RONKONKOMA, N.Y., Nov. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- NBTY, Inc. (NYSE:NTY) (http://www.nbty.com/), a leading global manufacturer and marketer of nutritional supplements, today announced results for the fiscal fourth quarter and fiscal year ended September 30, 2009. For the fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2009, net sales were a record $674 million compared to $602 million for the fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2008, an increase of $73 million or 12%. Leiner Health Products, which was acquired in July 2008, has been fully integrated into NBTY operations, and accordingly, Leiner sales can no longer be separately identified. Net income for the fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2009 was $63 million, or $1.00 per diluted share, compared to net income of $18 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, for the prior comparable quarter. Net income for this fiscal fourth quarter reflects greater sales, improved supply chain management and effective controls of selling, general & administrative and advertising costs. During the quarter, the Company recovered a net of $7 million for previously terminated IT programs. The aggregate after-tax impact of this item was $0.07 per diluted share. Without this recovery, earnings per diluted share for this fiscal quarter would have been $0.93. Adjusted EBITDA for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009 was a record $120 million, compared to $55 million for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2008. The Company's balance sheet continues to be strong and well capitalized. At September 30, 2009, working capital was $674 million, total assets were $2 billion, and $325 million remains undrawn under the Company's Revolving Credit Facility. Preliminary and unaudited net sales for October 2009 were $242 million, a 9% increase from the prior like month. A detailed breakdown of these sales is shown in the last table below. OPERATIONS FOR THE FISCAL FOURTH QUARTER ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 Net sales for the Wholesale/US Nutrition division, which markets various brands including Nature's Bounty, Osteo Bi-Flex, Rexall, Sundown, Ester-C, Solgar, and private label products, increased $46 million, or 13%, to $404 million. The Nielsen Company tracks industry-wide sales of vitamins, minerals, herbs and other supplements in the food, drug and mass market sectors. For the thirteen week period ended September 26, 2009, Nielsen reported an increase in the entire category of 11%. According to Nielsen, for that same period, the Company's Wholesale brands reported a 13.6% increase. The Wholesale/US Nutrition division utilizes valuable consumer preference sales data generated by the Company's Vitamin World retail stores and Puritan's Pride Direct Response/E-Commerce operations to empower its wholesale customers with this latest data. The Vitamin World stores are used as a laboratory for new ideas and are an effective tool in determining and monitoring consumer preferences. This information, as well as scanned sales data from the Vitamin World stores, is shared on a real time basis with our wholesale customers to give them a competitive advantage. Net sales for the North American Retail division, comprised of Vitamin World Stores in the United States and LeNaturiste stores in Canada, were $50 million, a 2% increase from the prior like quarter. While the division's same store sales were relatively flat for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009, the modernization of its stores had a favorable impact on its operations. This resulted in pre-tax income of $2 million, net of IT recovery, compared with a $1 million loss for the prior like quarter. During the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009, the North American Retail division closed one store and added one new store. At the end of the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009, the North American Retail division operated a total of 528 stores, consisting of 442 Vitamin World stores in the United States and 86 LeNaturiste stores in Canada. European Retail net sales for the fiscal fourth quarter ended September 30, 2009 were $160 million compared to $138 million, for the prior like quarter. European Retail net sales for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009 include $27 million from Julian Graves. NBTY acquired Julian Graves on September 16, 2008 and in that month Julian Graves generated $5 million in sales. European Retail same store sales decreased 4%, and in local currency (British Pound Sterling), same store sales increased 11%. The Julian Graves acquisition was formally approved by the UK Competition Commission on August 20, 2009. The Company is in the process of integrating the Julian Graves operation. Benefits should be seen in European Retail operations by the fiscal fourth quarter 2010. The European Retail division continues to leverage its premier status, high street locations and brand awareness to maintain market share in a difficult retail environment. The European Retail division consists of 537 Holland & Barrett stores, 351 Julian Graves stores and 31 GNC stores in the UK, 24 Nature's Way stores in Ireland, and 80 DeTuinen stores in the Netherlands, for a total of 1,023 stores in Europe and 9 Holland & Barrett franchised stores in South Africa. As part of Holland & Barrett's global expansion, additional franchise locations are expected during 2010. Net sales from Direct Response/E-Commerce operations for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2009 increased $4 million, or 8% to $60 million from $55 million for the fiscal fourth quarter of 2008. As this division varies its promotional strategy throughout the fiscal year, its results should be viewed on an annual and not quarterly basis. Puritan's Pride is the leader in the Direct Response and E-Commerce sectors and continues to increase the number of products available via its catalog and web sites. OPERATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009, net sales were $2.6 billion, compared to net sales of $2.2 billion for the prior fiscal year, an increase of $402 million, or 18%. Net income for the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 was $146 million, or $2.30 per diluted share, compared to $153 million, or $2.33 per diluted share, for the prior fiscal year. Adjusted EBITDA for fiscal 2009 was $345 million, compared to $313 million for fiscal 2008, reflecting increased income from operations. Overall gross profit margins for the fiscal year ended 2009 decreased to 44% from 49% for the fiscal year ended 2008. This decrease was primarily due to significantly higher private label sales which traditionally have a lower gross margin. Additional cost pressures occurred at the time of the Leiner acquisition when Leiner inventory levels were not adequate to maintain customer fulfillment levels. At the same time, certain raw material costs were increasing due to tight supply and inflationary pressures. In order to maintain adequate customer fulfillment levels, the Company purchased products at these higher costs which were not offset by higher prices charged to the customer. These conditions negatively impacted results for the first half of fiscal year 2009. The Company's operations stabilized during the second half as supply chain management improved. Selling, general and administrative cost increased $38 million from fiscal year 2008 to $738 million for fiscal year 2009. As a percentage of sales, these costs decreased from 32% of sales to 29%. At the same time, advertising costs decreased $30 million to $110 million and as a percentage of net sales decreased from 6% to 4%. NBTY Chairman and CEO, Scott Rudolph, said: "We are pleased to report record fourth quarter results. These results are indicative of the benefits achieved from the successful integration of the Leiner acquisition as well as our strategic position in the marketplace. We continue to benefit from our operating leverage and expect to maintain our global leadership position in the nutritional supplement industry." ABOUT NBTY NBTY is a leading global vertically integrated manufacturer, marketer and distributor of a broad line of high-quality, value-priced nutritional supplements in the United States and throughout the world. Under a number of NBTY and third party brands, the Company offers over 25,000 products, including products marketed by the Company's Nature's Bounty(R) (http://www.naturesbounty.com/), Vitamin World(R) (http://www.vitaminworld.com/), Puritan's Pride(R) (http://www.puritan.com/), Holland & Barrett(R) (http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/), Rexall(R) (http://www.rexall.com/), Sundown(R) (http://www.sundownnutrition.com/), MET-Rx(R) (http://www.metrx.com/), Worldwide Sport Nutrition(R) (http://www.sportnutrition.com/), American Health(R) (http://www.americanhealthus.com/), GNC (UK)(R) (http://www.gnc.co.uk/), DeTuinen(R) (http://www.detuinen.nl/), LeNaturiste(TM) (http://www.lenaturiste.com/), SISU (R) (http://www.sisu.com/), Solgar(R) (http://www.solgar.com/), Good 'n' Natural(R) (http://www.goodnnatural.com/), Home Health(TM) (http://www.homehealthus.com/), Julian Graves, and Ester-C(R) (http://www.ester-c.com/) brands. NBTY routinely posts information that may be important to investors on its web site. This release refers to non-GAAP financial measures, such as Adjusted EBITDA. "Adjusted EBITDA" is defined as net income, excluding the aggregate amount of all non-cash losses reducing net income, plus interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization. This non-GAAP financial measure is not prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Non-GAAP financial measures should not be considered as a substitute for, or superior to, measures of financial performance prepared in accordance with GAAP. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measure to the comparable GAAP measure is included in the attached financial tables. Management believes the presentation of Adjusted EBITDA is relevant and useful because Adjusted EBITDA is a measurement industry analysts utilize when evaluating NBTY's operating performance. Management also believes Adjusted EBITDA enhances an investor's understanding of NBTY's results of operations because it measures NBTY's operating performance exclusive of interest and non-cash charges for depreciation and amortization. Management also provides this non-GAAP measurement as a way to help investors better understand its core operating performance, enhance comparisons of NBTY's core operating performance from period to period and to allow better comparisons of NBTY's operating performance to that of its competitors. This release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 with respect to our financial condition, results of operations and business. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "subject to," "believe," "expects," "plan," "project," "estimate," "intend," "may," "will," "should," "can," or "anticipates," or the negative thereof, or variations thereon, or comparable terminology, or by discussions of strategy. Although all of these forward looking statements are believed to be reasonable, they are inherently uncertain. Factors which may materially affect such forward-looking statements include: (i) slow or negative growth in the nutritional supplement industry; (ii) interruption of business or negative impact on sales and earnings due to acts of God, acts of war, terrorism, bio-terrorism, civil unrest or disruption of mail service; (iii) adverse publicity regarding nutritional supplements; (iv) inability to retain customers of companies (or mailing lists) recently acquired; (v) increased competition; (vi) increased costs; (vii) loss or retirement of key members of management; (viii) increases in the cost of borrowings and/or unavailability of additional debt or equity capital; (ix) unavailability of, or inability to consummate, advantageous acquisitions in the future, including those that may be subject to bankruptcy approval or the inability of NBTY to integrate acquisitions into the mainstream of its business; (x) changes in general worldwide economic and political conditions in the markets in which NBTY may compete from time to time; (xi) the inability of NBTY to gain and/or hold market share of its wholesale and/or retail customers anywhere in the world; (xii) unavailability of electricity in certain geographical areas; (xiii) the inability of NBTY to obtain and/or renew insurance and/or the costs of the same; (xiv) exposure to and expense of defending and resolving product liability and intellectual property claims and other litigation; (xv) the ability of NBTY to successfully implement its business strategy; (xvi) the inability of NBTY to manage its retail, wholesale, manufacturing and other operations efficiently; (xvii) consumer acceptance of NBTY's products; (xviii) the inability of NBTY to renew leases for its retail locations; (xix) the inability of NBTY's retail stores to attain or maintain profitability; (xx) the absence of clinical trials for many of NBTY's products; (xxi) sales and earnings volatility and/or trends for the Company and its market segments; (xxii) the efficacy of NBTY's Internet and on-line sales and marketing strategies; (xxiii) fluctuations in foreign currencies, including the British pound, the Euro and the Canadian dollar; (xxiv) import-export controls on sales to foreign countries; (xxv) the inability of NBTY to secure favorable new sites for, and delays in opening, new retail and manufacturing locations; (xxvi) introduction of and compliance with new federal, state, local or foreign legislation or regulation or adverse determinations by regulators anywhere in the world (including the banning of products) and more particularly Good Manufacturing Practices in the United States, the Food Supplements Directive and Traditional Herbal Medicinal Products Directive in Europe and Section 404 requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002; (xxvii) the mix of NBTY's products and the profit margins thereon; (xxviii) the availability and pricing of raw materials; (xxix) risk factors discussed in NBTY's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; (xxx) adverse effects on NBTY as a result of increased energy prices and potentially reduced traffic flow to NBTY's retail locations; (xxxi) adverse tax determinations; (xxxii) the loss of a significant customer of the Company; (xxxiii) potential investment losses as a result of liquidity conditions; and (xxxiv) other factors beyond the Company's control. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. NBTY cannot guarantee future results, trends, events, levels of activity, performance or achievements. NBTY does not undertake and specifically declines any obligation to update, republish or revise forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrences of unanticipated events. Consequently, such forward-looking statements should be regarded solely as NBTY's current plans, estimates and beliefs. (TABLES FOLLOW) NBTY, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) (In thousands, except per share amounts) Three months ended September 30, 2009 2008 ---- ---- Net sales $674,137 $601,574 Costs and expenses: Cost of sales 367,051 338,100 Advertising, promotion and catalog 22,209 31,570 Selling, general and administrative 184,608 199,621 IT project termination recovery (7,055) - ------ --- 566,813 569,291 ------- ------- Income from operations 107,324 32,283 ------- ------ Other income (expense): Interest (8,102) (7,399) Miscellaneous, net 1,897 1,978 ----- ----- (6,205) (5,421) ------ ------ Income before provision for income taxes 101,119 26,862 Provision for income taxes 37,853 9,286 Net income $63,266 $17,576 ======= ======= Net income per share: Basic $1.02 $0.29 ===== ===== Diluted $1.00 $0.28 ===== ===== Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 61,874 61,245 ====== ====== Diluted 63,528 63,282 ====== ====== NBTY, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (UNAUDITED) (In thousands, except per share amounts) Fiscal years ended September 30, 2009 2008 ---- ---- Net sales $2,581,950 $2,179,469 Costs and expenses: Cost of sales 1,458,437 1,102,169 Advertising, promotion and catalog 110,098 140,479 Selling, general and administrative 737,786 700,209 IT project termination costs 11,718 - ------ --- 2,318,039 1,942,857 --------- --------- Income from operations 263,911 236,612 ------- ------- Other income (expense): Interest (34,882) (18,639) Miscellaneous, net (61) 13,067 --- ------ (34,943) (5,572) ------- ------ Income before provision for income taxes 228,968 231,040 Provision for income taxes 83,239 77,889 Net income $145,729 $153,151 ======== ======== Net income per share: Basic $2.36 $2.42 ===== ===== Diluted $2.30 $2.33 ===== ===== Weighted average common shares outstanding: Basic 61,718 63,386 ====== ====== Diluted 63,236 65,739 ====== ====== NET SALES (Unaudited) THREE MONTHS ENDED FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30, Percentage Percentage (In thousands) 2009 2008 Change 2009 2008 Change ---- ---- ------ ---- ---- ------ Wholesale / US Nutrition $404,159 $358,543 13% $1,557,089 $1,160,486 34% North American Retail 50,300 49,513 2% 201,878 208,014 -3% European Retail 159,817 138,127 16% 601,574 600,463 0% Direct Response / E-Commerce 59,861 55,391 8% 221,409 210,506 5% ------ ------ --- ------- ------- --- Total $674,137 $601,574 12% $2,581,950 $2,179,469 18% -------- -------- --- ---------- ---------- --- GROSS PROFIT PERCENTAGES (Unaudited) THREE MONTHS ENDED FISCAL YEARS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, SEPTEMBER 30, Increase Increase 2009 2008 - Decrease 2009 2008 - Decrease ---- ---- ---------- ---- ---- ---------- Wholesale / US Nutrition 34% 31% 3% 31% 38% -7% North American Retail 68% 67% 1% 67% 63% 4% European Retail 62% 65% -3% 62% 63% -1% Direct Response / E-Commerce 61% 52% 9% 62% 57% 5% --- --- -- --- --- -- Total 46% 44% 2% 44% 49% -5% --- --- -- --- --- --- ADJUSTED EBITDA** Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures (Unaudited) (In thousands) THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 Pretax Depreciation Income and Non-cash Adjusted (Loss) amortization Interest charges* EBITDA** --------- ------------- -------- -------- -------- Wholesale / US Nutrition $69,692 $3,803 $- $49 $73,544 North American Retail 5,580 752 - (3,795) 2,537 European Retail 29,189 3,787 - (3,725) 29,251 Direct Response / E-Commerce 19,323 1,245 - 15 20,583 ------ ----- --- --- ------ Segment Results 123,784 9,587 - (7,456) 125,915 Corporate / Manufacturing (22,665) 7,698 8,102 1,151 (5,714) ------- ----- ----- ----- ------- Total $101,119 $17,285 $8,102 $(6,305) $120,201 ======== ======= ====== ======== ======== THREE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 Pretax Depreciation Income and Non-cash Adjusted (Loss) amortization Interest charges EBITDA** --------- ------------- -------- -------- -------- Wholesale / US Nutrition $29,516 $3,797 $- $49 $33,362 North American Retail (1,083) 757 - 450 124 European Retail 24,359 3,230 - 55 27,644 Direct Response / E-Commerce 2,497 1,266 - 23 3,786 ----- ----- --- -- ----- Segment Results 55,289 9,050 - 577 64,916 Corporate / Manufacturing (28,427) 10,633 7,399 570 (9,825) ------- ------ ----- --- ------- Total $26,862 $19,683 $7,399 $1,147 $55,091 ======= ======= ====== ====== ======= * INCLUDES RECOVERY OF CERTAIN IT PROJECT TERMINATION COSTS. ** SINCE ADJUSTED EBITDA IS NOT A MEASURE OF PERFORMANCE CALCULATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH U.S. GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES ("GAAP"), IT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED IN ISOLATION OF, OR AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR OR SUPERIOR TO, OTHER MEASURES OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GAAP, SUCH AS OPERATING INCOME, NET INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION, THE COMPANY'S DEFINITION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA IS NOT NECESSARILY COMPARABLE TO SIMILARLY TITLED MEASURES REPORTED BY OTHER COMPANIES. ADJUSTED EBITDA** Reconciliation of GAAP Measures to Non-GAAP Measures (Unaudited) (In thousands) FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2009 Pretax Depreciation Income and Non-cash Adjusted (Loss) amortization Interest charges* EBITDA** --------- ------------- -------- -------- -------- Wholesale / US Nutrition $180,660 $14,794 $- $46 $195,500 North American Retail 1,420 3,007 - 1,813 6,240 European Retail 89,747 14,385 - 1,956 106,088 Direct Response / E-Commerce 57,442 5,022 - 5,428 67,892 ------ ----- --- ----- ------ Segment Results 329,269 37,208 - 9,243 375,720 Corporate / Manufacturing (100,301) 31,680 34,882 2,987 (30,752) --------- ------ ------ ----- ------- Total $228,968 $68,888 $34,882 $12,230 $344,968 ======== ======= ======= ======= ======== FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 2008 Pretax Depreciation Income and Non-cash Adjusted (Loss) amortization Interest charges EBITDA** --------- ------------ -------- -------- -------- Wholesale / US Nutrition $158,195 $11,655 $- $128 $169,978 North American Retail (2,816) 3,161 - 834 1,179 European Retail 121,941 12,311 - 145 134,397 Direct Response / E-Commerce 28,197 5,254 - 66 33,517 ------ ----- --- -- ------ Segment Results 305,517 32,381 - 1,173 339,071 Corporate / Manufacturing (74,477) 28,340 18,639 1,500 (25,998) -------- ------ ------ ----- -------- Total $231,040 $60,721 $18,639 $2,673 $313,073 ======== ======= ======= ====== ======== * INCLUDES RECOVERY OF CERTAIN IT PROJECT TERMINATION COSTS. ** SINCE ADJUSTED EBITDA IS NOT A MEASURE OF PERFORMANCE CALCULATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH U.S. GENERALLY ACCEPTED ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES ("GAAP"), IT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED IN ISOLATION OF, OR AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR OR SUPERIOR TO, OTHER MEASURES OF FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE PREPARED IN ACCORDANCE WITH GAAP, SUCH AS OPERATING INCOME, NET INCOME AND CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES. IN ADDITION, THE COMPANY'S DEFINITION OF ADJUSTED EBITDA IS NOT NECESSARILY COMPARABLE TO SIMILARLY TITLED MEASURES REPORTED BY OTHER COMPANIES. NBTY, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (In thousands, except per share amounts) September 30, 2009 2008 ---- ---- Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $106,001 $90,180 Accounts receivable, net 155,863 122,878 Inventories 658,534 585,239 Deferred income taxes 28,154 25,098 Other current assets 49,999 75,971 ------ ------ Total current assets 998,551 899,366 Property, plant and equipment, net 373,817 419,066 Goodwill 339,099 342,379 Intangible assets, net 214,139 230,424 Other assets 34,615 45,123 ------ ------ Total assets $1,960,221 $1,936,358 ========== ========== Current liabilities: Current portion of long-term debt $38,893 $33,309 Accounts payable 128,485 120,620 Accrued expenses and other current liabilities 156,734 172,035 ------- ------- Total current liabilities 324,112 325,964 Long-term debt, net of current portion 437,629 538,402 Deferred income taxes 36,422 49,139 Other liabilities 34,233 24,657 ------ ------ Total liabilities 832,396 938,162 ------- ------- Commitments and contingencies Stockholders' equity: Common stock, $0.008 par; authorized 175,000 shares; issued and outstanding 61,874 and 61,599 shares at September 30, 2009 and 2008, respectively 495 493 Capital in excess of par 145,885 140,990 Retained earnings 984,797 839,068 Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income (3,352) 17,645 ------ ------ Total stockholders' equity 1,127,825 998,196 --------- ------- Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $1,960,221 $1,936,358 ========== ========== NBTY, INC. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (UNAUDITED) (In thousands) For the fiscal year ended September 30, 2009 2008 ---- ---- Cash flows from operating activities: Net income $145,729 $153,151 Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities: Impairments and disposals of assets, net 14,029 1,320 Depreciation and amortization 68,888 60,721 Foreign currency transaction loss (gain) 4,552 (1,934) Stock-based compensation 3,396 1,897 Amortization of deferred charges 1,270 874 Allowance for doubtful accounts (2,354) 2,140 Inventory reserves 6,889 8,113 Deferred income taxes 6,995 7,697 Excess income tax benefit from exercise of stock options (55) (1,002) Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions: Accounts receivable (32,368) (11,619) Inventories (88,348) (77,027) Other assets 1,255 (2,817) Accounts payable 17,752 4,386 Accrued expenses and other liabilities (10,693) 31,505 ------- ------ Net cash provided by operating activities 136,937 177,405 ------- ------- Cash flows from investing activities: Purchase of property, plant and equipment (43,375) (49,097) Purchase of available-for-sale investments - (365,021) Proceeds from sale of available-for-sale investments - 483,156 Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired - (394,532) Cash paid for acquisition of customer lists - (5,072) Acquisition working capital escrow - (15,000) Escrow refund, net of purchase of price adjustments 13,383 - Proceeds from sale of assets 2,000 - ----- --- Net cash used in investing activities (27,992) (345,566) ------- -------- Cash flows from financing activities: Proceeds from term loan - 300,000 Proceeds from borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facility 95,000 385,000 Principal payments under the Revolving Credit Facility (155,000) (325,000) Principal payments under long-term debt agreements and capital leases (33,217) (2,816) Payments for financing fees - (2,478) Excess income tax benefit from exercise of stock options 55 1,002 Proceeds from stock options exercised 1,446 7,325 Purchase of treasury stock (subsequently retired) - (188,432) --- -------- Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (91,716) 174,601 ------- ------- Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents (1,408) (9,162) ------ ------ Net increase (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents 15,821 (2,722) Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 90,180 92,902 Cash and cash equivalents at end of year $106,001 $90,180 -------- ------- NBTY's preliminary unaudited net sales results for the month of October 2009 by segment are as follows: NET SALES (Preliminary and Unaudited) FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER ($ In Millions) 2009 2008 % Change ---- ---- -------- Wholesale / US Nutrition $148 $133 12% North American Retail $17 $16 9% European Retail $60 $55 9% Direct Response/ E-commerce $17 $19 -13% --- --- ---- Total $242 $222 9% ==== ==== == North American Retail same store sales increased 7% for the one month period. In local currency, (British Pound Sterling), European Retail net sales increased 14%. Contact: Harvey Kamil Carl Hymans NBTY, Inc. G.S. Schwartz & Co. President and Chief Financial Officer 212-725-4500 631-200-2020 DATASOURCE: NBTY, Inc. CONTACT: Harvey Kamil, NBTY, Inc., President and Chief Financial Officer, +1-631-200-2020; or Carl Hymans, G.S. Schwartz & Co., +1-212-725-4500, Web Site: http://www.nbty.com/

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