Superior Group of Companies (SGC) 10-Q2024 Q3 Quarterly report

See accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

SUPERIOR GROUP OF COMPANIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

NINE MONTHS ENDED September 30, 2024 AND 2023

(Unaudited)

(In thousands, except shares and per share data)

See accompanying Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

Superior Group of Companies, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

NOTE 1 – Description of Business and Basis of Presentation:

Description of business

Superior Group of Companies, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, “the Company,” “Superior,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) was organized in 1920 and was incorporated in 1922 as a New York company under the name Superior Surgical Mfg. Co., Inc. In 1998, the Company changed its name to Superior Uniform Group, Inc. and redomiciled to Florida. Effective on May 3, 2018, Superior Uniform Group, Inc. changed its name to Superior Group of Companies, Inc.

Superior’s Branded Products segment, primarily through its signature marketing brands BAMKO® and HPI®, produces and sells customized merchandising solutions, promotional products and branded uniform programs. Branded products are manufactured through third parties or in Superior’s own facilities, and are sold to customers in a wide range of industries, including retail chain, food service, entertainment, technology, transportation and other industries. The segment currently has sales offices in the United States, Canada, and Brazil, with support services in China and India.

Superior’s Healthcare Apparel segment, primarily through its signature marketing brands Fashion Seal Healthcare®, Wink® and CID Resources, manufactures (through third parties or in its own facilities) and sells a wide range of healthcare apparel, such as scrubs, lab coats, protective apparel and patient apparel. This segment sells its products to healthcare laundries, dealers, distributors, retailers and consumers primarily in the United States.

Superior’s Contact Centers segment, through multiple The Office Gurus® entities, including subsidiaries in El Salvador, Belize, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and the United States (collectively, “TOG”), provides outsourced, nearshore business process outsourcing, contact and call-center support services to North American customers.

Basis of presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements of Superior included herein have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP") ("U.S." or "United States") and the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America have been condensed or omitted pursuant to such rules and regulations. Intercompany items have been eliminated in consolidation. These condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the audited financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023, and filed with the SEC. Management believes that the information furnished includes all adjustments of a normal recurring nature that are necessary to fairly present our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods indicated. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the full year.

The Company refers to the condensed consolidated financial statements collectively as “financial statements,” and individually as “statements of comprehensive income (loss),” “balance sheets,” “statements of shareholders’ equity,” and “statements of cash flows” herein.

Reclassifications

The accompanying financial statements for the previous year contain certain reclassifications. Reclassifications impact the reporting of accounts receivable-other within the condensed consolidated balance sheets and statements of cash flows as well as the presentation of segment performance as described within Note 9. These reclassifications have no effect on previously reported results of operations.

Written Put Options

During the second quarter of 2022, the Company entered into written put options with a former employee that, if exercised by the former employee, required the Company to repurchase up to 207,970 shares of its common stock at fair market value (as defined in the agreement), subject to certain limitations. The original fair value of the written put options upon entering into the agreement was $3.6 million. The written put options were liabilities under ASC 480, “Distinguishing Liabilities from Equity” because the options embody obligations to repurchase the Company’s shares by paying cash. As of December 31, 2023, the fair value of the written put options were $1.8 million. The fair value of the written put options was based directly on the Company’s stock price and were included in other current liabilities in our balance sheets. The written put options expire after twenty-four months and contain certain quarterly maximums. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the remaining unexpired options of 132,924 expired resulting in a $2.4 million reduction in other current liabilities with an offset to additional paid-in capital. Unrealized gains and losses from changes in the fair value of the written put options were included within selling and administrative expenses in our statements of comprehensive income. 

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

We consider the applicability and impact of all Accounting Standard Updates (“ASUs”). ASUs not listed below were assessed and determined to not be applicable.

Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Not Yet Adopted

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-07, "Segment Reporting (Topic 280)—Improvements to Reportable Segment Disclosures". The ASU requires that an entity disclose significant segment expenses impacting profit and loss that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker ("CODM"). The update is required to be applied retrospectively to prior periods presented, based on the significant segment expense categories identified and disclosed in the period of adoption. The amendments in this ASU are required to be adopted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2023, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024. Early adoption is permitted. We will adopt the disclosure requirements of ASU 2023-07 in our December 31, 2024 annual financial statements. The adoption of the ASU will only impact our disclosures, which will be made on a retrospective basis, with no impacts on our results of operations, cash flows or financial condition. The Company’s adoption of this standard is not expected to have a material impact on its financial statements.

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU 2023-09, "Income Taxes (Topic 740)—Improvements to Income Tax Disclosures". The ASU requires that an entity disclose specific categories in the effective tax rate reconciliation as well as provide additional information for reconciling items that meet a quantitative threshold. Further, the ASU requires certain disclosures of state versus federal income tax expense and taxes paid. The amendments in this ASU are required to be adopted for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2024, which for the Company is the calendar year beginning January 1, 2025. Early adoption is permitted for annual financial statements that have not yet been issued. The amendments should be applied on a prospective basis although retrospective application is permitted. The adoption of this guidance will not affect the Company’s consolidated results of operations, financial position or cash flows and the Company is currently evaluating the effect the guidance will have on its disclosures.

NOTE 2 – Inventories:

Inventories consisted of the following amounts (in thousands):

NOTE 3 – Long-Term Debt:

Debt consisted of the following (in thousands):

On August 23, 2022, the Company entered into a Credit Agreement (the “Credit Agreement”) among the Company, the domestic subsidiaries of the Company, as guarantors, the lenders party thereto (the “Lenders”), and PNC Bank, National Association, as administrative agent for the Lenders (the “Administrative Agent”), pursuant to which the Lenders are providing the Company senior secured credit facilities maturing in August 2027 consisting of a revolving credit facility in the aggregate maximum principal amount of $125.0 million and a term loan in the original aggregate principal amount of $75.0 million (collectively, the “Credit Facilities”), and the ability to request incremental revolving credit or term loan facilities in an aggregate amount of up to an additional $75.0 million, subject to obtaining additional lender commitments and satisfying certain other conditions. 

Obligations outstanding under the Credit Facilities accrue interest at a variable rate equal to the secured overnight financing rate ("SOFR") plus an adjustment between 0.10% and 0.25% (depending on the applicable interest period) plus a margin between 1.0% and 2.0% (depending on the Company’s net leverage ratio). The weighted average interest rate on our outstanding borrowings under the Credit Facilities was 6.0% as of September 30, 2024. During the term of the revolving credit facility, the Company will pay a commitment fee on the unused portion of the revolving credit facility equal to between 0.125% and 0.250% (depending on the Company’s net leverage ratio). The available balance under the revolving credit facility is reduced by outstanding letters of credit. As of September 30, 2024, there were no outstanding letters of credit under the revolving credit facility.

Contractual principal payments for the term loan are as follows: remainder of 2024 - $1.4 million; 2025 - $5.6 million; 2026 - $6.6 million and 2027 - $52.5 million. The term loan does not contain pre-payment penalties.

The Credit Facilities are secured by substantially all of the operating assets of the Company, and the Company’s obligations under the Credit Facilities are guaranteed by all of its domestic subsidiaries. The Company’s obligations under the Credit Facilities are subject to acceleration upon the occurrence of an event of default as defined in the Credit Agreement. The Credit Agreement contains customary events of default and negative covenants, including but not limited to those governing indebtedness, liens, fundamental changes, investments, restricted payments (including dividends and related distributions), liquidations, mergers, consolidations or acquisitions, affiliate transactions and sales of assets or subsidiaries. The Credit Agreement also requires the Company to comply with a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.25 to 1.0 and a net leverage ratio not to exceed 4.0 to 1.0. The Company’s net leverage ratio (as defined in the Credit Agreement) is generally calculated as the ratio of (a) indebtedness minus unrestricted cash to (b) consolidated EBITDA for the four most recently ended fiscal quarters. As of September 30, 2024, the Company was in compliance with these ratios.

NOTE 4 – Net Sales:

For our Branded Products and Healthcare Apparel segments, revenue is primarily generated from the sale of finished products to customers. Revenues for our Branded Products and Healthcare Apparel segments are recognized when the performance obligations under the contract terms are satisfied. For certain contracts with customers in which the Company has an enforceable right to payment for goods with no alternative use, revenue is recognized over time upon receipt of finished goods into inventory. Revenue for goods that do have an alternative use or that the customer is not obligated to purchase under the terms of a contract is generally recognized when the goods are transferred to the customer. The Company includes shipping and handling fees billable to customers in net sales. Shipping and handling activities that occur after the transfer of promised goods are accrued as control is transferred to the customer rather than being treated as a separate performance obligation.

For our Contact Centers segment, revenue is generated from providing our customers with contact center services. Revenue for our Contact Centers segment is recognized as services are delivered. 

Revenue is measured at the amount of consideration we expect to receive in exchange for the goods or services. Variable consideration for estimated returns, allowances and other price variances is recorded based upon historical experience and current allowance programs. Contract terms may involve variable consideration clauses such as sales discounts and customer rebates, and revenue is adjusted accordingly for these provisions. Estimated amounts are included in the transaction price to the extent it is probable that a significant reversal of cumulative revenue recognized will not occur when the uncertainty associated with the variable consideration is resolved. The promised amount of consideration in a contract is not adjusted for the effects of a significant financing component when we expect, at contract inception, that the period between our transfer of a promised good or service to a customer and when the customer pays for that product or service will be one year or less. Sales taxes are excluded from the measurement of a performance obligation’s transaction price. Sales commissions are expensed as incurred when we expect that the amortization period of such costs will be one year or less.

For further information regarding our net sales disaggregated by reportable segment see Note 9.

Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities

The following table provides information about accounts receivable, contract assets and contract liabilities from contracts with customers (in thousands):

Contract assets relate to goods produced without an alternative use for which the Company has an enforceable right to payment but which has not yet been invoiced to the customer. The majority of the amounts included in contract assets on December 31, 2023 were transferred to accounts receivable during the nine months ended September 30, 2024. Contract liabilities relate to payments received in advance of the Company completing its performance under a contract. Contract liabilities are included in other current liabilities in our balance sheets. During the nine months ended September 30, 2024, $4.9 million of revenue was recognized from the contract liabilities balance as of December 31, 2023.

NOTE 5 – Contingencies:

The purchase price to acquire substantially all of the assets of Sutter’s Mill Specialties, Inc. (“Sutter’s Mill”) in December 2021 included contingent consideration based on varying levels of Sutter’s Mill’s EBITDA in each measurement period from 2022 to 2024. In July 2023, management agreed to settle the remaining contingent consideration obligation associated with this acquisition for $0.5 million, which was paid in the first quarter of 2024. The purchase price to acquire substantially all of the assets of Guardian Products, Inc. (“Guardian”) in May 2022 included contingent consideration based on varying levels of Guardian’s EBITDA in each measurement period through April 2025. The estimated fair value of Guardian acquisition-related contingent consideration payable as of September 30, 2024 was $0.7 million, all of which is expected to be paid in the third quarter of 2025. In the third quarter of 2024, $1.0 million was paid for the 2023 measurement period. The total estimated undiscounted remaining payment related to this contingent consideration payable is between $0.9 million and $1.0 million. The Company will continue to evaluate the Guardian liability for remeasurement at the end of each reporting period and any changes will be recorded in the Company’s statements of comprehensive income. The carrying amount of the liability may fluctuate significantly and actual amounts paid may be different from the estimated value of the liability.

The Company is involved in various legal actions and claims arising from the normal course of business. In the opinion of management, the ultimate outcome of these matters is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s results of operations, cash flows, or financial position.

NOTE 6 – Share-Based Compensation:

Share-based compensation expense is recorded in selling and administrative expense in the statements of comprehensive income. The following table details the share-based compensation expense by type of award for the periods presented (in thousands):

Stock Options and Stock Appreciation Rights (“SARs”)

The Company grants stock options and stock-settled SARs to employees that allow them to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock. Stock options are also granted to outside members of the Board of Directors of the Company. The Company determines the fair value of stock options and SARs at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes valuation model.

All stock options and SARs vest between one and three years after the grant date. Employee awards expire five years after the grant date, and those issued to directors expire ten years after the grant date. The Company issues new shares upon the exercise of stock options and SARs. Stock options, as well as SARs granted in tandem with stock options, are subject to accelerated vesting under certain circumstances as outlined in the 2013 Incentive Stock and Awards Plan (the “2013 Plan”) or 2022 Equity Incentive and Awards Plan (the “2022 Plan”), as applicable. 

A summary of stock option transactions during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 follows:

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $0.8 million in unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested stock options to be recognized over the remaining weighted average vesting period of 1.0 year.

A summary of stock-settled SARs transactions during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 follows:

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $0.3 million in unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested SARs to be recognized over the remaining weighted average vesting period of 1.0 year.

Restricted Stock

The Company has granted shares of restricted stock to directors and certain employees, which vest at a specified future date, generally after three years, over five years or when certain conditions are met. The shares are subject to accelerated vesting under certain circumstances as outlined in the 2013 Plan or 2022 Plan, as applicable. Expense for each of these grants is based on the fair value at the date of the grant and is being recognized on a straight-line basis over the respective service period.

A summary of restricted stock transactions during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 follows:

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $3.8 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested restricted stock grants expected to be recognized over the remaining weighted average vesting period of 1.7 years.

Performance Shares

The Company has granted performance shares, which either contain only service-based vesting conditions or service-based and performance-based vesting conditions. The service-based awards vest after the service period is met, which is generally three to five years. Expense for these grants is based on the fair value on the date of the grant and is being recognized on a straight-line basis over the respective service period. The performance-based awards generally vest after five years if the performance and service targets are met. The Company evaluates the performance conditions associated with these grants each reporting period to determine the expected number of shares to be issued. Expense for grants of performance shares is recognized on a straight-line basis over the respective service period based on the grant date fair value and expected number of shares to be issued. The awards are subject to accelerated vesting on a pro rata basis under certain circumstances as outlined in the 2013 Plan or 2022 Plan, as applicable, except in those circumstances in which award agreements or change in control agreements specify full vesting.

On May 1, 2024, the Compensation Committee approved the Company entering into a grant of 125,000 and 75,000 performance shares to Michael Benstock, Chief Executive Officer and Michael Koempel, Chief Financial Officer, respectively, under the 2022 Equity Incentive and Awards Plan. The performance shares agreements were executed on May 6, 2024. Each performance share represents a contingent right to receive one share of common stock. The performance shares will vest if, in each case and during a four-year performance period beginning on January 1, 2024, subject to additional requirements, the average closing price of the Company’s common stock over a rolling thirty (30) day period equals or exceeds 115%, 130%, and 150% of the closing share price on May 10, 2024 and the executive is still employed by the Company twelve (12) months after the applicable stock price condition has been satisfied. The fair value and derived service periods of the shares were determined based on a Monte Carlo valuation model, which includes estimates of the Company’s stock price volatility. Expense for these grants is being recognized on a straight-line basis over each tranche’s derived service period.

A summary of performance share transactions during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 follows:

As of September 30, 2024, the Company had $2.5 million of unrecognized compensation cost related to nonvested performance share grants expected to be recognized over the remaining weighted average service period of 1.5 years.

NOTE 7 – Income Taxes:

The Company calculates its interim income tax provision in accordance with the accounting guidance for income taxes in interim periods. At the end of each interim period, the Company makes its best estimate of the annual expected effective tax rate and applies that rate to its ordinary year-to-date income or loss. The tax expense or benefit related to significant, unusual, or extraordinary items that will be separately reported or reported net of their related tax effect are individually computed and recognized in the interim period in which those items occur.

The computation of the annual expected effective tax rate at each interim period requires certain estimates and assumptions including, but not limited to, the expected operating income for the year and permanent and temporary differences. The accounting estimates used to compute the provision for income taxes may change as new events occur, additional information is obtained or the tax environment changes.

For the three months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $1.2 million, which represents an effective tax rate of 17.8%. For the nine months ended September 30, 2024, the Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $1.9 million, which represents an effective tax rate of 16.1%. The income tax provision and the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2024 was primarily impacted by the variability in the mix of earnings across the Company’s foreign and domestic operations, subject to various statutory tax rates in those jurisdictions.

For the three months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $0.2 million, which represents an effective tax rate of 4.9%. For the nine months ended September 30, 2023, the Company recorded a provision for income taxes of $0.4 million, which represents an effective tax rate of 6.8%. The income tax provision and the effective tax rate for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 was primarily impacted by the variability in the mix of earnings across the Company’s foreign and domestic operations subject to various statutory tax rates in those jurisdictions.

NOTE 8 – Net Income Per Share:

The Company’s basic net income per share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding for the period. Diluted net income per share includes the effect of the Company’s outstanding stock options, stock appreciation rights, nonvested shares of restricted stock and nonvested performance shares, if the inclusion of these items is dilutive.

The following table presents a reconciliation of basic and diluted net income per share for the periods presented:

Awards to purchase 309,778 and 1,198,603 shares of common stock with weighted average exercise prices of $21.44 and $15.32 per share were outstanding during the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share because the awards’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares.

Awards to purchase 335,071 and 1,158,819 shares of common stock with weighted average exercise prices of $21.40 and $15.84 per share were outstanding during the nine months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively, but were not included in the computation of diluted net income per share because the awards’ exercise prices were greater than the average market price of the common shares.

NOTE 9 – Operating Segment Information:

The Company manages and reports the following segments:

Branded Products segment: Primarily through our signature marketing brands BAMKO® and HPI®, we produce and sell customized merchandising solutions, promotional products and branded uniform programs. Branded products are sold to customers in a wide range of industries, including retail chain, food service, entertainment, technology, transportation and other industries. The segment currently has sales offices in the United States, Canada, and Brazil, with support services in China and India.

Healthcare Apparel segment: Primarily through our signature marketing brands Fashion Seal Healthcare®, Wink® and CID Resources, we manufacture (through third parties or in our own facilities) and sell a wide range of healthcare apparel, such as scrubs, lab coats, protective apparel and patient apparel. This segment sells its products to healthcare laundries, dealers, distributors, retailers and consumers primarily in the United States.

Contact Centers: Through multiple The Office Gurus® entities, including our subsidiaries in El Salvador, Belize, Jamaica, Dominican Republic and the United States (collectively, “TOG”), we provide outsourced, nearshore business process outsourcing, contact and call-center support services to North American customers.

Intersegment eliminations include the elimination of revenues and costs from services provided by the Contact Centers segment to the Company’s two other segments. Such costs are recognized as selling and administrative expenses in the Branded Products and Healthcare Apparel segments. Income and expenses related to corporate functions that are not specifically attributable to an individual reportable segment are presented within Other in the tables below.

During the fourth quarter of 2023, our chief operating decision maker began to evaluate the performance of our segments using Segment EBITDA instead of income before income taxes. The Company has modified its presentation of segment performance to be consistent with this change, including prior periods presented for consistent and comparable presentation. Amounts that are included in income before income tax expense and excluded from Segment EBITDA include the following: interest expense and depreciation and amortization expense.

The following tables set forth financial information related to the Company’s operating segments (in thousands):

The following table reconciles income before income tax expense to Segment EBITDA (in thousands):

ITEM 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our unaudited financial statements and the notes thereto included in the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in Part I, Item 1 (“Financial Statements”) of this report and in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

The financial position, results of operations, cash flows and other information included herein are not necessarily indicative of the financial position, results of operations and cash flows that may be expected in future periods. See "Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements" below for a discussion of uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements.

Business Outlook

Superior Group of Companies, Inc. (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company,” “Superior,” “we,” “our,” or “us”) is comprised of three reportable business segments: (1) Branded Products, (2) Healthcare Apparel and (3) Contact Centers. 

Branded Products

In our Branded Products segment, we produce and sell customized merchandising solutions, promotional products and branded uniform programs to our customers. As a strategic branding partner, we offer our customers customized branding solutions and strategies that generate favorable brand impressions, bolster customer retention and enhance employee engagement. Our products are sold to customers in a wide range of industries, including retail chain, food service, entertainment, technology, transportation and other industries. Sales volumes in this segment are impacted by a number of factors, including marketing programs of our customers and turnover of our customers’ employees, often times driven by the opening and closing of locations. From a long-term perspective, we believe that synergies within this segment will create opportunities to cross-sell products to new and existing customers.

Healthcare Apparel

In our Healthcare Apparel segment, we manufacture (through third parties or in our own facilities) and sell a wide range of healthcare apparel, such as scrubs, lab coats, protective apparel and patient apparel. We sell our brands of healthcare service apparel to healthcare laundries, dealers, distributors, retailers and consumers primarily in the United States. From a long-term perspective, we expect that demand for our signature marketing brands, including Fashion Seal Healthcare® and Wink® (within CID Resources), will continue to provide opportunities for growth and increased market share.

Contact Centers

In our Contact Centers segment (also known as “The Office Gurus”), which operates in El Salvador, Belize, Jamaica, Dominican Republic, and the United States, we provide outsourced, nearshore business process outsourcing, contact and call-center support services to North American customers. These services are also provided internally to the Company’s other two operating segments. The Office Gurus has become an award-winning business process outsourcer offering inbound and outbound voice, email, text, chat and social media support. The nearshore call-center market has grown as businesses look to reduce operating costs while maintaining high-quality customer support. Nearshore operators are able to provide comparable service to their U.S. counterparts at a fraction of the price. With an environment and career path designed to attract and maintain top talent across all sites, we believe The Office Gurus is positioned well to continue growing this business.

Global Economic and Political Conditions

Economic and political events over the past several years have altered the landscape in which we and other U.S. companies operate in a variety of ways. World events, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting economic sanctions have impacted the global economy, including by exacerbating inflationary and other pressures. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East could continue to affect oil prices and have other negative effects on the global economy. Civil unrest in countries where we manufacture products, such as Haiti, may result in our facilities incurring damage or destruction that interrupts our manufacturing processes and adversely affects our reputation and our relationships with our customers. While inflation and interest rates decreased in 2024, the effects of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, further fluctuations in inflationary conditions and interest rates, additional sanctions or retaliatory measures related to the Russia-Ukraine crisis or other situations, including deteriorating or prolonged diplomatic tension between the United States and China, could further negatively affect U.S. and international commerce and exacerbate or prolong the period of high energy prices.

Prolonged or recurring disruptions or instability in the United States and global economies, and how the world reacts to those disruptions or instability, could have long-term impacts on our business. These business impacts could negatively affect us in a number of ways, including, but not limited to, reduced demand for our core products and services, reductions to our revenue and profitability, costs associated with complying with new or amended laws and regulations affecting our business, declines in our stock price, reduced availability and less favorable terms of future borrowings, valuation of our pension obligations, reduced credit-worthiness of our customers, and potential impairment of the carrying value of indefinite-lived intangible assets.

Net Income

The Company generated net income of $5.4 million and $3.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. The increase in net income during the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023 was primarily due to an increase in net sales and gross margins at our Branded Products and Healthcare Apparel segments, a decrease in interest expense, partially offset by an increase in selling and administrative expenses across all three of our reportable segments.

EBITDA

EBITDA was $11.7 million and $9.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. EBITDA increase was primarily due to increased net sales and gross margins at our Branded Products and Healthcare Apparel segments, partially offset by an increase in selling, general and administrative expenses across all of our reportable segments. For a reconciliation of EBITDA to net income, its most directly comparable financial measure calculated and presented in accordance with GAAP, please read “Non-GAAP Financial Measure” below.

Net Sales

Net sales for the Company increased 10.0%, or $13.6 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. The increase was attributable to net sales increases in all three of our reportable segments.

Branded Products net sales increased 10.8%, or $9.0 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. The increase was primarily due to expansion of business within existing accounts and new client wins.

Healthcare Apparel net sales increased 11.4%, or $3.4 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. The increase was primarily due to higher online sales from both our wholesale customers and our direct-to-consumer website, as well as, the timing of wholesale orders as compared to last year. 

Contact Centers net sales increased 3.8% or $0.9 million, before intersegment eliminations for the three months ended September 30, 2024 compared to the three months ended September 30, 2023. The increase was primarily attributable to new customers, partially offset by a decrease in existing customer volume.

Gross Margin

Gross margin rate for the Company was 40.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 39.1% for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The gross margin rate increase was driven by the Branded Products and Healthcare Apparel segments.

Gross margin rate for our Branded Products segment was 36.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 34.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The gross margin rate increased as compared to the prior year period primarily driven by sourcing mix resulting in lower product costs and pricing increases to existing customers.

Gross margin rate for our Healthcare Apparel segment was 41.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 38.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The gross margin rate increased as compared to the prior year period primarily due to costs of goods favorability associated with our Haiti manufacturing facility during the current period.

Gross margin rate for our Contact Centers segment was 54.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 55.5% for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The rate decrease was primarily due to increased employee related costs of our agents.

Selling and Administrative Expenses

As a percentage of net sales, total selling and administrative expenses was 34.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 34.7% for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The rate increase was primarily driven by increases in employee related costs, third-party professional services and expenditures related to marketing and advertising activities.

As a percentage of net sales, selling and administrative expenses for our Branded Products segment was 26.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 28.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The rate decrease was primarily driven by expense leverage from an increase in net sales as compared to the prior period, partially offset by increases in sales commissions and employee related costs.

As a percentage of net sales, selling and administrative expenses for our Healthcare Apparel segment was 34.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 32.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The rate increased as compared to the prior year period as a result of increases in marketing and advertising activities along with employee related costs, which were partially offset by expense leverage from an increase in net sales. 

As a percentage of net sales, selling and administrative expenses for our Contact Centers segment was 45.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 42.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The rate increased as compared to the prior year period driven by an increase in the provision for bad debts and an increase in employee related costs.

Selling and administrative expenses for our Other segment, which represents unallocated Corporate costs, increased by $1.1 million, primarily driven by an increase in employee related costs and third party professional services.

Interest Expense

Interest expense decreased to $1.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 from $2.5 million for three months ended September 30, 2023. This decrease was due to a $36.2 million decrease in our weighted average outstanding borrowings along with a decrease in the weighted average interest rate on those borrowings from 7.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2023 to 6.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2024.

Income Taxes

Income tax expense increased to $1.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2024 from $0.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2023. The effective tax rate was 17.8% and 4.9% for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and 2023, respectively. Income tax expense and the effective tax rate for the three months ended September 30, 2024 and September 30, 2023 was primarily impacted by the variability in the mix of earnings across the Company’s foreign and domestic operations, subject to various statutory tax rates in those jurisdictions. The effective tax rate may vary from quarter to quarter due to discrete, unusual or non-recurring items, the resolution of income tax audits, changes in tax laws, the tax impact from employee share-based payments, or other items.