NL REPORTS SECOND QUARTER 2019 RESULTS

Dallas, TX, Aug. 07, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NL Industries, Inc. NL today reported net income attributable to NL stockholders of $5.9 million, or $.12 per share, in the second quarter of 2019 compared to a net loss attributable to NL stockholders of $42.6 million, or $.87 per share, in the second quarter of 2018.  For the first six months of 2019, NL reported net income attributable to NL stockholders of $21.1 million, or $.43 per share compared to a net loss attributable to NL stockholders of $28.3 million, or $.58 per share in the first six months of 2018.  NL's results included a pre-tax litigation settlement expense of $19.6 million ($.32 per share, net of income tax benefit) and $62.0 million ($1.01 per share, net of income tax benefit) recognized in the second quarters of 2019 and 2018, respectively, as discussed below.

Net sales increased $1.3 million and $4.1 million in the second quarter and for the first six months of 2019, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2018.  The increase is due to higher marine component sales in both periods, primarily surf pipes and wake enhancement systems to an original equipment boat manufacturer. Income from operations attributable to CompX decreased for both periods due to higher labor costs for security products and a less favorable customer and product mix for marine components.  

Kronos' net sales of $484.5 million in the second quarter of 2019 were $12.7 million, or 3%, higher than in the second quarter of 2018.  Kronos' net sales of $921.0 million in the first six months of 2019 were $18.8 million, or 2%, higher than in the first six months of 2018.  Kronos' net sales increased in 2019 due to the net effect of lower average TiO₂ selling prices and higher sales volumes.  Kronos' average TiO₂ selling prices were 8% lower in the second quarter and first six months of 2019 as compared to the same prior year periods.   Kronos' average TiO₂ selling prices at the end of the second quarter of 2019 were 2% higher than at the end of the first quarter with higher prices in all major markets and were 2% lower than at the end of 2018 with lower prices in the European, North American and Latin American markets partially offset by higher prices in the export market.  Kronos' TiO₂ sales volumes in the second quarter of 2019 were 15% higher as compared to the second quarter of 2018 primarily due to higher sales in the European, North American and export markets. Kronos' TiO₂ sales volumes in the first six months of 2019 were 15% higher as compared to the same period in 2018 primarily due to higher sales in all major markets.  Fluctuations in currency exchange rates (primarily the euro) also affected net sales comparisons, decreasing net sales by approximately $17 million in the second quarter of 2019 and approximately $32 million in the first six months of 2019 as compared to the same periods in 2018.  The table at the end of this press release shows how each of these items impacted net sales.

Kronos' income from operations in the second quarter of 2019 was $46.5 million as compared to $119.9 million in the second quarter of 2018.  For the year-to-date period, Kronos' income from operations was $95.5 million as compared to $227.4 million in the first six months of 2018.  Kronos' income from operations decreased in the 2019 periods as the unfavorable effect of lower average TiO₂ selling prices and higher raw materials (primarily third-party feedstock ore) and other production costs more than offset the favorable impact of higher sales volumes.  Kronos' TiO₂ production volumes in the second quarter and first six months of 2019 were comparable to the same periods in 2018.  Kronos' operated its production facilities at overall average capacity utilization rates of 97% in the first six months of 2019 (97% in the first and second quarters of 2019) compared to 96% in 2018 (95% and 97% in the first and second quarters of 2018, respectively).  Fluctuations in currency exchange rates also affected income from operations comparisons, which decreased income from operations by approximately $9 million in the second quarter of 2019 and by approximately $1 million in the year-to-date 2019 period as compared to the same periods in 2018.

Corporate expenses decreased $1.2 million and $7.1 million in the second quarter and first six months of 2019 compared to the same periods of 2018 primarily due to lower environmental remediation and related costs and lower litigation fees and related costs in 2019.  We recognized a $62.0 million pre-tax litigation settlement expense in the second quarter of 2018 related to a litigation settlement agreement.  We recognized an additional $19.6 million pre-tax litigation settlement expense in the second quarter of 2019 for a settlement agreement in the same case that was approved by the court in July 2019. 

Insurance recoveries represent amounts we receive from certain of our former insurance carriers and generally relate to the recovery of past lead pigment and asbestos litigation defense costs we have incurred.  Substantially all of the insurance recoveries we recognized in the second quarter of 2019 relate to a new settlement we reached with a single insurance carrier that agreed to reimburse us for a portion of our past and future litigation defense costs.  Such insurance recoveries aggregated $5.0 million ($3.9 million, or $.08 per share, net of income tax expense) in the first six months of 2019. 

Interest and dividend income increased $.9 million in the second quarter and $1.3 million in the first six months of 2019 as compared to the same periods in 2018 primarily due to interest income earned on the accrued insurance recovery receivable and CompX's revolving promissory note receivable from Valhi.  Marketable equity securities represents unrealized gains (losses) on our portfolio of marketable equity securities during the periods.

The statements in this release relating to matters that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that represent management's beliefs and assumptions based on currently available information.  Although NL believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, we cannot give any assurances that these expectations will prove to be correct.  Such statements by their nature involve substantial risks and uncertainties that could significantly impact expected results, and actual future results could differ materially from those described in such forward-looking statements.  While it is not possible to identify all factors, we continue to face many risks and uncertainties.  Factors that could cause actual future results to differ materially include, but are not limited to:

• Future supply and demand for our products
• The extent of the dependence of certain of our businesses on certain market sectors
• The cyclicality of our businesses (such as Kronos' TiO₂ operations)
• Customer and producer inventory levels
• Unexpected or earlier-than-expected industry capacity expansion (such as the TiO₂ industry)
• Changes in raw material and other operating costs (such as energy, ore, zinc and brass costs) and our ability to pass those costs on to our customers or offset them with reductions in other operating costs
• Changes in the availability of raw material (such as ore)
• General global economic and political conditions (such as changes in the level of gross domestic product in various regions of the world and the impact of such changes on demand for, among other things, TiO₂ and component products)
• Competitive products and substitute products
• Price and product competition from low-cost manufacturing sources (such as China)
• Customer and competitor strategies
• Potential consolidation of Kronos' competitors
• Potential consolidation of  Kronos' customers
• The impact of pricing and production decisions
• Competitive technology positions
• Our ability to protect or defend intellectual property rights
• Potential difficulties in integrating future acquisitions
• Potential difficulties in upgrading or implementing accounting and manufacturing software systems
• The introduction of trade barriers
• Possible disruption of Kronos' or CompX's business, or increases in our  cost of doing business resulting from terrorist activities or global conflicts
• The impact of current or future government regulations (including employee healthcare benefit related regulations)
• Fluctuations in currency exchange rates (such as changes in the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and each of the euro, the Norwegian krone and the Canadian dollar), or possible disruptions to our business resulting from potential instability resulting from uncertainties associated with the euro or other currencies
• Operating interruptions (including, but not limited to, labor disputes, leaks, natural disasters, fires, explosions, unscheduled or unplanned downtime, transportation interruptions and cyber attacks)
• Decisions to sell operating assets other than in the ordinary course of business
• Kronos' ability to renew or refinance credit facilities
• Our ability to maintain sufficient liquidity
• The timing and amounts of insurance recoveries
• The extent to which our subsidiaries or affiliates were to become unable to pay us dividends
• Uncertainties associated with CompX's development of new product features
• The ultimate outcome of income tax audits, tax settlement initiatives or other tax matters, including future tax reform
• Our ability to utilize income tax attributes or changes in income tax rates related to such attributes, the benefits of which may or may not have been recognized under the more-likely-than-not recognition criteria
• Environmental matters (such as those requiring compliance with emission and discharge standards for existing and new facilities or new developments regarding environmental remediation at sites related to our former operations)
• Government laws and regulations and possible changes therein (such as changes in government regulations which might impose various obligations on former manufacturers of lead pigment and lead-based paint, including us, with respect to asserted health concerns associated with the use of such products), including new environmental health and safety regulations
• The ultimate resolution of pending litigation (such as our lead pigment and environmental matters)
• Possible future litigation. 

Should one or more of these risks materialize (or the consequences of such a development worsen), or should the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from those currently forecasted or expected.  We disclaim any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement whether as a result of changes in information, future events or otherwise. 

NL Industries, Inc. is engaged in the component products (security products and recreational marine components), chemicals (TiO₂) and other businesses.

NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions, except earnings per share)
 (unaudited)

NL INDUSTRIES, INC.
COMPONENTS OF INCOME (LOSS) FROM OPERATIONS
(In millions)
 (unaudited)

CHANGE IN KRONOS' TiO₂ SALES
(unaudited)

SOURCE:  NL Industries, Inc.
CONTACT:  Janet G. Keckeisen, Vice President - Corporate Strategy and Investor Relations, 972.233.1700