The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. 2007 Annual Report
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Portfolio of Brands
Chairmans Message
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Form 10-K

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

The table below summarizes selected financial information. For further information, refer to the audited consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto beginning on page 55 of this report.

(a) Fiscal 2006 results included $93.0 million, after-tax, or $.43 per diluted share in special charges related to our cost savings initiative and tax-related matters. Included in the charges was an operating expense charge of $92.1 million, equal to $.27 per diluted common share related to the cost savings initiative. The results also included a special tax charge related to a settlement with the Internal Revenue Service regarding an examination of our consolidated Federal income tax returns for fiscal years 1998 through 2001, and represents the aggregate earnings impact of the settlement through fiscal 2006. The settlement resulted in an increase to our fiscal 2006 income tax provision and a corresponding decrease in fiscal 2006 net earnings of approximately $46 million, or approximately $.21 per diluted common share. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2006, we completed the repatriation of foreign earnings through intercompany dividends under the provisions of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004 (the "AJCA"). In connection with the repatriation, we updated the computation of the related aggregate tax impact, resulting in a favorable adjustment of approximately $11 million, or approximately $.05 per diluted common share, to our initial tax charge of $35 million recorded in fiscal 2005. The tax settlement, coupled with the AJCA favorable tax adjustment, resulted in a net increase to our fiscal 2006 income tax provision and a corresponding decrease in fiscal 2006 net earnings of approximately $35 million, or approximately $.16 per diluted common share.

(b) In the fourth quarter of fiscal 2005, we announced plans to repatriate approximately $690 million of foreign earnings in fiscal year 2006, which included $500 million of extraordinary intercompany dividends under the provisions of the AJCA. This action resulted in an aggregate tax charge of approximately $35 million in our fiscal year ended June 30, 2005, which included an incremental tax charge of approximately $28 million, equal to $.12 per diluted share.

(c) Fiscal 2003 included a special charge related to the proposed settlement of a legal action of $13.5 million, after-tax, or $.06 per diluted common share.

(d) During fiscal 2004, there was an increase of approximately $17.4 million in interest expense, net and a corresponding decrease in preferred stock dividends as a result of the adoption of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards ("SFAS") No. 150, "Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity." Additionally, in connection with this pronouncement, redeemable preferred stock was reclassified as a component of total debt subsequent to June 30, 2003 and all subsequent applicable periods.

(e) In April 2006, we completed the sale of certain assets and operations of the reporting unit that marketed and sold Stila brand products. In February 2004, we sold the assets and operations of our former reporting unit that sold jane brand products. As a result, all consolidated statements of earnings information in the consolidated financial statements and footnotes for all periods presented has been restated for comparative purposes to refl ect those reporting units as discontinued operations.

(f) In May 2007, we issued and sold $300.0 million of 5.55% Senior Notes due May 15, 2017 and $300.0 million of 6.00% Senior Notes, due May 15, 2037 in a public offering. We used the net proceeds of this offering to repay long-term commercial paper, which was used to fund our accelerated stock repurchase program, and to pay transaction fees and expenses related to this offering.

(g) During fiscal 2007, we repurchased 22,461,642 shares of our outstanding common stock, of which 15,960,842 shares were purchased for $750.0 million through an accelerated stock repurchase program with a financial counterparty.