Benchmark Electronics Reports Increased Revenue And Strong Operating Cash Flows In 2014 - Benchmark Electronics (NYSE:BHE)

ANGLETON, Texas, Feb. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Benchmark Electronics, Inc. BHE, a leading integrated contract manufacturing provider, today announced financial results for the quarter and year ending December 31, 2014.

	Three Months Ended
	Dec 31,		Sep 30,		Dec 31,
	2014		2014		2013
Net sales (in millions)	$710		$731		$757
Net income (in millions)	$24		$17		$67
Net income – non-GAAP (in millions)	$23		$23		$24
Diluted EPS	$0.45		$0.32		$1.24
Diluted EPS – non-GAAP	$0.43		$0.43		$0.43
Operating margin (%)	4.0	%	3.0	%	8.0	%
Operating margin – non-GAAP (%)	4.0	%	4.0	%	4.1	%

	Year Ended
	December 31,
	2014		2013
Net sales (in millions)	$2,797		$2,506
Net income (in millions)	$82		$111
Net income – non-GAAP (in millions)	$89		$69
Diluted EPS	$1.52		$2.03
Diluted EPS – non-GAAP	$1.65		$1.26
Operating margin (%)	3.6	%	4.6	%
Operating margin – non-GAAP (%)	3.9	%	3.5	%

"Although our Computing and Telecom demand was weaker than expected in the fourth quarter, it was offset by new program ramps and increased demand in our non-traditional markets. Combining another quarter of solid operational performance with this favorable business mix, we achieved a 4% operating margin," said CEO Gayla Delly. "For the full year, we enjoyed robust 12% revenue growth, strong operating cash flows of $137 million and improved margins of 3.9%. We believe our current performance, recent bookings and continued diversification of our portfolio position us well to meet our long-term financial goals."

Fourth Quarter 2014 Highlights

Revenue of $710 million was at the low end of our expectations due to softness in the computing and telecom sectors.
Cash flows provided by operating activities were $23 million.
Cash and cash equivalents balance was $427 million at December 31, 2014.
Repurchases of common shares totaled $19 million or 0.8 million shares.
New program bookings were $120 million to $160 million.
Accounts receivable was $520 million at December 31, 2014; calculated days sales outstanding were 66 days compared to 66 days at September 30, 2014 and 67 days at December 31, 2013.
Inventory was $401 million at December 31, 2014; inventory turns were 6.5 times compared to 6.2 at September 30, 2014 and 7.0 at December 31, 2013.

Fourth Quarter Industry Sector Update

The following table sets forth revenue by industry sector for the referenced quarters.

	Dec 31,		Sep 30,		Dec 31,
	2014		2014		2013
Industrial control equipment	32	%	30	%	26	%
Telecommunication equipment	29		32		24
Computers and related products	20		21		32
Medical devices	11		10		10
Testing and instrumentation products	8		7		8
	100	%	100	%	100	%

First Quarter 2015 Outlook

Revenue between $615 and $645 million.
Diluted earnings per share between $0.30 and $0.34 (excluding restructuring charges and integration costs).

"Our first quarter guidance reflects lingering headwinds in Computing and Telecom; however, we expect growth to resume in these sectors in the second half of the year. For 2015, we anticipate that our non-traditional revenue base of Industrial, Medical, and Test & Instrumentation will continue to strengthen," said CFO Don Adam.

Conference Call Details

A conference call hosted by Benchmark management will be held today at 10:00 am (Central Time) to discuss the financial results of the Company and its future outlook. This call will be broadcast via the internet and may be accessed by logging on to the Company's website at www.bench.com.

About Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

Benchmark provides integrated manufacturing, design and engineering services to original equipment manufacturers of industrial control equipment (including equipment for the aerospace and defense industry), telecommunication equipment, computers and related products for business enterprises, medical devices, and testing and instrumentation products. Benchmark's global operations include facilities in seven countries, and its common shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BHE.

Non-GAAP Financial Measures

This press release includes financial measures for earnings and earnings per share that exclude certain items and therefore do not follow U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP). A detailed reconciliation between the GAAP results and results excluding special items (non-GAAP) is included at the end of this press release. Management discloses non-GAAP information to provide investors with additional information to analyze the Company's performance and underlying trends. Management uses non-GAAP measures of net income and earnings per share that exclude certain items in order to better assess operating performance and help investors compare results with our previous guidance. Our non-GAAP information is not necessarily comparable to non-GAAP information used by other companies. Non-GAAP information should not be viewed as a substitute for, or superior to, net income or other data prepared in accordance with GAAP as measures of our profitability or liquidity. Users of this financial information should consider the types of events and transactions for which adjustments have been made.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the scope of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The words "expect," "estimate," "anticipate," "predict," "goals" and similar terms, and the negatives thereof, often identify forward-looking statements, which are not limited to historical facts. Our forward-looking statements include, among other things, the statements "we believe our current performance, recent bookings and continued diversification of our portfolio position us well to meet our long-term financial goals," "we expect growth to resume" and "we anticipate that our non-traditional revenue base … will continue to strengthen", as well as other statements, express or implied, concerning: future operating results or the ability to generate sales, income or cash flow; and Benchmark's business and growth strategies, including expected internal growth and performance goals. Although Benchmark believes these statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, they involve risks and uncertainties relating to our operations, markets and business environment generally. If one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated.

All forward-looking statements included in this release are based upon information available to Benchmark as of the date of this release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update them. Readers are advised to consult further disclosures on related subjects, particularly in Item 1A, "Risk Factors" of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, in its other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in its press releases.

Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Reconciliation of GAAP to Non-GAAP Financial Results
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
(UNAUDITED)

			Three Months Ended						Year Ended
			Dec 31,		Sep 30,		Dec 31,		December 31,
			2014		2014		2013		2014		2013

Income from operations (GAAP)		$	28,653	$	21,915	$	60,275	$	100,144	$	116,524
Restructuring charges and integration and acquisition-related costs
			955		2,160		2,025		7,131		9,348
Asset impairment charge and other			(1,547)		-		-		(1,547)		2,606
Thailand flood-related items, net of insurance			-		-		(31,577)		(1,571)		(41,325)
Customer bankruptcy			-		5,029		-		5,029		-
Non-GAAP income from operations		$	28,061	$	29,104	$	30,723	$	109,186	$	87,153



Net income (GAAP)		$	24,011	$	17,156	$	67,489	$	82,442	$	111,159
Restructuring charges and integration and acquisition-related costs, net of tax
			740		1,504		1,343		4,886		8,290
Asset impairment charge and other, net of tax
Asset impairment charge and other, net of tax			(1,547)		-		-		(1,547)		2,849
Thailand flood-related items, net of insurance and tax
Thailand flood-related items, net of insurance and tax			-		-		(27,810)		(1,263)		(35,627)
Customer bankruptcy, net of tax			-		4,831		-		4,831		-
Discrete US tax benefit			-		-		(17,500)		-		(17,500)
Non-GAAP net income		$	23,204	$	23,491	$	23,522	$	89,349	$	69,171


Earnings per share: (GAAP)
	Basic	$	0.45	$	0.32	$	1.26	$	1.54	$	2.05
	Diluted	$	0.45	$	0.32	$	1.24	$	1.52	$	2.03

Earnings per share: (Non-GAAP)
	Basic	$	0.44	$	0.44	$	0.44	$	1.67	$	1.28
	Diluted	$	0.43	$	0.43	$	0.43	$	1.65	$	1.26

Weighted-average number of shares used in calculating earnings per share:
	Basic		53,020		53,660		53,773		53,538		54,213
	Diluted		53,609		54,265		54,327		54,222		54,779

Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Consolidated Statements of Income
(Amounts in Thousands, Except Per Share Data)
(UNAUDITED)

			Three Months Ended				Year Ended
			December 31,				December 31,
			2014		2013		2014		2013
Sales		$	709,547	$	756,843	$	2,797,061	$	2,506,467
Cost of sales			653,858		697,000		2,577,204		2,319,983
	Gross profit		55,689		59,843		219,857		186,484
Selling, general and administrative expenses			27,628		29,120		115,700		99,331
Restructuring charges and integration and acquisition-related costs
			955		2,025		7,131		9,348
Asset impairment charge and other			(1,547)		-		(1,547)		2,606
Thailand flood-related items, net of insurance			-		(31,577)		(1,571)		(41,325)
	Income from operations		28,653		60,275		100,144		116,524
Interest expense			(447)		(531)		(1,890)		(1,934)
Interest income			330		691		2,048		1,688
Other income (expense), net			528		(661)		(452)		(101)
	Income before income taxes		29,064		59,774		99,850		116,177
Income tax expense (benefit)			5,053		(7,715)		17,408		5,018
	Net income	$	24,011	$	67,489	$	82,442	$	111,159

Earnings per share:
	Basic	$	0.45	$	1.26	$	1.54	$	2.05
	Diluted	$	0.45	$	1.24	$	1.52	$	2.03

Weighted-average number of shares used in calculating earnings per share:
	Basic		53,020		53,773		53,538		54,213
	Diluted		53,609		54,327		54,222		54,779

Benchmark Electronics, Inc. and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(in thousands)
					December 31,		December 31,
					2014		2013
					(unaudited)
Assets
	Current assets:
		Cash and cash equivalents		$	427,376	$	345,555
		Accounts receivable, net			520,389		559,763
		Inventories, net			401,261		396,699
		Other current assets			39,527		40,816
			Total current assets		1,388,553		1,342,833
	Long-term investments				1,008		9,921
	Property, plant and equipment, net				190,180		185,319
	Goodwill and other, net				99,148		119,298
			Total assets	$	1,678,889	$	1,657,371

Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
	Current liabilities:
		Current installments of capital lease obligations		$	676	$	582
		Accounts payable			289,786		320,953
		Accrued liabilities			68,636		76,842
			Total current liabilities		359,098		398,377
	Capital lease obligations, less current installments				8,845		9,521
	Other long-term liabilities				19,906		22,440
	Shareholders' equity				1,291,040		1,227,033
			Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$	1,678,889	$	1,657,371

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SOURCE Benchmark Electronics, Inc.

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