Crocs, Inc. announced Blackstone Group LP will invest $200 million in preferred shares of the company to help fund a stock buy back program aimed at stabilizing the company's stock pirce. The shares are convertible to a 13 percent stake in Crocs. Crocs also said late on Sunday that John McCarvel, its CEO, plans to retire in April and will also give up his seat on Crocs' board and also lowered its fourth-quarter guidance.
About $180 million from the Blackstone investment together with excess cash will enable Crocs to pay for a $350 million stock repurchase program approved by its board of directors.
“We will add $200 million of long-term, non-publicly traded preferred equity and the stock repurchase program, when completed, will reduce our publicly traded common stock float by approximately 30 percent (at today's market price), while maintaining a strong net cash position on our balance sheet,” said Jeff Lasher, Crocs chief financial officer. “We expect these initiatives to reduce volatility in both our common stock price and our shareholder base and provide a strong foundation to unlock long-term value for our shareholders. We've been unable to repurchase stock while negotiating this transaction, but we now expect to do so beginning in the first quarter of 2014. We intend to be patient, methodical and opportunistic as we execute this expanded buyback plan.”
The Preferred Stock will have a 6.0 percent cash dividend rate and is convertible into shares of common stock at a conversion price of $14.50 per share. This conversion price represents a 9 percent premium to the closing price of $13.33 per share on Dec. 27, 2013, and a 10 percent premium to the 30-day average closing price of $13.19 per share. On an as-converted basis, the preferred stock will represent 13.8 million common shares, or approximately 13 percent of the fully-diluted common shares outstanding after giving effect to the issuance.
At any time after three years from the issuance date, if the closing price of Crocs common stock equals or exceeds $29.00 (i.e., 200 percent of the conversion price) for a period of 20 consecutive trading days, then the shares of Preferred Stock will, upon notice from Crocs, convert into shares of common stock. At any time after eight years from the issuance date, Crocs will have the right to redeem, and the holders of the Preferred Stock will have the right to require Crocs to repurchase, all or any portion of the Preferred Stock at 100 percent of the stated value plus any accrued but unpaid dividends.
Consummation of the investment is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act, and is expected to close in January 2014.
John McCarvel, who was appointed Crocs' CEO in March 2010, also announced his intention to retire as president, chief executive officer and board member on or about April 30, 2014.
“It has been an honor to be part of the Crocs global team for the past decade and to lead it since 2010,” McCarvel said. “We've made tremendous progress as a company over these past 10 years from a one-season, one-shoe, and one-country brand to a diversified, four-season global footwear leader that is on solid financial footing. The investment by Blackstone is a vote of confidence in our company and our brand, and Crocs will benefit from Blackstone's financial, consumer, retail and brand experience and relationships.”
“John's contributions to this company are immeasurable,” said Thomas J. Smach, Crocs chairman of the board. “As our CEO, he led a turnaround of Crocs and established it as a profitable, diversified company with more than $1 billion in annual revenue, strong cash flows, and a robust balance sheet with more than $300 million in net cash. Under his leadership, Crocs has grown into a global branded company that employs 4,500 people and sells over 55 million shoes per year in more than 90 different countries. On behalf of the company's employees and directors, I would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude to John and wish him and his family continued success as he pursues his personal endeavors.”
With its investment, Blackstone will be entitled to two seats on the Crocs board of directors.
“We expect Blackstone to contribute a great deal of value to our board through its financial, consumer, retail and brand experience and its global footprint,” Smach said. “While Blackstone's investment will represent only 13% as-converted ownership at closing, we believe our company, shareholders, and employees will benefit from 100% of the firm's focus, resources, expertise and efforts to create shareholder value. We believe this transaction provides a fantastic opportunity for our shareholders to participate alongside Blackstone and benefit from its efforts to realize very attractive future returns.”
Prakash Melwani, senior managing director and chief investment officer of Blackstone's Private Equity Group said, “Blackstone sees tremendous opportunity in the Crocs brand and global franchise. The company has the infrastructure and products to enable continued growth across the wide range of geographies and channels through which it operates. We believe our consumer and retail investing experience coupled with the network of value-added resources within Blackstone will make us a strong partner for Crocs. We look forward to working with the Crocs Board to deliver compelling long-term value to the company's shareholders.”
“The partnership with Blackstone provides access to new resources and additional experience that we believe will positively and meaningfully impact the company's future performance,” Smach added. “As we look forward, 2014 will be a significant transition period for the company. We will recruit a new CEO who will work with the reconstituted board to refine our short-term and long-term strategic plans, which will include a sharper focus on earnings growth with less emphasis on top-line growth. We will focus on improving financial performance, particularly in the Americas and Japan, as well as enhancing our global retail execution. As we increasingly focus on profitable growth and retail excellence, we may moderate the pace of our investments in new retail stores; however, we remain focused on creating long-term value for Crocs shareholders. Over time, we intend to further elevate our brand positioning by enhancing our consumer-driven marketing and distribution strategies and capabilities.”
Fourth Quarter Guidance
Crocs also updated its fourth quarter 2013 outlook and currently expects revenue to be at the low end of the previously provided guidance range of $220 million and $225 million, and diluted loss per share to be at the low end (meaning the higher loss) of the previously provided guidance range of ($0.20) and ($0.23). Excluded from this outlook are all costs and expenses associated with the Blackstone transaction, the tax expense associated with the repatriation of excess foreign cash, charges associated with separation agreements, retail store impairments, other asset impairments and legal reserves. We expect these aggregate charges in the fourth quarter to be in a range of $47 million to $52 million, which is an additional loss per diluted share of $0.45 to $0.50. The cash portion of the aggregate charges in the fourth quarter is estimated to be in a range of $20 million to $25 million. While not currently estimable, we expect additional restructuring charges may be necessary in 2014 as we refine our strategic plan.
In the third quarter, Crocs' earnings slumped 71.1 percent in the third quarter, to $13.0 million, or 15 cents per share. Revenue slid 2.4 percent to $288.5 million. The company was hurt by particular weakness in the Americas and Japan.
In mid-November, shares of Crocs Inc. jumped after the Wall Street Journal reported that Crocs was meeting with private equity firms about a possible buyout. The report indicated that Blackstone Group initially was pursuing an outright sale of Crocs but was then pursuing the purchasing of a stake.
Advisors
Moelis & Company LLC is acting as financial advisor and Perkins Coie LLP is acting as legal counsel for Crocs. Piper Jaffray & Co. is acting as financial advisor and Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP is acting as legal counsel for Blackstone in connection with the investment.
