Avnet, Inc. Reports Second Quarter Fiscal Year 2013 Results

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT) today announced results for the second quarter fiscal year 2013 ended December 29, 2012.

Q2 Fiscal 2013 Results

• Sales for the quarter ended December 29, 2012 were essentially flat year over year at $6.70 billion; pro forma revenue declined 5.7% year over year and 4.8% in constant currency
• Adjusted operating income of $220.5 million declined 16.9% year over year and adjusted operating income margin of 3.3% declined 67 basis points; sequentially, adjusted operating income and operating income margin were up 60.5% and 95 basis points, respectively
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.01 declined 12.2% year over year, but increased 71.2% sequentially driven by significant profit growth in the Technology Solutions (TS) segment

Rick Hamada, Chief Executive Officer, commented, “Our overall Q2 results reflect a stronger than expected performance despite some continuing concerns on the longer term macroeconomic environment. Our team was able to leverage our recent resource alignment activities along with a few bright spots in technology spending into significant sequential improvements in EPS, margins and returns. In the December quarter, sequential growth returned to seasonal trends after below seasonal growth over the past two quarters as revenue exceeded expectations at both operating groups. Driven by stronger than expected calendar year end spending on IT infrastructure at TS and accelerating growth in our Asia components business, revenue grew over 14% sequentially in reported dollars while pro forma revenue was up 9% in constant dollars. Combined with the cost reductions implemented, this top line growth resulted in sequential adjusted operating income growing four times faster than revenue and adjusted operating income margin increasing 95 basis points to 3.3%. While our performance this quarter attests to the leverage in our model, our served markets continue to reflect an uneven recovery as questions around global growth trends persist. In this environment, we will continue to react quickly to changes in market conditions and apply our value based management discipline across the portfolio to drive continued progress toward our long-term goals.”

Avnet Electronics Marketing Results

• Reported revenue increased 2.2% year over year to $3.67 billion; pro forma revenue declined 2.2% year over year and 0.9% in constant dollars
• Operating income margin decreased 105 basis points year over year to 3.8% primarily due to the temporary benefit from the hard disk drive shortages in the year ago quarter and the impact of the geographic mix shift to the Asia region combined with lower profitability in the western regions
• Working capital (defined as receivables plus inventory less accounts payables) declined 5.8% sequentially primarily due to an 8% reduction in inventory as decreases in receivables and accounts payables essentially offset one another
• Return on working capital (ROWC) was down 358 basis points year over year due primarily to lower operating income

Mr. Hamada added, “Although EM’s sequential pro forma revenue decline was in line with normal seasonality, we continue to see different stages of recovery by region coming out of the components supply chain correction. In our Asia region, which exceeded expectations this quarter, the notable growth in our high volume fulfillment business drove year-over-year growth comparisons into double digit territory for the first time in six quarters. In EMEA, pro forma revenue declined 8.5% sequentially in constant currency, but was down less than 1% from the year ago quarter. In the Americas region, revenue declined 1.8% sequentially and was down 12.8% year over year, on a pro forma basis, primarily due to a decision to exit the lower margin commercial components business in Latin America. On a year-over-year basis, operating income margin was down 105 basis points primarily due to the positive, yet temporary, margin lift of hard disk drive shortages in the year ago quarter, lower profitability in the western regions, which have not fully recovered, and a geographic mix shift to Asia in the current quarter. We are encouraged that our bookings strengthened throughout the quarter and our book to bill ratio closed above parity in all three regions, which suggests inventory levels are properly aligned at our customers. Although the uncertain market landscape continues, we feel well positioned to take advantage of any strengthening in our core industrial end markets as we continue progress toward our long-term goals.”

Avnet Technology Solutions Results

• Reported revenue declined 2.3% year over year to $3.0 billion and pro forma revenue decreased 9.6% in reported dollars and 9.1% in constant dollars; sequentially, revenue increased 36% on a reported basis and 27% on a pro forma basis in constant dollars
• Software, storage and services grew over 35% sequentially while storage and services led the portfolio elements that increased year over year
• Operating income margin decreased by 27 basis points year over year and was up 202 basis points sequentially to 3.6% driven by the strong sales growth
• Return on working capital (ROWC) decreased 800 basis points year over year primarily due to lower operating income and increased over 2,500 basis points sequentially due to the strong profit growth

Mr. Hamada further added, “In the December quarter, TS revenue increased 36% sequentially and pro forma revenue grew 27% in constant dollars, slightly above the high end of normal seasonality. Revenue growth was higher than expected as customers were more willing to spend their IT budget dollars after two quarters of below seasonal growth. In North America, our data suggests that many of the IT projects that were delayed at the end of September were completed in the December quarter, which helped drive TS’ higher than expected growth. This strong revenue growth, when coupled with expense actions taken in prior quarters, combined to drive sequential operating income dollars and margin up 214% and 202 basis points, respectively. The sequential improvement in profitability was consistent across the business as all three regions improved both gross profit and operating income margins meaningfully. While this quarter represented significant progress in TS’ financial performance, we remain committed to build on this performance and deliver more consistent results as we continue progress toward our long-term goals. In the first half of fiscal 2013, we have invested in new growth opportunities by completing several acquisitions that will strengthen our competitive position and enhance the breadth of services we can offer to and through VAR partners. While macroeconomic uncertainties could continue to weigh on IT spending, we feel strongly that our competitive position and focus on solutions selling positions us to leverage future growth into improved financial performance.”

Cash Flow/Buyback

• Cash generated from operations was $326.4 million for the quarter and $690.3 million on a rolling four quarter basis
• During the quarter, 2.5 million shares were repurchased under the $750 million share repurchase program for an aggregate cost of $68.9 million. Since the program began in August 2011 through the end of the second fiscal quarter of 2013, 17.9 million shares have been repurchased for an aggregate cost of $525.5 million
• Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the quarter was $815.3 million; net debt (total debt less cash and cash equivalents) was $1.18 billion

Kevin Moriarty, Chief Financial Officer, stated, “The strong operating income performance and solid working capital management combined to generate $326 million of cash from operations during the quarter. Overall, the team did an effective job of managing resources as a 6.3% decline in inventory, excluding the impact of acquisitions and foreign currency, contributed to a 5.4 day sequential reduction in the cash conversion cycle and a half turn improvement in working capital velocity. Through the first six months of the fiscal year, we have generated $407 million in cash from operations which, when combined with our strong balance sheet, provides ample liquidity to invest in profitable growth going forward.”

Outlook For 3rd Quarter of Fiscal 2013 Ending on March 30, 2013

• EM sales are expected to be in the range of $3.625 billion to $3.925 billion and TS sales are expected to be between $2.325 billion and $2.625 billion
• Consolidated sales are forecasted to be between $5.95 billion and $6.55 billion
• Adjusted diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) is expected to be in the range of $0.81 to $0.91 per share
• The EPS guidance assumes 138.0 million average diluted shares outstanding used to determine earnings per share and a tax rate of 27% to 31%

The above EPS guidance does not include any potential restructuring charges or any charges related to acquisitions and post-closing integration activities. In addition, the above guidance assumes that the average Euro to U.S. Dollar currency exchange rate for the third quarter of fiscal 2013 is $1.34 to €1.00. This compares with an average exchange rate of $1.31 to €1.00 in the third quarter of fiscal 2012 and $1.30 to €1.00 in the second quarter of fiscal 2013.

Forward-Looking Statements

This document contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in facts and circumstances. The forward-looking statements herein include statements addressing future financial and operating results of Avnet and may include words such as "will," "anticipate," "estimate," "forecast," "expect," believe," and "should," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussions of future operating or financial performance, business prospects or market conditions. Actual results may vary materially from the expectations contained in the forward-looking statements.

The following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements: the Company's ability to retain and grow market share and to generate additional cash flow, risks associated with any acquisition activities and the successful integration of acquired companies, declines in sales, changes in business conditions and the economy in general, changes in market demand and pricing pressures, any material changes in the allocation of product or product rebates by suppliers, allocations of products by suppliers, other competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting the businesses of Avnet generally.

More detailed information about these and other factors is set forth in Avnet's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company's reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Except as required by law, Avnet is under no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

Non-GAAP Financial Information

In addition to disclosing financial results that are determined in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”), the Company also discloses in this document certain non-GAAP financial information including adjusted operating income, adjusted net income and adjusted diluted earnings per share, as well as revenue adjusted for the impact of acquisitions and other items (as defined in the Pro forma (Organic) Revenue section of this document). Management believes pro forma revenue is a useful measure for evaluating current period performance as compared with prior periods and for understanding underlying trends.

Management believes that operating income adjusted for restructuring, integration and other items is a useful measure to help investors better assess and understand the Company’s operating performance, especially when comparing results with previous periods or forecasting performance for future periods, primarily because management views the excluded items to be outside of Avnet's normal operating results. Management analyzes operating income without the impact of these items as an indicator of ongoing margin performance and underlying trends in the business. Management also uses these non-GAAP measures to establish operational goals and, in some cases, for measuring performance for compensation purposes.

Management believes net income and EPS adjusted for the impact of the items described above is useful to investors because it provides a measure of the Company’s net profitability on a more comparable basis to historical periods and provides a more meaningful basis for forecasting future performance. Additionally, because of management’s focus on generating shareholder value, of which net profitability is a primary driver, management believes net income and EPS excluding the impact of these items provides an important measure of the Company’s net results of operations for the investing public.

Other metrics management monitors in its assessment of business performance include return on working capital (ROWC), return on capital employed (ROCE) and working capital velocity (WC velocity).

• ROWC is defined as annualized operating income, excluding restructuring, integration and other items, divided by the sum of the monthly average balances of receivables and inventory less accounts payable.
• ROCE is defined as annualized, tax effected operating income, excluding restructuring, integration and other items, divided by the monthly average balances of interest-bearing debt and equity (including the impact of restructuring, integration, impairment charges and other items) less cash and cash equivalents.
• WC velocity is defined as annualized sales divided by the sum of the monthly average balances of receivable and inventory less accounts payable.

Any analysis of results and outlook on a non-GAAP basis should be used as a complement to, and in conjunction with, data presented in accordance with GAAP.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2013

Items impacting the second quarter of fiscal 2013 consisted of the following:

• Restructuring, integration and other charges of $24.9 million pre-tax consisted of $8.5 million for facility exit-related costs, $7.6 million for integration-related costs, $7.3 million for severance, $3.0 million for transaction costs associated with recent acquisitions, $0.3 million for other charges, and a credit of $1.8 million to adjust prior year restructuring reserves no longer required;
• A net gain consisting of an adjustment of $1.7 million pre-tax to increase the gain on bargain purchase recorded in the first quarter of fiscal 2013 to adjust the net assets acquired, partially offset by a loss on divestiture of $1.7 million pre-tax related to a small business in TS Asia; and
• An income tax adjustment of $17.4 million primarily related to a favorable settlement of a U.S. income tax audit for an acquired company.

Second Quarter Fiscal 2012

Items impacting the second quarter of fiscal 2012 consisted of the following:

• Restructuring, integration and other charges of $34.5 million pre-tax related to cost reduction actions initiated during the second quarter and acquisition and integration charges associated with acquired businesses. The charges consisted of $19.8 million for severance, $7.4 million for facility exit costs, $3.4 million for integration costs, $3.1 million for transaction costs, $1.7 million for other restructuring charges, and a reversal of $0.9 million to adjust prior year restructuring reserves;
• $1.4 million pre-tax related to the write-down of a small investment and the write-off of deferred financing costs associated with the early retirement of a credit facility; and
• An income tax adjustment of $0.5 million primarily related to the combination of a favorable audit settlement and release of a valuation allowance on certain deferred tax assets which were determined to be realizable, mostly offset by changes to existing tax positions primarily for transfer pricing.

Pro Forma (Organic) Revenue

Pro forma or Organic revenue is defined as reported revenue adjusted for (i) the impact of acquisitions by adjusting Avnet’s prior periods to include the sales of businesses acquired as if the acquisitions had occurred at the beginning of fiscal 2012 and (ii) the impact of the transfer of a business from TS Americas to EM Americas, which did not have an impact to Avnet on a consolidated basis but did impact the pro forma sales for the groups by approximately $6 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012. Sales taking into account the combination of these adjustments are referred to as “pro forma sales” or “organic sales.”

“Acquisition Revenue” as presented in the preceding table includes the acquisitions listed below.

ROWC, ROCE and WC Velocity

The following table presents the calculation for ROWC, ROCE and WC velocity (dollars in thousands).

Teleconference Webcast and Upcoming Events

Avnet will host a Webcast of its quarterly teleconference today at 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The live Webcast event, as well as other financial information including financial statement reconciliations of GAAP and non-GAAP financial measures, will be available through www.ir.avnet.com. Please log onto the site 15 minutes prior to the start of the event to register or download any necessary software. An archive copy of the presentation will also be available after the Webcast.

For a listing of Avnet’s upcoming events and other information, please visit Avnet’s investor relations website at www.ir.avnet.com.

About Avnet

Avnet, Inc. (NYSE:AVT), a Fortune 500 company, is one of the largest distributors of electronic components, computer products and embedded technology serving customers globally. Avnet accelerates its partners' success by connecting the world's leading technology suppliers with a broad base of customers by providing cost-effective, value-added services and solutions. For the fiscal year ended June 30, 2012, Avnet generated revenue of $25.7 billion. For more information, visit www.avnet.com. (AVT_IR)