TriMas Corporation Reports Second Quarter Results

TriMas Corporation (NASDAQ: TRS) today announced financial results for the quarter ended June 30, 2014. The Company reported record second quarter net sales from continuing operations of $404.0 million, an increase of 6.9% compared to second quarter 2013. The Company reported second quarter 2014 income from continuing operations attributable to TriMas Corporation of $26.2 million, or $0.58 per diluted share, as compared to income of $26.2 million, or $0.65 per diluted share, during second quarter 2013. Excluding Special Items⁽¹⁾, second quarter 2014 diluted earnings per share would have been $0.65, as compared to $0.69 in second quarter 2013, while absorbing 13.4% higher weighted average shares outstanding in second quarter 2014 as compared to second quarter 2013.

TriMas Highlights

• Reported record second quarter net sales of $404.0 million, an increase of 6.9% as compared to second quarter 2013, due to results from bolt-on acquisitions and the successful execution of numerous growth initiatives.
• The Packaging segment achieved 9.7% sales growth in second quarter 2014, compared to second quarter 2013, or 15.6% sales growth, excluding the third quarter 2013 divestiture of the rings and levers business.
• The Aerospace and Defense segment achieved 38.2% sales growth in second quarter 2014, compared to second quarter 2013, nearly half of which was from organic growth initiatives.
• Continued initiatives to expand operating profit margins, with a 30 basis point improvement, after Special Items⁽¹⁾, in second quarter 2014 as compared to second quarter 2013, while investing in the acquisitions completed in 2013 and absorbing the lower margin rates associated with these acquisitions.
• Improved Engineered Components and Cequent Americas operating profit margins⁽²⁾ by 470 and 210 basis points, respectively, compared to second quarter 2013, as a result of recent actions taken to improve the businesses.
• Reduced interest expense by more than 35% as compared to second quarter 2013, as a result of the Company's October 2013 new senior secured credit facilities and April 2014 accounts receivable facility amendment.
• Earlier this week, announced the acquisition of Lion Holdings Pvt. Ltd., a manufacturer of highly engineered dispensing solutions with locations in India and Vietnam, to broaden Asian market coverage and provide additional in-market capacity for the growing packaging business.

"During the second quarter, we achieved 6.9% sales growth, led by our packaging and aerospace businesses, offsetting the challenges we continued to face in our energy end markets and sales reduction resulting from our third quarter 2013 divestiture of the Italian rings and levers business," said David Wathen, TriMas President and Chief Executive Officer. "We improved our operating profit by 9.7% with a 30 basis point improvement in margin, and achieved an earnings per share of $0.65 (excluding Special Items). This is in spite of a higher share count and tax rate as compared to a year ago, and end market headwinds in energy and the aerospace distribution channel."

"We continue to identify the bright spots and support our customers with new, innovative products and expanded geographic reach. We remain committed to increasing margins across all of our businesses, growing faster in our higher margin businesses, exiting and reducing some lower margin business, and implementing productivity and lean programs throughout the organization. These positive actions help offset the headwinds we are facing, and we remain mindful of the risks and challenges in the back half of 2014," Wathen continued.

Second Quarter Financial Results

• TriMas reported record second quarter net sales of $404.0 million, an increase of 6.9% as compared to $378.0 million in second quarter 2013. During second quarter, net sales increased in five of the six reportable segments, primarily as a result of additional sales from bolt-on acquisitions, as well as geographic expansion, new customer wins and strength in certain end markets as compared to second quarter 2013. These sales increases were partially offset by a decrease of $4.1 million related to the 2013 sale of the Italian rings and levers business in the Packaging segment and a decrease in the Energy segment primarily due to lower sales to engineering and construction customers and a delay in turnaround activity at petrochemical plants and refineries.
• The Company reported operating profit of $44.0 million in second quarter 2014, an increase of 5.8% as compared to second quarter 2013. Excluding Special Items⁽¹⁾ related to the facility consolidation and relocation projects within Energy and Cequent Americas, second quarter 2014 operating profit would have been $47.9 million, an increase of 9.7% as compared to $43.6 million during second quarter 2013. Second quarter 2014 operating profit margin percentage, excluding Special Items, improved due to productivity and cost reduction initiatives primarily in the Packaging, Engineered Components and Cequent Americas segments. This improvement was partially offset by a less favorable product sales mix, including the impact related to recent acquisitions which have lower initial margins. The Company continued to generate significant savings from capital investments, productivity projects and lean initiatives, which contributed to the funding of growth initiatives.
• Excluding noncontrolling interests related to Arminak & Associates, second quarter 2014 income from continuing operations attributable to TriMas Corporation was flat at $26.2 million with second quarter 2013, and $0.58 per diluted share, compared to $0.65 per diluted share, due to 13.4% higher weighted average shares outstanding in second quarter 2014 as compared to second quarter 2013. Excluding Special Items⁽¹⁾, second quarter 2014 income from continuing operations attributable to TriMas Corporation would have been $29.4 million, an improvement of 6.6%, and diluted earnings per share would have been $0.65, as compared to $0.69 in second quarter 2013. The effects of higher operating profit and lower interest expense were more than offset by significantly higher income tax expense and share count in second quarter 2014, as compared to second quarter 2013.
• The Company reported Free Cash Flow (defined as Cash Flow from Operating Activities less Capital Expenditures) of $36.2 million for second quarter 2014, compared to $39.5 million in second quarter 2013. On a year-to-date basis, the Company generated $2.5 million in Free Cash Flow as compared to a use of $12.4 million during the first six months of 2013. The Company still expects to generate between $55 million and $65 million in Free Cash Flow for 2014.
• Through June 30, 2014, the Company invested $20.5 million in capital expenditures (included in Free Cash Flow above) primarily in support of future growth and productivity opportunities and used $51.0 million to acquire the remaining interest of Arminak & Associates in the Packaging reportable segment.

Financial Position

TriMas reported total indebtedness of $368.5 million as of June 30, 2014, as compared to $305.7 million as of December 31, 2013, and $480.7 million as of June 30, 2013. This increase from year end was primarily as a result of the seasonality related to higher working capital levels and the funding of $51.0 million to acquire the remaining interest of Arminak & Associates during the first quarter of 2014. TriMas ended second quarter 2014 with $394.8 million of cash and aggregate availability under its revolving credit and accounts receivable facilities.

Business Segment Results⁽²⁾

Packaging

Net sales for the second quarter increased 9.7% compared to the year ago period primarily due to increases in specialty systems product sales resulting from additional demand from North American and European dispensing customers, as well as customer opportunities in Asia. Excluding the impact related to the third quarter 2013 divestiture of the Italian rings and levers business, industrial closures sales improved due to increased demand in North America and Europe. Operating profit for the quarter increased primarily due to higher sales levels, while the related margin percentage decreased due to a less favorable product sales mix and costs incurred to add capacity to the two manufacturing facilities in China, partially offset by savings from ongoing productivity and automation initiatives. The Company continues to develop specialty dispensing and closure applications for growing end markets, including personal care, cosmetic, pharmaceutical, nutrition and food/beverage, and expand into complementary products.

On July 25, 2014, the Company acquired Lion Holdings, a manufacturer of highly-engineered dispensing solutions, with locations in India and Vietnam, to better support its global customers in Asia. Wathen commented, "The acquisition of Lion Holdings provides us the opportunity to accelerate our growth in Asia. It provides needed in-market capacity, high quality plants with expansion opportunities and talented people with a track record of serving the customers we know. We are excited about this combination and congratulate those involved for a job well done."

Energy

Second quarter net sales decreased 11.1% compared to the year ago period due to the significant slow down and postponement of turnaround activity and maintenance spend in the North American refining and petrochemical end markets, and a reduction in sales to engineering and construction customers as second quarter 2013 represented a higher-than-normal sales quarter to these customers. Second quarter operating profit and the related margin percentage decreased, as manufacturing productivity was more than offset by the impact of weaker refinery shutdown activity, which resulted in a less favorable product mix shift toward standard gaskets and bolts, and higher selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company is focused on improving margins and has recently closed a less profitable branch in China and restructured its Brazilian energy business to better reflect the current market demand. The Company also has multiple programs underway to improve the profitability of its standard products.

Aerospace & Defense

Net sales for the second quarter increased 38.2% compared to the year ago period primarily due to the results of the acquisition of Mac Fasteners in October 2013, improved demand for blind bolts and one-sided installation products resulting from new programs with airplane frame manufacturers and the introduction of new collar products. Second quarter operating profit and the related margin percentage decreased, as the increase in operating profit earned on higher sales levels was more than offset by ongoing ramp-up costs, manufacturing inefficiencies related to smaller customer order quantities and less predictable order patterns associated with large distribution customers, a less favorable product sales mix related to acquisitions, and higher selling, general and administrative expenses in support of growth initiatives. The Company continues to invest in this segment by developing and marketing highly-engineered products for aerospace applications and leveraging bolt-on acquisitions.

Engineered Components

Second quarter net sales increased 8.6% compared to the year ago period primarily due to an increase in industrial cylinder sales related to the small cylinder asset acquisition in November 2013 and improved sales in gas compression products, partially offset by decreased sales of slow speed engines. Second quarter operating profit increased compared to the prior year period primarily due to the increased sales levels, with margin improvement resulting from operating leverage, continued productivity and cost reduction initiatives. The Company continues to develop new products and expand its international sales efforts.

Cequent APEA

Net sales for the second quarter increased 14.4% compared to the year ago period primarily due to the April 2013 acquisition of C.P. Witter and the July 2013 acquisition of the towing assets of AL-KO, partially offset by lower sales in Australia related to the uncertain general economic conditions, resulting in reduced consumer and business confidence and the negative impact of currency exchange. Second quarter operating profit and the related margin percentage decreased primarily as the sales impact related to recent acquisitions was more than offset by the incremental ongoing selling, general and administrative expenses. The Company continues to reduce fixed costs and leverage Cequent's strong brand positions to capitalize on growth opportunities in new markets.

Cequent Americas

Net sales for the second quarter increased 4.6% compared to the year ago period, primarily due to increases in the retail and aftermarket channels. The aftermarket channel was positively impacted by the November 2013 acquisition of DHF Soluções Automotivas in Brazil and increases from large national distributors in North America, as the new distribution hub improved efficiency and backlog was significantly reduced. Sales within the retail channel increased primarily due to incremental demand from existing customers for towing, towing accessories and cargo management products. Second quarter operating profit and the related margin percentage increased due to the higher sales levels, improved productivity and reduced costs resulting from the move of production to lower cost country facilities and vendor cost reductions. The Company continues to reduce fixed costs and leverage Cequent's strong brand positions and new products for increased market share in the United States and faster growing markets.

2014 Outlook

The Company maintains its 2014 outlook originally provided on February 20, 2014. The Company estimates that 2014 sales will increase 6% to 8% as compared to 2013. The Company expects full-year 2014 diluted earnings per share to be between $2.15 and $2.25 per share, while absorbing approximately 9% higher weighted average shares outstanding for 2014 as compared to 2013 and excluding any future events that may be considered Special Items. In addition, the Company expects to generate between $55 million and $65 million of Free Cash Flow, defined as Cash Flow from Operating Activities less Capital Expenditures, for 2014.

Wathen concluded, "We continue to focus on capturing the opportunities and mitigating the risks we face in these choppy end markets. While we are maintaining our full year 2014 EPS guidance of $2.15 to $2.25, we believe we are trending to the lower end of the range given the current conditions we are facing."

Conference Call Information

TriMas Corporation will host its second quarter 2014 earnings conference call today, Thursday, July 31, 2014, at 10:00 a.m. ET. The call-in number is (888) 364-3108. Participants should request to be connected to the TriMas Corporation second quarter 2014 earnings conference call (Conference ID #3923586). The conference call will also be simultaneously webcast via TriMas' website at www.trimascorp.com, under the "Investors" section, with an accompanying slide presentation. A replay of the conference call will be available on the TriMas website or by dialing (888) 203-1112 (Replay Code #3923586) beginning July 31, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. ET through August 7, 2014 at 3:00 p.m. ET.

Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

Any "forward-looking" statements contained herein, including those relating to market conditions or the Company's financial condition and results, expense reductions, liquidity expectations, business goals and sales growth, involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks and uncertainties with respect to general economic and currency conditions, various conditions specific to the Company's business and industry, the Company's substantial leverage, liabilities imposed by the Company's debt instruments, market demand, competitive factors, supply constraints, material and energy costs, technology factors, litigation, government and regulatory actions, the Company's accounting policies, future trends, and other risks which are detailed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2013, and in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. These risks and uncertainties may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by the forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements made herein are based on information currently available, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements.

In this release, certain non-GAAP financial measures are used. Reconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure may be found at the end of this release. Additional information is available at www.trimascorp.com under the “Investors” section.

About TriMas

Headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, TriMas Corporation (NASDAQ: TRS) provides engineered and applied products for growing markets worldwide. TriMas is organized into six reportable segments: Packaging, Energy, Aerospace & Defense, Engineered Components, Cequent APEA and Cequent Americas. TriMas has approximately 6,000 employees at more than 60 different facilities in 19 countries. For more information, visit www.trimascorp.com.

⁽¹⁾ Appendix I details certain costs, expenses and other charges, collectively described as “Special Items,” that are included in the determination of income from continuing operations attributable to TriMas Corporation under GAAP, but that management would consider important in evaluating the quality of the Company's operating results.

⁽²⁾ Business Segment Results include Operating Profit that excludes the impact of Special Items. For a complete schedule of Special Items by segment, see “Company and Business Segment Financial Information.”