Bare Escentuals, Inc. (Nasdaq:BARE) today announced financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2006.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 were $110.5 million, an increase of approximately 39% from $79.3 million recorded in the same period last year. Net income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 was $16.3 million, or $0.18 per diluted share on approximately 92.0 million shares outstanding, compared to $4.8 million, or $0.07 per diluted share on approximately 71.0 million shares outstanding, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005. Operating income for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 was $36.6 million, an increase of approximately 61% from $22.7 million in the same period last year. Results for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006 include a charge of $1.8 million related to the buyout of the management agreements with Berkshire Partners LLC and JH Partners, LLC.

Net sales for the year ended December 31, 2006 were $394.5 million, an increase of approximately 52% from $259.3 million recorded in the same period last year. Net income for fiscal 2006 was $50.2 million, or $0.65 per diluted share on approximately 77.3 million shares outstanding, compared to $23.9 million, or $0.34 per diluted share on approximately 69.3 million shares outstanding, last year. Operating income for fiscal 2006 was $138.8 million, an increase of approximately 79% from $77.3 million in fiscal 2005.

?We are extremely pleased with our performance for the fourth quarter and fiscal 2006,? said Leslie Blodgett, Chief Executive Officer. ?The Bare Escentuals brand continues to flourish due to the amazing support of our customers, partners, and employees. We plan to continue this momentum into 2007 with the launch of innovative new products and the expansion of our distribution channels both here and abroad. In addition, we'll be launching a nationwide tour to connect directly with our customers in order to ensure we're doing everything we can to exceed their expectations.?

Guidance

The Company now expects fiscal 2007 diluted earnings per share to be in the range of $0.84 to $0.89 on approximately 92.6 million shares outstanding. This change represents an increase of $0.03 over the prior earnings guidance.

Conference Call

Bare Escentuals, Inc. will host a conference call today, February 28, 2007 at 1:30 p.m. Pacific (4:30 p.m. Eastern). The call, which will be hosted by Leslie Blodgett, Chief Executive Officer; Diane Miles, President; and Myles McCormick, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operations Officer, will be broadcast live over the Internet and accessible through the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.bareescentuals.com. The webcast will also be archived online within one hour of the completion of the conference call and available at the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at www.bareescentuals.com.

About Bare Escentuals, Inc.

Bare Escentuals, Inc. is one of the fastest growing prestige cosmetic companies in the United States and a leader in mineral-based cosmetics. The Company utilizes a distinctive marketing strategy and multi-channel distribution model to develop, market and sell cosmetics, skin care, and body care products under its i.d. bareMinerals, i.d., RareMinerals and namesake Bare Escentuals brands, and professional skin care products under its md formulations brand through infomercials, home shopping television, specialty beauty retailers, company-owned boutiques, spas and salons, and online shopping. (BARE-F)

Safe Harbor Statement

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions, such as statements regarding our plans, objectives and future operations and estimates of our financial results and capital expenditures for future periods. Our actual results and the timing of events could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of several factors. Factors that could affect future performance include, but are not limited to our dependence on sales of our mineral-based foundation; our dependence on significant customers with whom we do not have long-term purchase commitments; the highly competitive nature of the beauty industry, and the adverse consequences if we are unable to compete effectively; the possibility that we might not manage our growth effectively or sustain our growth or profitability; the possibility that we might not be able to retain key executives and other personnel and recruit additional executives and personnel; the possibility that we might not be able to open and operate new boutiques successfully; our dependence on our suppliers to produce and deliver our products in a timely and cost-effective manner; the possibility that our media spending might not result in increased net sales or generate the levels of product and brand name awareness we desire; the possibility that we may be unable to repay or refinance our indebtedness, which was $339.3 million as of December 31, 2006; changes in general economic or market conditions; and other risk factors detailed in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended October 1, 2006, which is available at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. You are urged to consider these factors carefully in evaluating the forward-looking statements herein and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements made herein speak only as of the date of this press release and the company undertakes no obligation to publicly update such forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

BARE ESCENTUALS, INC.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS

(in thousands, except percentages and per share data)

 

 

Three months endedYear ended
December 31,

2006

January 1,

2006

December 31,

2006

January 1,

2006

Sales, net $110,478  100.0% $79,349  100.0% $394,525  100.0% $259,295  100.0%
Cost of goods sold 33,416  30.2  24,013  30.3  112,439  28.5  74,511  28.7 
Gross profit 77,062  69.8  55,336  69.7  282,086  71.5  184,784  71.3 
Expenses:
Selling, general and administrative 38,178  34.6  31,781  40.1  135,501  34.3  103,270  39.8 
Depreciation and amortization 804  0.7  430  0.5  2,327  0.6  1,106  0.5 
Stock-based compensation 1,515  1.4  440  0.6  5,347  1.4  1,370  0.6 
Restructuring charges ?  0.0  ?  0.0  114  0.0  643  0.2 
Asset impairment charge ?  0.0  ?  0.0  ?  0.0  1,055  0.4 
Operating income 36,565  33.1  22,685  28.5  138,797  35.2  77,340  29.8 
Interest expense, net (7,410) (6.7) (8,706) (11.0) (48,024) (12.2) (21,282) (8.2)
Debt extinguishment costs (2,477) (2.2) (5,977) (7.5) (5,868) (1.5) (16,535) (6.4)
Income before provision for income taxes 26,678  24.2  8,002  10.0  84,905  21.5  39,523  15.2 
Provision for income taxes 10,368  9.4  3,165  4.0  34,707  8.8  15,633  6.0 
Net income $16,310  14.8% $4,837  6.0% $50,198  12.7% $23,890  9.2%
 
Net income per share:
Basic $0.18  $0.07  $0.67  $0.35 
Diluted $0.18  $0.07  $0.65  $0.34 
 
Weighted-average shares used in per share calculations:
Basic 88,911  69,049  74,668  67,676 
Diluted 92,048  71,033  77,283  69,285 

BARE ESCENTUALS, INC.

NET SALES BY BUSINESS SEGMENT AND DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL

(in thousands, except percentages)

 
Three Months EndedYear ended
December 31,

2006

January 1,

2006

December 31,

2006

January 1,

2006

Retail
Infomercial $33,289  30.2% $26,671  33.6% $129,045  32.7% $96,969  37.4%
Boutiques 17,038  15.4  10,891  13.7  56,012  14.2  35,527  13.7 
Total retail 50,327  45.6  37,562  47.3  185,057  46.9  132,496  51.1 
Wholesale
Premium wholesale 32,499  29.4  18,715  23.6  109,779  27.8  49,762  19.2 
Home shopping television 13,609  12.3  12,169  15.3  49,754  12.6  38,015  14.7 
Spas and salons 10,402  9.4  7,212  9.1  33,374  8.5  24,099  9.3 
International 3,641  3.3  3,691  4.7  16,561  4.2  14,923  5.7 
Total wholesale 60,151  54.4  41,787  52.7  209,468  53.1  126,799  48.9 
Sales, net $110,478  100.0% $79,349  100.0% $394,525  100.0% $259,295  100.0%

BARE ESCENTUALS, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET DATA

(in thousands)

 
December 31,

2006

January 1,

2006

Cash and cash equivalents $20,875  $18,675 
Inventories 62,006  34,085 
Accounts receivable, net of allowances 30,759  17,891 
Total current assets 125,715  77,126 
Total assets 155,835  94,895 
Accounts payable 25,357  12,974 
Accrued liabilities 16,123  16,343 
Total current liabilities 59,377  42,411 
Current portion of long-term debt 17,624  12,667 
Long-term debt 321,639  377,166 
Total stockholders' equity (deficit) $(228,522) $(327,432)