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Ferro Reports 2009 Third-Quarter Results

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 2009-- Ferro Corporation (NYSE: FOE) announced today that net sales for the three months ended September 30, 2009 were $442 million, a decline of 25 percent from the third quarter of 2008. Net sales increased 11 percent, sequentially, from the second quarter of 2009. For the third quarter, the Company recorded income from continuing operations of $2.8 million, or $0.04 per diluted share, compared with income from continuing operations of $3.9 million, or $0.07 per share, in the third quarter of 2008. The third-quarter income from continuing operations was a $13.9 million improvement from a loss from continuing operations of $11.1 million, or $0.27 per share, in the second quarter of 2009. The operating income for the 2009 third quarter included net pre-tax charges of $14.1 million. These charges were primarily related to impairment of goodwill, manufacturing rationalization and other cost reduction activities. Third quarter 2008 operating income was reduced by pre-tax charges of $17.9 million primarily related to restructuring charges, a loss on extinguishment of debt and corporate development activities. “Our positive momentum accelerated in the third quarter resulting in improved gross margins and higher segment income margins compared with the third quarter of 2008, despite lower sales,” said James F. Kirsch, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “The improved margins show that our efforts to lower our sales breakeven level, reduce cost and expense, and restructure the Company are achieving results. Although we have made significant progress, we are continuing our efforts to streamline the business, reduce our cost structure and improve productivity from the manufacturing floor to our corporate support operations. We believe these actions will position us to provide attractive returns to our shareholders as global customer demand continues to recover.” 2009 Third-Quarter Results Net sales declined in the 2009 third quarter compared with the prior-year period reflecting the global economic slowdown that accelerated during the fourth quarter of 2008. Demand from customers serving economically cyclical markets including construction, automobiles and appliances continued to gradually improve from a low point in the 2009 first quarter. The Company’s sales decline included reduced sales of precious metals, which contributed approximately 3 percentage points to the 25 percent net sales decline. Changes in foreign currency exchange rates accounted for approximately 1 percentage point of the net sales decline. Net sales increased 11 percent, sequentially, from the 2009 second quarter to the third quarter. Sequential sales growth was recorded in all regions, with the highest percentage growth in Asia and Latin America. Compared with the prior-year period, sales declined in Performance Coatings as a result of lower sales volumes of tile coatings, partially offset by higher sales volumes of porcelain enamel. Sales increased sequentially for the second consecutive quarter from their trough in the 2009 first quarter as customer inventory destocking moderated and end-market demand stabilized. Segment income increased in Performance Coatings compared with the prior-year period as a result of lower manufacturing costs and reduced selling, general and administrative (“SG&A”) expense that more than offset the negative effects of lower manufacturing volume. Sales declined in Electronic Materials as a result of lower sales of dielectric materials, conductive metal pastes and powders, and surface finishing materials, compared with last year’s third quarter. Lower sales of precious metals accounted for approximately half of the overall sales decline. Sales excluding precious metals increased 9 percent, sequentially, from the 2009 second quarter. The cost of precious metals that are contained in many of the Company’s Electronic Materials products are passed through to customers with minimal gross margin contribution. Sales of solar pastes benefited from improved demand from Asian solar cell manufacturers although demand for solar pastes in Europe remained soft. Segment income declined compared with the third quarter of 2008 as a result of the negative effects of lower volume, although this decline was partially offset by reduced SG&A expense resulting from expense control initiatives. Sales declined in Color and Glass Performance Materials compared with the prior-year quarter. Sales increased sequentially from the first and second quarters of 2009 as customer demand improved, particularly in automotive enamels where weak end-market demand and customer inventory destocking had been a significant drag on sales. Although segment income declined in Color and Glass Performance Materials from the prior-year period, segment income as a percent of sales increased. The decline in segment income was the result of the negative effects of lower manufacturing volumes associated with lower customer demand, partially offset by improved manufacturing cost performance and reductions in SG&A expense. Third-quarter sales declined in Polymer Additives and Specialty Plastics compared with the prior-year quarter. Despite the lower sales, segment income was nearly flat in Polymer Additives and was up slightly in Specialty Plastics. In both businesses, the negative effects of lower manufacturing volumes were offset by lower manufacturing costs and reduced SG&A expense. Total segment income was $41.5 million, compared with $46.8 million in the 2008 third quarter and $19.3 million in the second quarter of 2009. The growth in segment income from the second to the third quarter of 2009 was the result of the sequential growth in sales volume; realization of savings from restructuring and other cost and expense control initiatives; and, reduced inventory liquidation. Total segment income as a percent of sales improved to 9.4 percent in the 2009 third quarter from 7.9 percent in the prior-year period. Gross margins were 21.1 percent of sales in the 2009 third quarter, compared with 18.7 percent in the third quarter of 2008. Gross margin percentage increased for the third consecutive quarter, from a low in the fourth quarter of 2008, due to restructuring actions, staffing reductions and other cost reduction programs. For the quarter, raw material costs were lower compared with the third quarter of 2008. Although reductions in product prices offset much of the benefit of lower raw material costs, the lower raw material costs did have a net positive effect on gross margin percentage. Gross profit for the 2009 third quarter was reduced by charges of $0.3 million primarily related to costs of staffing reductions and accelerated depreciation. Gross profit for the 2008 third quarter included charges of $1.5 million primarily related to asset write-offs and manufacturing rationalization activities. SG&A expense was $65.9 million in the 2009 third quarter, a reduction of $11.0 million from $76.9 million in the prior-year quarter. The 14 percent decline was the result of expense reduction efforts, including staffing reductions, curtailment of discretionary spending and suspended incentive compensation payments. Partially offsetting the decline in SG&A expense were increased pension expenses of approximately $5.0 million. Included in SG&A expense in the 2009 third quarter were charges of $2.7 million primarily incurred in connection with expense reduction initiatives. The 2008 third-quarter SG&A expense included net charges of $1.9 million, primarily related to corporate development expenses that were partially offset by an insurance settlement. During the 2009 third quarter, impairment charges of $8.2 million were recorded related to the Company’s Pharmaceuticals business. The impairment was triggered by changes made to the assumptions used to determine valuation under the market approach. Also in the quarter, restructuring charges of $2.8 million were recorded primarily related to manufacturing rationalization activities in the Company’s European inorganic materials operations and other cost-reduction actions. Interest expense increased due to higher interest rates on Ferro’s revolving credit facility and term loans as a result of the amendment to the Company’s credit facility that was signed in March 2009. Interest expense also increased due to higher borrowing levels, driven in part by increased collateral requirements related to precious metal leases. The income tax benefit for the three months ending September 30, 2009 was $3.7 million, or 400 percent of pre-tax loss, compared with income tax expense of $0.9 million, or 18.5 percent of pre-tax income, in the 2008 third quarter. The primary reason for the significant improvement in the effective rate was due to the generation of additional tax credits. Total balance sheet debt on September 30, 2009 was $621.0 million, an increase of $50.5 million from the end of 2008. Total debt declined by $29.7 million from the end of the 2009 second quarter to the end of the third quarter. In addition, the Company had net proceeds of $13.2 million from off balance sheet receivables factoring programs outside the United States, compared with proceeds of $16.7 million at the end of 2008. Through September 30, 2009, cash collateral requirements of $92.3 million have been funded through the Company’s credit facilities. Total borrowings, including the off balance sheet receivables factoring, have declined by $45.3 million since the end of 2008, apart from the borrowing related to the precious metal collateral. Update on Cost and Expense Reduction Initiatives Ferro continues to focus on cost and expense reductions to lower its sales breakeven level and improve profitability. Worldwide staffing has been reduced more than 20 percent since the beginning of 2008, including a reduction of approximately 9 percent during 2009. Progress is on-schedule in ongoing restructuring initiatives in the Performance Coatings and Color and Glass Performance Materials manufacturing operations in Europe. The previously announced project to discontinue manufacturing operations in Limoges, France, is expected to begin generating approximately $14 million in annual cost savings during 2010. In addition, the June 2009 suspension of operations at a tile coatings plant in Nules, Spain, is expected to reduce annual costs by $2 million to $3 million. In early October, the Company initiated additional cost and expense reduction projects at sites around the world. The projects will result in manufacturing cost reductions in Performance Coatings, Color and Glass Performance Materials and Specialty Plastics through staffing reductions and facility consolidations in Europe and Asia. The projects will also reduce selling, general and administrative expense in Electronic Materials, Performance Coatings and Color and Glass Performance Materials. In total, approximately 230 positions are expected to be eliminated when the projects are fully implemented in mid-2010. Total cash spending related to the new projects is expected to be approximately $19 million over the next three quarters, which includes $14 million in severance costs and $3 million in capital spending. The payback period for these projects is estimated to be approximately 13 months. Outlook Ferro expects stabilization in end-market demand around the world to continue in the coming months, along with modest growth in selected regions. The Company remains cautious, however, regarding the outlook for fourth-quarter sales. Customers remain focused on cash flow and liquidity, and have indicated that inventories are likely to be held to very low levels at the end of the year. However, if end-market demand remains steady and customer inventories are reduced in December, then it is likely that the environment would be favorable for sales of the Company’s products in early 2010. The Company expects to continue initiatives that result in cost and expense savings during the coming quarters. Visibility to future customer orders has improved modestly, but it remains more limited than normal. Due to the continued limited visibility to customer orders and uncertainty in global markets, the Company will not provide specific sales and earnings estimates for the fourth quarter. Conference Call The Company will host a conference call to discuss its financial results and general business outlook on Tuesday, October 27, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time. If you wish to participate in the call, dial 888-323-2711 if calling from the United States or Canada, or dial 210-234-0008 if calling from outside North America. When prompted, refer to the pass code, FOE, and the conference leader, David Longfellow. Please call approximately 10 minutes before the conference call is scheduled to begin. An audio replay of the call will be available from noon Eastern time on October 27 through 9 p.m. Eastern time on November 3. To access the replay, dial 866-378-7468 if calling from the United States or Canada, or dial 203-369-0322 if calling from outside North America. The conference call also will be broadcast live over the Internet and will be available for replay through the end of the 2009 fourth quarter. The live broadcast and replay can be accessed through the Investor Information portion of the Company’s Web site at www.ferro.com. About Ferro Corporation Ferro Corporation (http://www.ferro.com) is a leading global supplier of technology-based performance materials for manufacturers. Ferro materials enhance the performance of products in a variety of end markets, including electronics, solar energy, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, building and renovation, appliances, automotive, household furnishings, and industrial products. Headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, the Company has approximately 5,400 employees globally and reported 2008 sales of $2.2 billion. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this Ferro press release may constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Federal securities laws. These statements are subject to a variety of uncertainties, unknown risks and other factors concerning the Company’s operations and business environment, which are difficult to predict and often beyond the control of the Company. 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 the following: Our products are sold into industries where demand is unpredictable, cyclical or heavily influenced by consumer spending, and such demand may be impacted by macro-economic circumstances and uncertainties in credit markets. We are subject to a number of restrictive covenants in our credit facilities, and those covenants could affect our flexibility in funding strategic initiatives and lead to challenges in meeting our liquidity requirements, particularly if weak economic conditions continue for a prolonged period. We depend on external financial resources and the economic environment and credit market could interrupt our access to capital markets, borrowings, or financial transactions to hedge certain risks, which could adversely affect our financial condition. Interest rates on some of our borrowings are variable, and our borrowing costs could be affected adversely by interest rate increases. Many of our assets are encumbered by liens that have been granted to lenders, and those liens affect our flexibility to dispose of property and businesses. We have significant deferred tax assets, and our ability to utilize these assets will depend on our future performance. We are subject to certain continued listing requirements with the NYSE, including share price, shareholders’ equity and market capitalization, and noncompliance with these NYSE rules could result in the delisting of our common stock from the NYSE. We depend on reliable sources of energy and raw materials, including petroleum-based materials and other supplies, at a reasonable cost, but availability of such materials and supplies could be interrupted and/or the prices charged for them could escalate. The markets in which we participate are highly competitive and subject to intense price competition. We strive to improve operating margins through sales growth, price increases, productivity gains, improved purchasing techniques, and restructuring activities, but we may not be successful in achieving the desired improvements. The global scope of our operations exposes us to risks related to currency conversion rates and changing economic, social and political conditions around the world. We have a growing presence in the Asia-Pacific region where it can be difficult for a U.S.-based company to compete lawfully with local competitors. Regulatory authorities in the United States, European Union and elsewhere are taking a much more aggressive approach to regulating hazardous materials, and those regulations could affect our sales. Our operations are subject to operating hazards and, as a result, to stringent environmental, health and safety regulations and compliance with those regulations could require us to make significant investments. We are a defendant in several lawsuits that could have an adverse effect on our financial condition and/or financial performance unless they are successfully resolved. Our businesses depend on a continuous stream of new products, and failure to introduce new products could affect our sales and profitability. We are subject to stringent labor and employment laws in certain jurisdictions in which we operate, party to various collective bargaining arrangements, and our relationship with our employees could deteriorate, which could adversely impact our operations. Employee benefit costs, especially post-retirement costs, constitute a significant element of our annual expenses, and funding these costs could adversely affect our financial condition. Our restructuring initiatives may not provide sufficient cost savings to justify their expense. We are exposed to intangible asset risk. We have in the past identified material weaknesses in our internal controls, and the identification of any material weaknesses in the future could affect our ability to ensure timely and reliable financial reports. We are exposed to risks associated with acts of God, terrorists and others, as well as fires, explosions, wars, riots, accidents, embargoes, natural disasters, strikes and other work stoppages, quarantines and other governmental actions, and other events or circumstances that are beyond our control. Additional information regarding these risk factors can be found in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 2008. The risks and uncertainties identified above are not the only risks the Company faces. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to the Company or that it currently believes to be immaterial also may adversely affect the Company. Should any known or unknown risks and uncertainties develop into actual events, these developments could have material adverse effects on the Company’s business, financial condition and results of operations. This release contains time-sensitive information that reflects management’s best analysis only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future events, information or circumstances that arise after the date of this release. Ferro Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited)   Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, (Dollars in thousands, except per share amounts) 2009   2008 2009   2008   Net sales $442,089 $590,150 $1,199,175 $1,812,964 Cost of sales 348,920   479,807   985,531   1,474,382   Gross profit 93,169 110,343 213,644 338,582   Selling, general and administrative expenses 65,918 76,943 196,526 234,243 Impairment charges 8,225 8,225 Restructuring charges 2,842 9,042 3,931 22,280 Other expense (income): Interest expense 17,891 12,424 46,255 38,747 Interest earned (216 ) (213 ) (689 ) (484 ) Loss on extinguishment of debt 0 5,531 0 5,531 Foreign currency losses (gains), net 104 1,647 3,033 756 Miscellaneous expense, net (655 ) 237   199   3,231   (Loss) income before income taxes (940 ) 4,732 (43,836 ) 34,278 Income tax (benefit) expense (3,749 ) 876   (15,844 ) 14,290   (Loss) income from continuing operations 2,809 3,856 (27,992 ) 19,988 Income from discontinued operations, net of income taxes 0 1,259 0 4,586 Loss on disposal of disc. operations, net of income taxes 36   (57 ) (322 ) (73 ) Net (loss) income 2,845 5,058 (28,314 ) 24,501 Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests 728   448   1,712   1,386   Net (loss) income attributable to Ferro Corporation 2,117   4,610   (30,026 ) 23,115   Dividends on preferred stock (168 ) (225 ) (538 ) (675 ) Net income attributable to common shareholders $1,949   $4,385   ($30,564 ) $22,440     Per common share data: Basic (loss) earnings attributable to Ferro Corporation common shareholders: From Continuing Operations $0.04 $0.07 ($0.68 ) $0.41 From Discontinued Operations 0.00   0.03   (0.01 ) 0.10   $0.04   $0.10   ($0.69 ) $0.51   Diluted (loss) earnings attributable to Ferro Corporation common shareholders: From continuing operations $0.04 $0.07 ($0.68 ) $0.41 From discontinued operations 0.00   0.03   (0.01 ) 0.10   $0.04   $0.10   ($0.69 ) $0.51     Cash dividends declared $0.000   $0.145   $0.010   $0.435     Shares outstanding: Basic 44,711,019 43,635,955 44,592,656 43,637,682 Diluted 44,996,368 43,816,995 44,592,656 43,649,238 End of Period 44,715,189 43,643,516 44,715,189 43,643,516 Ferro Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries Segment Net Sales and Segment Income (Unaudited)   (Dollars in thousands) Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009   2008 2009   2008 Segment Net Sales Performance Coatings $129,499 $162,523 $355,420 $501,819 Electronic Materials 113,210 155,122 296,269 452,317 Color and Glass Perf. Materials 88,498 115,013 232,264 374,083 Polymer Additives 67,660 93,081 190,105 284,107 Specialty Plastics 39,040 58,097 110,833 183,499 Pharmaceuticals 4,182   6,314 14,284   17,139 Total Segment Net Sales $442,089   $590,150 $1,199,175   $1,812,964   Segment Income Performance Coatings $14,518 $12,135 $20,144 $34,400 Electronic Materials 13,129 17,095 21,933 43,527 Color and Glass Perf. Materials 7,815 9,712 7,583 40,695 Polymer Additives 4,386 4,385 7,863 11,703 Specialty Plastics 2,977 2,796 7,148 7,520 Pharmaceuticals (1,316 ) 656 (989 ) 199 Total Segment Income 41,509 46,779 63,682 138,044   Unallocated corp. expenses 14,258 13,379 46,564 33,705 Impairment charges 8,225 0 8,225 0 Restructuring charges 2,842 9,042 3,931 7,689 Interest Expense 17,891 12,424 46,255 22,280 Other expense, net (767 ) 7,202 2,543   9,034 Income before income taxes from continuing operations ($940 ) $4,732 ($43,836 ) $34,278 Ferro Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)     (Dollars in thousands) September 30, December 31, 2009 2008 Assets (Unaudited) (Audited) Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $14,271 $10,191 Accounts and trade notes receivable, net 309,100 296,423 Inventories 181,249 256,411 Deposits for precious metals 92,330 - Deferred income taxes 27,264 19,167 Other receivables 27,509 58,391 Other current assets 10,486 8,306 Total current assets 662,209 648,889   Property, plant & equipment, net 443,160 456,549 Goodwill 222,403 229,665 Amortizable intangible assets, net 11,042 11,753 Deferred income taxes 150,985 134,361 Other non-current assets 68,504 62,900 Total assets $1,558,303 $1,544,117   Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Current liabilities: Loans payable and current portion of long-term debt $38,491 $8,883 Accounts payable 219,273 232,113 Income taxes 3,407 14,361 Accrued payrolls 19,979 18,695 Other current liabilities 70,092 83,012 Total current liabilities 351,242 357,064   Long-term debt, less current portion 582,536 561,613 Postretirement and pension liabilities 232,166 221,110 Deferred income taxes 11,778 13,011 Other non-current liabilities 32,797 34,047 Total liabilities 1,210,519 1,186,845   Series A convertible preferred stock 9,544 11,548   Shareholders' equity 328,810 335,969 Noncontrolling interest 9,430 9,755 Total liabilities and shareholders' equity $1,558,303 $1,544,117 Ferro Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)     Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, (Dollars in thousands) 2009   2008 2009   2008   Cash flows from operating activities Net income $2,845 $5,058 ($28,314 ) $24,501 Depreciation and amortization 22,148 18,672 63,501 55,596 Deposits for precious metals (11,904 ) 0 (92,330 ) Accounts and trade notes receivable (9,274 ) 5,914 (5,531 ) (13,270 ) Inventories 1,965 (4,148 ) 77,477 (45,980 ) Accounts payable 27,136 (12,516 ) (10,758 ) (2,781 ) Other changes in current assets and liabilities, net 24,555 (18,819 ) 8,774 (3,147 ) Other adjustments, net (20,790 ) (1,192 ) (18,263 ) (15,249 ) Net cash (used for) provided by continuing operations 34,681 (6,682 ) (5,444 ) (330 ) Net cash (used for) provided by discontinued operations 36   1,827   (325 ) 2,168   Net cash (used for) provided by operating activities 34,717 (4,855 ) (5,769 ) 1,838   Cash flows from investing activities Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment (7,735 ) (20,633 ) (30,704 ) (55,205 ) Proceeds from sale of assets and businesses 32 (60 ) 104 586 Dividends received from affiliates 169   336   169   336   Net cash used for investing activities (7,534 ) (20,357 ) (30,431 ) (54,283 )   Cash flow from financing activities Net borrowings (repayments) under short- term credit facilities 183 (1,376 ) 29,128 2,102 Proceeds from convertible notes 0 172,500 0 172,500 Proceeds from revolving credit facility 127,000 326,093 561,624 756,440 Extinguishment of 9 1/8% notes 0 (205,269 ) 0 (205,269 ) Principal payments on revolving credit facility (157,300 ) (258,153 ) (542,027 ) (638,227 ) Principal payments on term loan facility (762 ) (762 ) (2,287 ) (8,689 ) Debt issue costs paid 0 (5,462 ) (9,367 ) (5,462 ) Cash dividends paid 0 (6,522 ) (636 ) (19,558 ) Other financing activities (1,387 ) 5,760   748   1,522   Net cash (used for) provided by financing activities (32,266 ) 26,809 37,183 55,359 Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 1,862   (463 ) 3,097   (415 ) Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents (3,221 ) 1,134 4,080 2,499 Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 17,492   13,390   10,191   12,025   Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $14,271   $14,524   $14,271   $14,524     Cash paid during the period for: Interest $12,193 $19,754 $37,985 $46,247 Income taxes $2,586 $3,136 $8,221 $8,379 Ferro Corporation and Consolidated Subsidiaries Supplemental Information   Segment Net Sales Excluding Precious Metals and Reconciliation of Sales Excluding Precious Metals to Net Sales (Unaudited)     (Dollars in thousands) Three Months Ended September 30, Nine Months Ended September 30, 2009   2008 2009   2008   Performance Coatings $129,368 $162,203 $355,053 $501,100 Electronic Materials 54,784 77,931 153,051 219,227 Color and Glass Performance Materials 83,136 108,066 219,359 347,150 Polymer Additives 67,660 93,081 190,105 284,107 Specialty Plastics 39,040 58,097 110,833 183,499 Pharmaceuticals 4,183 6,314 14,284 17,139 Total net sales excluding precious metals 378,171 505,692 1,042,685 1,552,222   Sales of precious metals 63,918 84,458 156,490 260,742   Total net sales $442,089 $590,150 $1,199,175 $1,812,964 It should be noted that segment sales excluding precious metals is a financial measure not required by, or presented in accordance with, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP). The sales are presented here to exclude the impact of volatile precious metal raw material costs. The precious metal raw material costs are generally passed through directly to customers with minimal margin. We believe this data provides investors with additional information on the underlying operations of the business and enables period-to-period comparability of financial performance. In addition, these measures are used in the calculation of certain incentive compensation programs for selected employees. Source: Ferro Corporation Ferro Corporation INVESTOR CONTACT: David Longfellow, 216-875-7155 Director, Investor Relations E-mail: longfellowd@ferro.com or MEDIA CONTACT: Mary Abood, 216-875-6202 Director, Corporate Communications E-mail: aboodm@ferro.com