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A. Schulman Reports Strong Fiscal 2014 First Quarter

-- Net income from continuing operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2014 was $12.4 million, or $0.43 per diluted share; adjusted net income from continuing operations for the first quarter of fiscal 2014, excluding certain items, was $16.7 million, or $0.57 per diluted share -- Company raises full-year fiscal 2014 adjusted net income guidance to a revised range of $2.13 to $2.18 per diluted share

AKRON, Ohio, Jan. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- A. Schulman, Inc. (Nasdaq-GS: SHLM) announced today earnings for the fiscal 2014 first quarter ended November 30, 2013. 

Joseph M. Gingo, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We are extremely encouraged by our strong start to fiscal 2014 and expect to continue the trend of earnings improvement.  During the quarter, we successfully capitalized on operational efficiencies in Europe, benefitted from prior restructuring in Europe and Latin America, as well as gained solid contributions from our bolt-on acquisitions globally."

Bernard Rzepka, Chief Operating Officer, stated, "The recovering and more stable automotive market in Europe has bolstered our engineered plastics business, and I am proud of the great strides our teams have made in our custom color business in Asia and Europe."

Summary of 2014 First-Quarter Results

(In Millions, Except EPS and Operating Income Per Pound)


Q1 2014

Q1 2013

$ or lbs.

Change

%

Change

Volume (lbs.)

502.7

473.6

29.1

6%

Net Sales

$585.4

$532.1

$53.3

10%

Net Income from Continuing Operations

$12.4

$11.8

$0.6

5%

Adjusted Net Income from Continuing Operations*

$16.7

$14.6

$2.1

14%

Operating Income

$19.9

$17.6

$2.3

13%

Adjusted Operating Income*

$24.5

$21.1

$3.4

16%

Adjusted Operating Income Per lb.*

$0.05

$0.04

$0.01

25%

Diluted EPS from Continuing Operations as Reported

$0.43

$0.40

$0.03

8%

Diluted EPS from Continuing Operations as Adjusted*

$0.57

$0.50

$0.07

14%

*The Company provides operating results exclusive of certain items such as costs related to acquisitions, restructuring related expenses and asset write-downs, as these costs are not indicative of the Company's ongoing core operations.  The operating results presented in this manner are considered relevant to aid analysis and understanding of the Company's results and business trends. See note later in this release about the use of non-GAAP financial measures. 

Fiscal First-Quarter Results
In the fiscal 2014 first quarter, net sales in the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) segment increased 11.7% compared with the same period last year.  During the quarter, the incremental contribution of the Perrite acquisition in EMEA was $23 million and 15.5 million pounds in net sales and volume, respectively.  Additionally, sales and volume benefited from greater demand as a result of the stabilization in the automotive market as well as strong performance in the Company's color businesses, which successfully executed operational efficiency plans to gain market share within the region.  Foreign currency translation positively impacted net sales by $13.7 million.  EMEA gross profit was $51.9 million for the quarter, an increase of $7.9 million compared with the same three-month period last year.  The increase in gross profit was primarily attributed to the incremental contribution of the Perrite acquisition, product mix and savings from successful purchasing initiatives.  Foreign currency translation positively impacted EMEA gross profit by $1.8 million.

Net sales for the Americas decreased by 2% compared with the prior-year period due to reduced volume primarily in the engineered plastics business. The reduction in pounds sold was primarily driven by the Company executing its strategy to increase specialty product sales and reduce less profitable commodity sales.  Foreign currency translation negatively impacted net sales by $2.5 million. Gross profit for the Americas was $21.4 million in the quarter, an increase of $0.4 million compared with the same period last year.  The benefit of prior restructuring initiatives and improved mix were partially offset by the negative impact of $0.3 million of foreign currency translation.

During the quarter, net sales for the Company's Asia Pacific (APAC) segment increased approximately 50% compared with the same prior-year period. The incremental contribution of the Perrite acquisition in APAC was $11.5 million and 8.5 million pounds in net sales and volume, respectively.  Excluding the Perrite acquisition, volumes increased in nearly all businesses but were partially offset by decreased price per pound driven by competitive pricing pressures primarily in the masterbatch business.  Gross profit for APAC for the quarter increased approximately 19% compared with the prior-year period.  This increase was primarily attributed to the positive contribution from the Perrite acquisition. Gross profit percentage declined as a result of product mix and competitive pricing pressures. 

Working Capital/Cash Flow From Operations
Cash provided from operations was $9.8 million for the first quarter of fiscal 2014. The Company's cash and cash equivalents decreased $39.3 million from August 31, 2013. This decrease was driven primarily by the Perrite acquisition which was only partially offset by net cash provided from operations.  Working capital was 58 days at the end of the fiscal 2014 first quarter, a decrease of three days when compared with the same period last year.

Capital expenditures for the quarter were $9.6 million compared with $4.8 million last year. The increase included $3.5 million related to the delayed purchase of land and building associated with our ECM acquisition in fiscal 2013.  During the first quarter of fiscal 2014, the Company declared and paid quarterly cash dividends for a total amount of $5.9 million and repurchased shares of common stock for a total cost of $1.1 million.

Business Outlook
"While we are encouraged by the strong fiscal first-quarter performance, we believe it is wise to approach the rest of the year with cautious optimism as our markets remain competitive and the visibility of future demand is limited.  In addition, our primary raw materials costs may increase more than currently anticipated and we have not seen a complete rebound in all of our geographies," Gingo said.  "However, the positive contributions of our marketing initiatives, cost control efforts and the solid contribution of our recent acquisitions provide us the confidence to raise our expectations for 2014 adjusted net income guidance to a revised range of $2.13 to $2.18 per diluted share."     

Conference Call on the Web
A live Internet broadcast of A. Schulman's conference call regarding fiscal 2014 first-quarter earnings can be accessed at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday, January 7, 2014 on the Company's website, www.aschulman.com.  An archived replay of the call will also be available on the website.

Investor Presentation Materials
Senior executives of the Company may participate in meetings with analysts and investors throughout the fiscal year. The Company has posted presentation materials, portions of which may be used during such meetings, in the Investors section of its website at www.aschulman.com. The presentation will remain on the website as long as it is in use.

About A. Schulman, Inc.
A. Schulman, Inc. is a leading international supplier of high-performance plastic compounds and resins headquartered in Akron, Ohio.  Since 1928, the Company has been providing innovative solutions to meet its customers' demanding requirements.  The Company's customers span a wide range of markets such as packaging, mobility, building & construction, electronics & electrical, agriculture, personal care & hygiene, sports, leisure & home, custom services and others.  The Company employs approximately 3,400 people and has 38 manufacturing facilities globally.  A. Schulman reported net sales of $2.1 billion for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013. Additional information about A. Schulman can be found at www.aschulman.com.

Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
This release includes certain financial information determined by methods other than in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("GAAP").  These non-GAAP financial measures include: net income excluding certain items and net income per diluted share excluding certain items. However, non-GAAP measures are not in accordance with, nor are they a substitute for, GAAP measures, and tables included in this release reconcile each non-GAAP financial measure with the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure. The most directly comparable GAAP financial measures for these purposes are net income and net income per diluted share.  The Company's non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for comparable GAAP financial measures, and should be read only in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP.

While the Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful supplemental information to investors, there are very significant limitations associated with their use.  These non-GAAP financial measures are not prepared in accordance with GAAP, may not be reported by all of the Company's competitors and may not be directly comparable to similarly titled measures of the Company's competitors due to potential differences in the exact method of calculation.  The Company compensates for these limitations by using these non-GAAP financial measures as supplements to GAAP financial measures and by reviewing the reconciliations of the non-GAAP financial measures to their most comparable GAAP financial measures.

Cautionary Statements

A number of the matters discussed in this document that are not historical or current facts deal with potential future circumstances and developments and may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts and relate to future events and expectations. Forward-looking statements contain such words as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and include known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which management is unable to predict or control, that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by these forward-looking statements, and that could adversely affect the Company's future financial performance, include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • worldwide and regional economic, business and political conditions, including continuing economic uncertainties in some or all of the Company's major product markets or countries where the Company has operations;
  • the effectiveness of the Company's efforts to improve operating margins through sales growth, price increases, productivity gains, and improved purchasing techniques;
  • competitive factors, including intense price competition;
  • fluctuations in the value of currencies in major areas where the Company operates;
  • volatility of prices and availability of the supply of energy and raw materials that are critical to the manufacture of the Company's products, particularly plastic resins derived from oil and natural gas;
  • changes in customer demand and requirements;
  • effectiveness of the Company to achieve the level of cost savings, productivity improvements, growth and other benefits anticipated from acquisitions, joint ventures and restructuring initiatives;
  • escalation in the cost of providing employee health care;
  • uncertainties regarding the resolution of pending and future litigation and other claims;
  • the performance of the global automotive market as well as other markets served;
  • further adverse changes in economic or industry conditions, including global supply and demand conditions and prices for products; and
  • operating problems with our information systems as a result of system security failures such as viruses, computer "hackers" or other causes.

The risks and uncertainties identified above are not the only risks the Company faces. Additional risk factors that could affect the Company's performance are set forth in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2013. In addition, risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that it believes to be immaterial also may adversely affect the Company. Should any known or unknown risks or uncertainties develop into actual events, or underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, these developments could have material adverse effects on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations.

SHLM_ALL

www.aschulman.com


 

A. SCHULMAN, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS



Three months ended November 30,


2013


2012


Unaudited

(In thousands, except per share data)

Net sales

$

585,397



$

532,085


Cost of sales

506,289



461,896


Selling, general and administrative expenses

57,398



49,838


Restructuring expense

1,778



1,937


Asset impairment



498


Curtailment (gain) loss



333


Operating income

19,932



17,583


Interest expense

2,191



1,768


Interest income

(62)



(207)


Foreign currency transaction (gains) losses

682



579


Other (income) expense, net

(78)



(136)


Income from continuing operations before taxes

17,199



15,579


Provision (benefit) for U.S. and foreign income taxes

4,568



3,437


Income from continuing operations

12,631



12,142


Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

2,655



3


Net income

15,286



12,145


Noncontrolling interests

(215)



(366)


Net income attributable to A. Schulman, Inc.

$

15,071



$

11,779






Weighted-average number of shares outstanding:




Basic

29,017



29,217


Diluted

29,205



29,412






Basic earnings per share attributable to A. Schulman, Inc.




Income from continuing operations

$

0.43



$

0.40


Income (loss) from discontinued operations

0.09




Net income attributable to A. Schulman, Inc.

$

0.52



$

0.40






Diluted earnings per share attributable to A. Schulman, Inc.




Income from continuing operations

$

0.43



$

0.40


Income (loss) from discontinued operations

0.09




Net income attributable to A. Schulman, Inc.

$

0.52



$

0.40






Cash dividends per common share

$

0.200



$

0.195


 

 

 


 


A. SCHULMAN, INC.

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS



November 30,
2013


August 31,
2013


Unaudited

(In thousands)

ASSETS

Current assets:




Cash and cash equivalents

$

94,803



$

134,054


Accounts receivable, less allowance for doubtful accounts of $10,760 at November 30, 2013 and $10,434 at August 31, 2013

359,383



310,749


Inventories, lower of average cost or market

308,593



261,658


Prepaid expenses and other current assets

42,965



41,224


Total current assets

805,744



747,685


Property, plant and equipment, at cost:




Land and improvements

29,452



27,954


Buildings and leasehold improvements

154,077



146,647


Machinery and equipment

382,520



356,144


Furniture and fixtures

40,091



39,065


Construction in progress

11,008



7,149


Gross property, plant and equipment

617,148



576,959


Accumulated depreciation

386,942



366,438


Net property, plant and equipment

230,206



210,521


Deferred charges and other noncurrent assets

51,610



48,723


Goodwill

154,825



139,526


Intangible assets, net

109,979



91,887


Total assets

$

1,352,364



$

1,238,342


 

LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

Current liabilities:




Accounts payable

$

327,090



$

265,477


U.S. and foreign income taxes payable

7,514



6,423


Accrued payroll, taxes and related benefits

45,138



43,072


Other accrued liabilities

51,049



48,689


Short-term debt

21,685



8,373


Total current liabilities

452,476



372,034


Long-term debt

211,425



207,435


Pension plans

102,553



98,599


Deferred income taxes

23,954



20,873


Other long-term liabilities

25,854



24,657


Total liabilities

816,262



723,598


Commitments and contingencies




Stockholders' equity:




Common stock, $1 par value, authorized - 75,000 shares, issued - 48,097 shares at November 30, 2013 and 48,094 shares at August 31, 2013

48,097



48,094


Additional paid-in capital

264,212



263,158


Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)

12,699



682


Retained earnings

583,526



574,370


Treasury stock, at cost, 18,977 shares at November 30, 2013 and 18,940 shares at August 31, 2013

(379,984)



(378,927)


Total A. Schulman, Inc.'s stockholders' equity

528,550



507,377


Noncontrolling interests

7,552



7,367


Total equity

536,102



514,744


Total liabilities and equity

$

1,352,364



$

1,238,342


 


A. SCHULMAN, INC.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS



Three months ended November 30,


2013


2012


Unaudited

(In thousands)

Operating from continuing and discontinued operations:




Net income

$

15,286



$

12,145


Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash

provided from (used in) operating activities:




Depreciation

7,865



7,485


Amortization

3,244



2,871


Deferred tax provision

(693)



(1,502)


Pension and other postretirement benefits

2,550



2,068


Asset impairment



498


Curtailment (gain) loss



333


Gain on sale of assets from discontinued operations

(3,028)




Changes in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:




Accounts receivable

(12,681)



(6,133)


Inventories

(25,936)



(18,803)


Accounts payable

24,826



11,615


Income taxes

765



1,700


Accrued payroll and other accrued liabilities

1,239



3,515


Other assets and long-term liabilities

(3,618)



(5,449)


Net cash provided from (used in) operating activities

9,819



10,343


Investing from continuing and discontinued operations:




Expenditures for property, plant and equipment

(9,601)



(4,811)


Proceeds from the sale of assets

3,087



7,689


Business acquisitions, net of cash

(51,322)



(36,360)


Net cash provided from (used in) investing activities

(57,836)



(33,482)


Financing from continuing and discontinued operations:




Cash dividends paid

(5,915)



(5,781)


Increase (decrease) in short-term debt

3,294



2,397


Borrowings on long-term debt

457,000



45,046


Repayments on long-term debt

(444,649)



(35,809)


Payment of debt issuance costs

(1,731)




Issuances of stock, common and treasury

211



432


Purchases of treasury stock

(1,116)



(479)


Net cash provided from (used in) financing activities

7,094



5,806


Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

1,672



444


Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

(39,251)



(16,889)


Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

134,054



124,031


Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

$

94,803



$

107,142


 

A. SCHULMAN, INC.

Reconciliation of GAAP and Non-GAAP Financial Measures




Three months ended November 30,



2013


2012



Unaudited

(In thousands, except per share data)

Net income attributable to A. Schulman, Inc.:





GAAP, as reported


$

15,071



$

11,779


Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax


2,655



3


Net income from continuing operations


$

12,416



$

11,776


Certain items, net of tax:





Asset write-downs (1)


107



626


Costs related to acquisitions (2)


546



312


Restructuring related (3)


3,340



1,762


Inventory step-up (4)


319



138


Total certain items, net of tax


$

4,312



$

2,838


Non-GAAP


$

16,728



$

14,614







Non-GAAP diluted EPS


$

0.57



$

0.50







Weighted-average number of shares outstanding -diluted


29,205



29,412







1 - Asset write-downs primarily relate to asset impairments and accelerated depreciation.

2 - Costs related to acquisitions include those costs incurred to pursue intended targets.

3 - Restructuring related costs include items such as employee severance charges, lease termination charges, curtailment gains/losses, other employee termination costs and charges related to the reorganization of the legal entity structure.

4 - Inventory step-up costs include the adjustment for fair value of inventory acquired as a result of acquisition purchase accounting.

 

A. SCHULMAN, INC.

SUPPLEMENTAL SEGMENT INFORMATION




Three months ended November 30,



2013


2012



Unaudited

(In thousands, except for %'s)

Pounds sold to unaffiliated customers





EMEA


312,220



290,607


Americas


155,234



159,836


APAC


35,262



23,184


Total pounds sold to unaffiliated customers


502,716



473,627







Net sales to unaffiliated customers





EMEA


$

392,462



$

351,488


Americas


146,527



149,574


APAC


46,408



31,023


Total net sales to unaffiliated customers


$

585,397



$

532,085







Segment gross profit





EMEA


$

51,940



$

44,060


Americas


21,433



20,991


APAC


6,623



5,554


Total segment gross profit


79,996



70,605


Inventory step-up


(417)



(138)


Accelerated depreciation and restructuring related


(471)



(278)


Total gross profit


$

79,108



$

70,189







Segment operating income





EMEA


$

20,417



$

16,145


Americas


7,364



7,792


APAC


3,366



3,089


Total segment operating income


31,147



27,026


Corporate


(6,683)



(5,947)


Costs related to acquisitions


(635)



(312)


Restructuring related


(3,372)



(1,937)


Accelerated depreciation


(108)



(278)


Asset impairment




(498)


Curtailment gain (loss)




(333)


Inventory step-up


(417)



(138)


Operating income


19,932



17,583


Interest expense, net


(2,129)



(1,561)


Foreign currency transaction gains (losses)


(682)



(579)


Other income (expense), net


78



136


Income from continuing operations before taxes


$

17,199



$

15,579







Capacity utilization





EMEA


87

%


81

%

Americas


67

%


66

%

APAC


67

%


75

%

Worldwide


77

%


74

%

 

 

 

SOURCE A. Schulman, Inc.

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