Helen of Troy reports positive Q4, fiscal-year results

EL PASO — Helen of Troy Limited, a designer, developer and marketer of brand-name household and personal care consumer products, posted a boost in fiscal year revenues in its personal care segment, primarily reflecting its March 2010 acquisition of the Pert Plus and Sure brands.

For the fiscal year ended Feb. 28, net revenue in the personal care division increased 9.4% to $491 million, compared with $449 million in the year-ago period.

For the fourth quarter, the segment posted net revenue of $113 million, up 11%, compared with $102 million in the year-ago period.

On a companywide basis, fiscal year revenue rose 20% to $777 million.

Fourth-quarter revenue soared 55.8% to $237 million.

"We are very pleased with our record fourth quarter and record fiscal-year results. We continue to make progress in achieving our strategic business objectives initiated during the past year. During the fourth quarter, we utilized $77.5 million of our available cash and $194 million of financing for the acquisition of the Kaz business, giving us entry into exciting new product categories, under the well-known and recognized Vicks, Braun and Honeywell brand names," Helen of Troy chairman, president and CEO Gerald Rubin said.

As previously reported, Helen of Troy completed the acquisition of Kaz on Dec. 31, 2010, creating the company's new healthcare/home environment segment.