Deckers Outdoor Corporation has completed the repurchase of the entire $5.5 million of preferred stock previously issued to Mark Thatcher in connection with the acquisition of the Teva worldwide assets.
The Company financed the repurchase using the combination of an advance on its line of credit and a $3.5 million increase in borrowings under its senior term loan. In connection with the repurchase and pursuant to the terms of the preferred stock, the Company paid Mr. Thatcher a premium of approximately $438,000, which is treated as a capital transaction and accordingly will have no impact on the Company's net earnings for 2003.
However, as previously announced on October 22, 2003, under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the premium will reduce earnings available for common shareholders and, therefore, is expected to negatively impact the fourth quarter earnings per share by approximately $0.04 per diluted share.
Going forward, the transaction is expected to eliminate approximately 1.5 million shares from the Company's average diluted shares outstanding calculation beginning in 2004, effectively eliminating approximately 13% of the dilution from the EPS calculation.
Douglas Otto, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer stated, “The decision by our Board to repurchase the preferred stock is reflective of the health of our business as well as our ongoing commitment to maximizing shareholder value.”
