Harsco Corporation Reports Second Quarter 2016 Results

• Q2 GAAP Operating Income of $1 Million, Including Loss Provision in Rail of $40 Million
   
• Excluding Rail Loss Provision, Operating Income in Q2 of $41 Million; Above Guidance Due to Favorable Performance in Metals & Minerals and Lower Corporate Spending
   
• Full-Year GAAP Operating Income Expected to be Between $57 Million and $72 Million; Adjusted Operating Income Anticipated Between $105 Million and $120 Million as Compared with Prior Range of $80 Million to $100 Million
   
• Free Cash Flow Guidance Increased to Between $65 Million and $80 Million as Compared with Prior Range of $50 Million to $70 Million
   
• Net Debt Reduced to $809 Million and Liquidity Exceeded $220 Million at Quarter-End; Company Now Targeting a Net Leverage Ratio Below 3.0x at Year-End

CAMP HILL, Pa., Aug. 04, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Harsco Corporation (NYSE:HSC) today reported second quarter 2016 results.  On a U.S. GAAP (“GAAP”) basis, second quarter 2016 diluted loss per share from continuing operations was $0.35, which included a loss provision related to the Company's railway maintenance equipment contracts with SBB, the federal railway system in Switzerland.  As previously disclosed, the Company concluded that it will have a loss on its outstanding contracts with SBB, and under generally accepted accounting principles, a loss provision is recorded when determined probable.  Excluding this item, diluted earnings per share from continuing operations in the second quarter of 2016 were $0.15.  This result compares with diluted earnings per share of $0.08 in the second quarter of 2015. 

Operating income from continuing operations for the second quarter of 2016 was $1 million.  Excluding the loss provision, operating income for the second quarter of 2016 was $41 million, which was above the guidance range of $22 million to $27 million provided by the Company.

“We were particularly pleased with the performance of Metals & Minerals in the second quarter,” said President and CEO Nick Grasberger.  “The performance in Metals & Minerals reflects the structural and operational improvements completed over the past two years, strong execution against our key priorities and an improved market environment.  Our second quarter results also benefited from lower than anticipated Corporate costs, and our Industrial business performed well in a challenging economic environment.  As previously announced, our reported results were impacted by the recognition of expected losses on our SBB contracts in Rail.  While we are disappointed with this outcome, our SBB development work is progressing and we expect to begin delivering key components under these contracts during the second-half of the year.”

Grasberger continued, “Looking forward, we expect the internal momentum to continue in our Metals & Minerals segment and believe that our businesses are well positioned to show significant operating leverage as key markets recover.  Accordingly, we have raised our 2016 Outlook for adjusted operating income.  As we enter the second-half of the year, our priorities are unchanged.  We remain focused on achieving meaningful debt reduction during the year and will continue to pursue initiatives to strengthen the market positions and capital returns of our businesses.  Finally, we are committed to rebalancing our business portfolio and realizing the embedded value within our businesses.”

Harsco Corporation—Selected Second Quarter Results

Consolidated Second Quarter Operating Results

Total revenues were $370 million, with the decrease attributable to each of the Company’s segments, as expected.  Foreign currency translation negatively affected second quarter 2016 revenues by approximately $13 million.

Operating income from continuing operations for the second quarter of 2016 was $1 million, while operating income from continuing operations excluding the loss provision was $41 million in the second quarter of 2016.  These figures compare with operating income of $36 million in the prior-year quarter.  Excluding the Rail loss provision, the improvement in results in Metals & Minerals in comparison with the same quarter last year more than offset lower earnings in the Industrial and Rail segments.  As a result, operating margin increased by 340 basis points versus the prior-year period excluding the Rail loss provision. 

Foreign currency translation positively impacted operating income by approximately $2 million in this year’s quarter compared with the prior-year quarter.  Also, the Company’s second quarter 2016 earnings included an equity loss of approximately $0.7 million ($0.01 loss per share after tax) from the Brand Energy joint venture.

Second Quarter Business Review

Metals & Minerals

Revenues decreased 14 percent to $254 million, primarily as a result of exiting certain contracts and foreign exchange translation.  Meanwhile, operating income increased 66 percent in comparison with the prior-year as the workforce reductions and other benefits realized under Project Orion, lower overall operating costs and improved profitability for certain Applied Products offset the impact from site exits.  As a result, the segment operating margin improved to 12.2 percent versus 6.3 percent in last year’s second quarter.  There were no unusual items in either period.

Industrial

Revenues declined 28 percent to $66 million, principally due to volume changes in the segment’s heat exchanger business resulting from lower capital spending among U.S. energy customers.  Operating income declined as reduced demand for heat exchangers offset lower selling and administrative costs.  As a result, the segment’s operating margin decreased to 11.0 percent compared with 15.7 percent in the comparable quarter last year.

Rail

Revenues decreased 28 percent to $50 million as lower equipment volume offset an increase in after-market parts sales.  The segment incurred an operating loss of $32 million in the second quarter of 2016 due to the loss provision on the SBB contracts.  Excluding this item, operating income totaled $8 million as compared with operating income of $11 million in the prior-year quarter.  This change can be attributed to lower contributions from equipment sales, which offset benefits from higher parts sales and lower selling and administrative costs.  Meanwhile, the segment's operating margin excluding the loss provision was largely unchanged at 16.2 percent compared with 16.4 percent in the comparable quarter last year.

Cash Flow

Free cash flow was $19 million in the second quarter of 2016, compared with $10 million in the prior-year period.  This cash flow improvement resulted principally from a decline in capital expenditures compared with last year's quarter.

Financial Position

At the end of the second quarter, Harsco maintained net debt of approximately $809 million, a modest decrease from the sequential quarter.  Meanwhile, the Company's net debt to EBITDA ratio was 2.9x, as compared with a maximum leverage covenant of 4.0x under the Company's current Credit Agreement, and its borrowing capacity and available cash totaled more than $220 million at the end of the quarter.  Also, the Company is now targeting a net leverage ratio of less than 3.0x at year-end as compared to 3.0x to 3.2x previously.

2016 Outlook

The Company's 2016 Outlook is improved to mainly reflect revised forecasts for the Metals & Minerals segment and Corporate spending as compared with the guidance provided as part of its first quarter 2016 results.  For Metals & Minerals, adjusted operating income is now expected to improve compared with 2015 given current expectations for cost and operational gains as well as improved fundamentals within the global mill services and Applied Products markets.  As a result, internal improvements and site start-ups are forecasted to fully offset the impacts from site exits, weaker commodities prices and lower steel production for the year.  Further, Corporate spending is now expected to decrease at least 20 percent versus 2015 as a result of continued reduction of various overhead expenditures such as personnel, travel and professional fees.  The Company's outlook for the Industrial and Rail segments are mostly unchanged.  In Industrial, operating results are projected to be meaningfully lower as compared with 2015 due to reduced demand from U.S. energy customers.  Rail earnings are expected to decrease as a result of weaker U.S. market demand, sales mix and administrative costs to facilitate international expansion as well as the $40 million loss provision in the just-completed quarter.  Lastly, the Outlook also includes anticipated equity income from the Brand Energy joint venture, where impacts from various financial uncertainties such as foreign exchange and income taxes are assumed to be limited in the forecast period.

Full Year 2016

• GAAP operating income for the full year is expected to range from $57 million to $72 million; compared with $89 million in 2015.
• Adjusted operating income for the full year is expected to range from $105 million to $120 million; compared with $80 million to $100 million previously and with $135 million in 2015.
• Free cash flow in the range of $65 million to $80 million; compared with a previous range of $50 million to $70 million and with $24 million in 2015.
• Net interest expense is forecasted to range from $50 million to $52 million.
• Equity income from the Brand Energy joint venture is expected to be $6 million to $8 million; compared with $3 million to $6 million previously.
• GAAP loss per share for the full year in the range of $0.17 to $0.32; compared GAAP earnings per share of $0.09 in 2015.
• Adjusted earnings per share for the full year in the range of $0.33 to $0.49; compared with $0.13 to $0.33 previously and $0.56 per share in 2015.
• Adjusted return on invested capital is expected to range from 5.5 percent to 6.0 percent; compared with 6.3 percent in 2015.

Q3 2016

• Adjusted operating income of $27 million to $32 million; compared with $35 million in the prior-year quarter.
• Adjusted earnings per share of $0.10 to $0.15; compared with $0.18 in the prior-year quarter.

Conference Call

As previously announced, the Company will hold a conference call today at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss its results and respond to questions from the investment community.  The conference call will be broadcast live through the Harsco Corporation website at www.harsco.com.  The Company will refer to a slide presentation that accompanies its formal remarks.  The slide presentation will be available on the Company’s website.

The call can also be accessed by telephone by dialing (800) 611-4920, or (973) 200-3957 for international callers.  Enter Conference ID number 44559392.  Listeners are advised to dial in at least five minutes prior to the call.

Replays will be available via the Harsco website and also by telephone through August 18, 2016 by dialing (800) 585-8367, (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406.

Forward-Looking Statements

The nature of the Company's business and the many countries in which it operates subject it to changing economic, competitive, regulatory and technological conditions, risks and uncertainties.  In accordance with the "safe harbor" provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Company provides the following cautionary remarks regarding important factors that, among others, could cause future results to differ materially from the results contemplated by forward-looking statements, including the expectations and assumptions expressed or implied herein.  Forward-looking statements contained herein could include, among other things, statements about management's confidence in and strategies for performance; expectations for new and existing products, technologies and opportunities; and expectations regarding growth, sales, cash flows, and earnings.  Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of such terms as "may," "could," "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "believe," "likely," "estimate," "target," "plan" or other comparable terms.

Factors that could cause actual results to differ, perhaps materially, from those implied by forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: (1) changes in the worldwide business environment in which the Company operates, including general economic conditions; (2) changes in currency exchange rates, interest rates, commodity and fuel costs and capital costs; (3) changes in the performance of equity and bond markets that could affect, among other things, the valuation of the assets in the Company's pension plans and the accounting for pension assets, liabilities and expenses; (4) changes in governmental laws and regulations, including environmental, occupational health and safety, tax and import tariff standards; (5) market and competitive changes, including pricing pressures, market demand and acceptance for new products, services and technologies; (6) the Company's inability or failure to protect its intellectual property rights from infringement in one or more of the many countries in which the Company operates; (7) failure to effectively prevent, detect or recover from breaches in the Company's cybersecurity infrastructure; (8) unforeseen business disruptions in one or more of the many countries in which the Company operates due to political instability, civil disobedience, armed hostilities, public health issues or other calamities; (9) disruptions associated with labor disputes and increased operating costs associated with union organization; (10) the seasonal nature of the Company's business; (11) the Company's ability to successfully enter into new contracts and complete new acquisitions or strategic ventures in the time-frame contemplated, or at all; (12) the integration of the Company's strategic acquisitions; (13) the amount and timing of repurchases of the Company's common stock, if any; (14) the prolonged recovery in global financial and credit markets and economic conditions generally, which could result in the Company's customers curtailing development projects, construction, production and capital expenditures, which, in turn, could reduce the demand for the Company's products and services and, accordingly, the Company's revenues, margins and profitability; (15) the outcome of any disputes with customers, contractors and subcontractors; (16) the financial condition of the Company's customers, including the ability of customers (especially those that may be highly leveraged and those with inadequate liquidity) to maintain their credit availability; (17) the Company's ability to successfully implement and receive the expected benefits of cost-reduction and restructuring initiatives, including the achievement of expected cost savings in the expected time frame and the ability to reduce its net debt; (18) the ability to successfully implement the Company's strategic initiatives and portfolio optimization and the impact of such initiatives, such as the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment's Improvement Plan ("Project Orion"); (19) the amount ultimately realized from the Company's exit from the strategic venture between the Company and Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and the timing of such exit; (20) implementation of environmental remediation matters; (21) risk and uncertainty associated with intangible assets; (22) the impact of a transaction, if any, resulting from the Company's determination to explore strategic options for the separation of the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment; and (23) other risk factors listed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports.  A further discussion of these, along with other potential risk factors, can be found in Part I, Item 1A, "Risk Factors," of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015. The Company cautions that these factors may not be exhaustive and that many of these factors are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict.  Accordingly, forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as a prediction of actual results.  The Company undertakes no duty to update forward-looking statements except as may be required by law.

About Harsco

Harsco Corporation serves key industries that are fundamental to worldwide economic development, including steel and metals production, railways and energy.  Harsco’s common stock is a component of the S&P SmallCap 600 Index and the Russell 2000 Index.  Additional information can be found at www.harsco.com.

(a) No unusual items were excluded in the three and six months ended June 30, 2015.
(b) Harsco Rail Segment contract loss provision related the Company's contracts with the federal railway system of Switzerland (Q2 and six months 2016 $40.1 pre-tax).
(c) Loss on the dilution of the Company's investment in Brand recorded at Corporate (six months 2016 $10.3 million pre-tax).
(d) Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment charges primarily attributable to site exit costs (six months 2016 $5.1 million pre-tax).
(e) Costs associated with Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment separation recorded at Corporate (six months 2016 $3.3 million pre-tax).

The Company’s management believes Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations excluding unusual items, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, is useful to investors because it provides an overall understanding of the Company’s historical and future prospects.  Exclusion of unusual items permits evaluation and comparison of results for the Company’s core business operations, and it is on this basis that management internally assesses the Company’s performance. This measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(a) Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment charges related to a contract terminations (Full year 2015 $13.5 million pre-tax).
(b) Costs associated with Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment separation costs recorded as Corporate (Full year 2015 $9.9 million pre-tax).
(c) Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment charges incurred in connection with the processing and disposal of salt cakes (Full year 2015 $7.0 million pre-tax). The Company's Bahrain operations are operated under a strategic venture for which its strategic venture partner has a 35% minority interest.  Accordingly, the net impact of the charge to the Company's Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation was $4.6 million.
(d) Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment charges primarily attributable to site exit costs and non-cash long lived asset impairment charges associated with strategic actions from Project Orion’s focus on underperforming contracts (Full year 2015 $5.0 million pre-tax which includes $1.4 million of pre-tax gains).
(e) Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment Project Orion restructuring charges (Full year 2015 $5.1 million pre-tax).
(f) Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment charges related to a settlement with a subcontractor (Full year 2015 $4.2 million pre-tax).
(g) Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment charges related to a multi-employer pension plan (Full year 2015 $1.1 million pre-tax).
(h) Loss resulting from the Harsco Infrastructure Transaction, which was consummated in the fourth quarter of 2013 (Full year 2015 $1.0 million pre-tax).
(i) Does not total due to rounding.

The Company’s management believes Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations excluding unusual items, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, is useful to investors because it provides an overall understanding of the Company’s historical and future prospects.  Exclusion of unusual items permits evaluation and comparison of results for the Company’s core business operations, and it is on this basis that management internally assesses the Company’s performance. This measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(a) Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment charges related to a contract terminations (Q3 2015 $13.7 million pre-tax).
(b) Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment charges incurred in connection with the processing and disposal of salt cakes (Q3 2015 $7.0 million pre-tax). The Company's Bahrain operations are operated under a strategic venture for which its strategic venture partner has a 35% minority interest.  Accordingly, the net impact of the charge to the Company's Net income (loss) attributable to Harsco Corporation was $4.6 million.
(c) Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment charges related to a settlement with a subcontractor (Q3 2015 $4.2 million pre-tax).
(d) Costs associated with strategic planning expenses recorded as Corporate (Q3 2015 $1.8 million pre-tax).
(e) Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment charges related to a multi-employer pension plan (Q3 2015 $1.1 million pre-tax).
(f) (Gain) loss resulting from the Harsco Infrastructure Transaction, which was consummated in the fourth quarter of 2013 (Q3 2015 $1.0 million pre-tax).
(g) Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment charges primarily attributable to site exit costs and non-cash long lived asset impairment charges associated with strategic actions from Project Orion’s focus on underperforming contracts (Q3 2015 $1.4 million pre-tax).
(h) Does not total due to rounding.

The Company’s management believes Adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations excluding unusual items, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, is useful to investors because it provides an overall understanding of the Company’s historical and future prospects.  Exclusion of unusual items permits evaluation and comparison of results for the Company’s core business operations, and it is on this basis that management internally assesses the Company’s performance. This measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(a) No unusual items were excluded during the first quarter and six months ended June 30, 2015.

The Company’s management believes Adjusted operating margin (%) excluding unusual items, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, is useful to investors because it provides an overall understanding of the Company’s historical and future prospects.  Exclusion of unusual items permits evaluation and comparison of results for the Company’s core business operations, and it is on this basis that management internally assesses the Company’s performance.  This measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(a) No unusual items were excluded in the second quarter of 2015.

The Company’s management believes Adjusted operating income (loss) excluding unusual items, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, is useful to investors because it provides an overall understanding of the Company’s historical and future prospects.  Exclusion of unusual items permits evaluation and comparison of results for the Company’s core business operations, and it is on this basis that management internally assesses the Company’s performance.  This measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(a) No unusual items were excluded in the six months ended 2015.

The Company’s management believes Adjusted operating income (loss) excluding unusual items, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, is useful to investors because it provides an overall understanding of the Company’s historical and future prospects.  Exclusion of unusual items permits evaluation and comparison of results for the Company’s core business operations, and it is on this basis that management internally assesses the Company’s performance.  This measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(a)   Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment charges primarily attributable to site exit costs and non-cash long lived asset impairment charges associated with strategic actions from Project Orion’s focus on underperforming contracts (Full year 2015 $5.0 million pre-tax which includes $1.4 million of pre-tax gains).

The Company’s management believes Adjusted operating income (loss) excluding unusual items, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, is useful to investors because it provides an overall understanding of the Company’s historical and future prospects.  Exclusion of unusual items permits evaluation and comparison of results for the Company’s core business operations, and it is on this basis that management internally assesses the Company’s performance.  This measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

The Company’s management believes Adjusted operating income (loss) excluding unusual items, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, is useful to investors because it provides an overall understanding of the Company’s historical and future prospects.  Exclusion of unusual items permits evaluation and comparison of results for the Company’s core business operations, and it is on this basis that management internally assesses the Company’s performance.  This measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(a) Maintenance capital expenditures are necessary to sustain the Company’s current revenue streams and include contract renewal.
(b) Growth capital expenditures, for which management has discretion as to amount, timing and geographic placement, expand the Company's revenue base and create additional future cash flow.
(c) Capital expenditures for strategic ventures represent the partner’s share of capital expenditures in certain ventures consolidated in the Company’s financial statements.
(d) Asset sales are a normal part of the business model, primarily for the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment.

The Company's management believes that Free cash flow, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, is meaningful to investors because management reviews cash flows generated from (used in) operations less capital expenditures net of asset sales proceeds.  It is important to note that free cash flow does not represent the total residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures since other non-discretionary expenditures, such as mandatory debt service requirements, are not deducted from the measure. This measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(a) Maintenance capital expenditures are necessary to sustain the Company’s current revenue streams and include contract renewal. 
(b) Growth capital expenditures, for which management has discretion as to amount, timing and geographic placement, expand the Company's revenue base and create additional future cash flow. 
(c) Capital expenditures for strategic ventures represent the partner’s share of capital expenditures in certain ventures consolidated in the Company’s financial statements.
(d) Asset sales are a normal part of the business model, primarily for the Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment.

The Company's management believes that Free cash flow, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, is meaningful to investors because management reviews cash flows generated from operations less capital expenditures net of asset sales proceeds.  It is important to note that free cash flow does not represent the total residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures since other non-discretionary expenditures, such as mandatory debt service requirements, are not deducted from the measure. This measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(a) Capital expenditures encompass two primary elements: maintenance capital expenditures, which are necessary to sustain the Company’s current revenue streams and include contract renewals; and growth capital expenditures, for which management has discretion as to amount, timing and geographic placement, and which expand the Company's revenue base and create additional future cash flow.

The Company's management believes that free cash flow, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, is meaningful to investors because management reviews cash flows generated from operations less capital expenditures net of asset sales proceeds.  It is important to note that free cash flow does not represent the total residual cash flow available for discretionary expenditures since other non-discretionary expenditures, such as mandatory debt service requirements, are not deducted from the measure. This measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, other information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(a) Return on invested capital excluding unusual items is net income (loss) from continuing operations excluding unusual items, and after-tax interest expense, divided by average capital for the year. The Company uses a trailing twelve month average for computing average capital.
(b) The Company’s effective tax rate approximated 37% on an adjusted basis for both periods for interest expense.

The Company’s management believes Return on invested capital excluding unusual items, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, is meaningful in evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the capital invested in the Company’s business.  Exclusion of unusual items permits evaluation and comparison of results for the Company’s core business operations, and it is on this basis that management internally assesses the Company’s performance.  This measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, net income or other information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

(a) Return on invested capital excluding unusual items is net income from continuing operations excluding unusual items, and after-tax interest expense, divided by average capital for the year. The Company uses a trailing twelve month average for computing average capital.
(b) Harsco Metals & Minerals Segment charges primarily attributable to site exit costs and non-cash long lived asset impairment charges associated with strategic actions from Project Orion’s focus on underperforming contracts (Full year 2015 $5.0 million pre-tax which includes $1.4 million of pre-tax gains).
(c) The Company’s effective tax rate approximated 37% on an adjusted basis for interest expense.

The Company’s management believes Return on invested capital excluding unusual items, which is a non-U.S. GAAP financial measure, is meaningful in evaluating the efficiency and effectiveness of the capital invested in the Company’s business.  Exclusion of unusual items permits evaluation and comparison of results for the Company’s core business operations, and it is on this basis that management internally assesses the Company’s performance.  This measure should be considered in addition to, rather than as a substitute for, net income or other information provided in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

Investor Contact David Martin 717.612.5628 damartin@harsco.com Media Contact Kenneth Julian 717.730.3683 kjulian@harsco.com