ELKHART, Ind.
CTS Corporation (NYSE: CTS) today announced third quarter 2012 revenues of $137.4 million, a decrease of 6% from the same period last year. Third quarter 2012 net earnings were $5.9 million, or $0.17 per diluted share, same as the third quarter last year. Included in the third quarter 2012 earnings were $0.02 per share of restructuring and $0.01 per share of other charges. Excluding these charges, third quarter 2012 adjusted earnings per share were $0.20, 18% higher than the same period last year and 11% higher than the previous quarter.
The Components and Sensors segment experienced strong year-over-year sales growth with a 9.4% increase from new product launch activities for new customers and the successful integration of an acquisition made earlier this year. Electronic component sales improved $4.6 million, or 17%, primarily from improved piezoceramic product demand for HDD and incremental sales from the acquisition. Automotive sensor and actuator sales improved $1.9 million, or 5%, primarily from the launch of the new grill shutter actuator and a double-digit increase in pedal module sales.
CTS’ year-over-year sales decrease was driven by the lower margin EMS segment, which decreased $15.2 million, or 20%, year-over-year. The decrease resulted from the weak global economy as certain customers delayed orders, particularly in the defense and aerospace and communications markets, the lingering impact of the Thailand flood and the Company’s strategy to exit certain unprofitable accounts. EMS’ Thailand facility, which was impacted by the October 2011 flood, became fully operational during the third quarter 2012.
Third quarter cash flow from operations improved to $13.0 million compared to $4.5 million in the same period last year primarily driven by lower working capital requirements. Year-to-date cash flow from operations almost doubled to $25.0 million, compared to $13.4 million in the same period last year. Year-to-date capital expenditures were $9.8 million, slightly lower than last year.
Restructuring Actions
The Company is taking proactive actions to strategically respond to the weak economic environment by further reducing its cost structure. During the fourth quarter, the Company is announcing plans to close its EMS operation in Tianjin, China. CTS’ electronic components operation will remain in this facility and expects growth with increasing piezo component production to support HDD applications. This action, combined with earlier restructuring actions taken in 2012, will reduce headcount by approximately 10%, and the Company’s global footprint by approximately 17%. Total fourth quarter restructuring charges are expected to be approximately $3 million.
Singapore Operational Efficiencies and Sale Leaseback Gain
As a result of manufacturing efficiency improvement initiatives, the Company has been able to reduce its manufacturing floorspace requirement at its Singapore facility. Accordingly, CTS entered into an agreement to sell and lease back approximately one-third of its Singapore facility. The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter 2012 with net proceeds of approximately $17.5 million and an anticipated pretax gain of approximately $7.5 million.
Other Items
Third quarter pension expense, which is non-cash, and Takata litigation expenses were approximately $0.4 million, or $0.01 per share, higher in 2012 compared to the prior year. Year-to-date, these expenses were approximately $2.9 million, or $0.06 per share, higher than the prior year.
During the third quarter, the Company authorized buying back of up to one million shares of stock, as the prior authorization of one million shares was completed. During the third quarter, the Company repurchased approximately 91,200 shares of common stock in open market transactions.
Commenting on third quarter 2012 results, Vinod M. Khilnani, CTS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stated, “In response to the challenging and uncertain global economy, the Company has undertaken a number of strategic actions to further reduce our cost structure while driving our key growth programs. We believe that decisive actions during challenging economic times will allow CTS to emerge stronger when the markets rebound. New product launch activity in our Components and Sensors segment remains robust and we continue to win new business. We are generating strong free cash flow and our balance sheet remains strong.”
Based on the third quarter results, and the current outlook which considers the continued weak global economy and the negative impact of the Japan/China territory dispute, management is lowering its full-year 2012 sales guidance from a range of a 4% to 7% increase over 2011, to essentially flat, with the Components and Sensors segment growing 10% to 13% and EMS declining 9% to 12%. Accordingly, management is changing its 2012 adjusted earnings per share guidance to $0.70 to $0.75, from a range of $0.75 to $0.80 per share, which excludes the expected $7.5 million gain from the Singapore facility sale leaseback in the fourth quarter.
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SEGMENT INFORMATION |
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| ($ in thousands) |
Components |
EMS | Total | |||||||||
| Third Quarter of 2012 | ||||||||||||
| Net sales to external customers | $ | 75,565 | $ | 61,792 | $ | 137,357 | ||||||
| Segment operating earnings before corporate and shared services charges | $ | 9,492 | $ | 4,202 | $ | 13,694 | ||||||
|
Corporate and shared services charges |
(4,185 | ) | (1,827 | ) | (6,012 | ) | ||||||
| Segment operating earnings | $ | 5,307 | $ | 2,375 | $ | 7,682 | ||||||
| Expenses not allocated to business segments: | ||||||||||||
| – Restructuring and related charges | (878 | ) | ||||||||||
| Total operating earnings | $ | 6,804 | ||||||||||
| Second Quarter of 2012 | ||||||||||||
| Net sales to external customers | $ | 76,823 | $ | 77,471 | $ | 154,294 | ||||||
| Segment operating earnings before corporate and shared services charges | $ | 8,398 | $ | 6,086 | $ | 14,484 | ||||||
|
Corporate and shared services charges |
(3,034 | ) | (1,906 | ) | (4,940 | ) | ||||||
| Segment operating earnings | $ | 5,364 | $ | 4,180 | $ | 9,544 | ||||||
| Expenses not allocated to business segments: | ||||||||||||
| – Restructuring and related charges | (3,831 | ) | ||||||||||
| Total operating earnings | $ | 5,713 | ||||||||||
| Third Quarter of 2011 | ||||||||||||
| Net sales to external customers | $ | 69,089 | $ | 76,981 | $ | 146,070 | ||||||
| Segment operating earnings before corporate and shared services charges | $ | 7,738 | $ | 5,870 | $ | 13,608 | ||||||
|
Corporate and shared services charges |
(3,557 | ) | (2,297 | ) | (5,854 | ) | ||||||
| Segment operating earnings(1) | $ | 4,181 | $ | 3,573 | $ | 7,754 | ||||||
(1) EMS segment’s operating earnings of $3,573 includes $2,687 of insurance recovery for property damage related to the fire at CTS Scotland’s manufacturing facility.
Components & Sensors: Components and Sensors third quarter 2012 sales increased $6.5 million, or 9%, from the third quarter of 2011. Sales of electronic components increased $4.6 million, or 17%, from improved piezoceramic product demand, primarily new HDD sales, and incremental sales from an acquisition. Automotive sensor and actuator sales increased $1.9 million, or 5%, driven primarily from the launch of the new grill shutter actuator and increased sales of pedal modules. Segment operating earnings before corporate and shared services charges increased $1.8 million from the same period last year primarily from higher sales and timing of customer reimbursements, partially offset by higher non-cash pension expenses.
Components and Sensors third quarter 2012 sales decreased $1.3 million from the second quarter of 2012. Within Automotive sensor and actuator products, lower sensor sales were partially offset by sales of the new grill shutter actuator product which was launched last quarter. Sales of electronic component products improved $2.2 million from the second quarter primarily on improved piezoceramic sales for HDD. Despite the lower sales, segment operating earnings before corporate and shared services charges improved $1.1 million from the second quarter of 2012 primarily from lower operating expenses including pension and timing of customer reimbursements.
EMS: EMS third quarter 2012 sales decreased $15.2 million, or 20%, from the third quarter of 2011, resulting from the weak global economy as certain customers delayed orders, particularly in the defense and aerospace and communications markets, the lingering impact of the Thailand flood and the Company’s strategy to exit certain unprofitable accounts. Segment operating earnings before corporate and shared services charges decreased $1.7 million, primarily from lower sales.
EMS third quarter 2012 sales decreased $15.7 million, or 20%, from the second quarter of 2012. Sales demand reflected the weak global economy and decreased across all markets served. The third quarter segment operating earnings before corporate and shared services charges decreased $1.9 million from the second quarter, primarily from lower sales.
Conference Call
As previously announced, the Company has scheduled a conference call on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. EDT. Those interested in participating may dial 800-230-1093 (612-288-0337, if calling from outside the U.S.). No access code is needed. There will be a replay of the conference call available from 1:30 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, October 24, 2012 through 11:59 p.m. EDT on Wednesday, October 31, 2012. The telephone number for the replay is 800-475-6701 (320-365-3844, if calling from outside the U.S.). The access code is 266791. Also, please note that a live audio webcast of the conference call will be available and can be accessed directly from the Web sites of CTS Corporation www.ctscorp.com, StreetEvents www.streetevents.com, Netscape netscape.aol.com, Compuserve www.compuserve.com and others.
About CTS
CTS is a leading designer and manufacturer of electronic components and sensors and a provider of electronics manufacturing services (EMS) to OEMs in the automotive, communications, medical, defense and aerospace, industrial and computer markets. CTS manufactures products in North America, Europe and Asia. CTS’ stock is traded on the NYSE under the ticker symbol “CTS.” To find out more, visit the CTS Web site at www.ctscorp.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements that are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, any financial or other guidance, statements that reflect our current expectations concerning future results and events and any other statements that are not based solely on historical fact. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof and are based on various assumptions as to future events, the occurrence of which necessarily are subject to uncertainties. These forward-looking statements are made subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause our actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from those presented in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: changes in the economy generally and in respect to the businesses in which CTS operates; unanticipated issues in integrating acquisitions; rapid technological change; general market conditions in the automotive, communications and computer industries, as well as conditions in the industrial, defense and aerospace and medical markets; reliance on key customers; unanticipated natural or other events such as the Japan earthquake and floods in Thailand; the ability to protect our intellectual property; pricing pressures and demand for our products; and risks associated with our international operations, including trade and tariff barriers, exchange rates and political and geographical risks. For more detailed information on the risks and uncertainties associated with CTS’ business, see the reports CTS files with the Securities and Exchange Commission available at http://www.ctscorp.com/investor_relations/investor.htm. CTS undertakes no obligation to publicly update its forward-looking statements to reflect new information or events or circumstances that arise after the date hereof, including market or industry changes.
| CTS CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES | |||||||||||||||||||
| CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS – UNAUDITED | |||||||||||||||||||
| (In thousands, except per share amounts) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Three Months Ended | Nine Months Ended | ||||||||||||||||||
| September 30 | October 2 | September 30 | October 2 | ||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | 2011 | 2012 | 2011 | ||||||||||||||||
| Net sales | $ | 137,357 | $ | 146,070 | $ | 438,620 | $ | 444,507 | |||||||||||
| Costs and expenses: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Cost of goods sold | 110,763 | 118,610 | 364,039 | 360,496 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance recovery for business interruption | (4,192 | ) | (1,113 | ) | (15,242 | ) | (1,892 | ) | |||||||||||
| Selling, general and administrative expenses | 19,387 | 18,343 | 58,169 | 55,074 | |||||||||||||||
| Research and development expenses | 4,350 | 5,163 | 15,590 | 14,782 | |||||||||||||||
| Insurance recovery for property damage | – | (2,687 | ) | (1,769 | ) | (2,687 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Restructuring charge | 245 | – | 3,384 | 694 | |||||||||||||||
| Operating earnings | 6,804 | 7,754 | 14,449 | 18,040 | |||||||||||||||
| Other (expense) / income: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Interest expense, net | (159 | ) | (190 | ) | (528 | ) | (721 | ) | |||||||||||
| Other income / (expense) | 763 | (65 | ) | 297 | 1,808 | ||||||||||||||
| Total other income / (expense) | 604 | (255 | ) | (231 | ) | 1,087 | |||||||||||||
| Earnings before income taxes | 7,408 | 7,499 | 14,218 | 19,127 | |||||||||||||||
| Income tax expense | 1,491 | 1,636 | 2,717 | 4,016 | |||||||||||||||
| Net earnings | $ | 5,917 | $ | 5,863 | $ | 11,501 | $ | 15,111 | |||||||||||
| Net earnings per share: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | $ | 0.17 | $ | 0.17 | $ | 0.34 | $ | 0.44 | |||||||||||
| Diluted | $ | 0.17 | $ | 0.17 | $ | 0.33 | $ | 0.43 | |||||||||||
| Cash dividends declared per share | $ | 0.035 | $ | 0.03 | $ | 0.105 | $ | 0.09 | |||||||||||
| Average common shares outstanding: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Basic | 33,923 | 34,375 | |||||||||||||||||
