RPM Reports Fiscal 2016 Third-Quarter Results

MEDINA, Ohio, April 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- RPM International Inc. RPM today reported record sales and EBIT for its fiscal 2016 third quarter ended February 29, 2016, despite the strong U.S. dollar and overall weakness in many global markets outside the U.S.   

Third-Quarter Results

Net sales grew 4.5% to $988.6 million in the fiscal 2016 third quarter from $946.4 million in the fiscal 2015 third quarter. Consolidated earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) were $42.1 million, up 23.1% from $34.2 million a year ago. Net income of $18.6 million in the fiscal 2016 third quarter compares to a reported loss of $57.3 million a year ago. Third-quarter diluted earnings per common share were $0.14, compared to a year-ago reported loss of $0.44.

The year-ago loss for the quarter was due to a one-time, non-cash net charge for a tax accrual related to possible repatriation of overseas earnings to fund future obligations for the company's Specialty Products Holding Corp. (SPHC) bankruptcy settlement. On an as-adjusted basis, earnings per diluted share were $0.20 in the prior year's third quarter, which included a $13.0 million or $0.10 per share tax benefit.

"We were pleased with RPM's performance during our seasonally slow third quarter, considering the headwinds posed by foreign currency translation, which reduced sales by 4.2% in the quarter, along with declining economies in a number of the international markets we serve," stated Frank C. Sullivan, RPM chairman and chief executive officer. "We were able to leverage good sales growth into EBIT growth of 23%."

Third-Quarter Segment Sales and Earnings

Industrial segment sales declined 3.1% to $484.0 million from $499.6 million in the fiscal 2015 third quarter. Organic sales improved 2.6%, while acquisitions added 0.7%. Foreign currency translation negatively impacted sales by 6.4%. Industrial segment EBIT for the quarter of $2.1 million, was $6.7 million below last year's EBIT of $8.8 million. During the quarter, the industrial segment had $6.9 million in higher product warranty expenses and severance-related charges across businesses operating in weaker end markets. Excluding these items, industrial EBIT would have been up slightly year over year.

"Results from our industrial segment continue to be mixed by both end markets and geography. Our U.S. based industrial companies serving the commercial construction markets enjoyed high single-digit growth. However, our businesses with exposure to the global energy sector continue to be down by about 10%. Geographically, our Latin American industrial businesses showed strong organic growth in local currencies, while performance by businesses in Europe was somewhat choppy," stated Sullivan.   

Third-quarter sales in the company's specialty segment increased 37.5% to $165.6 million from $120.4 million a year ago. Organic sales increased 7.5% and acquisitions added 31.5%, primarily a result of the inclusion of December's results from SPHC companies that were reconsolidated with RPM at the beginning of the 2015 calendar year, along with the Morrells acquisition in March 2015. Foreign currency translation negatively impacted sales by 1.5%. Specialty segment EBIT increased 128.4% to $21.4 million from $9.4 million in the fiscal 2015 third quarter.

"Excluding the additional month of SPHC sales for December, our specialty businesses are gaining market share in a broad base of niche markets and performed well in Europe," stated Sullivan.

Sales in RPM's consumer segment increased 3.9% to $339.0 million from $326.4 million in the fiscal 2015 third quarter. Organic sales increased 4.6%, while acquisitions added 1.2%. Foreign currency translation negatively impacted sales by 1.9%. Consumer segment EBIT increased 10.3% to $38.8 million from $35.1 million a year ago.

"In our consumer segment, excluding the soft nail polish enamels business, organic growth was approximately 6%, fueled by recent market share gains and new product placements," stated Sullivan. 

Cash Flow and Financial Position

For the first nine months of fiscal 2016, cash from operations was $223.8 million, compared to $24.1 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015. Capital expenditures during the current nine-month period of $54.8 million compare to $47.3 million over the same time in fiscal 2015. Total debt at the end of the first nine months of fiscal 2016 was $1.75 billion, compared to $1.87 billion a year ago and $1.66 billion at the end of fiscal 2015. RPM's net (of cash) debt-to-total capitalization ratio was 55.3%, compared to 57.2% at February 28, 2015. During the first nine months of fiscal 2016, RPM repurchased 800,000 shares of its stock in the open market at a cost of $35.1 million.

"At February 29, 2016, RPM's total liquidity, including cash and long-term committed available credit, was $864.5 million," Sullivan stated. "We continue our search for strong acquisition candidates to enhance our product offerings and broaden our geographic presence, as well as investing in our future through internal growth initiatives," stated Sullivan.

Nine-Month Results

Nine-month net sales grew 5.1% to $3.39 billion from $3.22 billion a year ago. Consolidated EBIT was $344.4 million, up 8.3% from $318.0 million a year ago. Reported net income of $201.8 million, or $1.50 per diluted share, increased 81.0% from net income of $111.5 million, or $0.84 per diluted share, in the year-ago period. Excluding fiscal 2015's third-quarter non-cash, net tax charge, fiscal 2016 nine-month net income improved 3.5% from $195.0 million a year ago, or $1.44 per diluted share. 

Nine-Month Segment Sales and Earnings

Sales for RPM's industrial segment declined 4.6%, to $1.76 billion from $1.84 billion in the fiscal 2015 first nine months. Organic sales increased 2.8%, while acquisitions added 0.6%. Foreign currency translation negatively impacted sales by 8.0%. Industrial segment EBIT of $150.8 million declined 6.7% from EBIT of $161.7 million in the first nine months of fiscal 2015.

Specialty segment sales increased 98.1% to $535.9 million from $270.5 million in the first nine months a year ago. Organic sales increased 3.4% and acquisitions, primarily the SPHC reconsolidation, added 99.4%. Foreign currency translation negatively impacted sales by 4.7%. Specialty segment EBIT grew 93.5% to $78.5 million from $40.6 million in the same period a year ago.

In the consumer segment, nine-month sales declined 1.4% to $1.10 billion from $1.11 billion in the first nine months of fiscal 2015. Organic sales improved 0.4%, while acquisitions added 0.7%. Foreign currency negatively impacted sales by 2.5%. Consumer segment EBIT declined 1.8%, to $170.2 million from $173.4 million in the first nine months a year ago.

Business Outlook

"For the fourth quarter of our fiscal year, we expect consumer segment sales to grow in the mid-single-digit range. Benefits from recent market share gains and new product placements that just began impacting sales in the third quarter this year are expected to continue adding incremental sales into fiscal 2017. In our industrial segment, we expect solid growth for businesses serving the U.S. commercial construction markets to be somewhat offset by results from businesses serving the global energy sector. In our specialty segment businesses, sales growth in the mid- to upper-single-digit range will be predominately organically driven.

"While the negative impact of currency translation is diminishing slightly on a sequential basis, it will continue to challenge us. In addition, during last year's fiscal fourth quarter, the company reversed a Synta earn-out accrual in the amount of $9.9 million, impacting EPS favorably by $0.05 per share. Taking into account all of these factors, we are maintaining our guidance for fiscal 2016 full-year results of $2.50 per diluted share," Sullivan stated.

Webcast and Conference Call Information

Management will host a conference call to discuss these results beginning at 10:00 a.m. EDT today. The call can be accessed by dialing 888-771-4371 or 847-585-4405 for international callers. Participants are asked to call the assigned number approximately 10 minutes before the conference call begins. The call, which will last approximately one hour, will be open to the public, but only financial analysts will be permitted to ask questions. The media and all other participants will be in a listen-only mode.

For those unable to listen to the live call, a replay will be available from approximately 12:30 p.m. EDT today until 11:59 p.m. EDT on April 13, 2016. The replay can be accessed by dialing 888-843-7419 or 630-652-3042 for international callers. The access code is 41121751. The call also will be available both live and for replay, and as a written transcript, via the RPM web site at www.rpminc.com.

About RPM

RPM International Inc. owns subsidiaries that are world leaders in specialty coatings, sealants, building materials and related services across three segments. RPM's industrial products include roofing systems, sealants, corrosion control coatings, flooring coatings and other construction chemicals. Industrial companies include Stonhard, Tremco, illbruck, Carboline, Flowcrete, and Euclid Chemical. RPM's consumer products are used by professionals and do-it-yourselfers for home maintenance and improvement and by hobbyists. Consumer brands include Rust-Oleum, DAP, Zinsser, Varathane and Testors. RPM's specialty products include industrial cleaners, colorants, exterior finishes, specialty OEM coatings, edible coatings, restoration services equipment and specialty glazes for the pharmaceutical and food industries. Specialty segment companies include Day-Glo, Dryvit, RPM Wood Finishes, Mantrose-Haeuser, RPM Belgium, Legend Brands, Kop-Coat, and TCI.  Additional details can be found at www.rpminc.com and by following RPM on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RPMintl.

For more information, contact Barry M. Slifstein, vice president – investor relations, at 330-273-5090 or bslifstein@rpminc.com.

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" relating to our business. These forward-looking statements, or other statements made by us, are made based on our expectations and beliefs concerning future events impacting us, and are subject to uncertainties and factors (including those specified below) which are difficult to predict and, in many instances, are beyond our control. As a result, our actual results could differ materially from those expressed in or implied by any such forward-looking statements. These uncertainties and factors include (a) global markets and general economic conditions, including uncertainties surrounding the volatility in financial markets, the availability of capital and the effect of changes in interest rates, and the viability of banks and other financial institutions; (b) the prices, supply and capacity of raw materials, including assorted pigments, resins, solvents and other natural gas- and oil-based materials; packaging, including plastic containers; and transportation services, including fuel surcharges; (c) continued growth in demand for our products; (d) legal, environmental and litigation risks inherent in our construction and chemicals businesses and risks related to the adequacy of our insurance coverage for such matters; (e) the effect of changes in interest rates; (f) the effect of fluctuations in currency exchange rates upon our foreign operations; (g) the effect of non-currency risks of investing in and conducting operations in foreign countries, including those relating to domestic and international political, social, economic and regulatory factors; (h) risks and uncertainties associated with our ongoing acquisition and divestiture activities; (i) risks related to the adequacy of our contingent liability reserves; and (j) other risks detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the risk factors set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended May 31, 2015, as the same may be updated from time to time. We do 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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SOURCE RPM International Inc.