Logitech posts net loss of $35 million

Sales for Q4 were $408 million, a decrease of 32 percent compared to $601 million in the same quarter last year. The Company posted an operating loss of $43 million, compared to operating income of $66 million in the same quarter a year ago. The net loss for Q4 was $35 million ($0.20 per share) compared to net income of $60.3 million ($0.32 per share) in Q4 FY 2008. During the fourth quarter, Logitech recorded pre-tax restructuring charges of $20.5 million ($15.9 million after tax or $0.09 per diluted share). Gross margin for Q4 was 25.0 percent compared to 35.6 in Q4 FY 2008.

Logitech’s retail sales for Q4 FY 2009 declined by 32 percent year over year, with sales down by 36 percent in EMEA, 33 percent in the Americas, and 14 percent in Asia. OEM sales were down by 33 percent.

“The primary cause of the year-over-year decline in our Q4 sales was the economic downturn,” said Gerald P. Quindlen, Logitech president and chief executive officer. “Our sales were negatively impacted by the combination of weak consumer demand and the accelerating reset by our channel partners of their weeks of supply. A contributing factor to our sales decline was the effect of the stronger U.S. dollar.

“Consumer demand for our products in Q4 was much stronger than our reported sales would suggest. According to data we receive from our channel partners, sell-through of our products in the Americas and EMEA, our two largest regions, was down 14 percent and 7 percent, respectively, in Q4 compared to the prior year. Additionally, our most current data shows that our market share is largely stable – and in some cases growing – across most of our product categories.

“Historically the amount of Logitech product carried by our channel partners has been a function of the high sell-through rate of our products. With the continuing economic downturn, the sudden decline in the sell-through rate of our products resulted in our channel partners significantly lowering their levels of required supply. We are reaching alignment with this new level through promotional activities and reduced shipments. Our actions will accelerate, in Q1, leading to equilibrium in the channel in Q2. In view of these dynamics, we expect Q1 to be the low point of the year for operating results.

“During Q4 we achieved more than a $100 million reduction in our inventory on a sequential basis. I am also very pleased with our cash management during the quarter. We exited Fiscal Year 2009 with approximately a half billion dollars in cash, up sequentially, and virtually unchanged year over year, in spite of the turmoil in the global economy during the period.

“As we successfully achieve realignment with partners’ required supply levels, continue to realize the benefits of our recent restructuring – which, together with our efforts to reduce variable spending, we expect to reduce our cost structure by $100 million annually – and introduce our new lineup of products designed for today’s consumer, I believe we will have the elements in place for a return to earnings growth for the second half of Fiscal 2010.

“Beyond the current fiscal year, there are significant, ongoing trends that will spur our growth as we move past the impact of the current macroeconomic environment. Logitech fulfills the increasing demand for interfaces between people and the expanding digital world across multiple platforms and user environments. This presents an opportunity for us as we introduce products that enhance the usability and experiences of these new platforms. Our advantages of scale, strong distribution, brand leadership and an unparalleled innovation engine continue to position us for long-term growth.”