Air Products Reports Fiscal 2017 Third Quarter GAAP EPS of $.47 and Strong Growth in Adjusted EPS of $1.65, up 15 Percent*

LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa., Aug. 1, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Q3 FY17 (all from continuing operations):

• On a GAAP basis, EPS of $.47, down 59 percent versus the prior year; operating margin of 11.9 percent, down 870 basis points versus the prior year
• Adjusted EPS of $1.65*, up 15 percent versus prior year; adjusted operating margin of 21.8 percent; adjusted EBITDA margin of 34.0 percent down 120 basis points versus the prior year
• Increased fiscal 2017 adjusted EPS guidance to $6.20 to $6.25, which at the midpoint, is up $0.10 from prior guidance and represents a 10 percent increase over the prior year; fiscal 2017 fourth quarter adjusted EPS guidance of $1.65 to $1.70, which at the midpoint, represents a 12 percent increase over the prior year
• Awarded significant new industrial gas projects in Louisiana, New York and China; hydrogen/air separation unit project in India fully onstream; air separation unit project in China onstream

*The results and guidance in this release, including in the highlights above, include references to non-GAAP continuing operations measures. These exclude discontinued operations and are identified by the word "adjusted" preceding the measure. A reconciliation of GAAP to non-GAAP results can be found at the end of this release.

Air Products (NYSE: APD) today reported GAAP net income from continuing operations of $104 million and diluted earnings per share (EPS) from continuing operations of $.47, down 58 and 59 percent, respectively, from the prior year, for its fiscal third quarter ended June 30, 2017. These results include noncash impairment charges referenced below.

For the quarter, on a non-GAAP basis, adjusted net income from continuing operations of $363 million was up 16 percent versus prior year, and adjusted diluted earnings per share from continuing operations of $1.65 was up 15 percent versus prior year.

Third quarter sales of $2,122 million increased 11 percent from the prior year, on eight percent higher volumes and five percent favorable energy pass-through, partially offset by two percent unfavorable currency. Volumes were positive across all three regions, while continued progress on the Jazan project was partially offset by lower LNG activity. Taken together, the Industrial Gas regions increased overall volumes by eight percent. Pricing was flat with the prior year.

For the quarter, on a GAAP basis, operating income of $253 million decreased 36 percent. Operating margin of 11.9 percent decreased 870 basis points versus prior year.

Adjusted operating income of $463 million increased 11 percent, and adjusted EBITDA of $722 million increased seven percent over the prior year. Adjusted operating margin of 21.8 percent was unchanged versus prior year, as unfavorable energy pass-through of 90 basis points was offset by favorable volumes. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 34.0 percent decreased 120 basis points from the prior year and was negatively impacted by 150 basis points from higher energy pass-through; excluding this impact, this margin increased 30 basis points. ROCE based on GAAP items of nine percent decreased 180 basis points from the prior year. Adjusted ROCE increased 10 basis points over prior year to 12.2 percent.

Commenting on the results for the quarter, Seifi Ghasemi, chairman, president and chief executive officer, said, "Once again, the committed and motivated team at Air Products delivered strong results. We had another quarter of excellent improvement in our safety performance. Adjusted EPS increased 15 percent over prior year, which is the 13th consecutive quarter of adjusted EPS growth, and we generated a significant amount of cash flow. In addition, our customers awarded us significant new orders, and we successfully started up our very large hydrogen plant in India and another very large oxygen plant in China."

Third Quarter Results by Business Segment

• Industrial Gases – Americas sales of $930 million increased 12 percent versus prior year on three percent higher volumes and nine percent higher energy pass-through. Operating income of $236 million increased one percent. Adjusted EBITDA of $367 million increased one percent, as the contribution of the higher volumes and productivity actions were partially offset by outage-related costs. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 39.5 percent decreased 400 basis points from the prior year, primarily due to higher energy pass-through; excluding energy pass-through, adjusted EBITDA margin decreased 70 basis points.
• Industrial Gases – EMEA sales of $452 million increased five percent versus last year, as six percent higher volumes and four percent higher energy pass-through were partially offset by four percent unfavorable currency and one percent lower pricing. The higher volumes were driven by the new hydrogen facility in India coming onstream. Operating income of $94 million decreased by 10 percent. Adjusted EBITDA of $155 million decreased three percent from the prior year, as productivity actions and higher equity affiliate income were offset by lower equipment sales and a negative impact from price versus variable cost; on a constant currency basis, adjusted EBITDA would have been up slightly. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 34.3 percent decreased 310 basis points from the prior year, with higher energy pass-through accounting for 140 basis points. Excluding this impact, adjusted EBITDA margin was down 170 basis points, approximately evenly impacted by lower equipment sales and price versus variable cost.
• Industrial Gases – Asia sales of $538 million increased 20 percent versus prior year, with volumes up 20 percent. About half of the volume growth was from equipment sale projects, and the remainder was evenly split between new project onstreams and base business growth. Higher pricing contributed two percent, as merchant pricing improved across Asia, including China. Operating income of $149 million increased 26 percent. Adjusted EBITDA of $211 million increased 15 percent, driven by the higher volumes and the higher pricing, partially offset by lower equity affiliate income and higher costs. Adjusted EBITDA margin of 39.2 percent declined 160 basis points.

Non-GAAP results for the Company in the fiscal third quarter of 2017 exclude pre-tax expenses of $162.1 million, or $0.70 per share, for a noncash goodwill impairment charge on the Latin America business; $79.5 million, or $0.36 per share, for an impairment charge on an equity investment in Abdullah Hashim Industrial Gases; $42.7 million, or $0.14 per share, for cost reduction and asset actions; and $5.5 million, or $0.02 per share, for pension settlement costs. Non-GAAP results also exclude $8.2 million, or $0.04 per share, of tax benefits related to changes in tax positions on business separation activities. See reconciliation of non-GAAP measures starting on page four.

Outlook

Ghasemi said, "We continue to be optimistic about the future performance of Air Products. We see significant opportunities to use our very strong balance sheet to invest in our core business and create value for our shareholders. We have increased our full-year guidance by $0.10 at midpoint, now representing a 10 percent increase over prior year. Our great team of hardworking, dedicated, talented and motivated employees remain focused on being the safest and most profitable industrial gas company in the world, providing excellent service to our customers."

Air Products increased fiscal 2017 adjusted EPS to $6.20 to $6.25, which at midpoint, is up $0.10 from prior guidance and represents an increase of 10 percent over last year. For the fiscal 2017 fourth quarter, Air Products expects adjusted EPS from continuing operations of $1.65 to $1.70 per share, which at midpoint, represents an increase of 12 percent over last year.

The capital expenditure forecast for fiscal year 2017 is approximately $1 billion on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis.

Management has provided adjusted EPS guidance on a continuing operations basis. While it is likely that we will incur additional costs for items such as cost reduction actions and pension settlements in future periods, it is not possible, without unreasonable efforts, to identify the amount or significance of these events or the potential for other transactions that may impact future GAAP EPS. Management does not believe these items to be representative of underlying business performance. Accordingly, management is unable to reconcile, without unreasonable effort, the Company's forecasted range of adjusted EPS to a comparable GAAP range.

Access the Q3 earnings teleconference scheduled for 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on August 1 by calling (323) 794-2130 and entering passcode 4223198, or access the Event Details page on Air Products' Investor Relations web site.

About Air Products

Air Products (NYSE:APD) is a world-leading Industrial Gases company in operation for over 75 years. The Company's core industrial gases business provides atmospheric and process gases and related equipment to manufacturing markets, including refining and petrochemical, metals, electronics, and food and beverage. Air Products is also the world's leading supplier of liquefied natural gas process technology and equipment.

The Company had fiscal 2016 sales of $7.5 billion from continuing operations in 50 countries and has a current market capitalization of approximately $30 billion. Approximately 16,000 employees are making Air Products the world's safest and best performing industrial gases company, providing sustainable offerings and excellent service to all customers. For more information, visit www.airproducts.com.

NOTE: This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements about earnings guidance, business outlook and investment opportunities. These forward-looking statements are based on management's reasonable expectations and assumptions as of the date this release is furnished. Actual performance and financial results may differ materially from projections and estimates expressed in the forward-looking statements because of many factors not anticipated by management, including, without limitation, global or regional economic conditions (including, as to the United Kingdom and Europe, the impact of "Brexit") and supply and demand dynamics in market segments into which the Company sells; political risks, including the risks of unanticipated government actions; acts of war or terrorism; the inability to eliminate stranded costs previously allocated to the Company's Electronic Materials and Performance Materials divisions which have been divested and other unexpected impacts of the divestitures including tax impacts; significant fluctuations in interest rates and foreign currencies from that currently anticipated; future financial and operating performance of major customers; unanticipated contract terminations or customer cancellations or postponement of projects and sales; our ability to execute the projects in our backlog; asset impairments due to economic conditions or specific events; the impact of price fluctuations in natural gas and disruptions in markets and the economy due to oil price volatility; costs and outcomes of litigation or regulatory investigations; the success of productivity and operational improvement programs; the timing, impact, and other uncertainties of future acquisitions or divestitures, including reputational impacts; the Company's ability to implement and operate with new or untried technologies; the impact of changes in environmental, tax or other legislation, economic sanctions and regulatory activities in jurisdictions in which the Company and its affiliates operate; and other risk factors described in the Company's Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended September 30, 2016. The Company disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this release to reflect any change in the Company's assumptions, beliefs or expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances upon which any such forward-looking statements are based.

* Presented below are reconciliations of the reported GAAP results to the non-GAAP measures.

RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
(Millions of dollars unless otherwise indicated, except for share data)

The Company has presented certain financial measures on a non-GAAP ("adjusted") basis and has provided a reconciliation to the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. These financial measures are not meant to be considered in isolation or as a substitute for the most directly comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP. The Company believes these non-GAAP measures provide investors, potential investors, securities analysts, and others with useful information to evaluate the performance of the business because such measures, when viewed together with our financial results computed in accordance with GAAP, provide a more complete understanding of the factors and trends affecting our historical financial performance and projected future results.

In many cases, our non-GAAP measures are determined by adjusting the most directly comparable GAAP financial measure to exclude certain disclosed items ("non-GAAP adjustments") that we believe are not representative of the underlying business performance. For example, Air Products has executed its strategic plan to restructure the Company and, as part of this plan, is now focusing on the Company's core Industrial Gases businesses, which will continue to result in significant cost reduction and asset actions that we believe are important for investors to understand separately from the performance of the underlying business. The tax impact of our non-GAAP adjustments reflects the expected current and deferred income tax expense impact of the transactions and is impacted primarily by the statutory tax rate of the various relevant jurisdictions and the taxability of the adjustments in those jurisdictions. In evaluating these financial measures, the reader should be aware that we may incur expenses similar to those eliminated in this presentation in the future. Investors should also consider the limitations associated with these non-GAAP measures, including the potential lack of comparability of these measures from one company to another.

 

CONSOLIDATED RESULTS

 

 

 

ADJUSTED EBITDA

We define Adjusted EBITDA as income from continuing operations (including noncontrolling interests) excluding certain disclosed items, which the Company does not believe to be indicative of underlying business trends, before interest expense, other non‑operating income (expense), net, income tax provision, and depreciation and amortization expense. Adjusted EBITDA provides a useful metric for management to assess operating performance.

Below is a reconciliation of Income from Continuing Operations on a GAAP basis to Adjusted EBITDA:

 

Below is a reconciliation of segment operating income to Adjusted EBITDA:

 

Below is a reconciliation of segment total operating income to consolidated operating income:

 

Below is a reconciliation of segment total equity affiliates' income to consolidated equity affiliates' income (loss):

 

INCOME TAXES

The tax impact of our non-GAAP adjustments reflects the expected current and deferred income tax expense impact of the transactions and is impacted primarily by the statutory tax rate of the various relevant jurisdictions and the taxability of the adjustments in those jurisdictions.

 

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

We utilize a non-GAAP measure in the computation of capital expenditures and include spending associated with facilities accounted for as capital leases. Certain contracts associated with facilities that are built to provide product to a specific customer are required to be accounted for as leases, and such spending is reflected as a use of cash within cash provided by operating activities if the arrangement qualifies as a capital lease.

Below is a reconciliation of capital expenditures on a GAAP basis to a non-GAAP measure:

We expect capital expenditures for fiscal year 2017 to be approximately $1,000 on a GAAP and non-GAAP basis.

 

RETURN ON CAPITAL EMPLOYED (ROCE)

Return on capital employed (ROCE) is calculated on a continuing operations basis as earnings after-tax divided by five-quarter average total capital. Earnings after-tax is calculated based on trailing four quarters and is defined as the sum of net income from continuing operations attributable to Air Products, interest expense, after-tax, at our effective quarterly tax rate, and net income attributable to noncontrolling interests. This non-GAAP measure has been adjusted for the impact of the disclosed items detailed below. Total capital consists of total debt, total equity, and redeemable noncontrolling interest less noncontrolling interests and total assets of discontinued operations.

 

OUTLOOK

Guidance provided is on a non-GAAP continuing operations basis, which excludes the impact of certain items that we believe are not representative of our underlying business performance. It is likely that we will incur additional costs for items such as cost reduction and asset actions and pension settlements in future periods. However, it is not possible, without unreasonable efforts, to identify the amount or significance of these events or the potential for other transactions that may impact future GAAP EPS. Accordingly, management is unable to reconcile, without unreasonable effort, the Company's forecasted range of adjusted EPS on a continuing operations basis to a comparable GAAP range.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Below is a reconciliation of segment total operating income to consolidated operating income:

 

Below is a reconciliation of segment total equity affiliates' income to consolidated equity affiliates' income (loss):

 

Below is a reconciliation of segment total assets to consolidated total assets:

 

 

 

 

View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/air-products-reports-fiscal-2017-third-quarter-gaap-eps-of-47-and-strong-growth-in-adjusted-eps-of-165-up-15-percent-300497198.html

SOURCE Air Products