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kvorak wrote: Finally... somebody agrees. The reason people can't answer this question objectively is because it's the WRONG QUESTION, lol. Well said.
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Steinway Reports Q3 Results
GAAP EPS ($0.03); Adjusted EPS $0.57

WALTHAM, Mass., Nov. 6 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc. (NYSE: LVB), one of the world's leading manufacturers of musical instruments, today announced results for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2008.

Revenues for the third quarter increased 1% over the same period in the prior year. A 7% increase in piano segment revenues, which includes the Company's recently acquired online music business, more than offset a 5% decrease in band segment revenues. Overall gross margins improved to 29.8% from 28.3%.

In connection with the Company's annual impairment testing of goodwill, in the third quarter the band segment recorded a non-cash charge of $8.6 million, impacting after tax earnings by $0.60 per diluted share. Controllable operating expenses were flat with the prior year period but the negative impact of the impairment charge caused a $6.6 million decline in operating income for the quarter. Net interest expense decreased 18% as a result of lower borrowings during the third quarter of 2008.

Adjusted EBITDA improved to $12.2 million, or 25%, over the prior year period. The Company posted a loss per share of $0.03 and Adjusted earnings per share of $0.57 compared to earnings per share of $0.35 in the third quarter of 2007. Adjustments for the quarter are detailed in the attached financial tables.

For the first nine months of 2008, revenue increased 3% and gross margins improved slightly, to 29.5% from 29.4%. Operating income declined $7.4 million as a result of the charge to goodwill. Adjusted EBITDA improved to $31.4 million, or 14%, reflecting improvement in both the band and piano segments.

Band Operations

In the third quarter, band revenues decreased $2.5 million, or 5%, despite a unit sales decline of 15%. Declines occurred in all major product categories, with the most significant shortfall in student level instruments. Gross margins improved from 19.5% to 23.2% as a result of a change in product mix toward higher priced instruments, reduced sales incentive programs, and greater manufacturing efficiencies.

For the nine-month period, band sales were nearly equal to the prior year period. Gross margins improved from 20.7% to 22.2%, despite $0.9 million of severance costs during the period.

Piano Operations

Piano segment revenues for the third quarter increased $3.7 million, or 7%, to $55.7 million. An increase in piano sales overseas offset a domestic decline while online music sales contributed an additional $1.8 million in revenue during the quarter. Overall unit shipments of Steinway grand pianos decreased 5% from the prior year period. Domestic shipments of Steinway grand pianos decreased 6% and overseas shipments decreased 3%. Unit shipments of mid-priced pianos declined 7%. Gross margins declined from 36.3% to 35.1% due to a decline in domestic retail sales and a change in product mix toward lower margin upright pianos.

For the nine-month period, piano revenues increased 5%. Steinway grand unit shipments declined 6% and mid-priced piano unit shipments decreased 2%. Gross margins decreased to 34.8% from 36.3% primarily as a result of lower production levels at the Company's New York piano plant.

Comments

CEO Dana Messina discussed the Company's results, "Given the state of the global economy, we are pleased with our third quarter results. We saw significant improvement in Adjusted EBITDA in both the band and piano segments."

Messina added, "We have substantially completed the consolidation of our band manufacturing facilities and we are currently working through the many issues involved in making our reduced production footprint even more efficient. Provided demand remains flat, we expect to start realizing improved profitability from these recent plant consolidation efforts in the first half of 2009."

On the outlook for the remainder of 2008, Messina said, "The outlook for the worldwide economy is uncertain and we expect general weakness in many of our markets for the next few quarters. Our balance sheet is strong and we have substantial liquidity to handle this present economic environment. Steinway has weathered many economic cycles over the last 155 years and has always emerged an even stronger competitor. I am confident that we will successfully navigate the current challenges."

Conference Call

Management will be discussing the Company's third quarter results and outlook for the remainder of 2008 on a conference call today beginning at 5:00 p.m. ET. A live webcast and an archive of the call will be available to all interested parties on the Company's website, www.steinwaymusical.com.

About Steinway Musical Instruments

Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc., through its Steinway and Conn-Selmer divisions, is one of the world's leading manufacturers of musical instruments. Its notable products include Bach Stradivarius trumpets, Selmer Paris saxophones, C.G. Conn French horns, Leblanc clarinets, King trombones, Ludwig snare drums and Steinway & Sons pianos. Through its online music retailer, ArkivMusic, the Company also distributes classical music recordings.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures Used by Steinway Musical Instruments

The Company uses the non-GAAP measurement Adjusted EBITDA, which it defines as earnings before net interest expense, income taxes, depreciation and amortization, adjusted to exclude non-recurring, infrequent, or unusual items. The Company uses Adjusted EBITDA because it is useful to management and investors as a measure of the Company's core operating performance in that it eliminates the impact of items that are either out of operating management's control or are otherwise unrelated to how well the Company is completing its manufacturing and operating responsibilities. In addition, the Company uses Adjusted EBITDA as the basis for determining bonuses for its managers.

The Company also believes Adjusted EBITDA is helpful in determining the Company's ability to meet future debt service, capital expenditures and working capital requirements as it factors out non-cash expenses such as depreciation and amortization. The Company's domestic credit agreement, which provides for borrowings up to $110.0 million and is a material credit agreement to the Company, contains a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio which is based on Adjusted EBITDA. A minimum ratio of 1.1 to 1.0 is required to be met if the Company has had less than $20.0 million of availability on its line of credit in the last thirty days. At the end of the most recent period the Company had remaining borrowing availability on the line of credit of $108.8 million (net of letters of credit) and therefore this covenant did not apply. Should this covenant apply and not be met, the Company could be required to make immediate repayment of its line of credit borrowings, if it were unable to obtain a waiver from the lenders.

There are limitations in the use of Adjusted EBITDA because the Company's actual results do include the impact of the noted Adjustments. Accordingly, Adjusted EBITDA should be used as a supplement to the comparable GAAP measures and should not be construed as a substitute for income from operations or net income, or a better indicator of liquidity than cash flows from operating activities, which are determined in accordance with GAAP.

"Safe Harbor" Statement Under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995

This release contains "forward-looking statements" which represent the Company's present expectations or beliefs concerning future events. The Company cautions that such statements are necessarily based on certain assumptions which are subject to risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in this release. These risk factors include the following: changes in general economic conditions; recent geopolitical events; increased competition; work stoppages and slowdowns; ability to successfully consolidate band manufacturing; impact of dealer consolidations on orders; exchange rate fluctuations; variations in the mix of products sold; market acceptance of new product and distribution strategies; ability of suppliers to meet demand; concentration of credit risk; fluctuations in effective tax rates resulting from shifts in sources of income; and the ability to successfully operate acquired businesses. Further information on these risk factors is included in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Contact:    Julie A. Theriault
    Telephone:  781-894-9770
    Email:      ir@steinwaymusical.com


                      STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
                 Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income
                    (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                       Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
                                       9/30/2008 9/30/2007 9/30/2008 9/30/2007
       Net sales                        $100,488  $99,293  $293,195  $284,982
       Cost of sales                      70,559   71,202   206,829   201,086
         Gross profit                     29,929   28,091    86,366    83,896
                                            29.8%    28.3%     29.5%     29.4%

       Operating expenses:
         Sales and marketing              11,670   11,243    36,539    35,336
         Provision for doubtful accounts      12      794       484     1,512
         General and administrative        8,701    8,361    26,176    25,512
         Amortization                        336      196       795       588
         Other operating expenses             68      262       537     1,297
         Facility rationalization and
          impairment charges               8,555        -     9,617         -
       Total operating expenses           29,342   20,856    74,148    64,245

         Income from operations              587    7,235    12,218    19,651
       Interest expense, net               2,378    2,905     6,811     7,580
       Other income, net                    (405)      37    (1,024)     (154)
         (Loss) income before income
          taxes                           (1,386)   4,293     6,431    12,225
       Income tax (benefit) provision     (1,126)   1,285     1,671     4,634
         Net (loss) income                 $(260)  $3,008    $4,760    $7,591

       (Loss) earnings per share -
        basic                             ($0.03)   $0.35     $0.56     $0.89
       (Loss) earnings per share -
        diluted                           ($0.03)   $0.35     $0.55     $0.88
       Weighted average common shares -
        basic                              8,538    8,569     8,566     8,503
       Weighted average common shares -
        diluted                            8,538    8,683     8,653     8,641


                    Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
                                (In Thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                           9/30/2008   9/30/2007  12/31/2007
       Cash                                 $22,288     $14,988     $37,304
       Receivables, net                      77,340      86,061      73,131
       Inventories                          161,752     167,733     152,451
       Other current assets                  25,551      24,311      22,843
         Total current assets               286,931     293,093     285,729

       Property, plant and equipment, net    88,014      94,676      94,150
       Other assets                          72,410      70,935      77,799
         Total assets                      $447,355    $458,704    $457,678

       Debt                                  $2,983      $3,369      $2,285
       Other current liabilities             63,424      56,170      64,701
         Total current liabilities           66,407      59,539      66,986

       Long-term debt                       168,385     194,672     173,981
       Other liabilities                     46,956      57,165      52,932
       Stockholders' equity                 165,607     147,328     163,779
         Total liabilities and
          stockholders' equity             $447,355    $458,704    $457,678



                      STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
             Reconciliation of GAAP Earnings to Adjusted Earnings
                    (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                         Three Months Ended 9/30/08
                                      GAAP        Adjustments    Adjusted
    Band sales                      $44,782              $-       $44,782
    Piano sales (1)                  55,706               -        55,706
      Total sales                   100,488               -       100,488

    Band gross profit                10,377             (62)(2)    10,315
    Piano gross profit (1)           19,552               -        19,552
      Total gross profit             29,929             (62)       29,867

    Band GM%                           23.2%                         23.0%
    Piano GM% (1)                      35.1%                         35.1%
      Total GM%                        29.8%                         29.7%

    Operating expenses               29,342          (8,555)(3)    20,787

      Income from operations            587           8,493         9,080

    Interest expense, net             2,378               -         2,378
    Other (income) expense, net        (405)              -          (405)

      (Loss) income before income
       taxes                         (1,386)          8,493         7,107

    Income tax (benefit) provision   (1,126)          3,312(4)      2,186

      Net (loss) income               $(260)         $5,181        $4,921

    (Loss) earnings per share -
     basic                           ($0.03)                        $0.58
    (Loss) earnings per share -
     diluted                         ($0.03)                        $0.57
    Weighted average common shares
     - basic                          8,538                         8,538
    Weighted average common shares
     - diluted                        8,538                         8,631


                                          Three Months Ended 9/30/07
                                      GAAP        Adjustments    Adjusted
    Band sales                      $47,308              $-       $47,308
    Piano sales                      51,985               -        51,985
      Total sales                    99,293               -        99,293

    Band gross profit                 9,209               -         9,209
    Piano gross profit               18,882               -        18,882
      Total gross profit             28,091               -        28,091

    Band GM%                           19.5%                         19.5%
    Piano GM%                          36.3%                         36.3%
      Total GM%                        28.3%                         28.3%

    Operating expenses               20,856               -        20,856

      Income from operations          7,235               -         7,235

    Interest expense, net             2,905               -         2,905
    Other (income) expense, net          37               -            37

      Income before income taxes      4,293               -         4,293

    Income tax provision              1,285               -         1,285

      Net income                     $3,008              $-        $3,008

    Earnings per share - basic        $0.35                         $0.35
    Earnings per share - diluted      $0.35                         $0.35
    Weighted average common shares
     - basic                          8,569                         8,569
    Weighted average common shares
     - diluted                        8,683                         8,683


    Notes to Reconciliation of GAAP Earnings to Adjusted Earnings
    (1) Includes results of online music business.
    (2) Reflects reversal of employee severance costs associated with plant
        closures.
    (3) Reflects impairment of goodwill.
    (4) Reflects the tax effect of Adjustments.



                      STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
             Reconciliation of GAAP Earnings to Adjusted Earnings
                    (In Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
                                 (Unaudited)

                                           Nine Months Ended 9/30/08
                                      GAAP       Adjustments     Adjusted
    Band sales                     $125,300              $-      $125,300
    Piano sales (1)                 167,895               -       167,895
      Total sales                   293,195               -       293,195

    Band gross profit                27,855             941(2)     28,796
    Piano gross profit (1)           58,511               -        58,511
      Total gross profit             86,366             941        87,307

    Band GM%                           22.2%                         23.0%
    Piano GM% (1)                      34.8%                         34.8%
      Total GM%                        29.5%                         29.8%

    Operating expenses               74,148          (9,617)(3)    64,531

      Income from operations         12,218          10,558        22,776

    Interest expense, net             6,811               -         6,811
    Other (income) expense, net      (1,024)            636(4)       (388)

      Income before income taxes      6,431           9,922        16,353

    Income tax provision              1,671           3,841(5)      5,512

      Net income                     $4,760          $6,081       $10,841

    Earnings per share - basic        $0.56                         $1.27
    Earnings per share - diluted      $0.55                         $1.25
    Weighted average common shares
     - basic                          8,566                         8,566
    Weighted average common shares
     - diluted                        8,653                         8,653


                                           Nine Months Ended 9/30/07
                                      GAAP       Adjustments     Adjusted
    Band sales                     $125,690              $-      $125,690
    Piano sales                     159,292               -       159,292
      Total sales                   284,982               -       284,982

    Band gross profit                26,012               -        26,012
    Piano gross profit               57,884               -        57,884
      Total gross profit             83,896               -        83,896

    Band GM%                           20.7%                         20.7%
    Piano GM%                          36.3%                         36.3%
      Total GM%                        29.4%                         29.4%

    Operating expenses               64,245               -        64,245

      Income from operations         19,651               -        19,651

    Interest expense, net             7,580               -         7,580
    Other (income) expense, net        (154)              -          (154)

      Income before income taxes     12,225               -        12,225

    Income tax provision              4,634               -         4,634

      Net income                     $7,591              $-        $7,591

    Earnings per share - basic        $0.89                         $0.89
    Earnings per share - diluted      $0.88                         $0.88
    Weighted average common shares -
     basic                            8,503                         8,503
    Weighted average common shares -
     diluted                          8,641                         8,641


    Notes to Reconciliation of GAAP Earnings to Adjusted Earnings
    (1) Includes results of online music business.
    (2) Reflects costs (primarily employee severance) associated with plant
        closures.
    (3) Reflects facility rationalization costs of $1,062 due to the
        impairment of plants in Elkhorn, WI and France and $8,555 impairment
        of goodwill.
    (4) Reflects a gain on early extinguishment of debt.
    (5) Reflects the tax effect of Adjustments.



                      STEINWAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, INC.
                                (In Thousands)
                                 (Unaudited)

 Reconciliation from Cash Flows from Operating Activities to Adjusted EBITDA
                                       Three Months Ended   Nine Months Ended
                                       9/30/2008 9/30/2007 9/30/2008 9/30/2007
    Cash flows from operating
     activities                         $(3,833)  $5,165    $(2,402) $(11,374)
    Changes in operating assets and
     liabilities                         12,667    1,248     22,116    27,104
    Stock based compensation expense       (300)    (210)      (811)     (853)
    Income taxes, net of deferred tax
     benefit                              1,445    1,416      5,591     6,672
    Net interest expense                  2,378    2,905      6,811     7,580
    Provision for doubtful accounts         (12)    (794)      (484)   (1,512)
    Other                                   (46)      94       (381)       27
    Non-recurring, infrequent or
     unusual cash charges                   (62)       -        941         -
    Adjusted EBITDA                     $12,237   $9,824    $31,381   $27,644


              Reconciliation from Net Income to Adjusted EBITDA

                                       Three Months Ended  Nine Months Ended
                                       9/30/2008 9/30/2007 9/30/2008 9/30/2007
    Net (loss) income                     $(260)  $3,008     $4,760    $7,591
    Income taxes                         (1,126)   1,285      1,671     4,634
    Net interest expense                  2,378    2,905      6,811     7,580
    Depreciation                          2,416    2,430      7,422     7,251
    Amortization                            336      196        795       588
    Non-recurring, infrequent or
     unusual items                        8,493        -      9,922         -
    Adjusted EBITDA                     $12,237   $9,824    $31,381   $27,644

SOURCE Steinway Musical Instruments, Inc.

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