UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
_____________________

Form 8-K
_____________________

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event Reported): May 5, 2017  

Johnson Outdoors Inc.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

WISCONSIN 0-1625539-1536083
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)(Commission File Number)(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

 

555 Main Street, Racine, Wisconsin 53403
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(262) 631-6600
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 [ ]  Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
 [ ]  Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
 [ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
 [ ]  Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (17 CFR §230.405) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (17 CFR §240.12b-2). 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. [   ]

 
 

Section 2 Financial Information

Item 2.02. Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On May 5, 2017, Johnson Outdoors Inc. (the “Company”) issued a press release announcing results for the second fiscal quarter ended March 31, 2017 (the “Press Release”). A copy of the Press Release is being furnished as Exhibit 99.1 to this Report.

The information in this Form 8-K, including Exhibit 99.1, is being furnished and shall not be deemed to be “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), or otherwise subject to the liability of that Section, nor shall such information be deemed to be incorporated by reference in any registration statement or other document filed under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange Act, except as otherwise stated in such filing.

Section 9 Financial Statements and Exhibits

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits. The following exhibit is being furnished herewith:

      99.1 Press Release Dated May 5, 2017.


SIGNATURE

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 hereunto duly authorized.

 Johnson Outdoors Inc.
   
  
Date: May 5, 2017By: /s/ David W. Johnson        
  David W. Johnson
  Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
  


JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.

Exhibit Index to Current Report on Form 8-K

Exhibit Number 
   
99.1 Press Release Dated May 5, 2017.

EdgarFiling

Exhibit 99.1

Johnson Outdoors Posts Strong Growth in Fiscal Second Quarter

RACINE, Wis., May 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Johnson Outdoors Inc. (Nasdaq:JOUT), a leading outdoor recreation equipment company, today reported double-digit increases in sales and earnings for the 2017 second fiscal quarter and first fiscal six months ending March 31, 2017.  

"Excitement in the market for Johnson Outdoors’ innovative new product line-up is giving us a great start to the year and positioning our brands for continued growth and success.  Importantly, we are leveraging the unique combination of pioneering technologies in our Minn Kota® and Humminbird® brands to maximize the growth potential of our Fishing business.   Watercraft Recreation sales are outpacing the competition to sustain a profitable growth trajectory, and we are beginning to see the benefit of our efforts to reinvigorate innovation in Diving,” said Helen Johnson-Leipold, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  “Ongoing focus and investment against our three key strategic plan priorities – richer consumer insights, enhanced innovation processes and digital sophistication – are essential to ensure continued progress toward our goal of delivering accelerated sustained profitable growth.”

SECOND QUARTER RESULTS 

Sales in the second fiscal quarter reflect shipments to customers in anticipation of the primary retail-selling period for the outdoor recreation industry’s warm-weather products.  Net sales surged 12 percent to $149.8 million in the current fiscal second quarter compared to $134.2 million in the prior year quarter, driven by strong new product momentum in the Company’s Fishing and Watercraft Recreation businesses. Key contributing factors in year-over-year comparisons in each business unit were:

Total Company operating profit in the fiscal second quarter was $20.5 million, a 35 percent increase over operating profit of $15.1 million in the previous fiscal year quarter.  Gross margin improved to 43.3 percent due to favorable mix and improved operating efficiency in all units.  Operating expense during the quarter increased 12 percent year-over-year due primarily to higher volume-related costs.  Net income in the fiscal second quarter was $14.0 million, or $1.39 per diluted share, increasing 50 percent compared with net income of $9.3 million, or $0.93 per diluted share, in the previous fiscal year’s second quarter. 

YEAR-TO-DATE RESULTS

Fiscal 2017 year-to-date net sales advanced 11 percent to $243.5 million versus net sales of $219.5 million in the same fiscal six-month period last year.  Total Company operating profit increased 47 percent to $20.9 million compared with $14.2 million during the first six months of the prior fiscal year-to-date period.  Gross margin during the first six months improved to 41.7 percent versus 40.2 percent in the same fiscal period in the prior year.  Operating expense increased during the first half of the fiscal year due primarily to higher volume, yet declined as a percentage of sales. Net income for the six-month period benefitted from foreign tax credits of $4.2 million recognized in the current year first quarter due to the repatriation of approximately $21.9 million of cash from overseas. Favorable currency exchange and the opportunity to utilize foreign tax credits prompted the decision to repatriate these funds.
Net income during the first fiscal six-month period more than doubled to $18.0 million, or $1.80 per diluted share, compared with $8.8 million, or $0.88 per diluted share in the same six-month period in the prior fiscal year.

OTHER FINANCIAL INFORMATION

At March 31, 2017, cash, net of debt was $24.4 million compared with the Company’s cash, net of debt position of $13.4 million at April 1, 2016.  Depreciation and amortization was $6.6 million in the current year-to-date period versus $5.7 million in the prior fiscal first six-months. Capital spending totaled $5.2 million during the first six-month period compared with $5.6 million in the previous year-to-date period.

“The balance sheet is very strong and our cash position is growing enabling us to continue to invest in strategic priorities and opportunities to expand our business and growth potential.  We remain confident in our ability and plans to create long-term value and consistently pay dividends to shareholders,” said David W. Johnson, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer.

WEBCAST

The Company will host a conference call and audio web cast at 11:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Friday, May 5, 2017.  A live listen-only web cast of the conference call may be accessed at Johnson Outdoors’ home page.  A replay of the call will be available for 30 days on the Internet.

ABOUT JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.

JOHNSON OUTDOORS is a leading global outdoor recreation company that inspires more people to experience the awe of the great outdoors with innovative, top-quality products.  The company designs, manufactures and markets a portfolio of winning, consumer-preferred brands across four categories: Watercraft Recreation, Fishing , Diving and Camping.  Johnson Outdoors' iconic brands include: Old Town® canoes and kayaks; Ocean Kayak and Necky® kayaks; Carlisle® paddles; Extrasport® personal flotation devices; Minn Kota® fishing motors, batteries and anchors; Cannon® downriggers; Humminbird® marine electronics and charts; SCUBAPRO® dive equipment; Jetboil® outdoor cooking systems; Eureka!®camping and hiking equipment; and, Silva® compasses. 

Visit Johnson Outdoors at http://www.johnsonoutdoors.com

SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT

Certain matters discussed in this press release are “forward-looking statements,” intended to qualify for the safe harbors from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.  Statements other than statements of historical fact are considered forward-looking statements. These statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking words or phrases such as "anticipate,'' "believe,'' “confident,” "could,'' "expect,'' "intend,'' "may,'' "planned,'' "potential,'' "should,'' "will,'' "would'' or the negative of those terms or other words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those currently anticipated.  Factors that could affect actual results or outcomes include changes in economic conditions, consumer confidence levels and discretionary spending patterns in key markets; the Company’s success in implementing its strategic plan, including its targeted sales growth platforms, innovation focus, and its increasing digital presence; litigation costs related to actions of and disputes with third parties, including competitors; the Company’s continued success in working capital management and cost-structure reductions; the Company’s ongoing success in meeting financial covenants in its credit agreements with its lenders; the Company’s success in integrating strategic acquisitions; the risk of future write downs of goodwill or other long-lived assets; the ability of the Company's customers to meet payment obligations; movements in foreign currencies, interest rates or commodity costs; fluctuations in the prices of raw materials or the availability of raw materials or components used by the Company; any disruptions in the Company’s supply chain as a result of material fluctuations in the Company’s order volumes and requirements for raw materials and other components necessary to manufacture and produce the Company’s products; the success of the Company’s suppliers and customers; the ability of the Company to deploy its capital successfully; unanticipated outcomes related to outsourcing certain manufacturing processes; unanticipated outcomes related to litigation matters; adverse weather conditions; and other risks and uncertainties identified in the Company’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  Shareholders, potential investors and other readers are urged to consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements.  The forward-looking statements included herein are only made 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.

                                   

JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.
             
(thousands, except per share amounts)            
 THREE MONTHS
ENDED
SIX MONTHS
ENDED
Operating Results  March 31
2017
  April 1
2016
  March 31
2017
  April 1
2016
Net sales $149,807 $134,192 $243,536 $219,490
Cost of sales  84,894  79,197  142,058  131,196
Gross profit  64,913  54,995  101,478  88,294
Operating expenses  44,455  39,857  80,548  74,056
Operating profit:  20,458  15,138  20,930  14,238
Interest expense, net  115  287  578  469
Other (income) expense, net  (1,494)  182  (1,440)  (381)
Income before income taxes  21,837  14,669  21,792  14,150
Income tax expense  7,878  5,348  3,777  5,363
Net income $13,959 $9,321 $18,015 $8,787
Weighted average common shares outstanding - Dilutive  9,915  9,848  9,892  9,821
Net income per common share - Diluted $  1.39 $0.93 $1.80 $0.88
             
Segment Results            
Net sales:            
Fishing $105,424 $90,993 $172,495 $149,593
Camping  11,375  11,616  17,110  17,930
Watercraft Recreation  15,087  14,751  21,304  21,129
Diving  18,026  17,060  32,919  31,352
Other/eliminations  (105)  (228)  (292)  (514)
Total $149,807 $134,192 $243,536 $219,490
Operating profit (loss):            
Fishing $22,838 $17,283 $30,031 $22,978
Camping  1,011  999  239  797
Watercraft Recreation  847  831  49  296
Diving  311  (704)  (750)  (2,578)
Other/eliminations  (4,549)  (3,271)  (8,639)  (7,255)
Total $20,458 $15,138 $20,930 $14,238
 
Balance Sheet Information (End of Period)
Cash and cash equivalents  $29,360 $50,938
Accounts receivable, net        122,386  102,786
Inventories, net        74,858  89,769
Total current assets        230,611  248,066
Total assets        342,302  354,789
Short-term debt        -  373
Total current liabilities        86,775  86,128
Long-term debt, less current maturities        5,000  37,172
Shareholders’ equity        221,324  207,189

 

AT JOHNSON OUTDOORS INC.
DAVID JOHNSON
VP & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
262-631-6600

PATRICIA PENMAN
VP – GLOBAL MARKETING SERVICES & COMMUNICATIONS
262-631-6600