H.B. Fuller Reports First Quarter 2014 Results

March 26, 2014
First Quarter Adjusted Diluted EPS $0.49(1);
First Quarter Diluted EPS $0.28
ST. PAUL, Minn.March 26, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- H.B. Fuller Company (NYSE: FUL) today reported financial results for the first quarter that ended March 1, 2014.

Items of Note for the First Quarter of 2014:

  • Organic revenue increased by 2 percent compared to the prior year;
  • Organic revenue increased 17 percent in Construction Products and 11 percent in Asia Pacific compared to prior year;
  • Adjusted segment operating income1 increased 5 percent versus prior year;
  • Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) expenses were tightly controlled, about 1 percent, or 40 basis points as a percentage of net revenue, lower than the prior year's first quarter;
  • Adjusted diluted EPS of $0.491 was unchanged versus last year;
  • On track to substantially complete business integration by the end of the third quarter 2014;
  • Project ONE remains on time and on budget.
H.B. Fuller Company logo

First Quarter 2014 Results
Net income for the first quarter of 2014 was $14.6 million, or $0.28 per diluted share, versus net income of $20.7 million, or $0.41 per diluted share, in last year's first quarter. Adjusted diluted earnings per share in the first quarter of 2014 were $0.491, unchanged versus the prior year's adjusted result of $0.491. 

Net revenue for the first quarter of 2014 was $486.0 million, up 1.3 percent versus the first quarter of 2013. Higher volume positively impacted net revenue growth by 2.0 percentage points, while foreign currency translation negatively impacted net revenue growth by 0.7 percentage points. Organic revenue grew by 2.0 percent year-over-year.

Adjusted gross profit margin1 was essentially unchanged versus the prior year's result. Selling, General and Administrative (SG&A) expense was down by 1 percent, or 40 basis points as a percentage of net revenue, versus the prior year's first quarter.

"During the first quarter, we hit a number of key milestones on our transformation programs and we remain on track toward hitting our goal of 15 percent EBITDA margin in 2015, while still delivering the expected level of EPS during this quarter," said Jim OwensH.B. Fuller president and chief executive officer. "Organic revenue growth of 2 percent was below last quarter's results with strong revenue in Asia and Construction Products offset by weak revenue in Europe and slower than expected organic sales growth in the Americas through December, January and February. We are pleased with our ability to adapt and deliver bottom line results in the quarter as we manage significant internal projects and numerous external factors."

Balance Sheet and Cash Flow:
At the end of the first quarter of 2014, the Company had cash totaling $113 million and total debt of $534 million. This compares to fourth quarter 2013 levels of $155 million and $493 million, respectively. Sequentially, net debt was up by $83 million primarily due to normal seasonal cash flow requirements and the business integration project outlays. Cash flow from operations was negative $17 million in the first quarter, in line with normal seasonal patterns. Capital expenditures were $51 million in the first quarter, with the bulk of this spending related to the Company's ongoing business integration activities and to support Project ONE.

Business Integration and Special Charges: 
We have been working on a comprehensive business integration project since March of 2012 to fully assimilate the Forbo industrial adhesives business and to improve the operating performance of our legacy EIMEA operating segment. At the inception of the project we estimated the total costs associated with this project to be $1252 million. We currently expect our total project costs will exceed the estimates by an immaterial amount, primarily due to delays in completing the European portion of the project.  The summary below lays out the estimated project costs, the costs expensed in the current quarter and the total costs incurred to date. 

$ Millions

Original
Estimate of
Costs

 

Q1 2014

 

Since Inception

Acquisition and transformation

35

2

36

Workforce Reduction

46

2

40

Facility Exit

17

4

17

Other

17

3

13

Total cash costs

115

11

106

       

Total non-cash costs

10

1

11

 

Fiscal 2014 Outlook:
We are maintaining 2014 fiscal year guidance as provided in January of this year in the prior quarter's earnings release.

Conference Call:
The Company will host an investor conference call to discuss first quarter 2014 results on Thursday, March 27, 2014, at 9:30 a.m. Central U.S. time (10:30 a.m. Eastern U.S. time). The conference call audio and accompanying presentation slides will be available to all interested parties via a simultaneous webcast at www.hbfuller.com under the Investor Relations section. The event is scheduled to last one hour. For those unable to listen live, an audio replay of the event along with the accompanying presentation will be archived on the Company's website.

Regulation G:
The information presented in this earnings release regarding segment operating income, adjusted diluted earnings per share and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) does not conform to generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and should not be construed as an alternative to the reported results determined in accordance with GAAP. Management has included this non-GAAP information to assist in understanding the operating performance of the Company and its operating segments as well as the comparability of results. The non-GAAP information provided may not be consistent with the methodologies used by other companies. All non-GAAP information is reconciled with reported GAAP results in the tables below.

About H.B. Fuller Company:
For over 125 years, H.B. Fuller has been a leading global adhesives provider focusing on perfecting adhesives, sealants and other specialty chemical products to improve products and lives. Recognized for unmatched technical support and innovation, H.B. Fuller brings knowledge and expertise to help its customers find precisely the right formulation for the right performance. With fiscal 2013 net revenue of over $2 billionH.B. Fuller serves customers in packaging, hygiene, general assembly, electronic materials and assembly, paper converting, woodworking, construction, automotive and consumer businesses. For more information, visit us at www.hbfuller.com and subscribe to our blog.

Safe Harbor for Forward-Looking Statements:
Certain statements in this document may be considered forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to the following: the Company's ability to effectively integrate and operate acquired businesses; the ability to effectively implement Project ONE; political and economic conditions; product demand; competitive products and pricing; costs of and savings from restructuring initiatives; geographic and product mix; availability and price of raw materials; the Company's relationships with its major customers and suppliers; changes in tax laws and tariffs; devaluations and other foreign exchange rate fluctuations; the impact of litigation and environmental matters; the effect of new accounting pronouncements and accounting charges and credits; and similar matters. Further information about the various risks and uncertainties can be found in the Company's SEC 10-K filing for the fiscal year ended November 30, 2013. All forward-looking information represents management's best judgment as of this date based on information currently available that in the future may prove to have been inaccurate. Additionally, the variety of products sold by the Company and the regions where the Company does business make it difficult to determine with certainty the increases or decreases in net revenue resulting from changes in the volume of products sold, currency impact, changes in product mix, and selling prices. However, management's best estimates of these changes as well as changes in other factors have been included.

Maximillian Marcy
Investor Relations Contact
651-236-5062

 

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

In thousands, except per share amounts (unaudited)

                   
 

13 Weeks Ended

 

Percent of

 

13 Weeks Ended

 

Percent of

 

March 1, 2014

 

Net Revenue

 

March 2, 2013

 

Net Revenue

Net revenue

$

485,981

 

100.0%

 

$

479,842

 

100.0%

Cost of sales

 

(352,936)

 

(72.6%)

   

(346,466)

 

(72.2%)

Gross profit

 

133,045

 

27.4%

   

133,376

 

27.8%

                   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

(96,799)

 

(19.9%)

   

(97,640)

 

(20.3%)

Special charges, net

 

(11,734)

 

(2.4%)

   

(5,333)

 

(1.1%)

Other income (expense), net

 

(1,050)

 

(0.2%)

   

378

 

0.1%

Interest expense

 

(4,126)

 

(0.8%)

   

(5,327)

 

(1.1%)

Income before income taxes and income from equity method investments

 

19,336

 

4.0%

   

25,454

 

5.3%

                   

Income taxes

 

(6,541)

 

(1.3%)

   

(7,120)

 

(1.5%)

                   

Income from equity method investments

 

1,854

 

0.4%

   

2,440

 

0.5%

Net income including non-controlling interests

 

14,649

 

3.0%

   

20,774

 

4.3%

                   

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests

 

(78)

 

(0.0%)

   

(97)

 

(0.0%)

Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller

$

14,571

 

3.0%

 

$

20,677

 

4.3%

                   
                   

Basic income per common share attributable to H.B. Fuller

$

0.29

     

$

0.42

   
                   
                   

Diluted income per common share attributable to H.B. Fuller

$

0.28

     

$

0.41

   
                   

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

                 

Basic

 

49,910

       

49,817

   

Diluted

 

51,255

       

51,027

   
                   

Dividends declared per common share

$

0.100

     

$

0.085

   
 

 

Selected Balance Sheet Information (subject to change prior to filing of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q)

                 
 

March 1, 2014

 

November 30, 2013

 

March 2, 2013

Cash & cash equivalents

$

113,047

 

$

155,121

 

$

163,131

Trade accounts receivable, net

 

327,314

   

331,125

   

308,343

Inventories

 

260,763

   

221,537

   

229,442

Trade payables

 

208,099

   

201,575

   

167,926

Total assets

 

1,909,107

   

1,873,028

   

1,765,410

Total debt

 

533,697

   

492,904

   

510,981

 

 

 

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION

In thousands (unaudited)

           
           
 

13 Weeks Ended

 

13 Weeks Ended

 

March 1, 2014

 

March 2, 2013

Net Revenue:

         

Americas Adhesives

$

209,666

 

$

207,731

EIMEA

 

171,559

   

177,501

Asia Pacific

 

65,047

   

60,579

Construction Products

 

39,709

   

34,031

Total H.B. Fuller  

$

485,981

 

$

479,842

           

Segment Operating Income:3 

         

Americas Adhesives

$

25,206

 

$

25,925

EIMEA

 

8,440

   

6,473

Asia Pacific

 

1,788

   

1,974

Construction Products

 

812

   

1,364

Total H.B. Fuller  

$

36,246

 

$

35,736

           

Depreciation Expense:

         

Americas Adhesives

$

3,800

 

$

3,955

EIMEA

 

3,255

   

3,711

Asia Pacific

 

1,261

   

1,246

Construction Products

 

848

   

832

Total H.B. Fuller  

$

9,164

 

$

9,744

           

Amortization Expense:

         

Americas Adhesives

$

1,391

 

$

1,245

EIMEA

 

1,936

   

1,865

Asia Pacific

 

495

   

473

Construction Products

 

1,953

   

1,924

Total H.B. Fuller  

$

5,775

 

$

5,507

           

EBITDA:4 

         

Americas Adhesives

$

30,397

 

$

31,125

EIMEA

 

13,631

   

12,049

Asia Pacific

 

3,544

   

3,693

Construction Products

 

3,613

   

4,120

Total H.B. Fuller  

$

51,185

 

$

50,987

           

Segment Operating Margin:5 

         

Americas Adhesives

 

12.0%

   

12.5%

EIMEA

 

4.9%

   

3.6%

Asia Pacific

 

2.7%

   

3.3%

Construction Products

 

2.0%

   

4.0%

Total H.B. Fuller  

 

7.5%

   

7.4%

           

EBITDA Margin:4 

         

Americas Adhesives

 

14.5%

   

15.0%

EIMEA

 

7.9%

   

6.8%

Asia Pacific

 

5.4%

   

6.1%

Construction Products

 

9.1%

   

12.1%

Total H.B. Fuller  

 

10.5%

   

10.6%

           

Net Revenue Growth:

         

Americas Adhesives

 

0.9%

     

EIMEA

 

(3.3%)

     

Asia Pacific

 

7.4%

     

Construction Products

 

16.7%

     

Total H.B. Fuller  

 

1.3%

     
           
 

 

 

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

SEGMENT FINANCIAL INFORMATION

NET REVENUE GROWTH

(unaudited)

                   

13 Weeks Ended March 1, 2014

                   
 

Americas
Adhesives

 

EIMEA

 

Asia Pacific

 

Construction
Products

 

Total HBF

Price

(0.6%)

 

0.8%

 

1.4%

 

(2.5%)

 

0.0%

Volume

2.1%

 

(4.0%)

 

9.4%

 

19.2%

 

2.0%

  Organic Growth

1.5%

 

(3.2%)

 

10.8%

 

16.7%

 

2.0%

                   

F/X

(0.6%)

 

(0.1%)

 

(3.4%)

 

0.0%

 

(0.7%)

 

0.9%

 

(3.3%)

 

7.4%

 

16.7%

 

1.3%

 

 

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

REGULATION G RECONCILIATION

In thousands (unaudited)

           
           
 

13 Weeks Ended

 

13 Weeks Ended

 

March 1, 2014

 

March 2, 2013

Net income including non-controlling interests

$

14,649

 

$

20,774

           

Income from equity method investments

 

(1,854)

   

(2,440)

Income taxes

 

6,541

   

7,120

Interest expense

 

4,126

   

5,327

Other income (expense), net

 

1,050

   

(378)

Special charges

 

11,734

   

5,333

           

Segment operating income3 

 

36,246

   

35,736

           

Depreciation expense

 

9,164

   

9,744

Amortization expense

 

5,775

   

5,507

           

EBITDA4 

$

51,185

 

$

50,987

           

EBITDA margin4 

 

10.5%

   

10.6%

 

 

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

REGULATION G RECONCILIATION

In thousands (unaudited)

           
           
 

13 Weeks Ended

 

13 Weeks Ended

 

March 1, 2014

 

March 2, 2013

Net revenue

$

485,981

 

$

479,842

Cost of sales

 

(352,936)

   

(346,466)

           

Gross profit

 

133,045

   

133,376

           

Selling, general and administrative expenses

 

(96,799)

   

(97,640)

           

Segment operating income3 

 

36,246

   

35,736

           

Depreciation expense

 

9,164

   

9,744

Amortization expense

 

5,775

   

5,507

           

EBITDA4 

$

51,185

 

$

50,987

           

EBITDA margin4 

 

10.5%

   

10.6%

 

 

 

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

REGULATION G RECONCILIATION

In thousands, except per share amounts (unaudited)

                 

Adjusted

     

13 Weeks Ended

     

13 Weeks Ended

     

March 1, 2014

 

Adjustments

 

March 1, 2014

Net revenue

   

$

485,981

 

$

-

 

$

 485,981

Cost of sales

     

(352,936)

   

(1,340)

   

 (351,596)

Gross profit

     

133,045

   

(1,340)

   

 134,385

                     

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   

(96,799)

   

-

   

 (96,799)

                     

Acquisition and transformation related costs

 

 (1,708)

               

Workforce reduction costs

 

 (2,059)

               

Facility exit costs

 

 (5,126)

               

Other related costs

 

 (2,841)

               

Special charges, net

     

(11,734)

   

(11,734)

   

 -

                     

Other income (expense), net

     

(1,050)

   

-

   

 (1,050)

Interest expense

     

(4,126)

   

-

   

 (4,126)

Income before income taxes and income from equity method investments

   

19,336

   

(13,074)

   

 32,410

                     

Income taxes

     

(6,541)

   

2,618

   

 (9,159)

                     

Income from equity method investments

     

1,854

   

-

   

 1,854

Net income including non-controlling interests

   

14,649

   

(10,456)

   

 25,105

                     

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests

   

(78)

   

-

   

 (78)

Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller

 

$

14,571

 

$

(10,456)

 

$

 25,027

                     

Basic income (loss) per common share attributable to H.B. Fuller

$

0.29

 

$

(0.21)

 

$

 0.50

                     

Diluted income (loss) per common share attributable to H.B. Fullera

$

0.28

 

$

(0.20)

 

$

 0.491

                     

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

                 

Basic

     

49,910

   

49,910

   

 49,910

Diluted

     

51,255

   

51,255

   

 51,255

                     

a Income per share amounts may not add due to rounding

 

 

 

H.B. FULLER COMPANY AND SUBSIDIARIES

REGULATION G RECONCILIATION

In thousands, except per share amounts (unaudited)

                   
               

Adjusted

   

13 Weeks Ended

     

13 Weeks Ended

   

March 2, 2013

 

Adjustments

 

March 2, 2013

Net revenue

 

$

479,842

 

$

-

 

$

 479,842

Cost of sales

   

(346,466)

   

-

   

 (346,466)

                   

Gross profit

   

133,376

   

-

   

 133,376

                   

Selling, general and administrative expenses

   

(97,640)

         

 (97,640)

                   

Acquisition and transformation related costs

(2,282)

               

Workforce reduction costs

(484)

               

Facility exit costs

(1,789)

               

Other related costs

(778)

               

Special charges, net

   

(5,333)

   

(5,333)

   

 -

                   

Other income (expense), net

   

378

   

-

   

 378

Interest expense

   

(5,327)

   

-

   

 (5,327)

Income before income taxes and income from equity method investments

   

25,454

   

(5,333)

   

 30,787

                   

Income taxes

   

(7,120)

   

1,099

   

 (8,219)

                   

Income from equity method investments

   

2,440

   

-

   

 2,440

Net income including non-controlling interests

   

20,774

   

(4,234)

   

 25,008

                   

Net income attributable to non-controlling interests

   

(97)

   

-

   

 (97)

Net income attributable to H.B. Fuller

 

$

20,677

 

$

(4,234)

 

$

 24,911

                   

Basic income (loss) per common share attributable to H.B. Fuller

 

$

0.42

 

$

(0.08)

 

$

 0.50

                   

Diluted income (loss) per common share attributable to H.B. Fuller

 

$

0.41

 

$

(0.08)

 

$

 0.491

                   

Weighted-average common shares outstanding:

                 

Basic

   

49,817

   

49,817

   

 49,817

Diluted

   

51,027

   

51,027

   

 51,027

 

 

       
   

1

Adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) is a non-GAAP financial measure and excludes the following items. During the first quarter of 2014, the Company recorded a negative impact on the gross profit margin line of the income statement as the result of business integration costs not classified as special charges. On a pre-tax basis, these costs amounted to $1.3 million ($0.02 per diluted share). First quarters of 2014 and 2013 exclude special charges associated with two previously announced events: the EIMEA business transformation project and the expenses associated with the Forbo acquisition integration project, which have been combined and are now referred to as the "business integration". Special charges, net amounted to $11.7 million and $5.3 million on a pre-tax basis ($0.18 and $0.08 per diluted share) in Q1 2014 and Q1 2013, respectively.

2

The original cost estimate for special charges was $121 million. During the third and fourth quarters of 2013, the Company revised the estimate upward to $125 million to reflect higher non-cash items and a revision of the total spend in each of the categories.

3

Segment operating income is defined as gross profit less SG&A expense.  Items that are reported on the special charges line of the income statement are excluded from the segment operating income calculation. In Q1 2014 and Q1 2013, special charges, net totaled $11.7 million and $5.3 million, respectively.

4

EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure defined on a consolidated basis as gross profit, less SG&A expense, plus depreciation expense, plus amortization expense. On a segment basis it is defined as operating income, plus depreciation expense, plus amortization expense. EBITDA margin is defined as EBITDA divided by net revenue.

5

Segment operating margin is a non-GAAP financial measure defined as gross profit, less SG&A expense, divided by net revenue.

 

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110215/CG49203LOGO

SOURCE H.B. Fuller Company