

 
193

  Total noncurrent liabilities of discontinued operations*
 
 
23,322

Total liabilities of discontinued operations
$
61,941

 
$
61,270


* The assets and liabilities of Hain Pure Protein are classified as current on the March 31, 2018 Consolidated Balance Sheet because it is probable that the sale will occur within the next twelve months.

As a result of the planned dispositions, the Company assessed the fair value of its assets held for sale and determined that these assets were not impaired at March 31, 2018.

5.    ACQUISITIONS

The Company accounts for acquisitions in accordance with ASC 805, Business Combinations. The results of operations of the acquisitions have been included in the consolidated results from their respective dates of acquisition. The purchase price of each acquisition is allocated to the tangible assets, liabilities and identifiable intangible assets acquired based on their estimated fair values. Acquisitions may include contingent consideration, the fair value of which is estimated on the acquisition date as the present value of the expected contingent payments, determined using weighted probabilities of possible payments. The fair values assigned to identifiable intangible assets acquired were determined primarily by using an income approach which was based on assumptions and estimates made by management. Significant assumptions utilized in the income approach were based on Company-specific information and projections which are not observable in the market and are thus considered Level 3 measurements as defined by authoritative guidance. The excess of the purchase price over the fair value of the identified assets and liabilities has been recorded as goodwill.

The costs related to all acquisitions have been expensed as incurred and are included in “Acquisition related expenses, restructuring and integration charges” in the Consolidated Statements of Income. Acquisition related costs of $8 and $336 were expensed in the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018, respectively. Acquisition related costs of $836 and $1,089 were expensed in the three and nine months ended March 31, 2017, respectively. The expenses incurred primarily related to professional fees and other transaction-related costs associated with our recent acquisitions.


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Fiscal 2018

On December 1, 2017, the Company acquired Clarks UK Limited, (“Clarks”), a leading maple syrup and natural sweetener brand in the United Kingdom. Clarks produces natural sweeteners under the ClarksTM brand, including maple syrup, honey and carob, date and agave syrups, which are sold in leading retailers and used by food service and industrial customers in the United Kingdom. Consideration for the transaction consisted of cash, net of cash acquired, totaling £9,698 (approximately $13,064 at the transaction date exchange rate). Additionally, contingent consideration of up to a maximum of £1,500 is payable based on the achievement of specified operating results over the 18-month period following completion of the acquisition. Clarks is included in our United Kingdom operating segment. Net sales and income before income taxes attributable to the Clarks acquisition included in our consolidated results represented less than 1% of our consolidated results.

Fiscal 2017

On June 19, 2017, the Company acquired Sonmundo, Inc. d/b/a The Better Bean Company (“Better Bean”), which offers prepared beans and bean-based dips sold in refrigerated tubs under the Better Bean® brand. Consideration for the transaction consisted of cash, net of cash acquired, totaling $3,434. Additionally, contingent consideration of up to a maximum of $4,000 is payable based on the achievement of specified operating results over the three-year period following the closing date. Better Bean is included in our Cultivate operating segment, which is part of the Rest of World reportable segment. Net sales and income before income taxes attributable to the Better Bean acquisition included in our consolidated results represented less than 1% of our consolidated results.

On April 28, 2017, the Company acquired The Yorkshire Provender Limited (“Yorkshire Provender”), a producer of premium branded soups based in North Yorkshire in the United Kingdom. Yorkshire Provender supplies leading retailers, on-the-go food outlets and food service providers in the United Kingdom. Consideration for the transaction consisted of cash, net of cash acquired, totaling £12,465 (approximately $16,110 at the transaction date exchange rate). Additionally, contingent consideration of up to a maximum of £1,500 is payable based on the achievement of specified operating results at the end of the three-year period following the closing date. Yorkshire Provender is included in our United Kingdom operating and reportable segment. Net sales and income before income taxes attributable to Yorkshire Provender included in our consolidated results represented less than 1% of our consolidated results.

6.    INVENTORIES

Inventories consisted of the following:
 
March 31,
2018
 
June 30,
2017
Finished goods
$
241,448

 
$
214,547

Raw materials, work-in-progress and packaging
157,708

 
127,448

 
$
399,156

 
$
341,995


At each period end, inventory is reviewed to ensure that it is recorded at the lower of cost or market. During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company recorded an inventory write-down of $4,913 in connection with the discontinuance of slow moving stock keeping units (“SKUs”) as part of a product rationalization initiative.





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7.    PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property, plant and equipment, net consisted of the following:
 
March 31,
2018
 
June 30,
2017
Land
$
29,628

 
$
28,092

Buildings and improvements
81,306

 
83,648

Machinery and equipment
321,962

 
300,750

Computer hardware and software
53,168

 
50,773

Furniture and fixtures
18,266

 
15,613

Leasehold improvements
30,579

 
29,296

Construction in progress
27,586

 
11,134

 
562,495

 
519,306

Less: Accumulated depreciation and amortization
248,258

 
227,440

 
$
314,237

 
$
291,866


Depreciation and amortization expense for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $8,212 and $8,376, respectively. Such expense for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $24,580 and $25,172, respectively.

In the second quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company determined that it was more likely than not that certain fixed assets at one of its manufacturing facilities in the United States would be sold or otherwise disposed of before the end of their estimated useful lives due to the Company’s decision to utilize third-party manufacturers. As such, the Company recorded a $3,676 non-cash impairment charge related to the closure of the facility in the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and included $4,064 as assets held for sale within “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” in its March 31, 2018 Consolidated Balance Sheet, respectively.
In the third quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company made the decision to consolidate its manufacturing of certain soup products in the United Kingdom. As such, the Company recorded a $2,557 non-cash impairment charge primarily related to the planned closure of a facility for the three months ended March 31, 2018. In connection with this planned closure, the Company expects to incur additional charges of up to approximately $6,300 over the next twelve months, consisting primarily of costs associated with the early termination of an existing operating lease and employee severance costs.

Additionally, in the third quarter of fiscal 2018, the Company discontinued certain slow moving SKUs in the United States as part of a product rationalization initiative. As a result, expected future cash flows are not expected to support the carrying value of certain machinery and equipment used to manufacture these products. As such, the Company recorded a $2,057 non-cash impairment charge to write down the value of these assets to fair value and included $686 as assets held for sale within “Prepaid expenses and other current assets” in its March 31, 2018 Consolidated Balance Sheet.

8.    GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Goodwill

The following table shows the changes in the carrying amount of goodwill by business segment:

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United States
 
United Kingdom
 
Rest of World
 
Total
Balance as of June 30, 2017 (a)
$
591,416

 
$
329,135

 
$
98,341

 
$
1,018,892

  Acquisition activity

 
6,936

 

 
6,936

  Reallocation of goodwill between reporting units (b)
(35,519
)
 
35,519

 

 

  Translation and other adjustments, net
134

 
28,040

 
2,952

 
31,126

Balance as of March 31, 2018 (a)
$
556,031

 
$
399,630

 
$
101,293

 
$
1,056,954


(a) The total carrying value of goodwill is reflected net of $126,577 of accumulated impairment charges, of which $97,358 related to the Company’s United Kingdom operating segment and $29,219 related to the Company’s Europe operating segment.

(b) Effective July 1, 2017, due to changes to the Company’s internal management and reporting structure, the United Kingdom operations of the Ella’s Kitchen® brand, which was previously included within the United States reportable segment, was moved to the United Kingdom reportable segment. Goodwill totaling $35,519 was reallocated to the United Kingdom reportable segment in connection with this change. The change in operating segments was deemed a triggering event, resulting in the Company performing an interim goodwill impairment analysis on the reporting units impacted by this segment change as of immediately before and immediately after the change. There were no impairment indicators resulting from this analysis, which was performed in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. See Note 1, Business, and Note 16, Segment Information, for additional information on the Company’s operating and reportable segments.

Beginning in the third quarter ended March 31, 2018, operations of Hain Pure Protein have been classified as discontinued operations as discussed in Note 4, Discontinued Operations. Therefore, goodwill associated with Hain Pure Protein is presented as assets of discontinued operations in the consolidated financial statements.

The Company performs its annual test for goodwill and indefinite lived intangible asset impairment as of the first day of the fourth quarter of its fiscal year. In addition, if and when events or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the fair value of any of its reporting units or indefinite-life intangible assets below their carrying value, an interim test is performed.

Other than as described above, there were no events or circumstances that warranted an interim impairment test for goodwill or indefinite lived intangible assets during the nine months ended March 31, 2018.

Other Intangible Assets

The following table sets forth balance sheet information for intangible assets, excluding goodwill, subject to amortization and intangible assets not subject to amortization:
 
March 31,
2018
 
June 30,
2017
Non-amortized intangible assets:
 
 
 
Trademarks and tradenames (a)
$
404,163

 
$
384,917

Amortized intangible assets:
 
 
 
Other intangibles
250,547

 
232,112

Less: accumulated amortization
(114,476
)
 
(95,801
)
Net carrying amount
$
540,234

 
$
521,228


(a) The gross carrying value of trademarks and tradenames is reflected net of $60,202 of accumulated impairment charges.

Amortized intangible assets, which are deemed to have a finite life, primarily consist of customer relationships and are amortized over their estimated useful lives of 3 to 25 years. Amortization expense included in continuing operations was as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Amortization of acquired intangibles
$
4,713

 
$
4,206

 
$
13,859

 
$
12,887



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9.    DEBT AND BORROWINGS

Debt and borrowings consisted of the following:
 
March 31,
2018
 
June 30,
2017
Unsecured revolving credit facility
$
428,433

 
$
733,715

Term loan
300,000

 

Less: Unamortized issuance costs
(730
)
 

Tilda short-term borrowing arrangements
9,296

 
7,761

Other borrowings
12,135

 
8,285

 
749,134

 
749,761

Short-term borrowings and current portion of long-term debt
25,677

 
9,626

Long-term debt, less current portion
$
723,457

 
$
740,135


Credit Agreement

On December 12, 2014, the Company entered into the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement which was effective until December 2019 and provided for a $1,000,000 unsecured revolving credit facility which may be increased by an additional uncommitted $350,000, provided certain conditions are met.

On February 6, 2018, the Company entered into the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement provides for the extension of our existing $1,000,000 unsecured revolving credit facility through February 6, 2023 and provides for an additional $300,000 term loan. Under the Credit Agreement, the credit facility may be increased by an additional uncommitted $400,000, provided certain conditions are met.

Borrowings under the Credit Agreement may be used to provide working capital, finance capital expenditures and permitted acquisitions, refinance certain existing indebtedness and for other lawful corporate purposes. The Credit Agreement provides for multicurrency borrowings in Euros, Pounds Sterling and Canadian Dollars as well as other currencies which may be designated. In addition, certain wholly-owned foreign subsidiaries of the Company may be designated as co-borrowers. The Credit Agreement contains restrictive covenants, which are usual and customary for facilities of its type, and include, with specified exceptions, limitations on the Company’s ability to engage in certain business activities, incur debt, have liens, make capital expenditures, pay dividends or make other distributions, enter into affiliate transactions, consolidate, merge or acquire or dispose of assets, and make certain investments, acquisitions and loans. The Credit Agreement also requires the Company to satisfy certain financial covenants, such as maintaining a consolidated interest coverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of no less than 4.0 to 1.0 and a consolidated leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) of no more than 3.5 to 1.0. The consolidated leverage ratio is subject to a step-up to 4.0 to 1.0 for the four full fiscal quarters following an acquisition. Obligations under the Credit Agreement are guaranteed by certain existing and future domestic subsidiaries of the Company. As of March 31, 2018, there were $428,433 and $300,000 of borrowings outstanding under the unsecured credit facility and term loan, respectively, and $8,976 letters of credit outstanding under the Credit Agreement. As of March 31, 2018, $562,591 is available under the Credit Agreement, and the Company was in compliance with all associated covenants.

The Credit Agreement provides that loans will bear interest at rates based on (a) the Eurocurrency Rate, as defined in the Credit Agreement, plus a rate ranging from 0.875% to 1.70% per annum; or (b) the Base Rate, as defined in the Credit Agreement, plus a rate ranging from 0.00% to 0.70% per annum, the relevant rate being the Applicable Rate. The Applicable Rate will be determined in accordance with a leverage-based pricing grid, as set forth in the Credit Agreement.  Swing line loans and Global Swing Line loans denominated in U.S. dollars will bear interest at the Base Rate plus the Applicable Rate, and Global Swing Line loans denominated in foreign currencies shall bear interest based on the overnight Eurocurrency Rate for loans denominated in such currency plus the Applicable Rate. The weighted average interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement at March 31, 2018 was 3.22%. Additionally, the Credit Agreement contains a Commitment Fee, as defined in the Credit Agreement, on the amount unused under the Credit Agreement ranging from 0.20% to 0.30% per annum, and such Commitment Fee is determined in accordance with a leverage-based pricing grid.

The term loan is payable in installments on the last day of each fiscal quarter commencing June 30, 2018 in an amount equal to $3,750 and can be prepaid in whole or in part without premium or penalty.


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Credit Agreement Issuance Costs

We incurred debt issuance costs of approximately $3,440 in connection with the Credit Agreement, which were deferred and are being amortized as interest expense over the term of the Credit Agreement. Of these deferred debt issuance costs, $2,685 were associated with the revolving credit facility and are being amortized on a straight-line basis within other assets on our Consolidated Balance Sheet, and $755 are being amortized on a straight-line basis, which approximates the effective interest method, as an adjustment to the carrying amount of term loan as a component of interest expense.

Tilda Short-Term Borrowing Arrangements

Tilda, a component of our United Kingdom reportable segment, maintains short-term borrowing arrangements primarily used to fund the purchase of rice from India and other countries. The maximum borrowings permitted under all such arrangements are £52,000. Outstanding borrowings are collateralized by the current assets of Tilda, typically have six-month terms and bear interest at variable rates typically based on LIBOR plus a margin (weighted average interest rate of approximately 3.43% at March 31, 2018). As of March 31, 2018, there were $9,296 of borrowings under these arrangements.

Other Borrowings

Other borrowings primarily relate to a cash pool facility in Europe and an uncommitted revolving credit facility in India.

The cash pool facility provides our Europe operating segment with sufficient liquidity to support the Company’s growth objectives within this segment. The maximum borrowings permitted under the cash pool arrangement are €12,500. Outstanding borrowings bear interest at variable rates typically based on EURIBOR plus a margin of 1.10% (weighted average interest rate of approximately 1.10% at March 31, 2018). As of March 31, 2018, there were $4,134 of borrowings under this facility.

During the three months ended December 31, 2017, Tilda Hain India Private Limited, our subsidiary residing in India, entered into an uncommitted revolving credit facility to fund its working capital needs. The maximum borrowings permitted under the arrangement are $4,000. There were no amounts outstanding at March 31, 2018.



10.    INCOME TAXES

The Company uses an estimated annual effective tax rate, which is based on expected annual income and statutory tax rates in the various jurisdictions in which the Company operates, to determine its quarterly provision for income taxes. Certain significant or unusual items are separately recognized in the quarter in which they occur and can be a source of variability on the effective tax rates from quarter to quarter. The Company’s effective tax rate may change from period-to-period based on recurring and non-recurring factors including the geographical mix of earnings, enacted tax legislation, state and local income taxes and tax audit settlements.

The effective income tax rate from continuing operations was (5.5)% and 21.7% for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and (15.3)% and 22.6% for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018 was primarily impacted by the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) on December 22, 2017. The Act significantly revised the U.S. corporate income tax regime by lowering the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, repealing the deduction for domestic production activities, imposing additional limitations on the deductibility of executive officers’ compensation, implementing a territorial tax system and imposing a transition tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. The Act provides for numerous significant tax law changes with varying effective dates. As a fiscal year-end taxpayer, certain provisions of the Act impacted the Company beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2018, while other provisions will impact the Company beginning in fiscal 2019.

As the Company has a June 30 fiscal year-end, the lower corporate income tax rate will be phased in, resulting in a U.S. federal statutory rate of approximately 28.1% for fiscal 2018 and a 21% U.S. federal statutory rate for subsequent fiscal years. The results from continuing operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 included the impact of a $29,266 reduction to the value of the Company’s net deferred tax liabilities as a result of the lowering of the U.S. corporate income tax rate, partially offset by an estimated $5,211 transition tax imposed on the deemed repatriation of deferred foreign income.

ASC 740 requires recording the effects of tax law changes in the period enacted as discrete items. However, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 which permits filers to record provisional amounts during a measurement period ending no later than

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one year from the date of the Act’s enactment. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had not completed its accounting for the tax effects of the Act; however, during the second quarter of fiscal year 2018, the Company made a reasonable estimate of the effects on the existing deferred balances as well as the computation of the one-time transition tax. The Company has not recorded any adjustment to our provisional estimate in the third quarter of fiscal year 2018. The final transition impacts of the Act may materially differ from the Company’s estimates. Both the tax benefit and the tax charge represent provisional amounts and are subject to change due to further interpretations of the Act, legislative action to address questions that arise because of the Act, any changes in accounting standards for income taxes or related interpretations in response to the Act and/or any updates or changes to estimates the Company has utilized to calculate the transition impacts, including historical records, changes to current year earnings estimates and foreign exchange rates of foreign subsidiaries as well as the Company’s ongoing analysis of the Act. No additional income taxes have been provided for any remaining undistributed foreign earnings not subject to the transition tax or any additional outside basis differences inherent in the entities, as these amounts continue to be indefinitely reinvested in foreign operations. However, we do intend to further study changes enacted by the Act, costs of repatriation and the current and future cash needs of foreign operations to determine whether there is an opportunity to repatriate foreign cash balances in the future on a tax-efficient basis.

The effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018 was also favorably impacted by the geographical mix of earnings, as well as a $3,754 benefit relating to the release of the remainder of the Company’s domestic uncertain tax position as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations.

The effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2017 was favorable as compared to the statutory rate as a result of the geographical mix of earnings and was also impacted by a reduction in the statutory tax rate in the United Kingdom enacted in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. Such reduction resulted in a decrease to the carrying value of net deferred tax liabilities of $2,086, which favorably impacted the effective tax rate. The effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2017 was also favorably impacted by a $3,536 benefit relating to the release of a portion of the Company’s domestic uncertain tax position as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Income tax expense from discontinued operations was $10,431 for three months ended March 31, 2018 and $12,738 for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $1,098 and $189 of income tax benefit in the prior year periods, respectively. The increase was primarily due to the recognition of a $10,703 deferred tax liability recorded in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 as Hain Pure Protein was classified as held for sale and therefore any outside basis differences were required to be recorded as they are expected to reverse in the foreseeable future.


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11.     ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)

The following tables present the changes in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications (1)
$
37,868

 
$
14,630

 
$
80,065

 
$
(68,329
)
Deferred gains/(losses) on cash flow hedging instruments:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive income before reclassifications

 
2

 
39

 
103

Amounts reclassified into income (2)

 
(19
)
 
(106
)
 
(525
)
Unrealized gain/(loss) on available for sale investment:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications
(101
)
 
47

 
(103
)
 
(22
)
Amounts reclassified into income (3)

 
3

 

 
13

Net change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
$
37,767

 
$
14,663

 
$
79,895

 
$
(68,760
)

(1)
Foreign currency translation adjustments included intra-entity foreign currency transactions that were of a long-term investment nature and were a gain of $670 and a loss of $2,017 for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and a gain of $1,736 and $18,043 for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
(2)
Amounts reclassified into income for deferred gains/(losses) on cash flow hedging instruments are recorded in “Cost of sales” in the Consolidated Statements of Income and, before taxes, were $23 for the three months ended March 31, 2017 and $132 and $1,173 for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. There were no amounts reclassified into income for deferred gains/(losses) on cash flow hedging instruments for the three months ended March 31, 2018.
(3)
Amounts reclassified into income for losses on sale of available for sale investments were based on the average cost of the shares held (See Note 13, Investments and Joint Ventures). Such amounts are recorded in “Other (income)/expense, net” in the Consolidated Statements of Income and were $5 and $21 before taxes for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2017, respectively. There were no amounts reclassified into income for losses on sale of available for sale investments for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018.


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12.    STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION AND INCENTIVE PERFORMANCE PLANS

The Company has two stockholder-approved plans, the Amended and Restated 2002 Long-Term Incentive and Stock Award Plan and the 2000 Directors Stock Plan, under which the Company’s officers, senior management, other key employees, consultants and directors may be granted options to purchase the Company’s common stock or other forms of equity-based awards.

Compensation cost and related income tax benefits recognized in the Consolidated Statements of Income for stock-based compensation plans were as follows:
  
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
2018

2017
 
2018
 
2017
Compensation cost (included in selling, general and administrative expense)
$
2,936


$
2,284

 
$
10,258


$
7,519

Related income tax benefit
$
971

 
$
857

 
$
3,391

 
$
2,820


Stock Options

A summary of the stock option activity for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 is as follows:
 
Number of Options
 
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Weighted
Average
Contractual
Life (years)
 
Aggregate
Intrinsic Value
Options outstanding and exercisable at June 30, 2017
122

 
$
2.26

 
 
 
 
Exercised

 
$

 
 
 
 
Options outstanding and exercisable at March 31, 2018
122

 
$
2.26

 
13.3 years
 
$
3,635


 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
2018

2017
Intrinsic value of options exercised
$

 
$
6,507

Tax benefit recognized from stock option exercises
$

 
$
2,538


At March 31, 2018, there was no unrecognized compensation expense related to stock option awards.

Restricted Stock

A summary of the restricted stock and restricted share unit activity for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 is as follows:
 
Number of Shares
and Units
 
Weighted
Average Grant
Date Fair 
Value (per share)
Non-vested restricted stock, restricted share units, and performance units at June 30, 2017
992

 
$
27.59

Granted
431

 
$
33.85

Vested
(395
)
 
$
36.94

Forfeited
(15
)
 
$
29.35

Non-vested restricted stock, restricted share units, and performance units at March 31, 2018
1,013

 
$
26.59


 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
Fair value of restricted stock and restricted share units granted
$
14,595

 
$

Fair value of shares vested
$
14,622

 
$
9,101

Tax benefit recognized from restricted shares vesting
$
4,970

 
$
3,502



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On July 3, 2012, the Company entered into a Restricted Stock Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Irwin D. Simon, the Company’s Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. The Agreement provides for a grant of 800 shares of restricted stock (the “Shares”), the vesting of which is both market and time-based. The market condition is satisfied in increments of 200 Shares upon the Company’s common stock achieving four share price targets. On the last day of any forty-five consecutive trading day period during which the average closing price of the Company’s common stock on the Nasdaq Global Select Market equals or exceeds the following prices: $31.25, $36.25, $41.25 and $50.00, respectively, the market condition for each increment of 200 Shares will be satisfied. The market conditions were required to be satisfied prior to June 30, 2017. Once each market condition has been satisfied, a tranche of 200 Shares will vest in equal amounts annually over a five-year period. Except in the case of a change of control, termination without cause, death or disability (each as defined in Mr. Simon’s Employment Agreement), the unvested Shares are subject to forfeiture unless Mr. Simon remains employed through the applicable market conditions and time vesting periods. The grant date fair value for each tranche was separately estimated based on a Monte Carlo simulation that calculated the likelihood of goal attainment and the time frame most likely for goal attainment. The total grant date fair value of the Shares was estimated to be $16,151, which was expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 4.0 years. On September 28, 2012, August 27, 2013, December 13, 2013 and October 22, 2014, the four respective market conditions were satisfied. As such, the four tranches of 200 Shares each are expected to vest in equal amounts over the five-year period commencing on the first anniversary of the date the market condition for the respective tranche was satisfied.

At March 31, 2018, $15,754 of unrecognized stock-based compensation expense, net of estimated forfeitures, related to non-vested restricted stock awards, inclusive of the Shares, was expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of approximately 1.7 years.

Long-Term Incentive Plan

The Company maintains a long-term incentive program (the “LTI Plan”). The LTI Plan currently consists of two performance-based long-term incentive plans (the “2016-2018 LTIP” and the “2017-2019 LTIP”) that provide for performance equity awards that can be earned over the respective three-year performance period. Participants in the LTI Plan include the Company’s executive officers, including the Chief Executive Officer, and certain other key executives.

The Compensation Committee administers the LTI Plan and is responsible for, among other items, selecting the specific performance measures for awards and setting the target performance required to receive an award after the completion of the performance period. The Compensation Committee determines the specific payout to the participants. Such awards may be paid in cash and/or unrestricted shares of the Company’s common stock at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, provided that any such stock-based awards shall be issued pursuant to and be subject to the terms and conditions of the Amended and Restated 2002 Long-Term Incentive and Stock Award Plan, as in effect and as amended from time-to-time.

Upon adoption of the 2016-2018 LTIP and 2017-2019 LTIP, the Compensation Committee granted performance units to each participant, the achievement of which is dependent upon a defined calculation of relative total shareholder return over the period from July 1, 2015 to June 30, 2018 and from July 1, 2017 to June 30, 2019 (the “TSR Grant”), respectively. The grant date fair value for these awards was separately estimated based on a Monte Carlo simulation that calculated the likelihood of goal attainment. Each performance unit translates into one unit of common stock. The TSR grant represents half of each participant’s target award. The other half of the 2016-2018 LTIP and 2017-2019 LTIP is based on the Company’s achievement of specified net sales growth targets over the respective three-year period. If the targets are achieved, the award in connection with the 2016-2018 LTIP may be paid in cash and/or unrestricted shares of the Company’s common stock at the discretion of the Compensation Committee, while the award in connection with the 2017-2019 LTIP may be paid only in unrestricted shares of the Company’s common stock.

The Company recorded expense (in addition to the stock-based compensation expense associated with the TSR Grant) of $2,070 and $2,596 for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018, respectively, due to the Company’s current estimates of achievement under the plans. The Company recorded expense of $1,127 and $3,382 for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2017, respectively, related to the LTI Plan.


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13.    INVESTMENTS AND JOINT VENTURES

Equity method investments

In October 2009, the Company formed a joint venture, Hutchison Hain Organic Holdings Limited (“HHO”), with Hutchison China Meditech Ltd. (“Chi-Med”), a majority-owned subsidiary of CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, to market and distribute certain of the Company’s brands in Hong Kong, China and other surrounding markets. Voting control of the joint venture is shared equally between the Company and Chi-Med, although, in the event of a deadlock, Chi-Med has the ability to cast the deciding vote, and therefore, the investment is being accounted for under the equity method of accounting. At March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, the carrying value of the Company’s 50.0% investment in, and advances to, HHO were $2,655 and $1,629, respectively, and are included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as a component of “Investments and joint ventures.”

On October 27, 2015, the Company acquired a 14.9% interest in Chop’t Creative Salad Company LLC (“Chop’t”). Chop’t develops and operates fast-casual, fresh salad restaurants in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic United States. Chop’t markets and sells certain of the Company’s branded products and provides consumer insight and feedback. The investment is being accounted for as an equity method investment due to the Company’s representation on the Board of Directors. During the nine months ended March 31, 2018, the Company’s ownership interest was reduced to 13.5% due to the distribution of additional ownership interests. Further ownership interest distributions could potentially dilute the Company’s ownership interest to as low as 11.9%. At March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, the carrying value of the Company’s investment in Chop’t was $15,669 and $16,487, respectively, and is included in the Consolidated Balance Sheets as a component of “Investments and joint ventures.”

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company made a cash contribution of $990 to its joint venture, Hain Future Natural Products Private Ltd. (“HFN”). This joint venture is with Future Consumer Ltd (“Future”), which is part of the Future Group, a conglomerate primarily engaged in the consumer and retail business in India. The joint venture was created to market and distribute certain of the Company’s brands in India. Voting control of the joint venture is shared equally between the Company and Future and is being accounted for under the equity method of accounting. At March 31, 2018, the carrying value of the Company’s 50.0% investment in HFN was $990 and is included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet as a component of “Investments and joint ventures.”

Available-For-Sale Securities

The Company has a less than 1% equity ownership interest in Yeo Hiap Seng Limited (“YHS”), a Singapore-based natural food and beverage company listed on the Singapore Exchange, which is accounted for as an available-for-sale security. The shares held at March 31, 2018 totaled 933. The fair value of these shares held was $812 (cost basis of $1,164) at March 31, 2018 and $882 (cost basis of $1,164) at June 30, 2017 and is included in “Investments and joint ventures,” with the related unrealized gain or loss, net of tax, included in “Accumulated other comprehensive loss” in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. The Company concluded that the decline in its YHS investment below its cost basis is temporary and, accordingly, has not recognized a loss in the Consolidated Statements of Income. In making this determination, the Company considered its intent and ability to hold the investment until the cost is recovered, the financial condition and near-term prospects of YHS, the magnitude of the loss compared to the investment’s cost and publicly available information about the industry and geographic region in which YHS operates.


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14.    FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS MEASURED AT FAIR VALUE

The Company’s financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value are required to be grouped in one of three levels. The levels prioritize the inputs used to measure the fair value of the assets or liabilities. These levels are:

Level 1 – Unadjusted quoted prices in active markets that are accessible at the measurement date for identical, unrestricted assets or liabilities;
Level 2 – Quoted prices in markets that are not active, or inputs which are observable, either directly or indirectly, for substantially the full term of the asset or liability; and
Level 3 – Prices or valuation techniques that require inputs that are both significant to the fair value measurement and unobservable (i.e., supported by little or no market activity).

The following table presents by level within the fair value hierarchy assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of March 31, 2018: 
 
Total
 
Quoted
prices in
active
markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
7,070

 
$
7,070

 
$

 
$

Forward foreign currency contracts
18

 

 
18

 

Available for sale securities
812

 
812

 

 

Total
$
7,900

 
$
7,882

 
$
18

 
$

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Forward foreign currency contracts
$
636

 
$

 
$
636

 
$

Contingent consideration, non-current
4,884

 

 

 
4,884

Total
$
5,520

 
$

 
$
636

 
$
4,884


The following table presents by level within the fair value hierarchy assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis as of June 30, 2017:
 
Total
 
Quoted
prices in
active
markets
(Level 1)
 
Significant
other
observable
inputs
(Level 2)
 
Significant
unobservable
inputs
(Level 3)
Assets:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cash equivalents
$
21,800

 
$
21,800

 
$

 
$

Forward foreign currency contracts
99

 

 
99

 

Available for sale securities
882

 
882

 

 

Total
$
22,781

 
$
22,682

 
$
99

 
$

Liabilities:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Forward foreign currency contracts
$
53

 
$

 
$
53

 
$

Contingent consideration, non-current
2,656

 

 

 
2,656

Total
$
2,709

 
$

 
$
53

 
$
2,656


Available for sale securities consist of the Company’s investment in YHS (see Note 13, Investments and Joint Ventures).  Fair value is measured using the market approach based on quoted prices.  The Company utilizes the income approach to measure fair value for its foreign currency forward contracts.  The income approach uses pricing models that rely on market observable inputs such as yield curves, currency exchange rates and forward prices.





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The Company estimates the original fair value of the contingent consideration as the present value of the expected contingent payments, determined using the weighted probabilities of the possible payments. The Company reassesses the fair value of contingent payments on a periodic basis. Although the Company believes its estimates and assumptions are reasonable, different assumptions, including those regarding the operating results of the respective businesses, or changes in the future may result in different estimated amounts.

The following table summarizes the Level 3 activity for the nine months ended March 31, 2018.
        
Balance as of June 30, 2017
$
2,656

Fair value of initial contingent consideration(a)
1,547

Contingent consideration adjustment (b)
556

Translation adjustment
125

Balance as of March 31, 2018
$
4,884


(a) In connection with the acquisition of Clarks during fiscal 2018, payment of a portion of the purchase price is contingent upon the achievement of certain operating results. Contingent consideration of up to a maximum of £1,500 is payable based on the achievement of specified operating results over the 18-month period following completion of the acquisition.

(b) The change in the fair value of contingent consideration is included in “Acquisition related expenses, restructuring and integration charges” in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Income.

There were no transfers of financial instruments between the three levels of fair value hierarchy during the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017.

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, accounts receivable, net, accounts payable and certain accrued expenses and other current liabilities approximate fair value due to the short-term maturities of these financial instruments. The Company’s debt approximates fair value due to the debt bearing fluctuating market interest rates (See Note 9, Debt and Borrowings).

Derivative Instruments

The Company primarily has exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates relating to certain anticipated cash flows and firm commitments from its international operations. The Company may enter into certain derivative financial instruments, when available on a cost-effective basis, to manage such risk. Derivative financial instruments are not used for speculative purposes. The fair value of these derivatives is included in prepaid expenses and other current assets and accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. For derivative instruments that qualify as hedges of probable forecasted cash flows, the effective portion of changes in fair value is temporarily reported in accumulated other comprehensive income and recognized in earnings when the hedged item affects earnings. Fair value hedges and derivative instruments not designated as hedges are marked-to-market each reporting period with any unrealized gains or losses recognized in earnings.

Derivative instruments designated at inception as hedges are measured for effectiveness at the inception of the hedge and on a quarterly basis. These assessments determine whether derivatives designated as qualifying hedges continue to be highly effective in offsetting changes in the cash flows of hedged items. Any ineffective portion of change in fair value is not deferred in accumulated other comprehensive income and is included in current period results. The Company will discontinue cash flow hedge accounting when the forecasted transaction is no longer probable of occurring on the originally forecasted date or when the hedge is no longer effective. There were no discontinued foreign exchange hedges for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017.

There were no cash flow hedges outstanding as of March 31, 2018. The notional and fair value amounts of cash flow hedges at June 30, 2017 were $1,828 and $84 of net assets, respectively. The notional and fair value amounts of derivatives designated as fair value hedges at March 31, 2018 were $7,400 and $151 of net liabilities, respectively. There were no fair value hedges outstanding as of June 30, 2017.
 
The notional and fair value amounts of derivatives not designated as hedges at March 31, 2018 were $20,021 and $467 of net liabilities, respectively. There were $6,114 of notional amount and $38 of net liabilities of derivatives not designated as hedges as of June 30, 2017.

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Gains and losses related to both designated and non-designated foreign currency exchange contracts are recorded in the Company’s Consolidated Statements of Operations based upon the nature of the underlying hedged transaction and were not material for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018 and March 31, 2017.


15.    COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Securities Class Actions Filed in Federal Court

On August 17, 2016, three securities class action complaints were filed in the Eastern District of New York against the Company alleging violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The three complaints are: (1) Flora v. The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., et al. (the “Flora Complaint”); (2) Lynn v. The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., et al. (the “Lynn Complaint”); and (3) Spadola v. The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., et al. (the “Spadola Complaint” and, together with the Flora and Lynn Complaints, the “Securities Complaints”).  On June 5, 2017, the court issued an order for consolidation, appointment of Co-Lead Plaintiffs and approval of selection of co-lead counsel.  Pursuant to this order, the Securities Complaints were consolidated under the caption In re The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. Securities Litigation (the “Consolidated Securities Action”), and Rosewood Funeral Home and Salamon Gimpel were appointed as Co-Lead Plaintiffs.  On June 21, 2017, the Company received notice that plaintiff Spadola voluntarily dismissed his claims without prejudice to his ability to participate in the Consolidated Securities Action as an absent class member.  The Co-Lead Plaintiffs in the Consolidated Securities Action filed a Consolidated Amended Complaint on August 4, 2017 and a Corrected Consolidated Amended Complaint on September 7, 2017 on behalf of a purported class consisting of all persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Hain Celestial securities between November 5, 2013 and February 10, 2017 (the “Amended Complaint”).  The Amended Complaint names as defendants the Company and certain of its current and former officers (collectively, the “Defendants”) and asserts violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 based on allegedly materially false or misleading statements and omissions in public statements, press releases and SEC filings regarding the Company’s business, prospects, financial results and internal controls. Defendants filed a motion to dismiss on October 3, 2017. Co-Lead Plaintiffs filed an opposition on December 1, 2017, and Defendants filed the reply on January 16, 2018. On April 4, 2018, the Court requested additional briefing relating to certain aspects of Defendants’ motion to dismiss. In accordance with this request, Lead Plaintiffs submitted their supplemental brief on April 18, 2018, and Defendants submitted an opposition by May 2, 2018. Lead Plaintiffs may then file a reply brief by May 9, 2018, and Defendants may submit a sur-reply by May 16, 2018.

Stockholder Derivative Complaints Filed in State Court

On September 16, 2016, a stockholder derivative complaint, Paperny v. Heyer, et al. (the “Paperny Complaint”), was filed in New York State Supreme Court in Nassau County against the Board of Directors and certain officers of the Company alleging breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, lack of oversight and corporate waste.  On December 2, 2016 and December 29, 2016, two additional stockholder derivative complaints were filed in New York State Supreme Court in Nassau County against the Board of Directors and certain officers under the captions Scarola v. Simon (the “Scarola Complaint”) and Shakir v. Simon (the “Shakir Complaint” and, together with the Paperny Complaint and the Scarola Complaint, the “Derivative Complaints”), respectively.  Both the Scarola Complaint and the Shakir Complaint allege breach of fiduciary duty, lack of oversight and unjust enrichment.  On February 16, 2017, the parties for the Derivative Complaints entered into a stipulation consolidating the matters under the caption In re The Hain Celestial Group (the “Consolidated Derivative Action”) in New York State Supreme Court in Nassau County, ordering the Shakir Complaint as the operative complaint. On November 2, 2017, the parties agreed to stay the Consolidated Derivative Action until April 11, 2018. On April 6, 2018, the parties filed a proposed stipulation agreeing to stay the Consolidated Derivative Action until October 4, 2018, which the Court granted on May 3, 2018.

Additional Stockholder Class Action and Derivative Complaints Filed in Federal Court

On April 19, 2017 and April 26, 2017, two class action and stockholder derivative complaints were filed in the Eastern District of New York against the Board of Directors and certain officers of the Company under the captions Silva v. Simon, et al. (the “Silva Complaint”) and Barnes v. Simon, et al. (the “Barnes Complaint”), respectively.  Both the Silva Complaint and the Barnes Complaint allege violation of securities law, breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment.

On May 23, 2017, an additional stockholder filed a complaint under seal in the Eastern District of New York against the Board of Directors and certain officers of the Company.  The complaint alleges that the Company’s directors and certain officers made materially false and misleading statements in press releases and SEC filings regarding the Company’s business, prospects and financial results.  The complaint also alleges that the Company violated its by-laws and Delaware law by failing to hold its 2016 Annual Stockholders Meeting and includes claims for breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment and corporate waste.  On August 9, 2017, the Court granted an order to unseal this case and reveal Gary Merenstein as the plaintiff (the “Merenstein Complaint”).

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On August 10, 2017, the court granted the parties stipulation to consolidate the Barnes Complaint, the Silva Complaint and the Merenstein Complaint under the caption In re The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. Stockholder Class and Derivative Litigation (the “Consolidated Stockholder Class and Derivative Action”) and to appoint Robbins Arroyo LLP and Scott+Scott as Co-Lead Counsel, with the Law Offices of Thomas G. Amon as Liaison Counsel for Plaintiffs.   On September 14, 2017, a related complaint was filed under the caption Oliver v. Berke, et al. (the “Oliver Complaint”), and on October 6, 2017, the Oliver Complaint was consolidated with the Consolidated Stockholder Class and Derivative Action. The Plaintiffs filed their consolidated amended complaint under seal on October 26, 2017. On December 20, 2017, the parties agreed to stay Defendants’ time to answer, move, or otherwise respond to the consolidated amended complaint through and including 30 days after a decision is rendered on the motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint in the consolidated Securities Class Actions, described above.

Center for Environmental Health v. Save Mart Supermarkets, et.al., Superior Court of the State of California, Alameda County

On August 19, 2015, the Center for Environmental Health (“CEH”), a private enforcer, filed a complaint under the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (the “Enforcement Act”) (commonly referred to as “Proposition 65”), naming various defendants, including the Company.  The complaint alleges that the Company is required to provide warnings for certain of its products for alleged exposure to the substance listed under the Enforcement Act as “acrylamide.”  The other defendants named in the action are five retailers and one distributor, all of which are named for the Company’s products at issue.  Acrylamide is a chemical that can form in some foods during high-temperature cooking processes, such as frying, roasting, and baking.  The complaint seeks injunctive relief, civil penalties in the amount of $2,500 per day (unrounded) for each alleged violation, and CEH’s attorneys’ fees and costs.

To date, the Company has answered the complaint, denying the allegations, and engaged in discovery, including fact discovery and expert discovery, which remains ongoing.  The Court has bifurcated the trial into two phases for liability and remedies and, during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, confirmed the scheduling of the first phase of the trial on liability to move forward on October 19, 2018.  The parties anticipate that this phase of the trial will be limited to the Company establishing the “no significant risk level.”

SEC Investigation

As previously disclosed, the Company voluntarily contacted the SEC in August 2016 to advise it of the Company’s delay in the filing of its periodic reports and the performance of the independent review conducted by the Audit Committee.  The Company has continued to provide information to the SEC on an ongoing basis, including, among other things, the results of the independent review of the Audit Committee as well as other information pertaining to its internal accounting review relating to revenue recognition.  The SEC has issued subpoenas to the Company relevant to its investigation.  The Company is in the process of responding to the SEC’s requests for information and intends to cooperate fully with the SEC.

Other

In addition to the litigation described above, the Company is and may be a defendant in lawsuits from time to time in the normal course of business. While the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company believes the reasonably possible losses of such matters, individually and in the aggregate, are not material. Additionally, the Company believes the probable final outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows or liquidity.

16.    SEGMENT INFORMATION

Prior to July 1, 2017, the Company’s operations were managed in eight operating segments: the United States, United Kingdom, Tilda, HPPC, Empire, Canada, Europe and Cultivate. The United States operating segment was also a reportable segment. The United Kingdom and Tilda operating segments were reported in the aggregate as “United Kingdom”, while HPPC and Empire were reported in the aggregate as “Hain Pure Protein,” and Canada, Europe and Cultivate were combined and reported as “Rest of World.”

Effective July 1, 2017, due to changes to the Company’s internal management and reporting structure, the United Kingdom operations of the Ella’s Kitchen® brand, which was previously included within the United States reportable segment, was moved to the United Kingdom reportable segment. As a result, the Company is now managed in nine operating segments: the United States, United Kingdom, Tilda, Ella’s Kitchen UK, HPPC, Empire, Europe, Canada and Cultivate. Ella’s Kitchen UK is now

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combined with the United Kingdom and Tilda operating segments and is reported within the United Kingdom reportable segment. There were no changes to the Hain Pure Protein reportable segment or Rest of World in connection with these changes.

Beginning in the third quarter ended March 31, 2018, the Hain Pure Protein operations are classified as discontinued operations as discussed in “Note 4: Discontinued Operations.” Therefore, segment information presented excludes the results of Hain Pure Protein.

The prior period segment information contained below has been adjusted to reflect the Company’s revised operating and reporting structure.

Net sales and operating income are the primary measures used by the Company’s Chief Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) to evaluate segment operating performance and to decide how to allocate resources to segments. The CODM is the Company’s Chief Executive Officer. Expenses related to certain centralized administration functions that are not specifically related to an operating segment are included in “Corporate and Other.” Corporate and Other expenses are comprised mainly of the compensation and related expenses of certain of the Company’s senior executive officers and other selected employees who perform duties related to the entire enterprise, as well as expenses for certain professional fees, facilities and other items which benefit the Company as a whole. Additionally, acquisition related expenses, restructuring and integration charges and other, along with accounting review and remediation costs, are included in “Corporate and Other.” Expenses that are managed centrally, but can be attributed to a segment, such as employee benefits and certain facility costs, are allocated based on reasonable allocation methods. Assets are reviewed by the CODM on a consolidated basis and therefore are not reported by operating segment.

The following tables set forth financial information about each of the Company’s reportable segments. Transactions between reportable segments were insignificant for all periods presented.
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
2018

2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net Sales:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
$
281,052

 
$
289,503

 
$
815,013

 
$
822,376

United Kingdom
238,321

 
200,976

 
698,968

 
633,439

Rest of World
113,347

 
98,319

 
324,190

 
284,799

 
$
632,720

 
$
588,798

 
$
1,838,171

 
$
1,740,614

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating Income:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
United States
$
24,974

 
$
44,322

 
$
67,696

 
$
103,045

United Kingdom
13,863

 
14,061

 
37,062

 
31,200

Rest of World
11,059

 
9,362

 
30,591

 
21,894

 
$
49,896

 
$
67,745

 
$
135,349

 
$
156,139

Corporate and Other (a)
(20,642
)
 
(18,124
)
 
(45,889
)
 
(53,890
)
 
$
29,254

 
$
49,621

 
$
89,460

 
$
102,249

(a) Includes $7,488 and $9,207 of accounting review and remediation costs, net of insurance proceeds, and acquisition related expenses, restructuring and integration charges for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Such expenses for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were $13,835 and $22,741, respectively.

The Company’s long-lived assets, which primarily represent net property, plant and equipment, by geographic area were as follows:
 
March 31,
2018
 
June 30,
2017
United States
$
102,744

 
$
112,373

United Kingdom
178,797

 
165,396

All Other
86,134

 
63,330

Total
$
367,675

 
$
341,099


The Company’s net sales by geographic region, which are generally based on the location of the Company’s subsidiary, were as follows:

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Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
2018
 
2017
 
2018
 
2017
United States
$
296,635

 
$
305,595

 
$
860,987

 
$
868,127

United Kingdom
238,321

 
200,976

 
698,968

 
633,439

All Other
97,764

 
82,227

 
278,216

 
239,048

Total
$
632,720

 
$
588,798

 
$
1,838,171

 
$
1,740,614


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Item 2.        Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

This Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and the related Notes for the period ended March 31, 2018 thereto contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017. Forward looking statements in this Form 10-Q are qualified by the cautionary statement included in this Form 10-Q under the sub-heading “Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information” in the introduction of this Form 10-Q.

Overview

The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (collectively along with its subsidiaries, the “Company,” and herein referred to as “Hain Celestial,” “we,” “us” and “our”), was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Lake Success, New York. The Company’s mission has continued to evolve since its founding, with health and wellness being the core tenet — To Create and Inspire A Healthier Way of LifeTM and be the leading marketer, manufacturer and seller of organic and natural, “better-for-you” products by anticipating and exceeding consumer expectations in providing quality, innovation, value and convenience. The Company is committed to growing sustainably while continuing to implement environmentally sound business practices and manufacturing processes. Hain Celestial sells its products through specialty and natural food distributors, supermarkets, natural food stores, mass-market and e-commerce retailers, food service channels and club, drug and convenience stores in over 80 countries worldwide.

With a proven track record of strategic growth and profitability, the Company manufactures, markets, distributes and sells organic and natural products under brand names that are sold as “better-for-you” products, providing consumers with the opportunity to lead A Healthier Way of LifeTM.  Hain Celestial is a leader in many organic and natural products categories, with many recognized brands in the various market categories it serves, including Almond Dream®, Arrowhead Mills®, Bearitos®, Better Bean®, BluePrint®, Celestial Seasonings®, Clarks™, Coconut Dream®, Cully & Sully®, Danival®, DeBoles®, Earth’s Best®, Ella’s Kitchen®, Empire®, Europe’s Best®, Farmhouse Fare®, Frank Cooper’s®, FreeBird®, Gale’s®, Garden of Eatin’®, GG UniqueFiberTM, Hain Pure Foods®, Hartley’s®, Health Valley®, Imagine®, Johnson’s Juice Co.®, Joya®, Kosher Valley®, Lima®, Linda McCartney’s® (under license), MaraNatha®, Natumi®, New Covent Garden Soup Co.®, Plainville Farms®, Rice Dream®, Robertson’s®, Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery®, Rudi’s Organic Bakery®, Sensible Portions®, Spectrum Organics®, Soy Dream®, Sun-Pat®, SunSpire®, Terra®, The Greek Gods®, Tilda®, Walnut Acres®, WestSoy®, Yorkshire ProvenderTM and Yves Veggie Cuisine®.  The Company’s personal care products are marketed under the Alba Botanica®, Avalon Organics®, Earth’s Best®, JASON®, Live Clean® and Queen Helene® brands. 

Intention to Sell Hain Pure Protein

In March 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors approved a plan to sell all of the operations of the Hain Pure Protein Corporation (“HPPC”) and EK Holdings, Inc. (“Empire”) operating segments, which are reported in the aggregate as the Hain Pure Protein reportable segment. These dispositions are being undertaken to reduce complexity in the Company’s operations and to simplify the Company’s brand portfolio, in addition to allowing additional flexibility to focus on opportunities for growth and innovation in the Company’s more profitable core business.
Collectively, these dispositions represent a strategic shift that will have a major impact on the Company’s operations and financial results and have been accounted for as discontinued operations. See Note 4, Discontinued Operations, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for additional information on discontinued operations.
Project Terra

During fiscal 2016, the Company commenced a strategic review, referred to as “Project Terra,” of which a key initiative is the identification of global cost savings, as well as removing complexities from the business. Under this plan, the Company aims to achieve $350 million in global savings by fiscal 2020, a portion of which the Company intends to reinvest into its brands. This review includes streamlining the Company’s manufacturing plants, co-packers, and supply chain, in addition to product rationalization initiatives which are aimed at eliminating slow moving stock keeping units (“SKUs”). Additionally, the Company has realized approximately $19.0 million and $43.1 million of savings for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018, excluding Hain Pure Protein. Additionally, the Company initiated a SKU rationalization in the third quarter of fiscal 2018, which included the removal of over 400 SKUs for a total of over 1,100 SKUs to date identified as part of Project Terra.





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Change in Segments

Prior to July 1, 2017, the Company’s operations were managed in eight operating segments: the United States, United Kingdom, Tilda, HPPC, Empire, Canada, Europe and Cultivate. The United States operating segment was also a reportable segment. The United Kingdom and Tilda operating segments were reported in the aggregate as “United Kingdom”, while HPPC and Empire were reported in the aggregate as “Hain Pure Protein,” and Canada, Europe and Cultivate were combined and reported as “Rest of World.”

Effective July 1, 2017, due to changes to the Company’s internal management and reporting structure, the United Kingdom operations of the Ella’s Kitchen® brand, which was previously included within the United States reportable segment, was moved to the United Kingdom reportable segment. As a result, the Company is now managed in nine operating segments: the United States, United Kingdom, Tilda, Ella’s Kitchen UK, HPPC, Empire, Europe, Canada and Cultivate. Ella’s Kitchen UK is now combined with the United Kingdom and Tilda operating segments and is reported within the United Kingdom reportable segment. There were no changes to the Hain Pure Protein reportable segment or Rest of World. All prior period data throughout this Management’s Discussion & Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations has been adjusted to reflect the new operating and reporting structure. See Note 16, Segment Information, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q for additional details.

Beginning in the current quarter, the Hain Pure Protein operations are classified as discontinued operations as discussed in “Note 4: Discontinued Operations.” Therefore, segment information presented excludes the results of Hain Pure Protein.

Our business strategy is to integrate our brands under one management team within each operating segment and employ uniform marketing, sales and distribution programs when attainable. We believe that, by integrating our various brands, we will continue to achieve economies of scale and enhanced market penetration. We seek to capitalize on the equity of our brands and the distribution achieved through each of our acquired businesses with strategic introductions of new products that complement existing lines to enhance revenues and margins.

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Comparison of Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 to Three Months Ended March 31, 2017

Consolidated Results

The following table compares our results of operations, including as a percentage of net sales, on a consolidated basis, for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 (amounts in thousands, other than percentages which may not add due to rounding):
 
Three Months Ended
 
Change in
 
March 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2017
 
Dollars
 
Percentage
Net sales
$
632,720

 
100.0%
 
$
588,798

 
100.0%
 
$
43,922

 
7.5%
Cost of sales
499,707

 
79.0%
 
449,595

 
76.4%
 
50,112

 
11.1%
   Gross profit
133,013

 
21.0%
 
139,203

 
23.6%
 
(6,190
)
 
(4.4)%
Selling, general and administrative expenses
86,063

 
13.6%
 
76,169

 
12.9%
 
9,894

 
13.0%
Amortization of acquired intangibles
4,713

 
0.7%
 
4,206

 
0.7%
 
507

 
12.1%
Acquisition related expenses, restructuring and integration charges
4,831

 
0.8%
 
2,083

 
0.4%
 
2,748

 
131.9%
Accounting review and remediation costs, net of insurance proceeds
3,313

 
0.5%
 
7,124

 
1.2%
 
(3,811
)
 
(53.5)%
Long-lived asset impairment
4,839

 
0.8%
 

 
 
4,839

 
100.0%
   Operating income
29,254

 
4.6%
 
49,621

 
8.4%
 
(20,367
)
 
(41.0)%
Interest and other financing expense, net
6,782

 
1.1%
 
5,399

 
0.9%
 
1,383

 
25.6%
Other (income)/expense, net
(1,560
)
 
(0.2)%
 
2,072

 
0.4%
 
(3,632
)
 
175.3%
Income from continuing operations and before income taxes and equity in net income of equity-method investees
24,032

 
3.8%
 
42,150

 
7.2%
 
(18,118
)
 
(43.0)%
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(1,310
)
 
(0.2)%
 
9,149

 
1.6%
 
(10,459
)
 
(114.3)%
Equity in net income of equity-method investees
101

 
 
177

 
 
(76
)
 
(42.9)%
Net income from continuing operations
$
25,241

 
4.0%
 
$
32,824

 
5.6%
 
$
(7,583
)
 
(23.1)%
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
$
(12,555
)
 
(2.0)%
 
$
(1,496
)
 
(0.3)%
 
$
(11,059
)
 
739.2%
Net income
$
12,686

 
2.0%
 
$
31,328

 
5.3%
 
$
(18,642
)
 
(59.5)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted EBITDA
$
73,440

 
11.6%
 
$
74,988

 
12.7%
 
$
(1,548
)
 
(2.1)%

Net Sales

Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were $632.7 million, an increase of $43.9 million, or 7.5%, from net sales of $588.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. On a constant currency basis, net sales increased approximately 1.6% from the prior year quarter. The increase in net sales was due to sales growth in the United Kingdom, Europe and Canada businesses, partially offset by a decrease in net sales in the United States segment. Further details of changes in net sales by segment are provided below.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $133.0 million, a decrease of $6.2 million, or 4.4%, as compared to the prior year quarter. Gross profit margin was 21.0% of net sales, compared to 23.6% in the prior year quarter. Gross profit was unfavorably impacted by decreased gross profit in the United States due to increased commodity and freight costs, increased trade investment and costs associated with the aforementioned SKU rationalization as well as higher commodity costs in the United Kingdom. These increased costs were partially offset by Project Terra cost savings.


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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $86.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $9.9 million, or 13.0%, from $76.2 million for the prior year quarter. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily due to higher marketing investment costs in the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, as well as the impact of foreign exchange rates, partially offset by Project Terra cost savings. Additionally, the Company recorded bad debt expense of $0.9 million in connection with the bankruptcy of Toys “R” Us in the three months ended March 31, 2018. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales was 13.6% in the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 12.9% in the prior year quarter, reflecting an increase of 70 basis points primarily attributable to the aforementioned items.

Amortization of Acquired Intangibles

Amortization of acquired intangibles was $4.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $0.5 million from $4.2 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was due to the intangibles acquired as a result of the Company’s acquisitions subsequent to March 31, 2017. See Note 5, Acquisitions, and Note 8, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Acquisition Related Expenses, Restructuring and Integration Charges

Acquisition related expenses, restructuring and integration charges were $4.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $2.7 million from $2.1 million in the prior year quarter. The increase was primarily due to increased severance costs for the three months ended March 31, 2018 as compared to the prior year period related to the closure of one of the Company’s manufacturing facilities in the United States and consulting fees incurred in connection with the Company’s Project Terra strategic review.

Accounting Review and Remediation Costs, net of Insurance Proceeds

Costs and expenses associated with the internal accounting review, remediation and other related matters were $3.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $7.1 million in the prior year quarter.

Long-lived Asset Impairment

During the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company determined that it was more likely than not that certain fixed assets at one of its manufacturing facilities would be sold or otherwise disposed of before the end of their estimated useful lives due to the Company’s decision to consolidate manufacturing of certain soup products in the United Kingdom. As such, the Company recorded a $2.6 million non-cash impairment charge primarily related to the closure of this facility for the three months ended March 31, 2018.

Additionally, during the three months ended March 31, 2018, the Company discontinued additional slow moving SKUs in the United States as part of an ongoing product rationalization initiative. As a result, expected future cash flows are not expected to support the carrying value of certain machinery and equipment used to manufacture these products. As such, the Company recorded a $2.1 million non-cash impairment charge to write down the value of these assets to fair value.

Operating Income

Operating income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $29.3 million, a decrease of $20.4 million, or 41.0%, from $49.6 million in the three months ended March 31, 2017. Operating income as a percentage of net sales was 4.6% in the third quarter of fiscal 2018 compared with 8.4% in the prior year quarter. The decrease in operating income and operating income as a percentage of net sales resulted from the items described above.

Interest and Other Financing Expense, net

Interest and other financing expense, net totaled $6.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $1.4 million, or 25.6%, from $5.4 million in the prior year quarter. The increase in interest and other financing expense, net resulted primarily from higher interest expense related to our revolving credit facility as a result of higher variable interest rates on outstanding debt. See Note 9, Debt and Borrowings, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.


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Other (Income)/Expense, net

Other (income)/expense, net totaled $1.6 million of income for the three months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $2.1 million of expense in the prior year quarter. Included in other (income)/expense, net were net unrealized foreign currency gains, which were higher in the current quarter than the prior year quarter principally due to the effect of foreign currency movements on the remeasurement of foreign currency denominated loans.

Income Before Income Taxes and Equity in Net Income of Equity-Method Investees

Income before income taxes and equity in the net income of our equity-method investees for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $24.0 million and $42.2 million, respectively. The decrease was due to the items discussed above.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes includes federal, foreign, state and local income taxes. Our income tax benefit from continuing operations was $1.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $9.1 million of tax expense in the prior year quarter.

Our effective income tax rate from continuing operations was (5.5)% and 21.7% of pre-tax income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was primarily impacted by the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Act”) on December 22, 2017. The Act significantly revised the U.S. corporate income tax regime by lowering the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, repealing the deduction for domestic production activities, imposing additional limitations on the deductibility of executive officers’ compensation, implementing a territorial tax system and imposing a transition tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. For an additional discussion on the impact of the Act, see Note 10, Income Taxes, in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

The effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was also favorably impacted by the geographical mix of earnings and a $3.8 million benefit relating to the release of the remainder of the Company’s domestic uncertain tax position as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations.

The effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was favorably impacted by the geographical mix of earnings and a reduction in the statutory tax rate in the United Kingdom enacted in the first quarter of fiscal 2017. The effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2017 was also favorably impacted by a $3.5 million benefit relating to the release of a portion of the Company’s domestic uncertain tax position as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Our effective tax rate may change from period-to-period based on recurring and non-recurring factors including the geographical mix of earnings, enacted tax legislation, state and local income taxes and tax audit settlements.

Equity in Net Income of Equity-Method Investees

Our equity in net income from our equity-method investments for the three months ended March 31, 2018 decreased by $0.1 million when compared to the three months ended March 31, 2017. See Note 13, Investments and Joint Ventures, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Net Income from Continuing Operations

Net income from continuing operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $25.2 million and $32.8 million, respectively, or $0.24 and $0.31 per diluted share, respectively. The decrease was attributable to the factors noted above.

Net Loss from Discontinued Operations

Net loss from discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $12.6 million and $1.5 million, respectively, or $0.12 and $0.01 per diluted share, respectively.

Our net sales attributable to discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were $118.2 million, an increase of $0.4 million, or 0.4%, from net sales of $117.8 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase in net sales

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was primarily due to growth of our Plainville Farms® and Empire Kosher® brands, partially offset by a decrease in our FreeBird® brand and private label sales. Operating loss in discontinued operations for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $2.1 million, a decrease of $0.5 million, from $2.6 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in operating loss was primarily due to the aforementioned increase in net sales and lower conversion costs as a result of production improvements across the business.

Income tax expense from discontinued operations was $10.4 million for three months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $1.1 million of income tax benefit in the prior year quarter. Included within provision for income taxes for the three months ended March 31, 2018 is a $10.7 million deferred tax liability related to Hain Pure Protein being classified as held for sale. Refer to Note 10, Income Taxes, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Net Income

Net income for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $12.7 million and $31.3 million, respectively, or $0.12 and $0.30 per diluted share, respectively. The decrease was attributable to the factors noted above.

Adjusted EBITDA

Our Adjusted EBITDA was $73.4 million and $75.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, as a result of the factors discussed above and the adjustments described in the Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures to U.S. GAAP Measures presented following the discussion of our results of operations.

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Segment Results

The following table provides a summary of net sales and operating income by reportable segment for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:
(dollars in thousands)
 
United States
 
United Kingdom
 
Rest of World
 
Corporate and Other
 
Consolidated
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended 3/31/18
 
$
281,052

 
$
238,321

 
$
113,347

 
$

 
$
632,720

Three months ended 3/31/17
 
289,503

 
200,976

 
98,319

 

 
588,798

$ change
 
$
(8,451
)
 
$
37,345

 
$
15,028

 
n/a

 
$
43,922

% change
 
(2.9
)%
 
18.6
 %
 
15.3
%
 
n/a

 
7.5
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income (loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended 3/31/18
 
$
24,974

 
$
13,863

 
$
11,059

 
$
(20,642
)
 
$
29,254

Three months ended 3/31/17
 
44,322

 
14,061

 
9,362

 
(18,124
)
 
49,621

$ change
 
$
(19,348
)
 
$
(198
)
 
$
1,697

 
$
(2,518
)
 
$
(20,367
)
% change
 
(43.7
)%
 
(1.4
)%
 
18.1
%
 
(13.9
)%
 
(41.0
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income margin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Three months ended 3/31/18
 
8.9
 %
 
5.8
 %
 
9.8
%
 
n/a

 
4.6
 %
Three months ended 3/31/17
 
15.3
 %
 
7.0
 %
 
9.5
%
 
n/a

 
8.4
 %

United States

Our net sales in the United States segment for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were $281.1 million, a decrease of $8.5 million, or 2.9%, from net sales of $289.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in net sales was driven by declines in our Better-for-You-Snacking, Better-for-You-Pantry, Better-for-You-Baby and Fresh Living platforms, partially offset by increases in our Pure Personal Care and Tea platforms. In addition, the declines were also driven by the strategic decision to no longer support certain lower margin SKUs in order to reduce complexity and increase gross margins as the Company continues its focus on its top 500 SKUs in the United States, as well as increased trade investment. The prior year quarter was negatively impacted by a realignment of customer inventories at certain distributor customers. Operating income in the United States for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $25.0 million, a decrease of $19.3 million from operating income of $44.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in operating income was the result of the aforementioned decrease in net sales, as well as higher marketing investment to drive future period growth, increased freight and commodity costs and costs associated with the closure of one of our manufacturing facilities in the United States. Additionally, the Company recorded an inventory write-down of $3.7 million in the three months ended March 31, 2018 as a result of the strategic decision to no longer support certain lower margin SKUs as mentioned above. These increased costs were partially offset by Project Terra cost savings.

United Kingdom

Our net sales in the United Kingdom segment for the three months ended March 31, 2018 were $238.3 million, an increase of $37.3 million, or 18.6%, from net sales of $201.0 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. On a constant currency basis, net sales increased 5.9% from the prior year. The net sales increase was primarily due to growth from our Tilda®, Ella’s Kitchen®, Linda McCartney’s® Hartley’s® and Cully and Sully® brands. Also contributing to the increase in net sales was the impact of price realization, as well as the acquisitions of The Yorkshire Provender Limited and Clarks UK Limited, both which occurred subsequent to March 31, 2017. Operating income in the United Kingdom segment for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $13.9 million, a decrease of $0.2 million from $14.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in operating income was primarily due to higher commodity costs in the United Kingdom and costs associated with the planned closure of a soup manufacturing facility, partially offset by Project Terra cost savings and the impact of favorable foreign currency.


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Rest of World

Our net sales in Rest of World were $113.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $15.0 million, or 15.3%, from net sales of $98.3 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. On a constant currency basis, net sales increased 5.9% from the prior year. The increase in net sales was primarily due to increased sales volume in Europe related to our Joya® and Danival® brands and private label plant-based beverage business and increased sales in Canada driven by growth in our Tilda®, Yves Veggie Cuisine® and Live Clean® brands. Operating income in the segment for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was $11.1 million, an increase of $1.7 million, from $9.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2017. The increase in operating income was primarily due to the aforementioned increase in sales as well as operating efficiencies achieved at our plant-based manufacturing facilities in Europe, Project Terra cost savings and the impact of favorable foreign currency.

Corporate and Other

Our Corporate and Other category consists of expenses related to the Company’s centralized administrative functions, which do not specifically relate to an operating segment. Such Corporate and Other expenses are comprised mainly of the compensation and related expenses of certain of the Company’s senior executive officers and other employees who perform duties related to our entire enterprise, as well as expenses for certain professional fees, facilities, and other items which benefit the Company as a whole. Additionally, accounting review and remediation costs and acquisition related expenses, restructuring and integration charges are included in Corporate and Other and were $7.5 million and $9.2 million for the three months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Refer to Note 16, Segment Information, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

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Results of Operations

Comparison of Nine Months Ended March 31, 2018 to Nine Months Ended March 31, 2017

Consolidated Results

The following table compares our results of operations, including as a percentage of net sales, on a consolidated basis, for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 (amounts in thousands, other than percentages which may not add due to rounding):
 
Nine Months Ended
 
Change in
 
March 31, 2018
 
March 31, 2017
 
Dollars
 
Percentage
Net sales
$
1,838,171

 
100.0%
 
$
1,740,614

 
100.0%
 
$
97,557

 
5.6%
Cost of sales
1,447,820

 
78.8%
 
1,365,080

 
78.4%
 
82,740

 
6.1%
   Gross profit
390,351

 
21.2%
 
375,534

 
21.6%
 
14,817

 
3.9%
Selling, general and administrative expenses
258,586

 
14.1%
 
237,657

 
13.7%
 
20,929

 
8.8%
Amortization of acquired intangibles
13,859

 
0.8%
 
12,887

 
0.7%
 
972

 
7.5%
Acquisition related expenses, restructuring and integration charges
13,750

 
0.7%
 
2,652

 
0.2%
 
11,098

 
*
Accounting review and remediation costs, net of insurance proceeds
6,406

 
0.3%
 
20,089

 
1.2%
 
(13,683
)
 
(68.1)%
Long-lived asset impairment
8,290

 
0.5%
 

 
 
8,290

 
100.0%
   Operating income
89,460

 
4.9%
 
102,249

 
5.9%
 
(12,789
)
 
(12.5)%
Interest and other financing expense, net
19,543

 
1.1%
 
15,491

 
0.9%
 
4,052

 
26.2%
Other (income)/expense, net
(5,447
)
 
(0.3)%
 
246

 
 
(5,693
)
 
*
Income before income taxes and equity in net income of equity-method investees
75,364

 
4.1%
 
86,512

 
5.0%
 
(11,148
)
 
(12.9)%
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(11,516
)
 
(0.6)%
 
19,512

 
1.1%
 
(31,028
)
 
*
Equity in net income of equity-method investees
(104
)
 
 
(45
)
 
 
(59
)
 
(131.1)%
Net income from continuing operations
$
86,984

 
4.7%
 
$
67,045

 
3.9%
 
$
19,939

 
29.7%
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax
(7,349
)
 
(0.4)%
 
72

 
—%
 
(7,421
)
 
*
Net income
$
79,635

 
4.3%
 
$
67,117

 
3.9%
 
$
12,518

 
18.7%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Adjusted EBITDA
$
194,560

 
10.6%
 
$
183,336

 
10.5%
 
$
11,224

 
6.1%
* Percentage is not meaningful


Net Sales

Net sales for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 were $1.84 billion, an increase of $97.6 million, or 5.6%, from net sales of $1.74 billion for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. On a constant currency basis, net sales increased approximately 2.2% from the prior year period. The increase in net sales was due to sales growth in the United Kingdom, Europe and Canada businesses, partially offset by a decrease in net sales in the United States segment. Further details of changes in net sales by segment are provided below.

Gross Profit

Gross profit for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 was $390.4 million, an increase of $14.8 million, or 3.9%, as compared to the prior year period. Gross profit margin was 21.2% of net sales, compared to 21.6% in the prior year. Gross profit was favorably impacted by the aforementioned increase in sales, price realization and Project Terra cost savings, partially offset by decreased gross profit in the United States due to increased freight, commodity and other input costs, as well as higher commodity costs in the United Kingdom. Additionally, gross profit was negatively impacted in both periods by charges related to the initiation of SKU rationalizations.


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Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $258.6 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $20.9 million, or 8.8%, from $237.7 million for the prior year period. Selling, general and administrative expenses increased primarily due to higher marketing investment primarily in the United States and personnel costs. Selling, general and administrative expenses as a percentage of net sales was 14.1% in the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 13.7% in the prior year period, reflecting an increase of 40 basis points primarily attributable to the aforementioned items.

Amortization of Acquired Intangibles

Amortization of acquired intangibles was $13.9 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $1.0 million from $12.9 million in the prior year period. The increase was due to the intangibles acquired as a result of the Company’s acquisitions subsequent to March 31, 2017. See Note 5, Acquisitions, and Note 8, Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Acquisition Related Expenses, Restructuring and Integration Charges

Acquisition related expenses, restructuring and integration charges were $13.8 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $11.1 million from $2.7 million in the prior year period. The increase was primarily due to increased severance costs in the current year period as compared to the prior year period related to the closure of one of the Company’s manufacturing facilities in the United States and consulting fees incurred in connection with the Company’s Project Terra strategic review.

Accounting Review and Remediation Costs, net of Insurance Proceeds

Costs and expenses associated with the internal accounting review, remediation and other related matters were $11.4 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $20.1 million in the prior year period. Included in accounting review and remediation costs for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 were insurance proceeds of $5.0 million related to the reimbursement of costs incurred as part of the internal accounting review and the independent review by the Audit Committee of the Company and other related matters. The net amount of accounting review and remediation costs for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 was $6.4 million.

Long-lived Asset Impairment

During the nine months ended March 31, 2018, the Company determined that it was more likely than not that certain fixed assets at two of its manufacturing facilities would be sold or otherwise disposed of before the end of their estimated useful lives due to the Company’s decision to utilize third-party manufacturers for a facility in the United States and to consolidate manufacturing of certain soup products in the United Kingdom. As such, the Company recorded a $6.2 million non-cash impairment charge primarily related to the closures of these facilities for the nine months ended March 31, 2018. Additionally, the Company discontinued additional slow moving SKUs in the United States as part of a product rationalization initiative. As a result, expected future cash flows are not expected to support the carrying value of certain machinery and equipment used to manufacture these products. As such, the Company recorded a $2.1 million non-cash impairment charge to write down the value of these assets to fair value.

Operating Income

Operating income for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 was $89.5 million, a decrease of $12.8 million, or 12.5%, from $102.2 million in the nine months ended March 31, 2017. Operating income as a percentage of net sales was 4.9% in the nine months ended March 31, 2018 compared with 5.9% for the comparable period of fiscal 2017. The decrease in operating income and operating income as a percentage of net sales resulted from the items described above.

Interest and Other Financing Expense, net

Interest and other financing expense, net totaled $19.5 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $4.1 million, or 26.2%, from $15.5 million in the prior year period. The increase in interest and other financing expense, net resulted primarily from higher interest expense related to our revolving credit facility as a result of higher variable interest rates on outstanding debt. See Note 9, Debt and Borrowings, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Other (Income)/Expense, net

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Other (income)/expense, net totaled $5.4 million of income for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, compared to $0.2 million of expense in the prior year period. Included in other (income)/expense, net were net unrealized foreign currency gains, which were higher in the current period than the prior year period principally due to the effect of foreign currency movements on the remeasurement of foreign currency denominated loans.

Income Before Income Taxes and Equity in Net Income of Equity-Method Investees

Income before income taxes and equity in the net income of our equity-method investees for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $75.4 million and $86.5 million, respectively. The decrease was due to the items discussed above.

Income Taxes

The provision for income taxes includes federal, foreign, state and local income taxes. Our income tax benefit from continuing operations was $11.5 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 compared to $19.5 million of tax expense in the prior year period.

Our effective income tax rate from continuing operations was (15.3)% and 22.6% of pre-tax income for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 was primarily impacted by the enactment of the Act on December 22, 2017. The Act significantly revised the U.S. corporate income tax regime by lowering the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018, repealing the deduction for domestic production activities, imposing additional limitations on the deductibility of executive officers’ compensation, implementing a territorial tax system and imposing a transition tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries.

The Act provides for numerous significant tax law changes with varying effective dates. As a fiscal year-end taxpayer, certain provisions of the Act impacted the Company beginning in the second quarter of fiscal 2018, while other provisions will impact the Company beginning in fiscal 2019.

As the Company has a June 30 fiscal year-end, the lower corporate income tax rate will be phased in, resulting in a U.S. federal statutory rate of approximately 28.1% for fiscal 2018 and a 21% U.S. federal statutory rate for subsequent fiscal years. The results from continuing operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 included the impact of a $29.3 million reduction to the value of the Company’s net deferred tax liabilities as a result of the lowering of the U.S. corporate income tax rate, partially offset by an estimated $5.2 million transition tax imposed on the deemed repatriation of deferred foreign income.

ASC 740 requires recording the effects of tax law changes in the period enacted as discrete items. However, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 which permits filers to record provisional amounts during a measurement period ending no later than one year from the date of the Act’s enactment. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had not completed its accounting for the tax effects of the Act; however, during the second quarter of fiscal year 2018, the Company made a reasonable estimate of the effects on the existing deferred balances as well as the computation of the one-time transition tax. The Company has not recorded any adjustment to our provisional estimate in the third quarter of fiscal year 2018. The final transition impacts of the Act may materially differ from the Company’s estimates. Both the tax benefit and the tax charge represent provisional amounts and are subject to change due to further interpretations of the Act, legislative action to address questions that arise because of the Act, any changes in accounting standards for income taxes or related interpretations in response to the Act and/or any updates or changes to estimates the Company has utilized to calculate the transition impacts, including historical records, changes to current year earnings estimates and foreign exchange rates of foreign subsidiaries as well as the Company’s ongoing analysis of the Act. No additional income taxes have been provided for any remaining undistributed foreign earnings not subject to the transition tax or any additional outside basis differences inherent in the entities, as these amounts continue to be indefinitely reinvested in foreign operations. However, we do intend to further study changes enacted by the Act, costs of repatriation and the current and future cash needs of foreign operations to determine whether there is an opportunity to repatriate foreign cash balances in the future on a tax-efficient basis.

For an additional discussion on the impact of the Act, see Note 10, Income Taxes, in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

The effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 was also favorably impacted by the geographical mix of earnings and a $3.8 million benefit relating to the release of the remainder of the Company’s domestic uncertain tax position as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations.


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The effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2017 was favorably impacted by the geographical mix of earnings and a reduction in the statutory tax rate in the United Kingdom enacted in the first quarter of 2017. The effective income tax rate from continuing operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2017 was also favorably impacted by a $3.5 million benefit relating to the release of a portion of the Company’s domestic uncertain tax position as a result of the expiration of the statute of limitations.

Our effective tax rate may change from period-to-period based on recurring and non-recurring factors including the geographical mix of earnings, enacted tax legislation, state and local income taxes and tax audit settlements.
 
Equity in Net Income of Equity-Method Investees

Our equity in net income from our equity-method investments for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 was generally flat year over year. See Note 13, Investments and Joint Ventures, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Net Income from Continuing Operations

Net income from continuing operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $87.0 million and $67.0 million, respectively, or $0.83 and $0.64 per diluted share, respectively. The increase was attributable to the factors noted above.

Net (loss) Income from Discontinued Operations

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $7.3 million net loss and $0.1 million net income, respectively, or $0.07 and $0.00 per diluted share, respectively.

Our net sales in the Hain Pure Protein segment for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 were $396.2 million, an increase of $8.8 million, or 2.3%, from net sales of $387.4 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. The increase in net sales was primarily due to growth of our FreeBird®, Plainville Farms® and Empire Kosher® brands, partially offset by a decrease in private label sales. Operating income in discontinued operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 was $5.5 million and was essentially break-even for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. The increase in operating income was primarily due to the aforementioned increase in net sales and lower conversion costs as a result of production improvements across the business.

Income tax expense from discontinued operations was $12.7 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 compared to a $0.2 million of income tax benefit in the prior year period. Included within provision for income taxes for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 is a $10.7 million deferred tax liability related to Hain Pure Protein being classified as held for sale. Refer to Note 10, Income Taxes, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Net Income

Net income for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $79.6 million and $67.1 million, respectively, or $0.76 and $0.64 per diluted share, respectively. The increase was attributable to the factors noted above.

Adjusted EBITDA

Our Adjusted EBITDA was $194.6 million and $183.3 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, as a result of the factors discussed above and the adjustments described in the Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures to U.S. GAAP Measures presented following the discussion of our results of operations.

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Segment Results

The following table provides a summary of net sales and operating income by reportable segment for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017:
(dollars in thousands)
 
United States
 
United Kingdom
 
Rest of World
 
Corporate and Other
 
Consolidated
Net sales
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended 3/31/18
 
$
815,013

 
$
698,968

 
$
324,190

 
$

 
$
1,838,171

Nine months ended 3/31/17
 
822,376

 
633,439

 
284,799

 

 
1,740,614

$ change
 
$
(7,363
)
 
$
65,529

 
$
39,391

 
n/a

 
$
97,557

% change
 
(0.9
)%
 
10.3
%
 
13.8
%
 
n/a

 
5.6
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income (loss)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended 3/31/18
 
$
67,696

 
$
37,062

 
$
30,591

 
$
(45,889
)
 
$
89,460

Nine months ended 3/31/17
 
103,045

 
31,200

 
21,894

 
(53,890
)
 
102,249

$ change
 
$
(35,349
)
 
$
5,862

 
$
8,697

 
$
8,001

 
$
(12,789
)
% change
 
(34.3
)%
 
18.8
%
 
39.7
%
 
14.8
%
 
(12.5
)%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating income margin
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Nine months ended 3/31/18
 
8.3
 %
 
5.3
%
 
9.4
%
 
n/a

 
4.9
 %
Nine months ended 3/31/17
 
12.5
 %
 
4.9
%
 
7.7
%
 
n/a

 
5.9
 %

United States

Our net sales in the United States segment for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 were $815.0 million, a decrease of $7.4 million, or 0.9%, from net sales of $822.4 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in net sales was driven by declines in our Better-for-You-Snacking, Fresh Living and Better-for-You-Pantry, and Greek Gods platforms, partially offset by growth in our Pure Personal Care, Better-for-You-Baby and Tea platforms. In addition, the declines were also driven by the strategic decision to no longer support certain lower margin SKUs in order to reduce complexity and increase gross margins as the Company continues its focus on its top 500 SKUs in the United States. Net sales in the prior year period were negatively impacted by a realignment of customer inventories at certain distributor customers. Operating income in the United States for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 was $67.7 million, a decrease of $35.3 million from operating income of $103.0 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease in operating income was the result of higher marketing investment to drive future period growth, increased freight, commodity and other input costs and costs associated with the closure of one of our manufacturing facilities in the United States. These increased costs were partially offset by Project Terra cost savings in the current period. Additionally, operating income was negatively impacted in both periods by charges related to the initiation of SKU rationalizations.

United Kingdom

Our net sales in the United Kingdom segment for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 were $699.0 million, an increase of $65.5 million, or 10.3%, from net sales of $633.4 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. On a constant currency basis, net sales increased 4.0% from the prior year period. The net sales increase was primarily due to growth from our Tilda®, Ella’s Kitchen®, Hartley’s®, Cully & Sully® and Linda McCartney’s® brands. Also contributing to the increase in net sales was the aforementioned price realization, as well as the acquisitions of The Yorkshire Provender Limited and Clarks UK Limited, both of which occurred subsequent to March 31, 2017. Operating income in the United Kingdom segment for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 was $37.1 million, an increase of $5.9 million from $31.2 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. The increase in operating income was primarily due to the aforementioned increase in sales, operating efficiencies achieved at Hain Daniels, Project Terra cost savings and the impact of favorable foreign currency. These increases were partially offset by higher commodity costs, marketing investments and costs associated with the planned closure of a soup manufacturing facility.


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Rest of World

Our net sales in Rest of World were $324.2 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $39.4 million, or 13.8%, from net sales of $284.8 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. On a constant currency basis, net sales increased 7.0% from the prior year. The increase in net sales was primarily due to increased sales volume in Europe related to our Joya® and Danival® brands and private label plant-based beverage business, as well as increased sales in Canada driven by growth in our Sensible Portions®, Tilda®, Yves Veggie Cuisine® and Live Clean® brands. Operating income in the segment for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 was $30.6 million, an increase of $8.7 million, from $21.9 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. The increase in operating income was primarily due to the aforementioned increase in sales as well as operating efficiencies achieved at our plant-based manufacturing facilities in Europe, Project Terra cost savings and the impact of favorable foreign currency.

Corporate and Other

Our Corporate and Other category consists of expenses related to the Company’s centralized administrative functions, which do not specifically relate to an operating segment. Such Corporate and Other expenses are comprised mainly of the compensation and related expenses of certain of the Company’s senior executive officers and other employees who perform duties related to our entire enterprise, as well as expenses for certain professional fees, facilities, and other items which benefit the Company as a whole. Additionally, accounting review and remediation costs, net of insurance proceeds and acquisition related expenses, restructuring and integration charges are included in Corporate and Other and were $13.8 million and $22.7 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Refer to Note 16, Segment Information, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

We finance our operations and growth primarily with the cash flows we generate from our operations and from borrowings available to us under our Credit Agreement (defined below).

Our cash and cash equivalents balance decreased $19.9 million at March 31, 2018 to $117.2 million as compared to $137.1 million at June 30, 2017. Our working capital was $488.7 million at March 31, 2018, an increase of $40.3 million from $448.4 million at the end of fiscal 2017.

Liquidity is affected by many factors, some of which are based on normal ongoing operations of the Company’s business and some of which arise from fluctuations related to global economics and markets. Our cash balances are held in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Europe and India. As of March 31, 2018, approximately 91.3% ($107.0 million) of the total cash balance from continuing operations was held outside of the United States. Discontinued operations cash balance was $6.6 million and held in the United States at March 31, 2018. It is our current intent to indefinitely reinvest our foreign earnings outside the United States. However, we do intend to further study changes enacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, costs of repatriation and the current and future cash needs of foreign operations to determine whether there is an opportunity to repatriate foreign cash balances in the future on a tax-efficient basis.


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We maintain our cash and cash equivalents primarily in money market funds or their equivalent. As of March 31, 2018, all of our investments were expected to mature in less than three months. Accordingly, we do not believe that our investments have significant exposure to interest rate risk. Cash provided by (used in) operating, investing and financing activities is summarized below.
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
 
Change in
(amounts in thousands)
2018

2017
 
Dollars
 
Percentage
Cash flows provided by (used in):
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Operating activities from continuing operations
$
67,370

 
$
163,179

 
$
(95,809
)
 
(59
)%
Investing activities from continuing operations
(61,308
)
 
(24,231
)
 
(37,077
)
 
(153
)%
Financing activities from continuing operations
(31,849
)
 
(96,270
)
 
64,421

 
67
 %
(Decrease)/increase in cash from continuing operations
(25,787
)
 
42,678

 
(68,465
)
 
(160
)%
Decrease/(increase) in cash from discontinued operations
(3,303
)
 
(3,112
)
 
(191
)
 
(6
)%
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
5,884

 
(4,850
)
 
10,734

 
221
 %
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents
$
(23,206
)
 
$
34,716

 
$
(57,922
)
 
(167
)%

Cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations was $67.4 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, a decrease of $95.8 million from $163.2 million of cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. This decrease resulted primarily from an additional $99.7 million of cash used within working capital accounts, primarily related to inventory, accounts receivable and other current assets, partially offset by an increase of $3.9 million in net income adjusted for non-cash charges.

Cash used in investing activities from continuing operations was $61.3 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, an increase of $37.1 million from $24.2 million of cash used in investing activities from continuing operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. The increase resulted primarily from a $13.1 million payment for the acquisition of Clarks UK Limited, net of cash acquired, and an increase of $17.7 million in capital expenditures as we continue to invest capital to gain efficiencies. During the nine months ended March 31, 2017, we generated $5.4 million in connection with the sale of our own-label juice business in the United Kingdom. There were no comparable investing activities in the current period.

Cash used in financing activities from continuing operations was $31.8 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, a decrease of $64.4 million from the $96.3 million of net cash used in financing activities from continuing operations for the nine months ended March 31, 2017. The decrease was due to net repayments of $63.4 million on our revolving credit facility and other debt for the nine months ended March 31, 2017, compared with net repayments of $7.8 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018. Additionally, included in the nine months ended March 31, 2018 was $6.9 million related to stock repurchases to satisfy employee payroll tax withholdings and $17.2 million to fund the operations of discontinued operations. Cash used in financing activities from continuing operations in the nine months ended March 31, 2017 included $7.9 million related to stock repurchases to satisfy employee payroll tax withholdings, $22.5 million to fund operations of discontinued operations, as well as $2.5 million in acquisition-related contingent consideration.

Operating Free Cash Flow from Continuing Operations

Our operating free cash flow from continuing operations was $19.0 million for the nine months ended March 31, 2018, a decrease of $113.5 million from the nine months ended March 31, 2017. This decrease resulted primarily from $99.7 million of more cash used within working capital accounts and an increase of $17.7 million in capital expenditures, partially offset by an increase of $3.9 million adjusted for the impact of non-cash charges. We expect that our capital spending for fiscal 2018 will be approximately $75 million, and we may incur additional costs in connection with Project Terra. We refer the reader to the Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures to U.S. GAAP Measures following the discussion of our results of operations for definitions and a reconciliation from our net cash provided by operating activities from continuing operations to operating free cash flow from continuing operations.

Credit Agreement

On February 6, 2018, the Company entered into the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement provides for the extension of our existing $1,000,000 unsecured revolving credit facility through February 6, 2023 and provides for an additional $300,000 term loan. Under the Credit Agreement, the credit facility may be increased by an additional uncommitted $400,000, provided certain conditions are met. Loans under the Credit Agreement bear interest at a Base Rate or a Eurocurrency Rate (both of which are defined in the Credit Agreement) plus an applicable margin, which is

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determined in accordance with a leverage-based pricing grid, as set forth in the Credit Agreement. Borrowings may be used to provide working capital, finance capital expenditures and permitted acquisitions, refinance certain existing indebtedness and for other general corporate purposes. As of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, there were $728.4 million and $733.7 million of borrowings outstanding, respectively, under the Credit Agreement. The weighted average interest rate on outstanding borrowings under the Credit Agreement at March 31, 2018 was 3.22%.

The Credit Agreement is guaranteed by substantially all of our current and future direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries. We are required by the terms of the Credit Agreement to comply with financial and other customary affirmative and negative covenants for facilities of this nature. As of March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2017, the Company was in compliance with all associated covenants.

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 includes a table summarizing our contractual obligations of approximately $1.3 billion as of June 30, 2017, including approximately $793.8 million for long-term debt obligations, including projected future interest. That table appears under Item 7, "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" in the report. On February 6, 2018, the Company entered into the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”). The Credit Agreement provides for the extension of our existing $1.0 billion unsecured revolving credit facility through February 6, 2023, and provides for an additional $300.0 million term loan. Under the Credit Agreement, the credit facility may be increased by an additional uncommitted $400.0 million, provided certain conditions are met. The financial covenants, interest rates, and general terms and conditions of both the unsecured revolving credit facility and term loan under the Credit Agreement are substantially the same as our prior credit agreement.

The term loan is payable in installments on the last day of each fiscal quarter commencing June 30, 2018 in an amount equal to $3.8 million and can be prepaid in whole or in part without premium or penalty.

Tilda Short-Term Borrowing Arrangements

Tilda maintains short-term borrowing arrangements primarily used to fund the purchase of rice from India and other countries.  The maximum borrowings permitted under all such arrangements are £52.0 million.  Outstanding borrowings are collateralized by the current assets of Tilda, typically have six-month terms and bear interest at variable rates typically based on LIBOR plus a margin (weighted average interest rate of approximately 3.43% at March 31, 2018).

Other Borrowings

Other borrowings primarily relate to a cash pool facility in Europe. The cash pool facility provides our Europe operating segment with sufficient liquidity to support the Company’s growth objectives within this segment. The maximum borrowings permitted under the cash pool arrangement are €12.5 million. Outstanding borrowings bear interest at variable rates typically based on EURIBOR plus a margin of 1.10% (weighted average interest rate of approximately 1.10% at March 31, 2018).

During the three months ended December 31, 2017, Tilda Hain India Private Limited, our subsidiary residing in India, entered into an uncommitted revolving credit facility to fund its working capital needs. The maximum borrowing permitted under the arrangement is $4 million. There were no amounts outstanding at March 31, 2018.

We believe that our cash on hand of $117.2 million at March 31, 2018, as well as projected cash flows from operations and availability under our Credit Agreement, are sufficient to fund our working capital needs in the ordinary course of business, anticipated fiscal 2018 capital expenditures of approximately $75 million and other expected cash requirements for at least the next twelve months.

Reconciliation of Non-U.S. GAAP Financial Measures to U.S. GAAP Measures
We have included in this report measures of financial performance that are not defined by U.S. GAAP. We believe that these measures provide useful information to investors and include these measures in other communications to investors.
For each of these non-U.S. GAAP financial measures, we are providing below a reconciliation of the differences between the non-U.S. GAAP measure and the most directly comparable U.S. GAAP measure, an explanation of why our management and Board of Directors believes the non-U.S. GAAP measure provides useful information to investors and any additional purposes for which our management and Board of Directors uses the non-U.S. GAAP measures. These non-U.S. GAAP measures should be viewed in addition to, and not in lieu of, the comparable U.S. GAAP measures.

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Constant Currency Presentation
We believe that this measure provides useful information to investors because it provides transparency to underlying performance in our consolidated net sales by excluding the effect that foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations have on year-to-year comparability given the volatility in foreign currency exchange markets. To present this information for historical periods, current period net sales for entities reporting in currencies other than the U.S. dollar are translated into U.S. dollars at the average monthly exchange rates in effect during the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year, rather than at the actual average monthly exchange rate in effect during the current period of the current fiscal year. As a result, the foreign currency impact is equal to the current year results in local currencies multiplied by the change in average foreign currency exchange rate between the current fiscal period and the corresponding period of the prior fiscal year.

A reconciliation between reported and constant currency net sales growth is as follows:
(amounts in thousands)
United Kingdom
 
Rest of World
 
Hain Consolidated
Net sales - Three months ended 3/31/18
$
238,321

 
$
113,347

 
$
632,720

Impact of foreign currency exchange
(25,516
)
 
(9,216
)
 
(34,732
)
Net sales on a constant currency basis - Three months ended 3/31/18
$
212,805

 
$
104,131

 
$
597,988

 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales - Three months ended 3/31/17
$
200,976

 
$
98,319

 
$
588,798

Net sales growth on a constant currency
5.9
%
 
5.9
%
 
1.6
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales - Nine months ended 3/31/18
$
698,968

 
$
324,190

 
$
1,838,171

Impact of foreign currency exchange
(40,470
)
 
(19,555
)
 
(60,025
)
Net sales on a constant currency basis - Nine months ended 3/31/18
$
658,498

 
$
304,635

 
$
1,778,146

 
 
 
 
 
 
Net sales - Nine months ended 3/31/2017
$
633,439

 
$
284,799

 
$
1,740,614

Net sales growth on a constant currency basis
4.0
%
 
7.0
%
 
2.2
%

Adjusted EBITDA

Adjusted EBITDA is defined as net income before income taxes, net interest expense, depreciation and amortization, impairment of long-lived assets, equity in the earnings of equity-method investees, stock-based compensation, acquisition related expenses, including integration and restructuring charges, and other non-recurring items. The Company’s management believes that this presentation provides useful information to management, analysts and investors regarding certain additional financial and business trends relating to its results of operations and financial condition. In addition, management uses this measure for reviewing the financial results of the Company and as a component of performance-based executive compensation.  Adjusted EBITDA is a non-U.S. GAAP measure and may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.
We do not consider Adjusted EBITDA in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The principal limitation of Adjusted EBITDA is that it excludes certain expenses and income that are required by U.S. GAAP to be recorded in our consolidated financial statements. In addition, Adjusted EBITDA is subject to inherent limitations as this metric reflects the exercise of judgment by management about which expenses and income are excluded or included in determining Adjusted EBITDA. In order to compensate for these limitations, management presents Adjusted EBITDA in connection with U.S. GAAP results.








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A reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA is as follows:
 
Three Months Ended March 31,
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands)
2018

2017
 
2018
 
2017
Net income
$
12,686

 
$
31,328

 
$
79,635

 
$
67,117

Net (loss) income from discontinued operations
(12,555
)
 
(1,496
)
 
(7,349
)
 
72

Net income from continuing operations
25,241

 
32,824

 
86,984

 
67,045

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Provision (benefit) for income taxes
(1,310
)
 
9,149

 
(11,516
)
 
19,512

Interest expense, net
6,108

 
4,728

 
17,535

 
13,477

Depreciation and amortization
15,074

 
14,828

 
45,139

 
44,735

Equity in net loss (income) of equity-method investees
101

 
177

 
(104
)
 
(45
)
Stock-based compensation expense
2,936

 
2,284

 
10,258

 
7,519

Long-lived asset impairment
4,839

 

 
8,290

 

Unrealized currency gains and losses
(1,465
)
 
1,791

 
(5,170
)
 
(1,486
)
EBITDA
51,524

 
65,781

 
151,416

 
150,757

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acquisition related expenses, restructuring, integration and other charges
4,831

 
2,083

 
13,750

 
3,599

Accounting review and remediation costs, net of insurance proceeds
3,313

 
7,124

 
6,406

 
20,089

2018 Project Terra SKU rationalization
4,913

 

 
4,913

 

Plant closure related costs
3,246

 

 
3,946

 
1,804

Losses on terminated chilled desserts contract
2,939

 

 
6,553

 

Co-packer disruption
952

 

 
3,692

 

Toys “R” Us bad debt
897

 

 
897

 

Machine break-down costs
317

 

 
317

 

Recall and other related costs
273

 

 
273

 
809

Litigation expense
235

 

 
235

 

U.K. start-up costs

 

 
1,155

 

Regulated packaging change

 

 
1,007

 

2017 Project Terra SKU rationalization

 

 

 
5,360

U.K. deferred synergies due to CMA Board decision

 

 

 
918

Adjusted EBITDA
$
73,440

 
$
74,988

 
$
194,560

 
$
183,336

Operating Free Cash Flow from Continuing Operations

In our internal evaluations, we use the non-U.S. GAAP financial measure “operating free cash flow from continuing operations.” The difference between operating free cash flow from continuing operations and cash flow provided by operating activities from continuing operations, which is the most comparable U.S. GAAP financial measure, is that operating free cash flow from continuing operations reflects the impact of capital expenditures. Since capital spending is essential to maintaining our operational capabilities, we believe that it is a recurring and necessary use of cash. As such, we believe investors should also consider capital spending when evaluating our cash provided by operating activities. We view operating free cash flow from continuing operations as an important measure because it is one factor in evaluating the amount of cash available for discretionary investments. We do not consider operating free cash flow from continuing operations in isolation or as an alternative to financial measures determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

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A reconciliation from Cash flow provided by operating activities from continuing operations to Operating free cash flow from continuing operations is as follows:
 
Nine Months Ended March 31,
(amounts in thousands)
2018
 
2017
Cash flow provided by operating activities from continuing operations
$
67,370

 
$
163,179

Purchase of property, plant and equipment
(48,368
)
 
(30,650
)
Operating free cash flow from continuing operations
$
19,002

 
$
132,529



Off Balance Sheet Arrangements

At March 31, 2018, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements as defined in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K that have had, or are likely to have, a material current or future effect on our consolidated financial statements.

Critical Accounting Estimates

Our financial statements are prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The accounting principles we use require us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and amounts of income and expenses during the reporting periods presented. We believe in the quality and reasonableness of our critical accounting policies; however, materially different amounts may be reported under different conditions or using assumptions different from those that we have applied. The accounting policies that have been identified as critical to our business operations and to understanding the results of our operations pertain to revenue recognition, trade promotions and sales incentives, valuation of accounts and chargebacks receivable, accounting for acquisitions, valuation of long-lived assets, goodwill and intangible assets, stock based compensation, and valuation allowances for deferred tax assets. The application of each of these critical accounting policies and estimates is discussed in Item 7, Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

Refer to Note 2, Basis of Presentation, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Part I, Item 1 of this Form 10-Q.

Seasonality

Certain of our product lines have seasonal fluctuations. Hot tea, baking products, hot cereal, hot-eating desserts and soup sales are stronger in colder months, while sales of snack foods, sunscreen and certain of our prepared food and personal care products are stronger in the warmer months. Additionally, with our acquisition of Tilda, our net sales and earnings from continuing operations may further fluctuate based on the timing of holidays throughout the year. As such, our results of continuing operations and our cash flows for any particular quarter are not indicative of the results we expect for the full year, and our historical seasonality may not be indicative of future quarterly results of operations. In recent years, net sales and diluted earnings per share in the first fiscal quarter have typically been the lowest of our four quarters.

Item 3.         Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

There have been no significant changes in market risk for the three and nine months ended March 31, 2018 from those addressed in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017. See the information set forth in Part II, Item 7A, Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk, of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.

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Item 4.        Controls and Procedures

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Our Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), with the assistance of other members of management, have reviewed the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Our disclosure controls and procedures are intended to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is (1) recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s rules and forms and (2) accumulated and communicated to our management, including our CEO and CFO, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Based on this review, although the Company continues to work to remediate the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting as described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017 and significant progress has been made to date, our CEO and CFO have concluded that the disclosure controls and procedures related to these material weaknesses were not effective as of March 31, 2018.

Consistent with guidance issued by the Securities Exchange Commission that an assessment of internal control over financial reporting of a recently acquired business may be omitted from management’s evaluation of disclosure controls and procedures, management has excluded an assessment of such controls of Clarks UK Limited (“Clarks”) acquired by the Company on December 1, 2017, from its evaluation of the effectiveness of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures. Clarks represented less than one percent of the Company’s total assets, net assets, revenues and net income, respectively, as of March 31, 2018.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect every misstatement. An evaluation of effectiveness is subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with policies or procedures may decrease over time.

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

Under applicable SEC rules (Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(c) and 15d-15(c)), management is required to evaluate any change in internal control over financial reporting that occurred during each fiscal quarter that had materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

As explained in greater detail under Item 9A, Controls and Procedures, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, we undertook a broad range of remedial procedures prior to March 8, 2018, the filing date of this report, to address the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting identified as of June 30, 2017. Our efforts to improve our internal controls are ongoing and focused on organizational enhancements, information technology general controls and IT dependent controls, revenue practices and training practices. Therefore, while we determined, with the participation of our CEO and CFO, that there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting in the three months ended March 31, 2018 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting, we continue to monitor the operation of these remedial measures through the date of this report.
For a more comprehensive discussion of the material weaknesses in internal control over financial reporting identified by management as of June 30, 2017, and the remedial measures undertaken to address these material weaknesses, investors are encouraged to review Item 9A, Controls and Procedures, in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017.



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PART II - OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.        Legal Proceedings

Securities Class Actions Filed in Federal Court

On August 17, 2016, three securities class action complaints were filed in the Eastern District of New York against the Company alleging violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The three complaints are: (1) Flora v. The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., et al. (the “Flora Complaint”); (2) Lynn v. The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., et al. (the “Lynn Complaint”); and (3) Spadola v. The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., et al. (the “Spadola Complaint” and, together with the Flora and Lynn Complaints, the “Securities Complaints”).  On June 5, 2017, the court issued an order for consolidation, appointment of Co-Lead Plaintiffs and approval of selection of co-lead counsel.  Pursuant to this order, the Securities Complaints were consolidated under the caption In re The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. Securities Litigation (the “Consolidated Securities Action”), and Rosewood Funeral Home and Salamon Gimpel were appointed as Co-Lead Plaintiffs.  On June 21, 2017, the Company received notice that plaintiff Spadola voluntarily dismissed his claims without prejudice to his ability to participate in the Consolidated Securities Action as an absent class member.  The Co-Lead Plaintiffs in the Consolidated Securities Action filed a Consolidated Amended Complaint on August 4, 2017 and a Corrected Consolidated Amended Complaint on September 7, 2017 on behalf of a purported class consisting of all persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Hain Celestial securities between November 5, 2013 and February 10, 2017 (the “Amended Complaint”).  The Amended Complaint names as defendants the Company and certain of its current and former officers (collectively, the “Defendants”) and asserts violations of Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 based on allegedly materially false or misleading statements and omissions in public statements, press releases and SEC filings regarding the Company’s business, prospects, financial results and internal controls.  Defendants filed a motion to dismiss on October 3, 2017. Co-Lead Plaintiffs filed an opposition on December 1, 2017, and Defendants filed the reply on January 16, 2018. On April 4, 2018, the Court requested additional briefing relating to certain aspects of Defendants’ motion to dismiss. In accordance with this request, Lead Plaintiffs submitted their supplemental brief on April 18, 2018, and Defendants submitted an opposition by May 2, 2018. Lead Plaintiffs may then file a reply brief by May 9, 2018, and Defendants may submit a sur-reply by May 16, 2018.

Stockholder Derivative Complaints Filed in State Court

On September 16, 2016, a stockholder derivative complaint, Paperny v. Heyer, et al. (the “Paperny Complaint”), was filed in New York State Supreme Court in Nassau County against the Board of Directors and certain officers of the Company alleging breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, lack of oversight and corporate waste.  On December 2, 2016 and December 29, 2016, two additional stockholder derivative complaints were filed in New York State Supreme Court in Nassau County against the Board of Directors and certain officers under the captions Scarola v. Simon (the “Scarola Complaint”) and Shakir v. Simon (the “Shakir Complaint” and, together with the Paperny Complaint and the Scarola Complaint, the “Derivative Complaints”), respectively.  Both the Scarola Complaint and the Shakir Complaint allege breach of fiduciary duty, lack of oversight and unjust enrichment.  On February 16, 2017, the parties for the Derivative Complaints entered into a stipulation consolidating the matters under the caption In re The Hain Celestial Group (the “Consolidated Derivative Action”) in New York State Supreme Court in Nassau County, ordering the Shakir Complaint as the operative complaint. On November 2, 2017, the parties agreed to stay the Consolidated Derivative Action until April 11, 2018. On April 6, 2018, the parties filed a proposed stipulation agreeing to stay the Consolidated Derivative Action until October 4, 2018, which the Court granted on May 3, 2018.

Additional Stockholder Class Action and Derivative Complaints Filed in Federal Court

On April 19, 2017 and April 26, 2017, two class action and stockholder derivative complaints were filed in the Eastern District of New York against the Board of Directors and certain officers of the Company under the captions Silva v. Simon, et al. (the “Silva Complaint”) and Barnes v. Simon, et al. (the “Barnes Complaint”), respectively.  Both the Silva Complaint and the Barnes Complaint allege violation of securities law, breach of fiduciary duty, waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment.

On May 23, 2017, an additional stockholder filed a complaint under seal in the Eastern District of New York against the Board of Directors and certain officers of the Company.  The complaint alleges that the Company’s directors and certain officers made materially false and misleading statements in press releases and SEC filings regarding the Company’s business, prospects and financial results.  The complaint also alleges that the Company violated its by-laws and Delaware law by failing to hold its 2016 Annual Stockholders Meeting and includes claims for breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment and corporate waste.  On August 9, 2017, the Court granted an order to unseal this case and reveal Gary Merenstein as the plaintiff (the “Merenstein Complaint”).

On August 10, 2017, the court granted the parties stipulation to consolidate the Barnes Compliant, the Silva Complaint and the Merenstein Complaint under the caption In re The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. Stockholder Class and Derivative Litigation (the “Consolidated Stockholder Class and Derivative Action”) and to appoint Robbins Arroyo LLP and Scott+Scott as Co-Lead Counsel,

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with the Law Offices of Thomas G. Amon as Liaison Counsel for Plaintiffs.   On September 14, 2017, a related complaint was filed under the caption Oliver v. Berke, et al. (the “Oliver Complaint”), and on October 6, 2017, the Oliver Complaint was consolidated with the Consolidated Stockholder Class and Derivative Action. The Plaintiffs filed their consolidated amended complaint under seal on October 26, 2017. On December 20, 2017, the parties agreed to stay Defendants’ time to answer, move, or otherwise respond to the consolidated amended complaint through and including 30 days after a decision is rendered on the motion to dismiss the Amended Complaint in the consolidated Securities Class Actions, described above.

Center for Environmental Health v. Save Mart Supermarkets, et.al., Superior Court of the State of California, Alameda County

On August 19, 2015, the Center for Environmental Health (“CEH”), a private enforcer, filed a complaint under the California Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act (the “Enforcement Act”) (commonly referred to as “Proposition 65”), naming various defendants, including the Company.  The complaint alleges that the Company is required to provide warnings for certain of its products for alleged exposure to the substance listed under the Enforcement Act as “acrylamide.”  The other defendants named in the action are five retailers and one distributor, all of which are named for the Company’s products at issue.  Acrylamide is a chemical that can form in some foods during high-temperature cooking processes, such as frying, roasting, and baking.  The complaint seeks injunctive relief, civil penalties in the amount of $2,500 per day for each alleged violation, and CEH’s attorneys’ fees and costs.

To date, the Company has answered the complaint, denying the allegations, and engaged in discovery, including fact discovery and expert discovery, which remains ongoing.  The Court has bifurcated the trial into two phases for liability and remedies and, during the quarter ended March 31, 2018, confirmed the scheduling of the first phase of the trial on liability to move forward on October 19, 2018.  The parties anticipate that this phase of the trial will be limited to the Company establishing the “no significant risk level.”

SEC Investigation

As previously disclosed, the Company voluntarily contacted the SEC in August 2016 to advise it of the Company’s delay in the filing of its periodic reports and the performance of the independent review conducted by the Audit Committee.  The Company has continued to provide information to the SEC on an ongoing basis, including, among other things, the results of the independent review of the Audit Committee as well as other information pertaining to its internal accounting review relating to revenue recognition. The SEC has issued subpoenas to the Company relevant to its investigation.  The Company is in the process of responding to the SEC’s requests for information and intends to cooperate fully with the SEC.

Other

In addition to the litigation described above, the Company is and may be a defendant in lawsuits from time to time in the normal course of business. While the results of litigation and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, the Company believes the reasonably possible losses of such matters, individually and in the aggregate, are not material. Additionally, the Company believes the probable final outcome of such matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position, cash flows or liquidity.

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

We have disclosed the risk factors affecting our business, results of operations and financial condition in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended June 30, 2017, filed with the SEC on September 13, 2017. There have been no material changes from the risk factors previously disclosed.


Item 2.        Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

The table below sets forth information regarding repurchases by the Company of its common stock during the periods indicated.

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Period
(a)
Total number
of shares
purchased (1)
 
(b)
Average
price paid
per share
 
(c)
Total number of
shares purchased
as part of
publicly
announced plans
 
(d)
Maximum
number of shares
that may yet be
purchased under
the plans (in millions of dollars) (2)
January 1, 2018 - January 31, 2018

 
$

 

 
250

February 1, 2018 - February 28, 2018

 

 

 
250

March 1, 2018 - March 31, 2018
5,424

 
30.99

 

 
250

Total
5,424

 
$
30.99

 
 
 
 

(1)
Shares surrendered for payment of employee payroll taxes due on shares issued under stockholder-approved stock-based compensation plans.

(2)
On June 21, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized the repurchase of up to $250 million of the Company’s issued and outstanding common stock. Repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market, pursuant to preset trading plans, in private transactions or otherwise. The authorization does not have a stated expiration date.

Item 6.        Exhibits

See Exhibit Index immediately preceding the signature page hereto, which is incorporated herein by reference.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit
Number
 
Description
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
101
 
The following materials from the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018, formatted in eXtensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL): (i) the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets, (ii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income, (iii) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income, (iv) the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Stockholders’ Equity, (v) the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows, and (vi) Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
 
 
 
The agreements and other documents filed as exhibits to this report are not intended to provide factual information or other disclosure other than with respect to the terms of the agreements or other documents themselves, and you should not rely on them for that purpose. In particular, any representations and warranties made by us in these agreements or other documents were made solely within the specific context of the relevant agreement or document and may not describe the actual state of affairs as of the date they were made or at any other time.



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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.
 
 
 
THE HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC.
 
 
(Registrant)
 
 
 
Date:
May 8, 2018
/s/    Irwin D. Simon
 
 
Irwin D. Simon,
Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer
 
Date:
May 8, 2018
/s/    James Langrock
 
 
James Langrock,
Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer



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