Nature's Sunshine Products Reports First Quarter Financial Results and Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

LEHI, Utah, May 8, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc. (Nasdaq:NATR), a leading natural health and wellness company engaged in the manufacture and direct selling of nutritional and personal care products, today reported its consolidated financial results for the first quarter, and declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share.

For the First Quarter of 2013:

• Net sales were $96.5 million, compared with $92.9 million in the same quarter a year ago, an increase of 3.9 percent, and net sales increased 4.2 percent in local currencies.
   
• As of March 31, 2013 and 2012, total active Managers worldwide were 18,200 and 19,000, respectively, while total active Distributors and customers worldwide were 341,200 and 349,100, respectively.
   
• Operating income was $6.9 million, compared with $9.2 million in the same quarter a year ago, a decrease of 24.3 percent. Operating income decreased by $2.2 million due to a $3.7 million increase in selling, general and administrative expenses (of which $1.4 million was due to one-time severance costs and the acceleration of stock option expense incurred related to the resignation of our former Chief Executive Officer, and $1.5 million consisted of increased compensation and benefits related to the Company's investment in sales, marketing and product development personnel designed to enhance net sales growth and profitability). These increased expenses were partially offset by increased net sales and improvement in cost of sales as a percentage of net sales.
   
• Adjusted EBITDA, defined here as net income before taxes, depreciation and amortization, and other income, and adjusted to exclude share-based compensation expense was $9.2 million, compared with $10.9 million in the same quarter a year ago, a decrease of 15.8 percent.
   
• Net income was $4.9 million, compared with $7.2 million in the same quarter a year ago, a decrease of 32.7 percent.
   
• Basic and diluted net income per share were $0.31 and $0.30, respectively, compared to $0.46 for basic and diluted for the same quarter a year ago.
   
• As of March 31, 2013, shareholders' equity was $118.8 million, compared to $115.6 million as of December 31, 2012, an increase of 2.8 percent.

Declaration of Quarterly Cash Dividend:

The Company's Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.10 per share payable on May 30, 2013 to shareholders of record as of the close of business on May 20, 2013.

NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe Results for the First Quarter:

• Net sales were $53.1 million, compared with $53.9 million in the same quarter a year ago, a decrease of 1.5 percent. In local currencies, net sales decreased by 1.0 percent compared to the same quarter a year ago. Segment net sales revenue and the number of Distributors and customers decreased primarily due to lower recruiting in the NSP Canada, Japan and Mexico markets and were partially offset by increased activity in the NSP Venezuela market. We are continuing our efforts to return to growth through investment in sales and marketing personnel, training, new products, sales programs and incentive programs.
   
• Active Managers within NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe totaled approximately 9,100 and 10,200 at March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Active Distributors and customers within NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe totaled approximately 157,300 and 169,200 at March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. The number of total Distributors and customers decreased due to lower recruiting in several key markets.
   
• Contribution margin, defined as net sales less cost of sales and volume incentive expense, was $22.0 million, compared with $21.3 million in the same quarter a year ago, an increase of 2.9 percent. The increase was primarily a result of increased allocation of manufacturing costs to other operating segments as well as sales mix.

NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe Results for the First Quarter:

• Net sales were $16.1 million, compared with $15.6 million in the same quarter a year ago, an increase of 3.5 percent. Our Russia market continues its momentum with a second consecutive quarter of year-over-year growth, the result of improved Manager and Distributor recruiting efforts and Distributor engagement.
   
• Active Managers within NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe totaled approximately 6,000 and 5,900 at March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Active Distributors and customers within NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe totaled approximately 130,000 and 127,000 at March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Managers and Distributors within NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe are more network marketing oriented when compared to those of NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe.
   
• Contribution margin was $6.0 million, or flat compared to the same quarter a year ago.

Synergy WorldWide Results for the First Quarter:

• Net sales were $27.2 million, compared with $23.3 million in the same quarter a year ago, an increase of 16.5 percent. The increase in net sales was driven by improvements in Korea due to strong Manager leadership and a well-defined selling system supported by a structured training program, as well as by our European markets in which strong Manager leadership in recruiting and training efforts continues to effectively build our Distributor base. Following the successful resolution of temporary shipping restrictions to Norwegian Distributors by the Norwegian Food Authority in late December 2012, sales returned to prior levels in the first quarter of 2013.
   
• Active Managers within Synergy WorldWide totaled approximately 3,100 and 2,900 at March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Active Distributors and customers within Synergy WorldWide totaled approximately 53,900 and 52,900 at March 31, 2013 and 2012, respectively. Synergy WorldWide is a traditional network-marketing business model.
   
• Contribution margin was $9.1 million, compared to $8.2 million in the same quarter a year ago, an increase of 11.1 percent. The increase was primarily the result of the higher net sales described above, partially offset by increased cost allocations from manufacturing activities.

Selling, General and Administrative Expenses for the First Quarter:

• Selling, general and administrative expenses were $30.1 million, compared with $26.4 million in the same quarter a year ago, an increase of 14.1 percent. The $3.7 million increase was primarily related to (i) increased U.S. compensation costs related to increased sales, marketing and product development personnel that will further encourage growth of net sales and profitability, (ii) severance costs and the acceleration of stock option expense associated with the resignation of our previous Chief Executive Officer, (iii) expenses for Synergy Global Summit which occurs every other year and (iv) stock-based compensation expenses, excluding the additional stock option expense incurred with the resignation of our previous Chief Executive Officer.

Effective Income-tax Rate

The effective income tax rate for the quarter was 33.1 percent compared with 20.3 percent in the same quarter a year ago. The current quarter's effective tax rate was below the U.S. federal statutory tax rate of 35.0 percent, and was primarily attributed to net favorable foreign items related to foreign tax rate differences, the impact of unremitted earnings, and adjustments to foreign valuation allowances, offset, in part, by an increase in tax liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions. The effective income tax rate of 20.3 percent for the same quarter a year ago was attributed to foreign deductible items, including a favorable inflation adjustment, and a decrease in tax liabilities associated with uncertain tax positions due to the expiration of the statute of limitations on certain liabilities in various foreign jurisdictions, in addition to a valuation allowance release related to the utilization of foreign tax credits.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

The Company has included information concerning adjusted EBITDA, non-GAAP operating income and non-GAAP net income because management utilizes this information in the evaluation of its operations and believes that these measures are a useful indicator of the Company's ability to fund its business. Adjusted EBITDA has not been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). These non-GAAP financial measure should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, U.S. GAAP net income as an indicator of the Company's operating performance. Moreover, this non-GAAP financial measure, as presented by the Company, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies. Other companies may use the same or similarly named measures, but exclude different items, which may not provide investors with a comparable view of our performance in relation to other companies. The Company has included a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to reported earnings under GAAP in the attached financial tables.

About Nature's Sunshine Products

Nature's Sunshine Products (Nasdaq:NATR), a leading natural health and wellness company, markets and distributes nutritional and personal care products through a global direct sales force of over 340,000 active independent Managers, Distributors and customers in more than 40 countries. Nature's Sunshine manufactures most of its products through its own state-of-the-art facilities to ensure its products continue to set the standard for the highest quality, safety and efficacy on the market today. The Company has three reportable business segments that are divided based on the characteristics of their Distributor base, similarities in compensation plans, as well as the internal organization of NSP's officers and their responsibilities (NSP Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe; NSP Russia, Central and Eastern Europe; and Synergy WorldWide). The Company also supports health and wellness for children around the world through its partnership with the Little Heroes Foundation. Additional information about the Company can be obtained at its website, www.natr.com.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

In addition to historical information, this release contains certain forward-looking statements, including statements regarding Distributors and Managers and payment of dividends. Nature's Sunshine may, from time to time, make written or oral forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, Nature's Sunshine's beliefs, expectations, hopes, or intentions regarding future events. Words such as "expects," "intends," "believes," "anticipates," "should," "likely," and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof and are based on information available to the Company as of such date. Nature's Sunshine assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. Actual results will vary, and may vary materially, from those anticipated, estimated, projected or expected for a number of reasons, including, among others: further reviews of the Company's financial statements by the Company and its Audit Committee; modification of the Company's accounting practices; foreign business risks; industry cyclicality; fluctuations in customer demand and order pattern; changes in pricing and general economic conditions; as well as other risks detailed in the Company's previous filings with the SEC.

Distributor Information

Our revenue is highly dependent upon the number and productivity of our Managers, Distributors and customers. Growth in sales volume requires an increase in the productivity and/or growth in the total number of Managers, Distributors and customers.

The following table provides information concerning the number of total Managers, Distributors and customers by segment, as of the dates indicated.

"Total Managers" includes independent Managers under our various compensation plans that have achieved and maintained specified and personal groups sale volumes as of the date indicated. To maintain Manager status, an individual must continue to meet certain product sales volume levels. As such, all Managers are considered to be active Managers.

"Total Distributors and Customers" includes our independent Distributors and customers who have purchased products directly from the Company for resale and/or personal consumption during the previous twelve months ended as of the date indicated. This includes Manager, Distributor and customer accounts that may have become inactive since such respective dates.

The following table provides information concerning the number of active Distributors and customers by segment, as of the dates indicated.

"Active Distributors and Customers" includes our independent Distributors and customers who have purchased products directly from the Company for resale and/or personal consumption during the previous three months ended as of the date indicated. All of our Managers are active.

The following tables provide information concerning the number of new Managers, Distributors and customers by segment, as of the dates indicated.

"New Managers" includes independent Managers under our various compensation plans that first achieved the rank of Manager during the previous three months ended as of the date indicated.

"New Distributors and customers" include our independent Distributors and customers who have made their initial product purchase directly from us for resale and/or personal consumption during the previous three months ended as of the date indicated.

"New Managers" includes independent Managers under our various compensation plans that first achieved the rank of Manager during the previous twelve months ended as of the date indicated.

"New Distributors and Customers" include our independent Distributors and Customers who have made their initial product purchase directly from us for resale and/or personal consumption during the previous twelve months ended as of the date indicated.

CONTACT: Steve M. Bunker
         Chief Financial Officer
         Nature's Sunshine Products, Inc.
         Lehi, Utah 84043
         (801) 341-7303

Released May 8, 2013