Cooper Standard Reports Record Third Quarter Results

NOVI, Mich., Oct. 31, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Cooper-Standard Holdings Inc. (NYSE: CPS) today reported record results for the third quarter 2016.

Third Quarter 2016 Highlights

• Sales increased to a third quarter record $855.7 million
• Net income reached a third quarter record  $36.4 million or $1.94 per diluted share
• Adjusted EBITDA increased 7.9 percent to a third quarter record $100.8 million
• Adjusted net income totaled $46.5 million or $2.48 per diluted share
• Free cash flow increased by $11.8 million in the quarter and $84.9 million in the first nine months

During the third quarter of 2016, the Company generated net income of $36.4 million, or $1.94 per diluted share, and adjusted EBITDA of $100.8 million on sales of $855.7 million. These results compare to net income of $32.7 million or $1.78 per diluted share and adjusted EBITDA of $93.3 million on sales of $827.5 million in the third quarter of 2015. 

Third quarter net income, excluding restructuring and other special items ("adjusted net income"), totaled $46.5 million or $2.48 per diluted share.  Adjusted net income in the prior year period was $41.1 million or $2.23 per diluted share.

"We continue to drive value through culture, innovation and results," stated Jeffrey Edwards, chairman and CEO of Cooper Standard. "We are pleased to extend our track record to eight consecutive quarters in which we have delivered year-over-year improvement in adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA margin."

For the first nine months of 2016, the Company reported net income of $107.9 million, or $5.77 per diluted share, and adjusted EBITDA of $312.9 million on sales of $2.6 billion.  By comparison, the Company reported net income of $90.2 million, or $4.92 per diluted share, and adjusted EBITDA of $271.1 million on sales of $2.5 billion in the first nine months of 2015.  Adjusted net income for the first nine months of 2016 was $146.9 million or $7.85 per diluted share compared to $111.8 million or $6.10 per diluted share in the first nine months of 2015.  The Company's adjusted EBITDA margin for the first nine months of 2016 was 12.0 percent compared to 10.9 percent in the first nine months of 2015.

Consolidated Results

Third quarter 2016 sales increased by $28.1 million or 3.4 percent compared to the third quarter of 2015.  The year-over-year variance is largely attributable to favorable volume and mix, partially offset by price adjustments, the impact of foreign currency exchange rates and the net impact of acquisitions and divestitures.  Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, acquisitions and divestitures, sales in the third quarter were $862.8 million, an increase of 4.3 percent over the third quarter 2015. 

Third quarter adjusted EBITDA increased by $7.4 million or 7.9 percent compared to the third quarter of 2015.  Adjusted EBITDA margin as a percent of sales was 11.8 percent in the quarter, up 50 basis points compared to the third quarter of 2015. The year-over-year variance is primarily attributable to improvements in operating efficiency, favorable volume and mix, and global supply chain optimization.  These favorable items were partially offset by price adjustments, higher compensation-related costs and investments to support growth.

During the third quarter, Cooper Standard launched 18 new customer programs and was awarded an additional $78 million in annual net new business, driven largely by sales of innovative new products and technology.  The majority of the new business awards was on global platforms.

North America

The Company's North America segment reported sales of $450.8 million in the third quarter, a decrease of 1.2 percent when compared to $456.4 million in sales reported in the third quarter 2015.  The year-over-year change was largely attributable to the divestiture of the Company's hard coat plastic exterior trim business, price adjustments and foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by improved volume and mix and the acquisition of AMI Industries' fuel and brake business.  Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, acquisitions and divestitures, North America segment sales were $461.9 million, which represents organic growth of $5.5 million or 1.2 percent compared to the third quarter of 2015.

North America segment profit was $55.0 million, or 12.2 percent of sales, in the third quarter.  This compared to segment profit of $58.3 million or 12.8 percent of sales in the third quarter 2015.  The year-over-year change was driven primarily by price adjustments and higher compensation-related costs, partially offset by gains in operating efficiencies, improved volume and mix, and lower materials costs.

Europe

The Company's Europe segment reported sales of $242.8 million in the third quarter, compared to $247.3 million in the third quarter 2015.  The year-over-year change was attributable to slightly lower volume, mix and price adjustments.

The Europe segment reported a loss of $5.6 million in the third quarter.  Excluding planned restructuring expense of $9.7 million, segment profit was $4.1 million. The segment continued to realize year-over-year improvements in operating efficiency and supply chain optimization during the quarter.

Asia Pacific

The Company's Asia Pacific segment reported sales of $137.2 million in the third quarter, an increase of 34.4 percent when compared to sales of $102.1 million in the third quarter 2015.  The year-over-year variance is largely attributable to improved volume and mix and the consolidation of the Company's sealing joint venture in Guangzhou, China, partially offset by unfavorable foreign currency exchange rates. Excluding the impact of foreign currency exchange rates, Asia Pacific sales increased by $41.4 million or 40.5 percent in the third quarter of 2016 as compared to the third quarter 2015.

Asia Pacific segment profit was $3.0 million in the third quarter, compared to a loss of $0.7 million in the third quarter 2015.  The year-over-year improvement was driven primarily by favorable volume and mix as well as improved operating efficiencies and supply chain economics.

South America

The Company's South America segment reported sales of $24.9 million in the third quarter, compared to $21.8 million in the third quarter of 2015.  The increase was largely attributable to price adjustments and foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by lower production volume. 

The South America segment reported a loss of $3.3 million in the third quarter, compared to a segment loss of $7.5 million in the third quarter of 2015.  The improvement was due largely to price adjustments, supply chain economics and more favorable foreign currency exchange rates, partially offset by lower production volume.

Liquidity and Cash Flow

At September 30, 2016, Cooper Standard had cash and cash equivalents totaling $360.4 million.  Net cash provided by operating activities in the third quarter 2016 was $66.8 million, compared to $53.4 million in the third quarter of 2015.  Third quarter 2016 free cash flow (defined as net cash provided by operating activities minus CAPEX) improved by $11.8 million compared to the third quarter of 2015.  For the first nine months of the year, free cash flow increased by $84.9 million versus the first nine months of 2015.

In addition to cash and cash equivalents, the Company had $122.9 million available under its senior amended asset-based revolving credit facility ("ABL") for total liquidity of $483.3 million at September 30, 2016.

Total debt at September 30, 2016 was $779.8 million. Net debt (defined as total debt minus cash and cash equivalents) was $419.4 million.  Cooper Standard's net leverage ratio at September 30, 2016 was 1.0 times trailing 12 months adjusted EBITDA.

Adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow are non-GAAP measures.  Reconciliations to the most directly comparable financial measures, calculated and presented in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States ("U.S. GAAP"), are provided in the attached supplemental schedules.

Outlook

Based on the record results achieved in the first nine months of the year and continued positive outlook for its operations and markets in the remainder of the year, the Company is maintaining its 2016 full-year guidance as follows:

Conference Call Details

Cooper Standard management will host a conference call and webcast on November 1, 2016 at 9 a.m. ET to discuss its third quarter 2016 results, provide a general business update and respond to investor questions.

To participate in the live question-and-answer session, callers in the United States and Canada should dial toll-free 800-949-4315 (international callers dial 678-825-8315) and provide the conference ID 95008469 or ask to be connected to the Cooper Standard teleconference. Callers should dial in at least five minutes prior to the start of the call. Financial and automotive analysts are invited to ask questions after the presentations are made.

The interactive webcast and slide presentation can be accessed live or in replay on the investor relations page of the Cooper Standard website at www.ir.cooperstandard.com/events.cfm.

About Cooper Standard

Cooper Standard, headquartered in Novi, Mich., is a leading global supplier of systems and components for the automotive industry. Products include rubber and plastic sealing, fuel and brake lines, fluid transfer hoses and anti-vibration systems. Cooper Standard employs approximately 30,000 people globally and operates in 20 countries around the world. For more information, please visit www.cooperstandard.com.

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws, and we intend that such forward-looking statements be subject to the safe harbor created thereby. Our use of words such as "estimate," "anticipate," "expect," "suggest," "plan," "believe," "intend," "target," "project," "should," "could," "would," "may," "will," "forecast," or other similar expressions, is intended to identify forward-looking statements that represent our current expectations about possible future events or results. We believe these expectations are reasonable, but these statements are not guarantees of any events or financial results, and our actual results may differ materially due to a variety of important factors. Among other items, such factors may include:  prolonged or material contractions in automotive sales and production volumes; escalating pricing pressures; loss of large customers or significant platforms; our ability to successfully compete in the automotive parts industry; availability and increasing volatility in costs of manufactured components and raw materials; disruption in our supply base; risks associated with our non-U.S. operations; foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; our ability to control the operations of our joint ventures for our sole benefit; our substantial debt; our ability to obtain adequate financing sources in the future; operating and financial restrictions imposed on us under our term loan facility and the ABL facility; the underfunding of our pension plans; significant changes in discount rates and the actual return on pension assets; effectiveness of continuous improvement programs and other cost savings plans; manufacturing facility closings or consolidation; our ability to execute new program launches; our ability to meet customers' needs for new and improved products; the possibility that our acquisition strategy may not be successful; product liability, warranty and recall claims brought against us; environmental, health and safety laws and other laws and regulations; work stoppages or other labor disruptions; the ability of our intellectual property to withstand legal challenges; cyber-attacks or other disruptions in our information technology systems; the possible volatility of our annual effective tax rate; the possibility of future impairment charges to our goodwill and long-lived assets; the concentrated ownership of our stock which may allow a few owners to exert significant control over us; and our dependence on our subsidiaries for cash to satisfy our obligations.

You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements.  We undertake no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as may be required by any applicable securities laws.

This press release also contains estimates and other information that is based on industry publications, surveys, and forecasts.  This information involves a number of assumptions and limitations, and we have not independently verified the accuracy or completeness of the information.

CPS_F

Financial statements and related notes follow:

Non-GAAP Measures

EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow are measures not recognized under U.S. GAAP and which exclude certain non-cash and special items that may obscure trends and operating performance not indicative of the Company's core financial activities. Management considers EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow to be key indicators of the Company's operating performance and believes that these and similar measures are widely used by investors, securities analysts and other interested parties in evaluating the Company's performance. In addition, similar measures are utilized in the calculation of the financial covenants and ratios contained in the Company's financing arrangements and management uses these measures for developing internal budgets and forecasting purposes. EBITDA is defined as net income adjusted to reflect income tax expense, interest expense net of interest income, depreciation and amortization, and adjusted EBITDA is defined as EBITDA further adjusted to reflect certain items that management does not consider to be reflective of the Company's core operating performance.  Adjusted net income is defined as net income adjusted to reflect certain items that management does not consider to be reflective of the Company's core operating performance. Adjusted earnings per share is defined as adjusted net income divided by the weighted average number of basic and diluted shares. Free cash flow is defined as net cash provided by operating activities minus capital expenditures and is useful to both management and investors in evaluating the Company's ability to service and repay its debt.

When analyzing the Company's operating performance, investors should use EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow as supplements to, and not as alternatives for, net income, operating income, or any other performance measure derived in accordance with U.S. GAAP, and not as an alternative to cash flow from operating activities as a measure of the Company's liquidity. EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation or as substitutes for analysis of the Company's results of operations as reported under U.S. GAAP. Other companies may report EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income, adjusted earnings per share and free cash flow differently and therefore the Company's results may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. In addition, in evaluating adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income, it should be noted that in the future the Company may incur expenses similar to or in excess of the adjustments in the below presentation. This presentation of adjusted EBITDA and adjusted net income should not be construed as an inference that the Company's future results will be unaffected by unusual items.  Reconciliations of EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted net income and free cash flow follow.

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures

EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

The following table provides reconciliation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA from net income: (Unaudited; Dollar amounts in thousands)

Adjusted Net Income and Adjusted Earnings Per Share

The following table provides reconciliation of net income to adjusted net income and the respective earnings per share amounts:

(Unaudited; Dollar amounts in thousands, except per share amounts)

Free Cash Flow

The following table defines free cash flow:
(Unaudited; Dollar amounts in thousands)

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SOURCE Cooper Standard