Attached files

file filename
8-K - 8-K - COLUMBUS MCKINNON CORPa8k12915.htm

EXHIBIT 99.1
 
News Release
 
140 John James Audubon Parkway
Amherst, NY  14228
Immediate Release             

Columbus McKinnon Reports 18% Growth in Net Income and Earnings per Share
for Fiscal 2015 Third Quarter

Third quarter gross margin expanded 120 basis points to 30.8%
Operating income increased 13.6% and operating margin improved to 9.0%, up 130 basis points
Earnings per diluted share was up 18% to $0.39
Generated $17.1 million of cash from operations

AMHERST, NY, January 29, 2015 - Columbus McKinnon Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCO), a leading designer, manufacturer and marketer of material handling products and services, today announced financial results for its fiscal 2015 third quarter, which ended December 31, 2014.

Net sales for the quarter were $140.8 million, down $4.3 million, or 3.0%, from the prior-year period as a result of the negative impact of foreign currency exchange rates, lower sales volume outside of the U.S. and one less shipping day. Sales per day held fairly steady at $2.35 million compared with $2.38 million in the prior-year period. Sales from the acquisition completed in February 2014 were $3.6 million in the third quarter.

The fluctuation in sales for the third quarter of fiscal 2015 compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014 is summarized as follows:

($ in millions)
 
$ Change
 
% Change
Foreign currency translation
 
(4.3)
 
(3.0)%
Volume
 
(2.7)
 
(1.9)%
Fewer shipping days
 
(2.4)
 
(1.6)%
Pricing
 
1.5
 
1.0%
Acquisition
 
3.6
 
2.5%
Total
 
$(4.3)
 
(3.0)%

Timothy T. Tevens, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “We are excited about the recent addition of Stahlhammer Bommern (STB) and the continued contribution of our previous acquisitions. Strategically, these businesses expand our product offering enabling us to leverage our strong global sales presence to increase their commercial opportunities. The U.S. market remains solid for us and our opportunities in China, where we do not yet have the scale to be economically linked, are strong. Europe, South America and other emerging economies have slowed, but we believe our global diversity and growth strategies work to help offset these declines.”


Columbus McKinnon Reports 18% Growth in Net Income and Earnings per Share for Fiscal 2015 Third Quarter
January 29, 2015
Page 2 of 9

U.S. sales, which comprised 59% of total sales, were up by $4.3 million, or 5.4%, to $83.3 million compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014. Increased volume, the incremental contribution from the acquisition and the benefit from price improvement more than offset the impact of one fewer shipping day.

Sales outside of the U.S. were down $8.5 million to $57.5 million. The benefit from price improvement was more than offset by reductions in sales volume, the impact of foreign currency translation and one fewer shipping day.

Strategic investments driving increased profitability

Gross profit increased to $43.4 million, up $0.4 million compared with the prior-year quarter. Gross margin improved 120 basis points to 30.8%. This was the seventeenth consecutive quarter of year-over-year gross margin improvement. The increase was driven by the acquisition, pricing net of material inflation and productivity improvements which more than offset the impact of lower sales volume and foreign currency translation.

Mr. Tevens commented, “We are acquiring businesses with strong profit profiles which are contributing to our margin expansion. In addition, our effort to drive productivity continues to be positive.”

($ in millions)
Impact on Gross Profit
Acquisition
$1.5
Productivity
$1.1
Pricing net of material cost inflation
$1.1
Product liability
$(0.7)
Foreign currency translation
$(1.2)
Volume and mix
$(1.4)
Total
$0.4

Selling expense was up $1.2 million to $17.4 million when compared with the third quarter of fiscal 2014, but in line with the trailing quarters in fiscal 2015. As a percent of revenue, selling expense was 12.4% compared with 11.2% in the same period last year. When compared with the prior-year period, the acquisition added $0.3 million in expenses. The remaining increase was related to investments made to drive future sales growth, partially offset by favorable foreign currency translation.

General and administrative (G&A) expense was $12.8 million, down $2.4 million from the prior-year period. G&A as a percent of sales was 9.1% compared with 10.5% in the prior-year period. The acquisition added $0.2 million to G&A expense and the prior-year period included approximately $1.4 million of atypical merger and acquisition activity expenses. The remaining decrease was due to cost control measures taken as well as the favorable impact of foreign currency translation.

Overall cost discipline, productivity and the lack of unusual expenses resulted in operating income of $12.6 million, up 13.6% over the prior-year period. Operating margin expanded 130 basis points to 9.0%. The impact of foreign currency exchange on operating income was negligible.

Investment income increased 300% to $1.0 million. The increase was due to marketable security sales from the Company’s captive insurance company which benefitted from market prices, and resulted in incremental investment income of $0.9 million.

The effective tax rate in the quarter was 23.1% reflecting the expected refinancing costs related to the previously announced call of the outstanding Senior Subordinated Notes. This will reduce taxable income in the U.S., which has the highest corporate tax rate in the Company. The full year fiscal 2015 effective tax rate is expected to be in the range of 23% to 28%.

Third quarter fiscal 2015 net income was up $1.2 million to $7.9 million, or $0.39 per diluted share. This compares with $6.7 million, or $0.33 per diluted share, in the fiscal 2014 third quarter.

Reduced interest expense and improved financial flexibility with refinancing

Cash and cash equivalents were $102.5 million at December 31, 2014. Gross debt at December 31, 2014 was $157.5 million. Debt, net of cash, was $55.0 million, or 15.3% of net total capitalization. Return on invested capital for the trailing twelve-month period was 12.5%, which exceeds the Company’s estimated weighted average cost of capital.

2

Columbus McKinnon Reports 18% Growth in Net Income and Earnings per Share for Fiscal 2015 Third Quarter
January 29, 2015
Page 3 of 9

As previously announced, the Company has elected to redeem its outstanding $150 million of 7.875% senior subordinated notes (“Notes”) due February 1, 2019. The Notes will be redeemed on February 23, 2015 at a redemption price of $1,039.38 per $1,000 of principal amount of Notes, plus interest. In addition, the Company entered into a new $150 million senior secured revolving credit facility and established a new $125 million delayed-draw senior secured term loan facility, both with maturity dates in 2020. Cash interest expense will be reduced by $7.6 million annually and the refinancing will contribute approximately $0.27 per diluted share in fiscal 2016. The Company expects to record an $8.5 million debt retirement charge, which includes the call premium, in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2015.

Mr. Gregory P. Rustowicz, Chief Financial Officer, noted, “This refinancing measurably reduces our interest expense and it also provides us greater flexibility to put our cash to work and manage our debt levels. This important transaction will also allow us to continue to strategically invest in our organic and inorganic growth plans. Given our impressive cash generation and the strength of our balance sheet, we are in a solid position to grow the business.”

Cash provided by operations was $17.1 million in the third quarter. Excluding the impact of the STB acquisition which closed on December 30, 2014, working capital as a percentage of sales improved to 19.6% at the end of the third quarter of fiscal 2015, compared with 22.1% at the end of the trailing fiscal 2015 second quarter and 19.9% at the end of fiscal 2014’s third quarter.

Capital expenditures for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 were $11.3 million. Of this total, $3.3 million was associated with the implementation of a new enterprise resource planning system (ERP). The Company continues to expect fiscal 2015 capital spending to be about $15 to $20 million, the majority of which is dedicated to productivity and growth projects followed by maintaining existing capacity and the implementation of the global ERP system.

Fiscal 2015 year-to-date review

Net sales for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 were $430.7 million, up $7.9 million, or 1.9%, from the same period in fiscal 2014. Sales to the U.S., which represented 58% of total sales, were up 4.2% to $250.1 million. Non-U.S. sales of $180.6 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 decreased by 1.3% from the prior-year period and represented 42% of total sales. For the year-to-date period, acquisitions contributed $10.5 million to sales which more than offset the $3.8 million negative impact of foreign currency translation.

Gross profit in the first nine months of fiscal 2015 increased 4.1% to $136.1 million over the same period in fiscal 2014. Gross margin was 31.6%, up 70 basis points over the prior-year period. Improved gross margin was driven by similar factors as in the quarter.

Selling expenses for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 were $52.4 million, an increase of 4.4% over the prior-year period. Selling expense as a percent of sales was 12.2% compared with 11.9% in the same period in fiscal 2014. G&A expense of $40.2 million for the first nine months of 2015 was down by 4.8% over the prior-year period. Prior-year period G&A expense included approximately $1.6 million of atypical merger and acquisition costs. As a percent of sales, G&A expense was 9.3%, a 70 basis point decrease from 10.0% in the first nine months of fiscal 2014.

First nine months of fiscal 2015 operating income of $41.8 million was up 13.4%, or $4.9 million, over the same period in fiscal 2014. Operating margin as a percent of sales was 9.7% and represents a 100 basis point improvement over the prior-year period. Fiscal 2015 year-to-date sales growth resulted in operating leverage of 62.5%.

Net income was $25.2 million for the first nine months of fiscal 2015 and increased by 21.1%, or $4.4 million, over the prior-year period. Diluted earnings per share of $1.25 improved by $0.21 per diluted share over the prior-year period.

Expect moderate growth and solid returns on invested capital

Mr. Tevens commented, “While economic conditions continue to create uncertainty on a global basis, we remain encouraged with our efforts to build our global market share, expand our product offering and drive lean processes and continuous improvement throughout the organization. We expect we can continue to grow at a moderate rate, expand our opportunities through acquisitions and deliver solid returns on invested capital.”

Backlog increased to $85.5 million at December 31, 2014, up $3.3 million, or 4.0%, from backlog of $82.2 million at September 30, 2014. Although the typical time to convert the majority of backlog to sales is from one day to a few weeks, backlog can include project-type orders from customers that have defined delivery schedules that may extend out 12 to 24 months. Approximately 62% of backlog at quarter end is expected to ship in the fourth quarter. Backlog that represents longer-lead time project orders

3

Columbus McKinnon Reports 18% Growth in Net Income and Earnings per Share for Fiscal 2015 Third Quarter
January 29, 2015
Page 4 of 9

was $32.8 million, or 38% of total backlog. These projects are scheduled for shipment beyond March 31, 2015, and compares with project backlog of $25.0 million at the end of the trailing second quarter and $31.1 million at December 31, 2013. Backlog is not necessarily a leading indicator of sales for the Company.

Both U.S. and Eurozone capacity utilization are leading market indicators for the Company. U.S. industrial capacity utilization has been steadily, albeit slowly, improving over the last twelve months. In December 2014, it was 79.3%, compared with 78.2% in September 2014 and 77.1% a year prior. Eurozone capacity utilization increased to 80.0% at December 31, 2014 compared with 79.9% at September 30, 2014 and 78.4% at the end of 2013. The Company’s sales tend to lag changes in these indicators by one to two quarters.

Teleconference and webcast

Columbus McKinnon will host a conference call and live webcast today at 10:00 AM Eastern Time, at which Timothy T. Tevens, President and Chief Executive Officer, and Gregory P. Rustowicz, Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer, will review the Company’s financial results and strategy. The review will be accompanied by a slide presentation, which will be available on Columbus McKinnon’s website at http://www.cmworks.com/investors. A question and answer session will follow the formal discussion.

Columbus McKinnon’s conference call can be accessed by calling 210-234-7695 and asking for the “Columbus McKinnon conference call.” The webcast can be monitored on Columbus McKinnon’s website at http://www.cmworks.com/investors. An audio recording of the call will be available two hours after its completion through February 26, 2015 by dialing 402-220-9766. Alternatively, an archived webcast of the call will be on Columbus McKinnon’s web site at: http://www.cmworks.com/investors. In addition, a transcript of the call will be posted to the website once available.

About Columbus McKinnon

Columbus McKinnon is a leading worldwide designer, manufacturer and marketer of material handling products, systems and services, which efficiently and ergonomically move, lift, position and secure materials. Key products include hoists, cranes, actuators and rigging tools. The Company is focused on commercial and industrial applications that require the safety and quality provided by its superior design and engineering know-how. Comprehensive information on Columbus McKinnon is available on its website at http://www.cmworks.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning future revenue and earnings, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by such statements, including general economic and business conditions, conditions affecting the industries served by the Company and its subsidiaries, conditions affecting the Company's customers and suppliers, competitor responses to the Company's products and services, the overall market acceptance of such products and services, the integration of acquisitions and other factors disclosed in the Company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Consequently, such forward looking statements should be regarded as the Company’s current plans, estimates and beliefs. The Company assumes no obligation to update the forward-looking information contained in this release.

 
Contacts:
Gregory P. Rustowicz
Investor Relations:
Vice President - Finance and Chief Financial Officer
Deborah K. Pawlowski
Columbus McKinnon Corporation
Kei Advisors LLC
716-689-5442
716-843-3908
greg.rustowicz@cmworks.com
dpawlowski@keiadvisors.com
 
Financial Tables follow.


4

Columbus McKinnon Reports 18% Growth in Net Income and Earnings per Share for Fiscal 2015 Third Quarter
January 29, 2015
Page 5 of 9

COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements - UNAUDITED
(In thousands, except per share and percentage data)
 
 

Three Months Ended


 

December 31, 2014

December 31, 2013

Change
Net sales

$
140,791


$
145,072


(3.0
)%
Cost of products sold

97,382


102,075


(4.6
)%
Gross profit

43,409


42,997


1.0
 %
Gross profit margin

30.8
%

29.6
%

 

Selling expense

17,398


16,188


7.5
 %
General and administrative expense

12,845


15,230


(15.7
)%
Amortization

551


478


15.3
 %
Income from operations

12,615


11,101


13.6
 %
Operating margin

9.0
%

7.7
%

 

Interest and debt expense

3,344


3,395


(1.5
)%
Investment income

(1,016
)

(254
)

300.0
 %
Foreign currency exchange loss

247


568


(56.5
)%
Other (income) expense, net

(181
)

(147
)

23.1
 %
Income before income tax expense

10,221


7,539


35.6
 %
Income tax expense

2,360


875


169.7
 %
Net income

$
7,861


$
6,664


18.0
 %










Average basic shares outstanding

19,974


19,691


1.4
 %
Basic income per share:

 


 


 

Basic income per share

$
0.39


$
0.34


14.7
 %










Average diluted shares outstanding

20,232


20,019


1.1
 %
Diluted income per share:

 


 


 

Diluted income per share

$
0.39


$
0.33


18.2
 %


5

Columbus McKinnon Reports 18% Growth in Net Income and Earnings per Share for Fiscal 2015 Third Quarter
January 29, 2015
Page 6 of 9

COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
Condensed Consolidated Income Statements - UNAUDITED
(In thousands, except per share and percentage data)
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
 
Change
Net sales
 
$
430,714

 
$
422,815

 
1.9
 %
Cost of products sold
 
294,584

 
292,067

 
0.9
 %
Gross profit
 
136,130

 
130,748

 
4.1
 %
Gross profit margin
 
31.6
%
 
30.9
%
 
 

Selling expense
 
52,434

 
50,216

 
4.4
 %
General and administrative expense
 
40,224

 
42,247

 
(4.8
)%
Amortization
 
1,716

 
1,463

 
17.3
 %
Income from operations
 
41,756

 
36,822

 
13.4
 %
Operating margin
 
9.7
%
 
8.7
%
 
 

Interest and debt expense
 
9,977

 
10,138

 
(1.6
)%
Investment income
 
(1,683
)
 
(746
)
 
125.6
 %
Foreign currency exchange loss
 
36

 
988

 
(96.4
)%
Other (income) expense, net
 
(289
)
 
(1,319
)
 
(78.1
)%
Income before income tax expense
 
33,715

 
27,761

 
21.4
 %
Income tax expense
 
8,522

 
6,955

 
22.5
 %
Net income
 
$
25,193

 
$
20,806

 
21.1
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average basic shares outstanding
 
19,925

 
19,622

 
1.5
 %
Basic income per share:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Basic income per share
 
$
1.26

 
$
1.06

 
18.9
 %
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Average diluted shares outstanding
 
20,185

 
19,915

 
1.4
 %
Diluted income per share:
 
 

 
 

 
 

Diluted income per share
 
$
1.25

 
$
1.04

 
20.2
 %


6

Columbus McKinnon Reports 18% Growth in Net Income and Earnings per Share for Fiscal 2015 Third Quarter
January 29, 2015
Page 7 of 9

COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(In thousands)

 
 
December 31, 2014
 
March 31,
2014
 
 
(unaudited)
 
 
ASSETS
 
 
 
 
Current assets:
 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
102,488

 
$
112,309

Trade accounts receivable
 
70,090

 
93,223

Inventories
 
107,421

 
97,576

Prepaid expenses and other
 
24,267

 
23,444

Total current assets
 
304,266

 
326,552

 
 
 
 
 
Net property, plant, and equipment
 
85,466

 
78,687

Goodwill
 
130,523

 
119,303

Other intangibles, net
 
17,773

 
20,842

Marketable securities
 
20,829

 
21,941

Deferred taxes on income
 
21,658

 
23,406

Other assets
 
12,819

 
7,943

Total assets
 
$
593,334

 
$
598,674

 
 
 
 
 
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
 
 

 
 

Current liabilities:
 
 

 
 

Trade accounts payable
 
$
23,646

 
$
35,359

Accrued liabilities
 
52,147

 
52,348

Current portion of long-term debt
 
7,023

 
1,588

Total current liabilities
 
82,816

 
89,295

 
 
 
 
 
Senior debt, less current portion
 
1,592

 
2,020

Subordinated debt
 
148,890

 
148,685

Other non-current liabilities
 
54,914

 
67,388

Total liabilities
 
288,212

 
307,388

 
 
 
 
 
Shareholders’ equity:
 
 

 
 

Common stock
 
200

 
198

Additional paid-in capital
 
202,013

 
198,546

Retained earnings
 
157,413

 
133,820

ESOP debt guarantee
 

 
(142
)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
 
(54,504
)
 
(41,136
)
Total shareholders’ equity
 
305,122

 
291,286

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
 
$
593,334

 
$
598,674



7

Columbus McKinnon Reports 18% Growth in Net Income and Earnings per Share for Fiscal 2015 Third Quarter
January 29, 2015
Page 8 of 9

COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - UNAUDITED
(In thousands)
 
 
 
Nine Months Ended
 
 
December 31, 2014
 
December 31, 2013
Operating activities:
 
 
 
 
Net income
 
$
25,193

 
$
20,806

Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
 
 

 
 

Depreciation and amortization
 
10,605

 
9,566

Deferred income taxes and related valuation allowance
 
(1,273
)
 
(1,773
)
Net gain on sale of real estate, investments, and other
 
(1,233
)
 
(1,629
)
Stock based compensation
 
2,991

 
2,707

Amortization of deferred financing costs and discount on debt
 
652

 
655

Property casualty loss
 
250

 

Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of business acquisitions:
 
 

 
 

Trade accounts receivable
 
21,633

 
6,572

Inventories
 
(8,470
)
 
(8,927
)
Prepaid expenses
 
(1,012
)
 
(1,588
)
Other assets
 
(531
)
 
534

Trade accounts payable
 
(9,056
)
 
(4,753
)
Accrued liabilities
 
756

 
6,410

Non-current liabilities
 
(10,655
)
 
(10,622
)
Net cash provided by operating activities
 
29,850

 
17,958

 
 
 
 
 
Investing activities:
 
 

 
 

Proceeds from sale of marketable securities
 
2,585

 
5,444

Purchases of marketable securities
 
(673
)
 
(3,611
)
Capital expenditures
 
(11,343
)
 
(13,484
)
Purchase of business, net of cash acquired
 
(19,931
)
 
(5,847
)
Other
 
16

 

Net cash used for investing activities
 
(29,346
)
 
(17,498
)
 
 
 
 
 
Financing activities:
 
 

 
 

Proceeds from stock options exercised
 
1,362

 
1,464

Net payments under lines-of-credit
 

 
(7
)
Repayment of debt
 
(1,099
)
 
(566
)
Change in ESOP guarantee
 
(800
)
 
308

Restricted cash related to purchase of business
 
(5,819
)
 

Dividends paid
 
(2,392
)
 

Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities
 
(8,748
)
 
1,199

 
 
 
 
 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
 
(1,577
)
 
549

 
 
 
 
 
Net change in cash and cash equivalents
 
(9,821
)
 
2,208

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
 
112,309

 
121,660

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
102,488

 
$
123,868


8

Columbus McKinnon Reports 18% Growth in Net Income and Earnings per Share for Fiscal 2015 Third Quarter
January 29, 2015
Page 9 of 9

COLUMBUS McKINNON CORPORATION
Additional Data - UNAUDITED

 
 
December 31,
2014
 
March 31,
2014
 
December 31,
2013
Backlog (in millions)
 
$
85.5

 
 
 
$
86.8

 
 
 
$
98.4

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trade accounts receivable1
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
      
days sales outstanding
 
43.8

 
days
 
52.9

 
days
 
47.4

 
days
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Inventory turns per year1
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
      
(based on cost of products sold)
 
3.9

 
turns
 
4.5

 
turns
 
3.9

 
turns
Days' inventory1
 
93.6

 
days
 
81.1

 
days
 
93.6

 
days
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Trade accounts payable1
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 

 
      
days payables outstanding
 
21.9

 
days
 
29.2

 
days
 
26.9

 
days
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Working capital as a % of sales1
 
19.6

 
%
 
21.7

 
%
 
19.9

 
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt to total capitalization percentage
 
34.0

 
%
 
34.3

 
%
 
36.2

 
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Debt, net of cash, to net total capitalization
 
15.3

 
%
 
12.1

 
%
 
9.4

 
%

1 Excludes the impact of the acquisition of STB which closed on December 30, 2014  

Shipping Days by Quarter 
 
 
Q1
 
Q2
 
Q3
 
Q4
 
Total
FY 16
 
63
 
64
 
60
 
63
 
250
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FY 15
 
63
 
64
 
60
 
63
 
250
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FY 14
 
64
 
63
 
61
 
62
 
250



9