Rogers Corporation Reports Third Quarter 2018 Results

Rogers Delivers Record Revenue with Strong Sequential Earnings Performance

Rogers Corporation ROG today announced financial results for the 2018 third quarter.

The Company reported 2018 third quarter net sales of $226.9 million, which was within the Company's previously announced guidance of $220 to $230 million. Q3 2018 net sales increased $12.2 million (+5.7%) over Q2 2018 net sales and $20.1 million (+9.7%) over Q3 2017 net sales. Currency exchange rates negatively impacted 2018 third quarter net sales by $4.2 million compared to the 2018 second quarter but had favorable impact of $0.8 million on 2018 third quarter revenues compared to the 2017 third quarter.

Gross margin was 34.9% in the third quarter of 2018, compared to 35.7% in the second quarter of 2018 and 39.7% in the third quarter of 2017. Q3 2018 gross margin was lower than our guidance of 37%. GAAP operating margin was 13.1% in the third quarter of 2018, compared to 11.7% in the second quarter of 2018 and 19.0% in the third quarter of 2017. Adjusted operating margin was 17.0% in Q3 2018, compared to 14.8% in Q2 2018 and 19.4% in Q3 2017.

Third quarter 2018 GAAP net income was $19.7 million, compared to $17.3 million in the second quarter of 2018 and $25.5 million in the third quarter of 2017.

GAAP earnings for the 2018 third quarter were $1.06 per diluted share, compared to $0.93 per diluted share in the second quarter of 2018 and $1.37 per diluted share in the third quarter of 2017. Q3 GAAP earnings per diluted share were within the Company's guidance of $0.97 to $1.12. On an adjusted basis, earnings were $1.42 per diluted share for the 2018 third quarter, compared to adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.19 for the second quarter and $1.41 per diluted share for the 2017 third quarter. Adjusted earnings were above the Company's guidance of $1.25 to $1.40 per diluted share.

Adjusted EBITDA was $47.5 million for the third quarter of 2018, compared to $40.7 million for the second quarter and $50.7 million reported in the third quarter of 2017.

"We were pleased with the strong organic revenue growth in Rogers' PES and EMS businesses, as well as our overall earnings performance in the quarter," stated Bruce D. Hoechner, Rogers' President and Chief Executive Officer. "However, market weakness in 4G LTE and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems applications led to lower than expected demand in our ACS business that unfavorably impacted gross margin. While there is still more work to do, we continue to make progress on our operational excellence initiatives to drive profitability. Our outlook remains positive as we anticipate the transition in wireless telecommunications infrastructure from 4G to 5G, as well as strength in demand for Advanced Mobility applications, including ADAS and EV/HEV."

Business segment discussion

Advanced Connectivity Solutions (ACS)
Advanced Connectivity Solutions reported 2018 third quarter net sales of $71.9 million, a decrease of $4.5 million (-5.9%) compared to the 2018 second quarter and a decrease of $0.8 million (-1.2%) compared to 2017 third quarter net sales. Third quarter 2018 saw lower than expected revenues from Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) applications as supply chain volatility increased due to platform migrations to higher frequencies and European car manufacturers work through new regulatory standards. In addition, the business experienced continued softness in demand for wireless 4G LTE applications in anticipation of the transition to 5G. Third quarter 2018 net sales were negatively impacted by $1.3 million due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates compared to the second quarter of 2018, but were favorably impacted by $0.1 million compared to the third quarter of 2017.

Elastomeric Material Solutions (EMS)
Elastomeric Material Solutions reported 2018 third quarter net sales of $95.8 million, an increase of $16.6 million (+21.0%) compared to the 2018 second quarter and an increase of $13.6 million (+16.5%) compared to 2017 third quarter net sales. Strong organic growth was driven by demand in automotive, portable electronics and general industrial applications. Segment revenue also benefited from the recently acquired Griswold business. Third quarter 2018 net sales were negatively impacted by $1.4 million due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates compared to the 2018 second quarter but were favorably impacted by $0.3 million compared to the 2017 third quarter.

Power Electronics Solutions (PES)
Power Electronics Solutions reported 2018 third quarter net sales of $55.2 million, an increase of $1.6 million (+3.0%) compared to the 2018 second quarter and an increase of $8.8 million (+19.0%) compared to 2017 third quarter net sales of $46.4 million. The business continues to benefit from accelerating demand in electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Third quarter 2018 net sales were negatively impacted by $1.5 million due to fluctuations in currency exchange rates compared to the second quarter of 2018 but were favorably impacted by $0.4 million compared to the third quarter of 2017.

Other
Other reported 2018 third quarter net sales of $4.0 million which decreased $1.4 million (-26.2%) compared to both the second quarter 2018 and third quarter of 2017 net sales. The change was primarily driven by the timing of revenue recognition under the new standard.

Balance sheet and other highlights

Cash position
Rogers ended the third quarter of 2018 with cash and cash equivalents of $149.6 million, a decrease of $31.6 million from $181.2 million at December 31, 2017. This decrease was primarily due to $78.6 million paid for the Griswold acquisition, net of cash, $36.6 million in capital expenditures, $43.4 million paid for the Isola asset acquisition, and $25.0 million in pension contributions in anticipation of the proposed termination of the Rogers Corporation Defined Benefit Pension Plan, along with $6.5 million in tax payments related to net share settlement of equity awards and $3.0 million in repurchases of capital stock. This activity was partially offset by $102.5 million in borrowings under our revolving credit facility, of which $82.5 million and $20.0 million were used to fund the Griswold acquisition and the voluntary pension plan contribution, respectively, and by cash generated by operations.

Effective tax rate
Rogers' effective income tax rate was 31.0% for the third quarter of 2018, compared to 32.6% in the second quarter of 2018 and 37.6% for the third quarter of 2017. The decrease was primarily due to a lower U.S. effective tax rate, as a result of U.S. tax reform and geographic profit mix, partially offset by an increase in current year accruals for uncertain tax positions.

Financial outlook
Rogers guides its 2018 fourth quarter net sales to a range of $215 to $225 million and gross margin in the range of 35% to 36%. Rogers guides its 2018 fourth quarter earnings to a range of $0.84 to $0.99 per diluted share. Adjusted earnings are guided to a range of $1.20 to $1.35 per diluted share.

Rogers guides 2018 full year capital spending to be in the range of $45 to $55 million. In addition, the business invested an incremental $43.4 million for the Isola asset acquisition.

Rogers guides the 2018 full year effective tax rate to be 26-28%, with a fourth quarter effective tax rate of 30-31%.

About Rogers Corporation
Rogers Corporation ROG is a global leader in engineered materials to power, protect, and connect our world. With more than 180 years of materials science experience, Rogers delivers high-performance solutions that enable clean energy, internet connectivity, and safety and protection applications, as well as other technologies where reliability is critical. Rogers delivers Power Electronics Solutions for energy-efficient motor drives, e-Mobility and renewable energy; Elastomeric Material Solutions for sealing, vibration management and impact protection in mobile devices, transportation interiors, industrial equipment and performance apparel; and Advanced Connectivity Solutions for wireless infrastructure, automotive safety and radar systems. Headquartered in Arizona (USA), Rogers operates manufacturing facilities in the United States, China, Germany, Belgium, Hungary, and South Korea, with joint ventures and sales offices worldwide.

Safe Harbor Statement
This release contains forward-looking statements, which may concern our plans, objectives, outlook, goals, strategies, future events, future net sales or performance, capital expenditures, financing needs, future restructuring, plans or intentions relating to expansions, business trends and other information that is not historical information. All forward-looking statements are based upon information available to us on the date of this release and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside of our control, which could cause actual results to differ materially from the results discussed in the forward-looking statements. Risks that could cause such results to differ include: failure to capitalize on, and volatility within, the Company's growth drivers, including advanced mobility and advanced connectivity, such as delays in adoption or implementation of new technologies; uncertain business, economic and political conditions in the United States and abroad, particularly in China, South Korea, Germany, Hungary and Belgium, where we maintain significant manufacturing, sales or administrative operations; changes in trade policy, tariff regulation or other trade restrictions; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; research and development efforts; competitive developments; business development transactions and related integration considerations, including failure to realize, or delays in the realization of anticipated benefits of such transactions; the outcome of ongoing and future litigation, including our asbestos-related product liability litigation; inability to obtain raw materials, including commodities, from single or limited source suppliers in a timely and cost effective manner; and changes in laws and regulations applicable to our business. For additional information about the risks, uncertainties and other factors that may affect our business, please see our most recent annual report on Form 10-K and any subsequent quarterly reports on Forms 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Rogers Corporation assumes no responsibility to update any forward-looking statements contained herein except as required by law.

Conference call and additional information

A conference call to discuss 2018 third quarter results today on Thursday November, 01 2018 at 5pm ET.

A live webcast and slide presentation will be available under the investors section of www.rogerscorp.com/ir.

To participate, please dial:

1-800-574-8929 Toll-free in the United States

1-973-935-8524 Internationally

There is no passcode for the live teleconference.

If you are unable to attend, a conference call playback will be available from November 1, 2018 at approximately 8 pm ET through November 7, 2018 at 11:59 pm ET, by dialing 1-855-859-2056 from the United States, and 1-404-537-3406 from outside of the US, each with passcode 8097939.

Additionally, the archived webcast will be available on the Rogers website at approximately 8 pm ET November 11, 2018.

Additional information
Please contact the Company directly via email or visit the Rogers website.

(Financial statements follow)

Please note for adoption of ASU 2017-07, Rogers has reclassified third quarter and year to date 2017 pension and OPEB income, in the amounts of $395 and $1,244 thousand, respectively, from Selling, general and administrative expense to Other income (expense), net, in the condensed consolidated statements of operations above.

Reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to the comparable GAAP measures

Non-GAAP financial measures:

This earnings release includes the following financial measures that are not presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America ("GAAP"):

(1) Adjusted earnings per diluted share, which the Company defines as earnings per diluted share excluding acquisition-related amortization of intangible assets and discrete items, such as restructuring expenses, acquisition and related integration costs, transition services related to asset acquisition, and gains or losses on asset or business dispositions (collectively, "Discrete Items");

(2) Adjusted EBITDA, which the Company defines as net income excluding interest expense, income tax expense, depreciation and amortization, and Discrete Items; and

(3) Adjusted operating margin, which the Company defines as operating margin excluding acquisition-related amortization of intangible assets and Discrete Items.

Management believes each of these measures is useful to investors because they allow for comparison to the Company's performance in prior periods without the effect of items that, by their nature, tend to obscure the Company's core operating results due to the potential variability across periods based on the timing, frequency and magnitude. As a result, management believes that adjusted earnings per diluted share, adjusted EBITDA and adjusted operating margin enhance the ability of investors to analyze trends in the Company's business and evaluate the Company's performance relative to peer companies. However, non-GAAP financial measures have limitations as analytical tools and should not be considered in isolation from, or solely as alternatives to, financial measures prepared in accordance with GAAP. In addition, these non-GAAP financial measures may differ from similarly named measures used by other companies. Reconciliations of the differences between these non-GAAP financial measures and their most directly comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP are set forth below.

**2017 financial measures below have been adjusted for the adoption of ASU 2017-07, and has reclassified pension and OPEB income from selling, general and administrative expense to other income (expense), net.

*Values in table may not add due to rounding.

*Percentages in table may not add due to rounding.

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